bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematizing an Expanded Lumbar Interlaminar Endoscopic Approach: The 10 Steps of Castro-Brock for Increased Security
Authors: Castro João Paulo Souza , Cordenonssi Julianne Tannous , Brock Roger Schmidt
Published: December 2024

Introduction With increasing life expectancy, there is a rising incidence of degenerative spinal pathologies, particularly in the elderly population. Minimally invasive techniques are becoming increasingly attractive due to the higher prevalence of comorbidities in older patients. Endoscopic spine surgery offers advantages such as early rehabilitation, reduced postoperative pain, minimized muscle damage, and shorter hospital stays.

Objectives To enhance the safety of the interlaminar approach and minimize complications, we propose the systematic application of an expanded interlaminar technique, termed the “Castro-Brock technique.” Direct visualization of accurate anatomy is emphasized for successful endoscopic navigation.

Methods The Castro-Brock technique is described in a step-by-step manner, comprising 10 steps with illustrative images. The technique involves an initial puncture on the upper lamina, identification of bony structures, drilling and enlarging the interlaminar bone window, en bloc flavectomy, and precise identification of the descending root before accessing the disc.

Results The Castro-Brock technique facilitates improved visualization of anatomy and provides decompression of neurological structures before disc access. This systematic approach reduces the risk of inadvertent neurological injury and other surgical complications associated with interlaminar access.

Conclusions The Castro-Brock technique represents a valuable addition to the armamentarium of lumbar endoscopic spine surgery. Ensuring meticulous anatomical visualization and pre-disc decompression of neural structures enhances surgical safety and optimizes patient outcomes.
Thoracolumbar Fractures Due to Speed-Humps: A Case Series of Spine Fractures from an Atypical Cause of Injury
Authors: Amorim Rogério P. , Henriques Vinícius M. , Santos Lucas L. , Vasconcelos Fernando A. , Schmidt Alexandre M. , Torrão Francisco L. , Junqueira Hebert S. , Moreira Carlos A. S. , Reis Vinícius G. , Guedes Fernando
Published: December 2024

This retrospective case series investigates thoracolumbar fractures resulting from speed humps during bus travel in Rio de Janeiro. The study encompasses 19 patients who experienced such fractures between 2013 and 2021 without collision events. Factors examined included demographics, injury specifics, management strategies, and outcomes. The study aims to elucidate the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of these injuries. Analyses were conducted using clinical evaluations, AOSpine classification, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and TL AOSpine Injury Score (TL AOSIS). Surgical and non-surgical interventions were compared, highlighting the need for strict traffic regulations and preventive measures to mitigate such accidents. Results reveal a predominance of fractures in women, with a mean age of 61.26 years, and an emphasis on L1 vertebra involvement. Surgical intervention was required in over 50% of cases, demonstrating favorable outcomes. However, limitations due to the study's retrospective nature and the tertiary care setting were acknowledged. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of preventive measures, such as stricter traffic regulations, mandatory seatbelt use in public transportation, and enhanced speed-hump safety measures to curtail these accidents and subsequent injuries.
Assessment of the Aesthetic Proportions of the Anterior Maxillary Teeth among Dental Libyan Students: An Observational Study
Authors: Ganeiber Tayisir , Bugaighis Iman
Published: December 2024

Background Dental aesthetics and attractive, harmonious smiles contribute significantly to patients' decisions regarding treatment preference.

Aims This article investigates the existence and suitability of golden proportion, golden percentage, and recurring aesthetic dental (RED) proportion in Libyan dental students with natural dentition.

Methods This prospective cross-sectional observational study comprised 73 Libyan dental students who met the inclusion criteria (34.2% males and 65.8% females with a mean age of 25 ± 3.0 years). A photograph of the six anterior maxillary teeth was taken for each participant, and the apparent width of each was extracted digitally. Subsequently, the golden proportion, golden ratio, and the RED ratio were computed and compared with their corresponding standard notions. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed at p < 0.05.

Results There were no significant sex differences for all variables. Therefore, the data was pooled together for further analysis. The Libyan golden proportion differed significantly from their corresponding standard values at p < 0.05. A similar significant discrepancy was observed in the golden percentage except for the maxillary left lateral incisors (p = 0.206). Furthermore, the mean values of the RED proportion were not constant, and the mean ratio increased moving distally, which did not align with the standard RED proportions.

