bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Effects in Protecting Potatoes from Pests and Diseases for Some Potato Varieties (Solanum Tuberosum. L)
Authors: Kammas Nihad Aziz , Ahmed Al-Tamemi Omar A.
Published: August 2022

A field experiment was conducted to study some genetic methods of some potato cultivars and their resistance to snake worms in the agricultural season 2018-2019 in one of the distinguished farms in the eastern province of Diyala-Mandali. At the same time, these genotypes had good production capacity and resistance to environmental conditions, including structures (1 and 2), at a rate of 12% compared to other varieties, where they were less susceptible to pathological infection such as structures (5 and 6) and at an infection rate of 15%, the study also showed that The dense vegetation cover has an important role in the viral effect on the tubers and the accumulation of infection due to the presence of favorable conditions for infection, as shown in Table No. (3) that the rate of (6.4%) is free of dense infestation and that more than half of the structures were more susceptible to the accumulation of viral mites and various infections in varying proportions And the percentage of sluggishness was from (18.9 to 18.0), and this is a simple statistical discrepancy if compared to the two seasons, with an average reached for both seasons, respectively (19.1 to 17.2), in both seasons. Both pathological and resistant cases were the two cultivars (Fuji and Burin) more susceptible to viral infection than others.
Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents by GC-MS, HPLC and Biological Activity of Peganum Harmala L. Seeds Extract
Authors: Najm Mohammed R. , Sultan Fatimah I.
Published: August 2022

The chemical compounds known as the active compounds separated from the seeds of Peganum harmala are characterized by their antibacterial activity against Staphlococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Agrobicterum. rhizogenes a successive solvent system was used to obtain the petroleum ether and methanolic extract according to polarity.

The Peganum harmala seeds using Soxhleet continuous extraction device separated the fatty acids from the crude petroleum ether extract after soapification and diagnosed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS( The results showed the presence of Pentadecanoic acid, octadecadienoate, Octadecenoicacid, Hexadecanoiacid, Cyclobutanecarboxylic acid While the alkaloids were separated from the crude methanol extract and diagnosed by HPLC technology, the results indicated the presence of Harmine and Harmalol the above-mentioned compounds are considered to have a high inhibitory activity against the bacteria used under study using a pit susceptibility test compared to standard antibiotics.
Response of Wheat Cultivars Triticum Aestivum L. to Spraying with Amino Acid Solution Green (GREIT VG)
Authors: Joudah Yasir Al-Saidan Khudhair
Published: August 2022

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Fadhiliya region, 11 km south of Dhi Qar Governorate during the winter agricultural season 2021-2022, to find out the response of wheat cultivars to effect spraying with amino acid solution Green (GREIT VG) as (100% bio stimulant of plant origin containing amino acids at a concentration of 15-30) L.ha-1 (Italian origin, use minimum concentration). The experiment was carried out according to Split Plot Design and using the RCBD Design with three replications. The first factor included spray levels of amino acids (F) (spray in the Tillering stage ZGs21 (F1), spray in the elongation stage ZGs32 (F2), spray in the Boot stage ZGs49 (F3)) (in main plot), while the second factor included the wheat varieties (V)(Al-Rasheed (V1), Bora (V2), ) Abaa 99 (V3) (in sub plot). The results showed the level of amino acid spray (F1) is superior in most of the studied traits (Chlorophyll content 0.7878, flag leaf area 54.78 cm2, number of tillers 426.2 tiller.m-2, number of grains per spike 64.67 grain. spike-1, total grain yield 1.7429t.h-1). However, the level of amino acid spray (F2) is higher (plant height 113.67 cm, weight of 1000 grains 42,371g). Al-Rasheed cultivar (V1) excelled in (plant height 119.22 cm, chlorophyll content 0.7622, flag leaf area 59.96cm-2, number of grains per spike 66.67 grains, spike-1), while Bora cultivar (V2) excelled in the number of tillers 484.7 triller.m-2, the weight of 1000 grains 44.099 g, so the total grain yield is 1.6887 t.h-1. Interaction treatment (F1 V2) gave the highest mean of total grain yield of 1.8540 t.h-1.
Effect of the Nutritional Host on some Biological Manifestations of the Tobacco Leaf Worm Spodoptera litura fab (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae)
Authors: Ali Al-Hayali Esraa M. , Muhammad Al-Jalal Haitham M.
Published: August 2022

The study was carried out in the Entomology Laboratory to estimate the effect the nutritional host (chard, maize and cabbage) on some biological aspects of the tobacco leaf worm Spodoptera litura at temperature 27±2°C and relative humidity of 50±5%. The results of the study indicated that the role of the egg was affected by the type of food, as the highest average number of egg masses was (10.6) egg mass / female when the larvae fed on yellow corn, and the lowest average number of egg masses was (8.5) egg mass / female when fed on cabbage, while the highest average number of eggs in one mass was 163 eggs/mass when the larva was fed on chart, while the lowest average was 79 eggs/mass when fed on cabbae. The results also showed that the shortest incubation period and the highest hatching rate for eggs were recorded when feeding on the chard, reaching 2.6 days to 97.50%, respectively. The duration of the larval period varied according to the host, and the shortest period of the larval stag when feeding on chard was 21.8 days, and the longest was 33 days when fed on cabbage. The percentage of larvae turning into pupae reached its maximum when fed on chard, it amounted to 99%. The results of the study showed that the longest period of the pupa’s role was when feeding the larvae on cabbae, while the shortest period was when the larvae were fed on the chard, which amounted to 14 and 7.3 days, respectively. While the age of the adult was not significantly affected by the nutritional difference of the host.
Understanding the Causes of the Decline in the Iraqi Agricultural Sector’s Contribution to the GDP
Authors: Drebee Hayder Abbas , Abdul Razak Nor Azam , Shaybth Razzaq Thiab
Published: August 2022

