bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and numerical study of solder bumps impact on the underfill fluid flow under electrohydrodynamic effect
Authors: Hassan Rizwan Ul , Khalil Shaheer Mohiuddin , Khan Saeed Ahmed , Ali Shahzaib , Hussain Hamza , Cho Dae-Hyun , Byun Doyoung
Published: September 2023

Solder bumps can increase filling time, which is one of the main challenges in electronic packaging reliability. Here, we compare the capillary flow behavior between parallel plates with and without solder bumps to examine how solder bumps affect the length of the underfill fluid flow under the effects of an electric potential. We found that the solder bumps restrained the flow length, while the electric field enhanced it. By enhancing the voltage from 0 to 1000 V, in the case without solder bumps, the flow length increased by up to 30%, and it increased by up to 25% in the case of solder bumps. To determine the optimum bump design, we selected the diameter and pitch size of the solder bumps as the independent variables. The results revealed that larger pitch sizes and smaller diameters show longer fluid flow lengths. The effect of the electric field on varying nozzle positions was also investigated. We found that the fluid flow length increased when the nozzle was between the solder bumps compared to the top of the solder bumps. According to our observations, the nozzle position is also the main factor in determining the fluid flow length compared with the bump diameter and pitch sizes for the design of the underfill packaging process. Numerical simulations were also performed to compare the experimental results, and the average discrepancy between the experimental and numerical results at various time steps for different solder bump parameters was between 5 to 10%. Our findings demonstrate the potential of using electric potential in conjunction with solder bumps to control underfill flow, which can benefit flip-chip packaging applications. Numerical methods can accurately predict underfill fluid flow with solder bumps under the electric field effect.
Synergistic effects of hydrothermally decorated Ag nanoparticles over rGO for antibacterial activities
Authors: Kalia Shiwani , Bala Ritu , Jain Devendra , Kushwaha Himmat Singh , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Dhiman Rajnish
Published: September 2023

Antibacterial activity of the silver decorated reduced graphene oxide (Ag-rGO) nanocomposites have been investigated against E. coli as a model for gram-negative bacteria. The effect of temperature during the hydrothermal treatment of Ag-rGO nanocomposites synthesized by simultaneous reduction of GO and AgNO3 over the antibacterial activity has been studied. The composite samples were further reduced hydrothermally at different temperatures, viz. 100 °C, 150 °C, and 200 °C for 24 h to integrate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into rGO. Variations in the hydrothermal treatment temperature allowed alterations in the morphology and particle size of the AgNPs. The AgNPs grown at room temperature are in bunches and smaller sizes, whereas the hydrothermally treated samples have uniformly distributed bigger AgNPs. The particle size of AgNPs on rGO grows from 45 nm at room temperature to 65 nm and 220 nm in the hydrothermally treated samples at 150 °C and 200 °C, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the Ag-rGO composite has been observed to be size dependent. The Ag-rGO composite hydrothermally treated at 150 °C, having a particle size of ∼65 nm, has been observed to have the highest activity; the zone of inhibition is 3.4 ± 2.8 cm. The Ag nanocrystallite’s edges and defects in the rGO sheets together destroy the bacterial cells in a series of stages, ultimately resulting in cell death and high antibacterial activity.
Detecting entanglement harnessing Lindblad structure
Authors: Chimalgi Vaibhav , Bhattacharya Bihalan , Goswami Suchetana , Bhattacharya Samyadeb
Published: September 2023

The problem of entanglement detection is a long standing problem in quantum information theory. One of the primary procedures of detecting entanglement is to find the suitable positive but non-completely positive maps. Here we try to give a generic prescription to construct a positive map that can be useful for such scenarios. We study a class of positive maps arising from Lindblad structures. We show that two famous positive maps viz. transposition, reduction map and Choi map can be obtained as a special case of a class of positive maps having Lindblad structure. Generalizing the transposition map to a one parameter family we have used it to detect genuine multipartite entanglement. Finally being motivated by the negativity of entanglement, we have defined a similar measure for genuine multipartite entanglement.
Analysis of neural network connections based on memristors and their multiple offset phenomena
Authors: Zhang Limeng , Wang Yiming , Leng Xiangxin , Zhang Chenkai , Du Baoxiang
Published: September 2023

The article suggests a construction method of a magnetron memristor connecting a three-dimensional Hopfield neural network and a Rulkov neuron in order to build a more complex and achieve more bio-like neural network properties, which has rarely been proposed before. It is discovered that the dynamical behavior of this high-dimensional neural network system is rich, and that the system exhibits many dynamical behaviors depending on the parameter changes. It is possible to change the attractor’s amplitude and its offset boosting behavior by varying various parameters. Changing the system parameters and modifying the system’s initial value may result in initial offset boosting behavior. Combining nonlinear dynamics research methodologies, such as phase diagram, bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponential spectrum, and time series diagram, demonstrates the system’s complex dynamical behavior. By analyzing the system complexity and random sequence test, we found that the system has the characteristics of large complexity and strong pseudo-randomness. Eventually, the hardware realizability is proved by the construction of the DSP platform.
Improved calculation of alpha decay half-life by incorporating nuclei deformation shape and proximity potential
Authors: Yazdankish Enayatolah , Nejatolahi Mostafa
Published: September 2023

