bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface oxidation of commercial activated carbon with enriching carboxyl groups for high-yield electrocatalytic H2O2 production
Authors: Wang Meilin , Li Yaoxin , Xu Jiaoxing , Guan Lunhui
Published: October 2023

Two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) for H2O2 production is regarded as a more ecologically friendly substitute to the anthraquinone method. However, the search of selective and cheap catalysts is still challenging. Herein, we developed a neutral-selective and efficient nonprecious electrocatalyst that was prepared from a commercial activated carbon (AC) by simply microwave-assisted ash impurity elimination and hydrogen peroxide oxidation for surface functional sites optimization. The oxygen configuration can be tuned with enriching carboxyl group up to 6.65 at.% by the dosage of hydrogen peroxide (mass ratio of H2O2/C = ∼0–8.3). Chemical titration experiments identified the carbonyl groups as the most potential active sites, with selectivity boosted by the additional carboxyl groups. The microwave-assisted moderate-oxidized activated carbon (MW-AC5.0) demonstrated optimal 2e− ORR activity and selectivity in neutral electrolyte (0.1 M K2SO4), with H2O2 selectivity reaching ∼75%–97%, a maximum H2O2 production rate (1.90 mol·gcatal
−1·h−1@0.1 V) and satisfying faradaic efficiency (∼85%) in gas-diffusion-electrode. When coupled with Fenton reaction, it can degrade a model organic pollutant (methylene blue [MB], 50 ppm) to colorless in a short time of 20 min, indicating the potential applications in the environmental remediation.
Broadband high-performance vertical WS1.08Se0.92/Si heterojunction photodetector with MXene electrode
Authors: Xiong Yuexu , Chen Taihong , Feng Wenlin
Published: October 2023

Vertical semiconductor van der Waals heterojunctions are essential for fabricating high-performance photodetectors. However, the range of the spectral response and defect states of semiconductor materials are two critical factors affecting the performance of photodetectors. In this work, the spectral response range of WS2 was changed through WS2 band gap regulation, and a self-powered vertical WS1.08Se0.92/Si heterojunction photodetector with MXene electrode was prepared by synthesizing WS1.08Se0.92 film on Si substrate and vertically stacking Ti3C2T
x
MXene on the film. Due to the electron collection of MXene and the wonderful junction quality of WS1.08Se0.92/Si, the photodetector can detect near-infrared light in the range of 980–1310 nm, which exceed the detection limit of WS1.08Se0.92. And the device had high sensitivity in the broadband. The responsivity was 4.58 A W−1, the specific detectivity was 4.58 × 1011 Jones, the on/off ratio was 4.95 × 103, and the fast response time was 9.81/9.03 μs. These properties are superior to previously reported WS2-based photodetectors. Vertical structure, Energy band tuning, and MXene electrode provide a new idea for preparing broadband high-performance and self-powered photodetector.
Bubble cloud characteristics and ablation efficiency in dual-frequency intrinsic threshold histotripsy
Authors: Edsall Connor , Huynh Laura , Hall Timothy L , Vlaisavljevich Eli
Published: October 2023

Histotripsy is a non-thermal focused ultrasound ablation method that destroys tissue through the generation and activity of acoustic cavitation bubble clouds. Intrinsic threshold histotripsy uses single-cycle pulses to generate bubble clouds when the dominant negative pressure phase exceeds an intrinsic threshold of ∼25–30 MPa. The ablation efficiency is dependent upon the size and density of bubbles within the bubble cloud. This work investigates the effects of dual-frequency pulsing schemes on the bubble cloud behavior and ablation efficiency in intrinsic threshold histotripsy. A modular 500 kHz:3 MHz histotripsy transducer treated agarose phantoms using dual-frequency histotripsy pulses with a 1:1 pressure ratio from 500 kHz and 3 MHz frequency elements and varying arrival times for the 3 MHz pulse relative to the arrival of the 500 kHz pulse (−100 ns, 0 ns, and +100 ns). High-speed optical imaging captured cavitation effects to characterize bubble cloud and individual bubble dynamics. The effects of dual-frequency pulsing on lesion formation and ablation efficiency were also investigated in red blood cell (RBC) phantoms. Results showed that the single bubble and bubble cloud size for dual-frequency cases were intermediate to published results for the component single-frequencies of 500 kHz and 3 MHz. Additionally, bubble cloud size and dynamics were shown to be altered by the arrival time of the 3 MHz pulse with respect to the 500 kHz pulse, with more uniform cloud expansion and collapse observed for early (−100 ns) arrival. Finally, RBC phantom experiments showed that dual-frequency exposures were capable of generating precise lesions with smaller areas and higher ablation efficiencies than previously published results for 500 kHz or 3 MHz. Overall, results demonstrate dual-frequency histotripsy’s ability to modulate bubble cloud size and dynamics can be leveraged to produce precise lesions at higher ablation efficiencies than previously observed for single-frequency pulsing.
Performance optimization of high-K GAA-PZT negative capacitance FET MFIS silicon nanowire for low power RFIC and analog applications
Authors: Kumar Vivek , Maurya Ravindra Kumar , Malvika  , Rawat Gopal , Mummaneni Kavicharan
Published: October 2023