The agricultural sector is one of the most important economic sectors in Iraq. It is ranked second after the crude oil sector in terms of its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, its contribution to the GDP declined from 26.93% in 1991 to 10.86% in 2004, 7.23% in 2010, and 4.77% in 2020. This decline can be attributed to many determinants of agricultural production that had a significant impact; therefore, this study aimed to investigate the determinants of agricultural production in Iraq during the period 2004:1- 2020:4 using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL). The study concluded that there is a short and long-run equilibrium relationship between the GDP and the cultivated area, corruption, inflation, agricultural investment, agricultural production requirements, the availability of water, and employment in agricultural, on the other hand. The results indicated the significant impact of these variables on agricultural GDP in the long run. The main variables contributing to the agricultural GDP are water availability, corruption, and employment in agricultural. The estimates of the short-run parameters would correspond in terms of signs and significance with the results of the long-run estimates, even if the parameters’ values varied in different proportions. It indicates that the Iraqi agricultural sector suffers from a lack of optimal use of agricultural resources. Therefore, decision-makers in Iraq must adopt an effective agricultural policy by setting plans for the optimal use of water and paying attention to the human element to be qualified to carry out employment in agricultural and attract investment in the agricultural sector to develop it. It is also necessary to put in place financial and economic policies that reduce the adverse effects of inflationary pressures in the short and long terms, combat rampant corruption in the country, and preserve agricultural lands and reclamation of unsuitable lands.
Hybrid extracellular vesicles-liposome incorporated advanced bioink to deliver microRNA
Authors: Elkhoury Kamil , Chen Mo , Koçak Polen , Enciso-Martínez Eduardo , Bassous Nicole Joy , Lee Myung Chul , Byambaa Batzaya , Rezaei Zahra , Li Yang , Ubina López María Elizabeth , Gurian Melvin , Sobahi Nebras , Hussain Mohammad Asif , Sanchez-Gonzalez Laura , Leijten Jeroen , Hassan Shabir , Arab-Tehrany Elmira , Ward Jennifer Ellis , Shin Su Ryon
Published: August 2022

In additive manufacturing, bioink formulations govern strategies to engineer 3D living tissues that mimic the complex architectures and functions of native tissues for successful tissue regeneration. Conventional 3D-printed tissues are limited in their ability to alter the fate of laden cells. Specifically, the efficient delivery of gene expression regulators (i.e. microRNAs (miRNAs)) to cells in bioprinted tissues has remained largely elusive. In this study, we explored the inclusion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), naturally occurring nanovesicles (NVs), into bioinks to resolve this challenge. EVs show excellent biocompatibility, rapid endocytosis, and low immunogenicity, which lead to the efficient delivery of miRNAs without measurable cytotoxicity. EVs were fused with liposomes to prolong and control their release by altering their physical interaction with the bioink. Hybrid EVs-liposome (hEL) NVs were embedded in gelatin-based hydrogels to create bioinks that could efficiently encapsulate and deliver miRNAs at the target site in a controlled and sustained manner. The regulation of cells’ gene expression in a 3D bioprinted matrix was achieved using the hELs-laden bioink as a precursor for excellent shape fidelity and high cell viability constructs. Novel regulatory factors-loaded bioinks will expedite the translation of new bioprinting applications in the tissue engineering field.
Nano TiC particles modulate wear resistance and impact toughness of 40Cr alloy steel gradient-reinforced layer fabricated by laser melting deposition
Authors: Wang Xi , Yang Weiguang , Zhou Ti , Zhou Hai , Liu He
Published: August 2022

Alloy steel components can be subjected to serious damage from a variety of conditions during the industrial production procedures, such as wear and fracture failure. Therefore, the preparation of gradient-reinforced layers on the surface of the alloy steel was considered an effective technique to improve the performance. Along these lines, a 40Cr alloy steel, which was commonly used in industry, was systematically investigated in this work. The nano TiC ceramic material was selected in the hard phase. In this work, continuous-wave laser was used to fabricate gradient reinforced layers, which provided a technical reference for the development of protective reinforcement layers for alloy steels with excellent mechanical properties. A dense structure was formed inside the nano TiC gradient reinforced layer, which has a lower friction coefficient (0.25) and wear loss weight (23 mg). The height of the surface material loss under a heavy load wear environment (187 μm) was lower than that of a bare 40Cr alloy steel sample (1116 μm). The impact energy of the nano TiC gradient reinforced layer (75.27 J cm−2) was higher than that of a bare 40Cr alloy steel sample (15.25 J cm−2). Both the wear behavior and impact toughness strengthening mechanism of the nano TiC gradient reinforced layer were revealed.
Ecological Momentary Assessment of Associations Between Social Interactions and Physical Activity Outcomes Among Women in Midlife With CVD Risk Conditions
Authors: Arigo Danielle , Brown Megan M , Shank Faith , Young Chelsie M
Published: August 2022

Background

Risk for cardiovascular disease is particularly high among women in midlife (ages 40–60). Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) can protect against risk during this time, and research is needed to understand contributors to PA motivation and behavior in daily life.