Accurate evaluation of alpha decay half-life is essential for understanding nuclear stability, ensuring nuclear safety, optimizing medical treatments, and studying astrophysical processes. Considering the deformed shape of nuclei, we calculated the alpha-decay half-life of 359 nuclei using the proximity potential. In addition, we employed the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation to compute the penetration probability through the potential barrier comprising nuclear, Coulomb, and centrifugal potentials. Our calculations revealed that the penetration probability, and hence the alpha-decay half-life, depend on the direction of alpha particle emission relative to the axial symmetry of the nucleus. Furthermore, our results suggested that the dependence of alpha-decay on parent nuclei temperature needs to be reassessed. We tabulated the alpha-decay half-life for various nuclei, and our results showed better agreement with experimental data compared to theoretical data in the literature.
Quantum trajectories and the nuclear optical model
Authors: da Conceição N A Coleta , Carlson B V , Poirier B
Published: September 2023

In the context of nuclear scattering, we use the bipolar reduction of the Schrödinger equation to examine the effects of optical model absorption on incoming and outgoing scattering waves. We compare the exact solutions for these waves, obtained using a bipolar quantum trajectory-based formalism, with their approximate WKB counterparts. Aside from reducing the magnitudes of the incoming and outgoing waves, absorption smooths the variation of the potential at the turning point, reducing reflection in this region. This brings the incoming exact solution and WKB approximation into closer agreement, but tends to worsen the agreement between the outgoing solutions. Inside the turning point, the WKB approximation overestimates the inward decaying solution. The exact solution also possesses an outward going component, solely due to reflection, with no WKB counterpart.
Effects of Pb nanosheets substrates on the optical and electrical properties CrSe thin films
Authors: Aljaloud Amjad Salamah M , Qasrawi A F , Alfhaid Latifah Hamad Khalid
Published: September 2023

Herein the effects of lead nanosheets substrates on the optical and electrical properties of chromium selenide thin films were studied. Chromium selenide thin films were grown by vacuum thermal evaporation technique onto glass and 100 nm thick lead nanosheets substrates. The effects of Pb nanosheets on the structural, morphological, compositional, optical and electrical properties was explored. While films grown onto glass substrates showed compositional stoichiometry forming CrSe2 phase those coated onto Pb substrates preferred the growth CrSe phase. Both films were of amorphous structure and exhibited direct and indirect allowed optical transitions. Pb nanosheets enhanced the optical absorption of chromium selenide in the visible and ultraviolet ranges of light. Formation of films onto Pb nanosheets resulted in band gaps and band tails narrowing and decreased the room temperature electrical conductivity (

σ

) as well. Deep analyses of the

σ
−
T

variations in the range of 25–340 K showed that the electronic transport is dominated by the thermal excitation and variable range hopping of charge carriers. It was observed that Pb nanosheets increased the average hopping energy and hopping range, decreased the density of localized states near the Fermi level and increased the degree of state disorder. The features of glass/CrSe2 and Pb/CrSe films are promising for using then in optoelectronic technology.
Facilitating cell segmentation with the projection-enhancement network
Authors: Eddy Christopher Z , Naylor Austin , Cunningham Christian T , Sun Bo
Published: September 2023

Contemporary approaches to instance segmentation in cell science use 2D or 3D convolutional networks depending on the experiment and data structures. However, limitations in microscopy systems or efforts to prevent phototoxicity commonly require recording sub-optimally sampled data that greatly reduces the utility of such 3D data, especially in crowded sample space with significant axial overlap between objects. In such regimes, 2D segmentations are both more reliable for cell morphology and easier to annotate. In this work, we propose the projection enhancement network (PEN), a novel convolutional module which processes the sub-sampled 3D data and produces a 2D RGB semantic compression, and is trained in conjunction with an instance segmentation network of choice to produce 2D segmentations. Our approach combines augmentation to increase cell density using a low-density cell image dataset to train PEN, and curated datasets to evaluate PEN. We show that with PEN, the learned semantic representation in CellPose encodes depth and greatly improves segmentation performance in comparison to maximum intensity projection images as input, but does not similarly aid segmentation in region-based networks like Mask-RCNN. Finally, we dissect the segmentation strength against cell density of PEN with CellPose on disseminated cells from side-by-side spheroids. We present PEN as a data-driven solution to form compressed representations of 3D data that improve 2D segmentations from instance segmentation networks.
Creation rate of Dirac particles at a point source
Authors: Henheik Joscha , Tumulka Roderich
Published: September 2023

