bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leptogenesis in an extended seesaw model with U(1)
B−L
symmetry
Authors: Dey Ujjal Kumar , Jha Tapoja , Mukherjee Ananya , Sahoo Nirakar
Published: November 2022

We have explored an extended seesaw model accommodating a keV sterile neutrino adopting U(1)
B−L
symmetry. This model provides a natural platform for achieving resonant leptogenesis to account for the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU). The required lepton asymmetry is sourced by the CP violating decay of the lightest heavy right-handed neutrino to Standard Model leptons and Higgs. The presence of the light sterile neutrino in the model brings out an enhancement in the final lepton asymmetry through an additional self-energy contribution. Adopting a proper treatment for all the washout processes this framework strictly favors a strong washout regime thereby protecting the low energy neutrino mass parameters in agreement with the present neutrino and cosmology data. This framework of extended seesaw scheme offers the source of matter–antimatter asymmetry without any severe fine-tuning of the Yukawa couplings governing the tiny neutrino mass. We also comment on the half-life period for the neutrinoless double beta decay process in the background of having a keV sterile neutrino satisfying all the constraints which guide the explanation for the observed BAU.
Clinical dose assessment for scanned carbon-ion radiotherapy using linear energy transfer measurements and Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Nakaji Taku , Kanai Tatsuaki , Takashina Masaaki , Matsumura Akihiko , Osaki Kohei , Yagi Masashi , Tsubouchi Toshiro , Hamatani Noriaki , Ogawa Kazuhiko
Published: November 2022

Objective. Dosimetric commissioning of treatment planning systems (TPS) focuses on validating the agreement of the physical dose with experimental data. For carbon-ion radiotherapy, the commissioning of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is necessary to predict the clinical outcome based on the radiation quality of the mixed radiation field. In this study, we proposed a approach for RBE commissioning using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, which was further strengthen by RBE validation based on linear energy transfer (LET) measurements. Approach. First, we tuned the MC simulation based on the results of dosimetric experiments including the beam ranges, beam sizes, and MU calibrations. Furthermore, we compared simulated results to measured depth- and radial-LET distributions of the 430 MeV u−1 carbon-ion spot beam with a 1.5 mm2, 36 μm thick silicon detector. The measured dose-averaged LET (LETd) and RBE were compared with the simulated results. The RBE was calculated based on the mixed beam model with linear-quadratic parameters depending on the LET. Finally, TPS-calculated clinical dose profiles were validated through the tuned MC-based calculations. Main results. A 10 keV μm−1 and 0.15 agreement for LETd and RBE, respectively, were found between simulation and measurement results obtained for a 2σ lateral size of 430 MeV u−1 carbon-ion spot beam in water. These results suggested that the tuned MC simulation can be used with acceptable precision for the RBE and LET calculations of carbon-ion spot beam within the clinical energy range. For physical and clinical doses, the TPS- and MC-based calculations showed good agreements within 1.0% at the centre of the spread-out Bragg peaks. Significance. The tuned MC simulation can accurately reproduce the actual carbon-ion beams, and it can be used to validate the physical and clinical dose distributions calculated by TPS. Moreover, the MC simulation can be used for dosimetric commissioning, including clinical doses, without LET measurements.
Laser-assisted scattering of a muon neutrino by an electron within the framework of electroweak theory
Authors: El Asri S , Mouslih S , Ouali M , Taj S , Manaut B
Published: November 2022

In accordance with the electroweak theory, we perform a detailed analytical treatment of the differential cross-section (DCS) for the elastic scattering process

e

−

+

ν

μ

⟶

e

−

+

ν

μ

in both absence and presence of a circularly polarized laser field. This scattering process is examined, in the first-Born approximation, by using Dirac–Volkov wave functions for charged particles within an external laser field. The theoretical results obtained for the differential cross-section without a laser field are compared with other theoretical results within the framework of Fermi theory. These results revealed to us the importance of using electroweak theory instead of Fermi approximation for studying high energy electroweak interactions. The differential cross section is modified significantly by inserting the electrons into an electromagnetic field. In addition, the influence of the laser strength and its frequency on the photons exchange between the colliding system and the laser field is also included and discussed. These effects are heavily related to the order and argument of the ordinary Bessel functions introduced in the theoretical calculation.
Rigorous solution to second harmonic generation considering transmission and reflection of light at air–crystal interface
Authors: Qiu Ya-Ting , Hong Li-Hong , Li Zhi-Yuan
Published: November 2022

Considering the transmission and reflection of TE-polarized pump light at the air–crystal interface, the second harmonic generation (SHG) in a lithium niobate (LN) crystal is investigated theoretically and systematically in this work. In previous studies, the theoretical analyses of reflection and transmission of incident wave in the process of nonlinear frequency conversion were not considered in LN crystal on account of the complicated calculations. First, we establish a physical picture describing that a beam of light in TE mode transports in the LN crystal considering transmission and reflection at the crystal surface and generates nonlinear second-order optical polarization in crystal. Then we analytically derive the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient of pump light by using the dispersion relationships and electromagnetic boundary conditions. We construct the nonlinear coupled wave equations, derive and present the small signal approximation solution and the general large signal solution exactly. Under the transmission model and reflection model, we find that the conversion efficiency of the second-harmonic wave is obviously dependent on transmission coefficient and other general physical quantities such as the length of LN crystal and the amplitude of pump light. Our analytical theory and formulation can act as an accurate tool for the quantitative evaluation of the SHG energy conversion efficiency in an LN crystal under practical situations, and it can practically be used to treat other more complicated and general nonlinear optics problems.
Signals of α clusters in 16O+16O collisions at the LHC from relativistic hydrodynamic simulations*
Authors: Ding Chi , Pang Long-Gang , Zhang Song , Ma Yu-Gang
Published: November 2022

