bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Progress on the Involvement of Formaldehyde in the Methanol‐To‐Hydrocarbons Reaction
Authors: Luo Jinsong , Xiao Tianci , Liu Chengyuan , Pan Yang
Published: July 2024

This review summarized the recent research progress on the crucial role of formaldehyde during the methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction. As a reaction intermediate, formaldehyde participates in the formation of carbon–carbon, the establish of dual‐cycle, and the coking process of MTH reaction. Different techniques for formaldehyde detection in the study of MTH are also introduced.The conversion of methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons (MTH) over zeolite catalysts has been the subject of intense research since its discovery. Great effort has been devoted to the investigation of four key topics: the initiation of C−C bonds, the establishment of hydrocarbon pool (HCP), the adjustment of product selectivity, and the deactivation process of catalysts. Despite 50 years of study, some mechanisms remain controversial. However, an intermediate species, formaldehyde (HCHO), has recently garnered considerable attention for its influence on the entire MTH process. The discovery of HCHO and its significant role in the MTH process has been facilitated by the application of in situ analytical techniques, such as synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry (SR‐PIMS) and photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (PEPICO). It is now revealed that HCHO is involved in the initiation, propagation, and termination process of MTH reaction. Such mechanistic understanding of HCHO′s involvement has provided valuable insights for optimizing the MTH process.
The World Health Organisation Global Code of Practice and migration of health workers from Zimbabwe
Authors: Chikanda Abel
Published: July 2024

The migration of health workers remains one of the most pressing challenges facing many countries in the global South. This short communication seeks to reignite debate on the effectiveness of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Code as a tool for managing the migration of health workers from the South. While the WHO Code was somewhat effective in reducing the migration of health workers from countries such as Zimbabwe during the first five years of its implementation, demand for health workers in the UK after Brexit and the COVID‐19 pandemic has accelerated the rate of migration of health workers from countries facing critical shortages. Clearly, new solutions are needed that strike a balance between the right of health workers in the South to migrate and the right of citizens in the region to a stable supply of health workers.
Ultrastructure and distribution of antennal sensilla of parasitic wasp, Cotesia gregalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Liu Le , Wei Ke , Ren Zhe , Wang Xiaoyi
Published: July 2024

Cotesia gregalis Yang et Wei (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitic wasp attacking the larvae of fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, an important invasive insect pest in China. To better understand the parasitic wasps' mating and parasitic behaviors, we examined the morphology of the antennae of adult C. gregalis, as well as the type, number, and distribution of antennal sensilla, via scanning electron microscopy. The antennae of female and male C. gregalis are filiform and comprise a scape, pedicel, and 16 flagellomeres. The female antennae are significantly shorter than those of male. A total of nine morphological types of antennal sensilla (mechanoreceptor and chemoreceptor) are presented in both sexes, including four mechanoreceptors (sensilla chaetica [two subtypes], sensilla trichodea and Böhm bristles); five chemoreceptors (sensilla basiconica [two subtypes], sensilla placodea, sensilla styloconica, and sensilla coelocapitula). There is no difference in the type and distribution of antennal sensilla between males and females, but the number and length of some antennal sensilla show sexual dimorphism. The functional morphology of the sensilla of C. gregalis is discussed by comparison with other parasitic wasps. These findings provide foundation for further research on the chemical communication and host localization mechanisms of C. gregalis.

Research Highlights

The first report of morphology and distribution pattern of the antennal sensilla in C. gregalis is discussed.

A total of seven main types and nine antennal sensilla subtypes are observed in male and female C. gregalis.

The type and distribution of antennal sensilla in males and females are identical; however, the number and length of certain antennal sensilla show sexual dimorphism.
Winter entrainment drives the mixed layer supply of manganese in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Ramalepe Thapelo , Samanta Saumik , Cloete Ryan , Ryan‐Keogh Thomas J. , Roychoudhury Alakendra N.
Published: July 2024

