bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The IRG1–itaconate axis protects from cholesterol-induced inflammation and atherosclerosis
Authors: Cyr Yannick , Bozal Fazli K. , Barcia Durán José Gabriel , Newman Alexandra A. C. , Amadori Letizia , Smyrnis Panagiotis , Gourvest Morgane , Das Dayasagar , Gildea Michael , Kaur Ravneet , Zhang Tracy , Wang Kristin M. , Von Itter Richard , Schlegel P. Martin , Dupuis Samantha D. , Sanchez Bernard F. , Schmidt Ann Marie , Fisher Edward A. , van Solingen Coen , Giannarelli Chiara , Moore Kathryn J.
Published: April 2024

Atherosclerosis is fueled by a failure to resolve lipid-driven inflammation within the vasculature that drives plaque formation. Therapeutic approaches to reverse atherosclerotic inflammation are needed to address the rising global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, metabolites have gained attention for their immunomodulatory properties, including itaconate, which is generated from the tricarboxylic acid-intermediate cis-aconitate by the enzyme Immune Responsive Gene 1 (IRG1/ACOD1). Here, we tested the therapeutic potential of the IRG1–itaconate axis for human atherosclerosis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we found that
IRG1
is up-regulated in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions compared to patient-matched healthy vasculature, and in mouse models of atherosclerosis, where it is primarily expressed by plaque monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. Global or hematopoietic
Irg1
-deficiency in mice increases atherosclerosis burden, plaque macrophage and lipid content, and expression of the proatherosclerotic cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β. Mechanistically, absence of
Irg1
increased macrophage lipid accumulation, and accelerated inflammation via increased neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and NET-priming of the NLRP3-inflammasome in macrophages, resulting in increased IL-1β release. Conversely, supplementation of the
Irg1
–itaconate axis using 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) beneficially remodeled advanced plaques and reduced lesional IL-1β levels in mice. To investigate the effects of 4-OI in humans, we leveraged an ex vivo systems-immunology approach for CVD drug discovery. Using CyTOF and scRNA-seq of peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with plasma from CVD patients, we showed that 4-OI attenuates proinflammatory phospho-signaling and mediates anti-inflammatory rewiring of macrophage populations. Our data highlight the relevance of pursuing IRG1–itaconate axis supplementation as a therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis in humans.
NF-κB subunits RelA and c-Rel selectively control CD4+ T cell function in multiple sclerosis and cancer
Authors: Lalle Guilhem , Lautraite Raphaëlle , Bouherrou Khaled , Plaschka Maud , Pignata Aurora , Voisin Allison , Twardowski Julie , Perrin-Niquet Marlène , Stéphan Pierre , Durget Sarah , Tonon Laurie , Ardin Maude , Degletagne Cyril , Viari Alain , Belgarbi Dutron Laurence , Davoust Nathalie , Postler Thomas S. , Zhao Jingyao , Caux Christophe , Caramel Julie , Dalle Stéphane , Cassier Philippe A. , Klein Ulf , Schmidt-Supprian Marc , Liblau Roland , Ghosh Sankar , Grinberg-Bleyer Yenkel
Published: April 2024

The outcome of cancer and autoimmunity is often dictated by the effector functions of CD4+ conventional T cells (Tconv). Although activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway has long been implicated in Tconv biology, the cell-autonomous roles of the separate NF-κB transcription-factor subunits are unknown. Here, we dissected the contributions of the canonical NF-κB subunits RelA and c-Rel to Tconv function. RelA, rather than c-Rel, regulated Tconv activation and cytokine production at steady-state and was required for polarization toward the TH17 lineage in vitro. Accordingly, RelA-deficient mice were fully protected against neuroinflammation in a model of multiple sclerosis due to defective transition to a pathogenic TH17 gene-expression program. Conversely, Tconv-restricted ablation of c-Rel impaired their function in the microenvironment of transplanted tumors, resulting in enhanced cancer burden. Moreover, Tconv required c-Rel for the response to PD-1-blockade therapy. Our data reveal distinct roles for canonical NF-κB subunits in different disease contexts, paving the way for subunit-targeted immunotherapies.
Individuals with JAK1 variants are affected by syndromic features encompassing autoimmunity, atopy, colitis, and dermatitis
Authors: Horesh Michael E. , Martin-Fernandez Marta , Gruber Conor , Buta Sofija , Le Voyer Tom , Puzenat Eve , Lesmana Harry , Wu Yiming , Richardson Ashley , Stein David , Hodeib Stephanie , Youssef Mariam , Kurowski Jacob A. , Feuille Elizabeth , Pedroza Luis A. , Fuleihan Ramsay L. , Haseley Alexandria , Hovnanian Alain , Quartier Pierre , Rosain Jérémie , Davis Georgina , Mullan Daniel , Stewart O’Jay , Patel Roosheel , Lee Angelica E. , Rubinstein Rebecca , Ewald Leyla , Maheshwari Nikhil , Rahming Virginia , Chinn Ivan K. , Lupski James R. , Orange Jordan S. , Sancho-Shimizu Vanessa , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Abul-Husn Noura S. , Itan Yuval , Milner Joshua D. , Bustamante Jacinta , Bogunovic Dusan
Published: April 2024

