bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Flexible Drilling and Milling Tool for Composite Wing Beam of Aircraft
Authors: Lai Qingji , Zhao Gangyao , Zhang Ranyang , Guo Zhenghua , Chen Qi , Zhang Pi
Published: March 2023

To solve the disadvantages of traditional processing tooling, such as long processing cycle, low production efficiency, and easy deformation during the processing of large-size composite wing beams, a drilling and milling tooling for flexible positioning of composite wing beams of multiple types of aircraft is proposed based on the structural characteristics and manufacturing technology requirements of a certain type of aircraft wing spar combined with flexible tooling design technology. And a modular mobile clamping unit with automatic control is designed. Then the practical problems such as the difficult clamping and positioning of large-size wing beams, the deformation and vibration during processing are solved by the flexible drilling and milling tool. The results of the current design are helpful to improve the processing efficiency and shorten the manufacturing period of the wing beams.
Pulse shape discrimination using a convolutional neural network for organic liquid scintillator signals
Authors: Jung K.Y. , Han B.Y. , Jeon E.J. , Jeong Y. , Jo H.S. , Kim J.Y. , Kim J.G. , Kim Y.D. , Ko Y.J. , Lee M.H. , Lee J. , Moon C.S. , Oh Y.M. , Park H.K. , Seo S.H. , Seol D.W. , Siyeon K. , Sun G.M. , Yoon Y.S. , Yu I.
Published: March 2023

A convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture is
developed to improve the pulse shape discrimination (PSD) power of
the gadolinium-loaded organic liquid scintillation detector to
reduce the fast neutron background in the inverse beta decay
candidate events of the NEOS-II data. A power spectrum of an event
is constructed using a fast Fourier transform of the time domain raw
waveforms and put into CNN. An early data set is evaluated by CNN
after it is trained using low energy β and α events.
The signal-to-background ratio averaged over 1–10 MeV visible
energy range is enhanced by more than 20% in the result of the CNN
method compared to that of an existing conventional PSD method, and
the improvement is even higher in the low energy region.
Generation of vortex beams with nonuniform phase jumps in azimuthal locations
Authors: Ghavami Sabouri Saeed
Published: March 2023

The phase angle of the vortex beam along a closed loop centered on the optical singularity changes by 2πℓ, where ℓ is the number of phase jumps (PJs) from 0 to 2π and indicates the topological charge of the vortex beam. In this paper, the generation and specification of a new type of vortex beam, in which their PJs are asymmetrically embedded in the phase pattern, are reported. In contrast to Laguerre–Gaussian vortex beams, where PJs are equally spaced azimuthally around the optical singularity, the presented vortex beams have PJs embedded at arbitrary azimuthal angles. By designing a particular forked grating and displaying it on a spatial light modulator, this type of vortex beam is experimentally generated. As with conventional forked grating, the designed grating produces vortex beams with the opposite orbital angular momentum (OAM) sign in the first diffraction order. By measuring the relative orientation of the intensity profile of these OAM beams in the first diffraction order, the position of the PJs on the wavefront of a vortex beam with ℓ = 2 can be determined. This type of vortex beam could have potential applications in various fields of photonics, especially in optical communications based on optical vortices.
Hydrogen permeability of nickel capillaries: mathematical modeling and experimental verification
Authors: Shubnikova Е V , Tropin Е S , Lapushkina Е Y , Bychkov S F , Nemudry А P
Published: March 2023

The present article focuses on the study of the transport characteristics of nickel hydrogen selective membranes (nickel industrial capillaries of various wall thicknesses). The experimental data on hydrogen fluxes through nickel capillaries depending on the membrane wall thickness, temperature, and hydrogen partial pressure were obtained. The highest value of the specific hydrogen flux is ∼0.09 ml·min−1·cm−2 is achieved at 750 °C, pH2.1 = 0.5 atm and the wall thickness of 84 μm. To accurately determine the kinetic parameters of the process of hydrogen transport (the effective activation energy and the pre-exponential factor) in nickel capillaries with a wall thickness of 147 ≤ h ≤ 84 μm, a previously developed mathematical model was used, which takes into account the geometric characteristics of tubular membranes. The results of computer simulation are compared with experimental data.
An evolutionarily conserved bimodular domain anchors ZC3HC1 and its yeast homologue Pml39p to the nuclear basket
Authors: Gunkel Philip , Iino Haruki , Krull Sandra , Cordes Volker C.
Published: March 2023

ZC3HC1 is presented as a protein with a bimodular construction essential for binding to the nuclear basket and protein TPR. This bimodular domain is presented as the characterizing element of ZC3HC1 homologues in other phyla. Pml39p is identified as the homologue in budding yeast, where it is shown to enable interlinkage of Mlp1 polypeptides.
Exploring the consequences of redirecting an exocytic Rab onto endocytic vesicles
Authors: Li Xia , Liu Dongmei , Griffis Eric , Novick Peter
Published: March 2023

