bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metastasis-directed therapy: new standard or too early to change paradigm?
Authors: Klemm Jakob , Rajwa Pawel , Miszczyk Marcin , Brönimann Stephan , Laukhtina Ekaterina , Tsuboi Ichiro , Matsukawa Akihiro , Parizi Mehdi Kardoust , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Shariat Shahrokh F.
Published: December 2023

Metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) is an emerging treatment strategy for patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa), particularly for oligorecurrent disease. This review aims to summarize findings from several prospective trials in the setting of oligorecurrent PCa. We found that MDT is feasible, has high tolerability, and is effective in terms of local control of treated lesions and of deferring disease progression in well-selected patients. Selecting patients for MDT requires thoughtful consideration of factors such as the castration status, the number of detected metastases, and the imaging modality used for metastasis detection. Notably, the studies included in this review varied in terms of these factors, complicating the comparability of their results. Despite the existence of several prospective clinical trials in the field, there is an absence of high-level evidence attributable to the lack of phase 3 clinical trials. As a result, current guidelines recommend the administration of MDT exclusively within the context of clinical trials. Despite this, retrospective series indicate that MDT is already frequently utilized outside of clinical trials.
The influence of chronic renal insufficiency on multi-therapeutic modalities for breast cancer: a single-center experience
Authors: Hong Yi-Wen , Kuo I-Ming , Kuo Wen-Ling , Yu Chi-Chang , Shen Shih-Che , Tsai Hsiu-Pei , Chu Chia-Hui , Ho Hui-Yu , Lo Yung-Feng , Chen Shin-Cheh , Lin Yung-Chang , Chien Chih-Ying , Chou Hsu-Huan
Published: December 2023

Background

Due to the presence of other comorbidities and multi-therapeutic modalities in breast cancer, renally cleared chemotherapeutic regimens may cause nephrotoxicity. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the chemotherapy types and outcomes in breast cancer patients with or without chronic renal disease.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 62 female patients with breast cancer and underlying late stages (stage 3b, 4, and 5) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) treated from 2000 to 2017. They were propensity score-matched 1:1 with patients in our database with breast cancer and normal renal function (total n = 124).

Results

The main subtype of breast cancer was luminal A and relatively few patients with renal impairment received chemotherapy and anti-Her-2 treatment. The breast cancer patients with late-stage CKD had a slightly higher recurrent rate, especially at the locally advanced stage. The 5-year overall survival was 90.1 and 71.2% for patients without and with late-stage CKD, but the breast cancer-related mortality rate was 88.9 and 24.1%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, dose-reduced chemotherapy was an independent negative predictor of 5-year recurrence-free survival and late-stage CKD was associated with lower 5-year overall survival rate.

Conclusions

Breast cancer patients with late-stage CKD may receive insufficient therapeutic modalities. Although the recurrence-free survival rate did not differ significantly by the status of CKD, patients with breast cancer and late-stage CKD had shorter overall survival time but a lower breast cancer-related mortality rate, indicated that the mortality was related to underlying disease.
Global existence for perturbations of the 2D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations with space-time white noise
Authors: Hairer Martin , Rosati Tommaso
Published: December 2023

We prove global in time well-posedness for perturbations of the 2D stochastic Navier–Stokes equations $$\begin{aligned} \partial _t u + u \cdot \nabla u= & {} \Delta u - \nabla p + \zeta + \xi \;, \qquad u (0, \cdot ) = u_{0} \;,\\ {\text {div}}(u)= & {} 0 \;, \end{aligned}$$

∂
t

u
+
u
·
∇
u
=

Δ
u
-
∇
p
+
ζ
+
ξ

,

u

(
0
,
·
)

=

u
0

,

div
(
u
)
=

0

,

driven by additive space-time white noise $$ \xi $$
ξ
, with perturbation $$ \zeta $$
ζ
in the Hölder–Besov space $$\mathcal {C}^{-2 + 3\kappa } $$

C

-
2
+
3
κ

, periodic boundary conditions and initial condition $$ u_{0} \in \mathcal {C}^{-1 + \kappa } $$

u
0

∈

C

-
1
+
κ

for any $$ \kappa >0 $$

κ
>
0

. The proof relies on an energy estimate which in turn builds on a dynamic high-low frequency decomposition and tools from paracontrolled calculus. Our argument uses that the solution to the linear equation is a $$ \log $$
log
–correlated field, yielding a double exponential growth bound on the solution. Notably, our method does not rely on any explicit knowledge of the invariant measure to the SPDE, hence the perturbation $$ \zeta $$
ζ
is not restricted to the Cameron–Martin space of the noise, and the initial condition may be anticipative. Finally, we introduce a notion of weak solution that leads to well-posedness for all initial data $$ u_{0}$$

u
0

in $$ L^{2} $$

L
2

, the critical space of initial conditions.
Acute Bouts of Aerobic Exercise Do Not Modulate Task-Evoked Midfrontal Theta Oscillations in School-Age Children
Authors: Hsieh Shu-Shih , Kao Shih-Chun , Raine Lauren B. , Lloyd Katherine M. , Pontifex Matthew B. , Hillman Charles H.
Published: December 2023

