bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of plasma generation, plasma transport, and film formation for a DC vacuum arc source with Ti–X compound cathodes (X = W, C, Al, and Si)
Authors: Zhirkov Igor , Polcik Peter , Petruhins Andrejs , Kolozsvári Szilard , Rosen Johanna
Published: June 2023

This investigation reports the influence of Ti–C and Ti–W cathode composition on an industrial-scale dc vacuum arc plasma source. Further, we analyze the influence of plasma generation and plasma properties on the resulting cathode surface after the operation and on basic film properties. The results are compared with previous work focused on Ti–Al and Ti–Si compound cathodes. For all Ti–X compound cathodes (X = W, C, Al, and Si), a direct correlation between plasma ion energy/charge and the cohesive energy of the cathode was demonstrated, with a small number of exceptions to a limited set of specific cathode compositions. Hence, the “velocity rule” and effects from different electron temperatures were suggested to be important for gaining a more detailed understanding of plasma properties. A discrepancy was found between the cathode and plasma ion composition, though the difference was reduced in a corresponding comparison between the cathode and the deposited film composition. A significant contribution of a flux of neutrals and/or macroparticles to the final film composition was, therefore, suggested. The effect of the melting point of the cathode phase composition on the intensity of macroparticle generation and the smoothness of the cathode surface operation was also investigated. The presented results contribute to the fundamental understanding of vacuum arc plasma generation and transport and are of importance for further development and applicability of Ti-based coatings from arc deposition.
Advancing the mechanical integrity and fragmentation behavior of reactive projectiles
Authors: Williams Alan , Geigle Mackenzie , Fah Timothy , Gupta Surojit , Pantoya Michelle
Published: June 2023

A multivariant statistical approach was used to identify treatment conditions that improve the survivability of structural reactive material (SRM) projectiles upon launch and enhance energy release upon impact. The study included both mechanical testing of projectiles as well as their reactive characterization. The projectiles were launched in a high-velocity impact-ignition testing system and impacted an anvil for vented chamber calorimetry. This study examined a link between ultimate compressive stress and combustion performance. Two treatments were applied to consolidated aluminum projectiles including annealing and addition of silica (SiO2) inclusions. Results showed annealing at moderate temperatures resulted in intact SRM projectiles upon launch. Adding small concentrations (1–2 wt. %) of SiO2 to the SRM promoted fragmentation and combustion performance upon impact. Compared to the untreated projectiles, annealing with SiO2 inclusion processing treatments improved the energy conversion efficiency from 37–84% (for untreated projectiles) up to 54–98%. Increasing interparticle dislocation recovery by annealing while balancing inclusions promoting fragmentation upon impact was the key to optimizing combustion performance for SRM ballistic impact applications.
Evidence of multiple stocks of catfish, Rita rita (Hamilton), from the Ganges Basin on the basis of an integrated analysis of truss morphometrics, otolith microchemistry, and otolith shape
Authors: Ankita  , Schilling Hayden T. , Khan Salman , Khan M. Afzal , Miyan Kaish
Published: June 2023

Context Management of Rita rita (Hamilton) in India is hampered by a lack of understanding of possible stock structure. Aim To investigate possible spatial stock structure of Rita rita in the Ganges Basin. Methods Independent analyses of landmark-based truss morphometry, otolith elemental analysis and otolith shape were conducted to investigate the stock structure of the catfish (Rita rita) from the Ganga River and its tributaries Yamuna and Ramganga. Key results Each of the stock-delineation approaches, namely, truss morphometrics, otolith elemental composition and otolith shape, showed significant differences among the fish groups from three sampling locations (P ≤ 0.003). Despite these differences, reclassification analyses showed variable (although all greater than random) reclassification rates (truss morphometry: 78%, otoliths elemental data: 98%, otolith shape: 50%). Conclusions An integrated view of the three analyses suggested spatial structuring and that there may be multiple stocks of Rita rita in the Ganges Basin. Implications Future investigations should consider possible variations in demographic parameters that may affect fisheries management. The multiple-lines-of-evidence approach taken in this study can serve as a template for studies of other species in any region.
From comparative standard marker to comparative adverb
Authors: Shibasaki Reijirou
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the grammaticalization of
the Japanese ablative marker
yori
‘from’ into a comparative
standard marker ‘than’ and further into a comparative adverb

yori
‘more.’ It is
widely known that ablative markers can be grammaticalized into
comparative standard markers. However, little is known about the
direction of change from comparative marker to comparative adverb.
This study takes a corpus-based approach to uncover the process of
change. The ablative
yori
, which had been used since
Old Japanese, began to take on the adverbial property ‘more’ in the
early twentieth century. While some collocational sequences
facilitate the grammaticalization of
yori
, the overall degree of change
turns out to be very slow.
-maɾa in Mara
Authors: Bernander Rasmus , Laine Antti , Roth Tim , Aunio Lotta
Published: June 2023

