bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DAXX safeguards heterochromatin formation in embryonic stem cells
Authors: Canat Antoine , Veillet Adeline , Batrin Renaud , Dubourg Clara , Lhoumaud Priscillia , Arnau-Romero Pol , Greenberg Maxim V. C. , Bonhomme Frédéric , Arimondo Paola B. , Illingworth Robert , Fabre Emmanuelle , Therizols Pierre
Published: September 2023

Genomes comprise a large fraction of repetitive sequences folded into constitutive heterochromatin, which protect genome integrity and cell identity. De novo formation of heterochromatin during preimplantation development is an essential step for preserving the ground-state of pluripotency and the self-renewal capacity of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the remodeling of constitutive heterochromatin are largely unknown. Here, we identify that DAXX, an H3.3 chaperone essential for the maintenance of mouse ESCs in the ground state, accumulates in pericentromeric regions independently of DNA methylation. DAXX recruits PML and SETDB1 to promote the formation of heterochromatin, forming foci that are hallmarks of ground-state ESCs. In the absence of DAXX or PML, the three-dimensional (3D) architecture and physical properties of pericentric and peripheral heterochromatin are disrupted, resulting in de-repression of major satellite DNA, transposable elements and genes associated with the nuclear lamina. Using epigenome editing tools, we observe that H3.3, and specifically H3.3K9 modification, directly contribute to maintaining pericentromeric chromatin conformation. Altogether, our data reveal that DAXX is crucial for the maintenance and 3D organization of the heterochromatin compartment and protects ESC viability.
Nectophore coordination and kinematics by physonect siphonophores
Authors: Strock Shirah , Costello John H. , Daniels Joost , Katija Kakani , Colin Sean P.
Published: September 2023

Siphonophores are ubiquitous and often highly abundant members of pelagic ecosystems throughout the open ocean. They are unique among animal taxa in that many species use multiple jets for propulsion. Little is known about the kinematics of the individual jets produced by nectophores (the swimming bells of siphonophores) or whether the jets are coordinated during normal swimming behavior. Using remotely operated vehicles and SCUBA, we video recorded the swimming behavior of several physonect species in their natural environment. The pulsed kinematics of the individual nectophores that comprise the siphonophore nectosome were quantified and, based on these kinematics, we examined the coordination of adjacent nectophores. We found that, for the five species considered, nectophores located along the same side of the nectosomal axis (i.e. axially aligned) were coordinated and their timing was offset such that they pulsed metachronally. However, this level of coordination did not extend across the nectosome and no coordination was evident between nectophores on opposite sides of the nectosomal axis. For most species, the metachronal contraction waves of nectophores were initiated by the apical nectophores and traveled dorsally. However, the metachronal wave of Apolemia rubriversa traveled in the opposite direction. Although nectophore groups on opposite sides of the nectosome were not coordinated, they pulsed with similar frequencies. This enabled siphonophores to maintain relatively linear trajectories during swimming. The timing and characteristics of the metachronal coordination of pulsed jets affects how the jet wakes interact and may provide important insight into how interacting jets may be optimized for efficient propulsion.
The Predictive Utility of MammaPrint and BluePrint in Identifying Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Who are Most Likely to Have Nodal Downstaging and a Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Blumencranz Peter , Habibi Mehran , Shivers Steve , Acs Geza , Blumencranz Lisa E. , Yoder Erin B. , van der Baan Bastiaan , Menicucci Andrea R. , Dauer Patricia , Audeh William , Cox Charles E.
Published: September 2023

Background

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) increases the feasibility of surgical resection by downstaging large primary breast tumors and nodal involvement, which may result in surgical de-escalation and improved outcomes. This subanalysis from the Multi-Institutional Neo-adjuvant Therapy MammaPrint Project I (MINT) trial evaluated the association between MammaPrint and BluePrint with nodal downstaging.

Patients and Methods

The prospective MINT trial (NCT01501487) enrolled 387 patients between 2011 and 2016 aged ≥ 18 years with invasive breast cancer (T2–T4). This subanalysis includes 146 patients with stage II–III, lymph node positive, who received NCT. MammaPrint stratifies tumors as having a Low Risk or High Risk of distant metastasis. Together with MammaPrint, BluePrint genomically (g) categorizes tumors as gLuminal A, gLuminal B, gHER2, or gBasal.

