bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fully reconfigurable optomechanical add-drop filters
Authors: Lei Yuechen , Hu Zhi-Gang , Wang Min , Gao Yi-Meng , Zuo Zhanchun , Xu Xiulai , Li Bei-Bei
Published: November 2022

Fully reconfigurable add-drop filters (ADFs) have important applications in optical communication and information processing. Here, we demonstrate a broadly tunable add-drop filter based on a double-disk cavity optomechanical system, side-coupled with a pair of tapered fiber waveguides. We investigate the dependence of the through (drop) efficiency on coupling rates between the cavity and two waveguides by varying cavity-waveguide distances. By optimizing the cavity-waveguide coupling rates, a drop efficiency of 89% and a transmission of 1.9% have been achieved. Furthermore, tuning of the ADF is realized by changing the air gap of the double disk using a fiber tip, which is controlled by a piezoelectric nanostage. Benefiting from the large optomechanical coupling coefficient and the mechanical compliance of the double-disk microcavity, a tuning range of 8 nm has been realized using a voltage of 7 V on the piezoelectric nanostage, which is more than one free spectral range of the cavity. As a result, both the through and drop signals can be resonant with any wavelength within the transparent window of the cavity material, which indicates that the ADF is fully reconfigurable.
Atomic composition/configuration dependent bulk moduli of Al–C composites
Authors: Sirikumara Hansika I. , Rativa-Parada Wilson , Karunanithy Robinson , Sivakumar Poopalasingam , Nilufar Sabrina , Jayasekera Thushari
Published: November 2022

Embedding carbon in metals has long been known to enhance the mechanical properties of metal carbon composites. We report the possibility of growing Al–C composites by the hot isostatic pressing method, with carbon embedded into an Al lattice in graphitic form without the formation of Al4C3. Raman spectroscopy confirms the formation of sp2-hybridized carbon clusters in the aluminum lattice. The bulk moduli of the samples were measured to be between 60 and 100 GPa. From the results of first principles density functional theory calculations, we show that the formation of sp2-hybridized carbon clusters is more stable than having isolated C scatterers in aluminum. Our results show that the extended network of C clusters shows a higher bulk modulus while isolated scattering centers could lower the bulk modulus. We explain this behavior with the analysis of total charge distribution. Localization of charge density decreases materials’ ability to respond to external stress, thus showing a reduced bulk modulus. Some defect configuration may reduce the symmetry while others keep the symmetry of the host configuration even for the same chemical composition of Al–C composites.
Statistical properties of the entropy from ordinal patterns
Authors: Chagas E. T. C. , Frery A. C. , Gambini J. , Lucini M. M. , Ramos H. S. , Rey A. A.
Published: November 2022

The ultimate purpose of the statistical analysis of ordinal patterns is to characterize the distribution of the features they induce. In particular, knowing the joint distribution of the pair entropy-statistical complexity for a large class of time series models would allow statistical tests that are unavailable to date. Working in this direction, we characterize the asymptotic distribution of the empirical Shannon’s entropy for any model under which the true normalized entropy is neither zero nor one. We obtain the asymptotic distribution from the central limit theorem (assuming large time series), the multivariate delta method, and a third-order correction of its mean value. We discuss the applicability of other results (exact, first-, and second-order corrections) regarding their accuracy and numerical stability. Within a general framework for building test statistics about Shannon’s entropy, we present a bilateral test that verifies if there is enough evidence to reject the hypothesis that two signals produce ordinal patterns with the same Shannon’s entropy. We applied this bilateral test to the daily maximum temperature time series from three cities (Dublin, Edinburgh, and Miami) and obtained sensible results.
Comment on “Even-order harmonic generation from nonlinear Thomson backscatter in a tightly focused Gaussian laser pulse” [Phys. Plasmas 29, 043102 (2022)]
Authors: Chang Yifan , Huang Yuhao , Wang Chang , Tian Youwei
Published: November 2022

Hong et al. [Phys. Plasmas 29, 043102 (2022)] researched the nonlinear Thomson backscatter in a highly focused Gaussian linear laser pulse. They studied the law of backward harmonic spectrum and electron motion trajectory and put forward the view that “the electron will be pushed to the −z-axis by the responsible force of the falling edge of the laser pulse when the interaction time is long enough.” In this Comment, we study the electron motion law under the precise laser pulse expression. We find and explain that the initial position of the electron is the reason why the electron is pushed to the −z-axis. Only when the initial position of the electron is in the −z half-axis, the electron will be pushed away at the end of the pulse.
What is in a name: Defining “high entropy” oxides
Authors: Brahlek Matthew , Gazda Maria , Keppens Veerle , Mazza Alessandro R. , McCormack Scott J. , Mielewczyk-Gryń Aleksandra , Musico Brianna , Page Katharine , Rost Christina M. , Sinnott Susan B. , Toher Cormac , Ward Thomas Z. , Yamamoto Ayako
Published: November 2022