Purpose

This study used ecological momentary assessment to examine: (a) within-person associations between social interactions (both quantity and quality) and PA outcomes (motivation and behavior) among women in midlife, and (b) variability in within-person associations across days.

Methods

Women ages 40–60 with one or more cardiovascular disease risk conditions (e.g., hypertension; n = 75; MAge = 51.6 years, MBMI = 34.0 kg/m2) wore waistband accelerometers and completed five surveys per day for 10 days.

Results

Controlling for social interactions overall, at times when women reported a higher number of positive interactions, they reported higher PA motivation; this association was negative for both the number and valence of negative interactions. At times when women experienced a higher number of interactions overall, they engaged in fewer subsequent minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA, though reports of positive and negative interactions were not associated with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA behavior. Importantly, the direction of these within-person associations differed between days of observation (positive associations on ~50% of days and negative associations on ~50% of days).

Conclusions

Findings show that social interactions influence PA motivation and behavior among women in midlife but that these influences are inconsistent, suggesting the need for careful consideration of how to engage social interactions to promote PA in this group.
Long-Term Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations and Prevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: Differential Relationships by Socioeconomic Status Among Pregnant Individuals in New York City
Authors: Casey Joan A , Kioumourtzoglou Marianthi-Anna , Ogburn Elizabeth L , Melamed Alexander , Shaman Jeffrey , Kandula Sasikiran , Neophytou Andreas , Darwin Kristin C , Sheffield Jeanne S , Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia
Published: August 2022

We aimed to determine whether long-term ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5)) were associated with increased risk of testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among pregnant individuals who were universally screened at delivery and whether socioeconomic status (SES) modified this relationship. We used obstetrical data collected from New-York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, New York, between March and December 2020, including data on Medicaid use (a proxy for low SES) and COVID-19 test results. We linked estimated 2018–2019 PM2.5 concentrations (300-m resolution) with census-tract–level population density, household size, income, and mobility (as measured by mobile-device use) on the basis of residential address. Analyses included 3,318 individuals; 5% tested positive for COVID-19 at delivery, 8% tested positive during pregnancy, and 48% used Medicaid. Average long-term PM2.5 concentrations were 7.4 (standard deviation, 0.8) μg/m3. In adjusted multilevel logistic regression models, we saw no association between PM2.5 and ever testing positive for COVID-19; however, odds were elevated among those using Medicaid (per 1-μg/m3 increase, odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.0, 2.5). Further, while only 22% of those testing positive showed symptoms, 69% of symptomatic individuals used Medicaid. SES, including unmeasured occupational exposures or increased susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to concurrent social and environmental exposures, may explain the increased odds of testing positive for COVID-19 being confined to vulnerable pregnant individuals using Medicaid.
Recommendations for Using Causal Diagrams to Study Racial Health Disparities
Authors: Howe Chanelle J , Bailey Zinzi D , Raifman Julia R , Jackson John W
Published: August 2022

There have been calls for race to be denounced as a biological variable and for a greater focus on racism, instead of solely race, when studying racial health disparities in the United States. These calls are grounded in extensive scholarship and the rationale that race is not a biological variable, but instead socially constructed, and that structural/institutional racism is a root cause of race-related health disparities. However, there remains a lack of clear guidance for how best to incorporate these assertions about race and racism into tools, such as causal diagrams, that are commonly used by epidemiologists to study population health. We provide clear recommendations for using causal diagrams to study racial health disparities that were informed by these calls. These recommendations consider a health disparity to be a difference in a health outcome that is related to social, environmental, or economic disadvantage. We present simplified causal diagrams to illustrate how to implement our recommendations. These diagrams can be modified based on the health outcome and hypotheses, or for other group-based differences in health also rooted in disadvantage (e.g., gender). Implementing our recommendations may lead to the publication of more rigorous and informative studies of racial health disparities.
DTSyn: a dual-transformer-based neural network to predict synergistic drug combinations
Authors: Hu Jing , Gao Jie , Fang Xiaomin , Liu Zijing , Wang Fan , Huang Weili , Wu Hua , Zhao Guodong
Published: August 2022