While acute aerobic exercise has been found to have a facilitative effect on task components with varied cognitive control demands in school-age children, its effects on specific neural processes evoked by a cognitive control task remain underexplored. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise on task-evoked midfrontal theta event-related synchronization (ERS)—which plays a crucial role in supporting cognitive control. Thirty-three preadolescent children were recruited into this within-subjects, crossover study. Participants engaged in an aerobic exercise condition and a seated rest condition in a counterbalanced order. After both conditions, participants completed a flanker task, with concurrent EEG data collection. The results revealed no differences in midfrontal theta ERS following acute aerobic exercise as compared with following the control condition. However, midfrontal theta ERS was higher during congruent trials relative to incongruent trials following control condition but not following aerobic exercise. Collectively, acute bouts of aerobic exercise do not appear to modulate the control and behavioral monitoring processes indexed by midfrontal theta ERS during cognitive control in children.
Pricing and hedging of longevity basis risk through securitisation
Authors: Zeddouk Fadoua , Devolder Pierre
Published: December 2023

Pension funds and insurers face difficulties in hedging their longevity risk, which is the uncertainty of how long their clients will live. A possible solution could be using longevity-linked securities to transfer some of this risk to other parties. However, these securities may not match the actual mortality rates of the insurer’s clients, resulting in a potential loss due to basis risk. In this paper, we measure this basis risk through the pricing of a longevity derivative under Solvency II. We also compare this method with other common pricing methods in finance. We explore and evaluate different hedging strategies for insurers, using a multi-population model derived from a two-dimensional Hull and White model that captures the dynamics of mortality over time.
Granular dilatancy and non-local fluidity of partially molten rock
Authors: Katz Richard F. , Rudge John F. , Hansen Lars N.
Published: December 2023

Partially molten rock is a densely packed, melt-saturated, granular medium, but it has seldom been considered in these terms. In this paper we extend the continuum theory of partially molten rock to incorporate the physics of granular media. Our formulation includes dilatancy in a viscous constitutive law and introduces a non-local fluidity. We analyse the resulting poro-viscous–granular theory in terms of two modes of liquid–solid segregation that are observed in published torsion experiments: localisation of liquid into high-porosity sheets and radially inward liquid flow. We show that the newly incorporated granular physics brings the theory into agreement with experiments. We discuss these results in the context of grain-scale physics across the nominal jamming fraction at the high homologous temperatures relevant in geological systems.
Preventive effects of caffeine on nicotine plus high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and gain weight: a possible explanation for why obese smokers with high coffee consumption tend to be leaner
Authors: Lu Naiyan , Mei Xue , Li Xu , Tang Xue , Yang Guofeng , Xiang Wen
Published: December 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disorder, affecting approximately 25 % of the population. Coffee-drinking obese smokers exhibit lower body weights and decreased NAFLD rates, but the reasons behind this remain unclear. Additionally, the effect of nicotine, the main component of tobacco, on the development of NAFLD is still controversial. Our study aimed to explore the possible reasons that drinking coffee could alleviate NAFLD and gain weight and identify the real role of nicotine in NAFLD of obese smokers. A NAFLD model in mice was induced by administering nicotine and a high-fat diet (HFD). We recorded changes in body weight and daily food intake, measured the weights of the liver and visceral fat, and observed liver and adipose tissue histopathology. Lipid levels, liver function, liver malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum inflammatory cytokine levels and the expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism were determined. Our results demonstrated that nicotine exacerbated the development of NAFLD and caffeine had a hepatoprotective effect on NAFLD. The administration of caffeine could ameliorate nicotine-plus-HFD-induced NAFLD by reducing lipid accumulation, regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, alleviating oxidative stress, attenuating inflammatory response and restoring hepatic functions. These results might explain why obese smokers with high coffee consumption exhibit the lower incidence rate of NAFLD and tend to be leaner. It is essential to emphasise that the detrimental impact of smoking on health is multifaceted. Smoking cessation remains the sole practical and effective strategy for averting the tobacco-related complications and reducing the risk of mortality.
Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Caatinga morphoclimatic domain, Brazil: morphological and molecular characterisation
Authors: Vieira F.M. , Pereira F.B. , Ribeiro L.B. , Oliveira J.B. , Silva D.C.N. , Muniz-Pereira L.C. , Felix-Nascimento G.
Published: December 2023

A new species of Oswaldocruzia Travassos, 1917 (Nematoda, Molineidae), parasite of Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Caatinga morphoclimatic domain, Brazil, is described based on morphological and molecular data. Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. is characterised by an anterior extremity with a cephalic vesicle divided into two portions, a body covered by cuticular longitudinal ridges, and cervical alae. Males of the new species have caudal bursa of type I with a 2-1-2 pattern, spicules divided into a shoe, bifurcated fork, and blade with two unequal branches, in which the longer branch bifurcates at its distal portion end and the smaller branch with three distal processes, each with distal bifurcations. Females have didelphic and amphidelphic uteri, an ovijector divided into vestibule, anterior and posterior sphincters, and anterior and posterior infundibula. The new species differs from its Neotropical congeners that have caudal bursa of type I, based on the presence of cervical alae and by having a spicular blade distally divided into two unequal branches, with the longer branch bifurcating at its distal portion and smaller branch with three distal processes, each distally bifurcated. The partial 18S rDNA sequence generated for Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. is the first of a representative belonging to this genus in the Neotropical region.
Loss and revival of coherence in the interaction between a positron beam and a photon field
Authors: Castelli F. , Cialdi S. , Costantini G. , Ferragut R. , Giammarchi M. , Gittini G. , Leone M. , Maero G. , Olivares S. , Romé M. , Simonetto A. , Toso V.
Published: December 2023

