bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Team behaviour in interprofessional collaboration during trauma alerts: A critical incident study from the perspective of radiographers
Authors: Bäckström Marice , Leijon‐Sundqvist Katarina , Lundvall Lise‐Lott , Jonsson Karin , Engström Åsa
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Challenges in mutual awareness in interprofessional collaboration (IPC) along with relational and cultural barriers among professionals disrupt flow and delay decision‐making in trauma care. Thus, this study explores team behaviours within IPC in trauma teams during trauma alerts from the perspective of radiographers.

Methods

A qualitative approach was used with a critical incident technique (CIT) design applying interviews with radiographers within three hospitals in Sweden from May 2022 to May 2023. CIT analysis was conducted with an abductive approach, applying an IPC core competency framework.

Results

The results present collaborative requirements in trauma care from radiographers' perspective narrating a distribution of team behaviours within trauma team collaboration and fundamental skills in IPC. Behaviours within interprofessional values and ethics were the most reported incidents related to valuing radiographers' contributions to IPC in acute trauma care.

Conclusion

Exploring behaviour through critical incidents associated with core competencies of IPC highlights the importance of interprofessional values as a foundation for successful IPC in the trauma team. The results show deficiencies in inclusive behaviour, influenced by the hierarchical environment of IPC. Power imbalances in this setting are traced to differences in perceived value and shared understanding among team members, possibly rooted in professional identity and culture. A dedicated leader is argued, as the recognition of radiographers' scope of practice in trauma imaging, emphasising the significance of shared decision‐making.

Clinical Implications

The findings highlight organisational and relational coordination challenges for optimising competencies in IPC. IPC's success requires reinforcing values and ethics by empowering members' contributions and shared decision‐making. This involves clarifying and recognising responsibilities, particularly for radiographers, ensuring their role in trauma imaging is respected and integrated into decision‐making.
IgA monoclonal gammopathies are accompanied by higher total TGF‐β1 levels than IgG or IgM monoclonal gammopathies
Authors: Maslovarić Irina , Kosanović Dejana , Marković Dragana , Prodanović Milan , Savić Olivera , Janjušević Ana , Ilić Vesna , Minić Rajna
Published: November 2024

The progression of monoclonal gammopathies is affected by a range of factors, including the microenvironment surrounding plasma cells. It is recognized that TGF‐β1 plays a distinct role in stimulating IgA production. Hence, this study aims to investigate whether individuals with serum IgA monoclonal immunoglobulins (paraproteins) exhibit elevated total TGF‐β1 levels compared to those with IgG or IgM paraproteins. To achieve this goal, individuals with a positive laboratory finding of monoclonal gammopathy were segregated according to the paraprotein class as well as according to the type of the light chain. Total TGF‐β1 levels were assessed in blood serum samples containing IgG (n = 50), IgA (n = 46), and IgM (n = 31) paraproteins. Elevated level of TGF‐β1 was confirmed in sera with IgA paraproteins (median 25.8 ng/mL; interquartile range IQR: 19.0–33.7) compared to those having IgG (median: 18.2 ng/mL; IQR: 14.3–22.1; p < 0.001) or IgM paraproteins (21.5 ng/mL; IQR: 15.0–27.4; p = 0.043). Also, a higher TGF‐β1 level was detected in sera with IgMλ than those with IgMκ paraproteins (p = 0.043). This research affirms the role of TGF‐β1 in the pathophysiology of IgA monoclonal gammopathies and the potential switch towards the IgA isotype, known for a less favourable prognosis.
Using case‐based learning to teach evidence‐based practice: A pilot study
Authors: Brock Aleah S.
Published: November 2024

Background

The American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) promotes the use of evidence‐based practice (EBP) in the provision of clinical services by speech–language pathologists (SLPs). Therefore, training in the EBP process is vital in the education of future SLPs. Case‐based learning (CBL) has been found effective in facilitating transfer of knowledge and skills in various fields; however, its utilisation to teach EBP to SLP students is understudied.

Methods

This phenomenological investigation explores the use of CBL, an active learning strategy that gives students the opportunity to practice application of knowledge to realistic scenarios, to teach EBP to graduate SLP students. Graduate SLP students worked in small groups to complete an article review activity centred around an assigned hypothetical clinical case. Students submitted article review papers and written reflections on their learning process. The written reflections and review papers were analysed using qualitative content analysis to understand students' approach to clinical cases and their perspectives on the CBL approach.

Results

Analysis of the papers and reflections indicated that students tended to rely heavily on scientific evidence for clinical decision making, often to the exclusion of clinical expertise or client perspectives. Students reported that the project was applicable to their future clinical practice. Further, they reported learning from multiple sources, including the instructor, class discussion and their peers.

Conclusion

Results indicate that graduate SLP students found CBL activities beneficial for learning the principles of EBP. Students specifically indicated an appreciation for the realistic nature of the activities. Future applications are examined.
Analysis of the incidence of influenza before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hayeon , Son Hyeon S.
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Influenza outbreaks of varying size occur every year, but during the COVID‐19 pandemic, many countries experienced influenza at lower levels. However, following the relaxation of COVID‐19 prevention measures in 2022, the incidence of influenza began to increase gradually. Thus, this study compared the occurrence of influenza from week 36 of 2017, before the COVID‐19 outbreak, until 2023.

