bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A high-temperature superconducting bulk average critical current density parameter matching method based on levitation force
Authors: Lei Wuyang , Feng Yicheng , Peng Can , Yin Peiyu , Deng Zigang
Published: January 2025

The high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic levitation has advantages such as integrated levitation and guidance, no inherent magnetic resistance, and operation in the liquid nitrogen temperature range. However, the superconducting bulk properties are complicated in HTS magnetic levitation, the behavior and average critical current density parameters of different superconducting bulks are different. This paper proposes a parameter matching method to obtain suitable average critical current density in 2D and 3D simulation. The experiment conducts the levitation force and guidance force measurement of different superconducting bulks. The difference in levitation force between different HTS bulks levitating above the permanent magnet guideway is much better consistent than that of the guidance force. Therefore, the levitation force curve at a 40 mm field cooling height (FCH) to 10 mm working height is chosen as the reference data for the parameter matching curve. The suitable critical current density parameters are obtained for both 2D and 3D models. In the 2D simulation model, the J
c0 ranges from 3.863 × 107 A m−2 to 1.283 × 108 A m−2. In the 3D simulation model, the critical current density ranges from 4.036 × 108 A m−2 to 5.343 × 108 A m−2. After parameter matching with the experimental data of the 40 mm FCH, the levitation force at other FCHs is also well matched with the experimental results, indicating that the parameter matching method is suitable. This research can provide a method for acquiring the average critical current density choice in the simulation.
Quantum Field Theory of black hole perturbations with backreaction. Part II. Spherically symmetric 2nd order Einstein sector
Authors: Neuser J. , Thiemann T.
Published: January 2025

In this second paper of our series we focus on the classical pure gravity sector of spherically
symmetric black hole perturbations and expand the reduced Hamiltonian to second order.
To compare our manifestly gauge invariant formalism with established results in the literature
we have to translate our results derived in Gullstrand-Painlevé gauge to the gauges used
in those works. After several canonical transformations we expectedly find exact agreement
with the Hamiltonian given by Moncrief which generates the Regge-Wheeler and Zerilli equations
of motion for the linear axial (often denoted odd) and polar (often denoted even) perturbations
respectively. This confirms the validity of our method which includes backreaction and
easily generalises to higher orders.
Prospects for the detection of dark matter with long-lived mediators in the Sun using the Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory
Authors: Andrade Micael , Fagiani Juan , Siqueira Clarissa , de Souza Vitor , Viana Aion
Published: January 2025

The operation of the next generation of gamma-ray observatories will lead to a great
advance in dark matter searches. In this paper, we use the hidden sectors hypothesis within the
so-called secluded models to calculate the capabilities of the Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray
Observatory (SWGO) to detect gamma-ray signatures produced by dark matter particles concentrated
in the Sun. We assume the dark matter particle annihilates into metastable mediators which decay
into γγ, e+e-, τ+τ-, and b̅b outside the Sun. We found that the
SWGO will be able to probe a spin-dependent cross-section of about 10-46 cm2 for dark
matter masses smaller than 5 TeV. This result shows an unprecedented sensitivity surpassing the
current instruments by more than one order of magnitude.
Testing gravity with the latent heat of neutron star matter
Authors: Moreno Pablo Navarro , Wojnar Aneta , Llanes-Estrada Felipe J.
Published: January 2025

The Seidov limit is a bound on the maximum latent heat that a presumed first-order phase
transition of neutron-star matter can have before its excess energy density, not compensated by
additional pressure, results in gravitational collapse. Because latent heat forces an apparent
nonanalytic behaviour in plots correlating physical quantities (kinks in two-dimensional, ridges
in three-dimensional ones), it can be constrained by data. As the onset of collapse depends on
the intensity of gravity, testing for sudden derivative changes and, if they are large, breaching
the Seidov limit would reward with two successive discoveries: such a phase transition (which
could stem from hadron matter but also from a gravitational phase transition), and a modification
of General Relativity (thus breaking the matter/gravity degeneracy). We illustrate the point with
f(R) = R + αR
2 metric gravity.
Dynamics of operator size distribution in q-local quantum Brownian SYK and spin models
Authors: Xu Shenglong
Published: January 2025

We study operator dynamics in Brownian quantum many-body models with q-local interactions. The operator dynamics are characterized by the time-dependent size distribution, for which we derive an exact master equation in both the Brownian Majorana Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model and the spin model for general q. This equation can be solved numerically for large systems. Additionally, we obtain the analytical size distribution in the large N limit for arbitrary initial conditions and q. The distributions for both models take the same form, related to the χ-squared distribution by a change of variable, and strongly depend on the initial condition. For small initial sizes, the operator dynamics are characterized by a broad distribution that narrows as the initial size increases. When the initial operator size is below q − 2 for the Majorana model or q − 1 for the spin model, the distribution diverges in the small size limit at all times. The mean size of all operators, which can be directly measured by the out-of-time ordered correlator, grows exponentially during the early time. In the late time regime, the mean size for a single Majorana or Pauli operator for all q decays exponentially as

t

e

−
t

, much slower than all other operators, which decay as e
−t
. At finite N, the size distribution exhibits modulo-dependent branching within a symmetry sector for the

q
⩾
8

Majorana model and the

q
⩾
4

spin model. Our results reveal universal features of operator dynamics in q-local quantum many-body systems.
Tempering Temperature Effect on the Static and Impact Properties of 51CrV4 and 55Cr3 Spring Steels
Authors: TOKTAŞ Gülcan , BİÇER Adem
Published: January 2025

