bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vacuum energy of nonsupersymmetric
S˜
heterotic string models
Authors: Detraux Luke A. , Diaz Avalos Alonzo R. , Faraggi Alon E. , Percival Benjamin
Published: October 2024

We use the free fermionic formulation of the heterotic string in four dimensions to study the vacuum structure and energy of nonsupersymmetric tachyon free models that correspond to compactifications of tachyonic vacua of the ten-dimensional heterotic string. We explore the class of heterotic SO(10) nonsupersymmetric models constructed from the S˜ model in the free fermionic formalism and investigate the dependence of the potential on the geometric moduli. This paper will explore a sample of 109 string vacua to find the frequency of viable models, classifying these vacua by the following fertility criteria: tachyon presence, number of spinorial 16/16¯ representations, vectorial 10 states, and top quark mass coupling compatibility. Of these we find those that mimic supersymmetric models with equal number of bosons and fermions at the massless level: a00=0. Tachyon free models occur with a frequency of 5.309×10−3. Furthermore, models that fulfil the rest of the phenomenological fertility conditions and the additional condition on a00 occur with probability 4.0×10−9 We analyze the partition functions and study the moduli dependence of such models, finding that almost all fertile models have finite, positive potential at the free fermionic point, with 2 out of 84 of the fertile cores having negative, finite potential. We demonstrate that the free fermionic point is not necessarily a minimum in the potential. This work provides further evidence that supersymmetry may not be a necessary ingredient of phenomenological models, recreating many of the desirable features of such models without employing supersymmetry.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Evidence for validity and reliability of a research-based assessment instrument on measurement uncertainty
Authors: Geschwind Gayle , Vignal Michael , Caballero Marcos D. , Lewandowski H. J.
Published: October 2024

The Survey of Physics Reasoning on Uncertainty Concepts in Experiments (SPRUCE) was designed to measure students’ proficiency with measurement uncertainty concepts and practices across ten different assessment objectives to help facilitate the improvement of laboratory instruction focused on this important topic. To ensure the reliability and validity of this assessment, we conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis using classical test theory. This analysis includes an evaluation of the test as a whole, as well as an in-depth examination of individual items and assessment objectives. We make use of a previously reported on scoring scheme involving pairing items with assessment objectives, creating a new unit for statistical analysis referred to as a “couplet.” The findings from our analysis provide evidence for the reliability and validity of SPRUCE as an assessment tool for undergraduate physics labs. This increases both instructors’ and researchers’ confidence in using SPRUCE for measuring students’ proficiency with measurement uncertainty concepts and practices to ultimately improve laboratory instruction. Additionally, our results using couplets and assessment objectives demonstrate how these can be used with traditional classic test theory analysis.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Interplay between short and long time scales in adapting, periodically driven elastic flow networks
Authors: Chatterjee Purba , Fancher Sean , Katifori Eleni
Published: October 2024

Existing theories of structural adaptation in biological flow networks are largely concerned with steady flows. However, biological networks are composed of elastic vessels, and many are driven by a pulsatile or periodic source, leading to spatiotemporal variations in the pressure and flow fields on short time-scales within each vessel. Here, we investigate the mathematical problem of how long-term adaptation in elastic networks is impacted by short-term pulsatile dynamics at the level of individual vessels. Using a a minimal one-loop network, we show that pulsatility gives rise to resonances that stabilize the loop for a much broader range of metabolic cost functions than predicted by existing theories. Our paper emphasizes the importance of correctly capturing the interplay of the short and long time-scales for a more realistic treatment of adaptation in periodically driven elastic flow networks.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nonequilibrium dynamics and atom-pair coherence in strongly interacting Bose-Fermi mixtures
Authors: van de Kraats J. , Ahmed-Braun D. J. M. , Colussi V. E. , Kokkelmans S. J. J. M. F.
Published: October 2024

Theoretical treatments of nonequilibrium dynamics in strongly interacting Bose-Fermi mixtures are complicated by the inherent non-Gaussian nature of the vacuum two-body physics, invalidating the typical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation. Here we apply the cumulant expansion to study nonequilibrium Bose-Fermi mixtures, which allows us to explicitly include the missing non-Gaussian quantum correlations, leading to a consistent dynamical theory of a Bose-Fermi mixture near an interspecies Feshbach resonance. We first apply our theory to a study of atom-pair coherence in the gas, which is significantly enhanced by the competing influences of the Fermi sea and Bose-Einstein condensation, in agreement with analytical calculations. Then we study the depletion of a degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture following a quench to the unitary regime, characterizing the resulting depletion of the Bose-Einstein condensate, the deformation of the Fermi surface, and the production of molecules. We find that at early times, the population dynamics scale quadratically with the hold time, and define an associated characteristic timescale set by the parameters of the mixture and the width of the Feshbach resonance.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Leveraging analog quantum computing with neutral atoms for solvent configuration prediction in drug discovery
Authors: D'Arcangelo Mauro , Henry Louis-Paul , Henriet Loïc , Loco Daniele , Gouraud Nicolaï , Angebault Stanislas , Sueiro Jules , Forêt Jérôme , Monmarché Pierre , Piquemal Jean-Philip
Published: October 2024

