bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic charging as a complementary approach in modern EV charging infrastructure
Authors: Nguyen Duc Minh , Kishk Mustafa A. , Alouini Mohamed-Slim
Published: March 2024

Whether the future of transportation is going to be electric or not is no longer a question. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer several benefits toward global sustainability. However, without a variety of charging infrastructures that cover diverse forthcoming charging needs, the speed of vehicle electrification may be slow and limited. In this study, we investigate the synergistic benefits of traditional charging stations and an emerging alternative, i.e., wireless dynamic charging roads, focusing on their impact on the daily commute of EV users. We center our evaluation on quantifiable metrics, chiefly time and convenience, and deploy computer simulations utilizing authentic transportation datasets from New York City, USA. Our findings underscore that integrating both charging stations and charging roads can substantially alleviate detours for EV users and remarkably reduce additional charging time. Our research provides evidence to encourage researchers, EV manufacturers, urban infrastructure planners, and policymakers to explore future charging infrastructures for EVs, with a notable emphasis on wireless dynamic charging roads.
The trajectory of carbon emissions and terrestrial carbon sinks at the provincial level in China
Authors: Hu Yongjie , Li Ying , Zhang Hong , Liu Xiaolin , Zheng Yixian , Gong He
Published: March 2024

Global greenhouse gas emission, major factor driving climate change, has been increasing since nineteenth century. STIRPAT and CEVSA models were performed to estimate the carbon emission peaks and terrestrial ecosystem carbon sinks at the provincial level in China, respectively. Utilizing the growth characteristics and the peak time criteria for the period 1997–2019, the patterns of energy consumption and CO2 emissions from 30 Chinese provinces are categorized into four groups: (i) one-stage increase (5 provinces), (ii) two-stage increase (10 provinces), (iii) maximum around 2013 (13 provinces), and (iv) maximum around 2017 (2 provinces). According to the STIRPAT model, the anticipated time of peak CO2 emissions for Beijing from the third group is ~ 2025 in both business-as-usual and high-speed scenarios. For Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region from the first group and Zhejiang province from the second group, the expected peak time is 2025 to 2030. Shaanxi province from the fourth group is likely to reach carbon emission peak before 2030. The inventory-based estimate of China’s terrestrial carbon sink is ~ 266.2 Tg C/a during the period 1982–2015, offsetting 18.3% of contemporary CO2 emissions. The province-level CO2 emissions, peak emissions and terrestrial carbon sinks estimates presented here are significant for those concerned with carbon neutrality.
Hemispheric dominance in HVC is experience-dependent in juvenile male zebra finches
Authors: Frank Sophia Y. , Hunt Jesse L. , Bae Andrea J. , Chirathivat Napim , Lotfi Sima , Raja Sahitya C. , Gobes Sharon M. H.
Published: March 2024

Juvenile male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) must be exposed to an adult tutor during a sensitive period to develop normal adult song. The pre-motor nucleus HVC (acronym used as a proper name), plays a critical role in song learning and production (cf. Broca’s area in humans). In the human brain, left-side hemispheric dominance in some language regions is positively correlated with proficiency in linguistic skills. However, it is unclear whether this pattern depends upon language learning, develops with normal maturation of the brain, or is the result of pre-existing functional asymmetries. In juvenile zebra finches, even though both left and right HVC contribute to song production, baseline molecular activity in HVC is left-dominant. To test if HVC exhibits hemispheric dominance prior to song learning, we raised juvenile males in isolation from adult song and measured neuronal activity in the left and right HVC upon first exposure to an auditory stimulus. Activity in the HVC was measured using the immediate early gene (IEG) zenk (acronym for zif-268, egr-1, NGFI-a, and krox-24) as a marker for neuronal activity. We found that neuronal activity in the HVC of juvenile male zebra finches is not lateralized when raised in the absence of adult song, while normally-reared juvenile birds are left-dominant. These findings show that there is no pre-existing asymmetry in the HVC prior to song exposure, suggesting that lateralization of the song system depends on learning through early exposure to adult song and subsequent song-imitation practice.
Social capital and changes of psychologic distress during early stage of COVID-19 in New orleans
Authors: Wu Kimberly , Doe Erica , Roude Gabriella D. , Wallace Jasmine , Francois Samantha , Richardson Lisa , Theall Katherine P.
Published: March 2024

Here we report on the relationship between measures of social capital, and their association with changes in self-reported measures of psychological distress during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze data from an existing cluster randomized control trial (the Healthy Neighborhoods Project) with 244 participants from New Orleans, Louisiana. Changes in self-reported scores between baseline (January 2019–March 2020) and participant’s second survey (March 20, 2020, and onwards) are calculated. Logistic regression is employed to examine the association between social capital indicators and measures of psychological distress adjusting for key covariates and controlling for residential clustering effects. Participants reporting higher than average scores for social capital indicators are significantly less likely to report increases in psychosocial distress between pre and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who report higher than average sense of community were approximately 1.2 times less likely than those who report lower than average sense of community scores to experience increases in psychological distress before and during the global pandemic (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.70,0.88, p ≤ 0.001), even after controlling for key covariates. Findings highlight the potentially important role that community social capital and related factors may play in the health of underrepresented populations during times of major stress. Specifically, the results suggest an important role of cognitive social capital and perceptions of community membership, belonging, and influence in buffering changes of mental health distress experienced during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of residents.
Evaluation of the complexation behaviour among functionalized diphenyl viologens and cucurbit[7] and [8]urils
Authors: Ambrose Bebin , Sathyaraj Gopal , Kathiresan Murugavel
Published: March 2024

