bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective Csp3–F Bond Functionalization with Lithium Iodide
Authors: Wolf Christian , Balaraman Kaluvu , Kyriazakos Samantha , Palmer Rachel , Thanzeel F. Yushra
Published: May 2022

A highly efficient method for C–F bond functionalization of a broad variety of activated and unactivated aliphatic substrates with inexpensive lithium iodide is presented. Primary, secondary, tertiary, benzylic, propargylic and α-functionalized alkyl fluorides react in chlorinated or aromatic solvents at room temperature or upon heating to give the corresponding iodides, which are isolated in 91–99% yield. The reaction is selective for aliphatic monofluorides and can be coupled with in situ nucleophilic iodide replacements to install carbon–carbon, carbon–nitrogen, and carbon–sulfur bonds with high yields. Alkyl difluorides, trifluorides, even in activated benzylic positions, are inert under the same conditions and aryl fluoride bonds are also tolerated.
An ion-atom merged beams setup at the Cryogenic Storage Ring
Authors: Grussie F. , O’Connor A. P. , Grieser M. , Müll D. , Znotins A. , Urbain X. , Kreckel H.
Published: May 2022

We describe a merged beams experiment to study ion-neutral collisions at the Cryogenic Storage Ring of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. We produce fast beams of neutral atoms in their ground term at kinetic energies between 10 and 300 keV by laser photodetachment of negative ions. The neutral atoms are injected along one of the straight sections of the storage ring, where they can react with stored molecular ions. Several dedicated detectors have been installed to detect charged reaction products of various product-to-reactant mass ranges. The relative collision energy can be tuned by changing the kinetic energy of the neutral beam in an independent drift tube. We give a detailed description of the setup and its capabilities, and present proof-of-principle measurements on the reaction of neutral C atoms with D2+ ions.
Design optimization of gap distance for the capillary limitation of a heat pipe with annular-type wick structure
Authors: Seo Joseph , Kim Daegeun , Kim Hansol , Hassan Yassin A.
Published: May 2022

In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted on the rising height and contact angle of fluid in an annular wick-type heat pipe. The annular wick-type heat pipe was characterized by a small gap between the wick structure and tube wall, which compensated for the pressure drop along the porous media and created additional capillary force. To describe and model the advantage of this gap, the rising of a wetting liquid in the gap between a vertical solid plate and a mesh (with a small angle between them) was experimentally measured and analyzed. An additional experiment was performed to investigate the effect of curvature on the capillary rise using tubes and meshes of varying radii. Resultantly, we confirmed that the linear combination of the contact angles of the solid plate and mesh could be applied to calculate the rising height from the Laplace–Young equation. Furthermore, the effect of curvature on the rising height of the liquid was negligible. These results were extended to the investigation of finding the optimal gap distance for the annular wick-type heat pipe by referring to previous studies. We observed that a gap distance of 1.27 mm provided the largest permeability (K) over the effective pore radius (reff) value for a heat pipe with ethanol, which in turn resulted in the highest capillary limitation. For a sodium heat pipe, a gap distance of 0.84 mm resulted in the highest capillary limitation.
Review of Scientific Instruments New Products
Authors: Mandelis Andreas
Published: May 2022

In order to supplement manufacturers’ information, this department will welcome the submission by our readers of brief communications reporting measurements on the physical properties of materials which supersede earlier data or suggest new research applications.
Dynamics of Quantum State and Effective Hamiltonian with Vector Differential Form of Motion Method
Authors: Xiong Long , Zhuang Wei-Feng , Gong Ming
Published: May 2022

Effective Hamiltonians in periodically driven systems have received widespread attention for realization of novel quantum phases, non-equilibrium phase transition, and Majorana mode. Recently, the study of effective Hamiltonian using various methods has gained great interest. We consider a vector differential equation of motion to derive the effective Hamiltonian for any periodically driven two-level system, and the dynamics of the spin vector are an evolution under the Bloch sphere. Here, we investigate the properties of this equation and show that a sudden change of the effective Hamiltonian is expected. Furthermore, we present several exact relations, whose expressions are independent of the different starting points. Moreover, we deduce the effective Hamiltonian from the high-frequency limit, which approximately equals the results in previous studies. Our results show that the vector differential equation of motion is not affected by a convergence problem, and thus, can be used to numerically investigate the effective models in any periodic modulating system. Finally, we anticipate that the proposed method can be applied to experimental platforms that require time-periodic modulation, such as ultracold atoms and optical lattices.
Eccentric self-forced inspirals into a rotating black hole
Authors: Lynch Philip , van de Meent Maarten , Warburton Niels
Published: May 2022

We develop the first model for extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) into a rotating massive black hole driven by the gravitational self-force (GSF). Our model is based on an action angle formulation of the method of osculating geodesics for eccentric, equatorial (i.e., spin-aligned) motion in Kerr spacetime. The forcing terms are provided by an efficient spectral interpolation of the first-order GSF in the outgoing radiation gauge. We apply a near-identity (averaging) transformation to eliminate all dependence of the orbital phases from the equations of motion, while maintaining all secular effects of the first-order GSF at post-adiabatic order. This implies that the model can be evolved without having to resolve all