Inborn errors of immunity lead to autoimmunity, inflammation, allergy, infection, and/or malignancy. Disease-causing JAK1 gain-of-function (GoF) mutations are considered exceedingly rare and have been identified in only four families. Here, we use forward and reverse genetics to identify 59 individuals harboring one of four heterozygous JAK1 variants. In vitro and ex vivo analysis of these variants revealed hyperactive baseline and cytokine-induced STAT phosphorylation and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) levels compared with wild-type JAK1. A systematic review of electronic health records from the BioME Biobank revealed increased likelihood of clinical presentation with autoimmunity, atopy, colitis, and/or dermatitis in JAK1 variant-positive individuals. Finally, treatment of one affected patient with severe atopic dermatitis using the JAK1/JAK2-selective inhibitor, baricitinib, resulted in clinically significant improvement. These findings suggest that individually rare JAK1 GoF variants may underlie an emerging syndrome with more common presentations of autoimmune and inflammatory disease (JAACD syndrome). More broadly, individuals who present with such conditions may benefit from genetic testing for the presence of JAK1 GoF variants.
Strange property of physical quantities of some petal shape objects
Authors: Aghamohammadi Amir
Published: April 2024

We study various physical quantities of objects with petal shapes. N-petal shapes exhibit N-fold rotational symmetry. Furthermore, they might have an additional characteristic: the equation defining their boundaries could be represented by F(N
θ). We will show that physical quantities of objects with these characteristics may show strange properties. By ‘physical quantities’, we refer to aspects such as electric potential and electric field due to a charged petal-shaped plate or cylinder on the rotation axis, their mass and moment of inertia. We are going to show that for such objects, these physical observables do not depend on the number of petals, N. This intriguing result has a simple reason.
Experimental study of DC Kerr effect of chalcogenide glass film by free space coupling method
Authors: Cao Yinghao , Zhao Jianxing , Zhou Jianhong , Song Yinglin
Published: April 2024

Chalcogenide glass is an important nonlinear optical material that has attracted much attention in the areas of integrated photonics, supercontinuum sources, and all-optical switches in recent years. However, the current research mainly focuses on the nonlinear effect excited by light, and the research on its properties under the action of a DC field is still deficient. Here, a metal-cladding optical waveguide, which is composed of a chalcogenide glass film coated on a glass substrate, is presented to analyze the quadratic electro-optic (QEO) effect of the chalcogenide glass film. The DC Kerr coefficient and the whole components of the QEO tensor of the sample were experimentally determined by the free space coupling method.
A data-driven hybrid sensor fault detection/diagnosis method with flight test data
Authors: Song Jinsheng , Chen Ziqiao , Wang Dong , Wen Xin
Published: April 2024

Fault diagnosis of multi-source signal systems is critical for the safe and reliable operation of modern industrial systems, and accurate fault diagnosis of systems based on multi-source signals remains challenging. This study proposes a data-driven hybrid fault detection/diagnosis method to identify sensor faults in complex systems through interactions between multiple sensors. Dynamic mode decomposition with control is used to obtain the approximate model of the investigated system from multi-source signals, extract the underlying physical mechanisms, combined with the Kalman filter observer to generate the residual between the observed data and the predicted data. Then the residual (moving innovation covariance matrix
V

k
) is input into the k-nearest neighbor classification algorithm for fault detection and diagnosis. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated using the flight test braking system dataset. The results showed that the accuracy of the proposed method in fault detection and diagnosis (with accuracies of 100% and 100%, respectively) was significantly improved than that of using raw signal data (76.6% and 6.38%) or raw signal data and

V

k

(80.85% and 42.55%). The analysis of different parameters including fault severity, algorithm hyperparameter

k

, and sensor type showed that the proposed method has high robustness, generalization ability, and practicality.
Long time asymptotics of large data in the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili models
Authors: Mendez Argenis J , Muñoz Claudio , Poblete Felipe , Pozo Juan C
Published: April 2024

We consider the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) equations posed on

R

2

. For both models, we provide sequential in time asymptotic descriptions of solutions obtained from arbitrarily large initial data, inside regions of the plane not containing lumps or line solitons, and under minimal regularity assumptions. The proof involves the introduction of two new virial identities adapted to the KP dynamics. This new approach is particularly important in the KP-I case, where no monotonicity property was previously known. The core of our results do not require the use of the integrability of KP and are adaptable to well-posed perturbations.
Valence band spectra and doping based alterations in band gap and electric modulus of Nd2NiMnO6
Authors: Abass Shohaib , Rather Mudasir Rashid , Sultan Khalid , Shahni Salma
Published: April 2024

