bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Lake Sudochya and development perspective
Authors: Kurbanbaev S E , Karimova O Yu , Turlibaev Z , Baimuratov R A
Published: December 2023

Lake Sudochye is the only large lake on the left bank of the Amudarya River delta. The current nature of changes in the environmental situation, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development in this region largely depends on the life activity of the Sudochinsko - Mashankul - Karazhar lake system. Sudoche is relevant not only from the point of view of preserving a large unique natural site, but also plays a huge role in the development of the economic potential of the Muynak and Kungrad regions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and most importantly, the lakes. Sudoche is the main link of the world migratory route of migratory birds, and is included in the Ramsar Convention list. In addition, Lake Sudochye is a natural reserve of unique flora and fauna that has no ecological analogues.
Damage reduction of trunks of trees left for growing during selective felling
Authors: Sivakov Vladimir , Zaikin Anatolii , Chemchikova Yuliya , Duhovnik Alesya , Voinash Sergey , Zagidullin Ramil , Akhmetshin Stanislav
Published: December 2023

Forest management improvement is an important task, especially in the context of the development of forest areas with a depleted resource base. When carrying out non-clear cuttings, the main operation that has the greatest negative impact on the trees left for growing is skidding, during which trees located along the portage and, especially, at the turn, can receive damage, consisting in damage to the root system and trunk bark. It is possible to prevent damage to the trunks of trees left for growing by using fencing devices, which can be made from logging resi-dues located in the cutting area, or from slabs obtained by sawing logs. The use of a protective device does not require large expenses due to the use of substandard wood; after skidding the devices can be easily removed and put on other trees.
Study of the properties of asphalt concrete based on solid waste from cement production
Authors: Ibrokhimov G B , Shukurov J L , Khasanov Ch A , Omondavlatov S S , Tovoshareva I E
Published: December 2023

It is known that in the production of cement, clinker is treated at a temperature of 1350-1400 C°. During this process, slag is formed in the furnace. In addition, dispersed cement dust accumulates in dust retention filters. One of the ways to effectively use them is to use them as fillers or modifiers in the production of various composite materials. After special processing, the possibility of using these wastes as a modifying filler in increasing the strength of asphalt concrete compositions was studied.
Theoretical aspects of substantiating the parameters of the working body of an environmentally comfortable spraying unit
Authors: Irisov Kh D , Bekmurodov I R
Published: December 2023

The article presents the general structure and operation process of the vibro-hydromachine, which is agrotechnically and ecologically convenient for the agro-industrial complex, does not cause chemical damage to other types of crops in the environment, and ensures that the spraying unit is energy-efficient. The theoretical aspects of determining the main parameters and operating modes of the vibrohydroelectric machine are given (velocity pressure of a hydraulic or pneumatic mixer and the potential energy of settling particles (or kinetic energy at the moment of settling), to ensure the circulation of mixing flows, the required flow rate of jets from the hydraulic mixer nozzles is, fluid pressure force at point A, pressure at point 2 at depth h, measured from the level of point 1, absolute pressure (Pa) at an arbitrary point in the liquid, excessive pressure Pi, flow of working fluid through the sawing device of the unit, insignificance (he). Also, field experiments have shown the performance of the modernized proposed working bodies.
Testing of a temporary railway bridge and analysis of the results
Authors: Topurova Ivanka
Published: December 2023

The main purpose of bridge testing, an obligatory step before putting a railway bridge in operation, is to ensure that the used theoretical model is in accordance with the actual behaviour of the structure. Furthermore, bridge testing can point to some problems or inaccuracies due to construction.

Even though temporary bridges typically have shorter spans, they have relatively low self-weight and the main strains are caused by live loads. Therefore, bridge testing is particularly important to ensure the proper performance of such structures.

This paper outlines some major steps of the testing process and draws conclusions based on a temporary railway bridge located along the Kalotina Highway in Bulgaria.
Structures for permanent stabilization of the sea coast
Authors: Zhechev Nikolay
Published: December 2023

The coastal protection of the country, built in the early 1970s, has been devoid of even preventive measures such as depositing crushed rock along the coastal shoreline for several decades. Instead of prevention, an entirely ineffective defensive concept has been implemented, with concrete protective barriers accumulating along the shores and temporary breakwaters and groynes being created using additional concrete blocks. These measures, which essentially destroy the coast, are complemented by periodic sand embankments during winter, excavated from the coastal strip and piled in front of iconic coastal establishments. All these activities lead to terrain destabilization and erosion of the country’s coastline and sandy shore.

The planned embankment along the Black Sea coast is not a solution to the problem either. Firstly, this dam is insufficient for regions like Balchik to create the necessary counterbalance to ensure the stability of the landslide slope. Secondly, the practice where such structures have been built shows that landslides continue due to ongoing coastal erosion caused by the energy of waves passing through the dam. Thirdly, this type of dam makes the beaches difficult to access and unattractive due to the lack of sand.

