bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On global smooth solutions of the 3D spherically symmetric Euler equations with time-dependent damping and physical vacuum
Authors: Pan Xinghong
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we consider the global existence and convergence of smooth solutions for the three dimensional spherically symmetric compressible Euler equations with time-dependent damping and physical vacuum. The damping coefficient decays with time and the sound speed is C
1/2-Hölder continuous across the physical vacuum boundary. Both the degeneration of the damping coefficient at time infinity and the non C
1 continuity of the sound speed across the vacuum boundary will cause difficulty in proving the global existence of smooth solutions. Under suitable assumptions on the decayed damping coefficients, the globally in-time smooth solutions and convergence to the modified Barenblatt solution will be given. Also obtained are the pointwise convergence rate of the density, velocity and the expanding rate of the physical vacuum boundary. Our result extends that in Zeng (2017 Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal.
226 33–82) by considering the degenerate damping coefficient instead of the constant damping coefficient and that in Pan (2021 Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ.
60 5) from the one dimensional case to the three dimensional case with spherically symmetric data.
Development of a GPU-superposition Monte Carlo code for fast dose calculation in magnetic fields
Authors: Li Yongbao , Sun Wenzhao , Liu Hongdong , Ding Shouliang , Wang Bin , Huang Xiaoyan , Song Ting
Published: June 2022

Objective. To develop and validate a graphics processing unit (GPU) based superposition Monte Carlo (SMC) code for efficient and accurate dose calculation in magnetic fields. Approach. A series of mono-energy photons ranging from 25 keV to 7.7 MeV were simulated with EGSnrc in a water phantom to generate particle tracks database. SMC physics was extended with charged particle transport in magnetic fields and subsequently programmed on GPU as gSMC. Optimized simulation scheme was designed by combining variance reduction techniques to relieve the thread divergence issue in general GPU-MC codes and improve the calculation efficiency. The gSMC code’s dose calculation accuracy and efficiency were assessed through both phantoms and patient cases. Main results. gSMC accurately calculated the dose in various phantoms for both B = 0 T and B = 1.5 T, and it matched EGSnrc well with a root mean square error of less than 1.0% for the entire depth dose region. Patient cases validation also showed a high dose agreement with EGSnrc with 3D gamma passing rate (2%/2 mm) large than 97% for all tested tumor sites. Combined with photon splitting and particle track repeating techniques, gSMC resolved the thread divergence issue and showed an efficiency gain of 186–304 relative to EGSnrc with 10 CPU threads. Significance. A GPU-superposition Monte Carlo code called gSMC was developed and validated for dose calculation in magnetic fields. The developed code’s high calculation accuracy and efficiency make it suitable for dose calculation tasks in online adaptive radiotherapy with MR-LINAC.
Numerical treatment for the nonlinear fifth kind of multi-singular differential model: a neuro-swarming approach
Authors: Sabir Zulqurnain , Ali Mohamed R , Alhazmi Sharifah E , Raja Muhammad Asif Zahoor , Sadat R
Published: June 2022

In this study, a numerical scheme is proposed for the fifth order (FO) singular differential model (SDM), FO-SDM. The solutions of the singular form of the differential models are always considered difficult to solve and huge important in astrophysics. A neural network study together with the hybrid combination of global particle swarm optimization and local sequential quadratic programming schemes is provided to find the numerical simulations of the FO-SDM. An objective function is constructed using the differential FO-SDM along with the boundary conditions. The correctness of the scheme is observed by providing the comparison of the obtained and exact solutions. The justification of the proposed scheme is authenticated in terms of absolute error (AE), which is calculated in good measures for solving the FO-SDM. The efficiency and reliability of the stochastic approach are observed using the statistical performances to solve the FO-SDM.
A novel technique for the fabrication of a saturable absorber for fiber lasers: pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Asghar Haroon , Ahmed Rizwan , Umar Zeshan A , Baig M Aslam
Published: June 2022

In the present work, for the first time, it is demonstrated that a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film deposited directly on a fiber ferrule using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a novel technique to prepare a saturable absorber (SA) for doped fiber lasers. The erbium-doped fiber laser based on this SA and erbium-doped fiber as a gain medium yields optical pulses with emission wavelength 1567.86 nm at a 3 dB spectral bandwidth of 1.24 nm at 42 mW. As the pump power is increased, the pulse duration decreases from 23.58 µs to 5.6 µs, and the pulse repetition rates increase from 10.79 kHz to 70.78 kHz. A maximum peak power, pulse energy and average output power of about 9.4 mW, 65.8 nJ, and 4.6 mW, respectively, have been achieved at a maximum pump power of 368 mW. The long-term stability and the damage threshold of the SA are also discussed. These findings suggest that the PLD technique is a promising technique to fabricate a cost-effective and stable SA for the fabrication of passively Q-switched fiber lasers.
Coupled-generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations solved by adaptive step-size methods in interaction picture
Authors: Chen Lei , Li Pan , Liu He-Shan , Yu Jin , Ke Chang-Jun , Luo Zi-Ren
Published: June 2022