This study accounts for the grammaticalization of
the verb -maɾa ‘finish’ in the language varieties
of the Western Serengeti branch of the Mara subgroup of Eastern
Bantu. In these varieties, -maɾa is found in two
different auxiliary verb constructions marking the two interrelated
Phasal Polarity concepts of already and not yet.
Whereas ‘finish’ in general and -maɾa cognates in
particular are commonly grammaticalized into already in
Bantu, the parallel development of a not yet ‑marker from
the same source constitutes a much rarer development. Nonetheless,
we propose that both constructions developed out of the same need to
reinforce a reading of (non-)completion (and counter-factuality) and
that they instantiate recurrent cyclic patterns of change
significant for Eastern Bantu more broadly.
The final-appendage construction in Japanese and Korean
Authors: Izutsu Mitsuko Narita , Izutsu Katsunobu , Kim Yong-Taek
Published: June 2023

Japanese and Korean are both predicate-final (OV)
languages with relatively flexible constituent order. However, our
analysis of parallel texts (Japanese novels and their Korean
translations) demonstrates that the two languages differ in the
exploitability of post-predicative position. Korean has a much lower
frequency of final-appendage structures with clause-internal
elements (especially adnominals and subject nominals) less likely to
occur in post-predicative position. On the other hand, Korean shows
a relatively higher proportion of vocative phrases in
post-predicative position despite a lower frequency of
final-appendage structures. The results reveal that Japanese
exhibits a relatively higher degree of constructional entrenchment
of final-appendage structures. In contrast, post-predicative
position in Korean is rather restrictive, more limited to
clause-external elements than to clause-internal ones.
New perspectives on phonological erosion as an aspect of
grammaticalization
Authors: Elerick Charles
Published: June 2023

Phonological erosion as a concomitant of
grammaticalization has been a prevailing assumption for four
decades. Phonological erosion is, in fact, a general diachronic
process with reduction occurring at the rate of about 15–20% per
millennium. Reduction related to grammaticalization is often faster
than the nominal rate and this has supported the standard theory. In
a language, which is an adaptive and isostatic system, phonological
loss, at nominal or accelerated rates, whether associated with
grammaticalization or otherwise, interacts with mechanisms of
compensation. Such interaction, a complex process, supports lexical
right-sizing, an expression of the Quantity Principle. Phonological
loss that accompanies grammaticalization, often significant and
often uncompensated, is one aspect of this general diachronic
process.
On the development of discourse markers from elliptical
structures
Authors: Rhee Seongha
Published: June 2023

Korean has a group of DMs that developed from
sentential fragments through ellipsis (EDMs), i.e., those that were
morpho-syntactically incapable of standing alone. They carry diverse
functions across discourse domains. In particular, they tend to mark
the speaker’s affect, and this development is largely due to their
lexical and structural characteristics. A diachronic analysis shows
that their development is closely tied to semantic generalization,
scope extension, and movement to non-licensed positions. The
functions of EDMs are often correlated with their characteristic
prosody rather than with their forms. All EDMs involve either
deictic expressions or interrogatives which are related to
indexicality and vagueness that play a significant role in the
development of EDM functions.
Zn2+ decoration of microtubules arrests axonal transport and displaces tau, doublecortin, and MAP2C
Authors: Minckley Taylor F. , Salvagio Lyndsie A. , Fudge Dylan H. , Verhey Kristen , Markus Steven M. , Qin Yan
Published: June 2023

Intracellular Zn2+ concentrations increase via depolarization-mediated influx or intracellular release, but the immediate effects of Zn2+ signals on neuron function are not fully understood. By simultaneous recording of cytosolic Zn2+ and organelle motility, we find that elevated Zn2+ (IC50 ≈ 5–10 nM) reduces both lysosomal and mitochondrial motility in primary rat hippocampal neurons and HeLa cells. Using live-cell confocal microscopy and in vitro single-molecule TIRF imaging, we reveal that Zn2+ inhibits activity of motor proteins (kinesin and dynein) without disrupting their microtubule binding. Instead, Zn2+ directly binds to microtubules and selectively promotes detachment of tau, DCX, and MAP2C, but not MAP1B, MAP4, MAP7, MAP9, or p150glued. Bioinformatic predictions and structural modeling show that the Zn2+ binding sites on microtubules partially overlap with the microtubule binding sites of tau, DCX, dynein, and kinesin. Our results reveal that intraneuronal Zn2+ regulates axonal transport and microtubule-based processes by interacting with microtubules.
Emerging functions of tissue-resident eosinophils
Authors: Gurtner Alessandra , Crepaz Daniel , Arnold Isabelle C.
Published: June 2023

