bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of secondary failure time responses in studies with response‐dependent sampling schemes
Authors: Zhong Yujie , Cook Richard J. , Yu Aiai
Published: August 2023

Response‐dependent sampling is routinely used as an enrichment strategy in the design of family studies investigating the heritable nature of disease. In addition to the response of primary interest, investigators often wish to investigate the association between biomarkers and secondary responses related to possible comorbidities. Statistical analysis regarding genetic biomarkers and their association with the secondary outcome must address the biased sampling scheme involving the primary response. In this article, we develop composite likelihoods and two‐stage estimation procedures for such secondary analyses in which the within‐family dependence structure for the primary and secondary outcomes is modeled via a Gaussian copula. The dependence among responses within family members is modeled based on kinship coefficients. Auxiliary data from independent individuals are exploited by augmenting the composite likelihoods to increase precision of marginal parameter estimates and enhance the efficiency of estimators of the dependence parameters. Simulation studies are carried out to evaluate the finite sample performance of the proposed method, and an application to a motivating family study in psoriatic arthritis is given for illustration.
A Bayesian method for estimating gene‐level polygenicity under the framework of transcriptome‐wide association study
Authors: Majumdar Arunabha , Pasaniuc Bogdan
Published: August 2023

Polygenicity refers to the phenomenon that multiple genetic variants have a nonzero effect on a complex trait. It is defined as the proportion of genetic variants with a nonzero effect on the trait. Evaluation of polygenicity can provide valuable insights into the genetic architecture of the trait. Several recent works have attempted to estimate polygenicity at the single nucleotide polymorphism level. However, evaluating polygenicity at the gene level can be biologically more meaningful. We propose the notion of gene‐level polygenicity, defined as the proportion of genes having a nonzero effect on the trait under the framework of a transcriptome‐wide association study. We introduce a Bayesian approachgenepolyto estimate this quantity for a trait. The method is based on spike and slab prior and simultaneously estimates the subset of non‐null genes. Our simulation study shows thatgenepolyefficiently estimates gene‐level polygenicity. The method produces a downward bias for small choices of trait heritability due to a non‐null gene, which diminishes rapidly with an increase in the genome‐wide association study (GWAS) sample size. While identifying the subset of non‐null genes,genepolyoffers a high level of specificity and an overall good level of sensitivity—the sensitivity increases as the sample size of the reference panel expression and GWAS data increase. We applied the method to seven phenotypes in the UK Biobank, integrating expression data. We find height to be the most polygenic and asthma to be the least polygenic.
Synthesis of Ni3B/Ni via Vacuum‐Induced for Ultrahigh Stable and Efficient Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Liu Zhenjie , Chang Pingping , Xi Murong , Ding Juan , Wang Xingchao , Wang Jiulin , Zhang Wenjun , Huang Yudai
Published: August 2023

Designing efficient catalysts to promote the electrochemical oxidation of anodes is the core of the development of electrochemical synthesis technologies, such as HER and CO2RR. Here, a novel vacuum induction strategy is used to synthesize nickel boride/nickel (Ni3B/Ni) heterostructure catalyst for electrochemical oxidation of methanol into formic acid. The catalyst has extremely high reactivity (only 146.9 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm−2, the maximum current density reaches 555.70 mA mg−1 and 443.87 mA cm−2), ultra‐high selectivity (Faraday efficiency of methanol conversion to formic acid is close to 100%), and ultra‐long life (over 50 h at 100 mA cm−2). In‐suit electrochemical impedance spectroscopy proved that MeOH is oxidized first and inhibits the phase transition of the electrocatalyst to the high‐valent electrooxidation products, which not only enables the high selectivity of MeOH oxidation but also ensures high stability of the catalyst. The mechanism studies by density functional theory calculations show that the potential determining step, the formation of *CH2O, occurs most favorably in the Ni3B/Ni heterostructure. These results provide references for the development of MeOH oxidation catalysts with high activity, high stability, high selectivity, and low cost.
Liquid–Liquid Interfacial Nanoarchitectonics
Authors: Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: August 2023

Science in the small world has become a crucial key that has the potential to revolutionize materials technology. This trend is embodied in the postnanotechnology concept of nanoarchitectonics. The goal of nanoarchitectonics is to create bio‐like functional structures, in which self‐organized and hierarchical structures are working efficiently. Liquid–liquid interface like environments such as cell membrane surface are indispensable for the expression of biological functions through the accumulation and organization of functional materials. From this viewpoint, it is necessary to reconsider the liquid–liquid interface as a medium where nanoarchitectonics can play an active role. In this review, liquid–liquid interfacial nanoarchitectonics is classified by component materials such as organic, inorganic, carbon, and bio, and recent research examples are discussed. Examples discussed in this paper include molecular aggregates, supramolecular polymers, conductive polymers film, crystal‐like capsules, block copolymer assemblies, covalent organic framework (COF) films, complex crystals, inorganic nanosheets, colloidosomes, fullerene assemblies, all‐carbon π‐conjugated graphite nanosheets, carbon nanoskins and fullerphene thin films at liquid–liquid interfaces. Furthermore, at the liquid–liquid interface using perfluorocarbons and aqueous phases, cell differentiation controls are discussed with the self‐assembled structure of biomaterials. The significance of liquid–liquid interfacial nanoarchitectonics in the future development of materials will then be discussed.
Recent Advances in the Support Layer, Interlayer and Active Layer of TFC and TFN Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN) Membranes: A Review
Authors: Akbar Heidari Ali , Mahdavi Hossein
Published: August 2023

