bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-doped N, P, O heteroatoms carbon nano-hollow-fiber derived aromatic bio-organic for advanced gravi-volumetric supercapacitors
Authors: Taer Erman , Apriwandi Apriwandi , Andriani Dini , Fudholi Ahmad , Citraningrum Nidya , Deraman Mohamad , Taslim Rika
Published: August 2024

The combination of heteroatoms self-doping and nano-hierarchical-pore structure is essential in improving the physicochemical performance of gravi-volumetric scale supercapacitors based on biomass-derived carbon. Herein, this study used aromatic bio-organic waste from nutmeg leaves (Myristica fragrans Houtt) as raw materials due to their abundant dopant and high-potential unique nano-pore structure. A series of novel treatments were carried out using KOH immersion approach and bi-atmospheric (in N2 and CO2) pyrolysis to ensure the presence of rich heteroatoms and a defined pore structure. The results showed that KOH ratio in bi-atmospheric pyrolysis played an important role in the production of self-dopant N, O, and P. In addition, significant morphological changes were observed after the production process. The optimized material prepared at a ratio of 500 mmol g−1 showed rich heteroatoms dopant with values of 19.53%, 15.81%, and 3.01% for N, P, and O, respectively. The surface transformation of the products showed a unique structure of nano-hollow-fiber with a size of 8–12 nm size and a well-matched micro-mesopores ratio (4:1). In the 2E-symmetric system, the working electrode exhibited a high gravimetric capacitance of 235 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 210 F g−1 at 10 A g−1 (in H2SO4 electrolyte). The resulting energy output was relatively high at 32.64 Wh kg−1 with increased power density (218 W kg−1), coulombic efficiency (92.67%), and capacitance retention (89.78%). The findings also showed that the products obtained had a volumetric capacitance of 256.30 F cm−3 and volumetric energy of 35.00 Wh l−1. Based on these results, the selection of natural materials as well as the application of KOH immersion approach and bi-atmospheric pyrolysis produced natural self-doped N, O, P carbon nano-hollow-fiber for boosting the gravi-volumetric behavior of supercapacitors.
Photoproduction of the X(3872) beyond vector meson dominance: the open-charm coupled-channel mechanism
Authors: Cao Xiong-Hui , Du Meng-Lin , Guo Feng-Kun
Published: August 2024

Hidden-charm exotic hadrons will be searched for and investigated at future electron–ion colliders. For instance, the X(3872) can be produced through the exclusive process γ
p → X(3872)p. The vector meson dominance model has been commonly employed in estimating the cross sections of such processes. However, the coupled-channel production mechanism through open-charm meson-baryon intermediate states may play a crucial role. To assess the significance of such contributions, we estimate the cross section of the γ
p → X(3872)p reaction assuming the coupled-channel mechanism. For energies near the threshold, the total cross section is predicted to be of tens of nanobarns for γ
p → X(3872)p, which can be measured at future experimental facilities. Furthermore, the open-charm coupled-channel mechanism leads to a distinct line shape of the total cross section that can be utilized to reveal the production dynamics.
The determination of coefficients for size specific effective dose for adult and pediatric patients undergoing routine computed tomography examinations
Authors: Sookpeng S , Martin C J
Published: August 2024

The effective dose resulting from computed tomography (CT) scans provides an assessment of the risk associated with stochastic effects but does not account for the patient’s size. Advances in Monte Carlo simulations offer the potential to obtain organ dose data from phantoms of varying stature, enabling derivation of a size-specific effective doses (SEDs) representing doses to individual patients. This study aimed to compute size-specific k-conversion factors for SED in routine CT examinations for adult and pediatric patients of different sizes. Radiation interactions were simulated for adult and pediatric phantom models of various sizes using National Cancer Institute CT version 3.0.20211123. Subsequent calculations of SED were performed, and coefficients for SED were derived, considering the variations in body sizes. The results revealed a strong correlation between effective diameter and weight, observed with size-specific k-conversion factors for adult and pediatric phantoms, respectively. While size-specific k-conversion factors for CT brain remained constant in adults, values for pediatric cases varied. When using the tube current modulation (TCM) system, size-specific k-conversion factors increased in larger phantoms and decreased in smaller ones. The extent of this increase or decrease correlated with the set TCM strength. This study provides coefficients for estimating SEDs in routine CT exams. Software utilizing look-up tables of coefficients can be used to provide dose information for CT scanners at local hospitals, offering guidance to practitioners on doses to individual patients and improving radiation risk awareness in clinical practice.
Enhanced magnetism derived from pore-edge spins in thin Fe3GeTe2 nanomeshes
Authors: Obata R , Kosugi M , Oguchi Y , Sun H , Kikkawa T , Tomatsu C , Suenaga K , Saitoh E , Maruyama S , Haruyama J
Published: August 2024

