bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large inverse and normal magnetocaloric effects in HoBi compound with nonhysteretic first-order phase transition
Authors: Zhang Yan , Shi You-Guo , Wang Li-Chen , Zheng Xin-Qi , Liu Jun , Jin Ya-Xu , Zhang Ke-Wei , Liu Hong-Xia , Zong Shuo-Tong , Sun Zhi-Gang , Hu Ji-Fan , Tong Tong-Yun , Shen Bao-Gen
Published: March 2022

HoBi single crystal and polycrystalline compounds with NaCl-type structure are successfully obtained, and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are studied in detail. With temperature increasing, HoBi compound undergoes two magnetic transitions at 3.7 K and 6 K, respectively. The transition temperature at 6 K is recognized as an antiferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic (AFM–PM) transition, which belongs to the first-order magnetic phase transition (FOMT). It is interesting that the HoBi compound with FOMT exhibits good thermal and magnetic reversibility. Furthermore, a large inverse and normal magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is found in HoBi single crystal in the H||[100] direction, and the positive ΔS
M peak reaches 13.1 J/kg⋅K under a low field change of 2 T and the negative ΔS
M peak arrives at –18 J/kg⋅K under a field change of 5 T. These excellent properties are expected to be applied to some magnetic refrigerators with special designs and functions.
Switchable down-, up- and dual-chirped microwave waveform generation with improved time–bandwidth product based on polarization modulation and phase encoding
Authors: Guo Yuxiao , Wang Muguang , Mu Hongqian , Fan Guofang
Published: March 2022

A switchable down-, up- and dual-chirped microwave waveform generation technique with improved time–bandwidth product (TBWP) is proposed and demonstrated based on a dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DPMZM) cascaded with a polarization modulator (PolM). By properly controlling the phase shifts of the radio frequency signals applied to the DP-DPMZM, switchable down-, up- and dual-chirped waveforms with simultaneous frequency and bandwidth doubling can be generated. To enlarge the TBWP further, splitting parabolic signal and phase-encoding splitting parabolic signal are used to drive the PolM for the enhancement of bandwidth and time duration. Numerical results demonstrate the generation of down-, up- and dual-chirped microwave waveform with TBWP of 8, 160 and 10240. The proposed method may find applications in future multifunction radar systems due to the high performance and flexibility.
Effect of observation time on source identification of diffusion in complex networks
Authors: Shi Chaoyi , Zhang Qi , Chu Tianguang
Published: March 2022

This paper examines the effect of the observation time on source identification of a discrete-time susceptible-infected-recovered diffusion process in a network with snapshot of partial nodes. We formulate the source identification problem as a maximum likelihood (ML) estimator and develop a statistical inference method based on Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) to estimate the source location and the initial time of diffusion. Experimental results in synthetic networks and real-world networks demonstrate evident impact of the observation time as well as the fraction of the observers on the concerned problem.
Gauss quadrature based finite temperature Lanczos method
Authors: Li Jian , Lin Hai-Qing
Published: March 2022

The finite temperature Lanczos method (FTLM), which is an exact diagonalization method intensively used in quantum many-body calculations, is formulated in the framework of orthogonal polynomials and Gauss quadrature. The main idea is to reduce finite temperature static and dynamic quantities into weighted summations related to one- and two-dimensional Gauss quadratures. Then lower order Gauss quadrature, which is generated from Lanczos iteration, can be applied to approximate the initial weighted summation. This framework fills the conceptual gap between FTLM and kernel polynomial method, and makes it easy to apply orthogonal polynomial techniques in the FTLM calculation.
Improving efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells via ethanolamine-doped PEDOT:PSS as hole transport layer
Authors: Wang Zi-Jun , Li Jia-Wen , Zhang Da-Yong , Yang Gen-Jie , Yu Jun-Sheng
Published: March 2022

In order to fabricate high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells (PeSCs), an appropriate hole transport layer (HTL) is essential since it will affect the hole extraction at perovskite/HTL interface and determine the crystallization quality of the subsequent perovskite films. Herein, a facile and simple method is developed by adding ethanolamine (ETA) into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as HTL. The doping of a low-concentration ETA can efficiently modify the electrical properties of the PEDOT:PSS film and lower the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level, which is more suitable for the hole extraction from the perovskite to HTL. Besides, ETA-doped PEDOT:PSS will create a perovskite film with larger grain size and higher crystallinity. Hence, the results show that the open-circuit voltage of the device increases from 0.99 V to 1.06 V, and the corresponding power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases from 14.68% to 19.16%. The alkaline nature of ethanolamine greatly neutralizes the acidity of PEDOT:PSS, and plays a role in protecting the anode, leading the stability of the devices to be improved significantly. After being stored for 2000 h, the PCE of ETA-doped PEDOT:PSS devices can maintain 84.2% of the initial value, which is much higher than 67.1% of undoped devices.
Pressure-induced phase transitions in the ZrXY (X = Si, Ge, Sn; Y = S, Se, Te) family compounds
Authors: Chen Qun , Wu Juefei , Chen Tong , Wang Xiaomeng , Ding Chi , Huang Tianheng , Lu Qing , Sun Jian
Published: March 2022

