bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of computer-assisted interpreting
Authors: Chen Sijia , Kruger Jan-Louis
Published: December 2022

Facing a new technological turn, the field of interpreting is in great need of evidence on the effectiveness of computer-assisted interpreting. This study proposes a computer-assisted consecutive interpreting (CACI) mode incorporating speech recognition (SR) and machine translation (MT). First, the interpreter listens to the source speech and respeaks it into an SR system, creating an SR text which is then processed by an MT system. Second, the interpreter produces a target speech with reference to the SR and MT texts. Six students participated in training on CACI, after which they performed consecutive interpreting in both the conventional and the new mode. The study finds that CACI featured fewer pauses and reduced cognitive load. Moreover, the overall interpreting quality, especially the accuracy, was increased. The effectiveness of the new mode is found to be modulated by the interpreting direction.
Citrus yellow vein clearing virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Citrus yellow vein clearing virus. Alphaflexiviridae: Mandarivirus. Hosts:
Citrus
spp.
Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus. Geminiviridae: Begomovirus. Main host: okra (
Abelmoschus esculentus
).
Chinese wheat mosaic virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Chinese wheat mosaic virus. Virgaviridae: Furovirus. Main host: wheat (
Triticum aestivum
).
Nothophoma quercina (Sydow & P. Sydow) Q. Chen & L. Cai. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Nothophoma quercina (Sydow & P. Sydow) Q. Chen & L. Cai. Dothideomycetes: Pleosporales: Didymellaceae. Hosts: Many woody tree species, including oak (
Quercus
sp.); pistacio (
Pistacia vera
); olive (
Olea europaea
); Chinese quince (
Pseudocydonia sinensis
); almond (
Prunus dulcis
).
On identifying critical parameters in an amplification without inversion setup in mercury
*
Authors: Preißler Daniel , Eizenhöfer Noah , Gumm Jens , Walther Thomas
Published: December 2022

Lasing without inversion is a compelling method based on the generation of coherences between atomic levels in order to produce UV radiation. While the proof-of-principle of this scheme has been shown for several decades, so far no radiation at a significant shorter wavelength than the necessary drive fields has been observed. In a recent publication Rein et al (2022 Phys. Rev. A 105 023722) have made experimental progress towards this goal. In this paper, we investigate the necessary improvements to their setup and discuss the experimental steps taken to achieve those goals. Specifically, we report on the improvement with respect to the laser sources.
Collective excitations of a general spin-3/2 Fermi gas
Authors: Xu Bei , Guo Zhongze , Gu Qiang
Published: December 2022

Collective excitation modes in a general 3D homogenous spin-3/2 Fermi gas with spin-dependent contact interactions are investigated by two-particle Green’s functions and diagram techniques. Energy spectra for two branches of charge-density waves and three branches of transverse spin-density waves are obtained within the random-phase approximation. All spectra are gapless and linear in the small wave vector q, with their slopes dependent on the interaction parameters. It is also found that the spin-mixing interaction has effects on the transverse spin-density waves, but not on the charge-density modes. When the system satisfies SU(4) symmetry, the two charge-density modes become degenerate and two of the three transverse spin-density modes are degenerate, too. Furthermore, static spin susceptibilities are discussed in detail. It is found that susceptibilities increase with the enhancement of all interaction parameters, and become divergent at certain points. This phenomenon is analogous to the Stoner transition in spin-1/2 fermion gas.
Intercalation of argon in honeycomb structures towards promising strategy for rechargeable Li-ion batteries
Authors: Duden Enes Ibrahim , Savacı Umut , Turan Servet , Sevik Cem , Demiroglu Ilker
Published: December 2022

High-performance rechargeable batteries are becoming very important for high-end technologies with their ever increasing application areas. Hence, improving the performance of such batteries has become the main bottleneck to transferring high-end technologies to end users. In this study, we propose an argon intercalation strategy to enhance battery performance via engineering the interlayer spacing of honeycomb structures such as graphite, a common electrode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we systematically investigated the LIB performance of graphite and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) when argon atoms were sent into between their layers by using first-principles density-functional-theory calculations. Our results showed enhanced lithium binding for graphite and h-BN structures when argon atoms were intercalated. The increased interlayer space doubles the gravimetric lithium capacity for graphite, while the volumetric capacity also increased by around 20% even though the volume was also increased. The ab initio molecular dynamics simulations indicate the thermal stability of such graphite structures against any structural transformation and Li release. The nudged-elastic-band calculations showed that the migration energy barriers were drastically lowered, which promises fast charging capability for batteries containing graphite electrodes. Although a similar level of battery promise was not achieved for h-BN material, its enhanced battery capabilities by argon intercalation also support that the argon intercalation strategy can be a viable route to enhance such honeycomb battery electrodes.
Large field polynomial inflation:
parameter space, predictions and (double) eternal nature
Authors: Drees Manuel , Xu Yong
Published: December 2022