In relativistic heavy ion collisions, the fluctuations of initial entropy density convert to the correlations of final state hadrons in momentum space through the collective expansion of strongly interacting QCD matter. Using a (3+1)D viscous hydrodynamic program, CLVisc, we consider whether the nuclear structure, which provides initial state fluctuations as well as correlations, can affect the final state of heavy ion collisions, and whether one can find signals of α cluster structures in oxygen using final state observables in

collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. For the initial nucleon distributions in oxygen nuclei, we compare three different configurations, a tetrahedral structure with four-α clusters, the deformed Woods-Saxon distribution, and a spherical symmetric Woods-Saxon distribution. Our results show that the charged multiplicity as a function of centrality and the elliptic flow at the most central collisions using the four-α structure differs from those with the Woods-Saxon and deformed Woods-Saxon distributions, which may help to identify α clustering structures in oxygen nuclei.
Chaos bound in Kerr-Newman-Taub-NUT black holes via circular motions*
Authors: Chen Deyou , Gao Chuanhong
Published: November 2022

In this study, we investigate the influence of the angular momentum of a charged particle around Kerr-Newman-Taub-NUT black holes on the Lyapunov exponent and find spatial regions where the chaos bound is violated. The exponent is obtained by solving the determination of the eigenvalues of a Jacobian matrix in the phase space. Equilibrium positions are obtained by fixing the charge-to-mass ratio of the particle and changing its angular momentum. For certain values of the black holes' electric charge, the NUT charge and rotational parameter, a small angular momentum of the particle, even with zero angular momentum, causes violation of the bound. This violation disappears at a certain distance from the event horizon of the non-extremal Kerr-Newman-Taub-NUT black hole when the angular momentum increases to a certain value. When the black hole is extremal, the violation always exists no matter how the angular momentum changes. The ranges of the angular momentum and spatial regions for the violation are found. The black holes and particle rotating in the same and opposite directions are discussed.
Weak deflection angle and shadow cast by the charged-Kiselev black hole with cloud of strings in plasma*
Authors: Atamurotov Farruh , Hussain Ibrar , Mustafa Ghulam , Övgün Ali
Published: November 2022

In this study, the gravitational deflection angle of photons in the weak field limit (or the weak deflection angle) and shadow cast by the electrically charged and spherically symmetric static Kiselev black hole (BH) in the string cloud background are investigated. The influences of the BH charge Q, quintessence parameter γ, and string cloud parameter a on the weak deflection angle are studied using the Gauss-Bonnet theorem, in addition to studying the influences on the radius of photon spheres and size of the BH shadow in the spacetime geometry of the charged-Kiselev BH in string clouds. Moreover, we study the effects of plasma (uniform and non-uniform) on the weak deflection angle and shadow cast by the charged-Kiselev BH surrounded by the clouds of strings. In the presence of a uniform/nonuniform plasma medium, an increase in the string cloud parameter a increases the deflection angle α. In contrast, a decrease in the BH charge Q decreases the deflection angle. Further, we observe that an increase in the BH charge Q causes a decrease in the size of the shadow of the BH. We notice that, with an increase in the values of the parameters γ and a, the size of the BH shadow increases, and therefore, the intensity of the gravitational field around the charged-Kiselev BH in string clouds increases. Thus, the gravitational field of the charged-Kiselev BH in the string cloud background is stronger than the field produced by the pure Reissner-Nordstrom BH. Moreover, we use the data released by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, for the supermassive BHs M87* and Sgr A*, to obtain constraints on the values of the parameters γ and a.
A robotic model of hippocampal reverse replay for reinforcement learning
Authors: Whelan Matthew T , Jimenez-Rodriguez Alejandro , Prescott Tony J , Vasilaki Eleni
Published: November 2022

Hippocampal reverse replay, a phenomenon in which recently active hippocampal cells reactivate in the reverse order, is thought to contribute to learning, particularly reinforcement learning (RL), in animals. Here, we present a novel computational model which exploits reverse replay to improve stability and performance on a homing task. The model takes inspiration from the hippocampal-striatal network, and learning occurs via a three-factor RL rule. To augment this model with hippocampal reverse replay, we derived a policy gradient learning rule that associates place-cell activity with responses in cells representing actions and a supervised learning rule of the same form, interpreting the replay activity as a ‘target’ frequency. We evaluated the model using a simulated robot spatial navigation task inspired by the Morris water maze. Results suggest that reverse replay can improve performance stability over multiple trials. Our model exploits reverse reply as an additional source for propagating information about desirable synaptic changes, reducing the requirements for long-time scales in eligibility traces combined with low learning rates. We conclude that reverse replay can positively contribute to RL, although less stable learning is possible in its absence. Analogously, we postulate that reverse replay may enhance RL in the mammalian hippocampal-striatal system rather than provide its core mechanism.
Fabrication of multilevel porous structure networks on Nb-Ta-Ti alloy scaffolds and the effects of surface characteristics on behaviors of MC3T3-E1 cells
Authors: Liu Jue , Ruan Jianming , Yin Jian , Ou Pinghua , Yang Hailin
Published: November 2022

