bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal and meteorological relationships in dengue transmission in the Dominican Republic, 2015–2019
Authors: Robert Michael A. , Rodrigues Helena Sofia , Herrera Demian , de Mata Donado Campos Juan , Morilla Fernando , Del Águila Mejía Javier , Guardado María Elena , Skewes Ronald , Colomé-Hidalgo Manuel
Published: June 2023

Dengue has broadened its global distribution substantially in the past two decades, and many endemic areas are experiencing increases in incidence. The Dominican Republic recently experienced its two largest outbreaks to date with 16,836 reported cases in 2015 and 20,123 reported cases in 2019. With continued increases in dengue transmission, developing tools to better prepare healthcare systems and mosquito control agencies is of critical importance. Before such tools can be developed, however, we must first better understand potential drivers of dengue transmission. To that end, we focus in this paper on determining relationships between climate variables and dengue transmission with an emphasis on eight provinces and the capital city of the Dominican Republic in the period 2015–2019. We present summary statistics for dengue cases, temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity in this period, and we conduct an analysis of correlated lags between climate variables and dengue cases as well as correlated lags among dengue cases in each of the nine locations. We find that the southwestern province of Barahona had the largest dengue incidence in both 2015 and 2019. Among all climate variables considered, lags between relative humidity variables and dengue cases were the most frequently correlated. We found that most locations had significant correlations with cases in other locations at lags of zero weeks. These results can be used to improve predictive models of dengue transmission in the country.
Analysis and prediction of pipeline corrosion defects based on data analytics of in-line inspection
Authors: Cui Bingyan , Wang Hao
Published: June 2023

In-line inspection (ILI) is important to pipeline integrity management since it can detect pipeline defects and identify potential failure locations through periodical examinations. However, effectively evaluating defects based on ILI data is challenging. Measurements of ILI are easily influenced by instrument performance and maintenance activities, leading to unmatched and imbalanced data. Poor ILI data make it difficult to establish defect growth models based on multiple inspections. This study conducted comprehensive analysis of ILI data for evaluating corrosion defects of a steel pipeline. First, statistical analysis was performed on raw data to visualize distributions of corrosion depths and number of corrosions. Second, hierarchical clustering method was used to classify corrosion severity levels based on features of corrosion depth and estimated repair factor. The interaction effect between adjacent corrosions was considered. Machine learning methods, including k-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, random forest, and light gradient boosting machine were used to explore the relationship between the location parameters of adjacent corrosions and severity levels. Then, maximum corrosion depths and corrosion density were filtered from raw ILI data of multiple inspections, which were critical for pipeline failure prediction. Finally, distribution parameters were fitted to establish stochastic growth models on maximum corrosion depth and corrosion number density. This study presents data analytics based approach to obtain valid information from ILI data in practice.
A feasibility study on time-lapse transient electromagnetics for monitoring groundwater dynamics
Authors: Zamora-Luria Juan Carlos , McLachlan Paul , Maurya Pradip Kumar , Liu Lichao , Grombacher Denys , Christiansen Anders Vest
Published: June 2023

Time-lapse geophysical studies have been used as noninvasive tools to study subsurface processes. However, compared to direct current resistivity methods, the transient electromagnetic (TEM) method has not been explored in much detail for time-lapse investigations. Here, we introduce the use of a monitoring TEM (mTEM) system and methodology for long-term groundwater monitoring purposes. The system can run measurements automatically and the modeling approach uses a time-constrained inversion (TCI) scheme based on an existing laterally constrained inversion scheme. Instead of lateral constraints that traditionally ensure lateral coherency between measurements, temporal constraints are used to control the temporal coherency between measurements. Synthetic analysis demonstrates that very tight time constraints on resistivities and a time constraint on the depth to the water table fixed at a fraction of the expected annual water table variation is needed to track water table changes at the decimeter level. Furthermore, the synthetic analysis indicates that the mTEM method can track annual variations in the water table with amplitudes as low as 0.6 m with a mean absolute error of 0.2 at depths between 16 m and 30 m. A field example consisting of 233 1D TEM measurements acquired over 10 months using the mTEM instrument supports the synthetic results. The estimated water table depth from the TCI scheme reproduces the variation in the water table accurately, as confirmed by measurements from a water level data logger in a nearby well. The differences between the results from the TEM monitoring system and the diver measurements are in the range of ±0.1 m with an average absolute difference of 0.05 m. This study demonstrates the potential to monitor changes in the groundwater level noninvasively.
Racial Disparities in the Ascertainment of Cancer Recurrence in Electronic Health Records
Authors: Khor Sara , Heagerty Patrick J. , Basu Anirban , Haupt Eric C. , Lyons Lindsay Joe L. , Hahn Erin E. , Bansal Aasthaa
Published: June 2023

PURPOSE

There is growing interest in using computable phenotypes or proxies to identify important clinical outcomes, such as cancer recurrence, in rich electronic health records data. However, the race/ethnicity-specific accuracies of these proxies remain unclear. We examined whether the accuracy of a proxy for colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence differed by race/ethnicity and the possible mechanisms that drove the differences.