We introduce an approach to sampling equilibrium solvent water molecule configurations within proteins that leverages analog quantum computing. We present a complete end-to-end study from the molecular biology application to the development of the quantum algorithm to the implementation on a neutral atom quantum processing unit (QPU). To do so, we combine a quantum placement strategy to the 3D Reference Interaction Site Model, an approach capable of predicting continuous solvent distributions. The intrinsic quantum nature of such coupling guarantees molecules not to be placed too close to each other, a constraint usually imposed by hand in classical approaches. We present first a full quantum adiabatic evolution model that uses a local Rydberg Hamiltonian to cast the general problem into an antiferromagnetic Ising model. Its solution is embodied into a Rydberg atom array QPU. Following a classical emulator implementation, a QPU portage allows to experimentally validate the algorithm performances on an actual quantum computer. As a perspective of use on next generation devices, we emulate a second hybrid quantum-classical version of the algorithm. Such a variational quantum approach uses a classical Bayesian minimization routine to find the optimal laser parameters. Overall, these Quantum-3D-RISM algorithms open a route towards the application of analog quantum computing in molecular modeling and drug design.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Phononic supercrystal as a highly absorbing metamaterial
Authors: Ibarias Martin , Sánchez-Dehesa José , Krokhin Arkadii
Published: October 2024

We demonstrate analytically, numerically, and experimentally that a 2D supercrystal (SC)—an elastic structure of solid rods with two distinct spatial periods embedded in a viscous fluid—exhibits very high acoustic absorption. Smaller diameter rods arranged in a 2D lattice with a smaller period serve as an effective medium with high viscosity for a set of larger rods arranged in a lattice of much larger period. The enhancement of acoustic absorption is due to strong viscous friction within a narrow layer with high gradients of velocity formed around each scatterer. The SC as a whole is considered in the homogenization limit of frequencies where it behaves as a metafluid with an effective speed of sound and effective viscosity. Analytical results for the effective parameters are calculated for any Bravais lattices and arbitrary cross-sections of the rods. Experimental measurements of acoustic absorption in a supercrystal with hexagonal lattices for both types of rods are in a good agreement with analytical and numerical results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Decomposing Thermodynamic Dissipation of Linear Langevin Systems via Oscillatory Modes and Its Application to Neural Dynamics
Authors: Sekizawa Daiki , Ito Sosuke , Oizumi Masafumi
Published: October 2024

Recent developments in stochastic thermodynamics have elucidated various relations between the entropy production rate (thermodynamic dissipation) and the physical limits of information processing in nonequilibrium dynamical systems. These findings have been actively utilized and have opened new perspectives in the analysis of real biological systems. In neuroscience also, the importance of quantifying entropy production has attracted increasing attention as a means to understand the properties of information processing in the brain. However, the relationship between entropy production rate and oscillations, which is prevalent in many biological systems, is unclear. For example, neural oscillations, such as delta, theta, and alpha waves, play crucial roles in brain information processing. Here, we derive a novel decomposition of the entropy production rate of linear Langevin systems. We show that one of the components of the entropy production rate, called the housekeeping entropy production rate, can be decomposed into independent positive contributions from oscillatory modes. Our decomposition enables us to calculate the contribution of oscillatory modes to the housekeeping entropy production rate. In addition, when the noise matrix of the Langevin equation is diagonal, the contribution of each oscillatory mode is further decomposed into the contribution of each element of the system. To demonstrate the utility of our decomposition, we apply our decomposition to an electrocorticography dataset recorded during awake and anesthetized conditions in monkeys, wherein the properties of oscillations change drastically. We show the consistent trends across different monkeys; i.e., the contribution of oscillatory modes from the delta band are larger in the anesthetized condition than in the awake condition, while those from the higher-frequency bands, such as the theta band, are smaller. These results allow us to interpret the change in neural oscillation in terms of stochastic thermodynamics and the physical limit of information processing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Molecular and crystal structures of six poly(arylsulfinyl)- and poly(arylsulfanyl)ferrocenes
Authors: Blockhaus Tobias , Sünkel Karlheinz
Published: October 2024

