bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AC conductivity of C130 type electroporcelain as a function of firing temperature and compaction pressure
Authors: Csáki Š. , Al-Shantir O. , Vrabec M. , Trník A.
Published: November 2023

Dependence of the AC conductivity of the C-130 type electroporcelain on the compaction pressure was measured. The samples were manufactured from spray-dried mixtures using isostatic compaction in vacuum at 5 different pressures (70 MPa to 110 MPa, 10 MPa step size). AC conductivity measurements were performed at 25 different frequencies ranging from 50 Hz to 3 MHz at room temperature on samples with dimensions 10 × 10 × 3 mm3. In addition to the compaction pressure, the effect of different firing temperatures was studied (1100°C and 1200°C). The highest values of AC conductivity were observed in the case of the raw samples, due to an amount of physically and structurally bound water. Conductivity relaxation was observed after firing at 1200°C in all samples at 2.5 MHz. A small effect of the compaction pressure was observed for the raw samples and samples fired at 1200°C.
Comparison of regression models of linear and polynomial dependencies in moisture detection technique
Authors: Futa A , Jastrzębska M , Suchorab Z
Published: November 2023

The article presents the description of moisture detection technique in building materials and comparison of two techniques of analysis. More precisely, two models of linear regression, with linear and polynomial dependencies are presented. The readouts present the dependence between the moisture of ceramic brick, evaluated gravimetrically and permittivity values determined by TDR technique. The correlation between the moisture content estimated by the TDR and the moisture content determined gravimetrically is shown. Using the achieved data, regression models are compared and the quality of both models is determined.
The possibility of thermal activation of bentonitic clays: impact of temperature
Authors: Vejmelková E. , Pommer V. , Šádková K. , Koňáková D.
Published: November 2023

This article deals with the possibility of thermal activation of bentonitic clays. Specifically, the impact of temperature on the overall performance of two varying thermally activated bentonitic clays was investigated and compared with conventional kaolinitic clay. Firstly, the raw materials were characterized; their phase composition, granulometry and thermal analysis were measured. Then studied clays were fired at different temperatures from 500°C to 650°C. Afterwards, the overall performance of thermally activated clays was assessed through the view of their characterization as well as their applicability as Portland cement replacement. The main outcomes were as follows: Bentonites were more susceptible to agglomeration compared to kaolinite. They showed higher mass changes during the heat treatment, but lower increases in specific surface areas. On the other hand, for proper thermal activation, they needed a lower temperature. 600°C seemed to be optimal for the bentonitic clays, while for kaolinite the better results were observed in the case of 650°C. Moreover, thermally activated bentonites reached comparable mechanical strengths of blended cement pastes as the one with kaolinitic clay.
Indirect evaporative cooling primary and secondary effects for the cooling energy consumption of the Air Handling Units
Authors: Kostyák A
Published: November 2023

Buildings’ energy consumption become one of the most important topics since energy prices increased. The aim of building services is to reduce energy consumption without decreasing the comfort level. Decreasing the cooling energy of the HVAC system could significantly cause energy consumption reduction. This paper focuses on the possibility of indirect evaporative cooling methods applying and emphasizes the possibility of its integration with existing and working HVAC systems. This topic was investigated under laboratory and real-life environmental conditions.
Young’s modulus of illitic clay and CaCO3 mixtures during thermal treatment up to 1100 °C
Authors: Kovács T , Trník A
Published: November 2023

The dynamic Young’s modulus of samples, made from a mixture of illitic clay and laboratory grade CaCO3 with 6% addition of 3% solution of polyvinyl alcohol in anorthite stoichiometry is studied. The samples with different CaCO3 contents, namely 17.6%, 21.6%, and 25.6% are made by dry pressing. The measurements of the dimensions, mass, and resonance frequency of the samples are performed for the determination of the dynamic Young’s modulus in the temperature interval from 25 °C to 1100 °C. The influence of the amount of CaCO3 on the Young’s modulus of the samples is investigated. During the firing of the studied samples, the values of Young’s modulus increase due to the liberation of physically bound water (up to 250 °C) and sintering (above 850 °C). The values of Young’s modulus after a firing reach 16.7 – 18.4 GPa, which is about 6 – 9 times higher as the values for the raw samples.
Estimation of apparent permittivity value of polylactyde polymers using reflectrometric technique
Authors: Paśnikowska-Łukaszuk M , Zaburko J , Wlazło M , Szulzyk-Cieplak J , Suchorab Z
Published: November 2023

This work deals with the estimation of the apparent permittivity value of PLA polymers using the reflectometric technique. Physical and chemical properties of polylactide are discussed. Test samples were prepared using 3D and FDM printing technology. The samples were examined using a time domain reflectometry multimeter, and then the obtained results were analyzed. The work was summarized with final conclusions.
The influence of graphene admixture on strength properties of cement-based composites
Authors: Pokorný Jaroslav , Ševčík Radek
Published: November 2023

