bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fasting plasma glucose level-based formula for estimating starting daily dose in basal-bolus insulin therapy
Authors: Nagao Mototsugu , Harada Taro , Tanimura-Inagaki Kyoko , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Fukuda Izumi , Sugihara Hitoshi , Oikawa Shinichi
Published: January 2023

There is no standard formula for estimating the starting daily dose (SDD) of basal-bolus insulin therapy (BBT). We aimed to develop a formula for estimating SDD and evaluate its efficacy and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for BBT. In the first study (n = 104), we retrospectively analyzed the relationship between peak daily dose (PDD) during hospitalization and clinical parameters. The PDD was significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (R = 0.449, P < 0.0001) and HbA1c levels (R = 0.384, P < 0.0001) but not body weight, body mass index, body surface area, or serum C-peptide levels. Based on the results, we developed a formula for estimating SDD using FPG levels: SDD (U/day) = 0.08 × FPG (mg/dL). In the second study (n = 405), we assessed efficacy and safety of the formula by evaluating the M-value from the daily glucose profile and assessing the frequency of hypoglycemia (blood glucose level < 70 mg/dL). When BBT was initiated using the FPG level-based formula, the M-values decreased from 61.0 ± 52.8 to 12.8 ± 10.8 (P < 0.0001), and hypoglycemia was observed in only 3/405 cases (0.74%) under the SDD. The FPG level-based formula is useful for estimating SDD in BBT and is safe for clinical use.
Evaluation of covalent coupling strategies for immobilizing ligands on silica colloidal crystal films by optical interferometry
Authors: Zhu Xueyi , Ma Ning , Wan Yizhen , Wang Lu , Zhang Yu , Yan Chengyu , Qian Weiping
Published: January 2023

Immobilizing ligands is a crucial part of preparing optical sensors and directly connected to the sensitivity, stability, and other characteristics of sensors.
Etching dopant elements to construct active-site-rich Mo2C for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Lu Qiang , Xiao Bin , Zhang Mengling , Sun Huachuan , Lu QingJie , Zhou Tong , Li Dequan , Deng Zongming , Xu Dong , Zhang Yumin , Zhang Jin , Liu Qingju
Published: January 2023

We propose a strategy to etch dopants to construct Mo2C with more unsaturated coordination of Mo atoms and lattice distortion for enhanced catalytic activity.
Visible-light promoted intramolecular carboamination of alkynes for the synthesis of oxazolidinone-fused isoquinolinones
Authors: Guo Qihang , Lu Dongpo , Mao Yihui , Lu Zhan
Published: January 2023

The synthesis of oxazolidinone-fused isoquinolinones has been developed through visible-light promoted intramolecular carboamination of alkynes and benzamides under mild conditions.
A new polymorph of graphene monoxide: an all-sp3 bonded metal and ambient pressure superconductor
Authors: Kondrin M. V. , Lebed Y. B. , Brazhkin V. V.
Published: January 2023

In this brief report, we propose the ab initio prediction of a new polymer of carbon monoxide, previously overlooked in extensive searches for its phases.
Frequency-resolved microscopic second-order hyperpolarizability of azochromophores: a study on nonlinear all-optical switching applications
Authors: Moysés Renato Mafra , Barbano Emerson Cristiano , da Silva Daniel Luiz , Vivas Marcelo Gonçalves , Misoguti Lino
Published: January 2023

We have obtained the nonlinear optical spectra of four azochromophores in solution to determine the figure-of-merit for all-optical switching applications. The sum-over-states approach and quantum-chemical calculations are in accordance with the theoretical results.
Comparative analysis of two models for the optical response of a thin slab: a film of finite thickness versus a surface current sheet
Authors: Chen Shuo , Liu Haotuo , Wu Biyuan , Wu Xiaohu , Fu Ceji
Published: January 2023

Two calculation models (a finite thickness film and a surface current sheet) for the optical response of a thin slab are compared and investigated, which can be explained by the Fabry–Perot and Berreman resonances.
Visible-light-promoted synthesis of gem-dihaloenones
Authors: Wang Yu-Bin , Chen Fei , Li Min , Bu Qingqing , Du Zhihong , Liu Jichang , Dai Bin , Liu Ning
Published: January 2023

The first example of a photocatalyst-free strategy for the photo-promoted synthesis of gem-dihaloenones is developed.
Valorization of chicken feathers using aqueous solutions of ionic liquids
Authors: Polesca Cariny , Passos Helena , Neves Bruno M. , Coutinho João A. P. , Freire Mara G.
Published: January 2023

The poultry-processing industry generates large quantities of waste rich in keratin, a fibrous protein representing around 90 wt% of chicken feathers, which is currently disposed of by landfilling or incineration.
Scavenging neurotoxic aldehydes using lysine carbon dots
Authors: Bloch Daniel Nir , Sandre Michele , Ben Zichri Shani , Masato Anna , Kolusheva Sofiya , Bubacco Luigi , Jelinek Raz
Published: January 2023

Reactive neurotoxic aldheyde DOPAL, enzymatically produced from dopamine in cells and tissues, is associated with adverse physiological effects. Lysine-C-dots inhibit DOPAL-induced α-synuclein oligomerization and cytotoxicity.
Protruding N-doped carbon nanotubes on elongated hexagonal Co–N–C nanoplates as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for Zn–air batteries
Authors: Ma Fei-Xiang , Xiong Yu-Xuan , Fan Hong-Shuang , Liu Zheng-Qi , Du Yue , Zhang Meng-Tian , Zhen Liang , Xu Cheng-Yan
Published: January 2023

