bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An improved binary sparrow search algorithm for feature selection in data classification
Authors: Gad Ahmed G. , Sallam Karam M. , Chakrabortty Ripon K. , Ryan Michael J. , Abohany Amr A.
Published: April 2022

Feature Selection (FS) is an important preprocessing step that is involved in machine learning and data mining tasks for preparing data (especially high-dimensional data) by eliminating irrelevant and redundant features, thus reducing the potential curse of dimensionality of a given large dataset. Consequently, FS is arguably a combinatorial NP-hard problem in which the computational time increases exponentially with an increase in problem complexity. To tackle such a problem type, meta-heuristic techniques have been opted by an increasing number of scholars. Herein, a novel meta-heuristic algorithm, called Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), is presented. The SSA still performs poorly on exploratory behavior and exploration-exploitation trade-off because it does not duly stimulate the search within feasible regions, and the exploitation process suffers noticeable stagnation. Therefore, we improve SSA by adopting: i) a strategy for Random Re-positioning of Roaming Agents (3RA); and ii) a novel Local Search Algorithm (LSA), which are algorithmically incorporated into the original SSA structure. To the FS problem, SSA is improved and cloned as a binary variant, namely, the improved Binary SSA (iBSSA), which would strive to select the optimal or near-optimal features from a given dataset while keeping the classification accuracy maximized. For binary conversion, the iBSSA was primarily validated against nine common S-shaped and V-shaped Transfer Functions (TFs), thus producing nine iBSSA variants. To verify the robustness of these variants, three well-known classification techniques, includingk-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) were adopted as fitness evaluators with the proposed iBSSA approach and many other competing algorithms, on 18 multifaceted, multi-scale benchmark datasets from the University of California Irvine (UCI) data repository. Then, the overall best-performing iBSSA variant for each of the three classifiers was compared with binary variants of 12 different well-known meta-heuristic algorithms, including the original SSA (BSSA), Artificial Bee Colony (BABC), Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO), Bat Algorithm (BBA), Grey Wolf Optimization (BGWO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (BWOA), Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (BGOA) SailFish Optimizer (BSFO), Harris Hawks Optimization (BHHO), Bird Swarm Algorithm (BBSA), Atom Search Optimization (BASO), and Henry Gas Solubility Optimization (BHGSO). Based on a Wilcoxon’s non-parametric statistical test ($$\alpha =0.05$$α=0.05), the superiority of iBSSA with the three classifiers was very evident against counterparts across the vast majority of the selected datasets, achieving a feature size reduction of up to 92% along with up to 100% classification accuracy on some of those datasets.
Relation of pine crop damage to species-specific density in a multi-ungulate assemblage
Authors: Zini Valentina , Wäber Kristin , Dolman Paul M.
Published: April 2022

Deer management in forest ecosystems requires information on deer densities and impacts to inform culling decisions with a known target density for acceptable damage levels. In multi-ungulate assemblages, managers need knowledge of relative impacts by different species or guilds. In an extensive (195 km2) conifer forest in eastern England, we related Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) leader damage (% dominant shoots browsed) in 48 restocked stands (1–3 years growth) over multiple years (n = 79 observations) to species-specific annual muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), roe (Capreolus capreolus), fallow (Dama dama) and “large deer” densities (composite of annual fallow and multi-year mean red deerCervus elaphus) using generalized mixed effects models. Forest-wide density surface models were calibrated through intensive annual thermal imaging distance transects and local densities around stands resampled within confidence bounds. Models also examined effects of ground vegetation and hare presence (Lepus europaeus). More pine leaders were browsed at higher fallow or large deer densities (22% and 18%, respectively, increased leader damage across inter-quartile range). Leader damage intensity was not influenced by ground vegetation, hares, muntjac (across the range 8.3–41.6 individuals km−2) or roe deer density (1.7–19.4 individuals km−2). To reduce pine crop damage to economically acceptable levels, managers need to reduce fallow deer to a density as low as 0.6 individuals km−2(CI = 0.06–1.44, which is considered impractical) or reduce combined large deer density to 2.3 (CI = 1.18–3.46) individuals km−2. Reducing muntjac or roe abundance would minimally affect leader damage in this system, but may be important for other tree species. Multi-species deer management requires species-specific understanding of impacts and robust density estimates.
Advancing the smart city objectives of electric demand management and new services to residents by home automation—learnings from a case
Authors: Härkönen K. , Hannola L. , Pyrhönen O.
Published: April 2022

Smart city projects explore solutions to improve the sustainability of urban infrastructure. In Kalasatama, a new smart city district being built in Helsinki, a solution to excite the availability of electric demand management and other energy-related services for residents is being tested. The city has made installing a specified minimum set of home automation devices obligatory in each apartment in the district, with the intention that entrepreneurial companies would start to offer energy management solutions based on that automation. This case study examines the utilisation of home automation in energy management at a point in time when approximately one-third of the dwellings in the smart city district are complete. According to the results of the study, companies developing and building apartments in the area of Kalasatama do not seem to find the regulation concerning home automation to be directly beneficial. Also, the availability of energy management services, based on the home automation solution, seems to remain low for the residents of the district. Based on these findings, we propose that similar smart city projects should be subject to a wider dialogue between policymakers and prospective market participants in the project conceptualisation phase.
Review the status of Korean geoid model development since 2000s and future improvement plan
Authors: Lee Jisun , Kwon Jay Hyoun
Published: April 2022