This study investigated the impact of tempering temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 51CrV4 and 55Cr3 spring steels, which are commonly utilized in the manufacturing of leaf springs. These springs are integral components of suspension systems in both land and railway vehicles. The steels were hardened through austenitizing at 870 °C for 30 min, followed by oil quenching. Subsequently, they were tempered at 300 °C, 375 °C, 450 °C, and 525 °C for 120 min. Mechanical testing (including hardness and tensile tests) and both micro and macrostructural analyses were carried out to assess the effect of tempering temperature. Additionally, impact tests at various temperatures were performed to evaluate the influence of tempering on ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). X-ray diffraction was employed for phase analyses while scanning electron microscopy was utilized to examine fracture surfaces. The quenching/tempering processes resulted in strengths that were two to three times higher and lower hardening capacities below 0.05 in comparison to the normalizing treatment. The steels achieved their maximum ultimate tensile strengths above 1800 N/mm2 at 300 °C, with decreasing values as the tempering temperature increased. The hardness of 51CrV4 steel surpassed that of 55Cr3, attributed to the hardenability and precipitation-strengthening effects provided by the Cr and V content. Furthermore, impact energies increased with increasing testing temperatures (40 °C, 0 °C, 25 °C, and +80 °C), with both steels tempered at 525 °C exhibiting higher and satisfactory impact energies across all testing temperatures, exceeding 15 J and 20 J, respectively. In addition, the tempered steels did not show a well-defined DBTT, while only the DBTT of normalized 51CrV4 steel was clearly determined at 0°C.
Automated quantum system modeling with machine learning
Authors: Mukherjee K , Schachenmayer J , Whitlock S , Wüster S
Published: January 2025

Despite the complexity of quantum systems in the real world, models with just a few effective many-body states often suffice to describe their quantum dynamics, provided decoherence is accounted for. We show that a machine learning algorithm is able to construct such models, given a straightforward set of quantum dynamics measurements. The effective Hilbert space can be a black box, with variations of the coupling to just one accessible output state being sufficient to generate the required training data. We demonstrate through simulations of a Markovian open quantum system that a neural network can automatically detect the number N of effective states and the most relevant Hamiltonian terms and state-dephasing processes and rates. For systems with

N
⩽
5

we find typical mean relative errors of predictions in the

10
%

range. With more advanced networks and larger training sets, it is conceivable that a future single software can provide the automated first stop solution to model building for an unknown device or system, complementing and validating the conventional approach based on physical insight into the system.
How legitimate are urban climate planning processes? A comparative assessment of Accra, Ahmedabad, Bonn and São Paulo
Authors: Wagner Niklas , Pathak Minal
Published: January 2025

Urban climate action plans (UCAPs) guide cities in identifying key climate risks and in addressing climate change. Designed to guide urban transformation over decades through near-term and long-term actions reducing emissions and/or adapting to the consequences of climate change, UCAPs are intended to have significant impacts. Despite their significance for urban climate governance, the procedural quality of how UCAPs are created remains under-analysed. By analysing UCAPs of four cities from different regions of the world - Accra (Ghana), Bonn (Germany), São Paulo (Brazil), and Ahmedabad (India) - we unpack the quality of UCAP creation processes in terms of their legitimacy including whether and how key stakeholders were involved in shaping the plan. Drawing on 72 semi-structured interviews with actors involved in the plan-creation process and complemented by document analysis, this study conceptualises UCAP creation phases and assesses its quality using the framework of input, throughput, and output legitimacy. In terms of key actors, this study highlights the crucial role city networks played in designing and funding UCAP creation processes. Significant differences in UCAP legitimacy with regards to levels of co-production, transparency, accessibility, and substantive participation across the case studies are shown. Based on these findings this study provides actionable insights for the creation of legitimate and impactful UCAPs to promote just and equitable urban transformations.
Optimized thermal oxidation strategy for amorphous carbon removal in wet-spun carbon nanotube fibers
Authors: Jeong Se Eun , Lee Dongju , Kim Junghwan , Heo So Jeong , Im Byeong Woo , Piao Yuanzhe , Ku Bon-Cheol , Kim Seo Gyun
Published: January 2025

