bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Almost-Hermitian random matrices and bandlimited point processes
Authors: Ameur Yacin , Byun Sung-Soo
Published: May 2023

We study the distribution of eigenvalues of almost-Hermitian random matrices associated with the classical Gaussian and Laguerre unitary ensembles. In the almost-Hermitian setting, which was pioneered by Fyodorov, Khoruzhenko and Sommers in the case of GUE, the eigenvalues are not confined to the real axis, but instead have imaginary parts which vary within a narrow “band” about the real line, of height proportional to $$\tfrac{1}{N}$$

1
N

, where N denotes the size of the matrices. We study vertical cross-sections of the 1-point density as well as microscopic scaling limits, and we compare with other results which have appeared in the literature in recent years. Our approach uses Ward’s equation and a property which we call “cross-section convergence”, which relates the large-N limit of the cross-sections of the density of eigenvalues with the equilibrium density for the corresponding Hermitian ensemble: the semi-circle law for GUE and the Marchenko–Pastur law for LUE. As an application of our approach, we prove the bulk universality of the almost-circular ensembles.
Comparison of Biological Characteristics of Human Umbilical Cord Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Extremely Preterm and Term Infants
Authors: Huang Peng , Qin Xiaofei , Fan Chuiqin , Wang Manna , Chen Fuyi , Liao Maochuan , Zhong Huifeng , Wang Hongwu , Ma Lian
Published: May 2023

Background:

Despite the progress in perinatal-neonatal medicine, complications of extremely preterm infants continue to constitute the major adverse outcomes in neonatal intensive care unit. Human umbilical cord Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) may offer new hope for the treatment of intractable neonatal disorders. This study will explore the functional differences of HUMSCs between extremely preterm and term infants.

Methods:

UMSCs from 5 extremely preterm infants(weeks of gestation: 22+5 w,24+4 w,25+3 w,26 w,28 w) and 2 term infants(39 w,39+2 w) were isolated, and mesenchymal markers, pluripotent genes, proliferation rate were analyzed. HUVECs were injured by treated with LPS and repaired by co-cultured with HUMSCs of different gestational ages.

Results:

All HUMSCs showed fibroblast-like adherence to plastic and positively expressed surface marker of CD105,CD73 and CD90, but did not expressed CD45,CD34,CD14,CD79a and HLA-DR; HUMSCs in extremely preterm exhibited significant increase in proliferation as evidenced by CCK8, pluripotency markers OCT-4 tested by RT-PCR also showed increase. Above all, in LPS induced co-cultured inflame systerm, HUMSCs in extremely preterm were more capable to promote wound healing and tube formation in HUVEC cultures, they promoted TGFβ1 expression and inhibited IL6 expression.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that HUMSCs from extremely preterm infants may be more suitable as candidates in cell therapy for the preterm infants.
Detection of bornavirus-reactive antibodies and BoDV-1 RNA only in encephalitis patients from virus endemic areas: a comparative serological and molecular sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and disease duration correlation study
Authors: Allartz Petra , Hotop Sven-Kevin , Muntau Birgit , Schlaphof Alexander , Thomé-Bolduan Corinna , Gabriel Martin , Petersen Nadine , Lintzel Maren , Behrens Christoph , Eggert Petra , Pörtner Kirsten , Steiner Johann , Brönstrup Mark , Tappe Dennis
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Human Borna disease virus (BoDV-1) encephalitis is an emerging disease in Germany. This study investigates the spectrum of human BoDV-1 infection, characterizes anti-BoDV-1-antibodies and kinetics, and compares laboratory test performances.

Methods

Three hundred four encephalitis cases, 308 nation-wide neuropsychiatric conditions, 127 well-defined psychiatric cases from Borna disease-endemic areas, and 20 persons with contact to BoDV-1 encephalitis patients or animals were tested for BoDV-1 infections by serology and PCR.

Results

BoDV-1 infections were only found in encephalitis patients with residence in, or recent travel to, virus-endemic areas. Antibodies were detected as early as 12 days after symptom onset. Serum antibody levels correlated with disease duration. Serology was ordered after 50% of the disease duration had elapsed, reflecting low awareness. BoDV-1-antibodies were of IgG1 subclass, and the epitope on BoDV-1 antigens was determined. Specificity of the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and lineblot (LB) from serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as PCR testing from CSF, was 100%. Sensitivity, depending on first or all samples, reached 75–86% in serum and 92–94% in CSF for the IFAT, and 33–57% in serum and 18–24% in CSF for the LB. Sensitivity for PCR in CSF was 25–67%. Positive predictive values were 100% each, while negative predictive values were 99% (IFAT), 91–97% (LB), and 90% (PCR).

