bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sacbrood viruses and select Lake Sinai virus variants dominated
Apis mellifera
colonies symptomatic for European foulbrood
Authors: Hesketh-Best Poppy J. , Fowler Peter D. , Odogwu Nkechi M. , Milbrath Meghan O. , Schroeder Declan C.
Published: July 2024

European foulbrood (EFB) is a prevalent disease in the European honey bee (
Apis mellifera
) in the United States, which can lead to colony decline and collapse. The bacterial components of EFB are well-studied, but the diversity of viral infections within infected colonies has not been explored. In this study, we use meta-transcriptomics sequencing of 12 honey bee hives, symptomatic (+,
n
= 6) and asymptomatic (–,
n
= 6) for EFB, to investigate viral infection associated with the disease. We assembled 41 viral genomes, belonging to three families (Iflaviridae, Dicistroviridae, and Sinhaliviridae), all previously reported in honey bees, including Lake Sinai virus, deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus, Black queen cell virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus. In colonies with severe EFB, we observed a higher occurrence of viral genomes (34 genomes) in contrast to fewer recovered from healthy colonies (seven genomes) and a complete absence of Dicistroviridae genomes.We observed specific Lake Sinai virus clades associated exclusively with EFB + or EFB – colonies, in addition to EFB-afflicted colonies that exhibited an increase in relative abundance of sacbrood viruses. Multivariate analyses highlighted that a combination of site and EFB disease status influenced RNA virome composition, while EFB status alone did not significantly impact it, presenting a challenge for comparisons between colonies kept in different yards. These findings contribute to the understanding of viral dynamics in honey bee colonies compromised by EFB and underscore the need for future investigations to consider viral composition when investigating EFB.

IMPORTANCE

This study on the viromes of honey bee colonies affected by European foulbrood (EFB) sheds light on the dynamics of viral populations in bee colonies in the context of a prevalent bacterial brood disease. The identification of distinct Lake Sinai virus and sacbrood virus clades associated with colonies affected by severe EFB suggests a potential connection between viral composition and disease status, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the role of viruses during EFB infection. The observed increase in sacbrood viruses during EFB infection suggests a potential viral dysbiosis, with potential implications for honey bee brood health. These findings contribute valuable insights related to beekeeping practices, offering a foundation for future research aimed at understanding and mitigating the impact of bacterial and viral infection in commercial honey bee operations and the management of EFB.
Immunogenicity and vaccine potential of clinical isolate
Mycobacterium kansasii
strain against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection
Authors: Kim Hongmin , Shin Sung Jae
Published: July 2024

Mycobacterium kansasii
is a bacterium included in non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that can cause lung disease. It shares a significant number of antigens with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb), suggesting that it has the potential to be used as a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine. Therefore, we subcutaneously vaccinated mice with reference strain,
M. kansasii
-ATCC12478 [
M. kansasii
-American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)], and clinically isolated strain,
M. kansasii
-SM-1 to evaluate potential as a TB vaccine by comparing with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. Ten weeks after vaccination, we evaluated immunogenicity of
M. kansasii
-ATCC and
M. kansasii
-SM-1, and
M. kansasii
-SM-1 immunization induces potent Mtb antigen-specific IFN-γ-producing CD4
+
T cells than
M. kansasii
-ATCC. Upon Mtb infection,
M. kansasii
-SM-1 provided better protection than
M. kansasii
-ATCC, which was comparable to the efficacy of BCG. These results showed that the clinical strain
M. kansasii
-SM-1, which exhibits an enhanced Mtb antigen-specific Th1 response, shows greater vaccine efficacy compared to
M. kansasii
-ATCC. In this study, we demonstrated that vaccine efficacy can vary depending on the strain of
M. kansasii
and that its efficacy can be comparable to BCG. This suggests that
M. kansasii
has the potential to be a live TB vaccine candidate.

IMPORTANCE

Mycobacterium kansasii
, a non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species causing lung disease, shares key antigens with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb), indicating its potential for TB vaccine development. Subcutaneous vaccination of mice with
M. kansasii
strains reference strain
M. kansasii
-ATCC12478 [(
M. kansasii
-American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)] and clinically isolated strain
M. kansasii
-SM-1 revealed differences in immunogenicity.
M. kansasii
-SM-1 induced a robust Mtb antigen-specific IFN-γ-producing CD4
+
T cell response compared to
M. kansasii
-ATCC. Additionally,
M. kansasii
-SM-1 conferred better protection against Mtb infection than
M. kansasii
-ATCC, which is comparable to bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). These findings underscore the variable vaccine efficacy among
M. kansasii
strains, with
M. kansasii
-SM-1 exhibiting promising potential as a live TB vaccine candidate, suggesting its comparative effectiveness to BCG.
Coprecipitation of amorphous silica and gold nanoparticles contributes to gold hyperenrichment
Authors: McNab Rory R. , Brugger Joël , Voisey Christopher R. , Tomkins Andrew G.
Published: July 2024

