bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-time experimental investigation of a multi-flow biomass gasifier by using various locally available wood biomass
Authors: Attri Vikas , Sharma Avdhesh Kr.
Published: February 2024

Biomass gasification is one of the prominent technologies for thermal applications, electricity generation through engines. The present investigation was carried out to obtain behavior of multi-flow gasifier by using locally available wood biomass chips (i.e., Acacia Nilotica & Eucalyptus biomass). Experiments were conducted to examine the variation of gas composition, LHV, cold gasification efficiency, equivalence ratio at different flow rates, and pressure drop with the time in complete operation of gasifier. Result shows that producer gas obtained from this gasifier has maximum lower heating value of 4.39 MJ/kg with hydrogen gas (13.61% vol/vol) and carbon monoxide (15.61% vol/vol). The composition of CH4 in producer gas was less than 2%. The maximum cold gas efficiency of 72.2% was obtained at optimal equivalence ratio of 0.309 with gas flow rate of 5 g s−1 with moisture content of 7.51%. These locally available wood can be appropriate feedstock for gasifiers. The clean and cooled gas can be utilized in internal combustion engines or turbines for clean power production.
On codimension one stability of the soliton for the 1D focusing cubic Klein-Gordon equation
Authors: Lührmann Jonas , Schlag Wilhelm
Published: February 2024

We consider the codimension one asymptotic stability problem for the soliton of the focusing cubic Klein-Gordon equation on the line under even perturbations. The main obstruction to full asymptotic stability on the center-stable manifold is a small divisor in a quadratic source term of the perturbation equation. This singularity is due to the threshold resonance of the linearized operator and the absence of null structure in the nonlinearity. The threshold resonance of the linearized operator produces a one-dimensional space of slowly decaying Klein-Gordon waves, relative to local norms. In contrast, the closely related perturbation equation for the sine-Gordon kink does exhibit null structure, which makes the corresponding quadratic source term amenable to normal forms (see Lührmann and Schlag [Duke Math. J. 172 (2023), pp. 2715–2820]).

The main result of this work establishes decay estimates up to exponential time scales for small “codimension one type” perturbations of the soliton of the focusing cubic Klein-Gordon equation. The proof is based upon a super-symmetric approach to the study of modified scattering for 1D nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations with Pöschl-Teller potentials from Lührmann and Schlag [Duke Math. J. 172 (2023), pp. 2715–2820], and an implementation of a version of an adapted functional framework introduced by Germain and Pusateri [Forum Math. Pi 10 (2022), p. 172].
Liberalism, Feminism, and the Gendered Division of Labour
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: February 2024

Most feminists have argued that the gendered division of labour, according to which men specialise in career and paid employment while women specialise in unpaid domestic and care work, is a profound instance of gender injustice. Many liberals have argued that, even if the gendered division of labour creates and sustains inequality, it is essential to protect people’s ability to choose the family structure that works best for them. On this issue, feminists and liberals seem to be in stalemate. This chapter argues that the solution to the gendered division of labour is not to elevate paid employment above unpaid carework, as a liberal perspective tends to do. Instead, the solution starts with recognising that the gendered division of labour depends upon the systematic, enduring devaluation of care and domestic work and proceeds by resisting that devaluation. In this context, the injustice of the gendered division of labour cannot be solved by pushing mothers into paid employment. For the gendered division of labour truly to be undermined, women must be valued for what they do, including care and domestic work.
Should the Liberal State Recognise Gender?
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: February 2024

This chapter considers the arguments that Clare Chambers has made against the state recognition of marriage and applies them to the case of gender. The chapter argues that a political liberal state cannot recognise gender since doing so would require it to define gender and enforce that definition, something that cannot be done without running counter to reasonable conceptions of the good. It follows that alternative methods to rectify the injustice of the gender binary must be sought. The chapter considers the difference between state recognition of gender and state recognition of sex, and argues for context-dependent solutions.
Reasonable Disagreement and the Neutralist Dilemma
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: February 2024

This chapter starts by investigating the idea of reasonable disagreement, a concept that is central to political liberal accounts of cooperation in the face of conflict. It then considers Matthew Kramer’s argument that there is no neutral solution available to the disagreement over abortion. The chapter argues that Kramer’s account has wider application, and identifies a neutralist dilemma. The neutralist dilemma applies when, of two policy options available to the state, one is unreasonable. It follows that the state should enact only the reasonable policy. However, in a neutralist dilemma the fact of reasonable disagreement due to the burdens of judgment means that it is not possible for the state to act at all, whether legislating or not, without deviating from neutrality. The chapter develops the concept of the neutralist dilemma and then applies it to another case discussed by Kramer: infant circumcision. The chapter argues that the debate over infant circumcision can be framed as a neutralist dilemma, but that the most plausible resolution of the dilemma results in an argument in favour of the legal prohibition of the practice.
Choice and Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery
Authors: Chambers Clare
Published: February 2024