Methods

The analysis was conducted using influenza‐like illness occurrence data available from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency infectious disease website. Additionally, to examine the changes in COVID‐19 and influenza occurrence during the pandemic, COVID‐19 incidence data from 20 January 2020 to 31 August 2023 were obtained from the KDCA Coronavirus Disease 19 homepage.

Results

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, which corresponds to the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons, there was no seasonal influenza epidemic, and the incidence rates were below the usual outbreak levels. However, in the 2022/2023 season, when the spread of COVID‐19 had eased, a seasonal pattern similar to that observed before the COVID‐19 pandemic was noted. Furthermore, correlation analysis between the rates of influenza‐like illness and COVID‐19 incidence showed no significant correlation during the entire period. However, a significant correlation emerged in 2023 (r = 0.393, p <0.05). These results suggest that influenza was suppressed during the COVID‐19 pandemic but returned to typical seasonal patterns after the COVID‐19 prevention policies were eased.

Conclusion

The positive correlation observed between the incidences of COVID‐19 and influenza in 2023 indicates that COVID‐19, no longer a novel pandemic‐causing infectious disease, may have transitioned to an endemic pattern similar to seasonal influenza.
Optimisation of nanofiltration process for pharmaceutically active compounds: Removal of paracetamol, diclofenac and metoprolol
Authors: Doğan Esra Can , Yaşar Aynur , Narcı Ali Oğuzhan , Mert Berna Kırıl , Yeşildağlı Berkay Umut
Published: November 2024

This study analyses the effects of operating conditions on the removal of three different pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs: paracetamol [PARA], diclofenac [DIC] and metoprolol [MET]). The results of the experiments employing nanofiltration (NF) membranes were interpreted using response surface methodology (RSM) analysis of variance (ANOVA). In experiments performed with NF270 membrane under optimal operating conditions (15 bar pressure, 4 volume reduction factor [VRF], 5.7 pH), removal efficiencies of PhACs were 11.5%, 73.8% and 46.8%, respectively. The design of NF processes can help substantially in determining the rejection behaviours and mechanisms of micropollutants. Experiments have shown that in drug active substances removal with NF membranes, the physicochemical properties of the NF membranes used and the compound being PARA, DIC or MET affect the removal efficiency and provide an understanding of the rejection performance. These factors may also provide a guide for the applicability of the NF technology in advanced treatment processes in the future.
Universal quadratic forms and Northcott property of infinite number fields
Authors: Daans Nicolas , Kala Vítězslav , Man Siu Hang
Published: November 2024

We show that if a universal quadratic form exists over an infinite degree, totally real extension of the field of rationals , then the set of totally positive integers in the extension does not have the Northcott property. In particular, this implies that no universal form exists over the compositum of all totally real Galois fields of a fixed prime degree over . Further, by considering the existence of infinitely many square classes of totally positive units, we show that no classical universal form exists over the compositum of all such fields of degree (for each fixed odd integer ).
The Borel complexity of the space of left‐orderings, low‐dimensional topology, and dynamics
Authors: Calderoni Filippo , Clay Adam
Published: November 2024

We develop new tools to analyze the complexity of the conjugacy equivalence relation , whenever is a left‐orderable group. Our methods are used to demonstrate nonsmoothness of for certain groups of dynamical origin, such as certain amalgams constructed from Thompson's group . We also initiate a systematic analysis of , where is a 3‐manifold. We prove that if is not prime, then is a universal countable Borel equivalence relation, and show that in certain cases the complexity of is bounded below by the complexity of the conjugacy equivalence relation arising from the fundamental group of each of the JSJ pieces of . We also prove that if is the complement of a nontrivial knot in then is not smooth, and show how determining smoothness of for all knot manifolds is related to the L‐space conjecture.
Ultrahigh–surface area covalent organic frameworks for methane adsorption
Authors: Yin Ying , Zhang Ya , Zhou Xu , Gui Bo , Wang Wenqi , Jiang Wentao , Zhang Yue-Biao , Sun Junliang , Wang Cheng
Published: November 2024

Developing porous materials with ultrahigh surface areas for gas storage (for example, methane) is attractive but challenging. Here, we report two isostructural three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with a rare self-catenated
alb
-3,6-
Ccc
2 topology and a pore size of 1.1 nanometer. Notably, these imine-linked microporous COFs show both high gravimetric Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas (~4400 square meters per gram) and volumetric BET surface areas (~1900 square meters per cubic centimeter). Moreover, their volumetric methane uptake reaches up to 264 cubic centimeter (standard temperature and pressure) per cubic centimeter [cm
3
(STP) cm
−3
] at 100 bar and 298 kelvin, and they exhibit the highest volumetric working capacity of 237 cm
3
(STP) cm
−3
at 5 to 100 bar and 298 kelvin among all reported porous crystalline materials.
Time to take stock
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: November 2024

