bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative analysis of hepatic transcriptional profiles reveals genetic regulation of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic Diversity Outbred-F1 mice
Authors: Kim Myungsuk , Huda M. Nazmul , Evans Levi W. , Que Excel , Gertz Erik R. , Maeda-Smithies Nobuyo , Bennett Brian J.
Published: June 2023

Atherogenesis is an insipidus but precipitating process leading to serious consequences of many cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Numerous genetic loci contributing to atherosclerosis have been identified in human genome-wide association studies, but these studies have limitations in the ability to control environmental factors and to decipher cause/effect relationships. To assess the power of hyperlipidemic Diversity Outbred (DO) mice in facilitating quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of complex traits, we generated a high-resolution genetic panel of atherosclerosis susceptible (DO-F1) mouse cohort by crossing 200 DO females with C57BL/6J males carrying two human genes: encoding apolipoprotein E3-Leiden and cholesterol ester transfer protein. We examined atherosclerotic traits including plasma lipids and glucose in the 235 female and 226 male progeny before and after 16 weeks of a high-fat/cholesterol diet, and aortic plaque size at 24 weeks. We also assessed the liver transcriptome using RNA-sequencing. Our QTL mapping for atherosclerotic traits identified one previously reported female-specific QTL on Chr10 with a narrower interval of 22.73 to 30.80 Mb, and one novel male-specific QTL at 31.89 to 40.25 Mb on Chr19. Liver transcription levels of several genes within each QTL were highly correlated with the atherogenic traits. A majority of these candidates have already known atherogenic potential in humans and/or mice, but integrative QTL, eQTL, and correlation analyses further pointedPtprkas a major candidate of the Chr10 QTL, whilePtenandCyp2c67of the Chr19 QTL in our DO-F1 cohort. Finally, through additional analyses of RNA-seq data we identified genetic regulation of hepatic transcription factors, includingNr1h3,contributes to atherogenesis in this cohort. Thus, an integrative approach using DO-F1 mice effectively validates the influence of genetic factors on atherosclerosis in DO mice and suggests an opportunity to discover therapeutics in the setting of hyperlipidemia.
Determination of ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and methanol in alcohol-based hand sanitiser to ensure product quality, safety and efficacy
Authors: Nisbar Nur Dayana , Jamal Khair Sara Khalida , Bujang Nur Baizura , Mohd Yusop Ahmad Yusri
Published: June 2023

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is an unprecedented global pandemic, sparking grave public health emergencies. One of the measures to reduce COVID-19 transmissions recommended by the World Health Organization is hand hygiene, i.e., washing hands with soap and water or disinfecting them using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (ABHS). Unfortunately, competing ABHSs with unknown quality, safety, and efficacy thrived, posing yet another risk to consumers. This study aims to develop, optimise, and validate a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based analytical method to simultaneously identify and quantify ethanol or isopropyl alcohol as the active ingredient in ABHS, with simultaneous determination of methanol as an impurity. The GC–MS was operated in Electron Ionisation mode, and Selected Ion Monitoring was chosen as the data acquisition method for quantitation. The analytical method was validated for liquid and gel ABHSs, covering the specificity, linearity and range, accuracy, and precisions, including the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation. The specificity of each target analyte was established using the optimised chromatographic separation with unique quantifier and qualifier ions. The linearity was ascertained with a coefficient of determination (r2) of > 0.9994 over the corresponding specification range. Respectively, the accuracy and precisions were satisfactory within 98.99 to 101.09% and < 3.04% of the relative standard deviation. The method was successfully applied to 69 ABHS samples, where 14 contained insufficient amounts of the active ingredient. Alarmingly, four samples comprised a high amount of methanol ranging from 5.3 to 19.4% with respect to the active alcohol percentage, which may pose significant short- and long-term health issues, leading to life-threatening crises for consumers. The method established would benefit in protecting the public against the potential harm due to substandard or unsafe ABHS products, primarily due to the presence of hazardous impurities such as methanol.
Drivers of sex differences in the South African adult tuberculosis incidence and mortality trends, 1990–2019
Authors: Kubjane Mmamapudi , Cornell Morna , Osman Muhammad , Boulle Andrew , Johnson Leigh F.
Published: June 2023