We extend two adaptive step-size methods for solving two-dimensional or multi-dimensional generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation (GNLSE): one is the conservation quantity error adaptive step-control method (RK4IP-CQE), and the other is the local error adaptive step-control method (RK4IP-LEM). The methods are developed in the vector form of fourth-order Runge–Kutta iterative scheme in the interaction picture by converting a vector equation in frequency domain. By simulating the supercontinuum generated from the high birefringence photonic crystal fiber, the calculation accuracies and the efficiencies of the two adaptive step-size methods are discussed. The simulation results show that the two methods have the same global average error, while RK4IP-LEM spends more time than RK4IP-CQE. The decrease of huge calculation time is due to the differences in the convergences of the relative photon number error and the approximated local error between these two adaptive step-size algorithms.
Enhancement of spin-orbit torque efficiency by tailoring interfacial spin-orbit coupling in Pt-based magnetic multilayers
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Zhu Gengkuan , Zhou Kaiyuan , Zhan Xiang , Tao Zui , Fu Qingwei , Liang Like , Li Zishuang , Chen Lina , Yan Chunjie , Li Haotian , Zhou Tiejun , Liu Ronghua
Published: June 2022

We study inserting Co layer thickness-dependent spin transport and spin–orbit torques (SOTs) in the Pt/Co/Py trilayers by spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance. The interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (IPMA) energy density (K
s = 2.7 erg/cm2, 1 erg = 10−7 J), which is dominated by interfacial spin–orbit coupling (ISOC) in the Pt/Co interface, total effective spin-mixing conductance

(

G

eff
,
tot

↑
↓

=
0
.
42
×

10

15

Ω

−
1

⋅

m

−
2

) and two-magnon scattering (β
TMS = 0.46 nm2) are first characterized, and the damping-like torque (ξ
DL = 0.103) and field-like torque (ξ
FL = –0.017) efficiencies are also calculated quantitatively by varying the thickness of the inserting Co layer. The significant enhancement of ξ
DL and ξ
FL in Pt/Co/Py than Pt/Py bilayer system originates from the interfacial Rashba–Edelstein effect due to the strong ISOC between Co-3d and Pt-5d orbitals at the Pt/Co interface. Additionally, we find a considerable out-of-plane spin polarization SOT, which is ascribed to the spin anomalous Hall effect and possible spin precession effect due to IPMA-induced perpendicular magnetization at the Pt/Co interface. Our results demonstrate that the ISOC of the Pt/Co interface plays a vital role in spin transport and SOTs-generation. Our finds offer an alternative approach to improve the conventional SOTs efficiencies and generate unconventional SOTs with out-of-plane spin polarization to develop low power Pt-based spintronic via tailoring the Pt/FM interface.
Josephson vortices and intrinsic Josephson junctions in the layered iron-based superconductor Ca10(Pt3As8)((Fe0.9Pt0.1)2As2)5
Authors: Sui Qiang-Tao , Qui Xiang-Gang
Published: June 2022

Modulated electronic state due to the layered crystal structures brings about moderate anisotropy of superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors and thus Abrikosov vortices are expected in the mixed state. However, based on the angular and temperature dependent transport measurements in iron-based superconductor Ca10(Pt3As8)((Fe0.9Pt0.1)2As2)5 with T
c ≃ 12 K, we find clear evidences of a crossover from Abrikosov vortices to Josephson vortices at a crossover temperature T* ≃ 7 K, when the applied magnetic field is parallel to the superconducting FeAs layers, i.e., the angle between the magnetic field and the FeAs layers θ = 0°. This crossover to Josephson vortices is demonstrated by an abnormal decrease (increase) of the critical current (flux-flow resistance) below T*, in contrast to the increase (decrease) of the critical current (flux-flow resistance) above T* expected for Abrikosov vortices. Furthermore, when θ is larger than 0.5°, the flux-flow resistance and critical current have no anomalous behaviors across T*. These anomalous behaviors can be understood in terms of the distinct transition from the well-pinned Abrikosov vortices to the weakly-pinned Josephson vortices upon cooling, when the coherent length perpendicular to the FeAs layers ξ
⊥ becomes shorter than half of the interlayer distance d/2. These experimental findings indicate the existence of intrinsic Josephson junctions below T* and thus quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity in Ca10(Pt3As8)((Fe0.9Pt0.1)2As2)5, similar to those in the cuprate superconductors.
Quantum speed limit for mixed states in a unitary system
Authors: Huang Jie-Hui , Qin Li-Guo , Chen Guang-Long , Hu Li-Yun , Liu Fu-Yao
Published: June 2022

Since the evolution of a mixed state in a unitary system is equivalent to the joint evolution of the eigenvectors contained in it, we could use the tool of instantaneous angular velocity for pure states to study the quantum speed limit (QSL) of a mixed state. We derive a lower bound for the evolution time of a mixed state to a target state in a unitary system, which automatically reduces to the quantum speed limit induced by the Fubini–Study metric for pure states. The computation of the QSL of a degenerate mixed state is more complicated than that of a non-degenerate mixed state, where we have to make a singular value decomposition (SVD) on the inner product between the two eigenvector matrices of the initial and target states. By combing these results, a lower bound for the evolution time of a general mixed state is presented. In order to compare the tightness among the lower bound proposed here and lower bounds reported in the references, two examples in a single-qubit system and in a single-qutrit system are studied analytically and numerically, respectively. All conclusions derived in this work are independent of the eigenvalues of the mixed state, which is in accord with the evolution properties of a quantum unitary system.
Properties of proto neutron star PSR J0737-3039A*
Authors: Zhao Xian-Feng , Zhong Shui-Rong , Huo Jian-Li
Published: June 2022

