bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Asymptomatic Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis on the Outcomes of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Wang Le , Guo Xiaozhong , Bai Zhaohui , Yin Yue , Xu Shixue , Pan Jiahui , Mancuso Andrea , Noronha Ferreira Carlos , Qi Xingshun
Published: September 2022

Background The impact of asymptomatic superior mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis on the outcomes of cirrhotic patients remains uncertain.

Methods Nonmalignant cirrhotic patients who were consecutively admitted between December 2014 and September 2021 and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans were screened. Portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) was identified. Death and hepatic decompensation were the outcomes of interest. Nelson–Aalen cumulative risk curve analysis and competing risk regression analysis were performed to evaluate the impact of asymptomatic SMV thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on the outcomes.

Results Overall, 475 patients were included, of whom 67 (14.1%) had asymptomatic SMV thrombosis, 95 (20%) had PVT, and 344 (72.4%) did not have any PVST. Nelson–Aalen cumulative risk curve analyses showed that the cumulative incidences of death (p = 0.653) and hepatic decompensation (p = 0.630) were not significantly different between patients with asymptomatic SMV thrombosis and those without PVST, but the cumulative incidences of death (p = 0.021) and hepatic decompensation (p = 0.004) were significantly higher in patients with PVT than those without PVST. Competing risk regression analyses demonstrated that asymptomatic SMV thrombosis was not a significant risk factor for death (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR] = 0.89, p = 0.65) or hepatic decompensation (sHR = 1.09, p = 0.63), but PVT was a significant risk factor for death (sHR = 1.56, p = 0.02) and hepatic decompensation (sHR = 1.50, p = 0.006). These statistical results remained in competing risk regression analyses after adjusting for age, sex, and Child–Pugh score.

Conclusion Asymptomatic SMV thrombosis may not influence the outcomes of cirrhotic patients. The timing of intervention for asymptomatic SMV thrombosis in liver cirrhosis should be further explored.
Wong–Zakai approximations for the stochastic Landau–Lifshitz–Bloch equations
Authors: Gokhale Soham , Manna Utpal
Published: September 2022

The stochastic Landau–Lifshitz–Bloch equation describes the evolution of spins in ferromagnetic materials for temperatures both below and above the Curie temperature. We consider both exchange and anisotropy energy in dimensions 1 and 2. The equation is transformed into a non-linear partial differential equation with random coefficients, which has a pathwise unique solution. This solution depends continuously on the considered Wiener process. We transform back to the original equation to conclude that the solution to the original equation depends continuously on the Wiener process considered.
Mode couplings in multiplex electromechanical structures
Authors: Sayed Ahmed Moustafa , Ghommem Mehdi , Shahab Shima
Published: September 2022

Mode couplings associated with elastic wave propagation through three-dimensional multiplex structures, as manifested by asymmetric eigenmodes and dissipation, determine the efficiency of electromechanical structures. As a result, it is critical to predict electroelastic symmetric modes such as thickness expander and radial modes, as well as asymmetric flexural modes, while accounting for material losses. Multiplex electromechanical structures include multi-layered through-wall ultrasound power transfer (TWUPT) systems. Physical processes that support TWUPT include vibrations at a transmitting/acoustic source element, elastic wave propagation through a barrier and coupling layers, piezoelectric transduction of elastic vibrations at a receiving element, and spatial resonances of the transmitting and receiving elements. We investigate mode couplings in an optimized modal TWUPT system, including their physical origins, models used to describe them, and regimes of weak and strong couplings. The system layout optimization is defined in terms of size (volume), operating frequency, and matching circuit load optimization. A computational model is developed and utilized in conjunction with experimental modal characterization to highlight the impact of eigenmode features on optimization results. Several behavioral modes are identified and analyzed. The interaction of symmetric radial and asymmetric flexural modes causes the system damping to increase and the device's overall efficiency to decrease. The electromechanical coupling factor value is likewise reduced as a result of this. Such occurrences are explained by the flow of energy between modes as they interact. The present work also proposes design guidelines to improve the performance of TWUPT systems based on exploiting inherent physical phenomena.
Defects modify anisotropic saturation magnetization in transparent and flexible Hf0.95Co0.05O2 thin films for wearable device
Authors: Liu Wenlong , Ao Di , Zhang Han , Tan Guoqiang , Yuan Qibin , Wang Hong
Published: September 2022

A pure inorganic flexible magnetic thin film that is transparent with high temperature and light weight is crucial for high temperature flexible/wearable magnetic sensors and spintronics devices such as electronic skin and a mechanical arm. Here, a transparent flexible Hf0.95Co0.05O2 (HCO) thin film with various thicknesses of 105, 140, 175, and 210 nm was deposited on fluorophlogopite (F-Mica) substrates by using a sol-gel method. All of the flexible HCO samples show two phase structures with a monoclinic phase (M-phase) and an orthorhombic phase (O-phase), resulting in strain and strain relaxation in the samples of different thicknesses. An out-of-plane anisotropy behavior in saturation magnetization was observed in the flexible HCO samples, and the values of (Ms-out-of-plane−Ms-in-plane) decrease with the increase in the thickness. The content of Co2+ increases and the content of Co3+ and vacancy oxygen decrease when the thickness increases, which will affect the anisotropic magnetization behavior in the flexible HCO thin films. Moreover, the flexible HCO samples show excellent light transparency (above 80% in the visible range). The flexible HCO thin films with an anisotropic magnetization behavior and high transmittance are promising for various applications in transparent flexible/wearable devices.
New insights into the breathing physiology from transient respiratory nasal simulation
Authors: Bradshaw Kimberley , Warfield-McAlpine Patrick , Vahaji Sara , Emmerling Jake , Salati Hana , Sacks Ray , Fletcher David F. , Singh Narinder , Inthavong Kiao
Published: September 2022