Males have higher tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates than females. This study aimed to assess how sex differences in tuberculosis incidence and mortality could be explained by sex differences in HIV, antiretroviral treatment (ART) uptake, smoking, alcohol abuse, undernutrition, diabetes, social contact rates, health-seeking patterns, and treatment discontinuation. We developed an age-sex-stratified dynamic tuberculosis transmission model and calibrated it to South African data. We estimated male-to-female (M:F) tuberculosis incidence and mortality ratios, the effect of the abovementioned factors on the M:F ratios and PAFs for the tuberculosis risk factors. Over the period 1990–2019, the M:F ratios for tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates persisted above 1.0, and the figures reached 1.70 and 1.65, respectively, by the end of 2019. In 2019, HIV contributed greater increases in tuberculosis incidence among females than males (54.5% vs. 45.6%); however, females experienced more reductions due to ART than males (38.3% vs. 17.5%). PAFs for tuberculosis incidence due to alcohol abuse, smoking, and undernutrition, in men were 51.4%, 29.5%, and 16.1%, respectively, higher than females (30.1%, 15.4%, and 10.7%, respectively); the PAF due to diabetes was higher in females than males (22.9% vs. 17.5%). Lower health-seeking rates in males accounted for a 7% higher mortality rate in men. The higher burden of tuberculosis in men highlights the need to improve men’s access to routine screening and ensure earlier diagnosis. Sustained efforts in providing ART remain critical in reducing HIV-associated tuberculosis. Additional interventions to reduce alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking are also needed.
Enhancing durability and sustainable preservation of Egyptian stone monuments using metabolites produced by Streptomyces exfoliatus
Authors: Abd-Elhalim Basma T. , Hemdan Bahaa A. , El-Sayed Salwa M. , Ahmed Mahgoub A. , Maan Sodaf A. , Abu-Hussien Samah H.
Published: June 2023

Despite their threatens for Egyptian stone monuments, A few studies focused on using biocontrol agents against deteriorative fungi and bacteria instead of using chemical assays that leave residuals leading to human toxicity and environmental pollution. This work aims to isolate and identify fungal and bacterial isolates that showed deteriorative activities from stone monuments in Temple of Hathor, Luxor, Egypt, as well as determine the inhibitory activity of metabolites produced by Streptomyces exfoliatus SAMAH 2021 against the identified deteriorative fungal and bacterial strains. Moreover, studying the spectral analysis, toxicological assessment of metabolites produced by S. exfoliatus SAMAH 2021 against health human cell fibroblast, and colorimetric measurements on the selected stone monuments. Ten samples were collected from Temple of Hathor, Luxor, Egypt. Three fungal isolates and one bacterial isolate were obtained and identified as A. niger isolate Hathor 2, C. fioriniae strain Hathor 3, P. chrysogenum strain HATHOR 1, and L. sphaericus strain Hathor 4, respectively. Inhibitory potential of the metabolites in all concentrations used (100–25%) against the recommended antibiotics (Tetracycline 10 µg/ml and Doxycycline (30 µg/ml) showed an inhibitory effect toward all tested deteriorative pathogens with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 25%. Cytotoxicity test confirmed that microbial filtrate as the antimicrobial agent was safe for healthy human skin fibroblast with IC50 of < 100% and cell viability of 97%. Gas chromatography analysis recorded the existence of thirteen antimicrobial agents, Cis-vaccenic acid; 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid; ç-Butyl-ç-butyrolactone and other compounds. Colorimetric measurements confirmed no color or surface change for the limestone-treated pieces. The use of the metabolite of microbial species antimicrobial as a biocontrol agent raises contemporary issues concerning the bio-protection of the Egyptian monuments to reduce chemical formulas that are toxic to humans and pollute the environment. Such serious problems need further investigation for all kinds of monuments.
Paleoamerican exploitation of extinct megafauna revealed through immunological blood residue and microwear analysis, North and South Carolina, USA
Authors: Moore Christopher R. , Kimball Larry R. , Goodyear Albert C. , Brooks Mark J. , Daniel I. Randolph , West Allen , Taylor Sean G. , Weber Kiersten J. , Fagan John L. , Walker Cam M.
Published: June 2023

Previous immunological studies in the eastern USA have failed to establish a direct connection between Paleoamericans and extinct megafauna species. The lack of physical evidence for the presence of extinct megafauna begs the question, did early Paleoamericans regularly hunt or scavenge these animals, or were some megafauna already extinct? In this study of 120 Paleoamerican stone tools from across North and South Carolina, we investigate this question using crossover immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). We find immunological support for the exploitation of extant and extinct megafauna, including Proboscidea, Equidae, and Bovidae (possibly Bison antiquus), on Clovis points and scrapers, as well as possible early Paleoamerican Haw River points. Post-Clovis points tested positive for Equidae and Bovidae but not Proboscidea. Microwear results are consistent with projectile usage, butchery, fresh- and dry hide scraping, the use of ochre-coated dry hides for hafting, and dry hide sheath wear. This study represents the first direct evidence of the exploitation of extinct megafauna by Clovis and other Paleoamerican cultures in the Carolinas and more broadly, across the eastern United States, where there is generally poor to non-existent faunal preservation. Future CIEP analysis of stone tools may provide evidence on the timing and demography of megafaunal collapse leading to eventual extinction.
Possible seasonal and diurnal modulation of Gammarus pulex (Crustacea, Amphipoda) drift by microsporidian parasites
Authors: Prati Sebastian , Enß Julian , Grabner Daniel S. , Huesken Annabell , Feld Christian K. , Doliwa Annemie , Sures Bernd
Published: June 2023

