bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent gravitational radiation from glitching pulsars – II. Updated scaling with vortex number
Authors: Cheunchitra T , Melatos A , Carlin J B , Howitt G
Published: January 2024

Superfluid vortices pinned to nuclear lattice sites or magnetic flux tubes in a neutron star evolve abruptly through a sequence of metastable spatial configurations, punctuated by unpinning avalanches associated with rotational glitches, as the stellar crust spins down electromagnetically. The metastable configurations are approximately but not exactly axisymmetric, causing the emission of persistent, quasimonochromatic, current quadrupole gravitational radiation. The characteristic gravitational wave strain h0 as a function of the spin frequency f and distance D from the Earth is bounded above by $h_0 = 1.2\substack{+1.3 \\ -0.9} \times 10^{-32} (f/30\,\,{\rm Hz})^{2.5} (D/1\,\,{\rm kpc})^{-1}$, corresponding to a Poissonian spatial configuration (equal probability per unit area, i.e. zero inter-vortex repulsion), and bounded below by $h_0 = 1.8\substack{+2.0 \\ -1.5} \times 10^{-50} (f/30\,\,{\rm Hz})^{1.5} (D/1\,\,{\rm kpc})^{-1}$, corresponding to a regular array (periodic separation, i.e. maximum inter-vortex repulsion). N-body point vortex simulations predict an intermediate scaling, $h_0 = 7.3\substack{+7.9 \\ -5.4} \times 10^{-42} (f/30\,\,{\rm Hz})^{1.9} (D/1\,\,{\rm kpc})^{-1}$, which reflects a balance between the randomizing but spatially correlated action of superfluid vortex avalanches and the regularizing action of inter-vortex repulsion. The scaling is calibrated by conducting simulations with Nv ≤ 5 × 103 vortices and extrapolated to the astrophysical regime Nv ∼ 1017(f/30 Hz). The scaling is provisional, pending future computational advances to raise Nv and include three-dimensional effects such as vortex tension and turbulence.
The impact of the FREDDA dedispersion algorithm on H0 estimations with fast radio bursts
Authors: Hoffmann J , James C W , Qiu H , Glowacki M , Bannister K W , Gupta V , Prochaska J X , Bera A , Deller A T , Gourdji K , Marnoch L , Ryder S D , Scott D R , Shannon R M , Tejos N
Published: January 2024

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are transient radio signals of extragalactic origins that are subjected to propagation effects such as dispersion and scattering. It follows then that these signals hold information regarding the medium they have traversed and are hence useful as cosmological probes of the Universe. Recently, FRBs were used to make an independent measure of the Hubble constant H0, promising to resolve the Hubble tension given a sufficient number of detected FRBs. Such cosmological studies are dependent on FRB population statistics, cosmological parameters, and detection biases, and thus it is important to accurately characterize each of these. In this work, we empirically characterize the sensitivity of the Fast Real-time Engine for Dedispersing Amplitudes (FREDDA) which is the current detection system for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). We coherently redisperse high-time resolution data of 13 ASKAP-detected FRBs and inject them into FREDDA to determine the recovered signal-to-noise ratios as a function of dispersion measure. We find that for 11 of the 13 FRBs, these results are consistent with injecting idealized pulses. Approximating this sensitivity function with theoretical predictions results in a systematic error of 0.3 km s−1 Mpc−1 on H0 when it is the only free parameter. Allowing additional parameters to vary could increase this systematic by up to $\sim 1\,$ km s−1 Mpc−1. We estimate that this systematic will not be relevant until ∼400 localized FRBs have been detected, but will likely be significant in resolving the Hubble tension.
Free-floating ‘planets’ in the macrolensed quasar Q2237+0305
Authors: Tuntsov Artem V , Lewis Geraint F , Walker Mark A
Published: January 2024

It has been claimed that the variability of field quasars resembles gravitational lensing by a large cosmological population of free-floating planets with mass $\sim\!\! 10\ {\rm M}_{\oplus }$. However, Galactic photometric monitoring experiments, on the other hand, exclude a large population of such planetary-mass gravitational lenses. These apparently contradictory pieces of evidence can be reconciled if the objects under consideration have a mean column density that lies between the critical column densities for gravitational lensing in these two contexts. Dark matter in that form is known to be weakly collisional, so a core develops in galaxy halo density profiles, and a preferred model has already been established. Here, we consider what such a model implies for Q2237+0305, which is the best-studied example of a quasar that is strongly lensed by an intervening galaxy. We construct microlensing magnification maps appropriate to the four macro-images of the quasar – all of which are seen through the bulge of the galaxy. Each of these maps exhibits a caustic network arising from the stars, plus many small, isolated caustics arising from the free-floating ‘planets’ in the lens galaxy. The ‘planets’ have little influence on the magnification histograms but a large effect on the statistics of the magnification gradients. We compare our predictions to the published Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) photometry of Q2237+0305 and find that these data are consistent with the presence of the hypothetical ‘planets’. However, the evidence is relatively weak because the OGLE data set is not well suited to testing our predictions and requires low-pass filtering for this application. New data from a large, space-based telescope are desirable to address this issue.
A 3D diffusive and advective model of electron transport applied to the pulsar wind nebula HESS J1825 − 137
Authors: Collins T , Rowell G , Einecke S , Voisin F , Fukui Y , Sano H
Published: January 2024