Hyperenrichment of Au in orogenic ores occurs overwhelmingly within quartz veins, but the formation pathway of quartz veins in orogenic systems remains enigmatic. We conducted hydrothermal experiments simulating coprecipitation of Au and amorphous silica and subsequent recrystallization to test whether this is a viable mechanism to generate Au nuggets within quartz veins. Within minutes, coprecipitation of amorphous silica and Au nanoparticles occurred, representing an effective Au deposition mechanism. Within one week, amorphous silica had recrystallized to quartz, causing the coarsening of Au particles and their relocation to quartz grain boundaries and fractures. The experimental textures are similar to those observed in high-grade zones of orogenic gold deposits. In addition to trapping Au, amorphous silica may increase competency contrasts that facilitate short-term fracture reactivation during earthquake aftershock periods or swarms, allowing further Au input from fresh fluids. These findings demonstrate that amorphous silica precipitation may be an important transient stage in orogenic gold deposit formation, with significant implications for metal accumulation in quartz veins.
Frequency and preventability of adverse drug events in the outpatient setting
Authors: Wasserman Rachel L , Edrees Heba H , Amato Mary G , Seger Diane L , Frits Michelle L , Hwang Andrew Y , Iannaccone Christine , Bates David W
Published: July 2024

Background

Limited data exist regarding adverse drug events (ADEs) in the outpatient setting. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, and preventability of ADEs in the outpatient setting and identify potential prevention strategies.

Methods

We conducted an analysis of ADEs identified in a retrospective electronic health records review of outpatient encounters in 2018 at 13 outpatient sites in Massachusetts that included 13 416 outpatient encounters in 3323 patients. Triggers were identified in the medical record including medications, consultations, laboratory results, and others. If a trigger was detected, a further in-depth review was conducted by nurses and adjudicated by physicians to examine the relevant information in the medical record. Patients were included in the study if they were at least 18 years of age with at least one outpatient encounter with a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant in that calendar year. Patients were excluded from the study if the outpatient encounter occurred in outpatient surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and paediatrics.

Results

In all, 5% of patients experienced an ADE over the 1-year period. We identified 198 ADEs among 170 patients, who had a mean age of 60. Most patients experienced one ADE (87%), 10% experienced two ADEs and 3% experienced three or more ADEs. The most frequent drug classes resulting in ADEs were cardiovascular (25%), central nervous system (14%), and anti-infective agents (14%). Severity was ranked as significant in 85%, 14% were serious, 1% were life-threatening, and there were no fatal ADEs. Of the ADEs, 22% were classified as preventable and 78% were not preventable. We identified 246 potential prevention strategies, and 23% of ADEs had more than one prevention strategy possibility.

Conclusions

Despite efforts to prioritise patient safety, medication-related harms are still frequent. These results underscore the need for further patient safety improvement in the outpatient setting.
Glutamine metabolic competition drives immunosuppressive reprogramming of intratumour GPR109A
+
myeloid cells to promote liver cancer progression
Authors: Yang Yang , Pei Tianduo , Liu Chaobao , Cao Mingtao , Hu Xiaolin , Yuan Jie , Chen Fengqian , Guo Bao , Hong Yuemei , Liu Jibin , Li Bin , Li Xiaoguang , Wang Hui
Published: July 2024

Objective

The metabolic characteristics of liver cancer drive considerable hurdles to immune cells function and cancer immunotherapy. However, how metabolic reprograming in the tumour microenvironment impairs the antitumour immune response remains unclear.

Design

Human samples and multiple murine models were employed to evaluate the correlation between GPR109A and liver cancer progression. GPR109A knockout mice, immune cells depletion and primary cell coculture models were used to determine the regulation of GPR109A on tumour microenvironment and identify the underlying mechanism responsible for the formation of intratumour GPR109A
+
myeloid cells.

Results

We demonstrate that glutamine shortage in liver cancer tumour microenvironment drives an immunosuppressive GPR109A
+
myeloid cells infiltration, leading to the evasion of immune surveillance. Blockade of GPR109A decreases G-MDSCs and M2-like TAMs abundance to trigger the antitumour responses of CD8
+
T cells and further improves the immunotherapy efficacy against liver cancer. Mechanistically, tumour cells and tumour-infiltrated myeloid cells compete for glutamine uptake via the transporter SLC1A5 to control antitumour immunity, which disrupts the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homoeostasis and induces unfolded protein response of myeloid cells to promote GPR109A expression through IRE1α/XBP1 pathway. The restriction of glutamine uptake in liver cancer cells, as well as the blockade of IRE1α/XBP1 signalling or glutamine supplementation, can eliminate the immunosuppressive effects of GPR109A
+
myeloid cells and slow down tumour progression.

