bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physician inpatient handoffs—Patient and physician outcomes: A systematic review
Authors: Allen‐Dicker Joshua , Kerwin Matthew , Wallins Joseph S. , Rao Nisha , Mara Rezana , Chilov Marina , Batra Chanan , Chimonas Susan , Korenstein Deborah
Published: December 2024

Background

Prior reviews have shown that interventions to improve inpatient handoffs are inconsistently associated with improvement in patient outcomes. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of inpatient handoff interventions on outcomes affecting patients and physicians, including objective measures when reported (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022309326).

Methods

Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched on January 13th, 2022. We included experimental or quasi‐experimental studies that examined handoff communication between inpatient physicians and reported patient clinical, patient experiential, physician experiential, or cost and utilization outcomes. Studies were excluded if they examined handoffs between facilities or levels of care, or only reported subjective measures of patient safety or physician experience. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS‐1 and RoB‐2 tools.

Results

Of the 42 included studies, six were randomized controlled trials. Most studies were conducted at academic centers (67%) and involved only residents (64%). An educational intervention was used in 52% of studies and a structural intervention was used in 43%, with 9% using both. Adverse events were significantly improved in three of 16 studies, medical errors in three of seven studies, and length of stay in three of seven studies. Four studies examined mortality, and none reported a significant improvement. Studies that used both structural and educational components reported significant improvements more frequently.

Conclusions

The literature is mixed on the impact of efforts to improve handoffs, though there are few randomized trials. Few studies reported patient experiential or cost/utilization outcomes, or involved hospitalist physicians, which represent potential areas for future research.
Tensor Fasciae Latae and Gluteus Maximus Muscles: Do They Contribute to Hip Abduction?
Authors: Hoch Armando , Dimitriou Dimitris , Wolf‐Wettstein Jessica , Rosner Jan , Schubert Martin , Aguirre Jose , Eichenberger Urs , Zingg Patrick , Borbas Paul
Published: December 2024

Hip abductors are essential for hip function. To understand abduction weakness, it is important to know which muscles contribute to abduction force. Our aim was to investigate the effects of an experimentally induced weakness of the different muscles (tensor fasciae latae [TFL], gluteus medius and minimus (Gmed/min), gluteus maximus [Gmax]) on the abduction force. Ten participants received sequential nerve blocks of the TFL, the Gmed/min, and the Gmax. Subsequently, abduction force was measured in the lateral decubitus position in three sagittal positions of the hip (30° flexion, neutral, 30° extension). In 30° flexion, the average abduction force was 220 N without block, 187 N with block of the TFL, 83 N with block of the Gmed/min, and 97 N with block of the Gmax, respectively. In neutral position, average abduction force was 213 N without block, 200 N with block of the TFL, 82 N with block of the Gmed/min, and 115 N with block of the Gmax, respectively. In 30° extension, average abduction force was 116 N without block, 146 N with block of TFL, 61 N with block of the Gmed/min, and 94 N with block of the Gmax, respectively. An induced weakness of the TFL reduces abduction force only in 30° of hip flexion by 15%. It is not highly relevant as an abductor. An induced weakness of the Gmax reduces abduction force in flexion by 43%−56%, depending on the position. It is, therefore, highly relevant as an abductor of the hip.
Thermosensitive Molecular Brushes With Alternating Polyoxazoline Side Chains: Synthesis, Characterization, and Solubilization Properties
Authors: Blokhin Aleksey N. , Kirila Tatyana Y. , Razina Alla B. , Rodchenko Serafim V. , Filippov Alexander P. , Tenkovtsev Andrey V.
Published: December 2024

Using the “grafting through” approach, alternating polymer brushes with different lengths of the backbone and side chains are synthesized. Thermosensitive poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) and poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) with styrene and maleimide moieties are used as the macromonomers. The prepared polymer brushes are characterized by molar masses in the range of 19,000–52,000 g·mol−1 and have a low dispersity Ð = 1.6–1.9. The number of side chains is from 10 to 20. The LCST behavior of alternating brushes in aqueous solutions is studied by light scattering and turbidimetry. Phase separation temperatures of aqueous solutions of alternating polymer brushes are varied from 37°C to 48°C depending on the length and number of the side chains, as well as on the polymer molar mass. The critical micelle concentrations depend on molar mass and the side chain length, changing from 1.12 × 10−5 to 9.40 × 10−4 mol·L−1, as established by the method of solubilization of a hydrophobic dye. Using the Benesi–Hildebrand method, the binding constants for curcumin and polymer brush samples are determined; their values range from 360 to 63,400 L·mol−1. It is shown that curcumin is effectively bound by polymer brush molecules in the aqueous solutions, which ensures the solubilization of hydrophobic curcumin in water.
Photocontrolled RAFT Polymerization for the Preparation of Catechol‐Functionalized Surfaces
Authors: Guo Rui , Tanizaki Shiho , Nabae Yuta , Aoki Hiroyuki , Kubo Tomohiro , Satoh Kotaro
Published: December 2024

