bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing cavity evolution and motion characteristics of asynchronous parallel oblique water-entry super-cavitating projectile
Authors: GAO Cisong , LU Lin , QI Xiaobin , YAN Xuepu , WANG Chen , HU Yanxiao , ZHANG Dongxiao
Published: March 2024

Based on the volume of fluid multiphase flow model and the overset mesh technique, a numerical method for an asynchronous parallel oblique water-entry super-cavitating projectile was established. Experimental studies of the oblique water-entry of a high-speed single-launch projectile were carried out to validate the viability of the numerical method. The paper performed the numerical simulations and analyses of cavity evolution and motion characteristics of the front and rear projectiles in different initial intervals and in two sequences of top-side water-entry projectile first and bottom-side water-entry projectile first. The results show that when the initial interval of the first launch projectile is 0.5 time the projectile length, the first launch projectile cannot produce a cavity to completely encapsulate the projectile due to the violent squeezing of the following launch projectile cavity, and its movement is seriously affected and eventually loses its trajectory stability. At the same time, the first launch projectile that enters water from top side is squeezed to a larger degree than the one from bottom side, and the wetting phenomenon occurs earlier and loses stability faster. As the initial interval increases, the influence of the following launch projectile cavity near the first launch projectile is weakened, and the first launch projectile in both water entry sequences move steadily. For the following launch projectile, due to the continuous influence of the first launch projectile cavity, its cavity is always asymmetrical, and its motion stability is affected. The following launch projectile deflects to the inner side and destabilizes when the initial interval is 0.5 times the projectile length. When the initial interval is 1 time the projectile length, it moves steadily. It deflects to the outer side and destabilizes when the initial interval is 2 and 3 times the projectile length. In addition, the motion characteristics of the following launch projectile are basically identical in two water-entry sequences.
Aircraft cabin lighting design method based on DIALux
Authors: FU Jinchi , CHEN Dengkai , ZHANG Xian , XIE Ning
Published: March 2024

Lighting in aircraft cabin is an important part of the aircraft interior lighting system. A reasonable cabin lighting design can improve the quality of flight services and enhance passenger satisfaction and comfort. In this paper, an aircraft cabin lighting design method is proposed based on the DIALux calculation and simulation software. Based on a quantitative evaluation, calibration and analysis of average illuminance, glare and uniformity of illuminance from the perspectives of travel safety, visual comfort and high quality service, the method explores and proposes an innovative approach to the design of aircraft cabin lighting. Finally, based on this method, an optical simulation model is established and visual simulation calculations are carried out to verify the feasibility of the method.
Microscopic morphology modeling and prediction of flexible polished surface with belt flapwheel
Authors: CHEN Zhen , ZHAO Pan , YAN Rui , SHI Nuo , SHI Kaining , SHI Yaoyao
Published: March 2024

Flexible polishing technology is widely used in the precision machining of aero-engine blisk blades. It has become one of the important research contents of flexible polishing technology to systematically study the flexible polishing process and understand the connotation of the microscopic morphology of the polished surface. In this paper, the flapwheel is used as a flexible abrasive tool, and the spatial kinematics model for the abrasive grains on the surface of the flapwheel and the geometric interference model for the abrasive grains and workpiece are established by transforming the spatial geometric coordinates. Based on the surface topography model for the abrasive tool, MATLAB software was used to simulate the micro topography generation process of the flexible polishing surface with flapwheel as abrasive tool, and the three-dimensional topography of the workpiece surface and its influence law under different process parameters were obtained. The polishing experimental results verified the simulation algorithm correctness and effectiveness.
Friction compensation control of pneumatic position servo system based on the adjustable stiffness
Authors: WEI Qiong , LU Hao , WU Zilong , BAI Linyong , ZHANG Daode , LI Yi
Published: March 2024

Due to the characteristics of low stiffness, low air source pressure, and easy fluid saturation of the pneumatic servo system, the energy dissipation of the system during the working process is large, the system is easily affected by friction, and the compensation effect is not obvious. Especially, the "Flat roof phenomenon" will become stronger when changing the speed direction. It seriously affects the tracking accuracy of the pneumatic servo system. In this paper, the independent metering valve control structure is proposed to eliminate the energy dissipation caused by the coupling of two chambers, so that the air fluid characteristics are within the linear range as far as possible. The nonlinear adaptive robust control method is designed for the uncertainty of some parameters in the friction, external disturbances, and dynamic loads in the pneumatic system. At the same time, the stiffness adjustment and adaptive robust control of the system are coordinated to improve the dynamic performance of the pneumatic position servo system. The simulation and experimental results show that the adaptive robust controller with stiffness adjustment can effectively reduce the energy dissipation of the system, improve the position tracking accuracy of the system, and weaken the "Flat roof phenomenon" caused by friction.
Cross-lingual entity alignment method based on attribute weight updating network
Authors: SU Zhehan , XU Tao , DAI Yugang , LIU Yujia
Published: March 2024

