bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capture method for digital twin of formation processes of sand bars
Authors: Moteki D. , Murai T. , Hoshino T. , Yasuda H. , Muramatsu S. , Hayasaka K.
Published: March 2022

Hydraulic quantities governing the generation of bedforms (formed spontaneously on the bottoms of rivers) have been investigated through geomorphological methods, laboratory experiments, stability analyses, numerical analyses, and other research methods. Recently, numerical analysis has been conducted using fine spatial grids to accurately describe morphodynamics. However, numerical analysis cannot always describe the real phenomena, because it is based on assumptions. One effective way to verify physical assumptions is to compare numerical analysis with actual measurements of equivalent resolution. Measurement data with high resolution enable the construction of a duplicate of the measurement target on a computer called a “digital twin.” To construct a digital twin of the process of bedforms generation and development, geometries of the water surface and the bed surface must be simultaneously measured. We developed and verified a measurement method for the construction of a digital twin during the generation and development of bedforms. The measurement system uses two cameras and a line laser to simultaneously measure the water surface and bed surface. Accurate refraction correction at the water surface is possible by acquiring the shape of the water surface, allowing the bottom shape to be determined by geometric processing. The method provides sub-millimeter-accurate measurements of the water surface and bottom with a spatial resolution of 0.95 cm longitudinally and 0.038 cm transversely in a 12 m × 0.45 m flume and takes only 1 min per measurement. This method can provide measurement results that contribute to the understanding of the generation and development of bedforms.
Intelligent reconstruction of the flow field in a supersonic combustor based on deep learning
Authors: Chen Hao , Guo Mingming , Tian Ye , Le Jialing , Zhang Hua , Zhong Fuyu
Published: March 2022

The data-driven intelligent reconstruction of a flow field in a supersonic combustor aids the real-time monitoring of wave system evolution in a scramjet flow field structure, allowing the determination of the combustion state for active flow control. In this paper, a deep learning architecture based on a multi-branch fusion convolutional neural network (MBFCNN) is proposed to reconstruct the flow field in a supersonic combustor. Experiments on hydrogen-fueled scramjets with different equivalence ratios were carried out in a direct-connected supersonic pulse combustion wind tunnel with an inflow Mach number of 2.5 to establish a dataset for MBFCNN network training and testing. The trained model successfully reconstructed the flow field structure from measured wall pressure data. The flow field reconstruction model provided a rich information source for the evolution of the wave system structure under the self-ignition conditions of the hydrogen-fueled scramjet, greatly improving the detection accuracy. The proposed deep learning architecture method was compared with basic convolutional neural network and symmetric convolutional neural network methods. The three methods all accurately reconstructed the flow field of the supersonic combustor. However, the proposed MBFCNN provided the best reconstruction results, and its average linear correlation coefficient in the test set was 0.952. The proposed MBFCNN had a lower mean square error and higher peak signal-to-noise ratio than the other two methods, which verified that the proposed model is eminently able to reconstruct and predict the flow field of a supersonic combustor.
Environmental stress tolerance in maize (
Authors: Ramazan Salika , Nazir Ifra , Yousuf Waseem , John Riffat
Published: March 2022

Maize (Zea mays L.), a major multipurpose crop for food, feed and energy is extremely susceptible to environmental perturbations and setting off the major factors for limiting maize yield. Generally, plant yields are reduced and significantly lost to adverse environments and biotic strains. To ensure the safety of living cells under unfavourable circumstances, polyamines (PAs) play an important role in regulating the response under both abiotic and biotic stresses. It is the relative abundance of higher PAs (spermidine, Spd; spermine, Spm) vis-à-vis the diamine putrescine (Put) and PA catabolism that determines the stress tolerance in plants. Climate changes and increasing demands for production of maize have made it pressing to improve the stress tolerance strategies in this plant and it is imperative to understand the role of PAs in response to various environmental perturbations. Here, we critically review and summarise the recent literature on role of PAs in conferring stress tolerance in the golden crop. The responses in terms of PA accumulation, their mechanism of action and all the recent genetic manipulation studies carried out in PA metabolism pathway, ameliorating range of abiotic and biotic stresses have been discussed. As PA metabolism under stress conditions does not operate singly within cells and is always linked to other metabolic pathways in maize, its complex connections and role as a signalling molecule have also been discussed in this review.
Nonequilibrium topological spin textures in momentum space
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Xiao , Nagaosa Naoto
Published: March 2022

Significance

Optically excited systems can host unprecedented phenomena and reveal key information. The spin-channel physics in the photoexcited dynamics of quantum matter remains largely unexplored. This study finds the topological surface state under contemporary time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy an exceptionally capable platform in this regard. Spin signals exhibit interesting tornado-like spiral patterns, and the unusual topological optical activity can be indicative of spintronic applications. This exemplifies a purely nonequilibrium topological winding phenomenon, where all the hidden helicity factors in the light–matter-coupled system are robustly encoded. These results open a direction of nonequilibrium topological spin states in quantum materials.
Sacred Skin: The Religious Significance of Medieval Scars
Authors: Dickason Kathryn
Published: March 2022

