bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X-ray studies of CD4–Kr solid solutions
Authors: Prokhvatilov A. I. , Isakina A. P.
Published: December 2024

Structural studies have revealed that the components of the deuteromethane–krypton system have an unlimited mutual solubility at T > 5 K. The influence of krypton on the phase transition temperatures and on some characteristics of orientationally ordered deuteromethane phases has been investigated. The concentration boundaries of existence of ordered phases in solid solutions have been found. The experimental data suggest that regions of short-range orientational order can form in disordered solutions.
Influence of dissipation on the quantum motion of dislocations at near-Peierls stresses
Authors: Petukhov B. V.
Published: December 2024

We study the influence of dissipation on the decay of the metastable state of a multidimensional quantum system, which is described by the flexible string model. The temperature of the transition from thermally activated decay to quantum tunneling with dissipation is determined. A number of scale and variational estimates are obtained for the dependence of the decay time on the viscosity, temperature, and external force in a quantum field. The results are used to describe the dislocation mobility in the Peierls relief and are compared with experiments on the plastic deformation of β-CuZn at helium temperatures.
Specific features of the low temperature properties of doped magnetic materials with an anisotropic exchange interaction
Authors: Borovikov V. S. , Peresada V. I.
Published: December 2024

It is shown theoretically that the anisotropy of the exchange interaction in a ferromagnetic material can be effectively determined from the characteristic phenomena caused by the presence in the system of a small concentration of nonmagnetic substitutional impurities.
Anomalies in the plasticity of solid methane compared with other cryocrystals
Authors: Leont’eva A. V. , Romanusha V. A. , Prokhorov A. Yu. , Vashchenko L. A.
Published: December 2024

The plasticity of solid methane has been studied for free-standing specimens, 30 mm in length and 6 mm in diameter, under uniaxial stress. An anomalously high plastic deformation (εf > 50%) was found for methane at low temperatures, 12–26 K. In this temperature range, crystalline argon, which has equilibrium thermodynamic characteristics similar to those of methane, is practically a brittle material for which εf < 1%.
Thermal conductivity of superfluid 4He–3He mixtures in a capillary tube under pressure
Authors: Levchenko A. A. , Mezhov-Deglin L. P.
Published: December 2024

Results are given of measurements of the effective thermal conductivity, ϰ, of pure 4He (less than 10−6% of 3He impurity) and of weak 4He–3He mixtures containing up to 0.5% 3He impurity atoms, in a capillary of inner diameter 1.8 mm, in the temperature range 0.4–0.9° K at pressures of 0.1–24 atm. The results of the measurements on the superfluid liquid are compared with the results of measuring the conductivity of solid helium, carried out in the same capillary.
Determination of the nature of intervalley electron scattering by the bismuth surface
Authors: Andrievskii V. V. , Ass E. I. , Komnik Yu. F.
Published: December 2024

Intervalley transitions accompanying the reflection of conduction electrons by a bismuth surface are studied by the method of focusing electrons with a transverse magnetic field. It is established that intervalley scattering is predominantly chaotic, and the total probability of such processes is determined.
Influence of hydrostatic pressure on the mechanism of electrical conduction of niobium–sulfur needle crystals
Authors: Balla D. D. , Bondarenko A. V. , Obolenskii M. A. , Beletskii V. I. , Chashka Kh. B.
Published: December 2024

The influence of hydrostatic pressures of up to 11 kbar on the mechanism of electrical conduction of iodine- and oxygen-doped niobium–sulfur needle crystals has been investigated in the temperature range 4.2–300° K. Conduction is shown to be thermally activated in the temperature range 110–300° K. Mott’s law is satisfied below 110° K while the application of hydrostatic leads to a deviation from Mott’s law. The results suggest that these needle crystals are doped semiconductors.
Detection of athermal plasticity of tin single crystals below 1° K
Authors: Kirichenko G. I. , Pustovalov V. V. , Soldatov V. P. , Shumulin S. É.
Published: December 2024

The temperature dependences of the critical shear stress τ0 and the sensitivity of the stress to the strain rate ∂τ/∂Inϵ have been studied over the temperature range from 0.5 to 4.4° K on single crystals of high-purity tin. We have found that below 1° K both τ0 and ∂τ/∂Inϵ do not depend on the temperature. Activation analysis has shown that the classical Arrhenius rate equation does not hold below 1° K. The results obtained are interpreted as a manifestation of quantum effects that occur in tin below 1° K.
Influence of multipole interactions on the muon-depolarization rate in hydrogen
Authors: Storchak V. G.
Published: December 2024

The proposed model considers the multipole interactions of a H2μ+ ion with surrounding hydrogen molecules. The activation part of the temperature dependence of the muon-depolarization rate in hydrogen can be explained within the framework of the model.
Second critical field of two-layer films
Authors: Kupriyanov M. Yu.
Published: December 2024

