bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emission pathways and mitigation options for achieving consumption-based climate targets in Sweden
Authors: Morfeldt Johannes , Larsson Jörgen , Andersson David , Johansson Daniel J. A. , Rootzén Johan , Hult Cecilia , Karlsson Ida
Published: September 2023

National emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement have a territorial focus, incentivizing mitigation actions domestically. Here we examine the theoretical basis for adopting complementary consumption-based net-zero emission targets and assess the consequences of adopting such proposed targets for Sweden. We apply scenario analyses based on a prospective lifecycle assessment framework. The framework is a hybrid of bottom-up simulations for passenger travel, construction and housing, and food, and top-down analyses for remaining consumption. In this work, we show how consumption-based climate targets may accentuate the need for new demand-side climate policies that contribute to reducing emissions along supply chains of products and services. Our scenario analysis suggests that combining advanced mitigation technologies with behavioral changes could reduce emissions from 9.8 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per capita in 2019 to between 2.7 and 4.8 tons by 2045 for Swedish residents, depending on global decarbonization pathways.
Transcriptional profiling unveils molecular subgroups of adaptive and maladaptive right ventricular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Khassafi Fatemeh , Chelladurai Prakash , Valasarajan Chanil , Nayakanti Sreenath Reddy , Martineau Sandra , Sommer Natascha , Yokokawa Tetsuro , Boucherat Olivier , Kamal Aryan , Kiely David G. , Swift Andrew J. , Alabed Samer , Omura Junichi , Breuils-Bonnet Sandra , Kuenne Carsten , Potus Francois , Günther Stefan , Savai Rajkumar , Seeger Werner , Looso Mario , Lawrie Allan , Zaugg Judith B. , Tello Khodr , Provencher Steeve , Bonnet Sébastien , Pullamsetti Soni Savai
Published: September 2023

Right ventricular (RV) function is critical to prognosis in all forms of pulmonary hypertension. Here we perform molecular phenotyping of RV remodeling by transcriptome analysis of RV tissue obtained from 40 individuals, and two animal models of RV dysfunction of both sexes. Our unsupervised clustering analysis identified ‘early’ and ‘late’ subgroups within compensated and decompensated states, characterized by the expression of distinct signaling pathways, while fatty acid metabolism and estrogen response appeared to underlie sex-specific differences in RV adaptation. The circulating levels of several extracellular matrix proteins deregulated in decompensated RV subgroups were assessed in two independent cohorts of individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension, revealing that NID1, C1QTNF1 and CRTAC1 predicted the development of a maladaptive RV state, as defined by magnetic resonance imaging parameters, and were associated with worse clinical outcomes. Our study provides a resource for subphenotyping RV states, identifying state-specific biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets for RV dysfunction.
Lactiplantibacillus biofilm and planktonic cells ameliorate ulcerative colitis in mice via immunoregulatory activity, gut metabolism and microbiota modulation
Authors: Liu Lei , Chen Xing , Zhang Chengyi , Deng Jia , Xiao Hang , Rao Yu
Published: September 2023

Since ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a global concern, Lactiplantibacillus is considered an effective, safe strategy for alleviating intestinal inflammation in UC patients.
A multifunctional organogel for constructing artificial light harvesting systems with excellent energy transfer efficiency
Authors: Ma Xinxian , Tang Jiahong , Ren Tianqi , Zhang Jiali , Liang Yuehua , Wei Jiuzhi , Feng Enke
Published: September 2023

Fluorescent gels with excellent physical properties were synthesised using polyvinyl alcohol/telmisartan. An artificial light-harvesting system with high energy-transfer efficiency and antenna effect was constructed by adding acridine yellow G and rhodamine B.
Thermal control of multiblock sequence using anion-migrated ring-opening polymerization
Authors: Bai Hongyuan , Han Li , Wang Xuefei , Yan Hong , Chen Siwen , Leng Haitao , Yao Zijing , Ma Hongwei
Published: September 2023

The block sequence can be easily regulated through switching reaction temperatures during the anionic copolymerization of 1-cyclopropylvinylbenzene (CPVB) and p-tert-butylstyrene (t-St).
Regulation of the electronic structure and surface wettability of a Co9S8 electrocatalyst by nitrogen and phosphorous co-doping for efficient overall water splitting
Authors: Xiang Chunyan , Zeng Dahai , Du Bing , Huang Xiaoxi , Lin Huaijun , Zhang Peng , Zhang Zhiguo , Chen Dexin , Li Wei , Meng Yuying
Published: September 2023

Nitrogen and phosphorous co-doped Co9S8 was in situ synthesized on cobalt foam, and it can efficiently electrolyze full water splitting.
Thermal stress-assisted formation of submicron pillars from a thin film of CoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloy: experiments and simulations
Authors: Yoon Sungmin , Kimura Yasuhiro , Gu Shaojie , Toku Yuhki , Ju Yang , Cui Yi
Published: September 2023