Cement-based composites pose a long tradition in the construction industry and are used in various forms such as structural concretes, masonry and plaster mortars, injection and special mixtures for three-dimensional concrete printing. Fine granular composites intended for injection and printing activities may have increased tend to shrinkage and cracking. The application of nanomaterials may bring a partial solution to toughening of cement-based composites. For this reason, the effect of the addition of various amounts of graphene admixture up to 0.03 wt.% on the strength properties of fine granular cement-based composites was researched. All prepared fresh mixes had the constant w/c ratio, and the behavior of modified composites was compared with plain reference material. On hardened test specimens, compressive strengths obtained after 1, 7 and 28 days of curing time were evaluated. The experimental investigation revealed, on the one hand, the partial worsening of workability of fresh mixes being compensated with an increasing amount of a superplasticizer and, on the other hand, the increment of compressive strength up to 12.5 % even for specimens with the lowest addition of graphene.
Comparison of microwave moisture evaluation quality in time and frequency domain
Authors: Suchorab Z , Tabiś K , Szczepaniak Z , Paśnikowska-Łukaszuk M , Susek W
Published: November 2023

The article presents the comparison of two methods of microwave data analysis for evaluation of moisture content in porous materials. The content of the paper covers the short description of microwave technique for moisture evaluation and the description of the two methods of microwave data analysis – the time domain and frequency domain. In the second part, the dependences between red brick moisture and apparent permittivity are presented. Apparent permittivity values are determined by microwave antenna and calculated in time and frequency domain. With the calculated values, regression models were estimated and quality of both evaluated. Using the analyzed data, the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques were defined and the measuring potential evaluated.
Targeted blockade of aberrant sodium current in a stem cell-derived neuron model of SCN3A encephalopathy
Authors: Qu Guojie , Merchant Julie P , Clatot Jérôme , DeFlitch Leah M , Frederick Danny J , Tang Sheng , Salvatore Madeleine , Zhang Xiaohong , Li Jianping , Anderson Stewart A , Goldberg Ethan M
Published: November 2023

Missense variants in SCN3A encoding the voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channel α subunit Nav1.3 are associated with SCN3A-related neurodevelopmental disorder (SCN3A-NDD), a spectrum of disease that includes epilepsy and malformation of cortical development. How genetic variation in SCN3A leads to pathology remains unclear, as prior electrophysiological work on disease-associated variants has been performed exclusively in heterologous cell systems. To further investigate the mechanisms of SCN3A-NDD pathogenesis, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to modify a control human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line to express the recurrent de novo missense variant SCN3A c.2624T>C (p.Ile875Thr).

With the established Ngn2 rapid induction protocol, we generated glutamatergic forebrain-like neurons (iNeurons), which we showed to express SCN3A mRNA and Nav1.3-mediated Na+ currents. We performed detailed whole-cell patch clamp recordings to determine the effect of the SCN3A-p.Ile875Thr variant on endogenous Na+ currents in, and intrinsic excitability of, human neurons. Compared to control iNeurons, variant-expressing iNeurons exhibit markedly increased slowly-inactivating/persistent Na+ current, abnormal firing patterns with paroxysmal bursting and plateau-like potentials with action potential failure, and a hyperpolarized voltage threshold for action potential generation. We then validated these findings using a separate iPSC line generated from a patient harbouring the SCN3A-p.Ile875Thr variant compared to a corresponding CRISPR-corrected isogenic control line. Finally, we found that application of the Nav1.3-selective blocker ICA-121431 normalizes action potential threshold and aberrant firing patterns in SCN3A-p.Ile1875Thr iNeurons; in contrast, consistent with action as a Na+ channel blocker, ICA-121431 decreases excitability of control iNeurons.

Our findings demonstrate that iNeurons can model the effects of genetic variation in SCN3A yet reveal a complex relationship between gain-of-function at the level of the ion channel versus impact on neuronal excitability. Given the transient expression of SCN3A in the developing human nervous system, selective blockade or suppression of Nav1.3-containing Na+ channels could represent a therapeutic approach towards SCN3A-NDD.
An Effective and Universal Long-Read Sequencing-Based Approach for SMN1 2 + 0 Carrier Screening through Family Trio Analysis
Authors: Li Shuyuan , Han Xu , Zhang Liang , Xu Yan , Chang Chunxin , Gao Li , Zhan Jiahan , Hua Renyi , Mao Aiping , Wang Yanlin
Published: November 2023

Background

Population-wide carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is recommended by professional organizations to facilitate informed reproductive options. However, genetic screening for SMN1 2 + 0 carriers, accounting for 3%–8% of all SMA carriers, has been challenging due to the large gene size and long distance between the 2 SMN genes.

Methods

Here we repurposed a previously developed long-read sequencing-based approach, termed comprehensive analysis of SMA (CASMA), to identify SMN1 2 + 0 carriers through haplotype analysis in family trios (CASMA-trio). Bioinformatics pipelines were developed for accurate haplotype analysis and SMN1 2 + 0 deduction. Seventy-nine subjects from 24 families composed of, at the minimum, 3 were enrolled, and CASMA-trio was employed to determine whether an index subject with 2 SMN1 copies was a 2 + 0 carrier in these families. For the proof-of-principle, SMN2 2 + 0 was also analyzed.

