bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core-genome multilocus sequence typing and core-SNP analysis of
Clostridium neonatale
strains isolated in different spatio-temporal settings
Authors: Mesa Victoria , Delannoy Johanne , Ferraris Laurent , Diancourt Laure , Mazuet Christelle , Barbut Frédéric , Aires Julio
Published: November 2023

Clostridium neonatale
was described as a new species within the
Clostridium
genus cluster I
sensu stricto
. It was recovered from the gut microbiota of infants and has been associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe gastrointestinal disease affecting preterm neonates. In the absence of molecular typing methods, we developed a core (cg)-genome multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme based on 48 newly sequenced and 12 publicly available genomes of
C. neonatale
. Using the ChewBBACA algorithm, a stable MLST scheme consisting of 2,350 target genes (with genomes having ≥95% cgMLST targets) is proposed. The strains are distributed among five clades, and while some are clonality related within clades, the
C. neonatale
strain distribution is independent of geographic or temporal clustering. When considering strains isolated from patients with and without NEC, there were no observable differences in clustering. When compared to a core-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis approach (31,248 positions), we showed that both cgMLST and cgSNP have comparable genetic discrimination of strains. In this study, we validated the use of cgMLST and cgSNP-based typing methods for the genetic comparison of clinical isolates of
C. neonatale
, which will allow for future surveillance and epidemiological clinical investigations of this potential opportunistic pathogen.

IMPORTANCE

Clostridium neonatale
has been isolated from the fecal samples of asymptomatic neonates and cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Taking advantage of a large collection of independent strains isolated from different spatio-temporal settings, we developed and established a cgMLST scheme for the molecular typing of
C. neonatale
. Both the cgMLST and cgSNP methods demonstrate comparable discrimination power. Results indicate geographic- and temporal- independent clustering of
C. neonatale
NEC-associated strains. No specific cgMLST clade of
C. neonatale
was genetically associated with NEC.
Global genomic diversity and conservation of SARS-CoV-2 since the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Li Heng , Ding Liping , Liao Rui , Li Nini , Hong Xiaoping , Jiang Zhenyou , Liu Dongzhou
Published: November 2023

Global sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has enabled researchers to monitor the genetic information of new pathogenic variants. However, the integrity and accuracy of most genomic information cannot be guaranteed due to limited sample quality and sequencing technology. This restricts researchers from tracking the latest changes in the virus genome. In this study, we aimed to characterize the diversity and conservation balance of complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes worldwide since the outbreak. To achieve this goal, we collected 5,966,490 genome sequences from various parts of the world, excluding those with incomplete or unknown/degenerate sequences. Our methodology included comparing sequences using BLASTN and BLASTP, analyzing RNA secondary structure, and calculating entropy. Our findings provide insights into the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and potential mechanisms of pathogenesis. We found that uracil had the highest proportion of all bases among various coronaviruses and cytosine to uracil mutations had the highest proportion among all point mutations. The consistency in the front part (1–26,599 nt) was significantly higher than that in the back part (26,600–29,903 nt) of the genome. For most genes, the similar consistency characteristics were also observed in their protein families.

IMPORTANCE

Our results indicate that most severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 genomes sampled from patients had a mutation rate ≤1.07 ‰ and genome-tail proteins (including S protein) were the main sources of genetic polymorphism. The analysis of the virus-host interaction network of genome-tail proteins showed that they shared some antiviral signaling pathways, especially the intracellular protein transport pathway.
Paleoenvironmental and tectonic implications of an Upper Devonian glaciogenic succession from east-central West Virginia, USA
Authors: Ettensohn Frank R. , Seckinger D. Clay , Moecher David P. , Eble Cortland F.
Published: November 2023

Glaciogenic rocks are rare in the Appalachian area and occur only locally as parts of Upper Precambrian and Upper Devonian successions. This trip examines a relatively recent exposure of Upper Devonian glaciogenic diamictites and laminites along Corridor H (U.S. Highway 48) in east-central West Virginia, USA. The diamictites occur in the Rockwell Member of the Price Formation, in transition with the underlying redbeds of the Upper Devonian Hampshire Formation. Palynology indicates that all parts of the Rockwell Member exposed at the locality are present in the Retispora lepidophyta – Verrucosisporites nitidus (LN) Miospore Biozone and are, therefore, of Late Devonian, but not latest Devonian, age. This biozone occurrence indicates correlation with parts of the Oswayo Member of the Price Formation, the Finzel tongue of the Rockwell Formation, and with dropstone-bearing parts of the Cleveland Shale Member of the Ohio Shale in northeastern Kentucky. Much previous work supports a glaciogenic origin for the diamictites and associated sediments, which occur as parts of a shallow-marine incursion that ended the Hampshire/Catskill alluvial-plain/deltaic complex across much of the Central Appalachian area. The glaciogenic succession is part of nearshore, marginal-marine strata that accumulated in an embayment during the Cleveland-Oswayo-Finzel transgression, which represents a global eustatic sea-level rise and foreland subsidence related to Acadian/Neoacadian deformational loading in the adjacent orogen. Detrital-zircon-provenance data from the diamictites indicate Ordovician plutonic sources as well as reworked Neoproterozoic to Ordovician sedimentary sources that can only have been derived from nearby Inner Piedmont sources like the Potomac terrane. This provenance suggests that Acadian/Neoacadian convergence of the exotic Carolina terrane with the New York and Virginia promontories along the southeastern margin of Laurussia not only uplifted Inner Piedmont source areas into a high mountain range capable of supporting glaciation in a subtropical setting, but also, through deformational loading, enhanced regional subsidence and the incursion of shallow seas that allowed alpine glaciers access to the open sea.
Geologic setting and organic architecture of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece
Authors: Zelt Fred , Shaulis Jim , Wach Grant
Published: November 2023

