bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term efficacy, safety and tolerability of secukinumab in children and adolescents with severe chronic plaque psoriasis: Two‐year results from a Phase III double‐blind, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Krasowska D. , Gambichler T. , Cortés C. , Horev A. , Compagno N. , Dahale S. S. , Papanastasiou P. , Keefe D.
Published: March 2023

Background

Secukinumab has previously demonstrated sustained efficacy and favourable safety for up to 52 weeks in paediatric patients (children and adolescents aged 6 to <18 years) with severe chronic plaque psoriasis (NCT02471144).

Objective

To investigate the long‐term (104 weeks) efficacy and safety of secukinumab.

Methods

After 52 weeks, patients continued to receive secukinumab low dose (LD [75/150 mg]) or high dose (HD [75/150/300 mg]). Patients on etanercept (0.8 mg/kg) until Week 52 entered follow‐up. Data for patients receiving secukinumab LD from the beginning and those switching to secukinumab LD from placebo (‘Any secukinumab’ LD) and patients receiving secukinumab HD from the beginning and those switching to secukinumab HD from placebo (‘Any secukinumab’ HD) are presented. Assessments: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, PASI (75/90/100) responses, Investigator's Global Assessment modified 2011 (IGA mod 2011) 0/1 response, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) score and CDLQI 0/1 response up to Week 104, and, safety up to Week 104 for all patients and up to 4 years for some patients (~320 patient‐years [PY] of treatment).

Results

Secukinumab‐treated patients showed sustained PASI 75/90/100 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses up to Week 104. Throughout the second year of treatment, efficacy was similar for the ‘Any secukinumab’ LD and HD groups for PASI 75 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses. PASI 90/100 responses were mostly comparable between the dose groups up to Week 88, but higher in the ‘Any secukinumab’ HD than the ‘Any secukinumab’ LD group at Week 104. Patients achieved a sustained CDLQI 0/1 response that was similar between the ‘Any secukinumab’ LD (61.1%) and HD (65.0%) groups. Safety data were consistent with the established safety profile of secukinumab.

Conclusion

Secukinumab demonstrated sustained long‐term efficacy (up to 2 years) and a favourable safety profile (~320 PY of treatment) in paediatric patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
Insecticide resistance monitoring and diagnostics of resistance mechanisms in cotton‐melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover in Central China
Authors: Shi Dandan , Wang Tiantian , Lv Haixiang , Li Xuchao , Wan Hu , He Shun , You Hong , Li Jianhong , Ma Kangsheng
Published: March 2023

Aphis gossypii Glover is one of the most serious pests in China, and the management of this pest mainly relies on insecticides. However, the resistance status of A. gossypii in Central China is still unknown. Therefore, in this study, we firstly determined the susceptibility of 15 A. gossypii field populations from Central China to six chemical insecticides using leaf‐dipping method during 2020 and 2021 and explored the potential resistance mechanisms of these populations. Most of the field populations of A. gossypii have evolved low to high levels of resistance to imidacloprid (RR = 5.98–2352.96‐fold), thiamethoxam (RR = 5.98–2194.96‐fold), flonicamid (RR = 7.18–306.07‐fold), and pirimicarb (RR = 6.90–283.00‐fold); however, 13 tested field populations remained susceptible to chlorpyrifos. For λ‐cyhalothrin, most populations have evolved low to moderate levels of resistance (RR = 5.72–47.38‐fold). The results of correlation analysis indicated that there was a prominent positive correlation between the enzyme activity of cytochrome P450 and the logarithm of LC50 to thiamethoxam and pirimicarb. Carboxylesterase (CarE) was positively correlated with λ‐cyhalothrin, while glutathione S‐transferase (GST) was negatively correlated with λ‐cyhalothrin. Furthermore, we found that multiple resistance associated target site mutations (V62I, R81T, A302S, S431F, M918L) can be detected in the field populations of A. gossypii. Aphis gossypii in Central China have developed different degrees of resistance to tested insecticides and enhanced detoxification of cytochrome P450 and carboxylesterase and co‐existed resistance mutations contribute to the multiple resistance of these field populations. Our results provide valuable information about the status of insecticide resistance in China and are helpful for designing sustainable management strategies of A. gossypii.
Online acceptance and commitment therapy as treatment for loneliness among older adults: Report of a pilot study
Authors: Zarling Amie , Kim Joseph , Russell Dan , Cutrona Carolyn
Published: March 2023

Background

Loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline, cardiovascular risk, and risk of mortality among older adults. Creative approaches are needed to increase access for older adults to evidence‐based intervention programs. One possible approach is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The aim of this study was to pilot test a novel ACT‐based online intervention to decrease loneliness in older adults living in the community.

Methods

A self‐paced online ACT program consisting of eight interactive modules designed to teach participants skills to address common contributors to loneliness was evaluated. It was delivered to a sample of 529 men and women, aged 65 or over, who were assessed pre‐intervention, postintervention, and at a one‐month follow‐up, with a short 10‐item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale.