Rab GTPases have been implicated in specifying the direction of vesicle traffic. We test this by redirecting an exocytic Rab onto endocytic vesicles. While defects in both exocytosis and endocytosis are noted, the cells proved surprisingly tolerant of this change.
Comparison of Clinical and Molecular Features Between Patients With Essential Thrombocythemia and Early/Prefibrotic Primary Myelofibrosis Presenting With Thrombocytosis in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Ming-Chung , Chuang Wen-Yu , Chang Hung , Lin Tung-Huei , Wu Jin-Hou , Lin Tung-Liang , Ou Che-Wei , Hung Yu-Shin , Huang Ting-Yu , Huang Ying-Jung , Wang Po-Nan , Shih Lee-Yung
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The clinical presentations of essential thrombocythemia (ET) may be quite similar to early/prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF), especially in pre-PMF presenting with thrombocytosis (pre–PMF-T), but may be associated with a different outcome. It is very important to distinguish these two entities. The aim of this study was to address the clinical and prognostic relevance of distinguishing pre–PMF-T from ET.

Methods

All patients, including 258 with ET and 105 with pre–PMF-T, received JAK2V617F, MPL (exon 10), and CALR (exon 9) mutation analysis and allele burden measurement for JAK2V617F and CALR mutants.

Results

Patients with pre–PMF-T had an older age and higher leukocyte and platelet counts but lower hemoglobin levels than patients with ET. Patients with pre–PMF-T had a shorter overall, leukemia-free, and thrombosis-free survival compared with patients with ET. Patients with ET had a higher rate of cerebral ischemic stroke, whereas patients with pre–PMF-T tended to have splanchnic vein thrombosis. The frequencies of JAK2V617F, CALR, and MPL mutations and CALR allele burden were no different, but JAK2V617F allele burden was significantly higher in pre–PMF-T. Patients with pre–PMF-T with the JAK2V617F mutation had an inferior overall survival and thrombosis-free survival, whereas the status of driver gene mutations did not influence the outcomes of patients with ET.

Conclusions

ET and pre–PMF-T were two distinct disease entities and exhibited different clinical phenotype, genotype, and outcomes.
Designing antimicrobial peptides using deep learning and molecular dynamic simulations
Authors: Cao Qiushi , Ge Cheng , Wang Xuejie , Harvey Peta J , Zhang Zixuan , Ma Yuan , Wang Xianghong , Jia Xinying , Mobli Mehdi , Craik David J , Jiang Tao , Yang Jinbo , Wei Zhiqiang , Wang Yan , Chang Shan , Yu Rilei
Published: March 2023

With the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer promising options for replacing traditional antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, but discovering and designing AMPs using traditional methods is a time-consuming and costly process. Deep learning has been applied to the de novo design of AMPs and address AMP classification with high efficiency. In this study, several natural language processing models were combined to design and identify AMPs, i.e. sequence generative adversarial nets, bidirectional encoder representations from transformers and multilayer perceptron. Then, six candidate AMPs were screened by AlphaFold2 structure prediction and molecular dynamic simulations. These peptides show low homology with known AMPs and belong to a novel class of AMPs. After initial bioactivity testing, one of the peptides, A-222, showed inhibition against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The structural analysis of this novel peptide A-222 obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed the presence of an alpha-helix, which was consistent with the results predicted by AlphaFold2. We then performed a structure–activity relationship study to design a new series of peptide analogs and found that the activities of these analogs could be increased by 4–8-fold against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia WH 006 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Overall, deep learning shows great potential in accelerating the discovery of novel AMPs and holds promise as an important tool for developing novel AMPs.
bvnGPS: a generalizable diagnostic model for acute bacterial and viral infection using integrative host transcriptomics and pretrained neural networks
Authors: Li Qizhi , Zheng Xubin , Xie Jize , Wang Ran , Li Mengyao , Wong Man-Hon , Leung Kwong-Sak , Li Shuai , Geng Qingshan , Cheng Lixin
Published: March 2023

Motivation

The confusion of acute inflammation infected by virus and bacteria or noninfectious inflammation will lead to missing the best therapy occasion resulting in poor prognoses. The diagnostic model based on host gene expression has been widely used to diagnose acute infections, but the clinical usage was hindered by the capability across different samples and cohorts due to the small sample size for signature training and discovery.

Results

Here, we construct a large-scale dataset integrating multiple host transcriptomic data and analyze it using a sophisticated strategy which removes batch effect and extracts the common information from different cohorts based on the relative expression alteration of gene pairs. We assemble 2680 samples across 16 cohorts and separately build gene pair signature (GPS) for bacterial, viral, and noninfected patients. The three GPSs are further assembled into an antibiotic decision model (bacterial–viral–noninfected GPS, bvnGPS) using multiclass neural networks, which is able to determine whether a patient is bacterial infected, viral infected, or noninfected. bvnGPS can distinguish bacterial infection with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.953 (95% confidence interval, 0.948–0.958) and viral infection with AUC of 0.956 (0.951–0.961) in the test set (N = 760). In the validation set (N = 147), bvnGPS also shows strong performance by attaining an AUC of 0.988 (0.978–0.998) on bacterial-versus-other and an AUC of 0.994 (0.984–1.000) on viral-versus-other. bvnGPS has the potential to be used in clinical practice and the proposed procedure provides insight into data integration, feature selection and multiclass classification for host transcriptomics data.

