bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mendelian randomization analysis implicates bidirectional associations between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and ischemic stroke
Authors: Jia Yiming , Sun Hongyan , Sun Lulu , Wang Yinan , Xu Qingyun , Liu Yi , Chang Xinyue , He Yu , Guo Daoxia , Shi Mengyao , Chen Guo-Chong , Zheng Jin , Zhang Yonghong , Zhu Zhengbao
Published: September 2023

Brian imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) have been suggested to be associated with ischemic stroke, but the causality between them remains unclear. In this bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, we explored the potential causal relationship between 461 imaging-derived phenotypes (n = 33,224, UK Biobank) and ischemic stroke (n = 34,217 cases/406,111 controls, Multiancestry Genome-Wide Association Study of Stroke). Forward MR analyses identified five IDPs associated with ischemic stroke, including mean diffusivity (MD) in the right superior fronto-occipital fasciculus (1.22 [95% CI, 1.11–1.34]), MD in the left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus (1.30 [1.17–1.44]), MD in the anterior limb of the right internal capsule (1.36 [1.22–1.51]), MD in the right anterior thalamic radiation (1.17 [1.09–1.26]), and MD in the right superior thalamic radiation (1.23 [1.11–1.35]). In the reverse MR analyses, ischemic stroke was identified to be associated with three IDPs, including high isotropic or free water volume fraction in the body of corpus callosum (beta, 0.189 [95% confidence interval, 0.107–0.271]), orientation dispersion index in the pontine crossing tract (0.175 [0.093–0.257]), and volume of the third ventricle (0.219 [0.138–0.301]). This bidirectional two-sample MR study suggested five predictors and three diagnostic markers for ischemic stroke at the brain-imaging level. Further studies are warranted to replicate our findings and clarify underlying mechanisms.
A novel deep-learning image condition for locating earthquake
Authors: Kuang Wenhuan , Zhang Jie , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2023

Migration-based earthquake location methods may encounter the polarity reversal issue due to the non-explosive components of seismic sources, leading to an unfocused migration image. Such a problem usually makes it difficult to accurately retrieve the optimal location from the migrated source image. In this study, by taking advantage of the general pattern recognition ability of the convolutional neural network, we propose a novel deep-learning image condition (DLIC) to address this issue. The proposed DLIC measures the goodness of waveform alignments for both P and S waves, and it follows the geophysical principle of seismic imaging that the best-aligned waveforms represent fully a best-imaged source location. A synthetic test shows that the DLIC can effectively overcome the polarity reversal issues. Real data applications to southern California show that the DLIC can enhance the focusing of the migrated source image over the classic source scanning algorithm. Further tests show that the DLIC applies to continuous seismic data, to regions with few previously recorded earthquakes, and has the potential to locate small earthquakes. The proposed DLIC shall benefit the migration-based source location methods.
The crisis of physician well-being in Nepal: a multifaceted dilemma demanding urgent intervention
Authors: Singh Bivek
Published: September 2023

The healthcare system in Nepal faces challenges despite the establishment of numerous medical colleges and an increasing number of doctors. The distribution of medical colleges is disproportionately concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations without quality health care. The mental well-being of physicians is a growing concern, with studies indicating high levels of burnout, stress, and depression among healthcare workers, worsened by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Rising suicide rates among medical professionals highlight the severity of burnout and depression in the healthcare sector. Factors contributing to this crisis include inadequate recruitment in government hospitals, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and inefficiencies in resource distribution. Attacks on physicians have become alarmingly frequent, necessitating comprehensive studies to understand the challenges faced by different specialties and the impact of rural versus urban settings. To address these issues, prompt filling of vacant positions in government hospitals and prioritizing physicians’ mental health is crucial. The government should offer competitive salaries, effective management, and supportive working environments to combat the brain drain. Initiatives inspiring professionals to stay in Nepal, along with maintaining the National Health Insurance Program and controlling healthcare privatization, are necessary. Resilience training, professional programs, and improved infrastructure in government medical colleges are vital. This crisis demands global attention and a national study to evaluate burnout, depression, and suicide among healthcare professionals. By addressing these challenges and supporting the well-being of healthcare workers, Nepal can work toward a sustainable healthcare system that provides quality care for all.
Nine Explananda in Search of an Explanans
Authors: Davies David
Published: September 2023

Intuitively speaking, a multiple artwork is one that admits of multiple ‘instances’ which are capable of playing a particular role in the appreciation of the work. The ‘explananda’ in the title of this article are things that have been proposed as requiring explanation by any adequate ontology of multiple artworks so conceived. This assumes that the ontology of art is in the business of explaining certain things, an assumption I defend. At least nine purported explananda have been proposed in the relevant literature. I begin by offering a preliminary sketch of these explananda, identifying how they are grounded in our ordinary artistic practice and discourse, and how they have structured recent debates in the ontology of art. I next argue that the notion of ‘instance’ must be understood in a particular way if instance multiplicity is to capture the standard distinction between singular and multiple art forms. I then assess the relative significance and implications of the nine explananda for an adjudication of the debates in the ontology of art. I identify problems for the historically dominant ‘type’ theory of multiples, and propose an alternative account that speaks to all nine explananda. I conclude by reflecting on where this leaves us and how we should proceed.
SAI-CH-6: Development of a Short Form of the State Anxiety Inventory for Children At-Risk for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Driscoll Kimberly A , Melin Jessica , Lynch Kristian F , Smith Laura B , Johnson Suzanne Bennett
Published: September 2023

Objective

To develop a reliable and valid short form of the State Anxiety Subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-CH) in the Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study.

