bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APOBEC3A induces DNA gaps through PRIMPOL and confers gap-associated therapeutic vulnerability
Authors: Kawale Ajinkya S. , Ran Xiaojuan , Patel Parasvi S. , Saxena Sneha , Lawrence Michael S. , Zou Lee
Published: January 2024

Mutation signatures associated with apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like 3A/B (APOBEC3A/B) cytidine deaminases are prevalent across cancers, implying their roles as mutagenic drivers during tumorigenesis and tumor evolution. APOBEC3A (A3A) expression induces DNA replication stress and increases the cellular dependency on the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase for survival. Nonetheless, how A3A induces DNA replication stress remains unclear. We show that A3A induces replication stress without slowing replication forks. We find that A3A induces single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps through PrimPol-mediated repriming. A3A-induced ssDNA gaps are repaired by multiple pathways involving ATR, RAD51, and translesion synthesis. Both ATR inhibition and trapping of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) on DNA by PARP inhibitor impair the repair of A3A-induced gaps, preferentially killing A3A-expressing cells. When used in combination, PARP and ATR inhibitors selectively kill A3A-expressing cells synergistically in a manner dependent on PrimPol-generated gaps. Thus, A3A-induced replication stress arises from PrimPol-generated ssDNA gaps, which confer a therapeutic vulnerability to gap-targeted DNA repair inhibitors.
Overcoming barriers and stigma: new frontiers in solid organ transplantation for people with HIV
Authors: Storm K. , Durand C. M.
Published: January 2024

There is a growing need for solid organ transplantation (SOT) for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV are experiencing increased life expectancies and are, therefore, developing more comorbidities, including end-stage organ disease. In cases of advanced organ failure, SOT is often the best therapeutic option to improve quality of life and overall survival. As organ shortages persist, transplantation of organs from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV has become a potential therapeutic option. This article first reviews the current state of organ transplantation from donors without HIV to recipients with HIV (HIV D−/R+) by organ and discusses key lessons learned from these transplant trials, including those about drug-drug interactions, rejection, and opportunistic infections. It then explores transplantation from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV (HIV D+/R+), a new frontier. Finally, it investigates challenges of implementation, including public awareness and regulatory requirements, and explores future directions for SOT in people living with HIV.
The atypical organization of the
luxI/R
family genes in AHL-driven quorum-sensing circuits
Authors: Cai Yuyuan , Zhang Xuehong
Published: January 2024

Quorum sensing (QS) is an elaborate regulatory mechanism associated with virulence and bacterial adaptation to the changing environment. QS is widespread in
Proteobacteria
and acts primarily through
N
-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) signals. At the core of the AHL-driven QS systems are the AHL synthase gene (
luxI
family) and its cognate transcriptional regulator gene (
luxR
family). Several QS systems display one or more genes intervening between the
luxI and luxR
, in which gene arrangements are notably different due to the relative position and the transcriptional orientation between the essential
luxI/R
and the genes of location correlation. These adjacent genes may exert a regulatory impact on the primary QS genes or contribute toward an extension of QS regulatory control. In this review, we describe the organization of AHL-driven QS genes based on previous research and specific genome databases and provide new insights into these atypical QS gene arrangements.
Exploring associations between viral titer measurements and disease outcomes in ferrets inoculated with 125 contemporary influenza A viruses
Authors: Kieran Troy J. , Sun Xiangjie , Maines Taronna R. , Beauchemin Catherine A. A. , Belser Jessica A.
Published: January 2024

Ferrets are frequently employed to study the pandemic potential of novel and emerging influenza A viruses. However, systematic retrospective analyses of data generated from these experiments are rarely performed, limiting our ability to identify trends in this data and explore how analyses can be refined. Using logarithmic viral titer and clinical data aggregated from one research group over 20 years, we assessed which meaningful and statistically supported associations were present among numerous quantitative measurements obtained from influenza A virus (IAV)-infected ferrets, including those capturing viral titers, infection progression, and disease severity. We identified numerous linear correlations between parameters assessing virus replication at discrete sites
in vivo
, including parameters capturing infection progression not frequently employed in the field, and sought to investigate the interconnected nature of these associations. This work supports continued refinement of data analyzed from
in vivo
experimentation, notably from studies which evaluate the public health risk posed by IAV.
Vegetation and channel recovery ten years following the Waldo Canyon Fire of Colorado
Authors: Chin Anne , Burton Jonathan W. , Humphreys Kevin M. , Florsheim Joan L. , Kinoshita Alicia M. , Andreano Emily C. , Eckermann Trevor K.
Published: January 2024

