bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Analysis of Multi-Cracked RC Beams Strengthened with FRP Plates Using the State Space Method
Authors: Liu Xingxi , Shen Lulu , Wang Yun , Xu Rongqiao
Published: December 2024

Using the state space method, a novel analytical method is proposed to investigate the dynamic behavior of multi-cracked reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates, while taking damping effects into account. The flexural cracks in RC beams are modeled as rotational springs, with their stiffness dependent on the crack depths. A numerically stable technique and a frequency-scanning strategy are employed to solve the homogeneous state equations associated with mode function vectors and the frequency equation, respectively. This allows for the determination of natural frequencies and corresponding modal shapes of FRP-strengthened multi-cracked RC beams under generalized boundary conditions. The orthogonality relation of vibration modes is established based on the state space formulae and the concept of symplectic inner product. Analytical solutions for the dynamic responses of FRP-strengthened multi-cracked RC beams subjected to arbitrary dynamic loads are derived using the orthogonality relation and the mode superposition method. Numerical examples are provided to predict the dynamic responses of strengthened cracked beams under a dynamic uniformly distributed step load and a concentrated triangular impulse load. The effectiveness of the proposed analytical method is validated through comparisons with finite element simulations and experimental results. Furthermore, parametric studies are performed to analyze the effects of damping ratio, crack depth, crack position and the number of cracks on the dynamic responses of these strengthened cracked beams. The results demonstrate that the strengthening strategy using externally bonded FRP plates is effective, while the effects of cracks and the first-order damping ratio on the dynamic responses are significant and cannot be ignored. Additionally, the proposed method can efficiently and accurately analyze the dynamic behavior of FRP-strengthened RC beams with arbitrary distributions of cracks and dynamic loads.
Generalized Hecke operators on weakly holomorphic modular forms of non-positive weight
Authors: Kim Chang Heon , Min Kyeong Seok
Published: December 2024

Generalized Hecke operators, originating from the replication formula in Monstrous Moonshine, were extended in [D. Jeon, S.-Y. Kang and C. H. Kim, The Hecke system of harmonic Maass functions and applications to modular curves of higher genera Ramanujan J. 62(3) (2023) 675–717] to apply to harmonic Maass functions on modular curves of higher genera, building on works in [M. Koike, On replication formula and Hecke operators, Nagoya University, preprint]. Their action was further applied to weakly holomorphic modular functions, deriving numerous arithmetic properties of Fourier coefficients. In this paper, we extend these operators to weakly holomorphic modular forms of arbitrary even non-positive weights. In the process, we show [Proposition 3.1 of L. Beneish and M. H. Mertens, On Weierstrass mock modular forms and a dimension formula for certain vertex operator algebras, Math. Z. 297(1–2) (2021) 59–80], which is used to obtain dimension formulas for certain vertex operator algebras, can be derived from our results. Additionally, we identify the conditions under which the action of the generalized Hecke operator preserves holomorphicity. Moreover, we show that this action can be expressed as a linear combination of same-level or lower-level forms, refining the results in [D. Jeon, S.-Y. Kang and C. H. Kim, The Hecke system of harmonic Maass functions and applications to modular curves of higher genera Ramanujan J. 62(3) (2023) 675–717]. Finally, we establish more general congruence relations on Fourier coefficients, with the results in [D. Jeon, S.-Y. Kang and C. H. Kim, The Hecke system of harmonic Maass functions and applications to modular curves of higher genera Ramanujan J. 62(3) (2023) 675–717] emerging as a special case.
Modeling the effect of multiple interventions to balance healthcare demand for controlling infectious disease outbreaks
Authors: Yadav Sudha , Bhadauria Archana Singh
Published: December 2024