Here in this paper, extending our earlier study, we have investigated the electrical properties of Sr doped Nd2NiMnO6 through the study of electric modulus. Nd2NiMnO6 has been doped with Sr by replacing Nd and the doping has not induced any new phase as all the samples of Nd2-xSrxNiMnO6 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3) show monoclinic phase. Valence band spectra have been determined through x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and the absence of spectral density at Fermi energy EF for all the three samples indicates the insulating behavior with the sample having doping concentration x = 0.1 being the highly insulating of all the samples. Modulus study has been carried out in order to investigate more about the electrical properties by studying the dependence of real and imaginary part of modulus on frequency and temperature. The variation of real and imaginary part of electric modulus with the concentration of dopant has also been observed. The modulus study reveals the relaxation phenomenon in all the three samples. Further, we have determined the band gap of three samples through UV-Visible spectroscopy and the variation in the value of band gap with changing concentration of dopant Sr is in accordance with the conductivity plots already discussed in our earlier studies.
Exact ion acoustic N solitary waves with variable velocity in inhomogeneous plasma induced by charged space debris
Authors: Acharya S P , Mukherjee Abhik , Janaki M S
Published: April 2024

We have considered the propagation of nonlinear ion acoustic waves in a weakly inhomogeneous, cold (T

i
=0), collisionless space plasma in presence of charged space debris objects. The (1+1) dimensional evolution equation for the nonlinear ion acoustic wave is shown to have the form of a forced KdV equation with variable coefficients. The forcing term comes from the orbiting charged space debris and the variable coefficients of the forced KdV equation arise due to the equilibrium plasma quantities that depend on the slowly varying spatial coordinate. We have derived the exact one solitary wave, two solitary wave and then exact N solitary wave solutions of the forced system for some given choices of pinned debris functions where the velocity of the solitary waves varies with the slowly varying spatial coordinate. To the best of our knowledge, these exact, debris induced N solitary wave solutions with variable velocity in inhomogeneous plasma are important and new; hence may generate new ideas on research in this field.
Linearly polarized electromagnetic pulses
Authors: Lekner John
Published: April 2024

We construct theoretically a set of space-time localized electromagnetic pulses, characterized by a wavenumber

K

and a length

a
.

Their linear polarization becomes more perfect as

Ka

increases and the pulse becomes more nearly monochromatic. Two measures of the degree of linear polarization are explored: one that gives the polarization at any point in space-time, and another that integrates the electric intensity over the focal plane of the pulse as the pulse passes through. The polarization measures and the total energy, momentum, and angular momentum of these pulses are calculated for all

K

and

a
.

The fields of these pulses satisfy the Maxwell equations exactly.
Generating Bell states and Werner states of two qubits via optical field
Authors: Jiang Dengkui , Zhai Cuilu , Song Yaju , Peng Zhaohui , Yuan Jibing , Tang Shiqing , Lu Wangjun
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we investigate how the evolution of the states of two qubits initially in a direct product state can be controlled by the optical field in a Tavis-Cummings (TC) model. For the two qubits initially in the direct product state, we find that their matrix elements at any moment can be modulated by the coefficients of the optical field initial states in the number state space. We propose a method for preparing an X-type state of two qubits. Subsequently, for descriptive convenience, we divide the Bell states of the two qubits into two kinds in the paper. When both qubits are initially in the ground state, we find that the two qubits can be controlled to produce the first type of Bell state by the superposition state optical field that is initially in the next-nearest-neighbor number state and that the production of any of the first type of Bell states can be controlled by controlling the phase between the two next-nearest-neighbor number states. When one of the two qubits is in the ground state, and the other is in the excited state, we can control the two qubits to produce the second type of Bell state by the single-photon number state optical field. Finally, we study the generation of Werner states by controlling two qubits initially, both in the ground state, using an optical field.
Dynamical system analysis of scalar field cosmology in coincident f(Q) gravity
Authors: Ghosh Sayantan , Solanki Raja , Sahoo P K
Published: April 2024

In this article, we investigate scalar field cosmology in the coincident f(Q) gravity formalism. We calculate the motion equations of f(Q) gravity under the flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker background in the presence of a scalar field. We consider a non-linear f(Q) model, particularly f(Q) = − Q + α
Q

n
, which is nothing but a polynomial correction to the Symmetric Teleparallel Equivalent to General Relativity (STEGR) case. Further, we assumed two well-known specific forms of the potential function, specifically the exponential from V(ϕ) = V
0
e
−β
ϕ
and the power-law form V(ϕ) = V
0
ϕ
−k
. We employ some phase-space variables and transform the cosmological field equations into an autonomous system. We calculate the critical points of the corresponding autonomous systems and examine their stability behaviors. We discuss the physical significance corresponding to the exponential case for parameter values n = 2 and n = − 1 with β = 1, and n = − 1 with

