bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct hippocampal and cortical contributions in the representation of hierarchies
Authors: Scholz Robert , Villringer Arno , Martins Mauricio J.D.
Published: June 2023

Humans generate complex hierarchies across a variety of domains, including language and music, and this capacity is often associated with activity in inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Non-human animals have also been shown to represent simple hierarchies in spatial navigation, and human neuroimaging work has implicated the hippocampus in the encoding of items-in-contexts representations, which constitute 2-level hierarchical dependencies. These fields of research use distinct paradigms, leading to disjoint models and precluding adequate cross-species comparisons. In this study, we developed a paradigm to bring together these two areas of research and show that anterior hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex encode hierarchical context, mimicking findings from animal spatial navigation. Additionally, we replicated classic neurolinguistic findings of 1) left IFG and posterior temporal cortex in the representation of hierarchies and 2) the association between IFG and processing automaticity. We propose that mammals share an evolutionary ancient system for the generation of simple hierarchies which is complemented in humans by additional capacities.HPC and mPFC activity is specifically modulated by hierarchical contextSyntax-related regions in the left hemisphere encode for hierarchy in generalIFGop activity is maintained in later trials for hierarchies but not sequencesThese findings mimic those from animal spatial navigation and neurolinguistics
Therapeutic doses of ketamine acutely attenuate the aversive effect of losses during decision-making
Authors: Oemisch Mariann , Seo Hyojung
Published: June 2023

The discovery of rapid-acting antidepressant, ketamine has opened a pathway to a new generation of treatments for depression, and inspired neuroscientific investigation based on a new perspective that non-adaptive changes in the intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory circuitry might underlie the pathophysiology of depression. Nevertheless, it still remains largely unknown how the hypothesized molecular and synaptic levels of changes in the circuitry might mediate behavioral and neuropsychological changes underlying depression, and how ketamine might restore adaptive behavior. Here, we used computational models to analyze behavioral changes induced by therapeutic doses of ketamine, while rhesus macaques were iteratively making decisions based on gains and losses of tokens. When administered intramuscularly or intranasally, ketamine reduced the aversiveness of undesirable outcomes such as losses of tokens without significantly affecting the evaluation of gains, behavioral perseveration, motivation and other cognitive aspects of learning such as temporal credit assignment and time scales of choice and outcome memory. Ketamine’s potentially-antidepressant effect was separable from other side effects such as fixation errors, which unlike outcome evaluation, was readily countered with strong motivation to avoid errors. We discuss how the acute effect of ketamine to reduce the initial impact of negative events could potentially mediate longer-term antidepressant effects through mitigating the cumulative effect of those events produced by slowly decaying memory, and how the disruption-resistant affective memory might pose challenges in treating depression. Our study also invites future investigations on ketamine’s antidepressant action over diverse mood states and with affective events exerting their impacts at diverse time scales.
N-WASP-dependent branched actin polymerization attenuates B-cell receptor signaling by increasing the molecular density of receptor clusters
Authors: Bhanja Anshuman , Lazzaro Michelle , Upadhyaya Arpita , Song Wenxia
Published: June 2023

Antigen-induced B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is critical for initiating and regulating B-cell activation. The actin cytoskeleton plays essential roles in BCR signaling. Upon encountering cell-surface antigens, actin-driven B-cell spreading amplifies signaling, while B-cell contraction following spreading leads to signal attenuation. However, the mechanism by which actin dynamics switch BCR signaling from amplification to attenuation is unknown. Here, we show that Arp2/3-mediated branched actin polymerization is required for B-cell contraction. Contracting B-cells generate centripetally moving actin foci from lamellipodial F-actin networks in the B-cell plasma membrane region contacting antigen-presenting surfaces. Actin polymerization driven by N-WASP, but not WASP, generates these actin foci. N-WASP-dependent actin foci facilitate non-muscle myosin II recruitment to the contact zone to create actomyosin ring-like structures. Furthermore, B-cell contraction increases BCR molecular density in individual clusters, leading to decreased BCR phosphorylation. Increased BCR molecular density reduced levels of the stimulatory kinase Syk, the inhibitory phosphatase SHIP-1, and their phosphorylated forms in individual BCR clusters. These results suggest that N-WASP-activated Arp2/3 generates centripetally moving foci and contractile actomyosin ring-like structures from lamellipodial networks, enabling contraction. B-cell contraction attenuates BCR signaling by pushing out both stimulatory kinases and inhibitory phosphatases from BCR clusters, providing novel insights into actin-facilitated signal attenuation.
Nuclear bodies protect phase separated proteins from degradation in stressed proteome
Authors: Jung Kwan Ho , Sun Jiarui , Hsiung Chia-Heng , Lian Xiaojun Lance , Liu Yu , Zhang Xin
Published: June 2023

