bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A reporter virus particle seroneutralization assay for tick‐borne encephalitis virus overcomes ELISA limitations
Authors: Ackermann‐Gäumann Rahel , Dentand Alexis , Lienhard Reto , Saeed Mohsan , Speiser Daniel E. , MacDonald Margaret R. , Coste Alix T. , Cagno Valeria
Published: August 2024

Tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is the most prevalent tick‐transmitted orthoflavivirus in Europe. Due to the nonspecific nature of its symptoms, TBE is primarily diagnosed by ELISA‐based detection of specific antibodies in the patient serum. However, cross‐reactivity between orthoflaviviruses complicates the diagnosis. Specificity issues may be mitigated by serum neutralization assays (SNT), although the handling of clinically relevant orthoflaviviruses requires biosafety level (BSL) 3 conditions and they have highly divergent viral kinetics and cell tropisms. In the present study, we established a reporter virus particle (RVP)‐based SNT in which the infectivity is measured by luminescence and that can be performed under BSL‐2 conditions. The RVP‐based SNT for TBEV exhibited a highly significant correlation with the traditional virus‐based SNT (R2 = 0.8637, p < 0.0001). The RVP‐based assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.3% (95% CI: 79.7%–97.4%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 81.6%–100%). We also tested the cross‐reactivity of serum samples in RVP‐based assays against other orthoflaviviruses (yellow fever virus, dengue virus type 2, Zika virus, West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis virus). Interestingly, all serum samples which had tested TBEV‐positive by ELISA but negative by RVP‐based SNT were reactive for antibodies against other orthoflaviviruses. Thus, the RVP‐based seroneutralization assay provides an added value in clinical diagnostics as well as in epidemiological studies.
MHA report finds youth mental health distress, service access concerning
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2024

Mental Health America (MHA) last week released its 10th consecutive report on the state of mental health in this country revealing concerning, although not new, trends such as the high rates of mental distress among youths and low rates of mental health care access available to them. The report represents a collection of data across all 50 states and the District of Columbia and serves as a baseline for answering some questions about how many people in America need and have access to mental health services.
Research reveals older adults at increased risk of suicide
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2024

Recently released data from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine revealed that nearly 20% of suicides in Illinois between 2020 and 2021 occurred among people aged 65 years or older. The trend is consistent with the data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) newly released National Violent Death Reporting System's Surveillance Summary.
NSDUH report: Nearly 60 million people had AMI in past year
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2024

Among adults aged 18 or older in 2023, 22.8% (or 58.7 million people) had any mental illness (AMI) in the past year, according to one of the key findings from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This report, released July 31, highlights estimates of substance use, mental health, and treatment in the United States in 2023. These national indicators are measured among people aged 12 or older in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population.
Determining what ‘good’ really looks like
Authors: Colville Rory
Published: August 2024

Rory Colville argues that improved veterinary communication alongside acceptance of first‐opinion clinical guidelines could help the profession determine what ‘good’ looks like for each case.
Contextualised care: faddish or foundational?
Authors: Skipper Alison , O'Neill Dan , Serlin Ruth , Davidson Jane , Elwood Clive , Gray Carol
Published: August 2024

Members of Veterinary Humanities UK argue that contextualised care should be considered as foundational to morally and economically sustainable veterinary practice in today's changing world.
A tri‐axial acceleration‐based behaviour template for translocated birds: the case of the Asian houbara bustard
Authors: Chopra Kareemah , Wilson Rory P. , Shepard Emily L. C. , Sorato Enrico , Hingrat Yves
Published: August 2024

Understanding the behaviours and time budgets of translocated animals post‐release has the potential to improve rearing and release protocols, and therefore survival rate. Otididae (bustards) inhabit open landscapes across the Middle East and Asia, are highly mobile on the ground and have similar lifestyles and body plans. The Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii is a bustard of conservation concern inhabiting the Middle East to Central Asia and is frequently reared in captivity for population management. We deployed tri‐axial accelerometers on 20 captive Asian houbaras in two seasons to catalogue basic behaviours, provide a template applicable to other bustard species and examine seasonal differences in behaviour. We created Boolean algorithms to define the following behaviours using raw acceleration data and derived metrics: stationary, eating/drinking and locomotion. We used video recordings to cross‐validate the algorithms, yielding recalls from 95 to 97%, and precisions between 97 and 98%. Houbaras spent significantly more time ‘stationary' and less time on ‘locomotion' in summer (June) compared to spring (March). Simple Boolean algorithms proved useful in identifying several behaviours and have the potential to be applicable to other bustard species, in captivity and in the wild post‐release.

