bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Senate Countermajoritarianism
Authors: EVANS C. LAWRENCE
Published: May 2024

This article is the first comprehensive treatment of countermajoritarian roll call outcomes in the U.S. Senate, 1789–2022. Divergences from majoritarian principles are rooted in part in malapportionment and equal representation by state. Roll calls where a majority of the chamber votes one way while the other side represents most of the U.S. population are frequent across Senate history, depending on the proportion of the population covered by the majority party and the degree of conflict in the agenda. Other departures from majoritarian principles derive from the presence of supermajority requirements within the chamber. Such decision thresholds likewise are prevalent across Senate history, with significant increases since the 1970s. Although the two sources of countermajoritarian potential tend to be mutually reinforcing, under certain conditions they work against one another. The partisan impact varies over time, but in the modern chamber, Republicans have benefited more from Senate countermajoritarianism than have Democrats.
Use of the Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (‘HINTS’) assessment to aid differential diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome in the hyperacute stroke setting
Authors: Rayner Rebecca , Hartley-Palmer Joseph , Hmu Chit
Published: May 2024

Background

Differential diagnosis of acute vertigo syndrome is challenging given the similarities between clinical presentations of posterior circulation stroke and peripheral vestibular dysfunction. The Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (‘HINTS’) assessment is a clinical bedside test used to aid diagnosis.

Methods

Comprehensive training on use of the Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew assessment was provided to one stroke consultant, and the effectiveness of the test in that setting was assessed. Further education was completed with more members of the stroke and emergency department multi-disciplinary team. Quality improvement measures including magnetic resonance imaging use and bed utilisation were explored.

Results

Following training of one stroke consultant, the Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew assessment was found to be a feasible, accurate bedside test within this acute stroke service. Further training for the multi-disciplinary team was completed, but outcome measures were not explored because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and maternity leave.

Conclusion

There is a role for trained members of the multi-disciplinary team to successfully use the Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew assessment in hyperacute stroke settings, to aid diagnosis in acute vertigo syndrome.
Primary contact physiotherapy for patients with suggested vestibulopathy for an Australian ENT clinic: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mead Cameron , Kuthubutheen Jafri , van den Berg Maayken , Petta Antonio
Published: May 2024

Objective

To examine the newly established role of a primary contact physiotherapist in an ENT clinic, in an Australian cohort and context, over two phases of development.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with data collected from a medical record audit. Over the study duration, the primary contact physiotherapist completed initial appointments with patients; follow-up appointments were subsequently conducted by medical staff.

Results

There was a 46 per cent reduction in patients with suggested vestibulopathy requiring an ENT medical review. This reduction could hypothetically increase to 71 per cent with follow-up primary contact physiotherapist appointments. Improvements in the service delivery model and a primary contact physiotherapist arranging diagnostic assessments could improve waitlist times and facilitate better utilisation of medical staff time.

Conclusion

The primary contact physiotherapist can help in the management of patients with suspected vestibulopathy on an ENT waitlist. This is achieved through: a reduction of patients requiring ENT review, improvements to waitlist time and improved utilisation of medical specialists’ time.
Advances in the diagnosis and management of acute vertigo
Authors: Herdman David
Published: May 2024

Background

Patients presenting to the emergency department with acute vertigo pose a diagnostic challenge. While ‘benign’ peripheral vestibulopathy is the most common cause, the possibility of a posterior circulation stroke is paradoxically the most feared and missed diagnosis in the emergency department.

Objectives

This review will attempt to cover the significant advances in the ability to diagnose acute vertigo that have occurred in the last two decades. The review discusses the role of neurological examinations, imaging and specific oculomotor examinations. The review then discusses the relative attributes of the Head Impulse-Nystagmus-Test of Skew plus hearing (‘HINTS+’) examination, the timing, triggers and targeted bedside eye examinations (‘TiTrATE’), the associated symptoms, timing and triggers, examination signs and testing (‘ATTEST’) algorithm, and the spontaneous nystagmus, direction, head impulse testing and standing (‘STANDING’) algorithm. The most recent technological advancements in video-oculography guided care are discussed, as well as other potential advances for clinicians to look out for.
Un gruppo di materiali architettonici in stucco e la più antica basilica di Tusculum
Authors: De Stefano Francesco , Pizzo Antonio
Published: May 2024

Riassunto

Tra il 2019 e il 2022 un nuovo programma di ricerche nell'area monumentale di Tusculum è stato dedicato all'indagine del versante sud-orientale della piazza forense, occupato dalla basilica di epoca imperiale e da un edificio la cui interpretazione è da lungo tempo incerta. Le indagini archeologiche hanno consentito di acquisire dati di rilevante interesse ai fini della ricostruzione delle fasi di occupazione di questo settore della città e sulla successione dei monumenti che qui furono edificati nel corso del tempo. Tra le scoperte effettuate spicca un gruppo di frammenti pertinenti a un apparato architettonico in stucco policromo caratterizzato dalla presenza di capitelli corinzieggianti di tipo figurato. Lo stato di conservazione e le caratteristiche tecniche e stilistiche di tali materiali, consentono di sviluppare alcune riflessioni sul contesto monumentale cui essi appartenevano e l'orizzonte storico-culturale entro il quale questo sistema decorativo venne realizzato. In questo contributo, dunque, proponiamo un'analisi tecnica e stilistico-formale di questi reperti, un tentativo di ricomposizione dello schema architettonico che essi componevano e un'ipotesi di attribuzione di quest'ultimo a uno degli edifici più dibattuti del foro tuscolano, il cosiddetto “Edificio porticato”. L'esame del contesto stratigrafico di provenienza dei reperti e la ricomposizione dell'impianto del monumento sulla base dei dati archeologici aprono nuove prospettive per la conoscenza della più antica basilica tuscolana.
Examining the role of emotion and alexithymia in cognitive behavioural therapy outcomes for posttraumatic stress disorder: Clinical implications
Authors: Putica Andrea
Published: May 2024

