bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrasting effects of bioenergy crops on biodiversity
Authors: Haan Nathan L. , Benucci Gian N. M. , Fiser Cynthia M. , Bonito Gregory , Landis Douglas A.
Published: September 2023

Agriculture is driving biodiversity loss, and future bioenergy cropping systems have the potential to ameliorate or exacerbate these effects. Using a long-term experimental array of 10 bioenergy cropping systems, we quantified diversity of plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and microbes in each crop. For many taxonomic groups, alternative annual cropping systems provided no biodiversity benefits when compared to corn (the business-as-usual bioenergy crop in the United States), and simple perennial grass–based systems provided only modest gains. In contrast, for most animal groups, richness in plant-diverse perennial systems was much higher than in annual crops or simple perennial systems. Microbial richness patterns were more eclectic, although some groups responded positively to plant diversity. Future agricultural landscapes incorporating plant-diverse perennial bioenergy cropping systems could be of high conservation value. However, increased use of annual crops will continue to have negative effects, and simple perennial grass systems may provide little improvement over annual crops.
Topological insulator as an efficient catalyst for oxidative carbonylation of amines
Authors: Li Jiang , Wu Jiazhen , Park Sang-won , Sasase Masato , Ye Tian-Nan , Lu Yangfan , Miyazaki Masayoshi , Yokoyama Toshiharu , Tada Tomofumi , Kitano Masaaki , Hosono Hideo
Published: September 2023

Topological materials have received much attention because of their robust topological surface states, which can be potentially applied in electronics and catalysis. Here, we show that the topological insulator bismuth selenide functions as an efficient catalyst for the oxidative carbonylation of amines with carbon monoxide and dioxygen to synthesize urea derivatives. For example, the carbonylation of butylamine can be completed over bismuth selenide nanoparticle catalyst in 4 hours at 20°C with a yield of 99%, whereas most noble metal–based catalysts do not function at such a low temperature. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that the topological surface states facilitate the activation of dioxygen through a triplet-to-singlet spin-conversion reaction, in which active oxygen species are formed with a barrier of 0.4 electron volts for the subsequent reactions with amine and carbon monoxide.
An artificial neuromuscular junction for enhanced reflexes and oculomotor dynamics based on a ferroelectric CuInP
2
S
6
/GaN HEMT
Authors: Park Minseong , Yang Jeong Yong , Yeom Min Jae , Bae Byungjoon , Baek Yongmin , Yoo Geonwook , Lee Kyusang
Published: September 2023

A neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a particularized synapse that activates muscle fibers for macro-motions, requiring more energy than computation. Emulating the NMJ is thus challenging owing to the need for both synaptic plasticity and high driving power to trigger motions. Here, we present an artificial NMJ using CuInP
2
S
6
(CIPS) as a gate dielectric integrated with an AlGaN/GaN-based high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT). The ferroelectricity of the CIPS is coupled with the two-dimensional electron gas channel in the HEMT, providing a wide programmable current range of 6 picoampere per millimeter to 5 milliampere per millimeter. The large output current window of the CIPS/GaN ferroelectric HEMT (FeHEMT) allows for amplifier-less actuation, emulating the biological NMJ functions of actuation and synaptic plasticity. We also demonstrate the emulation of biological oculomotor dynamics, including in situ object tracking and enhanced stimulus responses, using the fabricated artificial NMJ. We believe that the CIPS/GaN FeHEMT offers a promising pathway for bioinspired robotics and neuromorphic vision.
Neanderthal coexistence with
Homo sapiens
in Europe was affected by herbivore carrying capacity
Authors: Vidal-Cordasco Marco , Terlato Gabriele , Ocio David , Marín-Arroyo Ana B.
Published: September 2023

It has been proposed that climate change and the arrival of modern humans in Europe affected the disappearance of Neanderthals due to their impact on trophic resources; however, it has remained challenging to quantify the effect of these factors. By using Bayesian age models to derive the chronology of the European Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition, followed by a dynamic vegetation model that provides the Net Primary Productivity, and a macroecological model to compute herbivore abundance, we show that in continental regions where the ecosystem productivity was low or unstable, Neanderthals disappeared before or just after the arrival of
Homo sapiens
. In contrast, regions with high and stable productivity witnessed a prolonged coexistence between both species. The temporal overlap between Neanderthals and
H. sapiens
is significantly correlated with the carrying capacity of small- and medium-sized herbivores. These results suggest that herbivore abundance released the trophic pressure of the secondary consumers guild, which affected the coexistence likelihood between both human species.
Vaccination with prefusion-stabilized respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein elicits antibodies targeting a membrane-proximal epitope
Authors: McCool Ryan S. , Musayev Maryam , Bush Sabrina M. , Derrien-Colemyn Alexandrine , Acreman Cory M. , Wrapp Daniel , Ruckwardt Tracy J. , Graham Barney S. , Mascola John R. , McLellan Jason S.
Published: September 2023

