bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robustness improvement of a nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer by a double driving method
Authors: Gao Yanjie , Luo Zhengjie , Guo Hao , Wen Huanfei , Li Zhonghao , Ma Zongmin , Tang Jun , Liu Jun
Published: June 2023

The nitrogen vacancy (NV) color center in diamonds is an electron spin that can measure magnetic fields with high sensitivity and resolution. Furthermore, the robustness of an NV-based quantum system should be improved for further application in other sensing methods and in the exploration of basic physics. In this work, the robustness of an NV magnetometer is improved by the double driving method. The sensitivity of the NV magnetometer was improved 2.1 times by strengthening the pumping power from 100 to 600 mW. In this process, thermal drift was introduced, which affects the measurement accuracy. The temperature drift of a diamond matrix was measured using an infrared camera, and the temperature change of a diamond host drifted to ∼80 K under high laser and microwave power. To address the drift of temperature owing to sensitivity improvement by pumping enhancement, the double driving method was introduced, to suppress the drift of the resonance frequency, to improve the robustness of a continuous-wave NV magnetometer. The magnetic noise density was improved from 10 to 1.2 nT/Hz1/2. This study checked the source of temperature noise in the process of measuring with the NV color centers and proposes a double driving measurement method to track the resonant frequency change due to environmental temperature drift and improve sensitivity. The findings of this study are useful in applying complex pulse protocols in high-level sensing applications based on solid-state spin.
Extreme nonlinear optics in a long pulse regime: High harmonic generation of picosecond mid-IR pulses in polycrystalline zinc selenide
Authors: Marble Christopher B. , Sanderson Carl R. , Ballmann Charles W. , Yakovlev Vladislav V.
Published: June 2023

High harmonic generation (HHG) in semiconductors has been extensively studied recently in the high-intensity limit using middle infrared (mid-IR) femtosecond laser pulses resulting in emission spectra of self-phase modulated harmonics resting on top of a broadband continuum. In this report, a different approach to HHG in polycrystalline zinc selenide (poly-ZnSe) was explored utilizing a relatively low power regime (1–40 GW/cm2) and much longer (30 ps) mid-IR laser pulses. Through a combination of low power, picosecond excitation, and narrowband (<10 nm full width at half maximum) mid-IR excitation, the nonlinear optical effects in poly-ZnSe could be isolated and studied independently. From the clearly distinguishable HHG peaks, harmonic conversion efficiencies of 10−4–10−12 for second to ninth harmonic in poly-ZnSe were measured, and the relationship between the Nth harmonic intensity and excitation intensity (I0) was found to follow a power law, I0x with x ≤ N/2, as a result of the random quasi-phase matching process.
Research on distributed photovoltaic power prediction based on spatiotemporal information ensemble method
Authors: Yang Xiyun , Zhao Zeyu , Peng Yan , Ma Junchao
Published: June 2023

Distributed photovoltaic power generation can efficiently utilize idle resources and reduce carbon emissions. In order to reduce the impact of grid-connected distributed photovoltaic power fluctuations on grid operation, this paper simultaneously exploits the temporal dependence of power series and the spatial correlation of meteorological data to propose a combined prediction model with temporal characteristics and spatial relationships fused for distributed photovoltaic power plants with spatiotemporal information. First, in the study of time-dependent prediction, we propose a long and short-term memory neural network ensemble prediction model based on genetic algorithm-natural gradient boosting, which efficiently fits multiple sets of temporal characteristics of distributed photovoltaic. In the study of spatial correlation prediction, the meteorological data affecting photovoltaic power generation are selected by κ correlation coefficients, the target power plant and spatial reference power plant meteorological data are reconstructed into a two-dimensional matrix, and a two-dimensional convolutional neural network spatial feature extraction power prediction model is designed. Finally, the advantages of the two prediction models of temporal information and spatial features are fused by multiple error evaluation criteria improved information entropy, and a distributed photovoltaic power plant is constructed and implements highly accurate spatiotemporal information combination prediction model. The effect of the forecasting model in this study is validated using the photovoltaic cluster dataset in Hebei Province, China. Compared with other models, the results of this study show that the five prediction performance evaluation metrics of the proposed combined spatiotemporal information model are better.
Self-powered photodetectors based on Er-doped MoS2 film for NIR photo-communication and laser calibration
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Jijia , Zhang Shuai , Song Enhai
Published: June 2023