β
=

3

. Moreover, we discuss the same corresponding to the power-law case for the parameter value n = − 2 and k = 0.16. We also analyze the behavior of corresponding cosmological parameters such as scalar field and dark energy density, deceleration, and the effective equation of state parameter. Corresponding to the exponential case, we find that the results obtained for the parameter constraints in Case III is better among all three cases, and that represents the evolution of the Universe from a decelerated stiff era to an accelerated de-Sitter era via matter-dominated epoch. Further, in the power-law case, we find that all trajectories exhibit identical behavior, representing the evolution of the Universe from a decelerated stiff era to an accelerated de-Sitter era. Lastly, we conclude that the exponential case shows better evolution as compared to the power-law case.
Path integral formulation for Dunkl-Dirac oscillator in (1+1)-dimensional space-time coordinates
Authors: Benzair H , Boudjedaa T , Merad M
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we extend the path integral formalism for the Dirac oscillator in (1+1) dimension by replacing the spatial derivative with the Dunkl derivative. Utilizing representations in position space-time coordinates, we precisely calculate the propagator, expressed in terms of generalized Hermite polynomials. The energy eigenvalues of the electron, along with their corresponding wave functions, are determined. In special cases, we can precisely evaluate the non-relativistic energy eigenvalues and wave functions, even in the absence of Dunkl parameters.
Existence of long-range magnetic order in Heisenberg spin nanoribbons with edge modification
Authors: Ma Da-cheng , Cui Ling-yi , Sun Chu-xiao , Chi Xiao-dan , XianYu Zheng-Nan , Du An
Published: April 2024

Long-range magnetic order appears on a side decorated Heisenberg spin nanoribbon at nonzero temperature, although no spontaneous magnetization exists in a one- or two-dimensional isotropic Heisenberg model at any nonzero temperature according to the Mermin–Wagner theorem. By use of the spin Green’s function method, we calculated the magnetizations of Heisenberg nanoribbons decorated by side spins with single-ion anisotropy and found that the system exhibits a nonzero transition temperature, whether the decorated edge spins of the system link together or separate from each other. When the width of the nanoribbon achieves infinite limit, the transition temperatures of the system tend to the same finite constant eventually whether one edge or both edges are decorated by side spins in the nanoribbon. The results reveal that the magnetism of a low-dimensional spin system is different from that of a three-dimensional spin system. When the single-ion anisotropy of edge spins in a Heisenberg spin nanoribbon can be modulated by an electric field experimentally, various useful long-range magnetic orders of the system can be obtained. This work can provide a detailed theoretical basis for designing and fabricating next-generation low-dimensional magnetic random-access memory.
28 nm front-end channels for the readout of pixel sensors in future high-rate applications
Authors: Gaioni L. , Galliani A. , Ratti L. , Re V. , Traversi G.
Published: April 2024

This work is concerned with the design and the characterization of front-end channels, developed in a 28 nm CMOS technology, conceived for the readout of pixel sensors in future, high-rate applications at the next generation facilities.
Two front-end architectures are discussed. In the first one, an in-pixel flash ADC is exploited for the digitization of the signal, whereas the second one features a Time-over-Threshold (ToT) approach. A prototype including the ADC-based front-end has been submitted and the characterization of the chip is discussed in the paper. Simulation results relevant to the ToT-based architecture are reported.
Performance of H2GCROC3, the readout ASIC of SiPMs for the back hadronic sections of the CMS High Granularity Calorimeter
Authors: González-Martínez J.D. ,   the CMS collaboration
Published: April 2024

H2GCROC is a 130 nm CMOS ASIC designed to read out the SiPMs coupled to the scintillating tiles of the back hadronic sections of CMS HGCAL. Each of its 72 channels comprises a current conveyor, a high-gain preamplifier, a shaper, an ADC for energy measurement, and two discriminators linked to TDCs for capturing time-of-arrival and time-over-threshold information, respectively. This work presents the ASIC architecture and its characterization in the laboratory and test beam environments. The results demonstrate its adaptability in calibration, proving its capability to measure the SiPM single-photon spectrum and MIP's energy with high resolution under the expected radiation conditions during the entire operation of HGCAL.
Characterization of the FOOT neutron detectors for nuclear fragmentation measurements at the n_TOF facility
Authors: Zarrella R. , Manna A. , Amaducci S. , Bacak M. , Casanovas A. , Colombi S. , D'Orazio C. , García-Infantes F. , Malekinezhad N. , Marafini M. , Massimi C. , Mengoni A. , Musumarra A. , Patronis N. , Pavón-Rodríguez J.A. , Pellegriti M.G. , Spighi R. , Stamati E. , Villa M. ,   the FOOT and n_TOF collaborations
Published: April 2024

FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) is an applied nuclear physics experiment with the aim of performing high precision cross section measurements for fragmentation reactions of interest in hadrontherapy and radiation protection in space. The physics program of the experiment foresees a set of measurements with light ion beams, such as C and O, in the energy range of 100–800 MeV/u interacting with tissue-like and shielding material targets. The setup was initially conceived for the detection of charged fragments and, in 2021, the Collaboration started the study of possible solutions for neutron detection. Two detection systems have been proposed: one based on BC-501A liquid scintillators with neutron/γ discrimination capabilities and a system based on BGO crystals operated in phoswich mode. In 2022, a dedicated data acquisition campaign was carried out at the n_TOF facility at CERN to evaluate the capabilities of the two systems. First, the neutron/γ discrimination efficiency of the BC-501A system was studied using radioactive sources. Then, the two systems were placed in the n_TOF experimental area to study their neutron detection efficiency under a well characterized neutron beam. In this work, the first preliminary results concerning the characterization of the two possible neutron detectors of FOOT are presented.
Signal classification algorithms for the MRPC with DRS4 readout
Authors: Malakhov A. , Daribayeva A. , Dmitriev A.
Published: April 2024