Although several evidence-based trauma-focused treatments have been developed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a high proportion of treatment completers fail to show total symptom or disorder-level remission. Trauma-focused treatments are predicated on the ability of one to emotionally engage with a trauma memory in order to process the traumatic experience and facilitate safety learning in the post-trauma ‘here and now’. Alexithymia, a difficulty in identifying, describing and tending to one’s emotions, occurs in approximately 40% of those who experience PTSD. This article investigates the role of emotional mechanisms in the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatments for PTSD, particularly prolonged exposure and trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy. Second, it explores how alexithymia poses challenges to emotion processing, undermining the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatments. The article concludes with a discussion of the clinical implications and possible treatment augmentation for those presenting with alexithymia and PTSD.

Key learning aims

(1)

To recognise the important affective mechanisms that can undermine trauma-focused CBT interventions.

(2)

To widen the understanding and recognition of those who may be at risk of treatment non-response.

(3)

To increase knowledge of available strategies and approaches in treating those who may have difficulties engaging with frontline exposure-based interventions.
The First Global Insight of Cirrus Clouds Characterized by Hollow Ice Crystals From Space‐Borne Lidar
Authors: Zhu Xuanhao , Wang Zhenzhu , Liu Dong , Cai Hongke
Published: May 2024

Cirrus clouds often contain numerous hollow ice crystals, which are distinct in scattering properties from solid ice crystals, and will be challenging to microphysical retrieval and radiative forcing assessment. Currently, hollow ice crystals have not been observed by remote sensing methods, and the estimation of their hollowness is a complex task. To address this issue, the Mixed Modal Hollow Columns (MMHC) model for hollow ice crystals is introduced, and its backscattering properties are computed using the physical optics approximation method. Through comparison with spaceborne lidar observations, we identify a specific type of cirrus associated with the MMHC model for the first time. The visible optical depth of this cirrus is less than or equal to 0.1, and the temperature is between −60 and −40°C. The MMHC characteristic cirrus clouds are prevalent in middle and high latitudes but less common in low latitudes. They exhibit distinct patterns in terms of sea and land distribution as well as seasonal variation.
Prediction of Solar Coronal Structures Using Fourier Neural Operators Based on the Solar Photospheric Magnetic Field Observation
Authors: Zhao Jingmin , Feng Xueshang
Published: May 2024

This paper constructs the structures of the solar corona (SC) using Fourier neural operators (FNO) based on solar photospheric magnetic field observation. The purpose is to learn the mapping between two infinite‐dimensional function spaces, which takes the photospheric magnetic field as input and the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solar wind plasma parameters as output, from a finite collection of input‐output pairs. The FNO‐SC model is established using MHD simulated results of 36 Carrington rotations (CRs) from 2008, 2009, and 2020. The performance of the FNO‐SC model is tested for 6 CRs during various phases of the solar activity such as descending, minimum, and ascending phases to generate the 3D structures of the SC. With the MHD simulations as references, the average structure similarity index measure (SSIM) value for the magnetic field topology from 1 to 3Rs is around 0.88. From 1 to 20Rs, the SSIM values for the number density and radial speed surpass 0.9. Relative to OMNI observations, the mean absolute percentage error for the radial speed generated from the FNO‐SC model does not exceed 0.25. These results indicate that the FNO‐SC model effectively captures the solar coronal structures typical of the periods investigated, by recovering the MHD simulations as well as the observations. The FNO‐SC model is further trained with enriched data from the maximum phase to assess the capability of modeling such a situation. The FNO‐SC model costs 48.7 s for a single CR prediction, and thus facilitates real‐time space weather forecasting.
Development of a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine against clade 2.3.4.4b H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Authors: Furey Colleen , Scher Gabrielle , Ye Naiqing , Kercher Lisa , DeBeauchamp Jennifer , Crumpton Jeri Carol , Jeevan Trushar , Patton Christopher , Franks John , Rubrum Adam , Alameh Mohamad-Gabriel , Fan Steven H. Y. , Phan Anthony T. , Hunter Christopher A. , Webby Richard J. , Weissman Drew , Hensley Scott E.
Published: May 2024

mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines would be useful during an influenza virus pandemic since they can be produced rapidly and do not require the generation of egg-adapted vaccine seed stocks. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses from H5 clade 2.3.4.4b are circulating at unprecedently high levels in wild and domestic birds and have the potential to adapt to humans. Here, we generate an mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccine encoding the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein from a clade 2.3.4.4b H5 isolate. The H5 mRNA-LNP vaccine elicits strong T cell and antibody responses in female mice, including neutralizing antibodies and broadly-reactive anti-HA stalk antibodies. The H5 mRNA-LNP vaccine elicits antibodies at similar levels compared to whole inactivated vaccines in female mice with and without prior H1N1 exposures. Finally, we find that the H5 mRNA-LNP vaccine is immunogenic in male ferrets and prevents morbidity and mortality of animals following 2.3.4.4b H5N1 challenge. Together, our data demonstrate that a monovalent mRNA-LNP vaccine expressing 2.3.4.4b H5 is immunogenic and protective in pre-clinical animal models.
Illuminating the function of the orphan transporter, SLC22A10, in humans and other primates
Authors: Yee Sook Wah , Ferrández-Peral Luis , Alentorn-Moron Pol , Fontsere Claudia , Ceylan Merve , Koleske Megan L. , Handin Niklas , Artegoitia Virginia M. , Lara Giovanni , Chien Huan-Chieh , Zhou Xujia , Dainat Jacques , Zalevsky Arthur , Sali Andrej , Brand Colin M. , Wolfreys Finn D. , Yang Jia , Gestwicki Jason E. , Capra John A. , Artursson Per , Newman John W. , Marquès-Bonet Tomàs , Giacomini Kathleen M.
Published: May 2024

SLC22A10 is an orphan transporter with unknown substrates and function. The goal of this study is to elucidate its substrate specificity and functional characteristics. In contrast to orthologs from great apes, human SLC22A10, tagged with green fluorescent protein, is not expressed on the plasma membrane. Cells expressing great ape SLC22A10 orthologs exhibit significant accumulation of estradiol-17β-glucuronide, unlike those expressing human SLC22A10. Sequence alignments reveal a proline at position 220 in humans, which is a leucine in great apes. Replacing proline with leucine in SLC22A10-P220L restores plasma membrane localization and uptake function. Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes show proline at position 220, akin to modern humans, indicating functional loss during hominin evolution. Human SLC22A10 is a unitary pseudogene due to a fixed missense mutation, P220, while in great apes, its orthologs transport sex steroid conjugates. Characterizing SLC22A10 across species sheds light on its biological role, influencing organism development and steroid homeostasis.
A comprehensive benchmarking with interpretation and operational guidance for the hierarchy of topologically associating domains
Authors: Xu Jingxuan , Xu Xiang , Huang Dandan , Luo Yawen , Lin Lin , Bai Xuemei , Zheng Yang , Yang Qian , Cheng Yu , Huang An , Shi Jingyi , Bo Xiaochen , Gu Jin , Chen Hebing
Published: May 2024

Topologically associating domains (TADs), megabase-scale features of chromatin spatial architecture, are organized in a domain-within-domain TAD hierarchy. Within TADs, the inner and smaller subTADs not only manifest cell-to-cell variability, but also precisely regulate transcription and differentiation. Although over 20 TAD callers are able to detect TAD, their usability in biomedicine is confined by a disagreement of outputs and a limit in understanding TAD hierarchy. We compare 13 computational tools across various conditions and develop a metric to evaluate the similarity of TAD hierarchy. Although outputs of TAD hierarchy at each level vary among callers, data resolutions, sequencing depths, and matrices normalization, they are more consistent when they have a higher similarity of larger TADs. We present comprehensive benchmarking of TAD hierarchy callers and operational guidance to researchers of life science researchers. Moreover, by simulating the mixing of different types of cells, we confirm that TAD hierarchy is generated not simply from stacking Hi-C heatmaps of heterogeneous cells. Finally, we propose an air conditioner model to decipher the role of TAD hierarchy in transcription.
Development of a micro-combined heat and power powered by an opposed-piston engine in building applications
Authors: Gao Zhiming , Zoldak Philip , Beaudry-Losique Jacques , Mannarino Tony , Mansinger Jonathan , Molana Maysam , Zhang Mingkan , Cheekatamarla Praveen , Abuheiba Ahmed , Li Hailin , Fricke Brian , Nawaz Kashif
Published: May 2024

Residential homes and light commercial buildings usually require substantial heat and electricity simultaneously. A combined heat and power system enables more efficient and environmentally friendly energy usage than that achieved when heat and electricity are produced in separate processes. However, due to financial and space constraints, residential and light commercial buildings often limit the use of traditional large-scale industrial equipment. Here we develop a micro–combined heat and power system powered by an opposed-piston engine to simultaneously generate electricity and provide heat to residential homes or light commercial buildings. The developed prototype attains the maximum AC electrical efficiency of 35.2%. The electrical efficiency breaks the typical upper boundary of 30% for micro–combined heat and power systems using small internal combustion engines (i.e., <10 kW). Moreover, the developed prototype enables maximum combined electrical and thermal efficiencies greater than 93%. The prototype is optimally designed for natural gas but can also run renewable biogas and hydrogen, supporting the transition from current conventional fossil fuels to zero carbon emissions in the future. The analysis of the unit’s decarbonization and cost-saving potential indicate that, except for specific locations, the developed prototype might excel in achieving decarbonization and cost savings primarily in US northern and middle climate zones.
Stable pure-green organic light-emitting diodes toward Rec.2020 standard
Authors: Tang Xun , Tsagaantsooj Tuul , Rajakaruna Tharindu P. B. , Wang Kai , Chen Xian-Kai , Zhang Xiao-Hong , Hatakeyama Takuji , Adachi Chihaya
Published: May 2024