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising two-dimensional material for optoelectronic applications owing to its strong light–matter interactions, high carrier mobility, and ability to combine with other materials. However, the intrinsic bandgap (1.3–1.8 eV) of MoS2 limits its applications in the near-infrared (NIR) region. Herein, a heterojunction NIR photodetector based on the Er-doped MoS2 film is developed. The photodetector presents self-powered NIR response with a fast rise/fall time of ∼9.2 μs/∼168 μs and a high detectivity of ∼3.25 × 1010 Jones at 980 nm. The high performance of the device is attributed to the improved separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs and the characteristic trapping capacity induced by Er dopants. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Er-doping introduces an additional energy level in the forbidden band of the MoS2:Er, and the Er-f electron orbital locates near its Fermi energy level, both of which contribute to the formation of photogenerated carriers. The MoS2:Er-based device with a 3-dB bandwidth of 5.4 kHz exhibits promising application potential in the NIR photo-communication field. Moreover, the laser calibration application of the high-performance photodetector is demonstrated. This work not only develops an effective strategy to enhance the NIR photoresponse of MoS2 films but also extends the application of MoS2-based devices.
Inexpensive multi-plane particle image velocimetry based on
defocusing: Proof of concept on two-component measurement
Authors: Willman Christopher , Stone Richard , Williams Benjamin A. O.
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a method for simultaneous particle image velocimetry (PIV) on parallel planes offset in depth. The method places images from two planes onto a different half of a camera sensor by using image splitting optics with variable optical path lengths. A shallow depth of field is achieved to ensure only one plane is in focus on each half of the sensor. Without needing additional lasers, the method is designed as an inexpensive means to increase the number of measurement plane(s) of single/multi-plane PIV setups and can be combined with existing plane discrimination approaches such as polarization and wavelength. The method is useful for studying instantaneous flow correlations on different planes while retaining high in-plane spatial resolution of typical planar PIV measurement. The measurement uncertainty caused by crosstalk from out-of-focus images is discussed. Experimental results from a laminar flow rig test indicate that the average measurement error of each velocity component is lower than 0.1 pixels per time step, with a 20 mm plane separation in depth and a 35 × 54 mm2 field of view. As an application with varying background scatter and out-of-plane flow motions, in-cylinder flow measurements in an optically accessible internal combustion engine were performed on two swirl planes simultaneously. Characteristics of the proposed method performing stereoscopic PIV measurements will be studied in future.
Advancing flame retardant prediction: A self-enforcing machine learning approach for small datasets
Authors: Yan Cheng , Lin Xiang , Feng Xiaming , Yang Hongyu , Mensah Patrick , Li Guoqiang
Published: June 2023

Improving the fireproof performance of polymers is crucial for ensuring human safety and enabling future space colonization. However, the complexity of the mechanisms for flame retardant and the need for customized material design pose significant challenges. To address these issues, we propose a machine learning (ML) framework based on substructure fingerprinting and self-enforcing deep neural networks (SDNN) to predict the fireproof performance of flame-retardant epoxy resins. Our model is based on a comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanisms of materials and can predict fireproof performance and eliminate the needs for properties descriptors, making it more convenient than previous ML models. With a dataset of only 163 samples, our SDNN models show an average prediction error of 3% for the limited oxygen index (LOI). They also provide satisfactory predictions for the peak of heat release rate PHR and total heat release (THR), with coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.87 and 0.85, respectively, and average prediction errors less than 17%. Our model outperforms the support vector model SVM for all three indices, making it a state-of-the-art study in the field of flame retardancy. We believe that our framework will be a valuable tool for the design and virtual screening of flame retardants and will contribute to the development of safer and more efficient polymer materials.
Confined steady simple shear flow of polymeric liquids
Authors: Pak Myong Chol , Giacomin A. J. , Kanso M. A. , Kim Chol-Song , Pasquino R.
Published: June 2023

In a confined simple shear flow, the macromolecules of a polymeric liquid reorient near the walls so that the measured viscosity decreases. For instance, in a small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow, the real part of the complex viscosity decreases with confinement, and macromolecular orientation explains this. These effects in oscillation have been explained analytically for a rigid dumbbell suspension and, for a confined small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow, the summation coefficients have been determined. By contrast, for the confined steady shear flow, the summation coefficients are undetermined. In this paper, we determine these coefficients and use them to evaluate the steady shear (i) viscosity and (ii) normal stress coefficients for a rigid dumbbell suspension. We find that the zero-shear viscosity and the zero-shear first normal stress coefficients decrease with confinement. We further find that the dimensionless (i) steady shear viscosity curve increases with confinement and (ii) first normal stress coefficient first decreases with light confinement and then increases with greater confinement. We confirm our theory, at low confinement, by comparing with our new measurements of the confined zero-shear viscosity of a polystyrene solution.
Hole mobility limiting factors in dopant-free p-type distributed polarization-doped AlGaN
Authors: Kumabe Takeru , Kawasaki Seiya , Watanabe Hirotaka , Honda Yoshio , Amano Hiroshi
Published: June 2023

We investigated the hole mobility limiting factors in dopant-free p-type distributed polarization-doped (DPD) AlGaN layers by an experimental method. p-DPD AlGaN exhibited a higher hole mobility than GaN:Mg with a similar room temperature hole concentration across all temperature ranges owing to the absence of ionized impurity scattering. In addition, unlike in n-DPD AlGaN, alloy scattering was not always critical in p-DPD AlGaN. The extracted alloy scattering potential was only 0.3 eV, which resulted in a reduced effect of alloy scattering and originated from a small valence band offset in the GaN/AlN heterojunction system. The results suggest that DPD principally enables the fabrication of low-resistance p-type nitride semiconductor thin films as a result of the high hole concentration and high hole mobility.
Second spectrum of charge carrier density fluctuations in graphene due to trapping/detrapping processes
Authors: Pellegrino Francesco M. D. , Falci Giuseppe , Paladino Elisabetta
Published: June 2023