Understanding the impact of information-induced behavioral responses on the public, as well as precise forecasting of hospital bed demand, is critical during infectious disease epidemics to prevent managing healthcare facilities. Hence to study the impact of information-induced behavioral response in the public and the reinfection of diseases on the disease dynamics, we created a nonlinear SIHRZ mathematical model. We calculated the basic reproduction numbers and used mesh and contour plots to investigate the effect of various parameters on disease dynamics. It is observed that even if [Formula: see text], the disease cannot be eradicated because of reinfection. The most sensitive parameters expected to affect the disease’s endemicity are found by computing the sensitivity indices. The dynamic system has an endemic equilibrium point, which is stable while [Formula: see text] and unstable when [Formula: see text]. Using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion and the construction of the Lyapunov function, the equilibrium point’s local and global stability is examined. We have further examined the model system for the population’s time lag in immunity loss as a result of the efficacy of medicines, vaccination, self-defense, etc. Due to this delay, an oscillatory nature of the population is obtained. We determined the existence and direction of the Hopf bifurcation, as well as the stability of the equilibrium point, using the delay as a bifurcation parameter. Comprehensive numerical experiments are conducted to explore and validate qualitative results, providing valuable biological insights. This research highlights the critical role that information, treatment intensity, the overall number of hospital beds available, and the occupancy rate of those beds have in determining the behavioral reaction of susceptibles. The model also evaluated cases of fading immunity to look for epidemic peaks. By raising immunization and vaccine effectiveness rates, this peak can be lowered. Moreover, our results suggest that the oscillations that cause problems in managing disease outbreaks would make it extremely difficult to determine the real data of hospitalized and infected individuals. Hence, the WHO, governmental organizations, health policymakers, etc. cannot accurately estimate the scope of an epidemic. As a result, information provided by health authorities and the government regarding disease outbreaks must be kept up to date to limit the disease burden, which is also dependent on funding availability and policymaker decisions.
Foliated cohomology and infinitesimal deformations of developable foliations
Authors: El Kacimi Alaoui Aziz
Published: December 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a foliation on a connected manifold [Formula: see text]. Denote by [Formula: see text] the tangent bundle to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] its normal bundle. We say that [Formula: see text] is developable if there exists a normal [Formula: see text]-covering [Formula: see text] such that the pull-back [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] is a locally trivial fibration [Formula: see text] on which [Formula: see text] acts by automorphisms (and then on [Formula: see text]). The fiber of [Formula: see text] is denoted [Formula: see text]. Suppose [Formula: see text] compact. We prove: (i) if [Formula: see text], the space [Formula: see text] of infinitesimal deformations of [Formula: see text] is naturally identified to the first cohomology space [Formula: see text] of the discrete group [Formula: see text] with values in the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] of smooth vector fields on [Formula: see text]; (ii) if [Formula: see text] has trivial cohomology, the foliated cohomology [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] with values in [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to the cohomology [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] with values in [Formula: see text]. Some examples and explicit computations are given.
Interval matrix equation AXB = C
Authors: Zadeh Somayeh Zangoei
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we consider interval matrix equation [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] are interval matrices of dimensions [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Also, the unknown matrix [Formula: see text] is of dimension [Formula: see text]. At first, a solution set for this interval matrix equation is defined and some conditions bounding the solution set will be studied. Afterwards, a number of methods for solving the aforementioned interval matrix equation are present. Finally, it is proved that whenever [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are inverse positive, the hull of the solution set can be described explicitly.
Subscalarity and invariant subspaces of k-quasi-dominant operators
Authors: Sbita Samir
Published: December 2024

In [A. Saddi and S. Sbita, Some spectral properties of quasi-dominant operators, Asian-Euro. J. Math.. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793557124501304 ], the authors introduced a new class of operators called, quasi-dominant operators showing that a quasi-dominant operator is not subscalar and asked:” under which condition this operator is subscalar and has Bishop’s property ([Formula: see text])?”. In this paper, we continue this study. We introduce new class of operators which we will be called the class of [Formula: see text]-quasi-dominant operators that includes hyponormal operators, [Formula: see text]-hyponormal operators, quasi-dominant and dominant operators. We study various properties of this class of operators. We show that every [Formula: see text]-quasi-dominant operator with [Formula: see text] is subscalar of order 2. As a consequence, we get that if the spectrum of a [Formula: see text]-quasi-dominant operator [Formula: see text] has a nonempty interior in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] has a nontrivial invariant subspace. A part from other results, we show that a [Formula: see text]-quasi-dominant operator [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] has Bishop’s property [Formula: see text].
Bohr’s inequality for analytic functions with hyperbolic range
Authors: Muhanna Yusuf Abu , Louhichi Issam
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we use properties of the hyperbolic metric and the modular function to show that Bohr’s radius for covering maps onto hyperbolic domains is [Formula: see text] This includes almost all known classes of analytic functions.
Two-dimensional potential theory with a view toward vortex motion: Energy, capacity and Green functions
Authors: Gustafsson Björn
Published: December 2024

The paper reviews some parts of classical potential theory with applications to two-dimensional fluid dynamics, in particular vortex motion. Energy and forces within a system of point vortices are similar to those for point charges when the vortices are kept fixed, but the dynamics is different in the case of free vortices. Starting from Euler’s and Bernoulli’s equations we derive these laws. Letting the number of vortices tend to infinity leads in the limit to considerations of equilibrium distributions, capacity, harmonic measure and many other notions in potential theory. In particular various kinds of Green functions have a central role in the paper, and we make a distinction between electrostatic and hydrodynamic Green functions. We also consider the corresponding concepts in the case of closed Riemann surfaces provided with a metric. From a canonically defined monopole Green function we rederive much of the classical theory of harmonic and analytic forms on Riemann surfaces. In the final section of the paper we return to the planar case, which then reappears in the form of a symmetric Riemann surface, the Schottky double. Bergman kernels, electrostatic and hydrodynamic, come up naturally as well as other kernels, and associated to the Green function there is a certain Robin function which is important for vortex motion, and which also relates to capacity functions in classical potential theory.
PACMMOD V2, N6 (SIGMOD), December 2024: Editorial
Authors: Abouzied Azza , Hellerstein Joseph M. , Agrawal Divyakant
Published: December 2024