HESS J1825 − 137 is one of the most powerful and luminous TeV gamma-ray pulsar wind nebulae, making it an excellent laboratory to study particle transportation around pulsars. We present a model of the (diffusive and advective) transport and radiative losses of electrons from the pulsar PSR J1826 − 1334 powering HESS J1825 − 137 using interstellar medium gas (ISM) data, soft photon fields, and a spatially varying magnetic field. We find that for the characteristic age of $21\, \mathrm{k}\mathrm{yr}$, PSR J1826 − 1334 is unable to meet the energy requirements to match the observed X-ray and gamma-ray emission. An older age of $40\, \mathrm{k}\mathrm{yr}$, together with an electron conversion efficiency of 0.14 and advective flow of v = 0.002c, can reproduce the observed multiwavelength emission towards HESS J1825 − 137. A turbulent ISM with magnetic field of $B=20 \,{\rm to}\, 60 \,\mathrm{\mu }{\rm G}$ to the north of HESS J1825 − 137 (as suggested by ISM observations) is required to prevent significant gamma-ray contamination towards the northern $\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e\mathrm{V}}$ source HESS J1826 − 130.
Constraints on cosmologically coupled black holes from gravitational wave observations and minimal formation mass
Authors: Amendola Luca , Rodrigues Davi C , Kumar Sumit , Quartin Miguel
Published: January 2024

We test the possibility that the black holes (BHs) detected by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) may be cosmologically coupled and grow in mass proportionally to the cosmological scale factor to some power k, which may also act as the dark energy source if k ≈ 3. This approach was proposed as an extension of Kerr BHs embedded in cosmological backgrounds and possibly without singularities or horizons. In our analysis, we develop and apply two methods to test these cosmologically coupled BHs (CCBHs) either with or without connection to dark energy. We consider different scenarios for the time between the binary BH formation and its merger, and we find that the standard log-uniform distribution yields weaker constraints than the CCBH-corrected case. Assuming that the minimum mass of a BH with stellar progenitor is 2 M⊙, we estimate the probability that at least one BH among the observed ones had an initial mass below this threshold. We obtain these probabilities either directly from the observed data or by assuming the LVK power-law-plus-peak mass distribution. In the latter case, we find at 2σ level, that k < 2.1 for the standard log-uniform distribution, or k < 1.1 for the CCBH-corrected distribution. Slightly weaker bounds are obtained in the direct method. Considering the uncertainties on the nature of CCBHs, we also find that the required minimum CCBH mass value to eliminate the tensions for k = 3 should be lower than 0.5 M⊙ (again at 2σ). Finally, we show that future observations have the potential to decisively confirm these bounds.
A spectral data release for 104 type II supernovae from the Tsinghua Supernova group
Authors: Lin Han , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Jujia , Yan Shengyu , Xiang Danfeng , Zhang Tianmeng , Zhao Xulin , Zhang Xinghan , Sai Hanna , Rui Liming , Mo Jun , Xi Gaobo , Huang Fang , Li Xue , Cai Yongzhi , Lin Weili , Lin Jie , Wu Chengyuan , Zhang Jicheng , Chen Zhihao , Li Zhitong , Li Wenxiong , Li Linyi , Zhang Kaicheng , Miao Cheng , Chen Juncheng , Fan Zhou , Fu Jianning , Qian Shengbang , Wu Hong , Wu Xue-Bing , Yan Jingzhi , Zhang Huawei , Zhang Junbo , Zhang Liyun , Zheng Jie , Zhai Qian
Published: January 2024

We present 206 unpublished optical spectra of 104 type II supernovae (SNe II) obtained by the Xinglong 2.16-m telescope and Lijiang 2.4-m telescope during the period from 2011 to 2018, spanning the phases from about 1 to 200 d after the SN explosion. The spectral line identifications, evolution of line velocities and pseudo-equivalent widths, as well as correlations between some important spectral parameters are presented. Our sample displays a large range in expansion velocities. For instance, the Fe ii 5169 velocities measured from spectra at t ∼ 50 d after the explosion vary from 2000 to 5500 km s−1, with an average value of 3872 ± 949 km s−1. Power-law functions can be used to fit the velocity evolution, with the power-law exponent quantifying the velocity decline rate. We found an anticorrelation existing between H β velocity at mid-plateau phase and its velocity decay exponent, SNe II with higher velocities tending to have smaller velocity decay rate. Moreover, we noticed that the velocity decay rate inferred from the Balmer lines (i.e. H α and H β) have moderate correlations with the ratio of absorption to emission for H α (a/e). In our sample, two objects show possibly flash-ionized features at early phases. Besides, we noticed that multiple high-velocity components may exist on the blue side of hydrogen lines of SN 2013ab, possibly suggesting that these features arise from complex line-forming region.
Oxygen abundance of γ Vel from [O iii] 88 μm Herschel/PACS spectroscopy
Authors: Crowther Paul A , Barlow M J , Royer P , Hillier D J , Bestenlehner J M , Morris P W , Wesson R
Published: January 2024

