bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with reduced sleep among spouses and caregivers of older adults with varying levels of cognitive decline
Authors: Gallagher Virginia T. , Reilly Shannon E. , Rossetti M. Agustina , Mattos Meghan , Manning Carol
Published: December 2023

Background

Caregivers of persons with cognitive decline (PWCD) are at increased risk of poor sleep quantity and quality. It is unclear whether this is due to factors in the caregiver versus in the PWCD.

Methods

This secondary data analysis using Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study data from the Health Retirement Study examined factors contributing to reduced sleep/rest among spouses and caregivers of older adults with varying levels of cognitive decline (cognitively normal (CN), cognitive impairment but not dementia (CIND), or dementia).

Results

In our preliminary analysis, among N = 218 spouses (not necessarily caregivers) (mean age (SD) = 73.77 (7.30); 70.64% female) of older adults with varying levels of cognitive decline, regression revealed that frequency of sleep complaints was lowest among spouses with CN partners, second highest with CIND partners, and highest with dementia‐partners, X2 = 26.810, P = 0.002. Primary aim: among n = 136 caregivers of PWCD (mean age (SD) = 59.27 (13.97); 74.26% female; 22.79% spouses), we analyzed whether caregiver reduced sleep/rest was predicted by PWCD factors (i.e., frequent nighttime waking, dementia severity) and/or caregiver factors (i.e., depression symptoms, caregiver role overload). Regression revealed that caregiver depression symptoms (d = 0.62) and role overload (d = 0.88), but not PWCD factors, were associated with reduced caregiver sleep/rest after adjusting for demographic factors, caregiving frequency, and shared‐dwelling status (overall model: X2 = 31.876, P = 0.002). Exploratory analyses revealed that a caregiver was 7.901 times more likely (95% CI: 0.99–63.15) to endorse experiencing reduced sleep/rest if back‐up care was not available (P = 0.023).

Conclusion

Findings highlight that the frequency of reported sleep problems among spouses increases in a stepwise fashion when partners have dementia versus CIND versus CN. The results also emphasise that caregiver mental health and burden are strongly associated with caregiver sleep disturbances and thus may be targets of intervention for caregiver sleep problems.
Research collaboration in development economics
Authors: Amarante Verónica , Zurbrigg Julieta
Published: December 2023

Achieving greater geographical diversity in economics in general, and in the field of development in particular, is a desirable objective due to ethical and utilitarian reasons. In this article, we analyze geographical diversity in the main academic journals of the discipline, providing a detailed look at articles written in collaboration between researchers from developed and developing countries. Our results confirm the striking prevalence of articles written by researchers based in developed countries. We also detect an increase in collaborative research in time and highlight the importance of non‐academic institutions in the conformation of these collaborative research teams. In terms of contents, most of these collaborations address the study of a country or a region, and many of them are empirical, mainly using quantitative approaches. Integrating a collaborative research team allows researchers located in the developing world to publish in higher quality journals and get more impact, at least in terms of citations.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among gender and sexual minorities: Adults ages 25–44 show highest rates of past month suicidal thoughts
Authors: Manges Margaret E. , Bryan Craig J. , Bryan AnnaBelle O. , Bauder Christina Rose , Wastler Heather M.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors relative to their cisgender heterosexual peers. However, most research in this area has focused on youth, limiting our understanding of suicide risk among SGM adults.

Methods

To address this gap in the literature, the present study examined suicidal thoughts and behaviors among SGM adults across different age groups using a sample of 10,620 US adults.

Results

Consistent with the literature on youth, SGM adults showed higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than cisgender heterosexual adults. When examining prevalence rates across various age groups, young adults (18–25) showed greater suicidal thoughts and behaviors relative to adults ages 45+. However, adults ages 25–44 actually showed the highest rate of past month suicidal thoughts compared to adults ages 18–25.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that suicide risk for SGM extends beyond youth and highlights the need for more research on middle‐age SGM adults. Additional resources for SGM adults that are not only tailored toward youth and young adults are warranted.
Image processing setting adaptions according to image dose and radiologist preference can improve image quality in computed radiography of the equine distal limb: A cadaveric study
Authors: Seeber Matthias , Lederer Kristina A. , Rowan Conor , Strohmayer Carina , Ludewig Eberhard
Published: December 2023