A metastable bimetallic ZnCo-ZIF-L topochemical phase conversion and subsequent pyrolysis strategy was developed to fabricate Co–N–C@NCNTs, which exhibit excellent ORR/OER performance with an overpotential gap of 0.748 V.
Bio-inspired formal total synthesis of (±)-bisabosqual A
Authors: Du Xuanxuan , Liu Hainan , Wu Yumeng , Tang Yu
Published: January 2023

A new approach was developed to construct a hexahydrobenzofurobenzopyran ring system by an oxa-[3+3], Diels–Alder reaction and oxidative aromatization. As a synthetic application, the bio-inspired formal synthesis of bisabosqual A was achieved.
Kolorektalkarzinom
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: January 2023

Neoadjuvante Behandlungskonzepte und die hypertherme intraperitoneale Gabe von Mitomycin C zusätzlich zur Operation könnten künftig die Prognose von Hochrisikopatienten mit resektablem Kolorektalkarzinom (CRC) verbessern.
Licht und Schatten für die Immuntherapie mit Pembrolizumab
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: January 2023

Bei lokal fortgeschrittenen Kopf- Hals-Tumoren gibt es seit über 20 Jahren keinen therapeutischen Fortschritt mehr. Derzeit ist die Radiochemotherapie (RCT) mit hochdosiertem Cisplatin Standard. Die Studie KEYNOTE-412 bei lokal fortgeschrittenen Kopf-Hals-Tumoren erfüllte die Erwartungen nicht: Durch die zusätzliche Gabe von Pembrolizumab zur RCT wurde das ereignisfreie Überleben im Vergleich zur RCT allein nicht verbessert. Andererseits zeigen die auf dem ESMO 2022 gezeigten 5-Jahres-Daten für die Pembrolizumab-Monotherapie in KEYNOTE-048 einen anhaltenden Überlebensvorteil im Vergleich zum EXTREME-Therapieschema als Erstlinientherapie beim metastasierenden oder nicht resezierbaren rezidivierenden Plattenepithelkarzinom der Kopf-Hals-Region (HNSCC) mit PD-L1 Expression (combined positive score [CPS] ≥ 1).
Ärztlich assistierte Selbsttötung
Authors: Bubenzer Rainer H.
Published: January 2023

Das Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG) hatte im Februar 2020 das 2015 vom Bundestag beschlossene Verbot der organisierten Sterbehilfe gekippt und klargestellt, dass Menschen ein Recht haben, selbstbestimmt zu sterben, auch mit Unterstützung Dritter. Neue Regelungen sollen nun die Sterbehilfe auf lebenspraktisch umsetzbare Grundlagen stellen und die bestehenden Unsicherheiten vor allem von Patienten/Sterbewilligen auflösen. Renate Künast (MdB) wies auf einer Pressekonferenz der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hämatologie und Medizinische Onkologie (DGHO) darauf hin, dass es zu entsprechenden Entscheidungen des Bundestages aber – nicht zuletzt wegen des für viele Parlamentarier herausfordernden ethischen „Spagats“ zwischen eigenen Überzeugungen und der vom BVerfG betonten Grundrechte – wohl erst 2023 kommen dürfte.
Fortgeschrittenes Nierenzellkarzinom
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: January 2023

Die Studie COSMIC-313 zeigt erstmals, dass beim metastasierten Nierenzellkarzinom durch Zugabe eines Tyrosinkinase-Inhibitors (TKI) zur Zweierkombination Nivolumab/Ipilimumab (Nivo/Ipi) eine klinisch relevante Verbesserung des progressionsfreien Überlebens (PFS) gelingt.
Nasopharyngeales Karzinom
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: January 2023

30 % der Patienten mit Nasopharynxkarzinomen (NPC) in demselben Tumorstadium und mit vergleichbarer Therapie erleiden Rezidive. Das anatomisch basierte Stagingsystem ist somit unzureichend für die Prognoseabschätzung. Eine retrospektive Studie ergab jetzt, dass sich die intratumorale Bakterienlast für die Vorhersage der individuellen Verläufe eignete. Patienten mit einer hohen Last hatten ein kürzeres krankheitsfreies, metastasenfreies und Gesamtüberleben.
The Role of the Gut Microbiome on the Development of Surgical Site Infections
Authors: Krezalek Monika A. , Alverdy John C.
Published: January 2023

Despite advances in antisepsis techniques, surgical site infection remains the most common and most costly reason for hospital readmission after surgery. Wound infections are conventionally thought to be directly caused by wound contamination. However, despite strict adherence to surgical site infection prevention techniques and bundles, these infections continue to occur at high rates. The contaminant theory of surgical site infection fails to predict and explain most postoperative infections and still remains unproven. In this article we provide evidence that the process of surgical site infection development is far more complex than what can be explained by simple bacterial contamination and hosts' ability to clear the contaminating pathogen. We show a link between the intestinal microbiome and distant surgical site infections, even in the absence of intestinal barrier breach. We discuss the Trojan-horse mechanisms by which surgical wounds may become seeded by pathogens from within one's own body and the contingencies that need to be met for an infection to develop.
Efficiently predicting directional carrier mobilities in organic materials with the Boltzmann transport equation
Authors: Knepp Zachary J. , Masso Gabriel B. , Fredin Lisa A.
Published: January 2023

