bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of the interproximal contour of single external hexagon implant restorations on the prevalence of peri‐implantitis: A retrospective study
Authors: Volp Junior Luiz Carlos , Matarazzo Flávia , Dias Debora Reis , de Oliveira Ricardo Puziol , Sábio Sérgio , Araújo Maurício G.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of the interproximal contour of single external hexagon implant restorations on the prevalence of peri‐implantitis.

Material and Methods

Records of 96 patients and 148 external hexagon (EH) implants with time in function ranging from 1 to 17 years were included in the study. The most recent clinical and radiographic data were collected from records and the prevalence of peri‐implantitis was defined according to the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri‐implant Diseases and Conditions. Marginal bone level (MBL), emergence angle (EA), emergence profile (EP), and crown/implant platform horizontal ratio (CIHR) were obtained from periapical radiographs. Dichotomous variables at the patient‐ and implant level were compared with association tests. Mann‐Whitney U‐Test was performed to compare continuous quantitative values between the studied groups. Binomial logistic regression was conducted to identify risk indicators associated with the peri‐implantitis event at the patient‐ and implant level, with the significance level set at 5% for all tests.

Results

Nineteen patients (19.2%) and 24 implants (16.2%) with a mean time in function of 5.0 ± 4.7 years were classified as having peri‐implantitis. No statistically significant differences concerning gender, mean age, implant location in the jaw, or time in function were observed between patients with or without peri‐implantitis (p > 0.05). Of 24 implants with peri‐implantitis 10 (41.7%) displayed EA ≤ 30° (16.4%) while 14 (58.3%) presented EA > 30° with no statistical difference between the groups (p > 0.05). No statistically significant associations were identified between EA, EP, or CIHR and the prevalence of peri‐implantitis.

Conclusion

The findings seem to indicate that the EA, EP, and CIHR of single restorations over external hexagon implants are not associated with the presence of peri‐implantitis. However, prospective studies with larger samples are required to better ascertain such an association in the long term.
‘Be Creative and Have Fun’: elementary‐aged children's digital and embodied composing in science
Authors: Woodard Rebecca , Diaz Amanda R. , Phillips Nathan C. , Varelas Maria , Tsachor Rachelle , Kotler Rebecca , Rock Ronan , Melchor Miguel
Published: March 2024

A team of literacy, science, and theatre educators have been working to engage children in an urban public school system in the United States through embodied performances, where students embody and dramatise science ideas. This study focuses on one fourth‐grade classroom when instruction was done remotely due to Covid‐19. Children in the class were asked to compose videos of themselves acting out and/or exploring science phenomena and concepts, and we analysed the affordances of these multimodal compositions. We situate the need for this study in claims from the Next Generation Science Standards that literacy skills are necessary to build and communicate science knowledge. In doing so, we center social semiotics perspectives that conceive of composition broadly as production‐oriented processes drawing from various semiotic resources. The multimodal compositions in Mr. M's science class included both primarily embodied compositions and primarily digital compositions, and we elaborate on one focal example of each in the findings. Intertwined affordances of the focal children and their classmates' multimodal science compositions include opportunities to creatively engage with and negotiate science ideas, to draw from personal and social knowledge during meaning‐making, and to intentionally make rhetorical choices.
Differences between first‐ and second‐generation autologous platelet concentrates
Authors: Calciolari Elena , Dourou Marina , Akcali Aliye , Donos Nikolaos
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) applied alone or combined with other biomaterials are popular bioactive factors employed in regenerative medicine. The main biological rationale of using such products is to concentrate blood‐derived growth factors and cells into the wound microenvironment to enhance the body's natural healing capacity. First‐generation APC is represented by platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). While different protocols have been documented for PRP preparation, they overall consist of two cycles of centrifugation and have important limitations related to the use of an anticoagulant first and an activator afterward, which may interfere with the natural healing process and the release of bioactive molecules. The second generation of platelet concentrates is represented by leukocyte and platelet‐rich fibrin (L‐PRF). L‐PRF protocols involve a single centrifugation cycle and do not require the use of anticoagulants and activators, which makes the preparation more straight forward, less expensive, and eliminates potential risks associated with the use of activators. However, since no anticoagulant is employed, blood undergoes rapid clotting within the blood collection tube; hence, a timely management of L‐PRF is crucial. This review provides an overview on the most documented protocols for APC preparations and critically discusses the main differences between first‐ and second‐generation APCs in terms of cell content, protein release, and the formation of a 3D fibrin network. It appears evident that the inconsistency in reporting protocol parameters by most studies has contributed to conflicting conclusions regarding the efficacy of different APC formulations and has significantly limited the ability to interpret the results of individual clinical studies. In the future, the use of a standardized classification system, together with a detailed reporting on APC protocol parameters is warranted to make study outcomes comparable. This will also allow to clarify important aspects on the mechanism of action of APCs (like the role of leukocytes and centrifugation parameters) and to optimize the use of APCs in regenerative medicine.
Modeling prevention behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic using Bayesian belief networks and protection motivation theory
Authors: Vizanko Brent , Kadinski Leonid , Cummings Christopher , Ostfeld Avi , Berglund Emily Zechman
Published: March 2024