Using five sets of nucleon coupling constants (DD-MEI, GL85, GL97, GM1, and NL2), we find that the radius of the PNS PSR J0737-3039A is R=15.693–18.846 km, the central baryon density is

=0.247–0.359 fm

, the central energy density is

=4.30

10

– 6.49

10

, and the central pressure is

=3.79

10

– 5.85

10

. With DD-MEI, GL85, GL97, and GM1, baryon octets appear in the PNS PSR J0737-3039A. With NL2, only the baryons n, p, Λ,

,

,

, and

are present. Corresponding to the same baryon density, the relative densities of the same baryon in the PNS PSR J0737-3039A calculated using different nucleon coupling constants differ greatly. The central relative baryon densities of the PNS PSR J0737-3039A calculated using different nucleon coupling constants also differ greatly.
Beam based diagnostic and four dimensional transverse emittance measurement using solenoid scan for 100 keV thermionic electron gun at VECC, Kolkata
Authors: Dechoudhury S. , Haque S. , Abdul Naser Md.Z. , Mukherjee S. , Jain A.K. , Naik V.
Published: June 2022

Solenoid in the low energy beam transport line used for
focusing 100 keV electron beam has also been utilized as a beam
diagnostic tool. 4D transverse emittance has been determined by
analyzing the second moment beam distribution on a view screen
placed downstream using solenoid scan technique which require no
a-priori assumptions of the input beam. The measured transverse
emittance is compared with the emittance tomographically
reconstructed from the measured beam profiles corresponding to the
same set of solenoidal fields in the solenoid scan.
Combining precipitation forecasts and vegetation health to predict fire risk at subseasonal timescale in the Amazon
Authors: Fernandes Kátia , Bell Michael , Muñoz Ángel G
Published: June 2022

Current forecast systems provide reliable deterministic forecasts at the scale of weather (1–7 days) and probabilistic outcomes at the scale of seasons (1–9 months). Only in recent years research has begun transitioning to operational settings to provide numerical predictions for a lead time of 2–4 weeks, a timescale known as subseasonal. The Subseasonal Experiment (SubX) multi-model ensemble mean precipitation forecast (2017–2021) for days 8–14 (week-2 forecast) is used as a covariate in logistic regression models to predict fire risk in the Amazon. In a complementary experiment, a vegetation health index (VHI) is added to SubX precipitation forecasts as a predictor of fires. We find that fire risk can be skillfully assessed in most of the Amazon where fires occur regularly. In some sectors, SubX week-2 precipitation alone is a reliable predictor of fire risk, but the addition of VHI as a predictor results both in (a) a larger portion of the Amazon domain with skillful forecasts and; (b) higher skill in some sectors. By comparing two sectors of the Amazon, we find that the added information provided by VHI is most relevant where the mosaic of land covers includes savannas and grassland, whereas SubX precipitation can be used as the sole predictor for week-2 fire risk forecast in areas where the mosaic of land cover is dominated by forests. Our results illustrate the potential for using numerical model forecasts, at the subseasonal timescale, in combination with satellite remote sensing of vegetation to obtain skillful fire risk forecasts in the Amazon. The operationalization of the methods presented in this study could allow for better preparedness and fire risk reduction in the Amazon with a lead time greater than a week.
Antimicrobial finishing of cotton fabric by atmospheric pressure plasma
Authors: Cheng Yu , Jia Leilei , Sun Chang , Liu Yunwen , Liang Hui-e
Published: June 2022

In order to synthesize the antimicrobial cotton fabrics, two antimicrobial agents, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (TX-DF) and 3-(acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (APTAC), were grafted onto cotton fabrics by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. Orthogonal array testing strategy (OATS) was applied to investigate the optimum treatment conditions of the atmospheric pressure plasma, including sputter-gas species, gas pressure, treatment power and time. The obtained cotton fabrics were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). And the results revealed the successful grafting of two antimicrobial agents on cotton fabrics. The antimicrobial efficiency of the plasma treated cotton fabric were studied and found that the TX-DF-treated cotton fabric inactivated 99.85% S. aureus and 99.07% E. coli O157:H7 in 30 min contact time. The cotton sample grafted with APTAC inactivated 74.6% S. aureus and 92.3% E. coli O157:H7 in 30 min. The hand feeling of the plasma treated antimicrobial cotton fabrics ware measured by PhabrOmeter system, and the result showed that the plasma treatment has little effect on hand value. Thus, the antimicrobial property of cotton fabric finished with TX-DF by the argon/oxygen-plasma techniques achieved sound effects.
Investigation on mineralization performance and spore germination conditions of calcium carbonate mineralizing bacteria
Authors: Hu Yingying , Liu Weitao , Zhang Qingtao , Hu Xuelong
Published: June 2022

Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) provides a theoretical basis for repairing underground rocks. The optimal germination conditions and mineralization activities of Bacillus pasteurii with crack repair function were investigated. The growth and mineralization properties of microorganisms in different environments were explored by measuring the urease activity and calcium carbonate production of bacteria, and the influencing factors of bacterial biomass and urease activity were analyzed. The microscopic morphology of bacterial mineralization products was analyzed by SEM, XRD and TG-DSC test. The influencing factors of spore germination rate were studied by measuring the OD value of spore germination. The results showed that under the conditions of pH 7.3, urea concentration 0.25–0.5 mol l−1, and calcium ion concentration 0.4–0.6 mol l−1, the mineralization activity of B. pasteurii was the strongest, and the generated mineralization product was a stable calcite crystal. The optimum concentration of germination agent and inorganic salt were 10 mmol l−1 and 200 mmol l−1, respectively.
Anti-Gaussian quadrature formulae of Chebyshev type
Authors: Notaris Sotirios
Published: June 2022

