bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volatility and Asymmetric Effect of Crude Oil Options on Crude Oil Market: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Chen GAO Tian , Hui GAO
Published: January 2023

Based on daily data, this paper uses the GARCH model family to empirically study the impact of crude oil option launch on the volatility and asymmetric leverage effect of crude oil futures market variables (futures price, trading volume, open interest, inventory).The conclusion is as follows: Regardless of the impact of the COVID-19, the launch of crude oil options has a long-term volatility impact on price, open interest and inventory volatility in addition to trading volume, and only has a long-term volatility impact on prices under the influence of COVID-19.Regardless of whether the impact of COVID-19 is considered, the launch of crude oil options has intensified the volatility of price yield, reduced the volatility of trading volume, open interest and inventory, and Considering COVID-19 influence, the volatility of crude oil futures prices yield has weakened, and the degree of weakening of trading volume fluctuations has decreased. Regardless of the impact of COVID-19, crude oil futures prices, trading volume, open interest, and inventory volatility all have negative asymmetric leverage effects, and the impact of bearish news is greater than the impact of bullish news. Considering the introduction of crude oil options under the influence of COVID-19: the fluctuation of crude oil futures prices yield has changed from negative asymmetry to positive asymmetric leverage effect. The asymmetric leverage effect of negative fluctuations in crude oil futures trading volume becomes smaller and decreases less than the leverage effect without considering the impact of COVID-19 after the listing of crude oil options. Fluctuations in open interest and inventory have weakened the negative asymmetric leverage effect after the launch of crude oil options. Finally, relevant policy suggestions are given for the construction of the domestic options market.
Canastos que nacen en el páramo de Mamapacha y Bijagual en el suroriente de Boyacá (Colombia)
Authors: Ruiz Barajas Carol Andrea
Published: January 2023

A partir de los canastos elaborados con la gaita (Rhipidocladum geminatum), configuramos un espacio que permite comprender las articulaciones y trayectorias que se juntan para conformar un canasto y, a su vez, reconocer y ampliar el conocimiento de las dimensiones de la vida campesina que nace cerca del páramo y la forma en que las comunidades se han relacionado con ella desde el oficio de canastear. Se presenta, desde una teorización etnográfica, la práctica de elaboración de canastos como un ensamblaje ecológico, un involucramiento simétrico entre humanos y cosas, resultado de un fenómeno cognitivo corporeizado y situado. Objetos como los canastos que nacen en contextos rurales materializan la complejidad relacional de las actividades técnicas humanas, reconfiguran espacialidades que nos permiten cuestionar los límites de lo humano, las relaciones que establecemos con la naturaleza, y cómo otras especies nos constituyen. Los objetos que nacen en el campo son, pues, el encuentro de ciertos atributos espaciales desde los cuales se pueden comprender este tipo de materialidades, las cuales se encuentran en el tránsito de lo que se reconoce como artesanías, pero que también, antes de esa definición, tienen un lugar y un marco de relaciones específicas con elementos vivos, con naturalezas y con tecnologías que fluyen a través del cuerpo y del habitar.
Posture Optimization in Robotic Flat-End Milling Based on Sequential Quadratic Programming
Authors: Chen Yongxue , Ding Ye
Published: January 2023

Robotic flat-end milling of complex surfaces offers advantages such as high flexibility and high machining efficiency. In the process of planning the toolpath based on the cutter contact path, the robot functional redundancy and the tool orientation need to be solved carefully. This paper presents a posture optimization method for robotic flat-end milling. Taking the weighted sum of the machining width and the toolpath smoothness performance criterion as the objective function, an optimization model considering the joint limits and gouging avoidance is established. An efficient algorithm based on sequential quadratic programming is proposed to solve this nonconvex problem. During the execution of the algorithm, the machining width is efficiently calculated by an iterative method based on conformal geometric algebra, while its derivatives are approximated analytically. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that the presented technique can resolve the tool axis direction and the robot redundancy effectively to increase the machining width and improve the toolpath smoothness, thus reducing the time for machining and improving the surface quality.
Heat Transfer Coefficient and Adiabatic Wall Temperature Measurements on High-Pressure Turbine Nozzle Guide Vanes With Representative Inlet Swirl and Temperature Distortions
Authors: Bacci Tommaso , Picchi Alessio , Babazzi Giulia , Facchini Bruno , Cubeda Simone
Published: January 2023