Availability and implementation

The codes implementing bvnGPS are available at https://github.com/Ritchiegit/bvnGPS. The construction of iPAGE algorithm and the training of neural network was conducted on Python 3.7 with Scikit-learn 0.24.1 and PyTorch 1.7. The visualization of the results was implemented on R 4.2, Python 3.7, and Matplotlib 3.3.4.
On the Challenges of Identifying Benthic Dominance on Anthropocene Coral Reefs
Authors: Tebbett Sterling B , Crisp Samantha K , Evans Richard D , Fulton Christopher J , Pessarrodona Albert , Wernberg Thomas , Wilson Shaun K , Bellwood David R
Published: March 2023

The concept of dominance is frequently used to describe changes in rapidly reconfiguring ecosystems, but the definition of dominance can vary widely among studies. Using coral reefs as a model, we use extensive benthic composition data to explore how variability in applying dominance concepts can shape perceptions. We reveal that coral dominance is sensitive to the exclusion of key algal groups and the categorization of other benthic groups, with ramifications for detecting an ecosystem phase shift. For example, ignoring algal turf inflates the dominance of hard and soft corals in the benthic habitats underpinning reef ecosystems. We need a consensus on how dominance concepts are applied so that we can build a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem shifts across a broad range of aquatic and terrestrial settings. For reefs, we highlight the benefits of comprehensive and inclusive surveys for evaluating and managing the altered ecosystem states that are emerging in the Anthropocene.
Moving, fast and slow: behavioural insights into bradykinesia in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Herz Damian M , Brown Peter
Published: March 2023

The debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including the hallmark slowness of movement, termed bradykinesia, were described more than 100 years ago. Despite significant advances in elucidating the genetic, molecular and neurobiological changes in Parkinson’s disease, it remains conceptually unclear exactly why patients with Parkinson’s disease move slowly. To address this, we summarize behavioural observations of movement slowness in Parkinson’s disease and discuss these findings in a behavioural framework of optimal control. In this framework, agents optimize the time it takes to gather and harvest rewards by adapting their movement vigour according to the reward that is at stake and the effort that needs to be expended. Thus, slow movements can be favourable when the reward is deemed unappealing or the movement very costly. While reduced reward sensitivity, which makes patients less inclined to work for reward, has been reported in Parkinson’s disease, this appears to be related mainly to motivational deficits (apathy) rather than bradykinesia. Increased effort sensitivity has been proposed to underlie movement slowness in Parkinson’s disease. However, careful behavioural observations of bradykinesia are inconsistent with abnormal computations of effort costs due to accuracy constraints or movement energetic expenditure. These inconsistencies can be resolved when considering that a general disability to switch between stable and dynamic movement states can contribute to an abnormal composite effort cost related to movement in Parkinson’s disease. This can account for paradoxical observations such as the abnormally slow relaxation of isometric contractions or difficulties in halting a movement in Parkinson’s disease, both of which increase movement energy expenditure. A sound understanding of the abnormal behavioural computations mediating motor impairment in Parkinson’s disease will be vital for linking them to their underlying neural dynamics in distributed brain networks and for grounding future experimental studies in well-defined behavioural frameworks.
The radiologically isolated syndrome: revised diagnostic criteria
Authors: Lebrun-Frénay Christine , Okuda Darin T , Siva Aksel , Landes-Chateau Cassandre , Azevedo Christina J , Mondot Lydiane , Carra-Dallière Clarisse , Zephir Helene , Louapre Celine , Durand-Dubief Françoise , Le Page Emmanuelle , Bensa Caroline , Ruet Aurélie , Ciron Jonathan , Laplaud David A , Casez Olivier , Mathey Guillaume , de Seze Jerome , Zeydan Burcu , Makhani Naila , Tutuncu Melih , Levraut Michael , Cohen Mikael , Thouvenot Eric , Pelletier Daniel , Kantarci Orhun H
Published: March 2023

The radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) was defined in 2009 as the presence of asymptomatic, incidentally identified demyelinating-appearing white matter lesions in the CNS within individuals lacking symptoms typical of multiple sclerosis (MS). The RIS criteria have been validated and predict the transition to symptomatic MS reliably. The performance of RIS criteria that require fewer MRI lesions is unknown.

2009-RIS subjects, by definition, fulfil three to four of four criteria for 2005 dissemination in space (DIS) and subjects fulfilling only one or two lesions in at least one 2017 DIS location were identified within 37 prospective databases. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify predictors of a first clinical event. Performances of different groups were calculated.

Seven hundred and forty-seven subjects (72.2% female, mean age 37.7 ± 12.3 years at the index MRI) were included. The mean clinical follow-up time was 46.8 ± 45.4 months. All subjects had focal T2 hyperintensities suggestive of inflammatory demyelination on MRI; 251 (33.6%) fulfilled one or two 2017 DIS criteria (designated as Groups 1 and 2, respectively), and 496 (66.4%) fulfilled three or four 2005 DIS criteria representing 2009-RIS subjects. Group 1 and 2 subjects were younger than the 2009-RIS group and were more likely to develop new T2 lesions over time (P < 0.001). Groups 1 and 2 were similar regarding survival distribution and risk factors for transition to MS.

