bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Multifunctional Carbon‐Nanomaterial‐Based Biosensors for Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Britto Jolitta S. J. , Guan Xinwei , Tran Thi Kim Anh , Lei Zhihao , Bahadur Rohan , Patel Vaishwik , Zhang Xiangwei , Wong Sharon L. , Vinu Ajayan
Published: January 2024

Despite significant advancements in medical technology, cancer remains the world's second‐leading cause of death, largely attributed to late‐stage diagnoses. While traditional cancer detection methodologies offer foundational insights, they often lack the specificity, affordability, and sensitivity for early‐stage identification. In this context, the development of biosensors offers a distinct possibility for the precise and rapid identification of cancer biomarkers. Carbon nanomaterials, including graphene, carbon nitride, carbon quantum dots, and other carbon‐based nanostructures, are highly promising for cancer detection. Their simplicity, high sensitivity, and cost‐effectiveness contribute to their potential in this field. This review aims to elucidate the potential of emerging carbon‐nanomaterial‐based biosensors for early cancer diagnosis. The relevance of the various biosensor mechanisms and their performance to the physicochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials is discussed in depth, focusing on demonstrating broad methodologies for creating performance biosensors. Diverse carbon‐nanomaterial‐based detection techniques, such as electrochemical, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, electrochemiluminescence, and quartz crystal microbalance, are emphasized for early cancer detection. At last, a summary of existing challenges and future outlook in this promising field is elaborated.
Professionalism in artificial intelligence: The link between technology and ethics
Authors: Klarin Anton , Ali Abadi Hossein , Sharmelly Rifat
Published: January 2024

Ethical conduct of artificial intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly becoming an ever more pressing issue considering the inevitable integration of these technologies into our lives. The literature so far discussed the responsibility domains of AI; this study asks the question of how to instil ethicality into AI technologies. Through a three‐step review of the AI ethics literature, we find that (i) the literature is weak in identifying solutions in ensuring ethical conduct of AI, (ii) the role of professional conduct is underexplored, and (iii) based on the values extracted from studies about AI ethical breaches, we thus propose a conceptual framework that offers professionalism as a solution in ensuring ethical AI. The framework stipulates fairness, nonmaleficence, responsibility, freedom, and trust as values necessary for developers and operators, as well as transparency, privacy, fairness, trust, solidarity, and sustainability as organizational values to ensure sustainability in ethical development and operation of AI.
Multiscale analysis predicts native species presence based on habitat and nonnative species abundance
Authors: Hedden Crosby , Hedden Skyler , Gido Keith , Cameron Alexander C. , Propst David , Stewart William
Published: January 2024

Objective

The loss and degradation of aquatic habitat through fragmentation, water extraction, and climate warming contribute to declining native stream fish diversity. In response to these declines, a large-scale repatriation program was established in Arizona and New Mexico to expand the distribution and abundance of native fishes. This program has had variable success, with imperiled fish populations establishing and persisting in some streams, while other populations failed to establish.

Methods

To identify factors contributing to the success of repatriation, we conducted a study investigating how biotic and abiotic variables affect native fish presence or absence at differing spatial scales throughout the Gila River basin. We conducted fish and habitat surveys in 29 river reaches at three spatial scales: the 1-km, 0.1-km, and mesohabitat scale. We used generalized linear models to identify associations among species presence, habitat characteristics, and nonnative species abundance across spatial scales. Logistic regression models were also used to test associations with heterogeneity of habitat characteristics and species presence.

Result

Models indicated strong species- and scale-specific responses to these variables. Nonnative abundance was less influential than other habitat variables in predicting the presence of native fish, although the majority of associations that emerged were negative. Further, we were able to identify that water velocity, depth, and substrate size were the most common variables associated with species' presence across all scales and age-classes, with most species responding positively to elevated velocities and variable responses for depth and substrate size. Response to variation in habitat was species-specific, with some associations positive and others negative.

Conclusion

Collectively, the information from this study will help identify locations with a reasonably high likelihood of supporting native fishes and broaden our understanding of species responses to habitat and nonnative species across multiple scales.
Contradictions Linked to the Universalist Aim
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

The aspiration to have all the countries of the world join, regardless of their political and ideological orientations, contained the seeds of contradictions. In the troubled 1930s, the IBE and liberal and democratic tendencies did not predominate among the affiliated countries, and the IBE Secretariat assiduously courted republican regimes. The contradictions became more acute as nationalist tensions rose and also with the Cold War and its political and economic conflicts. An insert analysing the discussion of the financing of education illustrates these contradictions.
Achieving Intergovernmental Legitimacy
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

In 1929, the IBE, under the leadership of Piaget, became an intergovernmental organisation. Founded by six states, it reoriented its activity toward the production and collection of knowledge about public school systems, on the basis of official sources. In order to gain legitimacy, the IBE created new organisational structures and expanded its staff. After a transition phase when it abandoned its mission of coordinating international associations, it invented a yearly event that structured its main activities: the International Conferences on Public Education, begun in 1934, with their Yearbook and several surveys on essential educational matters which were discussed during the conferences. An insert analyses the role of Switzerland in these processes.
Respecifying Fieldwork: Refused Knowledge Communities Explored Through the Reflexive Lens
Authors: Morsello Barbara
Published: January 2024