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent an advanced material with exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. However, realizing these properties in fiber applications requires effective removal of impurities particularly amorphous carbon. This study presents an optimized thermal oxidation strategy to remove amorphous carbon while preserving the nanotube structure. We investigated various oxidation conditions, focusing on temperature-time conditions and their effects on single-walled CNT (SWCNT) structure and fiber formation. Here, we suggested the optimal oxidation parameters (400 °C, 12 h) that effectively removed amorphous carbon while maintaining the sp2
carbon structure. SWCNTs treated under optimal conditions exhibited improved dispersibility in chlorosulfonic acid and formed a liquid-crystalline phase. The resulting SWCNT fibers exhibited improved specific tenstile strength (0.80 N tex−1) and modulus (124 N tex−1) compared to fibers treated at high temperatures (500 °C) where structural degradation occurred due to excessive thermal oxidation. This study provides a foundational approach to fabricating high-performance SWCNT fibers through a controlled oxidation process, contributing to the development of high-performance CNT fibers for various applications.
Electrically reconfigurable surface acoustic wave phase shifters based on ZnO TFTs on LiNbO3 substrate
Authors: Zhang Yi , Xiong Zilong , He Lewei , Jiang Yang , Deng Chenkai , Du Fangzhou , Wen Kangyao , Tang Chuying , Hu Qiaoyu , Li Mujun , Wang Xiaohui , Wang Wenhui , Wang Han , Wang Qing , Yu Hongyu , Wang Zhongrui
Published: January 2025

Reconfigurable surface acoustic wave (SAW) phase shifters have garnered significant attention owing to their potential applications in emerging fields such as secure wireless communication, adaptable signal processing, and intelligent sensing systems. Among various modulation methods, employing gate voltage-controlled tuning methodologies that leverage acoustoelectric interactions has proven to be an efficient modulation approach that requires a low bias voltage. However, current acoustoelectric devices suffer from limited tunability, intricate heterogeneous structures, and complex manufacturing processes, all of which impede their practical applications. In this study, we present a novel material system for voltage-tunable SAW phase shifters. This system incorporates an atomic layer deposition ZnO thin-film transistors on LiNbO3 structure. This structure combines the benefits of LiNbO3’s high electromechanical coupling coefficient (K
2) and ZnO’s superior conductivity adjustability. Besides, the device possesses a simplified structural configuration, which is easy to fabricate. Devices with different mesa lengths were fabricated and measured, and two of the different modes were compared. The results indicate that both the maximum phase shift and attenuation of the Rayleigh mode and longitudinal leaky SAW (LLSAW) increase proportionally with mesa length. Furthermore, LLSAW with larger effective electromechanical coupling coefficients (

K

eff

2

) values exhibits greater phase velocity shifts and attenuation coefficients, with a maximum phase velocity tuning of 1.22% achieved. It is anticipated that the proposed devices will find utility in a variety of applications necessitating tunable acoustic components.
EMC-YOLO: a feature enhancement and fusion based surface defect detection for hot rolled strip steel
Authors: Zhu Xiaoyan , Wan Xin , Zhang Mingyu
Published: January 2025

Steel is one of the most common and widely used materials in modern industrial production, and has been widely and deeply used in the field of engineering construction. However, the manufacturing process and external factors can lead to defect problems that seriously affect the quality and appearance of the steel. Defects have the characteristics of multi-scale, weak texture, many dense and small defects, and interference in the processing environment, which are challenging for the actual location and classification of defects. The detection of these surface defects is challenging due to their multi-scale nature, weak textures, numerous small defects, and complex background interference. To address these challenges, an EMC-YOLO algorithm is proposed to detect defects accurately. First, an Enhanced Fast Feature Extraction (EFFE) module is constructed. It integrates local saliency information with global saliency information and achieves multi-depth feature fusion. The EFFE replaces the bottleneck structure of C2F, enhancing feature extraction capabilities. Secondly, to optimize multi-scale defect feature detection for small and elongated defects, a Multi-Scale Receptive Field Spatial. Pooling Fast Pyramid (MRF-SPPF) module is proposed. Finally, Cross-Reinforced Connections Across Spatial Features (CCASF) is designed to give full play to the feature representation extracted after backbone network enhancement and deeply integrate it with neck features. This closely links the enhanced backbone features with the enriched neck features. On the NEU-DET dataset, the mAP value of the proposed model is improved by 3.5%, and the accuracy of the model finally reaches 80.7%. At the same time, in another GC10-DET dataset, our model also achieved 73.5% mAP value. It achieves good accuracy while satisfying real-time performance. It has a good application prospect in the actual strip processing.
Grid-connected applications using a seven-level switched capacitor-based reduced switch component multilevel inverter
Authors: Sinha Rajiv Ranjan , Mandal Rajib Kumar
Published: January 2025

