bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge and practice of radiation safety in Brazilian equine veterinarians are less than optimal: An online survey
Authors: Granella Milena Carol Sbrussi , Souza Anderson Fernando de , Zoppa André Luís do Valle De
Published: October 2023

Exposure to ionizing radiation is an occupational risk for veterinarians due to the potential for carcinogenesis, reproductive disorders, cataracts, and hereditary genetic changes. This survey study aimed to identify the radiological protection practices routinely used by veterinarians who work with portable digital X‐ray equipment in horses in Brazil and assess their knowledge regarding current legislation. A total of 120 voluntary participation questionnaires were sent to veterinarians who used portable digital radiographic equipment in horses nationwide. The frequencies of the answers were analyzed using the chi‐square test and logistic regression models. Thirty‐five veterinarians responded (29% response rate). Of these, there was a greater participation of professionals in public institutions (40%, 14/35, p < .001), with 69% from the southeast region (24/35, p < .001) and 69% (24/35, p = .028) being male. We found that self‐employed veterinarians had a higher odds ratio (OR) (9.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.39–58.44]; p = .021) of not using personal protective equipment compared with those in professional public institutions. In addition, not knowing the current legislation Collegiate Directorate Resolution 611/22 was a potential risk factor for lower radiological protection (OR, 8.00; 95% CI, [0.79–81.33]; p = 0.079). In conclusion, findings indicated that Brazilian equine veterinarians generally do not adopt adequate radiological protection against ionizing radiation during radiographic examinations and have low knowledge of the current legislation. Results can be used as background for the formulation of specific radiation protection guidelines for veterinarians and incentive educational and training strategies to reduce risks inherent to occupational exposure.
A family of infinite degree tt‐rings
Authors: Gómez Juan Omar
Published: October 2023

We construct a family of infinite degree tt‐rings, giving a negative answer to an open question by P. Balmer.
Thrust Rebalance to Extend Engine Time On-Wing With Consideration of Engine Degradation and Creep Life Consumption
Authors: Chiavegatto Rafael , Li Yi-Guang
Published: October 2023

Over the years, airlines have consistently attempted to lower their operational costs and improve aircraft availability by applying various technologies. Engine maintenance expenses are one of the most substantial costs for aircraft operations, accounting for around 30% of overall aircraft operational costs. So, maximizing aircraft time between overhaul (TBO) is crucial to lowering the costs. The engine time on-wing is often limited due to the expiration of Life Limiting Parts, performance deterioration, etc. This paper presents a novel method of rebalancing the thrust of engines of an aircraft to maximize the time between overhaul of the aircraft considering the performance degradation and creep life consumption of the engines. The method is applied to a model aircraft fitted with two model engines similar to GE90-115B to test the feasibility of the method with one engine degraded and the other engine undergraded. The obtained results demonstrate that for the aircraft flying between London and Toronto with 5000 nominal flight cycles given to the engines, the time on-wing of the degraded engine could drop from 5000 to 2460 flight days due to its high-pressure (HP) turbine degradation (1% efficiency degradation and 3% flow capacity degradation), causing the same level of drop of time between overhaul of the aircraft. The time on-wing of the degraded engine could increase from 2460 flight days without thrust rebalance to 3410 flight days with thrust rebalance, i. e. around 38.6% potential improvement for the time between overhaul of the aircraft at the expenses of increased creep life consumption rate of the clean engine. The proposed method could be applied to other aircraft and engines.
A Numerical Test Rig for Turbomachinery Flows Based on Large Eddy Simulations With a High-Order Discontinuous Galerkin Scheme—Part II: Shock Capturing and Transonic Flows
Authors: Klose Bjoern F. , Morsbach Christian , Bergmann Michael , Hergt Alexander , Klinner Joachim , Grund Sebastian , Kügeler Edmund
Published: October 2023

In the second paper of this three-part series, we focus on the simulation of transonic test cases for turbomachinery applications using a high-order discontinuous Galerkin spectral element method (DGSEM). High-fidelity simulations of transonic compressors and turbines are particularly challenging, as they typically occur at high Reynolds numbers and require additional treatment to reliably capture the shock waves characterizing such flows. A recently developed finite-volume subcell shock capturing scheme tailored for the DGSEM is applied and evaluated with regard to the shock sensor. To this end, we conduct implicit large eddy simulations of a high-pressure turbine cascade from the public literature and a transonic compressor cascade measured at the German Aerospace Center, both at a high Reynolds number above 106. Based on the results, we examine modal-energy and flow-feature based shock indicator functions, compare the simulation data to experimental and numerical studies, and present an analysis of the unsteady features of the flows.
The Efficacy of Electromechanical Impedance Monitoring of Embedded Piezoelectric Ceramic Lead Zirconium Titanate Sensors in Different Orientations for Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Structures Hydration
Authors: Shivangi  , Singh Priyanka , Mohammed Bashar S.
Published: October 2023

