bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water contact angles on charged surfaces in aerosols
Authors: Shen Yu-Tian , Lin Ting , Yang Zhen-Ze , Huang Yong-Feng , Xu Ji-Yu , Meng Sheng
Published: March 2022

Interactions between water and solid substrates are of fundamental importance to various processes in nature and industry. Electric control is widely used to modify interfacial water, where the influence of surface charges is inevitable. Here we obtain positively and negatively charged surfaces using LiTaO3 crystals and observe that a large net surface charge up to 0.1 C/m2 can nominally change the contact angles of pure water droplets comparing to the same uncharged surface. However, even a small amount of surface charge can efficiently increase the water contact angle in the presence of aerosols. Our results indicate that such surface charges can hardly affect the structure of interfacial water molecular layers and the morphology of the macroscopic droplet, while adsorption of a small amount of organic contaminants from aerosols with the help of Coulomb attraction can notably decrease the wettability of solid surface. Our results not only provide a fundamental understanding of the interactions between charged surfaces and water, but also help to develop new techniques on electric control of wettability and microfluidics in real aerosol environments.
Power-law statistics of synchronous transition in inhibitory neuronal networks
Authors: Tao Lei , Wang Sheng-Jun
Published: March 2022

We investigate the relationship between the synchronous transition and the power law behavior in spiking networks which are composed of inhibitory neurons and balanced by dc current. In the region of the synchronous transition, the avalanche size and duration distribution obey a power law distribution. We demonstrate the robustness of the power law for event sizes at different parameters and multiple time scales. Importantly, the exponent of the event size and duration distribution can satisfy the critical scaling relation. By changing the network structure parameters in the parameter region of transition, quasicriticality is observed, that is, critical exponents depart away from the criticality while still hold approximately to a dynamical scaling relation. The results suggest that power law statistics can emerge in networks composed of inhibitory neurons when the networks are balanced by external driving signal.
Recent advances in two-dimensional layered and non-layered materials hybrid heterostructures
Authors: Ma Haixin , Xing Yanhui , Cui Boyao , Han Jun , Wang Binghui , Zeng Zhongming
Published: March 2022

With the development of Moore’s law, the future trend of devices will inevitably be shrinking and integration to further achieve size reduction. The emergence of new two-dimensional non-layered materials (2DNLMs) not only enriches the 2D material family to meet future development, but also stimulates the global enthusiasm for basic research and application technologies in the 2D field. Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, in which two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) are physically stacked layer by layer, can also occur between 2DLMs and 2DNLMs hybrid heterostructures, providing an alternative platform for nanoelectronics and optoelectronic applications. Here, we outline the recent developments of 2DLMs/2DNLMs hybrid heterostructures, with particular emphasis on major advances in synthetic methods and applications. And the categories and crystal structures of 2DLMs and 2DNLMs are also shown. We highlight some promising applications of the heterostructures in electronics, optoelectronics, and catalysis. Finally, we provide conclusions and future prospects in the 2D materials field.
Thickness-dependent magnetic properties in Pt/[Co/Ni]
n
multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Authors: Yan Chunjie , Chen Lina , Zhou Kaiyuan , Yang Liupeng , Fu Qingwei , Wang Wenqiang , Yue Wen-Cheng , Liang Like , Tao Zui , Du Jun , Wang Yong-Lei , Liu Ronghua
Published: March 2022

We systematically investigated the Ni and Co thickness-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) coefficient, magnetic domain structures, and magnetization dynamics of Pt(5 nm)/[Co(t
Co)/Ni(t
Ni)]5/Pt(1 nm) multilayers by combining the four standard magnetic characterization techniques. The magnetic-related hysteresis loops obtained from the field-dependent magnetization M and anomalous Hall resistivity (AHR) ρxy
showed that the two serial multilayers with t
Co = 0.2 nm and 0.3 nm have the optimum PMA coefficient K
U as well as the highest coercivity H
C at the Ni thickness t
Ni = 0.6 nm. Additionally, the magnetic domain structures obtained by magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy also significantly depend on the thickness and K
U of the films. Furthermore, the thickness-dependent linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance is inversely proportional to K
U and H
C, indicating that inhomogeneous magnetic properties dominate the linewidth. However, the intrinsic Gilbert damping constant determined by a linear fitting of the frequency-dependent linewidth does not depend on the Ni thickness and K
U. Our results could help promote the PMA [Co/Ni] multilayer applications in various spintronic and spin-orbitronic devices.
Observation of multiple charge density wave phases in epitaxial monolayer 1T-VSe2 film
Authors: Zong Junyu , Xie Yang , Meng Qinghao , Tian Qichao , Chen Wang , Xie Xuedong , Jin Shaoen , Zhang Yongheng , Wang Li , Ren Wei , Shen Jian , Chen Aixi , Wang Pengdong , Li Fang-Sen , Dong Zhaoyang , Wang Can , Li Jian-Xin , Zhang Yi
Published: March 2022