We present Herschel PACS spectroscopy of the [O iii] 88.4 μm fine-structure line in the nearby WC8+O binary system γ Vel to determine its oxygen abundance. The critical density of this line corresponds to several 105R* such that it is spatially extended in PACS observations at the 336 pc distance to γ Vel. Two approaches are used, the first involving a detailed stellar atmosphere analysis of γ Vel using cmfgen, extending to Ne ∼ 100 cm−3 in order to fully sample the line formation region of [O iii] 88.4 $\mu$m. The second approach involves the analytical model introduced by Barlow et al. and revised by Dessart et al., additionally exploiting ISO LWS spectroscopy of [O iii] 51.8 $\mu$m. We obtain higher luminosities for the WR and O components of γ Vel with respect to De Marco et al., log L/L⊙ = 5.31 and 5.56, respectively, primarily due to the revised (higher) interferometric distance. We obtain an oxygen mass fraction of XO = 1.0 ± 0.3 per cent for an outer wind volume filling factor of f = 0.5 ± 0.25, favouring either standard or slightly reduced Kunz et al. rates for the 12C(α, γ)16O reaction from comparison with BPASS binary population synthesis models. We also revisit neon and sulphur abundances in the outer wind of γ Vel from ISO SWS spectroscopy of [S iv] 10.5 $\mu$m, [Ne ii] 12.8 $\mu$m, and [Ne iii] 15.5 $\mu$m. The inferred neon abundance XNe = 2.0$_{-0.6}^{+0.4}$ per cent is in excellent agreement with BPASS predictions, while the sulphur abundance of XS = 0.04 ± 0.01 per cent agrees with the solar abundance, as expected for unprocessed elements.
ExoMol line lists – LVII. High accuracy ro-vibrational line list for methane (CH4)
Authors: Yurchenko Sergei N , Owens Alec , Kefala Kyriaki , Tennyson Jonathan
Published: January 2024

The MM ro-vibrational line list for methane (12CH4) is presented; MM covers wavelengths λ > 0.83 μm (wavenumbers up to 12 000 cm−1) and contains over 50 billion transitions between 9155 208 states with total angular momentum J ≤ 60. MM was generated through solution of the nuclear motion Schrödinger equation using variational program trove for an empirically derived potential energy surface (PES) and a new high-level ab initio dipole moment surface. The PES was constructed by fitting the ro-vibrational energies of CH4 to a set of highly accurate, experimentally derived energies. Molecular states are classified using the Td(M) symmetry group and are fully assigned with rotation and vibration quantum numbers. The MM line list is adapted to high-resolution applications by replacing the calculated ro-vibrational energies with the experimentally derived values where available, namely for 23 208 states with J ≤ 27 below 9986 cm−1. Doing so leads to over 1000 000 experimentally derived CH4 lines compared to approximately $330\, 000$ lines of 12CH4 in the HITRAN data base. The MM line list is shown to be more complete than the recent HITEMP methane line list. Methane spectra computed using MM across a broad range of temperatures and wavenumbers show excellent agreement with experiment. The MM line list supersedes the previous ExoMol methane line lists 10to10 and 30to10 both in terms of accuracy and coverage. Together with the pre-computed ExoMolOP molecular atmospheric opacity tables, it is now the recommended CH4 data set in the ExoMol data base (www.exomol.com).
Connections between central intensity ratio and hot gas properties of early-type galaxies
Authors: Vinod K T , Baheeja C , Ravikumar C D
Published: January 2024

We report strong connections between central intensity ratio (CIR) and hot gas properties of Early-type galaxies (ETGs) in the nearby ($D\lt 30\, \mathrm{Mpc}$) Universe. We find new strong correlations between (optical) CIR and X-ray gas luminosity (LX, GAS) as well as X-ray gas temperature (TGAS). These correlations suggest that higher the central gas temperature lower will be the (central) star formation process in ETGs. Correlations of CIR separately with K-band magnitude and age of the sample galaxies further support suppression of star formation in the central region of ETGs as they grow in mass and age. The systematic and tight variation of CIR with LX, GAS not only shows its remarkable potential to estimate LX, GAS from simple photometry but also helps in transforming the core-coreless dichotomy into a gradual one.
Probing cosmology via the clustering of critical points
Authors: Shim Junsup , Pichon Christophe , Pogosyan Dmitri , Appleby Stephen , Cadiou Corentin , Kim Juhan , Kraljic Katarina , Park Changbom
Published: January 2024

Exclusion zones in the cross-correlations between critical points (peak-void, peak-wall, filament-wall, and filament-void) of the density field define quasi-standard rulers that can be used to constrain dark matter and dark energy cosmological parameters. The average size of the exclusion zone is found to scale linearly with the typical distance between extrema. The latter changes as a function of the matter content of the universe in a predictable manner, but its comoving size remains essentially constant in the linear regime of structure growth on large scales, unless the incorrect cosmology is assumed in the redshift–distance relation. This can be used to constrain the dark energy parameters when considering a survey that scans a range of redshifts. The precision of the parameter estimation is assessed using a set of cosmological simulations, and is found to be a 4σ detection of a change in matter content of 5 per cent, or about 3.8σ detection of 50 per cent shift in the dark energy parameter using a full sky survey up to redshift 0.5.
Importance of stable mass transfer and stellar winds for the formation of gravitational wave sources
Authors: Dorozsmai Andris , Toonen Silvia
Published: January 2024