Describing charge carrier anisotropy in crystalline organic semiconductors with ab initio methods is challenging because of the weak intermolecular interactions that lead to both localized and delocalized charge transport mechanisms. Small polaron hopping models (localized) are generally used to describe materials with small charge carrier mobilities, while periodic band models (delocalized) are used to describe materials with high charge carrier mobilities. Here, we prove the advantage of applying the constant relaxation time approximation of the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) to efficiently predict the anisotropic hole mobilities of several unsubstituted (anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, and hexacene) and substituted (2,6-diphenylanthracene, rubrene, and TIPS-pentacene) high-mobility n-acene single crystals. Several density functionals are used to optimize the crystals, and the composite density functional PBEsol0-3c/sol-def2-mSVP predicts the most experimentally similar geometries, adequate indirect bandgaps, and the theoretically consistent n-acene charge transport mobility trend. Similarities between BTE and Marcus mobilities are presented for each crystal. BTE and Marcus charge carrier mobilities computed at the same geometry result in similar mobility trends, differing mostly in materials with more substitutions or structurally complex substituents. By using a reduced number of calculations, BTE is able to predict anisotropic carrier mobilities efficiently and effectively for a range of high-mobility organic semiconductors.
Valence state, lattice incorporation, and resulting magnetic properties of Ni in Zn/Co-based magnetic oxides
Authors: Ney V. , Henne B. , de Souza M. , Jantsch W. , Johansen K. M. , Wilhelm F. , Rogalev A. , Ney A.
Published: January 2023

Ni incorporation has been studied in a comprehensive range of Zn/Co-based magnetic oxides to elucidate its valence state and lattice incorporation. The resulting structural and magnetic properties of a range of related types of samples are studied in detail. On the one hand, Ni doping is studied in wurtzite ZnO which is either done by in-diffusion of the Ni into bulk ZnO or by reactive magnetron sputtering for Ni-doped thin films of ZnO. The latter is complemented by Ni and Co codoping of ZnO leading to altered magnetic properties which are then dominated by Co. On the other hand, the ZnCo2O4 spinel is codoped with varying amounts of Ni. In the wurtzite oxides, Ni is exclusively found on tetrahedral lattice sites in its formal 2+ oxidation state as deep donor. It behaves as an anisotropic paramagnet, and a limited solubility of Ni below 10% is found. Furthermore, the partial compensation of the antiferromagnetically coupled Co magnetic moments is induced by the Ni due to its smaller magnetic moment. In the ZnCo2O4 spinel, Ni is found to be incorporated in its formal 3+ oxidation state on octahedral sites and also couples antiferromagnetically to the Co moments. At low Ni concentrations, this leads to a lifting of the partial magnetic compensation of the antiferromagnetic ZnCo2O4 spinel and to ferrimagnetism at higher Ni concentrations. Increasing the Ni concentration even further leads to phase separation of cubic NiO resulting in a structurally less defined, exchange-biased composite magnetic oxide.
Characteristics of advection–diffusion–Langmuir adsorption processes in two-dimensional plane Poiseuille flows
Authors: Huang Bo , Hua Haobo , Han Huan , Wu Qingyu , Zhang Mingkui , Zuo Zhigang , Liu Shuhong
Published: January 2023

The advection–diffusion–Langmuir adsorption processes of a liquid solution, colloid, or suspension occur in many biomedical and chemical engineering fields. The dynamics of the system can be described by the so-called advection–diffusion–reaction (ADR) equations and are greatly influenced by five nondimensional numbers. Up to now, cases over a wider range of parameters have not been thoroughly studied, and the quantitative dependence of the system dynamics on the parameters remains unclear. In this study, we systematically solve the ADR equations in two-dimensional plane Poiseuille flows for cases with selected values of parameters by the finite difference method. We identify two different regimes in terms of the distribution of the maximum adsorption flux and discuss the dominant mechanism of mass transfer and the influences of the nondimensional parameters in each regime. We then propose analytical models to describe the influences of specific parameters on the adsorption equilibrium time. The results of this research may provide a convenient method to identify the dominant processes in the advection–diffusion–Langmuir adsorption system in future studies.
Structure of V-defects in long wavelength GaN-based light emitting diodes
Authors: Wu Feng , Ewing Jacob , Lynsky Cheyenne , Iza Michael , Nakamura Shuji , DenBaars Steven P. , Speck James S.
Published: January 2023

The V-defect is a naturally occurring inverted hexagonal pyramid structure that has been studied in GaN and InGaN growth since the 1990s. Strategic use of V-defects in pre-quantum well superlattices or equivalent preparation layers has enabled record breaking efficiencies for green, yellow, and red InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing lateral injection of holes through the semi-polar sidewalls of the V-defects. In this article, we use advanced characterization techniques such as scattering contrast transmission electron microscopy, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray fluorescence maps, and atom probe tomography to study the active region compositions, V-defect formation, and V-defect structure in green and red LEDs grown on (0001) patterned sapphire and (111) Si substrates. We identify two distinct types of V-defects. The “large” V-defects are those that form in the pre-well superlattice and promote hole injection, usually nucleating on mixed (Burgers vector b=±a±c) character threading dislocations. In addition, “small” V-defects often form in the multi-quantum well region and are believed to be deleterious to high-efficiency LEDs by providing non-radiative pathways. The small V-defects are often associated with basal plane stacking faults or stacking fault boxes. Furthermore, we show through scattering contrast transmission electron microscopy that during V-defect filling, the threading dislocation, which runs up the center of the V-defect, will “bend” onto one of the six {101¯1} semi-polar planes. This result is essential to understanding non-radiative recombination in V-defect engineered LEDs.
Finding the bulk viscosity of air from Rayleigh-Brillouin light scattering spectra
Authors: Bruno Domenico , Frezzotti Aldo , Jamali Seyed Hossein , van de Water Willem
Published: January 2023