Starting from (p-tolylsulfinyl)ferrocene (1), a mixture of the complete series [CpFe{C5H5–n
(SOTol-p)
n
}] (n = 2–4) (2–4) in all regioisomers was obtained. After chromatographic separation, crystals of 1,2-bis[(4-methylbenzene)sulfinyl]ferrocene, 2a, and 1,3-bis[(4-methylbenzene)sulfinyl]ferrocene, 2b, both [Fe(C5H5)(C19H17O2S2)], as well as of 1,2,3-tris[(4-methylbenzene)sulfinyl]ferrocene, [Fe(C5H5)(C26H23O3S3)], 3a, and 1,2,3,4-tetrakis[(4-methylbenzene)sulfinyl]ferrocene ethyl acetate 0.75-solvate, [Fe(C5H5)(C33H29O4S4)]·0.75C4H8O2, 4, could be isolated. Their molecular and crystal structures are compared with each other and also with the so far unreported structures of related 1,2-bis(phenylsulfanyl)ferrocene, [Fe(C5H5)(C17H13S2)], 5, and 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(phenylsulfanyl)ferrocene, [Fe(C5H5)(C29H21S4)], 6. In all the sulfinyl structures, the O atoms of the S=O groups are in equatorial positions, except for that in tetrasubstituted 4. All the arene rings of these compounds (except for one ring in 4) are in axial positions directed away from the Fe atom, mostly in a near perpendicular orientation with respect to the plane of the cyclopentadienyl ring. The main intermolecular interactions in the crystals are C—H...H—C, C—H...π and C—H...O, while C—H...S interactions are much less important, except for tetrasulfanyl compound 6. π–π interactions (intramolecular) are only important in compound 3a. Hirshfeld analysis shows that dispersion terms are dominant for the interaction energies of all six compounds. In general, the calculated total interaction energies increase with increasing number of substituents and are higher for the sulfinyl than for the sulfanyl groups.
Triclinic polymorph of bis[2-methyl-3-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ium] tetrachloridocadmium(II)
Authors: Vassilyeva Olga Yu. , Buvaylo Elena A. , Kokozay Vladimir N. , Goreshnik Evgeny A.
Published: October 2024

The crystal structure of the title organic–inorganic hybrid salt, (C13H12N3)2[CdCl4], (I), has been reported with four molecules in the asymmetric unit in a monoclinic cell [Vassilyeva et al. (2021). RSC Advances, 11, 7713–7722]. While using two different aldehydes in the oxidative cyclization–condensation involving CH3NH2·HCl to prepare a new monovalent cation with the imidazo[1,5-a]pyridinium skeleton, a new polymorph was obtained for (I) in space group P
1 and a unit cell with approximately half the volume of the monoclinic form. The structural configurations of the two crystallographically non-equivalent organic cations as well as the geometry of the moderately distorted tetrahedral CdCl4
2– dianion show minor changes. In the crystal, identically stacked cations and tetrachlorocadmate anions form separate columns parallel to the a axis. The loose packing of the anions leads to a minimal separation of approximately 9.53 Å between the metal atoms in the triclinic form versus 7.51 Å in the monoclinic one, indicating that the latter is packed slightly more densely. The two forms also differ by aromatic stacking motifs. Similar to the monoclinic polymorph, the triclinic one excited at 364 nm shows an intense unsymmetrical photoluminescent band with maximum at 403 nm and a full width at half maximum of 51 nm in the solid state.
Assessing and predicting type 2 diabetes risk with triglyceride glucose‐body mass index in the Chinese nondiabetic population—Data from long‐term follow‐up of Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study
Authors: Wang Haixu , He Siyao , Wang Jinping , Qian Xin , Zhang Bo , Yang Zhiwei , Chen Bo , Li Guangwei , Gong Qiuhong ,   for the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study Group
Published: October 2024

Aims

We intended to characterize the superiority of triglyceride glucose‐body mass index (TyG‐BMI) in predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with triglyceride glucose (TyG) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR).

Methods

A total of 699 nondiabetic participants in the Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study were involved in the present analysis and classified according to the median of baseline TyG‐BMI, namely the G1 (low TyG‐BMI) and G2 (high TyG‐BMI) groups. Information on developing diabetes was assessed from 1986 to 2020.

Results

During the 34‐year follow‐up, after adjustment for confounders, the G2 group had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the G1 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51–2.45, p < 0.0001). Restricted cubic spline analyses showed that increased TyG‐BMI was linearly related to higher risks of type 2 diabetes (p for non‐linearity>0.05). Time‐dependent receiver operator characteristics curves suggested that TyG‐BMI exhibited higher predictive ability than TyG (6‐year: area under the curve [AUC]TyG‐BMI vs. AUCTyG, 0.78 vs. 0.70, p = 0.03; 34‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCTyG, 0.79 vs. 0.73, p = 0.04) and HOMA‐IR (6‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCHOMA‐IR, 0.78 vs. 0.70, p = 0.07; 34‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCHOMA‐IR, 0.79 vs. 0.71, p = 0.04) in both short and long terms, and the thresholds of TyG‐BMI to predict type 2 diabetes were relatively stable (195.24–208.41) over the 34‐year follow‐up.

Conclusions

In this post hoc study, higher TyG‐BMI was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and demonstrated better predictability than TyG and HOMA‐IR, favoring the application of TyG‐BMI as a potential tool for evaluating the risk of type 2 diabetes in clinical practice.

