bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transient polymorphisms in parental care strategies drive divergence of sex roles
Authors: Long Xiaoyan , Weissing Franz J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe parental roles of males and females differ considerably between and within species. By means of individual-based evolutionary simulations, we strive to explain this diversity. We show that the conflict between the sexes creates a sex bias (towards maternal or paternal care), even if the two sexes are initially identical. When including sexual selection, there are two outcomes: either female mate choice and maternal care or no mate choice and paternal care. Interestingly, the care pattern drives sexual selection and not vice versa. Longer-term simulations exhibit rapid switches between alternative parental care patterns, even in constant environments. Hence, the evolutionary lability of sex roles observed in phylogenetic studies is not necessarily caused by external changes. Overall, our findings are in striking contrast to the predictions of mathematical models. We show that the discrepancies are caused by transient within-sex polymorphisms in parental strategies, a factor largely neglected in current sex-role theory.
Tandem-biocatalysis reactors constructed by topological evolution of CaCO3 particles into hollow metal hydroxide spheres
Authors: Han Sang Yeong , Kim Nayoung , Yun Gyeongwon , Lee Hojae , Choi Insung S. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDespite remarkable advances in the design and synthesis of hollow inorganic spheres (HISs), the harsh synthetic conditions have precluded the applications of HISs to biochemical and biological fields. Herein we report a biocompatible strategy for synthesizing metal hydroxide HISs (MH-HISs) by simply mixing CaCO3 particles with metal ions in water. The ion-exchange reaction between Ca2+ and metal ions leads to the structural and chemical evolution from solid CaCO3 particles to hollow MH-HISs via core-shell and yolk-shell structures, while enabling the encapsulation of enzymes to the shells without loss of catalytic activities. The biocompatible protocol makes multienzymatic cascade reactions achievable, with great recyclability due to mechanical durability of MH-HISs.
A single amino acid substitution in the capsid protein of Zika virus contributes to a neurovirulent phenotype
Authors: Song Guang-Yuan , Huang Xing-Yao , He Meng-Jiao , Zhou Hang-Yu , Li Rui-Ting , Tian Ying , Wang Yan , Cheng Meng-Li , Chen Xiang , Zhang Rong-Rong , Zhou Chao , Zhou Jia , Fang Xian-Yang , Li Xiao-Feng , Qin Cheng-Feng 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIncreasing evidence shows the African lineage Zika virus (ZIKV) displays a more severe neurovirulence compared to the Asian ZIKV. However, viral determinants and the underlying mechanisms of enhanced virulence phenotype remain largely unknown. Herein, we identify a panel of amino acid substitutions that are unique to the African lineage of ZIKVs compared to the Asian lineage by phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment. We then utilize reverse genetic technology to generate recombinant ZIKVs incorporating these lineage-specific substitutions based on an infectious cDNA clone of Asian ZIKV. Through in vitro characterization, we discover a mutant virus with a lysine to arginine substitution at position 101 of capsid (C) protein (termed K101R) displays a larger plaque phenotype, and replicates more efficiently in various cell lines. Moreover, K101R replicates more efficiently in mouse brains and induces stronger inflammatory responses than the wild type (WT) virus in neonatal mice. Finally, a combined analysis reveals the K101R substitution promotes the production of mature C protein without affecting its binding to viral RNA. Our study identifies the role of K101R substitution in the C protein in contributing to the enhanced virulent phenotype of the African lineage ZIKV, which expands our understanding of the complexity of ZIKV proteins.
Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors with ovarian function suppression in pre-menopausal stage I-III lobular breast cancer
Authors: Record Helena , Clelland Elle , Rothschild Harriet T. , Kaur Mandeep , Chien A. Jo , Melisko Michelle , Rugo Hope S. , Mujir Firdows , Huppert Laura , Mukhtar Rita A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWhile adjuvant treatment with the selective-estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen has been the standard of care for pre-menopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer, recent trials showed a benefit of aromatase inhibitors (AI) and ovarian function suppression (OFS) for some patients. The approach to endocrine therapy has not been well studied in pre-menopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). We identified 202 pre-menopausal patients with HR positive stage I-III ILC in an institutional database. We investigated factors associated with endocrine therapy type and determined changes in systemic therapy from 1990–2021. We evaluated associations between endocrine therapy type and disease-free survival (DFS) with a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Of 202 patients, most (69.3%) were prescribed a SERM (99.3% tamoxifen). Those who received an AI had significantly higher stage disease. Over time, use of OFS and AI increased significantly in stage II or III cases (from 0% in 1990 to 56% after 2015 for stage II; from 0% to 80% after 2015 for stage III). Concurrently, adjuvant chemotherapy use significantly decreased in stage II cases (from 67% to 19%). In an exploratory multivariable model, longer duration of AI compared to tamoxifen was associated with significantly improved DFS (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.86; p = 0.025). While most pre-menopausal patients received adjuvant tamoxifen, the use of OFS and AIs increased significantly over time. The association between AI use and improved DFS may be consistent with prior randomized trials and warrants further investigation into predictive factors to guide treatment selection.
