bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical implications of myeloid malignancy‑related somatic mutations in aplastic anemia
Authors: Liu Lingling , Zhang Danfeng , Fu Qiuhao , Wang Jingdi , Yu Jifeng , Chen Dandan , Wang Fang , Guo Rong , Xie Xinsheng , Jiang Zhongxing , Li Yingmei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAplastic anemia (AA) is a potentially fatal bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by a paucity of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells with varying degrees of cytopenia and fatty infiltration of the bone marrow space. Recent advances in genomics have uncovered a link between somatic mutations and myeloid cancer in AA patients. At present, the impact of these mutations on AA patients remains uncertain. We retrospectively investigated 279 AA patients and 174 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and performed targeted sequencing of 22 genes on their bone marrow cells using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Associations of somatic mutations with prognostic relevance and response to treatment were analyzed. Of 279 AA patients, 25 (9.0%) patients had somatic mutations, and 20 (7.2%) patients had one mutation. The most frequently mutated genes were ASXL1(3.2% of the patients), DNMT3A (1.8%) and TET2 (1.8%). In the MDS group, somatic mutations were detected in 120 of 174 (69.0%) patients, and 81 patients (46.6%) had more than one mutation. The most frequently mutated genes were U2AF1 (24.7% of the patients), ASXL1 (18.4%) and TP53 (13.2%). Compared with MDS patients, AA patients had a significantly lower frequency of somatic mutations and mostly one mutation. Similarly, the median variant allele frequency was lower in AA patients than in MDS patients (6.9% vs. 28.4%). The overall response of 3 and 6 months in the somatic mutation (SM) group was 37.5% and 66.7%, respectively. Moreover, there was no significant difference compared with the no somatic mutation (N-SM) group. During the 2-years follow-up period, four (20%) deaths occurred in the SM group and 40 (18.1%) in the N-SM group, with no significant difference in overall survival and event-free survival between the two groups. Our data indicated that myeloid tumor-associated somatic mutations in AA patients were detected in only a minority of patients by NGS. AA and MDS patients had different gene mutation patterns. The somatic mutations in patients with AA were characterized by lower mutation frequency, mostly one mutation, and lower median allelic burden of mutations than MDS. Somatic mutations were a common finding in the elderly, and the frequency of mutations increases with age. The platelet count affected the treatment response at 3 months, and ferritin level affected the outcome at 6 months, while somatic mutations were not associated with treatment response or long-term survival. However, our cohort of patients with the mutation was small; this result needs to be further confirmed with large patient sample.
Resin tapping influence on maritime pine growth depends on tree age and stand characteristics
Authors: Moura Mikael , Campelo Filipe , Nabais Cristina , Garcia-Forner Núria 
Published: April 2023

AbstractResin is a renewable forest resource that can increase the economic value of some forests in rural areas. Resin production is associated with climatic conditions. However, its impact on trees’ growth remains unclear. Here, we studied radial growth in six Portuguese Pinus pinaster forests that had been resin tapped for 5–7 years along a latitudinal and climatic gradient to understand whether resin tapping affects tree growth, and how it is affected by climate, stand and tree traits. Tree-ring width (TRW) on tapped and untapped trunk sides was compared before and during the tapping period. Tree-ring width decreased in the three youngest populations (< 30 years), with no changes in older populations (> 40 years), while TRW increased after resin harvesting began in the oldest stand (> 55 years). Annual resin-tapping impact (RTI), calculated as the ratio between TRW during tapping years and the 5-year average TRW before tapping, was below and above 1 in the younger and older stands, respectively. Among stand characteristics and across sites, RTI was negatively correlated with tree competition and positively correlated with TRW, cambial age, and tree height. Climatic conditions had a minor role on tree growth response to resin tapping. Our main conclusion is that the effect of resin extraction on growth is age-dependent. Our results encourage the co-production of resin and wood on maritime pine stands over 40 years old where resin extraction impact on growth is negligible.
Models of Cochlea Used in Cochlear Implant Research: A Review
Authors: Hrncirik Filip , Roberts Iwan , Sevgili Ilkem , Swords Chloe , Bance Manohar 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAs the first clinically translated machine-neural interface, cochlear implants (CI) have demonstrated much success in providing hearing to those with severe to profound hearing loss. Despite their clinical effectiveness, key drawbacks such as hearing damage, partly from insertion forces that arise during implantation, and current spread, which limits focussing ability, prevent wider CI eligibility. In this review, we provide an overview of the anatomical and physical properties of the cochlea as a resource to aid the development of accurate models to improve future CI treatments. We highlight the advancements in the development of various physical, animal, tissue engineering, and computational models of the cochlea and the need for such models, challenges in their use, and a perspective on their future directions.