We study the interaction between a positron beam in the single-particle regime in an interferometric configuration and a microwave electromagnetic field. We discuss the conditions under which quantum interference can be affected by the field and we outline its possible experimental study in the framework of QUantum interferometry and gravitation with Positrons and LASers (QUPLAS) experiment.
The view from Manywhere: normative economics with context-dependent preferences
Authors: Lecouteux Guilhem , Mitrouchev Ivan
Published: December 2023

We propose a methodology for normative evaluation when preferences are context-dependent. We offer a precise definition of context-dependence and formulate a normative criterion of self-determination, according to which one situation is better than another if individuals are aware of more potential contexts of a choice problem. We provide two interpretations of our normative approach: an extension of Sugden’s opportunity criterion and an application of Sen’s positional views in his theory of justice. Our proposition is consistent with Muldoon’s and Gaus’ approaches of public reason in social contract theory, which account for the diversity of perspectives in non-ideal worlds.
Passive acoustic monitoring detects new records of globally threatened birds in a high-elevation wetland (Free State, South Africa)
Authors: Mosikidi Toka , Le Maitre Nicholas , Steenhuisen Sandy-Lynn , Clark Vincent Ralph , Lloyd Kyle Smith , Le Roux Aliza
Published: December 2023

Wetlands act as islands of high biodiversity within the ecological landscape and provide crucial ecosystem services to society. Anthropogenic activities are driving wetland degradation and it has become increasingly rare to find wetlands that do not show signs of biodiversity loss or alteration. The exacerbated loss of biodiversity in wetlands has a negative impact on the local economy and ecosystem services provided by these systems. We responded to the South African National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) call to document wetland biodiversity against the backdrop of sustained wetland degradation in southern Africa. We monitored the soundscape of a high-elevation wetland in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP) from June 2019 to December 2020 across 24 localities using a rolling grid layout. We detected 35.9% of the avian species previously recorded from ad hoc sightings in the GGHNP of which 68.1% are wetland obligate species. We contributed an additional 10.2% new species records to the avian diversity of the GGHNP, including 24 species that are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Our remote monitoring technique enabled the first ever continuous monitoring using remote acoustic equipment for a high-elevation wetland in South Africa, thus providing a valuable contribution to the NBA call.
Development and evaluation of food preservation lessons for gardeners: application of the DESIGN process
Authors: Beavers Alyssa W , Kennedy Allison O , Blake Jessica P , Comstock Sarah S
Published: December 2023

Objective:

This study presents the development and evaluation of food preservation lessons for gardeners.

Design:

Lessons were developed using the DESIGN process, a nutrition education program planning framework. This study examines the effectiveness of this curriculum at increasing knowledge of proper food preservation practices and increasing participants’ confidence in home food preservation, identifies challenges participants experienced with home food preservation and assesses the perceived influence of home food preservation on vegetable intake and aspects of food security. We used the DESIGN process developed by Contento and Koch to develop the curricula and used social cognitive theory to guide the lesson development. Lessons on three types of food preservation (freezing, water bath canning and pressure canning) were developed and presented to adult gardeners. The evaluation consisted of post-lesson surveys and a follow-up survey several months after the lessons.

Setting:

Mid-Michigan, USA.

Participants:

Adult gardeners.

Results:

Food preservation confidence increased following the lessons. At follow-up, 64 % of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they ate more fruit and vegetables because of preserving food, 57 % of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they spend less money on food due to preserving, while 71 % reported being better able to provide food for themselves and their family. Lastly, 93 % reported feeling better about where their food comes from and wasting less food due to preserving.

Conclusions:

This study provides evidence that home food preservation may be beneficial in promoting fruit and vegetable intake and food security among gardeners.
Geodynamic Controls on Basaltic Volcanism in the Arabian Peninsula: Evolution of Harrat Uwayrid, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bowden Shelby , Furman Tanya , Alhumimidi Mansour , Hames Willis , Assiri Ali , Alyousif Mazen , Almutairi Ramzi , Alqahtani Hamad , Rogaib Abdurahman Bin , Rushood Abdulaziz Bin , AlYousef Khaled
Published: December 2023