In lotic freshwater ecosystems, the drift or downstream movement of animals (e.g., macroinvertebrates) constitutes a key dispersal pathway, thus shaping ecological and evolutionary patterns. There is evidence that macroinvertebrate drift may be modulated by parasites. However, most studies on parasite modulation of host drifting behavior have focused on acanthocephalans, whereas other parasites, such as microsporidians, have been largely neglected. This study provides new insight into possible seasonal and diurnal modulation of amphipod (Crustacea: Gammaridae) drift by microsporidian parasites. Three 72 h drift experiments were deployed in a German lowland stream in October 2021, April, and July 2022. The prevalence and composition of ten microsporidian parasites inGammarus pulexclade E varied seasonally, diurnally, and between drifting and stationary specimens ofG. pulex. Prevalence was generally higher in drifting amphipods than in stationary ones, mainly due to differences in host size. However, for two parasites, the prevalence in drift samples was highest during daytime suggesting changes in host phototaxis likely related to the parasite’s mode of transmission and site of infection. Alterations in drifting behavior may have important implications forG. pulexpopulation dynamics and microsporidians’ dispersal. The underlying mechanisms are more complex than previously thought.
The interactive effects of extreme temperatures and PM2.5 pollution on mortalities in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Zhou Lian , Wang Yuning , Wang Qingqing , Ding Zhen , Jin Hui , Zhang Ting , Zhu Baoli
Published: June 2023

Exposure to extreme temperatures or fine particles is associated with adverse health outcomes but their interactive effects remain unclear. We aimed to explore the interactions of extreme temperatures and PM2.5 pollution on mortalities. Based on the daily mortality data collected during 2015–2019 in Jiangsu Province, China, we conducted generalized linear models with distributed lag non-linear model to estimate the regional-level effects of cold/hot extremes and PM2.5 pollution. The relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was evaluated to represent the interaction. The relative risks (RRs) and cumulative relative risks (CRRs) of total and cause-specific mortalities associated with hot extremes were significantly stronger (p < 0.05) than those related to cold extremes across Jiangsu. We identified significantly higher interactions between hot extremes and PM2.5 pollution, with the RERI range of 0.00–1.15. The interactions peaked on ischaemic heart disease (RERI = 1.13 [95%CI: 0.85, 1.41]) in middle Jiangsu. For respiratory mortality, RERIs were higher in females and the less educated. The interaction pattern remained consistent when defining the extremes/pollution with different thresholds. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the interactions between extreme temperatures and PM2.5 pollution on total and cause-specific mortalities. The projected interactions call for public health actions to face the twin challenges, especially the co-appearance of hot extremes and PM pollution.
Mechanical characteristics analysis and control algorithm for floating raft system with mass variation
Authors: Shi Liang , Cheng Guanghui , Bu Wenjun
Published: June 2023

The ship floating raft system adopts the integrated design of large liquid tanks and rafts, which can optimize the arrangement in the cabin and increase the intermediate mass of the system to achieve efficient vibration isolation of equipment. One of the major challenges is that the change of liquid mass in the tank will cause displacement of the raft, which will change the modal characteristics of the system and affect the stability of the vibration isolation system performance. This paper establishes a mechanical analysis model of a floating raft system under time-varying liquid mass conditions. Taking a ship variable mass floating raft system as the research object, the effect of mass change on the characteristics of raft displacement, isolator load distribution, and modal frequency of the vibration isolation system is analyzed. The analysis shows that when the liquid tank goes from full load to no-load state, its mass change accounts for 40% of the total mass of the raft, which will cause a large displacement of the raft and change the low order modal frequency of the system, bringing the risk of equipment safety and vibration isolation performance degradation. Therefore, an adaptive variable load control method is proposed to realize the raft attitude balance and load equalization optimization under the variable mass condition of the floating raft air spring system. The test results show that the proposed control method can automatically adapt to the large mass gradual change from full load to no load of the liquid tank on the raft, and control the displacement of the raft structure from about 10 mm to 1.5 mm, which effectively ensures the stability of the air spring system performance.
Enhancing heat transfer in solar-powered ships: a study on hybrid nanofluids with carbon nanotubes and their application in parabolic trough solar collectors with electromagnetic controls
Authors: Obalalu A. M. , Memon M. Asif , Olayemi O. A. , Olilima J. , Fenta Amsalu
Published: June 2023

