bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acidity and metal complexation of edge surface of birnessite-type MnO2: Insight from first principles simulations
Authors: Zhang Yingchun , Liu Xiandong , Lu Xiancai
Published: November 2022

Birnessite-type MnO2 plays key roles in scavenging trace elements in numerous natural environments and has also been regarded as a promising energy storage material. The interfacial properties of birnessite are highly pH-dependent due to the presence of various amphoteric groups on its edges, and, therefore, the acidity constants (pKa) of these groups are vital to the understanding of its electrochemical and environmental performances. However, an accurate acidity dataset for birnessite is absent yet. In this study, we employed first-principles molecular dynamics simulations and the vertical energy gap method to calculate the pKas of groups on the birnessite (010) edge. The interfacial hydration structure was characterized with a focus on the hydrogen bonding network. The obtained pKas suggest that MnOH2 is active while Mn2OH remains inert in a common pH range. Based on these results, the incorporation of transition metals on the edge surface was investigated by taking Ni2+ and Zn2+ as the model cations. The energy changes associated with the incorporation process of Ni2+ from the outer-sphere state indicate that incorporation on the edge surface is more feasible than that on the basal surface presumed in previous studies. Overall, the results obtained provide an atomic-scale insight into the acid–base chemistry of birnessite and form a physical basis for understanding the interfacial processes of birnessite.
Nb-doped La0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ as an electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Zuo Liwen , Jiang Cong , Liu Yu , Zheng Dan , Yuan Kang , Wang Hao , Wang Baoyuan
Published: November 2022

It is one of the effective strategies to develop intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) by looking for alternative electrolyte materials that can maintain or even improve current cell efficiencies while reducing operating temperature. In this study, by rationally introducing pentavalent Nb on the B-site of La0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ (LSFO), a serial of novel perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Fe1−xNbxO3−δ (LSFNbx, x = 0.1, 0.2) with mixed electron-ion conduction is successfully prepared. The electrochemical mechanism and performance of the symmetrical IT-SOFCs with a single LSFNbx perovskite oxide as electrolyte are investigated. With the Nb doping, the structure stability of the LSFO is improved and the electronic conductivity decreases. La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Nb0.2O3−δ (LSFNb20) is the most promising electrolyte of the three candidates as it has the best performance (735 mW cm−2 at 550 °C in a dry H2/Air atmosphere) and no short-circuiting problem. The applied voltage-response current curves demonstrate that the interface between the Ni-Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05LiO2−δ anode and LSFNb20 electrolyte can block electron conduction more efficiently and has a better promoting effect on protons, which is fundamentally due to the band energy alignment of the interface heterojunction. Our work highlights that LSFNb20 is a high-performance perovskite alternative to monolayer electrolytes.
Minimal model of excited-state symmetry breaking in symmetric dimers and covalently linked dyads
Authors: Antipov Ivan F. , Ivanov Anatoly I.
Published: November 2022

A model of symmetry breaking (SB) charge separation in symmetric excited dyads and dimers is presented. The minimal model should include at least four basis electronic states due to a small energy gap between the locally excited and charge separated (zwitterionic) states of the chromophores. There are electronic couplings between all these states. The model includes the following interactions: (i) the Coulomb interaction between charges on the chromophores of the dyad, (ii) the interaction of the dipole moment of the asymmetric dyad with the solvent polarization, and (iii) the electronic–vibrational interaction. SB becomes possible only if the intensity of these interactions exceeds a threshold value. The threshold vanishes if there is a degeneration of the levels. Unusual resonant dependencies of the dissymmetry degree on the model parameters are revealed. Resonances arise due to the degeneration of energy levels. The ranges of the parameters in which energy level crossings occur are established. The oddity lies in the dependence of the resonance shape on the parameters of the model. A variation in the electronic couplings and the energy gap between the locally excited and ionic states, which leads to a broadening of the resonance, simultaneously leads to an increase in the resonant height. This opens up wide possibilities for controlling the charge separation degree. The predictions of the theory agree with the available experimental data. The charge separation SB is predicted to accompany by SB in the excitation distribution on the branches of dyads.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Bangga Galih
Published: November 2022

This chapter summarizes the fundamental theory for computational fluid dynamics approaches. The discussion starts by reviewing the Navier–Stokes equations and common discretization methods being used for solving the equations. As the flow in nature is always turbulent, further discussion of the characteristics and the methods to close the equations by means of turbulence models, ranging from the commonly used RANS approach to a hybrid approach such as DES, will be given. Toward the end of the chapter, practical usage of CFD approaches for wind turbine simulations will be presented.
Edge states in rationally terminated honeycomb structures
Authors: Fefferman C. L. , Fliss S. , Weinstein M. I.
Published: November 2022

