bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ab initio comparison of spin-transport properties in MgO-spaced ferrimagnetic tunnel junctions based on Mn3Ga and Mn3Al
Authors: Stamenova M. , Stamenov P. , Baadji N.
Published: February 2023

We report on first-principles spin-polarised quantum transport calculations (from NEGF + DFT) in MgO-spaced magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) based on two different Mn-based Heusler ferrimagnetic metals, namely Mn3Al and Mn3Ga in their tetragonal DO22 phase. The former is a fully compensated half-metallic ferrimagnet, while the latter is a low-moment high-spin-polarisation ferrimagnet, both with a small lattice mismatch from MgO. In identical symmetric and asymmetric interface reconstructions across a 3-monolayer thick MgO barrier for both ferrimagets, the linear response (low-voltage) spin-transfer torque (STT) and tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) effects are evaluated. A larger staggered in-plane STT is found in the Mn3Ga case, while the STT in Mn3Al vanishes quickly away from the interface (similarly to STT in ferromagnetic MTJs). The roles are reversed for the TMR, which is practically 100% in the half-metallic Mn3Al-based MTJs (using the conservative definition) as opposed to 60% in the Mn3Ga case. The weak dependence on the exact interface reconstruction would suggest Mn3Ga–Mn3Al solid solutions as a possible route towards optimal trade-off of STT and TMR in the low-bias, low-temperature transport regime.
A simple antigen-antibody reaction using ultrasmall FeCo nanoparticles
Authors: Tonthat Loi , Murayama Toru , Kobayashi Nobukiyo , Yabukami Shin , Ikeda-Ohtsubo Wakako , Arai Ken Ichi
Published: February 2023

In this study, we prepared ultrasmall FeCo nanoparticles (NPs) with a high magnetic moment and examined their antigen-antibody reaction for biodetection applications. The FeCo NPs were collected from the FeCo-BaF2 nanogranular film with Fe:Co:Ba:F = 14:11:21:54 at.%, by dissolving the film in water since the BaF2 matrix was deliquescent. The size of FeCo NPs was ∼5 nm and the saturation magnetization was estimated to be ∼15.30 kG (149.0 emu/g). The Candida albicans antibodies (abcam ab53891)-conjugated FeCo NPs were collected by using an ultracentrifugal separation (110 000 rpm, 90 min), they were then reacted with Candida albicans. The obtained result indicates that Candida albicans were absorbed successfully onto FeCo NPs, and the number of Candida albicans bound to FeCo NPs counted from the micrographs of the aggregates of FeCo NPs and Candida albicans increased significantly by adding sonication treatment of the film in water before binding them to the antibodies. The success of antigen-antibody reaction of ultrasmall NPs with high magnetic moment improves detection sensitivity as well as offers potential detection for smaller biomolecules.
Changing perspectives on early hominin diets
Authors: Teaford Mark F. , Ungar Peter S. , Grine Frederick E.
Published: February 2023

It is axiomatic that knowledge of the diets of extinct hominin species is central to any understanding of their ecology and our evolution. The importance of diet in the paleontological realm has led to the employment of multiple approaches in its elucidation. Some of these have deep historical roots, while others are dependent upon more recent technical and methodological advances. Historically, studies of tooth size, shape, and structure have been the gold standard for reconstructing diet. They focus on species-level adaptations, and as such, they can set theoretical brackets for dietary capabilities within the context of specific evolutionary moments. Other methods (e.g., analyses of dental calculus, biogeochemistry, and dental microwear) have only been developed within the past few decades, but are now beginning to yield evidence of the actual foods consumed by individuals represented by fossil remains. Here we begin by looking at these more “direct” forms of evidence of diet before showing that, when used in conjunction with other techniques, these “multi-proxy” approaches can raise questions about traditional interpretations of early hominin diets and change the nature of paleobiological interpretations.
Intentional release of native species undermines ecological stability
Authors: Terui Akira , Urabe Hirokazu , Senzaki Masayuki , Nishizawa Bungo
Published: February 2023

The massive release of captive-bred native species (“intentional release”) is a pervasive method to enhance wild populations of commercial and recreational species. However, such external inputs may disrupt the sensitive species interactions that allow competing species to coexist, potentially compromising long-term community stability. Here, we use theory and long-term data of stream fish communities to show that intentional release destabilizes community dynamics with limited demographic benefit to the enhanced species. Our theory predicted that intentional release intensifies interspecific competition, facilitating the competitive exclusion of unenhanced species that otherwise stably coexist. In parallel, the excessive input of captive-bred individuals suppressed the natural recruitment of the enhanced species via intensified within-species competition. Consequently, the ecological community with the intentional release is predicted to show reduced community density with unstable temporal dynamics. Consistent with this prediction, stream fish communities showed greater temporal fluctuations and fewer taxonomic richness in rivers with the intensive release of hatchery salmon—a major fishery resource worldwide. Our findings alarm that the current overreliance on intentional release may accelerate global biodiversity loss with undesired consequences for the provisioning of ecosystem services.
Meaning extensions of internet memes
Authors: Kang Ji-in , Jung Hanbeom , Kwon A Young , Kwon Iksoo
Published: February 2023