Only recently has it been possible to construct a self-adjoint Hamiltonian that involves the creation of Dirac particles at a point source in 3d space. Its definition makes use of an interior-boundary condition. Here, we develop for this Hamiltonian a corresponding theory of the Bohmian configuration. That is, we (non-rigorously) construct a Markov jump process

(

Q
t

)

t
∈

R

in the configuration space of a variable number of particles that is

|

ψ
t

|

2

-distributed at every time t and follows Bohmian trajectories between the jumps. The jumps correspond to particle creation or annihilation events and occur either to or from a configuration with a particle located at the source. The process is the natural analog of Bell’s jump process, and a central piece in its construction is the determination of the rate of particle creation. The construction requires an analysis of the asymptotic behavior of the Bohmian trajectories near the source. We find that the particle reaches the source with radial speed 0, but orbits around the source infinitely many times in finite time before absorption (or after emission).
Computational workflow for steric assessment using the electric field-derived size
Authors: Mroz Austin M , Turcani Lukas , Jelfs Kim E
Published: September 2023

Molecular structure plays an important role in the selectivity and performance of catalysts. Understanding the impact of structural differences on catalyst performance via quantitative structure-selectivity relationships is key to developing high-performing catalytic systems. There are several methods that have been introduced to quantify steric contributions, including Tolman cone angles, Charton parameters, and A-values. While these have shown promise in predicting selectivity, they access similar, general steric contributions and are largely empirically derived. Alternatively, Sterimol parameters offer a specific multi-directional measure of steric bulk in the form of three vectors in units of distance. Recently, these parameters revealed strong correlations between structure and selectivity in asymmetric catalysis. Yet, despite their demonstrated performance, Sterimol parameters are commonly derived using van der Waals radii, which approximate molecular size using hard-spheres. This method may not accurately describe highly polarized systems. Recently, a new chemical system size metric based on the electric-field of a molecule was developed, which accesses the occupied space of a molecule. Here, we demonstrate that the electric field-derived Sterimol parameters reveal similar structure-selectivity relationships in asymmetric catalysis as conventional Sterimol parameters. Specifically, we present a computational workflow for calculating Sterimol parameters based on the size of a molecule’s electric field, and validate our method using several asymmetric catalysis reactions.
Integrate-and-fire circuit for converting analog signals to spikes using phase encoding
*
Authors: Lopez-Randulfe Javier , Reeb Nico , Knoll Alois
Published: September 2023

Processing sensor data with spiking neural networks on digital neuromorphic chips requires converting continuous analog signals into spike pulses. Two strategies are promising for achieving low energy consumption and fast processing speeds in end-to-end neuromorphic applications. First, to directly encode analog signals to spikes to bypass the need for an analog-to-digital converter. Second, to use temporal encoding techniques to maximize the spike sparsity, which is a crucial parameter for fast and efficient neuromorphic processing. In this work, we propose an adaptive control of the refractory period of the leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron model for encoding continuous analog signals into a train of time-coded spikes. The LIF-based encoder generates phase-encoded spikes that are compatible with digital hardware. We implemented the neuron model on a physical circuit and tested it with different electric signals. A digital neuromorphic chip processed the generated spike trains and computed the signal’s frequency spectrum using a spiking version of the Fourier transform. We tested the prototype circuit on electric signals up to 1 kHz. Thus, we provide an end-to-end neuromorphic application that generates the frequency spectrum of an electric signal without the need for an ADC or a digital signal processing algorithm.
Democracy: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Zack Naomi
Published: September 2023

Democracy: A Very Short Introduction shows the distinction between the shared concept of democracy and different conceptions or instances of democracy. The key idea of democracy is that those governed—the demos—have a say in the government. However, until the 19th century, different conceptions of democracy did not extend to democratic society, resulting in the exclusion of many groups and individuals. The ideas of social and political thinkers including Plato, Aristotle, J. S. Mill, Marx, Rawls, and Sen provide the intellectual history of democracy. This VSI explores past and present forms of democratic government and considers traditional and inclusive historical approaches to democracy.
Why does film music work?
Authors: Kalinak Kathryn
Published: September 2023

Film music has power over its audience. Why? Originally, music compensated for the lack of sound in film and covered up the noise of the projector and unruly spectators. Why has music in film survived the conversion to sound? What has made it so indispensable to film that it is hard to imagine a film without it? There has developed a lively body of theory that addresses the sources of film’s powers and pleasures and the way in which they are tied to the presence of music in film. “Why does film music work?” introduces two important theorical approaches to film music—the ideological and the psychoanalytical—and examines the work of key theorists in establishing this body of work. Queer film music, a recent development that has emerged largely since the publication of the first edition in 2010, is also covered.
A history of film music I
Authors: Kalinak Kathryn
Published: September 2023

