bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The new Spanish far‐right movement: Crisis, national priority and ultranationalist charity
Authors: Jiménez Aguilar Francisco , Álvarez‐Benavides Antonio
Published: October 2023

During the Great Recession, a group of identitarian nativist associations emerged in Spain, which, over time, gave shape to a new social movement: the Cultural Associations of National Aid (Asociaciones Culturales de Ayuda Nacional). Based on a digital ethnography and critical discursive analysis, this paper aims to examine their worldview and ‘repertoire of contention’, focusing on the latest events that have shaken the world and, more particularly, Spanish society. This research highlights two contributions to the nationalism and far‐right social movements study: ‘national priority’ as a radicalization of the ‘national preference’, and ‘national aid’ as a new discriminatory non‐state aid, which we will refer to as ‘ultranationalist charity’.
A mereological qualitative study protocol for understanding the lived experience of homelessness in California
Authors: Duke Michael , Dhatt Zena K. , Jacques Tianna , Garcia Cheyenne , Taylor Grace , Kushel Margot , Knight Kelly
Published: October 2023

Although qualitative interview studies provide in‐depth understandings of the opinions and lived experiences of social groups, they are typically small in scale, bounded by a small number of physical or virtual spaces, and designed to capture relatively demarcated aspects of participants’ experiences. This paper describes the qualitative component of a large mixed method study of homelessness in California. The qualitative study consisted of seven substudies across eight counties, each exploring different dimensions of homelessness. We recruited participants from the overall sample, a statewide representative sample of adults experiencing homelessness recruited in eight counties, based on their responses to questions from the survey interviews. Using a novel data management strategy, we analyzed each substudy as a stand‐alone project, and explored the relationship between thematic content across the substudies. Our mereological study design presents an approach for developing complex qualitative policy studies across a range of topic areas.
Post‐drought compensatory growth in perennial grasslands is determined by legacy effects of the soil and not by plants
Authors: Schärer Marie‐Louise , Lüscher Andreas , Kahmen Ansgar
Published: October 2023

Grasslands recovering from drought have repeatedly been shown to outperform non‐drought‐stressed grasslands in biomass production. The mechanisms that lead to the unexpectedly high biomass production in grasslands recovering from drought are, however, not understood.

To disentangle plant‐intrinsic and plant‐extrinsic (soil) drought legacy effects on grassland recovery from drought, we designed a factorial field experiment where Lolium perenne plants that were exposed to either a 2‐month drought or to well‐watered control conditions were transplanted into control and drought‐stressed soil and rewetted thereafter.

Drought and rewetting (DRW) resulted in negative drought legacy effects of formerly drought‐stressed plants (DRWp) compared with control plants (Ctrp) when decoupled from soil‐mediated DRW effects, with DRWp showing less aboveground productivity (−13%), restricted N nutrition, and higher δ13C compared with Ctrp. However, plants grown on formerly drought‐stressed soil (DRWs) showed enhanced aboveground productivity (+82%), improved N nutrition, and higher δ13C values relative to plants grown on control soil (Ctrs), irrespective of the plants' pretreatment.

Our study shows that the higher post‐drought productivity of perennial grasslands recovering from drought relative to non‐drought‐stressed controls is induced by soil‐mediated DRW legacy effects which improve plant N nutrition and photosynthetic capacity and that these effects countervail negative plant‐intrinsic drought legacy effects.
Soil nutrient heterogeneity alters productivity and diversity of experimental plant communities under multiple global change factors
Authors: Xue Wei , Rillig Matthias C. , Yu Meng‐Fei , Hu Jiang‐Nan , Huang Lin , Yu Fei‐Hai
Published: October 2023

Plant communities in nature are often challenged by multiple global change factors (GCFs) and also ubiquitously encountered with soil nutrient heterogeneity. So far, however, we know little about the interactive effect of multiple GCFs and soil nutrient heterogeneity on plant communities. We conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment in which a plant community was either grown in heterogeneous soils consisting of high‐ and low‐nutrient patches, or in homogeneous soils where the same amount of nutrients was evenly distributed. These plant communities were exposed to none (control), single, or a combination of two or four GCFs (i.e. drought, nitrogen deposition, microplastic and cadmium). Biomass of the plant community exposed to drought and nitrogen deposition were greater in heterogeneous than in homogeneous soils, but evenness of the plant community exposed to microplastics was lower. Increasing the number of GCFs increased community biomass more in heterogeneous than in homogeneous soils, but it generally reduced community evenness, independent of soil nutrient heterogeneity. These contrasting responses were related to changing competitive hierarchies and root foraging responses under different treatments. Our results suggest that soil nutrient heterogeneity can alter community productivity and diversity via changing competitive interactions of the component species, depending on both the identity and the number of GCFs acting on the community. These results have important implications for the maintenance of ecosystem functions and services under rapid and complex ongoing global changes.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: PALAEOLITHIC ICONOGRAPHY AS A TRAIT OF IDENTITY IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
Authors: García‐Bustos Miguel , Rivero Olivia
Published: October 2023