Results

For participants who completed all eight modules of the intervention, average levels of loneliness significantly decreased from pre‐ to posttreatment, b = −0.013, t (385) = −4.69, p < 0.001 (Cohen's d = 0.30). The improvement in loneliness was maintained at the one‐month follow‐up assessment. These improvements were particularly robust for individuals who were lonely at outset (Cohen's d = 0.73). The change in loneliness among these individuals was significantly greater than that observed in members of a “hold‐out” group of lonely individuals that did not participate in the intervention (Cohen's d = 0.24).

Conclusions

This pilot investigation suggests the feasibility of this program for decreasing loneliness in older adults. Future controlled investigations with long‐term follow‐up assessments are needed to confirm the effectiveness and sustained benefits of the program.
Genotyping and antifungal susceptibility testing of Sporothrix brasiliensis isolates from Southern Brazil
Authors: Bombassaro Amanda , Spruijtenburg Bram , Medeiros Fernanda , Jacomel Favoreto de Souza Lima Bruna , Ballardin Luana Beatriz , Farias Marconi Rodrigues de , Vicente Vania Aparecida , de Queiroz‐Telles Flavio , Meis Jacques F. , de Groot Theun
Published: March 2023

Sporotrichosis is an implantation mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix and mostly involves cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues and the lymphatic vessels. Among more than 50 different species, only Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix globosa and Sporothrix brasiliensis are frequently reported to cause infections in humans. Sporothrix brasiliensis is remarkably virulent and has been spreading rapidly in Brazil and other Latin American countries. In this study, we aimed to determine the genetic relatedness and antifungal susceptibility of Sporothrix strains by analysing 89 isolates from humans and cats in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. Calmodulin sequencing identified 81 S. brasiliensis and seven S. schenckii isolates. Amplified fragment length polymorphism genotyping analysis showed feline and human isolates clustering together. In vitro susceptibility testing with seven antifungals demonstrated a broad activity against all tested S. brasiliensis isolates, with no significant differences in minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between feline and human isolates. Resistance was solely observed in one human isolate against itraconazole and posaconazole, with MICs of ≥16 μg/mL against both antifungals. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis on this isolate and two related susceptible isolates did not reveal any unique substitutions in resistance‐associated genes, including cyp51, hmg and erg6, when compared to two related susceptible isolates. The novel antifungal olorofim exhibited excellent activity against this large isolate collection, with all isolates considered as susceptible. Altogether, we indicate zoonotic transmission based on genotyping and revealed a broad activity of seven common antifungals, including olorofim, against a large S. brasiliensis isolate collection.
Nine Degrees of Uncertainty in Negotiations
Authors: Schauer Marco , Majer Johann M. , Trötschel Roman
Published: March 2023

Joint decision‐making processes such as negotiations play a vital role in diverse societal contexts spanning from business and politics to sustainability‐related negotiations. One of the most prominent examples of how negotiations play an important role in overcoming societal challenges was the COVID‐19 vaccine supply negotiations. These negotiations have put the spotlight on an aspect of joint decision‐making that always has been of great interest to both negotiation researchers and practitioners yet remains empirically understudied—the effect of uncertainty. In the present article, we develop a framework of uncertainty in negotiation using the COVID‐19 vaccine supply negotiations between the European Union and pharmaceutical companies as an example. More specifically, we categorize different kinds of uncertainty based both on mathematical considerations (i.e., differentiation between risk, ambiguity, and uncertainty) as well as on more circumstantial factors. To do so, we adapted the nine kinds of uncertainty in environmental governance proposed by Dewulf and Biesbroek to the more general context of negotiations. We first differentiate between three natures of uncertainty (i.e., lack of knowledge, unpredictability, and interpretations) and three objects of uncertainty (i.e., issue‐based, strategy‐based, and context‐based). Second, we illustrate the psychological barriers that negotiators face when handling uncertainty, before concluding with proposals for practitioners on how to manage different kinds of uncertainty. Overall, we aim at stimulating investigations of the effects of uncertainty in mixed‐motive decision‐making while simultaneously helping negotiation teachers and practitioners better cope with the additional demands created by specific kinds of uncertainty.
Phytophthora sojae effector PsAvh113 associates with the soybean transcription factor GmDPB to inhibit catalase‐mediated immunity
Authors: Zhu Xiaoguo , Guo Liang , Zhu Ruiqing , Zhou Xiaoyi , Zhang Jianing , Li Die , He Shidan , Qiao Yongli
Published: March 2023

Phytophthora species are the most destructive plant pathogens worldwide and the main threat to agricultural and natural ecosystems; however, their pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Avh113 effector is required for the virulence of Phytophthora sojae and is important for development of Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRSR) in soybean (Glycine max). Ectopic expression of PsAvh113 enhanced viral and Phytophthora infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. PsAvh113 directly associated with the soybean transcription factor GmDPB, inducing its degradation by the 26S proteasome. The internal repeat 2 (IR2) motif of PsAvh113 was important for its virulence and interaction with GmDPB, while silencing and overexpression of GmDPB in soybean hairy roots altered the resistance to P. sojae. Upon binding to GmDPB, PsAvh113 decreased the transcription of the downstream gene GmCAT1, which acts as a positive regulator of plant immunity. Furthermore, we revealed that PsAvh113 suppressed the GmCAT1‐induced cell death by associating with GmDPB, thereby enhancing plant susceptibility to Phytophthora. Together, our findings reveal a vital role of PsAvh113 in inducing PRSR in soybean and offer a novel insight into the interplay between defence and counter‐defence during the P. sojae infection of soybean.
Freedom and its unavoidable trade‐off
Authors: Moen Lars J. K.
Published: March 2023