Despite the subnanomolar dissolved manganese concentrations that can co‐limit Southern Ocean primary production, their physical supply mechanisms during winter, for biological consumption in spring and summer have not yet been explored. During austral winter and spring 2019, two cruises were conducted in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, to determine the distribution and surface water supply mechanisms of dissolved manganese in the upper water column. The supply mechanisms were used to calculate the total flux of dissolved manganese to productive surface waters and were compared to biological consumption estimates. Mean dissolved manganese concentrations in the upper water column (< 500 m) during winter and spring were comparably low (≤ 0.34 nmol kg−1; p > 0.05), with seasonal mixed layer reservoir sizes averaging 65.21 ± 12.93 and 21.64 ± 19.32 μmol m−2, respectively. Winter entrainment contributed 89.33–99.99% (average 97.26% ± 5.28%) of the total dissolved manganese flux, while diapycnal diffusion contributed 0.52–10.58% (average 4.92% ± 5.14%), was identified as the dominant mechanisms for transporting dissolved manganese into the mixed layer in the subantarctic zone, polar frontal zone, and antarctic zone. Here, the winter physical supply rates were higher than the estimated consumption rates during spring, meeting phytoplankton biological demands. Whereas in the subtropical zone, the supply rates were lower than the consumption rates, indicating the presence of additional supply mechanisms such as coastal upwelling, which may help to meet the biological demands in this region.
Mode management in Bottom‐Up, Parity‐Time‐Symmetric Micro‐Cavity Lasers
Authors: Wong Wei Wen , Zhang Jihua , Garg Gaurang , Jagadish Chennupati , Tan Hark Hoe
Published: July 2024

The intrinsic non‐Hermiticity of photonic devices with tunable optical gain and loss makes them excellent platforms to explore and implement applications based on parity‐time symmetry, and a notable example is mode management in micro‐cavity lasers. Thus far, parity‐time‐symmetric lasers are fabricated via conventional top‐down etching processes, which are known to cause cavity sidewall roughness that is potentially detrimental to laser performance. Bottom‐up fabrication of parity‐time‐symmetric lasers, however, has seen limited success due to strict requirements on the uniformity of cavity morphology. Here, parity‐time‐symmetric lasing is demonstrated in coupled InP micro‐ring cavities grown directly by selective area epitaxy. With a facet engineering technique, ring laser cavities with a highly deterministic morphology are realized, enabling parity‐time‐symmetric laser designs. Furthermore, benefiting from the versatility and controllability of this bottom‐up process, lasing mode selectivity can be enhanced through coupling gap tuning and cavity shape engineering, leading to single‐mode lasing with a peak side mode suppression ratio exceeding 17 dB and a threefold single‐mode brightness enhancement compared to a single, uncoupled laser cavity. This work unlocks a lasing mode management strategy that is previously unavailable to bottom‐up laser cavities, which is a major step toward the realization of on‐chip, low‐loss, and single‐mode micro‐cavity lasers.
Analysis and numerical methods for nonlocal‐in‐time Allen‐Cahn equation
Authors: Li Hongwei , Yang Jiang , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we investigate the nonlocal‐in‐time Allen‐Cahn equation (NiTACE), which incorporates a nonlocal operator in time with a finite nonlocal memory. Our objective is to examine the well‐posedness of the NiTACE by establishing the maximal regularity for the nonlocal‐in‐time parabolic equations with fractional power kernels. Furthermore, we derive a uniform energy bound by leveraging the positive definite property of kernel functions. We also develop an energy‐stable time stepping scheme specifically designed for the NiTACE. Additionally, we analyze the discrete maximum principle and energy dissipation law, which hold significant importance for phase field models. To ensure convergence, we verify the asymptotic compatibility of the proposed stable scheme. Lastly, we provide several numerical examples to illustrate the accuracy and effectiveness of our method.
Moving into higher education: An examination of student mobility under the Independent Freshman Admission Program in China
Authors: Cui Can , Yu Chengyuan , Chen Nanxi , Deng Xinghua
Published: July 2024

Student mobility, as a significant component of population movements, shapes the distribution of intellectual individuals and reflects regional equity in access to higher education. In China, the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) traditionally governs university admissions through a province‐based quota scheme. In 2003, the Independent Freshman Admission Program (IFAP) was introduced to enhance flexibility and university autonomy in the admissions process, in which no quota is set for each province, breaking geographical constraints. However, the extent to which the IFAP has impacted student mobility remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the province‐to‐university migration patterns under different higher education admission schemes, revealing IFAP's preference for recruiting students from provinces with well‐developed basic education and a large student population. Furthermore, under the IFAP, students tend to flow to the top‐ranked universities and concentrate in favourable locations, such as First‐tier cities, while the quota allocation shows a more balanced distribution. These findings highlight the crucial role of policy in shaping student mobility, particularly within the context of strong institutional forces, and underscore the need to develop refined policies that balance equitable educational opportunities and regional equity.
Composite observer based finite time control for nonlinear systems subjecting to multiple disturbances
Authors: Zhang Huifeng , Wei Xinjiang , Li Xinqing
Published: July 2024