The study of the figurative repertoire of Palaeolithic artists allows us to approach aspects such as iconographic diffusion and cultural preferences. This paper presents an updated corpus of figurative rock art for the Iberian peninsula and analyses its distribution in the Cantabrian region, inland Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, three areas frequently used in the literature. This corpus contains 3341 graphic units that were analysed using multivariate statistics and hypothesis testing. The results show that the main figurative themes can be classified according to their discriminating power. Horse, ibex and deer were the animal motifs that formed the common background of this artistic expression. In contrast, Palaeolithic artists used different proportions of bison, hind and aurochs to create a possible distinctive identity. Finally, it is discussed whether the iconographic selection is due to palaeoecological reasons, cultural motivations, or a combination of both.
The Race between Mortality and Morbidity: Implications for the Global Distribution of Health
Authors: Permanyer Iñaki , Bramajo Octavio
Published: October 2023

Assessments of countries’ longevity and its variability around the globe often rely on life expectancy (LE) but tend not to differentiate between the years spent in “good” or “less‐than‐good” health. We explore how the evolution of the healthy and unhealthy components of LE has shaped the composition of LE within countries, and the extent of LE inequality between countries. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, we document the joint evolution of “health‐adjusted life expectancy” (HALE) and “unhealthy life expectancy” (UHLE) for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019, the age‐specific contributions to changes over time in HALE and UHLE, and the corresponding cause‐of‐death profiles. We also assess the contribution of HALE and UHLE to “international health inequality” (IHI; i.e., inequality in LE across world countries). Between 1990 and 2019, HALE and UHLE have increased in most world countries, thus lengthening longevity worldwide. Globally, HALE has increased from 58.1 years to 63.4 years, while UHLE has increased from 8.4 years to 9.4 years, but there is a great deal of variation across regions and countries. The fraction HALE/LE has declined in three out of four countries. Over time, IHI followed an inverted U shape, peaking around the year 2000 and declining from that year onwards. IHI levels and trends are mostly explained by trends in HALE. Our findings indicate that global health inequalities are undergoing profound transformations. While health inequalities between countries tend to decline, those within countries tend to increase. In addition, we observe a compositional shift in which the unhealthy component of LE is playing an increasingly important role in explaining (1) further increases in longevity among low‐mortality countries and (2) the extent of inequality in LE among world countries. Policies aiming at increasing LE and reducing its variability between countries should increase HALE among the world's least longevous countries.
Opioid prescription rates associated with surgery among adolescents in the United States from 2015 to 2020
Authors: Sofia Joseph T. , Kim Agnes , Jones Ian , Rabbitts Jennifer A. , Groenewald Cornelius B.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The United States currently faces an epidemic of opioid misuse which extends to adolescent surgical populations. Opioid prescriptions after surgery are associated with persistent opioid use and serve as a reservoir for diversion. However, it is unclear what proportion of opioid prescriptions are surgical, and little is known about trends in opioid prescription rates associated with surgery in adolescents in the United States. This study aims to describe national trends in postsurgical opioid prescription rates over time among adolescents in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based cross‐sectional analysis of data captured in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2015 to 2020. MEPS classified adolescents 10–19 years of age (n = 26 909) as having a surgical procedure if they had any inpatient, outpatient, or emergency department visit during which a surgical procedure was performed.

Results

Mean age (SD) of the sample was 14.4 (0.01) years. Sociodemographic characteristics were representative of the USA adolescent population. In total, 4.7% of adolescents underwent a surgical procedure. The surgery rate remained stable between 2015 (4.3%): and 2020 (4.4%) and was lower among minority populations. The combined rate of opioid prescribing for surgical and nonsurgical indications significantly decreased from 4.1% in 2015 to 1.4% in 2020 among all adolescents, an estimated difference of 2.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7%–3.7%, p < .0001). However, opioid prescribing for surgery remained relatively stable (1% in 2015 vs. 0.8% in 2020).

Discussion

Opioid prescription rates associated with surgery remained stable between 2015 and 2020 in the United States, despite significant decreases in prescribing among nonsurgical populations. Surgery is now a leading source of medical prescribed opioids among adolescents. Secondary findings included a stable trend in surgery utilization between 2015 and 2020, as well as continued racial disparities, both in terms of surgery utilization and opioid prescribing.

Conclusion

The large number of adolescents being prescribed opioids for surgery in the USA each year, suggests there is a need for national guidelines aimed at adolescent opioid use, similar to the recent CDC guidelines aimed at adult opioid use.
The rule of law in the grip of populist authoritarianism: Hungary and Poland
Authors: Özer Sanem , Güneş Gülal Asiye Gün , Polat Yusuf Kenan
Published: October 2023

This article examines the impact of populism on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland. It argues that political discourse is important in setting the political agenda and is often followed by the criminalization of minorities, Euroskepticism, intervening in the operation of supreme courts, affecting the decisions of the judges, and disregarding international law and/or supranational legal orders. It also highlights how politicization and securitization increasingly operate under populist authoritarian regimes through the legal system and legislative initiatives to increase the power of the government and the ruling party. Discourse analysis is a valuable tool to reveal whether a legislator's intention serves the people or exploits power to change the structure and functioning of the political system. Thus, this article follows the course of politics in Hungary and Poland from discourse to hijacking democracy through instrumentalizing the rule of law.