Manipulating dynamic behaviours of charge carriers and excitons in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is essential to simultaneously achieve high colour purity and superior operational lifetime. In this work, a comprehensive transient electroluminescence investigation reveals that incorporating a thermally activated delayed fluorescence assistant molecule with a deep lowest unoccupied molecular orbital into a bipolar host matrix effectively traps the injected electrons. Meanwhile, the behaviours of hole injection and transport are still dominantly governed by host molecules. Thus, the recombination zone notably shifts toward the interface between the emissive layer (EML) and the electron-transporting layer (ETL). To mitigate the interfacial carrier accumulation and exciton quenching, this bipolar host matrix could serve as a non-barrier functional spacer between EML/ETL, enabling the distribution of recombination zone away from this interface. Consequently, the optimized OLED exhibits a low driving voltage, promising device stability (95% of the initial luminance of 1000 cd m−2, LT95 > 430 h), and a high Commission Internationale de L’Éclairage y coordinate of 0.69. This indicates that managing the excitons through rational energy level alignment holds the potential for simultaneously satisfying Rec.2020 standard and achieving commercial-level stability.
A rationally designed miniature of soluble methane monooxygenase enables rapid and high-yield methanol production in Escherichia coli
Authors: Yu Yeonhwa , Shi Yongfan , Kwon Young Wan , Choi Yoobin , Kim Yusik , Na Jeong-Geol , Huh June , Lee Jeewon
Published: May 2024

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) oxidizes a wide range of carbon feedstocks (C1 to C8) directly using intracellular NADH and is a useful means in developing green routes for industrial manufacturing of chemicals. However, the high-throughput biosynthesis of active recombinant sMMO and the ensuing catalytic oxidation have so far been unsuccessful due to the structural and functional complexity of sMMO, comprised of three functionally complementary components, which remains a major challenge for its industrial applications. Here we develop a catalytically active miniature of sMMO (mini-sMMO), with a turnover frequency of 0.32 s−1, through an optimal reassembly of minimal and modified components of sMMO on catalytically inert and stable apoferritin scaffold. We characterise the molecular characteristics in detail through in silico and experimental analyses and verifications. Notably, in-situ methanol production in a high-cell-density culture of mini-sMMO-expressing recombinant Escherichia coli resulted in higher yield and productivity (~ 3.0 g/L and 0.11 g/L/h, respectively) compared to traditional methanotrophic production.
Translation initiation factor eIF1.2 promotes Toxoplasma stage conversion by regulating levels of key differentiation factors
Authors: Wang Fengrong , Holmes Michael J. , Hong Hea Jin , Thaprawat Pariyamon , Kannan Geetha , Huynh My-Hang , Schultz Tracey L. , Licon M. Haley , Lourido Sebastian , Dong Wenzhao , Brito Querido Jailson , Sullivan William J. , O’Leary Seán E. , Carruthers Vern B.
Published: May 2024

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii persists in its hosts by converting from replicating tachyzoites to latent bradyzoites housed in tissue cysts. The molecular mechanisms that mediate T. gondii differentiation remain poorly understood. Through a mutagenesis screen, we identified translation initiation factor eIF1.2 as a critical factor for T. gondii differentiation. A F97L mutation in eIF1.2 or the genetic ablation of eIF1.2 (∆eif1.2) markedly impeded bradyzoite cyst formation in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated, at single-molecule level, that the eIF1.2 F97L mutation impacts the scanning process of the ribosome preinitiation complex on a model mRNA. RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling experiments unveiled that ∆eif1.2 parasites are defective in upregulating bradyzoite induction factors BFD1 and BFD2 during stress-induced differentiation. Forced expression of BFD1 or BFD2 significantly restored differentiation in ∆eif1.2 parasites. Together, our findings suggest that eIF1.2 functions by regulating the translation of key differentiation factors necessary to establish chronic toxoplasmosis.
Link between supercurrent diode and anomalous Josephson effect revealed by gate-controlled interferometry
Authors: Reinhardt S. , Ascherl T. , Costa A. , Berger J. , Gronin S. , Gardner G. C. , Lindemann T. , Manfra M. J. , Fabian J. , Kochan D. , Strunk C. , Paradiso N.
Published: May 2024

In Josephson diodes the asymmetry between positive and negative current branch of the current-phase relation leads to a polarity-dependent critical current and Josephson inductance. The supercurrent nonreciprocity can be described as a consequence of the anomalous Josephson effect —a φ0-shift of the current-phase relation— in multichannel ballistic junctions with strong spin-orbit interaction. In this work, we simultaneously investigate φ0-shift and supercurrent diode efficiency on the same Josephson junction by means of a superconducting quantum interferometer. By electrostatic gating, we reveal a direct link between φ0-shift and diode effect. Our findings show that spin-orbit interaction in combination with a Zeeman field plays an important role in determining the magnetochiral anisotropy and the supercurrent diode effect.
ZO-1 interacts with YB-1 in endothelial cells to regulate stress granule formation during angiogenesis
Authors: El Bakkouri Yassine , Chidiac Rony , Delisle Chantal , Corriveau Jeanne , Cagnone Gael , Gaonac’h-Lovejoy Vanda , Chin Ashley , Lécuyer Éric , Angers Stephane , Joyal Jean-Sébastien , Topisirovic Ivan , Hulea Laura , Dubrac Alexandre , Gratton Jean-Philippe
Published: May 2024

Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) is involved in the regulation of cell-cell junctions between endothelial cells (ECs). Here we identify the ZO-1 protein interactome and uncover ZO-1 interactions with RNA-binding proteins that are part of stress granules (SGs). Downregulation of ZO-1 increased SG formation in response to stress and protected ECs from cellular insults. The ZO-1 interactome uncovered an association between ZO-1 and Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1), a constituent of SGs. Arsenite treatment of ECs decreased the interaction between ZO-1 and YB-1, and drove SG assembly. YB-1 expression is essential for SG formation and for the cytoprotective effects induced by ZO-1 downregulation. In the developing retinal vascular plexus of newborn mice, ECs at the front of growing vessels express less ZO-1 but display more YB-1-positive granules than ECs located in the vascular plexus. Endothelial-specific deletion of ZO-1 in mice at post-natal day 7 markedly increased the presence of YB-1-positive granules in ECs of retinal blood vessels, altered tip EC morphology and vascular patterning, resulting in aberrant endothelial proliferation, and arrest in the expansion of the retinal vasculature. Our findings suggest that, through its interaction with YB-1, ZO-1 controls SG formation and the response of ECs to stress during angiogenesis.
Impact of secretin receptor homo-dimerization on natural ligand binding
Authors: Harikumar Kaleeckal G. , Piper Sarah J. , Christopoulos Arthur , Wootten Denise , Sexton Patrick M. , Miller Laurence J.
Published: May 2024

Class B G protein-coupled receptors can form dimeric complexes important for high potency biological effects. Here, we apply pharmacological, biochemical, and biophysical techniques to cells and membranes expressing the prototypic secretin receptor (SecR) to gain insights into secretin binding to homo-dimeric and monomeric SecR. Spatial proximity between peptide and receptor residues, probed by disulfide bond formation, demonstrates that the secretin N-terminus moves from adjacent to extracellular loop 3 (ECL3) at wild type SecR toward ECL2 in non-dimerizing mutants. Analysis of fluorescent secretin analogs demonstrates stable engagement of the secretin C-terminal region within the receptor extracellular domain (ECD) for both dimeric and monomeric receptors, while the mid-region exhibits lower mobility while docked at the monomer. Moreover, decoupling of G protein interaction reduces mobility of the peptide mid-region at wild type receptor to levels similar to the mutant, whereas it has no further impact on the monomer. These data support a model of peptide engagement whereby the ability of SecR to dimerize promotes higher conformational dynamics of the peptide-bound receptor ECD and ECLs that likely facilitates more efficient G protein recruitment and activation, consistent with the higher observed functional potency of secretin at wild type SecR relative to the monomeric mutant receptor.
A comparative study of different antiviral treatment protocols in HCV related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
Authors: Allam Walaa Ramadan , Hegazy Mohamed Tharwat , Hussein Mohamed A. , Zoheir Naguib , Quartuccio Luca , El-Khamisy Sherif F. , Ragab Gaafar
Published: May 2024

The treatment of HCV and its sequelae are used to be predominantly based on Interferon (IFN). However, this was associated with significant adverse events as a result of its immunostimulant capabilities. Since their introduction, the directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), have become the standard of care to treat of HCV and its complications including mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (MCV). In spite of achieving sustained viral response (SVR), there appeared many reports describing unwelcome complications such as hepatocellular and hematological malignancies as well as relapses. Prolonged inflammation induced by a multitude of factors, can lead to DNA damage and affects BAFF and APRIL, which serve as markers of B-cell proliferation. We compared, head-to-head, three antiviral protocols for HCV–MCV treatment As regards the treatment response and relapse, levels of BAFF and APRIL among pegylated interferon α-based and free regimens (Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin; SOF–RIBA, Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir; SOF–DACLA). Regarding clinical response HCV–MCV and SVR; no significant differences could be identified among the 3 different treatment protocols, and this was also independent form using IFN. We found no significant differences between IFN-based and free regimens DNA damage, markers of DNA repair, or levels of BAFF and APRIL. However, individualized drug-to-drug comparisons showed many differences. Those who were treated with IFN-based protocol showed decreased levels of DNA damage, while the other two IFN-free groups showed increased DNA damage, being the worst in SOF–DACLA group. There were increased levels of BAFF through follow-up periods in the 3 protocols being the best in SOF–DACLA group (decreased at 24 weeks). In SOF–RIBA, CGs relapsed significantly during the follow-up period. None of our patients who were treated with IFN-based protocol had significant clinico-laboratory relapse. Those who received IFN-free DAAs showed a statistically significant relapse of constitutional manifestations. Our findings suggest that IFN-based protocols are effective in treating HCV–MCV similar to IFN-free protocols. They showed lower levels of DNA damage and repair. We believe that our findings may offer an explanation for the process of lymphoproliferation, occurrence of malignancies, and relapses by shedding light on such possible mechanisms.
Characterizing the human intestinal chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan sulfation signature in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Francis Kendra L. , Zheng Hengqi B. , Suskind David L. , Murphree Taylor A. , Phan Bao Anh , Quah Emily , Hendrickson Aarun S. , Zhou Xisheng , Nuding Mason , Hudson Alexandra S. , Guttman Miklos , Morton Gregory J. , Schwartz Michael W. , Alonge Kimberly M. , Scarlett Jarrad M.
Published: May 2024