Results

Among the 16 subjects with 2 SMN1 copies, CASMA-trio identified 5 subjects from 4 families as SMN1 2 + 0 carriers, which was consistent with pedigree analysis involving an affected proband. CASMA-trio also identified SMN2 2 + 0 in six out of 43 subjects with 2 SMN2 copies. Additionally, CASMA-trio successfully determined the distribution pattern of SMN1 and SMN2 genes on 2 alleles in all 79 subjects.

Conclusions

CASMA-trio represents an effective and universal approach for SMN1 2 + 0 carriers screening, as it does not reply on the presence of an affected proband, certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms, ethnicity-specific haplotypes, or complicated single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis across 3 generations. Incorporating CASMA-trio into existing SMA carrier screening programs will greatly reduce residual risk ratio.
A Longitudinal Study of Plasma Glycated Albumin across Pregnancy and Associations with Maternal Characteristics and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers
Authors: Pang Wei Wei , Hinkle Stefanie N , Wu Jing , Stallcup Paulina , Tsai Michael Y , Sacks David B , Zhang Cuilin
Published: November 2023

Background

Glycated albumin (GA) has recently been proposed as a screening marker for diabetes among non-pregnant individuals. However, data on GA during pregnancy are sparse and lacking among women of diverse race/ethnicity. We investigated longitudinal concentrations of GA among multiracial pregnant women in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons.

Methods

We quantified GA and cardiometabolic biomarkers using longitudinal plasma samples collected at 10 to 14, 15 to 26 (fasting), 23 to 31, and 33 to 39 gestational weeks from 214 pregnant women without gestational diabetes. We examined the distribution of GA across pregnancy and its association with participants’ characteristics including race/ethnicity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI), and selected cardiometabolic biomarkers. GA trajectories were estimated using a latent class approach.

Results

Medians (interquartile range) of GA concentrations were 12.1% (10.6%–13.4%), 12.5% (10.7%–13.8%), 12.4% (10.9%–13.5%), and 11.5% (10.4%–12.5%) at 10 to 14, 15 to 26, 23 to 31, and 33 to 39 weeks, respectively. There were no significant differences in the pattern among different race/ethnic groups (P > 0.53). A minority of women exhibited a GA trajectory characterized by a high concentration of GA at 15 to 26 weeks. GA concentrations were inversely related to ppBMI and plasma low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride concentrations, but were not significantly related to hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, or glucose over pregnancy.

Conclusions

In this study of individuals who were normoglycemic before pregnancy, plasma GA concentrations stayed relatively constant over pregnancy, decreasing only in late pregnancy. GA concentrations were inversely related to ppBMI and suboptimal lipid profiles, but did not appear to be a sensitive marker for glucose metabolism in pregnancy.
Leveraging Meta-Learning To Improve Unsupervised Domain Adaptation
Authors: Farhadi Amirfarhad , Sharifi Arash
Published: November 2023

Unsupervised Domain Adaptation (UDA) techniques in real-world scenarios often encounter limitations due to their reliance on reducing distribution dissimilarity between source and target domains, assuming it leads to effective adaptation. However, they overlook the intricate factors causing domain shifts, including data distribution variations, domain-specific features and nonlinear relationships, thereby hindering robust performance in challenging UDA tasks. The Neuro-Fuzzy Meta-Learning (NF-ML) approach overcomes traditional UDA limitations with its flexible framework that adapts to intricate, nonlinear domain gaps without rigid assumptions. NF-ML enhances domain adaptation by selecting a UDA subset and optimizing their weights via a neuro-fuzzy system, utilizing meta-learning to efficiently adapt models to new domains using previously acquired knowledge. This approach mitigates domain adaptation challenges and bolsters traditional UDA methods’ performance by harnessing the strengths of multiple UDA methods to enhance overall model generalization. The proposed approach shows potential in advancing domain adaptation research by providing a robust and efficient solution for real-world domain shifts. Experiments on three standard image datasets confirm the proposed approach’s superiority over state-of-the-art UDA methods, validating the effectiveness of meta-learning. Remarkably, the Office+Caltech 10, ImageCLEF-DA and combined digit datasets exhibit substantial accuracy gains of 30.9%, 6.8% and 10.9%, respectively, compared with the best-second baseline UDA approach.
A genome-wide overexpression screen reveals Mycobacterium smegmatis growth inhibitors encoded by mycobacteriophage Hammy
Authors: Amaya Isabel , Edwards Kaylia , Wise Bethany M , Bhattacharyya Ankita , Pablo Clint H D , Mushrush Ember , Coats Amber N , Dao Sara , Dittmar Grace , Gore Taylor , Jarva Taiya M , Kenkebashvili Giorgi , Rathan-Kumar Sudiksha , Reyes Gabriella M , Watts Garrett L , Watts Victoria Kalene , Dubrow Deena , Lewis Gabrielle , Stone Benjamin H , Xue Bingjie , Cresawn Steven G , Mavrodi Dmitri , Sivanathan Viknesh , Heller Danielle
Published: November 2023