Methods

A Development Sample of 842 10-year-old TEDDY children completed the STAI-CH State Subscale about their type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk. The best 6 items (three anxiety-present and three anxiety-absent) for use in a short form (SAI-CH-6) were identified via item-total correlations. SAI-CH-6 reliability was examined in a Validation Sample (n = 257) of children who completed the full 20-item STAI-CH State Subscale and then again in an Application Sample (n = 2,710) who completed only the SAI-CH-6. Expected associations between the children’s SAI-CH-6 scores and country of residence, sex, T1D family history, accuracy of T1D risk perception, worry about getting T1D, and their parents’ anxiety scores were examined.

Results

The SAI-CH-6 was reliable (α = 0.81–0.87) and highly correlated with the full 20-item STAI-CH State Subscale (Development Sample: r = 0.94; Validation Sample: r = 0.92). SAI-CH-6 scores detected significant differences in state anxiety symptoms associated with T1D risk by country, T1D family history, accuracy of T1D risk perception, and worry about getting T1D and were correlated with the child’s parent’s anxiety.

Conclusion

The SAI-CH-6 appears useful for assessing children’s state anxiety symptoms when burden and time limitations prohibit the use of the STAI-CH. The utility of the SAI-CH-6 in older children with and without chronic conditions needs to be assessed.
The effect of the adiabatic assumption on asteroseismic scaling relations for luminous red giants
Authors: Zinn Joel C , Pinsonneault Marc H , Bildsten Lars , Stello Dennis
Published: September 2023

Although stellar radii from asteroseismic scaling relations agree at the per cent level with independent estimates for main sequence and most first-ascent red giant branch (RGB) stars, the scaling relations over-predict radii at the tens of per cent level for the most luminous stars ($R \gtrsim 30 \, \mathrm{R}_{\odot }$). These evolved stars have significantly superadiabatic envelopes, and the extent of these regions increase with increasing radius. However, adiabaticity is assumed in the theoretical derivation of the scaling relations as well as in corrections to the large frequency separation. Here, we show that a part of the scaling relation radius inflation may arise from this assumption of adiabaticity. With a new reduction of Kepler asteroseismic data, we find that scaling relation radii and Gaia radii agree to within at least 2 per cent for stars with $R \lesssim 30\, \mathrm{R}_{\odot }$, when treated under the adiabatic assumption. The accuracy of scaling relation radii for stars with $50\, \mathrm{R}_{\odot }\lesssim R \lesssim 100\, \mathrm{R}_{\odot }$, however, is not better than $10~{{\ \rm per \, cent}}-15~{{\ \rm per \, cent}}$ using adiabatic large frequency separation corrections. We find that up to one third of this disagreement for stars with $R \approx 100\, \mathrm{R}_{\odot }$ could be caused by the adiabatic assumption, and that this adiabatic error increases with radius to reach 10 per cent at the tip of the RGB. We demonstrate that, unlike the solar case, the superadiabatic gradient remains large very deep in luminous stars. A large fraction of the acoustic cavity is also in the optically thin atmosphere. The observed discrepancies may therefore reflect the simplified treatment of convection and atmospheres.
Determination method of co-orbital objects in the solar system
Authors: Ding Ying , Qi Yi , Qiao Dong
Published: September 2023

In this paper, based on two-dimensional maps from the semi-analytical Hamiltonian approach, we proposed an improved determination method to classify co-orbital objects in the solar system without numerical integration. Taking advantage of a simple pattern analysis, we present two certainty conditions to recognize co-orbital objects with uncertain orbital parameters. Then, our determination method is applied to classify potential co-orbital objects (PCOs) of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and then their results are verified through numerical integration in the multiplanet model, respectively. Through our method, we identify 11 new co-orbital objects for the first time, including four Mars trojans i.e. tadpole (TP) objects, one short-term Mars quasi-satellite (QS), one Mars horseshoe (HS), one Jupiter QS, one short-term Uranus trojan, one Uranus PCO, and one Neptune PCO with short-term transitions between QS and HS, and one Neptune PCO with short-term transition between QS and TP. Numerical computation shows that except Saturn PCOs significantly perturbed by Jupiter, our determination method for co-orbital objects in the solar system is effective, but it cannot deal with the classification of PCOs near the boundary of different co-orbital regions. Since our method does not rely on time-consuming numerical integration, it is efficient and suitable for a large amount of screening for numerous co-orbital objects in the solar system.
De-noising of galaxy optical spectra with autoencoders
Authors: Scourfield M , Saintonge A , de Mijolla D , Viti S
Published: September 2023