After analyzing the current state and the reasons for ongoing processes of slope destabilization and the loss of sandy beaches along the Black Sea coast, measures for sustainable coastal protection are proposed. Conclusions and recommendations for practice have been drawn.
On the need for connectivity and a new strategic approach to building road infrastructure in the Balkans
Authors: Tsonkov Nikolay , Petrov Kamen
Published: December 2023

The Bulgarian state is characterized by its geostrategic location. However, the country has not taken advantage of its natural localization. The main reasons for this are the lack of strategic thinking and implementation of a targeted and active transport policy within Bulgaria and the Balkans. This policy includes the planning and realization of projects in the field of strategic infrastructure. The policy is adopted in the context of the trans-European transport corridors. This will create conditions for connectivity between Bulgarian regions and conditions for stimulating cross-border cooperation. In this direction, the authors analyze the transport sector and infrastructure in Bulgaria to highlight the important areas where the Bulgarian state needs to take urgent action. In this regard, it is necessary to formulate the major priorities that will take place in a new strategy for the transport sector. The strategy is related to the reconducting of political activities, measures, and acceleration of the investments in Bulgaria’s strategic road infrastructure.
Quantifying orthogonal barcodes for sequence census assays
Authors: Booeshaghi A Sina , Min Kyung Hoi (Joseph) , Gehring Jase , Pachter Lior
Published: December 2023

Barcode-based sequence census assays utilize custom or random oligonucloetide sequences to label various biological features, such as cell-surface proteins or CRISPR perturbations. These assays all rely on barcode quantification, a task that is complicated by barcode design and technical noise. We introduce a modular approach to quantifying barcodes that achieves speed and memory improvements over existing tools. We also introduce a set of quality control metrics, and accompanying tool, for validating barcode designs.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/pachterlab/kb_python, https://github.com/pachterlab/qcbc.
Scaling up single-cell RNA-seq data analysis with CellBridge workflow
Authors: Nouri Nima , Kurlovs Andre H , Gaglia Giorgio , de Rinaldis Emanuele , Savova Virginia
Published: December 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized the study of gene expression at the individual cell level, unraveling unprecedented insights into cellular heterogeneity. However, the analysis of scRNA-seq data remains a challenging and time-consuming task, often demanding advanced computational expertise, rendering it impractical for high-volume environments and applications. We present CellBridge, an automated workflow designed to simplify the standard procedures entailed in scRNA-seq data analysis, eliminating the need for specialized computational expertise. CellBridge utilizes state-of-the-art computational methods, integrating a range of advanced functionalities, covering the entire process from raw unaligned sequencing reads to cell type annotation. Hence, CellBridge accelerates the pace of discovery by seamlessly enabling insights into vast volumes of scRNA-seq data, without compromising workflow control and reproducibility.

Availability and implementation

The source code, detailed documentation, and materials required to reproduce the results are available on GitHub and archived in Zenodo. For the CellBridge pre-processing step (v1.0.0), access the GitHub repository at https://github.com/Sanofi-Public/PMCB-ToBridge and the Zenodo archive at https://zenodo.org/records/10246161. For the CellBridge processing step (v1.0.0), visit the GitHub repository at https://github.com/Sanofi-Public/PMCB-CellBridge and the Zenodo archive at https://zenodo.org/records/10246046.
ELISL: early–late integrated synthetic lethality prediction in cancer
Authors: Tepeli Yasin I , Seale Colm , Gonçalves Joana P
Published: December 2023

Motivation

Anti-cancer therapies based on synthetic lethality (SL) exploit tumour vulnerabilities for treatment with reduced side effects, by targeting a gene that is jointly essential with another whose function is lost. Computational prediction is key to expedite SL screening, yet existing methods are vulnerable to prevalent selection bias in SL data and reliant on cancer or tissue type-specific omics, which can be scarce. Notably, sequence similarity remains underexplored as a proxy for related gene function and joint essentiality.

Results

We propose ELISL, Early–Late Integrated SL prediction with forest ensembles, using context-free protein sequence embeddings and context-specific omics from cell lines and tissue. Across eight cancer types, ELISL showed superior robustness to selection bias and recovery of known SL genes, as well as promising cross-cancer predictions. Co-occurring mutations in a BRCA gene and ELISL-predicted pairs from the HH, FGF, WNT, or NEIL gene families were associated with longer patient survival times, revealing therapeutic potential.

Availability and implementation

Data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23607558 & Code: github.com/joanagoncalveslab/ELISL.
Cost-effectiveness of intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a UK perspective
Authors: Sharp Andrew S P , Kinnaird Tim , Curzen Nick , Ayyub Ruba , Alfonso Jorge Emilio , Mamas Mamas A , Vanden Bavière Henri
Published: December 2023

Background

Use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with improved clinical outcomes over angiography alone. Despite this, the adoption of IVUS in clinical practice remains low.