O

(

1

0

5

)

orbit cycles of an EMRI, yielding an inspiral model that can be evaluated in less than a second for any mass-ratio. In the case of a non-rotating central black hole, we compare inspirals evolved using self-force data computed in the Lorenz and radiation gauges. We find that the two gauges generally produce differing inspirals with a deviation of comparable magnitude to the conservative self-force correction. This emphasizes the need for including the (currently unknown) dissipative second order self-force to obtain gauge independent, post-adiabatic waveforms.
Resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering on LaPt2Si2
Authors: John Mukkattukavil Deepak , Hellsvik Johan , Ghosh Anirudha , Chatzigeorgiou Evanthia , Nocerino Elisabetta , Wang Qisi , von Arx Karin , Huang Shih-Wen , Ekholm Victor , Hossain Zakir , Thamizhavel Arumugum , Chang Johan , Månsson Martin , Nordström Lars , Såthe Conny , Agåker Marcus , Rubensson Jan-Erik , Sassa Yasmine
Published: May 2022

X-ray absorption and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra of LaPt2Si2 single crystal at the Si 2p and La 4d edges are presented. The data are interpreted in terms of density functional theory, showing that the Si spectra can be described in terms of Si s and d local partial density of states (LPDOS), and the La spectra are due to quasi-atomic local 4f excitations. Calculations show that Pt d-LPDOS dominates the occupied states, and a sharp localized La f state is found in the unoccupied states, in line with the observations.
Unravelling the signatures of effective spin

1/2

moments in CeVO4: magnetization and heat capacity study
Authors: Ranaut Dheeraj , Mukherjee K
Published: May 2022

The realization of an effective spin (Jeff
) ½ state at low temperatures offers a platform to study the enthralling physics behind the disordered states in certain systems. Here, we report the signatures of magnetic ground state associated with Jeff
= ½ in CeVO4. Our studies confirm the absence of any ordering or freezing down to 1.8 K. In the low temperature region, the Curie–Weiss fit of the inverse DC susceptibility indicate towards the presence of antiferromagnetic correlations among the Ce3+ spins. The calculated value of effective moment (∼1.16

μ
B

) corresponds to J = ½ with gJ
∼ 1.20. Further, the field dependent magnetization curve at 2 K follows a behaviour corresponding to J= ½ Brillouin function with gJ
∼ 1.13. Magnetic field dependent heat capacity fits very well with two-level Schottky scheme. Our investigations suggest that CeVO4 can be a promising candidate to realise Jeff
= ½ properties among 3D spin systems.
Ab initio description of disorder effects in layered cathode active materials by the coherent potential approximation
Authors: Eckhardt Janis K , Risius Philipp E , Czerner Michael , Heiliger Christian
Published: May 2022

Disorder effects in alloys are usually modeled by averaging various supercell calculations considering different positions of the alloy atoms. This approach, however, is only possible as long as the portion of the individual components of the alloy is sufficiently large. Herein, we present an ab initio study considering the lithium insertion material Li1−x
[Ni0.33Co0.33Mn0.33]O2 as model system to demonstrate the power of the coherent potential approximation within the Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker Green’s function method. This approach enables the description of disorder effects within alloy systems of any composition. It is applied in this study to describe the (de-)intercalation of arbitrary amounts of lithium from the cathode active material. Moreover, we highlight that using either fully optimized structures or experimental lattice parameters and atomic positions both lead to comparable results. Our findings suggest that this approach is also suitable for modeling the electronic structure of state-of-the-art materials such as high-nickel alloys.
Simulation, fabrication, and characteristics of high-temperature, quick-response tungsten–rhenium thin-film thermocouples probe sensor
Authors: Zhang Zhongkai , Li Shuimin , Tian Bian , Liu Zhaojun , Liu Jiangjiang , Cheng Gong , Fan Xu , Fang Xudong , Zhao Na , Zhao Libo
Published: May 2022

In this study, a tungsten–rhenium thin-film thermocouples (TFTCs) is fabricated via magnetron sputtering on silicon carbide ceramics. Cuboid TFTCs probe is sealed with stainless steel shell to make the TFTCs probe sensor. This sensor has an average Seebeck coefficient of 27.2 µV °C−1at 1167 °C (temperature difference). The thermal volatilization characteristics, electromotive force behavior, and response time of this tungsten–rhenium TFTC sensor are investigated. The real engine experimental results show that the TFTCs probe sensor can work normally under the high temperature and high-speed air flow environment of 4 Mach and 900 °C. In addition, the correlation between the response speed, substrate thickness, and film thickness is discussed based on simulations of the response to carbon dioxide laser pulses. As indicated by the dynamic experiment results, the laser response time is from 0.49 to 1.51 ms, which is much shorter than that of traditional armored C-type thermocouples (for tungsten–rhenium thermocouples, the response time is around 1 s). Tungsten–rhenium TFTCs probe sensor is a suitable alternative to conventional thermocouples to meet the requirements of measuring high temperatures with a quick response.
White-light emission in Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+- and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+-doped α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles
Authors: Ray Schindra Kumar , Joshi Bhupendra , Hur Jin
Published: May 2022

Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+- and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+-doped α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a microwave hydrothermal method and studied for white-light emission under 980 nm laser diode excitation. White upconversion (UC) light was successfully obtained with the appropriate control of blue, green, and red emissions by successfully tuning the Er3+ and Ho3+ concentrations in Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+- and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+-doped α-NiMoO4, respectively. In addition, the white color emission was shown by the CIE chromaticity coordinates of samples. The energy transfer mechanisms are explained in detail based on the emission spectra and pump power density-dependent UC luminescence intensity in rare earth (Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+ and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+)-doped α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles. The results indicate that Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+- and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+-doped α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles can be good candidates for white-light devices.
Atomic investigations on the tension–compression asymmetry of Al
x
FeNiCrCu (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) high-entropy alloy nanowires
Authors: Niu Yihan , Zhao Dan , Zhu Bo , Wang Shunbo , Wang Zhaoxin , Zhao Hongwei
Published: May 2022

The tension and compression of high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanowires (NWs) are remarkably asymmetric, but the micro mechanism is still unclear. In this research, the tension–compression asymmetry of Al
x
FeNiCrCu HEA NWs (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) was quantitatively characterized via molecular dynamics simulations, focusing on the influences of the NW diameter, the Al content, the crystalline orientation, and the temperature, which are significant for applying HEAs in nanotechnology. The increased NW diameter improves the energy required for stacking faults nucleating, thus strengthening AlFeNiCrCu HEA NWs. A few twins during stretching weaken the strengthening effects, thereby decreasing the tension–compression asymmetry. The increased Al content raises the tension–compression asymmetry by promoting the face-centered cubic to body-centered cubic phase transition during stretching. The tension along the [001] crystalline orientation is stronger than the compression, while the [110] and [111] crystalline orientations are entirely the opposite, and the tension–compression asymmetry along the [111] crystalline orientation is the minimum. The diversities in the tension–compression asymmetry depend on the deformation mechanism. Compressing along the [001] crystalline orientation and stretching along the [110] crystalline orientation induces twinning. Deformation along the [111] crystalline orientation only leaves stacking faults in the NWs. Therefore, the tension and compression along the [111] crystalline orientation exhibit minimal asymmetry. As the temperature rises, the tension–compression asymmetry along the [001] and [111] crystalline orientations increases, while that along the [110] crystalline orientation decreases.
Effects of Zn doping on superconducting properties of melt textured Y–Ba–Cu–O bulk superconductors
Authors: He Jinyu , Wang Yuchen , Li Wenhao , Zhu Yanhan , Liu Xiongfang , Zhou Difan , Zhang Yibing , Yao Xin , Cai Chuanbing
Published: May 2022

Zn doping which may induce a second peak effect in YBa2Cu3O7−δ
(YBCO) has been opted as a regular technique to improve the trapped field and flux pinning stability of YBCO bulk superconductors for practical applications, such as quasi-permanent or maglev magnets. Here, the effects of Zn doping on the flux trapping performance of single domain YBCO bulk superconductors have been systematically investigated. The doping amount x varies from 0 to 1.0 mol%. We analyzed the critical transition temperature (T
c), critical current density (J
c), trapped field (B
t) and the flux relaxation at various temperatures, and measured in addition the levitation force (F
L) for comparison. The doping amount of 0.6 mol% has been proven to be the optimal value, which enhances self-field J
c by 243.3% at 30 K with an obvious secondary peak effect, resulting in great improvements in trapped field and flux stability. The holistic and local superconducting performances exhibit good agreement, demonstrating Zn-doping an effective method to improve flux pinning properties for practical applications.
The Nicaraguan Pediatric Influenza Cohort Study, 2011–2019: Influenza Incidence, Seasonality, and Transmission
Authors: Maier Hannah E , Kuan Guillermina , Gresh Lionel , Chowell Gerardo , Bakker Kevin , Lopez Roger , Sanchez Nery , Lopez Brenda , Schiller Amy , Ojeda Sergio , Harris Eva , Balmaseda Angel , Gordon Aubree
Published: May 2022

Background

Children account for a large portion of global influenza burden and transmission, and a better understanding of influenza in children is needed to improve prevention and control strategies.

Methods

To examine the incidence and transmission of influenza we conducted a prospective community-based study of children aged 0–14 years in Managua, Nicaragua, between 2011 and 2019. Participants were provided with medical care through study physicians and symptomatic influenza was confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Wavelet analyses were used to examine seasonality. Generalized growth models (GGMs) were used to estimate effective reproduction numbers.

Results

From 2011 to 2019, 3016 children participated, with an average of ∼1800 participants per year and median follow-up time of 5 years per child, and 48.3% of the cohort in 2019 had been enrolled their entire lives. The overall incidence rates per 100 person-years were 14.5 symptomatic influenza cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.9–15.1) and 1.0 influenza-associated acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) case (95% CI: .8–1.1). Symptomatic influenza incidence peaked at age 9–11 months. Infants born during peak influenza circulation had lower incidence in the first year of their lives. The mean effective reproduction number was 1.2 (range 1.02–1.49), and we observed significant annual patterns for influenza and influenza A, and a 2.5-year period for influenza B.