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) containing intrinsically disordered domains undergo liquid-liquid phase separation to form nuclear bodies under stress conditions. This process is also connected to the misfolding and aggregation of RBPs, which are associated with a series of neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains elusive how folding states of RBPs changes upon the formation and maturation of nuclear bodies. Here, we describe SNAP-tag based imaging methods to visualize the folding states of RBPs in live cells via time-resolved quantitative microscopic analyses of their micropolarity and microviscosity. Using these imaging methods in conjunction with immunofluorescence imaging, we demonstrate that RBPs, represented by TDP-43, initially enters the PML nuclear bodies in its native state upon transient proteostasis stress, albeit it begins to misfolded during prolonged stress. Furthermore, we show that heat shock protein 70 co-enters the PML nuclear bodies to prevent the degradation of TDP-43 from the proteotoxic stress, thus revealing a previously unappreciated protective role of the PML nuclear bodies in the prevention of stress-induced degradation of TDP-43. In summary, our imaging methods described in the manuscript, for the first time, reveal the folding states of RBPs, which were previously challenging to study with conventional methods in nuclear bodies of live cells. This study uncovers the mechanistic correlations between the folding states of a protein and functions of nuclear bodies, in particular PML bodies. We envision that the imaging methods can be generally applied to elucidating the structural aspects of other proteins that exhibit granular structures under biological stimulus.
Rats emit aversive 44-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations during prolonged Pavlovian fear conditioning
Authors: Olszyński Krzysztof H. , Polowy Rafał , Wardak Agnieszka D. , Łaska Izabela A. , Grymanowska Aneta W. , Puławski Wojciech , Gawryś Olga , Koliński Michał , Filipkowski Robert K.
Published: June 2023

Rats are believed to communicate their emotional state by emitting two distinct types of ultrasonic vocalizations. The first is long “22-kHz” vocalizations (>300 ms, <32 kHz) with constant frequency, signaling aversive states and the second, is short “50-kHz” calls (<100 ms, >32 kHz), often frequency-modulated, in appetitive situations. Here we are first to describe a new-type of aversive vocalizations emitted at a higher pitch by Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in an intensified aversive state – prolonged fear conditioning. These calls, which we named “44-kHz vocalizations”, are long (>150 ms), generally at a constant frequency (usually within 35-50 kHz range) and have an overall spectrographic image similar to 22-kHz calls. Some 44-kHz vocalizations are comprised of both 22-kHz-like and 44-kHz-like elements. Furthermore, two separate clustering methods confirmed that these 44-kHz calls are distinct from other vocalizations. We also show that some of rats’ responses to the playback of 44-kHz calls were more akin to that of aversive calls, e.g. heart rate changes, whereas other responses were at an intermediate level between aversive and appetitive calls. Our results suggest that rats have a wider vocal repertoire than previously believed, and current definitions of major call types may require reevaluation.
Molecular dissection of PI3Kβ synergistic activation by receptor tyrosine kinases, GβGγ, and Rho-family GTPases
Authors: Duewell Benjamin R. , Wilson Naomi E. , Bailey Gabriela M. , Peabody Sarah E. , Hansen Scott D.
Published: June 2023

The class 1A phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) beta (PI3Kβ) is functionally unique in the ability to integrate signals derived from receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and Rho-family GTPases. The mechanism by which PI3Kβ prioritizes interactions with various membrane tethered signaling inputs, however, remains unclear. Previous experiments have not been able to elucidate whether interactions with membrane-tethered proteins primarily control PI3Kβ localization versus directly modulate lipid kinase activity. To address this gap in our understanding of PI3Kβ regulation, we established an assay to directly visualize and decipher how three binding interactions regulate PI3Kβ when presented to the kinase in a biologically relevant configuration on supported lipid bilayers. Using single molecule Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy, we determined the mechanism controlling membrane localization of PI3Kβ, prioritization of signaling inputs, and lipid kinase activation. We find that auto-inhibited PI3Kβ must first cooperatively engage a single RTK-derived tyrosine phosphorylated (pY) peptide before it can engage either GβGγ or Rac1(GTP). Although pY peptides strongly localize PI3Kβ to membranes, they only modestly stimulate lipid kinase activity. In the presence of either pY/GβGγ or pY/Rac1(GTP), PI3Kβ activity is dramatically enhanced beyond what can be explained by the increase in membrane avidity for these complexes. Instead, PI3Kβ is synergistically activated by pY/GβGγ and pY/Rac1(GTP) through a mechanism of allosteric regulation.
A confiança nas relações interorganizacionais entre empresas oriundas de culturas diferentes: um estudo na região da fronteira entre Brasil e Paraguai
Authors: Fernandes Alexandre Machado
Published: June 2023

A região de fronteira de Foz do Iguaçu entre Brasil e Paraguai é caracterizada pelo intenso comércio, diferenciando-se principalmente por abrigar uma diversidade muito grande de colônias e culturas. Dentre elas, destacam-se os árabes e os chineses que, buscam manter suas relações dentro do grupo cultural e com outros grupos. O presente trabalho constituiu-se no esforço para compreender o papel da confiança nas relações interorganizacionais entre os árabes e os chineses, sendo os grupos escolhidos em função de sua presença acentuada na região de fronteira entre o Brasil e o Paraguai, e por exercerem atividades, em sua grande maioria comercial. O objetivo do artigo é identificar o padrão de relacionamento interorganizacional de empresas formadas nas culturas árabes e chinesas, através da compreensão dos padrões destas relações, verificando a influência da confiança nas práticas comerciais entre estas culturas. A revisão da literatura tratou das relações interorganizacionais, do capital social, da confiança e da cultura. Foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória, com um estudo de casos múltiplos. A coleta de dados deu-se através de entrevistas, sendo a análise dos dados realizada de forma qualitativa, com uma análise de conteúdo a partir da percepção dos entrevistados. A pesquisa não teve por objetivo a formulação de hipóteses, mas apenas o esclarecimento sobre o fenômeno confiança e sua influência nas relações interorganizacionais. O estudo ficou caracterizado pela influência da confiança na formação dos relacionamentos interorganizacionais entre árabes e chineses, e sua importância para a existência do relacionamento entre os grupos culturais na região de fronteira entre Brasil e Paraguai.
Hybrid Metasurfaces of Plasmonic Lattices and 2D Materials
Authors: Guo Chang , Yu Jingyue , Deng Shikai
Published: June 2023

