bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does salinity shape ocean circulation and ice geometry on Enceladus and other icy satellites?
Authors: Kang Wanying , Mittal Tushar , Bire Suyash , Campin Jean-Michel , Marshall John
Published: July 2022

Of profound astrobiological interest, Enceladus appears to have a global saline subsurface ocean, indicating water-rock reaction at present or in the past, an important mechanism in the moon’s potential habitability. Here, we investigate how salinity and the partition of heat production between the silicate core and the ice shell affect ocean dynamics and the associated heat transport—a key factor determining equilibrium ice shell geometry. Assuming steady-state conditions, we show that the meridional overturning circulation of the ocean, driven by heat and salt exchange with the poleward-thinning ice shell, has opposing signs at very low and very high salinities. Regardless of these differing circulations, heat and fresh water converge toward the equator, where the ice is thick, acting to homogenize thickness variations. Among scenarios explored here, the pronounced ice thickness variations observed on Enceladus are most consistent with heating that is predominantly in the ice shell and a salinity of intermediate range.
Machine learning enables interpretable discovery of innovative polymers for gas separation membranes
Authors: Yang Jason , Tao Lei , He Jinlong , McCutcheon Jeffrey R. , Li Ying
Published: July 2022

Polymer membranes perform innumerable separations with far-reaching environmental implications. Despite decades of research, design of new membrane materials remains a largely Edisonian process. To address this shortcoming, we demonstrate a generalizable, accurate machine learning (ML) implementation for the discovery of innovative polymers with ideal performance. Specifically, multitask ML models are trained on experimental data to link polymer chemistry to gas permeabilities of He, H
2
, O
2
, N
2
, CO
2
, and CH
4
. We interpret the ML models and extract valuable insights into the contributions of different chemical moieties to permeability and selectivity. We then screen over 9 million hypothetical polymers and identify thousands that lie well above current performance upper bounds, including hundreds of never-before-seen ultrapermeable polymer membranes with O
2
and CO
2
permeability greater than 10
4
and 10
5
Barrers, respectively. High-fidelity molecular dynamics simulations confirm the ML-predicted gas permeabilities of the promising candidates, which suggests that many can be translated to reality.
Negative reflection of nanoscale-confined polaritons in a low-loss natural medium
Authors: Álvarez-Pérez Gonzalo , Duan Jiahua , Taboada-Gutiérrez Javier , Ou Qingdong , Nikulina Elizaveta , Liu Song , Edgar James H. , Bao Qiaoliang , Giannini Vincenzo , Hillenbrand Rainer , Martín-Sánchez Javier , Nikitin Alexey Yu , Alonso-González Pablo
Published: July 2022

Negative reflection occurs when light is reflected toward the same side of the normal to the boundary from which it is incident. This exotic optical phenomenon is not only yet to be visualized in real space but also remains unexplored, both at the nanoscale and in natural media. Here, we directly visualize nanoscale-confined polaritons negatively reflecting on subwavelength mirrors fabricated in a low-loss van der Waals crystal. Our near-field nanoimaging results unveil an unconventional and broad tunability of both the polaritonic wavelength and direction of propagation upon negative reflection. On the basis of these findings, we introduce a device in nano-optics: a hyperbolic nanoresonator, in which hyperbolic polaritons with different momenta reflect back to a common point source, enhancing the intensity. These results pave way to realize nanophotonics in low-loss natural media, providing an efficient route to control nanolight, a key for future on-chip optical nanotechnologies.
A concise synthesis of tetrodotoxin
Authors: Konrad David B. , Rühmann Klaus-Peter , Ando Hiroyasu , Hetzler Belinda E. , Strassner Nina , Houk Kendall N. , Matsuura Bryan S. , Trauner Dirk
Published: July 2022

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a neurotoxic natural product that is an indispensable probe in neuroscience, a biosynthetic and ecological enigma, and a celebrated target of synthetic chemistry. Here, we present a stereoselective synthesis of TTX that proceeds in 22 steps from a glucose derivative. The central cyclohexane ring of TTX and its α-tertiary amine moiety were established by the intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrile oxide, followed by alkynyl addition to the resultant isoxazoline. A ruthenium-catalyzed hydroxylactonization set the stage for the formation of the dioxa-adamantane core. Installation of the guanidine, oxidation of a primary alcohol, and a late-stage epimerization gave a mixture of TTX and anhydro-TTX. This synthetic approach could give ready access to biologically active derivatives.
A semaphorin-plexin-Rasal1 signaling pathway inhibits gastrin expression and protects against peptic ulcers
Authors: Xu Rui , Höß Carsten , Swiercz Jakub M. , Brandt Dominique T. , Lutz Veronika , Petersen Natalia , Li Rui , Zhao Dandan , Oleksy Arkadiusz , Creigh-Pulatmen Tilbe , Trokter Martina , Fedorova Marina , Atzberger Ann , Strandby Rune B. , Olsen August A. , Achiam Michael P. , Matthews David , Huber Magdalena , Gröne Hermann-Josef , Offermanns Stefan , Worzfeld Thomas
Published: July 2022