Composite observer based finite time control of nonlinear systems in case of multiple disturbances is studied in this article, wherein the disturbances contain two parts, the first type is the harmonic disturbance with modeling errors, and all other disturbances are classified as the second type, known as lumped disturbances. To give estimation of the harmonic disturbance and the lumped disturbances, a disturbance observer (DO) and the extended state observer are constructed, respectively. On this basis, a finite‐time elegant anti‐disturbance controller is presented by combing DO‐based control, active disturbance rejection control, backstepping technique and the finite time command filter method. Eventually, it is proved that the design method put forward in this article is correct and feasible.
Design of zero‐sum game‐based H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ optimal preview repetitive control systems with external disturbance and input delay
Authors: Liu Da , Lan Yong‐Hong
Published: July 2024

In this article, an optimal preview repetitive control (OPRC) scheme is proposed to deal with the disturbance attenuation problem for continuous‐time linear systems with external unknown disturbance and input delay. A general bounded gain is applied to the OPRC tracking control problem by introducing a function with discounted performance. First, an augmented system containing system state equation, tracking error dynamics, and modified repetitive control output equation is constructed, which is then transformed into a non‐delayed one by state transformation. Next, the OPRC controller is given and the game algebraic Riccati equation (GARE) is derived by transforming the tracking problem into a 2‐player zero‐sum game problem to give a Nash equilibrium solution of the associated min–max optimization problem. Besides, a value iteration (VI) algorithm is introduced to optimize the solution of continuous time GARE and ensure its convergence. Furthermore, the bounded‐input bounded‐output stability of the closed‐loop system is obtained by giving an upper bound on the discount factor. Finally, the numerical simulation example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An updated review and perspective on efficient hydrogen generation via solar thermal water splitting
Authors: Tran Justin T. , Warren Kent J. , Wilson Steven A. , Muhich Christopher L. , Musgrave Charles B. , Weimer Alan W.
Published: July 2024

Solar thermal water splitting (STWS) produces renewable (or green) hydrogen from water using concentrated sunlight. Because STWS utilizes energy from the entire solar spectrum to drive the reduction–oxidation (redox) reactions that split water, it can achieve high theoretical solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiencies. In a two‐step STWS process, a metal oxide that serves as a redox mediator is first heated with concentrated sunlight to high temperatures (T >1000°C) to reduce it and evolve oxygen. In the second step, the reduced material is exposed to steam to reoxidize it to its original oxidation state and produce hydrogen. Various aspects of this process are comprehensively reviewed in this work, including the reduction and oxidation chemistries of active materials considered to date, the solar reactors developed to facilitate the STWS reactions, and the effects of operating conditions—including the recent innovation of elevated oxidant pressure—on efficiency. To conclude the review, a perspective on the future optimization of STWS is provided.

This article is categorized under:

Sustainable Energy > Solar Energy

Emerging Technologies > Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Emerging Technologies > New Fuels
Impacts of thermally stratified medium on transient convective heat transfer between co‐axial horizontal fixed pipes: Applications of the thermal stratification
Authors: Nabwey Hossam A. , Bibi Bakhtawar , Ashraf Muhammad , Rashad Ahmed M. , Hawsah Miad Abu
Published: July 2024