Prevention behaviors are important in mitigating the transmission of COVID‐19. The protection motivation theory (PMT) links perceptions of risk and coping ability with the act of adopting prevention behaviors. The goal of this research is to test the application of the PMT in predicting adoption of prevention behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Two research objectives are achieved to explore motivating factors for adopting prevention behaviors. (1) The first objective is to identify variables that are strong predictors of prevention behavior adoption. A data‐driven approach is used to train Bayesian belief network (BBN) models using results of a survey of participants reporting risk perceptions and prevention behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A large set of models are generated and analyzed to identify significant variables. (2) The second objective is to develop models based on the PMT to predict prevention behaviors. BBN models that predict prevention behaviors were developed using two approaches. In the first approach, a data‐driven methodology trains models using survey data alone. In the second approach, expert knowledge is used to develop the structure of the BBN using PMT constructs. Results demonstrate that trust and experience with COVID‐19 were important predictors for prevention measure adoption. Models that were developed using the PMT confirm relationships between coping appraisal, threat appraisal, and protective behaviors. Data‐driven and PMT‐based models perform similarly well, confirming the use of PMT in this context. Predicting adoption of social distancing behaviors provides insight for developing policies during pandemics.
An in-principle super-polynomial quantum advantage for approximating combinatorial optimization problems via computational learning theory
Authors: Pirnay Niklas , Ulitzsch Vincent , Wilde Frederik , Eisert Jens , Seifert Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2024

It is unclear to what extent quantum algorithms can outperform classical algorithms for problems of combinatorial optimization. In this work, by resorting to computational learning theory and cryptographic notions, we give a fully constructive proof that quantum computers feature a super-polynomial advantage over classical computers in approximating combinatorial optimization problems. Specifically, by building on seminal work by Kearns and Valiant, we provide special instances that are hard for classical computers to approximate up to polynomial factors. Simultaneously, we give a quantum algorithm that can efficiently approximate the optimal solution within a polynomial factor. The quantum advantage in this work is ultimately borrowed from Shor’s quantum algorithm for factoring. We introduce an explicit and comprehensive end-to-end construction for the advantage bearing instances. For these instances, quantum computers have, in principle, the power to approximate combinatorial optimization solutions beyond the reach of classical efficient algorithms.
Resolving the slip-rate inconsistency of the northern Dead Sea fault
Authors: Li Xing , Jónsson Sigurjón , Liu Shaozhuo , Ma Zhangfeng , Castro-Perdomo Nicolás , Cesca Simone , Masson Frédéric , Klinger Yann
Published: March 2024

Reported fault slip rates, a key quantity for earthquake hazard and risk analyses, have been inconsistent for the northern Dead Sea fault (DSF). Studies of offset geological and archeological structures suggest a slip rate of 4 to 6 millimeters per year, consistent with the southern DSF, whereas geodetic slip-rate estimates are only 2 to 3 millimeters per year. To resolve this inconsistency and overcome limited access to the northern DSF in Syria, we here use burst-overlap interferometric time-series analysis of satellite radar images to provide an independent slip-rate estimate of ~2.8 millimeters per year. We also show that the high geologic slip rate could, by chance, be inflated by earthquake clustering and suggest that the slip-rate decrease from the southern to northern DSF can be explained by splay faults and diffuse offshore deformation. These results suggest a microplate west of the northern DSF and a lower earthquake hazard for that part of the fault.
Local and global predictors of synapse elimination during motor learning
Authors: Hedrick Nathan G. , Wright William J. , Komiyama Takaki
Published: March 2024

During learning, synaptic connections between excitatory neurons in the brain display considerable dynamism, with new connections being added and old connections eliminated. Synapse elimination offers an opportunity to understand the features of synapses that the brain deems dispensable. However, with limited observations of synaptic activity and plasticity in vivo, the features of synapses subjected to elimination remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the functional basis of synapse elimination in the apical dendrites of L2/3 neurons in the primary motor cortex throughout motor learning. We found no evidence that synapse elimination is facilitated by a lack of activity or other local forms of plasticity. Instead, eliminated synapses display asynchronous activity with nearby synapses, suggesting that functional synaptic clustering is a critical component of synapse survival. In addition, eliminated synapses show delayed activity timing with respect to postsynaptic output. Thus, synaptic inputs that fail to be co-active with their neighboring synapses or are mistimed with neuronal output are targeted for elimination.
Three-dimensional printing of wood
Authors: Thakur Md Shajedul Hoque , Shi Chen , Kearney Logan T. , Saadi M. A. S. R. , Meyer Matthew D. , Naskar Amit K. , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Rahman Muhammad M.
Published: March 2024

