bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intermediate Macroeconomics with Chinese Perspectives
Authors: Qian Junhui
Published: November 2023

This is an intermediate-level macroeconomics textbook for undergraduate students who wish to gain some exposure to the Chinese economy while learning macroeconomics. And this is a truly "intermediate-level" textbook since it provides a calculus treatment of the standard intermediate macroeconomic theories such as the Solow models, IS-LM models, and so on. Students in many countries need an alternative macroeconomics textbook that is less American-centric than the existing ones. In particular, students in many developing countries need to learn about theories (e.g., the Lewis model of economic development) and cases (the Asian Financial Crisis) that are relevant to developing countries but are ignored in mainstream English textbooks. The use of calculus makes the textbook concise without sacrificing depth. And most importantly, after some training, students would feel comfortable with applying mathematics, the "engine of inquiry", to macroeconomic analysis.
Equidistribution of rational subspaces and their shapes
Authors: AKA MENNY , MUSSO ANDREA , WIESER ANDREAS
Published: November 2023

To any k-dimensional subspace of
$\mathbb {Q}^n$
one can naturally associate a point in the Grassmannian
$\mathrm {Gr}_{n,k}(\mathbb {R})$
and two shapes of lattices of rank k and
$n-k$
, respectively. These lattices originate by intersecting the k-dimensional subspace and its orthogonal with the lattice
$\mathbb {Z}^n$
. Using unipotent dynamics, we prove simultaneous equidistribution of all of these objects under congruence conditions when
$(k,n) \neq (2,4)$
.
Prevalence of hospital-associated infections and its association with discharge destinations and hospital readmissions in Brussels, Belgium, from 2008 to 2020: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Mahieu Romain , Yannart Melody , Dauby Nicolas , Catry Boudewijn , Newton Sam
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

To examine time trends of hospital-associated infections (HAIs) in people living in the Brussels–Capital Region, and to evaluate the consequences for hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Design:

Cross-sectional analyses of yearly hospital administrative data.

Setting:

All Belgian hospitals and discharge destinations, focusing on LTCFs.

Participants:

All individuals from the Brussels–Capital Region hospitalized for >1 day throughout Belgium between 2008 and 2020 (N = 1,915,572).

Methods:

We calculated HAI prevalences and then, adjusting for confounders, the odds of being discharged to a LTCF or being readmitted within 30 days postdischarge after an HAI. HAIs included hospital-associated bloodstream infections, hospital-associated urinary tract infections, hospital-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical-site infections.

Results:

Between 2008 and 2020, we identified 77,004 HAIs. Changes in time trends occurred. We observed a decrease of all HAIs from 2012 to 2014 from 5.17% to 2.19% (P < .001) and an increase from 2019 to 2020 from 3.38% to 4.06% (P < .001). Among patients with HAIs, 24.36% were discharged to LTCFs and 13.51% underwent early readmission. For stays ≥4 days, HAIs were associated with higher odds of LTCF discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–1.28), but with lesser odds of early readmission (aOR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85–0.90).

Conclusions:

Administrative data can be useful to detect HAIs trends, but they seem to underestimate the burden compared to surveillance systems. Risk factors of readmission should be identified during hospital stays to ensure continuity of care. Considering the results from 2020 coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring the impact of HAIs should continue.
Bloodstream infections in prolonged use of axillary-placed, intra-aortic balloon-pump support: A single-center study
Authors: Dreucean Diane , Donahue Kevin R. , Morton Celia , Succar Luma , Krisl Jill , Agrawal Tanushree , Perez Katherine , Jaramillo Taylor , Kim Ju , Fida Nadia , Guha Ashrith , Kassi Mahwash , Yousefzai Rayan , Hussain Imad , Grimes Kevin , Bhimaraj Arvind
Published: November 2023

Infections from prolonged use of axillary intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) have not been well studied. Bloodstream infection (BSI) occurred in 13% of our patients; however, no difference in outcome was noted between those with BSI and those without. Further studies regarding protocol developments that minimize BSI risk are needed.
Grounding-line flux conditions for marine ice-sheet systems under effective-pressure- dependent and hybrid friction laws
Authors: Gregov Thomas , Pattyn Frank , Arnst Maarten
Published: November 2023

Flux conditions are semi-analytical expressions that can be used to determine the flux at the grounding line of marine ice sheets. In the glaciology literature, such flux conditions have initially been established for the Weertman and Coulomb friction laws. However, the extension to more general and complex friction laws, such as the Budd friction law, for which basal friction depends on both the basal velocity and the effective pressure, is a topic of recent research. Several studies have also shown that hybrid friction laws, which consider a transition between a power-law friction far from the grounding line and a plastic behaviour close to it, were good candidates for improved modelling of marine ice sheets. In this article, we show that the flux conditions previously derived for the Weertman and Coulomb friction laws can be generalised to flux conditions for the Budd friction law with two different effective-pressure models. In doing so, we build a bridge between the results obtained for these two friction laws. We provide a justification for the existence and uniqueness of a solution to the boundary-layer problem based on asymptotic developments. We also generalise our results to hybrid friction laws, based on a parametrisation of the flux condition. Finally, we discuss the validity of the assumptions made during the derivation, and we provide additional explicit expressions for the flux that stay valid when the bedrock slopes are important or when the friction coefficients are relatively small.
Wake bi-modality: the effect of upstream boundary layer dynamics
Authors: Ahmed Dania , Morgans Aimee S.
Published: November 2023