For the first time, the thermal stress-assisted formation of submicron pillars (SPs) from a high entropy alloy (HEA) thin film is made possible, and novel molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are proposed to assess the underlying mechanisms.
Simultaneous saccharification of hemicellulose and cellulose of corncob in a one-pot system using catalysis of carbon based solid acid from lignosulfonate
Authors: Wang Qiong , Chang Longjun , Wang Wen , Hu Yunzi , Yue Jun , Wang Zhongming , Liang Cuiyi , Qi Wei
Published: September 2023

Simultaneous saccharification of hemicellulose and cellulose of corncob in a one-pot system.
Preparing Ti3C2-modified ZnFe2O4 photocatalytic materials and evaluating their performance in degrading tetracycline in water
Authors: He Hongqing , Fang Yu , Sun Xinhao , Li Xianbin , Li Shunzhi , Cao Yang
Published: September 2023

The metal–oxygen-rich Ti3C2 is used as an ‘electron trap’ to modify zinc ferrite. The photocatalytic material improves the separation and transfer efficiency of carriers and achieves efficient degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) in water.
Effect of high compression ratio on cycle-to-cycle variations of a natural gas engine under low load conditions
Authors: Qin Tao , Zhang Fan , Chen Zheng , Liao Bin , Lin Xianyan , Guo Yong , Fu Jianqin
Published: September 2023

Through experimental and numerical simulations, it is found that the cycle-to-cycle variation (CCV) does not decrease as the compression ratio (CR) increases. The CCV of CR 11.6 is lower than that of CR 14.0 and CR 16.0.
Ultrafast carbothermal shocking fabrication of cation vacancy-rich Mo doped Ru nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes for high-performance water/seawater electrolysis
Authors: Sun Jianpeng , Zhao Zhan , Li Zizhen , Zhang Zisheng , Zhang Rufan , Meng Xiangchao
Published: September 2023

Achieving the rapid synthesis of high-performance catalysts is of particular importance for realizing the industrialization of electrocatalytic water splitting.
Electrowetting limits electrochemical CO2 reduction in carbon-free gas diffusion electrodes
Authors: Baumgartner Lorenz M. , Goryachev Andrey , Koopman Christel I. , Franzen David , Ellendorff Barbara , Turek Thomas , Vermaas David A.
Published: September 2023

Electrowetting leads to flooding of silver-based, carbon-free gas diffusion electrodes for CO2 electrolysis.
A method for superfine pavement crack continuity detection based on topological loss
Authors: Jia Guohui , Lu Yang , Song Weidong , He Huan , Ma Rongchen
Published: September 2023

Deep convolutional neural networks have become a popular tool for the automatic detection of pavement cracks. Despite their widespread use, the models currently available tend to emphasize pixel‐level classification accuracy for cracks, often overlooking the critical aspect of crack continuity. Addressing this gap, the authors’ research introduces a new method for the continuous detection of ultrafine pavement cracks, centred around the concept of topological loss. The authors’ novel approach hinges on expressing the disconnectivity between the background areas in an image through the connectivity of the cracks themselves. The proposed loss function accomplishes this by penalizing the unnecessary disconnection of the background areas, thereby minimizing the risk of false‐positive crack predictions. In this study, the authors trained and tested a crack‐detection network using the Crack500 dataset, as well as a new dataset specifically compiled for ultrafine crack analysis. The experimental outcomes indicate that the amalgamation of the mean squared error and the authors’ novel spatial topological loss function leads to a substantial improvement in the topological structure of ultrafine crack detection.
Simultaneous millimetric and X-ray intraday variability in the radio-quiet AGN MCG+08-11-11
Authors: Petrucci P.-O. , Piétu V. , Behar E. , Clavel M. , Bianchi S. , Henri G. , Barnier S. , Chen S. , Ferreira J. , Malzac J. , Belmont R. , Corbel S. , Coriat M.
Published: September 2023

Most of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) are radio quiet (RQ) and, differently from radio-loud (RL) AGN, they do not show a signature of large-scale or powerful jets. The physical origin of their radio emission thus remains broadly unclear. The observation of flat and inverted radio spectra at gigahertz frequencies seems to support, however, the presence of an unresolved synchrotron self-absorbed region in the close environment of the supermassive black hole. Its size could be as small as that of the X-ray corona. Since synchrotron self-absorption decreases strongly with frequency, these sources need to be observed in the millimetric (mm) domain. We report here a 12 h simultaneous mm-X-ray observation of the RQ AGN MCG+08-11-11 by NOEMA and NuSTAR, respectively. The mm flux shows a weak but clear increase along the pointing with a fractional variability of 2.0 ± 0.1%. The 3–10 keV flux of NuSTAR also increases and shows a fractional variability of 7.0 ± 1.5%. A structure function analysis shows a local maximum in the mm light curve corresponding to 2–3% of variability on a timescale of ∼2 × 104 s (100–300 Rg light crossing time). Assuming an optically thick mm emitting medium, this translates into an upper limit of its size of ∼1300 Rg. The observation of fast variability in radio-mm and X-ray wavelengths, as well as a similar variability trend, thoroughly support the idea that the mm emission is emitted by a region close to, and potentially related to, the X-ray corona such as an outflow or weak jet.
Value of [18F]FDG PET/CT in Diagnosis and Management of Spondylodiscitis
Authors: Lapa Constantin , Rischpler Christoph , Bundschuh Ralph Alexander , Dierks Alexander , Lang Sigmund , Wassilew Georgi , Alt Volker
Published: September 2023

Vertebral osteomyelitis is the third most common form of osteomyelitis in patients over 50 years of age.