As a special order of electronic correlation induced by spatial modulation, the charge density wave (CDW) phenomena in condensed matters attract enormous research interests. Here, using scanning–tunneling microscopy in various temperatures, we discover a hidden incommensurate stripe-like CDW order besides the (

7

×

3

) CDW phase at low-temperature of 4 K in the epitaxial monolayer 1T-VSe2 film. Combining the variable-temperature angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopic (ARPES) measurements, we discover a two-step transition of an anisotropic CDW gap structure that consists of two parts Δ
1 and Δ
2. The gap part Δ
1 that closes around ∼ 150 K is accompanied with the vanish of the (

7

×

3

) CDW phase. While another momentum-dependent gap part Δ
2 can survive up to ∼ 340 K, and is suggested to the result of the incommensurate CDW phase. This two-step transition with anisotropic gap opening and the resulted evolution in ARPES spectra are corroborated by our theoretical calculation based on a phenomenological form for the self-energy containing a two-gap structure Δ
1 + Δ
2, which suggests different forming mechanisms between the (

7

×

3

) and the incommensurate CDW phases. Our findings provide significant information and deep understandings on the CDW phases in monolayer 1T-VSe2 film as a two-dimensional (2D) material.
Enhancement of functional corticomuscular coupling after transcranial ultrasound stimulation in mice
Authors: Xie Ping , Hao Yingying , Chen Xiaoling , Jin Ziqiang , Cheng Shengcui , Li Xin , Liu Lanxiang , Yuan Yi , Li Xiaoli
Published: March 2022

Objective. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), a large penetration depth and high spatial resolution technology, has developed rapidly in recent years. This study aimed to explore and evaluate the neuromodulation effects of TUS on mouse motor neural circuits under different parameters. Approach. Our study used functional corticomuscular coupling (FCMC) as an index to explore the modulation mechanism for movement control under different TUS parameters (intensity [

I

sppa

] and stimulation duration). We collected local field potential (LFP) and tail electromyographic (EMG) data under TUS in healthy mice and then introduced the time-frequency coherence method to analyze the FCMC before and after TUS in the time-frequency domain. After that, we defined the relative coherence area to quantify the coherence between LFP and EMG under TUS. Main results. The FCMC at theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands was enhanced after TUS, and the neuromodulation efficacy mainly occurred in the lower frequency band (theta and alpha band). After TUS with different parameters, the FCMC in all selected frequency bands showed a tendency of increasing first and then decreasing. Further analysis showed that the maximum coupling value of theta band appeared from 0.2 to 0.4 s, and that the maximum coupling value in alpha and gamma band appeared from 0 to 0.2 s. Significance. The aforementioned results demonstrate that FCMC in the motor cortex could be modulated by TUS. We provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the modulation mechanism of TUS parameters and clinical application.
Monte Carlo studies of the Blume–Capel model on nonregular two- and three-dimensional lattices: phase diagrams, tricriticality, and critical exponents
Authors: Azhari Mouhcine , Yu Unjong
Published: March 2022

We perform Monte Carlo simulations, combining both the Wang–Landau and the Metropolis algorithms, to investigate the phase diagrams of the Blume–Capel model on different types of nonregular lattices (Lieb lattice (LL), decorated triangular lattice (DTL), and decorated simple cubic lattice (DSC)). The nonregular character of the lattices induces a double transition (reentrant behavior) in the region of the phase diagram at which the nature of the phase transition changes from first-order to second-order. A physical mechanism underlying this reentrance is proposed. The large-scale Monte Carlo simulations are performed with the finite-size scaling analysis to compute the critical exponents and the critical Binder cumulant for three different values of the anisotropy

Δ
/
J
∈

0
,
1
,
1.34

(
for

LL
)

,
1.51

(
for

DTL

and

DSC
)

, showing thus no deviation from the standard Ising universality class in two and three dimensions. We report also the location of the tricritical point to considerable precision: (Δ
t
/J = 1.3457(1); k
B
T

t
/J = 0.309(2)), (Δ
t
/J = 1.5766(1); k
B
T

t
/J = 0.481(2)), and (Δ
t
/J = 1.5933(1); k
B
T

t
/J = 0.569(4)) for LL, DTL, and DSC, respectively.
Average trapping time on a type of horizontally segmented three dimensional Sierpinski gasket network with two types of locally self-similar structures
Authors: Zhang Zhizhuo , Wu Bo
Published: March 2022

As a classic self-similar network model, Sierpinski gasket network has been used many times to study the characteristics of self-similar structure and its influence on the dynamic properties of the network. However, the network models studied in these problems only contain a single self-similar structure, which is inconsistent with the structural characteristics of the actual network models. In this paper, a type of horizontally segmented three dimensional Sierpinski gasket network is constructed, whose main feature is that it contains the locally self-similar structures of the two dimensional Sierpinski gasket network and the three dimensional Sierpinski gasket network at the same time, and the scale transformation between the two kinds of self-similar structures can be controlled by adjusting the crosscutting coefficient. The analytical expression of the average trapping time of a random walker by a particular site on the network model is solved, which used to analyze the effect of two types of self-similar structures on the properties of random walks. Finally, we conclude that the dominant self-similar structure will exert a greater influence on the random walk process on the network.
Indoor air quality research within a furniture factory
Authors: Corlan R V , Ionel I , Boatca M E , Draghici A , Balogh R M , Bisorca D
Published: March 2022