Image processing (IP) in digital radiography has been steadily refined to improve image quality. Adaptable settings enable users to adjust systems to their specific requirements. This prospective, analytical study aimed to investigate the influence of different IP settings and dose reductions on image quality. Included were 20 cadaveric equine limb specimens distal to the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. Images were processed with the Dynamic Visualization II system (Fujifilm) using five different IP settings including multiobjective frequency processing, flexible noise control (FNC), and virtual grid processing (VGP). Seven criteria were assessed by three veterinary radiology Diplomates and one veterinary radiology resident in a blinded study using a scoring system. Algorithm comparison was performed using an absolute visual grading analysis. The rating of bone structures was improved by VGP at full dose (P < .05; AUCVGC = 0.45). Überschwinger artifact perception was enhanced by VGP (P < .001; AUCVGC = 0.66), whereas image noise perception was suppressed by FNC (P < .001; AUCVGC = 0.29). The ratings of bone structures were improved by FNC at 50% dose (P < .05; AUCVGC = 0.44), and 25% dose (P < .001; AUCVGC = 0.32), and clinically acceptable image quality was maintained at 50% dose (mean rating 2.16; 95.8% ratings sufficient or better). The favored IP setting varied among observers, with higher agreement at lower dose levels. These findings supported using individualized IP settings based on the radiologist's preferences and situational image requirements, rather than using default settings.
The Present Condition of Research in the United States
Authors: Greene Arthur M.
Published: December 2023

This paper, by the Chairman of the Research Committee of the Society, deals with the conditions under which research is now being carried on in the United States. The author first discusses research in its relation to the technical school and gives a list of the universities having mechanical engineering laboratories. Engineering experiment stations are next considered, lists being given of the stations and of those which publish research bulletins. Coöperative research and the research activities of the Government are next presented and finally the author considers commercial and industrial research work, giving in connection therewith lists of the private research laboratories in the country and of manufacturing companies having their own research facilities.
Economical Section of Water Conduit for Power Development
Authors: Hutchinson Cary T.
Published: December 2023

In this paper the author deduces a formula for determining the best slope and size of a conduit for supplying water to a power plant, this formula taking into account the construction costs, the value of the power recovered, the rate of returns expected on expenditures made, etc. The resulting relation between the best area and the flow in second-feet for chosen values of factors is shown in a logarithmic chart, and it is pointed out how this chart may be modified so that the relation for other costs and unit prices can be easily determined.
Emergency Fleet Corporation Water-Tube Boiler for Wood Ships
Authors: Dean F. W. , Kreisinger Henry
Published: December 2023

The following paper describes and reports tests upon the standard water-tube marine boiler designed by the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation. Thirteen hundred and fifty-two boilers were ordered, of which the first 706 were alike, after which 646 were ordered with slight changes including the use of four passes instead of three as employed in the original lot. In view of the large number of boilers needed, the scarcity of steel and the desire to secure competitive prices, the water-tube type was adopted instead of the Scotch marine type. This made it possible to have the boilers constructed in inland shops throughout the country and effected a reduction in the weight of steel of more than nine million pounds for the total order. The boilers had a grate area of 65.54 sq. ft., heating surface of 2500 sq. ft. and a commercial horsepower of 435 on the basis of the marine rating of 6 lb. of water to a square foot of heating surface per hour. Under test the three-pass type showed at first an efficiency of 60 per cent, which was later raised to about 73 per cent based upon combustible by certain changes which were effected. The four-pass type exceeded 74 per cent on two tests. These results were obtained when the boilers were hand-fired.

The Fuel Section of the Bureau of Mines made investigations of the process of combustion and of the temperature of gases as they flowed through the furnace and boiler. These investigations determined in a rational way what changes in the furnace and in the arrangement of the baffles were desirable to raise the efficiency of the boiler. Details of some of these investigations are given together with tables showing the complete results of the evaporative tests.
A New Type of Hydraulic–Turbine Runner
Authors: Nagler Forrest
Published: December 2023

This paper is in the nature of a preliminary announcement describing the development of a new type of water-wheel runner which on account of its greater speed and lower cost is expected to largely supplant the well-known mixed-flow reaction (Francis) types of runners under low-head conditions. The radical nature of such a departure from accepted practice may be realized when it is considered that, except for the earliest stages of water-wheel development about the middle of the last century, the mixed-flow reaction runner has been accepted as being without an equal for low-head work. This paper has accordingly been prepared with the idea of showing briefly what the general trend of design has been from the date of the first turbines, which were built in about 1830, until the development and perfection of the mixed-flow runner, dating perhaps from 1860 to the present time, and to point out and discuss the radical nature of the departure from this latter practice in the design of the new type.

In order to provide a simple criterion of progress, but particularly to afford a more ready means of contrasting previous practice with the development described, the first part of the paper is devoted to an explanation of the term “characteristic speed” and its applications. This explanation, while in the nature of a repetition of much more extensive articles previously written, is thought to be desirable by reason of its peculiar adaptability to water-wheel analysis, and because it is not in as common use among engineers in general as it might be.

A brief history of water-wheel development is likewise given, based on a consideration of characteristic speeds attained by successive types and during different periods of development. This history is brought up to date and includes the origin and development of the new type of runner. Briefly this history indicates that for nearly one hundred years characteristic speeds were gradually increased from 20 to 100, whereas the new form of runner with its greater simplicity and flexibility reaches characteristic speeds averaging 150, which thus permits it to attain speeds over 50 per cent greater than possible with preceding types.