Korean geoid models have been continuously developed for more than 20 years. However, the precision of previous models was approximately 8–15 cm according to evaluations based on newly obtained Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/Leveling data because of irregular distribution and low precision of the gravity and GNSS/Leveling data. Therefore, in 2008, NGII began to obtain new terrestrial gravity and GNSS/Leveling data and collected more than 12,000 points of gravity data and 4492 points of GNSS/Leveling data by the end of 2017. As a result, the newest model, Korean National Geoid 2018 (KNGeoid18), achieved a degree of fit (DOF) of 2.3 cm. The precision was significantly improved compared to previous models including KNGeoid14, but precision in the mountainous areas remained still lower than that of the plain areas. Also, inconsistent differences between the GNSS/Leveling data and KNGeoid18 remained as a problem that should be solved. Through KNGeoid project, the NGII observed a positive effect of supplementing fundamental data, so NGII is obtaining new terrestrial gravity data. Regarding GNSS/Leveling data, the installation of 3D control points was completed in 2019 and the adjustment of GNSS and leveling data is ongoing to allow for the application of verified and adjusted GNSS/Leveling data in the future. Therefore, a new geoid model will be developed until the end of 2023 by applying new terrestrial gravity and GNSS/Leveling data. Overall, it is expected that the precision will be improved to approximately 1–1.5 cm, except in the mountainous areas, owing to new data gathering efforts and the maintenance of the fundamental data.
Pneumoperitoneum in perforated appendicitis in the COVID Pandemic: A case report
Authors: AlKhayat Ali , Qadhi Iman
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT

Introduction and importance:

Pneumoperitoneum, presenting as air under the diaphragm on a plain erect chest X-ray, is most often an indication of perforation of a hollow viscus, however it is a rare consequence of acute appendicitis.

Case presentation:

We report a case of a 54-year-old man who presented with severe epigastric pain and an acute abdomen. The presumptive diagnosis of perforated viscus could not be confirmed with computed tomography, which led to a misdiagnosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed perforated gangrenous appendicitis.

Clinical discussion:

The current COVID pandemic has resulted in delayed and severe presentations of acute pathologies, in terms of appendicitis, with perforation. The appendix, albeit being a hollow viscus, rarely presents with pneumoperitoneum when perforated, this can be explained by the pathogenesis of appendicitis. However, two mechanisms have been propounded to explain the relationship between pneumoperitoneum and perforated appendicitis; the absence of a fecalith or lymphoid hyperplasia or the presence of gas forming bacteria. In attempts to comply with COVID recommendations in the operation theatre, diagnostic laparoscopy was carried out, however the patient was already prepped, positioned and ports were in place for omental patch repair and abdominal lavage. This proved to be futile and additional measures were taken lengthening operation time, such as additional port introduction and repositioning to facilitate the appendectomy.

Conclusion:

The purpose of reporting this case is to highlight that pneumoperitoneum can be rarely associated with gangrenous appendicitis and timely diagnosis is important for the emergency management of this condition during the COVID pandemic.

Highlights
A Reflection on the Role of Tourism within Vulnerable Biodiverse Reef and Rainforest Regions
Authors: McCalman Iain
Published: April 2022

It is heartening to see that so many of the scholarly and personal contributions of our special issue should have addressed the complex collisions between culture and nature manifested today within Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest World Heritage Areas.
Beautiful Shells and their Connection to the Reef
Authors: Grant Chrissy
Published: April 2022

Shells are beautiful! They are really ingenious in the way that they are made and the animals they house. The shells grow with the animal, from tiny little shells to a great big shell. An animal wasn’t born that big, so the large shells have been there for years.
Coralations
Authors: Braverman Irus
Published: April 2022

Corals are good to breathe with. Living painfully far from the ocean during the long COVID-19 lockdowns, I have been relegated to daydreaming about being immersed in salty waters again.
Sounds of Silence
Authors: Tarte Diane
Published: April 2022

It was the early 1980s on a warm summer’s evening on North West Island, located in the Capricornia Bunker Group towards the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. I had some time to myself and was wandering along the beach at sunset. Looking up, I realised there were thousands and thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of birds — wedge-tailed shearwaters, in fact — circling the island as they returned to their underground nests and their mates and chicks after a day of feeding and cruising the air currents. What was so special about this? After all, it happens every summer’s evening on many Reef sand cays. It was special for me because I suddenly realised that this huge sweep of birds was flying past in total silence … the only sound was an occasional wing dipping into the sea.
Glacial equilibrium line–based relationship for paleoclimate reconstructions (Sierra Nevada, USA)
Authors: Legrain Etienne , Blard Pierre-Henri , Charreau Julien
Published: April 2022