The Proceedings of the ACM on Management of Data (PACMMOD) is concerned with the principles, algorithms, techniques, systems, and applications of database management systems, data management technology, and science and engineering of data. It includes articles reporting cutting-edge data management, data engineering, and data science research. We are pleased to present the 6th issue of Volume 2 of PACMMOD. This issue contains papers that were submitted to the SIGMOD research track in April 2024.
Disclosure-Compliant Query Answering
Authors: Poepsel-Lemaitre Rudi , Beedkar Kaustubh , Markl Volker
Published: December 2024

In today's data-driven world, organizations face increasing pressure to comply with data disclosure policies, which require data masking measures and robust access control mechanisms. This paper presents Mascara, a middleware for specifying and enforcing data disclosure policies. Mascara extends traditional access control mechanisms with data masking to support partial disclosure of sensitive data. We introduce data masks to specify disclosure policies flexibly and intuitively and propose a query modification approach to rewrite user queries into disclosure-compliant ones. We present a utility estimation framework to estimate the information loss of masked data based on relative entropy, which Mascara leverages to select the disclosure-compliant query that minimizes information loss. Our experimental evaluation shows that Mascara effectively chooses the best disclosure-compliant query with a success rate exceeding 90%, ensuring users get data with the lowest possible information loss. Additionally, Mascara's overhead compared to normal execution without data protection is negligible, staying lower than 300ms even for extreme scenarios with hundreds of possible disclosure-compliant queries.
Online Detection of Anomalies in Temporal Knowledge Graphs with Interpretability
Authors: Zhang Jiasheng , Ying Rex , Shao Jie
Published: December 2024

Temporal knowledge graphs (TKGs) are valuable resources for capturing evolving relationships among entities, yet they are often plagued by noise, necessitating robust anomaly detection mechanisms. Existing dynamic graph anomaly detection approaches struggle to capture the rich semantics introduced by node and edge categories within TKGs, while TKG embedding methods lack interpretability, undermining the credibility of anomaly detection. Moreover, these methods falter in adapting to pattern changes and semantic drifts resulting from knowledge updates. To tackle these challenges, we introduce
AnoT,
an efficient TKG summarization method tailored for interpretable online anomaly detection in TKGs.
AnoT
begins by summarizing a TKG into a novel rule graph, enabling flexible inference of complex patterns in TKGs. When new knowledge emerges,
AnoT
maps it onto a node in the rule graph and traverses the rule graph recursively to derive the anomaly score of the knowledge. The traversal yields reachable nodes that furnish interpretable evidence for the validity or the anomalous of the new knowledge. Overall,
AnoT
embodies a detector-updater-monitor architecture, encompassing a detector for offline TKG summarization and online scoring, an updater for real-time rule graph updates based on emerging knowledge, and a monitor for estimating the approximation error of the rule graph. Experimental results on four real-world datasets demonstrate that
AnoT
surpasses existing methods significantly in terms of accuracy and interoperability. All of the raw datasets and the implementation of
AnoT
are provided in https://github.com/zjs123/ANoT.
Recommendation as Instruction Following: A Large Language Model Empowered Recommendation Approach
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Xie Ruobing , Hou Yupeng , Zhao Xin , Lin Leyu , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: December 2024

In the past decades, recommender systems have attracted much attention in both research and industry communities. Existing recommendation models mainly learn the underlying user preference from historical behavior data (typically in the forms of item IDs), and then estimate the user-item matching relationships for recommendations. Inspired by the recent progress on large language models (LLMs), we develop a different recommendation paradigm, considering recommendation as
instruction following
by LLMs. The key idea is that the needs of a user can be expressed in natural language descriptions (called
instructions
), so that LLMs can understand and further execute the instruction for fulfilling the recommendation. For this purpose, we instruction tune the 3B Flan-T5-XL, to better adapt LLMs to recommender systems. We first design a general instruction format for describing the preference, intention, and task form of a user in natural language. Then we manually design 39 instruction templates and automatically generate large amounts of user-personalized instruction data with varying types of preferences and intentions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we instantiate the instructions into several widely studied recommendation (or search) tasks, and conduct extensive experiments with real-world datasets. Experiment results show that our approach can outperform several competitive baselines, including the powerful GPT-3.5, on these evaluation tasks. Our approach sheds light on developing user-friendly recommender systems, in which users can freely communicate with the system and obtain accurate recommendations via natural language instructions.
Change Meat Resistance: Systematic Literature Review on Consumer Resistance to the Alternative Protein Transition
Authors: Onwezen M.C. , Nassar G. , Bouma J.A.
Published: December 2024