Natural wood has served as a foundational material for buildings, furniture, and architectural structures for millennia, typically shaped through subtractive manufacturing techniques. However, this process often generates substantial wood waste, leading to material inefficiency and increased production costs. A potential opportunity arises if complex wood structures can be created through additive processes. Here, we demonstrate an additive-free, water-based ink made of lignin and cellulose, the primary building blocks of natural wood, that can be used to three-dimensional (3D) print architecturally designed wood structures via direct ink writing. The resulting printed structures, after heat treatment, closely resemble the visual, textural, olfactory, and macro-anisotropic properties, including mechanical properties, of natural wood. Our results pave the way for 3D-printed wooden construction with a sustainable pathway to upcycle/recycle natural wood.
Neonatal arterial thrombosis: an arcane COVID sequelae
Authors: Vijay Aishwarya , Shenoy Swathi , Sindgikar Seema Pavaman
Published: March 2024

We describe a case of a term neonate with a swollen right arm and weakened pulses, diagnosed with arterial thromboembolism in the right axillary and brachial arteries. Treatment involved heparin, followed by enoxaparin, resulting in significant improvement. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was considered as a potential factor, supported by the newborn’s reactive COVID antibodies. The authors hypothesise a potential correlation between neonatal thrombosis and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. It is important to note that this association remains speculative and warrants further investigation for validation. The case underscores the importance of recognising and managing neonatal arterial thrombosis, especially in the context of maternal illness. We discuss the case in detail and review current knowledge on this condition.
Epidemiology of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities during postvaccine period: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hashan Mohammad Rashidul , Smoll Nicolas , Chapman Gwenda , King Catherine , Walker Jacina , Kirk Michael , Akbar Delwar , Booy Robert , Khandaker Gulam
Published: March 2024

Objective

We aimed to define the epidemiology of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities (ACFs) during the postvaccine period, including vaccine effectiveness (VE) for this high-risk group.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched through 1 September 2023.

Eligibility criteria

Any original observational studies and trials reporting data on COVID-19 outbreaks among the partially/fully vaccinated residents from ACFs during or after the worldwide implementation of vaccine roll-out.

Data extraction and synthesis

We estimated the attack rate, case fatality rate, mortality rate and VE during postvaccine period. Random effect model was adopted for meta-analysis. Quality assessment on all included studies was performed using the Meta Quality Appraisal Tool.

Results

38 articles were included from 12 countries reporting 79 outbreaks with 1708 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 78 ACFs. The pooled attack rate was 28% (95% CI 20% to 37%) among the fully vaccinated residents. Two-thirds (62.5%) of the index cases were unvaccinated healthcare professionals (eg, physicians, nurses) and caregivers. Unvaccinated residents had a significantly higher rates (12%) (95% CI 7% to 19%) of mortality compared with the vaccinated residents (2%) (95% CI% 1 to 4%) and the post-COVID-19 vaccine estimates for case fatality rate (13% vs 23%) and hospitalisation rate (17% vs 37%) were substantially lower. VE in preventing disease among residents in ACFs was 73% (95% CI 49% to 86). Overall, the included studies were heterogeneous in nature, however, the risk of bias was low to moderate.

Conclusions

Our study reaffirmed the impact of vaccination as a key public health measure to minimise the burden of COVID-19 in ACFs. Facilities with higher crowding indexes should be prioritised for vaccination and should advocate for higher vaccination targets among staff and residents as a critical intervention strategy to minimise disease burden in this vulnerable population.
Hierarchy of demographic and social determinants of mental health: analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the Global Mind Project
Authors: Bala Jerzy , Newson Jennifer Jane , Thiagarajan Tara C
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To understand the extent to which various demographic and social determinants predict mental health status and their relative hierarchy of predictive power in order to prioritise and develop population-based preventative approaches.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of survey data.

Setting

Internet-based survey from 32 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Australia, collected between April 2020 and December 2021.

Participants

270 000 adults aged 18–85+ years who participated in the Global Mind Project.

Outcome measures

We used 120+ demographic and social determinants to predict aggregate mental health status and scores of individuals (mental health quotient (MHQ)) and determine their relative predictive influence using various machine learning models including gradient boosting and random forest classification for various demographic stratifications by age, gender, geographical region and language. Outcomes reported include model performance metrics of accuracy, precision, recall, F1 scores and importance of individual factors determined by reduction in the squared error attributable to that factor.