Fallingwater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases a unique organic architectural design by Frank Lloyd Wright. Rising from bedrock in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA, Fallingwater incorporates large boulders into interior living spaces and is oriented with the geometry of a landscape created by the interplay of mountain and climate. Built to showcase local sandstone, Fallingwater is of the terrain. Building stone was quarried near the house from a 2-m-thick zone of quartzose medium to thin-bedded, fine- to very fine-grained sandstones in the Pennsylvanian upper Pottsville Formation. The building stone has abundant trace fossils and ripple marks, and is interpreted to have been deposited in shoreface environments with some tidal influence, or possibly in tidal flat environments. The house rests on sandstone bedrock of the Homewood sandstone, a Middle Pennsylvanian unit within the upper Pottsville Formation. At Fallingwater, the Homewood sandstone is interpreted to fill an incised valley with coarse, fluvial sandstones common in the lower part of the valley fill and finer-grained fluvial sandstones with possible evidence of marine or brackish influence in the upper fill. The Fallingwater building stone unit overlies the Homewood sandstone, above an interpreted marine flooding surface. Thickening of the Homewood sandstone in synclines suggests that deposition was influenced by Alleghanian deformation. Natural fractures in competent bedrock controlled the orientation of Bear Run at Fallingwater, and the fit of the house within the three-dimensional landscape of the valley, stream, and waterfall. Variation in natural fractures in bedded versus massive sandstone layers appears to have controlled the azimuths of the edges of the waterfalls at Fallingwater. Creation of the Fallingwater sandstone member of the Pottsville Formation is proposed.
Special geologic features of the Erie lakeshore, northwestern Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Zelt Fred , Fleeger Gary M.
Published: November 2023

The Erie lakeshore in Pennsylvania, west of the city of Erie, has many geological features that are ripe for study, teaching, and use as a vehicle for public science outreach. Features and processes on display include rapid slope failure and erosion of lakeshore bluffs, Pleistocene till in the bluffs, well-developed ancient sandy beach ridges atop till, and thin Upper Devonian sandstones that were deposited by storms. A wide variety of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks can be found among cobbles eroded from till and rounded on lakeshore beaches, providing opportunities for teaching the identification of rocks, minerals, and Paleozoic marine fossils. Small fans at the bases of lakeshore bluffs have morphologies derived from distinct modes of sediment transport and deposition, with the potential to serve as analogs in better understanding large submarine fans. In winter, ice volcanoes can occur on the shoreline. Opportunities for teaching about geologic time are provided by localities where recent sedimentary processes, Pleistocene deposits, Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, and Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks can all be seen.
Pembrolizumab-induced immune-related sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Li Yuchen , Stewart Lori , Tang Shangguo , McWhirter Elaine
Published: November 2023

Immunotherapy is increasingly used to treat various types of cancer; however, it can often result in immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Immune-related sclerosing cholangitis (irSC) is a rare type of hepatic irAE that has been described only in a few cases, and much remains unknown about its optimal treatment. In this report, we describe the case of a man in his 70s who was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and treated with pembrolizumab. He experienced multiple irAEs, including irSC, which did not respond to initial prednisone treatment (2 mg/kg daily dosing). However, subsequent treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and normalisation of laboratory and radiographic abnormalities related to irSC. Our case suggests that steroids, which are traditionally used to treat irAEs, may be ineffective for irSC and that UDCA may be a better alternative. Clinicians should be aware of this rare irAE.
Occupational physical activity and risk of mortality in women and men: the Tromsø Study 1986–2021
Authors: Sagelv Edvard H , Dalene Knut Eirik , Eggen Anne Elise , Ekelund Ulf , Fimland Marius Steiro , Heitmann Kim Arne , Holtermann Andreas , Johansen Kristoffer Robin , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Morseth Bente , Wilsgaard Tom
Published: November 2023

Objective

Associations between occupational physical activity (OPA) and mortality risks are inconclusive. We aimed to examine associations between (1) OPA separately and (2) jointly with leisure time physical activity (LTPA), and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality, over four decades with updated exposure and covariates every 6–8 years.

