bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Über die sozialen Bedingungen von gutem Sex in der Jugend
Authors: Schweiger Gottfried
Published: May 2023

Dieser Text stellt die Frage, welche Rolle guter Sex für eine gute Jugend spielt. Eine gute Jugend wird als ethisch-normatives Konzept, vergleichbar mit dem des guten Lebens, verstanden. In einem ersten Schritt werden vier Kriterien für guten Sex entwickelt – moralische Legitimität, Wunscherfüllung, Augenhöhe und Authentizität. Ausgehend vom Diskurs über die sexuellen Rechte von Jugendlichen wird dafür argumentiert, dass die Möglichkeit, guten Sex zu haben, Teil einer guten Jugend ist. Schließlich widmet sich dieser Text den sozialen Bedingungen von gutem Sex in der Jugend.
Context-based and image-based subsea pipeline degradation monitoring
Authors: Spahic Rialda , Lundteigen Mary Ann , Hepsø Vidar
Published: May 2023

This research examines the factors contributing to the exterior material degradation of subsea oil and gas pipelines monitored with autonomous underwater systems (AUS). The AUS have a role of gathering image data that is further analyzed with artificial intelligence data analysis methods. Corrosion and potential ruptures on pipeline surfaces are complex processes involving several competing elements, such as the geographical properties, composition of soil, atmosphere, and marine life, whose eflt in substantial environmental damage and financial loss. Despite extensive research, corrosion monitoring and prediction remain a persistent challenge in the industry. There is a lack of knowledge map that can enable image ausing an AUS to recognize ongoing degradation processes and potentially prevent substantial damage. The main contribution of this research is the knowledge map for increased context and risk awareness to improve the reliability of image-based monitoring and inspection by autonomous underwater systems in detecting hazards and early signs of material degradation on subsea pipeline surfaces.
Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Populations in Cameroon: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study Among Blood Donors in the Cities of Yaoundé and Douala
Authors: Sandie Arsène Brunelle , Ngo Sack Françoise , Medi Sike Christiane Ingrid , Mendimi Nkodo Joseph , Ngegni Hortense , Ateba Mimfoumou Haverie Ghislaine , Lobe Sarah Audrey , Choualeu Noumbissi Diane , Tchuensou Mfoubi Fabrice , Tagnouokam Ngoupo Paul Alain , Ayong Lawrence , Njouom Richard , Tejiokem Mathurin Cyrille
Published: May 2023

Over a period of about 9 months, we conducted three serosurveys in the two major cities of Cameroon to determine the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 antibodies and to identify factors associated with seropositivity in each survey. We conducted three independent cross-sectional serosurveys of adult blood donors at the Central Hospital in Yaoundé (CHY), the Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé (JHY) and at the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala (LHD) who consented in writing to participate. Before blood sampling, a short questionnaire was administered to participants to collect their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We included a total of 743, 1202, and 1501 participants in the first (January 25–February 15, 2021), second (May 03–28, 2021), and third (November 29–December 31, 2021) surveys, respectively. The adjusted seroprevalence increased from 66.3% (95% CrI 61.1–71.3) in the first survey to 87.2% (95% CrI 84.0–90.0) in the second survey, and 98.4% (95% CrI 96.8–99.7) in the third survey. In the first survey, study site, participant occupation, and comorbid conditions were associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, whereas only study site remained associated in the second survey. None of the factors studied was significantly associated with seropositivity in the third survey. Together, the data suggest a rapid initial spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the study population, independent of the sociodemographic parameters assessed.
Stellar Structure and Evolution
Authors: Pinsonneault Marc , Ryden Barbara
Published: May 2023

Stellar Structure and Evolution, the second volume in the Ohio State Astrophysics Series, takes advantage of our new era of stellar astrophysics, in which modern techniques allow us to map the interiors of stars in unprecedented detail. This textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students aims to develop a broad physical understanding of the fundamental principles that dictate stellar properties. The study of stellar evolution focuses on the 'life cycle' of stars: how they are born, how they live, and how they die. As elements ejected by one generation of stars are incorporated into the next generation, stellar evolution is intertwined with the chemical evolution of our galaxy. Focusing on key physical processes without going into encyclopedic depth, the authors present stellar evolution in a contemporary context, including phenomena such as pulsations, mass loss, binary interactions, and rotation, which contribute to our understanding of stars.
A Simplified One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Carotid Stenting
Authors: Lahlouh Amro , Kiwan Ruba , Mandzia Jennifer , Pandey Sachin
Published: May 2023

Background:

Carotid artery stenosis causes up to 20% of ischemic strokes. Stenting is used as an alternative to endarterectomy in symptomatic patients. Each commercially available stent offers numerous stent diameters/lengths. Most centers thus carefully match each individual stenosis to a specific stent length/diameter stent size. However, this process can be time-consuming and costly while the relative benefit of a custom stent sizing versus one-size-fits-all approach has not been well evaluated yet. We hypothesized that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ default approach to carotid stenting results in comparable results to a customized approach.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive retrospective cohort study on 154 patients who presented to our academic carotid revascularization clinic with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis who underwent carotid artery stenting for peri- and postprocedural carotid artery stenting complications. The primary outcomes were periprocedural (within 24 hours of the procedure) or postprocedural (within 30 days of the procedure) TIA, stroke, or death. The secondary outcome was the estimated degree of stenosis on follow-up ultrasound performed within 6 months of the procedure.

