bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertical structure observation from spaceborne lidar ICESat-2 in East China Sea
Authors: Li Xinye , Chen Peng , Zhang Zhenhua , Li Yunzhou , Pan Delu
Published: January 2025

Nowadays, spaceborne LiDAR technology, particularly ICESat-2, has become a transformative tool in marine environmental research. Unlike traditional passive optical remote sensing methods, ICESat-2 offers detailed vertical structure mapping of oceanic optical properties. Despite the potential of ICESat-2 for observing the optical vertical structure, its application in the East China Sea with complex hydrological conditions and dynamic ecosystems remains limited. In this study, we introduce an innovative methodology for retrieving the vertical structure of subsurface optical properties in the East China Sea using ICESat-2 spaceborne LiDAR observations. After preprocessing ICESat-2 ATL03 data, we employed a 4 km × 1 m bin with a 0.15 m depth step for sliding accumulation, allowing us to capture LiDAR signals at various water depths. Following deconvolution, we proposed a method to calculate the vertical profiles of the diffuse attenuation coefficient and the particulate backscatter coefficient, thereby obtaining their vertical distributions. Our retrieval results show a high degree of consistency with MODIS products and BGC-Argo data, particularly in clearer open waters. The optical parameters in the East China Sea exhibit a distinct spatial pattern, with elevated values in the western and northern regions and lower values in the eastern and southern regions. This distribution is largely attributed to the proximity of the northern laser track segments to land and the influence of terrestrial runoff from the Yangtze River on the western side of the East China Sea. The influx of suspended particles and nutrients in this region significantly affects the magnitude of optical parameters, resulting in higher root mean square errors (RMSE) compared to the eastern waters. Moreover, our analysis reveals notable differences in the vertical distribution of the diffuse attenuation coefficient and the particulate backscatter coefficient, reflecting varying concentrations of optically active components across different water layers. These findings validate the efficacy of ICESat-2 for retrieving the vertical structure of subsurface ocean optical properties, providing a robust foundation for understanding the dynamic changes within the East China Sea ecosystem.
High-contrast front end based on Yb: YAG solid-state laser for PW-level Ti: sapphire laser
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wu Minjian , Geng Yixing , Chen Chao , Guo Yuze , Zhao Yanying , Yan Xueqing
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we demonstrate a high-contrast front-end laser system based on Yb: YAG solid-state laser for Ti: sapphire terminal amplification. An ultrafast Yb: YAG solid-state laser is used to generate a broad-spectrum seed through white light generation (WLG), and then the signal light near 1600 nm is amplified by three-level colinear optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA). Finally, a fs second harmonic generation (SHG) is used to obtain a laser output with a central wavelength of 795 nm, a pulse width of 40.2 fs, a contrast baseline of nearly 10−12 within 1 ns, and almost no ps pedestal. We used this laser system as a seed to amplify it to about the theoretical estimated 30 TW level, showing good dispersion properties and contrast preservation capabilities.
Design method for large zoom ratio freeform reflective zoom systems based on initial configuration optimization using global algorithms
Authors: Qi Yunsheng , Meng Qingyu , Wang Jiangnan
Published: January 2025

Reflective zoom optical systems are characterized by lightweight design and intrinsic achromaticity, making them highly adaptable to complex environmental conditions. However, due to constraints such as the feasible solution space of the zoom equation and physical collisions during the zoom process, achieving a large zoom ratio in reflective zoom optical systems has remained a significant challenge. Recognizing the critical role of the initial configuration in enabling a large zoom ratio in reflective zoom systems, we propose what we believe to be a novel design method for large zoom ratio off-axis reflective zoom optical systems. The proposed method begins by deriving the zoom equations and aberration characteristics of mechanically compensated reflective zoom systems. Based on these derivations, a global merit function G is constructed, integrating zoom ratio and imaging quality as evaluation metrics. Utilizing this merit function, a global optimization algorithm is employed to perform a comprehensive search across the design space, yielding an initial configuration with the potential for a large zoom ratio. Finally, this initial configuration is further refined by incorporating freeform surfaces and other complex optical geometries, culminating in the successful realization of a large zoom ratio off-axis three-mirror reflective zoom optical system. This method offers what we feel is a novel approach for designing reflective zoom optical systems with large zoom ratios.
Automatic mitigation of dynamic atmospheric turbulence using optical phase conjugation for coherent free-space optical communications
Authors: Zhou Huibin , Su Xinzhou , Duan Yuxiang , Zuo Yue , Jiang Zile , Ramakrishnan Muralekrishnan , Tepper Jan , Ziegler Volker , Boyd Robert W. , Tur Moshe , Willner Alan E.
Published: January 2025