Spectral line shape models can successfully reproduce experimental Rayleigh-Brillouin spectra, but they need knowledge about the bulk viscosity ηb. Light scattering involves GHz frequencies, but since ηb is only documented at low frequencies, ηb is usually left as a free parameter, which is determined by a fit of the model to an experimental spectrum. The question is whether models work so well because of this freedom. Moreover, for light scattering in air, spectral models view “air” as an effective molecule. We critically evaluate the use of ηb as a fit parameter by comparing ηb obtained from fits of the Tenti S6 model to the result of Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) for a mixture of Nitrogen and Oxygen. These simulations are used to compute light scattering spectra, which are then compared to experiments. The DSMC simulation parameters are cross-checked with a molecular dynamics simulation based on intermolecular potentials. At large values of the uniformity parameter y, y ≈ 4, where the Brillouin contribution to spectra is large, fitted ηb are 20% larger than the ones from DSMC, while the quality of the simulated spectra is comparable to that of the Tenti S6 line shape model. At smaller y, the difference between fitted and simulated ηb can be as large as 100%. We hypothesize the breakdown of the bulk viscosity concept to be the cause of this fallacy.
Latest advances and comparative analysis of MXenes as anode and cathode electrodes in secondary batteries
Authors: Papadopoulou Konstantina A. , Chroneos Alexander , Christopoulos Stavros-Richard G.
Published: January 2023

MXenes, the two-dimensional derivative of the MAX phases, have attracted the interest of the community due to their unique materials properties. The field of MXenes for energy storage applications has expanded significantly in the past few years and, in particular, since the beginning of 2021. In the present comprehensive review, we focus on the advances over the past two years in the use of MXenes for anodes and cathodes in batteries. We consider both experimental and theoretical studies and, as design criteria focus mainly on the surface migration energy barrier, the specific capacity, and the rate capability.
Crystal nucleation in a glass during relaxation well below Tg
Authors: Abyzov Alexander S. , Fokin Vladimir M. , Yuritsyn Nikolay S. , Nascimento Marcio L. F. , Schmelzer Jürn W. P. , Zanotto Edgar D.
Published: January 2023

Until quite recently, in almost all papers on crystal nucleation in glass-forming substances, it was assumed that nucleation proceeds in a completely relaxed supercooled liquid and, hence, at constant values of the critical parameters determining the nucleation rate for any given set of temperature, pressure, and composition. Here, we analyze the validity of this hypothesis for a model system by studying nucleation in a lithium silicate glass treated for very long times (up to 250 days) in deeply supercooled states, reaching 60 K below the laboratory glass transition temperature, T g. At all temperatures in the considered range, T < T g, we observed an enormous difference between the experimental number of nucleated crystals, N( t), and its theoretically expected value computed by assuming the metastable state of the relaxing glass has been reached. Analyzing the origin of this discrepancy, we confirmed that the key parameters determining the nucleation rates change with time as a result of the glass relaxation process. Finally, we demonstrate that, for temperatures below 683 K, this particular glass almost fully crystallizes prior to reaching the ultimate steady-state nucleation regime (e.g., at 663 K, it would take 176 years for the glass to reach 99% crystallization, while 2600 years would be needed for complete relaxation). This comprehensive study proves that structural relaxation strongly affects crystal nucleation in deeply supercooled states at temperatures well below T g; hence, this phenomenon has to be accounted for in any crystal nucleation model.
Experimental study on subcooled pool boiling heat transfer of sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant solution
Authors: Li Xiaohuan , Fang Xiande , Guo Yiyang , Yang Pucheng , He Zhiqiang
Published: January 2023

The pool boiling heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and critical heat flux (CHF) of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant solution under different concentrations and subcooling conditions were experimentally studied. The concentration of SDS was in the range of 0 to 3000 ppm, and the subcooling degree was in the range of 2 to 10 °C. The heat transfer coefficient under different subcooling conditions was theoretically analyzed, and the real-time fluctuation of the wall temperature is discussed in detail. It is found that the subcooling has little effect on the natural convection of pool boiling but significantly impacts the nucleate boiling and that the phenomenon of temperature overshoot (TOS) is stronger in the SDS solution than that in de-ionized water. Furthermore, the origin and development process of TOS were deeply analyzed by showing the development process diagram. Meanwhile, the CHF phenomena were visualized and traced experimentally. The influence of different subcooling degrees and SDS concentrations on the CHF was deeply explored, and the development process diagram of the vapor film under CHF conditions was plotted. The results provide detailed theoretical support for the HTC and CHF of SDS solution under subcooling conditions.
Physicochemical models of protein–DNA binding with standard and modified base pairs
Authors: Chiu Tsu-Pei , Rao Satyanarayan , Rohs Remo
Published: January 2023