Keywords: accelerometer, animal behaviour, Asian houbara bustard, captive breeding, conservation translocation
Implicit Cooperative Trajectory Planning with Learned Rewards Under Uncertainty
Authors: Kurzer Karl , Stegmaier Philipp , Polley Nikolai , Zöllner J. Marius
Published: August 2024

Urban traffic scenarios often require high interaction between traffic participants to ensure safety and efficiency. While the capabilities of automated driving systems have made remarkable progress in the past decade, they lack two critical abilities: anticipation and provision of cooperation between traffic participants without communication, i.e., implicit cooperation. Observing the behavior of other traffic participants, humans infer the need to cooperate and act accordingly. Our work presents a system that utilizes a sampling-based cooperative trajectory planner that accounts for all possible actions of other traffic participants, enabling cooperation. Further, we extend the planner employing learned reward models based on expert trajectories to demonstrate its ability to adapt to a desired human driving style for smooth integration into today’s traffic. Lastly, we address the issue of measurement uncertainties to robustify the decision-making process in real-world environments utilizing return distributions over start states according to a belief. We exemplify the effectiveness of our solutions on 15 challenging multi-agent scenarios.
Learning Cooperative Trajectories at Intersections in Mixed Traffic
Authors: Yan Shengchao , Welschehold Tim , Büscher Daniel , Burger Christoph , Stiller Christoph , Burgard Wolfram
Published: August 2024

Intersections are a significant bottleneck in traffic and have been a topic of much research. Optimization approaches incorporating traffic models are often limited by the intractable complexity resulting from the combinatorial explosion associated with increasing numbers of vehicles. Learning cooperative maneuver policies with deep neural networks from traffic data is a promising approach to address this issue. This chapter presents two approaches for managing traffic at intersections using deep reinforcement learning. The first approach learns an adaptive traffic signal controller, serving as a trajectory planner for all vehicles at the intersection. For smaller intersections with less traffic and fewer lanes, traffic signs are preferred over traffic lights due to their lower cost and higher efficiency. The second approach uses a centralized control unit to optimize efficiency and equity by ordering automated vehicles to yield to vehicles on conflicting routes with lower priorities. Self-driving cars have the potential to improve traffic flow in mixed environments with human-driven vehicles. The chapter evaluates the approaches using a traffic simulator with simulated and real-world traffic data. The approaches achieve state-of-the-art performance in terms of traffic efficiency and equity compared to non-learning and other learning-based methods. The chapter concludes with a discussion of possible future work on learning cooperative trajectories in mixed traffic.
Cooperative Hub for Cooperative Research on Cooperatively Interacting Vehicles: Use Cases, Design and Interaction Patterns
Authors: Flemisch Frank , Herzberger Nicolas , Usai Marcel , Baltzer Marcel , Schwalm Maximilian , Voß Gudrun , Krems Josef , Quante Laura , Trommler Daniel , Strelau Nadine , Burger Christoph , Stiller Christoph
Published: August 2024

This chapter describes central cooperative activities in the research priority program Cooperatively Interacting Vehicles (CoInCar). If the whole research program CoInCar can be seen as a wheel, which is turning research questions into answers, knowledge and hopefully progress for society, the individual research projects described in the other chapters could be seen as spokes of the wheel, and the aspects described in this chapter as an informal cooperative hub of the wheel. Starting with common essential definitions, a use case catalogue was derived and documented. Based on that, cooperation and interaction pattern were sketched and documented into a pattern database. While the details of the research hub described here are specific for this DFG priority program, the general principles of a research hub could be transferred to any other research and development activity.
Detecting Intentions of Vulnerable Road Users Based on Collective Intelligence as a Basis for Automated Driving
Authors: Zernetsch Stefan , Kress Viktor , Bieshaar Maarten , Schneegans Jan , Reitberger Günther , Fuchs Erich , Sick Bernhard , Doll Konrad
Published: August 2024

The project Detecting Intentions of Vulnerable Road Users Based on Collective Intelligence as a Basis for Automated Driving (DeCoInt$$^2$$

2

) focuses on detecting the intentions of vulnerable road users (VRUs) in automated driving using cooperative technologies. Especially in urban areas, VRUs, e.g., pedestrians and cyclists, will continue to play an essential role in mixed traffic. For an accident-free and highly efficient traffic flow with automated vehicles, it is vital to perceive VRUs and their intentions and analyze them similarly to humans when driving and forecasting VRU trajectories. Doing this reliably and robustly with a multimodal sensor system (e.g., cameras, LiDARs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes in mobile devices) in real-time is a big challenge. We follow a holistic, cooperative approach to recognize humans’ movements and forecast their trajectories. Heterogeneous open sets of agents, i.e., collaboratively interacting vehicles, infrastructure, and VRUs equipped with mobile devices, exchange information to determine individual models of their surrounding environment, allowing an accurate and reliable forecast of VRU basic movements and trajectories. The collective intelligence of cooperating agents resolves occlusions, implausibilities, and inconsistencies. We developed new methods by considering and combining novel signal processing and modeling techniques with machine learning-based pattern recognition approaches. The cooperation between agents happens on several levels: the VRU perception level, the level of recognized trajectories, or the level of already detected intentions.
The “Zero Tolerance Policy” to Separate Migrant Families: Context and Discursive Strategies to Foster Exclusion
Authors: Díaz de León Alejandra , Yrizar Barbosa Guillermo
Published: August 2024