Conclusions

There is no hint that BoDV-1 causes other diseases than encephalitis in humans. Awareness has to be increased in virus-endemic areas. Tests are robust but lack sensitivity. Detection of IgG1 against specific peptides may facilitate diagnosis. Screening of healthy individuals is likely not beneficial.
Well-posedness and decay in a system of hyperbolic and biharmonic-wave equations with variable exponents and weak dampings
Authors: Bouhoufani Oulia
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we consider a coupled system of hyperbolic and biharmonic-wave equations with variable exponents in the damping and coupling terms. In each equation, the damping term is modulated by a time-dependent coefficienta(t) (orb(t)). First, we state and prove a well-posedness theorem of global weak solutions, by exploiting Galerkin’s method and some compactness arguments. Then, using the multiplier method, we establish the decay rates of the solution energy, under suitable assumptions on the time-dependent coefficients and the range of the variable exponents. We end our work with some illustrative examples.
Bernstein-Type Operators on the Unit Disk
Authors: Recarte M. J. , Marriaga M. E. , Pérez T. E.
Published: May 2023

We construct and study sequences of linear operators of Bernstein-type acting on bivariate functions defined on the unit disk. To this end, we study Bernstein-type operators under a domain transformation, we analyze the bivariate Bernstein–Stancu operators, and we introduce Bernstein-type operators on disk quadrants by means of continuously differentiable transformations of the function. We state convergence results for continuous functions and we estimate the rate of convergence. Finally some interesting numerical examples are given, comparing approximations using the shifted Bernstein–Stancu and the Bernstein-type operator on disk quadrants.
VOX2BIM+ - A Fast and Robust Approach for Automated Indoor Point Cloud Segmentation and Building Model Generation
Authors: Martens Jan , Blankenbach Jörg
Published: May 2023

Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a key role in digital design and construction and promises also great potential for facility management. In practice, however, for existing buildings there are often either no digital models or existing planning data is not up-to-date enough for use as as-is models in operation. While reality-capturing methods like laser scanning have become more affordable and fast in recent years, the digital reconstruction of existing buildings from 3D point cloud data is still characterized by much manual work, thus giving partially or fully automated reconstruction methods a key role. This article presents a combination of methods that subdivide point clouds into separate building storeys and rooms, while additionally generating a BIM representation of the building’s wall geometries for use in CAFM applications. The implemented storeys-wise segmentation relies on planar cuts, with candidate planes estimated from a voxelized point cloud representation before refining them using the underlying point data. Similarly, the presented room segmentation uses morphological operators on the voxelized point cloud to extract room boundaries. Unlike the aforementioned spatial segmentation methods, the presented parametric reconstruction step estimates volumetric walls. Reconstructed objects and spatial relations are modelled BIM-ready as IFC in one final step. The presented methods use voxel grids to provide relatively high speed and refine their results by using the original point cloud data for increased accuracy. Robustness has proven to be rather high, with occlusions, noise and point density variations being well-tolerated, meaning that each method can be applied to data acquired with a variety of capturing methods. All approaches work on unordered point clouds, with no additional data being required. In combination, these methods comprise a complete workflow with each singular component suitable for use in numerous scenarios.
Der Übergang vom Kindergarten in die Grundschule – eine Orientierung zum Stand der empirischen Forschung
Authors: Mays Daniel , Quenzer-Alfred Carolin , Metzner-Guczka Franka , Zielemanns Holger , Tölle Lisa , Soyka Vivien , Krol Leonie , Wichmann Michelle Lok-Yan
Published: May 2023

Die vorliegende Literaturübersicht hat das Ziel, vorhandene internationale empirische Studien zum Übergang vom Kindergarten in ein staatliches oder privates Schulsystem zusammenzufassen. Um den Forschungsstand zusammenzufassen, wurde sich an den Methoden eines Scoping-Reviews orientiert. Dazu wurden neun wissenschaftliche Datenbanken durchsucht. In einem mehrstufigen Selektionsprozess wurden aus insgesamt k = 6492 Funden über den Abgleich mit sieben a priori festgelegten Einschlusskriterien k = 47 deutsch- und englischsprachige Studien zur deskriptiven Analyse in das Scoping-Review eingeschlossen. Die in den Literaturüberblick eingeschlossenen Studien wurden vorrangig in Deutschland (33 %) und in den USA (29 %) durchgeführt. Sechs wesentliche Forschungsschwerpunkte konnten in den sowohl quantitativen, qualitativen und Mixed-Methods-Forschungsdesigns herausgearbeitet werden. Dabei konzentrieren sich die meisten Studien auf die Entwicklung und explorative Bewertung von Fördermöglichkeiten am Übergang als auch strukturierte Programme, die konzeptionell in Kindergarten und Grundschule verankert wurden. Zwei weitere Schwerpunkte liegen in den eingeschlossenen Studien auf der explorativen Betrachtung der Entwicklung von Leistungen, Kompetenzen und Engagement während des Übergangs, sowie auf Sozial- und Problemverhalten im Übergangsprozess und allgemeinen sozialen Herausforderungen im Zuge der notwendigen Anpassung an das System Grundschule. Darüber hinaus werden Lücken und Nutzen von Übergangspraktiken, Unterschiede zwischen Kindergarten und Grundschule als auch in einigen wenigen Studien das Thema „Inklusion und Übergangsgestaltung“ beleuchtet.
Neem and Castor Oil–Coated Urea Mitigates Salinity Effects in Wheat by Improving Physiological Responses and Plant Homeostasis
Authors: Khan Imran , Ali Sadia Muhammad , Chattha Muhammad Umer , Barbanti Lorenzo , Calone Roberta , Mahmood Athar , Albishi Tasahil S. , Hassan Muhammad Umair , Qari Sameer H.
Published: May 2023