Conclusions

This study provides important information for understanding influenza epidemiology and informing influenza vaccine policy. These results will aid in informing strategies to reduce the burden of influenza.
Risk Factors for Ebola Virus Persistence in Semen of Survivors in Liberia
Authors: Dyal Jonathan , Kofman Aaron , Kollie Jomah Z , Fankhauser John , Orone Romeo , Soka Moses J , Glaybo Uriah , Kiawu Armah , Freeman Edna , Giah Giovanni , Tony Henry D , Faikai Mylene , Jawara Mary , Kamara Kuku , Kamara Samuel , Flowers Benjamin , Kromah Mohammed L , Desamu-Thorpe Rodel , Graziano James , Brown Shelley , Morales-Betoulle Maria E , Cannon Deborah L , Su Kaihong , Linderman Susanne L , Plucinski Mateusz , Rogier Eric , Bradbury Richard S , Secor W Evan , Bowden Katherine E , Phillips Christi , Carrington Mary N , Park Yeon-Hwa , Martin Maureen P , Aguinaga Maria del Pilar , Mushi Robert , Haberling Dana L , Ervin Elizabeth D , Klena John D , Massaquoi Moses , Nyenswah Tolbert , Nichol Stuart T , Chiriboga David E , Williams Desmond E , Hinrichs Steven H , Ahmed Rafi , Vonhm Benjamin T , Rollin Pierre E , Purpura Lawrence J , Choi Mary J
Published: May 2022

Background

Long-term persistence of Ebola virus (EBOV) in immunologically privileged sites has been implicated in recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This study was designed to understand how the acute course of EVD, convalescence, and host immune and genetic factors may play a role in prolonged viral persistence in semen.

Methods

A cohort of 131 male EVD survivors in Liberia were enrolled in a case-case study. “Early clearers” were defined as those with 2 consecutive negative EBOV semen test results by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) ≥2 weeks apart within 1 year after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit or acute EVD. “Late clearers” had detectable EBOV RNA by rRT-PCR >1 year after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit or acute EVD. Retrospective histories of their EVD clinical course were collected by questionnaire, followed by complete physical examinations and blood work.

Results

Compared with early clearers, late clearers were older (median, 42.5 years; P < .001) and experienced fewer severe clinical symptoms (median 2, P = .006). Late clearers had more lens opacifications (odds ratio, 3.9 [95% confidence interval, 1.1–13.3]; P = .03), after accounting for age, higher total serum immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) titers (P = .005), and increased expression of the HLA-C*03:04 allele (0.14 [.02–.70]; P = .007).

Conclusions

Older age, decreased illness severity, elevated total serum IgG3 and HLA-C*03:04 allele expression may be risk factors for the persistence of EBOV in the semen of EVD survivors. EBOV persistence in semen may also be associated with its persistence in other immunologically protected sites, such as the eye.
Effective primary care attenuates the association between frailty and hospital admission in old age: the ELSI-Brazil
Authors: Silva Silvia L A , Macinko James , Lima-Costa Maria Fernanda , Torres Juliana L
Published: May 2022

Background

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome leading to a higher hospitalization. However, few studies explicitly analyze whether measures of effective primary care modify the relationship between frailty and hospital admission.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included data from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil), a representative community-based study with older adults aged 50 years and over, conducted in 2019–2021. Self-reported hospital admission in the past 12 months was the outcome. Frailty included the 5 phenotypic criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, weakness, and slowness. The effective primary care index included 12 attributes indicators, continuously. Statistical analyzes comprised logistic regression.

Results

Among the 7,436 study participants, frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.17; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] 1.31–3.62) and effective primary care index (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.03–1.16) were positively associated with higher hospitalization. Interaction revealed that while effective primary care was positively associated with hospitalization, this association was different among frail older adults (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.65–0.99). After stratification by frailty status, positive association with hospitalization remained only among prefrail and nonfrail individuals. The predicted probability of hospitalization tended to decrease along with higher primary care index values among frail older adults and became similar to prefrail/nonfrail at the highest end of the scale.

Conclusions

Effective primary care decreases the likelihood of hospital admission among frail older adults. Interventions for delaying frailty should be initiated in primary care along with policies to strengthen primary care’s organizational and provider/team-level attributes.
Site-specific variations in air-to-ground coupled seismic arrivals from the 2012 October 16 explosion at Camp Minden, Louisiana, United States
Authors: Wills Gemma , Nippress Alexandra , Green David N , Spence Peter J
Published: May 2022