Results:

The complication rate within the first 24 hours was 4.5% while that during the first 30 days postprocedure was 6.5%. Age over 80 and degree of stenosis on postprocedural cerebral angiogram were associated with an increased risk of complications. Severe restenosis was reported in 16.8% of patients within 6 months postprocedure.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that using a simplified, one-size-fits-all, approach to carotid stenting results in safe and effective outcomes, suggesting an alternative to simplify a complex medical procedure.
Design, Implement, and Evaluate a Short-term Blended Training Program on Nursing Students’ Disaster Response Self-efficacy in Iran
Authors: Dastyar Neda , Nazari Masoumeh , Rafati Foozieh
Published: May 2023

Objective:

This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a training program on nursing students’ disaster response self-efficacy.

Methods:

This study was conducted using a pre-test, post-test, and follow up design. A total of 92 nursing students participated in the study. The developed program was implemented both theoretically (online) and practically (in person). Nursing students’ disaster response self-efficacy was measured using the Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale that was filled out 1 week before the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention by the students. The students’ satisfaction with the program and their views on the program were also surveyed.

Results:

Overall score and all items score had significant improvement in short-, and long-term except in 1 item (item 22). The highest increase in score was related to practical items and referral for psychiatric treatment (items 7, 8, 10, and 18) and the lowest increase was related to communication and ethical skill items (items 20, 21, and 22). It is possible that the students had a higher perception of communication and ethical skills even before the training. Most of the students were satisfied with the program.

Conclusions:

A training intervention that can provide theoretical materials online, as well as face-to-face practical programs, can increase nursing students’ disaster response self-efficacy.
Deep Disagreement, Epistemic Norms, and Epistemic Self-trust
Authors: Barker Simon
Published: May 2023

Sometimes we disagree because of fundamental differences in what we treat as reasons for belief. Such are ‘deep disagreements'. Amongst the questions we might ask about deep disagreement is the epistemic normative one: how ought one to respond to disagreement, when that disagreement is deep. This paper addresses that question. According to the position developed, how one ought to respond to deep disagreement depends upon two things: (i) Whether one remains, in the context of disagreement, permitted to trust oneself in following one's epistemic norms and in relation to that (ii) whether one has the shared stock of social-epistemic experiences with followers of one's rival's norms such that one could reasonably be expected to see their way of doing things as a genuine epistemic alternative to one's own. Section 1 introduces a model of deep disagreement such that deep disagreements occur when disputants disagree because they follow different epistemic norms. Section 2 surveys the possible theoretical stances to take towards the epistemic-normative question. Section 3 develops an account of what it is to follow an epistemic norm. Section 4 applies this conception of norm-following to the epistemic-normative question. Section 5 discusses two points of clarification.
Academic Journals, Incentives, and the Quality of Peer Review: A Model
Authors: Zollman Kevin J. S. , García Julian , Handfield Toby
Published: May 2023

We model the impact of different incentives on journal behavior in undertaking peer review. Under one scheme, the journal aims to publish the highest-quality papers; under the second, the journal aims to maintain a high rejection rate. Under both schemes, journals prefer to set very high standards for acceptance despite allowing significant error in peer review. Under the second scheme, however, in order to encourage more submissions of mediocre papers, the journal is incentivized to make its editorial process less accurate. This leads to both worse peer review and lower-quality articles being published.
TANGENT-FILLING PLANE CURVES OVER FINITE FIELDS
Authors: ASGARLI SHAMIL , GHIOCA DRAGOS
Published: May 2023

We study plane curves over finite fields whose tangent lines at smooth
$\mathbb {F}_q$
-points together cover all the points of
$\mathbb {P}^2(\mathbb {F}_q)$
.
The vowel system of Qatari Arabic: Evidence for peripheral/non-peripheral distinction between long and short vowels
Authors: Al-Mazrouei Aisha , Negm Aisha , Kulikov Vladimir
Published: May 2023

Arabic has a vowel system with three long and three short monophthongs. One of the parameters that accounts for qualitative differences between long and short vowels across languages is tenseness/laxness of vowels located on the peripheral/non-peripheral tracks in the vowel space. The present study investigates acoustical cues (F1, F2, and duration) of vowels using the data obtained from 21 speakers of Qatari Arabic. The vowels were produced in four phonetic contexts: labial, alveolar, uvular, and pharyngeal. The results revealed considerable qualitative differences between long and short vowels. The long vowels were articulated at the periphery of vowel space; the short vowels occupied more centralized positions. The co-articulatory effect of the preceding consonant was more prominent in short vowels. Short high vowels /i u/ were lowered toward the mid position; short low /a/ was fronted; long low /aː/ was retracted and raised. The findings suggest that short vowels in Qatari Arabic are lax and non-peripheral.
Tipu and the Turks: An Islamicate Embassy in the Age of British Expansion
Authors: Choudhury Rishad
Published: May 2023