While numerous studies have addressed medieval wounds, few scholars have critically examined the religious role of scars in medieval Europe. This article incorporates theological writings, hagiography (saints’ biographies), chivalric romances, and the visual arts to assess the semiotic significance of medieval scars. This article uses Roland Barthes’s notion of semanticization as an organizing principle. As Barthes has shown, the process of meaning-making is contingent upon its social context. Indeed, semanticization allows the conventionality of signs to operate. This article explores how Western medieval Christianity, with its repository of values and symbolism, enabled scars to function as signs. The religious context undergirding medieval scars allowed them to transcend from traces of accidental bodily markings to portals to rich theological significance.
Dual co-catalysts activated hematite nanorods with low turn-on potential and enhanced charge collection for efficient solar water oxidation
Authors: Maity Dipanjan , Pal Debashish , Karmakar Keshab , Rakshit Rupali , Khan Gobinda Gopal , Mandal Kalyan
Published: March 2022

Hematite (α-Fe2O3) photoanode suffers from significant photocarrier recombination and sluggish water oxidation kinetics for photoelectrochemical water splitting. To address these challenges, this work demonstrates the construction of dual co-catalysts modified Fe2O3 nanorods photoanode by strategically incorporating CoPi and Co(OH)
x
for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The Fe2O3/CoPi/Co(OH)
x
nanorods photoanode exhibits the lowest ever turn-on potential of 0.4 V
RHE (versus reversible hydrogen electrode) and a photocurrent density of 0.55 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V
RHE, 358% higher than that of pristine Fe2O3 nanorods. The dual co-catalysts modification enhances the light-harvesting efficiency, surface photovoltage and hole transfer kinetics of the hybrid photoanode. The dual co-catalyst coupling also increases the carrier density and significantly reduces the depletion width (1.9 nm), resulting in improved conductivity and favorable band bending, boosting photogenerated hole transfer efficiency for water oxidation.
A state-of-the-art on smart materials actuators over the last decade: control aspects for diverse applications
Authors: Do Xuan Phu , Choi Seung Bok
Published: March 2022

A comprehensive review of smart materials actuators is presented from control aspects for various applications. The smart materials actuators considered in this work are actively being applied to diverse control systems: magnetorheological elastomer, magnetorheological fluid, piezoelectric material, shape memory alloy, magneto-strictive material, and electro-active polymer. Both classical and modern control approaches, which have been realized for diverse applications over the last 10 years, are surveyed and discussed using the tables and figures. In order to quickly visualize and compare the different control characteristics of each actuator, the table summarizes several aspects of the specific device/system, controller type, control target, control criterion, inherent property, and outcome. The total publications and appearance of these actuators in every year are shown through the figures to understand the research status and trend easily. In addition, the featured structures of control schemes are analyzed and discussed to provide future research direction for the enhancement of control performance. It is no doubt that this review analysis significantly supports full information so that researchers related to smart materials can understand and compare the salient characteristic of each actuator and hence develop a new or advanced one for a certain control application.
Three-dimensional Dirac semimetal metamaterial enabled by negative couplings
Authors: Su Zhaoxian , Gao Wenlong , Liu Bingyi , Huang Lingling , Wang Yongtian
Published: March 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) semimetals with fourfold degenerate Dirac points are of prominent importance in topological photonics as the parent states to Weyl nodes, line nodes, & etc. The dispersions on all the momentums’ directions are linear, which represents that the Dirac point and topologically protected helicoid surface states may exist. Here, we have demonstrated an acoustic metamaterial with Dirac points by designing the sign of coupling terms, specifically incorporating negative couplings. Tuning the coupling parameter along longitudinal direction, the transition from 3D Dirac point to Weyl points can be obtained. In realistic topological metamaterial designing, the negative coupling is realized by inserting additional off-resonant sites. The simulated band dispersion clearly shows four-band crossing point. The helicoid surface states are also proved. Our study provides a new approach of constructing 3D topological phase and shows the transition between nodal ring and Dirac point. Our results can be the theoretical basement of topological protected devices.
A quantitative comparison of amplitude versus intensity interferometry for astronomy
Authors: Bojer Manuel , Huang Zixin , Karl Sebastian , Richter Stefan , Kok Pieter , von Zanthier Joachim
Published: March 2022

Astronomical imaging can be broadly classified into two types. The first type is amplitude interferometry, which includes conventional optical telescopes and very large baseline interferometry (VLBI). The second type is intensity interferometry, which relies on Hanbury Brown and Twiss-type measurements. At optical frequencies, where direct phase measurements are impossible, amplitude interferometry has an effective numerical aperture that is limited by the distance from which photons can coherently interfere. Intensity interferometry, on the other hand, correlates only photon fluxes and can thus support much larger numerical apertures, but suffers from a reduced signal due to the low average photon number per mode in thermal light. It has hitherto not been clear which method is superior under realistic conditions. Here, we give a comparative analysis of the performance of amplitude and intensity interferometry, and we relate this to the fundamental resolution limit that can be achieved in any physical measurement. Using the benchmark problem of determining the separation between two distant thermal point sources, e.g., two adjacent stars, we give a short tutorial on optimal estimation theory and apply it to stellar interferometry. We find that for very small angular separations the large baseline achievable in intensity interferometry can more than compensate for the reduced signal strength. We also explore options for practical implementations of very large baseline intensity interferometry (VLBII).
Convex-rogue, half-kink, cusp-soliton and other bidirectional wave-solutions to the generalized Pochhammer-Chree equation
Authors: Jaradat Imad , Alquran Marwan , Qureshi Sania , Sulaiman Tukur A , Yusuf Abdullahi
Published: March 2022

