bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of layer number on the gas permeation through nanopores within few-layer graphene
Authors: Cui Chuan-Xin , Jiang Jin-Wu
Published: March 2022

Few-layer graphene has been widely regarded as an efficient filter for gas separation, but the effect of the layer number on the gas permeation process is still unclear. To explore the layer number effect, we perform molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the gas permeation through a nanopore within the few-layer graphene. Our numerical simulations show that the permeation constant decreases with increasing layer number, which is analyzed based on the macroscopic Kennard empirical model. The macroscopic model is in good agreement with the numerical result in the limit of large layer number, but there are obvious deviations for the medium layer number. We generalize the macroscopic model by considering the nanoscale effect from the surface morphology of the nanoscale pore, which can well describe the layer number dependence for the gas permeation constant in the full range. These results provide valuable information for the application of few-layer graphene in the gas permeation field.
N-doped graphene encapsulated MoS2 nanosphere composite as a high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Yating , Zhang Zhanrui , Zhu Youyu , Zhang Yongling , Yang Mengnan , Li Siyi , Suo Ke , Li Keke
Published: March 2022

MoS2 is widely used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high capacity (670 mAh g−1) and unique two-dimensional structure. However, the further application was limited of MoS2 as anode materials suffer from its volume expansion and low conductivity. In this work, N-doped graphene encapsulated MoS2 nanosphere composite (MoS2@NG) were prepared and its unique sandwich structure containing abundant mesopores and defects can efficiently enhance reaction kinetics. The MoS2@NG electrode shows a reversible capacity of 975.9 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles, and a reversible capacity of 325.2 mAh g−1 is still maintained after 300 cycles at 5 A g−1. In addition, the MoS2@NG electrode exhibites an excellent rate performance benefiting from the electrochemical properties dominated by capacitive behavior. This suggests that MoS2@NG composite can be used as potential anode materials for LIBs
Effect of dataset size, image quality, and image type on deep learning-based automatic prostate segmentation in 3D ultrasound
Authors: Orlando Nathan , Gyacskov Igor , Gillies Derek J , Guo Fumin , Romagnoli Cesare , D’Souza David , Cool Derek W , Hoover Douglas A , Fenster Aaron
Published: March 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is utilized in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, necessitating time-consuming manual prostate segmentation. We have previously developed an automatic 3D prostate segmentation algorithm involving deep learning prediction on radially sampled 2D images followed by 3D reconstruction, trained on a large, clinically diverse dataset with variable image quality. As large clinical datasets are rare, widespread adoption of automatic segmentation could be facilitated with efficient 2D-based approaches and the development of an image quality grading method. The complete training dataset of 6761 2D images, resliced from 206 3D TRUS volumes acquired using end-fire and side-fire acquisition methods, was split to train two separate networks using either end-fire or side-fire images. Split datasets were reduced to 1000, 500, 250, and 100 2D images. For deep learning prediction, modified U-Net and U-Net++ architectures were implemented and compared using an unseen test dataset of 40 3D TRUS volumes. A 3D TRUS image quality grading scale with three factors (acquisition quality, artifact severity, and boundary visibility) was developed to assess the impact on segmentation performance. For the complete training dataset, U-Net and U-Net++ networks demonstrated equivalent performance, but when trained using split end-fire/side-fire datasets, U-Net++ significantly outperformed the U-Net. Compared to the complete training datasets, U-Net++ trained using reduced-size end-fire and side-fire datasets demonstrated equivalent performance down to 500 training images. For this dataset, image quality had no impact on segmentation performance for end-fire images but did have a significant effect for side-fire images, with boundary visibility having the largest impact. Our algorithm provided fast (<1.5 s) and accurate 3D segmentations across clinically diverse images, demonstrating generalizability and efficiency when employed on smaller datasets, supporting the potential for widespread use, even when data is scarce. The development of an image quality grading scale provides a quantitative tool for assessing segmentation performance.
Determination of beam quality correction factors for the Roos plane-parallel ionisation chamber exposed to very high energy electron (VHEE) beams using Geant4
Authors: McManus M , Romano F , Royle G , Botnariuc D , Shipley D , Palmans H , Subiel A
Published: March 2022

Detailed characterisation of the Roos secondary standard plane-parallel ionisation chamber has been conducted in a novel 200 MeV Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) beam with reference to the standard 12 MeV electron calibration beam used in our experimental work. Stopping-power-ratios and perturbation factors have been determined for both beams and used to calculated the beam quality correction factor using the Geant4 general purpose MC code. These factors have been calculated for a variety of charged particle transport parameters available in Geant4 which were found to pass the Fano cavity test. Stopping-power-ratios for the 12 MeV electron calibration beam quality were found to agree within uncertainties to that quoted by current dosimetry protocols. Perturbation factors were found to vary by up-to 4% for the calibration beam depending on the parameter configuration, compared with only 0.8% for the VHEE beam. Beam quality correction factors were found to describe an approximately 10% lower dose than would be originally calculated if a beam quality correction were not accounted for. Moreover, results presented here largely resolve unphysical chamber measurements, such as collection efficiencies greater than 100%, and assist in the accurate determination of absorbed dose and ion recombination in secondary standard ionisation chambers.
Developing solid-surface plasma facing components for pilot plants and reactors with replenishable wall claddings and continuous surface conditioning. Part A: concepts and questions
Authors: Stangeby P C , Unterberg E A , Davis J W , Abrams T , Bortolon A , Bykov I , Donovan D , Guo H Y , Kolasinski R , Leonard A W , Nichols J H , Rudakov D L , Sinclair G , Thomas D M , Watkins J G
Published: March 2022