The turbulent wake past a square-back Ahmed body in close proximity to the ground experiences random side-to-side switching between two asymmetric positions, a phenomenon known as bi-modality. It has been observed to be sensitive to the dynamics of the upstream boundary layers formed along the body surfaces. Close to the body fore end, these separate and reattach, with hairpin vortices emanating from the reattachment points and growing along the surfaces before breaking down upstream of the base. This study uses wall-resolved large eddy simulations to investigate the effect of using suction to suppress these upstream boundary layer separations on the wake bi-modality. It is seen that, in the unforced flow (in the absence of suction), the smaller top and side surface vortices resulting from breakdown interact as they convect downstream. Steady suction is confirmed to suppress the boundary layer separations on the different body surfaces. When the boundary layer separations on the two side (vertical) surfaces are suppressed, it is found that horizontal bi-modality is completely inhibited with weak vertical asymmetry preserved. The interaction of the small top/side surface vortices is interrupted, damping boundary layer fluctuations just upstream of the base. Applying suction on different combinations of side/top/bottom boundary layer separations is found to have different effects on the underbody flow and the wake vertical balance, with bi-modality suppression dependent on side surface suction. This confirms that bi-modality is triggered, at least in part, by boundary layer disturbances on the surfaces perpendicular to the switching direction.
Reynolds number dependence of turbulent kinetic energy and energy balance of 3-component turbulence intensity in a pipe flow
Authors: Ono Marie , Furuichi Noriyuki , Tsuji Yoshiyuki
Published: November 2023

Measurement data sets are presented for the turbulence intensity profile of three velocity components (

$u$

,

$v$

and

$w$

) and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE,

$k$

) over a wide range of Reynolds numbers from

$Re_\tau =990$

to 20 750 in a pipe flow. The turbulence intensity profiles of the

$u$

- and

$w$

-component show logarithmic behaviour, and that of the

$v$

-component shows a constant region at high Reynolds numbers,

$Re_\tau >10\,000$

. Furthermore, a logarithmic region is also observed in the TKE profile at

$y/R=0.055\unicode{x2013}0.25$

. The Reynolds number dependences of peak values of

$u$

-,

$w$

-component and TKE fit to both a logarithmic law (Marusic et al., Phys. Rev. Fluids, vol. 2, 2017, 100502) and an asymptotic law (Chen and Sreenivasan, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 908, 2020, R3), within the uncertainty of measurement. The Reynolds number dependence of the bulk TKE

$k^+_{bulk}$

, which is the total amount of TKE in the cross-sectional area of the pipe also fits to both laws. When the asymptotic law is applied to the

$k^+_{bulk}$

, it asymptotically increases to the finite value

$k^+_{bulk}=11$

as the Reynolds number increases. The contribution ratio

$\langle u'^2\rangle /k$

reaches a plateau, and the value tends to be constant within

$100< y^+<1000$

at

$Re_\tau >10\ 000$

. Therefore, the local balance of each velocity component also indicates asymptotic behaviour. The contribution ratios are balanced in this region at high Reynolds numbers as

$\langle u'^2\rangle /k\simeq 1.25$

,

$\langle w'^2\rangle /k\simeq 0.5$

and

$\langle v'^2\rangle /k \simeq 0.25$

.
Neolithic Crannogs in the Outer Hebrides (and Beyond?): Synthesis, Survey, and Dating
Authors: BLANKSHEIN STEPHANIE , GANNON ANGELA , GARROW DUNCAN , STURT FRASER
Published: November 2023

In this paper we present a three-stranded investigation of all ‘archaeological islands’ (including crannogs) across Scotland, with a particular focus on the Outer Hebrides. The first strand is a synthesis and critical review of the archaeological record relating to 582 ‘archaeological island’ sites. This research enabled us to characterise the nature of any previous work (including dating evidence) undertaken on each, and thus to establish the first ever open access, holistic, accurate dataset of these sites. The second strand is new underwater survey carried out at 30 archaeological islands across the southern Outer Hebrides. This enabled us to acquire further information about and dating evidence for these sites; notably, this included new evidence for Neolithic occupation on three, increasing the total of known Neolithic islets in the region to 11. The third strand involved a thorough re-assessment of a wide body of archaeological literature relating to early excavations and finds. This research identified potential Neolithic material culture on a further 15 archaeological islands across the rest of Scotland. We conclude by discussing the potentially very significant implications of this early material, considering the possibility that crannogs could have been constructed in the Neolithic beyond the Outer Hebrides.
Research on the implementation and practice of the CCAMLR System of Inspection
Authors: Feng Chong
Published: November 2023