The flow characteristics and heat transfer during nasal breathing in the complete human upper airway were investigated through the respiratory cycle using transient numerical simulations. We postulate that the complete airway from the nasal cavity to the trachea most accurately represents dynamic airflow patterns during inhalation and exhalation as they are likely to be affected by downstream anatomical structures. A 3D model was constructed from a healthy adult computed tomography scan. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed with Ansys Fluent software [ANSYS Fluent, R1 User's Guide (ANSYS, Inc., 2020)] using the stress-blended eddy simulation turbulence model looking at airflow patterns, velocity, mucosal temperature, and humidity (H2O fraction). One and a half breathing cycles were simulated for a total of 5.65 s, where the first inhalation cycle was discarded to avoid start-up effects. The results demonstrated that airway geometry structures, including the turbinates, the soft palate, and the glottic region, affect the flow patterns differently during inspiration and expiration. It also demonstrated phenomena not seen in steady flow simulations or in those without the lower respiratory tract geometry, including the nasopharyngeal temperature imprint during inhalation, the nasopharyngeal jet during exhalation, and the flow structures of the larynx and laryngeal jet. The inclusion of the exhalation phase demonstrates airflow preconditioning before inhalation, which we postulate contributes to achieving alveolar conditions. Alveolar temperature and humidity conditions are not achieved by the nasal cavity alone, and we demonstrate the contribution of the nasopharynx and larynx to air conditioning. Including the complete airway with realistic anatomy and using transient airflow modeling provided new insights into the physiology of the respiratory cycle.
Central rebound jet of a droplet normal impact on a confined thin liquid film
Authors: Wang Guanqing , Zheng Enhua , Cui Yan , Shi Zhongyu , Xu Jiangrong , Durst Franz
Published: September 2022

The phenomenon of the impact of a droplet on a confined thin liquid film is encountered in a variety of industrial applications. Despite exhaustive research, the central rebound jet (CRJ) and its pinch-off are still far from being understood owing to their strong randomness and the uncertainty in secondary pinch-off droplet numbers. This study experimentally investigated the CRJ and its pinch-off formed by the normal impact of a single droplet on a confined thin liquid film. The dynamic evolution of CRJ formation along with its pinch-off is discussed for three typical Weber numbers (We). Its morphology (base diameter and height) was analyzed by focusing on the effects of We and film thickness on the formation mechanism for droplets, and a qualitative comparison of CRJ height with the previous results was made. The critical thresholds of the CRJ pinch-offs are characterized, and a novel concise prediction method was developed. The results show that the increase in the dome diameter is caused not only by the CRJ growth but also by its fallback. Its maximum value is positively correlated with the increase in We and film thickness. The pinch-off height of the CRJ column is characterized by the critical threshold of We (or K), decreasing with the increase in the film thickness. The maximum height of the CRJ increases with the increase in the Froude number (Fr) and shows a power function. An active region of the liquid film thickness taking a Gaussian normal distribution was found for CRJ formation and its pinch-off. The film thickness has a significant influence on the CRJ height in the active region, but little outside this region. A novel concise equation for predicting CRJ pinch-off and its droplet numbers was further obtained by a multiple inverse power-law function of We with Ohnesorge number (Oh), Re/Fr, and viscosity effects.
A variable threshold for recurrence based on local attractor density
Authors: Delage Rémi , Nakata Toshihiko
Published: September 2022

Recurrence plots along with their quantification measures have demonstrated their usefulness for the study of dynamical systems in many fields. The distance threshold for recurrence is a crucial parameter influencing the observed recurrence structures, thus, the related quantification measures, and have been the object of several studies to find its optimal value. We suggest here a definition of recurrence based on the local attractor density to obtain more qualitative recurrence plots capturing the dynamics at different scales without suffering from variations in the tangential motion effect. The method is qualitatively and quantitatively compared with common thresholding methods on different signals. It is shown that the suggested recurrence plot has more uniform line structures and is less sensitive to the threshold parameter. We also present a modification enhancing its robustness to noise.
My journey from academia to the US government and beyond
Authors: Williams Carl J.
Published: September 2022

A career is not meant to be static. Figure out what you are good at and what your strengths are, and never be afraid to try something new.
Understanding barriers to diabetes eye screening in a large rural general practice: an audit of patients not reached by screening services
Authors: Harbers Angel , Davidson Scott , Eggleton Kyle
Published: September 2022

