bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engaging Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the South in identifying strategies to increase PrEP uptake
Authors: Pichon Latrice C. , Teti Michelle , McGoy Shanell , Murry Velma McBride , Juarez Paul D.
Published: December 2022

Background

Promotion, uptake, and adherence of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is paramount to ending the HIV epidemic among young Black men who have sex with men in the South. The purpose of this study was to explore strategies needed for and barriers to PrEP uptake needed to achieve HIV prevention goals identified in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services initiative to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 90 percent by 2030.

Method

Young adults (n = 25) between the ages of 15–34 were recruited from community-based organizations in Memphis to participate in four focus group discussions. Discussion topics included motivations, barriers, and facilitators to PrEP use. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

All (100%) of participants self-identified as HIV-negative, Black (96%), men who have sex with men (96%), and currently prescribed PrEP/Truvada (60%). Themes identified for increasing uptake included 1) trusted peers, 2) relatable healthcare provider (e.g., Historically Black College and University (HBCU) trained, LGBTQ), and 3) use of social media. Mislabeling of PrEP as promiscuity promoting and limitations with PrEP marketing (e.g., solely LGBTQ) were recognized as barriers that perpetuated stigma.

Conclusion

Findings suggest the importance of increasing awareness among health professions students matriculating at HBCUs of their perceived role as relatable healthcare providers by Black MSM; working closely with couples; and crafting of PrEP messaging that is non-stigmatizing. Findings will inform public health interventions for young Black MSM and facilitate HIV prevention efforts with other groups disproportionally affected by HIV in the South.
Yap governs a lineage-specific neuregulin1 pathway-driven adaptive resistance to RAF kinase inhibitors
Authors: Garcia-Rendueles Maria E. R. , Krishnamoorthy Gnana , Saqcena Mahesh , Acuña-Ruiz Adrian , Revilla Giovanna , de Stanchina Elisa , Knauf Jeffrey A. , Lester Rona , Xu Bin , Ghossein Ronald A. , Fagin James A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Inactivation of the Hippo pathway promotes Yap nuclear translocation, enabling execution of a transcriptional program that induces tissue growth. Genetic lesions of Hippo intermediates only identify a minority of cancers with illegitimate YAP activation. Yap has been implicated in resistance to targeted therapies, but the mechanisms by which YAP may impact adaptive resistance to MAPK inhibitors are unknown.

Methods

We screened 52 thyroid cancer cell lines for illegitimate nuclear YAP localization by immunofluorescence and fractionation of cell lysates. We engineered a doxycycline (dox)-inducible thyroid-specific mouse model expressing constitutively nuclear YAPS127A, alone or in combination with endogenous expression of either HrasG12V or BrafV600E. We also generated cell lines expressing dox-inducible sh-miR-E-YAP and/or YAPS127A. We used cell viability, invasion assays, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qRT-PCRs, flow cytometry and cell sorting, high-throughput bulk RNA sequencing and in vivo tumorigenesis to investigate YAP dependency and response of BRAF-mutant cells to vemurafenib.

Results

We found that 27/52 thyroid cancer cell lines had constitutively aberrant YAP nuclear localization when cultured at high density (NU-YAP), which rendered them dependent on YAP for viability, invasiveness and sensitivity to the YAP-TEAD complex inhibitor verteporfin, whereas cells with confluency-driven nuclear exclusion of YAP (CYT-YAP) were not. Treatment of BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer cells with RAF kinase inhibitors resulted in YAP nuclear translocation and activation of its transcriptional output. Resistance to vemurafenib in BRAF-mutant thyroid cells was driven by YAP-dependent NRG1, HER2 and HER3 activation across all isogenic human and mouse thyroid cell lines tested, which was abrogated by silencing YAP and relieved by pan-HER kinase inhibitors. YAP activation induced analogous changes in BRAF melanoma, but not colorectal cells.

Conclusions

YAP activation in thyroid cancer generates a dependency on this transcription factor. YAP governs adaptive resistance to RAF kinase inhibitors and induces a gene expression program in BRAFV600E-mutant cells encompassing effectors in the NRG1 signaling pathway, which play a central role in the insensitivity to MAPK inhibitors in a lineage-dependent manner. HIPPO pathway inactivation serves as a lineage-dependent rheostat controlling the magnitude of the adaptive relief of feedback responses to MAPK inhibitors in BRAF-V600E cancers.
Efficacy and safety of remimazolam for non-obese patients during anesthetic induction in cardiac surgery: study protocol for a multicenter randomized trial
Authors: Yu Hong , Liu Hong-Mei , Li Ping , Yu Hai , Liu Bin , Liang Peng
Published: December 2022

Background

Valvular heart disease remains common in both developed and developing countries, and it requires timely surgical treatment when necessary. However, the stability of hemodynamics during anesthesia induction in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery is difficult to maintain due to their impaired cardiac function. Remimazolam, a novel and ultrashort-acting intravenous sedative-hypnotic, may be beneficial to stable hemodynamics, but the evidence is limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of remimazolam induction on hemodynamics compared with midazolam and etomidate in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Methods