Coherent detection can provide enhanced receiver sensitivity and spectral efficiency in free-space optical (FSO) communications. However, turbulence can cause modal power coupling effects on a Gaussian data beam and significantly degrade the mixing efficiency between the data beam and a Gaussian local oscillator (LO) in the coherent detector. Specifically, for widely used single-mode-fiber (SMF)-coupled coherent detectors, such degradation is mainly caused by the significantly reduced efficiency when coupling the multi-mode data beam into the SMF. Optical phase conjugation (OPC) in a photorefractive crystal can “automatically” mitigate turbulence by (a) recording a back-propagated turbulence-distorted probe beam, and (b) creating a phase-conjugate beam that has the inverse phase distortion of the medium as the transmitted data beam. However, previously reported crystal-based OPC approaches for FSO links have demonstrated either: (1) a relatively fast response time of 35 ms but at a relatively low data rate (e.g., <1Mbit/s), or (2) a relatively high data rate of 2-Gbit/s but at a slow response time (e.g., >60s). Here, we report an OPC approach for the automatic mitigation of dynamic turbulence that enables both a high data rate (8 Gbit/s) data beam and a rapid (<5ms) response time. For a similar data rate, this represents a 10,000-fold faster response time than previous reports, thereby enabling mitigation for dynamic effects. In our approach, the transmitted pre-distorted phase-conjugate data beam is generated by four-wave mixing in a GaAs crystal of three input beams: a turbulence-distorted probe beam, a Gaussian reference beam regenerated from the probe beam, and a Gaussian data beam carrying a high-speed data channel. We experimentally demonstrate our approach in an 8-Gbit/s quadrature-phase-shift-keying coherent FSO link through emulated dynamic turbulence. Our results show an up to ∼10-dB improvement in the free-space-to-SMF coupling efficiency for the data beam under dynamic turbulence with a bandwidth of up to ∼260Hz (Greenwood frequency). Our approach has the potential to significantly increase the resilience of high-performance coherent FSO links to turbulence.
The role of chromatin state in intron retention: A case study in leveraging large scale deep learning models
Authors: Daoud Ahmed , Ben-Hur Asa
Published: January 2025

Complex deep learning models trained on very large datasets have become key enabling tools for current research in natural language processing and computer vision. By providing pre-trained models that can be fine-tuned for specific applications, they enable researchers to create accurate models with minimal effort and computational resources. Large scale genomics deep learning models come in two flavors: the first are large language models of DNA sequences trained in a self-supervised fashion, similar to the corresponding natural language models; the second are supervised learning models that leverage large scale genomics datasets from ENCODE and other sources. We argue that these models are the equivalent of foundation models in natural language processing in their utility, as they encode within them chromatin state in its different aspects, providing useful representations that allow quick deployment of accurate models of gene regulation. We demonstrate this premise by leveraging the recently created Sei model to develop simple, interpretable models of intron retention, and demonstrate their advantage over models based on the DNA language model DNABERT-2. Our work also demonstrates the impact of chromatin state on the regulation of intron retention. Using representations learned by Sei, our model is able to discover the involvement of transcription factors and chromatin marks in regulating intron retention, providing better accuracy than a recently published custom model developed for this purpose.
ADELLE: A global testing method for trans-eQTL mapping
Authors: Akinbiyi Takintayo , McPeek Mary Sara , Abney Mark
Published: January 2025

Understanding the genetic regulatory mechanisms of gene expression is an ongoing challenge. Genetic variants that are associated with expression levels are readily identified when they are proximal to the gene (i.e., cis-eQTLs), but SNPs distant from the gene whose expression levels they are associated with (i.e., trans-eQTLs) have been much more difficult to discover, even though they account for a majority of the heritability in gene expression levels. A major impediment to the identification of more trans-eQTLs is the lack of statistical methods that are powerful enough to overcome the obstacles of small effect sizes and large multiple testing burden of trans-eQTL mapping. Here, we propose ADELLE, a powerful statistical testing framework that requires only summary statistics and is designed to be most sensitive to SNPs that are associated with multiple gene expression levels, a characteristic of many trans-eQTLs. In simulations, we show that for detecting SNPs that are associated with 0.1%–2% of 10,000 traits, among the 8 methods we consider ADELLE is clearly the most powerful overall, with either the highest power or power not significantly different from the highest for all settings in that range. We apply ADELLE to a mouse advanced intercross line data set and show its ability to find trans-eQTLs that were not significant under a standard analysis. We also apply ADELLE to trans-eQTL mapping in the eQTLGen data, and for 1,451 previously identified trans-eQTLs, we discover trans association with additional expression traits beyond those previously identified. This demonstrates that ADELLE is a powerful tool at uncovering trans regulators of genetic expression.
Associations of resuscitation fluid load, colloid-to-crystalloid infusion ratio and clinical outcomes in children with dengue shock syndrome
Authors: Luan Vo Thanh , Tien Vo Thi-Hong , Phuong Ngo Thi-Mai , Viet Do Chau , Tung Trinh Huu , Thanh Nguyen Tat
Published: January 2025

Background

Severe respiratory distress and acute kidney injury (AKI) are key factors leading to poor outcomes in patients with dengue shock syndrome (DSS). There is still limited data on how much resuscitated fluid and the specific ratios of intravenous fluid types contribute to the development of severe respiratory distress necessitating mechanical ventilation (MV) and AKI in children with DSS.