Although separation of solutes from organic solutions is considered a challenging process, it is inevitable in various chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. OSN membranes are the heart of OSN technology that are widely utilized to separate various solutes and contaminants from organic solvents, which is now considered an emerging field. Hence, numerous studies have been attracted to this field to manufacture novel membranes with outstanding properties. Thin‐film composite (TFC) and nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are two different classes of membranes that have been recently utilized for this purpose. TFC and TFN membranes are made up of similar layers, and the difference is the use of various nanoparticles in TFN membranes, which are classified into two types of porous and nonporous ones, for enhancing the permeate flux. This study aims to review recent advances in TFC and TFN membranes fabricated for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) applications. Here, we will first study the materials used to fabricate the support layer, not only the membranes which are not stable in organic solvents and require to be cross‐linked, but also those which are inherently stable in harsh media and do not need any cross‐linking step, and all of their advantages and disadvantages. Then, we will study the effects of fabricating different interlayers on the performance of the membranes, and the mechanisms of introducing an interlayer in the regulation of the PA structure. At the final step, we will study the type of monomers utilized for the fabrication of the active layer, the effect of surfactants in reducing the tension between the monomers and the membrane surface, and the type of nanoparticles used in the active layer of TFN membranes and their effects in enhancing the membrane separation performance.
Effect of ciclosporin on clinical signs of degenerative mucinotic mural folliculitis in a young cat
Authors: Mizoguchi Tomonari , Fujiwara Keiko , Sekiguchi Maiko , Iwasaki Toshiroh
Published: August 2023

A 1.5‐year‐old, spayed, female, mixed‐breed cat that had been housed completely indoors presented with a chief complaint of facial hair loss. Alopecia extended from the face to the outside of the auricle, and was accompanied by thickening of the dorsal eyelid and scales on the dorsal chest. Histopathological examination revealed infiltration of lymphocytes targeting the hair follicle wall and deposition of mucin in the isthmus of hair follicles. A diagnosis of degenerative mucinotic mural folliculitis was obtained based on the clinical and histological findings. The cat was treated with ciclosporin (9.3 mg/kg) administered once daily. The alopecia and thickening resolved, and the general condition improved. The cat was clinically well for 10 months. The cat has survived 14 months since treatment was started. This case demonstrates the efficacy of high‐dose ciclosporin in treating degenerative mucinotic mural folliculitis.
Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease subsequent to parasitic lymphadenopathy in a mare
Authors: Vitale Valentina , Troya‐Portillo Lucas , Corradini Ignacio , Serrano Barbara , Armengou Lara
Published: August 2023

Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is an uncommon chronic condition in horses, which is characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of the intestine and other organs. Clinical signs usually reported are weight loss, intermittent diarrhoea and generalised dermatitis. The aetiopathogenesis is not fully understood, but intestinal nematodes were strongly suspected to play a role by several authors. We describe the clinical and histopathological findings, treatment and progression of a mare with a presumptive diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease in which alarva migranswas identified in a reactive lymph node approximately a year before the development of symptomatology suggestive of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease. After the first assessment, moxidectin and ivermectin were administered at 30 days of interval, and the owner reported that no further signs were observed for approximately 8 months, when it started to note weight loss, dermatitis and oral ulceration. This report may support the role of parasitic migration in the pathogenesis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease.
An integer basis for celestial amplitudes
Authors: Cotler Jordan , Miller Noah , Strominger Andrew
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We present a discrete basis of solutions of the massless Klein-Gordon equation in 3 + 1 Minkowski space which transform as 𝔰𝔩(2, ℂ) Lorentz/conformal primaries and descendants, and whose elements all have integer conformal dimension. We show that the basis is complete in the sense that the Wightman function can be expressed as a quadratic sum over the basis elements.
Comparison of transcatheter leaflet-approximation and direct annuloplasty in tricuspid regurgitation
Authors: Ochs Laurin , Körber Maria Isabel , Wienemann Hendrik , Tichelbäcker Tobias , Iliadis Christos , Metze Clemens , Brüwer Monique , Schmidt Tobias , Omran Hazem , Fortmeier Vera , Friedrich Kai , Rudolph Volker , Baldus Stephan , Pfister Roman
Published: August 2023

Background

Transcatheter repair emerges as a treatment option in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and high surgical risk.