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes tens of millions of acute lower respiratory tract infections and millions of hospital admissions globally each year. An antibody repertoire analysis of a human vaccine trial investigating a prefusion-stabilized RSV fusion (F) glycoprotein antigen (DS-Cav1) identified several neutralizing antibody public clonotypes (PCs) in multiple vaccine recipients. Of these, PCs 1 and 2 were found in six out of six and five out of six vaccine recipients, respectively. Whereas PC1 was shown to bind antigenic site V, the binding site and mechanism of action for PC2 were not defined. Here, we expressed and characterized six antibodies from PC2 and one PC2-like antibody, which we found to be prefusion-specific, possess nanomolar affinity for RSV F, and display neutralization IC
50
s of 20–81 ng/mL. Cryo-EM studies for the RSV F:PC2 Fab complex resulted in a 2.7 Å resolution reconstruction, which shows that this clonotype simultaneously recognizes antigenic site I and an uncharacterized, prefusion-F-specific antigenic site consisting of the membrane-proximal stalk of RSV F. Taken together, our results suggest that immunization with DS-Cav1 boosts the production of neutralizing antibodies that target a previously uncharacterized epitope in a newly designated antigenic site VI.

IMPORTANCE

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants, infecting all children by age 5. RSV also causes substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults, and a vaccine for older adults based on a prefusion-stabilized form of the viral F glycoprotein was recently approved by the FDA. Here, we investigate a set of antibodies that belong to the same public clonotype and were isolated from individuals vaccinated with a prefusion-stabilized RSV F protein. Our results reveal that these antibodies are highly potent and recognize a previously uncharacterized antigenic site on the prefusion F protein. Vaccination with prefusion RSV F proteins appears to boost the elicitation of these neutralizing antibodies, which are not commonly elicited by natural infection.
Host subversion of bacterial metallophore usage drives copper intoxication
Authors: Hossain Saika , Morey Jacqueline R. , Neville Stephanie L. , Ganio Katherine , Radin Jana N. , Norambuena Javiera , Boyd Jeff M. , McDevitt Christopher A. , Kehl-Fie Thomas E.
Published: September 2023

Microorganisms can acquire metal ions in metal-limited environments using small molecules called metallophores. While metals and their importers are essential, metals can also be toxic, and metallophores have limited ability to discriminate between metals. The impact of metallophore-mediated non-cognate metal uptake on bacterial metal homeostasis and pathogenesis remains to be defined. The globally significant pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
uses the Cnt system to secrete the metallophore staphylopine in zinc-limited host niches. Here, we show that staphylopine and the Cnt system facilitate bacterial copper uptake, potentiating the need for copper detoxification. During
in vivo
infection, staphylopine usage increased
S. aureus
susceptibility to host-mediated copper stress, indicating that the innate immune response can harness the antimicrobial potential of altered elemental abundances in host niches. Collectively, these observations show that while the broad-spectrum metal-chelating properties of metallophores can be advantageous, the host can exploit these properties to drive metal intoxication and mediate antibacterial control.

IMPORTANCE

During infection, bacteria must overcome the dual threats of metal starvation and intoxication. This work reveals that the zinc-withholding response of the host sensitizes
S. aureus
to copper intoxication. In response to zinc starvation,
S. aureus
utilizes the metallophore staphylopine. The current work revealed that the host can leverage the promiscuity of staphylopine to intoxicate
S. aureus
during infection. Significantly, staphylopine-like metallophores are produced by a wide range of pathogens, suggesting that this is a conserved weakness that the host can leverage to toxify invaders with copper. Moreover, it challenges the assumption that the broad-spectrum metal binding of metallophores is inherently beneficial to bacteria.
Enhanced fungal specificity and
in vivo
therapeutic efficacy of a C-22-modified FK520 analog against
C. neoformans
Authors: Rivera Angela , Young Lim Won , Park Eunchong , Dome Patrick A. , Hoy Michael J. , Spasojevic Ivan , Sun Sheng , Averette Anna Floyd , Pina-Oviedo Sergio , Juvvadi Praveen R. , Steinbach William J. , Ciofani Maria , Hong Jiyong , Heitman Joseph
Published: September 2023

Fungal infections are of mounting global concern, and the current limited treatment arsenal poses challenges when treating such infections. In particular, infections by
Cryptococcus neoformans
are associated with high mortality, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic options. Calcineurin is a protein phosphatase that mediates fungal stress responses, and calcineurin inhibition by the natural product FK506 blocks
C. neoformans
growth at 37°C. Calcineurin is also required for pathogenesis. However, because calcineurin is conserved in humans and inhibition with FK506 results in immunosuppression, the use of FK506 as an anti-infective agent is precluded. We previously elucidated the structures of multiple fungal calcineurin-FK506-FKBP12 complexes and implicated the C-22 position on FK506 as a key point for differential modification of ligand inhibition of mammalian versus fungal target proteins. Through
in vitro
antifungal and immunosuppressive testing of FK520 (a natural analog of FK506) derivatives, we identified JH-FK-08 as a lead candidate for further antifungal development. JH-FK-08 exhibited significantly reduced immunosuppressive activity and both reduced fungal burden and prolonged survival of infected animals. JH-FK-08 exhibited additive activity in combination with fluconazole
in vivo
. These findings further advance calcineurin inhibition as an antifungal therapeutic approach.

