bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia-Directed Treatment of Human Papillomavirus–Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Lee Nancy Y. , Sherman Eric J. , Schöder HeiKo , Wray Rick , Boyle Jay O. , Singh Bhuvanesh , Grkovski Milan , Paudyal Ramesh , Cunningham Louise , Zhang Zhigang , Hatzoglou Vaios , Katabi Nora , Diplas Bill H. , Han James , Imber Brandon S. , Pham Khoi , Yu Yao , Zakeri Kaveh , McBride Sean M. , Kang Jung J. , Tsai C. Jillian , Chen Linda C. , Gelblum Daphna Y. , Shah Jatin P. , Ganly Ian , Cohen Marc A. , Cracchiolo Jennifer R. , Morris Luc G.T. , Dunn Lara A. , Michel Loren S. , Fetten James V. , Kripani Anuja , Pfister David G. , Ho Alan L. , Shukla-Dave Amita , Humm John L. , Powell Simon N. , Li Bob T. , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Diaz Luis A. , Wong Richard J. , Riaz Nadeem
Published: January 2024

PURPOSE

Standard curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)–related oropharyngeal carcinoma results in significant toxicity. Since hypoxic tumors are radioresistant, we posited that the aerobic state of a tumor could identify patients eligible for de-escalation of chemoradiotherapy while maintaining treatment efficacy.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma to receive de-escalated definitive chemoradiotherapy in a phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03323463 ). Patients first underwent surgical removal of disease at their primary site, but not of gross disease in the neck. A baseline 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography scan was used to measure tumor hypoxia and was repeated 1-2 weeks intratreatment. Patients with nonhypoxic tumors received 30 Gy (3 weeks) with chemotherapy, whereas those with hypoxic tumors received standard chemoradiotherapy to 70 Gy (7 weeks). The primary objective was achieving a 2-year locoregional control (LRC) of 95% with a 7% noninferiority margin.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-eight patients with T0-2/N1-N2c were enrolled, of which 152 patients were eligible for analyses. Of these, 128 patients met criteria for 30 Gy and 24 patients received 70 Gy. The 2-year LRC was 94.7% (95% CI, 89.8 to 97.7), meeting our primary objective. With a median follow-up time of 38.3 (range, 22.1-58.4) months, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 94% and 100%, respectively, for the 30-Gy cohort. The 70-Gy cohort had similar 2-year PFS and OS rates at 96% and 96%, respectively. Acute grade 3-4 adverse events were more common in 70 Gy versus 30 Gy (58.3% v 32%; P = .02). Late grade 3-4 adverse events only occurred in the 70-Gy cohort, in which 4.5% complained of late dysphagia.

CONCLUSION

Tumor hypoxia is a promising approach to direct dosing of curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for HPV-related carcinomas with preserved efficacy and substantially reduced toxicity that requires further investigation.
Understanding Household Dynamics From the Ground Up: A Longitudinal Study From a Rural South African Setting
Authors: Yu Shao-Tzu , Houle Brian , Schatz Enid , Angotti Nicole , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa W. , Gómez-Olivé Francesc Xavier , Clark Samuel J. , Menken Jane , Mojola Sanyu A.
Published: January 2024

Investigations into household structure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) provide important insight into how families manage domestic life in response to resource allocation and caregiving needs during periods of rapid sociopolitical and health-related challenges. Recent evidence on household structure in many LMICs contrasts with long-standing viewpoints of worldwide convergence to a Western nuclearized household model. Here, we adopt a household-centered theoretical and methodological framework to investigate longitudinal patterns and dynamics of household structure in a rural South African setting during a period of high AIDS-related mortality and socioeconomic change. Data come from the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System (2003–2015). Using latent transition models, we derived six distinct household types by examining conditional interdependency between household heads’ characteristics, members’ age composition, and migration status. More than half of households were characterized by their complex and multigenerational profiles, with considerable within-typology variation in household size and dependency structure. Transition analyses showed stability of household types under female headship, while higher proportions of nuclearized household types dissolved over time. Household dissolution was closely linked to prior mortality experiences—particularly, following death of a male head. Our findings highlight the need to better conceptualize and contextualize household changes across populations and over time.
Does Tighter Glycemic Control Beyond Hemoglobin A1c of 8% Improve Outcome for Lumbar Spine Surgery? A MSSIC Study
Authors: Telemi Edvin , Mansour Tarek R. , Brennan Matthew , Simo Leticia , Hu Jianhui , Schultz Lonni , Nerenz David R. , Khalil Jad G. , Easton Richard , Perez-Cruet Miguelangelo , Aleem Ilyas , Park Paul , Soo Teck , Tong Doris , Abdulhak Muwaffak , Schwalb Jason M. , Chang Victor
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of postoperative adverse outcomes. Previous studies have emphasized the role of glycemic control in postoperative complications. This study aims to ascertain whether controlling hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) lower than 8% preoperatively results in meaningful risk reduction or improved outcomes.