Porous Nb-25Ta-25Ti alloys (60% porosity and 100–600 μm pore size) for bone implant applications were manufactured combining impregnation and sintering methods. Surfaces with porous micro-nanostructured networks on Nb-Ta-Ti alloys were successfully modified by various surface pre-treatments (acid etching, alkali-heat treatment and annealing treatment). Surface characteristics and Ca-P layer deposition behaviors of the multilevel structured porous Nb-Ta-Ti alloys were investigated by conducting various tests, including x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray, atomic force microscopy and optical contact angle measurement. In particular, bulk Nb-Ta-Ti alloys were also used as mutual control. The results demonstrated that the porous alloy exhibited a unique multilevel porous structure with macro-networks and micro-pits after pre-treatments. The surface passive TiO2/Nb2O5/Ta2O5 layers on Nb-Ta-Ti alloys were partially dissolved by the corrosive attack of hydroxyl ions during alkali heat treatment. In addition, subsequent annealing treatment increased the density of the gel layers formed during alkali heat treatment. After immersion in SBF for 14 d, a continuous relatively uniform apatite layer was formed on the multilevel structured surfaces. Moreover, the mechanism of surface mineralization can be construed as electrostatic interactions between substrates and ions. Furthermore, in vitro cell culture showed that Nb-Ta-Ti alloys had a good biocompatibility and the multilevel porous structure could enhance the cellular behaviors including: cell adhesion and spreading.
Frequency multiplication with toroidal mode number of kink/fishbone modes on a static HL-2A-like tokamak
Authors: ZOU Zhihui , ZHU Ping , KIM Charlson C , DENG Wei , WANG Xianqu , HOU Yawei
Published: November 2022

In the presence of energetic particles (EPs), the long-lived mode (LLM) frequency multiplication with n = 1, 2, 3, or higher is often observed on HL-2A, where n is the toroidal mode number. Hybrid kinetic-MHD model simulations of the energetic particle (EP) driven kink/fishbone modes on a static HL-2A-like tokamak using NIMROD code find that when the background plasma pressure is relatively high, and the EP pressure and the beam energy are relatively low, the mode frequency increases almost linearly with EP pressure, and the frequency is proportional to n (‘frequency multiplication’), even in the absence of any equilibrium plasma rotation. In addition, the frequency multiplication persists as the safety factor at the magnetic axis q
0 varies. In the absence of EPs, the growth rate of the 1/1 mode is the largest; however, as the EP pressure increases, the growth rate of 2/2 modes or 3/3 modes becomes dominant, suggesting that higher-n modes are more vulnerable to EPs. These results may shed light on the understanding of the toroidal mode number dependence of kink/fishbone modes in the advanced scenarios of tokamaks with weak or reversed central magnetic shear.
Skin Contour Sutures in Rhinoplasty
Authors: Zholtikov Vitaly , Kosins Aaron , Ouerghi Riadh , Daniel Rollin K
Published: November 2022

Background

The skin–soft tissue envelope (STE) is a critical component of rhinoplasty and can have a significant impact on the final result. Skin contour sutures (SCSs) can be used to prevent potential complications related to skin detachment and to improve rhinoplasty results.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of SCSs for nasal skin approximation.

Methods

SCSs involve the use of external sutures to stabilize the STE flap based on the principle that the pressure of the sutures helps to approximate the STE to the underlying nasal skeleton. The first study group demonstrated the utilization of SCSs in 459 consecutive rhinoplasty cases between December 2016 and April 2022 which were retrospectively reviewed. The second study group consisted of 30 patients with thick skin who had insertion of SCSs with ultrasonic evaluation both preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

The average postoperative follow-up period in the first study group was 41 months (range, 12-64 months). Any suture site that was visible after removal of the suture disappeared completely after 6 weeks in most patients. No complications were reported. In the second group the ultrasound data indicated that STE healing was faster as its thickness returns to its preoperative state earlier in the healing process when SCSs were used.

Conclusions

SCSs appear to help to decrease severe nasal edema, hematomas, loss of tip definition, fibrosis, and pollybeak deformity, thereby improving the results and predictability of rhinoplasty surgery.