Related Articles

Deegan‐Krause, Kevin, and Tim Haughton. 2009. “Toward a More Useful Conceptualization of Populism: Types and Degrees of Populist Appeals in the Case of Slovakia.” Politics & Policy 37(4): 821–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00200.x.

Skowronska, Kaja. 2021. “The Recent Politicization of Immigration in Poland in Light of Preexisting State Practices: Continuity or Change in the Understanding of Citizenship and Nationhood?” Politics & Policy 49(4): 940–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12424.

Zafirovski, Milan. 2022. “Toward a New Political Democracy Index: Construction, Validation, and Calculation for Individual Societies and Types of Society.” Politics and Policy 50(4): 663–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12488.
Distinct patterns of spatial attentional modulation of steady‐state visual evoked magnetic fields (SSVEFs) in subdivisions of the human early visual cortex
Authors: Moratti Stephan , Gundlach Christopher , de Echegaray Javier , Müller Matthias M.
Published: October 2023

In recent years, steady‐state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) became an increasingly valuable tool to investigate neural dynamics of competitive attentional interactions and brain–computer interfaces. This is due to their good signal‐to‐noise ratio, allowing for single‐trial analysis, and their ongoing oscillating nature that enables to analyze temporal dynamics of facilitation and suppression. Given the popularity of SSVEPs, it is surprising that only a few studies looked at the cortical sources of these responses. This is in particular the case when searching for studies that assessed the cortical sources of attentional SSVEP amplitude modulations. To address this issue, we used a typical spatial attention task and recorded neuromagnetic fields (MEG) while presenting frequency‐tagged stimuli in the left and right visual fields, respectively. Importantly, we controlled for attentional deployment in a baseline period before the shifting cue. Subjects either attended to a central fixation cross or to two peripheral stimuli simultaneously. Results clearly showed that signal sources and attention effects were restricted to the early visual cortex: V1, V2, hMT+, precuneus, occipital‐parietal, and inferior‐temporal cortex. When subjects attended to central fixation first, shifting attention to one of the peripheral stimuli resulted in a significant activation increase for the to‐be‐attended stimulus with no activation decrease for the to‐be‐ignored stimulus in hMT+ and inferio‐temporal cortex, but significant SSVEF decreases from V1 to occipito‐parietal cortex. When attention was first deployed to both rings, shifting attention away from one ring basically resulted in a significant activation decrease in all areas for the then‐to‐be‐ignored stimulus.
Homoploutia: Top Labor and Capital Incomes in the United States, 1950–2020
Authors: Berman Yonatan , Milanovic Branko
Published: October 2023

Homoploutia describes the situation in which the same people are rich in the space of capital and labor income. We combine survey and administrative data to document the evolution of homoploutia in the United States since 1950. In 1950, 10 percent of top decile capital‐income earners were also in the top decile of labor income. Today, this indicator is 30 percent. This makes the traditional division to capitalists and laborers less relevant today. We find that the increase in homoploutia accounts for 20 percent of the increase in interpersonal income inequality since 1986.
The Sky and the Stratosphere: Wealth Concentration in India During the Last (Lost) Decade
Authors: Anand Ishan , Kumar Rishabh
Published: October 2023

This paper provides new and improved estimates of wealth concentration in India during 2012–2018. Official surveys show a decline in wealth inequality and mean wealth per adult for the first time in three decades. We argue that although these wealth surveys are meant to be nationally representative, they underestimate the upper tail of the Indian wealth distribution—top wealth levels appear orders of magnitudes below externally measured estimates and unrepresentative of increasing stock‐market participation over this period. By combining official surveys and rich lists, we provide new estimates of top wealth shares and total personal wealth in India. We find that personal wealth is underestimated by nearly 54 percent in official data, and this gap increased sharply during the 2010s. Our revised estimates show wealth concentration to have sharply increased during 2012–2018. The share of India's top 1 percent is higher than similar estimates for Asia, and second only to Russia.
Phylogenomic analysis of protein‐coding genes resolves complex gall wasp relationships
Authors: Hearn Jack , Gobbo Erik , Nieves‐Aldrey José Luis , Branca Antoine , Nicholls James A. , Koutsovoulos Georgios , Lartillot Nicolas , Stone Graham N. , Ronquist Fredrik
Published: October 2023

Gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) comprise 13 distinct tribes whose interrelationships remain incompletely understood. Recent analyses of ultra‐conserved elements (UCEs) represent the first attempt at resolving these relationships using phylogenomics. Here, we present the first analysis based on protein‐coding sequences from genome and transcriptome assemblies. Unlike UCEs, these data allow more sophisticated substitution models, which can potentially resolve issues with long‐branch attraction. We include data for 37 cynipoid species, including two tribes missing in the UCE analysis: Aylacini (s. str.) and Qwaqwaiini. Our results confirm the UCE result that Cynipidae are not monophyletic. Specifically, the Paraulacini and Diplolepidini + Pediaspidini fall outside a core clade (Cynipidae s. str.), which is more closely related to the insect‐parasitic Figitidae, and this result is robust to the exclusion of long‐branch taxa that could mislead the analysis. Given this, we here divide the Cynipidae into three families: the Paraulacidae stat. prom., Diplolepididae stat. prom. and Cynipidae (s. str.). Our results suggest that the Eschatocerini are the sister group of the remaining Cynipidae (s. str.). Within the Cynipidae (s. str.), the Aylacini (s. str.) are more closely related to oak gall wasps (Cynipini) and some of their inquilines (Ceroptresini) than to other herb gallers (Aulacideini and Phanacidini), and the Qwaqwaiini likely form a clade together with Synergini (s. str.) and Rhoophilini. Several alternative scenarios for the evolution of cynipid life histories are compatible with the relationships suggested by our analysis, but all are complex and require multiple shifts among parasitoids, inquilines and gall inducers.
Parasitic infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Haque Emaan , Muhsen Ibrahim N. , Rasheed Walid , Fakih Riad El , Aljurf Mahmoud
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a vital treatment for various hematological disorders. However, HSCT recipients face increased risks of infectious complications due to immunosuppression. Parasitic infections are a significant concern in this vulnerable population and can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. This review examines parasitic infections in HSCT recipients, focusing on major infections affecting different organ systems, including intestinal parasites (Giardia spp., Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium spp.), hematologic parasites (Plasmodium spp. and Babesia spp.), and tissue/visceral parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma cruzi). Methods: A systematic search of relevant literature was conducted and included studies up to August 2023. Databases included PubMed, Google Scholar, were queried using specific keywords related to parasitic infections in HSCT patients. The epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment approaches for each infection were evaluated. Results and Conclusion: Knowing the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical presentations are crucial for timely intervention and successful management. By emphasizing early detection, effective therapies, and the unique challenges posed by each of these infections, this review highlights the importance of tailored strategies for HSCT recipients. Future research can further refine management protocols to enhance care and outcomes for these patients.
Eosinophilic cavitary effusions in cats: 48 cases (2010–2020)
Authors: Wheatley Meagan A. , Stowe Devorah M. , Mochizuki Hiroyuki
Published: October 2023

Background

Eosinophilic effusions are commonly defined as effusions with ≥10% eosinophils. Eosinophilic cavitary effusions are infrequently observed in cats, with few case reports comprising the majority of the recent literature.

Objective

The objective was to review disease associations of cats with eosinophilic cavitary effusions and to assess if a lower threshold of eosinophils (5%–9%) may warrant consideration of similar etiologies associated with effusions with ≥10% eosinophils.

Methods

Cytology reports were retrospectively reviewed for all feline cavitary effusions submitted for fluid analysis from 2010 to 2020 at a veterinary teaching hospital. Cases were included if the manual leukocyte differential included ≥5% eosinophils and separated into 5%–9% and ≥10% eosinophils groups. Patient records were reviewed for associated medical conditions.

Results

A total of 669 effusions were submitted from 579 cats; 50 effusions from 48 cats had a leukocyte differential with ≥5% eosinophils. The eosinophil proportion was ≥10% in 22 cats; the most common underlying cause was neoplasia (10/22, 45%), followed by inflammatory disease (4/22, 18%), cardiac disease (3/22, 14%), suspect neoplasia (3/22, 14%), and undetermined (2/22, 9%). The underlying causes for the 26 cats with 5%–9% eosinophils were similar; neoplasia (8/26, 31%), cardiac disease (6/26, 23%), inflammatory disease (4/26, 15%), suspect neoplasia (3/26, 12%), undetermined (3/26, 12%), and idiopathic chylothorax (2/26, 8%). Cats with eosinophil proportions ≥10% in the fluid exhibited peripheral eosinophilia more frequently (35%) compared to those with 5%–9% eosinophils (5%).

Conclusions

Consistent with the current literature, neoplasia, particularly lymphoma, remains a primary consideration for cats with eosinophilic effusions. Previously unreported associated diseases included cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders. Our findings suggest an eosinophil differential of 5%–9% is seen with similar etiologies considered for classically defined eosinophilic effusions.
Socio‐environmental factors associated with the occurrence of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in an endemic municipality in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Gonçalves Thainara da Silva , Ursine Renata Luiz , Cardozo Miriam , Matos Rosanna Lorrane Francisco dos Reis , de Souza Rita de Cássia Moreira , Diotaiuti Liléia Gonçalves , Gorla David Eladio , de Carvalho Sílvio Fernando Guimarães , Vieira Thallyta Maria
Published: October 2023

