The core purpose of a recommender system is to provide users with personalized recommendations, not just popular items. The current expert recommendation training paradigm in community Question Answering (CQA) scenarios, i.e., fitting a recommendation model is the loss function of the user’s behavioral data is lowered, making the model biased towards experts with higher popularity. This produces the dreaded Matthew effect where popular experts are recommended more frequently and become more popular. The problem of expert recommendation in existing CQA mainly focuses on the perspective of improving recommendation accuracy, while traditional recommender systems solve the popularity bias problem with inverse propensity weighting (IPW). However, the IPW method is highly sensitive to the weighting strategy, and the sparse interaction data in real scenarios causes estimating the propensity score to become difficult. In this work, we consider the intrinsic cause-cause relationship of the popularity bias problem in a new perspective. We find that the expert popularity bias mainly exists in the direct influence of expert nodes on the ranking scores, i.e., the intrinsic attributes of the experts are the reason why the expert recommender system gives too high ranking scores. To mitigate the popularity bias, it is an effective approach to answer the counterfactual question, i.e., what would be the ranking scores assuming that the model uses only expert attributes. To this end, we innovatively developed a causal diagram to illustrate the causal relationships among the factors in the expert recommendation process. During training, we utilize multi-task learning to quantify the contribution of each node to the final ranking score; during testing, we mitigate the popularity bias problem by constructing a counterfactual ranking score that removes the popularity of experts through counterfactual reasoning. It is important to note that our proposed scheme only achieves its purpose by modifying the traditional recommended learning process and is not specific to a specific model, so it can be easily implemented in existing methods. We demonstrated this experimentally on the latest six models in the current CQA. It is verified on the real data set of Zhihu question-answering community?, and the experiment shows that the algorithm can effectively mitigate the influence of popularity bias, while ensuring that the recommendation performance does not fluctuate greatly.

Understanding how plant communities are assembled is critical to explaining the functioning of ecosystems and the maintenance of biodiversity. The phylogenetic distance among species in a community (community phylogenetic structure) has been used to infer deterministic and stochastic assembly processes, albeit with criticisms. However, the effect of the phylogenetic scale (old versus young lineages) and spatial scale on measures of community phylogenetic structure are rarely tested especially in the boreal biome, yet essential to unravel different assembly processes that might operate across species in a community. We examined lineage-specific phylogenetic structure of six plant communities defined at the habitat scale, and the phylogenetic structure of communities defined at a plot level scale (1m2). We obtained vascular plant species lists for six habitats (arctic-alpine barren, bog, fen, kalmia barren, limestone barren, and serpentine barren) on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, and 73 permanent vegetation plots within three of the above habitats to estimate their mean pairwise phylogenetic distance standardized for sample size (SES-MPD). Contrary to the expectation under the stress-dominance hypothesis of phylogenetic clustering in challenging boreal environments, the majority of clades had random phylogenetic structure. However, we observed a pattern consistent across most habitats of a shift from phylogenetic clustering at the deepest nodes of the angiosperms to no phylogenetic structure at shallower nodes, suggesting that different assembly processes may be operating at different phylogenetic scales within a habitat. As expected, all vegetation plot communities at a fine spatial scale showed strong phylogenetic overdispersion likely explained by biotic interactions. Our lineage-specific approach to estimate SES-MPD proved useful to outline testable hypotheses on the evolution and role functional traits play in community structure and assembly of boreal habitats

As day length increases in spring, birds prepare to migrate and breed, relying on timing mechanisms shaped by selection to match ecological conditions suitable for reproduction. As the climate changes these mechanisms will determine how successful birds will be in keeping up. In this contribution, we review studies comparing free-living and captive migratory and resident populations of a songbird, the dark-eyed junco, as they diverge in behavior and physiology during pre-breeding (spring) despite co-occurrence in the same environment. We report on differences in mechanisms related to timing including photoperiodic thresholds, endocrine profiles of testosterone and corticosterone, and gene expression. We also provide evidence for genetic differences in timing among populations based on sustained differences in timing when populations were held in a common environment. We conclude that existing variation in pre-breeding physiology likely serves to match timing of migration and reproduction to the appearance of favorable environments where breeding occurs. Greater knowledge of mechanisms responsible for variation in timing will allow better predictions of future adaptation.