Introduction Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in New Zealanders, yet a significant proportion of patients with diabetes are not reached by diabetes eye screening. Aim Our study audited patients with diabetes in a large New Zealand rural general practice, to identify addressable barriers preventing patients from attending diabetes eye screening. Methods All patients who had missed a diabetes eye screening appointment at the Dargaville Hospital Eye Screening Clinic between 2018 and 2021 were identified. Demographic information, laboratory and disease status data were recorded and analysed. Semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with 66 patients exploring barriers to diabetes eye screening. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on quantitative data and a thematic analysis on qualitative results. Results One-hundred and fifty-four (27%) of 571 patients invited to screening missed at least one appointment; of these, 66 (43%) were interviewed. Quantitative analysis suggested Māori patients were less likely to be reached, with a 20% higher number of missed appointments than European patients and a higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Māori patients reported greater barriers to attending eye screening. Common barriers identified by participants were transport, work and family commitments, financial, health and lack of appointment reminders. Discussion Increased barriers for Māori patients could explain the reduced ability of the screening service to reach Māori patients. In order to address inequity and increase overall screening rates, diabetes eye screening and primary care services need to improve the booking system, facilitate transport to screening, engage patients and their whānau and build trust.
Ectopic expression of meiotic cohesin generates chromosome instability in cancer cell line
Authors: Boukaba Abdelhalim , Liu Jian , Ward Carl , Wu Qiongfang , Arnaoutov Alexei , Liang Jierong , Pugacheva Elena M. , Dasso Mary , Lobanenkov Victor , Esteban Miguel , Strunnikov Alexander V.
Published: September 2022

Many tumors express meiotic genes that could potentially drive somatic chromosome instability. While germline cohesin subunits SMC1B, STAG3, and REC8 are widely expressed in many cancers, messenger RNA and protein for RAD21L subunit are expressed at very low levels. To elucidate the potential of meiotic cohesins to contribute to genome instability, their expression was investigated in human cell lines, predominately in DLD-1. While the induction of the REC8 complex resulted in a mild mitotic phenotype, the expression of the RAD21L complex produced an arrested but viable cell pool, thus providing a source of DNA damage, mitotic chromosome missegregation, sporadic polyteny, and altered gene expression. We also found that genomic binding profiles of ectopically expressed meiotic cohesin complexes were reminiscent of their corresponding specific binding patterns in testis. Furthermore, meiotic cohesins were found to localize to the same sites as BORIS/CTCFL, rather than CTCF sites normally associated with the somatic cohesin complex. These findings highlight the existence of a germline epigenomic memory that is conserved in cells that normally do not express meiotic genes. Our results reveal a mechanism of action by unduly expressed meiotic cohesins that potentially links them to aneuploidy and chromosomal mutations in affected cells.
Development and Performance of the First Nb3Sn Thin-Film Cavity via Bronze Process
Authors: Lu Ming , Luo Didi , Pan Feng , Li Chunlong , Huang Shichun , Yang Ziqin , Wu Andong , Chu Qingwei , Zhu Tongtong , Wu Shuai , Tan Teng , Guo Hao
Published: September 2022

Low-temperature synthesis of Nb3Sn thin-film cavity is of great significance in the field of superconducting radio frequency (SRF). The bronze process can grow only stable Nb3Sn phase at 700 °C, so it is considered to be the most promising process for low-temperature synthesis of Nb3Sn thin-film cavity. We successfully fabricated the worldwide first Nb3Sn thin-film cavity by bronze process. We technically solved the key problems of precursor preparation, characterized and analyzed the uniformity of the Nb3Sn film, and tested the performance of the cut-out samples and the whole cavity of the Nb3Sn film. It is obtained that the Q
0 value of the cavity at 4.2 K is about 1.2 × 109, which is greater than the performance of the bulk-niobium cavity under the same conditions. This result means that the preparation of Nb3Sn by bronze process has the great potential to more practical copper-based Nb3Sn thin-film cavity, which is expected to achieve a substantial improvement in the performance of SRF cavity and comprehensive engineering applications.
Modelling of solidification structure and macro-segregation in an industrial DC cast slab
Authors: Chen Q P , Shi H , Shen H F
Published: September 2022

A cellular automaton (CA)-finite element (FE) model was implemented for multi-scale modelling of micro-segregation, mesoscopic grain structure and macroscopic segregation during direct chill (DC) casting of industrial billets or slabs. The macroscopic transport of mass, momentum, energy and solutes was solved on an FE grid, while the mesoscopic grain structure governed by nucleation, growth kinetics and grain evolution was calculated on a CA grid. The solidification path was determined using a modified micro-segregation model for multi-component aluminium alloys. An Euler representation was used for pre-processing and post-processing, and a Lagrangian representation was used for expanding the calculation domain and for resolving the CAFE model. By simulating a DC casting experiment of the 2024 aluminium alloy, a typical grain structure was reproduced, and the composition map showed a reasonable deviation. This model was applied to an industrial-scale DC cast slab of an Al-3.5Cu-1.5 Mg (wt. %) alloy, and three simulations with different nucleation undercoolings were performed for a grain-unrefined slab, a grain-refined slab and an equilibrium solidified slab, respectively. The slabs tended to solidify at equilibrium with the decreasing nucleation undercooling. The earlier release of latent heat yielded a smaller liquid undercooling region ahead of the solidification front, and a finer grain structure. A typical grain structure with coarse equiaxial grains at the centre and fine columnar grains near the bottom surface as well as sidewall was observed for the grain-unrefined slab. By contrast, the grain structure of the grain-refined slab was fully equiaxial. Furthermore, the grain structure, temperature field, melt flow and macro-segregation were quantitatively investigated.
Pulse-echo speed-of-sound imaging using convex probes
Authors: Jaeger Michael , Stähli Patrick , Martiartu Naiara Korta , Yolgunlu Parisa Salemi , Frappart Thomas , Fraschini Christophe , Frenz Martin
Published: September 2022

Computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (CUTE) is a new ultrasound (US)-based medical imaging modality with promise for diagnosing various types of disease based on the tissue’s speed of sound (SoS). It is developed for conventional pulse-echo US using handheld probes and can thus be implemented in state-of-the-art medical US systems. One promising application is the quantification of the liver fat fraction in fatty liver disease. So far, CUTE was using linear array probes where the imaging depth is comparable to the aperture size. For liver imaging, however, convex probes are preferred since they provide a larger penetration depth and a wider view angle allowing to capture a large area of the liver. With the goal of liver imaging in mind, we adapt CUTE to convex probes, with a special focus on discussing strategies that make use of the convex geometry in order to make our implementation computationally efficient. We then demonstrate in an abdominal imaging phantom that accurate quantitative SoS using convex probes is feasible, in spite of the smaller aperture size in relation to the image area compared to linear arrays. A preliminary in vivo result of liver imaging confirms this outcome, but also indicates that deep quantitative imaging in the real liver can be more challenging, probably due to the increased complexity of the tissue compared to phantoms.
Mechanical damage thresholds for hematomas near gas-containing bodies in pulsed HIFU fields
Authors: Ponomarchuk Ekaterina M , Hunter Christopher , Song Minho , Khokhlova Vera A , Sapozhnikov Oleg A , Yuldashev Petr V , Khokhlova Tatiana D
Published: September 2022

Objective. Boiling histotripsy (BH) is a novel high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) application currently being developed for non-invasive mechanical fractionation of soft tissues and large hematomas. In the context of development of BH treatment planning approaches for ablating targets adjacent to gas-containing organs, this study aimed at investigation of the ultrasound pressure thresholds of atomization-induced damage to the tissue-air interface and correlation of the danger zone dimensions with spatial structure of nonlinear HIFU field parameters. Approach. A flat interface with air of freshly clotted bovine blood was used as an ex vivo model due to its homogenous structure and higher susceptibility to ultrasound-induced mechanical damage compared to soft tissues. Three 1.5 MHz transducers of different F-numbers (0.77, 1 and 1.5) were focused at various distances before or beyond a flat clot surface, and a BH exposure was delivered either at constant, high-amplitude output level, or at gradually increasing level until a visible damage to the clot surface occurred. The HIFU pressure field parameters at the clot surface were determined through a combination of hydrophone measurements in water, forward wave propagation simulation using ‘HIFU beam’ software and an image source method to account for the wave reflection from the clot surface and formation of a standing wave. The iso-levels of peak negative pressure in the resulting HIFU field were correlated to the outlines of surface erosion to identify the danger zone around the BH focus. Main results. The outline of the danger zone was shown to differ from that of a typical BH lesion produced in a volume of clot material. In the prefocal area, the zone was confined within the 4 MPa contour of the incident peak-to-peak pressure; within the main focal lobe it was determined by the maximum BH lesion width, and in the postfocal area—by the transverse size of the focal lobe and position of the first postfocal pressure axial null. Significance. The incident HIFU pressure-based danger zone boundaries were outlined around the BH focus and can be superimposed onto in-treatment ultrasound image to avoid damage to adjacent gas-containing bodies.
An inception-based deep multiparametric net to classify clinical significance MRI regions of prostate cancer
Authors: Gutiérrez Yesid , Arevalo John , Martínez Fabio
Published: September 2022

Objective. Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) has played an important role in prostate cancer diagnosis. Nevertheless, in the clinical routine, these sequences are principally analyzed from expert observations, which introduces an intrinsic variability in the diagnosis. Even worse, the isolated study of these MRI sequences trends to false positive detection due to other diseases that share similar radiological findings. Hence, the main objective of this study was to design, propose and validate a deep multimodal learning framework to support MRI-based prostate cancer diagnosis using cross-correlation modules that fuse MRI regions, coded from independent MRI parameter branches. Approach. This work introduces a multimodal scheme that integrates MP-MRI sequences and allows to characterize prostate lesions related to cancer disease. For doing so, potential 3D regions were extracted around expert annotations over different prostate zones. Then, a convolutional representation was obtained from each evaluated sequence, allowing a rich and hierarchical deep representation. Each convolutional branch representation was integrated following a special inception-like module. This module allows a redundant non-linear integration that preserves textural spatial lesion features and could obtain higher levels of representation. Main results. This strategy enhances micro-circulation, morphological, and cellular density features, which thereafter are integrated according to an inception late fusion strategy, leading to a better differentiation of prostate cancer lesions. The proposed strategy achieved a ROC-AUC of 0.82 over the PROSTATEx dataset by fusing regions of K
trans and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps coded from DWI-MRI. Significance. This study conducted an evaluation about how MP-MRI parameters can be fused, through a deep learning representation, exploiting spatial correlations among multiple lesion observations. The strategy, from a multimodal representation, learns branches representations to exploit radio-logical findings from ADC and K
trans. Besides, the proposed strategy is very compact (151 630 trainable parameters). Hence, the methodology is very fast in training (3 s for an epoch of 320 samples), being potentially applicable in clinical scenarios.
Study of ferromagnetism and thermoelectric behaviour of thiospinels MgFe2(S/Se)4 for spintronics and energy harvesting
Authors: Rouf Syed Awais , Akhtar Nasreen , Kattan Nessrin A , Alzahrani Jameelah , Mahmood Q , Samah Al-Qaisi  , Morsi Manal , Albalawi Hind , Alharthi Sarah , Amin Mohammed A , Somaily H H
Published: September 2022