In 1786, several hundred subjects of Tipu Sultan (r. 1782–99), ruler of the kingdom of Mysore in southern India, travelled to the Ottoman Empire on a diplomatic mission. This essay revisits the embassy's travels, and travails, across Eurasia and the Indian Ocean by drawing attention to a rich cache of administrative documents. I suggest that this collection, hitherto unexamined, can illuminate some significant aspects of diplomatic conduct and procedure in Islamicate Eurasia, yet underexplored. The essay accordingly highlights such overlooked themes as the bureaucratic complexities that were involved in long-distance ambassadorial tours, the role ceremonials played in elite intercourse, and the myriad ways in which material culture mediated interstate exchanges. While its significance lies also in how it decentres a dominant scholarly focus on encounters between Europe and its others, scrutiny of this collection, I additionally argue, can enhance historical understanding of how reciprocal relations between Islamicate polities transformed due to growing European influence. As contemporary configurations of imperial power changed in both South Asia and the Middle East, the Mysore-Ottoman embassy hence at once reflected and anticipated the advent of European—and more specifically, British—hegemony in non-European diplomatic contexts.
Britain's Involvement in Chile's Cambiaso Mutiny, 1851–2: A Case of Political Dependency at the Dawn of the Republic
Authors: Llorca-Jaña Manuel , Navarrete-Montalvo Juan
Published: May 2023

In mid-1851 a civil war erupted in Chile following a presidential election in which Manuel Montt defeated José María de la Cruz. Many of Cruz's supporters were sent to the distant penal colony of Magallanes. In November 1851, Lieutenant Miguel José Cambiaso, who was part of the garrison, was jailed for insubordination and subsequently led a bloody mutiny disguised as a revolt by Cruz's supporters. The mutiny is familiar to historians of the period, but what is less well known is the key role played by the British in suppressing it. Contrary to previous historiography, the Chilean government pleaded for British intervention. Given the poor state of the Chilean navy and the precariousness of communications with the penal colony, the Chilean government had no option but to resort to British naval forces. This incident illustrates a new dimension of Anglo-Chilean relations during the mid-nineteenth century which cannot be defined solely as imperialistic; Chilean authorities actively sought cooperation from the British. It also highlights the fragility of the process of state formation in a republic long praised as an example of successful political transition from colony to republic, as well as the lack of commitment of the Chilean government to shoring up state power in Magallanes.
Expanding health technology assessment towards broader value: Ireland as a case study
Authors: Kinchin Irina , Walshe Valerie , Normand Charles , Coast Joanna , Elliott Rachel , Kroll Thilo , Kinghorn Philip , Thompson Alexander , Viney Rosalie , Currow David , O’Mahony James F.
Published: May 2023

Healthcare innovations often represent important improvements in population welfare, but at what cost, and to whom? Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process to inform resource allocation. HTA is conventionally anchored on health maximization as the only relevant output of health services. If we accept the proposition that health technologies can generate value outside the healthcare system, resource allocation decisions could be suboptimal from a societal perspective. Incorporating “broader value” in HTA as derived from social values and patient experience could provide a richer evaluative space for informing resource allocation decisions. This article considers how HTA is practiced and what its current context implies for adopting “broader value” to evaluating health technologies. Methodological challenges are highlighted, as is a future research agenda. Ireland serves as an example of a healthcare system that both has an explicit role for HTA and is evolving under a current program of reform to offer universal, single-tier access to public services. There are various ways in which HTA processes could move beyond health, including considering the processes of care delivery and/or expanding the evaluative space to some broader concept of well-being. Methods to facilitate the latter exist, but their adaptation to HTA is still emerging. We recommend a multi-stakeholder working group to develop and advance an international agenda for HTA that captures welfare/benefit beyond health.
Agreeing when to disagree: A corpus analysis of variable agreement in caregiver and child English
Authors: Lukyanenko Cynthia , Miller Karen
Published: May 2023

We characterized the patterns of agreement variation and consistency in three corpora of child and child-directed US English to better understand preschoolers’ input and to compare preschoolers’ own agreement production. We examined sentences with third-person subjects and tensed forms ofbein two large single-family corpora and one cross-sectional corpus collected during a Search-and-Find activity. Caregivers’ agreement variation consistently reflected patterns previously found in adult-to-adult speech. Children's variation was conditioned by many of the same factors (e.g., sentence type, pronoun subject, and order of subject and verb) and clearly demonstrated acquisition of the categorical-variable split. However, some children showed substantially higher rates of nonagreeing forms (There's the cherries) than their caregivers and differed in their ranking of conditioning factors. We suggest that this reflects children's developing production processing abilities: shorter sentence-planning spans may make nonagreement a useful strategy for avoiding early number commitments in verb-first sentences.
Maximal chordal subgraphs
Authors: Gishboliner Lior , Sudakov Benny
Published: May 2023