Basaltic lavas from Harrat Uwayrid, Saudi Arabia, record the evolving magmatic and tectonic context of the Arabian Peninsula from at least the mid‐Miocene to the present day. New 40Ar/39Ar ages spanning from the mid to late Miocene reveal that mid‐Miocene mafic volcanism formed a large, subalkaline volcanic plateau parallel to Red Sea rifts. Subsequent volumetrically subordinate late Miocene‐Quaternary alkaline volcanism erupted monogenetic cinder cones roughly orthogonal to the earlier volcanic field. The source region for all samples was affected by both fluid and silicate metasomatism; inferred mantle mineral assemblages include amphibole for mid‐Miocene lavas and phlogopite for late Miocene‐Quaternary samples. Calculated melting depths become shallower with time across the Miocene volcanic episode (∼20–15 Ma) but become deeper in the late Miocene to Quaternary (∼10–0 Ma), indicating melting pressures and temperatures significantly higher than those recorded in Miocene lavas despite progressive lithospheric thinning. We offer a two‐stage model for the formation of Harrat Uwayrid: (a) Early‐ and mid‐Miocene rifting associated with the Red Sea opening facilitated adiabatic melting of uppermost mantle lithosphere to form the early volcanic plateau and (b) Plate motion changes in the mid‐ and late‐Miocene initiated the Dead Sea Fault and destabilized a dense pyroxenitic lower lithosphere leading to foundering or lithospheric drip beneath Harrat Uwayrid that allowed deep lithospheric melting and formed the young volatile‐rich eruptives.
PickBlue: Seismic Phase Picking for Ocean Bottom Seismometers With Deep Learning
Authors: Bornstein T. , Lange D. , Münchmeyer J. , Woollam J. , Rietbrock A. , Barcheck G. , Grevemeyer I. , Tilmann F.
Published: December 2023

Detecting phase arrivals and pinpointing the arrival times of seismic phases in seismograms is crucial for many seismological analysis workflows. For land station data, machine learning methods have already found widespread adoption. However, deep learning approaches are not yet commonly applied to ocean bottom data due to a lack of appropriate training data and models. Here, we compiled an extensive and labeled ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data set from 15 deployments in different tectonic settings, comprising ∼90,000 P and ∼63,000 S manual picks from 13,190 events and 355 stations. We propose PickBlue, an adaptation of the two popular deep learning networks EQTransformer and PhaseNet. PickBlue joint processes three seismometer recordings in conjunction with a hydrophone component and is trained with the waveforms in the new database. The performance is enhanced by employing transfer learning, where initial weights are derived from models trained with land earthquake data. PickBlue significantly outperforms neural networks trained with land stations and models trained without hydrophone data. The model achieves a mean absolute deviation of 0.05 s for P‐waves and 0.12 s for S‐waves, and we apply the picker on the Hikurangi Ocean Bottom Tremor and Slow Slip OBS deployment offshore New Zealand. We integrate our data set and trained models into SeisBench to enable an easy and direct application in future deployments.
Compounding Uncertainties in Economic and Population Growth Increase Tail Risks for Relevant Outcomes Across Sectors
Authors: Kanyako Franklyn , Lamontagne Jonathan , Snyder Abigail , Morris Jennifer , Iyer Gokul , Dolan Flannery , Ou Yang , Cox Kenneth
Published: December 2023

Understanding the long‐term effects of population and GDP changes requires a multisectoral and regional understanding of the coupled human‐Earth system, as the long‐term evolution of this coupled system is influenced by human decisions and the Earth system. This study investigates the impact of compounding economic and population growth uncertainties on long‐term multisectoral outcomes. We use the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to explore the influence of compounding and feedback between future GDP and population growth on four key sectors: final energy consumption, water withdrawal, staple food prices, and CO2 emissions. The results show that uncertainties in GDP and population compound, resulting in a magnification of tail risks for outcomes across sectors and regions. Compounding uncertainties significantly impact metrics such as CO2 emissions and final energy consumption, particularly at the upper tail at both global and regional levels. However, the impact of staple food prices and water withdrawal depends on regional factors. Additionally, an alternative low‐carbon transition scenario could compound uncertainties and increase tail risk, particularly in staple food prices, highlighting the influence of emergent constraints on land availability and food‐energy competition for land use. The findings underscore the importance of considering and adequately accounting for compounding uncertainties in key drivers of multisectoral systems to enhance our comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of multisectoral systems. The paper provides valuable insights into the potential implications of compounding uncertainties.
High‐Latitude Geomagnetic Secular Variation at the End of the Cretaceous Normal Superchron Recorded by Volcanic Flows From the Okhotsk‐Chukotka Volcanic Belt
Authors: Lhuillier F. , Lebedev I. E. , Tikhomirov P. L. , Pavlov V. E.
Published: December 2023

The Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS, 84–121 Ma) is a singular period of the geodynamo's history, identified by a prolonged absence of polarity reversals. To better characterize the paleosecular variation (PSV) of the geomagnetic field at the end of this interval, we sampled seven continuous sequences of lava flows from the Okhotsk‐Chukotka Volcanic Belt, emplaced 84–89 Ma in the vicinity of the Kupol ore deposit (NE Russia). From a collection of 1,024 paleomagnetic cores out of 82 investigated lava flows, we successfully determined the paleodirections of 78 lava flows, which led to 57 directional groups after removing the serial correlations. The resulting paleomagnetic pole is located at 170.0°E, 76.8°N (A95 = 5.2°, N = 57), in good agreement with previous estimates for north‐eastern Eurasia. Aiming at quantifying PSV at a reconstructed paleolatitude (λ) of ∼80°N, we obtained a virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) scatter , the value of which was corrected for within‐site dispersion and is little dependent on the choice of the selection criteria. Compared to previous paleodirectional data sets characterizing PSV at various paleolatitudes during the CNS, our Sb estimate confirms a relative latitudinal increase Sb(λ = 90°)/Sb(λ = 0°) on the order of 2–2.5. Focusing on PSV at high paleolatitude within the 70°–90° range, we show that Sb was ∼15% lower at the end of the CNS than during the past 10 Myr, confirming that the singular polarity regime of the geodynamo observed during the CNS is likely accompanied with reduced PSV.
Anthropogenic Carbon in the Arctic Ocean: Perspectives From Different Transient Tracers
Authors: Raimondi Lorenza , Wefing Anne‐Marie , Casacuberta Núria
Published: December 2023