This chapter offers a reflexive account of the overall fieldwork conducted by the research team into the four refused knowledge communities (RKCs). A reflexive account is particularly important here as refused knowledge followers share a widely held belief that academics in general act as spokespersons for epistemic regimes that they see as responsible for ostracising their knowledge within the public sphere. An additional element making a reflexive account even more urgent is that RKC followers may hold beliefs, values, assumptions and political views in sharp contrast to those of the researchers engaged in the fieldwork. Against this backdrop, by adopting a reflexive stance, this chapter explores the challenges that researchers engaged in studying the RKCs faced in their attempts to negotiate and conduct interviews with refused knowledge followers.
Us and Them: Martyrs, Prophets and Mythic Narratives of Refused Knowledge
Authors: Bory Paolo
Published: January 2024

On the basis of the literature on myths and narrative tropes in science and religion, this chapter enquires into RKC mythical narratives to highlight the relevance of certain key figures, events and objects that constitute the main characters around which these communities weave their common goals, visions and sense of belonging. Exploring the construction of, and the tropes surrounding, these mythical narratives—both scientific and religious—this analysis also emphasises the way such narratives stimulate everyday discussions, practices and even ritual forms within RKCs. In addition to martyrdom stories, a special focus on the myth surrounding the story of Ryke Geerd Hamer and the foundation of German New Medicine also serves to highlight an archetypal path in which the narrative tropes of mythic science and religious prophets converge. The chapter concludes by highlighting how compound martyrdom, mythical science and religious prophet stories, together with the ritual, social and cultural practices that they trigger, consolidate the demarcation between social worlds, contributing to the distinctions between an ‘us’–members of refused knowledge communities–and a ‘them’, i.e. the rest of society.
Tumor suppressor let-7 acts as a key regulator for pluripotency gene expression in Muse cells
Authors: Li Gen , Wakao Shohei , Kitada Masaaki , Dezawa Mari
Published: January 2024

In embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the expression of an RNA-binding pluripotency-relevant protein, LIN28, and the absence of its antagonist, the tumor-suppressor microRNA (miRNA) let-7, play a key role in maintaining pluripotency. Muse cells are non-tumorigenic pluripotent-like stem cells residing in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and organ connective tissues as pluripotent surface marker SSEA-3(+). They express pluripotency genes, differentiate into triploblastic-lineage cells, and self-renew at the single cell level. Muse cells do not express LIN28 but do express let-7 at higher levels than in iPSCs. In Muse cells, we demonstrated that let-7 inhibited the PI3K-AKT pathway, leading to sustainable expression of the key pluripotency regulator KLF4 as well as its downstream genes, POU5F1, SOX2, and NANOG. Let-7 also suppressed proliferation and glycolysis by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT pathway, suggesting its involvement in non-tumorigenicity. Furthermore, the MEK/ERK pathway is not controlled by let-7 and may have a pivotal role in maintaining self-renewal and suppression of senescence. The system found in Muse cells, in which the tumor suppressor let-7, but not LIN28, tunes the expression of pluripotency genes, might be a rational cell system conferring both pluripotency-like properties and a low risk for tumorigenicity.
Generalized Chain Rules and Applications to Stieltjes Differential and Integral Equations
Authors: Márquez Albés Ignacio , Slavík Antonín
Published: January 2024

We present new generalizations of the chain rule, which involve Stieltjes derivatives and integrals. The results are subsequently used to obtain the power rules for two generalizations of the exponential function, and to investigate Bernoulli-type equations with Stieltjes derivatives and integrals.
Clinical validation of the “Straight-Leg-Evaluation-Trauma-Test” (SILENT) as a rapid assessment tool for injuries of the lower extremity in trauma bay patients
Authors: Berk Till , Neuhaus Valentin , Nierlich Catalina , Balogh Zsolt J. , Klingebiel Felix Karl-Ludwig , Kalbas Yannik , Pape Hans-Christoph , Halvachizadeh Sascha
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Clinical assessment of the major trauma patient follows international validated guidelines without standardized trauma-specific assessment of the lower extremities for injuries. This study aimed to validate a novel clinical test for lower extremity evaluation during trauma resuscitation phase.

Methods

This diagnostic, prognostic observational cohort study was performed on trauma patient treated at one level I trauma center between Mar 2022 and Mar 2023. The Straight-Leg-Evaluation-Trauma (SILENT) test follows three steps during the primary survey: inspection for obvious fractures (e.g., open fracture), active elevation of the leg, and cautious elevation of the lower extremity from the heel. SILENT was considered positive when obvious fracture was present and painful or pathological mobility was observed. The SILENT test was compared with standardized radiographs (CT scan or X-ray) as the reference test for fractures. Statistical analysis included sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic testing.

Results

403 trauma bay patients were included, mean age 51.6 (SD 21.2) years with 83 fractures of the lower extremity and 27 pelvic/acetabular fractures. Overall sensitivity was 75% (95%CI 64 to 84%), and overall specificity was 99% (95%CI 97 to 100%). Highest sensitivity was for detection of tibia fractures (93%, 95%CI 77 to 99%). Sensitivity of SILENT was higher in the unconscious patient (96%, 95%CI 78 to 100%) with a near 100% specificity. AUC was highest for tibia fractures (0.96, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.0) followed by femur fractures (0.92, 95%CI 0.84 to 0.99).