The growth of two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic materials presents attractive opportunities for exploring new physical phenomena and valuable applications. Among these materials, Fe3GeTe2 (FGT) exhibits a variety of remarkable properties and has garnered significant attention. Herein, we have for the first time created a nanomesh structure—a honeycomb-like array of hexagonal nanopores—with the zigzag pore-edge atomic structure on thin FGT flakes with and without oxidation of the pore edges. It is revealed that the magnitude of ferromagnetism (FM) significantly increases in both samples compared with bulk flakes without nanomeshes. Critical temperature annealing results in the formation of zigzag pore edges and interpore zigzag-edge nanoribbons. We unveil that the non-oxide (O) termination of the Fe dangling bonds on these zigzag edges enhances FM behavior, while O-termination suppresses this FM by introducing antiferromagnetic behavior through edge O–Fe coupling. FGT nanomeshes hold promise for the creation of strong FM and their effective application in magnetic and spintronic systems.
Effect of carboxyl group on photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2 nanowire arrays for water splitting
Authors: Ding Yibo , Jiang Chenfeng , Sun Yi , Zhang Xiaoyan , Ma Xiaoqing
Published: August 2024

TiO2 is one of the most studied semiconductor materials for the photoelectrochemical water splitting to hydrogen production, but it only responds to ultraviolet light. The introduction of organic compound is one of the common means to expand the visible light response of TiO2. In this work, rutile TiO2 nanowire arrays (NWs) were grown on conductive glass by a modified solvothermal method using oleic acid as the key additive. The obtained TiO2 NWs are characterized using x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical characterization. The results show that the carboxyl groups arising from oleic acid are chemically bonded with the TiO2 NWs in the form of chelating bidentate, which increases the visible light absorption range and active sites of TiO2, and reduces the transfer resistance between the photoelectrode and the electrolyte. The photocurrent density is doubled to 0.17 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. This work provides a novel idea for the design of metal oxide semiconductor photoanodes by adsorbing organic compounds.
Topology-optimized photonic topological crystalline insulators with multiband helical edge states
Authors: Chen Yafeng , Lan Zhihao , Wang Hai-Xiao , An Liang , Su Zhongqing
Published: August 2024

Photonic topological crystalline insulators (PTCIs) with helical edge states provide an alternative way to achieve robust electromagnetic wave transport and processing. However, most existing PTCIs only involve a single topological bandgap, and generally support a pair of gapped helical edge states, restricting the scope of applications in various fields such as multiband waveguides, filters, and communication systems. Here, we design dual-band PTCIs, in which multiple helical edge modes appear within two distinct bulk gaps, for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, respectively, by introducing the topology optimization method into the photonic crystals with glide symmetry. For PTCIs with TE modes, the mismatched frequency ranges of edge modes hosted by two orthometric boundaries offer an opportunity to realize a photonic demultiplexer. For PTCIs with TM modes, we show the enhanced second harmonic (SH) generation through the coupling of multiband edge modes by matching the frequency ranges of edge modes within the first and second bandgaps to fundamental and SH waves, respectively. This work provides a new way for designing multiband PTCIs with helical edge states, having promising potentials in developing multiband topological photonic devices for both linear and nonlinear applications.
A new shifted generalized Chebyshev approach for multi-dimensional sinh-Gordon equation
Authors: Abd-Elhameed W M , Ahmed H M , Zaky M A , Hafez R M
Published: August 2024

The numerical treatment of multi-dimensional non-linear sinh-Gordon equations is the focus of this paper. We numerically solve the (1 + 1) and (2 + 1) sinh-Gordon equations using two collocation algorithms. We select the set of basis functions as a set of generalized Chebyshev polynomials (CPs), which we express as orthogonal combinations of CPs. We develop and utilize some formulas related to these polynomials to propose our numerical algorithms. Specific values for the high-order derivatives of the basis functions serve in the derivation of the two presented algorithms. Additionally, we provide an estimation of the basis functions used in the convergence analysis study. We follow the two collocation algorithms to transform the sinh-Gordon equations into non-linear equation systems, which any suitable solver can handle. We provide some examples and comparisons to confirm the effectiveness of our presented algorithms.
Boosting photocatalytic stability: hydrophilic Sr-doped ZnO thin films prepared via the SILAR method for enhanced performance over multiple cycles
Authors: Mokrani Nourelhouda , Guettaf Temam Elhachmi , Barkat Hadjer , Ben Temam Hachemi , Rahmane Saâd , Althamthami Mohammed
Published: August 2024