Adsorption of phenol using adsorbent derived from Saccharum officinarum biomass: optimization, isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic study
Authors: Darla Upendra R. , Lataye Dilip H. , Kumar Anuj , Pandit Bidhan , Ubaidullah Mohd 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe present research shows the application of Taguchi's design of experiment approach to optimize the process parameters for the removal of phenol onto surface of Saccharum officinarum biomass activated carbon (SBAC) from an aqueous solution to maximize adsorption capacity of SBAC. The effect of adsorption parameters viz. adsorbent dose (m), temperature (T), initial concentration (C0) and mixing time (t) on response characteristics i.e., adsorption capacity (qt) has been studied at three levels by using L9 orthogonal array (OA) which further analyzed by variance analysis (ANOVA) for adsorption data and signal/noise (S/N) ratio data by using ‘larger the better’ characteristics. Using ANOVA, the optimum parameters are found to be m = 2 g/L, C0 = 150 mg/L, T = 313 K and t = 90 min, resulting in a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.59 mg/g. Adopting ANOVA, the percentage contribution of each process parameter in descending order of sequence is adsorbent dose 59.97% > initial phenol concentration 31.70% > contact time 4.28% > temperature 4.04%. The phenol adsorption onto SBAC was best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and follows the Radke-Prausnitz isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters suggested a spontaneous, exothermic nature and the adsorption process approaches physisorption followed by chemisorption. Hence the application of Taguchi orthogonal array design is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach for carrying out experiments and optimizing procedures for adsorption of phenol and improve the adsorption capacity of SBAC.
Spiking neural networks for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data with a case study on financial time series and online news
Authors: AbouHassan Iman , Kasabov Nikola K. , Jagtap Vinayak , Kulkarni Parag 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn a first study, this paper argues and demonstrates that spiking neural networks (SNN) can be successfully used for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data. The paper proposes a new method, where both time series and on-line news are integrated as numerical streaming data in the same time domain and then used to train incrementally a SNN model. The connectivity and the spiking activity of the SNN are then analyzed through clustering and dynamic graph extraction to reveal on-line interaction between all input variables in regard to the predicted one. The paper answers the main research question of how to understand the dynamic interaction of time series and on-line news through their integrative modelling. It offers a new method to evaluate the efficiency of using on-line news on the predictive modelling of time series. Results on financial stock time series and online news are presented. In contrast to traditional machine learning techniques, the method reveals the dynamic interaction between stock variables and news and their dynamic impact on model accuracy when compared to models that do not use news information. Along with the used financial data, the method is applicable to a wide range of other multimodal time series and news data, such as economic, medical, environmental and social. The proposed method, being based on SNN, promotes the use of massively parallel and low energy neuromorphic hardware for multivariate on-line data modelling.
Attention and feature transfer based knowledge distillation
Authors: Yang Guoliang , Yu Shuaiying , Sheng Yangyang , Yang Hao 
Published: October 2023

AbstractExisting knowledge distillation (KD) methods are mainly based on features, logic, or attention, where features and logic represent the results of reasoning at different stages of a convolutional neural network, and attention maps symbolize the reasoning process. Because of the continuity of the two in time, transferring only one of them to the student network will lead to unsatisfactory results. We study the knowledge transfer between the teacher-student network to different degrees, revealing the importance of simultaneously transferring knowledge related to the reasoning process and reasoning results to the student network, providing a new perspective for the study of KD. On this basis, we proposed the knowledge distillation method based on attention and feature transfer (AFT-KD). First, we use transformation structures to transform intermediate features into attentional and feature block (AFB) that contain both inference process information and inference outcome information, and force students to learn the knowledge in AFBs. To save computation in the learning process, we use block operations to align the teacher-student network. In addition, in order to balance the attenuation ratio between different losses, we design an adaptive loss function based on the loss optimization rate. Experiments have shown that AFT-KD achieves state-of-the-art performance in multiple benchmark tests.