This paper explores the constructional properties of internet memes by conducting a case study ofIf 2020 was a(n) X(IYWX) memes within the framework of Viewpoint Spaces (Dancygier & Vandelanotte, 2017). By looking into constructional properties and viewpoint interactions at multiple conceptual levels evoked by the juxtaposition of text and an image, this paper aims to shed light on cases where extended meanings emerge as the cognizer’s expectation on the conventionalized use of the meme is flouted. IYWX memes reveal the meme maker’s stance toward the year 2020, either evaluative or depictive, with the help of the conditional construction and the pictorial presentation of X. This study also accounts for a third type, in which the de-conventionalized construal relies on the meme viewer’s expectation of the meme’s structure. This specific type is intriguing because it indicates that the conventional use of internet memes can be extended just as verbal constructions can.
Can the subaltern be heard?
Authors: Kasongo Mukile
Published: February 2023

This article examines translation strategies applied in the Russian version of Mariama Bâ’s francophone novel Une si longue lettre (USLL). The novel, which is often described as feminist, was translated into Russian during the period of late socialism, which was characterized by gradual societal changes involving the liberalization of the social order. Drawing on Spivak’s theorization of the subaltern and feminist translation, this article explores how the francophone African novel was translated into Russian and how specifically Soviet feminist discourses are reflected in the translation. Ultimately, this article argues that, by employing feminist translation strategies, the subaltern women characters in USLL were represented as less dependent on patriarchal structures and ‘inserted’ into the target culture as hegemonic subjects.
A quantum algorithm for Toeplitz matrix-vector multiplication
Authors: Gao 高 Shang 尚 , Yang 杨 Yu-Guang 宇光
Published: February 2023

Toeplitz matrix-vector multiplication is widely used in various fields, including optimal control, systolic finite field multipliers, multidimensional convolution, etc. In this paper, we first present a non-asymptotic quantum algorithm for Toeplitz matrix-vector multiplication with time complexity

O
(
κ
polylog
n
)

, where κ and 2n are the condition number and the dimension of the circulant matrix extended from the Toeplitz matrix, respectively. For the case with an unknown generating function, we also give a corresponding non-asymptotic quantum version that eliminates the dependency on the L
1-norm ρ of the displacement of the structured matrices. Due to the good use of the special properties of Toeplitz matrices, the proposed quantum algorithms are sufficiently accurate and efficient compared to the existing quantum algorithms under certain circumstances.
Simple informative prior distributions for Type A uncertainty evaluation in metrology
Authors: O’Hagan Anthony , Cox Maurice
Published: February 2023

The result of a measurement, including the expression of uncertainty in the measurement, should represent a carefully considered opinion based on the metrologist’s experience and expertise, as well as on the data and other information sources. This is the position of the Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM), where the requirement for such judgment is clear in the case of Type B (non-statistical) evaluation. However, when making Type A evaluations, involving statistical analysis of data, the GUM and related GUM documents implicitly consider the data to be the only relevant information. This perspective is unfortunate, and arguably unscientific, when, as is frequently the case, the metrologist could bring other relevant information to bear. Bayesian statistical methods allow the use of prior information in addition to the data in Type A evaluation and have been advocated by several authors. However, prior information is in principle subjective and, as in other fields, there is some resistance in the metrology community at large to embrace Bayesian methods using meaningful, subjective prior probability distributions. We address our paper to metrologists in measurement and calibration laboratories whose workload is such that new techniques will only be adopted if they have proven advantages and are straightforward to apply routinely. We present two prior distributions for use in the most basic of all Type A evaluations, where the data comprise a sample of indications assumed to be normally distributed. These distributions represent prior information about the observation error variance in a simple form that is readily justified in practice. We show the gains to be achieved by using these prior distributions, both in the single Type A evaluation and in a more complex measurement model, and present simple guidance for verifying their validity.
Simulation study of particle identification using cluster counting technique for the BESIII drift chamber
Authors: Xin Shuiting , Zhao Guang , Wu Linghui , Dong Mingyi , Li Gang , Sun Shengsen , Lou Xinchou
Published: February 2023