The aim of this research is to explore the use of solar-powered ships (SPS) as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependency in the maritime industry. The study focuses on improving the heat transfer efficiency in SPS by employing hybrid nanofluids (HNF) containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Additionally, a novel approach utilizing renewable energy and electromagnetic control is proposed to enhance the performance of SPS. The research implements the non-Newtonian Maxwell type and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model in parabolic trough solar collectors used for ships. The study conducts theoretical experiments and simulations to evaluate the thermal conductivity and viscosity of the CNT-based HNF. Various properties, including solar thermal radiation, viscous dissipation, slippery velocity, and porous media, are assessed to determine the effectiveness of thermal transport in SPS. The research employs similarity variables to simplify the complex partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations and solves them using the Chebyshev collocation spectral method. The results indicate that the MWCNT-SWCNT/EO hybrid nanofluid significantly improves the thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing heat transfer. The HNF exhibits an efficiency rate of approximately 1.78% with a minimum efficiency rate of 2.26%.
An integrative review on the acceptance of artificial intelligence among healthcare professionals in hospitals
Authors: Lambert Sophie Isabelle , Madi Murielle , Sopka Saša , Lenes Andrea , Stange Hendrik , Buszello Claus-Peter , Stephan Astrid
Published: June 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) in the domain of healthcare is increasing in prominence. Acceptance is an indispensable prerequisite for the widespread implementation of AI. The aim of this integrative review is to explore barriers and facilitators influencing healthcare professionals’ acceptance of AI in the hospital setting. Forty-two articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Pertinent elements to the study such as the type of AI, factors influencing acceptance, and the participants’ profession were extracted from the included studies, and the studies were appraised for their quality. The data extraction and results were presented according to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The included studies revealed a variety of facilitating and hindering factors for AI acceptance in the hospital setting. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) were the AI form included in most studies (n = 21). Heterogeneous results with regard to the perceptions of the effects of AI on error occurrence, alert sensitivity and timely resources were reported. In contrast, fear of a loss of (professional) autonomy and difficulties in integrating AI into clinical workflows were unanimously reported to be hindering factors. On the other hand, training for the use of AI facilitated acceptance. Heterogeneous results may be explained by differences in the application and functioning of the different AI systems as well as inter-professional and interdisciplinary disparities. To conclude, in order to facilitate acceptance of AI among healthcare professionals it is advisable to integrate end-users in the early stages of AI development as well as to offer needs-adjusted training for the use of AI in healthcare and providing adequate infrastructure.
Generalized precursor prediction boosts identification rates and accuracy in mass spectrometry based proteomics
Authors: Scott Aaron M. , Karlsson Christofer , Mohanty Tirthankar , Hartman Erik , Vaara Suvi T. , Linder Adam , Malmström Johan , Malmström Lars
Published: June 2023

Data independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) has recently emerged as an important method for the identification of blood-based biomarkers. However, the large search space required to identify novel biomarkers from the plasma proteome can introduce a high rate of false positives that compromise the accuracy of false discovery rates (FDR) using existing validation methods. We developed a generalized precursor scoring (GPS) method trained on 2.75 million precursors that can confidently control FDR while increasing the number of identified proteins in DIA-MS independent of the search space. We demonstrate how GPS can generalize to new data, increase protein identification rates, and increase the overall quantitative accuracy. Finally, we apply GPS to the identification of blood-based biomarkers and identify a panel of proteins that are highly accurate in discriminating between subphenotypes of septic acute kidney injury from undepleted plasma to showcase the utility of GPS in discovery DIA-MS proteomics.
SENP2 restrains the generation of pathogenic Th17 cells in mouse models of colitis
Authors: Yang Tsan-Tzu , Chiang Ming-Feng , Chang Che-Chang , Yang Shii-Yi , Huang Shih-Wen , Liao Nan-Shih , Shih Hsiu-Ming , Hsu Wei , Lin Kuo-I
Published: June 2023

The molecular mechanisms contributing to the regulation of Th17-mediated inflammation remain underexplored. We here report a SUMO-specific protease (SENP)2-mediated pathway induced in pathogenic Th17 cells that restricts the pathogenesis of inflammatory colitis. SENP2 regulates the maturation of small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) and recycles SUMO from the substrate proteins. We find higher levels of SENP2 in pathogenic Th17 cells. By deleting Senp2 in T-cell lineages in mice, we demonstrate that the lack of Senp2 exacerbates the severity of experimental colitis, which is linked to elevated levels of GM-CSF+IL-17A+ pathogenic Th17 cells and more severe dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrate the cell-autonomous effect of Senp2 in restraining Th17 differentiation and colitis. The enzymatic activity of SENP2 is important for deSUMOylation of Smad4, which reduces Smad4 nuclear entry and Rorc expression. Our findings reveal a SENP2-mediated regulatory axis in the pathogenicity of Th17 cells.
Retrosynthetic planning with experience-guided Monte Carlo tree search
Authors: Hong Siqi , Zhuo Hankz Hankui , Jin Kebing , Shao Guang , Zhou Zhanwen
Published: June 2023

In retrosynthetic planning, the huge number of possible routes to synthesize a complex molecule using simple building blocks leads to a combinatorial explosion of possibilities. Even experienced chemists often have difficulty to select the most promising transformations. The current approaches rely on human-defined or machine-trained score functions which have limited chemical knowledge or use expensive estimation methods for guiding. Here we propose an experience-guided Monte Carlo tree search (EG-MCTS) to deal with this problem. Instead of rollout, we build an experience guidance network to learn knowledge from synthetic experiences during the search. Experiments on benchmark USPTO datasets show that, EG-MCTS gains significant improvement over state-of-the-art approaches both in efficiency and effectiveness. In a comparative experiment with the literature, our computer-generated routes mostly matched the reported routes. Routes designed for real drug compounds exhibit the effectiveness of EG-MCTS on assisting chemists performing retrosynthetic analysis.
Topological invariance in whiteness optimisation
Authors: Haataja Johannes S. , Jacucci Gianni , Parton Thomas G. , Schertel Lukas , Vignolini Silvia
Published: June 2023