Simple monomial inflationary scenarios have been ruled out
by recent observations. In this work we revisit the next simplest
scenario, a single-field model where the scalar potential is a
polynomial of degree four which features a concave “almost” saddle
point. We focus on trans-Planckian field values. We reparametrize
the potential, which greatly simplifies the procedure for finding
acceptbale model parameters. This allows for the first comprehensive
scan of parameter space consistent with recent Planck and BICEP/Keck
2018 measurements. Even for trans-Planckian field values the
tensor-to-scalar ratio r can be as small as
𝒪(10-8), but the model can also saturate the current
upper bound. In contrast to the small-field version of this model,
radiative stability does not lead to strong constraints on the
parameters of the inflaton potential. For very large field values
the potential can be approximated by the quartic term; as well
known, this allows eternal inflation even for field energy well
below the reduced Planck mass M
Pl, with Hubble parameter
H ∼ 10-2
M
Pl. More interestingly, we find a region of
parameter space that even supports two phases of eternal
inflation. The second epoch only occurs if the slope at the
would-be saddle point is very small, and has
H ∼ 10-5
M
Pl; it can only be realized if
r ∼ 10-2, within the sensitivity range of next-generation
CMB observations.
New estimate for the contribution of the Geminga pulsar to the positron excess
Authors: Wu Donglin
Published: December 2022

The origin of the positron excess is one of the most intriguing mysteries in astroparticle physics. The recent discovery of extendedγ-ray halos around the pulsars Geminga, Monogem and PSR J0621+3755 have brought indirect evidence that pulsar wind nebulae acceleratee±up to very-high-energy. While the precision of previous data does not permit precise evaluation of the parameters for the pulsars, we are able to find the more precise shape of the injection spectrum using new data released by HAWC and LHAASO in 2020 and 2021. We find that this is well fitten by a power-law with an exponential cutoff. The spectral index is quite hard with values around 1 while the cutoff energy is roughly 100 TeV. We also derive the strength of the diffusion coefficient around the pulsars finding that it is two orders of magnitude lower than the average of the Galaxy. Finally, we use the above mentioned results to estimate the contribution of Geminga to the positron excess. This source alone can contribute to the entire positron excess at around 1 TeV.
Linking

anomalies to Hubble tension via a single right-handed neutrino*
Authors: Duan Wen-Feng , Li Shao-Ping , Li Xin-Qiang , Yang Ya-Dong
Published: December 2022

Updated measurements from the LHCb and SH0ES collaborations have respectively strengthened the deviations of the ratio

in rare semi-leptonic

-meson decays and the present-day Hubble parameter

in the Universe, implying tantalizing hints of new physics beyond the standard model. In this paper, we consider a simple flavor-specific two-Higgs-doublet model, where long-standing

anomalies can be addressed by a one-flavor right-handed neutrino. An intriguing prediction resulting from the parameter space for the

resolution under flavor- and collider-physics constraints points toward a shift in the effective neutrino number,

, as a favored way to ease the

tension. Depending on whether the neutrino is of the Dirac or Majorana type, we show that the resulting shift is

for the former case and

for the latter case. While the Dirac case is disfavored by the CMB polarization measurements, the Majorana solution is consistent with recent studies using a combined dataset from various sources. Consequently, such a simple flavor-specific two-Higgs-doublet model provides a link between

anomalies and

tension, which in turn can be readily verified or disproved by upcoming measurements.
Energy-sensitive scatter estimation and correction for spectral x-ray imaging with photon-counting detectors
Authors: Lewis Cale E. , Das Mini
Published: December 2022

As photon counting detectors are being explored for medical
and industrial imaging applications, there is a critical need to
understand spectral characteristics of scattered x-ray
photons. Scattered radiation is detrimental to x-ray imaging by
reducing image quality and quantitative accuracy. While various
scatter correction techniques have been proposed for x-ray imaging
with conventional energy-integrating detectors, additional efforts
are required to develop approaches for spectral x-ray imaging with
energy-resolving PCDs. We show the benefits of accurate scatter
estimation and correction for each energy bin when using a photon
counting detector. We propose a scatter estimation model that
accounts for the energy-dependent scatter characteristics in
projection imaging. This can then be used to restore quantitative
accuracy for spectral x-ray imaging with PCDs. Results are shown in
the context of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography using
dual-energy subtraction to digitally isolate iodine targets
(2.5–40 mg/ml). In the presence of scatter, the projected iodine
densities are increasingly underestimated as the object thickness
increases. The energy-sensitive scatter correction improves the
iodine density estimation up to 46%. These results suggest that our
scatter estimation model can accurately account for the
energy-dependent scatter distribution, which can be an effective
tool for scatter compensation in spectral x-ray
imaging. Implementing this scatter estimation model does not require
any modifications to the acquisition parameters and is transferable
to other x-ray imaging applications such as tomosynthesis and CT.
X-ray performance of a small pixel size sCMOS sensor and the effect of depletion depth
Authors: Hsiao Y. , Ling Z. , Zhang C. , Wang W. , Zhou Q. , Wang X. , Zhang S.-N. , Yuan W.
Published: December 2022