Optical spectra contain a wealth of information about the physical properties and formation histories of galaxies. Often though, spectra are too noisy for this information to be accurately retrieved. In this study, we explore how machine learning methods can be used to de-noise spectra and increase the amount of information we can gain without having to turn to sample averaging methods such as spectral stacking. Using machine learning methods trained on noise-added spectra – Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra with Gaussian noise added – we investigate methods of maximizing the information we can gain from these spectra, in particular from emission lines, such that more detailed analysis can be performed. We produce a variational autoencoder (VAE) model, and apply it on a sample of noise-added spectra. Compared to the flux measured in the original SDSS spectra, the model values are accurate within 0.3–0.5 dex, depending on the specific spectral line and signal-to-noise ratio. Overall, the VAE performs better than a principal component analysis method, in terms of reconstruction loss and accuracy of the recovered line fluxes. To demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the method in the context of large optical spectroscopy surveys, we simulate a population of spectra with noise similar to that in galaxies at z = 0.1 observed by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We show that we can recover the shape and scatter of the mass–metallicity relation in this ‘DESI-like’ sample, in a way that is not possible without the VAE-assisted de-noising.
Chemical enrichment of ICM within the Centaurus cluster – I. Radial profiles
Authors: Gatuzz Efrain , Sanders J S , Dennerl K , Liu A , Fabian A C , Pinto C , Eckert D , Walker S A , ZuHone J
Published: September 2023

We examine deep XMM–Newton European Photon Imaging Camera pn observations of the Centaurus cluster to study the hot intracluster medium (ICM) and radial metal distributions within such an environment. We found that the best-fitting spectral model corresponds to a lognormal temperature distribution, with discontinuities around ∼10, ∼50, and ∼100 kpc, also observed in the abundance distributions. We measured the radial profiles of O, Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe. These profiles reveal prominent negative gradients for distances <90 kpc, which then transition to flatter profiles. We modelled X/Fe ratio profiles with a linear combination of core-collapse supernova and Type Ia supernova (SNIa) models. The best-fitting model suggests a uniform SNIa percentage contribution to the total cluster enrichment, thus supporting an early enrichment of the ICM, with most of the metals present being produced before clustering.
The cosmological simulation code OpenGadget3 – implementation of meshless finite mass
Authors: Groth Frederick , Steinwandel Ulrich P , Valentini Milena , Dolag Klaus
Published: September 2023

Subsonic turbulence plays a major role in determining properties of the intracluster medium (ICM). We introduce a new meshless finite mass (MFM) implementation in OpenGadget3 and apply it to this specific problem. To this end, we present a set of test cases to validate our implementation of the MFM framework in our code. These include but are not limited to: the soundwave and Kepler disc as smooth situations to probe the stability, a Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability as popular mixing instabilities, a blob test as more complex example including both mixing and shocks, shock tubes with various Mach numbers, a Sedov blast wave, different tests including self-gravity such as gravitational freefall, a hydrostatic sphere, the Zeldovich-pancake, and a 1015 M⊙ galaxy cluster as cosmological application. Advantages over smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) include increased mixing and a better convergence behaviour. We demonstrate that the MFM-solver is robust, also in a cosmological context. We show evidence that the solver preforms extraordinarily well when applied to decaying subsonic turbulence, a problem very difficult to handle for many methods. MFM captures the expected velocity power spectrum with high accuracy and shows a good convergence behaviour. Using MFM or SPH within OpenGadget3 leads to a comparable decay in turbulent energy due to numerical dissipation. When studying the energy decay for different initial turbulent energy fractions, we find that MFM performs well down to Mach numbers $\mathcal {M}\approx 0.01$. Finally, we show how important the slope limiter and the energy-entropy switch are to control the behaviour and the evolution of the fluids.
Unstable cosmic ray nuclei constrain low-diffusion zones in the Galactic disc
Authors: Jacobs Hanno , Mertsch Philipp , Phan Vo Hong Minh
Published: September 2023

Observations of the vicinity of a variety of galactic gamma-ray sources have indicated a local suppression of diffusivity of cosmic rays (CRs) by up to three orders of magnitude. However, the impact of these low-diffusion zones on global properties of CR transport is, however, only poorly understood. Here, we argue that CR nuclear ratios, like the boron-to-carbon ratio and relative abundances of Beryllium isotopes are sensitive to the filling fraction of such low-diffusion zones and hence their measurements can be used to constrain the typical sizes and ages of such regions. We have performed a careful parameter study of a CR transport model that allows for different diffusion coefficients κdisc and κhalo in the galactic disc and halo, respectively. Making use of preliminary data from the AMS-02 experiment on the ratio of Beryllium isotopes, we find a 3.5σ preference for a suppression of the diffusion coefficient in the disc with a best-fitting value of $\kappa _{\mathrm{disc}}/\kappa _{\mathrm{halo}} = 0.20^{+0.10}_{-0.06}$. We forecast that with upcoming data from the HELIX balloon experiment, the significance could increase to 6.8σ. Adopting a coarse-graining approach, we find that such a strong suppression could be realized if the filling fraction of low-diffusion zones in the disc was $\sim 66~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. We conclude that the impact of regions of suppressed diffusion might be larger than usually assumed and ought to be taken into account in models of Galactic CR transport.
The impact of cosmic rays on thermal and hydrostatic stability in galactic haloes
Authors: Tsung Tsun Hin Navin , Oh S Peng , Bustard Chad
Published: September 2023