Finally a brief statement of the advantages and field of application of the new type is given, showing that by its use it is possible to build satisfactory machinery for heads down to one-half those previously found to be the limit, and for present head limits to go to over double the capacity of units previously used.
Oil Pipe Lines
Authors: Sulentic S. A.
Published: December 2023

In this paper the author compares the cost of pipe-line transportation with that of rail and canal transportation and shows the advantages of the oil engine as a means of economically transporting oil for long distances through pipes. He also derives simple formulæ which make it comparatively easy to make rapid calculations of the pressure, net horsepower and brake horsepower necessary for the transmission of any quantity of oil per day through a pipe of known diameter.
Continuous Transport of a Nanoparticle on a Solid Surface
Authors: Zhang Teng , Leng Jiantao , Chang Tienchong
Published: December 2023

Long-distance transport of a nanoparticle on a solid surface remains a challenge in nanotechnology. Here, we design a nanoscale motor device for continuously transporting a nanoparticle on a beam surface. The device is composed of repeated units of clamped beams on which a harmonic excitation is applied to induce a gradient in atomic density on their surface, and such atomic density consequently creates a driving force on the nanoparticle attached to the device surface. The design requirements that should be satisfied by the device attributes are analytically derived, and the effect of the device attributes on the device transport performance is discussed. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations for a typical device of a graphene sheet transported on a silver beam are conducted to verify the analytical results. The proposed design provides a starting point for continuously transporting a nanoobject on a solid surface and has great potential in various applications such as nanomotors and molecular assembly lines.
On the Construction of Confidence Regions for Uncertain Planar Displacements
Authors: Yu Zihan , Jeffrey Ge Qiaode , Langer Mark P. , Arbab Mona
Published: December 2023

This paper studies the statistical concept of confidence region for a set of uncertain planar displacements with a certain level of confidence or probabilities. Three different representations of planar displacements are compared in this context and it is shown that the most commonly used representation based on the coordinates of the moving frame is the least effective. The other two methods, namely the exponential coordinates and planar quaternions, are equally effective in capturing the group structure of SE(2). However, the former relies on the exponential map to parameterize an element of SE(2), while the latter uses a quadratic map, which is often more advantageous computationally. This paper focus on the use of planar quaternions to develop a method for computing the confidence region for a given set of uncertain planar displacements. Principal component analysis (PCA) is another tool used in our study to capture the dominant direction of movements. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we compare it to an existing method called rotational and translational confidence limit (RTCL). Our examples show that the planar quaternion formulation leads to a swept volume that is more compact and more effective than the RTCL method, especially in cases when off-axis rotation is present.
A Compliant Hinge Joint Driven by the PneuNets Bending Actuator
Authors: Jin Yi , Su Hai-Jun
Published: December 2023

While soft robots enjoy the benefits of high adaptability and safety, their inherent flexibility makes them suffer from low load-carrying capacity and motion precision, which limits their applications to a broader range of fields. To address this problem, we propose a novel compliant hinge joint with a stiff backbone for load-carrying coupled with soft pneumatic networks (PneuNets) bending actuators. We derive a pseudo-rigid-body model of the joint design and validate it through experiments and simulations. The results show that the joint can achieve a large range of bending angles. The off-axis stiffness is from 16.74 to 627.63 times the in-axis stiffness. This design can carry a heavy load off-axis while maintaining the in-axis flexibility. This work lays out the foundation for designing high-performance soft robots by combining various flexure mechanisms and pneumatic bending actuators.
A New Multi-Stage Turbine Stator Design for Improved Performance Retention
Authors: Jameson Heather K. , Longley John P.
Published: December 2023

An experimental and computational investigation has been undertaken into the effects of deterioration of the first-stage rotor-shroud knife-edge seal clearance in a two-stage turbine that has engine-representative cavity geometries. Four values of deterioration were investigated which cover the new-condition to old-condition knife-edge seal clearance. Measurements within the first-stage rotor-shroud cavity show that whilst the leakage mass flowrate increases with deterioration, the angle at which the leakage flow approaches the downstream stator is essentially fixed and independent of the flow coefficient. This agrees with a simple over-tip leakage model. Because of the engine-representative cavity geometry, the over-shroud-leakage flow undergoes little mixing when it re-enters the mainstream and approaches the downstream stator at more than 60-deg negative incidence. Detailed measurements at the exit of the second-stage stator identified two large positive vortices which were not consistent with the horseshoe vortex model for secondary flow. A computational investigation revealed that one vortex originates from the rolling-up within the stator passage of the streamwise vorticity sheet associated with the first-stage rotor over-shroud leakage. This roll-up vortex cannot be eliminated. The second vortex is generated within the stator passage by the separation of the over-shroud-leakage flow at the leading edge due to the large negative incidence. It was hypothesized that this separation vortex might be eliminated by locally redesigning the stator. A new stator was designed, manufactured, and tested. As predicted, the roll-up vortex was still present, but the separation vortex was eliminated. For all the values of deterioration tested, the entropy loss coefficient of the new stator and the unchanged second-stage rotor were reduced. It is estimated that the new stator would improve the lifetime average efficiency by 0.5% compared to the original.
Finite Element Analysis on Thermoelastic Instability of Multidisc Clutches Involving Deformation Modes of Multilayer Material Friction Disc
Authors: Suo Yiran , Cui Hongwei , Mei Bizhou , Li Donghui , Jiang Yuyu , Sun Hao , Zhang Lingqing
Published: December 2023