Conclusion

Our findings identify the immunometabolic crosstalk between liver cancer cells and myeloid cells facilitates tumour progression via a glutamine metabolism/ER stress/GPR109A axis, suggesting that GPR109A can be exploited as an immunometabolic checkpoint and putative target for cancer treatment.
The road ahead: a brief guide to navigating the 2022 WHO classification of endocrine and neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Juhlin Carl Christofer
Published: July 2024

The most recent WHO classification of endocrine and neuroendocrine tumours has brought about significant changes in the diagnosis and grading of these lesions. For instance, pathologists now have the ability to stratify subsets of thyroid and adrenal neoplasms using various histological features and composite risk assessment models. Moreover, novel recommendations on how to approach endocrine neoplasia involve additional immunohistochemical analyses, and the recognition and implementation of these key markers is essential for modernising diagnostic capabilities. Additionally, an improved understanding of tumour origin has led to the renaming of several entities, resulting in the emergence of terminology not yet universally recognised. The adjustments in nomenclature and prognostication may pose a challenge for the clinical team, and care providers might be eager to engage in a dialogue with the diagnosing pathologist, as treatment guidelines have not fully caught up with these recent changes. Therefore, it is crucial for a surgical pathologist to be aware of the knowledge behind the implementation of changes in the WHO classification scheme. This review article will delve into the most significant diagnostic and prognostic changes related to lesions in the parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal glands and the gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine system. Additionally, the author will briefly share his personal reflections on the clinical implementation, drawing from a couple of years of experience with these new algorithms.
Ovarian cancer deaths attributable to asbestos exposure in Lombardy (Italy) in 2000–2018
Authors: Stoppa Giorgia , Mensi Carolina , Fazzo Lucia , Minelli Giada , Manno Valerio , Marinaccio Alessandro , Consonni Dario , Biggeri Annibale , Catelan Dolores
Published: July 2024

Objectives

We aimed to estimate the fraction of deaths from ovarian cancer attributable to asbestos exposure in Lombardy Region, Italy, using a novel approach that exploits the fact that ovarian cancer asbestos exposure is associated with pleural cancer and other risk factors for breast cancer.

Methods

This ecological study is based on the Italian National Institute of Statistics mortality data. We formulate a trivariate Bayesian joint disease model to estimate the attributable fraction (AF) and the number of ovarian cancer deaths attributable to asbestos exposure from the geographic distribution of ovarian, pleural and breast cancer mortality at the municipality level from 2000 to 2018. Expected deaths and standardised mortality ratios were calculated using regional rates.

Results

We found shared dependencies between ovarian and pleural cancer, which capture risk factors common to the two diseases (asbestos exposure), and a spatially structured clustering component shared between ovarian and breast cancer, capturing other risk factors. Based on 10 462 ovarian cancer deaths, we estimated that 574 (95% credibility interval 388–819) were attributable to asbestos (AF 5.5%; 95% credibility interval 3.7–7.8). AF reaches 34%–47% in some municipalities with known heavy asbestos pollution.

Conclusions

The impact of asbestos on ovarian cancer occurrence can be relevant, particularly in areas with high asbestos exposure. Estimating attributable cases was possible only by using advanced Bayesian modelling to consider other risk factors for ovarian cancer. These findings are instrumental in tailoring public health surveillance programmes and implementing compensation and prevention policies.
Mild traumatic brain injury caused by workplace violence in a US workers’ compensation system
Authors: Wizner Kerri , Journeay W Shane , Jolivet Daniel , Ahle Justine
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Approximately 81% of traumatic brain injury cases are considered to be mild (mTBI), but few studies have reviewed mTBI caused by workplace violence (WPV). This study aimed to (1) determine the incidence of mTBI secondary to WPV in a statewide workers’ compensation system using International Classification of Disease codes and (2) analyse and compare factors associated with return-to-work outcomes between WPV mTBI cases versus other mechanisms.

Methods

Using a retrospective cohort of claims data from the California Workers’ Compensation Information System during 2015–2019, cases with a return-to-work date were classified as WPV if the injury description contained keywords such as assault, gunpoint, harassed, intimidated, punch, threat, robbery, violent or verbal abuse.

Results

Of the 14 089 mTBI claims analysed in this study, 11.2% were caused by WPV. When comparing WPV to non-WPV claims, the variables with statistically significant (p≤0.001) differences were age, income, industry and job class. There were no significant differences between groups for leave duration. In a linear mixed model, the variable of interest (WPV) was not associated with recovery duration after adjusting for other factors.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine WPV mTBI claims in the USA. The findings suggest that the public administration, education and healthcare and social services industries are at higher risk for WPV mTBI. WPV and job class were the only modifiable factors in the model and therefore should be the focus of additional research.
Arsenic speciation in picromerite K2Mg(SO4)2•6H2O: electron paramagnetic resonance and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopic characterizations and implications for organic fertilizers
Authors: Lin Jinru , Chen Ning , Pan Yuanming
Published: July 2024