Pressure is an effective and clean way to modify the electronic structures of materials, cause structural phase transitions and even induce the emergence of superconductivity. Here, we predicted several new phases of the ZrXY family at high pressures using the crystal structures search method together with first-principle calculations. In particular, the ZrGeS compound undergoes an isosymmetric phase transition from P4/nmm-I to P4/nmm-II at approximately 82 GPa. Electronic band structures show that all the high-pressure phases are metallic. Among these new structures, P4/nmm-II ZrGeS and P4/mmm ZrGeSe can be quenched to ambient pressure with superconducting critical temperatures of approximately 8.1 K and 8.0 K, respectively. Our study provides a way to tune the structure, electronic properties, and superconducting behavior of topological materials through pressure.
2.56 Gbps CML transceiver for data concentrator ASIC
Authors: Atkin E. , Serazetdinov A.
Published: March 2022

2.56 Gbps CMOS CML-transceiver is presented. The key feature of the design is capability of working with specific inductive load and transmitting data to the remote room about 1 meter away from the experimentation vicinity. Some radiation tolerance techniques used are shown. Testing methodology is briefly described, and concepts in test board realization are provided. The transceiver was designed as an interface part of the data concentrator ASIC, intended for the frontend electronics of the time-projection chamber of the MPD experiment at NICA nuclotron.
Should friction losses be included in an electromechanical model of a bioinspired flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle to estimate the flight energetic requirements?
Authors: Park Moonsoo , Ventikos Yiannis , Abolfathi Ali
Published: March 2022

The paper aims to examine the effects of mechanical losses on the performance of a bioinspired flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle (FWMAV) and ways to mitigate them by introducing a novel electromechanical model. The mathematical model captures the effect of a DC gear motor, slider-crank, flapping-wings aerodynamics, and frictional losses. The aerodynamic loads are obtained using a quasi-steady flow model. The parameters of the flight mechanism are estimated using published experimental data which are also used to validate the mathematical model. Incorporating the flapping mechanism friction losses into the mathematical model enables capturing the physics of the problem with higher accuracy, which is not possible with simpler models. It also makes it possible to estimate the aerodynamic energetic requirements. Moreover, the model enabled evaluations of the effects of adding bioinspired elastic elements on the efficiency of the system. Although it is established through experimental studies that the addition of a bioinspired elastic element can improve system efficiency and increase lift generation, the existing mathematical models fail to model and predict such effects. It has been demonstrated that the addition of an elastic element can reduce friction losses in the system by decreasing the internal forces. Optimised parameters for a FWMAV incorporating elastic elements are also obtained.
Influence of urbanization on hourly extreme precipitation over China
Authors: Huang Xiaowen , Wang Dashan , Ziegler Alan D , Liu Xiaoping , Zeng Hui , Xu Zhibo , Zeng Zhenzhong
Published: March 2022

The impact of rapid urbanization on the spatiotemporal pattern of short-term extreme precipitation in China remains unclear at the subnational scale. In this study, we present a general framework that measures urbanization-induced variation in hourly extreme wet season precipitation (April–October) from 1985 to 2012, with reference to a dynamic urban–rural station classification based on annual changes in urban extent. We found that urbanization in south China (<29° N) brings more extreme precipitation to urban areas than to suburbs, and reduces extreme precipitation continually over urban areas in parts of the north and northeast. Over 60% of provincial capital cities show significant changes in extreme precipitation due to urbanization, including smaller size cities separated from large urban clusters. Urbanization enhances extreme precipitation mainly in the local main part of the rainy season, which refers to May in the south (e.g. urban–rural differences of 0.70 mm h−1 in Guangzhou) and July–September in the central and north (1.16 mm h−1 in August of Beijing). Urbanization also increases hourly extreme precipitation at peak times in diurnal cycles. The results indicate that urbanization has caused overall more and more heterogeneous spatial patterns over China and concentrated distributions during the rainy season and peak time. These patterns warrant attention when assessing the risk of increased waterlogging and flash flooding in urban areas.
Experimental study on surface characteristics in μED milling of Al6063%-5%B4C-5%ZrSiO4 composite using TOPSIS method
Authors: Narasimmalu Ramasubbu , Sundaresan Ramabalan
Published: March 2022

Al6063 composites are widely used in automobile, aerospace and biomedical industries due to their excellent mechanical properties. Machining of micro channels in composites is difficult for conventional machining process due to presence of hard reinforcement. Materials with base metal. Micro Electrical discharge (μED) milling is popular micromachining technique for machining simple, intricate shapes and microchannels on any conductive material. However, it a slow machining process, the identification of optimum condition has become wide research area in μEDM. The present work aims to study the influence of process variables namely voltage, spindle speed and threshold on machining characteristics of μED milling of Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMCs). Experimental trials are carried out with copper electrode at different parametric condition. Al6063%-5%B4C-5%ZrSiO4 composite was fabricated using stir casting method and experimental runs were designed using general full factorial method. The significant parameters are identified using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the ideal machining conditions for multi-response are determined using Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. The morphology of machined surface with best and worst conditions is examined using SEM. Results indicated that the voltage and threshold are the influencing parameters for considered response indicators. Recast layer thickness seems to be low with best machining conditions as compared to worst conditions. Increase in voltage and threshold increases the Material Removal Rate (MRR) and decreases the Electrode Wear Rate (EWR). Surface finish is better when the lower order of capacitance and voltage is used. MRR is increased by 48% with best machining conditions compared to worst machining condition.
Review of graphene for the generation, manipulation, and detection of electromagnetic fields from microwave to terahertz
Authors: Katzmarek David A , Pradeepkumar Aiswarya , Ziolkowski Richard W , Iacopi Francesca
Published: March 2022