In this study, the influence of the orientation of embedded piezoelectric ceramic lead zirconium titanate (PZT) on the mechanical performance of hybrid fiber-reinforced (polypropylene and glass fiber) concrete beams was evaluated. The performance of concrete was evaluated under self-weight, followed by assessing the mechanical property using the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique after optimization of M30 grade concrete with polypropylene fiber and glass fiber. PZT patches are embedded at different orientations, i.e., 0 deg, 45 deg, and 90 deg, with the axis of the structure for monitoring the hydration of the RC beam. The change in stiffness due to heat hydration in the concrete structure after 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days was observed by curing hybrid concrete beams and examining them after 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. On the fifth day, beams were simply supported and allowed to deflect under their weight, and measurements of heat hydration in terms of conductance at frequencies ranging between 1 and 1000 kHz were done. Similarly, days 7, 14, 21, and 28 were done. Day 5 was considered the baseline. It is noted that the PZT sensor placed at an angle of 45 deg is the least effective in recording the incremental changes in hydration that occurred in the concrete beam. The highest quality results were obtained at 90 deg, which is further demonstrated by statistically quantifying the changes using the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) percentage method and proves to be the most optimized orientation to obtain the stiffness of the hybrid reinforced beam in terms of conductance.
Using 1,8-cineole plasma with both pulsed and continuous depositions to modify commercially available wound dressing materials
Authors: Kayaian Mia-Rose , Hawker Morgan J.
Published: October 2023

The current clinical standards for infected chronic wounds are oral and topical antibiotics. These strategies are problematic because antibiotic resistance can occur with prolonged use. As an alternative to clinical methods, essential oils show promise in preventing bacterial growth. Specifically, 1,8-cineole—an active component in eucalyptus oil—exhibits antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Applying 1,8-cineole directly onto a wound is challenging, however, due to its volatile nature. To combat this issue, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been established as a method to deposit a stable 1,8-cineole-derived film on model surfaces (e.g., glass and electrospun polystyrene nanofibers). The current study represents an extension of previous work, where both pulsed and continuous 1,8-cineole plasmas were used to deposit a 1,8-cineole-derived film on two commercially available wound dressings. Three surface analyses were conducted to characterize the plasma-modified dressings. First, water contact angle goniometry data demonstrated a decrease in hydrofiber wettability after treatment. Through scanning electron spectroscopy, the surface morphology of both materials did not change upon treatment. When comparing pulsed and continuous treatments, deconvolution of high-resolution C1s x-ray photoelectron spectra showed no differences in functional group retention. Importantly, the chemical compositions of treated wound dressings were different compared to untreated materials. Overall, this work seeks to elucidate how different PECVD parameters affect the surface properties of wound dressings. Understanding these parameters represents a key step toward developing alternative chronic wound therapies.
Effects of hearing loss, age, noise exposure, and listening skills on envelope regularity discrimination
Authors: Füllgrabe Christian , Fontan Lionel , Vidal Élodie , Massari Hugo , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: October 2023

The envelope regularity discrimination (ERD) test assesses the ability to discriminate irregular from regular amplitude modulation (AM). The measured threshold is called the irregularity index (II). It was hypothesized that the II at threshold should be almost unaffected by the loudness recruitment that is associated with cochlear hearing loss because the effect of recruitment is similar to multiplying the AM depth by a certain factor, and II values depend on the amount of envelope irregularity relative to the baseline modulation depth. To test this hypothesis, the ERD test was administered to 60 older adults with varying degrees of hearing loss, using carrier frequencies of 1 and 4 kHz. The II values for the two carrier frequencies were highly correlated, indicating that the ERD test was measuring a consistent characteristic of each subject. The II values at 1 and 4 kHz were not significantly correlated with the audiometric thresholds at the corresponding frequencies, consistent with the hypothesis. The II values at 4 kHz were significantly positively correlated with age. There was an unexpected negative correlation between II values and a measure of noise exposure. This is argued to reflect the confounding effects of listening skills.
BCRP drives intrinsic chemoresistance in chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer brain metastasis
Authors: Uceda-Castro Rebeca , Margarido Andreia S. , Song Ji-Ying , de Gooijer Mark C. , Messal Hendrik A. , Chambers Cecilia R. , Nobis Max , Çitirikkaya Ceren H. , Hahn Kerstin , Seinstra Danielle , Herrmann David , Timpson Paul , Wesseling Pieter , van Tellingen Olaf , Vennin Claire , van Rheenen Jacco
Published: October 2023