Peptic ulcer disease is a frequent clinical problem with potentially serious complications such as bleeding or perforation. A decisive factor in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers is gastric acid, the secretion of which is controlled by the hormone gastrin released from gastric G cells. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating gastrin plasma concentrations are poorly understood. Here, we identified a semaphorin-plexin signaling pathway that operates in gastric G cells to inhibit gastrin expression on a transcriptional level, thereby limiting food-stimulated gastrin release and gastric acid secretion. Using a systematic siRNA screening approach combined with biochemical, cell biology, and in vivo mouse experiments, we found that the RasGAP protein Rasal1 is a central mediator of plexin signal transduction, which suppresses gastrin expression through inactivation of the small GTPase R-Ras. Moreover, we show that Rasal1 is pathophysiologically relevant for the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a main risk factor of peptic ulcers in humans. Last, we show that application of recombinant semaphorin 4D alleviates peptic ulcer disease in mice in vivo, demonstrating that this signaling pathway can be harnessed pharmacologically. This study unravels a mode of G cell regulation that is functionally important in gastric homeostasis and disease.
Dendrimer nanotherapy for severe COVID-19 attenuates inflammation and neurological injury markers and improves outcomes in a phase2a clinical trial
Authors: Gusdon Aaron M. , Faraday Nauder , Aita John S. , Kumar Sunil , Mehta Ishan , Choi HuiMahn A. , Cleland Jeffery L. , Robinson Keith , McCullough Louise D. , Ng Derek K. , Kannan Rangaramanujam M. , Kannan Sujatha
Published: July 2022

Hyperinflammation triggered by SARS-CoV-2 is a major cause of disease severity, with activated macrophages implicated in this response. OP-101, a hydroxyl-polyamidoamine dendrimer–
N
-acetylcysteine conjugate that specifically targets activated macrophages, improves outcomes in preclinical models of systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive phase 2a trial, we evaluated safety and preliminary efficacy of OP-101 in patients with severe COVID-19. Twenty-four patients classified as having severe COVID-19 with a baseline World Health Organization seven-point ordinal scale of ≥5 were randomized to receive a single intravenous dose of placebo (
n
= 7 patients) or OP-101 at 2 (
n
= 6), 4 (
n
= 6), or 8 mg/kg (
n
= 5 patients). All study participants received standard of care, including corticosteroids. OP-101 at 4 mg/kg was better than placebo at decreasing inflammatory markers; OP-101 at 4 and 8 mg/kg was better than placebo at reducing neurological injury markers, (neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein). Risk for the composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or death at 30 and 60 days after treatment was 71% (95% CI: 29%, 96%) for placebo and 18% (95% CI: 4%, 43%;
P
= 0.021) for the pooled OP-101 treatment arms. At 60 days, 3 of 7 patients given placebo and 14 of 17 OP-101–treated patients were surviving. No drug-related adverse events were reported. These data show that OP-101 was well tolerated and may have potential to treat systemic inflammation and neuronal injury, reducing morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19.
Repurposing of MitoTam: Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Candidate Exhibits Potent Activity against Major Protozoan and Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Arbon Dominik , Ženíšková Kateřina , Šubrtová Karolína , Mach Jan , Štursa Jan , Machado Marta , Zahedifard Farnaz , Leštinová Tereza , Hierro-Yap Carolina , Neuzil Jiri , Volf Petr , Ganter Markus , Zoltner Martin , Zíková Alena , Werner Lukáš , Sutak Robert
Published: July 2022

Many of the currently available anti-parasitic and anti-fungal frontline drugs have severe limitations, including adverse side effects, complex administration, and increasing occurrence of resistance. The discovery and development of new therapeutic agents is a costly and lengthy process.
Detecting Sources of Immune Activation and Viral Rebound in HIV Infection
Authors: Wietgrefe Stephen W. , Duan Lijie , Anderson Jodi , Marqués Guillermo , Sanders Mark , Cummins Nathan W. , Badley Andrew D. , Dobrowolski Curtis , Karn Jonathan , Pagliuzza Amélie , Chomont Nicolas , Sannier Gérémy , Dubé Mathieu , Kaufmann Daniel E. , Zuck Paul , Wu Guoxin , Howell Bonnie J. , Reilly Cavan , Herschhorn Alon , Schacker Timothy W. , Haase Ashley T.
Published: July 2022

Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has greatly improved the quality and length of life for people living with HIV, but immune activation does not normalize during ART, and persistent immune activation has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality. We report a comparison of assays of two potential sources of immune activation during ART: rare cells producing HIV and the virus’ major viral protein, p24, benchmarked on a cell model of active and latent infections and a method to visualize HIV-producing cells.
Predictable Changes in Eelgrass Microbiomes with Increasing Wasting Disease Prevalence across 23° Latitude in the Northeastern Pacific
Authors: Beatty Deanna S. , Aoki Lillian R. , Rappazzo Brendan , Bergman Chelsea , Domke Lia K. , Duffy J. Emmett , Dubois Katie , Eckert Ginny L. , Gomes Carla , Graham Olivia J. , Harper Leah , Harvell C. Drew , Hawthorne Timothy L. , Hessing-Lewis Margot , Hovel Kevin , Monteith Zachary L. , Mueller Ryan S. , Olson Angeleen M. , Prentice Carolyn , Tomas Fiona , Yang Bo , Stachowicz John J.
Published: July 2022