Conclusion The proposed golden proportions, golden percentage, and RED rations were not pertinent to our cohort of Libyan dental students. Anterior tooth proportions vary among populations according to their ethnicity and geographic background. Therefore, proportions should be utilized based on the same population and ethnicity.
Optical fiber sensor enables highly sensitive detection of deadly foodborne bacteria
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: December 2024

The sensor easily and accurately detects the presence of S. sonnei, a bacterium that causes dysentery.
Defects in Ge and GeSn and their impact on optoelectronic properties
Authors: Giunto Andrea , Fontcuberta i Morral Anna
Published: December 2024

GeSn has emerged as a promising semiconductor with optoelectronic functionality in the mid-infrared, with the potential of replacing expensive III–V technology for monolithic on-chip Si photonics. Multiple challenges to achieve optoelectronic-grade GeSn have been successfully solved in the last decade. We stand today on the brink of a potential revolution in which GeSn could be used in many optoelectronic applications such as light detection and ranging devices and lasers. However, the limited understanding and control of material defects represents today a bottleneck in the performance of GeSn-based devices, hindering their commercialization. Point and linear defects in GeSn have a strong impact on its electronic properties, namely, unintentional doping concentration, carrier lifetime, and mobility, which ultimately determine the performance of optoelectronic devices. In this review, after introducing the state-of-the-art of the fabrication and properties of GeSn, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of GeSn defects and their influence on the material (opto)electronic properties. Where relevant, we also review the work realized on pure Ge. Throughout the manuscript, we highlight the critical points that are still to solve. By bringing together the different fabrication techniques available and characterizations realized, we offer a wholistic view on the field of GeSn and provide elements on how it could move forward.
Anti-resonant reflecting acoustic rib waveguides for strong opto-acoustic interaction
Authors: Dinter Thomas J. , Schmidt Mikołaj K. , Steel Michael J.
Published: December 2024

Few known material systems can simultaneously guide optical and elastic fields through total internal reflection. This natural limit has restricted the realization of strong optoacoustic effects to highly specialized and purpose-built platforms, which employ either exotic materials or complex waveguide designs. Here, we apply the concept of Anti-Resonant Reflecting Acoustic Waveguides (ARRAWs) as a potential solution to this issue. ARRAWs confine the elastic field to a high-elastic-velocity core via the anti-resonances of a cladding layer of lower elastic velocity. We numerically study the appearance and dispersion of ARRAW-guided modes in a conventional silicon-on-insulator rib waveguide geometry. Applying the technique to the problem of efficient backward stimulated Brillouin scattering, we predict that ARRAW guidance, in conjunction with conventional optical confinement, can produce Brillouin gains comparable with those of more exotic geometries.
Activation of the proton-sensing GPCR, GPR65 on fibroblast-like synoviocytes contributes to inflammatory joint pain
Authors: Pattison Luke A. , Rickman Rebecca H. , Hilton Helen , Dannawi Maya , Wijesinghe Susanne N. , Ladds Graham , Yang Li V. , Jones Simon W. , Smith Ewan St. John
Published: December 2024

Inflammation is associated with localized acidosis, however, attributing physiological and pathological roles to proton-sensitive receptors is challenging due to their diversity and widespread expression. Here, agonists of the proton-sensing GPCR, GPR65, were systematically characterized. The synthetic agonist BTB09089 (BTB) recapitulated many proton-induced signaling events and demonstrated selectivity for GPR65. BTB was used to show that GPR65 activation on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), cells that line synovial joints, results in the secretion of proinflammatory mediators capable of recruiting immune cells and sensitizing sensory neurons. Intra-articular injection of BTB resulted in GPR65-dependent sensitization of knee-innervating neurons and nocifensive behaviors in mice. Stimulation of GPR65 on human FLS also triggered the release of inflammatory mediators and synovial fluid samples from human osteoarthritis patients were shown to activate GPR65. These results suggest a role of GPR65 in mediating cell–cell interactions that drive inflammatory joint pain in both mice and humans.
A modelling method for overvoltage and overload fault propagation in distribution cyber-physical systems
Authors: Wang Baoli , Luan Jingzhao , Yang Chao , Kang Xinran , Liu Lin , Sun Guan , Shan Xiaochen
Published: December 2024

The introduction of communication networks in modern power systems also brings new security issues into traditional power grids. Compared with cascading failures in a single power network, the analysis of cascading failures in information-physical coupling networks is more complex. To analyze the complex cyber-physical coupling network cascading faults, this paper proposes a multi-layer distribution network cyber-physical system. Based on this model, the possible impact on the communication side nodes after overvoltage and overload faults occur on the physical side distribution network is analyzed, forming a cyber-physical-cyber cascading fault propagation analysis method.
Rock mass quality in the study area of Cijurey dam diversion tunnel, Bogor Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: Prasetya Yoga , Setiawan Hendy , Hendrayana Heru
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the rock mass quality in the diversion tunnel of the Cijurey Dam through a detailed case study. Detailed examinations of the geological conditions were carried out on the surface and subsurface of the designated area, including residual soil, sandstone, carbonate sandstone, and carbonate mudstone layer. The method of this study is based on the classification of the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Geological Strength Index (GSI). RMR was the basis for determining the strength of rock masses in the form of shear strength of discontinuity surfaces, which depends on several factors such as distance, orientation, continuity, surface characteristics, separation, thickness, and nature of the filling material, while GSI was related to the level of fractures and surface conditions of discontinuities (9). The study area consists of three types of rock mass classes, namely poor to fair-quality sandstone with an RMR range between (41-60), poor to fair-quality carbonate mudstone with an RMR range between (37-63), and fair to good-quality carbonate sandstone with an RMR range between (60-63). Equations were derived to express this correlation GSI = 1.9845RMR-41.039 (R2=0.939), which had similarities with the linear line of the empirical equation of Wijaya et al. (27). Further analysis was needed, including the evaluation of the slope stability of the portal, the determination of the excavation methodology, and the formulation of the tunnel support system based on the rock mass characterization results obtained from this study.
Sustainable Water Management in Urban Areas through Smart Water Circulation Systems
Authors: Hidayat Riechard Daltone Xaverioez , Kurniawan Allen
Published: December 2024