Results

Across all demographic classification models, 80% of those with negative MHQs were correctly identified, while regression models predicted specific MHQ scores within ±15% of the position on the scale. Predictions were higher for older ages (0.9+ accuracy, 0.9+ F1 Score; 65+ years) and poorer for younger ages (0.68 accuracy, 0.68 F1 Score; 18–24 years). Across all age groups, genders, regions and language groups, lack of social interaction and sufficient sleep were several times more important than all other factors. For younger ages (18–24 years), other highly predictive factors included cyberbullying and sexual abuse while not being able to work was high for ages 45–54 years.

Conclusion

Social determinants of traumas, adversities and lifestyle can account for 60%–90% of mental health challenges. However, additional factors are at play, particularly for younger ages, that are not included in these data and need further investigation.
‘I’ve never been so stressed in my life’: a qualitative analysis of young adults’ lived experience amidst pandemic restrictions in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Authors: Postill Gemma , Halpin Michael , Zanin Claire , Ritter Caroline
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This qualitative study aimed to explore how young adults experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to extensive lockdowns, social isolation and psychosocial distress. Specifically, this research focused on how the pandemic impacted those who did not contract COVID-19 and lived in a low-risk geographical location. The focus was young adults given they have large social circles (high risk for disease transmission) and have an increased propensity to mental health conditions. These insights can inform planning for future pandemics.

Design

This paper draws on 30 in-depth semistructured interviews. Data were analysed inductively following the principles of a constructivist grounded theory approach.

Setting and participants

30 young adults living in Prince Edward Island during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Canadian province with a low number of COVID-19 cases at the time of data collection.

Results

We developed four themes that describe the experience of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) life course disruption, (2) fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 virus, (3) isolation and loss of hope and (4) strategies for managing adversity. Our findings highlight the areas of young adults’ lives that were affected by extensive social changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate that even individuals who had not contracted the virus were considerably impacted.

Conclusion

We provide a detailed description of the comprehensive impact of COVID-19 on low-risk young adults not previously infected with the COVID-19 virus. By reflecting on the biographical disruption experienced by young adults, we highlight the need and opportunity to direct healthcare resources towards identifying and addressing the secondary impacts of pandemics. Consequently, these findings can guide decisions relating to future pandemic restrictions to better account for the experiences of individuals living through them.
Impact of chronic oral glucocorticoid treatment on mortality in patients with COVID-19: analysis of a population-based cohort
Authors: Einarsdottir Margret J , Kibiwott Kirui Brian , Li Huiqi , Olsson Daniel , Johannsson Gudmundur , Nyberg Fredrik , Ragnarsson Oskar
Published: March 2024

Objectives

While glucocorticoid (GC) treatment initiated for COVID-19 reduces mortality, it is unclear whether GC treatment prior to COVID-19 affects mortality. Long-term GC use raises infection and thromboembolic risks. We investigated if patients with oral GC use prior to COVID-19 had increased mortality overall and by selected causes.

Design

Population-based observational cohort study.

Settings

Population-based register data in Sweden.

Participants

All patients infected with COVID-19 in Sweden from January 2020 to November 2021 (n=1 200 153).

Outcome measures

Any prior oral GC use was defined as ≥1 GC prescription during 12 months before index. High exposure was defined as ≥2 GC prescriptions with a cumulative prednisolone dose ≥750 mg or equivalent during 6 months before index. GC users were compared with COVID-19 patients who had not received GCs within 12 months before index. We used Cox proportional hazard models and 1:2 propensity score matching to estimate HRs and 95% CIs, controlling for the same confounders in all analyses.

Results

3378 deaths occurred in subjects with any prior GC exposure (n=48 806; 6.9%) and 14 850 among non-exposed (n=1 151 347; 1.3%). Both high (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.87 to 2.09) and any exposure (1.58, 1.52 to 1.65) to GCs were associated with overall death. Deaths from pulmonary embolism, sepsis and COVID-19 were associated with high GC exposure and, similarly but weaker, with any exposure. High exposure to GCs was associated with increased deaths caused by stroke and myocardial infarction.

Conclusion

Patients on oral GC treatment prior to COVID-19 have increased mortality, particularly from pulmonary embolism, sepsis and COVID-19.
Effectiveness of a community-based multicomponent lifestyle intervention (the ADA programme) to improve the quality of life of French breast cancer survivors: protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised trial and embedded qualitative study
Authors: El-Khoury Fabienne , Mino Jean-Christophe , Deschamps Nicolas , Lopez Chloé , Menvielle Gwenn , Dargent-Molina Patricia
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are often faced with multiple mental and physical sequelae and are at increased risk of emotional distress, degraded health-related quality of life (HRQoL), chronic pain and fatigue.

Physical activity is strongly associated with improved HRQoL and survival rates; however, adherence rates to recommendations for a healthy lifestyle are seldom satisfactory among BCSs. Also, few studies have examined the effectiveness of multicomponent and personalised interventions that integrate physical activity and motivational techniques to improve the HRQoL of BCS.