In the debate on how we ought to define political freedom, some definitions are criticized for implying that no one can ever be free to perform any action. In this paper, I show how the possibility of freedom depends on a definition that finds an appropriate balance between absence of interference and protection against interference. To assess the possibility of different conceptions of freedom, I consider the trade‐offs they make between these two dimensions. I find that pure negative freedom is clearly possible. Republican freedom might also be possible, though its protection requirement is too vague for a definitive verdict. Finally, the recently proposed ‘freedom as independence’ is impossible since it is an attempt to avoid the unavoidable trade‐off.
High‐throughput miRNA sequencing and identification of a novel ICE1‐targeting miRNA in response to low temperature stress in Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Authors: Zhang W.‐H. , Zhang Z.‐Y. , Liu Y. , Tan Z.‐Y. , Zhou Q. , Lin Y.‐Z.
Published: March 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the growth, development, morphogenesis, signal transduction, and stress response in plants. The ICE (Inducer of CBF expression)‐CBF (C‐repeat binding factor)‐COR (Cold‐regulated gene) regulatory cascade is an important signalling pathway in plant response to low temperature stress, and it remains unknown whether this pathway is regulated by miRNAs.

In this study, high‐throughput sequencing was employed for predicting and identifying the miRNAs that were likely to target the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway in Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A novel ICE1‐targeting miRNA, eca‐novel‐miR‐259‐5p (nov‐miR259), was further analysed.

A total of 392 conserved miRNAs and 97 novel miRNAs were predicted, including 80 differentially expressed miRNAs. Of these, 30 miRNAs were predicted to be associated with the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway. The full‐length of mature nov‐miR259 was 22 bp and its precursor gene was 60 bp in length, with a typical hairpin structure. The RNA ligase‐mediated 5′ amplification of cDNA ends (5′‐RLM‐RACE) and Agrobacterium‐mediated tobacco transient expression assays demonstrated that nov‐miR259 could cleave EcaICE1 in vivo. Moreover, qRT‐PCR and Pearson's correlation analysis further revealed that the expression levels of nov‐miR259 were almost significantly negatively correlated with those of its target gene, EcaICE1, and the other genes in the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway.

We first identified the nov‐miR259 as a novel ICE1‐targeting miRNA, and the nov‐miR259‐ICE1 module may be involved in regulating the cold stress response in E. camaldulensis.
The role of sodium citrate during extended cold storage of platelets in platelet additive solutions
Authors: Johnson Lacey , Roan Christopher , Lei Pearl , Spinella Philip C. , Marks Denese C.
Published: March 2023

Background

Cold‐stored platelets are increasingly being used to treat bleeding. Differences in manufacturing processes and storage solutions can affect platelet quality and may influence the shelf life of cold‐stored platelets. PAS‐E and PAS‐F are approved platelet additive solutions (PAS) in Europe and Australia, or the United States respectively. Comparative data are required to facilitate international transferability of laboratory and clinical data.

Study Design and Methods

Single apheresis platelets from matched donors (n = 8) were collected using the Trima apheresis platform and resuspended in either 40% plasma/60% PAS‐E or 40% plasma/60% PAS‐F. In a secondary study, platelets in PAS‐F were supplemented with sodium citrate, to match the concentration in PAS‐E. Components were refrigerated (2–6°C) and tested over 21 days.

Results

Cold‐stored platelets in PAS‐F had a lower pH, a greater propensity to form visible (and micro‐) aggregates, and higher activation markers compared to PAS‐E. These differences were most pronounced during extended storage (14–21 days). While the functional capacity of cold‐stored platelets was similar, the PAS‐F group displayed minor improvements in ADP‐induced aggregation and TEG parameters (R‐time, angle). Supplementation of PAS‐F with 11 mM sodium citrate improved the platelet content, maintained the pH above specifications and prevented aggregate formation.

Discussion

In vitro parameters were similar during short‐term cold storage of platelets in PAS‐E and PAS‐F. Storage in PAS‐F beyond 14 days resulted in poorer metabolic and activation parameters. However, the functional capacity was maintained, or even enhanced. The presence of sodium citrate may be an important constituent in PAS for extended cold storage of platelets.
Lexical and Stylistic Derivation in Mass Media Discourse
Authors: Baranova Svitlana , Kobyakova Iryne , Brovkina Oksana
Published: March 2023

The article deals with the mass media discourse that covers different economic, social, and political aspects of everyday life and such global issues as sustainable development goals. The purpose of the research is to study lexical and stylistic derivation in the mass media discourse. The latter is regarded as a written, monological, informative political discourse indicating society’s language culture. The article identifies the ways of word-building employed in the analyzed discourse and suggests the classification of derived units. Besides, the stylistic properties of the mass media discourse are pointed out. The meanings and functions of the secondary nomination units as units of stylistic derivation (metaphors, metonymies, periphrases, epithets, irony) in the context are described. Renomination by similarity, contiguity and contrast is mentioned. Figures of combination (oxymoron, antithesis, simile) are analyzed in the article. The stylistic potential of phraseology is also considered. The work relies on the recent linguistic research of discourse as a communicative-pragmatic pattern of speech behavior, a complex combination of the process and result, and a coherent text with pragmatic, sociocultural, psychological, and extralinguistic factors.  The conclusions are based on English and Ukrainian media, their linguistic and expressive markers.
Development of 3D tomosynthesis technique for nondestructive technology application using vertically aligned carbon nanotube-based high-resolution cold cathode electron beam
Authors: Sawant Jaydip , Yu Yi Yin , Bhotkar Ketan , Jung Hyun-Jung , Nam Gi Joon , Park Kyu Chang
Published: March 2023