The influence of the proximity effect in a two-layer NS film on the magnitude of its second critical field Hc2, oriented perpendicular to the interface of the N and S materials, is analyzed using the Usadel equations. It is shown that the degree to which the proximity effect affects Hc2 is determined not only by the magnitude of the suppresion parameter γ, but also by the closeness of the characteristic distances over which the superconducting properties of the N and S metals vary. It is established that for high values of γ ≫1, and also at temperatures close to the critical temperature the degree of suppresion of superconductivity owing to the proximity effect is equivalent to the degree of suppression of superconductivity by a uniform superconducting film in a magnetic field HP. The dependences of HP, on γ and on the thickness of the S film found can be used in the experimental determination of the parameters of suppression of superconductivity in SN structures.
Peculiarities of the thermodynamics of magnets in the region of orientational phase transitions
Authors: Buchel’nikov V. D. , Kuzavko Yu. A. , Shavrov V. G.
Published: December 2024

The effect of magnetoelastic interaction on the thermodynamics of an antiferromagnet near a magentic phase transition of the order-order type is studied. The free energy, entropy, heat capacity, magnetic moment, and static susceptibility are calculated. At temperatures below the magnetoelastic gap, the thermodynamics of the magnets in the region of the phase transition is determined by the elastic subsystem. The experimental data of Kotyuzhanskii and Prozorova (Ref. 9) on the change in the magnetic moment in FeBO3 accompanying the paramagnetic excitation of magnons are discussed on the basis of the results obtained.
Magnetic phase transition in Fe1/3NbS2 under pressure
Authors: Balla D. D. , Bondarenko A. V. , Zaporozhskiĭ V. D. , Obelenskiĭ M. A. , Chashka Kh. B.
Published: December 2024

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance of intercalculated layered Fe1/3NbS2 single crystals is studied experimentally. For pressures up to 3 kbar a weak displacement of the temperature of the magnetic ordering TN + 45 K at P = 0 into the low temperature range is observed. Further increasing P results in a linear displacement of the temperature of magnetic ordering at at rate of 16 K/kbar. At the same time the transition is accompanied by temperature hysteresis, indicating a first-order phase transition. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of the Bean–Rodbell model.
Local field effects of quadrupole contributions on sum frequency generation spectroscopy
Authors: Hirano Tomonori , Morita Akihiro
Published: December 2024

In the theory of condensed-phase spectroscopy, local field effect is of general importance to account for intermolecular electrostatic interactions. The present paper extends the microscopic treatment of local field effects on the sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to incorporate quadrupole interactions, since their roles have been increasingly recognized in the SFG spectroscopy. The extended theory involves some corrections to the conventional formulas of the nonlinear susceptibilities in both the interface and bulk regions, including the χIQB term. Fresnel transformations for the interface and bulk susceptibilities are rigorously applied, which implies inseparability of the interface and bulk signals in PSS and PPP cases. We examined the influence of the corrections with quantitative calculations of the susceptibilities, including dipolar and quadrupolar interactions.
Hybrid hexa-octagonal photonic crystal fiber with excellent guiding properties for sensing and communication applications
Authors: Geerthana S , Sridarshini T , Jenila C , Balaji V R , Soroosh Mohammad , Thirumurugan Arun , Dhanabalan Shanmuga Sundar
Published: December 2024

A novel hybrid hexa-octagonal photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is designed by integrating a hexagonal arrangement of elliptical air holes in the core using soft glass and an octagonal lattice of circular air holes in the cladding. This study presents a comparative analysis of the fiber parameters, including confinement loss, non-linearity, effective area, birefringence, and chromatic dispersion, for two configurations: (i) hybrid hexa-octagonal PCF with a horizontal arrangement of air holes in the core, and (ii) hybrid hexa-octagonal PCF with a vertical arrangement of air holes in the core. Both configurations are examined by varying the pitch size, arrangement, and shape of air holes while maintaining identical design and operational features. Simulations are conducted using the full vector finite element method (FEM). Numerical results indicate that the confinement loss for vertically and horizontally arranged air holes is 1.098 × 10−5 dB km−1 and 1.0743 × 10−5 dB km−1, respectively. High birefringence values of 0.07366 and 0.00434, and chromatic dispersion values of −3404.665 ps nm−1 km and −3391.6705 ps nm−1 km, respectively, are obtained at an operating wavelength of 1.55 µm, making the fiber suitable for sensing and communication applications. The designed hexa-octagonal PCF has potential applications in the fiber optic sensing due to its assorted features.
Chirality induced spin selectivity in electron transport investigated by scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Wang Xueyan , Li Xin , He Yang , Xu Zhen , Pan Haoyang , Li Jie , Wang Yansong , Dong Wenjie , Chen Huamei , Shen Qian , Shen Ziyong , Hou Shimin , Wu Kai , Zhang Yajie , Wang Yongfeng
Published: December 2024