Soil salinity is abiotic stress of growing concern, whose effects can be potentially mitigated by the use of suitable fertilisers. Based on this, an experiment was conducted to determine the role of vegetable oil–coated urea on the performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under salinity. Neem oil–coated urea (NOCU), castor oil–coated urea (COCU), and normal urea (NU) were compared in wheat plants growing in pots at three soil salinity levels (0, 6, and 12 dS m-1). Plant morphology, growth, element contents (Na, Cl, K, and N), and several traits were assessed at the flag leaf stage; biological yield, grain yield, and its components were assessed at maturity. Salinity stunted growth (approximately -50% yield with high salinity vs. control); boosted Na and Cl concentrations while abating K and N concentrations in plant organs; impaired leaf water status; reduced photosynthetic pigments and increased antioxidant activities and osmo-regulating compounds. NOCU and, to a lesser degree, COCU mitigated salinity effects by upgrading antioxidant activities, reducing oxidative stress markers, increasing leaf water status, photosynthetic pigments, and osmo-regulating compounds. However, NOCU under high salinity could only achieve the levels of NU under intermediate salinity. Lastly, NOCU and COCU restricted plant entry of adverse ions (Na and Cl) while increasing K and N accumulation. Vegetable oil–coated urea, namely NOCU, significantly contributed to improving wheat behaviour and final yield under salinity. These outcomes are associated with the two fertilisers’ properties of slow nitrogen release.
Navigating the legal landscape of AI copyright: a comparative analysis of EU, US, and Chinese approaches
Authors: Zhuk Alesia
Published: May 2023

This paper compares AI copyright approaches in the EU, US, and China, evaluating their effectiveness and challenges. It examines the recognition of AI-generated works as copyrightable and the exclusive rights of copyright owners to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, and perform such works. Differences in approaches, such as recognizing AI as a sui generis right holder in the EU and the broad fair use doctrine in the US, are highlighted. This paper evaluates strengths and weaknesses of each approach, including enforcement and ownership of copyright in AI-generated works, and clarifies issues related to AI and copyright. While the EU and US have more developed legal frameworks for AI copyright than China, all three approaches face challenges that need addressing. This paper concludes by providing insight into the legal landscape of AI copyright and steps necessary for effective protection and use of AI-generated works.
Climate Change Literacy
Authors: Hoydis Julia , Bartosch Roman , Gurr Jens Martin
Published: May 2023

This Element presents a necessary intervention within the rapidly expanding field of research in the environmental humanities on climate change and environmental literacy. In contrast to the dominant, science-centred literacy debates, which largely ignore the unique resources of the humanities, it asks: How does literary reading contribute to climate change communication? How does this contribution relate to recent demands for environmental and related literacies? Rather than reducing the function of literature to a more pleasurable form of information transfer or its affective dimension of evoking sympathy, climate change literacy thoroughly reassesses the cognitive, affective, and pedagogic potentials of literary writing. It does so by analysing a selection of popular climate novels and by demonstrating the role of fiction in fostering a more adequate understanding of, and response to, climate change. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The History of Parliament: The House of Commons
1640-1660 [Volume VI]
Authors: Roberts Stephen K.
Published: May 2023

Volume 6 of a
9-volume set providing the most comprehensive and complete study
ever compiled about the turbulent period of the English and
British Civil Wars and their aftermath.
The History of Parliament: The House of Commons
1640-1660 [Volume VII]
Authors: Roberts Stephen K.
Published: May 2023

Volume 7 of a
9-volume set providing the most comprehensive and complete study
ever compiled about the turbulent period of the English and
British Civil Wars and their aftermath.
Data-driven science and machine learning methods in laser–plasma physics
Authors: Döpp Andreas , Eberle Christoph , Howard Sunny , Irshad Faran , Lin Jinpu , Streeter Matthew
Published: May 2023

Laser-plasma physics has developed rapidly over the past few decades as lasers have become both more powerful and more widely available. Early experimental and numerical research in this field was dominated by single-shot experiments with limited parameter exploration. However, recent technological improvements make it possible to gather data for hundreds or thousands of different settings in both experiments and simulations. This has sparked interest in using advanced techniques from mathematics, statistics and computer science to deal with, and benefit from, big data. At the same time, sophisticated modeling techniques also provide new ways for researchers to deal effectively with situation where still only sparse data are available. This paper aims to present an overview of relevant machine learning methods with focus on applicability to laser-plasma physics and its important sub-fields of laser-plasma acceleration and inertial confinement fusion.
Stunting at birth: linear growth failure at an early age among newborns in Hawassa city public health hospitals, Sidama region, Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ejigu Haileyesus , Tafese Zelalem
Published: May 2023