The readout electronics of the Multigap Resistive Plate
Chambers (MRPC) of the NA61/SHINE experiment at CERN are based on
the Domino Ring Sampler v.4 (DRS4) chips. Due to the analyzing
complexity of the waveforms produced by the MRPC with DRS4 readout,
one needs to develop a reliable algorithm in order to distinguish
signal from noise. Two methods are investigated, using the beam test
data on MRPC with DRS4 readout held at “PAKHRA” accelerator in LPI
RAS, Troitsk. Their results are estimated within the comparative
approach, as well as the possibility of their implementation for
different purposes.
Recent progress in 3D printing of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials and devices
Authors: Yang S E , Han H , Son J S
Published: April 2024

With growing concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and climate change, there is an urgent global demand for the development of sustainable and renewable energy sources. The thermoelectric technology, which converts waste heat into electricity, presents a unique opportunity to ensure a sustainable electric supply and enhance energy efficiency without incurring additional costs. Recently, the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for fabricating thermoelectric materials has attracted tremendous interest because of the simplicity of design of power generators and the potential for economical manufacturing. This study focuses on research related to Bi2Te3 thermoelectric materials produced using 3D printing, and it highlights the fundamental principles, advantages, challenges, and recent remarkable advancements associated with this manufacturing approach. Furthermore, we explored various device applications, including shape-conformable wearable, and micro devices with printed thermoelectric materials. Finally, we discuss the promising research directions and prospects for industrialization in 3D-printed thermoelectric materials.
Silicon flow stop frame for encapsulation of CMOS microsensor chips by wet anisotropic etching in KOH
Authors: Dobroliubov A , Kakati A , Stokke B T , Häfliger P , Johannessen E A
Published: April 2024

Bulk micromachining in silicon is governed by the etching process where anisotropic (wet) etching in KOH can yield complex structures beyond that achievable with isotropic (dry) etching techniques. One example is the miniaturised frame reported herein with an area of 2.9 to 7.5 mm2, walls that are 1/10 mm thick, a height of 525 μm equipped with sloping walls that takes advantage of the 54.7° angle of the (111) planes to the horizontal (100) top surface of the wafer. Convex corners liable to damage are protected by sacrificial bridge structures which are etched thin to a point where the frame can be easily removed from the bulk substrate material. Frames made from isotropic (dry) etching processes have been made for comparison. Although the frame structure has different applications in microfabrication, the intended use is a flow stop barrier preventing liquid resins from entering the active area of a CMOS chemical sensor chip during encapsulation for use in aqueous or gaseous media. Beyond this specific proof-of-concept, the strategy is expected to be of general interest for all who treasures KOH etching and wants to explore new avenues based on this process.
Influence of incomplete death information on cumulative risk estimates in US claims data
Authors: Barberio Julie , Naimi Ashley I , Patzer Rachel E , Kim Christopher , Hernandez Rohini K , Brookhart M Alan , Gilbertson David , Bradbury Brian D , Lash Timothy L
Published: April 2024

Administrative claims databases often do not capture date or fact of death, so studies using these data may inappropriately treat death as a censoring event—equivalent to other withdrawal reasons—rather than a competing event. We examined 1-, 3-, and 5-year inverse-probability-of-treatment weighted cumulative risks of a composite cardiovascular outcome among 34 527 initiators of telmisartan (exposure) and ramipril (referent), who were aged ≥55 years, in Optum (United States) claims data from 2003 to 2020. Differences in cumulative risks of the cardiovascular endpoint due to censoring of death (cause-specific), as compared with treating death as a competing event (subdistribution), increased with greater follow-up time and older age, where event and mortality risks were higher. Among ramipril users, 5-year cause-specific and subdistribution cumulative risk estimates per 100, respectively, were 16.4 (95% CI, 15.3-17.5) and 16.2 (95% CI, 15.1-17.3) among ages 55-64 (difference = 0.2) and were 43.2 (95% CI, 41.3-45.2) and 39.7 (95% CI, 37.9-41.4) among ages ≥75 (difference = 3.6). Plasmode simulation results demonstrated the differences in cause-specific versus subdistribution cumulative risks to increase with increasing mortality rate. We suggest researchers consider the cohort’s baseline mortality risk when deciding whether real-world data with incomplete death information can be used without concern.

This article is part of a Special Collection on Pharmacoepidemiology.
Meta-analysis of the quantitative effectiveness of risk management measures (RMM) in the workplace
Authors: Goede Henk , Ge Calvin , Fransman Wouter
Published: April 2024

Background and objectives

This paper describes an evaluation and analysis of an updated version of ECEL v3.0—an integrated risk management measure (RMM) library developed as part of a CEFIC LRI initiative. The occupational module contains extensive data on the quantitative effectiveness of RMMs to control inhalation and dermal exposure in the workplace. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness and variability in effectiveness of RMM and to explore the difference between optimal and non-optimal RMM applications in the workplace.