Due to the large number of attributes and the low repetition rate in a cross-lingual knowledge graph, it is difficult for an alignment task to embed attribute information efficiently. To solve the problem, an entity alignment model based on attribute weight updating network was proposed. Firstly, in order to embed attribute information efficiently, attribute embedding is approximately constructed with entity embedding through a constructor, thus avoiding their separate training. Secondly, based on the fact that different attributes make different contributions to entity alignment, an attribute weight updating module based on graph attention network was proposed to update the weight of each attribute through using attention scores in the process of training. Finally, attribute embedding and attribute weight information were aggregated into entity embedding with an attribute aggregation module to strengthen the representation of entity embedding and improve the entity alignment performance. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves 0.751, 0.805 and 0.915 scores respectively from the Hits@1 score in three cross-lingual datasets. Its alignment performance is better than that of the current mainstream entity alignment method.
Residence-times distribution function of a periodically modulated bistable system subject to noise recycling
Authors: WU Yazhen , SUN Zhongkui
Published: March 2024

The research mentioned in the statement focuses on investigating a theoretical method for calculating the residence-times distribution function (RTDF) in a periodically driven, bistable system subject to noise recycling. This situation deviates from a Markovian process due to the recycling lag, making it challenging to determine the RTDF using traditional two-state models. In this paper, the aim is to overcome this issue and provide a systematic analysis of how to calculate the RTDF in such a system. By considering the piecewise escape rate of the system, which relies not only on the current state but also on the previous state, we have successfully derived the recursive expression of RTDF. Then, RTDF for large and small A/D is approximately derived using a piecewise analysis formula, respectively. It is further demonstrated both theoretically and numerically that the RTDF has exhibited a feedback-induced structure as a result of the recycling procedure. The results are shown as follows: for large A/D, the RTDF exhibits a series of sharp peaks located at odd multiples of approximately half the period of the driving signal. This indicates the occurrence of stochastic resonance. Additionally, it is interesting to note that the RTDF displays a sharp dip at t=τ. It is further shown that the process of noise recycling increases the probability of short residence times for t < τ and decreases the probability of long residence times for t>τ. This demonstrates that noise recycling plays a crucial role in facilitating particle hops between the double-well potential. For small A/D, the RTDF displays a phenomenon of piecewise exponential decay and declines sharply at t=τ. Notably, the interval between discontinuities becomes smaller or even disappears with increasing the noise intensity or the relative strength. Furthermore, when driven by an appropriate periodic signal, the RTDF exhibits a sequence of maximum values at odd multiples of approximately half the period of the driving signal. However, these maximum values disappear with increasing the noise intensity or the relative strength. This suggests that moderate noise recycling can induce the occurrence of stochastic resonance. However, excessive noise recycling actually inhibits the generation of stochastic resonance. The theoretical results have been successfully validated via numerical methods, demonstrating the reasonability of the present theoretical approach.
Subjective health status, health behaviours, and high-risk behaviours as factors associated with adolescent mental health
Authors: Bezborodovs Ņikita , Villeruša Anita
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to examine the associations between socio-demographic factors, health complaints, health behaviours, high-risk behaviours and mental health difficulties in a representative sample of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents in Latvia. The study used data from the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study year 2017/2018 Latvian database. Statistical modelling was performed to explore the odds of mental health difficulties measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample consisted of 4412 students. Overall, 155 (8.0%) boys and 209 (10,3%) girls had an “abnormal” level of mental health difficulties. In a binomial logistic regression model, the gender and socioeconomic status-adjusted odds ratios of scoring “abnormal” on the SDQ were higher for adolescents with poor subjective health, low quality of life, inadequate body image, those having multiple health complaints, less than 7 hours of sleep on weekdays, low level of physical activity, smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes, drinking alcohol or having a problematic level of social media use. We conclude that female gender, low socioeconomic status, poor subjective health indicators, poor health behaviours and high-risk behaviours are significant factors associated with adolescent psychopathology and should be considered important targets for public health and preventive interventions.
Intergenerational solidarity in family: Influence of the education level on frequency of contacts
Authors: Kuļigina Nadežda , Dobelniece Signe , Ivanovs Andrejs
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study was to research the influence of the adult child’s and parent’s education level on the frequency of contacts between the adult child and parent, since the frequency of contacts is recognised by the intergenerational solidarity model as one of the factors strengthening the intergenerational solidarity in the family. Influence of the adult child’s and parent’s education level on time spent on the way to the parent’s home, and time spent on the way as a factor promoting frequency of contacts or preventing contacts was studied as well. Participants of the study were 332 adult children aged 18-62, residing in Latvia, and having at least one living parent. Results of the study showed that education of an adult child and a parent affected the frequency of meetings in person, frequency of contacts by phone, and the use of the information technologies. Time spent on the way to the parent’s home affected the frequency of meetings in person and of the frequency of contacts by phone.
Reflecting on biography as a factor in teachers’ self-development towards a welfare state
Authors: Zemaitaityte Irena , Pauriene Giedre
Published: March 2024