The particle identification of charged hadrons, especially
for the separation of K and π, is crucial for the flavour
physics study. Ionization measurement with the cluster counting
technique, which has a much less fluctuation than traditional
dE/dx measurement, is expected to provide better particle
identification for the BESIII experiment. Simulation studies,
including a Garfield++ based waveform analysis and a performance
study of K/π identification in the BESIII offline software
system have been performed. The results show that K/π separation
power and PID efficiency would be improved appreciably in the
momentum range above 1.2 GeV/c using cluster counting technique
even with a conservative resolution assumption.
Simulation of 14 MeV neutron-induced SEU in SRAM
Authors: Duan B.-h. , Xiong C. , Zhong L. , Zeng C. , Xiong J.-h.
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a full-physical methodology to simulate single event upset (SEU)
induced by 14 MeV neutron in static random access memory (SRAM). Nuclear-reaction simulator
TALYS is first utilized to acquire valuable information about the secondary particles generated by
nuclear interactions between 14 MeV neutrons with both silicon and oxygen nuclei. Based on Geant4
code, a tool named Gproton is used exclusively for the neutron/proton-induced SEU
calculation. Pioneering Gproton simulation is used to output SEU candidate events by traditional
critical-charge method and computing process is accelerated through a forced collision
definition. Afterwards, a commercial TCAD which has good compatibility with the input and output
files of the customized Gproton code is employed to distinguish the real SEU events from the
candidate SEU events randomly selected. By combining Gproton and TCAD, a calibrated cross section
of 14 MeV neutron-induced SEU can be obtained. The proposed method is applied to a 180-nm
commercial SRAM with six-transistor memory cell. Predicted SEU cross section is in good agreement
with experimentally measured value. The results present in this paper suggest that, for SRAMs
exposed in 14 MeV neutron, the combination of the material particle transporting simulation and
device TCAD modeling is a candidate method to provide reasonable predictions of the cross section of
SEU which improves the accuracy of the prediction effectively.
Wing kinematics measurement and aerodynamics of hovering droneflies with wing damage
Authors: Meng Xueguang , Liu Xinyu , Chen Zengshuang , Wu Jianghao , Chen Gang
Published: February 2023

In this study, we performed successive unilateral and bilateral wing shearing to simulate wing damage in droneflies (Eristalis tenax) and measured the wing kinematics using high-speed photography technology. Two different shearing types were considered in the artificial wing damage. The aerodynamic force and power consumption were obtained by numerical method. Our major findings are the following. Different shearing methods have little influence on the kinematics, forces and energy consumption of insects. Following wing damage, among the potential strategies to adjust the three Euler angles of the wing, adjusting stroke angle (φ) in isolation, or combing the adjustment of stroke angle (φ) with pitch angle (ψ), contributed most to the change in vertical force. The balance of horizontal thrust can be restored by the adjustment of deviation angle (θ) under the condition of unilateral wing damage. Considering zero elastic energy storage, the mass-specific power (P
1) increases significantly following wing damage. However, the increase in mass-specific power with 100% elastic energy storage (P
2) is very small. The extra cost of the unilateral wing damage is that the energy consumption of the damaged wing and intact wing is highly asymmetrical when zero elastic energy storage is considered. The insects may alleviate the problems of increasing power consumption and asymmetric power distribution by storage and reuse of the negative inertial work of the wing.
Simulation of potential endangered species distribution in drylands with small sample size based on semi-supervised models
Authors: Ci Mengtao , Liu Qi , Gui Dongwei , Zhao Jianping , Li Ze , Feng XinLong , Wang Guangyan , Wei Guanghui
Published: February 2023

Identifying suitable habitats for endangered species is critical in order to promote their recovery. However, conventional species distribution models (SDMs) need large amounts of labeled sample data to learn the relationship between species and environmental conditions, and are difficult to fully detangle the role of the environment in the distribution of the endangered species, which are very sparsely distributed and have environmental heterogeneity. This study’s first innovation used the semi-supervised model to accurately simulate the suitable habitats for endangered species with a small sample size. The model performance was compared with three conventional SDMs, namely Maxent, the generalized linear model, and a support vector machine. Applying the model to the endangered species Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) in the lower Tarim River basin (TRB), Northwest China. The results showed that the semi-supervised model exhibited better performance than conventional SDMs with an accuracy of 85% when only using 443 P. euphratica samples. All models developed using smaller sample sizes exhibit worse performance in the prediction of habitat suitability areas for endangered species while the semi-supervised model is still excellent. The results showed that the suitable habitat for P. euphratica is mainly near the river channel of the lower TRB, accounting for 13.49% of the study area. The lower Tarim River still has enormous land potential for the restoration of endangered P. euphratica. The model developed here can be used to evaluate a suitable habitat for endangered species with only a small sample size, and provide a basis for the conservation of endangered species.
Critical point counts in knot cobordisms: abelian and metacyclic invariants
Authors: Livingston Charles
Published: February 2023

For a pair of knots

K
1

K_1

and

K
0

K_0

, we consider the set of four-tuples of integers

(
g
,

c
0

,

c
1

,

c
2

)

(g, c_0,c_1, c_2)

for which there is a cobordism from

K
1

K_1

to

K
0

K_0

of genus

g
g

having

c
i

c_i

critical points of each index

i
i

. We describe basic properties that such sets must satisfy and then build homological obstructions to membership in the set. These obstructions are determined by knot invariants arising from cyclic and metacyclic covering spaces.
Convergence of a regularized finite element discretization of the two-dimensional Monge–Ampère equation
Authors: Gallistl Dietmar , Tran Ngoc Tien
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a regularization of the Monge–Ampère equation in planar convex domains through uniformly elliptic Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations. The regularized problem possesses a unique strong solution

u
ε

u_\varepsilon

and is accessible to the discretization with finite elements. This work establishes uniform convergence of

u
ε

u_\varepsilon

to the convex Alexandrov solution

u
u

to the Monge–Ampère equation as the regularization parameter

ε
\varepsilon

approaches

0
0

. A mixed finite element method for the approximation of

u
ε

u_\varepsilon

is proposed, and the regularized finite element scheme is shown to be uniformly convergent. The class of admissible right-hand sides are the functions that can be approximated from below by positive continuous functions in the

L
1

L^1

norm. Numerical experiments provide empirical evidence for the efficient approximation of singular solutions

u
u

.
Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for skin surgery and cosmetic dermatology
Authors: Burton Harry , Daunton Adam
Published: February 2023

A 62-year-old woman presented with a mass over the dorsal aspect of her left index finger distal interphalangeal joint that she reported had been present for at least 6 months.