METHODS

Using data from a large integrated health care system, we identified a stratified random sample of 282 Black/African American (AA), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients with CRC who received primary treatment. Patient 5-year recurrence status was estimated using a utilization-based proxy and evaluated against the true recurrence status obtained using detailed chart review and by race/ethnicity. We used covariate-adjusted probit regression models to estimate the associations between race/ethnicity and misclassification.

RESULTS

The recurrence proxy had excellent overall accuracy (positive predictive value [PPV] 89.4%; negative predictive value 96.5%; mean difference in timing 1.96 months); however, accuracy varied by race/ethnicity. Compared with NHW patients, PPV was 14.9% lower (95% CI, 2.53 to 28.6) among Hispanic patients and 4.3% lower (95% CI, −4.8 to 14.8) among Black/AA patients. The proxy disproportionately inflated the 5-year recurrence incidence for Hispanic patients by 10.6% (95% CI, 4.2 to 18.2). Compared with NHW patients, proxy recurrences for Hispanic patients were almost three times as likely to have been misclassified as positive (adjusted risk ratio 2.91 [95% CI, 1.21 to 8.31]). Higher false positives among racial/ethnic minorities may be related to higher prevalence of noncancerous lung-related problems and substantial delays in primary treatment because of insufficient patient-provider communication and abnormal treatment patterns.

CONCLUSION

Using a proxy with worse accuracy among racial/ethnic minority patients to estimate population health may misdirect resources and support erroneous conclusions around treatment benefit for these patients.
Rekindling Joy in Medicine Through Thoughtful Communication: A Practical Guide
Authors: Sanft Tara , Winer Eric
Published: June 2023

Joy in medicine, or the loss of it, is a popular topic of conversation, even more so since the pandemic. Burnout in oncology is common and diminishes the satisfaction of practicing medicine. One of the challenges clinicians face is the way in which modern clinical practice takes us away from what we find most meaningful in our work: time with patients. Strategies like being kind, expressing gratitude, and using effective communication skills can establish more connection with our colleagues and our patients, and, in turn, result in a more joyful work environment. Creating space for more moments of feeling deep interconnectedness with patients and colleagues can rekindle feelings of joy in oncology practice. This article reviews the concepts of joy in medicine, the term sacred moments, and outlines practical strategies and communication skills that are effective in enhancing the patient-provider relationship.
Isotropic Ge3Sb2Te6 metasurfaces for mid-infrared wavefront steering
Authors: Zhang Yuyang , Li Changqing , Song Zhengyong
Published: June 2023

Due to unprecedented electromagnetic properties, germanium antimony telluride (GST) plays a crucial role in the field of electromagnetic wavefront control. With the purpose of mid-infrared wavefront reconfiguration, eight

meta-atoms are proposed. Meta-atoms appear in different phase states as

state is switched. As crystalline

is involved, eight meta-atoms reach full phase coverage with phase gradient of 45°. As

is switched to amorphous state, phase difference between adjacent meta-atoms no longer varies uniformly by 45°, thus losing original properties. Based on eight meta-atoms, four metasurfaces are presented to verify characteristics, which are two metalenses and two orbital angular momentum (OAM) generators. As crystalline

is switched to amorphous

, dynamical manipulation between focusing and defocusing is realized. Besides, OAM mode of vortex beam is reconstructed from

or 2 to

. Our designs could find potential applications in focusing, switching, and encryption.
Other Radicals
Authors: Modest Wayne , Legêne Susan
Published: June 2023

This essay is an introduction to a special section that focuses on the life and work of Anton de Kom, and especially on his seminal 1934 Wij slaven van Suriname. It forms part of a larger project that explores how a Caribbean intellectual tradition can be thought differently if greater attention is paid to the Dutch Caribbean. The essays included in the section demonstrate the shifting role that De Kom and his book have played—from the 1930s and the anxieties they created for the colonial state; to their international impact on other revolutionary movements, such as in Cuba; to their current mobilization by numerous young people of Surinamese descent in the Netherlands as part of an antiracist activism and politics of belonging. Almost ninety years after Wij slaven was first published, it has become a bestseller and De Kom has been named to the Dutch national historical canon. As more than political activism, the guest editors examine Anton de Kom in this Small Axe platform for Caribbean thought with the hope that these essays will stimulate even more scholarship on De Kom’s life and work and on the Dutch Caribbean more broadly, beyond the borders of the Dutch-speaking context.
Muon Spin Rotation (μSR) for Characterizing Radical Addition to C=S in Xanthene-9-thione and Thioxanthene-9-thione
Authors: Ito Shigekazu , Akama Hikaru , Kojima Kenji M , McKenzie Iain , Kuwahata Kazuaki , Tachikawa Masanori
Published: June 2023