In this study we investigated the physical characteristics of the Atlantic layer in the Arctic Ocean (AO) and its role in the distribution and storage of anthropogenic carbon (Cant). The novelty of this work is to use the Transit Time Distribution method (TTD) with the radionuclides 129I and 236U and its comparison to the commonly applied gas tracers, CFC‐12 and SF6. Overall, our examination of two distinct tracer pairs, along with the novel TTD method in comparison to a classical approach, revealed a notable agreement, highlighting the robustness of these Cant estimates. The TTD analysis based on radionuclides showed that whereas the Eurasian Basin has shorter transit times and is dominated by strong mixing conditions, the Amerasian Basin is characterized by longer transit times and a strong advective flow. Overall, the Cant concentrations obtained from radionuclides confirm that the distribution in the AO follows its circulation patterns, with higher concentrations in the Eurasian Basin (∼50 μmol kg−1) compared to the Amerasian one (∼36–42 μmol kg−1). An estimated partial inventory of 0.85 ± 0.17 and 1.0 ± 0.03 Pg C was assessed for 2015 from the novel application of TTD with radionuclides and gas tracers, respectively. Finally, we identified the saturation of gas tracers as a larger source of uncertainty for Cant estimation compared to the uncertainty associated to different radionuclides' input functions, thus remarking the importance of including non‐saturation dependent tracers, such as radionuclides, as an additional tool to support Cant estimates in the AO.
Plant-expressed Zika virus envelope protein elicited protective immunity against the Zika virus in immunocompetent mice
Authors: Shin Minna , Kang Hyangju , Shin Kyeong ryeol , Lee Rangyeon , Kim Kiju , Min Kyungmin , Cho Kyou-Nam , Sohn Eun-Ju , Kim Kwang Sung , Kim Seok-Hyun , Cho Yang Je , Park Jeongho , Hahn Tae-Wook
Published: December 2023

Zika virus infection causes multiple clinical issues, including Guillain–Barré syndrome and neonatal malformation. Vaccination is considered as the only strategy for the prevention of ZIKV-induced clinical issues. This study developed a plant-based recombinant vaccine that transiently expressed the ZIKV envelope protein (ZikaEnv:aghFc) in Nicotiana benthamiana and evaluated the protective immunity afforded by it in immunocompetent mice. ZikaEnv:aghFc induced both humoral and cellular immunity at a low dose (1–5 μg). This immune-inducing potential was enhanced further when adjuvanted CIA09A. In addition, antigen-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies were vertically transferred from immunized females to their progeny and afforded both protective immunity to ZIKV and cross-protection to Dengue virus infection. These results suggest that our plant-based ZIKV vaccine provides a safe and efficient protective strategy with a competitive edge.
A signal recognition particle receptor gene from the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas
Authors: Zhang Jian , Sun Zhihui , Su Weiyi , Wang Zengdong , Meng Weihan , Chang Yaqing
Published: December 2023

The signal recognition particle (SRP) system delivers approximately 30% of the proteome to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. SRP receptor alpha (SRα) binds to SRP for targeting nascent secreted proteins to the ER membrane in eukaryotic cells. In this study, the SRα homologous gene was identified in the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (AjSRα). AjSRα codes for 641 amino acids and has 54.94% identity with its mammalian homologs. Like mammalian SRα, it is expected to contain the SRP-alpha N domain, SRP54_N domain, and SRP54 domain. In addition, AjSRα is ubiquitously expressed in adult tissues and exhibits a sexually dimorphic expression pattern, with significantly higher expression in ovaries compared to testes. As a maternal factor, AjSRα can be continuously detected during embryonic development. Importantly, we first attempted to investigate its function by using lentiviral vectors for delivering SRα gene-specific shRNA, and we revealed that lentiviral vectors do not induce an upregulation of immune-related enzymes in sea cucumbers. However, compared to the dsRNA-based RNA interference (RNAi) method, lentivirus-mediated RNAi caused dynamic changes in gene expression at a later time. This study supplied the technical support for studying the functional mechanism of SRα in sea cucumbers.
Pure and Sc-doped diopside (CaMgSi2O6) vibrational spectra: modelling and experiments
Authors: Bellucci Luca , Cassetta Michele , Skogby Henrik , Nazzareni Sabrina
Published: December 2023

We investigated the structure of pure and Sc-doped synthetic diopside. In this framework, we provided a computational tool to assign vibrational modes to specific frequencies, facilitating the characterization of experimental vibrational spectra.
Melting of aqueous NaCl solutions in porous materials: shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach for determining NMR cryoporometry pore size distributions
Authors: Mailhiot Sarah E. , Tolkkinen Katja , Henschel Henning , Mareš Jiří , Hanni Matti , Nieminen Miika T. , Telkki Ville-Veikko
Published: December 2023