We use PRISM climatic data (1981–2010) and Landsat images (2012–2013) to establish an empirical relationship linking annual temperature and precipitation to the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of glaciers in the Sierra Nevada (36–41°N, California, USA). For this, we determined the present-day ELAs of 57 glaciers and the local 0°C isotherms elevation Iso0, averaged over the 1981–2010 period. The difference, for each glacier, is Y, the normalized snowline altitude (Y = ELA – Iso0). We then empirically calibrated a logarithmic relationship between this normalized snowline altitude and mean annual precipitation using data from partially covered glaciers. Our calibration is statistically distinct from that previously established for the tropical and midlatitude Andes (Fox and Bloom [1994], Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 103, 867–885; Condom et al. [2007], Global and Planetary Change, 59, 189–202). This new relationship for North America is an easy-to-use tool to permit paleoclimatic reconstructions from paleo-ELAs. For a specific paleoglacial site, paleotemperature can be computed knowing the paleoprecipitation range, and vice versa. We also performed a test showing that, if precipitation is well known, the uncertainty associated with paleotemperature is about 1°C (1σ).
Private evidence for atheism
Authors: Bartolome Aaron
Published: April 2022

This article presents an argument for atheism that contains a premise stated from the first-person perspective and that is intended to rationally persuade people who satisfy certain conditions. The argument also contains a premise about what God would do, if God existed, that is acceptable to theists and is affirmed in some major monotheistic religious traditions. This article explains how the argument differs from some other familiar arguments for atheism and then discusses some critical responses to it.
The psychosocial responses of patients in cancer clinical trials: are they a barrier to participation?
Authors: Davies Lucy Siew Chen , Drury-Smith Heather
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

This paper aims to discuss the psychosocial concomitants with involvement in oncology clinical trials, focusing on barriers that can impact upon participation. It will conclude with some recommendations for strategies to address potential psychosocial barriers with the aim of increasing trial participation rates.

Materials and methods:

A literature search was carried out using CINAHL, PubMed and EMCare databases with the following keywords for filtering: psychological distress, clinical trials, participation and oncology. The final selection of papers that met the inclusion criteria for this review was manually subjected to Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for relevance.

Results:

Thirteen papers were included in the review. The dominant theme within the literature is psychosocial obstacles to oncology clinical trial participation. Five key barriers were identified: anxiety and fear; ethnicity and social background; tensions between scientific objectives and personal motivations to participation; tensions between personal benefits versus altruism; carer perspectives.

Conclusions:

The key barriers discussed led to the identification of a set of strategies to help mediate conflicting tensions and motivations of trial enrolment with a view to increasing participation rates. Further prospective research garnering primary data investigating both the psychological and psychosocial factors influencing cancer clinical trial participation for patients needs to be undertaken.
BIALL Covid-19 ‘State of the Nation’ Survey 2021: an Introduction
Authors: Bowl Catherine
Published: April 2022

In Autumn 2021 the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) carried out a follow-up survey to the May 2020 ‘Covid-19 Industry Survey'. BIALL President, Catherine Bowl, gives an overview of the findings of ‘State of the Nation' survey which was published in December 2021. The results of the survey are to be found on the pages that follow this introduction.
Recruiting for Success: Best Practices for Job Interviews
Authors: North Victoria
Published: April 2022

This article is aimed at anyone who is responsible for recruiting staff and discusses how to prepare for a successful job interview. It is written in the context of a competitive recruitment market caused by the increased workload in law firms since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The author, Victoria North, is a senior information professional with many years of experience of building successful teams. She shares some of the best practices she has learnt during her career.
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status and major depressive disorder (MDD): Clinical association and hospitalization outcomes
Authors: Oh David Hyung Won , Salzler Matthew J. , Bernstein Rachel L. , Racine Christopher W.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To understand (1) the association of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status among hospitalized patients and (2) the association of MDD and hospitalization outcomes among DNR patients.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional analysis of United States Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 2009 to 2013 for patients >18 years. To address the first objective, we used multivariable logistic regression among all hospitalized patients to compute the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of having DNR status if patients have active MDD of varying severities after controlling for age, sex, race, suicidal ideation, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. To address the second objective, we used multivariable regression among patients with DNR status to compute aOR of having hospitalization outcomes such as increased length of stay, higher total charges, leaving against medical advice, and mortality if patients have MDD.

Results

Among all hospitalizations, 2.3% had DNR status. There was an inverse association between severity of MDD and having DNR status. Relative to those without MDD, patients with moderate recurrent MDD episode (aOR 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65–0.85) and severe recurrent MDD episode (aOR of 0.42 (95% CI: 0.37–0.48)) were significantly less likely to have DNR status. Among DNR patients, those with all severities of MDD except mild single episode MDD were >40% less likely to die during hospitalization. Among DNR patients, patients with MDD had 0.7 day longer length of stay, and >$4,500 higher total charges.

Significance of results

Patients are less likely to have DNR status if they have active MDD. Among patients with DNR status, those with MDD are less likely to die during hospitalization than those without MDD. With current practice, depression is not associated with increased likelihood of death due to foregoing resuscitation prematurely, though the exact mechanisms of these findings need further investigation.
Somatische Folgen des IPED-Gebrauchs früh in der Hausarztpraxis erkennen
Authors: Iff Samuel , Gähwiler Roman , Butzke Ingo , Quednow Boris B. , Claussen Malte Christian
Published: April 2022