We investigate the second spectrum of charge carrier density fluctuations in graphene within the McWorther model, where noise is induced by electron traps in the substrate. Within this simple picture, we obtain a closed-form expression including both Gaussian and non-Gaussian fluctuations. We show that a very extended distribution of switching rates of the electron traps in the substrate leads to a carrier density power spectrum with a non-trivial structure on the scale of the measurement bandwidth. This explains the appearance of a 1/f component in the Gaussian part of the second spectrum, which adds up to the expected frequency-independent term. Finally, we find that the non-Gaussian part of the second spectrum can become quantitatively relevant by approaching extremely low temperatures.
Development of methods to overcome physiological seed dormancy of temperate annual pasture legumes to assist speed breeding
Authors: Peck David M. , Humphries Alan W. , Ballard Ross A.
Published: June 2023

Context and aims Freshly harvested seeds of temperate annual pasture legume species have physiological dormancy (PD), which delays the growth of the next generation and is thus an impediment to speed breeding. The aim of this study was to develop a method or methods of PD breaking that can achieve high germination (≥90%) within 5 days of picking freshly harvested seed. Methods In a series of experiments, PD breaking methods by themselves and in combination were tested on burr medic (Medicago polymorpha). The most promising methods were then tested on other annual medic species (Medicago spp.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), and alternative species from six genera. Key results The successful PD breaking method involved drying pods overnight at 45°C, extracting and scarifying seed, placing seed on filter paper in a Petri dish along with non-dormant seed, imbibing seed with 4 μM benzylaminopurine, sealing the Petri dish, and incubating in the dark at 15°C. Highly dormant genotypes required the additional treatment of removing the testa. Conclusions We have developed an effective way of breaking seed PD in the 11 pasture legumes species from the seven genera tested. The rapid breaking of seed PD will assist speed breeding of annual pasture legumes, making it less laborious and time-bound than currently used methods. Implications The PD breaking methods are expected to assist basic science studies of annual pasture legume species and may be applicable to other species and genera.
Effect of pre-fatigue on mechanical properties of modified double-base propellant
Authors: Yao Li , Chang-sheng Zhou , Xiu-min Yang
Published: June 2023

In this paper, fatigue tests of modified double-base propellant (CMDB) under cyclic loading under constant strain amplitude were carried out by using Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA) at 20°C. The uniaxial tensile stress-strain curves at five strain rates after pre-fatigue were measured by a material universal testing machine, and the curves were similar to the uniaxial tensile test results of unfatigued propellant. The experimental results show that CMDB propellant has obvious strain rate correlation, and the initial elastic modulus and yield strength of the propellant increase with the increase of strain rate. The effect of prefatigue on the stress-strain behavior of CMDB propellant depends largely on the number of initial cycles and the strain stress loading amplitude. Under the initial cycle condition of pre-fatigue, the maximum tensile strength increases slightly with the increase of cycle number, while the elongation at break decreases with the increase of cycle number.
Study on initiation of flyer driven by laser ignition
Authors: Jing Bo , Chen Jianhua , Zhao Jia , Shi Minke , feng He Ai
Published: June 2023

In order to study the initiation technology of laser ignition driven flyer, the initiation principle of laser ignition driven flyer is analyzed. The velocity simulation design of laser ignition driven flyer and the velocity simulation of different flyers driven by the same charge are carried out with Autodyn, and the initiation verification test of laser ignition driven flyer is carried out. The test results show that RDX can be initiated by impact, and the effect consistency is good, Therefore, using HMX to drive the flyer to impact and detonate RDX has high reliability.
High-Resolution Synthetic Aperture Imaging Algorithm for Terahertz
Authors: Wang Guanwen , Liu Zhaoyang
Published: June 2023

The reconstruction and recovery of targets in the terahertz band has always been a direction for the improvement of synthetic aperture radar imaging algorithms. In order to improve the imaging resolution of the target, the scattering principle of electromagnetic waves to the target is analyzed. Through model establishment and formula derivation, the propagation process between the electromagnetic wave and the target is obtained, and the simulation and experiment verify that the corresponding algorithm can greatly improve the accuracy of target recovery.
Tunable optical topological transition of Cherenkov radiation
Authors: Zhang Tianyu , Zhao Tao , Xu Xingxing , Liu Shenggang , Hu Min
Published: June 2023

Chasing efficient methods to generate and manipulate Cherenkov radiation (CR) is always the lofty target of many scientific researchers. In this work, by combining the optical topological transition (OTT) of graphene hyperbolic metamaterials (GHMs), we study the properties and clarify the mechanisms of the OTT of CR for the first time. Specifically, we indicate two representative examples to reveal the potential of the OTT in manipulating CR properties and further applications, which correspond to the ultrafast photothermal and nonlocal properties of graphene individually. These results and conclusions pave the way for the photonic devices and applications of CR.
Research on Opening Performance of Metal Diaphragm in Double Pulse Solid Rocket Motor
Authors: chen-yu Wang , Xuan Wu , xi-bin Luo
Published: June 2023