QCBA: improving rule classifiers learned from quantitative data by recovering information lost by discretisation
Authors: Kliegr Tomáš , Izquierdo Ebroul 
Published: April 2023

AbstractA prediscretisation of numerical attributes which is required by some rule learning algorithms is a source of inefficiencies. This paper describes new rule tuning steps that aim to recover lost information in the discretisation and new pruning techniques that may further reduce the size of rule models and improve their accuracy. The proposed QCBA method was initially developed to postprocess quantitative attributes in models generated by Classification based on associations (CBA) algorithm, but it can also be applied to the results of other rule learning approaches. We demonstrate the effectiveness on the postprocessing of models generated by five association rule classification algorithms (CBA, CMAR, CPAR, IDS, SBRL) and two first-order logic rule learners (FOIL2 and PRM). Benchmarks on 22 datasets from the UCI repository show smaller size and the overall best predictive performance for FOIL2+QCBA compared to all seven baselines. Postoptimised CBA models have a better predictive performance compared to the state-of-the-art rule learner CORELS in this benchmark. The article contains an ablation study for the individual postprocessing steps and a scalability analysis on the KDD’99 Anomaly detection dataset.
Analyzing Human Search Behavior When Subjective Returns are Unobservable
Authors: Nakazato Shinji , Yang Bojian , Shimokawa Tetsuya 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe exploration versus exploitation dilemma is a critical issue in human information acquisition and sequential belief formation, and the multi-armed bandit problem has been widely used to address it. Because of its high descriptive accuracy, the SGU model, which combines SoftMax type probabilistic selection, Gaussian process regression type belief updating, and upper confidence interval type evaluation, has attracted much attention. However, this model assumes that the analyst has access to the returns from people’s choices, but in many realistic tasks, this assumption cannot be made because only choices are observable. Moreover, many of the returns are subjective. The authors introduce a new model-fitting method that overcomes this barrier and evaluates its performance using data sets derived from agent-based simulations and real consumer data. This approach has the potential to significantly broaden the range of issues to which the SGU model can be applied.
Empagliflozin attenuates intestinal inflammation through suppression of nitric oxide synthesis and myeloperoxidase activity in in vitro and in vivo models of colitis
Authors: Makaro Adam , Świerczyński Mikołaj , Pokora Kacper , Sarniak Barbara , Kordek Radzisław , Fichna Jakub , Salaga Maciej 
Published: April 2023

AbstractInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The incidence and prevalence of IBD are relatively high and still increasing. Additionally, current therapeutic strategies for IBD are not optimal. These facts urge todays’ medicine to find a novel way to treat IBD. Here, we focused on the group of anti-diabetic drugs called gliflozins, which inhibit sodium glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT-2). Numerous studies demonstrated that gliflozins exhibit pleiotropic effect, including anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we tested the effect of three gliflozins; empagliflozin (EMPA), dapagliflozin (DAPA), and canagliflozin (CANA) in in vitro and in vivo models of intestinal inflammation. Our in vitro experiments revealed that EMPA and DAPA suppress the production of nitric oxide in LPS-treated murine RAW264.7 macrophages. In in vivo part of our study, we showed that EMPA alleviates acute DSS-induced colitis in mice. Treatment with EMPA reduced macro- and microscopic colonic damage, as well as partially prevented from decrease in tight junction gene expression. Moreover, EMPA attenuated biochemical inflammatory parameters including reduced activity of myeloperoxidase. We showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors act as anti-inflammatory agents independently from their hypoglycemic effects. Our observations suggest that gliflozins alleviate inflammation through their potent effects on innate immune cells.
Finetuning Analytics Information Systems for a Better Understanding of Users: Evidence of Personification Bias on Multiple Digital Channels
Authors: Jansen Bernard J. , Jung Soon-gyo , Salminen Joni 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAlthough the effect of hyperparameters on algorithmic outputs is well known in machine learning, the effects of hyperparameters on information systems that produce user or customer segments are relatively unexplored. This research investigates the effect of varying the number of user segments on the personification of user engagement data in a real analytics information system, employing the concept of persona. We increment the number of personas from 5 to 15 for a total of 330 personas and 33 persona generations. We then examine the effect of changing the hyperparameter on the gender, age, nationality, and combined gender-age-nationality representation of the user population. The results show that despite using the same data and algorithm, varying the number of personas strongly biases the information system’s personification of the user population. The hyperparameter selection for the 990 total personas results in an average deviation of 54.5% for gender, 42.9% for age, 28.9% for nationality, and 40.5% for gender-age-nationality. A repeated analysis of two other organizations shows similar results for all attributes. The deviation occurred for all organizations on all platforms for all attributes, as high as 90.9% in some cases. The results imply that decision makers using analytics information systems should be aware of the effect of hyperparameters on the set of user or customer segments they are exposed to. Organizations looking to effectively use persona analytics systems must be wary that altering the number of personas could substantially change the results, leading to drastically different interpretations about the actual user base.