In nature, there are numerous compounds bearing catechol groups that demonstrate various useful properties, such as adhesion and antioxidant capacity. This inspired us to apply catechol functional group‐containing polymers on a surface for adhesive properties. Herein, we report the preparation of catechol‐functionalized polymeric surfaces by photo‐induced electron transfer‐reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (PET‐RAFT) polymerization using a “grafting‐from” approach using surface anchored RAFT agents. The polymerization of tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc)‐protected vinyl catechol, derived from naturally abundant caffeic acid, was investigated under visible light irradiation, which showed good control over molecular weights especially under green light irradiation. The catechol‐bearing polymeric surfaces were readily obtained after concise thermal deprotection, which was revealed by the changes in the surface properties evaluated by contact angles. This study proposes a straightforward route to catechol‐modified surface using functional and sustainable materials in coating applications.
Dark Dimension With (Little) Strings Attached
Authors: Basile Ivano , Lüst Dieter
Published: December 2024

A relation between dark energy and the scale of new physics in weakly coupled string theory is motivated. This mixing between infrared and ultraviolet physics leads to a unique corner for real‐world phenomenology: barring fine‐tunings, the authors are naturally led to the “dark dimension” scenario, a single mesoscopic extra dimension of micron size with the standard model localized on D‐branes. Our explicit top‐down worldsheet derivation establishes it on a more solid grounding. Allowing some fine‐tuning, such that the vacuum energy only arise at higher orders in string perturbation theory, the “little string theory” scenario with a very weakly coupled string is an alternative possibility. In this case, the string scale lies at the edge of detectability of particle accelerators.
Functional and Oncological Outcomes of Very Large Prostate Sizes Post Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity Score‐Matched Analysis
Authors: Gamal Ahmed , Moschovas Marcio C. , Jaber Abdel R. , Saikali Shady , Reddy Sumeet , Kunta Avaneesh , Sandri Marco , Rogers Travis , Patel Vipul
Published: December 2024

Background

Robotic‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is widely used as the main surgical approach to treat prostate cancer in the United States. Prostate size is often described as a factor affecting the outcomes of RARP as shown by many studies. However, these studies are limited to a small number of patients.

Objective

To evaluate the functional and oncologic outcomes of RARP in very large prostate sizes.

Methods

Three hundred and seventy‐five RARP patients were divided into two groups according to prostate size: Group 1 had prostates larger than 150 g and Group 2 smaller than 50 g. Perioperative variables were matched with propensity score matching 1:3 and postoperative variables were analyzed for significant differences in outcomes between groups. Variables analyzed included estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, catheter time, hospitalization time, postoperative complications, pathological staging, positive surgical margins (PSM) rates, biochemical recurrence (BCR), potency, and continence rates.

Results

The two groups exhibited similar preoperative characteristics. Patients with larger prostates (Group 1) were more likely to have higher blood loss (EBL), longer console time, and more days with catheter. However, we could not find significant difference in the overall postoperative complications (Clavien‐Dindo). Pathological outcomes were also statistically different as patients with larger prostates had (69.7%) more pT2 disease and (12.1%) lower rates of PSM. Finally, we could not find significant difference in the functional outcomes between the groups.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that prostate size impacts multiple outcomes. Larger prostates had lower‐grade disease, reduced EPE and PSM rates, with no significant differences in BCR or functional outcomes. Perioperative differences, such as increased blood loss and console time, were also observed.
Software Reliability Growth Model Considering Imperfect Debugging and Fault Removal Efficiency
Authors: Samal Umashankar
Published: December 2024

Software reliability is a critical metric for determining the readiness and quality of software products before release. In this study, a software reliability growth model (SRGM) is proposed that integrates imperfect debugging and fault removal efficiency to better reflect real‐world testing environments. The model accounts for the possibility of introducing new faults during debugging and adjusts the fault removal process based on the testing team's efficiency and learning progression of the testing team. Furthermore, an optimal software release time is derived by considering various costs, including testing, debugging, warranty, and reputation, with the required reliability levels. The proposed model is validated using two widely adopted datasets, demonstrating consistently superior performance compared to several existing models. This model offers a valuable tool for researchers in software reliability, providing a more accurate representation of debugging processes, and facilitating more informed decisions regarding optimal software release timing.
Certainty vs. Intelligence
Authors: Lee Edward A.
Published: December 2024

Mathematical models can yield certainty, as can probabilistic models where the probabilities degenerate. The field of formal methods emphasizes developing such certainty about engineering designs. In safety-critical systems, such certainty is highly valued and, in some cases, even required by regulatory bodies. But achieving reasonable performance for sufficiently complex environments appears to require the use of AI technologies, which resist such certainty. This paper suggests that certainty and intelligence may be fundamentally incompatible. First, Bayes Theorem shows, rather trivially, that certainty implies an inability to learn when presented with new data. A more subtle issue, however, is that logic and mathematics, necessary for certainty, may be a result of intelligence rather than the foundations of intelligence. This paper makes the case that intelligence is an evolved form of prediction, that logic and mathematics were not discovered but rather were invented because of their predictive value, and that the certainty they can give us cannot be about systems that exhibit intelligence.
Towards Verifying Robotic Systems Using Statistical Model Checking in STORM
Authors: Lampacrescia Marco , Klauck Michaela , Palmas Matteo
Published: December 2024