A 62-year-old woman presents with a mass over the dorsal aspect of her left index finger distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), which she reports has been present for at least 6 months and is slowly growing in size and causing pain and changes to the nail. On examination, there is a smooth, firm and relatively immobile dome-shaped mass overlying the DIPJ that is mildly tender on palpation (Figure 1).
Rethinking British Militarism before the First World War: The Case of An Englishman’s Home (1909)
Authors: Melby Christian K
Published: February 2023

British pre-First World War culture has often been described as militaristic. An Englishman’s Home, Guy du Maurier’s 1909 play about a German invasion of Britain, forms part of this picture. Yet the message of the play was not clear-cut, and Edwardian society reacted as much with bemusement and criticism to the idea that Britain could be invaded as with militaristic fervour. This article investigates the reactions to du Maurier’s play, and sets it in the context of the wider invasion-scare and future-war genre, a popular element in late Victorian and Edwardian culture. The play was quickly linked with a recruitment drive for the newly organised Territorial Force, and its success has been interpreted as a sign of increased British uncertainty, militarism and xenophobia. However, the play was also mocked, its success as a recruitment vehicle was uncertain, and the audience interpreted the play in different and often contradictory ways. The article offers a reinterpretation and a critical assessment of the pre-war period, showing that Edwardian society was not as militaristic or fearful of invasion as has previously been argued. It presents a new interpretation of invasion-scare and future-war fiction, and a new analysis of the question of pre-war militarism in Britain.
Parallel and non-parallel phenotypic responses to environmental variation across Lesser Antillean anoles
Authors: Yuan Michael L , Jung Catherine , Frederick Jeffrey H , Fenton Calvin , de Queiroz Kevin , Cassius Jourdan , Williams Rudell , Wang Ian J , Bell Rayna C
Published: February 2023

Species whose ranges encompass substantial environmental variation should experience heterogeneous selection, potentially resulting in local adaptation. Repeated covariation between phenotype and environment across ecologically similar species inhabiting similar environments provides strong evidence for adaptation. Lesser Antillean anoles present an excellent system in which to study repeated local adaptation because most species are widespread generalists occurring throughout environmentally heterogenous island landscapes. We leveraged this natural replication to test the hypothesis that intraspecific variation in phenotype (coloration and morphology) is consistently associated with environment across 9 species of bimaculatus series anoles. We measured dorsal coloration from 173 individuals from 6 species and 16 morphological traits from 883 individuals from 9 species, spanning their island ranges. We identified striking, but incomplete, parallelism in dorsal coloration associated with annual precipitation in our study species. By contrast, we observed significant patterns of morphological isolation-by-environment in only 2 species and no signal of parallel morphological evolution. Collectively, our results reveal strong divergent natural selection by environment on dorsal coloration but not morphology.
Eikonal equation-based earthquake location with irregular surfaces
Authors: Zhang Qingyu , Ma Xiao , Nie Yufeng
Published: February 2023

Earthquake location is a basic seismological problem and has a key role in many quantitative seismic analyses. The significant anomaly of traveltimes observed in mountainous areas with irregular surfaces has made earthquake location a challenge. To cope with this problem, we develop an effective eikonal equation-based earthquake location method based on unstructured mesh for 2-D/3-D isotropic and anisotropic media with irregular surfaces. First, the location misfit function is established by the reciprocity principle. Then, we use a global search algorithm to find the optimal origin times and hypocentres. Afterward, we apply eikonal equation-based master-event relocation method to relocate earthquakes on lateral boundaries of the region where the location results may be biased. To accurately compute the traveltime in 3-D vertically transversely isotropic and tilted transversely isotropic models with irregular surfaces or interfaces, we also propose a 3-D iterative fast sweeping method for eikonal equation on the unstructured tetrahedral mesh. Finally, we verify the proposed method by performing numerical experiments in 2-D/3-D irregular isotropic and anisotropic models. The numerical tests indicate that the proposed eikonal equation-based earthquake location method provides an effective way to find accurate hypocentre and origin time in 2-D/3-D isotropic and anisotropic media with irregular surfaces, even for inhomogeneous complex structures. In addition, the eikonal equation-based master-event location method has also yielded promising relocation results.
Circulating triglycerides are associated with human adipose tissue DNA methylation of genes linked to metabolic disease
Authors: Rönn Tina , Perfilyev Alexander , Jönsson Josefine , Eriksson Karl-Fredrik , Jørgensen Sine W , Brøns Charlotte , Gillberg Linn , Vaag Allan , Stener-Victorin Elisabet , Ling Charlotte
Published: February 2023