Methodology/principal findings

This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Vietnam between 2013 and 2022. The primary outcomes were the need for MV and renal function within 48 h post-admission. A predictive model for MV was developed based on covariates from the first 24 h of PICU admission. Changes in renal function within 48 h were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. A total of 1,278 DSS children with complete clinical and fluid data were included. The predictive performance of MV based on the total intravenous fluid volume administered yielded an AUC of 0.871 (95% CI, 0.836–0.905), while the colloid-to-crystalloid ratio showed an AUC of 0.781 (95% CI, 0.743–0.819) (both P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point of the cumulative fluid infusion was 181 mL/kg, whereas that of the colloid-to-crystalloid ratio was 1.6. Multivariable analysis identified female patients, severe bleeding, severe transaminitis, excessive fluid resuscitation, and a higher proportion of colloid solutions in the first 24 h as significant predictors of MV in DSS patients. The predictive model for MV demonstrated high accuracy, with a C-statistic of 89%, strong calibration, and low Brier score (0.04). Importantly, a more pronounced decline in glomerular filtration rate was observed in DSS patients who required MV than in those who did not.

Conclusions/significance

This study provides insights into optimizing fluid management protocols, highlighting the importance of monitoring fluid volume and the colloid-to-crystalloid ratio during early resuscitation to improve the clinical outcomes of DSS patients.
Open Soil Spectral Library (OSSL): Building reproducible soil calibration models through open development and community engagement
Authors: Safanelli José L. , Hengl Tomislav , Parente Leandro L. , Minarik Robert , Bloom Dellena E. , Todd-Brown Katherine , Gholizadeh Asa , Mendes Wanderson de Sousa , Sanderman Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Soil spectroscopy is a widely used method for estimating soil properties that are important to environmental and agricultural monitoring. However, a bottleneck to its more widespread adoption is the need for establishing large reference datasets for training machine learning (ML) models, which are called soil spectral libraries (SSLs). Similarly, the prediction capacity of new samples is also subject to the number and diversity of soil types and conditions represented in the SSLs. To help bridge this gap and enable hundreds of stakeholders to collect more affordable soil data by leveraging a centralized open resource, the Soil Spectroscopy for Global Good initiative has created the Open Soil Spectral Library (OSSL). In this paper, we describe the procedures for collecting and harmonizing several SSLs that are incorporated into the OSSL, followed by exploratory analysis and predictive modeling. The results of 10-fold cross-validation with refitting show that, in general, mid-infrared (MIR)-based models are significantly more accurate than visible and near-infrared (VisNIR) or near-infrared (NIR) models. From independent model evaluation, we found that Cubist comes out as the best-performing ML algorithm for the calibration and delivery of reliable outputs (prediction uncertainty and representation flag). Although many soil properties are well predicted, total sulfur, extractable sodium, and electrical conductivity performed poorly in all spectral regions, with some other extractable nutrients and physical soil properties also performing poorly in one or two spectral regions (VisNIR or NIR). Hence, the use of predictive models based solely on spectral variations has limitations. This study also presents and discusses several other open resources that were developed from the OSSL, aspects of opening data, current limitations, and future development. With this genuinely open science project, we hope that OSSL becomes a driver of the soil spectroscopy community to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and innovation.
Drug-Drug interactions prediction calculations between cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants for discovering the potential co-medication risks
Authors: Zhou Tie Hua , Jin Tian Yu , Wang Xi Wei , Wang Ling
Published: January 2025

Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs) enables cost reduction and time savings in the drug discovery process, while effectively screening and optimizing drugs. The intensification of societal aging and the increase in life stress have led to a growing number of patients suffering from both heart disease and depression. These patients often need to use cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants for polypharmacy, but potential DDIs may compromise treatment effectiveness and patient safety. To predict interactions between drugs used to treat these two diseases, we propose a method named Multi-Drug Features Learning with Drug Relation Regularization (MDFLDRR). First, we map feature vectors representing drugs in different feature spaces to the same. Second, we propose drug relation regularization to determine drug pair relationships in the interaction space. Experimental results demonstrate that MDFLDRR can be effectively applied to two DDI prediction goals: predicting unobserved interactions among drugs within the drug network and predicting interactions between drugs inside and outside the network. Publicly available evidence confirms that MDFLDRR can accurately identify DDIs between cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants. Lastly, by utilizing drug structure calculations, we ascertained the severity of newly discovered DDIs to mine the potential co-medication risks and aid in the smart management of pharmaceuticals.
Development and effectiveness analysis of a safety management model for SMEs integrating lean management innovation with SQCDP framework
Authors: Yin Yichen , Ouyang Xinyi , Zhang Jinggang , Chen Haoyu , Xu Haochen , Zhang Wanting , Lin Chongqin , Zhou Zulin
Published: January 2025