Combustor exit conditions in modern gas turbines are generally characterized by significant temperature distortions and swirl degree, which in turn is responsible for very high turbulence intensities. These distortions have become particularly important with the introduction of lean combustion, as a mean to control NOx pollutant emissions. For this reason, combustor–turbine interaction studies have recently gained a lot of importance. Past studies have focused on the description of the effects of turbulence, swirl degree, and temperature distortions on the behavior of the high-pressure stages of the turbine, both considering them as separated aspects and accounting for their combined impact. Aspects like pressure losses, hot streaks migration, and film-cooling behavior have been widely investigated. Even if some studies have focused on the characterization of the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) on the nozzle guide vane external surface, none of them have addressed this aspect from a purely experimental point of view. Indeed, when inlet conditions are characterized by both swirl and temperature distortions, they represent a severe challenge for the commonly adopted measurement techniques. The work presented in this paper was carried out on a non-reactive, annular, three-sector test rig made by a non-reactive combustor simulator and a nozzle guide vane cascade; it is able to create a representative combustor outflow, characterized by all the flow characteristics described before. A novel experimental approach, which was developed in a previous work, was exploited to experimentally retrieve the heat transfer coefficient and the adiabatic wall temperature distributions on a non-cooled nozzle guide vane. Temperature measurements on the cascade inlet and outlet planes were also used to provide boundary conditions and achieve a better understanding of the investigated phenomena. The results allowed to evidence the effect of the inlet swirl on the heat transfer coefficient distribution, as well as the evolution of the temperature distribution on the vane surface moving through the cascade, constituting the first attempt to evaluate these aspects from a purely experimental point of view.
Assessment of Computational Fluid Dynamic Modeling of Multi-Jet Impingement Cooling and Validation With the Experiments
Authors: Tabassum Sadiya , Hilfer Michael , Brakmann Robin G. , Morsbach Christian , Willert Christian , Matha Marcel , Schroll Michael
Published: January 2023

The current study involves numerical and experimental investigations of circular in-line jets impinging on a heated flat plate. The generic configuration is characterized by nine jets, each with a diameter of D = 0.0152 m. The jets are influenced by a self-generating crossflow and are positioned at a nozzle-to-plate distance (H/D) of 5 and a jet pitch (p/D) of 5. The steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations are performed for turbulent jet Reynolds numbers with the in-house CFD code TRACE. The Menter k–ω shear stress transport (SST) model is applied for turbulence modeling and the turbulent scalar fluxes are modeled based on the Reynolds analogy for a constant turbulent Prandtl number. To gain a closer insight into the impingement jet physics, high-resolution near-wall velocity and thermal fields are obtained through large eddy simulations (LESs) and measurements from particle image velocimetry (PIV). Focus is laid on the comparison of RANS results with the LES data and the experimental data. The results exhibit a qualitative similarity between the simulations and the experiments. Furthermore, correlations of the Nusselt number from the literature are used to validate the simulation results.
Investigation of Unsteady Rotor–Stator Interaction and Deterministic Correlation Analysis in a Transonic Compressor Stage
Authors: Liu Yangwei , Wei Xindi , Tang Yumeng
Published: January 2023

Unsteady blade row interaction (UBRI) has a large impact on performance in high-speed axial compressors. Thus, the influence of UBRI should be accurately predicted in compressor routine design. In this study, the unsteady rotor–stator interaction in a transonic single-stage compressor, NASA Stage 35, is studied by steady and unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes methods. First, the UBRI is analyzed. Periodic separation bubbles on the stator suction surface induced by the rotor wake are observed. Comparisons between steady and unsteady results show that the radial distribution of flow angle near the hub and tip region of the stator is strongly influenced by UBRI. Second, deterministic correlations are analyzed based on the average-passage equation system. The distribution of deterministic stress and the relationship between spatial correlations and deterministic correlations are analyzed. Results show that a strong nonlinear interaction caused by the rotor wake and the stator potential field is found in the rotor–stator gap, which is responsible for the generation of spatial–time correlation. Then, the anisotropy of deterministic correlations is analyzed using the Lumley triangle. Results show that the deterministic stress is highly anisotropic in the stator passage, which can be considered in the modeling using a similar strategy of turbulence modeling. At last, the relationships between the harmonics and decay rate of deterministic correlations are analyzed. The decay rate of deterministic correlation is highly related to the corresponding harmonics, and the higher-order harmonic exhibits a higher decay rate. A modified exponential decay model is proposed for deterministic correlation based on harmonics, which provides improved performance.
Pathological voice classification based on multi-domain features and deep hierarchical extreme learning machine
Authors: Wang Junlang , Xu Huoyao , Peng Xiangyu , Liu Jie , He Chaoming
Published: January 2023

The intelligent data-driven screening of pathological voice signals is a non-invasive and real-time tool for computer-aided diagnosis that has attracted increasing attention from researchers and clinicians. In this paper, the authors propose multi-domain features and the hierarchical extreme learning machine (H-ELM) for the automatic identification of voice disorders. A sufficient number of sensitive features are first extracted from the original voice signal through multi-domain feature extraction (i.e., features of the time domain and the sample entropy based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition and gammatone frequency cepstral coefficients). To eliminate redundancy in high-dimensional features, neighborhood component analysis is then applied to filter out sensitive features from the high-dimensional feature vectors to improve the efficiency of network training and reduce overfitting. The sensitive features thus obtained are then used to train the H-ELM for pathological voice classification. The results of the experiments showed that the sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and accuracy of the H-ELM were 99.37%, 98.61%, 99.37%, and 98.99%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method is feasible for the initial classification of pathological voice signals.
Heritable defects in telomere and mitotic function selectively predispose to sarcomas
Authors: Ballinger Mandy L. , Pattnaik Swetansu , Mundra Piyushkumar A. , Zaheed Milita , Rath Emma , Priestley Peter , Baber Jonathan , Ray-Coquard Isabelle , Isambert Nicholas , Causeret Sylvain , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Puri Ajay , Duffaud Florence , Le Cesne Axel , Seddon Beatrice , Chandrasekar Coonoor , Schiffman Joshua D. , Brohl Andrew S. , James Paul A. , Kurtz Jean-Emmanuel , Penel Nicolas , Myklebost Ola , Meza-Zepeda Leonardo A. , Pickett Hilda , Kansara Maya , Waddell Nicola , Kondrashova Olga , Pearson John V. , Barbour Andrew P. , Li Shuai , Nguyen Tuong L. , Fatkin Diane , Graham Robert M. , Giannoulatou Eleni , Green Melissa J. , Kaplan Warren , Ravishankar Shyamsundar , Copty Joseph , Powell Joseph E. , Cuppen Edwin , van Eijk Kristel , Veldink Jan , Ahn Jin-Hee , Kim Jeong Eun , Randall R. Lor , Tucker Kathy , Judson Ian , Sarin Rajiv , Ludwig Thomas , Genin Emmanuelle , Deleuze Jean-Francois ,   the French Exome Project Consortium, Haber Michelle , Marshall Glenn , Cairns Murray J. , Blay Jean-Yves ,   the International Sarcoma Kindred Study, Thomas David M.
Published: January 2023