IMPORTANCE

Fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally. The therapeutic armamentarium against these infections is limited, and the development of antifungal drugs has been hindered by the evolutionary conservation between fungi and the human host. With rising resistance to the current antifungal arsenal and an increasing at-risk population, there is an urgent need for the development of new antifungal compounds. The FK520 analogs described in this study display potent antifungal activity as a novel class of antifungals centered on modifying an existing orally active FDA-approved therapy. This research advances the development of much-needed newer antifungal treatment options with novel mechanisms of action.
Cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic effects of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on pathogenesis: single-cell meta-analysis
Authors: Khatun Mst Shamima , Remcho T. Parks , Qin Xuebin , Kolls Jay K.
Published: September 2023

Single-cell RNA-seq has been used to characterize human COVID-19. To determine if preclinical models successfully mimic the cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic effects of severe disease, we conducted a meta-analysis of single-cell data across five model species. To assess whether dissemination of viral RNA in lung cells tracks pathology and results in cell‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic transcriptomic changes in COVID-19. We conducted a meta-analysis by analyzing six publicly available, scRNA-seq data sets. We used dual mapping (host and virus) and differential gene expression analyses to compare viral
+
and viral
−
cell populations. We conducted a principal component analysis to identify successful models of human COVID-19. We found expression of viral RNA in many non-epithelial cell types. Fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells exhibit clear evidence of viral-intrinsic and -extrinsic effects on host gene expression. Using viral RNA expression, we found that K18-hACE2 mice most closely modeled severe human COVID-19, followed by hamsters. Ferrets and macaques are poor models of human disease due to the low presence of viral RNA. Moreover, we found that increased transcripts of certain key inflammatory genes such as
IL1B, IL18
, and
CXCL10
are not restricted to virally infected cells, suggesting these genes are regulated in a paracrine or autocrine fashion. These data affirm widespread dissemination of viral RNA in the lung, which may be key in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 and demonstrate ferrets and Rhesus macaques are poor models of human COVID-19.

IMPORTANCE

We conducted a high-resolution meta-analysis of scRNA-seq data from humans and five animal models of COVID-19. This study reports viral RNA dissemination in several cell types in human data as well as in some of the pre-clinical models. Using this metric, the K18-hACE2 mouse model, followed by the hamster model, most closely resembled human COVID-19. We observed clear evidence of viral-intrinsic effects within cells (e.g.,
IRF5
expression) as well as viral-extrinsic cytokine modulation (e.g.,
IL1B, IL18, CXCL10
). We observed proinflammatory chemokine expression in cells devoid of viral RNA expression, suggesting autocrine/paracrine interferon regulation. This report serves as a resource-synthesizing data from COVID-19 humans and animal models and suggesting improvements for relevant pre-clinical models that may aid future diagnostic and therapeutic development projects.
Improved transformation efficiency in
Mycoplasma hominis
enables disruption of the MIB–MIP system targeting human immunoglobulins
Authors: Guiraud Jennifer , Le Roy Chloé , Rideau Fabien , Sirand-Pugnet Pascal , Lartigue Carole , Bébéar Cécile , Arfi Yonathan , Pereyre Sabine
Published: September 2023

The pathogenicity of
Mycoplasma hominis
is poorly understood, mainly due to the absence of efficient genetic tools. A polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation protocol was recently developed for the
M. hominis
reference strain M132 using the pMT85-Tet plasmid. The transformation efficiency remained low, hampering generation of a large mutant library. In this study, we improved transformation efficiency by designing
M. hominis
-specific pMT85 derivatives. Using the Gibson Assembly, the
Enterococcus
-derived
tet
(M) gene of the pMT85-Tet plasmid was replaced by that of a
M. hominis
clinical isolate. Next, the
Spiroplasma
-derived spiralin gene promoter driving
tet
(M) expression was substituted by one of three putative regulatory regions (RRs): the
M. hominis
arginine deiminase RR, the
M. hominis
elongation factor Tu RR, or the 68 bp SynMyco synthetic RR. SynMyco-based construction led to a 100-fold increase in transformation efficiency in
M. hominis
M132. This construct was also transformed into the
M. hominis
PG21 reference strain and three other clinical isolates. The transposon insertion locus was determined for 128 M132-transformants. The majority of the impacted coding sequences encoded lipoproteins and proteins involved in DNA repair or in gene transfer. One transposon integration site was in the mycoplasma immunoglobulin protease gene. Phenotypic characterization of the mutant showed complete disruption of the human antibody cleavage ability of the transformant. These results demonstrate that our
M. hominis
-optimized plasmid can be used to generate large random transposon insertion libraries, enabling future studies of the pathogenicity of
M. hominis
.