It is now widely recognised that the creation of a welfare state requires a sustained focus on one of the key drivers of educational change, schooling and, by extension, societal improvement: educators, who are expected to produce young people capable of participating actively and productively in change. The purpose of this work is to reveal the teacher’s attitude by reflecting on their biographies and the lived vocation to become a teacher, developing competences and participating in the process of educational change and creating a welfare state. The study used a biographical research. Qualitative research was conducted using narrative interviews. Fourteen participants took part in the study. The research instrument chosen was the biographical narrative interview. The research revealed that the choice of the teaching profession and the perception of vocation are triggered by biographical circumstances. The pedagogical potency and childhood interests in certain activities, as well as the awareness of one’s own needs, become the basis for the further development of abilities and skills. When an individual chooses a profession because of a vocation, it is as if there is a need for constant self-reflection on the part of the educator, which leads to the need for continuous development. By improving themselves, the educators also actively contribute to the change of the education system. Therefore, by educating the younger generation and constantly reflecting on their own experiences, educators actively contribute to social justice, changes in the country’s well-being, and thus to the creation of a welfare state.
Social work perspective in integrated care for elderly people with chronic diseases
Authors: Petrauskiene Alina
Published: March 2024

In Lithuania, integrating healthcare and social services is a possible solution for the care of the growing number of older people with chronic diseases. When implementing integrated care in Lithuania, the aim is to include social work professionals who have already accumulated experience in organizing and coordinating the provision of social services to the elderly. The article aims to reveal the perspective of social work in integrated care by highlighting social workers’ roles. The literature review focused on two tasks: identifying the prospective roles that social workers implement in integrated care and observing the challenges of implementing integrated care. Results: The practice perspective of social workers in providing integrated care services relates to the realization of the roles of mediation, representation, advocacy, case management, and crisis prevention. Fulfilling professional roles can be difficult due to bureaucracy, organizational issues, and lack of integrated service funding solutions, as well as insufficient inter-professional teamwork and collaboration.
Analysis of dietary behaviour in physically active persons’ cohort
Authors: Plavina Liana , Umbraško Silvija , Asare Lāsma , Lindemanis Gints
Published: March 2024

Physical and psychological load need dietary support of energy by balanced diet. Dietary intake influences physical fitness and training performance outcomes of participants. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the nutrition behaviour from physically active persons and impact of nutrition knowledge on their nutritional behaviour. Respondents were at the age of 22-35 years. Respondents of study group got general knowledge about balanced diet in the nutritional education course. Respondents of the study group fulfilled the standardized questionnaire ‘Diet 3-day menu diary’ and standardized survey ‘Physical activity during the current life period before and after nutritional education course. That allows researchers to evaluate the balance between daily intake for energy recovery and daily physical activity as energy expenditure. The study was carried out according to ethical rules for obtaining and processing data. All obtained data was anonymised. The results of the study could be used to develop appropriate diet planning during the pre-training period before planning physical exercises with high physical and psycho-emotional load to improve exercise performance.
Prevalence of sexting in children and adolescents in Slovakia in the pandemic and post-pandemic period (in the context of demographic characteristics)
Authors: Kohútová Katarína , Almašiová Angela , Izrael Pavel , Holdoš Juraj
Published: March 2024

The aim of the study is to identify the prevalence of sexting among children and adolescents in Slovakia in 2021 and 2022. The study sample consisted of 1423 children and adolescents in 2021, and 1194 children and adolescents in 2022. Sexting was measured with questions focusing on sending and receiving sexts, the scales were taken from the EU Kids online study. The primary results of the analysis include the finding that there was a decrease in sexting in the post-pandemic year (2022) compared to the pandemic year (2021) at both the level of receiving and sending sexts. Compared to foreign countries, Slovak children and adolescents do not differ significantly in receiving sexts, but they do differ in sending sexts, which they do less. We also observed some differences with respect to gender, age, and family type.
Digitalisation in the provision of social services: Rural counties perspective
Authors: Pāvulēns Edvarts , Vilka Lolita
Published: March 2024