Results

Overall, 45.2% (n = 66/146) of patients had complete nodal downstaging, of whom 60.6% (n = 40/66) achieved a pathologic complete response. MammaPrint and combined MammaPrint and BluePrint were significantly associated with nodal downstaging (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, respectively). A greater proportion of patients with MammaPrint High Risk tumors had nodal downstaging compared with Low Risk (p = 0.007). When classified with MammaPrint and BluePrint, more patients with gLuminal B, gHER2, and gBasal tumors had nodal downstaging compared with HR+HER2−, gLuminal A tumors (p = 0.538, p < 0.001, and p = 0.013, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with genomically High Risk tumors, defined by MammaPrint with or without BluePrint, respond better to NCT and have a higher likelihood of nodal downstaging compared with patients with gLuminal A tumors. These genomic signatures can be used to select node-positive patients who are more likely to have nodal downstaging and avoid invasive surgical procedures.
Measuring Intergenerational Income Mobility: A Synthesis of Approaches
Authors: Deutscher Nathan , Mazumder Bhashkar
Published: September 2023

The literature on intergenerational income mobility uses a diverse set of measures and there is limited knowledge about whether these measures provide similar information and yield similar conclusions. We provide a framework to highlight the key concepts and properties of the different estimators. We then show how these measures relate to one another empirically. Our main analysis uses income tax data from Australia to produce a comprehensive set of empirical estimates for each of 19 different mobility measures at both the national and regional levels. We supplement this analysis with other data that uses either within- or between-country variation in mobility measures. A key finding is that there is a clear distinction between relative and absolute measures both conceptually and empirically. A region may be high with respect to absolute mobility but could be low with respect to relative mobility. However, within broad categories, the different mobility measures tend to be highly correlated. For rank-based estimators, we highlight the importance of how the choice of the distribution used for calculating ranks can play a critical role in determining its properties as well as affect empirical findings. These patterns of results are important for policymakers whose local economy might fare well according to some mobility indicators but not others. (JEL D31, H24, I32, J62)
Macroeconomic Research, Present and Past
Authors: Glandon P. J. , Kuttner Ken , Mazumder Sandeep , Stroup Caleb
Published: September 2023

How is macroeconomic research conducted and what is it trying to accomplish? We explore these questions using information gleaned from 1,894 articles published in 10 leading journals. The emphasis on quantitative, computation-intensive theory-based analysis has grown over the past 40 years, while the use of econometric methods to test economic hypotheses has diminished. Applied micro techniques and micro data have displaced time series methods. Market imperfections are pervasive and financial frictions have received increasing attention in the past 10 years. The frequency with which non-macro JEL codes appear in macro articles indicates a great deal of overlap between macroeconomics and other fields. (JEL A14, B41, C10, C18, E00, E10)
Choosing the Future: Markets, Ethics, and Rapprochement in Social Discounting
Authors: Millner Antony , Heal Geoffrey
Published: September 2023

This paper provides a critical review of the literature on choosing social discount rates (SDRs) for public cost-benefit analysis. We discuss two dominant approaches, the first based on market prices and the second based on intertemporal ethics. While both methods have attractive features, neither is immune to criticism. The market-based approach is not entirely persuasive even if markets are perfect, and faces further headwinds once the implications of market imperfections are recognised. By contrast, the ‘ethical’ approach—which relates SDRs to marginal rates of substitution implicit in a single planner’s intertemporal welfare function—does not rely exclusively on markets, but raises difficult questions about what that welfare function should be. There is considerable disagreement on this matter, which translates into enormous variation in the evaluation of long-run payoffs. We discuss the origins of these disagreements, and suggest that they are difficult to resolve unequivocally. This leads us to propose a third approach that recognises the immutable nature of some normative disagreements, and proposes methods for aggregating diverse theories of intertemporal social welfare. We illustrate the application of these methods to social discounting, and suggest that they may help us to move beyond long-standing debates that have bedevilled this field. (JEL D60, D61, D71, H43, H54)
Dividing Lines: Racial Segregation across Local Government Boundaries
Authors: Monarrez Tomás , Schönholzer David
Published: September 2023

We describe the empirical relationship between local government boundaries and residential segregation in the United States. First, we study recent changes in the distribution of segregation within and between local governments in all metropolitan areas, using census block data on residential demographics over the period 1990–2020. We find that segregation across local government boundaries explains a substantial share of racial stratification, which has changed only little over the last thirty years. Next, we use spatial regression discontinuity methods to distinguish between household sorting due to neighborhood amenities and public goods provided by local governments. The prevalence of demographic discontinuities at local government boundaries suggest that between-jurisdiction segregation patterns cannot be explained solely by proximity to neighborhood amenities. We discuss implications for policy, showing that both between-jurisdiction segregation and jurisdictional discontinuities can partly explain the correlation between total segregation and racial gaps in educational outcomes. (JEL H41, H75, I24, I26, J15, R23)
The Market Power of Technology: Understanding the Second Gilded Age
Authors: Gupta Abhinav
Published: September 2023

Abhinav Gupta of Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC Chapel Hill reviews “The Market Power of Technology: Understanding the Second Gilded Age” by Mordecai Kurz. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Examines the relationship between economic inequality and the technological market power of firms, considering its policy implications in light of the history of income and wealth inequality since 1889.”
Escala de resistencia a la presión de pares para el consumo de cigarros en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Zepeta Hernandez David , Armendáriz García Nora Angelica , Del Ángel Salazar Erika Mayte , Alonso Castillo María Magdalena
Published: September 2023