In recent years, scientific Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) devices have been increasingly applied in X-ray detection, thanks to their attributes such as high frame rate, low dark current, high radiation tolerance and low readout noise. We tested the basic performance of a backside-illuminated (BSI) sCMOS sensor, which has a small pixel size of 6.5 μm × 6.5 μm. At a temperature of -20°C, The readout noise is 1.6 e-, the dark current is 0.5 e-/pixel/s, and the energy resolution reaches 204.6 eV for single-pixel events. The effect of depletion depth on the sensor's performance was also examined, using three versions of the sensors with different deletion depths. We found that the sensor with a deeper depletion region can achieve a better energy resolution for events of all types of pixel splitting patterns, and has a higher efficiency in collecting photoelectrons produced by X-ray photons. We further study the effect of depletion depth on charge diffusion with a center-of-gravity (CG) model. Based on this work, a highly depleted sCMOS is recommended for applications of soft X-ray spectroscopy.
Inequality in air pollution mortality from power generation in India
Authors: Sengupta Shayak , Thakrar Sumil K , Singh Kirat , Tongia Rahul , Hill Jason D , Azevedo Ines M L , Adams Peter J
Published: December 2022

India’s coal-heavy electricity system is the world’s third largest and a major emitter of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, it remains a focus of decarbonization and air pollution control policy. Considerable heterogeneity exists between states in India in terms of electricity demand, generation fuel mix, and emissions. However, no analysis has disentangled the expected, state-level spatial differences and interactions in air pollution mortality under current and future power sector policies in India. We use a reduced-complexity air quality model to evaluate annual PM2.5 mortalities associated with electricity production and consumption in each state in India. Furthermore, we test emissions control, carbon tax, and market integration policies to understand how changes in power sector operations affect ambient PM2.5 concentrations and associated mortality. We find poorer, coal-dependent states in eastern India disproportionately face the burden of PM2.5 mortality from electricity in India by importing deaths. Wealthier, high renewable energy states in western and southern India meanwhile face a lower burden by exporting deaths. This suggests that as these states have adopted more renewable generation, they have shifted their coal generation and associated PM2.5 mortality to eastern areas. We also find widespread sulfur emissions control decreases mortality by about 50%. Likewise, increasing carbon taxes in the short term reduces annual mortality by up to 9%. Market reform where generators between states pool to meet demand reduces annual mortality by up to 8%. As India looks to increase renewable energy, implement emissions control regulations, establish a carbon trading market, and move towards further power market integration, our results provide greater spatial detail for a federally structured Indian electricity system.
Explicit Cutoff Regularization in Coordinate Representation
Authors: Ivanov Aleksandr V
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we study a special type of cutoff regularization in the coordinate representation. We show how this approach unites such concepts and properties as an explicit cut, a spectral representation, a homogenization, and a covariance. Besides that, we present new formulae to work with the regularization and give additional calculations of the infrared asymptotics for some regularized Green’s functions appearing in the pure four-dimensional Yang–Mills theory and in the standard two-dimensional Sigma-model.
3D-bioprinted, phototunable hydrogel models for studying adventitial fibroblast activation in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Davis-Hall Duncan , Thomas Emily , Peña Brisa , Magin Chelsea M
Published: December 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease of the lung vasculature, characterized by elevated pulmonary blood pressure, remodeling of the pulmonary arteries, and ultimately right ventricular failure. Therapeutic interventions for PAH are limited in part by the lack of in vitro screening platforms that accurately reproduce dynamic arterial wall mechanical properties. Here we present a 3D-bioprinted model of the pulmonary arterial adventitia comprised of a phototunable poly(ethylene glycol) alpha methacrylate (PEG-αMA)-based hydrogel and primary human pulmonary artery adventitia fibroblasts (HPAAFs). This unique biomaterial emulates PAH pathogenesis in vitro through a two-step polymerization reaction. First, PEG-αMA macromer was crosslinked off-stoichiometry by 3D bioprinting an acidic bioink solution into a basic gelatin support bath initiating a base-catalyzed thiol-ene reaction with synthetic and biodegradable crosslinkers. Then, matrix stiffening was induced by photoinitiated homopolymerization of unreacted αMA end groups. A design of experiments approach produced a hydrogel platform that exhibited an initial elastic modulus (E) within the range of healthy pulmonary arterial tissue (E = 4.7 ± 0.09 kPa) that was stiffened to the pathologic range of hypertensive tissue (E = 12.8 ± 0.47 kPa) and supported cellular proliferation over time. A higher percentage of HPAAFs cultured in stiffened hydrogels expressed the fibrotic marker alpha-smooth muscle actin than cells in soft hydrogels (88 ± 2% versus 65 ± 4%). Likewise, a greater percentage of HPAAFs were positive for the proliferation marker 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) in stiffened models (66 ± 6%) compared to soft (39 ± 6%). These results demonstrate that 3D-bioprinted, phototunable models of pulmonary artery adventitia are a tool that enable investigation of fibrotic pathogenesis in vitro.
h-BN as a perfect spin splitter in ferromagnetic zigzag graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Song Lingling , Zhang Yan , Ye Runlong , Liu Lu , Wei Canglong , Zhao Han , Zheng Xiaohong
Published: December 2022