1) This pilot trial demonstrated utility of oral propranolol in management of epistaxis in HHT 2) Propranolol was effective in reducing the severity and frequency of nosebleeds in HHT, as measured by the epistaxis severity scale, and this improvement is mirrored by an improvement in global quality of life 3) Adverse effects were experienced by a minority of patients, with the most significant event being pitting oedema 4) Following cessation of treatment, patients demonstrated a trend of regression with worsening of epistaxis scores 5) Further investigation is justified by its favourable effects, wide availability, and minimal side effect profile

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide, which has been suggested to affect male fertility. However, reported evidence is scarce and inconclusive. Moreover, the putative effects of coinfections remain unveiled. In the present study, we analyzed male urogenital infection by HPV and coinfection with several other uropathogens, sperm quality and biomarkers of semen inflammation in a cohort of 205 men attending a urology clinic. A considerable prevalence (19%) of HPV male urogenital infection was found. Interestingly, HPV was detected coinfecting with at least one other uropathogen in most cases (74.4%). Notably, the most frequently detected coinfection was C. trachomatis (CT, 52% of cases). Remarkably, patients solely infected with HPV showed no significant alterations in conventional sperm parameters as well as reduced concentrations of IL-6 and leukocytes in semen. However, patients coinfected with HPV and CT showed significantly impaired sperm concentration and motility and increased levels of IL-6 in semen. These results indicate that HPV infection alone does not significantly alter sperm quality. However, the coinfection with CT decreases sperm quality and induces semen inflammation, suggesting that concurrent HPV and CT infection in semen represents a distinct clinical entity with particular characteristics.

As standardization work is ongoing for the upcoming generation of cellular networking (6G), exploring new technologies for low-latency, high-bandwidth fronthauling technologies becomes a crucial aspect for the overall system performance. Free Space Optics (FSO) has emerged as a light beam-based wireless communication technology that can be fulfill such requirements with the possibility of surpassing certain radio technologies. Consequently, in this paper, we investigate the possibility of employing FSO as a feasible solution for 6G fronthaul networks because of its promising characteristics in providing high bandwidth, low latency, and high flexibility. We review the main features of FSO and its primary use-cases in the 6G fronthaul. Building on these, we highlight the challenges that face the implementation of FSO in a 6G fronthaul environment, such as the influence of atmospheric conditions on signal dependability. In the form of recent solutions and techniques, we enlist possibilities to overcome these challenges. Furthermore, we outline potential future research directions including network slicing and resource allocation strategies for FSO-based 6G fronthaul networks to offer a complete picture. This way our comprehensive analysis aims to provide valuable insights into the prospects of employing FSO in the development of robust and efficient 6G fronthaul networks.

Although the role of the home in supporting early childhood development, early learning and school outcomes is well established, the perspectives of caregivers on child development and schooling outcomes are comparatively underexplored. This study was conducted with caregivers of children aged 6 to 10 years in Mahikeng, South Africa, and aimed to explore their practices and beliefs related to the interconnected developmental continuum of ECD, school readiness and educational outcomes. A mixed methods approach was used, with 290 caregivers participating in a household survey, while 18 caregivers participated in focus group discussions. Caregivers expressed beliefs that they played an important role in early language development and in socioemotional development for older children. However, their behaviour was not necessarily motivated explicitly by child outcomes. Additionally, many contextual factors constrain the ability of households to support child development. Caregiving interventions must be informed by contextual understanding and help to overcome these barriers.

The increasing climate-driven replacement of kelp forests by turf algae highlights the need for efficient biodiversity monitoring. Traditionally, monitoring turf communities involves species identification based on morphology, which is challenging due to their reduced dimensions and highly variable morphology. Molecular methods promise to revolutionize this field, but their real-world effectiveness needs to be evaluated. Here, we evaluate the performance of DNA metabarcoding (COI and rbcL markers) and morphological identification (in situ and photoquadrat identifications) to describe intertidal turf communities along the Portuguese coast. When comparing metabarcoding with in situ and photoquadrat identification, it was found that both COI and rbcL markers detected more taxa than the other two (277 and 140 vs 28 and 34 taxa, respectively). Metabarcoding also showed greater discrimination of turf communities between shores and regions, matching our knowledge of the geographical and climatic patterns for the region. However, certain taxa that were identified by in situ and photoquadrat approaches were not detected through metabarcoding, likely due to lack of reference barcodes or taxonomic resolution. Our multi-marker metabarcoding approach was more efficient than morphology-based methods in characterizing turf communities along the Portuguese coast, differentiating morphologically similar species, and detecting unicellular organisms. Additionally, although not the primary focus, the COI marker identified metazoans, which can be used in future ecological studies on species co-occurrence and algae-animal interactions. Metabarcoding emerges as a valuable tool for monitoring these communities, particularly in long-term programs requiring accuracy, speed, and reproducibility.