Methods

A new database structure and interface were developed and the content of the database was updated with a systematic literature review and integration with other databases (totalling 3373 records from 548 studies). To analyse the data, Bayesian linear mixed models were constructed with the study as a random effect and various study characteristics and RMM categories as fixed effects individually in separate models. A multivariate mixed model was used on a stratified dataset to test (amongst others) the conditions of RMM use.

Results

Analyses of the data indicated effectiveness values for each RMM category (for example ~87% for technical emission controls compared with ~60% for technical dispersion controls). Substantial variability in effectiveness was observed within and between different types of RMM. Seven study characteristics (covariables) were included in the analyses, which indicated a pronounced difference in as-built (optimal/experimental) and as-used (workplace) conditions of RMM use (93.3% and 74.6%, respectively).

Conclusions

This library provides a reliable evidence base to derive base estimates of RMM effectiveness—beneficial for both registrant and downstream users. It stresses the importance of optimal use of RMMs in the workplace (technical design/functioning, use, and maintenance). Various challenges are foreseen to further update ECEL to improve guidance, for deriving improved estimates and ensure user-friendliness of the library.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase B inhibitory activities of Australian bee pollen
Authors: Watanabe Chie , Yanagihara Aoi , Miyata Ryo , Mitsui Taichi , Honda Chihiro , Fujinami Daisuke , Kumazawa Shigenori
Published: April 2024

Bee pollen is an apicultural product collected by honeybees from flower stamens and used as a functional food worldwide. In the present study, we aim to elucidate the functions of Australian bee pollen. Australian bee pollen extracts and their main components were tested for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) inhibitory activities. These enzymes are key neurotransmitters involved in Parkinson's disease and depression. Myricetin (5), tricetin (6), and luteolin (7) exhibited high COMT inhibitory activities (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 23.3, 13.8, and 47.4 µM, respectively). In contrast, 5, 7, and annulatin (8) exhibited MAOB inhibitory activities (IC50 = 89.7, 32.8, and 153 µM, respectively). Quantitative analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that 5 was abundant in Australian bee pollen extracts. Our findings suggest that 5 contributes to the COMT and MAOB inhibitory activities of Australian bee pollen.
Small-scale land-use change effects on breeding success in a desert-living social bird
Authors: Oswald Krista N , Berger-Tal Oded , Roll Uri
Published: April 2024

Human villages in deserts can provide resources in an otherwise stark environment, potentially buffering against extreme environmental conditions. It is thus expected that breeding within these villages would result in higher fitness. However, choosing to raise offspring in these resource-rich environments may have unintended negative consequences. Here, we studied the breeding success of a cooperative breeding bird nesting in habitats with different levels of human disturbance—the Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps), in the Negev desert of Israel. We recorded 42 breeding attempts from 15 groups between March and July 2022. We examined overall breeding success, brood size, and causes of nest failure. When nestlings were 6 days old, we also calculated daily change in body mass and adult provisioning rate. We found that despite higher resource abundance in villages, proximity to villages did not affect provisioning rate, and nestlings gained less mass at higher temperatures for all nests. Currently, there is no evidence that human villages are providing oases of resources for nesting babblers. Further, various conservation interventions (e.g., encouraging residents to keep cats indoors) could improve babblers’ overall fitness. Ultimately, we highlight how, for some desert specialists, additional resources provided by humans may not do enough to counter potential negative effects.
ConvNeXt-MHC: improving MHC–peptide affinity prediction by structure-derived degenerate coding and the ConvNeXt model
Authors: Zhang Le , Song Wenkai , Zhu Tinghao , Liu Yang , Chen Wei , Cao Yang
Published: April 2024

Peptide binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins plays a critical role in T-cell recognition and the specificity of the immune response. Experimental validation such peptides is extremely resource-intensive. As a result, accurate computational prediction of binding peptides is highly important, particularly in the context of cancer immunotherapy applications, such as the identification of neoantigens. In recent years, there is a significant need to continually improve the existing prediction methods to meet the demands of this field. We developed ConvNeXt-MHC, a method for predicting MHC-I-peptide binding affinity. It introduces a degenerate encoding approach to enhance well-established panspecific methods and integrates transfer learning and semi-supervised learning methods into the cutting-edge deep learning framework ConvNeXt. Comprehensive benchmark results demonstrate that ConvNeXt-MHC outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy. We expect that ConvNeXt-MHC will help us foster new discoveries in the field of immunoinformatics in the distant future. We constructed a user-friendly website at http://www.combio-lezhang.online/predict/, where users can access our data and application.
The IDSM mass spectrometry extension: searching mass spectra using SPARQL
Authors: Galgonek Jakub , Vondrášek Jiří
Published: April 2024

The Integrated Database of Small Molecules (IDSM) integrates data from small-molecule datasets, making them accessible through the SPARQL query language. Its unique feature is the ability to search for compounds through SPARQL based on their molecular structure. We extended IDSM to enable mass spectra databases to be integrated and searched for based on mass spectrum similarity. As sources of mass spectra, we employed the MassBank of North America database and the In Silico Spectral Database of natural products.