Introducción: la influencia o presión de pares que fuman es uno de los principales factores por los que los estudiantes universitarios inician el consumo del cigarro convencional; sin embargo, no se ha encontrado un instrumento que evalué este fenómeno. Por lo tanto, el objetivo fue adaptar y validar la Escala de Resistencia a la Presión de Pares para el Consumo de Cigarro Convencional. Materiales y métodos: participaron 237 estudiantes universitarios del estado de Nuevo León (México), de 18 a 24 años. Se realizó análisis factorial exploratorio, análisis de confiabilidad, correlación de Spearman y prueba de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: el 63.3 % fueron mujeres y la media de edad fue de 19.66 años. Se identificaron dos factores con un total de 13 ítems. Se obtuvo un alfa de Cronbach de 0.81. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los distintos tipos de consumidores de cigarro convencional y los puntajes de la escala de resistencia a la presión de pares (H[4] = 23.85; p < 0.001). Conclusiones: la nueva versión de la Escala de Resistencia a la Presión de Pares para el Consumo de Cigarro Convencional evidenció adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para evaluar la presión que ejercen los pares en estudiantes universitarios para el consumo de cigarro convencional.
Hyaluronic acid skin boosters: the holy grail of skin health
Authors: Ramadan Francesca
Published: September 2023

Skincare and skin health have risen to ever-increasing prominence in recent years, and there are many products and treatments available on the market that advertise themselves as miracle cure-alls. Hyaluronic acid, a popular skincare ingredient, may indeed live up to the claims, but its efficacy is dependent on its mode of delivery. Skin boosters comprising injectable hyaluronic acid may offer a way to revitalise patients' skin from the inside out. Francesca Ramadan elaborates
Pultruded composites contribute to a more sustainable future for construction
Authors:   The European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA)
Published: September 2023

Increasing energy and resource efficiency in the construction sector will be key to the EU's ambition of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By enabling the manufacture of strong, durable and lightweight products, composite materials can help the construction sector improve its environmental sustainability, as well as reduce total lifecycle costs. Pultruded composite parts answer the need for design flexibility, high performance, faster installation, corrosion resistance and low maintenance in a wide variety of building and infrastructure applications, from bridge decks to rebar for concrete, from railway platforms to building panels, stairs and fencing.
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing at 20 years
Authors: Dhawan Rohit , Young David A. , Van Eemeren Anthony , Shimmin Andrew
Published: September 2023

Aims

The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) arthroplasty has been used as a surgical treatment of coxarthrosis since 1997. We present 20-year results of 234 consecutive BHRs performed in our unit.

Methods

Between 1999 and 2001, there were 217 patients: 142 males (65.4%), mean age 52 years (18 to 68) who had 234 implants (17 bilateral). They had patient-reported outcome measures collected, imaging (radiograph and ultrasound), and serum metal ion assessment. Survivorship analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Revision for any cause was considered as an endpoint for the analysis.

Results

Mean follow-up was 20.9 years (19.3 to 22.4). Registry data revealed that 19 hips (8.1%) had been revised and 26 patients (12%) had died from causes unrelated to the BHR. Among the remaining 189 hips, 61% were available for clinical follow-up at 20 years (n = 115) and 70% of patients had biochemical follow-up (n = 132). The cumulative implant survival rate at 20 years for male patients was 96.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 93.5 to 99.6), and for female patients 87% (95% CI 79.7 to 94.9). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.029). The mean Oxford Hip Score, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and Forgotten Joint Score were 45 (29 to 48), 89 (43 to 100), and 84 (19 to 100), respectively. The mean scores for each of the five domains of the EuroQol five-dimension three-level questionnaire were 1.2, 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.1, and mean overall score 82.6 (50 to 100). Ultrasound showed no pseudotumour. Mean cobalt and chromium levels were 32.1 nmol/l (1 to 374) and 45.5 nmol/l (9 to 408), respectively.

Conclusion

This study shows that BHRs provide excellent survivorship and functional outcomes in young male patients. At 20 years, soft-tissue imaging and serum metal ion studies suggest that a metal-on-metal resurfacing implant can be well tolerated in a group of young patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(9):946–952.
Annual incidence and assessment of risk factors for early-onset deep surgical site infection following primary total knee arthroplasty in osteoarthritis
Authors: Bourget-Murray Jonathan , Piroozfar Sophie , Smith Christopher , Ellison Jennifer , Bansal Rohit , Sharma Rajrishi , Evaniew Nathan , Johnson Andrew , Powell James N.
Published: September 2023

Aims

This study aims to determine difference in annual rate of early-onset (≤ 90 days) deep surgical site infection (SSI) following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis, and to identify risk factors that may be associated with infection.

Methods

This is a retrospective population-based cohort study using prospectively collected patient-level data between 1 January 2013 and 1 March 2020. The diagnosis of deep SSI was defined as per the Centers for Disease Control/National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. The Mann-Kendall Trend test was used to detect monotonic trends in annual rates of early-onset deep SSI over time. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of different patient, surgical, and healthcare setting factors on the risk of developing a deep SSI within 90 days from surgery for patients with complete data. We also report 90-day mortality.