Plasmonic metasurfaces can significantly enhance the interaction between light and 2D materials. Hybrid structures of plasmonic lattices and 2D materials show great promise for both fundamental and practical studies because of their unprecedented ability for precise manipulation of light at the nanoscale. This review starts with an overview of the basic concepts of plasmonic lattices and optical properties of 2D materials, as well as fabrication strategies for hybrid metasurfaces. Then, the enhanced photoluminescence, quantum emission, optoelectronic detection, nonlinear process, and valleytronics in hybrid metasurfaces are summarized, and their development for nanophotonic functional devices are reviewed. Further, several compelling topics are also outlined that provide outlooks for future directions of hybrid metasurfaces such as novel structural design and high‐quality fabrication, all‐dielectric metasurfaces, dynamic metasurfaces, and plasmonic mediation of chemical reactions and physical processes. It is believed that hybrid metasurfaces of plasmonic lattices and 2D materials can open prospects for versatile platforms for light‐matter interactions and contribute to the revolutions on nanophotonic devices.
Local Electronic Structure Modulation Enables Fast‐Charging Capability for Li‐Rich Mn‐Based Oxides Cathodes With Reversible Anionic Redox Activity
Authors: Gao Xianggang , Zhang Haiyan , Li Shihao , Zhang Shuai , Guan Chaohong , Hu Xiaoping , Guo Juanlang , Lai Yanqing , Zhang Zhian
Published: June 2023

Anionic and cationic redox chemistries boost ultrahigh specific capacities of Li‐rich Mn‐based oxides cathodes (LRMO). However, irreversible oxygen evolution and sluggish kinetics result in continuous capacity decay and poor rate performance, restricting the commercial fast‐charging cathodes application for lithium ion batteries. Herein, the local electronic structure of LRMO is appropriately modulated to alleviate oxygen release, enhance anionic redox reversibility, and facilitate Li+ diffusion via facile surface defect engineering. Concretely, oxygen vacancies integrated on the surface of LRMO reduce the density of states of O 2p band and trigger much delocalized electrons to distribute around the transition metal, resulting in less oxygen release, enhancing reversible anionic redox and the MnO6 octahedral distortion. Besides, partially reduced Mn and lattice vacancies synchronously stimulate the electrochemical activity and boost the electronic conductivity, Li+ diffusion rate, and fast charge transfer. Therefore, the modified LRMO exhibits enhanced cyclic stability and fast‐charging capability: a high discharging capacity of 212.6 mAh·g−1 with 86.98% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C is obtained and to charge to its 80%, SOC is shortened to 9.4 min at 5 C charging rate. This work will draw attention to boosting the fast‐charging capability of LRMO via the local electronic structure modulation.
Soft, Stretchable, and Conductive Hydrogel Based on Liquid Metal for Accurately Facial Expression Monitoring
Authors: Qin Haiyang , Sun Mengmeng , Li Peiyi , Li Junye , Zhang Zhilin , Dai Shuqi , Huang Mingjun , Lu Baoyang , Pan Xiaofang , Wu Lidong
Published: June 2023

Soft electronics have emerged as a prominent research domain, with diverse applications from medical monitoring to soft robotics. Liquid metal (LM) has emerged as a promising material for soft electronics due to its high electrical conductivity (3.4 × 106 S m−1) and fluidity at room temperature. However, the dispersion of LM nanoparticles and the performance of LM composites in soft electronics applications have not been extensively explored. In this study, a novel approach for the direct dispersion of LM nanoparticles in biocompatible hyaluronic acid (HA) to create multifunctional LM/HA hydrogels is presented. The LM/HA hydrogel displays remarkable electromechanical properties, including high stretchability (2,700%) and conductivity (116 S m−1), as well as excellent sensitivity (GF = 4.8) as a sensing material. Specifically, a facial expression monitoring system is developed utilizing the LM/HA hydrogel as the sensing material, along with a microcontroller, signal‐processing circuits, and a Bluetooth transceiver. The LM/HA hydrogel adheres closely to the skin surface to ensure the accuracy of facial expression monitoring. In summary, this study not only advances the understanding of the properties of LM but also expands the potential application scenarios of multifunctional LM hydrogels in soft robotics and implantable sensors.
Do maximizing consumers engage more in conspicuous consumption?
Authors: Luan Mo , Sun Jin , Li Hong
Published: June 2023