This study organically integrates the safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people (SQCDP) management mode and lean management to create the SQCDP + lean safety management (SLSM) mode, which addresses certain problems faced by China’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as imperfect safety management systems, poor regulatory implementation, challenging problem correction, and perfunctory management. It then explains the benefits proposed mode for SMEs and the establishment of a novel mode that aligns with the current safety production and operation management of SMEs. The application of the SLSM mode to a private machinery manufacturing company in Wenzhou resulted in the effective shouldering of safety responsibilities by the company, a year-on-year decrease in accident rates, and a significant increase in production efficiency, thereby providing corporate managers with guidance and suggestions for making improvements.
Multifaceted barriers associated with clinical breast examination in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analytical approach
Authors: Ayebeng Castro , Okyere Joshua , Okantey Christiana , Addo Isaac Yeboah
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Clinical breast examination (CBE) open the pathway to early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. This study examined barriers to CBE uptake in seven sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Methods

Data from the most current Demographic and Health Surveys of Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania was used. A weighted sample size of 65,486 women aged 25–49 years was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of CBE. We employed a multilevel logistic regression modelling technique, with results presented in adjusted odds ratios (aOR) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

The pooled prevalence of CBE uptake in the studied SSA countries is low at 19.2% [95%CI: 18.5–19.8]. Screening uptake was significantly low among women reporting difficulty in getting permission (aOR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.95), and distance (aOR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.89–0.99), as well as those who reported financial constraints (aOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88–0.97), as barriers to access healthcare facilities. However, surprisingly, women who faced travel-alone barriers were 1.19 times (95%CI: 1.10–1.28) more likely to utilise CBE than those who did not face this barrier.

Conclusions

We conclude that barriers such as difficulties in obtaining permission, long distances to healthcare facilities, and financial constraints significantly reduce the likelihood of women undergoing CBE. The study underscores a need to improve access to healthcare facilities. Practically, this can be achieved by expanding mobile health services and integrating CBE into primary healthcare will help overcome distance-related challenges. Additionally, targeted outreach and transportation initiatives are necessary to support women facing travel barriers.
The impact of tuberculosis-induced hyperglycemia on pulmonary microbiota and airway mucus secretion in individuals not previously diabetic: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Musyoki Victor Moses , Mureithi Marianne , Heikinheimo Annamari , Maleche-Obimbo Elizabeth , Njaanake Kariuki , Anzala Omu
Published: January 2025

The lung environment harbours a community of microbes that play a significant role in health and disease, including innate protection against pathogenic microorganisms. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, psychological stress associated with the tuberculosis (TB) disease, and the metabolites from the rifampicin treatment regimen have been reported to induce hyperglycemia and consequently type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals not previously diabetic. The high glucose concentration is proposed to alter the composition of the lung microbiota and airway homeostasis, exerting an influence on TB disease and treatment outcomes. In this systematic review, we propose to synthesize literature on TB-induced hyperglycemia and its impact on lung microbiota and secretion of airway mucus in individuals not previously diabetic. A systematic search will be carried out on PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PROQUEST, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and manually on Google Scholar and references of relevant articles to identify other studies. We will review published articles that include studies on TB-induced hyperglycemia, pulmonary microbiome, mucin secretion, and (or) airway surface liquid upon TB diagnosis and during treatment. The quality of the study articles will be assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta-analysis will be conducted using random effect model for heterogeneity to pool estimates on microbial diversity. Egger’s test will be performed to explore any selective reporting bias. The findings of the systematic review and the meta-analysis will be reported as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol guidelines. This protocol was developed and uploaded onto the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database, registration number: CRD42024482248.
What makes a city breastfeeding friendly? A qualitative analysis of interviews with breastfeeding women from Europe and Asia
Authors: Tan May Loong , O’Sullivan Elizabeth J. , Ho Jacqueline J. , Omer-Salim Amal , McAuliffe Fionnuala M.
Published: January 2025

Background

The warm chain of support is the continuous enabling environment from the mother’s first contact with healthcare professionals during early pregnancy, birth and immediate post-partum period, her transition from healthcare facility to home, through to work and the community at large. A breastfeeding-friendly city should be able to support a breastfeeding journey across the warm chain.

Objective

To determine breastfeeding women’s perspective of an ideal breastfeeding-friendly city.

Methods

Between September 2021 and January 2022, twenty-two women who were breastfeeding or had ever breastfed in the last 5 years from Ireland and Malaysia were interviewed. A set of selection criteria was applied to ensure representation of a range of the characteristics known to be associated with breastfeeding success: diverse age groups, birth and breastfeeding experiences, culture and socioeconomical background. One-on-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted by the first author. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s Thematic Analysis framework.