On a global basis, 144 million people are stunted, and in Ethiopia, it remains a major public health problem. A limited number of studies have been conducted at the national level and in the study area to generate information on stunting at birth. The present study investigated the magnitude and predictors of stunting among newborns delivered at the Public Hospitals of Hawassa City, Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2021 among mothers and newborns (N 371). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the mother in a waiting room after the delivery of the child at the hospital. Newborn length and weight were measured and converted to length-for-age Z-score using WHO standards. The prevalence of stunting at birth (35⋅6 %) and low birth weight (24⋅6 %) were high. In the adjusted model, factors significantly associated with stunting were birth interval <2 years, low birth weight, inadequate dietary diversity and food insecurity (P < 0⋅01) mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of mother <23 cm (P < 0⋅05). The high magnitude of stunting and low birth weight calls all stakeholders and nutrition actors to work on preventing maternal undernutrition and improving their dietary practice through nutrition education. It is also recommended to mitigate food insecurity with evidence-based interventions using a combination of measures. Additionally improving maternal health services including family spacing was recommended to reduce stunting and low birth weight among newborns in the study area.
Alike Yet Distinct: The Effect of Language Diversity on Interpersonal Relationships Within National and Multinational Project Teams
Authors: Kalra Komal , Szymanski Mike
Published: May 2023

This study examines the impact of language diversity on interpersonal relationships in multinational and national/domestic teams in a multilingual country – India. Specifically, it explores whether and how the influence of language diversity differs in the two types of multilingual project teams. To this end, using direct observations and semi-structured interviews, we conducted a thematic analysis and found that native language-based faultlines and groups exist in both kinds of teams. However, such faultlines and language-based groups can disintegrate into smaller, regional dialect-based subgroups due to the emergence of dialect faultlines. Furthermore, evidence suggests that multilingual managers are more effective as boundary spanners in bridging the faultlines in multinational teams; at the same time, they need to be aware of the distinction between language differences and faultlines. This study provides the required distinction between language diversity and the role of multilingual managers in national and multinational teams in an understudied context, thereby contributing to the literature on language diversity.
Coalition policy in multiparty governments: whose preferences prevail
Authors: Albarello Alessio
Published: May 2023

In coalition governments, parties need to agree on a common policy position. Whose preferences prevail? The proportionality hypothesis, the idea that coalition partners’ influence on policy is proportional to their share of seats, has been used widely in the literature on democratic representation, ideological congruence, and coalition politics. In my analysis of competing theories aimed at determining what influences policy compromise in multiparty governments, I reject the proportionality hypothesis. My results suggest instead that coalition partners exert equal influence on policy compromises, independent of their number of seats. More extensive analysis also provides evidence for increased party influence on policies when the party is the formateur or closer to the parliamentary median, ceteris paribus. As a by-product of my analysis, I provide a simple and better proxy for measuring a government's position when this position is not directly observable.
The new distribution records of recently described gobies: Aegean Sea records for Pomatoschistus nanus Engin & Seyhan Öztürk, 2017 and easternmost records of Buenia massutii Kovačić, Ordines & Schliewen, 2017
Authors: Seyhan Öztürk Dilruba , Oruç Adnan Çağlar
Published: May 2023

The smallest fish of the Mediterranean Sea, pygmaean goby, Pomatoschistus nanus, and Massuti's goby, Buenia massutii, were obtained from new locations. While P. nanus specimens were collected from both the north-eastern and south-eastern Aegean Sea, B. massutii specimens were collected from two different sub-basins, Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea, representing the first report of this species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The species were identified by both morphological and molecular techniques. The present paper contributes to filling gaps in the knowledge of the limited distribution of these species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The Nucleus: Panel Discussion
Authors: O’Dell C. R.
Published: May 2023

My approach to the nature and origin of the nucleus is strongly influenced by the quantitative data on amounts of dust and gas being. released near perihelion. Calibrated spectra and photoelectric photometry (Gebel 1970, O’Dell 1971, Stokes 1972) have shown that the morphological division of Oort and Schmidt into dust-rich and dust-poor seems to be correct. More accurately, I can say that we have observed a wide variation in the ratio of scattered light continuum to molecular emission. This may or may not reflect a large variation of the dust to gas ratio in the nucleus. In fact, the apparently dustiest comets may have smallest dust to gas ratio at the nucleus! This is because the process of accelerating the particles out from the nucleus by means of viscous gas flow depends sensitively on the amount of gas leaving. (Finson and Probstein 1968). The comet with weak scattered light is probably one that is unable to lift the particles from the nucleus, leaving a residual surface of particles. Since small particles can be lifted more easily, the remaining surface would selectively become one of large particles, forming an insulating layer of low albedo with internal degas if ication occuring at an even slow rate. This in turn would diminish the particle loss rate, with a rapid convergence to a particle cover and nucleus. This model would explain the variation from continuum strong to continuum poor in the Oort-Schmidt new and old comets, in addition to the intrinsically low luminosity and photometric radius of old comet nuclei.
The Nucleus: Panel Discussion
Authors: Delsemme A. H.
Published: May 2023

What I would like to discuss here is the chemical nature of the nucleus.

This implies the consideration of the vaporization of the nucleus into the coma because the coma is our only source of information on the nucleus. The nature of the parent molecules vaporizing from the nucleus has been for a long time the missing link for our understanding of the molecular processes. A major development has been brought about by the first identification of three neutral parent molecules HCN and CH3 CN identified in Comet Kohoutek, H20 in Comet Bradfield, confirmed by H2O+ in Kohoutek.
The Nucleus: Panel Discussion
Authors: Whipple Fred L.
Published: May 2023

In discussing the nucleus of comets and the role of comets in the evolution of the solar system I summarize the observation only in Table 1, the observed composition. Note that gas-phase chemistry obscures the nature of the active atoms, molecules and radicals in the nucleus.