Consider the tight binding model of graphene, sharply terminated along an edge l parallel to a direction of translational symmetry of the underlying period lattice. We classify such edges l into those of “zigzag type” and those of “armchair type,” generalizing the classical zigzag and armchair edges. We prove that zero-energy/flat-band edge states arise for edges of zigzag type, but never for those of armchair type. We exhibit explicit formulae for flat-band edge states when they exist. We produce strong evidence for the existence of dispersive (nonflat) edge state curves of nonzero energy for most l.
Warm wall in autumn: how to use the solar irradiation in full?
*
Authors: Khavrus Vyacheslav , Gabovich Alexander
Published: November 2022

We describe the relationship between changes in solar irradiation of vertical surfaces and the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky during a year. Those changes can substantially prolong the sense of warmth for people both in the countryside and in urban areas. The historical analysis shows that the vertical wall positive effect was noticed hundreds of years ago (the so-called Indian summer). Nevertheless, even the main details of the relevant astronomical and physical phenomena have not been presented for tutorial purposes. In this publication, we tried to fill this lacuna. Specifically, by means of a simple set of equations, we analyzed the contribution of geometrical and atmospheric factors in different seasons for the delivery of solar energy onto south-faced vertical plane and necessary conditions for getting local comfortable warmth. In addition to tackling purely scientific aspects of the problem, we emphasize the pragmatic goals of the solar energy utilization since this source of energy is one of the naturally replenishing resources. In particular, the considered phenomena can be used for development of ecological housing or comfortable alcoves in private gardens suitable for their use during sunny days in late autumn or early spring.
Investigations on enhanced plasma expansion in pseudospark discharge assisted by a magnetic switch
Authors: Yan Jiaqi , Shen Saikang , Sun Guoxiang , Ding Weidong , Wang Weizong , Wang Zhehong , Wang Haibo
Published: November 2022

Electrode erosion caused by dense plasma in constrictive discharge channel is one of the fundamentally detrimental effects existing in pulsed discharge switches. An enhanced plasma expansion in pseudospark discharge assisted by a magnetic switch (MS) is observed from ICCD images in this paper, accompanied by reduced commutation loss, and the mechanisms are revealed by experiments and simulations. The characteristics of the discharge waveforms and channel images of the pseudospark discharge with and without a series-connected MS are compared, and the influence of the number of magnetic cores is studied. As the loop current increases, the discharge channel expands radically and reaches the maximum as the current rising rate reaches the maximum. As the number of magnetic cores increases from 0 to 8, the maximum diameter of the discharge channel increases from 16 mm to about 38 mm, and the commutation loss is reduced from 30 mJ to 11 mJ. The electrode erosion rate of the case with a MS is lower than that without a MS. A particle in cell/Monte Carlo collision model coupling to nonlinear external circuit elements is established. The simulation results fit well with the experiment phenomena, including the discharge waveforms and the profiles of the discharge channel. The distribution of ions shows more diffused features than that of electrons, while the distribution of electrons is more similar to the discharge channel observed in experiments. The enhanced plasma expansion is mainly caused by the higher radial acceleration component of the charged particles during the magnetically delayed time.
Janus V2AsP monolayer : a ferromagnetic semiconductor with a narrow band gap, a high Curie temperature and controllable magnetic anisotropy
Authors: Wan Wenhui , Zhao Rui , Ge Yanfeng , Liu Yong
Published: November 2022

The search and design of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic semiconductors for spintronics applications are particularly significant. In this work, we investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of Janus structure based on Dirac half-metallic vanadium phosphide (VP) monolayer (ML) by first-principles calculations. Due to the vertical symmetry breaking, Janus V2AsP ML becomes an intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconductor with a narrow band gap of 0.21 eV. We analyzed the electronic structure and origin of the in-plane easy axis in Janus V2AsP. The electron effective mass is anisotropic and only 0.129 m0 along the x-direction. The Curie temperature

T

c

and magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of Janus V2AsP reach 490 K and 178 µeV per V atom, respectively. A uniaxial tensile stain ɛ

x
of 5% can increase its band gap and MAE to 0.39 eV and 210.6 µeV per V atom while maintaining its

T

c

being above room temperature. Moreover, the direction of the easy axis can be changed between the in-plane x- and y-direction by a small uniaxial tensile strain ɛ

x
of 2%. Our study can motivate further research on the design the magnetic semiconductors in Janus structures based on 2D Dirac half-metals for spintronics applications.
Effective medium theory and its limitations for the description of MoO3 films doped with nanoparticles
Authors: Morales-Luna Michael , Morales-Luna Gesuri
Published: November 2022

The present work analyses the transmittance and reflectance spectra of molybdenum trioxide film doped by silver nanoparticles as a function of angle of incidence and wavelength. As will be seen in this work, at values of angle of incidence below 40 degrees and with volume filling fraction below 1% also, some differences between the two effective medium theories are presented. First, the volume filling fraction is limited for low values (

<

1%) and second the scattering amplitude cannot be ignored for these cases. The novelty of this work is that the use of the effective medium model (refractive index) shows limitations in the description of the optical properties when it was applied to thin solid films.
Design of plasma shutters for improved heavy ion acceleration by ultra-intense laser pulses
Authors: Matys M , Bulanov S V , Kucharik M , Jirka M , Nikl J , Kecova M , Proska J , Psikal J , Korn G , Klimo O
Published: November 2022