While much of the previous research has examined the influence of consumers' social and economic states on conspicuous consumption, little attention has been paid to the potential role that consumers' decision‐making tendency plays. This study investigates whether, how, and when maximizing, as a type of decision‐making tendency (both dispositional and situationally primed), influences subsequent decisions regarding conspicuous consumption. Four studies were conducted, revealing that maximizing consumers are more likely to engage in conspicuous consumption than non‐maximizing consumers (Studies 1 and 2). The need for status serves as the underlying mechanism behind this behavior (Study 3). In addition, the observed effect holds only when the situation is public but disappears when it is private (Study 4). As one of the first investigations into the effect that maximizing has on a type of consumption, these findings offer valuable contributions to both theory and practice.
Coking Reduction of Cr‐loaded Beta Zeolite during Polymer Cracking: Hydrocracking of Aromatics by Synergistic Effect of Cr6+ and Zeolitic Acid Sites
Authors: Kokuryo Shinya , Tamura Kazuya , Tsubota Soshi , Miyake Koji , Uchida Yoshiaki , Mizusawa Atsushi , Kubo Tadashi , Nishiyama Norikazu
Published: June 2023

Zeolite deactivation induced by coke deposition is a critical problem in the industrialization of the chemical recycling (CR) of plastics. We previously demonstrated that Cr6+ species bonded to silanol groups in the zeolite framework inhibit coke deposition in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) cracking. In this study, the role of Cr6+ species and the mechanism of coke reduction were determined experimentally. During LDPE cracking, hydrogen was generated from the alkane products at the Cr6+ sites. Furthermore, the hydrogenation and decomposition of aromatics, which are coke precursors, occurred at the zeolitic acid sites, resulting in the reduction of coke deposition. Owing to the synergistic effect of the Cr6+ and zeolitic acid sites, coke reduction was achieved without reducing cracking activity.
Continuous chiral distances for two‐dimensional lattices
Authors: Bright Matthew J. , Cooper Andrew I. , Kurlin Vitaliy A.
Published: June 2023

Chirality was traditionally considered a binary property of periodic lattices and crystals. However, the classes of two‐dimensional lattices modulo rigid motion form a continuous space, which was recently parametrized by three geographic‐style coordinates. The four non‐oblique Bravais classes of two‐dimensional lattices form low‐dimensional singular subspaces in the full continuous space. Now, the deviations of a lattice from its higher symmetry neighbors can be continuously quantified by real‐valued distances satisfying metric axioms. This article analyzes these and newer G‐chiral distances for millions of two‐dimensional lattices that are extracted from thousands of available two‐dimensional materials and real crystal structures in the Cambridge Structural Database.
Determination of cannabinoids in 50 μL whole blood samples by online extraction using turbulent flow chromatography and LC‐HRAM‐Orbitrap‐MS: Application on driving under the influence of drugs cases
Authors: Zancanaro Flavio , Tedeschi Gianpaola , Zamengo Luca , Frasson Samuela , Frison Giampietro
Published: June 2023

The analysis of cannabinoids in whole blood is usually done by traditional mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, after offline cleanup or derivatization steps which can be lengthy, laborious, and expensive. We present a simple, fast, highly specific, and sensitive method for the determination of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), 11‐hydroxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (11‐OH‐THC), and 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC‐COOH) in 50 μL whole blood samples. After the addition of deuterated internal standards (IS) and a simple protein precipitation step, an online extraction of sample supernatants using turbulent flow chromatography (TurboFlow—Thermo Scientific) was carried out. Analytes were separated on a C18 analytical column and detected by LC‐HRAM‐Orbitrap‐MS using a Thermo Scientific Q Exactive Focus MS system. MS detection was performed in polarity switching and selected ion monitoring (SIM) modes using five specific acquisition windows, at a resolution of 70,000 (FWHM). Total run time was about 10 min including preanalytical steps. Method validation was carried out by determining limit of detection (LOD), lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ), linearity range, analytical accuracy, intra‐assay and interassay precision, carry‐over, matrix effect, extraction recovery, and selectivity, for all analytes. Measurement uncertainties were also evaluated, and a decision rule was set with confidence for forensic purposes. The method may become suitable for clinical and forensic toxicology applications, taking advantage of the small matrix volume required, the simple and cost‐effective sample preparation procedure, and the fast analytical run time. Performances were monitored over a long‐term period and tested on 7620 driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) samples, including 641 positive samples.
Karst architecture characterization of deep carbonate reservoir using image logs in Tarim Basin, West China
Authors: Yang Liu , Li Zhong , Zhang Mei , Yu Jingbo , Liu Jiaqing
Published: June 2023

This paper has conducted a high‐resolution characterization of a deeply buried carbonate karst in the Tarim Basin of China by utilizing the FMI (Full‐bore Formation Micro Image) method integrated with seismic data, drilling cores and thin sections. It was found that the type and scale of wellbore karst architecture are mainly controlled by karst paleogeomorphology and vertical faults. The karst highlands and slopes, respectively, develop vadose karst and phreatic karst, with different compositions of karst elements. In terms of the karst thickness in the wellbore, the vertical fault development zone is almost twice that of the non‐development zone, both for the vadose karst and phreatic karst. Furthermore, the vertical fault is also able to promote the development of mixing karst. The mixing zone is located 55 m below the water table, with a strata thickness of approximately 25 m, a net reservoir thickness of 5–15 m, and an average porosity of 4%–8%, which serves as an effective hydrocarbon reservoir in the Yingshan Formation. The results will provide insights into the vertical division of karst reservoir and help predict reservoirs using well logs.
Blockwise acceleration of alternating least squares for canonical tensor decomposition
Authors: Evans David , Ye Nan
Published: June 2023