Picromerite K2Mg(SO4)2•6H2O (also known as schoenite, schönite, or sulfate of potash) formed from alkaline lakes by evaporation is an increasingly important chlorine-free fertilizer and has been used to produce other organic fertilizers such as arcanite K2SO4 and boussingaultite (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2•6H2O. Picromerite and boussingaultite, two Tutton’s salts, are also common secondary solid phases in diverse types of mine tailings and play important roles in controlling the mobility and bioavailability of various heavy metal(loid)s, including arsenic. In this study, picromerite crystals containing 64 ppm As have been synthesized at ambient conditions from aqueous solutions by slow evaporation. Arsenic K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge-structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure data show that the dominant oxidation state is +5 and that As5+ occupies the S site in picromerite. Single-crystal and powder electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of gamma-ray-irradiated picromerite reveal three arsenic-associated oxyradicals: AsO4 2−, AsO3 2−, and AsO2 2−. The orientations of the principal 75As hyperfine directions of the AsO3 2− and AsO2 2− radicals match the bonding directions of the SO4 2− groups in the picromerite structure, further supporting substitutions of their respective diamagnetic precursors AsO4 3− and AsO3 3− for the sulfate group. These AsO4 2−, AsO3 2−, and AsO2 2− radicals in picromerite are similar but not identical to their counterparts in boussingaultite and gypsum, suggesting that sulfate minerals are capable of sequestrating both arsenate and arsenite, with important implications for understanding the fate and bioavailability of arsenic associated with agricultural applications of organic fertilizers.
Multi-decadal trophic shifts in Lake Erie yellow perch Perca flavescens
Authors: Schmitt Joseph D. , Gorman Ann Marie , Knight Carey T. , DuFour Mark R. , Roberts James J. , Hartman Travis
Published: July 2024

In Lake Erie, yellow perch Perca flavescens support vast commercial and recreational fisheries, yet populations have recently declined. Using N = 5889 yellow perch stomachs collected from 1997 to 2021, we explored trends in the feeding ecology and trophic level of yellow perch with generalized additive models. Models revealed a significant decrease in yellow perch trophic level (−0.15 trophic levels in the last decade), and significant dietary shifts. Yellow perch have shifted away from feeding on piscine prey and round goby Neogobius melanostomus over the 25-year period, and now feed on invertebrates more frequently—including invasive waterfleas ( Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi) and chironomids. Dietary patterns appear to reflect broad ecological changes—invasive waterfleas have proliferated while populations of forage fish and round goby have declined. Furthermore, hypoxia events have increased in duration and severity, which may explain observed increases in chironomid consumption, which are hypoxia tolerant. This study demonstrates trophic adaptability in yellow perch, which have changed feeding behavior and trophic position in response to novel invaders and changing environmental conditions.
A meta-trained generator for quantum architecture search
Authors: He Zhimin , Chen Chuangtao , Li Zhengjiang , Situ Haozhen , Zhang Fei , Zheng Shenggen , Li Lvzhou
Published: July 2024

Variational Quantum Algorithms (VQAs) have made great success in the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era due to their relative resilience to noise and high flexibility relative to quantum resources. Quantum Architecture Search (QAS) aims to enhance the performance of VQAs by refining the structure of the adopted Parameterized Quantum Circuit (PQC). QAS is garnering increased attention owing to its automation, reduced reliance on expert experience, and its ability to achieve better performance while requiring fewer quantum gates than manually designed circuits. However, existing QAS algorithms optimize the structure from scratch for each VQA without using any prior experience, rendering the process inefficient and time-consuming. Moreover, determining the number of quantum gates, a crucial hyper-parameter in these algorithms is a challenging and time-consuming task. To mitigate these challenges, we accelerate the QAS algorithm via a meta-trained generator. The proposed algorithm directly generates high-performance circuits for a new VQA by utilizing a meta-trained Variational AutoEncoder (VAE). The number of quantum gates required in the designed circuit is automatically determined based on meta-knowledge learned from a variety of training tasks. Furthermore, we have developed a meta-predictor to filter out circuits with suboptimal performance, thereby accelerating the algorithm. Simulation results on variational quantum compiling and Quantum Approximation Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) demonstrate the superior performance of our method over a state-of-the-art algorithm, namely Differentiable Quantum Architecture Search (DQAS).
Efficient Management of Containers for Software Defined Vehicles
Authors: Ghammam Anwar , Khalsi Rania , Kessentini Marouane , Hassan Foyzul
Published: July 2024

Containerization technology, such as Docker, is gaining in popularity in newly established software-defined vehicle architectures (SDVA). However, executing those containers can quickly become computationally expensive in constrained environments, given the limited CPU, memory, and energy resources in the Electric Control Units (ECU) of SDVA. Consequently, the efficient management of these containers is crucial for enabling the on-demand usage of the applications in the vehicle based on the available resources while considering several constraints and priorities, including failure tolerance, security, safety, and comfort. In this article, we propose a dynamic software container management approach for constrained environments such as embedded devices/ECUs in SDVA within smart cars. To address the conflicting objectives and constraints within the vehicle, we design a novel search-based approach based on multi-objective optimization. This approach facilitates the allocation, movement, or suspension of containers between ECUs in the cluster. Collaborating with our industry partner, Ford Motor Company, we evaluate our approach using different real-world software-defined scenarios. These scenarios involve using heterogeneous clusters of ECU devices in vehicles based on real-world software containers and use-case studies from the automotive industry. The experimental results demonstrate that our scheduler outperforms existing scheduling algorithms, including the default Docker scheduler -Spread- commonly used in automotive applications. Our proposed scheduler exhibits superior performance in terms of energy and resource cost efficiency. Specifically, it achieves a 35% reduction in energy consumption in power-saving mode compared to the scheduler employed by Ford Motor Company. Additionally, our scheduler effectively distributes workload among the ECUs in the cluster, minimizing resource usage, and dynamically adjusts to the real-time requirements and constraints of the car environment. This work will serve as a fundamental building block in the automotive industry to efficiently manage software containers in smart vehicles, considering constraints and priorities in the real world.
An Overview of FPGA-inspired Obfuscation Techniques
Authors: Abideen Zain Ul , Gokulanathan Sumathi , J. Aljafar Muayad , Pagliarini Samuel
Published: July 2024