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Phenological growth stages of kokum tree (Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy) according to the extended BBCH scale
Authors: Tondihal Manjunath Sharanappa , Chninnappa Gowda Vikram H. , Madhavan Latha , Muralidhara Bommanahalli M. , Savadi Siddanna , Bhaskar Jyothi
Published: October 2024

Kokum (Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy) is an evergreen fruit tree, naturally distributed in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats in India, displaying polygamous characteristics. The economic significance of this tree is attributed to its fruit rind rich in pharmaceutical compounds such as hydroxy citric acid, garcinol and anthocyanin. The fruit rind is commonly utilised to create refreshing beverages. The demand for both kokum fruit and its derived products is on the rise within the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. To facilitate genetic enhancement, agronomic management and commercial cultivation, a comprehensive understanding of the periodic growth of kokum is essential. Presently, the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) phenological scale stands as the most credible and widely adopted framework. In this research endeavour, specific standard codes and descriptions were established for various growth stages of kokum. Utilising an extended BBCH scale ranging from 0 to 9, we delineated seven principal growth stages in kokum: Stage 0 for vegetative bud development, Stage 1 for leaf development, Stage 3 for shoot growth, Stage 5 for reproductive bud development, Stage 6 for flowering, Stage 7 for fruit development and Stage 8 for fruit maturity. Secondary stages were assigned based on observed growth event percentages. The duration and seasonal characteristics of each principal and secondary growth stage were meticulously recorded. This newly developed phenological scale serves as a versatile tool applicable to researchers, breeders and industrialists for enhancing agricultural production and effective scientific communication in the kokum research.
Association between prescription drugs and all‐cause mortality risk in the UK population
Authors: Morin Jonas , Rolland Yves , Bischoff‐Ferrari Heike A. , Ocampo Alejandro , Perez Kevin
Published: October 2024

Although most drugs currently approved are meant to treat specific diseases or symptoms, it has been hypothesized that some might bear a beneficial effect on lifespan in healthy older individuals, outside of their specific disease indication. Such drugs include, among others, metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors and rapamycin. Since 2006, the UK biobank has recorded prescription medication and mortality data for over 500′000 participants, aged between 40 and 70 years old. In this work, we examined the impact of the top 406 prescribed medications on overall mortality rates within the general population of the UK. As expected, most drugs were linked to a shorter lifespan, likely due to the life‐limiting nature of the diseases they are prescribed to treat. Importantly, a few drugs were associated with increased lifespans, including notably Sildenafil, Atorvastatin, Naproxen and Estradiol. These retrospective results warrant further investigation in randomized controlled trials.
Disparities in pain management among transgender patients presenting to the emergency department for abdominal pain
Authors: Engstrom Kellyn , Bellolio Fernanda , Jeffery Molly Moore , Sutherland Sara C. , Carpenter Kayla P. , Jackson Gia , Cole Kristin , Chedid Victor , Davidge‐Pitts Caroline J. , Sunga Kharmene L. , Gonzalez Cesar , Brown Caitlin S.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Transgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) individuals have a gender identity or expression that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. They are an underserved population who experience health care inequities. Our primary objective was to identify if there are treatment differences between TGD and cisgender lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer (LGBQ) or heterosexual individuals presenting with abdominal pain to the emergency department (ED).

Methods

Retrospective observational cohort study of patients ≥12 years of age presenting to 21 EDs within a health care system with a chief complaint of abdominal pain between 2018 and 2022. TGD patients were matched 1:1:1:1 to cisgender LGBQ women and men and cisgender heterosexual women and men, respectively. Propensity score matching covariates included age, ED site, mental health history, and gastrointestinal history. The primary outcome was pain assessment within 60 min of arrival. The secondary outcome was analgesics administered in the ED.

Results

We identified 300 TGD patients, of whom 300 TGD patients were successfully matched for a total cohort of 1300 patients. The median (IQR) age was 25 (20–32) years and most patients were treated in a community ED (58.2%). There was no difference between groups in pain assessment within 60 min of arrival (59.0% TGD vs. 63.2% non TGD, p = 0.19). There were no differences in the number of times pain was assessed (median [IQR] 2 [1–3] vs. 2 [1–4], p = 0.31) or the severity of pain between groups (5.5 [4–7] vs. 6 [4–7], p = 0.11). TGD patients were more likely to receive nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (32.0% vs. 24.9%, p = 0.015) and less likely to receive opioids than non‐TGD patients (24.7% vs. 36.9%, p = <0.001). TGD and nonbinary patients, along with LGBQ cisgender women (24.7%) and heterosexual cisgender women (34%), were less likely to receive opioids than LGBQ cisgender men (54%) and heterosexual cisgender men (42.3%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

There was no difference in frequency of pain assessment, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. More cisgender men, compared to TGD and cisgender women, received opioids for their pain.
Not all types of depressed patients who persist with their antidepressant treatment improve in side effect complaints: A comparison of treatment completers and dropouts in the STAR*D trial
Authors: Kim Thomas T. , Xu Colin
Published: October 2024

Introduction

There is a “traditional belief” that antidepressant side effect complaints improve with medication persistence; however, support for this theory has remained inconclusive. We aimed to examine if side effect complaints improved over time by modeling the relationship between side effect complaints and time at dropout for patients receiving citalopram during the first level of acute treatment in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial.