It is estimated that pilot plants and reactors may experience rates of net erosion and deposition of solid plasma facing component (PFC) material of 103–105 kg yr−1. Even if the net erosion (wear) problem can be solved, the redeposition of so much material has the potential for major interference with operation, including disruptions due to so-called ‘unidentified flying objects (UFOs)’ and unsafe dust levels. The potential implications appear to be no less serious than for plasma contact with the divertor target: a dust explosion or a major UFO-disruption could be as damaging for an actively-cooled deuterium-tritium (DT) tokamak as target failure. It will therefore be necessary to manage material deposits to prevent their fouling operation. This situation appears to require a fundamental paradigm shift with regard to meeting the challenge of taming the plasma–material interface: it appears that any acceptable solid PFC material will in effect be flow-through, like liquid–metal PFCs, although at far lower mass flow rates. Solid PFC material will have to be treated as a consumable, like brake pads in cars. ITER will use high-Z (tungsten) armor on the divertor targets and low-Z (beryllium) on the main walls. The ARIES-AT reactor design calls for a similar arrangement, but with SiC cladding on the main walls. Non-metallic low-Z refractory materials such as ceramics (graphite, SiC, etc) used as in situ replenishable, relatively thin—of order mm—claddings on a substrate which is resistant to neutron damage could provide a potential solution for the main walls, while reducing the risk of degrading the confined plasma. Separately, wall conditioning has proven essential for achieving high performance. For DT devices, however, standard methods appear to be unworkable, but recently powder droppers injecting low-Z material ∼continuously into discharges have been quite effective and may be usable in DT devices as well. The resulting massive generation of low-Z debris, however, has the same potential to seriously disrupt operation as noted above. Powder droppers provide a unique opportunity to carry out controlled studies on the management of low-Z slag in all current tokamaks, independent of whether their protection tiles use low-Z or high-Z material.
Superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates
Authors: Nomura Yusuke , Arita Ryotaro
Published: March 2022

The recent discovery of the superconductivity in the doped infinite layer nickelates RNiO2 (R = La, Pr, Nd) is of great interest since the nickelates are isostructural to doped (Ca, Sr)CuO2 having superconducting transition temperature (T
c) of about 110 K. Verifying the commonalities and differences between these oxides will certainly give a new insight into the mechanism of high T
c superconductivity in correlated electron systems. In this paper, we review experimental and theoretical works on this new superconductor and discuss the future perspectives for the ‘nickel age’ of superconductivity.
Boost of orthorhombic population with amorphous SiO2 interfacial layer—a DFT study
Authors: Chen Yun-Wen , Liu C W
Published: March 2022

Via the density functional theory, the phase diagrams of HZO thin film in MFM (M = TiN, F = HZO) and MFI (I = α-SiO2) structures are constructed with dependences on grain size and temperature. In both MFM and MFI, the region for orthorhombic phase (o-phase) in phase diagram grows when HZO thickness gets thinner. Comparing to MFM, HZO/α-SiO2 interface in MFI suppresses the growth of tetragonal phase (t-phase) to the region of very small grain size ∼1.2 nm. The simulation results agree with the experimental observation by Cheema et al, that the enhanced FE property was obtained in a MFIS (S = silicon) device with ultrathin HZO film (<2 nm). Simulation model indicates more chemical bonds forming between HZO and α-SiO2 interface could stabilize o-phase to greatly enhance the FE property in a MFIS device.
Nonlinear Fourier transform assisted high-order soliton characterization
Authors: Wang Yutian , Chen Fanglin , Fu Songnian , Kong Jian , Komarov Andrey , Klimczak Mariusz , BuczyČski Ryszard , Tang Xiahui , Tang Ming , Zhao Luming
Published: March 2022