The canonical polyadic (CP) decomposition of tensors is one of the most important tensor decompositions. While the well‐known alternating least squares (ALS) algorithm is often considered the workhorse algorithm for computing the CP decomposition, it is known to suffer from slow convergence in many cases and various algorithms have been proposed to accelerate it. In this article, we propose a new accelerated ALS algorithm that accelerates ALS in a blockwise manner using a simple momentum‐based extrapolation technique and a random perturbation technique. Specifically, our algorithm updates one factor matrix (i.e., block) at a time, as in ALS, with each update consisting of a minimization step that directly reduces the reconstruction error, an extrapolation step that moves the factor matrix along the previous update direction, and a random perturbation step for breaking convergence bottlenecks. Our extrapolation strategy takes a simpler form than the state‐of‐the‐art extrapolation strategies and is easier to implement. Our algorithm has negligible computational overheads relative to ALS and is simple to apply. Empirically, our proposed algorithm shows strong performance as compared to the state‐of‐the‐art acceleration techniques on both simulated and real tensors.
A Brief Review of Research on Priority Queues with Self-Interested Customers
Authors: Cui Shiliang , Wang Zhongbin , Yang Luyi
Published: June 2023

Priority queues are seen in a variety of real-world service applications such as theme parks, call centers, order deliveries, and government and healthcare services. Priority queues are often believed to improve efficiency, increasing both service providers’ revenue and social welfare. However, in the face of self-interested customers, queue managers must carefully take into account how customers self-select into priorities and how their queue-joining decisions are affected. This chapter reviews the theoretical literature on priority queues of self-interested customers, with a focus on pay-for-priority schemes.
Holographic torus correlators of stress tensor in AdS3/CFT2
Authors: He Song , Li Yi , Li Yun-Ze , Zhang Yunda
Published: June 2023

Abstract

In this work, we investigate holographic correlators of the stress tensor of a conformal field theory (CFT) on a torus within the context of AdS3/CFT2. To compute the correlators of the stress tensor, we employ the Einstein-Hilbert theory of gravity and perturbatively solve Einstein’s equation in the bulk. In addition, we present an explicit prescription for developing a recurrence relation that simplifies the computation of higher point correlators. Our results show that the correlators and recurrence relation are consistent with known results in CFTs. Additionally, in line with the proposed cutoff-AdS/$$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

-CFT holography, we extend our computation program to investigate holographic torus correlators at a finite cutoff in the AdS3 and derive a parallel recurrence relation associated with higher point correlators.
Inelastic exponentiation and classical gravitational scattering at one loop
Authors: Georgoudis Alessandro , Heissenberg Carlo , Vazquez-Holm Ingrid
Published: June 2023

Abstract

We calculate the inelastic 2 → 3 one-loop amplitude for the scattering of two point-like, spinless objects with generic masses involving the additional emission of a single graviton. We focus on the near-forward, or classical, limit. Our results include the leading and subleading orders in the soft-region expansion, which captures all non-analytic contributions in the transferred momentum and in the graviton’s frequency. This allows us to check the first constraint arising from the inelastic exponentiation put forward in refs. [1–3], and to calculate the 2 → 3 one-loop matrix element of the N-operator, linked to the S-matrix by S = eiN, showing that it is real, classical and free of infrared divergences. We discuss how our results feature in the calculation of the $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(G3) corrections to the asymptotic waveform.
Two-loop hard thermal loops for vector bosons in general models
Authors: Ekstedt Andreas
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Hard thermal loops describe how soft gauge fields are screened and damped in hot plasmas. As such they are used to calculate transport coefficients, Sphaleron rates, equations of state, and particle production. However, most calculations are done using one-loop hard thermal loop self-energies. And two-loop contributions can be large. To that end this paper provides vector two-loop self-energies for generic models: any scalar, fermion, or vector representation; and all possible renormalizable terms. Several examples are given to showcase the results. Two-loop results for higher-point functions are also given.
Validation of the orthopedic frailty score for measuring frailty in hip fracture patients: a cohort study based on the United States National inpatient sample
Authors: Forssten Maximilian Peter , Cao Yang , Mohammad Ismail Ahmad , Ioannidis Ioannis , Tennakoon Lakshika , Spain David A. , Mohseni Shahin
Published: June 2023

Background

The Orthopedic Frailty Score (OFS) has been proposed as a tool for measuring frailty in order to predict short-term postoperative mortality in hip fracture patients. This study aims to validate the OFS using a large national patient register to determine its relationship with adverse outcomes as well as length of stay and cost of hospital stay.

Methods

All adult patients (18 years or older) registered in the 2019 National Inpatient Sample Database who underwent emergency hip fracture surgery following a traumatic fall were eligible for inclusion. The association between the OFS and mortality, complications, and failure-to-rescue (FTR) was determined using Poisson regression models adjusted for potential confounders. The relationship between the OFS and length of stay and cost of hospital stay was instead determined using a quantile regression model.