Air-to-ground coupled seismic arrivals, resulting from infrasound interacting with the ground surface, can be identified on seismometers co-located with microbarometers. Dense networks of co-located sensors provide detailed spatial information about the infrasonic wavefield, allowing investigation of infrasonic propagation and an assessment of the variability in air-to-ground coupling mechanisms. Signals generated by an explosion at Camp Minden, Louisiana, United States, on 2012 October 16 were recorded across the eastern United States on the USArray Transportable Array. 233 infrasound signals were identified at distances of up to 1566 km from the source, with 105 of these sites, at distances of up to 1147 km from the source, recording above-noise air-to-ground coupled seismic arrivals in the 2–4 Hz passband (chosen to maximise seismic arrival signal-to-noise ratios). The spatially dense infrasound recordings allowed a unique investigation of the azimuthal variation in infrasound amplitudes, showing that stratospheric arrival amplitudes increased by a factor greater than 4 between the edge and centre of the stratospheric propagation duct. Air-to-ground coupling coefficients, calculated as the ratios of temporally coincident peak-to-trough seismic and infrasound time-domain amplitudes, span over two orders of magnitude ([9.0 × 10−8, 5.0 × 10−5] ms−1 Pa−1). Sites exhibiting high coupling coefficients are predominantly located on alluvial sediments that support the generation of air-to-ground coupled Rayleigh waves, resulting in poor coherence between the seismic and infrasonic waveforms. In contrast, sites exhibiting low coupling coefficients are predominantly located on chemically weathered bedrock and only support direct coupling, leading to high coherence between air-to-ground coupled seismic and infrasonic recordings. The Camp Minden explosion observations, and a consideration of expected seismic noise and air-to-ground coupled arrival amplitudes, suggest that co-located pairs of seismometers and microbarometers are likely to record signals from small (tens of tons) explosions at distances of over 1000 km under favourable propagation conditions. Co-located deployments may therefore provide a cost-effective method for augmenting current state-of-the-art infrasound array networks, by providing a higher spatial density of recordings; this may assist in correctly associating recorded signals with, and estimating the location of, source events.
Mirroring in production? Early evidence from the scale-up of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Authors: Alochet Marc , MacDuffie John Paul , Midler Christophe
Published: May 2022

The mirroring hypothesis is central to modularity theory, positing isomorphism between technical interdependencies of a product and organizational arrangements. When a product’s design becomes more modular, a full mirroring response would change both its manufacturing and its supply chain. We evaluate this prediction for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), observing whether automakers have mirrored the modular BEV architecture in either internal production processes, external sourcing arrangements, or both. Our data from 19 automakers show that, to date, BEVs are manufactured in their assembly plants alongside conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). New automakers with fully BEV plants utilize essentially the same production process. Furthermore, automakers make—or ally to make—key Electric Vehicle (EV) systems, rather than outsourcing them. We discuss the implications of this partial mirroring for modularity theory and ask whether these arrangements will persist once BEV sales surpass ICEVs.
Impulse Control Disorders by Dopamine Partial Agonists: A Pharmacovigilance-Pharmacodynamic Assessment Through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
Authors: Fusaroli Michele , Raschi Emanuel , Giunchi Valentina , Menchetti Marco , Rimondini Giorgini Roberto , De Ponti Fabrizio , Poluzzi Elisabetta
Published: May 2022

Background

The dopaminergic partial agonism of the so-called third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs; aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine) is hypothesized to cause impulse control disorders (ICDs). Relevant warnings by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were posted on aripiprazole (2016) and brexpiprazole (2018). Our study investigated the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and the pharmacodynamic CHEMBL database to further characterize TGA-induced ICDs.

Methods

We downloaded and pre-processed the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System up to December 2020. We adapted Bradford Hill criteria to assess each TGA’s —and secondarily other antipsychotics’—causal role in inducing ICDs (pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, hyperphagia, hypersexuality), accounting for literature and disproportionality. ICD clinical features were analyzed, and their pathogenesis was investigated using receptor affinities.

Results

A total of 2708 reports of TGA-related ICDs were found, primarily recording aripiprazole (2545 reports, 94%) among the drugs, and gambling (2018 reports, 75%) among the events. Bradford-Hill criteria displayed evidence for a causal role of each TGA consistent across subpopulations and when correcting for biases. Significant disproportionalities also emerged for lurasidone with compulsive shopping, hyperphagia, and hypersexuality, and olanzapine and ziprasidone with hyperphagia. Time to onset varied between days and years, and positive dechallenge was observed in 20% of cases. Frequently, co-reported events were economic (50%), obsessive-compulsive (44%), and emotional conditions (34%). 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor type 1a agonism emerged as an additional plausible pathogenetic mechanism.

Conclusions

We detected an association between TGAs and ICDs and identified a new signal for lurasidone. ICD characteristics are behavior specific and may heavily impact on life. The role of 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor type 1a agonism should be further explored.
Characterization of an MDR Lactobacillus salivarius isolate harbouring the phenicol-oxazolidinone-tetracycline resistance gene poxtA
Authors: Zhu Yao , Yang Wenlin , Schwarz Stefan , Xu Qiu , Yang Qin , Wang Lingli , Liu Siguo , Zhang Wanjiang
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To characterize the oxazolidinone resistance gene poxtA in a Lactobacillus salivarius isolate of pig origin.

Methods

L. salivarius isolate BNS11 was investigated for the presence of mobile oxazolidinone resistance genes by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution. Transfer experiments were conducted to assess horizontal transferability of the gene poxtA. WGS was carried out using a combination of Oxford Nanopore MinION/Illumina HiSeq platforms. The presence of translocatable units (TUs) carrying resistance genes was studied by PCR assays and subsequent sequence analysis.