The majority of nations in the world now generate power from renewable sources, including wind, tidal, and photovoltaic (PV) due to the rising need for electricity with the depletion of fossil fuels. The study of photovoltaic cells as a substitute source for producing power has garnered significant attention among these. In the present paper, a novel switched capacitor multilevel inverter (SCMLI) with the fewest possible components is presented. Using two capacitors rated at half the input voltage, nine semiconductor switches, and a single dc source, the inverter produces a seven-level output waveform across the load. This suggested SCMLI has several important advantages, such as the capacity to raise voltage up to three times the input voltage, fewer devices, no bidirectional switches, capacitor self-balancing, and a lower total standing voltage (TSV). The working principles, capacitor voltage balance, and control method are all thoroughly examined in this article. In-depth analyses are also offered, including power loss, efficiency analysis, cost function per level (CF/NLev), and switch device power (SDP) ratings. Using simulation tests with MATLAB/SIMULINK software, the steady-state and dynamical characteristics of the projected topology (PT) are evaluated, and the results are validated through empirical investigations. Additionally, a comparison of the suggested SCMLI with other released multilevel inverters (MLIs) is included in this paper. Ultimately, findings related to the verification of the PT’s performance for a single-stage connected to the grid photovoltaic (PV) equipment are presented. Finally, experimental results on a laboratory prototype confirm the proposed inverter ability to increase the input by a ratio of three.
Patterns and trends of heat and wildfire smoke indicators across rural–urban and social vulnerability gradients in Idaho
Authors: Seydi Seyd Teymoor , Pierce Jennifer , Abatzoglou John T , Radin Anna , Sims Ethan , Flint Hilary , Wicks Stephanie , Henderson Eric , Chittoori Bhaskar , Sadegh Mojtaba
Published: January 2025

Climate change poses a grave threat to human health with disparate impacts across society. While populations with high social vulnerability generally bear a larger burden of exposure to and impact from environmental hazards; such patterns and trends are less explored at the confluence of social vulnerability and rural–urban gradients. We show that in rural regions in Idaho, low vulnerability populations had both the highest long-term average and the highest increase rate of exposure to heatwaves from 2002–2020, coincident with a higher population density in low—as compared to high—vulnerability rural census tracts. In urban areas, however, high vulnerability populations accounted for the highest long-term average and increase rate of heatwave exposure; they also accounted for highest population density. Contrary to regional warming trends, population-weighted maximum summer land surface temperature (LST-Max) showed a negative trend across Idaho in the past two decades coincident with increasing neighborhood greenness. Our results show that increasing population density in southern Idaho with a Mediterranean climate and hot summers is correlated with increasing greenness—associated with development of barren land and growing trees planted in former developments—and declining LST-Max. Furthermore, we show that while ambient air quality in the past two decades improved in southern Idaho—consistent with national trends—it worsened in northern Idaho. Wildfire smoke concentrations also increased across Idaho, with pronounced trends in northern Idaho. Our findings indicate that while climatic extremes continue to increasingly threaten human lives, nature-based solutions—such as neighborhood greening, where allowed by environmental and social factors—can mitigate some of the adverse impacts of climate change.
Aging and the Threat of Normative Poverty
Authors: Scheffler Samuel
Published: January 2025

This chapter addresses a threat that confronts many people as they age, the threat of normative poverty. As we get older, many of our relationships with other people are ended by the deaths of those people. This threatens to leave us with a shortage of the relationship-dependent reasons that structure our lives. The shortage of these reasons amounts to a condition of normative poverty. The chapter assesses two responses to this threat, arguing that each by itself is inadequate. The first says that we should avoid normative poverty by developing new relationships. The second asserts that relationships that have ended nevertheless continue to be sources of relationship-dependent reasons. The chapter then argues that there is a deeper problem underlying the threat of normative poverty, which is that our best ways of acknowledging the value of relationships that have ended seem incongruous with that value itself.
Use of a trigger tool to describe and screen drug-related hospital admissions in older adults: the TRIGGAge retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dauny Vincent , Minaud Alix , Boutitie Léa , Genet Bastien , Boddaert Jacques , Zerah Lorene
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Drug-related hospital admissions (DRAs) can account for 5%–40% of total hospital admissions in older adults, with a significant proportion deemed preventable. To increase the detection of DRAs, in 2021, a revised trigger tool listing 21 frequent causes of admissions and medications at risk was proposed. This study aimed to describe DRAs using this trigger tool in a French acute geriatric ward and to assess the performance of the tool.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study in a 20-bed geriatric unit including all patients hospitalised in 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, each patient’s chart was adjudicated by using a two-step standardised review procedure to assess whether the admission was a DRA. The potentially at cause medications and reasons for admission were also assessed.

Results

During the study period, 483 patients were hospitalised in the acute-care geriatric ward (mean age 86.7 ± 6.15 years). After adjudication, 207 admissions (43%) were identified as DRAs; 70% were considered preventable. The main causes of DRAs were falls/fractures (33%), bleeding (23%) and delirium (14%). The drugs most frequently responsible were diuretics (21%), renin–angiotensin system inhibitors (20%) and direct oral anticoagulants (15%). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the tool for detecting DRAs was 90% (95% CI 88–93) and 72% (68–76), respectively. After adjudication, the trigger tool helped detect 83% more DRAs as compared with the attending geriatrician.