Improving conditions and quality of life depends, among others, on the environment. People spend most of their time in a day inside buildings to work, sleep, eat, rest, and do sports and other activities. The article refers to a case study based on research on indoor environment within a furniture factory; the research is achieved via instruments for collecting diverse indoor parameters, such as temperature, CO2, PM (particulate matter) concentrations, noise, and humidity levels. All data recorded are needed to evaluate the conditions of the indoor climate in which the workers are activating. The measuring methods are shortly introduced and the IAQ (indoor air quality) index is expressed. The personnel activating in this factory is working intensely, standing up, and having to wear a mask considering the Covid-19 context. Thus, it is important to depict each aspect that might trigger a concern if IAQ limits are over passed, not mentioning the synergetic context of the diverse effects. Through revealing the IAQ, and the comfort/discomfort level PMV/PPD (predicted mean vote and predicted percentage dissatisfied) employees and company management can benefit from this awareness and enhance the behaviour in such a way that one might improve the indoor condition. The rapid and irreversible climate changes, mostly due to increasing pollution level and exhaust of greenhouse gases should push humanity to make more studies of this kind and, accordingly, realize the need of improvement and development of new solutions whereby one can sustain the indoor environment as proper as possible, in addition to the outdoor climate.
Modal analysis methods usage possibilities during virtual tests of designing multimedia mobile stages
Authors: Kałaczyński T
Published: March 2022

The paper presents the problems related to technical state identification of the complex technical objects on the example of multimedia mobile stages. Designing modularly oriented complex stage objects is a challenge in terms of maintaining exploitations conditions as well as minimizing risk and increasing safety. The obtained results confirm identification of the state by means variable modal parameters describing the modal model. The possibility of implementing modal analysis presented in the paper made it possible to assessment state and behavior of mobile multimedia stage constructions modules. That allowed to validate the obtained results with the stages of proceeding in the research process.
A sub-picosecond digitally-controlled phase delay
Authors: Dehmeshki D. , Frahm E. , Rusack R. , Saradhy R. , Tousi Y.
Published: March 2022

The use of precision timing measurements will be a major tool at the HL-LHC, where it will be used to suppress pile-up and to search for long-lived particles. To control a reference clock with sub-picosecond accuracy, we have fabricated in the TSMC 65 nm process a digitally controlled phase shifter. It is composed of a chain of 66 cells, each with a digitally controlled planar wave guide with either a short or long delay. With this a reference clock’s phase can be controlled to a precision of 200 fs with dynamic range of 12 ps.
Atlantic multidecadal variability and the implications for North European precipitation
Authors: Börgel Florian , Meier H E Markus , Gröger Matthias , Rhein Monika , Dutheil Cyril , Kaiser Jan Moritz
Published: March 2022

The North Atlantic exhibits temperature variations on multidecadal time scales, summarized as the Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV). The AMV plays an essential role for regional climate and is a key driver of the low-frequency variability in Northern Europe. This study analyzed the interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) control runs. The results showed that the physical mechanisms underlying decadal or longer time scales differ among CMIP6 models, which allowed them to be sorted into two clusters. For the first cluster, a significant coherence between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the AMV was found. Further, it showed a strong negative NAO response and decreasing precipitation over Northern Europe. In contrast, the second cluster showed no significant coherence between NAO and AMV. This non-coherent cluster developed a low-pressure anomaly in the subpolar gyre and showed increasing precipitation over Europe. Differences in the northward extension of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) between the two clusters were identified and linked to the different atmospheric responses. Our findings have important implications for European climate, since predictions of an increase or decrease in precipitation over Northern Europe will be model-dependent.
Identification of Critical Nodes in Water Distribution Networks
Authors: Mosetlhe Thapelo C. , Hamam Yskandar , Shengzhi D , Monacelli Eric
Published: March 2022

In this work, the problem of the identification of critical nodes in water distribution networks (WDNs) is investigated. A scheme is then put forward to identify critical nodes in WDNs. Mathematical formulations for the scheme put forward are provided in this work. Results show that the application of the scheme yields consistent outputs when applied to the various WDNs test cases. Furthermore, critical nodes could be ranked in order of their criticality based on the sensitivity index.
Morphometric Analysis by Using Remote Sensing & QGIS Approach to Evaluate the Aquifer Response of Two Sub Watersheds of Coastal Kerala
Authors: Deepa Varghese G S , Chadaga Mohandas , Lathashri U A , Salim Surumi Rasia
Published: March 2022