Processing Speed is Related to the General Psychopathology Factor in Youth
Authors: Kramer Eliza , Willcutt Erik G. , Peterson Robin L. , Pennington Bruce F. , McGrath Lauren M. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe relationship between the p factor and cognition in youth has largely focused on general cognition (IQ) and executive functions (EF). Another cognitive construct, processing speed (PS), is dissociable from IQ and EF, but has received less research attention despite being related to many different mental health symptoms. The present sample included 795 youth, ages 11–16 from the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center (CLDRC) sample. Confirmatory factor analyses tested multiple p factor models, with the primary model being a second-order, multi-reporter p factor. We then tested the correlation between the p factor and a latent PS factor. There was a significant, negative correlation between the p factor and PS (r(87) = -0.42, p < .001), indicating that slower processing speed is associated with higher general mental health symptoms. This association is stronger than previously reported associations with IQ or EF. This finding was robust across models that used different raters (youth and caregiver) and modeling approaches (second-order vs. bifactor). Our findings indicate that PS is related to general psychopathology symptoms. This research points to processing speed as an important transdiagnostic construct that warrants further exploration across development.
An ultra-lightweight efficient network for image-based plant disease and pest infection detection
Authors: Wang Beibei , Zhang Chenxiao , Li Yanyan , Cao Chunxia , Huang Daye , Gong Yan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPlant diseases and pest infections are major factors that undermine the growth of plants along with their life cycle. Optical image-based plant disease detection provides an efficient and low cost way for real-time plant growth monitoring and management. In recent years, the thriving development of deep learning techniques in a variety of communities has validated its great performance in image interpretation and understanding. Existing deep learning-based methods for plant disease classification mostly adopt convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that have been originally developed for general image classification purposes. These CNN architectures consist of a very large volume of training parameters, which severely hinders its applicability under scenarios requiring fast and flexible deployment on compact devices with limited computation powers. In this paper, an ultra-lightweight efficient network (ULEN) is proposed targeting image-based plant disease and pest infection detection. The proposed network consists of two parts, a deep feature extraction module that adopts residual depth-wise convolution and a classification module receiving multi-scale features enhanced by a spatial pyramid pooling layer. The network is constructed in a very compact design with approximately only 100 000 parameters, which greatly favors the demand for a lightweight model for practical needs. Two publicly available plant datasets collected at the indoor and outdoor environments were tested on two compact devices to validate its applicability under different scenarios. Compared with the state-of-the-art architectures, the proposed network showed superior performance with the least computation complexity and compelling classification accuracy.
Tracking Home-Owners’ Sentiments: Subjective Indices and Convergent Validity
Authors: Waltl Sofie R. , Lepinteur Anthony 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSurveys regularly ask home-owners to guess what their property might be worth in the current housing market. We develop suitable statistical techniques to construct hedonic and repeat-sales style house price indices from these owner-estimated values (OEVs). The resulting series are then linked to a large set of quality-adjusted residential property price indices estimated from transaction data allowing us to perform a variety of convergent validity tests. Based on results for 20 countries, several decades and different OEV elicitation techniques, we conclude that the“wisdom of the home-owner crowd”is sufficient to study objective house price dynamics. Yet, surveys fail to accurately measure house price levels.
Consumption and income expectations during Covid-19
Authors: Immordino Giovanni , Jappelli Tullio , Oliviero Tommaso 
Published: April 2023

AbstractUsing a survey of Italian households administered in November 2021, we study the effect of microeconomic and macroeconomic expectations about the health crisis and income growth on consumption expectations in 2022. The survey elicits individual-level indicators of income and consumption expectations, distinguishing between consumption at home, away from home, online and total. We find that expected household income and expected GDP growth are strongly related to consumption expectations; income risk is positively associated with expected consumption growth for richer households. Finally, our results indicate that health-related variables were not a major drivers of consumption expectations in 2022.