Methods

Adults aged 20–65 years from the Tromsø Study surveys Tromsø3-Tromsø7 (1986–2016) were included. We categorised OPA as low (sedentary), moderate (walking work), high (walking+lifting work) or very high (heavy manual labour) and LTPA as inactive, moderate and vigorous. We used Cox/Fine and Gray regressions to examine associations, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, education, diet, alcohol and LTPA (aim 1 only).

Results

Of 29 605 participants with 44 140 total observations, 4131 (14.0%) died, 1057 (25.6%) from CVD and 1660 (40.4%) from cancer, during follow-up (median: 29.1 years, 25th–75th: 16.5.1–35.3). In men, compared with low OPA, high OPA was associated with lower all-cause (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.92) and CVD (subdistributed HR (SHR) 0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.84) but not cancer mortality (SHR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.19), while no association was observed for moderate or very high OPA. In joint analyses using inactive LTPA and low OPA as reference, vigorous LTPA was associated with lower all-cause mortality combined with low (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.89), high (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.82) and very high OPA (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.94), but not with moderate OPA. In women, there were no associations between OPA, or combined OPA and LTPA, with mortality.

Conclusion

High OPA, but not moderate and very high OPA, was associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality risk in men but not in women. Vigorous LTPA was associated with lower mortality risk in men with low, high and very high OPA, but not moderate OPA.
Responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire predict HbA1c trajectories in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a population-based study
Authors: Marks Kevin P , Pouwer Frans , Jensen Morten B , Ibfelt Else H , Kristensen Lene J , Thastum Mikael , Birkebæk Niels H
Published: November 2023

Introduction

We aimed to determine whether caregiver responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) are predictive of HbA1c trajectory membership in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, when adjusting for covariates.

Research design and methods

For a Danish 2009 national cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, we analyzed yearly HbA1c follow-up data during 2010–2020 including sociodemographic data from Danish national registries. Using group-based trajectory modeling and multinomial logistic regression, we tested whether caregiver SDQ scores predicted HbA1c trajectory membership when adjusting for sex, age at diabetes diagnosis, diabetes duration, family structure, and caregiver education.

Results

In total, 835 children and adolescents (52% females) with a mean (SD) age of 12.5 (3.3) years, and a mean diabetes duration of 5.2 (3.1) years, were included. Based on 7247 HbA1c observations, four HbA1c trajectories were identified: (1) ‘on target, gradual decrease’ (26%), (2) ‘above target, mild increase then decrease’ (41%), (3) ‘above target, moderate increase then decrease’ (24%), and (4) ‘well above target, large increase then decrease’ (9%). Higher SDQ total difficulties scores predicted trajectories 3 and 4 (p=0.0002 and p<0.0001, respectively). Regarding the SDQ subscale scores, emotional symptoms predicted trajectories 3 and 4, and conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention predicted trajectories 2, 3, and 4. Single-parent family and low caregiver education level both predicted trajectories 3 and 4.

Conclusions

Caregiver SDQ responses and sociodemographic information may help detect children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, who need intensive multidisciplinary medical and psychological interventions.
Research opportunities for the primary prevention and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop report
Authors: Rwebembera Joselyn , Cannon Jeffrey W , Sanyahumbi Amy , Sotoodehnia Nona , Taubert Kathryn , Yilgwan Christopher Sabo , Bukhman Gene , Masterson Mary , Bruno Fernando P , Bowen Asha , Dale James B , Engel Mark E , Beaton Andrea , Van Beneden Chris
Published: November 2023

Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) encompasses the timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of the superficial group AStreptococcus(GAS) infections pharyngitis and impetigo. GAS is the only known inciting agent in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, sufficient evidence indicates that the uptake and delivery of primary prevention approaches in RHD-endemic regions are significantly suboptimal. This report presents expert deliberations on priority research and implementation opportunities for primary prevention of ARF/RHD that were developed as part of a workshop convened by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in November 2021. The opportunities identified by the Primary Prevention Working Group encompass epidemiological, laboratory, clinical, implementation and dissemination research domains and are anchored on five pillars including: (A) to gain a better understanding of superficial GAS infection epidemiology to guide programmes and policies; (B) to improve diagnosis of superficial GAS infections in RHD endemic settings; (C) to develop scalable and sustainable models for delivery of primary prevention; (D) to understand potential downstream effects of the scale-up of primary prevention and (E) to develop and conduct economic evaluations of primary prevention strategies in RHD endemic settings. In view of the multisectoral stakeholders in primary prevention strategies, we emphasise the need for community co-design and government engagement, especially in the implementation and dissemination research arena. We present these opportunities as a reference point for research organisations and sponsors who aim to contribute to the increasing momentum towards the global control and prevention of RHD.
Health impacts in pathology workforce during mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
Authors: Chiou Paul Zone , Herring R Patti , Oh Jisoo , Medina Ernest
Published: November 2023

Aims

To compare burn-out in laboratory professionals (LPs) with exposure to consolidation to those without, and to investigate the role of social support as a moderator in the exposure to mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Methods

Surveys were sent to the clinical LPs, including 732 with exposure to M&A and 819 without. The dependent variable was burn-out, and the independent variable was exposure to M&A. In investigating the role of social support in exposure group, a logistic regression was used with education, time since M&A, gender, merger types, practice setting, lab hierarchy and race as covariates.

