bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Optimization of Blade Tip in Subsonic and Transonic Turbine Stages—Part I: Stage Design and Preliminary Tip Optimization
Authors: Duan P. H. , He L.
Published: December 2023

Rotor blade tip has significant influence on turbine stage aerodynamics and heat transfer. Most previous efforts have been based on low-speed cascade settings. However, more recent research on transonic blade tips exhibits distinctive flow features with qualitatively different performance sensitivities. These prompt two key issues of interest on the related flow conditioning. First, the contrast between a low-speed flow and a transonic regime highlights the less studied high-subsonic flow regime, closely relevant to many realistic turbine designs. Second, the relative casing movement and upstream inflow conditions, known to have non-negligible effects, indicate the need to examine a rotor blade tip in a realistic stator–rotor stage environment, which is also lacking. To elaborate the Mach number effect in the flow regimes of practical interest, we aim to examine a high subsonic stage in a direct and consistent comparison with a transonic one. To this end, a high subsonic stage (exit Mach number of 0.7) and a transonic (exit Mach number of 1.1) are designed at the same Reynolds number with a three-dimensional parameterization and meshing system. The tip squealer height is used as a representative parameter to investigate the sensitivity of the stage aerothermal performance. The multi-objective optimization using the Kriging surrogated model is employed to identify the Pareto fronts for the stage efficiency and the heat transfer. The comparison of the optimized results between these two stages shows distinctively different trends in the performance variation with the squealer height. The efficiency of the subsonic stage increases with the squealer height reaching a plateau. In contrast, the efficiency in the transonic stage first increases and then drops to the level comparable to that of a flat tip. Significantly, the present results indicate, for the first time, that the squealer tip in a transonic stage may not be as effective as in a subsonic stage. On the other hand, for heat transfer, sensitivity variations are more complex. The overall heat load and the local nonuniformity lead to qualitatively different sensitivities with the squealer height, as well as completely incomparable Pareto fronts. These observed heat transfer sensitivities raise the question on how to effectively conduct a combined aerodynamic and heat transfer performance design optimization. The authors subsequently resort further aerothermal physics analyses described in a companion paper as Part II of the two-part article. In Part II, the physical interpretation of the contrasting aero-efficiency sensitivities for the two stages, as well as a physical understanding leveraged selection of the objective function for such combined blade tip aerothermal optimization will be presented.
Prospects for Low-Resolution NDIR Sensors to Discern Ignition Properties of Fuels
Authors: Sutar Ashish , Dalmiya Anandvinod , Sheyyab Manaf , Anahideh Hadis , Mayhew Eric K. , Brezinsky Kenneth , Lynch Patrick T.
Published: December 2023

The cetane number (CN) is an important fuel property to consider for compression ignition engines as it is a measure of a fuel's ignition delay. Derived cetane number (DCN) already varies significantly within jet fuels. With the expected increasing prevalence of alternative jet fuels, additional variability is expected. DCN is usually assigned to fuels using ASTM methods that use large equipment like the ignition quality tester (IQT), which consumes a lot of fuel and is cumbersome to operate. Over the last decade, there have been advances in the development of chemometric models, which use machine learning to correlate infrared spectra of fuels to fuel properties like DCN, density, and C/H ratio, among many others. These techniques have certain advantages over the ASTM methods, and previous studies performed on samples of diesel fuels have shown high accuracies in DCN prediction. However, this accuracy is generally a result of high resolution, making the equipment expensive, relatively large for handheld sensors, and power-hungry. On the other hand, nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors, despite having a low resolution, are attractive because they can be compact, inexpensive, and power efficient. These characteristics are important for handheld or onboard fuel sensors. However, one would anticipate a tradeoff between these advantages and accuracy. This study investigates this tradeoff and the feasibility of low-resolution NDIR sensors to discern fuel properties such as DCN by using Machine Learning models trained on real FTIR data, and DCNs obtained from IQT. DCN predictions were made for blends of ATJ/F-24, CN fuels, and neat Jet A1, A2, and JP 5, with an error limit of 10%. It was found that there seems to be sufficient variability in the near infrared (NIR) range to discern DCN with a feasible number of channels, but the channels have to be narrow (e.g., FWHMs as narrow as 60 nm). For the dataset in the study, the performance of linear models was better than the nonlinear model. Finally, NIR region beyond 1050 nm was found to be more important in DCN prediction, primarily the regions consisting of the first and second C-H overtones and the C-H combination band.
Melt-grown semi-insulating Mn:β-Ga2O3 single crystals exhibiting unique visible absorptions and luminescence
Authors: Dutton Benjamin L. , Varley Joel B. , Remple Cassandra , Jesenovec Jani , Downing Brooke K. , Shen Jimmy-Xuan , Ghandiparsi Soroush , Neal Adam T. , Kim Yunjo , Green Andrew J. , Voss Lars F. , McCluskey Matthew D. , McCloy John S.
Published: December 2023

