bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terahertz scale microbunching instability driven by high resistivity nonevaporable getter coating resistive-wall impedance
Authors: Li Weiwei , He Tianlong , Bai Zhenghe
Published: March 2024

Nonevaporable getter (NEG) coating is widely required in the new generation of light sources and circular e+e− colliders for small vacuum pipes to improve the vacuum level, which, however, also enhances the high-frequency resistive-wall impedance and often generates a resonator-like peak in the terahertz frequency region. In this paper, we will use the parameters of the planned Hefei Advanced Light Facility storage ring to study the impact of NEG-coating resistive-wall impedance on the longitudinal microwave instability via particle tracking simulation. Using different NEG-coating parameters (resistivity and thickness) as examples, we find that the impedance with a narrow and strong peak in the terahertz frequency region can cause terahertz scale microbunching instability, which has a low instability threshold current and contributes to a large energy spread widening above the threshold. In order to obtain a convergent simulation of the beam dynamics, one must properly resolve such a peak. The coating with a lower resistivity has a less sharp peak in its impedance spectrum, and there is a regime that it is helpful to suppress the terahertz scale microbunching instability and in return contributes to a higher instability threshold current.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Feature selection with distance correlation
Authors: Das Ranit , Kasieczka Gregor , Shih David
Published: March 2024

Choosing which properties of the data to use as input to multivariate decision algorithms—also known as feature selection—is an important step in solving any problem with machine learning. While there is a clear trend towards training sophisticated deep networks on large numbers of relatively unprocessed inputs (so-called automated feature engineering), for many tasks in physics, sets of theoretically well-motivated and well-understood features already exist. Working with such features can bring many benefits, including greater interpretability, reduced training and run time, and enhanced stability and robustness. We develop a new feature selection method based on distance correlation, and demonstrate its effectiveness on the tasks of boosted top- and W-tagging. Using our method to select features from a set of over 7,000 energy flow polynomials, we show that we can match the performance of much deeper architectures, by using only ten features and two orders-of-magnitude fewer model parameters.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Heavy flavor as a probe of hot QCD matter produced in proton-proton collisions
Authors: Zhao Jiaxing , Aichelin Joerg , Gossiaux Pol Bernard , Werner Klaus
Published: March 2024

The creation of a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is expected in heavy-ion collisions. It came as a surprise that proton-proton collisions at ultrarelativistic energies show as well a “QGP-like” behavior and signs of the creation of a fluid, although the corresponding system size is not more than a few cubic femtometers. Even more surprisingly, also heavy-flavor particles seem to be part of the fluid or at least interact with it. In this paper, we will investigate in a quantitative way this “collective behavior” of heavy flavor, by employing the newly developed EPOS4HQ approach, which has proven to be compatible with basic experimental data of light-flavor hadrons. We will investigate all observables, which may manifest collectivity, as particle spectra, elliptic flow, baryon-to-meson ratios, and two-particle correlations, and compare the results with experimental data. We will try to disentangle initial-state effects, those being due to interactions between charm quarks and plasma partons, and final-state effects (hadronization).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Engineering unsteerable quantum states with active feedback
Authors: Morales Samuel , Gefen Yuval , Gornyi Igor , Zazunov Alex , Egger Reinhold
Published: March 2024

We propose active steering protocols for quantum state preparation in quantum circuits where each system qubit is connected to a single detector qubit, employing a simple coupling selected from a small set of steering operators. The decision is made such that the expected cost-function gain in one time step is maximized. We apply these protocols to several many-qubit models. Our results are underlined by three remarkable insights. First, we show that the standard fidelity does not give a useful cost function; instead, successful steering is achieved by including local fidelity terms. Second, although the steering dynamics acts on each system qubit separately, entanglement in the generated target state is introduced, and can be tuned at will, by performing Bell measurements on detector qubit pairs after every time step. This implements a weak-measurement variant of entanglement swapping. Third, numerical simulations suggest that the active steering protocol can reach arbitrarily designated target states, including passively unsteerable states such as the N-qubit W state.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Control of the Purcell effect via unexcited atoms and exceptional points
Authors: Agarwal G. S.
Published: March 2024

We examine the possible control of the celebrated Purcell effect in cavity quantum electrodynamics. We demonstrate that the presence of an unexcited atom can significantly alter the Purcell decay depending on the strength of coupling of the unexcited atom with the cavity mode though the excited atom has to be weakly coupled for it to be in the Purcell regime. This cooperative behavior is distinct from the nonradiative nature of the singlet state which is an entangled state of the two-atom system. We present a physical interpretation for inhibition as due to interference between two polariton channels of decay. For specific values of the parameters, we bring out a connection to exceptional points in the cavity QED system as the unexcited atom and cavity mode can produce a second-order exceptional point. We further show how two unexcited atoms can create a third-order exceptional point leading to inhibition of the Purcell effect. We also discuss the case when the Purcell effect can be enhanced.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gate-defined superconducting channel in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene
Authors: Zheng Giulia , Portolés Elías , Mestre-Torà Alexandra , Perego Marta , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Rickhaus Peter , de Vries Folkert K. , Ihn Thomas , Ensslin Klaus , Iwakiri Shuichi
Published: March 2024

Magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) combines in one single material different phases such as insulating, metallic, and superconducting. These phases and their tunability make MATBG an important platform for the fabrication of superconducting devices. We realize a split-gate-defined geometry which enables us to tune the width of a superconducting channel formed in MATBG. We observe a smooth transition from superconductivity to highly resistive transport by progressively reducing the channel width using the split gates or by reducing the density in the channel. Using the gate-defined constriction, we control the flow of the supercurrent, either guiding it through the constriction or throughout the whole device or even blocking its passage completely. This serves as a foundation for developing quantum constriction devices such as superconducting quantum point contacts, quantum dots, and Cooper-pair boxes in MATBG.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ultracoherent Nanomechanical Resonators Based on Density Phononic Crystal Engineering
Authors: Høj Dennis , Hoff Ulrich Busk , Andersen Ulrik Lund
Published: March 2024

Micromechanical and nanomechanical systems with exceptionally low dissipation rates are enabling the next-generation technologies of ultrasensitive detectors and quantum information systems. New techniques and methods for lowering the dissipation rate have in recent years been discovered and allowed for the engineering of mechanical oscillators with phononic modes that are extremely well isolated from the environment and thus possess quality factors close to and beyond 1×109. A powerful strategy for isolating and controlling a single phononic mode is based on phononic crystal engineering. Here we propose a new method for phononic crystal engineering of nanomechanical oscillators that is based on a periodic variation of the material density. To circumvent the introduction of additional bending losses resulting from the variation of material density, the added mass constitutes an array of nanopillars in which the losses will be diluted. Using this novel technique for phononic crystal engineering, we design and fabricate corrugated mechanical oscillators with quality factors approaching 1×109 in a room temperature environment. The flexibility space of these new phononic crystals is large and further advancement can be attained through optimized phononic crystal patterning and strain engineering via topology optimization. This will allow for the engineering of mechanical membranes with quality factors beyond 1×109 at room temperature. Such extremely low mechanical dissipation rates will enable the development of radically new technologies such as quantum-limited atomic force microscopy at room temperature, ultrasensitive detectors of dark matter, spontaneous waveform collapses, gravity, and high-efficiency quantum information transducers.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Universal and Ultrafast Quantum Computation Based on Free-Electron-Polariton Blockade
Authors: Karnieli Aviv , Tsesses Shai , Yu Renwen , Rivera Nicholas , Arie Ady , Kaminer Ido , Fan Shanhui
Published: March 2024

Cavity QED, wherein a quantum emitter is coupled to electromagnetic cavity modes, is a powerful platform for implementing quantum sensors, memories, and networks. However, due to the fundamental trade-off between gate fidelity and execution time, as well as limited scalability, the use of cavity QED for quantum computation was overtaken by other architectures. Here, we introduce a new element into cavity QED—a free charged particle, acting as a flying qubit. Using free electrons as a specific example, we demonstrate that our approach enables ultrafast, deterministic, and universal discrete-variable quantum computation in a cavity-QED-based architecture, with potentially improved scalability. Our proposal hinges on a novel excitation blockade mechanism in a resonant interaction between a free-electron and a cavity polariton. This nonlinear interaction is faster by several orders of magnitude with respect to current photon-based cavity-QED gates, enjoys wide tunability and can demonstrate fidelities close to unity. Furthermore, our scheme is ubiquitous to any cavity nonlinearity, either due to light-matter coupling as in the Jaynes-Cummings model or due to photon-photon interactions as in a Kerr-type many-body system. In addition to promising advancements in cavity-QED quantum computation, our approach paves the way towards ultrafast and deterministic generation of highly entangled photonic graph states and is applicable to other quantum technologies involving cavity QED.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Does green finance affect renewable energy development in Singapore?
Authors: Subramaniam Yogeeswari , Loganathan Nanthakumar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Given the importance of green finance in a discussion of energy efficiency and clean energy, it is critical to evaluate its implications for the growth of renewable energy. This study examines the impact of green finance on renewable energy development in Singapore.

Design/methodology/approach

The dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) regression was used in this work to test such a connection.