Results

Exposure to M&A was associated with higher levels of burn-out (p<0.05). In logistic regression of the workforce exposed to M&A, the odds for LP developing a high level of burn-out are lowered by 7.1% for every unit of increase in social support (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88 to 0.98; p=0.004).

Conclusion

LPs exposed to M&A are more likely to experience higher levels of burn-out but having social support can protect against burn-out, which has policy implications for leadership managing laboratories in times of M&A.
Multi-institutional analysis of aneuploidy and outcomes to chemoradiation and durvalumab in stage III non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Alessi Joao V , Price Adam , Richards Allison L , Ricciuti Biagio , Wang Xinan , Elkrief Arielle , Pecci Federica , Di Federico Alessandro , Gandhi Malini M , Lebow Emily S , Santos Patricia Mae G , Thor Maria , Rimner Andreas , Schoenfeld Adam J , Chaft Jamie E , Johnson Bruce E , Gomez Daniel R , Awad Mark M , Shaverdian Narek
Published: November 2023

There is a need to identify predictive biomarkers to guide treatment strategies in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLCs). In this multi-institutional cohort of 197 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiation (cCRT) and durvalumab consolidation, we identify that low tumor aneuploidy is independently associated with prolonged progression-free survival (HR 0.63; p=0.03) and overall survival (HR 0.50; p=0.03). Tumors with high aneuploidy had a significantly greater incidence of distant metastasis and shorter median distant-metastasis free survival (p=0.04 and p=0.048, respectively), but aneuploidy level did not associate with local-regional outcomes. Multiplexed immunofluorescence analysis in a cohort of NSCLC found increased intratumoral CD8-positive, PD-1-positive cells, double-positive PD-1 CD8 cells, and FOXP3-positive T-cell in low aneuploid tumors. Additionally, in a cohort of 101 patients treated with cCRT alone, tumor aneuploidy did not associate with disease outcomes. These data support the need for upfront treatment intensification strategies in stage III NSCLC patients with high aneuploid tumors and suggest that tumor aneuploidy is a promising predictive biomarker.
Suboptimal management of rheumatoid arthritis in France: a real-world study based on data from the French National Health Data System
Authors: Gaujoux-Viala Cécile , Bergmann Jean-Francois , Goguillot Mélanie , Mélaine Asma , Guérin Marie , Edouard Alban , Bénard Stève , Fautrel Bruno
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The emergence of targeted therapy is changing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management, but real-world data remain limited. This study aimed to describe real-world RA treatment patterns using data from a French national claims database.

Methods

This longitudinal study used the French Permanent Representative Sample (Echantillon Généraliste des Bénéficiaires) claims database. Patients with RA were identified between 2013 and 2017, with treatment patterns, persistence and adherence described.

Results

The study population included 2553 patients with RA. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were prescribed for 1512 (59.2%) patients, of whom 721 (47.6%) did not require discontinuation or treatment switch. There were 377 (24.9%) treatment discontinuations and 114 patients (7.5%) switched to a targeted DMARD (biological and synthetic (Janus kinase inhibitor) DMARDs). Among the 2315 patients with RA in 2017, almost half (n=1102, 47.6%) were not treated with a DMARD. Most (85.7%) received symptomatic treatment (analgesics (81.0%), steroids (49.2%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (39.5%)). Of the 1142 treatment initiations identified, 713 (62.4%) were conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs), with methotrexate being the most frequent (n=553, 48.45%). One-year persistence rates varied between 55.9% (49.2–62.0%) for tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, and 63.4% (59.6–67.0%) for csDMARDs. Treatment adherence, assessed through medication possession ratio, varied between 71.9% and 90.8%, with ≥80% being the adherence cut-off. Almost half of DMARD initiations were associated with long-term (>6 months), high-dose oral steroid use (~7 mg/day prednisone equivalent).