In this work, we investigate the application of the plasma shutters for heavy ion acceleration driven by a high-intensity laser pulse. We use particle-in-cell and hydrodynamic simulations. The laser pulse, transmitted through the opaque shutter, gains a steep-rising front and its peak intensity is locally increased at the cost of losing part of its energy. These effects have a direct influence on subsequent ion acceleration from the ultrathin target behind the shutter. In our 3D simulations of silicon nitride plasma shutter and a silver target, the maximal energy of high-Z ions increases significantly when the shutter is included for both linearly and circularly polarized laser pulses. Moreover, application of the plasma shutter for linearly polarized pulse results in focusing of ions toward the laser axis in the plane perpendicular to the laser polarization. The generated high energy ion beam has significantly lower divergence compared to the broad ion cloud, generated without the shutter. The effects of prepulses are also investigated assuming a double plasma shutter. The first shutter can withstand the assumed sub-ns prepulse (treatment of ns and ps prepulses by other techniques is assumed) and the pulse shaping occurs via interaction with the second shutter. On the basis of our theoretical findings, we formulated an approach toward designing a double plasma shutter for high-intensity and high-power laser pulses and built a prototype.
Surface topography effect on tribological performance of water-lubricated journal bearing under mixed-EHL regime
Authors: Prajapati Deepak K , Ramkumar P
Published: November 2022

Water-lubricated journal bearings (WLJB) are one of the important components of the stern tube shaft. Surface topography of WLJB is an important aspect in the design of stern tube shaft, and significantly affects the lubrication characteristics of WLJB. This work aims to investigate the effect of non-Gaussian surface topography on tribological performance of water-lubricated journal bearing (WLJB) under mixed-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (mixed-EHL) regime. The non-Gaussian flow factors, and a normalized Weibull probability density function is used to tackle the non-Gaussian roughness in hydrodynamic and asperity contact models respectively. From results, it is observed that skewness (S

sk
) significantly affects both asperity contact pressure and hydrodynamic pressure along circumferential direction of bearing. It is concluded that for skewness, S

sk
= −1 to 1, lambda ratio falls between 1 to 3. The relation between altitude angle and skewness is established. The effect of bearing length to diameter (L/D) ratio on lubrication performance of WLJB is also discussed in detail.
Phase-shifting digital holographic microscopy for microstructure measurement by sweeping the repetition rate of femtosecond laser
Authors: Ning Huiwen , Huang Liu , Yan Liping , Lin Ye , Chen Benyong
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes a phase-shifting digital holographic microscopy (PSDHM) for microstructure measurement by sweeping the repetition rate of femtosecond laser, and a multiple reflection arrangement between two quasi-parallel mirrors is constructed for optical multiplication. High precision phase-shifting can be achieved by sweeping the repetition rate of the femtosecond laser referenced to a Rb atomic clock without any mechanical sweeping. Optical multiplication can shorten the spatial distance of the optical delay line used for pulses alignment, make the PSDHM structure compact and stable, and avoid certain environmental disturbances. In the experiments, a ten-step phase-shifting test was first carried out for evaluating the phase-shifting accuracy, and the phase-shifting error was calculated to be in the range of −1° to 0.25°. Then, a USAF 1951 resolution target and a microstructure standard target were measured using a four-step PSDHM, and the measurement results were compared with those from a stylus profiler and a white light interferometer, respectively. The lateral resolution of PSDHM was tested to be about 2.1 μm, and the maximum error of the longitudinal measurement was within 6 nm. Experiments verify that the PSDHM system has good performance in terms of phase-shifting accuracy, surface topography measurement and coherent noise suppression.
A comparative study on the effect of CO2 laser parameters on drilling process of polycarbonate and PMMA polymers complemented by design expert
Authors: Abdulwahab Ansam E , Hubeatir Kadhim A , Imhan Khalil I
Published: November 2022

In this research, micro-drilling with a CO2 laser was conducted on two types of polymer, polycarbonate (PC) and poly methyl methacrylic (PMMA), due to their desirable chemical and physical characteristics. Design-Expert analysis has been used to better understand the laser drilling process and reduce the number of experiments needed. Based on Box–Behnken design (BBD), the experiments were designed to examine the influence of the laser parameters on the micro-drilling process. The impact of parameters, such as power (P), exposure time (t), and focal plane position (FPP), on the depth, entry diameter, and heat-affected zone (HAZ) was investigated using the statistical analysis technique ANOVA. To conduct virtual tests alongside the experimental study, the temperature distribution of the drilling mechanism was simulated using the COMSOL Multiphysics program. The refined accuracy of the simulation predicted the geometry of the hole and presented outcomes that favorably correspond with the experimental results. Experiments were optimized using numerical optimization to attain the ideal hole in CW mode for various values of laser power, exposure time, and FPP. A significant improvement in hole quality was achieved. The acquired data were validated using confirmation tests. The outcomes for the ideal full hole revealed the minimum HAZ (60 μm), with a minimum diameter (360 μm), and 1 mm hole depth occurred at zero FPP for PMMA, with laser power of 3 W and at 0.17 s. Meanwhile, for PC, the ideal hole with minimum HAZ (90 μm), minimum diameter (350 μm), and 1 mm hole depth was achieved at zero FPP, with laser power of 3.6 W and at 0.1 s.
Mathematical modelling for biomitigation of lead from waste water using packed-bed biofilm reactor
Authors: Bose Moumita
Published: November 2022