The generalized Pochhammer-Chree equation is considered and studied for different orders of its nonlinearity terms The Kudryashov-expansion method is used and bidirectional kink, singular-kink, rogue-periodic, and V-shaped wave-solutions are obtained. Moreover, we modify the sine-cosine function method to accommodate the current model and obtain symmetric half-kink, convex-rogue, and cusp bidirectional waves. On the other side, a graphical analysis is conducted to identify the physical shapes of the obtained solutions to the proposed model. Finally, the polynomial function method is implemented to validate the reported solutions.
An integrated front-end vertical hall magnetic sensor fabricated in 0.18 μm low-voltage CMOS technology
Authors: Shu Zhengwu , Jiang Lei , Hu Xingxing , Xu Yue
Published: March 2022

An integrated front-end vertical CMOS Hall magnetic sensor is proposed for the in-plane magnetic field measurement. To improve the magnetic sensitivity and to obtain low offset, a fully symmetric vertical Hall device (FSVHD) has been optimized with a minimum size design. A new four-phase spinning current modulation associated with a correlated double sampling (CDS) demodulation technique has been further applied to compensate for the offset and also to provide a linear Hall output voltage. The vertical Hall sensor chip has been manufactured in a 0.18 μm low-voltage CMOS technology and it occupies an area of 1.54 mm2. The experimental results show in the magnetic field range from –200 to 200 mT, the entire vertical Hall sensor performs with the linearity of 99.9% and the system magnetic sensitivity of 1.22 V/T and the residual offset of 60 μT. Meanwhile, it consumes 4.5 mW at a 3.3 V supply voltage. The proposed vertical Hall sensor is very suitable for the low-cost system-on-chip (SOC) implementation of 2D or 3D magnetic microsystems.
Performance enhancement of solution-processed InZnO thin-film transistors by Al doping and surface passivation
Authors: Cai Wensi , Li Haiyun , Li Mengchao , Zang Zhigang
Published: March 2022

Solution-processed oxide semiconductors have been considered as a potential alternative to vacuum-based ones in printable electronics. However, despite spin-coated InZnO (IZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) have shown a relatively high mobility, the lack of carrier suppressor and the high sensitivity to oxygen and water molecules in ambient air make them potentially suffer issues of poor stability. In this work, Al is used as the third cation doping element to study the effects on the electrical, optoelectronic, and physical properties of IZO TFTs. A hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer called octadecyltrimethoxysilane is introduced as the surface passivation layer, aiming to reduce the effects from air and understand the importance of top surface conditions in solution-processed, ultra-thin oxide TFTs. Owing to the reduced trap states within the film and at the top surface enabled by the doping and passivation, the optimized TFTs show an increased current on/off ratio, a reduced drain current hysteresis, and a significantly enhanced bias stress stability, compared with the untreated ones. By combining with high-capacitance AlO
x
, TFTs with a low operating voltage of 1.5 V, a current on/off ratio of > 10 4 and a mobility of 4.6 cm2/(V·s) are demonstrated, suggesting the promising features for future low-cost, low-power electronics.
Improved online decomposition of non-stationary electromyogram via signal enhancement using a neuron resonance model: a simulation study
Authors: Zheng Yang , Xu Guanghua , Li Yixin , Qiang Wei
Published: March 2022

Objective. Motor unit (MU) discharge information obtained via the online electromyogram (EMG) decomposition has shown promising prospects in multiple applications. However, the nonstationarity of EMG signals caused by the rotation (recruitment-derecruitment) of MUs and the variation of MU action potentials (MUAP) can significantly degrade the online decomposition performance. This study aimed to develop an independent component analysis-based online decomposition method that can accommodate the nonstationarity of EMG signals. Approach. The EMG nonstationarity can make the separation vectors obtained beforehand inaccurate, resulting in the reduced amplitudes of the peaks corresponding to firing events in the source signal (independent component) and then the decreased accuracy of firing events. Therefore, we utilized the FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) resonance model to enhance the firing peaks in the source signal in order to improve the decomposition accuracy. A two-session approach was used with the offline session to extract the separation vectors and train the FHN models. In the online session, the source signal was estimated and further processed using the FHN model before detecting the firing events in a real-time manner. The proposed method was tested on simulated EMG signals, in which MU rotation and MUAP variation were involved to mimic the nonstationarity of EMG recordings. Main results. Compared with the conventional method, the proposed method can improve the decomposition accuracy significantly (88.70% ± 4.17% vs. 92.43% ± 2.79%) by enhancing the firing peaks, and more importantly, the improvement was more prominent when the EMG signal had stronger background noises (87.00% ± 3.70% vs. 91.66% ± 2.63%). Conclusions. Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method to utilize the FHN model to improve the online decomposition performance on the nonstationary EMG signals. Further development of our method has the potential to improve the performance of the neural decoding system that utilizes the MU discharge information and promote its application in the neural-machine interface.
On suitable experiments for demonstrating the feasibility of the beam-driven plasma neutraliser for neutral beam injectors for fusion reactors
Authors: Starnella G. , Hopf C. , Maya P.N.
Published: March 2022