We prove that there is no positive measure

d
σ

d\sigma

on the interval

[
a
,
b
]

[a,b]

such that the corresponding anti-Gaussian quadrature formula is also a Chebyshev quadrature formula. We also show that the only positive and even measure

d
σ
(
t
)
=
d
σ
(
−
t
)

d\sigma (t)=d\sigma (-t)

on the symmetric interval

[
−
a
,
a
]

[-a,a]

, for which the anti-Gaussian formula has the form
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="integral Subscript negative a Superscript a Baseline f left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis d sigma left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis equals StartFraction mu 0 Over 2 EndFraction left-bracket f left-parenthesis a right-parenthesis plus f left-parenthesis negative a right-parenthesis right-bracket plus upper R 2 Superscript upper A upper G Baseline left-parenthesis f right-parenthesis">

∫

−
a

a

f
(
t
)
d
σ
(
t
)
=

μ

0

2

[
f
(
a
)
+
f
(
−
a
)
]
+

R

2

A
G

(
f
)

\int _{-a}^{a}f(t)d\sigma (t)=\frac {\mu _{0}}{2}[f(a)+f(-a)]+R_{2}^{AG}(f)

for

n
=
1

n=1

and
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="integral Subscript negative a Superscript a Baseline f left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis d sigma left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis equals w 1 f left-parenthesis a right-parenthesis plus w sigma-summation Underscript mu equals 2 Overscript n Endscripts f left-parenthesis t Subscript mu Baseline right-parenthesis plus w 1 f left-parenthesis negative a right-parenthesis plus upper R Subscript n plus 1 Superscript upper A upper G Baseline left-parenthesis f right-parenthesis">

∫

−
a

a

f
(
t
)
d
σ
(
t
)
=

w

1

f
(
a
)
+
w

∑

μ
=
2

n

f
(

t

μ

)
+

w

1

f
(
−
a
)
+

R

n
+
1

A
G

(
f
)

\int _{-a}^{a}f(t)d\sigma (t)=w_{1}f(a)+w\sum _{\mu =2}^{n}f(t_{\mu })+w_{1}f(-a)+R_{n+1}^{AG}(f)

for all

n
≥
2

n\geq 2

, is the measure

d
σ
(
t
)
=
(

a

2

−

t

2

)

−
1

/

2

d
t

d\sigma (t)=(a^{2}-t^{2})^{-1/2}dt

. It turns out that the formula for

n
≥
2

n\geq 2

is the

(
n
−
1
)

(n-1)

-point Gauss-Lobatto quadrature formula for the measure

d
σ
(
t
)
=
(

a

2

−

t

2

)

−
1

/

2

d
t

d\sigma (t)=(a^{2}-t^{2})^{-1/2}dt

, which is a generalization of what happens in the case of the Chebyshev measure of the first kind. Moreover, we compute the anti-Gaussian formulae for any one of the four Chebyshev measures.
Ideals of general linear Lie algebras of infinite-dimensional vector spaces
Authors: Bezushchak Oksana , Hołubowski Waldemar , Oliynyk Bogdana
Published: June 2022

Let

V
V

be an infinite-dimensional vector space over a field of characteristic not equal to

2.
2.

We classify ideals of the Lie algebra

g
l

(
V
)

\mathfrak {gl}(V)

of all linear transformations of the space

V
.

V.
On Motohashi’s formula
Authors: Wu Han
Published: June 2022

We complement and offer a new perspective of the proof of a Motohashi-type formula relating the fourth moment of

L
L

-functions for

G

L
1

GL_1

with the third moment of

L
L

-functions for

G

L
2

GL_2

over number fields, studied earlier by Michel-Venkatesh and Nelson. Our main tool is a new type of pre-trace formula with test functions on

M
2

(

A

)

M_2(\mathbb {A})

instead of

G

L
2

(

A

)

GL_2(\mathbb {A})

, on whose spectral side the matrix coefficients are replaced by the standard Godement-Jacquet zeta integrals. This is also a generalization of Bruggeman-Motohashi’s other proof of Motohashi’s formula. We give a variation of our method in the case of division quaternion algebras instead of

M
2

M_2

, yielding a new spectral reciprocity, for which we are not sure if it is within the period formalism given by Michel-Venkatesh. We also indicate a further possible generalization, which seems to be beyond what the period method can offer.
Prescription cannabidiol for seizure disorder management: Initial drug-drug interaction management by specialty pharmacists
Authors: Dial Holly , Owens Wendi , DeClercq Josh , Choi Leena , Zuckerman Autumn D , Shah Nisha B , Johnson Kayla
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To describe the presence, type, and management of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) at prescription cannabidiol (CBD) therapy initiation.

Methods

We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of patients prescribed CBD from a medical center’s neurology clinic for seizure management from January 2019 through April 2020. Patients were excluded if they were enrolled in a CBD clinical trial or the insurance approval or medication fulfillment process was not completed by the center’s specialty pharmacy. The primary outcomes were the numbers, types, and management of DDIs identified at the time of CBD prescribing.