Conclusion

Despite a diverse therapeutic arsenal, there remains a medical need that is not covered by current RA management, which is frequently compensated for by overprescription of steroids.
Actovegin improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and functional aerobic capacity in a type 1 diabetic male murine model
Authors: Kosik Brandon , Larsen Steen , Bergdahl Andreas
Published: November 2023

Insulin deficiency in type 1 diabetes (T1D) leads to an impairment of glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function. Actovegin is a hemodialysate of calf blood, which has been shown to enhance glucose uptake and cell metabolism in healthy human skeletal muscle. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of Actovegin on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and functional aerobic capacity in a T1D mouse model. Effects on the expression of mitochondrial proteins, body mass, and food and water consumption were also investigated. Streptozotocin-induced T1D male C57B1/6 mice (aged 3–4 months) were randomized to an Actovegin group and a control group. Every third day, the Actovegin and control groups were injected intraperitoneally with (0.1 mL) Actovegin and (0.1 mL) physiological salt solution, respectively. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity of the vastus lateralis muscle was measured by high resolution respirometry in addition to the expression levels of the mitochondrial complexes as well as voltage-dependent anion channel. Functional aerobic capacity was measured using a rodent treadmill protocol. Body mass and food and water consumption were also measured. After 13 days, in comparison to the control group, the Actovegin group demonstrated a significantly higher skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity in an ADP-restricted and ADP-stimulated environment. The Actovegin group displayed a significantly lesser decline in functional aerobic capacity and baseline body mass after 13 days. There were no significant differences in food or water consumption between groups. Actovegin could act as an effective agent for facilitating glucose metabolism and improving OXPHOS capacity and functional aerobic capacity in T1D. Further investigation is warranted to establish Actovegin’s potential as an alternative therapeutic drug for T1D.
Constraints on dark energy from the gravitational wave background
Authors: Khodagholizadeh Jafar
Published: November 2023

Current observational data indicate that dark energy (DE) is a cosmological constant without considering its conclusiveness evidence. Considering the dynamic nature of $$\Lambda $$
Λ
individually as a function of time and the scale factor, we review their effects on the gravitational waves. This article is a continuation of the previous work (Khodagholizadeh in JHEAp 36:48–54, 2022), in which DE only was based on Hubble’s parameter and/or its derivatives. For the DE model based on the scale factor ($$a^{-m}$$

a

-
m

), the results showed that the parameter m is more limited as $$ 2 < m \leqslant 3$$

2
<
m
⩽
3

compared with the other models and due to the small value of DE density at the early universe. It is only in the mode $$m=3$$

m
=
3

that DE affects the low-frequency gravitational waves when its frequency is less than the $$10^{-3}$$

10

-
3

Hz in a matter-dominated epoch. The broad bound on reducing the amplitude and the B-B polarization multipole coefficients, from maximum to minimum, is for the models developed based on the Hubble parameter function. There are primary sources of low- and very low-frequency GWs, such as the coalescence of massive black hole binaries with $$M_{bh} > 10^{3} M_{sun}$$

M

bh

>

10
3

M

sun

, to determine the type of DE by mHz frequency space experiments (e.g., LISA) and by nHz-range NANOGrav 15-year data.
Charged spinning and magnetized test particles orbiting quantum improved charged black holes
Authors: Ladino Jose Miguel , Benavides-Gallego Carlos A. , Larrañaga Eduard , Rayimbaev Javlon , Abdulxamidov Farrux
Published: November 2023

In the present work, we aimed to investigate the dynamics of spinning charged and magnetized test particles around both electrically and magnetically charged quantum-improved black holes. We derive the equations of motion for charged spinning test particles using the Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon ***equations with the Lorentz coupling term. The radius of innermost stable circular orbits (ISCOs), specific angular momentum, and energy for charged spinless, uncharged spinning, and charged spinning test particles around the charged and non-charged quantum-improved black holes are analyzed separately. We found that the quantum parameter increases the maximum spin value, $$s_\textrm{max}$$

s
max

, which leads to the nonphysical motion (superluminal motion) of the charged spinning test particle. In contrast, the black hole charge decreases its value. We also found that, in contrast to the Reissner Nordström black hole, spinning charged test particles in the quantum-improved charged black hole have higher $$s_\textrm{max}$$

s
max

; moreover, positively charged spinning particles can have higher values of $$s_\textrm{max}$$

s
max

near the extreme black hole cases when compared with uncharged spinning particles. Finally, we investigate the magnetized test particle’s dynamics in the spacetime of a quantum-improved magnetically charged black hole in Quantum Einstein Gravity using the Hamilton–Jacobi equation. We show that the presence of $$\omega $$
ω
increases the maximum value of the effective potential and decreases the minimum energy and angular momentum of magnetized particles at their circular orbits. We found an upper constraint in the black hole charge at the ISCO.
Flexoelectricity in oxide thin films
Authors: Shen Guoyang , Liang Renhong , Wang Zhiguo , Liu Zhiyong , Shu Longlong
Published: November 2023