Although wildfire alters the hydrogeomorphic functioning of river systems through removal of vegetation and changes in soil properties, knowledge of postfire recovery has come primarily from studies in the initial years following fire. This paper reports biogeomorphic responses to the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire of Colorado, USA, over a longer time frame, ten years after the fire. Extending an early study of three initial postfire years through 2014, this project tracked changes in channel morphology and grain size through 2021 by resurveying three channel reaches in Williams Canyon affected by moderate- and severe-intensity burn. Analysis of patterns of postfire rainfall and changes in vegetation cover since the burn, which was proxied by the satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), also enabled inferences about the processes of biogeomorphic recovery over this intermediate time frame. Results showed trajectories of channel recovery toward redevelopment of step-pool bedforms—by aggradation where the initial response was incision, and removal of postfire fine sediment where it may have buried bedforms. An overall coarsening of bed material accompanied these channel adjustments. These changes occurred coincident with initial vegetation regrowth, with changes in the NDVI exhibiting variability. The emergence of large wood in the study channels after the initial years—from felled trees and cut logs contributed by management activity—influenced channel adjustment and introduced further spatial and temporal variability in channel morphology and grain-size distributions. The stability, movement, and influence of the burned wood and cut logs, therefore, become important variables in the long-term adjustment of the fluvial system after wildfire. Greater understanding of the recovery of burned fluvial systems in the intermediate time frame is increasingly important as wildfires grow in frequency and magnitude under warming climate regimes.
Primary pulmonary enteric adenocarcinoma presenting as a solitary skull mass
Authors: D'Mello Kimberly , Cevik Jevan , Wong Daniel Jun Yi , Goh Asher , Hart Cameron
Published: January 2024

Pulmonary enteric adenocarcinoma (PEAC) is a rare, aggressive variant of lung adenocarcinoma with early metastatic potential. We present the case of a male smoker in his 50s who presented with right-sided numbness, pain and headache. Imaging revealed a destructive skull base mass invading the right sphenoid sinus. Histopathology was consistent with PEAC. The diagnosis was metastatic PEAC with a distant spread to the skull and represents the first case reported in the literature. We present an associated literature review of the clinical presentation, histological features and management of PEAC with skull metastasis. Metastasis should be considered when evaluating any persistent cranial lesion. Diagnosis requires thorough clinical, radiological and pathological assessment. Treatment involves surgical resection, chemoradiation and targeted therapy. Prognosis directly correlates with clinical stage at presentation. This case highlights the importance of careful evaluation of skull lesions, even in patients without known primary malignancy. Early diagnosis and multimodal therapy may improve outcomes.
Translating the potential of the urine steroid metabolome to stage NAFLD (TrUSt-NAFLD): study protocol for a multicentre, prospective validation study
Authors: Miller Hamish , Harman David , Aithal Guruprasad Padur , Manousou Pinelopi , Cobbold Jeremy F , Parker Richard , Sheridan David , Newsome Philip N , Karpe Fredrik , Neville Matthew , Arlt Wiebke , Sitch Alice J , Korbonits Marta , Biehl Michael , Alazawi William , Tomlinson Jeremy W
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately one in four individuals and its prevalence continues to rise. The advanced stages of NAFLD with significant liver fibrosis are associated with adverse morbidity and mortality outcomes. Currently, liver biopsy remains the ‘gold-standard’ approach to stage NAFLD severity. Although generally well tolerated, liver biopsies are associated with significant complications, are resource intensive, costly, and sample only a very small area of the liver as well as requiring day case admission to a secondary care setting. As a result, there is a significant unmet need to develop non-invasive biomarkers that can accurately stage NAFLD and limit the need for liver biopsy. The aim of this study is to validate the use of the urine steroid metabolome as a strategy to stage NAFLD severity and to compare its performance against other non-invasive NAFLD biomarkers.

Methods and analysis

The TrUSt-NAFLD study is a multicentre prospective test validation study aiming to recruit 310 patients with biopsy-proven and staged NAFLD across eight centres within the UK. 150 appropriately matched control patients without liver disease will be recruited through the Oxford Biobank. Blood and urine samples, alongside clinical data, will be collected from all participants. Urine samples will be analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy to quantify a panel of predefined steroid metabolites. A machine learning-based classifier, for example, Generalized Matrix Relevance Learning Vector Quantization that was trained on retrospective samples, will be applied to the prospective steroid metabolite data to determine its ability to identify those patients with advanced, as opposed to mild-moderate, liver fibrosis as a consequence of NAFLD.

Ethics and dissemination

Research ethical approval was granted by West Midlands, Black Country Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 21/WM/0177). A substantial amendment (TrUSt-NAFLD-SA1) was approved on 26 November 2021.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN19370855.
Protocol of the development of a core outcome set for stroke in multidimensional value assessment of traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Yuan Jing , Yang Lei , Li Minghui , Bai Jingwen , Cheng Yinjie , Feng Yuan , Zhao Jing , Lu Kevin
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Stroke is the most common cause of death in China. In Chinese clinical practise, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and integrative medicine have been widely used as adjuvant therapies for the treatment of stroke. However, their clinical effectiveness, particularly their clinical value, has been inconsistent in the literature mainly because various outcome measures have been used and reported in clinical research. Hence, obtaining a comprehensive list of outcomes for TCM value assessment is crucial for a multidimensional value assessment. Therefore, the main objective of this protocol was to develop an outcome set used in health technology assessment (HTA) decision-making for TCM treatment of stroke.