Magnesium-based spinel chalcogenides are remarkable materials for spintronic and energy harvesting applications. Therefore, the electronic, ferromagnetism, and thermoelectric characteristics of MgFe2(S/Se)4 spinels are addressed comprehensively by modified Becke Johnson potential (TB-mBJ). The stability of cubic phase has been illustrated by formation energy and energy released during optimization. The Curie temperature and spin polarization have been calculated by Heisenberg model and density of states at Fermi level. Ferromagnetism has been studied by exchange energies, double exchange mechanism, exchange constants, and hybridization process. The reduction of magnetic moment of Fe and its shifting on nonmagnetic (Mg, S/Se) sites shows the ferromagnetism is due to the exchange of electrons spin rather than the clustering effect of internal magnetic of Fe atoms in the structure. Moreover, thermoelectric analysis of studied spinels has been illustrated by electrical and thermal conductivities, Seebeck coefficient (S), and power factor.
A self-consistent wave description of axion miniclusters and their survival in the galaxy
Authors: Dandoy Virgile , Schwetz Thomas , Todarello Elisa
Published: September 2022

We present a solution of the Schrödinger-Poisson system based on the WKB ansatz for the wave function. In this way we obtain a description of a gravitationally bound clump of axion dark matter by a superposition of energy eigenstates with random phases. It can be applied to any self-consistent pair of radial density distribution and phase space densityf(E) related by Eddington's formula. We adopt this as a model for axion miniclusters in our galaxy and use it to study the mass loss due to a star encounter by using standard perturbation theory methods known from quantum mechanics. Finally, we perform a Monte Carlo study to estimate the surviving fraction of axion miniclusters in the dark matter halo of our galaxy. We find that the reaction to perturbations and the survival probability depend crucially on the density profile. Weakly bound clusters are heated up and eventually destroyed, whereas more strongly bound systems get even more compact as a result of perturbations and are driven towards an axion star configuration.
Precise high resistance comparison between the NMIJ traveling dual source bridge and the NIST adapted Wheatstone bridge
Authors: Oe T , Payagala S , Panna A R , Takada S , Kaneko N-H , Jarrett D G
Published: September 2022

A precise high resistance comparison was performed between the traveling dual source bridge developed by the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the adapted Wheatstone bridge of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from 10 MΩ to 100 TΩ at NIST. The NMIJ traveling bridge was shipped to NIST Gaithersburg and was installed right next to the NIST bridge and these bridges alternately measured the resistance ratio of the high resistance standards, without moving the location of the resistors inside the temperature controlled air-bath. Having the bridges and resistance standards in the same location for the comparison decreased the transportation and temperature coefficient effects on the resistance standards, contributing to the excellent agreement of the measured values. The NMIJ traveling bridge used an 8.5-digit digital multimeter and a relay switch box to determine a resistance ratio by measuring the ratio of the voltages applied to the resistors. The comparison was started from 10 MΩ based on the same 1 MΩ standard resistor calibrated using a NIST two-terminal cryogenic current comparator bridge, and standard resistors from 10 MΩ to 100 TΩ were calibrated by repeating 10:1 scaling measurements with both systems. Excellent agreement was obtained within the uncertainty of all resistance ranges and the difference between both systems was less than 1 μΩ Ω−1 up to 1 TΩ and the degrees of equivalence for 10 TΩ and 100 TΩ were less than 6 μΩ Ω−1.
Reconfiguration, swelling and tagged monomer dynamics of a single polymer chain in Gaussian and non-Gaussian active baths
Authors: Goswami Koushik , Chaki Subhasish , Chakrabarti Rajarshi
Published: September 2022