Zusammenfassung. Die nicht-medizinische Anwendung von form- und leistungsfördernden Medikamenten (Image- and Performance-Enhancing Drugs, IPED) ist in der Fitness- und Bodybuilding-Szene weit verbreitet. Die Gründe für den IPED-Gebrauch sind oft hedonistischer Natur, und die Anwendung erfolgt oft in mehrwöchigen sogenannten «Kuren». Die häufigsten Nebenwirkungen während einer IPED-Anwendung sind: Hodenschrumpfung, Akne, Hypersexualität, Bluthochdruck, Gynäkomastie, Lipidstoffwechselstörungen, Stimmungsschwankungen, Haarverlust und Polyglobulie. Häufige Folgen nach einer IPED-Anwendung sind: Reduktion der Libido, Oligo- oder Azoospermie und erektile Dysfunktion. Um unerwünschte Nebenwirkungen und Folgen von IPED zu reduzieren, werden oft Medikamente zur Selbstbehandlung eingenommen und gelegentlich auch in der allgemeinärztlichen Praxis angesprochen und nachgefragt.
Interdisziplinäre und psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutische Behandlung bei Gebrauch von anabolen androgenen Steroiden
Authors: Butzke Ingo , Iff Samuel , Zitzmann Michael , Quednow Boris B. , Claussen Malte Christian
Published: April 2022

Zusammenfassung. Die Häufigkeit des Gebrauchs von anabolen androgenen Steroiden (AAS; Anabolika) im Freizeitsport wird unterschätzt. Durch den Einfluss der sozialen Medien wird eine weitere Zunahme des AAS-Gebrauchs im Freizeitsport und in der Allgemeinbevölkerung erwartet. Der AAS-Gebrauch geht mit bedeutenden Folgen für die körperliche und psychische Gesundheit einher, die psychiatrischen Folgen beinhalten auch das Risiko einer Abhängigkeitsentwicklung. Die weitverbreitete Stigmatisierung des AAS-Gebrauchs auch durch Fachleute untergräbt häufig das Vertrauen der Konsumierenden in die behandelnden Ärzt_innen und treibt sie in die Arme sogenannter «Gurus». Die Verschärfung der Antidoping-Praktiken im Sport und eine ausschliesslich prohibitive Grundhaltung konnten das Problem im Freizeitsport bisher nicht überzeugend eindämmen. Strategien der Schadensminderung könnten Patienten_innen die nötige Hilfe durch Grundversorger erleichtern.
Exercise Addiction – Status, Identification and Treatment
Authors: Colledge Flora , Meyer Maximilian
Published: April 2022

Abstract. The term “exercise addiction” has been used in the scientific literature since the late 1970s. It is used to refer to persistent excessive exercise despite negative physical, psychological and social consequences, with unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop the behavior. In this article, the evidence for exercise addiction as a behavioral addiction is presented. Symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities are explained, and recommendations for identification and treatment of exercise addiction are presented.
Climate Change‐Legacy Phosphorus Synergy Hinders Lake Response to Aggressive Water Policy Targets
Authors: Zia Asim , Schroth Andrew W. , Hecht Jory S. , Isles Peter , Clemins Patrick J. , Turnbull Scott , Bitterman Patrick , Tsai Yushio , Mohammed Ibrahim N. , Bucini Gabriela , Doran Elizbeth M. B. , Koliba Christopher , Bomblies Arne , Beckage Brian , Winter Jonathan , Adair Elizabeth C. , Rizzo Donna M. , Gibson William , Pinder George
Published: April 2022

With mounting scientific evidence demonstrating adverse global climate change (GCC) impacts to water quality, water quality policies, such as the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) under the U.S. Clean Water Act, have begun accounting for GCC effects in setting nutrient load‐reduction policy targets. These targets generally require nutrient reductions for attaining prescribed water quality standards (WQS) by setting safe levels of nutrient concentrations that curtail potentially harmful cyanobacteria blooms (CyanoHABs). While some governments require WQS to consider climate change, few tools are available to model the complex interactions between climate change and benthic legacy nutrients. We present a novel process‐based integrated assessment model (IAM) that examines the extent to which synergistic relationships between GCC and legacy Phosphorus release could compromise the ability of water quality policies to attain established WQS. The IAM is calibrated for simulating the eutrophic Missisquoi Bay and watershed in Lake Champlain (2001–2050). Water quality impacts of seven P‐reduction scenarios, including the 64.3% reduction specified under the current TMDL, were examined under 17 GCC scenarios. The TMDL WQS of 0.025 mg/L total phosphorus is unlikely to be met by 2035 under the mandated 64.3% reduction for all GCC scenarios. IAM simulations show that the frequency and severity of summer CyanoHABs increased or minimally decreased under most climate and nutrient reduction scenarios. By harnessing IAMs that couple complex process‐based simulation models, the management of water quality in freshwater lakes can become more adaptive through explicit accounting of GCC effects on both the external and internal sources of nutrients.
Aerosol‐Radiation Interactions in China in Winter: Competing Effects of Reduced Shortwave Radiation and Cloud‐Snowfall‐Albedo Feedbacks Under Rapidly Changing Emissions
Authors: Moch Jonathan M. , Mickley Loretta J. , Keller Christoph A. , Bian Huisheng , Lundgren Elizabeth W. , Zhai Shixian , Jacob Daniel J.
Published: April 2022