Graphene has attracted considerable attention ever since the discovery of its unprecedented properties, including its extraordinary and tunable electronic and optical properties. In particular, applications within the microwave to terahertz frequency spectrum can benefit from graphene’s high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility and robustness, transparency, support of surface-plasmon-polaritons, and the possibility of dynamic tunability with direct current to light sources. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of current trends, challenges, and prospects within the research areas of generating, manipulating, and detecting electromagnetic fields using graphene-based devices that operate from microwave to terahertz frequencies. The properties of and models describing graphene are reviewed first, notably those of importance to electromagnetic applications. State-of-the-art graphene-based antennas, such as resonant and leaky-wave antennas, are discussed next. A critical evaluation of the performance and limitations within each particular technology is given. Graphene-based metasurfaces and devices used to manipulate electromagnetic fields, e.g. wavefront engineering, are then examined. Lastly, the state-of-the-art of detecting electromagnetic fields using graphene-based devices is discussed.
First-principles study of the crystal structure, electronic and optical properties of Cu2O1-xMx (M = S, Se, Te)
Authors: Zhou Bao , Luo Liang , Zhang Yiqi , Hu Yongmao , Xie Zaixin , Duan Zhuoqi , Yang Xiaobo
Published: March 2022

Cu2O has the advantages of low price, stable chemical properties, and high visible light absorption rate. It is a very promising hole transport material in solar cells. However, the pure phase Cu2O has a low hole transport rate, which can be improved it by means of doping or something else. In this paper, based on the first-principles, the performance of different amounts of S, Se, and Te doped Cu2O are calculated, it is found that the Te-doped Cu2O performance is pronounced, with the energy gap reduction (1.871 eV), there appear free electron generating, the valence band maximum enables energy level is matched (−5.463 eV), and the absorption coefficient in the ultraviolet and visible range improved, nearly 103.07% at 3.26 eV, the reflectance increased to, for the point 11.7 eV, 76%, and the loss function value is very small in the visible light region (less than 0.1).
A study on numerical simulation optimization of perovskite solar cell based on CuI and C60
Authors: Qirong Zhao , Bao Zhou , Yongmao Hu , Liang Luo , Zhuoqi Duan , Zaixin Xie , Xiaobo Yang
Published: March 2022

The feasibility of CuI and C60 as hole transport layer and electron transport layer in the perovskite solar cell is tested by using the software Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). It is found that the thicknesses of the absorption layer, electron transport layer and hole transport layer, and the Interface Density of Defect State of their interface have a key influence on the efficiency of the perovskite solar cells. After optimization, the efficiency was as twice as that before, 22.70% to 11.62%, and the fill factor can still be at a high value, 76%.
High anti-arc erosion performance of the Al2O3 reinforced Cu@W composites for high voltage circuit-breaker contacts
Authors: Ding Yi , Geng Jin Feng , Du Jun Li , Wei Shu Heng , Zhu Zhi Xiang , Han Yu , Xia Dawei , Xie Wei , Chen Xin , Ma Fei Yue
Published: March 2022

High voltage circuit-breakers with superior performance are demanded as the transmission distance extends and voltage rises, which are often subject to high current and voltage surges. Commercial circuit-breaker contacts are conventionally manufactured with CuW alloy by infiltration method, limiting their performance improvement in withstanding current (or voltage) and lifespan. In this paper, we optimize the microstructure and component of Al2O3 reinforced Cu@W80 composites (Al2O3/Cu@W80), which fabricates the Cu@W powder first by chemical coating and the composites by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The composites exhibit enhanced hardness (maximum value up to 273 HV) due to the addition of Al2O3 powder and a more homogeneous and refined tungsten phase compared to the CuW counterpart. Moreover, the dispersed Al2O3 particles with low work function become the preferred ablation phase and guide the electrical arcs, further improving the anti-arc erosion performance of Al2O3/Cu@W80. Our findings suggest that the Al2O3/Cu@W80 composite with optimized components could be potentially used as a candidate for high-voltage circuit-breaker contacts.
First-principles study on the atomic structure of two-dimensional molybdenum boride
Authors: Ma Linlin , Cheng Chao , Zhang Xin , Wang Shaoqing
Published: March 2022