In this topical review, we give an overview of the structure and dynamics of a single polymer chain in active baths, Gaussian or non-Gaussian. The review begins with the discussion of single flexible or semiflexible linear polymer chains subjected to two noises, thermal and active. The active noise has either Gaussian or non-Gaussian distribution but has a memory, accounting for the persistent motion of the active bath particles. This finite persistence makes the reconfiguration dynamics of the chain slow as compared to the purely thermal case and the chain swells. The active noise also results superdiffusive or ballistic motion of the tagged monomer. We present all the calculations in details but mainly focus on the analytically exact or almost exact results on the topic, as obtained from our group in recent years. In addition, we briefly mention important works of other groups and include some of our new results. The review concludes with pointing out the implications of polymer chains in active bath in biologically relevant context and its future directions.
Water Quality Status of Tigris River Using Index Analysis
Authors: Noor Anwar Ridha , Hassan Fikrat M. , Jawad Al-Obaidy Abdul Hameed M.
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the effects of Al-Doura oil refinery effluent, in Baghdad city, on the water quality of the Tigris River using the Canadian Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) and Rivers Maintaining System (1967). Water samples were collected monthly from Tigris River at three stations, which are Al-Muthanna Bridge (upstream), Al-Doura Refinery (point source), and Al–Zafaraniya city (downstream) from October 2020 to April 2021. Fourteen water quality parameters were studied, namely pH (6.50-8.10), Water Temperature (WT) (5.00-27.00 °C), Electrical Conductivity (EC) (877.00-1192.00 μs/cm), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) (5.03-7.57 mg/L), Biological Oxygen demand (BOD) (0.53-2.23 mg/L), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (455.67-770.00 mg/L), Chloride (Cl) (22.66-84.97mg/L), Sulfate (SO4) (150.00-241.67 mg/L), phosphate (PO4) (0.37-0.57mg/L), Turbidity (Turb) (12.13- 86.13), Total Hardness (TH) (86.19-526.67 mg/L), Calcium (Ca) (60.53-137.61 mg/l), Magnesium (Mg) (46.62-110.45 mg/L), and Alkalinity (Alk) (86.33-171.67 mg/L). The water quality of the Tigris River ranged from 51 to 63, which indicated the marginal status of the river quality. The deterioration of water quality has appeared at Al-Dura Refinery and Al–Zafaraniya city stations, which could be attributed to the industrial activities in these regions. Generally, the results indicated that the Tigris River requires extensive treatment before it can be accepted for domestic.
The efficiency of purified bacteriocin from Lactobacillus acidophilus as a bioremediator of the burned engine and motor oils
Authors: Awadh Sura A. , Ibadi Emam Atiyah , Albarki Mohammed A. , Jawad Sabrean Farhan , Mubarak Hayfaa A. , Kareem Mohanad Mousa
Published: September 2022

Petroleum hydrocarbons are one of the most prevalent and ubiquitous environmental pollutants, causing health and environmental risks, so some isolates from cows and buffalos were used in this study to remove these pollutants. Nine isolates of Lactobacillus spp from 20 samples of cows and buffalos milk types. 5 Lactobacillus acidophilus isolates were used in this study because of their excellent production of bacteriocin compared with the other species. The isolates were purified as follows: 70% saturation of ammonium salt followed by gel filtration on Sephadex -G150 was used to purify the bacteriocin. It resulted in a 47.75 % yield with 4.7-fold purification. The results of this study showed the use of 80µg/ml of bacteriocin increased the removal of hydrophobic pollutants from the burned motor and engine oils by 41% after 24 hours, which was more efficient than high doses of bacteriocin. For example, 100 µg/mL of bacteriocin removed only 33% of the contaminants. Furthermore, by extending the incubation period to 7 days, the hydrocarbon degradation percentage was increased by 78% in engine oil and 89% in burned motor oil. Thus, it can be concluded that bacteriocin bioremediation is an efficient and cost-effective biological treatment for eliminating petroleum hydrocarbons from water and protecting natural resources.
Mitigating algorithmic errors in quantum optimization through energy extrapolation
Authors: Cao Chenfeng , Yu Yunlong , Wu Zipeng , Shannon Nic , Zeng Bei , Joynt Robert
Published: September 2022

Quantum optimization algorithms offer a promising route to finding the ground states of target Hamiltonians on near-term quantum devices. Nonetheless, it remains necessary to limit the evolution time and circuit depth as much as possible, since otherwise decoherence will degrade the computation. Even when this is done, there always exists a non-negligible error in estimates of the ground state energy. Here we present a scalable extrapolation approach to mitigating this algorithmic error, which significantly improves estimates obtained using three well-studied quantum optimization algorithms: quantum annealing (QA), the variational quantum eigensolver, and the quantum imaginary time evolution at fixed evolution time or circuit depth. The approach is based on extrapolating the annealing time to infinity or the variance of estimates to zero. The method is reasonably robust against noise. For Hamiltonians which only involve few-body interactions, the additional computational overhead is an increase in the number of measurements by a constant factor. Analytic derivations are provided for the quadratic convergence of estimates of energy as a function of time in QA, and the linear convergence of estimates as a function of variance in all three algorithms. We have verified the validity of these approaches through both numerical simulation and experiments on IBM quantum machines. This work suggests a promising new way to enhance near-term quantum computing through classical post-processing.
What does it take to solve the measurement problem?
Authors: Hance Jonte R , Hossenfelder Sabine
Published: September 2022

We summarise different aspects of the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. We argue that it is a real problem which requires a solution, and identify the properties a theory needs to solve the problem. We show that no current interpretation of quantum mechanics solves the problem, and that, being interpretations rather than extensions of quantum mechanics, they cannot solve it. Finally, we speculate what a solution of the measurement problem might be good for.
The Effect of the Brexit Vote on the Variation in Race and Religious Hate Crimes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Authors: Williams M L , Sutherland A , Roy-Chowdhury V , Loke T , Cullen A , Sloan L , Burnap P , Giannasi P
Published: September 2022