Since 2013, Chinese policies have dramatically reduced emissions of particulates and their gas‐phase precursors, but the implications of these reductions for aerosol‐radiation interactions are unknown. Using a global, coupled chemistry‐climate model, we examine how the radiative impacts of Chinese air pollution in the winter months of 2012 and 2013 affect local meteorology and how these changes may, in turn, influence surface concentrations of PM2.5, particulate matter with diameter <2.5 μm. We then investigate how decreasing emissions through 2016 and 2017 alter this impact. We find that absorbing aerosols aloft in winter 2012 and 2013 heat the middle‐ and lower troposphere by ∼0.5–1 K, reducing cloud liquid water, snowfall, and snow cover. The subsequent decline in surface albedo appears to counteract the ∼15–20 W m−2 decrease in shortwave radiation reaching the surface due to attenuation by aerosols overhead. The net result of this novel cloud‐snowfall‐albedo feedback in winters 2012–2013 is a slight increase in surface temperature of ∼0.5–1 K in some regions and little change elsewhere. The aerosol heating aloft, however, stabilizes the atmosphere and decreases the seasonal mean planetary boundary layer (PBL) height by ∼50 m. In winter 2016 and 2017, the ∼20% decrease in mean PM2.5 weakens the cloud‐snowfall‐albedo feedback, though it is still evident in western China, where the feedback again warms the surface by ∼0.5–1 K. Regardless of emissions, we find that aerosol‐radiation interactions enhance mean surface PM2.5 pollution by 10%–20% across much of China during all four winters examined, mainly though suppression of PBL heights.
Synergistic Use of Far‐ and Mid‐Infrared Spectral Radiances for Satellite‐Based Detection of Polar Ice Clouds Over Ocean
Authors: Peterson Colten A. , Huang Xianglei , Chen Xiuhong , Yang Ping
Published: April 2022

Cloud phase is an important factor affecting cloud contributions to the polar energy budget. Brightness temperature differences (BTDs) between two mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) spectral channels are commonly used in satellite remote sensing to determine the cloud phase, but the mid‐IR has limitations for cloud phase determination in polar regions. This study explores the synergy between the far‐ and mid‐IR for ice cloud phase determinations over polar oceans. A far‐IR BTD test (BTD449‐521) is developed based on the spectral variations of both ice cloud scattering and absorption properties in the far‐IR “dirty window” region (400–600 cm−1 or 16.7–25 μm). Synthetic IR radiances at 1 cm−1 spectral resolution are generated using ERA5 reanalysis data for both polar regions. A subset of these spectra is used to compare the ice phase determination skill of the far‐IR test with an “AIRS‐Like” mid‐IR BTD test (BTD1231‐960) for combinations of effective ice particle diameter (Deff_ice), cloud optical depth (COD), and cloud top pressure (CTP). The far‐IR test is performing better for ice clouds with the smallest Deff_ice that we have studied (20 μm) due to the sensitivity of far‐IR scattering to ice particle size. The mid‐IR test was either comparable to or more successful than the far‐IR test for ice clouds with large particle sizes. For all Deff_ice, increasing COD leads to enhanced far‐IR BTD signals due to stronger multiple scattering in the far‐IR than in the mid‐IR. Overall, the variations in far‐IR and mid‐IR BTD test performance are strongly sensitive to Deff_ice, followed by COD and CTP.
Climate Benefits of Forests Go Far Beyond Carbon Sequestration
Authors: Fl�rez Santiago
Published: April 2022

Forests are “essentially air-conditioning systems” thanks to biophysical processes like evapotranspiration and canopy roughness.
An intersegmental single-cell profile reveals aortic heterogeneity and identifies a novel Malat1+ vascular smooth muscle subtype involved in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation
Authors: Yu Liwen , Zhang Jie , Gao Amy , Zhang Meng , Wang Zunzhe , Yu Fangpu , Guo Xiaobin , Su Guohai , Zhang Yun , Zhang Meng , Zhang Cheng
Published: April 2022

The developmental origin, anatomical location, and other factors contribute to aortic heterogeneity in a physiological state. On this basis, vascular diseases occur at different ratios based on position specificity, even with the same risk factor. However, the continuous intersegmental aortic profile has been rarely reported at the single-cell level. To reveal aortic heterogeneity, we identified 15 cell subtypes from five continuous aortic segments by marker genes and functional definitions. The EC1 subtype highly expressed Vcam1 and Scarb2 genes in the aortic arch, which were reported to be associated with atherosclerosis. The newly identified Fbn1+ fibroblasts were found highly expressed in thoracic segments. More importantly, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) demonstrated a novel composition in which VSMC 4 marked with the gene Malat1 were mainly distributed in the abdominal segment. Malat1 knockout reduced MMPs and inflammatory factor production induced by Ang II in smooth muscle cells, and the Malat1 inhibitor exerted preventive, inhibitory, and reversing effects on AngII-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in vivo revealed by a series of animal experiments. Single-cell analysis of AngII-induced AAA tissues treated with or without the inhibitor further clarified the key role of Malat1+VSMC in the occurrence and progression of AAA. In summary, segmental gene expression and cell subtype features in normal aorta associated with different vascular diseases might provide potential therapeutic targets.
TLR7 gain-of-function genetic variation causes human lupus
Authors: Brown Grant J. , Cañete Pablo F. , Wang Hao , Medhavy Arti , Bones Josiah , Roco Jonathan A. , He Yuke , Qin Yuting , Cappello Jean , Ellyard Julia I. , Bassett Katharine , Shen Qian , Burgio Gaetan , Zhang Yaoyuan , Turnbull Cynthia , Meng Xiangpeng , Wu Phil , Cho Eun , Miosge Lisa A. , Andrews T. Daniel , Field Matt A. , Tvorogov Denis , Lopez Angel F. , Babon Jeffrey J. , López Cristina Aparicio , Gónzalez-Murillo África , Garulo Daniel Clemente , Pascual Virginia , Levy Tess , Mallack Eric J. , Calame Daniel G. , Lotze Timothy , Lupski James R. , Ding Huihua , Ullah Tomalika R. , Walters Giles D. , Koina Mark E. , Cook Matthew C. , Shen Nan , de Lucas Collantes Carmen , Corry Ben , Gantier Michael P. , Athanasopoulos Vicki , Vinuesa Carola G.
Published: April 2022