Consumer resistance significantly impedes the transition from animal-derived proteins to alternative protein sources through a dual mechanism: consumer reluctance to change entrenched meat-eating habits and hesitation among policymakers, marketers, and practitioners due to anticipated resistance. The concept of resistance is intricate and viewed diversely across research disciplines. We conducted an extensive systematic literature review supplemented by an artificial intelligence–based approach. We evaluated 3,387 studies to identify 51 key papers. The results reveal that resistance is under-researched. Resistance to plant-based diets is associated with practical barriers, whereas resistance to reducing meat consumption is tied more to moral and social aspects. Resistance predominantly manifests among unmotivated meat lovers with strong meat-eating habits. On a positive note, resistance reflects consumer concerns, tends to diminish over time, is overrated, and is specifically linked to specific consumer groups. Thus, addressing resistance is vital, as it facilitates the transition to a more sustainable and healthy food supply that relies less on animal proteins.
Assessing Policy Impacts on Chronic Disease Risk Reduction: The Science and Art of Policy Rating Systems
Authors: Chriqui Jamie F. , Piekarz-Porter Elizabeth , Schermbeck Rebecca M. , Das Abhery
Published: December 2024

Public policies have been instrumental in influencing population health, and the desire to study their impact led to the development of the fields of policy surveillance and legal epidemiology. The standardized practice of creating policy measurement systems allows researchers to track and evaluate policy impacts across jurisdictions and over time. Policy measures may take many forms, including dichotomous measures, ordinal ratings, composite measures, or scale measures. The policy measures are determined largely based on the research question but should also consider factors impacting policy implementation and equity. Many sources of evidence, including expert input, national standards, scientific evidence, and existing policies, can be used in the development of policy rating systems. Any rating system must be tested, reliable, and clearly documented to create a robust and rigorous dataset. This article reviews key considerations for the development of policy rating systems for use in public health research.
The validity of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in the seated posture as an index of central arterial stiffness
Authors: Karaki Marino , Kunimatsu Narumi , Watanabe Kohei , Tomoto Tsubasa , Fukuie Marina , Sugawara Jun , Ogoh Shigehiko
Published: December 2024

This study demonstrated for the first time that the increase in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) observed in the seated posture is likely due to elevated transmural pressure (TMP) caused by increased hydrostatic pressure, rather than an actual rise in central arterial stiffness. Intraclass correlation analysis also showed a parallel upward shift in the regression line between supine and seated postures. This suggests that cfPWV values obtained in the seated position should be adjusted for hydrostatic pressure and TMP.
Intradermal electrical stimulation of sudomotor nerves and local sweat rate
Authors: Mack Gary W. , Bahr Kaylee M. , McEwan Christian J. , Price Carson J. , Renfro Ashton J.
Published: December 2024

Neuron discharge variability can offer some advantages to a downstream physiological response. We examined this possibility with respect to sudomotor nerve activity and local sweat rate. Variable neuron discharge activity, induced by intradermal electrical stimulation, did not have an impact on the peak local sweat rate but did reduce the time to sweating onset and the stimulus intensity required to reach 50% of peak sweating (EC50).
Dopamine receptors D1, D2, and D4 modulate electrical synapses and excitability in the thalamic reticular nucleus
Authors: Vaughn Mitchell J. , Yellamelli Nandini , Burger R. Michael , Haas Julie S.
Published: December 2024

Postsynaptic modulation of TRN neurons by activation of specific DA receptor subtypes has not been previously determined. Our research identifies that a previously unreported D2 receptor is expressed in TRN, and we found that D1, D2, and D4 receptors impose distinct excitability changes on TRN. Furthermore, D2 and D4 receptors depress electrical synapses in TRN, identifying a new substrate for modulation of intra-TRN communication.
Drive Risk Assessment Based on Game Theory Combinatorial Weighting—Unascertained Measure Theory
Authors: Zhang Lingyu , Sun Dehui , Zhang Lili , Wang Li
Published: December 2024

The driving risk is assessed using the theory of unascertained measures to determine the presence of a conditional switch in the control system of a human‐machine codriving vehicle. Relevant risk indicators for driving are selected, including five driver‐related indicators and three vehicle‐related indicators. Subsequently, each indicator’s threshold range and associated risk level are analyzed and defined. The methodologies for establishing unascertained measure and their corresponding functions for both single and multiple indicator unascertained measure are then elucidated. A game theory–based weighting method is proposed, employing ordinal relationship analysis (ORA) and entropy weighting (EW) to determine indicator weights while utilizing confidence identification criteria to ascertain risk levels. Finally, experimental analyses are conducted on the driving risk assessment model, and the simulation results demonstrated the model’s ability to distinguish between normal and risky driving. In a continuous driving simulation, the model successfully identified a peak risk period (Level V) and, following a system alert, driving behavior returned to normal risk levels within 5 min. The model demonstrated utility for control switching decisions in human‐machine codriving scenarios, identifying instances where driver risk (Level IV) significantly exceeded vehicle risk (Level II), indicating a need to transfer control to the vehicle system. Consequently, the study’s findings can provide theoretical support for control switching mechanisms in human‐machine codriving vehicles.
Inappropriate Birth Weight for Gestational Age Among Newborns Born at Dessie Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mihret Setegn , Wondwossen Kalkidan , Merid Rodas , Gebremedhin Ketema Bizuwork
Published: December 2024