This paper examines possible mechanisms behind the spike in racially or religiously-aggravated (RR) offences after the Brexit vote. It adds to the current literature in five significant ways: (1) it provides the first Brexit-related RR hate crime comparison between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; (2) it reports on results from a national-level panel model that adds to the debate in the literature on whether pro-leave or pro-remain areas saw greater increases hate crimes; (3) it assesses the role of demographic characterises on the variation in hate crime; (4) it compares the effect of the vote with other ‘trigger events’; and (5) it uses social media data to control for variation in hate crime victim and witness reporting.
Both the Squash Bug Anasa tristis and Horned Squash Bug Anasa armigera (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are Attracted to Vittatalactone, the Aggregation Pheromone of Striped Cucumber Beetle
Authors: Weber Donald C , Haber Ariela I , Pasteur Kayla , Boyle Sean M , Kuhar Thomas P , Cornelius Mary L
Published: September 2022

Vittatalactone, the aggregation pheromone of the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is attractive to two species of squash bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae), the squash bug Anasa tristis (DeGeer) and horned squash bug Anasa armigera (Say). In field trapping experiments in Maryland and Virginia, clear sticky traps baited with 1 mg of a synthetic 8-isomer mix of vittatalactone captured ~9× more of female A. tristis and of both sexes of A. armigera, whereas male A. tristis were not significantly attracted, compared to unbaited traps. A. armigera showed a distinct dose–response to vittatalactone lure loading in the late season, and this species was more attracted than A. tristis, based on comparison to captures from underneath wooden boards emplaced in adjacent fields. Results suggest that vittatalactone could be a ‘keystone semiochemical’ in colonization of cucurbit hosts by specialist herbivores, and may offer the opportunity for multi-species behavioral control as a component of integrated pest management in cucurbit crops.
Gaps and barriers in the implementation and functioning of antimicrobial stewardship programmes: results from an educational and behavioural mixed methods needs assessment in France, the United States, Mexico and India
Authors: Lazure Patrice , Augustyniak Monica , Goff Debra A , Villegas Maria Virginia , Apisarnthanarak Anucha , Péloquin Sophie
Published: September 2022

Background

Evidence shows limited adherence to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) principles.

Objectives

To identify educational gaps and systemic barriers obstructing adherence to AMS principles.

Methods

A mixed-methods study combining a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews (January–February 2021) and inferential analysis of quantitative surveys (May–June 2021) was conducted. Participants from France, the USA, Mexico and India were purposively sampled from online panels of healthcare professionals to include infectious disease physicians, infection control specialists, clinical microbiologists, pharmacologists or pharmacists expected to apply AMS principles in their practice setting (e.g. clinic, academic-affiliated or community-based hospital). A gap analysis framework guided this study.

Results

The final sample included 383 participants (n = 33 interviews; n = 350 surveys). Mixed-methods findings indicated suboptimal knowledge and skills amongst participants to facilitate personal and collective application of AMS principles. Survey data indicated a gap in ideal versus current knowledge of AMS protocols, especially amongst pharmacologists (Δ0.95/4.00, P < 0.001). Gaps in ideal versus current skill levels were also measured and were highest amongst infectious control specialists (Δ1.15/4.00, P < 0.001), for convincing hospital executives to allocate resources to AMS programmes. Already existing systemic barriers (e.g. insufficient dedicated time/funding/training) were perceived as being aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic (72% of survey participants agreed). Reported gaps were highest in India and France.

Conclusions

The educational needs of professionals and countries included in this study can inform future continuous professional development activities in AMS. Additional funding should be considered to address perceived systemic barriers. Local assessments are warranted to validate results and suitability of interventions.
Prevalence of carbapenemase genes among carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales collected in US hospitals in a five-year period and activity of ceftazidime/avibactam and comparator agents
Authors: Castanheira Mariana , Deshpande Lalitagauri M , Mendes Rodrigo E , Doyle Timothy B , Sader Helio S
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence of acquired β-lactamase genes and susceptibility profiles of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales (CNSE) clinical isolates collected in US hospitals during a 5-year period.

Methods

Isolates were susceptibility tested by reference broth microdilution methods. Results were interpreted using CLSI breakpoints. Isolates displaying nonsusceptible MICs for imipenem or meropenem were categorized as CNSE. CNSE isolates were screened for β-lactamase-encoding genes using whole-genome sequencing. New genes were cloned, expressed in an Escherichia coli background and susceptibility tested.

Results

A total of 450 (1.3%) isolates were CNSE. Klebsiella pneumoniae serine carbapenemase (KPC) production was the most common resistance mechanism among CNSE isolates: 281/450 (62.4%) carried blaKPC, including three new variants. OXA-48-like and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) encoding genes were detected among seven and 12 isolates, respectively. Among MBL genes, blaNDM-1 was the most common, but blaNDM-5, blaVIM-1 and blaIMP-27 were also identified. 169 (37.6% of the CNSE) isolates did not produce carbapenemases. Ceftazidime/avibactam was the most active agent (95.0% to 100.0% susceptible) against CNSE isolates from all carbapenemase groups except MBL-producing isolates. Ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam and imipenem/relebactam inhibited 100.0%, 97.6% and 92.3% of the non-carbapenemase CNSE isolates, respectively. Among the three new blaKPC variants, one conferred resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam and low meropenem MIC results while the other two had profiles similar to blaKPC-2 or blaKPC-3.