Robust autonomy and interaction of robots with their environment, even in rare or new situations, is an ultimate goal of robotics research. We settle on Statistical Model Checking (SMC) for the benefit of robustness of robot deliberation and base our implementation on STORM, one of the most performant and comprehensive open-source model checkers, so far lacking an SMC extension. The SMC extension introduced in this paper offers various statistical methods, from which the user can choose to find the best trade-off between accuracy of the result and runtime. We demonstrate the efficiency of our SMC implementation by comparing it to other state-of-the-art SMC tools on well-established benchmarks and on a robotics-related example. The results indicate that our implementation, which will be continuously extended in the future to improve support for robotics use cases, is performant enough to bridge the gap between robotic systems and model checking in industry.
Team Design Patterns for Meaningful Human Control in Responsible Military Artificial Intelligence
Authors: van Diggelen Jurriaan , Boshuijzen-van Burken Christine , Abbass Hussein
Published: December 2024

A key requirement for responsible AI in the military is to ensure meaningful human control (MHC) in operational settings. However, MHC is not a binary concept; it could vary from one operational setting to another depending on context and the competencies of available humans and autonomous systems. We propose and discuss five patterns of MHC and highlight some of their key characteristics. We argue that control is only meaningful when humans have sufficient cognitive resources to perform control functions and when the behavior of autonomous systems in their operational context is sufficiently predictable. By anchoring the MHC patterns in human’ s cognition and situation uncertainty, we propose initial requirements for interaction design, testing and validation, and identify gaps in existing scientific understanding.
The ENCIC-CT Model for the Development of Critical Thinking
Authors: Franco-Mariscal Antonio Joaquín , Cano-Iglesias María José , España-Ramos Enrique , Blanco-López Ángel
Published: December 2024

The development of critical thinking among citizens is crucial for the advancement of humanity in a dynamic and ever-changing world. Therefore, it is essential to promote a critical understanding of the challenges we face as a society. Initially, this chapter addresses how various scholars have discussed and developed the construct of critical thinking from philosophical and cognitive psychology perspectives, with a particular emphasis on its integration into science education. Next, the ENCIC-CT model to critical thinking development is introduced. This framework was formulated during the research project that underpins this book, and guides its constituent chapters. This model proposes developing critical thinking in science education through daily life problems and includes three key domains of action: knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Each domain comprises different dimensions that can be addressed through scientific practices such as argumentation, inquiry, or modeling, using various teaching strategies including gamification/role-playing, micro-debates, augmented reality, controversy mapping, and multimedia resources such as digital storytelling, among others. This model can also be applied to the analysis and design of educational proposals in teacher training.
Behaviour of solutions for a thermoelastic Cosserat medium with temperature gradients
Authors: Marin Marin , Vlase Sorin , Öchsner Andreas , Hapenciuc O. M.
Published: December 2024

Our study falls within the linear theory of thermoelasticity of Cosserat media. Unlike other works that fall into similar contexts and that use the entropy balance low, our approach is based on an entropy production inequality. The entropy flux tensor is introduced and thermoelastic media are considered for which the stress tensors are dependent on the temperature gradients. In this way, a fourth-order differential equation satisfied by temperature is obtained. In this context the mixed initial-boundary value problem is formulated for which an uniqueness result regarding the solution of this problem is proven. Also, a continuous dependence result is deduced for the solution of the mixed formulated problem with regard to the charges and the initial values.
Pulmonary exposure to renewable diesel exhaust particles alters protein expression and toxicity profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma of mice
Authors: McCarrick Sarah , Malmborg Vilhelm , Gren Louise , Danielsen Pernille Høgh , Tunér Martin , Palmberg Lena , Broberg Karin , Pagels Joakim , Vogel Ulla , Gliga Anda R.
Published: December 2024