In this article, Gate-All-Around Lead Zirconate Titanate Negative Capacitance (GAA PZT- NCFET) based Silicon Nanowire (SiNW) device architecture is investigated for the RF/Analog applications using Sentauras TCAD simulations. In this study the variation of ferroelectric layer thicknesses (tfe) has been systematically investigated. The proposed device yields higher values of on current, transconductance, cut off frequency, TFP, and Ion/Ioff ratio and lower values of off current, SS and threshold voltage, compared to baseline device. The proposed device delivers Ion, gm, fT, and TFP as 3.38 mA, 9.6 mS, 7.625 THz, and 74.85 THz V−1, respectively which are 220%, 219%, 95% and 259% respectively, higher than the baseline device. Moreover, the Ion/Ioff ratio for the proposed work is 8 × 1013 which is 7.1 × 103 times that of baseline device showing a monumental increment in this ratio. Furthermore, the effect of FE thicknesses on various linearity parameters, higher order harmonics, voltage intercept points (VIP2, VIP3), third order power intercept (IIP3) and third order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) have been investigated thoroughly. The proposed device structure offers lower values of higher order harmonics and higher values of voltage intercept points. Also, the IIP3 and IMD3 have been improved. Therefore, the linearity parameters of the device have been significantly improved when compared to the baseline device. The alluring results have been utilized to optimize the bias point of the presented device. Owing to the improved RF/Analog and linearity performance, the presented device could be utilized for imminent next generation low power RFIC applications.
The scattering problem of obliquely incident electromagnetic waves by an inhomogeneous infinitely long cylinder
Authors: Gintides D , Giogiakas S , Mindrinos L
Published: October 2023

We study the scattering of a time-harmonic electromagnetic wave incident at an oblique angle on a dielectric, isotropic, and fully inhomogeneous cylinder. This infinitely long cylinder is oriented parallel to the z − axis in three dimensions. Our main focus is on the inverse problem, aiming to reconstruct the refractive index of the cylinder. The material parameters’ z − independence allows us to consider the scattering problem only on its horizontal cross-sections. We examine the well-posedness of the direct problem and proceed to numerically solve the corresponding inverse problem for one incident field. To achieve accurate reconstructions of the refractive index, we introduce a novel numerical scheme that yields satisfactory results.
Optical and temperature-dependent electrical and dielectric properties of ultrasound-synthesized CdS quantum dots
Authors: Ali Manar A , Chun Doo-Man , Ibrahim E M M , Abd-Elrahim A G
Published: October 2023

CdS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized by the ultrasound-assisted chemical precipitation technique. The structure analysis revealed the presence of bi-structural cubic and hexagonal phases with an average crystallite size of 3 nm. The N2-adsorption isotherm exhibited the evolution of meso-/macro-porous interfaces with a pore size of 7.56 nm and a surface area of 44.41 m2·g−1. The improvement of the quantum size effect in CdS QDs resulted in the increase of optical bandgap to 2.52 eV compared with the corresponding bulk phase. However, the analysis of long-tail states absorption revealed a very small Urbach energy of about 76 meV compared with CdS QDs prepared by other techniques. The as-synthesized CdS QDs revealed high room-temperature DC conductivity of 2.56 × 10–6 Ω−1 · m−1 and very small activation energy of 268 meV facilitating tunnelling of the thermionically excited carrier through the high bandgap of CdS QDs. The frequency-dependent behavior of AC conductivity (σ
AC) and dielectric constant (ε
r) of CdS QDs were investigated at different temperatures in the range from 303 K to 453 K. It was observed that both σ
AC and ε
r were improved with increasing temperature up to 363 K followed by a sudden decrease at higher temperatures.
Measurement of gas holdup characteristics in two-phase column flotation by electrical capacitance volume tomography
Authors: Nugraha Harisma , Haryono Didied , Harjanto Sri , Huda Mahfudz Al , Taruno Warsito P
Published: October 2023

Electrical capacitance volume tomography measured the gas holdup in two-phase column flotation. The purpose was to characterize gas holdup and understand its relation to flow patterns as a function of the types and doses of frothers. Experiments were conducted using laboratory-scale column flotation cells with dimensions of 5 ×125 cm. The superficial gas velocities in the experiment were 0.5–4 cm s−1 with an interval of 0.5 cm/s. Methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) and Oreprep F-583-OZ (Oreprep) were used as frothers at 5–40 ppm doses. The results showed that the difference between the lowest and highest gas holdup in the bubbly flow regime was ∼0.07, and the transition from the bubbly to churn-turbulent flow occurred at a superficial gas velocity of 2 c m /s .
Diverse optical soliton solutions of two space-time fractional nonlinear evolution equations by the extended kudryashov method
Authors: Devnath Sujoy , Akbar M Ali , Gómez-Aguilar J F
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the inclusive optical soliton solutions to the (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear time-fractional Zoomeron equation and the space-time fractional nonlinear Chen-Lee-Liu equation using the extended Kudryashov technique. The beta derivative is used to conduct the fractional terms and investigate wide-spectral soliton solutions to the considered models. The obtained solutions yield a variety of typical soliton shapes, including ant-peakon soliton, V-shaped soliton, anti-bell-shaped soliton, kink soliton, periodic soliton, singular periodic soliton for the specific value of the parameters. The three-dimensional, contour, and two-dimensional graphs of the derived solitons have been plotted to illustrate the structure, propagation, and influence of the fractional parameter. It is observed that the fractional parameter affects the amplitudes and periods of certain solitons. The precision of the acquired solutions is confirmed by reintroducing them into the original equation using Mathematica. The findings of this study indicate that the employed method has the capability of yielding compatible, creative, and useful solutions for diverse nonlinear evolution equations with fractional derivatives. This approach could introduce novel ways for unraveling other nonlinear equations and have implications in diverse sectors of nonlinear science and engineering.
Prompt cusps and the dark matter annihilation signal
Authors: Delos M. Sten , White Simon D.M.
Published: October 2023