This study deals with the synthesis and characterization of Sr-doped ZnO thin films with different concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) using the SILAR method (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction). The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the films as photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue under natural sunlight conditions. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the polycrystalline nature of the films, with the crystallite size increasing with increasing Sr doping along the (100) plane. Morphological changes on the film surfaces are revealed by scanning electron microscopy and correlate with the increasing Sr content. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirms that there are no impurities in all films. 3D surface topography shows that higher Sr doping leads to an increase in average roughness and root mean square (Rq) values. Measurements of the water droplet contact angle (WDCA) indicate the hydrophilicity of the surface. Optical analysis shows that the absorption capacity of the films increases with Sr doping and shifts slightly towards longer wavelengths. Additionally, the band gap energy (Eg) shows a linear increment with higher Sr dopant concentrations. The unique contribution of this work lies in the careful investigation of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using Sr-doped ZnO films as photocatalysts under natural sunlight. In particular, the films doped with 5 wt% Sr show exceptional performance, achieving degradation rates of 94.82%, 94.61%, and 93.48% for the first, second, and third cycles, respectively. The novelty of these results lies in the successful synthesis of Sr-doped ZnO thin films by SILAR, the comprehensive characterization of their properties and the remarkable photocatalytic efficiency observed under real sunlight conditions. This work provides valuable insights into the potential application of these unique films for the efficient degradation of methylene blue, thus contributing to the further development of environmentally friendly photocatalytic materials.
General mass formulas for charged Kerr-AdS black holes
Authors: Gao Yunjiao , Di Zhenbo , Gao Sijie
Published: August 2024

It is well-known that the mass of a non-asymptotically flat spacetime cannot be uniquely defined. Some mass formulas for the Kerr-AdS black hole have been found and used in studying black hole thermodynamics. However, the derivations usually need a background subtraction to eliminate the divergence at infinity. It is also unknown whether the mass depends on the choice of coordinates. In this paper, we provide a more straightforward derivation for the mass formula, only demanding that the first law of black hole thermodynamics and Smarr formula are satisfied. We first make use of the Iyer-Wald formalism to derive a first law which avoids the divergence at infinity. Then we apply this formula to charged Kerr-AdS black hole expressed in the coordinates rotating at infinity. However, the first law associated with the timelike Killing vector field

∂

∂
t

is not integrable. Then, by making use of the gauge freedom of t, we find a favorite parameter

t
′

which just makes the mass integrable. Applying the scaling argument, we show that the mass satisfies the Smarr formula and takes the form M/Ξ3/2. Moreover, applying the conformal method with

∂

∂
t
′

, we obtain the same mass. By applying the first law to the coordinates which is not rotating at infinity, we find a preferred time T that makes the first law integrable and the mass is just the familiar mass M/Ξ2 in the literature. This mass is also confirmed by the conformal method. We find that the two mass formulas correspond to different families of observers and the preferred Killing times. So our work clarifies the ambiguities of mass in Kerr-AdS spacetimes.
Enhancing photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance of ZnO nanostructured thin films with copper doping
Authors: Abdelmoneim Alhoda , Abdel-Wahab Mohamed Sh , Elfayoumi M A K , Shaban Mohamed , Tawfik Wael Z
Published: August 2024

A promising solution to the energy issue and environmental deterioration is to use solar energy for the generation of hydrogen fuel (H2) as a clean source of energy on a large scale. The main goal of this work includes the development of ZnO-based photoelectrodes for effective photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting which enables the synthesis of H2 in an environmentally acceptable manner. This study focuses on the manufacture of ZnO thin films via the utilization of cost effective Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) approach. Herein, pure and Cu-doped ZnO films at different doping ratios from 2 wt% to 6 wt% were effectively prepared. The examination of the produced films’ morphological, structural, optical, and chemical composition characteristics was conducted using atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) technique. For each sample, the PEC behaviours for green H2 production and the measurements acquired from impedance spectroscopy were also examined. In the PEC test, a 6% Cu electrode proved to have the best PEC performance whereas it exhibited a maximum current density of around 3.6 mA cm−2 in 0.3 M Na2SO4 electrolyte compared with the other electrodes.
Supplementary optical solitonic expressions for Gerdjikov–Ivanov equations with three Kudryashov-based methods
Authors: Althrwi F A , Alshaery A A , Bakodah H O , Nuruddeen Rahmatullah Ibrahim
Published: August 2024

The present manuscript uses three Kudryashov-based methods to analytically inspect the class of Gerdjikov–Ivanov equations, which comprises the standard Gerdjikov–Ivanov equation and the perturbed Gerdjikov–Ivanov equation. Various optical solitonic solutions have been constructed. Certainly, as the reported solitonic structures happened to be exponential functions, diverse true solitonic solutions can easily be resorted to upon suitably fixing the involving parameters, including mainly the bright and singular solitons. Lastly, the study graphically examined some of the constructed structures, which were then found to portray some interesting known shapes in the theory of solitary waves and nonlinear Schrödinger equations. Additionally, the Kudryashov-index d has been noted to play a significant role in the propagation of complex waves in the nonlinear media described by Gerdjikov–Ivanov equations.
Prediction of ILI following the COVID-19 pandemic in China by using a partial differential equation
Authors: Zhang 张 Xu 栩 , Song 宋 Yu-Rong 玉蓉 , Li 李 Ru-Qi 汝琦
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly disrupted the lives of individuals worldwide. Following the lifting of COVID-19 interventions, there is a heightened risk of future outbreaks from other circulating respiratory infections, such as influenza-like illness (ILI). Accurate prediction models for ILI cases are crucial in enabling governments to implement necessary measures and persuade individuals to adopt personal precautions against the disease. This paper aims to provide a forecasting model for ILI cases with actual cases. We propose a specific model utilizing the partial differential equation (PDE) that will be developed and validated using real-world data obtained from the Chinese National Influenza Center. Our model combines the effects of transboundary spread among regions in China mainland and human activities’ impact on ILI transmission dynamics. The simulated results demonstrate that our model achieves excellent predictive performance. Additionally, relevant factors influencing the dissemination are further examined in our analysis. Furthermore, we investigate the effectiveness of travel restrictions on ILI cases. Results can be used to utilize to mitigate the spread of disease.
Valley switch effect in an α-T3 lattice-based superconducting interferometer
Authors: Wei 魏 Ya-Jun 亚军 , Wang 汪 Jun 军
Published: August 2024