Music has been central to the history of film. This chapter charts that history through a global perspective, looking at the origins and development of musical accompaniment to motion pictures from the United States to South America, from Europe, Russia, and the Soviet Union to India, Japan, China, and numerous other countries in between. That history includes attention to the variety of forms that musical accompaniment to early film took from phonographic accompaniment to live performance, from improvisation to cue sheets to original film scores, and from a single musician to a symphony orchestra. This chapter incorporates new research since the first edition of this book in 2010 on film music in Ireland, Austria, Turkey, the Dutch East Indies, and the Netherlands; the role of women in the early film music industry; and the role of film music in the continued resurgence of silent film screenings.
How long to wait after local infiltration anaesthesia: systematic review
Authors: Bajwa Mohammad Suleman , Bashir Muhammad Mustehsan , Bajwa Mohammad Hamza , Iqbal Zafar , Salahuddin Muhammad Aizaz , Hussain Ahmad , Shahzad Farooq
Published: September 2023

Background

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the optimal waiting time for stable analgesic and vasoconstrictive effects after local infiltration of lidocaine with epinephrine. An objective review is needed to dispel surgical dogma.

Methods

This systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022362414) included RCTs and prospective cohort studies. Primary outcomes were (1) onset of analgesia and (2) onset of stable hypoperfusion, assessed directly, or measured indirectly using perfusion imaging. Other data extracted include waiting strategies, means of outcome assessment, anaesthetic concentrations, volume/endpoint of infiltration, and injection sites. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Articles describing waiting strategies were critically appraised by the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

Results

Twenty-four articles were analysed, comprising 1013 participants. Ten investigated analgesia onset. Their pooled mean was 2.1 min (range 0.4–9.0 min). This varied with anatomic site and targeted nerve diameter. Fourteen articles investigated onset of stable hypoperfusion. Four observed bleeding intraoperatively, finding the minimum time to hypoperfusion at 7.0 min in the eyelid skin and 25.0 min in the upper limb. The ten remaining studies used perfusion imaging, reporting a wide range of results (0.0–30.0 min) due to differences in anatomic sites and depth, resolution and artefacts. Studies using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging correlated with clinical observations. Thirteen articles discussed waiting strategies, seven relating to large-volume tumescent local infiltration anaesthesia. Different waiting strategies exist for emergency, arthroscopic and cosmetic surgeries, according to the degree of hypoperfusion required. In tumescent liposuction, waiting 10.0–60.0 min is the norm.

Conclusion

Current literature suggests that around 2 min are required for most patients to achieve complete analgesia in all sites and with all anaesthesia concentrations. Waiting around 7 min in eyelids and at least 25 min in other regions results in optimal hypoperfusion. The strategies discussed inform decisions of when and how long to wait.
Posterior parietal cortical areas and recovery after motor stroke: a scoping review
Authors: Reibelt Antonia , Quandt Fanny , Schulz Robert
Published: September 2023

Brain imaging and electrophysiology have significantly enhanced our current understanding of stroke-related changes in brain structure and function and their implications for recovery processes. In the motor domain, most studies have focused on key motor areas of the frontal lobe including the primary and secondary motor cortices. Time- and recovery-dependent alterations in regional anatomy, brain activity and inter-regional connectivity have been related to recovery. In contrast, the involvement of posterior parietal cortical areas in stroke recovery is poorly understood although these regions are similarly important for important aspects of motor functioning in the healthy brain. Just in recent years, the field has increasingly started to explore to what extent posterior parietal cortical areas might undergo equivalent changes in task-related activation, regional brain structure and inter-regional functional and structural connectivity after stroke. The aim of this scoping review is to give an update on available data covering these aspects and thereby providing novel insights into parieto-frontal interactions for systems neuroscience stroke recovery research in the upper limb motor domain.
Causal effects of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis on membranous nephropathy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Xiu-Fen , Duan Shao-Bin , He Jian , Wu Xi , Wu Ting
Published: September 2023

Background

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the leading cause of adult-onset nephrotic syndrome, with primary MN of unclear cause accounting for 80% of cases. Retrospective clinical research reported that MN occurring in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients was triggered by nephrotoxic drugs or of unknown cause. However, whether RA or AS itself increases the risk of developing MN is unknown.

Methods

We conducted mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal effects of RA or AS on MN using genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistics. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis, and several supplementary analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to test the causal estimates.