Eosinophils are typically considered tissue-damaging effector cells in type 2 immune-related diseases. However, they are also increasingly recognized as important modulators of various homeostatic processes, suggesting they retain the ability to adapt their function to different tissue contexts. In this review, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of eosinophil activities within tissues, with particular emphasis on the gastrointestinal tract, where a large population of these cells resides under non-inflammatory conditions. We further examine evidence of their transcriptional and functional heterogeneity and highlight environmental signals emerging as key regulators of their activities, beyond classical type 2 cytokines.
Reconstructing the early history of the theory of heat through Fourier’s experiments
Authors: Esposito Salvatore
Published: June 2023

We present a project for undergraduate students illustrating the historical path that led to the foundations of the early theory of heat developed by Joseph Fourier. It is based on the reconstruction of 12 key experiments carried out by the French scientist to acquire significant results about heat already known from previous authors, as well as to investigate the relevant parameters ruling heat propagation in media. Upon this empirical evidence, Fourier was able to elaborate his celebrated heat equation that he applied to a number of different problems, whose solution led to predictions and consequences to be tested in further observations. The dominant experimental activity of the project was complemented by a dedicated theoretical one, aimed at illustrating how physical evidences entered into the theoretical framework behind Fourier’s heat equation. The project ended with a dissemination activity, which resulted both in the realization of 12 videos illustrating the experiments performed (available on the YouTube platform) and in the presentation of the whole project to other students and the general public at science fairs and similar events.
Lagrangian approach and shape gradient for inverse problem of breaking line identification in solid: contact with adhesion
Authors: Kovtunenko Victor A
Published: June 2023

A class of inverse identification problems constrained by variational inequalities is studied with respect to its shape differentiability. The specific problem appearing in failure analysis describes elastic bodies with a breaking line subject to simplified adhesive contact conditions between its faces. Based on the Lagrange multiplier approach and smooth Lavrentiev penalization, a semi-analytic formula for the shape gradient of the Lagrangian linearized on the solution is proved, which contains both primal and adjoint states. It is used for the descent direction in a gradient algorithm for identification of an optimal shape of the breaking line from boundary measurements. The theoretical result is supported by numerical simulation tests of destructive testing in 2D configuration with and without contact.
Measurement and evaluation of time-varying meshing stiffness of faulty gears under different types
Authors: Meng Zong , Zhang Ying , Pang Xiushen , Jin Yesen , Li Jimeng , Fan Fengjie
Published: June 2023

When operating under complex conditions, gear failure is inevitable, and gears are often accompanied by multiple failures. In view of this phenomenon, this paper establishes a pitting crack coupling failure model and sets four different fault levels, from healthy to severe. Time-varying meshing stiffness (TVMS) decreases with the occurrence of faults, such that it could be employed as a gauge to assess the level of failure. Firstly, considering that the base circle and the tooth root circle do not coincide, the improved potential energy method is used to solve the TVMS under different fault degrees. Secondly, the effects of crack depth, angle, pitting radius, depth and number on meshing stiffness are studied. Then, the result of the potential energy method is verified by the finite element method, and the consequence shows that the difference between the two is within 5%, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed model. Finally, when the crack degree is certain, the influence of pitting evolution on the meshing stiffness of the coupling model is studied.
Artificial intelligence at school: please handle with care
Authors: Oss Stefano
Published: June 2023

Physics teachers at any school level are given a simple but heartfelt hint: artificial intelligence platforms are certainly important and can be useful in many situations; however, they cannot replace natural intelligence when it comes to doing the ‘dirty work’ of gradually learning the study method and mathematical tools.
Work-based measurement of k with a spring-mass system: a demo of the work done by a variable force
Authors: Pili Unofre B
Published: June 2023

This article details the use of the concept of the work done by a variable force in measuring the spring constant of the spring in a spring-mass system. The raw data used in the experiment is similar to the one used in measuring the same quantity, but by directly invoking Hooke’s law, in which the slope of the linear plot of the applied force as a function of the spring elongation directly yields the spring constant. Slightly different, the work done approach showed in this article allows for the measurement of the spring constant by plotting the work done of the applied force as a function of the square of the elongation. The result is accurate to within less than 1.00%. Aside from a work-based determination of a spring constant, the current lab activity can be regarded as a demonstration of the concept of the work done by a variable force as well. Moreover, the concept of the integral of a function—as well as that of the area of the triangle—being equal to the area bounded by the graph of the same function has an appearance in this paper. Therefore, the potential utility of this work as a physics-based illustration of the area of the triangle and of one of the fundamentals of integral calculus.
Reduction of scan duration and radiation dose in cerebral CT perfusion imaging of acute stroke using a recurrent neural network
Authors: Dashtbani Moghari Mahdieh , Sanaat Amirhossein , Young Noel , Moore Krystal , Zaidi Habib , Evans Andrew , Fulton Roger R , Kyme Andre Z
Published: June 2023