The complexation behaviour of Diphenyl viologens (DPVs) with Cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]) was evaluated in detail and the results were reported. In this work, we present the synthesis of various DPVs functionalised with electron withdrawing and electron donating groups (EWGs & EDGs) and investigate their complexation behaviour with CB[7] and CB [8]. Carboxylic acid functionalized DPV’s (DPV-COOH) complexation with CB[8] gives additional insights, i.e., indicates hydrogen bonding plays an effective role in the complexation. The formation of a 2:2 quaternary complex of DPV-COOH/CB[8] under neutral pH conditions was supported by various analytical techniques. The complexation of DPVs with CB[7] specifies that irrespective of the functional group attached, they all form a 1:2 ternary complex, but the findings elaborate that the pattern followed in the complexation depends on the EW or EDG attached to the DPVs. The competition experiments conducted between functionalized DPVs and CB[7], CB[8] shows that they have more affinity towards CB[8] than CB[7] because of the better macrocyclic confinement effect of CB[8], as confirmed using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The binding affinity among EWG and EDG functionalised DPVs with CB[8] concludes EDG functionalised DPVs show better affinity towards CB[8], because they can form a charge transfer complex inside the CB[8] cavity. Exploring these host–guest interactions in more complex biological or environmental settings and studying their impact on the functionality of DPVs could be an exciting avenue for future research.
Electrical characterization of multi-gated WSe2/MoS2 van der Waals heterojunctions
Authors: Chava Phanish , Kateel Vaishnavi , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Helm Manfred , Mikolajick Thomas , Erbe Artur
Published: March 2024

Vertical stacking of different two-dimensional (2D) materials into van der Waals heterostructures exploits the properties of individual materials as well as their interlayer coupling, thereby exhibiting unique electrical and optical properties. Here, we study and investigate a system consisting entirely of different 2D materials for the implementation of electronic devices that are based on quantum mechanical band-to-band tunneling transport such as tunnel diodes and tunnel field-effect transistors. We fabricated and characterized van der Waals heterojunctions based on semiconducting layers of WSe2and MoS2by employing different gate configurations to analyze the transport properties of the junction. We found that the device dielectric environment is crucial for achieving tunneling transport across the heterojunction by replacing thick oxide dielectrics with thin layers of hexagonal-boronnitride. With the help of additional top gates implemented in different regions of our heterojunction device, it was seen that the tunneling properties as well as the Schottky barriers at the contact interfaces could be tuned efficiently by using layers of graphene as an intermediate contact material.
Post-secondary classroom teaching quality evaluation using small object detection model
Authors: Wang Rui , Chen Shaojie , Tian Gang , Wang Pengxiang , Ying Shi
Published: March 2024

The classroom video has a complex background and dense targets. This study utilizes small object detection technology to analyze and evaluate students’ behavior in the classroom, aiming to objectively and accurately assess classroom quality. Firstly, noise is removed from the images using a median filter, and the contrast of the images is enhanced through histogram equalization. Label smoothing is applied to reduce the model’s sensitivity to labels. Then, features are extracted from the preprocessed images, and multi-scale feature fusion is employed to enhance semantic expression across multiple scales. Finally, a combination loss function is utilized to improve the accuracy of multi-object recognition tasks. Real-time detection of students’ behaviors in the classroom is performed based on the small object detection model. The average head-up rate in the classroom is calculated, and the quality of teaching is evaluated and analyzed. This study explores the methods and applications of small object detection technology based on actual teaching cases and analyzes and evaluates its effectiveness in evaluating the quality of higher education classroom teaching. The research findings demonstrate the significant importance of small object detection technology in effectively evaluating students’ learning conditions in higher education classrooms, leading to improved teaching quality and personalized education.
On the feasibility of malaria hypothesis
Authors: Habibzadeh Farrokh
Published: March 2024