Inappropriate birth weight for gestational age (IBWGA) is linked with obstetric complications like birth asphyxia, hypothermia, and postpartum hemorrhage. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of IBWGA with factors associated with newborns born at Dessie Referral Hospital, northeast of Ethiopia. We used a retrospective cohort study design and systematic random sampling method to select charts of women giving birth at the hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to check the association of selected variables with the outcome variable IBWGA. The prevalence of IBWGA was found to be 145 (34.36%), with 52 (12.32%) and 93 (22.04%) for large for gestational age (LGA) and small for gestational age (SGA), respectively. A higher prevalence of IBWGA was found among women who use substances during pregnancy, such as chewing chat (43, 49.4%), smoking (14, 53.8%), and those with a history of giving birth to an infant with IBWGA (31, 50.0%). Furthermore, maternal age less than 35 years old (p < 0.05), antenatal care initiation at or before the second trimester (p < 0.05), gestational age less than 37 weeks (p < 0.05), and chewing chat during pregnancy (p < 0.05) were found to be statistically significantly associated with IBWGA. The high prevalence of IBWGA revealed by this study suggests a need for interventions focusing on its predicting factors: maternal age, prenatal care, gestational age, and substance use during pregnancy.
Optimizing Thin‐Walled Structures: Analysis of Cold‐Formed Steel Columns With Concrete Infills, Web Stiffeners, and CFRP Strengthening
Authors: Harrat Oulfa , Gouider Nadia , Anas S. M. , Benzerara Mohammed , Hadidane Yazid , Saidani Messaoud
Published: December 2024

Current design trends indicate a rising preference for mixed steel‐concrete structures, which provide exceptional opportunities for material optimization and numerous advantages, including improved strength, ductility, and stiffness. This trend aligns with the growing demand for sustainable and resilient construction solutions in civil and structural engineering. The present article provides an analytical and numerical investigation focused on enhancing the performance of cold‐formed steel back‐to‐back C‐columns through the application of various strengthening materials, including concrete and carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) layers. The study employs advanced finite element modeling techniques to simulate real‐world loading conditions and incorporates rigorous parametric analyses to evaluate structural behavior under varying constraints. Furthermore, it investigates the impact of incorporating different types of web stiffeners—namely, simple, square, and triangular—on the mechanical behavior of built‐up columns subjected to axial compression. The research also explores how these configurations influence load distribution and failure mechanisms. To validate the analytical approaches, the numerical findings are compared with predictions based on EN 1994‐one to one standards, allowing for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the formulations in estimating the contributions of individual components. The results indicate that the addition of concrete significantly enhances the strength and lateral stability of built‐up empty columns, with improvements of approximately 70% and 75%, respectively. Conversely, the application of CFRP strips leads to a reduction in lateral instabilities by about 80%. Additionally, the combined use of concrete and CFRP materials demonstrates synergistic benefits, offering a balanced enhancement of both compressive strength and lateral stability. These findings provide essential insights for optimizing the design and performance of thin‐walled structures in engineering practice. The study emphasizes the practical implications of these results for designing lightweight, high‐performance structures that meet modern construction demands.
Utilization of Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Leaf Extracts for the Preservation of Goat Meat Sausage
Authors: Allam Ayman Younes , Tarighat Maryam Abbasi , Abdi Gholamreza , Roumia Ahmed F.
Published: December 2024

As processed meat products, sausages have been criticized for their short shelf life. In this study, the impact of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) leaf extracts on the physicochemical and microbiological quality indices, chemical quality parameters, and antioxidant properties of goat meat sausages (GMSs) was evaluated. The added extracts enhanced storage stability and improved the overall acceptability of all treated GMS samples, meanwhile reducing the total volatile nitrogen (TVN) values over the cold storage period (4°C/40 days) compared to the control samples. Using plant extracts at 0.2% and BHT at 0.02% (w/w) led to concentration‐dependent decreases in thiobarbituric acid–reactive substance (TBARS) values and the microbial count in GMSs stored at 4°C for 40 days. The combination treatment of chicory and purslane (MPO + MCI) had the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Chicory and purslane leaf extracts are promising natural, safe, and inexpensive additives for producing high‐quality goat meat sausages, and their application can be extended to other processed meat products.
Morphometric and Morphologic Traits of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Shumuye , Belay Gurja , Resom Mehari
Published: December 2024

Background: Quantitative physical measurements and observable physical traits are used for animal identification and are the first step for long‐term genetic improvement and other developmental interventions.

Aim: This study was conducted to characterize phenotypic traits of indigenous chicken ecotypes of Tigray’s eastern and southern zones.

Methods: A total of 711 chickens aged 5 months and above were used in these two zones. Sampling was performed in three districts representing midland and highland agroecologies. Multivariate analysis was performed using 13 quantitative variables.