A mathematical model was developed from first principle to predict the concentration distribution in the axial direction in a packed bed biofilm reactor used for the removal of lead from wastewater by bioremediation. The biocatalyst was prepared by immobilizing Acinetobacter
sp. 158 (isolated in-house from a native source) on a sintered sticky Earthen sphere using an attached growth technique. To evaluate the intrinsic kineticparameters necessary for the simulation, batch mode studies of the same system were carried out, and the cell growth dynamics were established. It was observed that within the concentration of lead from 0.01 kg m−3 to 0.04 kg m−3 the system followed the Monods substrate uninhibited model equation. The first order differential equation obtained through thesteady-state mass balance in the axial direction of the packed bed contained no adjustable parameters, and the equation was solved analytically. Within the lead concentration range 0.01 kg m−3−0.04 kg m−3 and flow velocity 1.43 m h−1 −5.73 m h−1 experimental data shows best alignment with the simulated values. The close fit of such experimental data with the simulated values indeed clearly indicates the validity of the proposed deterministic model equation.
Community-based participatory research on the impact of greenspace on violent crime
Authors: Shepley Mardelle McCuskey , Ames Rebecca Lauren , Leitão Renata Marques , Coleman Gloria
Published: November 2022

Background. The positive impact of greenspace on human health has been well documented, including several literature reviews and meta-analyses that have examined the broad benefits of nature connections. Researchers have also examined the relationship between nature and crime reduction and identified potential mechanisms underlying this outcome, such as the physiological impact of nature, lowered temperatures due to a reduction in the heat island effect, and places for community interaction. However, a critical shortcoming of this study is the lack of deep community involvement in the research process. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is critical to ensuring that the findings are meaningful to communities and translatable. This study expands on recent literature reviews on greenspace outcomes by focusing on community-engaged research (CER). By gathering and summarizing studies on this topic, we address two subjects: (a) strategies that can be used to improve community engagement, and (b) environmental factors that impact community outcomes in greenspace settings. Methods. To explore these issues, we used a modified version of Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for a structured literature review, employing the Web of Science, EbscoHost, Scopus, ProQuest Global, and Google Scholar databases. Results. We retrieved 772 publications using permutations of keywords related to violent crime, greenspaces, and CBPR. After eliminating duplicates, the reviewers worked in parallel to evaluate 700 titles and abstracts and identified 51 potentially relevant papers, ten of which met the requirements for inclusion in this analysis. Discussion. Based on the studies explored in this literature review, we identified the following strategies for improving CER: building partnerships, facilitating power-sharing, utilizing community-specific indicators of success, embracing perspectives of communities of color, and empowering community researchers. In the sample of studies described here, the factors contributing to the relationship between greenspace and violent crime were maintenance, activity programming, green interventions, and community involvement.
Transverse instability of high frequency weakly stable quasilinear boundary value problems
Authors: Kilque Corentin
Published: November 2022

This work intends to prove that strong instabilities may appear for high order geometric optics expansions of weakly stable quasilinear hyperbolic boundary value problems, when the forcing boundary term is perturbed by a small amplitude oscillating function, with a transverse frequency. Since the boundary frequencies lie in the locus where the so-called Lopatinskii determinant is zero, the amplifications on the boundary give rise to a highly coupled system of equations for the profiles. A simplified model for this system is solved in an analytical framework using the Cauchy-Kovalevskaya theorem as well as a version of it ensuring analyticity in space and time for the solution. Then it is proven that, through resonances and amplification, a particular configuration for the phases may create an instability, in the sense that the small perturbation of the forcing term on the boundary interferes at the leading order in the asymptotic expansion of the solution. Finally we study the possibility for such a configuration of frequencies to happen for the isentropic Euler equations in space dimension three.
Sex bias in social deficits, neural circuits and nutrient demand in Cttnbp2 autism models
Authors: Yen Tzu-Li , Huang Tzyy-Nan , Lin Ming-Hui , Hsu Tsan-Ting , Lu Ming-Hsuan , Shih Pu-Yun , Ellegood Jacob , Lerch Jason , Hsueh Yi-Ping
Published: November 2022

Autism spectrum disorders caused by both genetic and environmental factors are strongly male-biased neuropsychiatric conditions. However, the mechanism underlying the sex bias of autism spectrum disorders remains elusive. Here, we use a mouse model in which the autism-linked gene Cttnbp2 is mutated to explore the potential mechanism underlying the autism sex bias.