Cancer genetics has to date focused on epithelial malignancies, identifying multiple histotype-specific pathways underlying cancer susceptibility. Sarcomas are rare malignancies predominantly derived from embryonic mesoderm. To identify pathways specific to mesenchymal cancers, we performed whole-genome germline sequencing on 1644 sporadic cases and 3205 matched healthy elderly controls. Using an extreme phenotype design, a combined rare-variant burden and ontologic analysis identified two sarcoma-specific pathways involved in mitotic and telomere functions. Variants in centrosome genes are linked to malignant peripheral nerve sheath and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, whereas heritable defects in the shelterin complex link susceptibility to sarcoma, melanoma, and thyroid cancers. These studies indicate a specific role for heritable defects in mitotic and telomere biology in risk of sarcomas.
Remaking the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Authors: Yang Xiyi , Zhou Xiaoyu , Cao Cong
Published: January 2023

Under pressure to reinvent itself, the CAS should concentrate on managing large-scale research infrastructures
Total synthesis of lissodendoric acid A via stereospecific trapping of a strained cyclic allene
Authors: Ippoliti Francesca M. , Adamson Nathan J. , Wonilowicz Laura G. , Nasrallah Daniel J. , Darzi Evan R. , Donaldson Joyann S. , Garg Neil K.
Published: January 2023

Small rings that contain allenes are unconventional transient compounds that have been known since the 1960s. Despite being discovered around the same time as benzyne and offering a number of synthetically advantageous features, strained cyclic allenes have seen relatively little use in chemical synthesis. We report a concise total synthesis of the manzamine alkaloid lissodendoric acid A, which hinges on the development of a regioselective, diastereoselective, and stereospecific trapping of a fleeting cyclic allene intermediate. This key step swiftly assembles the azadecalin framework of the natural product, allows for a succinct synthetic endgame, and enables a 12-step total synthesis (longest linear sequence; 0.8% overall yield). These studies demonstrate that strained cyclic allenes are versatile building blocks in chemical synthesis.
Nanobody-driven signaling reveals the core receptor complex in root nodule symbiosis
Authors: Rübsam Henriette , Krönauer Christina , Abel Nikolaj B. , Ji Hongtao , Lironi Damiano , Hansen Simon B. , Nadzieja Marcin , Kolte Marie V. , Abel Dörte , de Jong Noor , Madsen Lene H. , Liu Huijun , Stougaard Jens , Radutoiu Simona , Andersen Kasper R.
Published: January 2023

Understanding the composition and activation of multicomponent receptor complexes is a challenge in biology. To address this, we developed a synthetic approach based on nanobodies to drive assembly and activation of cell surface receptors and apply the concept by manipulating receptors that govern plant symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. We show that the
Lotus japonicus
Nod factor receptors NFR1 and NFR5 constitute the core receptor complex initiating the cortical root nodule organogenesis program as well as the epidermal program controlling infection. We find that organogenesis signaling is mediated by the intracellular kinase domains whereas infection requires functional ectodomains. Finally, we identify evolutionarily distant barley receptors that activate root nodule organogenesis, which could enable engineering of biological nitrogen-fixation into cereals.
Clicking zeolites together
Authors: Morris Russell E.
Published: January 2023

A new mechanism to synthesize catalytic zeolites gives a previously unknown topology
A funding mosaic for loss and damage
Authors: Warner Koko , Weisberg Michael
Published: January 2023

In the context of climate policy, “loss and damage” refers to unavoided climate change impacts, including those from extreme weather events and slow-onset events such as sea-level rise, increasing temperatures, and loss of biodiversity. Some argue that focusing on loss and damage distracts industrialized countries from attempts to avoid losses and damages in the first place through decarbonization and adaptation. Others argue that insufficient mitigation by industrialized countries has unleashed an unfair burden on developing countries, so developed countries alone must address loss and damage financially. The impasse was broken at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27)—the international climate negotiations—in November 2022, through a decision on new funding arrangements for loss and damage, including a new fund. Reflecting on the funding needs, Maldives’ Environment Minister Aminath Shauna argued at COP27 that the world requires a “mosaic of solutions.” As a transitional committee begins to assemble recommendations to operationalize this mosaic of funding arrangements, several critical questions require insights from the scientific community.
To reduce ‘reputational bias,’ NIH may revamp grant scoring
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: January 2023

