bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Live trial performance of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System – Research Prototype†
Authors: Grootemaat S. , Matthews S. , Kenny B. J. , Runcie J. W. , Hollis J. J. , Sauvage S. , Fox-Hughes P. , Holmes A.
Published: March 2024

Background The Australian Fire Danger Rating System program (AFDRS) has built a new fire danger rating system for Australia. A live trial of the system’s Research Prototype (AFDRSRP), based on fire behaviour thresholds, was run and evaluated between October 2017 and March 2018. Aims Live trial results are critically analysed, and knowledge gaps and recommendations for future work discussed. Methods Australian bushfire experts assessed wildfires and prescribed burns across a range of vegetation types and weather conditions. Forecast fire danger ratings calculated using: (1) AFDRSRP; and (2) Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) were compared against ratings derived by expert opinion for each evaluation fire (n = 336). Key results Overall performance of AFDRSRP was superior to the FFDI/GFDI system (56 vs 43% correct), with a tendency to over-predict rather than under-predict fire potential. AFDRSRP also demonstrated its value to assess fire danger in fuel types not conforming to current grassland or forest models; e.g. for fuels that were grouped to use mallee-heath, spinifex and shrubland fire spread models. Conclusions The AFDRSRP live trial was successful, outperforming the existing operational fire danger system. Implications Identified improvements would further enhance AFDRSRP performance, ensuring readiness for operational implementation.
Supplementary comparisons of DC high voltage measuring reference instruments COOMET 449Ru-a08 (COOMET_EM-S7)
Authors: Kiselev Victor , Gromochkova Elena , Dubrovskaya Tatiana , Garnacho Fernando , Kumanova Ginka , Kikalo Valery , Kopshin Vladimir
Published: March 2024

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Corrigendum: Dynamic micromechanical measurement of the flexural modulus of micrometre-sized diameter single natural fibres using a vibrating microcantilever technique (2024 J. Micromech. Microeng.
34 015009)
Authors: Reda Ali , Dargent Thomas , Arscott Steve
Published: March 2024

This corrigendum corrects typographic errors in the article. The corrections do not change the conclusions of the article.
Laser-assisted (e,2e) study with twisted electron beam on H-atom
Authors: Neha  , Dhankhar Nikita , Pinto Raul Sheldon , Choubisa Rakesh
Published: March 2024

We study the laser-assisted twisted electron beam impact ionization of the hydrogen atom in coplanar asymmetric geometry. We develop the theoretical model in the first Born approximation. In the presence of the laser field, we treat the incident and scattered electrons as Volkov waves; the ejected electron, moving in the combined field of the laser and residual ion

H
+

, as a Coulomb–Volkov wave function. In this communication, we compare the angular profile of triple differential cross-section (TDCS) for laser-assisted twisted electron beam incidence with the plane-wave, laser-assisted plane wave, and field-free twisted electron beam for (e,2e) processes for different orbital angular momentum (OAM) number (ml
) values. We analyze the effect of impact-parameter b of twisted electron beam and the laser parameters on the angular distribution of the TDCS. We study the

(
T
D
C
S

)

av

for the macroscopic target to examine the effect of opening angle θ

p
of the twisted electron beam on the angular profile of TDCS. We also observe the influence of coherent superposition of two Bessel states on the angular profile of TDCS. Our results clearly show the effects of laser parameters (electric field ɛ and number of photon exchanged (l)) and twisted electron beam parameters (OAM number (ml
) and opening angle (θ

p
)) on the angular distribution of TDCS.
Analysis of electron induced single ionisation differential cross-section of CO2 molecules in different kinematics
Authors: Pandey Alpana , Purohit Ghanshyam
Published: March 2024

Theoretical investigations of electron-impact ionisation for carbon dioxide (CO2) in low to intermediate energy ranges are presented. In addition to the energy range, we have estimated triple differential cross-section (TDCS) in coplanar and perpendicular plane geometry. We have calculated the TDCS for electron impact using the modified distorted wave formalism up to the second order. Post-collision interaction effects have also been introduced to describe the collision dynamics accurately. There is a good correlation between the distorted-wave Born approximation results and the experimental results in terms of forward and backward scattering regions.
Modeling and assessment of Galileo PPP one-way timing with RT-product
Authors: Wang Guofang , Xu Lei , Jiang Chenhui , Yu Ye , Mu Di , Wen Gang , Wang Yifan
Published: March 2024