Results

Of the 136 patients included, 109 (80%) had a DDI identified at baseline. Of the 260 DDIs, 71% (n = 184) were pharmacodynamic and 29% (n = 76) were pharmacokinetic in nature. Management of the 260 DDIs detected included counseling only (89% [n = 232 interactions]), discontinuation of the interacting agent [9% (n = 22 interactions]), and dosage change for the interacting agent [2% (n = 6 interactions]). Clobazam was the most commonly identified interacting medication (n = 63, 24%), while valproic acid accounted for 10% (n = 26) of the DDIs. The population was predominantly white (n = 115, 85%), 18 years of age or younger (n = 92, 68%), and had an indication for prescription CBD treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (n = 117, 86%).

Conclusion

This study provides new information on the role that integrated specialty pharmacists can play in identifying and managing initial DDIs in patients starting prescription CBD.
#CosmeticsTwitter: Predicting Public Interest in Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures Using Twitter Data
Authors: Cohen Samuel A , Tijerina Jonathan D , Shah Shreya A , Amarikwa Linus , Kossler Andrea L
Published: June 2022

Background

The utilization of social media in plastic surgery is expanding. The Twitter Academic Research Product Tract (TARPT) database provides plastic surgeons the opportunity to monitor public interest in plastic surgery procedures. Previously, TARPT was shown to be effective in tracking public interest in surgical cosmetic facial and body procedures.

Objectives

The authors sought to determine the ability of the TARPT tool to track and predict public interest in nonsurgical cosmetic procedures and to examine temporal public interest trends in nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

Methods

The authors employed the TARPT tool to calculate the total number of tweets containing keywords related to 15 nonsurgical cosmetic procedures from 2010 to 2020. Annual case volumes were obtained for each of the 15 procedures from annual reports provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Univariate linear regression was employed to compare tweet volumes and procedure volumes, with P < 0.05 as a threshold for significance.

Results

Univariate linear regression revealed significant positive correlations between tweet volumes and American Society of Plastic Surgeons procedure volumes for 10 search terms representing 6 nonsurgical cosmetic procedures: “xeomin,” “microdermabrasion,” “facial filler,” “fat filler,” “fat injections,” “fat transfer,” “hyaluronic acid filler,” “hyaluronic acid injection,” “HA filler,” and “PRP filler.” Thirty-two search terms did not demonstrate a significant relationship.

Conclusions

The TARPT tool is an informative data source for plastic surgeons with the potential to guide marketing and advertising strategies, and monitor public interest in nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, helping surgeons respond to patients’ evolving needs.
Immunogenicity of a Third Dose of BNT162b2 to Ancestral Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and the Omicron Variant in Adults Who Received 2 Doses of Inactivated Vaccine
Authors: Leung Nancy H L , Cheng Samuel M S , Martín-Sánchez Mario , Au Niki Y M , Ng Yvonne Y , Luk Leo L H , Chan Karl C K , Li John K C , Leung Yonna W Y , Tsang Leo C H , Chaothai Sara , Kwan Kelvin K H , Ip Dennis K M , Poon Leo L M , Leung Gabriel M , Peiris J S Malik , Cowling Benjamin J
Published: June 2022

Background

Limited data exist on antibody responses to mixed vaccination strategies that involve inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, particularly in the context of emerging variants.

Methods

We conducted an open-label trial of a third vaccine dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine (BNT162b2, Fosun Pharma/BioNTech) in adults aged ≥30 years who had previously received 2 doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. We collected blood samples before administering the third dose and 28 days later and tested for antibodies to the ancestral virus using a binding assay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), and a live virus plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). We also tested for antibodies against the Omicron variant using live-virus PRNT.

Results

In 315 participants, a third dose of BNT162b2 substantially increased antibody titers on each assay. Mean ELISA levels increased from an optical density of 0.3 to 2.2 (P < .001), and mean sVNT levels increased from an inhibition of 17% to 96% (P < .001). In a random subset of 20 participants, the geometric mean PRNT50 titers rose substantially, by 45-fold from day 0 to day 28 against the ancestral virus (P < .001) and by 11-fold against the Omicron variant (P < .001). In daily monitoring, post-vaccination reactions subsided within 7 days for more than 99% of participants.

Conclusions

A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine with an mRNA vaccine substantially improved antibody levels against the ancestral virus and the Omicron variant with a well-tolerated safety profile in adults who had received 2 doses of inactivated vaccine 6 months earlier.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT05057182.
Two-way fixed effects and differences-in-differences with heterogeneous treatment effects: a survey
Authors: de Chaisemartin Clément , D’Haultfœuille Xavier
Published: June 2022

Linear regressions with period and group fixed effects are widely used to estimate policie’s effects: 26 of the 100 most cited papers published by the American Economic Review from 2015 to 2019 estimate such regressions. It has recently been shown that those regressions may produce misleading estimates if the policy’s effect is heterogeneous between groups or over time, as is often the case. This survey reviews a fast-growing literature that documents this issue and that proposes alternative estimators robust to heterogeneous effects. We use those alternative estimators to revisit Wolfers (2006a).
Groovy and Gnarly: Surface Wrinkles as a Multifunctional Motif for Terrestrial and Marine Environments
Authors: Surapaneni Venkata A , Schindler Mike , Ziege Ricardo , de Faria Luciano C , Wölfer Jan , Bidan Cécile M , Mollen Frederik H , Amini Shahrouz , Hanna Sean , Dean Mason N
Published: June 2022