Methods

We categorized the 2833 patients into five patterns by week of dropout. We used pattern‐mixture modeling to model change in side effect complaints (frequency, intensity, and burden) over the 12‐week course of treatment, while accounting for attrition and depressive severity. Using post‐hoc linear contrasts, we compared the attrition patterns with the completers' pattern for severity of side effect complaints at each respective last visit prior to dropout as well as averaged side effect complaints across the duration of treatment. We also reported frequencies and tolerability of side effects for nine organ/function systems over the course of treatment.

Results

Patients who dropped out early exhibited worsening side effect burden and patients who dropped out later showed improvements in side effect frequency and intensity. Treatment completers improved in all side effect complaints over the course of treatment. Early attrition patterns had more severe side effect complaints for both tests of post‐hoc linear contrasts than later attrition patterns and completers.

Conclusions

Side effect complaints from antidepressant treatment improve over time, but only for some types of patients. As a precaution for early dropout, clinicians should monitor patients who exhibit worsening and more severe side effect complaints—especially in the first 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment. In addition, clinicians may want to consider changing the type of treatment early on for these patients, rather than encouraging them to persist with their current medication.
Navigating new norms: Addiction specialists' perspectives on opioid use disorder treatments and policy challenges in the fentanyl era
Authors: Weleff Jeremy , Christian Nicholaus J. , Wang James X. , Singh Mohit , De Aquino Joao P. , Saxon Andrew J. , Vassallo Gabriela Garcia
Published: October 2024

Background and Objectives

Amidst increasing opioid‐related overdoses in the USA, opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment has seen few novel treatments emerge. High‐potency synthetic opioids (HPSOs) have altered clinical approaches, prompting evaluation of existing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and interest in slow‐release oral morphine (SROM) as another therapeutic option. Here we survey addiction specialists on the influence of HPSOs on clinical practice, views on current MOUD regulations, and openness to novel therapies such as SROM.

Methods

Anonymous, online survey conducted at a national conference of addiction specialists (N = 91). Pearson χ2 tests and Fisher's exact tests to compare respondent characteristics.

Results

Approximately 89% of respondents (N = 91) acknowledge that HPSOs shifted addiction treatment in recent years, with 86% modifying their MOUD prescribing accordingly. Moreover, 84% report having patients who could benefit from other full opioid agonists beyond methadone for OUD management. Many report off‐label prescribing of full agonist opioids other than methadone for withdrawal symptoms or initiating MOUD. Eighty percent reported being in favor of incorporating SROM as a third‐line monotherapy for OUD.

Discussion and Conclusion

This sample of addiction specialists supports innovative alternatives for MOUD in the USA to combat the challenges posed by fentanyl and related HPSOs. Future work should further addiction specialists' opinions on barriers to OUD treatment and exploration of these international strategies in the USA.

Scientific Significance

This appears to be the first study exploring addiction specialists' perspectives on regulatory barriers to OUD treatment and their willingness to uptake internationally adopted strategies such as SROM.
Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Reveals Causal Effects of Immune Cell Traits on Endometriosis Risk
Authors: Wang Ying , Sun Fenyong , Wu Han , Yue Chaoyan , Man Qiuhong
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Previous studies have identified associations between immune cell traits and endometriosis, but the causality of these relationships remains uncertain. In this study, we utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between immune cell traits and endometriosis for the first time.

Methods

Seven hundred and thirty‐one immune cell signatures associated with single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were extracted from a published genome‐wide association study (GWAS) involving 472 174 individuals, while endometriosis data, including four stages and seven subtypes, were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. Four methods were used for MR. The causal effect of immune cell traits on endometriosis was explored after Bonferroni correction.

Results

Significant causal relationship included 92 immune cell traits distributed among B cell (28 cells), cDC (2 cells), maturation stages of T cell (10 cells), monocyte (12 cells), Myeloid cell (5 cells), TBNK (13 cells), and Treg panels (22 cells). One of the most significant findings is that for every 1‐standard deviation (SD) increase in CD8 on Central Memory CD8+ T cell, the risks of developing endometriosis of the fallopian tube increased by 72%. In the reverse MR analysis, a one‐unit increase in the log odds of endometriosis of the ovary risk corresponded to a decrease in the absolute count of CD4+ CD8dim T cell by 0.10.