Conclusion

The SILENT test is a clinical applicable and feasible rule-out test for relevant injuries of the lower extremity. A negative SILENT test of the femur or the tibia might reduce the requirement of additional radiological imaging. Further large-scale prospective studies might be required to corroborate the beneficial effects of the SILENT test.
Wirksamkeit in Deutschland verfügbarer internetbasierter Interventionen für Depressionen – ein systematisches Review mit Metaanalyse
Authors: Haaf Raoul , Vock Pia , Wächtershäuser Nikolaj , Correll Christoph U. , Köhler Stephan , Klein Jan Philipp
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

Internetbasierte Interventionen (IBIs) zur Behandlung von Depressionen zeigen in internationalen Metaanalysen positive Effekte. Es ist jedoch unklar, ob diese Effekte sich auch auf die in Deutschland verfügbaren IBIs erstrecken. Ziel dieser Metaanalyse war es, die unmittelbaren Effekte und die Langzeiteffekte der in Deutschland frei oder als sog. digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA) auf Rezept verfügbaren IBIs abzuschätzen und die Wirkstärke von DiGA und frei verfügbaren IBIs zu vergleichen.

Methode

Es erfolgte eine systematische Literaturrecherche und Random-effects-Metaanalyse (Präregistrierung: INPLASY202250070). Berücksichtigt wurden RCTs von in Deutschland frei verfügbaren oder als DiGA erhältlichen IBIs an Erwachsenen mit erhöhter depressiver Symptomatik im Vergleich zu aktiven und inaktiven Kontrollen zum Erhebungszeitpunkt im Mai 2022.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden sechs Interventionen identifiziert: COGITO, deprexis, iFightDepression, moodgym, Novego und Selfapy. Die gepoolte Effektstärke von insgesamt 28 Studien mit 13.413 Teilnehmer*innen entsprach einem Effekt von Cohen’s d = 0,42, (95 %-Konfidenzintervall[KI]: [0,31; 0,54], I2 = 81 %). Die Analyse der Langzeiteffekte zeigte eine geringere Effektstärke von d = 0,29, (95 %-KI: [0,21; 0,37], I2 = 22 %, n = 10). Subgruppenanalysen deuteten auf eine mögliche Überlegenheit der drei im DiGA-Verzeichnis gelisteten Interventionen (d = 0,56, 95 %-KI: [0,38; 0,74], I2 = 83 %, n = 15) im Vergleich zu den drei frei verfügbaren Interventionen (d = 0,24, 95 %-KI: [0,14; 0,33], I2 = 44 %, n = 13) hin (p = 0,002).

Schlussfolgerung

Die in Deutschland verfügbaren IBIs für depressive Störungen sind wirksam und können daher in der therapeutischen Versorgung von Menschen mit depressiven Störungen eingesetzt werden. Möglicherweise sind nicht alle Interventionen gleich gut wirksam.
Management of mixed urinary incontinence: IUGA committee opinion
Authors: Jha Swati , Jeppson Peter C. , Dokmeci Fulya , Marquini Gisele V. , Sartori Marair G. F. , Moalli Pamela , Malik Shazia A.
Published: January 2024

Introduction and hypothesis

Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is defined by the International Urogynecology Association (IUGA) and International Continence Society as the complaint of involuntary leakage of urine associated with urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing. It therefore implies the coexistence of both stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). MUI is a heterogeneous diagnosis that requires an assessment of its individual components of SUI and UUI. Management requires an individualised approach to the symptom components. The aim of this review is to identify the assessment/investigations and management options for MUI.

Methods

A working subcommittee from the IUGA Research & Development (R&D) Committee was created and volunteers invited from the IUGA membership. A literature review was performed to provide guidance focused on the recommended assessment and management of MUI. The document was then evaluated by the entire IUGA R&D Committee and IUGA Board of Directors and revisions made. The final document represents the IUGA R&D Committee Opinion.

Results

The R&D Committee MUI opinion paper provides guidance on the assessment and management of women with MUI and summarises the evidence-based recommendations.

Conclusions

Mixed urinary incontinence is a complex problem and successful management requires alleviation of both the stress and urge components. Care should be individualised based on patient preferences. Further research is needed to guide patients in setting goals and to determine which component of MUI to treat first. The evidence for many of the surgical/procedural treatment options for MUI are limited and needs to be explored in more detail.
An automated group-housed oral fentanyl self-administration method in mice
Authors: Peretz-Rivlin Noa , Marsh-Yvgi Idit , Fatal Yonatan , Terem Anna , Turm Hagit , Shaham Yavin , Citri Ami
Published: January 2024

Rationale and objectives

Social factors play a critical role in human drug addiction, and humans often consume drugs together with their peers. In contrast, in traditional animal models of addiction, rodents consume or self-administer the drug in their homecage or operant self-administration chambers while isolated from their peers. Here, we describe HOMECAGE (“Home-cage Observation and Measurement for Experimental Control and Analysis in a Group-housed Environment”), a translationally relevant method for studying oral opioid self-administration in mice. This setting reduces experimental confounds introduced by social isolation or interaction with the experimenter.

Methods

We have developed HOMECAGE, a method in which mice are group-housed and individually monitored for their consumption of a drug vs. a reference liquid.

