bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposure to isocyanates predicts atopic dermatitis prevalence and disrupts therapeutic pathways in commensal bacteria
Authors: Zeldin Jordan , Chaudhary Prem Prashant , Spathies Jacquelyn , Yadav Manoj , D’Souza Brandon N. , Alishahedani Mohammadali E. , Gough Portia , Matriz Jobel , Ghio Andrew J. , Li Yue , Sun Ashleigh A. , Eichenfield Lawrence F. , Simpson Eric L. , Myles Ian A.
Published: January 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition increasing in industrial nations at a pace that suggests environmental drivers. We hypothesize that the dysbiosis associated with AD may signal microbial adaptations to modern pollutants. Having previously modeled the benefits of health-associated
Roseomonas mucosa
, we now show that
R. mucosa
fixes nitrogen in the production of protective glycerolipids and their ceramide by-products. Screening EPA databases against the clinical visit rates identified diisocyanates as the strongest predictor of AD. Diisocyanates disrupted the production of beneficial lipids and therapeutic modeling for isolates of
R. mucosa
as well as commensal
Staphylococcus
. Last, while topical
R. mucosa
failed to meet commercial end points in a placebo-controlled trial, the subgroup who completed the full protocol demonstrated sustained, clinically modest, but statistically significant clinical improvements that differed by study site diisocyanate levels. Therefore, diisocyanates show temporospatial and epidemiological association with AD while also inducing eczematous dysbiosis.
Arginine limitation drives a directed codon-dependent DNA sequence evolution response in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Hsu Dennis J. , Gao Jenny , Yamaguchi Norihiro , Pinzaru Alexandra , Wu Qiushuang , Mandayam Nandan , Liberti Maria , Heissel Søren , Alwaseem Hanan , Tavazoie Saeed , Tavazoie Sohail F.
Published: January 2023

Utilization of specific codons varies between organisms. Cancer represents a model for understanding DNA sequence evolution and could reveal causal factors underlying codon evolution. We found that across human cancer, arginine codons are frequently mutated to other codons. Moreover, arginine limitation—a feature of tumor microenvironments—is sufficient to induce arginine codon–switching mutations in human colon cancer cells. Such DNA codon switching events encode mutant proteins with arginine residue substitutions. Mechanistically, arginine limitation caused rapid reduction of arginine transfer RNAs and the stalling of ribosomes over arginine codons. Such selective pressure against arginine codon translation induced an adaptive proteomic shift toward low-arginine codon–containing genes, including specific amino acid transporters, and caused mutational evolution away from arginine codons—reducing translational bottlenecks that occurred during arginine starvation. Thus, environmental availability of a specific amino acid can influence DNA sequence evolution away from its cognate codons and generate altered proteins.
Inflammation of the retinal pigment epithelium drives early-onset photoreceptor degeneration in
Mertk
-associated retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Mercau Maria E. , Akalu Yemsratch T. , Mazzoni Francesca , Gyimesi Gavin , Alberto Emily J. , Kong Yong , Hafler Brian P. , Finnemann Silvia C. , Rothlin Carla V. , Ghosh Sourav
Published: January 2023

Severe, early-onset photoreceptor (PR) degeneration associated with
MERTK
mutations is thought to result from failed phagocytosis by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Notwithstanding, the severity and onset of PR degeneration in mouse models of
Mertk
ablation are determined by the hypomorphic expression or the loss of the
Mertk
paralog
Tyro3
. Here, we find that loss of
Mertk
and reduced expression/loss of
Tyro3
led to RPE inflammation even before eye-opening. Incipient RPE inflammation cascaded to involve microglia activation and PR degeneration with monocyte infiltration. Inhibition of RPE inflammation with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib mitigated PR degeneration in
Mertk
−/−
mice. Neither inflammation nor severe, early-onset PR degeneration was observed in mice with defective phagocytosis alone. Thus, inflammation drives severe, early-onset PR degeneration–associated with
Mertk
loss of function.
Porous liquid metal–elastomer composites with high leakage resistance and antimicrobial property for skin-interfaced bioelectronics
Authors: Xu Yadong , Su Yajuan , Xu Xianchen , Arends Brian , Zhao Ganggang , Ackerman Daniel N. , Huang Henry , Reid St. Patrick , Santarpia Joshua L. , Kim Chansong , Chen Zehua , Mahmoud Sana , Ling Yun , Brown Alexander , Chen Qian , Huang Guoliang , Xie Jingwei , Yan Zheng
Published: January 2023