Digitisation affects all sectors of the economy, including social work. For social service providers (broadly speaking), it is both an opportunity and a challenge. The extent to which professionals manage the use of the digital space for social services has an impact on the accessibility and quality of services for end-users. Technology and innovative digital solutions create opportunities to tackle territorial inequalities and improve the quality of life of people living in rural areas. The provision of social services and assistance is an autonomous function of each municipality. Digital literacy is a component of human capital that includes skills in information flow, communication, safety, content creation, and problem solving in a digital environment. The article presents the results of a study on the digital literacy of social service providers working in rural areas of Latvia. The aim of the study is to find out the self-assessment of digital literacy, understanding, and attitudes towards digitalisation of social services among social service providers. The research instrument is based on the “Citizens’ Digital Competence Framework” (Digi Comp 2.1). The results of the study provide a basis for discussion not only on routine skills in the use of technical tools, but also on a deeper understanding of digitisation in the context of the emergence of a modern information society.
Maternal Uniparental Isodisomy of Chromosome 2 Leading to Homozygous Variants in SPR and ZNF142: A Case Report and Review of the UPD2 Literature
Authors: Kelkar Janhawi , DiMaio Miriam , Ma Deqiong , Zhang Hui
Published: March 2024

We report a 4-year-old girl with neurodevelopmental abnormalities who has maternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 2 leading to homozygosity for a likely pathogenic variant in SPR, and a variant of uncertain significance in ZNF142. Biallelic pathogenic variants in SPR lead to sepiapterin reductase deficiency (SRD), a dopa-responsive dystonia. Pathogenic variants in ZNF142 are associated with an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired speech and hyperkinetic movements, which has significant clinical overlap with SRD. Our patient showed dramatic improvement in motor skills after treatment with levodopa. We also reviewed 67 published reports of uniparental disomy of chromosome 2 (UPD2) associated with various clinical outcomes. These include autosomal recessive disorders associated with loci on chromosome 2, infants with UPD2 whose gestations were associated with confined placental mosaicism for trisomy 2 leading to intrauterine growth restriction with good postnatal catchup growth, and normal phenotypes in children and adults with an incidental finding of either maternal or paternal UPD2. These latter reports provide support for the conclusion that genes located on chromosome 2 are not subject to imprinting. We also explore the mechanisms giving rise to UPD2.
Localization of overdamped bosonic modes and transport in strange metals
Authors: Patel Aavishkar A. , Lunts Peter , Sachdev Subir
Published: March 2024

The strange metal phase of correlated electrons materials was described in a recent theory by a model of a Fermi surface coupled a two-dimensional quantum critical bosonic field with a spatially random Yukawa coupling. With the assumption of self-averaging randomness, similar to that in the Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model, numerous observed properties of a strange metal were obtained for a wide range of intermediate temperatures, including the linear in temperature resistivity. The Harris criterion implies that spatial fluctuations in the local position of the critical point must dominate at lower temperatures. For an

M

-component boson with

M
≥
2

, we use multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) to compute the real frequency spectrum of the boson propagator in a self-consistent mean-field treatment of the boson self-interactions, but an exact treatment of multiple realizations of the spatial randomness from the random boson mass. We find that Landau damping from the fermions leads to the emergence of the physics of the random transverse-field Ising model at low temperatures, as has been proposed by Hoyos, Kotabage, and Vojta. This regime is controlled by localized overdamped eigenmodes of the bosonic scalar field, also has a resistivity which is nearly linear-in-temperature, and extends into a “quantum critical phase” away from the quantum critical point, as observed in several cuprates. For the

M
=
1

Ising scalar, the mean-field treatment is not applicable, and so we use Hybrid Monte Carlo simulations running on multiple GPUs; we find a rounded transition and localization physics, with strange metal behavior in an extended region around the transition.
Sharp weighted log-Sobolev inequalities: Characterization of equality cases and applications
Authors: Balogh Zoltán , Don Sebastiano , Kristály Alexandru
Published: March 2024

By using optimal mass transport theory, we provide a direct proof to the sharp

L
p

L^p

-log-Sobolev inequality

(
p
≥
1
)

(p\geq 1)

involving a log-concave homogeneous weight on an open convex cone

E
⊆

R

n

E\subseteq \mathbb R^n

. The perk of this proof is that it allows to characterize the extremal functions realizing the equality cases in the

L
p

L^p

-log-Sobolev inequality. The characterization of the equality cases is new for

p
≥
n

p\geq n

even in the unweighted setting and

E
=

R

n

E=\mathbb R^n

. As an application, we provide a sharp weighted hypercontractivity estimate for the Hopf-Lax semigroup related to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, characterizing also the equality cases.
Algebraic 𝐾-theory of the two-periodic first Morava 𝐾-theory
Authors: Bayındır Haldun Özgür
Published: March 2024

Using the root adjunction formalism developed in an earlier work and logarithmic THH, we obtain a simplified computation of

T
(
2

)
∗

K

(
k
u
)

