bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CT radiomics prediction of CXCL9 expression and survival in ovarian cancer
Authors: Gu Rui , Tan Siyi , Xu Yuping , Pan Donghui , Wang Ce , Zhao Min , Wang Jiajun , Wu Liwei , Zhao Shaojie , Wang Feng , Yang Min
Published: August 2023

Background

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), which is involved in the pathological processes of various human cancers, has become a hot topic in recent years. We developed a radiomic model to identify CXCL9 status in ovarian cancer (OC) and evaluated its prognostic significance.

Methods

We analyzed enhanced CT scans, transcriptome sequencing data, and corresponding clinical characteristics of CXCL9 in OC using the TCIA and TCGA databases. We used the repeat least absolute shrinkage (LASSO) and recursive feature elimination(RFE) methods to determine radiomic features after extraction and normalization. We constructed a radiomic model for CXCL9 prediction based on logistic regression and internal tenfold cross-validation. Finally, a 60-month overall survival (OS) nomogram was established to analyze survival data based on Cox regression.

Results

CXCL9 mRNA levels and several other genes involving in T-cell infiltration were significantly relevant to OS in OC patients. The radiomic score (rad_score) of our radiomic model was calculated based on the five features for CXCL9 prediction. The areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC-ROC) for the training cohort was 0.781, while that for the validation cohort was 0.743. Patients with a high rad_score had better overall survival (P < 0.001). In addition, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed good consistency between the prediction and actual observations, demonstrating the clinical utility of our model.

Conclusion

In patients with OC, the radiomics signature(RS) of CT scans can distinguish the level of CXCL9 expression and predict prognosis, potentially fulfilling the ultimate purpose of precision medicine.
Dual input neural networks for positional sound source localization
Authors: Grinstein Eric , Neo Vincent W. , Naylor Patrick A.
Published: August 2023

In many signal processing applications, metadata may be advantageously used in conjunction with a high dimensional signal to produce a desired output. In the case of classical Sound Source Localization (SSL) algorithms, information from a high dimensional, multichannel audio signals received by many distributed microphones is combined with information describing acoustic properties of the scene, such as the microphones’ coordinates in space, to estimate the position of a sound source. We introduce Dual Input Neural Networks (DI-NNs) as a simple and effective way to model these two data types in a neural network. We train and evaluate our proposed DI-NN on scenarios of varying difficulty and realism and compare it against an alternative architecture, a classical Least-Squares (LS) method as well as a classical Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN). Our results show that the DI-NN significantly outperforms the baselines, achieving a five times lower localization error than the LS method and two times lower than the CRNN in a test dataset of real recordings.
Multiple positive solutions of fractional differential equations with improper integral boundary conditions on the half-line
Authors: Wang Ning , Zhou Zongfu
Published: August 2023

This paper investigates the existence of positive solutions for a class of fractional boundary value problems involving an improper integral and the infinite-point on the half-line by making use of properties of the Green function and Avery–Peterson fixed point theorem. In addition, an example is presented to illustrate the applicability of our main result.
The potential application of carbazole-degrading bacteria for dioxin bioremediation
Authors: Dinh Mai Thi Ngoc , Nguyen Van Thi , Nguyen Ly Thi Huong
Published: August 2023

Extensive research has been conducted over the years on the bacterial degradation of dioxins and their related compounds including carbazole, because these chemicals are highly toxic and has been widely distributed in the environment. There is a pressing need to explore and develop more bacterial strains with unique catabolic features to effectively remediate dioxin-polluted sites. Carbazole has a chemical structure similar to dioxins, and the degradation pathways of these two chemicals are highly homologous. Some carbazole-degrading bacterial strains have been demonstrated to have the ability to degrade dioxins, such as Pseudomonas sp. strain CA10 và Sphingomonas sp. KA1. The introduction of strain KA1 into dioxin-contaminated model soil resulted in the degradation of 96% and 70% of 2-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2-CDD) and 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3-DCDD), respectively, after 7-day incubation period. These degradation rates were similar to those achieved with strain CA10, which removed 96% of 2-CDD and 80% of 2,3-DCDD from the same model soil. Therefore, carbazole-degrading bacteria hold significant promise as potential candidates for dioxin bioremediation. This paper overviews the connection between the bacterial degradation of dioxins and carbazole, highlighting the potential for dioxin biodegradation by carbazole-degrading bacterial strains.
Ethical Considerations of Biopsies in Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Bohan Riley P. , Riner Andrea N. , Herremans Kelly M. , George Thomas J. , Hughes Steven J. , Solberg Lauren B.
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE

The standard of care in resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has evolved to include neoadjuvant treatment before surgical resection. Current guidelines call for obtaining histologic tissue diagnosis via endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration before administration of neoadjuvant therapy, which differ from guidelines discouraging delay in surgical resection for a biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Whether to proceed with treatment before a biopsy confirms that malignancy is a nuanced decision and includes considerations of physical and psychological risks entailed in both pursuing and forgoing a biopsy.