The roles of marine microbiomes in disease remain poorly understood due, in part, to the challenging nature of sampling at appropriate spatiotemporal scales and across natural gradients of disease throughout host ranges. This is especially true for marine vascular plants like eelgrass (
Zostera marina
) that are vital for ecosystem function and biodiversity but are susceptible to rapid decline and die-off from pathogens like eukaryotic slime-mold
Labyrinthula zosterae
(wasting disease).
SARS-CoV-2 Convalescent Sera Binding and Neutralizing Antibody Concentrations Compared with COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Estimates against Symptomatic Infection
Authors: Schuh Amy J. , Satheshkumar Panayampalli S. , Dietz Stephanie , Bull-Otterson Lara , Charles Myrna , Edens Chris , Jones Jefferson M. , Bajema Kristina L. , Clarke Kristie E. N. , McDonald L. Clifford , Patel Sadhna , Cuffe Kendra , Thornburg Natalie J. , Schiffer Jarad , Chun Kelly , Bastidas Monique , Fernando Manory , Petropoulos Christos J. , Wrin Terri , Cai Suqin , Adcock Dot , Sesok-Pizzini Deborah , Letovsky Stanley , Fry Alicia M. , Hall Aron J. , Gundlapalli Adi V.
Published: July 2022

Although COVID-19 vaccine efficacy (VE) studies have estimated antibody concentrations that correlate with protection from COVID-19, how these estimates compare to those generated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unclear. We assessed quantitative neutralizing and binding antibody concentrations using standardized assays on serum specimens collected from COVID-19-unvaccinated persons with detectable antibodies.
A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of the Anthranilyl-CoA Synthetase PqsA for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Chen Jianwei , Lu Yaojia , Ye Fei , Zhang Hongfang , Zhou Yonglie , Li Jiangtao , Wu Qiang , Xu Xuewei , Wu Qihao , Wei Bin , Zhang Huawei , Wang Hong
Published: July 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a dominant hospital-acquired bacterial pathogen typically found in immunocompromised individuals. It is particularly dangerous for patients with chronic lung diseases and was identified as a serious threat for patients in the 2019 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats report (
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html
).
Community seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents in England, 2019–2021
Authors: Ratcliffe Helen , Tiley K S , Andrews Nick , Amirthalingam Gayatri , Vichos I , Morey E , Douglas N L , Marinou S , Plested Emma , Aley Parvinder , Galiza Eva P , Faust Saul N , Hughes S , Murray Clare S , Roderick Marion , Shackley Fiona , Oddie Sam J , Lees Tim , Turner D P J , Raman M , Owens Stephen , Turner Paul , Cockerill H , Lopez Bernal J , Linley E , Borrow Ray , Brown Kevin , Ramsay Mary Elizabeth , Voysey M , Snape Matthew D
Published: July 2022

Objective

To understand community seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents. This is vital to understanding the susceptibility of this cohort to COVID-19 and to inform public health policy for disease control such as immunisation.

Design

We conducted a community-based cross-sectional seroprevalence study in participants aged 0–18 years old recruiting from seven regions in England between October 2019 and June 2021 and collecting extensive demographic and symptom data. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins using Roche assays processed at UK Health Security Agency laboratories. Prevalence estimates were calculated for six time periods and were standardised by age group, ethnicity and National Health Service region.

Results

Post-first wave (June–August 2020), the (anti-spike IgG) adjusted seroprevalence was 5.2%, varying from 0.9% (participants 10–14 years old) to 9.5% (participants 5–9 years old). By April–June 2021, this had increased to 19.9%, varying from 13.9% (participants 0–4 years old) to 32.7% (participants 15–18 years old). Minority ethnic groups had higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity than white participants (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0), after adjusting for sex, age, region, time period, deprivation and urban/rural geography. In children <10 years, there were no symptoms or symptom clusters that reliably predicted seropositivity. Overall, 48% of seropositive participants with complete questionnaire data recalled no symptoms between February 2020 and their study visit.

Conclusions

Approximately one-third of participants aged 15–18 years old had evidence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 prior to the introduction of widespread vaccination. These data demonstrate that ethnic background is independently associated with risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.