Proposed rating system seeks to minimize influence of applicant’s resume and workplace
VgrG Spike Dictates PAAR Requirement for the Assembly of the Type VI Secretion System
Authors: Liang Xiaoye , Zheng Hao-Yu , Zhao Ya-Jie , Zhang Yi-Qiu , Pei Tong-Tong , Cui Yang , Tang Ming-Xuan , Xu Ping , Dong Tao
Published: January 2023

Gram-negative bacteria often encode multiple paralogs of the cone-shaped PAAR that sits atop the VgrG-spike and is thought to sharpen the spear-like T6SS puncturing device. However, it is unclear why PAAR is required for the assembly of some but not all T6SSs and why there are multiple PAARs if they are not required.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Prevalence among Industrial Livestock Operation Workers and Nearby Community Residents, North Carolina, 2021 to 2022
Authors: Gigot Carolyn , Pisanic Nora , Kruczynski Kate , Gregory Rivera Magdielis , Spicer Kristoffer , Kurowski Kathleen M. , Randad Pranay , Koehler Kirsten , Clarke William A. , Holmes Phyla , Hall D. J. , Hall Devon J. , Heaney Christopher D.
Published: January 2023

Few studies have measured COVID-19 seroprevalence in North Carolina, especially among rural, Black, and Hispanic/Latino communities that have been heavily affected. Antibody results show high rates of COVID-19 among industrial livestock operation workers and their household members.
CRISPR/dCas9-Mediated Gene Silencing in Two Plant Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Zhang Yun-mu , Zheng Lu , Xie Kabin
Published: January 2023

Many devastating plant diseases are caused by fungal pathogens that evolve rapidly to adapt to host resistance and environmental changes. Therefore, genetic tools that enable fast gene function discovery are needed to study the pathogenicity and stress adaptation of fungal pathogens.
A Machine Learning Approach Reveals a Microbiota Signature for Infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis
in Cattle
Authors: Lee Sang-Mok , Park Hong-Tae , Park Seojoung , Lee Jun Ho , Kim Danil , Yoo Han Sang , Kim Donghyuk
Published: January 2023

Due to the limitations, such as intermittent bacterial shedding or poor sensitivity, of the current diagnostic tools for Johne’s disease, novel biomarkers are urgently needed to aid control of the disease. Here, we explored the fecal microbiota of Johne’s disease-affected cattle and tried to discover distinct microbial characteristics which have the potential to be novel noninvasive biomarkers.
Verticillium dahliae
Effector VdCE11 Contributes to Virulence by Promoting Accumulation and Activity of the Aspartic Protease GhAP1 from Cotton
Authors: Li Chi , Qin Jun , Huang Yingqi , Shang Wenjing , Chen Jieyin , Klosterman Steven J. , Subbarao Krishna V. , Hu Xiaoping
Published: January 2023

Verticclium dahliae
is a plant fungal pathogen that causes a destructive vascular disease on a large number of plant hosts, resulting in great threat to agricultural production. In this study, we identified a
V. dahliae
effector VdCE11 that induces cell death and defense responses in
Nicotiana benthamiana
.
Stability of the COVID-19 At-Home Test after Exposure to Extreme Temperatures
Authors: Gick Erin , McCune Stephen , Deeter Jamie P.
Published: January 2023

COVID-19 At-Home Test kits may be exposed to extreme temperatures in transit, which may impact test sensitivity and specificity. We investigated assay ability to identify SARS-CoV-2 antigen after 24 h to 2 weeks in frozen, refrigerated, room temperature, warm, or excessive heat conditions.
Making sense of brittle deformation in rhyolitic lavas: Insights from Obsidian Dome, California, USA
Authors: Isom Shelby L. , Andrews Graham D.M. , Kenderes Stuart , Whittington Alan G.
Published: January 2023

The scarcity of observed active extrusive rhyolitic lava flows has skewed research to extensively focus on prehistoric lavas for information about their eruptive and emplacement dynamics. The first ever witnessed silicic lava eruptive events, Chaitén (2008) and Cordón Caulle (2011–2012) in Chile, were illuminating to the volcanology community because they featured a range of emplacement processes (endogenous versus exogenous), movement limiting modes, and eruptive behaviors (explosive versus effusive) that were often regarded as acting independently throughout an eruptive event. In this study, we documented evidence of a continuum of brittle and brittle-ductile deformation and fracture-induced outgassing during the emplacement of the ~600-yr-old silicic lava from Obsidian Dome, California, USA. This study focused on mapping the textural-structural relationships of the upper surface of the lava onto high-resolution (<10 cm2/pixel) orthorectified color base maps. We found that the upper surface is characterized by small (<1 m) mode 1 tensile fractures that grew and initiated new cracks, which linked together to form larger tensile fractures (1–5 m), which in turn penetrated deeper into the lava. We recorded ornamentations on these fracture surfaces that allow snapshot views into the rheological and outgassing conditions during the lava’s effusion. The largest fractures developed during single, large fracture events in the final stages of the lava’s emplacement. Ornamentations preserved on the fractured surfaces record degassing and explosive fragmentation away from the vent throughout the lava’s emplacement, suggesting explosive activity was occurring during the effusive emplacement. Field-based cataloguing of the complexities of fracture surfaces provides qualitative constraints for the future mechanical modeling of effusive lavas.
Identifying sources of non-unique detrital age distributions through integrated provenance analysis: An example from the Paleozoic Central Colorado Trough
Authors: Smith Tyson M. , Saylor Joel E. , Lapen Tom J. , Hatfield Kendall , Sundell Kurt E.
Published: January 2023