Although circumstantial evidence supports enhanced Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signalling as a mechanism of human systemic autoimmune disease1–7, evidence of lupus-causing TLR7 gene variants is lacking. Here we describe human systemic lupus erythematosus caused by a TLR7 gain-of-function variant. TLR7 is a sensor of viral RNA8,9 and binds to guanosine10–12. We identified a de novo, previously undescribed missense TLR7Y264H variant in a child with severe lupus and additional variants in other patients with lupus. The TLR7Y264H variant selectively increased sensing of guanosine and 2',3'-cGMP10–12, and was sufficient to cause lupus when introduced into mice. We show that enhanced TLR7 signalling drives aberrant survival of B cell receptor (BCR)-activated B cells, and in a cell-intrinsic manner, accumulation of CD11c+ age-associated B cells and germinal centre B cells. Follicular and extrafollicular helper T cells were also increased but these phenotypes were cell-extrinsic. Deficiency of MyD88 (an adaptor protein downstream of TLR7) rescued autoimmunity, aberrant B cell survival, and all cellular and serological phenotypes. Despite prominent spontaneous germinal-centre formation in Tlr7Y264H mice, autoimmunity was not ameliorated by germinal-centre deficiency, suggesting an extrafollicular origin of pathogenic B cells. We establish the importance of TLR7 and guanosine-containing self-ligands for human lupus pathogenesis, which paves the way for therapeutic TLR7 or MyD88 inhibition.
Correlation between structure, chromaticity, and dielectric properties of calcium copper pyrophosphates, Ca2−xCuxP2O7
Authors: Baitahe Rattanai , Sronsri Chuchai , Thompho Somphob , Chaiseeda Kittichai , Montri Nattaya , Boonchom Banjong
Published: April 2022

The solid-state reaction was employed to synthesize Ca2−xCuxP2O7 by varying the mole ratio between Ca and Cu. The structure and crystallography of the pyrophosphate compounds were identified and confirmed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Rietveld refinement method and the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) least-squares fitting technique were also applied to refine the sample crystal structure. The single phases of the obtained Ca2P2O7, CaCuP2O7, and Cu2P2O7 samples and the mixing phases of the obtained Ca1.5Cu0.5P2O7 and Ca0.5Cu1.5P2O7 samples were identified, and then only a single phase of the samples was subjected to structural and dielectrical analyses. The structural results exhibit the tetragonal crystal system with the P41 space group for β-Ca2P2O7, the monoclinic crystal system with the P21/c space group for CaCuP2O7, and the C2/c space group for α-Cu2P2O7. The dielectric constant (εr) of the single metal pyrophosphates (Ca2P2O7 and Cu2P2O7) was higher than that of binary metal pyrophosphates (CaCuP2O7). The image sensor result of the Cu2P2O7 sample (x = 2.00) illustrated a yellowish-green color, while other compounds (x = 0.50−1.50) presented color tones that changed from blue-green to bluish-green. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometers were employed to characterize and confirm the vibrational characteristics of the P2O74− group, which contains the O–P–O radical ([PO2]-) and the P–O–P bride ([OPO]-) and approximate M–O stretching modes. Furthermore, this work reports for the first time that the change in the crystal structure of Ca2−xCuxP2O7 (i.e., bond angle of P−O−P in P2O74− and distortion phenomena in the M−O6 octahedral site) are cause the correlation between the structure, chromaticity, and dielectric properties of calcium copper pyrophosphates, Ca2−xCuxP2O7.
A search for atomic parity violation in muonic atoms using a high-intensity pulsed muon beam at J-PARC
Authors: Kanda Sohtaro
Published: April 2022

An exotic atom consisting of a negative muon and a nucleus is a muonic atom. Atomic parity violation in muonic atoms provides a unique opportunity to determine the Weinberg angle and search for physics beyond the standard model at the low energy scale. We have proposed a new experiment to perform X-ray spectroscopy of muonic atoms using a high-intensity pulsed muon beam at J-PARC. A scintillator-based calorimeter and a lowdensity gaseous target were developed for the experiment. As a feasibility study, we measured the yield of muon atoms and searched for muonic atom’s metastability using low-density methane gas. An overview of the experiment and the test experiment results are presented.
Antinucleon-nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory and its application to neutron-antineutron oscillations
Authors: Haidenbauer Johann , Meißner Ulf-G.
Published: April 2022