Muonium (μ+e−) can be produced by capture of an electron by a spin-polarized muon (μ+) and has been utilized as a light isotope of hydrogen. In this paper, we demonstrate muon spin rotation (μSR) experiments and preliminary computational analyses of the regioselective muonium addition to xanthene-9-thione and thioxanthene-9-thione providing the C-centered radicals. The transverse-field muon spin rotation (TF-μSR) experiments of the cyclic thioketones revealed considerable increase of muon hyperfine coupling constants (muon hfc, Aμ) compared with the muoniated thiobenzophenone, indicating crucial roles of the bridging chalcogen atom promoting the overlap between the S–Mu bond orbital and the radical p orbital.
Acute radiation syndrome
Authors: Zuziak Patrycja , Bielaska Agnieszka
Published: June 2023

Over the last decades, along with progress and development of using ionizing radiation, including the fields of power engineering or nuclear weapons, it was possible to observe and describe negative effects of the radiation on human body. The phenomenon referred to as acute radiation syndrome describes the effects of radiation on living cells, depending on exposure time and absorbed dose, which affects the functioning of  entire organism after the exposure. The following work describes how ionizing radiation causes changes at the cellular and tissue level, both directly and indirectly, taking into account the variables affecting final effects of exposure. Consecutive phases of acute radiation syndrome were distinguished, and the focus was also on individual groups of disorders resulting from exposure, which may overlap and coexist, i.e. hematopoietic syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome and neurovascular syndrome, as well as developing multi-organ failure in some of the cases, leading to the patient's death. Exposure to ionizing radiation can result in diversified, variably intensified and spread over time symptoms from many organ systems. Depending on the characteristics of the exposure, its effects will differ, and thus the prognosis for the patient.
Digesting FOREXS: Information Transmission Across Asset Classes and Return Predictability
Authors: Bae Joon Woo , Da Zhi , Zurita Virgilio
Published: June 2023

We provide novel evidence that equity investors react to currency shocks with a delay. Using the cross-section of currency returns and the relative presence of U.S. firms in foreign economies, we compute a foreign operations-related exchange shock (FOREXS) measure. We find FOREXS to predict firms’ future cash flows and stock returns, driving much of the previously documented underreaction to foreign information. An FOREXS-based long-short strategy yields a 6.74% annualized abnormal return. FOREXS predictive power comes from firms’ incomplete hedging and investors’ limited attention, highlighting the challenges involved when processing information from a different asset class.

This paper was accepted by David Sraer, finance.

Funding: Z. Da acknowledges financial support from the Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program [Grant BJJWZYJH01201910034034] and the 111 Project [Grant B20094].

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4778 .
Formation and Routing of Worker Teams for Airport Ground Handling Operations: A Branch-and-Price-and-Check Approach
Authors: Dall’Olio Giacomo , Kolisch Rainer
Published: June 2023

We address workforce optimization for ground handling operations at the airport, focusing on baggage loading and unloading. Teams of skilled workers have to be formed and routed across the apron to unload the baggage from the aircraft after a landing and to load it before takeoff. Such tasks must be performed within time windows and require a team of workers with different skill levels. The goal is to find a feasible plan that minimizes the sum of the tasks completion times. We formalize a variation of the workforce scheduling and routing problem, integrating team formation, hierarchical skills with downgrading, multiple trips, and different execution modes. We propose a solution approach based on branch-and-price-and-check and test it on real-world instances from a major European hub airport. We propose a model based on the Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition. In the pricing problem, we generate tours of teams as shortest paths with constrained resources in a network. In the master problem, we select an optimal set of tours that do not exceed the workforce availability. Our experiments show that the proposed algorithm can produce optimal solutions for small- and medium-sized instances and good or optimal solutions for large instances. The results also show that our approach outperforms the current airport dispatching policy.

Funding: G. Dall’Olio was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant Advanced Optimization in a Networked Economy Graduiertenkolleg 2201, Project 277991500].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0110 .
Simulating movements of daily living in robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty with 3D modelling
Authors: Tung Wei S. , Donnelley Claire , Pour Aidin E. , Tommasini Steven , Wiznia Daniel
Published: June 2023

Aims

Computer-assisted 3D preoperative planning software has the potential to improve postoperative stability in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Commonly, preoperative protocols simulate two functional positions (standing and relaxed sitting) but do not consider other common positions that may increase postoperative impingement and possible dislocation. This study investigates the feasibility of simulating commonly encountered positions, and positions with an increased risk of impingement, to lower postoperative impingement risk in a CT-based 3D model.

Methods

A robotic arm-assisted arthroplasty planning platform was used to investigate 11 patient positions. Data from 43 primary THAs were used for simulation. Sacral slope was retrieved from patient preoperative imaging, while angles of hip flexion/extension, hip external/internal rotation, and hip abduction/adduction for tested positions were derived from literature or estimated with a biomechanical model. The hip was placed in the described positions, and if impingement was detected by the software, inspection of the impingement type was performed.