Global increase in demand of water resources stepped up due to climate change and increase in population, stimulates an efficient development, management and conservation of water resources by quantifying the available water within the catchment to bridge the gap between its demand and availability. Initiated at a watershed scale, it is important to quantitatively evaluate the geomorphological parameters, since all the hydrologic and geomorphic processes may be accounted and balanced within a watershed. This study presents an excellent morphometric characterization of Payppara and Tikovil sub watersheds of Meenachil basin, in the state of Kerala, India, evaluated using SRTM DEM at 30m×30m spatial resolution as input to QGIS. The important linear morphometric aspects like stream order, length of stream segments, bifurcation ratio, Rho coefficient, the areal morphometric aspects like form factor, drainage density, stream frequency, elongation ratio, length of overland flow and relief aspects like ruggedness number, watershed relief were calculated for a comprehensive understanding of the geomorphic characteristics of the watershed. The general terrain of Tikovil was found to be steep but it was relatively mild for Payppara. The gravity flow paths traced by few 4th order, 3rd order and 2nd order stream segments of Payppara were identified as potential groundwater recharge zones. The derived morphometric characteristics benefits a better understanding of the formation of erosive and permeable surface flow paths in response to precipitation, the principal input to the hydrological budget.
The Long-Term Success of Mandatory Vaccination Laws After Implementing the First Vaccination Campaign in 19th Century Rural Finland
Authors: Ukonaho Susanna , Lummaa Virpi , Briga Michael
Published: March 2022

In high-income countries, childhood infections are on the rise, a phenomenon attributed in part to persistent hesitancy toward vaccines. To combat vaccine hesitancy, several countries recently made vaccinating children mandatory, but the effect of such vaccination laws on vaccination coverage remains debated, and the long-term consequences are unknown. Here we quantified the consequences of vaccination laws on vaccination coverage, monitoring for a period of 63 years (1837–1899) rural Finland’s first vaccination campaign against the highly lethal childhood infection smallpox. We found that annual vaccination campaigns were focused on children up to 1 year old and that their vaccination coverage was low and declined over time until the implementation of the vaccination law, which stopped the declining trend and was associated with an abrupt coverage increase, of 20%, to cover >80% of all children. Our results indicate that vaccination laws can have a long-term beneficial effect of increasing the vaccination coverage and will help public health practitioners to make informed decisions on how to act against vaccine hesitancy and optimize the impact of vaccination programs.
AbDiver: a tool to explore the natural antibody landscape to aid therapeutic design
Authors: Młokosiewicz Jakub , Deszyński Piotr , Wilman Wiktoria , Jaszczyszyn Igor , Ganesan Rajkumar , Kovaltsuk Aleksandr , Leem Jinwoo , Galson Jacob D , Krawczyk Konrad
Published: March 2022

Motivation

Rational design of therapeutic antibodies can be improved by harnessing the natural sequence diversity of these molecules. Our understanding of the diversity of antibodies has recently been greatly facilitated through the deposition of hundreds of millions of human antibody sequences in next-generation sequencing (NGS) repositories. Contrasting a query therapeutic antibody sequence to naturally observed diversity in similar antibody sequences from NGS can provide a mutational roadmap for antibody engineers designing biotherapeutics. Because of the sheer scale of the antibody NGS datasets, performing queries across them is computationally challenging.

Results

To facilitate harnessing antibody NGS data, we developed AbDiver (http://naturalantibody.com/abdiver), a free portal allowing users to compare their query sequences to those observed in the natural repertoires. AbDiver offers three antibody-specific use-cases: (i) compare a query antibody to positional variability statistics precomputed from multiple independent studies, (ii) retrieve close full variable sequence matches to a query antibody and (iii) retrieve CDR3 or clonotype matches to a query antibody. We applied our system to a set of 742 therapeutic antibodies, demonstrating that for each use-case our system can retrieve relevant results for most sequences. AbDiver facilitates the navigation of vast antibody mutation space for the purpose of rational therapeutic antibody design.

Availability and implementation

AbDiver is freely accessible at http://naturalantibody.com/abdiver.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cost-effectiveness of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for First RecurrentClostridioides difficileInfection
Authors: Aby Elizabeth S , Vaughn Byron P , Enns Eva A , Rajasingham Radha
Published: March 2022

Background

Both the American College of Gastroenterology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2021 Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) guidelines recommend fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for persons with multiple recurrent CDI. Emerging data suggest that FMT may have high cure rates when used for first recurrent CDI. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of FMT for first recurrent CDI.

Methods

We developed a Markov model to simulate a cohort of patients presenting with initial CDI infection. The model estimated the costs, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of different CDI treatment regimens recommended in the 2021 IDSA guidelines, with the additional option of FMT for first recurrent CDI. The model includes stratification by the severity of initial infection, estimates of cure, recurrence, and mortality. Data sources were taken from IDSA guidelines and published literature on treatment outcomes. Outcome measures were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

Results

When FMT is available for first recurrent CDI, the optimal cost-effective treatment strategy is fidaxomicin for initial nonsevere CDI, vancomycin for initial severe CDI, and FMT for first and subsequent recurrent CDI, with an ICER of $27 135/QALY. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis at a $100 000 cost-effectiveness threshold, FMT for first and subsequent CDI recurrence was cost-effective 90% of the time given parameter uncertainty.