Dirac electrons possess a valley degree of freedom, which is currently under investigation as a potential information carrier. We propose an approach to generate and manipulate the valley-switching current (VSC) through Andreev reflection using an interferometer-based superconductor hybrid junction. The interferometer comprises a ring-shaped structure formed by topological kink states in the α-T3 lattice via carefully designed electrostatic potentials. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a fully polarized VSC in this device without contamination from cotunneling electrons sharing the same valley as the incident electron. Furthermore, we show that control over the fully polarized VSC can be achieved by applying a nonlocal gate voltage or modifying the global parameter α. The former alters the dynamic phase of electrons while the latter provides an α-dependent Berry phase, both directly influencing quantum interference and thereby affecting performance in terms of generating and manipulating VSC, crucial for advancements in valleytronics.
Improving streamflow predictions across CONUS by integrating advanced machine learning models and diverse data
Authors: Tayal Kshitij , Renganathan Arvind , Lu Dan
Published: August 2024

Accurate streamflow prediction is crucial to understand climate impacts on water resources and develop effective adaption strategies. A global long short-term memory (LSTM) model, using data from multiple basins, can enhance streamflow prediction, yet acquiring detailed basin attributes remains a challenge. To overcome this, we introduce the Geo-vision transformer (ViT)-LSTM model, a novel approach that enriches LSTM predictions by integrating basin attributes derived from remote sensing with a ViT architecture. Applied to 531 basins across the Contiguous United States, our method demonstrated superior prediction accuracy in both temporal and spatiotemporal extrapolation scenarios. Geo-ViT-LSTM marks a significant advancement in land surface modeling, providing a more comprehensive and effective tool for better understanding the environment responses to climate change.
Water usage in cooling systems for electricity production: an event study of retrofitted coal-fired power plants in the United States
Authors: Chi Kate Hua-Ke , McCracken Melissa
Published: August 2024

Thermoelectric power plants account for approximately 40% of total U.S. water withdrawals each year. In 2022, 48.5 trillion gallons of water were withdrawn for cooling systems in electricity production, of which 962.9 billion gallons of water were consumed and no longer available for downstream use. Conventional steam coal plants, in particular, withdrew 18.3 trillion gallons of water for once-through and recirculating cooling systems in 2022 while contributing to 19.7% of total U.S. net electricity generation. As coal-fueled electricity production becomes less competitive, cases of coal-to-gas retrofits occur to avoid stranded assets. Two retrofitting methods are adopted in practice: coal-fired power plants are repurposed and replaced by natural gas combined-cycle plants, or the boiler of a coal plant is converted to burn natural gas. In this study, we construct panel data and employ an event study framework to examine changes in water withdrawal, water consumption, water discharge, and carbon emissions resulting from coal-to-gas retrofits in the continental United States from 2013 to 2022. Seventeen coal-fired power plants have been replaced with natural gas combined-cycle plants, and 167 coal steam units in 85 plants have undergone coal-to-gas boiler conversions. We find a sharp and sustained reduction in water withdrawal of 40.2–53.9 thousand gallons per megawatt-hour of net electricity produced when a coal plant transitioned to a natural gas combined-cycle plant. Water discharge was also reduced by 30.7 thousand gallons, and carbon emissions decreased by 0.59 short tons per megawatt-hour. Yet, boiler conversion did not lead to statistically significant changes in per megawatt-hour water withdrawal, water consumption, water discharge, or carbon emissions. Spatial assessment further informs resource planning of projected water-stressed regions, as 204.6 gigawatts of coal-fired power plants remain operable in the United States in 2022. Fuel transition should adopt a nexus approach and account for the interdependence between water resources and electricity production to realize sustainable development commitments.
A Filon-Clenshaw-Curtis-Smolyak rule for multi-dimensional oscillatory integrals with application to a UQ problem for the Helmholtz equation
Authors: Wu Zhizhang , Graham Ivan , Ma Dingjiong , Zhang Zhiwen
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we combine the Smolyak technique for multi-dimensional interpolation with the Filon-Clenshaw-Curtis (FCC) rule for one-dimensional oscillatory integration, to obtain a new Filon-Clenshaw-Curtis-Smolyak (FCCS) rule for oscillatory integrals with linear phase over the

d
−

d-

dimensional cube

[
−
1
,
1

]
d

[-1,1]^d

. By combining stability and convergence estimates for the FCC rule with error estimates for the Smolyak interpolation operator, we obtain an error estimate for the FCCS rule, consisting of the product of a Smolyak-type error estimate multiplied by a term that decreases with