Results

In flexion, an overall impingement rate of 2.3% was detected for flexed-seated, squatting, forward-bending, and criss-cross-sitting positions, and 4.7% for the ankle-over-knee position. In extension, most hips (60.5%) were found to impinge at or prior to 50° of external rotation (pivoting). Many of these impingement events were due to a prominent ischium. The mean maximum external rotation prior to impingement was 45.9° (15° to 80°) and 57.9° (20° to 90°) prior to prosthetic impingement. No impingement was found in standing, sitting, crossing ankles, seiza, and downward dog.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that positions of daily living tested in a CT-based 3D model show high rates of impingement. Simulating additional positions through 3D modelling is a low-cost method of potentially improving outcomes without compromising patient safety. By incorporating CT-based 3D modelling of positions of daily living into routine preoperative protocols for THA, there is the potential to lower the risk of postoperative impingement events.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(6):416–423.
The ‘lifeworld’ of health and disease and the design of public health interventions
Authors: Russo Federica , Kelly Michael P.
Published: June 2023

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are still working through health systems worldwide, and further reflections about the nature of health and disease, and about how to design and implement effective public health interventions are much needed. For numerous diseases and conditions, as well as for COVID-19, our knowledge base is rich. We know a lot about the biology of the disease, and we have plenty of statistics that relate health to socio-economic factors. In this paper, we argue that we need to add a third dimension to this knowledge base, namely a thorough description of the lifeworld of health and disease, in terms of the mixed biosocial mechanisms that operate in it. We present the concepts of lifeworld and of mixed mechanisms, and then illustrate how they can be operationalised and measured through mixed methodologies that combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. Finally, we explain the complementarity of our approach with the biological and statistical dimensions of health and disease for the design of public health interventions.
The Undercover Research Group and the Spycops scandal: research in the defence of the right to protest and transparency
Authors: Brian Christopher , Lubbers Eveline
Published: June 2023

Between 1968 and 2010 more than one thousand groups and many more individuals on the left of the political spectrum were targeted by intrusive police surveillance.

This intervention gives an overview of what has become known as the Spycops scandal and the active role of the grassroot movements that were spied on, while focusing on the authors’ own organisation, the Undercover Research Group.

It explores how a critical approach to the Undercover Policing Inquiry had been productive, while conceding that misgivings about engagement are understandable and valid as well.

This paper also considers how the impact of this mode of policing are still being felt today and discusses whether the current hostile environment for protesters makes a reoccurrence of these abuses more likely.
Conclusion
Authors: Hughes Ciaran , Ketola Markus
Published: June 2023

This concluding chapter brings together the main findings of the book, highlighting the key themes and arguments that emerged from each of the chapters. The chapter reflects on the themes of neoliberalism and the VCS’ role in peacebuilding, and it locates the Northern Irish experience in a broader European context. We conclude with some questions that can form the basis of future research into the role and nature of the voluntary and community sector in the region.
Spatiotemporal defocus sensitivity function of the human visual system
Authors: Rodriguez-Lopez Victor , Geisler Wilson , Dorronsoro Carlos
Published: June 2023

Tunable lenses make it possible to measure visual sensitivity to rapid changes in optical power, surpassing the limits imposed by mechanical elements. Using a tunable lens system, we measured, for the first time, the spatiotemporal defocus sensitivity function (STDSF), and the limits of human defocus perception. Specifically, we measured defocus sensitivity using a QUEST adaptive psychophysical procedure for different stimuli (Gabor patches of different spatial frequencies, natural images, and edges) and we developed descriptive models of defocus perception. For Gabor patches, we found on average (across seven subjects) that the maximum sensitivity to defocus is 0.22 D at 14 cpd and 10 Hz, and that the upper limits of sensitivity are 40 cpd and 40 Hz. Our results suggest that accommodation remains fixed while performing the defocus flicker-detection task. These results have implications for new technologies whose working principles make use of fast changes to defocus.
Methods for real-time feature-guided image fusion of intrasurgical volumetric optical coherence tomography with digital microscopy
Authors: Trout Robert M. , Viehland Christian , Li Jianwei D. , Raynor William , Dhalla Al-Hafeez , Vajzovic Lejla , Kuo Anthony N. , Toth Cynthia A. , Izatt Joseph A.
Published: June 2023

4D-microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (4D-MIOCT) is an emergent multimodal imaging technology in which live volumetric OCT (4D-OCT) is implemented in tandem with standard stereo color microscopy. 4D-OCT provides ophthalmic surgeons with many useful visual cues not available in standard microscopy; however it is challenging for the surgeon to effectively integrate cues from simultaneous-but-separate imaging in real-time. In this work, we demonstrate progress towards solving this challenge via the fusion of data from each modality guided by segmented 3D features. In this way, a more readily interpretable visualization that combines and registers important cues from both modalities is presented to the surgeon.
Real-time on-orbit image quality improvement for a wide-field imaging system with detector arrays
Authors: Zhou Dali , Wang Xiaodong , Yan Changxiang , Wang Haihong
Published: June 2023