Conclusions

FMT is a cost-effective strategy for first recurrent CDI. Prospective evaluation of FMT for first recurrent CDI is warranted to determine the efficacy and risk of recurrence.
Automated Evaluation of p16/Ki-67 Dual-Stain Cytology as a Biomarker for Detection of Anal Precancer in Men Who Have Sex With Men and Are Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Cohen Camryn M , Wentzensen Nicolas , Lahrmann Bernd , Tokugawa Diane , Poitras Nancy , Bartels Liam , Krauthoff Alexandra , Keil Andreas , Miranda Felipe , Castle Philip E , Lorey Thomas , Hare Brad , Darragh Teresa M , Grabe Niels , Clarke Megan A
Published: March 2022

Background

Human papillomavirus–related biomarkers such as p16/Ki-67 “dual-stain” (DS) cytology have shown promising clinical performance for anal cancer screening. Here, we assessed the performance of automated evaluation of DS cytology (automated DS) to detect anal precancer in men who have sex with men (MSM) and are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 320 MSM with HIV undergoing anal cancer screening and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) in 2009–2010. We evaluated the performance of automated DS based on a deep-learning classifier compared to manual evaluation of DS cytology (manual DS) to detect anal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (AIN2+) and grade 3 (AIN3). We evaluated different DS-positive cell thresholds quantified by the automated approach and modeled performance compared with other screening strategies in a hypothetical population of MSM with HIV.

Results

Compared with manual DS, automated DS had significantly higher specificity (50.9% vs 42.2%; P < .001) and similar sensitivity (93.2% vs 92.1%) for detection of AIN2+. Human papillomavirus testing with automated DS triage was significantly more specific than automated DS alone (56.5% vs 50.9%; P < .001), with the same sensitivity (93.2%). In a modeled analysis assuming a 20% AIN2+ prevalence, automated DS detected more precancers than manual DS and anal cytology (186, 184, and 162, respectively) and had the lowest HRA referral rate per AIN2+ case detected (3.1, 3.5, and 3.3, respectively).

Conclusions

Compared with manual DS, automated DS detects the same number of precancers, with a lower HRA referral rate.
Towards a New Qualitative Screening Assay for Synthetic Cannabinoids Using Metabolomics and Machine Learning
Authors: Streun Gabriel L , Steuer Andrea E , Poetzsch Sandra N , Ebert Lars C , Dobay Akos , Kraemer Thomas
Published: March 2022

Background

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are steadily emerging on the drug market. To remain competitive in clinical or forensic toxicology, new screening strategies including high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) are required. Machine learning algorithms can detect and learn chemical signatures in complex datasets and use them as a proxy to predict new samples. We propose a new screening tool based on a SC-specific change of the metabolome and a machine learning algorithm.

Methods

Authentic human urine samples (n = 474), positive or negative for SCs, were used. These samples were measured with an untargeted metabolomics liquid chromatography (LC)–quadrupole time-of-flight-HRMS method. Progenesis QI software was used to preprocess the raw data. Following feature engineering, a random forest (RF) model was optimized in R using a 10-fold cross-validation method and a training set (n = 369). The performance of the model was assessed with a test (n = 50) and a verification (n = 55) set.

Results

During RF optimization, 49 features, 200 trees, and 7 variables at each branching node were determined as most predictive. The optimized model accuracy, clinical sensitivity, clinical specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 88.1%, 83.0%, 92.7%, 91.3%, and 85.6%, respectively. The test set was predicted with an accuracy of 88.0%, and the verification set provided evidence that the model was able to detect cannabinoid-specific changes in the metabolome.

Conclusions

An RF approach combined with metabolomics enables a novel screening strategy for responding effectively to the challenge of new SCs. Biomarkers identified by this approach may also be integrated in routine screening methods.
Gut hormones profile after an Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy and its relationship to delayed gastric emptying
Authors: Tham Ji Chung , Pournaras Dimitri J , Alcocer Bruno , Forbes Rosie , Ariyarathenam Arun V , Humphreys Martyn L , Berrisford Richard G , Wheatley Tim J , Chan David , Sanders Grant , Lewis Stephen J
Published: March 2022