Aims

To examine the cost-effectiveness of IVUS-guided PCI compared to angiography alone in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Methods and results

A 1-year decision tree and lifetime Markov model were constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of IVUS-guided PCI to angiography alone for two hypothetical adult populations consisting of 1000 individuals: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The United Kingdom (UK) healthcare system perspective was applied using 2019/20 costs. All-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), repeat PCI, lifetime costs, life expectancy, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were assessed. Over a lifetime horizon, IVUS-guided PCI was cost-effective compared to angiography alone in both populations, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £3649 and £5706 per-patient in STEMI and UA/NSTEMI patients, respectively.

In the 1-year time horizon, the model suggested that IVUS was associated with reductions in mortality, MI, and repeat PCI by 51%, 33%, and 52% in STEMI and by 50%, 29%, and 57% in UA/NSTEMI patients, respectively. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the robustness of the model with IVUS being 100% cost-effective at a willingness to pay threshold of £20 000 per QALY-gained.

Conclusions

From a UK healthcare perspective, an IVUS-guided PCI strategy was highly cost-effective over angiography alone amongst ACS patients undergoing DES implantation due to the medium- and long-term reduction in repeat PCI, death, and MI.
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial on levothyroxine and liothyronine combination therapy in totally thyroidectomized subjects: the LEVOLIO study
Authors: Brigante Giulia , Santi Daniele , Boselli Gisella , Margiotta Gianluca , Corleto Rossella , Monzani Maria Laura , Craparo Andrea , Locaso Michela , Sperduti Samantha , Roy Neena , Casarini Livio , Trenti Tommaso , Tagliavini Simonetta , De Santis Maria Cristina , Roli Laura , Rochira Vincenzo , Simoni Manuela
Published: December 2023

Objective

Despite having normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, many hypothyroid patients are dissatisfied with the treatment. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of twice-daily, combination therapy with levothyroxine (LT4) and liothyronine (LT3), at doses adapted according to TSH-level, on peripheral tissues as reflected by sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels in totally thyroidectomized patients. Changes in other tissue markers and quality of life considering DIO2-rs225014 and MCT10-rs17606253 genetic variants were also assessed.

Design

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled.

Methods

One hundred and forty-one subjects were randomized to LT4 + LT3 group (LT4 + LT3 in the morning and LT3 in the evening; n = 70) or placebo group (LT4 in the morning and placebo in the evening; n = 71). Pituitary-thyroid axis compensation was assessed after 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Clinical parameters, quality of life, and tissue markers (sex hormone binding globulin, serum lipids, bone markers) were evaluated at 12 and 24 weeks. DIO2 and MCT10 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped.

Results

The LT4 + LT3 group was treated with mean daily LT3 doses of 5.00 µg, with a mean daily LT4 reduction of 15 µg. After 6 months of treatment, neither SHBG and other tissue markers nor quality of life differed significantly between groups. Combination treatment required greater dose adjustments than placebo (25% vs 54%, P < .001), due to thyroid-stimulating hormone reduction, without hyperthyroidism signs or symptoms. At the end of treatment, the LT4 + placebo group had significantly lower fT3/fT4 compared to the LT4 + LT3 group (0.26 ± 0.05 vs 0.32 ± 0.08, P < .001). No preference for combination therapy was found. Genetic variants did not influence any outcomes.

Conclusions

Six months of combination therapy with twice-daily LT3 dose adapted according to TSH-level do not significantly change peripheral tissue response or quality of life, despite an increase in the fT3/fT4 ratio.
Coronary artery calcium and the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in younger adults: a meta-analysis
Authors: Haq Ayman , Veerati Tejaswi , Walser-Kuntz Evan , Aldujeli Ali , Tang Michael , Miedema Michael
Published: December 2023

Aims

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2019 prevention guidelines recommend utilizing coronary artery calcium (CAC) to stratify cardiovascular risk in selected cases. However, data regarding CAC and risk in younger adults are less robust due to the lower prevalence of CAC and lower incidence of events. The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine the ability of CAC to predict the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in adults <50.