In order to investigate the effect of different double-pulse solid rocket motor metal diaphragm configurations on opening performance, a compartment device is designed. A modified Johnson-Cook principal structure model and damage criterion are used to simulate the pressure-bearing forces of the compartment structure based on finite element software. In order to obtain the parameters of J-C model, Quasi-static tensile tests at the strain rates of 10−4~10−1s−1 and temperatures of 300K~450K were carried out on 2A12 aluminium alloy dumbbell-type specimens. By varying the depth and width of the indentations on the metal diaphragm, and the finite element numerical simulation of the operation of the compartment under the action of solid rocket motor I and II pulses is also carried out. The results show that when the indentation depth is large, the indentation depth is the main factor affecting the opening pressure of the diaphragm; when the indentation depth decreases, the influence of the indentation width on the opening pressure of the diaphragm is more obvious.
Farmland mastery in Boyolali, Indonesia
Authors: Rusdiyana E , Sugihardjo  , Lestari E , Setyowati R , Widiyanto  , Rizki MI , Hezak ETM
Published: June 2023

This research aimed to find out the farmland mastery system in Boyolali Regency. This research employed descriptive qualitative method; data was collected using interview and observation techniques. Informants derived from farmers, head of farmer group, and community leaders. Data validation was carried out using data source triangulation. The result of research showed that in 11 out of 15 villages in Andong Sub District, the farmland is largely mastered by farmer owners, the land-owning farmers worked on their land themselves as they made farmer their primary job. Meanwhile, in other 4 villages majority people are farm workers working to other farmers in their area or adjacent village due to less fertile farmland (limited water source).
Product development of Amorphophallus muelleri Bl. Synbiotic yogurt using Quality Function Deployment method
Authors: Revulaningtyas I R , Khasanah L H , Pratama D , Apriliana A N , Sanjaya A P
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed and impacted various aspects of life. The customer behavior of the Indonesian people has changed during this pandemic. Increasing public awareness of health is an opportunity to develop functional foods which can improve the body’s immune system. Some probiotic dairy products, e.g., yogurt, are currently being developed with the addition of prebiotics and are also known as synbiotic yogurt. This research aims to develop an Amorphophallus muelleri Bl. Synbiotic yogurt product design based on customer requirements and engineering characteristics. The method used in this study is the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. Quality Function Deployment is a method to develop product design quality to achieve customer satisfaction. The results showed that the product attributes customers want for yogurt include a rather strong aroma, a slightly sour and sweet taste, a thick texture, and a production volume of 250 ml packaged in cup packaging.
Policy analysis of development of Regional Government Food Reserves (RGFR) in Pekalongan District, Central Java
Authors: Agustian A , Rachmawati R R , Rachman B , Purba H J , Sumaryanto  , Susilowati S H , Indraningsih K S
Published: June 2023

In order to realize national food sovereignty, the central government establishes National Food Reserves (CPN). CPN consists of Regional Government Food Reserves (RGFR) and Community Food Reserves (CFR). This study aims to analyze the volume determination policy, management and development of RGFR. The study was conducted in Pekalongan Regency in 2021. The study sample consisted of officials from the Pekalongan Regency Food Service, and 6 farmer groups (30 members). The data was collected in primary and secondary data, and data analysis was carried out quantitatively and qualitatively descriptive. The analysis results show that RGFR management policies are directed at dealing with food shortages, food price fluctuations, and natural disasters. The policy for determining the RGFR in Pekalongan Regency is regulated through Regent Regulation num. 21/2020 and the procurement of RGFR is carried out in partnership with the private sector. The average volume of RGFR in the form of rice in the 2019-2021 period, reached 20 tons per year. Policies for the development of RGFR management in Pekalongan, among others, can be pursued with the support of facilitating the volume of RGFR, increasing the regional budget for RGFR, and advocating for policies to synergize to maintain the existence of RGFR.
The Cauchy-Dirichlet problem for parabolic deformed Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation
Authors: Huang Liding , Zhang Jiaogen
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the parabolic deformed Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation with hypercritical phase in a smooth domain

Ω
⊂

C

n

\Omega \subset \mathbb {C}^{n}

. By using

J
J

-functional, we are able to prove the convergence of solutions. As an application, we give an alternative proof of the Dirichlet problem for deformed Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation.
Three travel time inverse problems on simple Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Ilmavirta Joonas , Liu Boya , Saksala Teemu
Published: June 2023

We provide new proofs based on the Myers–Steenrod theorem to confirm that travel time data, travel time difference data and the broken scattering relations determine a simple Riemannian metric on a disc up to the natural gauge of a boundary fixing diffeomorphism. Our method of the proof leads to a Lipschitz-type stability estimate for the first two data sets in the class of simple metrics.
CEPAL, the “International Monetary Fund of the Left”?
Authors: Fajardo Margarita
Published: June 2023