RESULTS

Accuracy of imaging and biopsy results, the presence of contributing clinical signs/symptoms, and the existing precedents of considering biopsies as waivable such as in scenarios with high clinical suspicion and primary surgical resection.

CONCLUSION

When considering the aspects of ethical medical practice including beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), autonomy (allowing patients to make decisions about their care), and utilitarianism (doing the most good for the most people), analysis of whether guidelines guiding biopsies should continue to differ between resection and neoadjuvant treatments in PDAC is prudent.
Prolonged Endurance Exercise Increases Macrophage Content and Mitochondrial Respiration in Adipose Tissue in Trained Men
Authors: Sahl Ronni Eg , Patsi Ioanna , Hansen Mikkel Thunestvedt , Rømer Tue , Frandsen Jacob , Rasmusen Hanne Kruuse , Ingersen Arthur , Poulsen Steen Seier , Dela Flemming , Larsen Steen , Helge Jørn Wulff
Published: August 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prolonged endurance exercise on adipose tissue inflammation markers and mitochondrial respiration in younger and older men.

Methods

“Young” (aged 30 years, n = 7) and “old” (aged 65 years, n = 7) trained men were exposed to an exercise intervention of 15 consecutive days biking 7 to 9 hours/day at 63% and 65% of maximal heart rate (young and old, respectively), going from Copenhagen, Denmark to Palermo, Italy. Adipose tissue was sampled from both the gluteal and abdominal depot before and after the intervention. Mitochondrial respiration was measured by high-resolution respirometry, and adipose inflammation was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin embedded sections.

Results

An increased number of CD163+ macrophages was observed in both the gluteal and abdominal depot (P < .01). In addition, an increased mitochondrial respiration was observed in the abdominal adipose tissue from men in the young group with complex I (CIp) stimulated respiration, complex I + II (CI+IIp) stimulated respiration and the capacity of the electron transport system (ETS) (P < .05), and in the older group an increase in CIp and CI+IIp stimulated respiration (P < .05) was found.

Conclusion

Overall, we found a positive effect of prolonged endurance exercise on adipose tissue inflammation markers and mitochondrial respiration in both young and old trained men, and no sign of attenuated function in adipose tissue with age.
Thioredoxin regulates the redox state and the activity of the human tRNA ligase complex
Authors: Jaksch Dhaarsini , Irnstorfer Johanna , Kalman Petra-Franziska , Martinez Javier
Published: August 2023

The mammalian tRNA ligase complex (tRNA-LC) catalyzes the splicing of intron-containing pre-tRNAs in the nucleus and the splicing ofXBP1mRNA during the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the cytoplasm. We recently reported that the tRNA-LC coevolved with PYROXD1, an essential oxidoreductase that protects the catalytic cysteine of RTCB, the catalytic subunit of the tRNA-LC, against aerobic oxidation. In this study, we show that the oxidoreductase Thioredoxin (TRX) preserves the enzymatic activity of RTCB under otherwise inhibiting concentrations of oxidants. TRX physically interacts with oxidized RTCB, and reduces and reactivates RTCB through the action of its redox-active cysteine pair. We further show that TRX interacts with RTCB at late stages of UPR. Since the interaction requires oxidative conditions, our findings suggest that prolonged UPR generates reactive oxygen species. Thus, our results support a functional role for TRX in securing and repairing the active site of the tRNA-LC, thereby allowing pre-tRNA splicing and UPR to occur when cells encounter mild, but still inhibitory levels of reactive oxygen species.
Seismic investigation and upgrading of disused industrial buildings a case study
Authors: Longobardi Giovanna , Davino Antonio , Formisano Antonio
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the evaluation of the seismic behaviour and the consolidation plan of a former industrial building are described.

After a short introduction regarding the value of industrial architecture, discovered only in the late ‘70s of the past century, and the necessity to intervene on this heritage, most of time abandoned, the case study has been introduced. It is a former tobacco industry placed in a small village in the outskirt of Salerno, in the South Italy.

Firstly, the historical evolution of the property has been reconstructed. Then, the main structural and architectonical features of the building have been illustrated. After this knowledge phase, the seismic behaviour has been evaluated with regard both to local and global mechanisms. Based on the obtained results, retrofitting operations have been hypothesized to allow for the new functionalization and the reuse of the building.