We investigate how cosmic rays (CRs) affect thermal and hydrostatic stability of circumgalactic (CGM) gas, in simulations with both CR streaming and diffusion. Local thermal instability can be suppressed by CR-driven entropy mode propagation, in accordance with previous analytic work. However, there is only a narrow parameter regime where this operates, before CRs overheat the background gas. As mass dropout from thermal instability causes the background density and hence plasma β ≡ Pg/PB to fall, the CGM becomes globally unstable. At the cool disc-to-hot−halo interface, a sharp drop in density boosts Alfven speeds and CR gradients, driving a transition from diffusive to streaming transport. CR forces and heating strengthen, while countervailing gravitational forces and radiative cooling weaken, resulting in a loss of both hydrostatic and thermal equilibrium. In lower β haloes, CR heating drives a hot, single-phase diffuse wind with velocities v ∝ (theat/tff)−1, which exceeds the escape velocity when theat/tff ≲ 0.4. In higher β haloes, where the Alfven Mach number is higher, CR forces drive multi-phase winds with cool, dense fountain flows and significant turbulence. These flows are CR dominated due to ‘trapping’ of CRs by weak transverse B-fields, and have the highest mass loading factors. Thus, local thermal instability can result in winds or fountain flows where either the heat or momentum input of CRs dominates.
The IRX–β relation in kpc-sized star-forming regions in nearby galaxies
Authors: Duffy Laura , Molina Mallory , Eracleous Michael , Ciardullo Robin , Yan Renbin , Gronwall Caryl , Ajgaonkar Nikhil , Boquien Médéric , Zhou Shuang , Li Cheng
Published: September 2023

The effect of dust attenuation on a galaxy’s light depends on a number of physical properties, such as geometry and dust composition, both of which can vary across the faces of galaxies. To investigate this variation, we continue analysis on star-forming regions in 29 galaxies studied previously. We analyse these regions using Swift/UV Optical Telescope and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer images, as well as Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory emission line maps to constrain the relationship between the infrared excess (IRX) and the ultraviolet spectral index, β, for each star-forming region. This relationship can be used to constrain which dust attenuation law is appropriate for the region. We find that the value of Dn(4000) for a region is correlated with both IRX and β, and that the gas-phase metallicity is strongly correlated with the IRX. This correlation between metallicity and IRX suggests that regardless of aperture, metal-rich regions have steeper attenuation curves. We also find that integrated galactic light follows nearly the same IRX–β relationship as that found for kpc-sized star-forming regions. This similarity may suggest that the attenuation law followed by the galaxy is essentially the same as that followed by the regions, although the relatively large size of our star-forming regions complicates this interpretation because optical opacity and attenuation curves have been observed to vary within individual galaxies.
Diffuse gamma-ray emission around the Rosette Nebula
Authors: Liu Jia-hao , Liu Bing , Yang Rui-zhi
Published: September 2023

The Rosette Nebula is a young stellar cluster and molecular cloud complex, located at the edge of the southern shell of a middle-aged supernova remnant Monoceros Loop (G205.5+0.5). We revisited the GeV gamma-ray emission towards the Rosette Nebula using more than 13 yr of Fermi-LAT data. We tested several spatial models and found that compared to the result using the CO gas template only, the inclusion of the H ii gas template can significantly improve the likelihood fit. We performed spectral analysis using the new spatial template. With both the gamma-ray observation and CO+H ii gas data, we derived the cosmic ray spectrum of different components in the vicinity of the Rosette Nebula. We found the gamma-ray emissions from Rosette Nebula are substantially harder than previously reported, which may imply that Rosette Nebula is another example of a gamma-ray emitting young massive star cluster.
Identifying strongly lensed gravitational waves with the third-generation detectors
Authors: Gao Zijun , Liao Kai , Yang Lilan , Zhu Zong-Hong
Published: September 2023

The joint detection of gravitational wave (GW) signals by a network of instruments will increase the detecting ability of faint and far GW signals with higher signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), which could improve the ability of detecting the lensed GWs as well, especially for the third-generation (3G) detectors, e.g. Einstein Telescope (ET) and Cosmic Explorer (CE). However, identifying strongly lensed gravitational waves (SLGWs) is still challenging. We focus on the identification ability of 3G detectors in this article. We predict and analyse the SNR distribution of SLGW signals and prove only 50.6 per cent of SLGW pairs detected by ET alone can be identified by lens Bayes factor (LBF), which is a popular method at present to identify SLGWs. For SLGW pairs detected by CEET network, owing to the superior spatial resolution, this number rises to 87.3 per cent. Moreover, we get an approximate analytical relation between SNR and LBF. We give clear SNR limits to identify SLGWs and estimate the expected yearly detection rates of galaxy-scale lensed GWs that can get identified with 3G detector network.
RASS-MCMF: a full-sky X-ray selected galaxy cluster catalogue
Authors: Klein Matthias , Hernández-Lang Daniel , Mohr Joseph J , Bocquet Sebastian , Singh Aditya
Published: September 2023