Results: Quantitative traits such as live weight, breast width, keel length, thigh circumference, chest circumference, shank length, wing length, earlobe length, and comb length were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Hawzien chickens in both sexes, which mainly happened due to feed access, veterinary service, and good housing. Similarly, there were morphologically diverse chicken ecotypes in all districts and these traits have their own economic, sociocultural, and esthetic values and resulted in market differences locally. The discriminant analysis also showed that the classification of female and male chickens ranged from 40.5% to 92.3% and 100% to 98.8%, respectively, which indicates higher heterogeneity (59.5%) in female than male chickens. Therefore, identifying both quantitative and qualitative traits of chicken is important for genetic improvements, conservation, and sustainable utilization of chicken genetic resources and opens a door for molecular characterization and other tailored environmental interventions.
Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Xi’an, China: A Single Center Epidemiological Study
Authors: Hu Danchen , Bouazzi Dorra , Medianfar Cecilia E. , Christensen Robin , Jemec Gregor B.E. , Geng Songmei
Published: December 2024

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also known as acne inversa, is a chronic, recurrent, and inflammatory disease. HS is fairly rare among the population. This study was a part of the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) initiative, aiming to establish the prevalence of HS, based on a questionnaire and subsequent clinical examination targeting healthy adults accompanying patients undergoing care in a tertiary hospital. Objective and Methods: This study was a monocenter study in tertiary care in, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China, and was conducted by the Department of Dermatology. Healthy adults accompanying a patient to the outpatient clinic or hospitalized (Department of Dermatology excluded) were approached and surveyed after agreeing to participation. The data were collected by residents and students and the questionnaire was translated into Chinese. Results: A total of 552 Chinese participants were eligible for inclusion, consisting of 246 males and 306 females. A total of 515 participants were screened negative through the questionnaire. Twenty-two of the participants screened positive. Of these, four participants who were highly suspected to have HS declined a physical exam. The possibility of HS was ruled out by the collection of detailed medical histories of other participants (n = 16) screened positive. The confirmed prevalence of HS in the remaining 552 participants was 0.36% (95% confidence interval 0.10%–1.31%). Two participants, one male and one female, respectively, were diagnosed with HS. There were no significant differences in the median age, BMI and the percentage of smokers between the control group and the HS group. Conclusion: The estimated adult HS prevalence rate in Xi’an, China is 0.36%.
Female Representation in Ophthalmic Oncology and Pathology: An Analysis of Scholarship and Leadership
Authors: Uner Ogul E. , Sadhar Birkaran , Huang Lillian , Breakstone Maxim , Berry Jesse L. , Gombos Dan S. , Mruthyunjaya Prithvi , Skalet Alison H.
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Female representation in ophthalmic oncology and pathology is unknown. We evaluated gender-based trends in authorship and leadership in these fields, focusing on intraocular tumors.

Methods: Articles containing "uveal melanoma" (UM) "retinoblastoma" (Rb), “primary intraocular lymphoma" (PIOL), “choroidal metastasis” (CM), and articles in Ocular Oncology and Pathology (OOP) were searched on PubMed and author names obtained. Leadership/awards from 4 international ophthalmic oncology and pathology societies were recorded. GenderAPI was used to predict gender.

Results: Among 4245 UM, 9660 Rb, 141 PIOL, 353 CM, and 568 OOP authors, more males were first (range, 52-67%) and last authors (range, 69-76%). Analysis of the 4 keywords showed overall female authorship increased from 2011-2016 to 2017-2022 (35% to 40%, p<0.001), with an increase in both first (45% to 47%, p=0.03) and last authorship (26% to 33%, p<0.001). Female first authors were more likely to publish with female last authors (Rb OR 1.72, p<0.001; OOP OR 2.04, p=0.01). Males held more leadership roles/awards in societies.

Conclusion: Female representation in ophthalmic oncology and pathology has grown but gender disparities remain. Female first authors were more likely to publish with female last authors. Most society leaders and awardees were male. Cultivating mentorship through professional organizations may help achieve gender parity.
Genetic Investigation of Regulatory Regions of MKRN3 and DLK1 Genes in Children with Central Precocious Puberty
Authors: Piovesan Maiara , Baracho Macena Larissa , de Lima Jorge Alexander , Lima-Valassi Helena Panteliou , Canton Ana Pinheiro Machado , Mendonca Berenice B. , Latronico Ana Claudia , Brito Vinicius Nahime , Montenegro Luciana Ribeiro
Published: December 2024