O

(

k

−

d
~

)

\mathcal {O}(k^{-\widetilde {d}})

, where

k
k

is the wavenumber and

d
~

\widetilde {d}

is the number of oscillatory dimensions. If all dimensions are oscillatory, a higher negative power of

k
k

appears in the estimate. As an application, we consider the forward problem of uncertainty quantification (UQ) for a one-space-dimensional Helmholtz problem with wavenumber

k
k

and a random heterogeneous refractive index, depending in an affine way on

d
d

i.i.d. uniform random variables. After applying a classical hybrid numerical-asymptotic approximation, expectations of functionals of the solution of this problem can be formulated as a sum of oscillatory integrals over

[
−
1
,
1

]
d

[-1,1]^d

, which we compute using the FCCS rule. We give numerical results for the FCCS rule which illustrate its theoretical properties and show that the accuracy of the UQ algorithm improves when both

k
k

and the order of the FCCS rule increase. We also give results for both the quadrature and UQ problems when the underlying FCCS rule uses a dimension-adaptive Smolyak interpolation. These show increasing accuracy for the UQ problem as both the adaptive tolerance decreases and

k
k

increases, requiring very modest increase in work as the stochastic dimension increases, for a case when the affine expansion in random variables decays quickly.
Expanding Access to 3D Technology in Plastic Surgery of the Breast: Validation of the iPhone Against the Vectra H2
Authors: Rudy Hayeem L , Lu Yi-Hsueh , Rothchild Evan , Tepper Oren M , Weichman Katie
Published: August 2024

Background

The iPhone contains a high-fidelity 3-dimensional (3D) scanner and is widely distributed in the United States. Presently, 3D analysis of the breast necessitates ownership of cost-prohibitive cameras and software packages such as the Vectra (Canfield Scientific Inc., Parsippany, NJ) system.

Objectives

We compared the accuracy of 3D photographs of the breast obtained with the iPhone X 3D scanner (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA) with the Canfield Vectra H2 in an effort to expand access to 3D technology in plastic surgery.

Methods

Twenty breasts (n = 20) were 3D photographed with the iPhone X and the Vectra H2 and compared by colormap analysis and by measuring distances across the models between key anatomical landmarks. These distances included sternal notch to nipple (SN-N), midchest to nipple (M-N), nipple to midinframammary fold (N-IMF), and inframammary fold width (IMF). Statistical tests included the Bland–Altman plot analysis.

Results

When comparing absolute differences in distances between key anatomical landmarks, the average discrepancy in measurements between the iPhone and Vectra image pairs were the following: SN-N: 0.94 mm, M-N: 0.81 mm, N-IMF 0.91 mm, and IMF 0.98 mm. Colormap analysis demonstrated an average error of 1.53 mm, mean of 0.53 mm, and standard deviation of ±1.81 mm. Bland–Altman plot revealed a mean difference of 0.13 mm and an agreement interval between −1.90 and 2.17 mm.

Conclusions

The iPhone is capable of capturing 3D photographs with a high level of fidelity when compared with the Vectra. Three-dimensional scans obtained with the iPhone may be helpful for planning nipple position, measuring the breast footprint, choosing implants, and performing other functions with 3D technology that are typically performed with the more expensive systems.

Level of Evidence: 5
Exposure proximal immune correlates analysis
Authors: Huang Ying , Follmann Dean
Published: August 2024

Immune response decays over time, and vaccine-induced protection often wanes. Understanding how vaccine efficacy changes over time is critical to guiding the development and application of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases. The objective of this article is to develop statistical methods that assess the effect of decaying immune responses on the risk of disease and on vaccine efficacy, within the context of Cox regression with sparse sampling of immune responses, in a baseline-naive population. We aim to further disentangle the various aspects of the time-varying vaccine effect, whether direct on disease or mediated through immune responses. Based on time-to-event data from a vaccine efficacy trial and sparse sampling of longitudinal immune responses, we propose a weighted estimated induced likelihood approach that models the longitudinal immune response trajectory and the time to event separately. This approach assesses the effects of the decaying immune response, the peak immune response, and/or the waning vaccine effect on the risk of disease. The proposed method is applicable not only to standard randomized trial designs but also to augmented vaccine trial designs that re-vaccinate uninfected placebo recipients at the end of the standard trial period. We conducted simulation studies to evaluate the performance of our method and applied the method to analyze immune correlates from a phase III SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial.
Exon 1-targeting miRNA reduces the pathogenic exon 1 HTT protein in Huntington's disease models
Authors: Sogorb-Gonzalez Marina , Landles Christian , Caron Nicholas S , Stam Anouk , Osborne Georgina , Hayden Michael R , Howland David , van Deventer Sander , Bates Gillian P , Vallès Astrid , Evers Melvin
Published: August 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene (HTT) that results in toxic gain of function and cell death. Despite its monogenic cause, the pathogenesis of HD is highly complex, and increasing evidence indicates that, in addition to the full-length (FL) mutant HTT protein, the expanded exon 1 HTT (HTTexon1) protein that is translated from the HTT1a transcript generated by aberrant splicing is prone to aggregate and might contribute to HD pathology. This finding suggests that reducing the expression of HTT1a might achieve a greater therapeutic benefit than targeting only FL mutant HTT. Conversely, strategies that exclusively target FL HTT might not completely prevent the pathogenesis of HD.