The article examines the entangled histories of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (CEPAL) during the post–World War II era. Born of the same global moment, within two decades of their foundation, these institutions had come to represent two opposing visions of world economic order. Yet their mutual antagonism was not a foregone conclusion, and their identities were not so defined from the start. The binary division between them—as well as the very terms of their debate—emerged not in the realm of abstract ideas but rather in their competition over influence in Latin America. Unlike the history of the UN, the story of the IMF continues to be told as one of projection—of power, ideas, and practices—and reception, of dominance by the North and resistance of the South. By looking at CEPAL and the IMF in tandem, as they converged, diverged, and shaped each other, this article shows the impact of a southern institution and Latin America on the northern institution and the structure of global governance. It contributes to our understanding of global institutional history and economic governance, precisely at a moment when global institutions have lost prestige and leverage.
Smoking and risk of colorectal cancer according to KRAS and BRAF mutation status in a Japanese prospective Study
Authors: Nakano Shiori , Yamaji Taiki , Shiraishi Kouya , Hidaka Akihisa , Shimazu Taichi , Kuchiba Aya , Saito Masahiro , Kunishima Fumihito , Nakaza Ryouji , Kohno Takashi , Sawada Norie , Inoue Manami , Tsugane Shoichiro , Iwasaki Motoki
Published: June 2023

Although smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for many types of cancer, evidence for colorectal cancer is equivocal in Asian populations. Recent Western studies have proposed that the association between smoking and colorectal cancer is restricted to specific tumor molecular subtypes. However, no studies have evaluated the association according to tumor molecular subtypes in Asian populations. In a Japanese prospective population-based cohort study of 18 773 participants, we collected tumor tissues from incident colorectal cancer cases and evaluated KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) and BRAF (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) mutation status using target sequencing. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of smoking with the risk of overall colorectal cancer and its subtypes defined by KRAS and BRAF mutation status. Among 339 cases, KRAS and BRAF mutations were identified in 164 (48.4%) and 16 (4.7%) cases, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted HR for ever smoking compared with never smoking was 1.24 [95% CI: 0.93–1.66], 1.75 [1.14–2.68], 0.87 [0.59–1.29], 1.24 [0.93–1.67] and 1.22 [0.38–3.93] for overall, KRAS wild-type, KRAS-mutated, BRAF wild-type and BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, respectively. The statistically significant heterogeneity was indicated between KRAS mutation status (Pheterogeneity = 0.01) but not between BRAF mutation status. This study is the first to demonstrate that smokers have an approximately 2-fold higher risk of KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer than never smokers in an Asian population. Our findings support that smoking is a risk factor for colorectal cancer, especially for its subtype without KRAS mutations, in Asian populations.
Management of Pediatric Pneumonia: A Decade After the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America Guideline
Authors: Ambroggio Lilliam , Cotter Jillian , Hall Matthew , Shapiro Daniel J , Lipsett Susan C , Hersh Adam L , Shah Samir S , Brogan Thomas V , Gerber Jeffrey S , Williams Derek J , Blaschke Anne J , Cogen Jonathan D , Neuman Mark I
Published: June 2023

Background

Incomplete uptake of guidelines can lead to nonstandardized care, increased expenditures, and adverse clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the 2011 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America (PIDS/IDSA) pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guideline that emphasized aminopenicillin use and de-emphasized the use of chest radiographs (CXRs) in certain populations.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study queried a national administrative database of children's hospitals to identify children aged 3 months–18 years with CAP who visited 1 of 28 participating hospitals from 2009 to 2021. PIDS/IDSA pediatric CAP guideline recommendations regarding antibiotic therapy, diagnostic testing, and imaging were evaluated. Segmented regression interrupted time series was used to measure guideline-concordant practices with interruptions for guideline publication and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Results

Of 315 384 children with CAP, 71 804 (22.8%) were hospitalized. Among hospitalized children, there was a decrease in blood culture performance (0.5% per quarter) and increase in aminopenicillin prescribing (1.1% per quarter). Among children discharged from the emergency department (ED), there was an increase in aminopenicillin prescription (0.45% per quarter), whereas the rate of obtaining CXRs declined (0.12% per quarter). However, use of CXRs rebounded during the COVID-19 pandemic (increase of 1.56% per quarter). Hospital length of stay, ED revisit rates, and hospital readmission rates remained stable.