Results

One overarching theme of breastfeeding at the front and centre of the city, and three major themes were developed: 1. mothers feel supported when breastfeeding is prioritised; 2. when breastfeeding is visible in the environment, it becomes normalized; 3. there is a need to have seamless breastfeeding support across the continuum of the warm chain, and at all levels of society.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrated the importance of prioritized, and continuous support throughout the breastfeeding journey. The hopes and aspirations of a breastfeeding-friendly city expressed here would be useful for cities to consider when developing or implementing breastfeeding support programmes as well as guide development of indicators of a breastfeeding-friendly city.
Communication needs regarding heart failure trajectory and palliative care between patients and healthcare providers: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Park Jin-Sun , Seo Kyoung-Woo , Lee Jung Eun , Kim Kyoung-Hwa , Ahn Jeong-Ah
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with an unpredictable trajectory, making effective communication between patients and healthcare providers crucial for optimizing outcomes. This study aims to investigate and compare the communication needs regarding HF trajectory and palliative care between patients and healthcare providers and to identify factors associated with the communication needs of patients with HF.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 100 patients with HF and 35 healthcare providers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing communication needs, health literacy, self-care behavior, and social support. Statistical analyses were performed, including Spearman’s rank correlation, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analyses.

Results

Patients prioritized communication related to device-related questions, whereas healthcare providers focused more on aspects of HF in daily life. Both groups ranked end-of-life communication as the lowest priority. The communication needs of patients were positively correlated with health literacy (r = 0.27, p = .007), self-care behavior (r = 0.32, p = .001), and social support (r = 0.24, p = .016). Multiple regression analyses indicated that self-care behavior was a significant factor influencing the communication needs of patients (β = 0.27, p = .011).

Conclusions

Enhanced patient-centered communication strategies are required to address the communication priority gaps between patients and healthcare providers. Improving health literacy, supporting self-care behaviors, and leveraging social support are critical in meeting patients’ communication needs. Tailored communication training for healthcare providers can bridge this gap and improve overall HF management.
A Helicobacter pylori flagellar motor accessory is needed to maintain the barrier function of the outer membrane during flagellar rotation
Authors: Rosinke Kyle , Tachiyama Shoichi , Mrásek Jan , Liu Jun , Hoover Timothy R.
Published: January 2025

The Helicobacter pylori flagellar motor contains several accessory structures that are not found in the archetypal Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica motors. H. pylori hp0838 encodes a previously uncharacterized lipoprotein and is in an operon with flgP, which encodes a motor accessory protein. Deletion analysis of hp0838 in H. pylori B128 showed that the gene is not required for motility in soft agar medium, but the mutant displayed a reduced growth rate and an increased sensitivity to bacitracin, which is an antibiotic that is normally excluded by the outer membrane. Introducing a plasmid-borne copy of hp0838 into the H. pylori Δhp0838 mutant suppressed the fitness defect and antibiotic sensitivity of the strain. A variant of the Δhp0838 mutant containing a frameshift mutation in pflA, which resulted in paralyzed flagella, displayed wild-type growth rate and resistance to bacitracin, suggesting the fitness defect and antibiotic sensitivity of the Δhp0838 mutant are dependent on flagellar rotation. Comparative analysis of in-situ structures of the wild type and Δhp0838 mutant motors revealed the Δhp0838 mutant motor lacked a previously undescribed ring structure with 18-fold symmetry located near the outer membrane. Given its role in formation of the motor outer ring, HP0838 was designated FapH (flagellar accessory protein in Helicobacter pylori) and the motor accessory formed the protein was named the FapH ring. Our data suggest that the FapH ring helps to preserve outer membrane barrier function during flagellar rotation. Given that FapH homologs are present in many members of the phylum Campylobacterota, they may have similar roles in protecting the outer membrane from damage due to flagellar rotation in these bacteria.
SIV Env RhmAbs + N-803 at ART initiation prolongs viral decay without disrupting reservoir establishment in SIV-infected infant macaques
Authors: Farinre Omotayo , Anaya Tzoalli , King Alexis C. , Endrias Kedan , Hébert Anne H. , Hill Alison L. , Jean Sherrie , Wood Jennifer S. , Ehnert Stephanie , Liang Shan , Laird Gregory M. , Mason Rosemarie D. , Roederer Mario , Safrit Jeffrey T. , Mavigner Maud , Chahroudi Ann
Published: January 2025