The reelection of Donald Trump for a second, nonconsecutive term as US president—mirroring only Grover Cleveland’s 22nd and 24th presidencies after the Civil War—underscores a reality: Although his success stems partly from a willingness to tap into xenophobia, sexism, racism, transphobia, nationalism, and disregard for truth, his message resonates with a large portion of the American populace who feel alienated from America’s governmental, social, and economic institutions. These include science and higher education. Winning back this disaffected group will require science leaders to foster and promote a more inclusive scientific landscape for all Americans and lay out how science can be successful under Trump. But it will also require the entire scientific enterprise to change behaviors that make science and its practitioners susceptible to persistent and future attacks.
Exploring auxotrophy and engineering vitamin B
6
prototrophy in the acetogen
Clostridium
sp. AWRP
Authors: Kwon Soo Jae , Lee Joungmin , Lee Hyun Sook
Published: November 2024

Gas fermentation using acetogenic bacteria requires a chemically defined minimal medium to be established. This approach not only helps in creating a cost-effective medium but also allows for a thorough exploration of their metabolic potential. In this study, the auxotrophy of the acetogen
Clostridium
sp. AWRP was investigated through genomic analysis and growth performance in formulated media. It was found that the strain needs pantothenate and biotin and that substituting vitamin B
6
from pyridoxine to pyridoxamine or pyridoxal-5′-phosphate is crucial for growth. The determined chemically defined minimal medium supported both heterotrophic (using fructose as a substrate) and autotrophic (using syngas as a substrate) growth of the AWRP strain. To overcome the vitamin B
6
auxotrophy, the
pdxST
genes responsible for vitamin B
6
biosynthesis were introduced into the AWRP strain using plasmid-based gene expression system and CRISPR/Cas12a genome-editing technology. As a result, the genetically engineered strains were able to grow successfully without vitamin B
6
. This chemically defined minimal medium will enhance the fermentation performance of AWRP.

IMPORTANCE

The identification of auxotrophy in
Clostridium
sp. AWRP underpins subsequent investigations into its physiology and metabolism. Additionally, the development of a chemically defined minimal medium specific to this acetogenic bacterium will enable reproducible industrial processes. This innovation is particularly significant for the bioconversion of carbon monoxide and/or dioxide into commercially valuable chemicals through the process of gas fermentation.
Spatio-temporal distribution and biotechnological potential of culturable yeasts in the intertidal sediments and seawater of Aoshan Bay, China
Authors: Xue Si-Jia , Liu Jie , Zhao Fang-Yuan , Zhang Xin-Tong , Zhu Zhi-Qiang , Zhang Jin-Yong
Published: November 2024

Marine yeasts play a crucial role in marine microbial ecology, facilitating the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in marine ecosystems, while also serving as important reservoirs of bioactive compounds with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and various industries. Intertidal flats, characterized by their complex ecological dynamics, are postulated to harbor a wealth of yeast resources. This study employed a culture-dependent approach to assess the diversity, spatio-temporal distribution, and biotechnological potential of yeast communities residing within the intertidal sediments and seawater of Aoshan Bay. A total of 392 yeast strains were identified from 20 distinct genera, encompassing 43 recognized species and four candidate novel species. Notably, 17 of these species were identified as novel occurrences in marine environments, underscoring the rich yeast biodiversity of the Aoshan Bay ecosystem, with
Candida
emerging as the dominant genus in both sedimentary and aqueous habitats. Yeast community composition exhibited significant spatial and temporal variation, with peak diversity and abundance observed in autumn, the subtidal zone, and the surface soil layer. No clear pattern, however, emerged linking these shifts to specific changes in community composition, highlighting the complex interactions between microbial communities, environmental variables, and anthropogenic disturbance. Although several yeast species isolated here have been previously recognized for their biotechnological potential, their diverse and abundant extracellular enzyme profiles were characterized, further highlighting their crucial role in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling within the tidal ecosystem, as well as their potential applicability in the food, fine chemical, textile, and pharmaceutical industries.

IMPORTANCE

This study presents groundbreaking insights into the yeast diversity of Aoshan Bay, offering invaluable information on their spatial and temporal distribution patterns, as well as their biotechnological potential in the tidal environment. The findings reveal that the eutrophic intertidal flat is a rich repository of yeasts with abundant extracellular enzymatic activity and an important role in nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. Also, these yeasts serve as crucial indicators of ecosystem health and function and are excellent candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications. Collectively, this study not only expands our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of intertidal yeasts but also highlights their promising potential for biotechnological applications.
Training undergraduate biomedical science majors in peer review and constructive criticism through a senior capstone course
Authors: Collins Kelly J.
Published: November 2024