Brief report:

Introduction: Adenoidectomy is one of the commonest surgical procedures in children. Techniques vary, with different devices (curette, diathermy, plasma ablation, and microdebrider) and approaches (transnasal TN and transoral TO) in widespread use. A systematic review was performed to determine the efficacy, efficiency and outcomes of current techniques and approaches. Methods and analysis: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL were used during the literature searches. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: 3185 studies were identified, 17 were included in the systematic review. 1799 patients underwent adenoidectomy, with a post-operative complication rate of 8.67% patients (n=156). Common complications identified included vomiting 2.33% (n=42); haemorrhage: primary 0.83% (n=15), secondary 0.72% (n=13) and nasal obstruction 1.55% (n=28). The microdebrider had the lowest levels of blood loss (TN 12.26 ml vs TO 12.65 ml; p=0.93) and reduced operating time (TN 6.47 mins vs TO 8.63 mins; p=0.25). Conclusion: Adenoidectomy remains a safe procedure with few post-operative complications. The microdebrider has some advantages over other techniques.

Catheter ablation of premature ventricular contractions originating from the proximal left anterior fascicle via right coronary cusp

Majority of the proteome is constituted by oligomers and their function is governed by underlying protein-protein interactions. Interfacial residues, namely residues right at the interface of two protein chains, are known to confer stability and specificity in dimers. However, other interactions play a significant role in the formation and maintenance of oligomers in protein assemblies as well. Inter-protein bifurcated interactions are those where one residue simultaneously interacts with two residues belonging to two neighbouring protein chains. The characteristic features for such higher order interactions remain largely unexplored and unknown. In this study, we focused on r esidues specifically involved in b ifurcated i nteractions (referred as RBI). We examine the bifurcated inter-protein interactions by assembling a dataset of protein assemblies of known 3D structures. We have characterized the type of interactions and the residues involved in the interactions using parameters like energy contributions and conservation score. We find that the residues participating in bifurcated inter-protein interactions contribute more to the stability of the complex than other interfacial residues. Furthermore, we have presented examples where mutation of a residue involved in a bifurcated interaction results in detrimental outcomes. This study highlights the significance of inter-protein bifurcated interactions that contribute to the stability of multiple interfaces in protein oligomers and hence contribute to the expansion of the understanding of protein assemblies.

With an increasing share of the electricity grid relying on wind to provide generating capacity and energy, there is an expanding global need for historically accurate high-resolution wind data. Conventional downscaling methods for generating these data based on numerical weather prediction have a high computational burden and require extensive tuning for historical accuracy. In this work, we present a novel deep learning-based spatiotemporal downscaling method, using generative adversarial networks (GANs), for generating historically accurate high-resolution wind resource data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting Reanalysis version 5 data (ERA5). We show that by training a GAN model with ERA5 low-resolution input and Wind Integration National Dataset Toolkit (WTK; [[1]](#ref-0001)) data as the high-resolution target, we achieved results comparable in historical accuracy and spatiotemporal variability to conventional dynamical downscaling. This GAN-based downscaling method additionally reduces computational costs over dynamical downscaling by two orders of magnitude. GANs are trained on data sampled from the contiguous United States (CONUS), selected to provide a diverse sampling of terrain conditions, and validated on data held out from training, as well as observational data. This cross-validation shows low error and high correlations with observations and excellent agreement with holdout data across distributions of physical metrics. We additionally downscaled the members of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting Ensemble of Data Assimilations (EDA) for 2012–2015 and 2019–2023 to estimate uncertainty over the period for which we have observational data. We applied this approach to downscale 30-km hourly ERA5 data to 2-km 5-minute wind data for January 2000 through December 2023 at multiple hub heights over Ukraine, Moldova, and part of Romania. The geographic extent was motivated by the urgent need for planners in Ukraine to rebuild and decentralize the grid, which has been severely damaged by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Comparisons against observational data from the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) and multiple wind farms show comparable performance to the CONUS validation. This 24-year data record is the first member of the super resolution for renewable energy resource data with wind from reanalysis data dataset (Sup3rWind).