Results

L. salivarius isolate BNS11 was positive for poxtA. WGS showed that it harboured two gene copies each of the poxtA and the fexB genes, which were located on the broad-host-range Inc18 plasmid pBNS11-37kb and in the chromosomal DNA, respectively. The plasmid-borne poxtA gene together with the genes fexB, vat(E) and erm(C) were located in an MDR region on plasmid pBNS11-37kb. Analysis of the genetic context showed that an approx. 11 kb poxtA-fexB fragment was integrated into the chromosomal DNA and two novel IS elements ISLasa1 and ISLasa2 were identified in this inserted fragment. PCR assays revealed that five different IS1216E-based TUs carrying the resistance genes poxtA, fexB, vat(E) or erm(C) were formed.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the transferable oxazolidinone resistance gene poxtA in the genus Lactobacillus. In addition, the presence of IS1216E-based TUs will contribute to the persistence and accelerate the dissemination of resistance genes, including poxtA.
Functions and prospects of melatonin in plant growth, yield, and quality
Authors: Wang Kaixin , Xing Qufan , Ahammed Golam Jalal , Zhou Jie
Published: May 2022

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indole molecule widely found in animals and plants. It is well known that melatonin improves plant resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses due to its potent free radical scavenging ability while being able to modulate plant signaling and response pathways through mostly unknown mechanisms. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that melatonin plays a crucial role in improving crop quality and yield by participating in the regulation of various aspects of plant growth and development. Here, we review the effects of melatonin on plant vegetative growth and reproductive development, and systematically summarize its molecular regulatory network. Moreover, the effective concentrations of exogenously applied melatonin in different crops or at different growth stages of the same crop are analysed. In addition, we compare endogenous phytomelatonin concentrations in various crops and different organs, and evaluate a potential function of phytomelatonin in plant circadian rhythms. The prospects of different approaches in regulating crop yield and quality through exogenous application of appropriate concentrations of melatonin, endogenous modification of phytomelatonin metabolism-related genes, and the use of nanomaterials and other technologies to improve melatonin utilization efficiency are also discussed.
Intrinsic alignments of bulges and discs
Authors: Jagvaral Yesukhei , Singh Sukhdeep , Mandelbaum Rachel
Published: May 2022

Galaxies exhibit coherent alignments with local structure in the Universe. This effect, called intrinsic alignments (IAs), is an important contributor to the systematic uncertainties for wide-field weak lensing surveys. On cosmological distance scales, intrinsic shape alignments have been observed in red galaxies, which are usually bulge-dominated; while blue galaxies, which are mostly disc-dominated, exhibit shape alignments consistent with a null detection. However, disc-dominated galaxies typically consist of two prominent structures: disc and bulge. Since the bulge component has similar properties as elliptical galaxies and is thought to have formed in a similar fashion, naturally one could ask whether the bulge components exhibit similar alignments as ellipticals? In this paper, we investigate how different components of galaxies exhibit IA in the TNG100-1 cosmological hydrodynamical simulation, as well as the dependence of IA on the fraction of stars in rotation-dominated structures at $z$ = 0. The measurements were controlled for mass differences between the samples. We find that the bulges exhibit significantly higher IA signals, with a non-linear alignment model amplitude of $A_I = 2.98^{+0.36}_{-0.37}$ compared to the amplitude for the galaxies as a whole (both components), $A_I = 1.13^{+0.37}_{-0.35}$. The results for bulges are statistically consistent with those for elliptical galaxies, which have $A_I = 3.47^{+0.57}_{-0.57}$. These results highlight the importance of studying galaxy dynamics in order to understand galaxy alignments and their cosmological implications.
Massive black hole mergers with orbital information: predictions from the ASTRID simulation
Authors: Chen Nianyi , Ni Yueying , Holgado A Miguel , Matteo Tiziana Di , Tremmel Michael , DeGraf Colin , Bird Simeon , Croft Rupert , Feng Yu
Published: May 2022

We examine massive black hole (MBH) mergers and their associated gravitational wave signals from the large-volume cosmological simulation Astrid . Astrid includes galaxy formation and black hole models recently updated with an MBH seed population between 3 × 104h−1M⊙ and 3 × 105h−1M⊙ and a sub-grid dynamical friction (DF) model to follow the MBH dynamics down to 1.5 ckpc h−1. We calculate the initial eccentricities of MBH orbits directly from the simulation at kpc-scales, and find orbital eccentricities above 0.7 for most MBH pairs before the numerical merger. After approximating unresolved evolution on scales below ${\sim 200\, \text{pc}}$, we find that the in-simulation DF on large scales accounts for more than half of the total orbital decay time ($\sim 500\, \text{Myr}$) due to DF. The binary hardening time is an order of magnitude longer than the DF time, especially for the seed-mass binaries (MBH < 2Mseed). As a result, only $\lesssim 20{{\rm per \,cent}}$ of seed MBH pairs merge at z > 3 after considering both unresolved DF evolution and binary hardening. These z > 3 seed-mass mergers are hosted in a biased population of galaxies with the highest stellar masses of $\gt 10^9\, {\rm M}_\odot$. With the higher initial eccentricity prediction from Astrid , we estimate an expected merger rate of 0.3−0.7 per year from the z > 3 MBH population. This is a factor of ∼7 higher than the prediction using the circular orbit assumption. The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna events are expected at a similar rate, and comprise $\gtrsim 60\,{\rm{per\,cent}}$ seed-seed mergers, $\sim 30\,{\rm{per\,cent}}$ involving only one seed-mass MBH, and $\sim 10\,{\rm{per\,cent}}$ mergers of non-seed MBHs.
Broad-line region clouds orbiting an AGN sample
Authors: Armijos-Abendaño J , López E , Llerena M , Logan C H A
Published: May 2022