Aims

This study aimed to compare leaflet-based and annuloplasty-based transcatheter repair in patients with TR.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis consecutive patients undergoing either transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) or direct annuloplasty (AP) for relevant TR at 2 centers were compared with respect to baseline characteristics, procedural efficacy and safety (death, myocardial infarction, procedure or device-related cardiothoracic surgery, or stroke at 30 days).

Results

161 patients (57% female, median age 79 [75–82] years) with comparable clinical baseline characteristics in the TEER (n = 87) and AP (n = 74) group were examined. Baseline TR grade was significantly less severe in the TEER compared to the AP group (torrential 9.2 vs. 31.1%, p = 0.001). Technical success and improvement of TR grades were not significantly different across groups. In analysis matched for baseline TR severity, reduction of TR grade to less than moderate was significantly more common in the AP group (47.8 vs. 26.1%, p = 0.031). Major or more severe bleeding occurred in 9.2% of TEER and 20.3% of AP patients (p = 0.049) without any fatal bleedings. Major adverse events (MAE) were similar across groups with four patients (4.7%) in the TEER group and five patients (6.9%) in the AP group (p = 0.733) and 6-month survival did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

Differences observed between patients treated with TEER and AP provide first evidence for tailoring distinct transcatheter treatment techniques to individual patient characteristics.

Graphic abstract
Do working length and proximal screw density influence the velocity of callus formation in distal tibia fractures treated with a medial bridge plate?
Authors: Gilli Antonio , Ghirardelli Stefano , Pozzi Pierrenzo , Touloupakis Georgios , Messori Matteo , Theodorakis Emmanouil , Antonini Guido
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of working length and screw density on callus formation in distal tibial fractures fixed with a medial bridge plate.

Materials and methods

42 distal tibia fractures treated with a bridge plate were analyzed. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. mRUST score (modified Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial fractures) was used to assess callus formation. Working length and screw density were  measured from post-operative radiographs.

Results

39 (92.9%) fractures healed uneventfully. 32 (76.19%) patients showed signs of early callus formation 3 months post-surgery. In these patients a lower screw density was used compared to patients who didn’t show early callus (33.4 vs. 26.6; p = 0.04). No differences was noticed in working length.

Conclusion

Bridge plate osteosynthesis is a good treatment option in distal tibia fractures. In our series increasing the working length was not associated with a faster callus formation in distal tibia fractures. Conversely, a lower screw density proximally to the fracture site was associated to a faster callus growth.
Outcomes of hamstring graft with preserved tibial insertion for ACL reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Vari Nicolas , Cavaignac Etienne , Cavaignac Marie , Bérard Émilie , Marot Vincent
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Evaluate the outcomes of ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction techniques that use a hamstring graft with a preserved tibial insertion and compare them to standard techniques.

Methods

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was done of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Ovid databases to identify published clinical studies on ACL reconstruction in which a non-detached hamstring tendon (NDHT) was used as a graft and to compare them to studies in which a detached hamstring tendon (DHT) or other techniques were used. The eligible studies were analyzed for the knee laxity, Lachman test, pivot shift test, joint range of motion, anterior drawer, pain, re-tear, revision surgery, Lysholm score, Tegner score, ACL-RSI scale, KOOS, IKDC, SNQ and Howell scale.

Results

Twelve articles in which NDHT was used for ACL reconstruction were analyzed. There was no significant difference between NDHT and DHT in the Lachman > 1 (p = .07), pivot shift test > 1 (p = .40), re-tears (p = .62), pain (p = .85) and the Tegner score (p = .95). However, the outcomes were somewhat better with the NDHT technique for the Lachman (RR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.08–1.12), pivot shift test (RR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.10–2.49) and re-tears (RR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.13–3.42). The other criteria were not included in the meta-analysis because of lack of data or because specific outcome scores were used in each article.

Conclusion

NDHT techniques provide similar results to DHT for ACL reconstruction and tend to produce better stability and a lower re-tear rate.
Effects of Inhibition of IKK Kinase Phosphorylation On the Cellular Defence System and HSP90 Activity
Authors: Giacomarra Miriam , La Torre Martina , Montana Giovanna
Published: August 2023

The present study was conceived to examine the effects of inhibition of BMS-345541 mediated IKK kinase phosphorylation on the cellular defence system as well as on anti-inflammatory response and HSP90 activity. The analysis was conducted in A549 cell line, since such cells carry a homozygous Keap1 mutation (G333C) that alters its interaction with Nrf2. Recent data have highlighted that Keap1, HSP90 protein and IKK kinase interact reciprocally and particularly Keap1 protein is involved in HSP90 and anti-oxidative pathway regulation. The activities of COX2 and HO1 were investigated by real time and immunoblot analysis along with the synthesis and activity of inducible forms of heat shock protein HSP90. Pre-treatment with IKK kinase inhibitor proved to be a protective means to lower the activity of inflammatory cascade, so preventing the formation of excessive amounts of pro-inflammatory molecules. The inhibitor of IKK kinase BMS-345541 was added to cultured A549 cells before the Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) addition. The viability of the cells was determined after 1–24 h incubation with BMS-345541 at concentrations ranging from 1,25–5 µM. It was found that 1 µM concentration does not significantly affected cell viability (data not shown). As a result, the treatment with 1 μM of BMS-345541 induces the inhibition of IKK phosphorylation. In the A549 cells treated with BMS-345541 and LPS, COX2 activity is not induced: mRNA and protein levels have not increased, while there is an increase in the level of HSP90, HO1 proteins and mRNA. The results suggest that the IKK inhibition is effective in the reduction of the inflammatory response thanks to mechanisms involving both the heat shock cellular defense system and the antioxidative pathway.