The CCAMLR System of Inspection has been in place for more than 30 years, but its implementation and impact have yet to be summarised and analysed. The purpose of the research is to clarify the legal basis, analyse the implementation and make suggestions for further improvements. By analysing the CAMLR Convention and historical files, the System of Inspection has been further improved and many details have been added based on some international fisheries agreements and domestic laws regulating fisheries. Article XXIV of the CAMLR Convention, various Conservation Measures and documents form the legal basis of the System of Inspection. The System is divided into two types, namely At-sea inspection and Port inspection. Combined with the annual reports of CCAMLR meetings over the past 30 years, the System has become relatively complete as a “Compliance Monitoring Mechanism” under the CCAMLR Compliance Evaluation Procedure with other monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools. However, inspection data have not been stable over the years. Since 2017, the increase in catches has not led to an increase in the number of inspections in the annual reports. In addition, At-sea inspections do not cover all Subareas of the Convention. At present, the objects of inspection have been extended to Non-Member vessels, so that it should also be sanctioned through various mechanisms. In addition, the System of Inspection is different from the Compliance Evaluation Procedure and the relationship between the two needs to be confirmed in practice. Due to the change in inspection methods, the lack of inspection data and the increase in other MCS tools, At-sea inspection does not cover all Subareas of the Convention. The System of Inspection is constantly being practised and improved. The study calls on Members to continue to carry out inspections and to improve the System in order to achieve the conservation and rational use of fishery resources.
Impact of congenital heart disease on mortality and other associated outcomes in children hospitalised for acute asthma exacerbation
Authors: Adebiyi Ebenezer , Munoz Pareja Jennifer Christine , Alba-Sandoval Monica , Almodovar Melvin
Published: November 2023

Background:

Acute asthma exacerbation is one of the most common reasons for paediatric emergency room visits and hospital admissions in the United States of America.

Objective:

To assess the impact of CHD on outcomes of children hospitalised for acute asthma exacerbation.

Methods:

Children primarily admitted for acute asthma exacerbation were sampled from 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016 kid inpatient database of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project using ICD codes. The disease outcomes were compared between those with and without CHD using multivariate logistic regressions in Stata version 17.

Results:

There were a total of 639,280 acute asthma exacerbation admissions, of which 5,907 (0.92%) had CHD. The mortality rate was 0.079% for patients without CHD and 0.72% for those with co-existing CHD. Children with CHD had higher odds of mortality (5.51, CI 3.40–8.93, p < 0.001), acute respiratory failure (2.84, CI 2.53–3.20; p < 0.001), need for invasive mechanical ventilation (4.58, CI 3.80–5.52; p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (adjusted odds ratio 3.03, CI 3.03–7.44; p < 0.001), and in-hospital cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio 4.52, CI 2.49–8.19; p < 0.001) when compared with those without CHD. The adjusted mean length of hospital stays (CI 2.91–3.91; p < 0.001) and hospital charges (95% CI $31060–$47747) among children with acute asthma exacerbation and CHD were significantly higher than in those without CHD.

Conclusion and Significance:

CHD is an independent predictor of mortality, more severe disease course, and higher hospital resource utilisation. Strategies that improve CHD care will likely improve the overall health outcomes of children with CHD hospitalised for acute asthma exacerbation.
Atmospheric Climatologies Over Isfjorden, Svalbard
Authors: Frank L. , Jonassen M. O. , Skogseth R. , Vihma T.
Published: November 2023

The Isfjorden region at the west coast of Spitsbergen is the most easily accessible area in the Svalbard Archipelago, making it a perfect outdoor laboratory for Arctic research. Due to its location in the high Arctic together with its complex terrain, the climatic conditions vary substantially both in time and space. Based on a new high‐resolution reanalysis, we present climatologies of five major atmospheric variables over the Isfjorden region during 2011–2021 with special focus on local effects. For example, we find that topographic channeling effects often lead to differences in near‐surface wind speeds of several m s−1 over small horizontal distances. During winter, the fjord acts as a heat and moisture island, ultimately impacting the adjacent low‐elevation land areas. These land–sea gradients reverse during summer. High mountain areas surrounding the fjord experience substantially different climatic conditions, with for example, seasonal precipitation doubling from sea level to approximately 700 m. The spatial variability over the Isfjorden region is in general found to be smaller than its temporal counterpart but larger than the diurnal cycle. Besides these findings, this study furthermore demonstrates the importance of high‐resolution regional atmospheric reanalyses compared to global products for the characterization of the local micro‐climate over Arctic fjords and the interaction with surrounding land areas.
Enhanced Microseismicity During Production Pumping Cessation at the San Emidio Geothermal Field (Nevada, USA) in December 2016
Authors: Guo Hao , Thurber Clifford , Warren Ian , Heath Benjamin A. , Folsom Matthew , Sone Hiroki , Lord Neal , Akerley John , Feigl Kurt L.
Published: November 2023

Tectonic activity, geothermal fluids, and microseismic events (MSEs) tend to occur in similar locations as a result of spatiotemporal changes in the subsurface stress state. To quantify this association, we analyze data from a dense seismic array deployed at the San Emidio geothermal field, Nevada for 1 week in December 2016 to coincide with a 19.45‐hr shutdown of all injection and production pumping operations. 123 MSEs were detected, of which 101 occurred during the shutdown. The spatial association of the MSEs with the production wells suggests a causal relationship between the production cessation and the MSEs. Here we performed a detailed analysis to investigate reservoir material properties, distribution of seismically activated faults, and local stress state. We determined the hypocenters, magnitudes, and focal mechanisms for the MSEs, P‐wave tomographic velocity model, and local stress tensor. The results show that most MSEs occurred near the production wells. Magnitudes fall between −2.2 and 0.0 with larger events located closer to the production wells. Most MSEs occurred within a westward‐dipping normal fault zone in the reservoir associated with anomalously low P‐wave velocity values. The focal mechanism and stress inversion results show predominantly normal faulting with the maximum horizontal stress oriented north‐south. We suggest that the MSEs during shutdown were triggered on pre‐existing, small‐scale, critically stressed fault patches in the reservoir as the pore pressure increased around the production wells when the production pumping ceased. We interpret the larger MSE magnitudes closer to the production wells as a result of higher pore pressure increase.
The Long‐Term Flux of the Solar Wind Suprathermal Ions That Precipitate on the Lunar Surface
Authors: Nénon Q. , Raines J. M. , Poppe A. R.
Published: November 2023