Precise point positioning (PPP) technology is widely used in positioning, navigation, and timing. In order to meet the needs of users for real-time high-precision time information, a real-time Galileo PPP one-way timing model based on existing real-time (RT) products (CAS, CNES, GMV, and WHU) was established and applied for the timing field. Experiments were designed with 8 GNSS stations with an external H-MASER clock to research Galileo PPP timing with 25 day observations. For the modified Allan deviation (MDEV) of Galileo PPP timing solutions, similar to the timing solutions of GPS, the MDEV of Galileo PPP with CAS and CNES shows worse short-term frequency stability, with 1 to 2 × 10−13at 960 s stability, and indicates similar long-term frequency stability, with about 5–6 × 10−15at 61 440 s stability. For Galileo PPP time transfer, the standard deviation values are about 0.01–0.49 ns for all time-links with different products. For the stability of Galileo time transfer, the similar characteristic of Galileo time transfer is comparable to that of GPS. For short-term stability, the MDEV of all time-links from Galileo PPP ranges from 2 × 10−14to 3 × 10−14at 960 s. For long-term stability, 1 to 2 × 10−15levels can be reached at 61 440 s for all time-links, except for that of CNES.
Construction health indicator using physically-informed 1D-WGAN-GP joint attention LSTM-DenseNet method
Authors: Yang Hai , Yang Xudong , Sun Dong , Hu Yunjin
Published: March 2024

In data-driven prognosis methods, the accuracy of predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of mechanical systems is predominantly contingent upon the efficacy of system health indicators (HI), typically amalgamated from statistical features derived from collected signals. Nevertheless, the majority of extant HI are beset by two principal shortcomings: (1) during traditional data denoising processes, degradation information from raw data is prone to loss owing to the lack of incorporation of the true physical properties of the data; and (2) the performance evaluation of constructed HI is imbalanced due to the influence of network structures on single models, often resulting in strong performance in only one or two indicators. To overcome such shortcomings, a mechanical health indicator construction method based on physical properties was proposed, termed 1D-WGAN-GP Joint attention LSTM-DenseNet. Firstly, artificial sample data is generated by analyzing the physical properties of the original dataset, which is then used to train the 1D-WGAN-GP model to achieve data denoising. Subsequently, the fusion of the attention LSTM (A-LSTM) network and DenseNet network is utilized to extract crucial feature vectors of HI under varying health conditions from the denoised data. Finally, the extracted feature vectors are used to construct system HI using the Euclidean distance method, and these indicators are used for predicting the system’s RUL. The results indicate that the proposed method outperformed traditional methods in terms of denoising effectiveness. Further, through ablation experiment analysis, the HI constructed by the proposed method demonstrated obvious complementarity in terms of monotonicity, correlation, robustness, and comprehensive evaluation. In RUL prediction applications, the proposed method also exhibited good performance, thereby validating its effectiveness.
Phase-field modeling of stored-energy-driven grain growth with intra-granular variation in dislocation density
Authors: Huang Guanglong , Mensah Alexander , Chlupsa Marcel , Croft Zachary , Qi Liang , Shahani Ashwin J , Thornton Katsuyo
Published: March 2024

We present a phase-field (PF) model to simulate the microstructure evolution occurring in polycrystalline materials with a variation in the intra-granular dislocation density. The model accounts for two mechanisms that lead to the grain boundary migration: the driving force due to capillarity and that due to the stored energy arising from a spatially varying dislocation density. In addition to the order parameters that distinguish regions occupied by different grains, we introduce dislocation density fields that describe spatial variation of the dislocation density. We assume that the dislocation density decays as a function of the distance the grain boundary has migrated. To demonstrate and parameterize the model, we simulate microstructure evolution in two dimensions, for which the initial microstructure is based on real-time experimental data. Additionally, we applied the model to study the effect of a cyclic heat treatment (CHT) on the microstructure evolution. Specifically, we simulated stored-energy-driven grain growth during three thermal cycles, as well as grain growth without stored energy that serves as a baseline for comparison. We showed that the microstructure evolution proceeded much faster when the stored energy was considered. A non-self-similar evolution was observed in this case, while a nearly self-similar evolution was found when the microstructure evolution is driven solely by capillarity. These results suggest a possible mechanism for the initiation of abnormal grain growth during CHT. Finally, we demonstrate an integrated experimental-computational workflow that utilizes the experimental measurements to inform the PF model and its parameterization, which provides a foundation for the development of future simulation tools capable of quantitative prediction of microstructure evolution during non-isothermal heat treatment.
Modelling of vertical displacement events in tokamaks: status and challenges ahead
Authors: Artola F J , Schwarz N , Gerasimov S , Loarte A , Hoelzl M ,   the JOREK Team
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we revisit the physics of mitigated and unmitigated vertical displacement events (VDEs) and present a summary of present modelling efforts and code capabilities. While 3D MHD simulations of VDEs for AUG and JET are now approaching realistic plasma parameters (e.g. resistivity) and getting closer to experimental observations (e.g. CQ times and vessel forces), the time scales of ITER VDEs (∼500 ms) are still out of computational reach. Therefore, re-scaling of plasma parameters, model simplifications or demanding matrix pre-conditioning techniques are required. We describe such techniques and compare AUG, JET and ITER unmitigated VDE simulations in terms of the dynamics of the CQ and total vacuum vessel forces. In JET simulations, the safety factor (q
95) falls to unity during the current quench, which destabilizes a 1/1 kink mode. On the other hand, in AUG and ITER simulations, MHD activity is more effective preventing the drop of q
95, leading to comparatively smaller forces in these devices. We will also discuss the applicability of axisymmetric plasma simulations and their success on simulating mitigated disruptions. Finally we review the remaining modelling challenges and future plans for unmitigated disruptions. For example, MHD codes need to improve their scrape-off-layer modelling, such as including the limitation of the halo current to the ion saturation current. Although crucial, this remains numerically challenging even for axisymmetric simulations.
Study of quantum Szilard engine for non-interacting bosons in fractional power-law potentials
Authors: Islam Najirul
Published: March 2024