I wish to stress the fact, so obvious from this symposium, that the comprehensive observational attack on Comet Kohoutek (1973f) has led to an enormous step forward in deciphering the comet enigma.
Laboratory Studies of Polyatomic Cometary Molecules and Ions
Authors: Herzberg G.
Published: May 2023

At present only four polyatomic molecules or ions have been identified in the spectra of comets and their tails. They are C3, CO2+, NH2, and H2O+. The first two are linear molecules. The C3 radical gives rise to the well-known 4050 group. It was first obtained in the laboratory in an interrupted discharge through CH4; was definitely identified by Douglas as being due to C3, and was later investigated in considerable detail in absorption in the flash photolysis of CH2N2. The complicated vibrational structure of this spectrum was first understood when it was realized that the bending frequency in the ground state is very low (64 cm-1) and that in the excited state the interaction of the vibrational angular momentum with the electronic angular momentum leads to large splittings (Renner-Teller splittings).
Polarization of OH Radiation
Authors: Mies Frederick H.
Published: May 2023

The ground 2π3/2 state of OH consists of 2 A-doubled levels which are separated by about 1666 MHz. The upper (parity = +1) and lower (parity = −) levels each have eight hyperfine subleveis which consist of a three-fold degenerate F=1 and five-fold degenerate F=2 energy state, and transitions between these levels give rise to the OH-18-cm radiowave spectrum. Of the four possible transitions the F=2 → 2 and F= 1 → 1 transitions are most intense and are the source of the 1667 MHz and 1665 MHz signals observed from comet Kohoutek (Biraud, et al (1973), Turner (1973)). The peak antenna temperature ΔTb/Tb for these lines are approximately proportional to the ratio i = (N+-N-)/(N++N-) where N± are the total concentrations of 2 π3/2, J = 3/2 molecules in the indicated parity state. In the optically thin, collisionless atmosphere of a comet these populations are determined predominantly by the fluorescent scattering of solar u.v. radiation by 12 absorption lines of the OH(A2 Σ+ ← X2 π) transition. The steady state distribution is only a function of the relative solar flux at these 12 absorption wavelengths. The molecules are pumped into a large set of 2π states, which then rapidly cascade by infrared transitions back to either the + or − levels of the ground state. Because of the Doppler shift of the absorption spectrum relative to the solar Franhaufer spectrum, the ratio i is a sensitive function of the heliocentric velocity Vh of the comet, and the radio signals can be seen either in absorption or stimulated emission relative to the galactic background temperature Tb, depending on whether the levels are anti-inverted, i < o, or inverted, i > o.
Physical Properties of Interplanetary Grains
Authors: Brownlee D. E. , Horz F. , Tomandl D. A. , Hodge P. W.
Published: May 2023

This paper presents physical properties of interplanetary dust determined by in-situ techniques. It is probable that, like millimeter-sized meteoroids (Jacchia, et al. 1967), most interplanetary dust is cometary matter. Although a cometary origin for interplanetary dust is widely accepted (Whipple 1967) (Millman, 1972) there is currently no unambiguous proof of this hypothesis. The results presented here must be interpreted accordingly. It must also be remembered that even if interplanetary particles are cometary, they might possibly be altered in the interplanetary medium by collisions and by thermal effects during close perihelion passages, so the dust particles may not be representative of unaltered cometary material.
Orbital Error Analysis for Comet Encke, 1980
Authors: Yeomans D. K.
Published: May 2023

Several recent studies have been undertaken to optimize mission strategies and to select appropriate instrumentation for in situ studies of short period comets (Farquhar et al, 1974; Bender, 1974; Newburn, 1973; Meissinger, 1972; Roberts, 1971). Although some studies have contrasted the physical characteristics of several proposed target comets, few have comprehensively studied the orbital history and ephemeris uncertainties of target comets. In general, the navigational accuracy of cometary flyby probes is almost entirely dependent upon the target comet’s position uncertainty at the time of intercept. Although cometary error analyses are necessary for realistic mission planning, such analyses cannot be conducted in the standard fashion. Comets are affected by nongravitational forces (Marsden et al, 1973), they occasionally exhibit slight discontinuities in their orbital motions, and at least one comet (Biela) has completely disintegrated (Marsden and Sekanina, 1971). Each comet is an individual. Comets have steadfastly resisted recent attempts at classification. Hence, it seems clear that, for each comet of interest in mission planning, a separate in-depth error analysis study must be undertaken to realisticly determine the target comet’s ephemeris uncertainty at the time of intercept. Such studies should consider a number of criteria in order to assure accurate ephemerides for prospective cometary targets. Using the 1980 apparition of comet Encke as an example, these criteria are outlined below.
Impacts of an advance care planning intervention on close relationships
Authors: Bulli Francesco , Toccafondi Alessandro , Kars Marijke C. , Caswell Glenys , Kodba-Čeh Hana , Lunder Urska , Pollock Kristian , Seymour Jane , van Delden Johannes J. M. , Zwakman Marieke , Korfage Ida J. , Van der Heide Agnes , Miccinesi Guido
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To examine how an advance care planning (ACP) intervention based on structured conversations impacts the relationship between patients with advanced cancer and their nominated Personal Representatives (PRs).