DNA-binding proteins play important roles in various cellular processes, but the mechanisms by which proteins recognize genomic target sites remain incompletely understood. Functional groups at the edges of the base pairs (bp) exposed in the DNA grooves represent physicochemical signatures. As these signatures enable proteins to form specific contacts between protein residues and bp, their study can provide mechanistic insights into protein–DNA binding. Existing experimental methods, such as X-ray crystallography, can reveal such mechanisms based on physicochemical interactions between proteins and their DNA target sites. However, the low throughput of structural biology methods limits mechanistic insights for selection of many genomic sites. High-throughput binding assays enable prediction of potential target sites by determining relative binding affinities of a protein to massive numbers of DNA sequences. Many currently available computational methods are based on the sequence of standard Watson–Crick bp. They assume that the contribution of overall binding affinity is independent for each base pair, or alternatively include dinucleotides or short
k
-mers. These methods cannot directly expand to physicochemical contacts, and they are not suitable to apply to DNA modifications or non-Watson–Crick bp. These variations include DNA methylation, and synthetic or mismatched bp. The proposed method, DeepRec, can predict relative binding affinities as function of physicochemical signatures and the effect of DNA methylation or other chemical modifications on binding. Sequence-based modeling methods are in comparison a coarse-grain description and cannot achieve such insights. Our chemistry-based modeling framework provides a path towards understanding genome function at a mechanistic level.
De novo protein fold design through sequence-independent fragment assembly simulations
Authors: Pearce Robin , Huang Xiaoqiang , Omenn Gilbert S. , Zhang Yang
Published: January 2023

De novo protein design generally consists of two steps, including structure and sequence design. Many protein design studies have focused on sequence design with scaffolds adapted from native structures in the PDB, which renders novel areas of protein structure and function space unexplored. We developed FoldDesign to create novel protein folds from specific secondary structure (SS) assignments through sequence-independent replica-exchange Monte Carlo (REMC) simulations. The method was tested on 354 non-redundant topologies, where FoldDesign consistently created stable structural folds, while recapitulating on average 87.7% of the SS elements. Meanwhile, the FoldDesign scaffolds had well-formed structures with buried residues and solvent-exposed areas closely matching their native counterparts. Despite the high fidelity to the input SS restraints and local structural characteristics of native proteins, a large portion of the designed scaffolds possessed global folds completely different from natural proteins in the PDB, highlighting the ability of FoldDesign to explore novel areas of protein fold space. Detailed data analyses revealed that the major contributions to the successful structure design lay in the optimal energy force field, which contains a balanced set of SS packing terms, and REMC simulations, which were coupled with multiple auxiliary movements to efficiently search the conformational space. Additionally, the ability to recognize and assemble uncommon super-SS geometries, rather than the unique arrangement of common SS motifs, was the key to generating novel folds. These results demonstrate a strong potential to explore both structural and functional spaces through computational design simulations that natural proteins have not reached through evolution.
Arginine–vasopressin-expressing neurons in the murine suprachiasmatic nucleus exhibit a circadian rhythm in network coherence in vivo
Authors: Stowie Adam , Qiao Zhimei , Buonfiglio Daniella Do Carmo , Beckner Delaney M. , Ehlen J. Christopher , Benveniste Morris , Davidson Alec J.
Published: January 2023

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is composed of functionally distinct subpopulations of GABAergic neurons which form a neural network responsible for synchronizing most physiological and behavioral circadian rhythms in mammals. To date, little is known regarding which aspects of SCN rhythmicity are generated by individual SCN neurons, and which aspects result from neuronal interaction within a network. Here, we utilize in vivo miniaturized microscopy to measure fluorescent GCaMP-reported calcium dynamics in arginine vasopressin (AVP)-expressing neurons in the intact SCN of awake, behaving mice. We report that SCN AVP neurons exhibit periodic, slow calcium waves which we demonstrate, using in vivo electrical recordings, likely reflect burst firing. Further, we observe substantial heterogeneity of function in that AVP neurons exhibit unstable rhythms, and relatively weak rhythmicity at the population level. Network analysis reveals that correlated cellular behavior, or coherence, among neuron pairs also exhibited stochastic rhythms with about 33% of pairs rhythmic at any time. Unlike single-cell variables, coherence exhibited a strong rhythm at the population level with time of maximal coherence among AVP neuronal pairs at CT/ZT 6 and 9, coinciding with the timing of maximal neuronal activity for the SCN as a whole. These results demonstrate robust circadian variation in the coordination between stochastically rhythmic neurons and that interactions between AVP neurons in the SCN may be more influential than single-cell activity in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Furthermore, they demonstrate that cells in this circuit, like those in many other circuits, exhibit profound heterogenicity of function over time and space.
The Spanish and the Portuguese Present Perfect in Discourse
Authors: Müller Lukas
Published: January 2023

This monograph presents a theoretical and empirical study of the Spanish and the Portuguese Present Perfect (PP). The innovative claim is that the two tense forms operate in the field of tension between temporal quantification and temporal reference. Based on this approach, it presents the first in-depth study that explicitly takes into account the level of discourse. The following questions are investigated: How do the Spanish and the Portuguese PP interact with discursive factors, such as adjacent tense forms? What kind of discursive meaning do they generate? Which diachronic trends do their discourse functions reveal? It is argued that while the Spanish PP tends to a referential drift (traditionally labelled as an aoristic drift), the Portuguese PP tends to preserve and specialize its quantificational meaning. The book is of interest to all those working on the Present Perfect or generally in the field of tense and aspect in discourse.