Conclusion

This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the causal effects of immune cell traits on the risk/protection of different stages/subtypes of endometriosis. The findings highlight the complex and significant role of immune‐derived factors in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Effects of various levels of coated cysteamine hydrochloride in the diet on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites in growing Charolais crossbred cattle
Authors: Meenongyai Watcharawit , Wongpanit Kannika , Phongkaew Piyamas , Khejornsart Pichad , Kamkuan Pramoet , Khamngamdi Phongphet , Kokaew Nattawut , Papsaree Sahapap , Tammanoi Chayanun , Namwongsa Nuttawut , Phungkrathok Natthaphon , Srijan Artsani , Siriket Chakkrit , Waramit Naroon , Modak Tanmay , Rahman Md Abdur , Siam Md Sifat Habib , Kabir A. K. M. Ahsan , Manabe Noboru
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the impact of different levels of coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) supplementation on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites in Charolais cross bulls. Twelve bulls were allotted to three feeding treatments in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design: 0% CSH (control), 0.5% CSH, and 1.0% CSH in concentrate. Animals were fed concentrate at 1.5% of body weight. Dry matter intake (DMI) and DMI as a percentage of body weight showed no significant differences among treatments (p > 0.10). Nutrient digestibility was consistent across treatments, except for a slight decrease in NDF digestibility with 1% CSH (p = 0.07). Ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen, volatile fatty acid (VFA) proportions, and total VFA concentration were similar among treatments (p > 0.05). Total bacteria, fungal zoospores, and protozoa populations in the rumen did not vary significantly (p > 0.05). Blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations remained stable (p > 0.05), while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were higher in CSH‐supplemented groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, incorporating CSH levels ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% into the diet did not adversely affect feed intake, ruminal fermentation, or microbial populations. Additionally, 1.0% CSH improved BUN concentration in growing Charolais cross bulls.
The impact of starting dose on overall survival in myelofibrosis patients treated with ruxolitinib: A prospective real‐world study on AIFA monitoring registries
Authors: Breccia Massimo , Celant Simone , Palandri Francesca , Passamonti Francesco , Olimpieri Pier Paolo , Summa Valentina , Guarcello Annalisa , Palumbo Giuseppe Alberto , Pane Fabrizio , Guglielmelli Paola , Corradini Paolo , Russo Pierluigi
Published: October 2024

Ruxolitinib is a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF)‐related splenomegaly or symptoms. The recommended starting dose depends on platelet count, regardless of haemoglobin level at baseline. In the recent years, an overall survival (OS) advantage was reported in patients treated with ruxolitinib compared with best available therapy. We analysed a large Italian cohort of 3494 patients identified by Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) monitoring registries. Of them, 2337 (66.9%) started at reduced dose: these patients were older (median age 70 vs. 67), with increased incidence of large splenomegaly (longitudinal diameter 20 vs. 19.1 cm, median volume 1064 cm3 vs. 1016 cm3), with higher IPSS risk (30.9% vs. 26.1%), and worse ECOG score (more than 1 in 14.3% vs. 9.8%). After balancing for baseline characteristics, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a median OS of 78.2 months (95% CI 65.9–89) for patients who started at full dose and 52.6 (95% CI 49–56.6) months for patients who started with reduced dose (p < 0.001). Group analysis also showed a substantial difference in patients with intermediate‐2 and high IPSS risk. The majority of MF patients in real‐world analysis started with a reduced dose of ruxolitinib, which is associated with less favourable outcomes.
Allergen Immunotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Asthma
Authors: Batard Thierry , Taillé Camille , Guilleminault Laurent , Bozek Andrzej , Floch Véronique Bordas‐Le , Pfaar Oliver , Canonica Walter G. , Akdis Cezmi , Shamji Mohamed H. , Mascarell Laurent
Published: October 2024

Allergic asthma is the predominant phenotype among asthmatics. Although conventional pharmacotherapy is a central component in the management of asthma, it does not enable control of asthma symptoms in all patients. In recent decades, some uncontrolled asthmatic patients, especially those with allergic asthma, have benefited from biological therapies. However, biologics do not address all the unmet needs left by conventional pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that neither conventional pharmacotherapy nor biological therapies have disease‐modifying properties. In this context, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents an indispensable component of the therapeutic arsenal against allergic asthma, due to its disease‐modifying immunological effects. In this review article, funded by an AIT manufacturer, we find clinical trials support AIT as the only treatment option able both to improve allergic asthma symptoms and to prevent the onset and worsening of the condition. For patients with severe asthma or other safety concerns, the combination of AIT and biologics offers very promising new treatment modalities for the management of allergic asthma.

Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06027073
Anti‐Thymocyte Globulin as a Therapy for Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Dunn Colin T. , Brandon William , Jacob Alan , Zhang Song , Gao Ang , Torres Fernando , Lawrence Adrian , Timofte Irina , Bollineni Srinivas , Mohanka Manish , Wait Michael , Peltz Matthias , Heid Christopher , Huffman Lynn , Ring Steve , Murala John , Keshavamurthy Suresh , Weston Alex Jaye , Kaza Vaidehi
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) is a polyclonal antibody formulation which has been used as a second‐line therapy for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Limited data exist evaluating its efficacy; however, several single‐center retrospective studies have variably demonstrated either improvement or stabilization of spirometry parameters after administration of ATG. ATG has been in use at UT Southwestern for treatment of CLAD since at least 2010; here, we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention at our center. 