In recent years two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted extensive research due to their excellent physical properties in thermoelectricity and superconductivity, etc. This interest led to both a new wave of research on known 2D materials, such as transition metal nitrides (MXene), and the discovery of many new 2D materials. Recently, the 2D metal borides Mo4/3B2−x with ordered metal vacancies were successfully synthesized. However, variable atomic structures were experimentally observed in the specimen, suggesting that more than one structure exists in this 2D material. Therefore, in this work, the stabilities of molybdenum boride with different Mo content are examined employing first-principles calculation based on the density functional theory. The binding energies of different molybdenum boride models are calculated and analyzed, and the effect of the Mo content on their stability was investigated. The chemical bonding properties are also analyzed via electron localization functions, which further answer why the experimentally synthesized molybdenum borides would have different atomic structures.
An active visual monitoring method for GMAW weld surface defects based on random forest model
Authors: Zhu Caixia , Yuan Haitao , Ma Guohong
Published: March 2022

In the automatic manufacturing of robotic welding, real-time monitoring of weld quality is a difficult problem. Meanwhile, due to volatilization of zinc vapor in galvanized steel and complexity of welding process, the existence of welding defects greatly affects industrial production process. And real-time detection of welding defects is a key step in development of intelligent welding. To realize real-time monitoring of weld surface defects, an active visual monitoring method for weld surface defects is proposed. Firstly, after applying Gabor filter to remove interference signals such as arc and noise, obtain weld centerline image; then employ the slope analysis method to extract peak valley coefficient of weld defects, extract five feature points of weld surface quality by Douglas-Puke algorithm, and analyse geometric and spatial distribution features of different types of defects in weld laser stripe images. Finally, using eight feature vectors extracted from weld features, design a weld defect recognition random forest model based on decision tree. After optimizing the decision tree depth and number of model evaluators, compared with the traditional decision tree ID3 and CART algorithm model, this model has better performance than traditional machine learning algorithms on five weld surface defect data sets. The experimental results show that accuracy of weld defect identification in the training set is 99.26%, accuracy of weld defect recognition in the test set is 96%, and processing time of a single image is only 5.3 ms, which overcomes difficulty of real-time weld defect detection in intelligent welding and ensures real-time and accuracy.
Hypergraphs with no tight cycles
Authors: Letzter Shoham
Published: March 2022

We show that every

r
r

-uniform hypergraph on

n
n

vertices which does not contain a tight cycle has at most

O
(

n

r
−
1

(
log
⁡
n

)
5

)

O(n^{r-1} (\log n)^5)

edges. This is an improvement on the previously best-known bound, of

n

r
−
1

e

O
(

log
⁡
n

)

n^{r-1} e^{O(\sqrt {\log n})}

, due to Sudakov and Tomon, and our proof builds on their work. A recent construction of B. Janzer implies that our bound is tight up to an

O
(
(
log
⁡
n

)
4

log
⁡
log
⁡
n
)

O((\log n)^4 \log \log n)

factor.
Large odd order character sums and improvements of the Pólya-Vinogradov inequality
Authors: Lamzouri Youness , Mangerel Alexander
Published: March 2022

For a primitive Dirichlet character

χ
\chi

modulo

q
q

, we define

M
(
χ
)
=

max

t

|

∑

n
≤
t

χ
(
n
)

|

M(\chi )=\max _{t } |\sum _{n \leq t} \chi (n)|

. In this paper, we study this quantity for characters of a fixed odd order

g
≥
3

g\geq 3

. Our main result provides a further improvement of the classical Pólya-Vinogradov inequality in this case. More specifically, we show that for any such character

χ
\chi

we have
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper M left-parenthesis chi right-parenthesis much-less-than Subscript epsilon Baseline StartRoot q EndRoot left-parenthesis log q right-parenthesis Superscript 1 minus delta Super Subscript g Superscript Baseline left-parenthesis log log q right-parenthesis Superscript negative 1 slash 4 plus epsilon Baseline comma">

M
(
χ
)

≪

ε

q

(
log
⁡
q

)

1
−

δ
g

(
log
⁡
log
⁡
q

)

−
1

/

4
+
ε

,

\begin{equation*} M(\chi )\ll _{\varepsilon } \sqrt {q}(\log q)^{1-\delta _g}(\log \log q)^{-1/4+\varepsilon }, \end{equation*}

where

δ
g

≔
1
−

g
π

sin
⁡
(
π

/

g
)

\delta _g ≔1-\frac {g}{\pi }\sin (\pi /g)

. This improves upon the works of Granville and Soundararajan [J. Amer. Math. Soc. 20 (2007), pp. 357–384] and of Goldmakher [Algebra Number Theory 6 (2012), pp. 123–163]. Furthermore, assuming the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis (GRH) we prove that
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper M left-parenthesis chi right-parenthesis much-less-than StartRoot q EndRoot left-parenthesis log Subscript 2 Baseline q right-parenthesis Superscript 1 minus delta Super Subscript g Superscript Baseline left-parenthesis log Subscript 3 Baseline q right-parenthesis Superscript negative one fourth Baseline left-parenthesis log Subscript 4 Baseline q right-parenthesis Superscript upper O left-parenthesis 1 right-parenthesis Baseline comma">

M
(
χ
)
≪

q

(

log
2

⁡
q
)

1
−

δ
g

(

log
3

⁡
q
)

−

1
4

(

log
4

⁡
q
)