Graphical Abstract
Computational measurement of perceived pointiness from pronunciation
Authors: Matsuhira Chihaya , Kastner Marc A. , Komamizu Takahiro , Ide Ichiro , Hirayama Takatsugu , Kawanishi Yasutomo , Doman Keisuke , Deguchi Daisuke
Published: August 2023

Sound symbolism is a well-researched topic of psycholinguistics, which tries to comprehend the connection between the sound of a word and its meanings. The Bouba-Kiki effect, one form of sound symbolism, claims that people perceive the pronunciation of “Kiki” as pointier than that of “Bouba.” There is no research that focuses on modeling such perception, i.e., how pointy a pronunciation sounds to humans, through computational and data-driven approaches. To address this, this paper first proposes the novel concept of “phonetic pointiness” defined as how pointy a shape humans are most likely to associate with a given pronunciation. We then model this phonetic pointiness from computational and data-driven approaches to calculate a score for an arbitrary pronunciation. There are three proposed models: a referential model, an expressive model, and a combined model, which integrates the previous two. The idea comes from an existing psycholinguistic classification of two types of sound symbolisms: referential symbolism and expressive symbolism, where the former relates to vocabulary knowledge, while the latter is based on pure human intuition. The proposed models are constructed only with image and language data available on the Web, therefore not requiring task-specific human annotations. We evaluate these models through a crowd-sourced user study, finding a promising correlation between human perception and the phonetic pointiness calculated by the proposed models. The results indicate that human perception can be modeled better by combining both types of sound symbolisms. Furthermore, by observing the behaviors of the models, we show several possible use-cases, such as product naming and psycholinguistic research, which can be a useful insight to further studies and applications.
Pray for Improvement: Experiences with Mediation of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria
Authors: Ezema Jennifer , Diaz Francisco Jose Medina , Jaca Maria Lourdes Munduate , Euwema Martin
Published: August 2023

This study examines victims’ experiences with informal mediation conducted by Catholic priests and nuns in Nigeria. Interviews were conducted with 20 women who sought help from priests and nuns as they had experienced intimate partner violence. Their expectations before and experiences during and after this mediation were explored. Findings suggest that the level of intimate partner violence experienced by victims remains high, and in most cases their expectations of the mediation are not sufficiently met. Most priests and nuns tend to convince victims to forgive their husband and accept their situation while reinstating the patriarchal mentality without any sustainable improvement. Most victims report revictimization episodes after mediation. Implications for theory and practice of mediation by religious leaders are discussed.
p-Capacity with Bessel Convolution
Authors: Horváth Á. P.
Published: August 2023

We define and examine nonlinear potential by Bessel convolution with Bessel kernel. We investigate removable sets with respect to Laplace-Bessel inequality. By studying the maximal and fractional maximal measure, a Wolff type inequality is proved. Finally the relation of B-p capacity and B-Lipschitz mapping, and the B-p capacity and weighted Hausdorff measure and the B-p capacity of Cantor sets are examined.
Improving Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention from the Bottom-up: a Pilot of Getting To Outcomes in the US Military
Authors: Chinman Matthew , Acosta Joie , Bush-Mecenas Susan , Smucker Sierra , Farris Coreen , Fortson Beverly , Imm Pamela , Lamont Andrea , Maguire Thomas , Martin Laurie , Wandersman Abraham , Watson Amber , Wicker Amanda , Tharp Andra
Published: August 2023