Conclusions

A decline in carbapenemase production was noticed in US hospitals in the 5-year period analysed in this study. New β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations tested had good activity against CNSE isolates.
Survey of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Natural Populations in Quebec Cranberry Bogs and Identification Using rDNA ITS-2 Sequence Analysis
Authors: Labarre D , Drolet I , Légaré J -P , Breton M , Cormier D , Lucas E
Published: September 2022

The province of Quebec, Canada is the most important organic cranberry growing region worldwide. However, insect pest management methods are limited, and growers face significant yield loss each year, mostly caused by lepidopteran pests. Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are effective biocontrol agents of lepidopteran pests in many forests and agricultural systems. Herein, a two-year, large-scale population survey of Trichogramma spp. was performed using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as sentinel eggs in Quebec organic cranberry bogs. Collected specimens were identified by sequencing ribosomal DNA of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS-2) region and subjected to resemblance analysis with reference specimens for identification. Our results confirm that at least four Trichogramma species naturally occur in the studied agroecosystem. Those species are T. brassicae Bezdenko, T. minutum Riley, T. ostriniae (Pang et Chen), and T. pretiosum Riley. While some species have already been reported in cranberry bogs, this represents the first mention of T. brassicae and T. ostriniae as well as the first mention of T. minutum in Quebec cranberry bogs. All species collected are native from Eastern Canada except T. ostriniae. These species can be considered as biocontrol agent candidates for cranberry lepidopteran pests, but further efficacy trials are needed to identify the best species for each pest.
High energy millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations in 1A 0535 + 262 with Insight-HXMT challenge current models
Authors: Ma Ruican , Tao Lian , Zhang Shuang-Nan , Ji Long , Zhang Liang , Bu Qingcui , Qu Jinlu , Reig Pablo , Méndez Mariano , Wang Yanan , Ma Xiang , Huang Yue , Ge Mingyu , Song Liming , Zhang Shu , Liu Hexin , Wang Pengju , Kong Lingda , Ren Xiaoqin , Zhao Shujie , Yu Wei , Yang Zixu , Li Panping , Jia Shumei
Published: September 2022

We studied the millihertz quasi-periodic oscillation (mHz QPO) in the 2020 outburst of the Be/X-ray binary 1A 0535 + 262 using Insight-HXMT data over a broad energy band. The mHz QPO is detected in the 27–120 keV energy band. The QPO centroid frequency is correlated with the source flux and evolves in the 35–95 mHz range during the outburst. The QPO is most significant in the 50–65 keV band, with a significance of ∼8σ, but is hardly detectable (<2σ) in the lowest (1–27 keV) and highest (>120 keV) energy bands. Notably, the detection of mHz QPO above 80 keV is the highest energy at which mHz QPOs have been detected so far. The fractional rms of the mHz QPO first increases and then decreases with energy, reaching the maximum amplitude at 50–65 keV. In addition, at the peak of the outburst, the mHz QPO shows a double-peak structure, with the difference between the two peaks being constant at ∼0.02 Hz, twice the spin frequency of the neutron star in this system. We discuss different scenarios explaining the generation of the mHz QPO, including the beat frequency model, the Keplerian frequency model, the model of two jets in opposite directions, and the precession of the neutron star, but find that none of them can explain the origin of the QPO well. We conclude that the variability of non-thermal radiation may account for the mHz QPO, but further theoretical studies are needed to reveal the physical mechanism.
Hot exozodis: cometary supply without trapping is unlikely to be the mechanism
Authors: Pearce Tim D , Kirchschlager Florian , Rouillé Gaël , Ertel Steve , Bensberg Alexander , Krivov Alexander V , Booth Mark , Wolf Sebastian , Augereau Jean-Charles
Published: September 2022

Excess near-infrared emission is detected around one fifth of main-sequence stars, but its nature is a mystery. These excesses are interpreted as thermal emission from populations of small, hot dust very close to their stars (‘hot exozodis’), but such grains should rapidly sublimate or be blown out of the system. To date, no model has fully explained this phenomenon. One mechanism commonly suggested in the literature is cometary supply, where star-grazing comets deposit dust close to the star, replenishing losses from grain sublimation and blowout. However, we show that this mechanism alone is very unlikely to be responsible for hot exozodis. We model the trajectory and size evolution of dust grains released by star-grazing comets, to establish the dust and comet properties required to reproduce hot-exozodi observations. We find that cometary supply alone can only reproduce observations if dust ejecta has an extremely steep size distribution upon release, and the dust-deposition rate is extraordinarily high. These requirements strongly contradict our current understanding of cometary dust and planetary systems. Cometary supply is therefore unlikely to be solely responsible for hot exozodis, so may need to be combined with some dust-trapping mechanism (such as gas or magnetic trapping) if it is to reproduce observations.