Maximizing the scattering of visible light within disordered nano-structured materials is essential for commercial applications such as brighteners, while also testing our fundamental understanding of light-matter interactions. The progress in the research field has been hindered by the lack of understanding how different structural features contribute to the scattering properties. Here we undertake a systematic investigation of light scattering in correlated disordered structures. We demonstrate that the scattering efficiency of disordered systems is mainly determined by topologically invariant features, such as the filling fraction and correlation length, and residual variations are largely accounted by the surface-averaged mean curvature of the systems. Optimal scattering efficiency can thus be obtained from a broad range of disordered structures, especially when structural anisotropy is included as a parameter. These results suggest that any disordered system can be optimised for whiteness and give comparable performance, which has far-reaching consequences for the industrial use of low-index materials for optical scattering.
Many-body quantum chaos in stroboscopically-driven cold atoms
Authors: Dağ Ceren B. , Mistakidis Simeon I. , Chan Amos , Sadeghpour H. R.
Published: June 2023

In quantum chaotic systems, the spectral form factor (SFF), defined as the Fourier transform of two-level spectral correlation function, is known to follow random matrix theory (RMT), namely a ‘ramp’ followed by a ‘plateau’ in late times. Recently, a generic early-time deviation from RMT, so-called the ‘bump’, was shown to exist in random quantum circuits as toy models for many-body quantum systems. We demonstrate the existence of ‘bump-ramp-plateau’ behavior in the SFF for a number of paradigmatic and stroboscopically-driven 1D cold-atom models: spinless and spin-1/2 Bose-Hubbard models, and nonintegrable spin-1 condensate with contact or dipolar interactions. We find that the scaling of the many-body Thouless time tTh —the onset of RMT—, and the bump amplitude are more sensitive to variations in atom number than the lattice size regardless of the hyperfine structure, the symmetry classes, or the choice of driving protocol. Moreover, tTh scaling and the increase of the bump amplitude in atom number are significantly slower in spinor gases than interacting bosons in 1D optical lattices, demonstrating the role of locality. We obtain universal scaling functions of SFF which suggest power-law behavior for the bump regime in quantum chaotic cold-atom systems, and propose an interference measurement protocol.
Integration of urban science and urban climate adaptation research: opportunities to advance climate action
Authors: Lobo José , Aggarwal Rimjhim M. , Alberti Marina , Allen-Dumas Melissa , Bettencourt Luís M. A. , Boone Christopher , Brelsford Christa , Broto Vanesa Castán , Eakin Hallie , Bagchi-Sen Sharmistha , Meerow Sara , D’Cruz Celine , Revi Aromar , Roberts Debra C. , Smith Michael E. , York Abigail , Lin Tao , Bai Xuemei , Solecki William , Pataki Diane , Tapia Luís Bojorquez , Rockman Marcy , Wolfram Marc , Schlosser Peter , Gauthier Nicolas
Published: June 2023

There is a growing recognition that responding to climate change necessitates urban adaptation. We sketch a transdisciplinary research effort, arguing that actionable research on urban adaptation needs to recognize the nature of cities as social networks embedded in physical space. Given the pace, scale and socioeconomic outcomes of urbanization in the Global South, the specificities and history of its cities must be central to the study of how well-known agglomeration effects can facilitate adaptation. The proposed effort calls for the co-creation of knowledge involving scientists and stakeholders, especially those historically excluded from the design and implementation of urban development policies.
Band gap predictions of double perovskite oxides using machine learning
Authors: Talapatra Anjana , Uberuaga Blas Pedro , Stanek Christopher Richard , Pilania Ghanshyam
Published: June 2023

The compositional and structural variety inherent to oxide perovskites spawn wide-ranging applications. In perovskites, the band gap Eg, a key material parameter for these applications, can be optimally controlled by varying the composition. Here, we implement a hierarchical screening process in which two cross-validated and predictive machine learning models for band gap classification and regression, trained using exhaustive datasets that span 68 elements of the periodic table, are applied sequentially. The classification model separates wide band gap materials, with Eg ≥ 0.5 eV, from materials which have zero or relatively small band gaps, namely Eg < 0.5 eV, and the second regression model quantitatively predicts the gap value of the wide band gap compounds. The study down-selects 13,589 cubic oxide perovskite compositions that are predicted to be experimentally formable, thermodynamically stable, and have a wide band gap. Of these, a subset of 310 compounds, which are predicted to be stable and formable with a confidence greater than 90%, are identified for further investigation. Our models are methodically analyzed via performance metrics and inter-dependence of model features to gain physical insight into the band gap prediction problem. Design maps to identify the variation of band gap with substitution of different elements are also presented.
Prolonged release of silver and iodine from ZIF-7 carrier with great antibacterial activity
Authors: Davoodi Alireza , Akhbari Kamran , Alirezvani Mohammadreza
Published: June 2023

ZIF-7 and I2@ZIF-7 were synthesized under ambient conditions. Ag@ZIF-7 was synthesized under UV irradiation. Antibacterial activity of the compounds was studied. Iodine and ion (Zn2+, Ag+) releasing behavior was studied by UV-Vis and ICP-MS analysis.
Pivotal role of the B12-core in the structural evolution of B52–B64 clusters
Authors: Wu Xue , Liao Rui , Liang Xiaoqing , Sai Linwei , Liu Yong , Yang Guochun , Zhao Jijun
Published: June 2023