METHODS:

We used patient-level data from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative registry, focusing on patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery between 2018 and 2021. The primary outcomes were length of stay and the occurrence of postoperative adverse events. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, achievement of a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function, the EuroQol-5D and NRS of leg and back pain, and return to work.

RESULTS:

A total of 11 348 patients were included in this analysis. Patients with HbA1c above the thresholds before surgery had significantly higher risks of urinary retention for all 3 possible threshold values (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.30, P = .015; IRR = 1.35, P = .001; IRR = 1.25, P = .011 for the HbA1c cutoffs of 8%, 7.5%, and 7%, respectively). They also had longer hospital stay (IRR = 1.04, P = .002; IRR = 1.03, P = .001; IRR = 1.03, P < .001 for the HbA1c cutoffs of 8%, 7.5%, and 7%, respectively) and had higher risks of developing any complication with HbA1c cutoff of 7.5% (IRR = 1.09, P = .010) and 7% (IRR = 1.12, P = .001). Diabetics with preoperative HbA1c above all 3 thresholds were less likely to achieve Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System MCID at the 90-day follow-up (IRR = .81, P < .001; IRR = .86, P < .001; IRR = .90, P = .007 for the HbA1c cutoffs of 8%, 7.5%, and 7%, respectively) and less likely to achieve EuroQol-5D MCID at the 2-year follow-up (IRR = .87, P = .027; IRR = .84, P = .005 for the HbA1c cutoffs of 7.5% and 7%, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Our study suggests that reducing HbA1c below 8% may have diminishing returns regarding reducing complications after spine surgery.
Towards Optimal Problem Dependent Generalization Error Bounds in Statistical Learning Theory
Authors: Xu Yunbei , Zeevi Assaf
Published: January 2024

We study problem-dependent rates, that is, generalization errors that scale near-optimally with the variance, effective loss, or gradient norms evaluated at the “best hypothesis.” We introduce a principled framework dubbed “uniform localized convergence” and characterize sharp problem-dependent rates for central statistical learning problems. From a methodological viewpoint, our framework resolves several fundamental limitations of existing uniform convergence and localization analysis approaches. It also provides improvements and some level of unification in the study of localized complexities, one-sided uniform inequalities, and sample-based iterative algorithms. In the so-called “slow rate” regime, we provide the first (moment-penalized) estimator that achieves the optimal variance-dependent rate for general “rich” classes; we also establish an improved loss-dependent rate for standard empirical risk minimization. In the “fast rate” regime, we establish finite-sample, problem-dependent bounds that are comparable to precise asymptotics. In addition, we show that iterative algorithms such as gradient descent and first order expectation maximization can achieve optimal generalization error in several representative problems across the areas of nonconvex learning, stochastic optimization, and learning with missing data.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/moor.2021.0076 .
Demand Steering in a Last-Mile Delivery Problem with Home and Pickup Point Delivery Options
Authors: Galiullina Albina , Mutlu Nevin , Kinable Joris , Van Woensel Tom
Published: January 2024

To increase the efficiency of last-mile delivery, online retailers can adopt pickup points in their operations. The retailer may then incentivize customers to steer them from home to pickup point delivery to reduce costs. However, it is usually uncertain whether the customer accepts this incentive to switch to pickup delivery. This setup gives rise to a new last-mile delivery problem with integrated incentive and routing decisions under uncertainty. We model this problem as a two-stage stochastic program with decision-dependent uncertainty. In the first stage, a retailer decides which customers to incentivize. However, customers’ reaction to the incentive is stochastic: they may accept the offer and switch to pickup point delivery, or they may decline the offer and stick with home delivery. In the second stage, after customers’ final delivery choices are revealed, a vehicle route is planned to serve customers via the delivery option of their choice. We develop an exact branch-and-bound algorithm and propose several heuristics to improve the algorithm’s scalability. Our algorithm solves instances with up to 50 customers, realizing on average 4%–8% lower last-mile delivery costs compared with the commonly applied approaches in the industry that do not use incentives or offer incentives to all customers. We also develop a benchmark policy that gives very fast solutions with a 2% average optimality gap for small instances and up to 2% average cost increase compared with the heuristic solutions.

Funding: This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement [Grant 765395].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0287 .
Development and Psychometric Validation of an Information Competency Assessment: The Information Management Brief Scale
Authors: Castillo-de-León Mónica Azucena , Méndez-Hinojosa Luz Marina , Cárdenas-Rodríguez Magaly
Published: January 2024

Today's college students relate directly to the information through which they learn. They are the ones who detect the information they need, search and evaluate it, and also use it to develop academic projects. Information literacy programs have increased in universities to support the development of these skills to students. The aim of this study was to provide an instrument that allows the measurement of information competency in higher level students and generate evidence of its validity and reliability. The Information Management Brief Inventory (IMBS) was developed, which consisted of 16 Likert type items. IMBS was applied to a sample of 1,937 students from a public university in northern Mexico. For the evaluation of the construct validity and identification of the factor grouping of the items, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out to explore the goodness of fit of the model. It was found that the 16 items were grouped into three factors: information management, access to information and information ethics. The psychometric properties of IMBS were adequate.
Dispersions of robust optical vortices in multihelicoidal fibers with torsional mechanic stress
Authors: Alexeyev C. N. , Barshak E. V. , Lapin B. P. , Yavorsky M. A.
Published: January 2024