The manipulation of spin transport is always a central task in spintronics and two very well-known findings along this line thus far are the observations of half-metallicity and pure spin current, both very important in practical applications. In this paper, we propose another control over spin, termed as a spin splitter, with an aim to split the two spin channels from the spatially overlapped paths into two isolated branches. Based on a density functional study, we implement this idea in ferromagnetic zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) and find that

h
−

BN nanoribbon embedded in the ZGNR acts as a perfect spin splitter. It originates from the different interfacial dipoles developed at the N–C and B–C interfaces and the subsequent different built-in transverse electric fields, which drives the two narrow side ZGNRs into half-metallicity with different spin polarity. The findings will be of great significance in spintronics.
Analysis of anti-reflection mechanisms of the black aluminum alloy made by femtosecond laser processing
Authors: Li Jinzhao , Du Mengdan , Sun Quanquan , Yi Fei
Published: December 2022

Mitigating the optical reflection of aluminum alloy over a broad spectral range from 0.45 μm to 15 μm is vital for many applications. This can be realized by introducing efficient light-absorbing textured surfaces via femtosecond laser surface processing. However, a clear analysis of antireflection performance has not been reported yet. This paper proposes a numerical model of anti-reflective structures is proposed based on SEM and EDS characterization. Multiple anti-reflective mechanisms were revealed intuitively through FDTD simulation.
Catalytic ozonation of phenol by magnetic Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C
Authors: Wang Jing , Ma Li , Pan Zhengwei , Li Tingyun
Published: December 2022

A high-efficient and stable catalyst is highly desired to catalyze ozone for refractory organic pollutants removal. In this work, Mn-Ce bimetallic oxide loaded CNT@Fe3C (Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C) was synthesized with Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox as the active component and magnetic CNT@Fe3C as the support. The catalytic performance of Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C towards catalytic ozonation was evaluated. The TOC removal efficiency of phenol degradation after 45 min of reaction was 98%, which was 1.5 times and 1.8 times that of monometallic CeO2/CNT@Fe3C (65%) and MnxOy/CNT@Fe3C (54%), respectively. The synthesized-Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C possessed good reusability during five successive cycles and remained efficient over a wide range of pH 4.2–8.3. The results of EPR measurements and quenching experiments demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the dominant reactive oxidation species (ROS) for phenol mineralization in the Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C/O3 system. Moreover, the magnetic Mn0.7Ce0.3Ox/CNT@Fe3C is easily recovered and reused.
100 kA/10 kV thyristor stack design for the quench protection system in CRAFT
Authors: TONG Wei , XU Meng , LI Hua , CHEN Bo , SONG Zhiquan
Published: December 2022

Thyristors have longer lifetimes, higher reliability, and very high voltage and current ratings and they require less maintenance than other high-power semiconductor devices. As a result, they are particularly suitable for quench protection systems (QPSs), which protect the superconducting magnets in large fusion devices from damage. In this paper, we propose a design for a 100 kA/10 kV thyristor stack supported by both theoretical and simulation-based analyses as well as experimental verification. Due to the ultrahigh electrical performance requirements imposed on the QPS by the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT), three main issues must be considered: the voltage-balancing problem caused by multiple thyristors in a series structure, the increased junction temperature problem caused by extremely high currents, and the reverse recovery phenomenon that arises from the thyristor’s physical structure. Hence, a series of detailed theoretical analyses, simulations, and experiments, including a thyristor junction temperature prediction method and reverse recovery process modeling, were carried out to optimize the design. Finally, the reliability and stability of the thyristor stack were verified by a series of prototype experiments. The results confirmed the correctness and accuracy of the proposed thyristor stack design method and also indicated that the proposed thyristor stack can meet the application conditions of a 100 kA QPS in the CRAFT project.
Impact of stimulated Raman scattering on dark soliton generation in a silica microresonator
Authors: Choi Gwangho , Su Judith
Published: December 2022