In this article, we have realized the quantum Szilard engine (QZE) for non-interacting bosons. We have adopted the Bose–Einstein statistics for this purpose. We have considered fractional power law potential for this purpose and have used the artifact of the quantization of energy. We have calculated the work and the efficiency for non-interacting bosons in fractional power potential. We have shown the dependence of the number of particles for the work and the efficiency. We also have realized the QZE for a single-particle in a Morse potential revealing how the depth of the potential impacts both work and efficiency. Furthermore, we have examined the influence of temperature and the anharmonicity parameter on the work. Finally, we have conducted a comparative analysis, considering both non-interacting bosons in a fractional power law potential and a single-particle in a Morse potential under harmonic approximation conditions.
Simultaneously enhanced of energy storage and energy harvesting performances of [(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–BaTiO3] ceramics by addition of SrTiO3
Authors: Kamal Amira A , Hussein S A , Salem A , Mahmoud Abd El-razek
Published: March 2024

As is well known, relaxor dielectrics are characterized by high energy storage efficiency (η), while high recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) can be achieved by anti-ferroelectric ceramics. Herein, our approach is to find relaxor- anti-ferroelectric coexistence phases of (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3- BaTiO3 ceramics for achieving high performance in energy storage and energy harvesting as well. Therefore, [(0.9-x) ( Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-xSrTiO3-0.1BaTiO3] (abbreviation (0.9-x) NBT-0.1BT-xST) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) were synthesized via the solid-state reaction route in air. The tolerance factor (τ) increased from 0.9901 to 0.9998 when ST-content increased from 0.0 to 0.4, indicating an increase in crystal lattice symmetry. The FT-IR de-convolution vibration modes shown in the TiO6 octahedra exhibit two peaks at ∼550 and 650 cm−1, which indicate present coexistence phases of the crystal structure. Ferroelectric to relaxor phase crossover has been detected by the addition of ST with the present anti-ferroelectric phase in particular dopant ST = 0.2. The increasing into the diffused phase transition (γ) is signified by enhancement of the relaxor degree of NBT-BT at high content of ST. The rapidly suppressed remnant polarization (Pr) at high content of ST is due to substitute iso-valence (Sr2+) by tri-valence (Bi3+) and mono-valence (Na1+). Ultrahigh

W

rec

= 1.13 J/

cm

3

with excellent η = 92.62% were obtained at ST = 0.3 at low electric field (E = 110 kV cm−1). A remarkable response of the strain with a high converse piezoelectric coefficient (

d

33

*

= 390.47 pm V−1) at ST = 0.2 was obtained due to decreasing the non-revisable 180° domain switching. Based on the obtained results, the addition of ST to NBT-BT ceramics can provide a head start in the implementation of ceramic capacitors for potential effective into energy harvesting and energy storage applications.
First-principle investigation of lead-free double perovskites Cs2MScCl6 (M = Na, K) for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications
Authors: Afridi Al Mojahid , Nipa Nasrin Afroz , Abdur Rashid Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Double perovskite optoelectronic devices are gaining popularity due to their advantageous features, such as an efficient and easy-to-manage crystalline structure. In this study, we looked into the optoelectronic, mechanical, and thermoelectric attributes of Cs2MScCl6 (with M being Na or K) using density functional theory. The obtained results show that both compounds can exist stably in cubic double perovskite structure, space group

Fm

3

¯

m

. The electronic band structures of Cs2NaScCl6 and Cs2KScCl6 demonstrate a direct semiconducting band gap of 3.829 eV and 3.996 eV, respectively. As the pressure rises up to 200 GPa, Cs2KScCl6 reveals extraordinary tunability along with an indirect band gap of 2.000 eV. Moreover, optical analysis—comprising dielectric constant calculations, absorption coefficient measurements, refractive indices checks, reflectivity assessments, energy loss estimations, and electrical conductivity appraisals—shows promising results too. Specifically, the absorption coefficient and conductivity predominantly fall within the ultraviolet range under normal atmospheric pressure. The thermoelectric characteristics suggest a noteworthy Seebeck coefficient, low thermal conductance and good figure of merit implying it could be used in the domain of sustainable energy.
Primordial non-Gaussianities with weak lensing: information on non-linear scales in the Ulagam full-sky simulations
Authors: Anbajagane Dhayaa , Chang Chihway , Lee Hayden , Gatti Marco
Published: March 2024

Primordial non-Gaussianities (PNGs) are signatures in the density field that encode particle physics processes from the inflationary epoch. Such signatures have been extensively studied using the Cosmic Microwave Background, through constraining their amplitudes, fX