We study the structure of higher order modes in multihelicoidal optical fibers (MHFs) in the presence of torsional mechanic stress (TMS). We show that at some values of pitch such modes present circularly polarized nondegenerate optical vortices robust to external perturbations of the cross-section’s form. Based on analytical expressions for the propagation constants of such vortex modes, we investigate polarization, topological, and hybrid dispersions of vortex modes. We also demonstrate that, based on MHF with TMS, one can implement a universal CCNOT logic gate, which is also known as a Toffoli gate. This property could be useful for classical emulation of quantum computations.
Nonlinear wave propagation in a metamaterial film bounded by Kerr-type dielectrics
Authors: Wu Zhong
Published: January 2024

The nonlinear waves propagating in a metamaterial (MM) film bounded by Kerr-type dielectric media are investigated. It is shown that the waves propagate in surface mode at nearly 95% probability. We calculate the power flow in the MM waveguide and find the existence of forward or backward waves propagating in the guiding film. A thorough investigation of the power confinement factor reveals that it can be tuned by a set of parameters pertaining to the incident frequency and the width of the MM film. We expect the theoretical analysis can provide ideas for potential applications in the field of information processing.
NMSCANet: stereo matching network for speckle variations in single-shot speckle projection profilometry
Authors: Li Genshen , Zhou Pei , Du Junlin , Zhang Jianwei , Zhu Jiangping
Published: January 2024

In single-shot speckle projection profilometry (SSPP), the projected speckle inevitably undergoes changes in shape and size due to variations such as viewing angles, complex surface modulations of the test object and different projection ratios. These variations introduce randomness and unpredictability to the speckle features, resulting in erroneous or missing feature extraction and subsequently degrading 3D reconstruction accuracy across the tested surface. This work strives to explore the relationship between speckle size variations and feature extraction, and address the issue solely from the perspective of network design by leveraging specific variations in speckle size without expanding the training set. Based on the analysis of the relationship between speckle size variations and feature extraction, we introduce the NMSCANet, enabling the extraction of multi-scale speckle features. Multi-scale spatial attention is employed to enhance the perception of complex and varying speckle features in space, allowing comprehensive feature extraction across different scales. Channel attention is also employed to selectively highlight the most important and representative feature channels in each image, which is able to enhance the detection capability of high-frequency 3D surface profiles. Especially, a real binocular 3D measurement system and its digital twin with the same calibration parameters are established. Experimental results imply that NMSCANet can also exhibit more than 8 times the point cloud reconstruction stability (Std) on the testing set, and the smallest change range in terms of Mean~dis (0.0614 mm - 0.4066 mm) and Std (0.0768 mm - 0.7367 mm) when measuring a standard sphere and plane compared to other methods, faced with the speckle size changes, meanwhile NMSCANet boosts the disparity matching accuracy (EPE) by over 35% while reducing the matching error (N-PER) by over 62%. Ablation studies and validity experiments collectively substantiate that our proposed modules and constructed network have made significant advancements in enhancing network accuracy and robustness against speckle variations.
Underwater dynamic polarization imaging without dependence on the background region
Authors: Deng Jinxin , Zhu Jingping , Li Haoxiang , Liu Xiaofang , Guo Fengqi , Zhang Xiangzhe , Hou Xun
Published: January 2024

Active-polarization imaging holds significant promise for achieving clear underwater vision. However, only static targets were considered in previous studies, and a background region was required for image restoration. To address these issues, this study proposes an underwater dynamic polarization imaging method based on image pyramid decomposition and reconstruction. During the decomposition process, the polarized image is downsampled to generate an image pyramid. Subsequently, the spatial distribution of the polarization characteristics of the backscattered light is reconstructed by upsampling, which recovered the clear scene. The proposed method avoids dependence on the background region and is suitable for moving targets with varying polarization properties. The experimental results demonstrate effective elimination of backscattered light while sufficiently preserving the target details. In particular, for dynamic targets, processing times that fulfill practical requirements and yield superior recovery effects are simultaneously obtained.
Virtual Hall sensor triggered multi-MHz endoscopic OCT imaging for stable real-time visualization
Authors: Singh Awanish Pratap , Göb Madita , Ahrens Martin , Eixmann Tim , Schulte Berenice , Schulz-Hildebrandt Hinnerk , Hüttmann Gereon , Ellrichmann Mark , Huber Robert , Rahlves Maik
Published: January 2024