Solar wind ions weather the optical, physical, and chemical properties of the lunar surface. While the solar wind ion number density is dominated by the thermal population, the study of suprathermal ions is important to understand weathering effects that may develop at depth larger than the penetration depth of the bulk solar wind. Possible manifestations of suprathermal ion weathering include the creation of thick amorphous rims, contamination of isotopic ratios at depth, and alteration of the optical reflectance at infrared wavelengths. Furthermore, while the thermal population forms a beam parallel to the ecliptic plane, suprathermal ions may have a large northward or southward velocity component and can therefore directly access and weather the lunar polar regions, including the interiors of the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs). In this article, we constrain the long‐term properties of the solar wind suprathermal ions using 17 years of observations by the SupraThermal Ion Composition Spectrometer onboard the Wind spacecraft (Wind‐STICS). We find that the 17‐year omnidirectional energy spectra of protons, helium ions, and oxygen ions observed by Wind‐STICS are in excellent agreement with the 11‐month estimates published by Mewaldt et al. (2001, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1433995) and Mewaldt et al. (2007, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74184-0_32). This agreement validates the conclusions of Nénon and Poppe (2020, https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abbe0c) who proposed that suprathermal ions heavier than helium may increase the rate of amorphous rim formation in lunar samples by 50%. Furthermore, the Wind‐STICS observations of out‐of‐ecliptic ions reveal that the lunar PSRs are weathered by the same flux of >15 keV/nucleon as anywhere else on the lunar surface.
Night-time radiative warming using the atmosphere
Authors: Zhu Yining , Zhou Yiwei , Qin Bing , Qin Rui , Qiu Min , Li Qiang
Published: November 2023

Night-time warming is vital for human production and daily life. Conventional methods like active heaters are energy-intensive, while passive insulating films possess restrictions regarding space consumption and the lack of heat gain. In this work, a nanophotonic-based night-time warming strategy that passively inhibits thermal radiation of objects while actively harnessing that of atmosphere is proposed. By using a photonic-engineered thin film that exhibits high reflectivity (~0.91) in the atmospheric transparent band (8–14 μm) and high absorptivity (~0.7) in the atmospheric radiative band (5–8 and 14–16 μm), temperature rise of 2.1 °C/4.4 °C compared to typical low-e film and broadband absorber is achieved. Moreover, net heat loss as low as 9 W m−2 is experimentally observed, compared to 16 and 39 W m−2 for low-e film and broadband absorber, respectively. This strategy suggests an innovative way for sustainable warming, thus contributes to addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting global carbon neutrality.
Coordinate transcriptional regulation of ErbB2/3 by C-terminal binding protein 2 signals sensitivity to ErbB2 inhibition in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chougoni Kranthi Kumar , Park Haemin , Damle Priyadarshan K. , Mason Travis , Cheng Bo , Dcona Martin M. , Szomju Barbara , Dozmorov Mikhail G. , Idowu Michael O. , Grossman Steven R.
Published: November 2023

There is a critical need to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Transcriptional co-regulators C-terminal binding proteins (CtBP) 1 and 2 are highly overexpressed in human PDAC, and CRISPR-based homozygous deletion ofCtbp2in a mouse PDAC cell line (CKP) dramatically decreased tumor growth, reduced metastasis, and prolonged survival in orthotopic mouse allografts. Transcriptomic profiling of tumors derived from CKP vs.Ctbp2-deleted CKP cells (CKP/KO) revealed significant downregulation of the EGFR-superfamily receptor Erbb3, the heterodimeric signaling partner for both EGFR and ErbB2. Compared with CKP cells, CKP/KO cells also demonstrated reduced Erbb2 expression and did not activate downstream Akt signaling after stimulation of Erbb3 by its ligand neuregulin-1. ErbB3 expression in human PDAC cell lines was similarly dependent on CtBP2 and depletion of ErbB3 in a human PDAC cell line severely attenuated growth, demonstrating the critical role of ErbB3 signaling in maintaining PDAC cell growth. Sensitivity to the ErbB2-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, but not the EGFR-targeted agent erlotinib, varied in proportion to the level of ErbB3 expression in mouse and human PDAC cells, suggesting that an ErBb2 inhibitor can effectively leverage CtBP2-driven transcriptional activation of physiologic ErbB2/3 expression and signaling in PDAC cells for therapeutic benefit.
Nuclear transport proteins: structure, function and disease relevance
Authors: Yang Yang , Guo Lu , Chen Lin , Gong Bo , Jia Da , Sun Qingxiang
Published: November 2023