NL, with future improvements expected from large-scale structure surveys; specifically, the galaxy correlation functions. We show that weak lensing fields can be used to achieve competitive and complementary constraints. This is shown via the Ulagam suite of N-body simulations, a subset of which evolves primordial fields with four types of PNGs. We create full-sky lensing maps and estimate the Fisher information from three summary statistics measured on the maps: the moments, the cumulative distribution function, and the 3-point correlation function. We find that the year 10 sample from the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) can constrain PNGs to σ(f
NL
eq) ≈ 110, σ(f
NL
or, lss) ≈ 120, σ(f
NL
loc) ≈ 40. For the former two, this is better than or comparable to expected galaxy clustering-based constraints from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). The PNG information in lensing fields is on non-linear scales and at low redshifts (z ≲ 1.25), with a clear origin in the evolution history of massive halos. The constraining power degrades by ∼60% under scale cuts of ≳ 20 Mpc, showing there is still significant information on scales mostly insensitive to small-scale systematic effects (e.g., baryons). We publicly release the Ulagam suite to enable more survey-focused analyses.
Cosmological teleparallel perturbations
Authors: Heisenberg Lavinia , Hohmann Manuel , Kuhn Simon
Published: March 2024

There has been growing interest in f(ℚ) gravity, which has led to significant advancements in the field. However, it is important to note that most studies in this area were based on the coincident gauge, thus overlooking the impact of the connection degrees of freedom. In this work, we pay special attention to the connection when studying perturbations in general teleparallel, metric teleparallel, and symmetric teleparallel theories of gravity. We do not just examine perturbations in the metric, but also in the affine connection. To illustrate this, we investigate cosmological perturbations in f(G), f(𝕋), and f(ℚ) gravity with and without matter in form of an additional scalar field for spatially flat and curved FLRW geometries. Our perturbative analysis reveals that for general f(ℚ) backgrounds, there are up to seven degrees of freedom, depending on the background connection. This is in perfect agreement with the upper bound on degrees of freedom established for the first time in https://doi.org/10.1002/prop.202300185
Fortschr. Phys.
71 (2023) 2300185.
In f(G) and f(𝕋) gravity theories, only two tensor modes propagate in the gravity sector on generic curved cosmological backgrounds, indicating strong coupling problems.
In the context of f(ℚ) cosmology, we find that for a particular background connection, where all seven modes propagate, there is at least one ghost degree of freedom.
For all other choices of the connection the ghost can be avoided at the cost of strong coupling problem, where only four degrees of freedom propagate. Hence, all of the cosmologies within the teleparallel families of theories in form of f(G), f(ℚ), and f(𝕋) suffer either from strong coupling or from ghost instabilities. A direct coupling of the matter field to the connection or non-minimal couplings might alter these results.
With or without you: gut microbiota does not predict aggregation behavior in European earwig females
Authors: Cheutin Marie-Charlotte , Leclerc Benjamin , Meunier Joël
Published: March 2024

The reasons why some individuals are solitary, and others gregarious are the subject of ongoing debate as we seek to understand the emergence of sociality. Recent studies suggest that the expression of aggregation behaviors may be linked to the gut microbiota of the host. Here, we tested this hypothesis in females of the European earwig. This insect is ideal for addressing this question, as adults both naturally vary in the degree to which they live in groups and show interindividual variation in their gut microbial communities. We video-tracked 320 field-sampled females to quantify their natural variation in aggregation and then tested whether the most and least gregarious females had different gut microbiota. We also compared the general activity, boldness, body size, and body condition of these females and examined the association between each of these traits and the gut microbiota. Contrary to our predictions, we found no difference in the gut microbiota between the most and least gregarious females. There was also no difference in activity, boldness, and body condition between these two types of females. Independent of aggregation, gut microbiota was overall associated with female body condition, but not with any of our other measurements. Overall, these results demonstrate that a host’s gut microbiota is not necessarily a major driver or a consequence of aggregation behavior in species with inter-individual variation in group living and call for future studies to investigate the determinants and role of gut microbiota in earwigs.
Extra-prostatic extension grading system: correlation with MRI features and integration of capsular enhancement sign for “enhanced” detection of T3a lesions
Authors: Martini Federica , Pigati Maria , Mattiauda Matilde , Ponzano Marta , Piol Nataniele , Pigozzi Simona , Spina Bruno , Cittadini Giuseppe , Giasotto Veronica , Zawaideh Jeries P
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of extra-prostatic extension (EPE) grading system and to explore the predictive capabilities of the prostate MRI while considering various MRI features such as lesion location, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and capsular enhancement sign (CES).

Methods

Our monocentric study is based on a retrospective analysis of 99 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from January 2021 to January 2023. The observers reviewed for each lesion, including location (transitional or peripheral zone, anterior or posterior location), capsular contact length, irregular bulging of the capsule, asymmetry of the neurovascular bundle, obliteration of the recto-prostatic angle, macroscopic EPE, ADC value, and CES.