In conclusion, the effectiveness of the consolidating interventions has been demonstrated by repeating the pushover analyses, whose results have enabled the complete seismic upgrading of the former tobacco industry.
Virtual Reconstruction of Lost Cultural Heritage – The Case of the Historical Church of Pammegist Taxiarch Archangel Michael in Medieval City of Corfu. A holistic Interdisciplinary approach, in Challenging Times enhancing Sustainable Urban Development
Authors: Polymeri Evi
Published: August 2023

The present work is about the application of digital record of Lost Cultural Heritage monument in Corfu island - the case of the Church of Pammegistos Taxiarch Michael situated in the heart of the oldest medieval district of ‘Campiello’ in the Old Town of Corfu, built at the 14th century. Today the building has been demolished and a homonymous square has been created in its place. The "Taxiarch square" is a free space formed randomly, violently and as a remnant after the bombings of the 2nd World War. Considering an essential step in understanding and conserving the values of the memory of the glorious past, creating a as close as possible digital record of the most important monument in the area for the future, providing a means to communicating the knowledge and value of the tangible monument to the society. Our effort aims to efficiently open new orisons to the locals, in upgrading the living standard, while through culture and dialogue we might provide the necessary transformative dimension that ensures the sustainability of development processes. In our Challenging Times the data coming to light from in-situ research, the archives, bibliography etc., applied to the following modelling features the role of 3D virtual reconstruction of the important monument of cultural heritage in Corfu Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greece acquires even greater importance, supporting archaeological and architecture research and art history, used as well as a vehicle for the cultural and evocative involvement of the people.
Innovative interactive technologies in the training of professional education specialists by means of digital technologies
Authors: Hevko Ihor , Siaonan Se , Hongwei Wu
Published: August 2023

This article is devoted to the study and analysis of the role and influence of innovative interactive technologies in the training of professional education specialists using digital technologies. Digital technologies are becoming an increasingly integral part of our daily lives and impacting various fields, including education. The article examines the modern foreign and domestic experience of using modern innovative interactive technologies in the professional training of future vocational education specialists. The possibilities of implementing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create immersive learning environments are described. Emphasis is placed on adaptive educational platforms that are able to individualize the educational process taking into account the personal needs and individual characteristics of students. The analysis of the influence of interactive technologies on the activity and interest of students, increasing the level of involvement and motivation to study was carried out. The advantages of these technologies in the training of specialists are analyzed, their impact on student motivation, understanding of complex concepts and the creation of interactive learning environments is noted. It highlights how the adaptability of learning platforms helps create personalized learning paths for each student, taking into account their needs and pace of learning. The experience of using innovative and interactive technologies in various fields, including education, science and technological development, is outlined.

The results of the study indicate the importance of integrating digital technologies into the educational process to achieve more effective learning and development of relevant skills among students of vocational education.
Modern state, problems and prospects of development of Odesa recreational complex
Authors: Kudelina S. , Hetmanenko A. , Nikolaieva O. , Khomutov V.
Published: August 2023

The article is devoted to the socio-geographical characteristics of the territorial recreational complex of Odesa. The article gives a historical review of establishment and development of recreational activity, gives a description of natural recreational resources and historical and cultural potential of the city. It gives a description of certain types of recreational activities, in particular, sanatorium treatment, medical rehabilitation and tourism, resort areas, formed within the city limits, the problems and prospects of development of Odesa recreational complex are considered here.
Implementing lift teams in respiratory care settings: a luxury or a necessity?
Authors: Polastri Massimiliano , Swol Justyna
Published: August 2023

In this editorial, Massimiliano Polastri and Justyna Swol discuss the need for health professionals who help to mobilise patients who have experienced prolonged bed rest.
Out-of-hospital care for postpartum haemorrhage: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Soh Rachel , Silvestri Lucymarie , Pearce Anna , Pearce James
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Postpartum haemorrhage is an obstetric emergency with potential for rapid deterioration. It is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. This risk is magnified in the resource-limited out-of-hospital setting, yet there is little knowledge regarding its management in these circumstances.

Methods

The JBI scoping review methodology will be used. A comprehensive search strategy will be adopted to identify sources of literature that fit the inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted and reported in accordance with current best practice standards.

Discussion

This protocol will provide the framework to guide the review in identifying the scope, depth and key concepts in the topic of interest, as well as to identify gaps in knowledge regarding out-of-hospital care of the patient with postpartum haemorrhage. Information gathered can help inform clinical practitioners and the development of clinical practice guidelines. Gaps identified can be used to guide and facilitate further research.
Technology commitment of emergency medical service practitioners and dispatchers
Authors: Elsenbast Christian , Hagemann Vera
Published: August 2023

Background

Digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) have entered the emergency medical service (EMS). Successful use of them depends on employees’ personal attitudes towards modern technology and its use.

Aims

This study explored the technology commitment of EMS professionals, dispatchers and emergency physicians, including towards AI systems.

Methods

To assess attitudes in the context of AI systems in EMS, employees were asked to answer an online questionnaire between October 2021 and March 2022.

Findings

A total of 510 participants, including 184 EMS professionals, 199 dispatchers and 68 emergency physicians, participated. These professionals had moderate to high technology commitment values with minor differences. Technology commitment correlated negatively with age. Gender had no effect.