O
(
1
)

,

\begin{equation*} M(\chi ) \ll \sqrt {q} \left (\log _2 q\right )^{1-\delta _g} \left (\log _3 q\right )^{-\frac {1}{4}}\left (\log _4 q\right )^{O(1)}, \end{equation*}

where

log
j

\log _j

is the

j
j

-th iterated logarithm. We also show unconditionally that this bound is best possible (up to a power of

log
4

⁡
q

\log _4 q

). One of the key ingredients in the proof of the upper bounds is a new Halász-type inequality for logarithmic mean values of completely multiplicative functions, which might be of independent interest.
Min-max widths of the real projective 3-space
Authors: Batista Márcio , Lima Anderson
Published: March 2022

In this paper we deal with the min-max invariant known as

p
p

-width for the 3-dimensional real projective space. More precisely, we present an explicit and sharp

p
p

-sweepout, for

p
=
1

p=1

,

2
2

,

3
3

, and compute the value of the

p
p

-width for such values. Using Lusternik-Schnirelmann type argument we also verify the jump of the

5
5

-width and, using algebraic sets, we estimate the

9
9

-width.
Automated Office Blood Pressure and the Impact of Attendance and Rest on Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Green Beverly B , Anderson Melissa L , Cook Andrea J , Ehrlich Kelly , Hall Yoshio N , Margolis Karen L , Thompson Matthew J
Published: March 2022

Background

Automated office blood pressure (AOBP) using 3–5 measurements taken with an oscillometric device with or without an attendant in the room may decrease “white coat” effect. We evaluated the impact of the presence or absence of the attendant and rest on BP and diagnosis of hypertension.

Methods

We randomly assigned 133 adults aged 18–85 with high BP at baseline (≥140/90 mm Hg), no hypertensive diagnosis and no antihypertensive medications to either attended AOBP first, unattended second, or unattended AOBP first, attended second. Outcomes included within-person BP difference for attended vs. unattended measurements; 5 vs. 15 minutes of rest; and the diagnostic performance of AOBP compared with daytime automated blood pressure measurement (ABPM).

Results

We found no significant differences between attended and unattended AOBP (mean difference attended − unattended [95% confidence interval, CI], systolic 0.14 mm Hg [−0.78, 1.06]; diastolic 0.16 mm Hg [−0.45, 0.78]) or by rest time (mean difference 15 − 5 minutes [95% CI], systolic −0.45 mm Hg [−1.36, 0.47]; diastolic 0.61 mm Hg [−1.23, 0.003]). AOBP was lower than mean daytime ABPM, regardless of attendance or rest (after 5 minutes rest systolic −3.6 and diastolic −2.55 mm Hg, P = 0.001 for both comparisons). Using daytime ABPM of ≥135/85 mm Hg as the diagnostic threshold, AOBP sensitivity and specificity after 5 minutes of rest were 71.0% and 54.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

The presence or absence of a clinic attendant during AOBP measurement and the amount of rest time before AOBP measurements had no effects on BP. AOBP measurements have low sensitivity and specificity for making a new diagnosis of hypertension.
JSNMF enables effective and accurate integrative analysis of single-cell multiomics data
Authors: Ma Yuanyuan , Sun Zexuan , Zeng Pengcheng , Zhang Wenyu , Lin Zhixiang
Published: March 2022

The single-cell multiomics technologies provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the cellular heterogeneity from different layers of transcriptional regulation. However, the datasets generated from these technologies tend to have high levels of noise, making data analysis challenging. Here, we propose jointly semi-orthogonal nonnegative matrix factorization (JSNMF), which is a versatile toolkit for the integrative analysis of transcriptomic and epigenomic data profiled from the same cell. JSNMF enables data visualization and clustering of the cells and also facilitates downstream analysis, including the characterization of markers and functional pathway enrichment analysis. The core of JSNMF is an unsupervised method based on JSNMF, where it assumes different latent variables for the two molecular modalities, and integrates the information of transcriptomic and epigenomic data with consensus graph fusion, which better tackles the distinct characteristics and levels of noise across different molecular modalities in single-cell multiomics data. We applied JSNMF to single-cell multiomics datasets from different tissues and different technologies. The results demonstrate the superior performance of JSNMF in clustering and data visualization of the cells. JSNMF also allows joint analysis of multiple single-cell multiomics experiments and single-cell multiomics data with more than two modalities profiled on the same cell. JSNMF also provides rich biological insight on the markers, cell-type-specific region–gene associations and the functions of the identified cell subpopulation.
Efficacy and Safety of Maintenance Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis Through 3 Years: UNIFI Long-term Extension
Authors: Abreu Maria T , Rowbotham David S , Danese Silvio , Sandborn William J , Miao Ye , Zhang Hongyan , Tikhonov Ilia , Panaccione Remo , Hisamatsu Tadakazu , Scherl Ellen J , Leong Rupert W , Arasaradnam Ramesh P , Afif Waqqas , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Sands Bruce E , Marano Colleen
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

The UNIFI long-term extension [LTE] study reports the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous 90 mg ustekinumab through 3 years of maintenance therapy.

