bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elucidating microbial iron corrosion mechanisms with a hydrogenase‐deficient strain of Desulfovibrio vulgaris
Authors: Wang Di , Ueki Toshiyuki , Ma Peiyu , Xu Dake , Lovley Derek R.
Published: June 2024

Sulfate‐reducing microorganisms extensively contribute to the corrosion of ferrous metal infrastructure. There is substantial debate over their corrosion mechanisms. We investigated Fe0 corrosion with Desulfovibrio vulgaris, the sulfate reducer most often employed in corrosion studies. Cultures were grown with both lactate and Fe0 as potential electron donors to replicate the common environmental condition in which organic substrates help fuel the growth of corrosive microbes. Fe0 was corroded in cultures of a D. vulgaris hydrogenase‐deficient mutant with the 1:1 correspondence between Fe0 loss and H2 accumulation expected for Fe0 oxidation coupled to H+ reduction to H2. This result and the extent of sulfate reduction indicated that D. vulgaris was not capable of direct Fe0‐to‐microbe electron transfer even though it was provided with a supplementary energy source in the presence of abundant ferrous sulfide. Corrosion in the hydrogenase‐deficient mutant cultures was greater than in sterile controls, demonstrating that H2 removal was not necessary for the enhanced corrosion observed in the presence of microbes. The parental H2‐consuming strain corroded more Fe0 than the mutant strain, which could be attributed to H2 oxidation coupled to sulfate reduction, producing sulfide that further stimulated Fe0 oxidation. The results suggest that H2 consumption is not necessary for microbially enhanced corrosion, but H2 oxidation can indirectly promote corrosion by increasing sulfide generation from sulfate reduction. The finding that D. vulgaris was incapable of direct electron uptake from Fe0 reaffirms that direct metal‐to‐microbe electron transfer has yet to be rigorously described in sulfate‐reducing microbes.
Advanced nurse practitioner well‐being: A 4‐year cohort mixed methods study
Authors: Wood Emily , King Rachel , Robertson Steve , Tod Angela , Senek Michaela , Taylor Beth , Ryan Tony
Published: June 2024

Aims

To examine changes in advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) well‐being, satisfaction and motivation over a four‐year period.

Design

Longitudinal Cohort study.

Methods

Surveys were carried out each year from 2019 to 2022 with the same cohort of ANPs in the United Kingdom (UK). The survey consisted of demographics, questions on contemporary issues in advanced practice, National Health Service (NHS) staff survey questions and validated questionnaires. A core set of questions were asked every year with some changes in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Results

Response rate ranged from 40% to 59% and appeared to be affected by COVID‐19. Staff satisfaction with pay and the well‐being score were stable throughout. Other questions on well‐being, job satisfaction and motivation saw statistically significant reductions after 4 years. Open‐ended questions about ongoing well‐being concerns show participants are concerned about exhaustion levels caused by workload, staffing issues, abuse from patients and colleagues' mental health.

Conclusion

The findings highlight a decline in ANP well‐being, job satisfaction and motivation post‐COVID‐19. Reasons for this, explored in the qualitative data, show that ANPs have faced extremely difficult working conditions. Urgent action is required to prevent a workforce retention crisis as many nursing staff are close to retirement and may not be motivated to remain in post.

Impact

This study has followed ANPs through the most challenging years the NHS has ever seen. Job satisfaction, motivation and enjoyment of the job all significantly reduced over time. In many areas, the ANP role has been used to fill medical workforce gaps, and this will become harder to do if ANPs are dissatisfied, disaffected and struggling with stress and burnout. Addressing these issues should be a priority for policymakers and managers.

Patient or public contribution

None as this study focussed on staff. Staff stakeholders involved in the design and conduct of the study.
Modelling the asymmetric impact of economic growth and poverty on gender inequality: Evidence from India using nonlinear ARDL analysis
Authors: Wani Inayat Ullah , Haseen Shaukat , Khanday Ishfaq Nazir
Published: June 2024

The study is based on the premise that economic growth (henceforth EG) and poverty impact men and women differently. As a result, shocks to these variables cannot be expected to have a symmetric impact on gender inequality (henceforth GI). Rather, positive and negative shocks in poverty and EG impact men and women asymmetrically which necessitates the study of their relationship using an asymmetric rather than a symmetric approach. This study is the first to utilise nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) analysis and asymmetric cumulative dynamic multipliers to investigate the asymmetric impact of EG and poverty on GI in India using annual data over the period 1995–2021. Additionally, we construct a comprehensive index of GI, using principle component analysis (PCA), which is a maiden attempt to account reported crime against women, in addition to gender disparities in health, education, labour market and parliamentary representation. The results report that positive shocks in EG reduce GI and negative shocks increase it. However, negative shocks increase GI more than positive shocks decrease it justifying the asymmetry. With respect to the asymmetric impact of poverty on GI, the study finds that both positive and negative shocks in poverty increase GI, however, the positive shock in poverty has a larger impact than the negative one. This is in consonance with the literature on intrahousehold gender disparities in consumption. The study finds new evidence that EG and poverty reduction favours men more than women and recommends its inclusion in policy formulation.
Virtual Reality for advanced cancer patients assisted at home: A randomized controlled interventional study
Authors: Giannelli Andrea , Moscato Serena , Ostan Rita , Pannuti Raffaella , Chiari Lorenzo , Biasco Guido , Varani Silvia
Published: June 2024

Objective

Virtual Reality (VR) has been demonstrated to be an effective option for integrating psychological interventions in different therapeutic settings. This randomized controlled interventional study aims to assess the effects of VR, compared to tablet controlled intervention, on anxiety, depression, pain, and short‐term psychophysical symptoms in advanced cancer patients assisted at home.