Objective. Cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) imaging is most commonly used to diagnose acute ischaemic stroke and support treatment decisions. Shortening CTP scan duration is desirable to reduce the accumulated radiation dose and the risk of patient head movement. In this study, we present a novel application of a stochastic adversarial video prediction approach to reduce CTP imaging acquisition time. Approach. A variational autoencoder and generative adversarial network (VAE-GAN) were implemented in a recurrent framework in three scenarios: to predict the last 8 (24 s), 13 (31.5 s) and 18 (39 s) image frames of the CTP acquisition from the first 25 (36 s), 20 (28.5 s) and 15 (21 s) acquired frames, respectively. The model was trained using 65 stroke cases and tested on 10 unseen cases. Predicted frames were assessed against ground-truth in terms of image quality and haemodynamic maps, bolus shape characteristics and volumetric analysis of lesions. Main results. In all three prediction scenarios, the mean percentage error between the area, full-width-at-half-maximum and maximum enhancement of the predicted and ground-truth bolus curve was less than 4 ± 4%. The best peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity of predicted haemodynamic maps was obtained for cerebral blood volume followed (in order) by cerebral blood flow, mean transit time and time to peak. For the 3 prediction scenarios, average volumetric error of the lesion was overestimated by 7%–15%, 11%–28% and 7%–22% for the infarct, penumbra and hypo-perfused regions, respectively, and the corresponding spatial agreement for these regions was 67%–76%, 76%–86% and 83%–92%. Significance. This study suggests that a recurrent VAE-GAN could potentially be used to predict a portion of CTP frames from truncated acquisitions, preserving the majority of clinical content in the images, and potentially reducing the scan duration and radiation dose simultaneously by 65% and 54.5%, respectively.
The timescale of thermal quench during disruptions in EAST
Authors: Xia W , Zeng L , Tang T , Chen D , Duan Y , Zhu X , Ti A , Shi T , Xu L , Huang Y , Gao X
Published: June 2023

Since 2015, the timescale of thermal quench (TQ) during disruptions on the EAST tokamak has been examined using electron cyclotron emission and soft x-ray diagnostic systems. The database includes both major disruptions (MDs) and hot vertical displacement events (VDEs), where the TQ duration of the former is within 56–788 μs, and the latter is approximately within 100–3000 μs. In particular, for MDs, the lower bound of TQ duration, indicating the minimum durations at different current plateaus, decreases as the plasma current increases. This decrease is due to the connection length shortening and the plasma temperature increasing. For MDs, two typical TQ processes, single-stage TQ and double-stage TQ, are characterized by different magnetic perturbations. In single-stage TQ, a fast-loss stage is triggered by magnetic perturbation exceeding 4.3 × 10−3 T with a fast growth rate of 1.5 × 10−2
μs−1. In contrast, fast quench is triggered by a slightly smaller magnetic perturbation of 3.6 × 10−3 T in double-stage TQ, and the growth rate 5.3 × 10−3
μs−1 is an order of magnitude smaller than single-stage TQ. For hot VDEs, the plasma temperature collapses step by step from the edge to the core, and every progressive collapse corresponds to a magnetic perturbation, whose growth rate is approximately equal to or less than double-stage TQ. The whole process of TQ energy release can be divided into the transport in a stochastic field within the separatrix and in the scrape-off layer and, according to the typical parameters of EAST, TQ duration in MDs is roughly estimated to be 245 μs by an approximate formula, which is consistent with the experimental results.
Analysis of the seventh-order Caputo fractional KdV equation: applications to the Sawada–Kotera–Ito and Lax equations
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Saifullah Sayed
Published: June 2023

In this study, we investigate the seventh-order nonlinear Caputo time-fractional KdV equation. The suggested model’s solutions, which have a series form, are obtained using the hybrid ZZ-transform under the aforementioned fractional operator. The proposed approach combines the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) and the ZZ-transform. We consider two specific examples with suitable initial conditions and find the series solution to test their applicability. To demonstrate the utility of the presented technique, we explore its applications to the fractional Sawada–Kotera–Ito problem and the Lax equation. We observe the impact of a few fractional orders on the wave solution evolution for the problems under consideration. We provide the efficiency and reliability of the ZZHPM by calculating the absolute error between the series solution and the exact solution of both the Sawada–Kotera–Ito and Lax equations. The convergence and uniqueness of the solution are portrayed via fixed-point theory.
Reconstruction of tokamak plasma safety factor profile using deep learning
Authors: Wei Xishuo , Sun Shuying , Tang William , Lin Zhihong , Du Hongfei , Dong Ge
Published: June 2023

The motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic has been a standard measurement for the magnetic field line pitch angle in tokamaks that are equipped with neutral beams. However, the MSE data are not always available due to experimental constraints, especially in future devices without neutral beams. Here we develop a deep-learning based model (SGTC-QR) that can reconstruct the safety factor profile without the MSE diagnostic to mimic the traditional equilibrium reconstruction with the MSE constraint. The model demonstrates promising performance, and the sub-millisecond inference time is compatible with the real-time plasma control system.
X-ray imaging with Micromegas detectors with optical readout
Authors: Cools A. , Aune S. , Beau F. , Brunbauer F.M. , Benoit T. , Desforge D. , Ferrer-Ribas E. , Kallitsopoulou A. , Malgorn C. , Oliveri E. , Papaevangelou T. , Pollacco E.C. , Ropelewski L. , Sari A. , Iguaz F.J.
Published: June 2023

In the last years, optical readout of Micromegas gaseous detectors has been achieved by implementing a Micromegas detector on a glass anode coupled to a CMOS camera. Effective X-ray radiography was demonstrated using integrated imaging approach. High granularity values have been reached for low-energy X-rays from radioactive sources and X-ray generators.

Detector characterization with X-ray radiography has led to two applications: neutron imaging for non-destructive examination of highly gamma-ray emitting objects and beta imaging for the single cell activity tagging in the field of oncology drug studies.

First measurements investigating the achievable spatial resolution of the glass Micromegas detector at the SOLEIL synchrotron facility with a high-intensity and flat irradiation field will be shown in this article.
On the REM approximation of TAP free energies
Authors: Kistler Nicola , Schmidt Marius A , Sebastiani Giulia
Published: June 2023

The free energy of TAP-solutions for the SK-model of mean field spin glasses can be expressed as a nonlinear functional of local terms: we exploit this feature in order to contrive abstract REM-like models which we then solve by a classical large deviations treatment. This allows to identify the origin of the physically unsettling quadratic (in the inverse of temperature) correction to the Parisi free energy for the SK-model, and formalizes the true cavity dynamics which acts on TAP-space, i.e. on the space of TAP-solutions. From a non-spin glass point of view, this work is the first in a series of refinements which addresses the stability of hierarchical structures in models of evolving populations.
An investigation on the adhesion of dual-scale micro-nano composite structure on the surface of aluminum
Authors: Yao Dong , Shi Guangfeng , Zhang Jingran , Meng Siwei
Published: June 2023

Adhesion is a crucial characteristic of hydrophobic surfaces that significantly impacts their practical applications. This paper proposes an innovative method for preparing a dual-scale micro-nano composite structure surface by combining mechanical ruling and anodic oxidation, which demonstrates great potential in enhancing hydrophobic surface properties. Through the analysis of the influence of micro-groove depth on the adhesion of hydrophobic surfaces, it has been discovered that micro-groove dimensions can be used to control surface adhesion while maintaining hydrophobicity, without complex chemical modifications. These findings present a promising approach for tailoring the properties of hydrophobic surfaces to suit specific applications. Compared with the single-scale micro-groove array structures, the surface roughness of the dual-scale micro-nano composite structures is significantly increased, and the contact angle of the water droplet is significantly increased. At the same time, the hydrophobicity and adhesion of the surface of the dual-scale micro-nano composite structures were analyzed. The results show that after anodizing, the contact angle of the dual-scale micro-nano composite structure surface increases, and the surface adhesion can be controlled by adjusting the structural parameters of the micro-groove and the anodizing process parameters, to ensure that the surface presents hydrophobic property while realizing the controllable adhesion of the hydrophobic surface. In this paper, dual-scale micro-nano composite structures fabricated by the composite method have achieved hydrophobic properties, and the surface adhesion can be effectively controlled by adjusting the processing parameters. This method has certain reference significance for the preparation of the controllable adhesive hydrophobic surface and lays a foundation for the further study of the controllable adhesive hydrophobic surface.
A martingale minimax exponential inequality for Markov chains
Authors: Cerf Raphaël
Published: June 2023

We prove a new inequality controlling the large deviations of the empirical measure of a Markov chain. This inequality is based on the martingale used by Donsker and Varadhan and the minimax theorem. It holds for convex sets and it requires to take an infimum over the starting point. In the case of a compact space, this inequality is a partial improvement of the large deviations estimates of Donsker and Varadhan. In the case of a non-compact space, we condition on the event that the process visits

n
n

times a compact subset of the space and we still obtain a control on the exponential scale.
HV geometry for signal comparison
Authors: Han Ruiyu , Slepčev Dejan , Yang Yunan
Published: June 2023

In order to compare and interpolate signals, we investigate a Riemannian geometry on the space of signals. The metric allows discontinuous signals and measures both horizontal (thus providing many benefits of the Wasserstein metric) and vertical deformations. Moreover, it allows for signed signals, which overcomes the main deficiency of optimal transportation-based metrics in signal processing. We characterize the metric properties of the space of signals and establish the regularity and stability of geodesics. Furthermore, we introduce an efficient numerical scheme to compute the geodesics and present several experiments which highlight the nature of the metric.
A comparison of three approaches to measuring frailty to determine adverse health outcomes in critically ill patients
Authors: Hao Benchuan , Chen Tao , Qin Ji , Meng Wenwen , Bai Weimin , Zhao Libo , Ou Xianwen , Liu Hongbin , Xu Weihao
Published: June 2023

Background

studies comparing different frailty measures in intensive care unit settings are lacking. We aimed to compare the frailty index based on physiological and laboratory tests (FI-Lab), modified frailty index (MFI) and hospital frailty risk score (HFRS) to predict short-term outcomes for critically ill patients.