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is common after an Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy (ILGO). The risk of a dilated conduit is the much-feared anastomotic leak. Therefore, prompt management of DGE is required. However, the pathophysiology of DGE is unclear. We proposed that post-ILGO patients with/without DGE have different gut hormone profiles (GHP). Consecutive patients undergoing an ILGO from 1 December 2017 to 31 November 2019 were recruited. Blood sampling was conducted on either day 4, 5, or 6 with baseline sample taken prior to a 193-kcal meal and after every 30 minutes for 2 hours. If patients received pyloric dilatation, a repeat profile was performed post-dilatation and were designated as had DGE. Analyses were conducted on the following groups: patient without dilatation (non-dilated) versus dilatation (dilated); and pre-dilatation versus post-dilatation. Gut hormone profiles analyzed were glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) using radioimmunoassay. Of 65 patients, 24 (36.9%) had dilatation and 41 (63.1%) did not. For the non-dilated and dilated groups, there were no differences in day 4, 5, or 6 GLP-1 (P = 0.499) (95% confidence interval for non-dilated [2822.64, 4416.40] and dilated [2519.91, 3162.32]). However, PYY levels were raised in the non-dilated group (P = 0.021) (95% confidence interval for non-dilated [1620.38, 3005.75] and dilated [821.53, 1606.18]). Additionally, after pyloric dilatation, paired analysis showed no differences in GLP-1, but PYY levels were different at all time points and had an exaggerated post-prandial response. We conclude that DGE is associated with an obtunded PYY response. However, the exact nature of the association is not yet established.
Volumetric assessment is superior to axial measurements in estimating the outcome of patients with acute uncomplicated type B aortic intramural haematoma
Authors: Chen Min , Yang Fan , Chen Lyufan , Liu Jitao , Luo Songyuan , Li Jie , Huang Wenhui , Liu Yuan , Fan Ruixin , Geng Qingshan , Chen Jiyan , Luo Jianfang
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to investigate the accuracy of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional computed tomography imaging features in predicting the progression of acute uncomplicated type B aortic intramural haematoma (IMH).

METHODS

This study retrospectively screened 140 patients diagnosed with acute uncomplicated type B IMH in our institution from January 2015 to December 2020. Patients were classified as exhibiting progression (aortic dissection, aortic rupture, aneurysm formation, ulcer-like projection depth >10 mm or >10% increase in the initial thickness of the aortic wall) and regression (completely or partially reabsorbed haematoma) based on follow-up computed tomography.

RESULTS

During the 11.4-month follow-up [interquartile range (IQR), 2.6–17.8], 55 patients had haematoma progression. The progression group had higher haematoma volume (HV) and total lesion volume [94.8 (IQR, 80.0–108.2) cm3 vs 40.3 (IQR, 30.8–57.9) cm3; 278.0 (IQR, 238.6–369.3) cm3 vs 197.3 (IQR, 152.8–235.9) cm3, both P < 0.001) and longer lesion length [43.2 (IQR, 37.5–46.7) cm vs 30.4 (IQR, 28.1–37.6) cm, P < 0.001)] than the regression group. According to the area under the curve, HV > 66 cm3 is the greatest risk factor for haematoma progression. In multivariable analysis, HV was a powerful independent predictive factor for type B IMH progression, with a hazard ratio of 17.9 (95% confidence interval, 5.5–58.7; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Volumetric parameters may help to predict disease progression more precisely for patients with acute uncomplicated type B IMH compared to standard axial measurements, which might optimize the initial treatment and follow-up protocol.
Cheerleading in Cyberspace: How the American Public Judges Attribution Claims for Cyberattacks
Authors: Leal Marcelo , Musgrave Paul
Published: March 2022

How does the US public evaluate claims attributing responsibility for a cyberattack? It seems plausible that political factors complicate how the US public judges attribution claims. In this article, we collect original survey data and use two survey experiments to explore this subject. Specifically, we analyze how cues and endorsements from partisan, intelligence, and independent non-governmental actors affect public confidence in attribution claims regarding the identity of cyberaggressors and support for retribution. We find evidence of polarization, particularly regarding perceptions of Russia's threat in cyberspace. To uncover whether this polarization results from partisan cheerleading or more sincere motivations, we conduct two experiments regarding political factors and attribution claims. In the first experiment, we find that respondents respond similarly to independent observers’ endorsements of attribution claims but that Democrats appear to respond strategically in a test of the link between attribution and retribution rather than endorse a proposal by then-President Trump. In the second experiment, we find that partisans respond similarly to intelligence and independent experts' evaluations of attribution claims, and that both respond much more favorably to independent experts than the intelligence community. Superficial polarization thus turns out to look more like partisan cheerleading.
C-Reactive Protein, Subjective Aging, and Incident Cardiovascular Disease: A Mediation Model
Authors: Skoblow Hanamori F , Proulx Christine M
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and an older subjective age are associated with a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease. We predicted that C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of stress-related inflammation, would mediate this relation.

Method

Data from up to 6 602 participants ages 50–101 in the Health and Retirement Study (2008–2018) were analyzed using logistic regressions with mediation. Subjective aging was assessed in 2008 or 2010, CRP was assessed 2 years later, and diagnosis of heart disease or stroke was assessed in the years from CRP measurement to 2018.

Results

Significant indirect effects occurred in all models, indicating that negative SPA and older subjective age are associated with a greater likelihood of heart disease and stroke through elevated levels of the inflammatory marker CRP.