Conclusion

DRAs are frequent in a geriatric population and often preventable. Their detection may be improved by the use of a trigger tool.
A registry-based approach for estimating county-level race disparities in breast cancer mortality: an analysis in Georgia
Authors: Nash Rebecca , Switchenko Jeffrey M , Ward Kevin C , Maliniak Maret L , Collin Lindsay J , Moubadder Leah , Kramer Michael R , Lash Timothy L , Gaglioti Anne , Bayakly Rana , McCullough Lauren E
Published: January 2025

Despite similar incidence rates, nationwide breast cancer mortality is 40% higher among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women. The racial disparity persists even among women with early-stage disease, prognostically favorable subtypes, and indicators of high socioeconomic status and is not evenly distributed throughout the US. Understanding geographic differences may provide additional insight into the drivers of the disparity. However, current data are geographically limited, based primarily on death certificate information, do not incorporate incidence, and often do not provide estimates or account for areas with small populations or sparse case data. Using a Bayesian framework, we estimated the local racial disparity in 5-year mortality for non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed during 2005–2013 across counties in Georgia, a racially and geographically diverse state. Overall, during the study period, 5-year breast cancer mortality was 43% higher among NHB than NHW women. The racial disparity varied across Georgia with more pronounced disparity observed in the central and southeast and less pronounced disparity in the southwest. Rurality increased and the proportion of owner-occupied housing decreased the magnitude of the disparity, but only after accounting for other area-level covariates. This approach can help guide decisions and resource allocation at the local level.
BetaAlign: a deep learning approach for multiple sequence alignment
Authors: Dotan Edo , Wygoda Elya , Ecker Noa , Alburquerque Michael , Avram Oren , Belinkov Yonatan , Pupko Tal
Published: January 2025

Motivation

Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) are extensively used in biology, from phylogenetic reconstruction to structure and function prediction. Here, we suggest an out-of-the-box approach for the inference of MSAs, which relies on algorithms developed for processing natural languages. We show that our artificial intelligence (AI)-based methodology can be trained to align sequences by processing alignments that are generated via simulations, and thus different aligners can be easily generated for datasets with specific evolutionary dynamics attributes. We expect that natural language processing (NLP) solutions will replace or augment classic solutions for computing alignments, and more generally, challenging inference tasks in phylogenomics.

Results

The MSA problem is a fundamental pillar in bioinformatics, comparative genomics, and phylogenetics. Here, we characterize and improve BetaAlign, the first deep learning aligner, which substantially deviates from conventional algorithms of alignment computation. BetaAlign draws on NLP techniques and trains transformers to map a set of unaligned biological sequences to an MSA. We show that our approach is highly accurate, comparable and sometimes better than state-of-the-art alignment tools. We characterize the performance of BetaAlign and the effect of various aspects on accuracy; for example, the size of the training data, the effect of different transformer architectures, and the effect of learning on a subspace of indel-model parameters (subspace learning). We also introduce a new technique that leads to improved performance compared to our previous approach. Our findings further uncover the potential of NLP-based methods for sequence alignment, highlighting that AI-based algorithms can substantially challenge classic approaches in phylogenomics and bioinformatics.

Availability and implementation

Datasets used in this work are available on HuggingFace (Wolf et al. Transformers: state-of-the-art natural language processing. In: Proceedings of the 2020 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing: System Demonstrations. p.38–45. 2020) at: https://huggingface.co/dotan1111. Source code is available at: https://github.com/idotan286/SimulateAlignments.
The Fantasy of the Good Death
Authors: Tran Johnathan , Crawford Mathew A
Published: January 2025

Good people often die badly, and, sometimes, bad people die well. Both are true for complex reasons. We worry that the tropic formulation trades on a simplistic anthropology that belies the complexities of how persons operate in the world. In this essay, we are interested in these complexities and a better theological acknowledgement of them, not least because the fantasy of the good death ill prepares one for real death. We argue that valorizing pious religious death and profane ugly death loses sight of these complexities, which we think should comprise any account Christians give about what persons are and are in their dying—an account that often goes by the name “theological anthropology.” It is the simplistic theological anthropology more than the tropic formulation—the anthropology the trope smuggles in—that concerns us. Our argument proceeds by first examining the fantasy of the good death, measuring it against a historical record with an examination of the Ars Moriendi tradition, and then thinking more broadly about what motivates it. Along the way, we consider a recent film, The Farewell, where good-death fantasies comically run up against death’s reality and where goodness, truth, and beauty show up anyhow.
Assessing the normality of the frontal hairline: a comparison of women with frontal fibrosing alopecia and women with a normal scalp
Authors: Gallo Giuseppe , Cedirian Stephano , Merli Martina , Mastorino Luca , Sciamarrelli Nadia , Accorinti Martina , Quaglino Pietro , Piraccini Bianca M , Ribero Simone
Published: January 2025