The latent viral reservoir remains the major barrier to HIV cure, placing the burden of strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) on people living with HIV to prevent recrudescence of viremia. For infants with perinatally acquired HIV, adherence is anticipated to be a lifelong need. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that administration of ART and viral Envelope-specific rhesus-derived IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (RhmAbs) with or without the IL-15 superagonist N-803 early in infection would limit viral reservoir establishment in SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques. Following initiation of ART at 1–2 weeks after oral SIVmac251 infection, we observed biphasic decay of viremia, with first phase decay significantly faster in the ART + SIV RhmAbs-treated group compared to controls that received only ART. In contrast, the addition of N-803 to ART + SIV RhmAbs significantly slowed both the first and second phase viral decay compared to the ART only group. Treatment with a single dose of N-803 resulted in increased frequency of Ki67 expressing NK, CD8+, and CD4+ T cells. Levels of intact SIV proviruses in CD4+ T cells from blood, lymph nodes, and rectum at week 48 of ART did not differ across groups. Similarly, the time to viral rebound following ART interruption was not impacted by the experimental treatments. These results support the concept that the rebound-competent viral reservoir is formed within days after infection and that targeting only productively infected cells for clearance near the time of ART initiation, even during acute infection, may be insufficient to limit reservoir establishment.
Breaking a barrier: In trans vlsE recombination and genetic manipulation of the native vlsE gene of the Lyme disease pathogen
Authors: Singh Preeti , Bankhead Troy
Published: January 2025

Host-pathogen interactions represent a dynamic evolutionary process, wherein both hosts and pathogens continuously develop complex mechanisms to outmaneuver each other. Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease pathogen, has evolved an intricate antigenic variation mechanism to evade the host immune response, enabling its dissemination, persistence, and pathogenicity. Despite the discovery of this mechanism over two decades ago, the precise processes, genetic elements, and proteins involved in this system remain largely unknown. The vls locus, which is the site of antigenic variation, has been notoriously challenging to manipulate genetically due to its highly conserved structural features, even with significant advancements in molecular biology and genetic engineering for this highly segmented pathogen. Our study highlights the pivotal role of plasmid topology in facilitating in trans gene recombination. We demonstrate that gene conversion can occur in trans when a copy of vlsE gene is present on a linear plasmid, contrary to previous observations suggesting a cis arrangement is required for vlsE recombination. Significantly, employing this in trans gene conversion strategy with a linear plasmid, we have, for the first time, achieved targeted genetic mutation of putative cis-acting elements in the native vlsE gene. This has unveiled a potentially crucial role for the 17 bp direct repeats that flank the central variable cassette region of vlsE. Furthermore, we validated the reliability and reproducibility of our mutational approach by successfully inserting stop codons at two distinct sites within the central variable cassette of vlsE. Thus, this study presents a significant methodological innovation enabling the direct manipulation of the vls locus and lays the groundwork for systematic exploration of specific mutations affecting the mechanism of antigenic variation. As a result, it creates new avenues for research and raises intriguing questions that could guide the development of novel methods to explore host-pathogen interactions of the agent of Lyme disease.
Tradicionalidade e Modernidade com os Descobrimentos e a Expansão Portuguesa - Portugal, a Europa e o Mundo
Authors: Santos João Marinho dos
Published: January 2025

O autor defende que os Descobrimentos e a Expansão Portuguesa concorrem ao mesmo tempo, para a persistência da tradicionalidade (através, por exemplo da prática da cruzada) e para a instauração da modernidade (com o incremento da economia de mercado sob a forma da "economia mundo europeia", a proclamação da superioridade da Civilização Cristã ou a integração de Portugal na "Europa" em construção). Das principais transformações e persistências procurará fazer prova documental.
Exploring Instagram Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of DMO in central region of Portugal
Authors: Sá Vítor , Azevedo Lígia , Fraiz Brea José Antonio
Published: January 2025

Instagram has become one of the principal social media platforms with substantial influence in contemporary society. This study sheds light on the divergent approaches adopted by two DMOs tasked with promoting the central region of Portugal. This approach encompasses several facets, including the types of images shared, the frequency of publication, and the implementation of hashtags. All the images shared by the two accounts in 2022 were systematically collected and subjected to exhaustive analysis based on predetermined parameters. The research revealed different strategies for using Instagram, despite both DMOs promoting the same territory. While the ERTCP account, @centro_de_portugal, focuses mainly on the Nature & Landscape and Place categories, the ARPTCP account, @centerofportugal, emphasises Humanised Spaces and Architecture categories. The frequency of publication and the use of hashtags also varied, with the ERTCP account posting more frequently and using a wider range of hashtags. In terms of engagement metrics, the @centro_de_portugal maintains its prominent position. However, the pattern of follower interaction over the course of the year was similar for both accounts, with the first and last four months witnessing higher engagement. An analysis of the frequency of posts per day of the week also revealed different patterns.
Operadoras de turismo bolivianas. Un análisis de capital humano, capacidad de innovación y competitividad empresarial
Authors: Orlandini Gonzalez Ingrid , Pareja Daza Carla Patricia , Rodríguez Cabezas Edith
Published: January 2025