Drug combination therapies are superior to monotherapy for cancer treatment in many ways. Identifying novel drug combinations by screening is challenging for the wet-lab experiments due to the time-consuming process of the enormous search space of possible drug pairs. Thus, computational methods have been developed to predict drug pairs with potential synergistic functions. Notwithstanding the success of current models, understanding the mechanism of drug synergy from a chemical–gene–tissue interaction perspective lacks study, hindering current algorithms from drug mechanism study. Here, we proposed a deep neural network model termed DTSyn (Dual Transformer encoder model for drug pair Synergy prediction) based on a multi-head attention mechanism to identify novel drug combinations. We designed a fine-granularity transformer encoder to capture chemical substructure–gene and gene–gene associations and a coarse-granularity transformer encoder to extract chemical–chemical and chemical–cell line interactions. DTSyn achieved the highest receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.73, 0.78. 0.82 and 0.81 on four different cross-validation tasks, outperforming all competing methods. Further, DTSyn achieved the best True Positive Rate (TPR) over five independent data sets. The ablation study showed that both transformer encoder blocks contributed to the performance of DTSyn. In addition, DTSyn can extract interactions among chemicals and cell lines, representing the potential mechanisms of drug action. By leveraging the attention mechanism and pretrained gene embeddings, DTSyn shows improved interpretability ability. Thus, we envision our model as a valuable tool to prioritize synergistic drug pairs with chemical and cell line gene expression profile.
Managing Vocational Work, Achieving and Sustaining Work Performance: Support and Self-management amongst Young Autistic Adults in the Context of Vocational Support Interventions in Sweden
Authors: Bertilsdotter Rosqvist Hanna , Hultman Lill , Hallqvist Johan
Published: August 2022

In this article, we explore experiences of support and self-management amongst young autistic adults in the context of vocational support interventions in Sweden. We analyse how young autistic men use different strategies to manage their vocational work and the support they need to maintain, achieve and sustain their work performance. Data consist of eleven interviews with 4 autistic young adult men in different work environments where vocational support interventions are implemented to different degrees. One finding concludes that the interviewees are affected by and try to adapt to neurotypical norms and expectations about working life and adulthood. Although individualised coping strategies can be helpful, it is important for employers and formal support persons to understand and acknowledge that individual emotional and problem-solving coping strategies are demanding and need to be combined with adaptations in the working environment. Another finding concludes how work managers act as gatekeeper in the vocational support system the young autistic men aspire to access and in which they need to manage their work performance. Thus, social workers must provide structured and well-coordinated formal work support by both involving the autistic clients’ employers, work managers and informal networks.
Omicron-associated changes in SARS-CoV-2 symptoms in the United Kingdom
Authors: Vihta1 Karina Doris , Pouwels Koen B , Peto1 Tim EA , Pritchard Emma , House Thomas , Studley Ruth , Rourke Emma , Cook Duncan , Diamond Ian , Crook1 Derrick , Clifton David A , Matthews Philippa C , Stoesser Nicole , Eyre David W , Walker Ann Sarah ,   the COVID-19 Infection Survey team
Published: August 2022

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has been replaced by the highly transmissible Omicron BA.1 variant, and subsequently by Omicron BA.2. It is important to understand how these changes in dominant variants affect reported symptoms, while also accounting for symptoms arising from other co-circulating respiratory viruses.

Methods

In a nationally representative UK community study, the COVID-19 Infection Survey, we investigated symptoms in PCR-positive infection episodes vs. PCR-negative study visits over calendar time, by age and vaccination status, comparing periods when the Delta, Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants were dominant.

Results

Between October-2020 and April-2022, 120,995 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive episodes occurred in 115,886 participants, with 70,683 (58%) reporting symptoms. The comparator comprised 4,766,366 PCR-negative study visits (483,894 participants); 203,422 (4%) reporting symptoms. Symptom reporting in PCR-positives varied over time, with a marked reduction in loss of taste/smell as Omicron BA.1 dominated, maintained with BA.2 (44%/45% 17 October 2021, 16%/13% 2 January 2022, 15%/12% 27 March 2022). Cough, fever, shortness of breath, myalgia, fatigue/weakness and headache also decreased after Omicron BA.1 dominated, but sore throat increased, the latter to a greater degree than concurrent increases in PCR-negatives. Fatigue/weakness increased again after BA.2 dominated, although to a similar degree to concurrent increases in PCR-negatives. Symptoms were consistently more common in adults aged 18-65 years than in children or older adults.

Conclusions

Increases in sore throat (also common in the general community), and a marked reduction in loss of taste/smell, make Omicron harder to detect with symptom-based testing algorithms, with implications for institutional and national testing policies.
Association of Antibody Immunity With Cryptococcal Antigenemia and Mortality in a South African Cohort With Advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease
Authors: Yoon Hyunah , Wake Rachel M , Nakouzi Antonio S , Wang Tao , Agalliu Ilir , Tiemessen Caroline T , Govender Nelesh P , Jarvis Joseph N , Harrison Thomas S , Pirofski Liise-anne
Published: August 2022

Background

Asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia (positive blood cryptococcal antigen [CrAg]) is associated with increased mortality in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) even after adjusting for CD4 count and despite receiving antifungal treatment. The association of antibody immunity with mortality in adults with HIV with cryptococcal antigenemia is unknown.

Methods

Cryptococcal capsular glucuronoxylomannan (GXM)- and naturally occurring β-glucans (laminarin, curdlan)-binding antibodies were measured in blood samples of 197 South Africans with HIV who underwent CrAg screening and were followed up to 6 months. Associations between antibody titers, CrAg status, and all-cause mortality were sought using logistic and Cox regression, respectively.