Several acceptor dopants have been explored in β-Ga2O3 to produce semi-insulating substrates and epitaxial films. Fe and Mg make up the majority of research thus far; however, other transition metals provide potential alternatives for optimized performance. β-Ga2O3 bulk single crystals were grown by the Czochralski and vertical gradient freeze methods with a nominal dopant concentration of 0.25 at. % Mn. Ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy and photoluminescence revealed polarization- and orientation-dependent optical absorptions (pleochroism) coupled with an orange luminescence. All samples were electrically insulating, on the order of 109–1011 ohm cm at room temperature, indicative of acceptor doping. Actual dopant concentrations of the intentionally doped transition metal and background impurities were determined via glow discharge mass spectrometry, indicating the macroscale segregation behavior. High-temperature resistivity measurements indicated an experimental acceptor level of 1.7 ± 0.2 eV. Hydrogenation of samples resulted in an increase in the orange luminescence and O–H stretching modes observable in the infrared spectrum. Density functional theory calculations were performed to determine the likely site-occupancy and acceptor level of Mn in the bandgap.
A note on the audio sound power generated by a parametric array loudspeaker
Authors: Li Mengtong , Zhong Jiaxin , Jing Yun , Lu Jing
Published: December 2023

Understanding the sound power characteristics of parametric array loudspeakers (PALs) poses a unique challenge due to the nonlinear process involved. This work addresses this issue by employing the spherical convolution directivity model to obtain the far field intensity, which is then used to calculate the sound power radiated by a PAL. The results reveal that the audio sound power is approximately proportional to the square of the audio frequency and the aperture size, while inversely proportional to the ultrasound frequency. Additionally, the conversion efficiency from ultrasound to audio sound is found to be generally below 0.15% for typical configurations.
Molecular dynamics simulation of mechanical relaxation of poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers
Authors: Sheveleva Nadezhda N. , Komolkin Andrei V. , Markelov Denis A.
Published: December 2023

We report on shear-stress relaxation of melts of poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimers of different generations (G2–G5). The aim of this study was to confirm our previous conclusion in Sheveleva et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 24, 13049–13056 (2022)] for carbosilane dendrimers that an impenetrable inner region leads to the manifestation of the crowded environment effect. The systems of PPI dendrimer melts are studied using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The time and frequency dependencies of the dynamic shear-stress modulus are investigated. The results are in good agreement with the available rheological experimental data for G2–G4 PPI. We have found that the crowded environment effect does not manifest itself in the mechanical relaxation of G4 PPI dendrimers in contrast to G4 carbosilane dendrimers. Despite their similar topology and close sizes, G4 PPI does not form an impenetrable core. The G5 PPI dendrimer has an impenetrable inner region, and the crowded environment effect is observed. As in carbosilane dendrimers, the maximal time of mechanical relaxation is increased due to the crowded environment effect. However, the opposite situation is for the rotational diffusion of the G5 PPI dendrimers. In contrast to carbosilane dendrimers, the rotational mobility of G5 PPI significantly slows down even taking into account the increase in the dendrimer size. The hydrogen bonding between PPI dendrimers affects the mechanical relaxation at high frequencies (short times) and enhances with growing G.
Discovery and verification of extracellular microRNA biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic assessment of preeclampsia at triage
Authors: Morey Robert , Poling Lara , Srinivasan Srimeenakshi , Martinez-King Carolina , Anyikam Adanna , Zhang-Rutledge Kathy , To Cuong , Hakim Abbas , Mochizuki Marina , Verma Kajal , Mason Antoinette , Tran Vy , Meads Morgan , Lamale-Smith Leah , Roeder Hilary , Horii Mariko , Ramos Gladys A. , DeHoff Peter , Parast Mana M. , Pantham Priyadarshini , Laurent Louise C.
Published: December 2023

We report on the identification of extracellular miRNA (ex-miRNA) biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of preeclampsia (PE). Small RNA sequencing of maternal serum prospectively collected from participants undergoing evaluation for suspected PE revealed distinct patterns of ex-miRNA expression among different categories of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Applying an iterative machine learning method identified three bivariate miRNA biomarkers (
miR-522-3p/miR-4732-5p
,
miR-516a-5p/miR-144-3p
, and
miR-27b-3p/let-7b-5p
) that, when applied serially, distinguished between PE cases of different severity and differentiated cases from controls with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 55%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 89%. In a small independent validation cohort, these ex-miRNA biomarkers had a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 57%. Combining these ex-miRNA biomarkers with the established sFlt1:PlGF protein biomarker ratio performed better than either set of biomarkers alone (sensitivity of 89.4%, specificity of 91.3%, PPV of 95.5%, and NPV of 80.8%).
Liver macrophages and sinusoidal endothelial cells execute vaccine-elicited capture of invasive bacteria
Authors: Wang Juanjuan , An Haoran , Ding Ming , Liu Yanhong , Wang Shaomeng , Jin Qian , Wu Qi , Dong Haodi , Guo Qile , Tian Xianbin , Liu Jiankai , Zhang Jingfei , Zhu Tao , Li Junqiang , Shao Zhujun , Briles David E. , Veening Jan-Willem , Zheng Haifa , Zhang Linqi , Zhang Jing-Ren
Published: December 2023