During infection, bacteriophages produce diverse gene products to overcome bacterial antiphage defenses, to outcompete other phages, and to take over cellular processes. Even in the best-studied model phages, the roles of most phage-encoded gene products are unknown, and the phage population represents a largely untapped reservoir of novel gene functions. Considering the sheer size of this population, experimental screening methods are needed to sort through the enormous collection of available sequences and identify gene products that can modulate bacterial behavior for downstream functional characterization. Here, we describe the construction of a plasmid-based overexpression library of 94 genes encoded by Hammy, a Cluster K mycobacteriophage closely related to those infecting clinically important mycobacteria. The arrayed library was systematically screened in a plate-based cytotoxicity assay, identifying a diverse set of 24 gene products (representing ∼25% of the Hammy genome) capable of inhibiting growth of the host bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis. Half of these are related to growth inhibitors previously identified in related phage Waterfoul, supporting their functional conservation; the other genes represent novel additions to the list of known antimycobacterial growth inhibitors. This work, conducted as part of the HHMI-supported Science Education Alliance Gene-function Exploration by a Network of Emerging Scientists (SEA-GENES) project, highlights the value of parallel, comprehensive overexpression screens in exploring genome-wide patterns of phage gene function and novel interactions between phages and their hosts.
Second-order optimization for multiparameter reflection waveform inversion in acoustic VTI media
Authors: Wu Sihai , Wang Tengfei , Cheng Jiubing
Published: November 2023

The seismic wave velocity in subsurface formations typically varies both spatially and directionally, resulting in a heterogeneous and anisotropic medium. To successfully image complex structures and potential reservoirs using multichannel seismic data, high-resolution interval velocity models are required. However, most controlled-source seismic recordings lack wide-angle signals, such as diving and refracted waves that propagate through deep formations. Consequently, geophysicists rely on the traveltimes and waveforms of reflections or back-scatterings in finite-frequency and finite-offset seismograms to estimate velocity and account for possible anisotropy. Recently, wave-equation based reflection waveform inversion (RWI) has emerged as an active research topic due to its ability to recover intermediate-wavelength model components that cannot be retrieved in reflection traveltime tomography. Nevertheless, the widely used gradient-type local optimization suffers from multiparameter trade-off and slow convergence of RWI in anisotropic media. Analysis of the Fréchet derivative reveals that the sensitivity of reflections to changes in long-to-intermediate wavelengths of the anisotropic velocities is jointly controlled by the specular reflection on the interface and the radiation pattern of scattered fields concerning the model parameters along the wave paths. Anatomy of the approximate Hessian reveals characteristics of parameter coupling and spatial resolution in the context of multiparameter RWI, inspiring the development of a matrix-free Gauss–Newton algorithm based on the second-order adjoint-state method for large-scale applications. Synthetic and real data examples demonstrate that the proposed approach can appropriately handle overburden heterogeneities and anisotropies, and thus improve imaging of underlying complex structures such as dipping and small-scale faults in the deep parts.
Crohn’s Disease Mortality and Ambient Air Pollution in New York City
Authors: Feathers Alexandra , Lovasi Gina S , Grigoryan Zoya , Beem Kade , Datta Samit K , Faleck David M , Socci Thomas , Maggi Rachel , Swaminath Arun
Published: November 2023

Background

The worldwide increase in Crohn’s disease (CD) has accelerated alongside rising urbanization and accompanying decline in air quality. Air pollution affects epithelial cell function, modulates immune responses, and changes the gut microbiome composition. In epidemiologic studies, ambient air pollution has a demonstrated relationship with incident CD and hospitalizations. However, no data exist on the association of CD-related death and air pollution.

Methods

We conducted an ecologic study comparing the number of CD-related deaths of individuals residing in given zip codes, with the level of air pollution from nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and fine particulate matter. Air pollution was measured by the New York Community Air Survey. We conducted Pearson correlations and a Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Each pollution component was modeled separately.

Results

There was a higher risk of CD-related death in zip codes with higher levels of SO2 (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.27). Zip codes with higher percentage of Black or Latinx residents were associated with lower CD-related death rates in the SO2 model (IRR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.98; and IRR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.05-0.30, respectively). There was no significant association of either population density or area-based income with the CD-related death rate.

Conclusions

In New York City from 1993 to 2010, CD-related death rates were higher among individuals from neighborhoods with higher levels of SO2 but were not associated with levels of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter. These findings raise an important and timely public health issue regarding exposure of CD patients to environmental SO2, warranting further exploration.
The spatial correlation between trawl surveys and planned wind energy infrastructure on the US Northeast Continental Shelf
Authors: Friedland K D , Boucher J M , Jones A W , Methratta E T , Morse R E , Foley C , Rago P J
Published: November 2023

The development of wind energy on the US Northeast Continental Shelf (NES) may preclude resource-monitoring programmes from continuing in their original study designs. We considered the spatial requirements of energy developers and the spatial autocorrelation of resident species as a means to inform survey mitigation. The spatial requirements of the NES wind industry were considered in respect to the delineation of settled lease areas. We suggest access metrics ranging from 8 to 21 km representing the interquartile range of chord distances across the settled lease areas. Using survey data and concentrating on commercial species with stock assessment requirements, we computed indices of spatial autocorrelation. Tests of spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I and join counts statistics were significant (p < 0.05) for most species, suggesting a high level of spatial correlation in their distributions. To characterize a scalar extent of spatial correlation, variograms were fit to estimate the physical range of correlated catches. These data suggest most species were spatially correlated well beyond the distance metrics derived from the lease area shapes. Sampling by a range of gears has the potential of producing spatially accurate depictions of species distributions and abundance despite the restrictions wind lease areas may place on sampling designs.
Envisioning the Future by Design: Toyota’s Show Cars at the 1969 and 1970 Tokyo Motor Shows
Authors: Autio Frans
Published: November 2023