Results

Mice in HOMECAGE preserve naturalistic aspects of behavior, including social interactions and circadian activity. The mice showed a preference for fentanyl and escalated their fentanyl intake over time. Mice preferred to consume fentanyl in bouts during the dark cycle. Mice entrained to the reinforcement schedule of the task, optimizing their pokes to obtain fentanyl rewards, and maintained responding for fentanyl under a progressive ratio schedule. HOMECAGE also enabled the detection of cage-specific and individual-specific behavior patterns and allowed the identification of differences in fentanyl consumption between co-housed control and experimental mice.

Conclusions

HOMECAGE serves as a valuable procedure for translationally relevant studies on oral opioid intake under conditions that more closely mimic the human condition. The method enables naturalistic investigation of factors contributing to opioid addiction-related behaviors and can be used to identify novel treatments.
On-column refolding and off-column assembly of parvovirus B19 virus-like particles from bacteria-expressed protein
Authors: Sánchez-Moguel Ignacio , Coffeen Carlos Francisco , Bustos-Jaimes Ismael
Published: January 2024

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanometric structures composed of structural components of virions, keeping most of the cellular recognition and internalization properties, but are non-infective as they are deprived of their genetic material. VLPs have been a versatile platform for developing vaccines by carrying their own or heterologous antigenic epitopes. Moreover, VLPs can also be used as nanovessels for encapsulating molecules with therapeutic applications, like enzymes, nucleic acids, and drugs. Parvovirus B19 (B19V) VLPs can be self-assembled in vitro from the denatured major viral particle protein VP2 by equilibrium dialysis. Despite its fair productivity, this process is currently a time-consuming task. Affinity chromatography is used as an efficient step for concentration and purification, but it is only sometimes seen as a method that facilitates the oligomerization of proteins. In this research, we report a novel approach for the in vitro assembly of B19V VLPs through the immobilization of the denatured VP2 into an immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) column, followed by the on-column folding and the final VLP assembly upon protein elution. This method is suitable for the fast production of B19V VLPs.

Key points

• Biotechnological applications for inclusion bodies

• Efficient single-step purification and immobilization strategies

• Rapid VLP assembly strategy

Graphical abstract
Downward myocardial creep during stress PET imaging is inversely associated with mortality
Authors: Kuronuma Keiichiro , Miller Robert J.H. , Wei Chih-Chun , Singh Ananya , Lemley Mark H. , Van Kriekinge Serge D. , Kavanagh Paul B. , Gransar Heidi , Han Donghee , Hayes Sean W. , Thomson Louise , Dey Damini , Friedman John D. , Berman Daniel S. , Slomka Piotr J.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The myocardial creep is a phenomenon in which the heart moves from its original position during stress-dynamic PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) that can confound myocardial blood flow measurements. Therefore, myocardial motion correction is important to obtain reliable myocardial flow quantification. However, the clinical importance of the magnitude of myocardial creep has not been explored. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of myocardial creep quantified by an automated motion correction algorithm beyond traditional PET-MPI imaging variables.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing regadenoson rest-stress [82Rb]Cl PET-MPI were included. A newly developed 3D motion correction algorithm quantified myocardial creep, the maximum motion at stress during the first pass (60 s), in each direction. All-cause mortality (ACM) served as the primary endpoint.

Results

A total of 4,276 patients (median age 71 years; 60% male) were analyzed, and 1,007 ACM events were documented during a 5-year median follow-up. Processing time for automatic motion correction was < 12 s per patient. Myocardial creep in the superior to inferior (downward) direction was greater than the other directions (median, 4.2 mm vs. 1.3–1.7 mm). Annual mortality rates adjusted for age and sex were reduced with a larger downward creep, with a 4.2-fold ratio between the first (0 mm motion) and 10th decile (11 mm motion) (mortality, 7.9% vs. 1.9%/year). Downward creep was associated with lower ACM after full adjustment for clinical and imaging parameters (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93; 95%CI, 0.91–0.95; p < 0.001). Adding downward creep to the standard PET-MPI imaging model significantly improved ACM prediction (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.790 vs. 0.775; p < 0.001), but other directions did not (p > 0.5).

Conclusions

Downward myocardial creep during regadenoson stress carries additional information for the prediction of ACM beyond conventional flow and perfusion PET-MPI. This novel imaging biomarker is quantified automatically and rapidly from stress dynamic PET-MPI.
Stellenwert der Fluoreszenzangiographie zur Differenzierung zwischen einer frühen Stauungspapille und einer Papillitis
Authors: Tarhan Melih , Halfwassen Christian , Meller Daniel , Bechrakis Nikolaos E. , Rahal Ahmad
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

Die Papillenschwellung stellt eine diagnostische Herausforderung aufgrund der multiplen ursächlichen Pathologien dar. In dieser Arbeit wurde bei Papillenschwellung zur Abgrenzung einer Stauungspapille (STP) von einer Papillitis die Fluoreszenzangiographie (FLA) in Kombination mit der optischen Kohärenztomographie (OCT) als diagnostisches Mittel untersucht.