During April and May of 2018, the Trump administration promoted and implemented a family separation approach designed to discourage irregular migration flows along the southern border, also known as the “Zero Tolerance Policy” (ZTP). Prior to its termination on 20th June of that same year, at least 2700 children had been separated from their parents. According to different sources, the parents of over 600 children had been “lost” or were still missing by the end of 2020. In this chapter, we contextualize this “zero tolerance” approach to immigration in the wider setting of the U.S.-Mexico border and the deterrence practices deployed by the Trump administration. We analyze how the Trump administration justified and reacted to reporting of the family separation policy in the media and explore its stated aims. We show how the administration changed the discourse it used and its justification for the policy on an almost daily basis when reacting to protests, the news cycle, and statements from politicians. From a human rights perspective, by analyzing this family separation policy, we identify how elements of racism and the criminalization of immigration seriously undermine not only people’s dignity but also the protection of the right to family life.
“It Is Not the Netherlands Here.” How Parents of LGB Migrants Experience Everyday Bordering Against Nonheterosexual Belonging in CEE
Authors: Vuckovic Juros Tanja
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores everyday bordering against nonheterosexual belonging in the case of CEE parents of LGB migrants who emigrated to Belgium or the Netherlands—two countries reputed for their “LGB-friendliness”—from five countries characterized by a homonegative public opinion, exclusionary LGBT legal framework and recent anti-gender mobilizations. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with eight CEE parents—the “stayers” who are embedded in the transnational social field with their migrant children, but still firmly situated in their CEE home countries. In this analysis, the chapter focuses on how the “others”—representing the wider imagined community of their CEE societies—were continually inserted in the narratives of parents discussing the nonheterosexuality of their migrant children. In these narratives, the parents highlight the experiences and expectations of the personal cost of societal homonegativity—both for their children and themselves. The analysis shows how these experiences and expectations are embedded in a wider heteronationalist discourse that places nonheterosexual belonging outside CEE collectivities and is reinforced and amplified by the anti-gender actors and their nationalistic, right-wing allies in CEE, who use it to support and sustain the construct of the European West–East divide.
TNF reduces osteogenic cell fate in PDL cells at transcriptional and functional levels without alteration of periodontal proliferative capacity
Authors: Knaup Isabel , Kramann Rafael , Sasula Martha-Julia , Mack Paula , Bastos Craveiro Rogério , Niederau Christian , Coenen Franziska , Neuss Sabine , Jankowski Joachim , Wolf Michael
Published: August 2024

Aims

To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on the growth of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, their osteogenic differentiation and modulation of their matrix secretion in vitro.

Methods

The influence of 10 ng/ml TNF on proliferation and metabolic activity of PDL cells was analyzed by cell counting (DAPI [4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole] staining) and the MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. In addition, cells were cultured under control conditions and osteogenic conditions (media containing 10 mM β-glycerophosphate). Quantitative expression analysis of genes encoding the osteogenic markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and osteopontin (OPN) was performed after 7 and 14 days of cultivation. Calcium deposits were stained with alizarin red.

Results

Our studies showed that 10 ng/ml TNF did not affect the survival and metabolic activity of PDL cells. Quantitative expression analysis revealed that long-term cultures with TNF impaired osteogenic cell fate at early and late developmental stages. Furthermore, TNF significantly reduced matrix secretion in PDL cells.

Conclusion

The present data confirm TNF as a regulatory factor of proinflammatory remodeling that influences the differentiation behavior but not the metabolism and cell proliferation of the periodontium. Therefore, TNF represents an interesting target for the regulation of orthodontic remodeling processes in the periodontium.
Evaluation of score-based tertiary triage policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: simulation study with real-world intensive care data
Authors: Bartenschlager Christina C. , Brunner Jens O. , Kubiciel Michael , Heller Axel R.
Published: August 2024

Objective

The explicit prohibition of discontinuing intensive care unit (ICU) treatment that has already begun by the newly established German Triage Act in favor of new patients with better prognoses (tertiary triage) under crisis conditions may prevent saving as many patients as possible and therefore may violate the international well-accepted premise of undertaking the “best for the most” patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities set up lockdown measures and infection-prevention strategies to avoid an overburdened health-care system. In cases of situational overload of ICU resources, when transporting options are exhausted, the question of a tertiary triage of patients arises.