Circumferential scanning in endoscopic imaging is crucial across various disciplines, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) is often the preferred choice due to its high-speed, high-resolution, and micron-scale imaging capabilities. Moreover, real-time and high-speed 3D endoscopy is a pivotal technology for medical screening and precise surgical guidance, among other applications. However, challenges such as image jitter and non-uniform rotational distortion (NURD) are persistent obstacles that hinder real-time visualization during high-speed OCT procedures. To address this issue, we developed an innovative, low-cost endoscope that employs a brushless DC motor for scanning, and a sensorless technique for triggering and synchronizing OCT imaging with the scanning motor. This sensorless approach uses the motor’s electrical feedback (back electromotive force, BEMF) as a virtual Hall sensor to initiate OCT image acquisition and synchronize it with a Fourier Domain Mode-Locked (FDML)-based Megahertz OCT system. Notably, the implementation of BEMF-triggered OCT has led to a substantial reduction in image jitter and NURD (<4 mrad), thereby opening up a new window for real-time visualization capabilities. This approach suggests potential benefits across various applications, aiming to provide a more accurate, deployable, and cost-effective solution. Subsequent studies can explore the adaptability of this system to specific clinical scenarios and its performance under practical endoscopic conditions.
Light field camera calibration and point spread function calculation based on differentiable ray tracing
Authors: Mei Di , Luan Yinsen , Li Xiangchao , Wu XiJiang
Published: January 2024

The imaging process of the light field (LF) camera with a micro-lens array (MLA) may suffer from multiple aberrations. It is thus difficult to precisely calibrate the intrinsic hardware parameters and calculate the corresponding point spread function (PSF). To build an aberration-aware solution with better generalization, we propose an end-to-end imaging model based on the differentiable ray tracing. The input end is the point source location, and the output end is the rendered LF image, namely, PSF. Specially, a projection method is incorporated into the imaging model, eliminating the huge memory overhead induced by a large array of periodic elements. Taking captured PSF images as the ground truth, the LF camera is calibrated with the genetic algorithm initially and then the gradient-based optimization. This method is promising to be used in various LF camera applications, especially in challenging imaging conditions with severe aberrations.
Hybrid fiber/bulk laser source designed for CO2 and wind measurements at 2.05 µm
Authors: Lahyani Julien , Thiers Mathys , Gibert Fabien , Edouart Dimitri , Gouët Julien Le , Cézard Nicolas
Published: January 2024

We present a hybrid fiber/bulk laser source designed for CO2 and wind monitoring using differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) and coherent detection at 2.05 µm. This source features a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) architecture made of four fiber stages and one single-pass, end-pumped, bulk amplifier. This Letter focuses on the single-pass bulk amplifier performance and on the hybrid architecture benefits for DIAL and coherent detection. The bulk material is a holmium-doped YLF crystal that provides high efficiency amplification at 2.05 µm. This laser offers an energy breakthrough as compared to the classical stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) limit encountered in a fiber laser without compromising robustness, thanks to very few free-space optical elements and a small optical path. It delivers pulse energy and repetition frequency of 9.0 mJ/1 kHz or 1.2 mJ/20 kHz with 200 ns quasi Fourier-transform limited pulses.
Er-doped silicate fiber amplifiers in the L-band with flat gain
Authors: Sun Yan , Wang Xin , Yang Qiubai , Wang Yafei , Wang Fan , Hu Lili , Yu Chunlei , Liao Meisong , Chen Shubin
Published: January 2024

We demonstrated an efficient way to enhance and flatten the emission cross sections of Er3+ ions at the L-band in the silicate fiber amplifier by increasing Mg2+ (up to 22.5 mol%) with high field strength. High values of Er3+ concentration, lifetime, and L-band emission cross section were achieved in our silicate fibers. Particularly, the flatness at the L-band was achieved to be 0.8 dB, and a high gain coefficient at 1625 nm (4.7 dB/m) was demonstrated by pumping meter-scale Er-silicate fibers. The as-prepared Er-silicate fibers are attractive for the L-band fiber amplifier.
Design and optimization of a multidirectional photodetector in optoelectronic integration
Authors: Chen Jing , Kuang Heng , Wang Yanan , Liu Xiaolin , Peng Lin , Lin Jia
Published: January 2024

We have introduced and demonstrated a three-dimensional, multidirectional photodetector (PD) made of germanium for optoelectronic integration (OEI) systems. Building upon the fundamental physical principles of PDs, we focused on the design aspects of structure, dimensions, and doping. This led to the development of an integrated chip-level PD capable of discerning light from four different directions. Simulation verification confirmed that the key performance parameters of the four equivalent PDs meet the specified requirements. Importantly, we have identified the device’s ability and strategy to evaluate light signals from different directions, as well as the impact of fluctuations in light intensity on the accuracy of the judgments. In-depth investigations into the effects of external bias, doping concentration, and doping region have been conducted to further optimize parameters, enhancing the performance of the proposed device. Overall, the current work will help improve the efficiency of PD and enhance the integration of future OEI chips.
Focal plane coincidence method for a multi-view telecentric 3D imaging system
Authors: Wang Dezhao , Zhou Weihu , Zhang Zili , Meng Fanchang , Gao Chao
Published: January 2024