At 5 years, the cumulative probability for a clinical event was 29.0% for Groups 1 and 2 compared to 38.7% for 2009-RIS (P = 0.0241). The presence of spinal cord lesions on the index scan and CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands in Groups 1–2 increased the risk of symptomatic MS evolution at 5 years to 38%, comparable to the risk of development in the 2009-RIS group. The presence of new T2 or gadolinium-enhancing lesions on follow-up scans independently increased the risk of presenting with a clinical event (P < 0.001). The 2009-RIS subjects or Groups 1 and 2 with at least two of the risk factors for a clinical event demonstrated better sensitivity (86.0%), negative predictive value (73.1%), accuracy (59.8%) and area under the curve (60.7%) compared to other criteria studied.

This large prospective cohort brings Class I evidence that subjects with fewer lesions than required in the 2009 RIS criteria evolve directly to a first clinical event at a similar rate when additional risk factors are present. Our results provide a rationale for revisions to existing RIS diagnostic criteria.
Spinal disinhibition: evidence for a hyperpathia phenotype in painful diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Marshall Anne , Kalteniece Alise , Ferdousi Maryam , Azmi Shazli , Jude Edward B , Adamson Clare , D’Onofrio Luca , Dhage Shaishav , Soran Handrean , Campbell Jackie , Lee-Kubli Corinne A , Hamdy Shaheen , Malik Rayaz A , Calcutt Nigel A , Marshall Andrew G
Published: March 2023

The dominant sensory phenotype in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and neuropathic pain is a loss of function. This raises questions as to which mechanisms underlie pain generation in the face of potentially reduced afferent input. One potential mechanism is spinal disinhibition, whereby a loss of spinal inhibition leads to increased ascending nociceptive drive due to amplification of, or a failure to suppress, incoming signals from the periphery. We aimed to explore whether a putative biomarker of spinal disinhibition, impaired rate-dependent depression of the Hoffmann reflex, is associated with a mechanistically appropriate and distinct pain phenotype in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. In this cross-sectional study, 93 patients with diabetic neuropathy underwent testing of Hoffmann reflex rate-dependent depression and detailed clinical and sensory phenotyping, including quantitative sensory testing. Compared to neuropathic patients without pain, patients with painful diabetic neuropathy had impaired Hoffmann reflex rate-dependent depression at 1, 2 and 3 Hz (P ≤ 0.001). Patients with painful diabetic neuropathy exhibited an overall loss of function profile on quantitative sensory testing. However, within the painful diabetic neuropathy group, cluster analysis showed evidence of greater spinal disinhibition associated with greater mechanical pain sensitivity, relative heat hyperalgesia and higher ratings of spontaneous burning pain. These findings support spinal disinhibition as an important centrally mediated pain amplification mechanism in painful diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, our analysis indicates an association between spinal disinhibition and a distinct phenotype, arguably akin to hyperpathia, with combined loss and relative gain of function leading to increasing nociceptive drive.
Reduced coupling between offline neural replay events and default mode network activation in schizophrenia
Authors: Nour Matthew M , Liu Yunzhe , Higgins Cameron , Woolrich Mark W , Dolan Raymond J
Published: March 2023

Schizophrenia is characterized by an abnormal resting state and default mode network brain activity. However, despite intense study, the mechanisms linking default mode network dynamics to neural computation remain elusive. During rest, sequential hippocampal reactivations, known as ‘replay’, are played out within default mode network activation windows, highlighting a potential role of replay-default mode network coupling in memory consolidation and model-based mental simulation. Here, we test a hypothesis of reduced replay-default mode network coupling in schizophrenia, using magnetoencephalography and a non-spatial sequence learning task designed to elicit off-task (i.e. resting state) neural replay. Participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 28, mean age 28.2 years, range 20–40, 6 females, 13 not taking antipsychotic medication) and non-clinical control participants (n = 29, mean age 28.1 years, range 18–45, 6 females, matched at group level for age, intelligence quotient, gender, years in education and working memory) underwent a magnetoencephalography scan both during task completion and during a post-task resting state session. We used neural decoding to infer the time course of default mode network activation (time-delay embedding hidden Markov model) and spontaneous neural replay (temporally delayed linear modelling) in resting state magnetoencephalography data. Using multiple regression, we then quantified the extent to which default mode network activation was uniquely predicted by replay events that recapitulated the learned task sequences (i.e. ‘task-relevant’ replay-default mode network coupling). In control participants, replay-default mode network coupling was augmented following sequence learning, an augmentation that was specific for replay of task-relevant (i.e. learned) state transitions. This task-relevant replay-default mode network coupling effect was significantly reduced in schizophrenia (t(52) = 3.93, P = 0.018). Task-relevant replay-default mode network coupling predicted memory maintenance of learned sequences (ρ(52) = 0.31, P = 0.02). Importantly, reduced task-relevant replay-default mode network coupling in schizophrenia was not explained by differential replay or altered default mode network dynamics between groups nor by reference to antipsychotic exposure. Finally, task-relevant replay-default mode network coupling during rest correlated with stimulus-evoked default mode network modulation as measured in a separate task session. In the context of a proposed functional role of replay-default mode network coupling, our findings shed light on the functional significance of default mode network abnormalities in schizophrenia and provide for a consilience between task-based and resting state default mode network findings in this disorder.
Adjusting the stiffness of a cell-free hydrogel system based on tissue-specific extracellular matrix to optimize adipose tissue regeneration
Authors: Li Ye , Bi Xin , Wu Mengfan , Chen Xinyao , Zhan Weiqing , Dong Ziqing , Lu Feng
Published: March 2023