Exposure to diesel exhaust is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and lung disease. Substituting petroleum diesel with renewable diesel can alter emission properties but the potential health effects remain unclear. This study aimed to explore toxicity and underlying mechanisms of diesel exhaust from renewable fuels. Using proximity extension assay (Olink), 92 proteins linked to inflammation, cardiovascular function, and cancer were analyzed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma in mice 1 day after pulmonary exposure to exhaust particles at doses of 6, 18, and 54 µg/mouse. Particles were generated from combustion of renewable (rapeseed methyl ester, RME13, hydrogen-treated vegetable oil, HVO13; both at 13% O2 engine intake) and petroleum diesel (MK1 ultra-low-sulfur diesel at 13% and 17% O2 intake; DEP13 and DEP17). We identified positive dose–response relationships between exposure and proteins in BALF using linear models: 33 proteins for HVO13, 24 for DEP17, 22 for DEP13, and 12 for RME13 (p value < 0.05). In BALF, 11 proteins indicating cytokine signaling and inflammation (CCL2, CXCL1, CCL3L3, CSF2, IL1A, CCL20, TPP1, GDNF, LGMN, ITGB6, PDGFB) were common for all exposures. Several proteins in BALF (e.g., CCL2, CXCL1, CCL3L3, CSF2, IL1A) correlated (r
s ≥ 0.5) with neutrophil cell count and DNA damage in BAL cells. Interestingly, plasma protein profiles were only affected by RME13 and, to lesser extent, by DEP13. Overall, we identified inflammation-related changes in the BALF as a common toxic mechanism for the combustion particles. Our protein-based approach enables sensitive detection of inflammatory protein changes across different matrices enhancing understanding of exhaust particle toxicity.
Emotion, attention and stress regulation as markers of resilience in male and female Israeli soldiers during the Israel–Hamas war
Authors: Cohen Rotem , Punski-Hoogervorst Janne L. , Maoz Inon , Engel-Yeger Batya , Tatsa-Laor Lucian , Avital Avi
Published: December 2024

Psychological resilience is a key factor for societal and military stability when faced with terror attacks and/or war. The research presents physiological findings—obtained with the electrodermal activity (EDA) and Auditory Sustained Attention Test (ASAT)—on stress responses, attentional and emotion regulation abilities in 57 Israel Defense Force male and female combat soldiers during the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. In addition, it shows self-reported resilience scores and post traumatic symptomatology measured by questionnaires and explores the relationship between the subjective and objective data. Compared to male soldiers, female soldiers showed significantly higher hyperarousal symptoms yet showed a tendency to a significantly lower specific skin conductance response (on the EDA) to the first startle sound. Furthermore, the self-reported acute stress symptoms positively and significantly correlated with the physiological emotion regulation measured by startle responses, and negatively correlated with attentional regulation measured by the ASAT. The lack of gender differences in stress level, resilience and self-regulation abilities emphasizes the high capabilities of women combat soldiers, especially due to gender-related risks in combat. Relatively high scores of acute stress symptomology in the population of combat soldiers invite later screening and assessment for the prevention of post traumatic disorders in vulnerable individuals. The combination of physiological measures and questionnaires highlights possible report biases, and thus underscores the importance of combining these objective/subjective measures for adequate assessment of resilience and post traumatic symptomology.
Investment casting of Cr–Si alloys with liquidus temperatures up to 1900 °C
Authors: Sandner Kilian , Völkl Rainer , Dickes Daniel , Kuo Jyun-Ting , Yeh An-Chou , Glatzel Uwe
Published: December 2024

In previous studies, chromium–silicon-based alloys have shown promising material properties for high-temperature applications. For chromium–silicon alloys to be processed on a large scale, primary shaping processes must be adapted to the requirements of these alloys. In this work, binary chromium–silicon alloys are primarily shaped using an investment casting process. Ceramic shell molds made of hafnium oxide stabilized zirconium oxide are developed to withstand the thermal, mechanical and chemical stresses resulting from pouring melts with liquidus temperatures of up to 1900 °C. The layered construction of the shell molds leads to a sufficient thermal shock stability. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows that chemical interactions between the shell mold and the melt do not occur, nor oxides are formed to a detectable extent. Microstructure investigations reveal that casting binary chromium–silicon alloys lead to a coarse grain structure with grain diameters above 300 µm. Strength-increasing precipitations of the intermetallic phase Cr3Si (A15 phase) can be detected from a silicon content of seven-atom percent in the as-cast state.
Parallactic delay for geodetic VLBI and non-orthogonality of the fundamental axes
Authors: Titov Oleg , Osetrova Angelina
Published: December 2024

The Gaia optical astrometric mission has measured the precise positions of millions of objects in the sky, including extragalactic sources also observed by Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). In the recent Gaia EDR3 release, an effect of negative parallax with a magnitude of approximately

$-17$

$\mu$

as was reported, presumably due to technical reasons related to the relativistic delay model. A recent analysis of a 30-yr set of geodetic VLBI data (1993–2023) revealed a similar negative parallax with an amplitude of

$-15.8 \pm 0.5$

$\mu$

as. Since both astrometric techniques, optical and radio, provide consistent estimates of this negative parallax, it is necessary to investigate the potential origin of this effect.