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of a total of 136 patients who underwent lung transplantation at UT Southwestern Medical Center between 2010 and 2022. Of these, 72 patients had received ATG specifically for treatment of CLAD, and the remaining 64 had never received ATG. Two separate analyses were performed: in the first, among those who received ATG for CLAD, spirometry data from the 6 months preceding and following ATG administration were reviewed and rates of change in FEV1 were calculated for each time period. Descriptive statistics were performed to summarize the baseline clinical characteristics and outcomes after ATG, with patients classified as having either a full response (positive rate of change in FEV1) or partial response (>20% attenuation in rate of FEV1 decline) to ATG.  In the second analysis, survival was described among those who received ATG for CLAD and comparison was provided between propensity‐score matched cohorts from the ATG and non‐ATG groups.

Results

Of the 63 patients who received ATG for treatment of CLAD (and had adequate spirometry measurements available to trend FEV1), 49 (77.8%) had at least a partial response to therapy; 8 (12.7%) experienced an overall improvement in FEV1. Response to ATG was found to be associated with a more rapid rate of pre‐ATG decline in FEV1; no other baseline parameters were found to be predictive of a response to ATG. Median post‐CLAD graft survival was 31.7 months among those who received ATG, and only baseline absolute neutrophil count was found to be associated with worse post‐CLAD graft survival among this group.

Conclusion

Anti‐thymocyte globulin therapy, when given for CLAD, was associated with at least a modest attenuation in rate of FEV1 decline in most patients but only rarely preceded an absolute improvement in FEV1. Further study is warranted to better define the role for ATG in treatment of CLAD, a challenging disease state with limited therapeutics available.
Independent Risk Factors and Economic Burden Associated With Delayed Extubation Following Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Authors: Virk Manpreet K. , Coss‐Bu Jorge , Mian Muhammad Umair M. , Nguyen Galvan Nhu Thao , Sabapathy Divya , Castro Danny , Fogarty Thomas , Hosek Kathleen , Beel Elizabeth Rossmann , Schackman Julie , Harpavat Sanjiv , Goss John , Desai Moreshwar S.
Published: October 2024

Background

Successful early extubation (EE) after liver transplant (LT) has been shown to reduce intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay and infectious, vascular, and sedation‐related complications in adults. EE may not always be feasible in children, and many may require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Limited data exists regarding the candidacy of EE, risk factors, consequences, and hospital costs of delayed extubation (DE) in pediatric LT.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review to investigate predictive factors and associated costs of EE and DE in infants and children after orthotopic LT at our institution between 2011 and 2021.

Results

Of 338 LT (median age 39 months, 54% females), 246 (73%) had EE (within 24 h of LT), while 27% had DE. Age < 1 year (p = 0.0019), diagnosis of biliary atresia (0.02), abnormal pre‐LT echocardiogram (0.02), and patients with ongoing hospital admission before LT (0.0001) were independently associated with DE. Hospital costs were significantly (∼3‐fold) higher (p < 0.0001) in the DE group. In addition, factors associated with increased total hospital costs were age < 1 year and hospitalization before LT.

Conclusion

EE post‐LT is feasible and merits a trial. The prevalence of DE though modest is associated with increased resource utilization and hospital costs. Children who can be extubated early and those at risk for DE can be identified pre‐operatively for optimal planning and allocation of resources.
Vaping to quit smoking: Qualitative study of people receiving opioid agonist treatment
Authors: Kypri Kypros , Austin Emma , Jackson Melissa , Wright Kirsten , Shui Amanda , Li Andrew , Sathasivam Vinogi , Bonevski Billie , Dunlop Adrian J.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Most patients receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) smoke tobacco. Approved cessation interventions are less effective in this group than the wider population. We investigated how people on OAT experience nicotine vaping to quit smoking.

Methods

Patients on OAT randomised to the vaping arm of a smoking cessation trial were invited to participate in structured interviews incorporating broad pre‐determined themes. A qualitative descriptive approach employing template analysis was used. Four authors coded transcripts, discussed discrepancies, modified the template using both inductive and deductive approaches. Authors made explicit their starting orientations and independent authors sought disconfirmatory data in a subsequent round of analysis.

Results

Four women and eight men (median age 44 years) participated, including four who identified as Aboriginal. Participants reported vaping as cheaper, more acceptable and less stigmatising than smoking but expressed concerns about ongoing accessibility due to the Australian prescription access model. Some found it technically challenging at first, but not more so than standard nicotine replacement therapies. Participants gave accounts of craving and withdrawal experiences, including supplementary use of nicotine patches, and compulsions to vape frequently and intensely, potentially indicating need for higher nicotine dosage. Participants generally reported that vaping helped them quit smoking, though some worried about swapping nicotine addictions. Others were glad to be using a lower‐risk alternative.