Plasma neutralisers promise increased neutralisation efficiency of negative ion beams in neutral beam injection (NBI) beamlines compared with gas neutralisers. It has been suggested that, in the presence of an electron-confining magnetic cusp field along all neutraliser walls, the beam itself could ionise the neutraliser gas sufficiently to take advantage of this effect, avoiding the added complexity of external power coupling to the neutraliser. These predictions come from a zero-dimensional model by Surrey and Holmes (2013 AIP Conf. Proc.
1515 532) and Turner and Holmes (2019 Fusion Eng. Des.
149 111327). We have revisited and modified this model by introducing slowing-down energy distributions for stripped and Rudd electrons, including electron impact dissociation as an electron energy loss channel and taking into account dissociative recombination of molecular ions with electrons. Including the latter effect reduces the predicted plasma density by about a factor of four and the achievable neutralisation yield from

∼
80

%

to 68% in the case of a negative deuterium ion beam with an energy of 1 MeV and a current of 40 A. With this revised model we estimate the expected performance of potential beam-driven plasma neutralisers (BDPN) on a variety of existing negative ion beam test facilities for NBI. Based on these results, we conclude that the most suitable proof-of-principle experiment would be a dedicated chamber, ideally of the same dimensions and with the same magnetic cusp configuration as a BDPN for the DEMO NBI, in which the plasma is not created primarily by the fast electrons stripped from the beam ions, but by electrons of similar current and energy emitted from biased filaments.
Fusion power predictions for
β

N ≈ 1.8 baseline scenario with 50–50 D–T fuel mix and NBI injection in preparation to D–T operations at JET
Authors: Zotta V.K. , Garzotti L. , Casson F.J. , Frigione D. , Köchl F. , Lerche E. , Lomas P. , Rimini F. , Sertoli M. , Van Eester D. , Gatto R. , Mazzotta C. , Pucella G. , JET Contributors
Published: March 2022

The fusion performance of ELMy H-mode 50–50 deuterium–tritium (DT) plasmas with 50–50 DT NBI injection and q
95 ≈ 3 and β
N ≈ 1.8 (also referred to as medium-β
N baseline scenario in the rest of this paper) are predicted with the JINTRAC suite of codes and the QuaLiKiZ transport model. The predictions are based on the analysis of plasmas from the first DT campaign on JET in 1997 (DTE1) and pure deuterium plasmas developed at JET in preparation for the DT experimental campaign in 2021 (DTE2), after the installation of a Be/W ITER-like wall in 2011. The sensitivity of the predictions to plasma parameters such as current, toroidal field, pedestal confinement and impurity content are analysed together with the sensitivity to the amount of auxiliary heating power available. The simulations indicate that a fusion power of 10 MW should be achievable under a fairly wide range of assumptions, provided that the auxiliary heating power is around or above 38 MW. Higher fusion power approaching 15 MW could be achievable for this value of β
N only for particularly pure plasmas and with 40 MW of additional heating power.
Usage of PEN as self-vetoing structural material in the LEGEND experiment
Authors: Manzanillas L. , Efremenko Y. , Febbraro M. , Fischer F. , Corominas M.G. , Hackett B. , Hayward C. , Hodák R. , Majorovits B. , Muenstermann D. , Pohl M. , Rouhana R. , Radford D. , Rukhadze E. , Schilling I. , Schulz O. , Štekl I. , Stommel M. , Weingarten J.
Published: March 2022

Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) is an industrial plastic which is interesting to the physics community as a wavelength-shifting scintillator. Recently, PEN structures with excellent radiopurity have been successfully produced using injection compression molding technology. This opens the possibility for the usage of optically active structural components with wavelength shifting capabilities in low-background experiments. Thus, PEN holders will be used to mount the germanium detectors in the LEGEND-200 experiment. In this contribution the ongoing R&D on PEN is outlined with a focus on the evaluation of its optical properties. In addition, the ongoing efforts for further application of PEN in the LEGEND-1000 experiment are presented.
Testing of planar hydrogenated amorphous silicon sensors with charge selective contacts for the construction of 3D-detectors
Authors: Menichelli M. , Bizzarri M. , Boscardin M. , Caprai M. , Caricato A.P. , Cirrone G.A.P. , Crivellari M. , Cupparo I. , Cuttone G. , Dunand S. , Fanò L. , Hammad O. , Ionica M. , Kanxheri K. , Large M. , Maruccio G. , Monteduro A.G. , Morozzi A. , Moscatelli F. , Papi A. , Passeri D. , Petasecca M. , Petringa G. , Quarta G. , Rizzato S. , Rossi A. , Rossi G. , Scorzoni A. , Servoli L. , Talamonti C. , Verzellesi G. , Wyrsch N.
Published: March 2022

Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (a-Si:H) is a well known material for its intrinsic radiation hardness and is primarily utilized in solar cells as well as for particle detection and dosimetry. Planar p-i-n diode detectors are fabricated entirely by means of intrinsic and doped PECVD of a mixture of Silane (SiH4) and molecular hydrogen. In order to develop 3D detector geometries using a-Si:H, two options for the junction fabrication have been considered: ion implantation and charge selective contacts through atomic layer deposition. In order to test the functionality of the charge selective contact electrodes, planar detectors have been fabricated utilizing this technique. In this paper, we provide a general overview of the 3D fabrication project followed by the results of leakage current measurements and X-ray dosimetric tests performed on planar diodes containing charge selective contacts to investigate the feasibility of the charge selective contact methodology for integration with the proposed 3D detector architectures.
Uncertainty inequalities for superoscillations
Authors: Berry M V , Shukla Pragya
Published: March 2022

A canonical superoscillatory function, defined on the circle, satisfies a set of uncertainty inequalities for periodic functions, strengthened by an anticommutator term introduced by Schrödinger. The superoscillations can be made to dominate the uncertainty inequality by selecting them with a sufficiently narrow window. The uncertainty product, and its minimum value, are calculated as functions of the window width, as well as their asymptotics for narrow and wide windows. The function has minimum uncertainty only for very narrow windows.
Consecutive level spacings in the chiral Gaussian unitary ensemble: from the hard and soft edge to the bulk
Authors: Akemann G , Gorski V , Kieburg M
Published: March 2022

The local spectral statistics of random matrices forms distinct universality classes, strongly depending on the position in the spectrum. Surprisingly, the spacing between consecutive eigenvalues at the spectral edges has received little attention, where the density diverges or vanishes, respectively. This different behaviour is called hard or soft edge. We show that the spacings at the edges are almost indistinguishable from the spacing in the bulk of the spectrum. We present analytical results for consecutive spacings between the kth and (k + 1)st smallest eigenvalues in the chiral Gaussian unitary ensemble, both for finite- and large-n. The result depends on the number of the generic zero modes ν and the number of flavours N
f, which are given in terms of characteristic polynomials, as motivated by quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We find that the convergence in n is very rapid. The same can be said separately about the limit k → ∞ (limit to the bulk) and ν → ∞ (limit to the soft edge). Interestingly, the Wigner surmise is a very good approximation for all these cases and, apart from k = 1, shows a deviation below one percent. These findings are corroborated with Monte-Carlo simulations. We finally compare for k = 1 with data from QCD on the lattice, being in this symmetry class.
Neurodegenerative phagocytes mediate synaptic stripping in Neuro-HIV
Authors: Di Liberto Giovanni , Egervari Kristof , Kreutzfeldt Mario , Schürch Christian M , Hewer Ekkehard , Wagner Ingrid , Du Pasquier Renaud , Merkler Doron
Published: March 2022

Glial cell activation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. During HIV infection, neuroinflammation is associated with cognitive impairment, even during sustained long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy. However, the cellular subsets contributing to neuronal damage in the CNS during HIV infection remain unclear.

Using post-mortem brain samples from eight HIV patients and eight non-neurological disease controls, we identify a subset of CNS phagocytes highly enriched in LGALS3, CTSB, GPNMB and HLA-DR, a signature identified in the context of ageing and neurodegeneration.

In HIV patients, the presence of this phagocyte phenotype was associated with synaptic stripping, suggesting an involvement in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.

Taken together, our findings elucidate some of the molecular signatures adopted by CNS phagocytes in HIV-positive patients and contribute to the understanding of how HIV might pave the way to other forms of cognitive decline in ageing HIV patient populations.
Harnessing cortical plasticity via gabapentinoid administration promotes recovery after stroke
Authors: Tedeschi Andrea , Larson Molly J E , Zouridakis Antonia , Mo Lujia , Bordbar Arman , Myers Julia M , Qin Hannah Y , Rodocker Haven I , Fan Fan , Lannutti John J , McElroy Craig A , Nimjee Shahid M , Peng Juan , Arnold W David , Moon Lawrence D F , Sun Wenjing
Published: March 2022