High entropy oxides are emerging as an exciting new avenue to design highly tailored functional behaviors that have no traditional counterparts. Study and application of these materials are bringing together scientists and engineers from physics, chemistry, and materials science. The diversity of each of these disciplines comes with perspectives and jargon that may be confusing to those outside of the individual fields, which can result in miscommunication of important aspects of research. In this Perspective, we provide examples of research and characterization taken from these different fields to provide a framework for classifying the differences between compositionally complex oxides, high entropy oxides, and entropy stabilized oxides, which is intended to bring a common language to this emerging area. We highlight the critical importance of understanding a material’s crystallinity, composition, and mixing length scales in determining its true definition.
Element-specific first order reversal curves measured by magnetic transmission x-ray microscopy
Authors: Gilbert Dustin A. , Im Mi-Young , Liu Kai , Fischer Peter
Published: November 2022

The first-order reversal curve (FORC) method is a macroscopic measurement technique that can be used to extract quantitative and microscopic properties of hysteretic systems. Using magnetic transmission x-ray microscopy (MTXM), local element-specific FORC measurements are performed on a 20 nm thick film of CoTb. The FORCs measured with microscopy reveal a step-by-step domain evolution under the magnetic field cycling protocol and provide a direct visualization of the mechanistic interpretation of FORC diagrams. They are compared with magnetometry FORCs and show good quantitative agreement. Furthermore, the high spatial resolution and element-specific sensitivity of MTXM provide new capabilities to measure FORCs in small regions or specific phases within multicomponent systems, including buried layers in heterostructures. The ability to perform FORCs on very small features is demonstrated with the MTXM-FORC measurement of a rectangular microstructure with vortex-like Landau structures. This work demonstrates the confluence of two uniquely powerful techniques to achieve quantitative insight into nanoscale magnetic behavior.
Trust me, trust my words
Authors: Mao Yansheng , Zhao Xin
Published: November 2022

As modern Internet technology advances, some online medicare donation services in China have become available as a
new way for the public to respond with financial assistance. This paper aims at identifying, describing, and analyzing the
linguistic features of Chinese online medical crowd-funding and investigates how the online help-seekers negotiate their
trustworthiness discursively. For this purpose, 500 pieces of help-seekers’ personal statements were collected from crowd-funding
website (https://www.qschou.com), described and analyzed in accordance of discourse
analysis. Results show that the help-seekers adopted three macro-discursive strategies to construct their trustworthiness:
Embodiment-oriented strategy, evidence-motivated strategy, and emotion-oriented strategy. Detailed linguistic and para-linguistic
means to realize these strategies are examined in great detail. Further research in this area is needed in order to raise
awareness of trustworthiness construction and its difficulties for help-seekers in online crowd-funding scenarios
How Many Directions Determine a Shape and other Sufficiency Results for Two Topological Transforms
Authors: Curry Justin , Mukherjee Sayan , Turner Katharine
Published: November 2022

In this paper we consider two topological transforms that are popular in applied topology: the Persistent Homology Transform and the Euler Characteristic Transform. Both of these transforms are of interest for their mathematical properties as well as their applications to science and engineering, because they provide a way of summarizing shapes in a topological, yet quantitative, way. Both transforms take a shape, viewed as a tame subset

M
M

of

R

d

\mathbb { R}^d

, and associates to each direction

v
∈

S

d
−
1

v\in S^{d-1}

a shape summary obtained by scanning

M
M

in the direction

v
v

. These shape summaries are either persistence diagrams or piecewise constant integer-valued functions called Euler curves. By using an inversion theorem of Schapira, we show that both transforms are injective on the space of shapes, i.e. each shape has a unique transform. Moreover, we prove that these transforms determine continuous maps from the sphere to the space of persistence diagrams, equipped with any Wasserstein

p
p

-distance, or the space of Euler curves, equipped with certain

L
p

L^p

norms. By making use of a stratified space structure on the sphere, induced by hyperplane divisions, we prove additional uniqueness results in terms of distributions on the space of Euler curves. Finally, our main result proves that any shape in a certain uncountable space of PL embedded shapes with plausible geometric bounds can be uniquely determined using only finitely many directions.
Appraisals of Pain in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Qualitative Study With Youth, Parents, and Providers
Authors: Gorbounova Irina , van Diggelen Tanera R , Slack Katherine , Murphy Lexa K , Palermo Tonya M
Published: November 2022

Background

Pain is a predominant symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is influenced by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors. The cognitive-affective model of symptom appraisal (CAMSA) has been used to understand how youth view symptoms in chronic conditions. We sought to (1) determine how youth with IBD and their parents appraise pain, and how their perspectives fit within CAMSA, and (2) explore health care providers’ understanding and communication about pain.