We present the RASS-MCMF catalogue of 8449 X-ray selected galaxy clusters over 25 000 deg2 of extragalactic sky. The accumulation of deep multiband optical imaging data, the development of the Multi-Component Matched Filter (MCMF) cluster confirmation algorithm, and the release of the DESI Legacy Survey DR10 catalogue makes it possible – for the first time, more than 30 yr after the launch of the ROSAT X-ray satellite – to identify the majority of the galaxy clusters detected in the second ROSAT All-Sky-Survey (RASS) source catalogue (2RXS). The resulting 90 per cent pure RASS-MCMF catalogue is the largest intracluster medium (ICM)-selected cluster sample to date. RASS-MCMF probes a large dynamic range in cluster mass spanning from galaxy groups to the most massive clusters. The cluster redshift distribution peaks at $z$ ∼ 0.1 and extends to redshifts $z$ ∼ 1. Out to $z$ ∼ 0.4, the RASS-MCMF sample contains more clusters per redshift interval (dN/dz) than any other ICM-selected sample. In addition to the main sample, we present two subsamples with 6912 and 5506 clusters, exhibiting 95 per cent and 99 per cent purity, respectively. We forecast the utility of the sample for a cluster cosmological study, using realistic mock catalogues that incorporate most observational effects, including the X-ray exposure time and background variations, the existence likelihood selection and the impact of the optical cleaning with the algorithm MCMF. Using realistic priors on the observable–mass relation parameters from a DES-based weak lensing analysis, we estimate the constraining power of the RASS-MCMF×DES sample to be of 0.026, 0.033, and 0.15 (1σ) on the parameters Ωm, σ8, and $w$, respectively.
MaNGA DynPop – II. Global stellar population, gradients, and star-formation histories from integral-field spectroscopy of 10K galaxies: link with galaxy rotation, shape, and total-density gradients
Authors: Lu Shengdong , Zhu Kai , Cappellari Michele , Li Ran , Mao Shude , Xu Dandan
Published: September 2023

This is the second paper of the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) Dynamics and stellar Population (DynPop) series, which analyses the global stellar population, radial gradients, and non-parametric star-formation history of ∼10K galaxies from the MaNGA Survey final data release 17 and relates them with dynamical properties of galaxies. We confirm the correlation between the stellar population properties and the stellar velocity dispersion σe, but also find that younger galaxies are more metal-poor at fixed σe. Stellar age, metallicity, and mass-to-light ratio (M*/L) all decrease with increasing galaxy rotation, while their radial gradients become more negative (i.e. lower value at the outskirts). The exception is the slow rotators, which also appear to have significantly negative metallicity gradients, confirming the mass–metallicity gradient correlation. Massive disc galaxies in the green valley, on the $(\sigma _{\rm e},\rm age)$ plane, show the most negative age and metallicity gradients, consistent with their old central bulges surrounded by young star-forming discs and metal-poor gas accretion. Galaxies with high σe, steep total mass-density slope, low dark matter fraction, high M*/L, and high metallicity have the highest star-formation rate at earlier times, and are currently quenched. We also discover a population of low-mass star-forming galaxies with low rotation but physically distinct from the massive slow rotators. A catalogue of these stellar population properties is provided publicly.
Cosmological simulations of a momentum coupling between dark matter and quintessence
Authors: Palma Daniela , Candlish Graeme N
Published: September 2023

Dark energy is frequently modelled as an additional dynamical scalar field component in the Universe, referred to as ‘quintessence’, which drives the late-time acceleration. Furthermore, the quintessence field may be coupled to dark matter and/or baryons, leading to a fifth force. In this paper, we explore the consequences for non-linear cosmological structure formation arising from a momentum coupling between the quintessence field and dark matter only. The coupling leads to a modified Euler equation, which we implement in an N-body cosmological simulation. We then analyse the effects of the coupling on the non-linear power spectrum and the properties of the dark matter haloes. We find that, for certain quintessence potentials, a positive coupling can lead to significantly reduced structure on small scales and somewhat enhanced structure on large scales, as well as reduced halo density profiles and increased velocity dispersions.
Radiation hydrodynamical self-similar accretion disc winds
Authors: Fukue J
Published: September 2023

Self-similar supersonic winds from an accretion disc around a central object are examined with/without radiation fields under the fully self-similar treatment of two-dimensional outflows. The thermal pressure and viscosity are ignored for simplicity. In the case without radiation fields, many solutions are not outflowing winds, but bound flows, except for limited cases which satisfy the escape condition with sufficiently large initial launch speed and rotational one. In the case with radiation fields, the radiation force acts as a driving force, and therefore, the winds blow easier. However, several solutions are unphysical, since the radiative energy density becomes negative. As a result, depending on the rotational motion and boundary conditions, the radiatively driven self-similar cold disc winds are divided into three types; bound solutions lacking launch speed or radiative acceleration, unphysical ones with a negative energy density, and escaping winds confined in the conical region or extending in the whole space as a special type.
Shaping the unseen: the influence of baryons and environment on low-mass, high-redshift dark matter haloes in the SIEGE simulations
Authors: Pascale R , Calura F , Lupi A , Rosdahl J , Lacchin E , Meneghetti M , Nipoti C , Vanzella E , Vesperini E , Zanella A
Published: September 2023