Results

We obtained 30 valid instrumental variables (IVs) of RA and 16 valid IVs of AS from large-scale open-access GWASs. The genetically predicted RA significantly increased the risk of MN [IVW odds ratios (OR) = 1.327, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.124, 1.565), P = 8.051 × 10−4]. Three supplementary MR analyses provided the consistent positive causal effect of RA on MN (all P < 0.05). No horizontal pleiotropy was detected by MR Egger intercept analysis (P = 0.411). However, the genetically predicted AS had no causal effect on MN by IVW and supplementary analysis (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Genetically predicted RA could increase the risk of MN, but genetically predicted AS was not associated with MN. Screening for kidney involvement in RA patients should be noted, and active treatment of RA will reduce the public health burden of MN.
New trials in resistant hypertension: mixed blessing stories
Authors: Zoccali Carmine , Mallamaci Francesca , De Nicola Luca , Minutolo Roberto
Published: September 2023

Resistant hypertension (RH) is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal complications. Treatment options include non-pharmacological interventions, such as lifestyle modifications, and the use of specific antihypertensive drug combinations, including diuretics. Renal denervation is another option for treatment-resistant hypertension. New compounds targeting different pathways involved in RH—including inhibitors of aminopeptidase A, endothelin antagonists and selective aldosterone synthase inhibitors—have been tested in clinical trials in this condition. The centrally acting drug firibastat, targeting the brain renin–angiotensin system, failed to demonstrate significant effectiveness in reducing blood pressure (BP) in patients with difficult-to-treat and RH in the Firibistat in Resistant Hypertension (FRESH) trial. Aprocitentan, a dual endothelin A and B receptor antagonist, showed a moderate but statistically significant decrease in BP in patients with RH in the Parallel-Group, Phase 3 Study with Aprocitentan in Subjects with Resistant Hypertension (PRECISION) trial. However, concerns remain about potential adverse events, such as fluid retention. The use of baxdrostat, a selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor, showed promising results in reducing BP in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension in the Baxdrostat in Resistant Hypertension (BrigHTN) trial. However, a subsequent trial, HALO, failed to meet its primary endpoint. The unexpected results may be influenced by factors such as patient adherence and white-coat hypertension. Despite the disappointing results from HALO, the potential benefits of inhibiting aldosterone synthesis remain to be fully understood. In conclusion, managing RH remains challenging, and new compounds like firibastat, aprocitentan and baxdrostat have shown varied effectiveness. Further research is needed to improve our understanding and treatment of this condition.
Smartphone-based atrial fibrillation screening in the general population: feasibility and impact on medical treatment
Authors: Gruwez Henri , Verbrugge Frederik H , Proesmans Tine , Evens Stijn , Vanacker Peter , Rutgers Matthieu Pierre , Vanhooren Geert , Bertrand Philippe , Pison Laurent , Haemers Peter , Vandervoort Pieter , Nuyens Dieter
Published: September 2023

Aims

The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, detection rate, and therapeutic implications of large-scale smartphone-based screening for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and results

Subjects from the general population in Belgium were recruited through a media campaign to perform AF screening during 8 consecutive days with a smartphone application. The application analyses photoplethysmography traces with artificial intelligence and offline validation of suspected signals to detect AF. The impact of AF screening on medical therapy was measured through questionnaires. Atrial fibrillation was detected in the screened population (n = 60.629) in 791 subjects (1.3%). From this group, 55% responded to the questionnaire. Clinical AF [AF confirmed on a surface electrocardiogram (ECG)] was newly diagnosed in 60 individuals and triggered the initiation of anti-thrombotic therapy in 45%, adjustment of rate or rhythm controlling strategies in 62%, and risk factor management in 17%. In subjects diagnosed with known AF before screening, a positive screening result led to these therapy adjustments in 9%, 39%, and 11%, respectively. In all subjects with clinical AF and an indication for oral anti-coagulation (OAC), OAC uptake increased from 56% to 74% with AF screening. Subjects with clinical AF were older with more co-morbidities compared with subclinical AF (no surface ECG confirmation of AF) (P < 0.001). In subjects with subclinical AF (n = 202), therapy adjustments were performed in only 7%.

Conclusion

Smartphone–based AF screening is feasible at large scale. Screening increased OAC uptake and impacted therapy of both new and previously diagnosed clinical AF but failed to impact risk factor management in subjects with subclinical AF.
The First High-Quality Chromosome-Level Genome of the Lutjanus erythropterus (Bloch, 1790) Using Single-Tube Long Fragment Reads and Hi-C Technologies
Authors: Lai Zhuoxin , Afriyie Gyamfua , Cui Haitao , Chen Lujun , Xu Zhenmin , Chen Zizhao , Liang Quilu , Luo Jie , Dong Zhongdian , Shao Changwei , Guo Yusong , Wang Zhongduo
Published: September 2023