Context: Most of the loss-of-function mutations described in children with central precocious puberty (CPP) is located into the coding regions of MKRN3 or DLK1 genes. Notably, potential abnormalities in the regulatory regions of these CPP-genes are rarely explored.
Objective: To search for pathogenic variants in the regulatory regions of MKRN3 and DLK1 genes in patients with familial or idiopathic CPP.
Methods: A cohort of 217 individuals with CPP (205 girls and 12 boys; 143 sporadic cases and 74 familial cases) was investigated. Rare and potentially pathogenic variants in the coding regions of both genes were previously excluded. Analyses of the regulatory regions of MKRN3 and DLK1 were performed using polymerase chain reaction and direct automated sequencing (Sanger method). Circulating serum levels of MKRN3 and DLK1 proteins were measured using ELISA assay.
Results: We identified a heterozygous allelic variant (c.-265G>A), previously associated with CPP, located in the promoter region of the MKRN3 gene in three girls from two unrelated families. In silico prediction analysis indicated that the c.-265G>A variant was in the ZNF384 binding region. ZNF384 gene encodes a C2H2-type zinc finger protein, which might act as a transcription factor. MKRN3 serum levels varied from 197.5 pg/mL to 1,907 pg/mL and were relatively lower in patients with CPP who carried the c.-265G>A variant. No pathogenic allelic variant was found in the regulatory region of the DLK1 gene.
Conclusion: Pathogenic variants in the regulatory region of MKRN3 gene are rare and can be associated with the CPP phenotype.
Enarodustat for the Treatment of Anemia in Chinese Patients with Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: A Phase 3 Trial
Authors: Liang Xin-Ling , Huang Ren-Wei , Xie Jian-Teng , Zhang Yan-Ning , Li Yi-Nan , Chen Xiao-Nong , Guan Tian-Jun , Zhou Hua , Fu Ping , Liao Yun-Hua , Xu Hui , Yang Ai-Cheng , Zhao Hong-Wen , Liu Zi-Chen , Yang Li-Li , Yu Xue-Qing
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Renal anemia is a common complication among patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD), and there remains an unmet need for more efficient and convenient daily oral medications to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of enarodustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, in treating anemia for ND-CKD patients. Methods: This phase 3 study was conducted at 48 centers across China, enrolling 156 ND-CKD patients. Participants were randomly randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either enarodustat or placebo for an initial 8-week double-blind period, followed by a 16-week open-label period during which all patients received enarodustat. Results: The primary endpoint was the mean change in hemoglobin (Hb) levels from baseline to the average level during weeks 7–9. Secondary endpoints focused on Hb concentration or treatment pattern, while exploratory endpoints assessed iron metabolism-related parameters. The mean (±SD) change in Hb levels from baseline to weeks 7–9 was 15.99 (±9.46) g/L in the enarodustat group, compared to −0.14 (±8.08) g/L in the placebo group, resulting in a mean difference of 16.00 (±1.54) g/L (p < 0.001). During weeks 7–9, 85.3% of patients in the enarodustat group achieved Hb levels ≥100 g/L with 86.0% maintaining this level during weeks 21–25. In the first 4 weeks, the Hb increased by 11.82 (±9.56) g/L in the enarodustat group. By week 9, the mean change in hepcidin level was −42.94 (±37.56) ng/mL in the enarodustat group, compared to +4.58 (±33.34) ng/mL in the placebo group. Enarodustat also improved other iron-related parameters and reduced the need for iron supplements. The safety profile of enarodustat was well tolerable with adverse events comparable to those of the placebo. Conclusion: Enarodustat effectively corrected renal anemia with a manageable safety profile. Its once-daily oral administration offers convenience that may enhance the adherence. Enarodustat shows the potential as a promising therapy for anemic patients with ND-CKD.
Changes in Blood Eosinophil Counts Predict the Death of Patients With Myocardial Infarction After Hospital Discharge
Authors: Lin Kaiyang , Luo Manqing , Gu Xia , Xu Jun‐Yan , Tian Jinwei , Libby Peter , Shi Guo‐Ping , Guo Junli
Published: December 2024

Background

Preclinical studies demonstrate a cardioprotective role of eosinophils in acute myocardial infarction. Yet clinical studies show conflicting correlations between blood eosinophil counts and acute myocardial infarction risk and mortality. This study evaluates blood eosinophil counts of patients with acute myocardial infarction at hospital admission (EOS
baseline
) and discharge (EOS
post
) on all‐cause and cardiac mortalities.

Methods and Results

Of 2681 consecutive patients with a median follow‐up of 2.55 years, 45 patients died within 30 days, 28 died within 30 to 150 days, and 92 died within 150 days or later postdischarge. Cardiac death occurred in 108 patients. According to the receiver operating characteristic analyses, the best cutoffs of EOS
baseline
and EOS
post
were 0.02×10
9
/L and 0.03×10
9
/L, respectively, to predict 30‐day all‐cause death (area under the curve [AUC]
baseline
, 0.60; AUC
post
, 0.67). The optimal cutoffs of EOS
baseline
and EOS
post
were 0.20×10
9
/L and 0.14×10
9
/L to predict long‐term all‐cause mortality (1‐year AUC
baseline
, 0.59; 1‐year AUC
post
, 0.61). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that low EOS
baseline
(<0.02×10
9
/L) or low EOS
post
(<0.03×10
9
/L) predicted the 30‐day all‐cause (odds ratio [OR]
baseline
, 2.56;
P
=0.005; OR
post
, 8.14;
P
<0.001) and cardiac (OR
baseline
, 2.16;
P
=0.025; OR
post
, 7.89;
P
<0.001) mortalities. Patients with combined low EOS
baseline
(<0.02×10
9
/L) and low EOS
post
(<0.03×10
9
/L) displayed synergistic risk of 30‐day all‐cause (OR, 13.93;
P
<0.001) and cardiac (OR, 11.38;
P
<0.001) deaths. In contrast, adjusted Cox proportional hazard test indicated that high EOS
post
(≥0.14×10
9
/L) was an independent risk for long‐term all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.84;
P
=0.010).