A two-dimensional finite element model was developed to investigate thermoelastic instability in multilayered friction discs with finite thickness, considering the deformation modes of the steel core. The model was used to simulate four unstable modes that can occur during the engagement process, and the Fourier reduction was applied to calculate the change in critical speed under these modes. Additionally, the influence of thermal physical parameters, including the elastic modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, Poisson’s ratio, and thermal conductivity of the friction pair, on thermoelastic instability was examined. The findings indicate that the critical speed of the friction pair is lower under the symmetric (friction disc)–antisymmetric (steel disc) mode compared to the other three modes. Consequently, the symmetric–antisymmetric mode is the first to be excited and serves as the dominant mode during thermoelastic instability. Moreover, there exists a specific wave number at which the system exhibits the lowest critical speed and poorest stability. Enhancing the thermal conductivity of the friction disc and steel disc, as well as reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of the steel disc and the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of both discs, can improve the thermoelastic stability of the friction pair. Notably, the thermal expansion coefficient of the friction disc has minimal impact on thermoelastic instability. These results provide a theoretical foundation for exploring the relationship between the thermal failure of friction pairs and rotational speed, as well as optimizing overall performance design.
An Anisotropic Side Contact Model Based on the Peak Description Method of Surface Profile
Authors: Fan Lingsong , Wang Shijun , Li Pengyang
Published: December 2023

In contact models, traditional profile description methods are based on all sampling points of the profile. The methods can only describe the features in the height direction of profile, but are difficult to describe the profile features perpendicular to the height direction, which is the main obstacle to side contact modeling. In this paper, a profile description method based on peaks is proposed, which enables the profile features perpendicular to the height direction of the profile to be expressed. The statistical distribution law of the horizontal distances perpendicular to the height direction of the profile between adjacent asperities on anisotropic contact surfaces is investigated for the first time, and it is found that the distribution of the horizontal distances is very close to the normal distribution, but the values are different in different texture directions. The distribution law of the height differences between adjacent asperities is also investigated and is found to be close to a normal distribution, but the numerical values are different from the normal distribution of profile heights. Based on the results, the distribution function of the contact angle widely used in side contact model is replaced, and a new side contact model is proposed. By the model, the effects of the statistical parameters of surface profile and the material parameters of surfaces on the surface contact characteristics are investigated. The results of investigation show that the effect of the standard deviations of the horizontal distances between asperities in different texture directions on the normal contact stiffness between surfaces is obvious, and the normal contact stiffness will decrease with the increase of the standard deviation of the horizontal distances in any direction.
Study on Oil Supply Characteristics of Connecting Rod Small End Bearing With Splash Lubrication by Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics Method
Authors: Niu Penghao , Fu Hongyu , Zhang Hao , Guo Yiqiao , Stelmakh Oleksandr
Published: December 2023

The lubricating oil distribution significantly impacts the lubrication and cooling of the connecting rod small end bearing during the splash lubrication. This study investigates the oil supply for the small end bearing with splash lubrication utilizing the smoothed-particle hydrodynamics. The oil distribution and inlet volume are analyzed under various engine speeds. The results reveal that the oil moves close to the piston surface and hardly enters the oil bores, resulting in oil wastage. The oil entering the bores might be thrown out due to the inertia, causing the oil inlet volume to fluctuate. With increasing engine speeds, the total oil inlet volume under the quasi-steady-state gradually diminishes, exacerbating the lubrication conditions.
A Universal Mixing Rule for the High-Pressure Viscosity of Oil/Refrigerant Mixtures
Authors: Bair Scott , Harris Tequila
Published: December 2023

Bearing life analysis for the rolling element bearings in refrigeration compressors requires an accurate estimate of the film thickness. An alternative is offered here to the experimentally challenging pressure–viscosity measurements of oils diluted by refrigerants or the film thickness measurements of the same in an optical rig.
A further study on coherence between virtual signal and physical signals in remote acoustic sensing (L)
Authors: Gu Wandong , Wang Shuping , Tao Jiancheng , Zou Haishan , Qiu Xiaojun
Published: December 2023