A chordal graph is a graph with no induced cycles of length at least
$4$
. Let
$f(n,m)$
be the maximal integer such that every graph with
$n$
vertices and
$m$
edges has a chordal subgraph with at least
$f(n,m)$
edges. In 1985 Erdős and Laskar posed the problem of estimating
$f(n,m)$
. In the late 1980s, Erdős, Gyárfás, Ordman and Zalcstein determined the value of
$f(n,n^2/4+1)$
and made a conjecture on the value of
$f(n,n^2/3+1)$
. In this paper we prove this conjecture and answer the question of Erdős and Laskar, determining
$f(n,m)$
asymptotically for all
$m$
and exactly for
$m \leq n^2/3+1$
.
Clinical decision rules in primary care: necessary investments for sustainable healthcare
Authors: Heerink Jorn S. , Oudega Ruud , Hopstaken Rogier , Koffijberg Hendrik , Kusters Ron
Published: May 2023

Clinical judgement in primary care is more often decisive than in the hospital. Clinical decision rules (CDRs) can help general practitioners facilitating the work-through of differentials that follows an initial suspicion, resulting in a concrete ‘course of action’: a ‘rule-out’ without further testing, a need for further testing, or a specific treatment. However, in daily primary care, the use of CDRs is limited to only a few isolated rules. In this paper, we aimed to provide insight into the laborious path required to implement a viable CDR. At the same time, we noted that the limited use of CDRs in primary care cannot be explained by implementation barriers alone. Through the case study of the Oudega rule for the exclusion of deep vein thrombosis, we concluded that primary care CDRs come out best if they are tailor-made, taking into consideration the specific context of primary health care. Current CDRs should be evaluated frequently, and future decision rules should anticipate the latest developments such as the use of point-of-care (POC) tests. Hence, such new powerful diagnostic CDRs could improve and expand the possibilities for patient-oriented primary care.
‘Caecilius Est Internet’: A Study of Year 7 Latin Beginners' Perspectives on the use of an Online Chat function and Breakout Rooms using the Cambridge Latin Course
Authors: Moore Joel
Published: May 2023

During the school closures in the beginning of 2021 many students and teachers found themselves making use of new remote educational technology. The use of an online chat function and breakout rooms became routine. Using observations during lessons, anonymised chat logs and a student questionnaire it is shown that there are positive outcomes for student voice and inclusion when using these features. The possibility for integration of a chat function in the physical classroom, to benefit students who are more confident in messaging than speaking, is briefly considered although a proper study of this was not possible at the time.
Reputation Reminders: When do Eye Cues Promote Prosocial Behavior?
Authors: Van Lange Paul A. M. , Manesi Zoi
Published: May 2023

The watching eyes effect has gained significant attention in recent years both from scientists and from policy makers and professionals in the field. The phenomenon posits that the mere presence of eye cues can promote prosocial behavior. However, there is a growing debate about the generality of the effect across various measures and contexts. This review seeks to combine various distinct -and formerly isolated- perspectives by identifying four key components for effective interventions based on the watching eyes effect: Anonymity, crowdedness, costs, and exposure. Eye cues need to reduce perceived anonymity, be placed in non-crowded places, target low-cost prosocial acts and appear for a short amount of time. Next to these conditions, we discuss implications for other cues to reputation and recommend directions that will stimulate further research and applications in society.
Timing Their Positions: Cosponsorship in the State Legislature
Authors: Schilling Emily U. , Matthews Abigail A. , Kreitzer Rebecca J.
Published: May 2023

Legislators must decide when, if ever, to cosponsor legislation. Scholars have shown legislators strategically time their positions on salient issues of national importance, but we know little about the timing of position-taking for routine bills or what this activity looks like in state legislatures. We argue that legislators’ cosponsorship decision-making depends on the type of legislation and the partisan dynamics among the current cosponsors. Members treat everyday legislation as generalized position-taking motivated by reelection, yet for key legislation, legislators are policy-oriented. With a new dataset of over 73,000 bills introduced in both chambers of the Texas state legislature in the 75th to 86th regular sessions (1997–2020), we use pooled Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate the dynamics of when legislators legislate, comparing all bills introduced with a subset of key bills. The results show that legislators time their cosponsorship activity in response to electoral vulnerability, partisanship, and the dynamics of the chamber in which they serve.
Simulated dormant peppermint (Mentha × piperita) response to mesotrione: a greenhouse study
Authors: Cooper Emmanuel G. , Arana Jeanine , Meyers Stephen L.
Published: May 2023

A dose-response trial was conducted in two experimental runs at the Purdue University Horticulture Greenhouses, West Lafayette, IN, in 2021/2022 to determine the effect of mesotrione rate on simulated dormant ‘Redefined Murray Mitcham’ peppermint. Peppermint was established in 20-cm-diam polyethylene pots, it was then harvested, and pots were placed in a cooler (4 C) for 1 mo. Potted peppermint plants were removed from cold storage and treated with one of five mesotrione rates: 0 (nontreated control), 53, 105, 210, or 420 g ai ha–1. As mesotrione rate increased from 53 to 420 g ai ha–1, predicted peppermint injury increased from 35% to 80% at 2 wk after treatment (WAT), 36% to 95% at 4 WAT, 9% to 82% at 6 WAT, and 8% to 90% at 8 WAT; and peppermint height decreased from 74% to 42% of the nontreated control (7 cm) 2 WAT, 74% to 17% of the nontreated control (20 cm) 4 WAT, 81% to 15% of the nontreated control (28 cm) 6 WAT, and 88% to 19% of the nontreated control (37 cm) 8 WAT. Mesotrione rates from 53 to 420 g ai ha–1 reduced peppermint dry weight from 40% to 99%, respectively. Results from this experiment showed that mesotrione applied even at half of the recommended field use rate for corn (53 g ai ha–1) was not safe for peppermint due to a reduction in aboveground biomass.
Burnout in adolescent elite athletes
Authors: Schorb Alexander , Aichhorn Jakob , Schiepek Günter , Aichhorn Wolfgang
Published: May 2023