We developed the extended group relativistic delay model to incorporate the additional parallactic effect for radio sources at distances less than 1 Mpc and found that the apparent annual signal might appear due the non-orthogonality of the fundamental axes, which are defined by the positions of the reference radio sources themselves. Unlike the conventional parallactic ellipse, the apparent annual effect in this case appears as a circular motion for all objects independently of their ecliptic latitude. The measured amplitude of this circular effect is within a range of 10–15

$\mu$

as that is consistent with the ICRF3 stability of the fundamental axis. This annual circular effect could also arise if a Gödel-type cosmological metric were applied, suggesting that, in the future, this phenomenon could be used to indicate global cosmic rotation.
A Multiplex High-Resolution Melting (HRM) assay to differentiate Fusarium graminearum chemotypes
Authors: Singh Lovepreet , Drott Milton T. , Kim Hye-Seon , Proctor Robert H. , McCormick Susan P. , Elmore J. Mitch
Published: December 2024

Fusarium graminearum is a primary cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. The fungus produces trichothecene mycotoxins that render grain unsuitable for food, feed, or malt. Isolates of F. graminearum can differ in trichothecene production phenotypes (chemotypes), with individuals producing predominantly one of four toxins: 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, nivalenol, or NX-2. Molecular tools to diagnose chemotypes remain inefficient. This study aimed to develop a single-tube, multiplex molecular assay that can predict the four F. graminearum chemotypes. Conserved functional regions of three trichothecene biosynthetic genes (TRI1, TRI8, and TRI13) were targeted to develop a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay. Multiplex HRM analysis produced unique melting profiles for each chemotype, and was validated on a panel of 80 isolates. We applied machine learning-based linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to automate the classification of chemotypes from the HRM data, achieving a prediction accuracy of over 99%. The assay is sensitive, with a limit of detection below 0.02 ng of fungal DNA. The HRM analysis also differentiated chemotypes from a small sample of F. gerlachii, F. asiaticum, and F. vorosii isolates. Together, our results demonstrate that this simple, rapid, and accurate assay can be applied to F. graminearum molecular diagnostics and population surveillance programs.
DeepGOMeta for functional insights into microbial communities using deep learning-based protein function prediction
Authors: Tawfiq Rund , Niu Kexin , Hoehndorf Robert , Kulmanov Maxat
Published: December 2024

Analyzing microbial samples remains computationally challenging due to their diversity and complexity. The lack of robust de novo protein function prediction methods exacerbates the difficulty in deriving functional insights from these samples. Traditional prediction methods, dependent on homology and sequence similarity, often fail to predict functions for novel proteins and proteins without known homologs. Moreover, most of these methods have been trained on largely eukaryotic data, and have not been evaluated on or applied to microbial datasets. This research introduces DeepGOMeta, a deep learning model designed for protein function prediction as Gene Ontology (GO) terms, trained on a dataset relevant to microbes. The model is applied to diverse microbial datasets to demonstrate its use for gaining biological insights. Data and code are available at https://github.com/bio-ontology-research-group/deepgometa
Deep terrestrial indigenous microbial community dominated by Candidatus Frackibacter
Authors: Ford Sian E. , Slater Greg F. , Engel Katja , Warr Oliver , Lollar Garnet S. , Brady Allyson , Neufeld Josh D. , Lollar Barbara Sherwood
Published: December 2024

Characterizing deep subsurface microbial communities informs our understanding of Earth’s biogeochemistry as well as the search for life beyond the Earth. Here we characterized microbial communities within the Kidd Creek Observatory subsurface fracture water system with mean residence times of hundreds of millions to over one billion years. 16S rRNA analysis revealed that biosamplers well isolated from the mine environment were dominated by a putatively anaerobic and halophilic bacterial species from the Halobacteroidaceae family, Candidatus Frackibacter. Contrastingly, biosamplers and biofilms exposed to the mine environment contained aerobic Sphingomonas taxa. δ13C values of phospholipid fatty acids and putative functional predictions derived from 16S rRNA gene profiles, imply Candidatus Frackibacter may use carbon derived from ancient carbon-rich layers common in these systems. These results indicate that Candidatus Frackibacter is not unique to hydraulically fracked sedimentary basins but rather may be indigenous to a wide range of deep, saline groundwaters hosted in carbon-rich rocks.
Microscopy image reconstruction with physics-informed denoising diffusion probabilistic model
Authors: Li Rui , della Maggiora Gabriel , Andriasyan Vardan , Petkidis Anthony , Yushkevich Artsemi , Deshpande Nikita , Kudryashev Mikhail , Yakimovich Artur
Published: December 2024

Light microscopy is a practical tool for advancing biomedical research and diagnostics, offering invaluable insights into the cellular and subcellular structures of living organisms. However, diffraction and optical imperfections actively hinder the attainment of high-quality images. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in applying deep learning techniques to overcome these challenges in light microscopy imaging. Nonetheless, the resulting reconstructions often suffer from undesirable artefacts and hallucinations. Here, we introduce a deep learning-based approach that incorporates the fundamental physics of light propagation in microscopy into the loss function. This model employs a conditioned diffusion model in a physics-informed architecture. To mitigate the issue of limited available data, we utilise synthetic datasets for training purposes. Our results demonstrate consistent enhancements in image quality and substantial reductions in artefacts when compared to state-of-the-art methods. The presented technique is intuitively accessible and allows obtaining higher quality microscopy images for biomedical studies.
HMSFU: A hierarchical multi‐scale fusion unit for video prediction and beyond
Authors: Zhu Hongchang , Fang Faming
Published: December 2024