Toward the end of the 1960s, the car industry in Japan was reaching its maturity, and it seemed increasingly certain that Japan’s future was firmly linked to cars. At the 16th and 17th Tokyo Motor Shows, in 1969 and 1970, an unprecedented number of show cars made by Japanese car manufacturers were introduced. At these shows, Toyota introduced a series of show cars, the EX-I, EX-II, EX-III, and EX-7, as well as the Commuter.

The end of the 1960s was not just a turning point for the Japanese car industry but also for Japanese society as a whole. Through rapid (re)modernization, the country had attained economic wealth and power, but the consequences of modernization were becoming increasingly devastating. The anticipated and endorsed future was under revision when the news about pollution and political turmoil reached the nation’s media.

Focusing on Toyota Motors, this article examines early Japanese “show cars” by approaching them from the viewpoint of the anticipated but complex and uncertain future at the turn of the 1960s to the 1970s. The purpose of this article is to analyze and summarize the future vision(s) of Toyota by applying a close analysis of the design objects.
Maackiain suppresses the development of cervical cancer via AMPK priming autophagy
Authors: He Juan , Xiang Lan , Zhu Tingting , Wang Haiyan , Huang Yurong , Li Hui , Miao Chenggui , Zhuang Yali , Cao Yunxia
Published: November 2023

Background

Maackiain (Mac), a flavonoid analog isolated from Sophora flavescens, exhibits neuroprotective, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic effects. It is not clear whether Mac has a therapeutic effect on cervical cancer.

Method

In this work, we used RT-qPCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, and related methods to detect the therapeutic mechanism of Mac for cervical cancer.

Results

We demonstrated that Mac significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human cervical cancer cell lines HeLa and SiHa. And, Mac enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of cisplatin in treating cervical cancer cells. Mac has shown good efficacy in treating cervical cancer. Furthermore, Mac inhibited the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, thereby inducing autophagy in cervical cancer cells. The regulation of mTOR/autophagy pathway by Mac relied on the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and the inhibition of the AMPK reversed the Mac’s anti-cervical cancer activity. In addition, experimental study of Mac in mouse xenograft tumor model further confirmed its good anti-cervical cancer activity.

Conclusion

Mac inhibits human cervical cancer by activating the AMPK/mTOR/autophagy pathway, indicating that it is a potential natural compound for the treatment of cervical cancer. This study also provides a feasible molecular mechanism for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Early life threatening constrictive pericarditis following off-pump CABG
Authors: Barua Anupama , Cosbey Lucy , Jeeji Ravish , Balacumaraswami Lognathen
Published: November 2023

We present a unique case of aggressive symptomatic constrictive pericarditis within one month following off pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The patient had a medical history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy 20 years ago. Investigations confirmed constrictive pericardium with patent grafts and good biventricular function. Pericardiectomy was successful with remarkable recovery of symptoms.
Bullet embolization from the right subclavian artery to the right common femoral artery
Authors: Alselaim Nahar , Gheshayan Sultanah Bin , Saleem Moneera Bin , Alwahbi Abdullah
Published: November 2023

Bullet embolization from a gunshot wound is a rare entity in trauma patients. We report a case of a 37-year-old female patient who was brought to the trauma unit after sustaining multiple gunshots to the chest and abdomen. Followed by embolization of the bullet from the right subclavian artery to the right common femoral artery. Had successful retrieval of the bullet via a transverse arteriotomy.
Rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement during challenging aortic valve reoperation: a case report
Authors: Mennander Ari , Saranko Aino , Kohonen Mika
Published: November 2023

A previously implanted stenotic aortic valve bioprosthesis with stenotic coronary ostia and intramyocardial calcium was surgically debrided resulting in disruption of the left outflow track. A rapid-deployment aortic valve bioprosthesis was implanted to cover the remnant aortic valve annulus, ensure open coronary ostia, and secure a well-functioning aortic valve bioprosthesis with low postoperative gradient.
Potential of rice tillering for sustainable food production
Authors: Takai Toshiyuki
Published: November 2023