This is a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT). Three hundred and sixty-three non-obese adult patients aged 45 to 80 years old undergoing valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass will be randomly allocated to receive remimazolam tosilate, midazolam, or etomidate during anesthetic induction. The primary outcome is the incidence of hypotension within 20 min after the administration of investigated drugs. The hypotension is defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg or a 30% reduction in SBP from baseline or the application of vasoactive drugs. Secondary outcomes include incidence of successful sedation, time to successful sedation, incidence of delirium and postoperative low cardiac output syndrome within 7 days after surgery, hospital mortality, mechanical ventilation time, ICU length of stay, and hospital length of stay.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first prospective RCT to investigate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam induction in adult cardiac surgery compared with midazolam and etomidate. This study will provide important information on the application of remimazolam in cardiac surgery in the future.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2100050122. Registered on August 16, 2021.
Myositis ossificans circumscripta after surgery and radiotherapy and during sunitinib treatment: a case report
Authors: Cren Pierre-Yves , Penel Nicolas , Cordoba Abel , Decanter Gauthier , Gaboriau Louise , Ben Haj Amor Mariem
Published: December 2022

Background

Myositis ossificans circumscripta is a self-limiting, benign, ossifying lesion that can affect any type of soft tissue. It is most commonly found in muscles as a solitary lesion. A history of recent trauma has been reported in approximately 50% of cases. Clinically, MOC presents as a painful swelling, which rapidly increases in size. The pain and inflammatory symptoms spontaneously disappear after approximately 2–6 weeks, and the mass stabilizes or decreases. Radiologically, myositis ossificans circumscripta can be divided into two phases. The first is the acute phase, which is followed by the mature phase 2–6 weeks later. During the acute phase, the radiological aspect does not show any specific abnormality. In the mature phase, plain radiographs and computed tomography show blurred calcifications around a hypodense center. We describe here the first case of myositis ossificans circumscripta, with appropriate follow-up, occurring during sunitinib exposure.

Case presentation

We report a case of myositis ossificans circumscripta in a 34-year-old man (ethnicity unknown) receiving sunitinib for metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma of the left thigh after surgery and radiotherapy. Four months after the first dose of sunitinib, the patient experienced painful swelling in the surgical scar area. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse and marked edema of the anterior compartment of the thigh, without nodular lesions circumscribing a central core, and without bone signal abnormality. The increased visibility of the intermuscular fascia and convergence of normal muscle fibers (black hole effect), without the displacement seen in tumors, were suggestive of myositis. Therefore, antiangiogenic treatment was discontinued, and the symptoms rapidly resolved within a few days. Three weeks after the discontinuation of sunitinib, the inflammatory findings completely disappeared. Two months after the diagnosis of myositis ossificans circumscripta, plain radiographs and computed tomography showed an extensive calcified mass measuring > 12 cm. The continuation of favorable clinical outcomes was confirmed.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of myositis ossificans circumscripta with appropriate follow-up occurring during sunitinib exposure. Owing to multimodal treatment of sarcoma, we cannot rule out the radiotherapy and surgery causality.
Uncertainty-Based Performance Prediction and Optimization of High-Fluidization Cement Grouting Material Using Machine Learning and Bayesian Inference
Authors: Ren Jiaolong , Wang Meng , Zhang Lin , Zhao Zedong , Wang Jian , Chen Jingchun , Zhao Hongbo
Published: December 2022

In pavement engineering, cement grouting material is widely used to pour into large void asphalt concrete to prepare semi-flexible composite mixtures. It plays an essential role in the performance of the semi-flexible composite mixture. To meet specific engineering requirements, various additives are mixed into the grouting material to improve the physical and mechanical properties. As a result, the uncertainty of the grouting material is also more significant as the complexity of material composition increases during the material design. It will bring some unknown risks for the engineering application. Hence, it is necessary to quantize the uncertainty during the material design of the grouting material and evaluate the reliability of the material formula. In this study, a novel framework of material design was developed by combing the Multioutput support vector machine (MSVM), Bayesian inference, and laboratory experiments. The MSVM was used to approximate and characterize the complex and nonlinear relationship between the grouting material formula and its properties based on laboratory experiments. The Bayesian inference was adopted to deal with the uncertainty of material design using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo. An optimized formula of the cement grouting material is obtained based on the developed framework. Experimental results show that the optimized formula improves engineering properties and performance stability, especially early strength. The developed framework provides a helpful, valuable, and promising tool for evaluating the reliability of the material design of the grouting material considering the uncertainty.
Embedding research codesign knowledge and practice: Learnings from researchers in a new research institute in Australia
Authors: Javanparast Sara , Robinson Sally , Kitson Alison , Arciuli Joanne
Published: December 2022

Background

Research codesign is generally defined as end-users’ involvement in planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects. Recently, there has been a growing interest in codesign to maximise research acceptability, applicability, and impact and to address longstanding issues around power and depth of involvement. Frameworks have been developed to assist in understanding research codesign processes at a project level. However, little is known about how university based researchers construct or adopt a coherent approach to sustain research codesign in governance, methodological approaches, and practice. This study investigated the perspectives of researchers within a newly formed research institute about principles and practices of research codesign in the context of their previous and current projects. We also investigated their perceptions of institution-level enablers and barriers to codesign. University based researchers are our primary focus here and we intend to consult other stakeholders in future work.