Methods and results

PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were electronically searched through May 2022 for studies with a primary prevention cohort under age 55 who underwent CAC scoring. Six observational studies with a total of 45 919 individuals with an average age of 43.1 and mean follow-up of 12.1 years were included. The presence of CAC was associated with an increased risk of adverse events [pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–2.56, P = 0.012, I2 = 65.5]. Compared with a CAC of 0, a CAC of 1–100 did carry an increased risk of cardiovascular events (pooled HR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.08–3.16, P = 0.0248, I2 = 50.3), but not mortality (pooled HR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.85–1.69, P = 0.2917), while a CAC > 100 did carry an increased risk of cardiovascular events (pooled HR = 6.57, 95% CI 3.23–13.36, P < 0.0001, I2 = 72.6) and mortality (pooled HR = 2.91, 95% CI 2.23–3.80, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In a meta-analysis of younger adults undergoing CAC scoring, a CAC of 1–100 was associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular events, while a CAC > 100 was associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular events and mortality.
Prevalence, virulence characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from raw seafood in a province in Northern Thailand
Authors: Siriphap Achiraya , Prapasawat Watsawan , Borthong Jednipit , Tanomsridachchai Wimonrat , Muangnapoh Chonchanok , Suthienkul Orasa , Chonsin Kaknokrat
Published: December 2023

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is commonly found in seawater and seafood products, but evidence is limited of its presence in seafood marketed in locations very distant from coastal sources. This study determined the prevalence and characterization of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood from markets in landlocked Phayao province, Northern Thailand. Among 120 samples, 26 (21.7%) were positive for V. parahaemolyticus, being highest in shrimp (43.3%), followed by shellfish (36.7%), and squid (6.7%), but was not found in fish. V. parahaemolyticus comprised 33 isolates that were non-pathogenic and non-pandemic. Almost all isolates from shrimp and shellfish samples were positive for T3SS1. Only five isolates (15.2%) showed two antimicrobial resistance patterns, namely, kanamycin-streptomycin (1) carrying sul2 and ampicillin-kanamycin-streptomycin (4) that carried tetA (2), tetA-sul2 (1), as well as one negative. Antimicrobial susceptible V. parahaemolyticus isolates possessing tetA (67.9%) and sul2 (3.5%) were also found. Six isolates positive for integron class 1 and/or class 2 were detected in 4 antimicrobial susceptible and 2 resistant isolates. While pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus was not detected, contamination of antimicrobial resistance V. parahaemolyticus in seafood in locations distant from coastal areas requires ongoing monitoring to improve food safety in the seafood supply chain.
Agtrevirus phage AV101 recognizes four different O-antigens infecting diverse E. coli
Authors: Sørensen Anders Nørgaard , Kalmár Dorottya , Lutz Veronika Theresa , Klein-Sousa Victor , Taylor Nicholas M I , Sørensen Martine C , Brøndsted Lone
Published: December 2023

Bacteriophages in the Agtrevirus genus are known for expressing multiple tail spike proteins (TSPs), but little is known about their genetic diversity and host recognition apart from their ability to infect diverse Enterobacteriaceae species. Here, we aim to determine the genetic differences that may account for the diverse host ranges of Agrevirus phages. We performed comparative genomics of 14 Agtrevirus and identified only a few genetic differences including genes involved in nucleotide metabolism. Most notably was the diversity of the tsp gene cluster, specifically in the receptor-binding domains that were unique among most of the phages. We further characterized agtrevirus AV101 infecting nine diverse Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli and demonstrated that this phage encoded four unique TSPs among Agtrevirus. Purified TSPs formed translucent zones and inhibited AV101 infection of specific hosts, demonstrating that TSP1, TSP2, TSP3, and TSP4 recognize O8, O82, O153, and O159 O-antigens of E. coli, respectively. BLASTp analysis showed that the receptor-binding domain of TSP1, TSP2, TSP3, and TSP4 are similar to TSPs encoded by E. coli prophages and distant related virulent phages. Thus, Agtrevirus may have gained their receptor-binding domains by recombining with prophages or virulent phages. Overall, combining bioinformatic and biological data expands the understanding of TSP host recognition of Agtrevirus and give new insight into the origin and acquisition of receptor-binding domains of Ackermannviridae phages.
Supporting Mealtime Participation Among People Living With Dementia at Home: Challenges and Strategies for Caregivers
Authors: Juckett Lisa A , Howard Mequeil L , Fields Beth E , Jarrott Shannon E , Mion Lorraine C , Thomas Kali S
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

Approximately 60% of people living with dementia at home are unable to routinely participate in mealtime activities (e.g., eating, safe food preparation), warranting assistance to ensure people with dementia meet their health and nutritional needs. The purpose of this study was to characterize these barriers to mealtime participation and identify potential caregiver-led strategies to enhance mealtime activities.

Research Design and Methods

We used a qualitative descriptive approach and obtained semistructured interview data from (a) allied health professionals and (b) community-based nutrition program providers who frequently serve people with dementia. Interview data were examined by means of directed content analysis and framework methodology until data saturation was reached. Codes from our analysis were categorized according to constructs drawn from the Socio-Ecological Model for Developing and Implementing Comprehensive Dementia Care.

Results

Data were obtained from 20 participants who attributed common mealtime participation barriers to: impairments in functional status, cognitive status deficits, a lack of caregiver knowledge and skills, and unsafe living conditions. Caregiver-led strategies to overcome these barriers included: reducing auditory and visual distractions, providing written cues to perform mealtime activities, eliminating clutter and fall risk hazards, and leveraging community-based nutrition program providers (e.g., home-delivered meal providers).