Thermal stratification improves coaxial pipe systems’ efficiency and stability. Thermal stratification enables accurate temperature maintenance, reduces thermal stress, optimizes heat transmission performance, and minimizes usage of energy to guarantee the system's long‐term performance. The main aim of the current study is to investigate the impacts of thermal stratification on buoyancy force flow and thermal transmission between coaxial fixed pipes. In the present research, the applications of thermally stratified medium on transient convective heat transfer between two coaxial fixed pipes are studied. A two‐dimensional mathematical formulation in terms of mutually nonlinear partial differential equations is used to analyze the unsteady flow and temperature field between the co‐axial pipes, when the internal pipe is uniformly heated and the outer wall of the external pipe is placed at infinity from the surface of the inner fixed pipe. Flow is assumed along the axial direction of the internal pipe and stationary boundary condition is assumed at the surface of the inner pipe. The coupled equations of the simulated model are solved numerically by applying the Implicit Finite Difference Technique. The computed outcomes in the form of geometrical interpretation are highlighted by using the technically advanced software TECHPLOT‐360. Comprehensive detail of the obtained results for the non‐dimensional parameters included in the flow formulation is predicted for steady state velocity, temperature distribution, time‐dependent surface shearness and time‐dependent energy shearness in results and discussion section of the manuscript. The emphasis is placed on the thermal stratification parameter in the above mentioned chief quantities. From the obtained results, it is predicted that the fluid flow pattern and thermal distribution are both reduced for rising values of the thermal stratification parameter S = 0.001, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07. Minimum flow and thermal profile are observed at S = 0.07. Further, the amplitude of the time‐dependent surface shearness is uniformly distributed throughout the medium and the amplitude of the time‐dependent energy shearness is reduced effectively for S = 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0.
The Swiss Cooperative Landscape: A Quantitative and Qualitative Overview
Authors: Gutmann Martin , Niedworok Anja
Published: July 2024

Cooperatives play an important role in the Swiss society. Swiss cooperatives can be found in cities as well as rural Alpine areas, from nationwide organizations to small, less corporate-like ones. This chapter illustrates the diversity of Swiss cooperatives today through a quantitative and qualitative lens. The first section gives an overview of Swiss cooperatives today in terms of numbers and distribution along geographic groupings, economic activity, size, and economic impact as well as their public perception and recent media resonance. The second part of the chapter sketches how various cooperatives are coping with a challenging and changing economic landscape. This includes a discussion of how large and established cooperatives are evolving, using a case as an example, and an examination of how smaller cooperatives are adapting and sometimes thriving in new, socially critical areas: farming, housing, and energy. Finally, the conclusion summarizes key findings and what the future may hold.
Schluss
Authors: Breger Max
Published: July 2024

Folter ist unmenschlich und menschlich zugleich: unmenschlich im normativen Sinne, weil sie eine Normverletzung humanistischer Verhaltenserwartungen und Rechte darstellt, das heißt: Menschen nicht so behandelt werden, wie es unsere humanistische Kosmologie vorsieht. Menschlich ist Folter, weil sie von Menschen an Menschen vollzogen wird. Sie besteht aus Situationskonstellationen und -verkettungen, die organisational auf das Erzeugen von severepain and suffering der Gefolterten hin strukturiert werden und eine kaum überbietbare Asymmetrie herstellen. Dieses Kapitel fasst die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zusammen und diskutiert insbesondere die Verkettung und Dezentralität von Folter, die Psychologisierung moderner Folter, die Frage nach dem Interaktionscharakter und der extremen Asymmetrie von Folter sowie die Rolle von Sichtbarkeiten und Unsichtbarkeiten.
Study on the Stability of Rock Walls in Shallow-Buried Tunnels with Small Clearances in Layered Rock Masses
Authors: He Xiaojun
Published: July 2024

In the engineering of tunnels with small clearances, the structural features of rock layers play a crucial role in the stability of the central rock walls. This study employed the Discrete Element Method software (UDEC) to simulate the mechanical response of tunnels with small clearances under various rock layer dip angles, both in unfortified conditions and when reinforced with shotcrete. The research thoroughly examined the deformation patterns of the central rock walls, the development process of the plastic zones, and the dynamic changes in the stress distribution along the rock layer interfaces. The findings indicate that the deformation of the central rock walls is most significant when the rock layer dip angle is around 60°. Timely reinforcement with shotcrete effectively restricts the expansion of the plastic zones. Additionally, the characteristics of the rock layer interfaces play a decisive role in the stability of the central rock walls, with a higher risk of slip failure under certain dip angles.
Study on the Circumferential Mechanical Properties of Buried PE Pipes with Soil Erosion Void
Authors: Hu Jinqiu , Yan Xuefeng , Zeng Cong
Published: July 2024