Material und Methoden

Eingeschlossen wurden 12 Patienten, bei denen sowohl eine FLA als auch OCT der Papille zur Abklärung einer Papillenschwellung bei einer STP (7 Patienten, 14 Augen) und bei einer Papillitis (5 Patienten, 7 Augen) durchgeführt wurde. Dabei wurde das Fluoreszenzverhalten der Papille in der Spätphase der FLA in Abhängigkeit von der maximalen papillären Dicke in der OCT untersucht.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

In der Gruppe der STP zeigte sich in der OCT eine mittlere papilläre Dicke von 873 µm. Bei 6 Patienten fiel in der FLA eine ringförmige papilläre Hyperfluoreszenz auf. Diese Patienten wiesen eine Papillendicke von 611–972 µm auf. Ein weiterer Patient mit chronischer und ausgeprägter STP präsentierte in der FLA eine bilaterale panpapilläre Leckage und eine Papillendicke von 1287 µm (rechtes Auge) bzw. 1526 µm (linkes Auge). In der Gruppe der Papillitis zeigte sich in allen Fällen eine panpapilläre Leckage der FLA. Die mittlere papilläre Dicke betrug 865 µm (Spannbreite 632–1195 µm).

Schlussfolgerung

Bei akuten Befunden und einer Papillendicke von unter 1000 µm in der OCT war ein Unterschied in der FLA bei der STP im Vergleich zur Papillitis zu erkennen. Während die akute milde STP eine ringförmige papilläre Hyperfluoreszenz aufwies, kam es bei der Papillitis zu einer panpapillären Leckage in der Spätphase der FLA in den untersuchten Fällen. Dieser Unterschied war bei einer STP mit ausgeprägter Papillenschwellung und chronischem Befund nicht vorhanden.
Consistent social ranking solutions
Authors: Suzuki Takahiro , Horita Masahide
Published: January 2024

The performance of coalitions is an important measure for evaluating individuals. Sport players, researchers, and firm workers are often judged with their team performances. The social ranking solution (SRS) is a function that maps the ranking on the set of all feasible coalitions (the domain of coalitions) into the ranking of individuals. Importing the axiom of consistency from voting theory, we study consistent SRSs under the variable domains of coalitions. We suppose that there are several domains of coalitions (e.g., a set of research teams made up of only young researchers and a set of research teams including senior researchers), and the individuals are required to be evaluated consistently on each domain of coalition. Such a situation is typical because all the logically possible coalitions are often too huge to deal with. We obtain a new characterization of the lexicographic excellence solution (LES) and its dual (DLES): they are the only SRSs satisfying consistency, neutrality, weak coalitional anonymity, and complete dominance. This characterization is expected to provide a new ground for determining the impacts of individuals based on the lexicographic comparisons of their team performances.
Estimation of ancestry from cranial measurements based on MDCT data acquired in a Japanese and Western Australian population
Authors: Torimitsu Suguru , Nakazawa Akari , Flavel Ambika , Swift Lauren , Makino Yohsuke , Iwase Hirotaro , Franklin Daniel
Published: January 2024

The estimation of ancestry is important not only towards establishing identity but also as a required precursor to facilitating the accurate estimation of other attributes such as sex, age at death, and stature. The present study aims to analyze morphological variation in the crania of Japanese and Western Australian individuals and test predictive models based on machine learning for their potential forensic application. The Japanese and Western Australian samples comprise computed tomography (CT) scans of 230 (111 female; 119 male) and 225 adult individuals (112 female; 113 male), respectively. A total of 18 measurements were calculated, and machine learning methods (random forest modeling, RFM; support vector machine, SVM) were used to classify ancestry. The two-way unisex model achieved an overall accuracy of 93.2% for RFM and 97.1% for SVM, respectively. The four-way sex and ancestry model demonstrated an overall classification accuracy of 84.0% for RFM and 93.0% for SVM. The sex-specific models were most accurate in the female samples (♀ 95.1% for RFM and 100% for SVM; ♂91.4% for RFM and 97.4% for SVM). Our findings suggest that cranial measurements acquired in CT images can be used to accurately classify Japanese and Western Australian individuals into their respective population. This is the first study to assess the feasibility of ancestry estimation using three-dimensional CT images of the skull.
Reference values for estimated VO2max by two submaximal cycle tests: the Åstrand-test and the Ekblom-Bak test
Authors: Väisänen Daniel , Ekblom Björn , Wallin Peter , Andersson Gunnar , Ekblom-Bak Elin
Published: January 2024

Aims

Submaximal tests estimating VO2max have inherent biases; hence, using VO2max estimations from the same test is essential for reducing this bias. This study aimed to establish sex- and age-specific reference values for estimated VO2max using the Åstrand-test (Å-test) and the Ekblom-Bak test (EB-test). We also assessed the effects of age, exercise level, and BMI on VO2max estimations.

Methods

We included men and women (20–69 years) from the Swedish working population participating in Health Profile Assessments between 2010 and 2020. Excluding those on heart rate-affecting medicines and smokers, n = 263,374 for the Å-test and n = 95,043 for the EB-test were included. VO2max reference values were based on percentiles 10, 25, 40, 60, 75, and 90 for both sexes across 5-year age groups.