Methods

Participants were provided with a VR headset or a tablet (TAB) for 4 days. On the first and last day, anxiety and depression were measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and pain by Brief Pain Inventory. Before and after each VR and tablet session, symptoms were collected by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS).

Results

Fifty‐three patients (27 VR vs. 26 TAB) completed the study. Anxiety significantly decreased in the VR group after the 4‐day intervention. The analysis of ESAS showed a significant improvement in pain (p = 0.013), tiredness (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p = 0.013) for TAB group, and a significant reduction in tiredness (p < 0.001) in the VR group.

Conclusions

Technological and user‐friendly tools, such as VR and tablets, might be integrated with traditional psychological interventions to improve anxiety and cancer‐related short‐term symptoms. Further studies are needed to better consolidate the possible beneficial effects of VR.
Current status and prospect of particle therapy for esophageal cancer
Authors: Wang Kang , Yuan Shuanghu
Published: June 2024

Esophageal cancer is among the top causes of cancer‐related mortality worldwide, and the main treatment modality for locally advanced esophageal cancer is concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The current photon‐based radiotherapy modalities and procedures have increased the incidence of treatment‐related cardiac and pulmonary complications. Additionally, anatomical changes in the esophagus resulting from diaphragmatic movement, weight loss, and tumor progression present challenges for radiotherapy. These challenges have spurred interest in particle therapies, such as proton beam therapy (PBT) and heavy‐ion therapy, for esophageal cancer. This paper comprehensively reviews the dosimetric advantages, clinical efficacy, and limitations of PBT and heavy‐ion therapy for esophageal cancer and discusses their prospects. This highlights the unique dosimetric benefits of these therapies, particularly their ability to deliver high‐dose radiation precisely to the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal organs and tissues. Although PBT and heavy‐ion therapy demonstrate superior clinical efficacy compared to photon therapy, they are not without limitations. Multiple studies are needed to further validate and supplement the existing clinical and preclinical data to better exploit the benefits of PBT and thereby provide improved survival advantages to these patients
Long‐term survival after immunotherapy for uncontrolled locally advanced temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma followed by chemoradiotherapy: A case report
Authors: Yan Jin , Sui Jiangdong
Published: June 2024

Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is a rare and invasive malignant tumor. The common predisposing factors include a history of local radiotherapy and chronic suppurative otitis media. The current treatment approach for TBSCC primarily involves surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, based on T staging and high‐risk factors. Although patients with early‐stage TBSCC have a high survival rate after treatment, the majority of patients are diagnosed in the intermediate to advanced stages, with extensive tumor involvement, posing challenges for surgical intervention. Definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) serves as a viable alternative for unresectable tumors. Constraints in administering curative radiation doses, due to the tolerance of surrounding organs, can lead to uncontrolled tumor growth. Although programmed cell death 1 inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, their application in TBSCC remains underexplored. Herein, we report a case of a 47‐year‐old man diagnosed with unresectable advanced and localized TBSCC. Following inadequate tumor control with primary chemoradiotherapy, immunotherapy was initiated, resulting in disease remission within a follow‐up period of > 4 years.
Inhibitory activity of some short‐chain aliphatic aldehydes on pheromone and ammonium carbonate‐mediated attraction in olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae
Authors: Germinara Giacinto Salvatore , Pistillo Onofrio Marco , D'Isita Ilaria , Di Palma Antonella Marta , Rotundo Giuseppe , Guidotti Matteo , Psaro Rinaldo , Caselli Alessandro , Econdi Stefano , Gargani Elisabetta , Cutino Ilaria , Benvenuti Claudia , Roversi Pio Federico
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

The olive fruit fly (OFF), Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the main insect pest of olive trees worldwide. Legislation limits to the use of some synthetic larvicidal insecticides is leading to the development of new control options for preventive control of adult flies. In the present study, the biological activity of four short‐chain aliphatic aldehydes, namely hexanal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, heptanal and (E)‐2‐heptenal, previously reported as repellents to the OFF adults was investigated.