Results

An estimated 227,850 cases met the study inclusion criteria. There was a stepwise increase in the rate of complications, mortality, and FTR for each additional point on the OFS. After adjusting for potential confounding, OFS 4 was associated with an almost ten-fold increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 10.6 (4.02–27.7), p < 0.001], a 38% increased risk of complications [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.38 (1.03–1.85), p = 0.032], and an almost 11-fold increase in the risk of FTR [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 11.6 (4.36–30.9), p < 0.001], compared to OFS 0. Patients with OFS 4 also required a day and a half additional care [change in median length of stay (95% CI): 1.52 (0.97–2.08), p < 0.001] as well as cost approximately $5,200 more to manage [change in median cost of stay (95% CI): 5166 (1921–8411), p = 0.002], compared to those with OFS 0.

Conclusion

Patients with an elevated OFS display a substantially increased risk of mortality, complications, and failure-to-rescue as well as a prolonged and more costly hospital stay.
Use of Microbiological and Chemical Data to Evaluate the Effects of Tourism on Water Quality in Karstic Cenotes in Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Arcega-Cabrera Flor , León-Aguirre Karina , Enseñat-Soberanis Fernando , Giácoman-Vallejos Germán , Rodríguez-Fuentes Gabriela , Oceguera-Vargas Ismael , Lamas-Cosío Elizabeth , Simoes Nuno
Published: June 2023

Cenotes are spectacular karst formations in Yucatan, Mexico, often used for recreation. However, their impact on water quality has yet to be explored in detail. Therefore, during Easter, water samples were collected from four cenotes to identify variations in water quality associated with the presence of tourists. PCO of water quality, before (PH) and during Holy Week (HW) in 2019, explained 49.02% of the total variation. The indicators contributing to the first principal coordinate’s variation were Sr, K, sulfate, and chloride (0.89). Whereas, alkalinity, temperature, conductivity, nitrate, and ORP contributed to the second PC. PERMANOVA indicated a significant interaction between “cenote” and “condition” factors, and post hoc paired comparisons indicated significant differences between PH and HW conditions. Significant correlations varied among the four cenotes as the result of hydrogeological differences. Whereas, numbers of visitors were correlated with at least one fecal-matter indicator, demonstrating anthropogenic influence on the cenotes’ water quality.
Analgesic effect of oral paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg, paracetamol 1000 mg/codeine 60 mg, paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg/codeine 60 mg, or placebo on acute postoperative pain: a single-dose, randomized, and double-blind study
Authors: Lyngstad Gaute , Skjelbred Per , Swanson David Michael , Skoglund Lasse Ansgar
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Combining analgesics with different mechanisms of action may increase the analgesic efficacy. The multidimensional pharmacodynamic profiles of ibuprofen 400 mg/paracetamol 1000 mg, ibuprofen 400 mg/paracetamol 1000 mg/codeine 60 mg, and paracetamol 1000 mg/codeine 60 mg and placebo were compared.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, single-centre, outpatient, and single-dose study used 200 patients of both sexes and homogenous ethnicity after third molar surgery (mean age 24 years, range 19–30 years). Primary outcome was sum pain intensity over 6 h (SPI). Secondary outcomes were time to analgesic onset, duration of analgesia, time to rescue drug intake, number of patients taking rescue drug, sum pain intensity difference (SPID), maximum pain intensity difference, time to maximum pain intensity difference, number needed to treat, prevent remedication and harm values, adverse effects, and patient-reported outcome measure (PROM).

Results

Analgesia following ibuprofen and paracetamol combination with or without codeine was comparable. Both were better than paracetamol combined with codeine. Secondary variables supported this finding. Post hoc analysis of SPI and SPID revealed a sex/drug interaction trend in the codeine-containing groups where females experienced less analgesia. PROM showed a significant sex/drug interaction in the paracetamol and codeine group, but not in the other codeine-containing group. Especially females reported known and mild side effects in the codeine-containing groups.

Conclusion

Codeine added to ibuprofen/paracetamol does not seem to add analgesia in a sex-mixed study population. Sex may be a confounding factor when testing weak opioid analgesics such as codeine. PROM seems to be more sensitive than traditional outcome measures.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov June 2009 NCT00921700.
The introduction history of Hordeum vulgare var. nudum (naked barley) into Fennoscandia
Authors: Hagenblad Jenny , Abbey-Lee Robin , Bashford Leah , Vanhala Tytti , Leino Matti W.
Published: June 2023