Abstract: Objectives: Adolescent elite athletes are generally exposed to considerable stress. This study investigated the extent and intensity of burnout in adolescent athletes attending an elite Austrian sports school. Methods: The German version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and additional questions on burnout-related risk factors were applied to a sample of 63 students. Results: The data show a substantial burden of burnout in the student sample, compared to a sample of adult endurance athletes. Burnout was negatively associated with training duration and with a perspective onto a professional sports career, and positively associated with thoughts about finalizing sports, with the number of injuries, and with high levels of success-related psychic pressure. Conclusions: Burnout in adolescent elite athletes at an Austrian sports school was evident in number and severity. Psychological factors like doubts on the career, perceiving a professional perspective in sports, self-efficacy, or sense-making may interact with contextual factors in a circular way.
The Potential Role of Modified Electron Acoustic Wave and Nonlinear Mode Coupling in Mono‐Energetic Aurora
Authors: Shi Run , Liang Jun , Hu Zejun , Han Desheng , Li Xuejing
Published: May 2023

Results from a 1D kinetic simulation, for the first time, reveal the important role of modified electron acoustic wave (MEAW) in auroral electron acceleration. Parallel electric fields, generated due to the mode coupling between kinetic Alfven waves (KAWs) and MEAWs in the transition region from the magnetosphere and the ionosphere, can be sustained by continuous energy input carried by Alfven waves from the magnetosphere. Under the incidence of long‐period Alfven waves carrying upward field‐aligned currents, a parallel potential drop can be formed in the transition region, leading to mono‐energetic electron acceleration. Such a mechanism provides a possible link between shear Alfven waves and the mesoscale mono‐energetic auroral electron acceleration.
Seasonal, Latitudinal, and Longitudinal Trends in Nighttime Ozone Vertical Structure on Mars From MAVEN/IUVS Stellar Occultations
Authors: Braude A. S. , Montmessin F. , Schneider N. M. , Gupta S. , Jain S. K. , Lefèvre F. , Määttänen A. , Verdier L. , Flimon Z. , Jiang F. Y. , Yelle R. V. , Deighan J. , Curry S. M.
Published: May 2023

Stellar occultation measurements conducted by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile and EvolutioN/Imaging UltraViolet Spectrograph instrument were able to make vertically resolved measurements of ozone density in the middle atmosphere of Mars that offered good coverage with respect to latitude, longitude, and local time. These measurements were used to identify systematic variations in the vertical structure of ozone with longitude that could be distinguished from general trends in the evolution of ozone with respect to season and latitude. A total of 583 individual nightside occultations between Martian years 32 and 36 were analyzed, of which 224 were confirmed to have ozone, all found between Ls = 15°–165°. Close to aphelion (Ls = 60°–90°), peak ozone densities between 30 and 40 km altitude were observed to be within error of model predictions at all measured latitudes, but diverged from model predictions before and after this time. At low latitudes, seasonal changes were seen to have the greatest effect on the observed vertical structure of ozone, with detached ozone layer densities at altitudes above 30 km usually varying within approximately a factor of two along a given latitudinal band at a given time of year. Nonetheless, evidence of a persistent regional enhancement of ozone abundance was observed over equatorial latitudes during the aphelion season, spanning a longitude range of approximately 50°–130°E longitude. Planetary waves were clearly observed at higher Southern latitudes during Southern winter, often resulting in order of magnitude variations in ozone density with longitude.
On the Role of Kinetic Alfven Waves in the Magnetosheath Ion Thermalization Around the Night‐Side Magnetopause
Authors: Lukin A. S. , Artemyev A. V. , Zhang X.‐J. , Vasko I. Y. , Petrukovich A. A.
Published: May 2023