Results

Among 99 patients, 31 patients had EPE. Lesions with EPE have broadercapsule contact (24 mm vs 12 mm) with contact ≥14 mm being the optimal cut-off for EPE discrimination. Among the morphological MRI criteria used to determine the EPE, the one with major sensitivity was shown to be bulging (sen 81%), while macroscopic extension had highest specificity (100%). Univariate analysis showed as significative risk factors for EPE: capsular contact ≥14 mm (P < .001), International Society of Urological Pathology score ≥3 (P = .005), CES (P < .001), bulging (P = .001), neurovascular bundle asymmetry (P < .001) and EPE score ≥2 (P < .001), and in multivariate analysis CES (P = .001) and EPE score ≥2 (P = .004) were significant. The AUC of the EPE score was 0.76, raised to 0.83 when combining it with CES (P = .11).

Conclusion

CES in the setting of multiparametric MRI can increase diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of extracapsular disease.

Advances in knowledge

This study highlights the potential of contrast media in prostate cancer local staging.
‘It Sounds Bizarre, but I Can Call It a Good Thing Now’: Social Worker’s Lived Experiences of Posttraumatic Growth following Dual Disaster Events
Authors: Youssif-Hay Daniel J , Tudor Raewyn , Maidment Jane
Published: March 2024

This article reports on findings from a research study on social workers who practised in Christchurch, New Zealand, following two disaster events: the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks. The concept of posttraumatic growth (PTG), with particular reference to vicarious PTG, double exposure and shared resilience, is also explored in relation to this research. Data were gathered via qualitative interviews with twenty-three registered social workers conducted in 2021 and analysed through a reflexive thematic analysis. The findings reveal Christchurch social workers believed, due to their involvement in disaster response work, that their practice skills were enhanced, and they gained new understandings of trauma, including the positive changes which can occur as a result of exposure to traumatic experiences. The social work participants also considered their interpersonal and professional relationships as essential to the development of their own sense of resilience. This article concludes with a discussion on the implications of these findings and PTG theory for contemporary social work practice.
Serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for guidance of therapy management in patients treated with anakinra due to recurrent pericarditis
Authors: Bianco Francesco , Bucciarelli Valentina , Coretti Francesca , Cataldi Serena , Damadei Francesca , Raffaelli Elena , Schicchi Nicolò , Omenetti Alessia , Lattanzi Bianca , Berton Emanuela , Chiara Surace Francesca , Baldinelli Alessandra , Breda Luciana , Cazzato Salvatore , Catassi Carlo , Dello Russo Antonio , Gallina Sabina
Published: March 2024

Aims

To determine the utility of serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for guidance of therapy management in patients treated with anakinra due to recurrent pericarditis (RP), compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) assay alone.

Methods and results

In 2018–21, we enrolled 18 (14.5 ± 1.8 years old, 72% males) consecutive RP patients treated with anakinra (100 mg/day in patients ≥ 18 years old; 2 mg/kg/day < 18 years old) due to RP corticosteroid-dependent or not responsive to colchicine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. After hospitalization, they were 1:1 randomized to CMR [no pericardial oedema and/or late gadolinium enchantment (LGE)] or CRP (<0.6 mg/dL). Tests were repeated every 3 months until negative to halve the anakinra dosage and cessation. The idiopathic aetiology was the most prevalent (n = 8, 44%), followed by post-pericardiotomy (n = 6, 33%). After a median treatment period of 8.7 ± 3.6 months, CRP-guided RP patients experienced more recurrences than CMR-guided ones (6 vs. 1, P = 0.016), with the worst prognosis in terms of recurrences (log-rank, P = 0.025) and significantly increased time of treatment (12.7 ± 2 vs. 16.1 ± 3.4 months, P = 0.019). In a multivariable exploratory Cox regression model, the number of previous recurrences and the idiopathic aetiology were independent predictors of RP during the anakinra treatment. New recurrences were subsequently directed to CMR imaging, and therapy was modified according to the LGE/oedema trend. After 1-year follow-up, no further recurrence was detected.

Conclusion

Among patients with RP and treated with anakinra, serial CMR imaging of the pericardium can be utilized as an imaging biomarker, more informative for therapy duration than the solely CRP assessment.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT06071156
Left atrial dysfunction in bicuspid aortic valve patients with severe aortic stenosis is associated with post-operative atrial fibrillation following aortic valve replacement
Authors: Wedin Johan O , Rodin Sergey , Flachskampf Frank A , Simonson Oscar E , Pallin Johan , Hörsne Malmborg Jonathan , James Stefan K , Ståhle Elisabeth , Grinnemo Karl-Henrik
Published: March 2024

Aims

To investigate (i) the association between pre-operative left atrial (LA) reservoir strain and post-operative atrial fibrillation (AF) and (ii) the incidence of post-operative ischaemic stroke events separately in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients after surgical aortic valve replacement for isolated severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods and results

We prospectively enrolled 227 patients (n = 133 BAV and n = 94 TAV) with isolated severe AS scheduled for aortic valve replacement. A comprehensive intra- and inter-observer validated pre-operative echocardiogram with an analysis of LA reservoir strain was performed. Post-operative AF was defined as a sustained (>30 s) episode of AF or atrial flutter. The timing of neurological events was defined in accordance with the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria for stroke. Post-operative AF occurred in 114 of 227 patients (50.2%), with no difference between BAV and TAV patients (48.1 vs. 53.1%, P = 0.452). Persisting post-operative AF at discharge was more frequent in BAV patients (29.7 vs. 8.0%, P = 0.005). Pre-operative LA reservoir strain was independently associated with post-operative AF (odds ratio = 1.064, 95% confidence interval 1.032–1.095, P < 0.001), with a significant interaction between LA reservoir strain and aortic valve morphology (Pinteraction = 0.002). The cumulative transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke incidence during follow-up was significantly higher in BAV patients (19.1 vs. 5.8% at 5 years).