Hordeum vulgare var. nudum (naked barley) is one of the oldest and most common cereals found from Neolithic Fennoscandia. After the Bronze Age, naked barley largely disappeared and was replaced by Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare (hulled barley) and other cereals. During the early 19th century, naked barley of Asian origins was reintroduced to Fennoscandia. In this study, we have genetically characterized samples of Fennoscandian landraces of naked barley which were preserved in gene banks and museum collections. The analyses show that the Fennoscandian naked barley can be split into three groups: First, naked two-row barley, with a likely origin in Asia; second, naked six-row barley, with a likely origin in the eastern Himalayas and introduced during the 19th century; third, naked six-row barley genetically related to the original Fennoscandian hulled barley. The results suggest that this last group represents the ancient form of naked barley, which was possibly introduced in the Neolithic. At that time both naked and hulled barleys were grown and enough gene flow probably occurred between these two subspecies to create a Fennoscandian barley that is genetically distinct, irrespective of whether it is hulled or naked. This hypothesis was further supported by genotyping of the Nud gene, which is responsible for the naked phenotype. All naked barleys which we studied contained the same mutation allele, nud1.a, thus showing that naked Fennoscandian barley arose by crossings between naked and hulled barley and not by new mutations of hulled barley.
Comparison between different neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens and local therapy alone for bladder cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of oncologic outcomes
Authors: Aydh Abdulmajeed , Sari Motlagh Reza , Alamri Abdulaziz , Yanagisawa Takafumi , Ayed Adil , Rajwa Pawel , Laukhtina Ekaterina , Alasiri Saeed M. , Kawada Tatsushi , Mostafai Hadi , Ayidh Abdulelah , Pallauf Maximilian , König Frederik , Abufaraj Mohammad , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Shariat Shahrokh F.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The present systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) compared the current different neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) regimes for bladder cancer patients to rank them.

Methods

We used the Bayesian approach in NMA of six different therapy regimens cisplatin, cisplatin/doxorubicin, (gemcitabine/cisplatin) GC, cisplatin/methotrexate, methotrexate, cisplatin, and vinblastine (MCV) and (MVAC) compared to locoregional treatment.

Results

Fifteen studies comprised 4276 patients who met the eligibility criteria. Six different regimes were not significantly associated with a lower likelihood of overall mortality rate compared to local treatment alone. In progression-free survival (PFS) rates, cisplatin, GC, cisplatin/methotrexate, MCV and MVAC were not significantly associated with a higher likelihood of PFS rate compared to locoregional treatment alone. In local control outcome, MCV, MVAC, GC and cisplatin/methotrexate were not significantly associated with a higher likelihood of local control rate versus locoregional treatment alone. Nevertheless, based on the analyses of the treatment ranking according to SUCRA, it was highly likely that MVAC with high certainty of results appeared as the most effective approach in terms of mortality, PFS and local control rates. GC and cisplatin/doxorubicin with low certainty of results was found to be the best second options.

Conclusion

No significant differences were observed in mortality, progression-free survival and local control rates before and after adjusting the type of definitive treatment in any of the six study arms. However, MVAC was found to be the most effective regimen with high certainty, while cisplatin alone and cisplatin/methotrexate should not be recommended as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy regime.
Prevalence of the anterosuperior capsulolabral anatomical variations and their association with pathologies of the glenoid labrum: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Benes Michal , Kachlik David , Kopp Lubomir , Kunc Vojtech
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Differentiating the anatomical variations of the anterosuperior portion of the glenoid labrum from pathologies is important to avoid unnecessary iatrogenic complications resulting from inaccurate diagnosis. Additionally, the presence of several variations was reported to be conductive to lesions involving the glenoid labrum. Thus, the aim of this study was to state the prevalence rates of the sublabral recess, sublabral foramen, and the Buford complex, and to verify their association with labral lesions.

Methods

Systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to gain potentially eligible literature. Suitable studies were selected in a two-round screening, and relevant data were subsequently extracted. Calculation of the pooled prevalence estimates, including sub-analyses on cohort size, study type, and geographical variance, was conducted. Pooled analysis of risk ratios (RR) was used to assess the conductive nature of the discussed variants to superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions.

Results

The screening resulted in selection of 20 studies investigating the morphological features of the glenoid labrum, consisting of 7601 upper limbs. On the bases of random-effects meta-analysis the sublabral recess, sublabral foramen and Buford complex occur with a pooled prevalence of 57.2% (95% CI 30.0–84.4%), 13.5% (95% CI 8.2–18.9%), and 3.0% (95% CI 1.5–4.5), respectively. Moreover, individuals with Buford complex have RR 2.4 (95% CI 1.3–4.7) of developing SLAP lesions, especially type II (95.5%; 95% CI 86.1–100%), whereas such risk for sublabral recess and sublabral foramen was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Morphological variants of the glenoid labrum posing diagnostic confusion are frequently observed. Gradually, the Buford complex may be a predisposing factor for sustaining a SLAP lesion.
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-related lockdowns on orthopedic trauma emergencies at a level-one trauma center
Authors: Messler Valentin , Leschinger Tim , Ott Nadine , Rausch Valentin , Burst Volker , Eysel Peer , Müller Lars Peter , Hackl Michael
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its associated lockdowns had a profound effect on orthopedic trauma emergencies. This study aimed to investigate the patient volume and injury patterns at a level-one trauma center during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compare them to the pre-pandemic conditions.

Materials and methods

A retrospective chart review of all patients who presented to the orthopedic trauma emergency department of a level-one trauma center in Cologne, Germany within a 2 year period from March 16th, 2019 to March 15th, 2020 (pre-pandemic control) and from March 16th, 2020 and March 15th, 2021 (pandemic) was performed. The pandemic year was separated into three periods: (1) first lockdown, (2) between lockdowns and (3) second lockdown. The absolute numbers of patient presentations, the Manchester triage score (MTS) and the relative proportion of patients with structural organ injuries, fractures and dislocations, of polytraumatized patients, of hospital admissions, of subsequent emergency or semi-elective surgeries and of work-related accidents were evaluated in comparison to the pre-pandemic control.