Urbanization is a significant global trend that profoundly impacts water security. By mid-century, a large majority of the global population is expected to reside in urban areas, intensifying challenges related to water scarcity. The International Water Management Institute forecasts that most of the world’s population encounters physical and economic water shortages. In response to these challenges, the potential of recycled water is increasingly being recognized, with global capacity for water reuse projected to rise significantly over the coming years. Implementing smart water circulation systems in urban environments is essential for maintaining water balance and enhancing water use efficiency. This approach involves the integration of diverse recycling technologies with smart water networks, allowing for real-time monitoring and optimization of water resources. Initial applications of these systems in parks and other urban spaces provide valuable opportunities for testing and evaluation. The present study aims to develop a comprehensive concept for smart water circulation systems by analyzing various water treatment technologies, assessing their practical applications in urban settings, and creating frameworks for effective implementation. Through empirical analysis and case studies, this research offers practical insights for policymakers and urban planners to address the pressing challenges of water scarcity, thereby contributing to sustainable water use and improved water security in urban areas.
Analysis of PM10 Concentration Distribution at IPB Dramaga Campus
Authors: Nurekawati Lisma , Pribadi Andik , Putra Heriansyah
Published: December 2024

Particulate Matter (PM10) are very small particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less so they are described as inhalable dust which can have a negative impact on human health and the environment if it exceeds quality standards. PM10 concentrations needs to be controlled, especially in areas where there are a lot of living creature activities. IPB Dramaga Campus is the main campus of IPB University so there are many activities on this campus. Therefore, analysis of PM10 concentration distribution in IPB Dramaga Campus needs to be done. PM10 concentration was measured using the Airmonitor CCROM-SEAP and Air Quality Detector Dienmern which has been calibrated with standard measuring instruments High Volume Air Sampler (HVAS). The correction factor for the HVAS calibration results with Airmonitor CCROM-SEAP is 0.78, while the correction factor for the HVAS calibration results with Air Quality Detector Dienmern is 0.82. Then, PM10 measurements and vehicles counting were carried out in the field for 4 days. This PM10 measurement value in the field is multiplied by a correction factor to show the PM10 concentration which is more accurate. PM10 concentration measurement results in the field directly proportional to vehicles counting, where the higher the number of vehicles the higher PM10 concentration in the field. The R2 value of PM10 concentration measurement and vehicles number is 0.8255, so the accuracy test is in the strong category. This research showed the distribution of PM10 in IPB Dramaga Campus and its strong correlation with the vehicles count.
Spatial-temporal imaging electronic dynamics in few-layer graphene
Authors: Zhang Hongyun , Qin Yulu , Sheng Tianshuang , Zhong Haoyuan , Cai Xuanxi , Lin Tianyun , Bao Changhua , Wang Rui , Lu Guowei , Gong Qihuang , Duan Wenhui , Liu Yunquan , Zhou Shuyun
Published: December 2024

Revealing the ultrafast carrier dynamics with spatial, energy and time resolution is critical for achieving a comprehensive understanding of the ultrafast electronic dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures. Here, by time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (Tr-PEEM) measurements, we reveal the layer-dependent ultrafast electronic dynamics of monolayer (1 ML), bilayer (2 ML), 4 ML graphene as well as bulk graphite. In contrast to 2 ML and thicker graphene, photo-excited electrons in 1 ML graphene relax much faster, which is attributed to the unique massless linear Dirac cone dispersion, allowing electrons to relax by continuously emitting phonons. Moreover, transient photoelectron redistribution shows an energy shift between 1 ML and 2 ML graphene, highlighting the critical role of the bandgap in 2 ML graphene on the carrier relaxation dynamics. Our work demonstrates the power of Tr-PEEM in revealing the ultrafast dynamics of 2D materials and heterostructures with spatial-temporal information, and provides information for the layer-dependent ultrafast relaxation dynamics in few-layer graphene.
Correlated states in super-moiré materials with a kernel polynomial quantics tensor cross interpolation algorithm
Authors: Fumega Adolfo O , Niedermeier Marcel , Lado Jose L
Published: December 2024