Results

A total of 39,038 patients underwent primary TKA for osteoarthritis during the study period. Of these, 275 patients developed a deep SSI within 90 days of surgery, representing a cumulative incidence of 0.7%. The annual infection rate did not significantly decrease over the seven-year study period (p = 0.162). Overall, 13,885 (35.5%) cases were excluded from the risk analysis due to missing data. Risk factors associated with early-onset deep SSI included male sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade ≥ 3, blood transfusion, acute length of stay, and surgeon volume < 30 TKAs/year. Early-onset deep SSI was not associated with increased 90-day mortality.

Conclusion

This study establishes a reliable baseline infection rate for early-onset deep SSI after TKA for osteoarthritis using robust Infection Prevention and Control surveillance data, and identifies several potentially modifiable risk factors.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(9):971–976.
Barriers to Community Participation for Adults Aging With an Intellectual Disability in Ireland: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: McCausland Darren , McCallion Philip , Carroll Rachael , McCarron Mary
Published: September 2023

Social inclusion is associated with better health and quality of life. Community participation is essential to inclusion and is an established human right. However, people with intellectual disability experience limitations and challenges to their participation. This study examined difficulties older Irish adults had participating in community. A sample of 609 individuals was followed over a six-year period to explore rates of difficulty experienced and associated factors. The proportion reporting the difficulties measured increased over time. Aging was associated with increased difficulty participating in community but was just one of multiple factors. Contrary to policy, more adults with intellectual disability may face exclusion from community as they age. More person-centered supports are needed to address individual needs to better support inclusion.
The Literature of Cacao: Jorge Amado's Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon
Authors: Scott Bede
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Situated at the intersection of postcolonial studies and affect studies, this essay explores the emotional and generic significance of capitalist modernity in Jorge Amado's Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon (1958). Amado's novel is set in the provincial city of Ilhéus at the time of the First Republic (1889–1930), a particularly volatile period of Brazilian history that witnessed the decline of the regional oligarchies and the rise of the urban bourgeoisie. By combining these two different critical perspectives, I argue, we can understand why Mundinho Falcão, a wealthy investor from Rio, should find it necessary to establish a new emotional regime in Ilhéus, one that privileges capitalist rationality over the hyperbolic feelings associated with the existing feudalistic order. Moreover, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that this transition at the level of story, whereby one dominant structure of feeling makes way for another, creates a corresponding disturbance at the level of discourse or genre—transforming a narrative of melodramatic antipathies and rivalries into one of bourgeois complicity and compromise.
Deafblind Tactile Signers: The Dynamics of Communication and Space
Authors: Van Der Mark Lisa
Published: September 2023

Abstract: The focus of this article is on deaf blind people who are or have been involved with deaf signing communities and, when vision changes, transition to tactile reception of sign language. This brings about a disconnection with the signing community, exploration of (other) possibilities, and seeking or creating deaf blind spaces. In the United States, the protactile movement led to a more tactile-centric form of communication and to more autonomy for deaf blind people. In international settings, deaf blind people from diverse language backgrounds communicate in a mix of visual and tactile representations or conventions of concepts. At the academic level, deaf blind people have been studied by a variety of disciplines. Deaf blind studies benefits from multidisciplinary and insider perspectives to gain more insights into theory and research methods.
Accurate modeling of ultrafast nonlinear pulse propagation in multimode gain fiber
Authors: Chen Yi-Hao , Haig Henry , Wu Yuhang , Ziegler Zachary , Wise Frank
Published: September 2023

The nonlinear propagation of picosecond or femtosecond optical pulses in multimode fiber amplifiers underlies a variety of intriguing physical phenomena as well as the potential for scaling sources of ultrashort pulses to higher powers. However, existing theoretical models of ultrashort-pulse amplification do not include some critical processes, and, as a result, they fail to capture basic features of experiments. We introduce a numerical model that combines steady-state rate equations with the unidirectional pulse propagation equation, incorporating dispersion, Kerr and Raman nonlinearities, and gain/loss-spectral effects in a mode-resolved treatment that is computationally efficient. This model allows investigation of spatiotemporal processes that are strongly affected by gain dynamics. Its capabilities are illustrated through examinations of amplification in few-mode gain fiber, multimode nonlinear amplification, and beam cleaning in a multimode fiber amplifier.
Direct measurement of the extinction coefficient by differential transmittance
Authors: Larruquert Juan I. , Gutiérrez-Luna Nuria , Honrado-Benítez Carlos , López-Reyes Paloma , Ríos-Fernández Álvaro , Pérez-García Manuel , Rodríguez-de Marcos Luis V.
Published: September 2023