Liquid metal–elastomer composite is a promising soft conductor for skin-interfaced bioelectronics, soft robots, and others due to its large stretchability, ultrasoftness, high electrical conductivity, and mechanical-electrical decoupling. However, it often suffers from deformation-induced leakage, which can smear skin, deteriorate device performance, and cause circuit shorting. Besides, antimicrobial property is desirable in soft conductors to minimize microbial infections. Here, we report phase separation–based synthesis of porous liquid metal–elastomer composites with high leakage resistance and antimicrobial property, together with large stretchability, tissue-like compliance, high and stable electrical conductivity over deformation, high breathability, and magnetic resonance imaging compatibility. The porous structures can minimize leakage through damping effects and lower percolation thresholds to reduce liquid metal usage. In addition, epsilon polylysine is loaded into elastic matrices during phase separation to provide antimicrobial property. The enabled skin-interfaced bioelectronics can monitor cardiac electrical and mechanical activities and offer electrical stimulations in a mechanically imperceptible and electrically stable manner even during motions.
Kill dates from re-exposed black mosses constrain past glacier advances in the northern Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Groff Dulcinea V. , Beilman David W. , Yu Zicheng , Ford Derek , Xia Zhengyu
Published: January 2023

Glaciers are receding in the northern Antarctic Peninsula and exposing previously entombed soils and plants. We used 39 black (dead) mosses collected from rapidly retreating ice margins at four sites along the Antarctic Peninsula to determine the kill dates using radiocarbon measurements and to constrain the timing of past glacier advances over the last 1500 yr. We established strict new criteria for sample collection to promote robust estimates of plant death. We found distinct phases of ice advance during ca. 1300, 800, and 200 calibrated years before 1950 (cal yr B.P.). We report estimates of the rate of glacier advance at ca. 800 cal yr B.P. at Gamage and Bonaparte Points (southern Anvers Island) of 2.0 and 0.3 m/yr, respectively. Although the range of kill dates is relatively narrow within a region, suggesting multiple glaciers advanced simultaneously, the rates of local advances can vary by almost an order of magnitude and are much less than retreat rates. Our kill dates coincide with evidence for glacier advances from other studies in the northern Antarctic Peninsula at ca. 1300, 800, and 200 cal yr B.P. and for penguin colony abandonment at several sites in the region ranging from 450 to 0 cal yr B.P. The combination of our new terrestrial evidence for glacier advances with other lines of evidence shows the regional synchroneity of glacial dynamics and cryosphere-biosphere connections during rapid climate shifts and the sensitivity of terrestrial ecosystems to climate cooling.
Fragmentation, rafting, and drowning of a carbonate platform margin in a rift-basin setting
Authors: Petrovic Alexander , Lüdmann Thomas , Afifi Abdulkader M. , Saitz Yannick , Betzler Christian , Vahrenkamp Volker
Published: January 2023

High-resolution bathymetric and shallow seismic data along the northeast Red Sea margin reveal a previously disregarded mechanism for carbonate platform drowning at a steep-flanked rift basin. At the seafloor, salt extrusions highlight the influence of extensional salt tectonics, with a salt flow from the southern flank of the Al Wajh carbonate platform that likely originates from below. Salt-flow direction, morphology, and kilometer-sized slumps and rotated blocks indicate platform-margin disintegration and rafting of platform blocks toward the southwest. The outlines of several smaller detached or semi-detached carbonate platforms to the south of the main platform can be refitted to the larger platform margin by counter-moving the direction of mass wasting. Several platforms, reaching heights above the seafloor of up to 650 m, are partially or fully submerged in the mesophotic zone and appear to be in danger of drowning. We conclude that the southern outer rim of the Al Wajh platform is breaking apart owing to salt withdrawal, which indicates that carbonate platforms on top of salt sequences grow on mobile ground, leading to platform disintegration, basinward rafts, and the demise of broken-off, smaller pieces of platform. Salt displacement also controls the growth geometries of individual platform rafts, with keep-up reef growth (growth rate equal to sea-level rise) and drowning occurring in close spatial proximity. Therefore, the interplay between salt diapirism and platform growth is not limited to platforms growing on the apexes of diapirs and is more complex than previously thought.
A power-based abrasion law for use in landscape evolution models
Authors: Hansen D.D. , Brooks J.P. , Zoet L.K. , Stevens N.T. , Smith L. , Bate C.E. , Jahnke B.J.
Published: January 2023