In 1954, Allison proposed that hemoglobin S (HbS) gene causes protection against fatal malaria. This would explain the high HbS gene frequency observed in certain regions hyperendemic for malaria, so-called “malaria hypothesis”. This in silico study was conducted to examine the feasibility of the hypothesis under more realistic initial conditions, where a mutant gene with heterozygous advantage against malaria (e.g., HbS) was introduced in a group of Neolithic hunter-gatherers who decided to start agriculture nearby water where malaria killed a proportion of population. The tribe population size, number of children born to each woman in each generation, mortality from malaria and sickle cell disease, the protection factor provided by the gene carriers against malaria, the probability of mating between the members of the parent and offspring populations, population growth, and increased fertility in women heterozygous for HbS, were also considered. For effectively confer protection against malaria within the shortest possible period, the mutation needs to be happened in a small population. For a large population, the process would take around 100 generations (~ 2500 years) or more to provide an effective protection. Even then, the probability that the new gene could survive and propagate to future generations is about 35%. Conventional population genetics equations with differential or difference equations, give totally incorrect estimates of the gene frequency in small populations; discrete mathematics should be used, instead. After introduction of the advantageous mutation, the gene frequency increased until a steady state value. This value is far less than the gene frequency reported in certain tribes of Africa. It seems that the malaria hypothesis, per se, could not explain such a high observed gene frequency, unless HbS is associated with lower mortality from other causes too.
STAP-2 facilitates insulin signaling through binding to CAP/c-Cbl and regulates adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Sekine Yuichi , Kikkawa Kazuna , Honda Sachie , Sasaki Yuto , Kawahara Shoya , Mizushima Akihiro , Togi Sumihito , Fujimuro Masahiro , Oritani Kenji , Matsuda Tadashi
Published: March 2024

Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is an adaptor molecule involved in several cellular signaling cascades. Here, we attempted to identify novel STAP-2 interacting molecules, and identified c-Cbl associated protein (CAP) as a binding protein through the C-terminal proline-rich region of STAP-2. Expression of STAP-2 increased the interaction between CAP and c-Cbl, suggesting that STAP-2 bridges these proteins and enhances complex formation. CAP/c-Cbl complex is known to regulate GLUT4 translocation in insulin signaling. STAP-2 overexpressed human hepatocyte Hep3B cells showed enhanced GLUT4 translocation after insulin treatment. Elevated levels of Stap2 mRNA have been observed in 3T3-L1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) during adipocyte differentiation. The differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes was highly promoted by retroviral overexpression of STAP-2. In contrast, STAP-2 knockout (KO) MEFs exhibited suppressed adipogenesis. The increase in body weight with high-fat diet feeding was significantly decreased in STAP-2 KO mice compared to WT animals. These data suggest that the expression of STAP-2 correlates with adipogenesis. Thus, STAP-2 is a novel regulatory molecule that controls insulin signal transduction by forming a c-Cbl/STAP-2/CAP ternary complex.
FRETpredict: a Python package for FRET efficiency predictions using rotamer libraries
Authors: Montepietra Daniele , Tesei Giulio , Martins João M. , Kunze Micha B. A. , Best Robert B. , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten
Published: March 2024

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a widely-used and versatile technique for the structural characterization of biomolecules. Here, we introduce FRETpredict, an easy-to-use Python software to predict FRET efficiencies from ensembles of protein conformations. FRETpredict uses a rotamer library approach to describe the FRET probes covalently bound to the protein. The software efficiently and flexibly operates on large conformational ensembles such as those generated by molecular dynamics simulations to facilitate the validation or refinement of molecular models and the interpretation of experimental data. We provide access to rotamer libraries for many commonly used dyes and linkers and describe a general methodology to generate new rotamer libraries for FRET probes. We demonstrate the performance and accuracy of the software for different types of systems: a rigid peptide (polyproline 11), an intrinsically disordered protein (ACTR), and three folded proteins (HiSiaP, SBD2, and MalE). FRETpredict is open source (GPLv3) and is available at github.com/KULL-Centre/FRETpredict and as a Python PyPI package at pypi.org/project/FRETpredict.
Accurate prediction of RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots through solving minimum-cost flow with learned potentials
Authors: Gong Tiansu , Ju Fusong , Bu Dongbo
Published: March 2024

Pseudoknots are key structure motifs of RNA and pseudoknotted RNAs play important roles in a variety of biological processes. Here, we present KnotFold, an accurate approach to the prediction of RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots. The key elements of KnotFold include a learned potential function and a minimum-cost flow algorithm to find the secondary structure with the lowest potential. KnotFold learns the potential from the RNAs with known structures using an attention-based neural network, thus avoiding the inaccuracy of hand-crafted energy functions. The specially designed minimum-cost flow algorithm used by KnotFold considers all possible combinations of base pairs and selects from them the optimal combination. The algorithm breaks the restriction of nested base pairs required by the widely used dynamic programming algorithms, thus enabling the identification of pseudoknots. Using 1,009 pseudoknotted RNAs as representatives, we demonstrate the successful application of KnotFold in predicting RNA secondary structures including pseudoknots with accuracy higher than the state-of-the-art approaches. We anticipate that KnotFold, with its superior accuracy, will greatly facilitate the understanding of RNA structures and functionalities.
An ex vivo animal model to study the effect of transverse mechanical loading on skeletal muscle
Authors: Sargent Marisa , Wark Alastair W. , Day Sarah , Buis Arjan
Published: March 2024