Methods

Participants included 19 youth ages 10–17 years with chronic IBD pain and their parents, and 5 IBD providers from a gastroenterology clinic. Separate semi-structured qualitative interviews with youth, parents, and providers were conducted. Interview prompts were adapted from CAMSA, previous studies of pediatric pain and symptom monitoring, and a qualitative study in adults with IBD pain. Interviews were analyzed according to principles of reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three key components of CAMSA (IBD Threat, Fear/Worry, and Biased Attending) were identified in youth and parent dyads. Some youth showed Biased Attending, including difficulty disengaging, while other youth simply monitored pain. The overarching theme for provider interviews was Gastroenterologists view pain as a secondary (rather than primary) treatment issue.

Conclusions

CAMSA is potentially applicable to pain appraisal in youth with IBD and their parents. When health care providers communicate about pain, they should consider how symptom uncertainty may be influenced by threat, fear/worry, and biased attending. Further studies are needed to develop and test psychosocial interventions to reduce fear and threat of pain in youth with IBD in partnership with families and providers.
Complete transcatheter correction of variant scimitar syndrome—a case report
Authors: Kasturi Sowmya , Marimuthu Varun , Sastry Usha M K , Mahimarangaiah Jayranganath
Published: November 2022

Background

Scimitar syndrome (SS) comprises of an anomalously draining right pulmonary vein (APV), to the inferior vena cava (IVC), maldevelopment of the right pulmonary artery (RPA), and the right lung, with variable number of aorto-pulmonary collaterals (APC) to the right lung. It can cause pulmonary hypertension if left untreated. Surgical correction is the method of choice. We report a case of variant SS with dual drainage of the APV to the IVC and left atrium (LA) that was addressed with a transcatheter approach.

Case summary

A 13-year-old child was evaluated for dyspnoea. Chest x-ray and transthoracic echo (TTE) were suggestive of SS with an additional central atrial septal defect (ASD). Cardiac computed tomography (CT) revealed dual drainage of the APV to the IVC and via a meandering vein to the LA and three APCs. The ASD was closed, and the APCs were coiled. The connection of the APV to the IVC was closed with a device, rerouting the pulmonary vein blood to the LA. The child is doing well on follow-up after 2 years.

Discussion

Variant forms of SS are rare. Our case had ASD, multiple APCs, well-developed RPA and right lung and a dual drainage of the APV. This allowed for transcatheter management. Otherwise, surgery is the default choice. Multimodality imaging with TTE, CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization will help in diagnosis and anatomical delineation.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it: evaluating the effect of increased recombination on response to selection for wheat breeding
Authors: Taagen Ella , Jordan Katherine , Akhunov Eduard , Sorrells Mark E , Jannink Jean-Luc
Published: November 2022

Meiotic recombination is a source of allelic diversity, but the low frequency and biased distribution of crossovers that occur during meiosis limits the genetic variation available to plant breeders. Simulation studies previously identified that increased recombination frequency can retain more genetic variation and drive greater genetic gains than wildtype recombination. Our study was motivated by the need to define desirable recombination intervals in regions of the genome with fewer crossovers. We hypothesized that deleterious variants, which can negatively impact phenotypes and occur at higher frequencies in low recombining regions where they are linked in repulsion with favorable loci, may offer a signal for positioning shifts of recombination distributions. Genomic selection breeding simulation models based on empirical wheat data were developed to evaluate increased recombination frequency and changing recombination distribution on response to selection. Comparing high and low values for a range of simulation parameters identified that few combinations retained greater genetic variation and fewer still achieved higher genetic gain than wildtype. More recombination was associated with loss of genomic prediction accuracy, which outweighed the benefits of disrupting repulsion linkages. Irrespective of recombination frequency or distribution and deleterious variant annotation, enhanced response to selection under increased recombination required polygenic trait architecture, high heritability, an initial scenario of more repulsion than coupling linkages, and greater than 6 cycles of genomic selection. Altogether, the outcomes of this research discourage a controlled recombination approach to genomic selection in wheat as a more efficient path to retaining genetic variation and increasing genetic gains compared with existing breeding methods.
An inequality-constrained regularized inversion of slip distributions on multiple faults with applications to the 2016 Kumamoto Mw 7.0 earthquake
Authors: Xu Peiliang
Published: November 2022

Although slip inversion has been almost always reported to be inherently non-unique, we prove that Fredholm integral equations of the first kind for slip inversion are mathematically of a unique solution, theoretically assuring that earthquake rupture can be properly reconstructed if there exist a sufficiently large number of measurements. The statement about non-uniqueness of slip inversion can be misleading and misunderstanding, since it is theoretically not true but simply caused by a practical issue of lack of measurements. We propose an inequality-constrained regularized inversion of slip distributions on multiple faults. The method implements a physically more general inequality constraint to accommodate more complex dislocation models and allows reconstructing a complex earthquake mechanism on multiple faults from measurements. The corresponding inequality constraints are a natural extension of positivity constraints proposed by Olson & Apsel and Hartzell & Heaton, or the equivalent inequality constraints that only allow slips to take place between −45° and 45° around the main rupture direction. The regularization parameter is chosen by minimizing the mean squared errors of inverted slip solutions. The proposed method is applied to the 2016 Kumamoto Mw 7.0 earthquake with GNSS measurements. Our slip inversion results show that the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake is only of magnitude Mw 6.7 and ruptures shallowly up to 10 km under the surface. More precisely, about 94 and 88 per cent of the energy released from Hinagu and Futagawa faults take place up to this depth, with the maximum slips of 4.81 and 7.89 m on each fault, respectively.
Decidability for the Theory of Modules over a Prüfer Domain
Authors: Gregory Lorna
Published: November 2022