Trial registration number

NCT04061382.
Carcinosarcoma with chondroid differentiation and neuroendocrine carcinoma: unusual triphasic tumour arising from intracholecystic papillary neoplasm of the gall bladder
Authors: Mruthyunjayappa Smitha , Patel Chirag Rasiklal , Reddy Sushanth , Al Diffalha Sameer
Published: July 2022

Herein, we report a man in his 70s with gallbladder mass. Microscopically, the tumour demonstrated moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, sarcoma with focal chondroid differentiation and high-grade neuroendocrine tumour component arising in an intracholecystic papillary neoplasm. The patient did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy in the setting of complete surgical resection. Patient presented with extensive metastasis after 47 months and died 3 months later. Due to the low incidence and poor prognosis of this tumour, it is essential to gather all the individual experience-based information. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of carcinosarcoma arising from intracholecystic papillary–tubular neoplasm.
Renal peripelvic lymphangiectasia after bilateral renal vein thrombosis
Authors: Villard Nicolas , Meuwly Jean-Yves , Righini Marc , Alberti Nicolas , Habre Céline
Published: July 2022

Renal peripelvic lymphangiectasia (RPL) is one of the rare conditions that mimic renal cysts. Its physiopathology remains unknown, but an association with renal vein thrombosis has been reported. We share the case of a male patient in his 20s suffering from antiphosphlipid syndrome. The patient was hospitalised for thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) extending from the iliac veins to the level of renal veins. Consecutive CT and clinical follow-up over the course of 14 years showed the development of numerous retroperitoneal venous collaterals and the apparition of several bilateral peripelvic cystic lesions after extensive thrombosis of the IVC and both renal veins. The renal function remained normal throughout the follow-up. We suggest that the development of RPL is secondary to bilateral renal vein thrombosis. The presumed mechanism would be an increased hydrostatic pressure in the kidney capillaries leading to a more important interstitial fluid drainage by the lymphatic system. To our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of renal vein thrombosis followed by RPL, contrasting with the previous hypothesis that compression by the lymphangiectasia could cause the thrombosis.
Early onset unilateral Terrien’s marginal degeneration
Authors: Mandal Sohini , Sachdeva Gaurav , Nagpal Ritu , Maharana Prafulla Kumar
Published: July 2022

A young man in his first decade of life presented with insidious onset, gradually progressive diminution of vision in right eye since 2 months associated with foreign body sensation. Slit-lamp examination revealed superior arcuate band of corneal stromal thinning extending from 9-3 o’ clock. There was associated corneal vascularisation and presence of lipid deposition at the leading edge of the furrow formation with intact epithelium without any apparent signs of inflammation. There was no previous history of ocular or systemic disease, trauma, ocular surgery, collagen vascular disease or contact lens wear. Serological tests for rheumatic diseases did not show any abnormalities. Scheimpflug imaging showed high against the rule astigmatism with a ‘reverse crab claw’ pattern. A provisional diagnosis of right eye Terrien’s marginal corneal degeneration was made. On a 1-month follow-up visit, there was significant symptomatic relief with lubricants alone and with spectacles the visual acuity improved to 20/60 in the right eye.
Cardiovascular risk management in people with type 1 diabetes: performance using three guidelines
Authors: Varkevisser Rita Delphine Maiko , Birnie Erwin , Vollenbrock Charlotte E , Mul Dick , van Dijk Peter R , van der Klauw Melanie M , Veeze Henk , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H R , Aanstoot Henk-Jan
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Cardiovascular risk management is therefore essential in the management of individuals with T1DM. This study describes the performance of lipid and blood pressure management in individuals with T1DM using three guidelines.

Research design and methods

Individuals ≥18 years with T1DM, treated with insulin for ≥1 year, visiting Diabeter or the University Medical Center Groningen between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, were included. Lipid and blood pressure management were examined using the Dutch, American Diabetes Association (ADA) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Concordance of recommended and prescribed lipid-lowering (LLM) or antihypertensive medication (AHM) was assessed per guideline and 10-year age groups. Achievement of treatment targets was assessed for those prescribed medication.

Results

A total of 1855 individuals with T1DM were included. LLM and AHM was prescribed in 19% and 17%, respectively. In individuals recommended LLM, this was prescribed in 22%–46% according to Dutch, ADA or NICE guideline recommendations. For individuals recommended AHM, this was prescribed in 52%–75%. Recommended and actual prescription of LLM and AHM increased over age for all three guidelines. However, discordance between treatment recommendation and medication prescribed was higher in younger, compared with older, age groups. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol targets were achieved by 50% (without CVD) and 31% (with CVD) of those prescribed LLM. The blood pressure target was achieved by 46% of those prescribed AHM.

Conclusion

This study suggests that there is undertreatment of lipid and blood pressure according to guideline recommendations, particularly in younger age groups. Treatment targets are not met by most individuals prescribed medication, while guidelines recommendations differ considerably. We recommend to investigate the factors influencing undertreatment of lipid and blood pressure management in individuals with T1DM.
Aboriginal peoples’ perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines and motivations to seek vaccination: a qualitative study
Authors: Graham Simon , Blaxland Megan , Bolt Reuben , Beadman Mitchell , Gardner Kristy , Martin Kacey , Doyle Michael , Beetson Karen , Murphy Dean , Bell Stephen , Newman Christy E , Bryant Joanne
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people compared with non-Aboriginal people in Australia have higher rates of chronic conditions. These conditions increase the risk of poorer health outcomes if infected with COVID-19, highlighting the importance of COVID-19 vaccination. This study examined what Aboriginal people think about COVID-19 vaccines, reasons why they were vaccinated or not vaccinated and factors involved in receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

We used a participatory peer researcher method to interview 35 Aboriginal people aged 15–80 years living in Western Sydney, Australia. Local Aboriginal people who had ties with the community conducted the interviews. The questions and analyses were framed using the WHO’s Behavioural and Social Drivers of COVID-19 model. Interviews occurred between February 2021 and March 2021. Peer researchers were paid for their time in training and to conduct the interviews and each participant received $50.