Nonlinear Fourier transform (NFT), based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, is implemented for the description of soliton propagation, and in particular focused on propagation of high-order solitons. In nonlinear frequency domain, a high-order soliton has multiple eigenvalues depending on the soliton amplitude and pulse-width. During the propagation along the standard single mode fiber (SSMF), their eigenvalues remain constant, while the corresponding discrete spectrum rotates along with the SSMF transmission. Consequently, we can distinguish the soliton order based on its eigenvalues. Meanwhile, the discrete spectrum rotation period is consistent with the temporal evolution period of the high-order solitons. The discrete spectrum contains nearly 99.99% energy of a soliton pulse. After inverse-NFT on discrete spectrum, soliton pulse can be reconstructed, illustrating that the eigenvalues can be used to characterize soliton pulse with good accuracy. This work shows that soliton characteristics can be well described in the nonlinear frequency domain. Moreover, as a significant supplement to the existing means of characterizing soliton pulses, NFT is expected to be another fundamental optical processing method besides an oscilloscope (measuring pulse time domain information) and a spectrometer (measuring pulse frequency domain information).
Multi-clad optical fiber design for ultra-wideband modulation instability
Authors: Madani Seyed Ahmad , Bahrami Manouchehr , Rostami Ali
Published: March 2022

Developments of electro-optic (EO) modulators do not have a satisfactory pace and bandwidth restrictions are still limited to several hundred GHz, thus, obtaining methods that enable using broadband optical channels are key factors in high-speed optical communications. In this paper, Modulation Instability (MI) as an approach in order to improve the performance of EO modulators, is investigated in the anomalous and zero-dispersion regimes of proposed optical fiber. In present conventional optical fibers, MI is observed over a few hundred gigahertz bandwidths at low pump power. In order to obtain ultra-wideband (a few Terahertz) bandwidths and maximum gain in the MI process at low pump power, a new structure for optical fiber is proposed. The genetic algorithm is utilized for performance optimization in optical fiber design. It is shown that the proposed optical fiber is able to support MI for a few Terahertz bands at low pump power (100 mW). Furthermore, in this analysis, it is demonstrated that higher-order dispersion terms have a strong impact on modulation instability. Finally, it is concluded that the geometrical and optical parameters of optical fiber are key factors to control modulation instability parameters (gain and bandwidth). The proposed optical fiber can be used as an optical booster in order to compensate frequency response of EO modulators, which is a considerable step forward in high-speed optical communication.
Mitigating the impact of fiber assignment on the measurement of galaxy-lensing cross correlation
Authors: Makiya Ryu , Sunayama Tomomi
Published: March 2022

We examine the impact of fiber assignment on the measurement
of galaxy clustering and its cross correlation with weak lensing
fields. Unlike the past spectroscopic galaxy surveys such as Baryon
Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), currently ongoing
spectroscopic galaxy surveys such as Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS)
and Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) suffer from the
fiber assignment artifacts more severely because there are more
target galaxies than available fibers. The previous studies found
that the fiber assignment suppresses the amplitude of the galaxy
power spectrum at all scales. We newly find that the fiber
assignment introduces the artificial correlation of structure at
different redshifts, which suppresses the amplitude of the
galaxy-lensing cross power spectrum. We show that the fiber
assignment effects on the cross power spectrum can be mitigated at
all scales with accuracy better than ∼ 1%, by up-weighting
observed galaxies with the probability to be observed. This is not
the case for the galaxy power spectrum, which is not fully corrected
at k ≳ 0.2 [h/Mpc]. We find that the galaxy-lensing cross
power spectrum is not affected by the pairwise probability of
galaxies to be observed, and thus the correction method based on the
individual probability is sufficient at all scales.
Generalized scale behavior and renormalization group for data analysis
Authors: Lahoche Vincent , Samary Dine Ousmane , Tamaazousti Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Some recent results showed that the renormalization group (RG) can be considered as a promising framework to address open issues in data analysis. In this work, we focus on one of these aspects, closely related to principal component analysis (PCA) for the case of large dimensional data sets with covariance having a nearly continuous spectrum. In this case, the distinction between ‘noise-like’ and ‘non-noise’ modes becomes arbitrary and an open challenge for standard methods. Observing that both RG and PCA search for simplification for systems involving many degrees of freedom, we aim to use the RG argument to clarify the turning point between noise and information modes. The analogy between coarse-graining renormalization and PCA has been investigated in Bradde and Bialek (2017 J. Stat. Phys.
167 462–75), from a perturbative framework, and the implementation with real sets of data by the same authors showed that the procedure may reflect more than a simple formal analogy. In particular, the separation of sampling noise modes may be controlled by a non-Gaussian fixed point, reminiscent of the behaviour of critical systems. In our analysis, we go beyond the perturbative framework using nonperturbative techniques to investigate non-Gaussian fixed points and propose a deeper formalism allowing us to go beyond power-law assumptions for explicit computations.
CERN sets stringent limits on antiprotons
Authors: Johnston Hamish
Published: March 2022

Researchers from the BASE experiment have carried out the most precise measurement of the proton and antiproton charge-to-mass ratios ever made, as Hamish Johnston reports.
Physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf appointed Dutch science minister
Authors: Boerkamp Martijn
Published: March 2022

Dutch physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf, 62, has been appointed education, culture and science minister in the newly formed Dutch cabinet.
Fiddly fusion
Authors: Adsley Ian
Published: March 2022

A response to John Evans’ letter “Tritium troubles”, which explains that the limited supply of tritium is a problem in developing fusion reactors that can generate electricity for practical use.
Quantum caution
Authors: Hodgson Alan
Published: March 2022