Autism-like features of Cttnbp2 mutant mice were assessed via behavioural assays. C-FOS staining identified sex-biased brain regions critical to social interaction, with their roles and connectivity then validated by chemogenetic manipulation. Proteomic and bioinformatic analyses established sex-biased molecular deficits at synapses, prompting our hypothesis that male-biased nutrient demand magnifies Cttnbp2 deficiency. Accordingly, intakes of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and zinc were experimentally altered to assess their effect on autism-like behaviours.

Both deletion and autism-linked mutation of Cttnbp2 result in male-biased social deficits. Seven brain regions, including the infralimbic area of the medial prefrontal cortex (ILA), exhibit reduced neural activity in male mutant mice but not in females upon social stimulation. ILA activation by chemogenetic manipulation is sufficient to activate four of those brain regions susceptible to Cttnbp2 deficiency and consequently to ameliorate social deficits in male mice, implying an ILA-regulated neural circuit is critical to male-biased social deficits. Proteomics analysis reveals male-specific downregulated proteins (including SHANK2 and PSD-95, two synaptic zinc-binding proteins) and female-specific upregulated proteins (including RRAGC) linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, which are likely relevant to male-biased deficits and a female protective effect observed in Cttnbp2 mutant mice. Notably, RRAGC is an upstream regulator of mTOR that senses BCAA, suggesting that mTOR exerts a beneficial effect on females. Indeed, increased BCAA intake activates the mTOR pathway and rescues neuronal responses and social behaviours of male Cttnbp2 mutant mice. Moreover, mutant males exhibit greatly increased zinc demand to display normal social behaviours.

Mice carrying an autism-linked Cttnbp2 mutation exhibit male-biased social deficits linked to specific brain regions, differential synaptic proteomes and higher demand for BCAA and zinc. We postulate that lower demand for zinc and BCAA are relevant to the female protective effect. Our study reveals a mechanism underlying sex-biased social defects and also suggests a potential therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorders.
Structural and functional alterations in cerebral small vessel disease: an ALE-based meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yingying , Liu Xin , Jia Xuejia , Li Haoyuan , Jia Xiuqin , Yang Qi
Published: November 2022

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is one of the most important causes of stroke and dementia. Although increasing studies have reported alterations of brain structural or neuronal functional activity exhibited in patients with CSVD, it is still unclear which alterations are reliable. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to establish which brain structural or neuronal functional activity changes in those studies were consistent. Activation likelihood estimation revealed that changes in neuronal functional activity in the left angular gyrus, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex/left medial prefrontal cortex, right rolandic operculum, and alterations of gray structure in the left insular cortex/superior temporal gyrus/claustrum were reliable in sporadic CSVD. Decreased neuronal functional activity in the caudate head, anterior cingulate cortex, and reduced gray matter volume in the insular cortex/superior temporal gyrus/claustrum were associated with CSVD-related cognitive impairment. Furthermore, unlike sporadic CSVD, the reliable alterations of neuronal functional activity in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy were concentrated in the left parahippocampal gyrus. The current study presents stable brain structural and neuronal functional abnormalities within the brain, which can help further understand the pathogenesis of CSVD and CSVD-cognitive impairment and provide an index to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment protocols.

Highlights

• Default mode network and salience network are reliable networks affected in sporadic CSVD in resting-state.

• Altered corticostriatal circuitry is associated with cognitive decline.

• Decreased gray matter volume in the insular cortex is stable “remote effects” of sporadic CSVD.

• The parahippocampal gyrus may be a reliable affected brain region in CADASIL.
The left inferior frontal gyrus is causally linked to vocal feedback control: evidence from high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation
Authors: Li Tingni , Chang Yichen , Zhao Shuzhi , Jones Jeffery A , Chen Xi , Gan Chu , Wu Xiuqin , Dai Guangyan , Li Jingting , Shen Ying , Liu Peng , Liu Hanjun
Published: November 2022

Current models of speech motor control propose a role for the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in feedforward control of speech production. There is evidence, however, that has implicated the functional relevance of the left IFG for the neuromotor processing of vocal feedback errors. The present event-related potential (ERP) study examined whether the left IFG is causally linked to auditory feedback control of vocal production with high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS). After receiving active or sham HD-tACS over the left IFG at 6 or 70 Hz, 20 healthy adults vocalized the vowel sounds while hearing their voice unexpectedly pitch-shifted by ±200 cents. The results showed that 6 or 70 Hz HD-tACS over the left IFG led to larger magnitudes and longer latencies of vocal compensations for pitch perturbations paralleled by larger ERP P2 responses than sham HD-tACS. Moreover, there was a lack of frequency specificity that showed no significant differences between 6 and 70 Hz HD-tACS. These findings provide first causal evidence linking the left IFG to vocal pitch regulation, suggesting that the left IFG is an important part of the feedback control network that mediates vocal compensations for auditory feedback errors.
Mitral annular fibrous band—a unique morphological variant of a rare congenital mitral valve anomaly: a case report
Authors: Okafor Joseph , Vamvakidou Anastasia , Lyons Alexander R , Khattar Rajdeep
Published: November 2022

Background

Left atrial bands are rare and can be associated with mitral valve dysfunction, heart failure, and stroke. Most cases are identified on autopsy, and the demonstration in vivo is very uncommon. Various anatomical configurations have been reported. This description of a mitral annular fibrous band contributes to the literature as the first reported case to traverse the supravalvular mitral inflow region, without involving the left atrium.