In many populations like wheelchair and prosthetic users, the soft tissue is subject to excessive or repetitive loading, making it prone to Deep Tissue Injury (DTI). To study the skeletal muscle response to physical stress, numerous in vitro and in vivo models exist. Yet, accuracy, variability, and ethical considerations pose significant trade-offs. Here, we present an ex vivo approach to address these limitations and offer additional quantitative information on cellular damage. In this study, skeletal muscle tissue from Sprague Dawley rats was isolated and transversely loaded. Histological analysis and fluorescence staining demonstrated that the setup was suitable to keep the tissue alive throughout the experimental procedure. Mechanically induced cell damage was readily distinguishable through morphological changes and uptake of a membrane impermeable dye. Our comparably simple experimental setup can be adapted to different loading conditions and tissues to assess the cell response to mechanical loading in future studies.
Precise molecular engineering for the preparation of pyridinium photosensitizers with efficient ROS generation and photothermal conversion
Authors: Yin Weidong , Li Jianqing , Ma Yucheng , Li Weiqiang , Huo Yanping , Zhao Zujin , Ji Shaomin
Published: March 2024

Precise molecular design enables wavelength regulation, ROS enhancement, and photothermal conversion.
Synthesis, structure and reactivity of iminoborane radicals
Authors: Wang Hanqiang
Published: March 2024

Iminoborane radical species could be achieved by the reduction of Lewis base-stabilized o-chloroiminoborane. It acts as a boron radical to give Lewis base-stabilized oxyl-terminated iminoboranes.
A bromide substituted 2D additive for stable and efficient perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Abbas Muhammad Sohail , Hussain Sabir , Zhang Jianqi , Wang Boxin , Wang Zhen , Yang Chen , Ahmad Rashid
Published: March 2024

In this article, a bromide substituted 2D layered perovskite having a repeated vertical orientation and coexisting with the bulk of a 3D perovskite is reported for the first time with a maximum PCE of 17.4%.
Fabrication of a symbiotic polyvinyl alcohol-functionalized NiO/rGO nanoadsorbent for control of bisphenol-a removal
Authors: Buledi Jamil A. , Solangi Amber R. , Ali Hyder , Ali Akbar , Mallah Arfana , Amin Sidra , Memon Ayaz Ali , Thebo Khalid Hussain , Yang Jun , Kazi Mohsin
Published: March 2024

PVA-NiO/rGO nanoadsorbent was prepared. The as-prepared nanoadsorbent exhibited 98.6% removal efficiency of bisphenol-A (BPA) in aqueous media under optimized conditions, such as pH 9, an adsorbent dose of 2.5 mg, and an 80 mg L−1 BPA concentration.
Palladium/XuPhos-catalyzed enantioselective cascade Heck/intermolecular C(sp2)–H alkylation reaction
Authors: Fang Chao , Wang Quan-Pu , Xu Bing , Zhang Zhan-Ming , Zhang Junliang
Published: March 2024

An asymmetric domino Heck/intermolecular C–H alkylation of unactivated alkenes with diverse polyfluoro- and heteroarenes in a highly chemo- and enantioselective manner was demonstrated, with the use of a Pd/XuPhos catalyst.
Reversible nonvolatile control of the anomalous valley Hall effect in two-dimensional multiferroic materials based on GdGe2
Authors: Li Xuhong , Li Jiawei , Gao Zhihao , Niu Ziyu , Bi Xinyue , Gao Jinwei , Cao Tengfei , Fan Xiaoli
Published: March 2024

The reversible nonvolatile control of anomalous valley Hall effect in the GdGe2/In2Se3 heterostructure and polar stacked GdGe2 bilayers.
Design and analysis of quasi‐lumped notch filter with extended upper pass band
Authors: Mohit  , Jhariya Satish , Singh Shailendra , Rai Raghvendra Kumar
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a hybrid technique‐based compact narrow band stop filter design for broadband applications. It provides the rejection of 60 dB at the centre frequency of 2.25 GHz without any stop band harmonics over the required frequency band of operation, i.e. 1–10 GHz. This filter is highly appropriated for the rejection of undesired bands for RADAR, electronic warfare, and military communications.
A comprehensive packaging solution from DC to 113 GHz for InGaAs amplifiers
Authors: Valenziano Luca , Hebeler Joachim , Sherifaj Alban , Thome Fabian , Koos Christian , Zwick Thomas , Bhutani Akanksha
Published: March 2024

This letter presents the design, fabrication and measurement of a 72 kHz to 113 GHz ultra‐broadband amplifier that includes a direct current (DC)‐blocking functionality. This amplifier module stands out with a high average gain of 12.5 dB in the frequency range from almost DC to 110 GHz. This work not only combines electrical interconnections but also mechanical design considerations, thermal requirements and practical application specific aspects. To ensure a low thermal resistance, the InGaAs amplifier IC is directly mounted on an aluminium submount, applying an advanced gluing concept, and interconnected to an input and output 50 grounded coplanar waveguide by wire bonds with a length of only 135 . To enable convenient usage of the package, 1 mm connectors are utilized. This amplifier module exhibits excellent thermal behaviour and group delay characteristics, making it an ideal choice for use in optical data transmission experiments.
A 53–125 GHz chip to double‐ridge rectangular waveguide transition
Authors: Pittermann Martin , Zwick Thomas , Bhutani Akanksha
Published: March 2024