A shifted phase transition distribution (SIDI) approach enables the determination of NMR cryoporometry and DSC thermoporometry pore size distributions using salty solutions inherently existing in biological porous materials and porous electrolytes.
A bicomponent synergistic MoxW1−xS2/aluminum nitride vdW heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution: a first principles study
Authors: Xu Liang , Li Can , Xiong S. X. , Tang Shuaihao , Xu Zhiqiang , Cao Lei , Tao Ji , Zhang Ying , Dong Kejun , Wang Ling-Ling
Published: December 2023

The coupling of two-dimensional van der Waals heterojunctions is an effective way to achieve photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Electrochemical reduction of benzoic acid esters using water as a H/D source
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Mengfan , Yang Yin , Cheng Xu , Zhou Qi-Lin
Published: December 2023

Benzoic esters are reduced with water as a hydrogen/deuteron source in DC/AC electrolysis in an undivided cell without a sacrificial electrode.
Morphology and size control of an amorphous conjugated polymer network containing quinone and pyrrole moieties via precipitation polymerization
Authors: Sugiura Ryuto , Imai Hiroaki , Oaki Yuya
Published: December 2023

The precipitation polymerization method, an efficient stabilizer-free route to obtain polymer microspheres, was developed for the size and morphology control of an amorphous conjugated polymer network containing benzoquinone and pyrrole moieties.
Methylene blue loaded K0.3Bi0.7F2.4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles for near-infrared activated photodynamic therapy
Authors: Bungla Manisha , Sharma Priyanka , Shanavas Asifkhan , Ganguli Ashok K.
Published: December 2023

Bismuth-based fluoride nanoparticles have received a lot of interest as host materials for upconversion and have been recommended for lighting devices and biological applications.
Universal scaling of the diffusivity of dendrimers in a semidilute solution of linear polymers
Authors: Mariya Silpa , Barr Jeremy J. , Sunthar P. , Prakash J. Ravi
Published: December 2023

The diffusivity of dendrimers in semidilute solutions of linear chains of comparable size is investigated using Brownian dynamics simulations. A wide variety of low generation dendrimers follow a universal scaling law independent of their topology.
Coalescence of biphasic droplets embedded in free standing smectic A films
Authors: Klopp Christoph , Trittel Torsten , Harth Kirsten , Stannarius Ralf
Published: December 2023

Coalescence of biphasic droplets in free-standing smectic films is controlled in part by the rupture of a thin nematic membrane separating the isotropic droplet cores.
Pressure effects on the ionic transport properties of LiNH2
Authors: Wang Jia , Liu Hao , Wang Li , Cao Min , Zhang Xin , Gao Chunxiao , Han Yonghao
Published: December 2023

A pressure-induced abnormal transition from mixed ionic and electronic conduction to pure ionic conduction was found in LiNH2. The energy required for Li+ ion migration increased with increasing pressure.
High-efficiency and low-efficiency roll-off fluorescence/phosphorescence hybrid white organic light-emitting diodes based on AIEgens with hot exciton property by strategically managing triplet excitons
Authors: Gao Guangjian , Han Pengbo , Qiao Xianfeng , Dai Yanfeng , Sun Qian , Yang Dezhi , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong , Ma Dongge
Published: December 2023

OLEDs with efficient blue emission are fabricated using AIE materials. Utilizing TPB-AC enables high-efficiency two-color white OLEDs, and introducing a TTF layer significantly enhances the efficiency, the maximum efficiency increased to 23.2%.
Simulations for charge transfer and photocurrent calculations using hematite for green hydrogen production
Authors: Snir Nadav , Caspary Toroker Maytal
Published: December 2023

Using the split-operator method to simulate wave propagation, it is possible to calculate the hole flux to the surface in hematite OER catalysis. The flux can then be translated to photocurrent to predict the dependence of voltage on photocurrent.
Preparations of Silyl Anions
Authors: Rasappan Ramesh , Pulikkottil Feba T. , Balakrishnan Venkadesh , Chandrasekaran Revathi , Murugesan Vetrivelan
Published: December 2023

This review collates synthetic procedures for the synthesis of different silyl anions, which are valuable reagents for chemists, particularly in the field of organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry. This includes the preparation of silyl anions of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium from group I metals and silyl anions of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium from group II metals. Synthetic procedures for silyl anions of zirconium, hafnium, cadmium, and zinc are also covered. The synthesis of group XIII silyl anions of boron and aluminum is also highlighted.

1 Introduction

2 Silyl Anions of Group I Metals

2.1 Silyllithium

2.2 Silylsodium

2.3 Silylpotassium

2.4 Silylrubidium and Silylcesium

3 Silyl Anions of Group II Metals

3.1 Silylberyllium

3.2 Silylmagnesium

3.3 Silylcalcium, -strontium, and -barium

4 Silyl Anions of Transition Metals

4.1 Silylzirconium and -hafnium

4.2 Silylcopper and -cuprates

4.3 Silylzinc

4.4 Disilylzinc

4.5 Silylzincate

4.6 Silylcadmium

5 Silyl Pronucleophiles of Group XIII

5.1 Silylboranes

5.2 Silylaluminum

6 Silyl Anions of Group XIV

6.1 Disilane Synthesis

7 Conclusions
Short Synthesis of Dopamine Agonist Rotigotine
Authors: Chandrasekhar Srivari , Shekhar Chandra , Karmakar Santanu , Mainkar Prathama S.
Published: December 2023