Generating a coherent optical frequency comb at an arbitrary wavelength is important for fields such as precision spectroscopy and optical communications. Dark solitons which are coherent states of optical frequency combs in normal dispersion microresonators can extend the operating wavelength range of these combs. While the existence and dynamics of dark solitons has been examined extensively, requirements for the modal interaction for accessing the soliton state in the presence of a strong Raman interaction at near visible wavelengths has been less explored. Here, analysis on the parametric and Raman gain in a silica microresonator is performed, revealing that four-wave mixing parametric gain which can be created by a modal-interaction-aided additional frequency shift is able to exceed the Raman gain. The existence range of the dark soliton is analyzed as a function of pump power and detuning for given modal coupling conditions. We anticipate these results will benefit fields requiring optical frequency combs with high efficiency and selectable wavelength such as biosensing applications using silica microcavities that have a strong Raman gain in the normal dispersion regime.
Histopathologic Features of Breast Tissue From Transgender Men and Their Associations With Androgen Therapy
Authors: Wolters Emily A , Rabe Kimmie E , Siegel Lianne , Butts Jessica , Klein Molly E
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To assess the histopathologic features of breast tissue of transgender men (TM) undergoing gender-affirming bilateral mastectomies in relation to androgen therapy (AT).

Methods

We reviewed 374 transgender bilateral mastectomy cases from 2017 to 2020. Of these, 314 (84.4%) patients received preoperative AT. We compared these with 127 cases of cisgender females undergoing elective breast reduction.

Results

Breast specimens from TM on AT, compared with cisgender women, showed a median higher gross percentage of fibrous tissue (P < .001), reduced lobular density (P = .004), higher amount of lobular atrophy (P < .001), and lower incidence of cysts (P < .001), apocrine metaplasia (P < .001), calcifications (P < .001), columnar cell change (P = .002), and atypia (P = .003). Each additional month of AT was associated with a 2% decrease in the odds of having nonapocrine cysts (P = .02), a 5% decrease in the odds of having usual ductal hyperplasia (P = .007), and a 0.14% decrease in median lobular density (95% confidence interval, –0.18 to –0.05).

Conclusions

In this study, breast specimens from TM, particularly with a history of AT, had a higher proportion of fibrous tissue, fewer lobules, and a higher degree of lobular atrophy than cisgender females. Rare cases of atypia were not predicted by preoperative imaging or gross findings, supporting routine microscopic evaluation of these specimens.
Performance Comparisons on the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination Between Black and White Veterans and Education Classification in a Large Outpatient Sample from the Southern United States
Authors: Roberg Brandon L , Anzalone Christopher , Nicholson Jessica D , Peruggia Patricia E , Buckley Trevor R
Published: December 2022

Objective

An increasing scientific literature recognizes that traditional cut-off scores for cognitive screeners may not be optimal for use in patients who differ in race/ethnicity from the screeners’ normative/reference group. There is also literature on how racial/ethnic contextual factors, such as stereotype threat or perceived discrimination, may influence performance on cognitive testing. The current study examined the characteristics of SLUMS (a cognitive screening measure) performance in a large (n = 602) sample of Black (n = 229) and White (n = 373) veterans in a VA hospital located in the Southern United States.

Method

SLUMS data were gathered from retrospective electronic chart review between January 2013 and February 2020. Race/ethnicity of veterans was gathered by chart review and race of hospital providers who administered the SLUMS by personal communication.

Results

Black veterans were 1.99 times more likely to be classified by total SLUMS score as being within the dementia range compared with White veterans. Differences in item level performance were only found between Black and White veterans with ≥ high school education. Race of clinical provider (i.e., Black or White) administering the SLUMS did not significantly impact veteran performance on the SLUMS.

Conclusion

This is the first large sample study of differences in SLUMS performance between Black and White veterans. Findings replicate earlier research on Black and White performance differences on individual SLUMS items and provide an analysis of examiner–examinee racial discordance. This study underscores the importance of researching cognitive measures in groups who differ from the original normative/references samples.
Virus classification for viral genomic fragments using PhaGCN2
Authors: Jiang Jing-Zhe , Yuan Wen-Guang , Shang Jiayu , Shi Ying-Hui , Yang Li-Ling , Liu Min , Zhu Peng , Jin Tao , Sun Yanni , Yuan Li-Hong
Published: December 2022

Viruses are the most ubiquitous and diverse entities in the biome. Due to the rapid growth of newly identified viruses, there is an urgent need for accurate and comprehensive virus classification, particularly for novel viruses. Here, we present PhaGCN2, which can rapidly classify the taxonomy of viral sequences at the family level and supports the visualization of the associations of all families. We evaluate the performance of PhaGCN2 and compare it with the state-of-the-art virus classification tools, such as vConTACT2, CAT and VPF-Class, using the widely accepted metrics. The results show that PhaGCN2 largely improves the precision and recall of virus classification, increases the number of classifiable virus sequences in the Global Ocean Virome dataset (v2.0) by four times and classifies more than 90% of the Gut Phage Database. PhaGCN2 makes it possible to conduct high-throughput and automatic expansion of the database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The source code is freely available at https://github.com/KennthShang/PhaGCN2.0.
Complexity of enhancer networks predicts cell identity and disease genes revealed by single-cell multi-omics analysis
Authors: Hong Danni , Lin Hongli , Liu Lifang , Shu Muya , Dai Jianwu , Lu Falong , Tong Mengsha , Huang Jialiang
Published: December 2022