Multi-view microscopic fringe projection systems, which use high-resolution telecentric lenses and the Scheimpflug condition, face challenges in coinciding focal planes accurately, resulting in inconsistent measurements between views. In this Letter, we developed a sharpness evaluation function based on the total power of the line-spread function, which was subsequently used to generate a full-field sharpness distribution map. Then we employed the correlation between the sharpness map and orientation of the focal plane to precisely coincide the focal planes. Experimental results validate the proposed method and demonstrate its improved consistency in 3D reconstruction.
Functional hierarchies in brain dynamics characterized by signal reversibility in ferret cortex
Authors: Idesis Sebastian , Geli Sebastián , Faskowitz Joshua , Vohryzek Jakub , Sanz Perl Yonatan , Pieper Florian , Galindo-Leon Edgar , Engel Andreas K. , Deco Gustavo
Published: January 2024

Brain signal irreversibility has been shown to be a promising approach to study neural dynamics. Nevertheless, the relation with cortical hierarchy and the influence of different electrophysiological features is not completely understood. In this study, we recorded local field potentials (LFPs) during spontaneous behavior, including awake and sleep periods, using custom micro-electrocorticographic (μECoG) arrays implanted in ferrets. In contrast to humans, ferrets remain less time in each state across the sleep-wake cycle. We deployed a diverse set of metrics in order to measure the levels of complexity of the different behavioral states. In particular, brain irreversibility, which is a signature of non-equilibrium dynamics, captured by the arrow of time of the signal, revealed the hierarchical organization of the ferret’s cortex. We found different signatures of irreversibility and functional hierarchy of large-scale dynamics in three different brain states (active awake, quiet awake, and deep sleep), showing a lower level of irreversibility in the deep sleep stage, compared to the other. Irreversibility also allowed us to disentangle the influence of different cortical areas and frequency bands in this process, showing a predominance of the parietal cortex and the theta band. Furthermore, when inspecting the embedded dynamic through a Hidden Markov Model, the deep sleep stage was revealed to have a lower switching rate and lower entropy production. These results suggest functional hierarchies in organization that can be revealed through thermodynamic features and information theory metrics.
Genome-wide analyses reveal the contribution of somatic variants to the immune landscape of multiple cancer types
Authors: Bi Wenjian , Xu Zhiyu , Liu Feng , Xie Zhi , Liu Hao , Zhu Xiaotian , Zhong Wenge , Zhang Peipei , Tang Xing
Published: January 2024

It has been well established that cancer cells can evade immune surveillance by mutating themselves. Understanding genetic alterations in cancer cells that contribute to immune regulation could lead to better immunotherapy patient stratification and identification of novel immune-oncology (IO) targets. In this report, we describe our effort of genome-wide association analyses across 22 TCGA cancer types to explore the associations between genetic alterations in cancer cells and 74 immune traits. Results showed that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by different gene mutations in different cancer types. Out of the key genes that drive multiple immune traits, top hit KEAP1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) was selected for validation. It was found that KEAP1 mutations can explain more than 10% of the variance for multiple immune traits in LUAD. Using public scRNA-seq data, further analysis confirmed that KEAP1 mutations activate the NRF2 pathway and promote a suppressive TME. The activation of the NRF2 pathway is negatively correlated with lower T cell infiltration and higher T cell exhaustion. Meanwhile, several immune check point genes, such as CD274 (PD-L1), are highly expressed in NRF2-activated cancer cells. By integrating multiple RNA-seq data, a NRF2 gene signature was curated, which predicts anti-PD1 therapy response better than CD274 gene alone in a mixed cohort of different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) including LUAD, highlighting the important role of KEAP1-NRF2 axis in shaping the TME in NSCLC. Finally, a list of overexpressed ligands in NRF2 pathway activated cancer cells were identified and could potentially be targeted for TME remodeling in LUAD.
Test-retest reliability and validity of the Importance of Olfaction Questionnaire in Denmark
Authors: Tchemerinsky Konieczny Daniel , Wieck Fjaeldstad Alexander , Sandberg Kristian
Published: January 2024

While measures to detect psychophysical olfactory ability are a crucial part of clinicians’ assessment of potential olfactory loss, it gives no indication of how olfaction is experienced by the patient and these different aspects often deviate substantially. To ensure quality and reproducibility of subjectively reported olfactory experience and significance, the Importance of Olfaction Questionnaire (IO-Q) was introduced around a decade ago, and while initial validations have produced promising results, important aspects remain nearly unexamined. For example, the test-retest reliability has rarely been examined and the difference of online versus pen-and-paper administration remains unexplored. Here, we translated IO-Q to Danish and examined its validity, test-retest reliability and mode of administration. A cohort of 179 younger, Danish participants with a high level of English proficiency took the test twice with varying time in-between. The first test was taken digitally and in English, while the second was taken using pen-and-paper and in Danish. The distribution of scores and the relationship between the IO-Q and subscale scores were nearly identical between tests, indicating little to no influence of language/test modality in the sampled population. The internal consistency was comparable to previously published results. Likewise, an acceptable test-retest reliability was observed for the full IO-Q and slightly lower for subscales. No significant effect of time was found across several weeks. In conclusion, the IO-Q performed satisfactorily in all examinations and could therefore serve as a valuable clinical measure of subjective olfactory experience, and its Danish translation shows highly similar characteristics to the original, English version.
Bacterial microbiome associated with cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and its microbial plasticity in relation to diet sources
Authors: Srinivasan Thanga Suja , Premachandran Krishnamanikumar , Clinton Paul X.
Published: January 2024