We use zoom-in, hydrodynamical, cosmological N-body simulations tracing the formation of the first stellar clumps from the SImulating the Environments where Globular clusters Emerged project, to study key structural properties of dark matter haloes when the Universe was only $0.92\, {\rm Gyr}$ old. The very high resolution (maximum physical resolution $0.3\, {h}^{-1}\, {\rm pc}$ at z = 6.14, smallest dark matter particle mass $164\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) allows us to reach the very low mass end of the stellar-to-halo mass relation ($M_{\rm vir}=10^{7.5{\!-\!}9.5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) to study the processes that mould dark matter haloes during the first stages of structure formation. We investigate the role of baryonic cooling and stellar feedback, modelled from individual stars, in shaping haloes, and of environmental effects as accretion of dark matter along cosmic filaments and mergers. We find that the onset of star formation (typically for $\log M_{\rm vir}/\, {\rm M}_{\odot }\simeq 7.6$) causes the inner cusp in the haloes’ density profile to flatten into a core with constant density and size proportionally to the halo virial mass. Even at these mass scales, we confirm that baryons make haloes that have formed stars rounder in the central regions than haloes that have not formed stars yet, with median minor-to-major 〈q〉 and intermediate-to-major 〈s〉 axes 0.66 and 0.84, respectively. Our morphological analysis shows that, at z = 6.14, haloes are largely prolate in the outer parts, with the major axis aligned along filaments of the cosmic web or towards smaller sub-haloes, with the degree of elongation having no significant dependence on the halo mass.
Interpreting Sunyaev–Zel’dovich observations with MillenniumTNG: mass and environment scaling relations
Authors: Hadzhiyska Boryana , Ferraro Simone , Pakmor Rüdiger , Bose Sownak , Delgado Ana Maria , Hernández-Aguayo César , Kannan Rahul , Springel Volker , White Simon D M , Hernquist Lars
Published: September 2023

Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) measurements can dramatically improve our understanding of the intergalactic medium and the role of feedback processes in galaxy formation, allowing us to calibrate important astrophysical systematics in cosmological constraints from weak lensing galaxy clustering surveys. However, the signal is only measured in a two-dimensional projection, and its correct interpretation relies on understanding the connection between observable quantities and the underlying intrinsic properties of the gas, in addition to the relation between the gas and the underlying matter distribution. One way to address these challenges is through the use of hydrodynamical simulations such as the high-resolution, large-volume MillenniumTNG suite. We find that measurements of the optical depth, τ, and the Compton-y parameter, Y, receive large line-of-sight contributions that can be removed effectively by applying a compensated aperture photometry filter. In contrast with other τ probes (e.g. X-rays and fast radio bursts), the kinematic SZ-inferred τ receives most of its signal from a confined cylindrical region around the halo due to the velocity decorrelation along the line of sight. Additionally, we perform fits to the Y–M and τ–M scaling relations and report best-fitting parameters adopting the smoothly broken power law formalism. We note that subgrid physics modelling can broaden the error bar on these by 30 per cent for intermediate-mass haloes (${\sim }10^{13} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$). The scatter of the scaling relations can be captured by an intrinsic dependence on concentration and an extrinsic dependence on tidal shear. Finally, we comment on the effect of using galaxies rather than haloes in observations, which can bias the inferred profiles by ∼20 per cent for L* galaxies.
Heating and cooling in stellar coronae: coronal rain on a young Sun
Authors: Daley-Yates Simon , Jardine Moira M , Johnston Craig D
Published: September 2023

Recent observations of rapidly rotating cool dwarfs have revealed H α line asymmetries indicative of clumps of cool, dense plasma in the stars’ coronae. These clumps may be either long-lived (persisting for more than one stellar rotation) or dynamic. The fastest dynamic features show velocities greater than the escape speed, suggesting that they may be centrifugally ejected from the star, contributing to the stellar angular momentum loss. Many, however, show lower velocities, similar to coronal rain observed on the Sun. We present 2.5D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the formation and dynamics of these condensations in a rapidly rotating (Prot = 1 d) young Sun. Formation is triggered by excess surface heating. This pushes the system out of thermal equilibrium and triggers a thermal instability. The resulting condensations fall back towards the surface. They exhibit quasi-periodic behaviour, with periods longer than typical periods for solar coronal rain. We find line-of-sight velocities for these clumps in the range of 50 km s−1 (blueshifted) to 250 km s−1 (redshifted). These are typical of those inferred from stellar H α line asymmetries, but the inferred clump masses of 3.6 × 1014 g are significantly smaller. We find that a maximum of ${\simeq}3~{{ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the coronal mass is cool clumps. We conclude that coronal rain may be common in solar-like stars, but may appear on much larger scales in rapid rotators.
RNF8 ubiquitylation of XRN2 facilitates R-loop resolution and restrains genomic instability in BRCA1 mutant cells
Authors: Krishnan Rehna , Lapierre Mariah , Gautreau Brandon , Nixon Kevin C J , El Ghamrasni Samah , Patel Parasvi S , Hao Jun , Yerlici V Talya , Guturi Kiran Kumar Naidu , St-Germain Jonathan , Mateo Francesca , Saad Amine , Algouneh Arash , Earnshaw Rebecca , Shili Duan , Seitova Alma , Miller Joshua , Khosraviani Negin , Penn Adam , Ho Brandon , Sanchez Otto , Hande M Prakash , Masson Jean-Yves , Brown Grant W , Alaoui-Jamali Moulay , Reynolds John J , Arrowsmith Cheryl , Raught Brian , Pujana Miguel A , Mekhail Karim , Stewart Grant S , Hakem Anne , Hakem Razqallah
Published: September 2023