As the first dark matter objects gravitationally condense, a density cusp forms immediately at every initial density maximum. Numerical simulations and theoretical arguments suggest that these prompt cusps can survive until the present day. We show that if dark matter is a thermally produced weakly interacting massive particle, many thousands of prompt cusps with individual masses similar to that of the Earth may be present in every solar mass of dark matter. This radically alters predictions for the amount and spatial distribution of dark matter annihilation radiation. The annihilation rate is boosted by at least an order of magnitude compared to previous predictions, both in the cosmological average and within galaxy-scale halos. Moreover, the signal is predominantly boosted outside of the centers of galactic halos, so alternative targets become significantly more attractive for indirect-detection searches. For example, prompt cusps present new opportunities to test the dark matter interpretation of the Galactic Center γ-ray excess by searching for similar spectral signatures in the isotropic γ-ray background and large-scale cosmic structure.
Constraining axion-like particles with HAWC observations of TeV blazars
Authors: Jacobsen Sunniva , Linden Tim , Freese Katherine
Published: October 2023

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are a broad class of pseudo-scalar bosons that generically arise from broken symmetries in extensions of the standard model. In many scenarios, ALPs can mix with photons in regions with high magnetic fields. Photons from distant sources can mix with ALPs, which then travel unattenuated through the Universe, before they mix back to photons in the Milky Way galactic magnetic field. Thus, photons can traverse regions where their signals would normally be blocked or attenuated. In this paper, we study TeV γ-ray observations from distant blazars, utilizing the significant γ-ray attenuation expected from such signals to look for excess photon fluxes that may be due to ALP-photon mixing. We find no such excesses among a stacked population of seven blazars and
constrain the ALP-photon coupling constant to fall below ∼4.5×10-11 GeV-1 for ALP masses below 300 neV. These results are competitive with, or better than, leading terrestrial and astrophysical constraints in this mass range.
The FLUKA cross sections for cosmic-ray leptons and uncertainties on current positron predictions
Authors: De La Torre Luque P. , Loparco F. , Mazziotta M.N.
Published: October 2023

Cosmic-ray (CR) antiparticles have the potential to reveal signatures of unexpected
astrophysical processes and even new physics beyond the Standard Model. Recent CR detectors have
provided accurate measurements of the positron flux, revealing the so-called positron excess at
high energies. However, the uncertainties related to the modelling of the local positron flux are
still very high, significantly affecting our models of positron emission from pulsars and current
dark matter searches.

In this work, we report a new set of cross sections for positron and electron production derived
from the FLUKA code. We compare them with the most extended cross-section data-sets and show
the impact of neglecting the positron production from heavy CRs. Then, we review the most
significant sources of uncertainties in our current estimations of the secondary positron flux at
Earth and examine for the first time the impact of considering the spiral arm structure of the
Galaxy in these estimations. Finally, we provide state-of-the-art predictions of the local positron
flux and discuss the limitations of our dark matter searches with positrons and difficulties to
determine the contribution from pulsars to the positron flux at low energies.
Non-Gaussianity from the cross-correlation of the astrophysical Gravitational Wave Background and the Cosmic Microwave Background
Authors: Perna Gabriele , Ricciardone Angelo , Bertacca Daniele , Matarrese Sabino
Published: October 2023

Since the first LIGO/Virgo detection, Gravitational Waves (GWs) have been very promising
as a new complementary probe to understand our Universe. One of the next challenges of GW search
is the detection and characterization of the Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background (SGWB), that
is expected to open a window on the very early Universe (cosmological background) and to provide
us new information on astrophysical source populations (astrophysical background). One way to
characterize the SGWB and to extract information about its origin is through the cross-correlation
with other cosmological probes. To this aim, in this paper, we explore the cross-correlation
between the astrophysical background anisotropies and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
ones. Such a signal is sensitive to primordial non-Gaussianity (nG) through the GW bias. Thus, we
study the capability of next generation space-based interferometers to detect such a
cross-correlation signal and to constrain primordial nG.
Assessing suitability of major meteorological factors for facility agriculture in mainland China
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhu Jun , Yu Xin , Huang Shaofeng , Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Shenbao , Qiu Rangjian , Agathokleous Evgenios
Published: October 2023