To address the longstanding issue of provenance interpretation of non-unique detrital zircon age populations, we integrated zircon U-Pb, rare earth element (REE), and εHf(t) data from upper Paleozoic strata in the northern Central Colorado Trough and Cambrian intrusions with petrography, paleocurrent data, and structural and stratigraphic observations. This data set indicates that Cambrian sediment was shed by multiple local sources instead of distant sources hundreds of kilometers away, and it reveals a detailed history of tectonic drainage reorganization in the northern Central Colorado Trough during Ancestral Rocky Mountain deformation. During the Early–Middle Pennsylvanian, Cambrian detrital zircons were a minor constituent of northern Central Colorado Trough sediment. However, during the Late Pennsylvanian–early Permian, westward advancement of the adjacent Apishapa Uplift deformation front precipitated drainage reorganization, which resulted in an episode of dominant Cambrian detrital zircon sourcing. Paleocurrent and petrographic data indicate that the source of Cambrian detritus was shed by an igneous rock body that was ≤15 km northeast of the depocenter, which has since been eroded away or mantled by Tertiary volcanic rocks. The addition of zircon petrochronology to the data set applied here was critical in confirming this hidden source of detritus and elucidating the compositional characteristics of that igneous rock. Zircon εHf(t) provided a regional provenance indicator of a western Laurentian affinity, and REE composition aided in discriminating possible local sources of Cambrian zircon. Furthermore, this work serves as a case study of a dominant Cambrian detrital zircon signature sourced from outside of the wellknown Amarillo-Wichita Uplift, and it has implications for the interpretation of such detrital spectra in the context of a direct-from-basement source or the recycling of Cambrian zircon-dominated rocks. In summary, we demonstrate the utility of this multi-provenance proxy approach in interpreting a complex structural history of a dynamic hinterland and concomitant drainage reorganization through an in-depth investigation into the basin record.
Scheduling in Multiagent Systems Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Minashina I. K. , Gorbachev R. A. , Zakharova E. M.
Published: January 2023

The paper is devoted to scheduling in multiagent systems in the framework of the Flatland 3 competition. The main aim of this competition is to develop an algorithm for the effective control of dense traffic in complex railroad networks according to a given schedule. The proposed solution is based on reinforcement learning. To adapt this method to the particular scheduling problem, a novel approach based on structuring the reward function that stimulates an agent to adhere to its schedule was developed. The architecture of the proposed model is based on a multiagent version of centralized critic with proximal policy optimization (PPO) learning. In addition, a curriculum learning strategy was developed and implemented. This allowed the agent to cope with each level of complexity on time and train the model in more difficult conditions. The proposed solution won first place in the Flatland 3 competition in the reinforcement learning track.
Outcomes in neonatal critical and non-critical aortic stenosis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Olofsson Cecilia Kjellberg , Hanseus Katarina , Ramgren Jens Johansson , Synnergren Mats Johansson , Sunnegårdh Jan
Published: January 2023

Objective

To compare long-term survival, reinterventions and risk factors using strict definitions of neonatal critical and non-critical valvular aortic stenosis (VAS).

Design

A nationwide retrospective study using data from patient files, echocardiograms and the Swedish National Population Registry.

Setting and patients

All neonates in Sweden treated for isolated VAS 1994–2018. We applied the following criteria for critical aortic stenosis: valvular stenosis with duct-dependent systemic circulation or depressed left ventricular function (fractional shortening ≤27%). Indication for treatment of non-critical VAS was Doppler mean gradient >50 mm Hg.

Main outcome measures

Short-term and long-term survival, aortic valve reinterventions need of valve replacements, risk factors for reintervention and event-free survival.

Results

We identified 65 patients with critical VAS and 42 with non-critical VAS. The majority of the neonates were managed by surgical valvotomy. Median follow-up time was 13.5 years, with no patients lost to follow-up. There was no 30-day mortality. Long-term transplant-free survival was 91% in the critical stenosis group and 98% in the non-critical stenosis group (p=0.134). Event-free survival was 40% versus 67% (p=0.002) in the respective groups. Median time from the initial treatment to reintervention was 3.6 months versus 3.9 years, respectively (p=0.008).

Conclusions

Critical VAS patients had significantly higher need for reintervention during the first year of life, lower event-free survival and lower freedom from aortic valve replacement at age ≥18 years, compared with neonates with non-critical stenosis.
Temporal trend of population structure, burden of diseases, healthcare resources and expenditure in China, 2000–2019
Authors: Liang Zhenguo , Wu Dongze , Guo Cui , Gu Jieruo
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To explore the evolutionary trend of population structure, disease burden, healthcare resources and expenditure in China, and to identify key domains that are most in need of intervention.

Design

A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.

Data source

Population and healthcare data from China Statistical Yearbook, and disease burden attributable to causes and risk factors from the Global Burden of Diseases between 2000 and 2019.

