bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal power bidding of overseas PV plants in Singapore wholesale electricity market
Authors: Xu Yan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSingapore's power sector has set targets of net‐zero emissions by 2050. Given the limited land space of the country, a key strategy to decarbonize the power grid is to import clean power from renewable energy resources such as photovoltaic (PV) plants installed at overseas locations. The present electricity market rules require such overseas PV plants to maintain constant power generation during each bidding period. To meet such requirements, energy storage systems (ESSs) are to be deployed in the PV plants to compensate for the PV power fluctuation. This paper proposes an optimal power bidding approach for maximizing the profit of the PV plant participating in the Singapore wholesale electricity market. The problem is formulated as a stochastic programming model, which takes the short‐term PV power forecasting as the input, maximizes the expected profit considering the PV power selling revenue and the penalty cost for power shortfall during each bidding cycle (30 min), and satisfies constraints of the ESS. The proposed method can also be used for determining the optimal size of the ESS. Simulation results have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Limited evidence of biased offspring sex allocation in a cavity-nesting conspecific brood parasite
Authors: Wells Caitlin P , Lyon Bruce E , Thow Caroline M , Stair Tez , Jones Melissa , Hinton Mitch , Eadie John M 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Sex allocation theory predicts that mothers should bias investment in offspring toward the sex that yields higher fitness returns; one such bias may be a skewed offspring sex ratio. Sex allocation is well-studied in birds with cooperative breeding systems, with theory on local resource enhancement and production of helpers at the nest, but little theoretical or empirical work has focused on birds with brood parasitic breeding systems. Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) are a conspecific brood parasite, and rates of parasitism appear to increase with density. Because female wood ducks show high natal philopatry and nest sites are often limiting, local resource competition (LRC) theory predicts that females should overproduce male offspring—the dispersing sex—when competition (density) is high. However, the unique features of conspecific brood parasitism generate alternative predictions from other sex allocation theory, which we develop and test here. We experimentally manipulated nesting density of female wood ducks in 4 populations from 2013 to 2016, and analyzed the resulting sex allocation of &gt;2000 ducklings. In contrast to predictions we did not find overproduction of male offspring by females in high-density populations, females in better condition, or parasitic females; modest support for LRC was found in overproduction of only female parasitic offspring with higher nest box availability. The lack of evidence for sex ratio biases, as expected for LRC and some aspects of brood parasitism, could reflect conflicting selection pressures from nest competition and brood parasitism, or that mechanisms of adaptive sex ratio bias are not possible.
Central visual pathways affected by degenerative retinal disease before and after gene therapy
Authors: Ashtari Manzar , Bennett Jean , Leopold David A 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Genetic diseases affecting the retina can result in partial or complete loss of visual function. Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare blinding disease, usually inherited in an autosomally recessive manner, with no cure. Retinal gene therapy has been shown to improve vision in LCA patients caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene (LCA2). However, little is known about how activity in central visual pathways is affected by the disease or by subsequent gene therapy.
Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to assess retinal signal transmission in cortical and subcortical visual structures before and 1 year after retinal intervention. The fMRI paradigm consisted of 15-s blocks of flickering (8 Hz) black and white checkerboards interleaved with 15 s of blank (black) screen. Visual activation in the brain was assessed using the general linear model, with multiple comparisons corrected using the false discovery rate method.
Response to visual stimulation through untreated eyes of LCA2 patients showed heightened fMRI responses in the superior colliculus and diminished activities in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) compared to controls, indicating a shift in the patients’ visual processing towards the retinotectal pathway. Following gene therapy, stimuli presented to the treated eye elicited significantly stronger fMRI responses in the LGN and primary visual cortex, indicating some re-engagement of the geniculostriate pathway (GS) pathway. Across patients, the post-treatment LGN fMRI responses correlated significantly with performance on a clinical test measuring light sensitivity.
Our results demonstrate that the low vision observed in LCA2 patients involves a shift in visual processing toward the retinotectal pathway, and that gene therapy partially reinstates visual transmission through the GS pathway. This selective boosting of retinal output through the GS pathway and its correlation to improved visual performance, following several years of degenerative retinal disease, is striking. However, while retinal gene therapy and other ocular interventions have given hope to RPE65 patients, it may take years before development of therapies tailored to treat the diseases in other low vision patients are available.
Our demonstration of a shift toward the retinotectal pathway in these patients may spur the development of new tools and rehabilitation strategies to help maximize the use of residual visual abilities and augment experience-dependent plasticity.
Cardiac implantable electronic devices and bloodstream infections: management and outcomes
Authors: Özkartal Tardu , Demarchi Andrea , Conte Giulio , Pongan Damiano , Klersy Catherine , Caputo Maria Luce , Bergonti Marco , Bernasconi Enos , Gaia Valeria , Granger Christopher B , Auricchio Angelo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Bloodstream infection (BSI) of any cause may lead to device infection in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) patients. Aiming for a better understanding of the diagnostic approach, treatment, and outcome, patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator (CRT-D) hospitalized with BSI were investigated.