Video prediction is the process of learning necessary information from historical frames to predict future video frames. Learning features from historical frames is a crucial step in this process. However, most current methods have a relatively single‐scale learning approach, even if they learn features at different scales, they cannot fully integrate and utilise them, resulting in unsatisfactory prediction results. To address this issue, a hierarchical multi‐scale fusion unit (HMSFU) is proposed. By using a hierarchical multi‐scale architecture, each layer predicts future frames at different granularities using different convolutional scales. The abstract features from different layers can be fused, enabling the model not only to capture rich contextual information but also to expand the model's receptive field, enhance its expressive power, and improve its applicability to complex prediction scenarios. To fully utilise the expanded receptive field, HMSFU incorporates three fusion modules. The first module is the single‐layer historical attention fusion module, which uses an attention mechanism to fuse the features from historical frames into the current frame at each layer. The second module is the single‐layer spatiotemporal fusion module, which fuses complementary temporal and spatial features at each layer. The third module is the multi‐layer spatiotemporal fusion module, which fuses spatiotemporal features from different layers. Additionally, the authors not only focus on the frame‐level error using mean squared error loss, but also introduce the novel use of Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence to consider inter‐frame variations. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed HMSFU model achieves the best performance on popular video prediction datasets, showcasing its remarkable competitiveness in the field.
Design and simulation of a silicon carbide power module with double‐sided cooling and no wire bonding
Authors: Tan Yuchen , Zeng Xiangping , Yang Han , Li Yachao
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a novel 1200 V/81 A double‐sided cooling (DSC) half‐bridge module; this module consists of two SiC MOSFETs bare die, AlN‐DBC substrates, three types of metals spacers, power and signal terminals. The bonding wire is eliminated completely in this proposed module as two patterned spacers are used in the connected gate and source pad. This structure can reduce the parasitic parameters and allow the conduction of heat dissipation through top and bottom chips. The simulations of parasitic parameters and thermal resistance are carried out by ANSYS Q3D extractor and COMSOL Multiphysics. Results show that the proposed module has a low parasitic inductance of 4.22 and 5.41 nH in both the gate and power loop. The junction temperature is reduced by 30% under the same power loss. Prototypes of the module lay out and fabrication process are presented for the proposed module. Static experiments validated the design.
Immunostimulatory effects of Heyndrickxia coagulans SANK70258
Authors: Ikeda Yuki , Yamashita Niya , Ito Naoto , Minamikawa Natsuki , Okamura Hotaka , Yashiro Takuya , Hachisu Masakazu , Aida Masanori , Yamada Ryouichi , Nagata Kazuki , Nishiyama Chiharu
Published: December 2024

Here, we examined the immunomodulating effects of Heyndrickxia coagulans SANK70258 (SANK70258). Mouse splenocytes treated with γ-ray-irradiated SANK70258 produced higher levels of interferon (IFN)-γ than those with 7 types of lactic acid bacteria. IFN-γ was mainly produced by natural killer (NK) cells, involving IL-12/IL-23, dendritic cells (DCs), and NF-κB signaling. SANK70258 induced the release of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12p40 from mouse DCs and the expression of cytokine genes in the human monocyte. Cytokine release from SANK70258-treated DCs was partially reduced by the knockdown of Tlr2 or Nod2, and was abolished by Myd88 knockout. DC-stimulating components of SANK70258 were enriched in ether- and butanol-insoluble peptidoglycan-related fractions. The SANK70258 component induced high levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) A production in Peyer’s patch cells, and its oral intake significantly increased intestinal IgA and IgA-expressing B cells in Peyer’s patches in mice. We conclude that the SANK70258 component exhibits high activity as an immunostimulant that induces the production of IFN-γ and IgA.
Optimal selection of software reliability growth model for open-source software using weighted Grey relational analysis method
Authors: Wang Jinyong , Zhang Ce
Published: December 2024

Given the complexity of software development and testing environments, the establishment of software reliability growth models (SRGMs) is diverse. To date, no SRGM can be applied and implemented in all software development and testing environments. Therefore, how to choose an appropriate SRGM for software reliability evaluation in the current software development and testing environment is an important practical issue. In this study, we proposed a weighted Grey relational analysis method to select the optimal SRGMs, including closed- and open-source SRGMs, as well as perfect and imperfect debugging SRGMs. To effectively validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we used 12 SRGMs, 11 model evaluation criteria, and 2 successive versions of open-source software fault datasets. Results of this study indicated that the proposed method can select the optimal SRGM in the current software development and testing environment. To conclude, this study has important practical significance for actual software development and testing and makes important contributions to assisting developers or testers in selecting the optimal SRGM for software reliability assessment.
Approximating spatial distance through Confront networks: application to the segmentation of medieval Avignon
Authors: Ferrand Margot , Labatut Vincent
Published: December 2024