T(2)_*\mathrm {K}(ku)

for

p
>
3

p>3

. Through this, we also produce a new algebraic

K
K

-theory computation; namely we obtain

T
(
2

)
∗

K

(
k
u

/

p
)

T(2)_*\mathrm {K}(ku/p)

, where

k
u

/

p

ku/p

is the

2
2

-periodic Morava

K
K

-theory spectrum of height

1
1

.
Stress and Disease: A Psychobiological Perspective
Authors: Dantzer Robert
Published: March 2024

The old notion that stress leads to disease via non-specific mechanisms impinging on fragilized target organs must be revised. Based on animal studies, it is proposed that the organism is equipped with a number of encapsulated defense systems that are triggered by specific exteroceptive or interoceptive stimuli leading to defense reactions involving intricate relationships between physiological and behavioral responses. The exteroceptive defense system is aroused by external dangers that threaten the organism's psychological and physical integrity. Its output consists of a set of species-specific reactions which are hierarchically organized depending on the nature and intensity of the stressors and the individual's ability to predict and control them. The interoceptive defense system is activated by ingested poisons. Its output consists of a set of orofacial, gastrointestinal and hormonal responses which enable the organism to get rid of the poisonous food before or after it has been swallowed and to attenuate its effects. The immunoceptive defense system is triggered by non-self antigens. Its output consists of a set of local and systemic responses which aim at overcoming the disease process. Although these different defense systems normally function independently from each other, they can interact because of some commonality in their underlying neural mechanisms and because of competition for a final common behavioral pathway. The study of how information is processed within each system and how different systems can interact with each other gives new insights about the pathophysiology of stress-related diseases.
Daily Assessments of Stress and Coping and Their Association with Mood
Authors: Stone Arthur A. , Neale John M. , Shiftman Saul
Published: March 2024

This article reviews the evidence that measures of daily stress and coping relate to daily mood. Several conceptualizations of daily stress exist, ranging from single-item perceived stress scales to complex-event checklists. Only one daily coping questionnaire is currently available. A strong finding in the studies reviewed is that there is a same-day association between stress, regardless of how it is measured, and mood. However, usually only a subset of subjects with strong stress-mood relationships produce the overall association. While appraisals of particular characteristics of event experience improve the association slightly, simple counts of events do remarkably well. Day-of the-week is shown to have a strong effect on mood, and this pattern may be caused by fluctuations in types of daily events. The evidence is mixed, though more negative than positive, regarding the effects of stressors on next-day mood. Several moderators of the stress-mood relationship have been identified, and this is an area that deserves greater attention. Efforts to cope with daily stressors have also been related to daily mood, and coping methods are differentially associated with positive and negative moods. Going beyond end-ofiday reports, recent relationships between momentary reports of mood and stress are presented.
May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Ecuador
Authors: Peñaherrera Ernesto , Ramírez Maria , Peñaherrera Rubén , Duarte Yan C , Cáceres Silvia , Avila Elisa , Jarrin Estefania , Ullauri Vladimir , Aucancela Hugo , Bayas Miguel , Oña Freddy , Arteaga Fabricio , Ruales Jose , Toopchiani Sima , Schlaich Markus , Poulter Neil R , Beaney Thomas , Liendo Kisbel
Published: March 2024

Arterial hypertension is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10.8 million deaths each year. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of death in Ecuador. Hypertension is the main risk factor for the major cause of death, coronary and cerebrovascular disease. The 2021 May Measurement Month Campaign (MMM21) is a global initiative by the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to provide a temporary solution for opportunistic screening until more systematic approaches can be established. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in May 2021 across 22 health centres in Ecuador. The average age of participants was 44.7 ± 15.8 years. Blood pressure measurement, the deﬁnition of hypertension (mean of the 2nd and 3rd BP measurements ≥ 140/90 mmHg or on medication for high BP), and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. In total, 1326 volunteers participated in MMM21. After multiple imputation of missing BP readings, 423 (31.9%) had hypertension. Of those, 70.5% were receiving antihypertensive medication. Of individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 50.0% had uncontrolled BP. Overall, of 423 participants with hypertension, only 35.2% had their BP controlled (<140/90 mmHg). MMM21 demonstrated a high prevalence of hypertension in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the largest BP screening campaign done in Ecuador thus far. The high percentage of persons untreated or with uncontrolled hypertension while on pharmacologic treatment suggests that appropriate screening can help to identify a signiﬁcant number of people with elevated BP and those inadequately treated. These data should attract the attention of doctors and health care providers in Ecuador.
A genetic cline shapes population structure of the round sardinella along its West African distribution
Authors: Chlaida Malika , Quintela María , Øyro Johanne , Dahle Geir , Sbiba Salaheddine , Lemrabott Sidi Yahya Cheikhna , Taggart John , Nikolioudakis Nikolaos , Jurado-Ruzafa Alba
Published: March 2024