Discussion and Implications

People with dementia face several eating and mealtime participation obstacles. Caregiver-led strategies implemented by family, friends, or community-based nutrition program providers may enhance mealtime activities at home. Findings point to opportunities to develop decision-making tools and resources for caregivers to optimize the health and nutrition of people with dementia.
Comparison of social determinants of health in Medicaid vs commercial health plans
Authors: Gibbons Jason Brian , Cram Peter , Meiselbach Mark K , Anderson Gerard F , Bai Ge
Published: December 2023

Incorporating the measurement of social determinants of health (SDOH) into health care practice and US health policy reforms is a promising approach to improving population health nationwide. One way health care practitioners have started to incorporate consideration of SDOH in clinical care is by using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), Z-codes, a set of diagnosis codes spanning a range of social and economic circumstances. Our study summarizes Z-codes used by code type, setting, and patient demographics between Medicaid and commercial insurance to help identify strategies to optimize their use within each program and understand their differences. Overall, Z-code use was highly limited nationwide in Medicaid and commercial insurance between 2020 and 2021. Still, we found notable differences in the use of Z-codes between the programs; Medicaid beneficiaries were more likely to receive Z-codes related to financial and economic issues, while commercially insured beneficiaries were more likely to receive Z-codes indicating problems with social and familial relationships. Policy efforts focused on increasing the rate and ease of patient SDOH screening will potentially expand SDOH measurement and facilitate actions to address patient social needs.
Conversion from off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: impact of surgeon and anaesthetist experience
Authors: Ntinopoulos Vasileios , Haeussler Achim , Odavic Dragan , Papadopoulos Nestoras , Rings Laura , Dushaj Stak , Rodriguez Cetina Biefer Hector , Dzemali Omer
Published: December 2023

OBJECTIVES

Intraoperative conversion from off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of surgeon and anaesthetist experience on the conversion rate.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of all patients who underwent planned off-pump CABG in a single centre in 2007–2021, some of whom were non-electively converted to on-pump. Surgeon and anaesthetist experience were assessed by the number of off-pump bypass procedures per year. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of surgeon and anaesthetist experience on conversion rate.

RESULTS

A total of 2742 patients met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-four (3.4%) patients underwent non-elective conversion to on-pump surgery. Converted patients had significantly higher mortality [11 (11.7%) vs 35 (1.3%), P < 0.0001] in comparison to non-converted patients. Anaesthetist experience was found to be a risk factor for conversion (P = 0.011). Surgeon experience did not significantly affect conversion rate (P = 0.51). Other risk factors for conversion were female gender [odds ratio 2.65 (95% confidence interval 1.65–4.26), P = 0.0001] and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% [odds ratio 1.91 (95% confidence interval 1.05–3.49), P = 0.040].

CONCLUSIONS

Conversion from off-pump to on-pump CABG is associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Limited experience of anaesthetists in off-pump bypass surgery is associated with a higher conversion rate.
Penicillin allergy de-labelling by non-allergists: a comparison of testing protocols
Authors: Powell Neil , Elkhalifa Shuayb , Sandoe Jonathan
Published: December 2023

Optimizing penicillin allergy de-labelling (PADL) to ensure patients with an incorrect penicillin allergy record are de-labelled with minimal patient harm is important for antibiotic stewardship. The heterogeneity of inclusion and exclusion criteria in the published penicillin allergy testing protocols risks suboptimal delivery of PADL. We compared the similarities and the differences between non-allergist-delivered PADL testing protocols and make suggestions for harmonization.

The observed variation in testing practice has two broad elements: (i) definitions and terminology; and (ii) differences in the acceptability of perceived risk. All direct drug provocation testing (DDPT) protocols included patients with benign delayed rash as eligible for testing, although the remoteness of the rash, and the terminology used to describe the rash, differed. Patients with features of potential IgE reactions were excluded from most DDPT protocols, but not all of them. There was differing advice on how to manage patients who had subsequently tolerated penicillin since the index reaction and differences in which patients were considered ineligible for DDPT due to acuity of illness, comorbidities and concomitant medications.