A novel chip to double‐ridge rectangular waveguide transition, with an ultra‐broadband operation bandwidth exceeding three standard rectangular waveguide (WR) bands of WR15, WR12, and WR10 is demonstrated for the first time in this letter, to the best of authors' knowledge. This bandwidth is achieved by coupling the microstrip mode directly to the fundamental TE mode of the waveguide. A unique feature of this transition is that the transition design can be implemented on substrates with a high dielectric constant, which makes it suitable for integration with monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). A back‐to‐back transition is realized using a split‐block assembly and 254  thickness alumina substrate ( at 80 GHz). The latter acts as an MMIC substrate substitute, including a tapered microstrip and a 50  coplanar waveguide pad for probe‐based measurement. Two novel mechanical assembly concepts, involving die‐attach‐foil and indium solder, are used to build two split‐block prototypes. The simulated and measured S‐parameters of the transition are demonstrated from 35 to 125 GHz.
Simplified decoupling simulation study of non‐contact voltage measurement in distribution station area
Authors: Liu Lina , Wang Tao , Shen Jie , Li Ruichao , Li Fangshuo , Qu Ming , Li Xiaojun
Published: March 2024

The coupling capacitance between the line and the transducer cannot be ignored when making non‐contact voltage measurements on low‐voltage three‐phase power lines. This leads to an increase in the number of unknown capacitances, and the number of correlatable response voltage equations is less than the number of unknown coupling capacitances. In this paper, a simplified decoupling method is proposed based on the characteristics of triangular three‐phase lines erected in distribution areas. Firstly, the equivalent circuit measured by the voltage sensing mechanism during three‐phase operation is established, and the three‐phase line response voltage equation is derived. Secondly, this paper proposes a three‐phase line response voltage decoupling algorithm after designing the decoupling matrix. Then, this paper uses the least squares method to solve the coefficients in the equations. Finally, the three‐phase voltage fluctuations of the actual low‐voltage stations are simulated by simulation. The measured sensor voltage values are substituted into the algorithm to invert and calculate the three‐phase line voltage. The three‐phase phase error is less than 2°. The amplitude error is less than 1.77%. The experiment verifies the stability and accuracy of the proposed decoupling method.
Fuel‐efficient and safe distributed hierarchical control for connected hybrid electric vehicles platooning
Authors: Guo Jinghua , Wang Jingyao , Wang Ban
Published: March 2024

In order to enhance the performance of safety and fuel economy of connected hybrid electric vehicles (CHEVs), a novel distributed hierarchical platoon control scheme of CHEVs is proposed. First, the non‐linear dynamic model of CHEVs platooning is established to accurately depict the multi‐process coupling characteristics of CHEVs. Then, a distributed hierarchical control framework for CHEVs platooning is proposed, which is consisted of a upper model predictive control (MPC) law and a lower energy management control law. The upper MPC control law is built to produce the desired accelerations of every vehicle in the platoon and the lower fuzzy‐based energy management control law is constructed to ensure the engine maintain at the rang of optimum working point and the motor work with the high efficiency of CHEVs platooning. Finally, the results manifest that the effectiveness of proposed platoon control scheme for CHEVs.
SN 2020pvb: A Type IIn-P supernova with a precursor outburst
Authors: Elias-Rosa N. , Brennan S. J. , Benetti S. , Cappellaro E. , Pastorello A. , Kozyreva A. , Lundqvist P. , Fraser M. , Anderson J. P. , Cai Y.-Z. , Chen T.-W. , Dennefeld M. , Gromadzki M. , Gutiérrez C. P. , Ihanec N. , Inserra C. , Kankare E. , Kotak R. , Mattila S. , Moran S. , Müller-Bravo T. E. , Pessi P. J. , Pignata G. , Reguitti A. , Reynolds T. M. , Smartt S. J. , Smith K. , Tartaglia L. , Valerin G. , de Boer T. , Chambers K. , Gal-Yam A. , Gao H. , Geier S. , Mazzali P. A. , Nicholl M. , Ragosta F. , Rest A. , Yaron O. , Young D. R.
Published: March 2024

We present photometric and spectroscopic datasets for SN 2020pvb, a Type IIn-P supernova (SN) that is similar to SNe 1994W, 2005cl, 2009kn, and 2011ht, with a precursor outburst detected (PS1wband ∼–13.8 mag) around four months before theB-band maximum light. SN 2020pvb presents a relatively bright light curve that peaked atMB = −17.95 ± 0.30 mag and a plateau that lasted at least 40 days before going into solar conjunction. After this, the object was no longer visible at phases > 150 days above –12.5 mag in theBband, suggesting that the SN 2020pvb ejecta interact with a dense, spatially confined circumstellar envelope. SN 2020pvb shows strong Balmer lines and a forest of Fe IIlines with narrow P Cygni profiles in its spectra. Using archival images from theHubbleSpace Telescope, we constrained the progenitor of SN 2020pvb to have a luminosity of log(L/L⊙)≲5.4, ruling out any single star progenitor over 50M⊙. SN 2020pvb is a Type IIn-P whose progenitor star had an outburst ∼0.5 yr before the final explosion; the material lost during this outburst probably plays a role in shaping the physical properties of the SN.
Transition to a weaker Sun: Changes in the solar atmosphere during the decay of the Modern Maximum
Authors: Mursula K. , Pevtsov A. A. , Asikainen T. , Tähtinen I. , Yeates A. R.
Published: March 2024

Context.The Sun experienced a period of unprecedented activity during the 20th century, now called the Modern Maximum (MM). The decay of the MM after its maximum in cycle 19 has changed the Sun, the heliosphere, and the planetary environments in many ways. However, studies disagree on whether this decay has proceeded synchronously in different solar parameters or not.