Triatomines are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The study aimed to evaluate the association between sociodemographic and environmental factors, and changes in land use and cover, with the occurrence and abundance of triatomines by census sectors in an endemic municipality of northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in Montes Claros, located in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The entomological data used in the study were collected by active surveillance in the rural area from 2015 to 2019 and by passive surveillance in the urban area from 2009 to 2019. Data on sociodemographic and environmental factors and changes in land use and land cover were obtained from the urban and rural census sectors. A total of 1404 triatomines, belonging to eight species, were captured in domiciles in the rural area (2015–2019) and 277 triatomines in domiciles in the urban area (2009–2019) of the municipality of Montes Claros. The variables the number of domiciles, household economic income, pavement, NDVI, deforestation, unchanged, and anthropic proved to be positively associated with the occurrence and/or number of triatomines in census sectors, within the models. The occurrence of triatomines in the domestic environment of the municipality of Montes Claros should be considered a public health problem, as it suggests a potential risk of establishment and transmission of T. cruzi to domestic animals, farm animals, and humans.
Manufacturing and Hydro Testing of a 10 MWe sCO2 Axial Turbine
Authors: Klaerner John D. , Moore J. Jeffrey , Robinson Kyle , Wade Jonathan L. , McClung Aaron
Published: October 2023

Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles designed for thermodynamic efficiencies above 50% push component designs into pressure and temperature combinations that approach the limits of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and ASME Piping Design Codes with Turbine inlet conditions near 250 bar and 715 °C. These design conditions which limit available materials to high nickel alloys are compounded by the high fluid densities of sCO2 at these conditions which result in very compact machinery at the 10 MWe class which are currently being developed for the DOE supercritical transformational electric power (STEP) program. Design of the STEP Turbine is complete with integrated lessons learned from a previous 1 MWth subscale demonstration of a high temperature 10 MWe Turbine designed under the DOE SunShot Program. Fabrication of the STEP Turbine is nearing completion with all housings and pressure containing components in hand. This paper provides a detailed look at design intentions and limitations for the pressurized sections of the main pressure casing and the fabrication of key turbine components. Additional discussion is provided regarding postfabrication inspection and acceptance of the casing for use after issues with casing welds were identified late in the fabrication process.
The effect of instrument inertia on the initiation of oscillatory flow in stress controlled rheometry
Authors: Ogunkeye Adeniyi , Hudson Rebecca E. , Curtis Daniel J.
Published: October 2023

In a recent paper [Hassager, J. Rheol. 64, 545–550 (2020)], Hassager performed an analysis of the start up of stress-controlled oscillatory flow based on the general theory of linear viscoelasticity. The analysis provided a theoretical basis for exploring the establishment of a steady strain offset that is inherent to stress controlled oscillatory rheometric protocols. However, the analysis neglected the impact of instrument inertia on the establishment of the steady periodic response. The inclusion of the inertia term in the framework is important since it (i) gives rise to inertio-elastic ringing and (ii) introduces an additional phase shift in the periodic part of the response. Herein, we modify the expressions to include an appropriate inertial contribution and demonstrate that the presence of the additional terms can have a substantial impact on the time scale required to attain the steady state periodic response. The analysis is then applied to an aqueous solution of wormlike micelles.
Exploration of Internet Gaming Disorder Among the Esports Community
Authors: Woolhouse Ryan , Patton Robert
Published: October 2023

As of 2014, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) as a condition for further study. There are questions about the validity of the current diagnostic criteria, particularly when distinguishing IGD from avid or professional gaming. This study aims to explore the validity of the DSM-5 criteria for IGD, establish prevalence rates, and identify predictive factors of IGD within the esports community. A sample of 147 esports players completed an online survey comprising of an IGD measure (Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9—Short Form [IGDS9-SF]) based on the DSM-5 criteria, and a range of health, and demographic questions. The IGDS9-SF significantly correlated with psychological distress and disability (impairment in daily functioning). An exploratory factor analysis confirmed the IGDS9-SF criterion loaded onto a single factor. Using the 32-point cutoff for IGD on the IGDS9-SF, findings indicated that 11.64% of nonprofessional esports players and 5.26% of professional esports players met IGD cutoffs. Level of disability was the only significant predictor of reaching the IGD cutoff. These findings support the DSM-5 conceptualization of IGD within the esports community and identify a potential larger risk for nonprofessional players. The clinical implications and future directions for research as result of these findings are discussed.
SOX9-positive pituitary stem cells differ according to their position in the gland and maintenance of their progeny depends on context
Authors: Rizzoti Karine , Chakravarty Probir , Sheridan Daniel , Lovell-Badge Robin
Published: October 2023

Stem cell (SC) differentiation and maintenance of resultant progeny underlie cell turnover in many organs, but it is difficult to pinpoint the contribution of either process. In the pituitary, a central regulator of endocrine axes, adult SCs undergo activation after target organ ablation, providing a well-characterized paradigm to study an adaptative response in a multi-organ system. Here, we used single-cell technologies to characterize SC heterogeneity and mobilization together with lineage tracing. We show that SC differentiation occurs more frequently than thought previously. In adaptative conditions, differentiation increases and is more diverse than demonstrated by the lineage tracing experiments. Detailed examination of SC progeny suggests that maintenance of selected nascent cells underlies SC output, highlighting a trophic role for the microenvironment. Analyses of cell trajectories further predict pathways and potential regulators. Our model provides a valuable system to study the influence of evolving states on the mechanisms of SC mobilization.
Quantum imaging of the reconfigurable VO
2
synaptic electronics for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Feng Ce , Li Bo-Wen , Dong Yang , Chen Xiang-Dong , Zheng Yu , Wang Ze-Hao , Lin Hao-Bin , Jiang Wang , Zhang Shao-Chun , Zou Chong-Wen , Guo Guang-Can , Sun Fang-Wen
Published: October 2023