A practical and short synthesis of FDA approved drug, Rotigotine, is achieved in two steps from 5-methoxy-2-tetralone, which in turn was synthesised by [4+2] cycloaddition of the in situ generated methoxyaryne from its precursor aryl triflate with benzyloxybutadiene or from 4-methoxyindanone via ring expansion using trimethylsilyldiazomethane.
Establishing Safe Surgical Parameters for Placement of C2 Pedicle Screws: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Tunç Bekir , Divanlıoğlu Denizhan , Günerhan Göksal , Işıtan Egemen , Çağıl Emin , Dalgıç Ali
Published: December 2023

Background The study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transpedicular instrumentation for the C2 vertebra and to establish the precise anatomical parameters and boundaries within which this procedure can be safely and effectively performed.

Methods This retrospective study analyzed 66 patients who underwent C2 transpedicular screw fixation. Preoperative and postoperative axial, sagittal, and coronal computed tomography (CT) scans were examined. Anatomical measurements were taken to determine the horizontal and vertical distances from the C2 pedicle projection to the vertebral foramen using CT images. Based on the anatomical location of the vertebral artery within the C2 vertebral foramen, the patients were divided into four subgroups using the horizontal pedicle width (HPW) and vertical pedicle width (VPW) of the C2 spine.

Results The average age of the patients included in the study was 46.48 years. The patient population comprised 32 (48.5%) males and 34 (51.5%) females. Based on the anatomical measurements, the distribution of C2 vertebra types was as follows: type 1 accounted for 68.9%, type 2 for 3.8%, type 3 for 16.7%, and type 4 for 10.6%. Significantly narrower pedicle widths were observed in types 2 and 4 compared to other vertebra types. Type 2 had the largest medial angle (MA), while type 4 had the narrowest MA. In terms of the sagittal plane, type 4 exhibited the widest MA and type 3 had the narrowest MA, but these differences were not statistically significant. Among the cases, 12 (18.1%) involved the vertebral foramen, with 1 case (8.3%) showing screw-related vertebral artery injury (0.75% of all screws). No vertebral artery injuries were observed with the other transpedicular screws.

Conclusion Preoperative anatomical measurements for patients undergoing transpedicular instrumentation on the C2 vertebra should include planning CT images on three planes: axial, sagittal, and coronal.
Awareness and Perception of Dentists in Kuwait Regarding the Dental Management of Patients on Oral Antithrombotic Medications
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Sundaram Devipriya
Published: December 2023

Objective It is crucial that dentists are up to date on the most recent recommendations for managing patients on oral antithrombotic medications (OAMs). The current study aims to analyze dental practitioners' knowledge and practice of perioperative treatment of patients on OAM in Kuwait.

Materials and Methods The study was performed among dentists in Kuwait utilizing a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire tested their knowledge about common OAMs and their indications, the bleeding risk of specific dental procedures, as well as the dangers of stopping antithrombotic therapy. Questions regarding the practice of obtaining relevant blood investigations as well as consultations with health professionals and their current course of management pertaining to specific dental procedures were included.

Statistical Analysis The collected data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software for Windows, version 28.0 (Chicago, Illinois, United States). The Student's t-test was used to compare mean percentage knowledge scores. Association between independent variables (predictors) and knowledge was assessed by employing univariate and multivariate logistic regression. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results A majority of the dentists (60.9%) demonstrated fair knowledge. Gender, practice type, and years of experience were significantly associated with knowledge. Very few dentists knew about direct oral anticoagulants. Eighty-two (33.1%) would rely on international normalized ratio tests done within 72 hours. Sixty-six (26.6%) dentists would interrupt aspirin therapy before extensive dental scaling without a medical consult and 45 (18.1%) would ask the patient to stop warfarin 3 days before extraction of one to three teeth. For patients on aspirin or warfarin, 35.1 and 47.2% of the dentists perceived the postoperative bleeding risk after a simple extraction to be high, and 14.4 and 11.2% of the dentists considered the rethrombosis risk to be low if aspirin and warfarin were interrupted.

Conclusion In this study, the dentists demonstrate a lack of knowledge and are not clear regarding practice recommendations. Every dental care provider therefore needs to update their knowledge with the latest antithrombotic medications and their indications, when to order blood investigations and medical consult, bleeding risk associated with each dental procedure, interruption of therapy, and risk of bleeding versus rethrombosis risk.
The Surgical Treatment of Xerophthalmia
Authors: Keswani M. H.
Published: December 2023

This paper deals with our experience in the surgical treatment of 5 patients suffering from Xerophthalmia. The etiopathology and previous methods of treatment have been outlined. The history of the development of the operation described has been traced The detailed technique of operation and postoperative management has been laid down. The complications have been mentioned.
The stability of Sobolev norms for the linear wave equation with unbounded perturbations
Authors: Sun Yingte
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we prove that the Sobolev norms of solutions for the linear wave equation with unbounded perturbations of order one remain bounded for all time. The main proof is based on the KAM reducibility of the linear wave equation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reducibility result for the linear wave equation with general quasi-periodic unbounded perturbations on the one-dimensional torus.
Semantic embedding for quantum algorithms
Authors: Rossi Zane M. , Chuang Isaac L.
Published: December 2023