Winner of the Elise Richter Prize by the 'Deutscher Romanistikverband'(https://www.deutscher-romanistikverband.de/preise-und-foerderlinien/elise-richter-preis/)

Winner of the Georg-Rudolf-Lind Prize by the 'Deutscher Lusitanistenverband' (http://lusitanistenverband.de/foerderpreis/preistraeger-2023/)
Narrative processing and the forms and functions of aggressive behavior
Authors: Song Qingfang , Lent Maria , Murray-Close Dianna , Suo Tong , Wang Qi
Published: January 2023

This study investigated the associations of narrative processing while recounting a past victimization experience
with different forms (i.e., physical and relational) and functions (i.e., reactive vs proactive) of aggressive behavior.
Moderating effects of respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity and gender were explored. Two hundred college students participated
in a semi-structured laboratory interview about a past victimization event, during which their respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)
and narrative processing (i.e., perpetrator hostility evaluation, narrative coherence, and positive resolution) were assessed.
Participants reported their tendency to engage in aggressive behaviors. Findings indicated that low narrative coherence and high
perpetrator hostility evaluation, respectively, in combination with RSA activation, were associated with reactive physical
aggression in men but not in women. Perpetrator hostility evaluation was also associated with reactive relational aggression for
both men and women. Findings shed critical light on the joint influences of narrative processing, physiological reactivity, and
gender in subtypes of aggressive behavior.
Dynamic resistance and total loss in small REBCO pancake and racetrack coils carrying DC currents under an AC magnetic field
Authors: Sun Yueming , You Shuangrong , Badcock Rodney A , Long Nicholas J , Jiang Zhenan
Published: January 2023

In many high-temperature superconducting applications, REBCO (Rare-earth barium copper oxide) coils carry DC currents under AC magnetic fields, such as the field winding of rotating machines, linear synchronous motors and the electro-dynamic suspension system of maglev. In such operating conditions, REBCO coils generate AC loss—total loss which includes the magnetization loss due to the shielding currents, and the dynamic loss arising from dynamic resistance caused by the interaction of DC currents and AC magnetic fields. In this work, dynamic resistance and total loss in a small double pancake coil (DPC) and a small double racetrack coil (DRC) are investigated via experiments in the temperature range between 77 K and 65 K. The DC currents are varied from zero to 70% of the self-field critical currents of the REBCO coils, with AC magnetic fields up to 100 mT. The experimental results in the DPC are well supported by the finite element simulation results using 3D T-A formulation. Our results show that the critical current of the DRC is approximately 2%–5% higher than that of the DPC in the temperature range. For given experimental conditions, the magnetization loss in both coils is much greater than the dynamic loss. The dynamic loss and magnetization loss in the DRC are greater than those in the DPC, which we attribute to the large perpendicular magnetic field component in the straight sections of the DRC.
Dynamics of the Box-Ball System with Random Initial Conditions via Pitman’s Transformation
Authors: Croydon David , Kato Tsuyoshi , Sasada Makiko , Tsujimoto Satoshi
Published: January 2023

The box-ball system (BBS), introduced by Takahashi and Satsuma in 1990, is a cellular automaton that exhibits solitonic behaviour. In this article, we study the BBS when started from a random two-sided infinite particle configuration. For such a model, Ferrari et al. recently showed the invariance in distribution of Bernoulli product measures with density strictly less than

1
2

\frac {1}{2}

, and gave a soliton decomposition for invariant measures more generally. We study the BBS dynamics using the transformation of a nearest neighbour path encoding of the particle configuration given by ‘reflection in the past maximum’, which was famously shown by Pitman to connect Brownian motion and a three-dimensional Bessel process. We use this to characterise the set of configurations for which the dynamics are well-defined and reversible (i.e. can be inverted) for all times. The techniques developed to understand the deterministic dynamics are subsequently applied to study the evolution of the BBS from a random initial configuration. Specifically, we give simple sufficient conditions for random initial conditions to be invariant in distribution under the BBS dynamics, which we check in several natural examples, and also investigate the ergodicity of the relevant transformation. Furthermore, we analyse various probabilistic properties of the BBS that are commonly studied for interacting particle systems, such as the asymptotic behavior of the integrated current of particles and of a tagged particle. Finally, for Bernoulli product measures with parameter

p
↑

1
2

p\uparrow \frac 12

(which may be considered the ‘high density’ regime), the path encoding we consider has a natural scaling limit, which motivates the introduction of a new continuous version of the BBS that we believe will be of independent interest as a dynamical system.
Peripheral low-density granulocytes after colorectal cancer surgery in predicting recurrence
Authors: Futoh Yurie , Kumagai Yuko , Miyato Hideyo , Ozawa Hideyuki , Kanamaru Rihito , Sadatomo Ai , Ohnishi Yasuharu , Koinuma Koji , Horie Hisanaga , Yamaguchi Hironori , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Sata Naohiro , Kitayama Joji
Published: January 2023

Background

Low-density granulocytes (LDGs) have been shown to be increased in the peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory and malignant diseases. This study evaluated LDGs in patients who underwent radical surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) and their impact on survival.