Neuromorphic computing has shown remarkable capabilities in silicon-based artificial intelligence, which can be optimized by using Mott materials for functional synaptic connections. However, the research efforts focus on two-terminal artificial synapses and envisioned the networks controlled by silicon-based circuits, which is difficult to develop and integrate. Here, we propose a dynamic network with laser-controlled conducting filaments based on electric field-induced local insulator-metal transition of vanadium dioxide. Quantum sensing is used to realize conductivity-sensitive imaging of conducting filament. We find that the location of filament formation is manipulated by focused laser, which is applicable to simulate the dynamical synaptic connections between the neurons. The ability to process signals with both long-term and short-term potentiation is further demonstrated with ~60 times on/off ratio while switching the pathways. This study opens the door to the development of dynamic network structures depending on easily controlled conduction pathways, mimicking the biological nervous systems.
High-throughput identification of spin-photon interfaces in silicon
Authors: Xiong Yihuang , Bourgois Céline , Sheremetyeva Natalya , Chen Wei , Dahliah Diana , Song Hanbin , Zheng Jiongzhi , Griffin Sinéad M. , Sipahigil Alp , Hautier Geoffroy
Published: October 2023

Color centers in host semiconductors are prime candidates as spin-photon interfaces for quantum applications. Finding an optimal spin-photon interface in silicon would move quantum information technologies toward a mature semiconducting host. However, the space of possible charged defects is vast, making the identification of candidates from experiments alone extremely challenging. Here, we use high-throughput first-principles computational screening to identify spin-photon interfaces among more than 1000 charged defects in silicon. The use of a single-shot hybrid functional approach is critical in enabling the screening of many quantum defects with a reasonable accuracy. We identify three promising spin-photon interfaces as potential bright emitters in the telecom band:Tii+,Fei0, andRui0. These candidates are excited through defect-bound excitons, stressing the importance of such defects in silicon for telecom band operations. Our work paves the way to further large-scale computational screening for quantum defects in semiconductors.
Simultaneous subset tracing and miRNA profiling of tumor-derived exosomes via dual-surface-protein orthogonal barcoding
Authors: Lei Yanmei , Fei Xiaochen , Ding Yue , Zhang Jianhui , Zhang Guihua , Dong Liang , Song Jia , Zhuo Ying , Xue Wei , Zhang Peng , Yang Chaoyong
Published: October 2023

The clinical potential of miRNA-based liquid biopsy has been largely limited by the heterogeneous sources in plasma and tedious assay processes. Here, we develop a precise and robust one-pot assay called dual-surface-protein-guided orthogonal recognition of tumor-derived exosomes and in situ profiling of microRNAs (SORTER) to detect tumor-derived exosomal miRNAs and enhance the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer (PCa). The SORTER uses two allosteric aptamers against exosomal marker CD63 and tumor marker EpCAM to create an orthogonal labeling barcode and achieve selective sorting of tumor-specific exosome subtypes. Furthermore, the labeled barcode on tumor-derived exosomes initiated targeted membrane fusion with liposome probes to import miRNA detection reagents, enabling in situ sensitive profiling of tumor-derived exosomal miRNAs. With a signature of six miRNAs, SORTER differentiated PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia with an accuracy of 100%. Notably, the diagnostic accuracy reached 90.6% in the classification of metastatic and nonmetastatic PCa. We envision that the SORTER will promote the clinical adaptability of miRNA-based liquid biopsy.
Recovering quantum entanglement after its certification
Authors: Kim Hyeon-Jin , Jung Ji-Hyeok , Lee Kyung-Jun , Ra Young-Sik
Published: October 2023

Entanglement is a crucial quantum resource with broad applications in quantum information science. For harnessing entanglement in practice, it is a prerequisite to certify the entanglement of a given quantum state. However, the certification process itself destroys the entanglement, thereby precluding further exploitation of the entanglement. Resolving this conflict, here, we present a protocol that certifies the entanglement of a quantum state without complete destruction and then probabilistically recovers the original entanglement to provide useful entanglement for further quantum applications. We experimentally demonstrate this protocol in a photonic quantum system and highlight its usefulness for selecting high-quality entanglement from a realistic entanglement source. Moreover, our study reveals various trade-off relations among the physical quantities involved in the protocol. Our results show how entanglement certification can be made compatible with subsequent quantum applications and be beneficial to sort entanglement for better performance in quantum technologies.
Improved performance of nucleic acid-based assays for genetically diverse norovirus surveillance
Authors: Oh Chamteut , Zhou Aijia , O'Brien Kate , Schmidt Arthur R. , Geltz Joshua , Shisler Joanna L. , Schmidt Arthur R. , Keefer Laura , Brown William M. , Nguyen Thanh H.
Published: October 2023