Methods

Patients randomised to ustekinumab every 12 weeks [q12w] or every 8 weeks [q8w] at maintenance baseline [N = 348] and randomised ustekinumab-treated patients in the LTE [N = 284] were evaluated. Symptomatic remission [Mayo stool frequency = 0/1, rectal bleeding = 0] was assessed. Safety included all LTE patients [N = 188 placebo and N = 457 ustekinumab].

Results

Among patients randomised to the ustekinumab q12w and q8w groups at maintenance baseline, 54.1% and 56.3% achieved symptomatic remission at Week 152, respectively. Overall, 20% of patients discontinued ustekinumab, 10% of biologic-naïve and 30% of biologic-exposed patients. Among patients in symptomatic remission at Year 3, 94.6% and 98.0% of patients were also corticosteroid free, respectively. Corticosteroid-free symptomatic remission rates in the ustekinumab q12w and q8w groups were 51.2% and 55.1% at Week 152, respectively. Remission rates were higher for biologic-naïve patients than for those with a history of biologic failure. Biochemical evidence of response was demonstrated by stable, decreased C-reactive protein and faecal calprotectin measurements over 3 years. From Weeks 96 to 156, no deaths, major adverse cardiovascular events, or tuberculosis occurred. Nasopharyngitis, ulcerative colitis, and upper respiratory tract infection were most frequently reported. One ustekinumab-treated patient with a history of basal cell carcinoma [BCC] reported two BCCs. One patient in the q8w ustekinumab group, who was receiving concomitant 6-mercaptopurine, experienced serious adverse events of neutropenic sepsis and oral herpes.

Conclusions

Efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with ulcerative colitis was confirmed through 3 years. No new safety signals were observed.
The rotational position of the aortic valve: implications for valve-sparing aortic root replacement
Authors: Oishi Kiyotoshi , Arai Hirokuni , Oi Keiji , Nagaoka Eiki , Yashima Masafumi , Fujiwara Tatsuki , Takeshita Masashi , Mizuno Tomohiro
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

There are few reports on the rotational position of the aortic valve relative to the base of the left ventricle, and its influence on valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) has not been reported. Based on our experience with complications such as right atrial perforation and tricuspid valve injury, we investigated the cause of these complications in terms of morphological variations in the aortic root and its surrounding structures.

METHODS

The aortic valve rotation relative to the base of the left ventricle was assessed in 30 patients with tri-leaflet aortic valves who underwent VSRR. The influence of such anatomical variations on surgical procedures was investigated.

RESULTS

The aortic valve was positioned normally in 25 patients (83.3%), rotated counterclockwise in 4 (13.3%), and rotated clockwise in 1 patient (3.3%). In patients with a counterclockwise rotated aortic valve, the non-coronary sinus was the largest compared with other sinuses. This aortic valve rotation could be diagnosed by multidetector row computed tomography. In all patients who had difficulty in the external dissection of the right sinus of Valsalva, the aortic valve was counterclockwise rotated and forcible dissection had a risk of right atrial perforation and tricuspid valve injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic valve rotation is an element that complicates VSRR. The rotational position of the aortic valve can be diagnosed preoperatively using multidetector row computed tomography and understanding the anatomy of the aortic valve related to rotational position help decide proper surgical decision-making in performing aortic root reconstruction procedure.
Living Arrangements and Intergenerational Support in Puerto Rico: Are Fathers Disadvantaged?
Authors: Quashie Nekehia T , Andrade Flavia C D , Meltzer Gabriella , García Catherine
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To examine how intergenerational support varies by parents’ living arrangements and whether there are gender differences in received support in Puerto Rico.

Methods

Data come from the 2006–2007 Puerto Rican Elderly and Health Conditions Project, a representative longitudinal study of adults aged 60 and older in Puerto Rico (n = 2,288). We examined the association between parents’ living arrangements (alone, with spouse/partner only, with children) and their receipt of functional (help with errands/housework/transport) and health (help when sick) support from children, and whether parents’ gender moderates the association.

Results

Intergenerational coresidence was associated with higher odds of receiving functional and health support than living alone. Women were more likely than men to receive both forms of support. Parents’ gender significantly moderated the association between living arrangements and receiving health support—men living with their partners were less likely to receive health support from children than women in similar living arrangements. These associations persisted when analyses were restricted to those with disability.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that parents’ receipt of support from children is conditioned upon their living arrangement and gender, even when their functional health is jeopardized. We discuss these results in relation to the heterogeneous influence of living arrangements for older adults’ support needs and provide suggestions for policy and directions for future research in rapidly aging Puerto Rico.
The Vave campaign: impact evaluation of a cancer awareness raising multi-media campaign in Samoa
Authors: Sofija Ernesta , Harris Neil , Cuesta-Briand Beatriz , Spratling Tim , Burich Shelley
Published: March 2022