An unprecedented icosahedral B12-core half-covered structure is identified at B58, which bridges the gap between the smallest core–shell B4@B42 and the complete core–shell B12@B84 cluster.
Enhancing resilience by reducing critical load loss via an emergent trading framework considering possible resources isolation under typhoon
Authors: Wu Yingjun , Liu Chengjun , Lin Zhiwei , Ru Yingtao , Huang Tao
Published: June 2023

Leveraging distributed resources to enhance distribution network (DN) resilience is an effective measure in response to natural disasters. However, the willingness and economy of distributed resources are typically ignored. To address this issue, this paper proposes an emergent trading framework that uses parking lots (PLs) as resources to provide power support to critical loads (CLs) in a blackout due to typhoons. In this trading framework, an evolutionary Stackelberg game‐based trading model is established to consider maximizing all stakeholders’ economic benefits, considering possible resources isolation under typical fault scenarios caused by typhoons, and a benefit allocation mechanism is proposed for all stakeholders to motivate all stakeholders to participate in the trading. This framework allows that critical loads could reduce their load loss, parking lots could receive adequate compensation to stimulate them to participate in the trading, and distribution utility could ensure its economic benefits. Furthermore, an iterative evolutionary‐Stackelberg solution set‐up is applied to obtain the equilibria of the proposed framework. Simulation results on the modified IEEE 69‐bus test system and IEEE 123‐bus test system reveal the validity of the proposed method.
Wide binaries demonstrate the consistency of rotational evolution between open cluster and field stars
Authors: Gruner D. , Barnes S. A. , Janes K. A.
Published: June 2023

Context.Gyrochronology enables the derivation of ages of late-type main sequence stars based on their rotation periods and a mass proxy, such as color. It has been explored in open clusters, but a connection to field stars has yet to be successfully established.

Aims.We explore the rotation rates of wide binaries, representing enlightening intermediaries between clusters and field stars, and their overlap with those of open cluster stars.

Methods.We investigated a recently created catalog of wide binaries, matched the cataloged binaries to observations by theKeplermission (and its K2 extension), validated or re-derived their rotation periods, identified 283 systems where both stars are on the main sequence and have vetted rotation periods, and compared the systems with open cluster data.

Results.We find that the vast majority of these wide binaries (236) line up directly along the curvilinear ribs defined by open clusters in color-period diagrams or along the equivalent interstitial gaps between successive open clusters. The parallelism in shape is remarkable. Twelve additional systems are clearly rotationally older. The deviant systems, a minority, are mostly demonstrably hierarchical. Furthermore, the position of the evolved component in the color-magnitude diagram for the additional wide binary systems that contain one is consistent with the main sequence component’s rotational age.

Conclusions.We conclude that wide binaries, despite their diversity, follow the same spindown relationship as observed in open clusters, and we find that rotation-based age estimates yield the same ages for both components in a wide binary. This suggests that cluster and field stars spin down in the same way and that gyrochronology can be applied to field stars to determine their ages, provided that they are sufficiently distant from any companions to be considered effectively single. The results also suggest that the impact of metallicity variations on the spindown is likely not to be a major concern.
Neurogenic diabetes insipidus in a critical patient with COVID-19 pneumonia in treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report
Authors: Samaniego-Segovia Bruno , Rizo-Topete Lilia , Garza-Gomez Montserrat de la , Rodriguez-Salinas Cesar Alejandro , Martínez-Cadena Salim , López-Romo Alicia , Gomez-Gutierrez Rene , Chavarría-Martínez Uriel , Sánchez-Salazar Sergio
Published: June 2023

The following case report analyses a patient with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), who suffered from a severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 pneumonia. ARDS is defined as a diffuse and inflammatory injury of the lungs; classifying this as severe when the ratio of arterial oxygen tension to a fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) is equal to or lower than 100 mmHg. To decide if the patient was suitable for the use of ECMO therapy, the ELSO criteria were used; and in this case, the patient matched with the criteria of hypoxemic respiratory failure (with a PaO2/FiO2 < 80 mmHg) after optimal medical management, including, in the absence of contraindications, a trial of prone positioning. During hospitalization, the patient presented a Central Diabetes Insipidus (CDI), probably explained by the damage hypoxia generated on the central nervous system. There are few reports of this complication produced by COVID-19. The case is about a 39-year-old woman, who started with ECMO 6 days after the beginning of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV), because of a severe ARDS. On the fifth day of ECMO, the patient started with a polyuria of 7 L in 24 h. A series of paraclinical studies were made, but no evidence of central nervous system lesions was found. After treatment with desmopressin was initiated and the ARDS was solved, polyuria stopped; with this, CDI was diagnosed. There are many complications secondary to the evolution of COVID-19 infection, and some of them are not yet well explained.
Erfahrungen von Typ-1-Diabetes-Patienten bei stationären Behandlungen – eine Patientenbefragung von winDiab
Authors: Hess Gregor M. , Weber Dietmar , Kellerer Monika , Fritsche Andreas , Kaltheuner F. Matthias
Published: June 2023