Results

Reasons why participants would seek vaccination included: to protect themselves from infection and severe illness, to protect others in their community, to travel again and to return to ‘normal life’. Reasons why some participants were hesitant about being vaccinated included: fear of vaccine side effects; negative stories on social media; and distrust in Australian governments and medical institutions. Aboriginal people preferred to access COVID-19 vaccination through their local Aboriginal Health Service or a general practitioner they already knew.

Conclusion

Achieving high vaccination rates in Aboriginal communities is possible if vaccination programmes are delivered through trusted general practitioners or Aboriginal Health Services.
An analysis of tax abuse, debt, and climate change risk in low-income and lower-middle-income countries
Authors: Lopez Marisol J , O'Hare Bernadette Anne-Marie , Hannah Eilish , Hall Stephen
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Climate change is exacerbating a pre-existing child rights crisis. Lower- (low- and lower-middle-) income countries have borne 99% of the disease burden from the crisis, of which children under five carry 90%. In response, much of the recent global policy efforts focus on climate action. However, unsustainable levels of debt and tax abuses are draining countries of crucial revenue to handle the crisis. Like the climate crisis, these are primarily facilitated by entities domiciled within higher- (upper-middle- and high-) income countries. This paper aims to review these revenue leaks in countries where children are at the greatest risk of climate change to identify opportunities to increase climate change resilience.

Methods

We compiled data on tax abuse, debt service and climate risk for all lower-income countries with available data to highlight the need for intervention at the global level. We used the Climate Change Risk Index (CCRI), developed by UNICEF. Additionally, we used figures for tax abuse and debt service as a percentage of government revenue.

Results

We present data on 62 lower-income countries with data on revenue losses, of which 55 have CCRI data. Forty-two of these 62 countries (67.7%) are at high risk of lost government revenues. Forty-one (74.5%) of the 55 countries with CCRI data are at high risk of climate change. Thirty-one countries with data on both (56.4%) are at high risk of both climate change and revenue losses. Most countries at high risk of both are located in sub-Saharan Africa. This shows that countries most in need of resources lose money to arguably preventable leaks in government revenue.

Discussion

Higher-income countries and global actors can adopt policies and practices to ensure that they do not contribute to human rights abuses in other countries. Highlighting the impact of a failing global economic model on children’s economic and social rights and one which increases their vulnerability to the climate emergency could help drive the transition towards a model that prioritises human rights and the environment on which we all depend.
Smoking and socioeconomic factors linked to acute exacerbations of COPD: analysis from an Asthma + Lung UK survey
Authors: Williams Parris J , Cumella Andrew , Philip Keir Elmslie James , Laverty Anthony A , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: July 2022

Background

Understanding the factors driving acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is key to reducing their impact on human health and well-being.

Methods

5997 people with COPD, mean 66 years, 64% female, completed an online survey between December 2020 and May 2021 about living with COPD, developed by the charity Asthma + Lung UK.

Results

The 3731 (62.2%) survey participants reporting frequent (≥2/year) exacerbations were more likely to smoke (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.70, 95% CI 1.470 to 1.98), have lower annual household income (≤£20 000 (AOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.17), live in a cold and damp home (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.11) and report previous occupational exposure to dust, fumes and chemicals. Smokers were more likely to report attending hospital to manage their most recent acute exacerbation of COPD compared with ex-smokers (AOR 1.25, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.59).

Discussion

Strategies to improve COPD outcomes must address issues of deprivation and social justice.
Automatic CD30 scoring method for whole slide images of primary cutaneous CD30+lymphoproliferative diseases
Authors: Zheng Tingting , Zheng Song , Wang Ke , Quan Hao , Bai Qun , Li Shuqin , Qi Ruiqun , Zhao Yue , Cui Xiaoyu , Gao Xinghua
Published: July 2022

Aims

Deep-learning methods for scoring biomarkers are an active research topic. However, the superior performance of many studies relies on large datasets collected from clinical samples. In addition, there are fewer studies on immunohistochemical marker assessment for dermatological diseases. Accordingly, we developed a method for scoring CD30 based on convolutional neural networks for a few primary cutaneous CD30+lymphoproliferative disorders and used this method to evaluate other biomarkers.

Methods

A multipatch spatial attention mechanism and conditional random field algorithm were used to fully fuse tumour tissue characteristics on immunohistochemical slides and alleviate the few sample feature deficits. We trained and tested 28 CD30+immunohistochemical whole slide images (WSIs), evaluated them with a performance index, and compared them with the diagnoses of senior dermatologists. Finally, the model’s performance was further demonstrated on the publicly available Yale HER2 cohort.

Results

Compared with the diagnoses by senior dermatologists, this method can better locate the tumour area and reduce the misdiagnosis rate. The prediction of CD3 and Ki-67 validated the model’s ability to identify other biomarkers.