Flexoelectric effect describes the electromechanical coupling between the strain gradient and its internal polarization in all dielectrics. Despite this universality, the resulting flexoelectric field remains small at the macroscopic level. However, in nanosystems, the size-dependent effect of flexoelectricity becomes increasingly significant, leading to a notable flexoelectric field that can strongly influence the material’s physical properties. This review aims to explore the flexoelectric effect specifically at the nanoscale. We achieve this by examining strain gradients generated through two distinct methods: internal inhomogeneous strain and external stimulation. In addition, advanced synthesis techniques are utilized to enhance the properties and functionalities associated with flexoelectricity. Furthermore, we delve into other coupled phenomena observed in thin films, including the coupling and utilization of flexomagnetic and flexophotovoltaic effects. This review presents the latest advancements in these areas and highlights their role in driving further breakthroughs in the field of flexoelectricity.
Reality and Beyond: Proxemics as a Lens for Designing Handheld Collaborative Augmented Reality
Authors: Lunding Mille Skovhus , Grønbæk Jens Emil Sloth , Grymer Nicolai , Wells Thomas , Houben Steven , Petersen Marianne Graves
Published: November 2023

Augmented Reality (AR) has shown great potential for supporting co-located collaboration. Yet, it is rarely articulated in the design rationales of AR systems that they promote a certain socio-spatial configuration of the users. Learning from proxemics, we argue that such configurations enable and constrain different co-located spatial behaviors with consequences for collaborative activities. We focus specifically on enabling different collaboration styles via the design of Handheld Collaborative Augmented Reality (HCAR) systems. Drawing upon notions of proxemics, we show how different HCAR designs enable different socio-spatial configurations. Through a design exploration, we demonstrate interaction techniques to expand on the notion of collaborative coupling styles by either deliberately designing for aligning with physical reality or going beyond. The main contributions are a proxemics-based conceptual lens and vocabulary for supporting interaction designers in being mindful of the proxemic consequences when developing handheld multi-user AR systems.
Using Online Videos as the Basis for Developing Design Guidelines: A Case Study of AR-Based Assembly Instructions
Authors: Chen Niu , Sin Frances Jihae , Herman Laura Mariah , Nguyen Cuong , Song Ivan , Yoon Dongwook
Published: November 2023

Design guidelines serve as an important conceptual tool to guide designers of interactive applications with well-established principles and heuristics. Consulting domain experts is a common way to develop guidelines. However, experts are often not easily accessible, and their time can be expensive. This problem poses challenges in developing comprehensive and practical guidelines. We propose a new guideline development method that uses online public videos as the basis for capturing diverse patterns of design goals and interaction primitives. In a case study focusing on AR-based assembly instructions, we apply our novel Identify-Rationalize pipeline, which distills design patterns from videos featuring AR-based assembly instructions (N=146) into a set of guidelines that cover a wide range of design considerations. The evaluation conducted with 16 AR designers indicated that the pipeline is useful for generating comprehensive guidelines. We conclude by discussing the transferability and practicality of our method.
Evaluating the Applicability of GUI-Based Steering Laws to VR Car Driving: A Case of Curved Constrained Paths
Authors: Yamanaka Shota , Takaku Takumi , Funazaki Yukina , Seto Noboru , Nakamura Satoshi
Published: November 2023

Evaluating the validity of an existing user performance model in a variety of tasks is important for enhancing its applicability. The model studied in this work is the steering law for predicting the speed and time needed to perform tasks in which a cursor or a car passes through a constrained path. Previous HCI studies have refined this model to take additional path factors into account, but its applicability has only been evaluated in GUI-based environments such as those using mice or pen tablets. Accordingly, we conducted a user experiment with a driving simulator to measure the speed and time on curved roads and thus facilitate evaluation of models for pen-based path-steering tasks. The results showed that the best-fit models for speed and time had adjusted r^2 values of 0.9342 and 0.9723, respectively, for three road widths and eight curvature radii. While the models required some adjustments, the overall components of the tested models were consistent with those in previous pen-based experimental results. Our results demonstrated that user experiments to validate potential models based on pen-based tasks are effective as a pilot approach for driving tasks with more complex road conditions.
Analysis of Product Architectures of Pin Array Technologies for Tactile Displays
Authors: Bhatnagar Tigmanshu , Higgins Albert , Marquardt Nicolai , Miodownik Mark , Holloway Catherine
Published: November 2023

Refreshable tactile displays based on pin array technologies have a significant impact on the education of children with visual impairments, but they are prohibitively expensive. To better understand their design and the reason for the high cost, we created a database and analyzed the product architectures of 67 unique pin array technologies from literature and patents. We qualitatively coded their functional elements and analyzed the physical parts that execute the functions. Our findings highlight that pin array surfaces aim to achieve three key functions, i.e., raise and lower pins, lock pins, and create a large array. We also contribute a concise morphological chart that organises the various mechanisms for these three functions. Based on this, we discuss the reasons for the high cost and complexity of these surface haptic technologies and infer why larger displays and more affordable devices are not available. Our findings can be used to design new mechanisms for more affordable and scalable pin array display systems.
Interactions across Displays and Space: A Study of Virtual Reality Streaming Practices on Twitch
Authors: Wu Liwei , Liu Qing , Zhao Jian , Lank Edward
Published: November 2023