Methods
This is a single-centre, retrospective, cohort analysis including consecutive ICD/CRT-D patients implanted between 2012 and 2021. These patients were screened against a list of all hospitalized patients having positive blood cultures consistent with diagnosed infection in any department of a local public hospital.

Results
The total cohort consisted of 515 patients. Over a median follow-up of 59 months (interquartile range 31–87 months), there were 47 BSI episodes in 36 patients. The majority of patients with BSI (92%) was admitted to non-cardiology units, and in 25 episodes (53%), no cardiac imaging was performed. Nearly all patients (85%) were treated with short-term antibiotics, whereas chronic antibiotic suppression therapy (n = 4) and system extraction (n = 3) were less frequent. Patients with BSI had a nearly seven-fold higher rate (hazard ratio 6.7, 95% confidence interval 3.9–11.2; P &lt; .001) of all-cause mortality.

Conclusions
Diagnostic workup of defibrillator patients with BSI admitted to a non-cardiology unit is often insufficient to characterize lead-related endocarditis. The high mortality rate in these patients with BSI may relate to underdiagnosis and consequently late/absence of system removal. Efforts to increase an interdisciplinary approach and greater use of cardiac imaging are necessary for timely diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Network power and mental health policy in post-war Liberia
Authors: Patterson Amy S , Clark Mary A , Rogers Al-Varney 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This article traces the influence of network power on mental health policy in Liberia, a low-income, post-conflict West African country. Based on key informant interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis, the work uses an inductive approach to uncover how a network of civil society groups, government officials, diasporans and international NGOs shaped the passage, implementation and revision of the country’s 2009 and 2016 mental health policies. With relations rooted in ties of information, expertise, resources, commitment and personal connections, the network coalesced around a key agent, the Carter Center, which connected members and guided initiatives. Network power was evident when these actors channelled expertise, shared narratives of post-war trauma and mental health as a human right, and financial resources to influence policy. Feedback loops appeared as policy implementation created new associations of mental health clinicians and service users, research entities and training institutes. These beneficiaries offered the network information from lived experiences, while also pressing their own interests in subsequent policy revisions. As the network expanded over time, some network members gained greater autonomy from the key agent. Network power outcomes included the creation of government mental health institutions, workforce development, increased public awareness, civil society mobilization and a line for mental health in the government budget, though concerns about network overstretch and key agent commitment emerged over time. The Liberian case illustrates how networks need not be inimical to development, and how network power may facilitate action on stigmatized, unpopular issues in contexts with low state capacity. A focus on network power in health shows how power can operate not only through discrete resources such as funding but also through the totality of assets that network linkages make possible.
The genetic admixture and assimilation of Ahom: a historic migrant from Thailand to India
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Singh Prajjval Pratap , Pasupuleti Nagarjuna , Tripathy Veena Mushrif , Chauley Milan Kumar , Chaubey Gyaneshwer , Rai Niraj 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe Northeastern region of India is considered a gateway for modern humans’ dispersal throughout Asia. This region is a mixture of various ethnic and indigenous populations amalgamating multiple ancestries. One reason for such amalgamation is that, South Asia experienced multiple historic migrations from various parts of the world. A few examples explored genetically are Jews, Parsis and Siddis. Ahom is a dynasty that historically migrated to India during the 12th century. However, this putative migration has not been studied genetically at high resolution. Therefore, to validate this historical evidence, we genotyped autosomal data of the Modern Ahom population residing in seven sister states of India. Principal Component and Admixture analyses haave suggested a substantial admixture of the Ahom population with the local Tibeto-Burman populations. Moreover, the haplotype-based analysis has linked these Ahom individuals mainly with the Kusunda (a language isolated from Nepal) and Khasi (an Austroasiatic population of Meghalaya). Such unexpected presence of widespread population affinities suggests that Ahom mixed and assimilated a wide variety of Trans-Himalayan populations inhabiting this region after the migration. In summary, we observed a significant deviation of Ahom from their ancestral homeland (Thailand) and extensive admixture and assimilation with the local South Asian populations.
Revealing the Genetic Diversity of Chinese Chlamydia trachomatis Strains Directly From Clinical Samples Through Selective Whole Genome Amplification
Authors: Chen Wentao , Zhou Chuchan , Su Xin , Yin Xiaona , Yuan Weixi , Hu Chuncai , Zhao Wei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections globally. Whole genome sequencing is essential for molecular Chlamydia surveillance; however, its application is hampered by the pathogen's low abundance in clinical specimens and the expensive labor-intensive nature of existing enrichment methodologies for Chlamydia.