Background

Large-area soft tissue defects are challenging to reconstruct. Clinical treatment methods are hampered by problems associated with injury to the donor site and the requirement for multiple surgical procedures. Although the advent of decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) offers a new solution to these problems, optimal tissue regeneration efficiency cannot be achieved because the stiffness of DAT cannot be altered in vivo by adjusting its concentration. This study aimed to improve the efficiency of adipose regeneration by physically altering the stiffness of DAT to better repair large-volume soft tissue defects.

Methods

In this study, we formed three different cell-free hydrogel systems by physically cross-linking DAT with different concentrations of methyl cellulose (MC; 0.05, 0.075 and 0.10 g/ml). The stiffness of the cell-free hydrogel system could be regulated by altering the concentration of MC, and all three cell-free hydrogel systems were injectable and moldable. Subsequently, the cell-free hydrogel systems were grafted on the backs of nude mice. Histological, immunofluorescence and gene expression analyses of adipogenesis of the grafts were performed on days 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 30.

Results

The migration of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and vascularization were higher in the 0.10 g/ml group than in the 0.05 and 0.075 g/ml groups on days 7, 14 and 30. Notably, on days 7, 14 and 30, the adipogenesis of ASCs and adipose regeneration were significantly higher in the 0.075 g/ml group than in the 0.05 g/ml group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) and 0.10 g/ml group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Adjusting the stiffness of DAT via physical cross-linking with MC can effectively promote adipose regeneration, which is of great significance to the development of methods for the effective repair and reconstruction of large-volume soft tissue defects.
Is it safe for patients with metal implants to have iontophoresis treatment?
Authors: Sinclair Alice V S , Garty Florence L R , Smith James R , Shipman Alexa R
Published: March 2023

Background

Iontophoresis passes electrical charge through skin to deliver drugs or reduce excessive sweating. Treatments can be performed by patients at home following initial instruction. A limitation of the technique is that patients are not permitted to have metal implants. These are hypothesized to increase the risk of electric shock, cause localized heating and/or corrosion.

Objectives

To investigate whether metallic materials (titanium, stainless steel and copper) placed in the iontophoresis circuit would lead to an unfavourable outcome regarding corrosion or local heating of the metallic object.

Methods

This was carried out using mass loss and temperature change experiments, together with atomic force microscopy for stainless steel, to assess any surface roughness changes. The investigations were carried out under accelerated conditions (70 V compared with standard use 20–30 V).

Results

No changes in mass or clinically significant changes in temperature of any of the metallic objects (or surface roughness for stainless steel) were observed.

Conclusions

This study suggests that patients with these metallic implants can safely undergo iontophoresis treatment. Further work is needed to review the impact on metallic implants with repeated exposure to the iontophoresis system to represent real-world evidence.
Circulation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 A6 Variant in the Eastern Border of the European Union—Dynamics of the Virus Transmissions Between Poland and Ukraine
Authors: Serwin Karol , Chaillon Antoine , Scheibe Kaja , Urbańska Anna , Aksak-Wąs Bogusz , Ząbek Piotr , Siwak Ewa , Cielniak Iwona , Jabłonowska Elżbieta , Wójcik-Cichy Kamila , Jakubowski Paweł , Bociąga-Jasik Monika , Witor Adam , Szetela Bartosz , Parczewski Miłosz
Published: March 2023

Background

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 A6 variant is dominating in high-prevalence Eastern European countries, with increasing prevalence over the remaining regions of Europe. The recent war in Ukraine may contribute to further introductions of this A6 lineage. Our aim was to model the transmission dynamics of the HIV-1 A6 variant between Poland and Ukraine.

Methods

HIV-1 A6 partial pol sequences originating from Poland (n = 1185) and Ukraine (n = 653) were combined with publicly available sequences (n = 7675) from 37 other countries. We used maximum likelihood-based tree estimation followed by a bayesian inference strategy to characterize the putative transmission clades. Asymmetric discrete phylogeographic analysis was used to identify the best-supported virus migration events across administrative regions of Poland and Ukraine.

Results

We identified 206 clades (n = 1362 sequences) circulating in Poland or Ukraine (63 binational clades, 79 exclusively Polish, and 64 exclusively Ukrainian). Cross-border migrations were almost exclusively unidirectional (from Ukraine to Poland, 99.4%), mainly from Eastern and Southern Ukraine (Donetsk, 49.7%; Odesa, 17.6% regions) to the Central (Masovian, 67.3%; Lodz, 18.2%) and West Pomeranian (10.1%) districts of Poland. The primary sources of viral dispersal were the Eastern regions of Ukraine, long affected by armed conflict, and large population centers in Poland.