Results

Compared with CrAg-negative individuals (n = 130), CrAg-positive individuals (n = 67) had significantly higher IgG1 (median, 6672; interquartile range [IQR], 4696–10 414 vs 5343, 3808–7722 μg/mL; P = .007), IgG2 (1467, 813–2607 vs 1036, 519–2012 μg/mL; P = .01), and GXM-IgG (1:170, 61–412 vs 1:117, 47–176; P = .0009) and lower curdlan-IgG (1:47, 11–133 vs 1:93, 40–206; P = .01) titers. GXM-IgG was associated directly with cryptococcal antigenemia adjusted for CD4 count and antiretroviral therapy use (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 to 2.22). Among CrAg-positive individuals, GXM-IgG was inversely associated with mortality at 6 months adjusted for CD4 count and tuberculosis (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, .33 to .77).

Conclusions

The inverse association of GXM-IgG with mortality in CrAg-positive individuals suggests that GXM-IgG titer may have prognostic value in those individuals. Prospective longitudinal studies to investigate this hypothesis and identify mechanisms by which antibody may protect against mortality are warranted.
Machine learning models for predicting acute kidney injury: a systematic review and critical appraisal
Authors: Vagliano Iacopo , Chesnaye Nicholas C , Leopold Jan Hendrik , Jager Kitty J , Abu-Hanna Ameen , Schut Martijn C
Published: August 2022

Background

The number of studies applying machine learning (ML) to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) has grown steadily over the past decade. We assess and critically appraise the state of the art in ML models for AKI prediction, considering performance, methodological soundness, and applicability.

Methods

We searched PubMed and ArXiv, extracted data, and critically appraised studies based on the Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD), Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS), and Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) guidelines.

Results

Forty-six studies from 3166 titles were included. Thirty-eight studies developed a model, five developed and externally validated one, and three studies externally validated one. Flexible ML methods were used more often than deep learning, although the latter was common with temporal variables and text as predictors. Predictive performance showed an area under receiver operating curves ranging from 0.49 to 0.99. Our critical appraisal identified a high risk of bias in 39 studies. Some studies lacked internal validation, whereas external validation and interpretability of results were rarely considered. Fifteen studies focused on AKI prediction in the intensive care setting, and the US-derived Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) data set was commonly used. Reproducibility was limited as data and code were usually unavailable.

Conclusions

Flexible ML methods are popular for the prediction of AKI, although more complex models based on deep learning are emerging. Our critical appraisal identified a high risk of bias in most models: Studies should use calibration measures and external validation more often, improve model interpretability, and share data and code to improve reproducibility.
ImposeSVD: Incrementing PureSVD For Top-N Recommendations for Cold-Start Problems and Sparse Datasets
Authors: Yilmazer Hakan , Özel Selma Ayşe
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we introduced two novel collaborative filtering techniques for recommendation systems in cases of various cold-start situations and incomplete datasets. The first model establishes an asymmetric weight matrix between items without using item meta-data and eradicates the disadvantages of neighborhood approaches by automatic determination of threshold values. Our first model, z-scoREC, is also regarded as a pure deep-learning model because it performs like a vanilla auto-encoder in transforming column vectors with z-score normalization similar to batch normalization. With the second model, ImposeSVD, we aimed to enhance the shortcomings of the PureSVD in cases of cold-start and incomplete data by preserving its straightforward implementation and non-parametric form. The ImposeSVD model relies on the z-scoREC, produces synthetic new predictions for the users by decomposing the latent factors from the imposed matrix. We evaluated our method on the well-known datasets and found out that our method was outperforming similar approaches in the specific scenarios including recommendations for cold-start users, strength in cold-start systems, and diversification of long-tail item recommendations in lists. Our z-scoREC model also outperformed familiar neighbor-based approaches when operated as a recommender system and gave a closer appearance to the decomposition methods despite its simple and rigid cost framework.
Effectiveness of supervised exercise, home-based exercise, or walk advice strategies on walking performance and muscle endurance in patients with intermittent claudication (SUNFIT trial): a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sandberg Anna , Bäck Maria , Cider Åsa , Jivegård Lennart , Sigvant Birgitta , Wittboldt Susanna , Nordanstig Joakim
Published: August 2022

Aims

Supervised exercise is a guideline-recommended treatment in intermittent claudication (IC). Hospital-based supervised exercise programmes (SEPs) are underutilized, while home-based structured exercise programmes (HSEPs) have attracted interest. The results from HSEP in IC are inconsistent and may confer no benefit over walk advice (WA) and be less effective than SEP. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of best medical treatment, including Nordic pole WA alone, or WA + SEP or WA + HSEP for patients with IC.

