bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The loss‐of‐function of AtNATA2 enhances AtADC2‐dependent putrescine biosynthesis and priming, improving growth and salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jasso‐Robles Francisco Ignacio , Aucique‐Perez Carlos Eduardo , Zeljković Sanja Ćavar , Saiz‐Fernández Iñigo , Klimeš Pavel , De Diego Nuria
Published: November 2024

Putrescine (Put) is a promising small molecule‐based biostimulant to enhance plant growth and resilience, though its mode of action remains unclear. This study investigated the Put priming effect on Arabidopsis mutant lines (Atadc1, Atadc2, Atnata1, and Atnata2) under control conditions and salinity to understand its role in regulating plant growth.

The Atadc2 mutant, characterized by reduced endogenous Put levels, showed insensitivity to Put priming without growth enhancement, which was linked to significant imbalances in nitrogen metabolism, including a high Gln/Glu ratio. Contrarily, the Atnata2 mutant exhibited significant growth improvement and upregulated AtADC2 expression, particularly under Put priming, highlighting these genes' involvement in regulating plant development.

Put priming enhanced plant growth by inducing the accumulation of specific polyamines (free, acetylated, conjugated, or bound form) and improving light‐harvesting efficiency, particularly in the Atnata2 line. Our findings suggest that AtNATA2 may negatively regulate Put synthesis and accumulation via AtADC2 in the chloroplast, impacting light harvesting in photosystem II (PSII). Furthermore, the Atadc2 mutant line exhibited upregulated AtADC1 but reduced AcPut levels, pointing to a cross‐regulation among these genes. The regulation by AtNATA2 on AtADC2 and AtADC2 on AtADC1 could be crucial for plant growth and overall stress tolerance by interacting with polyamine catabolism, which shapes the plant metabolic profile under different growth conditions. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms involving crosstalk between AtADC and AtNATA genes in polyamine metabolism and the connection with certain SMBBs like Put can lead to more effective agricultural practices, improving plant growth, nitrogen uptake, and resilience under challenging conditions.
Household exposure to COVID‐19 and life insurance holdings
Authors: Wang Ning
Published: November 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in substantial loss of life and economic disruption, leading to a reevaluation of financial planning strategies. This paper examines the relationship between household exposure to COVID‐19 and their life insurance holdings using data from a nationwide household survey in the US. The results indicate that households diagnosed with COVID‐19 are more likely to own life insurance and hold a larger amount of coverage due to the pandemic, with these effects significantly influenced by the bequest motive. Conversely, hospitalization and the death of family members due to COVID‐19 are negatively correlated with life insurance holdings. The implications can inform household and industry decisions to enhance household financial welfare in response to pandemic risks.
Patient involvement in interdisciplinary bedside rounds from nursing and medical students' perceptions. A Swedish qualitative interview study
Authors: Hordiienko Yelyzaveta , Fagerström Cecilia , Rafnar Finnbogadóttir Hafrún
Published: November 2024

Background

Patient involvement in the interdisciplinary bedside round (IBR) increases care quality and safety but is influenced and perceived differently by different round participants. Nursing and medical students are still not structurally embedded in the healthcare system, and they participate in interdisciplinary bedside rounds for educational purposes. Thus, the students may give a valuable perspective on patient involvement from the ‘outside view’.

Aim

This study aimed to describe nursing and medical students' perceptions of patient involvement in IBRs.

Methods

This study has a qualitative design with individual interviews. Eighteen informants were recruited with the help of gatekeepers from two sites in Sweden: a university training health clinic and a county hospital. They participated in one‐to‐one semi‐structured interviews, which were analysed with an inductive qualitative content analysis approach.

Ethical Issues and Approval

The study has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. Informed consent was received from all participants.

Results

The results yielded five categories. Two sub‐themes and one theme of meaning emerged as a ‘red thread’ across the categories. The theme of meaning was: ‘In hospital rounds, the patient is a respected guest, but with a disadvantaged “alien status” due to the hosts' difficult medical language and unclear routines’. Students perceive patients are not fully involved in IBRs, and the healthcare team controls this involvement due to patients' lack of knowledge and vulnerability, the hectic hospital environment, and complicated medical language. Doctors lead IBRs and encourage or discourage patient involvement and nurses act as patient advocates, supporting their involvement.