Conclusions

The Polish outbreak of the A6 epidemic was fueled by complex viral migration patterns across the country, together with cross-border transmissions from Ukraine. There is an urgent need to include war-displaced people in the national HIV prevention and treatment programs to reduce the further spread of transmission networks.
Open surgical retrieval of a migrated patent foramen ovale closure device from the descending aorta following failed percutaneous retrieval from the aortic arch: a case report with a word of caution
Authors: Berk Thirza A , Kroeze Sven , Suttorp Maarten Jan , Heijmen Robin H
Published: March 2023

Background

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is considered safe and has been used widely for over 25 years. A rare but potentially life-threatening complication is device migration, especially to the aorta.

Case summary

We present a 30-year-old male with a PFO occlusion device implanted for cryptogenic stroke, which asymptomatically migrated to the aortic arch. A percutaneous retrieval attempt failed at complete removal but relocated the device to the proximal descending aorta. It was then successfully removed by open surgery. Severe intimal damage necessitated resection and interposition grafting.

Discussion

Manipulation of migrated intravascular devices can cause intimal damage and subsequent complications, such as local dissections. We advocate caution with percutaneous removal of such large, migrated closure devices to avoid additional intimal damage, especially after endothelialization has occurred. The interventional cardiologist should be aware of the risk of intimal damage as a result, and surgical removal, though invasive, should always be considered.
Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from pulmonary artery in an adult presenting with rapid atrial fibrillation: a case report
Authors: Sørgaard Mathias Holm , Kofoed Klaus Fuglsang , Abdulla Jawdat
Published: March 2023

Background

An anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a very rare coronary anomaly.

Case summary

A 56-year-old man, presenting haemodynamically unstable due to very rapid atrial fibrillation, was found to have ARCAPA by coronary computed tomography angiography. He had normal left ventricular ejection fraction and without reversible ischaemia on an adenosine stress rubidium positron emission tomography. He was treated solely with betablockers and has been well since.

Discussion

Numerous case reports on ARCAPA have previously been published, but no previous reports have found rapid atrial fibrillation to be the primary symptom of presentation. Current evidence level concerning the treatment is low; nevertheless, surgical intervention should always be considered to prevent sudden cardiac death. The patient in this case was offered surgical intervention but declined.
Automatic screening of patients with atrial fibrillation from 24-h Holter recording using deep learning
Authors: Zhang Peng , Lin Fan , Ma Fei , Chen Yuting , Fang Siyi , Zheng Haiyan , Xiang Zuwen , Yang Xiaoyun , Li Qiang
Published: March 2023

Aims

As the demand for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening increases, clinicians spend a significant amount of time identifying AF signals from massive amounts of data obtained during long-term dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. The identification of AF signals is subjective and depends on the experience of clinicians. However, experienced cardiologists are scarce. This study aimed to apply a deep learning-based algorithm to fully automate primary screening of patients with AF using 24-h Holter monitoring.

Methods and results

A deep learning model was developed to automatically detect AF episodes using RR intervals and was trained and evaluated on 23 621 (2297 AF and 21 324 non-AF) 24-h Holter recordings from 23 452 patients. Based on the AF episode detection results, patients with AF were automatically identified using the criterion of at least one AF episode lasting 6 min or longer. Performance was assessed on an independent real-world hospital-scenario test set (19 227 recordings) and a community-scenario test set (1299 recordings). For the two test sets, the model obtained high performance for the identification of patients with AF (sensitivity: 0.995 and 1.000; specificity: 0.985 and 0.997, respectively). Moreover, it obtained good and consistent performance (sensitivity: 1.000; specificity: 0.972) for an external public data set.

Conclusion

Using the criterion of at least one AF episode of 6 min or longer, the deep learning model can fully automatically screen patients for AF with high accuracy from long-term Holter monitoring data. This method may serve as a powerful and cost-effective tool for primary screening for AF.
Association of marital/partner status and patient-reported outcomes following myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Cenjing , Tran Phoebe M , Leifheit Erica C , Spatz Erica S , Dreyer Rachel P , Nyhan Kate , Wang Shi-Yi , Lichtman Judith H
Published: March 2023

Aims

Little is known about the relationship between marital/partner status and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following myocardial infarction (MI). We conducted a systematic review/meta-analysis and explored potential sex differences.

Methods and results

We searched five databases (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and PsycINFO) from inception to 27 July 2022. Peer-reviewed studies of MI patients that evaluated marital/partner status as an independent variable and reported its associations with defined PROMs were eligible for inclusion. Results for eligible studies were classified into four pre-specified outcome domains [health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional status, symptoms, and personal recovery (i.e. self-efficacy, adherence, and purpose/hope)]. Study quality was appraised using Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and data were synthesized by outcome domains. We conducted subgroup analysis by sex. We included 34 studies (n = 16 712), of which 11 were included in meta-analyses. Being married/partnered was significantly associated with higher HRQoL {six studies [n = 2734]; pooled standardized mean difference, 0.37 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12–0.63], I2 = 51%} but not depression [three studies (n = 2005); pooled odds ratio, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.32–1.64); I2 = 65%] or self-efficacy [two studies (n = 356); pooled β, 0.03 (95% CI, −0.09 to 0.14); I2 = 0%]. The associations of marital/partner status with functional status, personal recovery outcomes, and symptoms of anxiety and fatigue were mixed. Sex differences were not evident due to mixed results from the available studies.