Proper subcellular localization is crucial for the functioning of biomacromolecules, including proteins and RNAs. Nuclear transport is a fundamental cellular process that regulates the localization of many macromolecules within the nuclear or cytoplasmic compartments. In humans, approximately 60 proteins are involved in nuclear transport, including nucleoporins that form membrane-embedded nuclear pore complexes, karyopherins that transport cargoes through these complexes, and Ran system proteins that ensure directed and rapid transport. Many of these nuclear transport proteins play additional and essential roles in mitosis, biomolecular condensation, and gene transcription. Dysregulation of nuclear transport is linked to major human diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. Selinexor (KPT-330), an inhibitor targeting the nuclear export factor XPO1 (also known as CRM1), was approved in 2019 to treat two types of blood cancers, and dozens of clinical trials of are ongoing. This review summarizes approximately three decades of research data in this field but focuses on the structure and function of individual nuclear transport proteins from recent studies, providing a cutting-edge and holistic view on the role of nuclear transport proteins in health and disease. In-depth knowledge of this rapidly evolving field has the potential to bring new insights into fundamental biology, pathogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches.
Metatranscriptome of human lung microbial communities in a cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 Omicron patients
Authors: Wang Lin , Cao Jia-Bao , Xia Bin-Bin , Li Yue-Juan , Zhang Xuan , Mo Guo-Xin , Wang Rui-Juan , Guo Si-Qi , Zhang Yu-Qing , Xiao Kun , Zhu Guang-Fa , Liu Peng-Fei , Song Li-Cheng , Ma Xi-Hui , Xiang Ping-Chao , Wang Jiang , Liu Yu-Hong , Xie Fei , Zhang Xu-Dong , Li Xiang-Xin , Sun Wan-Lu , Cao Yan , Wang Kai-Fei , Zhang Wen-Hui , Zhao Wei-Chao , Yan Peng , Chen Ji-Chao , Yang Yu-Wei , Yu Zhong-Kuo , Tang Jing-Si , Xiao Li , Zhou Jie-Min , Xie Li-Xin , Wang Jun
Published: November 2023

The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infected a substantial proportion of Chinese population, and understanding the factors underlying the severity of the disease and fatality is valuable for future prevention and clinical treatment. We recruited 64 patients with invasive ventilation for COVID-19 and performed metatranscriptomic sequencing to profile host transcriptomic profiles, plus viral, bacterial, and fungal content, as well as virulence factors and examined their relationships to 28-day mortality were examined. In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from invasive ventilated hospital/community-acquired pneumonia patients (HAP/CAP) sampled in 2019 were included for comparison. Genomic analysis revealed that all Omicron strains belong to BA.5 and BF.7 sub-lineages, with no difference in 28-day mortality between them. Compared to HAP/CAP cohort, invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients have distinct host transcriptomic and microbial signatures in the lower respiratory tract; and in the COVID-19 non-survivors, we found significantly lower gene expressions in pathways related viral processes and positive regulation of protein localization to plasma membrane, higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens including bacterial Alloprevotella, Caulobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Ralstonia and fungal Aspergillus sydowii and Penicillium rubens. Correlational analysis further revealed significant associations between host immune responses and microbial compositions, besides synergy within viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Our study presents the relationships of lower respiratory tract microbiome and transcriptome in invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients, providing the basis for future clinical treatment and reduction of fatality.
Opportunistic health screening for cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors in primary care dental practices: experiences from a service evaluation and a call to action
Authors: Doughty Janine , M. Gallier Simon , Paisi Martha , Witton Robert , J. Daley Amanda
Published: November 2023

Introduction Substantial evidence has established associations between oral health and chronic diseases, mediated by common risk factors and inflammatory processes. Dental professionals are aptly positioned to screen for cardiovascular disease and diabetes high-risk indicators. This article presents a service evaluation of two dental practices delivering health screening in dental practice, and a call to action for the wider profession.

Methods Following training, two general dental practices implemented a suite of health screens, including blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio. A service evaluation was undertaken to review and improve service provision.

Results Most patients (78.4%) had blood pressure values above normal range. More than half (55.8%) were outside of the healthy range for BMI. Out-of-range results for cholesterol were observed in less than one-fifth (16.7%). High blood glucose values were observed for few patients (3.3%).

Conclusion Dental professionals can be successfully trained to deliver health screening interventions. Out-of-range health screening results offer an opportunity to provide targeted health advice for both the oral and general health. Clear protocols and careful interpretation of screening tests are required to minimise patients' confusion. More robust alliances between dental and general medical care are recommended.
USP4 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting TAK1
Authors: Zhang Hongdian , Han Youming , Xiao Wanyi , Gao Yongyin , Sui Zhilin , Ren Peng , Meng Fanbiao , Tang Peng , Yu Zhentao
Published: November 2023