Methods

We provide data-driven analyses of score- and non-score-based tertiary triage policies using simulation and real-world electronic health record data in a COVID-19 setting. Ten different triage policies, for example, based on the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II), are compared based on the resulting mortality in the ICU and inferential statistics.

Results

Our study shows that score-based tertiary triage policies outperform non-score-based tertiary triage policies including compliance with the German Triage Act. Based on our simulation model, a SAPS II score-based tertiary triage policy reduces mortality in the ICU by up to 18 percentage points. The longer the queue of critical care patients waiting for ICU treatment and the larger the maximum number of patients subject to tertiary triage, the greater the effect on the reduction of mortality in the ICU.

Conclusion

A SAPS II score-based tertiary triage policy was superior in our simulation model. Random allocation or “first come, first served” policies yield the lowest survival rates, as will adherence to the new German Triage Act. An interdisciplinary discussion including an ethical and legal perspective is important for the social interpretation of our data-driven results.
Nanosecond pulse electric field treatment initiates mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by inducing mitochondrial morphological changes in myocardial cells
Authors: Fan Aqing , Liu Gengliang , Wu Xiaodong
Published: August 2024

Background

As an emerging myocardial ablation technique, the mechanism of nanosecond pulse electric field (nsPEF) ablation is currently less studied. Mitochondria are one of the important membrane structure organelles in cells, participating in numerous life activities within the cell. This study aimed to explore the morphological changes of mitochondria in living cells following nsPEF treatment.

Methods

Myocardial cells were treated with a self-made solid-state LTD high-voltage nanosecond pulse generator with a pulse width of 100 ns for 80 times. The changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and cell apoptosis in rat myocardial cells after nsPEFs were investigated using JC-1 assay kit, apoptosis double staining assay kit, and mitochondrial fluorescence probe.

Results

The results showed that after nsPEF treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, apoptosis increased, and the average mitochondrial area decreased from 0.48 µm2 in live myocardial cells to 0.16 µm2. The average circumference ranges from 3.17 µm dropped to 1.60 µm. The shape factor decreased from 1.92 to 1.41. The aspect ratio has decreased from 2.16 to 1.59. nsPEF treatment induces changes in the morphology of myocardial cell mitochondria.

Conclusions

Based on the results of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis, it can be inferred that under this equipment and parameter conditions, nsPEF treatment first causes changes in mitochondrial morphology, and then initiates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which may provide experimental basis for investigating the potential mechanism of nsPEF ablation of myocardial cells.

Graphical Abstract
Research on concept drift algorithm based on evolutionary computation
Authors: Kou Ai-Jun , Huang Xu , Sun Wen-Xue
Published: August 2024

Concept drift (CD) in data streams can significantly impact the performance and stability of data stream classification algorithms, diminishing the generalization capabilities of integrated learning models. This paper addresses CD issues in dichotomous data streams by introducing a novel modeling approach that leverages evolutionary computation techniques. The method entails grouping base learners based on their performance within a sliding window and then evolving the base learning periods using evolutionary techniques. Furthermore, the concept of “gene flow” is introduced to enhance diversity among base learners and improve CD prediction performance. Experimental results on real and artificial datasets demonstrate the superior comprehensive performance of the proposed method. Specifically, the BCDECA algorithm outperforms other similar methods, excelling in accuracy, diversity, convergence rate, and robustness on a range of datasets.
Proper application of anticoagulation therapy on cancer-associated venous thrombosis
Authors: Yhim Ho-Young
Published: August 2024

Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality. The introduction of direct oral anticoagulants over the past decade has revolutionized VTE treatment in patients with active cancer, offering potential advantages over traditional therapies. However, uncertainties persist regarding the optimal selection and dosage of anticoagulants, particularly in patients with specific risk factors for bleeding, such as certain cancer types (e.g., upper gastrointestinal cancer, genitourinary cancer, primary or metastatic brain tumor, and hematologic malignancies) and specific patient characteristics (e.g., renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia). Recent data on the thrombotic risk associated with low thrombotic burden VTE, such as subsegmental pulmonary embolism and isolated distal deep vein thrombosis, underscore the need for updated management strategies in daily clinical practice. This review aims to explore these issues and highlight the evolving landscape of cancer-associated VTE management.
Democratic Equality Beyond Deliberation
Authors: POTTLE JUSTIN
Published: August 2024