Conclusions

According to nursing and medical students, patients are seldom involved in IBRs due to multiple interaction barriers and despite communicational facilitators. Their involvement depends on healthcare professionals. Further research should investigate other IBRs stakeholders' perspectives on patient involvement in IBRs to facilitate it.
Agroecology for migrant ‘emplacement’ in the left‐behind European countryside
Authors: Cappati Simone , Alonso‐Fradejas Alberto
Published: November 2024

We explore the nexus between the green and demographic transitions in the European Union (EU) through the analysis of the challenges and opportunities that agroecology offers for the settlement and socioeconomic participation of Italian city‐dwellers‐turned agroecological farmers and non‐EU agroecological farmworkers in ageing and marginalised rural areas in Italy. Many such areas in Italy have recently experienced an influx of newcomers, including non‐EU labour migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and Italian city‐dwellers looking for a different lifestyle. Municipalities and NGOs have developed initiatives, like agroecology, for newcomers to participate in local societies while simultaneously contributing to sustainable rural (re)development in the context of the EU Green Deal. We discuss the potential of agroecology for the ‘emplacement’ of diverse groups of newcomers in these unlikely places through the analysis of the interpersonal, cultural, economic and institutional relations between newcomers and long‐time residents, and across different groups of newcomers, in two Italian villages. Our findings suggest that everyday interactions among long‐time residents and newcomers contribute to the emplacement of the latter. The analysed agroecological initiatives show potential for the emplacement of newcomers through their strong ethical stance and aspirations for environmental sustainability and improved life quality. However, short‐term contracts for the non‐EU farmworkers combined with tight economic returns for the Italian agroecological farmers may lead to distributional and procedural injustices, including the hyper‐exploitation of migrant farmworkers in the name of environmental sustainability.
Populist votes, orientations, and the COVID‐19 pandemic in Italy: A latent growth study
Authors: Russo Silvia , Roccato Michele , Cavazza Nicoletta , Cena Lorenzo
Published: November 2024

Objective

We aimed to predict the trend of populist orientations and votes in Italy before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Method

Using the Consequences of COVID‐19 (COCO) data set (quota sample of the Italian adult population), we conducted a 3.5‐year, seven‐wave longitudinal study, with one wave before the pandemic (June 2019) and six waves during the pandemic (April and October 2020, April and October 2021, and April and October 2022).

Results

Two latent growth analyses have shown that in the period we considered the degree of populism of the party chosen for the vote decreased linearly; this change was positively associated with the anxiety of the participants. Conversely, populist orientations remained stable.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic plausibly contributed to a superficial and temporary halt to the long populist wave that hit Italy in the last decades, as demonstrated by the decrease in populist vote choices concomitant with a persistent substrate of populist orientations.
Trigger warnings in medical student education: A scoping review
Authors: Fisher James , Bennett Jessica , Atkinson Abby , Errington Linda
Published: November 2024

Background

Medicine is recognised as a challenging course where exposure to potentially distressing content is inevitable. Some educators provide students with warnings before they encounter potentially upsetting content—trigger warnings. In this scoping review, we mapped the existing literature seeking to better understand how trigger warnings are implemented in medical schools and how they are influencing education within them.

Methods

Bibliographic databases were searched to identify relevant literature, including searching for grey literature. Articles were included if they focussed on medical school education and were written in English. Data analysis was undertaken using both quantitative and qualitative approaches (thematic analysis).

Findings

Searching generated 1284 potential records for inclusion. Articles not related to the primary research question were excluded. Abstracts of the remaining 841 articles were screened, and ultimately, 12 articles met criteria for full‐text review. Of these, there were three empirical research studies. Qualitative analysis identified five main themes: purpose, implementation, student distress, responsibility and problems with terminology.

Conclusions

The use of trigger warnings within medical student education remains contentious. There is a lack of consensus as to their purpose and much diversity in how they are implemented. There was limited published empirical evidence to inform practice in this area.
Student professionalism in clerkships
Authors: Cochran Lauren W. , Auerbach Lisa , Roberts Nicole K.
Published: November 2024

Intro

Professionalism can be challenging to assess during clerkships. Current literature focuses either on aspirational generalities or professionalism lapses. Most tools assessing professionalism employ Likert scales. This study investigated the frequency and detail with which clerkship directors describe professional behaviours in end‐of‐clerkship narrative assessments.

Methods

We analysed de‐identified core clerkship final narratives from one New York City medical school collected in academic years 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. We used ATLAS.ti and the six‐step thematic approach outlined by Braun & Clarke to perform a qualitative analysis, coding each semantic unit.

Results

We found that 176 out of 753 narratives (23%) mentioned professionalism, but only 29 (16%) of those provided a detailed description including an anecdote or example. Focusing on these most detailed comments, we identified seven core themes: managing time, following through on expectations, eager to engage, work ethic & efficiency, effective communication, going above and beyond and situational awareness. Themes range from simple behaviours to sophisticated behaviours that may not fully develop until residency.