Vaccination has substantially reduced the morbidity and mortality of bacterial diseases, but mechanisms of vaccine-elicited pathogen clearance remain largely undefined. We report that vaccine-elicited immunity against invasive bacteria mainly operates in the liver. In contrast to the current paradigm that migrating phagocytes execute vaccine-elicited immunity against blood-borne pathogens, we found that invasive bacteria are captured and killed in the liver of vaccinated host via various immune mechanisms that depend on the protective potency of the vaccine. Vaccines with relatively lower degrees of protection only activated liver-resident macrophage Kupffer cells (KCs) by inducing pathogen-binding immunoglobulin M (IgM) or low amounts of IgG. IgG-coated pathogens were directly captured by KCs via multiple IgG receptors FcγRs, whereas IgM-opsonized bacteria were indirectly bound to KCs via complement receptors of immunoglobulin superfamily (CRIg) and complement receptor 3 (CR3) after complement C3 activation at the bacterial surface. Conversely, the more potent vaccines engaged both KCs and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells by inducing higher titers of functional IgG antibodies. Endothelial cells (ECs) captured densely IgG-opsonized pathogens by the low-affinity IgG receptor FcγRIIB in a “zipper-like” manner and achieved bacterial killing predominantly in the extracellular milieu via an undefined mechanism. KC- and endothelial cell–based capture of antibody-opsonized bacteria also occurred in FcγR-humanized mice. These vaccine protection mechanisms in the liver not only provide a comprehensive explanation for vaccine-/antibody-boosted immunity against invasive bacteria but also may serve as in vivo functional readouts of vaccine efficacy.
Microbiome analysis reveals
Microcystis
blooms endogenously seeded from benthos within wastewater maturation ponds
Authors: Romanis C. S. , Timms V. J. , Nebauer D. J. , Crosbie N. D. , Neilan B. A.
Published: December 2023

Toxigenic
Microcystis
blooms periodically disrupt the stabilization ponds of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Dense proliferations of
Microcystis
cells within the surface waters (SWs) impede the water treatment process by reducing the treatment efficacy of the latent WWTP microbiome. Further, water quality is reduced when conventional treatment leads to
Microcystis
cell lysis and the release of intracellular microcystins into the water column. Recurrent seasonal
Microcystis
blooms cause significant financial burdens for the water industry and predicting their source is vital for bloom management strategies. We investigated the source of recurrent toxigenic
Microcystis
blooms at Australia’s largest lagoon-based municipal WWTP in both sediment core (SC) and SW samples between 2018 and 2020. Bacterial community composition of the SC and SW samples according to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that
Microcystis
sp. was dominant within SW samples throughout the period and reached peak relative abundances (32%) during the summer. The same
Microcystis
Amplicon sequence variants were present within the SC and SW samples indicating a potential migratory population that transitions between the sediment water and SWs during bloom formation events. To investigate the potential of the sediment to act as a repository of viable
Microcystis
cells for recurrent bloom formation, a novel
in-vitro
bloom model was established featuring sediments and sterilized SW collected from the WWTP. Microcystin-producing
Microcystis
blooms were established through passive resuspension after 12 weeks of incubation. These results demonstrate the capacity of
Microcystis
to transition between the sediments and SWs in WWTPs, acting as a perennial inoculum for recurrent blooms.

IMPORTANCE

Cyanobacterial blooms are prevalent to wastewater treatment facilities owing to the stable, eutrophic conditions. Cyanobacterial proliferations can disrupt operational procedures through the blocking of filtration apparatus or altering the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) microbiome, reducing treatment efficiency. Conventional wastewater treatment often results in the lysis of cyanobacterial cells and the release of intracellular toxins which pose a health risk to end users. This research identifies a potential seeding source of recurrent toxigenic cyanobacterial blooms within wastewater treatment facilities. Our results demonstrate the capacity of
Microcystis
to transition between the sediments and surface waters (SWs) of wastewater treatment ponds enabling water utilities to develop adequate monitoring and management strategies. Further, we developed a novel model to demonstrate benthic recruitment of toxigenic
Microcystis
under laboratory conditions facilitating future research into the genetic mechanisms behind bloom development.
Engineering
Novosphingobium aromaticivorans
to produce
cis,cis
-muconic acid from biomass aromatics
Authors: Vilbert Avery C. , Kontur Wayne S. , Gille Derek , Noguera Daniel R. , Donohue Timothy J.
Published: December 2023

The platform chemical
cis,cis-
muconic acid (
cc
MA) provides facile access to a number of monomers used in the synthesis of commercial plastics. It is also a metabolic intermediate in the β-ketoadipic acid pathway of many bacteria and, therefore, a current target for microbial production from abundant renewable resources via metabolic engineering. This study investigates
Novosphingobium aromaticivorans
DSM12444 as a chassis for the production of
cc
MA from biomass aromatics. The
N. aromaticivorans
genome predicts that it encodes a previously uncharacterized protocatechuic acid (PCA) decarboxylase and a catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, which would be necessary for the conversion of aromatic metabolic intermediates to
cc
MA. This study confirmed the activity of these two enzymes
in vitro
and compared their activity to ones that have been previously characterized and used in
cc
MA production. From these results, we generated one strain that is completely derived from native genes and a second that contains genes previously used in microbial engineering synthesis of this compound. Both of these strains exhibited stoichiometric production of
cc
MA from PCA and produced greater than 100% yield of
cc
MA from the aromatic monomers that were identified in liquor derived from alkaline pretreated biomass. Our results show that a strain completely derived from native genes and one containing homologs from other hosts are both capable of stoichiometric production of
cc
MA from biomass aromatics. Overall, this work combines previously unknown aspects of aromatic metabolism in
N. aromaticivorans
and the genetic tractability of this organism to generate strains that produce
cc
MA from deconstructed biomass.