Tillering, also known as shoot branching, is a fundamental trait for cereal crops such as rice to produce sufficient panicle numbers. Effective tillering that guarantees successful panicle production is essential for achieving high crop yields. Recent advances in molecular biology have revealed the mechanisms underlying rice tillering; however, in rice breeding and cultivation, there remain limited genes or alleles suitable for effective tillering and high yields. A recently identified quantitative trait locus (QTL) called MORE PANICLES 3 (MP3) has been cloned as a single gene and shown to promote tillering and to moderately increase panicle number. This gene is an ortholog of the maize domestication gene TB1, and it has the potential to increase grain yield under ongoing climate change and in nutrient-poor environments. This review reconsiders the potential and importance of tillering for sustainable food production. Thus, I provide an overview of rice tiller development and the currently understood molecular mechanisms that underly it, focusing primarily on the biosynthesis and signaling of strigolactones, effective QTLs, and the importance of MP3 (TB1). The possible future benefits in using promising QTLs such as MP3 to explore agronomic solutions under ongoing climate change and in nutrient-poor environments are also highlighted.
Galaxy–dark matter connection of photometric galaxies from the HSC-SSP Survey: galaxy–galaxy lensing and the halo model
Authors: Chaurasiya Navin , More Surhud , Ishikawa Shogo , Masaki Shogo , Kashino Daichi , Okumura Teppei
Published: November 2023

We infer the connection between stellar mass of galaxies from Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey, and their dark matter halo masses in two bins of redshifts between [0.3, 0.8]. We use measurements of the weak lensing of background galaxies from Year-1 shape catalogue from the HSC survey. We bin lens galaxies in stellar mass with varying thresholds ranging from $8.6\le \log [M_*/(h^{-2}{M_\odot })]\le \, 11.2$ and use stringent cuts in the selection of source galaxies to measure the lensing signal. We model these measurements of the lensing signals together with the abundance of galaxies in the halo occupation distribution framework. We obtain constraints on the halo occupation parameters of central galaxies Mmin and σlog M along with parameters that describe the occupation of the satellite galaxies. The measurements of abundance and lensing individually constrain different degeneracy directions in Mmin− σlog M plane, thus breaking the degeneracy in these parameters. We demonstrate that the lensing measurements are best able to constrain average central halo masses, 〈Mcen〉. We compare our measurements to those obtained using the abundance and clustering of these galaxies. We find that the galaxy–dark matter connection does not vary significantly between redshift bins we explore in this study. Uncertainties in the photometric redshift of the lens galaxies need to be studied to understand the true underlying stellar mass–halo mass relation and evolution of galaxies.
The outer low-α disc of the Milky Way – I: evidence for the first pericentric passage of Sagittarius?
Authors: Das Payel , Huang Yang , Ciucă Ioana , Fragkoudi Francesca
Published: November 2023

Phase-space data, chemistry, and ages together reveal a complex structure in the outer low-α disc of the Milky Way. The age-vertical velocity dispersion profiles beyond the Solar Neighbourhood show a jump at 6 Gyr for stars beyond the Galactic plane. Stars older than 6 Gyr are significantly hotter than younger stars. The chemistry and age histograms reveal a bump at [Fe/H] = −0.5, [α/Fe] = 0.1, and an age of 7.2 Gyr in the outer disc. Finally, viewing the stars beyond 13.5 kpc in the age-metallicity plane reveals a faint streak just below this bump, towards lower metallicities at the same age. Given the uncertainty in age, we believe these features are linked and suggest a pericentric passage of a massive satellite ∼6 Gyr ago that heated pre-existing stars, and led to a starburst in existing gas. New stars also formed from the metal-poorer infalling gas. The impulse approximation was used to characterize the interaction with a satellite, finding a mass of ∼1011 M⊙, and a pericentric position between 12 and 16 kpc. The evidence points to an interaction with the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, likely its first pericentric passage.
Taking the Milky Way for a spin: disc formation in the artemis simulations
Authors: Dillamore Adam M , Belokurov Vasily , Kravtsov Andrey , Font Andreea S
Published: November 2023

We investigate the formation (spin-up) of galactic discs in the artemis simulations of Milky Way (MW)-mass galaxies. In almost all galaxies, discs spin up at higher [Fe/H] than the MW. Those galaxies that contain an analogue of the Gaia Sausage-Enceladus (GSE) spin up at a lower average metallicity than those without. We identify six galaxies with spin-up metallicity similar to that of the MW, which formed their discs ∼8–11 Gyr ago. Five of these experience a merger similar to the GSE. The spin-up times correlate with the halo masses at early times: galaxies with early spin-up have larger virial masses at a lookback time tL = 12 Gyr. The fraction of stars accreted from outside the host galaxy is smaller in galaxies with earlier spin-ups. Accreted fractions small enough to be comparable to the MW are only found in galaxies with the earliest disc formation and large initial virial masses (M200c ≈ 2 × 1011 M⊙ at tL = 12 Gyr). We find that discs form when the halo’s virial mass reaches a threshold of M200c ≈ (6 ± 3) × 1011 M⊙, independent of the spin-up time. However, the failure to form a disc in other galaxies appears to be instead related to mergers at early times. We also find that discs form when the central potential is not particularly steep. Our results indicate that the MW assembled its mass and formed its disc earlier than the average galaxy of a similar mass.
Adventures in Tonal Gravity: George Russell’s Analysis of Maurice Ravel’s “Forlane”
Authors: Hannaford Marc E
Published: November 2023