Characterization of hypermetabolic lymph nodes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination using PET-CT derived node-RADS, in patients with melanoma
Authors: Gennari Antonio G. , Rossi Alexia , Sartoretti Thomas , Maurer Alexander , Skawran Stephan , Treyer Valerie , Sartoretti Elisabeth , Curioni-Fontecedro Alessandra , Schwyzer Moritz , Waelti Stephan , Huellner Martin W. , Messerli Michael 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Node Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) in discriminating between normal, reactive, and metastatic axillary LNs in patients with melanoma who underwent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Patients with proven melanoma who underwent a 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT) between February and April 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Primary melanoma site, vaccination status, injection site, and 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT were used to classify axillary LNs into normal, inflammatory, and metastatic (combined classification). An adapted Node-RADS classification (A-Node-RADS) was generated based on LN anatomical characteristics on low-dose CT images and compared to the combined classification. 108 patients were included in the study (54 vaccinated). HALNs were detected in 42 patients (32.8%), of whom 97.6% were vaccinated. 172 LNs were classified as normal, 30 as inflammatory, and 14 as metastatic using the combined classification. 152, 22, 29, 12, and 1 LNs were classified A-Node-RADS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Hence, 174, 29, and 13 LNs were deemed benign, equivocal, and metastatic. The concordance between the classifications was very good (Cohen’s k: 0.91, CI 0.86–0.95; p-value < 0.0001). A-Node-RADS can assist the classification of axillary LNs in melanoma patients who underwent 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Direct current conduction mechanism in the methyl acrylate–vinyl acetate composite thin films
Authors: Sheikh Md. Saddam , Bhuiyan A. H. , Rahman Mohammad Jellur 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPlasma polymerized (PP) methyl acrylate (MA) and vinyl acetate (VA) composite thin films were deposited onto glass substrate varying MA and VA monomer concentrations. Thickness of the composite polymers is observed to vary on the MA and VA monomer ratios, where MA is found more reactive. The FESEM images of the composite polymers show better surface morphology compared to those of the homopolymers. Appearance of broad absorption bands in the FTIR spectra of polymer indicates the structural changes compared to monomer during polymerization. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry indicate that composite films are thermally more stable (up to 617 K) compared to homopolymer thin films (563 K). The current density versus voltage (J–V) characteristics of PP(MA-VA) composite films (sandwiched between aluminum electrodes) with different MA and VA ratios showed that the J values of the composite films gradually increase with elevating VA monomer and also with temperature (298–373 K). On the other hand, this value increases with decreasing the thickness of the composite films, which complies with the other studies. The conduction of the thickness-dependent composite films showed Ohmic in nature in the lower voltage region (< 10 V) while the space charge-limited conduction is found to be dominated in the higher voltage region (> 10 V) operating over the entire range of temperature. The activation energy at room temperature was found to be ~ 0.019 eV in the Ohmic region and 0.260 eV in the non-Ohmic region.
Patient reported outcome measures and cardiovascular outcomes following high dose modern intravenous iron in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease: secondary analysis of ExplorIRON-CKD
Authors: Kassianides Xenophon , Bhandari Sunil 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntravenous iron is commonly used to treat iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD). There is a paucity of information on the potential impact of intravenous iron on patient reported outcome measures, functional status and markers of cardiovascular health. As part of the secondary analysis of this double-blind exploratory randomized controlled trial focusing on patients with iron deficiency (+ /− anemia) and ND-CKD (serum ferritin < 200 µg/L or transferrin saturation ≤ 20% and serum ferritin 200–299 µg/L; CKD stages: 3a-5), 26 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive ferric derisomaltose or ferric carboxymaltose. Participants received 1000 mg at baseline and 500–1000 mg at one month to achieve iron repletion. Quality of life and fatigue status were assessed using the Short-Form (36) questionnaire and the fatigue severity scale. Functional status was evaluated using the Duke Activity Status Index and the 1-min-sit-to-stand test. Cardiac markers such as NT-proBNP, Troponin T and pulse wave velocity were monitored. Intravenous iron was associated with similar improvements in most domains of the Short-Form (36) questionnaire, fatigue status, and 1-min-sit-to-stand ability increased significantly by the end of the trial in both groups (p < 0.001). Markers of cardiac function remained stable, with no arterial stiffness impact. Longer term studies are required to further evaluate the impact of intravenous iron on quality of life and cardiac safety in patients with ND-CKD.