Conclusion

Narratives that use the word “professional” or “professionalism” without examples are unlikely to facilitate learning, meaningful assessment or opportunities for remediation. Our hierarchical framework can be used to teach students how to navigate the current clinical environment and can assist supervisors in providing students with specific, actionable feedback and assessment. Our model explicitly fosters a growth mindset in assessing and developing professionalism.
Ancient duplications, multidimensional specializations, and defense role of hexokinases in wheat
Authors: Tian Xiaolin , Li Fan , Lin Jie , Xu Yun , Tian Kai , Gu Lihua , Zhang Yanfeng , Xu Jin‐Rong , Wang Qinhu
Published: November 2024

Hexokinases (HXKs), which sense and catalyze cellular sugar, play a critical role in the growth and development of various plants, including wheat, a primary source of human calories frequently attacked by fungal pathogens. However, the evolutionary dynamics and functional diversification of HXKs in wheat, particularly their roles in plant defense, remain unclear. Here, we discovered that the wheat hexokinase gene family originated through multiple ancient gene duplications across different plant lineages and has undergone comprehensive, multidimensional functional specialization in gene expression, subcellular localization, enzyme activity, and regulation of plant defense responses. Gene expression analysis suggests that two‐thirds of the TaHXK genes are responsive to fungal infection. Subcellular analysis reveals that while six TaHXKs are localized in mitochondria, three TaHXKs from different phylogenetic branches are sorted into other cellular compartments. Notably, biochemical analysis shows that TaHXKs in mitochondria differ in their glucose‐catalyzing activity, with TaHXK5 and TaHXK3 exhibiting the highest and lowest enzyme activity, respectively. Consistently, transient expression analysis suggests that TaHXK5 induces various plant defense responses, while TaHXK3 is defective in activating some plant defense responses. Furthermore, inactivation of the glucokinase activity of TaHXK5 compromised its function in defense activation, suggesting that mitochondrial TaHXKs display functional divergence in both enzyme activity and defense‐inducing activity that are intrinsically connected. Overall, our findings reveal that the multidimensional specialization events following the ancient duplication events may have shaped the functional diversity of HXKs in wheat, shedding light on their evolutionary dynamics and potentially contributing to the improvement of wheat defense.
How Sexual Violence Is Portrayed through Social Media
Authors: Kabha Robin , Kamel Ahmed M. , AL-Tkhayneh Khawlah M. , Hadi Samer Abdel
Published: November 2024

This research paper investigates the portrayal of sexual violence within a social media framework and context. The subject is examined both using literature which has already been released about the subject to generate a contextual background regarding the subject as well as provide information which has already been investigated. This has been divided into two themes which demonstrate that exposure to sexual content did not result in significant detrimental effects in between those who were and those who were not exposed. In addition, the next study presented the fact that that is might a possibility that exposure to sexually violent content may help people process the information in a safe manner to allow them to deal with the real thing later if they ever encounter it. The results of the studies state that social media did have a way of morphing the perceptions of its users through an extension of the influence people exert on each other. A more thorough study is needed, which encapsulates many platforms that are available on the platform in the contemporary period.
Oxyntomodulin physiology and its therapeutic development in obesity and associated complications
Authors: Kueh Martin T. W. , Chong Ming Chuen , Miras Alexander D. , le Roux Carel W.
Published: November 2024

Incretins, such as glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), have advanced the treatment landscape of obesity to a new pinnacle. As opposed to singular incretin effects, oxyntomodulin (OXM) activates glucagon receptors (GCGR) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptors (GLP1R), demonstrating a more dynamic range of effects that are more likely to align with evolving ‘health gains’ goals in obesity care. Here, we will review the molecular insights from their inception to recent developments and challenges. This review will discuss the physiological actions of OXM, primarily appetite regulation, energy expenditure, and glucose homeostasis. Finally, we will shed light on the development of OXM‐based therapies for obesity and associated complications, and outline important considerations for more translational efforts.

image
On propagation characteristics of ultrasonic guided waves in layered fluid-saturated porous media using spectral method
Authors: Zhang Hongyan , Wang Linfeng , Chen Xin , Li Jian , Liu Yiwei , Liu Haichao , Liu Yang
Published: November 2024

Fluid-saturated porous media plays an increasingly important role in emerging fields such as lithium batteries and artificial bones. Accurately solving the governing equations of guided wave is the key to the successful application of ultrasonic guided wave nondestructive testing technology in fluid-saturated porous media. This paper derives the Lamb wave equation in layered fluid-saturated porous materials based on Biot theory and proposes the spectral method suitable for solving complex wave equations. The spectral method reconstructs the fundamental wave equations in the form of a matrix eigenvalue problem using spectral differentiation matrices. It introduces boundary conditions by replacing corresponding rows in the wave equation matrix with stress or displacement in matrix form. For complex differential equations, such as the governing equations of guided waves in porous media, the spectral method has the significant advantages of faster computation speed, less root loss, and easier encoding process. The spectral method is used to calculate the acoustic field characteristics under different boundary conditions and environments of the layer fluid-saturated porous media. Results show that the surface treatment details and environment of fluid-saturated porous materials play an important role in the propagation of guided waves.
Trends in Physical Abilities of Physical Education Students Between the Years 2000–2021
Authors: Weissblueth Eyal , Jablonowsky Roni
Published: November 2024