Methods

Patients who underwent radical colectomy between 2017 to 2021 were screened for enrolment in the study. Peripheral blood was obtained in the operating room before and after surgery and cells were recovered from the mononuclear layer after density gradient preparations. The ratio of CD66b(+) LDG to CD45(+) leukocytes was determined with flow cytometry, and the association of the ratios with patient outcomes was examined. The main outcome of interest was recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results

Out of 228 patients treated, 176 were enrolled, including 108 colonic and 68 rectal cancers. Overall, 38 patients were stage I, 30 were stage II, 72 were stage 3, and 36 were stage IV. The number of LDGs was markedly increased immediately after surgery and the proportion of LDGs correlated positively with operating time (r = 0.2806, P < 0.001) and intraoperative blood loss (r = 0.1838, P = 0.014). Purified LDGs produced high amounts of neutrophil extracellular traps after short-term culture and efficiently trapped tumour cells in vitro. The proportion of postoperative LDGs was significantly higher in 13 patients who developed recurrence (median 9 (range 1.63–47.0)) per cent versus median 2.93 ((range 0.035–59.45) per cent, P = 0.013). When cut-off values were set at 4.9 per cent, a higher proportion of LDGs was strongly and independently associated with decreased RFS (P = 0.005). In patients with stage III disease, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved RFS of patients with high ratios of LDGs, but not low LDGs.

Conclusion

LDGs are recruited to circulating blood by surgical stress early in the postoperative interval after colectomy for colonic cancer and their postoperative proportion is correlated with recurrence.
Prevalence, incidence, repair rate, and morbidity of groin hernias in Sierra Leone: cross-sectional household study
Authors: Lindenbergh Karel C , van Duinen Alex J , Ahlbäck Johan G , Kamoh Joseph , Bah Silleh , Ashley Thomas , Löfgren Jenny , Grobusch Martin P , Sankoh Osman , Bolkan Håkon A ,   PRESSCO 2020 study group
Published: January 2023

Background

Knowledge about the prevalence of groin hernias in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. Previous studies have demonstrated a higher incidence of the condition than the annual repair rate. This study aimed to investigate prevalence, incidence, annual repair rate, morbidity, and health-seeking behaviour of persons with groin hernias in Sierra Leone.

Methods

This population-based, cross-sectional household survey on groin hernias in Sierra Leone was part of the Prevalence Study on Surgical Conditions 2020 (PRESSCO 2020). Those who indicated possible groin hernia were asked problem-specific questions and underwent physical examination to confirm or exclude the diagnosis.

Results

3626 study participants were interviewed. The prevalence of untreated groin hernia was 1.1 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 0.8 to 1.5 per cent), whereas the prevalence of untreated and treated groin hernia was 2.5 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 2.0 to 3.0 per cent). The proportion of recurrence was 13.1 per cent. An incidence of 389 (95 per cent c.i. 213 to 652) groin hernia cases per 100 000 people per year was identified, while a population-based annual hernia repair rate estimation was 470 (95 per cent c.i. 350 to 620) per 100 000 people. Out of 39 participants with groin hernia, non-ignorable pain was reported by eight and 27 reported financial shortcomings as a reason for not seeking healthcare.

Conclusions

Groin hernias are common in Sierra Leone and although the repair rate might match the incidence, the existing backlog of untreated hernias is likely to remain. It may be possible to reduce the number of recurrences through improved management. Measures to reduce financial barriers to treatment seem crucial to improve the health of people with groin hernias in Sierra Leone.
Gold weight implants for cicatricial lagophthalmos in epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: McWhirter Seamus , Wong Nathan , Morgan Vanessa , Hardy Tom , Robertson Susan J
Published: January 2023

Severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) can involve the external eye, causing erosive corneal disease. This is the first case, to our knowledge, to report the use of gold weight implants with the aim of correcting cicatricial lagophthalmos in a patient with EB. Our case highlights that with appropriate perioperative care and careful surgical technique, upper eyelid loading procedures can be performed safely in individuals with EB.
Association of COVID-19 with short- and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: a prospective cohort in UK Biobank
Authors: Wan Eric Yuk Fai , Mathur Sukriti , Zhang Ran , Yan Vincent Ka Chun , Lai Francisco Tsz Tsun , Chui Celine Sze Ling , Li Xue , Wong Carlos King Ho , Chan Esther Wai Yin , Yiu Kai Hang , Wong Ian Chi Kei
Published: January 2023

Aims

This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term associations between COVID-19 and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and mortality in the general population.

Methods and Results

A prospective cohort of patients with COVID-19 infection between 16 March 2020 and 30 November 2020 was identified from UK Biobank, and followed for up to 18 months, until 31 August 2021. Based on age (within 5 years) and sex, each case was randomly matched with up to 10 participants without COVID-19 infection from two cohorts—a contemporary cohort between 16 March 2020 and 30 November 2020 and a historical cohort between 16 March 2018 and 30 November 2018. The characteristics between groups were further adjusted with propensity score-based marginal mean weighting through stratification. To determine the association of COVID-19 with CVD and mortality within 21 days of diagnosis (acute phase) and after this period (post-acute phase), Cox regression was employed. In the acute phase, patients with COVID-19 (n = 7584) were associated with a significantly higher short-term risk of CVD {hazard ratio (HR): 4.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6– 6.9]; HR: 5.0 (95% CI: 3.0–8.1)} and all-cause mortality [HR: 81.1 (95% CI: 58.5–112.4); HR: 67.5 (95% CI: 49.9–91.1)] than the contemporary (n = 75 790) and historical controls (n = 75 774), respectively. Regarding the post-acute phase, patients with COVID-19 (n = 7139) persisted with a significantly higher risk of CVD in the long-term [HR: 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2–1.8); HR: 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1– 1.6)] and all-cause mortality [HR: 5.0 (95% CI: 4.3–5.8); HR: 4.5 (95% CI: 3.9–5.2) compared to the contemporary (n = 71 296) and historical controls (n = 71 314), respectively.