Conclusion

The EMS provides fertile ground for AI systems. It is important to keep in mind that people with uncertainties and reservations need support. The scales in the questionnaire proved to be reliable and valid.
Two-stage Multi-objective Optimization Coordination of Electro-thermal Coupled Integrated Energy System Based on Improved NSGA-II Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Na , Feng Taozhu
Published: August 2023

With the growing proportion of clean energy in integrated energy systems (IES), energy supply uncertainty and spatial-temporal dispersion are becoming increasingly prevalent. System modeling and optimal scheduling are facing greater challenges. In this paper, we improve the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) to address the above problems and propose a two-stage multi-objective benefit-equilibrium optimization coordination of the electric-thermal coupled integrated energy system. Firstly, this paper carries out the thermodynamic characteristics analysis of the equipment components of the electro-thermal coupled energy system, which reflects the structural features of the system, the performance of each equipment under different task conditions, and the mechanism of the system; based on the above characteristic analysis, a two-stage multi-objective optimization of electro-thermal coupled system optimization coordination is proposed to establish the objective function and carry out each objective balance constraint; the NSGA-II algorithm is as well as improved. According to the operation stage, operation generation and the NSGA-II algorithm are improved by dynamically adjusting the operating parameters of evolving individuals of the operation stage, operational generation, and the number of undominated individuals in the current temporary population. By making the algorithm adaptation to improve the adaptive capacity of the evolution operator, we solve the two-step model and obtain the Pareto optimal front for each energy device. In summary, the results of the analysis of the IES under the coupling of power system and thermal system show that the constructed model and the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the accuracy of the renewable energy system and the optimization decision. The results of the research further reflect the benefits of the proposed multi-objective optimization scheme in accounting for economic, renewable energy, and complex operating constraints which ensure the economical and stable operation of the system, as well as the robustness of optimal scheduling.
Early Warning Analysis of Grid Ferromagnetic Resonance Overvoltage Risk Based on Multi-source Data
Authors: Yu Gou
Published: August 2023

In the impartial factor ungrounded system, ferromagnetic resonance overvoltage is a frequent fault that lasts for a lengthy time and is hazardous to the grid. In this paper, the mechanism of grid ferromagnetic resonance overvoltage is first explored in depth. The precept of impartial voltage shift and ferromagnetic resonance brought about through PT saturation is analyzed with the aid of graphical and mathematical analysis. Then, the characteristics of fault current information are extracted by wavelet transform, and indicators such as wavelet fault degree, wavelet singularity and wavelet energy measurement are obtained respectively. D-S evidence theory is used to fuse multi-source information of electrical volume and switching quantity, so as to obtain comprehensive fault results of power grid more accurately. Finally, based on the time series risk assessment, the distribution network time series risk index is calculated, the risk level and risk area of each period are determined, and the early warning results are issued. Finally, an example is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Optimism at the End of Time: Jihadists' Struggles
Authors: Kublitz Anja
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: Danish Muslims who have returned from jihad in Syria describe the Arab Spring as a miracle—a divine intervention that called upon them to radically change their lives. From one day to the next, they turned towards God and decided to travel to the Middle East to take up arms. According to the interlocutors, the miracle of the Arab Spring made them wake up to find themselves as part of the Muslim umma—the community of the last prophet Mohammed—that is, the prophet of the time of the end—but also to find that maybe the end of time had arrived and that they could choose to join the Great Battle between infidels and believers. Based on long-term fieldwork, this article investigates my interlocutors' practices of struggling in the way of Allah. Arguing against Olivier Roy's central thesis that European jihadists are violent nihilists, I contend that we need to reinstate God and the relation between divine determination and my interlocutors' agency to explain why jihadists act as they do. To understand this relation, I draw on anthropological studies of Islam and Christianity, as well as Agamben's distinction between "the time of the end" (messianism) and "the end of time" (apocalypse). My interlocutors believe that they live in End-times: they know that the world is about to end but they do not know when, and I suggest that it is exactly this gap that their jihadists' practices strive to bridge. Struggling to bring about what they believe is already God-given, I argue that jihadists are optimists, not nihilists.
Pragmatic Opportunism: Ireland and the Czechoslovak Crisis 1938–39
Authors: Stewart Erik
Published: August 2023

Acquisition of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia was the next phase of Nazi Germany’s expansion in 1938. When it seemed likely that the region would indeed be incorporated into Germany’s borders, based on a mixed historic and ethno-cultural logic, nations across Europe with unresolved border questions of their own took notice—Ireland among them. This article will examine the extent to which a fervent desire to undo the country’s partition influenced Irish foreign policy at a time when international tensions over the Sudetenland were brewing into a potential European conflict. The contradictory nature of Irish foreign policy at the time will be illustrated, and Ireland’s navigation of one of interwar Europe’s most dynamic crises will in turn be re-assessed.
The Daisy Basket and the Rise of the Young Vegetarian Subject
Authors: Kubisz Marzena
Published: August 2023