Chirality induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect implies the relationship between chirality and magnetism, attracting extensive attention in the fields of physics, chemistry and biology. Since it was first discovered with photoemission method in 1999, the CISS effect has been investigated and measured by a variety of methods. Among different means of measurements, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) as a powerful tool to explore the CISS effect, can directly measure and present the spin filtering property of chiral molecules in electron transport. In this paper, we summarize the recent experiments on the CISS effect studied with scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy, analyzing the experimental setups and results, and delving into the underlying mechanisms. The present review offers a concise introduction to several chiral molecules which are investigated by SPM for the CISS effect, and a detailed exploration of various experimental techniques tailored to the unique adsorption structures of these molecules. The impact of molecular structure on spin selectivity and the profound implications of CISS are also demonstrated together with a concise overview of CISS theory. A conclusive synopsis and forward-looking perspectives on the investigation of the CISS effect in electron transport utilizing SPM techniques are presented.
The application of neural networks driven by nonlinear model data in road roughness estimation
Authors: Sun Qihao , Yin Changcheng , Wang Baohua
Published: December 2024

Road roughness significantly impacts vehicles’ transportation performance. The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative, cost-effective, and precise method for estimating road roughness based on acceleration sensors. Unlike other approaches, this method employs a nonlinear full-vehicle dynamic model and a high-performance Gaussian nonlinear autoregressive with external inputs (G-NARX) neural network to significantly enhance the accuracy, without additional costs. In this study, acceleration sensors would first capture unsprung mass acceleration signals, and the neural network is trained with acceleration and velocity inputs. Then, the trained model would generate the root mean square value of the power spectral density to estimate the road roughness. Test results reveal that the G-NARX Inputs neural network outperforms the NARX neural network significantly, with the classification accuracy improved by at least 26% and the overall accuracy exceeding 90%. In road tests, the nonlinear model used in this study showed a 20% accuracy improvement over linear models. And field experiments conducted on three common types of roads further validated the robustness and accuracy of this study’s estimation method.
An optimal frequency band selection approach via periodic shock indicator for bearing fault feature extraction
Authors: Sun Peng , Yang Lei , Xue Jiutao , Liao Yuhe
Published: December 2024

There are two challenges in the bearing fault feature extraction approach based on optimal frequency band (OFB) selection. The first is to design a high-precision signal decomposition algorithm to ensure that no fault information is lost; The second is to construct an indicator that is sensitive to the statistical characteristics of fault information. This paper proposed a novel OFB selection approach to solve the above challenges. Firstly, a parameter selection strategy is introduced for fixed bandwidth overlap-and-slip filter banks (FBOSFB). Adopting this strategy, the FBOSFB can decompose the signal into several narrowband signals while ensuring that no fault information is lost. Secondly, a novel indicator, namely periodic shock indicator (PSI), is constructed. The PSI has the capability to simultaneously assess both the periodic and shock characteristics of the bearing fault feature signal. Thirdly, the narrowband signals obtained from the first step are used as input to the OFB search algorithm, and then the OFB is determined by maximizing the PSI. Finally, three real bearing fault data are employed to verify the fault feature extraction performance of the proposed approach, the results show that the proposed approach can effectively extract the bearing fault feature.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of the differential planetary roller screw mechanism condition monitoring and public dataset
Authors: Du Xing , Tang Rui , Miao Jiacheng , Shan Xinping
Published: December 2024

This study introduces an innovative condition monitoring test rig for the differential planetary roller screws (DPRS), focusing on their performance in extreme conditions. In practical applications such as aerospace and humanoid robotics, DPRS operate under complex conditions involving varying temperatures and multi-directional loads. Accurately monitoring the operational state under these challenging environments is difficult, which can hinder the assessment of the system’s stability and reliability. This model was developed to address these challenges, it underscores the importance of anti-jamming and real-time monitoring for the DPRS reliability. The research presents a dynamic friction model using the Lagrange method, enhancing understanding of DPRS operations. Advanced signal processing techniques, including discrete wavelet transforms and a convolutional neural network, are implemented for effective feature extraction. A DWTC-BiGRU network is utilized to capture temporal dependencies, vital for monitoring DPRS under varying conditions. Experimental validation is conducted under thermal stress and load variations, demonstrating the system’s durability and reliability. The study compares its method with existing algorithms, showing superior accuracy and robustness by combining mechanical modeling with computational techniques for real-time industrial monitoring. The dataset is publicly available at GitHub—haomjc/HealthMoni.
Vital nodes identification method integrating degree centrality and cycle ratio
Authors: Zhao Yu , Yang Bo
Published: December 2024