IMPORTANCE

Mycoplasma hominis
is an opportunistic human pathogen, whose physiopathology is poorly understood and for which genetic tools for transposition mutagenesis have been unavailable for years. A PEG-mediated transformation protocol was developed using the pMT85-Tet plasmid, but the transformation efficiency remained low. We designed a modified pMT85-Tet plasmid suitable for
M. hominis
. The use of a synthetic regulatory region upstream of the antibiotic resistance marker led to a 100-fold increase in the transformation efficiency. The generation and characterization of large transposon mutagenesis mutant libraries will provide insight into
M. hominis
pathogenesis. We selected a transformant in which the transposon was integrated in the locus encoding the immunoglobulin cleavage system MIB–MIP. Phenotypic characterization showed that the wild-type strain has a functional MIB–MIP system, whereas the mutant strain had lost the ability to cleave human immunoglobulins.
Comparison of mini-simple limbal epithelial transplantation and conjunctival–limbal autograft for the treatment of primary pterygium: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Oliva-Biénzobas Valeria , Nava-Castañeda Angel , Jimenez-Corona Aida , Kahuam-López Nicolás , Ramirez-Miranda Arturo , Navas Alejandro , Graue-Hernandez Enrique O
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this double-masked, parallel randomised controlled trial was to compare the recurrence rate and other outcomes between conjunctival–limbal autograft (CLAu) and mini-simple limbal epithelial transplantation (mini-SLET) after excision of pterygium.

Methods

Eligibility criteria for participants was the presence of a primary nasal pterygium extending equally to or greater than two millimetres on the cornea on its horizontal axis from the nasal limbus. The participants were allocated into two groups (CLAu and mini-SLET) using simple randomisation with a table of random numbers. Participants and the outcome assessor were masked to the intervention. The study protocol is listed and available on
https://clinicaltrials.gov
(Identifier:
NCT03363282
).

Results

A total of 61 eyes were enrolled in the study, 33 underwent CLAu (group 1) and 28 mini-SLET (group 2), all eyes were analysed in each group. At 2, 3, 6 and 12 months the CLAu group exhibited a recurrence of 0%, 6.1%, 8.1% and 8.1%, while the mini-SLET exhibited a recurrence of 0%, 17.9%, 50% and 53.5% (p<0.05). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications in either of the two groups.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that mini-SLET has a higher recurrence rate and provides no advantage over CLAu in the treatment of primary pterygium.
Long working hours and risk of hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage among Japanese workers claiming compensation for overwork-related intracerebral haemorrhage: an unmatched case–control study
Authors: Morita Yusaku , Yoshikawa Toru , Takahashi Masaya
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Overwork-related cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVDs) constitute a major occupational and public health issue worldwide. However, to our knowledge, few studies have reported the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We aimed to determine whether patients with extreme workload have a greater risk of developing hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) located in the deep brain areas than patients without extreme workload. We also determined the association between the number of hours of overtime work and the risk of developing hypertensive ICH.

Design

Unmatched case–control study.

Setting

Database of patients claiming compensation for overwork-related CCVDs in Japan.

Participants

A total of 1215 patients who claimed overwork-related ICH in Japan, of whom 621 had their compensation claim approved (patients with extreme workload) and 622 did not.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the risk of developing hypertensive ICH in patients with extreme workload compared with those without extreme workload, adjusted for confounders such as age, occupation, smoking status, alcohol consumption and medical history. We also calculated the risk of developing hypertensive ICH in compensated patients by average monthly overtime working hours.

Results

Patients with extreme workloads had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for developing hypertensive ICH (1.44, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.88) than those without extreme workloads. ORs for developing hypertensive ICH according to overtime working hours showed a dose−response relationship; an overtime of 100 hours/month was associated with a significantly higher OR (1.31, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.91; 1.41, 95% CI: 0.95 to 2.11; and 1.50, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.22 for 60–79.9, 80–99.9 and≥100 hours/month, respectively) than that for workloads of less than 60 hours/month.

Conclusions

Regarding Japanese workers, overtime work could be associated with the risk of developing hypertensive ICH, and hypertension may play an important role in overwork-related ICH.
Opportunities and challenges for decentralised clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study
Authors: Nebie Eric I , Sawadogo Hélène N , van Eeuwijk Peter , Signorell Aita , Reus Elisabeth , Utzinger Juerg , Burri Christian
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Digital health has gained traction in research and development, and clinical decision support systems. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) as a mitigation and efficiency improvement strategy. We assessed the opportunities and challenges of a digital transformation in clinical research in sub-Saharan Africa from different stakeholders’ perspectives.

Methods

A qualitative study, including 40 in-depth semi structured interviews, was conducted with investigators of three leading research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and Switzerland, contract research organisations and sponsors managing clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa. A thematic approach was used for the analysis.

Results

Interviewees perceived DCTs as an opportunity for trial efficiency improvement, quality improvement and reducing the burden of people participating in clinical trials. However, to gain and maintain an optimal quality of clinical trials, a transition period is necessary to tackle contextual challenges before DCTs are being implemented. The main challenges are categorised into four themes: (1) usability and practicability of the technology; (2) paradigm shift and trial data quality; (3) ethical and regulatory hurdles and (4) contextual factors (site-specific research environment and sociocultural aspects).