Although initially successful, treatments with chemotherapy often fail because of the recurrence of chemoresistant metastases. Since these tumors develop after treatment, resistance is generally thought to occur in response to chemotherapy. However, alternative mechanisms of intrinsic chemoresistance in the chemotherapy-naïve setting may exist but remain poorly understood. Here, we study drug-naïve murine breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs) to identify how cancer cells growing in a secondary site can acquire intrinsic chemoresistance without cytotoxic agent exposure. We demonstrate that drug-naïve murine breast cancer cells that form cancer lesions in the brain undergo vascular mimicry and concomitantly express the adenosine 5′-triphosphate–binding cassette transporter breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a common marker of brain endothelial cells. We reveal that expression of BCRP by the BCBM tumor cells protects them against doxorubicin and topotecan. We conclude that BCRP overexpression can cause intrinsic chemoresistance in cancer cells growing in metastatic sites without prior chemotherapy exposure.
CD73 controls Myosin II–driven invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression in amoeboid pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Samain Remi , Maiques Oscar , Monger Joanne , Lam Hoyin , Candido Juliana , George Samantha , Ferrari Nicola , KohIhammer Leonie , Lunetto Sophia , Varela Adrian , Orgaz Jose L. , Vilardell Felip , Olsina Jorge Juan , Matias-Guiu Xavier , Sarker Debashis , Biddle Adrian , Balkwill Frances R. , Eyles Jim , Wilkinson Robert W. , Kocher Hemant M. , Calvo Fernando , Wells Claire M. , Sanz-Moreno Victoria
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a very poor prognosis because of its high propensity to metastasize and its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Using a panel of pancreatic cancer cell lines, three-dimensional (3D) invasion systems, microarray gene signatures, microfluidic devices, mouse models, and intravital imaging, we demonstrate that ROCK–Myosin II activity in PDAC cells supports a transcriptional program conferring amoeboid invasive and immunosuppressive traits and in vivo metastatic abilities. Moreover, we find that immune checkpoint CD73 is highly expressed in amoeboid PDAC cells and drives their invasive, metastatic, and immunomodulatory traits. Mechanistically, CD73 activates RhoA–ROCK–Myosin II downstream of PI3K. Tissue microarrays of human PDAC biopsies combined with bioinformatic analysis reveal that rounded-amoeboid invasive cells with high CD73–ROCK–Myosin II activity and their immunosuppressive microenvironment confer poor prognosis to patients. We propose targeting amoeboid PDAC cells as a therapeutic strategy.
Potential Lifshitz transition at optimal substitution in nematic pnictide Ba

1−
x

Sr

x

Ni
2
As
2
Authors: Narayan Dushyant M. , Hao Peipei , Kurleto Rafał , Berggren Bryan S. , Linn A. Garrison , Eckberg Christopher , Saraf Prathum , Collini John , Zavalij Peter , Hashimoto Makoto , Lu Donghui , Fernandes Rafael M. , Paglione Johnpierre , Dessau Daniel S.
Published: October 2023

BaNi
2
As
2
is a structural analog of the pnictide superconductor BaFe
2
As
2
, which, like the iron-based superconductors, hosts a variety of ordered phases including charge density waves (CDWs), electronic nematicity, and superconductivity. Upon isovalent Sr substitution on the Ba site, the charge and nematic orders are suppressed, followed by a sixfold enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature (

T
c

). To understand the mechanisms responsible for enhancement of

T
c

, we present high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements of the Ba

1−
x

Sr

x

Ni
2
As
2
series, which agree well with our density functional theory (DFT) calculations throughout the substitution range. Analysis of our ARPES-validated DFT results indicates a Lifshitz transition and reasonably nested electron and hole Fermi pockets near optimal substitution where

T
c

is maximum. These nested pockets host Ni

d
xz
/d
yz

orbital compositions, which we associate with the enhancement of nematic fluctuations, revealing unexpected connections to the iron-pnictide superconductors. This gives credence to a scenario in which nematic fluctuations drive an enhanced

T
c

.
Bending-activated biotensegrity structure enables female
Megarhyssa
to cross the barrier of Euler’s critical force
Authors: Wen Rongwei , Wang Zheng , Yi Juan , Hu Yong
Published: October 2023

The parasitic female
Megarhyssa
has a hair-like ovipositor capable of withstanding a penetration force 10 times greater than Euler’s critical force, using a reciprocating penetration method. Understanding and replicating this penetration mechanism may notably broaden the application scenarios of artificial slender elements. Here, we show that the
Megarhyssa
’s stretched intersegmental membrane and precurved abdomen activate the multipart ovipositor as a biotensegrity structure. The ovipositor’s first and second valvulae alternately retract and protract, with each retracted valvula forming a tension network to support the other under compression, resulting in an exponentially increased critical force. We validated this mechanism in a multipart flexible microneedle that withstood a penetration force of 2.5× Euler’s critical force and in a lightweight industrial robot that achieved intrinsic safety through its ideal dual-stiffness characteristic. This finding could potentially elucidate the high efficiency of insect probes and inspire more efficient and safer engineering designs.
An upper-crust lid over the Long Valley magma chamber
Authors: Biondi Ettore , Zhu Weiqiang , Li Jiaxuan , Williams Ethan F. , Zhan Zhongwen
Published: October 2023

Geophysical characterization of calderas is fundamental in assessing their potential for future catastrophic volcanic eruptions. The mechanism behind the unrest of Long Valley Caldera in California remains highly debated, with recent periods of uplift and seismicity driven either by the release of aqueous fluids from the magma chamber or by the intrusion of magma into the upper crust. We use distributed acoustic sensing data recorded along a 100-kilometer fiber-optic cable traversing the caldera to image its subsurface structure. Our images highlight a definite separation between the shallow hydrothermal system and the large magma chamber located at ~12-kilometer depth. The combination of the geological evidence with our results shows how fluids exsolved through second boiling provide the source of the observed uplift and seismicity.
A self-assembled implantable microtubular pacemaker for wireless cardiac electrotherapy
Authors: Wang Shaolei , Cui Qingyu , Abiri Parinaz , Roustaei Mehrdad , Zhu Enbo , Li Yan-Ruide , Wang Kaidong , Duarte Sandra , Yang Lili , Ebrahimi Ramin , Bersohn Malcolm , Chen Jun , Hsiai Tzung K.
Published: October 2023