Many theorists believe ideals of deliberation realize democratic equality by ensuring each speaker’s influence is commensurate with the strength of the reasons they give. This article argues that view is incomplete. When the frames, interpretations, and concepts speakers bring into debate disproportionately reflect the perspectives of socially advantaged groups, they contribute to hermeneutic injustices that impede marginalized citizens’ voice even under the most favorable deliberative rules. In response, I describe the role institutions of mass communication play in shaping the epistemic resources available to deliberators and show how structural biases toward advantaged groups within those institutions generate shared understandings that undermine deliberation’s egalitarian potential. Pursuing democratic equality, then, requires not only the fair exchange of reasons but also proactive efforts to identify and correct institutional mechanisms of hermeneutic injustice.
Relations Between Violent Video Game Experiences and Prosocial Behavior
Authors: Yang Xiaojun , Zhang Hui , Yao Xiaonan , Kou Yu , Wang Zhenhong
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Studies have shown that playing violent video games is negatively related to the occurrence of prosocial behavior, but the underlying physiological mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the mediating role of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reduction in the relations between violent video game experiences and prosocial behavior among 155 Chinese undergraduate students (59.35% male, Mage = 18.62 years). Violent video game experiences (i.e., comprehensive evaluation of the violence, bloodiness, and individual duration of playing) and prosocial behavior (i.e., willingness to help and helping time) were both measured by self-report. Physiological data (i.e., electrocardiography) were collected across three laboratory stages: baseline, task, and recovery. RSA reduction was calculated through these physiological data. Results indicated that: (1) violent video game experiences were negatively associated with prosocial behavior and RSA reduction; (2) RSA reduction mediated the relations between violent video game experiences and prosocial behavior. This finding suggested that RSA reduction might be an important physiological mechanism explaining the negative relations between violent video game experiences and prosocial behavior. This study will deepen people’s understanding of the influence of violent video games and provide a richer literature on the physiological mechanisms in the field.
The Role of Community Conversation in Improving Air Quality
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: August 2024

Collaboration between academic researchers and environmental justice organizations is key to mitigating emissions.
Mineralization of alkaline waste for CCUS
Authors: Walker Irene , Bell Robert , Rippy Kerry
Published: August 2024

Ex-situ mineralization processes leverage the reaction of alkaline materials with CO2 to form solid carbonate minerals for carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Annually, enough alkaline waste is generated to reduce global CO2 emissions by a significant percentage via mineralization. However, while the reaction is thermodynamically favorable and occurs spontaneously, it is kinetically limited. Thus, a number of techniques have emerged to increase the efficiency of mineralization to achieve a scalable process. In this review, we discuss mineralization of waste streams with significant potential to scale to high levels of CO2 sequestration. Focus is placed on the effect of operating parameters on carbonation kinetics and efficiency, methods, cost, and current scale of technologies.
Patients with ulcerative colitis who have normalized histology are clinically stable after de-escalation of therapy
Authors: Akiyama Shintaro , St-Pierre Joëlle , Traboulsi Cindy , Silfen Alexa , Rai Victoria , Rodriguez Tina G. , Erondu Amarachi I. , Steinberg Joshua M. , Shaffer Seth R. , Christensen Britt , Rubin David T.
Published: August 2024

We have previously demonstrated that histological normalization in ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with superior maintenance of remission outcomes. This single-center, retrospective case-control study assessed outcomes after the therapeutic de-escalation in UC patients who have achieved histologic normalization. A total of 111 patients were included, of which 24 underwent de-escalation, and 87 patients without therapeutic changes. The most commonly withdrawn therapy was aminosalicylates (50%), followed by immunomodulators (37.5%), and biologics (12.5%). Fourteen patients remained on therapies after de-escalation, including aminosalicylate (9/14), immunomodulators (3/14), and biologics (3/14), while 10 patients were not on any therapy immediately after withdrawal. Median follow-up was 43 months in the de-escalation group and 47 months in the control. The rates of clinical, endoscopic, and histologic recurrence were not significantly different between the two groups, nor was the proportion of patients who subsequently required additional therapies after withdrawal (P = 0.133). Clinical and endo-histologic recurrence rates were the lowest in patients who withdrew immunomodulators (0% and 14.3%, respectively). We demonstrate the clinical stability of therapeutic withdrawal in UC patients with histologic normalization.
Biochar and Other Biosorbents for the Bioremediation of Contaminated Water: Advances and Applications
Authors: Mukherjee Tirtha , Pal Sukdeb
Published: August 2024