Level of Evidence: 4
BISC: accurate inference of transcriptional bursting kinetics from single-cell transcriptomic data
Authors: Luo Xizhi , Qin Fei , Xiao Feifei , Cai Guoshuai
Published: November 2022

Gene expression in mammalian cells is inherently stochastic and mRNAs are synthesized in discrete bursts. Single-cell transcriptomics provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore the transcriptome-wide kinetics of transcriptional bursting. However, current analysis methods provide limited accuracy in bursting inference due to substantial noise inherent to single-cell transcriptomic data. In this study, we developed BISC, a Bayesian method for inferring bursting parameters from single cell transcriptomic data. Based on a beta-gamma-Poisson model, BISC modeled the mean–variance dependency to achieve accurate estimation of bursting parameters from noisy data. Evaluation based on both simulation and real intron sequential RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization data showed improved accuracy and reliability of BISC over existing methods, especially for genes with low expression values. Further application of BISC found bursting frequency but not bursting size was strongly associated with gene expression regulation. Moreover, our analysis provided new mechanistic insights into the functional role of enhancer and superenhancer by modulating both bursting frequency and size. BISC also formulated a downstream framework to identify differential bursting (in frequency and size separately) genes in samples under different conditions. Applying to multiple datasets (a mouse embryonic cell and fibroblast dataset, a human immune cell dataset and a human pancreatic cell dataset), BISC identified known cell-type signature genes that were missed by differential expression analysis, providing additional insights in understanding the cell-specific stochastic gene transcription. Applying to datasets of human lung and colon cancers, BISC successfully detected tumor signature genes based on alterations in bursting kinetics, which illustrates its value in understanding disease development regarding transcriptional bursting. Collectively, BISC provides a new tool for accurately inferring bursting kinetics and detecting differential bursting genes. This study also produced new insights in the role of transcriptional bursting in regulating gene expression, cell identity and tumor progression.
Twice-Daily Oral Zinc in the Treatment of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Ben Abdallah Saoussen , Mhalla Yosra , Trabelsi Imen , Sekma Adel , Youssef Rim , Bel Haj Ali Khaoula , Ben Soltane Houda , Yacoubi Hajer , Msolli Mohamed Amine , Stambouli Nejla , Beltaief Kaouthar , Grissa Mohamed Habib , Khrouf Meriem , Mezgar Zied , Loussaief Chawki , Bouida Wahid , Razgallah Rabie , Hezbri Karima , Belguith Asma , Belkacem Naouel , Dridi Zohra , Boubaker Hamdi , Boukef Riadh , Nouira Semir
Published: November 2022

Background

Zinc supplementation has been considered a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to examine zinc efficacy in adult patients with COVID-19 infection.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Patients who were tested positive for COVID-19 without end-organ failure were randomized to oral zinc (n = 231) or matching placebo (n = 239) for 15 days. The primary combined outcome was death due to COVID-19 or intensive care unit (ICU) admission ≤30 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay for inpatients and duration of COVID-19 symptoms with COVID-19–related hospitalization for outpatients.

Results

190 patients (40.4%) were ambulatory and 280 patients (59.6%) were hospitalized. Mortality at 30 days was 6.5% in the zinc group and 9.2% in the placebo group (OR: .68; 95% CI .34–1.35); ICU admission rates were, respectively, 5.2% and 11.3% (OR: .43; 95% CI .21–.87). Combined outcome was lower in the zinc group versus the placebo group (OR: .58; 95% CI .33–.99). Consistent results were observed in prespecified subgroups of patients aged <65 years, those with comorbidity, and those who needed oxygen therapy at baseline. Length of hospital stay was shorter in the zinc group versus the placebo group (difference: 3.5 days; 95% CI 2.76–4.23) in the inpatient group; duration of COVID-19 symptoms decreased with zinc treatment versus placebo in outpatients (difference: 1.9 days; 95% CI .62–2.6). No severe adverse events were observed during the study.

Conclusions

Our results showed that, in COVID-19 patients, oral zinc can decrease 30-day death, ICU admission rate and can shorten symptom duration.

Clinical Trials Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05212480.
Multiparametric Prediction Models for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Selection: Results of a Comparative Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Sieghart Daniela , Hana Claudia A , Haslacher Helmuth , Perkmann Thomas , Heinz Leonhard X , Fedrizzi Clemens , Anderle Karolina , Wiedermann Ursula , Condur Irina , Drapalik Susanne , Steinbrecher Helmut , Mrak Daniel , Mucher Patrick , Hasenoehrl Timothy , Zrdavkovic Andrej , Wagner Barbara , Palma Stefano , Jordakieva Galateja , Jorda Anselm , Firbas Christa , Wagner Angelika , Haiden Nadja , Bergmann Felix , Crevenna Richard , Zeitlinger Markus , Bonelli Michael , Aletaha Daniel , Radner Helga
Published: November 2022

Background

An understanding vaccine-dependent effects on protective and sustained humoral immune response is crucial to planning future vaccination strategies against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

In this multicenter, population-based, cohort study including 4601 individuals after primary vaccination against COVID-19 ≥ 4 months earlier we compared factors associated with residual antibody levels against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) across different vaccination strategies (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or ChAdOx1).