Case summary

A 59-year-old man with a history of metastatic duodenal carcinoma was admitted with a 2-week history of fever and rigors. Inflammatory markers were elevated and blood cultures positive for Enterococcus feacium. Transoesophageal echocardiography performed to investigate for infective endocarditis revealed a 2.3 cm long, thin fibrous band attached to the posterior mitral annulus and extending to the base of the middle scallop of the anterior mitral valve leaflet causing localized tethering, but no valve dysfunction. The band was felt to represent a bystander anatomic variant unrelated to the sepsis, which was most likely gastrointestinal in origin. The patient responded well to intravenous antibiotics.

Conclusions

The presence of an abnormal intracardiac structure in the setting of occult infection should always raise the suspicion of infective endocarditis. Using detailed 2D multiplanar and 3D transoesophageal echocardiography, we were able to identify the anomalous band and exclude any overt infective vegetations attached to the band or the leaflets. Once identified, treatment options range from conservative management to surgical resection and mitral valve surgery if concomitant valvular dysfunction is demonstrated.
An improved effective medium model for the electrical properties of granular rocks accounting for grain contact
Authors: Han Tongcheng , He Haiming , Fu Li-Yun
Published: November 2022

Differential effective medium (DEM) model has been widely employed for the interpretation of electrical survey data. However, the contact of grains that is inevitably happening in reservoir rocks is not taken into account by the DEM model, making the model prediction underestimate the measured formation factor of clean granular rocks. We have developed a modified DEM model by introducing a geometric factor to account for the contact of grains that complicates the pore network and thus deviates the transportation of electrical current. The geometric factor is derived by fitting the measured formation factor from a large published data set of 111 clean sandstone samples, and is found to decrease exponentially with rock porosity. Comparison with laboratory data sets of various artificial and real clean sandstones shows that the modified DEM model improves the modelling results and fits satisfactorily the measured formation factor with varying porosity. The results illustrate the practical applicability of the developed closed-form model for the improved simulation of electrical properties of clean granular rocks, and suggest grain contact as a potential link for the joint elastic-electrical characterization of granular rocks through integrated seismic and electromagnetic surveys.
Obesity prevention and related public health advertising versus competing commercial advertising expenditure in Australia
Authors: Haynes Ashleigh , Bayly Megan , Dixon Helen , McAleese Alison , Martin Jane , Chen Yan Jun Michelle , Wakefield Melanie
Published: November 2022

Mass media campaigns can change attitudes and behaviours to improve population health. However, a key challenge is achieving share of voice in a complex and cluttered media environment. The aim of this study was to compare advertising expenditure on public health campaigns for obesity prevention (and related healthy eating and physical activity campaigns) with competing commercial categories of (a) sugary drinks, (b) artificially sweetened drinks and (c) diet/weight loss products and programmes. These commercial products may either undermine or dilute public health messages by directly contributing to poor health or confusing the public about the best ways to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Monthly estimates of advertising expenditure in Australian media (television, outdoor, cinema, radio, newspapers, magazines and digital) were obtained from Nielsen Media for 2016–18. Eligible public health advertising expenditure for the entire period (total AUD$27M) was vastly outweighed by the commercial categories of sugary drinks (AUD$129M) and diet/weight loss products and services (AUD$122M). Artificially sweetened drinks accounted for an additional AUD$23M of expenditure. These results highlight the need to rebalance the ratio of advertising to support public health in Australia through increased funding for obesity prevention and related campaigns, and critically, through government regulation to limit competing commercial advertising.
Direct cosmological inference from three-dimensional correlations of the Lyman α forest
Authors: Gerardi Francesca , Cuceu Andrei , Font-Ribera Andreu , Joachimi Benjamin , Lemos Pablo
Published: November 2022

When performing cosmological inference, standard analyses of the Lyman α (Ly α) three-dimensional correlation functions only consider the information carried by the distinct peak produced by baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). In this work, we address whether this compression is sufficient to capture all the relevant cosmological information carried by these functions. We do this by performing a direct fit to the full shape, including all physical scales without compression, of synthetic Ly α autocorrelation functions and cross-correlations with quasars at effective redshift zeff = 2.3, assuming a DESI-like survey, and providing a comparison to the classic method applied to the same data set. Our approach leads to a $3.5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ constraint on the matter density ΩM, which is about three to four times better than what BAO alone can probe. The growth term fσ8(zeff) is constrained to the $10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level, and the spectral index ns to $\sim 3-4{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. We demonstrate that the extra information resulting from our ‘direct fit’ approach, except for the ns constraint, can be traced back to the Alcock–Paczynski effect and redshift space distortion information.
First light and reionization epoch simulations (FLARES) V: the redshift frontier
Authors: Wilkins Stephen M , Vijayan Aswin P , Lovell Christopher C , Roper William J , Irodotou Dimitrios , Caruana Joseph , Seeyave Louise T C , Kuusisto Jussi K , Thomas Peter A , Parris Shedeur A K
Published: November 2022