Methods and analysis

The outcome set will be developed in four phases: (1) we will perform a systematic literature review to identify candidate outcomes that have been previously measured in published studies; (2) we will develop a comprehensive list of outcome measures by conducting a multistakeholder semistructured interview; (3) we will conduct two-round Delphi surveys to prioritise outcomes for each HTA domain; and (4) we will finalise the outcome sets by holding a ratification meeting with multiple stakeholder groups. The developed outcome set should be measured and reported as the minimum set of outcomes for HTA assessment for the TCM treatment of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Minhang Hospital of Fudan University. Our findings will be shared at academic conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.
Assessing the health needs of children and young people accessing paediatric hospital services: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Hindocha Avni , Brennan Louise , Brewster Liz , Lunn Judith , Isba Rachel
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Health needs are issues that face a population or specific groups, which can benefit from healthcare and wider social and environmental changes. They are inextricably linked to health inequalities, which are largely determined by non-health-related factors such as socioeconomic deprivation or belonging to ethnic minority groups. The hospital-accessing paediatric population, with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, are likely to have higher levels of met and unmet health needs related to social determinants, compared with their peers. As the gap in health inequalities widens globally, paediatric health services may now have an increasingly important role to play in identifying and acting on inequalities affecting their patient population. This scoping review aims to collate information on how children’s hospitals assess the health and wider health-related social needs of patients using a health inequalities lens. On a broader level, the review may also reveal themes about healthcare and other health needs of children accessing hospitals globally.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. A search strategy will be described to identify published articles from healthcare databases worldwide as well as healthcare-related grey literature. Literature will be examined to identify methods that aim to assess the health and related social needs of hospital-accessing paediatric patients and will exclude literature published before 2010. Two or more reviewers will independently review the results of the searches using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study findings will be presented in tabular form detailing the assessments identified.

Ethics and dissemination

The review will synthesise information on hospital approaches to understand and assess the health and health-related social needs of children and young people worldwide. The findings will be used to inform guidelines for children’s hospitals in the UK and will be disseminated through national and international professional bodies, conferences and research papers.
Understanding attitudes and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines among transitional-aged youth with mental health concerns: a youth-led qualitative study
Authors: Artna Erin , Abi-Jaoudé Alexxa , Sockalingam Sanjeev , Perry Claire , Johnson Andrew , Wun Charlotte , Kozloff Nicole , Henderson Jo , Levinson Andrea , Buchman Daniel Z
Published: January 2024

Background

Transitional-aged youth (16–29 years) with mental health concerns have experienced a disproportionate burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is limited in this population; however, determinants of its vaccine hesitancy are not yet thoroughly characterised.

Objectives

This study aimed to answer the following research question: What are the beliefs and attitudes of youth with mental illness about COVID-19 vaccines, and how do these perspectives affect vaccine acceptance? The study aims to generate findings to inform the development of vaccine resources specific to youth with mental health concerns.

Methods

A qualitative methodology with a youth engagement focus was used to conduct in-depth semistructured interviews with transitional-aged youth aged 16–29 years with one or more self-reported mental health diagnoses or concerns. Mental health concerns encompassed a wide range of symptoms and diagnoses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and personality disorders. Participants were recruited from seven main mental health clinical and support networks across Canada. Transcripts from 46 youth and 6 family member interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Two major themes were generated: (1) factors affecting trust in COVID-19 vaccines and (2) mental health influences and safety considerations in vaccine decision-making. Subthemes included trust in vaccines, trust in healthcare providers, trust in government and mistreatment towards racialised populations, and direct and indirect influences of mental health.

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests how lived experiences of mental illness affected vaccine decision-making and related factors that can be targeted to increase vaccine uptake. Our findings provide new insights into vaccine attitudes among youth with mental health concerns, which is highly relevant to ongoing vaccination efforts for new COVID-19 strains as well as other transmissible diseases and future pandemics. Next steps include cocreating youth-specific public health and clinical resources to encourage vaccination in this population.
Interaction between parental myopia and children lifestyle on the incidence of myopia among children aged 6–18 years: a cross-sectional study in Tianjin, China
Authors: Li Tongtong , Yang Jing , Yan Jing , Yao Xuyang , Du Bei , Wu Qi , Meng Xiangda , Liu Yuanyuan , Lu Yuezhu , Wang Qihua , Yang Qiang , Kee Chea-su , Tham Clement C , Wei Ruihua , Huang Guowei , Yan Hua
Published: January 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the influence of the interaction between parental myopia and lifestyle on myopia among school-age children.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

This study used data from the Tianjin Child and Adolescent Research of Eye between August and October 2022.