Results

A total of 21,642 patient presentations were included in this study. Significantly less weekly orthopedic trauma emergency patient presentations were recorded during the pandemic (p < 0.01).

The MTS was significantly lower during the first lockdown and between lockdowns (p < 0.01). The proportional incidence of overall structural organ injuries, fractures and dislocations, of upper limb fractures/dislocations, of hospital admissions and of patients requiring surgery was significantly increased during the pandemic (p ≤ 0.03). The proportional incidence of work-related injuries was significantly decreased during the pandemic (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Orthopedic trauma emergency presentations were reduced during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Due to the reluctancy of patients to visit the emergency department during the pandemic, the proportions of relevant injuries in general and of upper limb injuries in particular as well as of patients requiring hospital admission and trauma-related surgery were significantly increased.
The double-plate fixation technique prevents varus collapse in AO type C3 supra-intercondylar fracture of the distal femur
Authors: Liu Chang-Heng , Tsai Ping-Jui , Chen I-Jung , Yu Yi-Hsun , Chou Ying-Chao , Hsu Yung-Heng
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Varus collapse followed by osteosynthesis for distal femoral fractures with conventional implants has been well documented but is seldom mentioned in fractures managed with locking plates. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of varus collapse after treating complex supra-intercondylar fractures of the distal femur (AO type C3) using a Single Plate (SP) or Double Plate (DP) fixation technique.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 357 patients with distal femoral fractures who were treated at our hospital between 2006 and 2017. After excluding cases of infection, malignancy, periprosthetic fracture, revision surgery, pediatric fracture, and extra-articular fracture, 54 patients were included in the study. All demographic data and radiological and clinical outcomes were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

There were 54 patients enrolled into this study with age from 15 to 85 years old (mean 41.6, SD = 19.9), and 32 of them were open fractures (59%). The patients were further divided into either an SP (n = 15) or a DP group (n = 39). Demographics, including age, sex, injury severity score, and open fracture type, were all compatible between the two groups. The overall nonunion rate was 25.9% (n = 14; 6 from the SP and 8 from the DP group; p = 0.175). The varus collapse rate was 9.3% (n = 5; 4 from the SP and 1 from the DP group (p = 0.018).

Conclusions

The varus collapse rate after osteosynthesis with a single lateral locking plate could be as high as 26.7% in AO type C3 fractures of the distal femur, which would be decreased to 2.6% by adding a medial buttress plate. Surgeons should consider DP fixation to avoid varus collapse in severely comminuted complete intra-articular fractures of the distal femur.
Diagnostic gastrointestinal markers in primary lung cancer and pulmonary metastases
Authors: Malmros Karina , Lindholm Andreas , Vidarsdottir Halla , Jirström Karin , Nodin Björn , Botling Johan , Mattsson Johanna S. M. , Micke Patrick , Planck Maria , Jönsson Mats , Staaf Johan , Brunnström Hans
Published: June 2023

Histopathological diagnosis of pulmonary tumors is essential for treatment decisions. The distinction between primary lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary metastasis from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be difficult. Therefore, we compared the diagnostic value of several immunohistochemical markers in pulmonary tumors. Tissue microarrays from 629 resected primary lung cancers and 422 resected pulmonary epithelial metastases from various sites (whereof 275 colorectal cancer) were investigated for the immunohistochemical expression of CDH17, GPA33, MUC2, MUC6, SATB2, and SMAD4, for comparison with CDX2, CK20, CK7, and TTF-1. The most sensitive markers for GI origin were GPA33 (positive in 98%, 60%, and 100% of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other GI adenocarcinomas, respectively), CDX2 (99/40/100%), and CDH17 (99/0/100%). In comparison, SATB2 and CK20 showed higher specificity, with expression in 5% and 10% of mucinous primary lung adenocarcinomas and both in 0% of TTF-1-negative non-mucinous primary lung adenocarcinomas (25–50% and 5–16%, respectively, for GPA33/CDX2/CDH17). MUC2 was negative in all primary lung cancers, but positive only in less than half of pulmonary metastases from mucinous adenocarcinomas from other organs. Combining six GI markers did not perfectly separate primary lung cancers from pulmonary metastases including subgroups such as mucinous adenocarcinomas or CK7-positive GI tract metastases. This comprehensive comparison suggests that CDH17, GPA33, and SATB2 may be used as equivalent alternatives to CDX2 and CK20. However, no single or combination of markers can categorically distinguish primary lung cancers from metastatic GI tract cancer.
Propagation of chaos for maxima of particle systems with mean-field drift interaction
Authors: Kolliopoulos Nikolaos , Larsson Martin , Zhang Zeyu
Published: June 2023

We study the asymptotic behavior of the normalized maxima of real-valued diffusive particles with mean-field drift interaction. Our main result establishes propagation of chaos: in the large population limit, the normalized maxima behave as those arising in an i.i.d. system where each particle follows the associated McKean–Vlasov limiting dynamics. Because the maximum depends on all particles, our result does not follow from classical propagation of chaos, where convergence to an i.i.d. limit holds for any fixed number of particles but not all particles simultaneously. The proof uses a change of measure argument that depends on a delicate combinatorial analysis of the iterated stochastic integrals appearing in the chaos expansion of the Radon–Nikodym density.