Whereas prompt (pathogen-directed) therapy is crucially associated with better outcomes, the heterogeneous clinical presentation of disease with unspecific symptoms often delays adequate
treatment initiation. Diagnosis requires a careful investigation of medical history, clinical findings and diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine
techniques.

Due to its high sensitivity, [18F]FDG PET/CT is becoming increasingly important in diagnosis and management of spondylodiscitis, especially in the postoperative setting with
presence of spinal hardware or other implantable devices in which MRI is limited.
Inequity in palliative care: class and active ageing when dying
Authors: Aamann Iben Charlotte , Dybbroe Betina
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this article is to explore social inequity in palliative care in Denmark, a country that is seen as a stronghold of universal health care. Using data stemming from 2 years of research, we have selected two cases for analysis. They consist of palliative conversations with two quite different patients. Drawing on sociocultural class theory, we find that the conversations involve social exclusion processes due to discourses of active ageing. We find that one privileged patient performs in line with an entrepreneurial self and is supported by the nurse. The other, disadvantaged patient performs in a passive way, and the conversation mainly alleviates the disrespect he has experienced in healthcare encounters. We conclude that palliative care reinforces classifying practices and distinctions between “good” and “bad” patients, when active ageing becomes a dominant factor. We suggest improving the quality and sensitivity of medical training and call for increased reflexivity among professionals on the unequal situation of patients in order to reduce inequity in access to health care when close to death.
Fostering transdisciplinary research for sustainability in the Global South: Pathways to impact for funding programmes
Authors: Schneider Flurina , Patel Zarina , Paulavets Katsia , Buser Tobias , Kado Jacqueline , Burkhart Stefanie
Published: September 2023

Advancing global sustainable development hinges on strengthening the connections between science, society, and policy, as well as addressing existing science inequalities. Research funding programmes play a pivotal role in this context, but little is known about how they can actively nurture required transformations of the science systems. In this paper, we investigate how science funders can actively promote science-society-policy interactions through transdisciplinary research (TDR) as a means to advance sustainable development in the Global South. Our primary focus is on the research funding programme “LIRA 2030 Africa”. Our research has revealed three closely intertwined pathways for cultivating TDR in this context: (1) Enabling African scientists to lead high-quality TDR projects, (2) empowering African scientists to pursue a career as TDR researchers, and 3) enhancing the context conditions for doing TDR in Africa. By scrutinising the advantages and challenges associated with these pathways and their associated activities, we conclude that fostering TDR in Africa necessitates a multifaceted approach. This approach entails a combination of measures, such as providing research grants, offering TDR and leadership training, fostering networks, developing institutions, and facilitating collaboration across various funders.
Human-like scene interpretation by a guided counterstream processing
Authors: Ullman Shimon , Assif Liav , Strugatski Alona , Vatashsky Ben-Zion , Levi Hila , Netanyahu Aviv , Yaari Adam
Published: September 2023

In modeling vision, there has been a remarkable progress in recognizing a range of scene components, but the problem of analyzing full scenes, an ultimate goal of visual perception, is still largely open. To deal with complete scenes, recent work focused on the training of models for extracting the full graph-like structure of a scene. In contrast with scene graphs, humans’ scene perception focuses on selected structures in the scene, starting with a limited interpretation and evolving sequentially in a goal-directed manner [G. L. Malcolm, I. I. A. Groen, C. I. Baker,Trends. Cogn. Sci.20, 843–856 (2016)]. Guidance is crucial throughout scene interpretation since the extraction of full scene representation is often infeasible. Here, we present a model that performs human-like guided scene interpretation, using an iterative bottom–up, top–down processing, in a “counterstream” structure motivated by cortical circuitry. The process proceeds by the sequential application of top–down instructions that guide the interpretation process. The results show how scene structures of interest to the viewer are extracted by an automatically selected sequence of top–down instructions. The model shows two further benefits. One is an inherent capability to deal well with the problem of combinatorial generalization—generalizing broadly to unseen scene configurations, which is limited in current network models [B. Lake, M. Baroni,35th International Conference on Machine Learning, ICML 2018(2018)]. The second is the ability to combine visual with nonvisual information at each cycle of the interpretation process, which is a key aspect for modeling human perception as well as advancing AI vision systems.
Regulation and remodeling of microbial symbiosis in insect metamorphosis
Authors: Oishi Sayumi , Moriyama Minoru , Mizutani Masaki , Futahashi Ryo , Fukatsu Takema
Published: September 2023