Super-moiré materials represent a novel playground to engineer states of matter beyond the possibilities of conventional moiré materials. However, from the computational point of view, understanding correlated matter in these systems requires solving models with several millions of atoms, a formidable task for state-of-the-art methods. Conventional wavefunction methods for correlated matter scale with a cubic power with the number of sites, a major challenge for super-moiré materials. Here, we introduce a methodology capable of solving correlated states in super-moiré materials by combining a kernel polynomial method with a quantics tensor cross interpolation matrix product state algorithm. This strategy leverages a mapping of the super-moiré structure to a many-body Hilbert space, that is efficiently sampled with tensor cross interpolation with matrix product states, where individual evaluations are performed with a Chebyshev kernel polynomial algorithm. We demonstrate this approach with interacting super-moiré systems with up to several millions of atoms, showing its ability to capture correlated states in moiré-of-moiré systems and domain walls between different moiré systems. Our manuscript puts forward a widely applicable methodology to study correlated matter in ultra-long length scales, enabling rationalizing correlated super-moiré phenomena.
Exploring the role of Germanium on the optoelectronic and thermoelectric response in making ductile lead-free perovskite halide using DFT
Authors: Mumtaz Umair , Kiran Saira , Ahmad Sarfraz , Hussain Fayyaz , Rouf Syed Awais , Khalil R M A , Alam Manawwer , Wahab Rizwan , Ehsan Muhammad Fahad
Published: December 2024

The structural instability observed owing to Sn2+ and the toxic effects of lead has prohibited the commercial use of all inorganic CsPb1-xSnxBr3 for optoelectronic memory device applications. In this work, we have inspected the structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric response of all inorganic halide perovskite CsPb1-xGexBr3 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1) to overcome the stability and toxicity of this optoelectronic resistive switching material using the full-potential linearized augmented-plane wave (FP-LAPW) method grounded on density functional theory (DFT). Tran–Blaha-modified Becky-Johnson (TB-mBJ) approximation is used for the self-consistent field (SCF) calculations of considered halide perovskite CsPb1-xGexBr3. It is clear from the band structure that all compounds are semiconductors in nature. Moreover, the bandgap decreased with the increase in the concentration of Germanium (Ge) causing the bandgap tuning. The overall absorption of incident radiations increased and energy loss decreased with the increase in doping concentration, especially in the visible region. The thermoelectric properties have also been studied by using the BoltzTraP2 code. All the results computed physical properties confirmed the feasibility of these all-inorganic materials for their use in the fabrication of ductile, optical resistive switching memory RRAM devices.
Modeling and design of architected structures and metamaterials assisted with artificial intelligence
Authors: Mora Angel , Herrera-Ramos Gustavo , Ramirez-Gutierrez Diana L , Sanchez-Ante Gildardo , Batres Rafael , Roman-Flores Armando , Fuentes-Aguilar Rita Q , Molina Arturo , Cuan-Urquizo Enrique
Published: December 2024

Architected structures and metamaterials have attracted the attention of scientists and engineers due to the contrast in behavior compared to the base material they are made from. This interest within the scientific and engineering community has lead to the use of computational tools to accelerate the design, optimization, and discovery of architected structures and metamaterials. A computational tool that has gained popularity in recent years is artificial intelligence (AI). There are several AI algorithms and as many have been used in the field of architected structures and metamaterials. AI has been used for different objectives and with different degrees of success. Then, in this review we identify the different AI used to study architected structures and metamaterials, identify the purpose of using the AI, and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, trends in the usage of AI and particular architected structures and metamaterials are identified. Finally, perspectives regarding new directions and areas of opportunity for the use of AI in the study of architected structures and metamaterials are presented.
GALIC: hybrid multi-qubitwise pauli grouping for quantum computing measurement
Authors: Burns Matthew X , Liu Chenxu , Stein Samuel , Peng Bo , Kowalski Karol , Li Ang
Published: December 2024

Observable estimation is a core primitive in NISQ-era algorithms targeting quantum chemistry applications. To reduce the state preparation overhead required for accurate estimation, recent works have proposed various simultaneous measurement schemes to lower estimator variance. Two primary grouping schemes have been proposed: full commutativity (FC) and qubit-wise commutativity (QWC), with no compelling means of interpolation. In this work we propose a generalized framework for designing and analyzing context-aware hybrid FC/QWC commutativity relations. We use our framework to propose a noise-and-connectivity aware grouping strategy: Generalized backend-Aware pauLI Commutation (GALIC). We demonstrate how GALIC interpolates between FC and QWC, maintaining estimator accuracy in Hamiltonian estimation while lowering variance by an average of 20% compared to QWC. We also explore the design space of near-term quantum devices using the GALIC framework, specifically comparing device noise levels and connectivity. We find that error suppression has a more than 10 × larger impact on device-aware estimator variance than qubit connectivity with even larger correlation differences in estimator biases.
Advantage distillation for quantum key distribution
Authors: Du Zhenyu , Liu Guoding , Zhang Xingjian , Ma Xiongfeng
Published: December 2024