We present a spectral and temporal analysis of XMM–Newton data from a sample of six galaxies (NGC 3783, Mrk 279, Mrk 766, NGC 3227, NGC 7314, and NGC 3516). Using the hardness-ratio curves, we identify time intervals in which clouds are eclipsing the central X-ray source in five of the six sources. We detect three occultations in NGC 3227 and one occultation in NGC 3783, NGC 7314, and NGC 3516, together with the well-known occultations in Mrk 766. We estimate the physical properties of the eclipsing clouds. The derived physical size of the X-ray sources (∼(3–28) × 1013 cm) is less than that of the eclipsing clouds with column densities of ∼1022–1023 cm−2, thus a single cloud may block the X-ray source, leading to notorious temporal variability of the X-ray flux. The eclipsing clouds in Mrk 766, NGC 3227, NGC 7314, and NGC 3516 with distances from the X-ray source of ∼(0.3–3.6) $\times 10^4\, R_\mathrm{ g}$ are moving at Keplerian velocities >1122 km s−1, typical parameters of broad-line region clouds, while the eclipsing cloud in NGC 3783 is likely located in the dusty torus. We also find a good anticorrelation with a slope of −187 ± 62 between the known masses of the supermassive black hole in the centre of the galaxies with the equivalent width (EW) of the 6.4 keV Fe line for the five type 1 Seyfert galaxies of our sample, while the type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 7314 shows an average EW value of 100 ± 11 eV inconsistent with the above anticorrelation.
The need for a public forecast of stellar activity to optimize exoplanet radial velocity detections and transmission spectroscopy
Authors: Sairam Lalitha , Triaud Amaury H M J
Published: May 2022

Advances in high-precision spectrographs have paved the way for the search for an Earth analogue orbiting a Sun-like star within its habitable zone. However, the research community remains limited by the presence of stellar noise produced by stellar magnetic activity. These activity phenomena can obscure the detection of Earth-mass exoplanets and can create parasitic signals in transmission spectra. In this paper, we outline the need for a public forecast of stellar activity and produce a proof of principle. Using publicly available spectra we are able to forecast stellar minima several years ahead and reach a typical uncertainty on the timing of these minima of $\pm 0.5~\rm yr$, similar to the precision reached on our own Sun’s magnetic cycle. Furthermore, we use our toy model to show that knowing when to observe can improve the sensitivity of HARPS-North’s Solar telescope to low-mass planets by up to an order of magnitude, and we show that the majority of exoplanets selected for Early Release Science and Guaranteed Time Observations on the James Webb will be observed close or during stellar maxima, incurring a higher risk of stellar contamination. We finish our paper by outlining a number of next steps to create a public forecast usable by teams around the globe, by telescope time allocation committees, and in preparation for spacecraft such as Ariel.
Analysis of the reflection spectra of MAXI J1535-571 in the hard and intermediate states
Authors: Dong Yanting , Liu Zhu , Tuo Youli , Steiner James F , Ge Mingyu , García Javier A , Cao Xinwu
Published: May 2022

We report results on the joint-fit of the NuSTAR and HXMT data for the black hole X-ray binary candidate MAXI J1535-571. The observations were obtained in 2017 when the source evolved through the hard, hard-intermediate, and soft-intermediate states over the rising phase of the outburst. After subtracting continuum components, X-ray reflection signatures are clearly showed in those observations. By modelling the relativistic reflection in detail, we find that the inner radius Rin is relatively stable with Rin ≲ 1.55Rg during the three states, which implies that the inner radius likely extends to the innermost stable circular orbit even in the bright hard state. When adopting Rin = RISCO, the spin parameter is constrained to be $0.985_{-0.004}^{+0.002}$ at 90 per cent confidence (statistical only). The best-fitting results reveal that the inclination of the inner accretion disc is ∼70–74 deg, which notably conflicts with the apparent orientation of the ballistic jet (≤45 deg). In addition, both the photon index and the electron temperature increase during the transition from hard to soft state. It seems that the corona evolves from dense low-temperature in the low/hard state to tenuous high-temperature after the state transition, which indicates that the state transition is accompanied by the evolution of the coronal properties.
Mimicking the halo–galaxy connection using machine learning
Authors: de Santi Natalí S M , Rodrigues Natália V N , Montero-Dorta Antonio D , Abramo L Raul , Tucci Beatriz , Artale M Celeste
Published: May 2022