Methods

we conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and discharge with need for nursing care.

Results

the primary analysis was conducted with 21,421 eligible critically ill patients. After adjusting for confounding variables, frailty as diagnosed by all three frailty measures was found to be significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In addition, frail patients were more likely to receive further nursing care after being discharged. All three frailty scores could improve the discrimination ability of the initial model generated by baseline characteristics for adverse outcomes. The FI-Lab had the best predictive ability for in-hospital mortality, whereas the HFRS had the best predictive performance for discharge with need for nursing care amongst the three frailty measures. A combination of the FI-Lab with either the HFRS or MFI improved the identification of critically ill patients at increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

frailty, as assessed by the HFRS, MFI and FI-Lab, was associated with short-term survival and discharge with need for nursing care amongst critically ill patients. The FI-Lab was a better predictor of in-hospital mortality than the HFRS and MFI. Future studies focusing on FI-Lab are warranted.
The Historical Origins of the Horizontal Effect Problem in the United States and Japan: How the Reach of Constitutional Rights into the Private Sphere Became a Problem
Authors: Shimizu Jun
Published: June 2023

This Article examines the historical origins of the horizontal effect problem in the United States and Japan. In the United States, from the founding era to the nineteenth century, jurists considered common law rights and constitutional rights had the same scope. Lawyers in the nineteenth century considered that the Due Process Clauses protected common law rights, which originally developed in private litigations. For example, private parties as well as the government shall not infringe on liberty of contract. However, this circumstance changed after the constitutional revolution in 1937. The concept of constitutional rights, distinct from common law rights, has gradually developed since then. The problem of horizontality appears because of the historical fact that constitutional rights and common law rights diverged at that time. In 1946, the framers and lawyers in Japan had the idea that the Constitution applied to private spheres. They expected the government to enforce the Constitution in all legal areas, including private relations. This is because just after World War II, Japan experienced various liberal and progressive social reforms. However, Japanese politics ultimately became conservative. The conservative Liberal Democratic Party had constantly ruled the government. Japanese liberal scholars could no longer expect the government to impose liberal ideologies upon society and they needed an intellectual weapon to combat the government. Japanese lawyers have rebuilt a constitutional theory that constitutional rights are a bulwark of individual liberties against the government, and that the rights only apply to governmental actions. From the time that constitutional theory emerged on, Japanese jurists have had to tackle the horizontality problem.
Wither the subspecies? An ecological perspective on taxonomic, environmental and sexual determinants of phenotypic variation in big-eared woolly bats, Chrotopterus auritus
Authors: Stevens Richard D
Published: June 2023

Continuous phenotypic variation reflecting geographical clines can be difficult to distinguish from subspecific discontinuities when specimens are few and heterogeneously distributed. Nonetheless, increases in the holdings of museum collections over recent decades contribute to our ability to resolve more fine-scaled phenotypic gradients for many species. Although the big-eared woolly bat (Chrotopterus auritus) is not commonly encountered and thus poorly represented in museum collections, sufficient numbers have accumulated to allow an assessment of subspecific, sexual, spatial and environmental components of phenotypic variation. I examined 123 specimens from across the distribution of C. auritus and characterized the phenotype based on external, cranial and mandibular characteristics. I decomposed variation into components based on univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. All components accounted for significant phenotypic variation. Nonetheless, when examined together and after accounting for correlated variation among components, only sexual, spatial and environmental components accounted for significant unique variation. This, combined with the observation that all qualitative characteristics used to define subspecies of C. auritus can be observed throughout its geographical range, suggest that phenotypic variation is clinal and not characterized by discontinuities reflective of subspecies. Clinal variation was most strongly related to temperature and its seasonality, highlighting the important role played by these climatic characteristics in many aspects of the biology of Phyllostomidae.
Policy Practice in Non-profit Ethnic Minority Organisations: Tension Axes and Supportive Intra-Organisational Conditions
Authors: Awad-Elias Janan , Nouman Hani
Published: June 2023