Synopsis

From large ventral pleats of humpback whales to nanoscale ridges on flower petals, wrinkled structures are omnipresent, multifunctional, and found at hugely diverse scales. Depending on the particulars of the biological system—its environment, morphology, and mechanical properties—wrinkles may control adhesion, friction, wetting, or drag; promote interfacial exchange; act as flow channels; or contribute to stretching, mechanical integrity, or structural color. Undulations on natural surfaces primarily arise from stress-induced instabilities of surface layers (e.g., buckling) during growth or aging. Variation in the material properties of surface layers and in the magnitude and orientation of intrinsic stresses during growth lead to a variety of wrinkling morphologies and patterns which, in turn, reflect the wide range of biophysical challenges wrinkled surfaces can solve. Therefore, investigating how surface wrinkles vary and are implemented across biological systems is key to understanding their structure–function relationships. In this work, we synthesize the literature in a metadata analysis of surface wrinkling in various terrestrial and marine organisms to review important morphological parameters and classify functional aspects of surface wrinkles in relation to the size and ecology of organisms. Building on our previous and current experimental studies, we explore case studies on nano/micro-scale wrinkles in biofilms, plant surfaces, and basking shark filter structures to compare developmental and structure-vs-function aspects of wrinkles with vastly different size scales and environmental demands. In doing this and by contrasting wrinkle development in soft and hard biological systems, we provide a template of structure–function relationships of biological surface wrinkles and an outlook for functionalized wrinkled biomimetic surfaces.
Maternal Responses in the Face of Infection Risk
Authors: Lopes Patricia C , Gormally Brenna M G , Emmi Aubrey , Schuerman Delilah , Liyanage Chathuni , Beattie Ursula K , Romero L Michael
Published: June 2022

When animals are sick, their physiology and behavior change in ways that can impact their offspring. Research is emerging showing that infection risk alone can also modify the physiology and behavior of healthy animals. If physiological responses to environments with high infection risk take place during reproduction, it is possible that they lead to maternal effects. Understanding whether and how high infection risk triggers maternal effects is important to elucidate how the impacts of infectious agents extend beyond infected individuals and how, in this way, they are even stronger evolutionary forces than already considered. Here, to evaluate the effects of infection risk on maternal responses, we exposed healthy female Japanese quail to either an immune-challenged (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] treated) mate or to a healthy (control) mate. We first assessed how females responded behaviorally to these treatments. Exposure to an immune-challenged or control male was immediately followed by exposure to a healthy male, to determine whether treatment affected paternity allocation. We predicted that females paired with immune-challenged males would avoid and show aggression towards those males, and that paternity would be skewed towards the healthy male. After mating, we collected eggs over a 5-day period. As an additional control, we collected eggs from immune-challenged females mated to healthy males. We tested eggs for fertilization status, embryo sex ratio, as well as albumen corticosterone, lysozyme activity, and ovotransferrin, and yolk antioxidant capacity. We predicted that immune-challenged females would show the strongest changes in the egg and embryo metrics, and that females exposed to immune-challenged males would show intermediate responses. Contrary to our predictions, we found no avoidance of immune-challenged males and no differences in terms of paternity allocation. Immune-challenged females laid fewer eggs, with an almost bimodal distribution of sex ratio for embryos. In this group, albumen ovotransferrin was the lowest, and yolk antioxidant capacity decreased over time, while it increased in the other treatments. No differences in albumen lysozyme were found. Both females that were immune-challenged and those exposed to immune-challenged males deposited progressively more corticosterone in their eggs over time, a pattern opposed to that shown by females exposed to control males. Our results suggest that egg-laying Japanese quail may be able to respond to infection risk, but that additional or prolonged sickness symptoms may be needed for more extensive maternal responses.
Introducing FCR6–Brain: Measuring fear of cancer recurrence in brain tumor patients and their caregivers
Authors: Braun Sarah Ellen , Willis Kelcie D , Mladen Samantha N , Aslanzadeh Farah , Lanoye Autumn , Langbein Jenna , Reid Morgan , Loughan Ashlee R
Published: June 2022

Background

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a psychological consequence of cancer diagnosis that impacts quality of life in neuro-oncology. However, the instruments used to assess FCR have not been tested for validity in patients with brain tumors. The present study explored the psychometric properties of a brief FCR scale in patients with primary brain tumor (PBT) and their caregivers.

Methods

Adult patients with PBT (n = 165) and their caregivers (n = 117) completed the FCR–7-item scale (FCR7) and measures of psychological functioning. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted for both patient and caregiver FCR7. Convergent validity, prevalence, the difference between FCR in patients and caregivers, and relationships with relevant medical and demographic variables were explored.

Results

EFAs revealed a single factor with one item demonstrating poor loading for both patients and caregivers. Removal of the item measuring hypervigilance symptoms (checking for physical signs of tumor) greatly improved the single factor metrics. The amended scale (FCR6-Brain) demonstrated good convergent validity. Caregiver FCR was significantly higher than patient. Clinical guidance to identify clinically significant FCR was introduced. Age, gender, and time since diagnosis were related to FCR, with higher FCR in younger women more recently diagnosed.