Ubiquitin-specific protease 4 (USP4) represents a potential oncogene involved in various human cancers. Nevertheless, the biological roles and precise mechanism of USP4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression are not understood. Here, USP4 expression was found to be markedly upregulated in ESCC tumor tissues and cells. Loss- and gain-of-function assays suggested that USP4 silencing inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while USP4 overexpression promoted these behaviors. Consistently, USP4 silencing repressed tumor growth and metastasis in an ESCC nude mouse model in vivo. As a target molecule of USP4, transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) also showed high expression in ESCC. Moreover, we observed that USP4 specifically interacted with TAK1 and stabilized TAK1 protein levels via deubiquitination in ESCC cells. Importantly, USP4 promotes ESCC proliferation, migration, and invasion via the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and can be inhibited by U0126. Neutral red (NR), an inhibitor of USP4 can suppress ESCC progression in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this study revealed that USP4/TAK1 plays crucial roles in ESCC progression by modulating proliferation, migration, and invasion, and USP4 might be a potential therapeutic target in ESCC.
Two high-pressure superconducting phases in pressurized optical semiconductor GaP
Authors: Qian Nixian , Chen Chunhua , Zhou Yonghui , Wang Shuyang , Li Liangyu , Zhang Ranran , Zhu Xiangde , Yuan Yifang , Chen Xuliang , An Chao , Zhou Ying , Zhang Min , Yang Xiaoping , Yang Zhaorong
Published: November 2023

Pressure engineering in semiconductors leads to a variety of novel physical phenomena and has recently received considerable attention. Here, we report on pressure-induced superconductivity in III–V gallium phosphide (GaP), a commercially important semiconductor that exhibits excellent optical performance. We show that the emergence of superconductivity is accompanied by the concurrence of piezochromic transition and metallization and can be correlated to a structural transition from the cubic to orthorhombic phase. In line with the structural origin of superconductivity, the critical temperature Tc monotonically decreases with increasing pressure up to ~50 GPa. Moreover, the superconductivity could be preserved toward ambient pressure because of the irreversibility of the structural transition. Nevertheless, the superconducting transition displays evident broadening associated with the presence of amorphization in the depressurized sample. The synchronous evolution of the structural and electronic properties not only shows a vivid structure-property relationship but also could facilitate the exploration of novel functionalities by means of pressure treatment.
A statistical framework for differential pseudotime analysis with multiple single-cell RNA-seq samples
Authors: Hou Wenpin , Ji Zhicheng , Chen Zeyu , Wherry E. John , Hicks Stephanie C. , Ji Hongkai
Published: November 2023

Pseudotime analysis with single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data has been widely used to study dynamic gene regulatory programs along continuous biological processes. While many methods have been developed to infer the pseudotemporal trajectories of cells within a biological sample, it remains a challenge to compare pseudotemporal patterns with multiple samples (or replicates) across different experimental conditions. Here, we introduce , a comprehensive and statistically-rigorous computational framework for differential multi-sample pseudotime analysis. can be used to identify changes in a biological process associated with sample covariates, such as different biological conditions while adjusting for batch effects, and to detect changes in gene expression, cell density, and topology of a pseudotemporal trajectory. Unlike existing methods that ignore sample variability, draws statistical inference after accounting for cross-sample variability and hence substantially reduces sample-specific false discoveries that are not generalizable to new samples. Using both real scRNA-seq and simulation data, including an analysis of differential immune response programs between COVID-19 patients with different disease severity levels, we demonstrate the advantages of in decoding cellular gene expression programs in continuous biological processes.
Bioinspired porous three-coordinated single-atom Fe nanozyme with oxidase-like activity for tumor visual identification via glutathione
Authors: Chen Da , Xia Zhaoming , Guo Zhixiong , Gou Wangyan , Zhao Junlong , Zhou Xuemei , Tan Xiaohe , Li Wenbin , Zhao Shoujie , Tian Zhimin , Qu Yongquan
Published: November 2023

Inspired by structures of natural metalloenzymes, a biomimetic synthetic strategy is developed for scalable synthesis of porous Fe-N3 single atom nanozymes (pFeSAN) using hemoglobin as Fe-source and template. pFeSAN delivers 3.3- and 8791-fold higher oxidase-like activity than Fe-N4 and Fe3O4 nanozymes. The high catalytic performance is attributed to (1) the suppressed aggregation of atomically dispersed Fe; (2) facilitated mass transfer and maximized exposure of active sites for the created mesopores by thermal removal of hemoglobin (2 ~ 3 nm); and (3) unique electronic configuration of Fe-N3 for the oxygen-to-water oxidation pathway (analogy with natural cytochrome c oxidase). The pFeSAN is successfully demonstrated for the rapid colorimetric detection of glutathione with a low limit of detection (2.4 nM) and wide range (50 nM–1 mM), and further developed as a real-time, facile, rapid (~6 min) and precise visualization analysis methodology of tumors via glutathione level, showing its potentials for diagnostic and clinic applications.
Time-domain observation of interlayer exciton formation and thermalization in a MoSe2/WSe2 heterostructure
Authors: Policht Veronica R. , Mittenzwey Henry , Dogadov Oleg , Katzer Manuel , Villa Andrea , Li Qiuyang , Kaiser Benjamin , Ross Aaron M. , Scotognella Francesco , Zhu Xiaoyang , Knorr Andreas , Selig Malte , Cerullo Giulio , Dal Conte Stefano
Published: November 2023