Conclusions

In this study, using a few immunohistochemical WSIs, our model can accurately identify CD30, CD3 and Ki-67 markers. In addition, the model could be applied to additional tumour identification tasks to aid pathologists in diagnosis and benefit clinical evaluation.
Uncommon causes of ischaemic stroke: how to approach the diagnosis
Authors: Hurford Robert , Siripurapu Rekha , Emsley Hedley C A , Lovett Joanna , Werring David , Punter Martin Nicholas Michael
Published: July 2022

Stroke is a common neurological emergency and although most cases are associated with traditional vascular risk factors leading to cerebral ischaemia by well-recognised pathophysiological mechanisms, around 4% of ischaemic strokes are due to rare conditions. These are important to recognise due to their different management, which is often specific and effective, and due to their different prognosis from otherwise cryptogenic ischaemic strokes. We outline a practical approach to identifying uncommon causes of ischaemic stroke by highlighting diagnostic ‘red flags’ and propose a structured approach to investigating them.
Influence of menstrual cycle on muscle glycogen utilization during high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion in healthy women
Authors: Matsuda Tomoka , Takahashi Hideyuki , Nakamura Mariko , Kanno Moe , Ogata Hazuki , Ishikawa Akira , Yamada Mizuki , Kamemoto Kayoko , Sakamaki-Sunaga Mikako
Published: July 2022

The present study investigated the effects of the menstrual cycle on muscle glycogen and circulating substrates during high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion in healthy women who habitually exercised. In total, 11 women with regular menstrual cycles completed three tests, which comprised the early follicular phase (E-FP), late follicular phase (L-FP), and luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle. High-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion was performed on each test day. Evaluation of muscle glycogen concentration by 13C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and measurement of estradiol, progesterone, blood glucose, lactate, free fatty acids (FFA), and insulin concentrations were conducted before exercise (Pre) and immediately after exercise (Post). Muscle glycogen concentrations from thigh muscles at Pre and Post were not significantly different between menstrual cycle phases ( P = 0.57). Muscle glycogen decreases by exercise were significantly greater in L-FP (59.0 ± 12.4 mM) than in E-FP (48.3 ± 14.4 mM, P < 0.05). Nonetheless, blood glucose, blood lactate, serum FFA, serum insulin concentrations, and exercise time until exhaustion in E-FP, L-FP, and LP were similar. The study results suggest that although exercise time does not change according to the menstrual cycle, the menstrual cycle influences muscle glycogen utilization during high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion in women with habitual exercise activity.

Novelty:

This study compared changes in muscle glycogen concentration across the menstrual cycle during high-intensity intermittent exercise until exhaustion using 13C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our results highlight the influence of the menstrual cycle on muscle glycogen during high-intensity intermittent exercise in healthy women.
System of excitons bound at oxygen centers and stimulated emission of CdS crystals
Authors: Morozova N. K. , Abbasov I. I.
Published: July 2022

The paper presents the results of a study of the optical properties of CdS on the basis of the band anticrossing theory (BAC) with the involvement of the wider source data to the analysis results. Depending on the growth conditions, the presence and change in the concentration of oxygen and intrinsic point defects, which determine the composition of the crystals, have been taken into account. Data from studies of the structural features of crystals have also been used. The concept of nonuniform distribution of oxygen isoelectronic centers in the CdS volume due to their predominant segregation in layers of stacking faults (SFs) and also on dislocations has been introduced.

To analyze the optical data, the capabilities of the method for constructing band models, which collect extensive and multilateral information about specific samples have been used. A refined model multizone of [Formula: see text] with SFs, which determines the spectrum of edge emission, has been presented.

The nature of the edge emission A2B6 crystals with a small deviation from stoichiometry (CdS type) was explained as a spectrum of bound excitons at oxygen centers in SF layers. The article gives recommendations for the diagnostics of CdS crystals, suitable for creating stable luminescent systems or lasers.
On the l = 0 binding eigenstates of a cut-off Coulomb potential
Authors: Martínez-y-Romero R. P. , Núñez-Yépez H. N. , Salas-Brito A. L.
Published: July 2022

The cut-off Coulomb potential (CCP) [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] a constant, is a radial interaction which is free from singularities in the whole radial range [Formula: see text]. The CCP is useful for modeling interacting systems when a Coulomb-like behavior is called for far from the source but with no singularity near it. The binding energies of the [Formula: see text] states of the CCP may be approximated. We further exhibit that the radiative corrections of phenomena such as the double Sudakov logarithm should be treated in the standard way.
Studies on the rogue waves of a (3 + 1)-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii equation in the Bose–Einstein condensation
Authors: Wu Xiao-Yu , Li You
Published: July 2022