Subglacial abrasion drives erosion for many glaciers, inundating forefields and proglacial marine environments with glaciogenic sediments. Theoretical treatments of this process suggest that bedrock abrasion rates scale linearly with the energy expended through rock-on-rock friction during slip, but this assumption lacks an empirical basis for general implementation. To test this approach, we simulated abrasion by sliding debris-laden ice over rock beds under subglacial conditions in a cryo-ring shear and a direct shear device. Miniscule volumes of erosion that occurred during each run were mapped with a white-light profilometer, and we measured the rock mechanical properties needed to constrain the energy expended through abrasion. We find that abraded volume per unit area increases linearly with average shear force at the bed and that abrasion rates increase linearly with basal power for plane beds. Lastly, only a small percentage (1%) of the energy partitioned to basal slip is dissipated by abrasion. These results confirm the basal-power abrasion rule is viable to implement in landscape evolution models.
Diamonds reveal subducted slab harzburgite in the lower mantle
Authors: Meyer Nicole A. , Stachel Thomas , Pearson D. Graham , Stern Richard A. , Harris Jeffrey W. , Walter Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Characterizing compositional heterogeneity in Earth’s lower mantle is critical to understanding its dynamics. Three low-nitrogen diamonds from Koffiefontein (South Africa), containing inclusion assemblages of ferropericlase ± orthopyroxene ± magnesite, constrain diamond formation in an Mg-rich lower-mantle environment. Ferropericlase inclusions have Mg# 82.7–88.5 and orthopyroxene inclusions (retrogressed bridgmanite) have Mg# 95.0–95.1 and mantle-like δ18O of +5.6‰ ± 0.2‰. Magnesite included in one diamond implicates carbonated fluids in diamond formation. High Mg# and low Ca, Al, and Na of the assemblage indicate a melt-depleted meta-harzburgitic environment, in contrast to more fertile compositions expected for primitive lower mantle. Extremely low Ca in orthopyroxene inclusions may reflect a combination of melt depletion and low equilibration temperatures at the time of trapping. Inclusion compositions implicate subducted oceanic slab meta-harzburgite as the host for diamond growth. Mantle-like δ18O of the orthopyroxene inclusions indicates unaltered oceanic lithosphere. Similar melt-depleted characteristics in lower-mantle inclusion assemblages worldwide support that meta-harzburgite is the dominant host of lower-mantle diamonds.
Large erupted complex odontoma mimicking maxillary osteomyelitis
Authors: Agarwal Subham , Rao Santhosh , Lepcha Joseph , Galhotra Virat
Published: January 2023

Odontoma is the most common benign odontogenic hamartoma. Odontomas are of two types, such as viz compound and complex odontoma. The complex type is a conglomeration of hard tissues of dental origin. They are primarily intraosseous and usually present in the second decade of life. Most odontomas are asymptomatic, but those erupting in the oral cavity may cause severe infection. They are often associated with impacted teeth and are present with the anterior maxilla showing the highest propensity.

The present case report is of a male patient in his early 60s with a substantial solitary sclerotic odontoma of the middle and posterior segments of the maxilla erupted into the oral cavity communicating with the right maxillary sinus. The delayed presentation, size, location and active suppuration can misguide clinicians.
Role of social capital in response to and recovery from the first wave of COVID-19 in Thailand: a qualitative study
Authors: Samutachak Bhubate , Ford Kathleen , Tangcharoensathien Viroj , Satararuji Kullatip
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study assesses the role of social capital among people and communities in response to the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

Design

Qualitative study using focus group discussions.

Setting

Capital city (Bangkok) and the four regions (north, northeast, south and central) of Thailand.

Participants

161 participants of 19 focus groups with diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, profession, education and geography (urban/rural; regions). They are selected for different levels of impact from the pandemic.

Findings

The solidarity among the Thai people was a key contributing factor to societal resilience during the pandemic. Findings illustrate how three levels of social capital structure—family, community and local networks—mobilised resources from internal and external social networks to support people affected by the pandemic. The results also highlight different types of resources mobilised from the three levels of social capital, factors that affect resilience, collective action to combat the negative impacts of the pandemic, and the roles of social media and gender.

Conclusion

Social capital plays significant roles in the resilience of individuals, households and communities to respond to and recover from the impacts of the pandemic. In many instances, social capital is a faster and more efficient response than other kinds of formal support. Social capital can be enhanced by interactions and exchanges in the communities. While face-to-face social contacts are challenged by the need for social distancing and travel restrictions, social media steps in as alternative socialisation to enhance social capital.
Implementation of a quality improvement programme using the Active Patient Link call and recall system to improve timeliness and equity of childhood vaccinations: protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation
Authors: Marszalek Milena , Hawking Meredith K D , Gutierrez Ana , Dostal Isabel , Ahmed Zaheer , Firman Nicola , Robson John , Bedford Helen , Billington Anna , Moss Ngawai , Dezateux Carol
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Call and recall systems provide actionable intelligence to improve equity and timeliness of childhood vaccinations, which have been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will evaluate the effectiveness, fidelity and sustainability of a data-enabled quality improvement programme delivered in primary care using an Active Patient Link Immunisation (APL-Imms) call and recall system to improve timeliness and equity of uptake in a multiethnic disadvantaged urban population. We will use qualitative methods to evaluate programme delivery, focusing on uptake and use, implementation barriers and service improvements for clinical and non-clinical primary care staff, its fidelity and sustainability.

Methods and analysis

This is a mixed-methods observational study in 284 general practices in north east London (NEL). The target population will be preschool-aged children eligible to receive diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) or measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations and registered with an NEL general practice. The intervention comprises an in-practice call and recall tool, facilitation and training, and financial incentives. The quantitative evaluation will include interrupted time Series analyses and Slope Index of Inequality. The primary outcomes will be the proportion of children receiving at least one dose of a DTaP-containing or MMR vaccination defined, respectively, as administered between age 6 weeks and 6 months or between 12 and 18 months of age. The qualitative evaluation will involve a ‘Think Aloud’ method and semistructured interviews of stakeholders to assess impact, fidelity and sustainability of the APL-Imms tool, and fidelity of the implementation by facilitators.