Die Befragung von Typ-1-Diabetes-Patienten im Jahr nach Kliniksaufenthalt sollte, soweit
retrospektiv möglich, objektive Gegebenheiten zu ihrem stationären Aufenthalt und subjektive
Wahrnehmungen des Erlebten ermitteln. Hierbei galt es Unterschiede zwischen DDG-zertifizierten
und nicht zertifizierten Kliniken und zwischen verschiedenen Fachabteilungen zu ermitteln.
Durch Befragung von 6507 Menschen mit Typ-1-Diabetes ergaben sich Daten von 2023 Patienten zu
ihren stationären Aufenthalten, 34 % davon waren Insulin-Pumpenträger. Waren die Kliniken
nicht Diabetes-zertifiziert, gab es insgesamt bis zu 30 % schlechte Erfahrungen und gerade die
Pumpenpatienten blieben in über 80 Prozent ohne Ansprechpartner für ihre Technologie.
Zertifizierte Kliniken schnitten deutlich besser ab. Hieraus ist ein klarer
gesundheitspolitischer Handlungsimperativ abzuleiten.
Critical factors influencing information disclosure in public organisations
Authors: Tejedo-Romero Francisca , Ferraz Esteves Araujo Joaquim Filipe
Published: June 2023

Open government initiatives around the world and the passage of freedom of information laws are opening public organisations through information disclosure to ensure transparency and encourage citizen participation and engagement. At the municipal level, social, economic, and political factors are found to account for this trend. However, the findings on this issue are inconclusive and may differ from country to country. This paper contributes to this discussion by analysing a unitary country where the same set of laws and rules governs the constituent municipalities. It seeks to identify critical factors that affect the disclosure of municipal information. For this purpose, a longitudinal study was carried out over a period of 4 years using panel data methodology. The main conclusions seem to point to municipalities’ intention to increase the dissemination of information to reduce low levels of voter turnout and increase civic involvement and political participation. Municipalities governed by leftist parties and those that have high indebtedness are most likely to disclose information. Additionally, internet access has created new opportunities for citizens to access information, which exerts pressure for greater dissemination of information by municipalities. These findings are important to practitioners because they indicate the need to improve citizens’ access to the Internet and maintain information disclosure strategies beyond election periods.
Deconstructing media narratives of the Indo-Pacific strategy: Exploring India’s ontological security and national identity in the Times of India
Authors: Li Zhou , Sheng Li
Published: June 2023

India’s attempt to forge a distinct role for itself in the global order started soon after independence in 1947. Since this watershed event, India’s policymakers have gradually recast their initial strategy of nonalignment, as they realized that Nehruvian “soft” power was not adequate for creating an especially dynamic presence in an increasingly volatile international environment. In response to this realization, India embarked on a journey of transforming its diplomatic benchmarks. In 2017, to counter China’s assertiveness across the region, India joined then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s advocacy in launching the Indo-Pacific strategy. Transforming the nation’s diplomatic benchmarks while maintaining a coherent narrative of national identity was the main challenge. This paper examines the role that media narratives play in maintaining that coherent national identity. To do so, we analyzed 47 reports by the Times of India (TOI) on the Indo-Pacific strategy in order to reveal how elite media strategically framed the nation’s regional policy, thereby ensuring its ontological security—its sense of continuity and order—while conveying its global aspirations.
Grounding identity in existence facts: A reply to Wilhelm
Authors: Mehta Neil
Published: June 2023

What grounds facts of the form ? One promising answer is: facts of the form . A different promising answer is: x itself. Isaac Wilhelm has recently argued that the second answer is superior to the first. In this paper, I rebut his argument.
Work in nursing homes and occupational exposure to endotoxin and bacterial and fungal species
Authors: Rasmussen Pil Uthaug , Uhrbrand Katrine , Frederiksen Margit W , Madsen Anne Mette
Published: June 2023

Indoor microbial exposure may cause negative health effects. Only little is known about the occupational microbial exposure in nursing homes and the factors that influence the exposure. The exposure in nursing homes may be increased due to close contact with elderly persons who may carry infectious or antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms and due to handling of laundry, such as used clothing and bed linen. We investigated the microbial exposure in 5 nursing homes in Denmark, by use of personal bioaerosol samples from different groups of staff members taken during a typical working day, stationary bioaerosol measurements taken during various work tasks, sedimented dust samples, environmental surface swabs, and swabs from staff members’ hands. From the samples, we explored bacterial and fungal concentrations and species composition, endotoxin levels, and antimicrobial resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. Microbial concentrations from personal exposure samples differed among professions, and geometric means (GM) were 2,159 cfu/m3 (84 to 1.5 × 105) for bacteria incubated on nutrient agar, 1,745 cfu/m3 (82 to 2.0 × 104) for bacteria cultivated on a Staphylococcus selective agar, and 16 cfu/m3 air for potential pathogenic fungi incubated at 37 °C (below detection limit to 257). Bacterial exposures were elevated during bed making. On surfaces, the highest bacterial concentrations were found on bed railings. The majority of bacterial species found were related to the human skin microflora, such as different Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species. Endotoxin levels ranged from 0.02 to 59.0 EU/m3, with a GM of 1.5 EU/m3. Of 40 tested A. fumigatus isolates, we found one multiresistant isolate, which was resistant towards both itraconazole and voriconazole, and one isolate resistant towards amphotericin B. In conclusion, we give an overview of the general microbial exposure in nursing homes and show that microbial exposures are higher for staff with more care and nursing tasks compared with administrative staff.
A comparison of passive and active dust sampling methods for measuring airborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pig farms
Authors: Rittscher Anne E , Vlasblom Abel A , Duim Birgitta , Scherpenisse Peter , van Schothorst Isabella J , Wouters Inge M , Van Gompel Liese , Smit Lidwien A M
Published: June 2023

Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are resistant to most β-lactam antibiotics. Pigs are an important reservoir of livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA), which is genetically distinct from both hospital and community-acquired MRSA. Occupational exposure to pigs on farms can lead to LA-MRSA carriage by workers. There is a growing body of research on MRSA found in the farm environment, the airborne route of transmission, and its implication on human health. This study aims to directly compare two sampling methods used to measure airborne MRSA in the farm environment; passive dust sampling with electrostatic dust fall collectors (EDCs), and active inhalable dust sampling using stationary air pumps with Gesamtstaubprobenahme (GSP) sampling heads containing Teflon filters. Paired dust samples using EDCs and GSP samplers, totaling 87 samples, were taken from 7 Dutch pig farms, in multiple compartments housing pigs of varying ages. Total nucleic acids of both types of dust samples were extracted and targets indicating MRSA (femA, nuc, mecA) and total bacterial count (16S rRNA) were quantified using quantitative real-time PCRs. MRSA could be measured from all GSP samples and in 94% of the EDCs, additionally MRSA was present on every farm sampled. There was a strong positive relationship between the paired MRSA levels found in EDCs and those measured on filters (Normalized by 16S rRNA; Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = 0.94, Not Normalized; Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = 0.84). This study suggests that EDCs can be used as an affordable and easily standardized method for quantifying airborne MRSA levels in the pig farm setting.
Blockades and international investment treaties
Authors: Ashtal Hany
Published: June 2023

Blockades are sometimes an effective means for a State to disrupt the trade and commerce of an adversary State, and public international law has developed specific legal principles regarding blockades. The article examines the treatment of blockades under international law, and the scope for affected investors to bring investment treaty claims arising from international blockades.
Weapon morphology and performance predict fighting outcomes in the giant mesquite bug, Pachylis neocalifornicus
Authors: Graham Zackary A , Emberts Zachary
Published: June 2023

Many animals engage in direct competition with other members of their species over access to resources. Winning such contests often increases an individual’s fitness. Thus, it is important to understand which factors determine contest outcomes. In weapon-bearing species, body size and weapon size have been reported to be important predictors of fighting success. However, it is unclear if one trait is a better predictor of success compared to the other. Additionally, there are mixed results as to whether performance measurements (e.g. force output of a weapon) are better predictors of fighting success than linear measurements (e.g. weapon size and body size). In this study, we randomly paired 124 Pachylis neocalifornicus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coreidae) males in territorial interactions to investigate whether differences in body size, weapon size or weapon performance best predict fighting outcomes. We found that weapon size and weapon performance are better predictors of fighting outcomes than body size. However, we did not find clear evidence that linear measurements are better than performance measurements at predicting contest winners, as suggested in a recent meta-analysis. These results highlight the importance of weapon performance measurements and encourage future studies to continue investigating how non-size related traits (e.g. performance) influence contest outcomes.
Innovation in surgery
Authors: Khoma Oleksandr , Laurence Jerome M , Sandroussi Charbel , Wijnhoven Bas P L
Published: June 2023

The process of innovation is always valuable and can lead to great advances, both intended and unanticipated. However, the outcomes must always be carefully examined in terms of metric which considers more than could ever be tested in a RCT.
Efficient Comparison Of Independence Structures Of Log-Linear Models
Authors: Strappa Jan , Bromberg Facundo
Published: June 2023

Log-linear models are a family of probability distributions which capture relationships between variables. They have been proven useful in a wide variety of fields such as epidemiology, economics and sociology. The interest in using these models is that they are able to capture context-specific independencies, relationships that provide richer structure to the model. Many approaches exist for automatic learning of the independence structure of log-linear models from data. The methods for evaluating these approaches, however, are limited, and are mostly based on indirect measures of the complete density of the probability distribution. Such computation requires additional learning of the numerical parameters of the distribution, which introduces distortions when used for comparing structures. This work addresses this issue by presenting the first measure for the direct and efficient comparison of independence structures of log-linear models. Our method relies only on the independence structure of the models, which is useful when the interest lies in obtaining knowledge from said structure, or when comparing the performance of structure learning algorithms, among other possible uses. We present proof that the measure is a metric, and a method for its computation that is efficient in the number of variables of the domain.