Background: The comforts of modern life have markedly caused a reduction in physical activity. Approximately only one third of the adult population engages in regular physical activity levels as recommended, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine if physical education undergraduate students’ cardiorespiratory and abdominal endurance levels changed between 2000–2021. Methods: We collected data from 1353 physical education undergraduate students, 20–30 years of age. Data included evaluations of the following abilities: cardiorespiratory endurance using the time result of a 2000-m run, abdominal muscle endurance measured using 1-minute sit-up test results, arms muscle endurance using maximal numbers of push-up test results, and agility using 4 × 10-m shuttle run results. Results: Findings include a statistically significant decline over the years in cardiorespiratory endurance with medium effect size for males and females (r = .293; 95% CI, 0.215 to .367; and r = .222; 95% CI, .133 to .308, respectively), and abdominal muscle endurance with medium effect size for males and females (r = −.394; 95% CI, −.455 to −.329; and r = −.366; 95% CI, −.434 to −.294, respectively). Conclusions: We concluded that the decline in the physical abilities of physical education undergraduate students over a span of 20 years is significant. Also, in light of the current technological age, further physical activity considerations should be given to populations younger than 18 and of other particular adult populations.
Analysis of
Acinetobacter
P-type type IV secretion system-encoding plasmid diversity uncovers extensive secretion system conservation and diverse antibiotic resistance determinants
Authors: Oke Mosopefoluwa T. , Martz Kailey , Mocăniță Mădălina , Knezevic Sara , D'Costa Vanessa M.
Published: November 2024

Acinetobacter baumannii
is globally recognized as a multi-drug-resistant pathogen of critical concern due to its capacity for horizontal gene transfer and resistance to antibiotics. Phylogenetically diverse
Acinetobacter
species mediate human infection, including many considered as important emerging pathogens. While globally recognized as a pathogen of concern, pathogenesis mechanisms are poorly understood. P-type type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) represent important drivers of pathogen evolution, responsible for horizontal gene transfer and secretion of proteins that mediate host-pathogen interactions, contributing to pathogen survival, antibiotic resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation. Genes encoding a P-type T4SS were previously identified on plasmids harboring the carbapenemase gene

bla
NDM-1

in several clinically problematic
Acinetobacter
; however, their prevalence among the genus, geographical distribution, the conservation of T4SS proteins, and full capacity for resistance genes remain unclear. Using systematic analyses, we show that these plasmids belong to a group of 53 P-type T4SS-encoding plasmids in 20 established
Acinetobacter
species, the majority of clinical relevance, including diverse
A. baumannii
sequence types and one strain of
Providencia rettgeri
. The strains were globally distributed in 14 countries spanning five continents, and the conjugative operon’s T4SS proteins were highly conserved in most plasmids. A high proportion of plasmids harbored resistance genes, with 17 different genes spanning seven drug classes. Collectively, this demonstrates that P-type T4SS-encoding plasmids are more widespread among the
Acinetobacter
genus than previously anticipated, including strains of both clinical and environmental importance. This research provides insight into the spread of resistance genes among
Acinetobacter
and highlights a group of plasmids of importance for future surveillance.
Establishment of CD1b-restricted immunity to lipid antigens in the pulmonary response to
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection
Authors: Harris Macallister C. , Gary Hadley E. , Cooper Sarah K. , Ackart David F. , DiLisio James E. , Basaraba Randall J. , Cheng Tan-Yun , van Rhijn Ildiko , Branch Moody D. , Podell Brendan K.
Published: November 2024

CD1 is an antigen-presenting glycoprotein homologous to MHC I; however, CD1 proteins present lipid rather than peptide antigens. CD1 proteins are well established to present lipid antigens of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb) to T cells, but understanding the role of CD1-restricted immunity
in vivo
in response to Mtb infection has been limited by the availability of animal models naturally expressing the CD1 proteins implicated in human response: CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c. Guinea pigs, in contrast to other rodent models, express four CD1b orthologs, and here we utilize the guinea pig to establish the kinetics of gene and protein expression of CD1b orthologs, as well as the Mtb lipid-antigen and CD1b-restricted immune response at the tissue level over the course of Mtb infection. Our results indicate transient upregulation of CD1b expression during the effector phase of adaptive immunity that wanes with disease chronicity. Gene expression indicates that the upregulation of CD1b is the result of transcriptional induction across all CD1b orthologs. We show high CD1b3 expression on B cells, and identify CD1b3 as the predominant CD1b ortholog in pulmonary granuloma lesions. We identify
ex vivo
cytotoxic activity directed against CD1b that parallels the kinetic changes in CD1b expression in Mtb-infected lungs and spleen. This study confirms that CD1b expression is modulated by Mtb infection in lung and spleen, leading to pulmonary and extrapulmonary CD1b-restricted immunity as a component of the antigen-specific response to Mtb infection.
Beyond boundaries: exploring a generative artificial intelligence assignment in graduate, online science courses
Authors: Ganjoo Rohini , Rankin James , Lee Benjamin , Schwartz Lisa
Published: November 2024

Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) offers increased accessibility and personalized learning, though the potential for inaccuracies, biases, and unethical use is concerning. We present a newly developed research paper assignment that required students to utilize GAI. The assignment was implemented within three online, asynchronous graduate courses for medical laboratory sciences. Student learning was assessed using a rubric, which rated students’ effective integration and evaluation of GAI-generated content against peer-reviewed research articles, thus demonstrating their critical thinking and synthesis skills, among other metrics. Overall rubric scores were high, suggesting that learning outcomes were met. After field testing, we administered a 16-item survey about GAI utilization, contribution to learning, and ethical concerns. Data (
n
= 32) were analyzed, and free-response answers were thematically coded. While 93.8% of respondents found the GAI-generated content to be “very good” or “excellent,” 28.1% found inaccuracies, and 68.8% “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that GAI should be allowed to be used as a tool to complete academic assignments. Interestingly, however, only 28.1% “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that GAI may be used for assignments if not explicitly authorized by the instructor. Though GAI allowed for more efficient completion of the project and better understanding of the topic, students noted concerns about academic integrity and the lack of citations in GAI responses. The assignment can easily be modified for different learning preferences and course environments. Raising awareness among students and faculty about the ethical use and limitations of GAI is crucial in today’s evolving pedagogical landscape.
Visualizing the virus world inside the cell by cryo-electron tomography
Authors: Zhou Qunfei , Lok Shee-Mei
Published: November 2024

Structural studies on purified virus have revealed intricate architectures, but there is little structural information on how viruses interact with host cells
in situ
. Cryo-focused ion beam (FIB) milling and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) have emerged as revolutionary tools in structural biology to visualize the dynamic conformational of viral particles and their interactions with host factors within infected cells. Here, we review the state-of-the-art cryo-ET technique for
in situ
viral structure studies and highlight exemplary studies that showcase the remarkable capabilities of cryo-ET in capturing the dynamic virus–host interaction, advancing our understanding of viral infection and pathogenesis.
E2F3-dependent activation of FAM111B restricts mouse cytomegalovirus replication in primate cells
Authors: Ostermann Eleonore , Luoto Laura-Marie , Clausen Michaela , Virdi Sanamjeet , Brune Wolfram
Published: November 2024

Cytomegaloviruses are highly species-specific as they replicate only in cells of their own or a closely related species. For instance, human cytomegalovirus cannot replicate in rodent cells, and mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) cannot replicate in human and monkey cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the host species restriction remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that passaging MCMV in human retinal pigment epithelial cells allows the virus to replicate to high titers in these cells due to the accumulation of adaptive mutations, such as loss-of-function mutations in the viral M117 gene. The M117 protein interacts with E2F transcription factors and activates E2F-dependent transcription. Here, we show that activation of E2F3 is primarily responsible for MCMV’s inability to replicate in human cells. By transcriptome analysis, we identified two E2F3-induced serine proteases, FAM111A and FAM111B, as potential host restriction factors. By using shRNA-mediated gene knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout, we demonstrated that FAM111B, but not its paralog FAM111A, suppresses MCMV replication in human and rhesus macaque cells. By immunofluorescence, we detected FAM111B predominantly in the nucleus of infected cells with enrichment in viral replication compartments, suggesting that it might play a role during viral replication. The fact that the FAM111B gene is conserved in primates but absent in rodents suggests that MCMV has not evolved to evade or counteract this restriction factor, which is not present in its natural host.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses must counteract host cell defenses to facilitate viral replication. Viruses with a narrow host range, such as the cytomegaloviruses, are unable to counteract cellular defenses in cells of a foreign species. However, little is known about the cellular host range factors restricting cytomegalovirus replication. Here, we show that mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) induces the expression of the FAM111 proteases and that FAM111B, but not FAM111A that has previously been shown to restrict the replication of polyomavirus and orthopoxvirus host range mutants, acts as a cellular factor suppressing MCMV replication in human and rhesus monkey cells. The identification of FAM111B as a host range factor should provide new insight into the physiological functions of this poorly characterized protein.
A cutaneous sensory nerve schwannoma occluding the external auditory canal
Authors: Bass John Augustus , Gupta Tanya , Saunders Nick , Bowles Philippe
Published: November 2024

Schwannomas are benign tumours derived from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheaths. A schwannoma arising in the external auditory canal (EAC) is rare, with few cases reported in the literature. These tumours present a unique challenge and should be considered when patients present with persistent ear symptoms in the absence of common otological pathology. We present a case of a man in his late 60s, referred to the otolaryngology team with unilateral conductive hearing loss and a right-sided EAC mass found on otoscopy. CT and MRI of the head and neck revealed a mass occluding the right EAC, originating from a peripheral cutaneous nerve. Management including biopsy, histopathological analysis and surgical excision in its entirety resulted in a good outcome, leaving a symptom-free patient.
Associations of pulmonary microvascular blood volume with per cent emphysema and CT emphysema subtypes in the community: the MESA Lung study
Authors: Hermann Emilia A , Motahari Amin , Hoffman Eric A , Sun Yifei , Allen Norrina , Angelini Elsa D , Bertoni Alain G , Bluemke David A , Gerard Sarah E , Guo Junfeng , Kaczka David W , Laine Andrew , Michos Erin , Nagpal Prashant , Pankow James S , Sack Coralynn S , Smith Benjamin , Stukovsky Karen Hinckley , Watson Karol E , Wysoczanski Artur , Barr R Graham
Published: November 2024