Wide-field imaging systems are faced with the problem of massive image information processing and transmission. Due to the limitation of data bandwidth and other factors, it is difficult for the current technology to process and transmit massive images in real-time. With the requirement for fast response, the demand for real-time on-orbit image processing is increasing. In practice, nonuniformity correction is an important preprocessing step to improve the quality of surveillance images. This paper presents a new real-time on-orbit nonuniform background correction method, which only uses the local pixels of a single row output in real-time, breaking the dependence of the traditional algorithm on the whole image information. Combined with the FPGA pipeline design, when the local pixels of a single row are read out, the processing is completed, and no cache is required at all, which saves the resource overhead in hardware design. It achieves microsecond-level ultra-low latency. The experimental results show that under the influence of strong stray light and strong dark current, our real-time algorithm has a better image quality improvement effect compared with the traditional algorithm. It will greatly help the on-orbit real-time moving target recognition and tracking.
Measurement system for ultraviolet channel modeling and communications
Authors: Arslan C. Hakan , Dagefu Fikadu T. , Moore Terrence J. , Weisman Michael J. , Drost Robert J.
Published: June 2023

There has been an increasing interest in ultraviolet (UV) communications as a promising technology for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) networking by exploiting atmospheric scattering at UV wavelengths that enables a unique NLOS UV communication channel. While there has been significant theoretical and simulation-based investigation of the UV channel characteristics, there is limited work in terms of experimental research and validation of the analytical models. In this paper, we present a flexible experimental system for precise UV channel and communications measurements. Specifically, a transceiver system is developed that consists of a gimbal, UV light-emitting-diode array, and photomultiplier tube detector, node synchronization, and LabVIEW-based data acquisition subsystems. Novel techniques to precisely characterize the UV LED array radiation pattern, absolute transmit power, and field of view of the detector are also presented. The utility of the developed system is then demonstrated by performing a variety of experiments including UV channel model validation and steering optimization for UV communication links where the results were in very good agreement with theory and simulation.
Genetic semi-analytical optimization approach for the inverse design of layered metasurfaces
Authors: Braasch M. , Sperrhake J. , Pertsch T.
Published: June 2023

We demonstrate a method for the inverse design of stacked metasurfaces, applicable to any objective that can be expressed via scattering matrices, layering the metasurfaces in far-field approximation. By linking a semi analytical stacking algorithm with a modified genetic algorithm we developed an computationally efficient optimization tool. During optimization, the composition and the number of the layers is adjusted simultaneously and dynamically for continuous and discrete parameters. The method enables us to inversely design layered metasurface stacks in a matter of seconds avoiding thousands of rigorous simulations. We demonstrate the optimization performance of the algorithm for the example of a plasmonic broadband circular polarizer.
Degree of polarization of luminescence from InP under SiN stripes: fits to FEM simulations
Authors: Cassidy Daniel T. , Jean-Pierre Landesman and
Published: June 2023

Fits of 3D finite element method (FEM) simulations to the degree of polarization (DOP) of photoluminescence (PL) measured on facets under SiN stripes on InP substrates are presented. The measured data is low noise and the fits are remarkably good; lobes owing to defects (perhaps dislocations) can be seen in false colour maps of the residues from the least squares fits. It is found that the vast majority (estimated to be > 99%) of the DOP patterns can be attributed to an initial condition for the FEM simulations of biaxial strain in the SiN stripes. In addition to the fits of FEM simulations to the data and discussion of the fits: fits of error functions to PL data to find the resolution of the optical system and the location of the top surface, quantities that are required in fits of 3D FEM simulations to the data, are presented; as is presented some historical information on analysis of luminescent III-V materials and devices by analysis of the DOP of the luminescence, and some information on the dependence of the DOP of luminescence on strain for InP.
Dispersion-enabled control of photonic density of states in photonic hypercrystals
Authors: Janaszek Bartosz , Tyszka-Zawadzka Anna , Szczepanski Pawel
Published: June 2023

In this work, we investigate possibility of engineering photonic density of states (PDOS) in photonic hypercrystals (PHCs). In the course of our analysis, we have demonstrated that it is possible to obtain photonic bandgap for selected polarization of light as well as to achieve significant broadband PDOS enhancement. We have also presented for the first time that anomalous dispersion, that arises from effective resonance of hyperbolic medium constituting the PHC structure, may lead to negative PDOS, which is photonic equivalent of mobility gap, observed in electronic crystals. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that application of PHC structure, instead of standalone hyperbolic medium, allows to obtain more versatile electromagnetic response, such as broadband perfect absorption of adjustable spectral range of operation.
Overlapping functions of SIX homeoproteins during embryonic myogenesis
Authors: Wurmser Maud , Madani Rouba , Chaverot Nathalie , Backer Stéphanie , Borok Matthew , Dos Santos Matthieu , Comai Glenda , Tajbakhsh Shahragim , Relaix Frédéric , Santolini Marc , Sambasivan Ramkumar , Jiang Rulang , Maire Pascal
Published: June 2023