Methods
We developed a targeted whole genome amplification tool termed SWITCH by integrating phi29 DNA polymerase-mediated amplification with meticulously designed primer sets to enrich the C trachomatis genome, followed by whole genome sequencing. This method underwent evaluation through testing synthetic and clinical specimens.

Results
SWITCH demonstrated robust ability to achieve up to 98.3% genomic coverage of C trachomatis from as few as 26.4 genomic copies present in synthetic specimens, and it exhibited excellent performance across diverse C trachomatis serovars. Utilizing SWITCH, we directly generated 21 Chlamydia genomes from 26 clinical samples, enabling us to gain insights into the genetic relationships and phylogeny of current Chlamydia strains circulating in the country. Remarkably, this study marked the first instance of generating Chinese Chlamydia genomes directly from clinical samples.

Conclusions
SWITCH represents a practical cost-efficient approach to enrich the Chlamydia genome directly from clinical specimens, offering an efficient avenue for molecular surveillance of Chlamydia.
Response of bilateral Wilms tumor to chemotherapy suggests histologic subtype and guides treatment
Authors: Duncan Colton , Sarvode Mothi Suraj , Santiago Teresa C , Coggins Jordan A , Graetz Dylan E , Bishop Michael W , Mullen Elizabeth A , Murphy Andrew J , Green Daniel M , Krasin Matthew J , Davidoff Andrew M 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Patients with bilateral Wilms tumor initially receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the tumors and increase the likelihood of successful nephron-sparing surgery. Biopsy of poorly responding tumors is often done to better understand therapy resistance. The purpose of this retrospective, single-institution study was to determine whether initial chemotherapy response is associated with tumor histology, potentially obviating the need for biopsy or change in chemotherapy.

Methods
Patients with synchronous bilateral Wilms tumors who underwent surgery at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital from January 2000 to March 2022 were considered for this study. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to evaluate the likelihood of the tumor being stromal predominant, as predicted by tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results
A total of 68 patients were eligible for this study. Tumors that increased in size had an odds ratio of 19.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.46 to 155.03) for being stromal predominant vs any other histologic subtype. Age at diagnosis was youngest in patients with stromal-predominant tumors, with a mean age of 18.8 (14.1) months compared with all other histologic subtypes (χ2 = 7.05, P = .07). The predictive value of a tumor growing combined with patient aged younger than 18 months for confirming stromal-predominant histology was 85.7% (95% CI = 57.18% to 93.5%).