In China, more than two-thirds of protected cultivation occurs in low-tech facilities with limited ability to withstand adverse weather conditions. However, the specific meteorological factors that hinder facility agriculture production in various locations remain unclear. Here, we evaluated temperature and sunlight for assessing facility agriculture suitability in mainland China across different transplanting dates and ENSO phases (El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral) and to determine the optimal transplanting window. This aids in reducing climatic risks, and enhancing adaptation to changing climates. The results showed that growth cycles starting from March to June provide suitable temperature and sunlight, making them ideal transplanting window for many parts of northern China. However, both El Niño and La Niña significantly increased the high-temperature days and shortened the optimal transplanting window. For growth cycles starting from July to the following January, low temperatures are the primary factor limiting facility agriculture production in northern and western China. In southern China, sparse sunlight is the primary limiting factor year-round, and El Niño exacerbates this, particularly for growth cycles starting from September to November. This combined assessment of major meteorological factors, transplanting dates, ENSO phases, and regions, can assist decision-makers and growers in adapting to the changing climate and minimizing production risks.
Preliminary result of dominant frequency and seismic amplification in Penajam Paser Utara and its surrounding regions using the HVSR method
Authors: Mawadah A , Zulfakriza Z , Widiyantoro S , Supendi P , Husni Y M , Lesmana A , Azhari M F
Published: October 2023

East Kalimantan has been designated as the new capital city of Indonesia, precisely in Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara Regency. According to the historical records of seismic activity, there were several destructive earthquakes in East Kalimantan. Therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the local site to assess the seismic hazard potential in the new capital city area and its surroundings. In this research, the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method was applied by utilizing microtremor data from 21 seismometers installed in the research area. The results of the HVSR analysis obtained the dominant frequency (f0) and amplification factor (A0) from the H/V curve. Based on the H/V calculation, the highest f0 is 13.04 Hz and the lowest value is 0.58 Hz. Meanwhile, the highest value for A0 is 6.41, and the lowest value is 1.41. The results of the study show that the research area has a low to medium level of seismic hazard.
Petrogenesis of Adang and Talaya volcanic rocks, in the Mamuju area and its surrounding, West Sulawesi
Authors: Zaidani M A , Priadi B , Sucipta I G B E , Susanto V , Saepuloh A
Published: October 2023

The Adang Volcanic and Talaya Volcanic complex located in the Mamuju area are ancient volcanic complexes of the Neogene period. These two complexes consist of pyroclastic, volcaniclastic, and basic-intermediate lava containing the main modal minerals of leucite and clinopyroxene, making these rocks unique and rarely found in Indonesia. This study aims to determine the petrological and geochemical characteristics as well as the tectonic setting of rock formation. The rocks are generally porphyritic and vitrophyric in texture with various rock types as a result of magma differentiation. The Adang Volcanic Lava is composed of trachyandesite, tephriphonolite, trachyte, phonolite, and leucitite. Talaya Volcanic Lava is composed of basalt and trachybasalt rocks. Based on geochemical content, rocks have high alkalinity with wide range concentrations of K2O (0.27 – 10.12%), Na2O (0.54 – 11.06%), and total alkali (4.6 – 12.6%), as well as evidenced by the presence of feldspathoids. Rocks are divided into three groups, sodic, potassic, and ultrapotassic. The ultrapotassic rocks have similarities with Group III (Active Orogenic Zone) and Group I (Lamproite). The intensive enrichment of incompatible elements such as Rb and Th as well as the negative Nb and Ti anomalies reflect that magma derived from mantle metasomatism and is associated with subduction events. The genesis of the rock occurred in the tectonic setting of alkaline arc magmatism or continental extensional zone which was formed after the collision of the Banggai-Sula microcontinent with West Sulawesi. This process is also indirectly influenced by pre-collision subduction of the oceanic lithosphere.
Peak Ground Velocity (PGV) estimation of Mw 5.6 Cianjur earthquake November 11, 2022 using Global Positioning System (GPS)
Authors: Meilano Irwan , Susilo Susilo , Wibowo Sidik Tri
Published: October 2023

The primary purpose of GPS is to be used for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). In the last decade, research on GPS for earthquake hazards has increased rapidly, such as for tectonic deformation, GPS seismology, modeling earthquake source parameters, estimation of magnitude, etc. In this study, following the Mw 5.6 Cianjur earthquake on November 11, 2022, we estimate the peak ground velocity from the CJUR GPS station, which is located about 15 km from the epicenter. We compute GPS velocity from the high-rate GPS receiver independent exchange (RINEX) data and broadcast ephemeris. Using a narrow line combination of L1 and L2 observations, we invert velocity epoch by epoch. The result shows the CJUR GPS station has a peak ground velocity of about 11.5 cm/s and equal to VI MMI scale. The peak ground velocity from the GPS station could be important for deriving the earthquake shakemap. By increasing the number of GPS stations in Indonesia, it is very important to support earthquake hazard monitoring.
The Effect of Rainfall Anomalies Due to Enso on tea Productivity in West Java Indonesia (Case Study: Bandung Regency)
Authors: Rahmatika  , Wiratmo Joko
Published: October 2023