The current cardiac pacemakers are battery dependent, and the pacing leads are prone to introduce valve damage and infection, plus a complete pacemaker retrieval is needed for battery replacement. Despite the reported wireless bioelectronics to pace the epicardium, open-chest surgery (thoracotomy) is required to implant the device, and the procedure is invasive, requiring prolonged wound healing and health care burden. We hereby demonstrate a fully biocompatible wireless microelectronics with a self-assembled design that can be rolled into a lightweight microtubular pacemaker for intravascular implantation and pacing. The radio frequency was used to transfer energy to the microtubular pacemaker for electrical stimulation. We show that this pacemaker provides effective pacing to restore cardiac contraction from a nonbeating heart and have the capacity to perform overdrive pacing to augment blood circulation in an anesthetized pig model. Thus, this microtubular pacemaker paves the way for the minimally invasive implantation of leadless and battery-free microelectronics.
Assistive robots would regret a robot uprising
Authors: Murphy Robin R.
Published: October 2023

Sea of Rust
projects a complex emotional relationship between assistive robots and humans.
Hydroxamate-based compounds are potent inhibitors of
Toxoplasma gondii
HDAC biological activity
Authors: Boissavy Tom , Rotili Dante , Mouveaux Thomas , Roger Emmanuel , Aliouat El Moukthar , Pierrot Christine , Valente Sergio , Mai Antonello , Gissot Mathieu
Published: October 2023

Toxoplasmosis is a critical health issue for immune-deficient individuals and the offspring of newly infected mothers. It is caused by a unicellular intracellular parasite called
Toxoplasma gondii
that is found worldwide. Although efficient drugs are commonly used to treat toxoplasmosis, serious adverse events are common. Therefore, new compounds with potent anti-
T
.
gondii
activity are needed to provide better suited treatments. We have tested compounds designed to target specifically histone deacetylase enzymes. Among the 55 compounds tested, we identified three compounds showing a concentration of drug required for 50% inhibition (IC
50
) in the low 100 nM range with a selectivity index of more than 100. These compounds are not only active at inhibiting the growth of the parasite
in vitro
but also at preventing some of the consequences of the acute disease
in vivo
. Two of these hydroxamate based compound also induce a hyper-acetylation of the parasite histones while the parasitic acetylated tubulin level remains unchanged. These findings suggest that the enzymes regulating histone acetylation are potent therapeutic targets for the treatment of acute toxoplasmosis.
Lifetime cumulative effect of reproductive factors on ischaemic heart disease in a prospective cohort
Authors: Hou Leying , Liu Wen , Sun Weidi , Cao Jin , Shan Shiyi , Feng Yan , Zhou Yimin , Yuan Changzheng , Li Xue , Song Peige
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aimed to examine the association between lifetime oestrogen exposure and ischaemic heart disease (IHD), based on the hypothesis that higher lifetime oestrogen exposure is linked to lower cardiovascular risk.

Methods

In 2004–2008, lifetime cumulative exposure to reproductive factors was assessed among postmenopausal females from the China Kadoorie Biobank using reproductive lifespan (RLS), endogenous oestrogen exposure (EEE) and total oestrogen exposure (TEE). EEE was calculated by subtracting pregnancy-related and contraceptive use duration from RLS, while TEE by adding up the same components except for lactation. Incident IHD during follow-up (2004–2015) was identified. Stratified Cox proportional hazards models estimated the HRs and 95% CIs of IHD for RLS, EEE and TEE.

Results

Among 118 855 postmenopausal females, 13 162 (11.1%) developed IHD during a median follow-up of 8.9 years. The IHD incidence rates were 13.0, 12.1, 12.5, 13.8 per 1000 person-years for RLS Q1–Q4, 15.8, 12.6, 11.3, 12.1 per 1000 person-years for EEE Q1–Q4 and 13.7, 12.3, 12.2, 13.4 per 1000 person-years for TEE Q1–Q4. The highest quartile (Q4) of RLS and TEE were associated with lower risks of IHD (adjusted HR (aHR) 0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.00 and 0.92, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.97, respectively) compared with the lowest quartile (Q1). Longer EEE showed progressively lower risks of incident IHD (aHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.97; 0.88, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.93; 0.87, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.92 for Q2–Q4 vs Q1).