Recently, the use of biochar and other biosorbents for the bioremediation of contaminated water has emerged as a green and sustainable technique for effectively removing a wide range of pollutants from water sources. Biochar is a kind of charcoal produced by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the process of heating biomass, which refers to organic matter derived from plants or animal waste, in the absence of oxygen. Biosorbents are natural or modified biological materials that are used to adsorb or bind contaminants from water or other solutions. Bioremediation, on the other hand, uses microorganisms to remove pollutants. This chapter will summarize recent advancements in the field of bioremediation of water pollution, specifically focusing on the utilization of biochar and other biosorbents. Additionally, it will explore the simultaneous application of microbial bioremediation techniques. The summary will encompass the development in these areas over the past five years. The discussion will cover heavy metal pollutants and organic pollutants. Both traditional and emerging pollutants will be discussed. The emerging trends and current challenges will be outlined.
Metagenomics Insight Into Microbial Community Analysis During Pesticide Degradation: State of the Art, Success Stories, Challenges, and Future Outlook
Authors: Singh Shubhra , Shyu Douglas J. H.
Published: August 2024

Metagenomics has provided valuable insights into microbial community dynamics during pesticide degradation, revolutionizing our understanding of the complex interactions between microorganisms and pesticides in various ecosystems. Here, we will discuss the state of the art in metagenomics-based microbial community analysis during pesticide degradation, highlight success stories, address challenges, and explore future outlooks. Metagenomics approaches include amplicon sequencing, which targets specific genes to profile microbial communities, and shotgun metagenomics, which sequences all DNA fragments to capture the entire genetic content of the community. For example, metagenomics revealed the presence of a previously unknown atrazine-degrading gene in soil bacteria, expanding our knowledge of microbial atrazine degradation pathways. It is also instrumental in identifying microbial consortia capable of degrading complex pesticide mixtures. As a study focused on the degradation of organophosphate pesticides, metagenomic analysis uncovered multiple microbial species working synergistically to degrade different pesticide components. Such findings have facilitated the development of bioremediation strategies for contaminated environments. Despite its significant contributions, one of the major challenges is the vast amount of generated data, requiring robust computational resources, and the complex interactions between microbial communities and pesticides require considering various environmental factors. Integrating multi-omics approaches, combining metagenomics with metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics, can provide a more comprehensive understanding of microbial community dynamics during pesticide degradation. While challenges persist, continued technological advancements and interdisciplinary collaborations will unlock further potential, leading to a better understanding of microbial communities and their roles in pesticide degradation and ultimately promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Scalable data management in global health crises: Leveraging blockchain technology
Authors: Al Jobaid Sakib , Kabir Upama , Jahan Mosarrat
Published: August 2024

Effective data management is crucial in navigating any health crisis. With proper data management protocols in place, stakeholders can swiftly adapt to evolving circumstances during challenging times. A recent event like the COVID‐19 pandemic has unequivocally revealed its significance. It is essential to conduct disease surveillance, practice preventive measures, and devise policies to contain the situation. As the process involves massive data growth, it demands an acute level of oversight and control. Monitoring this vast sensitive data faces multifaceted limitations, namely data tampering, breach of privacy, and centralized data stewardship. In response to these challenges, we propose an innovative blockchain‐enabled scalable data management scheme in light of the COVID‐19 scenario. However, blockchain cannot scale in a large ecosystem due to storing all contents in every participating node. This work addresses this shortcoming by proposing a lightweight solution that groups nodes into clusters, resulting in less memory and processing overhead. Moreover, it adopts an off‐chaining technique to reduce the memory load of every node and, thereby, the entire network. The experimental results demonstrate that it attains approximately 85% and 94% storage reduction per node and the whole network, respectively, and an 87% reduction in transaction processing time.
Positioning electric vehicles charging stations within the framework of sustainability and circular economy
Authors: Gezer Remziye Ilayda , Oner Erdinç
Published: August 2024

Due to the ever-increasing population, the concepts of sustainability and circular economy have come to the forefront. The number of vehicles per capita has increased in direct proportion to the human population. The increasing population and number of motor vehicles have also brought pollution. Some of these types of pollution are exhaust fumes, noise pollution, odour pollution, air pollution, and carbon emissions caused by motor vehicles. These problems have brought about a search for solutions and resources. The use of electric vehicles is seen as one of the solutions. As the number of electric vehicles has increased, the need for electric car charging stations has also increased, but at this point there are significant gaps in meeting these needs due to the depletion of energy and natural resources. This study aimed to develop a method for positioning charging stations for electric vehicles by considering sustainability and the circular economy, and we have applied this method to the province of Izmir.
Sustainable economic development: Comparative analysis of Ukraine and European countries
Authors: Filipishyna Liliya , Pardaeva Ozoda , Belopolsky Mykola , Legeza Darya , Sarkisian Larysa
Published: August 2024