Findings

Using the DOLS for the period 2000–2020, it was discovered that green finance aids renewable energy development in Singapore. Additionally, the findings revealed that economic growth, oil prices, energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and institutional factors are all positively associated with renewable energy growth, resulting in a boost in renewable energy development.

Research limitations/implications

Hence, as a result, the monetary authorities of Singapore, such as financial institutions, non-governmental organisations and corporations, should prioritise renewable energy projects under green finance initiatives to boost renewable energy growth. This may assist in raising investment flows to green projects; hence, accelerating the adoption of renewable energy.

Originality/value

Increased Singapore's initiatives to accelerate green finance have prompted this study to examine the research question of whether green finance has a significant impact on renewable energy growth. Thus, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this will be the first empirical study to explore the impact of green finance on renewable energy growth in the case of Singapore.
Are you alright brand equity? Analysis of the top 100 global brands during COVID-19 outbreaks
Authors: Zahari Abdul Rahman , Esa Elinda
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether COVID-19 had an impact on the brand equity of the Top 100 global brands in the Americas, European and Asian regions over the three years of assessment (2020–2022).

Design/methodology/approach

A secondary data method (document scanning) was used to gather the study’s data from Brand Finance’s Global 500 annual reports from 2019 to 2022. The data for this study was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. The data were subjected to a descriptive test and one-way analysis of variance.

Findings

The findings showed that most of the Top 100 global brands from the Americas, Europe and Asia experienced little or no impact due to COVID-19. Thus, no significant differences were found to exist among the Top 100 global regional brands due to COVID-19 in the years 2020 and 2021. However, there is a significant difference in 2022 due to its small effect size.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper contribute to brand equity literature and global branding literature in the context of COVID-19. This paper innovatively frames brand equity and provides guidelines to help brands sustain their financial-based brand equity during a worldwide crisis.
Ethical triage in public health emergency facilities: distributive justice – a decision model
Authors: Ahmed Shamsuddin , Alsisi Rayan Hamza
Published: March 2024

Purpose

A new triage method, MBCE (Medical Bio Social Ethics), is presented with social justice, bio, and medical ethics for critical resource distribution during a pandemic. Ethical triage is a complex and challenging process that requires careful consideration of medical, social, cultural, and ethical factors to guide the decision-making process and ensure fair and transparent allocation of resources. When assigning priorities to patients, a clinician would evaluate each patient’s medical condition, age, comorbidities, and prognosis, as well as their cultural and social background and ethical factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A statistical analysis shows no interactions among the ethical triage factors. It implies the ethical components have no moderation effect; hence, each is independent. The result also points out that medical and bioethics may have an affinity for interactions. In such cases, there seem to be some ethical factors related to bio and medical ethics that are correlated. Therefore, the triage team should be careful in evaluating patient cases. The algorithm is explained with case histories of the selected patient. A group of triage nurses and general medical practitioners assists with the triage.

Findings

The MBCE triage algorithm aims to allocate scarce resources fairly and equitably. Another ethical principle in this triage algorithm is the principle of utility. In a pandemic, the principle of utility may require prioritizing patients with a higher likelihood of survival or requiring less medical care. The research presents a sensitivity analysis of a patient’s triage score to show the algorithm’s robustness. A weighted score of ethical factors combined with an assessment of triage factors combines multiple objectives to assign a fair triage score. These distinctive features of the algorithm are reasonably easy to implement and a new direction for the unbiased triage principle.

Originality/value

The idea is to make decisions about distributing and using scarce medical resources. Triage algorithms raise ethical issues, such as discrimination and justice, guiding medical ethics in treating patients with terminal diseases or comorbidity. One of the main ethical principles in triage algorithms is the principle of distributive justice.
Squamous cell carcinoma of lip: Clinical feature analysis and suggestion of reconstruction algorithm
Authors: Park Jung Won , Kim Taehee , Chung Kee Yang , Roh Mi Ryung
Published: March 2024

Reconstruction of lips after squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) removal should restore functional and aesthetic roles; however, it remains a challenge. In this study we describe the clinical features of lip SCC and suggest a reconstruction algorithm. We retrospectively analyzed 34 patients with lip SCC who underwent reconstruction after Mohs micrographic surgery between January 2006 and March 2022. The mean age of the patients was 70.2 years. Seven tumors were on the upper lip and 27 tumors were on the lower lip. Twenty‐five defects were located on the mucosal lip, eight defects involved both the mucosal and cutaneous lips, and one defect was confined to the cutaneous lip. Eighteen defects were smaller than 50% of the total lip size, and 16 were larger than 50%. Primary closure was mostly performed for defects smaller than 50% of the lip size (9/18 cases), and local flap, according to the location and size of the defects, was performed for larger defects. Thirteen patients experienced postoperative complications but improved within 1 year after surgery, except for one patient. We suggest a reconstruction algorithm with a 50% cut‐off value. Defects smaller than 50% of the lip size could be reconstructed by primary closure. Even larger defects could be reconstructed by creation of a local flap from the remaining adjacent tissue with minimal postoperative complications.
Gazing into the abyss: A glimpse into the diversity, distribution, and behaviour of heterotrophic protists from the deep‐sea floor
Authors: Cadena Lawrence Rudy , Edgcomb Virginia , Lukeš Julius
Published: March 2024