Lutjanus erythropterus (Bloch, 1790), a Perciformes from the Lutjanidae family, is a commercially important species because of its taste and abundance. Despite the increase in genome resources in recent years, few genome assemblies are available within this fish family for comparative and functional studies. In this study, we determined the chromosomal genome of Crimson snapper using high-throughput Single-Tube Long Fragment Reads sequencing technology and Hi-C data. The final assembly size was 973.04 Mb with contig and scaffold N50 values of 1.51 and 40.65 Mb, respectively. We successfully scaffolded 95.84% of the genome sequence onto 24 chromosomes ranging in length from 19.37 to 49.48 Mb. A total of 22,663 genes and 13,877 gene families were identified in the genome, with 29 gene families being L. erythropterus-specific. A phylogenetic analysis using single-copy gene families showed that L. erythropterus and Larimichthys crocea had the closest genetic relationship with a divergence time of ∼47.7 Ma. This new genomic resource will facilitate comparative genomic studies as well as genetic breeding programs for L. erythropterus.
Revised fission yeast gene and allele nomenclature guidelines for machine readability
Authors: Lera-Ramírez Manuel , Bähler Jürg , Mata Juan , Rutherford Kim , Hoffman Charles S , Lambert Sarah , Oliferenko Snezhana , Martin Sophie G , Gould Kathleen L , Du Li-Lin , Sabatinos Sarah A , Forsburg Susan L , Nielsen Olaf , Nurse Paul , Wood Valerie
Published: September 2023

Standardized nomenclature for genes, gene products, and isoforms is crucial to prevent ambiguity and enable clear communication of scientific data, facilitating efficient biocuration and data sharing. Standardized genotype nomenclature, which describes alleles present in a specific strain that differ from those in the wild-type reference strain, is equally essential to maximize research impact and ensure that results linking genotypes to phenotypes are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). In this publication, we extend the fission yeast clade gene nomenclature guidelines to support the curation efforts at PomBase (www.pombase.org), the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Model Organism Database. This update introduces nomenclature guidelines for noncoding RNA genes, following those set forth by the Human Genome Organisation Gene Nomenclature Committee. Additionally, we provide a significant update to the allele and genotype nomenclature guidelines originally published in 1987, to standardize the diverse range of genetic modifications enabled by the fission yeast genetic toolbox. These updated guidelines reflect a community consensus between numerous fission yeast researchers. Adoption of these rules will improve consistency in gene and genotype nomenclature, and facilitate machine-readability and automated entity recognition of fission yeast genes and alleles in publications or datasets. In conclusion, our updated guidelines provide a valuable resource for the fission yeast research community, promoting consistency, clarity, and FAIRness in genetic data sharing and interpretation.
Post-seismic gravity change modelling based on non-linear power-law upper mantle rheology
Authors: Yan Changda , Miyazaki Shin’ichi
Published: September 2023

Post-seismic gravity change modelling is commonly based on earth model with Newtonian linear rheology. Here, we present a novel way of modelling post-seismic gravity change by using a non-linear power-law rheology earth model. The method is constructed based on the framework of spectral finite element method (SFEM). SFEM has been proven practical for the purpose of modelling gravity change occurring during megathrust earthquakes. Our method implements the strain rate expression of non-linear power-law rheology into the mathematical framework of SFEM. Using our method, simulations of geoid change caused by synthetic point source earthquakes were made. The results revealed the potential of using non-linear power-law rheology for the explanation of rapid gravity changes in the beginning of the post-seismic epoch. Further on, we computed the post-seismic gravity change of the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake based on Maxwell non-linear power-law rheology in the upper mantle. It demonstrated the potential of power-law upper mantle flow as a possible candidate for the explanation of post-seismic gravity change after the earthquake occurs. However, a Maxwell non-linear power-law rheology alone is insufficient for the explanation of the post-seismic gravity change occurred.
Temporal, environmental, and demographic correlates of Ichthyophonus sp. infections in mature Pacific herring populations
Authors: Groner M L , Bravo-Mendosa E D , MacKenzie A H , Gregg J L , Conway C M , Trochta J T , Hershberger P K
Published: September 2023

Causes of population collapse and failed recovery often remain enigmatic in marine forage fish like Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) that experience dramatic population oscillations. Diseases such as ichthyophoniasis are hypothesized to contribute to these declines, but lack of long-term datasets frequently prevents inference. Analysis of pathogen surveillance and population assessment datasets spanning 2007–2019 indicate that the age-based prevalence estimate of Ichthyophonus infection was, on average, 54% greater among a collapsed population of Pacific herring (Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA) as compared to a nearby population (Sitka Sound, Alaska, USA) that is relatively robust. During the study years, the age-based infection prevalence ranged from 14 to 44% in Prince William Sound and 5 to 33% in Sitka Sound. At both sites, the age-based infection prevalence declined over time, with an average decrease of 7% per year. Statistical analyses indicated that infection prevalence between the two populations was reduced by regional factors affecting both sites, and that these factors were independent of herring density. Infection prevalence in both populations was positively correlated with herring age and negatively correlated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. This study demonstrates how synthesis of environmental, stock assessment, and disease assessment data can be leveraged to elucidate epidemiological trends in diseases of wild fish.
Can the European Financial Data Space remove bias in financial AI development? Opportunities and regulatory challenges
Authors: Chomczyk Penedo Andrés , Trigo Kramcsák Pablo
Published: September 2023