Methods

Using an interview guide informed by exploratory work and a scoping review of the literature, we conducted 15 individual interviews with Caring Futures Institute (CFI) leaders and researchers at different career stages working across multiple areas of health, care, and social research. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

The researchers we interviewed were involved in projects ranging from large nationally funded projects to small studies funded by the university or PhD projects. Research codesign activities were generally part of larger researcher-led projects but there were a few examples of community-led projects. There was agreement amongst participants on the principles and perceived benefits of research codesign such as partnership, co-learning, and power sharing. Less agreement was found regarding the definition of research codesign and best terminology to be used. Themes reflecting the success of research codesign included pre-existing community relationships, communication skills, knowledge, and training on codesign, balancing power relationships, use of external facilitators, and adequacy of funding, time, and resources.

Conclusions

The study reaffirmed the complexity of research codesign from researchers’ perspectives and identified areas of potential action that may be beneficial for university based research institutions in building codesign skills, capacity and culture for example training, peer learning and funding support. Implications for practice improvement centre on a dual strategy of building practical capacity in researchers and integrating institutional dimensions (such as governance and leadership) into codesign frameworks. This can help to ensure research codesign is integrated into organisational culture and through the work of individual researchers.
A phase transition in the O’Doherty-Anstey model
Authors: Innanen Kristopher A.
Published: December 2022

In the O’Doherty-Anstey model, the spectrum of a seismic wave transiting and reverberating within a stack of interfaces is estimated in terms of its reflectivity. At the center of the model is a discrete combinatorical calculation, in which the contributing raypaths at each lag are weighted and counted. The model maps naturally into an analysis based on statistical mechanics, with raypaths playing the role of system configurations and lag playing the role of system energy. This leads to an expression for the probability of finding a contribution to the wave at a given lag, determined up to a partition function and a scattering parameter analogous to temperature. The partition function is estimated within the O’Doherty-Anstey model itself, and the scattering parameter can be adjusted to describe geologic media with increased or decreased scattering potential. The average contributing lag deriving from this analysis exhibits a continuous phase transition, separating two distinct scattering regimes, one in which the direct wave dominates and the other in which the scattering dominates. The weighting produced by the reflectivity appears to govern the smoothness of the transition.
Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase Is Essential for Adrenal Steroidogenesis: Clinical and In Vitro Lessons
Authors: Bodoni Aline Faccioli , Coeli-Lacchini Fernanda Borchers , Gebenlian Juliana Lourenço , Sobral Lays Martin , Garcia Cristiana Bernadelli , Silva Wilson Araújo , Peronni Kamila Chagas , Ramalho Leandra Náira Zambelli , Ramalho Fernando Silva , Moreira Ayrton C , de Castro Margaret , Leopoldino Andreia Machado , Antonini Sonir Roberto Rauber
Published: December 2022

Context

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) acts as an antioxidant defense mechanism. NNT mutations cause familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD). How impaired oxidative stress disrupts adrenal steroidogenesis remains poorly understood.

Objective

To ascertain the role played by NNT in adrenal steroidogenesis.

Methods

The genotype–phenotype association of a novel pathogenic NNT variant was evaluated in a boy with FGD. Under basal and oxidative stress (OS) induced conditions, transient cell cultures of the patient's and controls’ wild-type (WT) mononuclear blood cells were used to evaluate antioxidant mechanisms and mitochondrial parameters (reactive oxygen species [ROS] production, reduced glutathione [GSH], and mitochondrial mass). Using CRISPR/Cas9, a stable NNT gene knockdown model was built in H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells to determine the role played by NNT in mitochondrial parameters and steroidogenesis. NNT immunohistochemistry was assessed in fetal and postnatal human adrenals.

Results

The homozygous NNT p.G866D variant segregated with the FGD phenotype. Under basal and OS conditions, p.G866D homozygous mononuclear blood cells exhibited increased ROS production, and decreased GSH levels and mitochondrial mass than WT NNT cells. In line H295R, NNT knocked down cells presented impaired NNT protein expression, increased ROS production, decreased the mitochondrial mass, as well as the size and the density of cholesterol lipid droplets. NNT knockdown affected steroidogenic enzyme expression, impairing cortisol and aldosterone secretion. In human adrenals, NNT is abundantly expressed in the transition fetal zone and in zona fasciculata.