Building and maintaining a silicon foundry is a costly endeavor that requires substantial financial investment. From this scenario, the semiconductor business has largely shifted to a fabless model where the Integrated Circuit (IC) supply chain is globalized but potentially untrusted. In recent years, several hardware obfuscation techniques have emerged to thwart hardware security threats related to untrusted IC fabrication. Reconfigurable-based obfuscation schemes have shown great promise of security against state-of-the-art attacks—these are techniques that rely on the transformation of static logic configurable elements such as Look Up Tables (LUTs). This survey provides a comprehensive analysis of reconfigurable-based obfuscation techniques, evaluating their overheads and enumerating their effectiveness against all known attacks. The techniques are also classified based on different factors, including the technology used, element type, and IP type. Additionally, we present a discussion on the advantages of reconfigurable-based obfuscation techniques when compared to Logic Locking techniques and the challenges associated with evaluating these techniques on hardware, primarily due to the lack of tapeouts. The survey’s findings are essential for researchers interested in hardware obfuscation and future trends in this area.
Performance Study of Intermittent Heating Mode Combining Air‐Source Heat Pump with Radiator in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zones of China
Authors: Fan Mingjing , Cheng Haifeng , Nian Mengting , Xie Shiqi
Published: July 2024

An intermittent heating mode combining air‐source heat pumps and radiators (ASHP‐R) was proposed to meet the time‐sharing heating demand of office workers’ residential buildings in hot summer and cold winter zones. Taking Hefei City as an example, the heating performance of the ASHP‐R system under intermittent operation was experimentally studied from January 18 to 21, 2017. Based on the data on a typical day (January 19), the variation characteristics of thermal parameters and thermal comfort of heating rooms were analyzed, and the economic and environmental benefits of the ASHP‐R system were evaluated. The results show that the water supply temperature of 60°C at the startup stage can rapidly increase the indoor air temperature; in the stable stage, the water supply temperature is 40°C, the indoor air maintains a suitable temperature and relative humidity, and the indoor thermal environment is basically unaffected by the change in outdoor temperature and humidity; the inner surface temperature of the envelope (except the window) presents a similar trend to the indoor air temperature, which reduces the asymmetry of the thermal radiation field around the human body. The air temperature distribution in the human activity area is uniform, and the indoor PMV is in an acceptable, comfortable, and satisfactory state; compared with all‐day continuous heating with an air‐source heat pump, the expense can be saved by 24.4% (by 21.5 yuan/m2) in each heating season, and the system can reduce the emissions of CO2, SO2, and NOX by 988, 29.73, and 14.86 kg/year, respectively. Therefore, the system exhibits good environmental performance and economic performance.
Ward‐Specific Probabilistic Patterns in Temporal Dynamics of Nursing Demand in Japanese Large University Hospital: Implication for Forecasting and Resource Allocation
Authors: Tajika Rie , Inoue Yoshiaki , Nakashima Keisuke , Yoshimi Takako , Arimoto Nobue , Fukushige Haruna , Taniura Yoko , Iwasaki Tomoyuki , Ishii Atsue
Published: July 2024

As global populations age, a looming nursing shortage is anticipated to become a critical issue. Charge nurses have the responsibility of optimally allocating nursing resources to ensure the quality of patient care during a shift. Therefore, an accurate estimate of nursing demand is crucial. However, the ability to forecast future nursing demand remains underdeveloped, mainly because the nature of nursing demand is highly individualized and does not follow a definitive pattern. In practice, the nursing demand is often perceived as unpredictable, leading to an ad hoc approach to staffing. The primary objective of our study is to demonstrate that longitudinal data analysis can reveal strong statistical regularities in the temporal dynamics of nursing demand. This approach not only provides new possibilities for efficient resource allocation but also paves the way for data‐driven prediction of nursing demand. Our study uses Sankey diagrams to visualize the temporal dynamics of nursing demand within each ward for each fiscal year, representing these dynamics as an overlay of trajectories from multiple individual patients. Consequently, our study reveals ward‐specific statistical regularities in the temporal dynamics of nursing demand. In one ward, approximately 25% of patients experienced an increase in nursing demand from 1 to between 6 and 9 points from the second to the third day of hospitalization, while in another, only 0.1% showed such an increase. These findings suggest that patients admitted to the wards tend to exhibit a certain probabilistic change in nursing demand. This study can predict probabilistically the temporal variation of nursing demand among patients in the coming years by analyzing data on the temporal changes in nursing demand over the past years. Our findings are expected to significantly influence the forecasting of nursing demand and the estimation of nursing resources, leading to data‐driven and more efficient nursing management.
Effect of Inulin on Rheological Properties and Emulsion Stability of a Reduced‐Fat Salad Dressing
Authors: Sinsuwan Sornchai
Published: July 2024