Quantum key distribution promises information-theoretically secure communication, with data post-processing playing a vital role in extracting secure keys from raw data. While hardware advancements have significantly improved practical implementations, optimizing post-processing techniques offers a cost-effective avenue to enhance performance. Advantage distillation, which extends beyond standard information reconciliation and privacy amplification, has proven instrumental in various post-processing methods. However, the optimal post-processing remains an open question. Therefore, it is important to develop a comprehensive framework to encapsulate and enhance these existing methods. In this work, we propose an advantage distillation framework for quantum key distribution, generalizing and unifying existing key distillation protocols. Inspired by entanglement distillation, our framework not only integrates current techniques but also improves upon them. Notably, by employing classical linear codes, we achieve higher key rates, particularly in scenarios where one-time pad encryption is not used for post-processing. Our approach provides insights into existing protocols and offers a systematic way for further enhancements in quantum key distribution.
The topological complexity of the ordered configuration space of disks in a strip
Authors: Wawrykow Nicholas
Published: December 2024

How hard is it to program

n
n

robots to move about a long narrow aisle such that only

w
w

of them can fit across the width of the aisle? In this paper, we answer that question by calculating the topological complexity of

conf
⁡
(
n
,
w
)

\operatorname {conf}(n,w)

, the ordered configuration space of

n
n

open unit-diameter disks in the infinite strip of width

w
w

. By studying its cohomology ring, we prove that, as long as

n
n

is greater than

w
w

, the topological complexity of

conf
⁡
(
n
,
w
)

\operatorname {conf}(n,w)

is

2
n
−
2

⌈

n
w

⌉

+
1

2n-2\big \lceil \frac {n}{w}\big \rceil +1

, providing a lower bound for the minimum number of cases such a program must consider.
Tracking Down the Tractarian Laity
Authors: King Benjamin J
Published: December 2024

Around the middle of the nineteenth century, there were estimated to be 200,000 lay Tractarians among the 5 million Anglican churchgoers in Britain and Ireland. The chapter employs four ways of tracking them down until the year 1880: building projects, attendance at specific parish churches, membership of societies, and publications. Although this chapter will show that lay Tractarians were many, it will frequently focus first on the few, namely the politicians who were prominent laymen within the Established Church. The effect of Newman’s conversion and of the repeal of the Corn Laws led some of these politicians to start the Guardian newspaper to propagate Tractarianism to an educated laity. This continued a pattern in which nearly half of the Tracts for the Times were addressed to the people (‘ad populum’).
Ecclesiology and Church Establishment
Authors: King Benjamin J
Published: December 2024

This chapter argues that beginning with the ‘Church-State Crisis’, which culminated for them in the Irish Church Temporalities Act of 1833, the Tractarians conceived of the lay person coming in two types: either the faithful (fidelis) communicant who received the Eucharist, or the lay citizen (civis) whose involvement in spiritual matters in parliament they deemed Erastian. The argument is developed in three stages. First is an exposition of the Tractarians’ view of the role of the Civil Power in spiritual matters and spiritual discipline in the Church of England, particularly their theology drawing upon the Church Fathers including Cyprian. Second is their response to the Gorham Judgement in the 1850s, demanding the revival (and, in some cases, reform) of Convocation. Third is the ‘Ritualist Controversy’ of the 1860s and 1870s, during which certain Ritualists, who once aligned with Tractarians, sought disestablishment of the Church; the Tractarians did not want disestablishment but rather that the laity of parliament, the judiciary, and the Crown be answerable to the Church’s teachings on doctrine and discipline, so that holiness would prevail.
Episcopacy and Empire
Authors: King Benjamin J
Published: December 2024

This chapter concerns the Tractarians’ impact on Anglicanism in the British Empire. It begins with their theology of monarchical episcopacy, which High-Church bishops in the incipient Anglican Communion adapted into a form of constitutional episcopacy by founding synods of bishops, clergy, and laity. Many based their synods on the conventions of the Episcopal Church in the USA, although the difficulty with which that was done will be shown to depend on particular conditions within Australia, Canada, the West Indies, Southern Africa, and Hawaii. Primary sources reveal the theology of the laity held by participants in the Australian bishops’ conference as well as by the young ‘Puseyite’ Robert Cecil (Lord Salisbury). The chapter also considers the involvement of the metropole’s lay Tractarians in colonial affairs, revealing the contradiction at the heart of this chapter that those who wanted to free the colonial Church from ‘enslavement’ to the imperial parliament by means of synods, took away the freedom of the lay people they colonized even as they invited some indigenes to join synods. It will be argued that the catholic Anglican view of colonization was different from that of liberal Anglicans such as J. W. Colenso.
The ethereal world
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Perfect, radiant blackbodies and Planck: The birth of the Quantum
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Origins of the special theory of relativity: Einstein takes a walk
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
The photoelectric effect and the photon: Einstein explores light
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Minkowski fuses space and time
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Consequences of the theory of special relativity 2
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
First faltering steps
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Feisty fermions, brotherly bosons 1
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Elementary, dear Mendeleev
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
Another gravitational wave detected: A personal recollection
Authors: Vishveshwara Smitha , Vishveshwara C V
Published: December 2024