JWST is set to transform many areas of astronomy, one of the most exciting is the expansion of the redshift frontier to z > 10. In its first year, alone JWST should discover hundreds of galaxies, dwarfing the handful currently known. To prepare for these powerful observational constraints, we use the First Light And Reionization Epoch simulations (flares) to predict the physical and observational properties of the z > 10 population of galaxies accessible to JWST. This is the first time such predictions have been made using a hydrodynamical model validated at low redshift. Our predictions at z = 10 are broadly in agreement with current observational constraints on the far-UV luminosity function and UV continuum slope β, though the observational uncertainties are large. We note tension with recent constraints z ∼ 13 from Harikane et al. (2021) – compared to these constraints, flares predicts objects with the same space density should have an order-of-magnitude lower luminosity, though this is mitigated slightly if dust attenuation is negligible in these systems. Our predictions suggest that in JWST’s first cycle alone, around 600 galaxies should be identified at z > 10, with the first small samples available at z > 13.
B-mode constraints from Planck low-multipole polarization data
Authors: de Belsunce Roger , Gratton Steven , Efstathiou George
Published: November 2022

We present constraints on primordial B modes from large-angular scale cosmic microwave background polarization anisotropies measured with the Planck satellite. To remove Galactic polarized foregrounds, we use a Bayesian parametric component separation method, modelling synchrotron radiation as a power law and thermal dust emission as a modified blackbody. This method propagates uncertainties from the foreground cleaning into the noise covariance matrices of the maps. We construct two likelihoods: (i) a semi-analytical cross-spectrum-based likelihood-approximation scheme (momento), and (ii) an exact polarization-only pixel-based likelihood (pixLike). Since momento is based on cross-spectra, it is statistically less powerful than pixLike, but is less sensitive to systematic errors correlated across frequencies. Both likelihoods give a tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, that is consistent with zero from low-multipole (2 ≤ ℓ < 30) Planckpolarization data. From full-mission maps, we obtain r0.05 < 0.274 at 95 per cent confidence at a pivot scale of k* ≡ 0.05 Mpc−1, using pixLike. momento gives a qualitatively similar but weaker 95 per cent confidence limit of r0.05 < 0.408.
Accretion process, magnetic fields, and apsidal motion in the pre-main sequence binary DQ Tau
Authors: Pouilly Kim , Kochukhov Oleg , Kóspál Ágnes , Hahlin Axel , Carmona Andres , Ábrahám Péter
Published: November 2022

Classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs) are young stellar objects that accrete materials from their accretion disc influenced by their strong magnetic field. The magnetic pressure truncates the disc at a few stellar radii and forces the material to leave the disc plane and fall onto the stellar surface by following the magnetic field lines. However, this global scheme may be disturbed by the presence of a companion interacting gravitationally with the accreting component. This work is aiming to study the accretion and the magnetic field of the tight eccentric binary DQ Tau, composed of two equal-mass (∼ 0.6 M⊙) CTTSs interacting at different orbital phases. We investigated the variability of the system using a high-resolution spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric monitoring performed with ESPaDOnS at the CFHT. We provide the first ever magnetic field analysis of this system, the Zeeman–Doppler imaging revealed a stronger magnetic field for the secondary than the primary (1.2 and 0.5 kG, respectively), but the small-scale fields analysed through Zeeman intensification yielded similar strengths (about 2.5 kG). The magnetic field topology and strengths are compatible with the accretion processes on CTTSs. Both components of this system are accreting, with a change of the main accretor during the orbital motion. In addition, the system displays a strong enhancement of the mass accretion rate at periastron and apastron. We also discovered, for the first time in this system, the apsidal motion of the orbital ellipse.
Intensification of magnetic field in merging magnetic flux tubes driven by supergranular vortical flows
Authors: Chian Abraham C-L , Rempel Erico L , Silva Suzana S A , Bellot Rubio Luis , Gošić Milan
Published: November 2022

The spatiotemporal dynamics of vorticity and magnetic field in the region of a photospheric vortex at a supergranular junction of the quiet Sun is studied, using Hinode’s continuum intensity images and longitudinal magnetograms. We show that in a 30-min interval during the vortex lifetime, the magnetic field is intensified at the centres of two merging magnetic flux tubes trapped inside the vortex boundary. Moreover, we show that the electric current density is intensified at the interface boundary layers of merging tubes, resulting from strong vortical downflows in a supergranular vertex. Evidence of Lagrangian chaos and vortex stretching in the photospheric plasma turbulence responsible for driving the intensification of magnetic fields is analysed. In particular, we report the first solar observation of the intensification of electromagnetic energy flux resulting from the merger of magnetic flux tubes.
XGAPS: a sub-arcsec cross-match of galactic plane surveys
Authors: Scaringi S , Monguió M , Knigge C , Fratta M , Gänsicke B , Groot P J , Rebassa-Mansergas A , Toloza O
Published: November 2022