This study is aimed at investigating the potential use of inulin in a reduced‐fat salad dressing to improve its rheological properties, fat globule size distribution, and emulsion stability. The reduced‐fat salad dressing, which has 50% less fat compared to the full‐fat counterpart (control), was prepared with varying inulin concentrations (10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, and 20% w/w). The full‐fat and reduced‐fat salad dressings exhibited a non‐Newtonian shear‐thinning behavior. Power law model was used to describe the rheological properties. Results showed that the flow behavior index (n) and consistency coefficient (K) were greatly affected by the concentration of inulin. A greater pseudoplasticity and apparent viscosity of the reduced‐fat samples were achieved with a higher concentration of inulin. Oscillatory tests showed that the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) values increased with increasing inulin concentration. All samples displayed characteristics of a viscoelastic solid, as evidenced by a greater G′ than G″. Regarding the size distribution of the oil droplets, the reduced‐fat salad dressing containing a higher inulin content was observed to have a larger droplet size. All reduced‐fat samples, similar to the full‐fat counterparts, exhibited stability with no cream separation over one month of storage at 4°C, as determined by visual observation. Additionally, the reduced‐fat salad dressings supplemented with 17.5 and 20% inulin exhibited stability against cream separation, comparable to the full‐fat counterpart (p > 0.05), as measured by the thermal stress test (80°C for 30 min) with centrifugation. The sensory acceptance scores for reduced‐fat salad dressing with 15 and 17.5% inulin, ranging from approximately 6.28 to 7.63 on a 9‐point hedonic scale for all evaluated attributes (appearance, color, aroma, texture, taste, and overall acceptability), were not significantly different from those of the full‐fat counterpart (p > 0.05). This study demonstrated that inulin may be a suitable ingredient in reduced‐fat salad dressings.
Impact of Endurance Exercise Training on Biomarkers of Aortic Endothelial Damage in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Fouladi Mahtab , Mahmoudabady Maryam , Gholamnezhad Zahra , Shabab Sadegh , Niazmand Saeed , Salmani Hossein
Published: July 2024

Given the heightened risk of diabetes‐related cardiovascular events associated with inactivity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms of vascular damage in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. The aim is to elucidate the impact of different exercises (interval and continuous training) and metformin on biochemical parameters, aortic injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation to provide insights into potential therapeutic interventions for diabetes‐associated vascular complications. Male Wistar rats were administered a single dose of STZ (60 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. Diabetic rats underwent either interval training or continuous training (40 min/day, 5 days/week, 6 weeks), received metformin (300 mg/kg), or a combination of metformin and exercise. After 6 weeks, biochemical parameters in serum and oxidative stress markers and mRNA expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), lectin‐like oxidized low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐1 (LOX‐1), and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) in aorta tissue were assessed. Serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), TG/HDL, TC/HDL, and LDL/HDL ratios were significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared to the diabetes group. Both types of exercises, metformin, and exercise+metformin combinations, significantly reduced oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhancing the antioxidant status in the aortic tissue compared to the diabetic group. In addition, in exercise groups, metformin, and combination groups, the expression of eNOS was significantly elevated, while LOX‐1 and ICAM‐1 expression significantly decreased compared to the diabetic group. In most cases, the combination of exercise and metformin (especially interval training) was more effective than exercise alone. It seems that exercise along with taking metformin can be considered as a therapeutic method by improving hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and reducing oxidative stress and vascular inflammatory responses, leading to ameliorating biomarkers function related to endothelial damage in experimental diabetes conditions.
Cefoperazone Sodium Content Assay in Pharmaceutical Formulations: Development and Validation of High‐Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method
Authors: Hiremath Basavaraj , Yernale Nagesh Gunavanthrao
Published: July 2024

A precise and sensitive RP‐HPLC method is used to assay pharmaceutical dosage forms and bulk drugs for cefoperazone sodium (CPZ). The mobile phase for cefoperazone separation is a combination of acetonitrile and 0.05 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.5) in a 70 : 30 (v/v) ratio. This was separated by using a Waters XTerra RP‐18 column (5 µm 250 × 4.6 mm internal diameter) that was working at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Photodiode array detectors are able to set it at 235 nm. Based on the percentage recovery, the process produced a notable linear response ranging from 0.2 to 20 µg/ml, with a significant precision of 0.27 to 0.67% and an excellent accuracy of 99.90 to 100.02%. Because of its outstanding sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and ease of use, we highly suggest using the reversed‐phase HPLC method. Therefore, a laboratory could utilize this method for routine quality control analysis.
Elasto‐Thermodiffusion Modeling Using Optoelectronic Microtemperature Processes for a Ramp‐Type Heating Nano‐Semiconductor Material
Authors: Adel M. , Lotfy Khaled , El-Bary Alaa , Ahmed M.
Published: July 2024