Availability and implementation

The extension is an integral part of IDSM, which is available at https://idsm.elixir-czech.cz. The manual and usage examples are available at https://idsm.elixir-czech.cz/docs/ms. The source codes of all IDSM parts are available under open-source licences at https://github.com/idsm-src.
Severe allergic contact dermatitis to a botanical antifungal cream: making a case for investigating and patch testing personal products
Authors: Brumley Caroline , Arora Puneet , Neeley Anne
Published: April 2024

Severe allergic contact dermatitis caused by a personal product can be missed by typical standard and supplemental series. This memorable case illustrates the need to include personal products as part of patch testing. We present the case of a patient hospitalized for a severe bullous foot reaction, the cause of which would have been missed without testing their personal products.
Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life Following Antibiotic Treatment in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: Initial Analysis of the NTM-KOREA Cohort
Authors: Kwak Nakwon , Henkle Emily , Hwang Hyeontaek , Jeon Doosoo , Jhun Byung Woo , Jo Kyung-Wook , Kang Young Ae , Kim Hyung-Jun , Kim Joong-Yub , Kim Young Ran , Kwon Yong-Soo , Lee Jae Ho , Mok Jeongha , Park Youngmok , Shim Tae Sun , Sohn Hojoon , Whang Jake , Yim Jae-Joon
Published: April 2024

Background

Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has emerged as a priority in the management of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). We aimed to evaluate HRQOL and its changes after 6 months’ treatment in patients with NTM-PD.

Methods

The NTM-KOREA is a nationwide prospective cohort enrolling patients initiating treatment for NTM-PD in 8 institutions across South Korea. We conducted the Quality of Life–Bronchiectasis (QOL-B) at 6-month intervals and evaluated baseline scores (higher scores indicate better quality of life) and changes after 6 months’ treatment. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with improvement in the QOL-B physical functioning and respiratory symptoms domains.

Results

Between February 2022 and August 2023, 411 patients were included in the analysis. Baseline scores (95% confidence interval [CI]) for physical functioning and respiratory symptoms were 66.7 (46.7–86.7) and 81.5 (70.4–92.6), respectively. Among 228 patients who completed the QOL-B after 6 months’ treatment, improvements in physical functioning and respiratory symptoms were observed in 61 (26.8%) and 71 (31.1%) patients, respectively. A lower score (adjusted odds ratio; 95% CI) for physical functioning (0.93; 0.91–0.96) and respiratory symptoms (0.92; 0.89–0.95) at treatment initiation was associated with a greater likelihood of physical functioning and respiratory symptom improvement, respectively; achieving culture conversion was not associated with improvement in physical functioning (0.62; 0.28–1.39) or respiratory symptoms (1.30; 0.62–2.74).

Conclusions

After 6 months of antibiotic treatment for NTM-PD, HRQOL improved in almost one-third, especially in patients with severe initial symptoms, regardless of culture conversion.

Clinical Trials Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03934034.
Proning the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation plus Impella: a case report
Authors: de Jongh Marjolein C , Bax Matthijs , Ayan Khalil , Akin Sakir
Published: April 2024

Background

The prone position is recommended as supportive therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, little is known about prone position ventilation in patients with cardiogenic shock supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) plus Impella (ECPELLA) developing ARDS.

Case summary

A 66-year-old man with severe left ventricular dysfunction was admitted to a non-academic ECMO centre for a high-risk coronary artery bypass grafting. He developed post-cardiotomy shock needing ECMO support. To improve left ventricular unloading, an Impella was inserted 2 days later. One day later, he developed ARDS and needed prone position ventilation with ECPELLA in situ. After 4 weeks, he was discharged from the intensive care unit.

Discussion

Previous studies demonstrated that prone positioning could help avoid an additional venous cannula in veno-arterial ECMO patients, which is associated with mechanical complications. In this case, there was a promising role for unloading the left ventricle with Impella during veno-arterial ECMO and, for proning, the patient with cardiogenic shock developing ARDS during ECMO support without the need for an extra venous cannula.
The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in improving higher education students’ mental health: A systematic review
Authors: Donnelly Samantha , Penny Kay , Kynn Mary
Published: April 2024

Traditional interventions aiming to improve students’ mental health and quality of life include meditation or canine therapy. The development of physical activity-related interventions has increased over the past decade. We aimed to review all studies using physical activity for improving the mental health and quality of life in higher education students whilst describing the interventions, measurements and effectiveness. A systematic search of six electronic databases including: ProQuest, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and CENTRAL, was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized or non-randomized controlled trial physical activity-related interventions involving higher education students aiming to improve their mental health and quality of life were included. Searches yielded 58 articles with interventions involving martial arts, sport, mind–body exercises and anaerobic exercises. Psychological measures varied across studies including the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale. Over half of the studies included in this review (n = 36) were effective in improving students’ mental health or quality of life. Findings from our review suggest that interventions aiming to be effective in improving students’ mental health quality of life should aim to deliver moderate-vigorous intensity exercises such as dance or Pilates. This systematic review was based on a published protocol in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022325975).
Robots and reshoring: a comparative study of automation, trade, and employment in Europe
Authors: Chen Chinchih , Frey Carl Benedikt
Published: April 2024

This paper constitutes a comparative assessment of the impact of robots on local labor markets across eight European countries. Doing so, we find that robots generally reduce employment in the manufacturing sector, while their impacts on total employment are more ambiguous. Though local markets experienced significant employment losses in Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom, we find no statistically significant impact of robots on employment in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Spain. Job losses were seemingly offset by employment gains in other sectors of the economy. We explore two mechanisms that might explain these patterns: differences in investment in complementary job-creating technologies and robot-induced reshoring. Our analysis provides some support for both mechanisms in elucidating the differential impacts of robots on jobs across space.
Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius encoded within novel staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) variants
Authors: MacFadyen A C , Paterson G K
Published: April 2024

Background

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs and an occasional human pathogen. Treatment is hampered by antimicrobial resistance including methicillin resistance encoded by mecA within the mobile genetic element SCCmec.