Four SIX homeoproteins display a combinatorial expression throughout embryonic developmental myogenesis and they modulate the expression of the myogenic regulatory factors. Here, we provide a deep characterization of their role in distinct mouse developmental territories. We showed, at the hypaxial level, that the Six1:Six4 double knockout (dKO) somitic precursor cells adopt a smooth muscle fate and lose their myogenic identity. At the epaxial level, we demonstrated by the analysis of Six quadruple KO (qKO) embryos, that SIX are required for fetal myogenesis, and for the maintenance of PAX7+ progenitor cells, which differentiated prematurely and are lost by the end of fetal development in qKO embryos. Finally, we showed that Six1 and Six2 are required to establish craniofacial myogenesis by controlling the expression of Myf5. We have thus described an unknown role for SIX proteins in the control of myogenesis at different embryonic levels and refined their involvement in the genetic cascades operating at the head level and in the genesis of myogenic stem cells.
A polycistronic transgene design for combinatorial genetic perturbations from a single transcript in Drosophila
Authors: Teague Alexander G. , Quintero Maria , Karimi Dermani Fateme , Cagan Ross L. , Bangi Erdem
Published: June 2023

Experimental models that capture the genetic complexity of human disease and allow mechanistic explorations of the underlying cell, tissue, and organ interactions are crucial to furthering our understanding of disease biology. Such models require combinatorial manipulations of multiple genes, often in more than one tissue at once. The ability to perform complex genetic manipulations in vivo is a key strength of Drosophila, where many tools for sophisticated and orthogonal genetic perturbations exist. However, combining the large number of transgenes required to establish more representative disease models and conducting mechanistic studies in these already complex genetic backgrounds is challenging. Here we present a design that pushes the limits of Drosophila genetics by allowing targeted combinatorial ectopic expression and knockdown of multiple genes from a single inducible transgene. The polycistronic transcript encoded by this transgene includes a synthetic short hairpin cluster cloned within an intron placed at the 5’ end of the transcript, followed by two protein-coding sequences separated by the T2A sequence that mediates ribosome skipping. This technology is particularly useful for modeling genetically complex diseases like cancer, which typically involve concurrent activation of multiple oncogenes and loss of multiple tumor suppressors. Furthermore, consolidating multiple genetic perturbations into a single transgene further streamlines the ability to perform combinatorial genetic manipulations and makes it readily adaptable to a broad palette of transgenic systems. This flexible design for combinatorial genetic perturbations will also be a valuable tool for functionally exploring multigenic gene signatures identified from omics studies of human disease and creating humanized Drosophila models to characterize disease-associated variants in human genes. It can also be adapted for studying biological processes underlying normal tissue homeostasis and development that require simultaneous manipulation of many genes.
Development and evaluation of a droplet digital PCR assay to detect Brucella in human whole blood
Authors: Liu Jiayin , Song Zhichun , Ta Na , Tian Guozhong , Yang Xiaowen , Zhao Hongyan , Piao Dongri , Fan Yu , Zhang Yu , Jiang Hai
Published: June 2023

Background

With the development of domestic animal husbandry, the spread of brucellosis has accelerated, and the scope of the epidemic has expanded. The timely and accurate diagnosis of human brucellosis continues to challenge clinicians in endemic areas. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) technology can quickly and accurately determine DNA load in samples, providing laboratory evidence for diagnosis, prognosis and management of brucellosis patients. In this study, a ddPCR method was established to accurately quantify Brucella DNA load in whole blood samples, and its diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value for human brucellosis was evaluated.

Methods

Annealing temperature, primers, and probe targeting the Brucella bcsp31 gene were optimised, and the sensitivity, specificity and repeatability of the ddPCR assay were assessed using 94 whole blood samples from 61 confirmed and 33 suspected cases. Results were compared with those of quantitative PCR (qPCR). Nine follow-up brucellosis patients were also analysed by the two methods after 2 and 6 months of treatment.

Results

Optimal primer and probe concentrations were 800 nmol/L and 400 nmol/L, respectively, and the optimal annealing temperature was 55.3 °C. The ddPCR results showed that the limit of detection was 1.87 copies per reaction, with high repeatability. The positive rates for ddPCR and qPCR were 88.5% and 75.4% among 61 serum agglutination test (SAT) positive patients. In addition, 57.6% (19/33) of suspected sero-negative samples were positive by ddPCR, but only 36.3% (12/33) were positive by qPCR. Analysis of nine post-therapy follow-up brucellosis patients revealed that the Brucella DNA load in the whole blood samples decreased after 2 and 6 months of treatment, and was slightly increased following relapse and continuous exposure.