Many insects are dependent on microbial mutualists, which are often harbored in specialized symbiotic organs. Upon metamorphosis, insect organs are drastically reorganized. What mechanism regulates the remodeling of the symbiotic organ upon metamorphosis? How does it affect the microbial symbiont therein? Here, we addressed these fundamental issues of symbiosis by experimentally manipulating insect metamorphosis. The stinkbug
Plautia stali
possesses a midgut symbiotic organ wherein an essential bacterial symbiont resides. By RNAi of master regulator genes for metamorphosis,
Kr-h1
over nymphal traits and
E93
over adult traits, we generated precocious adults and supernumerary nymphs of
P. stali
, thereby disentangling the effects of metamorphosis, growth level, developmental stage, and other factors on the symbiotic system. Upon metamorphosis, the symbiotic organ of
P. stali
was transformed from nymph type to adult type. The supernumerary nymphs and the precocious adults, respectively, developed nymph-type and adult-type symbiotic organs not only morphologically but also transcriptomically, uncovering that metamorphic remodeling of the symbiotic organ is under the control of the MEKRE93 pathway. Transcriptomic, cytological, and biochemical analyses unveiled that the structural and transcriptomic remodeling of the symbiotic organ toward adult emergence underpins its functional extension to food digestion in addition to the original role of symbiont retention for essential nutrient production. Notably, we found that the symbiotic bacteria in the adult-type symbiotic organ up-regulated genes for production of sulfur-containing essential amino acids, methionine and cysteine, that are rich in eggs and sperm, uncovering adult-specific symbiont functioning for host reproduction and highlighting intricate host–symbiont interactions associated with insect metamorphosis.
Enhancing multi-crystalline silicon wafer performance through surface modification and AZO treatment
Authors: Krishnan Akhil , Guruswamy Aravindan , Bhargav P. Balaji , Ramasamy P.
Published: September 2023

In the current work, we studied the influence of surface modification on reflectivity and minority carrier lifetime of mc-Si wafer taken from ingot grown by DS process. Two etchants combination namely, KOH/IPA/DI water, and NaOCl/KOH/IPA/DI water are used for different time durations. Reflectance and minority carrier lifetime vary significantly for both etchants used in this work. Optimised micro pyramidal structure formation will aid in enhancing the total internal reflection thereby increasing light absorption. Increase in minority carrier lifetime will be helpful in increasing the efficiency of solar cell. In order to establish the effect of etching on reflectivity of wafers, Al-doped ZnO was sputtered on etched surface and reflectivity was found to decrease further as observed from the reflectivity spectrum. I-V measurements were carried out on Ag/Ti/AZO/mc-Si/Ag and effect of etching on contact behaviour was observed. AZO-coated Si surface with optimised surface micro pyramids served as a good antireflection layer.
Effect of refrigerant absorbent combinations in the corrosion resistance of copper as structural material in absorption refrigeration systems (ARS)
Authors: Flores-Guadarrama Israel , Gonzalez-Rodriguez José G. , Uruchurtu-Chavarín Jorge , Ramírez-Arteaga A.M. , Bustos Rivera Bahena Genoveva , Guardián-Tapia R. , López-Sesenes Roy
Published: September 2023

The present research was focused on analyzing the corrosion resistance of copper in the presence of refrigerant-absorbent combinations such as lithium bromide (LiBr), lithium nitrate (LiNO3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2), used in Adsorption Refrigeration Systems (ARS). Electrochemical techniques such as open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical noise analyses and potentiodynamic polarisation curves were applied to study the test solution combination effect on the corrosion rate of copper as a structural material in ARS. OCP analyses reveal that the Ecorr shifted based on the temperature and test solution. Meanwhile, when the copper was immersed in LiBr/H2O + CaCl2 at 80°C, the corrosion current density ( Icorr) was lower (0.003 mA/cm2). Also, The Rp estimated from EIS shows an increase at 80°C. Micrographs of the copper surface immersed in LiBr/H2O and LiBr + CaCl2 observed cracks and pits. But also, when the corrosion product layer was removed, a less heterogeneous surface was revealed.
Modularized and scalable compilation for double quantum dot quantum computing
Authors: He Run-Hong , Xu Xu-Sheng , Byrd Mark S , Wang Zhao-Ming
Published: September 2023

Any quantum program on a realistic quantum device must be compiled into an executable form while taking into account the underlying hardware constraints. Stringent restrictions on architecture and control imposed by physical platforms make this very challenging. In this paper, based on the quantum variational algorithm, we propose a novel scheme to train an Ansatz circuit and realize high-fidelity compilation of a set of universal quantum gates for singlet-triplet qubits in semiconductor double quantum dots, a fairly heavily constrained system. Furthermore, we propose a scalable architecture for a modular implementation of quantum programs in this constrained systems and validate its performance with two representative demonstrations, the Grover’s algorithm for the database searching (static compilation) and a variant of variational quantum eigensolver for the Max-Cut optimization (dynamic compilation). Our methods are potentially applicable to a wide range of physical devices. This work constitutes an important stepping-stone for exploiting the potential for advanced and complicated quantum algorithms on near-term devices.
A novel approach to the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanorods using Thymus kotschyanus plant extract: effect of ammonium hydroxide and precursor concentration
Authors: Aspoukeh Peyman K , Barzinjy Azeez A , Hamad Samir M
Published: September 2023