Results

Our main model including 3787 individuals (2 × BNT162b2, n = 2271; 2 × mRNA-1273, n = 251; 2 × ChAdOx1, n = 1265), predicted significantly lower levels of anti-RBD antibodies after 6 months in individuals vaccinated with ChAdOx1 (392.7 binding antibody units per milliliter [BAU/mL]) compared with those vaccinated with BNT162b2 (1179.5 BAU/mL) or mRNA-1273 (2098.2 BAU/mL). Vaccine-dependent association of antibody levels was found for age with a significant predicted difference in BAU/ml per year for BNT162b2 (−21.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], −24.7 to −18.3) and no significant association for mRNA-1273 (−4.0; 95% CI, −20.0 to 12.1) or ChAdOx1 (1.7; 95% CI, .2 to 3.1). The predicted decrease over time since full immunization was highest in mRNA-1273 (−23.4; 95% CI, −31.4 to −15.4) compared with BNT162b2 (−5.9; 95% CI, −7 to −4.8).

Conclusions

Our study revealed population-based evidence of vaccine-dependent effects of age and time since full immunization on humoral immune response. Findings underline the importance of individualized vaccine selection, especially in elderly individuals.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against Influenza A(H3N2)–Associated Hospitalized Illness: United States, 2022
Authors: Tenforde Mark W , Patel Manish M , Lewis Nathaniel M , Adams Katherine , Gaglani Manjusha , Steingrub Jay S , Shapiro Nathan I , Duggal Abhijit , Prekker Matthew E , Peltan Ithan D , Hager David N , Gong Michelle N , Exline Matthew C , Ginde Adit A , Mohr Nicholas M , Mallow Christopher , Martin Emily T , Talbot H Keipp , Gibbs Kevin W , Kwon Jennie H , Chappell James D , Halasa Natasha , Lauring Adam S , Lindsell Christopher J , Swan Sydney A , Hart Kimberly W , Womack Kelsey N , Baughman Adrienne , Grijalva Carlos G , Self Wesley H ,   for the Influenza and Other Viruses in the Acutely Ill (IVY) Network
Published: November 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with historically low influenza circulation during the 2020–2021 season, followed by an increase in influenza circulation during the 2021–2022 US season. The 2a.2 subgroup of the influenza A(H3N2) 3C.2a1b subclade that predominated was antigenically different from the vaccine strain.

Methods

To understand the effectiveness of the 2021–2022 vaccine against hospitalized influenza illness, a multistate sentinel surveillance network enrolled adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized with acute respiratory illness and tested for influenza by a molecular assay. Using the test-negative design, vaccine effectiveness (VE) was measured by comparing the odds of current-season influenza vaccination in influenza-positive case-patients and influenza-negative, SARS-CoV-2–negative controls, adjusting for confounders. A separate analysis was performed to illustrate bias introduced by including SARS-CoV-2–positive controls.

Results

A total of 2334 patients, including 295 influenza cases (47% vaccinated), 1175 influenza- and SARS-CoV-2–negative controls (53% vaccinated), and 864 influenza-negative and SARS-CoV-2–positive controls (49% vaccinated), were analyzed. Influenza VE was 26% (95% CI: −14% to 52%) among adults aged 18–64 years, −3% (−54% to 31%) among adults aged ≥65 years, and 50% (15–71%) among adults aged 18–64 years without immunocompromising conditions. Estimated VE decreased with inclusion of SARS-CoV-2–positive controls.

Conclusions

During a season where influenza A(H3N2) was antigenically different from the vaccine virus, vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of influenza hospitalization in younger immunocompetent adults. However, vaccination did not provide protection in adults ≥65 years of age. Improvements in vaccines, antivirals, and prevention strategies are warranted.
Classical reasoning in the justification paradigm
Authors: Peluce V Alexis
Published: November 2022

Artemov, building upon a tradition beginning with Kolmogorov and Gödel, developed a paradigm for understanding Constructive Reasoning in terms of classical proofs. Kolmogorov–Gödel–Artemov constructivism flies in the face of the usual understanding of Constructive Reasoning as being distinguished from Classical Reasoning in terms of its theory of truth. Is there something that stands to traditional Classical Reasoning as Kolmogorov–Gödel–Artemov constructivism stands to Constructive Reasoning? In this paper, we develop an affirmative answer to this question by presenting a justification account of Classical Reasoning in terms of explicit justification. The traditional truth paradigm account of Classical Reasoning leads to the well-known paradoxes of material implication. We show that the justification account of Classical Reasoning avoids this problem.1
Galaxy And Mass Assembly: galaxy morphology in the green valley, prominent rings, and looser spiral arms
Authors: Smith Dominic , Haberzettl Lutz , Porter L E , Porter-Temple Ren , Henry Christopher P A , Holwerda Benne , López-Sánchez Á R , Phillipps Steven , Graham Alister W , Brough Sarah , Pimbblet Kevin A , Liske Jochen , Kelvin Lee S , Robertson Clayton D , Roemer Wade , Walmsley Michael , O’Ryan David , Géron Tobias
Published: November 2022