Conclusions
Tumors that increased in size during neoadjuvant chemotherapy were most frequently stromal-predominant bilateral Wilms tumor, especially in younger patients. Therefore, nephron-sparing surgery, rather than biopsy, or extension or intensification of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, should be considered for bilateral Wilms tumors that increase in volume during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, particularly in patients aged younger than 18 months.
Exploring the clinical relevance of “Angico Gum”: an effective biopolymer for topical protection of oesophageal mucosa in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients
Authors: Bingana Rudy Diavila , Nicolau Lucas Antonio Duarte , Sales Thiago Meneses Araújo Leite , Paula Suliana Mesquita , do Carmo Neto João Pedro , Castro Isabela Araújo Linhares , Teixeira Luiz Fernando Lopes Soares , Franco Alvaro Xavier , Ribeiro Fábio de Oliveira Silva , de Paula Regina Célia Monteiro , Medeiros Jand Venes Rolim , da Silva Durcilene Alves , Sifrim Daniel , Souza Marcellus Henrique Loiola Ponte 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Angico gum (AG) (Anadenanthera colubrina var. Cebil [Griseb.] Altschul) is utilized by some Brazilian communities to alleviate symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Here, we aimed to investigate the “in vitro” topical protective capacity of AG on human esophageal mucosa.

Methods
Biopsies of the distal esophageal mucosa were collected from 35 patients with heartburn (24 non-erosive and 11 with erosive oesophagitis (EE)) and mounted in Üssing chambers. AG was applied topically, followed by exposure with acid solution (pH 2.0 or pH 1.0), where transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and The transepithelial permeability for fluorescein was assessed. The incubation of the AG labeled with FITC in the esophageal mucosa was localized by fluorescence microscopy.

Key findings
Pretreatment with AG prevented the drop in TER induced by acid solution, as well as significantly decreases the fluorescein permeability in non-erosive patients. The protective effect of AG was sustained for up to 120 min both in biopsies of non-erosive and erosive esophagitis. Confocal microscope images showed mucosal luminal adherence of FITC-labeled AG.