Aims.One of the related key issues is if the relation between two long parameters of solar activity, the sunspot number and the solar 10.7 cm radio flux, has remained the same during this decay. A recent study argues that there is an inhomogeneity in the 10.7 cm radio flux in 1980, which leads to a step-like jump (“1980 jump”) in this relation. If true, this result would reduce the versatility of possible long-term studies of the Sun during the MM. Here we aim to show that the relation between sunspot number and 10.7 cm radio flux does indeed vary in time, not due to an inhomogeneous radio flux but due to physical changes in the solar atmosphere.

Methods.We used radio flux measurements made in Japan at four different wavelengths, and studied their long-term relation with the sunspot number and the 10.7 cm radio flux during the decay of MM. We also used two other solar parameters, the MgII index and the number of solar active regions, in order to study the nature of the observed long-term changes in more detail.

Results.We find that the 1980 jump is only the first of a series of 1–2-year “humps” that mainly occur during solar maxima. All five radio fluxes depict an increasing trend with respect to the sunspot number from the 1970s to 2010s. These results exclude the interpretation of the 1980 jump as an inhomogeneity in the 10.7 cm flux, and reestablish the 10.7 cm flux as a homogeneous measure of solar activity. The fluxes of the longer radio waves are found to increase with respect to the shorter waves, which suggests a long-term change in the solar radio spectrum. We also find that the MgII index of solar UV irradiance and the number of active regions also increased with respect to the sunspot number, further verifying the difference in the long-term evolution in chromospheric and photospheric parameters.

Conclusions.Our results provide evidence for important structural changes in solar magnetic fields and the solar atmosphere during the decay of the MM, which have not been reliably documented so far. We also emphasize that the changing relation between the different (e.g., photospheric and chromospheric) solar parameters should be taken into account when using the sunspot number or any single parameter in long-term studies of solar activity.
Risk-taking in banks: does skin-in-the-game really matter?
Authors: Moreira Fernando
Published: March 2024

The belief that bank capital helps improve stability takes for granted the idea that increases in capital are an incentive to reduce risk-taking because bank owners would have more to lose (skin-in-the-game) if their banks fail. Nevertheless, given the higher cost of capital as compared to debt, it is also possible that increases in capital would lead to higher risk-taking due to the need for banks to boost their returns. In light of these contradictory possibilities, we exploit exogenous variations of capital to empirically investigate the actual effects of capital on risk-taking. Our analyses based on a sample of nearly 1900 US Banking Holding Companies in the 1990–2020 period indicate that increasing capital actually leads to higher risk-taking, which contradicts the skin-in-the-game hypothesis. We show evidence that this relationship could be explained by the consequent increase in funding costs that creates pressure for better returns, which is normally achieved by means of taking higher risk. Our main findings are robust to a number of alternative model and sample specifications.
Pogorelov estimates for semi-convex solutions of 𝑘-curvature equations
Authors: Chen Xiaojuan , Tu Qiang , Xiang Ni
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we consider

k
k

-curvature equations

σ
k

(
κ
[

M
u

]
)
=
f
(
x
,
u
,
∇
u
)

\sigma _k(\kappa [M_u])=f(x,u,\nabla u)

subject to

(
k
+
1
)

(k+1)

-convex Dirichlet boundary data instead of affine Dirichlet data of Sheng, Urbas, and Wang [Duke Math. J. 123 (2004), pp. 235–264]. By using the crucial concavity inequality for Hessian operator of Lu [Calc. Var. Partial Differential Equations 62 (2023), p.23], we derive Pogorelov estimates of semi-convex admissible solutions for these

k
k

-curvature equations.
The compact exceptional Lie algebra 𝔤^{𝔠}₂ as a twisted ring group
Authors: Draper Cristina
Published: March 2024

A new highly symmetrical model of the compact Lie algebra

g

2
c

\mathfrak {g}^c_2

is provided as a twisted ring group for the group

Z

2
3

\mathbb {Z}_2^3

and the ring

R

⊕

R

\mathbb {R}\oplus \mathbb {R}

. The model is self-contained and can be used without previous knowledge on roots, derivations on octonions or cross products. In particular, it provides an orthogonal basis with integer structure constants, consisting entirely of semisimple elements, which is a generalization of the Pauli matrices in

s
u

(
2
)

\mathfrak {su}(2)

and of the Gell-Mann matrices in

s
u

(
3
)

\mathfrak {su}(3)

. As a bonus, the split Lie algebra

g

2

\mathfrak {g}_2

is also seen as a twisted ring group.
Roe functors preserve homotopies
Authors: Makeev Georgii
Published: March 2024