George Russell conceptualized his Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization as a theory of tonality. He includes an analysis of the opening of Maurice Ravel’s “Forlane” from Le Tombeau de Couperin in the fourth and final edition of his text to demonstrate what his theory—“The Concept”—offers for the analysis of Western art music. This article takes Russell’s claim seriously, discusses The Concept as a theory of tonality, and extends Russell’s analysis to the entirety of “Forlane.” I also connect Russell’s work to broader Black cultural practices and their socio-political resonances.
The ChEMBL Database in 2023: a drug discovery platform spanning multiple bioactivity data types and time periods
Authors: Zdrazil Barbara , Felix Eloy , Hunter Fiona , Manners Emma J , Blackshaw James , Corbett Sybilla , de Veij Marleen , Ioannidis Harris , Lopez David Mendez , Mosquera Juan F , Magarinos Maria Paula , Bosc Nicolas , Arcila Ricardo , Kizilören Tevfik , Gaulton Anna , Bento A Patrícia , Adasme Melissa F , Monecke Peter , Landrum Gregory A , Leach Andrew R
Published: November 2023

ChEMBL (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/) is a manually curated, high-quality, large-scale, open, FAIR and Global Core Biodata Resource of bioactive molecules with drug-like properties, previously described in the 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019 Nucleic Acids Research Database Issues. Since its introduction in 2009, ChEMBL’s content has changed dramatically in size and diversity of data types. Through incorporation of multiple new datasets from depositors since the 2019 update, ChEMBL now contains slightly more bioactivity data from deposited data vs data extracted from literature. In collaboration with the EUbOPEN consortium, chemical probe data is now regularly deposited into ChEMBL. Release 27 made curated data available for compounds screened for potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity from several large-scale drug repurposing screens. In addition, new patent bioactivity data have been added to the latest ChEMBL releases, and various new features have been incorporated, including a Natural Product likeness score, updated flags for Natural Products, a new flag for Chemical Probes, and the initial annotation of the action type for ∼270 000 bioactivity measurements.
Epilogue to Part I
Authors: Milhous Judith , Dideriksen Gabridla , Hume Robert D
Published: November 2023

The Brief History of the Pantheon is largely a dismal one. It represented a wonderful opportunity for Italian opera in London at a time when the social cachet of the form gave it economic underpinnings unmatched before or since. This opportunity was wasted, and the opera settlement of 1792 was bungled in ways that made a bad situation worse. By any historical logic we can conceive, what ought to have happened was radically different. A patent should have been granted for a grand new opera-house in Leicester Square whose construction would have been underwritten by contributions from the nobility and gentry.
The Architecture of the Pantheon Opera-House
Authors: Milhous Judith , Dideriksen Gabridla , Hume Robert D
Published: November 2023

As an Opera-House, the Pantheon was both admired and criticized. A vital first step towards recreating the experience of the audience and the performance conditions at the Pantheon is reconstructing the theatre itself. This is by no means easy, and until recently would have been impossible. Newspaper descriptions published in 1791 make clear that the theatre was small and elegant, and that it suffered from a cramped and inadequate stage. They offer little detail on layout, capacity, stage and machine capabilities, or how conversion of the existing building was carried out.
The Production Process
Authors: Milhous Judith , Dideriksen Gabridla , Hume Robert D
Published: November 2023

Analysis of the component parts of the Pantheon company reveals its horizontal and fragmented nature. Even in the second season, with the hapless O’Reilly in exile and Trancart making a successful attempt at financial control, almost all evidence points to a very divided operation. The heads of the opera and ballet departments, the scene-designer, the costumer, and the lighting contractor functioned virtually independently of one another. Each controlled his own barony, and though the manager might set limits on expenditure, the practical day-to-day business of each department was con ducted by the department head.
Finances
Authors: Milhous Judith , Dideriksen Gabridla , Hume Robert D
Published: November 2023

The Pantheon was manifestly a financial disaster within two months of its opening. By mid-April 1791 its backers were frantically trying to arrange an immediate amalgamation with the opposition at the new King’s Theatre, Haymarket-for very good reasons, as we shall discover. After the fire of January 1792 newspaper reports of fabulous losses contribute to the impression of disaster: sums like £76,000 were bandied about. Such journalistic sensationalism, however, does little to establish a solid basis for comprehension of what happened at the Pantheon. In so far as possible, we want to know what the company grossed and how much it spent. We also want to know what the money went for, and how the Pantheon’s budget compared with that of other London opera companies of the time.
Greece
Authors: Mackridge Peter
Published: November 2023

For the first fifteen years after the Second World War Greek literature was dominated, in prose, by more or less fictionalized narratives of recent events—the war against the Italians in Albania in 1940-1, the Axis Occupation of 1941-4, and the Resistance—and, in poetry, by fairly direct, nonlyrical statements expressing the existential struggle born of a sense of defeat. Although the novelists emerged largely from right-wing or centrist backgrounds, and many of the poets—particularly the younger ones—belonged to the Left, the writing of both groups was equally marked by the traumatic experience of the Civil War, whose most violent period lasted from 1946 to 1949, when the defeat of the Communist-led Left led to the imprisonment or exile of tens of thousands of Greeks.
United States
Authors: Lesser Wendy
Published: November 2023