Stroke causes devastating sensory-motor deficits and long-term disability due to disruption of descending motor pathways. Restoration of these functions enables independent living and therefore represents a high priority for those afflicted by stroke. Here, we report that daily administration of gabapentin, a clinically approved drug already used to treat various neurological disorders, promotes structural and functional plasticity of the corticospinal pathway after photothrombotic cortical stroke in adult mice. We found that gabapentin administration had no effects on vascular occlusion, haemodynamic changes nor survival of corticospinal neurons within the ipsilateral sensory-motor cortex in the acute stages of stroke. Instead, using a combination of tract tracing, electrical stimulation and functional connectivity mapping, we demonstrated that corticospinal axons originating from the contralateral side of the brain in mice administered gabapentin extend numerous collaterals, form new synaptic contacts and better integrate within spinal circuits that control forelimb muscles. Not only does gabapentin daily administration promote neuroplasticity, but it also dampens maladaptive plasticity by reducing the excitability of spinal motor circuitry. In turn, mice administered gabapentin starting 1 h or 1 day after stroke recovered skilled upper extremity function. Functional recovery persists even after stopping the treatment at 6 weeks following a stroke. Finally, chemogenetic silencing of cortical projections originating from the contralateral side of the brain transiently abrogated recovery in mice administered gabapentin, further supporting the conclusion that gabapentin-dependent reorganization of spared cortical pathways drives functional recovery after stroke. These observations highlight the strong potential for repurposing gabapentinoids as a promising treatment strategy for stroke repair.
Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and the Immune Response to the 2-Dose Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola Vaccine Regimen in Adults and Children
Authors: Ishola D ,   The EBOVAC-Salone Malaria Infection (MALI) Sub-Study Team, Bah Osman Mohamed , Bangalie Foday Suma , Bangura Agnes , David Ifeolu , Deen Gibrilla Fadlu , Fombah Augustin , Jalloh Abdulai Berber , Kamara Abu Bakarr , Kamara Ibrahim Franklyn , Kamara Michael , Leigh Bailah , Morovia Foday , Rogers Baimba , Samai Mohamed , Serry-Bangura Alimamy , Sheku Mahmud , Swaray Ibrahim , Anumendem Dickson , Gaddah Auguste , Bockstal Viki , Keshinro Babajide , Robinson Cynthia , Afolabi Muhammed , Akoo Pauline , Ayieko Philip , Baiden Frank , Gallagher Katherine , Greenwood Brian , Ishola David , Kohn Brian , Kowuor Dickens , Lawal Bolarinde , Lowe Brett , Manno Daniela , Odeny Lazarus , Otieno Tuda , Owusu-Kyei Kwabena , Smout Elizabeth , Tindanbil Daniel , Watson-Jones Deborah
Published: March 2022

Background

Malaria infection affects the immune response to some vaccines. As Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreaks have occurred mainly in malaria-endemic countries, we have assessed whether asymptomatic malaria affects immune responses to the 2-dose Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen.

Methods

In this sub-study of the EBOVAC-Salone Ebola vaccine trial in Sierra Leone, malaria microscopy was performed at the time of Ebola vaccination. Participants with symptomatic malaria were treated before vaccination. Ebola vaccine responses were assessed post-dose 1 (day 57) and post-dose 2 (day 78) by the EBOV glycoprotein FANG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and responses expressed as geometric mean concentrations (GMCs). Geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of the GMCs in malaria-positive versus malaria-negative participants were derived with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of 587 participants were studied, comprising 188 adults (≥18 years) and 399 children (in age groups of 12–17, 4–11, and 1–3 years). Asymptomatic malaria was observed in 47.5% of adults and 51.5% of children on day 1. Post-dose 1, GMCs were lower in 1–3-year-old malaria-positive compared with malaria-negative children (age group–specific GMR, .56; 95% CI, .39–.81) but not in older age groups. Post-dose 2, there was no consistent effect of malaria infection across the different age groups but there was a trend toward a lower response (GMR, .82; 95% CI, .67–1.02).

Conclusions

The Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen is immunogenic in participants with asymptomatic malaria. Therefore, it is not necessary to screen for asymptomatic malaria infection prior to vaccination with this regimen.
Group B Streptococcus Infection in Extremely Preterm Neonates and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 2 Years
Authors: Puopolo Karen M , Mukhopadhyay Sagori , Hansen Nellie I , Flannery Dustin D , Greenberg Rachel G , Sanchez Pablo J , Bell Edward F , DeMauro Sara B , Wyckoff Myra H , Eichenwald Eric C , Stoll Barbara J
Published: March 2022

Background

This study was performed to determine the incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease among extremely preterm infants and assess to risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at a corrected age of 18–26 months.

Methods

In this observational cohort study of infants enrolled in a multicenter registry, the incidence of GBS disease was assessed in infants born in 1998–2016 at 22–28 weeks’ gestation and surviving for >12 hours. The composite outcome, death or NDI, was assessed in infants born in 1998–2014 at 22–26 weeks’ gestation. Infection was defined as GBS isolation in blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture at ≤72 hours (early-onset disease [EOD]) or >72 hours (late-onset disease [LOD]) after birth. Using Poisson regression models, the outcome was compared in infants with GBS disease, infants infected with other pathogens, and uninfected infants.

Results

The incidence of GBS EOD (2.70/1000 births [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.15–3.36]) and LOD (8.47/1000 infants [7.45–9.59]) did not change significantly over time. The adjusted relative risk of death/NDI was higher among infants with GBS EOD than in those with other infections (adjusted relative risk, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.02–1.45]) and uninfected infants (1.44 [1.23–1.69]). Risk of death/NDI did not differ between infants with GBS LOD and comparator groups. GBS LOD occurred at a significantly later age than non-GBS late-onset infection. Among infants surviving >30 days, the risk of death was higher with GBS LOD (adjusted relative risk, 1.90 [95% CI, 1.36–2.67]), compared with uninfected infants.