RESULTS

Electroantennography (EAG) recordings showed that antennae of OFF males and females are able to perceive the test compounds in a wide range of doses. In field trapping experiments, reservoir‐type polypropylene (PP) membrane dispensers loaded with individual compounds did not elicit a significant attraction of OFF males and females. On the contrary, a significant reduction of male catches was noticed when sex pheromone dispensers and PP membrane dispensers, loaded with one of the test compounds, were applied on the same white sticky traps ≈20 cm apart. Likewise, male and female catches in yellow sticky traps baited with ammonium carbonate (AC) dispensers as food attractant were significantly reduced by the presence of PP membrane dispensers of individual aliphatic aldehydes on the same traps. In small plots control trials, solid formulations of the four aldehydes into a bentonite clay support induced a significant reduction of the OFF active infestation mainly when C6 and C7 aldehyde‐activated bentonites were used.

CONCLUSION

Short‐chain aliphatic aldehydes showed inhibitory effects on sex pheromone and food attractant‐mediated attraction of OFF. Results of field trials suggest potential of short‐chain aliphatic aldehydes to develop new semiochemical‐based OFF control options. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
3D‐QSAR model‐oriented optimization of Pyrazole β‐Ketonitrile derivatives with diphenyl ether moiety as novel potent succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors
Authors: Cheng Liangliang , Zhou Cong , Yuan Qinglong , Zhang Letian , Shao Xusheng , Xu Xiaoyong , Li Zhong , Cheng Jiagao
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides play important roles in the control of plant fungal diseases. However, they are facing serious challenges from issues with resistance and cross‐resistance, primarily attributed to their frequent application and structural similarities. There is an urgent need to design and develop SDHI fungicides with novel structures.

RESULTS

Aiming to discover novel potent SDHI fungicides, 31 innovative pyrazole β‐ketonitrile derivatives with diphenyl ether moiety were rationally designed and synthesized, which were guided by a 3D‐QSAR model from our previous study. The optimal target compound A23 exhibited not only outstanding in vitro inhibitory activities against Rhizoctonia solani with a half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.0398 μg mL−1 comparable to that for fluxapyroxad (EC50 = 0.0375 μg mL−1), but also a moderate protective efficacy in vivo against rice sheath blight. Porcine succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzymatic inhibitory assay revealed that A23 is a potent inhibitor of SDH, with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.0425 μm. Docking study within R. solani SDH indicated that A23 effectively binds into the ubiquinone site mainly through hydrogen‐bonds, and cation–π and π–π interactions.

CONCLUSION

The identified β‐ketonitrile compound A23 containing diphenyl ether moiety is a potent SDH inhibitor, which might be a good lead for novel fungicide research and optimization. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Transport Properties in GaN Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field‐Effect Transistor Almost Free of Interface Traps with AlSiO/AlN/p‐Type GaN Gate Stack
Authors: Narita Tetsuo , Ito Kenji , Tomita Kazuyoshi , Iguchi Hiroko , Iwasaki Shiro , Horita Masahiro , Kano Emi , Ikarashi Nobuyuki , Kikuta Daigo
Published: June 2024

The factors limiting channel mobility in AlSiO/p‐type GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) field‐effect transistors are examined by performing Hall‐effect measurements in conjunction with a gate bias, with and without a thin AlN interlayer. In the absence of this interlayer, the free carrier concentration associated with the Hall effect is significantly reduced compared with the net gate charge density estimated from capacitance–voltage data, indicating that electrons are trapped to a significant extent at the MOS interface. These interface traps are found to have an energy ≈20 meV above the Fermi level in strong inversion based on temperature‐dependent Hall effect data. The insertion of a 0.8 nm‐thick AlN interlayer eliminates charge trapping such that almost all gate charges are mobile. The mobility components could be divided into types based on their effect on the effective electric field perpendicular to the channel. Coulomb scattering centers resulting from interface states are evidently reduced by inserting the AlN interlayer, which also enhances the channel mobility to over 150 cm2 V−1s−1.
Bioinformatics and biomedical informatics with ChatGPT: Year one review
Authors: Wang Jinge , Cheng Zien , Yao Qiuming , Liu Li , Xu Dong , Hu Gangqing
Published: June 2024

The year 2023 marked a significant surge in the exploration of applying large language model chatbots, notably Chat Generative Pre‐trained Transformer (ChatGPT), across various disciplines. We surveyed the application of ChatGPT in bioinformatics and biomedical informatics throughout the year, covering omics, genetics, biomedical text mining, drug discovery, biomedical image understanding, bioinformatics programming, and bioinformatics education. Our survey delineates the current strengths and limitations of this chatbot in bioinformatics and offers insights into potential avenues for future developments.
Sex differences in CXCL4‐mediated lung damage in the bleomycin‐induced systemic sclerosis mice model
Authors: Tian Yi'an , Li Jingyan , Yu Bingrui , Chen Yu , Bao Tianping , Li Yuhong
Published: June 2024

Background

Sex is an independent risk factor for systemic sclerosis (SSc). Chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4) participates in SSc via multiple mechanisms. In the present study, we investigated the role of CXCL4 in sex‐specific lung injury in the bleomycin‐induced systemic sclerosis (BLM‐SSc) mouse model.