In this article, we give elementary conditions completely characterising when the theory of modules of a Prüfer domain is decidable. Using these results, we show that the theory of modules of the ring of integer valued polynomials is decidable.
Unpacking the Bureaucratic Representation–Legitimacy Relationship in International Organizations: The Role of Elite Beliefs and Self-Legitimation Practices
Authors: Badache Fanny
Published: November 2022

The link between bureaucratic representation and the perceived legitimacy of international organizations (IOs) is often cited in the literature. However, we do not know exactly how this works empirically. In this article, I introduce two variables to better understand the bureaucratic representation–IO legitimacy relationship: elite beliefs about geographical representation and self-legitimation practices. The theoretical framework bridges the literature on IO legitimacy in international relations and the literature on representative bureaucracy in public administration. Based on the case of the United Nations Secretariat and semistructured interviews with staff members, human resources experts, and member state representatives, the qualitative analysis points to two conclusions. First, this article presents the various representative bureaucracy–related legitimation practices employed by the bureaucracy at the discursive, institutional, and behavioral levels. Second, bureaucratic representation is perceived as a democratic, fair, and technocratic source of legitimacy by member state representatives. This article adds to the empirical study of IO legitimacy and to recent studies on representative bureaucracy in IOs.
Stress analysis of an inclusion layer bonded to an irregularly shaped pore under an edge dislocation or a concentrated load
Authors: Liao Y L , Tseng S C , Chao C K
Published: November 2022

Pores play an important role in the failure analysis of metal castings. During the solidification process, slag inclusions such as oxides, nitrides and sulfides may form around the pores. This paper provides an analytical solution for an inclusion layer bonded to a square pore under edge dislocation or a concentrated load. Based on the mapping method and analytical continuation theorem, both sliding and climbing forces as well as interfacial stresses induced by a dislocation or concentrated load are obtained in a closed form. The results indicate that an inclusion layer with a larger (or smaller) shape factor would result in a stable equilibrium position near (or far from) the interface. When the shape factor decreases, the stable equilibrium position moves away from the interface if the stiffness of the inclusion layer increases. For a concentrated load, the interfacial stresses increased with the elastic mismatch and corner sharpness. These findings could improve the compatibility between the matrix and inclusion layer in metallurgical manufacturing systems.
Metabolic Demands and Kinematics During Level Walking in Darkness With No Vision or With Visual Aid
Authors: Norrbrand Lena , Grönkvist Mikael , Kounalakis Stylianos , Halvorsen Kjartan , Eiken Ola
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Uniformed services commonly perform foot-borne operations at night, while using visual aid in terms of night vision goggles (NVG). During slow-level walking, complete lack of visual input alters kinematics and markedly increases the metabolic demand, whereas the effect on kinematics and energy expenditure of restricting the peripheral visual field by wearing NVG is still unknown. The purpose was to evaluate whether metabolic demands and kinematics during level walking are affected by complete darkness with and without visual aid.

Materials and Methods

Eleven healthy men walked on a treadmill (inclination: +2.3°, velocity: 4 km/h) with full vision in a lighted laboratory (Light), and in complete darkness wearing either a blindfold (Dark), or restricting the visual field to about 40° by wearing monocular (Mono) or binocular (Bino) NVG. Oxygen uptake ($\dot{\text{V}}$O2) was measured to evaluate metabolic demands. Inertial measurement units were used to estimate kinematics, and the outcome was validated by using a motion capture system. Ratings of perceived exertion, discomfort, and mental stress were evaluated after each condition using a Borg ratio scale. Physiologic and kinematic variables were evaluated using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), whereas ratings were evaluated using non-parametric Friedman ANOVA.

Results

$\dot{\text{V}}$ O2 was 20% higher in the Dark (1.2 ± 0.2 L/min) than the Light (1.0 ± 0.2 L/min) condition. Nominally, $\dot{\text{V}}$O2 in the Mono (1.1 ± 0.2 L/min) and Bino (1.1 ± 0.2 L/min) conditions fell in between those in the Light and Dark conditions but was not statistically different from either the Light or the Dark condition. Step length was shorter in the Dark (−9%, 1.22 ± 0.16 m) and Mono (−6%, 1.27 ± 0.09 m) conditions than in the Light condition (1.35 ± 0.11 m), whereas the Bino (1.28 ± 0.08 m) condition was not statistically different from either the Light or the Dark condition. The three conditions with no or limited vision were perceived more physically demanding, more uncomfortable, and more mentally stressful than the Light condition, and the Dark condition was perceived more mentally stressful than both NVG conditions.