The benthic biome of the deep‐sea floor, one of the largest biomes on Earth, is dominated by diverse and highly productive heterotrophic protists, second only to prokaryotes in terms of biomass. Recent evidence suggests that these protists play a significant role in ocean biogeochemistry, representing an untapped source of knowledge. DNA metabarcoding and environmental sample sequencing have revealed that deep‐sea abyssal protists exhibit high levels of specificity and diversity across local regions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the known heterotrophic protists from the deep‐sea floor, their geographic distribution, and their interactions in terms of parasitism and predation. We offer an overview of the most abundant groups and discuss their potential ecological roles. We argue that the exploration of the biodiversity and species‐specific features of these protists should be integrated into broader deep‐sea research and assessments of how benthic biomes may respond to future environmental changes.
Bovine milk β‐casein: Structure, properties, isolation, and targeted application of isolated products
Authors: Chen Xiaoqian , Fan Rui , Wang Yuanbin , Munir Maliha , Li Chun , Wang Caiyun , Hou Zhanqun , Zhang Guofang , Liu Libo , He Jian
Published: March 2024

β‐Casein, an important protein found in bovine milk, has significant potential for application in the food, pharmaceutical, and other related industries. This review first introduces the composition, structure, and functional properties of β‐casein. It then reviews the techniques for isolating β‐casein. Chemical and enzymatic isolation methods result in inactivity of β‐casein and other components in the milk, and it is difficult to control the production conditions, limiting the utilization range of products. Physical technology not only achieves high product purity and activity but also effectively preserves the biological activity of the components. The isolated β‐casein needs to be utilized effectively and efficiently for various purity products in order to achieve optimal targeted application. Bovine β‐casein, which has a purity higher than or close to that of breast β‐casein, can be used in infant formulas. This is achieved by modifying its structure through dephosphorylation, resulting in a formula that closely mimics the composition of breast milk. Bovine β‐casein, which is lower in purity than breast β‐casein, can be maximized for the preparation of functional peptides and for use as natural carriers. The remaining byproducts can be utilized as food ingredients, emulsifiers, and carriers for encapsulating and delivering active substances. Thus, realizing the intensive processing and utilization of bovine β‐casein isolation. This review can promote the industrial production process of β‐casein, which is beneficial for the sustainable development of β‐casein as a food and material. It also provides valuable insights for the development of other active substances in milk.
Cordyceps sp. WZFW1, a novel entomopathogenic fungus to control Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
Authors: Yang Feiying , Wu Yuekun , Tu Juan , Dong Fang , Dong Yue , Xie Feng
Published: March 2024

Ectropis grisescens is a notorious pest in tea plantations. The control of E. grisescens relies on synesthetic pesticides but the resurgence is always accompanied by increasing resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to use biological control to reduce the damage caused by E. grisescens. Here, we collected soil from a tea plantation, used Galleria mellonella as a bait insect and successfully isolated one entomopathogenic fungus. The isolated colony was initially identified as Cordyceps sp. using morphological observation. ITS‐rDNA sequence amplification and sequencing, molecular database comparisons, and phylogenetic analysis proved this fungus as a new species and thus named Cordyceps sp. WZFW1. Further virulence test of Cordyceps sp. WZFW1 against E. grisescens was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Lethal concentration was 5.74 × 106 spore/mL with a confidence level of 2.32 × 106 ~ 1.79 × 107 and lethal time was 2.98 days at 108 spore/mL and 7.47 days at 107 spore/mL, indicating Cordyceps sp. WZFW1 was effective at controlling E. grisescens. Our findings are significant as they contribute to the application of new entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species as biocontrol agents, promoting eco‐friendly pest management practices.
Introduction: Restoration Epistolarity
Authors: Jasenowski Jaroslaw , Bayer Gerd
Published: March 2024

The early modern age witnessed a number of revolutionary changes in the ways people communicated with each other. Within the shifting balances between oral and print cultures following upon Gutenberg's invention of the printing press, epistolarity played a crucial role in how written language was perceived as a source of reliable information. The highly dynamic cultural environment of Restoration England, existing as it did in various forms of intellectual exchange with other European and international spheres, brought forth a sizeable increase in various forms of literary practice.
Sidereal Messages: Print Letters in Restoration Astronomical Writing
Authors: Klaeger Florian
Published: March 2024