Conclusion

The transformation from a site to a patient-centric model with an increased responsibility of participants should be context adapted. The transformation requires substantial investment, training of the various stakeholders and an efficient communication. Additionally, commitment of sponsors, investigators, ethics and regulatory authorities and the buy-in of the communities are essential for this change.
Income inequality and ‘hospitalisations of despair’ in Canada: a study on longitudinal, population-based data
Authors: Benny Claire , Siddiqi Arjumand , Pabayo Roman
Published: September 2023

Background

Rates of drug overdoses, alcohol-related liver disease and suicide attempts represent a major public health burden in Canada. While the existing literature does highlight some evidence of association between income inequality and mental health and deaths of despair, no existing research has investigated more intermediate events. As such, the objective of the current study is to investigate the association between income inequality and hospitalisations of despair over time.

Methods

Data from the 2006 Canadian Census, the 2007/2008 Canadian Community Health Survey and the 2007–2018 Discharge Abstract Database were linked. Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazards modelling accounting for robust standard errors at the area level to investigate associations between income inequality at baseline and hazards for hospitalisations of despair, hospitalisations attributable to drug overdose, alcohol-related liver disease and suicide attempts, and all-cause hospitalisations, while controlling for sociodemographics characteristics (including income) and relevant area-level variables.

Results

The results highlighted statistically significant associations between income inequality and hazard of hospitalisations of despair (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.80), hospitalisations related to drug overdose (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.13) and all-cause hospitalisations (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.30). The association between income inequality and hospitalisations related to alcohol-related liver disease and suicide attempts/self-harm were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Overall, the results showed evidence of associations between income inequality and hospitalisations of despair, drug overdose-related hospitalisations and all-cause hospitalisations. These findings are applicable to upstream policy discussion regarding reducing income inequality and identify potential points of intervention for prevention of drug overdose, alcohol-related liver disease and suicide attempts/self-harm.
Impact of a selective lens dose reduction protocol in 3D rotational angiography on radiation exposure to the eye lens during cerebral angiography: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ryu Jae-Chan , Yoon Jong-Tae , Kim Byung Jun , Kim Mi Hyeon , Moon Eun Ji , Suh Pae Sun , Roh Yun Hwa , Moon Hye Hyeon , Kwon Boseong , Lee Deok Hee , Song Yunsun
Published: September 2023

Background

We aimed to investigate the radiation dose to the eye lens (lens dose) during cerebral angiography and to evaluate the effectiveness of the lens dose reduction protocol for 3-dimensional rotational angiography (3D-RA) in reducing overall lens dose exposure.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial at a tertiary hospital with patients undergoing cerebral angiography. The lens dose reduction protocol in 3D-RA involved raising the table to position the patient’s eye lens away from the rotation axis. The lens dose was estimated by measuring the entrance surface air kerma using a photoluminescent glass dosimeter. The lens doses of 3D-RA, overall examination, and image quality were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 20 participants (mean age, 58±9.4 years; including 12 men [60%]) were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the conventional group or the dose reduction group. The median lens dose in 3D-RA was significantly lower in the dose reduction group compared with the conventional group (1.1 mGy vs 4.5 mGy, p<0.001). The total dose was significantly lower in the dose reduction group (median of 7.5 mGy vs 10.2 mGy, p=0.003). In the conventional group, 3D-RA accounted for 46% of the total lens dose, while in the dose reduction group, its proportion decreased to 16%. No significant differences were observed in the image quality between the groups.

Conclusion

The lens dose reduction protocol resulted in a significant reduction in the lens dose of the 3D-RA as well as entire cerebral angiography, while maintaining the image quality.
CFT correlators and CP-violating trace anomalies
Authors: Corianò Claudio , Lionetti Stefano , Maglio Matteo Maria
Published: September 2023

We analyze the parity-odd correlators $$\langle JJO\rangle _{odd},$$

⟨
J
J
O
⟩

odd

,

$$\langle JJT\rangle _{odd},$$

⟨
J
J
T
⟩

odd

,

$$\langle TTO\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
T
T
O
⟩

odd

and $$\langle TTT\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
T
T
T
⟩

odd

in momentum space, constrained by conformal Ward identities, extending our former investigation of the parity-odd chiral anomaly vertex. We investigate how the presence of parity-odd trace anomalies affect such correlators. Motivations for this study come from holography, early universe cosmology and from a recent debate on the chiral trace anomaly of a Weyl fermion. In the current CFT analysis, O can be either a scalar or a pseudoscalar operator and it can be identified with the trace of the stress–energy tensor. We find that the $$\langle JJO\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
J
J
O
⟩

odd

and $$\langle TTO\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
T
T
O
⟩

odd

can be different from zero in a CFT. This occurs when the conformal dimension of the scalar operator is $$\Delta _3=4,$$

Δ
3

=
4
,

as in the case of $$O=T^{\mu }_{\mu }.$$

O
=

T
μ
μ

.