Galaxies fall broadly into two categories: star-forming (blue) galaxies and quiescent (red) galaxies. In between, one finds the less populated ‘green valley’. Some of these galaxies are suspected to be in the process of ceasing their star formation through a gradual exhaustion of gas supply, or already dead and experiencing a rejuvenation of star formation through fuel injection. We use the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) database and the Galaxy Zoo citizen science morphological estimates to compare the morphology of galaxies in the green valley with those in the red sequence and blue cloud. Our goal is to examine the structural differences within galaxies that fall in the green valley, and what brings them there. Previous results found that disc features such as rings and lenses are more prominently represented in the green-valley population. We revisit this with a similar sized data set of galaxies with morphology labels provided by the Galaxy Zoo for the GAMA fields based on new Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) images. Our aim is to compare the results from expert classification qualitatively with those of citizen science. We observe that ring structures are indeed found more commonly in green-valley galaxies compared with their red and blue counterparts. We suggest that ring structures are a consequence of disc galaxies in the green valley actively exhibiting the characteristics of fading discs and evolving disc morphology of galaxies. We note that the progression from blue to red correlates with loosening spiral-arm structure.
Forecasting angular cross-correlations between diffuse X-ray emission and the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect
Authors: Lakey Victoria , Huffenberger Kevin M
Published: November 2022

X-ray emission and the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich distortion to the cosmic microwave background are two important handles on the gas content of the Universe. The cross-correlation between these effects eliminates noise bias and reduces observational systematics. Using analytic models from Battaglia et al. for the cluster profile, we develop a halo model formalism and forecast the signal-to-noise of measurements from eROSITA and Simons Observatory. With this, we can learn which parameters from our cluster profile are crucial in understanding the gas content of these clusters. In the soft X-ray band (0.5–2 keV), we forecast a signal-to-noise of 174 for the cross-power spectrum. Over a wide range of the scales, the X-rays will be signal-dominated, and so sample variance is important. In particular, non-Gaussian (four-point) contributions to the errors highlight the utility of masking massive clusters. Masking clusters down to $10^{14}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ increases the signal-to-noise of the cross-spectrum to 201. We perform a Fisher analysis on the fitting coefficients of the gas density and pressure. We find that the cross-spectrum is most sensitive to the overall scale of the profiles of pressure and electron density, as well as cosmological parameters σ8 and H0, but that the large number of parameters form a degenerate set, which makes extracting the information challenging. Our modelling framework is flexible, and in the future, we can easily extend it to forecast the spatial cross-correlations of surveys of X-ray lines available to high-energy-resolution microcalorimetry, to studies of the warm-hot intergalactic medium, and other effects.
The Thousand Pulsar Array programme on MeerKAT – X. Scintillation arcs of 107 pulsars
Authors: Main R A , Parthasarathy A , Johnston S , Karastergiou A , Basu A , Cameron A D , Keith M J , Oswald L S , Posselt B , Reardon D J , Song X , Weltevrede P
Published: November 2022

We present the detection of 107 pulsars with interstellar scintillation arcs at 856–1712 MHz, observed with the MeerKAT Thousand Pulsar Array Programme. Scintillation arcs appear to be ubiquitous in clean, high S/N observations, their detection mainly limited by short observing durations and coarse frequency channel resolution. This led the survey to be sensitive to nearby, lightly scattered pulsars with high effective velocity – from a large proper motion, a screen nearby the pulsar, or a screen near the Earth. We measure the arc curvatures in all of our sources, which can be used to give an estimate of screen distances in pulsars with known proper motion, or an estimate of the proper motion. The short scintillation time-scale in J1731−4744 implies a scattering screen within 12 pc of the source, strongly suggesting the association between this pulsar and the supernova remnant RCW 114. We measure multiple parabolic arcs of five pulsars, all of which are weakly scintillating with high proper motion. Additionally, several sources show hints of inverted arclets suggesting scattering from anisotropic screens. Building on this work, further targeted MeerKAT observations of many of these pulsars will improve understanding of our local scattering environment and the origins of scintillation; annual scintillation curves would lead to robust screen distance measurements, and the evolution of arclets in time and frequency can constrain models of scintillation.
The cosmic-ray induced sputtering process on icy grains
Authors: Arslan Özgün , Hocuk Seyit , Caselli Paola , Küçük İbrahim
Published: November 2022

In molecular cloud cores, the cosmic ray (CR) induced sputtering via CR ion-icy grain collision is one of the desorption processes for ice molecules from mantles around dust grains. The efficiency of this process depends on the incident CR ion properties as well as the physicochemical character of the ice mantle. Our main objective is the examination of the sputtering efficiency for H2O and CO ices found in molecular cloud cores. In the calculation routine, we consider a multidimensional parameter space that consists of 30 CR ion types, 5 different CR ion energy flux distributions, 2 separate ice mantle components (pure H2O and CO), 3 ice formation states, and 2 sputtering regimes (linear and quadratic). We find that the sputtering behaviour of H2O and CO ices is dominated by the quadratic regime rather than the linear regime, especially for CO sputtering. The sputtering rate coefficients for H2O and CO ices show distinct variations with respect to the adopted CR ion energy flux as well as the grain-size-dependent mantle depth. The maximum radius of the cylindrical latent region is quite sensitive to the effective electronic stopping power. The track radii for CO ice are much bigger than H2O ice values. In contrast to the H2O mantle, even relatively light CR ions (Z ≥ 4) may lead to a track formation within the CO mantle, depending on Se,eff. We suggest that the latent track formation threshold can be assumed as a separator between the linear and the quadratic regimes for sputtering.
A targeted search for Main Belt Comets
Authors: Ferellec Léa , Snodgrass Colin , Fitzsimmons Alan , Rożek Agata , Gardener Daniel , Smith Richard , Medeiros Hissa , Opitom Cyrielle , Hsieh Henry H
Published: November 2022