Vertical heterostructures of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) host interlayer excitons with electrons and holes residing in different layers. With respect to their intralayer counterparts, interlayer excitons feature longer lifetimes and diffusion lengths, paving the way for room temperature excitonic optoelectronic devices. The interlayer exciton formation process and its underlying physical mechanisms are largely unexplored. Here we use ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy with a broadband white-light probe to simultaneously resolve interlayer charge transfer and interlayer exciton formation dynamics in a MoSe2/WSe2 heterostructure. We observe an interlayer exciton formation timescale nearly an order of magnitude (~1 ps) longer than the interlayer charge transfer time (~100 fs). Microscopic calculations attribute this relative delay to an interplay of a phonon-assisted interlayer exciton cascade and thermalization, and excitonic wave-function overlap. Our results may explain the efficient photocurrent generation observed in optoelectronic devices based on TMD heterostructures, as the interlayer excitons are able to dissociate during thermalization.
Paleogene India-Eurasia collision constrained by observed plate rotation
Authors: Wu Xiaoyue , Hu Jiashun , Chen Ling , Liu Liang , Liu Lijun
Published: November 2023

The Cenozoic India-Eurasia collision has had profound impacts on shaping the Tibetan plateau, but its early history remains controversial due to uneven availability of constraints. Recent plate reconstructions reveal two prominent counterclockwise rotation (azimuthal change) rate peaks of the Indian plate at 52-44 and 33-20 Ma, respectively, which could bear key information about this collision history. Using fully dynamic three-dimensional numerical modeling, we show that the first rotation rate peak reflected the initial diachronous collision from the western-central to eastern Indian front, and the second peak reflected the full collision leading to strong coupling between India and Eurasia. Further comparison with observation suggests that the initial and complete India-Eurasia collision likely occurred at 55 ± 5 and 40 ± 5 Ma, respectively, an inference consistent with key geological observations. We suggest that this collision history is instructive for studying the tectonic history of the Tibetan plateau and its surrounding areas.
Malaria surveillance reveals parasite relatedness, signatures of selection, and correlates of transmission across Senegal
Authors: Schaffner Stephen F. , Badiane Aida , Khorgade Akanksha , Ndiop Medoune , Gomis Jules , Wong Wesley , Ndiaye Yaye Die , Diedhiou Younouss , Thwing Julie , Seck Mame Cheikh , Early Angela , Sy Mouhamad , Deme Awa , Diallo Mamadou Alpha , Sy Ngayo , Sene Aita , Ndiaye Tolla , Sow Djiby , Dieye Baba , Ndiaye Ibrahima Mbaye , Gaye Amy , Ndiaye Aliou , Battle Katherine E. , Proctor Joshua L. , Bever Caitlin , Fall Fatou Ba , Diallo Ibrahima , Gaye Seynabou , Sene Doudou , Hartl Daniel L. , Wirth Dyann F. , MacInnis Bronwyn , Ndiaye Daouda , Volkman Sarah K.
Published: November 2023

We here analyze data from the first year of an ongoing nationwide program of genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Senegal. The analysis is based on 1097 samples collected at health facilities during passive malaria case detection in 2019; it provides a baseline for analyzing parasite genetic metrics as they vary over time and geographic space. The study’s goal was to identify genetic metrics that were informative about transmission intensity and other aspects of transmission dynamics, focusing on measures of genetic relatedness between parasites. We found the best genetic proxy for local malaria incidence to be the proportion of polygenomic infections (those with multiple genetically distinct parasites), although this relationship broke down at low incidence. The proportion of related parasites was less correlated with incidence while local genetic diversity was uninformative. The type of relatedness could discriminate local transmission patterns: two nearby areas had similarly high fractions of relatives, but one was dominated by clones and the other by outcrossed relatives. Throughout Senegal, 58% of related parasites belonged to a single network of relatives, within which parasites were enriched for shared haplotypes at known and suspected drug resistance loci and at one novel locus, reflective of ongoing selection pressure.
Operando Li metal plating diagnostics via MHz band electromagnetics
Authors: Ishigaki Masanori , Ishikawa Keisuke , Usuki Tsukasa , Kondo Hiroki , Komagata Shogo , Sasaki Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2023

A nondestructive detection method for internal Li-metal plating in lithium-ion batteries is essential to improve their lifetime. Here, we demonstrate a direct Li-metal detection technology that focuses on electromagnetic behaviour. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining the ionic behaviour of electrochemical reactions at the negative electrode and the electromagnetic behaviour of electrons based on Maxwell’s equations, we find that internal Li-metal plating can be detected by the decrease in real part of the impedance at high-frequency. This finding enables simpler diagnostics when compared to data-driven analysis because we can correlate a direct response from the electronic behaviour to the metallic material property rather changes in the ionic behaviour. We test this response using commercial Li-ion batteries subject to extremely fast charging conditions to induce Li-metal plating. From this, we develop a battery sensor that detects and monitors the cycle-by-cycle growth of Li-metal plating. This work not only contributes to advancing future Li-ion battery development but may also serve as a tool for Li-metal plating monitoring in real-field applications to increase the useable lifetime of Li-ion batteries and to prevent detrimental Li-metal plating.
Microstimulation of human somatosensory cortex evokes task-dependent, spatially patterned responses in motor cortex
Authors: Shelchkova Natalya D. , Downey John E. , Greenspon Charles M. , Okorokova Elizaveta V. , Sobinov Anton R. , Verbaarschot Ceci , He Qinpu , Sponheim Caleb , Tortolani Ariana F. , Moore Dalton D. , Kaufman Matthew T. , Lee Ray C. , Satzer David , Gonzalez-Martinez Jorge , Warnke Peter C. , Miller Lee E. , Boninger Michael L. , Gaunt Robert A. , Collinger Jennifer L. , Hatsopoulos Nicholas G. , Bensmaia Sliman J.
Published: November 2023