Elucidating the connection between the properties of galaxies and the properties of their hosting haloes is a key element in galaxy formation. When the spatial distribution of objects is also taken under consideration, it becomes very relevant for cosmological measurements. In this paper, we use machine-learning techniques to analyse these intricate relations in the IllustrisTNG300 magnetohydrodynamical simulation, predicting baryonic properties from halo properties. We employ four different algorithms: extremely randomized trees, K-nearest neighbours, light gradient boosting machine, and neural networks, along with a unique and powerful combination of the results from all four approaches. Overall, the different algorithms produce consistent results in terms of predicting galaxy properties from a set of input halo properties that include halo mass, concentration, spin, and halo overdensity. For stellar mass, the Pearson correlation coefficient is 0.98, dropping down to 0.7–0.8 for specific star formation rate (sSFR), colour, and size. In addition, we apply, for the first time in this context, an existing data augmentation method, synthetic minority oversampling technique for regression with Gaussian noise (SMOGN), designed to alleviate the problem of imbalanced data sets, showing that it improves the overall shape of the predicted distributions and the scatter in the halo–galaxy relations. We also demonstrate that our predictions are good enough to reproduce the power spectra of multiple galaxy populations, defined in terms of stellar mass, sSFR, colour, and size with high accuracy. Our results align with previous reports suggesting that certain galaxy properties cannot be reproduced using halo features alone.
Effects of stellar-mass primordial black holes on first star formation
Authors: Liu Boyuan , Zhang Saiyang , Bromm Volker
Published: May 2022

We use cosmological hydrodynamic zoom-in simulations and semi-analytical models to study the effects of primordial black holes (PBHs) on first star formation. Our models self-consistently combine two competing effects: initial (isocurvature) perturbations induced by PBHs and BH accretion feedback. Focusing on PBHs with masses $\sim 30\, \rm M_{\odot }$, we find that the standard picture of first star formation in molecular-cooling minihaloes is not changed by PBHs, as the simulated star-forming gas clouds in the central parsec are very similar to those in the $\rm \Lambda CDM$ case when PBHs make up fPBH ∼ 10−4−0.1 of dark matter. With a dynamical friction time-scale of $\sim 2{\!-\!}10\ \rm Myr$ when the central gas density reaches $10^{5}\ \rm cm^{-3}$, it is also unlikely that PBHs can sink into star-forming discs and affect the evolution of protostars, although they may interact with the stars during the main-sequence stage. At larger scales, PBHs tend to shift star formation to more massive haloes and accelerate structure formation. The latter effect is stronger in regions with higher initial overdensities. For fPBH ∼ 10−4−0.01 (allowed by observational constraints), the collapsed mass fraction of haloes hosting Population III stars is similar (within a factor of ∼2 at z ≲ 30) to that in $\rm \Lambda CDM$, implying that the impact of stellar-mass PBHs on the cosmic star formation history at z ≳ 10 is small. We also find that the Lyman–Werner photons from PBH accretion in atomic-cooling haloes may facilitate the formation of direct-collapse BHs.
Exploring compact binary merger host galaxies and environments with zELDA
Authors: Mandhai S , Lamb G P , Tanvir N R , Bray J , Nixon C J , Eyles-Ferris R A J , Levan A J , Gompertz B P
Published: May 2022

Compact binaries such as double neutron stars or a neutron star paired with a black hole, are strong sources of gravitational waves during coalescence and also the likely progenitors of various electromagnetic phenomena, notably short-duration gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs), and kilonovae. In this work, we generate populations of synthetic binaries and place them in galaxies from the large-scale hydrodynamical galaxy evolution simulation, eagle. With our zELDA code, binaries are seeded in proportion to star formation rate, and we follow their evolution to merger using both the bpass and cosmic binary stellar evolution codes. We track their dynamical evolution within their host galaxy potential, to estimate the galactocentric distance at the time of the merger. Finally, we apply observational selection criteria to allow comparison of this model population with the legacy sample of SGRBs. We find a reasonable agreement with the redshift distribution (peaking at 0.5 < z < 1), host morphologies, and projected galactocentric offsets (modal impact parameter ≲10 kpc). Depending on the binary simulation used, we predict $\sim 16\!-\!35{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of SGRB events would appear ‘host-less’, i.e. sources that merge with high impact parameters or have hosts fainter than the detection limit (H > 26).
B-mode forecast of CMB-Bhārat
Authors: Adak Debabrata , Sen Aparajita , Basak Soumen , Delabrouille Jacques , Ghosh Tuhin , Rotti Aditya , Martínez-Solaeche Ginés , Souradeep Tarun
Published: May 2022

Exploring Cosmic History and Origin (ECHO), popularly known as ‘CMB-Bh$\overline{a}$rat’, is a space mission that has been proposed to the Indian Space Research Organisation for the scientific exploitation of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at the next level of precision and accuracy. The quest for the CMB polarization B-mode signals, generated by inflationary gravitational waves in the very early universe, is one of the key scientific goals of its experimental design. This work studies the potential of the proposed ECHO instrumental configuration to detect the target tensor-to-scalar ratio r ∼ 10−3 at 3σ significance level, which covers the predictions of a large class of inflationary models. We investigate the performance of two different component separation pipelines, ${\mathtt {NILC}}$ and ${\mathtt {Commander}}$, for the measurement of r in the presence of different physically motivated models of astrophysical foregrounds. For a simplistic foreground model (only polarized dust and synchrotron), both component separation pipelines can achieve the desired sensitivity of ECHO, i.e. σ(r = 0) ∼ (0.4–0.7) × 10−3. ${\mathtt {NILC}}$ performs better than ${\mathtt {Commander}}$ in terms of bias on recovered r for complex spectral models (power law and curved power law) of the synchrotron emission and complex dust models (dust decorrelation). Assuming 84 per cent delensing, we can achieve an improvement of σ(r = 0) by approximately 50 per cent as compared to the results obtained for the same configuration without any lensing correction.