Identifying vital nodes is one of the core issue of network science, and is crucial for epidemic prevention and control, network security maintenance, and biomedical research and development. In this paper, a new vital nodes identification method DC (Degree and Cycle ratio) is proposed by integrating degree centrality (weight α) and cycle ratio (weight 1−α). The results show that the dynamic observations (such as robustness, infection efficiency and immunization efficiency) and weight α are nonlinear (i.e., there exists an optimal value α
* for α), and DC performs better than single index in most networks. According to the value of α
*, networks are classified into degree-dominant networks (α
* > 0.5) and cycle-dominant networks (α
* < 0.5). Specifically, in most degree-dominant networks (such as Chengdu-BUS, Chongqing-BUS and Beijing-BUS), degree is dominant in the identification of vital nodes, but the identification effect can be improved by adding cycle structure information to nodes. In most cycle-dominant networks (such as Email, Wiki and Hamsterster), the cycle ratio is dominant in the identification of vital nodes, but the effect can be notably enhanced by additional node degree information. Finally, interestingly, in the LFR synthesis networks, cycle-dominant network was observed.
Motion of a rigid particle in the lid-driven cavity flow
Authors: Yang 杨 Fan 帆 , Yan 闫 Zhe 喆 , Wang 汪 Wencan 文灿 , Shi 施 Ren 任
Published: December 2024

The motion of an elliptical rigid particle in a lid-driven cavity flow was numerically simulated using the immersed boundary lattice Boltzmann method (IB-LBM). The effects of the particle’s initial orientation angle, initial position, aspect ratio, and size on the motion characteristics were investigated. The computational results indicate that the particle’s motion undergoes two distinct stages: a starting stage that involves moving from the release position to a limit cycle, and a periodic stage that involves moving on the limit cycle. The initial orientation of the particle has a minimal impact on both stages of motion. In contrast, the time it takes for the particle to reach the limit cycle may vary depending on the release position. Furthermore, particles with a larger aspect ratio exhibit a greater maximum velocity magnitude; an increase in particle size causes the particle trajectory to contract more toward the center of the cavity, decreasing the centrifugal force experienced by the particle.
Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of biogenic Se-Au nanoparticles against most prevalent pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Hosseini Mansoure , Mashreghi Mansour , Eshghi Hossein , Kosanjian Fateme
Published: December 2024

Luminescent bacteria, having reductase enzymes, can reduce metal ions as nanoparticles. In this study, the synergic effect of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), using Pseudomonas putida KT2440, carrying lux AB gene with biogenic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is assessed. The SeNPs were first purified and then characterized using different techniques, including UV-visible and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analyses. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of SeNPs were also evaluated with and without AuNPs, at 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg l−1 concentrations. The SEM images showed that biogenic SeNPs were spherical attached to the surface of the producing bacteria. The FTIR spectroscopic results revealed the presence of protein molecules on the surface of the synthesized SeNPs. It is found that purified SeNPs have proper antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against several potential human pathogenic bacteria, depending on the NPs concentrations. It was also found that the presence of AuNPs enhances the antibacterial activity of SeNPs. Our results showed that adding SeNPs improved the antibacterial activity of AuNPs against Bacillus subtilis (71%), Staphylococcus aureus (55%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (52%), Escherichia coli (47%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26%). Also, the antibiofilm activity of SeNPs improved by about 26% and 37% against E. faecalis and S. aureus, respectively. In conclusion, the mixture of biosynthesized SeNPs and AuNPs, using luminescent bacteria as Se-Au nanoparticles is more effective and can be applied as an antimicrobial agent against multi-antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria.
FNI-DETR: real-time DETR with far and near feature interaction for small object detection
Authors: Han Zixian , Jia Dongli , Zhang Lei , Li Jinjiang , Cheng Pan
Published: December 2024

In recent years, real-time object detectors have gained significant traction in domains such as autonomous driving, industrial inspection, and remote sensing. The Detection Transformer has emerged as a research focal point due to its end-to-end architecture that eliminates the need for post-processing. However, due to the Transformer’s tendency to focus on global information, small objects are often overlooked. To address this limitation, we propose FNI-DETR, a real-time Detection Transformer tailored for small object detection by incorporating Far and Near Feature Interaction. Specifically, FNI-DETR integrates state space models with the Transformer to form a Mamba-Encoder block, enabling the interaction of feature information across different spatial scales. This enhances the representation and learning of near-end information while improving the extraction of semantic information. Additionally, we introduce a Lightweight Spatial Attention block in the backbone stage to capture detailed information in regions of interest. Furthermore, the ADOWN block is employed for downsampling, reducing the likelihood of discarding small objects from the feature map and increasing the model’s focus on small objects. Experimental results show that FNI-DETR achieves an average precision(mAP50:95) of 49.5% on the COCO val2017 dataset, which is 4.2% higher than the Real-Time Detection Transformer (RT-DETR) and 1.7% higher than the YOLOv10-L network. The detection results for small targets also reach 31.7% APs. Moreover, our network achieves a real-time detection speed of 116 FPS on the COCO dataset. On the VisDrone 2019 test dataset, FNI-DETR’s mAP50 and mAP50:95 achieved 37.4% and 21.7%, reaching the SOTA detection level. Our code is made available at https://github.com/hzx-123-wq/FNI-DETR/tree/master/FNI-DETR.
A comprehensive benchmark study of methods for identifying significantly perturbed subnetworks in cancer
Authors: Yang Le , Chen Runpu , Goodison Steve , Sun Yijun
Published: December 2024