A recent paper by Zhang, Wang, Duan, Tao, Zou, and Qiu [(2022). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 152, 2840–2848] proposed that the average distance between physical microphones in remote acoustic sensing should be no larger than half the wavelength to ensure the coherence between the virtual signal and physical signals no less than 0.9 in complex sound fields. In this letter, the effects of the sound sources' distance on the coherence between the virtual signal and physical signals are further investigated, and it is found that the required average distance among physical microphones becomes smaller when sound sources are closer to the microphones.
The relation of velopharyngeal coupling area and vocal tract scaling to identification of stop-nasal cognates
Authors: Story Brad H. , Bunton Kate
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the threshold of velopharyngeal (VP) coupling area at which listeners switch from identifying a consonant as a stop to a nasal in North American English was different for speech produced by a model based on an adult male, an adult female, and a 4-year-old child. V1CV2 stimuli were generated with a speech production model that encodes phonetic segments as relative acoustic targets imposed on an underlying vocal tract and laryngeal structure that can be scaled according to sex and age. Each V1CV2 was synthesized with a set of VP coupling functions whose maximum area ranged from 0 to 0.1 cm2. Results showed that scaling the vocal tract and vocal folds had essentially no effect on the VP coupling area at which listener identification shifted from stop to nasal. The range of coupling areas at which the crossover occurred was 0.037–0.049 cm2 for the male model, 0.040–0.055 cm2 for the female model, and 0.039–0.052 cm2 for the 4-year-old child model, and overall mean was 0.044 cm2. Calculations of band limited peak nasalance indicated that 85% peak nasalance during the consonant was well aligned with listener responses.
Aqueous breakdown of aspartate and glutamate to n-ω-amino acids on the parent bodies of carbonaceous chondrites and asteroid Ryugu
Authors: Li Yamei , Kurokawa Hiroyuki , Sekine Yasuhito , Kebukawa Yoko , Nakano Yuko , Kitadai Norio , Zhang Naizhong , Zang Xiaofeng , Ueno Yuichiro , Fujimori Gen , Nakamura Ryuhei , Fujishima Kosuke , Isa Junko
Published: December 2023

Amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites may have seeded the origin of life on Earth and possibly elsewhere. Recently, the return samples from a C-type asteroid Ryugu were found to contain amino acids with a similar distribution to Ivuna-type CI chondrites, suggesting the potential of amino acid abundances as molecular descriptors of parent body geochemistry. However, the chemical mechanisms responsible for the amino acid distributions remain to be elucidated particularly at low temperatures (<50°C). Here, we report that two representative proteinogenic amino acids, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, decompose to β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid, respectively, under simulated geoelectrochemical conditions at 25°C. This low-temperature conversion provides a plausible explanation for the enrichment of these two n-ω-amino acids compared to their precursors in heavily aqueously altered CI chondrites and Ryugu’s return samples. The results suggest that these heavily aqueously altered samples originated from the water-rich mantle of their water/rock differentiated parent planetesimals where protein α-amino acids were decomposed.
Flat-band localization and interaction-induced delocalization of photons
Authors: Martinez Jeronimo G. C. , Chiu Christie S. , Smitham Basil M. , Houck Andrew A.
Published: December 2023

Lattices with dispersionless, or flat, energy bands have attracted substantial interest in part due to the strong dependence of particle dynamics on interactions. Using superconducting circuits, we experimentally study the dynamics of one and two particles in a single plaquette of a lattice whose band structure consists entirely of flat bands. We first observe strictly localized dynamics of a single particle, the hallmark of all-bands-flat physics. Upon initializing two particles on the same site, we see an interaction-enabled delocalized walk across the plaquette. We further find localization in Fock space for two particles initialized on opposite sides of the plaquette. These results mark the first experimental observation of a quantum walk that becomes delocalized due to interactions and establishes a key building block in superconducting circuits for studying flat-band dynamics with strong interactions.
(p)ppGpp is required for virulence of
Shigella flexneri
Authors: Kago Grace , Turnbough Charles L. , Salazar Juan Carlos , Payne Shelley M.
Published: December 2023