Participants

A total of 49 035 participants between 6 and 18 years of age were eligible for this study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the interaction between eye-healthy lifestyle and parental myopia on myopia. Parental myopia and eye-healthy lifestyle were ascertained by a Child and Adolescent Behavior Questionnaire. The lifestyle risk score (LRS) of eye health was calculated based on beta-coefficient in the backward regression model. The interaction between LRS and parental myopia was analysed by multivariate logistic regression. The predictive value of different predicted models was estimated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the associations of lifestyle risk factors and parental myopia with spherical equivalent refraction, which were defined as the secondary outcomes.

Results

A total of 31 839 participants aged 6–18 years were included, and the myopia prevalence was 55.46%. Eye-healthy lifestyle and parental myopia were significantly associated with myopia, as was interaction. The predictive value for LRS & parental myopia was 0.714 (95% CI: 0.709 to 0.720), which was higher than LRS (0.693, 95% CI: 0.687 to 0.699) and parental myopia (0.710, 95% CI: 0.704 to 0.716) separately.

Conclusions

High-risk lifestyles of myopia and parental myopia were significantly associated with a higher risk of myopia, and the combination had the strongest effect. For children, lifestyle adjustment should be prioritised in preventing myopia, especially for those with parental myopia.
Antecedents and service contact in an observational study of 242 suicide deaths in middle-aged men in England, Scotland and Wales, 2017
Authors: Graney Jane , Ibrahim Saied , Tham Su-Gwan , Turnbull Pauline , Appleby Louis , Kapur Nav , Rodway Cathryn
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Middle-aged men are the demographic group at highest risk of dying by suicide. We conducted a national study of deaths by suicide in men in mid-life to investigate the stresses they face before they take their lives and their contact with services that could be preventative.

Methods

This study is a detailed descriptive examination of suicide in a sample of men aged 40–54 who died by suicide in England, Scotland and Wales in 2017, based on national mortality data. We extracted information on the antecedents of suicide from official investigations, mainly coroner inquests and police death reports.

Results

In 2017, there were 1516 suicides by middle-aged men, representing 25% of all suicide deaths. Of the 288 suicide deaths in middle-aged men randomly selected for review, we obtained data about antecedents on 242 (84%). Many were unmarried (161, 67%). We found a complex pattern of stresses and recent adversity before suicide including economic adversity (139, 57%), physical ill-health (125, 52%), self-harm (106, 44%), alcohol and/or drug misuse (119, 49%), and bereavement (82, 34%; including by suicide, 14, 6%). Most men (220, 91%) had known contact with healthcare, justice system or other support services—67% (n=162) in the previous 3 months, 38% (n=91) in the previous week. Contact with multiple agencies was reported for 17% of men.

Conclusions

A mix of long-standing and recent risks contribute to suicide risk in men in mid-life. Economic stresses, including unemployment, financial and housing problems, are particularly important factors in this group. Contrary to our expectations, most men were in contact with support services. Economic support (especially at a time of severe economic pressure), addressing isolation, joint working with the voluntary sector, and addressing specific stresses, such as bereavement, may help reduce risk.
Dissociation in hepatic vein pressure gradient, liver stiffness measurement and complications in histological subtypes of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease
Authors: Bihari Chhagan , Dhariwal Sneha , Shasthry Saggere Murlikrishna , Rastogi Archana , Sharma Manoj Kumar , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: January 2024

Background and aims

Portosinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD) is a broad term encompassing varied histological patterns with changes in portal tracts and sinusoids without cirrhosis. We aimed to assess whether there is any clinical and pathological difference among the various histological categories of PSVD.

Patients and methods

This study included liver biopsy cases classified as PSVD (2020–2022). Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained from the electronic records. PSVD cases were histologically categorised as obliterative portal venopathy (OPV), OPV with fibrosis (OPV-F), incomplete septal cirrhosis (ISC), nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), mega sinusoids with fibrosis (MSF) and unclassified. Follow-up complications were recorded.

Results

PSVD categories were OPV (45 (26%)), OPV-F (37 (21.4%)), ISC (20 (11.6%)), NRH (19 (11%)), MSF (19 (11%)) and unclassified (33 (19%)). Elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was noted in OPV-F (10 (IQR: 12–14.7)) and ISC (12 (IQR: 9–14)) mm Hg with higher fibrosis quantity in liver tissue and elevated procollagen III aminoterminal propeptide, which correlated with HVPG. On immunohistochemistry, OPV-F and ISC showed lesser expression of ADAMT13 in liver biopsies (p<0.001). On follow-up, ascites development was more in OPV-F and ISC than in other categories (p=0.001). Higher liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values were recorded in MSF and NRH, compared with other categories, but it did not correlate with fibrosis in liver biopsy.