The large number of gravitational wave (GW) detections have revealed the properties of the merging black hole binary population, but how such systems are formed is still heavily debated. Understanding the imprint of stellar physics on the observable GW population will shed light on how we can use the GW data, along with other observations, to constrain the poorly understood evolution of massive binaries. We perform a parameter study on the classical isolated binary formation channel with the population synthesis code seba to investigate how sensitive the properties of the coalescing binary black hole population are on the uncertainties related to first phase of mass transfer and stellar winds. We vary five assumptions: (1) and (2) the mass transfer efficiency and the angular momentum loss during the first mass transfer phase, (3) the mass transfer stability criteria for giant donors with radiative envelopes, (4) the effective temperature at which an evolved star develops a deep convective envelope, and (5) the mass-loss rates of stellar winds. We find that current uncertainties related to first phase of mass transfer have a huge impact on the relative importance of different dominant channels, while the observable demographics of GW sources are not significantly affected. Our varied parameters have a complex, interrelated effect on the population properties of GW sources. Therefore, inference of massive binary physics from GW data alone remains extremely challenging, given the large uncertainties in our current models.
Abundant sub-micron grains revealed in newly discovered extreme debris discs
Authors: Moór Attila , Ábrahám Péter , Su Kate Y L , Henning Thomas , Marino Sebastian , Chen Lei , Kóspál Ágnes , Pawellek Nicole , Varga József , Vida Krisztián
Published: January 2024

Extreme debris discs (EDDs) are bright and warm circumstellar dusty structures around main sequence stars. They may represent the outcome of giant collisions occuring in the terrestrial region between large planetesimals or planetary bodies, and thus provide a rare opportunity to peer into the aftermaths of these events. Here, we report on results of a mini-survey we conducted with the aim to increase the number of known EDDs, investigate the presence of solid-state features around 10 μm in eight EDDs, and classify them into the silica or silicate dominated groups. We identify four new EDDs and derive their fundamental properties. For these, and for four other previously known discs, we study the spectral energy distribution around 10 μm by means of VLT/VISIR photometry in three narrow-band filters and conclude that all eight objects likely exhibit solid-state emission features from sub-micron grains. We find that four discs probably belong to the silicate dominated subgroup. Considering the age distribution of the entire EDD sample, we find that their incidence begins to decrease only after 300 Myr, suggesting that the earlier common picture that these objects are related to the formation of rocky planets may not be exclusive, and that other processes may be involved for older objects (≳100 Myr). Because most of the older EDD systems have wide, eccentric companions, we suggest that binarity may play a role in triggering late giant collisions.
CSST large-scale structure analysis pipeline: II. The CSST Emulator for Slitless Spectroscopy
Authors: Wen Run , Zheng Xian Zhong , Han Yunkun , Yang Xiaohu , Wang Xin , Zou Hu , Liu Fengshan , Zhang Xin , Zu Ying , Shi Dong Dong , Gu Yizhou , Wang Yirong
Published: January 2024

The Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST) slitless spectroscopic survey will observe objects to a limiting magnitude of ∼23 mag (5σ, point sources) in U, V, and I over 17 500 deg2. The spectroscopic observations are expected to be highly efficient and complete for mapping galaxies over 0 < z < 1 with secure redshift measurements at spectral resolutions of R ∼ 200, providing unprecedented data sets for cosmological studies. To quantitatively examine the survey potential, we develop a software tool, namely the CSST Emulator for Slitless Spectroscopy (CESS), to quickly generate simulated 1D slitless spectra with limited computing resources. We introduce the architecture of CESS and the detailed process of creating simulated CSST slitless spectra. The extended light distribution of a galaxy induces the self-broadening effect on the 1D slitless spectrum. We quantify the effect using morphological parameters: Sérsic index, effective radius, position angle, and axis ratio. Moreover, we also develop a module for CESS to estimate the overlap contamination rate for CSST grating observations of galaxies in galaxy clusters. Applying CESS to the high-resolution model spectra of a sample of ∼140 million galaxies with mz < 21 mag selected from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument LS DR9 catalogue, we obtain the simulated CSST slitless spectra. We examine the dependence of measurement errors on different types of galaxies due to instrumental and observational effects and quantitatively investigate the redshift completeness for different environments out to z ∼ 1. Our results show that the CSST spectroscopy is able to provide secure redshifts for about one-quarter of the sample galaxies.
Metal and dust evolution in ALMA REBELS galaxies: insights for future JWST observations
Authors: Palla Marco , De Looze Ilse , Relaño Monica , van der Giessen Stefan , Dayal Pratika , Ferrara Andrea , Schneider Raffaella , Graziani Luca , Algera Hiddo S B , Aravena Manuel , Bowler Rebecca A A , Hygate Alexander P S , Inami Hanae , van Leeuwen Ivana , Bouwens Rychard , Hodge Jacqueline , Smit Renske , Stefanon Mauro , van der Werf Paul
Published: January 2024

Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations revealed the presence of significant amounts of dust in the first Gyr of Cosmic time. However, the metal and dust build-up picture remains very uncertain due to the lack of constraints on metallicity. JWST has started to reveal the metal content of high-redshift targets, which may lead to firmer constraints on high-redshift dusty galaxies evolution. In this work, we use detailed chemical and dust evolution models to explore the evolution of galaxies within the ALMA Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) survey, testing different metallicity scenarios that could be inferred from JWST observations. In the models, we track the build-up of stellar mass using non-parametric star formation histories for REBELS galaxies. Different scenarios for metal and dust evolution are simulated by allowing different prescriptions for gas flows and dust processes. The model outputs are compared with measured dust scaling relations, by employing metallicity-dependent calibrations for the gas mass based on the [C ii] 158 μm line. Independently of the galaxies metal content, we found no need for extreme dust prescriptions to explain the dust masses revealed by ALMA. However, different levels of metal enrichment will lead to different dominant dust production mechanisms, with stardust production dominant over other interstellar medium dust processes only in the metal-poor case. This points out how metallicity measurements from JWST will significantly improve our understanding of the dust build-up in high-redshift galaxies. We also show that models struggle to reproduce observables such as dust-to-gas and dust-to-stellar ratios simultaneously, possibly indicating an overestimation of the gas mass through current calibrations, especially at high metallicities.
Amplitude and phase changes in TESS photometry of five short period weak-lined T Tauri stars
Authors: Koen C
Published: January 2024