Effective scientific communication is crucial for undergraduate students to succeed in future graduate or professional careers in the biomedical sciences. Peer review and constructive criticism are essential to producing written science communications. Unfortunately, training in how to perform peer review and incorporate constructive criticism is minimal in undergraduate science courses. Here, I describe a senior thesis course for immunology and microbiology majors that encourages students to integrate iterative peer review to improve their writing skills and their ability to incorporate feedback. In this course, students are expected to complete one of the following written projects that focuses on an immunological disorder or infectious disease: a research proposal, a case study, or a meta-analysis/systematic review. Each project is separated into six assignments, and each assignment is assessed through specifications (SPECS)-based grading and peer review where students have multiple attempts to improve their scores on each assignment. Approximately 40% of each student’s grade is based on their ability to incorporate feedback from peers and instructors. Preliminary survey results suggest that students are eager to learn how to effectively incorporate peer and instructor feedback. Enhancing training in peer review will encourage students to embrace constructive criticism, which will be essential for their future careers. Initial findings indicate that students are positively engaging with the peer-review process, and the use of SPECS grading fosters a growth mindset. Continued research will further explore how this method can enhance students’ confidence and skill in integrating feedback into professional scientific communication.
Characterizing
Escherichia coli
carrying plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases to optimize detection in a diagnostic laboratory setting
Authors: Teng Jason , Walters Luke , Leong Lex E. X. , Smith Kija , Amato Malissa , Chen Xiao , Turra Mark , Warner Morgyn S. , Papanicolas Lito E.
Published: November 2024

Plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases are a cause of acquired cephalosporin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. However, consensus regarding the optimal detection method is yet to be achieved and varies depending on local epidemiology and laboratory capacity. We determined the acquired genotypic resistance mechanisms of 250
Escherichia coli
isolates with a positive AmpC screen, defined as cefoxitin MIC ≥ 8 mg/L and a positive AmpC double- disc diffusion test, using in-house designed high-resolution melt PCR, detecting plasmid-acquired genes from the CIT and DHA families. A proportion of these isolates (
n
= 170, 68%) underwent further genotypic characterization using whole- genome sequencing (WGS). Of 250 isolates with a positive screening test, 72 (28.8%) were determined to carry an acquired AmpC gene. There was 100% concordance between PCR and WGS in the identification of acquired AmpC genes. The phenotypic criteria were then assessed to determine their utility in predicting acquired AmpC gene carriage. Criteria 1 (cefoxitin MIC > 8 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 1 mg/L and/or ceftazidime MIC > 1 mg/L) yielded a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 47.8%. Criteria 2 (cefoxitin MIC > 16 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 4 mg/L) had a sensitivity of 33.3% and a specificity of 98.9%. DHA genes, whose expression may be induced following antibiotic exposure, were present in 19% of isolates testing susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC ≤ 1 mg/L) and were significantly more likely than CIT genes to be detected in susceptible isolates (
P
< 0.0001). These findings highlight the importance of using genotypic methods to detect acquired AmpC resistance in
E. coli
isolates that meet phenotypic screening criteria.

IMPORTANCE

Detection of transmissible AmpC resistance remains a challenging problem for diagnostic laboratories, especially in
Escherichia coli
where the expression of its intrinsic AmpC gene can result in phenotypic resistance patterns indistinguishable from plasmid-mediated resistance. In conjunction with whole- genome sequencing (WGS), we describe the development and performance of a novel melt-curve PCR to identify the two most prevalent plasmid-mediated AmpC gene families: CIT and DHA. We then describe phenotypic testing algorithms that incorporate this PCR and can differentiate these from non-acquired resistance in
E. coli
. It is important to distinguish these, not only to spare patients from unnecessarily being treated with infection control precautions, but also to identify plasmid-mediated genes, especially of the DHA family, that have been associated with inducible drug resistance to third- generation cephalosporins.
Currents and Tides in the Fram Strait and Greenland Sea
Authors: Morozov E. G. , Frey D. I.
Published: November 2024

Measurements of oceanographic characteristics, currents, and tides in the Fram Strait and the Greenland Sea are analyzed using historical measurement data. Measurements on moorings across the Fram Strait made it possible to estimate the speeds of the East Greenland and West Spitsbergen currents. It is shown that the speeds of these currents are low (within 10 cm/s) and the amplitudes of the speed of tidal currents are two or more times greater. Tidal currents are intensifying on the shelf of Greenland and Svalbard. Direct measurements are compared with the University of Oregon barotropic tide model.
Management challenges in left ventricular diverticulum: a case with 8-year follow-up and literature review
Authors: Meylaers Michiel , Bogaert Jan , Verrijcken Anton
Published: November 2024

This case represents a young, previously healthy woman with intermittent palpitations, who was found to have a left ventricular outpouching. Imaging with echocardiography and magnetic resonance revealed a mildly dilated left ventricle with a slightly reduced ejection fraction. The outpouching was characterised as a left ventricular diverticulum (LVD) as it involved all three layers of the heart wall with synergistic contraction. This is an extremely rare, usually incidentally found entity. Management is based on case reports as guideline-based therapies lack with a wide range of treatment options, from watchful waiting to surgical repair, suggesting an unmet clear management strategy. Despite slightly reduced exercise capacity, symptoms and imaging findings remained stable over a period of 8 years with medical therapy and close follow-up. We underscore the importance of adopting a cautious strategy in the management of patients with LVD. The management decision, however, remains patient-tailored, considering the type of anomaly and patient characteristics.
Metabolic Allometric Scaling of Unicellular Organisms as a Product of Selection Guided by Optimization of Nutrients Distribution in Food Chains
Authors: Shestopaloff Yuri K.
Published: November 2024