Conclusion
AG had a prolonged topical protective effect against acid solution in mucosal biopsies of patients with non-erosive and erosive esophagitis.
MUST dome design based on dome seeing quantitative evaluation
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Lao Junsen , Wang Zhuoxiao , Cai Zheng , Guo Liquan , Bian Qi , Zheng Yamin , Zhuang Yongchen , Zhang Yifan , Li Pei , Wang Zichao , Dai Xiaodong , Lu Lu , Marchiori Gianpietro , De Lorenzi Simone , Huang Lei 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
The Multiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST) project is led by Tsinghua University, which entrusted the European Industrial Engineering (EIE) GROUP with the design, manufacture, and assembly of the dome. Located on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai Province, MUST benefits from exceptional atmospheric seeing conditions etc. Local dome seeing may be comparable to atmospheric seeing and requires careful consideration. This research, based on numerical simulations, focuses on refining the dome structure and temperature regulation strategies to achieve optimal dome seeing. The existing simulations only consider nighttime dome seeing and overlook the impact of daytime dome heating on nighttime conditions. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) part mostly relies on a steady-state k − ε model, which cannot simulate transient processes or capture optical turbulence. In this study, a comprehensive multiphysics field coupling simulation was conducted, encompassing radiation heat transfer, fluid heat transfer, CFD, and ray tracing. Simulations include both daytime and nighttime scenarios, taking into account the daytime heating of the dome due to solar irradiation, as well as dome seeing under natural ventilation at night. The CFD utilizes the large eddy simulation model, enabling three-dimensional transient simulation and the simulation of optical turbulence. Ultimately, the broadening of the point spread function was statistically analysed after a certain integration time, facilitating a quantitative evaluation of dome seeing. This numerical simulation approach is closer to real world conditions, improving simulation accuracy and addressing the shortcomings of existing simulations. Some qualitative conclusions are consistent with practical engineering experience. In the end, the dome seeing was successfully regulated to 0.21 arcsec, meeting the observational requirements.
Turbulence properties of interplanetary coronal mass ejection flux ropes at 1 au
Authors: Shaikh Zubair I 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
Interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) is a massive, coherent magnetic structure emitting from the Sun in interplanetary space and plays an essential role in space weather processes. Here, we focus on determining the turbulent characteristics of magnetic field fluctuations in 358 ICMEs magnetic flux ropes (MFR) at 1 au using Wind spacecraft data. We observed that during injection, inertial, and dissipation scales, the average spectral index of the analysed MFRs is −1.70 ± 0.26, −1.64 ± 0.06, and −2.31 ± 0.40, respectively. It implies that overall the turbulence inside the ICME MFR has a Kolmogorow (f−5/3) type spectrum. We observe the nature of the spectral index to be unaffected by the MFR boundary and the presence of a background magnetic field. Thus, coherent MFRs show some turbulent characteristics. The low compressibility value during injection and the inertial scale indicate that Alfvénic fluctuations may dominate at these scales. We observe spectral break at the dissipation scale, but low normalized magnetic helicity denied the role of wave activity. Therefore, thorough research of the causes of a spectral break during the ICME MFR is necessary. Our results are relevant to exploring the energy cascade process, plasma heating, and energetic particle modulation in low plasma beta structures.
Office or home versus 24-h blood pressure measurement in stable kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Eleftheriadis Georgios , Naik Marcel G , Osmanodja Bilgin , Halleck Fabian , Schrezenmeier Eva , Liefeldt Lutz , Choi Mira , Bachmann Friederike , Avaniadi Despina Parthenopi , von Hoerschelmann Ellen , Lücht Christian , Zaks Marina , Duettmann Wiebke , Budde Klemens 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Background
The aim of this study was to quantify hypertension control and evaluate concordance between all commonly available blood pressure (BP) modalities in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Methods
For this prospective cross-sectional study, 89 stable KTRs were recruited at the Charité Transplant Outpatient Clinic. For each study participant office [manual office BP (MOBP) and automated office BP (AOBP)], 7-day home (HBPM) and 24-hour ambulatory BP (24h-ABPM) measurements were performed.

Results
80 of the 89 patients recruited had sufficient BP recordings. The mean BP for MOBP, AOBP, HBPM and 24h-ABPM was 129/73, 126/71, 131/85 and 130/81 mmHg, respectively. Uncontrolled hypertension, as defined by 24h-ABPM (mean ≥130/80 mmHg), was present in 53 (66%) patients. MOBP, AOBP and HBPM classified 19 (24%), 22 (28%) and 41 (51%) patients, respectively, as ‘uncontrolled hypertensive’. The Bland–Altman plot showed good agreement between systolic MOBP, AOBP, HBPM and daytime-ABPM (mean bias: −1 ± 13 mmHg, −4 ± 13 mmHg, 1 ± 10 mmHg, respectively). Uncontrolled night-time hypertension was present in 74 (93%) KTRs, with 71 (89%) patients showing a non-physiological dipping pattern. Moderate positive correlation between daytime-ABPM/HBPM and night-time-ABPM (Pearson correlation coefficients: 0.62–0.73), followed by MOBP/AOBP (Pearson correlation coefficients: 0.49–0.59) was noted. Estimated eGFR and proteinuria displayed weak correlation with 24h-, daytime- and night-time-ABPM (absolute values of Pearson correlation coefficients: 0.04–0.41). No robust association with either 24h-, daytime- or night-time-ABPM was observed for volume status exams.

Conclusions
Masked hypertension is highly prevalent in KTRs, especially due to high rates of uncontrolled night-time hypertension. HBPM shows the narrowest limits of agreement with daytime-ABPM. Daytime-ABPM and HBPM show the highest, albeit clinically insufficient, correlation with night-time-ABPM. Systematic integration of 24h-ABPM into clinical practice, as proposed by the 2023 ESH guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension, should not be withheld for the KTR population. Clinical trials evaluating the treatment of hypertension in KTRs are urgently needed.