Cancer is a leading cause of premature death and disability in Samoa. Recognizing the importance of symptom awareness and early detection, the Samoa Cancer Society (SCS) developed the ‘Vave’ (quickly) campaign as the first multi-media cancer awareness campaign in Samoa. The campaign adopted a three-pronged community engagement approach including mass media; printed resources; and community outreach at culturally appropriate locations including churches, villages and schools. The campaign promoted three key messages: detect signs and symptoms quickly; quickly see a doctor; and quickly call SCS. To measure impact, data were collected using several methods around the outreach education sessions (pre- and post-surveys), campaign recall (survey) and Vave-related enquiries received by SCS. The findings revealed the campaign was effective in increasing awareness of cancer and importance of early detection demonstrated through community recall of campaign messages, increased enquiries to SCS and improved knowledge. However, it is of note that almost 30% of campaign recall respondents stated they were unsure or would not see a doctor if concerned about a sign of cancer. The reasons given being a lack of knowledge, lack of trust in hospitals and preference for traditional healing. This suggests more targeted culturally sensitive strategies are needed including partnering with traditional healers. Further, advocacy efforts are needed to address the structural barriers to cancer detection and treatment together with continuing education around causes and symptoms of cancer targeting the hard-to-reach communities in Samoa.
Social media-assisted interventions on human papillomavirus and vaccination-related knowledge, intention and behavior: a scoping review
Authors: Li Danyi , Fu Linyun , Yang Yuanyuan , An Ruopeng
Published: March 2022

Social media holds the potential to engage adolescents and young adults and to facilitate interventions improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPVV). This article systematically reviewed the literature on Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus and CINAHL. Interventions delivered or facilitated by social media with outcomes of HPV-related knowledge, awareness, attitude, vaccination intention and behavior were included. Standardized forms were used to abstract the basic characteristics, settings, guiding theories and key findings of the interventions. Twenty-four studies met the eligibility criteria. Sixteen were educational interventions, and the other eight investigated the effect of social media message contents on improving Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related outcomes. The studies were published between 2015 and 2021. The most frequently used social media platforms were Facebook, and the most commonly adopted theory was the health belief model (HBM). Existing interventions have shown preliminary but promising effects in improving HPV awareness and knowledge. Still, such improvements have not always been translated to improved behavioral intentions and vaccination rates. The contents and phrasing of social media messages and pre-existing individual characteristics of social media users moderated intervention effectiveness. Social media could be a valuable tool for engaging participants and delivering HPV interventions. Future interventions should apply stronger theory bases.
Evaluation of the skill of length-based indicators to identify stock status and trends
Authors: Kell Laurence T , Minto Cóilín , Gerritsen Hans D
Published: March 2022

In data-poor situations, length-based indicators (LBIs) and reference points based on life history parameters have been proposed to classify stocks according to conservation status and yield optimization. Given the variety of potential LBIs, life history traits, and fisheries, it is necessary to evaluate the robustness of length-based advice to ensure that despite uncertainty that management objectives will still be met. Therefore, a simulation procedure was employed where an Operating Model conditioned on life history parameters was used to generate pseudo data. Receiver operator characteristics and the true skill score were then used to screen LBIs based on their ability to identify overfishing and recovery. It was found that LBIs performed better for long-lived species with low individual growth rates, those aimed at ensuring the conservation of mature fish performed better than those aimed at the conservation of immature fish, are better at indicating trends than at quantifying exploitation level, and in general were robust to uncertainty about dynamic processes.
Relationship of atrial function with cardiac function in the late phase more than 20 years after a Fontan operation
Authors: Kanaya Tomomitsu , Taira Masaki , Ueno Takayoshi
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

Atrial function in Fontan patients is unknown. Our goal was to report the relationship of atrial function with the cardiac index and atrial function and clinical outcome through longer follow-up periods.

METHODS

Twelve patients were followed up for over 20 years after their first Fontan operation. Atrial function, including the expansion index, atrial ejection fraction, passive ejection fraction and active ejection fraction, was examined using cardiac computed tomography. The relationship of atrial function with the cardiac index and failing Fontan patients was analysed.

RESULTS

Twelve Fontan patients were included. The median follow-up period after the first Fontan operation was 27 (range, 21-33) years, and the median age of those examined was 33.5 (range, 24-60) years. There were 6 male patients (50%). The cardiac index showed a significant positive correlation with the expansion index (P = 0.02), the atrial ejection fraction (P = 0.035), and the active ejection fraction (P = 0.013). The expansion index (39.2 ± 19.6 vs 64.1 ± 3.9), atrial ejection fraction (26.6 ± 10.9 vs 39.0 ± 1.5%), booster pump (15.6 ± 9.0 vs 31.3 ± 3.5) and cardiac index (2.1 ± 0.3 vs 2.5 ± 0.2 L/min/m2) were significantly lower in patients with a history of arrhythmia than in patients without a history of arrhythmia (P < 0.05). The expansion index (23.5 ± 13.5 vs 59.5 ± 8.7), atrial ejection fraction (18.1 ± 8.6 vs 37.1 ± 3.7) and active ejection fraction (7.3 ± 2.7 vs 27.7 ± 5.2) were significantly lower in failing Fontan patients than in non-failing Fontan patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with atrial arrhythmia and signs of Fontan failure have lower atrial function than those without.
Infection History and Current Coinfection With Schistosoma mansoni Decreases Plasmodium Species Intensities in Preschool Children in Uganda
Authors: McDowell Daniel , Hurt Lisa , Kabatereine Narcis B , Stothard John Russell , Lello Joanne
Published: March 2022