Conclusions

OPV-F and ISC had higher HVPG, fibrosis, and more ascites development on follow-up than the other categories of PSVD, and all are not the same. In contrast, MSF and NRH have spuriously high LSM.
Association of HFA-PEFF score with clinical outcomes after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Okada Taiji , Kitai Takeshi , Kobori Atsushi , Sano Madoka , Murai Ryosuke , Toyota Toshiaki , Sasaki Yasuhiro , Taniguchi Tomohiko , Kim Kitae , Ehara Natsuhiko , Kinoshita Makoto , Furukawa Yutaka
Published: January 2024

Background

The Heart Failure Association Pretest assessment, echocardiography and natriuretic peptide, functional testing and final aetiology (HFA-PEFF) score has been developed for diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which is frequently associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate whether preprocedural HFA-PEFF score could be used to predict clinical outcomes in patients with AF who underwent catheter ablation (CA).

Methods

Overall, 1679 patients with AF who underwent primary CA (71±10 years, 1218 males (72.5%), median follow-up duration 3.3 years) from July 2011 to December 2019 were included in this retrospective study. HFpEF was defined as an HFA-PEFF score ≥5. The primary study outcome was 5-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), which is a composite of all-cause death, hospitalisation for heart failure (HF) and hospitalisation for stroke.

Results

The prevalence of HFpEF was 32.3%, but only 7.7% were diagnosed with HF at the time of CHADS2scoring. Five-year MACCE occurred in 77 patients (4.6%). The cumulative 5-year incidence of MACCE was significantly higher in the HFpEF group than in the non-HFpEF group (11.2% vs 4.8% at 5 years, p<0.001). In the multivariable analysis, HFpEF by the HFA-PEFF score was associated with MACCE (adjusted HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.65, p=0.041).

Conclusions

Early detection of HFpEF using the HFA-PEFF score may have clinical applications in guiding therapeutic decision-making and improving prognosis by preventing HF and stroke in patients with AF undergoing CA.
Multiprofessional heart failure self-development framework
Authors: Forsyth Paul , Young Susan , Hughes Kirsty , James Ruby , Oxley Cheryl , Kelly Ruth , Jones Rebecca , Briggs Sarah , Mackay-Thomas Lynn , Millerick Yvonne , Simpson Maggie , Taylor Clare J , Beggs Simon , Piper Susan , Duckett Simon
Published: January 2024

Objective

Heart failure remains a key public health priority across the globe. The median age of people with heart failure admitted to hospital in the UK is 81 years old. Many such patients transcend the standard interventions that are well characterised and evidenced in guidelines, into holistic aspects surrounding frailty, rehabilitation and social care. Previous published competency frameworks in heart failure have focused on the value of doctors, nurses and pharmacists. We aimed to provide an expert consensus on the minimum heart failure-specific competencies necessary for multiple different healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and cardiac physiologists.

Methods

The document has been developed focussing on four main parts, (1) establishing a project working group of expert professionals, (2) a literature review of previously existing published curricula and competency frameworks, (3) consensus building, which included developing a structure to the framework with ongoing review of the contents to adapt and be inclusive for each specialty and (4) write up and dissemination to widen the impact of the project.

Results

The final competency framework displays competencies across seven sections; knowledge (including subheadings on heart failure syndrome, diagnosis and clinical management); general skills; heart failure-specific skills; clinical autonomy; multidisciplinary team working; teaching and education; and research and development.

Conclusion

People with heart failure can be complex and have needs that require input from a broad range of specialties. This publication focuses on the vital impact of wider multidisciplinary groups and should help define the generic core heart failure-specific competencies needed to support future pipelines of professionals, who regularly interact with and deliver care for patients with heart failure.
Laboratory and numerical analyses on polyurethane–scrap rubber-reinforced base layer
Authors: Farooq Mohammad Adnan , Nimbalkar Sanjay
Published: January 2024

Previous studies have explored using scrap rubber in constructing the ballasted track and showed tremendous potential to mitigate noise and vibration. However, its application for slab tracks has not been extensively investigated. This study intends to utilise scrap rubber in the base layer of the slab track; however, the high stress below base layer of the slab track may render its use unsuitable. The addition of scrap rubber would improve the damping performance but reduce the elastic modulus and cause excessive settlement of the track. This paper utilises an experimental programme comprising static and cyclic triaxial testing and numerical analyses to assess the suitability of four mixes, e.g., mix-A (soil), mix-B (soil mixed with rubber), mix-C (polyurethane-treated soil), and mix-D (polyurethane-treated soil mixed with rubber), as a base layer in slab tracks. The laboratory investigations reveal that the best performance in terms of improved damping ratio and resilient modulus, and lowered excess pore water pressure and vertical strains are shown by mix-D. These experimental test findings were supplemented with the results from three-dimensional full-scale finite element analyses, which showed a drastic reduction in the vibration levels of the track with mix-D as a base layer instead of conventional lean-mix concrete.
Ligand redistribution hinders preparation of a nickel(II)-hydroxo
Authors: Kukendran Shagana , Lee John S. , Boyle Paul D. , Blacquiere Johanna M.
Published: January 2024