Contemporary American literature might be said to have begun in 1965, with the serial publication of Truman Capote’s (1924-84) In Cold Blood in the New Yorker. Capote’s was not the first American work to mingle factual reportage with novelistic style: for that, one would have to go back to 1952, to Lillian Ross’s (b. 1927) Picture, or even further, to the New York anecdotes and profiles written in the 1940s and 1950s by Joseph Mitchell (b. 1908; reissued in his collection Up in the Old Hotel, 1992). Nor does Capote’s book mark the beginning of America’s interest in murder as literary material: there was, after all, Edgar Allan Poe over a century earlier. And though In Cold Blood is a powerful and lasting work of literature, it is not necessarily the best work of its decade, or even the first remarkable book of that period. But it marks a watershed.
West Indies
Authors: Creighton Al
Published: November 2023

Ever since Caribbean literary criticism first established itself, in the 1960s and 1970s, language has been identified as the major issue in the region’s literature, so that, even thirty years later, linguistic choices and appropriations, and syntactical variations, remain central to discussions of both form and content in Caribbean writing. A recent critical work on poetry, for example, ends with the statement: Language is where this business begin for the poets of the West Indies. Language both rooted in the land and rising into song. Language that is their own as poets and as West Indians; so that when they write, each phrase go be soaked in salt; and when we read their poetry, its language go be the wind.
Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: extremities doses
Authors: El Hassane Cyrine , Ali Abdelhai Ben , Bendaoud Nabil , Boushaki Ghania Medkour Ishak
Published: November 2023

X-rays are widely used in interventional cardiology (IC). Medical staff is exposed to ionising radiations with difficulties to accurately estimate the absorbed dose, on the other hand, it is well known that eye lens and extremities are the most exposed. In most IC units, radiological monitoring is performed by measuring the personal dose equivalent with a dosemeter worn under the operator’s apron. The ambient dose equivalent is, usually, also measured. Furthermore, doses to the lens and extremities are often not measured because of the absence or difficulty of wearing the appropriate dosemeters. The main aim of our study is to estimate the extremities doses, of the interventional cardiologists, from the personal dose equivalent, the patient’s received doses or to the ambient dose equivalent. For this purpose, we use a radiological monitoring, of four (04) interventional cardiologists, carried out at Algiers hospital. A Monte Carlo calculation is performed for comparison. This paper reports the preliminary results of this study.
High radon levels and adverse environmental conditions in using RAD7
Authors: Lopez Arturo , Balcazar Miguel , Sánchez David
Published: November 2023

Good response was observed in simultaneously using six RAD7 detectors at high radon concentrations, temperatures and relative humidity conditions. RAD7 detectors were tested in laboratory using radon chambers from 13 up to 59.8 kBq m−3, statistical analysis allows to distinct between counting errors and radon variation. RAD7 detectors were exposure to extreme environmental conditions at uranium flat mine. High radon concentration in soil from a confined uranium mineral was 274.3 kBq m−3 at 44°C temperature and 20% relative humidity. Inside uranium mine radon increased from 1.0 up to 88.5 kBq m−3.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology Landscape in 2023
Authors: Qu Hui-Qi , Kao Charlly , Hakonarson Hakon
Published: November 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and the dynamics of gene expression, bearing profound significance in stem cell research. Depending on the starting materials used for analysis, scRNA-seq encompasses scRNA-seq and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). scRNA-seq excels in capturing cellular heterogeneity and characterizing rare cell populations within complex tissues, while snRNA-seq is advantageous in situations where intact cell dissociation is challenging or undesirable (eg, epigenomic studies). A number of scRNA-seq technologies have been developed as of late, including but not limited to droplet-based, plate-based, hydrogel-based, and spatial transcriptomics. The number of cells, sequencing depth, and sequencing length in scRNA-seq can vary across different studies. Addressing current technical challenges will drive the future of scRNA-seq, leading to more comprehensive and precise insights into cellular biology and disease mechanisms informing therapeutic interventions.
N‐MYC‐interacting protein enhances type II interferon signaling by inhibiting STAT1 sumoylation
Authors: Feng Linyuan , Li Wanwei , Li Xiaowen , Li Xiaotian , Ran Yanhong , Yang Xiaoping , Deng Zemin , Li Hongjian
Published: November 2023

Signaling desensitization is key to limiting signal transduction duration and intensity. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) can mediate type II interferon (IFNγ)‐induced immune responses, which are enhanced and inhibited by STAT1 phosphorylation and sumoylation, respectively. Here, we identified an N‐MYC interacting protein, NMI, which can enhance STAT1 phosphorylation and STAT1‐mediated IFNγ immune responses by binding and sequestering the E2 SUMO conjugation enzyme, UBC9, and blocking STAT1 sumoylation. NMI facilitates UBC9 nucleus‐to‐cytoplasm translocation in response to IFNγ, thereby inhibiting STAT1 sumoylation. STAT1 phosphorylation at Y701 and sumoylation at K703 are mutually exclusive modifications that regulate IFNγ‐dependent transcriptional responses. NMI could not alter the phosphorylation level of sumoylation‐deficient STAT1 after IFNγ treatment. Thus, IFNγ signaling is modulated by NMI through sequestration of UBC9 in the cytoplasm, leading to inhibition of STAT1 sumoylation. Hence, NMI functions as a switch for STAT1 activation/inactivation cycles by modulating an IFNγ‐induced desensitization mechanism.