Moreover, if we assume the existence of parity-odd trace anomalies, the conformal $$\langle JJT\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
J
J
T
⟩

odd

and $$\langle TTT\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
T
T
T
⟩

odd

are nonzero. In particular, in the case of $$\langle JJT\rangle _{odd}$$

⟨
J
J
T
⟩

odd

the transverse–traceless component is constrained to vanish, and the correlator is determined only by the trace part with the anomaly pole.
Theory of gravitational lensing on a curved cosmic string
Authors: Bulygin Igor I. , Sazhin Mikhail V. , Sazhina Olga S.
Published: September 2023

It is discussed in detail the complete mathematical model of gravitational lensing on a single cosmic string (CS) of general shape and position with respect to the line of sight. CS are one-dimensional extended objects assuredly predicted by modern cosmology. The presence of CS changes the global geometry of the Universe, could clarify the properties of the early Universe, including inflation models, and could serve as a unique proof of higher-dimensional theories. Despite the fact that CS have not yet been reliable detected, there are several strong independent indications of the existence of the CS, based of CMB analysis and search of gravitational lens chains with special properties (The recent new indication of the existence of the CSs is the nHz gravitational waves in the NANOGrav and other PTA Collaborations data.) However, early considered models of straight CS presented only a small fraction of the general CS-configurations to be observed. Now we propose model which could significantly increase the possibilities of CS observational search. It is considered more realistic models have necessarily include the inclinations and bends of the CS. Besides, the recent analysis of observational data on the search for gravitational-lens candidates, shows a large number of pairs that could be explained by the complex geometry of the CS.
$$\tau _{B_{s}}/\tau _{B_{d}}$$ and $$\Delta \Gamma _{s}$$ confront new physics in $$b\rightarrow s\tau \tau $$
Authors: Bordone Marzia , Navarro Mario Fernández
Published: September 2023

Several new physics scenarios that address anomalies in B-physics predict an enhancement of $$b \rightarrow s \tau \tau $$

b
→
s
τ
τ

with respect to its Standard Model prediction. Such scenarios necessarily imply modifications of the lifetime ratio $$\tau _{B_{s}}/\tau _{B_{d}}$$

τ

B
s

/

τ

B
d

and the lifetime difference $$\Delta \Gamma _{s}$$

Δ

Γ
s

. In this work, we explore indirect bounds provided by these observables over new physics scenarios. We also estimate future projections, showing that future experimental and theoretical improvements on both $$\tau _{B_{s}}/\tau _{B_{d}}$$

τ

B
s

/

τ

B
d

and $$\Delta \Gamma _{s}$$

Δ

Γ
s

have the potential to provide bounds competitive with those directly extracted from $$b\rightarrow s \tau \tau $$

b
→
s
τ
τ

transitions. After performing a model-independent analysis, we apply our results to the particular case of leptoquark mediators proposed to address the $$R_{D^{(*)}}$$

R

D

(

∗
)

anomalies.
Unraveling the puzzle of slow components in gaseous argon of two-phase detectors for dark matter searches using Thick Gas Electron Multiplier
Authors: Buzulutskov A. , Frolov E. , Borisova E. , Nosov V. , Oleynikov V. , Sokolov A.
Published: September 2023

The effect of proportional electroluminescence (EL) is used to record the primary ionization signal (S2) in the gas phase of two-phase argon detectors for dark matter particle (WIMP) searches and low-energy neutrino experiments. Our previous studies of EL time properties revealed the presence of two unusual slow components in S2 signal of two-phase argon detector, with time constants of about 4–5 $$\upmu $$
μ
s and 50 $$\upmu $$
μ
s. The puzzle of slow components is that their time constants and contributions to the overall signal increase with electric field (starting from a certain threshold), which cannot be explained by any of the known mechanisms of photon and electron emission in two-phase media. There are indications that these slow components result from delayed electrons, temporarily trapped during their drift in the EL gap on metastable negative argon ions of yet unknown nature. In this work, this hypothesis is confirmed by studying the time properties of electroluminescence in a Thick Gas Electron Multiplier (THGEM) coupled to the EL gap of two-phase argon detector. In particular, an unusual slow component in EL signal, similar to that observed in the EL gap, was observed in THGEM itself. In addition, with the help of THGEM operated in electron multiplication mode, the slow component was observed directly in the charge signal, confirming the effect of trapped electrons in S2 signal. These results will help to unravel the puzzle of slow components in two-phase argon detectors and thus to understand the background in low-mass WIMP searches.
A NOTE ON FRACTAL DIMENSION OF RIEMANN–LIOUVILLE FRACTIONAL INTEGRAL
Authors: CHANDRA SUBHASH , ABBAS SYED , LIANG YONGSHUN
Published: September 2023

This paper intends to study the analytical properties of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral and fractal dimensions of its graph on [Formula: see text]. We show that the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral preserves some analytical properties such as boundedness, continuity and bounded variation in the Arzelá sense. We also deduce the upper bound of the box dimension and the Hausdorff dimension of the graph of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of Hölder continuous functions. Furthermore, we prove that the box dimension and the Hausdorff dimension of the graph of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of a function, which is continuous and of bounded variation in Arzelá sense, are [Formula: see text].
How Software Stifles Competition and Innovation
Authors: Bessen James
Published: September 2023