Conclusion

Together, these studies demonstrate the essential role of NNT in adrenal redox homeostasis and steroidogenesis.
Resected Early-Onset Pancreatic Cancer: Practices and Outcomes in an International Dual-Center Study
Authors: Leonhardt Carl-Stephan , Kinny-Köster Benedict , Hank Thomas , Habib Joseph R. , Shoucair Sami , Klaiber Ulla , Cameron John L. , Hackert Thilo , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Büchler Markus W. , He Jin , Strobel Oliver
Published: December 2022

Background

Early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC), defined as age ≤ 45 years at diagnosis, accounts for 3% of all pancreatic cancer cases. Although differences in tumor biology have been suggested, available data are sparse and specific treatment recommendations are lacking. This study explores the clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes of resected EOPC.

Patients and Methods

Patients with EOPC undergoing resection between 2002 and 2018 were identified from the Heidelberg University Hospital and Johns Hopkins University registries. Median overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed, and prognostic factors were identified.

Results

The final cohort included 164 patients, most of whom had pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n = 136; 82.9%) or IPMN-associated pancreatic cancer (n = 17; 10.4%). Twenty (12.1%) patients presented with stage 1 disease, 42 (25.6%) with stage 2, 75 (45.7%) with stage 3, and 22 (13.4%) with oligometastatic stage 4 disease. Most patients underwent upfront resection (n = 113, 68.9%), whereas 51 (31.1%) individuals received preoperative treatment. Median OS and RFS were 26.0 and 12.4 months, respectively. Stage-specific median survival was 70.6, 41.8, 23.8, and 16.9 months for stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 tumors, respectively. Factors independently associated with shorter OS and RFS were R1 resections and AJCC stages 3 and 4. Notably, AJCC 3-N2 and AJCC 3-T4 tumors had a median OS of 20 months versus 29.5 months, respectively.

Conclusion

Despite frequently presenting with advanced disease, oncologic outcomes in EOPC patients are satisfactory even in locally advanced cancers, justifying aggressive surgical approaches. Further research is needed to tailor current guidelines to this rare population.
Carbon Taxes
Authors: Timilsina Govinda R.
Published: December 2022

There is a growing interest in using carbon taxes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not only in industrialized economies but also in developing economies. Many countries have considered carbon pricing, including carbon taxes, as policy instruments to meet their emission reduction targets set under the Paris Climate Agreement. However, policy makers, particularly from developing countries, are seeking clarity on several issues—particularly the impacts of carbon taxes on the economy, the distribution of these impacts across households, carbon tax design architectures, the effects of carbon taxes on the competitiveness of carbon-intensive industries, and comparison of carbon taxes with other policy instruments for climate change mitigation. This paper aims to offer insights on these issues by synthesizing the literature available since the 1970s, when the concept of carbon tax was first introduced. This paper also identifies the areas where further investigations are needed. (JEL H23, Q35, Q38, Q54, Q58)
The Intellectual Character of Interdisciplinary Researchers
Authors: Vanney Claudia E. , Aguinalde Sáenz J. Ignacio
Published: December 2022

The study and understanding of fundamental questions cannot be addressed by a single discipline. A plurality of insights needs to be integrated or coordinated to allow for mutual enrichment in interdisciplinary research. The intellectual character describes the set of dispositions that both configure and motivate intellectual behavior. In this paper, we explore the intellectual virtues that constitute the ideal character of an interdisciplinary researcher. We look at dimensions of several intellectual virtues – intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, intellectual humility, and intellectual honest – relevant to interdisciplinarity, we discuss the significance of other character traits – intellectual creativity and intellectual trust – for integrating a plurality of insights, and we argue for the need of a social cognition approach, emphasizing the relevance of interpersonal intellectual virtues in interdisciplinary inquiry. All these virtues are key constituents of the intellectual character of interdisciplinary researchers.
Market Making and Incentives Design in the Presence of a Dark Pool: A Stackelberg Actor–Critic Approach
Authors: Baldacci Bastien , Manziuk Iuliia , Mastrolia Thibaut , Rosenbaum Mathieu
Published: December 2022

A Stackelberg actor–critic approach to optimal market making and incentives design with dark pools.

We consider the issue of a market maker acting at the same time in the lit and dark pools of an exchange. The exchange wishes to establish a suitable make–take fee policy to attract transactions on its venues. We first solve the stochastic control problem of the market maker without the intervention of the exchange. Then, we derive the equations defining the optimal contract to be set between the market maker and the exchange. This contract depends on the trading flows generated by the market maker’s activity on the two venues. In both cases, we show existence and uniqueness, in the viscosity sense, of the solutions of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations associated to the market maker and exchange’s problems. We finally design an actor–critic algorithm inspired by deep reinforcement learning methods, enabling us to approximate efficiently the optimal controls of the market maker and the optimal incentives to be provided by the exchange.
Conhecimento em boas práticas e percepção de risco sanitário em manipuladores de alimentos de um hospital público
Authors: Cunha Rosevane De Oliveira , Garcia-Gomes Aline Dos Santos , Alves Simone
Published: December 2022