Many enhancers exist as clusters in the genome and control cell identity and disease genes; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we introduce an algorithm, eNet, to build enhancer networks by integrating single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiles. The complexity of enhancer networks is assessed by two metrics: the number of enhancers and the frequency of predicted enhancer interactions (PEIs) based on chromatin co-accessibility. We apply eNet algorithm to a human blood dataset and find cell identity and disease genes tend to be regulated by complex enhancer networks. The network hub enhancers (enhancers with frequent PEIs) are the most functionally important. Compared with super-enhancers, enhancer networks show better performance in predicting cell identity and disease genes. eNet is robust and widely applicable in various human or mouse tissues datasets. Thus, we propose a model of enhancer networks containing three modes: Simple, Multiple and Complex, which are distinguished by their complexity in regulating gene expression. Taken together, our work provides an unsupervised approach to simultaneously identify key cell identity and disease genes and explore the underlying regulatory relationships among enhancers in single cells.
MAST: a hybrid Multi-Agent Spatio-Temporal model of tumor microenvironment informed using a data-driven approach
Authors: Cesaro Giulia , Milia Mikele , Baruzzo Giacomo , Finco Giovanni , Morandini Francesco , Lazzarini Alessio , Alotto Piergiorgio , da Cunha Carvalho de Miranda Noel Filipe , Trajanoski Zlatko , Finotello Francesca , Di Camillo Barbara
Published: December 2022

Motivation

Recently, several computational modeling approaches, such as agent-based models, have been applied to study the interaction dynamics between immune and tumor cells in human cancer. However, each tumor is characterized by a specific and unique tumor microenvironment, emphasizing the need for specialized and personalized studies of each cancer scenario.

Results

We present MAST, a hybrid Multi-Agent Spatio-Temporal model which can be informed using a data-driven approach to simulate unique tumor subtypes and tumor–immune dynamics starting from high-throughput sequencing data. It captures essential components of the tumor microenvironment by coupling a discrete agent-based model with a continuous partial differential equations-based model.

The application to real data of human colorectal cancer tissue investigating the spatio-temporal evolution and emergent properties of four simulated human colorectal cancer subtypes, along with their agreement with current biological knowledge of tumors and clinical outcome endpoints in a patient cohort, endorse the validity of our approach.

Availability and implementation

MAST, implemented in Python language, is freely available with an open-source license through GitLab (https://gitlab.com/sysbiobig/mast), and a Docker image is provided to ease its deployment. The submitted software version and test data are available in Zenodo at https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7267745.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Mapping population access to essential surgical care in Liberia using equipment, personnel, and bellwether capability standards
Authors: Adde Håvard A , van Duinen Alex J , Andrews Benetta C , Bakker Juul , Goyah Kezelebah S , Salvesen Øyvind , Sheriff Swaliho , Utam Terseer , Yaskey Clarence , Weiser Thomas G , Bolkan Håkon A
Published: December 2022

Background

Accurate surveillance of population access to essential surgery is key for strategic healthcare planning. This study aimed to estimate population access to surgical facilities meeting standards for safe surgery equipment, specialized surgical personnel, and bellwether capability, cesarean delivery, emergency laparotomy, and long-bone fracture fixation and to evaluate the validity of using these standards to describe the full breadth of essential surgical care needs in Liberia.

Method

An observational study of surgical facilities was conducted in Liberia between 20 September and 8 November 2018. Facility data were combined with geospatial data and analysed in an online visualization platform.

Results

Data were collected from 51 of 52 surgical facilities. Nationally, 52.9 per cent of the population (2 392 000 of 4 525 000 people) had 2-h access to their closest surgical facility, whereas 41.1 per cent (1 858 000 people) and 48.6 per cent (2 199 000 people) had 2-h access to a facility meeting the personnel and equipment standards respectively. Six facilities performed all bellwether procedures; 38.7 per cent of the population (1 751 000 people) had 2-h access to one of these facilities. Bellwether-capable facilities were more likely to perform other essential surgical procedures (OR 3.13, 95 per cent c.i. 1.28 to 7.65; P = 0.012). These facilities delivered a median of 13.0 (i.q.r. 11.3–16.5) additional essential procedures.