Network-based methods utilize protein–protein interaction information to identify significantly perturbed subnetworks in cancer and to propose key molecular pathways. Numerous methods have been developed, but to date, a rigorous benchmark analysis to compare the performance of existing approaches is lacking. In this paper, we proposed a novel benchmarking framework using synthetic data and conducted a comprehensive analysis to investigate the ability of existing methods to detect target genes and subnetworks and to control false positives, and how they perform in the presence of topological biases at both gene and subnetwork levels. Our analysis revealed insights into algorithmic performance that were previously unattainable. Based on the results of the benchmark study, we presented a practical guide for users on how to select appropriate detection methods and protein–protein interaction networks for cancer pathway identification, and provided suggestions for future algorithm development.
Bulgarian endemic Carex riloensis, a synonym of Carex tricolor (Cyperaceae): morphological and genetic evidence
Authors: Więcław Helena , Cembrowska-Lech Danuta , Kalinka Anna , Denchev Teodor T , Denchev Cvetomir M , Koopman Jacob
Published: December 2024

Carex riloensis was described from Bulgaria as a species morphologically very similar to C. tricolor but differing significantly in the number of chromosomes. This species is regarded as endemic to Bulgaria, recorded only from the Rila Moutains and the Western Rhodopes.

The goal of this study was to clarify the taxonomic status of C. riloensis through an integrative approach that includes comparative morphological, caryological, molecular phylogenetic, and genome size investigations. Morphological relationships between the examined species were tested using principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis. We also analysed the effect of DNA barcoding (ETS, ITS, and matK) on species separation. Our study revealed largely continuous variability within the group of C. tricolor and C. riloensis specimens, as well as the absence of statistically significant morphological differences between the two species. Carex riloensis and C. tricolor have identical ETS, ITS, and matK sequences, a chromosome number of 2n = 26, and identical nuclear DNA content. It is not justifiable to treat Carex riloensis as a distinct species; therefore, we propose to reduce it to a synonym of C. tricolor.
Comment on “Quality of life in patients with acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation: a systematic review”
Authors: Nahar Sayeda , Syed Labib
Published: December 2024

Letter to the Editor commenting on systematic review on "Quality of life in patients with acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation"
Transcatheter mitral valve implantation in severe mitral annular calcification: a case report
Authors: Russo Giulio , Maffi Valerio , Massaro Gianluca , Chiricolo Gaetano , Sangiorgi Giuseppe Massimo , Moschovitis Aris , Taramasso Maurizio
Published: December 2024

Background

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is characterized by severe calcification of mitral annulus and might be associated with both mitral regurgitation and stenosis. It is technically challenging for both surgical and percutaneous approach and is burdened by high mortality.

Case summary

The present case report describes a complex case of mitral steno-insufficiency (baseline transvalvular gradient = 5 mmHg, effective regurgitant orifice area 0.45 cm2, vena contracta 0.8 cm), due to MAC in an 83-year-old lady. In consideration of the clinical context (MAC) and patient’s several comorbidities and history of previous surgical interventions, she was deemed not suitable for surgery and a percutaneous treatment was selected (valve-in-MAC). Due to significant paravalvular leak, further implantation of a plug was required.

Conclusion

The MAC represents a clinical and technical challenge for surgery. Transcatheter mitral valve implantation in MAC is a feasible alternative although it is technically challenging and burdened by high mortality. Detailed procedural planning is of utmost importance to achieve successful outcomes.
When the heart and tumours intertwine: pulmonary hypertension associated with a neuroendocrine tumour—a case report
Authors: Cortez Maicol , López Bryam , Mamani Julio , de María Ibáñez Flor , Miranda Gustavo
Published: December 2024

Background

Pulmonary hypertension caused by extrinsic pulmonary vascular compression secondary to mediastinal neuroendocrine tumours is a very rare condition, posing a diagnostic challenge. There is no clear consensus regarding the best treatment strategy due to the lack of clinical data, leading to poor prognoses for these patients.

Case summary

We present the case of a 38-year-old man hospitalized with signs of pulmonary hypertension and acute heart failure. He had experienced progressive dyspnoea over the 12 months prior to admission. Studies performed at our institution revealed dilation of the right heart chambers with right ventricular systolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac tomography showed extrinsic vascular compression, leading to emergency endovascular treatment for superior vena cava syndrome, followed by stent implantation in the pulmonary arteries and innominate vein. Further studies identified a mediastinal neuroendocrine tumour, for which chemotherapy was initiated, without clinical response. During outpatient follow-up, cardiac function worsened, and the patient died 48 months after symptoms onset due to a lung infection.