We have developed an engineered microRNA targeting the HTT exon 1 sequence (miHTT), delivered via adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5). The target sequence of miHTT is present in both FL HTT and HTT1a transcripts. Preclinical studies with AAV5-miHTT have demonstrated efficacy in several rodent and large animal models by reducing FL HTT mRNA and protein and rescuing HD-like phenotypes and have been the rationale for phase I/II clinical studies now ongoing in the USA and Europe. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of AAV5-miHTT to reduce the levels of aberrantly spliced HTT1a mRNA and the HTTexon1 protein in the brain of two mouse models of HD (heterozygous zQ175 knock-in mice and humanized Hu128/21 mice).

Polyadenylated HTT1a mRNA and HTTexon1 protein were detected in the striatum and cortex of heterozygous zQ175 knock-in mice, but not in wild-type littermate control mice. Intrastriatal administration of AAV5-miHTT resulted in dose-dependent expression of mature miHTT microRNA in cortical brain regions, accompanied by significant lowering of both FL HTT and HTT1a mRNA expression at 2 months postinjection. Mutant HTT and HTTexon1 protein levels were also significantly reduced in the striatum and cortex of heterozygous zQ175 knock-in mice at 2 months after AAV5-miHTT treatment and in humanized Hu128/21 mice 7 months post-treatment. The effects were confirmed in primary Hu128/21 neuronal cultures.

These results demonstrate that AAV5-miHTT gene therapy is an effective approach to lower both FL HTT and the pathogenic HTTexon1 levels, which could potentially have an additive therapeutic benefit in comparison to other HTT-targeting modalities.
Conceptualizing the carceral state in contemporary India
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Mahuya
Published: August 2024

In this article, I explore the extraordinary measures within prison environments in contemporary India that intensify the carceral experience. I use these elements to develop a culturally distinctive theory of the carceral state in India. To analyse questions of community resilience and people’s voices in the face of extensive carceralization, I draw on the work of People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), a Delhi-based democratic rights organization, and analyse publicly available data on its activities and interventions over the past two decades.
Evaluation of potential alterations related to ADHD in the effective connectivity between the default mode network and cerebellum, hippocampus, thalamus, and primary visual cortex
Authors: Ahmadi Amirhossein , Saadatmand Mahdi , Wallois Fabrice
Published: August 2024

Hyperactivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) leads to restlessness and impulse-control impairments. Nevertheless, the relation between ADHD symptoms and brain regions interactions remains unclear. We focused on dynamic causal modeling to study the effective connectivity in a fully connected network comprised of four regions of the default mode network (DMN) (linked to response control behaviors) and four other regions with previously-reported structural alterations due to ADHD. Then, via the parametric empirical Bayes analysis, the most significant connections, with the highest correlation to the covariates ADHD/control, age, and sex were extracted. Our results demonstrated a positive correlation between ADHD and effective connectivity between the right cerebellum and three DMN nodes (intrinsically inhibitory connections). Therefore, an increase in the effective connectivity leads to more inhibition imposition from the right cerebellum to DMN that reduces this network activation. The lower DMN activity makes leaving the resting-state easier, which may be involved in the restlessness symptom. Furthermore, our results indicated a negative correlation between age and these connections. We showed that the difference between the average of effective connectivities of ADHD and control groups in the age-range of 7–11 years disappeared after 14 years-old. Therefore, aging tends to alleviate ADHD-specific symptoms.
Haematology and plasma biochemistry reference intervals of Española, San Cristobal and Eastern Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise species
Authors: Nieto-Claudín Ainoa , Palmer Jamie L , Brenn-White Maris , Esperón Fernando , Deem Sharon L
Published: August 2024