Activation of telomerase by TA-65 enhances immunity and reduces inflammation post myocardial infarction
Authors: Bawamia Bilal , Spray Luke , Wangsaputra Vincent K. , Bennaceur Karim , Vahabi Sharareh , Stellos Konstantinos , Kharatikoopaei Ehsan , Ogundimu Emmanuel , Gale Chris P. , Keavney Bernard , Maier Rebecca , Hancock Helen , Richardson Gavin , Austin David , Spyridopoulos Ioakim 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMyocardial infarction (MI) accelerates immune ageing characterised by lymphopenia, expansion of terminally differentiated CD8+ T-lymphocytes (CD8+ TEMRA) and inflammation. Pre-clinical data showed that TA-65, an oral telomerase activator, reduced immune ageing and inflammation after MI. We conducted a double blinded randomised controlled pilot trial evaluating the use of TA-65 to reduce immune cell ageing in patients following MI. Ninety MI patients aged over 65 years were randomised to either TA-65 (16 mg daily) or placebo for 12 months. Peripheral blood leucocytes were analysed by flow cytometry. The pre-defined primary endpoint was the proportion of CD8+ T-lymphocytes which were CD8+ TEMRA after 12 months. Secondary outcomes included high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. Median age of participants was 71 years. Proportions of CD8+ TEMRA did not differ after 12 months between treatment groups. There was a significant increase in mean total lymphocyte count in the TA-65 group after 12 months (estimated treatment effect: + 285 cells/μl (95% CI: 117–452 cells/ μ l, p < 0.004), driven by significant increases from baseline in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. No increase in lymphocyte populations was seen in the placebo group. At 12 months, hsCRP was 62% lower in the TA-65 group compared to placebo (1.1 vs. 2.9 mg/L). Patients in the TA-65 arm experienced significantly fewer adverse events (130 vs. 185, p = 0.002). TA-65 did not alter CD8+ TEMRA but increased all major lymphocyte subsets and reduced hsCRP in elderly patients with MI after 12 months.
Genetic perturbation of mitochondrial function reveals functional role for specific mitonuclear genes, metabolites, and pathways that regulate lifespan
Authors: Phua Cheryl Zi Jin , Zhao Xiaqing , Turcios-Hernandez Lesly , McKernan Morrigan , Abyadeh Morteza , Ma Siming , Promislow Daniel , Kaeberlein Matt , Kaya Alaattin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Altered mitochondrial function is tightly linked to lifespan regulation, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the chronological and replicative lifespan variation across 167 yeast knock-out strains, each lacking a single nuclear-coded mitochondrial gene, including 144 genes with human homologs, many associated with diseases. We dissected the signatures of observed lifespan differences by analyzing profiles of each strain’s proteome, lipidome, and metabolome under fermentative and respiratory culture conditions, which correspond to the metabolic states of replicative and chronologically aging cells, respectively. Examination of the relationships among extended longevity phenotypes, protein, and metabolite levels revealed that although many of these nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes carry out different functions, their inhibition attenuates a common mechanism that controls cytosolic ribosomal protein abundance, actin dynamics, and proteasome function to regulate lifespan. The principles of lifespan control learned through this work may be applicable to the regulation of lifespan in more complex organisms, since many aspects of mitochondrial function are highly conserved among eukaryotes.
Gene Drives as Interventions into Nature: the Coproduction of Ontology and Morality in the Gene Drive Debate
Authors: Boersma Keje , Bovenkerk Bernice , Ludwig David 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Gene drives are potentially ontologically and morally disruptive technologies. The potential to shape evolutionary processes and to eradicate (e.g. malaria-transmitting or invasive) populations raises ontological questions about evolution, nature, and wilderness. The transformative promises and perils of gene drives also raise pressing ethical and political concerns. The aim of this article is to arrive at a better understanding of the gene drive debate by analysing how ontological and moral assumptions are coproduced in this debate. Combining philosophical analysis with a critical reading of the gene drive literature and an ethnographic study of two leading research groups, the article explores the hypothesis that the development of and debate about gene drives are characterized by a particular intervention-oriented mode of coproduction. Based on the results of this exploration, we highlight the need for a broadening of the perspective on gene drives in which empirical, moral, and ontological concerns are addressed explicitly in their interplay rather than in (disciplinary) isolation from each other.
Modifying the Environment or Human Nature? What is the Right Choice for Space Travel and Mars Colonisation?
Authors: Balistreri Maurizio , Umbrello Steven 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAs space travel and intentions to colonise other planets are becoming the norm in public debate and scholarship, we must also confront the technical and survival challenges that emerge from these hostile environments. This paper aims to evaluate the various arguments proposed to meet the challenges of human space travel and extraterrestrial planetary colonisation. In particular, two primary solutions have been present in the literature as the most straightforward solutions to the rigours of extraterrestrial survival and flourishing: (1) geoengineering, where the environment is modified to become hospitable to its inhabitants, and (2) human (bio)enhancement where the genetic heritage of humans is modified to make them more resilient to the difficulties they may encounter as well as to permit them to thrive in non-terrestrial environments. Both positions have strong arguments supporting them but also severe philosophical and practical drawbacks when exposed to different circumstances. This paper aims to show that a principled stance where one position is accepted wholesale necessarily comes at the opportunity cost of the other where the other might be better suited, practically and morally. This paper concludes that case-by-case evaluations of the solutions to space travel and extraterrestrial colonisation are necessary to ensure moral congruency and the survival and flourishing of astronauts now and into the future.