Background

Pulmonary microvasculature alterations are implicated in emphysema pathogenesis, but the association between pulmonary microvascular blood volume (PMBV) and emphysema has not been directly assessed at scale, and prior studies have used non-specific measures of emphysema.

Methods

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Lung Study invited participants recruited from the community without renal impairment to undergo contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT. Pulmonary blood volume was calculated by material decomposition; PMBV was defined as blood volume in the peripheral 2 cm of the lung. Non-contrast CT was acquired to assess per cent emphysema and novel CT emphysema subtypes, which include the diffuse emphysema subtype and small-airways-related combined bronchitic-apical emphysema subtype. Generalised linear regression models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, body size, smoking, total lung volume and small airway count.

Results

Among 495 participants, 53% were never-smokers and the race/ethnic distribution was 35% white, 31% black, 15% Hispanic and 18% Asian. Mean PMBV was 352±120 mL; mean per cent emphysema was 4.95±4.75%. Lower PMBV was associated with greater per cent emphysema (−0.90% per 100 mL PMBV, 95% CI: −1.29 to –0.51). The association was of larger magnitude in participants with 10 or more pack-years smoking and airflow obstruction, but present among participants with no smoking history or airflow limitation, and was specific to the diffuse CT emphysema subtype (−1.48% per 100 mL PMBV, 95% CI: −2.31 to –0.55).

Conclusion

In this community-based study, lower PMBV was associated with greater per cent emphysema, including in participants without a smoking history or airflow limitation, and was specific to the diffuse CT emphysema subtype.
Riemann surfaces and winding numbers of Rényi phase structure of charged-flat black holes
Authors: Barzi F. , Moumni H. El , Masmar K.
Published: November 2024

It’s widely recognized that the free energy landscape captures the essentials of thermodynamic phase transitions. In this work, we extend the findings of [1] by incorporating the nonextensive nature of black hole entropy. Specifically, the connection between black hole phase transitions and the winding number of Riemann surfaces derived through complex analysis is extended to the Rényi entropy framework. This new geometrical and nonextensive formalism is employed to predict the phase portraits of charged-flat black holes within both the canonical and grand canonical ensembles. Furthermore, we elucidate novel relations between the number of sheets comprising the Riemann surface of the Hawking–Page and Van der Waals transitions and the dimensionality of black hole spacetimes. Notably, these new numbers are consistent with those found for charged-AdS black holes in Gibbs–Boltzmann statistics, providing another significant example of the potential connection between the cosmological constant and the nonextensive Rényi parameter.
New Directions and Development Models for College Student Education based on Machine Learning Classification Algorithms
Authors: Liu Fei
Published: November 2024

For the contemporary student teaching system, the information-based education management system has played a positive role in the rapid promotion of teaching. In order to get the teaching exploration data of modern information management from the data increment on the Internet, this paper updates the technology of data mining. This paper constructs a quantitative table for teacher positions and conducts ideological and political job evaluations in the database. This paper mainly focuses on the management and construction of ideological informatization based on the [Formula: see text]-means algorithm. By using the [Formula: see text]-means algorithm to analyze the daily behavior data of students, we can discover their behavior patterns and trends, providing decision support for student management. For example, by analyzing data such as students’ internet time, social activities, and library borrowing records, we can understand their interests, hobbies, and learning habits, providing a foundation for personalized education. Cluster analysis of students’ ideological and political performance using the [Formula: see text]-means algorithm can identify student groups with different ideological tendencies. This helps schools to carry out targeted ideological and political education work, and improve the pertinence and effectiveness of ideological and political education. Through quality tracking analysis of educational evaluation, it has carried out educational informatization tracking management using an information model. In the process of judging and analyzing different subjects, it utilized the hot topics of universities for a more comprehensive information intelligent tracking management.
Integrated Analysis of Utilization Efficiency of Intelligent Sports Venues Based on Data Mining Algorithms
Authors: Li Guyue
Published: November 2024