On the basis of the application in the Bose–Einstein condensation, we investigate a (3 + 1)-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii equation with distributed time-dependent coefficients. With the aid of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili hierarchy reduction method, we construct the [Formula: see text]th-order rogue-wave solutions in terms of the Gram determinant by introducing appropriate constraints. Using different coefficients for the diffraction [Formula: see text] and gain/loss [Formula: see text], we demonstrate the behaviors of the first- and second-order rogue waves by analytical and graphical means. We find that only if [Formula: see text], the rogue waves appear on the constant backgrounds; otherwise, the heights of the backgrounds change as time goes on. With the different choices of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], the long-live, rapid-reducing and periodic rogue waves are discussed. The separated and aggregated second-order rogue waves are also shown on the constant and periodical backgrounds.
Heat transfer analysis in three-dimensional unsteady magnetic fluid flow of water-based ternary hybrid nanofluid conveying three various shaped nanoparticles: A comparative study
Authors: Kumar R. Naveen , Gamaoun Fehmi , Abdulrahman Amal , Chohan Jasgurpreet Singh , Gowda R. J. Punith
Published: July 2022

The heat transport analysis in the three-dimensional unsteady flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid is studied in this research communication. Comparison of water-based ternary hybrid nanofluid conveying three various shaped nanoparticles (titanium spherical-carbon nanotube (CNT) cylindrical-graphene platelet) and Zinc Oxide-Society of Automotive Engineers 50 nanolubricant (ZnO-SAE50Nanolubricant) is emphasized with two different models. Also, this paper is mainly focused on an electrically non-conducting and incompressible magnetic liquid with moderate saturation magnetization and low Curie temperature. An infinitely long, straight wire delivering an electric current generates a magnetic field that affects the fluid. To study heat transfer characteristics thermal radiation is taken into account. Pertinent flow expressions are reduced into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) through appropriate transformations. The obtained ODEs are solved by means of the numerical method Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg’s fourth-fifth order method (RKF-45) with shooting technique. Results reveals that the ZnO-SAE50Nanolubricant flow shows maximum heat transport followed by titanium spherical-CNT cylindrical-graphene platelet-water hybrid nanofluid flow for increased values of radiation parameter. Further in this scenario, it is found that the heat transfer rate in ternary hybrid nanofluid increases about 2–5% whereas in Nanolubricant it is about 3–8% for the gradual increasing values of the ferromagnetic interaction parameter.
Solving Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equations in f(T) gravity: A novel approach applied to some realistic equations of state
Authors: de Araujo J. C. N. , Fortes H. G. M.
Published: July 2022

There are many ways to probe alternative theories of gravity, namely, via experimental tests at solar system scale, cosmological data and models, gravitational waves and compact objects. In this paper, we consider a model of gravity with torsion [Formula: see text] applied to compact objects such as neutron stars (NSs) for a couple of realistic equations of state (EOS). To do so, we follow our previous articles, in which we show how to model compact stars in [Formula: see text] gravity by obtaining its corresponding Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkof equations. In this modeling of NS in [Formula: see text] gravity presented here, we calculate, among other things, the maximum mass allowed for a given realistic EOS, which would also allow us to evaluate which models are in accordance with the observations. The results already known to General Relativity must be reproduced to some extent and, eventually, we can find models that allow higher maximum masses for NSs than Relativity itself, which could explain, for example, the secondary component of the event GW190814, if this star is a massive NS.
Analyzing Financial Time Series by Dispersion Entropy Based on Hill’s Diversity Number
Authors: Li Sange , Shang Pengjian
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose dispersion entropy based on Hill’s diversity number (HDE) as a new method to characterize nonlinear time series such as financial time series. In order to test the performance of this new proposed method, we first apply HDE to characterize two synthetic models (logistic map, Hénon map), the results show that the proposed method can sensitively detect the changes in the state of systems, accurately distinguish different states of the system for different parameters and correctly characterize the complexity of systems. Furthermore, we apply the proposed method to analyze the financial time series obtained from the main indices from six different countries. Empirical results illustrate that the HDE can distinguish developed stock markets and emerging stock markets, and also reveal the intrinsic dynamical characteristics of financial time series.
COLLOID–CELL INTERACTION ANALYSIS WITH ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY — ζ CALCULATION AND ADHESION ANALYSIS
Authors: HE YUAN
Published: July 2022

The interaction between cells and colloids is an important characteristic that influences cell behavior. Theoretically, much information could be revealed by analyzing the interactions in colloid–cell contact. In this study, in order to explore the interaction between cells and colloids, we developed a novel computational method able to obtain a zeta potential directly calculated from the force distance curve and apply to adhesion analysis, which used atomic force microscope (AFM), based on DLVO (Deryaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek) theory and Mann Whitney U test, and combined with Zetasizer measurement. The calculation and analysis of [Formula: see text] of the cell surfaces of ncyc-1324 yeast, ncyc-1681 yeast and Pseudomonas fluorescens showed that pH affected the electrostatic distribution on the cell surface. Compared with the previous research methods, this method significantly reduces the computation and manual control, which is an effective method for multi-element surface analysis and comparison. For example, the reverse calculation and curve fitting method will significantly request more computation and manual control to set up the reference force curve that simulated with set zeta potential, while this method only need to calculate on one force curve. The deconvolution of different adhesion events from force curves showed that the heterogeneity of cell surface can be significantly displayed. This provides a method for determining the complexity of the cell surface. Furthermore, this method was used to study the effect of amoxicillin on cell surface interaction, which showed that the cells surface forces were influenced even the medicine concentration is not enough to make significant influence on microbials optical observation appearance. Thus, AFM force analysis is a more sensitive method to research the medicine influence compared to the traditional method.
Intelligent stock prediction: A neural network approach
Authors: Shahrour Mohamad Hassan , Dekmak Mostafa
Published: July 2022