This chapter considers the role of choice as a normative transformer in relation to the practice of female genital cosmetic surgery. It is common, in law and practice, to distinguish between two sorts of female genital cutting. One is described as ‘female genital mutilation’ (FGM) and prohibited; the other is described as ‘female genital cosmetic surgery’ (FGCS) and permitted, even provided by the state in certain circumstances. The chapter argues that distinguishing between the two requires going beyond a simplistic contrast between choice and coercion. Both practices can be understood only within a cultural context that makes them available and marks them as appropriate. As with many other forms of cosmetic surgery, FGCS cannot be exonerated merely by an appeal to individual choice.
Born with an advantage: early life and maternal effects on fitness in female ground squirrels
Authors: Yuen Tanner , Ruckstuhl Kathreen E , Martinig April R , Neuhaus Peter
Published: February 2024

Lifetime fitness and its determinants are an important topic in the study of behavioral ecology and life-history evolution. Early life conditions comprise some of these determinants, warranting further investigation into their impact. In some mammals, babies born lighter tend to have lower life expectancy than those born heavier, and some of these life-history traits are passed on to offspring, with lighter-born females giving birth to lighter offspring. We investigated how weight at weaning, the relative timing of birth in the season, maternal weight, and maternal age affected the longevity and lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of female Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus). We hypothesized that early life conditions such as offspring weight would not only have lifetime fitness consequences but also intergenerational effects. We found that weight at weaning had a significant impact on longevity, with heavier individuals living longer. The relative timing of an individual’s birth did not have a significant association with either longevity or LRS. Individuals born to heavier mothers were found to have significantly higher LRS than those born to lighter mothers. Finally, maternal age was found to be significantly associated with their offspring’s LRS, with older mothers having less successful offspring. Our results provide evidence that early life conditions do have lifelong fitness and sometimes intergenerational consequences for Columbian ground squirrels.
Projection-based two-sample inference for sparsely observed multivariate functional data
Authors: Koner Salil , Luo Sheng
Published: February 2024

Modern longitudinal studies collect multiple outcomes as the primary endpoints to understand the complex dynamics of the diseases. Oftentimes, especially in clinical trials, the joint variation among the multidimensional responses plays a significant role in assessing the differential characteristics between two or more groups, rather than drawing inferences based on a single outcome. We develop a projection-based two-sample significance test to identify the population-level difference between the multivariate profiles observed under a sparse longitudinal design. The methodology is built upon widely adopted multivariate functional principal component analysis to reduce the dimension of the infinite-dimensional multi-modal functions while preserving the dynamic correlation between the components. The test applies to a wide class of (non-stationary) covariance structures of the response, and it detects a significant group difference based on a single p-value, thereby overcoming the issue of adjusting for multiple p-values that arise due to comparing the means in each of components separately. Finite-sample numerical studies demonstrate that the test maintains the type-I error, and is powerful to detect significant group differences, compared to the state-of-the-art testing procedures. The test is carried out on two significant longitudinal studies for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, namely, TOMMORROW study of individuals at high risk of mild cognitive impairment to detect differences in the cognitive test scores between the pioglitazone and the placebo groups, and Azillect study to assess the efficacy of rasagiline as a potential treatment to slow down the progression of PD.
A causal relationship between gut microbiota and subcortical brain structures contributes to the microbiota–gut–brain axis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Hu Xuequn , Fang Zhiyong , Wang Feng , Mei Zhen , Huang Xiaofen , Lin Yuanxiang , Lin Zhangya
Published: February 2024

A correlation between gut microbiota and brain structure, referring to as a component of the gut–brain axis, has been observed in observational studies. However, the causality of this relationship and its specific bacterial taxa remains uncertain. To reveal the causal effects of gut microbiota on subcortical brain volume, we applied Mendelian randomization (MR) studies in this study. Genome-wide association study data were obtained from the MiBioGen Consortium (n = 18,340) and the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis Consortium (n = 13,170). The primary estimate was obtained utilizing the inverse-variance weighted, while heterogeneity and pleiotropy were assessed using the Cochrane Q statistic, MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier, and MR-Egger intercept. Our findings provide strong evidence that a higher abundance of the genus Parasutterella is causally correlated with a decrease in intracranial volume (β = −30,921.33, 95% CI -46,671.78 to −15,170.88, P = 1.19 × 10−4), and the genus FamilyXIIIUCG001 is associated with a decrease in thalamus volume (β = −141.96, 95% CI: −214.81 to −69.12, P = 1.0× 10−4). This MR study offers novel perspectives on the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and subcortical brain volume, thereby lending some support to the existence of the microbiota–gut–brain axis.
What are olfaction and gustation, and do all animals have them?
Authors: Derby Charles D , Caprio John
Published: February 2024