In historical studies, the older the sources, the more common it is to have access to data that are only partial, and/or unreliable or imprecise. This can make it difficult, or even impossible, to perform certain tasks of interest, such as the segmentation of some urban space based on the location of its constituting elements. Indeed, traditional approaches to tackle this specific task require knowing the position of all these elements before clustering them. Yet, alternative information is sometimes available, which can be leveraged to address this challenge. For instance, in the Middle Ages, land registries typically do not provide exact addresses, but rather locate spatial objects relative to each other, e.g. x being to the North of y. Spatial graphs are particularly adapted to model such spatial relationships, called confronts, which is why we propose their use over standard tabular databases. However, historical data are rich and allow extracting confront networks in many ways, making the process non-trivial. In this article, we propose several extraction methods and compare them to identify the most appropriate. We postulate that the best candidate must constitute an optimal trade-off between covering as much of the original data as possible, and providing the best graph-based approximation of spatial distance. Leveraging a dataset that describes Avignon during its papal period, we show empirically that the best results require ignoring some of the information present in the original historical sources, and that including additional information from secondary sources significantly improves the confront network. We illustrate the relevance of our method by partitioning the best graph that we extracted, and discussing its community structure in terms of urban space organization, from a historical perspective. Our data and source code are both publicly available online.
Comparison of crystal violet staining, microscopy with image analysis, and quantitative PCR to examine biofilm dynamics
Authors: Jeong So-Yeon , Lee Ji Won , Kim Eun Ji , Lee Chi Won , Kim Tae Gwan
Published: December 2024

Crystal-violet staining, microscopy with image analysis, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were compared to examine biofilm dynamics. Biofilms of 30 polycultures comprising 15 bacterial species were monitored for 14 days. Collectively, qPCR (representing population) revealed a different growth pattern compared to staining (biomass) and microscopy (colonization): biomass and colonization gradually increased over time, whereas population increased rapidly for the first seven days and leveled off. Temporal forms were categorized into two growth patterns: continuous increase (CI) and non-continuous increase. Staining and microscopy showed similar odds of detecting the CI pattern (27 and 23 polycultures, respectively) across polycultures, greater than that of qPCR (14 polycultures) (P < 0.05). All three methods revealed the identical patterns for 13 polycultures. Staining with microscopy, staining with qPCR, and microscopy with qPCR found the same patterns in 22, 15, and 19 polycultures, respectively. Additionally, staining was quantitatively agreed with microscopy (P < 0.05; R2 > 0.50), whereas neither staining nor microscopy strongly agreed with qPCR (P < 0.05; R2 ≤ 0.22). Collectively, staining was more compatible with microscopy than qPCR in characterizing biofilm dynamics and quantifying biofilms owing to the difference between population growth and biofilm expansion. The concurrent use of qPCR with biomass estimations allows for accurate and comprehensive biofilm quantification.
Microbial adaptive pathogenicity strategies to the host inflammatory environment
Authors: Hitzler Sophia U J , Fernández-Fernández Candela , Montaño Dolly E , Dietschmann Axel , Gresnigt Mark S
Published: December 2024

Pathogenic microorganisms can infect a variety of niches in the human body. During infection, these microbes can only persist if they adapt adequately to the dynamic host environment and the stresses imposed by the immune system. While viruses entirely rely on host cells to replicate, bacteria and fungi use their pathogenicity mechanisms for the acquisition of essential nutrients that lie under host restriction. An inappropriate deployment of pathogenicity mechanisms will alert host defence mechanisms that aim to eradicate the pathogen. Thus, these adaptations require tight regulation to guarantee nutritional access without eliciting strong immune activation. To work efficiently, the immune system relies on a complex signalling network, involving a myriad of immune mediators, some of which are quite directly associated with imminent danger for the pathogen. To manipulate the host immune system, viruses have evolved cytokine receptors and viral cytokines. However, among bacteria and fungi, selected pathogens have evolved the capacity to use these inflammatory response-specific signals to regulate their pathogenicity. In this review, we explore how bacterial and fungal pathogens can sense the immune system and use adaptive pathogenicity strategies to evade and escape host defence to ensure their persistence in the host.
Standardizing experimental approaches to investigate interactions between bacteria and ectomycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Berrios Louis , Ansell T Bertie , Dahlberg Peter D , Peay Kabir G
Published: December 2024