Objectives

SCCmec elements are diverse, especially in non-Staphyloccocus aureus staphylococci, and novel variants are likely to be present in S. pseudintermedius. The aim was to characterize the SCCmec elements found in four canine clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius.

Material and methods

Isolates were whole-genome sequenced and SCCmec elements were assembled, annotated and compared to known SCCmec types.

Results and discussion

Two novel SSCmec are present in these isolates. SCCmec7017-61515 is characterized by a novel combination of a Class A mec gene complex and a type 5 ccr previously only described in composite SCCmec elements. The other three isolates share a novel composite SCCmec with features of SCCmec types IV and VI.

Conclusions

S. pseudintermedius is a reservoir of novel SSCmec elements that has implications for understanding antimicrobial resistant in veterinary and human medicine.
Performance of disk diffusion method for aztreonam in combination with avibactam against Enterobacteriales
Authors: Yin Dandan , Song Peipei , Jiang Lan , Xu Jian , Hu Fupin
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the performance of an in-house developed disk diffusion method for aztreonam in combination with avibactam against Enterobacteriales.

Methods

The in vitro antibacterial activity of aztreonam with avibactam against 204 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriales was determined by a disk diffusion method, with a broth microdilution method as a reference.

Results

The optimal S/R breakpoints for disk diffusion tests of 30/20 and 10/4 µg disks, calculated by the dBETs software using the model-based approaches, were ≥22/≤21 and ≥12/≤11 mm, respectively. On the basis of the estimated breakpoints, the CAs for disk diffusion tests of 30/20 and 10/4 µg aztreonam/avibactam disks were both 98.0%, with 0.5% major error and 37.5% very major error.

Conclusions

The home-made disk diffusion method is an economical and practical method for clinical microbiology laboratories to determine the antibacterial susceptibility of aztreonam with avibactam against Enterobacteriales.
Denosumab discontinuation: COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Authors: Minisola Salvatore
Published: April 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic triggered significant disruptions in health care systems around the world, with a particularly heavy impact on patients with chronic diseases. A number of studies have shown an immediate decrease in on-time denosumab therapy at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. However, independent of the “emergency” that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are other situations in which denosumab is discontinued. In such situations, it is important to have a programmed strategy to optimize care while limiting the risk for unwanted outcomes.
Mining themes, emotions, and stance in the news coverage of the Russia–Ukraine War from Reuters and Xinhua
Authors: Jiang Zhaokun
Published: April 2024

The Russia–Ukraine War has emerged as a highly contentious global issue since 2022. While China and the UK are not directly involved in the conflict, considerable attention has been drawn to their positions and perspectives on this event. In such context, conducting a comparative study on how the British and Chinese mainstream media cover the Russia–Ukraine conflict can provide valuable insights into the influence of ideological differences on news framing and shed light on the respective stances of these two news agencies. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology, this study integrates corpus tools, critical discourse analysis, text mining, and emotion computation to systematically analyze news reports covering the Russia–Ukraine War from Reuters and Xinhua between 2022 and 2023. Results show different patterns in the news reports from the two investigated news agencies, including the monthly publication of news articles, the occurrence of prominent entities, and the thematic emphasis. Additionally, significant variations are identified in specific dimensions of emotion and emotional intensity, indicating the divergent stances of the two news agencies on a range of significant issues.
Meaning and identity of proofs in a bilateralist setting: A two-sorted typed Lambda-calculus for proofs and refutations
Authors: Ayhan Sara
Published: April 2024

In this paper, I will develop a $\lambda $-term calculus, $\lambda ^{2Int}$, for a bi-intuitionistic logic and discuss its implications for the notions of sense and denotation of derivations in a bilateralist setting. Thus, I will use the Curry–Howard correspondence, which has been well-established between the simply typed $\lambda $-calculus and natural deduction systems for intuitionistic logic, and apply it to a bilateralist proof system displaying two derivability relations, one for proving and one for refuting. The basis will be the natural deduction system of Wansing’s bi-intuitionistic logic 2Int, which I will turn into a term-annotated form. Therefore, we need a type theory that extends to a two-sorted typed $\lambda $-calculus. I will present such a term-annotated proof system for 2Int and prove a Dualization Theorem relating proofs and refutations in this system. On the basis of these formal results, I will argue that this gives us interesting insights into questions about sense and denotation as well as synonymy and identity of proofs from a bilateralist point of view.