Different animals have distinctive anatomical and physiological properties to their chemical senses that enhance detection and discrimination of relevant chemical cues. Humans and other vertebrates are recognized as having 2 main chemical senses, olfaction and gustation, distinguished from each other by their evolutionarily conserved neuroanatomical organization. This distinction between olfaction and gustation in vertebrates is not based on the medium in which they live because the most ancestral and numerous vertebrates, the fishes, live in an aquatic habitat and thus both olfaction and gustation occur in water and both can be of high sensitivity. The terms olfaction and gustation have also often been applied to the invertebrates, though not based on homology. Consequently, any similarities between olfaction and gustation in the vertebrates and invertebrates have resulted from convergent adaptations or shared constraints during evolution. The untidiness of assigning olfaction and gustation to invertebrates has led some to recommend abandoning the use of these terms and instead unifying them and others into a single category—chemical sense. In our essay, we compare the nature of the chemical senses of diverse animal types and consider their designation as olfaction, oral gustation, extra-oral gustation, or simply chemoreception. Properties that we have found useful in categorizing chemical senses of vertebrates and invertebrates include the nature of peripheral sensory cells, organization of the neuropil in the processing centers, molecular receptor specificity, and function.
Coordinated Care Experiences Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Multiple Chronic Conditions: Characteristics, Correlates, and Consequences for Health and Healthcare Utilization
Authors: Qin Weidi , Kalesnikava Viktoryia , Dang Linh , Sneed Rodlescia S , Messina Rossella , Rucci Paola , Mezuk Briana
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

Although coordinated care (CC) seeks to improve patient experiences and ultimately health outcomes, evidence from empirical research on the impacts of CC is mixed. This study examined the relationship between CC and healthcare outcomes over a 4-year period among older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Research Design and Methods

This observational cohort study is based on data from the 2016–2020 Health and Retirement Study. Analysis is limited to respondents with 2+ chronic conditions who completed an experimental module on CC in 2016 (n = 906). Three domains of CC were assessed: perceptions, informal (family/friends) and formal (healthcare staff) tangible support, and technical support (using a “patient portal”). The longitudinal relationship between CC and health (e.g., pain, functioning, and self-rated health [SRH]) and healthcare (e.g., doctor visits, hospitalization, and care satisfaction) outcomes was investigated using mixed-effects models.

Results

Better perceptions of CC were associated with lower odds of ADL limitations (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.84–0.99) and greater satisfaction with care (B = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02–0.06). Receipt of more informal tangible support was associated with 1.34 higher odds of ADL limitations (95% CI = 1.19–1.51) and 1.74 higher odds of hospitalization (95% CI = 1.07–1.21). Use of technical support was associated with better SRH and greater satisfaction with care.

Discussion and Implications

The longitudinal relationship between CC and health is multifaceted. Although positive perceptions and more technical support have beneficial effects on health outcomes, higher utilization of tangible support may reflect a higher demand among older adults with more complex healthcare needs.
Ecological indicators to monitor offshore wind interactions with fisheries resources
Authors: Methratta Elizabeth T
Published: February 2024

Offshore wind development (OWD) will generate much needed renewable energy, but it will also introduce several stressors to the marine ecosystem. Therefore, there is a need to develop information-rich monitoring programs to assess ecological impacts and inform solutions to mitigate adverse effects. This paper evaluates potential indicators of OWD impacts on fisheries resources that could be considered for monitoring programs, including indices of aggregate biomass, sensitive species, fish size, and trophic dynamics. Short-term (year-to-year) variability and the direction and strength of long-term trends were explored at both the scale of the US Southern New England wind energy area (WEA) and at the scale of the Southern New England region. The majority of candidate OWD indicators exhibited substantial temporal variability at either the WEA scale, the region scale, or both, highlighting the importance of addressing temporal variability in the design and duration of monitoring programs. Recommendations are provided to advance informative monitoring approaches both in the USA and elsewhere where such approaches are urgently needed. Among these is a recommendation for a minimum of 3–5 years of baseline data collection and continued monitoring for the lifetime of the wind project. This will enable an understanding of the temporal structure inherent to the time series of ecological indicators measured so that OWD impacts can be disentangled from those caused by other ecosystem pressures.
The value of hybrid genomes: Building two highly contiguous reference genome assemblies to advance Canis genomic studies
Authors: Bredemeyer Kevin R , vonHoldt Bridgett M , Foley Nicole M , Childers Isabella R , Brzeski Kristin E , Murphy William J
Published: February 2024