Discussion

These findings suggest that psychological factors such as subjective aging impact cardiovascular health through physiological mechanisms, specifically markers of inflammation.
Evaluating the location capabilities of a regional infrasonic network in Utah, US, using both ray tracing-derived and empirical-derived celerity-range and backazimuth models
Authors: Dannemann Dugick Fransiska K , Blom Philip S , Stump Brian W , Hayward Chris T , Arrowsmith Stephen J , Carmichael Joshua C , Marcillo Omar E
Published: March 2022

More realistic models for infrasound signal propagation across a region can be used to improve the precision and accuracy of spatial and temporal source localization estimates. Motivated by incomplete infrasound event bulletins in the Western US, the location capabilities of a regional infrasonic network of stations located between 84–458 km from the Utah Test and Training Range, Utah, USA, is assessed using a series of near-surface explosive events with complementary ground truth (GT) information. Signal arrival times and backazimuth estimates are determined with an automatic F-statistic based signal detector and manually refined by an analyst. This study represents the first application of three distinct celerity-range and backazimuth models to an extensive suite of realistic signal detections for event location purposes. A singular celerity and backazimuth deviation model was previously constructed using ray tracing analysis based on an extensive archive of historical atmospheric specifications and is applied within this study to test location capabilities. Similarly, a set of multivariate, season and location specific models for celerity and backazimuth are compared to an empirical model that depends on the observations across the infrasound network and the GT events, which accounts for atmospheric propagation variations from source to receiver. Discrepancies between observed and predicted signal celerities result in locations with poor accuracy. Application of the empirical model improves both spatial localization precision and accuracy; all but one location estimates retain the true GT location within the 90 per cent confidence bounds. Average mislocation of the events is 15.49 km and average 90 per cent error ellipse areas are 4141 km2. The empirical model additionally reduces origin time residuals; origin time residuals from the other location models are in excess of 160 s while residuals produced with the empirical model are within 30 s of the true origin time. We demonstrate that event location accuracy is driven by a combination of signal propagation model and the azimuthal gap of detecting stations. A direct relationship between mislocation, error ellipse area and increased station azimuthal gaps indicate that for sparse networks, detection backazimuths may drive location biases over traveltime estimates.
Impact of minimum unit pricing on youth alcohol consumption: insights from Lebanon
Authors: Chaaban Jad , Haddad Joanne , Ghandour Lilian , Chalak Ali
Published: March 2022

This paper analyses the impact of introducing an alcohol minimum unit pricing policy on youth’s off-premise alcohol consumption. We rely on price elasticities derived using stated preference alcohol purchase data from a survey of 1024 university students in Lebanon. Selectively targeting drinks with high ethanol concentration by applying a minimum unit pricing (MUP) corresponding to the maximum price that respondents are willing to pay per beverage achieves a reduction in ethanol intake close to 0.23 l/month (∼28% of pre-MUP ethanol intake). Imposing a flat MUP corresponding to the average price respondents are willing to pay for all alcoholic beverages decreases ethanol intake by nearly half the reduction from the previous targeted MUP. This work provides evidence in favour of MUP in conjunction with taxation capable of substantially reducing alcohol consumption. We also document a positive welfare benefit of MUP.
‘Ecological determinants’ of health in the global south: practising sustainable consumption in Kerala, India
Authors: Simon-Kumar Rachel
Published: March 2022