Insect-microbial symbiosis contributes positively to the physiology of the insect and diet is considered as one important factor determining microbial symbiosis. In this study, we have characterized the microbiota of cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) on different diets and phases. The beetles were reared on different diet sources (exposed phase) for six generations and were reverted to their natal source (reverted phase) and further maintained for six more generations. The bacterial diversity and richness were higher in the exposed phase and once reverted to the natal source, the microbial abundance has re-assembled according to the natal diet source. There was re-assemblage of microbial composition in accordance to the diet and the bacterial cells are able to establish and proliferate on reverting to their natal source. The bacterial composition of the beetle was mainly dynamic and not transient where the bacterial cells were maintained at low abundance and were re-established according to the diet source. Overall, we found that the microbiota of cigarette beetle to be dynamic and bacterial composition to re-assemble in a diet-specific manner. The study provides insights on diet associated microbial plasticity of cigarette beetle and a further comprehensive understanding on mechanisms involved in microbial plasticity will help develop novel pest management strategies for this invasive insect pest.
Association between circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA and inflammation factors in noninfectious diseases: A systematic review
Authors: Zhou Min , Zhang Hao , Xu Xin , Chen Hairen , Qi Baiwen
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study aimed to assess the correlation between the circulating cell-free mitochondria DNA and inflammation factors in noninfectious disease by meta-analysis of data from eligible studies.

Materials and methods

Through a comprehensive searching of pubmed, embase, web of science, cochrane from establishment of the database to October 31, 2022, studies were selected that investigated the association of circulating cell free mitochondria DNA with inflammatory factors in non-infectious diseases. Studies that met the inclusion criteria and were published in English or Chinese were included. Data of each correlation coefficients were extracted from the paper and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Sensitivity and heterogeneity tests were carried out for each data.

Results

A total of 660 articles were retrieved and 22 were included in this meta-analysis, including 2600 patients. A fixed effects model was employed to examine ISS and IL-8, others were analyzed using random effects models. The correlation coefficient between mtDNA and ISS score was 0.37 (95%CI = [0.232;0.494]), p<0.0001, heterogeneity I2= 46%, p = 0.11). The correlation coefficients between mtDNA and inflammatory factors are as follows: TNFα, 0.405 [(95%CI = [0.253;0.538], p<0.0001, heterogeneity I2= 77%, p = 0.0001]. IL-6, 0.469 [(95%CI = [0.296;0.612]), p = 0.0001, heterogeneity I2 = 93%, p<0.0001]. CRP, 0.333[(95%CI = [0.149;0.494]), p = 0.005, heterogeneity I2 = 85%, p<0.0001]. IL-8, 0.343[(95%CI = [0.233;0.524]), p = 0.001, heterogeneity I2= 50%, p = 0.09]. PCT, 0.333 [(95%CI = [0.06;0.64]), p = 0.09,heterogeneity I2= 64%,p = 0.06]. There were no significant publication bias for TNFα, IL-6 and CRP.

Conslusion

Circulating cell free mtDNA was moderate positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory factors and the degree of trauma.
Assessment of temperature and time on the survivability of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) on experimentally contaminated surfaces
Authors: Mil-Homens Mafalda , Aljets Ethan , Paiva Rodrigo C. , Machado Isadora , Cezar Guilherme , Osemeke Onyekachukwu , Moraes Daniel , Jayaraman Swaminathan , Brinning Mckenna , Poeta Silva Ana Paula , Tidgren Lauren , Durflinger Madison , Wilhelm Mallory , Flores Vivian , Frenier Jolie , Linhares Daniel , Zhang Jianqiang , Holtkamp Derald , Silva Gustavo S.
Published: January 2024

Fomites might be responsible for virus introduction in swine farms, highlighting the importance of implementing practices to minimize the probability of virus introduction. The study’s objective was to assess the efficacy of different combinations of temperatures and holding-times on detecting live PRRSV and PEDV on surfaces commonly found in supply entry rooms in swine farms. Two PRRSV isolates (MN 184 and 1-4-4 L1C variant) and one PEDV isolate (NC 49469/2013) were inoculated on cardboard and aluminum. An experimental study tested combinations of four temperatures (20°C, 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C) and six holding-times (15 minutes, 60 minutes, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours) for the presence of the viruses on each surface type. After virus titration, virus presence was assessed by assessing the cytopathic effects and immunofluorescence staining. The titers were expressed as log10TCID50/ml, and regression models; half-lives equations were calculated to assess differences between treatments and time to not detect the live virus. The results suggest that the minimum time that surfaces should be held to not detect the virus at 30°C was 24 hours, 40°C required 12 hours, and 50°C required 6 hours; aluminum surfaces took longer to reach the desired temperature compared to cardboard. The results suggest that PRRSV 1-4-4 L1C variant had higher half-lives at higher temperatures than PRRSV MN 184. In conclusion, time and temperature combinations effectively decrease the concentration of PRRSV and PEDV on different surfaces found in supply entry rooms in swine farms.
Considerations on the use of microsensors to profile dissolved H2 concentrations in microbial electrochemical reactors
Authors: Sandfeld Tobias , Grøn Louise Vinther , Munoz Laura , Meyer Rikke Louise , Koren Klaus , Philips Jo
Published: January 2024