Introdução: Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos, as doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA) continuam sendo um problema de saúde pública global. Nesse contexto, o manipulador de alimentos tem sido associado a muitos surtos, principalmente em função de falhas na higiene pessoal e na manipulação inadequada dos alimentos. Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento em Boas Práticas de Manipulação (BPM), a percepção de risco em DTA e a existência do fenômeno conhecido como viés otimista em manipuladores de alimentos de um hospital público. Método: Foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório, utilizando um questionário estruturado dividido em três blocos de perguntas (1 - perfil sociodemográfico; 2 - avaliação do conhecimento de Boas Práticas de Manipulação; e 3 - percepção de risco em Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos e viés otimista) com 50 respondentes. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva, utilizando os testes Qui-quadrado, para identificar associações, e t-Student, para análise de similaridade entre variáveis. Resultados: O perfil da amostra foi de ≥ 41 anos (70%), sexo feminino (82%), ensino médio completo (46%) e experiência ≥ 6 anos na função (64%), com participação em treinamento há menos de três meses (84%). A média do grau de conhecimento em BPM foi satisfatória. Com relação à percepção de risco em DTA, os respondentes demonstraram alta percepção para identificar fatores de risco sanitário, não sendo observado viés otimista nas respostas. Conclusão: Apesar de os manipuladores apresentarem conhecimentos satisfatórios em BPM, algumas lacunas foram observadas, sendo importante ainda analisar se o conhecimento se transforma em atitudes e práticas adequadas e seguras.
DIVÓRCIO: EVOLUÇÃO HISTÓRICA E LEGISLATIVA COM DESTAQUE ÀS INOVAÇÕES DO CÓDIGO DE PROCESSO CIVIL
Authors: Spengler Fabiana Marion , Peixoto Schaefer Rafaela Matos
Published: December 2022

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o instituto do divórcio a partir do debate acerca da evolução histórica e legislativa, observadas as alterações trazidas pelo Código de Processo Civil. Diante disso, questiona-se: quais foram as inovações no tocante às ações de família, especialmente nas ações de divórcio? A adoção de meios autocompositivos é satisfatória para os divorciandos? Para fins de desenvolver tal pesquisa, será utilizado o método de abordagem dedutivo, que é compreendido como a ciência que relaciona logicamente as premissas gerais e os particulares. A técnica de pesquisa adotada foi a bibliográfica, consubstanciado principalmente de livros e artigos científicos. Percebe-se que, os avanços legislativos buscam implementar medidas que tornam o procedimento mais célere e humanizado, atendendo a necessidade de empregar tratamento adequado à condução dos conflitos familiares.10.12957/rfd.2020.42356
Prediction Method of Heavy Load Wheel/Rail Wear Mechanical Properties Based on GA-BP Hybrid Algorithm
Authors: Xue Xiao , Zheng Yangbing , Wang Xin
Published: December 2022

Due to its large axle load and high-density operation mode, heavy haul transportation has greatly improved the cargo transportation capacity, and is receiving unprecedented attention from all countries in the world. Since the development of heavy haul freight transport in China, wheel rail wear has been paid much attention, especially the use of heavy axle load locomotives on upgraded heavy haul lines, which makes reducing wheel rail wear and damage become a technical problem to be solved urgently. Considering that there are too many mechanical parameters involved in the prediction of heavy load wheel rail wear mechanical properties, the prediction accuracy is reduced. Therefore, this paper proposes a method based on GA-BP hybrid algorithm to predict the mechanical properties of heavy load wheel/rail wear. Hertz contact theory is used to simplify the wheel rail contact relationship, and the wheel rail contact model is established. According to the wheel/rail contact model, the expressions of heavy load wheel/rail in the case of vertical, horizontal, direction and gauge irregularity are analyzed, and based on this, a mechanical model of heavy load wheel/rail wear is established. In order to solve the problems of slow convergence speed and easy to fall into local optimum of BP neural network in the prediction of heavy load wheel/rail wear mechanical properties, the global convergence of genetic algorithm is used to optimize the BP network. According to the obtained mechanical parameters of heavy load wheel/rail wear, the mechanical parameters are input into the optimized model, and the relevant prediction results are output. So far, the research on the prediction method of heavy load wheel/rail wear mechanical properties based on GA-BP hybrid algorithm has been realized. The experiment is designed from three aspects of wear degree, hardness and tensile strength, and compared with the measured value, reference [4] method, reference [5] method and reference [6] method to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the predicted results of wear degree, hardness and tensile strength by this method are closer to the measured results. It is proved that the proposed method has higher prediction accuracy and better practical application effect.
A Comparative Analysis of Digital Forensic Investigation Tools on Facebook Messenger Applications
Authors: Sunardi  , Herman  , Ardiningtias Syifa Riski
Published: December 2022