The statistical technique ‘Complex Demodulation’ (CDM) is used to track the amplitude and phase changes of periodicities in five naked T Tauri stars. The periodicities are most likely caused by dark spots on the stellar surfaces, which are rotated into and out of view. Two of the stars (CD-56 1438, CD-72 248) show two independent periodicities, probably due to being binary weak-lined T Tauri stars. Two different low-pass filters, operating, respectively, in the frequency and time domains, are used as part of the CDM methodology. Statistical aspects of the estimated amplitudes and phases are investigated in some detail: in particular, expressions are derived for standard errors and for possible biases. A large variety of different types of amplitude and phase changes are found, including approximately linear or quadratic, abrupt level shifts, pulses, and oscillatory. Long term changes in amplitudes are aperiodic, but mimic long-term cycles.
Characterizing the assembly of dark matter haloes with protohalo size histories: I. Redshift evolution, relation to descendant haloes, and halo assembly bias
Authors: Wang Kai , Mo H J , Chen Yangyao , Wang Huiyuan , Yang Xiaohu , Wang Jiaqi , Peng Yingjie , Cai Zheng
Published: January 2024

We propose a novel method to quantify the assembly histories of dark matter haloes with the redshift evolution of the mass-weighted spatial variance of their progenitor haloes, that is, the protohalo size history. We find that the protohalo size history for each individual halo at z ∼ 0 can be described by a double power-law function. The amplitude of the fitting function strongly correlates to the central-to-total stellar mass ratios of descendant haloes. The variation of the amplitude of the protohalo size history can induce a strong halo assembly bias effect for massive haloes. This effect is detectable in observation using the central-to-total stellar mass ratio as a proxy of the protohalo size. The correlation to the descendant central-to-total stellar mass ratio and the halo assembly bias effect seen in the protohalo size are much stronger than that seen in the commonly adopted half-mass formation time derived from the mass accretion history. This indicates that the information loss caused by the compression of halo merger trees to mass accretion histories can be captured by the protohalo size history. Protohalo size thus provides a useful quantity to connect protoclusters across cosmic time and to link protoclusters with their descendant clusters in observations.
Treatment-associated imaging changes in newly diagnosed MGMT promoter-methylated glioblastoma undergoing chemoradiation with or without cilengitide
Authors: Flies Christina Maria , Friedrich Michel , Lohmann Philipp , van Garderen Karin Alida , Smits Marion , Tonn Joerg-Christian , Weller Michael , Galldiks Norbert , Snijders Tom Jan
Published: January 2024

Background

Radiological progression may originate from progressive disease (PD) or pseudoprogression/treatment-associated changes. We assessed radiological progression in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter-methylated glioblastoma treated with standard-of-care chemoradiotherapy with or without the integrin inhibitor cilengitide according to the modified response assessment in neuro-oncology (RANO) criteria of 2017.

Methods

Patients with ≥ 3 follow-up MRIs were included. Preliminary PD was defined as a ≥ 25% increase of the sum of products of perpendicular diameters (SPD) of a new or increasing lesion compared to baseline. PD required a second ≥25% increase of the SPD. Treatment-associated changes require stable or regressing disease after preliminary PD.

Results

Of the 424 evaluable patients, 221 patients (52%) were randomized into the cilengitide and 203 patients (48%) into the control arm. After chemoradiation with or without cilengitide, preliminary PD occurred in 274 patients (65%) during available follow-up, and 88 of these patients (32%) had treatment-associated changes, whereas 67 patients (25%) had PD. The remaining 119 patients (43%) had no further follow-up after preliminary PD. Treatment-associated changes were more common in the cilengitide arm than in the standard-of-care arm (24% vs. 17%; relative risk, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.004–1.795; P = .047). Treatment-associated changes occurred mainly during the first 6 months after RT (54% after 3 months vs. 13% after 6 months).

Conclusions

With the modified RANO criteria, the rate of treatment-associated changes was low compared to previous studies in MGMT promoter-methylated glioblastoma. This rate was higher after cilengitide compared to standard-of-care treatment. Confirmatory scans, as recommended in the modified RANO criteria, were not always available reflecting current clinical practice.
Method for the extraction of circulating nucleic acids based on MOF reveals cell-free RNA signatures in liver cancer
Authors: Sun Yuqing , Yu Haixin , Han Shaoqing , Ran Ruoxi , Yang Ying , Tang Yongling , Wang Yuhao , Zhang Wenhao , Tang Heng , Fu Boqiao , Fu Boshi , Weng Xiaocheng , Liu Song-Mei , Deng Hexiang , Peng Shuang , Zhou Xiang
Published: January 2024