Method and analysis

“Activité physique adaptée Doublée d’un Accompagnement d’après cancer” (ADA) is an integrated programme of physical activity enriched with a dietary and supportive care approach targeting BCS in the early post-treatment phase. The effectiveness of the ADA intervention will be evaluated using a cluster randomised controlled trial design with two arms (ADA programme vs usual care; 1:1 ratio).

The ADA intervention aims to recruit 160 participants and will be implemented by Siel Bleu, a non-profit association specialised in health prevention via adapted physical activity. Measurements will be performed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months after the start of the intervention. The primary outcome will be participants’ HRQoL, at 12 months measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue global score. Secondary outcome will include participants’ physical, social, emotional and functional well-being. The effect of the intervention on physical activity level, motivation for physical activity, relation to food and self-efficacy will also be evaluated.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the ‘CPP Paris XI’ Institutional Review Board on 5 May 2022 (Ref no.: 21.04512.000048-22004). The study’s findings will be shared through various channels, including academic publications, simplified reports for wider audiences and active engagement with medical and institutional organisations as well as patients’ associations.

Trial registration number

NCT05658341.
UK medical students’ self-reported knowledge and harm assessment of psychedelics and their application in clinical research: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Song-Smith Charlie , Jacobs Edward , Rucker James , Saint Matthew , Cooke James , Schlosser Marco
Published: March 2024

Objective

To capture UK medical students’ self-reported knowledge and harm assessment of psychedelics and to explore the factors associated with support for changing the legal status of psychedelics to facilitate further clinical research.

Design

Cross-sectional, anonymous online survey of UK medical students using a non-random sampling method.

Setting

UK medical schools recognised by the General Medical Council.

Participants

132 medical students who had spent an average of 3.8 years (SD=1.4; range: 1–6) in medical school.

Results

Most students (83%) reported that they were aware of psychedelic research and only four participants (3%) said that they were not interested in learning more about this type of research. Although medical students’ harm assessment of psychedelics closely aligned with that of experts, only 17% of students felt well-educated on psychedelic research. Teachings on psychedelics were only rarely encountered in their curriculum (psilocybin: 14.1 (SD=19.9), scale: 0 (never) to 100 (very often)). Time spent at medical schools was not associated with more knowledge about psychedelics (r=0.12, p=0.129). On average, this sample of medical students showed strong support for changing the legal status of psychedelics to facilitate further research into their potential clinical applications (psilocybin: 80.2 (SD=24.8), scale: 0 (strongly oppose) to 100 (strongly support)). Regression modelling indicated that greater knowledge of psychedelics (p<0.001), lower estimated harm scores (p<0.001), more time spent in medical school (p=0.024) and lower perceived effectiveness of non-pharmacological mental health treatments (p=0.044) were associated with greater support for legal status change.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal a significant interest among UK medical students to learn more about psychedelic research and a strong support for further psychedelic research. Future studies are needed to examine how medical education could be refined to adequately prepare medical students for a changing healthcare landscape in which psychedelic-assisted therapy could soon be implemented in clinical practice.
Association of sildenafil use with age-related macular degeneration: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Han Ji Eun Diana , Subramanian Anuradhaa , Lee Wen Hwa , Coker Jesse , Denniston Alastair K , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Adderley Nicola Jaime
Published: March 2024

Objective

Despite significant advances in clinical care and understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—a major cause of global blindness—lacks effective treatment to prevent the irreversible degeneration of photoreceptors leading to central vision loss. Limited studies suggest phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil, may prevent AMD by increasing retinal blood flow. This study explores the potential association between sildenafil use and AMD risk in men with erectile dysfunction using UK data.

Methods and analysis

Using the UK’s IQVIA Medical Research Data, the study analysed 31 575 men prescribed sildenafil for erectile dysfunction and no AMD history from 2007 to 2015, matched with a comparator group of 62 155 non-sildenafil users in a 1:2 ratio, over a median follow-up of approximately three years.

Results

The primary outcome was the incidence of AMD in the two groups. The study found no significant difference in AMD incidence between the sildenafil users and the non-users, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.99 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.16), after accounting for confounders such as age, ethnicity, Townsend deprivation quintile, body mass index category, and diagnosis of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

The study results indicated no significant association between sildenafil use and AMD prevention in UK men with erectile dysfunction, suggesting sildenafil’s protective effect on AMD is likely insignificant.
Bispecific immune cell engager enhances the anticancer activity of CD16+ NK cells and macrophages in vitro, and eliminates cancer metastasis in NK humanized NOG mice
Authors: Khoshtinat Nikkhoi Shahryar , Yang Ge , Owji Hajar , Grizotte-Lake Mayara , Cohen Rick I , Gil Gonzalez Lazaro , Massumi Mohammad , Hatefi Arash
Published: March 2024

Background

In a prior report, we detailed the isolation and engineering of a bispecific killer cell engager, referred to as BiKE:E5C1. The BiKE:E5C1 exhibits high affinity/specificity for the CD16a activating receptor on natural killer (NK) cells and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on cancer cells. In vitro studies have demonstrated that BiKE:E5C1 can activate the NK cells and induce the killing of HER2+ ovarian and breast cancer cells, surpassing the performance of the best-in-class monoclonal antibody, Trazimera (trastuzumab). To advance this BiKE technology toward clinical application, the objective of this research was to demonstrate the ability of BiKE:E5C1 to activate CD16+ immune cells such as NK cells and macrophages to kill cancer cells, and eradicate metastatic HER2+ tumors in NK humanized NOG mice.