Main Belt Comets (MBCs) exhibit sublimation-driven activity while occupying asteroid-like orbits in the Main Asteroid Belt. MBCs and candidates show stronger clustering of their longitudes of perihelion around 15° than other objects from the Outer Main Belt (OMB). This potential property of MBCs could facilitate the discovery of new candidates by observing objects in similar orbits. We acquired deep r-band images of 534 targeted asteroids using the Isaac Newton Telescope/Wide Field Camera between 2018 and 2020. Our sample is comprised of OMB objects observed near perihelion, with longitudes of perihelion between 0 and 30° and orbital parameters similar to known MBCs. Our pipeline applied activity detection methods to 319 of these objects to look for tails or comae, and we visually inspected the remaining asteroids. Our activity detection pipeline highlighted a faint antisolar tail-like feature around 2001 NL19 (279870) observed on 2018 November 07, 6 months after perihelion. This is consistent with cometary activity; however, additional observations of this object will be needed during its next perihelion to investigate its potential MBC status. If it is active our survey yields a detection rate of ∼1:300, which is higher than previous similar surveys, supporting the idea of dynamical clustering of MBCs. If not, it is consistent with previously estimated abundance rates of MBCs in the OMB (<1:500).
From Problematic Laggard to Star of the South? The Comparative Significance of the Portuguese Case
Authors: Fishman Robert M.
Published: November 2022

This chapter identifies points of major comparative and theoretical importance of the Portuguese case and reviews hypotheses that are potentially useful for explaining the country’s unusual record of performance and democratic practice. The chapter also considers alternative frames of reference that have been used to compare the Portuguese case with others. Portugal’s status as the pioneer of the worldwide Third Wave of democratization in 1974 marked a clear break in the country’s political development, even though the pre-democratization past continues to exert its influence in various ways. With the functioning of the institutions and political culture put in place by the 1974 Carnation Revolution and its aftermath, Portugal achieved remarkable progress on many dimensions of performance, such as political inclusion, and can be viewed as an unusually successful case. Indeed, according to some indicators, such as women’s participation in the labour force and certain types of cultural tastes, Portuguese data has come closer to the levels found in Northern Europe than the ones from the rest of Southern Europe. This chapters examines several potential explanations for this recent record, while offering important conceptual and theoretical lessons that extend well beyond the Portuguese case.
Do Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Widespread Pain differ in their association with Depression Symptoms in the 1958 British Cohort?
Authors: Dickson Cameron , Zhou Ang , MacIntyre Erin , Hyppönen Elina
Published: November 2022

Objective

Depression frequently coexists with chronic pain. Contemporary models suggest that these conditions share pathobiological mechanisms, prompting a need to investigate their temporal association. This investigation aimed to explore two distinctly different chronic pain conditions, and their cross-sectional and prospective associations with depression.

Methods

Self-reported information was available on chronic widespread pain (CWP), chronic low back pain (CLBP) (45 years), and depression symptoms (45 and 50 years) from up to 9,377 participants in the 1958 British cohort. Depression symptom outcomes were derived by “Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised” (45 years) and “Short Form-36” (50 years). Relationships between both chronic pain conditions and depression symptoms were investigated by fitting four separate logistic regression models, each with varying levels of covariate adjustment, including depression at baseline.

Results

CWP was associated with depression symptoms cross-sectionally (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65, 2.52; P < 0.001, n = 7,629), and prospectively when fully adjusted for baseline, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health covariates (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.17, 1.80; P = < 0.001, n = 6,275). CLBP was associated with depression symptoms prospectively (full model: OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.01, 1.61; P = 0.04, n = 6,288). In fully adjusted models the prospective association of CWP with depression symptoms was more heavily influenced by our covariates than CLBP with depression symptoms.

Conclusion

Pain may be a stressor from which depression can arise. Development of depression may be differentially dependant upon the type of pain experienced. Screening for depression symptoms among individuals with both chronic pain conditions is indicated and should be repeated over time.
Preclinical ocular changes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients by optical coherence tomography
Authors: Pelegrín Laura , Morató Montse , Araújo Olga , Figueras-Roca Marc , Zarranz-Ventura Javier , Adán Alfredo , Cervera Ricard , Casaroli-Marano Ricardo P , Budi Vanesa , Barrera-López Lucía , Ríos José , Hernández-Rodríguez José , Espinosa Gerard
Published: November 2022

Objective

The aim of the present study was to detect preclinical changes in SLE patients in retinal microvascularization or retinal and optical nerve structure by optical coherence tomography.

Methods

This cross-sectional, single-centre study aimed to describe structural changes [macular and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness] by structural spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and perifoveal vascular [vessel density (VD) and vascular perfusion (VP) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) structural parameters] findings by OCT angiography (OCTA) in 78 SLE patients and 80 healthy volunteers. In addition, we analysed their association with clinical and laboratory parameters, medications received, disease duration, and SLE activity and damage.