Previous studies of canid population and evolutionary genetics have relied on high-quality domestic dog reference genomes that have been produced primarily for biomedical and trait mapping studies in dog breeds. However, the absence of highly contiguous genomes from other Canis species like the gray wolf and coyote, that represent additional distinct demographic histories, may bias inferences regarding interspecific genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Here, we present single haplotype de novo genome assemblies for the gray wolf and coyote, generated by applying the trio-binning approach to long sequence reads generated from the genome of a female first-generation hybrid produced from a gray wolf and coyote mating. The assemblies were highly contiguous, with contig N50 sizes of 44.6 and 42.0 Mb for the wolf and coyote, respectively. Genome scaffolding and alignments between the two Canis assemblies and published dog reference genomes showed near complete collinearity, with one exception: a coyote-specific chromosome fission of chromosome 13 and fusion of the proximal portion of that chromosome with chromosome 8, retaining the Canis-typical haploid chromosome number of 2n = 78. We evaluated mapping quality for previous RADseq data from 334 canids and found nearly identical mapping quality and patterns among canid species and regional populations regardless of the genome used for alignment (dog, coyote, or gray wolf). These novel wolf and coyote genome reference assemblies will be important resources for proper and accurate inference of Canis demography, taxonomic evaluation, and conservation genetics.
Ecology, biology, and management of Conchuela stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Texas High Plains cotton
Authors: Vyavhare Suhas , Kerns David , Pierce Jane
Published: February 2024

The Conchuela stink bug, Chlorochroa ligata Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a prevalent stink bug pest that commonly infests Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in Texas. It is found throughout a wide region, spanning from Texas to California, in the western United States. Feeding by Conchuela stink bugs on cotton plants leads to various negative impacts, including reduced lint yield and quality, decreased gin turnout, and declined lint value per unit area. Additionally, an infestation of Conchuela stink bugs can indirectly damage cotton by transmitting plant pathogens. Boll rot is among the most economically damaging diseases transmitted by stink bugs in cotton. In this article, we explore the geographic distribution, host range, biology, damage, and management strategies related to Conchuela stink bug in cotton.
Testing high-dimensional multinomials with applications to text analysis
Authors: Cai T Tony , Ke Zheng T , Turner Paxton
Published: February 2024

Motivated by applications in text mining and discrete distribution inference, we test for equality of probability mass functions of K groups of high-dimensional multinomial distributions. Special cases of this problem include global testing for topic models, two-sample testing in authorship attribution, and closeness testing for discrete distributions. A test statistic, which is shown to have an asymptotic standard normal distribution under the null hypothesis, is proposed. This parameter-free limiting null distribution holds true without requiring identical multinomial parameters within each group or equal group sizes. The optimal detection boundary for this testing problem is established, and the proposed test is shown to achieve this optimal detection boundary across the entire parameter space of interest. The proposed method is demonstrated in simulation studies and applied to analyse two real-world datasets to examine, respectively, variation among customer reviews of Amazon movies and the diversity of statistical paper abstracts.
Why leaves become isotopically lighter than photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination explains: on the importance of post-photosynthetic fractionation
Authors: Gessler Arthur
Published: February 2024

This article comments on:

Yu YZ, Liu HT, Yang F, Li L, Schäufele R, Tcherkez G, Schnyder H, Gong XY. 2024. δ13C of bulk organic matter and cellulose reveal post-photosynthetic fractionation during ontogeny in C4 grass leaves. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 1451–1464
Ochratoxin A detoxification potentials of basil, chan, and chia seeds
Authors: Tseng Hsin-Shun , Lin Bing-Yi , Wang Yu-Fen , Liao Ya-Fan
Published: February 2024

The most toxic of the ochratoxins is ochratoxin A (OTA), which is primarily produced by species of Aspergillus and Penicillium that can be found in maize, wheat, coffee, red wine, and various grains. OTA induces immunotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity in both animals and humans. Thus, there is a need to identify mycotoxin detoxification agents that can effectively decontaminate OTA. Seeds of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), chan (Hyptis suaveolens L.), and chia (Salvia hispanica L.) are functional foods capable of eliminating harmful substances. Despite this potential, the impact of these seeds on OTA detoxification remains unclear. This study reveals that milled basil, chan, and chia seeds adsorb significant levels of OTA, with chia demonstrating the highest adsorption capacity, followed by chan and basil seeds showing the least efficiency. Furthermore, milled basil, chan, and chia seeds effectively reduced OTA residues in artificial gastric and intestinal fluids, where they achieved up to 93% OTA adsorption in the former. In addition, these milled seeds were able to remove OTAs from canned, drip, and instant coffee. This study is the first to report the OTA elimination potential of basil, chan, and chia seeds.
Spin-induced offset stream self-crossing shocks in tidal disruption events
Authors: Jankovič T , Bonnerot C , Gomboc A
Published: February 2024