Astronomy, a paradigmatic observational discipline of early modern ‘science’, relied on epistolary communication for coordinating practitioners across the world, publishing discoveries and theories, and seeking their confirmation from other virtuosi. Epistolary form ‘travelled’ from an individual exchange between scholars, via the print publication of such letters for the benefit of a wider readership, to the framing of bespoke isagogic textbooks. This article explores the affordances of Restoration printed astronomical letters, contrasting their performance of familiarity between sender and recipient with the public nature of the communication. By reference to letters published in the Philosophical Transactions, individual print letters, and letter‐books, including Christiaan Huygens's Cosmotheoros, the article shows how each type utilizes the familiar and the formal aspects of the letter form differently. The print letter emerges as a form uniquely suited for performing individual authority and fashioning an expert community, as well as communicating expert knowledge to non‐specialists.
The Bishop of Exeter Versus Benjamin Hoadly: Pamphlets, Controversy, and the Uses of Epistolarity in Restoration England
Authors: Bayer Gerd
Published: March 2024

This essay discusses the use of epistolarity in a pamphlet controversy that played out over a published sermon by the Bishop of Exeter and a critical response by Benjamin Hoadly. While the political, religious, and social aspects of the resulting pamphlet war are substantial, the present article discusses how the form of the letter was employed by the various authors who contributed to this controversy. It argues that the writers drew on readerly expectations about letters that reveal much about the role played by epistolarity within literary culture in Restoration England, in particular, how letters negotiated a contested space between factuality and fictionality that was shaped also by contemporary notions of novelistic writing.
Coffeehouse Curiosities: Materiality and Musealization Strategies in The Athenian Mercury
Authors: Jasenowski Jaroslaw
Published: March 2024

Based on the epistolary interaction with readers, John Dunton's Athenian Mercury (1691–97) provided a platform for the discussion and dissemination of knowledge drawn from diverse fields. Plagued by doubts about its reliability, the periodical constantly had to (re‐)assert its credibility. One of the strategies the Mercury employed was to emphasize the physicality of objects via text, practising a performance of materiality. Taking the letter‐as‐object as its starting point, this article argues that materiality played a crucial role in not only the representation but also the active production of truthfulness. Examining how Dunton's periodical leveraged notions of the coffeehouse as an exhibition space, this article explores how the Mercury drew on musealization strategies to represent material objects to underline their existence and its own credibility. Interpellating readers as virtuosi, the Athenian Society staged the coffeehouse and even itself as a walk‐in curiosity cabinet, turning letters into matter and fiction into fact.
The Letter‐Writing Manual and the Epistolary Novel
Authors: Bray Joe
Published: March 2024

The relationship between real and fictional letters in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries has been the source of much critical debate. Disagreement surrounds the extent to which the increasingly popular genre of the epistolary novel drew on the practices and techniques of actual correspondence. On the one hand are those who see epistolary fiction as developing out of real‐life letters, with some literary‐stylistic additions. On the other hand are those who reject this teleological approach in favour of one that emphasizes the functional versatility of the letter in the period, and the difficulty, if not impossibility, of drawing a distinction between its real and fictional incarnations. This relationship between real correspondence and epistolary fiction is brought into sharp focus by the genre of the letter‐writing manual, which rose sharply in popularity from the last two decades of the seventeenth century onwards. Concentrating on John Hill's The Young Secretary's Guide (1689), Thomas Goodman's The Experience's Secretary (1699), and G. F.'s The Secretary's Guide (1705), in particular, in this article, I suggest that the style of the letter‐writing manual from this period can, with caution, be compared with that of the epistolary novel. I pay particular attention to the ways in which letters in these manuals respond to and quote from each other and the often subtle ways in which they thus incorporate different voices. This polyvocality is taken further in Samuel Richardson's manual Familiar Letters (1741), which, as is well known, provided the raw material for his first novel Pamela; or Virtue Rewarded (1741). I demonstrate that some of the stylistic techniques which would prove crucial to the great epistolary novels of the later eighteenth century, including Richardson's, can be found, at least in embryonic form, in the letter‐writing manuals of the Restoration period.
Impact of the Ruble exchange rate regime and Russia's war in Ukraine on wheat prices in Russia
Authors: Yugay Stanislav , Götz Linde , Svanidze Miranda
Published: March 2024