Conclusions

Married/partnered MI patients had higher HRQoL than unpartnered patients, but the associations with functional, symptom, and personal recovery outcomes and sex differences were less clear. Our findings inform better methodological approaches and standardized reporting to facilitate future research on these relationships.
Left atrial appendage closure device outcomes among cirrhosis patients with atrial fibrillation: a United States National Cohort Study
Authors: Mir Tanveer , Rawasia Wasiq F , Uddin Mohammed , Sheikh Mujeeb , Munir Muhammad Bilal , Balla Sudarshan
Published: March 2023

Aims

Literature regarding outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation among cirrhosis patients who had left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) device procedure is limited. We aim to evaluate the in-hospital clinical outcomes and 30-day readmissions among LAAO with and without cirrhosis.

Methods and results

We performed a retrospective study of all hospitalizations associated with the LAAO procedure, using the Nationwide Readmissions Database for the years 2016–19. Primary outcomes were in-hospital clinical outcomes and 30-day readmissions. A total of 54 897 index hospitalizations for LAAO (female 41.8%) were reported. Of these, 905(1.65%) had cirrhosis. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was reported in 44 (4.9%) vs. 1606 (2.97%) and coagulopathy in 21 (2.3%) vs. 521 (0.96%) in cirrhosis and without-cirrhosis groups, respectively. A total of 872 (1.59%) patients needed blood transfusion, 24 (2.7%) vs. 848(1.57%) in cirrhosis vs. without-cirrhosis groups (P = 0.047). Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion was reported among 888 (1.62%), with cirrhosis 26 (3%) vs. without cirrhosis 862 (1.6%) (P = 0.05). On adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, acute kidney injury, coagulopathy, FFP transfusion, and blood transfusion were strongly associated with cirrhosis, and GI bleeding, ischaemic stroke, and intracranial haemorrhage were not associated with cirrhosis. Readmissions in 30 days were 5028 (9.18%), 167 (18.5%) in the cirrhosis group and 4861 (9%) without-cirrhosis group (P = 0.01). On multivariate Cox regression, CHA2DS2-Vasc score of six was significantly associated with 30-day readmission compared with other scores [hazard ratio 2.24; 95% confidence interval (1.58–3.16); P < 0.001].

Conclusion

Left atrial appendage occlusion procedure in patients with cirrhosis had relatively similar GI bleeding and stroke rates, however, had higher rates of 30-day readmission. A higher CHA2DS2-Vasc score was more likely to be associated with 30-day readmissions and hence would help in discharge planning. The long-term safety and efficacy of LAAO in the cirrhosis population need to be demonstrated.
The magnitude of selection on growth varies among years and increases under warming conditions in a subarctic seabird
Authors: Sauve Drew , Charmantier Anne , Hatch Scott A , Friesen Vicki L
Published: March 2023

Because of ongoing rapid climate change, many ecosystems are becoming both warmer and more variable, and these changes are likely to alter the magnitude and variability of natural selection acting on wild populations. Critically, changes and fluctuations in selection can impact both population demography and evolutionary change. Therefore, predicting the impacts of climate change depends on understanding the magnitude and variation in selection on traits across different life stages and environments. Long-term experiments in wild settings are a great opportunity to determine the impact of environmental conditions on selection. Here we examined variability in the strength of selection on size traits of nestling black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in a 25-year study including a food supplementation experiment on Middleton Island in the Gulf of Alaska. Using mixed effect models, we examined the annual variability of stage-specific and resource-specific selection gradients across 25 years. We found that (a) larger and heavier hatchlings were the most likely to survive during early ontogeny, (b) non-food supplemented younger nestlings in a brood experienced the strongest selection, and (c) warmer conditions increased the magnitude of selection on nestling mass and affected non-food supplemented and second-hatched nestlings the most. Our results suggested that variable resource dynamics likely caused some of the changes in selection from year to year and that warming conditions increased the strength of selection on subarctic seabird growth. However, our experimental manipulation revealed that local environmental heterogeneity could buffer the selection expected from broader climatic changes. Consequently, understanding the interactive effects of local conditions and general changes in climate seems likely to improve our ability to predict future selection gradients.
Analysis of a logical regulatory network reveals how Fe-S cluster biogenesis is controlled in the face of stress
Authors: Hammami Firas , Tichit Laurent , Py Béatrice , Barras Frédéric , Mandin Pierre , Remy Elisabeth
Published: March 2023