Soil erosion void is a common pipeline defect, which has a great impact on the stability and safety of pipeline operation, but the force characteristics for eroded pipes are still unclear. Buried PE pipes in municipal engineering are taken as the research object, and the calculation method of soil pressure at the bottom of the pipe with soil erosion void is proposed, and the influence of factors such as size and location of the void on the stress characteristics of buried PE pipes with soil erosion void is studied by using the numerical model. The results of the study show that the void will affect the structural stress of PE pipes, the size of the void is positively correlated with the influence degree and influence range of the pipe; the location of the void determines the influence location of the pipe.
Bilinear Fronsdal currents in the AdS4 higher-spin theory
Authors: Tatarenko Yu. A. , Vasiliev M. A.
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We analyse higher-spin theory with general coupling constant η at the second order, focusing on the gauge non-invariant vertices Υ(ω, ω), Υ(Ω, ω, C) and Υ(ω, C), that are shown to generate nontrivial currents in the Fronsdal equations. Explicit expressions for the currents are found in the frame-like formalism counterpart of the TT gauge worked out in the paper. The nonlinear higher-spin theory is shown to generate all types of Metsaev’s currents with the coupling constants manifestly expressed via the complex coupling constant η of the higher-spin theory. It is shown that all currents in the higher-spin theory are conformal in the TT gauge except for those bilinear in the higher-spin gauge fields ω.
PCN: a deep learning approach to jet tagging utilizing novel graph construction methods and Chebyshev graph convolutions
Authors: Semlani Yash , Relan Mihir , Ramesh Krithik
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Jet tagging is a classification problem in high-energy physics experiments that aims to identify the collimated sprays of subatomic particles, jets, from particle collisions and ‘tag’ them to their emitter particle. Advances in jet tagging present opportunities for searches of new physics beyond the Standard Model. Current approaches use deep learning to uncover hidden patterns in complex collision data. However, the representation of jets as inputs to a deep learning model have been varied, and often, informative features are withheld from models. In this study, we propose a graph-based representation of a jet that encodes the most information possible. To learn best from this representation, we design Particle Chebyshev Network (PCN), a graph neural network (GNN) using Chebyshev graph convolutions (ChebConv). ChebConv has been demonstrated as an effective alternative to classical graph convolutions in GNNs and has yet to be explored in jet tagging. PCN achieves a substantial improvement in accuracy over existing taggers and opens the door to future studies into graph-based representations of jets and ChebConv layers in high-energy physics experiments. Code is available at https://github.com/YVSemlani/PCN-Jet-Tagging
Missing local operators, zeros, and twist-4 trajectories
Authors: Henriksson Johan , Kravchuk Petr , Oertel Brett
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The number of local operators in a CFT below a given twist grows with spin. Consistency with analyticity in spin then requires that at low spin, infinitely many Regge trajectories must decouple from local correlation functions, implying infinitely many vanishing conditions for OPE coefficients. In this paper we explain the mechanism behind this infinity of zeros. Specifically, the mechanism is related to the two-point function rather than the three-point function, explaining the vanishing of OPE coefficients in every correlator from a single condition. We illustrate our result by studying twist-4 Regge trajectories in the Wilson-Fisher CFT at one loop.
Structure-dependent QED in $$ {B}^{-}\to {\ell}^{-}\overline{\nu}\left(\gamma \right) $$
Authors: Rowe Matthew , Zwicky Roman
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Based on explicitly gauge invariant interpolating operators we compute complete next-leading order QED-corrections for leptonic decays. These are sizeable since the helicity-suppression in V-A interactions allows for structure-dependent collinear logs. We have explicitly checked that these logs are absent for helicity-unsuppressed Yukawa-type transitions. Based on B → γ form factors we present the rates for $$ {B}^{-}\to \left({\mu}^{-},{\tau}^{-}\right)\overline{\nu}\left(\gamma \right) $$

B
−

→

μ
−

τ
−

ν
¯

γ

in differential and integrated form as a function of the photon energy cut-off $$ {E}_{\gamma}^{\textrm{cut}} $$

E
γ
cut

. The effect of the virtual structure-dependent corrections are approximately +5% and +3% for the μ- and τ-channel respectively. The structure dependence of the real radiation exceeds that of the virtual one for $$ {\left.{E}_{\gamma}^{\textrm{cut}}\right|}_{\mu } $$