Tidal disruption events occur when a star is disrupted by a supermassive black hole, resulting in an elongated stream of gas that partly falls back to the pericentre. Due to apsidal precession, the returning stream may collide with itself, leading to a self-crossing shock that launches an outflow. If the black hole spins, this collision may additionally be affected by Lense–Thirring precession that can cause an offset between the two stream components. We study the impact of this effect on the outflow properties by carrying out local simulations of collisions between offset streams. As the offset increases, we find that the geometry of the outflow becomes less spherical and more collimated along the directions of the incoming streams, with less gas getting unbound by the interaction. However, even the most grazing collisions we consider significantly affect the trajectories of the colliding gas, likely promoting subsequent strong interactions near the black hole and rapid disc formation. We analytically compute the dependence of the offset to stream width ratio, finding that even slowly spinning black holes can cause both strong and grazing collisions. We estimate that the self-crossing shock luminosity is lower for an offset collision than an aligned one since radiation energy injected by the shock is significantly lower for more offset collisions. We find that the deviation from outflow sphericity may cause significant variations in the efficiency at which X-ray radiation from the disc is reprocessed to the optical band, depending on the viewing angle, and increase the degree of the observed polarization. These potentially observable features hold the promise of constraining the black hole spin from tidal disruption events.
Using spherical harmonics to solve the Boltzmann equation: an operator-based approach
Authors: Schween Nils W , Reville Brian
Published: February 2024

The transport of charged particles or photons in a scattering medium can be modelled with a Boltzmann equation. The mathematical treatment for scattering in such scenarios is often simplified if evaluated in a frame where the scattering centres are, on average, at rest. It is common therefore to use a mixed coordinate system, wherein space and time are measured in a fixed inertial frame, while momenta are measured in a ‘co-moving’ frame. To facilitate analytical and numerical solutions, the momentum dependence of the phase-space density may be expanded as a series of spherical harmonics, typically truncated at low order. A method for deriving the system of equations for the expansion coefficients of the spherical harmonics to arbitrary order is presented in the limit of isotropic, small-angle scattering. The method of derivation takes advantage of operators acting on the space of spherical harmonics. The matrix representations of these operators are employed to compute the system of equations. The computation of matrix representations is detailed and subsequently simplified with the aid of rotations of the coordinate system. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix representations are investigated to prepare the application of standard numerical techniques, e.g. the finite volume method or the discontinuous Galerkin method, to solve the system.
A spectropolarimetric study of the radio galaxy Pictor A using MeerKAT
Authors: Andati Lexy A L , Baidoo Lerato M , Ramaila Athanaseus J T , Smirnov Oleg M , Makhathini Sphesihle , Perley Richard A
Published: February 2024

We present the results of a polarimetric study from our new high-sensitivity L-band (0.8–1.7 GHz) observation of Pictor A using the MeerKAT radio telescope. We confirm the presence of the radio jet extending from the nucleus to the western hotspot of this source. Additionally, we show the radio emission expected to coincide with previously observed X-ray emission in the radio lobes, confirming that the emission mechanism is of inverse Compton origin, as suggested by a previous study. Our spectropolarimetric analysis using the rotation measure synthesis technique reveals a relatively uniform mean rotation measure distribution across the lobes of Pictor A, with most lines of sight exhibiting single-peaked Faraday spectra. However, a number of the lines of sight exhibit single peaked spectra with a wide base or multiple peaks, suggesting the presence of multiple Faraday components or a Faraday thick structure along Pictor A’s lines of sight. We also confirm the asymmetry in rotation measure variability and depolarization between the two lobes of this source, as reported in a previous study.
Supernova rates and luminosity functions from ASAS-SN I: 2014–2017 Type Ia SNe and their subtypes
Authors: Desai D D , Kochanek C S , Shappee B J , Jayasinghe T , Stanek K Z , Holoien T W -S , Thompson T A , Ashall C , Beacom J F , Do A , Dong Subo , Prieto J L
Published: February 2024

We present the volumetric rates and luminosity functions (LFs) of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the V-band All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) catalogues spanning discovery dates from UTC 2014 January 26 to UTC 2017 December 29. Our standard sample consists of 404 SNe Ia with $m_{\mathrm{{\it V},peak}} \lt 17\, \mathrm{mag}$ and Galactic latitude |b| > 15°. Our results are both statistically more precise and systematically more robust than previous studies due to the large sample size and high spectroscopic completeness. We make completeness corrections based on both the apparent and absolute magnitudes by simulating the detection of SNe Ia in ASAS-SN light curves. We find a total volumetric rate for all subtypes of $R_{\mathrm{tot}} = 2.28^{+0.20}_{-0.20} \times 10^{4}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$ for $M_{\mathrm{{\it V},peak}} \lt -16.5\, \mathrm{mag}$ ($R_{\mathrm{tot}} = 1.91^{+0.12}_{-0.12} \times 10^{4}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$ for $M_{\mathrm{{\it V},peak}} \lt -17.5\, \mathrm{mag}$) at the median redshift of our sample, zmed = 0.024. This is in agreement (1σ) with the local volumetric rates found by previous studies. We also compile LFs for the entire sample as well as for subtypes of SNe Ia for the first time. The major subtypes with more than one SN include Ia-91bg, Ia-91T, Ia-CSM, and Ia-03fg with total rates of $R_{\mathrm{Ia-91bg}} = 1.4^{+0.5}_{-0.5} \times 10^{3}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$, $R_{\mathrm{Ia-91T}} = 8.5^{+1.6}_{-1.7} \times 10^{2}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$, $R_{\mathrm{Ia-CSM}} = 10^{+7}_{-7}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$, and $R_{\mathrm{Ia-03fg}} = 30^{+20}_{-20}\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}\, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\, h^{3}_{70}$, respectively. We estimate a mean host extinction of $E(V-r) \approx 0.2\, \mathrm{mag}$ based on the shift between our V band and the Zwicky Transient Facility r-band LFs.
Flows of Local Sheet dwarfs in relation to the Council of Giants
Authors: Seaton Lucas M , McCall Marshall L , McCall Neil T
Published: February 2024