Methods and results

This three-armed, multicentre randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with IC; all patients received best medical treatment including walking poles and the advice of regular Nordic pole walking (WA). For HSEP and SEP, additional exercise programmes were provided. The primarily investigated hypothesis was a non-inferiority analysis of SEP vs. HSEP regarding the 6-min walk test (6MWT) maximum distance, with a pre-defined non-inferiority margin of 50 m. Supporting outcomes included muscle endurance tests and the walking impairment questionnaire. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months by a blinded evaluator. Altogether 166 patients (mean age 72 years; 59% males) were randomized. In HSEP and SEP, 24 and 26% patients, respectively, were fully exercise adherent. All three groups improved pain-free walking distance over time, but there were no significant intergroup differences. The intergroup 6MWT difference between SEP and HSEP from 0 to 12 months was –11.6 m, 95% confidence interval: –36.4 to 13.0 m (i.e. within the pre-specified non-inferiority margin).

Conclusion

The HSEP was non-inferior to SEP in patients with IC. There were no significant differences observed between the three groups at 1 year.

Registration

ClinicialTrials.gov: NCT02341716.
Selective disruption of Drp1-independent mitophagy and mitolysosome trafficking by an Alzheimer’s disease relevant tau modification in a novelCaenorhabditis elegansmodel
Authors: Guha Sanjib , Cheng Anson , Carroll Trae , King Dennisha , Koren Shon A , Swords Sierra , Nehrke Keith , Johnson Gail V W
Published: August 2022

Accumulation of inappropriately phosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles is a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease, with Tau pT231 being an early harbinger of tau pathology. Previously, we demonstrated that expressing a single genomic copy of human phosphomimetic mutant tau (T231E) in Caenorhabditis elegans drove age-dependent neurodegeneration. A critical finding was that T231E, unlike wild-type tau, completely and selectively suppressed oxidative stress-induced mitophagy. Here, we used dynamic imaging approaches to analyze T231E-associated changes in mitochondria and mitolysosome morphology, abundance, trafficking, and stress-induced mitophagy as a function of mitochondrial fission mediator dynamin-related protein 1, which has been demonstrated to interact with hyper phosphorylated tau and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis, as well as Pink1, a well-recognized mediator of mitochondrial quality control that works together with Parkin to support stress-induced mitophagy. T231E impacted both mitophagy and mitolysosome neurite trafficking with exquisite selectivity, sparing macroautophagy as well as lysosome and autolysosome trafficking. Both oxidative-stress-induced mitophagy and the ability of T231E to suppress it were independent of drp-1, but at least partially dependent on pink-1. Organelle trafficking was more complicated, with drp-1 and pink-1 mutants exerting independent effects, but generally supported the idea that the mitophagy phenotype is of greater physiologic impact in T231E. Collectively, our results refine the mechanistic pathway through which T231E causes neurodegeneration, demonstrating pathologic selectivity for mutations that mimic tauopathy-associated post-translational modifications, physiologic selectivity for organelles that contain damaged mitochondria, and molecular selectivity for dynamin-related protein 1-independent, Pink1-dependent, perhaps adaptive, and mitophagy.
Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Epigenetic Age, and Spatial Memory Performance in Young and Old Rats
Authors: Chiavellini Priscila , Lehmann Marianne , Canatelli Mallat Martina , Zoller Joseph A , Herenu Claudia B , Morel Gustavo R , Horvath Steve , Goya Rodolfo G
Published: August 2022

In humans and rats, aging is associated with a progressive deterioration of spatial learning and memory. These functional alterations are correlated with morphological and molecular changes in the hippocampus. Here, we assessed age-related changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) landscape in the rat hippocampus and the correlation of spatial memory with hippocampal DNAm age in 2.6- and 26.6-month-old rats. Spatial memory performance was assessed with the Barnes maze test. To evaluate learning ability and spatial memory retention, we assessed the time spent by animals in goal sector 1 (GS1) and 3 (GS3) when the escape box was removed. The rat pan-tissue clock was applied to DNAm data from hippocampal tissue. An enrichment pathway analysis revealed that neuron fate commitment, brain development, and central nervous system development were processes whose underlying genes were enriched in hypermethylated CpGs in the old rats. In the old rat hippocampi, the methylation levels of CpG proximal to transcription factors associated with genes Pax5, Lbx1, Nr2f2, Hnf1b, Zic1, Zic4, Hoxd9; Hoxd10, Gli3, Gsx1 and Lmx1b, and Nipbl showed a significant regression with spatial memory performance. Regression analysis of different memory performance indices with hippocampal DNAm age was significant. These results suggest that age-related hypermethylation of transcription factors related to certain gene families, such as Zic and Gli, may play a causal role in the decline in spatial memory in old rats. Hippocampal DNAm age seems to be a reliable index of spatial memory performance in young and old rats.
Bacterial DNAemia in Older Participants and Nonagenarian Offspring and Association With Redox Biomarkers: Results From MARK-AGE Study
Authors: Giacconi Robertina , D’Aquila Patrizia , Malavolta Marco , Piacenza Francesco , Bürkle Alexander , Villanueva María Moreno , Dollé Martijn E T , Jansen Eugène , Grune Tilman , Gonos Efstathios S , Franceschi Claudio , Capri Miriam , Gradinaru Daniela , Grubeck-Loebenstein Beatrix , Sikora Ewa , Stuetz Wolfgang , Weber Daniela , Toussaint Olivier , Debacq-Chainiaux Florence , Hervonen Antti , Hurme Mikko , Slagboom P Eline , Schön Christiane , Bernhardt Jürgen , Breusing Nicolle , Duncan Talbot , Passarino Giuseppe , Bellizzi Dina , Provinciali Mauro
Published: August 2022