Measures and methods

We used the Joinpoint Regression Program to measure trends in population composition, population change, dependency ratio, healthcare institution, personnel, expenditure and disease burden from 2000 to 2019.

Results

Regarding the population in China between 2000 and 2019, a decreasing trend was observed among youth aged 0–14 years (average annual percent change (AAPC): −1.17), a slow rising trend was observed among individuals aged 15–64 years (AAPC: 1.10) and a rapidly increasing trend was observed among individuals older than 65 years (AAPC: 3.67). Astonishing increasing trends in healthcare institutions (AAPC: 3.97), medical personnel (AAPC: 3.26) and healthcare expenditures (AAPC: 15.28) were also observed. Among individuals younger than 70 years, neoplasms (AAPC: 0.54) and cardiovascular diseases (AAPC: 0.67) remained among the top three causes, while tobacco (AAPC: 0.22) remained a top three risk factor. However, while musculoskeletal disorders (AAPC: 1.88) were not a top three cause in 2000, they are a top three cause in 2019.

Conclusion

Comprehensive age/cause/risk factor-specific strategies are key to reconcile the tension among the triad of population ageing, disease burden and healthcare expenditure. The disease burden from cardiometabolic diseases, neoplasms and musculoskeletal disorders was identified as key domains that require intervention to reduce an increasing disease burden among individuals currently older than 70 years, as well as those approaching this age group.
Nudge interventions to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in primary care: a systematic review
Authors: Raban Magdalena Z , Gonzalez Gabriela , Nguyen Amy D , Newell Ben R , Li Ling , Seaman Karla L , Westbrook Johanna I
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Antibiotic prescribing in primary care contributes significantly to antibiotic overuse. Nudge interventions alter the decision-making environment to achieve behaviour change without restricting options. Our objectives were to conduct a systematic review to describe the types of nudge interventions used to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in primary care, their key features, and their effects on antibiotic prescribing overall.

Methods

Medline, Embase and grey literature were searched for randomised trials or regression discontinuity studies in April 2021. Risk of bias was assessed independently by two researchers using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care group’s tool. Results were synthesised to report the percentage of studies demonstrating a reduction in overall antibiotic prescribing for different types of nudges. Effects of social norm nudges were examined for features that may enhance effectiveness.

Results

Nineteen studies were included, testing 23 nudge interventions. Four studies were rated as having a high risk of bias, nine as moderate risk of bias and six as at low risk. Overall, 78.3% (n=18, 95% CI 58.1 to 90.3) of the nudges evaluated resulted in a reduction in overall antibiotic prescribing. Social norm feedback was the most frequently applied nudge (n=17), with 76.5% (n=13; 95% CI 52.7 to 90.4) of these studies reporting a reduction. Other nudges applied were changing option consequences (n=3; with 2 reporting a reduction), providing reminders (n=2; 2 reporting a reduction) and facilitating commitment (n=1; reporting a reduction). Successful social norm nudges typically either included an injunctive norm, compared prescribing to physicians with the lowest prescribers or targeted high prescribers.

Conclusions

Nudge interventions are effective for improving antibiotic prescribing in primary care. Expanding the use of nudge interventions beyond social norm nudges could reap further improvements in antibiotic prescribing practices. Policy-makers and managers need to be mindful of how social norm nudges are implemented to enhance intervention effects.
Efficacy and safety of different dosing regimens of rituximab in primary membranous nephropathy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Yongxing , Yang Qing , Fu Chen , Han Enhong , Gao Yuehua
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Rituximab has been recommended in the treatment of PMN by the updated Kidney Disease Improved Outcome guideline. However, the optimal dosing regimen of rituximab for the initial treatment of patients with PMN is unclear.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive screening will be performed by searching PubMed, Embase and the CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) without language restriction. Studies evaluating the efficacy of rituximab monotherapy using the following types of dosing regimens will be included: high-dose regimen; standard regimen and low-dose regimen. Studies with less than 10 participants will be excluded. The primary outcome is the remission rate at 12 months. The secondary outcomes are remission rate at 6 and 24 months, complete remission rate at 6, 12 and 24 months, relapse at 6, 12 and 24 months, and side effects. Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool will be used to assess the risk of bias for non-randomised studies and the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be used for randomised controlled trials. The pooled remission rate, complete remission rate, relapse rate and side effects will be estimated using the metaprop command. All analyses will be calculated using Stata software (V.15.0; StataCorp).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required. The results of our study will be submitted to a peer-review journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022319401
Age, gender and socioeconomic patterns of awareness and usage of e-cigarettes across selected WHO region countries: evidence from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey
Authors: Kundu Sampurna , Shaw Subhojit , Khan Junaid , Chattopadhyay Aparajita , Baptista Emerson Augusto , Paswan Balram
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The study explores the awareness and e-cigarette use by demographic and socio-economic characteristics of selected 14 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) countries.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

14 countries.

Participants

Surveyed population ≥15 years selected through multi-stage cluster sampling.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We selected 14 countries from 6 different WHO regions where GATS was conducted in different years during 2011–2017.