Conclusions

Longer RLS, TEE and EEE were associated with lower risks of IHD among Chinese postmenopausal females.
Relationship between retinal microvascular impairment and subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE
Authors: Ferrigno Sara , Conigliaro Paola , Rizza Stefano , Longo Susanna , Nesi Carolina , Carlucci Federico , Bergamini Alberto , Mancino Raffaele , Nucci Carlo , Federici Massimo , Chimenti Maria Sole , Cesareo Massimo
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Patients with SLE have higher cardiovascular (CV) risk compared with healthy controls (HC) and are characterised by accelerated atherosclerosis; intima media thickness (IMT), marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, is higher in patients with SLE than in HCs. Retinal microvascular impairment detected through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was investigated as a marker of systemic vascular involvement in SLE.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between retinal vascular impairment and IMT in SLE.

Methods

Cross-sectional study recruiting patients with SLE and HCs. Data of the study population were collected. CV risk was evaluated through the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, Framingham and QRESEARCH risk estimator V.3 (QRISK3) scores. Both groups underwent OCTA and carotid ultrasound with IMT assessment.

Statistical analysis was accomplished using Pearson/Spearman, t-test/Mann-Whitney or χ2test. Variables statistically significant at univariate regression analysis were tested in an age-corrected and sex-corrected multivariate regression model.

Results

43 patients with SLE and 34 HCs were recruited. Patients with SLE showed higher triglycerides (p=0.019), Triglycerides-Glucose (TyG) Index (p=0.035), ACC/AHA guidelines (p=0.001), Framingham Risk Scores (p=0.008) and a reduced superficial (p<0.001) and deep (p=0.005) whole retinal vessel density (VD) compared with HCs.

In SLE univariate analysis, deep whole VD showed a negative correlation with IMT (p=0.027), age (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.011), QRISK3 Score (p<0.001), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (p=0.006) and apolipoprotein B (p=0.021), while a positive correlation was found with female sex (p=0.029). Age-adjusted and sex-adjusted multivariate analysis confirmed QRISK3 Score (p=0.049) and IMT (p=0.039) to be independent risk factors for reduced retinal VD.

Conclusions

Patients with SLE showed lower retinal VD and higher CV risk indicators compared with HCs. Among patients with SLE, QRISK3 Score and IMT were found to be independent risk factors for retinal vascular impairment, suggesting a role of OCTA in evaluating preclinical CV involvement in SLE. Moreover, TyG Index could represent a biomarker of CV risk in patients with SLE compared with HCs.
Combined effect of ozone and household air pollution on COPD in people aged less than 50 years old
Authors: Xing Zhenzhen , Yang Ting , Shi Su , Meng Xia , Chai Di , Liu WeiMing , Tong Yaqi , Wang Yuxia , Ma Yali , Pan MingMing , Cui Jia , Long Huanyu , Sun Tieying , Chen Renjie , Guo YanFei
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Air pollution has been suggested as an important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, evidence of interactive effects on COPD between different factors was sparse, especially for young adults. We aimed to assess the combined effects of ambient ozone (O3) and household air pollution on COPD in young individuals.

Methods

We conducted a population-based study of residents aged 15–50 years in the low-income and middle-income regions of western China. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between long-term ozone exposure and COPD in young individuals.

Results

A total of 6537 young cases were identified among the participants, with a COPD prevalence rate of 7.8 (95% CI 7.2% to 8.5%), and most young COPD individuals were asymptomatic. Exposure to household air pollution was associated with COPD in young patients after adjustment for other confounding factors (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.37). We also found positive associations of COPD with O3per IQR increase of 20 ppb (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.59 to 2.32). The individual effects of household air pollution and O3were 1.68 (95% CI 1.18 to 2.46) and 1.55 (95% CI 0.99 to 2.43), respectively, while their joint effect was 3.28 (95% CI 2.35 to 4.69) with the relative excess risk due to interaction of 1.05 (95% CI 0.33 to 1.78).

Conclusions

This study concludes that exposure to ambient O3and household air pollution might be important risk factors for COPD among young adults, and simultaneous exposure to high levels of the two pollutants may intensify their individual effects.
Spatially varying effects of the California Undercurrent on Pacific hake distribution
Authors: Malick Michael J. , Hunsicker Mary E. , Haltuch Melissa A. , Parker-Stetter Sandra L. , Marshall Kristin N. , Pohl John E. , Berger Aaron M. , Siedlecki Samantha A. , Gauthier Stéphane , Hermann Albert J.
Published: October 2023

In the California Current Ecosystem, the California Undercurrent (CU) is the predominate subsurface current that transports nutrient-rich water from southern California poleward. In this study, we used a large dataset of spatially explicit in situ observations of Pacific hake ( Merluccius productus) and the CU (36.5–48.3°N) to estimate relationships between northward undercurrent velocity and hake distribution and determine whether these relationships vary across space or life-history stage. We found that both hake occurrence and density had strong spatially complex relationships with the CU. In areas north of 44°N (central Oregon), the CU effect was spatially consistent and opposite for occurrence (negative) and density (positive), indicating that hake may aggregate in areas of high northward velocity in this region. In areas south of 44°N, the CU effect showed a cross-shelf gradient for both occurrence and density, indicating a more nearshore hake distribution when northward velocity is higher in this region. Together, our results suggest that future changes in the CU due to climate change are likely to impact hake differently in northern and southern areas.
Unveiling the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Hedera helix leaf extracts: recent findings
Authors: Qabaha Khaled , Abbadi Jehad , Yaghmour Reem , Hijawi Thameen , Naser Saleh A. , Al-Rimawi Fuad
Published: October 2023