The kinematics of isolated dwarf galaxies in the Local Sheet have been studied to ascertain how the Council of Giants has affected flows. Peculiar velocities parallel to the Sheet in the frame of reference of the Council ascend steeply from negative to positive values on the near side of the Council at a heliocentric radius of $2.4 \pm 0.2 \, \rm Mpc$ . They descend to pre-ponderantly negative values at a radius of $3.9^{+0.4}_{-0.5} \, \rm Mpc$, which is near the middle of the Council realm. Such behaviour is evidence for a flow field set up by the combined gravitational effects of the Local Group and Council, the ascending node being where their gravitational forces balance. Receding dwarfs on the near side of the Council are pre-dominantly located in the direction of M94, although this may be a manifestation of the limitations of sampling. If M94 were entirely responsible for the placement of the ascending node, then the galaxy’s total mass relative to the Local Group would have to be $0.8^{+0.4}_{-0.3}$, the same as indicated by the orbits of satellite galaxies. Rather, if the placement of the ascending node were set by matter distributed evenly in azimuth at the Council’s radius, then the required total mass relative to the Local Group would have to be $4^{+3}_{-2}$, which is 30 per cent to 40 per cent lower than implied by satellite motions but still consistent within errors. The mere existence of the ascending node confirms that the Council of Giants limits the gravitational reach of the Local Group.
Peeling back the layers of extinction of dusty galaxies in the era of JWST: modelling joint NIRSpec + MIRI spectra at rest-frame 1.5–28 μm
Authors: Donnan F R , García-Bernete I , Rigopoulou D , Pereira-Santaella M , Roche P F , Alonso-Herrero A
Published: February 2024

We present an analysis of the combined NIRSpec and MIRI spectra of dusty galaxies between 1.5 and 28 $\mu$m rest-frame by implementing a differential extinction model, where the strength of extinction varies across the spectrum as different layers of the obscuring dust are probed. Our model is able to recover a 2D distribution of dust temperature and extinction, which allows inference of the physical nature of the dust in these environments. We show that differential extinction is necessary to reproduce the spectra of four highly obscured Luminous Infrared Galaxies observed with NIRSpec IFU and MIRI MRS, where simple screen or uniformly mixed dust distributions fail to fit the data. We additionally compare the extinction of H ii regions in these galaxies via hydrogen recombination lines, the extinction of molecular gas via the H2 lines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via the 12.7/11.3 PAH ratio and the stellar continuum. We find that the molecular gas is deeply buried with the H ii regions in star-forming regions, with a similar extinction to the hottest dust components. However, we find the cooler dust to be less obscured, at a similar extinction to the stellar continuum and PAHs. The nuclei show a complex dust distribution with VV114 NE, NGC 3256 S, and IIZw96 SW, showing a deeply buried continuum source relative to the molecular gas/H ii regions. Additionally, NGC 3256 S, NGC 7469, and VV114 SW show an isolated hot dust component, indicative of AGN heating, where NGC 3256 S and NGC 7469 are previously known as AGN.
How does the radio enhancement of broad absorption line quasars relate to colour and accretion rate?
Authors: Petley James W , Morabito Leah K , Rankine Amy L , Richards Gordon T , Thomas Nicole L , Alexander David M , Fawcett Victoria A , Calistro Rivera Gabriela , Prandoni Isabella , Best Philip N , Kolwa Sthabile
Published: February 2024

The origin of radio emission in different populations of radio-quiet quasars is relatively unknown, but recent work has uncovered various drivers of increased radio-detection fraction. In this work, we pull together three known factors: optical colour (g − i), C iv distance (a proxy for L/LEdd), and whether or not the quasar contains broad absorption lines (BALQSOs) which signify an outflow. We use SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) DR14 spectra along with the LOFAR Two Metre Sky Survey Data Release 2 and find that each of these properties have an independent effect. BALQSOs are marginally more likely to be radio-detected than non-BALQSOs at similar colours and L/LEdd, moderate reddening significantly increases the radio-detection fraction and the radio detection increases with L/LEdd above a threshold for all populations. We test a widely used simple model for radio wind shock emission and calculate energetic efficiencies that would be required to reproduce the observed radio properties. We discuss interpretations of these results concerning radio-quiet quasars more generally. We suggest that radio emission in BALQSOs is connected to a different physical origin than the general quasar population since they show different radio properties independent of colour and C iv distance.
CSB and SMARCAL1 compete for RPA32 at stalled forks and differentially control the fate of stalled forks in BRCA2-deficient cells
Authors: Batenburg Nicole L , Sowa Dana J , Walker John R , Andres Sara N , Zhu Xu-Dong
Published: February 2024