Technological developments make it easier for people to communicate and share information. Facebook Messenger is an instant messenger that contains multi-platform for sending text, image, sound, and video messages. Besides being used for positive purposes, this technology can also be used to carry out harmful activities. This study conducts a forensic investigation on a crime simulation in pornographic content distribution using Facebook Messenger as a communication medium on Android smartphones. Perpetrators communicate and send pornographic content in the shape of conversations, audio, and video, then delete them to eliminate traces. Every crime can leave evidence therefore after erasing the track, it can be revealed through digital forensic investigations on the smartphone devices that are used as objects to find digital evidence. The collection of evidence in this study is used four forensic tools with the research stages the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) framework. The study result can be used as evidence by investigators on handling criminal cases with the results obtained in the shape of application versions, accounts, emails, conversation, time of occurrence, pictures, audio, and video. MOBILedit Forensic Express has an accuracy of 84.85%, Wondershare Dr. Fone 36.36%, Magnet Axiom 75.76%, and Belkasoft Evidence Center 69.70%.
A Combination of BB84 Quantum Key Distribution and An Improved Scheme of NTRU Post-Quantum Cryptosystem
Authors: Laaji El Hassane , Azizi Abdelmalek
Published: December 2022

The BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol is based on the no-cloning quantum physic property, so if an attacker measures a photon state, he disturbs that state. This protocol uses two channels: (1) A quantum channel for sending the quantum information (photons polarized). (2) And a classical channel for exchanging the polarization and the measurement information (base sets or filters). The BB84 supposes that the classical channel is secure, but it is not always right, because it depends on the methods used during the communication over this channel. If an eavesdropper gets the sender or the receiver filters or both of them, he can leak some or all bits of the constructed key. In this context, we contribute by creating a protocol that combines the BB84 protocol with an improved scheme of NTRU post-quantum cryptosystem, which will secure the transmitted information over the classical channel. NTRU is a structured lattice scheme, and it is based on the hardness to solve lattice problems in Rn. Actually, it is one of the most important candidates for the NIST post-quantum standardization project.
Enhanced Clustering Technique for Efficient Identification of Independent Groups in Social Networks
Authors: Srinivasan R. , Ramachandran V. , Baydeti Nagaraju
Published: December 2022

The main aim of this paper is to develop a new approach for identifying independent groups among users communicating in social networks using social media applications at any instant. Grouping of users as independent clusters is of dynamic nature as communication between known and unknown users can happen randomly at any point of time. It is becoming inherent to identify the groups, where the members of the group have strong relationship who communicate frequently and consistently via social media applications. Louvain’s algorithm will identify the clusters in the community detection process but keeps the lightweight nodes in the original groups without making them into one group by considering the dependence relations. The concept of Bernstein conditions is enhanced and applied to identify the dependency among the users of social networks by formulating equivalence relations, which adhere to the properties of Reflexivity, Symmetricity and Transitivity. Then, the equivalence classes are identified which denote the individual groups of clusters where the users of one cluster are loosely coupled with the users of any other cluster but tightly coupled among the users of the same group. The strength of relationship among the users within the same and different clusters is identified with respect to the quantum of messages being propagated among the users using Louvain’s algorithm and the results of equivalence class approach are compared using the same set of communication sequences to show the relation dependency among the members in various clusters.
Voltage-modulated surface plasmon resonance biosensors integrated with gold nanohole arrays
Authors: Ma Syu-Cing , Gupta Rohit , Ondevilla Neil Adrian P. , Barman Kuntal , Lee Liang-Yun , Chang Hsien-Chang , Huang Jian-Jang
Published: December 2022

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has emerged as one of the most efficient and attractive techniques for optical sensors in biological applications. The traditional approach of an EC (electrochemical)-SPR biosensor to generate SPR is by adopting a prism underneath the sensing substrate, and an angular scan is performed to characterize the reflectivity of target analytes. In this paper, we designed and investigated a novel optical biosensor based on a hybrid plasmonic and electrochemical phenomenon. The SPR was generated from a thin layer of gold nanohole array on a glass substrate. Using C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as the target analyte, we tested our device for different concentrations and observed the optical response under various voltage bias conditions. We observed that SPR response is concentration-dependent and can be modulated by varying DC voltages or AC bias frequencies. For CRP concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 µg/mL, at the applied voltage of -600 mV, we obtained a limit of detection for this device of 16.5 ng/mL at the resonance peak wavelength of 690 nm. The phenomenon is due to spatial re-distribution of electron concentration at the metal-solution interface. The results suggest that CRP concentration can be determined from the SPR peak wavelength shift by scanning the voltages. The proposed new sensor structure is permissible for various future optoelectronic integration for plasmonic and electrochemical sensing.
Computational epitope mapping of class I fusion proteins using low complexity supervised learning methods
Authors: Fischer Marion F. S. , Crowe James E. , Meiler Jens
Published: December 2022