IMPORTANCE

The production of commodity chemicals from renewable resources is an important goal toward increasing the environmental and economic sustainability of industrial processes. The aromatics in plant biomass are an underutilized and abundant renewable resource for the production of valuable chemicals. However, due to the chemical composition of plant biomass, many deconstruction methods generate a heterogeneous mixture of aromatics, thus making it difficult to extract valuable chemicals using current methods. Therefore, recent efforts have focused on harnessing the pathways of microorganisms to convert a diverse set of aromatics into a single product.
Novosphingobium aromaticivorans
DSM12444 has the native ability to metabolize a wide range of aromatics and, thus, is a potential chassis for conversion of these abundant compounds to commodity chemicals. This study reports on new features of
N. aromaticivorans
that can be used to produce the commodity chemical
cis,cis
-muconic acid from renewable and abundant biomass aromatics.
A neutralizing single-domain antibody that targets the trimer interface of the human metapneumovirus fusion protein
Authors: Ballegeer Marlies , van Scherpenzeel Revina C. , Delgado Teresa , Iglesias-Caballero Maria , García Barreno Blanca , Pandey Shubham , Rush Scott A. , Kolkman Joost A. , Mas Vicente , McLellan Jason S. , Saelens Xavier
Published: December 2023

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of viral lower respiratory tract disease in children and adults. The hMPV fusion protein F is a trimeric class I fusion protein that is initially synthesized as a precursor (F
0
) and requires proteolytic activation by a host cell protease to generate the metastable, fusion-competent prefusion conformation of F. hMPV F is considered the main target of the neutralizing antibody response against hMPV infection. We isolated single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) directed against hMPV F that potently neutralize hMPV A and B strains. One of these sdAbs, sdHMPV16, specifically bound to cleaved and uncleaved prefusion F. Co-crystal structure analysis revealed that sdHMPV16 binds to a site located at the trimer interface of prefusion F. Moreover, prophylactic treatment with a sdHMPV16-Fc fusion protein reduced viral titers in the lungs of hMPV-infected cotton rats. In summary, sdHMPV16 broadly neutralizes hMPV, can be turned into a candidate biologic that restricts hMPV replication in an
in vivo
model, and, unexpectedly, binds to an unconventional epitope at the prefusion F trimer interface.

IMPORTANCE

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important respiratory pathogen for which no licensed antivirals or vaccines exist. Single-domain antibodies represent promising antiviral biologics that can be easily produced and formatted. We describe the isolation and detailed characterization of two hMPV-neutralizing single-domain antibodies that are directed against the fusion protein F. One of these single-domain antibodies broadly neutralizes hMPV A and B strains, can prevent proteolytic maturation of F, and binds to an epitope in the F trimer interface. This suggests that hMPV pre-F undergoes trimer opening or “breathing” on infectious virions, exposing a vulnerable site for neutralizing antibodies. Finally, we show that this single-domain antibody, fused to a human IgG1 Fc, can protect cotton rats against hMPV replication, an important finding for potential future clinical applications.
Activation of glucocorticoid receptor signaling inhibits KSHV-induced inflammation and tumorigenesis
Authors: Chen Luping , Ding Ling , Wang Xian , Huang Yufei , Gao Shou-Jiang
Published: December 2023

Hyperinflammation is the hallmark of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), the most common cancer in AIDS patients caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. However, the role and mechanism of induction of inflammation in KS remain unclear. In a screening for inhibitors of KSHV-induced oncogenesis, over half of the identified candidates were anti-inflammatory agents including dexamethasone, which functions by activating glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling. Here, we examined the mechanism mediating KSHV-induced inflammation. We found that numerous inflammatory pathways were activated in KSHV-transformed cells. Particularly, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) from the IL-1 family were the most induced and suppressed cytokines, respectively. We found that KSHV miRNAs mediated IL-1α induction while both miRNAs and vFLIP mediated IL-1Ra suppression. Furthermore, GR signaling was inhibited in KSHV-transformed cells, which was mediated by vFLIP and vCyclin. Dexamethasone treatment activated GR signaling and inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation in soft agar of KSHV-transformed cells but had a minimal effect on matched primary cells. Consequently, dexamethasone suppressed the initiation and growth of KSHV-induced tumors in mice. Mechanistically, dexamethasone suppressed IL-1α but induced IL-1Ra expression. Treatment with recombinant IL-1α protein rescued the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone while overexpression of IL-1Ra caused a weak growth inhibition of KSHV-transformed cells. Furthermore, dexamethasone induced IκBα expression resulting in inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and IL-1α expression. These results reveal an important role of the IL-1 pathway in KSHV-induced inflammation and oncogenesis, which can be inhibited by dexamethasone-activated GR signaling, and identify IL-1-mediated inflammation as a potential therapeutic target for KSHV-induced malignancies.