A response to Matin Durrani’s comment article “The quantum revolution” and Mauritz Kop’s Forum article “Ethics in the quantum age” in our special issue about quantum technologies.
Reflection on reflection
Authors: Huber Michael
Published: March 2022

A response to Karel Green’s Forum article “Contaminating the night sky”, which discusses the problems caused to astronomers by private enterprises launching satellites.
Conquering the challenge of quantum optimization
Authors: Niroula Pradeep
Published: March 2022

Hyped as the solution to many problems – both hard and easy – quantum-enhanced optimization is a burgeoning research field. But with untrainable circuits, “barren plateaus” and deceptive local minimas, nature itself may prevent the use of quantum solutions for hard problems, as Pradeep Niroula explains.
High-quality micro-shape fabrication of monocrystalline diamond by nanosecond pulsed laser and acid cleaning
Authors: Okamoto Yasuhiro , Okubo Tubasa , Kajitani Atsuya , Okada Akira
Published: March 2022

The flat plane of small surface roughness below 0.1 µm average roughness was obtained for monocrystalline diamond by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation of 1060 nm and post-process acid cleaning, at a laser fluence around the material removal threshold value. The glossy and flat plane at the bottom of the micro-groove was parallel to the top surface of the specimen, although the round beam of Gaussian mode was irradiated in the direction perpendicular to the top surface of specimen. The square beam of top-hat mode produced a shallower micro-groove with a wider, flatter bottom compared with the round beam in Gaussian mode. The creation method of the flat plane with small surface roughness was discussed in the arrangement strategy of linear micro-grooving by the square beam of top-hat mode. Normal side-by-side repetition of linear micro-grooving did not create a flat plane with constant depth. Therefore, a two-step scanning method was proposed in order to overcome the problem in the normal side-by-side repetition of liner micro-grooving. Non-removal areas were partly retained between the processing lines in the first step, and the laser scanning was conducted on the retained area in the second step. The newly proposed two-step scanning method was practical and useful to create a widely flat plane with small surface roughness, and the two-step scanning method provided superior control over the micro-groove depth. This proposed method can reduce the surface roughness in addition to the shape creation of monocrystalline diamond, and it can be used as a high-quality micro-shape fabrication method of monocrystalline diamond.
Long-term physical activity participation trajectories were associated with subsequent cognitive decline, risk of dementia and all-cause mortality among adults aged ≥50 years: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Li Chenglong , Ma Yanjun , Hua Rong , Zheng Fanfan , Xie Wuxiang
Published: March 2022

Aim

to evaluate self-reported physical activity (PA) participation trajectories over a 6-year span and to assess associations with subsequent cognitive decline, incident dementia and all-cause mortality.

Methods

population-based cohort of 8,842 community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in England. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify 6-year trajectories of PA participation. Cognitive decline, incident dementia and all-cause mortality were outcomes.

Results

five trajectories were identified, including persistently low (N = 2,511), initially low then improving (1,651), initially high then declining (249), persistently moderate (2,422) and persistently high (2,009). Compared with persistently low, participants of initially low then improving and persistently high PA participation experienced decelerated global cognitive decline of 0.012 standard deviation (SD)/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004–0.021, P = 0.004) and 0.021 SD/year (95% CI: 0.013–0.029, P < 0.001). They were also associated with lower dementia risk, with multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.43 (95% CI: 0.31–0.60) and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.27–0.45). A similar pattern was observed for all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.13–0.74) and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.14–0.45). No significant differences were observed between persistently low and initially high then declining trajectories.

Conclusion

for middle-aged and older adults, both gradually improved and persistently active PA participation were associated with decelerated cognitive decline, lower risk of dementia and all-cause mortality. Strategies focusing on improving and maintaining PA participation could be of significance by attaining considerable neurocognitive and longevity benefits.
The white koji fungusAspergillus luchuensismut.kawachii
Authors: Futagami Taiki
Published: March 2022

The white koji fungus, Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii, is used in the production of shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit. White koji fungus plays an important role in the shochu production process by supplying amylolytic enzymes such as α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes convert starch contained in primary ingredients such as rice, barley, buckwheat, and sweet potato into glucose, which is subsequently utilized by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce ethanol. White koji fungus also secretes large amounts of citric acid, which lowers the pH of the shochu mash, thereby preventing the growth of undesired microbes and enabling stable production of shochu in relatively warm regions of Japan. This review describes the historical background, research tools, and recent advances in studies of the mechanism of citric acid production by white koji fungus.
Circ_0007611 stimulates IL-1 receptor accessory protein to inhibit trophoblast cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis
Authors: Xing Haiyan , Ding Qing , Lu Hong , Li Qun
Published: March 2022