Malaria–schistosomiasis coinfections are common in sub-Saharan Africa but studies present equivocal results regarding the interspecific relationships between these parasites. Through mixed-model analyses of a dataset of Ugandan preschool children, we explore how current coinfection and prior infection with either Schistosoma mansoni or Plasmodium species alter subsequent Plasmodium intensity, Plasmodium risk, and S mansoni risk. Coinfection and prior infections with S mansoni were associated with reduced Plasmodium intensity, moderated by prior Plasmodium infections, wealth, and host age. Future work should assess whether these interactions impact host health and parasite control efficacy in this vulnerable age group.
A 12 year experience of colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing neonatal sepsis: two-component systems, efflux pumps, lipopolysaccharide modification and comparative phylogenomics
Authors: Naha Sharmi , Sands Kirsty , Mukherjee Suchandra , Dutta Shanta , Basu Sulagna
Published: March 2022

Background

Increased use of colistin in healthcare necessitates studies on the trend of colistin resistance and the underlying mechanisms.

Objectives

To understand the susceptibility trend and molecular mechanisms of colistin resistance in neonatal isolates over a 12 year period.

Methods

Colistin susceptibility, mRNA expression, whole genome sequence and mutational analysis was performed. Phylogenomic comparison with a global collection of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (n = 70) was done.

Results

Of 319 Enterobacterales (K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli) studied, colistin resistance was found in 9 K. pneumoniae (2.8%). The transmissible colistin resistance gene, mcr, was absent. Colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae belonged to diverse sequence types (ST14/37/101/147/716) and exhibited multiple mechanisms of colistin resistance including overexpression of the two-component systems (TCS) (phoP/Q, pmrA/B), and AcrAB-TolC pump and its regulators. Mutations in TCS, mgrB, pumps, repressors, and lipopolysaccharide-modifying genes were detected. Phylogenomic comparison revealed that this global collection of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae was diverse, with the presence of epidemic and international clones. Mutations in mgrB and TCS noted in global strains were comparable to the study strains. Co-occurrence of carbapenem resistance (n = 61, 87%) was observed in global strains. Co-existence of dual carbapenemases (blaNDM-5 with blaOXA-48/181) in multiple lineages within different replicons was found in neonatal colistin-resistant study isolates only.

Conclusions

Colistin resistance both in study and global strains is multifaceted and attributed to mutations in chromosomal genes leading to lipopolysaccharide modification or efflux of colistin through pumps. With no transmissible mcr, prevalence of colistin-resistant strains was low in this unit. Colistin-resistant strains with dual carbapenemases causing sepsis are alarming as they are practically untreatable.
Nuclear protein of the testis midline carcinoma of the thorax
Authors: Saiki Ayae , Sakamoto Keita , Bee Yuan , Izumo Takehiro
Published: March 2022

Nuclear protein of the testis (NUT) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare tumor that typically presents in the head, neck, and chest region. NMC is characterized by rearrangement of the NUTM1 gene. It mainly affects children and young adults and is rapidly progressive and lethal. Reportedly, the prognoses of NMCs of the head and neck improve following aggressive initial surgical resection +/− postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or radiotherapy (RT). However, as NMC of the thorax was identified later, treatments to improve its prognosis are yet to be identified. Our review reveals that NMC is an extremely rare cancer, and most patients remain undiagnosed. Furthermore, this review outlines the clinical characteristics of NMC of the thorax and the prospects for its treatment.
The characteristics of missed pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers at gastrointestinal endoscopy
Authors: Nakajo Keiichiro , Inaba Atsushi , Aoyama Naoki , Takashima Kenji , Kadota Tomohiro , Yoda Yusuke , Morishita Youhei , Okano Wataru , Tomioka Toshifumi , Shinozaki Takeshi , Matsuura Kazuto , Hayashi Ryuichi , Akimoto Tetsuo , Yano Tomonori
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Understanding the miss rate and characteristics of missed pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy may aid in reducing the endoscopic miss rate of this cancer type. However, little is known regarding the miss rate and characteristics of such cancers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic miss rate of oro-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers, the characteristics of the missed cancers, and risk factors associated with the missed cancers.

Methods

Patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and were pathologically diagnosed with oro-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2019 to November 2020 at our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Missed cancers were defined as those diagnosed within 15 months after a negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Results

A total of 240 lesions were finally included. Eighty-five lesions were classified as missed cancers, and 155 lesions as non-missed cancers. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopic miss rate for oro-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers was 35.4%. Multivariate analysis revealed that a tumor size of <13 mm (odds ratio: 1.96, P=0.026), tumors located on the anterior surface of the epiglottis/valleculae (odds ratio: 2.98, P=0.045) and inside of the pyriform sinus (odds ratio: 2.28, P=0.046) were associated with missed cancers.

Conclusions

This study revealed a high miss rate of oro-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers during endoscopic observations. High-quality upper gastrointestinal endoscopic observation and awareness of missed cancer may help reduce this rate.