IMPORTANCE

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common cancer in HIV-infected patients caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. Hyperinflammation is the hallmark of KS. In this study, we have shown that KSHV mediates hyperinflammation by inducing IL-1α and suppressing IL-1Ra. Mechanistically, KSHV miRNAs and vFLIP induce hyperinflammation by activating the NF-κB pathway. A common anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone blocks KSHV-induced hyperinflammation and tumorigenesis by activating glucocorticoid receptor signaling to suppress IL-1α and induce IL-1Ra. This work has identified IL-1-mediated inflammation as a potential therapeutic target and dexamethasone as a potential therapeutic agent for KSHV-induced malignancies.
Cytomegalovirus-induced inactivation of TSC2 disrupts the coupling of fatty acid biosynthesis to glucose availability resulting in a vulnerability to glucose starvation
Authors: Raymonda Matthew H. , Rodríguez-Sánchez Irene , Schafer Xenia L. , Smorodintsev-Schiller Leonid , Harris Isaac S. , Munger Joshua
Published: December 2023

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) modulates cellular metabolism to support productive infection, and the HCMV U
L
38 protein drives many aspects of this HCMV-induced metabolic program. However, it remains to be determined whether virally induced metabolic alterations might induce novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in virally infected cells. Here, we explore how HCMV infection and the U
L
38 protein modulate cellular metabolism and how these changes alter the response to nutrient limitation. We find that expression of U
L
38, either in the context of HCMV infection or in isolation, sensitizes cells to glucose limitation resulting in cell death. This sensitivity is mediated through U
L
38’s inactivation of the TSC complex subunit 2 (TSC2) protein, a central metabolic regulator that possesses tumor-suppressive properties. Furthermore, expression of U
L
38 or the inactivation of TSC2 results in anabolic rigidity, in that the resulting increased levels of fatty acid biosynthesis are insensitive to glucose limitation. This failure to regulate fatty acid biosynthesis in response to glucose availability sensitizes cells to glucose limitation, resulting in cell death unless fatty acid biosynthesis is inhibited. These experiments identify a regulatory circuit between glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis that is critical for cell survival upon glucose limitation and highlight a metabolic vulnerability associated with viral infection and the inactivation of normal metabolic regulatory controls.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses modulate host cell metabolism to support the mass production of viral progeny. For human cytomegalovirus, we find that the viral U
L
38 protein is critical for driving these pro-viral metabolic changes. However, our results indicate that these changes come at a cost, as U
L
38 induces an anabolic rigidity that leads to a metabolic vulnerability. We find that U
L
38 decouples the link between glucose availability and fatty acid biosynthetic activity. Normal cells respond to glucose limitation by down-regulating fatty acid biosynthesis. Expression of U
L
38 results in the inability to modulate fatty acid biosynthesis in response to glucose limitation, which results in cell death. We find this vulnerability in the context of viral infection, but this linkage between fatty acid biosynthesis, glucose availability, and cell death could have broader implications in other contexts or pathologies that rely on glycolytic remodeling, for example, oncogenesis.
Permian–Triassic magmatism above a slab window in the Eastern Tianshan: Implications for the evolution of the southern Altaids
Authors: Muhtar M.N. , Xiao Wenjiao , Brzozowski Matthew J. , Mao Qigui , Yang He , Wu Changzhi
Published: December 2023

Permian–Triassic metaluminous–peraluminous granitoids, mafic–ultramafic plutons, and Ni-Cu and Au deposits are prominent features in the Eastern Tianshan of the southern Altaids. However, the genetic relationship between coeval granitoids and mafic–ultramafic intrusions, and the geodynamics of magmatism and related mineralization, remain ambiguous. To address these ambiguities, we present petrological, geochemical, and bulk-rock Sr-Nd-Fe and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope analyses of granitoids from the Shuangchagou Complex and gabbros from the Huangshandong Complex in the Eastern Tianshan. Zircon U-Pb ages demonstrate that the Huangshandong gabbro was emplaced at ca. 277.8 ± 1.4 Ma. In contrast, U-Pb ages determined from zircons in the granitic rocks of the Shuangchagou Complex suggest that the complex crystallized from three stages of magmatism: (1) strongly peraluminous S-type granitic magma represented by early-stage gneiss and granitic veins (ca. 289 Ma), (2) metaluminous to weakly peraluminous I-type granitic magmas represented by the intermediate-stage granitoids (ca. 283–261 Ma), and (3) late-stage granitoids (ca. 250–241 Ma). The intermediate- and late-stage granitoids (ca. 283–241 Ma) show clear enrichments in the light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Th, and U), and depletions in high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti), similar to arc magmas, which indicates that the North Tianshan oceanic plate was still subducting during the Middle Triassic. Considering the diversity of magmatic rocks (e.g., mid-oceanic-ridge–type mafic rocks, and I-, S- and A-type igneous rocks), mineralization styles (e.g., Alaskan-type Ni-Cu sulfide deposits and orogenic gold deposits), and the dextral strike-slip faults (e.g., Kanggur Fault) that occurred concurrently in the Eastern Tianshan during the Early Permian to Middle Triassic, we suggest that splitting of the subducted portion of the North Tianshan oceanic plate created a slab window that allowed the upwelling and partial melting of asthenospheric mantle to form the mafic–ultramafic intrusions and related Ni-Cu sulfide deposits. Sustained migration of magma provided the heat necessary to induce partial melting, devolatilization, and desulfurization of crustal materials, producing the Permian–Triassic, high-K to calc-alkaline I- and S-type granitoids, and associated orogenic gold deposits. By integrating the results of this study with published work regarding the Kanggur Accretionary Complex, we suggest that the subduction of the North Tianshan Ocean may have lasted until the Late Triassic.
Evolution of an earthquake-induced landslide complex in the South Island of New Zealand: How fault damage zones and seismicity contribute to slope failures
Authors: Singeisen Corinne , Massey Chris , Wolter Andrea , Stahl Tim , Kellett Richard , Bruce Zane , Bloom Colin , Mason Dougal
Published: December 2023