Results

Structural parameters by SD-OCT and perifoveal vascular parameters by OCTA were decreased in SLE patients compared with controls. OCTA parameters (VD, VP and FAZ circularity) and macular thickness were also decreased in patients with longer disease duration (>10 years). The presence of aPLs was associated with a decreased RNFL thickness, mainly in the inferior quadrants. Patients developing APS also showed decreased RNFL thickness and OCTA flow changes. SD-OCT and OCTA results were not associated with disease activity. Foveal structural parameters were lower in patients with higher damage score.

Conclusion

SD-OCT and OCTA can detect preclinical structural and microcirculatory changes in SLE patients. Structural and perifoveal vascular macular changes in SLE patients are related to disease duration. Macular structural parameters were impaired in patients with higher disease damage. APS seems to be associated with preclinical damage to the optic nerve and impairment of the perifoveal microvasculature.
Identifying hidden Zika hotspots in Pernambuco, Brazil: a spatial analysis
Authors: Freitas Laís Picinini , Lowe Rachel , Koepp Andrew E , Alves Sandra Valongueiro , Dondero Molly , Marteleto Letícia J
Published: November 2022

Background

Northeast Brazil has the world's highest rate of Zika-related microcephaly. However, Zika case counts cannot accurately describe burden because mandatory reporting was only established when the epidemic was declining in the region.

Methods

To advance the study of the Zika epidemic, we identified hotspots of Zika in Pernambuco state, Northeast Brazil, using Aedes-borne diseases (dengue, chikungunya and Zika) and microcephaly data. We used Kulldorff's Poisson purely spatial scan statistic to detect low- and high-risk clusters for Aedes-borne diseases (2014–2017) and for microcephaly (2015–2017), separately. Municipalities were classified according to a proposed gradient of Zika burden during the epidemic, based on the combination of cluster status in each analysis and considering the strength of the evidence.

Results

We identified 26 Aedes-borne diseases clusters (11 high-risk) and 5 microcephaly clusters (3 high-risk) in Pernambuco. According to the proposed Zika burden gradient, our results indicate that the northeast of Pernambuco and the Sertão region were hit hardest by the Zika epidemic. The first is the most populous area of Pernambuco, while the second has one of the highest rates of social and economic inequality in Brazil.

Conclusion

We successfully identified possible hidden Zika hotspots using a simple methodology combining Aedes-borne diseases and microcephaly information.
A new Miyake–Apple View system using a nasal endoscope
Authors: Sugiura Takeshi , Takashima Naomi , Hirota Atsushi
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate images and videos behind the anterior segment of cataract surgery with the porcine eye using a new Miyake-Apple View with a nasal endoscope.

Setting:

Sugiura Eye Clinic

Design:

Laboratory study

Method:

Make a hole in a commercially available wooden desk and fix the nasal endoscope under the desk. A tunnel for passing the probe of the nasal endoscope was opened on a Styrofoam human-faced base, and the probe was passed through. A 3 mm x 3 mm incision was made behind the globe and a nasal endoscope probe was inserted to observe the posterior anterior segment of the eye.

Result:

The posterior part of the anterior segment of the eye could be clearly observed, and each procedure (hydrodissection, phacoemulsification, irrigation and aspiration and insertion and fixation of intraocular lens (IOL)) in normal cataract surgery could be observed from the posterior. Lighting could be improved.

Conclusion:

The conventional Miyake-Apple View required a large-scale custom-made device, which was expensive and could not be taken easily, and required to cut the globe and a technique to fix it to the glass plate. However, this method made it easy to prepare for shooting and the equipment was inexpensive. Furthermore, it had the great advantage of not having to cut the globe. Since the integrity of the globe was maintained, normal cataract surgery could be reproduced and dynamic observation from the back became possible. It was useful for practicing cataract surgery and examining the fixed state of new IOLs.
Ventricular Assist Device Outcomes in Infants and Children With Stage 1 Single Ventricle Palliation
Authors: Joong Anna , Maeda Katsuhide , Peng David M. ,   on Behalf of the ACTION Learning Network Investigators
Published: November 2022

Data on ventricular assist device (VAD) outcomes in infants with stage 1 single ventricle (SV) palliation are limited. We examined the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) registry for outcomes of pre/poststage 1 SV patients undergoing VAD implantation between March 2018 and October 2020. Data are collected from 32 centers and major adverse events undergo central adjudication. During the study period, 30 stage 1 SV patients underwent VAD implant with median age of 0.9 months (range 0.1–25) and weight 3.7 kg (2.4–17). Preimplant illness severity was high: ventilator support (90%), ECMO (30%), prior cerebral vascular accident (CVA, 23%), and dialysis (13%). Devices used included paracorporeal pulsatile (50%), paracorporeal continuous-flow (37%), and multiple devices (13%). Median support duration was 56 days (range 3–246). A positive clinical outcome (transplanted or weaned) was attained in 63% (63% transplanted, 37% mortality, 0% weaned). VAD adverse events included: major infection (43%), neurologic dysfunction (any = 30%; CVA = 20%), major bleeding (17%), renal dysfunction (13%), and device malfunction (3%). In conclusion, stage 1 SV patients undergoing VAD support have high preimplant illness severity and complexity, as well as significant morbidity and mortality postimplant. A variety of devices and strategies are employed by centers to support this challenging population.