This study aims to determine the effect of rainfall anomalies due to ENSO on tea productivity in Bandung Regency West Java Indonesia. This study used data on monthly rainfall, tea productivity, and the Nino 3.4 index from 2003-2020. The methods used are Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Butterworth Bandpass Filter, and Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) for the processing of these three data. The results of this study indicate that the rainfall pattern in the Bandung Regency area in 4 districts (Rancabali, Pasirjambu, Pangalengan, and Kertasari) is monsoon. ENSO correlation to rainfall anomalies and rainfall anomalies correlation to tea productivity in each district is low. The highest correlation between ENSO to rainfall anomalies is found in Pangalengan District (-0.309) and the highest correlation between rainfall anomalies to tea productivity is found in Kert asari District for lag 0 and 1 which are -0.304 and -0.285 respectively. The low correlation (-0.148 to - 0.309) showed that the effect of rainfall anomalies due to ENSO on tea productivity of each district in Bandung Regency has a small effect but with a significance value of less than 5% (0.000 to 0.030) which means it has a significant relationship.
Marine-related livelihood activities of Can Gio District Residents: Situation and Solutions for Sustainable Development
Authors: Thu H N , Ha L T M
Published: October 2023

Marine economic exploitation has been interesting for many decades for the Party and Government in Vietnam, especially in exploiting and developing the maritime economy sustainably. Therefore, the Party and the Government in Vietnam have issued resolutions related to marine strategies, such as Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW (February 9, 2007) of the 10th Party Central Committee on Vietnam’s maritime strategy to 2020, which set the goal of turning Vietnam into a country that is strong in the sea, enriching from the sea, etc., or Resolution No. 27/2007/NQ-CP (May 30, 2007) and Resolution No. 84/NQ-CP (December 10, 2015) of the Government on action programs to implement Vietnam’s maritime strategy up to 2020, mentioning many programs of socio-economic development, defense, and security of the sea and islands. In coastal provinces and cities, all programs are developed, and action programs are organized and implemented related to marine exploitation. Cần Giờ is a district of Ho Chi Minh City. The leaders of the district have implemented a number of programs related to marine exploitation and have encouraged people to continue with a variety of sea-related livelihood activities, such as fishing, farming, salting, and tourism associated with maritime ecological culture. These factors have contributed to the socio-economic development of Cần Giờ district and the successful implementation of Party and State guidelines and policies. However, to ensure the long-term viability of Can Gio residents’ marine-based livelihood activities, it is necessary to assess the current situation and propose viable solutions for the future. This is also the main goal of this article.
Early onset adolescent binge drinking is associated with reduced white matter integrity in post-9/11 adult veterans
Authors: Knoff Aubrey A , Knight Arielle R , Salat David H , Bedi Amrita , Currao Alyssa , Fonda Jennifer R , McGlinchey Regina E , Fortier Catherine B
Published: October 2023

Adolescence represents a critical period of neural development during which binge drinking (BD) is prevalent. Though prior work has shown that white matter (WM) integrity is susceptible to damage from excessive alcohol intake in adults, the effect of early adolescent BD on WM health in adulthood remains unknown. Veterans with a history of BD onset before age 15 [n = 49; mean age = 31.8 years; early-onset adolescent binge drinkers (EBD)] and after age 15 [n = 290; mean age = 32.2 years; late-onset adolescent binge drinkers (LBD)] were studied with diffusion tensor imaging. Group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA; movement of water molecules along the WM) and mean diffusivity (MD; average movement of water molecules) were examined as indices of WM integrity using FreeSurfer and FMRIB Software Library (FSL) processing streams. Lower FA and higher MD are thought to represent degradations in WM integrity. A reference group (RG) of social drinkers with no history of BD (n = 31) was used to provide comparative normative data. We observed widespread decreased FA and increased MD in EBDs, compared to LBDs, as well as decreased FA in the pars triangularis, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, superior frontal cortex, isthmus cingulate, and genu and splenium of the corpus callosum EBDs also had lower WM integrity compared to the RG. Adults who initiated BD during early adolescence demonstrated decreased FA and increased MD throughout the frontostriatal circuits that mediate inhibitory control and thus may result in impulsive behavior and a predisposition for developing alcohol use disorder during adulthood.
Letter to the Editors regarding ‘A Meta-Regression of Trial Features Predicting the Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder Pharmacotherapies on Drinking Outcomes in Randomized Clinical Trials: A Secondary Data Analysis’
Authors: Guiraud Julien , van den Brink Wim
Published: October 2023

Short Summary: Grodin et al. conducted a meta-regression analysis of studies testing the effect of pretrial abstinence and diagnosis of alcohol use disorder as treatment effect predictors of pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder. The lack of contrast in these predictors and the suboptimal statistical method that was used may explain the negative findings.
The interplay among breeding timing, brood size, food quantity, and nestling growth rate in the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
Authors: Hadad Ezra , Charter Motti , Ovadia Ofer , Shochat Eyal
Published: October 2023