Sample
SuperSpot: coarse graining spatial transcriptomics data into metaspots
Authors: Teleman Matei , Gabriel Aurélie A G , Hérault Léonard , Gfeller David
Published: December 2024

Spatial Transcriptomics is revolutionizing our ability to phenotypically characterize complex biological tissues and decipher cellular niches. With current technologies such as VisiumHD, thousands of genes can be detected across millions of spots (also called cells or bins depending on the technologies). Building upon the metacell concept, we present a workflow, called SuperSpot, to combine adjacent and transcriptomically similar spots into “metaspots”. The process involves representing spots as nodes in a graph with edges connecting spots in spatial proximity and edge weights representing transcriptomic similarity. Hierarchical clustering is used to aggregate spots into metaspots at a user-defined resolution. We demonstrate that metaspots reduce the size and sparsity of spatial transcriptomic data and facilitate the analysis of large datasets generated with the most recent technologies.

Availability and implementation

SuperSpot is an R package available at https://github.com/GfellerLab/SuperSpot and archived on Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14222088). The code to reproduce the figures is available at https://github.com/GfellerLab/SuperSpot/tree/main/figures (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14222088).
Enhancing cyber insurance strategies: exploring reinsurance and alternative risk transfer approaches
Authors: Cremer Frank , Sheehan Barry , Mullins Martin , Fortmann Michael , Materne Stefan , Murphy Finbarr
Published: December 2024

Cyber reinsurance is crucial in fostering sustainable growth and enhancing risk transfer strategies within the cyber insurance sector. Approximately 50%–65% of global cyber insurance premiums were ceded to the reinsurance market in 2022. While current reinsurance capacity is adequate to meet prevailing market demands, significant increases are needed to safeguard international commerce and close the cyber protection gap. This study analyzes the management of cyber risk accumulation by cyber reinsurance. The research creates and analyzes a dataset of semi-structured interviews with twenty cyber reinsurance market participants. The findings indicate that due to the highly volatile nature of cyber risks, cyber reinsurers enforce stringent capacity provision criteria on primary insurers. It is highlighted that reinsurers diversify their aggregate and cyber risk accumulation across various factors. This study offers an in-depth analysis of cyber insurance within the reinsurance framework, detailing collective strategies for implementing ILS and PPPs to mitigate barriers. These measures aim to enhance cyber capacity within the market, ensuring that cyber insurance remains accessible and affordable.
Lower vs. higher blood pressure targets during intensive care of comatose patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest—a Bayesian analysis of the BOX trial
Authors: Grand Johannes , Granholm Anders , Wiberg Sebastian , Schmidt Henrik , Møller Jacob E , Mølstrøm Simon , Meyer Martin A S , Josiassen Jakob , Beske Rasmus P , Dahl Jordi S , Obling Laust E R , Frydland Martin , Borregaard Britt , Lind Jørgensen Vibeke , Hartvig Thomsen Jakob , Aalbæk Madsen Søren , Nyholm Benjamin , Hassager Christian , Kjaergaard Jesper
Published: December 2024

Aims

The Blood Pressure and Oxygenation (BOX) targets after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest trial found no statistically significant differences in mortality or neurological outcomes with mean arterial blood pressure targets of 63 vs. 77 mmHg in patients receiving intensive care post-cardiac arrest. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect on 1-year mortality and assess heterogeneity in treatment effects (HTEs) using Bayesian statistics.

Methods and results

We analyzed 1-year all-cause mortality, 1-year neurological outcomes, and plasma neuron-specific enolase (NSE) at 48 h using Bayesian logistic and linear regressions primarily with weakly informative priors. HTE was assessed according to age, plasma lactate, time to return of spontaneous circulation, primary shockable rhythm, history of hypertension, and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Absolute and relative differences are presented with probabilities of any clinical benefit and harm. All 789 patients in the intention-to-treat cohort were included. The risk difference (RD) for 1-year mortality was 1.5%-points [95% credible interval (CrI): −5.1 to 8.1], with <33% probability of benefit with the higher target. There was 33% probability for a better neurological outcome (RD: 1.5%-points; 95% CrI: −5.3 to 8.3) and 35.1% for lower NSE levels (mean difference: 1.5 µg/L, 95% CrI: −6.0 to 9.1). HTE analyses suggested potential harms of the higher blood pressure target in younger patients.

Conclusion

The effects of a higher blood pressure target on overall mortality among comatose patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were uncertain. A potential effect modification according to age warrants additional investigation.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03141099
Periannular extension of infective endocarditis with atrioventricular block successfully treated with antibiotic therapy after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report
Authors: Hirata Yuki , Toriumi Shinichi , Harada Kenji , Hoshide Satoshi , Kario Kazuomi
Published: December 2024

Background

Although transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is performed for very elderly patients in whom surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) poses unacceptably high operative risk, some of these patients are ultimately forced to undergo open surgery when TAVI is complicated by infective endocarditis (IE). To our knowledge, there have been no reports of cases with periannular extension of IE and atrioventricular block successfully treated by antibiotics without valve replacement.