One of the major characteristics of living organisms is metabolic rate — the amount of energy produced per unit of time. When the mass of organisms increases, the metabolic rate also increases (as a power function of mass), but usually slower than mass. This effect is called metabolic allometric scaling. Its causes are considered unknown. The effect has important implications for individual and population organismal development. It was shown in the first part of this study, presented in a separate paper, that in the case of multicellular organisms, this effect is a consequence of natural selection and optimization of nutrient distribution between the species of a food chain, sharing resources of a common habitat. Here, in the second part that studies unicellular organisms, we discover that the same principle of natural selection guided by optimization of nutrient distribution between the species of a food chain defines also metabolic allometric scaling of unicellular organisms. To find that, we consider the metabolic properties of Amoeba proteus, fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus. The sharing of nutrients is optimized in such a way that bigger microorganisms have progressively bigger nutrient influx per unit of surface. This evolutionary arrangement secures the stability of a food chain by providing certain metabolic advantages for bigger organisms. Accounting for this regular increase of nutrient influx with mass increase, we obtained allometric exponents and their ranges close to experimental values, thus proving that metabolic allometric scaling of both multicellular and unicellular organisms is defined by the same fundamental evolutionary principle of optimized sharing of nutrients between the species of a food chain.
A note on the analysis of groundwater travel times for injection–abstraction doublets
Authors: Neville Christopher J.
Published: November 2024

The solutions of Lippmann and Tsang (1980,
Ground Water
, 18, 452–458) for the temperature changes in an injection-abstraction doublet have been revisited as benchmarks for numerical simulations developed to assess the feasibility of open-loop geothermal systems. The Lippmann–Tsang solution for the evolution of the temperature at the abstraction well was developed for the case of no ambient groundwater flow in an aquifer that is sealed across its top and bottom. The results of testing confirm some puzzling aspects of the solution. In this note, it is shown that while some elements of the Lippmann–Tsang solution are correct, results for the temperature history at an abstraction well deviate substantially from solutions presented elsewhere in the literature.
Insert-Only versus Insert-Delete in Dynamic Query Evaluation
Authors: Abo Khamis Mahmoud , Kara Ahmet , Olteanu Dan , Suciu Dan
Published: November 2024

We study the dynamic query evaluation problem: Given a full conjunctive query Q and a sequence of updates to the input database, we construct a data structure that supports constant-delay enumeration of the tuples in the query output after each update.

We show that a sequence of N insert-only updates to an initially empty database can be executed in total time O(N
w(Q)
), where w(Q) is the fractional hypertree width of Q. This matches the complexity of the static query evaluation problem for Q and a database of size N. One corollary is that the amortized time per single-tuple insert is constant for acyclic full conjunctive queries.

In contrast, we show that a sequence of N inserts and deletes can be executed in total time Õ(N
w(Q')
), where Q' is obtained from Q by extending every relational atom with extra variables that represent the "lifespans" of tuples in the database. We show that this reduction is optimal in the sense that the static evaluation runtime of Q' provides a lower bound on the total update time for the output of Q. Our approach achieves amortized optimal update times for the hierarchical and Loomis-Whitney join queries.
Distilling Knowledge in Machine Translation of Agglutinative Languages with Backward and Morphological Decoders
Authors: Singh Telem Joyson , Singh Sanasam Ranbir , Sarmah Priyankoo
Published: November 2024

Agglutinative languages often have morphologically complex words (MCWs) composed of multiple morphemes arranged in a hierarchical structure, posing significant challenges in translation tasks. We present a novel Knowledge Distillation approach tailored for improving the translation of such languages. Our method involves an encoder, a forward decoder, and two auxiliary decoders: a backward decoder and a morphological decoder. The forward decoder generates target morphemes autoregressively and is augmented by distilling knowledge from the auxiliary decoders. The backward decoder incorporates future context, while the morphological decoder integrates target-side morphological information. We have also designed a reliability estimation method to selectively distill only the reliable knowledge from these auxiliary decoders. Our approach relies on morphological word segmentation. We show that the word segmentation method based on unsupervised morphology learning outperforms the commonly used Byte Pair Encoding method on highly agglutinative languages in translation tasks. Our experiments conducted on English-Tamil, English-Manipuri, and English-Marathi datasets show that our proposed approach achieves significant improvements over strong Transformer-based NMT baselines.
Electrochemical Study of GSH Using MWCNT and Naphthoquinone in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Moris S. , Albornoz L. , Squella J. A. , Barrientos C.
Published: November 2024