The solar wind ion transport across the magnetopause is one of the main sources of plasma for the Earth's magnetotail. Such a transport is supported by various dynamic processes at the flank magnetopause, where wave‐particle interactions play a crucial role in ion flow thermalization and diffusion across magnetic field surfaces of the magnetopause tangential discontinuity. In this paper we numerically model such ion thermalization by the most intense electromagnetic waves observed in the magnetosheath, kinetic Alfven waves. We aim to develop an approach for long‐term simulations of ion scattering by waves and ion dynamics around realistic magnetopause magnetic fields. This approach is based on a combination of test particle simulations and stochastic differential equations modeling ion diffusion in velocity space. We demonstrate that for realistic magnetopause configuration and wave characteristics, the magnetosheath ion flow can be substantially thermalized around the magnetopause. This result explains observations of ion energy conservation across the flank magnetopause: kinetic and thermal energies of flowing magnetosheath ions approximately equal to the thermal energy of stagnant magnetospheric ions.
Step by step: towards a better understanding of the genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Lambert Jean-Charles , Ramirez Alfredo , Grenier-Boley Benjamin , Bellenguez Céline
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is considered to have a large genetic component. Our knowledge of this component has progressed over the last 10 years, thanks notably to the advent of genome-wide association studies and the establishment of large consortia that make it possible to analyze hundreds of thousands of cases and controls. The characterization of dozens of chromosomal regions associated with the risk of developing AD and (in some loci) the causal genes responsible for the observed disease signal has confirmed the involvement of major pathophysiological pathways (such as amyloid precursor protein metabolism) and opened up new perspectives (such as the central role of microglia and inflammation). Furthermore, large-scale sequencing projects are starting to reveal the major impact of rare variants – even in genes like APOE – on the AD risk. This increasingly comprehensive knowledge is now being disseminated through translational research; in particular, the development of genetic risk/polygenic risk scores is helping to identify the subpopulations more at risk or less at risk of developing AD. Although it is difficult to assess the efforts still needed to comprehensively characterize the genetic component of AD, several lines of research can be improved or initiated. Ultimately, genetics (in combination with other biomarkers) might help to redefine the boundaries and relationships between various neurodegenerative diseases.
Clinical improvement of Long-COVID is associated with reduction in autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammation following therapeutic apheresis
Authors: Achleitner Martin , Steenblock Charlotte , Dänhardt Juliane , Jarzebska Natalia , Kardashi Romina , Kanczkowski Waldemar , Straube Richard , Rodionov Roman N. , Bornstein Nitzan , Tselmin Sergey , Kaiser Frank , Bucher Ronald , Barbir Mahmoud , Wong Ma-Li , Voit-Bak Karin , Licinio Julio , Bornstein Stefan R.
Published: May 2023

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing an unprecedented wave of post-infectious complications. Most prominently, millions of patients with Long-Covid complain about chronic fatigue and severe post-exertional malaise. Therapeutic apheresis has been suggested as an efficient treatment option for alleviating and mitigating symptoms in this desperate group of patients. However, little is known about the mechanisms and biomarkers correlating with treatment outcomes. Here, we have analyzed in different cohorts of Long-Covid patients specific biomarkers before and after therapeutic apheresis. In patients that reported a significant improvement following two cycles of therapeutic apheresis, there was a significant reduction in neurotransmitter autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammatory markers. Furthermore, we observed a 70% reduction in fibrinogen, and following apheresis, erythrocyte rouleaux formation and fibrin fibers largely disappeared as demonstrated by dark field microscopy. This is the first study demonstrating a pattern of specific biomarkers with clinical symptoms in this patient group. It may therefore form the basis for a more objective monitoring and a clinical score for the treatment of Long-Covid and other postinfectious syndromes.
Acan downregulation in parvalbumin GABAergic cells reduces spontaneous recovery of fear memories
Authors: Lavertu-Jolin Marisol , Chattopadhyaya Bidisha , Chehrazi Pegah , Carrier Denise , Wünnemann Florian , Leclerc Séverine , Dumouchel Félix , Robertson Derek , Affia Hicham , Saba Kamal , Gopal Vijaya , Patel Anant Bahadur , Andelfinger Gregor , Pineyro Graçiela , Di Cristo Graziella
Published: May 2023

While persistence of fear memories is essential for survival, a failure to inhibit fear in response to harmless stimuli is a feature of anxiety disorders. Extinction training only temporarily suppresses fear memory recovery in adults, but it is highly effective in juvenile rodents. Maturation of GABAergic circuits, in particular of parvalbumin-positive (PV+) cells, restricts plasticity in the adult brain, thus reducing PV+cell maturation could promote the suppression of fear memories following extinction training in adults. Epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation control gene accessibility for transcription and help couple synaptic activity to changes in gene expression. Histone deacetylase 2 (Hdac2), in particular, restrains both structural and functional synaptic plasticity. However, whether and how Hdac2 controls the maturation of postnatal PV+cells is not well understood. Here, we show that PV+- cell specificHdac2deletion limits spontaneous fear memory recovery in adult mice, while enhancing PV+cell bouton remodeling and reducing perineuronal net aggregation around PV+cells in prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala. Prefrontal cortex PV+cells lackingHdac2, show reduced expression ofAcan, a critical perineuronal net component, which is rescued by Hdac2 re-expression. Pharmacological inhibition of Hdac2 before extinction training is sufficient to reduce both spontaneous fear memory recovery andAcanexpression in wild-type adult mice, while these effects are occluded in PV+-cell specificHdac2conditional knockout mice. Finally, a brief knock-down ofAcanexpression mediated by intravenous siRNA delivery before extinction training but after fear memory acquisition is sufficient to reduce spontaneous fear recovery in wild-type mice. Altogether, these data suggest that controlled manipulation of PV+cells by targeting Hdac2 activity, or the expression of its downstream effectorAcan, promotes the long-term efficacy of extinction training in adults.
Retinoic acid receptor β modulates mechanosensing and invasion in pancreatic cancer cells via myosin light chain 2
Authors: Matellan Carlos , Lachowski Dariusz , Cortes Ernesto , Chiam Kai Ning , Krstic Aleksandar , Thorpe Stephen D. , del Río Hernández Armando E.
Published: May 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and lethal form of pancreatic cancer, characterised by stromal remodelling, elevated matrix stiffness and high metastatic rate. Retinoids, compounds derived from vitamin A, have a history of clinical use in cancer for their anti-proliferative and differentiation effects, and more recently have been explored as anti-stromal therapies in PDAC for their ability to induce mechanical quiescence in cancer associated fibroblasts. Here, we demonstrate that retinoic acid receptor β (RAR-β) transcriptionally represses myosin light chain 2 (MLC-2) expression in pancreatic cancer cells. As a key regulatory component of the contractile actomyosin machinery, MLC-2 downregulation results in decreased cytoskeletal stiffness and traction force generation, impaired response to mechanical stimuli via mechanosensing and reduced ability to invade through the basement membrane. This work highlights the potential of retinoids to target the mechanical drivers of pancreatic cancer.
KLF5 and p53 comprise an incoherent feed-forward loop directing cell-fate decisions following stress
Authors: Yang Yizeng , Bhargava Dharmendra , Chen Xiao , Zhou Taicheng , Dursuk Gizem , Jiang Wenpeng , Wang Jinshen , Zong Zhen , Katz Sharyn I. , Lomberk Gwen A. , Urrutia Raul A. , Katz Jonathan P.
Published: May 2023