Conclusions

The FCR6-Brain is the first validated instrument to assess FCR in this population and should be used to identify individuals at risk for FCR and guide development of future psychotherapeutic interventions. This study highlights the distinct characteristics of FCR in neuro-oncology. Symptoms of hypervigilance in PBT patients need further investigation.
Protein Kinase MpYAK1 Is Involved in Meristematic Cell Proliferation, Reproductive Phase Change and Nutrient Signaling in the LiverwortMarchantia polymorpha
Authors: Shinkawa Haruka , Kajikawa Masataka , Furuya Tomoyuki , Nishihama Ryuichi , Tsukaya Hirokazu , Kohchi Takayuki , Fukuzawa Hideya
Published: June 2022

Plant growth and development are regulated by environmental factors, including nutrient availability and light conditions, via endogenous genetic signaling pathways. Phosphorylation-dependent protein modification plays a major role in the regulation of cell proliferation in stress conditions, and several protein kinases have been shown to function in response to nutritional status, including dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRKs). Although DYRKs are widely conserved in eukaryotes, the physiological functions of DYRKs in land plants are still to be elucidated. In the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a model bryophyte, four putative genes encoding DYRK homologous proteins, each of which belongs to the subfamily yet another kinase 1 (Yak1), plant-specific DYRK, DYRK2, or pre-mRNA processing protein 4 kinase, were identified. MpYAK1-defective male and female mutant lines generated by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) system showed smaller sizes of thalli than did the wild-type plants and repressed cell divisions in the apical notch regions. The Mpyak1 mutants developed rhizoids from gemmae in the gemma cup before release. The Mpyak1 lines developed sexual organs even in non-inductive short-day photoperiod conditions supplemented with far-red light. In nitrogen (N)-deficient conditions, rhizoid elongation was inhibited in the Mpyak1 mutants. In conditions of aeration with 0.08% CO2 (v/v) and N depletion, Mpyak1 mutants accumulated higher levels of sucrose and lower levels of starch compared to the wild type. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expression of peroxidase genes was differentially affected by MpYAK1. These results suggest that MpYAK1 is involved in the maintenance of plant growth and developmental responses to light conditions and nutrient signaling.
Childhood Pneumonia Diagnostics in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ojuawo Olutobi Babatope , Iroh Tam Pui-Ying
Published: June 2022

Background

The prompt and accurate aetiological diagnosis of childhood pneumonia remains a challenge, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) because of limited resources for disease management.

Objective

To review existing diagnostics for childhood pneumonia and potential modalities available to differentiate between bacterial and viral aetiologies in SSA.

Methods

Online databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 2010 and December 2020 regarding childhood pneumonia diagnosis, conducted in SSA in children less than 18 years of age. The 2020 PRISMA checklist was utilized in appraising the selected studies and the QUADAS-2 tool was employed to assess the risk of bias in each of the studies selected.

Results

A total of 1542 study titles and abstracts were screened following which 45 studies (39 on childhood pneumonia diagnostics and 6 on discriminating between bacterial and viral childhood pneumonia) were selected for review. Microbiological investigations (79.7%) constituted the most utilized index tests with blood-related specimen (32.8%) being the most utilized specimen. The most performed index diagnostic modality was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (53.1%). The commonest reference gold standard technique was based on clinical diagnosis of the disease (46.2%). Only six studies in SSA attempted at using serum biomarkers, either singly or in combination to distinguish between aetiologies with use of combined biomarkers showing promise.

Conclusion

Microbiological investigations are the most employed diagnostic methods for childhood pneumonia in SSA. More studies are required to evaluate the potential use of serum biomarkers; either singly or in combination with the goal of discriminating bacterial and viral childhood pneumonia.
An Examination of the Associations Among USMLE Step 3 Scores and the Likelihood of Disciplinary Action in Practice
Authors: Cuddy Monica M. , Liu Chunyan , Ouyang Wenli , Barone Michael A. , Young Aaron , Johnson David A.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

As the last examination in the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) sequence, Step 3 provides a safeguard before physicians enter into unsupervised practice. There is, however, little validity research focusing on Step 3 scores beyond examining its associations with other educational and professional assessments thought to cover similar content. This study examines the associations between Step 3 scores and subsequent receipt of disciplinary action taken by state medical boards for problematic behavior in practice. It analyzes Step 3 total, Step 3 computer-based case simulation (CCS), and Step 3 multiple-choice question (MCQ) scores.

Method

The final sample included 275,392 board-certified physicians who graduated from MD-granting medical schools and who passed Step 3 between 2000 and 2017. Cross-classified multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of Step 3 scores on the likelihood of receiving a disciplinary action, controlling for other USMLE scores and accounting for jurisdiction and specialty.

Results

Results showed that physicians with higher Step 3 total, CCS, and MCQ scores tended to have lower chances of receiving a disciplinary action, after accounting for other USMLE scores. Specifically, a 1-standard-deviation increase in Step 3 total, CCS, and MCQ score was associated with a 23%, 11%, and 17% decrease in the odds of receiving a disciplinary action, respectively. The effect of Step 2 CK score on the likelihood of receiving a disciplinary action was statistically significant, while the effect of Step 1 score became statistically nonsignificant when other Step scores were included in the analysis.