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy disorder, and mounting evidence has revealed that circular RNA participates in PE development. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of circ_0007611 in PE progression remains unknown. RNA expressions of circ_0007611, microRNA-558 (miR-558), and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation was investigated by clonogenicity, 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine, and DNA content quantitation assays. Cell apoptotic rate and angiogenesis were analyzed by cell apoptosis and tube formation assays, respectively. Protein expression was detected by western blot. The binding relationship between miR-558 and circ_0007611 or IL1RAP was identified by a dual-luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Circ_0007611 and IL1RAP expressions were significantly upregulated, while miR-558 was downregulated in the placental tissues of PE women in comparison with normal placental tissues. Functionally, circ_0007611 overexpression inhibited trophoblast cell proliferation and angiogenesis and induced cell apoptosis; however, circ_0007611 downregulation showed the opposite effects. Mechanistically, circ_0007611 acted as a miR-558 sponge, and miR-558 bound to IL1RAP. Besides, miR-558 overexpression or IL1RAP absence relieved circ_0007611-induced trophoblast cell dysfunction. Moreover, miR-558 contributed to cell proliferation and tube formation and inhibited cell apoptosis by reducing IL1RAP expression in trophoblast cells. Circ_0007611 aggravated trophoblast cell disorders by the miR-558/IL1RAP pathway in PE.
Discovery of efficacy biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer with first-line anti-PD-1 immunotherapy by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry
Authors: Chao Yencheng , Jiang Weipeng , Wang Xiaocen , Wang Xiaoyue , Song Juan , Chen Cuicui , Zhou Jian , Huang Qihong , Hu Jie , Song Yuanlin
Published: March 2022

First-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly ameliorated outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, approximately a quarter of patients receiving ICIs demonstrate long-term clinical benefit, and the true responders have not been fully clarified by the existing biomarkers. To discover potential biomarkers treatment-related outcome in plasma, mass spectrometry assay for data-independent acquisition was analyzed plasma samples collected before the anti-PD-1 treatment. From July 2019 to January 2020, 15 patients with EGFR/ALK-negative NSCLC receiving first-line anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors were enrolled, and six healthy individuals have collected the plasma samples as control. We explored plasma proteome profiles and conducted stratified analyses by anti-PD-1 responders and non-responders. To validate the target proteins by ELISA, we recruited 22 additional independent patients and 15 healthy individuals from April 2021 to August 2021. By identifying biomarkers to predict better efficacy, we performed differential expression analysis in 12 responders and three non-responders. Compared with healthy individuals, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed plasma proteome profiles of NSCLC were markedly changed in 170 differentially expressed proteins. Furthermore, we discovered that SAA1, SAA2, S100A8, and S100A9 were noticeably increased among non-responders than responders, which may serve as predictive biomarkers with unfavorable respond. The validated results from all samples via ELISA were confirmed this observation. Identified a set of plasma-derived protein biomarkers (SAA1, SAA2, S100A8, and S100A9) could potentially predict the efficacy in cohorts of patients with NSCLC treated with first-line anti-PD-1 inhibitors and deserves further prospective study.
A secondary motor area contributing to interlimb coordination during visually guided locomotion in the cat
Authors: Nakajima Toshi , Fortier-Lebel Nicolas , Drew Trevor
Published: March 2022

We investigated the contribution of cytoarchitectonic cortical area 4δc, in the caudal bank of the cruciate sulcus of the cat, to the control of visually guided locomotion. To do so, we recorded the activity of 114 neurons in 4δc while cats walked on a treadmill and stepped over an obstacle that advanced toward them. A total of 84/114 (74%) cells were task-related and 68/84 (81%) of these cells showed significant modulation of their discharge frequency when the contralateral limbs were the first to step over the obstacle. These latter cells included a substantial proportion (27/68 40%) that discharged between the passage of the contralateral forelimb and the contralateral hindlimb over the obstacle, suggesting a contribution of this area to interlimb coordination. We further compared the discharge in area 4δc with the activity patterns of cells in the rostral division of the same cytoarchitectonic area (4δr), which has been suggested to be a separate functional region. Despite some differences in the patterns of activity in the 2 subdivisions, we suggest that activity in each is compatible with a contribution to interlimb coordination and that they should be considered as a single functional area that contributes to both forelimb–forelimb and forelimb–hindlimb coordination.
Associations between neighborhood socioeconomic status, parental education, and executive system activation in youth
Authors: Murtha Kristin , Larsen Bart , Pines Adam , Parkes Linden , Moore Tyler M , Adebimpe Azeez , Bertolero Maxwell , Alexander-Bloch Aaron , Calkins Monica E , Davila Diego G , Lindquist Martin A , Mackey Allyson P , Roalf David R , Scott James C , Wolf Daniel H , Gur Ruben C , Gur Raquel E , Barzilay Ran , Satterthwaite Theodore D
Published: March 2022