Standardization of the terminology used in penicillin allergy testing protocols and consensus on inclusion and exclusion criteria are required for safe and efficient PADL delivery at scale by non-allergists.
Multi-strategy enhanced kernel search optimization and its application in economic emission dispatch problems
Authors: Dong Ruyi , Liu Yanan , Wang Siwen , Heidari Ali Asghar , Wang Mingjing , Chen Yi , Wang Shuihua , Chen Huiling , Zhang Yudong
Published: December 2023

The kernel search optimizer (KSO) is a recent metaheuristic optimization algorithm that is based on kernel theory, eliminating the need for hyper-parameter adjustments, and demonstrating excellent global search capabilities. However, the original KSO exhibits insufficient accuracy in local search, and there is a high probability that it may fail to achieve local optimization in complex tasks. Therefore, this paper proposes a multi-strategy enhanced KSO (MSKSO) to enhance the local search ability of the KSO. The MSKSO combines several control strategies, including chaotic initialization, chaotic local search mechanisms, the high-altitude walk strategy (HWS), and the Levy flight (LF), to effectively balance exploration and exploitation. The MSKSO is compared with ten well-known algorithms on 50 benchmark test functions to validate its performance, including single-peak, multi-peak, separable variable, and non-separable variable functions. Additionally, the MSKSO is applied to two real engineering economic emission dispatch (EED) problems in power systems. Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of the MSKSO nearly optimizes that of other well-known algorithms and achieves favorable results on the EED problem. These case studies verify that the MSKSO outperforms other algorithms and can serve as an effective optimization tool.
International law in the China–Russian energy partnership: mapping the partnership-based relational approach
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: December 2023

Over the past decades, the China–Russian energy partnership has become firmly established. Significant milestones such as the 2009 oil and the 2014 gas deals demonstrate the geopolitical impact of this partnership. The article finds that the China–Russian energy cooperation uses a partnership-based relational approach that eschews rulemaking by treaty. Instead, the legal framework of this partnership is multi-layered and has distinct features. It relies heavily on bilateralism, pragmatic cooperation, and non-binding commitments. A range of instruments applies at the bilateral level, including a bilateral investment treaty, energy cooperation agreements, intergovernmental agreements on significant energy deals, and many joint communiques and statements of a soft law nature. Regarding regional energy governance, China and Russia prefer different approaches, as reflected in their participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Belt and Road Initiative. While these regional mechanisms contribute to the energy partnership, their impact on the legal framework is limited.
A cucumber protein, Phloem Phosphate Stress-Repressed 1, rapidly degrades in response to a phosphate stress condition
Authors: Chen Jieyu , Ham Byung-Kook , Kochian Leon V , Lucas William J
Published: December 2023

Under depleted external phosphate (Pi), many plant species adapt to this stress by initiating downstream signaling cascades. In plants, the vascular system delivers nutrients and signaling agents to control physiological and developmental processes. Currently, limited information is available regarding the direct role of phloem-borne long-distance signals in plant growth and development under Pi stress conditions. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a cucumber protein, Cucumis sativus Phloem Phosphate Stress-Repressed 1 (CsPPSR1), whose level in the phloem translocation stream rapidly responds to imposed Pi-limiting conditions. CsPPSR1 degradation is mediated by the 26S proteasome; under Pi-sufficient conditions, CsPPSR1 is stabilized by its phosphorylation within the sieve tube system through the action of CsPPSR1 kinase. Further, we discovered that CsPPSR1 kinase was susceptible to Pi starvation-induced degradation in the sieve tube system. Our findings offer insight into a molecular mechanism underlying the response of phloem-borne proteins to Pi-limited stress conditions.
Protostellar discs fed by dense collapsing gravomagneto sheetlets
Authors: Tu Yisheng , Li Zhi-Yun , Lam Ka Ho , Tomida Kengo , Hsu Chun-Yen
Published: December 2023

Stars form from the gravitational collapse of turbulent, magnetized molecular cloud cores. Our non-ideal MHD simulations reveal that the intrinsically anisotropic magnetic resistance to gravity during the core collapse naturally generates dense gravomagneto sheetlets within inner protostellar envelopes – disrupted versions of classical sheet-like pseudo-discs. They are embedded in a magnetically dominant background, where less dense materials flow along the local magnetic field lines and accumulate in the dense sheetlets. The sheetlets, which feed the disc predominantly through its upper and lower surfaces, are the primary channels for mass and angular momentum transfer from the envelope to the disc. The protostellar disc inherits a small fraction (up to 10 per cent) of the magnetic flux from the envelope, resulting in a disc-averaged net vertical field strength of 1–10 mG and a somewhat stronger toroidal field, potentially detectable through ALMA Zeeman observations. The inherited magnetic field from the envelope plays a dominant role in disc angular momentum evolution, enabling the formation of gravitationally stable discs in cases where the disc field is relatively well-coupled to the gas. Its influence remains significant even in marginally gravitationally unstable discs formed in the more magnetically diffusive cases, removing angular momentum at a rate comparable to or greater than that caused by spiral arms. The magnetically driven disc evolution is consistent with the apparent scarcity of prominent spirals capable of driving rapid accretion in deeply embedded protostellar discs. The dense gravomagneto sheetlets observed in our simulations may correspond to the ‘accretion streamers’ increasingly detected around protostars.
Soft X-ray and FUV observations of Nova Her 2021 (V1674 Her) with AstroSat
Authors: Bhargava Yash , Dewangan Gulab Chand , Anupama G C , Kamath U S , Sonith L S , Singh Kulinder Pal , Drake J J , Beardmore A , Luna G J M , Orio M , Page K L
Published: December 2023