Abstract: In 1893, the first vegetarian children's magazine to appear regularly, the Daisy Basket , was published in Manchester. This article locates the magazine in a broader context of the British vegetarian movement in the late nineteenth century and analyzes its content, structure, and tone. It argues that the Daisy Basket can be read as a strategy employed to enable the rise of the young vegetarian subject. Using Michel Foucault's concept of technologies of the self, this essay highlights how the vegetarian movement expanded its operations through the use of relations of power.
Shaping the angular spectrum of a Bessel beam to enhance light transfer through dynamic strongly-scattering media
Authors: Scheidt Dennis , Quinto-Su Pedro , Arzola Alejandro
Published: August 2023

We prepare a quasi-non-diffracting Bessel beam defined within an annular angular spectrum
with a spatial light modulator. The beam propagates though a strongly scattering media and the transmitted speckle pattern is measured at one point with a Hadamard Walsh basis that divides the ring into $N$ segments ($N=16,64,256, 1024$). The phase of the transmitted beam is reconstructed with 3 step interferometry and the intensity of the transmitted beam is optimized by projecting the conjugate phase at the SLM. We find that the optimum intensity is attained for the condition that the transverse wave vector $k_\perp$ (of the Bessel beam) matches the spatial azimuthal frequencies of the segmented ring $k_\phi$. Furthermore, compared with beams defined on a 2d grid (i.e. Gaussian) a reasonable enhancement is achieved for all the $k_\perp$ sampled with only 64 elements.
Finally, the measurements can be done while the scatterer is moving as long as the total displacement during the measurement is smaller than the speckle correlation distance.
Automatic extraction of actin networks in plants
Authors: Hembrow Jordan , Deeks Michael J. , Richards David M.
Published: August 2023

The actin cytoskeleton is essential in eukaryotes, not least in the plant kingdom where it plays key roles in cell expansion, cell division, environmental responses and pathogen defence. Yet, the precise structure-function relationships of properties of the actin network in plants are still to be unravelled, including details of how the network configuration depends upon cell type, tissue type and developmental stage. Part of the problem lies in the difficulty of extracting high-quality, quantitative measures of actin network features from microscopy data. To address this problem, we have developed DRAGoN, a novel image analysis algorithm that can automatically extract the actin network across a range of cell types, providing seventeen different quantitative measures that describe the network at a local level. Using this algorithm, we then studied a number of cases in Arabidopsis thaliana, including several different tissues, a variety of actin-affected mutants, and cells responding to powdery mildew. In many cases we found statistically-significant differences in actin network properties. In addition to these results, our algorithm is designed to be easily adaptable to other tissues, mutants and plants, and so will be a valuable asset for the study and future biological engineering of the actin cytoskeleton in globally-important crops.
The effectiveness and decay of public health policy actions on infection-control behaviour in the general public: Evidence from a low-COVID prevalence jurisdiction
Authors: Ross Kent , Dutton Daniel J.
Published: August 2023

Background

Public health policies designed to influence individuals’ infection-control behaviour are a tool for governments to help prevent the spread of disease. Findings on the impacts of policies are mixed and there is limited information on the effects of removing restrictions and how policies impact behavioural trends.

Methods

We use low-acuity emergency department visits from 12 hospitals in New Brunswick, Canada, (January 2017 –October 2021) as a proxy for infection-control behaviour and provide insight into the effects of the COVID-19 virus on a population with a low prevalence of cases. Quasi-experimental techniques (event studies) are applied to estimate the magnitude and persistence of effects of specific events (e.g., policy changes), to control for COVID-19 cases and vaccines, and to explore how the effectiveness of policy changes during the pandemic as more policies are introduced.

Results

Initial tightening of restrictions on March 11, 2020 reduced low-acuity emergency department visits by around 60% and reached a minimum after 30 days. Relaxing policies on social gatherings and personal services gradually increased low-acuity emergency department visits by approximately 50% after 44 days. No effects were found from policies lifting all restrictions, and reinstating a state of emergency on July 31, 2021, and September 24, 2021.

Conclusion

These results suggest that policy interventions are less likely to be effective at influencing infection control behaviour with time and more policies introduced, and that tracking and publicly reporting case numbers can influence infection control behaviour.
The dilemma of physical activity questionnaires: Fitter people are less prone to over reporting
Authors: Meh Kaja , Sember Vedrana , Sorić Maroje , Vähä-Ypyä Henri , Rocha Paulo , Jurak Gregor
Published: August 2023

Physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) are a popular method of monitoring physical activity, although their validity is usually low. Descriptions of physical activity levels in questionnaires usually rely on physical responses to physical activity. Therefore, we hypothesised that the validity of PAQs would be higher in the more physically fit group of participants. To test this, we conducted a validation study with 179 adults whom we divided into three fitness groups based on their cardiovascular fitness and age. Participants were measured for one week using the UKK RM42 accelerometer and self-reported their physical activity using IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ. We analysed the differences between fitness groups in terms of validity for each PAQ using ANOVA. We also performed an equivalence testing to compare the data obtained with the PAQs and the accelerometers. The results showed a significant trend toward higher validity for moderate to vigorous physical activity from the low to high fitness group as assessed by GPAQ and IPAQ-SF (low, intermediate and high fitness group: 0.06–0.21; 0.26–0.29; 0.40, respectively). The equivalence testing showed that all fitness groups overestimated their physical activity and underestimated their sedentary behaviour, with the high fitness group overestimating their physical activity the least. However, EHIS-PAQ was found to agree best with accelerometer data in assessing moderate to vigorous physical activity, regardless of fitness group, and had a validity greater than 0.4 for all fitness groups. In conclusion, we confirmed that when using PAQs describing physical responses to physical activity, participants’ fitness should be considered in the interpretation, especially when comparing results internationally.
Reconciliation and evolution of Penicillium rubens genome-scale metabolic networks–What about specialised metabolism?
Authors: Nègre Delphine , Larhlimi Abdelhalim , Bertrand Samuel
Published: August 2023

In recent years, genome sequencing of filamentous fungi has revealed a high proportion of specialised metabolites with growing pharmaceutical interest. However, detecting such metabolites through in silico genome analysis does not necessarily guarantee their expression under laboratory conditions. However, one plausible strategy for enabling their production lies in modifying the growth conditions. Devising a comprehensive experimental design testing in different culture environments is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, using in silico modelling as a preliminary step, such as Genome-Scale Metabolic Network (GSMN), represents a promising approach to predicting and understanding the observed specialised metabolite production in a given organism. To address these questions, we reconstructed a new high-quality GSMN for the Penicillium rubens Wisconsin 54–1255 strain, a commonly used model organism. Our reconstruction, iPrub22, adheres to current convention standards and quality criteria, incorporating updated functional annotations, orthology searches with different GSMN templates, data from previous reconstructions, and manual curation steps targeting primary and specialised metabolites. With a MEMOTE score of 74% and a metabolic coverage of 45%, iPrub22 includes 5,192 unique metabolites interconnected by 5,919 reactions, of which 5,033 are supported by at least one genomic sequence. Of the metabolites present in iPrub22, 13% are categorised as belonging to specialised metabolism. While our high-quality GSMN provides a valuable resource for investigating known phenotypes expressed in P. rubens, our analysis identifies bottlenecks related, in particular, to the definition of what is a specialised metabolite, which requires consensus within the scientific community. It also points out the necessity of accessible, standardised and exhaustive databases of specialised metabolites. These questions must be addressed to fully unlock the potential of natural product production in P. rubens and other filamentous fungi. Our work represents a foundational step towards the objective of rationalising the production of natural products through GSMN modelling.
Image to English translation and comprehension: INT2-VQA method based on inter-modality and intra-modality collaborations
Authors: Sheng Xianli
Published: August 2023

Existing visual question answering methods typically concentrate only on visual targets in images, ignoring the key textual content in the images, thereby limiting the depth and accuracy of image content comprehension. Inspired by this, we pay attention to the task of text-based visual question answering, address the performance bottleneck issue caused by over-fitting risk in existing self-attention-based models, and propose a scenario text visual question answering method called INT2-VQA that fuses knowledge manifestation based on inter-modality and intra-modality collaborations. Specifically, we model the complementary priori knowledge of locational collaboration between visual targets and textual targets across modalities and the contextual semantical collaboration among textual word targets within a modality. Based on this, a universal knowledge-reinforced attention module is designed to achieve a unified encoding manifestation of both relations. Extensive ablation experiments, contrast experiments, and visual analyses demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and prove its superiority over the other state-of-the-art methods.
Expression of circadian regulatory genes is dysregulated by increased cytokine production in mice subjected to concomitant intestinal injury and parenteral nutrition
Authors: Shearn Colin T. , Anderson Aimee L. , Devereaux Michael W. , El Kasmi Karim C. , Orlicky David J. , Sokol Ronald J.
Published: August 2023

Background

We have developed a mouse model of Parenteral Nutrition Associated Cholestasis (PNAC) in which combining intestinal inflammation and PN infusion results in cholestasis, hepatic macrophage activation, and transcriptional suppression of bile acid and sterol signaling and transport. In the liver, the master circadian gene regulatorsBmal/ArntlandClockdrive circadian modulation of hepatic functions, including bile acid synthesis. Once activated, Bmal and Clock are downregulated by several transcription factors including Reverbα (Nr1d1), Dbp (Dbp), Dec1/2 (Bhlhe40/41), Cry1/2 (Cry1/2) and Per1/2 (Per1/2). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of PN on expression of hepatic circadian rhythm (CR) regulatory genes in mice.