Discussion

Pulmonary hypertension secondary to extrinsic vascular compression by mediastinal tumour is a rare condition that presents a diagnostic challenge. This case highlights the importance of considering oncological aetiology in patients with progressive dyspnoea and pulmonary vascular extrinsic compression. Despite early treatment, the prognosis for these patients remains poor.
Origin of subsidence within the Aso caldera after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake: contributions of afterslip, viscoelastic deformation and volcanic deformation
Authors: Munekane Hiroshi , Kobayashi Tomokazu
Published: December 2024

We investigated the origin of subsidence within the Aso caldera after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data. Tectonic deformation was effectively removed via an approximation in terms of a low-order spatial polynomial. Viscoelastic deformation caused by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake was calculated with the refined coseismic fault model and removed from the deformation; 3-D quasi-static deformation equations for the proposed viscoelastic structures were solved to achieve this. Subsequently, we jointly estimated the afterslips and volume changes of the volcanic deformation source beneath the Aso caldera, and found that the main subsidence contributor was the existence of afterslips on two faults within the caldera. The volume changes of the volcanic deformation source were in equilibrium during the analysis period (2015–2021); this trend did not seem to change before or after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. The GNSS baseline data suggested that the volcanic deformation source has been in equilibrium since approximately 2012.
High-resolution image on terminus of fault rupture: relationship with volcanic hydrothermal structure
Authors: Kobayashi Tomokazu , Matsuo Koji , Ando Ryosuke , Nakano Takayuki , Watanuki Genki
Published: December 2024

Earthquake-volcano interactions have been discussed to understand the underlying mechanisms of seismic ruptures or eruptions, yet the involvement of volcanic activity and the environment with fault slip termination remains unclear. Here, we present an unprecedented high-resolution image of fault motions and crustal structure at the rupture terminus in volcanic area from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake by conducting synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data analysis and gravity inversion. We obtained a 3-D displacement field by applying multiple SAR analysis methods: standard SAR interferometry, split-bandwidth interferometry and pixel offset. We successfully mapped the ground displacements with a high-spatial resolution in the Aso caldera which was located on the eastern extension of the Futagawa fault that was the main source fault of this seismic event. We found that the rupture propagating on the Futagawa fault eastward penetrated into the Aso caldera and was divided into two major fault systems: a right-lateral fault system on the northern side and a left-lateral fault system on the southern side. However, they progressively converged immediately after penetrating into the caldera. A gravity-inferred 3-D density contrast structure revealed that a locally distributed low-density body existed in the shallow part (from the subsurface to a depth of ∼3 km) of the western edge of the caldera. The slip distribution model showed that the slips on the bifurcated faults penetrated into the low-density region and subsequently dissipated. A numerical simulation on 3-D dynamic rupture demonstrated that the low-stress state in the caldera played a role in suppressing the rupture evolution. A thermally activated hydrothermal field has developed in the area where the fault slips were attenuated. We interpret that the hydrothermal system may create conditions favourable for low-stress field, and plastic properties in the hydrothermal environment may facilitate a further decrease in rock brittleness owing to the high temperature, resulting in the terminus of fault rupture.
Hypophosphatemia is a frequent finding in infertile men and is associated with low motile sperm count
Authors: Yahyavi Sam Kafai , Wall-Gremstrup Gustav , Probst-Drejer Benedicte , Toft Frederikke Bay , Jorsal Mads Joon , Holt Rune , Aksglaede Lise , Jørgensen Niels , Juul Anders , Blomberg Jensen Martin
Published: December 2024

STUDY QUESTION

Is serum phosphate linked with semen quality and reproductive hormones in infertile men?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Hypophosphatemia is a frequent finding in infertile men and is associated with lower number of motile sperm.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Phosphate is available in fluid from all segments of the male reproductive tract in concentrations manyfold higher than in serum. However, the role of phosphate in male fertility is largely unknown.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This cross-sectional study included 1242 men referred due to infertility between January 2017 and May 2020 at the Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Each man underwent a physical examination, had semen parameters assessed, and had blood analyzed prospectively for concentrations of phosphate, ionized calcium, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and reproductive hormones. After 246 men were excluded due to serious comorbidities, 1242 were included in the analyses.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Infertile men have a high prevalence of mild (25.5%, 0.66–0.80 mmol/l) and moderate hypophosphatemia (10.9%, 0.32–0.65 mmol/l). The percentages of motile spermatozoa and progressively motile spermatozoa were lower in men with moderate hypophosphatemia than in men with mild hypophosphatemia or normophosphatemia (44%, 49%, 51%, P = 0.040, and 32%, 35%, 41%, P = 0.036, respectively). The total numbers of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa were also lower (13, 12, 18 million, P = 0.009, and 10, 9, 14 million, P = 0.006, respectively). Serum concentrations of total and free estradiol were highest in men with moderate hypophosphatemia (97.5, 96.2, 92.1 pmol/l, P = 0.004, and 2.4, 2.3, 2.2 pmol/l, P = 0.034, respectively).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The study question is compromised by the descriptive study design. It remains to be shown whether there exist a causal link between serum phosphate and semen quality in infertile men