Normal reference intervals (RI) of hematologic and biochemical parameters are important for assessing and monitoring the health status of captive and free-living chelonians; however, such information is not available for most wildlife species. Giant Galapagos tortoises are one of the most iconic animals on earth and health information can make an important contribution to their conservation and management. This study provides formal RI of haematology and plasma biochemistry parameters and describes cell morphology along with morphometrics of free-living Eastern Santa Cruz (Chelonoidis donfaustoi), Española (Chelonoidis hoodensis) and San Cristóbal tortoises (Chelonoidis chathamensis). We explored differences in blood parameters between sexes, across the tortoise species in this study and with previously published RI of the Western Santa Cruz tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri). Biochemistry parameters of both Santa Cruz species were overall more similar to each other than to Española and San Cristobal tortoises. This research constitutes the first RI for these three Galapagos tortoise species and may be of value for advising captive-breeding and conservation plans. We recommend further research to establish RI in additional tortoise species so we may better understand and interpret haematology and biochemistry parameters as a valuable conservation tool for species of this critically endangered taxon.
Advancing microbiome research through standardized data and metadata collection: introducing the Microbiome Research Data Toolkit
Authors: Zass Lyndon , Mwapagha Lamech M , Louis-Jacques Adetola F , Allali Imane , Mulindwa Julius , Kiran Anmol , Hanachi Mariem , Souiai Oussama , Mulder Nicola , Oduaran Ovokeraye H
Published: August 2024

Microbiome research has made significant gains with the evolution of sequencing technologies. Ensuring comparability between studies and enhancing the findability, accessibility, interoperability and reproducibility of microbiome data are crucial for maximizing the value of this growing body of research. Addressing the challenges of standardized metadata reporting, collection and curation, the Microbiome Working Group of the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa) consortium aimed to develop a comprehensive solution. In this paper, we present the Microbiome Research Data Toolkit, a versatile tool designed to standardize microbiome research metadata, facilitate MIxS-MIMS and PhenX reporting, standardize prospective collection of participant biological and lifestyle data, and retrospectively harmonize such data. This toolkit enables past, present and future microbiome research endeavors to collaborate effectively, fostering novel collaborations and accelerating knowledge discovery in the field.

Database URL: https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24218999.v2
Application and implications of radiocarbon dating in forensic case work: when medico-legal significance meets archaeological relevance
Authors: Bertrand Benoit , Clauzel Thibault , Richardin Pascale , Bécart Anne , Morbidelli Philippe , Hédouin Valery , Marques Carina
Published: August 2024

The estimation of the postmortem interval for skeletal remains is a crucial aspect of forensic anthropology. This paper illustrates the importance of radiocarbon analysis for establishing medico-legal significance and supporting forensic identification, through the analysis of three case studies for which the years of both birth and death were investigated. In Audresselles, Northern France, a partial skull was discovered with no contextual information or identity. Radiocarbon dating yielded an average calibrated calendar age of 4232 BCE (92.5% probability), indicating significant archaeological value but no forensic relevance. In the second case, skeletal remains were found in the flooded underground of a historical fort at Wimereux, Northern France, also with no identity. Radiocarbon dating based on the bomb-pulse curve indicated a calibrated date of death in 1962 CE (37.3% probability) or 1974–1975 CE (58.1% probability), both surpassing the French statute of limitations. Lastly, a skeleton with a suspected identity was discovered near Valenciennes, Northern France, and various biological tissues underwent radiocarbon dating. A bone sample suggested a calibrated date of death of 1998–2002 CE (84.6% probability), differing from a hair sample (2013–2018 CE, 83.3% probability) because of the slower bone tissue remodeling process. DNA analysis confirmed the person’s identity, reported missing a decade prior to the discovery of the remains, following the alignment of the radiocarbon results with the individual’s year of birth based on dental tissues and year of death. These case studies reveal that traditional radiocarbon dating and bomb-pulse dating are essential tools for estimating the postmortem interval, providing mutual benefits for archaeologists, forensic anthropologists, and the criminal justice system.

Key points
Impact of Hospitalizations on Problematic Medication Use Among Community-Dwelling Persons With Dementia
Authors: Deardorff W James , Jing Bocheng , Growdon Matthew E , Blank Leah J , Bongiovanni Tasce , Yaffe Kristine , Boscardin W John , Boockvar Kenneth S , Steinman Michael A
Published: August 2024

Background

Hospitalizations are frequently disruptive for persons with dementia (PWD) in part due to the use of potentially problematic medications for complications such as delirium, pain, and insomnia. We sought to determine the impact of hospitalizations on problematic medication prescribing in the months following hospitalization.

Methods

We included community-dwelling PWD in the Health and Retirement Study aged ≥66 with a hospitalization from 2008 to 2018. We characterized problematic medications as medications that negatively affect cognition (strongly anticholinergics/sedative-hypnotics), medications from the 2019 Beers criteria, and medications from STOPP-V2. To capture durable changes, we compared problematic medications 4 weeks prehospitalization (baseline) to 4 months posthospitalization period. We used a generalized linear mixed model with Poisson distribution adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity count, prehospital chronic medications, and timepoint.

Results

Among 1 475 PWD, 504 had a qualifying hospitalization (median age 84 (IQR = 79–90), 66% female, 17% Black). There was a small increase in problematic medications from the baseline to posthospitalization timepoint that did not reach statistical significance (adjusted mean 1.28 vs 1.40, difference 0.12 (95% CI −0.03, 0.26), p = .12). Results were consistent across medication domains and certain subgroups. In one prespecified subgroup, individuals on <5 prehospital chronic medications showed a greater increase in posthospital problematic medications compared with those on ≥5 medications (p = .04 for interaction, mean increase from baseline to posthospitalization of 0.25 for those with <5 medications (95% CI 0.05, 0.44) vs. 0.06 (95% CI −0.12, 0.25) for those with ≥5 medications).