A new procedure to measure the extinction coefficient k of film materials that are relatively transparent is presented. This procedure does not require the use of an optical-constant model or the knowledge of extra physical properties of the material, such as the specific heat capacity. It involves preparing a sample with two areas, at least one of them coated with the film, whereas the other may remain uncoated or may be coated with a different thickness of the same material. The differential transmittance between the two sample areas is shown to be proportional to k of the film material in the following measurement conditions: the incident light is p polarized and it impinges at the film material Brewster angle. The differential transmittance is obtained with a single measurement by making the light beam or the sample to oscillate with respect to one another and by using a lock-in amplifier; for normalization purposes, the transmittance in one of the sample areas is also measured. The proportionality factor between the normalized differential transmittance and k only involves the wavelength, the film thickness, and the Brewster angle. The knowledge of the film Brewster angle requires that the film refractive index (n) is measured beforehand; this can be performed with standard procedures, such as ellipsometry, since such techniques are efficient at measuring n of a transparent material, but are inefficient at measuring a small k. The procedure is exemplified with the calculation of k in the far ultraviolet of AlF3 films deposited by evaporation. The dependence of the uncertainty of k obtained with this procedure is analyzed in terms of the uncertainty of the film n, of wavelength, and of the degree of polarization of the incident beam. The selection of a substrate with similar n to the film material is also discussed. The uncertainties involved with the present procedure were analyzed for a specific example and an uncertainty of 2 × 10−5 in k calculation is considered feasible.
Peak-tracking BOTDA with dynamic ternary search
Authors: Qi Di , Guan Xun , Cheng Yuansen , Chan Chun-Kit
Published: September 2023

We propose a peak-tracking BOTDA (PT-BOTDA) equipped with an efficient dynamic Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) searching scheme based on ternary search. The proposed scheme establishes a feedback loop between the selected frequency and the corresponding Brillouin gain to reduce the required number of scanning frequencies in one measurement. We also demonstrate the performance evaluation of the proposed scheme under scenarios with different searching granularities and dynamic sensing ranges. Experimental results indicate that in all situations, the proposed PT-BOTDA can achieve at least 85% and 97% reduction in the number of scanning frequencies for 1-MHz and 0.1-MHz frequency steps, respectively, with a 3-meter spatial resolution, while maintaining a convincing BFS searching accuracy under sufficient SNR condition using a smaller searching interval.
Spectral speckle customization
Authors: Bender Nicholas , Haig Henry , Christodoulides Demetrios N. , Wise Frank W.
Published: September 2023

Speckle patterns are used in a broad range of applications including
microscopy, imaging, and light–matter interactions. Tailoring
speckles’ statistics can dramatically enhance their performance in
applications. We present an experimental technique for customizing the
spatio-spectral speckled intensity statistics of optical pulses at the
output of a complex medium (a disordered multimode fiber) by
controlling the spatial profile of the input light. We demonstrate
that it is possible to create ensembles of independent speckle
patterns with arbitrary statistics at a single wavelength,
simultaneously at multiple decorrelated wavelengths, and even tailored
statistics across an entire pulse spectrum.
Dynamical modelling of viral infection and cooperative immune protection in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Zhou Zhengqing , Li Dianjie , Zhao Ziheng , Shi Shuyu , Wu Jianghua , Li Jianwei , Zhang Jingpeng , Gui Ke , Zhang Yu , Ouyang Qi , Mei Heng , Hu Yu , Li Fangting
Published: September 2023

Once challenged by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the human host immune system triggers a dynamic process against infection. We constructed a mathematical model to describe host innate and adaptive immune response to viral challenge. Based on the dynamic properties of viral load and immune response, we classified the resulting dynamics into four modes, reflecting increasing severity of COVID-19 disease. We found the numerical product of immune system’s ability to clear the virus and to kill the infected cells, namely immune efficacy, to be predictive of disease severity. We also investigated vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results suggested that immune efficacy based on memory T cells and neutralizing antibody titers could be used to predict population vaccine protection rates. Finally, we analyzed infection dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants within the construct of our mathematical model. Overall, our results provide a systematic framework for understanding the dynamics of host response upon challenge by SARS-CoV-2 infection, and this framework can be used to predict vaccine protection and perform clinical diagnosis.
RSim: A reference-based normalization method via rank similarity
Authors: Yuan Bo , Wang Shulei
Published: September 2023

Microbiome sequencing data normalization is crucial for eliminating technical bias and ensuring accurate downstream analysis. However, this process can be challenging due to the high frequency of zero counts in microbiome data. We propose a novel reference-based normalization method called normalization via rank similarity (RSim) that corrects sample-specific biases, even in the presence of many zero counts. Unlike other normalization methods, RSim does not require additional assumptions or treatments for the high prevalence of zero counts. This makes it robust and minimizes potential bias resulting from procedures that address zero counts, such as pseudo-counts. Our numerical experiments demonstrate that RSim reduces false discoveries, improves detection power, and reveals true biological signals in downstream tasks such as PCoA plotting, association analysis, and differential abundance analysis.
Advancing and critical appraisal of an integrative load monitoring approach in microcycles in professional soccer
Authors: Ammann Linda , Ruf Ludwig , Beavan Adam , Chmura Paweł , Altmann Stefan
Published: September 2023