CSB (Cockayne syndrome group B) and SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent, regulator of chromatin, subfamily A-like 1) are DNA translocases that belong to the SNF2 helicase family. They both are enriched at stalled replication forks. While SMARCAL1 is recruited by RPA32 to stalled forks, little is known about whether RPA32 also regulates CSB’s association with stalled forks. Here, we report that CSB directly interacts with RPA, at least in part via a RPA32C-interacting motif within the N-terminal region of CSB. Modeling of the CSB-RPA32C interaction suggests that CSB binds the RPA32C surface previously shown to be important for binding of UNG2 and SMARCAL1. We show that this interaction is necessary for promoting fork slowing and fork degradation in BRCA2-deficient cells but dispensable for mediating restart of stalled forks. CSB competes with SMARCAL1 for RPA32 at stalled forks and acts non-redundantly with SMARCAL1 to restrain fork progression in response to mild replication stress. In contrast to CSB stimulated restart of stalled forks, SMARCAL1 inhibits restart of stalled forks in BRCA2-deficient cells, likely by suppressing BIR-mediated repair of collapsed forks. Loss of CSB leads to re-sensitization of SMARCAL1-depleted BRCA2-deficient cells to chemodrugs, underscoring a role of CSB in targeted cancer therapy.
A circular RNA-gawky-chromatin regulatory axis modulates stress-induced transcription
Authors: Su Rui , Zhou Min , Lin Jiamei , Shan Ge , Huang Chuan
Published: February 2024

In response to heavy metal stress, the RNA-binding protein (RBP) gawky translocates into the nucleus and acts as a chromatin-interacting factor to activate the transcription of many stress-responsive genes. However, the upstream regulators of gawky-mediated transcription and their mechanistic details remain unknown. Here, we identified a class of metal-responsive element-containing circRNAs (MRE circRNAs) which specifically interact with gawky during copper stress. Using classic stress-responsive genes as a readout (Drosophila MT), we found that overexpression of MRE circRNAs led to a significant repression in stress-induced transcription. Mechanistically, MRE circRNAs promote the dissociation of gawky from chromatin and increase its aberrant cytoplasmic accumulation, which ultimately impedes the loading of RNA polymerase II to the active gene loci. The MRE motif serves as an important RNA regulon for maintaining the circRNA–gawky interaction, loss of which impaired the inhibitory effects of MRE circRNAs on gawky. Through RNA-seq analyses, we then identified over 500 additional stress-responsive genes whose induced transcription was attenuated upon MRE circRNA overexpression. Finally, we uncovered the physiological relevance of MRE circRNA-mediated regulation in cellular defense against copper overloading. Taken together, this study proposes that the circRNA-RBP-chromatin axis may represent a fundamental regulatory network for gene expression in eukaryotic cells.
The Uprisings of Gaza: How Geopolitical Crises Have Reshaped Academic Communities from Tahrir to Kyiv
Authors: Cooley Alexander
Published: February 2024

The Arab uprisings spawned a new body of theoretical, empirical, and methodological advances by political scientists of the Middle East. This essay reflects upon the contributions of the edited volume The Political Science of the Middle East: Theory and Research since the Arab Uprisings to address three occurring central issues at the intersection of regional studies and political science that are affected by geopolitical shocks: how shocks highlight previously neglected topics and actors; how they subsequently discredit and privilege certain disciplines and methods; and how they recast the role of academic research within global communities of knowledge and policy-making. Topics such as the adaptation of authoritarianism, the role of social media, and the onset of multipolar politics, addressed by the volume on the Middle East, are compared with similar processes that have informed the evolution of social science research in the post-Communist states. The final section reflects on how two contemporary conflicts—Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas-Israel conflict—have affected the American academy, including student protests at American universities, university policies, and academic freedom.
Matrix Regularization for Gauge Theories
Authors: Adachi Hiroyuki , Ishiki Goro , Kanno Satoshi
Published: February 2024

We consider how gauge theories can be described by matrix models. Conventional matrix regularization is defined for scalar functions and is not applicable to gauge fields, which are connections of fiber bundles. We clarify how the degrees of freedom of gauge fields are related to the matrix degrees of freedom, by formulating the Seiberg–Witten map between them.
Clinical characteristics and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) disease model of Fabry disease caused by a novel GLA mutation
Authors: Gao L , Lu Z , Zhang Y , Liu L , Sun J , Fu H , Mao J , Hu L
Published: February 2024

Background

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked inherited disease caused by mutations in the galactosidase alpha (GLA) gene. We established a cohort of FD patients and performed whole-exome sequencing to identify some novel mutations.