Discussion and Conclusions

This group reported varied experiences of nicotine vaping but were mainly optimistic that it could help them and others quit smoking. This was despite initial nicotine cravings and concerns about remaining addicted long‐term.
Adaptation patterns and their associations with mismatch negativity: An electroencephalogram (EEG) study with controlled expectations
Authors: Wong Brian W. L. , Huo Shuting , Maurer Urs
Published: October 2024

Adaptation refers to the decreased neural response that occurs after repeated exposure to a stimulus. While many electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have investigated adaptation by using either single or multiple repetitions, the adaptation patterns under controlled expectations manifested in the two main auditory components, N1 and P2, are still largely unknown. Additionally, although multiple repetitions are commonly used in mismatch negativity (MMN) experiments, it is unclear how adaptation at different time windows contributes to this phenomenon. In this study, we conducted an EEG experiment with 37 healthy adults using a random stimulus arrangement and extended tone sequences to control expectations. We tracked the amplitudes of the N1 and P2 components across the first 10 tones to examine adaptation patterns. Our findings revealed an L‐shaped adaptation pattern characterised by a significant decrease in N1 amplitude after the first repetition (N1 initial adaptation), followed by a continuous, linear increase in P2 amplitude after the first repetition (P2 subsequent adaptation), possibly indicating model adjustment. Regression analysis demonstrated that the peak amplitudes of both the N1 initial adaptation and the P2 subsequent adaptation significantly accounted for variance in MMN amplitude. These results suggest distinct adaptation patterns for multiple repetitions across different components and indicate that the MMN reflects a combination of two processes: the initial adaptation in the N1 and a continuous model adjustment effect in the P2. Understanding these processes separately could have implications for models of cognitive processing and clinical disorders.
Temporal bisection task as a predictor of cognitive deficits
Authors: Valério de Arruda Marcel , Reyes Marcelo B. , das Neves Soraia Fernandes , Herrmann Flavio , Verzili Bruna , Galduróz Ruth Ferreira
Published: October 2024

Evidence suggests that neuropsychiatric symptoms and deficits in attentional control and executive function can impair time discrimination, demonstrating the intricate link between cognitive processes, subjective well‐being, and perception of time. However, the relationship between sleep quality and time discrimination remains elusive. This study aimed to understand differences in the temporal bisection task (TBT) performance. We expected that individuals with impaired cognition, executive function, quality of life, or sleep quality would have reduced time sensitivity. At the same time, those with stress, anxiety, or depression would show a shift in the point of subjective equality. Data were collected from 97 female participants (ranging from 20 to 72 years of age) in more than one moment, resulting in 163 measurements used for the analysis. Participants' neuropsychiatric status was assessed using a battery of tests and scales, including the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale–21 items (DASS‐21). The results showed that attention and executive control significantly affect time discrimination. In addition, the research indicated that better sleep quality is associated with improved time discrimination sensitivity.
Typical earthworm assemblages of European ecosystem types
Authors: Jupke Jonathan F. , Scheu Sebastian , Cameron Erin K. , Eisenhauer Nico , Phillips Helen R. P. , Römbke Jörg , Rutgers Michiel , Schäfer Ralf B. , Entling Martin H.
Published: October 2024

For nature conservation and planning, terrestrial ecosystems are commonly classified based on their plant communities. Although soils are fundamental to ecosystem functioning, ecosystem classifications based on soil organisms are rare, and it is poorly understood whether their assemblage compositions follow existing classification schemes. We examined whether commonly used ecosystem types capture variation in earthworm (Lumbricidae) assemblages—a crucial biotic component of soil ecosystems. To this end, we created four ecosystem classifications by combining large‐scale climatic classifications (Biogeographic Regions [BGR] and Holdridge Life Zones [HLZ]) with small‐scale land cover classifications (CORINE Land Cover [CLC] and European Nature Information System [EUNIS]). European earthworm assemblage data from the sWORM and Edaphobase databases were analysed for variation in composition within and among ecosystem types, using Permutational Analysis of Variance and Analysis of Similarities. Additionally, we used Typical Species Analysis to establish typical earthworm assemblages (TAs) for each ecosystem type. Ecosystem classifications using the BGR explained more variance than HLZ, but HLZ showed a higher separation of assemblages between ecosystem types. The differentiation between Atlantic and Continental climates in the BGR could explain the superiority over the HLZ, which had only one category for the cool temperate zone of our study region. The typical assemblages contained on average six species, with some habitat generalists present in most. This study shows that combinations of ecosystem properties from different spatial scales can be used to distinguish between earthworm assemblages at the European level. However, earthworm assemblages across Europe were highly similar due to low species richness and the dominance of a few widespread species. This limits the possibility of applying TAs on large spatial scales, for example, for environmental monitoring. We suggest that future studies should explore the use of more species‐rich groups of soil organisms to characterize ecosystem types.