Dysregulation of circulating lipids is a central element for the metabolic syndrome. However, it is not well established whether human subcutaneous adipose tissue is affected by or affect circulating lipids through epigenetic mechanisms. Hence, our aim was to investigate the association between circulating lipids and DNA methylation levels in human adipose tissue. DNA methylation and gene expression were analysed genome-wide in subcutaneous adipose tissue from two different cohorts, including 85 men and 93 women, respectively. Associations between DNA methylation and circulating levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were analysed. Causal mediation analyses tested if adipose tissue DNA methylation mediates the effects of triglycerides on gene expression or insulin resistance. We found 115 novel associations between triglycerides and adipose tissue DNA methylation, e.g. in the promoter of RFS1, ARID2 and HOXA5 in the male cohort (P ≤ 1.1 × 10−7), and 63 associations, e.g. within the gene body of PTPRN2 and COL6A3 in the female cohort. We further connected these findings to altered mRNA expression levels in adipose tissue (e.g. HOXA5, IL11 and FAM45B). Interestingly, there was no overlap between methylation sites associated with triglycerides in men and the sites found in women, which points towards sex-specific effects of triglycerides on the epigenome. Finally, a causal mediation analysis provided support for adipose tissue DNA methylation as a partial mediating factor between circulating triglycerides and insulin resistance. This study identified novel epigenetic alterations in adipose tissue associated with circulating lipids. Identified epigenetic changes seem to mediate effects of triglycerides on insulin resistance.
Myeloid FTH1 Deficiency Protects Mice From Colitis and Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer via Reducing DMT1-Imported Iron and STAT3 Activation
Authors: Liu Zhaoli , Arcos Mariella , Martin David R , Xue Xiang
Published: February 2023

Background

Myeloid cells are critical for iron and immune homeostasis. Ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) is essential for intracellular iron storage. Myeloid FTH1 is important in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. However, the role of myeloid FTH1 in colitis and colitis-associated cancer has not been determined.

Methods

Myeloid FTH1 deficient and wild-type mice were treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or azoxymethane (AOM)-DSS to compare their susceptibility to acute colitis or colitis-associated cancer.

Results

Myeloid FTH1-deficient mice fed with a high-iron diet were less susceptible to DSS-induced acute colitis than wild type mice. Mechanistic studies showed that myeloid FTH1 deficiency resulted in lower expression of an iron uptake protein divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and active phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the colon tissues. Our studies also showed that pharmacological STAT3 reactivation restored the susceptibility of myeloid FTH1-deficient mice to DSS-induced acute colitis. Consistently, myeloid FTH1-deficient mice fed with a high-iron diet had reduced DMT1, phosphorylated STAT3 and inflammation in their colon tissues, and were less susceptible to colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that myeloid FTH1 is required for colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer via maintaining of DMT1-iron-STAT3 signaling activation under excess iron condition.
The rule of justice
Authors: Endicott Timothy
Published: February 2023

Law can secure some aspects of justice in a political community. Yet the law should not generally prohibit injustices by private persons or give recourse against them. That would be tyranny. It may seem that the law should, by contrast, prohibit all injustices in the conduct of government, and give recourse against them. In this article I argue against that seemingly attractive idea. I do so by reference to three kinds of public injustice: in voting, in legislation, and in adjudication. I claim that those kinds of public injustice are not generally matters for the law. Preventing or repairing injustice is not enough to justify legal prohibitions or legal recourse against wrongs. The justification of legal measures depends on a political principle: that the law ought to make the political community a good one.
Conventions and practical interpretation in Westminster-type constitutional systems
Authors: Harding Andrew
Published: February 2023

This article focuses on what are termed “practical interpretations”—that is, constitutional interpretations given by the executive or legislative branch. It does so principally in relation to constitutional conventions in Westminster-type systems, which are normally not subject to judicial review. The argument is that these practical interpretations are of great significance, and more attention needs to be paid to them and to understanding how they are made, as they are at least equally important as judicial interpretations, in spite of expanding judicial review of conventions. In order to establish how nonjudicial interpretation operates, the discussion goes beyond the United Kingdom to consider how certain conventions, when transplanted elsewhere, receive very different interpretations. In the course of making this argument, the article explores the constitutional importance of practical interpretation, examining in the process the extent of judicial review of conventions.
The concept of coup d’état under stifling stress: Legal theory’s political-science–based response
Authors: Barrios-Suvelza Franz Xavier
Published: February 2023

The resignation of the Bolivian President Morales in November 2019 has sparked an international polemic over whether a coup d’état took place. This article concludes that the assumption of a coup d’état would be misleading. The problems faced by the Bolivian case stem not only from the lax manner in which scholars have gathered facts, but also from the fact that the concept of coup may have reached its limits. Building on a legal approach, this article proposes a new conceptual strategy that overcomes both the under-theorization of the (partial) legal order variable used to define a coup and the underrating of this variable. Introducing this variable as the target during an anomalous seizure of executive power means moving from a threefold to a fourfold conceptual scheme of definition (victim, perpetrator, tactic, and target). A coup must not only be illegal but must also break the partial legal order. As a result, the notion of regime restoration is proposed for cases in which the partial legal order underlying the regime has already been broken by the overthrown ruler well prior to the day of their anomalous exit.
On the rate of convergence of a numerical scheme for Fractional conservation laws with noise
Authors: Koley Ujjwal , Vallet Guy
Published: February 2023