Tectonic deformation within fault damage zones can influence slope stability and landslide failure mechanisms due to rock mass strength effects and the presence of tectonic structures. Here, we used detailed site investigations to evaluate controls on deformation within the Half Moon Bay landslide complex, located ~1 km from the surface trace of the Hope fault in the South Island of New Zealand. During the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake, the slope experienced up to ~13 m of displacement and partially transitioned into a rock avalanche (with a volume of ~350,000 m3). Deep-seated deformation of the entire slope predated the 2016 earthquake. Results of geomorphological analysis, field mapping, geophysical surveys, slope displacement, and a 60-m-deep borehole in the incipient portion of the landslide indicated the presence of a subvertical tectonic fabric and intense fracturing and weathering of the rock mass, which gradually decrease with depth. Based on these results, we established a conceptual model wherein the landslide failure mechanism is a combination of flexural toppling along the subvertical structures coupled with joint-step-path sliding along preexisting, closely spaced discontinuities within the graywacke rock mass. Coseismic slope displacements revealed a large area of incipient failure behind the headscarp of the 2016 rock avalanche, which will likely result in further avalanching at the site. This case study demonstrates that inherited tectonic structures (combined with seismicity and weathering in an oversteepened coastal slope) play an important role in the evolution of hillslopes near active faults.
Management of post-traumatic tracheal stenosis with silicone stent placement
Authors: Sivaramakrishnan Prakash , Mishra Mayank , Sindhwani Girish
Published: December 2023

Benign airway stenosis often poses a therapeutic challenge and requires a multidisciplinary approach involving interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. We report the case of a man who presented with thoracic trauma following a road traffic accident. His chest X-ray showed complete collapse of the right lung, while screening flexible bronchoscopy revealed pooled secretions and asymmetric mid-to-lower tracheal stenosis. After thorough clinicoradiological evaluation and multidisciplinary discussion, we proceeded with therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy and silicone stenting of the tracheal stenotic lesion. Post-procedure, the patient improved clinically and also showed radiological improvement. Subsequently, he underwent stent removal and remains in follow-up. While surgery is a definitive modality for management of benign tracheal stenosis, most patients with advanced disease, pneumonia or with poor general condition are unfit to tolerate general anaesthesia or surgery. In such patients, minimally invasive bronchoscopic techniques that are generally safe to perform have led to substantial improvement in symptoms and long-term quality of life.
Rare case of steroid cell tumour presenting as resistant hypertension in early pregnancy
Authors: Hannon Maura , Plant William D , Joyce Caroline , Russell Noirin E
Published: December 2023

A woman 12 weeks and 3 days pregnant was referred to the emergency department with significant hypertension which, despite aggressive medical management, remained uncontrolled. Markedly elevated levels of renin and aldosterone beyond what is typical in early pregnancy were present, which together with the finding of a right ovarian cyst pointed to the possible diagnosis of an extrarenal reninoma.and the decision was made to perform a right-sided oophorectomy at 16 weeks gestation. Histology demonstrated a staining pattern most consistent with a steroid cell tumour leading to the diagnosis of refractory hypertension secondary to an ovarian steroid cell tumour. Post oophorectomy blood biochemistry rapidly returned to normal, and our patient’s hypertension slowly resolved allowing for a large reduction in antihypertensive agent requirements and a successful pregnancy outcome.
Encephalitis as an initial presentation of type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis
Authors: Cilia Kyle , Mifsud Simon , Craus Sarah , Vella Sandro , Dingli Nicola
Published: December 2023

We report a case of a woman in her mid-20s presenting with encephalitis as the initial presentation of type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT). She was on amiodarone in view of a history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Symptomatology included acute personality change and focal myoclonic jerks.

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a non-specific protein count elevation with negative microbiology, virology, autoimmune screen and onconeural antibodies. The electroencephalogram was consistent with a generalised cerebral dysrhythmia. An MRI of the head revealed symmetrical oedema within the motor cortices and a high T2 signal within the cerebellar dentate nuclei, with no restricted diffusion. Blood investigations confirmed thyrotoxicosis with negative antithyroid antibodies. She did not fulfil the criteria for a thyroid storm. Other possible causes of encephalitis were excluded.