The EU data economy’s growth hinges on access to extensive data, with open banking initiatives encouraging data sharing in the financial services industry. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools play a vital role in harnessing the potential of this data, but training these systems carries inherent risks, including the introduction of new or the perpetuation of existing biases. This article examines the role of the European Financial Data Space (EFDS) in AI training, using consumer creditworthiness evaluation as a case study. It investigates whether the EFDS facilitates responsible AI development, considering data protection concerns like legal basis, transparency and control. The objective is to enhance the regulatory proposal for the EFDS, ensuring a well-founded legal framework for utilizing AI responsibly in the financial sector within the broader context of European Data Spaces.
Integrative Analyses of scRNA-seq, Bulk mRNA-seq, and DNA Methylation Profiling in Depressed Suicide Brain Tissues
Authors: Zhou Yalan , Xiong Lan , Chen✉ Jianhua , Wang✉ Qingzhong
Published: September 2023

Background

Suicidal behaviors have become a serious public health concern globally due to the economic and human cost of suicidal behavior to individuals, families, communities, and society. However, the underlying etiology and biological mechanism of suicidal behavior remains poorly understood.

Methods

We collected different single omic data, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk mRNA-seq, DNA methylation microarrays from the cortex of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in suicide subjects’ studies, as well as fluoxetine-treated rats brains. We matched subject IDs that overlapped between the transcriptome dataset and the methylation dataset. The differential expression genes and differentially methylated regions were calculated with a 2-group comparison analysis. Cross-omics analysis was performed to calculate the correlation between the methylated and transcript levels of differentially methylated CpG sites and mapped transcripts. Additionally, we performed a deconvolution analysis for bulk mRNA-seq and DNA methylation profiling with scRNA-seq as the reference profiles.

Results

Difference in cell type proportions among 7 cell types. Meanwhile, our analysis of single-cell sequence from the antidepressant-treated rats found that drug-specific differential expression genes were enriched into biological pathways, including ion channels and glutamatergic receptors.

Conclusions

This study identified some important dysregulated genes influenced by DNA methylation in 2 brain regions of depression and suicide patients. Interestingly, we found that oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) have the most contributors for cell-type proportions related to differential expression genes and methylated sites in suicidal behavior.
Logarithmic Prismatic Cohomology via Logarithmic THH
Authors: Binda Federico , Lundemo Tommy , Park Doosung , Østvær Paul Arne
Published: September 2023

Inspired by Bhatt–Morrow–Scholze’s work on $\textrm{THH}$, we define Nygaard-completed log prismatic cohomology based on log topological Hochschild homology via filtrations on log $\textrm{THH}$ and its variants. Moreover, of independent interest, we describe log $\textrm{THH}$ for quasiregular semiperfectoid pre-log rings as a $1$-parameter deformation of ordinary, non-logarithmic Hochschild homology.
Measuring quality of care for universal health coverage in the Western Pacific
Authors: Loreche Arianna Maever , Pepito Veincent Christian F , Hartigan-Go Kenneth Y , Dayrit Manuel M
Published: September 2023

To deliver on the promise of universal health coverage, regions and countries need to invest in high-quality health systems and put quality of care at the forefront of priority setting and agenda. The Western Pacific Region and its member countries should establish measurements and standards to ensure delivery of high-quality services. In order to effectively do so, individual and system capacities to measure and use quality-of-care data should be strengthened, localized initiatives to develop quality-of-care measures of practice and policy relevance need to be carried out, accountability mechanisms should be in place, and the role of quality as a driver of better health outcomes and economic benefits should be emphasized among all stakeholders. Such initiatives will ensure that quality-of-care measures are “measurements for action” toward quality improvement and reform.
Narratology and US Foreign Policy in Syria: Beyond Identity Binaries, toward Narrative Power
Authors: Holland Jack , Mathieu Xavier
Published: September 2023

Narrative approaches have recently gained popularity in International Relations (IR), albeit often with a focus on instrumentality. This article analyzes the “value added” of narratology, complementing IR’s existing focus on strategic narratives, by focusing on what it is that sets stories apart from other linguistic features. The article develops three contributions. First, we demonstrate that narratology contributes to efforts in IR to move beyond a propensity for identity binaries, analyzing the more nuanced relational identities that are formed within the web of characters that populate stories. Second, we theorize (structural) narrative power, conceptualizing how stories project and propel forward through time to guide policy. Our take on (structural) narrative power emphasizes audience expectations of narrative closure as creating a teleological impulse. This is narrative power—the life of stories. We mobilize this conceptual framework, analyzing US foreign policy during the early Syrian Civil War, with a focus on the war’s storying and the writing of its characters across 600+ policy and media texts. Third, our article locates (the flaws and paradoxes of) US policy within the narrative power of its story, established in the war’s opening chapters.
Type Realism Reconsidered
Authors: Irmak Nurbay
Published: September 2023