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the etiology of the novel mutation (c.72G > A, p. Trp24*)in the GLA gene in affected patients by using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a valuable tool.

Methods

We explored the clinical implications of this proband and examined the deleteriousness and conservation of the mutation site through bioinformatics analysis. Simultaneously, we collected the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the affected patient, then reprogrammed them into iPSCs and assessed their enzymatic activity to confirm the function of lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A).

Results

Clinical examination of the patient demonstrated a classical FD, such as neuropathic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, deficiency of α-Gal A activity and accumulation of Lyso-Gb-3. The novel mutation located on the N-terminal region, leading to a truncation of the protein and remaining only 24 amino acids. The α-Gal A activity of the patient-specific iPSC (iPS-FD) was significantly lower (60%) than that of normal iPSCs derived from healthy donors (iPS-B1).

Conclusion

This work not only elucidated the etiology of novel mutations in affected patients but also highlighted the utility of iPSCs as a valuable tool for clarifying the molecular mechanisms and providing new insights into the therapy of FD.
Diagnostic value of a novel salivary gland ultrasound scoring system in IgG4-related sialadenitis
Authors: Zhou Mingzhu , Liu Yanying , Zhang Shanshan , Xie Xiaoyan , Li Wei , Cui Li , Zhao Hanxue , Tang Sumei , Hu Xiangdong , Wu Shanshan , Peng Jiajing , Huang Huilian , Ren Wei , Zhang Ying , Xu Ning , Sun Pengfei , Liu Yiqun , Zhang Zuyan , Yu Guangyan , Su Yin
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To develop a novel ultrasound scoring system for the major salivary glands in patients with immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) and assess its diagnostic value in a multicentre cohort of Chinese patients.

Methods

Twenty clinicians (rheumatologists, stomatologists and radiologists) participated. The study was conducted in four steps: (i) defining the ultrasonography (US) elements, (ii) developing a novel ultrasound scoring system for US of the salivary glands, (iii) evaluation of inter- and intra-reader reliabilities using the new ultrasound scoring system, and (iv) assessing the diagnostic value of this novel ultrasound scoring system in IgG4-RS patients in a Chinese multicentre cohort.

Results

A novel ultrasound scoring system for the salivary glands was developed, with total scores ranging from 0 to 34. The inter- and intra-reader reliabilities of the ultrasound scoring system were excellent (0.972 and 0.940, respectively). A total of 470 people were recruited in this study; 187 patients were diagnosed with IgG4-RS, and the remaining 283 people were diagnosed with non-IgG4-RS. Patients with IgG4-RS group had significantly higher US scores than the non-IgG4-RS group (mean US score = 16 vs 4, P < 0.001). The calculated area under the curve for the total US score was 0.852 (95% CI: 0.814, 0.891). The total US scores ≥9 showed a sensitivity of 75.4% and a specificity of 91.9%. Association analysis showed a positive correlation between total US scores and serum IgG4 levels and hypocomplementaemia (r = 0.221 and r = 0.349, respectively; P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively) and a negative correlation between total US scores and serum C3 and C4 levels (r = −0.210 and r = −0.303, respectively; P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

A novel semiquantitative ultrasound scoring system for patients with IgG4-RS was developed, with good diagnostic performance. The inter- and intra-reader reliabilities were excellent. US scores were correlated with IgG4, C3 and C4 levels and hypocomplementaemia.
Echoes from the Cretaceous: new fossils shed light on the evolution of host detection and concealed ovipositor apparatus in the parasitoid wasp superfamily Orussoidea (Hymenoptera)
Authors: Vilhelmsen Lars , Boudinot Brendon , Jenkins Shaw Josh , Hammel Jörg U , Perrichot Vincent
Published: February 2024

†Kryptovelona carstengroehni gen. et sp. nov. and †Orussus juttagroehnae sp. nov. are the first female members of the parasitoid wasp family Orussidae recorded from Baltic amber. We describe them, including relevant parts of the internal anatomy examined with synchrotron scanning. The fossils display a number of modifications in the antennae and foreleg correlated with the specialized host-detection mechanism, and in the ovipositor apparatus, as well as in the thorax and abdomen for accommodating the internalized ovipositor. The presence of these and other features places them as crown-group members of the Orussidae, as demonstrated by Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. The recently described stem-group orussoid fossils from Burmese amber, the probable female †Cretorussus vilhelmseni, and probable male †Burmorussus mirabilis (both placed in Burmorussidae), were also included in the dataset. By comparing the new Baltic amber taxa with †Cretorussus, it is possible to trace the progressive refinement of the echolocation mechanism through reductions in the number of antennomeres and foreleg tarsomeres. Unfortunately, †Cretorussus does not have the posterior part of the abdomen with the ovipositor preserved. Nevertheless, it is possible to infer that the putative echolocation mechanism for host detection evolved at least 100 Mya, whereas the concealed ovipositor apparatus has not been documented in fossils older than approx. 35 Mya.