Results

Estimated absolute and relative VO2max were for men 3.11 L/min and 36.9 mL/min/kg using the Å-test, and 3.58 L/min and 42.4 mL/min/kg using the EB-test. For women, estimated absolute and relative VO2max were 2.48 L/min and 36.6 mL/min/kg using the Å-test, and 2.41 L/min and 35.5 mL/min/kg using the EB-test. Higher age (negative), higher exercise level (positive), and higher BMI (negative) were associated with estimated VO2max using both tests. However, explained variance by exercise on estimated VO2max was low, 10% for the Å-test and 8% for the EB-test, and moderate for BMI, 23% and 29%.

Conclusion

We present reference values for estimated VO2max from two submaximal cycle tests. Age, exercise, and BMI influenced estimated VO2max. These references can be valuable in clinical evaluations using the same submaximal tests.
Zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials—an update
Authors: Barbosa Amanda D. , Egan Siobhon , Feng Yaoyu , Xiao Lihua , Balogun Samson , Ryan Una
Published: January 2024

Marsupials, inhabiting diverse ecosystems, including urban and peri-urban regions in Australasia and the Americas, intersect with human activities, leading to zoonotic spill-over and anthroponotic spill-back of pathogens, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. This review assesses the current knowledge on the diversity of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species in marsupials, focusing on the potential zoonotic risks. Cryptosporidium fayeri and C. macropodum are the dominant species in marsupials, while in possums, the host-specific possum genotype dominates. Of these three species/genotypes, only C. fayeri has been identified in two humans and the zoonotic risk is considered low. Generally, oocyst shedding in marsupials is low, further supporting a low transmission risk. However, there is some evidence of spill-back of C. hominis into kangaroo populations, which requires continued monitoring. Although C. hominis does not appear to be established in small marsupials like possums, comprehensive screening and analysis are essential for a better understanding of the prevalence and potential establishment of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in small marsupials. Both host-specific and zoonotic Giardia species have been identified in marsupials. The dominance of zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblages A and B in marsupials may result from spill-back from livestock and humans and it is not yet understood if these are transient or established infections. Future studies using multilocus typing tools and whole-genome sequencing are required for a better understanding of the zoonotic risk from Giardia infections in marsupials. Moreover, much more extensive screening of a wider range of marsupial species, particularly in peri-urban areas, is required to provide a clearer understanding of the zoonotic risk of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials.
Bedrock: the hidden water reservoir for trees challenged by drought
Authors: Nardini Andrea , Tomasella Martina , Di Bert Sara
Published: January 2024

Key message

Bedrock can store appreciable amounts of available water, and some trees apparently use this resource to survive drought.

Several forest ecosystems rely on only shallow soil layers overlying more or less compact bedrock. In such habitats, the largest water reservoir can be represented by rock moisture, rather than by soil water. Here, we review evidence for the presence of water available for root water uptake in some rock types, and show examples of the physiological and ecological roles of rock moisture, especially when trees are facing drought conditions. The possible magnitude of rock–root water exchanges is discussed in the frame of current knowledge of rock, soil, and root hydraulic properties. We highlight several areas of uncertainty regarding the role of rock moisture in preventing tree hydraulic failure under drought, the exact pathway(s) available for rock–root water exchange, and the relative efficiencies of water transport in the different compartments of the rock–soil–root continuum. Overall, available experimental evidence suggests that bedrock water should be incorporated into any model describing the forest seasonal water use and tree responses to drought.
Electromagnetic emission of integrated circuits induced by ionizing radiation and its measurement uncertainties
Authors: Czepl Nikolaus , Juch Nikolaus , Deutschmann Bernd
Published: January 2024

In this article, we show the change of electromagnetic emission (EME) of integrated circuits (ICs) and their external circuitry induced by the presence of ionizing radiation. We use the 150 Ohm method according to IEC 61967‑4 to characterize the conducted emission of our tested integrated circuit (IC) at the VDD pin. Simultaneously to measuring the electromagnetic emission, we irradiate the IC with X‑rays. The irradiation process is carried out up to a dose of 5 Mrad using a high-power X‑ray radiation source. The electromagnetic emission spectra are retrieved before, during and after the irradiation process. We also show that special caution regarding radio frequency (RF) measurements must be used when performing combined testing. Therefore, we analyze the composition of measurement uncertainties of electromagnetic compatibility in combination with ionizing radiation hardness characterization. This article contains measurement results showing the negative impact of ionizing radiation on the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of an IC. Additionally we provide measures to ensure properly combined measurements of EME and ionizing radiation. Therefore we show how to reduce the electromagnetic interference originating from the high-voltage generator that is necessary to generate X‑rays.
Optimierung der Klauswehrordnung des Mondsees, Teil I – Hydraulik
Authors: Preiml Max , Klingler Christoph , Holzmann Hubert , Lichtneger Petr , Sindelar Christine , Habersack Helmut
Published: January 2024