With the rapid development of information technology and the increasing prosperity of the sports industry, the construction and management of intelligent sports venues have become an important way to improve the efficiency of sports resource utilization and meet diverse fitness needs. This paper focuses on the integrated analysis of the utilization efficiency of intelligent sports venues based on data mining algorithms. Aiming to reveal the inherent laws and potential value in the operation of sports venues through advanced data processing and analysis techniques, and provide a scientific basis for optimizing resource allocation and improving service quality. Intelligent sports venues utilize modern information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and cloud computing to achieve comprehensive and intelligent monitoring and management of venue facilities, personnel activities, environmental conditions, and more. This new management model not only improves the operational efficiency of the venue but also enhances the user experience and meets personalized and diverse fitness needs. This paper focuses on the current situation of the opening of university sports venues to the outside world, aiming to reveal the pain points and bottlenecks in their operation process through detailed investigation and analysis. This study introduces advanced concepts of middleware architecture and constructs a multi-level data integration framework that includes local models, global models, user models, and mapping rules. This framework can effectively integrate distributed heterogeneous data sources, achieving seamless integration and efficient interaction of data. At the same time, with the help of distributed programming technology in cloud computing, it is possible to conduct in-depth mining and analysis of integrated massive data, discover potential value, and provide a scientific basis for decision support.
A Method for Predicting the Remaining Service Life of Finite Data Products Based on Gaussian Stochastic Processes
Authors: Li Qiang , Tian Qingze
Published: November 2024

There is a problem of poor predictive performance when predicting the remaining service life of products. Therefore, this paper proposes a finite data product remaining service life prediction method based on Gaussian stochastic processes. Analyze the types of product failure and degradation under limited data, and determine the factors affecting the degradation performance of product life through constant stress accelerated degradation tests, step stress accelerated degradation tests, and sequential stress accelerated aging tests; using the Wiener process to analyze the performance degradation characteristics of products, setting product failure thresholds, defining the remaining life of the product based on the degradation process, and using equal interval partitioning methods to determine the product health index, and clarifying the product failure process under limited data; by calculating the mathematical expected value, the numerical characteristics of the remaining life of the product are defined. Variance and moments are used to determine the predicted second-order central moment and origin moment. Based on the monotonic increasing characteristics of the inverse Gaussian process, the probability distribution of the random variable of product failure is determined after the Gaussian process. Under limited data, the actual working time of the product and the degradation amount at the time scale are clarified, and a preset threshold is set for the degradation amount. Build a residual life prediction model for product degradation and output the prediction results. The experimental results show that this method can accurately predict the remaining service life of the product and has good predictive performance.
AN ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING SYSTEM FOR TELECONSULTATION USING HEALTHCARE 5.0 INNOVATIONS
Authors: AL-ANAZI REEMA G. , SINGLA CHINU , ALZAIDI MUHAMMAD SWAILEH A. , ALAMGEER MOHAMMAD , ASKLANY SOMIA A. , TANEJA NIVEDITA , ALMUKADI WAFA SULAIMAN , MOHAMED ABDELMONEIM ALI
Published: November 2024

This study explores the integration of Industry 5.0 innovations into the healthcare sector to address prevalent issues related to prescription errors, drug side effects, and healthcare accessibility. It introduces a novel system that enables healthcare professionals to create prescriptions efficiently through voice commands and facilitates secure delivery to patients via email or SMS. Additionally, the research discusses the potential of digitizing the medical sector to reduce paper usage. By providing an accessible alternative to self-medication, this system aims to enhance patient safety and mitigate the risks associated with misconceptions regarding self-treatment. This paper seeks to introduce and assess an innovative fractal electronic prescription system that uses Healthcare 5.0 technologies within the framework of teleconsultation. It aims to tackle the constraints and drawbacks associated with conventional prescription approaches by putting forth cutting-edge technologies and telecommunication functionalities to elevate the effectiveness, precision, and patient-centric nature of the prescription procedure.
Anodic Dissolution Behavior of DD6 Nickel-Based Single Crystal Superalloy for Electrochemical Machining Applications
Authors: Liu Weidong , Li Shun , Zhang Quan , Yue Xiaoming , Zhao Yonghua
Published: November 2024