Conclusions

In a cohort of extremely preterm infants, the incidence of GBS disease did not change during the study period. The increased risk of death or NDI with GBS EOD, and of death among some infants with GBS LOD, supports the need for novel preventive strategies for disease reduction.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT00063063.
A structural approach to labour law
Authors: Adams Zoe
Published: March 2022

This article draws on the scholarly tradition of critical realism to develop a structural approach to labour law that can help equip labour lawyers with the critical tools that will be required if they are to defend labour law against the various ideological critiques to which it is, and has historically been, subject; and if they are to advance structurally informed arguments for reform that are sensitive to the structural constraints that exist both when it comes to what can be achieved in capitalism and when it comes to what can be achieved through law in particular.
Using Both Plasma and Urine Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA to Identify Various Renal Allograft Injuries
Authors: Chen Xu-Tao , Qiu Jiang , Wu Zi-Xuan , Zhang Hui , Chen Tong , Yang Shi-Cong , Zhao Guo-Dong , He Yu , Shen Xue , Luo Jin-Quan , Huang Yang , Wang Chang-Xi , Chen Li-Zhong , Wu Cheng-Lin , Huang Gang
Published: March 2022

Background

This study was designed to investigate the association between donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and renal allograft injuries.

Methods

This single-center study enrolled 113 adult kidney transplant recipients with kidney biopsies. Plasma and urine dd-cfDNA was detected by target region capture sequencing.

Results

Plasma dd-cfDNA fraction was increased in multiple types of injuries, but most significantly in antibody-mediated rejection. Plasma dd-cfDNA fraction in isolated antibody-mediated rejection (1.94%, IQR: 1.15%, 2.33%) was higher than in T cell-mediated rejection (0.55%, IQR: 0.50%, 0.73%, P = 0.002) and negative biopsies (0.58%, IQR: 0.42%, 0.78%, P < 0.001), but lower than in mixed rejection (2.49%, IQR: 1.16%, 4.90%, P = 0.342). Increased urine dd-cfDNA concentration was associated with several types of injury, but most significantly with BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy. Urine dd-cfDNA concentration in BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (12.22 ng/mL, IQR: 6.53 ng/mL, 31.66 ng/mL) was respectively higher than that in T cell-mediated rejection (5.24 ng/mL, IQR: 3.22 ng/mL, 6.99 ng/mL, P = 0.001), borderline change (3.93 ng/mL, IQR: 2.45 ng/mL, 6.30 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and negative biopsies (3.09 ng/mL, IQR: 1.94 ng/mL, 5.05 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Plasma dd-cfDNA fraction was positively associated with glomerulitis (r = 0.365, P < 0.001) and peri-tubular capillaritis (r = 0.344, P < 0.001), while urine dd-cfDNA concentration correlated with tubulitis (r = 0.302, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Both plasma and urine dd-cfDNA are sensitive markers for renal allograft injuries. The interpretation of a specific disease by dd-cfDNA should be combined with other clinical indicators.
Adventive Larval Parasitoids Reconstruct Their Close Association with Spotted-Wing Drosophila in the Invaded North American Range
Authors: Abram Paul K , Franklin Michelle T , Hueppelsheuser Tracy , Carrillo Juli , Grove Emily , Eraso Paula , Acheampong Susanna , Keery Laura , Girod Pierre , Tsuruda Matt , Clausen Martina , Buffington Matthew L , Moffat Chandra E
Published: March 2022

Two species of larval parasitoids of the globally invasive fruit pest, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Leptopilina japonica, and Ganaspis brasiliensis (both Hymenoptera: Figitidae), were detected in British Columbia, Canada in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Both are presumed to have been unintentionally introduced from Asia; however, the extent of their establishment across different habitats with diverse host plants used by D. suzukii was unclear. In addition, there was no knowledge of the temporal dynamics of parasitism of D. suzukii by these two parasitoids. To address these gaps, we repeatedly sampled the fruits of known host plants of D. suzukii over the entire 2020 growing season in British Columbia. We documented the presence of L. japonica and G. brasiliensis and estimated the apparent percentage of D. suzukii parasitized among host plant species. Across a large region of southwestern British Columbia, both L. japonica and G. brasiliensis were found to be very common across a variety of mostly unmanaged habitats over the entire course of the season (May–October) in the fruits of most host plants known to host D. suzukii larvae. Parasitism of D. suzukii was variable (0–66% percent parasitism) and appeared to be time-structured. Our study demonstrates that the close association between the two larval parasitoids and D. suzukii that exists in Asia has evidently been reconstructed in North America, resulting in the highest parasitism levels of D. suzukii yet recorded outside of its area of origin.
Surgical treatment of tricuspid valve dysplasia in children
Authors: Cleuziou Julie , Pringsheim Milka , Stroh Anni , Burri Melchior , Lange Rüdiger , Hörer Jürgen
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

Congenital tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) is a rare cardiac disease, often discussed in the same way as Ebstein’s anomaly. Though the morphology of TVD is different, the clinical appearance is similar. The indication for surgical treatment depends on the morphology of the tricuspid valve (TV) and the clinical presentation.

METHODS

We reviewed all patients below 18 years of age who underwent TV repair between 2005 and 2019 and identified 9 with a TVD. The diagnosis was verified with the operative notes and patients were excluded if the septal leaflet was displaced as in Ebstein’s anomaly. The aim of the study was to describe the morphology of the TV and analyse the surgical possibilities and their results.