We assess exchange rate pass‐through when the Ruble exchange rate was managed in comparison with when it became free‐floating. Estimates of the error correction model for milling wheat prices suggest exchange rate pass‐through to be strongest in Russia's North Caucasus, the region closest to the Black Sea ports, and weakest in the remote regions of Volga and West Siberia since the Ruble exchange rate became free‐floating in 2014. In contrast, we find Russian regional wheat prices and the Ruble/USD exchange rate not cointegrated when the exchange rate was managed. Further, feed wheat (Class 5) is only weakly integrated compared to wheat Classes 3 and 4 for human consumption. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, exchange rate pass‐through to Russian wheat prices has decreased sharply. Thus, the Ukraine war drives the disintegration of Russia's wheat sector from international markets and adds to the risks of supply chain disruption and geopolitical risks, which may increase export supply volatility. To strengthen trade resilience, countries that are dependent on wheat imports should diversify their import sources.
Single and multi‐dose pharmacology of recombinant and urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin in men
Authors: Handelsman David J. , Idan Amanda , Desai Reena , Grainger Janelle , Goebel Catrin , Sleiman Sue , Savkovic Sasha , Kouzios Dorothy , Jayadev Venna , Conway Ann J.
Published: March 2024

Objective

Human choriogonadotrophin (hCG) treatment of gonadotrophin‐deficient infertile men uses hCG of urinary (uhCG) or recombinant (rhCG) origin, but these treatments have not been compared nor are there studies defining rhCG dosing in men.

Design

hCG products were studied in randomized cross‐over single‐dose studies of standard (Study 1, 1500 IU and 62.5 µg, respectively) or high (Study 2, 5000 IU and 250 µg) dose and a multi‐dose population pharmacology study of hCG use.

Participants

Eight (Study 1) and seven (Study 2) volunteers in cross‐over and 52 gonadotrophin‐deficient men in the multi‐dose study

Measurements

In cross‐over studies, serum testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LCMS) and serum hCG, LH, FSH, SHBG and T (observational study) by immunoassays.

Results

After standard and high‐dose injection, serum hCG and testosterone responses had similar timing and peak concentrations except for a mildly lower early (<48 h) serum testosterone with uhCG. In the multi‐dosing study, both hCGs had similar pharmacokinetics (pooled half‐life 5.8 days, p < .001), while serum testosterone concentrations were stable after injection and did not differ between hCG products. Bench testing verified that 20% of pens from 4/10 individuals were used inappropriately.

Conclusions

Although hCG pharmacokinetics are not formally bioequivalent, the similar pharmacodynamic effects on serum testosterone indicate that at the doses tested both hCGs provide comparable clinical effects. The starting dose of rhCG for treating gonadotrophin‐deficient men should be 62.5 µg (6 clicks) of the rhCG pen.
Deep and Fast Approximate Order Independent Transparency
Authors: Tsopouridis Grigoris , Vasilakis Andreas A. , Fudos Ioannis
Published: March 2024

We present a machine learning approach for efficiently computing order independent transparency (OIT) by deploying a light weight neural network implemented fully on shaders. Our method is fast, requires a small constant amount of memory (depends only on the screen resolution and not on the number of triangles or transparent layers), is more accurate as compared to previous approximate methods, works for every scene without setup and is portable to all platforms running even with commodity GPUs. Our method requires a rendering pass to extract all features that are subsequently used to predict the overall OIT pixel colour with a pre‐trained neural network. We provide a comparative experimental evaluation and shader source code of all methods for reproduction of the experiments.
Density‐dependence and competition between Tranosema rostrale and Elachertus cacoeciae, two parasitoids of the spruce budworm
Authors: Martel Véronique , Régnière Jacques , Therrien Pierre
Published: March 2024

Competition between parasitoids for available hosts is common in insects. These interactions are often negative and are believed to reduce the overall impact of top‐down population regulation. In the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), two parasitoid species are very common and often interact during the period of low‐density populations between outbreaks: the koinobiont endoparasitoid Tranosema rostrale (Brishke) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and the idiobiont ectoparasitoid Elachertus cacoeciae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Data collected from field‐implanted larvae of spruce budworm exposed in summer during a 35‐year period between 1987 and 2022 were used to estimate the response of these two parasitoids to the density of their spruce budworm host, and the nature and importance of competitive interactions between them. It was found that both parasitoids are most effective at very low host population density, and that a strong, density‐dependent, and negative correlation of frequencies exists between them. This negative correlation is evident both among and within years and indicates that the parasitoids have developed seasonal history and host choice behaviors that tend to minimize the negative impact of direct competition on their respective performance. It appears that the koinobiont T. rostrale manages, through those adaptive strategies, to avoid direct competition inside a larval host with the competitively superior idiobiont E. cacoeciae.
“He took her by the hand and told her to stand”
Authors: Evans‐Hills Bonnie
Published: March 2024