Despite load monitoring being considered an integral part of targeted performance management, including injury and illness prevention, there is currently no consensus of an effective monitoring system in professional soccer. Thus, the aims were to apply an integrative load monitoring approach, previously established in rink-hockey, in professional soccer; extend this approach with further data (Short Recovery and Stress Scale); assess this (extended) approach, thereby further evaluating the relationship between the used external load (EL) measures (total distance, distance above 55% and 70% of individual maximal speed, number of accelerations and decelerations > 4 m/s2, total loading) and the internal load (IL) measure session rate of perceived exertion training load (sRPE-TL) as well as between the used EL measures and sRPE. This retrospective observational cohort study analyzed data from a Swiss team collected over a 14 week-period during the 2021/22 season. Based on our findings, the integrative approach tested proved to be an applicable load monitoring tool in professional soccer, placing players on a fitness-fatigue continuum throughout the different microcycle sessions without using tests, thus providing relevant information to individually tailor training programs. sRPE-TL (ρ [95% CI] = .55 [.51 to .59] to .87 [.85 to .88]; all p < .001) better reflected the EL experienced by players than sRPE (ρ [95% CI] = .45 [.40 to .50] to .71 [.69 to .75]; all p < .001) supporting the definition of sRPE-TL as a measure of IL. However, for even stronger relevance of the tested tool, further research is warranted, especially to ascertain its sensitivity and determine an optimal selection of EL and IL measures. In sum, the present data clearly demonstrate the importance of load management taking place at an individual level, even within team structures, thereby analyzing a set of both EL and IL measures.
Performance during the Glittre-ADL test between patients with and without post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Motta Cristiane Pires , Olimpio da Silva Davi Luiz , da Costa Lohana Resende , Galhardo Giselle Faria , Lopes Agnaldo José
Published: September 2023

Background

Post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis (PTBB) is gaining recognition as an important chronic lung disease, representing a neglected condition with a significant burden for the individual. Recently, the Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) has been proposed for the assessment of functional capacity, which incorporates tasks of daily living demanding the upper and lower extremities. This study used TGlittre to compare patients with PTBB to patients with non-post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis (NPTBB) and evaluate the determinants of performance during TGlittre.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study in which 32 patients with PTBB and 29 with NPTBB underwent TGlittre. In addition, they completed Short Form-36 (SF-36), handgrip strength, quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Results

Both PTBB and NPTBB required much more time to perform the TGlittre compared to the predicted values, although they did not differ statistically from each other [152 (124–200) vs. 145 (117–179)% predicted, p = 0.41]. Regarding the PFTs, the PTBB participants showed significantly lower values than the NPTBB participants in forced vital capacity (FVC, 60 ± 14.5 vs. 78.2 ± 22.2% predicted, p<0.001) and total lung capacity [82 (66–95) vs. 93 (82–105)% predicted, p = 0.028]. In the PTBB group, FVC (p<0.001) and QMS (p = 0.001) were the only significant independent variables to predict TGlittre time, explaining 71% of the variability in TGlittre time. In the NPTBB group, maximal expiratory pressure (p = 0.002), residual volume/TLC (p = 0.001) and QMS (p = 0.032) were the significant independent variables for predicting TGlittre time, explaining 73% of the variability in TGlittre time.

Conclusions

PTBB patients have lower than expected performance on TGlittre, though similar to NPTBB patients. The PTBB patients had a greater reduction in lung volume than NPTBB patients. Furthermore, the performance on TGlittre in PTBB patients is largely explained by lung volume and QMS.
How to promote the sustainable development of virtual reality technology for training in construction filed: A tripartite evolutionary game analysis
Authors: Shi Chunyan , Miao Xinyue , Liu Hui , Han Yang , Wang Yafei , Gao Weijun , Liu Gen , Li Siwen , Lin Yingzi , Wei Xindong , Xu Tongyu
Published: September 2023

In recent years, virtual reality training technology (VRTT) has been considered by many scholars as a new training method instead of traditional training (TT) to reduce unsafe behaviors ascribed to construction workers (CWs) and corporate accident rates. However, in this process, a conflict of interest arises among the government, construction enterprises (CEs), and CWs. Therefore, this study introduces a quantitative research method, the three-party evolutionary game and creatively combining them with the product life cycle (PLC) to solve this problem by analyzing the equilibrium and evolutionarily stable strategies of the system. Finally, collaborative players’ decision-making behaviors and their sensitivity to critical factors are examined. This paper will illustrate these in each stage through numerical simulations. The results of the study indicate that the government plays a dominant role in the VRTT introduction stage. When the government gives CEs appropriate subsidies, CEs will eventually realize the importance of VRTT for CWs. Then the government will gradually reduce the amount of the subsidies in this process. In addition, we also find that the continually high cost will lead to negative policies by the government, which requires the active cooperation and attitude change from CEs and CWs. Ultimately, the government, CEs and CWs adopt the best strategy in the evolutionary process to facilitate the promotion, application and sustainability of VRTT in the construction industry.
Lifespan variation among people with a given disease or condition
Authors: Zheng Yan , Permanyer Iñaki , Canudas-Romo Vladimir , Aburto José Manuel , Nigri Andrea , Plana-Ripoll Oleguer
Published: September 2023