Cell-free RNA (cfRNA) allows assessment of health, status, and phenotype of a variety of human organs and is a potential biomarker to non-invasively diagnose numerous diseases. Nevertheless, there is a lack of highly efficient and bias-free cfRNA isolation technologies due to the low abundance and instability of cfRNA. Here, we developed a reproducible and high-efficiency isolation technology for different types of cell-free nucleic acids (containing cfRNA and viral RNA) in serum/plasma based on the inclusion of nucleic acids by metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, which greatly improved the isolation efficiency and was able to preserve RNA integrity compared with the most widely used research kit method. Importantly, the quality of cfRNA extracted by the MOF method is about 10-fold that of the kit method, and the MOF method isolates more than three times as many different RNA types as the kit method. The whole transcriptome mapping characteristics of cfRNA in serum from patients with liver cancer was described and a cfRNA signature with six cfRNAs was identified to diagnose liver cancer with high diagnostic efficiency (area under curve = 0.905 in the independent validation cohort) using this MOF method. Thus, this new MOF isolation technique will advance the field of liquid biopsy, with the potential to diagnose liver cancer.
Deciphering the controlling factors for phase transitions in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks
Authors: Du Tao , Li Shanwu , Ganisetti Sudheer , Bauchy Mathieu , Yue Yuanzheng , Smedskjaer Morten M
Published: January 2024

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) feature complex phase transitions, including polymorphism, melting, vitrification, and polyamorphism. Experimentally probing their structural evolution during transitions involving amorphous phases is a significant challenge, especially at the medium-range length scale. To overcome this challenge, here we first train a deep learning-based force field to identify the structural characteristics of both crystalline and non-crystalline ZIF phases. This allows us to reproduce the structural evolution trend during the melting of crystals and formation of ZIF glasses at various length scales with an accuracy comparable to that of ab initio molecular dynamics, yet at a much lower computational cost. Based on this approach, we propose a new structural descriptor, namely, the ring orientation index, to capture the propensity for crystallization of ZIF-4 (Zn(Im)2, Im = C3H3N2−) glasses, as well as for the formation of ZIF-zni (Zn(Im)2) out of the high-density amorphous phase. This crystal formation process is a result of the reorientation of imidazole rings by sacrificing the order of the structure around the zinc-centered tetrahedra. The outcomes of this work are useful for studying phase transitions in other metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and may thus guide the development of MOF glasses.
Prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of vitamin C deficiency in adult hospitalized patients in high-income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Golder Janet E , Bauer Judith D , Barker Lisa A , Lemoh Christopher N , Gibson Simone J , Davidson Zoe E
Published: January 2024

Background

Assessment for vitamin C deficiency (VCD) is rarely undertaken in an acute hospital setting in high-income countries. However, with growing interest in VCD in community settings, there is emerging evidence investigating the prevalence and impact of VCD during hospitalization.

Objectives

In this scoping review, the prevalence of VCD in adult hospitalized patients is explored, patient characteristics are described, and risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with VCD are identified.

Methods

A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR framework. The Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for interventional, comparative, and case-series studies that met eligibility criteria, including adult hospital inpatients in high-income countries, as defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, that reported VCD prevalence using World Health Organization reference standards. These standards define VCD deficiency as plasma or serum vitamin C level <11.4 µmol/L, wholeblood level <17 µmol/L, or leukocytes <57 nmol/108 cells.

Results

Twenty-three articles were included, representing 22 studies. The cumulative prevalence of VCD was 27.7% (n = 2494; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.3-34.0). High prevalence of VCD was observed in patients with severe acute illness and poor nutritional status. Scurvy was present in 48% to 62% of patients with VCD assessed in 2 studies (n = 71). Being retired (P = 0.015) and using excessive amounts of alcohol and tobacco (P = 0.0003) were independent risk factors for VCD (n = 184). Age was not conclusively associated with VCD (n = 631). Two studies examined nutrition associations (n = 309); results were inconsistent. Clinical outcomes for VCD included increased risk of frailty (adjusted odds ratio, 4.3; 95%CI, 1.33–13.86; P = 0.015) and cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 2.93; 95%CI, 1.05–8.19, P = 0.031) (n = 160).

Conclusions

VCD is a nutritional challenge facing the healthcare systems of high-income countries. Research focused on early identification and treatment of patients with VCD is warranted.

Systematic Review Registration

Open Science Framework ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AJGHX ).
Extended molt phenology models improve inferences about molt duration and timing
Authors: Boersch-Supan Philipp H , Hanmer Hugh J , Robinson Robert A
Published: January 2024

Molt is an essential life-history event in birds and many mammals, as maintenance of feathers and fur is critical for survival. Despite this molt remains an understudied life-history event. Non-standard statistical techniques are required to estimate the phenology of molt from observations of plumage or pelage state, and existing molt phenology models have strict sampling requirements that can be difficult to meet under real-world conditions. We present an extended modelling framework that can accommodate features of real-world molt datasets, such as re-encounters of individuals, misclassified molt states, and/or molt state-dependent sampling bias. We demonstrate that such features can lead to biased inferences when using existing molt phenology models, and show that our model extensions can improve inferences about molt phenology under a wide range of sampling conditions. We hope that our novel modelling framework removes barriers for modelling molt phenology data from real-world datasets and thereby further facilitates the uptake of appropriate statistical methods for such data. Although we focus on molt, the modelling framework is applicable to other phenological processes that can be recorded using either ordered categories or approximately linear progress scores.
Simple-Sum Giant Graviton Expansions for Orbifolds and Orientifolds
Authors: Fujiwara Shota , Imamura Yosuke , Mori Tatsuya , Murayama Shuichi , Yokoyama Daisuke
Published: January 2024