Methods

We assessed BiKE:E5C1’s potential to activate CD16-expressing peripheral blood (PB)-NK cells, laNK92 cells, and THP-1-CD16A monocyte-macrophages through flowcytometry and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity/phagocytosis (ADCC) assays. Subsequently, laNK92 cells were selected as effector cells and genetically modified to express the nanoluciferase gene, enabling the monitoring of their viability in NK humanized NOG mice using quantitative bioluminescent imaging (qBLI). To evaluate the functionality of BiKE:E5C1 in vivo, we introduced firefly luciferase-expressing ovarian cancer cells via intraperitoneal injection into hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mice, creating a model of ovarian cancer metastasis. Once tumor establishment was confirmed, we treated the mice with laNK92 cells plus BiKE:E5C1 and the response to therapy was assessed using qBLI.

Results

Our data demonstrate that BiKE:E5C1 activates not only laNK92 cells but also PB-NK cells and macrophages, significantly enhancing their anticancer activities. ADCC assay demonstrated that IgG1Fc region had no impact on BiKE:E5C1’s anticancer activity. In vivo results reveal that both hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mouse models support the viability and proliferation of laNK92 cells. Furthermore, it was observed that BiKE:E5C1 activates laNK92 cells in mice, leading to eradication of cancer metastasis in both NK humanized hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mouse models.

Conclusions

Collectively, our in vivo findings underscore BiKE:E5C1’s potential as an immune cell engager capable of activating immune cells for cancer cell elimination, thereby expanding the arsenal of available BiKEs for cancer immunotherapy.
Cardio-rheumatology: the cardiovascular, pharmacological, and surgical risks associated with rheumatological diseases in women
Authors: Sommer Samantha Le , Kontaridis Maria I.
Published: March 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death worldwide. Women are at increased risk of death from CVD, but the mechanisms for how and why this occurs remain elusive. One subset of women who are exceptionally vulnerable to CVD are those with rheumatic diseases (RDs). Indeed, women account for 80% of all RDs, disorders that encompass a broad range of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that lead to chronic inflammation and pathology. The clear association of increased CVD risk in women with RD is thought to be mediated by a number of factors, including RD pathology itself, pharmacological induction of CVD, and/or as yet unidentified mechanisms. As such, elucidation of the causes and treatments of these pathologies has given rise to a new subspecialty of cardiology: cardio-rheumatology. Here, we review and discuss the CVD risks in patients with RDs, the associated sex disparities in RD and CVD care, as well as the current therapeutic and interventional options available to specifically help women with RDs. We hope this discussion will provide guidance and support to patients, as well as to cardio-rheumatologists, as these groups are the most uniquely positioned to radically improve CVD care in these individuals. Moreover, we are hopeful this discussion may lead to better, more efficacious approaches to treating these disorders in women in the near future.
Robust expansion of networks against cascading failures with reinforcement learning
Authors: Wu Yu , Pu Cunlai , Xia Yongxiang
Published: March 2024

The network infrastructures, such as the power grids and Internet, are expanding in size due to the increasing needs of our society. This brings about the problem of expanding networks with a guarantee of robustness against network disturbances that may cause catastrophic consequences. In this paper, we study the optimal network expansion in terms of network robustness against cascading failures. Specifically, we consider the network expansion as a Markovian decision process and further propose a reinforcement learning based network expansion method. Simulation results in model networks and real-world networks demonstrate that our expansion method can greatly improve network robustness. Our work provides some insights for the optimal expansion of network infrastructures.
Effects of correlation between bounded confidences and node degrees on consensus in opinion dynamics on complex networks
Authors: Feng Yuee , Zhang Yijia , Han Wenchen
Published: March 2024