Glutathione is a sulfur-containing molecule very interesting to study because it is related to several diseases. Also, it is an electroactive compound, but direct electrochemical studies are complex due to surface electrode passivation, which can be resolved by using modified electrodes. In this work, an electrode based on naphthoquinone (NQ) in a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (GC/MWCNT@NQ) has been prepared to study the reaction of NQ toward glutathione (GSH) in aqueous medium. A GC electrode was modified with MWCNTs using the drop-casting technique to obtain a GC/MWCNT electrode and subsequently was immersed in a 0.1 mM NQ solution to produce a GC/MWCNT@NQ electrode. The reaction of NQ toward GSH yields an NQ-GSH adduct, which is isolated in GC/MWCNT@NQ-GSH electrode, and shows the same electrochemical behavior as the GC/MWCNT@NQ electrode in phosphate-buffered saline, PBS, at pH 7.44 and, this reaction shows chemical reversibility when the cell contains GSH. The addition of GSH was followed by differential pulse voltammetry technique, showing a good linear tendency, and decreasing in 5% the initial peak current of NQ at 4.98 μM of GSH.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Presenting With ARDS in a Young Adult: A Case Report
Authors: Dhanani Zehra , Dachert Stephen
Published: November 2024

Fever is common in the ICU, with infectious causes accounting for only half of febrile episodes. This case examines a young male who developed high‐grade fevers and pulmonary infiltrates unresponsive to broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly, hypertriglyceridemia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, suggestive of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Meeting 5 of 8 HLH criteria, high‐dose steroids were administered, resulting in clinical improvement. HLH, with a high mortality risk, demands early recognition, complicated by nonspecific symptoms. This case highlights the rare manifestation of ARDS in HLH, adding diagnostic challenges in critical care settings.
Gamma Irradiation–Induced Structural Modification of Sorghum Flour and Its Impact on the Physicofunctional, Rheological, and Thermal Properties of Extracted Starch
Authors: Singh Sakshi , Habib Mehvish , Mondal Debarchan , Kumar Yogesh , Jan Shumaila , Bashir Khalid , Rao Eram S. , Jan Kulsum
Published: November 2024

This study is aimed at determining how gamma irradiation (5, 10, and 15 kGy) of sorghum flour affects the physicochemical, functional, pasting, and thermal characteristics of sorghum starch. The pattern of Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) intensity confirmed that starch structure and granules integrality were mostly preserved. Both native and irradiated starches revealed an A‐type XRD pattern, with the irradiated starches showing lower crystallinity. However, scanning electron microscopy showed that the irradiation dose enhances the development of fissures and surface cracking on elliptical, irregular, and spherical starch granules. Starch impurities such as protein and fat decreased with increasing irradiation dose. Furthermore, the increased dosages were associated with increased solubility and syneresis. The flour also showed a remarkable improvement in the absorption of water (1.19 to 1.52 g/g) and oil (1.24 to 1.58 g/g) as the doses increased. Gamma irradiation–induced depolymerization and reduced crystallinity in sorghum starch also resulted in significant reductions in viscosity and changes in gelatinization temperatures, reflecting altered pasting properties and thermal characteristics. Overall, gamma irradiation at higher doses transformed the functional and structural properties of sorghum starch, suggesting potential applications in food and industrial sectors, where reduced retrogradation or viscosity is beneficial.
Comparison of Phacoemulsification Alone and With Trabecular Microbypass Stent in Primary Open‐Angle Glaucoma and Normal‐Tension Glaucoma
Authors: Tsao Yu-Ting , Yeh Po-Han , Su Wei-Wen
Published: November 2024

iStent (Glaukos, San Clemente, CA, USA), a minimally invasive glaucoma device, reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by enhancing aqueous humor outflow when implanted into Schlemm’s canal. Although it has demonstrated effectiveness in lowering IOP and slowing glaucoma progression, its applicability to the Taiwanese population, known for a higher incidence of normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) cases, requires validation. This retrospective case‐control study, conducted from January 2018 to December 2020, aimed to assess the effectiveness of combining first‐generation iStent with phacoemulsification (phaco‐iStent) compared to phacoemulsification alone in Taiwanese patients diagnosed with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and NTG, involving 71 eyes (iStent group: POAG 16 and NTG 8; control group: POAG 28 and NTG 19). The primary outcomes included changes in IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications, with subgroup analyses for POAG and NTG. Over the 18‐month follow‐up, the iStent group achieved a significantly greater reduction in antiglaucoma medications compared with the control group (p value = 0.003∼<0.001) without significant IOP rebound. After adjusting for confounding factors, the reduction in the number of antiglaucoma medications with iStent remained significant (β = −0.8, p < 0.001) according to the generalized estimating equation. At 18 months, the iStent group demonstrated higher qualified and complete success rates than the control group (73.3% vs. 16.7%, p value = 0.001% and 53.3% vs. 0%, p value = 0.002, respectively). Notably, the NTG‐iStent subgroup achieved the highest complete success rate (85.7% at 18 months). In conclusion, phaco‐iStent emerges as an effective standalone treatment for Taiwanese patients with POAG and NTG, providing substantial IOP reduction and higher success rates, especially in NTG cases. These findings propose that phaco‐iStent could be a promising intervention for managing POAG and NTG within the Taiwanese population.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06630546.
Experimental Investigation of Fracture Orientation Effect on Carbonate Matrix Acidizing Using a Visual Micromodel Setup
Authors: Sharifi Alan , Sedaee Behnam , Pourafshary Peyman
Published: November 2024