The study of classical algorithms is supported by an immense understructure, founded in logic, type, and category theory, that allows an algorithmist to reason about the sequential manipulation of data irrespective of a computation’s realizing dynamics. As quantum computing matures, a similar need has developed for an assurance of the correctness of high-level quantum algorithmic reasoning. Parallel to this need, many quantum algorithms have been unified and improved using quantum signal processing (QSP) and quantum singular value transformation (QSVT), which characterize the ability, by alternating circuit ansätze, to transform the singular values of sub-blocks of unitary matrices by polynomial functions. However, while the algebraic manipulation of polynomials is simple (e.g., compositions and products), the QSP/QSVT circuits realizing analogous manipulations of their embedded polynomials are non-obvious. This work constructs and characterizes the runtime and expressivity of QSP/QSVT protocols where circuit manipulation maps naturally to the algebraic manipulation of functional transforms (termed semantic embedding). In this way, QSP/QSVT can be treated and combined modularly, purely in terms of the functional transforms they embed, with key guarantees on the computability and modularity of the realizing circuits. We also identify existing quantum algorithms whose use of semantic embedding is implicit, spanning from distributed search to proofs of soundness in quantum cryptography. The methods used, based in category theory, establish a theory of semantically embeddable quantum algorithms, and provide a new role for QSP/QSVT in reducing sophisticated algorithmic problems to simpler algebraic ones.
Interplay of unit-speed constraint and singular communication in the thermodynamic Cucker–Smale model
Authors: Ahn Hyunjin , Byeon Junhyeok , Ha Seung-Yeal
Published: December 2023

We study collision avoidance resulting from unit-speed constraint and singular communication weight in a thermo-mechanical Cucker–Smale (TCS) flocking ensemble moving in a Euclidean space. The TCS model governs the flocking dynamics of the CS particles in the presence of a self-consistent temperature field. The issue of collision avoidance has been addressed in the realistic modeling of collective particle models, and it has been investigated in the CS and TCS models without unit-speed constraint. In this paper, we take one further step by examining how unit-speed constraint and singular communication weights can result in collision avoidance between particles. For this, we introduce a sufficient framework to ensure collision avoidance in terms of system parameters and initial data.
Polarization enhanced two-dimensional hole gas in III-nitride heterostructures for cryogenically operated GaN-based p-channel field effect transistors
Authors: Wang Yingjie , Huang Sen , Jiang Qimeng , Wang Xinhua , Ji Zhongchen , Fan Jie , Yin Haibo , Wei Ke , Liu Xinyu , Sun Qian , Chen Kevin J.
Published: December 2023

In this work, AlN polarization-enhancement interlayer (AlN-PEL) is adopted to enhance two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) density in a p-GaN/AlN-PEL(∼2 nm)/AlGaN(<6 nm)/GaN heterostructure, aiming at monolithic integration of p/n-channel field effect transistors (p-FETs) on GaN-on-Si substrate. Owing to the strong built-in polarization of the AlN-PEL, high density 2DHG over 2.3 × 1013 cm−2 with good immunity to thermal freeze out effect is realized. Assisted by a two-step gate trench etching process, enhancement-mode (E-mode) buried-channel GaN p-FETs with temperature independent ON-resistance RON, and ON/OFF current ratio ION/IOFF (>108), have been fabricated. The fabricated p-FETs also deliver thermally stable subthreshold swing as well as threshold voltage Vth, and smaller Vth shift than that of p-FETs without the AlN-PEL, which is primarily due to enhanced 2DHG confinement by the AlN-PEL. The proposed structure is an attractive platform for monolithic integration of GaN-based logic and power devices for cryogenic applications as low as 10 K.
A spinorial quasilocal mass
Authors: Lott John
Published: December 2023

We define a quasilocal energy of a compact manifold-with-boundary, relative to a background manifold. The construction uses spinors on one manifold and the pullback of dual spinors from the other manifold. We prove positivity results for the quasilocal energy, in both the Riemannian and Lorentzian settings.
Generating, from scratch, the near-field asymptotic forms of scalar resistance functions for two unequal rigid spheres in low Reynolds number flow
Authors: Townsend Adam K.
Published: December 2023

The motion of rigid spherical particles suspended in a low Reynolds number fluid can be related to the forces, torques, and stresslets acting upon them by 22 scalar resistance functions, commonly notated X11A, X12A, Y11A, etc. Near-field asymptotic forms of these resistance functions were derived in Jeffrey and Onishi [“Calculation of the resistance and mobility functions for two unequal rigid spheres in low-Reynolds-number flow,” J. Fluid Mech. 139, 261–290 (1984)] and Jeffrey [“The calculation of the low Reynolds number resistance functions for two unequal spheres,” Phys. Fluids A 4, 16–29 (1992)]; these forms are now used in several numerical methods for suspension mechanics. However, the first of these important papers contains a number of small errors, which make it difficult for the reader to correctly evaluate the functions for parameters not explicitly tabulated. This short article comprehensively corrects these errors and adds formulas that were originally omitted from both papers, so that the reader can verify and implement the equations independently. The corrected expressions, rationalized and using contemporary nondimensionalization, are shown to match mid-field values of these scalars, which are calculated through an alternative method. A Python script to generate and evaluate these functions is provided.