Nondestructive technology (NDT) is the most popular method for detecting defects inside an object without harming it. A 3D tomography algorithm toolbox and an x-ray imaging system are the essential components of NDT. We fabricated a high-resolution cold cathode electron beam (HRC-beam) based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes to accomplish this objective. Using an HRC-beam, multiple angle projection images were captured in an x-ray imaging system. This x-ray source's horizontal and vertical focal spot sizes were 0.57 and 0.49 mm, respectively. Using the homemade 3D tomography algorithm toolbox, all the multiple projection images were recreated in a 3D volume. This toolbox employs algorithms such as the radon transform and the inverse radon transform to generate the 3D volume. The matlab r2022b program was used to execute the algorithm. This study explains the development of a three-dimensional volume and the inspection of the 3D volume in a slice view using a high-resolution cold cathode electron beam and the 3D tomography algorithm toolbox. A large phantom cable was used to evaluate 3D reconstruction and void inspection inside the large phantom cable.
COVID-19 Containment Measures—a Step Back for Walking Mobility? A 2-Year, 60-Country Analysis of the Apple Mobility Data
Authors: Luciano Francesco , Crova Federica , Canella Francesco
Published: March 2023

Background: COVID-19 containment measures curb viral spread but may hamper walking mobility. As a low daily step count is associated with increased noncommunicable diseases and mortality, assessing the relationship between pandemic responses and walking mobility can help trade-off public health measures. We investigated the association between containment stringency and walking mobility across 60 countries in the period between January 21, 2020 and January 21, 2022 and modeled how this could impact mortality hazard. Methods: Walking mobility was measured through the Apple Mobility Trends, containment measures stringency index through the Oxford COVID-19 response tracker (which considers local policies on closures, healthcare, and economy), and meteorological data by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather stations. Walking mobility was regressed over stringency in a mixed-effect model with weather variables as covariates. The impact of stringency on all-cause mortality due to reduced mobility was modeled based on regression results, prepandemic walking mobility, and the association between step count and all-cause mortality hazard. Results: Across the 60 countries, the average stringency was 55 (9) (mean [SD]) out of 100. Stringency was negatively associated with walking mobility; a log-linear model fitted data better than a linear one, with a regression coefficient for stringency on ln (walking mobility) (95% confidence interval) of  −1.201 × 10−2 (−1.221 × 10−2 to −1.183 × 10−2). Increasing stringency, thus decreasing walking mobility, nonlinearly incremented the modeled all-cause mortality hazard by up to ∼40%. Conclusions: In this study, walking mobility was negatively associated with containment measures stringency; the relationship between stringency, mobility, and the subsequent impact on health outcomes may be nonlinear. These findings can help in balancing pandemic containment policies.
Supplemental Material: Geochemical significance of lithium and boron isotopic heterogeneity evolving during the crystallization of granitic melts
Authors: Lei Xiu-Fang , Jiang Shao-Yong , al. et
Published: March 2023

Samples, analytical methods, alteration effects, and supplemental discussion. 
Prevalence and diagnostic significance of de-novo 12-lead ECG changes after COVID-19 infection in elite soccer players
Authors: Bhatia Raghav T , Malhotra Aneil , MacLachlan Hamish , Gati Sabiha , Marwaha Sarandeep , Chatrath Nikhil , Fyyaz Saad , Aleixo Haroldo , Al-Turaihi Samar , Babu Aswin , Basu Joyee , Catterson Paul , Cooper Robert , Daems Joelle J N , Dhutia Harshil , Ferrari Filipe , van Hattum Juliette C , Iqbal Zafar , Kasiakogias Alexandros , Kenny Antoinette , Khanbhai Tamim , Khoury Shafik , Miles Chris , Oxborough David , Quazi Kashif , Rakhit Dhrubo , Sharma Anushka , Varnava Amanda , Tome Esteban Maria Teresa , Finocchiaro Gherardo , Stein Ricardo , Jorstad Harald T , Papadakis Michael , Sharma Sanjay
Published: March 2023

Background and aim

The efficacy of pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 infection 12-lead ECGs for identifying athletes with myopericarditis has never been reported. We aimed to assess the prevalence and significance of de-novo ECG changes following COVID-19 infection.

Methods

In this multicentre observational study, between March 2020 and May 2022, we evaluated consecutive athletes with COVID-19 infection. Athletes exhibiting de-novo ECG changes underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scans. One club mandated CMR scans for all players (n=30) following COVID-19 infection, despite the absence of cardiac symptoms or de-novo ECG changes.