Socioeconomic status (SES) can impact cognitive performance, including working memory (WM). As executive systems that support WM undergo functional neurodevelopment during adolescence, environmental stressors at both individual and community levels may influence cognitive outcomes. Here, we sought to examine how SES at the neighborhood and family level impacts task-related activation of the executive system during adolescence and determine whether this effect mediates the relationship between SES and WM performance. To address these questions, we studied 1,150 youths (age 8–23) that completed a fractal n-back WM task during functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3T as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. We found that both higher neighborhood SES and parental education were associated with greater activation of the executive system to WM load, including the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and precuneus. The association of neighborhood SES remained significant when controlling for task performance, or related factors like exposure to traumatic events. Furthermore, high-dimensional multivariate mediation analysis identified distinct patterns of brain activity within the executive system that significantly mediated the relationship between measures of SES and task performance. These findings underscore the importance of multilevel environmental factors in shaping executive system function and WM in youth.
Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life in Non-Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases With Confirmed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in England: Longitudinal Analysis and Cross-Sectional Comparison With Controls
Authors: Sandmann Frank G , Tessier Elise , Lacy Joanne , Kall Meaghan , Van Leeuwen Edwin , Charlett Andre , Eggo Rosalind M , Dabrera Gavin , Edmunds W John , Ramsay Mary , Campbell Helen , Amirthalingam Gayatri , Jit Mark
Published: March 2022

Background

We aimed to quantify the unknown losses in health-related quality of life of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases using quality-adjusted lifedays (QALDs) and the recommended EQ-5D instrument in England.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of nonhospitalized, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2–positive (SARS-CoV-2–positive) cases aged 12–85 years and followed up for 6 months from 1 December 2020, with cross-sectional comparison to SARS-CoV-2–negative controls. Main outcomes were QALD losses; physical symptoms; and COVID-19-related private expenditures. We analyzed results using multivariable regressions with post hoc weighting by age and sex, and conditional logistic regressions for the association of each symptom and EQ-5D limitation on cases and controls.

Results

Of 548 cases (mean age 41.1 years; 61.5% female), 16.8% reported physical symptoms at month 6 (most frequently extreme tiredness, headache, loss of taste and/or smell, and shortness of breath). Cases reported more limitations with doing usual activities than controls. Almost half of cases spent a mean of £18.1 on nonprescription drugs (median: £10.0), and 52.7% missed work or school for a mean of 12 days (median: 10). On average, all cases lost 13.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.7, 17.7) QALDs, whereas those reporting symptoms at month 6 lost 32.9 (95% CI: 24.5, 37.6) QALDs. Losses also increased with older age. Cumulatively, the health loss from morbidity contributes at least 18% of the total COVID-19-related disease burden in the England.

Conclusions

One in 6 cases report ongoing symptoms at 6 months, and 10% report prolonged loss of function compared to pre-COVID-19 baselines. A marked health burden was observed among older COVID-19 cases and those with persistent physical symptoms.
Altered Maternal Antibody Profiles in Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Drive Changes in Transplacental Antibody Transfer
Authors: Dolatshahi Sepideh , Butler Audrey L , Siedner Mark J , Ngonzi Joseph , Edlow Andrea G , Adong Julian , Jennewein Madeleine F , Atyeo Caroline , Bassett Ingrid V , Roberts Drucilla J , Lauffenburger Douglas A , Alter Galit , Bebell Lisa M
Published: March 2022

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–exposed, uninfected (HEU) children have a higher risk of severe infection, but the causes are poorly understood. Emerging data point to altered antibody transfer in women with HIV (WHIV); however, specific perturbations and the influence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV viremia remain unclear.

Methods

We evaluated antigen-specific transplacental antibody transfer across 14 antigens in paired maternal and umbilical cord plasma from 352 Ugandan women; 176 were WHIV taking ART. We measured antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) sub­class (IgG1, 2, 3, 4) levels and antibody Fcγ receptor (FcγRn, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) binding profiles. We used partial least squares discrimi­nant analysis to define antigen-specific transplacental antibody transfer features.

Results

Global antibody transfer patterns were similar by maternal HIV serostatus, pointing to effective placental function in WHIV. However, HEU umbilical cord antibody profiles were altered, driven by perturbed WHIV seroprofiles, with higher levels of herpesvirus antibodies (P < .01 for Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus) and lower levels of classic vaccine-induced antibodies (P < .01 for tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b), suggesting that umbilical cord antibody profile differences arise from imbalanced WHIV immunity. Abnormal WHIV antibody profiles were associated with HIV viremia, lower CD4 count, and postconception ART initiation (P = .01).

Conclusions

Perturbed immune-dominance profiles in WHIV shift the balance of immunity delivered to neonates. Perturbed HIV-associated maternal antibody profiles are a key determinant of com­promised neonatal immunity. Maternal vaccination interventions may promote transfer of relevant, effective antibodies to protect HEU children against early-life infections.
Vaccine Effectiveness of 3 Versus 2 Doses of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA Vaccines in a High-Risk National Population
Authors: Butt Adeel A , Talisa Victor B , Yan Peng , Shaikh Obaid S , Omer Saad B , Mayr Florian B
Published: March 2022

Background

Knowledge of the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of a third or booster vaccine dose in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection or its consequences is critical in developing recommendations for their use. We determined relative VE of 3 vs 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, and severe/critical disease.