Ethics and dissemination

The research team has been granted permission from data controllers in participating practices to use deidentified data for audit purposes. As findings will be specific to the local context, research ethics approval is not required. Results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and to stakeholders, including parents, health providers and commissioners.
A mixed-methods evaluation of unconscious racial bias training for NHS senior practitioners to improve the experiences of racially minoritised students
Authors: Pennington Charlotte R. , Bliss Eleanore , Airey Alisha , Bancroft Mandy , Pryce-Miller Maxine
Published: January 2023

Objective

The degree awarding gap indicates that racially minoritised higher education students receive lower degree classifications relative to their white peers. While the reasons for this are complex, research suggests that educator and practitioner attitudes and behaviour towards racially minoritised students are a significant contributing factor. This preregistered study evaluates the effectiveness of unconscious racial bias training (URBT) to enhance National Health Service senior practitioner’s recognition of how racial inequalities negatively impact racially minoritised students.

Design

A mixed-methods study with a pretest and post-test design was conducted in the higher education and healthcare practice environment.

Methods

Forty-nine NHS senior practitioners completed a 4-hour URBT workshop with activities focusing on activating stereotypes, exploring differences between unconscious and implicit bias, discussing the development of bias, and reflecting on student experiences of prejudice, harassment and discrimination. They completed pre- and post- quantitative measures that assessed the effectiveness of URBT and changes in racial competency, awareness and perceptions of unconscious racial bias. Qualitative measures explored the usefulness and perceived applications of URBT, and a 1-month follow-up assessed further how it had been applied within practice.

Results

Participants reported positive evaluations of URBT, higher perceived racial competency, awareness and perceptions of racial bias (ps<0.001, dz>0.35). After 1 month, key themes from qualitative responses suggested that participants had increased self-awareness and were exploring how to set up mentoring and working groups, change recruitment and progression processes, and diversify the taught curriculum.

Conclusions

URBT may be one effective strategy to enhance awareness and encourage reflections of racial bias. We discuss how reducing racial inequalities requires a multifaceted approach that affords upfront conversations about systemic racism, implements effective initiatives, policies and procedures, and engages in continuous evaluation.
Comparison of assessment of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status in triple-negative breast cancer biopsies and surgical specimens
Authors: Noske Aurelia , Steiger Katja , Ballke Simone , Kiechle Marion , Oettler Dirk , Roth Wilfried , Weichert Wilko
Published: January 2023

Aims

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is important for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies but may vary between different immunohistochemical assays, scorings and the type of specimen used for analysis.

Methods

We compared the analytical concordance of three clinically relevant PD-L1 assays (VENTANA SP142, VENTANA SP263 and DAKO 22C3 pharmDx) assessing immune cell score (IC), tumour proportion score and combined positive score (CPS) in preoperative biopsies and resection specimens of primary TNBC. PD-L1 expression was scored on virtual whole slide images and compared with expression data from corresponding surgical specimens.

Results

The mean PD-L1 positivity in TNBC biopsies defined as IC ≥1% and CPS ≥1 ranged between 11% and 61% with the lowest positivity for SP142 and highest for SP263. The corresponding surgical specimens showed overall higher positivity rates (53%–75%). When comparing biopsies with surgical specimens, the agreement for PD-L1 positivity with SP263 and 22C3 at IC score ≥1% and CPS ≥1 was fair (kappa 0.47–0.52) and poor for SP142 (kappa 0.15–0.19). Using CPS ≥10 cut-off, the agreement for SP263 was excellent (kappa 0.751) but poor for 22C3 (kappa 0.261). Spearman correlation coefficients ranged between 0.489 and 0.75 indicating a generally moderate to strong correlation between biopsies and surgical specimens for all assays and scores.

Conclusions

We demonstrate high accordance between biopsies and surgical specimens for SP263 and 22C3 scoring but less for SP142. Generally, biopsies are suitable for PD-L1 testing in TNBC but the appropriate assay, scoring and cut-off must be considered.
Interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: incidence, prevalence and related drug prescriptions between 2007 and 2020
Authors: Albrecht Katinka , Strangfeld Anja , Marschall Ursula , Callhoff Johanna
Published: January 2023

Objective

To investigate prevalence, incidence and medication of interstitial lung disease (ILD) among German individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Nationwide BARMER claims data from 2007 to 2020 were used. RA-ILD was identified by diagnosis codes, prescription of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and lung diagnostics. ILD was assigned as incident or prevalent relative to the year of the first diagnosis. We identified prescriptions of glucocorticoids, conventional synthetic (cs), biological (b) and targeted synthetic (ts)DMARDs, antifibrotics and rheumatology and/or pulmonology care.