Nova Her 2021 or V1674 Her was one of the fastest novae to be observed so far. We report here the results from our timing and spectral studies of the source observed at multiple epochs with AstroSat. We report the detection of a periodicity in the source in soft X-rays at a period of 501.4–501.5 s which was detected with high significance after the peak of the super-soft phase, but was not detected in the far ultraviolet (FUV) band of AstroSat. The shape of the phase-folded X-ray light curves has varied significantly as the nova evolved. The phase-resolved spectral studies reveal the likely presence of various absorption features in the soft X-ray band of 0.5–2 keV, and suggest that the optical depth of these absorption features may be marginally dependent on the pulse phase. Strong emission lines from Si, N, and O are detected in the FUV, and their strength declined continuously as the nova evolved and went through a bright X-ray state.
TGF-β and BMP signaling are associated with the transformation of glioblastoma to gliosarcoma and then osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Aiguo , Hancock John C , Quezado Martha , Ahn Susie , Briceno Nicole , Celiku Orieta , Ranjan Surabhi , Aboud Orwa , Colwell Nicole , Kim Sun A , Nduom Edjah , Kuhn Skyler , Park Deric M , Vera Elizabeth , Aldape Ken , Armstrong Terri S , Gilbert Mark R
Published: December 2023

Background

Gliosarcoma, an isocitrate dehydrogenase wildtype (IDH-WT) variant of glioblastoma, is defined by clonal biphasic differentiation into gliomatous and sarcomatous components. While the transformation from a glioblastoma to gliosarcoma is uncommon, the subsequent transformation to osteosarcoma is rare but may provide additional insights into the biology of these typically distinct cancers. We observed a patient initially diagnosed with glioblastoma, that differentiated into gliosarcoma at recurrence, and further evolved to osteosarcoma at the second relapse. Our objective was to characterize the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression associated with this phenotypic transformation.

Methods

Tumor samples were collected at all 3 stages of disease and RNA sequencing was performed to capture their transcriptomic profiles. Sequential clonal evolution was confirmed by the maintenance of an identical PTEN mutation throughout the tumor differentiation using the TSO500 gene panel. Publicly available datasets and the Nanostring nCounter technology were used to validate the results.

Results

The glioblastoma tumor from this patient possessed mixed features of all 3 TCGA-defined transcriptomic subtypes of an IDH-WT glioblastoma and a proportion of osteosarcoma signatures were upregulated in the original tumor. Analysis showed that enhanced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenic protein signaling was associated with tumor transformation. Regulatory network analysis revealed that TGF-β family signaling committed the lineage tumor to osteogenesis by stimulating the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), a master regulator of bone formation.

Conclusions

This unusual clinical case provided an opportunity to explore the modulators of longitudinal sarcomatous transformation, potentially uncovering markers indicating predisposition to this change and identification of novel therapeutic targets.
Impact of ketogenic diet on cardiovascular disease
Authors: Zaghloul Mohamed S , Elizondo-Benedetto Santiago , Zayed Mohamed A
Published: December 2023

Objectives

A comprehensive review of the current literature was conducted to summarize the potential therapeutic and management roles of ketogenic diet (KD) for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Background

Consensus has not been reached on the optimal diet for individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. KDs are characterized by high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and appropriate protein content, and have gained popularity in recent years in the management of various conditions, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Methods

Original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses available in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were reviewed.

Results

The current body of preclinical and clinical evidence on the efficacy of KD in the management of CVD remains limited. Specific applications of KD seem to suggest a positive impact on management of CVD. However, conflicting results and a lack of precise molecular and biochemical mechanisms of action provide ample opportunity for future investigation.

Conclusion

More multidisciplinary studies are needed to determine the true clinical benefit of KD in the management of CVD and so justify its expanded clinical use.
Introduction to the Study of Digital Religion
Authors: Campbell Heidi A. , Cheong Pauline Hope
Published: December 2023

This chapter provides an overview of the rise of digital religion studies as a unique area of inquiry into the influence of digital technologies on religious communities and how scholars have applied this approach in their research and the way that this has shaped the understanding of religious culture more broadly. While digital religion initially emerged as an area of conversation separately within media/internet studies and religious studies in the past decade, it has now become an interdisciplinary area of inquiry, engaging scholars from varied backgrounds and fields such as communication, media studies, religious studies, and the sociology of religion and theology. This chapter lays the context and groundwork necessary for understanding the ways in which digital media integration is not only impacting specific groups of religious users but is also shaping contemporary conceptions of religious belief, community, and meaning-making.
Global Justice and Economic and Social Rights
Authors: Lafont Cristina
Published: December 2023