Despite growing interest in the involvement of social workers in policy design processes, this concept has been narrowly examined from the perspective of social workers who belong to ethnic minority groups and who are employed in non-profit ethnic minority organisations (NPEMOs) in multicultural societies. The present research sought to understand how the ethnic identity of minority social workers affects their perception to act in policy arenas within their employment in NPEMOs, and to identify the intra-organisational conditions that prompt and support this involvement. Relying on in-depth interviews conducted with social workers from the Arab minority group in Israel who operate in policy arenas, we demonstrate that this involvement is characterised by dealing with axes of tension and is supported by intra-organisational conditions, which include organisational procedures, organisational cohesion and participation in collective action. The research contributes to expanding the understanding of policy practice in social work in multicultural societies, in the organisational contexts of race, equality and social justice.
Corticostriatal beta oscillation changes associated with cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Paulo Danika L , Qian Helen , Subramanian Deeptha , Johnson Graham W , Zhao Zixiang , Hett Kilian , Kang Hakmook , Chris Kao C , Roy Noah , Summers Jessica E , Claassen Daniel O , Dhima Kaltra , Bick Sarah K
Published: June 2023

Cognitive impairment is the most frequent non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease and is associated with deficits in a number of cognitive functions including working memory. However, the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease cognitive impairment is poorly understood. Beta oscillations have previously been shown to play an important role in cognitive functions including working memory encoding. Decreased dopamine in motor cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits increases the spectral power of beta oscillations and results in Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms. Analogous changes in parallel cognitive CSTC circuits involving the caudate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may contribute to Parkinson’s disease cognitive impairment.

The objective of our study is to evaluate whether changes in beta oscillations in the caudate and DLPFC contribute to cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease patients. To investigate this, we used local field potential recordings during deep brain stimulation surgery in 15 patients with Parkinson’s disease. Local field potentials were recorded from DLPFC and caudate at rest and during a working memory task. We examined changes in beta oscillatory power during the working memory task as well as the relationship of beta oscillatory activity to preoperative cognitive status, as determined from neuropsychological testing results. We additionally conducted exploratory analyses on the relationship between cognitive impairment and task-based changes in spectral power in additional frequency bands.

Spectral power of beta oscillations decreased in both DLPFC and caudate during working memory encoding and increased in these structures during feedback. Subjects with cognitive impairment had smaller decreases in caudate and DLPFC beta oscillatory power during encoding. In our exploratory analysis, we found that similar differences occurred in alpha frequencies in caudate and theta and alpha in DLPFC.

Our findings suggest that oscillatory power changes in cognitive CSTC circuits may contribute to cognitive symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease. These findings may inform the future development of novel neuromodulatory treatments for cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.
Using Zhang’s supertension-relieving suture technique with slowly-absorbable barbed sutures in the management of pathological scars: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Min Peiru , Zhang Shunuo , Sinaki Dorsa Gholamali , Yao Ping , Hu Fuhua , Wang Xin , Zhou Danya , Chai Jun , Zhang Yixin
Published: June 2023

Background

An ideal tension-relieving suture should be efficient for >3 months to retrieve normal tensile strength. Most preexisting suturing techniques provided tension elimination followed by relapse and scar proliferation due to absorption and cut-through of the sutures. This study introduces a simple but effective suture technique developed by a senior author (ZYX) to solve this problem.

Methods

A total of 120 patients with pathological scar (PS) had intervention treatment with the proposed suturing strategy at three centers from January 2018 to January 2021. A slowly absorbable 2–0 barbed suture was used for subcutaneous tension relieving with a set-back from the wound edge and a horizontal interval between proposed inserting points of 1 cm. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), scar width, perfusion and eversion of the wound edge were evaluated at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. The time needed to place the tension-relieving suture was recorded and relapse was monitored for 18 months postoperatively.

Results

In total, 76 trunks, 32 extremities and 12 cervical PS were included, with an average subcutaneous tension-relieving suture time of 5 min. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) score decreased from 84.70 ± 7.06 preoperatively to 28.83 ± 3.09, 26.14 ± 1.92 and 24.71 ± 2.00 at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (p < 0.0001). The scar widths were 0.17 ± 0.08, 0.25 ± 0.09 and 0.33 ± 0.10 cm, respectively, with perfusion significantly decreased from 213.64 ± 14.97 to 112.23 ± 8.18 at 6 months (p < 0.0001). The wound edge flattened out during the first 3 months in most cases with only two scar relapses.

Conclusions

Zhang’s suture technique provides a rapid and long-lasting tension-relieving effect with ideal scar appearances and lower relapse rates in the surgical management of PS.
The Art of Not Being Seen: The Politics of Money
Authors: Peacock Mark
Published: June 2023

This essay reviews Stefan Eich’s book, The Currency of Politics: The Political Theory of Money from Aristotle to Keynes, Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 2022. Eich reveals the political interventions, both theoretical and practical, that have led to the appearance that money is not to be politicized or subject to democratic control. Although mildly critical of Eich’s book, the review above all serves the constructive purpose of building upon Eich’s insights by selectively examining the theories of money and episodes from monetary history in and through which the politics of money has been contested.
Macroeconomics with Firms and Stock Markets
Authors: Driver Ciaran
Published: June 2023