We present a sub-arcsec cross-match of Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3) against the INT Galactic Plane Surveys (IGAPS) and the United Kingdom Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). The resulting cross-match of Galactic Plane Surveys (XGAPS) provides additional precise photometry (URGO, g, r, i, Hα, J, H, and K) to the Gaia photometry. In building the catalogue, proper motions given in Gaia DR3 are wound back to match the epochs of the IGAPS constituent surveys (INT Photometric HαSurvey of the Northern Galactic Plane, IPHAS, and the UV-Excess Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane, UVEX) and UKIDSS, ensuring high-proper motion objects are appropriately cross-matched. The catalogue contains 33 987 180 sources. The requirement of >3σ parallax detection for every included source means that distances out to 1–1.5 kpc are well covered. In producing XGAPS, we have also trained a Random Forest classifier to discern targets with problematic astrometric solutions. Selection cuts based on the classifier results can be used to clean colour-magnitude and colour–colour diagrams in a controlled and justified manner, as well as producing subsets of astrometrically reliable targets. We provide XGAPS as a 111 column table. Uses of the catalogue include the selection of Galactic targets for multi-object spectroscopic surveys as well as identification of specific Galactic populations.
Identification of glioblastoma-specific antigens expressed in patient-derived tumor cells as candidate targets for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy
Authors: Nakagawa Tomoyoshi , Kijima Noriyuki , Hasegawa Kana , Ikeda Shunya , Yaga Moto , Wibowo Tansri , Tachi Tetsuro , Kuroda Hideki , Hirayama Ryuichi , Okita Yoshiko , Kinoshita Manabu , Kagawa Naoki , Kanemura Yonehiro , Hosen Naoki , Kishima Haruhiko
Published: November 2022

Background

New therapies for glioblastoma (GBM) are urgently needed because the disease prognosis is poor. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy that targets GBM-specific cell surface antigens is a promising therapeutic strategy. However, extensive transcriptome analyses have uncovered few GBM-specific target antigens.

Methods

We established a library of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a tumor cell line derived from a patient with GBM. We identified mAbs that reacted with tumor cell lines from patients with GBM but not with nonmalignant human brain cells. We then detected the antigens they recognized using expression cloning. CAR-T cells derived from a candidate mAb were generated and tested in vitro and in vivo.

Results

We detected 507 mAbs that bound to tumor cell lines from patients with GBM. Among them, E61 and A13 reacted with tumor cell lines from most patients with GBM, but not with nonmalignant human brain cells. We found that B7-H3 was the antigen recognized but E61. CAR-T cells were established using the antigen-recognition domain of E61-secreted cytokines and exerted cytotoxicity in co-culture with tumor cells from patients with GBM.

Conclusions

Cancer-specific targets for CAR-T cells were identified using a mAb library raised against primary GBM tumor cells from a patient. We identified a GBM-specific mAb and its antigen. More mAbs against various GBM samples and novel target antigens are expected to be identified using this strategy.
Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of Dependence Measures for Exclusive Electronic Cigarette Users
Authors: Milstred Andrea R , Douglas Ashley E , Romm Katelyn F , Blank Melissa D
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Extant electronic cigarette (ECIG) dependence measures are largely adapted from those designed for cigarette smoking, though few have been evaluated for their psychometric properties.

Aims and Methods

Never-smoking ECIG users (N = 134) participating in an online survey completed four dependence measures: Penn state electronic cigarette dependence index (PSECDI), e-cigarette dependence scale (EDS-4), diagnostic and statistical manual for tobacco use disorder (DSM-5), and Glover Nilsson behavioral questionnaire (GNBQ). They also reported on their ECIG use characteristics (eg, behaviors and reasons).

Results

Internal consistency was highest for the EDS-4 (Cronbach’s α = 0.88) followed by the GNBQ (α = 0.75), PSECDI (α = 0.72), and DSM (α = 0.71). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a single-factor structure for the PSECDI, EDS-4, and GNBQ. For the DSM-5, however, two items did not load significantly (ECIG use interferes with responsibilities; reduce/give up activities because of ECIG use). Significant correlations were observed between all measures and the number of ECIG use days/week and/or years using ECIGs, as well as between DSM-5 scores and the number of ECIG quit attempts and initiation age. Endorsement of using ECIGs because “I like flavors” was correlated positively with DSM-5 and GNBQ scores.

Conclusions

All dependence measures evaluated herein demonstrated adequate reliability and construct validity. Future work should focus on determining which aspects of dependence are those that are unique to ECIG use, and subsequently developing a more comprehensive measure of ECIG dependence.

Implications

The measures assessed herein—PSECDI, EDS-4, DSM-5, and GNBQ—demonstrated adequate to good reliability and construct validity among a sample of never-smoking ECIG users. The dependence domains covered across measures were related yet distinct. Findings demonstrate the need for future evaluation of these different domains to determine which are the most salient characteristics of ECIG dependence.