Methods

Thirty‐two 6‐week‐old CXCL4–/– C57BL/6J and wild‐type (WT) mice were divided into CXCL4–/– male, CXCL4–/– female, wild‐type male (WT male), and wild‐type female (WT female) groups (n = 8 each). BLM‐SSc mice were established by subcutaneous injections of 100 µL (2 mg/mL of bleomycin, once every other day) for 4 weeks. Thereafter, all mice were sacrificed and the extracted lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome to evaluate the degree of inflammation and fibrosis. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 in the lung tissue homogenate. In addition, immunofluorescence double staining detected the coexpression of S100 calcium‐binding protein A8 and matrix metalloproteinase 7. Two‐way analysis of variance was used to examine the independent effects of sex, CXCL4, and their interactions.

Results

Compared to CXCL4–/– mice, WT mice had significantly higher infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, inflammation scores, and fibrosis scores (all p < 0.05). Specifically, the degree of macrophage infiltration and fibrosis scores were higher in male mice than those in female mice (all p < 0.05). In CXCL4–/– mice, fibrosis scores were higher in males than those in females (p < 0.05); however, no significant difference was observed in inflammation scores between the two groups (p > 0.05). Compared with that of the CXCL4–/– mice, the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 in the lung tissue homogenate were increased in the WT mice with higher levels in the male group. No significant sex‐based differences were observed in CXCL4–/– mice (p > 0.05). Immunofluorescence double staining revealed a significantly higher number of positive double‐stained cells in the WT male than the WT female group; however, no such cells were observed in CXCL4–/– groups.

Conclusion

CXCL4 may participate in the pathogenesis of sex‐based differential lung injury in the BLM‐SSc model.
Stabilization of discrete‐time 2‐D switched systems: A state‐segmentation‐based event‐triggered mechanism
Authors: Xu Xiaozeng , Li Yang , Zhang Hongbin
Published: June 2024

This article addresses the event‐triggered control issue for two‐dimensional (2‐D) discrete‐time switched systems represented by both the Fornasini‐Marchesini local state‐space model and the Roesser model. The presence of 2‐D properties poses several challenges in selecting states for transport. Unlike existing event‐triggered generators, this article leverages the unique characteristics of 2‐D switched systems by dividing the system state into “horizontal” and “vertical” states. The segmented state is then transmitted at “necessary” two‐dimensional moments to minimize the amount of transmitted data. Furthermore, a state feedback controller, consisting of transferred horizontal and vertical states, is designed corresponding to the event‐triggered generator. By introducing average dwell time with the switching Lyapunov functional method, sufficient stabilization conditions are derived for the considered system. Finally, the proposed approach's effectiveness and improvement are illustrated by an example.
An Ecofriendly Nature‐Inspired Microcarrier for Enhancing Delivery, Stability, and Biocidal Efficacy of Phage‐Based Biopesticides
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Quek Siew‐Young , Huang Kang
Published: June 2024

In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and environmental sustainability. Bacteriophages, as emerging biocontrol agents, offer an alternative to conventional antibiotics and synthetic chemical pesticides. The primary challenges in applying phage‐based biopesticides in agricultural settings are their inherent fragility and low biocidal efficacy, particularly the susceptibility to sunlight exposure. This study addresses the aforementioned challenges by innovatively encapsulating phages in sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs), which are derived from plant pollen grains. The size of the apertures on SECs could be controlled through a non‐thermal and rapid process, combining reinflation and vacuum infusion techniques. This unique feature facilitates the high‐efficiency encapsulation and controlled release of phages under various conditions. The proposed SECs could encapsulate over 9 log PFU g−1 of phages and significantly enhance the ultraviolet (UV) resistance of phages, thereby ensuring their enhanced survivability and antimicrobial efficacy. The effectiveness of SECs encapsulated phages (T7@SECs) in preventing and treating bacterial contamination on lettuce leaves is further demonstrated, highlighting the practical applicability of this novel biopesticide in field applications. Overall, this study exploits the potential of SECs in the development of phage‐based biopesticides, presenting a promising strategy to enhancing agricultural sustainability.
Integrating distributive justice in system dynamics models of sustainability transitions
Authors: Kopainsky Birgit , Đula Ivan , Gkini Christina
Published: June 2024

Social‐ecological‐technological transitions for decarbonisation and sustainable development goals can perpetuate or introduce environmental and socio‐economic injustices. The just transitions literature provides useful perspectives for assessing transition pathways. This paper explores integrating distributive justice into system dynamics modelling for sustainability transitions. For this purpose, we adapt existing requirements to enable the evaluation of distributive justice in model‐based support for climate planning to the specific case of system dynamics modelling. We test the requirements by using a previously developed system dynamics model to (1) gain insights into the application of the requirements and (2) reflect on their further development. Our findings underscore the importance of transparency in model assumptions and results. They suggest exploring the behaviour space of models to account for uncertainty and plurality of stakeholder values. Furthermore, they emphasise the need to discuss the implications of model results and the plurality of stakeholder values to foster deliberation and inclusive decision‐making.
Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus) at the Tabriz abattoir, Iran
Authors: Jabbari Javad , Hajipour Nasser , Hassanzadeh Parviz , Ketzisc Jennifer
Published: June 2024

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasite in humans and warm‐blooded animals worldwide. Infection of humans by this parasite can result in severe clinical symptoms, particularly in individuals with congenital toxoplasmosis or immunocompromised patients. Contamination mainly occurs through foodborne routes, especially the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from animals.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to use PCR to detect T. gondii in tissues and organs of buffaloes and cattle slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, in Iran.