Results

511 soccer players (median age 21 years, IQR 18–26 years) were included. 17 (3%) athletes demonstrated de-novo ECG changes, which included reduction in T-wave amplitude in the inferior and lateral leads (n=5), inferior leads (n=4) and lateral leads (n=4); inferior T-wave inversion (n=7); and ST-segment depression (n=2). 15 (88%) athletes with de-novo ECG changes revealed evidence of inflammatory cardiac sequelae. All 30 athletes who underwent a mandatory CMR scan had normal findings. Athletes revealing de-novo ECG changes had a higher prevalence of cardiac symptoms (71% vs 12%, p<0.0001) and longer median symptom duration (5 days, IQR 3–10) compared with athletes without de-novo ECG changes (2 days, IQR 1–3, p<0.001). Among athletes without cardiac symptoms, the additional yield of de-novo ECG changes to detect cardiac inflammation was 20%.

Conclusions

3% of athletes demonstrated de-novo ECG changes post COVID-19 infection, of which 88% were diagnosed with cardiac inflammation. Most affected athletes exhibited cardiac symptoms; however, de-novo ECG changes contributed to a diagnosis of cardiac inflammation in 20% of athletes without cardiac symptoms.
Exposure and behavioural responses of tagged bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to vessels in the Pacific Arctic
Authors: Martin Morgan J. , Halliday William D. , Citta John J. , Quakenbush Lori , Harwood Lois , Lea Ellen V. , Juanes Francis , Dawson Jackie , Nicoll Adrian , Insley Stephen J.
Published: March 2023

Arctic marine mammals face many challenges linked to climate change, including increasing anthropogenic noise from vessel traffic. The bowhead whale ( Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus, 1758), an Arctic endemic cetacean, relies on acoustic communication, with documented overlapping frequencies between communication and vessel noise. Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort (BCB) bowhead whales migrate through areas with the highest levels of vessel traffic in the Pacific Arctic. Here, we document the spatial and temporal overlap between 25 satellite-tagged BCB bowhead whales and vessels during July–December, 2012–2018. We report 1332 occasions when a vessel was within 125 km of a tagged whale, and where possible, quantified changes in swim speed to investigate individual behavioural responses to vessel approaches within a 50 km radius ( n = 18 encounters). In the quantitative analysis, bowhead whales were not observed to alter swim speed within 8–50 km of vessels (we could not assess distances <8 km). Our results suggest that bowhead whales did not exhibit detectable long-range (i.e., up to 50 km) behavioural responses to vessels, consistent with observations of closely related North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis (Muller, 1776)), for which vessel strikes are a leading cause of mortality. More work is required to assess how bowhead whales react to vessels at closer distances.
Microplastics in subsurface water and zooplankton from eight lakes in British Columbia
Authors: Klasios Natasha , Tseng Michelle
Published: March 2023

Microplastics are a global contaminant of concern, but we have little information on the characteristics and bioavailability of these pollutants in western Canadian lakes. Here, we quantify and characterize microplastics in subsurface water and zooplankton from eight lakes in BC, Canada. By sampling water and zooplankton, we provide insight into the fraction of microplastics entering the food web. We found 0.607 ± 0.153 microplastics per litre in subsurface water, 0.01 ± 0.011 microplastics per copepod, and 0.02 ± 0.014 microplastics per Daphnia. Microplastic pollution was similar in all lakes sampled and showed no relationship with local population density. Fibers were the dominant morphology observed in all lakes, and Raman spectroscopy identified polyester as the dominant polymer found both in lakes and within zooplankton. Zooplankton generally ingested microplastics that were shorter than their body length and that fell on the smaller end of the range of available microplastics. The prominence of polyester fibers and PET films and fragments suggests that the likely sources of microplastics to these lakes are recreational activities and atmospheric deposition.
String cosmological scenario in periodic time-varying deceleration parameter in Lyra geometry
Authors: Gore Vaishali , Dixit Archana , Chouhan D.S.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we have studied the bulk viscous fluid connected with string cosmological model in a higher dimensional (five dimensions) Bianchi type-III space–time in the framework of Lyra’s manifold. To get the deterministic solution of the field equations, we assume two physically appropriate conditions: ( i) θ in the model parameter that is proportional to the eigen value of [Formula: see text] of the shear tensor [Formula: see text] and ( ii) the periodic time-varying deceleration parameter q specified as q = mcos ( kt) − 1, where m, k > 0. In this paper, we have studied the periodic time-varying behaviour of a few quantities, such as the deceleration parameter q, the energy density ρ, the proper pressure p, the string tension density λ, the total pressure [Formula: see text], the energy density for particle ρp, and the displacement vector β( t), and we have discussed the physical significance of these quantities. It has been found that in the early stages of the universe’s evolution, string prevails over particles, whereas the universe is dominated by massive string at late time. It is also noted that the string phase of the cosmos does not vanish in the model since particle density is constantly positive throughout the universe’s history. In normal gauge treatment, β( t) acts like cosmological constant (Λ), and the solutions are compatible with observations. For the stability analysis, we have investigated the nature of various energy conditions (ECs). The positive behaviour of DEC indicates the model’s validation; on the other hand, SEC and WEC are violating, indicating the universe’s accelerated expansion.
Transposable elements in the transcriptome of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
Authors: Pezenti Larissa Forim , Dionisio Jaqueline Fernanda , Sosa-Gómez Daniel Ricardo , de Souza Rogério Fernandes , da Rosa Renata
Published: March 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that possess the ability to move from one genomic location to another. These sequences contribute to a significant fraction of the genomes of most eukaryotes and can impact their architecture and regulation. In this paper, we present the first data related to the identification and characterization of TEs present in the transcriptome of Anticarsia gemmatalis. Approximately, 835 transcripts showed significant similarity to TEs and (or) characteristic domains. Retrotransposons accounted for 71.2% (595 sequences) of the identified elements, while DNA transposons were less abundant, with 240 annotations (28.8%). TEs were classified into 30 superfamilies, with SINE3/5S and Gypsy being the most abundant. Based on the sequences of TEs found in the transcriptome, we were able to locate conserved regions in the chromosomes of this species. The analysis of differential expression of TEs in susceptible and resistant strains, challenged and not challenged with Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) from in silico analysis, indicated that exposure to Bt can regulate the transcription of mobile genetic elements in the velvetbean caterpillar. Thus, these data contribute significantly to the knowledge of the structure and composition of these elements in the genome of this species, and suggest the role of stress on their expression.
Topological phantom AdS black holes in F(R) gravity
Authors: Panah B. Eslam , Rodrigues M. E.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we obtain exact phantom (A)dS black hole solutions in the context of F(R) gravity with topological spacetime in four dimensions. Then, we study the effects of different parameters on the event horizon. In the following, we calculate the conserved and thermodynamic quantities of the system and check the first law of thermodynamics for these kinds of black holes. Next, we evaluate the local stability of the topological phantom (A)dS black holes in F(R) gravity by studying the heat capacity and the geometrothemodynamic, where we show that the two approaches agrees. We extend our study and investigate global stability by employing the Gibbs potential and the Helmholtz free energy. In addition, the effects of different parameters on local and global stabilities will be highlighted.
Hidden conformal symmetry for dyonic Kerr-Sen black hole and its gauged family
Authors: Sakti Muhammad Fitrah Alfian Rangga
Published: March 2023