The synthesis is demonstrated for a heteroleptic Ni(II) complex, with a tridentate ligand bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), aryloxide, and picolyl donor groups. The compound was reacted with a variety of hydroxide sources, several of which resulted in complex mixtures. Reaction with [NH4]OH affords a bis-ligated nickel compound, in which the ligands are each bound in a bidentate fashion through the NHC and aryloxide donor groups. A desired nickel(II)-hydroxo product was not observed. DFT studies suggest that ligand redistribution is thermodynamically preferred over stabilization of a Ni-hydroxo in either a monomeric or dimeric form.
Early influences of tamarack (Larix laricina) on black spruce (Picea mariana) and its immediate environment in plantations
Authors: Roy Proulx Samuel , Leduc Alain , Thiffault Nelson , Laganière Jérôme
Published: January 2024

Mixed plantations are garnering increased attention due to their potential to provide a broader array of benefits compared to monocultures. Although numerous studies have indicated promising complementarity between black spruce ( Picea mariana) and tamarack ( Larix laricina), few have delved into individual tree growth interactions to thoroughly assess early growth complementarity. We sampled 119 planted black spruce and their immediate environment to quantify and qualify any differences between two conditions in young plantations: mixed tamarack (“mixtures”) and black spruce monocultures (“monocultures”) within young plantations. We investigated the effect of neighbouring under four perspectives: tree competition, microenvironment, foliar nutrients, and soil nutrients. Our results showed increased values for black spruce foliar nitrogen total concentration, soil pH, and canopy closure in mixtures compared to monocultures. Furthermore, black spruce stem volume was increased by 38.1% in mixture compared to monoculture. Black spruce stem volume was negatively affected (86% decrease) by the combined effect of shrubs and non-crop trees under high competition pressure, despite the plantation being mechanically released in 2017. Collectively, our results suggest that black spruce growing in mixtures holds a greater growth potential than black spruce in monocultures.
A review of the Carboniferous shale gas potential of northern England: a data-based analysis of why it won't work
Authors: Fraser Alastair J. , Lodhia Bhavik H. , Sims Michael J. E.
Published: January 2024

The recent shale gas revolution originated in the USA in the late 1990s with the exploration of the Carboniferous Barnett Shale in Texas. Success in a number of additional basins in North America, such as the Marcellus, Eagle Ford and Bakken basins, stimulated a search for similar opportunities elsewhere around the world. Among the shales and basins targeted by industry was the Carboniferous Bowland Shale (and equivalents) in northern England. The initial premise that the Barnett Shale represented an excellent analogue for the Bowland Shale led to over-optimistic reserve estimates that have since been shown to be largely incorrect. On the basis of visual inspection of wellbore cores, the Carboniferous Barnett and Bowland shales appear to be very similar. Unfortunately, it is there that the similarity ends. Research carried out for the UK Unconventional Hydrocarbons project has highlighted important differences adversely impacting prospectivity. These can be summarized as basin type/continuity and structural complexity. The total organic carbon, maturity, mineralogy and thickness of the Bowland Shale and equivalents are broadly similar to the successful US examples. Our conclusion is that the Bowland Shale in the UK does not represent a technically significant resource, and in hindsight did not merit the considerable industry and media attention that has been associated with it. One key learning is that fundamental research based on heritage data and modern analytical and modelling techniques should have preceded drilling and fracking operations in northern England.
Small-Space Spectral Sparsification via Bounded-Independence Sampling
Authors: Doron Dean , Murtagh Jack , Vadhan Salil , Zuckerman David
Published: January 2024

We give a deterministic, nearly logarithmic-space algorithm for mild spectral sparsification of undirected graphs. Given a weighted, undirected graph
G
on
n
vertices described by a binary string of length
N
, an integer
k
≤ log
n
, and an error parameter ɛ > 0, our algorithm runs in space

\(\widetilde{O}(k\log (N\cdot w_{\mathrm{max}}/w_{\mathrm{min}})),\)

where
w
max
and
w
min
are the maximum and minimum edge weights in
G
, and produces a weighted graph
H
with

\(\widetilde{O}(n^{1+2/k}/\varepsilon ^2)\)

edges that spectrally approximates
G
, in the sense of Spielman and Teng, up to an error of ɛ.