While the Department of Defense (DoD) has given increased attention and priority to preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment (SA/SH), it remains a problem. To build its prevention capacity, DoD piloted Getting To Outcomes® (GTO®) from 2019 to 2022 at 10 military installations. GTO is an evidence-based planning and implementation support that has been used in many civilian contexts but has only recently been adapted for military SA/SH. The purpose of this study was to describe GTO use, identify its benefits and challenges, and discuss lessons the GTO effort yielded for prevention more broadly using a framework of organizational and program-level capacities needed for successful prevention in the military context, called the Prevention Evaluation Framework (PEF). GTO was piloted with 10 military installations (“sites”) representing all Military Services, plus the Coast Guard and National Guard. GTO is comprised of a written guide, training, and ongoing coaching. The pilot’s goal was for each site to use GTO to implement a SA/SH prevention program twice. Participants from each site were interviewed and data was collected on GTO steps completed, whether GTO spurred new evaluation activities and collaborations, and the degree of leadership support for GTO. Most sites completed all GTO steps at least once. Interviews showed that DoD participants believe GTO improved prevention understanding, planning, and evaluation capacity; strengthened confidence in chosen programs; and helped sites tailor programs to the military context. Barriers were the complexity of GTO, DoD personnel turnover, and the disruption that the COVID pandemic caused in sexual assault prevention program delivery. Many respondents were unsure if they would continue all of GTO after the coaching ended, but many believed they would continue at least some parts. According to the PEF, the GTO pilot revealed several additional prevention system gaps (e.g., need for leadership support) and changes needed to GTO (e.g., stronger leader and champion engagement), to support quality prevention. The military and other large organizations will need to focus on these issues to ensure prevention implementation and evaluation are conducted with quality.
“One more time”: time loops as a tool to investigate folk conceptions of moral responsibility and human agency
Authors: Giraud Thibaut , Neves Leal Maicol , Cova Florian
Published: August 2023

In the past 20 years, experimental philosophers have investigated folk intuitions about free will and moral responsibility, and their compatibility with determinism. To determine whether laypeople are “natural compatibilists” or “natural incompatibilists”, they have used vignettes describing agents living in deterministic universes. However, later research has suggested that participants’ answers to these studies are plagued with comprehension errors: either people fail to really accept that these universes are deterministic, or they confuse determinism with something else. This had led certain experimenters to conclude that maybe folk intuitions about the compatibility of free will with determinism could not be empirically investigated. Here, we propose that we should refrain from embracing this pessimistic conclusion, as scenarios involving time loops might allow experiments to bypass most of these methodological issues. Indeed, scenarios involving time loops belong both to the philosophical literature on free will and to popular culture. As such, they might constitute a bridge between the two worlds. We present the results of five studies using time loops to investigate people’s intuitions about determinism, free will and moral responsibility. The results of these studies allow us to reach two conclusions. The first is that, when people are introduced to determinism through time loops, they do seem to understand what determinism entails. The second is that, at least in the context of time loops, people do not seem to consider determinism to be incompatible with free will and moral responsibility.
Optimization of Segmented Thermal Barrier Coatings (s-TBCs) for High-Temperature Applications
Authors: Yalçınyüz Behiye Aybike , Kamutzki Franz , Gurlo Aleksander , Rupprecht Christian
Published: August 2023

Hot section components of stationary gas turbines, such as turbine blades and vanes, are coated with thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) to increase the component life. TBCs provide thermal insulation to the metallic components from hot gas in the gas turbines. The TBCs represent high-performance ceramics and are mainly composed of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to fulfill the thermal insulation function. The microstructure of the TBCs should be porous to decrease heat conduction. Besides the porous TBCs, the subsequently developed vertically segmented thermal barrier coatings (s-TBCs) feature outstanding thermal durability. For the formation of this segmented coating microstructure, the YSZ should be deposited under high thermal tensile stress during the coating process. Therefore, substrates are heated just before the coating by plasma or in an oven in recent research. In this work, the development of process parameters for s-TBCs produced by atmospheric plasma spray (APS) without pre-heating is presented. Within the experiments, the relevant process parameters, such as plasma gases, powder feed rate, surface speed, and pathway strategy, have been optimized to achieve the segmented coating microstructure with high deposition efficiency by a conventional plasma torch. Furthermore, YSZ powders used in this study are characterized, and the effect of powder characteristics on the coating microstructure is investigated. The coating microstructure in this work aims to achieve the formation of a high number of vertical cracks with a combination of low internal residual stress and high adhesive tensile strength for the s-TBCs.
Framing Asylum at the Local Level: Experts’ Narratives of Conflictual Dynamics in the Post-Reception Period in Italy
Authors: Dimitriadis Iraklis , Ambrosini Maurizio
Published: August 2023

Studies on the framing of the refugee crisis have focused on media and political discourses, revealing contrasting views and an increasing politicization of immigration. However, the framing-of-asylum discourse in relation to the reception and settlement of asylum seekers in local communities has so far received less attention, especially when conflictual dynamics emerge. This article investigates the ways in which experts at different levels make sense of how the refugee crisis has unfolded in local communities in Italy. Insofar as asylum governance has become a contentious issue, it looks at conflictual situations. The research challenges the binary between humanitarian and fear frames by suggesting the prevalence of a managerialist frame focusing on a problematic implementation of asylum policies. Taking into consideration the opinions of local experts, it also reveals a shift from a fear frame to an inconvenience frame, which denies xenophobic discourses on invasion or social/public disorder in local communities, but finds other reasons to deny acceptance. The article also adds to the study of the horizontal dynamics between public and private actors, which are central, especially at the local level, and introduces refugees as subjects who actively participate in the “battleground” of asylum governance. Therefore, claims about a negotiated order between different tiers of governance within the multilevel governance approach are challenged.
Identifying the unidentified fauna enhances insights into hominin subsistence strategies during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition
Authors: Sinet-Mathiot Virginie , Rendu William , Steele Teresa E. , Spasov Rosen , Madelaine Stéphane , Renou Sylvain , Soulier Marie-Cécile , Martisius Naomi L. , Aldeias Vera , Endarova Elena , Goldberg Paul , McPherron Shannon J. P. , Rezek Zeljko , Sandgathe Dennis , Sirakov Nikolay , Sirakova Svoboda , Soressi Marie , Tsanova Tsenka , Turq Alain , Hublin Jean-Jacques , Welker Frido , Smith Geoff M.
Published: August 2023