Data regarding standard forehead proportions are crucial for dermatologists to assess diseases such as frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to compare the distance from the glabella to the frontal hairline between patients with FFA and individuals with a healthy scalp. Our goal was to determine whether there is a correlation between hairline recession measurements and the certainty of an FFA diagnosis.
How to perform and evaluate a myocardial perfusion imaging by computed tomography
Authors: Mushtaq Saima , Baggiano Andrea , Cannata Francesco , Del Torto Alberico , Fazzari Fabio , Fusini Laura , Junod Daniele , Maragna Riccardo , Tassetti Luigi , Volpe Alessandra , Carrabba Nazario , Conte Edoardo , Guglielmo Marco , La Mura Lucia , Pergola Valeria , Pedrinelli Roberto , Perrone Filardi Pasquale , Guaricci Andrea Igoren , Pontone Gianluca
Published: January 2025

Stress computed tomography perfusion (CTP) delivers a comprehensive evaluation of both the anatomical and functional aspects in a single examination. It stands out as the only non-invasive technique capable of quantifying coronary stenosis and assessing its functional impact, offering a consolidated diagnostic and management approach for patients with confirmed or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). This very practical review (‘How to..’ approach) provides guidance on conducting and interpreting static and dynamic CTP, along with an analysis of the strengths and limitations of these methodologies.
The vertebrate small leucine-rich proteoglycans: amplification of a clustered gene family and evolution of their transcriptional profile in jawed vertebrates
Authors: Gil Nathan , Leurs Nicolas , Martinand-Mari Camille , Debiais-Thibaud Mélanie
Published: January 2025

Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans (SLRPs) are a major family of vertebrate proteoglycans. In bony vertebrates, SLRPs have a variety of functions from structural to signaling and are found in extracellular matrices, notably in skeletal tissues. However, there is little or no data on the diversity, function and expression patterns of SLRPs in cartilaginous fishes, which hinders our understanding of how these genes evolved with the diversification of vertebrates, in particular regarding the early events of whole-genome duplications that shaped gnathostome and cyclostome genomes. We used a selection of chromosome-level assemblies of cartilaginous fish and other vertebrate genomes for phylogeny and synteny reconstructions, allowing better resolution and understanding of the evolution of this gene family in vertebrates. Novel SLRP members were uncovered together with specific loss events in different lineages. Our reconstructions support that the canonical SLRPs have originated from different series of tandem duplications that preceded the extant vertebrate last common ancestor, one of them even preceding the extant chordate last common ancestor. They then further expanded with additional tandem and whole-genome duplications during the diversification of extant vertebrates. Finally, we characterized the expression of several SLRP members in the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula and from this, inferred conserved and derived SLRP expression in several skeletal and connective tissues in jawed vertebrates.
Transcriptomic analysis of human cartilage identified potential therapeutic targets for hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Huang Jingyi , Liu Ming , Furey Andrew , Rahman Proton , Zhai Guangju
Published: January 2025

Cartilage degradation is the hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to identify and validate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human articular cartilage that could serve as potential therapeutic targets for hip OA. We performed transcriptomic profiling in a discovery cohort (12 OA-free and 72 hip OA-affected cartilage) and identified 179 DEGs between OA-free and OA-affected cartilage after correcting for multiple testing (P < 2.97 × 10−6). Pathway and network analyses found eight hub genes to be associated with hip OA (ASPN, COL1A2, MXRA5, P3H1, PCOLCE, SDC1, SPARC, and TLR2), which were all confirmed using qPCR in a validation cohort (36 OA-free and 62 hip OA-affected cartilage) (P < 6.25 × 10−3). Our data showed that dysregulation of extracellular matrix formation and imbalance in the proportion of collagen chains may contribute to the development of hip OA, and SDC1 could be a promising potential therapeutic target. These findings provided a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms for hip OA and may assist in developing targeted treatment strategies.
Genomic prediction accounting for dominance and epistatic genetic effects on litter size traits in Large White pigs
Authors: Chen Jianmei , Dou Tengfei , Wu Ziyi , Bai Liyao , Xu Man , Zhang Yongqian , Yang Songbai , Xu Shiqian , Han Xuelei , Qiao Ruimin , Wang Kejun , Yang Feng , Li Xin-Jian , Wang Xianwei , Li Xiu-Ling
Published: January 2025