Our algorithm is based on a new bounded-independence analysis of Spielman and Srivastava’s effective resistance-based edge sampling algorithm and uses results from recent work on space-bounded Laplacian solvers. In particular, we demonstrate an inherent trade-off (via upper and lower bounds) between the amount of (bounded) independence used in the edge sampling algorithm, denoted by
k
above, and the resulting sparsity that can be achieved.
Interpreting Deep Forest through Feature Contribution and MDI Feature Importance
Authors: He Yi-Xiao , Lyu Shen-Huan , Jiang Yuan
Published: January 2024

Deep forest is a non-differentiable deep model that has achieved impressive empirical success across a wide variety of applications, especially on categorical/symbolic or mixed modeling tasks. Many of the application fields prefer explainable models, such as random forests with feature contributions that can provide a local explanation for each prediction, and Mean Decrease Impurity (MDI) that can provide global feature importance. However, deep forest, as a cascade of random forests, possesses interpretability only at the first layer. From the second layer on, many of the tree splits occur on the new features generated by the previous layer, which makes existing explaining tools for random forests inapplicable. To disclose the impact of the original features in the deep layers, we design a calculation method with an estimation step followed by a calibration step for each layer, and propose our feature contribution and MDI feature importance calculation tools for deep forest. Experimental results on both simulated data and real-world data verify the effectiveness of our methods.
Stash: Flexible Energy Storage for Intermittent Sensors
Authors: Alsubhi Arwa , Babatunde Simeon , Tobias Nicole , Sorber Jacob
Published: January 2024

Batteryless sensors promise a sustainable future for sensing, but they face significant challenges when storing and using environmental energy. Incoming energy can fluctuate unpredictably between periods of scarcity and abundance, and device performance depends on both incoming energy and how much a device can store. Existing batteryless devices have used fixed or run-time selectable front-end capacitor banks to meet the energy needs of different tasks. Neither approach adapts well to rapidly changing energy harvesting conditions, nor does it allow devices to store excess energy during times of abundance without sacrificing performance. This article presents Stash, a hardware back-end energy storage technique that allows batteryless devices to charge quickly and store excess energy when it is abundant, extending their operating time and carrying out additional tasks without compromising the main ones. Stash performs like a small capacitor device when small capacitors excel and like a large capacitor device when large capacitors excel, with no additional software complexity and negligible power overhead. We evaluate Stash using two applications—temperature sensing and wearable activity monitoring—under both synthetic solar energy and recorded solar and thermal traces from various human activities. Our results show that Stash increased sensor coverage by up to 15% under variable energy-harvesting conditions when compared to competitor configurations that used fixed small, large, and reconfigurable front-end energy storage.
Sandwich-Like Electrochemical Immunosensing of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene and Toluidine Blue/UIO-66-NH2
Authors: Kang Deyong , Ma Shanbao , Zheng Qiaoling
Published: January 2024

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is an important biomarker in the diagnose of cancer, so developing effective methods for its detection is of great significance. In the present work, a novel sandwich-like electrochemical immunosensing assay (STEM) of SCCA was constructed by preparing gold nanoparticle/reduced graphene-oxide (Au NPs/rGO) to immobilize primary antibody (PAb) of SCCA and UIO-66-NH2 MOFs structure to immobilize second antibody (SAb) and electroactive toluidine blue (Tb) probe. In this designed STEM assay, the prepared Au NPs/rGO nanohybrid offers the advantages in large surface area and conductivity as carrier, and UIO-66-NH2 provided an ideal platform to accommodate SAb and a large number of Tb molecules as signal amplifier. In the existence of SCCA, the current peaks of Tb from the formed STEM structure increase with the increase of SCCA level. After optimizing the related control factors, a wide linear range (0.01 pg ml−1 and 15.0 ng ml−1) and very low detection limit (0.003 pg ml−1) of SCCA was achieved, it’s thus expected the designed STEM strategy has important applications for the detection of SCCA.
Preparation and Characterization of Thermally Conductive High Impact Polystyrene/AlN Composite
Authors: Thuong Nghiem Thi , Lam Nguyen Ba , Son Pham Anh , Chien Nguyen Ba , Linh Nguyen Pham Duy , Nam Chu Thi Hai , Vu Nguyen Anh
Published: January 2024

In the present work, AlN was modified with vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), and its effect on the properties of a thermally conductive composite of high impact polystyrene (HIPS), and AlN was investigated. Three composites, HIPS/AlN5, HIPS/AlN9, and HIPS/moAlN9, were prepared by mixing HIPS and AlN in a toluene solution, followed by hot pressing. The HIPS/AlN composite was characterized by tensile test, impact strength, flexural strength, and hardness shore D. The sample HIPS/moAlN9 showed the improvement of these properties compared to that of the HIPS/AlN9 sample. The increment of those mechanical properties was due to the good interaction between the modified AlN and HIPS resin matrix, which was revealed by morphology observation by SEM. Incorporating modified AlN into the HIPS matrix was also found to enhance the thermal conductivity by about 20%, from 0.15 for HIPS to 0.18 (W/m·K) for HIPS/moAlN9. It was explained due to the good adherence of AlN to the HIPS, which provided more thermal conductive routes than HIPS/AlN. This approach provides a possible strategy to prepare thermally conductive HIPS composite, which may be suitable for electronic device that required heat dissipation.
Incidence and Predictors of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions among Patients on Antiretroviral Drugs in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Anbessa Obsa , Hawulte Behailu , Dingeta Tariku , Birhanu Abdi
Published: January 2024