Breast cancer linked with BRCA1/2 mutations commonly recur and resist current therapies, including PARP inhibitors. Given the lack of effective targeted therapies for BRCA1-mutant cancers, we sought to identify novel targets to selectively kill these cancers. Here, we report that loss of RNF8 significantly protects Brca1-mutant mice against mammary tumorigenesis. RNF8 deficiency in human BRCA1-mutant breast cancer cells was found to promote R-loop accumulation and replication fork instability, leading to increased DNA damage, senescence, and synthetic lethality. Mechanistically, RNF8 interacts with XRN2, which is crucial for transcription termination and R-loop resolution. We report that RNF8 ubiquitylates XRN2 to facilitate its recruitment to R-loop-prone genomic loci and that RNF8 deficiency in BRCA1-mutant breast cancer cells decreases XRN2 occupancy at R-loop-prone sites, thereby promoting R-loop accumulation, transcription-replication collisions, excessive genomic instability, and cancer cell death. Collectively, our work identifies a synthetic lethal interaction between RNF8 and BRCA1, which is mediated by a pathological accumulation of R-loops.
FLIBase: a comprehensive repository of full-length isoforms across human cancers and tissues
Authors: Shi Qili , Li Xinrong , Liu Yizhe , Chen Zhiao , He Xianghuo
Published: September 2023

Regulatory processes at the RNA transcript level play a crucial role in generating transcriptome diversity and proteome composition in human cells, impacting both physiological and pathological states. This study introduces FLIBase (www.FLIBase.org), a specialized database that focuses on annotating full-length isoforms using long-read sequencing techniques. We collected and integrated long-read (351 samples) and short-read (12 469 samples) RNA sequencing data from diverse normal and cancerous human tissues and cells. The current version of FLIBase comprises a total of 983 789 full-length spliced isoforms, identified through long-read sequences and verified using short-read exon–exon splice junctions. Of these, 188 248 isoforms have been annotated, while 795 541 isoforms remain unannotated. By overcoming the limitations of short-read RNA sequencing methods, FLIBase provides an accurate and comprehensive representation of full-length transcripts. These comprehensive annotations empower researchers to undertake various downstream analyses and investigations. Importantly, FLIBase exhibits a significant advantage in identifying a substantial number of previously unannotated isoforms and tumor-specific RNA transcripts. These tumor-specific RNA transcripts have the potential to serve as a source of immunogenic recurrent neoantigens. This remarkable discovery holds tremendous promise for advancing the development of tailored RNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for various types of human cancer.
Philip Morris International’s Formula 1 Sponsorship-Linked Marketing: Transformation From Marlboro to Mission Winnow
Authors: Dewhirst Timothy , Lee Wonkyong Beth , Czaplicki Lauren
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Transformation describes a dramatic modification in appearance or character. Philip Morris International (PMI)’s sponsorship-linked marketing of Formula 1 auto racing is illustrative of transformation. The company’s flagship cigarette brand, Marlboro has been replaced as the identified partner by their newly developed brand, Mission Winnow. This study examines the tobacco company’s marketing objectives for transforming the brand identity of its Formula 1 Ferrari race team partnership.

Aims and Methods

We provide a case study, and our method of qualitative enquiry is textual analysis. We review marketing planning documents from Philip Morris, which would normally be proprietary, but are publicly accessible because of litigation. Additionally, we review Mission Winnow’s social media posts, over a 3-year span, from the brand’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

Results

PMI initiated its Formula 1 sponsorship in 1972. Through Marlboro, the company’s sponsorship-linked marketing was largely centered on building brand image and reinforcing Marlboro’s brand identity of rugged masculinity, independence, heroism, and adventure. When Mission Winnow replaced Marlboro as the identified brand sponsor in 2018, the company’s marketing communication shifted to highlighting transformation, progress, open dialogue, teamwork, innovation, technology, and science.

Conclusions

Despite Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) calling for Parties to protect public health policies from the commercial and vested interests of tobacco companies, PMI still seeks to be an important stakeholder in such consultations, including those pertaining to harm reduction. Mission Winnow’s sponsorship-linked marketing points to a larger company narrative about trying to gain or reclaim legitimacy and credibility.