Motivated by advanced progress in the holographic theory between rotating black holes and CFT, we explore the conformal invariance on dyonic Kerr-Sen black hole and its gauged family. We consider a neutral massless scalar probe on the black holes’ background within the low-frequency limit and exhibit that the solution space possesses $$SL(2,R)\times SL(2,R)$$

S
L
(
2
,
R
)
×
S
L
(
2
,
R
)

isometry. The periodic identification of the azimuthal angle corresponds to the spontaneous conformal symmetry breaking by temperatures $$T_L,T_R$$

T
L

,

T
R

. Using the computation of the central charges on Sakti and Burikham (Phys Rev D 106:106006, 2022) that we recalculate by considering the contributions of all associated fields, we successfully derive the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy from Cardy entropy formula. Furthermore, we also calculate the absorption cross-section from gravity side for generic non-extremal dyonic Kerr-Sen black hole and near-extremal gauged dyonic Kerr-Sen black hole. Our calculations show that those quantities are in a perfect match with the calculation from CFT. Therefore, our findings further support the duality between rotating black holes and CFTs.
Absolute densities of O and O$$_3$$ in the effluent of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (kINPen) operated with He and Ar determined by molecular beam mass spectrometry
Authors: Hahn T. A. , Benedikt J. , Kersten H.
Published: March 2023

The absolute densities of O and O$$_3$$

3

in the effluent of a kINPen, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet, are determined by molecular beam mass spectrometry. A nitrogen gas curtain surrounding the effluent provides a stable environment and prevents interactions with the ambient air. Both He and Ar were used as feed gas with admixtures of O$$_2$$

2

up to 1%. Measurements are performed at discharge voltages from 1600 to 3000 $${\textrm{V}}_{\textrm{pp}}$$

V
pp

and at distances from 5.5 to 10.5 mm from the nozzle of the gas shielding device to the orifice of the mass spectrometer. The measured O atom densities are in the order of 1 $$\times $$
×
$$10^{14}~{\textrm{cm}}^{-3}$$

10
14

cm

-
3

to 2 $$\times $$
×
$$10^{15}~{\textrm{cm}}^{-3}$$

10
15

cm

-
3

, whereas the O$$_3$$

3

molecule densities are in the order of 1 $$\times $$
×
$$10^{14}~{\textrm{cm}}^{-3}$$

10
14

cm

-
3

to 5 $$\times $$
×
$$10^{14}~{\textrm{cm}}^{-3}$$

10
14

cm

-
3

, respectively, when operated in argon the plasma generates higher densities of reactive species. Additionally, a novel molecular beam chopper design with linear movement has been successfully tested in the mass spectromerty setup as an alternative to a rotating chopper.