Measuring the distribution and dynamics of H2 in microbial electrochemical reactors is valuable to gain insights into the processes behind novel bioelectrochemical technologies, such as microbial electrosynthesis. Here, a microsensor method to measure and profile dissolved H2 concentrations in standard H-cell reactors is described. Graphite cathodes were oriented horizontally to enable the use of a motorized microprofiling system and a stereomicroscope was used to place the H2 microsensor precisely on the cathode surface. Profiling was performed towards the gas-liquid interface, while preserving the electric connections and flushing the headspace (to maintain anoxic conditions) and under strict temperature control (to overcome the temperature sensitivity of the microsensors). This method was tested by profiling six reactors, with and without inoculation of the acetogen Sporomusa ovata, at three different time points. H2 accumulated over time in the abiotic controls, while S. ovata maintained low H2 concentrations throughout the liquid phase (< 4 μM) during the whole experimental period. These results demonstrate that this setup generated insightful H2 profiles. However, various limitations of this microsensor method were identified, as headspace flushing lowered the dissolved H2 concentrations over time. Moreover, microsensors can likely not accurately measure H2 in the immediate vicinity of the solid cathode, because the solids cathode surface obstructs H2 diffusion into the microsensor. Finally, the reactors had to be discarded after microsensor profiling. Interested users should bear these considerations in mind when applying microsensors to characterize microbial electrochemical reactors.
Persuadable voters decided the 2022 midterm: Abortion rights and issues-based frameworks for studying election outcomes
Authors: Kann Claudia , Ebanks Daniel , Morrier Jacob , Alvarez R. Michael
Published: January 2024

Leading up to the 2022 Congressional midterm elections, all predictions pointed to a Republican wave, given factors such as the incumbent president’s low approval rate and a struggling national economy. Accordingly, the underwhelming performance of the Republican Party surprised many, resulting in an election that became known as the “asterisk election” due to its unusual and seemingly unpredictable outcome. This study delves into the specifics of the 2022 midterms, exploring factors that may have influenced the results beyond those traditionally considered by political scientists. Our analysis particularly seeks to understand whether a sudden shift in the public salience of specific issues could have influenced voters’ preferences, leading them to consider factors they might not have otherwise. To achieve this, we analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of registered voters surveyed immediately after the midterm elections. Our findings reveal that the issue of abortion played a pivotal role during this election. The prominence of abortion was not predestined, as evidenced by a comparative analysis with data from a survey conducted after the 2020 presidential election. Indeed, it seems that the decision by the Supreme Court to overturnRoe v. Wadein June 2022 significantly increased the salience of abortion. This unexpected policy shock had a significant impact on the behavior of voters in the 2022 midterm elections.
Genome-wide association study reveals GmFulb as candidate gene for maturity time and reproductive length in soybeans (Glycine max)
Authors: Escamilla Diana M. , Dietz Nicholas , Bilyeu Kristin , Hudson Karen , Rainey Katy Martin
Published: January 2024

The ability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to adapt to different latitudes is attributed to genetic variation in major E genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) determining flowering time (R1), maturity (R8), and reproductive length (RL). Fully revealing the genetic basis of R1, R8, and RL in soybeans is necessary to enhance genetic gains in soybean yield improvement. Here, we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWA) with 31,689 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to detect novel loci for R1, R8, and RL using a soybean panel of 329 accessions with the same genotype for three major E genes (e1-as/E2/E3). The studied accessions were grown in nine environments and observed for R1, R8 and RL in all environments. This study identified two stable peaks on Chr 4, simultaneously controlling R8 and RL. In addition, we identified a third peak on Chr 10 controlling R1. Association peaks overlap with previously reported QTLs for R1, R8, and RL. Considering the alternative alleles, significant SNPs caused RL to be two days shorter, R1 two days later and R8 two days earlier, respectively. We identified association peaks acting independently over R1 and R8, suggesting that trait-specific minor effect loci are also involved in controlling R1 and R8. From the 111 genes highly associated with the three peaks detected in this study, we selected six candidate genes as the most likely cause of R1, R8, and RL variation. High correspondence was observed between a modifying variant SNP at position 04:39294836 in GmFulb and an association peak on Chr 4. Further studies using map-based cloning and fine mapping are necessary to elucidate the role of the candidates we identified for soybean maturity and adaptation to different latitudes and to be effectively used in the marker-assisted breeding of cultivars with optimal yield-related traits.
Preparation of pH-sensitive nanogels bioconjugated with shark antibodies (VNAR) for targeted drug delivery with potential applications in colon cancer therapies
Authors: Manzanares-Guevara Lizbeth A. , Gasperin-Bulbarela Jahaziel , Cabanillas-Bernal Olivia , Renteria-Maciel Monserrat , Licea-Claverie Angel , Méndez Eugenio R. , Licea-Navarro Alexei F.
Published: January 2024