Aging and age-related diseases have been linked to microbial dysbiosis with changes in blood bacterial DNA concentration. This condition may promote chronic low-grade inflammation, which can be further aggravated by antioxidant nutrient deficiency. Low plasma carotenoids are associated with an increased risk of inflammation and cellular damage and predict mortality. However, no evidence is yet available on the relationship between antioxidants and the blood bacterial DNA (BB-DNA). Therefore, this study aimed to compare BB-DNA from (a) GO (nonagenarian offspring), (b) age-matched controls (Randomly recruited Age-Stratified Individuals from the General population [RASIG]), and (c) spouses of GO (SGO) recruited in the MARK-AGE project, as well as to investigate the association between BB-DNA, behavior habits, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), leucocyte subsets, and the circulating levels of some antioxidants and oxidative stress markers. BB-DNA was higher in RASIG than GO and SGO, whereas GO and SGO participants showed similar values. BB-DNA increased in smokers and males with CCI ≥ 2 compared with those with CCI ≤ 1 within RASIG. Moreover, BB-DNA was positively associated with lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte counts, but not with self-reported dietary habits. Higher quartiles of BB-DNA were associated with low lutein and zeaxanthin and elevated malondialdehyde plasma concentrations in RASIG. BB-DNA was also positively correlated with nitric oxide levels. Herein, we provide evidence of a reduced BB-DNA in individuals from long-living families and their spouses, suggesting a decreased microbial dysbiosis and bacterial systemic translocation. BB-DNA was also associated with smoking, CCI, leukocyte subsets, and some redox biomarkers in older participants.
Comparative Effectiveness of Ustekinumab and Anti-TNF Agent as First-Line Biological Therapy in Luminal Crohn’s Disease: A Retrospective Study From 2 Referral Centers
Authors: Rivière Pauline , Kanters Caitlyn , Pellet Gauthier , Ni Alexander , Hupé Marianne , Aboulhamid Nesrine , Poullenot Florian , Bitton Alain , Zerbib Frank , Lakatos Peter L , Afif Waqqas , Laharie David , Bessissow Talat
Published: August 2022

Background

Real-life data on the efficacy of ustekinumab as first-line therapy for the treatment of luminal Crohn’s disease (CD) compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are lacking. We compared the clinical response rates at 3 months in 2 cohorts of biologic-naïve patients treated by ustekinumab and anti-TNF agents.

Methods

Biologic-naïve patients starting either ustekinumab or an anti-TNF agent for luminal CD between 2016 and 2019 in 2 tertiary centers were retrospectively included. The primary endpoint was clinical response at 3 months, defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw Index <4 or a 3-point drop in the score without steroids, need for CD-related surgery, or treatment discontinuation owing to failure or intolerance. Patients treated with ustekinumab were matched to patients receiving anti-TNF agents by a propensity score algorithm.

Results

We included 156 patients starting anti-TNF agents (95 adalimumab and 61 infliximab) and 50 ustekinumab. After matching, clinical response rates at 3 months were 64% and 86% in the ustekinumab and anti-TNF groups, respectively (P = .01). At 12 months, in multivariate analysis adjusted for disease duration, location, concomitant immunosuppressant and steroids, and symptoms, clinical remission was independently associated with the biological therapy received (odds ratio, 2.6 for anti-TNF agent vs ustekinumab; P = .02). With a median follow-up duration of 40 (interquartile range, 23-52) months, no difference was observed in terms of time to drug withdrawal (P = .29) or safety.

Conclusions

This retrospective real-world data suggest that an anti-TNF agent as a first-line biological therapy is associated with higher rates of response at 3 months than ustekinumab in patients with CD.
Overlapping Schwarz methods with GenEO coarse spaces for indefinite and nonself-adjoint problems
Authors: Bootland Niall , Dolean Victorita , Graham Ivan G , Ma Chupeng , Scheichl Robert
Published: August 2022

Generalized eigenvalue problems on the overlap(GenEO) is a method for computing an operator-dependent spectral coarse space to be combined with local solves on subdomains to form a robust parallel domain decomposition preconditioner for elliptic PDEs. It has previously been proved, in the self-adjoint and positive-definite case, that this method, when used as a preconditioner for conjugate gradients, yields iteration numbers that are completely independent of the heterogeneity of the coefficient field of the partial differential operator. We extend this theory to the case of convection–diffusion–reaction problems, which may be nonself-adjoint and indefinite, and whose discretizations are solved with preconditioned GMRES. The GenEO coarse space is defined here using a generalized eigenvalue problem based on a self-adjoint and positive-definite subproblem. We prove estimates on GMRES iteration counts that are independent of the variation of the coefficient of the diffusion term in the operator and depend only very mildly on variations of the other coefficients. These are proved under the assumption that the subdomain diameter is sufficiently small and the eigenvalue tolerance for building the coarse space is sufficiently large. While the iteration number estimates do grow as the nonself-adjointness and indefiniteness of the operator increases, practical tests indicate the deterioration is much milder. Thus, we obtain an iterative solver that is efficient in parallel and very effective for a wide range of convection–diffusion–reaction problems.
The International Criminal Court as a Law Laboratory
Authors: Christensen Mikkel Jarle , Orina Nabil M
Published: August 2022