In response to stress, cells make a critical decision to arrest or undergo apoptosis, mediated in large part by the tumor suppressor p53. Yet the mechanisms of these cell fate decisions remain largely unknown, particularly in normal cells. Here, we define an incoherent feed-forward loop in non-transformed human squamous epithelial cells involving p53 and the zinc-finger transcription factor KLF5 that dictates responses to differing levels of cellular stress from UV irradiation or oxidative stress. In normal unstressed human squamous epithelial cells, KLF5 complexes with SIN3A and HDAC2 repress TP53, allowing cells to proliferate. With moderate stress, this complex is disrupted, and TP53 is induced; KLF5 then acts as a molecular switch for p53 function by transactivating AKT1 and AKT3, which direct cells toward survival. By contrast, severe stress results in KLF5 loss, such that AKT1 and AKT3 are not induced, and cells preferentially undergo apoptosis. Thus, in human squamous epithelial cells, KLF5 gates the response to UV or oxidative stress to determine the p53 output of growth arrest or apoptosis.
Bifurcation behaviors shape how continuous physical dynamics solves discrete Ising optimization
Authors: Wang Juntao , Ebler Daniel , Wong K. Y. Michael , Hui David Shui Wing , Sun Jie
Published: May 2023

Simulating physical dynamics to solve hard combinatorial optimization has proven effective for medium- to large-scale problems. The dynamics of such systems is continuous, with no guarantee of finding optimal solutions of the original discrete problem. We investigate the open question of when simulated physical solvers solve discrete optimizations correctly, with a focus on coherent Ising machines (CIMs). Having established the existence of an exact mapping between CIM dynamics and discrete Ising optimization, we report two fundamentally distinct bifurcation behaviors of the Ising dynamics at the first bifurcation point: either all nodal states simultaneously deviate from zero (synchronized bifurcation) or undergo a cascade of such deviations (retarded bifurcation). For synchronized bifurcation, we prove that when the nodal states are uniformly bounded away from the origin, they contain sufficient information for exactly solving the Ising problem. When the exact mapping conditions are violated, subsequent bifurcations become necessary and often cause slow convergence. Inspired by those findings, we devise a trapping-and-correction (TAC) technique to accelerate dynamics-based Ising solvers, including CIMs and simulated bifurcation. TAC takes advantage of early bifurcated “trapped nodes” which maintain their sign throughout the Ising dynamics to reduce computation time effectively. Using problem instances from open benchmark and random Ising models, we validate the superior convergence and accuracy of TAC.
Aerosol breezes drive cloud and precipitation increases
Authors: Leung Gabrielle R. , van den Heever Susan C.
Published: May 2023

Aerosol-cloud interactions are a major source of uncertainty in weather and climate models. These interactions and associated precipitation feedbacks are modulated by spatial distributions of aerosols on global and regional scales. Aerosols also vary on mesoscales, including around wildfires, industrial regions, and cities, but the impacts of variability on these scales are understudied. Here, we first present observations of covarying mesoscale aerosol and cloud distributions on the mesoscale. Then, using a high-resolution process model, we show that horizontal aerosol gradients of order 100 km drive a thermally-direct circulation we call an “aerosol breeze”. We find that aerosol breezes support initiation of clouds and precipitation over the low-aerosol portion of the gradient while suppressing their development on the high-aerosol end. Aerosol gradients also enhance domain-wide cloudiness and precipitation, compared with homogenous distributions of the same aerosol mass, leading to potential biases in models that do not adequately represent this mesoscale aerosol heterogeneity.
State-level macro-economic factors moderate the association of low income with brain structure and mental health in U.S. children
Authors: Weissman David G. , Hatzenbuehler Mark L. , Cikara Mina , Barch Deanna M. , McLaughlin Katie A.
Published: May 2023