Bacteria and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) represent two of the most dominant plant root-associated microbial groups on Earth, and their interactions continue to gain recognition as significant factors that shape forest health and resilience. Yet, we currently lack a focused review that explains the state of bacteria-EcMF interaction research in the context of experimental approaches and technological advancements. To these ends, we illustrate the utility of studying bacteria-EcMF interactions, detail outstanding questions, outline research priorities in the field, and provide a suite of approaches that can be used to promote experimental reproducibility, field advancement, and collaboration. Though this review centers on the ecology of bacteria, EcMF, and trees, it by default offers experimental and conceptual insights that can be adapted to various subfields of microbiology and microbial ecology.
Indole-containing inhibitors with improved efficacy targeting the gyrase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Bhattarai Shankar , Tiwari Vinay Shankar , Tam Benjamin , Rozen Aviv , Soffer Adam , Durbah Samuel , Eisdorfer Sarah Adi , Giannoulis Angeliki , Goldfarb Daniella , Akabayov Barak
Published: December 2024

Tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide, with drug-resistant strains complicating its treatment. We report the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the gyrase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis. Gyrase, a type II topoisomerase, consists of two subunits: GyrA, which breaks and rejoins DNA, and GyrB, which contains the ATPase domain responsible for ATP binding and hydrolysis. An indole scaffold identified by nuclear magnetic resonance fragment screening was grown into drug-sized candidates through computational optimization, chemical synthesis and functional selection. Several indole-containing gyrase inhibitors were found to be specific for the GyrB subunit of M. tuberculosis. Structural studies using double electron–electron resonance spectroscopy between the Mn(II) ion in the catalytic site of GyrB and a nitroxide-labeled inhibitor provided insights into the potential docking sites of the protein target. Key chemical descriptors essential for gyrase binding were identified for the small-molecule inhibitors using data-driven algorithms. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of fragment screening and computational optimization in drug discovery. The inhibitors presented in this study are promising candidates for further pharmacological studies in vivo.
Mimicking myocardial infarction: a subarachnoid haemorrhage case report
Authors: Aziz Ezzat Mohammed Hussain , Alhatemi Ahmed Qasim Mohammed , Hashim Hashim Talib , Khaleel Amir Salam
Published: December 2024

We present a case detailing the diagnostic challenges of a 23-year-old male presenting with a sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and chest heaviness. Initial evaluation showed elevated blood pressure and respiratory rate. An emergency electrocardiogram (ECG) indicated ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), leading to immediate referral for percutaneous coronary intervention, which revealed normal coronary arteries. Further investigations identified a cisternal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) on CT brain imaging. Despite multidisciplinary management, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in cardiac arrest and mortality. Our case highlights the importance of thorough evaluation and multidisciplinary collaboration in managing complex presentations, emphasizing vigilance in recognizing and managing concurrent pathologies in young patients with acute symptoms.
Hepatocellular carcinoma converted from atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy: a case report
Authors: Ida Keisuke , Koizumi Satoshi , Tsuchihashi Atsuhito , Kobayashi Shinjiro , Otsubo Takehito
Published: December 2024

Hepatectomy is the curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with targeted therapy used when resection is difficult. In this rare case, the tumor shrank with targeted therapy, enabling radical treatment through conversion surgery. The patient, a man in his 70s, developed an 11.5-cm HCC (T3N0M0 Stage III) in the posterior hepatic zone after being virologically negative for hepatitis C. The tumor was near the right portal vein branch, making the liver lobe unresectable due to poor liver function. Upon tumor enlargement, he was treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab. After 5 courses, the tumor significantly shrank, allowing for complete resection with posterior segment removal. The surgery revealed mostly necrotic tumors with no active cancer cells remaining.
Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen: a case report
Authors: Loizides Sotiris , Samouti Paraskevi , Tsironis George , Xenophontos Eleni , Papamichael Demetrios , Vassiliou Vassilios
Published: December 2024

SANT is a rare, non-lymphoid, benign entity, originating from the red pulp of the spleen. It is characterized by the presence of vascular nodules surrounded by a stroma of collagen fibers. It was introduced as a distinct disease entity by Martel et al in 2004, after the histopathological examination of 25 cases. Symptoms are unspecific, and in most cases, it is incidentally diagnosed, mostly in patients who undergo imaging for other underlying conditions. Moreover, radiological findings are usually inconclusive, and a definite diagnosis is established through histopathological examination. We herein report the case of a 76-year-old female diagnosed with stage I rectal cancer who was subsequently diagnosed with a splenic lesion after a Computed Tomography (CT) scan that was performed for follow-up purposes. Different imaging modalities were employed for further assessment; however, findings were inconclusive and the possibility of metastatic disease could not be excluded. The patient was referred for splenectomy and the diagnosis of SANT was established through histopathological examination.
Paradoxical coronary embolism in Erdheim-Chester disease: invasive assessment and multidisciplinary management
Authors: Lamprou Vasileios , Daniels Matthew J , Read Charles D , Keshavarzi Freidoon
Published: December 2024

We report a case of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in a 36-year-old man with Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD). Multimodality assessment revealed acute coronary thrombus with simultaneous recurrent pulmonary embolism in spite of compliance with a direct oral anticoagulant. Prior case reports of acute myocardial infarction in this population have not outlined the role of catheter based intravascular assessment and treatment in this rare clinical entity.