Conclusion

Population access to essential surgery is limited in Liberia; strategies to reduce travel times ought to be part of healthcare policy. Policymakers should also be aware that bellwether capability might not be a valid proxy for the full breadth of essential surgical care in low-income settings.
Dancing between model minorityhood and yellow peril: accusations of needing “personality”
Authors: Mark Lauren
Published: December 2022

This article traces one manifestation of the unique process of Asian-American abjection (Shimakawa, K. [2002]. “I should be—American!” Abjection and the Asian (American) Body. In National Abjection (pp. 23–56). Duke University Press.), produced from a dialectic of an aspirational model minority myth and the targeted status of an ever-evolving yellow peril. I highlight the nuances of such abjection through a “lacking personality” metanarrative imposed on Asian-American finalists on the reality television show, So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). I forward an Asian-American rhetorical approach informed by critical rhetorics of race by Lacy and Ono (2011. Critical Rhetorics of Race. New York University Press) and Ono and Pham (2009. Asian Americans and the media, Vol. 2. Polity) to problematize rhetoric that abjects Asian-Americans. I suggest that depictions of Asian-Americans as lacking personality in popular media are part of the same continuum of racialized yellow peril abjection, upholding a conditional belonging that allows anti-Asian racial violence to flourish, particularly in moments of crisis and public moral panic.
Determination of Firocoxib and Its Related Substances in Bulk Drug Substance Batches of Firocoxib by a High-Speed Reversed-Phase HPLC Method With a Short Fused-Core Biphenyl Column
Authors: Wang Lin , Rustum Abu M
Published: December 2022

Firocoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It provides control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgery in dogs, and control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in horses. A high-speed stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to determine firocoxib and its related substances in bulk batches of firocoxib drug substance. Firocoxib was dissolved in neat acetonitrile (ACN) and analyzed on a short HALO (fused-core) biphenyl column (30 × 4.6 mm i.d., 2.7-μm particle size) at flow rate of 2.5 mL/min. Column temperature was maintained at 50°C. Mobile phase A is composed of 0.1% of H3PO4 in water and mobile phase B is composed of ACN. Analytes were detected with UV detection at 240 nm and quantitated against an external reference standard. Firocoxib and its related compounds were adequately separated within 4 min by a gradient elution. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness according to method validation guidelines described in The International Conference on Harmonization. The validation data demonstrated that this method is sensitive, accurate, robust, specific and stability-indicating.
A Life-Course Perspective on Older Workers in Workplaces Undergoing Transformative Digitalization
Authors: Komp-Leukkunen Kathrin
Published: December 2022

Workplaces are digitalizing, which leaves many older individuals with the choice between upskilling and early retirement. How they approach this choice influences their financial well-being, the size of the workforce, and the financial sustainability of pension schemes. The present article explores how the life-course perspective can be used to explore the situation of older workers in workplaces undergoing transformative digitalization. The life-course perspective suggests that the transformative digitalization of workplaces does not change what life events older workers encounter. However, it modifies how the events affect older workers and their capabilities for striking a work-life balance. Additionally, digitalization changes life-course structures. It can lead to earlier or later retirement, which changes the length of the life phases of middle age and old age—and possibly creates new social inequalities in life courses. The effects of transformative digitalization on older workers vary across cohorts and countries, which is typical for the principle of anchoring life courses in time and place. Future research can use the present article as a guideline for which concepts may be useful in studies on older workers in digitalizing workplaces.
Channel encroachment strategy through pure online or combined offline retailing
Authors: Chen S , Zhao R
Published: December 2022

With the rise of e-commerce, an increasing number of retailers concentrate on the online channel to sell their products (strategy O), while some retailers select online and offline combined retailing. That is, the retailers introduce an offline experience store in addition to their online channels (strategy B). However, there is little literature on which strategies are better when a retailer’s intrusion is considered. This paper constructs a competitive system in which the incumbent is a well-established pure online retailer and the new entrant will decide which strategy to select, strategy O or strategy B. The hotelling model is applied to represent the competitive market of both retailers through consumers’ asymmetrical preference for products, and Nash games under two strategies are built. Through comparing equilibrium solutions, we show that when consumers prefer the incumbent’s product, online and offline retailing is an effective strategy for the new entrant to compete with the incumbent. Meanwhile, the incumbent’s advantage does not always benefit him. Consumers’ asymmetrical preference for products may intensify the competition between them and hurt their profits, but the new entrant can benefit from providing offline retailing under most cases.
Potential for Anthropogenic Fin Damage to Affect Individual Responses to Prey in Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus): A New Hypothesis for Kinematic Studies
Authors: Cohen H E , Ray W , Hawkins O H , Kane E A
Published: December 2022

Synopsis

In fishes, damage to important morphological structures such as fins through natural damage and anthropogenic factors can have cascading effects on prey capture performance and individual fitness. Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are a common freshwater species in North America, are a model organism for performance studies, and often experience natural injuries. We opportunistically sampled two populations of fish in the lab to generate a hypothesis for the effect of sub-lethal fin damage resulting from the capture technique on kinematic performance during prey capture in bluegill. We found no statistical differences in mean prey capture kinematics or predator accuracy, but damaged fish used more variable kinematics and more readily struck at non-prey items. We suggest that a reduction in stability and individual consistency occurs as a result of fin damage. This difference could have consequences for higher-order ecological interactions such as competitive ability, despite a lack of apparent performance cost at the individual level, and deserves consideration in future studies of prey capture performance in fish.
Balenciaga, licensee of Maison Vionnet
Authors: Balda Ana
Published: December 2022