We study giant graviton expansions of the superconformal index of 4D orbifold/orientifold theories. In general, a giant graviton expansion is given as a multiple sum over wrapping numbers. It is known that the expansion can be reduced to a simple sum for the ${\cal N}=4$  U(N) supersymmetric Yang–Mills (SYM) by choosing appropriate expansion variables. We find such a reduction occurs for a few examples of orbifold and orientifold theories: the $\mathbb {Z}_k$ orbifold and orientifolds with O3 and O7. We also argue that for a quiver gauge theory associated with a toric Calabi–Yau 3-fold the simple-sum expansion works only if the toric diagram is a triangle, i.e. the Calabi–Yau is an orbifold of $\mathbb {C}^3$.
A Regional System under Tight-Knit Elite Rule: The Last Attempt to Introduce Decentralization in Early Italy
Authors: Brosio Giorgio
Published: January 2024

This article discusses a regionalization project, known as Minghetti’s bill, that was presented to the Italian parliament just after the creation of the country in 1861, debated at length, and finally rejected. The bill was the most advanced point reached on the decentralization front in Italy before the Second World War. Minghetti's bill is the first example of a regional process ever brought to parliamentary discussion. It was also a precursor of other regionalization schemes, such as the creation of French regions in 1972.
‘I never thought exercise could help improve my sleep’: experiences of people with rheumatoid arthritis on the impact of an 8-week walking-based exercise intervention in improving their sleep
Authors: McKenna Seán G , Larkin Louise , Donnelly Alan , Esbensen Bente Appel , Ng Wan Lin , Anjum Aqeel Maqsood , Fraser Alexander , Kennedy Norelee
Published: January 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with RA of participating in an exercise intervention to improve their sleep.

Methods

Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 people with RA who had completed an 8-week walking-based exercise intervention to improve their total sleep time, sleep quality and sleep disturbance. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were generated: positive impact of exercise on participants’ sleep (‘I really didn’t think any type of exercise would help me sleep better, if I’m honest’); positive experiences of the exercise intervention (‘I learnt so much regarding walking that I didn’t even think about’); clear mental health benefits (‘If you don’t sleep well then it will have a knock-on effect to your mental health’); and achieving empowerment and ownership when exercising (‘I feel empowered now and confident that I’m not doing harm to myself’).

Conclusion

The findings demonstrated that participants had not expected exercise to improve their sleep. Although there is a growing consensus that exercise will benefit sleep and mitigate some disease symptoms, research is severely lacking in people with RA.
Comparative efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in psoriatic arthritis: a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Mease Philip J , Gladman Dafna D , Merola Joseph F , Nash Peter , Grieve Stacy , Laliman-Khara Victor , Willems Damon , Taieb Vanessa , Prickett Adam R , Coates Laura C
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To understand the relative efficacy and safety of bimekizumab, a selective inhibitor of IL-17F in addition to IL-17A, vs other biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs) for PsA using network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods

A systematic literature review (most recent update conducted on 1 January 2023) identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of b/tsDMARDs in PsA. Bayesian NMAs were conducted for efficacy outcomes at Weeks 12–24 for b/tsDMARD-naïve and TNF inhibitor (TNFi)-experienced patients. Safety at Weeks 12–24 was analysed in a mixed population. Odds ratios (ORs) and differences of mean change with the associated 95% credible interval (CrI) were calculated for the best-fitting models, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values were calculated to determine relative rank.

Results

The NMA included 41 RCTs for 22 b/tsDMARDs. For minimal disease activity (MDA), bimekizumab ranked 1st in b/tsDMARD-naïve patients and 2nd in TNFi-experienced patients. In b/tsDMARD-naïve patients, bimekizumab ranked 6th, 5th and 3rd for ACR response ACR20/50/70, respectively. In TNFi-experienced patients, bimekizumab ranked 1st, 2nd and 1st for ACR20/50/70, respectively. For Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90/100, bimekizumab ranked 2nd and 1st in b/tsDMARD-naïve patients, respectively, and 1st and 2nd in TNFi-experienced patients, respectively. Bimekizumab was comparable to b/tsDMARDs for serious adverse events.

Conclusion

Bimekizumab ranked favourably among b/tsDMARDs for efficacy on joint, skin and MDA outcomes, and showed comparable safety, suggesting it may be a beneficial treatment option for patients with PsA.
Neurobehavioral functions during recurrent periods of sleep restriction: effects of intra-individual variability in sleep duration
Authors: Koa Tiffany B , Gooley Joshua J , Chee Michael W L , Lo June C
Published: January 2024

Study Objectives

To investigate whether neurobehavioral impairments are exacerbated during successive cycles of sleep restriction and recovery in young adults, and whether a variable short sleep schedule can mitigate these impairments relative to a stable one.

Methods

Fifty-two healthy young adults (25 males, aged: 21–28) were randomly assigned to the stable short sleep group, the variable short sleep group, or the control group in this laboratory-based study. They underwent two baseline nights of 8-hour time-in-bed (TIB), followed by two cycles of “weekday” sleep opportunity manipulation and “weekend” recovery (8-hour TIB). During each manipulation period, the stable short sleep and the control groups received 6- and 8-hour TIBs each night respectively, while the variable short sleep group received 8-hour, 4-hour, 8-hour, 4-hour, and 6-hour TIBs from the first to the fifth night. Neurobehavioral functions were assessed five times each day.