Many oil reservoirs face production decline, so using enhanced oil recovery methods and well stimulation techniques to increase well productivity has been beneficial and essential. Acid injection into the rock matrix is one of the best stimulation methods to improve oil production. The type of acid used in acid injection operations varies based on reservoir conditions, such as temperature, lithology, and acid‐rock contact time. Reservoir heterogeneity, such as the density and orientation of fractures, affects the performance of acidizing operations. Fracture orientation affects the hydraulic conductivity of post‐acid formation in the near‐wellbore area. In this study, the effect of fracture orientation on acid flow in porous media was visually observed using a transparent cell (micromodel). Image processing techniques were employed to study acid distribution in the carbonate‐fractured rock sample. The results showed that the effectiveness of acid treatment is higher in intersecting fractures compared to parallel fractures, and in parallel fractures compared to fractures perpendicular to the flow direction. At the end of the acid injection, the cumulative dimensionless index (DI), defined as the ratio of the aperture surface area to the surface area in contact with the acid, was 0.57, 0.38, and −0.11 for the crossed, parallel, and vertical fractures, respectively. The aperture surface area refers to the total area of the openings within the fracture network, while the surface area in contact with the acid denotes the portion of the fracture surface directly exposed to the acid during the acidizing process. This introduced index quantitatively measures acidizing effectiveness in widening fracture networks in carbonate reservoirs providing insight into alterations in fracture size and permeability due to acid treatment. After three stages of acid injection, the DI for the fracture aperture in the parallel section of intersecting fractures is 33.3% higher than that for the fracture aperture in the parallel fracture. Considering the additional fracture aperture in the vertical sections of the intersecting fractures, compared to parallel fractures, the superior effectiveness of intersecting fractures becomes more evident. Nevertheless, vertical fractures demonstrated minimal and sometimes negative impact. Fracture orientation impacts acidizing operations, guiding strategies for better production, recovery rates, and reservoir characterization in the oil industry.
Depth Factor and Sensitivity Coefficient in Active Stereo‐Camera Imaging
Authors: Ezebili Ifeanyi F. , Schreve Kristiaan
Published: November 2024

A non‐linear epipole‐featured model was developed and evaluated for structure computation in active convergent stereovision. In this paper, using the developed analytic model, the terms virtual depth and depth factor are introduced, which together define the depth of a world point relative to the coordinate frame of the reference camera. Furthermore, an equivalence relation between coplanar–parallel and convergent stereo‐camera imaging systems was established, in which baseline‐to‐depth‐factor ratio is introduced and termed as convergent stereo disparity. This convergent stereo disparity can be equated with the image rectification process in a practical conventional coplanar–parallel stereo‐camera setup. Subsequently, generalised mathematical analyses were done to model and study the variation of the depth sensitivity coefficient and relative depth uncertainty with respect to convergent stereovision system parameters using the developed model. It was observed that different values of the left and right focal lengths are required to achieve a high sensitivity coefficient, a condition that is not conformable with the conventional practice of having the same left and right focal lengths in stereo‐camera imaging. Regarding the variation of the stereo projection and stereo convergence angles, there are trade‐offs between the sensitivity coefficient and relative depth uncertainty. Finally, it was found that a stereo convergence angle of 90° yields the best relative depth uncertainty value at which the focal length–normalized epipole‐to‐principal point distances on both image planes are reciprocals.
3D Printing and Optimization of Biocompatible and Hydrophilic PEGDA‐HEMA Lattice for Enhanced RhB Dye Removal From Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ng Ting Sheng , Norman Ashreen , Mohd Yusoff Nurul Husna , Chong Chien Hwa , Cheah Kean How , Yap Tze Chuen , Wong Voon-Loong
Published: November 2024

A formulated photocurable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and 2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) polymer matrix (PEGDA:HEMA) was developed for constructing an adsorptive 3D cubic monolith using masked stereolithography (MSLA) 3D‐printing technique. A pure PEGDA formulation served as a control in comparative studies. Additionally, two structural designs (solid cube and cubic lattice) were also quantitatively compared to determine the adsorption performance for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal. Results indicated that the cubic lattice formulated with hydrophilic PEGDA:HEMA (θ~47.20°) was more effective at removing RhB dye. Additionally, the preliminary study identified pH 9 as the optimal level for RhB dye removal using 3D cubic monolith for both formulations. A Taguchi orthogonal array of L9 (33) was used to concurrently vary three parameters: adsorbent dosage (0.65 ± 0.02 g per cubic lattice), operating temperature (30°C, 40°C, and 50°C), and initial RhB concentration (20, 60, and 100 ppm). The highest mean of the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio was chosen to obtain the highest adsorption performance. The removal efficiency (R%) of RhB dye ranged from 44.48% to 94.86%, and the adsorption capacity (K) ranged from 0.59 to 3.73 (mg/g) after 5 h. Seven adsorption isotherms and five adsorption kinetics modelling were performed. Adsorption isotherm data fitted well with the Redlich–Peterson model for both linear (R2 = 0.998) and nonlinear (R2 = 1). Besides that, the pseudo‐second‐order model (PSO) accurately described adsorption kinetics (R2 = 0.995). The separation factor (RL) confirmed favourable adsorption (0 < RL < 1). Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and at higher temperatures, entropy increased. Also, the 3D–printed PEGDA:HEMA cubic lattice exhibited good mechanical stability. Furthermore, the 3D PEGA: HEMA lattice has the ability to be used in several adsorption cycles of degrading RhB dye. Ultimately, the present work demonstrates the viability of 3D printing photocurable PEGDA:HEMA resin and utilizes statistical tools to optimize process parameters, enhancing predictability for wastewater management.
Deepfake Detection Based on the Adaptive Fusion of Spatial‐Frequency Features
Authors: Wang Fei , Chen Qile , Jing Botao , Tang Yeling , Song Zengren , Wang Bo
Published: November 2024