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

As fertility stands as a critical concern in the world, there is a need to find regulators of fertility during adulthood to identify possible treatments. Therefore, the precise mechanisms through which hypophosphatemia may impact sperm motility remain needs to be further clarified.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation, Beckett Foundation, Medical doctor Sofus Carl Emil Friis and spouse Olga Doris Friis’s Grant, Candys Foundation, and The Innovation Foundation. There was no influence from any sponsor on the study design, and the authors have nothing to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.
A fitness-based indicator for the effect of aquaculture-produced salmon lice on wild sea trout
Authors: Bolstad Geir H , Diserud Ola H , Paterson Rachel A , Ulvan Eva M , Karlsson Sten , Ugedal Ola , Næsje Tor F
Published: December 2024

Sea trout, the anadromous phenotype of brown trout (Salmo trutta), is severely affected by high salmon lice infestation pressure that occurs in areas of Atlantic salmon (S. salar) aquaculture. Yet, and in contrast to Atlantic salmon, there is currently no effect indicator implemented for sea trout for regulating the Norwegian aquaculture industry. Here, we present such an indicator centred on the concept of fitness. Our numerical example, based on previous published estimates of reduced survival and reduced marine feeding time of sea trout due to spillback of salmon lice from aquaculture, demonstrates that the indicator is readily implementable. There are several benefits of our indicator: (i) multiple effects of salmon lice on sea trout can be implemented in a single biologically meaningful indicator; (ii) the indicator can be customized and simplified depending on data availability and knowledge; (iii) the simplifications provide a conservative yet effective indicator; (iv) the indicator is on the same scale as the already implemented Atlantic salmon indicator, making it possible to use the same management threshold values; and (v) the changes in fitness measured by the indicator can provide scenarios for the evolution of anadromy.
In vitro susceptibility of 147 international clinical Mycobacterium abscessus isolates to epetraborole and comparators by broth microdilution
Authors: Nguyen Minh-Vu H , Calado Nogueira de Moura Vinicius , Keepers Tiffany R , van Ingen Jakko , Daley Charles L
Published: December 2024

Background

Mycobacterium abscessus is a highly drug-resistant non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) for which treatment is limited by the lack of active oral antimycobacterials and frequent adverse reactions. Epetraborole is a novel oral, boron-containing antimicrobial that inhibits bacterial leucyl-tRNA synthetase, an essential enzyme in protein synthesis, and has been shown to have anti-M. abscessus activity in preclinical studies.

Objectives

To determine epetraborole MIC distribution for 147 recent M. abscessus isolates via broth microdilution.

Methods

M. abscessus isolates collected in 2021 from the USA (n = 122) from pulmonary sources and during 2019–22 predominantly from Europe (n = 25) from pulmonary and extrapulmonary sources had MICs determined by broth microdilution according to CLSI guidelines for epetraborole and a panel of 12 other antimycobacterials. Descriptive analyses were done on the MIC values.

Results

Of the 147 M. abscessus isolates, 101 were subspecies abscessus, 6 were bolletii and 40 were massiliense. Epetraborole MICs ranged from 0.03 to 0.25 mg/L and were consistent across subspecies. Epetraborole MIC50/MIC90 for all isolates were 0.06/0.12 mg/L. When stratified by subspecies, amikacin resistance, clarithromycin resistance and morphotype, the MIC50/MIC90 values remained 0.06/0.12 mg/L.

Conclusions

Epetraborole demonstrated potent in vitro activity against M. abscessus with MICs from 0.03 to 0.25 mg/L and consistent activity against all subspecies, resistance phenotypes and morphotypes. These data support clinical evaluation of epetraborole as a therapeutic option for M. abscessus disease.
Communicating Genetic Information: An Empathy-based Framework
Authors: Betzler Riana J , Roberts Jonathan
Published: December 2024

Contemporary healthcare environments are becoming increasingly informationally demanding. This requires patients, and those supporting them, to engage with a broad range of expert knowledge. At the same time, patients must find ways to make sense of this information in the context of their own values and needs. In this article, we confront the problem of communication in our current age of complexity. We do this by focusing on a field that has already had to grapple with these issues directly: genetic counseling. We articulate an empathy-based framework that provides a way to integrate the teaching and counseling models of genetic counseling. As well as being useful for those providing genetic counseling in the era of genomic medicine, this framework has the potential to address challenges of communication in healthcare settings beyond genetic counseling. Furthermore, it has important ramifications for ethical debates about autonomy and decision-making.
Mobile and platform users’ mediatized rituals in response to terrorist attacks: a discourse analysis of continuously collected screenshots
Authors: Fitzgerald Andrew A
Published: December 2024