An $\bar N$N potential is reviewed which has been derived within chiral effective field theory by the Jülich-Bonn group. By construction it reproduces $\bar N$N phase shifts and inelasticities, provided by an elaborate phase-shift analysis of available $\bar p$p scattering data. This interaction is then employed in a study of neutron-antineutron oscillations in the deuteron. In particular, the deuteron lifetime is considered, and results for it are presented in terms of the free-space n – $\bar n$ oscillation time, based on that $\bar N$N potential in combination with an NN interaction likewise derived within chiral effective field theory.
Analysis methods used and planned for VIP-2
Authors: Porcelli Alessio , Bartalucci Sergio , Bertolucci Sergio , Bazzi Massimiliano , Bragadireanu Mario , Capoccia Cesidio , Cargnelli Michael , Clozza Alberto , Curceanu Catalina , De Paolis Luca , Del Grande Raffaele , Fiorini Carlo , Guaraldo Carlo , Iliescu Mihai , Laubenstein Matthias , Marton Johann , Miliucci Marco , Milotti Edoardo , Napolitano Fabrizio , Piscicchia Kristian , Scordo Alessandro , Shi Hexi , Sirghi Diana Laura , Sirghi Florin , Sgaramella Francesco , Vazquez Doce Oton , Zmeskal Johann
Published: April 2022

VIP-2 (VIolation of Pauli exclusion principle - 2) is an underground experiment sited in the underground “Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso.” It aims to investigate possible violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) and, in this context, Quantum Gravity models implying violations of PEP. While an upper limit of PEP violation probability is recently published, the data requires further developments of accurate analysis techniques and methods. In this contribution, we present an overview of the methodologies proposed for current and planned analysis.
A taste of the future career discovering professional roles through online tests
Authors: Langie Greet , Craps Sofie , De Cock Mieke , Van Soom Carolien
Published: April 2022

Scientists and engineers end up in a wide variety of professional positions. Research emphasises the need for supporting students to explore the broader work field and to enhance professional role awareness. Within the European PREFER project a professional roles model for engineers has been developed and implemented in education thanks to associated ready-to-implement tools. But what about scientists?
Clinician Acceptance of Order Sets for Pain Management: A Survey in Two Urban Hospitals
Authors: Liu Yifan , Hao Haijing , Sharma Mohit M. , Harris Yonaka , Scofi Jean , Trepp Richard , Farmer Brenna , Ancker Jessica S. , Zhang Yiye
Published: April 2022

Background Order sets are a clinical decision support (CDS) tool in computerized provider order entry systems. Order set use has been associated with improved quality of care. Particularly related to opioids and pain management, order sets have been shown to standardize and reduce the prescription of opioids. However, clinician-level barriers often limit the uptake of this CDS modality.

Objective To identify the barriers to order sets adoption, we surveyed clinicians on their training, knowledge, and perceptions related to order sets for pain management.

Methods We distributed a cross-sectional survey between October 2020 and April 2021 to clinicians eligible to place orders at two campuses of a major academic medical center. Survey questions were adapted from the widely used framework of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. We hypothesize that performance expectancy (PE) and facilitating conditions (FC) are associated with order set use. Survey responses were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results The intention to use order sets for pain management was associated with PE to existing order sets, social influence (SI) by leadership and peers, and FC for electronic health record (EHR) training and function integration. Intention to use did not significantly differ by gender or clinician role. Moderate differences were observed in the perception of the effort of, and FC for, order set use across gender and roles of clinicians, particularly emergency medicine and internal medicine departments.

Conclusion This study attempts to identify barriers to the adoption of order sets for pain management and suggests future directions in designing and implementing CDS systems that can improve order sets adoption by clinicians. Study findings imply the importance of order set effectiveness, peer influence, and EHR integration in determining the acceptability of the order sets.
Percutaneous Interventions for Symptomatic Cholelithiasis and Acute Cholecystitis
Authors: Ragulojan Ranjan , Fradkin Talia , D'Souza Donna
Published: April 2022

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the standard treatment option for symptomatic cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. However, in non-surgical candidates or patients meeting criteria of severe presentation, percutaneous cholecystostomy is the recommended approach to management, generally with the intent of eventual cholecystectomy. Should interval cholecystectomy not be an option, additional novel percutaneous techniques for stone extraction and/or gallbladder ablation have shown success in the recent literature and, along with cholecystostomy, are presented in this review.
Biliary Obstruction: An Overview
Authors: Maslyanko Maria A. , Schlarb Alexander , Romain Mike , O'Neal Daniel W. , Powell Charleston R. , Lustig Adam C.
Published: April 2022

The biliary system plays a vital role in maintaining the physiologic functions of the human body; therefore, biliary obstruction requires prompt diagnosis to prevent further complications and decrease mortality. The vast array of benign and malignant etiologies that cause biliary obstruction make diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making challenging. Ultrasound is often the first diagnostic modality utilized. It is safe, non-invasive, and quick to obtain, but lacks the ability to diagnose the more ominous causes of biliary obstruction. Additional modalities to evaluate the biliary tree include CT, MRI, MRC, MRCP, ERCP, and PTC. This review outlines the importance of the biliary system, provides the clinical presentation of biliary obstruction, and examines the available imaging and treatment modalities and when to appropriately use them.
Cluster perturbation theory. VII. The convergence of cluster perturbation expansions
Authors: Olsen Jeppe , Hillers-Bendtsen Andreas Erbs , Kjeldal Frederik Ørsted , Høyer Nicolai Machholdt , Mikkelsen Kurt V. , Jørgensen Poul
Published: April 2022