We consider a semidiscrete finite volume scheme for a degenerate fractional conservation law driven by a cylindrical Wiener process. Making use of the bounded variation (BV) estimates, and a clever adaptation of classical Kružkov theory, we provide estimates on the rate of convergence for approximate solutions to degenerate fractional problems. The main difficulty stems from the degenerate fractional operator and requires a significant departure from the existing strategy to establish Kato’s type of inequality. Indeed, recasting the mathematical framework recently developed in Bhauryal et al. (2021, J. Differential Equations, 284, 433–521), we establish such Kato’s type of inequality for a finite volume scheme. Finally, as an application of this theory, we demonstrate numerical convergence rates.
Antimicrobial consumption and drug utilization patterns among COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients
Authors: Antunes Bianca B P , Silva Amanda A B , Nunes Patricia H C , Martin-Loeches Ignacio , Kurtz Pedro , Hamacher Silvio , Bozza Fernando A
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To understand differences in antimicrobial use between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. To compare two metrics commonly used for antimicrobial use: Defined Daily Dose (DDD) and Days of Therapy (DOT). To analyse the order in which antimicrobials were prescribed to COVID-19 patients using process mining techniques.

Methods

We analysed data regarding all ICU admissions from 1 January 2018 to 14 September 2020, in 17 Brazilian hospitals. Our main outcome was the antimicrobial use estimated by the DDD and DOT (Days of Therapy). We compared clinical characteristics and antimicrobial consumption between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. We used process mining to evaluate the order in which the antimicrobial schemes were prescribed to each COVID-19 patient.

Results

We analysed 68 405 patients admitted before the pandemic, 12 319 non-COVID-19 patients and 3240 COVID-19 patients. Comparing those admitted during the pandemic, the COVID-19 patients required advanced respiratory support more often (42% versus 12%). They also had longer ICU length of stay (6 versus 3 days), higher ICU mortality (18% versus 5.4%) and greater use of antimicrobials (70% versus 39%). Most of the COVID-19 treatments started with penicillins with ß-lactamase inhibitors (30%), third-generation cephalosporins (22%), or macrolides in combination with penicillins (19%).

Conclusions

Antimicrobial prescription increased in Brazilian ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first months of the epidemic. We identified greater use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials by COVID-19 patients. Overall, the DDD metric overestimated antimicrobial use compared with the DOT metric.
Comprehensive analysis of germline drivers in endometrial cancer
Authors: Gordhandas Sushmita , Rios-Doria Eric , Cadoo Karen A , Catchings Amanda , Maio Anna , Kemel Yelena , Sheehan Margaret , Ranganathan Megha , Green Dina , Aryamvally Anjali , Arnold Angela G , Salo-Mullen Erin , Manning-Geist Beryl , Sia Tiffany , Selenica Pier , Da Cruz Paula Arnaud , Vanderbilt Chad , Misyura Maksym , Leitao Mario M , Mueller Jennifer J , Makker Vicky , Rubinstein Maria , Friedman Claire F , Zhou Qin , Iasonos Alexia , Latham Alicia , Carlo Maria I , Murciano-Goroff Yonina R , Will Marie , Walsh Michael F , Issa Bhaloo Shirin , Ellenson Lora H , Ceyhan-Birsoy Ozge , Berger Michael F , Robson Mark E , Abu-Rustum Nadeem , Aghajanian Carol , Offit Kenneth , Stadler Zsofia , Weigelt Britta , Mandelker Diana L , Liu Ying L
Published: February 2023

Background

We sought to determine the prevalence of germline pathogenic variants (gPVs) in unselected patients with endometrial cancer (EC), define biallelic gPVs within tumors, and describe their associations with clinicopathologic features.

Methods

Germline assessment of at least 76 cancer predisposition genes was performed in patients with EC undergoing clinical tumor-normal Memorial Sloan Kettering–Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT) sequencing from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2021. In patients with gPVs, biallelic alterations in ECs were identified through analysis of loss of heterozygosity and somatic PVs. Clinicopathologic variables were compared using nonparametric tests.

Results

Of 1625 patients with EC, 216 (13%) had gPVs, and 15 patients had 2 gPVs. There were 231 gPVs in 35 genes (75 [32%] high penetrance; 39 [17%] moderate penetrance; and 117 [51%] low, recessive, or uncertain penetrance). Compared with those without gPVs, patients with gPVs were younger (P = .002), more often White (P = .009), and less obese (P = .025) and had differences in distribution of tumor histology (P = .017) and molecular subtype (P < .001). Among 231 gPVs, 74 (32%) exhibited biallelic inactivation within tumors. For high-penetrance gPVs, 63% (47 of 75) of ECs had biallelic alterations, primarily affecting mismatch repair (MMR) and homologous recombination related genes, including BRCA1,BRCA2, RAD51D, and PALB2. Biallelic inactivation varied across molecular subtypes with highest rates in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or copy-number (CN)–high subtypes (3 of 12 [25%] POLE, 30 of 77 [39%] MSI-H, 27 of 60 [45%] CN-high, 9 of 57 [16%] CN-low; P < .001).