The growing live streaming economy and virtual reality (VR) technologies have sparked interest in VR streaming among streamers and viewers. However, limited research has been conducted to understand this emerging streaming practice. To address this gap, we conducted an in-depth thematic analysis of 34 streaming videos from 12 VR streamers with varying levels of experience, to explore the current practices, interaction styles, and strategies, as well as to investigate the challenges and opportunities for VR streaming. Our findings indicate that VR streamers face challenges in building emotional connections and maintaining streaming flow due to technical problems, lack of fluid transitions between physical and virtual environments, and not intentionally designed game scenes.
As a response, we propose six design implications to encourage collaboration between game designers and streaming app developers, facilitating fluid, rich, and broad interactions for an enhanced streaming experience. In addition, we discuss the use of streaming videos as user-generated data for research, highlighting the lessons learned and emphasizing the need for tools to support streaming video analysis.
Our research sheds light on the unique aspects of VR streaming, which combines interactions across displays and space.
Seeing the Wind: An Interactive Mist Interface for Airflow Input
Authors: Min Tian , Xia Chengshuo , Yamamoto Takumi , Sugiura Yuta
Published: November 2023

Human activities can introduce variations in various environmental cues, such as light and sound, which can serve as inputs for interfaces. However, one often overlooked aspect is the airflow variation caused by these activities, which presents challenges in detection and utilization due to its intangible nature. In this paper, we have unveiled an approach using mist to capture invisible airflow variations, rendering them detectable by Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors. We investigate the capability of this sensing technique under different types of mist or smoke, as well as the impact of airflow speed. To illustrate the feasibility of this concept, we created a prototype using a humidifier and demonstrated its capability to recognize motions. On this basis, we introduce potential applications, discuss inherent limitations, and provide design lessons grounded in mist-based airflow sensing.
Aircraft Cockpit Interaction in Virtual Reality with Visual, Auditive, and Vibrotactile Feedback
Authors: Auer Stefan , Anthes Christoph , Reiterer Harald , Jetter Hans-Christian
Published: November 2023

Safety-critical interactive spaces for supervision and time-critical control tasks are usually characterized by many small displays and physical controls, typically found in control rooms or automotive, railway, and aviation cockpits.

Using Virtual Reality (VR) simulations instead of a physical system can significantly reduce the training costs of these interactive spaces without risking real-world accidents or occupying expensive physical simulators.

However, the user's physical interactions and feedback methods must be technologically mediated.
Therefore, we conducted a within-subjects study with 24 participants and compared performance, task load, and simulator sickness during training of authentic aircraft cockpit manipulation tasks.
The participants were asked to perform these tasks inside a VR flight simulator (VRFS) for three feedback methods (acoustic, haptic, and acoustic+haptic) and inside a physical flight simulator (PFS) of a commercial airplane cockpit.

The study revealed a partial equivalence of VRFS and PFS, control-specific differences input elements, irrelevance of rudimentary vibrotactile feedback, slower movements in VR, as well as a preference for PFS.
Understanding the Effects of Movement Direction on 2D Touch Pointing Tasks
Authors: Zhang Xinyong
Published: November 2023

HCI researchers have long recognized the significant effects of movement direction on human performance, and this factor has been carefully addressed to benefit user interface design. According to our previous study (2012), the weights of the two target dimensions, width W and height H, in the extended index of difficulty (ID) for 2D pointing tasks are asymmetric and appear to vary periodically based on movement direction (θ), following a cosine function. However, this periodic effect of movement direction is uncertain for direct 2D touch pointing tasks, and a thorough understanding of the effects of movement direction on direct pointing tasks, such as on touch input surfaces, is still lacking. In this paper, we conducted two experiments on a 24-inch touch screen, with tilted and horizontal orientations respectively, to confirm the periodic effect in the context of direct pointing and illustrate its variations across different pointing tasks. At the same time, we propose a quantification formula to measure the real differences in task difficulty caused by the direction factor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to do so. Using this formula, the ID values in different directions can be unified to the same scale and compared, providing a new perspective for understanding and evaluating human performance in different interaction environments.
Psychological Privacy: How Perceptual Publicity Can Support Perceived Publicity
Authors: Lau Wee Kiat , Eberhardt Lisa Valentina , Sauter Marian , Huckauf Anke
Published: November 2023

The
Interactions
website (interactions.acm.org) hosts a stable of bloggers who share insights and observations on HCI, often challenging current practices. Each issue we'll publish selected posts from some of the leading and emerging voices in the field.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Hong Harrison , Shore Edward
Published: November 2023