Methods

Fifty grams of heart, thigh, diaphragm and tongue from 50 buffaloes and 100 cattle slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial slaughterhouse were selected for sampling using a combination of convenience sampling. The samples were tested using a previously published PCR method.

Results

Out of the 150 animal samples, T. gondii was detected in 10 (6.7%, 95%CI: 3.2–11.9), including one buffalo (2%, 95%CI: 0.1–10.6) and nine cattle (9%, 95%CI: 4.2–16.4). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of T. gondii infection among cattle based on age and sex (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results indicated a potential risk of T. gondii transmission to humans through the consumption of infected meat. Therefore, appropriate and effective preventive measures should be taken to limit the transmission of this parasite to humans, and the consumption of raw and undercooked meat should be discouraged.
Boundary-induced transitions in Möbius quenches of holographic BCFT
Authors: Bernamonti Alice , Galli Federico , Ge Dongsheng
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Boundary effects play an interesting role in finite-size physical systems. In this work, we study the boundary-induced properties of 1+1-dimensional critical systems driven by inhomogeneous Möbius-like quenches. We focus on the entanglement entropy in BCFTs with a large central charge and a sparse spectrum of low-dimensional operators. We find that the choice of boundary conditions leads to different scenarios of dynamical phase transitions. We also derive these results in a holographic description in terms of intersecting branes in AdS3, and find a precise match.
Strong homotopy algebras for chiral higher spin gravity via Stokes theorem
Authors: Sharapov Alexey , Skvortsov Evgeny , Van Dongen Richard
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Chiral higher spin gravity is defined in terms of a strong homotopy algebra of pre-Calabi-Yau type (noncommutative Poisson structure). All structure maps are given by the integrals over the configuration space of concave polygons and the first two maps are related to the (Shoikhet-Tsygan-)Kontsevich Formality. As with the known formality theorems, we prove the A∞-relations via Stokes’ theorem by constructing a closed form and a configuration space whose boundary components lead to the A∞-relations. This gives a new way to formulate higher spin gravities and hints at a construct encompassing the known formality theorems.
Subleading analysis for S3 partition functions of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 holographic SCFTs
Authors: Geukens Seppe , Hong Junho
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We investigate the 3-sphere partition functions of various 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 holographic SCFTs arising from the N stack of M2-branes in the ’t Hooft limit both analytically and numerically. We first employ a saddle point approximation to evaluate the free energy F = – log Z at the planar level, tracking the first subleading corrections in the large ’t Hooft coupling λ expansion. Subsequently, we improve these results by determining the planar free energy to all orders in the large λ expansion via numerical analysis. Remarkably, the resulting planar free energies turn out to take a universal form, supporting a prediction that these S3 partition functions are all given in terms of an Airy function even beyond the special cases where the Airy formulae were derived analytically in the literature; in this context we also present new Airy conjectures in several examples. The subleading behaviors we captured encode a part of quantum corrections to the M-theory path integrals around dual asymptotically Euclidean AdS4 backgrounds with the corresponding internal manifolds through holographic duality.
Discovering quirks through timing at FASER and future forward experiments at the LHC
Authors: Feng Jonathan L. , Li Jinmian , Liao Xufei , Ni Jian , Pei Junle
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Quirks are generic predictions of strongly-coupled dark sectors. For weak-scale masses and a broad range of confining scales in the dark sector, quirks can be discovered only at the energy frontier, but quirk-anti-quirk pairs are produced with unusual signatures at low pT, making them difficult to detect at the large LHC detectors. We determine the prospects for discovering quirks using timing information at FASER, FASER2, and an “ultimate detector” in the far-forward region at the LHC. NLO QCD corrections are incorporated in the simulation of quirk production, which can significantly increase the production rate. To accurately propagate quirk pairs from the ATLAS interaction point to the forward detectors, the ionization energy loss of charged quirks traveling through matter, the radiation of infracolor glueballs and QCD hadrons during quirk pair oscillations, and the annihilation of quirkonium are properly considered. The quirk signal is separated from the large muon background using timing information from scintillator detectors by requiring either two coincident delayed tracks, based on arrival times at the detector, or two coincident slow tracks, based on time differences between hits in the front and back scintillators. We find that simple cuts preserve much of the signal, but reduce the muon background to negligible levels. With the data already collected, FASER can discover quirks in currently unconstrained parameter space. FASER2, running at the Forward Physics Facility during the HL-LHC era, will greatly extend this reach, probing the TeV-scale quirk masses motivated by the gauge hierarchy problem for the broad range of dark-sector confining scales between 100 eV and 100 keV.
Non-analyticity of the S-matrix with spontaneously broken Lorentz invariance
Authors: Creminelli Paolo , Delladio Matteo , Janssen Oliver , Longo Alessandro , Senatore Leonardo
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We study the S-matrix of Goldstones in the renormalizable theory of a U(1) complex scalar at finite charge, i.e. in a state that breaks Lorentz invariance. The theory is weakly coupled so that this S-matrix exists at all energies. Unlike the Lorentz invariant case, the resulting S-matrix is not analytic in the exchanged (complexified) four-momentum. The non-analyticities stem from the LSZ reduction formula, as a consequence of the energy-dependent mixing between the radial and Goldstone modes.
Birdtracks of exotic SU(N) color structures
Authors: Ohl Thorsten
Published: June 2024