The study analyzed key indicators of sustainable development of the economies of Ukraine and European countries. Despite the insignificant progress of Ukraine in comparison with European countries in key indicators, especially in the areas of energy efficiency and environmental protection, it is possible to note some aspects of social security in Ukraine, such as the level of education and access to medical services, show positive dynamics compared to a number of countries of the Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine faces the challenges of war, destruction and inflation. It was determined that Ukraine remains the country with the lowest level of income per capita in Europe, with a GDP per capita of 32% of the average value of the European Union countries. The EU uses GDP indicators to allocate funds from structural funds, contributing to the development of less developed countries. Using purchasing power parity to estimate GDP helps unify the measurement of the economic potential of different countries. The study also emphasizes the importance of implementing integrated policies that would contribute to the balanced development of all three components of sustainability. In particular, the need for further integration of Ukraine into European economic and environmental initiatives is noted, which will help increase its economic competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
Ensuring sustainable education through the management of higher education quality indicators
Authors: Hrinchenko Hanna , Didenko Natalia , Burbyga Valentyna , Lesina Tetiana , Medvedovska Yana
Published: August 2024

The study is devoted to a multicriteria assessment of the quality indicators of the educational environment sustainability of higher education institutions (HEIs) for the purpose of their effective management. The educational environment is a complex system that has many quality indicators that change over time and have a deterministic and random component. To effectively evaluate such systems, it is necessary to use the tools of mathematical statistics and the principles of qualimetrics. Criteria can have different scales and ranges of measurement, and in order to obtain a comprehensive indicator of the quality of the educational environment, it is necessary to convert all criteria into a single evaluation scale. This makes it possible to integrate them into a single statistical array, considering them as an indicators’ system. A system of nonlinear functional dependencies with a stepwise form is proposed. The choice of a particular dependence for converting the criteria into a dimensionless scale depends on the significance of each of them. For each criterion, the panel of experts selects a specific dependency. As a calculations result, the quality indicators (FI) scores were obtained on a dimensionless scale (0.1).
Analysis of innovative development and overcoming challenges of post-war Ukrainian economy
Authors: Pavelko Olha , Antoniuk Olena , Malchyk Mariana , Melnyk Larisa , Skakovska Svitlana
Published: August 2024

The dynamics of the Summary innovation index (SII) for Ukraine for 2016-2023 as well as its components are analysed. The normalized scores of SII and relative to European Union scores are highlighted. The results of the performed calculations for establishing the tightness of the connection and direction between SII and its components are shown. The closest correlation between the indicators “Finance and support” and “Summary Innovation Index”; “Human resources” and “Summary Innovation Index”; “Environmental sustainability” and “Summary Innovation Index” is found. The indicators on which values of “Finance and support”, “Human resources” as well as “Environmental sustainability” depend are presented. The key challenges affecting the innovative development of the regions are distinguished. The main directs and mechanisms of innovative development enhancing using the world experience of innovative transformations, which are appropriate for use in Ukraine, are determined.
OPNet: Optimized multi-head graph attention network for polymer properties prediction
Authors: Wei Wei , Fang Jun , Yang Ning , Li Qi , Hu Lin , Han Jie , Zhao Lanbo
Published: August 2024

The optimized multi-head graph attention network (OPNet) uses the multi-head graph attention network to predict both the thermal decomposition temperature with a 5% mass loss (Td5%) and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers as a machine learning model. The OPNet model provides reliable performance predictions for the Td5% and Tg datasets. The OPNet regression evaluation metrics R2 of Td5% is 0.76, which is the best, and the regression evaluation metrics R2 of Tg is 0.91, which is better than the current existing method models (the best model R2 ≈ 0.90). The OPNet model is an end-to-end network model, eliminating the need for manual data filtering or feature extraction. By analyzing the feature weights of the OPNet model, it is found that structures such as benzene rings play a more important role. At the same time, we have confirmed through other literature that such structures do have better stability and a higher thermal decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature. Therefore, the OPNet model exhibits interpretability and holds significant reference value for the field of materials science.
Exact partition function of the Potts model on the Sierpinski gasket and the Hanoi lattice
Authors: Alvarez P D
Published: August 2024

We present an analytic study of the Potts model partition function on the Sierpinski and Hanoi lattices, which are self-similar lattices of triangular shape with non integer Hausdorff dimension. Both lattices are examples of non-trivial thermodynamics in less than two dimensions, where mean field theory does not apply. We used and explain a method based on ideas of graph theory and renormalization group theory to derive exact equations for appropriate variables that are similar to the restricted partition functions. We benchmark our method with Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis of fixed points reveals information of location of the Fisher zeros and we provide a conjecture about the location of zeros in terms of the boundary of the basins of attraction.
72269 - Ten-year results after primary gastric bypass for severe obesity: results from the Scandinavian Obesity Registry (SOReg)
Authors: Sundbom Magnus , Näslund Erik , Ottosson Johan , Stenberg Erik ,   the SOReg Study Group
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is part of routine care for patients with severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2). In Sweden, the Scandinavian Obesity Registry (SOReg) collects data on all MBS with follow-up at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years. Long-term results (≥10 years) are scarce, especially in larger cohorts.