Conclusion

Pre-operative LA function was associated with post-operative AF after aortic valve replacement in BAV AS patients, while post-operative AF in TAV AS patients likely depends on transient post-operative alterations and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. TIA/stroke during follow-up was more common in BAV AS patients.
Disclosure of Origin in European Biotechnology Patent Law: A Social Network Analysis Perspective
Authors: Karimov Elnur
Published: March 2024

Recital 27 of the European Union Directive 98/44/EC on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Innovations mandates the disclosure of the geographical origin of biological material when the invention is based on or incorporates such material. This requirement seeks to monitor the origin of biological materials, often linked to indigenous and local communities, to ensure prior informed consent and equitable benefit-sharing with resource providers. Several European countries, such as Switzerland and Norway, legally require this disclosure, and the Draft International Instrument of the World Intellectual Property Organization is poised to expand the list of nations with such requirements. However, the definition of ‘origin’ presents challenges for patent applicants, as it may refer to the primary source (e.g. indigenous and local communities, the country of origin) or secondary sources (e.g. ex situ plant collections or commercial suppliers). Moreover, defining the information to be disclosed as the origin is crucial for the credibility of disclosure statements. To address this issue, this article pioneers a social network analysis approach to the issue of biopiracy and disclosure of origin. It introduces the network-centric narratives of 30 prominent cases of biopiracy from South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and unveils the average distance between the nodes previously accused of biopiracy and the nodes that correspond to the origin of the biological material in question. By highlighting the role of intermediaries in distorting information within material distribution networks, the findings contest the feasibility of requiring patent applicants to provide information on both primary and secondary sources.
Melanoma-associated fibroblasts in tumor-promotion flammation and antitumor immunity: novel mechanisms and potential immunotherapeutic strategies
Authors: Zhou Qiujun , Jin Xiaoliang , Zhao Ying , Wang Yueping , Tao Maocan , Cao Yi , Yin Xiaohu
Published: March 2024

Melanoma, renowned for its aggressive behavior and resistance to conventional treatments, stands as a formidable challenge in the oncology landscape. The dynamic and complex interplay between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment has gained significant attention, revealing Melanoma-Associated Fibroblasts (MAFs) as central players in disease progression. The heterogeneity of MAFs endows them with a dual role in melanoma. This exhaustive review seeks to not only shed light on the multifaceted roles of MAFs in orchestrating tumor-promoting inflammation but also to explore their involvement in antitumor immunity. By unraveling novel mechanisms underlying MAF functions, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of their impact on melanoma development. Additionally, it delves into the potential of leveraging MAFs for innovative immunotherapeutic strategies, offering new avenues for enhancing treatment outcomes in the challenging realm of melanoma therapeutics.
Comparison of Daily Versus Admission and Discharge Surveillance Cultures for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Detection in an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Sansom Sarah E , Shimasaki Teppei , Dangana Thelma , Lin Michael Y , Schoeny Michael E , Fukuda Christine , Moore Nicholas M , Yelin Rachel D , Bassis Christine M , Rhee Yoona , Cisneros Enrique Cornejo , Bell Pamela , Lolans Karen , Aboushaala Khaled , Young Vincent B , Hayden Mary K
Published: March 2024

Background

Admission and discharge screening of patients for asymptomatic gut colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a common approach to active surveillance, but its sensitivity for detecting colonization is uncertain.

Methods

Daily rectal or fecal swab samples and associated clinical data were collected over 12 months from patients in one 25-bed medical intensive care unit (ICU) in Chicago, IL and tested for the following MDROs: vancomycin-resistant enterococci; third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales; and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. MDRO detection by (1) admission and discharge surveillance cultures or (2) clinical cultures were compared to daily surveillance cultures. Samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing to measure the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) corresponding to each MDRO.

Results

Compared with daily surveillance cultures, admission/discharge cultures detected 91% of prevalent MDRO colonization and 63% of MDRO acquisitions among medical ICU patients. Few (7%) MDRO carriers were identified by clinical cultures alone. Higher relative abundance of MDRO-associated OTUs and specific antibiotic exposures were independently associated with higher probability of MDRO detection by culture.