Conclusions

The study confirms that complete lack of visual cues markedly reduces the mechanical efficiency during level walking, even under obstacle-free and highly predictable conditions. That $\dot{\text{V}}$O2 and step length values for the NVG conditions fell in between those of the Light and Dark conditions suggest that both foveal and peripheral vision may play important roles in optimizing the mechanical efficiency during level walking.
Globular cluster formation with multiple stellar populations: a single-binary composite scenario
Authors: Bekki Kenji
Published: November 2022

We discuss a GC formation scenario in which the first generation (1G) of single asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and intermediate-mass close binaries (IMCBs) eject gas, from which the second generation (2G) of stars can be formed. The two key parameters in the scenario are the fractions of binary stars (fb) and the slopes (α) of the stellar initial mass functions (IMFs) for 1G stars. Principle results derived by analytic and one-zone models of GC formation are as follows. The mass fraction of 2G stars (f2g) can be higher than ≈0.4 for α < 1.8 and is not so dependent on fb. The ratio of the initial mass of a GC to the present-day mass (Mgc) ranges from 2 to 7 depending on α for 0.5 ≤ fb ≤ 0.9. The differences in [Na/Fe] between 1G and 2G stars can be as large as 0.7 for a wide range of model parameters. The Li abundances of 2G stars can be as high as those of 1G even if the pristine gas from IMCBs is assumed to be Li-free. Formation histories of 2G stars show at least two peaks owing to two peaks in the total ejection rate of gas from IMCB populations. The observed correlation between f2g and Mgc can be due to α depending on Mgc. The hypothetical long duration of 2G formation (≈108 yr) is possible, because massive star formation can be suppressed through frequent dynamical interaction between 1G stars and gas clouds.
Measuring bar pattern speeds from single simulation snapshots
Authors: Dehnen Walter , Semczuk Marcin , Schönrich Ralph
Published: November 2022

We describe methods to measure simultaneously the orientation angle ψ and pattern speed Ω from single snapshots of simulated barred galaxies. Unlike previous attempts, our approach is unbiased, precise, and consistent in the sense that $\psi=\int\Omega \mathop{}\mathrm{d} t$. It can be extended to obtain the rate and axis of rotation, i.e. the vector $\boldsymbol{\Omega}$. We provide computer code implementing our method.
Bipolarized intrinsic faradaic layer on a semiconductor surface under illumination
Authors: Xue Mengfan , Chu Zhiqiang , Jiang Dongjian , Dong Hongzheng , Wang Pin , Sun Gengzhi , Yao Yingfang , Luo Wenjun , Zou Zhigang
Published: November 2022

Interface charge transfer plays a key role in the performance of semiconductors for different kinds of solar energy utilization, such as photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, photochromism and photo-induced superhydrophilicity. In previous studies, different mechanisms have been used to understand interface charge transfer processes. However, the charge transfer mechanism at the solid/liquid interface remains a controversial topic. Here, taking TiO2 as a model, we find and prove, via experiments, the new characteristic of photo-induced bipolarity of the surface layer (reduction faradaic layer and oxidation faradaic layer) on a semiconductor for the first time. Different from energy level positions in the classic surface states transfer mechanism, the potential window of a surface faradaic layer is located out of the forbidden band. Moreover, we find that the reduction faradaic layer and oxidation faradaic layer serve as electron and hole transfer mediators in photocatalysis, while the bipolarity or mono-polarity of the surface layer on a semiconductor depends on the applied potential in photoelectrocatalysis. The new characteristic of bipolarity can also offer new insights into the charge transfer process at the semiconductor/liquid interface for solar energy utilization.
Electoral Turnout
Authors: Cancela João
Published: November 2022

This chapter provides an overview of electoral turnout in Portugal since the transition to democracy in 1974/1975 until early 2021. Firstly, it presents the evolution of official and population-adjusted participation rates in different types of elections. Secondly, it reviews the main findings in the literature regarding the sources of variation in voter participation, surveying factors both on a contextual and individual level. This literature review shows that in recent decades there has been an increase of turnout asymmetries. Finally, using aggregate data, the chapter provides an original analysis of the extent to which electoral outcomes in parliamentary elections may vary as a function of turnout levels.
The Executive Political Elite
Authors: Tavares de Almeida Pedro
Published: November 2022