Methods

Among veterans who had received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine by 30 April 2021, we identified those who received a third dose of the same vaccine between 22 September and 24 November 2021 and 1:1 matched controls who had not received their third dose by then. Using Cox proportional hazards model, we calculated adjusted hazards ratios for symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death after SARS-CoV-2–positive test.

Results

Among 2 321 366 veterans who received 2 doses of Pfizer BNT-162b2 or Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine by 30 April 2021, we matched 395 686 persons who received a third dose of the same vaccine between 22 September and 24 November 2021 to controls who did not receive a third dose. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) were .15 (.11–.21) for symptomatic infection and .18 (.13–.26) for hospitalizations for 3 vs 2 doses, corresponding to relative VE of 85% and 82%. Five ICU admissions or deaths were observed (4 among recipients of 2 doses). There was no difference in VE between BNT162b2 versus mRNA-1273 recipients.

Conclusions

A third dose of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is associated with high VE against symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and critical disease in the pre-Omicron era.
Vascular dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk in hypospadias
Authors: Lucas-Herald Angela K , Montezano Augusto C , Alves-Lopes Rheure , Haddow Laura , Alimussina Malika , O’Toole Stuart , Flett Martyn , Lee Boma , Amjad S Basith , Steven Mairi , Brooksbank Katriona , McCallum Linsay , Delles Christian , Padmanabhan Sandosh , Ahmed S Faisal , Touyz Rhian M
Published: March 2022

Aims

Hypogonadism is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, the cardiovascular impact of hypogonadism during development is unknown. Using hypospadias as a surrogate of hypogonadism, we investigated whether hypospadias is associated with vascular dysfunction and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Methods and results

Our human study spanned molecular mechanistic to epidemiological investigations. Clinical vascular phenotyping was performed in adolescents with hypospadias and controls. Small subcutaneous arteries from penile skin from boys undergoing hypospadias repair and controls were isolated and functional studies were assessed by myography. Vascular smooth muscle cells were used to assess: Rho kinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide, and DNA damage. Systemic oxidative stress was assessed in plasma and urine. Hospital episode data compared men with a history of hypospadias vs. controls. In adolescents with hypospadias, systolic blood pressure (P = 0.005), pulse pressure (P = 0.03), and carotid intima-media thickness standard deviation scores (P = 0.01) were increased. Arteries from boys with hypospadias demonstrated increased U46619-induced vasoconstriction (P = 0.009) and reduced acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent (P < 0.0001) and sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent vasorelaxation (P < 0.0001). Men born with hypospadias were at increased risk of arrhythmia [odds ratio (OR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–5.6, P = 0.003]; hypertension (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5–11.9, P = 0.04); and heart failure (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.7–114.3, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Hypospadias is associated with vascular dysfunction and predisposes to hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Underlying mechanisms involve perturbed Rho kinase- and Nox5/ROS-dependent signalling. Our novel findings delineate molecular mechanisms of vascular injury in hypogonadism, and identify hypospadias as a cardiovascular risk factor in males.
Individual Life-Course Socioeconomic Position and Hearing Aid Use in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Yi Julie S , Garcia Morales Emmanuel E , Betz Joshua F , Deal Jennifer A , Dean Lorraine T , Du Simo , Goman Adele M , Griswold Michael E , Palta Priya , Rebok George W , Reed Nicholas S , Thorpe Roland J , Lin Frank R , Nieman Carrie L
Published: March 2022

Background

To measure the association between individual life-course socioeconomic position (SEP) and hearing aid use, we examined childhood and adulthood socioeconomic variables collected at the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study baseline visit (1987–1989)/Life Course Socioeconomic Status study (2001–2002) and hearing aid use data collected at visit 6 (2016–2017).

Methods

ARIC is a prospective cohort study of older adults (45–64 years) recruited from 4 U.S. communities. This analysis included a subset of 2 470 participants with hearing loss at visit 6 (≥25 decibels hearing level [dB HL] better-ear) with complete hearing aid use data. Childhood SEP variables included parental education, parental occupation, and parental home ownership. Young and older adulthood SEP variables included income, education, occupation, and home ownership. Each life epoch was assigned a score ranging from 0 to 5 and then summed to calculate the individual cumulative SEP score. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate the association between individual cumulative SEP and hearing aid use. Missing SEP scores were imputed for participants with incomplete socioeconomic data.

Results

Of the 2 470 participants in the analytic cohort (median [interquartile interval] age 79.9 [76.7–84.0], 1 330 [53.8%] women, 450 [18.2%] Black), 685 (27.7%) participants reported hearing aid use. Higher cumulative SEP was positively associated with hearing aid use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.14), and slightly stronger for childhood (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00–1.20) than older adulthood SEP score (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.95–1.18).