Litter size traits of sows are crucial for the economic benefits of the pig industry. Three phenotypic traits of 1,206 Large White (LW) pigs, that is, the total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), and number of healthy piglets (NHP), were recorded. We evaluated a series of genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) models that sequentially added additive effects (model A), dominance effects (model A+D), and epistatic effects (model A+D+AA, model A+D+AA+AD, and model A+D+AA+AD+DD) using chip data and imputed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data to estimate genetic parameters and predictive accuracy. The reproductive traits of sows showed low heritability in this study, with narrow heritability of the three traits ranging from 0.030 to 0.064, and broad heritability ranging from 0.125 to 0.145. The inclusion of non-additive effects in the model improved the accuracy of genomic selection. In the chip data, compared with that of the A model, the A+D+AA+AD+DD model showed the greatest increase in accuracy for TNB, NBA, and NHP, with improvements of 1.78, 1.67, and 1.74%, respectively. Additionally, the accuracy of the imputed WGS data was greater compared to the chip data. For the TNB, NBA, and NHP traits, the predictive accuracy of the imputed WGS data improved by 3.26, 7.72, and 3.00%, respectively, compared with that of the chip data. In summary, these results suggest that non-additive effects in genomic selection could improve prediction accuracy and should be considered in pig genomic evaluation procedures.
Identification of a novel Eps 15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) and EHD4-binding motif in phostensin
Authors: Huang Kuang-Yung , Yu Hui-Chun , Lu Ming-Chi , Tseng Hsien-Yu Huang , Shen Jyun-Jie , Lin Chia-Ying , Chen Pin-Chen , Shen Ya-Ting , Chung Pei-Rong , Tsai Hsiao-Kuei , Zhou Si-Ru , Wang Chia-Lin , Lai Ning-Sheng , Lin Ta-Hsien , Huang Hsien-Bin
Published: January 2025

Phostensin (PTS) encoded by KIAA1949 binds to protein phosphatase 1, F-actin, Eps 15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) and EHD4. Most EHD-binding proteins contain a consensus motif, Asn-Pro-Phe (NPF), which interacts with the C-terminal EH domain of EHD proteins. Nevertheless, the NPF motif is absent in PTS. The binding motif for PTS to interact with EHD1 (or EHD4) remains unknown. Here, we identified that PTS-α binds to EHD1 (or EHD4) through the region of residues 51–80, which contains a consensus motif, 64ILV(X)4(L/V)RL74S. This novel consensus motif is also found in vacuolar protein sorting-35 (vps35). Replacement of 64ILV(X)4(L/V)RL74S with 64AAA(X)4(L/V)RL74S or with 64ILV(X)4AEA74A significantly reduces the binding efficiency of PTS-α to either EHD1 or EHD4 in GST pull-down assay and far western blotting assay. In addition, replacement of 218ILV(X)4VRL228S with 218AAA(X)4AEA228A decreases the binding ability of vps35 to EHD4 in far western blotting assay. Overexpression of the PTS-β in 293 T cells attenuated the endocytic trafficking of transferrin. However, this attenuation of transferrin in endocytic trafficking was disrupted when 293 T cells overexpressed the mutant PTS-β with a defective EHD-binding motif, suggesting that PTS-β can regulate the endocytic recycling via associating with EHD1 or EHD4.
Decreased emergence rates of adult house flies (Musca domestica; Diptera: Muscidae) due to exposure to commercially available insecticidal baits during larval development
Authors: Pitzer Jimmy B , Navarro Jessica D , Phillips Evan S
Published: January 2025

House flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), are commonplace pests in both urban and agricultural settings. The potential for house flies as vectors of many disease-causing organisms to humans and animals, coupled with their incessant nuisance behaviors toward these hosts has resulted in a desire to manage their populations. Although many house fly management tools are available, insecticide use continues to predominate as the preferred choice. One such option, insecticidal baits, is commercially available in a variety of active ingredients that encompass several modes of action. Though they can be effective, resistance to many of the active ingredients used in bait formulations has been documented. The primary pathway for resistance evolution to bait products likely has been selection at the targeted adult stage. However, exposure at the larval stage may occur when these products are scattered on substrates, contaminating sub-surface developmental areas and ultimately, playing a selective role as well. A study was conducted to assess the potential mortality effects of insecticidal bait products on house fly larval development when applied according to the manufacturer’s recommended label rate. Adult house fly emergence was reduced by nearly 40% due to treatment, supporting the implication that bait-driven mortality during larval development may represent a previously unrecognized selection pathway contributing to resistance evolution against these products.
Macroeconomic Drivers of Inflation Expectations and Inflation Risk Premia
Authors: Boeckx Jef , Iania Leonardo , Wauters Joris
Published: January 2025

We propose a new affine term structure model to decompose inflation-linked swap (ILS) rates into genuine inflation expectations and inflation risk premia. The model accounts for both short-term macroeconomic factors and long-term economic trends, namely trend inflation and the equilibrium real interest rate. We estimate the model for the US and euro area and find that the inflation risk premium significantly drives ILS rates, with macroeconomic shocks playing different roles across maturities and regions. International factors, particularly oil prices, impact market-based inflation expectations during key global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Encapsulation, vacuolation and phagocytosis of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus in the liver of an immunocompetent host
Authors: Yoon Chul Jong , Chi Je Geun , Kim Ki Woo
Published: January 2025