Implications

PMI’s continued sponsorship of Formula 1 is a strategic means of drawing attention to the company’s “next-generation products” and communicating their supposed “transformation.” The company’s sponsorship-linked marketing initiatives point to a need for Parties to enforce Article 13 of the WHO FCTC, which calls for a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
How much disease risk is due to old age and established risk factors?
Authors: Webster A J
Published: September 2023

Improved healthcare is leading to older populations and increasing numbers of individuals experiencing multiple diseases, possibly concurrently (multimorbidity). This article asks whether the observed number of new diseases is more than expected based on age and established risk factors alone, assuming that disease risk is unchanged by prior or pre-existing disease. This is accomplished by designing a new epidemiological approach, where the expected number of disease types are estimated for individuals without prior disease, by combining individual risk predictions with a “Poisson-Binomial” model to estimate the expected number of new diseases and its confidence interval. For 123 diseases in men and 99 diseases in women, the expected number of new diseases based on age and established risk factors was approximately 2/3 of that observed, with the observed number of new diseases approximately 1.5 times that predicted. The differences could not be explained by natural statistical variation, and provide a rigorous statistical demonstration of lower disease risk for individuals without any previous disease. The multiple of 1.5 was sufficiently consistent across different diseases to prevent its use for classification of disease types, but there were differences for subgroups such as smokers with high body mass index, and for some classes of disease (as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, version 10). The results suggest that empirical modeling might allow reliable predictions of future hospital admissions, and confirm the value of conventional epidemiological approaches that study disease risk in healthy individuals. The implications and future possibilities of this new approach are discussed.
New Insights into the Anti-Oomycete Mechanisms of a Leaf Extract from Glycyrrhiza glabra Against Pseudoperonospora cubensis
Authors: Porsche Franziska M. , Franck Jeanine , Schmitt Annegret
Published: September 2023

Cucurbit downy mildew, caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis, is responsible for high economic losses worldwide in cucumber production. Synthetic pesticides or copper-based products are still important tools to manage the disease. However, the pathogen has developed resistance against common fungicides rather quickly, and there is a need for alternative plant-protecting agents. Glycyrrhiza glabra leaf extract is known for its antifungal activity and was highly effective in former bioassays and semi-commercial trials against downy mildew of cucumber. To elucidate the active ingredients and the mode of action, licorice leaf extract was here fractionated into five fractions (F1 to F5) with a newly developed and optimized separation process via flash chromatography. The crude extract (P1) and fraction F1 inhibited the zoospore release from sporangia, the zoospore germination, and germ tube development of P. cubensis almost completely on two cucumber cultivars, one tolerant and one susceptible to the pathogen. Infestation rates were reduced between 73 and 96%. F1 contained three previously reported antifungal polyphenols: glabranin, pinocembrin, and licoflavanon. Here, we report an additional new compound, naringenin. Furthermore, F5 is found here to show some protective effects against P. cubensis, based on either direct fungicidal or indirect effects via the host plant. The presented results show that licorice leaf extract can serve as an alternative plant protection agent, able to manage P. cubensis infestation on cucumber cultivars with differing levels of susceptibility by interfering with important early stages in the pathogen development.
Understanding the Interplay Between Paraspinal Muscle Atrophy and Lumbar Endplate Degeneration
Authors: Schönnagel Lukas , Zhu Jiaqi , Guven Ali E. , Camino-Willhuber Gaston , Tani Soji , Caffard Thomas , Haffer Henryk , Muellner Maximilian , Chiapparelli Erika , Amoroso Krizia , Arzani Artine , Moser Manuel , Shue Jennifer , Tan Ek T. , Carrino John A. , Jöns Thomas , Sama Andrew A. , Girardi Federico P. , Cammisa Frank P. , Hughes Alexander P.
Published: September 2023

Study Design.

Retrospective analysis of longitudinal data.

Objective.

To assess the association between the paraspinal musculature (PM) and lumbar endplate degeneration.

Background.

The PM is essential for spinal stability, while the vertebral endplate is pivotal for nutrient transport and force distribution. The clinical importance of both has been highlighted in recent literature, though little is known about their interaction.

Methods.

We identified patients with lumbar MRI scans due to low back pain, with a 3-year interval between MRI scans. Endplate damage was assessed by the total endplate score (TEPS) at each lumbar level. The PM was evaluated for its functional cross-sectional area and fatty infiltration (FI) at the L4 level. We used a generalized mixed model to analyze the association between PM parameters and TEPS at timepoint one, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking status. The association with the progression of endplate damage was analyzed through an ordinal regression model, additionally adjusted for TEPS at baseline.

Results.

In all, 329 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 3.4 years. Participants had a median age of 59 and a BMI of 25.8 kg/m2. In the univariate analysis, FI of the posterior PM was significantly associated with TEPS at baseline (β: 0.08, P<0.001) and progression of TEPS [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.03, P=0.020] after adjustment for confounders. The β and OR in this analysis are per percent of FI. In a binary analysis, patients with FI≥40% had an OR of 1.92 (P=0.006) for the progression of TEPS.

Conclusions.

This is the first longitudinal study assessing the relationship between PM and endplate degeneration, demonstrating the association between PM atrophy and the progression of endplate degeneration. This insight may aid in identifying patients at risk for degenerative lumbar conditions and guide research into preventive measures.