Conclusion

The ddPCR assay showed good accuracy for whole blood samples, and could be a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool for detecting Brucella.
Predicting congenital syphilis cases: A performance evaluation of different machine learning models
Authors: Teixeira Igor Vitor , da Silva Leite Morgana Thalita , de Morais Melo Flávio Leandro , da Silva Rocha Élisson , Sadok Sara , Pessoa da Costa Carrarine Ana Sofia , Santana Marília , Pinheiro Rodrigues Cristina , de Lima Oliveira Ana Maria , Vieira Gadelha Keduly , de Morais Cleber Matos , Kelner Judith , Endo Patricia Takako
Published: June 2023

Background

Communicable diseases represent a huge economic burden for healthcare systems and for society. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a concerning issue, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries, in which environmental factors and other determinants of health play a role in contributing to its fast spread. In light of this situation, machine learning techniques have been explored to assess the incidence of syphilis and contribute to the epidemiological surveillance in this scenario.

Objective

The main goal of this work is to evaluate the performance of different machine learning models on predicting undesirable outcomes of congenital syphilis in order to assist resources allocation and optimize the healthcare actions, especially in a constrained health environment.

Method

We use clinical and sociodemographic data from pregnant women that were assisted by a social program in Pernambuco, Brazil, named Mãe Coruja Pernambucana Program (PMCP). Based on a rigorous methodology, we propose six experiments using three feature selection techniques to select the most relevant attributes, pre-process and clean the data, apply hyperparameter optimization to tune the machine learning models, and train and test models to have a fair evaluation and discussion.

Results

The AdaBoost-BODS-Expert model, an Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) model that used attributes selected by health experts, presented the best results in terms of evaluation metrics and acceptance by health experts from PMCP. By using this model, the results are more reliable and allows adoption on a daily usage to classify possible outcomes of congenital syphilis using clinical and sociodemographic data.
Divergent east-west lineages in an Australian fruit fly, (Bactrocera jarvisi), associated with the Carpentaria Basin divide
Authors: Manawaduge Chapa G. , Clarke Anthony R. , Hurwood David A.
Published: June 2023

Bactrocera jarvisi is an endemic Australian fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae). It occurs commonly across tropical and subtropical coastal Australia, from far-northern Western Australia, across the ‘Top End’ of the Northern Territory, and then down the Queensland east coast. Across this range, its distribution crosses several well documented biogeographic barriers. In order to better understand factors leading to the divergence of Australian fruit fly lineages, we carried out a population genetic study of B. jarvisi from across its range using genome-wide SNP analysis, utilising adult specimens gained from trapping and fruit rearing. Populations from the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia were genetically similar to each other, but divergent from the genetically uniform east-coast (= Queensland, QLD) population. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the NT population derived from the QLD population. We infer a role for the Carpentaria Basin as a biogeographic barrier restricting east-west gene flow. The QLD populations were largely panmictic and recognised east-coast biogeographic barriers play no part in north-south population structuring. While the NT and QLD populations were genetically distinct, there was evidence for the historically recent translocation of flies from each region to the other. Flies reared from different host fruits collected in the same location showed no genetic divergence. While a role for the Carpentaria Basin as a barrier to gene flow for Australian fruit flies agrees with existing work on the related B. tryoni, the reason(s) for population panmixia for B. jarvisi (and B. tryoni) over the entire Queensland east coast, a linear north-south distance of >2000km, remains unknown.
Using traditional rhyme (folk song) as a tool for oral hygiene promotion (UTRATOHP) among children in rural communities in Nigeria: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fagbule Omotayo Francis , Emenyonu Urenna Karen , Idiga Ejiro , Oni Olubunmi Oluseun , Ijarogbe Olabode Adeyemi , Osuh Mary Ebelechukwu , Lawal Folake Barakat , Owoaje Tolulope Olusola , Ibiyemi Olushola
Published: June 2023

Background

Most oral diseases are caused by poor oral hygiene, and with adequate oral hygiene measures, they are easily preventable. The use of folk songs to deliver oral health education may likely hold a huge potential for success and an increased likelihood of acceptability and sustainability among school children. Therefore, an investigation into the effectiveness of methods that would be culturally appropriate and sustainable, such as folk songs, is essential.

Aim

To determine the effect of traditional rhyme (folk song) as a tool for oral hygiene education among children in rural communities in Nigeria.

Materials and methods

This is a school-based, assessor-blinded, two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial that will assess the effectiveness of oral hygiene messages delivered through traditional rhyme (folk song) on children’s oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, practices, and oral hygiene status in two rural communities (Igboora and Idere) in Nigeria. The study will involve a minimum of 424 participants (aged 7–9 years) selected from eight primary schools using the cluster sampling technique. Four schools will be randomised into the test group to receive oral hygiene messages through folk songs, and the participants will sing the song for two weeks. The other four schools will be assigned to the control group, and the participants will receive the usual oral health talk on oral hygiene practices by a dentist. The participants’ oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, practice and status will be assessed at baseline, immediate, six, and twelve-month post-intervention. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) Children’s oral health survey questionnaire will be utilised for data collection. Oral examinations will be conducted to assess the participants’ dental caries experience and oral hygiene status using the dmft/DMFT and simplified oral hygiene indices, respectively.