In addition to fundamental mortality metrics such as mortality rates and mortality rate ratios, life expectancy is also commonly used to investigate excess mortality among a group of individuals diagnosed with specific diseases or conditions. However, as an average measure, life expectancy ignores the heterogeneity in lifespan. Interestingly, the variation in lifespan–a measure commonly used in the field of demography–has not been estimated for people with a specific condition. Based on recent advances in methodology in research within epidemiology and demography, we discuss two metrics, namely, the average life disparity and average lifetable entropy after diagnosis, which estimate the variation in lifespan for time-varying conditions in both absolute and relative aspects. These metrics are further decomposed into early and late components, separated by their threshold ages. We use mortality data for women with mental disorders from Danish registers to design a population-based study and measure such metrics. Compared with women from the general population, women with a mental disorder had a shorter average remaining life expectancy after diagnosis (37.6 years vs. 44.9 years). In addition, women with mental disorders also experienced a larger average lifespan variation, illustrated by larger average life disparity (9.5 years vs 9.1 years) and larger average lifetable entropy (0.33 vs 0.27). More specifically, we found that women with a mental disorder had a larger early average life disparity but a smaller late average life disparity. Unlike the average life disparity, both early and late average lifetable entropy were higher for women with mental disorders compared to the general population. In conclusion, the metric proposed in our study complements the current research focusing merely on life expectancy and further provides a new perspective into the assessment of people’s health associated with time-varying conditions.
Effect of pulsed light on curcumin chemical stability and antioxidant capacity
Authors: Zhang Huiying Amelie , Pratap-Singh Anubhav , Kitts David D.
Published: September 2023

Curcumin is the major bioactive component in turmeric with potent antioxidant activity. Little is known about how pulsed light (PL) technology (an emerging non-thermal food processing technology relying on high intensity short duration flashes of light) can affect the chemical stability and antioxidant capacity of curcumin. This study found that PL treatment of fluence levels from 0 to 12.75 J/cm2 produced a fluence-dependent reduction in curcumin content. These results paralleled the production of a tentative curcumin dimer, identified as a potential photochemical transformation product. PL-treated curcumin at relatively higher fluence levels decreased chemical-based ORAC and ABTS antioxidant capacity, relative to control (P < 0.05). This contrasted the effect observed to increase coincidently both intracellular antioxidant capacity (e.g., DCFH-DA (P < 0.05)) and GSH/GSSG ratio (P < 0.05), respectively, in cultured differentiated Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, the application of PL on curcumin results in photochemical transformation reactions, such as dimerization, which in turn, can enhance biological antioxidant capacity in differentiated Caco-2 cells.
Dynamic measurements of speed and risk perception during driving: Evidence of speed misestimation from continuous ratings and video analysis
Authors: Ju Uijong , Wallraven Christian
Published: September 2023

Investigating the factors underlying perceived speed and risk is crucial to ensure safe driving. However, existing studies on this topic usually measure speed and risk perception indirectly after a driving session, which makes it difficult to trace dynamic effects and time points of potential misestimates. To address this problem, we developed and validated a novel continuous method for dynamically measuring risk and speed perceptions. To study the factors affecting risk and speed perception, we presented participants with videos captured on the same racing track from the same point of view but with different drivers who varied in their speed and risk profiles. During the experiment, participants used a joystick to continuously rate the subjectively perceived risk of driving in the first block and the perceived speed in the second block. Our analysis of these dynamic ratings indicates that risk and speed estimates were decoupled, with curves resulting in decreased speeds but increased risk ratings. However, a close distance to the car in front increased both speed and risk. Based on actual and estimated speed data, we found that overtaking cars on curves resulted in participants overestimating their own speed, whereas an increase in the distance to the car in front on a straight course led to underestimations of their own speed. Our results showcase the usefulness of dynamic rating profiles for in-depth investigations into situations that could result in drivers misjudging speed or risk and will thus help the development of more intelligent, human-centered driving assistance systems.
Using contextual factors to elicit placebo and nocebo effects: An online survey of healthcare providers’ practice
Authors: Druart Leo , Bailly-Basin Emilie , Dolgopoloff Maïa , Rossettini Giacomo , Blease Charlotte , Locher Cosima , Kubicki Alexandre , Pinsault Nicolas
Published: September 2023