Methods

Within the ACTION research project, a qualitative study was carried out in 4 countries (Italy, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Slovenia) to explore the lived experience of engagement with the ACTION Respecting Choices® ACP intervention from the perspectives of patients and their PRs. A phenomenological approach was undertaken.

Results

Our findings show that taking part in the ACTION ACP intervention provides a communicative space for patients and their PRs to share their understanding and concerns about the illness and its consequences. In some cases, this may strengthen relationships by realigning patients’ and PRs’ understanding and expectations and affirming their mutual commitment and support.

Significance of results

The most significant consequence of the ACP process in our study was the deepening of mutual understanding and relationship between some patients and PRs and the enhancement of their sense of mutuality and connectedness in the present. However, being a relational intervention, ACP may raise some challenging and distressing issues. The interpersonal dynamics of the discussion require skilled and careful professional facilitation.
Three Versions of Social Science in Late Eighteenth-Century France
Authors: Lalevée Thomas
Published: May 2023

The termscience socialewas first employed by Mirabeaupèrein 1767, not Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès in 1789, as historians until now believed. Taking this discovery as its starting point, this article examines the ways in which the idea of a science of society was successively conceptualized in the late eighteenth century by Mirabeau, Sieyès, and Nicolas de Condorcet. Situating their ideas in the context of evolving discussions over the reform of the French state, it argues that they developed three different versions of social science, and that these reflected different attempts to answer the question of how to achieve collective prosperity, justice, and happiness under modern conditions. This article further highlights the changing modes of historical temporality that informed those approaches, which shifted from a focus on the social forms of a mythical past, to a concern with the prevailing norms of the present, to an emphasis, finally, on the likely developments of an ever-perfecting future. In doing so, it shows that the history of early French social science is best understood not as a process of gradual advancement, but rather as one of serial reinvention.
Experiments with the Extension of Legal Personality to Ecosystems and Beyond-Human Organisms: Challenges and Opportunities for Company Law
Authors: Jefferson David J. , Macpherson Elizabeth , Moe Steven
Published: May 2023

In recent years, a number of jurisdictions have recognized diverse ecosystems and other-than-human organisms as legal persons. From national constitutions and legislation to subnational judicial decisions and ordinances, these legal experiments have extended legal personality to riverine and terrestrial ecological communities, including vast geographical areas and the beyond-human beings that inhabit them. A growing body of literature engages with these developments and, in particular, their consequences for states and governments. However, few analyses have considered the practical implications they may present for private organizations operating under company law. We address this research gap and explore potential challenges and opportunities that the recognition of ecosystems as legal persons may create for private legal persons, especially corporations. We also discuss the possible impacts and opportunities of the expansion of legal personality on company law and corporate practice more broadly, arguing for a reimagination of company law. This reimagination embraces an ethics of reciprocity, responsibility, and relationality between corporate entities, and ecological and human communities.
Rheology of Hexagonal Close‐Packed (hcp) Iron
Authors: Nishihara Yu , Doi Shunta , Tsujino Noriyoshi , Yamazaki Daisuke , Matsukage Kyoko N. , Tsubokawa Yumiko , Yoshino Takashi , Thomson Andrew R. , Higo Yuji , Tange Yoshinori
Published: May 2023

The viscosity of hexagonal close‐packed (hcp) Fe is a fundamental property controlling the dynamics of the Earth's inner core. We studied the rheology of hcp‐Fe using high‐pressure and ‐temperature deformation experiments with in situ stress and strain measurements. Experiments were conducted using D111‐type and deformation‐DIA apparatuses at pressures of 16.3–22.6 GPa, temperatures of 423–923 K, and uniaxial strain rates of 1.52 × 10−6 to 8.81 × 10−5 s−1 in conjunction with synchrotron radiation. Experimental results showed that power‐law dislocation creep with a stress exponent of n = 4.0 ± 0.3, activation energy of E* = 240 ± 20 kJ/mol, and activation volume of V* = 1.4 ± 0.2 cm3/mol is dominant deformation mechanism at >∼800 K, whereas a mechanism with power‐law breakdown prevails at lower temperatures. An extrapolation of the power‐law dislocation creep flow law based on homologous temperature scaling suggests the viscosity of hcp‐Fe under inner core conditions is ≥∼1019 Pa s. If this power‐law dislocation creep mechanism is assumed to be the dominant mechanism in the Earth's inner core, the equatorial growth or translation mode mechanism may be the dominant geodynamical mechanism causing the observed inner core structure.
Photonic elementary cellular automata for simulation of complex phenomena
Authors: Li Gordon H. Y. , Leefmans Christian R. , Williams James , Marandi Alireza
Published: May 2023

Cellular automata are a class of computational models based on simple rules and algorithms that can simulate a wide range of complex phenomena. However, when using conventional computers, these ‘simple’ rules are only encapsulated at the level of software. This can be taken one step further by simplifying the underlying physical hardware. Here, we propose and implement a simple photonic hardware platform for simulating complex phenomena based on cellular automata. Using this special-purpose computer, we experimentally demonstrate complex phenomena, including fractals, chaos, and solitons, which are typically associated with much more complex physical systems. The flexibility and programmability of our photonic computer present new opportunities to simulate and harness complexity for efficient, robust, and decentralized information processing using light.
Attentional Ptycho-Tomography (APT) for three-dimensional nanoscale X-ray imaging with minimal data acquisition and computation time
Authors: Kang Iksung , Wu Ziling , Jiang Yi , Yao Yudong , Deng Junjing , Klug Jeffrey , Vogt Stefan , Barbastathis George
Published: May 2023