Conclusions

High and low blood eosinophil counts both predict the risk of all‐cause and cardiac deaths in patients with acute myocardial infarction depending on the time of data collection. Dynamic changes of blood eosinophil counts offer a more accurate prediction of post‐myocardial infarction deaths than a single time point data analysis.
Changes in Cardiovascular Health, Genetic Risk, and Cardiometabolic Diseases: Evidence From a Large‐Scale Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Shuaizhou , Li Jialin , Man Qiuhong , Hu Chengxin , Li Jinchen , Wang Jianwei , Wu Siyu , Xu Kelin , Cui Mei , Zhang Tiejun , Chen Xingdong , Suo Chen , Jiang Yanfeng
Published: December 2024

Background

Evidence has firmly established the association between superior cardiovascular health (CVH) and reduced susceptibility to cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). In reality, CVH experiences dynamic fluctuations throughout individuals' lifespans. However, the association between changes in CVH and the impact on CMDs among individuals with different genetic risks remains unclear.

Methods and Results

Based on a large‐scale community‐based cohort, we evaluated the association between baseline CVH (n=289 069), changes in CVH between 2 examinations (n=37 702), and the risk of CMDs and its individual components (ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke) using Cox proportional hazards models, leveraging detailed repeatedly assessed lifestyle information and genetic data. Estimations were also stratified by age groups (≤65 years, >65 years) and genetic risk groups, defined by the tertiles of the polygenic risk score for CMDs components. Population‐attributable fractions and relative risk reduction were calculated to assess the potential benefits of improvement in CVH in preventing CMDs. For participants whose baseline CVH ranged from ideal to poor, an ascending trend was exhibited in the risk of CMDs overall, as well as its individual components. Based on a median of 5.4‐year follow‐up after the reassessment of CVH, individuals with an enhancement from intermediate to ideal CVH demonstrated a 36% lower risk of CMDs (hazard ratio [HR], 0.64 [95% CI, 0.53–0.77];
P
<0.001), compared with those with constantly intermediate CVH, while those deteriorating from intermediate to poor faced a 44% higher risk (HR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.17–1.78];
P
<0.001). Interestingly, changes in CVH exerted a more pronounced impact on CMD risk within younger populations (≤65 years) (
P
interaction
=0.006). Notably, among participants with a high genetic risk of ischemic heart disease, those who improved their CVH status from intermediate to ideal exhibited a 50% lower risk of ischemic heart disease (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.34–0.74];
P
<0.001), compared with those with constantly intermediate CVH.

Conclusions

Individuals with better baseline CVH exhibited a lower risk of CMDs. Enhancement in CVH significantly mitigates the risk of CMDs, especially when efforts are made before the age of 65 years and within high genetic risk groups. These findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at promoting cardiovascular well‐being across entire populations, offering valuable insights for targeted preventive strategies and healthcare interventions.
Effects of Physiotherapy Interventions for Poststroke Fatigue: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alahmari Wafa , Alhowimel Ahmed , Alotaibi Mazyad , Almuwais Afrah , Alqabbani Samiah , Alotaibi Madawi
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Poststroke fatigue affects half of global patients with stroke, causing early exhaustion, weariness, and dependence. Physiotherapy interventions like exercise and aerobic training are recommended to alleviate symptoms, but their effectiveness is not well supported. This review evaluates physiotherapy’s effectiveness in treating poststroke fatigue in adults.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review using a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and WHO ICTRP. We searched for English-language articles using various keywords, without any restrictions on date, document type, or publication status, and included only randomized controlled trials. After removing duplicates through EndNote X7, 2 independent reviewers screened and reviewed the remaining articles. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was applied to assess the quality of included studies.

RESULTS:

A total of 712 articles were reviewed, and after removing duplicates, 450 articles were left, then only 34 articles passed the title screening and 29 were excluded due to various reasons. Therefore, only 4 randomized controlled trials were found relevant after screening out 416 irrelevant ones. The average percentage of participants across all 4 randomized controlled trials was 44.65% men and 55.35% women, with an average age of 59.1 years. The review assessed a range of physiotherapy treatments, such as caregiver-mediated exercise with e-health support, graded activity training with cognitive therapy, and circuit training exercises. Graded activity training with cognitive therapy approach has effectively reduced poststroke fatigue (
P
<0.001) and improved endurance levels (η
p
2
=0.20;
P
<0.001). On the contrary, circuit training is not effective. Caregiver-mediated exercises and e-health supported exercises have been shown to impact functional recovery positively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among all the studies evaluated, only 1 intervention, the graded activity training with cognitive therapy, significantly reduced fatigue after stroke. However, more research is needed to study the effect of physiotherapy interventions.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/
; Unique identifier: CRD42017075196.