There was an excellent clinical, laboratory and radiological response to glucocorticoids, suggesting a diagnosis of steroid-responsive encephalitis secondary to type 2-AIT in the absence of a thyroid storm.
Neuroendocrine tumour of the lesser omentum
Authors: Babu Basil , Subbiah Nagaraj Satish , Yadav Shaurya , Periasamy Kannan
Published: December 2023

A man in his early 20s presented to us in the outpatient department with a history of diarrhoea for 4 months. Investigations revealed elevated serum chromogranin levels and an intensely avid lesion in the gastrohepatic ligament in Gallium DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET). The tumour was excised laparoscopically, and no other lesions were seen. The patient improved clinically and had a normal serum chromogranin level postoperatively. He is currently much improved at the 1year follow-up. We did an extensive workup to look for a primary tumour. It was concluded that it was a de novo tumour arising from the lesser sac. The recommended investigations in case of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) with unknown primary include blood investigations to look for the functional status of the tumour, histopathological examination, including immunohistochemistry, and radiological imaging, which must include a Gallium DOTATATE PET. An isolated NET of the lesser sac has not been reported in the literature.
Race and socioeconomic disparities in mortality and end-of-life care following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Kabangu Jean-Luc K , Fry Lane , Bhargav Adip G , Heskett Cody , Eden Sonia V , Peterson Jeremy C , Camarata Paul J , Ebersole Koji
Published: December 2023

Background

This study explores racial and socioeconomic disparities in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) care, highlighting the impact on treatment and outcomes. The study aims to shed light on inequities and inform strategies for reducing disparities in healthcare delivery.

Methods

In this cohort study the National Inpatient Sample database was queried for patient admissions with ruptured aSAH from 2016 to 2020. Multivariable analyses were performed estimating the impact of socioeconomic status and race on rates of acute treatment, functional outcomes, mortality, receipt of life-sustaining interventions (mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, and blood transfusions), and end-of-life care (palliative care and do not resuscitate).

Results

A total of 181 530 patients were included. Minority patients were more likely to undergo treatment (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.22, P<0.001) and were less likely to die (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.95, P<0.001) than White patients. However, they were also more likely to have a tracheostomy (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.62, P<0.001) and gastrostomy tube placement (OR 1.43, 95%CI 1.32 to 1.54, P<0.001), while receiving less palliative care (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.80, P<0.001). This trend persisted when comparing minority patients from wealthier backgrounds with White patients from poorer backgrounds for treatment (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.21, P=0.046), mortality (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.89, P<0.001), tracheostomy tube (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.48, P<0.001), gastrostomy tube (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.52, P<0.001), and palliative care (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.84, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Compared with White patients, minority patients with aSAH are more likely to undergo acute treatment and have lower mortality, yet receive more life-sustaining interventions and less palliation, even in higher socioeconomic classes. Addressing these disparities is imperative to ensure equitable access to optimal care and improve outcomes for all patients regardless of race or class.
Pathology of neurodegenerative disease for the general neurologist
Authors: Cullinane Patrick W , Wrigley Sarah , Bezerra Parmera Jacy , Valerio Fernanda , Millner Thomas O , Shaw Karen , De Pablo-Fernandez Eduardo , Warner Thomas T , Jaunmuktane Zane
Published: December 2023

Neurodegeneration refers to progressive dysfunction or loss of selectively vulnerable neurones from brain and spinal cord regions. Despite important advances in fluid and imaging biomarkers, the definitive diagnosis of most neurodegenerative diseases still relies on neuropathological examination. Not only has careful clinicopathological correlation shaped current clinical diagnostic criteria and informed our understanding of the natural history of neurodegenerative diseases, but it has also identified conditions with important public health implications, including variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, iatrogenic amyloid-β and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Neuropathological examination may also point to previously unsuspected genetic diagnoses with potential implications for living relatives. Moreover, detailed neuropathological assessment is crucial for research studies that rely on curated postmortem tissue to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration and for biomarker discovery and validation. This review aims to elucidate the hallmark pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases commonly seen in general neurology clinics, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease; rare but well-known diseases, including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and multiple system atrophy and more recently described entities such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and age-related tau astrogliopathy.
Azilsartan prevents muscle loss and fast- to slow-twitch muscle fiber shift in natural ageing sarcopenic rats
Authors: Prajapati Priyanka , Kumar Anand , Mangrulkar Shubhada , Chaple D.R. , Saraf Shubhini A. , Kushwaha Sapana
Published: December 2023