Conclusions

Of unselected patients with EC, 13% had gPVs, with 63% of gPVs in high-penetrance genes (MMR and homologous recombination) exhibiting biallelic inactivation, potentially driving cancer development. This supports germline assessment in EC given implications for treatment and cancer prevention.
Mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas associated with pancreatic pseudocyst
Authors: Horiuchi Atsushi , Akehi Shun , Abe Yousuke , Ichikawa Nanako , Kawaharada Sakura , Kitazawa Sohei , Kitazawa Riko
Published: February 2023

Mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas is considered as a premalignant lesion, and resection is recommended. The majority of pancreatic cystic lesions are pancreatic pseudocysts, so differentiation between mucinous cystadenoma and pseudocyst is frequently required. We report a rare case of mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas coexisting with pseudocyst. A 43-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. Imaging examinations showed a large cystic lesion in the tail of the pancreas, and distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. Pathological examination revealed that the majority of the cystic wall comprised thick collagen fibrous connective tissue, while part of the cystic wall represented a single layer of columnar, mucin-producing epithelium without atypia. Those findings suggested mucinous cystadenoma with an inflammatory pseudocyst. The mixture of mucinous cystadenoma and pseudocyst within the same cystic lesion appears to be very rare. Complete resection of the cystic lesion seems to allow an excellent prognosis.
Kwashiorkor after gastric bypass
Authors: Howell Raelina S , Shah Shrey , Khan Saila , Brathwaite Collin E M , Petrone Patrizio , Levine Jun
Published: February 2023

Gastric bypass has grown in popularity in recent years due to its high efficacy in achieving long-term weight loss in patients with morbid obesity. Gastric bypass has been described to further exacerbate baseline nutritional deficiencies due to reduced gastric capacity and malabsorption. In rare cases, when protein deficiency is severe, Kwashiorkor disease may arise. The incidence of Kwashiorkor specifically following gastric bypass is rare, with an incidence of 4.7%. We report a case of a female patient who underwent a gastric bypass and subsequently developed Kwashiorkor. Physicians’ suspicion of index for Kwashiorkor should be high for patients presenting with signs or symptoms of severe malnutrition following weight-loss procedures.
The bacco simulation project: bacco hybrid Lagrangian bias expansion model in redshift space
Authors: Pellejero Ibañez Marcos , Angulo Raul E , Zennaro Matteo , Stücker Jens , Contreras Sergio , Aricò Giovanni , Maion Francisco
Published: February 2023

We present an emulator that accurately predicts the power spectrum of galaxies in redshift space as a function of cosmological parameters. Our emulator is based on a second-order Lagrangian bias expansion that is displaced to Eulerian space using cosmological N-body simulations. Redshift space distortions are then imprinted using the non-linear velocity field of simulated particles and haloes. We build the emulator using a forward neural network trained with the simulations of the BACCO project, which covers an eight-dimensional parameter space including massive neutrinos and dynamical dark energy. We show that our emulator provides unbiased cosmological constraints from the monopole, quadrupole, and hexadecapole of a mock galaxy catalogue that mimics the BOSS-CMASS sample down to non-linear scales ($k\sim 0.6{h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}}$). This work opens up the possibility of robustly extracting cosmological information from small scales using observations of the large-scale structure of the universe.
Anti-CRISPR AcrIIC5 is a dsDNA mimic that inhibits type II-C Cas9 effectors by blocking PAM recognition
Authors: Sun Wei , Zhao Xiaolong , Wang Jinlong , Yang Xiaoqi , Cheng Zhi , Liu Shuo , Wang Jiuyu , Sheng Gang , Wang Yanli
Published: February 2023

Anti-CRISPR proteins are encoded by phages to inhibit the CRISPR-Cas systems of the hosts. AcrIIC5 inhibits several naturally high-fidelity type II-C Cas9 enzymes, including orthologs from Neisseria meningitidis (Nme1Cas9) and Simonsiella muelleri (SmuCas9). Here, we solve the structure of AcrIIC5 in complex with Nme1Cas9 and sgRNA. We show that AcrIIC5 adopts a novel fold to mimic the size and charge distribution of double-stranded DNA, and uses its negatively charged grooves to bind and occlude the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) binding site in the target DNA cleft of Cas9. AcrIIC5 is positioned into the crevice between the WED and PI domains of Cas9, and one end of the anti-CRISPR interacts with the phosphate lock loop and a linker between the RuvC and BH domains. We employ biochemical and mutational analyses to build a model for AcrIIC5’s mechanism of action, and identify residues on both the anti-CRISPR and Cas9 that are important for their interaction and inhibition. Together, the structure and mechanism of AcrIIC5 reveal convergent evolution among disparate anti-CRISPR proteins that use a DNA-mimic strategy to inhibit diverse CRISPR-Cas surveillance complexes, and provide new insights into a tool for potent inhibition of type II-C Cas9 orthologs.
Promoting sustainable investment through financial architecture reform
Authors: Triggs Adam
Published: February 2023