This article conducts a discourse analysis of continuously collected screenshot data capturing responses from US mobile users and their broader ecosystems to a series of Daesh (ISIS) terrorist attacks in Europe and North Africa in 2017. It identifies four genres of mediatized rituals in observed responses. Three micro-ritual genres focus on individual reparative action detached from systemic analysis or obvious collective action. The fourth genre, accretion of violence, draws on the micro-rituals while aiming to mobilize users against the specter of a left-liberal-Islamist alliance, the decline of “Western Civilization,” and coming sectarian violence. These mediatized ritual genres overlap beyond a confined “space” or “time” as we might understand more traditional conceptions of ritual, and traverse platforms and events. Most urgently, the accretion of violence articulates transnational far-right authoritarian and conspiratorial discourses. The ritual accretion of violence reveals mediatized dynamics among contemporary anti-democratic subjects, with political implications beyond personalized reparative actions.
Wastewater surveillance using differentiable Gaussian processes
Authors: Somerset Emily , Brown Patrick E
Published: December 2024

Wastewater-based surveillance tracks disease spread within communities by analyzing biological markers in wastewater. A key component of effective wastewater-based surveillance is the reliable inference of underlying viral signals and their changes for accurate interpretation and dissemination. This paper proposes a Bayesian hierarchical modelling framework to jointly estimate wastewater viral signals and their derivatives, while accounting for common features and limitations of wastewater data. Our framework uses differentiable Gaussian processes to model both a common viral trend and deviations at individual stations. Specifically, the common trend is modelled as an Integrated Wiener Process and station-specific signals are smoothed assuming a Matérn covariance function of order 1.5. We demonstrate the framework’s utility by modelling SARS-CoV-2 concentrations across Canada and London, UK, as well as pepper mild mottle virus-normalized respiratory syncytial virus concentrations in Central California. Our results show that this framework reliably estimates both the signal and its derivative in retrospective and surveillance contexts, and show that inference of the signal’s average rates of change is sensitive to the differentiability of the modelling process.
Useful or merely convenient: can enzymatic antioxidant activity be used as a proxy for abiotic stress tolerance?
Authors: Xu Le , Liu Huaqiong , Mittler Ron , Shabala Sergey
Published: December 2024

During their lifespan, plants are often exposed to a broad range of stresses that change their redox balance and lead to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The traditional view is that this comes with negative consequences to cells structural integrity and metabolism and, to prevent this, plants evolved a complex and well-coordinated antioxidant defence system that relies on the operation of a range of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (AO). Due to the simplicity of measuring their activity, and in light of the persistent dogma that stress-induced ROS accumulation is detrimental for plants, it is not surprising that enzymatic AOs have often been advocated as suitable proxies for stress tolerance as well as potential targets for improving tolerance traits. However, there are a growing number of reports showing either no changes or even down-regulation of AO systems in stressed plants. Moreover, ROS are recognized now as important second messengers operating in both local and systemic signalling, synergistically interacting with the primary stressor, to regulate gene expression needed for optimal acclimatization. This work critically assesses the suitability of using enzymatic AOs as a proxy for stress tolerance or as a target for crop genetic improvement. It is concluded that constitutively higher AO activity may interfere with stress-induced ROS signalling and be a disadvantage for plant stress tolerance.
TangoSIDM Project: is the stellar mass Tully–Fisher relation consistent with SIDM?
Authors: Correa Camila A , Schaller Matthieu , Schaye Joop , Ploeckinger Sylvia , Borrow Josh , Bahé Yannick
Published: December 2024

Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) has the potential to significantly influence galaxy formation in comparison to the cold, collisionless dark matter paradigm (CDM), resulting in observable effects. This study aims to elucidate this influence and to demonstrate that the stellar mass Tully–Fisher relation imposes robust constraints on the parameter space of velocity-dependent SIDM models. We present a new set of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations that include the SIDM scheme from the TangoSIDM project and the SWIFT-EAGLE galaxy formation model. Two cosmological simulations suites were generated: one (Reference model) which yields good agreement with the observed $z=0$ galaxy stellar mass function, galaxy mass–size relation, and stellar-to-halo mass relation; and another (WeakStellarFB model) in which the stellar feedback is less efficient, particularly for Milky Way-like systems. Both galaxy formation models were simulated under four dark matter cosmologies: CDM, SIDM with two different velocity-dependent cross-sections, and SIDM with a constant cross-section. While SIDM does not modify global galaxy properties such as stellar masses and star formation rates, it does make the galaxies more extended. In Milky Way-like galaxies, where baryons dominate the central gravitational potential, SIDM thermalizes, causing dark matter to accumulate in the central regions. This accumulation results in density profiles that are steeper than those produced in CDM from adiabatic contraction. The enhanced dark matter density in the central regions of galaxies causes a deviation in the slope of the Tully–Fisher relation, which significantly diverges from the observational data. In contrast, the Tully–Fisher relation derived from CDM models aligns well with observations.