1 INTRODUCTIONRadiofrequency ablation has been demonstrated to be a low-risk and effective treatment for eliminating premature ventricular complexes (PVC).1,2 The retrograde transaortic approach is a widely used access route for the mapping and ablation of ventricular arrhythmias arising from the left ventricle, including the papillary muscles.1 It has been reported that some complications were associated with the retrograde transaortic approach, including iatrogenic aortic dissection, coronary damage, valve leaflets damage, complete atrioventricular block and so on.1,3 However, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) associated with the retrograde transaortic manipulation during radiofrequency ablation of PVC was rarely reported.4 In this case report, we shared a case of AIS encountered after the retrograde transaortic manipulation, during a procedure of PVC ablation.2 CASE HISTORYA 66-year-old woman (Height 164cm, Weight 72Kg) was referred for radiofrequency ablation of frequent PVC (Figure 1A), after the treatment of which by medication had been ineffective. She had a history of palpitation for one year. Her PVC burden was 14.5%, with a total of 12735 PVCs during the 24-hour Holter. Regular examination confirmed the diagnosis of hypercholesteremia (total cholesterol 6.08mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 4.16 mmol/L). No other disease (hypertension, diabetic mellitus, stroke) was recorded. Before the procedure, transthoracic echocardiography revealed the patient had normal cardiac diameters and normal left ventricular ejection function (68%).

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often results in significant cognitive impairments and neuronal apoptosis, presenting a critical challenge for effective therapeutic intervention. This study explores the potential of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in ameliorating PTSD-induced cognitive dysfunction and neuronal damage in a mouse model, with a specific focus on the modulation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) expression and its m6A RNA methylation. Using the single prolonged stress (SPS) model to induce PTSD-like symptoms, mice were administered NAC and subsequently subjected to Morris water maze and open field tests to assess cognitive performance. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and enzyme assays were employed to evaluate neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus. Methylation-specific RNA immunoprecipitation and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the regulation of ATF4 expression and m6A methylation. Results demonstrated that NAC treatment significantly improved cognitive function and reduced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. These effects were closely associated with decreased m6A methylation levels and reduced expression of ATF4. Silencing of ATF4 further diminished neuronal apoptosis and cognitive impairments, underscoring the crucial role of ATF4 methylation in PTSD pathology. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of NAC in PTSD, revealing a novel mechanism through the modulation of ATF4 methylation, and paving the way for innovative treatment strategies.

A document by Na Wang. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare sarcomatous tumor that presents infrequently as an osseous lesion of the spine. To our knowledge, few case reports exists regarding primary lesions of the lumbar spine with only one report indicating thoracic spine as a primary site. Case Description: We present a case of a 32-year-old female presenting with primary osseous SEF with complaints of axial and right sided thoracic back pain for 4 months. Imaging of the thoracic spine revealed a mass at T5 with vertebra plana and central spinal cord compression at T5-T6 without significant expansion of mass to soft tissues or adjacent vertebral levels. We performed a T5 corpectomy with posterior spinal instrumented fusion from T3-T7. Pathologic and immunohistochemical studies confirmed diagnosis of SEF. 1 year follow-up revealed no recurrence of disease and significant pain relief without neurologic dysfunction. Conclusions: In light of the extent of the vertebral body involvement, the severity of cord compression, and the patients associated neurologic symptoms, a T5 corpectomy with T3-T7 posterior fusion was performed. Given the nature of the spine, complete resection of these tumors is usually impossible and adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy may be necessary for resolution of disease.

Diffuse Multifocal Intracranial Hemorrhage Following Alteplase Infusion:A Case Image ReportAbdallah Alwali1, Mohanad Faisal2 and Naveed Akhtar3Internal Medicine Resident, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar.Internal Medicine Fellow, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar.Neurology Senior Consultant, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar.Corresponding Author: Abdallah Alwali, aalwali@hamad.qa