Methods

WT, IL1KOor TNFRKOmice were exposed to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 4 days followed by soy-oil lipid emulsion-based PN infusion through a central venous catheter for 14 days (DSS-PN) and the expression of key CR regulatory transcription factors evaluated. Animals were NPO on a 14 hr light-dark cycle and were administered PN continuously over 24 hrs. Mice were sacrificed, and hepatic tissue obtained at 9-10AM (Zeitgeber Z+3/Z+4 hrs). PNAC was defined by increased serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bile acids, and total bilirubin and the effect of i.p. injection of recombinant IL-1β (200ng/mouse) or TNFα (200ng/mouse) on CR expression was examined after 4 hrs.

Results

In the PNAC model, DSS-PN increased serum biomarkers of hepatic injury (ALT, AST, serum bile acids) which was suppressed in both DSS-PN IL1KOand DSS-PN TNFRKOmice. In WT DSS-PN, mRNA expression ofArntlandDec1was suppressed corresponding to increasedNr1d1,Per2,DbpandDec2. These effects were ameliorated in both DSS-PN IL1KOand DSS-PN TNFRKOgroups. Western analysis of the circadian transcription factor network revealed in WT mice DSS-PN significantly suppressed Reverbα, Bmal, Dbp, Per2 and Mtnr1b. With the exception of Dbp, DSS-PN mediated suppression was ameliorated by both IL1KOand TNFRKO. Intraperitoneal injection of IL-1β or TNFα into WT mice increased serum AST and ALT and suppressed mRNA expression ofNr1d1,ArntlandClockand increasedDbpandPer2.

Conclusions

Altered expression of CR-dependent regulatory genes during PNAC accompanies cholestasis and is, in part, due to increased cytokine (IL-1β and TNFα) production. Evaluation of the effects of modulating CR in PNAC thus deserves further investigation.
Market framing bias and cross-sectional stock returns
Authors: Xie Jun , Zhang Baohua , Gao Bin
Published: August 2023

This paper introduces the market framing bias (MFB): a framing effect that affects the return-risk tradeoff under different frameworks of aggregate market losses and profits, which is measured by the absolute difference between betas in the rising and falling markets. The paper finds that the MFB can predict lower future stock return on the cross-section. Specifically, after controlling for various firm-specific characteristics, this predictive power of the FMB declines over time. Furthermore, the predictive power of the FMB is stable in the short term even after controlling for various pricing factors and firm-specific characteristics.
A computational approach to fighting type 1 diabetes by targeting 2C Coxsackie B virus protein with flavonoids
Authors: Ullah Shahid , Zheng Zilong , Rahman Wajeeha , Ullah Farhan , Ullah Anees , Iqbal Muhammad Nasir , Iqbal Naveed , Gao Tianshun
Published: August 2023

Autoimmune diabetes, well-known as type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus (T1D). T1D is a prolonged condition marked by an inadequate supply of insulin. The lack is brought on by pancreatic cell death and results in hyperglycemia. The immune system, genetic predisposition, and environmental variables are just a few of the many elements that contribute significantly to the pathogenicity of T1D disease. In this study, we test flavonoids against Coxsackie virus protein to cope the type 1 diabetes. After protein target identification we perform molecular docking of flavonoids and selected target (1z8r). then performed the ADMET analysis and select the top compound the base of the docking score and the ADMET test analysis. Following that molecular dynamics simulation was performed up to 300 ns. Root means square deviation, root mean square fluctuation, secondary structure elements, and protein-ligand contacts were calculated as post-analysis of simulation. We further check the binding of the ligand with protein by performing MM-GBSA every 10 ns. Lead compound CID_5280445 was chosen as a possible medication based on analysis. The substance is non-toxic, meets the ADMET and BBB likeness requirements, and has the best interaction energy. This work will assist researchers in developing medicine and testing it as a treatment for Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 brought on by Coxsackie B4 viruses by giving them an understanding of chemicals against these viruses.
Creating a population-based cohort of children born with and without congenital anomalies using birth data matched to hospital discharge databases in 11 European regions: Assessment of linkage success and data quality
Authors: Loane Maria , Given Joanne E. , Tan Joachim , Barišić Ingeborg , Barrachina-Bonet Laia , Cavero-Carbonell Clara , Coi Alessio , Densem James , Garne Ester , Gissler Mika , Heino Anna , Jordan Sue , Lutke Renee , Neville Amanda J. , Odak Ljubica , Puccini Aurora , Santoro Michele , Scanlon Ieuan , Urhoj Stine K. , de Walle Hermien E. K. , Wellesley Diana , Morris Joan K.
Published: August 2023