Abstract

I introduce a systematic procedure for constructing complete and linearly independent sets of color structures for interactions of fields transforming under exotic representations of SU(N), in particular the SU(3) gauge group of QCD. It uncovers errors in previous results, starting with interactions of four fields including a single sextet.
Baryonic thermal screening mass at NLO
Authors: Giusti Leonardo , Laine M. , Laudicina Davide , Pepe Michele , Rescigno Pietro
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We determine the resummed 1-loop correction to a baryonic thermal screening mass. The calculation is carried out in the framework of a dimensionally reduced effective theory, where quarks are heavy fields due to their non-zero Matsubara frequencies. The correction due to interactions is computed at O(g2) in the coupling constant. In order to solve a 3-body Schrödinger equation, we exploit a two-dimensional generalization of the hyperspherical harmonics method. At electroweak scale temperatures, the NLO correction represents a ∼ 4.6% increase of the free-theory value 3πT of the screening mass.
A new 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 duality from the superconformal index
Authors: Amariti Antonio , Mantegazza Fabio
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In this paper we propose a physical derivation of a 4d conjectural duality for USp(2N) with an anti-symmetric rank-two tensor and fundamental flavors, in presence of a non-trivial superpotential. This duality has been conjectured as a consequence of an exact identity between the superconformal indices of the two phases, proved in the mathematical literature. Here we show that the duality can be derived by a combined sequence of known dualities, deconfinement of tensor matter, RG flow and Higgsing. Furthermore, by following these steps on the superconformal index, we provide an alternative derivation of the integral identity as well.
Comparison of scoring systems for patients with head injury presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Eryilmaz Alihan , Sahin Taner
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The present study aimed to compare the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study II (NEXUS-II), New Orleans Criteria (NOC), Canadian Computed Tomography (CT) Head Rule (CCTHR) scoring systems, and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) 10th edition algorithm in patients with head injury presenting to the emergency department and to investigate the effectiveness of these scoring systems in determining injury severity and the need for cranial CT scanning.

Methods

This prospective and observational study was conducted in a tertiary care emergency medicine clinic. The study included 794 adult patients who had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≥ 13, and were considered as having minor head injury. Patients included in the study were categorized as having low or high risk according to the CCTHR, NOC, NEXUS-II scores, and ATLS algorithm.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 40.7 ± 18.7 years, and 592 (74.6%) were male. The proportion of patients considered as having high risk was 27.7%, 84.8%, and 34.5% according to CCTHR, NOC, and NEXUS-II, respectively. According to the ATLS, 14.7% and 14.1% of the patients were considered at medium risk and high risk, respectively. CT scanning was performed in 757 (95.3%) patients, and pathologic findings were detected in 18 patients (2.3%). NOC in contrary showed a sensitivity of 100% but a specificity of 15.6%.

Conclusion

In our region, there was no significant difference among the CCTHR, NEXUS-II systems, and ATLS algorithm regarding the accuracy of pathological findings in patients with head injury; any of these systems can be used in clinical practice and determining CT scan necessity. Although the sensitivity of the NOC system is very high, it has been observed that its low specificity may lead to a large number of unnecessary CT scans, which may increase the patient-based cost and waiting time in the emergency department.
Empfohlene Diagnostik bei Pruritus auf primär unveränderter Haut
Authors: Düll M. M. , Kremer A. E.
Published: June 2024

Hintergrund

Chronischer Pruritus auf primär nichtläsionaler Haut (CPNL) stellt ein häufig auftretendes Symptom bei zahlreichen Erkrankungen aus verschiedenen medizinischen Fachgebieten dar. Die Vielzahl möglicher ätiologischer Ursachen erschwert die Diagnosestellung der zugrunde liegenden Erkrankung oft erheblich.

Ziel der Arbeit

Dieser Übersichtsartikel gibt einen Überblick über die klinische, laborchemische und bildgebende Diagnostik bei CPNL.