The regime change in Portugal in 1974, from a right-wing dictatorship to democracy, implied a drastic reconfiguration of the Portuguese political system and the emergence of a new ruling elite. This chapter focuses on the recruitment of top decision-makers, the political executive elite (prime ministers, and senior and junior ministers), surveying and discussing the empirical evidence available from 1976 until 2019 on their sociodemographic characteristics and career pathways. Overall, the ministerial personnel are predominantly male, middle-aged, university educated, and drawn from a limited array of occupations (professors, managers, lawyers, and senior civil servants). A few, but significant, background differences uncover the varied profile of two main types of executive appointees: politicians, who have a partisan and parliamentary apprenticeship, and experts, who are selected for their specialized competences and skills. The causes and implications of the high numbers of these ‘outsiders’ in executive positions, a distinctive and persistent trait in Portuguese democracy, will be assessed here.
Movements at the Border. Conflict and Protest in Portugal
Authors: Accornero Guya , Ramos Pinto Pedro
Published: November 2022

This chapter surveys the trajectories and role of social movements in Portugal since the transition to democracy. Popular mobilization on an unprecedented scale was one of the remarkable traits of the Carnation Revolution. Since then, the social movement field has undergone a number of changes—at times echoing developments elsewhere in Europe, others charting its own path. By analysing these shifts, this chapter engages with key debates about the nature of politics in Portugal. Is it a low-mobilization democracy? How autonomous are its social movements, and what is their relationship with institutional politics? While usually viewed as a peripheral country characterized by low-engagement patterns, the Portuguese case reveals some surprises when one considers its bridging role in terms of innovation in forms and study of participation.
Social and Economic Inequality
Authors: Farinha Rodrigues Carlos
Published: November 2022

The aim of this chapter is to analyse the recent evolution of social and economic inequality in Portugal. It describes inequality’s main characteristics and identifies the more at-risk social groups, together with the impact it has on Portuguese society and democracy. Notwithstanding its own specific importance, the study of inequality gains further relevance in this context because it is both a structural component when evaluating the living conditions of individuals, and it plays an essential role in determining the levels of wellbeing of the population. Hence, this chapter also discusses the living conditions, social welfare, and economic poverty of the Portuguese population, paying particular attention to the role of public policies in reducing inequalities and poverty.
Portugal and the Challenges of Economic Globalization
Authors: Amador João
Published: November 2022

Economic globalization has been one of the most powerful forces driving economic and social transformation in the last century. The exchange of goods and services, the flow of capital and workers, and the fast dissemination of knowledge and technology will continue to shape times to come. Portugal has been a part of this trend, mostly through its participation in the European integration process. The country stands as an open economy rooted on broad public and political support regarding its engagement in international economic relations. Nevertheless, the Portuguese economy is lagging behind in some aspects, and the impacts of changes in economic globalization are felt with some delay. The challenges that lie ahead, driven by the inexorable path of technological progress, imply major transformations in the labour market and, as elsewhere, risks of social upheaval cannot be discarded.
Portugal and the European Monetary Union
Authors: Duarte Margarida
Published: November 2022

The adoption of the euro represents a major event for the Portuguese economy. This chapter analyses the process of Portuguese monetary unification with Europe and its macroeconomic performance over the last 20 years. While membership in the euro area was associated with expectations of faster economic convergence to the level of core European countries, Portugal’s economic performance over the last 20 years has largely failed to meet these expectations. This performance has been shaped, in part, by large economic crises to which European institutions and national governments were ill-equipped to respond. But Portugal’s economic underperformance was apparent even before the 2008 global financial crisis. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the current economic and policy challenges faced by Portugal and the euro area.
Portugal in the European Union
Authors: Ferreira-Pereira Laura C.
Published: November 2022

This chapter chronicles and discusses in a critical way the milestones of over 35 years of Portugal’s European integration, which mirror the growing pains and gains of a transformative journey that has become an integral part the country’s national identity. Taking stock of the international literature, it begins with a tour d’horizon highlighting the major issues and insights regarding Portugal’s experience in the European Union (EU). This historic overview provides the necessary background for shedding particular light upon the Portuguese Presidencies of the EU Council which, taken as a whole, evince the evolutionary Europeanization pathway that has led the country to embrace an ever-integrated political EU. The incremental support shown by Portuguese authorities to task expansion within the realm of security and defence stands out as a paradigmatic example of this. Before its concluding remarks, this chapter offers a view of future avenues and challenges for the field of research.
Intratumoral nanobody–IL-2 fusions that bind the tumor extracellular matrix suppress solid tumor growth in mice
Authors: Lutz Emi A , Jailkhani Noor , Momin Noor , Huang Ying , Sheen Allison , Kang Byong H , Wittrup K Dane , Hynes Richard O
Published: November 2022