This research introduces a pioneering green method for synthesizing zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) on a glass substrate using Thymus kotschyanus plant extract. The study delves into the intricate effects of ammonium hydroxide and precursor concentrations on the morphology, size, alignment, and crystalline structure of ZnO NRs. Through systematic experimentation, it was found that specific concentrations of these substances play vital roles in the formation and properties of the nanorods. Notably, a low concentration of the precursor coupled with a high concentration of ammonium hydroxide led to well-aligned hexagonal ZnO NRs with a remarkable aspect ratio. Variations in these concentrations were also found to influence the length, diameter, and alignment of the nanorods. The findings were corroborated using a diverse array of analytical techniques, including transmission and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. The UV–vis spectra provided further insights into the optical properties and band gap energy of the ZnO NPs, while EDX analysis confirmed the elemental composition. This work represents a significant advancement in eco-friendly nanomaterial synthesis, providing detailed insights into the controlled fabrication of aligned ZnO NRs. Its innovative approach and extensive investigation into influencing factors make it a valuable contribution to the field of nanoscience.
A history of film music II
Authors: Kalinak Kathryn
Published: September 2023

Synchronization of music and image was achieved as early as 1894, and the quest for synchronization and its realization had long preceded the conversion to sound. “A history of film music II: 1927–70” looks at what happened after technologies in Europe and the United States allowed for a sound cinema and the response to sound cinema in global film industries around the world, including French, German, Soviet, Mexican, Brazilian, Chinese, Arab, Japanese, Turkish, and Hindi cinemas. A number of developments are covered, such as the rise of popular song and the bricolage score, the development of the background score, the genesis of the Hollywood film score, and the influence of jazz, serialism, and modernism. New developments since the publication of the first edition in 2010 include film music in Mongolia, Portugal, Cuba, and Spain.
A history of film music III
Authors: Kalinak Kathryn
Published: September 2023

The second half of the 20th century saw a transformation in film music. Popular song and background music began to converge in the compilation score. World music became more audible, and globalization influenced the funding, production, and distribution of films. “A history of film music III: 1970–present” looks at the new challenges and practices that confronted film music in the second half of the 20th century, which include the rise of auteurist directors, the development of an international film audience, the impact of experimental film, repressive political regimes, diminishing audiences and changing demographics, and evolving technologies. New material in this chapter covers minimalism, electronic scoring, the integration of sound design into the musical score, and numerous films and film scores since 2010, including Under the Skin, Baby Driver, Marie Antoinette, Roma, Crazy Rich Asians, and Dune.
Conclusion
Authors: Kalinak Kathryn
Published: September 2023

Film music continues to be an important part of film production in the early twenty-first century. In fact, its practice has become indispensable to the marketability of films in the United States and globally. Soundtracks often precede a film’s release and may bring in higher profits than the film itself. It is hard to imagine a film without any music whatsoever. The conclusion speculates on the future of film music as it ponders its connections to television, music videos, gaming, and the Internet. To what extent do these new media forms depend on music? What functions that music affords film might also apply to these new media?
The Court at work (2)
Authors: Greenhouse Linda
Published: September 2023

“The Court at work (2)” looks at the significance of the marble building the justices moved into in 1935. This permanent home had both practical and symbolic weight, communicating the Court’s role at the head of a coequal branch of government. The Court has been criticized for the choices it makes in constructing its docket as well as for its focus on the “litigated Constitution” rather than structural problems that may be beyond any court’s reach. While much of the work happens behind closed doors rather than in the open sessions, the Internet has brought the Court closer to the public, with audio files and transcripts available almost in real time.
The Court and the other branches
Authors: Greenhouse Linda
Published: September 2023

Is the phrase separation of powers misleading? “The Court and the other branches” looks at the Court in relation to the president and Congress. A more accurate description of the relationship among the branches might be “dynamic interaction,” with tensions arising inevitably among them. Sometimes these tensions cause limited disagreements. Some developments are more substantial, such as Congress’s attempts to limit the Supreme Court’s power or the power of federal courts in general. This ingrained and constitutionally based struggle about law-making authority is expressed in a cycle of interaction and reaction that shows no sign of ending and may be hard-wired into the system.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Spanish Validation of the Computerized Information Processing Assessment Battery (COGNITO)
Authors: Revert-Alcántara Nieves , Funes-Molina María Jesús , Porcel Carlos , Sáez-Zea Carmen
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Mild cognitive impairment (CI) has an exponential increase in its prevalence and causes functional deficits and dependence. Its early detection allows for timely treatment and greater therapeutic efficacy. However, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is currently underdiagnosed. Although recent decades have seen a rise in computerized instruments for the detection and early diagnosis of MCI, showing numerous advantages over the classic paper-and-pencil methods, such as standardized stimulus presentation. However, their limitations include the use of self-administered application without professional supervision. Few of these instruments have Spanish-adapted versions.

Objective

To translate, adapt, and validate the computerized Information Processing Assessment Battery (COGNITO) battery in the Spanish population and to develop a portable administration system that facilitates its application in different settings. COGNITO was then administered to 232 Spanish participants (18–89 years) without cognitive impairment, after which preliminary normative data were obtained.