Conclusions

COVID-19 infection, including long-COVID, is associated with increased short- and long-term risks of CVD and mortality. Ongoing monitoring of signs and symptoms of developing these cardiovascular complications post diagnosis and up till at least a year post recovery may benefit infected patients, especially those with severe disease.
Association between socioeconomic status and net survival after primary lung cancer surgery: a tertiary university hospital retrospective observational study in Japan
Authors: Hanafusa Mariko , Ito Yuri , Ishibashi Hironori , Nakaya Tomoki , Nawa Nobutoshi , Sobue Tomotaka , Okubo Kenichi , Fujiwara Takeo
Published: January 2023

Background

Inequalities in opportunities for primary lung cancer surgery due to socioeconomic status exist. We investigated whether socioeconomic inequalities exist in net survival after curative intent surgery at a tertiary university hospital, in Japan.

Methods

Data from the hospital-based cancer registry on primary lung cancer patients who received lung resection between 2010 and 2018 were linked to the surgical dataset. An area deprivation index, calculated from small area statistics and ranked into tertiles based on Japan-wide distribution, was linked with the patient’s address as a proxy measure for individual socioeconomic status. We estimated net survival of up to 5 years by deprivation tertiles. Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival were analyzed using an excess hazard model.

Results

Of the 1039 patient-sample, advanced stage (Stage IIIA+) was more prevalent in the most deprived group (28.1%) than the least deprived group (18.0%). The 5-year net survival rates (95% confidence interval) from the least to the most deprived tertiles were 82.1% (76.2–86.6), 77.6% (70.8–83.0) and 71.4% (62.7–78.4), respectively. The sex- and age-adjusted excess hazard ratio of 5-year death was significantly higher in the most deprived group than the least deprived (excess hazard ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.09–2.47). The hazard ratio reduced toward null after additionally accounting for disease stage, suggesting that the advanced stage may explain the poor prognosis among the deprived group.

Conclusion

There was socioeconomic inequality in the net survival of patients who received curative intent surgery for primary lung cancer. The lower socioeconomic status group might be less likely to receive early curative surgery.
Probing general relativity in galactic scales at z ∼ 0.3
Authors: Melo-Carneiro Carlos R , Furlanetto Cristina , Chies-Santos Ana L
Published: January 2023

General Relativity (GR) has been successfully tested mainly at Solar system scales; however, galaxy-scale tests have become popular in the last few decades. In this work, we investigate the ηPPN parameter, which is commonly defined by the ratio of two scalar potentials that appears in the cosmological linearly perturbed metric. Under the assumption of GR and a vanish anisotropic stress tensor, ηPPN = 1. Using ALMA, HST, and VLT/MUSE data, we combine mass measurements, using gravitational lensing and galactic dynamics, for the SDP.81 lens galaxy (z = 0.299) to constrain ηPPN. By using a flexible and self-consistent mass profile, our fiducial model takes into account the contribution of the stellar mass and a dark matter halo to reconstruct the lensed galaxy and the spatially resolved stellar kinematics. We infer, after accounting for systematic uncertainties related to the mass model, cosmology, and kinematics, $\eta _{\text{PPN}} = 1.13^{+0.03}_{-0.03}\pm 0.20\, (\text{sys})$, which is in accordance with GR predictions. Better spectroscopy data are needed to push the systematics down and bring the uncertainty to the percentage level since our analysis shows that the main source of the systematics is related to kinematics, which heavily depends on the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra.
A black widow population dissection through HiPERCAM multiband light-curve modelling
Authors: Mata Sánchez D , Kennedy M R , Clark C J , Breton R P , Dhillon V S , Voisin G , Camilo F , Littlefair S , Marsh T R , Stringer J
Published: January 2023

Black widows are extreme millisecond pulsar binaries where the pulsar wind ablates their low-mass companion stars. In the optical range, their light curves vary periodically due to the high irradiation and tidal distortion of the companion, which allows us to infer the binary parameters. We present simultaneous multiband observations obtained with the HIPERCAM instrument at the 10.4-m GTC telescope for six of these systems. The combination of this five-band (us,gs, rs, is, zs) fast photometer with the world’s largest optical telescope enables us to inspect the light curve range near minima. We present the first light curve for PSR J1641+8049, as well as attain a significant increase in signal to noise and cadence compared with previous publications for the remaining five targets: PSR J0023+0923, PSR J0251+2606, PSR J0636+5129, PSR J0952−0607, and PSR J1544+4937. We report on the results of the light-curve modelling with the Icarus code for all six systems, which reveals some of the hottest and densest companion stars known. We compare the parameters derived with the limited but steadily growing black widow population for which optical modelling is available. We find some expected correlations, such as that between the companion star mean density and the orbital period of the system, which can be attributed to the high number of Roche-lobe filling companions. On the other hand, the positive correlation between the orbital inclination and the irradiation temperature of the companion is puzzling. We propose such a correlation would arise if pulsars with magnetic axis orthogonal to their spin axis are capable of irradiating their companions to a higher degree.