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Quantifizierung der hydraulischen Leistungsfähigkeit des Abflusssystems am Mondsee, Österreich. Die hier gewonnenen Ergebnisse dienen als hydraulische Grundlage im Prozess der Optimierung der Seesteuerung und definieren die technisch-hydraulischen Grenzen für Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung des Hochwasserrisikomanagements. Mithilfe eines hybriden Modellierungsansatzes – bestehend aus numerischer und physikalischer Modellierung sowie Feldmessungen zur Kalibrierung und Validierung – konnte gezeigt werden, dass die bestehenden hydraulischen Verhältnisse abflussbegrenzend wirken und die Seewasserstände bei Hochwasserereignissen erhöhen können. Die verringerte hydraulische Leistungsfähigkeit des Wehrzulaufs schränkt die derzeitige Seesteuerung am Klauswehr ein und limitiert die Möglichkeit einer Optimierung. Eine deutliche Erhöhung des Abflusses ist durch die Vergrößerung des effektiven Fließquerschnitts, Verringerung des Strömungswiderstands im Wehrzulauf und Anpassung der Klappenstellung am Wehr möglich. Die hydraulischen Analysen wurden von einer Stakeholderbefragung begleitet, aus der Einschränkungen und nutzerspezifische Kriterien für die Überarbeitung der Seesteuerung am Klauswehr abgeleitet werden konnten. Die Einbeziehung der Interessen der Betroffenen werden als entscheidender Schritt zu einer allgemein akzeptierten und damit realisierbaren optimierten Seesteuerung für ein verbessertes Hochwasserrisikomanagement am Mondsee angesehen.
Distribution of individual mud fractions in a tidal basin of the East Frisian Wadden Sea (southern North Sea): affinities between sortable silts, aggregated particle suites, and calcium carbonate and organic matter contents
Authors: Flemming Burg , Chang Tae Soo , Delafontaine Monique , Bartholomä Alex
Published: January 2024

In the 1990s and early 2000s, it was recognized that marine muds consisted of sortable silt (63–8 µm) and aggregated (< 8 µm) particle suites and that these responded differentially to the hydraulic sorting process. Among the aggregated particle suite, the composition and hydraulic behavior of fecal pellets received the least attention. The present study focused on a tidal basin (~ 71 km2) of the East Frisian Wadden Sea (southern North Sea), in which the depositional patterns of both the sortable silt and aggregated mud fractions were compared with the aim of identifying similarities and/or dissimilarities. The results show essentially dissimilar trends, the sortable silt suite being characterized by two non-overlapping hydraulic populations, the aggregated particle suite by three overlapping populations with modal diameters separated by only a few microns. The depositional pattern of the latter is interpreted to suggest that the hydraulic populations relate to specific fecal pellet groups, each composed of a different discrete grain-size spectrum produced by different filter-feeding organisms. At the same time, it is demonstrated that the distribution of organic matter is closely linked to the aggregated (< 8 µm) particle suite. The CaCO3 content, by contrast, is linked to the mud fraction by a power relationship, the large data scatter suggesting multiple sources. Budget calculations show that the standing stock of mud in the uppermost 5 cm of the sediment in the tidal basin amounts to ~ 0.461 × 106 tons (9.78% of the total sediment), of which ~ 31.3 × 103 tons (0.67% of the total sediment) are contributed by organic matter.

Graphical abstract
An island detection methodology with protection against cyber attack
Authors: Shukla Apoorva , Dutta Soham , Sadhu Pradip Kumar , Dey Bishwajit
Published: January 2024

Unplanned islanding of micro-grids is a significant barrier to supplying continuous power to key customers. The identification of the islanding moments must be rapid to enable the distributed generators (DG) to perform control measures in the shortest possible period. Micro phasor measuring units (µ-PMU) are gaining popularity in distribution systems and micro grids as a result of their ability to produce high-quality data at a high speed. These µ-PMUs can be utilized to detect islands. However, the µ-PMU relies heavily on the communication system for transmission of data, which is vulnerable to cyberattacks. In consideration of the previous technique, this research provides a smart island detection application with µ-PMU having lowered cyberattack probabilities. This representation is equipped with a µ-PMU implemented on the relevant DG’s bus. The voltage data acquired from these µ-PMUs are processed using the sequence transformation in order to simulate the sequence component angle. The angular sum of the negative and positive sequence components is evaluated and the maximum value is deployed for detection of islanding. MATLAB/Simulink tests the proposed approach through an IEEE-34 node distribution network. Multiple simulations demonstrate the robustness of the technique.
Detection and complete genome sequence analysis of human adenovirus in children with acute diarrhea in Yunnan, China, 2015–2021
Authors: Cao Yihui , Yang Jinghui , Li Nan , Zhang Ruixian , Jiang Lili , Zhou Xiaofang , Xiang Yibin , Cun Jianping , Qiao Enfa
Published: January 2024