Linking routinely collected healthcare administrative data is a valuable method for conducting research on morbidity outcomes, but linkage quality and accuracy needs to be assessed for bias as the data were not collected for research. The aim of this study was to describe the rates of linking data on children with and without congenital anomalies to regional or national hospital discharge databases and to evaluate the quality of the matched data. Eleven population-based EUROCAT registries participated in a EUROlinkCAT study linking data on children with a congenital anomaly and children without congenital anomalies (reference children) born between 1995 and 2014 to administrative databases including hospital discharge records. Odds ratios (OR), adjusted by region, were estimated to assess the association of maternal and child characteristics on the likelihood of being matched. Data on 102,654 children with congenital anomalies were extracted from 11 EUROCAT registries and 2,199,379 reference children from birth registers in seven regions. Overall, 97% of children with congenital anomalies and 95% of reference children were successfully matched to administrative databases. Information on maternal age, multiple birth status, sex, gestational age and birthweight were >95% complete in the linked datasets for most regions. Compared with children born at term, those born at ≤27 weeks and 28–31 weeks were less likely to be matched (adjusted OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.21–0.25 and adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.70–0.81 respectively). For children born 32–36 weeks, those with congenital anomalies were less likely to be matched (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.71–0.85) while reference children were more likely to be matched (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.24–1.32). Children born to teenage mothers and mothers ≥35 years were less likely to be matched compared with mothers aged 20–34 years (adjusted ORs 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.96; and 0.87, 95% CI 0.86–0.89 respectively). The accuracy of linkage and the quality of the matched data suggest that these data are suitable for researching morbidity outcomes in most regions/countries. However, children born preterm and those born to mothers aged <20 and ≥35 years are less likely to be matched. While linkage to administrative databases enables identification of a reference group and long-term outcomes to be investigated, efforts are needed to improve linkages to population groups that are less likely to be linked.
Age-dependent relationships among diet, body condition, and Echinococcus multilocularis infection in urban coyotes
Authors: Sugden Scott , Steckler Deanna K. , Sanderson Dana , Abercrombie Bill , Abercrombie Duncan , Seguin M. Alexis , Ford Kyra , St. Clair Colleen Cassady
Published: August 2023

Urban coyotes (Canis latrans) in North America increasingly exhibit a high prevalence ofEchinococcus multilocularis, a cestode of recent and rising public health concern that uses rodents as intermediate hosts and canids as definitive hosts. However, little is known about the factors that drive the high urban prevalence of this parasite. We hypothesized that the diet of urban coyotes may contribute to their higherE.multilocularisinfection prevalence via either (a) greater exposure to the parasite from increased rodent consumption or (b) increased susceptibility to infection due to the negative health effects of consuming anthropogenic food. We tested these hypotheses by comparing the presence and intensity ofE.multilocularisinfection to physiological data (age, sex, body condition, and spleen mass), short-term diet (stomach contents), and long-term diet (δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes) in 112 coyote carcasses collected for reasons other than this study from Edmonton, Alberta and the surrounding area. Overall, the best predictor of infection status in this population was young age, where the likelihood of infection decreased with age in rural coyotes but not urban ones. Neither short- nor long-term measures of diet could predict infection across our entire sample, but we found support for our initial hypotheses in young, urban coyotes: both rodent and anthropogenic food consumption effectively predictedE.multilocularisinfection in this population. The effects of these predictors were more variable in rural coyotes and older coyotes. We suggest that limiting coyote access to areas in which anthropogenic food and rodent habitat overlap (e.g., compost piles or garbage sites) may effectively reduce the risk of infection, deposition, and transmission of this emerging zoonotic parasite in urban areas.
SentiUrdu-1M: A large-scale tweet dataset for Urdu text sentiment analysis using weakly supervised learning
Authors: Ghafoor Abdul , Imran Ali Shariq , Daudpota Sher Muhammad , Kastrati Zenun , Shaikh Sarang , Batra Rakhi
Published: August 2023

Low-resource languages are gaining much-needed attention with the advent of deep learning models and pre-trained word embedding. Though spoken by more than 230 million people worldwide, Urdu is one such low-resource language that has recently gained popularity online and is attracting a lot of attention and support from the research community. One challenge faced by such resource-constrained languages is the scarcity of publicly available large-scale datasets for conducting any meaningful study. In this paper, we address this challenge by collecting the first-ever large-scale Urdu Tweet Dataset for sentiment analysis and emotion recognition. The dataset consists of a staggering number of 1, 140, 821 tweets in the Urdu language. Obviously, manual labeling of such a large number of tweets would have been tedious, error-prone, and humanly impossible; therefore, the paper also proposes a weakly supervised approach to label tweets automatically. Emoticons used within the tweets, in addition to SentiWordNet, are utilized to propose a weakly supervised labeling approach to categorize extracted tweets into positive, negative, and neutral categories. Baseline deep learning models are implemented to compute the accuracy of three labeling approaches, i.e., VADER, TextBlob, and our proposed weakly supervised approach. Unlike the weakly supervised labeling approach, the VADER and TextBlob put most tweets as neutral and show a high correlation between the two. This is largely attributed to the fact that these models do not consider emoticons for assigning polarity.