Optimal clutch size theory predicts a trade-off between egg number and fledgling body mass, potentially affecting their survival rate. Yet, only a few studies have directly linked clutch or brood size to energy (food), nestling growth rate, and timing of breeding. We studied the relationship among all these variables in the Eurasian eagle owl. Of 150 eggs laid in 48 nests, 119 hatched and 117 nestlings fledged, indicating low nestling mortality. The number of eggs, hatchlings and fledglings (possibly indicating territory quality) decreased with ordinal date. The total amount of food brought to the nest increased with brood size, but the average amount per nestling decreased. Nestling growth rate (and thus probably fledgling body mass) was negatively correlated with brood size. A trade-off between brood size and fledgling survival may lessen the benefit of occupying food-rich territories. However, we suggest that fledglings from large broods, despite their relatively low body mass, may have higher survival rates owing to their relatively early fledging. This may be due to: (1) higher prey abundance in late spring compared with late summer and (2) a longer period before entering the cold season. Variation in brood size may therefore represent a set of strategies linked to prey abundance.
Interplay between inflammasomes and PD-1/PD-L1 and their implications in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Jiao Zhongyu , Zhang Jun
Published: October 2023

The inflammasomes play crucial roles in inflammation and cancer development, while the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is critical for immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent research indicates a reciprocal regulatory relationship between inflammasomes and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in cancer development and PD-1 blockade treatment. By activating in diverse cells in tumor tissues, inflammasome upregulates PD-L1 level in the TME. Moreover, the regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 activity by inflammasome activation involves natural killer cells, tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Conversely, PD-1 blockade can activate the inflammasome, potentially influencing treatment outcomes. The interplay between inflammasomes and PD-1/PD-L1 has profound and intricate effects on cancer development and treatment. In this review, we discuss the crosstalk between inflammasomes and PD-1/PD-L1 in cancers, exploring their implications for tumorigenesis, metastasis and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) resistance. The combined therapeutic strategies targeting both inflammasomes and checkpoint molecules hold promising potential as treatments for cancer.
Appetite-regulating hormones modulate odor perception and odor-evoked activity in hypothalamus and olfactory cortices
Authors: Zhao Yao , Bhutani Surabhi , Kahnt Thorsten
Published: October 2023

Odors guide food seeking, and food intake modulates olfactory function. This interaction is mediated by appetite-regulating hormones like ghrelin, insulin, and leptin, which alter activity in the rodent olfactory bulb, but their effects on downstream olfactory cortices have not yet been established in humans. The olfactory tract connects the olfactory bulb to the cortex through 3 main striae, terminating in the piriform cortex (PirC), amygdala (AMY), olfactory tubercule (OT), and anterior olfactory nucleus (AON). Here, we test the hypothesis that appetite-regulating hormones modulate olfactory processing in the endpoints of the olfactory tract and the hypothalamus. We collected odor-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses and plasma levels of ghrelin, insulin, and leptin from human subjects (n = 25) after a standardized meal. We found that a hormonal composite measure, capturing variance relating positively to insulin and negatively to ghrelin, correlated inversely with odor intensity ratings and fMRI responses to odorized vs. clean air in the hypothalamus, OT, and AON. No significant correlations were found with activity in PirC or AMY, the endpoints of the lateral stria. Exploratory whole-brain analyses revealed significant correlations near the diagonal band of Broca and parahippocampal gyrus. These results demonstrate that high (low) blood plasma concentrations of insulin (ghrelin) decrease perceived odor intensity and odor-evoked activity in the cortical targets of the medial and intermediate striae of the olfactory tract, as well as the hypothalamus. These findings expand our understanding of the cortical mechanisms by which metabolic hormones in humans modulate olfactory processing after a meal.
Adaptation of Chagas Disease Screening Recommendations for a Community of At-risk HIV in the United States
Authors: Hayon Jesica , Lupo Sofia , Poveda Cristina , Jones Kathryn M , Qian Qian , Wu Hulin , Giordano Thomas P , Fleischmann Charles J , Bern Caryn , Whitman Jeffrey D , Clark Eva H
Published: October 2023

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is underdiagnosed in the United States. Improved screening strategies are needed, particularly for people at risk for life-threatening sequelae of CD, including people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH). Here we report results of a CD screening strategy applied at a large HIV clinic serving an at-risk population.
Unraveling the effect of temperature and humidity on the life cycle ofDiatraea saccharalis(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and the impact on pest outbreaks
Authors: Carbognin Éllen R , Benedito Antone S , Ferreira Cláudia P , Fernandes Odair A
Published: October 2023