Graphic Abstract
Monogamy inequality and entanglement sharing in optomechanics
Authors: Hmouch Jamila , Amazioug Mohamed , Nassik Mostafa
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we quantitatively study the dynamics of the tripartite entanglement of the three-mode Gaussian state in a cavity-free optomechanical system. After deriving the explicit form of the evolved state matrix covariance, we elucidate in detail the evidence of entanglement monogamy in different mode partitions, based on Coofman–Kundu–Wotters inequalities, using the Gaussian Contangle quantifying bipartite entanglement. Next, we focus on the genuine tripartite entanglement quantified by means of the Residual Gaussian Contangle.
Visible–Near Infrared Scintillation Properties of Er-Doped Bi4Si3O12 Single Crystals
Authors: Ichiba Kensei , Okazaki Kai , Takebuchi Yuma , Kato Takumi , Nakauchi Daisuke , Kawaguchi Noriaki , Yanagida Takayuki
Published: March 2023

We synthesized the 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% Er-doped Bi4Si3O12 (BSO) single crystals and researched the photoluminescence (PL) and scintillation properties in visible–near infrared ranges. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the synthesized samples had single-phase structure of BSO. In transmission spectra, all the samples had some absorption peaks owing to the 4f-4f transitions of Er3+ ions. In PL and scintillation properties, all the samples had the emission peaks due to the 6p-6s transitions of Bi3+ ions and the 4f-4f transitions of Er3+ ions. Afterglow levels at 20 ms after X-ray irradiation of the 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% Er-doped samples were 348.9, 587.9, 616.6, and 666.6 ppm, respectively. The light yields of the 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% Er-doped samples were 1600, 1200, 900, and 750 ± 10% ph/MeV, respectively. The dose rate response functions of all the samples showed the linear relationship between dose rate and scintillation intensity from 0.006 to 6 Gy h−1, and the 2.0% Er-doped sample had the highest intensity among the samples
Eosinophilic Esophagitis beyond Eosinophils – an Emerging Phenomenon Overlapping with Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2023
Authors: Salvador Nunes Vanessa Sofia , Straumann Alex , Salvador Nunes Luis , Schoepfer Alain M. , Greuter Thomas
Published: March 2023

Having long been considered the mainstay in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) diagnosis and pathogenesis, the role of eosinophils has been questioned and might be less important than previously thought. It is well known now that EoE is a Th2-mediated disease with many more disease features than eosinophilic infiltration. With more knowledge on EoE, less pronounced phenotypes or nuances of the disease have become apparent. In fact, EoE might be only the tip of the iceberg (and the most extreme phenotype) with several variant forms, at least three, lying on a disease spectrum. Although a common (food induced) pathogenesis has yet to be confirmed, gastroenterologists and allergologists should be aware of these new phenomena in order to further characterize these patients. In the following review, we discuss the pathogenesis of EoE, particularly those mechanisms beyond eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa, non-eosinophilic inflammatory cell populations, the new disease entity EoE-like disease, variant forms of EoE, and the recently coined term mast cell esophagitis.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Small Gauge Vitrectomy with or without Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents Pretreatment for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Pei Minghang , Zhao Xinyu , Wan Guangming
Published: March 2023

Background: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a common visual threatening ocular disease, patients with nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage (VH), tractional retinal detachment (RD), or extensive fibrovascular proliferation are always in need for surgical treatment. Although several studies reported better surgical outcome in patients underwent surgery after anti-VEGF injection, the effect of anti-VEGF pretreatment for small gauge vitrectomy in PDR patients remains to be elucidated. Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the benefits of preoperative anti-VEGF treatment in small gauge vitrectomy for PDR patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify relevant studies. Meta-analyses were performed for intraoperative (including intraoperative bleeding, endodiathermy, iatrogenic retinal breaks, surgical time, etc.) and postoperative outcome parameters (including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative VH, postoperative RD, etc.). Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were identified and used for comparing small gauge vitrectomy alone (344 eyes, control group) and small gauge vitrectomy with preoperative anti-VEGF injection (355 eyes). The intraoperative findings showed that the surgical time, the incidence of clinically significant intraoperative bleeding, iatrogenic retinal breaks, silicone oil tamponade, and the frequency of endodiathermy were significantly less in the anti-VEGF pre-treated group than in the vitrectomy alone group (p < 0.01). The postoperative findings showed that the incidences of early postoperative VH, postoperative RD were significantly less in the anti-VEGF pre-treated group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The pooled result of postoperative rubeosis iridis/neovascular glaucoma was borderline (p = 0.072) between cases and controls, while no statistically significant differences in BCVA at last follow-up and incidences of late postoperative VH were found between these two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Anti-VEGF injection prior to small gauge vitrectomy in PDR patients might facilitate easier surgical procedure and reduce intra- and postoperative complications. Further studies are needed to verify our findings and evaluate the optimal interval and dosage for preoperative anti-VEGF injection.
Real-World Outcomes of Ranibizumab Treatment in French Patients with Visual Impairment due to Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion: 24-Month Results from the BOREAL-RVO Study
Authors: Glacet-Bernard Agnès , Girmens Jean-François , Kodjikian Laurent , Delcourt Cécile , Fajnkuchen Franck , Creuzot-Garcher Catherine , San Nicolas Nathalie , Massin Pascale
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Information about real-world ranibizumab use is needed to optimize treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The BOREAL-RVO study assessed treatment use, effectiveness, and safety of 24-month treatment with ranibizumab 0.5 mg in patients with visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to RVO in a real-world setting. Methods: This was a multicenter, post-authorization, observational study in France, including patients starting ranibizumab for RVO. Primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at month 6. Secondary endpoints were mean changes from baseline in BCVA at month 24 and central retinal thickness (CRT) at months 6 and 24, and treatment use in real-world setting. Results: 226 branch RVO (BRVO) and 196 central RVO (CRVO) patients were enrolled; 71.7% and 70.9% completed the 24-month follow-up, respectively. In BRVO, mean (SD) baseline BCVA was 55.2 (18.7) letters, with gains of 14.3 (13.7), 14.1 (16.5), 13.0 (17.5), and 11.4 (20.1) letters at months 3, 6, 12, and 24, respectively. In CRVO, mean (SD) baseline BCVA was 40.4 (25.6) letters, with gains of 16.0 (21.2), 9.5 (25.4), 9.2 (27.7), and 8.3 (23.8) letters at months 3, 6, 12, and 24, respectively. At month 24, 52% of BRVO and 41% of CRVO patients had gains of 15 or more letters. In BRVO, mean (SD) CRT values at baseline and months 3, 6, 12, and 24 were 550 (175), 315 (104), 343 (122), 335 (137), and 340 (105) μm. In CRVO, mean (SD) CRT values at baseline and months 3, 6, 12, and 24 were 643 (217), 327 (152), 400 (203), 379 (175), and 348 (161) μm. On average, BRVO patients had 3.8 injections for 6.9 visits by month 6, and 7.2 injections for 19.7 visits by month 24. CRVO patients had 2.7 injections for 4.2 visits by month 6 and 7.1 injections for 21.1 visits by month 24. Factors predictive of better BCVA gain at month 6 were age under 60 at baseline, lower baseline BCVA and BCVA gain at month 3. There were no new safety findings. Conclusion: Major improvements in BCVA and CRT were observed at month 3 after the induction phase and then were sustained up to month 24, with a slight decrease, probably due to under-treatment. This study demonstrated ranibizumab to be a safe and effective treatment for BRVO and CRVO in the real-world setting, although more regular or proactive treatment could further improve outcomes.
Face recognition in identifying genetic diseases: a progress review
Authors: Aurellia Salsabila , Fauziyah Rahman Siti
Published: March 2023