Results

Strong positive correlations were found between the main cognitive domains assessed by COGNITO and the variables of age, educational level, and MEC score. The gender variable only correlated with visuospatial skills, with men outperforming women. The test–retest correlations conducted after 4 weeks with 89 participants revealed adequate reliability coefficients ranging between.63 and.66 (visuospatial skills = 0.35). Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory in Attention-Executive Functions and Memory domains.

Conclusions

The Spanish adaptation of COGNITO shows adequate psychometric characteristics of validity and reliability. The preliminary normative data provided may contribute to the early detection of cognitive impairments associated with both normal aging and various types of neurological pathology. This tool has great utility and versatility for neuropsychological practice.
VISTA: visualizing the spatial transcriptome of the C.elegans nervous system
Authors: Liska David , Wolfe Zachery , Norris Adam
Published: September 2023

Profiling the transcriptomes of single cells without sacrificing spatial information is a major goal of the field of spatial transcriptomics, but current technologies require tradeoffs between single-cell resolution and whole-transcriptome coverage. In one animal species, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, a comprehensive spatial transcriptome with single-cell resolution is attainable using existing datasets, thanks to the worm’s invariant cell lineage and a series of recently generated single cell transcriptomes. Here we present VISTA, which leverages these datasets to provide a visualization of the worm spatial transcriptome, focusing specifically on the nervous system. VISTA allows users to input a query gene and visualize its expression across all neurons in the form of a “spatial heatmap” in which the color of a cell reports the expression level. Underlying gene expression values (in Transcripts Per Million) are displayed when an individual cell is selected. We provide examples of the utility of VISTA for identifying striking new gene expression patterns in specific neurons, and for resolving cellular identities of ambiguous expression patterns generated from in vivo reporter genes. The ability to easily obtain gene-level snapshots of the neuronal spatial transcriptome should facilitate studies on neuron-specific gene expression and regulation and provide a template for the high-resolution spatial transcriptomes the field hopes to obtain for various animal species in the future.

Availability and implementation

VISTA is freely available at the following URL: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/smu.oit.data.insights/viz/VISTA_16814210566130/VISTA.
wTSA-CRAFT: an open-access web server for rapid analysis of thermal shift assay experiments
Authors: Reys Victor , Kowalewski Julien , Gelin Muriel , Lionne Corinne
Published: September 2023

Motivation

The automated data processing provided by the TSA-CRAFT tool enables now to reach high throughput speed analysis of thermal shift assays. While the software is powerful and freely available, it still requires installation process and command line efforts that could be discouraging.

Results

To simplify the procedure, we decided to make it available and easy to use by implementing it with a graphical interface via a web server, enabling a cross-platform usage from any web browsers. We developed a web server embedded version of the TSA-CRAFT tool, enabling a user-friendly graphical interface for formatting and submission of the input file and visualization of the selected thermal denaturation profiles. We describe a typical case study of buffer condition optimization of the biologically relevant APH(3')-IIb bacterial protein in a 96 deep-well thermal shift analysis screening.

Availability and implementation

wTSA-CRAFT is freely accessible for noncommercial usage at https://bioserv.cbs.cnrs.fr/TSA_CRAFT.
High-definition blood flow imaging improves quantification of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction
Authors: Gama Francisco , Custódio Pedro , Tsagkridi Aliki , Moon James , Lloyd Guy , Treibel Thomas A , Bhattacharyya Sanjeev
Published: September 2023

Aims

The accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiography to quantify left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is limited due to image quality. High-definition blood flow imaging is a new technique which improves cavity delineation without the need for medication or intravenous access. We sought to examine the impact of high-definition blood flow imaging on accuracy and reproducibility of LV systolic function assessment.

Methods and results

Prospective observational study of consecutive patients undergoing 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), high-definition blood flow imaging, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 1 h of each other. Left ventricular systolic function characterized by left ventricular end-systolic volumes and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and LVEF were measured. Seventy-six patients were included. Correlation of 2D TTE with CMR was modest (r = 0.68) with a worse correlation in patients with three or more segments not visualized (r = 0.58). High-definition blood flow imaging was feasible in all patients, and the correlation of LVEF with CMR was excellent (r = 0.88). The differences between 2D, high-definition blood flow, and 3D TTE compared to CMR were 5 ± 9%, 2 ± 5%, and 1 ± 3%, respectively. The proportion of patients where the grade of LV function was correctly classified improved from 72.3% using 2D TTE to 92.8% using high-definition blood flow imaging. 3D TTE also had excellent correlation with CMR (r = 0.97) however was only feasible in 72.4% of patients.