The intestinal extracellular matrix (ECM) helps maintain appropriate tissue barrier function and regulate host-microbial interactions. Chondroitin sulfate- and dermatan sulfate-glycosaminoglycans (CS/DS-GAGs) are integral components of the intestinal ECM, and alterations in CS/DS-GAGs have been shown to significantly influence biological functions. Although pathologic ECM remodeling is implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is unknown whether changes in the intestinal CS/DS-GAG composition are also linked to IBD in humans. Our aim was to characterize changes in the intestinal ECM CS/DS-GAG composition in intestinal biopsy samples from patients with IBD using mass spectrometry. We characterized intestinal CS/DS-GAGs in 69 pediatric and young adult patients (n = 13 control, n = 32 active IBD, n = 24 IBD in remission) and 6 adult patients. Here, we report that patients with active IBD exhibit a significant decrease in the relative abundance of CS/DS isomers associated with matrix stability (CS-A and DS) compared to controls, while isomers implicated in matrix instability and inflammation (CS-C and CS-E) were significantly increased. This imbalance of intestinal CS/DS isomers was restored among patients in clinical remission. Moreover, the abundance of pro-stabilizing CS/DS isomers negatively correlated with clinical disease activity scores, whereas both pro-inflammatory CS-C and CS-E content positively correlated with disease activity scores. Thus, pediatric patients with active IBD exhibited increased pro-inflammatory and decreased pro-stabilizing CS/DS isomer composition, and future studies are needed to determine whether changes in the CS/DS-GAG composition play a pathogenic role in IBD.
Softly empowering a prosocial expert in the family: lasting effects of a counter-misinformation intervention in an informational autocracy
Authors: Orosz Gábor , Faragó Laura , Paskuj Benedek , Rakovics Zsófia , Sam-Mine Diane , Audemard Gilles , Modeliar Mouny Samy , Krekó Péter
Published: May 2024

The present work is the first to comprehensively analyze the gravity of the misinformation problem in Hungary, where misinformation appears regularly in the pro-governmental, populist, and socially conservative mainstream media. In line with international data, using a Hungarian representative sample (Study 1, N = 991), we found that voters of the reigning populist, conservative party could hardly distinguish fake from real news. In Study 2, we demonstrated that a prosocial intervention of ~ 10 min (N = 801) helped young adult participants discern misinformation four weeks later compared to the control group without implementing any boosters. This effect was the most salient regarding pro-governmental conservative fake news content, leaving real news evaluations intact. Although the hypotheses of the present work were not preregistered, it appears that prosocial misinformation interventions might be promising attempts to counter misinformation in an informational autocracy in which the media is highly centralized. Despite using social motivations, it does not mean that long-term cognitive changes cannot occur. Future studies might explore exactly how these interventions can have an impact on the long-term cognitive processing of news content as well as their underlying neural structures.
Differences in childhood stress between Neanderthals and early modern humans as reflected by dental enamel growth disruptions
Authors: Limmer Laura Sophia , Santon Matteo , McGrath Kate , Harvati Katerina , El Zaatari Sireen
Published: May 2024

Neanderthals’ lives were historically portrayed as highly stressful, shaped by constant pressures to survive in harsh ecological conditions, thus potentially contributing to their extinction. Recent work has challenged this interpretation, leaving the issue of stress among Paleolithic populations highly contested and warranting in-depth examination. Here, we analyze the frequency of dental enamel hypoplasia, a growth disruption indicator of early life stress, in the largest sample of Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic dentitions investigated to date for these features. To track potential species-specific patterns in the ontogenetic distribution of childhood stress, we present the first comprehensive Bayesian modelling of the likelihood of occurrence of individual and matched enamel growth disruptions throughout ontogeny. Our findings support similar overall stress levels in both groups but reveal species-specific patterns in its ontogenetic distribution. While Neanderthal children faced increasing likelihoods of growth disruptions starting with the weaning process and culminating in intensity post-weaning, growth disruptions in Upper Paleolithic children were found to be limited around the period of weaning and substantially dropping after its expected completion. These results might, at least in part, reflect differences in childcare or other behavioral strategies between the two taxa, including those that were advantageous for modern humans’ long-term survival.
Long-COVID autonomic syndrome in working age and work ability impairment
Authors: Rinaldi Luca , Rigo Stefano , Pani Margherita , Bisoglio Andrea , Khalaf Kareem , Minonzio Maura , Shiffer Dana , Romeo Maria Angela , Verzeletti Paolo , Ciccarelli Michele , Bordoni Maria Grazia , Stranges Saverio , Riboli Elio , Furlan Raffaello , Barbic Franca
Published: May 2024