The primary motor (M1) and somatosensory (S1) cortices play critical roles in motor control but the signaling between these structures is poorly understood. To fill this gap, we recorded – in three participants in an ongoing human clinical trial (NCT01894802) for people with paralyzed hands – the responses evoked in the hand and arm representations of M1 during intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) in the hand representation of S1. We found that ICMS of S1 activated some M1 neurons at short, fixed latencies consistent with monosynaptic activation. Additionally, most of the ICMS-evoked responses in M1 were more variable in time, suggesting indirect effects of stimulation. The spatial pattern of M1 activation varied systematically: S1 electrodes that elicited percepts in a finger preferentially activated M1 neurons excited during that finger’s movement. Moreover, the indirect effects of S1 ICMS on M1 were context dependent, such that the magnitude and even sign relative to baseline varied across tasks. We tested the implications of these effects for brain-control of a virtual hand, in which ICMS conveyed tactile feedback. While ICMS-evoked activation of M1 disrupted decoder performance, this disruption was minimized using biomimetic stimulation, which emphasizes contact transients at the onset and offset of grasp, and reduces sustained stimulation.
Engineering sulfonate group donor regeneration systems to boost biosynthesis of sulfated compounds
Authors: Xu Ruirui , Zhang Weijao , Xi Xintong , Chen Jiamin , Wang Yang , Du Guocheng , Li Jianghua , Chen Jian , Kang Zhen
Published: November 2023

Sulfonation as one of the most important modification reactions in nature is essential for many biological macromolecules to function. Development of green sulfonate group donor regeneration systems to efficiently sulfonate compounds of interest is always attractive. Here, we design and engineer two different sulfonate group donor regeneration systems to boost the biosynthesis of sulfated compounds. First, we assemble three modules to construct a 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) regeneration system and demonstrate its applicability for living cells. After discovering adenosine 5’-phosphosulfate (APS) as another active sulfonate group donor, we engineer a more simplified APS regeneration system that couples specific sulfotransferase. Next, we develop a rapid indicating system for characterizing the activity of APS-mediated sulfotransferase to rapidly screen sulfotransferase variants with increased activity towards APS. Eventually, the active sulfonate group equivalent values of the APS regeneration systems towards trehalose and p-coumaric acid reach 3.26 and 4.03, respectively. The present PAPS and APS regeneration systems are environmentally friendly and applicable for scaling up the biomanufacturing of sulfated products.
Non-just-right experiences are more closely related to OCD than tics in Tourette patients
Authors: Brandt Valerie , Otte Jan-Hendrik , Fremer Carolin , Jakubovski Ewgeni , Müller-Vahl Kirsten
Published: November 2023

Complex tics and obsessive or compulsive behaviour can be difficult to differentiate diagnostically. The majority of adult patients with Tourette syndrome report experiencing premonitory urges before tics. Some of these experiences have been linked to non-just-right experiences (NJRE), which are frequently reported by patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder or behaviours (OCD/OCB). We aimed to assess whether NJRE are more closely related to tics and tic-associated premonitory urges or whether they are more closely associated with OCD. A total of N = 111 patients (mean age = 34.77 + /−12.93; N = 37 female) with a confirmed diagnosis of Tourette syndrome completed the premonitory urges for tic disorders scale (PUTS), the revised non-just-right experiences scale (NJRE-QR), and questionnaires regarding their tic severity, and comorbid OCD/OCB. A multi-trait-multi-methods matrix was calculated to examine associations amongst scales measuring tic-related and OCB-related phenomena. The PUTS correlated overall higher with tic questionnaires than with OCD/OCB questionnaires. The NJRE correlated higher with OCD symptoms than with tic severity. The results indicate that non-just-right experiences are more closely associated with comorbid OCB than with tics in patients with Tourette syndrome.
Mannich-type modifications of (−)-cannabidiol and (−)-cannabigerol leading to new, bioactive derivatives
Authors: Lőrincz Eszter Boglárka , Tóth Gergely , Spolárics Júlia , Herczeg Mihály , Hodek Jan , Zupkó István , Minorics Renáta , Ádám Dorottya , Oláh Attila , Zouboulis Christos C. , Weber Jan , Nagy Lajos , Ostorházi Eszter , Bácskay Ildikó , Borbás Anikó , Herczegh Pál , Bereczki Ilona
Published: November 2023

(−)-Cannabidiol (CBD) and (−)-cannabigerol (CBG) are two major non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids that have many beneficial biological properties. However, due to their low water solubility and prominent first-pass metabolism, their oral bioavailability is moderate, which is unfavorable for medicinal use. Therefore, there is a great need for appropriate chemical modifications to improve their physicochemical and biological properties. In this study, Mannich-type reaction was used for the synthetic modification of CBD and CBG for the first time, and thus fifteen new cannabinoid derivatives containing one or two tertiary amino groups were prepared. Thereafter the antiviral, antiproliferative and antibacterial properties of the derivatives and their effects on certain skin cells were investigated. Some modified CBD derivatives showed remarkable antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 without cytotoxic effect, while synthetic modifications on CBG resulted in a significant increase in antiproliferative activity in some cases compared to the parent compound.