Empirical work on stock market data, coupled with behavioural findings on corporate decision-making, have produced a set of challenges for orthodox macroeconomics. This paper critically considers the work of Andrew Smithers and related contributions, the insights from which have largely been ignored in consensus economics. Key features of this alternative framework are a rejection of efficient markets; a distinction between market and fundamental value of assets; the need to consider multiple financial assets; perverse effects of managerial compensation; the heterogeneity of economic actors; and behavioural theories of corporate decisions. The way that these facets are unified in a coherent critique marks Smithers out as an original thinker. But his work should also be seen in the context of past and contemporary authors who have attempted to incorporate firms and shareholders into economic theory. Despite the broad historical sweep of his work, Smithers has surprisingly little to say about political economy. Apart from references to executive compensation, his account does not differentiate much between the managerial capitalism and the era of shareholder value that has characterized major Anglophone countries since the 1980s. The result of this is that doubts remain over elements of his theory and that some policy implications are uncertain or unexplored.
Genetic basis of lineage-specific evolution of fruit traits in hexaploid persimmon
Authors: Horiuchi Ayano , Masuda Kanae , Shirasawa Kenta , Onoue Noriyuki , Matsuzaki Ryusuke , Tao Ryutaro , Kubo Yasutaka , Ushijima Koichiro , Akagi Takashi
Published: June 2023

Frequent polyploidization events in plants have led to the establishment of many lineage-specific traits representing each species. Little is known about the genetic bases for these specific traits in polyploids, presumably due to plant genomic complexity and their difficulties in applying genetic approaches. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has evolved specific fruit characteristics, including wide variations in fruit shapes and astringency. In this study, using whole-genome diploidized/quantitative genotypes from ddRAD-Seq data of 173 persimmon cultivars, we examined their population structures and potential correlations between their structural transitions and variations in nine fruit traits. The population structures of persimmon cultivars were highly randomized and not substantially correlated with the representative fruit traits focused on in this study, except for fruit astringency. With genome-wide association analytic tools considering polyploid alleles, we identified the loci associated with the nine fruit traits; we mainly focused on fruit-shape variations, which have been numerically characterized by principal component analysis of elliptic Fourier descriptors. The genomic regions that putatively underwent selective sweep exhibited no overlap with the loci associated with these persimmon-specific fruit traits. These insights will contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms by which fruit traits are independently established, possibly due to polyploidization events.
Mechanisms of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Molecular Circuitry of Stem Cell Fate in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Aging
Authors: Bodine Sue C , Sinha Indranil , Sweeney Hugh Lee
Published: June 2023

Skeletal muscle is a complex and highly adaptable tissue. With aging, there is a progressive loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, and a reduced capacity for regeneration and repair following injury. A review of the literature shows that the primary mechanisms underlying the age-related loss of muscle mass and the attenuated growth response are multi-factorial and related to alterations in multiple processes, including proteostasis, mitochondrial function, extracellular matrix remodeling, and neuromuscular junction function. Multiple factors influence the rate of sarcopenia, including acute illness and trauma, followed by incomplete recovery and repair. Regeneration and repair of damaged skeletal muscle involve an orchestrated cross-talk between multiple cell populations, including satellite cells, immune cells, and fibro-adipogenic precursor cells. Proof-of-concept studies in mice have demonstrated that reprogramming of this disrupted orchestration, resulting in the normalization of muscle function, may be possible using small molecules that target muscle macrophages. During aging, as well as in muscular dystrophies, disruptions in multiple signaling pathways and in the cross-talk between different cell populations contribute to the failure to properly repair and maintain muscle mass and function.
Synergistic Strategies to Accelerate the Development of Function-Promoting Therapies: Lessons From Operation Warp Speed and Oncology Drug Development
Authors: Correa-de Araujo Rosaly , Evans William J , Fielding Roger A , Krishnan Venkatesh , Carter Robert H , Appleby James , Guralnik Jack , Klickstein Lloyd B , Marks Peter , Moore Alison A , Peschin Sue , Bhasin Shalender
Published: June 2023

Background

Functional limitations and physical disabilities associated with aging and chronic disease are major concerns for human societies and expeditious development of function-promoting therapies is a public health priority.

Methods

Expert panel discussion.

Results

The remarkable success of Operation Warp Speed for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 therapeutics, and of oncology drug development programs over the past decade have taught us that complex public health problems such as the development of function-promoting therapies will require collaboration among many stakeholders, including academic investigators, the National Institutes of Health, professional societies, patients and patient advocacy organizations, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Conclusions

There was agreement that the success of well designed, adequately powered clinical trials will require careful definitions of indication/s, study population, and patient-important endpoints that can be reliably measured using validated instruments, commensurate resource allocation, and versatile organizational structures such as those used in Operation Warp Speed.