Antibody epitope mapping of viral proteins plays a vital role in understanding immune system mechanisms of protection. In the case of class I viral fusion proteins, recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy and protein stabilization techniques have highlighted the importance of cryptic or ‘alternative’ conformations that expose epitopes targeted by potent neutralizing antibodies. Thorough epitope mapping of such metastable conformations is difficult but is critical for understanding sites of vulnerability in class I fusion proteins that occur as transient conformational states during viral attachment and fusion. We introduce a novel method Accelerated class I fusion protein Epitope Mapping (AxIEM) that accounts for fusion protein flexibility to improve out-of-sample prediction of discontinuous antibody epitopes. Harnessing data from previous experimental epitope mapping efforts of several class I fusion proteins, we demonstrate that accuracy of epitope prediction depends on residue environment and allows for the prediction of conformation-dependent antibody target residues. We also show that AxIEM can identify common epitopes and provide structural insights for the development and rational design of vaccines.
Adaptation finance failing to reach the most vulnerable: A multi-level model of household political power in Madagascar
Authors: Browne Katherine Elizabeth , Razafiarimanana Claudien
Published: December 2022

International financial support for climate adaptation is expected to double by 2025. As adaptation finance expands, however, concern is growing that it is failing to benefit those most vulnerable to negative climate impacts. Qualitative studies have demonstrated how entrenched forms of inequality, such as patronage, can enable elite capture of international resources and prevent benefits from reaching relatively vulnerable households within communities. This study contributes to the literature on power in adaptation and climate finance by quantitatively analyzing the distributional outcomes of a UN Adaptation Fund project in the Aloatra-Mangoro region of Madagascar. We employ mixed-methods to examine how informal mechanisms of patronage influenced the distribution of project benefits. Using a multi-level model to analyze 599 household surveys, we compare the political connectivity of beneficiary and non-beneficiary households. We find that households that participated had higher levels of political connectivity than those that did not. This finding is robust across three different measures of participation and is reinforced by qualitative findings from formal and informal interviews. We conclude that rather than targeting the most vulnerable, the project likely disproportionately benefited households already better positioned to adapt and exacerbated inequality within targeted communities. By unpacking how household-level political power shaped access to benefits, this study advances discussion on rethinking approaches to power and inequality in internationally financed adaptation.
S. pombe wtf drivers use dual transcriptional regulation and selective protein exclusion from spores to cause meiotic drive
Authors: Nuckolls Nicole L. , Nidamangala Srinivasa Ananya , Mok Anthony C. , Helston Rachel M. , Bravo Núñez María Angélica , Lange Jeffrey J. , Gallagher Todd J. , Seidel Chris W. , Zanders Sarah E.
Published: December 2022

Meiotic drivers bias gametogenesis to ensure their transmission into more than half the offspring of a heterozygote. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, wtf meiotic drivers destroy the meiotic products (spores) that do not inherit the driver from a heterozygote, thereby reducing fertility. wtf drivers encode both a Wtfpoison protein and a Wtfantidote protein using alternative transcriptional start sites. Here, we analyze how the expression and localization of the Wtf proteins are regulated to achieve drive. We show that transcriptional timing and selective protein exclusion from developing spores ensure that all spores are exposed to Wtf4poison, but only the spores that inherit wtf4 receive a dose of Wtf4antidote sufficient for survival. In addition, we show that the Mei4 transcription factor, a master regulator of meiosis, controls the expression of the wtf4poison transcript. This transcriptional regulation, which includes the use of a critical meiotic transcription factor, likely complicates the universal suppression of wtf genes without concomitantly disrupting spore viability. We propose that these features contribute to the evolutionary success of the wtf drivers.
FgSnt1 of the Set3 HDAC complex plays a key role in mediating the regulation of histone acetylation by the cAMP-PKA pathway in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Gong Chen , Xu Daiying , Sun Daiyuan , Kang Jiangang , Wang Wei , Xu Jin-Rong , Zhang Xue
Published: December 2022

The cAMP-PKA pathway is critical for regulating growth, differentiation, and pathogenesis in fungal pathogens. In Fusarium graminearum, mutants deleted of PKR regulatory-subunit of PKA had severe defects but often produced spontaneous suppressors. In this study eleven pkr suppressors were found to have mutations in FgSNT1, a component of the Set3C histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex, that result in the truncation of its C-terminal region. Targeted deletion of the C-terminal 98 aa (CT98) in FgSNT1 suppressed the defects of pkr in growth and H4 acetylation. CT98 truncation also increased the interaction of FgSnt1 with Hdf1, a major HDAC in the Set3 complex. The pkr mutant had no detectable expression of the Cpk1 catalytic subunit and PKA activities, which was not suppressed by mutations in FgSNT1. Cpk1 directly interacted with the N-terminal region of FgSnt1 and phosphorylated it at S443, a conserved PKA-phosphorylation site. CT98 of FgSnt1 carrying the S443D mutation interacted with its own N-terminal region. Expression of FgSNT1S443D rescued the defects of pkr in growth and H4 acetylation. Therefore, phosphorylation at S443 and suppressor mutations may relieve self-inhibitory binding of FgSnt1 and increase its interaction with Hdf1 and H4 acetylation, indicating a key role of FgSnt1 in crosstalk between cAMP signaling and Set3 complex.
Estimated population size of the people who inject drugs in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam: A two survey capture-recapture study using respondent driven sampling
Authors: Nguyen Ly Thuy , De Anindya K. , Le Kim Anh Ai , Pham Cuong Manh , Khanh Le , Hoang Van Thi Hai , Abdul-Quader Abu S.
Published: December 2022