Results

Among all persons with RA (40 686 in 2007 to 85 175 in 2020), 1.7%–2.2%/year had ILD with a slight decline since 2013. Incident ILD was 0.13%–0.21% per year and remained stable over time. ILD was more common in seropositive RA, in men and in the elderly (mean age 72 years in 2020). Glucocorticoids (84% to 68%), csDMARD (83% to 55%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (62% to 38%) declined, while bDMARDs (16% to 24%) rose. In 2020, 7% received tsDMARDs, 3% antifibrotics, 44% analgesics and 30% opioids. DMARD therapy was more common if a rheumatologist was involved and antifibrotics if a pulmonologist was involved. Opioid use was highest if no specialist was involved (39%) but also common in rheumatology care (32%) and less frequent in pulmonology care (21%).

Conclusions

RA-ILD is rare and mainly affects elderly persons. No trend in incidence was observed but treatment strategies have enlarged. Specialist care is necessary to provide disease-specific therapies. The continuing high analgesic and opioid demand shows unmet needs in these patients.
Delays in care for hydrocephalus and spina bifida at a tertiary hospital in Somaliland
Authors: Dahir Shukri , Cotache-Condor Cesia , Grimm Andie , Mohamed Mubarak , Rice Henry , Smith Emily , Ismail Edna Adan
Published: January 2023

Background

Childhood neurosurgical conditions such as hydrocephalus and spina bifida represent a significant burden of death and disability worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries. However, there are limited data on the disease prevalence and delays in care for pediatric neurosurgical conditions in very low-resource settings. This study aims to characterize the delays in access to care for pediatric neurosurgical conditions in Somaliland.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all children with congenital hydrocephalus and spina bifida admitted to the Edna University Hospital (EAUH) in Somaliland between 2011 and 2018. Patient demographics were analyzed with descriptive statistics and χ2test statistics. We defined delays in care for each condition based on standard care in high-income settings. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate predictors of delay in care. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

A total of 344 children were admitted to EAUH with neurosurgical conditions from 2011 to 2018. The most common condition was congenital hydrocephalus (62%). Delays in care were found for 90% of patients and were associated with the type of diagnosis and region. The longest delay among children with spina bifida was 60 months, while the longest delay for children with congenital hydrocephalus was 36 months. Children with congenital hydrocephalus or spina bifida traveling from foreign countries had the highest waiting time to receive care, with a median delay of 8 months (IQR: 5–11 months) and 4 months (IQR: 3–7 months), respectively.

Conclusion

We found significant delays in care for children with neurosurgical conditions in Somaliland. This country has an urgent need to scale up its surgical infrastructure, workforce, and referral pathways to address the needs of children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BW2013 protects mucosal integrity and modulates gut microbiota of mice with colitis
Authors: Niu Xiaohui , Li Qian , Luan Na , Liu Jia , Zhang Michael , An Jun , Li Zuming , Bai Zhihui , Xia Ran , Wu Zhichao
Published: January 2023

This study explored the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously Lactobacillus plantarum) BW2013 on mucosal integrity and gut microbiota of mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The results show that the clinical symptoms in DSS-modelled ulcerative colitis (UC) were improved by L. plantarum BW2013 via decreasing disease activity index scores and suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, L. plantarum BW2013 decreased the levels of diamine oxidase activity, myeloperoxidase, and D-lactic acid. The mRNA expression of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 was upregulated by L. plantarum BW2013, which also increased IL-10 and reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the colon. 16S rDNA sequencing showed that L. plantarum BW2013 enhanced α-diversity. L. plantarum BW2013 upregulated significantly the abundance of unidentfied Lachnospiraceae, Lactococcus, Rikenella, Lactobacillus, and Odoribacter, which had an inhibitory effect on inflammation and a protective effect on the integrity of the mucosa. These results demonstrate that L. plantarum BW2013 alleviates DSS-modelled UC by protecting mucosal integrity and ameliorating the composition of gut microbiota.
Quasi-local studies of the particle surfaces and their stability in general spacetimes
Authors: Song Yong , Zhang Chuanyu
Published: January 2023

In this paper, enlightened by the definition of the photon surface given by Claudel, Virbhadra and Ellis, we give a quasi-local definition of the particle surface. From this definition, one can study the evolution of the circular orbits in general spacetime. Especially, we pointed out that this definition can be used to get the spherical circular orbits in stationary spacetimes which cannot be got by the definition of Claudel, Virbhadra and Ellis. Further, we give a condition to exclude the particle surface in spacetime without gravity. Simultaneously, we give a quasi-local definition of the stability of the particle surface in general spacetime. From this definition, one can get the evolution equation of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) in general spacetime. To verify the correctness of these definitions, we studied the circular orbits in some special cases and the results are all consistent with the previous results.
Analysis of heat flow in the post-quasi-static approximation for gravitational collapse in five dimension
Authors: Zahra A. , Mardan S. A. , Noureen I.
Published: January 2023