Conclusions

Physicians who perform better on Step 3 are less likely to receive a disciplinary action from a state medical board for problematic behavior in practice. These findings provide some validity evidence for the use of Step 3 scores when making medical licensure decisions in the United States.
Lack of Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Patients Older Than 75?
Authors: Wu Qing , Luo Shuimei , Xie Xianhe
Published: June 2022

This research was designed to compare the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer patients among different age groups. Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant trials. Randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) with ICIs and RCTs that conducted subgroup analysis of overall survival (OS) and/or progression-free survival (PFS) based on age were included. Summary hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were available. Totally, 35,777 individuals from 59 RCTs were recruited. ICIs can ameliorate OS and PFS of cancer patients in groups of below 65 year and 65–75 years. Conversely, patients in group of 75 years or above failed to acquire benefit from ICIs for both OS (HR=0.99, 95% CI: 0.91–1.09, P=0.8767) and PFS (HR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.82–1.11, P=0.5694). Subgroup analysis was performed based on class of ICIs, type of ICIs, type of cancer, line of treatment, blind method, and type of nonsmall-cell lung cancer. In all subgroups, OS and PFS were not significantly improved in patients 75 years or above. Cancer patients older than 75 years failed to acquire remarkable benefit from ICIs for both OS and PFS.
Characterizing mechanism-based pain phenotypes in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a cross-sectional analysis of the PROspective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and Translational StuDies
Authors: Saloman Jami L. , Conwell Darwin L. , Fogel Evan , Vege Santhi Swaroop , Li Liang , Li Shuang , Andersen Dana K. , Fisher William E. , Forsmark Christopher E. , Hart Phil A. , Pandol Stephen J. , Park Walter G. , Phillips Anna Evans , Topazian Mark , Van Den Eeden Stephen K. , Serrano Jose , Yadav Dhiraj ,   on behalf of the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer
Published: June 2022

Pain is common in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and profoundly reduces quality of life (QoL). Multiple underlying mechanisms contribute to a heterogenous pain experience and reduce efficacy of pain management. This study was designed to characterize the distribution of mechanism-based pain phenotypes in painful CP. The data analyzed were collected as part of the PROspective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and Translational StuDies, an NCI/NIDDK-funded longitudinal study of the natural history of CP. The PROspective Evaluation of Chronic pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and translational stuDies includes patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of pain, medication use, global health, and QoL. Of subjects (N = 681) with CP, 80% experienced abdominal pain within the year before enrollment. Subjects who experienced pain in the week before enrollment (N = 391) completed PROMIS Neuropathic and Nociceptive Pain Quality instruments which were then used to classify them by pain type: 40% had nociceptive, 5% had neuropathic-like, and 32% had both types of pain. The prevalence of having both types of pain was higher among women and subjects with diabetes mellitus, whereas nociceptive-only pain was more prevalent among men and those with pancreatic duct stricture. Other factors, including pain medication use and healthcare utilization, did not differ between groups based on pain type. Subjects in the Both group had significantly worse health and QoL scores relative to those with nociceptive-only pain, suggesting that using psychosocial pain surveys may be useful for understanding pain subtypes in patients with CP. Additional research is needed to identify biochemical and biophysical signatures that may associate with and predict responses to mechanism-specific interventions.
The Relationship Between Job Burnout and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Firefighters
Authors: Cui Lei , Huang Ning , Bai Yashuang , Fu Mingqi , Zia Sidra , Guo Jing
Published: June 2022

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the association between job burnout and depressive symptoms among Chinese firefighters, assuming colleagueship to play a moderating role in the aforementioned relationship.

Methods

This study is based on an online survey recruiting 1328 Chinese male firefighters from July 1 to August 31, 2021. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the associations.

Results

This study revealed that all dimensions of job burnout were associated with worse depressive symptoms. Cynicism (β = 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.236, 0.356) had the strongest association with depressive symptoms, followed by emotional exhaustion and inefficacy. Moreover, firefighters with better affective colleagueship (β = −0.10; 95% CI, −0.141, −0.061) and better obligatory colleagueship (β = −0.07; 95% CI, −0.115, −0.034) were less likely to have depressive symptoms when confronted with job burnouts.

Conclusions

This study suggests employers and practitioners should target their intervention efforts at both job burnout and colleagueship.
Addressing Mental Health Factors to Improve Outcomes in Work-Related COVID-19
Authors: LeGoff Daniel B. , Lazarovic Jacob , Kofeldt Miranda , Ghayal Hiren , Peters Aimee
Published: June 2022

Objective

This retrospective study investigated the benefits of adding psychological services for frontline workers with delayed recovery from COVID-19 due to psychosocial stressors and/or mental disorders.

Methods

Both standardized psychological evaluation and at least 3 sessions of work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy were provided to 103 participants. Benefits were assessed by comparing the pretreatment and posttreatment recovery, work status, and self-ratings of work-related and adaptive daily functioning.

Results

Duration of recovery and return to work were reduced along with improvements in work relevant (40%) and adaptive functioning (31%). The majority (80%) returned to work within 12 weeks despite variable presenting problems, course of illness, demographic, and job factors.

Conclusions

Brief work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be an effective adjunct to customary outpatient medical care for COVID-19 in frontline essential workers for whom the return-to-work process may be negatively affected by stress, anxiety, and depressed mood.