Case summary

An 80-year-old Japanese man who had undergone TAVI developed IE with loss of consciousness on Day 39 after the procedure. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected in his blood culture. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed complete atrioventricular block. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) detected vegetation on the anterior mitral leaflet, aorta, and common annulus. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation had been performed rather than SAVR to avoid the associated operative risks. Because his haemodynamic condition was stable, we decided upon antibiotic treatment alone. On Day 42 after admission, TEE showed a reduction in the size of the vegetation, and his ECG recovered to sinus rhythm.

Discussion

Medical treatment alone was effective for a periannular extension of IE complicated with complete atrioventricular block in a very elderly patient after TAVI had been performed to avoid high operative risk.
Case report of entrectinib associated fulminant myocarditis
Authors: Rundhawa Gohar , Ali Murtaza , Jacob Ron , Obeng-Gyimah Edmond , Vranian Michael N
Published: December 2024

Background

ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors are one of the primary immunotherapies for ROS1 fusion-positive cancers. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have markedly improved outcomes for advanced cancers previously with poor prognosis. Entrectinib is an example of an ROS1 inhibitor that can be used for lung adenocarcinoma. There are numerous adverse effects with rare cardiac side effects reported, such as heart failure and myocarditis.

Case summary

A 27-year-old male being treated for lung adenocarcinoma who presented new congestive heart failure 2 weeks after starting Entrectinib. He developed refractory ventricular tachycardia, cardiogenic shock with an endomyocardial biopsy that showed active lymphohistiocytic myocarditis. With antiarrhythmic therapy, heavy sedation, mechanical circulatory support, and high-dose steroids, the patient had complete resolution of symptoms and return to baseline status.

Discussion

This is a rare case with a severe complication after starting Entrectinib for lung adenocarcinoma. In the literature, this is the first case of its kind presenting with myocarditis and severe heart failure after treatment with Entrectinib. This case highlights not only using cardiac imaging, and biopsy to help guide the diagnosis, but also describe the appropriate management.
Reproducibility of quantitative myocardial perfusion and coronary flow capacity by positron emission tomography: 3D digital silicon photomultiplier solid state vs. legacy 2D analogue systems for clinical practice and trials
Authors: Roby Amanda , Harmon Lindsey , Sander Kelly , Bui Linh , Kitkungvan Danai , Patel Monica , Narula Jagat , Johnson Nils P , Gould K Lance
Published: December 2024

Aims

Quantitative rest–stress myocardial perfusion in millilitres per minute per gram among multiple 2D and 3D positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) scanners is essential for personalized cardiac management and clinical trials. Accordingly, this study reports the accuracy and precision of quantitative rest–stress millilitres per minute per gram and coronary flow capacity among 2D and two different digital 3D silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) PET-CT scanners for quantifying the severity of coronary pathophysiology for clinical trials or guiding interventions vs. medical treatment.

Methods and results

One hundred seventy-one participants underwent 748 paired serial rest or stress PET perfusion imaging in the same person on ‘same day’ or ‘different days’ using rubidium-82 (Rb-82) pharmacologic stress on 2D and two different digital 3D SiPM PET-CT scanners for global myocardial perfusion in millilitres per minute per gram. For methodological variability of 66 ‘same-day’ serial paired PETs in the same person by 2D and two different 3D SiPM PET-CT scanners, rest–stress global myocardial millilitres per minute per gram had no significant bias (P = 0.464, mean difference 0.014 ± 0.21 mL/min/g) with coefficient of variation (COV) of ±14%. For methodological plus biological variability of 154 ‘different-day’ serial paired PETs, rest–stress global perfusion had no significant bias (P = 0.136), mean difference (0.028 ± 0.33), and COV of ±20%. Coronary flow reserve had a small bias of 0.095 ± 0.57 (P = 0.041) and COV of ±20%. Coronary flow capacity was not different by Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (P = 0.99).

Conclusion

For quantifying myocardial perfusion in the same person on ‘same day’ or ‘different days’ using Rb-82, 3D SiPM PET-CT is comparably reproducible to analogue 2D PET-CT with the HeartSee perfusion model as the basis for quantifying physiologic severity of coronary heart disease to guide clinical decision-making or randomized clinical trials confirming these outcomes.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of the Peritoneal Mesothelium, a Barrier for Solute Transport
Authors: Marinovic Iva , Bartosova Maria , Levai Eszter , Herzog Rebecca , Saleem Arslan , Du Zhiwei , Zhang Conghui , Sacnun Juan Manuel , Pitaraki Eleanna , Sinis Sotirios , Damgov Ivan , Krunic Damir , Lajqi Trim , Al-Saeedi Mohammed , Szabo J Attila , Hausmann Michael , Pap Domonkos , Kratochwill Klaus , Krug Susanne M , Zarogiannis Sotirios G , Schmitt Claus Peter
Published: December 2024