Long-COVID19 has been recently associated with long-sick leave and unemployment. The autonomic nervous system functioning may be also affected by SARS-CoV-2, leading to a chronic autonomic syndrome. This latter remains widely unrecognized in clinical practice. In the present study, we assessed the occurrence of Long-COVID19 Autonomic Syndrome in a group of active workers as well as the relationships between their autonomic dysfunction and work ability. This prospective observational study was conducted during the 2nd wave of the pandemic in Italy. Forty-five patients (53.6 ± 8.4 years; 32 M) hospitalized for COVID19, were consecutively enrolled at the time of their hospital discharge (T0) and followed-up for 6 months. Autonomic symptoms and work ability were assessed by COMPASS31 and Work Ability Index questionnaires at T0, one (T1), three and six (T6) months after hospital discharge and compared to those retrospectively collected for a period preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical examination and standing test were also performed at T1 and T6. One in three working-age people developed a new autonomic syndrome that was still evident 6 months after the acute infection resolution. This was associated with a significant reduction in the work ability. Recognition of Long-COVID19 Autonomic Syndrome may promote early intervention to facilitate return to work and prevent unemployment.
Enhancing trash classification in smart cities using federated deep learning
Authors: Ahmed Khan Haroon , Naqvi Syed Saud , Alharbi Abeer A. K. , Alotaibi Salihah , Alkhathami Mohammed
Published: May 2024

Efficient Waste management plays a crucial role to ensure clean and green environment in the smart cities. This study investigates the critical role of efficient trash classification in achieving sustainable solid waste management within smart city environments. We conduct a comparative analysis of various trash classification methods utilizing deep learning models built on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Leveraging the PyTorch open-source framework and the TrashBox dataset, we perform experiments involving ten unique deep neural network models. Our approach aims to maximize training accuracy. Through extensive experimentation, we observe the consistent superiority of the ResNext-101 model compared to others, achieving exceptional training, validation, and test accuracies. These findings illuminate the potential of CNN-based techniques in significantly advancing trash classification for optimized solid waste management within smart city initiatives. Lastly, this study presents a distributed framework based on federated learning that can be used to optimize the performance of a combination of CNN models for trash detection.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation focusing on patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb: a randomized sham-controlled parallel trial
Authors: Mori Nobuhiko , Hosomi Koichi , Nishi Asaya , Miyake Akimitsu , Yamada Tomomi , Matsugi Akiyoshi , Jono Yasutomo , Lim Chanseok , Khoo Hui Ming , Tani Naoki , Oshino Satoru , Saitoh Youichi , Kishima Haruhiko
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb. This randomized, blinded, sham-controlled, parallel trial included a rTMS protocol (10-Hz, 2000 pulses/session) consisting of five daily sessions, followed by one session per week for the next seven weeks. Pain intensity, as well as pain-related disability, quality of life, and psychological status, were assessed. For the primary outcome, pain intensity was measured daily using a numerical rating scale as a pain diary. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to the active rTMS or sham-stimulation groups. In the primary outcome, the decrease (least square [LS] mean ± standard error) in the weekly average of a pain diary at week 9 compared to the baseline was 0.84 ± 0.31 in the active rTMS group and 0.58 ± 0.29 in the sham group (LS mean difference, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, − 0.60 to 1.13). There was no significant effect on the interaction between the treatment group and time point. Pain-related disability score improved, but other assessments showed no differences. No serious adverse events were observed. This study did not show significant pain relief; however, active rTMS tended to provide better results than sham. rTMS has the potential to improve pain-related disability in addition to pain relief.

Clinical Trial Registration number: jRCTs052190110 (20/02/2020).
A dual-responsive RhB-doped MOF probe for simultaneous recognition of Cu2+ and Fe3+
Authors: Zhang Teng , Cao Rui , Li Jingying , Tang Hanxiao , Su Hang , Feng Weisheng , Zhang Zhijuan
Published: May 2024

Based on the dual response of RhB@UiO-67 (1:6) to Cu2+ and Fe3+, a proportional fluorescent probe with (I392/I581) as the output signal was developed to recognize Cu2+ and Fe3+. Developing highly sensitive and selective trace metal ions probes is crucial to human health and ecological sustainability. In this work, a series of ratio fluorescent probes (RhB@UiO-67) were successfully synthesized using a one-pot method to enable fluorescence sensing of Cu2+ and Fe3+ at low concentrations. The proportional fluorescent probe RhB@UiO-67 (1:6) exhibited simultaneous quenching of Cu2+ and Fe3+, which was found to be of interest. Furthermore, the limits of detection (LODs) for Cu2+ and Fe3+ were determined to be 2.76 μM and 0.76 μM, respectively, for RhB@UiO-67 (1:6). These values were significantly superior to those reported for previous sensors, indicating the probe’s effectiveness in detecting Cu2+ and Fe3+ in an ethanol medium. Additionally, RhB@UiO-67 (1:6) demonstrated exceptional immunity and reproducibility towards Cu2+ and Fe3+. The observed fluorescence quenching of Cu2+ and Fe3+ was primarily attributed to the mechanisms of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), and competitive absorption (CA). This work establishes a valuable foundation for the future study and utilization of Cu2+ and Fe3+ sensing technologies.
Performance in myoelectric pattern recognition improves with transcranial direct current stimulation
Authors: Damercheli Shahrzad , Morrenhof Kelly , Ahmed Kirstin , Ortiz-Catalan Max
Published: May 2024