Hedera helix L., a member of the Araliaceae family, is a commonly known decorative plant with recognized medicinal activities. In this study, the ethanolic extract from H. helix leaves was investigated for its total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The aim was to evaluate its potential for controlling certain infections by screening its antibacterial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were determined using colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity was assessed through two assay methods: the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and the reducing power ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). The antibacterial activity against different pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was evaluated using the well diffusion method. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the H. helix extract were found to be 134.3 ± 4.9 mg gallic acid/g and 42.4 ± 3.6 mg catechin/g, respectively. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity, with a reducing power represented by an FRAP value of 9.5 ± 0.9 mmol Fe+2/g DW and a percentage inhibition of DPPH of 64.7 ± 3.8 at 80 µg/mL. The extract demonstrated antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of K. pneumoniae and S. aureus with zone of inhibition values of 18.5 and 23.2 mm, respectively, using 25 mg/well. However, E. coli and P. aeruginosa exhibited resistance to the extract. The findings of this study highlight the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extract from H. helix leaves. The extract exhibited significant phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity. It also demonstrated antibacterial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria, suggesting its potential for controlling certain infections. Further research is warranted to identify the active compounds responsible for these activities and to explore their mechanisms of action.
Spontaneous CP violation and $$\mu -\tau $$ symmetry in two-Higgs-doublet models with flavour conservation
Authors: Alves João M. , Botella Francisco J. , Miró Carlos , Nebot Miguel
Published: October 2023

In multi-Higgs-doublet models, requiring simultaneously that (i) CP violation only arises spontaneously, (ii) tree level scalar flavour changing couplings are absent and (iii) the fermion mixing matrix is CP violating, can only be achieved in a very specific manner. A general approach with new clarifying insights on the question is presented. Considering the quark sector, that peculiar possibility is not viable on phenomenological grounds. We show that, considering the lepton sector, it is highly interesting and leads to viable models with$$\mu -\tau $$μ-τsymmetric PMNS matrices. Phenomenological implications of the models, both for Dirac and Majorana (in a type I seesaw scenario) neutrinos, are analysed.
Destroying the event horizon of a rotating black-bounce black hole
Authors: Zhao Lai , Xu Zhaoyi
Published: October 2023

For a rotating black hole to be nonsingular, it means that there are no spacetime singularities at its center. The destruction of the event horizon of such a rotating black hole is not constrained by the weak cosmic censorship conjecture, which may provide possibilities to understand the internal structure of black hole event horizons. In this paper, we employ test particles with large angular momentum and a scalar field with large angular momentum to investigate the potential of destroying the event horizon of rotating black-bounce black holes. Additionally, we investigate the possibility of destroying the event horizon of a rotating black-bounce black hole by considering test particles with large angular momentum and scalar fields with large angular momentum, covering the entire range of the rotating black-bounce black hole. We analyze the influence of the parameter m on the possibility of destroying the event horizon in this spacetime. Our analysis reveals that under extreme or near-extreme conditions, the event horizon of this spacetime can potentially be destroyed after the absorption of particles energy and angular momentum, as well as the scattering of scalar fields. Additionally, we find that as the parameter m increases, the event horizon of this spacetime model becomes more susceptible to destruction after the injection of test particles or the scattering of scalar fields.
Analyticity and hp discontinuous Galerkin approximation of nonlinear Schrödinger eigenproblems
Authors: Maday Yvon , Marcati Carlo
Published: October 2023

We study a class of nonlinear eigenvalue problems of Schrödinger type, where the potential is singular on a set of points. Such problems are widely present in physics and chemistry, and their analysis is of both theoretical and practical interest. In particular, we study the regularity of the eigenfunctions of the operators considered, and we propose and analyze the approximation of the solution via an isotropically refined [Formula: see text] discontinuous Galerkin (dG) method. We show that, for weighted analytic potentials and for up-to-quartic polynomial nonlinearities, the eigenfunctions belong to analytic-type non-homogeneous weighted Sobolev spaces. We also prove quasi optimal a priori estimates on the error of the dG finite element method; when using an isotropically refined [Formula: see text] space, the numerical solution is shown to converge with exponential rate towards the exact eigenfunction. We conclude with a series of numerical tests to validate the theoretical results.
THE SYNERGIC INTERPLAY BETWEEN ENTROPY, PREDICTABILITY, AND INFORMATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE SHANGHAI SECTORAL INDEX
Authors: FERNANDES LEONARDO H. S. , DE ARAUJO FERNANDO H. A. , SILVA JOSÉ W. L. , FILHO MARCO C. M. , TABAK BENJAMIN M.
Published: October 2023