Results

Awareness and usage of e-cigarette were highest in Greece and lowest in India. Females were less aware of e-cigarette across ages. The gender gap in awareness is wide in Greece post 50 years of age, while the gap is distinct in early ages in Kazakhstan and Qatar. The gender difference in use of e-cigarette was negligible in most of the countries except among the younger cohorts of Russia, Philippines Malaysia and Indonesia. Relatively higher prevalence of e-cigarette smoking among females in the older adult age was observed in some of the Asian countries like India. Multivariate analysis indicates that those who were younger, male, residing in urban areas, current tobacco smokers were more likely to use e-cigarette than their counterparts. Though prevalence of e-cigarette use increased with wealth and education, such pattern is not strong and consistent. Promotional advertisement plays important role in higher use of e-cigaratte. The predicted national prevalence of e-ciragette use was highest in Malaysia .

Conclusions

E-cigarette use is more among urban adults, current smokers, males and in countries with promotional advertisement of e-cigarette. Area specific interventions are needed to understand the nature of e-cigarette use. Russia, Ukraine, Costa Rica and Mexico need better understanding to explore whether e-cigaratte use is an indulgence to new mode of addiction, as youth being highly likely to adopt this practice.
Clinicopathological and predictive value of MAIT cells in non-small cell lung cancer for immunotherapy
Authors: Shi Lin , Lu Jinying , Zhong Da , Song Meijuan , Liu Jian , You Wenhua , Li Wen-Hui , Lin Lin , Shi Dongyan , Chen Yun
Published: January 2023

Background

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remain ineffective in a large group of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a population of unconventional innate-like T lymphocytes abundant in the human body, play important roles in human malignancies. Little is known about the immune characteristics of MAIT cells in NSCLC and correlation with prognosis and response rate of ICIs treatment.

Methods

To investigate the distribution, activation status, and function of MAIT cells in NSCLC patients and their correlations with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, MAIT cells in peripheral blood, tumor and paratumor samples from NSCLC patients with or without anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were analyzed using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA-sequencing.

Results

MAIT cells were enriched in the tumor lesions of NSCLC patients migrating from peripheral blood via the CCR6-CCL20 axis. Both peripheral and tumor-infiltrating MAIT cells displayed an exhausted phenotype with upregulated PD-1, TIM-3, and IL-17A while less IFN-γ. Anti-PD-1 therapy reversed the function of circulating MAIT cells with higher expression of IFN-γ and granzyme B. Subcluster MAIT-17s (defined as cells highly expressing exhausted and Th17-related genes) mainly infiltrated in the non-responsive tissues, while the subcluster MAIT-IFNGRs (cells expressing genes related to cytotoxic function) were mainly enriched in responsive tissues. Moreover, we found predictive value of circulating MAIT cells for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Conclusions

MAIT cells shifted to an exhausted tumor-promoting phenotype in NSCLC patients and the circulating MAIT subset could be a predictor for patients who respond to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
Comparison of the feasibility and safety of infrazygomatic and suprazygomatic approaches to pterygopalatine fossa using virtual reality
Authors: Jerman Anže , Umek Nejc , Cvetko Erika , Snoj Žiga
Published: January 2023

Background

Injections of local anesthetics into pterygopalatine fossa gained popularity for treating acute and chronic facial pain and headaches. Injury of maxillary artery during pterygopalatine fossa injection can result in pseudoaneurysm formation or acute bleeding. We aimed to identify the optimal approach into pterygopalatine fossa by comparing feasibility and safety of suprazygomatic and two infrazygomatic approaches.

Methods

We analyzed 100 diagnostic CT angiographies of cerebral arteries using 3D virtual reality. Each approach was determined as a target point in pterygomaxillary fissure and an array of outermost edges trajectories leading to it. The primary outcomes were feasibility and safety for each approach. The secondary outcome was the determination of maxillary artery position for each approach to identify the safest needle entry point.

Results

Suprazygomatic approach was feasible in 96.5% of cases, while both infrazygomatic approaches were feasible in all cases. Suprazygomatic approach proved safe in all cases, posterior infrazygomatic in 73.5%, and anterior infrazygomatic in 38%. The risk of maxillary artery puncture in anterior infrazygomatic approach was 14.7%±26.4% compared to 7.5%±17.2%. in posterior infrazygomatic with the safest needle entry point in the upper-lateral quadrant in both approaches.

Conclusion

The suprazygomatic approach proved to be the safest, however not always feasible. The posterior infrazygomatic approach was always feasible and predominantly safe if the needle entry point was just anterior to the condylar process. The anterior infrazygomatic approach was always feasible, however least safe even with an optimal needle entry point just anterior to the coronoid process.
Epidermal melanocytes metabolize extracellular nucleotides by purinergic enzymes
Authors: Naasani Liliana Ivet Sous , Azevedo Jéssica Gonçalves , Sévigny Jean , Franco de Oliveira Tiago , Maria-Engler Silvya Stuchi , Wink Márcia Rosângela
Published: January 2023