In this work, a generalized framework of the post-quasistatic approximation in higher dimensional non-comoving coordinates is presented. We study the evolution of adiabatically radiating and dissipative fluid configuration in higher dimensional post-quasi-static approximation. An iterative method for describing self-gravitating spheres is developed for this purpose. Dissipation is described by free-streaming radiation and heat flux. We match the higher dimensional interior solution, in non-comoving coordinates, with the corresponding Vaidya exterior solution. The generalized form of post-quasistatic approximation leads to a system of higher dimensional surface equations. The surface equations are of significant importance in the understanding of the physical phenomenon like luminosity, Doppler shift and red-shift at the boundary surface of gravitating sources.
Gauge field localization in branes: coupling to a scalar function and coupling to torsion in teleparallel gravity scenario
Authors: Moreira A. R. P. , Belchior F. M. , Maluf R. V. , Almeida C. A. S.
Published: January 2023

This paper is aimed at investigating the behavior of gauge vector and tensor fields on thick brane in f(T) gravity. This thick brane is not capable of providing a normalizable zero mode for both gauge and Kalb Ramond fields. To overcome this problem, we propose two distinct types of gauge-invariant couplings. In the first coupling, the fields are minimally coupled to the scalar field responsible for generating the thick brane. In the second coupling, we use the geometric coupling in which the fields are non-minimally coupled to torsion. Another issue that we investigate is resonant modes, which allow us to understand the massive spectrum of fields. Indeed we note that an internal structure appears for the Kalb–Ramond massive solutions and both couplings show resonant modes of the massive spectrum.
Low Complex Analog Beamforming Design in Multi-User mmWave Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA)
Authors: Sumathi S. , Ramesh T. K. , Ding Zhiguo
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we investigate non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme in millimeter wave (mmWave) communication to serve nonclustered multiple users. We explore a low complex design of an analog beamforming weight vector and the power requirement of users aiming to minimize the total power targeting to satisfy the spectral efficiency (SE) requirements of all users. We propose a low complex constant modulus analog beamforming (CMAB) algorithm, where we first reduce the number of signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) constraints, which is attained from the order of equivalent channel gain of users. Then, the nonconvex constraint of constant modulus (CM) is relaxed and semi-definite programming (SDP) is used to solve the problem. Obtained weight vector and power for all users are optimal since the rank of positive semi-definite (PSD) matrix is one. Later, CM constraint is included. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm requires less power with minimum complexity compared to the existing research, digital beamforming NOMA and time division multiple access (TDMA) for the same SE requirements.
MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS OF HIV/ AIDS IN RISK STRUCTURED POPULATION
Authors: NIGER ASHRAFI M. , PODDER CHANDRA N.
Published: January 2023

A model for assessing the impact of key population at risk in spreading HIV/ AIDS is designed. The model is shown to have a globally asymptotically stable (GAS) disease-free equilibrium whenever the associated reproduction number is less than unity. It has a unique GAS endemic equilibrium whenever reproduction number exceeds unity, if there is no back and forth movement in susceptible classes. It is shown that if infected individuals with high risk abandon their risky behavioral practices, then the disease burden will reduce. Furthermore, if infected individuals with low risk do not adopt risky behaviors then the transmission of the disease will decrease. Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient (PRCC) indices are assessed using all the infection-related classes and basic reproduction number of the model. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis results show that controlling the effective contact rate, disease-induced death rate in AIDS stage with low and high risk classes will help controlling the transmission of the disease.
Proper (Strong) Rainbow Connection and Proper (Strong) Rainbow Vertex Connection of Some Special Graphs
Authors: Ma Yingbin , Xue Yanfeng , Zhang Xiaoxue
Published: January 2023

The proper rainbow vertex connection number of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the smallest number of colors needed to properly color the vertices of [Formula: see text] so that [Formula: see text] is rainbow vertex connected. The proper strong rainbow vertex connection number of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the smallest number of colors needed to properly color the vertices of [Formula: see text] so that [Formula: see text] is strong rainbow vertex connected. These two concepts are inspired by the concept of proper (strong) rainbow connection number of graphs. In this paper, we first determine the values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for some special graphs, such as all cubic graphs of order [Formula: see text], pencil graphs, circular ladders or Möbius ladders. Secondly, we obtain the values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for some special graphs, such as all cubic graphs of order [Formula: see text], paths, cycles, wheels, complete multipartite graphs, pencil graphs, circular ladders and Möbius ladders. Finally, we characterize all the connected graphs [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Circularly polarized luminescence from porphyrin-containing (supra)molecular systems
Authors: Maeda Chihiro , Yasutomo Issa , Takaishi Kazuto , Ema Tadashi
Published: January 2023

Functional dyes showing circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) have attracted considerable attention. Porphyrins and porphyrinoids have characteristic properties useful for the development of CPL materials, although the examples of CPL-active porphyrins and porphyrinoids are still limited. Here we have summarized recent progress in CPL-active systems containing porphyrins or phthalocyanines, which are classified into the following four categories: (i) porphyrins with chiral sources; (ii) axially chiral porphyrin dimers; (iii) self-assembled porphyrins; (iv) porphyrin-sensitized CPL dyes.
Synthesis of isoindole-diimine and its derivatives without ammonia gas bubbling
Authors: Igarashi Yumiko , Okada Yusuke , Muranaka Atsuya , Suzuki Masahiro , Kobayashi Nagao
Published: January 2023