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an increasingly needed, life-maintaining kidney replacement therapy; efficient solute transport is critical for patient outcome. While the role of peritoneal perfusion on solute transport in PD has been described, the role of cellular barriers is uncertain, the mesothelium has been considered irrelevant. We calculated peritoneal blood microvascular endothelial surface area (BESA) to mesothelial surface area (MSA) ratio in human peritonea in health, chronic kidney disease, and on PD, and performed molecular transport related gene profiling and single molecule localization microscopy in two mesothelial (MC) and two endothelial cell lines (EC). Molecular-weight dependent transport was studied in-vitro, ex-vivo and in mice. Peritoneal BESA is 1-3-fold higher than MSA across age groups, and increases with PD, while the mesothelium is preserved during the first 2 years of PD. Tight junction, transmembrane and transcytotic transporter expression are cell-type specifically expressed. At nanoscale, tight junction anchoring protein Zonula occludens-1 is more abundant and more continuously expressed along the MC than the EC. Ionic conductance is 3-fold lower across the MC than human microvascular EC, as is the permeability for creatinine, 4- and 10-kDa, but not for 70-kDa dextran. MC removal from sheep peritoneum abolishes ionic barrier function. Short term intraperitoneal LPS exposure in mice selectively affects peritoneal mesothelial integrity and increases transperitoneal solute transport. We provide molecular correlates and consistent functional evidence for the mesothelium as a barrier for peritoneal solute transport, ie, essential information on peritoneal transport modeling, and for interventions to improve PD efficiency and biocompatibility, and beyond.
The APOL1 p.N264K variant is co-inherited with the G2 kidney disease risk variant through a proximity recombination event
Authors: Simeone Christopher A , McNulty Michelle T , Gupta Yask , Genovese Giulio , Sampson Matthew G , Sanna-Cherchi Simone , Friedman David J , Pollak Martin R
Published: December 2024

Black Americans are 3–4 times more likely to develop nondiabetic kidney disease than other populations. Exclusively found in people of recent African (AFR) ancestry, risk variants in Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) termed G1 and G2 contribute significantly to this increased susceptibility. Our group and others showed that a missense variant in APOL1, rs73885316 (p.N264K, “M1”), is remarkably protective against APOL1 kidney disease when co-inherited with the G2 risk allele. Since the distance between the M1 and G2 variants is only 367 base pairs, we initially suspected that 2 independent mutation events occurred to create non-risk M1-G0 and M1-G2 haplotypes. Here, we examined APOL1 haplotypes in individuals of AFR ancestry from the 1000 Genomes Project, the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE), and an ancient individual from the Allen Ancient Genome Diversity Project to determine how the M1-G2 haplotype arose. We demonstrate that M1 most likely first appeared on a non-risk G0 haplotype, and that a subsequent recombination event bypassed strong recombination hotspots flanking APOL1 and occurred between p.N388Y389del on a G2 haplotype and M1 on a G0 haplotype to create the M1-G2 haplotype. Observing a recombination event within a small region between clinically relevant loci emphasizes the importance of studying the entire haplotype repertoire of a disease gene and the impact of haplotype backgrounds in disease susceptibility.
Transportome remodeling of a symbiotic microalga inside a planktonic host
Authors: Juéry Caroline , Auladell Adria , Füssy Zoltan , Chevalier Fabien , Yee Daniel P , Pelletier Eric , Corre Erwan , Allen Andrew E , Richter Daniel J , Decelle Johan
Published: December 2024

Metabolic exchange is one of the foundations of symbiotic associations between organisms and is a driving force in evolution. In the ocean, photosymbiosis between heterotrophic hosts and microalgae is powered by photosynthesis and relies on the transfer of organic carbon to the host (e.g. sugars). Yet, the identity of transferred carbohydrates as well as the molecular mechanisms that drive this exchange remain largely unknown, especially in unicellular photosymbioses that are widespread in the open ocean. Combining genomics, single-holobiont transcriptomics, and environmental metatranscriptomics, we revealed the transportome of the marine microalga Phaeocystis in symbiosis within acantharia, with a focus on sugar transporters. At the genomic level, the sugar transportome of Phaeocystis is comparable to non-symbiotic haptophytes. By contrast, we found significant remodeling of the expression of the transportome in symbiotic microalgae compared to the free-living stage. More particularly, 36% of sugar transporter genes were differentially expressed. Several of them, such as GLUTs, TPTs, and aquaporins, with glucose, triose-phosphate sugars, and glycerol as potential substrates, were upregulated at the holobiont and community level. We also showed that algal sugar transporter genes exhibit distinct temporal expression patterns during the day. This reprogramed transportome indicates that symbiosis has a major impact on sugar fluxes within and outside the algal cell, and highlights the complexity and the dynamics of metabolic exchanges between partners. This study improves our understanding of the molecular players of the metabolic connectivity underlying the ecological success of planktonic photosymbiosis and paves the way for more studies on transporters across photosymbiotic models.