Conclusions

Admission and discharge surveillance cultures underestimated MDRO acquisitions in an ICU. These limitations should be considered when designing sampling strategies for epidemiologic studies that use culture-based surveillance.
Let them talk and we listen: what are diseases of neglected people?
Authors: Duck Mathias
Published: March 2024

This article is a reflection from a person with lived experience of leprosy, who has been working as a global advocate and champion for the rights of persons affected by neglected tropical diseases for the last decade. Synthesising learning from the collection of pieces included within this special supplement that are written from the perspective of people affected by neglected tropical diseases, I argue that it is time to centre the lived experiences of people affected by neglected tropical diseases. These are diseases of neglected people, and it is now time to let them talk while we listen.
Effects of Self-Legitimation and Delegitimation on Public Attitudes toward International Organizations: A Worldwide Survey Experiment
Authors: Ghassim Farsan
Published: March 2024

Public views on international organizations (IOs) have become a matter of central concern. While actors in world politics increasingly try to legitimize or delegitimize IOs, scholars have begun investigating such phenomena systematically. This paper provides the most comprehensive IO (de)legitimation study to date. Building on cueing theory, and considering input as well as output legitimacy, I examine the isolated and combined effects of delegitimation and self-legitimation on public perceptions of IOs. I concentrate on government criticism and citizen protests as two salient practices of delegitimation. In investigating self-legitimation, I focus on IOs’ public statements and institutional reforms. I study public opinion on the UN, World Bank, and WHO, as IOs of different functional scopes and levels of salience. In 2021, I conducted survey experiments on more than 32,000 citizens in ten countries worldwide (Australia, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya, South Korea, and Turkey) – weighted by age, gender, region, and education. My main findings are: Delegitimation by governments and citizen protests has some limited effectiveness, depending on the IO in question. While IO self-legitimization statements and reforms in themselves do not boost public support for IOs, they are generally effective at neutralizing delegitimation attempts by governments and citizen protests.
Cardinal Sins? Conspicuous Consumption, Cardinal Status and Inequality
Authors: Hopkins Ed
Published: March 2024

This paper analyzes the social dilemma arising when a large population of individuals with differing incomes have concerns over relative deprivation in terms of visible or conspicuous consumption. These relative concerns are cardinal—people care about the size of the gap between own and others’ consumption—and include inequity aversion, where negative comparisons are more important than positive, rivalrous preferences, and comparison with mean consumption. The resulting Nash equilibrium is inefficient, with consumption generally exceeding the socially efficient level. In this model, the income distribution has a direct effect on behavior and under rivalrous preferences, an increase in incomes for the rich can raise consumption at all income levels and make almost everyone worse off.
On split-octonionic curves
Authors: Alo Jeta , Akbiyik MÜcahit
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we first define the vector product in Minkowski space $\mathbb{R}_{4}^{7}$, which is identified with the space of spatial split-octonions. Next, we derive the $G_{2}-$ frame formulae for a seven dimensional Minkowski curve by using the spatial split-octonions and the vector product. We show that Frenet–Serret formulas are satisfied for a spatial split octonionic curve. We obtain the congruence of two spatial split octonionic curves and give relationship between the $G_{2}-$ frame and Frenet–Serret frame. Furthermore, we present the Frenet–Serret frame with split octonions in $\mathbb{R}_{4}^{8}$. Finally, we give illustrative examples with Matlab codes.
Advancing health equity in cancer survivorship research: National Institutes of Health 2017–2022 portfolio review
Authors: Doose Michelle , Mollica Michelle A , Acevedo Amanda M , Tesauro Gina , Gallicchio Lisa , Reed Crystal , Guida Jennifer , Maher Molly E , Srinivasan Shobha , Tonorezos Emily
Published: March 2024

Background

Communities and researchers have called for a paradigm shift from describing health disparities to a health equity research agenda that addresses structural drivers. Therefore, we examined whether the cancer survivorship research portfolio has made this shift.

Methods

We identified grants focused on populations experiencing health disparities from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Survivorship Research Portfolio (N = 724), Fiscal Years 2017–2022. Grant characteristics were abstracted, drivers of health disparities were mapped onto the levels and domains of influence, and opportunities for future research were identified.

Results

A total of 147 survivorship grants focused on health disparities were identified, of which 73.5% of grants focused on survivors from racial and ethnic minoritized groups, 25.9% living in rural areas, 24.5% socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 2.7% sexual and gender minority groups. Study designs were 51.0% observational; 82.3% of grants measured or intervened on at least 1 individual-level of influence compared to higher levels of influence (32.7% interpersonal, 41.5% institutional and community, and 12.2% societal). Behavioral and health care system domains of influence were commonly represented, especially at the individual level (47.6% and 36.1%, respectively). Less frequently represented was the physical and built environment (12.2%).