Sarcopenia is a musculoskeletal disease that reduces muscle mass and strength in older individuals. The study investigates the effects of azilsartan (AZL) on skeletal muscle loss in natural sarcopenic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4–6 months and 18–21 months were selected as young-matched control and natural-aged (sarcopenic) rats, respectively. Rats were allocated into young and old control (YC and OC) and young and old AZL treatment (YT and OT) groups, which received vehicles and AZL (8 mg/kg, orally) for 6 weeks. Rats were then sacrificed after muscle function analysis. Serum and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles were isolated for further endpoints. AZL significantly improved muscle grip strength and antioxidant levels in sarcopenic rats. AZL also restored the levels of insulin, testosterone, and muscle biomarkers such as myostatin and creatinine kinase in sarcopenic rats. Furthermore, AZL treatment improved the cellular and ultrastructure of GN muscle and prevented the shift of type II (glycolytic) myofibers to type I (oxidative) myofibers. The results showed that AZL intervention restored protein synthesis in natural sarcopenic rats by increasing p-Akt-1 and decreasing muscle RING-finger protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha immunoexpressions. In conclusion, the present findings showed that AZL could be an effective intervention in treating age-related muscle impairments.
Experimental observation of distinct amplitude-modulated bursting in Liénard system
Authors: Kingston S. Leo , Vijay S. Dinesh , Kumarasamy Suresh , Kapitaniak Tomasz
Published: December 2023

In this study, we explore the emergence of amplitude-modulated bursting in a multi-frequency excited Liénard system. Our investigation reveals that the system exhibits distinct patterns of amplitude-modulated bursting for a lower damping value and varying forcing frequencies of the system. Conversely, for a higher damping value with distinct system frequencies, the system exhibits intricate amplitude-modulated bursting accompanied by a variety of bursting oscillations. The discrete patterns of amplitude-modulated bursting arise as a consequence of the dynamic interplay with slowly varying multiple frequency forcing within the system. To gain a deeper understanding of these dynamics, we conduct a comprehensive stability bifurcation analysis. Furthermore, to validate our findings, we perform numerical simulations and corroborate our results through a real-time hardware circuit experiment. This interdisciplinary approach provides valuable insights into the behavior of the Liénard system under multi-frequency excitation, shedding light on its complex dynamical characteristics.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking and the cosmological constant
Authors: Gamboa J. , Lopez-Sarrión J. , Méndez F. , Tapia-Arellano N.
Published: December 2023

An approach that allows studying the relationship between the neutralization of the cosmological constant and instantons for cosmology coupled to antisymmetric fields is proposed. Using suitable variables, the Lagrangian leading to the FRW equations can be written analogously to a Ginzburg–Landau theory, and we show how spontaneous symmetry breaking appears.
Effective locality in the pure gluon sector
Authors: Fried H. M. , Gabellini Y. , Grandou T.
Published: December 2023

About 12 years ago, the use of standard functional manipulations was demonstrated to imply an unexpected property satisfied by the fermionic Green’s functions of QCD. This non-perturbative phenomenon is dubbed Effective Locality. In a much simpler way than in QCD, the most remarkable and intriguing aspects of Effective Locality are presented here, in the Yang–Mills theory on Minkowski spacetime.
Optimal teleportation fidelity and its deviation in noisy scenarios
Authors: Bej Pratapaditya , Halder Saronath , Sengupta Ritabrata
Published: December 2023

In this work, we study quantum teleportation, a fundamental protocol of quantum physics. In particular, we present a mathematical methodology to study the combined effects of noisy resource state and noisy classical communication on teleportation fidelity and its deviation. We describe a teleportation protocol where an arbitrary two-qubit state in canonical form is used as a resource. Thereafter, to teleport an unknown qubit, Alice measures her qubits in Bell basis and conveys the measurement outcome to Bob via noisy classical channel(s). We derive the exact formulae of optimal teleportation fidelity and corresponding fidelity deviation where the resource state and the classical communication, both can be noisy. To provide the proof of optimality, we provide a systematic method. We further find conditions for non-classical fidelity and dispersion-free teleportation for our teleportation protocol. In this way, we identify noisy environments where it is possible to achieve dispersion-free teleportation without compromising non-classical fidelity. We also demonstrate scenarios where the increase of entanglement in the resource state, may degrade the quality of teleportation — a counter-intuitive instance. Finally, we discuss about the minimum classical communication cost required to achieve non-classical fidelity for our protocol. Here we mainly focus on a possible way to optimize the classical communication cost.
APPROXIMATE SOLUTION FOR TIME FRACTIONAL NONLINEAR MKDV EQUATION WITHIN LOCAL FRACTIONAL OPERATORS
Authors: SUN JIAN-SHE
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we first propose a method, which is originated from coupling local fractional Yang–Laplace transform with the Daftardar–Gejji–Jafaris method (LFYLTDGJM). The proposed method is successfully applied to solve the local time fractional nonlinear modified Korteweg–de Vries (TFNMKDV) equation. The approximate solution presented here illustrates the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed computational technique to solve fractional nonlinear the partial differential equations involving local fractional operators.
EUROPEAN OPTION PRICING IN THE GENERALIZED MIXED WEIGHTED FRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION
Authors: XU FENG , HAN MIAO
Published: December 2023

In order to describe the self-similarity and long-range dependence of financial asset prices, this paper adopts a new fractional-type process, i.e, the generalized mixed weighted fractional Brownian motion to describe the dynamic change process of risky asset prices. A European option pricing model driven by the generalized mixed weighted fractional Brownian motion is constructed, and explicit solutions to the pricing formulas of European call options and European put options are derived by using the arbitrage-free pricing theory. Finally, through numerical simulation, the influence of the parameter on the option price is analyzed.