In bounded confidence opinion dynamics, agents only consider other agents when their opinions are sufficiently close. In many works, the confidence bound is assumed as a homogeneous one. However, agents in different situations may be with different confidence bounds in real life. In this work, the correlation of degrees and confidence bounds is introduced into modified Hegselmann–Krause model on complex networks and we mainly focus on whether the population can reach consensus, where all agents hold a same opinion. The number of opinion clusters, the relative size of the largest cluster and the probability of reaching consensus are the measures of the opinion cluster profile. The numerical simulation shows that the existence of the correlation promotes the probability of reaching consensus and even in the case where some agents are with very small confidence bounds. On scale-free and Erdös–Rényi random networks, the negative correlation supports the consensus much more than the positive correlation case. However, two correlations show the same effect on small-world networks, and this effect is also observed in scale-free and Erdös–Rényi random networks when the average degree becomes very large.
DO RURAL STUDENTS PERFORM AS WELL AS THEIR URBAN CLASSMATES? EVIDENCE FROM URBAN CHINA
Authors: XU BIN , YU QIANBIN , YUAN YUEMEI
Published: March 2024

We investigate the academic performance gap between students with local rural and urban identities at the same schools in China. We find that in urban public schools, rural students achieve lower test scores than their urban counterparts. Evidence suggests that compared to their urban counterparts, rural students are recorded with lower personality traits, engaging in fewer teacher–student interactions, and receiving unfriendly attitudes from their urban peers, even though they appreciate the role of education as much as their urban counterparts do. To promote the human capital accumulation of rural students at local urban schools, we need to solve the above problems by enhancing their social integration.
Medical Named Entity Recognition Model Based on Knowledge Graph Enhancement
Authors: Lu Yonghe , Zhao Ruijie , Wen Xiuxian , Tong Xinyu , Xiang Dingcheng , Zhang Jinxia
Published: March 2024

To improve the recognition ability of clinical named entity recognition (CNER) in a limited number of Chinese electronic medical records, it provides meaningful support for clinical advanced knowledge extraction. In this paper, using CCKS2019 Chinese electronic medical record as an experimental data source, a fusion model enhanced by knowledge graph (KG) is proposed, and the model is applied to specific Chinese CNER tasks. This study consists of three main parts: single-mode model construction and comparison experiment, KG enhancement experiment, and model fusion experiment. The model has achieved good performance in CNER from the results. The accuracy rate, recall rate, and F1 value are 83.825%, 84.705%, and 84.263%, respectively, which is the global optimal, which proves the effectiveness of the model. This provides a good help for further research of medical information.
Motion Vector-Based Self-Attention for Real-Time Human Activity Recognition in Compressed Videos: The MVViT Approach
Authors: Praveenkumar S. M. , Patil Prakashgoud , Hiremath P. S.
Published: March 2024

Herein, a novel methodology is proposed for real-time recognition of human activity in a compressed domain of videos based on motion vectors and self-attention mechanism using vision transformers, and it is termed as motion vectors and vision transformers (MVViT). The videos in MPEG-4 and H.264 compression formats are considered for this study. Any video source without any prior setup could be considered by adopting the proposed method to the corresponding video codecs and camera settings. Existing algorithms for recognition of human action in a compressed video have some limitations in this regard, such as (i) requirement of keyframes at a fixed interval, (ii) usage of P frames only, and (iii) normally support single codec only. These limitations are overcome in the proposed method by using arbitrary keyframe intervals, using both P and B frames, and supporting MPEG-4 as well as H.264 codecs. The experimentation is carried out using the benchmark datasets, namely, UCF101, HMDB51, and THUMOS14, and the recognition accuracy in a compressed domain is found to be comparable to that observed in raw video data but at reduced cost of computation. The proposed MVViT method has outperformed other recent methods in terms of a lesser (61.0%) number of parameters and (63.7%) Giga Floating Point Operations Per Second (GFLOPS), while significantly improving accuracy by 0.8%, 5.9% and 16.6% for UCF101, HMDB51 and THUMOS14, respectively. Also, it is observed that the speed is increased by 8% in case of UCF101 when compared to the highest speed reported in the literature on the same dataset. The ablation study of the proposed method has been done using MVViT variants for different codecs and the performance analysis is done in comparison with the state-of-the-art network models.
Efficient Hand Bone Segmentation for Medical Applications Using Refined DeepLab Model
Authors: Nagaraju Y. , Venkatesh R. , Thanu Shree Yadav P. R. , Vaishnavi A. , Tejashree S. V.
Published: March 2024

In the medical field, analyzing various bone structures is crucial due to the rigid nature of bones. X-ray imaging plays an essential role in medical procedures, including bone age evaluation, fracture detection, and implant creation. However, operator involvement can introduce biases and increase processing time. Automating the process could reduce processing time and enhance diagnostic accuracy by minimizing biases and operator involvement. This paper introduces the Refined DeepLab model, a lightweight encoder–decoder-based approach for multiclass segmentation of hand bones. The primary objective is to assist physicians in tasks such as bone age analysis, fracture detection, hand movement analysis, and implant design. The research objectives are organized into three phases, with this work focusing on the first phase of our objectives, which is delineating bones from tissues, studying the bone structure, and multiclass segmentation of hand bones. The model utilizes DenseNet121 as its feature extractor and Sigmoid-weighted Linear Unit (SiLU) as its activation function. Experimental findings demonstrate promising performance in hand bone multiclass segmentation, with a Mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 85.02% and a Dice score of 92.2%. The comprehensive analysis of the results confirms that the proposed model excels, particularly in achieving the right balance between computational efficiency and precise segmentation.
Congruence-simple matrix semirings
Authors: Kala Vítězslav , Kepka Tomáš , Korbelář Miroslav
Published: March 2024