E
γ
cut

μ

> 0.18(3) GeV and is subdominant for the tau channel even when fully inclusive.
On the charge algebra of causal diamonds in three dimensional gravity
Authors: Pulakkat Pranav
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Covariant phase space methods are applied to the analysis of a causal diamond in 2+1-dimensional pure Einstein gravity. It is found that the reduced phase space is parametrized by a family of charges with a dual geometrical interpretation: they are geometric observables on the corner of the diamond, and they generate diffeomorphisms. The Poisson brackets among them close into an algebra. Knowledge of the corner charges therefore permits reconstruction of the diamond geometry, which realizes a form of local holography. The results are contrasted with the literature, and the path to a quantum description of spacetime geometry is discussed.
Quasibound and quasinormal modes of a thick brane in Rastall gravity
Authors: Tan Qin , Zhong Yi , Guo Wen-Di
Published: July 2024

Abstract

In this work, we study the gravitational quasinormal modes of the thick brane in Rastall gravity. Using the asymptotic iteration and direct integration methods, we solve the quasinormal frequencies of the Rastall thick brane. We also obtained the waveforms of these quasinormal modes through numerical evolution. The results indicate that although the Rastall thick brane lacks a bound zero mode, when the Rastall parameter λ ≳ 0, a long-lived quasinormal mode appears. This long-lived quasinormal mode may restore the four-dimensional effective Newtonian potential on the brane on a large scale. This may provide a new perspective for the localization of gravity on thick branes, that a thick brane does not necessarily require the gravity to be localized, perhaps quasi-localized is sufficient.
Impact of the cosmic neutrino background on long-range force searches
Authors: Chauhan Garv , Xu Xun-Jie
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Light bosons can mediate long-range forces. We show that light bosonic mediators interacting with a background medium, in particular, with the cosmic neutrino background (CνB), may induce medium-dependent masses which could effectively screen long-range forces from detection. This leads to profound implications for long-range force searches in e.g. the Eöt-Wash, MICROSCOPE, and lunar laser-ranging (LLR) experiments. For instance, we find that when the coupling of the mediator to neutrinos is above 3 × 10−10 or 5 × 10−13, bounds from LLR and experiments employing the Sun as an attractor, respectively, would be entirely eliminated. Larger values of the coupling can also substantially alleviate bounds from searches conducted at shorter distances.
Extremal black hole decay in de Sitter space
Authors: Aalsma Lars , van der Schaar Jan Pieter , Visser Manus R.
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The decay of extremal charged black holes has been a useful guidance to derive consistency conditions in quantum gravity. In de Sitter space it has been argued that requiring (extremal) charged Nariai black holes to decay without forming a big crunch singularity yields the Festina Lente (FL) bound: particles with mass ms and charge q should satisfy $$ {m}_s^2\gg {M}_p Hq $$

m
s
2

≫

M
p

Hq
, where Mp is the Planck mass and H the Hubble parameter. Using a tunneling approach we show that the decay probability of charged black holes in de Sitter space in the s-wave sector is P ∼ exp(∆Sb), where ∆Sb is the change in the black hole entropy. We find that the FL bound corresponds to ∆Sb ≤ – 1 in the Nariai and probe limit. However, taking into account backreaction we identify unsuppressed decay channels, which might be subdominant, that violate this bound but nonetheless do not result in a big crunch for every observer.
Composite dark matter and neutrino masses from a light hidden sector
Authors: Ahmed Aqeel , Chacko Zackaria , Desai Niral , Doshi Sanket , Kilic Can , Najjari Saereh
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We study a class of models in which the particle that constitutes dark matter arises as a composite state of a strongly coupled hidden sector. The hidden sector interacts with the Standard Model through the neutrino portal, allowing the relic abundance of dark matter to be set by annihilation into final states containing neutrinos. The coupling to the hidden sector also leads to the generation of neutrino masses through the inverse seesaw mechanism, with composite hidden sector states playing the role of the singlet neutrinos. We focus on the scenario in which the hidden sector is conformal in the ultraviolet, and the compositeness scale lies at or below the weak scale. We construct a holographic realization of this framework based on the Randall-Sundrum setup and explore the implications for experiments. We determine the current constraints on this scenario from direct and indirect detection, lepton flavor violation and collider experiments and explore the reach of future searches. We show that in the near future, direct detection experiments and searches for μ → e conversion will be able to probe new parameter space. At colliders, dark matter can be produced in association with composite singlet neutrinos via Drell Yan processes or in weak decays of hadrons. We show that current searches at the Large Hadron Collider have only limited sensitivity to this new production channel and we comment on how the reconstruction of the singlet neutrinos can potentially expand the reach.
ISL1-overexpressing BMSCs attenuate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing apoptosis and oxidative stress through the paracrine action
Authors: Wang Jiale , Wang Jingwen , Lu Cuinan , Wang Ying , Bi Huanjing , Zheng Jin , Ding Xiaoming
Published: July 2024