Nucleic acid-based assays, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), that amplify and detect organism-specific genome sequences are a standard method for infectious disease surveillance. However, challenges arise for virus surveillance because of their genetic diversity. Here, we calculated the variability of nucleotides within the genomes of 10 human viral species
in silico
and found that endemic viruses exhibit a high percentage of variable nucleotides (e.g., 51.4% for norovirus genogroup II). This genetic diversity led to the variable probability of detection of PCR assays (the proportion of viral sequences that contain the assay’s target sequences divided by the total number of viral sequences). We then experimentally confirmed that the probability of the target sequence detection is indicative of the number of mismatches between PCR assays and norovirus genomes. Next, we developed a degenerate PCR assay that detects 97% of known norovirus genogroup II genome sequences and recognized norovirus in eight clinical samples. By contrast, previously developed assays with 31% and 16% probability of detection had 1.1 and 2.5 mismatches on average, respectively, which negatively impacted RNA quantification. In addition, the two PCR assays with a lower probability of detection also resulted in false negatives for wastewater-based epidemiology. Our findings suggest that the probability of detection serves as a simple metric for evaluating nucleic acid-based assays for genetically diverse virus surveillance.

IMPORTANCE

Nucleic acid-based assays, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), that amplify and detect organism-specific genome sequences are employed widely as a standard method for infectious disease surveillance. However, challenges arise for virus surveillance because of the rapid evolution and genetic variation of viruses. The study analyzed clinical and wastewater samples using multiple PCR assays and found significant performance variation among the PCR assays for genetically diverse norovirus surveillance. This finding suggests that some PCR assays may miss detecting certain virus strains, leading to a compromise in detection sensitivity. To address this issue, we propose a metric called the probability of detection, which can be simply calculated
in silico
using a code developed in this study, to evaluate nucleic acid-based assays for genetically diverse virus surveillance. This new approach can help improve the sensitivity and accuracy of virus detection, which is crucial for effective infectious disease surveillance and control.
Identification of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
genes associated with hypothiocyanous acid tolerance through genome-wide screening
Authors: Shearer Heather L. , Pace Paul E. , Smith Leah M. , Fineran Peter C. , Matthews Allison J. , Camilli Andrew , Dickerhof Nina , Hampton Mark B.
Published: October 2023

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a commensal bacterium and invasive pathogen that causes millions of deaths worldwide. The pneumococcal vaccine offers limited protection, and the rise of antimicrobial resistance will make treatment increasingly challenging, emphasizing the need for new antipneumococcal strategies. One possibility is to target antioxidant defenses to render
S. pneumoniae
more susceptible to oxidants produced by the immune system. Human peroxidase enzymes will convert bacterial-derived hydrogen peroxide to hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) at sites of colonization and infection. Here, we used saturation transposon mutagenesis and deep sequencing to identify genes that enable
S. pneumoniae
to tolerate HOSCN. We identified 37 genes associated with
S. pneumoniae
HOSCN tolerance, including genes involved in metabolism, membrane transport, DNA repair, and oxidant detoxification. Single-gene deletion mutants of the identified antioxidant defense genes
sodA
,
spxB
,
trxA,
and
ahpD
were generated and their ability to survive HOSCN was assessed. With the exception of Δ
ahpD
, all deletion mutants showed significantly greater sensitivity to HOSCN, validating the result of the genome-wide screen. The activity of hypothiocyanous acid reductase or glutathione reductase, known to be important for
S. pneumoniae
tolerance of HOSCN, was increased in three of the mutants, highlighting the compensatory potential of antioxidant systems. Double deletion of the gene encoding glutathione reductase and
sodA
sensitized the bacteria significantly more than single deletion. The HOSCN defense systems identified in this study may be viable targets for novel therapeutics against this deadly pathogen.

IMPORTANCE

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a human pathogen that causes pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. Vaccination provides protection only against a quarter of the known
S. pneumoniae
serotypes, and the bacterium is rapidly becoming resistant to antibiotics. As such, new treatments are required. One strategy is to sensitize the bacteria to killing by the immune system. In this study, we performed a genome-wide screen to identify genes that help this bacterium resist oxidative stress exerted by the host at sites of colonization and infection. By identifying a number of critical pneumococcal defense mechanisms, our work provides novel targets for antimicrobial therapy.
Ablative radiation alone in stage I lung cancer produces an adaptive systemic immune response: insights from a prospective study
Authors: Voong Khinh Ranh , Illei Peter B , Presson Bradley , Singh Dipika , Zeng Zhen , Lanis Mara , Hales Russell K , Hu Chen , Tran Phuoc T , Georgiades Christos , Lin Cheng Ting , Thiboutout Jeffrey , Brahmer Julie R , Forde Patrick M , Naidoo Jarushka , Anagnostou Valsamo , Smith Kellie N
Published: October 2023

Stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR) delivers high rates of local control in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, systemic immune effects are poorly understood. Here, we evaluate the early pathologic and immunologic effects of SABR. Blood/core-needle tumor biopsies were collected from six patients with stage I NSCLC before and 5–7 days after SABR (48 Gy/4 or 50 Gy/5 fractions). Serial blood was collected up to 1-year post-SABR. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate pathological changes, immune-cell populations (CD8, FoxP3), and PD-L1/PD-1 expression within the tumor. We evaluated T-cell receptor (TCR) profile changes in the tumor using TCR sequencing. We used the MANAFEST (Mutation-Associated Neoantigen Functional Expansion of Specific T-cells) assay to detect peripheral neoantigen-specific T-cell responses and dynamics. At a median follow-up of 40 months, 83% of patients (n=5) were alive without tumor progression. Early post-SABR biopsies showed viable tumor and similar distribution of immune-cell populations as compared with baseline samples. Core-needle samples proved insufficient to detect population-level TCR-repertoire changes. Functionally, neoantigen-specific T-cells were detected in the blood prior to SABR. A subset of these patients had a transient increase in the frequency of neoantigen-specific T-cells between 1 week and 3–6 months after SABR. SABR alone could induce a delayed, transient neoantigen-specific T-cell immunologic response in patients with stage I NSCLC.
Hardness prediction in the upsetting process of Al%ZrO2—an approach to machine learning using regression and classification models
Authors: Ch Harikrishna , Nagaraju C.H. , Battina N. Malleswararao , Kummitha Obula Reddy
Published: October 2023

The current study focuses on the prediction of metal hardness distribution in upsetting tests for different compositions of ZrO2 embedded with an aluminum matrix using machine learning algorithms and finite element (FE) analysis. The mass fraction of the ZrO2 particles varied from 4% to 8%, and three sets of solid cylindrical rods with Al4%ZrO2, Al6%ZrO2, and Al8%ZrO2 were prepared using the stir casting method. The upsetting process was simulated, and an equation for predicting hardness was developed from the equivalent strain distributions. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), multilinear regression (MLR) along with equations developed from FE analysis were used to train the model for regression analysis, considering the principal stresses, friction factor, anisotropy ratio, effective strain, and hoop strain as input and the magnitude of hardness as output parameters. Regression analysis reveals that ANN (tri-layer network), XGBoost, and MLR algorithms are the best suitable for the given data sets with a root mean square ( R2) greater than 0.95. XGBoost, ANN (narrow), and SVM are linear and are the most recommendable classifier algorithms for the current investigation. Hardness data from ring compression tests were used to validate the results obtained from the trained models with the test results.
The electromagnetic fine-structure constant in primordial nucleosynthesis revisited
Authors: Meißner Ulf-G. , Metsch Bernard Ch. , Meyer Helen
Published: October 2023

We study the dependence of the primordial nuclear abundances as a function of the electromagnetic fine-structure constant $$\alpha $$
α
, keeping all other fundamental constants fixed. We update the leading nuclear reaction rates, in particular the electromagnetic contribution to the neutron-proton mass difference pertinent to $$\beta $$
β
-decays, and go beyond certain approximations made in the literature. In particular, we include the temperature-dependence of the leading nuclear reactions rates and assess the systematic uncertainties by using four different publicly available codes for Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Disregarding the unsolved so-called lithium-problem, we find that the current values for the observationally based $${}^{2}\text {H}$$

2

H

and $${}^{4}\text {He}$$

4

He

abundances restrict the fractional change in the fine-structure constant to less than $$2\%$$

2
%

 , which is a tighter bound than found in earlier works on the subject.
Two-pyroxene intergrowth exsolution textures in ophiolitic chromites: implications for the deep mantle origin of the Mirdita ophiolite, Albania
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Yang Jingsui , Dilek Yildirim , Das Souvik , Lian Dongyang , Cai Pengjie , Wang Yun , Yang Yu , Wen Yuanyun
Published: October 2023

Increasing mineralogical and textural evidence from podiform chromitites in ophiolites suggests their ultra-high-pressure origin (>150 km), challenging conventional models for their formation under low-pressure conditions (<60 km) in the upper mantle. However, this challenge remains controversial due to a lack of
in situ
mineralogical evidence. Here, we report new data and observations from the Skenderbeu massif in the Mirdita ophiolite, Albania. Transmission electron microscopy shows that these chromitites (Cr# = 41.8–43.2) have numerous exsolution lamellae of diopsidic clinopyroxene and orthoenstatite. These lamellae have a crystallographic topotaxy relationship with the host chromite, i.e. (020)
Cpx
∥

(
2

2
¯

0

)

Chr

,

(

2
¯

00

)

Cpx

∥ (111)
Chr
and (010)
Opx
∥

(
2

2
¯

0

)

Chr

, (200)
Opx
∥

(
2

2
¯

0

)

Chr

, indicating an exsolution origin. The abundant presence of pyroxene exsolution lamellae in the centre of the host chromites implies the incorporation of Si
4+
and Ca
2+
cations in the precursor chromite, a CaFe
2
O
4
-structured high-pressure polymorph that is stable at >12.5 GPa (i.e. 380 km deep). These
in situ
nanoscale observations and their geological occurrence, together with previously discovered ophiolitic diamonds in the Mirdita ophiolite, suggest a much deeper origin for ophiolitic chromitites than conventional interpretations and provide a valuable opportunity to understand the composition of the deep mantle.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Ophiolites, melanges and blueschists collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/ophiolites-melanges-and-blueschists