Genetic diseases vary widely. Practitioners often face the complexity of determining genetic diseases. In distinguishing one genetic disease from another, it is difficult to do without a thorough test on the patient or also known as genetic testing. However, in some previous studies, genetic diseases have unique physical characteristics in sufferers. This leads to detecting differences in these physical characteristics to assist doctors in diagnosing people with genetic diseases. In recent years, facial recognition research has been quite active. Researchers continue to develop it from various existing methods, algorithms, approaches, and databases where the application is applied in various fields, one of which is medical imagery. Face recognition is one of the options for identifying disease. The condition of a person's face can be said to be a representation of a person's health. Where the accuracy in early detection can be pretty good, so face recognition is also one of the solutions that can be used to identify various genetic diseases in collaboration with artificial intelligence. This article review will focus more on the development of facial recognition in 2-dimensional images, showing that different methods can produce different results and face recognition can also overcome complex genetic disease variations. 
Portfolio selection model using teaching learning-based optimization approach
Authors: Kumar Akhilesh , Shahid Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Portfolio selection is among the most challenging processes that have recently increased the interest of professionals in the area. The goal of mean-variance portfolio selection is to maximize expected return with minimizing risk. The Markowitz model was employed to solve the linear portfolio selection problem. However, due to numerous constraints and complexities, the problem is so critical that traditional models are insufficient to provide efficient solutions. Teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) is a powerful population-based nature-inspired approach to solve optimization problems. This article presents a portfolio selection model using the TLBO approach to maximize the portfolio's Sharpe Ratio. The Sharpe ratio combines both expected return and risk. This algorithm model the natural teaching process of the classroom with two main phases, viz., teaching and learning. Performance analysis has been undertaken to investigate the suitability of TLBO based solution approach by comparing it with genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) on the real datasets, Deutscher Aktienindex (DAX) 100, Hang Seng 31, Standard and Poor’s  (S&P) 100, financial times stock exchange (FTSE) 100, and Nikkei 225. The empirical results verify the superiority of the TLBO over GA and PSO.
The discrete wavelet transform based iris recognition for eyes with non-cosmetic contact lens
Authors: Anugerah Ayu Media , Yogi Trisna Permana I Komang
Published: March 2023

Iris recognition has been used as one of the biometric systems for user authentication, identification, and verification for quite some time. The basis of an iris recognition lies on the matching algorithm, which requires similarities of the iris data in the database with the captured one. In addition, nowadays using non-cosmetic or prescribed contact lenses becomes more popular and more preferred choice of many people, which makes the number of contact lens wearers significantly increases. These eyes with contact lenses add more complexity to the iris recognition process, since it can disturb the matching process which then affect the performance of the system. This situation has motivated this study to propose an iris recognition system that works for eyes with lenses. The proposed iris recognition system for eyes wearing non-cosmetic contact lenses was developed using circular hough transform (CHT) in the preprocessing phase for iris localization and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for feature extraction. Experiments conducted on the proposed system has shown promising results with good accuracy of 0.95 for eyes with no contact lens and 0.8 for eyes with non-cosmetic lenses. The findings also suggested the importance of the iris localization process to the performance of the recognition system.