Conclusions

In this community-based cohort of older adults with hearing loss, higher individual life-course SEP was positively associated with hearing aid use.
Social Isolation, Social Support, and Loneliness Profiles Before and After Spousal Death and the Buffering Role of Financial Resources
Authors: Freak-Poli Rosanne , Kung Claryn S J , Ryan Joanne , Shields Michael A
Published: March 2022

Objectives

We provide new evidence on the profiles of social isolation, social support, and loneliness before and after spousal death for older widows. We also examine the moderating effects of gender and financial resources on changes in social health before and after widowhood.

Methods

We use 19 waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, including 749 widowed individuals and a comparison group of around 8,000 married individuals. We apply coarsened exact matching weights and control for age and time trends. Local polynomial smoothed plots show the profiles of social health from 3 years pre- to 3 years postspousal death. All analyses were stratified by gender.

Results

Spousal death was strongly associated with increased loneliness for women and men, but also an increase in interactions with friends and family not living with the bereaved. For men, financial resources (both income and asset wealth) provided some protection against loneliness. Spousal death was not associated with changes in social support or participation in community activities.

Discussion

We demonstrate that loneliness is a greater challenge of widowhood than social isolation or a lack of social support. Our findings suggest that interventions focusing only on increasing social interactions are unlikely to alleviate loneliness following spousal death. Moreover, policies that reduce the cost of formal social participation may have limited effectiveness in tackling loneliness, particularly for women. Alternative strategies, such as helping the bereaved form a new sense of identity and screening for loneliness around widowhood by health care workers, could be beneficial.
The removal of multiple reflection waves in the P receiver function through parabolic Radon transformation
Authors: Chen Yifang , Chen Jiuhui , Guo Biao , Li Shuncheng , Li Yu , Qi Shaohua , Zhao Panpan
Published: March 2022

Receiver function (RF) analysis is an indispensable method that is widely utilized to image the deep structure of the crust and upper mantle. Although the P-wave receiver function (PRF) has the advantages of a higher signal-to-noise ratio and higher resolution than S-wave receiver function, the information about P-to-S converted (Ps) phases from velocity discontinuities of the crust and upper mantle is usually obstructed by multiples from shallower crustal interfaces. Sometimes it is difficult to identify useful information about lithospheric discontinuities. In this paper, we propose a method for suppressing multiples and isolating the Ps phases of RFs. This task is accomplished by exploiting the differences in arrival times resulting from the slowness between the conversion and the multiples that occur at the same interface in the PRFs and by separating them in the Radon domain, which enables removal of crustal and sedimentary multiples. This method can effectively remove multiples and isolate the useful signals of Ps phases contained in the PRFs. We test the method on synthetic PRFs and demonstrate that crustal multiples can be effectively eliminated or suppressed and that the Ps phase of lithospheric discontinuities can be coherently traced. Next, we apply the method to real PRF data collected from the seismic station of the China Array seismic experiment (Phase II and Phase III) in the Ordos block and its adjacent area, and successfully obtain an improved common conversion point stacking image of lithospheric discontinuity structures in the depth domain, particularly for detecting the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary.
Einsatzgruppe and Collaborator Horror: Thinking the Holocaust’s “Explicit Presence” in the Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas
Authors: Manning Robert
Published: March 2022

Levinas scholars agree that his work was affected by the Holocaust and reflects a philosophical response to it. Yet Levinas only rarely mentions the Holocaust in his major philosophical writings, so how is what Levinas called “Holocaust horror” registed in his work? Here the author argues that scholarship says little about this because it has paid only scant attention to the tragedies of Levinas’s life and because it understands the Holocaust almost entirely through the lens of Auschwitz and the death camps. The author shows that Levinas’s major works show many traces of the brutal, face-to-face violence characteristic of the Holocaust’s early stage, when killing formations known as the Einsatzgruppen, along with local collaborators, murdered almost all of the Jews of Lithuania, including Levinas’s parents and brothers. Traces of this specific horror—much more than industrial killing in death camps—are registered in Levinas’s philosophy.
A novel approach of tricuspid valve repair: mitralization of tricuspid valve
Authors: Köksal Cengiz , Selçuk Emre , Kahveci Gökhan , Erdem Hasan
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

This study presents the mid-term results of a novel tricuspid valve (TV) repair strategy defined as ‘mitralization of TV’ (resection and plication of the posterior leaflet, ring implantation, optional leaflet procedures) applied for the correction of tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

METHODS

Between 2017 and 2020, a total of 22 patients underwent concomitant TV repair using mitralization of the TV. Fourteen of the patients had functional TR (2 of them had severe tethering), 5 patients had prolapse and 3 patients had rheumatic involvement.

RESULTS

There was no in-hospital mortality. Moderate or severe TR was not observed in any patient in echocardiographic evaluations before discharge. The mean follow-up duration was 30.9 + 6.2 months. Moderate-to-severe TR-free survival was 100% in the second year and 94.7% in the third year.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitralization of the TV is a safe and effective treatment modality in terms of its mid-term results. This new technique provides an innovative perspective for the treatment of TR, especially in complex TV pathologies.