Health promotion has long recognized the ecological determinants of health, underscoring the interconnections between planetary health, economic systems and human health. Despite calls for synergy across them, these domains are governed by fundamentally divergent paradigms leading to unaddressed conceptual and institutional gaps. Sustainability, meanwhile, is reduced to personal responsibility and behaviour change. This qualitative research explores ecological determinants through a focus on sustainable consumption in the under-researched context of the global south where rapid modernization has profoundly impacted the natural environment. The article uses the theoretical framework of ‘practice’—namely, the social routines, values, conventions and norms that drive consumption—to critically examine everyday household sustainable consumption in India’s southern state of Kerala. The findings show that in most households, sustainability is a health promotion practice. People practice sustainability fundamentally for its beneficial health outcomes. However, the institutional structures set up in favour of economic development continue to dominate society and is the paradigm that contextualizes everyday social life for consumers. The findings suggest that the practice of sustainable consumption is complex and caught in the space that is neither ‘upstream’ or ‘downstream’; instead, the focus on the ‘mid-stream’ reveals complex calculations that go into everyday negotiation of healthy living.
Understanding the complex genetic architecture connecting rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and inflammation: discovering causal pathways
Authors: Kasher Melody , Williams Frances M K , Freidin Maxim B , Malkin Ida , Cherny Stacey S ,   CHARGE Inflammation Working Group, Benjamin Emelia , Chasman Daniel I , Dehghan Abbas , Ahluwalia Tarunveer Singh , Meigs James , Tracy Russell , Alizadeh Behrooz Z , Ligthart Symen , Bis Josh , Eiriksdottir Gudny , Pankratz Nathan , Gross Myron , Rainer Alex , Snieder Harold , Wilson James G , Psaty Bruce M , Dupuis Josee , Prins Bram , Vaso Urmo , Stathopoulou Maria , Franke Lude , Lehtimaki Terho , Koenig Wolfgang , Jamshidi Yalda , Siest Sophie , Abbasi Ali , Uitterlinden Andre G , Abdollahi Mohammadreza , Schnabel Renate , Schick Ursula M , Nolte Ilja M , Kraja Aldi , Hsu Yi-Hsiang , Tylee Daniel S , Zwicker Alyson , Uher Rudolf , Davey-Smith George , Morrison Alanna C , Hicks Andrew , van Duijn Cornelia M , Ward-Caviness Cavin , Boerwinkle Eric , Rotter J , Rice Ken , Lange Leslie , Perola Markus , de Geus Eco , Morris Andrew P , Makela Kari Matti , Stacey David , Eriksson Johan , Frayling Tim M , Slagboom Eline P , Livshits Gregory
Published: March 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoporosis (OP) are two comorbid complex inflammatory conditions with evidence of shared genetic background and causal relationships. We aimed to clarify the genetic architecture underlying RA and various OP phenotypes while additionally considering an inflammatory component, C-reactive protein (CRP). Genome-wide association study summary statistics were acquired from the GEnetic Factors for OSteoporosis Consortium, Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research Consortium and UK Biobank. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to detect the presence of causal relationships. Colocalization analysis was performed to determine shared genetic variants between CRP and OP phenotypes. Analysis of pleiotropy between traits owing to shared causal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed using PL eiotropic A nalysis under CO mposite null hypothesis (PLACO). MR analysis was suggestive of horizontal pleiotropy between RA and OP traits. RA was a significant causal risk factor for CRP (β = 0.027, 95% confidence interval = 0.016–0.038). There was no evidence of CRP→OP causal relationship, but horizontal pleiotropy was apparent. Colocalization established shared genomic regions between CRP and OP, including GCKR and SERPINA1 genes. Pleiotropy arising from shared causal SNPs revealed through the colocalization analysis was all confirmed by PLACO. These genes were found to be involved in the same molecular function ‘protein binding’ (GO:0005515) associated with RA, OP and CRP. We identified three major components explaining the epidemiological relationship among RA, OP and inflammation: (1) Pleiotropy explains a portion of the shared genetic relationship between RA and OP, albeit polygenically; (2) RA contributes to CRP elevation and (3) CRP, which is influenced by RA, demonstrated pleiotropy with OP.
Contribution of marine zooplankton time series to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
Authors: Pitois Sophie , Yebra Lidia
Published: March 2022

Zooplankton play a central role in marine trophic webs, influencing both biogeochemistry and productivity of the oceans. Changes in their communities are important indicators of overall ecosystem health and global change impacts. With increasing exploitation and pressures on the marine environment, there is a growing need for high-resolution monitoring of marine zooplankton to provide detailed information about seasonal to decadal changes at local, regional, and global scales. This crucial knowledge is gathered mainly through long-term time series, which are key to characterizing and forecasting changes in marine zooplankton assemblages. In this Introduction, and through the articles included in this Themed Article Set, we bring together new insights, issuing from data time series, into zooplankton population dynamics. We also take up the application of such time series to the understanding of global change impacts on marine ecosystems and in providing advice on sustainable management of marine ecosystem resources and services. We highlight the importance of maintaining and supporting long-term marine zooplankton time series as key contributors to the development and advancement of the United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Goal 13-Climate action and Goal 14-Life below water.
Error estimates for DeepONets: a deep learning framework in infinite dimensions
Authors: Lanthaler Samuel , Mishra Siddhartha , Karniadakis George E
Published: March 2022

DeepONets have recently been proposed as a framework for learning nonlinear operators mapping between infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. We analyze DeepONets and prove estimates on the resulting approximation and generalization errors. In particular, we extend the universal approximation property of DeepONets to include measurable mappings in non-compact spaces. By a decomposition of the error into encoding, approximation and reconstruction errors, we prove both lower and upper bounds on the total error, relating it to the spectral decay properties of the covariance operators, associated with the underlying measures. We derive almost optimal error bounds with very general affine reconstructors and with random sensor locations as well as bounds on the generalization error, using covering number arguments. We illustrate our general framework with four prototypical examples of nonlinear operators, namely those arising in a nonlinear forced ordinary differential equation, an elliptic partial differential equation (PDE) with variable coefficients and nonlinear parabolic and hyperbolic PDEs. While the approximation of arbitrary Lipschitz operators by DeepONets to accuracy $\epsilon $ is argued to suffer from a ‘curse of dimensionality’ (requiring a neural networks of exponential size in $1/\epsilon $), in contrast, for all the above concrete examples of interest, we rigorously prove that DeepONets can break this curse of dimensionality (achieving accuracy $\epsilon $ with neural networks of size that can grow algebraically in $1/\epsilon $).Thus, we demonstrate the efficient approximation of a potentially large class of operators with this machine learning framework.