Isoindole-diimine, which can be obtained by bubbling ammonia gas into a solution of phthalonitrile derivatives in the presence of Na[Formula: see text] ion, is a final and best precursor for phthalocyanine synthesis. In this study, isoindole-diimine and various derivatives have been prepared without bubbling ammonia gas using in situ generated ammonia that was produced from formamide and a strong alkali such as NaOH and NaNH2. A longer reaction time, higher temperature, and larger amount of formamide were required for phthalonitrile derivatives with electron-donating groups, but this method is recommendable in that an NH3 gas cylinder and concomitant gas regulator, which are not inexpensive, are not required. Attempts were made to interpret the IR and absorption spectra of the resultant diimines. The signals due to imino proton or N-H of diimino compounds were experimentally found to appear at around 8.2[Formula: see text]9.5 ppm in 1H-NMR and ca. 3500–3000 cm[Formula: see text] in IR spectra.
Operator Learning for Predicting Mechanical Response of Hierarchical Composites with Applications of Inverse Design
Authors: Liu Chuang , He Qiangsheng , Zhao Aiguo , Wu Tao , Song Zhaoshang , Liu Bing , Feng Chuang
Published: January 2023

Materials-by-design to develop high performance composite materials is often computational intractable due to the tremendous design space. Here, a deep operator network (DeepONet) is presented to bridge the gap between the material design space and mechanical behaviors. The mechanical response such as stress or strain can be predicted directly from material makeup efficiently, and a good accuracy is observed on unseen data even with a small amount of training data. Furthermore, the proposed approach can predict mechanical response of complex materials regardless of geometry, constitutive relations, and boundary conditions. Combined with optimization algorithms, the network offers an efficient tool to solve inverse design problems of composite materials.
Chain flaring and L2-torsion of free-by-cyclic groups
Authors: Clay Matt
Published: January 2023

We introduce a condition on the monodromy of a free-by-cyclic group, [Formula: see text], called the chain flare condition, that implies that the [Formula: see text]–torsion, [Formula: see text], is nonzero. We conjecture that this condition holds whenever the monodromy is exponentially growing.
Systolic inequalities for the number of vertices
Authors: Avvakumov Sergey , Balitskiy Alexey , Hubard Alfredo , Karasev Roman
Published: January 2023

Inspired by the classical Riemannian systolic inequality of Gromov, we present a combinatorial analogue providing a lower bound on the number of vertices of a simplicial complex in terms of its edge-path systole. Similarly to the Riemannian case, where the inequality holds under a topological assumption of “essentiality”, our proofs rely on a combinatorial analogue of that assumption. Under a stronger assumption, expressed in terms of cohomology cup-length, we improve our results quantitatively. We also illustrate our methods in the continuous setting, generalizing and improving quantitatively the Minkowski principle of Balacheff and Karam; a corollary of this result is the extension of the Guth–Nakamura cup-length systolic bound from manifolds to complexes.
K-Theory of the maximal and reduced Roe algebras of metric spaces with A-by-CE coarse fibrations
Authors: Guo Liang , Luo Zheng , Wang Qin , Zhang Yazhou
Published: January 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a discrete metric space with bounded geometry. In this paper, we show that if [Formula: see text] admits an “A-by-CE” coarse fibration, then the canonical quotient map [Formula: see text] from the maximal Roe algebra to the Roe algebra of [Formula: see text], and the canonical quotient map [Formula: see text] from the maximal uniform Roe algebra to the uniform Roe algebra of [Formula: see text], induce isomorphisms on [Formula: see text]-theory. A typical example of such a space arises from a sequence of group extensions [Formula: see text] such that the sequence [Formula: see text] has Yu’s property A, and the sequence [Formula: see text] admits a coarse embedding into Hilbert space. This extends an early result of Špakula and Willett [Maximal and reduced Roe algebras of coarsely embeddable spaces, J. Reine Angew. Math. 678 (2013) 35–68] to the case of metric spaces which may not admit a coarse embedding into Hilbert space. Moreover, it implies that the maximal coarse Baum–Connes conjecture holds for a large class of metric spaces which may not admit a fibered coarse embedding into Hilbert space.
Solution of a dengue fever model via fractional natural decomposition and modified predictor–corrector methods
Authors: Kumar Pushpendra , Gao Wei , Veeresha P. , Erturk Vedat Suat , Prakasha D. G. , Baskonus Haci Mehmet
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we solved a model of a well-known infectious disease called dengue fever via fractional natural decomposition and modified Predictor–Corrector (PC) methods. A study of the dengue epidemic in the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa in 2009 has been resumed here for a better understanding of the results. The results are obtained using Liouville–Caputo and new generalized Caputo-type fractional derivatives. The numerical simulations are presented for various orders of given derivatives. Existence and uniqueness analysis of the given problem are also performed in the new generalized Caputo sense. The explored results are verified using figures. The main target of this paper is to explore the different dynamics of the given dengue fever model via two types of fractional numerical algorithms.
Excitation of Scholte Waves at a Sinusoidal Interface of Seafloor
Authors: Liang Minshuai , Yu Gaokun , Wang Liang , Peng Linhui
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an elastic seafloor with the sinusoidal interface is modeled to study the effect of the fluctuant interface on Scholte wave excitation. The reflection and transmission coefficients of sound waves are derived from the scattered wave theory to investigate the acoustic field characteristics. In numerical simulations, longitudinally invariant finite element models are constructed to demonstrate the excitation of Scholte waves at the seafloor. The effect of sinusoidal interface parameters on Scholte wave excitation is analyzed in this research. Results show that stronger Scholte waves still can be excited when the sound source is away from the seafloor with a sinusoidal interface. In this process of Scholte wave excitation, the period [Formula: see text] and height [Formula: see text] of sinusoidal interfaces are related to the excitation frequency and intensity, respectively.
The Lean Data Scientist
Authors: Shani Chen , Zarecki Jonathan , Shahaf Dafna
Published: January 2023