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major event in renal transplantation, leading to adverse outcomes. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are novel promising therapeutics for repairing kidney injuries. The therapeutic efficacy of BMSCs with ISL1 overexpression in renal IRI and its underlying mechanism need to be investigated. The unilateral renal IRI rat model was established to mimic clinical acute kidney injury. Rats were injected with PBS, BMSCs-Scrambled or BMSCs-ISL1 via the tail vein at the timepoint of reperfusion, and then sacrificed after 24 h of reperfusion. The administration of BMSCs-ISL1 significantly improved renal function, inhibited tubular cells apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress in rats. In vitro, HKC cells subjected to H2O2 stimulation were pretreated with the conditioned medium (CM) of BMSCs-Scrambled or BMSCs-ISL1. The pretreatment of ISL1-CM attenuated apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in HKC cells. Our proteomic data suggested that haptoglobin (Hp) was one of the secretory proteins in ISL1-CM. Subsequent experiments confirmed that Hp was the important paracrine factor from BMSCs-ISL1 that exerted anti-apoptotic and antioxidant functions. Mechanistically, Hp played a cytoprotective role via the inhibition of ERK signaling pathway, which could be abrogated by Ro 67-7476, the ERK phosphorylation agonist. The results suggested that paracrine action may be the main mechanism for BMSCs-ISL1 to exert protective effects. As an important anti-apoptotic and antioxidant factor in ISL1-CM, Hp may serve as a new therapeutic agent for treating IRI, providing new insights for overcoming the long-term adverse effects of stem cell therapy.
A $$C^1$$-Itô’s Formula for Flows of Semimartingale Distributions
Authors: Bouchard Bruno , Tan Xiaolu , Wang Jixin
Published: July 2024

We provide an Itô’s formula for $$C^1$$

C
1

-functionals of flows of conditional marginal distributions of continuous semimartingales. This is based on the notion of weak Dirichlet process, and extends the $$C^1$$

C
1

-Itô’s formula in Gozzi and Russo (Stoch Process Appl 116(11):1563–1583, 2006) to this context. As the first application, we study a class of McKean–Vlasov optimal control problems, and establish a verification theorem which only requires $$C^1$$

C
1

-regularity of its value function, which is equivalently the (viscosity) solution of the associated HJB master equation. It goes together with a novel duality result.
Efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor antibody rechallenge in RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: a multi-institutional observational study
Authors: Fukuda Koshiro , Osumi Hiroki , Yoshinami Yuri , Ooki Akira , Takashima Atsuo , Wakatsuki Takeru , Hirano Hidekazu , Nakayama Izuma , Ouchi Kota , Sawada Ryoichi , Fukuoka Shota , Ogura Mariko , Takahari Daisuke , Chin Keisho , Shoji Hirokazu , Okita Natsuko , Kato Ken , Ishizuka Naoki , Boku Narikazu , Yamaguchi Kensei , Shinozaki Eiji
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To investigate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) RAS mutant (MT) incidence before salvage-line treatment and the clinicopathological features and molecular biological factors associated with the efficacy of anti-epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (mAb) rechallenge for tissue RAS/BRAF wild type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods

This multi-institutional retrospective observational study included 74 patients with mCRC with tissue RAS/BRAF WT refractory to first-line chemotherapy containing anti-EGFR mAb. ctDNA RAS status was assessed using the OncoBEAM™ RAS CRC Kit. We explored the clinicopathological features associated with ctDNA RAS status and the factors related to anti-EGFR mAb rechallenge efficacy in multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

The incidence of RAS MT in ctDNA was 40.5% (30/74), which was associated with primary tumor resection (P = 0.016), liver metastasis (P < 0.001), and high tumor marker levels (P < 0.001). Among the 39 patients treated with anti-EGFR mAb rechallenge, those with ctDNA RAS WT showed significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those with ctDNA RAS MT (median 4.1 vs. 2.7 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.39, P = 0.045). Patients who responded to first-line anti-EGFR mAb showed significantly longer PFS (HR = 0.21, P = 0.0026) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.23, P = 0.026) than those with stable disease.