Este trabajo de investigación parte de la hipótesis de que existe una relación significativa entre el desarrollo del capital humano, la capacidad de innovación y la competitividad empresarial. Con este fin se ha propuesto medir la relación de tres variables respondiendo al interrogante: ¿Cuál es la influencia que tienen el capital humano y la capacidad de innovación para lograr la competitividad empresarial en las operadoras de turismo bolivianas? Para ello se han analizado 33 empresas operadoras de turismo en la ciudad de Sucre en Bolivia. El estudio es de enfoque cuantitativo, transversal y aplica modelos de ecuaciones estructurales basadas en el enfoque PLS (PLS-MEE). Los principales resultados evidencian una relación significativa entre las tres variables, la capacidad de innovación cumple un papel mediador siendo su efecto mayor sobre la competitividad empresarial en comparación al efecto del capital humano; lo que implica que las empresas, del sector estudiado, deben tomar mayor atención en el desarrollo de esta última variable.
El efecto de las re-visitas en la modelización dinámica de los destinos turísticos
Authors: Ballina Ballina Francisco Javier
Published: January 2025

El Destino Turístico es un concepto aún en construcción. Las aportaciones académicas más recientes apuestan por una perspectiva flexible y dinámica del mismo. La mayoría de la literatura actual apuesta por una definición tridimensional que, además del espacio, incluya el tiempo y las interacciones entre los atractivos turísticos. Muchos factores podrían influir en tal perspectiva, pero hay uno muy importante: la re-visita. Este factor, a través del efecto experiencia, altera la percepción y uso de los atractivos turísticos. De igual manera, la diferenciación entre atractivos primarios y secundarios en un destino, ayuda a perfilar el comportamiento de la demanda en su primera visita o en sucesivas re-visitas. Este trabajo incorpora ambas perspectivas, temporal e interactiva, con una metodología basada en una encuesta anual realizada a los turistas en Oviedo (Asturias), un tipo de destino que por su propio perfil tiene una cuota de re-visitas muy elevada y muy frecuente en el tiempo. El objetivo central es determinar el carácter dinámico del destino considerando los casos de turistas noveles o turistas reiterativos, en primera o segunda re-visita. Los resultados sugieren que existen cambios interesantes en los atractivos turísticos considerados por la demanda en cada caso. Que los primeros atractivos visitados son las de tipo icónico, y sucesivamente los semióticos. Que la definición del destino se va progresivamente alterando por el efecto de las sucesivas re-visitas, generando un cierto tipo de polidestino según el tipo de visitantes. Y que se origina un cierto comportamiento dinámico del destino turístico.
La turistificación comercial en centros históricos: una propuesta de análisis mediante Street View
Authors: Ruiz Romera Andrea , Rojas Romero José Manuel , Villar Lama Arsenio
Published: January 2025

Las transformaciones de la trama comercial, junto a la desaparición de los comercios tradicionales, es un asunto controvertido y de plena actualidad. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es analizar las transformaciones comerciales y estudiar su relación con la turistificación de los destinos turísticos urbanos, concretamente en los centros históricos. Para ello se propone un análisis ―mediante la aplicación Google Street View― donde se hace inventario de los negocios existentes en la calle San Jacinto (Sevilla) en tres años de referencia (2008, 2019, 2023), a lo que se une una serie de encuestas a los propios comerciantes. Se observa un aumento de las actividades ligadas al ocio y al turismo y una reducción de las actividades ligadas al residente. El proceso se agudiza en el tramo peatonal, ubicado en el espacio turístico, y con el crecimiento de bares y restaurantes. Los comerciantes aspiran a aumentar su vocación turística, especialmente en la parte rodada. Si bien queda patente que el turismo es un vector principal de la mutación funcional de la ciudad histórica, esta investigación pone de relieve su convergencia con otros factores, como, la peatonalización, la patrimonialización del comercio, la zonificación comercial o la ampliación del espacio turístico, procesos conducidos por la administración pública.
Los recursos turísticos que más interesan a los españoles. Un estudio de demanda de información turística en España a través de las métricas de Google
Authors: Ramón Ojeda Antonio Ángel , Camino Dorta Javier
Published: January 2025

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar la demanda de información turística realizada desde España mediante los motores de búsqueda de Google durante el período que transcurre entre el 1 de marzo de 2022 y el 1 de marzo de 2023. Se emplea para ello las métricas e informes de herramientas de Google como Search Console, Analitycs 4 y Trends. A partir de una metodología cuantitativa se analiza el informe de resultados y aspectos como los países de localización de los recursos turísticos, las localidades de su emplazamiento, la tipología de los mismos y la idoneidad, tanto de la fuente, como de la metodología, para alcanzar el objetivo inicial de la investigación. El número de registros que maneja la muestra es de 3849 puntos de interés. Los 18 primeros registros suponen casi una quinta parte del total de las búsquedas y los 100 primeros el 35%. Las búsquedas se concentran en una treintena de países y en más de 1200 localidades. Predominan los atractivos culturales frente a los naturales. Las tipologías más demandadas son instalaciones de espectáculos varios: teatros, museos, estadios y también parques de atracciones. Para el estudio de la demanda de información turística las métricas de google pueden resultar una herramienta adecuada y permite realizar una semblanza de la misma, pero esta puede resultar incompleta. La realización de encuestas podría complementar el estudio y obtener con ello una visión más certera de la demanda. El dato de visitantes sería el más definitorio, aunque este no siempre es concluyente ni posible de calcular. Con todo, existe un problema de indefinición y los resultados del análisis quedan condicionados por la terminología y la clasificación tipológica. Conocer cuáles son los principales atractivos turísticos puede resultar útil para su gestión y de aplicación para agentes turísticos tanto públicos, como privados.
El oleoturismo como herramienta de desarrollo territorial. Diagnóstico y necesidades de conocimiento
Authors: Casado-Montilla Jairo , Pulido-Fernández Juan Ignacio , Carrillo-Hidalgo Isabel , López-Sánchez Yaiza
Published: January 2025