It is well known that the full matrix ring over a skew-field is a simple ring. We generalize this theorem to the case of semirings. We characterize the case when the matrix semiring [Formula: see text], of all [Formula: see text] matrices over a semiring S, is congruence-simple, provided that either S has a multiplicatively absorbing element or S is commutative and additively cancellative.
Understanding the Impact of Changes in Application Characteristics on SRGM
Authors: Arora Rajat , Mittal Rubina , Anand Sameer , Kapur P. K.
Published: March 2024

Due to the increasing reliance on technology in nearly every industry over the past three decades, it has become necessary to evaluate the performance of a software product prior to its formal release in the market. The properties of a software application, such as its complexity and lines of code, are subject to change over time as a result of factors namely the testing environment, allocation of resources, testing efficiency, and testing team’s expertise. The assumption of constant Fault Detection Rate (FDR) may not accurately anticipate the  potential number of bugs correctly. Keeping all these considerations in mind, a framework is developed to incorporate change point in the development of a testing effort-based Software Reliability Growth Model (SRGM) that takes into account the effect of application characteristics under both perfect and imperfect debugging settings. In addition, these outcomes are compared to the model without a change point. The proposed model is validated on two real-life software fault datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed model performs better than the model without a change point.
Classical Inference of a New PCI CNpmkc for Logistic-Exponential Process Distribution
Authors: Saha Mahendra , Tripathi Harsh , Dey Sanku
Published: March 2024

The process capability index (PCI) has been developed as a useful instrument for measuring how well a product matches customer expectations while also assessing the performance of a process. We are aware that when the quality characteristics of the processes follow normal distribution, conventional PCIs produces superior results. However, these traditional indices could not yield reliable findings when assessing nonnormally distributed processes, which could make decision-making more difficult. In this paper, we take into account the [Formula: see text] process capacity index, which may be used for both normally distributed and nonnormally distributed processes. We have employed 10 traditional methods of estimation to estimate the PCI [Formula: see text] when the process has a logistic-exponential distribution, and the performances of these traditional estimates of the index [Formula: see text] are compared in terms of their mean squared errors through a simulation exercise. Then, we create five PCI [Formula: see text] bootstrap confidence intervals and contrast them based on their average widths and related coverage probabilities. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the suggested methods of estimation, two data sets pertaining to the electronic industries are re-analyzed.
Light transmission speed of different hybrid pump cascade structures in Er3+ doped fiber
Authors: Wang Yu , Liu Xiangmei , Qiu Wei , Wang Yaojie , Lv Pin , Jiang Qiuli
Published: March 2024

In this paper, the general theory of generating fast light and slow light in erbium-doped fiber by hybrid pump cascade structure based on coherent population oscillation effect is given. Through numerical simulation, the effects of pump optical power ratio ([Formula: see text]) on gain, group-induced refractive index [Formula: see text], time delay and fractional delay of pumping structure (1480 and 980[Formula: see text]nm) and pumping structure (980 and 1480[Formula: see text]nm) are studied and analyzed. The effects of pumping structure and pumping direction on time delay, fractional delay and fast/slow light conversion are discussed. In addition, the effects of different pump optical power ratios ([Formula: see text]) on time delay and fractional delay are also discussed. Compared with previous methods such as changing the interaction length and doping ion density, a more suitable optical transmission speed can be obtained by adjusting pump composition, pump direction and pump ratio ([Formula: see text]). This may lead to the optimization of optical communication systems.
Numerical Studies on Low Velocity Oblique Impact Analysis of Silicon Aluminum Composite Foam
Authors: Thimmesh T. , Narayana Naik G. , Harursampath Dinesh Kumar
Published: March 2024

In the impact application, the impactor doesn’t have to be perpendicular to the structure. This study mainly focuses on numerical low velocity oblique impact analysis performed on silicon aluminum composite foam using ABAQUS®. In this paper, the shear failure model is used to estimate damages in silicon aluminum composite foam model for different angles of the impactor. Here, dissipation energies, impact load histories and load displacement curves for damages under different angles of impactor have been characterized. From the study, it is found that the contact force intensity and penetration time decrease as the angle of the impactor increases. In the study of energy time histories, it is seen that energy increases and penetration time decreases as the angle of the impactor increases. From the contact force study, it is found that the contact force decreases, and contact time increases as the angle of the impactor decreases. The studies for displacement show that oblique impactor displacement increases as the angle of the impactor increases.