Temperature and humidity are considered the main abiotic factors that affect both the development and survival of ectothermic organisms. In this study, we estimated the development time as well as the thermal requirements of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794; Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a key insect pest of sugarcane and discussed the influence of temperature and relative humidity and its infestation intensity in a scenario of climate change. The models Brière-1 and Ikemoto-Takai provided the best fit to the data of development rate versus temperature. The average life cycle (from egg to adult) ranged from 39.21 ± 4.84 at 32 °C to 137.10 ± 7.47 at 18 °C days. The thermal constant and average base temperature were 547.69 degree-days and 13.64 °C, respectively. The number of larval instars varied from 4 to 7 depending on the temperature, being higher at lower temperatures. The thermal range comprised the interval from 16.7 °C to 33.9 °C and the optimum temperature was estimated as 27.4 °C. Locations with elevated temperature (≥25 °C) and high relative humidity (≥70%) presented larger populations of D. saccharalis. Our findings show that the infestation pressure of this species is highly influenced by both temperature and humidity, and the studied models allow to forecast pest outbreaks. In the context of climate change, information about the thermal range and the optimum temperature contributes to predicting the spatial-temporal distribution of D. saccharalis and, consequently, aids decision making in pest management.
Characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants and new insights into inappropriate dosing: results from the French National Prospective Registry: PAFF
Authors: Guenoun Maxime , Cohen Serge , Villaceque Marc , Sharareh Ali , Schwartz Jerome , Hoffman Olivier , Dib Jean-Claude , Ouazana Leon , Assouline Serge , Parrens Eric , Garban Thierry , Pradeau Vincent , Guedj-Meynier Dominique , Lequeux Benoit , Cohen Charlotte , Durand Philippe , Dievart Francois , Dhanjal Tarvinder S , Sabouret Pierre , Lellouche Nicolas
Published: October 2023

Aims

Since the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, inappropriate and/or underdosing of these drugs has been a major clinical challenge. We evaluated the characteristics of patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs.

Methods and results

Patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs from October 2021 to December 2021 were evaluated from the French National Prospective Registry (PAFF). We evaluated 1890 patients with AF receiving DOACs (apixaban 55%, dabigatran 7%, and rivaroxaban 38%). Inappropriate dosing was noted in 18% of the population. Patients with appropriate dosing had less comorbidities: younger age (75 ± 10 vs. 82 ± 8 years old, P < 0.0001), reduced chronic renal failure (26 vs. 61%, P < 0.0001), and lower CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores (3 ± 2 vs. 4 ± 3, P < 0.0001; 2 ±1 vs. 2 ± 2, P < 0.0001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, older age (P < 0.0001) and a higher CHA2DS2VASc score (P = 0.0056) were independently associated with inappropriate DOAC dosing. Among 472 patients (27%) treated with low-dose rivaroxaban or apixaban, 46% were inappropriately underdosed. Patients inappropriately underdosed were younger (82.3 ± 8.4 vs. 85.9 ± 5.9 years, P < 0.0001) with less chronic renal disease (47 vs. 98%, P < 0.0001). However, these patients had higher rates of prior haemorrhagic events (18 vs. 10%, P = 0.01), clopidogrel use (11 vs. 3%, P = 0.0002), and apixaban prescription (74 vs. 50%, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Within this large registry, DOACs were associated with inappropriate dosing in 18% of cases. Independent predictors of inappropriate dosing were high CHA2DS2VASc scores and older age. Moreover, 46% of patients treated with low-dose DOACs were inappropriately underdosed and more frequently in patients treated with apixaban.
“We’re trained to trust our patients”: a qualitative study on the general practitioners’ trust in patients for colorectal cancer shared care
Authors: Yong Faith R , Naicker Sundresan , Uebel Kerry , Agaliotis Maria , Chan Christopher , Nguyen John D T , Pathirana Thanya , Hawkey Alexandra , Vuong Kylie
Published: October 2023

Background

In a therapeutic partnership, physicians rely on patients to describe their health conditions, join in shared decision-making, and engage with supported self-management activities. In shared care, the patient, primary care, and specialist services partner together using agreed processes and outputs for the patient to be placed at the centre of their care. However, few empirical studies have explored physicians’ trust in patients and its implications for shared care models.

Aim

To explore trust in patients amongst general practitioners (GPs), and the impacts of trust on GPs’ willingness to engage in new models of care, such as colorectal cancer shared care.

Methods

GP participants were recruited through professional networks for semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were integrity checked, coded inductively, and themes developed iteratively.

Results

Twenty-five interviews were analysed. Some GPs view trust as a responsibility of the physician and have a high propensity for trusting patients. For other GPs, trust in patients is developed over successive consultations based on patient characteristics such as honesty, reliability, and proactivity in self-care. GPs were more willing to engage in colorectal cancer shared care with patients with whom they have a developed, trusting relationship.

Conclusions

Trust plays a significant role in the patient’s access to shared care. The implementation of shared care should consider the relational dynamics between the patient and health care providers.
Sustainable production of single-cell oil and protein from wastepaper hydrolysate: identification and optimization of aRhodotorula mucilaginosastrain as a promising yeast
Authors: Campos-Valdez Amador , Kirchmayr Manuel R , Barrera-Martínez Iliana , Casas-Godoy Leticia
Published: October 2023