Detecting deepfake media remains an ongoing challenge, particularly as forgery techniques rapidly evolve and become increasingly diverse. Existing face forgery detection models typically attempt to discriminate fake images by identifying either spatial artifacts (e.g., generative distortions and blending inconsistencies) or predominantly frequency‐based artifacts (e.g., GAN fingerprints). However, a singular focus on a single type of forgery cue can lead to limited model performance. In this work, we propose a novel cross‐domain approach that leverages a combination of both spatial and frequency‐aware cues to enhance deepfake detection. First, we extract wavelet features using wavelet transformation and residual features using a specialized frequency domain filter. These complementary feature representations are then concatenated to obtain a composite frequency domain feature set. Furthermore, we introduce an adaptive feature fusion module that integrates the RGB color features of the image with the composite frequency domain features, resulting in a rich, multifaceted set of classification features. Extensive experiments conducted on benchmark deepfake detection datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. Notably, the accuracy of our method on the challenging FF++ dataset is mostly above 98%, showcasing its strong performance in reliably identifying deepfake images across diverse forgery techniques.
Figure S3 from Functional RNAi Screening Identifies G2/M and Kinetochore Components as Modulators of TNFα/NF-κB Prosurvival Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Morgan Ethan L. , Saleh Anthony D. , Cornelius Shaleeka , Carlson Sophie G. , Toni Tiffany , Cheng Hui , Jeon Jun , Viswanathan Ramya , Yang Xinping , Silvin Christopher , Clavijo Paul E. , Sowers Anastasia L. , Mitchell James B. , Ormanoglu Pinar , Lal Nag Madhu , Martin Scott E. , Chen Zhong , Van Waes Carter
Published: November 2024

Figure S3 and figure legend
Figure S2 from Functional RNAi Screening Identifies G2/M and Kinetochore Components as Modulators of TNFα/NF-κB Prosurvival Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Morgan Ethan L. , Saleh Anthony D. , Cornelius Shaleeka , Carlson Sophie G. , Toni Tiffany , Cheng Hui , Jeon Jun , Viswanathan Ramya , Yang Xinping , Silvin Christopher , Clavijo Paul E. , Sowers Anastasia L. , Mitchell James B. , Ormanoglu Pinar , Lal Nag Madhu , Martin Scott E. , Chen Zhong , Van Waes Carter
Published: November 2024

Figure S2 and figure legend
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Combined with SGLT2 Inhibitor versus SGLT2 Inhibitor Alone in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Ferreira João Pedro , Oliveira Ana Cristina , Vasques-Novoa Francisco , Leite Ana Rita , Mendonça Luís , Zannad Faiez , Butler Javed , Leite-Moreira Adelino , Saraiva Francisca , Neves João Sérgio
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce the progression of kidney disease. Whether the combination of these agents provides additional benefits compared to SGLT2i alone is worth exploring using data from randomized trials designed for this purpose. The aim of the study was to assess the randomized treatment effect of MRAs combined with SGLT2i versus SGLT2i alone on markers of kidney and cardiovascular health. Methods: Random-effects meta-analysis of randomized trials testing the combination of MRAs with SGLT2i versus SGLT2i alone on albuminuria, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum potassium among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Results: Four randomized trials were included with a total of 272 patients with CKD: eGFR varying between 30 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) between 90 and 500 mg/g, with >60% having type 2 diabetes. Treatment with MRAs plus SGLT2i versus SGLT2i alone reduced UACR by −33.6% (−42.6 to −24.7%), p < 0.001, I2 = 0%. MRAs plus SGLT2i versus SGLT2i alone reduced systolic blood pressure by −6.1 mm Hg (−8.9 to −3.3) mm Hg, eGFR by −3.4 mm Hg (−5.2 to −1.6) mm Hg, and increased serum potassium by + 0.23 mmol/L (0.15–0.34) mmol/L; p < 0.001 for all, without significant heterogeneity between trials (I2 <25%). Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, MRAs plus SGLT2i provided greater reductions in albuminuria and blood pressure compared to SGLT2i alone. Larger randomized trials with longer follow-up should test whether MRA/SGLT2i combination therapies improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes compared to SGLT2i alone.