Conclusions

NIH-funded cancer survivorship research on health disparities is still focused on individual level of influence. However, the proportion of grants examining structural and social drivers as well as the mechanisms that drive disparities in health care and health outcomes among cancer survivors have increased over time. Gaps in funded research on specific populations, cancer types, and focus areas of survivorship science were identified and warrant priority.
Multiomics Analyses Provide New Insight into Genetic Variation of Reproductive Adaptability in Tibetan Sheep
Authors: Han Buying , Tian Dehong , Li Xue , Liu Sijia , Tian Fei , Liu Dehui , Wang Song , Zhao Kai
Published: March 2024

Domestication and artificial selection during production-oriented breeding have greatly shaped the level of genomic variability in sheep. However, the genetic variation associated with increased reproduction remains elusive. Here, two groups of samples from consecutively monotocous and polytocous sheep were collected for genome-wide association, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses to explore the genetic variation in fecundity in Tibetan sheep. Genome-wide association study revealed strong associations between BMPR1B (p.Q249R) and litter size, as well as between PAPPA and lambing interval; these findings were validated in 1,130 individuals. Furthermore, we constructed the first single-cell atlas of Tibetan sheep ovary tissues and identified a specific mural granulosa cell subtype with PAPPA-specific expression and differential expression of BMPR1B between the two groups. Bulk RNA-seq indicated that BMPR1B and PAPPA expressions were similar between the two groups of sheep. 3D protein structure prediction and coimmunoprecipitation analysis indicated that mutation and mutually exclusive exons of BMPR1B are the main mechanisms for prolific Tibetan sheep. We propose that PAPPA is a key gene for stimulating ovarian follicular growth and development, and steroidogenesis. Our work reveals the genetic variation in reproductive performance in Tibetan sheep, providing insights and valuable genetic resources for the discovery of genes and regulatory mechanisms that improve reproductive success.
Carnosine/histidine-containing dipeptide supplementation improves depression and quality of life: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kabthymer Robel Hussen , Saadati Saeede , Lee Mark , Hariharan Rohit , Feehan Jack , Mousa Aya , de Courten Barbora
Published: March 2024

Context

Mental ill-health is a common and growing issue, affecting 1 in 8 individuals or 970 million people worldwide in 2019. Histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) have been suggested to mitigate some aspects of mental ill-health, but a quantitative synthesis of the evidence is lacking. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted.

Objective

To summarize the evidence on the effects of HCDs on mental health outcomes.

Data Source

A systematic literature search was performed using electronic databases (Medline via Ovid, Embase via Ovid, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane) from inception to October, 2022.

Data Extraction

Two authors independently extracted data using a structured extraction format.

Data Analysis

Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17. Random-effects models were used, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test. Quality appraisal was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias 2.0 tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Conclusion

5507 studies were identified, with 20 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies comprising 776 participants were included in the meta-analysis. HCD supplementation (anserine/carnosine, l-carnosine, β-alanine) caused a significant reduction in depression scores measured with the Becks Depression Inventory (−0.79; 95% CI: −1.24, -0.35; moderate certainty on GRADE) when compared with placebo. An increase in quality-of-life scores measured with the 36-item Short-Form survey (SF-36) (0.65; 95% CI: 0.00, 1.30) and low certainty on GRADE in HCDs (anserine/carnosine, l-carnosine, β-alanine) when compared with placebo were found. However, the rest of the outcomes did not show a significant change between HCD supplementation and placebo. Although the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was modest, a significant mean reduction was observed in depression score as well as an increase in quality-of-life score for the HCD group when compared with placebo. Most of the studies included had small sample sizes with short follow-up periods and moderate to high risk of bias, highlighting the need for further, well-designed studies to improve the evidence base.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42017075354.
Dual Regulation of Cytochrome P450 Gene Expression by Two Distinct Small RNAs, a Novel tasiRNA and miRNA, in Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Hung Yu-Ling , Hong Syuan-Fei , Wei Wei-Lun , Cheng Shiuan , Yu Jia-Zhen , Tjita Veny , Yong Qian-Yuan , Nishihama Ryuichi , Kohchi Takayuki , Bowman John L , Chien Yuan-Chi , Chiu Yen-Hsin , Yang Ho-Chun , Lu Mei-Yeh Jade , Pan Zhao-Jun , Wang Chun-Neng , Lin Shih-Shun
Published: March 2024

The miR390-derived TAS3 trans-acting short-interfering RNAs (tasiRNAs) module represents a conserved RNA silencing pathway in the plant kingdom; however, its characterization in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha is limited. This study elucidated that MpDCL4 processes MpTAS3 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to generate tasiRNAs, primarily from the 5ʹ- and 3ʹ-ends of dsRNA. Notably, we discovered a novel tasiRNA, tasi78A, which can negatively regulate a cytochrome P450 gene, MpCYP78A101. Additionally, tasi78A was abundant in MpAGO1, and transient expression assays underscored the role of tasi78A in repressing MpCYP78A101. A microRNA, miR11700, also regulates MpCYP78A101 expression. This coordinate regulation suggests a role in modulating auxin signaling at apical notches of gemma, influencing the growth and sexual organ development of M. polymorpha and emphasizing the significance of RNA silencing in MpCYP78A101 regulation. However, phylogenetic analysis identified another paralog of the CYP78 family, Mp1g14150, which may have a redundant role with MpCYP78A101, explaining the absence of noticeable morphological changes in loss-of-function plants. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the combined regulatory roles of miR390/MpTAS3/miR11700 in controlling MpCYP78A101 and expand our knowledge about the biogenesis and regulation of tasiRNAs in M. polymorpha.