Infection by the enteric pathogen
Shigella flexneri
requires transit through the gastrointestinal tract and invasion of and replication within the cells of the host colonic epithelium. This process exposes the pathogen to a range of diverse microenvironments. Furthermore, the unique composition and physical environment of the eukaryotic cell cytosol represents a stressful environment for
S. flexneri
, and extensive physiological adaptations are needed for the bacterium to thrive. In this work, we show that disrupting synthesis of the stringent response alarmone (p)ppGpp in
S. flexneri
diminished expression of key virulence genes, including
ipaA, ipaB, ipaC,
and
icsA
, and it reduced bacterial invasion and intercellular spread. Deletion of the (p)ppGpp synthase gene
relA
alone had no effect on
S. flexneri
virulence, but disruption of both
relA
and the (p)ppGpp synthase/hydrolase gene
spoT
resulted in loss of (p)ppGpp synthesis and virulence. While the
relA spoT
deletion mutant was able to invade a cultured human epithelial cell monolayer, albeit at reduced levels, it was unable to maintain the infection and spread to adjacent cells, as indicated by loss of plaque formation. Complementation with
spoT
on a plasmid vector restored plaque formation. Thus, SpoT alone is sufficient to provide the necessary level of (p)ppGpp for virulence. These results indicate that (p)ppGpp is required for
S. flexneri
virulence and adaptation to the intracellular environment, adding to the repertoire of signaling pathways that affect
Shigella
pathogenesis.
DYRK1A is a multifunctional host factor that regulates coronavirus replication in a kinase-independent manner
Authors: Fu Zhen , Xiang Yixin , Fu Yanan , Su Zhelin , Tan Yubei , Yang Mengfang , Yan Yuanyuan , Baghaei Daemi Hakimeh , Shi Yuejun , Xie Shengsong , Sun Limeng , Peng Guiqing
Published: December 2023

Coronaviruses (CoVs) pose a major threat to human and animal health worldwide, which complete viral replication by hijacking host factors. Identifying host factors essential for the viral life cycle can deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of virus–host interactions. Based on our previous genome-wide CRISPR screen of α-CoV transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), we identified the host factor dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), but not DYRK1B, as a critical factor in TGEV replication. Rescue assays and kinase inhibitor experiments revealed that the effect of DYRK1A on viral replication is independent of its kinase activity. Nuclear localization signal modification experiments showed that nuclear DYRK1A facilitated virus replication. Furthermore, DYRK1A knockout significantly downregulated the expression of the TGEV receptor aminopeptidase N (
ANPEP
) and inhibited viral entry. Notably, we also demonstrated that DYRK1A is essential for the early stage of TGEV replication. Transmission electron microscopy results indicated that DYRK1A contributes to the formation of double-membrane vesicles in a kinase-independent manner. Finally, we validated that DYRK1A is also a proviral factor for mouse hepatitis virus, porcine deltacoronavirus, and porcine sapelovirus. In conclusion, our work demonstrated that DYRK1A is an essential host factor for the replication of multiple viruses, providing new insights into the mechanism of virus–host interactions and facilitating the development of new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

IMPORTANCE

Coronaviruses, like other positive-sense RNA viruses, can remodel the host membrane to form double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) as their replication organelles. Currently, host factors involved in DMV formation are not well defined. In this study, we used transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) as a virus model to investigate the regulatory mechanism of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) on coronavirus. Results showed that DYRK1A significantly inhibited TGEV replication in a kinase-independent manner. DYRK1A knockout (KO) can regulate the expression of receptor aminopeptidase N (
ANPEP
) and endocytic-related genes to inhibit virus entry. More importantly, our results revealed that DYRK1A KO notably inhibited the formation of DMV to regulate the virus replication. Further data proved that DYRK1A is also essential in the replication of mouse hepatitis virus, porcine deltacoronavirus, and porcine sapelovirus. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that DYRK1A is a conserved factor for positive-sense RNA viruses and provided new insights into its transcriptional regulation activity, revealing its potential as a candidate target for therapeutic design.
Complete genomic sequencing of a
Pseudomonas putida
isolate derived from a patient suffering from chronic diarrheal infection in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Qin , Salman Sayyed
Published: December 2023

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the genomic sequence of
Pseudomonas putida
isolate L2890hy, having a 6,733,472 bp chromosome size. This particular strain was obtained from a fecal sample of a patient suffering from acute diarrhea in Hangzhou, China, in 2020.
Constraints of boron and oxygen stable isotopes on dehydration fluids, sediment-derived melts, and crustal assimilation of the Toba volcanic system (Indonesia)
Authors: Liu Ping-Ping , Wang Dian-Bing , Zhou Mei-Fu , Li Xian-Hua , Li Qiu-Li , Gaetani Glenn A. , Monteleone Brian , Kamenetsky Vadim
Published: December 2023