The protection of everyone’s economic and social rights is an essential component of any plausible theory of global justice. However, recent criticisms of the human rights project suggest that international human rights are not sufficiently ambitious or that they may be even detrimental to achieving global justice. This suspicion is supported by the fact that there has been a marked global increase in extreme inequality throughout the same period when states ratified more human rights treaties than ever before, including treaties that impose obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the socioeconomic rights of their populations. Against these criticisms this chapter argues that the international human rights regime contains sufficiently ambitious normative standards to contribute to the achievement of global justice. However, in the context of a neoliberal global economic order, the state-centric allocation of human rights obligations tends to make human rights ineffectual in practice. On the basis of this diagnosis, the chapter analyzes recent developments in order to show that the human rights regime contains the necessary conceptual resources to overcome its state-centric limitations and that it can offer important normative support in the fight for global justice.
Illiberal Think Tanks
Authors: Jezierska Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Think tanks, or organizations producing and disseminating policy knowledge to influence policymakers, are a given element of political systems around the globe. Depending on the national opportunity structure, think tanks take different forms. Individual think tanks usually represent a given ideological orientation or set of values. This chapter studies think tanks that align with the illiberal political agenda in Poland. These organizations, most of which self-identify as conservative, have played a significant role in the electoral success of Law and Justice, and after the party gained power, they have helped sustain the illiberal political orientation by providing the government with policy ideas and communicating policy decisions to the broader public domestically and abroad. Conservative think tanks form the intellectual infrastructure for the illiberal government, both proactively inspiring the illiberal agenda and reactively legitimizing it to external audiences. Benefiting from illiberal policymaking, they form the illiberal knowledge regime.
The Poetics of Indian Hip Hop
Authors: Cardozo Elloit
Published: December 2023

This chapter analyzes the poetics of Indian rap and the role it plays in the dynamics of Indian Hip Hop at large vis-à-vis the Global Hip Hop Nation. It examines three texts: lyrics by Kolkata-based rapper EPR, paying close attention to the various rhyme tactics and poetic devices he deploys; a verse by Mumbai-based rapper DIVINE to understand how his use of Bambaiyya is evocative of an emerging poetics of Hip Hop Nation Language Varieties (HHNLVs) in India; and the lyrics of Delhi-based rapper Muhfaad, focusing particularly on his blending of African American literary traditions with Indian ones, as well as his use of profanity. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the insights these rappers’ poetics give us into the larger cultural practice of Indian Hip Hop.
Machine Learning in Sociology
Authors: Garip Filiz , Macy Michael W.
Published: December 2023

Sociologists are increasingly turning to machine learning (ML) for data-driven discovery and predictive modeling. ML methods help classify data, compute new measures, predict outcomes and events, make causal inferences, and collaborate within a common-task framework. Although predictive analytics has become a mainstay of public policy analysis and evaluation, the contributions of ML to theory building are less widely appreciated. ML-derived data classifications can reveal patterns that require a new theory, while predictive performance metrics can point to shortcomings of existing theory and motivate inductive theorizing. ML equips research analysts to venture outside the “general linear reality” of classical statistics and the deductive framing of much social science research. Both quantitative and qualitative sociologists also scrutinize ML applications by industry and government to reveal implications for distributive justice, social inequality, and algorithmic bias. In short, ML is now an integral part of sociological inquiry as a discovery-enabling analytical tool as well as a controversial object of study.
Analyzing Image Data with Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Han
Published: December 2023

Visual information such as images and videos is abundant in the digital age. However, visual data are currently underutilized in social science research. Previous sociological studies that rely on visual information as data either use qualitative interpretation or small-scale quantitative analysis, which is not suitable for large-scale datasets. This chapter first provides a historical overview of automated image analysis using computer vision. It then discusses the state-of-art deep learning algorithms and summarizes the two steps of using deep learning algorithms to automatically analyze large image datasets. It uses various publications using large-scale image datasets ranging from social media images, satellite and street view images, and historical archives to illustrate how automatic image analysis was carried out in recent research. Finally, the chapter discusses ways in which social scientists can better utilize visual information in their future research.
Machine Learning, Abduction, and Computational Ethnography
Authors: Brandt Philipp
Published: December 2023

This chapter shows how interpretive work can reveal sociological discoveries in analyses using machine learning (ML). It proposes integrating ethnographic and quantitative research around a common concern with abduction. The chapter’s main section develops this computational ethnography approach across a series of examples, including computational analyses of historical and contemporary corpora, classic and recent network-analytic studies, and some of the newest ML techniques that are geared toward detecting sources of inequality. Despite technical and substantive differences, the studies’ empirical designs involve settings that resemble fields, in the ethnographic sense, more than representative samples and that reveal local meaning and locally meaningful actions. The chapter argues that this era’s challenges and opportunities call on researchers to cultivate and integrate technical skills, critical reflection on technological infrastructures, and sensitivity to surprising observations in light of existing theories.