Conclusions

Guideline publication was associated with an increase of aminopenicillin prescribing. However, rates of diagnostic testing did not materially change, suggesting the need to consider implementation strategies to meaningfully change clinical practice for children with CAP.
Intraperitoneal pressure in peritoneal dialysis patients: a need for treatment individualization
Authors: Ferreira Ana Carina
Published: June 2023

High-quality and goal-directed peritoneal dialysis (PD) prescription should be provided to all PD patients. Prioritizing patients' goals is necessary for their quality of life, as it is assessment of volume and nutritional status, anemia and mineral and bone management, or small-solute removal. To optimize the removal of small solutes, and depending on membrane characteristics, the increase in concentration gradient difference or the increase in volume (recruitment of all peritoneal capacities) can be performed. Nevertheless, intraperitoneal volume should be tailored by measuring the intraperitoneal pressure (IPP) to avoid PD associated mechanical complications. In this editorial, a brief review on how IPP can be measured, and its implications are noted.
Layer myocardial strain is the most heritable echocardiographic trait
Authors: Huttin Olivier , Xhaard Constance , Dandine-Roulland Claire , Le Floch Edith , Bacq-Daian Delphine , Lamiral Zohra , Bozec Erwan , Deleuze Jean-François , Zannad Faiez , Rossignol Patrick , Girerd Nicolas
Published: June 2023

Aims

Myocardial deformation assessed by strain analysis represents a significant advancement in our assessment of cardiac mechanics. However, whether this variable is genetically heritable or whether all/most of its variability is related to environmental factors is currently unknown. We sought to determine the heritability of echocardiographically determined cardiac mechanics indices in a population setting.

Methods and results

A total of 1357 initially healthy subjects (women 51.6%; 48.2 ± 14.1 years) were included in this study from 20-year follow-up after the fourth visit of the longitudinal familial STANISLAS cohort (Lorraine, France). Data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment, using acquisition and measurement protocols recommended by the EACVI (European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging)/ASE (American Society of Echocardiography)/Industry Task Force. Layer-specific global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (full-wall, subendocardial, and subepicardial) and conventional structural and functional cardiac parameters and their potential heritability were assessed using restricted maximum likelihood analysis, with genetic relatedness matrix calculated from genome-wide association data. Indices of longitudinal/circumferential myocardial function and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction had low heritability (ranging from 10% to 20%). Diastolic and standard LV function parameters had moderate heritability (ranging from 20% to 30%) except for end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (30% and 45%, respectively). In contrast, global longitudinal subendocardial strain (GLSEndo)/global longitudinal subepicardial strain (GLSEpi) ratio had a high level of heritability (65%). Except for GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio, a large percentage of variance remained unexplained (>50%).

Conclusions

In our population cohort, GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio had a high level of heritability, whereas other classical and mechanical LV function parameters did not. Given the increasing recognition of GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio as an early/sensitive imaging biomarker of systolic dysfunction, our results suggest the possible existence of individual genetic predispositions to myocardial decline.
Congenital disconnection of the pulmonary arteries
Authors: Karila-Cohen Julie , Gaudin Régis , Malekzadeh-Milani Sophie , Derridj Neil , Panaioli Elena , Raisky Olivier , Bonnet Damien
Published: June 2023

OBJECTIVES

Disconnected pulmonary artery (PA) is a rare anomaly that can be isolated or associated with complex intracardiac malformations. Early reimplantation of the disconnected PA is recommended to allow growth and satisfactory pulmonary perfusion while preventing collateral artery development. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients with disconnected PA and, for those who had surgical reimplantation, to determine the incidence, delay and predictive factors of reintervention for reconnected PA stenosis.

METHODS

We include patients with the diagnosis of congenitally disconnected PA and surgical repair at our institution.

RESULTS

Retrospective observational study of 55 patients with a disconnected PA. Fifty-one underwent surgical correction and were followed up at our institution between 2000 and 2022. Disconnected PAs were observed in isolation in 31% of the cases. The most frequent form was left PA originating from the arterial duct (58%). The reimplantation was done at the median age of 12 days. Anastomotic stenosis was observed during follow-up in 71% of the patients with 75% of them requiring reintervention (55% of the population). The median delay to reintervention was 3.2 years after reimplantation, and >25% of reinterventions on the reimplanted PA occurred within the first postoperative year. We found more reintervention if associated cardiac defect, without significant statistic difference. Weight at re-confluence, presence of ductal tissue at the origin of the PA and prior shunt placement on the disconnected PA were not found to be risk factors for reintervention.

DISCUSSION

After surgical reimplantation of PA, >50% of patients required reintervention for PA stenosis. Technical improvements should be sought to reduce the incidence of this complication.
Work-related stress amongst legal medical doctors: the need for systematic psychological support. An Italian perspective
Authors: Sablone Sara , Groicher Matthew , Patrizia Fanco Tamara , Risola Roberta , M Violante Grazia , Bellino Mara , Lagona Valeria , Grattagliano Ignazio
Published: June 2023

Legal medical doctors (LMDs) expertise encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. Work-related stress amongst LMDs is an extremely relevant factor, which affects the quality of LMDs life and work. Whilst it is a better-known problem abroad, this issue is poorly debated in Italy, as demonstrated by this literature analysis. The aim of this paper is to better understand the main sources of stress in the practice of legal medicine in Italy, highlighting the need for systematic psychological support. The risks of work-related stress for the social and health professions are well known in literature. In Italy, however, due to a series of complex circumstances and cultural and research delays, forensic practitioners often seem to be excluded from these kinds of complex issues. The authors, after a series of considerations drawn from a review of the literature and from experience in the forensic and medical field, point out how work in this area entails risks for workers, on par with all others belonging to the helping and social-health professions. They conclude their contribution with a series of proposals for appropriate protocols to cope with such problems for workers in the forensic and medical field.