The human epidermal melanocyte (hEM) are melanin-producing cells that provide skin pigmentation and protection against ultraviolet radiation. Although purinergic signaling is involved in skin biology and pathology, the presence of NTPDase members, as well as the rate of nucleotides degradation by melanocytes were not described yet. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the expression of ectonucleotidases in hEM derived from discarded foreskin of male patients. The expression of purinergic enzymes was confirmed by mRNA and flow cytometry. Among the ectonucleotidases, ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase1 (NTPDase1) and ecto-5´-nucleotidase were the ectoenzymes with higher expressions. The hydrolysis rate for ATP, ADP, and AMP was low in comparison to other primary cells already investigated. The amount of ATP in the culture medium was increased after a scratch wound and decreased to basal levels in 48 h, while the NTPDase1 and P2X7 expressions increased. Therefore, it is possible to suggest that after cell injury, the ATP released by hEM into the extracellular space will be hydrolyzed by ectonucleotidases as the NTPDase1 that will control the levels of nucleotides in the skin micro-environment.
Induced CP-violation in the Euler–Heisenberg Lagrangian
Authors: Ghasemkhani M. , Rahmanpour V. , Bufalo R. , Mnatsakanova M. N. , Soto A.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we examine the behaviour of the Euler–Heisenberg effective action in the presence of a novel axial coupling among the gauge field and the fermionic matter. This axial coupling is responsible to induce a CP-violating term in the extended form of the Euler–Heisenberg effective action, which is generated naturally through the analysis of the box diagram. However, this anomalous model is not a viable extension of QED, and we explicitly show that the induced CP-violating term in the Euler–Heisenberg effective Lagrangian is obtained only by adding an axial coupling to the ordinary QED Lagrangian. In order to perform our analysis, we use a parametrization of the vector and axial coupling constants, $$g_{v}$$

g
v

and $$g_{a}$$

g
a

, in terms of a new coupling $$\beta $$
β
. Interestingly, this parametrization allows us to explore a hidden symmetry under the change of $$g_{v}\leftrightarrow g_{a}$$

g
v

↔

g
a

in some diagrams. This symmetry is explicitly observed in the analysis of the box diagram, where we determine the $$\lambda _i$$

λ
i

coefficients of $${\mathcal {L}}_{\mathrm{ext.}}^\mathrm{\small EH}=\lambda _{1}{\mathcal {F}}^{2}+\lambda _{2}{\mathcal {G}}^{2}+ \lambda _{3}{\mathcal {F}}{\mathcal {G}}$$

L

ext
.

E
H

=

λ
1

F

2

+

λ
2

G

2

+

λ
3

F
G

, specially the coefficient $$\lambda _3$$

λ
3

related with the CP-violating term due to the axial coupling. As a phenomenological application of the results, we compute the relevant cross section for the light by light scattering through the extended Euler–Heisenberg effective action.
Analytically approximation solution to $$R^{2}$$ gravity
Authors: Sajadi S. N. , Hajilou Ali , Hendi S. H.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we obtain analytical approximate black hole solutions in the framework of f(R) gravity and the absence of a cosmological constant. In this area, we apply the equations of motion of the theory to a spherically symmetric spacetime with one unknown function and derive black hole solutions without any constraints on the Ricci scalar. To do so, first, we obtain the near horizon and asymptotic solutions and then use both of them to obtain a complete solution by utilizing a continued-fraction expansion. Finally, we investigate the stability of the solutions by employing the thermodynamics and quasi-normal modes.
Quantum kinetic theory of Jeans instability in non-minimal matter-curvature coupling gravity
Authors: Gomes Cláudio , Ourabah Kamel
Published: January 2023

We present a quantum treatment of the Jeans gravitational instability in the Newtonian limit of the non-minimal matter-curvature coupling gravity model. By relying on Wigner functions, allowing for the representation of quantum states in a classical phase space, we formulate a quantum kinetic treatment of this problem, generalizing the classical kinetic approach (Gomes in Eur Phys J C 80:633, 2020). This allows us to study the interplay between non-minimal matter-curvature coupling effects, quantum effects, and kinetic (finite-temperature) effects, on the Jeans criterion. We study in detail special cases of the model (general relativity, f(R) theories, pure non-minimal coupling, etc.) and confront the model with the observed stability of Bok globules.
Restricted Existence and Approximation Algorithms for PMMS
Authors: Guo Xinru , Dai Sijia , Gao Guichen , Ma Ruikang , Xu Yicheng , Ning Li , Fan Jianping
Published: January 2023

This paper studies the problem of dividing [Formula: see text] indivisible items among [Formula: see text] agents fairly and efficiently. Specifically, this research concentrates on pairwise maximin share (PMMS), which is defined to be the maximum value that an agent can guarantee for herself if she were to repartition the items with another agent and receive the bundle with the minimum value. PMMS is an important concept in the fair division. However, whether PMMS for indivisible items exists is still open. This work concentrates on PMMS by proving the existence of PMMS on linear graphs with binary valuation functions. Besides, this paper designs an algorithm to approximate PMMS in the case where different agents have identical valuations among the same items, achieving a ratio strictly greater than 0.8, which outperforms the state-of-the-art ratio of 0.781 from Kurokawa [22]. The time complexity of our FFD-based algorithm is [Formula: see text].
The reduced Bergman kernel and its properties
Authors: Gehlawat Sahil , Jain Aakanksha , Sarkar Amar Deep
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we study some properties of the nth-order weighted reduced Bergman kernels for planar domains, [Formula: see text]. Specifically, we look at Ramadanov type theorems, localization, and boundary behavior of the weighted reduced Bergman kernel and its higher-order counterparts. We also give a transformation formula for these kernels under biholomorphisms.