RESULTS

The median age at surgery was 2.3 years (5 days to 14 years), 3 patients were neonates with a duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. Morphology of the TV showed a tethering of at least 1 leaflet in all patients, a restrictive septal leaflet in 8, a large anterior leaflet in 7 and a small posterior leaflet in 4. Surgical techniques included an annuloplasty in 7 patients, a leaflet procedure in 6 patients, an edge-to-edge stitch in 5 patients and a primary Starnes procedure in 1 neonate. During a median follow-up time of 2.8 years (5 months to 15 years), 1 valve replacement and 1 conversion to univentricular palliation were necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

Unequal leaflet size and tethering are the most common features of TVD. A variety of surgical techniques is available to achieve good results beyond the neonatal period.
A Not So ‘New Dawn’ for International Economic Law and Development: Towards a Social Reproduction Approach to GVCs
Authors: Alessandrini Donatella
Published: March 2022

This article has three aims. First, it takes issue with the argument of international economic institutions according to which states need to adopt deeper trade and investment commitments to sustain value chain trade if they wish to either ‘develop’ or continue being competitive in the global economy. It scrutinizes the evidence on the basis of which this argument is formulated and finds it to be tenuous at best. It also finds that current data is unable to account for the variety of factors that contribute to so-called ‘social downgrade’ – that is, the deterioration of working and living conditions, including the presence of informal and migrant workers. Second, it draws on feminist political economy to make sense of the co-existence of ‘economic upgrade’ and ‘social downgrade’ in global value chains. Specifically, it adopts a social reproduction lens to shed a light on the increasingly relevant, but invisibilized and/or devalued, role that social reproductive labour and informal labour play in processes of trans/national value creation. Third, it argues that a social reproduction lens can offer valuable insights on international economic agreements and the impact of their provisions on the ability of states and communities to improve working and living conditions.
Using artificial intelligence to determine the influence of dental aesthetics on facial attractiveness in comparison to other facial modifications
Authors: Obwegeser Dorothea , Timofte Radu , Mayer Christoph , Eliades Theodore , Bornstein Michael M , Schätzle Marc A , Patcas Raphael
Published: March 2022

Background

Facial aesthetics is a major motivating factor for undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Objectives

To ascertain—by means of artificial intelligence (AI)—the influence of dental alignment on facial attractiveness and perceived age, compared to other modifications such as wearing glasses, earrings, or lipstick.

Material and methods

Forty volunteering females (mean age: 24.5) with near perfectly aligned upper front teeth [Aesthetic Component scale of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (AC-IOTN) = 1 and Peer Assessment Rating Index (PAR Index) = 0 or 1] were photographed with a standardized pose while smiling, in the following settings (number of photographs = 960): without modifications, wearing eyeglasses, earrings, or lipstick. These pictures were taken with natural aligned dentition and with an individually manufactured crooked teeth mock-up (AC-IOTN = 8) to create the illusion of misaligned teeth. Images were assessed for attractiveness and perceived age, using AI, consisting of a face detector and deep convolutional neural networks trained on dedicated datasets for attractiveness and age prediction. Each image received an attractiveness score from 0 to 100 and one value for an age prediction. The scores were descriptively reviewed for each setting, and the facial modifications were tested statistically whether they affected the attractiveness score. The relationship between predicted age and attractiveness scores was examined with linear regression models.

Results

All modifications showed a significant effect (for all: P < 0.001) on facial attractiveness. In faces with misaligned teeth, wearing eyeglasses (−17.8%) and earrings (−3.2%) had an adverse effect on facial aesthetics. Tooth alignment (+6.9%) and wearing lipstick (+7.9%) increased attractiveness. There was no relevant effect of any assessed modifications or tooth alignment on perceived age (all: <1.5 years). Mean attractiveness score declined with predicted age, except when wearing glasses, in which case attractiveness was rated higher with increasing predicted age.

Conclusions

Alignment of teeth improves facial attractiveness to a similar extent than wearing lipstick, but has no discernable effect on perceived age. Wearing glasses reduces attractiveness considerably, but this effect vanishes with age.
Opportunity loss: care team job satisfaction and urgent care, emergency department, and hospital costs for patients with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Mundt Marlon P , Zakletskaia Larissa I
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study evaluates the association between primary care team job satisfaction and urgent care, emergency department, and hospital costs for their patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Study design

Electronic health record (EHR)-extracted observational study alongside a cross-sectional health care professional survey.

Methods

A total of 143 health professionals, including physicians and clinical staff, at 5 US primary care clinics participated in a cross-sectional survey about job satisfaction. Urgent care visits, emergency department visits, hospital visit days, and medical costs in the past 12 months for each care team’s panel of patients were extracted from the EHR. Three-level hierarchical modelling evaluated the link between team job satisfaction, urgent care visits, emergency department visits, hospital visit days, and medical care costs in the past 12 months for the team’s patients with diagnosed CVD.

Results

Teams with higher satisfaction with their freedom of work methods, work hours, and income were associated with fewer hospital days (odds ratio = 0.85, 0.72, and 0.81, respectively) and lower medical care costs −$474, −$650, and −$397 per patient, respectively) for their patients with CVD. Overall job satisfaction was not significantly associated with cost of care.

Conclusions

Health care employee job satisfaction in primary care is an important factor to consider in efforts to lower medical costs for patients with CVD.