Understanding Palaeolithic hominin subsistence strategies requires the comprehensive taxonomic identification of faunal remains. The high fragmentation of Late Pleistocene faunal assemblages often prevents proper taxonomic identification based on bone morphology. It has been assumed that the morphologically unidentifiable component of the faunal assemblage would reflect the taxonomic abundances of the morphologically identified portion. In this study, we analyse three faunal datasets covering the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) and Les Cottés and La Ferrassie (France) with the application of collagen type I peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS). Our results emphasise that the fragmented component of Palaeolithic bone assemblages can differ significantly from the morphologically identifiable component. We obtain contrasting identification rates between taxa resulting in an overrepresentation of morphologically identified reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and an underrepresentation of aurochs/bison (Bos/Bison) and horse/European ass (Equus) at Les Cottés and La Ferrassie. Together with an increase in the relative diversity of the faunal composition, these results have implications for the interpretation of subsistence strategies during a period of possible interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe. Furthermore, shifts in faunal community composition and in carnivore activity suggest a change in the interaction between humans and carnivores across the MUPT and indicate a possible difference in site use between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The combined use of traditional and biomolecular methods allows (zoo)archaeologists to tackle some of the methodological limits commonly faced during the morphological assessment of Palaeolithic bone assemblages.
Results of a pilot risk-based lung cancer screening study: outcomes and comparisons to a Medicare eligible cohort
Authors: Hirsch Erin A. , New Melissa L. , Brown Stephanie L. , Malkoski Stephen P.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Risk-based lung cancer screening holds potential to detect more cancers and avert more cancer deaths than screening based on age and smoking history alone, but has not been widely assessed or implemented in the United States. The purpose of this study was to prospectively identify patients for lung cancer screening based on lung cancer risk using the PLCOm2012 model and to compare characteristics, risk profiles, and screening outcomes to a traditionally eligible screening cohort.

Methods

Participants who had a 6 year lung cancer risk score ≥ 1.5% calculated by the PLCOm2012 model and were ineligible for screening under 2015 Medicare guidelines were recruited from a lung cancer screening clinic. After informed consent, participants completed shared decision-making counseling and underwent a low-dose CT (LDCT). Characteristics and screening outcomes of the study population were compared to the traditionally eligible Medicare cohort with Fisher’s Exact, t-tests, or Brown Mood tests, as appropriate.

Results

From August 2016 to July 2019, the study completed 48 baseline LDCTs. 10% of LDCTs recommended further pulmonary nodule evaluation (Lung-RADs 3 or 4) with two early-stage lung cancers diagnosed in individuals that had quit smoking > 15 years prior. The study population was approximately 5 years older (p = 0.001) and had lower pack years (p = 0.002) than the Medicare cohort.

Conclusion

Prospective application of risk-based screening identifies screening candidates who are similar to a traditionally eligible Medicare cohort and future research should focus on the impact of risk calculators on lung cancer outcomes and optimal usability in clinical environments.

This study was retrospectively registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03683940) on 09/25/2018.
Maternal androgen excess inhibits fetal cardiomyocytes proliferation through RB-mediated cell cycle arrest and induces cardiac hypertrophy in adulthood
Authors: Huo Y. , Wang W. , Zhang J. , Xu D. , Bai F. , Gui Y.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Maternal hyperandrogenism during pregnancy is associated with adverse gestational outcomes and chronic non-communicable diseases in offspring. However, few studies are reported to demonstrate the association between maternal androgen excess and cardiac health in offspring. This study aimed to explore the relation between androgen exposure in utero and cardiac health of offspring in fetal and adult period. Its underlying mechanism is also illustrated in this research.

Methods

Pregnant mice were injected with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from gestational day (GD) 16.5 to GD18.5. On GD18.5, fetal heart tissue was collected for metabolite and morphological analysis. The hearts from adult offspring were also collected for morphological and qPCR analysis. H9c2 cells were treated with 75 μM androsterone. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, qPCR, and western blot were performed to observe cell proliferation and explore the underlying mechanism.