We explore the synergic interplay between entropy (disorder), predictability, and informational efficiency of the daily closing price time series of 13 sectoral economics components of the Shanghai index letter considering three non-overlapping periods (before and during COVID-19 and Russia–Ukraine war). Our findings reveal that the telecom services, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors are marked by higher informational efficiency. Otherwise, the industrials, utilities, and transportation sectors exhibit lower informational efficiency. These insights are relevant for financial agents to make informed decisions, manage risk, and seek opportunities in an ever-changing market environment.
A New Minimax Theorem for Randomized Algorithms
Authors: Ben-David Shalev , Blais Eric
Published: October 2023

The celebrated minimax principle of Yao says that for any Boolean-valued function
f
with finite domain, there is a distribution μ over the domain of
f
such that computing
f
to error ε against inputs from μ is just as hard as computing
f
to error ε on worst-case inputs. Notably, however, the distribution μ depends on the target error level ε: the hard distribution which is tight for bounded error might be trivial to solve to small bias, and the hard distribution which is tight for a small bias level might be far from tight for bounded error levels.

In this work, we introduce a new type of minimax theorem which can provide a hard distribution μ that works for all bias levels at once. We show that this works for randomized query complexity, randomized communication complexity, some randomized circuit models, quantum query and communication complexities, approximate polynomial degree, and approximate logrank. We also prove an improved version of Impagliazzo’s hardcore lemma.

Our proofs rely on two innovations over the classical approach of using Von Neumann’s minimax theorem or linear programming duality. First, we use Sion’s minimax theorem to prove a minimax theorem for ratios of bilinear functions representing the cost and score of algorithms.

Second, we introduce a new way to analyze low-bias randomized algorithms by viewing them as “forecasting algorithms” evaluated by a certain proper scoring rule. The expected score of the forecasting version of a randomized algorithm appears to be a more fine-grained way of analyzing the bias of the algorithm. We show that such expected scores have many elegant mathematical properties—for example, they can be amplified linearly instead of quadratically. We anticipate forecasting algorithms will find use in future work in which a fine-grained analysis of small-bias algorithms is required.
Measuring and Mitigating Gender Bias in Legal Contextualized Language Models
Authors: Bozdag Mustafa , Sevim Nurullah , Koç Aykut
Published: October 2023

Transformer-based contextualized language models constitute the state-of-the-art in several natural language processing (NLP) tasks and applications. Despite their utility, contextualized models can contain human-like social biases, as their training corpora generally consist of human-generated text. Evaluating and removing social biases in NLP models has been a major research endeavor. In parallel, NLP approaches in the legal domain, namely, legal NLP or computational law, have also been increasing. Eliminating unwanted bias in legal NLP is crucial, since the law has the utmost importance and effect on people. In this work, we focus on the gender bias encoded in BERT-based models. We propose a new template-based bias measurement method with a new bias evaluation corpus using crime words from the FBI database. This method quantifies the gender bias present in BERT-based models for legal applications. Furthermore, we propose a new fine-tuning-based debiasing method using the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) corpus to debias legal pre-trained models. We test the debiased models’ language understanding performance on the LexGLUE benchmark to confirm that the underlying semantic vector space is not perturbed during the debiasing process. Finally, we propose a bias penalty for the performance scores to emphasize the effect of gender bias on model performance.
Engineering the Surface Chemistry of Graphite and Graphene by Covalently Anchored Triazole Derivative
Authors: Trung Huynh Thi Mien , Nguyen Tan Lam , Phan Thanh Hai
Published: October 2023

Robust engineering the surface properties of layered materials is assigned as one of essential strategies for permanently improving their overall physicochemical behaviors towards high-end technology applications. In this regard, covalent functionalization of graphitic surfaces including graphene is performed upon electrografting of 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) diazonium (4-TYD). The efficiency of this approach is determined by a state-of-the-art toolbox including cyclic voltammetry (CV), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and Raman spectroscopy. The degree of the covalent functionalization is dependent on the molecular concentration of 4-TYD, in which the full monolayer is obtained upon electrografting with a 1 mM 4-TYD containing solution. The electrografted layer could be removed by thermal annealing leaving the pristine graphitic surfaces behind. This finding provides an efficient approach for robustly anchoring bioactive compounds onto graphene and other 2D materials in a controlled manner towards high-end technology applications.
Electrochemical Sensor Based on N–Doped Carbon Nanodots Derived from the Agro-Waste Cotton Boll Peel Extracts for Nano Molar Determination of an Anti-Cancer Drug, Pemetrexed
Authors: Mathad Ayyapayya S. , Teradal Nagappa L. , Seetharamappa J.
Published: October 2023