Arc magmas are produced from the mantle wedge, with possible addition of fluids and melts derived from serpentinites and sediments in the subducting slab. Identification of various sources and their relevant contributions to such magmas is challenging; in particular, at continental arcs where crustal assimilation may overprint initial geochemical signatures. This study presents oxygen isotopic compositions of zoned olivine grains from post-caldera basalts and boron contents and isotopes of these basalts and glassy melt inclusions hosted in quartz and clinopyroxene of silicic tuffs in the Toba volcanic system, Indonesia. High-magnesian (≥87 mol% Fo [forsterite]) cores of olivine in the basalts have δ18O values ranging from 5.12‰ to 6.14‰, indicating that the mantle source underneath Toba is variably enriched in 18O. Olivine with <87 mol% Fo has highly variable (4.8–7.2‰), but overall increased, δ18O values, interpreted to reflect assimilation of high δ18O crustal materials during fractional crystallization. Mass balance calculations constrain the overall volume of crustal assimilation for the basalts as ≤13%. The processes responsible for the 18O-enriched basaltic melts are further constrained by boron data that indicate the addition of <0.1 wt% fluids to the mantle, >40% of the fluids being derived from serpentinites and others from altered oceanic crust and sediments. This amount of fluids can increase δ18O of the magma by only ~0.02‰. Approximately 6–9% sediment-derived melt hybridization in the mantle wedge is further needed to yield basaltic melts with δ18O values in equilibrium with those of the high-Fo olivine cores. The cogenetic silicic tuffs, on the other hand, seem to record a higher proportion of fluid addition dominated by sediment-derived fluids to the mantle source, in addition to crustal assimilation. Our reconnaissance study therefore demonstrates the application of combined B and O isotopes to differentiate between melts and fluids derived from serpentinites and sediments in the subducted slab—an application that can be applied to arc magmas worldwide.
Effect of adverse perinatal outcomes on postpartum maternal mental health in low-income and middle-income countries: a protocol for systematic review
Authors: Fetene Samrawit Mihret , Haile Tsegaye Gebremedhin , Dadi Abel
Published: December 2023

Introduction

More than three-fourths of adverse perinatal outcomes (preterm, small for gestational age, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, stillbirth and neonatal death) occur in low-income and middle-income countries. These adverse perinatal outcomes can have both short-term and long-term consequences on maternal mental health. Even though there are few empirical studies on the effect of perinatal loss on maternal mental illness, comprehensive information on the impact of adverse perinatal outcomes in resource-limited settings is scarce. Therefore, we aim to systematically review and synthesise evidence on the effect of adverse perinatal outcomes on maternal mental health.

Methods and analysis

The primary outcome of our review will be postpartum maternal mental illness (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum psychosis) following adverse perinatal outcomes. All peer-reviewed primary studies published in English will be retrieved from databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate (EBSCO), PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus and Global Health through the three main searching terms—adverse perinatal outcomes, maternal mental illness and settings, with a variant of subject headings and keywords. We will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist to assess the quality of the studies we are including. The review findings will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement. Estimate-based meta-analysis will be performed. We will assess heterogeneity between studies using the I2statistics and publication bias will be checked using funnel plots and Egger’s test. A subgroup analysis will be conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity (if available). Finally, the certainty of the evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Ethics and dissemination

Since this systematic review does not involve human participants, ethical approval is not required. The review will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023405980.
Factors influencing deviation from target temperature during targeted temperature management in postcardiac arrest patients
Authors: Ochiai Kanae , Otomo Yasuhiro
Published: December 2023

Background

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a recommended therapy for postcardiac arrest patients. Hyperthermia worsened the patient outcome, and overcooling increased the incidence of complications; therefore, a high-quality TTM is required. The target temperature tended to be modified worldwide after the TTM trial in 2013. Our institute modified the target temperature to 35°C in 2017. This study aimed to compare the conventional and modified protocols, assess the relationship between target temperature deviation and patient outcomes, and identify the factors influencing temperature deviation.

Methods

This single-centre, retrospective, observational study included adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who underwent TTM between April 2013 and October 2019. We compared the conventional and modified protocol groups to evaluate the difference in the background characteristics and details on TTM. Subsequently, we assessed the relationship of deviation (>±0.5°C, >37°C, or<33°C) rates from the target temperature with mortality and neurological outcomes. We assessed the factors that influenced the deviation from the target temperature.

Results

Temperature deviation was frequently observed in the conventional protocol group (p=0.012), and the modified protocol group required higher doses of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) during TTM (p=0.016). Other background data, completion of protocol, incidence of complications, mortality and rate of favourable neurological outcomes were not significantly different. The performance rate of TTM was significantly higher in the modified group than in the conventional protocol group (p<0.001). Temperature deviation did not have an impact on the outcomes. Age, sex, body surface area, NMBA doses and type of cooling device were the factors influencing temperature deviation.

Conclusions

A target temperature of 35°C might be acceptable and easily attainable if shivering of the patients was well controlled using NMBAs. Temperature deviation did not have an impact on outcomes. The identified factors influencing deviation from target temperature might be useful for ensuring a high-quality TTM.
Exploring the Moho beneath the Northern Canadian Cordillera, with seismically constrained gravity inversion
Authors: Hayward Nathan , Schetselaar Ernst
Published: December 2023