Material und Methoden

Es erfolgte eine ausführliche PubMed-Recherche zur Diagnostik bei chronischem Pruritus mit der Verwendung der Schlüsselwörter „chronic pruritus AND non-lesional skin“, „chronic itch AND non-lesional skin“, „chronic pruritus AND diagnostics“, „chronic itch AND diagnostics“, „CKD-aP“, „hepatic pruritus“, „cholestatic pruritus“ und „myeloproliferative neoplasms AND pruritus“.

Ergebnisse

Zur Abklärung des CPNL wird eine Stufendiagnostik empfohlen, die sich an der Prävalenz mit Pruritus assoziierten Erkrankungen orientiert. Eine Basisdiagnostik ermöglicht eine kosteneffiziente und gezielte Evaluation beim medizinischen Erstkontakt. Die hier erhaltenen Informationen über zugrunde liegende Erkrankungen können durch spezialisierte Diagnoseverfahren noch präziser aufgearbeitet werden.

Diskussion

CPNL stellt eine diagnostische Herausforderung dar. Ein schrittweises Diagnoseverfahren erleichtert, die zugrunde liegende Ätiologie zu identifizieren. Dies ist entscheidend, um Erkrankungen zu erkennen und den Pruritus gezielt mit krankheitsspezifischen Therapien zu behandeln.
Post-operative complications of cholecystectomy: what the radiologist needs to know
Authors: Kazi Irfan Amir , Siddiqui M. Azfar , Thimmappa Nanda Deepa , Abdelaziz Amr , Gaballah Ayman H. , Davis Ryan , Kimchi Eric , Hammoud Ghassan , Syed Kazi A. , Nasrullah Ayesha
Published: June 2024

Cholecystectomy is one of the most performed surgical procedures. The safety of this surgery notwithstanding, the sheer volume of operations results in a notable incidence of post-cholecystectomy complications. Early and accurate diagnosis of such complications is essential for timely and effective management. Imaging techniques are critical for this purpose, aiding in distinguishing between expected postsurgical changes and true complications. This review highlights current knowledge on the indications for cholecystectomy, pertinent surgical anatomy and surgical technique, and the recognition of anatomical variants that may complicate surgery. The article also outlines the roles of various imaging modalities in identifying complications, the spectrum of possible postsurgical anatomical changes, and the implications of such findings. Furthermore, we explore the array of complications that can arise post-cholecystectomy, such as biliary system injuries, gallstone-related issues, vascular complications, and the formation of postsurgical collections. Radiologists should be adept at identifying normal and abnormal postoperative findings to guide patient management effectively.

Graphical abstract
Experiences of surgical complications and reoperations in nonsyndromic sagittal synostosis patients in Oulu
Authors: Svalina Anja , Serlo Willy , Sinikumpu Juha-Jaakko , Salokorpi Niina
Published: June 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical complications of patients treated for nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis and the necessity for reoperations due to craniocerebral disproportion.

Materials and methods

The patient cohort of this study consisted of patients (N = 82) who were treated in the Oulu University Hospital using the open vault cranioplasty with a modified H-technique between the years 2008 to 2022. There were 69 males (84.1%) and 13 females (15.9%). The mean age at the primary operation was 6.1 months. Mean follow-up time was 9.0 years.

Results

There were no major complications related to the procedures. Two patients (2.4%) had a minor dural lesion. There were no postoperative wound infections. Of the 82 patients, seven patients with primary craniosynostosis (13.0%) developed symptomatic craniocerebral disproportion requiring reoperation to increase intracranial volume. In all these patients, invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring was performed prior to decision-making. In the majority of cases, the aesthetical outcome was considered good or excellent.

Conclusion

The operative method used was feasible and safe. Thirteen percent of patients who were followed over 5 years required major surgery due to development of craniocerebral disproportion later in life.
Remission of type 2 diabetes: position statement of the Italian society of diabetes (SID)
Authors: Capoccia Danila , Leonetti Frida , Natali Andrea , Tricò Domenico , Perrini Sebastio , Sbraccia Paolo , Guglielmi Valeria ,   On behalf of the Italian Society of Diabetes (SID)
Published: June 2024

The primary cause of the pandemic scale of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the excessive and/or abnormal accumulation of adiposity resulting from a chronic positive energy balance. Any form of weight loss dramatically affects the natural history of T2D, favoring prevention, treatment, and even remission in the case of significant weight loss. However, weight regain, which is often accompanied by the recurrence or worsening of obesity complications such as T2D, is an inevitable biological phenomenon that is an integral part of the pathophysiology of obesity. This can occur not only after weight loss, but also during obesity treatment if it is not effective enough to counteract the physiological responses aimed at restoring adiposity to its pre-weight-loss equilibrium state. Over the past few years, many controlled and randomized studies have suggested a superior efficacy of bariatric surgery compared to conventional therapy in terms of weight loss, glycemic control, and rates of T2D remission. Recently, the therapeutic armamentarium in the field of diabetology has been enriched with new antihyperglycemic drugs with considerable efficacy in reducing body weight, which could play a pathogenetic role in the remission of T2D, not through the classical incretin effect, but by improving adipose tissue functions. All these concepts are discussed in this position statement, which aims to deepen the pathogenetic links between obesity and T2D, shift the paradigm from a “simple” interaction between insulin resistance and insulin deficiency, and evaluate the efficacy of different therapeutic interventions to improve T2D management and induce diabetes remission whenever still possible.
Clinical outcome after surgical management of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma
Authors: Kissling Cédric , Häni Levin , Schär Ralph T. , Goldberg Johannes , Raabe Andreas , Jesse Christopher Marvin
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare pathology characterized by a hemorrhage in the spinal epidural space without prior surgical or interventional procedure. Recent literature reported contradictory findings regarding the clinical, radiological and surgical factors determining the outcome, hence the objective of this retrospective analysis was to re-assess these outcome-determining factors.