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. To combat this disease, novel and specialized therapeutic systems are urgently needed. This is the first study to explore a system that combines shark variable domain (Fv) of new antigen receptor (VNAR) antibodies (hereinafter VNARs), PEGylated nanogels (pH-sensitive poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, PDEAEM), and the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to explore its potential applications in colon cancer therapies. Nanogels were functionalized in a scalable reaction with an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-terminated polyethylene glycol derivative and bioconjugated with shark antibodies. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicated the presence of monodispersed nanogels (74 to 236 nm). All systems maintained the pH-sensitive capacity to increase in size as pH decreased. This has direct implications for the release kinetics of 5-FU, which was released faster at pH 5 than at pH 7.4. After bioconjugation, the ELISA results indicated VNAR presence and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) recognition. In vitro evaluations of HCT-116 colon cancer cells indicated that functionalized empty nanogels are not cytotoxic and when loaded with 5-FU, the cytotoxic effect of the drug is preserved. A 15% reduction in cell viability was observed after two hours of contact with bioconjugated nanogels when compared to what was observed with non-bioconjugated nanogels. The prepared nanogel system shows potential as an effective and site-specific nanocarrier with promising applications in in vivo studies of colon cancer therapies.
Low credibility URL sharing on Twitter during reporting linking rare blood clots with the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Authors: Hobbs Ali , Aldosery Aisha , Kostkova Patty
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an “infodemic” of misinformation. Misleading narratives around the virus, its origin, and treatments have had serious implications for public health. In March 2021, concerns were raised about links between the Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine and recipients developing blood clots. This paper aims to identify whether this prompted any reaction in the diffusion of low-credibility COVID-19-relate information on Twitter. Twitter’s application programming interface was used to collect data containing COVID-19-related keywords between 4th and 25th March 2021, a period centred on the peak of new coverage linking rare blood clots with the AZ vaccine. We analysed and visualised the data using temporal analysis and social network analysis tools. We subsequently analysed the data to determine the most influential users and domains in the propagation of low-credibility information about COVID-19 and the AZ vaccine. This research presents evidence that the peak of news coverage linking rare blood clots with the AZ vaccine correlated with an increased volume and proportion of low-credibility AZ-related content propagated on Twitter. However, no equivalent changes to the volume, propagation, or network structure for the full dataset of COVID-19-related information or misinformation were observed. The research identified RT.com as the most prolific creator of low-credibility COVID-19-related content. It also highlighted the crucial role of self-promotion in the successful propagation of low-credibility content on Twitter. The findings suggest that the simple approach adopted within the research to identify the most popular and influential sources of low-credibility content presents a valuable opportunity for public health authorities and social media platforms to develop bespoke strategies to counter the propagation of misinformation in the aftermath of a breaking news event.
Sexual activity in a large representative cohort of Polish men: Frequency, number of partners, correlates, and quality of life
Authors: Przydacz Mikolaj , Chlosta Marcin , Chrobak Adrian Andrzej , Rajwa Pawel , Dudek Przemyslaw , Wiatr Tomasz , Gronostaj Katarzyna , Czech Anna Katarzyna , Miszczyk Marcin , Skalski Michal , Dudek Dominika , Chlosta Piotr
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Sexual activity of men has been evaluated at the population-level in different regions of the world. However, reliable data are lacking for Eastern Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of sexual activity and the number of sexual partners in a large representative cohort of Polish men.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional investigation with computer-assisted web interviews. Participants were stratified by age (≥18 years) and place of residence. The most recent population census was used to produce a population-representative sample of respondents. Men’s sexual activity was then correlated with multiple variables.

Results

We enrolled 3001 men, representative for age and place of residence, including adequate proportions of respondents from urban and rural areas. Most Polish men were sexually active, predominantly having had sex at least weekly with one partner. Almost 18% of respondents declined sexual intercourse and/or sexual partner in the prior year. The highest sexual activity was observed for men 35-44-years-old (for sex frequency) and 18-24-years-old (for partner number), living in medium-sized cities, employed, and married (for sex frequency) or divorced (for partner number). Erectile dysfunction negatively affected the frequency of sexual activity and lowered the number of sexual partners, although premature ejaculation did not have any effect. Frequency of sexual activity and number of sexual partners correlated well with psychological distress, quality of sex life, and overall life quality. Whereas lifestyle habits including smoking and alcohol intake decreased the likelihood of sexual activity, all analyzed comorbidities did not affect sex life.

Conclusions

This study of men’s sexual activity was the first population-representative and nationwide investigation performed in Poland. Most Polish men were sexually active and sexual activity correlated with multiple variables including sociodemographic factors, erectile functioning, mental distress, overall and sex-specific quality of life, and lifestyle habits.