Results

Intrauterine exposure to excessive androgen led to thinner ventricular wall, decreased number of cardiomyocytes in fetal offspring and caused cardiac hypertrophy, compromised cardiac function in adult offspring. The analysis of steroid hormone metabolites in fetal heart tissue by ultra performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry showed that the content of androgen metabolite androsterone was significantly increased. Mechanistically, H9c2 cells treated with androsterone led to a significant decrease in phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and cell cycle-related protein including cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and cyclin D1 (CCND1) in cardiomyocytes. This resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1–S phase, which in turn inhibited cardiomyocyte proliferation.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results indicate that in utero exposure to DHT, its metabolite androsterone could directly decrease cardiomyocytes proliferation through cell cycle arrest, which has a life-long-lasting effect on cardiac health. Our study highlights the importance of monitoring sex hormones in women during pregnancy and the follow-up of cardiac function in offspring with high risk of intrauterine androgen exposure.
Spectrophotometric analysis of purple urine secondary to methylene blue and hydroxocobalamin co-administration
Authors: Hardin Jeremy , Galust Henrik , Clark Richard Franklin , Ly Binh , Suhandynata Raymond Theodore
Published: August 2023

Background

The development of purple urine after methylene blue (methylthioninium chloride) and hydroxocobalamin co-administration is a rare clinical entity that has not been fully elucidated. A 47-year-old male presented to the emergency department with hypotension, cyanosis, and depressed mental status. The patient was noted to have profound peripheral and central cyanosis, as well as chocolate-colored arterial blood. He was treated with both methylene blue and hydroxocobalamin and developed purple urine for approximately 1 week.

Methods

Color chromatography was performed by placing the patient’s urine directly onto absorbent filter paper. Urine spectrophotometry was performed utilizing the NanoDrop One/One C UV–Vis Spectrophotometer.

Results

Color chromatography of the urine was demonstrated clear separation of distinct red and blue phases. Urine spectrophotometry demonstrated near perfect overlap between the methylene blue + hydroxocobalamin absorbance spectrum and the patient’s purple urine absorbance spectrum.

Conclusion

Purple urine secondary to methylene blue and hydroxocobalamin co-administration is due to combined urinary excretion of methylene blue (blue) and hydroxocobalamin (red), and not a novel purple metabolite. We anticipate that this is going to be an increasingly common clinical entity as the roles of both hydroxocobalamin and methylene blue expand from toxicologic antidotes to adjunct therapies for vasoplegia, poor cardiac output, and sepsis.
Virtual Gas Turbines: A novel flow network solver formulation for the automated design-analysis of secondary air system
Authors: Kulkarni D.Y. , di Mare L.
Published: August 2023

The complex and iterative workflow for designing the secondary air system (SAS) of a gas turbine engine still largely depends on human expertise and hence requires long lead times and incurs high design time-cost. This paper proposes an automated methodology to generate the whole-engine SAS flow network model from the engine geometry model and presents a convenient and inter-operable framework of the secondary air system modeller. The SAS modeller transforms the SAS cavities and flow paths into a 1D flow network model composed of nodes and links. The novel, object-oriented pre-processor embedded in the SAS modeller automatically assembles the conservation equations for all flow nodes and the loss correlations for all links. The twin-level, hierarchical SAS solver then solves the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy supplemented with the correlations in the loss model library. The modelling swiftness, mathematical robustness and numerical stability of the present methodology are demonstrated through the results obtained from IP compressor rotor drum flow network model.
Reproducing Responsible Gambling through Codes of Conduct: The Role of Trade Associations and Codes of Conduct in Shaping Risk Regulation
Authors: Casey Donal
Published: August 2023

Online gambling emerged in the 1990s in the midst of a process of market liberalisation. Here, scholars have argued that the gambling industry actively seeks state regulation to authorise and legitimate its activities. Why then, since the emergence of the online gambling industry, have trade associations continually sought to develop responsible gambling codes of conduct? In this paper, I address this puzzle by documenting and tracing the development and deployment of responsible gambling codes of conduct by trade associations from the emergence of the online gambling industry in the early 1990s and through processes of increased market liberalisation at the national level and market integration at the European Union level. I argue that online gambling trade associations deploy responsible gambling codes of conduct at particular moments of opportunity to shape their members’ external legal and regulatory environment and to reproduce and embed a particular understanding of how gambling-related risks should be regulated.
Numerical study on turbulence modulation of finite-size particles in plane-Couette flow
Authors: Wang Cheng , Jiang Linfeng , Sun Chao
Published: August 2023

Turbulent plane-Couette flow suspended with finite-size spheroidal particles is studied using fully particle-resolved direct numerical simulations. The effects of particle aspect ratio on turbulent arguments and particle statistics are explored, leading to the same conclusions as the previous experimental findings (Wang et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 937, 2022, A15). By performing stress analysis, we find that the presence of particles introduces extra stresses to the system and accounts for the global drag increases. The particle-laden flow cases exhibit spectra that are consistent with the scalings