The convergence of the recently developed cluster perturbation (CP) expansions [Pawlowski et al., J. Chem. Phys. 150, 134108 (2019)] is analyzed with the double purpose of developing the mathematical tools and concepts needed to describe these expansions at general order and to identify the factors that define the rate of convergence of CP series. To this end, the CP energy, amplitude, and Lagrangian multiplier equations as a function of the perturbation strength are developed. By determining the critical points, defined as the perturbation strengths for which the Jacobian becomes singular, the rate of convergence and the intruder and critical states are determined for five small molecules: BH, CO, H2O, NH3, and HF. To describe the patterns of convergence for these expansions at orders lower than the high-order asymptotic limit, a model is developed where the perturbation corrections arise from two critical points. It is shown that this model allows for rationalization of the behavior of the perturbation corrections at much lower order than required for the onset of the asymptotic convergence. For the H2O, CO, and HF molecules, the pattern and rate of convergence are defined by critical states where the Fock-operator underestimates the excitation energies, whereas the pattern and rate of convergence for BH are defined by critical states where the Fock-operator overestimates the excitation energy. For the NH3 molecule, both forms of critical points are required to describe the convergence behavior up to at least order 25.
Graph theory and nighttime imagery based microgrid design
Authors: Lugo-Alvarez Melvin , Kleissl Jan , Khurram Adil , Lave Matthew , Jones C. Birk
Published: April 2022

Reducing the duration and frequency of blackouts in remote communities poses an engineering challenge for grid operators. Outage effects can also be mitigated locally through microgrids. This paper develops a systematic procedure to account for these challenges by creating microgrids prioritizing high value assets within vulnerable communities. Nighttime satellite imagery is used to identify vulnerable communities. Using an asset classification and rating system, multi-asset clusters within these communities are prioritized. Infrastructure data, geographic information systems, satellite imagery, and spectral clustering are used to form and rank microgrid candidates. A microgrid sizing algorithm is included to guide through the microgrid design process. An application of the methodology is presented using real event, location, and asset data.
On the kinetics of the exchange of hydrogen between hydrogen–boron pairs and hydrogen dimers in crystalline silicon
Authors: Walter Dominic C. , Voronkov Vladimir V. , Falster Robert , Bredemeier Dennis , Schmidt Jan
Published: April 2022

Silicon samples after fast-firing with a hydrogen-rich silicon nitride layer on their surfaces can contain high concentrations of hydrogen (up to 6 × 1015 cm−3 in this study). Directly after fast-firing, this hydrogen is mostly present in a neutral dimeric state. Subsequent dark annealing applied in a temperature range between 140 and 175 °C leads to a conversion of dimers into HB pairs, which means that a significant number of boron acceptors are electrically inactive. The concentration of inactive boron, the hydrogen–boron (HB) pair concentration [HB], can thus be determined by measuring the change in specific resistivity before and after annealing. In our study, after the initial anneal for HB pair formation, the same samples are subsequently annealed at stepwise increasing higher temperatures, which leads to a partial backward conversion of HB pairs into neutral hydrogen dimers. This is indicated by a gradual reduction of the resistivity upon increasing the annealing temperature. By measuring the transient curves [HB](t) during each temperature step on samples with different boron content, we extract the parameters for the exchange between the HB pairs and the hydrogen dimers within the framework of our presented physical model. Apart from the backward formation of hydrogen dimers, from HB pairs upon increasing temperature, prolonged annealing at the same temperature leads to a transition of HB pairs into a more stable form of hydrogen dimers, compared to the initial form after fast-firing. This transition is also included in our proposed defect model.
Numerically stable inversion approach to construct Kohn–Sham potentials for given electron densities within a Gaussian basis set framework
Authors: Erhard Jannis , Trushin Egor , Görling Andreas
Published: April 2022

We present a Kohn–Sham (KS) inversion approach to construct KS exchange–correlation potentials corresponding to given electron densities. This method is based on an iterative procedure using linear response to update potentials. All involved quantities, i.e., orbitals, potentials, and response functions, are represented by Gaussian basis functions. In contrast to previous KS inversion methods relying on Gaussian basis sets, the method presented here is numerically stable even for standard basis sets from basis set libraries due to a preprocessing of the auxiliary basis used to represent an exchange–correlation charge density that generates the exchange–correlation potential. The new KS inversion method is applied to reference densities of various atoms and molecules obtained by full configuration interaction or CCSD(T) (coupled cluster singles doubles perturbative triples). The considered examples encompass cases known to be difficult, such as stretched hydrogen or lithium hydride molecules or the beryllium isoelectronic series. For the stretched hydrogen molecule, potentials of benchmark quality are obtained by employing large basis sets. For the carbon monoxide molecule, we show that the correlation potential from the random phase approximation (RPA) is in excellent qualitative and quantitative agreement with the correlation potential from the KS inversion of a CCSD(T) reference density. This indicates that RPA correlation potentials, in contrast to those from semi-local density-functionals, resemble the exact correlation potential. Besides providing exchange–correlation potentials for benchmark purposes, the proposed KS inversion method may be used in density-partition-based quantum embedding and in subsystem density-functional methods because it combines numerical stability with computational efficiency.