Key points
Neighborhood Cohesion Across the Life Course and Effects on Cognitive Aging
Authors: Choi Jean , Han Sae Hwang , Ng Yee To , Muñoz Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Greater neighborhood cohesion is associated with better cognitive function in adulthood and may serve as a protective factor against cognitive impairment and decline. We build on prior work by examining the effects of perceived neighborhood cohesion across the life course on level and change in cognitive function in adulthood.

Methods

Utilizing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2016) and its Life History Mail Survey, we leveraged data from 3,599 study participants (baseline age: 51–89) who participated in up to 10 waves. Respondents provided retrospective ratings of neighborhood cohesion at childhood (age 10), young adulthood (age at the first full-time job), early midlife (age 40), and concurrently at baseline (i.e., late midlife/adulthood); they completed the modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. We fit a univariate latent growth curve model of change in cognitive function across waves and tested whether neighborhood cohesion during each recollected life stage predicted level and change in cognitive function.

Results

Greater neighborhood cohesion during childhood and late midlife/adulthood each predicted higher cognitive function at baseline but not the rate of cognitive decline. The final model showed that greater neighborhood cohesion in childhood and in late midlife/adulthood remained significantly associated with higher baseline cognitive function, even after accounting for one another.

Discussion

Findings provide insight into life-course neighborhood contextual influences on cognitive aging. Our results emphasize the need for more research to understand the life-course dynamics between neighborhood environments and cognitive aging.
Managing Complexity: Black Older Adults With Multimorbidity
Authors: Fritz Heather , Chase Sage , Morgan Lauren , Cutchin Malcolm P
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives

Black older adults have higher rates of multimorbidity and receive less effective multimorbidity support than their white counterparts. Yet little is known about the experiences of Black older adults with multimorbidity that may be at the heart of those disparities and which are central to interventions and improving care for this population. In this study, we aimed to conceptualize the multimorbidity management (MM) experience for Black older adults.

Research Design and Methods

As part of a larger study on Black older adults’ multimorbidity and physician empathy, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 Black older adults living in a large midwestern city in the United States aged 65 years and older with self-reported multimorbidity. We used grounded theory analysis to distill findings into a core conceptual category as well as component domains and dimensions.

Results

“Managing complexity” emerged as the core category to describe MM in our sample. Managing complexity included domains of “social context,” “daily logistics,” “care time,” and “care roles.”

Discussion and Implications

We discuss how managing complexity is distinct from patient complexity and how it is related to cumulative inequality and precarity. Study findings have potential implications for intervention around provider education and empathy as well as for enabling agency of Black older adults with MM.
Evaluating the Indian Refugee Law Regime: How Has the Judiciary Responded to Refugee Claims in Light of International Law Obligations, and How Can It Do Better?
Authors: Birla Aishwarya
Published: June 2023

Since India has no established refugee regime, most developments in this sphere have arisen from judgments. However, the lack of relevant applicable law means that these developments are piecemeal and humanitarian at best, failing to make true advances in jurisprudence, and anti-refugee at worst. This article argues that through recourse to international law, these hurdles can be surmounted to ensure more robust protection to refugees. Further, it is argued that constitutional and international law obligations binding India mandate that the Indian judiciary refer to these international law instruments. Doing so would ensure significantly stronger protection for refugees and less deference to the executive’s ad hoc stance.
Nonlinear ill-posed problem in low-dose dental cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Park Hyoung Suk , Hyun Chang Min , Seo Jin Keun
Published: June 2023

This paper describes the mathematical structure of the ill-posed nonlinear inverse problem of low-dose dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and explains the advantages of a deep learning-based approach to the reconstruction of computed tomography images over conventional regularization methods. This paper explains the underlying reasons why dental CBCT is more ill-posed than standard computed tomography. Despite this severe ill-posedness, the demand for dental CBCT systems is rapidly growing because of their cost competitiveness and low radiation dose. We then describe the limitations of existing methods in the accurate restoration of the morphological structures of teeth using dental CBCT data severely damaged by metal implants. We further discuss the usefulness of panoramic images generated from CBCT data for accurate tooth segmentation. We also discuss the possibility of utilizing radiation-free intra-oral scan data as prior information in CBCT image reconstruction to compensate for the damage to data caused by metal implants.
Algebraic and o-Minimal Flows Beyond the Cocompact Case
Authors: Dembner Spencer , Spink Hunter
Published: June 2023