Confining cytokine exposure to the tumors would greatly enhance cancer immunotherapy safety and efficacy. Immunocytokines, cytokines fused to tumor-targeting antibodies, have been developed with this intention, but without significant clinical success to date. A critical limitation is uptake by receptor-expressing cells in the blood, that decreases the dose at the tumor and engenders toxicity. Small-format immunocytokines, constructed with antibody fragments, are hypothesized to improve tumor specificity due to rapid systemic clearance. However, effective design criteria for small-format immunocytokines need further examination. Here, we engineer small interleukin-2 (IL-2) immunocytokines fused to nanobodies with nanomolar to picomolar affinities for the tumor-specific EIIIB domain of fibronectin (also known as EDB). Upon intravenous delivery into immunocompetent mice, such immunocytokines led to similar tumor growth delay as size-matched untargeted IL-2. Intratumoral (i.t.) delivery imparted improved survival dependent on affinity to EIIIB. I.t. administration offers a promising avenue to deliver small-format immunocytokines, given effective affinity for the tumor microenvironment.
Periodic limb movements in sleep are linked to decreased hippocampus and amygdala volumes in the population-based BiDirect Study
Authors: Szentkirályi András , Hermesdorf Marco , Sundermann Benedikt , Czira Maria , Teismann Henning , Wulms Niklas , Minnerup Heike , Young Peter , Berger Klaus
Published: November 2022

Study Objectives

Even though numerous studies indicate that sleep disorders are associated with altered brain morphology, MRI studies focusing on periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are scarce. Our aim was to investigate the association of PLMS with global and regional gray matter volumes as well as white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume.

Methods

One hundred and eighty-nine subjects (57.0 ± 7.8 years, women: 50.5%) of the population-based BiDirect Study underwent a single-night polysomnography (PSG). Standard criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine were applied to evaluate sleep characteristics and calculate the PLMS index (PLMSI). T1w and FLAIR images were acquired with cerebral MRI at 3 Tesla. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to determine the total gray matter volume as well as the volume of cortical segments and subcortical gray matter areas using SPM12 and CAT12. The WMH volume was quantified with the Brain Intensity AbNormality Classification Algorithm. The independent relationship between MRI markers and PLMSI was analyzed using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, intracranial volume, PSG scorer, PSG device, sleep apnea, and the use of antidepressants.

Results

PLMSI was not significantly related to global gray matter volume and WMH volume. However, significant inverse associations of the PLMSI with the volume of the hippocampus (left and right hemisphere) and left amygdala were observed.

Conclusions

A significant relationship between a higher PLMSI and lower volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala was found among the participants of the BiDirect Study. Since these associations are based on exploratory analyses, further replications are required before drawing firm conclusions.
Pervasive Introgression During Rapid Diversification of the European Mountain Genus Soldanella (L.) (Primulaceae)
Authors: Slovák Marek , Melichárková Andrea , Štubňová Eliška Gbúrová , Kučera Jaromír , Mandáková Terezie , Smyčka Jan , Lavergne Sébastien , Passalacqua Nicodemo Giuseppe , Vďačný Peter , Paun Ovidiu
Published: November 2022

Hybridization is a key mechanism involved in lineage diversification and speciation, especially in ecosystems that experienced repeated environmental oscillations. Recently radiated plant groups, which have evolved in mountain ecosystems impacted by historical climate change provide an excellent model system for studying the impact of gene flow on speciation. We combined organellar (whole-plastome) and nuclear genomic data (RAD-seq) with a cytogenetic approach (rDNA FISH) to investigate the effects of hybridization and introgression on evolution and speciation in the genus Soldanella (snowbells, Primulaceae). Pervasive introgression has already occurred among ancestral lineages of snowbells and has persisted throughout the entire evolutionary history of the genus, regardless of the ecology, cytotype, or distribution range size of the affected species. The highest extent of introgression has been detected in the Carpathian species, which is also reflected in their extensive karyotype variation. Introgression occurred even between species with dysploid and euploid cytotypes, which were considered to be reproductively isolated. The magnitude of introgression detected in snowbells is unprecedented in other mountain genera of the European Alpine System investigated hitherto. Our study stresses the prominent evolutionary role of hybridization in facilitating speciation and diversification on the one hand, but also enriching previously isolated genetic pools. [chloroplast capture; diversification; dysploidy; European Alpine system; introgression; nuclear-cytoplasmic discordance; ribosomal DNA.]
Genome Sequence Resources for Five Isolates of Coniothyrium glycines, Causal Pathogen of Red Leaf Blotch of Soybeans
Authors: Proaño-Cuenca Fernanda , Carrera-Lopez Daniel , Luster Douglas , Zeller Kurt , Cardwell Kitty
Published: November 2022

Red leaf blotch is a severe soybean disease caused by the select agent fungal pathogen Coniothyrium glycines. With little information about the pathogen, no molecular detection methods are available. Here, we report genome assemblies of five isolates, including reference isolates. These datasets provide a valuable resource for ongoing studies that include marker development, diagnostics, and population diversity.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
PRPS2 mutations drive acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse through influencing PRPS1/2 hexamer stability
Authors: Song Lili , Li Peifeng , Sun Huiying , Ding Lixia , Wang Jing , Li Benshang , Zhou Bin-Bing S. , Feng Haizhong , Li Yanxin
Published: November 2022