Background. The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy improves the quality and longevity of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, adverse drug reactions associated with antiretroviral therapy compromise the resulting benefits and have been reported differently worldwide, including Ethiopia. Severe adverse drug reactions are one of the major public health concerns for the reason that they can potentially impede the benefit of antiretroviral therapy and put the patient’s survival at risk. Despite many successes achieved with the introduction of the combined antiretroviral therapy, the majority of the patients on antiretroviral therapy experience adverse drug reactions associated with the drugs. Consequently, little is known about the problem in the current study area. This is, therefore, to study incidence and predictors of severe adverse drug reactions among patients on antiretroviral drugs in the Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and predictors of severe adverse drug reactions among patients on antiretroviral therapy from February 25, 2022, to March 25, 2022, in the Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods. A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 449 randomly selected medical records of people living with HIV on first-line antiretroviral therapy. Collected data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curve with log-rank test was used to compare survival curves for categorical independent variables. A p value ≤0.05 was declared as significant, and an adjusted hazard ratio was used to report the effect size using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Result. The overall incidence density of the severe adverse reactions was 7.22 per 1000 months (95% CI: 5.5, 9.6). After adjusting for all potential confounders using multivariable Cox proportional hazard ratio, advanced clinical diseases (AHR = 3.44; 95% CI: 1.54, 7.65), HIV/tuberculosis confections (AHR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.23, 4.62), and being female (AHR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.57, 6.18) were significantly associated with the experience of severe adverse drug reactions. Conclusion. In this study, the incidence of severe adverse reactions was consistent with the previous studies, and advanced World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage, HIV/TB confection, and being female were the independent predictors of the severe adverse drug reactions.
Allium ampeloprasum var. Porrum (Alliaceae) Improves Metabolic and Reproductive Disorders Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Wistar Rats
Authors: Fofie Tedongmo Alison Degrace , Mvondo Marie Alfrede
Published: January 2024

To provide scientific evidence of the efficacy of Allium ampeloprasum against female infertility, the effects of the aqueous extract of the said plant (AE) were evaluated in rats with letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). AE was administered orally to PCOS rats at doses of 192, 384, and 768 mg/kg. The positive control was co-treated with clomiphene citrate (1 mg/kg) and metformin (200 mg/kg). Normal and negative controls received distilled water. The vaginal contents of rats were examined daily under a microscope before (7 days) and during treatment. Treatments were administered orally for 15 days, and then, 6 rats from each group were sacrificed for biochemical and histological analyses. The remaining rats were mated with males of proven fertility for 5 days. The daily examination of vaginal smears allowed the evaluation of fertility index. After parturition, additional fertility parameters were determined. Results showed that in PCOS rats, AE decreased body weight (p<0.001), abdominal fat weight (p<0.001), serum levels of LH (p<0.001), testosterone (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p<0.05), and LDL cholesterol (p<0.01). HDL cholesterol increased and atherogenic indices decreased (p<0.001). The number of Graafian follicles and corpora lutea increased, while cystic (p<0.001) and atretic (p<0.05) follicles decreased. AE also decreased oxidative stress in the ovaries, restored the estrous cycle, induced uterine epithelial cell hypertrophy, and improved fertility. These effects were attributed to phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthocyanins present in AE. The overall results justify the traditional use of A. ampeloprasum against female infertility and suggest its potential use as a dietary supplement for PCOS patients.
Associations between Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Demographic, Nutritional, and Lifestyle Factors
Authors: Lima Layne Christina Benedito de Assis , Aquino Séphora Louyse Silva , da Cunha Aline Tuane Oliveira , Peixoto Talita do Nascimento , Lima Severina Carla Vieira Cunha , Sena-Evangelista Karine Cavalcanti Maurício , Lima Josivan Gomes , Pedrosa Lucia Fátima Campos
Published: January 2024

Objectives. To evaluate the associations between individuals with and without changes in components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and demographic, nutritional, and lifestyle factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 224 individuals followed-up at a public hospital in Northeast Brazil. We used National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) criteria to diagnose MetS. We assessed components of MetS as dependent variables, while sex, age, food consumption, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, and sleep hours were independent variables. Results. Comparing individuals with and without changes in components of MetS, the logistic regression models revealed that female sex was predictive of increased waist circumference and low HDL-c levels while advanced age was predictive of increased blood pressure and blood glucose levels. BMI emerged as a predictor for waist circumference and a protective factor for triglyceride levels. In addition, potassium intake, physical activity, and sleep duration were protective against decreased HDL-c, elevated triglyceride, and elevated blood pressure levels, respectively. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that sex, age, BMI, dietary potassium intake, physical activity, and hours of sleep are factors to be targeted in public health actions for prevention and treatment of MetS.