Cristóbal Balenciaga’s initial period in Spain (1917–1936), when he was working to develop himself as a couturier and consolidate his business in the luxury sector, is less known than his Parisian period (1937–1968), due to the scarcity of available information. This article analyses the designer as a buyer of haute couture licenses during that initial period. His biographers claim that in the early years of his professional development Balenciaga would attend to the presentations of prestigious French Maisons where he acquired pieces that he later sold in his establishment in San Sebastián, and that he studied to improve his own technique. Among these Maisons is that of Madeleine Vionnet. However, the restrictive licensing policy applied by the French couturière, puts in doubt the idea that Balenciaga had once been authorized to acquire pieces from her collections. Based on research in the archives of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris and the Archives de Paris, and in the Spanish, French and North American press published between 1920 and 1930, this article provides new findings that confirm the existence of just such a commercial relationship. It reveals when it emerged, specifies which Vionnet pieces Balenciaga acquired and studies the influence of Vionnet’s technique and aesthetics on some of the Basque couturier’s creations prior to his establishment in Paris.
New light on the art collection of Andrea Menichini
Authors: Crack Peter
Published: December 2022

Among the seventeenth-century state papers held at the National Archives at Kew is a list, dated 1670, of fifty-four works of art that were for sale at that time in Italy. The document was penned by John Dodington, an English diplomat who had recently taken up a post in Venice. Despite providing a wealth of detail on the objects for sale – several of which he ascribed to some of Europe’s most illustrious painters and sculptors from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries – Dodington neglected to name the owner of this impressive assemblage. This article establishes the identity of the seller, recounts the history of his collection, and traces the ultimate fate of some of his possessions.
Provider beliefs in effectiveness and recommendations for primary HPV testing in 3 health-care systems
Authors: Kruse Gina R , Lykken Jacquelyn M , Kim Eric J , Haas Jennifer S , Higashi Robin T , Atlas Steven J , McCarthy Anne Marie , Tiro Jasmin A , Silver Michelle I , Skinner Celette S , Kamineni Aruna
Published: December 2022

In 2018, the US Preventive Services Task Force endorsed primary human papillomavirus testing (pHPV) for cervical cancer screening. We aimed to describe providers’ beliefs about pHPV testing effectiveness and which screening approach they regularly recommend. We invited providers who performed 10 or more cervical cancer screens in 2019 in 3 healthcare systems that had not adopted pHPV testing: Kaiser Permanente Washington, Mass General Brigham, and Parkland Health; 53.7% (501/933) completed the survey between October and December 2020. Response distributions varied across modalities (P < .001), with cytology alone or cotesting being more often viewed as somewhat or very effective for 30- to 65-year-olds compared with pHPV (cytology alone 94.1%, cotesting 96.1%, pHPV 66.0%). In 21- to 29-year-olds, the pattern was similar (cytology alone 92.2%, 64.7% cotesting, 50.8% pHPV). Most providers were either incorrect or unsure of the guideline-recommended screening interval for pHPV. Educational efforts are needed about the relative effectiveness and recommended use of pHPV to promote guideline-concordant care.
Reconstruction using low-porosity β-tricalcium phosphate for a chondroblastoma in the proximal humeral epiphysis
Authors: Sakamoto Akio , Noguchi Takashi , Matsuda Shuichi
Published: December 2022

Chondroblastoma is a locally aggressive tumor, commonly occurring in the epiphysis of long bones. Damage after curettage at the joint surface can occur. Low porosity β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) blocks are characterized by their high compression resistance. Reconstruction in which low-porosity β-TCP blocks are used as a strut have been reported for bone tumors around the knee. In the current report, a 13-year-old female with a chondroblastoma that extended to the subchondral bone of the proximal humeral epiphysis was treated with curettage and strut reconstruction using low-porosity β-TCP blocks. The implanted β-TCP blocks were incorporated without damage or shoulder dysfunction. Application of the strut reconstruction method using low-porosity β-TCP blocks is suitable for a chondroblastoma of the epiphysis in the humerus.
Reoperation 10 years after Nuss procedure failed: Wung procedure combined with Wenlin procedure
Authors: Wang Wenlin , Long Weiguang , Liu Yang , Cai Bin , Luo Juan
Published: December 2022

After the failure of Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum, the risk of reoperation is high, and it is difficult and challenging. Recently, we performed the reoperation for a patient who had failed Nuss procedure 10 years ago. During the operation, Wung procedure and Wenlin procedure were combined to be used and satisfactory results were obtained.
Sensing suffering: on common-sense and compassion in the legal imagination and recognition of torture
Authors: Cakal Ergün
Published: December 2022

Emotion and imagination are central to recognising another’s suffering—aiding in evaluating what is seen, heard, and registered. Tending to torture’s adjudication, this article connects the ‘law and torture’ jurisprudence to two areas of ‘law and emotion’ scholarship, namely common-sense and compassion (and, with the latter, empathy).