Methods

Patients surgically treated for SSEH at our institution from 2010 – 2022 were screened and retrospectively assessed regarding management including the time-to-treatment, the pre-and post-treatment clinical status, the radiological findings as well as other patient-specific parameters. The outcome was assessed using the modified McCormick Scale. Statistical analyses included binary logistic regression and Fisher’s exact test.

Results

In total, 26 patients (17 men [65%], 9 women [35%], median age 70 years [interquartile range 26.5]) were included for analysis. The SSEHs were located cervically in 31%, cervicothoracically in 42% and thoracically in 27%. Twenty-four patients (92%) improved after surgery. Fifteen patients (58%) had a postoperative modified McCormick Scale grade of I (no residual symptoms) and 8 patients (31%) had a grade of II (mild symptoms). Only 3 (12%) patients remained with a modified McCormick Scale grade of IV or V (severe motor deficits / paraplegic). Neither time-to-treatment, craniocaudal hematoma expansion, axial hematoma occupation of the spinal canal, anticoagulation or antiplatelet drugs, nor the preoperative clinical status were significantly associated with the patients’ outcomes.

Conclusion

Early surgical evacuation of SSEH generally leads to favorable clinical outcomes. Surgical hematoma evacuation should be indicated in all patients with symptomatic SSEH.
Effects of home-based neurostimulation on outcomes after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Abdullahi Auwal , Wong Thomson W. L. , Ng Shamay S. M.
Published: June 2024

Background

Home-based rehabilitation is a cost-effective means of making services available for patients. The aim of this study is to determine the evidence in the literature on the effects of home-based neurostimulation in patients with stroke.

Method

We searched PubMED, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials on the subject matter using keywords such as stroke, electrical stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation. Information on participants’ characteristics and mean scores on the outcomes of interest were extracted. Risks of bias and methodological quality of the included studies were assessed using Cochrane Risks of bias tool and PEDro scale respectively. The data was analyzed using both narrative and quantitative syntheses. In the quantitative synthesis, meta-analysis was carried out using random effect model analysis.

Result

The results showed that, home-based neurostimulation is superior to the control at improving upper limb muscle strength (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.08 to 1.32, p = 0.03), functional mobility (SMD = -0.39, 95% CI = -0.65 to 0.14, p = 0.003) and walking endurance (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.59, p = 0.01) post intervention; and upper limb motor function (SMD = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.10 to 1.70, p = 0.03), functional mobility (SMD = -0.30, 95% CI = -0.56 to -0.05, p = 0.02) and walking endurance (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.59, p = 0.01) at follow-up.

Conclusions

Home-based neurostimulation can be used to improve upper and lower limb function after stroke.
Optimal processing of single-channel sparker marine seismic data
Authors: Nasıf Aslıhan
Published: June 2024

Single-channel sparker seismic reflection systems are currently preferred in offshore geo-engineering studies due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of use in shallow areas, their high-resolution data, and straightforward data processing. However, the distinctive characteristics of sparker data introduce specific challenges in the processing of single-channel seismic datasets. These include (i) unavailability of the stacking process for single-channel seismic data, (ii) inability to derive subsurface velocity distribution from single-channel seismic profiles, (iii) limitations imposed by ghost reflections and bubble effects as well as random noise amplitudes, and (iv) the suitability of only predictive deconvolution for suppressing multiple reflections. Applications demonstrate that the inability to apply the stacking process to single-channel seismic data poses a significant challenge in suppressing both random and coherent noise, and increasing the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The F-X prediction filter has proven highly effective in mitigating random noise in sparker data. Appropriate determination of operator length and prediction lag parameters allows predictive deconvolution to effectively suppress multiple reflections, despite some residual multiple amplitudes in the output. Spiking deconvolution significantly eliminates ghost reflections and bubble effects, enhancing temporal resolution by eliminating the ringy appearance of the input signal. Trace mixing is a crucial data processing step for enhancing sparker data resolution. The method can be applied as weighted mix for random noise suppression or as trimmed mix for suppressing high-amplitude spike-like noises. This study incorporates a comprehensive analysis of the various noise components embedded in sparker seismic data. It delineates the processing flow and parameters utilized to effectively mitigate these specific noise types.