The geometry and depth of the Moho beneath the Northern Canadian Cordillera and adjacent North American craton are modeled through the application of both cokriging and 3-D inversion of gravity data, integrated with sparse seismic depth estimates. Models require a regional density correction, with lower densities beneath the Cordillera than the craton. The lower densities are primarily attributed to a reduction in upper mantle density, ascribed to thermal expansion under regionally higher temperatures. The eastern margin of this low-density zone is broadly aligned with the rapid westward shallowing of the lithospheric–asthenospheric boundary. From the Cordillera to the North American craton, the Moho is broadly flat at a depth of ∼32 km. A zone of deeper Moho (up to ∼38 km) beneath the Mistry Creek embayment has a modeled mantle density that is of a colder cratonic signature, akin to the Mackenzie craton, and is interpreted to represent the preserved remnants of an old rift basin that is a local focus of the diffuse seismicity. Southeast of the Fort Norman structure, seismicity is broadly focused along the eastern edge of the low-density zone. Major structures such as the Denali and Tintina faults, with 100’s km of right-lateral displacement, separate zones of higher and lower upper mantle density, supporting the interpretation of their continuation into the upper mantle. Within the North American craton, upper mantle density steadily increases toward the Great Bear magmatic zone but increases more rapidly beneath the Slave craton in tangent with a deepening of the Moho.
Research on optimal fast terminal sliding mode control of horizontal vibration of high-speed elevator car system
Authors: Li Hua , He Qin , Li Li , Liu LiXin
Published: December 2023

An optimal fast terminal sliding mode control strategy is proposed to suppress effectively the horizontal vibration of the high-speed elevator car system caused by uncertainties such as rail unevenness, elevator load variation, and component friction and wear. Firstly, considering the elevator’s composition structure and vibration characteristics, a 4-degree-of-freedom car system horizontal vibration active control model with a symmetric distribution of the control center is established. Secondly, considering the nonlinear factors of the rolling guide shoe and the external excitation, an optimal fast terminal sliding mode controller (PFTSMC) based on the sliding mode variable structure control is designed to eliminate the horizontal vibration of the car, define the non-singular terminal sliding mode surface, and introduce the fast terminal convergence law based on the fast terminal attractor to ensure the accessibility of the sliding mode motion and reduce the jitter vibration. In addition, the use of Random Weighted Particle Swarm Optimization (RW-PSO) algorithm to optimize the parameters of the controller improves its vibration suppression ability and robustness. Finally, the proposed controller can achieve more than 51.2% attenuation of horizontal vibration acceleration and displacement, showing that PFTSMC can effectively reduce the horizontal vibration of high-speed elevator car systems and improve ride comfort.
Quark masses and CKM hierarchies from $$S_4'$$ modular flavor symmetry
Authors: Abe Yoshihiko , Higaki Tetsutaro , Kawamura Junichiro , Kobayashi Tatsuo
Published: December 2023

We propose models to explain the hierarchies of the quark masses and mixing by utilizing the $$S_4^\prime $$

S
4
′

modular flavor symmetry. The hierarchy is realized by the modulus $$\tau $$
τ
stabilized at $$\textrm{Im}\,\tau \gg 1$$

Im

τ
≫
1

, where the residual $$\mathbb {Z}_4^T$$

Z
4
T

symmetry is approximately unbroken and the Froggatt–Nielsen mechanism works. It is found that the quark hierarchies are realized only in a few cases of quark representations. We study two models with assigning the modular weights, so that the observed quark hierarchies are explained in the cases of both small and large ratios of the top to bottom Yukawa couplings. We also argue that $$\mathcal {O}\left( {0.1}\right) $$

O

0.1

hierarchies of the $$\mathcal {O}\left( {1}\right) $$

O

1

coefficients and the spontaneous CP violation can be realized by imposing another $$S_3$$

S
3

modular symmetry.
Introduction to B physics
Authors: Mannel Thomas
Published: December 2023

This article represents a short introduction on why the physics of bottom-quark hadrons is currently one of most important topics in contemporary particle physics. We introduce the main theoretical tools to set the stage for the following, more detailed and more specialized articles in this collection.
Preserving the Fairness Guarantees of Classifiers in Changing Environments: A Survey
Authors: Barrainkua Ainhize , Gordaliza Paula , Lozano Jose A. , Quadrianto Novi
Published: December 2023

The impact of automated decision-making systems on human lives is growing, emphasizing the need for these systems to be not only accurate but also fair. The field of algorithmic fairness has expanded significantly in the past decade, with most approaches assuming that training and testing data are drawn independently and identically from the same distribution. However, in practice, differences between the training and deployment environments exist, compromising both the performance and fairness of the decision-making algorithms in real-world scenarios. A new area of research has emerged to address how to maintain fairness guarantees in classification tasks when the data generation processes differ between the source (training) and target (testing) domains. The objective of this survey is to offer a comprehensive examination of fair classification under distribution shift by presenting a taxonomy of current approaches. The latter is formulated based on the available information from the target domain, distinguishing between adaptive methods, which adapt to the target environment based on available information, and robust methods, which make minimal assumptions about the target environment. Additionally, this study emphasizes alternative benchmarking methods, investigates the interconnection with related research fields, and identifies potential avenues for future research.