Conclusion

High-definition blood flow imaging is highly feasible and significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy and grading of LV function compared to 2D echocardiography.
Theorizing Strategic Narrative Disruption: Local Non-State Actors and India’s COVID-19 Narrative
Authors: Barthwal-Datta Monika
Published: September 2023

At times of global crises, political elites may attempt to (re)position states they represent as having particular roles at the global level. How might their efforts be disrupted? The idea of “disruption”, and how it relates to contestation, remains under-explored in the strategic narratives literature. In this article, I develop a preliminary theorization of strategic narrative “disruption,” through an empirically rich investigation of the counternarrative of the COVID-19-related domestic migrant crisis in India by local critical media actors. This counternarrative, I argue, constituted the migrant crisis in ways that served to disrupt the Indian government’s emergent global-level strategic narrative of India's role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Developing the idea of disruption as distinct from, and providing the discursive raw materials for, narrative contestation, I show how attempts by political actors to narratively (re)position the state around specific, identity-affirming roles in global politics may be disrupted by locally produced counternarratives that complicate or contradict key claims in the former. In new media ecologies where narratives gain resonance quickly and widely, such counternarratives become available to global audiences and give rise to new discursive framings that become available for use in future narrative contestation.
Predictability: a mistreated virtue of competition law
Authors: Broulík Jan
Published: September 2023

Lacking predictability of enforcement hinders the deterrent function of competition law. This article shows that academic analyses of optimal competition rules do not always treat this factor adequately, paying instead excessive attention to the problem of error. Sometimes, predictability is completely ignored as a relevant factor. At other times, it is taken into account but its effects are framed in a way that undermines their significance. This article further discusses three possible reasons why a part of competition law and economics scholarship engages in such mistreatment of predictability. First, it may be a result of writing convenience. Secondly, the role of predictability in selecting the optimal competition rule may simply be misunderstood. Thirdly, the role of predictability may be belittled intentionally in order to advocate rules benefiting the interests of competition practitioners and/or defendants. This article also briefly explores how problematic each reason is and what solutions might be available.
Political ideology and judicial administration: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chilton Adam , Cotropia Christopher , Rozema Kyle , Schwartz David
Published: September 2023

We study the effect of political ideology on the administration of the judiciary by investigating how the chief judges of federal district courts set courthouse policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, we use novel data on the geographic boundaries of federal courts and on the contents of pandemic orders. We account for state and local conditions and policies by leveraging district courts in states that have multiple judicial districts and that have courthouses in multiple counties, and we isolate the effect of chief ideology by using simulations that difference out unobserved district-level effects. We find no consistent evidence that the ideology of chief judges influenced courthouse closures and the authorization of a law allowing for remote proceedings, but we find strong evidence that Republican-appointed chief judges were less likely to require masks and more likely to suspend in-person trials (JEL K00, K40, K41).
Continuum, process, and dyad: three readings of the migration–mobility nexus
Authors: Bitschnau Marco , D’Amato Gianni
Published: September 2023

This article analyzes the Migration–Mobility Nexus (MMN) and shows how it can be conceived as a tool to make sense of the relationship between migration and mobility. Being polysemic, the term nexus offers three different ways to conceptualize this relationship: as continuum, process, and dyad. The first highlights the connected space between long-term and short-term and between monodirectional and circular movements. The second focuses on the sequential transition from migration to mobility in both history and scholarship. Finally, the third suggests that boundless mobility and restricted migration are not contradictory but constitutive of each other. Taking a closer look at these readings, we find that all three can be helpful points of departure for conceptual investigations into contemporary human movement.
Introduction to Special Issue: Family Migration in Times of Crisis
Authors: Wray Helena , Charsley Katharine , Kolbaşı-Muyan Gizem , Smith Lothar
Published: September 2023

This introduction to the Special Issue on Family Migration in Times of Crisis explains why the concept of crisis is a useful prism to uncover new insights into family migration. It recognizes the multivalent character of crises and their tendency to merge and accumulate into what has been called ‘polycrisis’. It recognises critical perspectives on the concept of ‘crisis’, that it represents interpretations of events rather than events themselves and that crises are socially constructed and narrated. Crises present new risks and challenges for migrants and their families. The intersection of the temporalities of crisis with those of family migration can exacerbate periods of separation as well as stress and anxiety about how the family can reunify. The papers in this Special Issue, although they focus on diverse crises and use different approaches and methodologies, reveal some common themes. Crises ‘cascade’ and their impact are often greatest on more marginalized populations. They tend to expose and exacerbate existing inequalities, throwing them into sharper relief. Governments often respond to crises by reverting to more conventional norms of family life. The fragility of transnational life and its dependence on government approval are highlighted, as even the relatively privileged may find rights of movement are curtailed, although they may also more easily find solutions. Migrants and their families respond to crises by seeking to mitigate or avoid separation, and new associations, political contestations, and acts of solidarity may emerge, although their durability, given that interests can diverge over time and crises subside, is unclear.
Eryn: a multipurpose sampler for Bayesian inference
Authors: Karnesis Nikolaos , Katz Michael L , Korsakova Natalia , Gair Jonathan R , Stergioulas Nikolaos
Published: September 2023