Method

Patients who underwent a primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in 2007-2012 were studied. SOReg was used for weight, laboratory data, and sleep apnoea, defined as CPAP-treatment (continuous positive airway pressure). Data on metabolic comorbidities, defined as active pharmacological treatment, was obtained from the Prescribed drugs registry. Preoperatively, 14.5% were treated for type 2 diabetes (T2D), 31.3% for hypertension, and 12.3% for dyslipidaemia.

Result

29,578 patients (BMI 42.7 kg/m2, age 41.0 years, and 75.6% women) were included. Ten years after surgery, we had access to SOReg-data in 9966 (33.7%) patients and current pharmacological treatment in 28,233 (95.4%) patients. Mean total body weight loss was 24.6%, corresponding to an excess body weight loss of 62.4%. The following rates of complete remission was seen: T2D 30.0%, hypertension 15.8%, and dyslipidaemia 8.9%. A similar result was seen in laboratory values. The use of CPAP for sleep apnoea was reduced from 9.8% to 4.1% at 10 years.

Discussion

Despite gradual weight regain, large weight loss and substantial remission in comorbid diseases was seen 10 years after primary gastric bypass. The successive weight regain should be noted and addressed.
72302 - Don’t cry over spilled gallstones. Consequences of gallstones left in the abdominal cavity, a matched cohort study
Authors: Edergren Åsa , Sandblom Gabriel , Ali Omar , von Gerber Alva , Agustsson Thorhallur , Jaafar Gona
Published: August 2024

Introduction

In 2.4% of laparoscopic cholecystectomies, gallstones are left in the abdomen after surgery. Studies on the long-term effect of spilled gallstone are scarce, but complications such as abscesses are described in 7% of these cases. Are the rest of these patients symptom free? This study aimed to examine if gallstones left in the abdominal cavity increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI), post-operative abscess and chronic abdominal pain.

Method

The study is based on GallRiks, the Swedish register of gallstone-surgery, and a retrospective review of patient records for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Södersjukhuset in Stockholm 2008 – 2022. Patients with registered retained gallstones in the abdominal cavity were identified and matched with a control group without an intraoperatively perforated gallbladder based on age, gender, surgery indication, operation year and surgical approach. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected. The cases and controls were compared with chi-square test and data was analyzed using Cox regression with stone spillage as exposure, adjusted for ASA-classification and antibiotic treatment.

Result

76 cases with retained gallstones were matched with 152 cases without gallbladder perforation. No significant associations between retained gallstones and abdominal pain, nor abscess development, were found. There was however a significant association between retained gallstones and SSI with a hazard ratio of 6.18 [1.63 - 23.4]. There was no significant effect of antibiotics on the risk for any of the outcomes.

Discussion

Few patients seem to develop complications from retained gallstones, so maybe some gallstones left in the abdomen at the end of surgery is acceptable?
72325 - Centralisation of gastric cancer surgery- impact on treatment strategies and survival - a national population-based cohort study
Authors: Engborg Jonathan , Winbladh Anders , Lindblad Mats , Hedberg Jakob
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Centralised surgery care improves results of curative resection in rare malignancies. Less is known of secondary effects of such centralisation on all patients, including patients receiving palliative or no tumour treatment. This population-based cohort study aimed to evaluate effects of centralisation on survival and treatment decision in all gastric cancer patients in Sweden between 2006-2016.

Method

All patients diagnosed with non-cardia gastric cancer were identified using National Registry for Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer (NREV) in Sweden. Patients cared by a local hospital performing low-volume curative gastric cancer surgery before centralisation were compared to patients in the same communities after curative cases were referred elsewhere. Survival differences were plotted in logistic regression models.

Result

Of 49 hospitals, 28 stopped performing curative gastric cancer surgery during the study period. After centralisation, 8 hospitals remained performing curative gastric cancer surgery. 4562 patients were included, and the median overall survival increased from 7.9 to 9.2 months. Resection rates fell from 36% to 30%. Treatment recommendation made at multidisciplinary cancer conference increased from 36% to 87%, where active tumour treatment increased from 66% to 72%. No significant difference in treatment strategy or time to surgery was found between the groups. No difference in overall survival was found between the groups.

Discussion

During the centralisation of gastric cancer surgery, survival, multidisciplinary treatment decisions and active treatment increased, with no detrimental effects on populations outside the major centres’ primary uptake areas.