Noninvasive X-ray imaging of nanoscale three-dimensional objects, such as integrated circuits (ICs), generally requires two types of scanning: ptychographic, which is translational and returns estimates of the complex electromagnetic field through the IC; combined with a tomographic scan, which collects these complex field projections from multiple angles. Here, we present Attentional Ptycho-Tomography (APT), an approach to drastically reduce the amount of angular scanning, and thus the total acquisition time. APT is machine learning-based, utilizing axial self-Attention for Ptycho-Tomographic reconstruction. APT is trained to obtain accurate reconstructions of the ICs, despite the incompleteness of the measurements. The training process includes regularizing priors in the form of typical patterns found in IC interiors, and the physics of X-ray propagation through the IC. We show that APT with ×12 reduced angles achieves fidelity comparable to the gold standard Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART) with the original set of angles. When using the same set of reduced angles, then APT also outperforms Filtered Back Projection (FBP), Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) and SART. The time needed to compute the reconstruction is also reduced, because the trained neural network is a forward operation, unlike the iterative nature of these alternatives. Our experiments show that, without loss in quality, for a 4.48 × 93.2 × 3.92 µm3 IC (≃6 × 108 voxels), APT reduces the total data acquisition and computation time from 67.96 h to 38 min. We expect our physics-assisted and attention-utilizing machine learning framework to be applicable to other branches of nanoscale imaging, including materials science and biological imaging.
Cu-doped SnO2/rGO nanocomposites for ultrasensitive H2S detection at low temperature
Authors: Chen Tingting , Sun Jianhai , Xue Ning , Wang Wen , Luo Zongchang , Liang Qinqin , Zhou Tianye , Quan Hao , Cai Haoyuan , Tang Kangsong , Jiang Kaisheng
Published: May 2023

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detection remains a significant concern and the sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limit must be balanced at low temperatures. Herein, we utilized a facile solvothermal method to prepare Cu-doped SnO2/rGO nanocomposites that have emerged as promising candidate materials for H2S sensors. Characterization of the Cu-SnO2/rGO was carried out to determine its surface morphology, chemical composition, and crystal defects. The optimal sensor response for 10 ppm H2S was ~1415.7 at 120 °C, which was over 320 times higher than that seen for pristine SnO2 CQDs (Ra/Rg = 4.4) at 280 °C. Moreover, the sensor material exhibited excellent selectivity, a superior linear working range (R2 = 0.991, 1–150 ppm), a fast response time (31 s to 2 ppm), and ppb-level H2S detection (Ra/Rg = 1.26 to 50 ppb) at 120 °C. In addition, the sensor maintained a high performance even at extremely high humidity (90%) and showed outstanding long-term stability. These superb H2S sensing properties were attributed to catalytic sensitization by the Cu dopant and a synergistic effect of the Cu-SnO2 and rGO, which offered abundant active sites for O2 and H2S absorption and accelerated the transfer of electrons/holes.
Deep exome sequencing identifies enrichment of deleterious mosaic variants in neurodevelopmental disorder genes and mitochondrial tRNA regions in bipolar disorder
Authors: Nishioka Masaki , Takayama Jun , Sakai Naomi , Kazuno An-a , Ishiwata Mizuho , Ueda Junko , Hayama Takashi , Fujii Kumiko , Someya Toshiyuki , Kuriyama Shinichi , Tamiya Gen , Takata Atsushi , Kato Tadafumi
Published: May 2023

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a global medical issue, afflicting around 1% of the population with manic and depressive episodes. Despite various genetic studies, the genetic architecture and pathogenesis of BD have not been fully resolved. Besides germline variants, postzygotic mosaic variants are proposed as new candidate mechanisms contributing to BD. Here, we performed extensive deep exome sequencing (DES, ~300×) and validation experiments to investigate the roles of mosaic variants in BD with 235 BD cases (194 probands of trios and 41 single cases) and 39 controls. We found an enrichment of developmental disorder (DD) genes in the genes hit by deleterious mosaic variants in BD (P = 0.000552), including a ClinVar-registered pathogenic variant in ARID2. An enrichment of deleterious mosaic variants was also observed for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes (P = 0.000428). The proteins coded by the DD/ASD genes with non-synonymous mosaic variants in BD form more protein-protein interaction than expected, suggesting molecular mechanisms shared with DD/ASD but restricted to a subset of cells in BD. We also found significant enrichment of mitochondrial heteroplasmic variants, another class of mosaic variants, in mitochondrial tRNA genes in BD (P = 0.0102). Among them, recurrent m.3243 A > G variants known as causal for mitochondrial diseases were found in two unrelated BD probands with allele fractions of 5–12%, lower than in mitochondrial diseases. Despite the limitation of using peripheral tissues, our DES investigation supports the possible contribution of deleterious mosaic variants in the nuclear genome responsible for severer phenotypes, such as DD/ASD, to the risk of BD and further demonstrates that the same paradigm can be applied to the mitochondrial genome. These results, as well as the enrichment of heteroplasmic mitochondrial tRNA variants in BD, add a new piece to the understanding of the genetic architecture of BD and provide general insights into the pathological roles of mosaic variants in human diseases.
Obesity as pleiotropic risk state for metabolic and mental health throughout life
Authors: Leutner Michael , Dervic Elma , Bellach Luise , Klimek Peter , Thurner Stefan , Kautzky Alexander
Published: May 2023