Contextual factor use by healthcare professionals has been studied mainly among nurses and physiotherapists. Preliminary results show that healthcare professionals use contextual factors without specifically labelling them as such. The main objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and explore voluntary contextual factor use among various healthcare professions. The results aim to facilitate hypothesis-generation, to better position further research to explain and characterise contextual factor use. We conducted a web-based questionnaire cross-sectional observational study on a non-probabilistic convenience sample. Face and content validity were tested through cognitive interviews. Data were analysed descriptively. The target population was the main healthcare profession, or final year students, defined by the French public health law. The countries of distribution of the questionnaire were the French-speaking European countries. Among our 1236 participants, use of contextual factors was widespread. Those relating to the therapeutic relationship (e.g., communication) and patient characteristics (e.g., past experiences) were reportedly the most used. Meanwhile, contextual factors related to the healthcare providers’ characteristics and their own beliefs were reported as less used. Despite high variability, respondents suggested contextual effects contribute to approximately half of the overall effect in healthcare and were perceived as more effective on children and elderly adults. Conceptual variations that exist in the literature are also present in the way healthcare providers consider contextual effects. Interestingly, there seems to be common ground between how physiotherapists, nurses and physicians use different contextual factors. Finally, in the present study we also observed that while there are similarities across usage, there is lack of both an epistemological and ethical consensus among healthcare providers with respect to contextual factors.
Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNA as a surrogate marker for viral infectivity: Comparison between culture isolation and direct sgRNA quantification
Authors: Scutari Rossana , Renica Silvia , Cento Valeria , Nava Alice , Sammartino Josè Camilla , Ferrari Alessandro , Pani Arianna , Merli Marco , Fanti Diana , Vismara Chiara , Scaglione Francesco , Puoti Massimo , Bandera Alessandra , Gori Andrea , Piralla Antonio , Baldanti Fausto , Perno Carlo Federico , Alteri Claudia
Published: September 2023

Detection of subgenomic (sg) SARS-CoV-2 RNAs are frequently used as a correlate of viral infectiousness, but few data about correlation between sg load and viable virus are available. Here, we defined concordance between culture isolation and E and N sgRNA quantification by ddPCR assays in 51 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from SARS-CoV-2 positive hospitalized patients. Among the 51 samples, 14 were SARS-CoV-2 culture-positive and 37 were negative. According to culture results, the sensitivity and specificity of E and N sgRNA assays were 100% and 100%, and 84% and 86%, respectively. ROC analysis showed that the best E and N cut-offs to predict positive culture isolation were 32 and 161 copies/mL respectively, with an AUC (95% CI) of 0.96 (0.91–1.00) and 0.96 (0.92–1.00), and a diagnostic accuracy of 88% and 92%, respectively. Even if no significant correlations were observed between sgRNA amount and clinical presentation, a higher number of moderate/severe cases and lower number of days from symptoms onset characterized patients with sgRNA equal to or higher than sgRNA cut-offs. Overall, this study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 sgRNA quantification could be helpful to estimate the replicative activity of SARS-CoV-2 and can represent a valid surrogate marker to efficiently recognize patients with active infection. The inclusion of this assay in available SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics procedure might help in optimizing fragile patients monitoring and management.
Baroque metaphors and Nietzschean influence in Vivaldi Metal Project’s The Four Seasons
Authors: Santa-Aguilar Sara
Published: September 2023

In this article I will analyse how a widespread metaphor of Renaissance and Baroque literature, the comparison between the stages of life and the seasons of the year, is updated via a contemporary perspective and transformed through an intertextual relation with Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra in Vivaldi Metal Project’s The Four Seasons. I highlight the strong presence of Baroque aesthetics in symphonic metal and I aim to propose, from a literary perspective, a model for the analysis of the presence and transformation of Baroque elements in this subgenre.
A pseudo-rebellion: Ujung Berung metalheads in the contestation of identity space in Bandung, 2010–22
Authors: Alkatiri Zeffry , Aviandy Mochamad , Nugraha Fajar Muhammad , Setiawan Hawe , Putri Melisa Indriana
Published: September 2023

Social segregation in Bandung, Indonesia, is the primary cause of stratification of youths in the city’s northern, southern and eastern regions. As a region filled with colonial legacy and inhabited by the upper-middle class, northern Bandung is equipped with infrastructures for youth activities. Southern and eastern Bandung, on the other hand, carries an image of rather undeveloped regions. This social, political and economic background has prompted Bandung youths to compete among each other, specifically in terms of expressing their identity through music. In particular, youths from Ujung Berung express their identity through metal music due to the genre’s perceived capability of conveying youth aspirations, marginality and identity expression in public space. Through djent and headbanging, these youths held onto a do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos to fight against political and capital-related power. Nonetheless, as the movement developed, these youths failed to compete with the capital of major record labels. With these issues as a background, this article aims to examine the youths’ rally against the power of politics and capital. We assume that their resistance against the contestation of identity space in 2010–22 Bandung consists of four layers. Based on the data we gathered during observation, we argue that the youths’ resistance was rather a pseudo act which granted them mobility to a higher social status. This article is a result of a six-month qualitative research project conducted from June to November 2022 in Bandung. The data were gathered from various relevant sources, including books, articles, media social news coverage and other internet sources. In addition, twelve informants actively involved in the Bandung metal scene were interviewed. A cultural studies approach was taken during the whole process of observation and analysis of the aforementioned data and phenomena.