Factoring the slowing up of startups.
Controlling AI
Authors: Marcus Gary
Published: September 2023

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Gary Marcus considers it appropriate that governments are stepping up on artificial intelligence, but finds some of the resulting signals deeply worrisome.
Automatic Quality Assessment of Wikipedia Articles—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Moás Pedro Miguel , Lopes Carla Teixeira
Published: September 2023

Wikipedia is the world’s largest online encyclopedia, but maintaining article quality through collaboration is challenging. Wikipedia designed a quality scale, but with such a manual assessment process, many articles remain unassessed. We review existing methods for automatically measuring the quality of Wikipedia articles, identifying and comparing machine learning algorithms, article features, quality metrics, and used datasets, examining 149distinct studies, and exploring commonalities and gaps in them. The literature is extensive, and the approaches follow past technological trends. However, machine learning is still not widely used by Wikipedia, and we hope that our analysis helps future researchers change that reality.
Vortices and Forces in Biological Flight: Insects, Birds, and Bats
Authors: Liu Hao , Wang Shizhao , Liu Tianshu
Published: September 2023

Insects, birds, and bats that power and control flight by flapping their wings perform excellent flight stability and maneuverability by rapidly and continuously varying their wing motions. This article provides an overview of the state of the art of vortex-dominated, unsteady flapping aerodynamics from the viewpoint of diversity and uniformity associated with dominant vortices, particularly of the relevant physical aspects of the flight of insects and vertebrates in the low- and intermediate-Reynolds-number ( Re) regime of 100 to 106. After briefly describing wing morphology and kinematics, we discuss the main vortices generated by flapping wings and the aerodynamic forces associated with these structures, focusing on leading-edge vortices (LEVs), wake vortices, and vortices generated by wing motions over a broad Re range. The LEVs are intensified by dynamic wing morphing in bird and bat flight, producing a significantly elevated vortex lift. The complex wake vortices are the footprints of lift generation; thus, the time-averaged vortex lift can be estimated from wake velocity data. Computational fluid dynamics modeling, quasi-steady models, and vortex lift models are useful tools to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between the lift and the dominant vortices in the near- and far-fields in flapping flight.
Revealing the Electrochemical Kinetics of Electrolytes in Nanosized LiFePO4 Electrodes
Authors: Scanlan Kevin , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: September 2023

Lithium-ion battery rate performance is ultimately limited by the electrolyte, yet the behaviors of electrolytes during high-rate (dis)charge remain elusive to electrochemical measurement. Herein, we develop and study a nanosized LiFePO4 model system in which the electrolyte completely controls the electrochemical kinetics of the porous electrode. Impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and rate performance testing prove that ion transport in the electrolyte is the sole rate-limiting process, even in thin electrodes. A novel pseudo-steady-state extrapolation (S3E) method for Tafel analysis shows that LiFePO4 obeys Butler-Volmer kinetics with a transfer coefficient of 3. The combination of these unexpectedly rapid interfacial kinetics and an activation barrier for phase transformation causes extreme reaction heterogeneity, which manifests as a moving reaction zone. Resistance versus capacity analysis enables direct measurement of electrolyte resistance growth during high-rate (dis)charge, revealing how the interaction between concentration polarization and a moving reaction zone controls electrolyte rate performance in LiFePO4 electrodes. This work elucidates the profound impacts of the electrolyte on electrochemical measurements in porous battery electrodes: when the active material is not rate limiting, it is impossible to directly measure the intrinsic kinetics of the active material, but conversely, it becomes possible to directly measure the kinetics of the electrolyte.
Sex differences in the cardiac stress response following SARS-CoV-2 infection of ferrets
Authors: Rouhana Sarah , Jacyniak Kathy , Francis Magen E. , Falzarano Darryl , Kelvin Alyson A. , Pyle W. Glen
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular disease is a leading risk factor for severe COVID-19, and cardiovascular pathologies are among the most common adverse outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Females and males have different outcomes and adverse cardiovascular events following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study shows sex differences in stress proteins p62/SQSTM1, ERK1/2, and GSK3α/β, along with innate immunity and inflammation in hearts of ferrets infected with SARS-CoV-2, identifying mechanisms of COVID-19 cardiac injury and cardiac complications of long COVID.
Insights into the associations between the gut microbiome, its metabolites, and heart failure
Authors: Ahmad Adilah F. , Caparrós-Martin Jose A. , Gray Nicola , Lodge Samantha , Wist Julien , Lee Silvia , O’Gara Fergal , Shah Amit , Ward Natalie C. , Dwivedi Girish
Published: September 2023