Realism about types is the view that types are abstract and repeatable objects. Although type realists seem to agree that types, unlike properties, are objects in their own right, they argue that there is a metaphysically intimate tie between the existence conditions of types and properties. In particular, most type realists believe that types are, in a certain sense, determined by the properties that underlie them. I argue that this is a mistake, especially for those type realists who believe that social and cultural types such as works of music and fiction or words are artifacts. I offer an alternative version of type realism where social and cultural types are dependent objects that should be understood in analogy with concrete artifacts.
GC-MS Analysis of Primary Aromatic Amines Originated From Azo Dyes in Commercial Textile or Leather Products Using Helium Alternative Carrier Gases
Authors: Tahara Maiko , Kawakami Tsuyoshi , Ikarashi Yoshiaki
Published: September 2023

Background

In recent years, due to the global shortage of helium gas, the development of gas chromatography (GC) analytical methods using alternatives to helium carrier gases is necessary.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the applicability of hydrogen and nitrogen as alternative carrier gases using the test method for azo compounds in the Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances of Japan.

Method

The gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analytical method using hydrogen and nitrogen as alternative carrier gases was compared with a method using helium for 26 primary aromatic amines (PAAs) originated from azo dyes.

Results

When hydrogen and nitrogen were used as carrier gases under the same conditions used during analysis using helium (same column, gas flow rate, oven temperature conditions, etc.), sufficient peak separation of 26 PAAs was obtained. The sensitivities of the methods using helium and hydrogen were comparable, whereas the sensitivity was lower when nitrogen was used, with the detection limits ranging from 1/220 to 1/25. However, all carrier gases achieved quantification at concentrations below the standard value (30 μg/g) of the Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances, and the results were in agreement with the standard value for the target product.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that hydrogen or nitrogen can be used as alternative carrier gases to helium for GC-MS analysis of azo compounds producing specific aromatic amines.

Highlights

Using hydrogen or nitrogen as an alternative carrier gas to helium, azo compounds could be quantified with excellent accuracy.
High-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for measuring cotinine and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury
Authors: Seyler Tiffany , Blount Benjamin C , Wang Lanqing
Published: September 2023

In 2019, nearly 3000 U.S. residents developed severe lung injury associated with recent use of e-cigarette or vaping products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responded to the outbreak, which was formally defined as e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Laboratory rapidly developed assays to analyze potentially harmful and addictive substances in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from EVALI case patients. This report describes the development and validation of a high-throughput isotope-dilution high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for measuring two nicotine biomarkers, cotinine (COT) and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine (HCT), in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. COT and HCT are the major metabolites of nicotine, the addictive alkaloid presents in tobacco products. This method had good specificity and sensitivity. The limit of detection is 0.033 and 0.0165 ng/mL for COT and HCT, respectively, using only 200 µL of sample volume. The within-run and between-run precision were 2–10%. The overall accuracy, calculated from recovery in three different sample matrices spiked at three concentrations, was 94.8% and 93.6% for COT and HCT, respectively. This novel HPLC–MS-MS method was utilized to characterize recent tobacco exposure in EVALI case patients. This method is useful for characterizing tobacco exposure that may be related to acute and chronic lung injury.
Gastroscopy for dyspepsia: Understanding primary care and gastroenterologist mental models of practice: A cognitive task analysis approach
Authors: Barber Tanya , Crick Katelynn , Toon Lynn , Tate Jordan , Kelm Karen , Novak Kerri , Yeung Rose O , Tandon Puneeta , Sadowski Daniel C , Veldhuyzen van Zanten Sander , Campbell-Scherer Denise
Published: September 2023

Background

Gastroscopy to investigate dyspepsia without alarm symptoms rarely results in clinically actionable findings or sustained health-related quality-of-life improvements among patients aged 18–60 years and is, therefore, not recommended. Despite this, referrals for and performance of gastroscopy among this patient population remain high. The purpose of this study was to understand family physicians’ and gastroenterologists’ mental models of dyspepsia and the drivers behind referring or performing gastroscopy.

Methods

Cognitive task analysis routine critical decision method interviews with family physicians (n = 8) and gastroenterologists (n = 4).

Results

Family physicians and gastroenterologists hold rich mental models of dyspepsia that rely on sensemaking; however, gaps in information continuity affect their ability to plan and coordinate patient care. Drivers behind decisions to refer or perform gastroscopy were: eliminating risk for serious pathology, providing reassurance, perceived preference by patients to receive information and reassurance from gastroenterologists, maintaining relationships with patients, and saving costs to the health system.

Conclusions

Family physicians refer for dyspepsia when they are seeking support from gastroenterologists, they believe that alternative factors may be impacting the patient’s health or view it as a cost-saving measure. Likewise, gastroenterologists perform gastroscopy for dyspepsia when they perceive it as a cost-saving measure, they want to support their primary care colleagues and provide their colleagues and patients with reassurance. An improved degree of communication between speciality and primary care could allow for continuity in the transfer of information about patients and reduce referrals for dyspepsia.