This study investigated the potential of wastepaper hydrolysate as a sustainable and low-cost carbon source for single-cell oil and protein production, attending to the growing need for alternative feedstocks and waste management strategies. Wastepaper, characterized by its high carbohydrate content, was subjected to enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic treatments for carbohydrate release. The chemo-enzymatic treatment performed better, yielding 65.3 g l−1 of fermentable sugars. A total of 62 yeast strains were screened for single-cell oil accumulation, identifying Rhodotorula mucilaginosa M1K4 as the most advantageous oleaginous yeast. M1K4 lipid production was optimized in liquid culture, and its fatty acid profile was analyzed, showing a high content of industrially valuable fatty acids, particularly palmitic (28%) and oleic (51%). Batch-culture of M1K4 in a 3-l reactor demonstrated the strain’s ability to utilize wastepaper hydrolysate as a carbon source, with dry cell weight, total lipid and protein production of 17.7 g l−1, 4.5 g l−1, and 2.1 g l−1, respectively. Wastepaper as a substrate provides a sustainable solution for waste management and bioproduction. This research highlights the potential of R. mucilaginosa for lipid and protein production from wastepaper hydrolysate.
Copy number variations and their effect on the plasma proteome
Authors: Schmitz Daniel , Li Zhiwei , Lo Faro Valeria , Rask-Andersen Mathias , Ameur Adam , Rafati Nima , Johansson Åsa
Published: October 2023

Structural variations, including copy number variations (CNVs), affect around 20 million bases in the human genome and are common causes of rare conditions. CNVs are rarely investigated in complex disease research because most CNVs are not targeted on the genotyping arrays or the reference panels for genetic imputation. In this study, we characterize CNVs in a Swedish cohort (N = 1,021) using short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and use long-read WGS for validation in a subcohort (N = 15), and explore their effect on 438 plasma proteins. We detected 184,182 polymorphic CNVs and identified 15 CNVs to be associated with 16 proteins (P < 8.22×10−10). Of these, 5 CNVs could be perfectly validated using long-read sequencing, including a CNV which was associated with measurements of the osteoclast-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (OSCAR) and located upstream of OSCAR, a gene important for bone health. Two other CNVs were identified to be clusters of many short repetitive elements and another represented a complex rearrangement including an inversion. Our findings provide insights into the structure of common CNVs and their effects on the plasma proteome, and highlights the importance of investigating common CNVs, also in relation to complex diseases.
Discontinuous Galerkin method for solving viscoacoustic wave equations with amplitude dissipation and phase dispersion separation in isotropic and anisotropic media
Authors: Huang Jiandong , Yang Dinghui , He Xijun
Published: October 2023

The standard-linear-solid (SLS) theory works well for viscoelasticity. However, the coupling of amplitude dissipation and phase dispersion makes it impossible to investigate their effects separately by the discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM). In this paper, we have derived newly viscoacoustic wave equations with amplitude dissipation and phase dispersion separation in isotropic and anisotropic media, based on a Fourier method, which is suitable for using a time–space-domain DGM on unstructured meshes. The basic framework of DGM is constructed and the amplitude-dissipation effect and the phase-dispersion effect in viscoacoustic wave equations are investigated. The original equation is first transformed into the frequency–wavenumber domain, where the amplitude dissipation and phase dispersion are separated effectively, and then the decoupled formulation is converted back to the time–space domain. The new equivalent and approximate equations can be obtained. Compared with the original equation, the newly approximated equation enables us to separate the amplitude-loss and phase-delay terms, respectively, and experiences four kinds of effects, namely acoustic effect, only amplitude-dissipation effect, only phase-dispersion effect and both amplitude-dissipation and phase-dispersion effect. Moreover, the stability condition and numerical dispersion for using DGM to solve the new and old equations are presented. Several numerical examples are used to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the modified approximate equations in viscoacoustic isotropic and anisotropic media. The numerical results in a cave and SEG/EAGE salt models demonstrate that the new equations combined with DGM have performances on viscoacoustic media with complex geological structures.
Spectral-infinite-element simulations of seismic wave propagation in self-gravitating, rotating 3-D Earth models
Authors: Gharti Hom Nath , Eaton Will , Tromp Jeroen
Published: October 2023

Although observation of gravity perturbations induced by earthquakes is possible, simulation of seismic wave propagation in a self-gravitating, rotating Earth model with 3-D heterogeneity is challenging due to the numerical complexities associated with the unbounded Poisson/Laplace equation that governs gravity perturbations. Therefore, gravity perturbations are generally omitted, and only the background gravity is taken into account using the so-called Cowling approximation. However, gravity perturbations may be significant for large earthquakes (Mw ≥ 6.0) and long-period responses.

In this study, we develop a time-domain solver based on the spectral-infinite-element approach, which combines the spectral element method inside the Earth domain with a mapped-infinite-element method in the infinite space outside. This combination allows us to solve the complete, coupled momentum-gravitational equations in a fully discretized domain while accommodating complex 3-D Earth models. We compute displacement and gravity perturbations considering various Earth models, including Preliminary Reference Earth Model and S40RTS and conduct comprehensive benchmarks of our method against the spherical harmonics normal-mode approach and the direct radial integration method. Our 3-D simulations accommodate topography, bathymetry, rotation, ellipticity and oceans. Results show that our technique is accurate and stable for long simulations. Our method provides a new scope for incorporating earthquake-induced gravity perturbations into source and adjoint tomographic inversions.