Tumor relapse is the major cause of treatment failure in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), yet the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we demonstrate that phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 2 (PRPS2) mutations drive ALL relapse through influencing PRPS1/2 hexamer stability. Ultra-deep sequencing was performed to identify PRPS2 mutations in ALL samples. The effects of PRPS2 mutations on cell survival, cell apoptosis, and drug resistance were evaluated. In vitro PRPS2 enzyme activity and ADP/GDP feedback inhibition of PRPS enzyme activity were assessed. Purine metabolites were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Integrating sequencing data with clinical information, we identified PRPS2 mutations only in relapsed childhood ALL with thiopurine therapy. Functional PRPS2 mutations mediated purine metabolism specifically on thiopurine treatment by influencing PRPS1/2 hexamer stability, leading to reduced nucleotide feedback inhibition of PRPS activity and enhanced thiopurine resistance. The 3-amino acid V103-G104-E105, the key difference between PRPS1 and PRPS2, insertion in PRPS2 caused severe steric clash to the interface of PRPS hexamer, leading to its low enzyme activity. In addition, we demonstrated that PRPS2 P173R increased thiopurine resistance in xenograft models. Our work describes a novel mechanism by which PRPS2 mutants drive childhood ALL relapse and highlights PRPS2 mutations as biomarkers for relapsed childhood ALL.
Evaluation of Inappropriate Positioning of Dosimeters in Medical Workers Based on Dose Equivalent Hp(10)
Authors: Tamura Megumi , Kawamoto Takeshi , Kenjo Masahiro , Nakashima Takeo , Kawano Reo , Tamura Takayuki , Ishifuro Minoru , Kiguchi Masao , Awai Kazuo , Nagata Yasushi
Published: November 2022

This report presents a new method to characterize the inappropriate positioning of dosimeters based on the dose equivalent Hp(10). The Hp(10) values of medical workers were measured monthly for 12 mo using two personal dosimeters. Using the ratio between the values of Hp(10) recorded from dosimeters worn over and under protective aprons [Hp(10)over and Hp(10)under, respectively], 670 pairs of dosimeter readings were categorized into a proper use group [Hp(10)over/Hp(10)under ≥ 5] and a misuse group [Hp(10)over/Hp(10)under < 5]. Following personal interviews, the readings in the misuse group were classified into the following six subgroups: “reversed,” “sometimes reversed,” “both under,” “both over,” “without apron,” and “not specified.” Ultimately, the scatter plot of “Hp(10)over – Hp(10)under” vs. Hp(10)over was identified as the most promising tool for clarifying the misuse patterns of dosimeters, as individual readings were mapped to the locations of the corresponding subgroups in the obtained graphs. Our results are expected to facilitate efficient and accurate usage of dosimeters by medical workers.
Mitochondrial disorders: Understanding mitochondrial DNA point mutations and deletion syndromes
Authors: Heuer Beth , Seibert Diane C.
Published: November 2022

Mitochondrial disorders arise from DNA mutations in either the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or nuclear DNA genomes. This article focuses on a mtDNA base-pair mutation associated with neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa and Leigh syndrome and the large-scale mtDNA deletion associated with Kearns–Sayre syndrome. Disease sequelae and management strategies are reviewed, along with implications for the nurse practitioner in primary or specialty care.
Sex-related short-term blood pressure variability differences in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Korogiannou Maria , Alexandrou Maria-Eleni , Sarafidis Pantelis , Pella Eva , Theodorakopoulou Marieta P. , Xagas Efstathios , Argyris Antonis , Protogerou Athanase , Boletis Ioannis N. , Marinaki Smaragdi
Published: November 2022

Objective

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) display higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than the general population. Increased short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to investigate sex differences in short-term BPV in KTRs.

Methods

In total, 136 male and 69 female KTRs with valid 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included in this analysis. Systolic and diastolic BPV indices [SD, weighted SD (wSD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV) and variability independent of the mean (VIM)] were calculated with validated formulas for the 24 h, daytime and nighttime periods.

Results

Age, time from transplantation surgery and history of major comorbidities did not differ between men and women. During the 24-h period, systolic BPV indices did not differ between men and women (SBP-ARV: 9.4 ± 2.2 vs. 9.9 ± 2.5; P = 0.212). During the daytime period, SBP-CV and SBP-VIM were significantly higher in females compared with male participants (SBP-CV: 9.9 ± 2.4 vs. 11 ± 3.1%; P = 0.022 and SBP-VIM: 12.6 ± 3.0 vs 14.2 ± 3.9; P = 0.008); daytime SBP-SD and SBP-ARV, and all studied indexes during nighttime did not differ between groups. No significant between-group differences in 24 h and daytime diastolic BPV indices were detected. Nighttime DBP-CV was marginally higher in men (12.0 ± 3.6 vs. 11.4 ± 4.0; P = 0.053); the rest nighttime diastolic BPV indices measured were also nonsignificantly higher in men.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 24-h systolic and diastolic BPV parameters did not differ between male and female KTRs, but short-term BPV over the respective day- and nighttime periods showed different trends in men and women. Further studies are needed to examine possible differences in long-term BPV in KTRs.