We show that coarse maps between countable metric spaces of bounded geometry induce natural transformations of sufficiently good endofunctors of

C

∗

C^{*}

-algebras and prove that this correspondence is invariant with respect to coarse homotopies.
On abelian cubic fields with large class number
Authors: Dousselin Jérémy
Published: March 2024

We investigate the large values of class numbers of cubic fields, showing that one can find arbitrary long sequences of “close” abelian cubic number fields with class numbers as large as possible. We also give a first step toward an explicit lower bound for such extreme values of class numbers of abelian cubic fields.
On the stability and shadowing of tree-shifts of finite type
Authors: Bucki Dawid
Published: March 2024

We investigate relations between the pseudo-orbit-tracing property, topological stability and openness for tree-shifts. We prove that a tree-shift is of finite type if and only if it has the pseudo-orbit-tracing property which implies that the tree-shift is topologically stable and all shift maps are open. We also present an example of a tree-shift for which all shift maps are open but which is not of finite type. It also turns out that if a topologically stable tree-shift does not have isolated points then it is of finite type.
On higher regularity of Stokes systems with piecewise Hölder continuous coefficients
Authors: Dong Hongjie , Li Haigang , Xu Longjuan
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we consider higher regularity of a weak solution

(

u

,
p
)

(\mathbf {u},p)

to stationary Stokes systems with variable coefficients. Under the assumptions that coefficients and data are piecewise

C

s
,
δ

C^{s,\delta }

in a bounded domain consisting of a finite number of subdomains with interfacial boundaries in

C

s
+
1
,
μ

C^{s+1,\mu }

, where

s
s

is a positive integer,

δ
∈
(
0
,
1
)

\delta \in (0,1)

, and

μ
∈
(
0
,
1
]

\mu \in (0,1]

, we show that

D

u

D\mathbf {u}

and

p
p

are piecewise

C

s
,

δ

μ

C^{s,\delta _{\mu }}

, where

δ

μ

=
min

{

1
2

,
μ
,
δ

}

\delta _{\mu }=\min \big \{\frac {1}{2},\mu ,\delta \big \}

. Our result is new even in the 2D case with piecewise constant coefficients.
Hostile attributional biases in severe alcohol use disorder: replication, gender specificity, and mechanistic insights
Authors: Pabst Arthur , Gautier Mado , Maurage Pierre
Published: March 2024

Aims

Despite their importance in the emergence and persistence of severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD), social cognition impairments remain understudied in this population. Hostile attributional biases (HAB), a key component of social cognition, may be involved in interpersonal problems and SAUD maintenance. However, current evidence for HAB in SAUD is highly preliminary, as it relies on a single study based on a small sample and on a task that cannot dissociate increased hostile from reduced benign attributions. We therefore used an improved methodology to further characterize this bias and disentangle underlying mechanisms. In addition, we explored potential gender differences.

Method

A total of 56 patients (28 women) diagnosed with SAUD and 66 (27 women) demographically matched controls completed the Word-Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility, which provides a valid, spontaneous, and relatively implicit assessment of both hostile and benign social attributions related to ambiguous situations. They also completed self-report measures of psychopathology and interpersonal problems.

Results

At the group-level, patients with SAUD presented higher HAB than controls, without group differences for benign attributions. Gender analyses revealed that this effect selectively emerged in men with SAUD. Further, patients’ benign attributions did not differ from their hostile attributions. Finally, HAB (not benign attributions) were associated with interpersonal problems and state anxiety in patients.

Conclusions

The association between SAUD and HAB at the group level is genuine and replicable across samples and tasks. This association may further selectively emerge in men. Our results also confirm the functional significance of HAB in SAUD, and point to potential mechanisms and clinical recommendations.
Mendelian randomization analysis using multiple biomarkers of an underlying common exposure
Authors: Jin Jin , Qi Guanghao , Yu Zhi , Chatterjee Nilanjan
Published: March 2024

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is increasingly popular for testing the causal effect of exposures on disease outcomes using data from genome-wide association studies. In some settings, the underlying exposure, such as systematic inflammation, may not be directly observable, but measurements can be available on multiple biomarkers or other types of traits that are co-regulated by the exposure. We propose a method for MR analysis on latent exposures (MRLE), which tests the significance for, and the direction of, the effect of a latent exposure by leveraging information from multiple related traits. The method is developed by constructing a set of estimating functions based on the second-order moments of GWAS summary association statistics for the observable traits, under a structural equation model where genetic variants are assumed to have indirect effects through the latent exposure and potentially direct effects on the traits. Simulation studies show that MRLE has well-controlled type I error rates and enhanced power compared to single-trait MR tests under various types of pleiotropy. Applications of MRLE using genetic association statistics across five inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and MCP-1) provide evidence for potential causal effects of inflammation on increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, colorectal cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, while standard MR analysis for individual biomarkers fails to detect consistent evidence for such effects.
Measuring and improving quality in esophageal care and swallowing disorders
Authors: Reddy Alexander T , Lee Joshua P , Leiman David A
Published: March 2024