Ever since the existence of financial markets, predicting stocks’ movement has been crucial for investors in order to increase their investment returns. Despite the plethora of research, the outstanding literature provides mixed results concerning the choice of model. Are Artificial Intelligence systems valid techniques in predicting stock prices? Do deep learning models outperform machine learning models? Through developing different machine and deep learning models, the overall findings reveal that deep learning techniques (i.e., ANN and LSTM) outperform machine learning techniques (i.e., SVR) in price prediction. The results are validated using different accuracy measures.
Hybrid Mode of Operation Schemes for P2P Communication to Analyze End-Point Individual Behaviour in IoT
Authors: Mishra Alekha Kumar , Singh Osho , Kumar Abhay , Puthal Deepak , Sharma Pradip Kumar , Pradhan Biswajeet
Published: July 2022

The Internet of Behavior is the recent trend in the Internet of Things (IoT), which analyzes the behaviour of individuals using huge amounts of data collected from their activities. The behavioural data collection process from an individual to a data center in the network layer of the IoT is addressed by the Routing Protocol for Low-powered Lossy Networks (RPL) downward routing policy. A hybrid mode of operation in RPL is designed to minimize the limitations of standard modes of operations in the downward routing of RPL. The existing hybrid modes use the common parameters, such as routing table capacity, energy level, and hop-count for making storing mode decisions at each node. However, none of these works have utilized the deciding parameters, such as number of Destination-Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph (DODAG) children, rank, and transmission traffic density for this purpose. In this article, we propose two hybrid MOPs for RPL focusing on the aspect of efficient downward communication for the Internet of Behaviors. The first version decides the mode of each node based on the rank and number of DODAG children of the node. In addition, the proposed Mode of Operation (MOP) has the provision to balance the task of a storing node that is currently running on low power and computational resources by a handover mechanism among the ancestors. The second version of the hybrid MOP utilizes the upward and downward transmission traffic probabilities together with 170 rule or 1D cellular automata to decide the operating mode of a node. The analysis on the upper bound on communication shows that both proposed works have communication overhead nearly equal to the storing mode. The experimental results also infer that the proposed adaptive MOP have lower communication overhead compared with standard storing modes and existing schemes ARPL, MERPL, and HIMOPD.
The Statistics of Eye Movements and Binocular Disparities during VR Gaming: Implications for Headset Design
Authors: Aizenman Avi M. , Koulieris George A. , Gibaldi Agostino , Sehgal Vibhor , Levi Dennis M. , Banks Martin S.
Published: July 2022

The human visual system evolved in environments with statistical regularities. Binocular vision is adapted to these such that depth perception and eye movements are more precise, faster, and performed comfortably in environments consistent with the regularities. We measured the statistics of eye movements and binocular disparities in virtual-reality (VR) -gaming environments and found that they are quite different from those in the natural environment. Fixation distance and direction are more restricted in VR, and fixation distance is farther. The pattern of disparity across the visual field is less regular in VR and does not conform to a prominent property of naturally occurring disparities. From this we predict that double vision is more likely in VR than in the natural environment. We also determined the optimal screen distance to minimize discomfort due to the vergence-accommodation conflict, and the optimal nasal-temporal positioning of head-mounted display (HMD) screens to maximize binocular field of view. Finally, in a user study we investigated how VR content affects comfort and performance. Content that is more consistent with the statistics of the natural world yields less discomfort than content that is not. Furthermore, consistent content yields slightly better performance than inconsistent content.
Recent Advances in Baggage Threat Detection: A Comprehensive and Systematic Survey
Authors: Velayudhan Divya , Hassan Taimur , Damiani Ernesto , Werghi Naoufel
Published: July 2022

X-ray imagery systems have enabled security personnel to identify potential threats contained within the baggage and cargo since the early 1970s. However, the manual process of screening the threatening items is time-consuming and vulnerable to human error. Hence, researchers have utilized recent advancements in computer vision techniques, revolutionized by machine learning models, to aid in baggage security threat identification via 2D X-ray and 3D CT imagery. However, the performance of these approaches is severely affected by heavy occlusion, class imbalance, and limited labeled data, further complicated by ingeniously concealed emerging threats. Hence, the research community must devise suitable approaches by leveraging the findings from existing literature to move in new directions. Towards that goal, we present a structured survey providing systematic insight into state-of-the-art advances in baggage threat detection. Furthermore, we also present a comprehensible understanding of X-ray-based imaging systems and the challenges faced within the threat identification domain. We include a taxonomy to classify the approaches proposed within the context of 2D and 3D CT X-ray-based baggage security threat screening and provide a comparative analysis of the performance of the methods evaluated on four benchmarks. Besides, we also discuss current open challenges and potential future research avenues.