Discussion

Folk songs are popular means of conveying messages in Nigeria, and using them to deliver oral health messages may be an effective, acceptable, and sustainable method among children. This study will provide empirical information about this innovative intervention to guide policy development, dental public health practice, and future studies.

Trial registration

Pan African Clinical Trial Registry-PACTR202010863892797 (October 2020).
Wearable derived cardiovascular responses to stressors in free-living conditions
Authors: Presby David M. , Jasinski Summer R. , Capodilupo Emily R.
Published: June 2023

Stress contributes to the progression of many diseases. Despite stress’ contribution towards disease, few methods for continuously measuring stress exist. We investigated if continuously measured cardiovascular signals from a wearable device can be used as markers of stress. Using wearable technology (WHOOP Inc, Boston, MA) that continuously measures and calculates heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (root-mean-square of successive differences; HRV), we assessed duration and magnitude of deviations in HR and HRV around the time of a run (from 23665 runs) or high-stress work (from 8928 high-stress work events) in free-living conditions. HR and HRV were assessed only when participants were motionless (HRmotionless). Runs were grouped into light, moderate, and vigorous runs to determine dose response relationships. When examining HRmotionless and HRV throughout the day, we found that these metrics display circadian rhythms; therefore, we normalized HRmotionless and HRV measures for each participant relative to the time of day. Relative to the period within 30 minutes leading up to a run, HRmotionless is elevated for up to 180–210 minutes following a moderate or vigorous run (P<0.05) and is unchanged or reduced following a light run. HRV is reduced for at least 300 minutes following a moderate or vigorous run (P<0.05) and is unchanged during a light run. Relative to the period within 30 minutes leading up to high-stress work, HRmotionless is elevated during and for up to 30 minutes following high-stress work. HRV tends to be lower during high-stress work (P = 0.06) and is significantly lower 90–300 minutes after the end of the activity (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that wearables can quantify stressful events, which may be used to provide feedback to help individuals manage stress.
The design and development of a study protocol to investigate Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa and Mansonella perstans-mediated modulation of the metabolic and immunological profile in lean and obese individuals in Cameroon
Authors: Lenz Benjamin , Andrew Beng Amuam , Ritter Manuel , Karunakaran Indulekha , Gandjui Narcisse Victor Tchamatchoua , Nchang Lucy Cho , Surendar Jayagopi , Ebob Anita Obi Bate , Ehrens Alexandra , Klarmann-Schulz Ute , Ricchiuto Arcangelo , Kuehlwein Janina M. , Fombad Fanny Fri , Ngwa Ambe Marius , Katcho Tatiana Djikeussi , Hoerauf Achim , Wanji Samuel , Hübner Marc P.
Published: June 2023

Background

Life-style metabolic diseases are steadily rising, not only in developed countries, but also in low- and middle-income countries, presenting a global health problem. Metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are among the ten leading causes of death defined by the WHO in 2019. Results from animal and observational human studies suggest a connection between the decline in human helminth infections and rise of life-style-associated metabolic diseases in developing regions. This trial was designed to investigate filarial infections and their impact on metabolic diseases in Cameroon. We hypothesize that the induction of regulatory immune responses during filarial infection reduces obesity-induced low-grade inflammatory immune responses and thereby improves metabolic parameters, whereas anthelmintic treatment abolishes this protective effect.

Methods/design

Participants infected with Mansonella perstans, Onchocerca volvulus and/or Loa loa being lean (BMI <25), overweight (BMI >25 and <30) or clinically obese (BMI ≥30) from Littoral regions of Cameroon will be evaluated for their parasitological, immunological, metabolic and biochemical profile before and after treatment of their parasitic infections. Anthropomorphic measurements and a detailed questionnaire will complement our analysis. The investigation will assess blood immune cell populations, serum adipokines and cytokines that could be influenced by the parasite infection and/or metabolic diseases. Further, parameters like blood glucose, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), circulating lipids and circulating makers of liver function will be monitored. Parameters will be assessed before treatment, 12 and 18 months after treatment.

Conclusion

The focus of this study is to obtain a comprehensive metabolic profile of the participants in rural areas of Cameroon and to investigate the relationship between filarial immunomodulation and metabolic diseases. This study will elucidate the effect of anti-filarial treatment on the metabolic and immunological parameters that partake in the development of insulin resistance, narrowing in on a potential protective effect of filarial infections on metabolic diseases.

Trial registration

doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN43845142, ISRCTN43845142 February 2020 Trial title Effects of filarial parasite infection on type 2 diabetes Issue date: 27.10.22, V.1.