We found a reduction in gut bacterial alpha diversity in patients with heart failure (HF) and that the stool microbiota of patients with HF was characterized by depletion of operational taxonomic units representing commensal Clostridia at both baseline and follow-up. Patients with HF also had altered bacterial metabolites and increased inflammatory profiles compared with healthy controls. A distinct metabolomic and lipidomic profile was present in patients with HF at baseline when compared with healthy controls.
Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Frailty
Authors: Sancho-Martínez Sandra M. , López-Hernández Francisco J.
Published: September 2023

Acute kidney frailty is a premorbid condition of diminished renal functional reserve that predisposes to acute kidney injury; this condition results from subclinical wear or distortion of renal homeostatic responses that protect the renal excretory function. Knowledge of its pathophysiological basis is critical for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that allow for prophylactic intervention and disease prevention.
Experimental Methods for Studying the Contact Mechanics of Joints
Authors: Zdero Radovan , Brzozowski Pawel , Schemitsch Emil H.
Published: September 2023

Biomechanics researchers often experimentally measure static or fluctuating dynamic contact forces, areas, and stresses at the interface of natural and artificial joints, including the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. This information helps explain joint contact mechanics, as well as mechanisms that may contribute to disease, damage, and degradation. Currently, the most common in vitro experimental technique involves a thin pressure‐sensitive film inserted into the joint space; but, the film’s finite thickness disturbs the joint’s ordinary articulation. Similarly, the most common in vivo experimental technique uses video recording of 3D limb motion combined with dynamic analysis of a 3D link‐segment model to calculate joint contact force, but this does not provide joint contact area or stress distribution. Moreover, many researchers may be unaware of older or newer alternative techniques that may be more suitable for their particular research application. Thus, this article surveys over 50 years of English‐language scientific literature in order to (a) describe the basic working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of each technique, (b) examine the trends among the studies and methods, and (c) make recommendations for future directions. This article will hopefully inform biomechanics investigators about various in vitro and in vivo experimental methods for studying the contact mechanics of joints.
Insampaedok‐San Extract Exerts an Immune‐Enhancing Effect through NF‐κB p65 Pathway Activation
Authors: Huh Gyuwon , Oh Youngse , Jeon Youngsic , Kang Ki Sung , Kim Su Nam , Jung Sang Hoon , Kim Seung Hyun , Kim Young-Joo
Published: September 2023

Insampaedok‐san (IS) has traditionally been prescribed as a medication for cold‐related symptoms in Northeast Asia, including Korea and China. In this study, we focused on elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the immunomodulatory activity of IS water extract (ISE) in macrophages. ISE significantly enhanced the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by increasing the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in a dose‐dependent manner. ISE, which consists of many herbs, contains a large number of active compounds whose pharmacological targets and mechanisms are complicated. Therefore, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential key components, targets, and mechanisms of ISE as immunomodulators. Subsequently, the network pharmacology results were validated experimentally. Seven key components were identified through HPLC‐QTOF‐MS. As predicted by the network pharmacology analysis, ISE increased the mRNA expression of Tnf and Il6. Furthermore, ISE increased the phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activity of the p65 subunit of the nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling pathway. In contrast, rapamycin, an NF‐κB inhibitor, suppressed the ISE‐induced mRNA expression of Tnf and Il6. In conclusion, ISE is an immune activator that can elevate the production of NO, PGE2, and proinflammatory cytokines mediated by NF‐κB signaling.
Wild Mushrooms: A Hidden Treasure of Novel Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Gebreyohannes Gebreselema , Sbhatu Desta Berhe
Published: September 2023

Secondary metabolites are hidden gems in mushrooms. Understanding these secondary metabolites’ biological and pharmacological effects can be aided by identifying them. The purpose of this work was to profile the mycochemical components of the extracts of Auricularia auricula judae, Microporus xanthopus, Termitomyces umkowaani, Trametes elegans, and Trametes versicolor to comprehend their biological and pharmacological capabilities. Mushroom samples were collected from Kenya’s Arabuko–Sokoke and Kakamega National Reserved Forests and identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Chloroform, 70% ethanol, and hot water solvents were used to extract the mycochemical components. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the chloroform, 70% ethanol, and hot water extracts of all the species examined. A total of 51 compounds were isolated from all extracts and classified as carboxylic acids, esters, phenols, fatty acids, alcohol, epoxides, aldehydes, fatty aldehydes, isoprenoid lipids, and steroids. Tetracosamethyl-cyclododecasiloxane (18.90%), oleic acid (72.90%), phenol, 2, 6-bis (1, 1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-, and methylcarbamate (26.56%) were all found in high concentrations in A. auricular judae, M. xanthopus, T. umkowaani, T. elegans, and T. versicolor, respectively. Fatty acids make up the majority of the compounds isolated from the T. elegans chloroform extract and the T. umkowaani 70% ethanol extract, respectively. Particularly, these fatty acids play crucial roles in the anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, anticancer, and antibiofilm formation activities. These bioactive elements indicate that the extracts of five wild mushrooms may be reliable sources of secondary metabolites for therapeutic development. Therefore, additional research is required to comprehend the usefulness of these chemicals in many functional areas and to improve the present understanding of macrofungi.