The global financial architecture is struggling to facilitate the sustainable investment needed to address climate change. Some argue that if the Basel III global capital rules treated environmentally friendly assets as being safer forms of capital, banks would be incentivized to hold more of these assets on their balance sheets and extend more green debt, promoting sustainable investment. This paper explores the possible impacts of this reform by combining firm-level environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data with a global general equilibrium model. It finds that the reform would result in a significant reallocation of capital, goods, and services across sectors and economies. It finds that while the reform could significantly increase investment, the investment is not necessarily sustainable and not all countries benefit from cooperation. The paper identifies a range of challenges that need to be overcome for these results to hold, including the reliability of ESG data, inconsistencies in taxonomies and methodologies, and further analysis confirming whether green firms are indeed safer borrowers. The paper argues that the G20 is well placed to address these challenges and outlines an agenda to achieve it.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for Rapid Detection of Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex and Phylotype I in Solanaceous Crops
Authors: Robène Isabelle , Maillot-Lebon Véronique , Pecrix Yann , Ravelomanantsoa Santatra , Massé Delphine , Jouen Emmanuel , Rasoamanana Hasina , Fenelon Babbitha , Javegny Stéphanie , Seguin Marc , Lebon Sylvain , Poussier Stéphane , Pruvost Olivier
Published: February 2023

The Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) causes bacterial wilt diseases, which affect a wide range of plant hosts, including Solanaceae, and is of major economic importance. Point-of-care (POC) techniques such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) enable the rapid and sensitive detection of plant pathogens and can be deployed directly in the field. For fast and reliable diagnosis on site, we optimized an RSSC-LAMP assay and developed a real-time LAMP assay targeting the phylotype I. Both LAMPs were highly specific, yielding negative results for a wide collection of nontarget strains and positive results for all target strains, except for two particular mulberry strains for the phylotype I assay. These results were supported by an extensive in silico analysis performed on 6,105 genomes of Burkholderiaceae. The two LAMP assays displayed high sensitivity on pure suspensions, with a detection limit at 103 and 104 CFU/ml for phylotype I and the RSSC, respectively. These thresholds correspond to theoretical quantities of as low as 5 and 50 CFU per reaction. Two simplified extraction methods were successfully used to detect the pathogen from different Solanaceae samples. We demonstrated that LAMP assays were operable on solanaceous crops during field surveys and varietal evaluation trials as rapid POC diagnostics tools, which can improve the disease management and control of the RSSC.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
A new view on old problems in paediatric anaesthesia: premedication, postoperative agitation and dosing
Authors: Jöhr Martin
Published: February 2023

Purpose of review

The aim of this review is to discuss recent developments in paediatric anaesthesia, which have evolved in an undulating fashion.

Recent findings

The role and efficacy of pharmacological premedication is reevaluated. The anxiolytic and sedative properties of midazolam and α2-agonists have now been defined more precisely. Both classes of drugs have their unique profile, and there is no reason to condemn one or the other. Midazolam is an excellent anxiolytic, whereas dexmedetomidine is superior in the postoperative period and for sedation during diagnostic imaging.

A total intravenous technique with propofol is often considered to be the standard for the prevention of emergence agitation; but alternatives do exist, such as a co-medication with dexmedetomidine or opioids. In clinical reality, a multimodal approach may often be advisable.

The theoretical basis for propofol dosing has recently been adapted. In contrast to previous beliefs, the context-sensitive half-life of propofol seems to be quite short beyond the first year of life.

Midazolam and dexmedetomidine are not interchangeable; each compound has its pros and cons. As an anxiolytic drug, midazolam indisputably deserves its place, whereas dexmedetomidine is a better sedative and particularly beneficial in the postoperative period. New data will allow more precise age-adapted dosing of propofol.
The role of supraglottic airway devices in obstetric anaesthesia
Authors: Metodiev Yavor , Mushambi Mary
Published: February 2023

Purpose of review

To discuss the role of supraglottic airway devices as rescue and primary airway devices in pregnant patients.

Recent findings

General anaesthesia in pregnant patients is associated with increased incidence of difficult and failed intubation, especially when performed for caesarean deliveries. The Difficult Airway Society and the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association guidelines for the management of failed intubation recommend the use of second-generation supraglottic airway devices as a rescue airway strategy when failed intubation occurs. This practice is now widely accepted and embedded in routine teaching and clinical practice. On the other hand, there is little but growing evidence describing the use of supraglottic airway devices as the primary airway device and an alternative to endotracheal intubation for patients undergoing elective and emergency caesarean deliveries under general anaesthesia. Most of the published research supporting this practice was done on carefully selected patients who were nonobese and who did not have gastroesophageal reflux or anticipated difficult airway. Despite demonstrating high insertion success rates and low complication rates, these studies were underpowered and have thus far, failed to provide robust data on the true risk of aspiration in this setting.

Based on current scientific data, the evidence for the safe use of supraglottic airway devices as primary airway devices during general anaesthesia for caesarean deliveries is not compelling. However, their use as rescue airway devices remains a well established strategy supported by international guidelines.