A green and facile one-step synthetic route was proposed for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-CDs) from agro-waste cotton boll peel extract as a natural carbon source and glycine as a nitrogen source. The prepared N-CDs were utilized further in the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor for the nanomolar determination of an anti-cancer drug, pemetrexed (PMT). The electrode material was characterized by XRD, FTIR, TEM, Raman, EDX, UV–vis, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies. The N-CDs drop-casted on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) served as a good sensing material and exhibited electrocatalytic activity as evident from ∼20-fold enhancement in the oxidation peak current of PMT at N-CDs/GCE with 130 mV lesser positive oxidation peak potential than that at bare GCE. This was attributed to excellent conductivity, higher electroactive surface area, graphitic cores of N-CDs besides the interactions between PMT and N-CDs via hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking. The sensing performance of the demonstrated electrode was optimized by varying the peak current dependant parameters and also by investigating the influence of interfering substances in the determination of PMT. The electrochemical behaviour of PMT at different pH revealed the adsorption controlled electrode process with the involvement of protons. Under optimized conditions, differential pulse voltammetric (DPV), square wave voltammetric (SWV) and adsorptive differential pulse voltammetric (AdSDPV) methods were developed for sensitive determination of PMT at nano molar level. Further, these developed analytical methods were applied successfully for the determination of PMT in analyte fortified human urine samples and pharmaceutical formulations.
Structural Phase Transition of Mo2C for Enhancing Electrochemical Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Yin Hang , Ji Xiaotong , Zhang Chongchao , Bai Xiao , Yang Ziyin , Liu Zhe
Published: October 2023

Regulating the electrocatalytic activity of metal carbides is the key to achieving highly sensitive electrochemical sensing. Molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) nanoparticles were anchored on the surface of nitrogen doped carbon nanomaterials (NC) through polymerization and calcination. By adjusting the calcination conditions, the crystal phase structure of Mo2C nanoparticles was successfully regulated, and two kinds of Mo2C nanoparticles with different crystal phase structure were obtained. The effect of the crystal structure of Mo2C on the electrocatalytic reduction of H2O2 was investigated. The results show that Mo2C with the hexagonal structure (H-Mo2C) has higher electrocatalytic activity for H2O2 reduction reaction, and the sensor based on H-Mo2C/NC could detect H2O2 in a wide linear range from 0.02 mM to 7.1 mM with a high sensitivity of 282.9 μA·mM−1·cm−2 and a low detection limit of 0.45 μM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the sensor can also accurately determine the content of H2O2 in disinfectant and milk samples. This study demonstrated Mo2C with the hexagonal structure as an effective sensing material for H2O2.
An Extensible Gradient-Based Optimization Method for Parameter Identification in Power Distribution Network
Authors: Wang Chuanjun , Fei Kehao , Xu Xinle , Chen Haoran , Hu Ke , Xu Shihe , Ma Jiayang
Published: October 2023

Accurate parameter identification of power distribution network (PDN) has attracted remarkable attention recently. However, power device parameters usually show an instability attributed to both the operating status and manual entry. Therefore, it is urgent to develop reliable algorithms for identifying PDN parameters with both high accuracy and high efficiency. Most of the existing algorithms are gradient-free and based on the heuristic schemes, resulting in an unstable numerical calculation. Herein, based on our previous work about the adaptive gradient-based optimization (AGBO) method, we propose an extensive version, namely, AGBO-Pro model. In this method, both the numerical and categorical features of experimental observations are utilized and incorporated with each via a weighted average. By comparing the proposed method with several heuristic algorithms, it is found that the errors in RMSE, MAE, and MAPE criteria via AGBO-Pro are all about 2 times lower with a much faster and more stable convergence of the loss function. By further taking a linear transformation of the loss function, the AGBO-Pro model achieves a more robust performance with a much lower variance in repeat numerical calculations. This work shows great potential in possible extension of gradient-based optimization methods for parameter identification in PDN.
Genomic and Virulence Investigations of a Novel Porcine Deltacoronavirus Strain Identified in South Korea
Authors: Lee Duri , Shin Sangjune , Jang Guehwan , Gim Yunhee , Son Hyun-Kyoung , Kang Sang Chul , Eo Yongjoon , Chae Young-Gook , Koh Phil-Ok , Lee Hu-Jang , Lee Changhee
Published: October 2023

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) has emerged as a significant issue in multiple pork-producing countries. This study isolated a novel PDCoV strain, GNU-2105/KOR/2021, which caused a severe diarrhea outbreak with a high mortality rate among neonatal piglets in South Korea. The growth properties and sialic acid dependency of the GNU-2105 strain in cell culture were comparable to those of the 2016 domestic isolate, KNU-1607. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis using the complete genome of GNU-2105 identified in 2021 demonstrated that this novel strain belongs to the US/South Korean/Japanese clade; however, it is more closely placed around the Chinese isolates. To investigate the potential pathogenic diversity between the previous and recent PDCoVs, we performed an experimental infection using conventional suckling piglets with KNU-1607 or GNU-2105. The KNU-1607-inoculated piglets suffered from acute, watery diarrhea; however, all piglets recovered and survived. In the KNU-1607-inoculated group, histopathological observation detected viral antigens in the jejunum and ileum. However, the virulence of the GNU-2105 virus was enhanced and presented severe clinical symptoms, including thin, transparent intestinal walls, with 100% mortality in piglets. Furthermore, viruses and severe villous atrophy were observed from the duodenum to the colon in all the piglets inoculated with GNU-2105 by quantitative RT-PCR and microscopic assessments, confirming the high enteropathogenicity of PDCoV in neonatal piglets. These findings could expand our understanding of the genetic and pathogenic variation of the PDCoV strain and highlight the necessity of vaccine development providing protection against virulent PDCoV.