Evaluating clinical care through quality-related metrics is increasingly common. There are now numerous quality statements and indicators related to the medical management of benign and pre-malignant esophageal diseases. Expert consensus leveraging evidence-based recommendations from published society guidelines has been the most frequently used basis for developing esophageal quality statements. While surgical care of patients with esophageal malignancies, including squamous cell carcinoma, has also been developed, those related to benign esophageal disease now include domains of diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring for gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), achalasia, and Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Several recent studies evaluating adherence to quality metrics affirm substantial variation in practice patterns with opportunities for improvement in care across esophageal diseases. In particular, patient education regarding treatment options in achalasia, frequency of esophageal biopsies among patients with dysphagia to evaluate for EoE, and endoscopic evaluation within a BE segment are areas identified to have need for improvement. As the management of esophageal diseases becomes more complex and interdisciplinary, adherence to quality metrics may be a source of standardization and improvement in delivery and ultimately patient outcomes. Indeed, the development of national quality databases has resulted in a significant growth in the use of these metrics for quality improvement activities and may form the basis for future inclusion in quality reporting and payment programs.
The ESTS-AIR database—initial results of a multi-institutional database on airway surgery
Authors: Schweiger Thomas , Evermann Matthias , Rendina Erino , Maurizi Giulio , Venuta Federico , Aigner Clemens , Slama Alexis , Collaud Stephane , Verhagen Ad , Timman Simone , Bibas Benoit , Cardoso Paulo , Passani Stefano , Salati Michele , Opitz Isabelle , Szanto Zalan , Hoetzenecker Konrad
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES

Compared to lung resections, airway procedures are relatively rare in thoracic surgery. Despite this, a growing number of dedicated airway centres have formed throughout Europe. These centres are characterized by a close interdisciplinary collaboration and they often act as supra-regional referring centres. To date, most evidence of airway surgery comes from retrospective, single-centre analysis as there is a lack of large-scale, multi-institutional databases.

METHODS

In 2018, an initiative was formed, which aimed to create an airway database within the framework of the ESTS database (ESTS-AIR). Five dedicated airway centres were asked to test the database in a pilot phase. A 1st descriptive analysis of ESTS-AIR was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 415 cases were included in the analysis. For adults, the most common indication for airway surgery was post-tracheostomy stenosis and idiopathic subglottic stenosis; in children, most resections/reconstructions had to be performed for post-intubation stenosis. Malignant indications required significantly longer resections [36.0 (21.4–50.6) mm] when compared to benign indications [26.6 (9.4–43.8) mm]. Length of hospital stay was 11.0 (4.1–17.3) days (adults) and 13.4 (7.6–19.6) days (children). Overall, the rates of complications were low with wound infections being reported as the most common morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

This evaluation of the 1st cases in the ESTS-AIR database allowed a large-scale analysis of the practice of airway surgery in dedicated European airway centres. It provides proof for the functionality of ESTS-AIR and sets the basis for rolling out the AIR subsection to all centres participating in the ESTS database.
‘A troupe of mercenary writers’: the publicists in Chancellor Maupeou’s service, 1771–1774
Authors: Cossarutto Vincent
Published: March 2024

Louis XV’s government led an ambitious communications campaign in 1771 to justify his power grab against the parlements. Chancellor Maupeou enlisted a propaganda office that notably included his personal secretary, Charles-François Lebrun, and François Marin, the secrétaire général of the Librairie. The minister also relied on the commitment of a group of writers. François-Marie Arouet Voltaire was the most famous of these writers, but other, less well-known authors also played a crucial part. This was notably the case with the Abbé Raymond Mary, a humble canon linked to the comtesse du Barry’s circle, who was arguably one of the most important actors in Versailles’ persuasion strategy. This article sketches a portrait of the publicists who put pen to paper in the monarchy’s service during the Maupeou revolution.
Legacies of Colonial Violence in Contemporary Transitional Justice: Memories of Mau Mau, the ‘Kapenguria Six’ and the ‘Ocampo Six’ in Kenya
Authors: Sehmi Anushka
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT∞

This article assesses the enduring impact of colonial violence in responses to modern conflict by transitional justice mechanisms. It presents an example of how societies continue to be structured by racial and colonial injustice and how this influences contemporary transitional justice. This is done through an analysis of the popular memory of the Mau Mau insurgency from 1952 to 1960 in Kenya, the trial of the six Kenyan nationalists known as the ‘Kapenguria Six’ by the British colonial administration and the trials of six Kenyans alleged to be most responsible for orchestrating the 2007–2008 post-election violence in Kenya, known as the ‘Ocampo Six’ before the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the Kenyan context, the influence of memories of colonial violence enabled the promotion of political agendas and arguably coloured public debate surrounding the two Kenya cases before the ICC. Transitional justice mechanisms such as the ICC do not operate in an ahistorical vacuum and international criminal trials as a form of transitional justice may be contested where there is no genuine accountability, redress or reparations for victims of colonial crimes. However, the juxtaposition of colonial crimes and the ICC prosecutions in Kenya also raises important questions relating to accountability for historical crimes in former colonies, the temporal limitations of transitional justice mechanisms and their unequal application.