Small pelagic fish play an important role in marine trophic webs and human food security. Among those, Sardinella aurita represents an extremely valuable resource in West Africa, where it is assumed to conform a transboundary stock. During the last decade, quantitative stock assessment has not been possible in NW African waters due to the limitation of the indices used; however, a critical biomass decline has been observed, and the stock is considered overexploited. In order to delineate the population structure of the species in West Africa, twelve microsatellites were developed ad hoc and genotyped on some 1300 individuals collected from Morocco to Angola. The significant differentiation detected between the northernmost samples (Morocco to Guinea) and the southernmost ones (Liberia to Angola) was due to one candidate locus to positive selection. The signal of this locus resided uniquely in the frequency of allele SauMS002_131, which displayed a remarkable latitudinal cline. Allele frequency, starting around 47%–63% in Moroccan-Guinean waters and dropping to 0% off Gabon and southwards, accounts for the North–South declining trend and can be used as a meaningful tool to assist population structure outline for this species in West Africa for management purposes in order to ensure sustainable regionally shared fisheries.
Esophageal Motility Disorders: How Does the Barium Swallow Correlate With Manometry?
Authors: Link Remy , Clocksin Teal , Martinez Samuel , Kaza Archana , Thompson William M.
Published: March 2024

Achalasia is defined as dysfunction of the esophageal wall myenteric plexus, which causes symptoms of dysphagia. While manometry is typically regarded as the gold standard for diagnosing and confirming achalasia, other imaging modalities such as barium swallow and upper endoscopy are often obtained initially. The barium swallow study can be a supportive or confirmatory test, whereas the upper endoscopy is typically used to rule out pseudo-achalasia. Additionally, barium swallow is an imaging modality of choice in resource-limited settings. A standardized approach for categorizing motility disorders is the Chicago Classification. This is a newer classification of achalasia based on high-resolution manometry. However, the role of barium contrast studies does not seem to have been evaluated in the context of the Chicago Classification of the three achalasia subtypes, suggesting an underappreciated role of fluoroscopy in the diagnostic evaluation of achalasia subtypes.
Clinical Outcomes in Traumatic Penetrating Keratoplasty Graft Dehiscence
Authors: Fan Jason , Hudson Julia L. , Shetty Akaanksh , Tonk Rahul , Flynn Harry W.
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to report clinical characteristics and outcomes of surgical repair for patients with traumatic dehiscence of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) grafts.

Methods:

Retrospective, consecutive chart review of patients evaluated at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 2015 and 2020 with traumatic dehiscence of penetrating keratoplasty grafts.

Results:

The study cohort consisted of 65 eyes of 65 patients. The mean age at presentation was 72 years (SD 18), with a male predominance (65%). The most common indications for PKP included keratoconus (42%), corneal scar (31%), and Fuchs corneal dystrophy (8%). Dehiscence occurred as a result of blunt trauma in 94% of cases, and the mean wound length was 6.4 clock hours (SD 2.4), with a predominance of inferior dehiscence. The mean presenting visual acuity (VA) was 2.45 logMAR (SD 0.41), and the mean final VA was 2.17 logMAR (SD 0.99). Graft failure occurred in 64% of patients, and 22% underwent repeat PKP. When stratified by indication for corneal transplantation (keratoconus vs. other), there was no significant difference in graft age at the time of rupture, final VA, rate of graft failure, or rate of repeat PKP.

Conclusions:

Traumatic dehiscence of corneal grafts remains a rare but serious subtype of ocular trauma with generally poor visual prognoses. Presenting VA along with severity of trauma and posterior segment involvement tend to be the worst prognostic factors in final visual outcome.
The Association Between Social Determinants of Health, Risk Factors, Job Performance, and Health Care Costs in an Employed Population
Authors: Burton Wayne N. , Schultz Alyssa B. , Shepherd Martha E. , Hines David
Published: March 2024

Objective

The aim of the study is to compare employees of a US school district based on their social determinants of health (SDoH).Methods:Employees (N= 5006) were categorized into low-, medium-, or high-need SDoH tiers. Of them,n= 2469 also participated in a health risk appraisal in 2019. Subjects’ average health care costs, health risk factors, and self-rated job performance were compared by SDoH tier and race.Results:Significant differences were observed among the SDoH comparison groups regarding age, gender, race, and marital status. SDoH was associated with health care costs, number of health risk factors, and self-rated job performance differently for Black and White employees.Conclusions:SDoH are complex and multifaceted. Black employees in the high-need SDoH group had higher average health care costs, lower self-rated job performance, and more average health risk factors than subjects in the lower need tiers.
Conservative Airway Management Successful in Majority of Infants With Pierre-Robin Sequence at Queensland Children’s Hospital: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Theile Harrison , Phua Yun , Bade Stuart , O’Mahony Susan , Chawla Jasneek , Suresh Sadasivam , Theile Richard
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

Pierre-Robin Sequence (PRS) is a congenital abnormality characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and variable severity upper airway obstruction. Clear management algorithms are lacking, particularly the indications for surgical versus nonsurgical intervention. The authors reviewed the management of these children in Queensland.