The theory of photo‐thermoelasticity describes how heating or elastic microstructure mechanical deformation can modify a material’s optical‐thermal properties. This theory particularly highlights the effect of microtemperature on elasticity and efficient heat transport. This work provides a new theoretical framework for thermooptical elastic materials and clarifies the relationship between thermomechanical and plasma waves in microtemperature‐affected semiconductors such as silicon. The model focuses on studying the elasto‐thermodiffusion (ETD) theory’s electron‐hole interaction. Microtemperature effects during photothermal (PT) stimulation are studied in this theory. In one‐dimensional (1D) settings, the Laplace transform is utilized which can be solved using the governing equations for thermoelastic (TD) processes and electronic (ED) deformation processes in a nondimensional form. The proposed model is put to use in analyzing how ramp‐type heating affects an unbounded semiconductor material plane at rest. The discussion section presents a series of graphs to analyze the effect of the main parameters.
Impact of Dead Fish Degradation on the Monitoring of Fish Losses in the Pregrowing and Growing Phase of Caged European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Authors: Chadli Housni , Ennayer Ikram , Bahida Abdeljallil , Nhhala Hassan , Er-Raioui Hassan
Published: July 2024

The interplay between environmental, biological, and physical factors often leads to the deterioration of dead fish in marine cages prior to their removal. Depending on the weight of the dead fish and the frequency of their removal, deterioration can progress to a stage where visual identification by divers becomes challenging, thereby disrupting accurate counting of dead fish. This study presents a practical precision tool for monitoring the number of dead fish during the pregrowth and growth phases of caged European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). To improve the assessment of collected mortality, experiments were conducted in farming cages with various fish weights. Identifiable fish rates (I, %) were calculated every 24 hr and classified into four weight classes: WC1 (4–15 g), WC2 (15–30 g), WC3 (30–80 g), and WC4 (>80 g). The corrected number of dead fish (M) was calculated by dividing the collected number (C) by a correction factor (McR), which was determined based on the adopted removal frequency. The possible mortality removal frequencies per week (Fn) included operations such as F7 (daily), F3 (3 times), F2 (2 times), and F1 (once). The smallest correction denominator was 22% for WC1 at a frequency of once per week, whereas the maximum was 100% for WC3 and WC4 daily. The results revealed a high negative significant correlation between Fn and uncollected degraded fish rate (UR) (r = –0.841, p < 0.05). Applying corrections to mortality collected in three finished batches (B2, B3, and B7) led to an increase in the mortality rate by 3.9% ± 1.5%, 5.5% ± 0.7%, and 5.0% ± 0.5%, respectively. This explained 16.8% ± 4.7%, 65.5% ± 26.7%, and 30.3% ± 3.7% of fish disappearances in B2, B3, and B7, respectively. The significance of this study lies in its practical applicability to fish farms as a precise tool for monitoring fish raised in marine cages.
Relações semânticas em tesauros: contribuições da abordagem pragmática
Authors: Weiss Leila Cristina , Bräscher Marisa
Published: July 2024

Analisa como a abordagem semântica pragmática pode ser adotada para o estabelecimento de relações semânticas em tesauros. No contexto da Organização do Conhecimento, descreve contribuições da abordagem  pragmática às recomendações das normas ANSI/NISO Z39.19(2005) e ISO2594-1(2011). Para as relações de equivalência, essa contribuição diz respeito à percepção de que a distinção do que foi considerado igual ou equivalente para fins de revocação na Recuperação da Informação é uma medida que minimiza as implicações éticas de se escolher uma forma de expressão como termo preferido e proporciona maior flexibilidade ao tesauro. Para as relações hierárquicas, verifica-se a importância de se considerar as diferenças conceituais, pois se as hierarquias são estabelecidas apenas a partir de premissas universalistas podem se tornar demasiadamente rígidas.  Para as relações associativas verifica-se a importância da bibliografia para a identificação das relações que podem guiar o usuário a localizar informações úteis ao alcance de seus objetivos.
Um mapeamento da produção científica sobre Bibliotecas Comunitárias na Ciência da Informação brasileira
Authors: Alves Mariana de Souza , Salcedo Diego Andres , Correia Anna Elizabeth Galvão Coutinho
Published: July 2024

As bibliotecas comunitárias são criadas pela própria comunidade com o enfoque em práticas de leitura e ação cultural. No campo da Ciência da Informação esse tema é pouco tratado, quando comparado aos trabalhos que discorrem sobre outros tipos de bibliotecas. No entanto, diversas pesquisas estão surgindo nos últimos anos sobre o tema assim como diversas bibliotecas comunitárias estão sendo criadas. Considera esses pressupostos para justificar esta pesquisa que tem como objetivo mapear e analisar o estado da arte sobre o estudo de bibliotecas comunitárias no campo da Ciência da Informação brasileira. De caráter exploratório e descritivo, a pesquisa demandou como procedimento metodológico a identificação, recuperação e análise da produção científica nas bases BRAPCI, nos anais do ENANCIB e nas Bibliotecas Digitais de Teses e Dissertações dos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Informação nacionais. Essa etapa resultou num corpus de 41 documentos que datam de 1970 até 2013. A principal conclusão da pesquisa atenta ao fato de que existe a necessidade de mais políticas públicas em que sejam consideradas as especificidades das bibliotecas comunitárias e a efetiva participação do bibliotecário junto às demandas desse tipo de biblioteca, assim como na elaboração das políticas públicas.
Pulmonary Artery Pressures and Mortality During Venoarterial ECMO: An ELSO Registry Analysis
Authors: Owyang Clark G. , Rippon Brady , Teran Felipe , Brodie Daniel , Araos Joaquin , Burkhoff Daniel , Kim Jiwon , Tonna Joseph E.
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Systemic hemodynamics and specific ventilator settings have been shown to predict survival during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). How the right heart (the right ventricle and pulmonary artery) affect survival during venoarterial ECMO is unknown. We aimed to identify the relationship between right heart function with mortality and the duration of ECMO support.