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are important cofactors conserved in all domains of life, yet their synthesis and stability are compromised in stressful conditions such as iron deprivation or oxidative stress. Two conserved machineries, Isc and Suf, assemble and transfer Fe-S clusters to client proteins. The model bacterium Escherichia coli possesses both Isc and Suf, and in this bacterium utilization of these machineries is under the control of a complex regulatory network. To better understand the dynamics behind Fe-S cluster biogenesis in E. coli, we here built a logical model describing its regulatory network. This model comprises three biological processes: 1) Fe-S cluster biogenesis, containing Isc and Suf, the carriers NfuA and ErpA, and the transcription factor IscR, the main regulator of Fe-S clusters homeostasis; 2) iron homeostasis, containing the free intracellular iron regulated by the iron sensing regulator Fur and the non-coding regulatory RNA RyhB involved in iron sparing; 3) oxidative stress, representing intracellular H2O2 accumulation, which activates OxyR, the regulator of catalases and peroxidases that decompose H2O2 and limit the rate of the Fenton reaction. Analysis of this comprehensive model reveals a modular structure that displays five different types of system behaviors depending on environmental conditions, and provides a better understanding on how oxidative stress and iron homeostasis combine and control Fe-S cluster biogenesis. Using the model, we were able to predict that an iscR mutant would present growth defects in iron starvation due to partial inability to build Fe-S clusters, and we validated this prediction experimentally.

Author summary

Iron sulfur (Fe-S) clusters appeared early in life, when oxygen tension was low and iron plentiful, and have been used since as cofactors for a wide variety of proteins involved in a plethora of reactions. However, synthesis and stability of Fe-S clusters is compromised in conditions where iron is low or in presence of reactive oxygen species. Living organisms have developed complex regulatory networks to allow biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in function of environmental conditions. Thus, understanding this regulation is of primary importance as changes in Fe-S cluster biogenesis impact the physiology of organisms and is for instance involved in resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics. We here used a modeling approach to gain a global systemic understanding of the process. We developed a mathematical logical model which extensively describes the regulatory network that controls biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in the model bacterium Escherichia coli. Analysis of the model reveals how Fe-S biogenesis is organized in function of environmental conditions and reveals how oxidative stress and iron homeostasis combine and control Fe-S cluster biogenesis.
Mobile Integrated Health Interventions for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Louras Nathan , Reading Turchioe Meghan , Shafran Topaz Leah , Demetres Michelle R , Ellison Melani , Abudu-Solo Jamie , Blutinger Erik , Munjal Kevin G , Daniels Brock , Masterson Creber Ruth M
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives

Mobile integrated health (MIH) interventions have not been well described in older adult populations. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the characteristics and effectiveness of MIH programs on health-related outcomes among older adults.

Research Design and Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, AgeLine, Social Work Abstracts, and The Cochrane Library through June 2021 for randomized controlled trials or cohort studies evaluating MIH among adults aged 65 and older in the general community. Studies were screened for eligibility against predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Using at least 2 independent reviewers, quality was appraised using the Downs and Black checklist and study characteristics and findings were synthesized and evaluated for potential bias.

Results

Screening of 2,160 records identified 15 studies. The mean age of participants was 67 years. The MIH interventions varied in their focus, community paramedic training, types of assessments and interventions delivered, physician oversight, use of telemedicine, and post-visit follow-up. Studies reported significant reductions in emergency call volume (5 studies) and immediate emergency department (ED) transports (3 studies). The 3 studies examining subsequent ED visits and 4 studies examining readmission rates reported mixed results. Studies reported low adverse event rates (5 studies), high patient and provider satisfaction (5 studies), and costs equivalent to or less than usual paramedic care (3 studies).

Discussion and Implications

There is wide variability in MIH provider training, program coordination, and quality-based metrics, creating heterogeneity that make definitive conclusions challenging. Nonetheless, studies suggest MIH reduces emergency call volume and ED transport rates while improving patient experience and reducing overall health care costs.
Geophysics-steered self-supervised learning for deconvolution
Authors: Chai Xintao , Yang Taihui , Gu Hanming , Tang Genyang , Cao Wenjun , Wang Yufeng
Published: March 2023

Deep learning (DL) has achieved remarkable progress in geophysics. The most commonly used supervised learning (SL) framework requires massive labelled representative data to train artificial neural networks (ANNs) for good generalization. However, the labels are limited or unavailable for field seismic data applications. In addition, SL generally cannot take advantage of well-known physical laws and thus fails to generate physically consistent results. The weaknesses of standard SL are non-negligible. Therefore, we provide an open-source package for geophysics-steered self-supervised learning (SSL; taking application to seismic deconvolution as an example). With the wavelet given, we incorporate the convolution model into the loss function to measure the error between the synthetic trace generated by the ANN deconvolution result and the observed data, steering the ANN’s learning process toward yielding accurate and physically consistent results. We utilize an enhanced U-Net as the ANN. We determine a hard threshold operator to impose a sparse constraint on the ANN deconvolution result, which is challenging for current DL platforms because no layer is available. 2-D/3-D ANNs can naturally introduce spatial regularization to the ANN deconvolution results. Tests on synthetic data and 3-D field data with available well logs verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The approach outperforms the traditional trace-by-trace method in terms of accuracy and spatial continuity. Experiments on synthetic data validate that sparsity promotion matters for sparse recovery problems. Field data results of the proposed approach precisely identify the layer interfaces and mostly match well with the log. All codes and data are publicly available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7233751 (Xintao Chai).