$k^{-5/3}$

and

$k^{-3}$

in the large and small scales, respectively. While the

$k^{-3}$

scaling observed in the particle-laden flow is reminiscent of bubbly flow, an examination of the particle Reynolds number suggests that the mechanism responsible may not be attributable to the pseudo-turbulence induced by particles as in the case of bubbles. In the view of particle statistics, we observe that spherical and non-spherical particles cluster preferentially in the near-wall and the bulk region, respectively, and that the orientations of non-spherical particles are affected by their aspect ratios, especially in the near-wall region. The present numerical results, combined with previous experimental findings in Wang et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 937, 2022, A15), provide in-depth information on both the fluid and the particle phase, contributing to a better understanding of particle suspension in shear flows.
Bag film breakup of droplets in uniform airflows
Authors: Tang K. , Adcock T.A.A. , Mostert W.
Published: August 2023

We present novel numerical simulations investigating the bag breakup of liquid droplets. We first examine the viscous effect on the early-time drop deformation, comparing with theory and experiment. Next, a bag film forms at late time and is susceptible to spurious mesh-induced breakup in numerical simulations, which has prevented previous studies from reaching grid convergence of fragment statistics. We therefore adopt the manifold death (MD) algorithm which artificially perforates thin films once they reach a prescribed critical thickness independent of the grid size, controlled by a numerical parameter$L_{sig}$. We show grid convergence of fragment statistics when utilising the MD algorithm, and analyse the fragment behaviour and bag film disintegration mechanisms including ligament breakup, node detachment and rim destabilisation. Our choice of the critical thickness parameter$L_{sig}$is limited by numerical constraints and thus has not been matched to experiment or theory; consequently, the current simulations yield critical bag film perforation thicknesses larger than experimentally observed. The influence of the MD algorithm configuration on the bag breakup phenomena and statistics will be investigated in future work. We also study the effects of moderate liquid Ohnesorge number ($0.005 \leqslant Oh \leqslant 0.05$) on the bag breakup process and fragment statistics, where a non-monotonic dependency of the average diameter of bag film fragments on$Oh$is found. These results highlight the utility of the MD algorithm in multiphase simulations involving topological changes, and pave the way for physics-based numerical investigations into spume generation at the air–sea interface.
The evolution of surface quasi-geostrophic modons on sloping topography
Authors: Crowe Matthew N. , Johnson Edward R.
Published: August 2023

This work discusses modons, or dipolar vortices, propagating along sloping topography. Two different regimes exist, which are studied separately using the surface quasi-geostrophic equations. First, when the modon propagates in the direction opposite to topographic Rossby waves, steady solutions exist and a semi-analytical method is presented for calculating these solutions. Second, when the modon propagates in the same direction as the Rossby waves, a wave wake is generated. This wake removes energy from the modon, causing it to decay slowly. Asymptotic predictions are presented for this decay and found to agree closely with numerical simulations. Over long times, decaying vortices are found to break down due to an asymmetry resulting from the generation of waves inside the vortex. A monopolar vortex moving along a wall is shown to behave in a similar way to a dipole, though the presence of the wall is found to stabilise the vortex and prevent the long-time breakdown. The problem is equivalent mathematically to a dipolar vortex moving along a density front, hence our results apply directly to this case.
Moser's theorem with frequency-preserving
Authors: Liu Chang , Tong Zhicheng , Li Yong
Published: August 2023

This paper mainly concerns the KAM persistence of the mapping $\mathscr {F}:\mathbb {T}^{n}\times E\rightarrow \mathbb {T}^{n}\times \mathbb {R}^{n}$ with intersection property, where $E\subset \mathbb {R}^{n}$ is a connected closed bounded domain with interior points. By assuming that the frequency mapping satisfies certain topological degree condition and weak convexity condition, we prove some Moser-type results about the invariant torus of mapping $\mathscr {F}$ with frequency-preserving under small perturbations. To our knowledge, this is the first approach to Moser's theorem with frequency-preserving. Moreover, given perturbed mappings over $\mathbb {T}^n$, it is shown that such persistence still holds when the frequency mapping and perturbations are only continuous about parameter beyond Lipschitz or even Hölder type. We also touch the parameter without dimension limitation problem under such settings.
Facial Recognition in War Contexts: Mass Surveillance and Mass Atrocity
Authors: Espindola Juan
Published: August 2023

The use of facial recognition technology (FRT) as a form of intelligence has recently made a prominent public appearance in the theater of war. During the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities relied on FRT as part of the country's defensive activities, harnessing the technology for a variety of purposes, such as unveiling covert Russian agents operating amid the Ukrainian population; revealing the identity of Russian soldiers who committed war crimes; and even identifying dead Russian soldiers. This constellation of uses of FRT—in a war increasingly waged on the digital and information front—warrants ethical examination. The essay discusses some of the most serious concerns with FRT in the context of war, including the infringement of informational privacy; the indiscriminate and disproportionate harms it may inflict, particularly when the technology is coupled with social media intelligence; and the potential abuse of the technology once the fog of war dissipates. Some of these concerns parallel those to be found in nations that are not engulfed in war, but others are unique to war-torn settings.