The aims of this study were to determine the distribution and prevalence of gastroenteritis caused by human adenovirus (HAdV) in children in Yunnan province, China, in 2015–2021 and to identify preventive measures that can be taken to reduce morbidity and mortality in children.HAdV is a significant agent of diarrhea in children, but limited data are available regarding the epidemiology and genetic diversity of HAdV in children with diarrhea in Yunnan province, China. A total of 1754 fecal samples were subjected to real-time RT-PCR to detect and quantify HAdV. Positive samples were further analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and epidemiological data were analyzed as well.1754 patients with diarrhea were enrolled, of which 1041 were male and 713 were female (M:F ratio: 1.46). Seventy-two stool samples out of 1754 (4.10%) were positive for HAdV. The detection rates of all age groups varied from 2.50–4.78%. The highest incidence of HAdV was observed in children under 2 years of age, especially in children 12–24 months-old. From 2015–2021, the annual detection rate ranged from 1.62–12.26%. HAdV was detected throughout the year, but with marked seasonality. Children were most likely to be positive for HAdV in June and November. We detected HAdV in 15.53% (16/103) of samples collected in June and in 8.19% (14/171) of those collected in November. The entire viral genome was successfully sequenced for 13 of the 72 HAdV-positive samples, and 76.92% (10/13) of these were classified as genotype F41 and 23.08% (3/13) were classified as genotype C2.ConclusionsIn Yunnan province, children of all ages are susceptible to HAdV infection, but there has been marked variation in the yearly prevalence. The highest rate of HAdV detection was in June, followed by November. Priority should be given to disease prevention over the development of targeted antiviral therapies, and effective vaccines for preventing HAdV diarrhea are needed. It is also important to establish a surveillance system to collect relevant clinical and epidemiological data quickly in order to assess the potential risk of HAdV infection in children and to identify epidemic strains for the development of effective vaccines.
Salivary Th17 cytokine, human β-defensin 1–3, and salivary scavenger and agglutinin levels in Crohn’s disease
Authors: Gürsoy Ulvi Kahraman , Gürsoy Mervi , Loimaranta Vuokko , Rautava Jaana
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Crohn’s disease patients, who are prone to develop periodontal diseases, may carry genetic defects in their Th17 cytokine, human beta-defensin (hBD) 1–3, and salivary and scavenger agglutinin (SALSA) expressions. Biochemical composition of saliva reflects the oral consequences of systemic immune response modifications. Our aim was to evaluate the salivary Th17 cytokine, epithelial hBD 1–3, and SALSA levels in relation to Crohn’s disease.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included 42 Crohn’s disease patients and 34 systemically healthy controls. Periodontal and dental indexes were measured, and stimulated saliva samples were collected. Salivary Th17 cytokine levels were analyzed by multiplex technique, and hBD 1–3 and SALSA levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

There were 19 gingivitis and 11 initial periodontitis patients in the Crohn’s disease group, and 15 gingivitis and 4 initial periodontitis in the control group. In comparison to controls, higher salivary Th17 cytokine levels were observed in Crohn’s disease patients. No statistical difference was observed between Crohn’s disease and control groups in terms of their salivary hBD 1–3 and SALSA levels. Based on the regression analysis, there is no independent association between Crohn’s disease and salivary Th17 cytokine levels.

Conclusions

Crohn’s disease does not relate to salivary antimicrobial hBD 1–3 or SALSA levels. While Crohn’s disease patients have higher salivary Th17 cytokine levels in comparison to systemically healthy controls, an independent association between Crohn’s disease and Th17 cytokine profile is still missing.

Clinical relevance

Diminished Th17 cytokine response in Crohn’s disease, which might be related to genetic susceptibility, can be also visualized in saliva.
Sequential sentence classification in research papers using cross-domain multi-task learning
Authors: Brack Arthur , Entrup Elias , Stamatakis Markos , Buschermöhle Pascal , Hoppe Anett , Ewerth Ralph
Published: January 2024

The automatic semantic structuring of scientific text allows for more efficient reading of research articles and is an important indexing step for academic search engines. Sequential sentence classification is an essential structuring task and targets the categorisation of sentences based on their content and context. However, the potential of transfer learning for sentence classification across different scientific domains and text types, such as full papers and abstracts, has not yet been explored in prior work. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of transfer learning for scientific sequential sentence classification. For this purpose, we derive seven research questions and present several contributions to address them: (1) We suggest a novel uniform deep learning architecture and multi-task learning for cross-domain sequential sentence classification in scientific text. (2) We tailor two transfer learning methods to deal with the given task, namely sequential transfer learning and multi-task learning. (3) We compare the results of the two best models using qualitative examples in a case study. (4) We provide an approach for the semi-automatic identification of semantically related classes across annotation schemes and analyse the results for four annotation schemes. The clusters and underlying semantic vectors are validated using k-means clustering. (5) Our comprehensive experimental results indicate that when using the proposed multi-task learning architecture, models trained on datasets from different scientific domains benefit from one another. Our approach significantly outperforms state of the art on full paper datasets while being on par for datasets consisting of abstracts.
Migratory pattern of zoonotic Toxocara cati and T. canis in experimentally infected pigs
Authors: Poulsen Casper Sahl , Yoshida Ayako , Wellbrant Tinna Thordardottir , Leifsson Pall Skuli , Skallerup Per , Thamsborg Stig Milan , Nejsum Peter
Published: January 2024

Background

Over a billion people are infected with Toxocara canis or T. cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Historically, T. canis has been considered the main species responsible for human toxocarosis, but as serodiagnosis cannot discriminate between the two species, this remains unresolved. We used pigs as a relevant large animal model for human infection to assess the migratory pattern of T. cati and T. canis.

Methods

Pigs were inoculated with T. cati or T. canis eggs or PBS (negative controls) and necropsied 14 or 31 days later. Different organs and tissues were examined for parasites and pathological changes.

Results

Overall, the two parasite species had a similar migration pattern reaching multiple organs and tissues, including the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and diaphragm. We recovered larvae of both species in the brain, suggesting that T. cati also can cause neurological toxocarosis in humans. Both species induced systemic eosinophilia and histopathological changes in the lungs, livers, and mesenteric lymph nodes.

Conclusion

This study emphasises the importance of T. cati as a zoonotic agent and the need to develop diagnostic methods that can differentiate between sources of infection in humans.