Sensorimotor impairments, resulting from conditions like stroke and amputations, can profoundly impact an individual’s functional abilities and overall quality of life. Assistive and rehabilitation devices such as prostheses, exo-skeletons, and serious gaming in virtual environments can help to restore some degree of function and alleviate pain after sensorimotor impairments. Myoelectric pattern recognition (MPR) has gained popularity in the past decades as it provides superior control over said devices, and therefore efforts to facilitate and improve performance in MPR can result in better rehabilitation outcomes. One possibility to enhance MPR is to employ transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to facilitate motor learning. Twelve healthy able-bodied individuals participated in this crossover study to determine the effect of tDCS on MPR performance. Baseline training was followed by two sessions of either sham or anodal tDCS using the dominant and non-dominant arms. Assignments were randomized, and the MPR task consisted of 11 different hand/wrist movements, including rest or no movement. Surface electrodes were used to record EMG and the MPR open-source platform, BioPatRec, was used for decoding motor volition in real-time. The motion test was used to evaluate performance. We hypothesized that using anodal tDCS to increase the excitability of the primary motor cortex associated with non-dominant side in able-bodied individuals, will improve motor learning and thus MPR performance. Overall, we found that tDCS enhanced MPR performance, particularly in the non-dominant side. We were able to reject the null hypothesis and improvements in the motion test’s completion rate during tDCS (28% change, p-value: 0.023) indicate its potential as an adjunctive tool to enhance MPR and motor learning. tDCS appears promising as a tool to enhance the learning phase of using assistive devices using MPR, such as myoelectric prostheses.
Comparing ANI-2x, ANI-1ccx neural networks, force field, and DFT methods for predicting conformational potential energy of organic molecules
Authors: Rezaee Mozafar , Ekrami Saeid , Hashemianzadeh Seyed Majid
Published: May 2024

In this study, the conformational potential energy surfaces of Amylmetacresol, Benzocaine, Dopamine, Betazole, and Betahistine molecules were scanned and analyzed using the neural network architecture ANI-2 × and ANI-1ccx, the force field method OPLS, and density functional theory with the exchange-correlation functional B3LYP and the basis set 6-31G(d). The ANI-1ccx and ANI-2 × methods demonstrated the highest accuracy in predicting torsional energy profiles, effectively capturing the minimum and maximum values of these profiles. Conformational potential energy values calculated by B3LYP and the OPLS force field method differ from those calculated by ANI-1ccx and ANI-2x, which account for non-bonded intramolecular interactions, since the B3LYP functional and OPLS force field weakly consider van der Waals and other intramolecular forces in torsional energy profiles. For a more comprehensive analysis, electronic parameters such as dipole moment, HOMO, and LUMO energies for different torsional angles were calculated at two levels of theory, B3LYP/6-31G(d) and ωB97X/6-31G(d). These calculations confirmed that ANI predictions are more accurate than density functional theory calculations with B3LYP functional and OPLS force field for determining potential energy surfaces. This research successfully addressed the challenges in determining conformational potential energy levels and shows how machine learning and deep neural networks offer a more accurate, cost-effective, and rapid alternative for predicting torsional energy profiles.
Training deep learning based dynamic MR image reconstruction using open-source natural videos
Authors: Jaubert Olivier , Pascale Michele , Montalt-Tordera Javier , Akesson Julius , Virsinskaite Ruta , Knight Daniel , Arridge Simon , Steeden Jennifer , Muthurangu Vivek
Published: May 2024

To develop and assess a deep learning (DL) pipeline to learn dynamic MR image reconstruction from publicly available natural videos (Inter4K). Learning was performed for a range of DL architectures (VarNet, 3D UNet, FastDVDNet) and corresponding sampling patterns (Cartesian, radial, spiral) either from true multi-coil cardiac MR data (N = 692) or from synthetic MR data simulated from Inter4K natural videos (N = 588). Real-time undersampled dynamic MR images were reconstructed using DL networks trained with cardiac data and natural videos, and compressed sensing (CS). Differences were assessed in simulations (N = 104 datasets) in terms of MSE, PSNR, and SSIM and prospectively for cardiac cine (short axis, four chambers, N = 20) and speech cine (N = 10) data in terms of subjective image quality ranking, SNR and Edge sharpness. Friedman Chi Square tests with post-hoc Nemenyi analysis were performed to assess statistical significance. In simulated data, DL networks trained with cardiac data outperformed DL networks trained with natural videos, both of which outperformed CS (p < 0.05). However, in prospective experiments DL reconstructions using both training datasets were ranked similarly (and higher than CS) and presented no statistical differences in SNR and Edge Sharpness for most conditions.The developed pipeline enabled learning dynamic MR reconstruction from natural videos preserving DL reconstruction advantages such as high quality fast and ultra-fast reconstructions while overcoming some limitations (data scarcity or sharing). The natural video dataset, code and pre-trained networks are made readily available on github.