METHODS:

Cardiac ECMO runs in adults from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry between 2010 and 2022 were queried. Right heart function was quantified via pulmonary artery pulse pressure (PAPP) for pre-ECMO and on-ECMO periods. A multivariable model was adjusted for modified Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions stage, age, sex, and concurrent clinical data (ie, pulmonary vasodilators and systemic pulse pressure). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS:

A total of 4442 ECMO runs met inclusion criteria and had documentation of hemodynamic and illness severity variables. The mortality rate was 55%; nonsurvivors were more likely to be older, have a worse Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions stage, and have longer pre-ECMO endotracheal intubation times (
P
<0.05 for all) than survivors. Increasing PAPP from pre-ECMO to on-ECMO time (ΔPAPP) was associated with reduced mortality per 2 mm Hg increase (odds ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97–0.99];
P
=0.002). Higher on-ECMO PAPP was associated with mortality reduction across quartiles with the greatest reduction in the third PAPP quartile (odds ratio, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.63–0.90];
P
=0.002) and longer time on ECMO per 10 mm Hg (beta, 15 [95% CI, 7.7–21];
P
<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Early on-ECMO right heart function and interval improvement from pre-ECMO values were associated with mortality reduction during cardiac ECMO. Incorporation of right heart metrics into risk prediction models should be considered.
Spironolactone Reduces the Risk of Death in Veterans With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Kurgansky Katherine E. , Parker Rachel , Djousse Luc , Gagnon David R. , Joseph Jacob
Published: July 2024

Background

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex syndrome increasing in prevalence and affecting millions worldwide but with limited evidence‐based therapies. Results from explanatory clinical trials suggest that spironolactone may help to improve outcomes in patients with HFpEF. We sought to investigate the effectiveness of spironolactone in reducing death and hospitalization outcomes for patients with HFpEF in a real‐world setting.

Methods and Results

We used electronic health records from the US Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system between 2002 and 2012 to identify patients with HFpEF who were followed longitudinally through 2014 using a validated algorithm. Among our HFpEF cohort that is 96% men, 85% White individuals, and aged 74±11 years, 3690 spironolactone users and 49 191 nonusers were identified and followed for a median of 2.9 (interquartile range [IQR], 1.5–2.4) and 3.3 (IQR, 1.6–5.9) years, respectively. We evaluated the effect of spironolactone use on all‐cause death and number of days hospitalized per year for heart failure or for any cause by fitting generalized estimating equation–based Poisson and negative binomial models. Crude rates of 10.3 versus 13.5 deaths and 394.0 versus 485.9 days hospitalized were observed per 100 person‐years for spironolactone users versus nonusers, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, there was a 21% reduction (95% CI, 13–29;
P
<0.0001) in rate of all‐cause death among spironolactone users compared with nonusers and no statistically significant difference in days hospitalized for all causes or heart failure.

Conclusions

In a real‐world national cohort of patients with HFpEF, spironolactone use reduced all‐cause death and demonstrated a favorable trend in reducing the burden of hospitalizations.
Optimizing Prediction of In‐Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Nomogram Approach Using the Age‐Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index Score
Authors: Lin He , Xi Ying‐Bin , Yang Zhi‐Cheng , Tong Zhou‐Jie , Jiang Guihua , Gao Jihong , Kang Baoxu , Ma Ying , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhi‐Hao
Published: July 2024

Background

To study the age‐adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) scale, which is a comprehensive quantification of multimorbidity coexistence, for the assessment of the risk of acute myocardial infarction death in elderly people.

Methods and Results

A total of 502 older patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied at Qilu Hospital from September 2017 to March 2022. They were categorized on the basis of ACCI into low (≤5), intermediate (6, 7), and high (≥8) risk groups. Hospitalization duration was observed, with death as the end point. least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to screen variables, 10‐fold cross‐validation was performed to validate the screened variables, a Cox regression nomogram predicting the risk of patient death was prepared, hazard ratio with 95% CI was calculated, a nomogram calibration curve was constructed, and a receiver operating characteristic curve, decision curve analysis, and a clinical impact curve were established. From 62 potential factors in a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, 12 were selected via 10‐fold cross‐validation. Retain variables with significant statistical differences in the Cox regression. A nomogram of the risk of death from acute infarction was constructed, and risk factors included ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, nicorandil, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, β blockers, and ACCI score, carbon dioxide combining power, and blood calcium concentration.

Conclusions

The ACCI score effectively assesses multimorbidity in the older patients. As ACCI rises, the death risk from acute myocardial infarction grows. The study's nomogram is valid and clinically applicable.