Obesity, a highly prevalent disorder and central diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, is linked to mental health by clinical observations and biological pathways. Patients with a diagnosis of obesity may show long-lasting increases in risk for receiving psychiatric co-diagnoses. Austrian national registry data of inpatient services from 1997 to 2014 were analyzed to detect associations between a hospital diagnosis of obesity (ICD-10: E66) and disorders grouped by level-3 ICD-10 codes. Data were stratified by age decades and associations between each pair of diagnoses were computed with the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method, providing odds ratios (OR) and p values corrected for multiple testing. Further, directions of the associations were assessed by calculating time-order-ratios. Receiving a diagnosis of obesity significantly increased the odds for a large spectrum of psychiatric disorders across all age groups, including depression, psychosis-spectrum, anxiety, eating and personality disorders (all pcorr < 0.01, all OR > 1.5). For all co-diagnoses except for psychosis-spectrum, obesity was significantly more often the diagnosis received first. Further, significant sex differences were found for most disorders, with women showing increased risk for all disorders except schizophrenia and nicotine addiction. In addition to the well-recognized role in promoting disorders related to the metabolic syndrome and severe cardiometabolic sequalae, obesity commonly precedes severe mental health disorders. Risk is most pronounced in young age groups and particularly increased in female patients. Consequently, thorough screening for mental health problems in patients with obesity is urgently called for to allow prevention and facilitate adequate treatment.
The impact of the ovarian cycle on anxiety, allopregnanolone, and corticotropin releasing hormone changes after motherhood in female rats and women
Authors: Pestana Jodie E. , Kershaw Kelly A. , Graham Bronwyn M.
Published: May 2023

Fluctuations in ovarian steroids across the estrous and menstrual cycle in female rats and women, respectively, are associated with changes in anxiety. Pregnancy causes long-term changes to ovarian hormone release, yet research on estrous- and menstrual-related changes in anxiety has focused on reproductively inexperienced females. Therefore, this study assessed whether the impact of estrous and menstrual cycles on anxiety differs pre- versus post-motherhood in female rats (n = 32) and a community sample of women (n = 63). Estrous cycle phase altered anxiety-like behavior in virgin rats, but had no effect in age-matched mother rats tested 1-month post-weaning. In humans, menstrual cycle phase was associated with ecological momentary assessed anxiety and mood in non-mothers, but not mothers; although, the menstrual cycle × reproductive status interaction for anxiety, but not mood, was rendered non-significant with age and cycle length as covariates. These findings suggest that changes in anxiety coincident with cycling hormones is an evolutionarily conserved feature of the estrous and menstrual cycle in rats and women, which is mitigated following motherhood in both species. We identified several potential mechanisms for the observed dissociation in estrous cycle effects on anxiety. Compared to virgin rats, mother rats had a lower peak and blunted decline in circulating allopregnanolone during proestrus, upregulated GABAA receptor subunit (α1, α2, α5, α4, ß2) mRNA in the ventral hippocampus, and altered corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA across the estrous cycle in the basolateral amygdala. Together, these findings suggest that the mechanisms underlying anxiety regulation undergo fundamental transformation following pregnancy in female rats and humans.
Long non-coding RNA KCND1 protects hearts from hypertrophy by targeting YBX1
Authors: Yang Rui , Li Liangliang , Hou Yumeng , Li Yingnan , Zhang Jing , Yang Na , Zhang Yuhan , Ji Weihang , Yu Tong , Lv Lifang , Liang Haihai , Li Xuelian , Li Tianyu , Shan Hongli
Published: May 2023

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common structural remodeling in many cardiovascular diseases. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) were found to be involved in the physiological and pathological processes of cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, we found that LncRNA KCND1 (LncKCND1) was downregulated in both transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced hypertrophic mouse hearts and Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. Further analyses showed that the knockdown of LncKCND1 impaired cardiac mitochondrial function and led to hypertrophic changes in cardiomyocytes. In contrast, overexpression of LncKCND1 inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic changes. Importantly, enhanced expression of LncKCND1 protected the heart from TAC-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy and improved heart function in TAC mice. Subsequent analyses involving mass spectrometry and RNA immunoprecipitation assays showed that LncKCND1 directly binds to YBX1. Furthermore, overexpression of LncKCND1 upregulated the expression level of YBX1, while silencing LncKCND1 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, YBX1 was downregulated during cardiac hypertrophy, whereas overexpression of YBX1 inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, silencing YBX1 reversed the effect of LncKCND1 on cardiomyocyte mitochondrial function and its protective role in cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that YBX1 is a downstream target of LncKCND1 in regulating cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, our study provides mechanistic insights into the functioning of LncKCND1 and supports LncKCND1 as a potential therapeutic target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.