A taxonomy of the methods used to obtain quality datasets enhances existing resources.
Private Graph Data Release: A Survey
Authors: Li Yang , Purcell Michael , Rakotoarivelo Thierry , Smith David , Ranbaduge Thilina , Ng Kee Siong
Published: January 2023

The application of graph analytics to various domains has yielded tremendous societal and economical benefits in recent years. However, the increasingly widespread adoption of graph analytics comes with a commensurate increase in the need to protect private information in graph data, especially in light of the many privacy breaches in real-world graph data that were supposed to preserve sensitive information. This article provides a comprehensive survey of private graph data release algorithms that seek to achieve the fine balance between privacy and utility, with a specific focus on provably private mechanisms. Many of these mechanisms are natural extensions of the Differential Privacy framework to graph data, but we also investigate more general privacy formulations like Pufferfish Privacy that address some of the limitations of Differential Privacy. We also provide a wide-ranging survey of the applications of private graph data release mechanisms to social networks, finance, supply chain, and health care. This article should benefit practitioners and researchers alike in the increasingly important area of private analytics and data release.
An Analysis of Black Faculty in CS Research Departments
Authors: Gilbert Juan E. , Waisome Jeremy A. Magruder , Smarr Simone
Published: January 2023

Exploring Black faculty at computer science research departments where Ph.D. programs exist.
Four Ways to Add Active Learning to Computing Courses
Authors: Ericson Barbara
Published: January 2023

How active-learning techniques can benefit students in computing courses.
Ethical AI is Not about AI
Authors: Johnson Deborah G. , Verdicchio Mario
Published: January 2023

The equation Ethics + AI = Ethical AI is questionable.
Harnessing the Power of Electronic Health Records and Genomics for Drug Discovery
Authors: Krebs Kristi , Milani Lili
Published: January 2023

A long-standing recognition that information from human genetics studies has the potential to accelerate drug discovery has led to decades of research on how to leverage genetic and phenotypic information for drug discovery. Established simple and advanced statistical methods that allow the simultaneous analysis of genotype and clinical phenotype data by genome- and phenome-wide analyses, colocalization analyses with quantitative trait loci data from transcriptomics and proteomics data sets from different tissues, and Mendelian randomization are essential tools for drug development in the postgenomic era. Numerous studies have demonstrated how genomic data provide opportunities for the identification of new drug targets, the repurposing of drugs, and drug safety analyses. With an increase in the number of biobanks that enable linking in-depth omics data with rich repositories of phenotypic traits via electronic health records, more powerful ways for the evaluation and validation of drug targets will continue to expand across different disciplines of clinical research.
Neuropathic Pain: Mechanisms, Sex Differences, and Potential Therapies for a Global Problem
Authors: Ghazisaeidi Shahrzad , Muley Milind M. , Salter Michael W.
Published: January 2023

The study of chronic pain continues to generate ever-increasing numbers of publications, but safe and efficacious treatments for chronic pain remain elusive. Recognition of sex-specific mechanisms underlying chronic pain has resulted in a surge of studies that include both sexes. A predominant focus has been on identifying sex differences, yet many newly identified cellular mechanisms and alterations in gene expression are conserved between the sexes. Here we review sex differences and similarities in cellular and molecular signals that drive the generation and resolution of neuropathic pain. The mix of differences and similarities reflects degeneracy in peripheral and central signaling processes by which neurons, immune cells, and glia codependently drive pain hypersensitivity. Recent findings identifying critical signaling nodes foreshadow the development of rationally designed, broadly applicable analgesic strategies. However, the paucity of effective, safe pain treatments compels targeted therapies as well to increase therapeutic options that help reduce the global burden of suffering.