This article investigates the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a law laboratory. Inspired by perspectives from the sociology of law, the article analyses how professional agents battled for control over the general direction and specific legal terminology of the Court, especially in its early life. Working also to distance the Court from what was perceived as excessive judicial creativity of the ad hoc international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, these agents created the conditions for a distinct laboratory of law in which new legal concepts and doctrines could be created. The article analyses in particular one new doctrine, the control theory based on Article 25(3) of the ICC Statute, as emblematic of battles to define the direction of the ICC as a law laboratory.
Mediators of Racial Disparities in Heart Dose Among Whole Breast Radiotherapy Patients
Authors: Chapman Christina Hunter , Jagsi Reshma , Griffith Kent A , Moran Jean M , Vicini Frank , Walker Eleanor , Dominello Michael , Abu-Isa Eyad , Hayman James , Laucis Anna M , Mietzel Melissa , Pierce Lori
Published: August 2022

Background

Racial disparities in survival of patients with cancer motivate research to quantify treatment disparities and evaluate multilevel determinants. Previous research has not evaluated cardiac radiation dose in large cohorts of breast cancer patients by race nor examined potential causes or implications of dose disparities.

Methods

We used a statewide consortium database to consecutively sample 8750 women who received whole breast radiotherapy between 2012 and 2018. We generated laterality- and fractionation-specific models of mean heart dose. We generated patient- and facility-level models to estimate race-specific cardiac doses. We incorporated our data into models to estimate disparities in ischemic cardiac event development and death. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

Black and Asian race independently predicted higher mean heart dose for most laterality-fractionation groups, with disparities of up to 0.42 Gy for Black women and 0.32 Gy for Asian women (left-sided disease and conventional fractionation: 2.13 Gy for Black women vs 1.71 Gy for White women, P < .001, 2-sided; left-sided disease and accelerated fractionation: 1.59 Gy for Asian women vs 1.27 Gy for White women, P = .002). Patient clustering within facilities explained 22%-30% of the variability in heart dose. The cardiac dose disparities translated to estimated excesses of up to 2.6 cardiac events and 1.3 deaths per 1000 Black women and 0.7 cardiac events and 0.3 deaths per 1000 Asian women vs White women.

Conclusions

Depending on laterality and fractionation, Asian women and Black women experience higher cardiac doses than White women. This may translate into excess radiation-associated ischemic cardiac events and deaths. Solutions include addressing inequities in baseline cardiac risk factors and facility-level availability and use of radiation technologies.
Searching for stellar flares from low-mass stars using ASKAP and TESS
Authors: Rigney Jeremy , Ramsay Gavin , Carley Eoin P , Doyle J Gerry , Gallagher Peter T , Wang Yuanming , Pritchard Joshua , Murphy Tara , Lenc Emil , Kaplan David L
Published: August 2022

Solar radio emission at low frequencies (<1 GHz) can provide valuable information on processes driving flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Radio emission has been detected from active M dwarf stars, suggestive of much higher levels of activity than previously thought. Observations of active M dwarfs at low frequencies can provide information on the emission mechanism for high energy flares and possible stellar CMEs. Here, we conducted two observations with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder Telescope totalling 26 h and scheduled to overlap with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Sector 36 field, utilizing the wide fields of view of both telescopes to search for multiple M dwarfs. We detected variable radio emission in Stokes I centred at 888 MHz from four known active M dwarfs. Two of these sources were also detected with Stokes V circular polarization. When examining the detected radio emission characteristics, we were not able to distinguish between the models for either electron cyclotron maser or gyrosynchrotron emission. These detections add to the growing number of M dwarfs observed with variable low-frequency emission.
Double-lens scintillometry: the variable scintillation of pulsar B1508 + 55
Authors: Sprenger Tim , Main Robert , Wucknitz Olaf , Mall Geetam , Wu Jason
Published: August 2022

We report on observations of PSR B1508 + 55’s scintillation at the Effelsberg 100-m telescope spanning from early 2020 to early 2022. In the autumn of 2020, close to the time the pulsar was predicted to cross echoes in its pulse profile, a sudden transition in the scintillation arcs from peculiar stripe-like features to parabolic arclets was observed. To infer a geometric model of the scattering, we measure the effects of the annual velocity curve of Earth, of the relative movement of the line of sight, and of the projection of points on a second scattering screen and develop novel methods to do so. The latter phenomenon was discovered by this study and strongly indicates a two-screen scattering geometry. We derive an analytical two-screen model and demonstrate in a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis as well as simulations that it can be successfully applied to explain the observations by interpreting the transition as a change of relative amplitudes of images as well as a shift in the orientation of anisotropy. The collection of methods, we demonstrate here is transferable to other pulsars with the potential to strongly improve constraints on scattering models.