The cellular characteristics of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus species were investigated in the infected liver of an immunocompetent host using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With no records of immunodeficiency, the 3-year-old female patient displayed a high-grade fever, lethargy and increasing jaundice. TEM analysis revealed the presence of round yeast cells in the patient’s liver. These fungal yeast cells exhibited an array of cellular events in the host’s liver: (i) the formation of polysaccharide capsules outside the cell wall, (ii) vacuolation in the cytoplasm and (iii) phagocytosis by Kupffer cells. The yeast cells were surrounded by electron-transparent polysaccharide capsules (approximately 5 μm thick). A series of yeast vacuolations were observed at different stages of cell development. As vacuoles occupied the cytoplasm of yeast cells, the polysaccharide capsules were thinner and more electron-dense than those of intact yeast cells. Certain yeast cells were phagocytosed by Kupffer cells through the budding scars or discontinued regions in the cell walls. These observations suggested that the patient was suffering from liver cryptococcosis. This study provides insights into the behavior of opportunistic fungal pathogens in the livers of immunocompetent patients.
Cross-sector collaboration in cities: learning journey or blame game?
Authors: Pulido-Gómez Santiago , de Jong Jorrit , Rivkin Jan W
Published: January 2025

The success of cross-sector collaborations (CSCs) in cities is mixed, and important questions remain about what distinguishes effective from ineffective collaborations. This comparative case study examined nine CSCs in three US cities, focusing on three public policy areas: education, economic development, and public safety. Nine group interviews, 110 individual interviews, and analysis of archival documents revealed common patterns that allow us to build grounded theory about the roots of CSC success. We propose that how a collaboration responds to setbacks plays a crucial role. Success arises in collaborations that respond to setbacks with a process of mutual learning, in which participants anticipate each other’s actions, devise new ways of apportioning labor, and approach problems collectively. In contrast, failure follows when setbacks lead collaborations into a process of mutual blaming. No single mode of network governance is especially associated with success, but more successful collaborations tend to be characterized by adaptability concerning governance mode. Mutual learning appears to be facilitated by a few key actions: building on prior relationships, relying on trusted key participants, engaging with the community, using data to advantage, and investing in joint problem-solving. Our findings suggest that collaborative leaders in public, private, and nonprofit organizations should emphasize these key actions to enable collaboration and facilitate mutual learning.
Interactions of the Pneumococcus with the Central Nervous System: Postnatal Meningitis Versus Fetal Neurodevelopment
Authors: Davis Amy , Tuomanen Elaine
Published: January 2025

In young children, pneumococcal meningitis epitomizes the paradigm of a destructive innate inflammatory response in the central nervous system: a five-alarm fire. In contrast, cell-free bacterial components reaching the fetal brain from an infected mother signal a quiet, noninflammatory immune response that drives abnormal neurodevelopment, changing brain architecture through neuroproliferation. This review addresses the difference between prenatal and postnatal bacterial–host signaling within the brain.
Enterovirus and Parechovirus Neurologic Infections in Children: Clinical Presentations and Neuropathogenesis
Authors: Freeman Megan Culler , Messacar Kevin
Published: January 2025

Enteroviruses (EVs) and parechoviruses (PeVs) are common pathogens of childhood. Enteroviral infections cause a range of clinical syndromes from mild illness to neurologic manifestations of meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid myelitis. Disease manifestations are driven by a combination of viral replication and host immune response. Despite ubiquitousness and clinical importance, there are no approved targeted therapies for these viruses and most are without an available vaccine. Studies of EV neuropathogenesis began with poliovirus and are ongoing for other nonpolio EVs and PeVs. Many unanswered questions remain with regard to cellular tropism, mechanisms of dissemination, receptor usage, immunologic control, and cellular death. This review describes what is known about epidemiology, clinical presentations, and neuropathogenesis of these important pathogens.
The new Dutch default community of acquests regime: key innovations from a comparative perspective
Authors: Thijs Hannelore
Published: January 2025

Prior to 2018, the default matrimonial property regime in the Netherlands was a universal community property regime. As a consequence of a substantial reform that took effect on 1 January 2018, the Dutch default regulation now limits the content of the community property to the assets acquired non-gratuitously during the marriage. This contribution presents an overview of the key innovations of the new Dutch default community of acquests regime, with a particular focus on the content of the community property and the rights of creditors. In order to gain insights from a comparative perspective, the Dutch regulation is compared with the default community of acquests regimes from Belgium and France. This article demonstrates that the principal characteristics of the new Dutch regime are comparable to those of the Belgian and French regimes. Most fundamentally, the Dutch regime now excludes premarital assets and debts, as well as assets and debts related to inheritances and gifts, from the community property. However, the new Dutch regime also exhibits more unique characteristics. These include, most notably, the inclusion of assets that jointly belong to the spouses prior to the marriage in the community property and the limitation of the recoverable basis for creditors of separate debts. These characteristics may serve as a source of inspiration for community property regimes in other jurisdictions.