Methods:

All children diagnosed with PRS at Queensland Children’s Hospital from April 2014 to October 2019 were identified (n=45), and their charts were retrospectively reviewed. Three management patterns emerged: prone/lateral positioning, nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) use, and surgery (tracheostomy or mandibular distraction).

Results:

Most children (n=30; 67%) were managed successfully nonsurgically with an NPA (median age of insertion 0.25 mo, median duration 5.0 mo). Of these, 12 patients (40%) also required supplemental oxygen. The median age of NPA cessation was 5.5 months, with oxygen therapy ceasing at a median 8.25 months, upon which no further support was required. The remaining majority (n=13; 29%) of children were managed without an NPA, using positioning alone (10/13; 77%) or positioning combined with supplemental oxygen (1/13), CPAP (1/13), or both adjunct measures (1/13). Only 2 patients underwent surgical intervention. Feeding supplementation using nasogastric tube was necessary in 78% of patients for a median duration of 4 months. Cleft palate co-existed in all but one patient.

Conclusion:

Management of upper airway obstruction in PRS children is variable between units. Over a 5-year period, 96% of children with PRS were successfully managed without surgical intervention at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. These findings contrast with some other literature and may suggest that more careful consideration of surgical intervention in PRS patients is prudent.
Adsorption of N, He and Ne on CGe nanoribbons for sensing and optoelectronic applications
Authors: Ngoc Hoang Van
Published: March 2024

Research into nanomaterials yields numerous exceptional applications in contemporary science and technology. The subject of this investigation is a one-dimensional nanostructure, six atoms wide, featuring hydrogen-functionalized edges. The theoretical foundation of this study relies on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and is executed through the utilization of the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). The outcomes demonstrate the stability of adsorption configurations, along with the preservation of a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. The pristine configuration, characterized by a wide bandgap, is well-suited for optoelectronic applications, whereas adsorption configurations find their application in gas sensing. Nitrogen (N) adsorption transforms the semiconducting system into a semimetallic one, with the spin-up state showing semiconductor characteristics and the spin-down state exhibiting metallic attributes. The intricate multi-orbital hybridization is explored through the analysis of partial states. While the pristine system remains non-magnetic, N adsorption introduces a magnetic moment of 0.588 μ
B
. The examination of charge density differences indicates a significant charge transfer from N to the CGe substrate surface. Optical properties are systematically investigated, encompassing the dielectric function, absorption coefficient and electron–hole density. Notably, the real part of the dielectric function exhibits negative values, a result that holds promise for future communication applications.
The Pulfrich Effect in Virtual Reality
Authors: Loprete Anthony , Shapiro Arthur G.
Published: March 2024

The Pulfrich effect, a visual phenomenon where a neural delay in one eye produces a depth misperception, has been directly studied on flat-panel displays but not in virtual reality (VR) environments. Through a series of three experiments, we investigated the relationship between luminance, contrast, dot spacing, and optical blur on the Pulfrich effect in VR and on the perception of motion. In the first two experiments, we found that low-reflectance stimuli produce a stronger Pulfrich effect than high-reflectance stimuli in VR, a result further accentuated by background luminance. Furthermore, the primary experiment showed that nullifying helix rotation motion is a powerful way to study the magnitude of the Pulfrich effect. With data from the first experiment, we developed a compelling VR illusion in which changing the color of a helix reverses the direction of perceived motion. Experiment 2 elaborated that low-reflectance stimuli only produce a stronger Pulfrich effect than high-reflectance stimuli when the stimulus is moving away from the delayed eye. Data from the first two experiments were successfully captured by power law function fits and linearized by plotting Pulfrich effect strength against logit-Michelson contrast. Our third experiment revealed that increasing blur and dot count in the helix stimulus increased the likelihood of perceiving up or down motion. All three experiments in tandem show that investigating well-known visual illusions such as the Pulfrich effect in virtual reality has the potential to reveal insights into visual perception as well as inform us about the effects of contrast and asymmetric lighting in spatial computing.