Conclusions

Hospitalizations had a small, nonstatistically significant effect on longer-term problematic medication use among PWD.
What is constitutional ideology?
Authors: Barber N W
Published: August 2024

Constitutional ideologies shape constitutional discourse, determining, at the extreme, what can and cannot be argued within constitutional institutions, or, more moderately, what can be argued but at a reputational cost. Treating constitutions as ideological devices allows us to construct constitutional models which begin with the standard rule-based account but build on this to show the rules combining to present a picture of reality, a worldview, that those within constitutional institutions are required to embrace. This worldview is dependent upon constitutional rules, but its significance extends beyond them, shaping how members of the state understand the world around them and, just as importantly, how they understand themselves. Constitutional ideology is inherently important, providing a lens through which we can examine the operation of institutions and discourse, but is also a powerful analytical tool that facilitates engagement with questions of citizenship, authority, attachment, and, perhaps most importantly of all, identity. This article provides a model of constitutional ideology, examining the interplay of rules and concepts, and the ways in which ideology structures reasoning. It concludes by outlining the types of ideological rules found in constitutional institutions. Rules relating to causality, end-states and values, empirical propositions (including historical claims), and claims about persons can all form parts of the state’s constitutional ideology.
The doctrine of ancillary restrictions as a delimitation tool and an absorption principle: twin notions but not identical twins
Authors: Nagy Csongor István
Published: August 2024

Contrary to the general view, ‘ancillary restrictions’ designate two separate conceptions, which should be treated as separate doctrines. As a ‘delimitation tool’, ancillarity separates ‘naked’ and ‘ancillary’ restrictions based on ‘reasonable necessity’. As an ‘absorption principle’, ancillarity is a rule of thumb that screens out certain lawful agreements based on the idea that a lawful main transaction (or the legality of the main transaction) absorbs all objectively necessary (indispensable) restrictions.
Influence of autoencoder latent space on classifying IoT CoAP attacks
Authors: García-Ordás María Teresa , Aveleira-Mata Jose , García-Rodrígez Isaías , Luis Casteleiro-Roca José , Bayón-Gutiérrez Martín , Alaiz-Moretón Héctor
Published: August 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) presents a unique cybersecurity challenge due to its vast network of interconnected, resource-constrained devices. These vulnerabilities not only threaten data integrity but also the overall functionality of IoT systems. This study addresses these challenges by exploring efficient data reduction techniques within a model-based intrusion detection system (IDS) for IoT environments. Specifically, the study explores the efficacy of an autoencoder’s latent space combined with three different classification techniques. Utilizing a validated IoT dataset, particularly focusing on the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), the study seeks to develop a robust model capable of identifying security breaches targeting this protocol. The research culminates in a comprehensive evaluation, presenting encouraging results that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies in strengthening IoT cybersecurity with more than a 99% of precision using only 2 learned features.
Refuge in the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean: Spaces of containment or places of choice?
Authors: Chatty Dawn
Published: August 2024

After the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the European Union became fixated on keeping refugees from the Middle East out of Europe. By 2015, with the mass influx of Syrians, Iraqis, and others, seeking safety across the Balkans, the European response was an extraordinary effort to push back and contain these displaced people within the Eastern Mediterranean region through physical barriers, bilateral agreements, and the establishment of refugee camps. This paper suggests that Europe’s efforts to keep displaced Syrians and Iraqis out of Europe were misguided. That is, contrary to what much of the European main media reported at the time, relatively few of those displaced Syrians and Iraqis had a strong desire to seek asylum in Europe. Rather, depending upon socio-economic and kinship networks, and historical ties developed over 500 years of Ottoman suzerainty, they preferred to remain in the region following long-established transnational socio-economic networks and kinship ties.
The propagation of inhomogeneous waves in an orthotropic viscoelastic medium
Authors: Tung Do Xuan
Published: August 2024

The present article deals with the propagation of inhomogeneous waves in an orthotropic viscoelastic medium. For chosen directions of propagation and a real finite inhomogeneity parameter, a complex slowness vector is specified to define the propagation of an inhomogeneous incident wave. Then, the reflection and transmission of plane waves at a plane interface between two orthotropic viscoelastic half-spaces are discussed. In this incidence, horizontal slowness determines the slowness vectors for all reflected and transmitted waves. For each reflected and transmitted wave, the corresponding slowness vector is resolved to define its phase direction, phase velocity and attenuation angle. Appropriate boundary conditions on this wave field determine the amplitude ratios for reflected and transmitted waves relative to the incident wave. The numerical examples are provided to show the effect of the inhomogeneity of the incident wave on the propagation characteristic as well as the reflection and transmission coefficients. The existence of homogeneous, inhomogeneous incident waves also is investigated.