Is shareholder interest in corporate social responsibility driven by pecuniary motives (abnormal rates of return) or nonpecuniary ones (willingness to sacrifice returns to address various firm externalities)? To answer this question, we summarize the literature by focusing on seven tests: ( a) costs of capital, ( b) performance of portfolios, ( c) ownership by types of institutions, ( d) surveys and experiments, ( e) managerial motives, ( f) shareholder proposals, and ( g) firm inclusion in responsibility indices. These tests predominantly indicate that shareholders are driven by nonpecuniary motives. To stimulate further research on welfare implications for global warming, we assess whether estimates of the foregone returns for shareholders willing to reduce carbon emissions (or “greeniums”), along with the wealth pledged to firms that become sustainable, are consistent with the growth of aggregate investments in the decarbonization sector.
The Social Discount Rate: Legal and Philosophical Underpinnings
Authors: Viscusi W. Kip
Published: November 2023

Discounting of deferred impacts of government policies is a long-established practice that has been the target of substantial litigation and continued philosophical debate. Legal challenges to the social rate of discount have resulted in general acceptance of the principle of discounting at a nonzero rate for both monetary and nonmonetary impacts. Courts have displayed a general familiarity with discounting and often require transparent justification for the selection of the discount rate based on established scientific principles. The philosophical issues are more wide-ranging and include whether nonmonetary impacts should be discounted, the use of the opportunity cost of capital or the social rate of time preference, the time frame that is pertinent for setting the discount rate, and determination of whose preferences should have standing. Intergenerational issues are particularly challenging, raising questions regarding which generation's preferences should be recognized, the potential for dynamic inconsistencies arising from preferential discount rates, and intertemporal inequities. Benefit-cost analyses that include appropriate recognition of benefits and costs for future generations serve a constructive function in providing a mechanism for recognizing future effects on social welfare.
Damage Process and Fracture Mechanisms in the Rock Surrounding a Roadway Caused by Blasting-Induced Disturbance under High Stress
Authors: Lei Gang , Wu Dawei , Shi Xiaozhang
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate damage processes and fracture mechanisms in the rock surrounding a roadway under blasting-induced disturbance in a high-stress environment. A disturbance test involving blasting of the rock surrounding a roadway under different lateral pressure coefficients was conducted using high-precision acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. Based thereon, the spatiotemporal evolution and cluster characteristics of microcracks in the surrounding rock of the roadway under dynamic disturbance induced by explosive blasting were obtained, and stress transfer, adjustment, and redistribution in the rock mass were revealed. Moreover, a method for describing the progressive damage to the rock mass was established. The conclusions were as follows: the high-stress environment was conducive to microcrack initiation and propagation in the specimens, and the failure patterns of the surrounding rock of the roadway under different lateral pressure coefficients differed. The direction of crack propagation in the rock surrounding the roadway is opposite to that of the maximum principal stress applied to the rock mass. Blasting-induced disturbance intensifies crack initiation and accelerates damage accumulation and macrofracture formation in the rock mass. The macroscopic failure zone in a model is correlated with the ultimate distribution of apparent stress, and the apparent stress can reflect the adjustment of the stress field therein. The damage variable, characterized by the ratio of the number of AE events, can reveal the evolution of damage in the rock surrounding a roadway.
Minimum Cost Flow-Based Integrated Model for Electric Vehicle and Crew Scheduling
Authors: Shen Yindong , Li Yuanyuan
Published: November 2023

Vehicle and crew scheduling is vital in public transit planning. Conventionally, the issues are handled sequentially as the vehicle scheduling problem (VSP) and crew scheduling problem (CSP). However, integrating these planning steps offers additional flexibility, resulting in improved efficiency compared with sequential planning. Given the ever-growing market share of electric buses, this paper introduces a new model for integrated electric VSP and CSP, called EVCSPM. This model employs the minimum cost flow formulations for electric VSP, set partitioning for CSP, and linking constraints. Due to the nonlinear integer property of EVCSPM, we propose a method that hybrids a matching-based heuristic and integer linear programming solver, GUROBI. The numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of our methodology, and the integrated model outperforms the sequential model in real-life scenarios.
Reverse Logistics Implementations Solutions: Interval Type 2 FAHP-FTOPSIS Approach
Authors: Solati Sedigheh , Shojaei Payam , Alimohammadlou Moslem , Heidari Hesamabadi Zahra
Published: November 2023

In recent years, reverse logistics (RL) has come to the fore as an important issue, given the increasing environmental concerns, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable competition. Today, RL is considered a strategic activity. Legal requirements, social responsibilities, environmental concerns, economic interests, and customer awareness have led manufacturers to produce eco-friendly products and to collect returned and used products. Nevertheless, there are barriers to the implementation of RL in organizations. This study sought to prioritize solutions for overcoming the barriers to the implementation of RL in the Iranian iron and steel industry. To analyze the data, interval type-2 fuzzy AHP (FAHP) and fuzzy TOPSIS (FTOPSIS) have been used. The results revealed that “policy-related issues,” “knowledge-related issues,” and “economic issues” were the key barriers and showed the highest ranks, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated that “strategic collaboration with reverse chain partners,” “using advanced technologies for waste collection,” and “transparent quality and product value” were the major measures to overcome the barriers. The proposed model suggests that decision-makers should consider long-term relations with supply chain partners in organizations to implement RL.