CCS Concepts: •Computing methodologies→Perception;Virtual reality.
OmicsFootPrint: a framework to integrate and interpret multi-omics data using circular images and deep neural networks
Authors: Tang Xiaojia , Prodduturi Naresh , Thompson Kevin J. , Weinshilboum Richard , O’Sullivan Ciara C. , Boughey Judy C. , Tizhoosh Hamid R. , Klee Eric W. , Wang Liewei , Goetz Matthew P. , Suman Vera , Kalari Krishna R.
Published: March 2024

The OmicsFootPrint framework addresses the need for advanced multi-omics data analysis methodologies by transforming data into intuitive two-dimensional circular images and facilitating the interpretation of complex diseases. Utilizing Deep Neural Networks and incorporating the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm, the framework enhances model interpretability. Tested with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, OmicsFootPrint effectively classified lung and breast cancer subtypes, achieving high Area Under Curve (AUC) scores— 0.98±0.02 for lung cancer subtype differentiation, 0.83±0.07 for breast cancer PAM50 subtypes, and successfully distinguished between invasive lobular and ductal carcinomas in breast cancer, showcasing its robustness. It also demonstrated notable performance in predicting drug responses in cancer cell lines, with a median AUC of 0.74, surpassing nine existing methods. Furthermore, its effectiveness persists even with reduced training sample sizes. OmicsFootPrint marks an enhancement in multi-omics research, offering a novel, efficient, and interpretable approach that contributes to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms.
Escherichia coliadaptation under prolonged resource exhaustion is characterized by extreme parallelism and frequent historical contingency
Authors: Zion Shira , Katz Sophia , Hershberg Ruth
Published: March 2024

Like many other non-sporulating bacterial species,Escherichia coliis able to survive prolonged periods of resource exhaustion, by entering a state of growth called long-term stationary phase (LTSP). In July 2015, we initiated a set of evolutionary experiments aimed at characterizing the dynamics ofE. coliadaptation under LTSP. In these experiments populations ofE. coliwere allowed to initially grow on fresh rich media, but where not provided with any new external growth resources since their establishment. Utilizing whole genome sequencing data obtained for hundreds of clones sampled at 12 time points spanning the first six years of these experiments, we reveal several novel aspects of the dynamics of adaptation. First, we show thatE. colicontinuously adapts genetically, up to six years under resource exhaustion, through the highly convergent accumulation of mutations. We further show that upon entry into LTSP, long-lasting lineages are established. This lineage structure is in itself convergent, with similar lineages arising across independently evolving populations. The high parallelism with which adaptations occur under LTSP, combined with the LTSP populations’ lineage structure, enable us to screen for pairs of loci displaying a significant association in the occurrence of mutations, suggestive of a historical contingency. We find that such associations are highly frequent and that a third of convergently mutated loci are involved in at least one such association. Combined our results demonstrate that LTSP adaptation is characterized by remarkably high parallelism and frequent historical contingency.

Author summary

Characterizing the dynamics by which adaptation occurs is a major aim of evolutionary biology. Here, we study these dynamics in five populations ofEscherichia coli, independently evolving over six years under conditions of resource exhaustion. We show that even under very prolonged resource exhaustion bacteria continuously genetically adapt. Within our populations long lasting lineages are established, each of which undergoes independent and continuous adaptation. We demonstrate that bacterial adaptation under resource exhaustion is both highly convergent – meaning that same adaptive mutations occur across independently evolving populations and lineages, and frequently historically contingent – meaning that the adaptive nature of many of the adaptations we see depends on the previous occurrence of other adaptations.
Evidence for common spike-based temporal coding of overt and covert speech in pars triangularis of human Broca’s area
Authors: Roussel Philémon , Bocquelet Florent , Chabardès Stéphan , Yvert Blaise
Published: March 2024

Broca’s area has long been described as a central region of cortical speech networks. Yet, its detailed role during speech production remains largely unknown and even sometimes debated. Recordings at the individual neuron level could help understand whether and how speech is encoded in this region but such data remain very scarce. Here we use direct intracortical recording inpars triangularisof human Broca’s area to show that the encoding of speech in this region relies not only on spike rates but also on the precise timing of action potentials within individual spike trains. First, we found that the overall spike rate of the whole population remained unchanged between periods of rest, overt and covert speech, but that individual firing rates of a few neurons fluctuated across these conditions. These fluctuations resulted in different overall population dynamics across conditions. Next, we also observed that the temporal arrangement of spikes within individual spike trains was not purely random but also signed which sentence was produced. By matching ensemble spike trains based on inter-spike intervals, it was possible to decode which sentence had been pronounced well above chance and with a comparable accuracy than when using spike counts. Moreover, the temporal code characterizing the overt production of individual sentences was found to be largely conserved when the same sentences were covertly imagined and enabled to decode cover sentences with an accuracy 75% higher than when considering spike counts. Altogether, these results suggest the existence of 2 modes of speech encoding in Broca’s area, one based on the modulation of individual firing rates and the other based on the precise temporal structure of individual spike trains, and that the latter type of encoding remains more largely conserved between overt and covert speech production.