Macrostructural characteristics, such as cost of living and state-level anti-poverty programs relate to the magnitude of socioeconomic disparities in brain development and mental health. In this study we leveraged data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study from 10,633 9-11 year old youth (5115 female) across 17 states. Lower income was associated with smaller hippocampal volume and higher internalizing psychopathology. These associations were stronger in states with higher cost of living. However, in high cost of living states that provide more generous cash benefits for low-income families, socioeconomic disparities in hippocampal volume were reduced by 34%, such that the association of family income with hippocampal volume resembled that in the lowest cost of living states. We observed similar patterns for internalizing psychopathology. State-level anti-poverty programs and cost of living may be confounded with other factors related to neurodevelopment and mental health. However, the patterns were robust to controls for numerous state-level social, economic, and political characteristics. These findings suggest that state-level macrostructural characteristics, including the generosity of anti-poverty policies, are potentially relevant for addressing the relationship of low income with brain development and mental health.
More than one quarter of Africa’s tree cover is found outside areas previously classified as forest
Authors: Reiner Florian , Brandt Martin , Tong Xiaoye , Skole David , Kariryaa Ankit , Ciais Philippe , Davies Andrew , Hiernaux Pierre , Chave Jérôme , Mugabowindekwe Maurice , Igel Christian , Oehmcke Stefan , Gieseke Fabian , Li Sizhuo , Liu Siyu , Saatchi Sassan , Boucher Peter , Singh Jenia , Taugourdeau Simon , Dendoncker Morgane , Song Xiao-Peng , Mertz Ole , Tucker Compton J. , Fensholt Rasmus
Published: May 2023

The consistent monitoring of trees both inside and outside of forests is key to sustainable land management. Current monitoring systems either ignore trees outside forests or are too expensive to be applied consistently across countries on a repeated basis. Here we use the PlanetScope nanosatellite constellation, which delivers global very high-resolution daily imagery, to map both forest and non-forest tree cover for continental Africa using images from a single year. Our prototype map of 2019 (RMSE = 9.57%, bias = −6.9%). demonstrates that a precise assessment of all tree-based ecosystems is possible at continental scale, and reveals that 29% of tree cover is found outside areas previously classified as tree cover in state-of-the-art maps, such as in croplands and grassland. Such accurate mapping of tree cover down to the level of individual trees and consistent among countries has the potential to redefine land use impacts in non-forest landscapes, move beyond the need for forest definitions, and build the basis for natural climate solutions and tree-related studies.
Machine learning-driven multifunctional peptide engineering for sustained ocular drug delivery
Authors: Hsueh Henry T. , Chou Renee Ti , Rai Usha , Liyanage Wathsala , Kim Yoo Chun , Appell Matthew B. , Pejavar Jahnavi , Leo Kirby T. , Davison Charlotte , Kolodziejski Patricia , Mozzer Ann , Kwon HyeYoung , Sista Maanasa , Anders Nicole M. , Hemingway Avelina , Rompicharla Sri Vishnu Kiran , Edwards Malia , Pitha Ian , Hanes Justin , Cummings Michael P. , Ensign Laura M.
Published: May 2023

Sustained drug delivery strategies have many potential benefits for treating a range of diseases, particularly chronic diseases that require treatment for years. For many chronic ocular diseases, patient adherence to eye drop dosing regimens and the need for frequent intraocular injections are significant barriers to effective disease management. Here, we utilize peptide engineering to impart melanin binding properties to peptide-drug conjugates to act as a sustained-release depot in the eye. We develop a super learning-based methodology to engineer multifunctional peptides that efficiently enter cells, bind to melanin, and have low cytotoxicity. When the lead multifunctional peptide (HR97) is conjugated to brimonidine, an intraocular pressure lowering drug that is prescribed for three times per day topical dosing, intraocular pressure reduction is observed for up to 18 days after a single intracameral injection in rabbits. Further, the cumulative intraocular pressure lowering effect increases ~17-fold compared to free brimonidine injection. Engineered multifunctional peptide-drug conjugates are a promising approach for providing sustained therapeutic delivery in the eye and beyond.
Theory-guided design of high-entropy alloys with enhanced strength-ductility synergy
Authors: Pei Zongrui , Zhao Shiteng , Detrois Martin , Jablonski Paul D. , Hawk Jeffrey A. , Alman David E. , Asta Mark , Minor Andrew M. , Gao Michael C.
Published: May 2023

Metallic alloys have played essential roles in human civilization due to their balanced strength and ductility. Metastable phases and twins have been introduced to overcome the strength-ductility tradeoff in face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy alloys (HEAs). However, there is still a lack of quantifiable mechanisms to predict good combinations of the two mechanical properties. Here we propose a possible mechanism based on the parameter κ, the ratio of short-ranged interactions between closed-pack planes. It promotes the formation of various nanoscale stacking sequences and enhances the work-hardening ability of the alloys. Guided by the theory, we successfully designed HEAs with enhanced strength and ductility compared with other extensively studied CoCrNi-based systems. Our results not only offer a physical picture of the strengthening effects but can also be used as a practical design principle to enhance the strength-ductility synergy in HEAs.