La aparición de tipologías turísticas de interés especial está orientada especialmente a cubrir las necesidades que presentan los muy diversos segmentos de demanda, que, a su vez, son cada vez más exigentes y tienen expectativas más elevadas. El oleoturismo es una de esas tipologías, en este caso vinculada con el aprovechamiento de los recursos de las zonas rurales especializadas en el cultivo del olivar y la producción de aceite de oliva. Esta investigación indaga en la caracterización, estructura y necesidades de conocimiento del oleoturismo. Para acometer el diagnóstico de esta tipología como herramienta de desarrollo territorial, se ha solicitado la colaboración (mediante la realización de un exhaustivo cuestionario) de empresas olivícolas que han diversificado su actividad hacia el oleoturismo. Los resultados muestran un grado de conocimiento de la actividad turística medio-alto, junto a un nivel de profesionalización medio. Sus necesidades de conocimiento están centradas principalmente en la mejora y formación de su plantilla y en las necesidades y expectativas de la demanda.
Development of Early Landslide Detection Tool as Optimization of Disaster Mitigation Understanding for Early Childhood in Wonosobo
Authors: Af'idah Nabila Zakiyyatul , Waluyo Edi
Published: January 2025

Early childhood is a crucial period with immense potential and high vulnerability to natural disasters. In Wonosobo Regency, landslides pose a serious threat, necessitating concrete efforts to enhance the preparedness of young children. This study aims to develop an early landslide detection tool to improve disaster mitigation understanding among early childhood children. The research method employed is Research and Development (R&D) using the ADDIE model, which consists of five stages: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation, which were subsequently analyzed. The study results indicate that the developed early detection tool is highly feasible, with an expert media evaluation score of 100%, making the product suitable for further testing. Trials showed that this tool could provide fast and accurate warnings about potential landslides, significantly enhancing preparedness and disaster mitigation understanding among young children in the Wonosobo Regency. The implications of this research highlight the importance of integrating early detection technology into disaster mitigation education, which can improve the safety and understanding of young children regarding future disasters.
Etika Kecerdasan Artifisial (AI): Sebuah Eksplorasi Metaetika atas Kebijakan Regulasi AI di Indonesia dan Internasional
Authors: Khasri Muhammad Rodinal Khair
Published: January 2025

This article examines the regulation of AI development and usage at the national and international levels using a metaethical approach. The defended thesis is that AI cannot be positioned as a moral agent because it lacks the feature of consciousness (an epistemological problem). The subjective reality formed by human thought and consciousness differs from the reality formed by AI's computational processes (an ontological problem). This article is an articulation of research categorized as a literature study with qualitative data analysis, referring to key documents on AI ethics at the national and international levels. The conclusion drawn is that all AI actions are subordinate to human actions and are therefore never value-free. AI is not a moral agent, and the regulation of AI development, application, and usage requires an ethical framework that can accommodate moral progress in a manner that aligns linearly with the rapid innovation progress of AI over time. In other words, AI regulation must operate within a dialectical framework that allows space for evaluation and re-contextualization to remain relevant to the dynamics of social and cultural realities.
Integrando innovación docente e investigación: lecciones de un proyecto colaborativo multidisciplinar
Authors: Strotmann Birgit , Delfino Gisela Isabel , Jechimer Eva , López Hernández Alfonso , Santaolalla Pascual Elsa
Published: January 2025

La literatura sugiere que los proyectos de innovación docente suelen desarrollarse a pequeña escala, en plazos cortos, con un reconocimiento institucional limitado y con resultados poco sostenibles por falta de transferencia clara. Como resultado, muchas prácticas docentes de alto valor no se divulgan ni se mantienen en el tiempo. Además, la prioridad del docente universitario y la forma en que se miden sus resultados suelen estar estrechamente vinculadas a su producción científica, relegando su labor docente a un segundo plano. Este artículo propone que la integración de la innovación educativa con la investigación puede dar lugar a un círculo virtuoso de mejora continua. Con el ejemplo del proyecto de innovación docente “Uno y uno son más de dos: la docencia colaborativa multidisciplinar”, se muestra cómo un diseño científico basado en evidencias puede mejorar la práctica en el aula, al tiempo que genera producción científica, combinando así ambas facetas de la vida de un docente universitario, en beneficio de estudiantes, docentes e institución.