To develop an appropriate programmatic response to the concentrated HIV epidemic, program managers require reliable estimates of the sizes of the key populations. This study attempts to estimate the population size of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Thai Nguyen—a province in the northern part of Vietnam. Two source capture-recapture population size estimates were calculated using data from two respondent driven sampling survey rounds conducted in 5 selected districts from May to August 2019. The population size of the PWID was calculated based on the number of PWID recruited in each survey and ‘recaptured’ during the first and the second survey. Additionally, personal network size data collected in the RDS was used to measure the population of PWID using the Successive Sampling Population Size Estimate (SS-PSE) method. The population of PWID estimated in five selected districts using the two capture-recapture method (CRC) (median = 5,396, 95% CI: 4,011–9,100) was slightly lower than estimated using SS-PSE with RDS survey 1 (median = 5,580, 95% CI: 3,024–9,272) and higher than when using SS-PSE with RDS survey 2 (median = 4,793; 95% CI: 2,310–8,618). The provincial PWID population estimates based on various approaches (e.g. extrapolation based on the prevalence of PWID in the districts) ranged from 6,498 (95% CI: 4,829–10,957) to around 6,807 (95% CI: 5,341–10,527). A provincial estimate of 6,782 PWID, with a confidence interval ranging from 5,312 to 10,527, will help guide planning and resource allocation to support appropriate levels of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in the Thai Nguyen province.
Cost-effectiveness of short, oral treatment regimens for rifampicin resistant tuberculosis
Authors: Sweeney Sedona , Berry Catherine , Kazounis Emil , Motta Ilaria , Vassall Anna , Dodd Matthew , Fielding Katherine , Nyang’wa Bern-Thomas
Published: December 2022

Current options for treating tuberculosis (TB) that is resistant to rifampicin (RR-TB) are few, and regimens are often long and poorly tolerated. Following recent evidence from the TB-PRACTECAL trial countries are considering programmatic uptake of 6-month, all-oral treatment regimens. We used a Markov model to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of three regimens containing bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid (BPaL) with and without moxifloxacin (BPaLM) or clofazimine (BPaLC) compared with the current mix of long and short standard of care (SOC) regimens to treat RR-TB from the provider perspective in India, Georgia, Philippines, and South Africa. We estimated total costs (2019 USD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over a 20-year time horizon. Costs and DALYs were discounted at 3% in the base case. Parameter uncertainty was tested with univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We found that all three regimens would improve health outcomes and reduce costs compared with the current programmatic mix of long and short SOC regimens in all four countries. BPaL was the most cost-saving regimen in all countries, saving $112-$1,173 per person. BPaLM was the preferred regimen at a willingness to pay per DALY of 0.5 GDP per capita in all settings. Our findings indicate BPaL-based regimens are likely to be cost-saving and more effective than the current standard of care in a range of settings. Countries should consider programmatic uptake of BPaL-based regimens.
Self-management of depression and anxiety amongst frail older adults in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study
Authors: Nair Pushpa , Walters Kate , Aw Su , Gould Rebecca , Kharicha Kalpa , Buszewicz Marta College , Frost Rachael
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Depression and anxiety are common in frail older people and are associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality, yet they typically face greater barriers to accessing mental health treatments than younger people and express preferences for self-managing their symptoms. This study aims to explore frail older adults’ experiences of self-managing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

Design

Qualitative semi-structured interviews, exploring experiences of depression and/or anxiety, ways participants self-managed these and the contexts within which this took place. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Participants

28 frail older adults in the United Kingdom, purposively sampled for neighbourhood, frailty and symptoms of anxiety/depression.

Analysis

Thematic analysis to inductively derive themes from the data.

Results

Our findings suggest that frail older adults find maintaining independence, engaging in meaningful activities, and socialising and peer support important for self-managing depression and anxiety. These could all be adapted to the level of frailty experienced. Drawing on life experiences, addressing the perceived cause and faith were helpful in some situations and for some personalities. Distraction and avoidance were helpful for more severe symptoms or where the causes of symptoms could not be resolved. Self-management strategies were less well-established for anxiety symptoms, especially when linked to newer health fears and worries about the future.

Conclusions

Developing services and sources of information that support and facilitate key therapeutic components of self-management, which align with older adults’ preferred coping styles and take into account levels of frailty, may be a way of supporting frail older people waiting for mental health treatments or those who prefer not to access these. Greater awareness of anxiety and how it can be self-managed in frail older people is needed.