Let $X \subset \mathbb{C}^{n}$ be an algebraic variety, and let $\Lambda \subset \mathbb{C}^{n}$ be a discrete subgroup whose real and complex spans agree. We describe the topological closure of the image of $X$ in $\mathbb{C}^{n} / \Lambda $, thereby extending a result of Peterzil–Starchenko in the case when $\Lambda $ is cocompact. We also obtain a similar extension when $X\subset \mathbb{R}^{n}$ is definable in an o-minimal structure with no restrictions on $\Lambda $, and as an application prove the following conjecture of Gallinaro: for a closed semi-algebraic $X\subset \mathbb{C}^{n}$ (such as a complex algebraic variety) and $\exp :\mathbb{C}^{n}\to (\mathbb{C}^{*})^{n}$ the coordinate-wise exponential map, we have $\overline{\exp (X)}=\exp (X)\cup \bigcup _{i=1}^{m} \exp (C_{i})\cdot \mathbb{T}_{i}$ where $\mathbb{T}_{i}\subset (\mathbb{C}^{*})^{n}$ are positive-dimensional compact real tori and $C_{i}\subset \mathbb{C}^{n}$ are semi-algebraic.
Natural History of Nonhuman Primates After Oral Exposure to Ebola Virus Variant Makona
Authors: Prasad Abhishek N , Agans Krystle N , Geisbert Joan B , Borisevich Viktoriya , Deer Daniel J , Dobias Natalie S , Comer Jason E , Woolsey Courtney , Fenton Karla A , Geisbert Thomas W , Cross Robert W
Published: June 2023

Background

The primary route of infection by Ebola virus (EBOV) is through contact of mucosal surfaces. Few studies have explored infection of nonhuman primates (NHPs) via the oral mucosa, which is a probable portal of natural infection in humans.

Methods

To further characterize the pathogenesis of EBOV infection via the oral exposure route, we challenged cohorts of cynomolgus monkeys with low doses of EBOV variant Makona.

Results

Infection with 100 or 50 PFU of EBOV Makona via the oral route resulted in 50% and 83% lethality, respectively. Animals that progressed to fatal disease exhibited lymphopenia, marked coagulopathy, high viral loads, and increased levels of serum markers of inflammation and hepatic/renal injury. Survival in these cohorts was associated with milder fluctuations in leukocyte populations, lack of coagulopathy, and reduced or absent serum markers of inflammation and/or hepatic/renal function. Surprisingly, 2 surviving animals from the 100- and 50-PFU cohorts developed transient low-level viremia in the absence of other clinical signs of disease. Conversely, all animals in the 10 PFU cohort remained disease free and survived to the study end point.

Conclusions

Our observations highlight the susceptibility of NHPs, and by extension, likely humans, to relatively low doses of EBOV via the oral route.
Pathogenicity of Lloviu and Bombali Viruses in Type I Interferon Receptor Knockout Mice
Authors: Fletcher Paige , Feldmann Friederike , Takada Ayato , Crossland Nicholas A , Hume Adam J , Albariño César , Kemenesi Gábor , Feldmann Heinz , Mühlberger Elke , Marzi Andrea
Published: June 2023

Type I interferon receptor knockout (IFNAR−/−) mice are not able to generate a complete innate immune response; therefore, these mice are often considered to assess the pathogenicity of emerging viruses. We infected IFNAR−/− mice with a low or high dose of Lloviu virus (LLOV) or Bombali virus (BOMV) by the intranasal (IN) or intraperitoneal (IP) route and compared virus loads at early and late time points after infection. No signs of disease and no viral RNA were detected after IN infection regardless of LLOV dose. In contrast, IP infections resulted in increased viral loads in the high-dose LLOV and BOMV groups at the early time point. The low-dose LLOV and BOMV groups achieved higher viral loads at the late time point. However, there was 100% survival in all groups and no signs of disease. In conclusion, our results indicate a limited value of the IFNAR−/− mouse model for investigation of the pathogenicity of LLOV and BOMV.
Increased Peripheral Inflammation Is Associated With Structural Brain Changes and Reduced Blood Flow in People With Virologically Controlled HIV
Authors: Burdo Tricia H , Robinson Jake A , Cooley Sarah , Smith Mandy D , Flynn Jacqueline , Petersen Kalen J , Nelson Brittany , Westerhaus Elizabeth , Wisch Julie , Ances Beau M
Published: June 2023

Background

While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved outcomes for people with HIV (PWH), brain dysfunction is still evident. Immune activation and inflammation remain elevated in PWH receiving ART, thereby contributing to morbidity and mortality. Previous studies demonstrated reduced functional and structural changes in PWH; however, underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Methods

Our cohort consisted of PWH with ART adherence and viral suppression ( < 50 copies/mL; N = 173). Measurements included immune cell markers of overall immune health (CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio) and myeloid inflammation (CD16+ monocytes), plasma markers of inflammatory status (soluble CD163 and CD14), and structural and functional neuroimaging (volume and cerebral blood flow [CBF], respectively).

Results

Decreased CD4/CD8 ratios correlated with reduced brain volume, and higher levels of inflammatory CD16+ monocytes were associated with reduced brain volume in total cortex and gray matter. An increase in plasma soluble CD14—a marker of acute peripheral inflammation attributed to circulating microbial products—was associated with reduced CBF within the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices and total gray matter.

Conclusions

CD4/CD8 ratio and number of CD16+ monocytes, which are chronic immune cell markers, are associated with volumetric loss in the brain. Additionally, this study shows a potential new association between plasma soluble CD14 and CBF.