In recent years, methods for Bayesian inference have been widely used in many different problems in physics where detection and characterization are necessary. Data analysis in gravitational-wave astronomy is a prime example of such a case. Bayesian inference has been very successful because this technique provides a representation of the parameters as a posterior probability distribution, with uncertainties informed by the precision of the experimental measurements. During the last couple of decades, many specific advances have been proposed and employed in order to solve a large variety of different problems. In this work, we present a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm that integrates many of those concepts into a single MCMC package. For this purpose, we have built Eryn, a user-friendly and multipurpose toolbox for Bayesian inference, which can be utilized for solving parameter estimation and model selection problems, ranging from simple inference questions, to those with large-scale model variation requiring trans-dimensional MCMC methods, like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Global Fit problem. In this paper, we describe this sampler package and illustrate its capabilities on a variety of use cases.
Gender differences in patient experience in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: Subanalysis from the COVAD dataset
Authors: Yoshida Akira , Kim Minchul , Kuwana Masataka , Ravichandran Naveen , Makol Ashima , Sen Parikshit , Lilleker James B , Agarwal Vishwesh , Kardes Sinan , Day Jessica , Milchert Marcin , Joshi Mrudula , Gheita Tamer , Salim Babur , Velikova Tsvetelina , Gracia-Ramos Abraham Edgar , Parodis Ioannis , Nikiphorou Elena , Chatterjee Tulika , Tan Ai Lyn , Nune Arvind , Cavagna Lorenzo , Saavedra Miguel A , Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki , Ziade Nelly , Knitza Johannes , Distler Oliver , Chinoy Hector , Agarwal Vikas , Aggarwal Rohit , Gupta Latika
Published: September 2023

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the gender-based differences in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), with a particular focus on patient-reported outcomes, utilizing the data obtained through the international COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease e-survey.

Methods

Patient-reported outcomes including fatigue, pain, and physical function were extracted from the COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease database and compared between genders, adjusting for demographics and IIM subgroups by multivariable analysis. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) was analysed separately because of the substantial differences in outcomes.

Results

A total of 1197 complete responses from patients with IIMs as of 31 August 2021 were analysed. Seventy percent were women. Women were younger (58 [48–68] vs. 69 [58–75] years old, median [interquartile range], P < .001) and were more likely to suffer from autoimmune multimorbidity, defined as three or more autoimmune diseases in an individual patient (11.4% vs. 2.8%, P < .001). In non-IBM IIMs, fatigue visual analogue scale scores were higher in women (5 [3–7] vs. 4 [2–6], median [interquartile range], P = .004), whereas no significant gender-based differences were noted in IBM. Multivariable analysis in non-IBM IIMs revealed that women, residence in high-income countries, overlap myositis, and autoimmune multimorbidity were independently associated with increased fatigue.

Conclusions

Women with IIMs suffer from autoimmune multimorbidity and experience increased fatigue compared to men.
Self-fueling ferroptosis-inducing microreactors based on pH-responsive Lipiodol Pickering emulsions enable transarterial ferro-embolization therapy
Authors: Wang Chunjie , Zhang Lei , Yang Zhijuan , Zhao Dongxu , Deng Zheng , Xu Jialu , Wu Yumin , Hao Yu , Dong Ziliang , Feng Liangzhu , Liu Zhuang
Published: September 2023

Lipiodol chemotherapeutic emulsions remain one of the main choices for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, the limited stability of Lipiodol chemotherapeutic emulsions would lead to rapid drug diffusion, which would reduce the therapeutic benefit and cause systemic toxicity of administrated chemotherapeutics. Therefore, the development of enhanced Lipiodol-based formulations is of great significance to enable effective and safe TACE treatment. Herein, a stable water-in-oil Lipiodol Pickering emulsion (LPE) stabilized by pH-dissociable calcium carbonate nanoparticles and hemin is prepared and utilized for efficient encapsulation of lipoxygenase (LOX). The obtained LOX-loaded CaCO3&hemin-stabilized LPE (LHCa-LPE) showing greatly improved emulsion stability could work as a pH-responsive and self-fueling microreactor to convert polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a main component of Lipiodol, to cytotoxic lipid radicals through the cascading catalytic reaction driven by LOX and hemin, thus inducing ferroptosis of cancer cells. As a result, such LHCa-LPE upon transcatheter embolization can effectively suppress the progression of orthotopic N1S1 HCC in rats. This study highlights a concise strategy to prepare pH-responsive and stable LPE-based self-fueling microreactors, which could serve as bifunctional embolic and ferroptosis-inducing agents to enable proof-of-concept transarterial ferro-embolization therapy of HCC.
Protestant Miracle in Dreyer’s Ordet
Authors: Le Fanu Mark
Published: September 2023

While also encompassing Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classics, La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc (1928) and Day of Wrath (1943), this chapter analyzes in depth the unconventionally long scene at the end of the director’s Ordet (1955), which depicts the apparent resurrection of a main character who has died in childbirth. Usually attributed to the Catholic faith, miracles like the resurrection in Ordet foreground an oft-neglected strand in Protestantism—namely, the paradoxical Protestant credo quia absurdum (I believe because it is absurd). Like the movies of Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007), the movies of Carl Theodor Dreyer (1889–1968) epitomize the potential of film as a medium of spiritual-poetic exploration, especially of those areas where faith embraces mystery.