This reflection highlights the importance of women's agency in response to crises and challenges today. The inclusion and participation of women improves the well‐being of all, be it in education, health care, the economy, or the government. There is a need to challenge interreligious dialogue settings that exclude or sideline women. Another critical area relates to the “freedom of religion or belief” agenda that sometimes concedes to misogynist perspectives in religious traditions. The text pleads strongly for full inclusion of women in the dialogue and human rights agenda.
The effect of HIV and mpox co‐infection on clinical outcomes: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Taha Amira Mohamed , Elrosasy Amr , Mahmoud Abdelrahman Mohamed , Saed Sara Adel Abdelkader , Moawad Wesam Abd El‐Tawab , Hamouda Esraa , Nguyen Dang , Tran Van Phu , Pham Hoang Tran , Sah Sanjit , Barboza Joshuan J. , Sah Ranjit
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Co‐infection with HIV and mpox is a significant issue for public health because of the potential combined impact on clinical outcomes. However, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to provide insight into the impact of HIV and mpox co‐infection on clinical outcomes.

Methods

We systematically searched major electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science) for pertinent studies published up to June 2023. Included were studies that described the clinical outcomes of people who had both mpox and HIV. We performed the analysis using OpenMeta and STATA 17 software.

Results

With an overall number of participants of 35 207, 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria were considered. The greatest number of the studies (n = 10) were cohort designs, with three being cross‐sectional and eight being case series studies. The meta‐analysis found that people who had both HIV and mpox had a higher hospitalization rate than those who only had mpox (odds ratio [OR] 1.848; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.918–3.719, p = 0.085, I2 = 60.19%, p = 0.020). Furthermore, co‐infected patients had higher mortality rates than those who did not have HIV co‐infection (OR 3.887; 95% CI 2.272–6.650, p < 0.001). Meta‐regression analysis showed that CD4 levels can significantly predict the risk of hospitalization (p = 0.016) and death (p = 0.031).

Discussion

HIV causes immunosuppression, making it difficult for the body to mount an effective immune response against pathogens such as mpox. Individuals who are co‐infected are at a higher risk of severe disease and death, according to our findings. Although hospitalization rates did not differ significantly between the two groups, it is critical to prioritize interventions and improve management strategies tailored specifically for people living with HIV.

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis provides substantial evidence that HIV and mpox co‐infection has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Co‐infected individuals had higher hospitalization and significantly higher mortality rates. These findings highlight the significance of early diagnosis, prompt treatment initiation, and effective management strategies for people living with HIV and mpox.
Nomogram for predicting surgical site infections in elderly patients after open lumbar spine surgery: A retrospective study
Authors: An Yan , Cui Xinghui , Wang Hui , Sun Yingui , Zhu Baoqi , Feng Shuo , Jiang Jun
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study is to develop a nomogram to assess the risk of surgical site infection in elderly patients undergoing open lumbar spine surgery and explore related risk factors. We reviewed the records of 578 elderly patients who had undergone open lumbar spine surgery. The clinical parameters were subjected to lasso regression and logistic regression analyses. Subsequently, a nomogram was constructed to predict the risk of postoperative surgical site infection and validated using bootstrap resampling. A total of 578 patients were included in the analysis, of which 17 were diagnosed as postoperative surgical site infection. Following the final logistic regression analysis, obesity, hypoalbuminemia and drinking history were identified as independent risk factors and subsequently incorporated into the nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated excellent discrimination, with an area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve of 0.879 (95% CI 0.769 ~ 0.989) after internal validation. The calibration curve exhibited a high level of consistency. Decision curve analysis revealed that this nomogram had greater clinical value when the risk threshold for surgical site infection occurrence was >1% and <89%. We had developed a nomogram for predicting the risk of postoperative surgical site infection in elderly patients who had undergone open lumbar spine surgery. Validation using bootstrap resampling demonstrated excellent discrimination and calibration, indicating that the nomogram may hold potential clinical utility as a simple predictive tool for healthcare professionals.
Effects of photodynamic therapy in patients with infected skin ulcers: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gu Rui , Fei Sha'ni , Liu Zhaoyu , Liu Xiaoqi , Fang Xiaoxiao , Wu Hengjin , Zhang Xia , Xu Guomei , Xu Fengquan
Published: March 2024

The purpose of the meta‐analysis was to evaluate and compare the photodynamic therapy's effectiveness in treating infected skin wounds. The results of this meta‐analysis were analysed, and the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using dichotomous or contentious random‐ or fixed‐effect models. For the current meta‐analysis, 6 examinations spanning from 2013 to 2021 were included, encompassing 154 patients with infected skin wounds were the used studies' starting point. Photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size (MD, −4.42; 95% CI, −7.56–−1.28, p = 0.006), better tissue repair (MD, −8.62; 95% CI, −16.76–−0.48, p = 0.04) and lower microbial cell viability (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.42, p < 0.001) compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. The examined data revealed that photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size, better tissue repair and lower microbial cell viability compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. However, given that all examinations had a small sample size, consideration should be given to their values.
Vertebral microchemistry as an indicator of habitat use of the oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean
Authors: Shen Yongfu , Hussey Nigel E. , David Mboglen , Wu Feng , Li Yunkai
Published: March 2024

The oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, is a highly migratory, epipelagic top predator that is classified as critically endangered. Although this species is widely distributed throughout the world's tropical oceans, its assumed mobility and pelagic behavior limit studies to derive required lifetime data for management. To address this data deficiency, we assessed variation in the habitat use of C. longimanus by oceanic region and over ontogeny through time series trace element and stable isotope values conserved along the vertebral centra (within translucent annulus bands) of 13 individuals sampled from the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Elemental ratios of Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Fe:Ca, Zn:Ca, and Ba:Ca varied significantly among individuals from both sampling regions while principal component analysis of combined standardized elements revealed minimal overlap between the two areas. The limited overlap was also in agreement with stable isotope niches. These findings indicate that C. longimanus exhibit a degree of fidelity to sampling regions but also connectivity in a proportion of the population. The relatively stable Sr:Ca ratio supports its occurrence in oceanic environments. The decreasing trends in Ba:Ca, Mn:Ca, and Zn:Ca ratios, as well as in carbon and nitrogen isotope values along vertebral transects, indicate that C. longimanus undergo a directional habitat shift with age. Combined elemental and stable isotope values in vertebral centra provide a promising tool for elucidating lifetime data for complex pelagic species. For C. longimanus, management will need to consider subpopulation movement behavior in the Pacific to minimize the potential for localized depletions. Further work is now required to sample individuals across the entire Pacific and to link these findings with genetic and movement data to define population structure.
Transient myocardial thickening after routine ovariohysterectomy in a 15‐month‐old Ragdoll cat
Authors: Wang Y. , Seo J.
Published: March 2024

A 15‐month‐old female Ragdoll cat was evaluated for progressive lethargy, tachypnoea and increased respiratory effort for 1 week after routine ovariohysterectomy. Thoracic radiographs and an echocardiogram showed evidence of congestive heart failure and a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype, respectively. The maximum left ventricular wall thickness in end diastole was 6.2 mm. The serum cardiac troponin I concentration was 20.86 ng/mL. The cat was treated with furosemide and clopidogrel and discharged after 3 days. A repeat echocardiogram 2 weeks later showed complete resolution of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype (maximum left ventricular wall thickness: 5.0 mm). A repeat cardiac troponin I concentration was 0.041 ng/mL. All cardiac medications were discontinued. A final recheck 4 weeks later revealed stable normal echocardiogram and further reduction in cardiac troponin I concentration to 0.004 ng/mL. This case report demonstrates that resolution of transient myocardial thickening can take 2 weeks after the echocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular thickening.
Severe hurricanes increase recruitment and gene flow in the clonal sponge Aplysina cauliformis
Authors: Segura‐García Iris , Olson Julie B. , Gochfeld Deborah J. , Brandt Marilyn E. , Chaves‐Fonnegra Andia
Published: March 2024

Upright branching sponges, such as Aplysina cauliformis, provide critical three‐dimensional habitat for other organisms and assist in stabilizing coral reef substrata, but are highly susceptible to breakage during storms. Breakage can increase sponge fragmentation, contributing to population clonality and inbreeding. Conversely, storms could provide opportunities for new genotypes to enter populations via larval recruitment, resulting in greater genetic diversity in locations with frequent storms. The unprecedented occurrence of two Category 5 hurricanes in close succession during 2017 in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) provided a unique opportunity to evaluate whether recolonization of newly available substrata on coral reefs was due to local (e.g. re‐growth of remnants, fragmentation, larval recruitment) or remote (e.g. larval transport and immigration) sponge genotypes. We sampled A. cauliformis adults and juveniles from four reefs around St. Thomas and two in St. Croix (USVI). Using a 2bRAD protocol, all samples were genotyped for single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results showed that these major storm events favoured sponge larval recruitment but did not increase the genetic diversity of A. cauliformis populations. Recolonization of substratum post‐storms via clonality was lower (15%) than expected and instead was mainly due to sexual reproduction (85%) via local larval recruitment. Storms did enhance gene flow among and within reef sites located south of St. Thomas and north of St. Croix. Therefore, populations of clonal marine species with low pelagic dispersion, such as A. cauliformis, may benefit from increased frequency and magnitude of hurricanes for the maintenance of genetic diversity and to combat inbreeding, enhancing the resilience of Caribbean sponge communities to extreme storm events.