Results

The stable short sleep group showed faster vigilance deterioration in the second week of sleep restriction as compared to the first. This effect was not observed in the variable short sleep group. Subjective alertness and practice-based improvement in processing speed were attenuated in both short sleep groups.

Conclusions

In young adults, more variable short sleep schedules incorporating days of prophylactic or recovery sleep might mitigate compounding vigilance deficits resulting from recurrent cycles of sleep restriction. However, processing speed and subjective sleepiness were still impaired in both short sleep schedules. Getting sufficient sleep consistently is the only way to ensure optimal neurobehavioral functioning.

Clinical Trial

Performance, Mood, and Brain and Metabolic Functions During Different Sleep Schedules (STAVAR), https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04731662, NCT04731662
Effects of feeding an inoculated corn silage with or without a direct-fed microbial on dry matter intake, milk production, and nutrient digestibility of high-producing lactating Holstein cows
Authors: Kok Ivonne , Copani Giuseppe , Bryan Keith A , Witt Kristian L M , van Straalen Wilfried M , do Amaral Rafael C , Cappellozza Bruno I
Published: January 2024

This study evaluated the effects of inoculating corn silage and/or feeding a direct-fed microbial (PRO) on performance and nutrient digestibility of lactating dairy cows. At harvesting, corn silage was treated either with water (culated or not [CON]) or Lactococcus lactis and Lentilactobacillus buchneri (INC; SiloSolve FC) at 1.5 × 105 cfu/g of corn silage. Ten mini silos and one farm-scale silo bunker per treatment were prepared for the laboratory and the lactating dairy cow trial, respectively. Five mini silos per treatment were opened on days 2 or 90 post-ensiling for pH measurement, as well as chemical analysis and aerobic stability, respectively. The farm-scale silo bunkers were opened 77 d post-ensiling for the beginning of the lactating cow trial. Eighty lactating Holstein cows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design to: (1) CON silage without PRO (CON-CON; n = 20), (2) CON silage with PRO at 14 g/head/d (CON-PRO; n = 20), (3) INC silage without PRO (INC-CON; n = 20), and (4) INC silage with PRO at 14 g/head/d (INC-PRO; n = 20). Concurrently with the feeding trial, eight cows per treatment were chosen for nutrient digestibility. The pH of the corn silage was not affected by the silage inoculant (P ≥ 0.29), but INC yielded greater concentration of acetic acid and longer aerobic stability (P < 0.01). Dairy cows fed INC had a lower mean total dry matter intake (DMI), milk protein content, and somatic cell counts vs. CON (P ≤ 0.02). On the other hand, milk and fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) production efficiency, milk urea-N, DM, crude protein, and starch digestibility were greater for INC-fed cows (P ≤ 0.03). Feeding direct-fed microbials (DFM) improved mean body weight, milk yield, and FPCM, as well as milk protein and lactose yield (P ≤ 0.05), but reduced milk fat and protein content (P = 0.02). A silage inoculant × DFM interaction was observed for milk production efficiency, milk protein and lactose content, and somatic cell count (P ≤ 0.05). Dairy cows fed INC-CON had a greater milk production efficiency and milk lactose content (P ≤ 0.04), but INC-PRO had lower milk protein content and SCC (P ≤ 0.03). In summary, inoculating L. lactis and L. buchneri increased acetic acid content and aerobic stability of corn silage, reduced DMI, but improved milk production efficiency and nutrient digestibility of lactating Holstein dairy cows. On the other hand, feeding PRO improved milk, protein, and lactose yield. Additionally, combining the feeding of an inoculated corn silage with PRO reduced milk somatic cell count.
Multiple Forms of Resistance to the Phomopsis Stem Canker Pathogens Diaporthe helianthi and D. gulyae in Sunflower
Authors: Underwood William , Misar Christopher G.
Published: January 2024

Phomopsis stem canker of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) can be caused by multiple necrotrophic fungi in the genus Diaporthe, with Diaporthe helianthi and D. gulyae being the most common causal agents in the United States. Infection begins at the leaf margins and proceeds primarily through the vasculature, progressing from the leaf through the petiole to the stem, resulting in formation of brown stem lesions centered around the petiole. Sunflower resistance to Phomopsis stem canker is quantitative and genetically complex. Due to the intricate disease process, resistance is possible at different stages of infection, and multiple forms of defense may contribute to the overall level of quantitative resistance. In this study, sunflower lines exhibiting field resistance to Phomopsis stem canker were evaluated for stem and leaf resistance to multiple isolates of D. helianthi and D. gulyae in greenhouse experiments, and responses to the two species were compared. Additionally, selected resistant and susceptible lines were evaluated for petiole transmission resistance to D. helianthi. Lines with distinct forms of resistance were identified, and results indicated that responses to stem inoculation were strongly correlated (Spearman’s coefficient 0.598, P < 0.001) for the two fungal species, while leaf responses were not (Spearman’s coefficient 0.396, P = 0.076). These results provide a basis for genetic dissection of distinct forms of sunflower resistance to Phomopsis stem canker and will facilitate combining different forms of resistance to potentially achieve durable control of this disease in sunflower hybrids.