Nickel-based single crystal superalloys have been widely used in turbomachinery components. Electrochemical machining (ECM) is an essential method for shaping such high-performance alloys. Understanding the fundamentals of ECM for these alloys is crucial for the design and optimization of the process. This study investigated the anodic dissolution of DD6 nickel-based single crystal superalloy in concentrated NaCl and NaNO3 electrolytes under ECM conditions. Polarization curves showed a passive-transpassive transition behavior in both electrolytes. Galvanostatic experiments demonstrated unique current efficiency characteristics contradicting the empirical ECM knowledge. Surface analysis revealed that the anomalous current efficiency of >100% in the NaNO3 electrolyte results from the falling of γ' phases from anodic surfaces due to the preferential dissolution of the γ matrix phase. The transition from selective to uniform dissolution with increased current density and reduced electrolyte flow velocity leads to decreased current efficiency in NaNO3 electrolyte. The removal of both γ and γ' phases depends entirely on electrochemical dissolution in NaCl electrolyte, ensuring that current efficiency maintains a normal value. A schematical anodic interface model was proposed to describe the dissolution behavior.
Current Prospects of Husbandry and Breeding Practices of Chicken Populations Rearing in Rural Communities: For Sustainable Improvement Interventions
Authors: Chebo Chencha , Betsha Simret , Sisay Amsalu , Melesse Aberra
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to investigate the present scenario of chicken husbandry and breeding practices in the rural districts of Sidama Region, southern Ethiopia. Four districts, namely Hula, Shebedino, Aleta Chuko, and Boricha were purposefully selected based on their chicken production potential and agroecological distinctiveness. The study data were collected from 161 chicken‐keeping households through interviews, on‐farm follow‐ups, group discussions, and field observations. Descriptive statistics and indexed ranking procedures were applied to summarize the data using SAS software. The chicken farming system was predominantly free‐scavenging, followed by slowly growing semi‐intensive and few intensive farming systems. The majority of rural farmers were keeping chickens primarily to support family income and for home use. A decreasing flock size of indigenous chickens and an increasing trend of improved chicken distribution and rearing were observed. It has been noted that farmers have a good experience of selecting hatching eggs, breeding cocks, and hens. In highland districts, pure breeding is common, while in midland and lowland districts, crossbreeding is more common due to the high distribution of exotic breeds. In all study districts, chickens mainly rely on scavenging with minimal feed supplementation and sit on simple perches fixed in family houses and kitchens. More than 65% of farmers use various traditional medications that were known by farmers to cure sick chickens. Furthermore, the study identified seasonal feed shortages, disease outbreaks, unplanned breeding, limited management knowledge, predators, and drought as major bottlenecks to chicken production. Thus, these findings could raise guiding information to improve small‐scale chicken husbandry and breeding practices, which help poor rural families, and the major bottlenecks to ensure sustainable poultry farming were identified. Moreover, the high mortality of chickens observed during peak dry and wet seasons in the Boricha and Hula districts, respectively, calls for further research on the adaptation potentials of chickens in their respective ecologies.
The Bridge Symptoms of Work–Family Conflict, Sleep Disorder, and Job Burnout: A Network Analysis
Authors: Sun Jingyan , Wang Siyuan , Huang Ying , Lam Sze Tung , Zhao Yixin , He Yuqiong , Peng Hanrui , Guo Huijuan , Wang Xiaoping
Published: November 2024

Background: This study aims to elucidate characteristics of the symptom network of work–family conflict (WFC) and sleep disorders among Chinese correctional personnels while accounting for job burnout as a possible confounder.

Method: A total of 472 correctional personnel were included. Their WFC, sleep disorders, and job burnout were measured using a Chinese version of Work–Family Conflict Scale (WFCS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a revised Chinese version of Maslach Burnout Inventory‐General Survey (MBI‐GS), respectively. Central symptoms and bridge symptoms were respectively identified based on centrality indices and bridge centrality indices. Network stability was examined using the case‐dropping procedure.

Results: Daytime condition (strength = 0.01) and strain‐based work interference with family (WFCs, strength = 1.45) symptoms had the highest centrality values in the WFC‐sleep disorder network structure, which were also identified as two bridge symptoms. Emotional exhaustion, daytime condition, and WFCs appeared to be potential bridge symptoms in the WFC–sleep disorder–burnout network structure.

Conclusions: In this study, among Chinese correctional personnel, daytime conditions, and WFCs were found to be central symptoms in the WFC–sleep disorder network structure, with emotional exhaustion as the bridge symptom in the WFC–sleep disorder–burnout network structure. We encourage relevant organizations to provide timely and effective education and guidance for regulatory personnel regarding these bridge symptoms. Subsequent research should follow up to assess the impact of relevant interventions on symptoms in the WFC–sleep disorder–burnout network, thereby advocating for the mental and physical health of correctional personnel.
Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)–Based Approach to Uncover the Relationship Between Block Size and Blockchain Performance
Authors: Hasnain Muhammad , Ghani Imran , Smith David , Asaf Muhammad , Saleem Shahid , Hayat Asad , Jeong Seung Ryul
Published: November 2024

Blockchain is a distributed system where transactions are recorded on blocks. The blocks are linked with previous blocks creating a chain of blocks that ensures the integrity of the blockchain. Throughput operates as a pivotal performance indicator in blockchain contributing to its popularity among organizations and individual users. To achieve optimized use of blockchain for an increasing number of users, accurate prediction of performance at different timestamps is necessary. In this paper, two recurrent neural network (RNN)–based predictive models, i.e., long short‐term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) are proposed that predict the performance (throughput) of blockchain in different scenarios. Moreover, the study analyzes blockchain data to find optimal block size, impact of block size on performance, and uncover the relationship between performance and block size. The RNN models are evaluated using a dataset collected from Hyperledger Caliper on the HF framework 2.3. This study found that the performance of LSTM is approximately close to GRU regarding evaluation metrics MAE and RMSE. However, GRU is more suitable for practical applications and performs better overall. This study also shows a Spearman correlation value of 0.032, which is indicative of a weak association between the two factors.