SSH-DAuth: secret sharing based decentralized OAuth using decentralized identifier
Authors: Krishna Danda Prudhvi , Ramaguru R. , Praveen K. , Sethumadhavan M. , Ravichandran Kattur Soundarapandian , Krishankumar Raghunathan , Gandomi Amir H. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOAuth2.0 is a Single Sign-On approach that helps to authorize users to log into multiple applications without re-entering the credentials. Here, the OAuth service provider controls the central repository where data is stored, which may lead to third-party fraud and identity theft. To circumvent this problem, we need a distributed framework to authenticate and authorize the user without third-party involvement. This paper proposes a distributed authentication and authorization framework using a secret-sharing mechanism that comprises a blockchain-based decentralized identifier and a private distributed storage via an interplanetary file system. We implemented our proposed framework in Hyperledger Fabric (permissioned blockchain) and Ethereum TestNet (permissionless blockchain). Our performance analysis indicates that secret sharing-based authentication takes negligible time for generation and a combination of shares for verification. Moreover, security analysis shows that our model is robust, end-to-end secure, and compliant with the Universal Composability Framework.
Mitochondrial DNA copy number in Hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease: impact of direct-acting antiviral therapy
Authors: Elyamany Amany , Ghazala Rasha , Fayed Omnia , Hamed Yasmin , El-Shendidi Assem 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can regulate the number and dynamics of mitochondria, and is associated with a prominent hepatic mitochondrial injury. Mitochondrial distress conveys oxidative damage which is implicated in liver disease progression. The present study was conducted to assess the change of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and the impact of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Whole blood mtDNA copy number was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction at baseline and 12 weeks after the end of therapy in 50 treatment-naïve HCV-infected patients who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) after DAA therapy and 20 healthy controls. Whole blood mtDNA copy number appeared significantly lower in HCV-infected patients before therapy compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Post-treatment, there was significant increase of mtDNA copy number in HCV-infected patients at SVR12 compared to the pre-treatment values (P < 0.001), meanwhile it didn’t differ significantly between HCV-infected patients after therapy and healthy subjects (P = 0.059). Whole blood mtDNA copy number correlated inversely to the serum bilirubin in HCV-infected patients (P = 0.013), however it didn’t correlate significantly to the serum aminotransferases, viral load or fibrosis-4 score (P > 0.05). In conclusion, chronic HCV infection has been associated with a prominent mitochondrial injury which could mediate a progressive liver disease. The improved mtDNA content after DAA therapy highlights a possible potential of these drugs to alleviate mitochondrial damage in HCV-related liver disease.
Cesarean section and the risk of allergic rhinitis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Zixin , Xie Li , Liu Xiaohua , Chen JunRong , Zhou Yaqian , Zhang Jialin , Su Honghui , Yang Yide , Tian Mei , Li Jian , Dong Yunpeng 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMultiple evidence indicates that perinatal factors make impact on immune development and affect offspring allergic rhinitis (AR) risk. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined available published studies to clarify the relationship between cesarean section (C-section) and offspring AR in children. To explore the relationship between C-section, especially the special attention was paid to different cesarean delivery mode, and the risk of AR in children. Articles were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China knowledge Network, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal databases. A meta-analysis of 22 studies published before August 1, 2022, which included 1,464,868 participants, was conducted for statistical analysis with RevMan5.4. The correlation strength between C-section and offspring AR was determined by combining odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was detected using the funnel chart and Egger tests. Meta-analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between C-section and children AR (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27, P < 0.001), especially C-section with a family history of allergy (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.36–2.43, P < 0.001). Moreover, elective C-section (without genital tract microbe exposure) had the higher risk of offspring AR (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05–1.46, P = 0.010) compared with the whole study. Meta-regression demonstrated that sample size explained 38.0% of the variability between studies, and year of publication explained 18.8%. Delivery by C-section, particularly elective C-section and C-section with a family history of allergy can increase the risk of AR in children.
Classical analogue to driven quantum bits based on macroscopic pendula
Authors: Lorenz Heribert , Kohler Sigmund , Parafilo Anton , Kiselev Mikhail , Ludwig Stefan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractQuantum mechanics increasingly penetrates modern technologies but, due to its non-deterministic nature seemingly contradicting our classical everyday world, our comprehension often stays elusive. Arguing along the correspondence principle, classical mechanics is often seen as a theory for large systems where quantum coherence is completely averaged out. Surprisingly, it is still possible to reconstruct the coherent dynamics of a quantum bit (qubit) by using a classical model system. This classical-to-quantum analogue is based on wave mechanics, which applies to both, the classical and the quantum world. In this spirit we investigate the dynamics of macroscopic physical pendula with a modulated coupling. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate full control of our one-to-one analogue to a qubit by realizing Rabi oscillations, Landau-Zener transitions and Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana interferometry. Our classical qubit demonstrator can help comprehending and developing useful quantum technologies.