Conclusions

The incidence of ctDNA RAS MT mCRC was 40.5%, which was associated with liver metastases and high tumor volumes. Anti-EGFR mAb rechallenge may be effective for patients with mCRC who responded to first-line chemotherapy containing anti-EGFR mAb. No patients with RAS MT in ctDNA responded to anti-EGFR mAb rechallenge.
Lyapunov exponents and shear-induced chaos for a Hopf bifurcation with additive noise
Authors: Baxendale Peter H.
Published: July 2024

This paper considers the effect of additive white noise on the normal form for the supercritical Hopf bifurcation in 2 dimensions. The main results involve the asymptotic behavior of the top Lyapunov exponent $$\lambda $$
λ
associated with this random dynamical system as one or more of the parameters in the system tend to 0 or $$\infty $$
∞
. This enables the construction of a bifurcation diagram in parameter space showing stable regions where $$\lambda <0$$

λ
<
0

(implying synchronization) and unstable regions where $$\lambda > 0$$

λ
>
0

(implying chaotic behavior). The value of $$\lambda $$
λ
depends strongly on the shearing effect of the twist factor b/a of the deterministic Hopf bifurcation. If b/a is sufficiently small then $$\lambda <0$$

λ
<
0

regardless of all the other parameters in the system. But when all the parameters except b are fixed then $$\lambda $$
λ
grows like a positive multiple of $$b^{2/3}$$

b

2
/
3

as $$b \rightarrow \infty $$

b
→
∞

.
Toward next generation mixed reality games: a research through design approach
Authors: Xiao Ruowei , Zhang Rongzheng , Buruk Oğuz , Hamari Juho , Virkki Johanna
Published: July 2024

Mixed reality (MR) games refer to games that integrate physical entities with digitally mediated contents. Currently, it entails game creators to integrate heterogeneous virtual and physical components, which is often time-consuming and labor-intensive, without the support of a coherent technology stack. The underlying technodiversity manifested by the research corpus suggests a complicated, multi-dimensional design space that goes beyond merely technical concerns. In this research, we adopted a research-through-design approach and proposed an MR game technology stack that facilitates flexible, low-code game development. As design grounding, we first surveyed 34 state-of-the-art studies, and results were synergized into three different spectra of technological affordances, respectively activity range, user interface and feedback control, to inform our next design process. We then went through an iterative prototyping phase and implemented an MR game development toolset. A co-design workshop was conducted, where we invited 15 participants to try the prototype tools and co-ideate the potential use scenarios for the proposed technology stack. First-hand user feedback was collected via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. As a result, four conceptual game designs with three major design implications were generated, which conjointly reflect a broader understanding on MR gameful experience and contribute fresh insights to this emerging research domain.
Psychometric validation of the Chinese versions of EQ-5D-Y-3L and the experimental EQ-TIPS in children and adolescents with COVID-19
Authors: Zhou Wenjing , Li Yaqin , Busschbach Jan , Herdman Michael , Yang Zhihao , Lu Yanming
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Respiratory infectious diseases like COVID-19 profoundly impacts the health of children and adolescents, but validated instruments to measure their impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are lacking. The EQ-5D-Y-3L, widely used for youth HRQoL, now features a Chinese value set. The experimental EQ-TIPS addresses HRQoL assessment for toddlers and infants. This study tested the psychometric properties of both instruments in paediatric COVID-19 patients, and compared the performance of self-complete and proxy EQ-5D-Y-3L.

Methods

This longitudinal study recruited 861 COVID-19 patients aged 0–18 years and their parental caregivers, with 311 dyads completing the follow-up. Digital administration included the EQ-TIPS, the EQ-5D-Y-3L, and Overall Health Assessment (OHA). Controls comprised 231 healthy children. Analysis encompassed known-group validity, child-parent agreement, and responsiveness to change in disease severity and OHA.

Results

COVID-19 children exhibited lower HRQoL than non-infected peers. The EQ-TIPS and the EQ-5D-Y-3L distinguished groups by disease presence, severity and symptoms, showing moderate to good known-group validity (ESs: 0.45–1.39 for EQ-TIPS, 0.44–1.91 for self-complete EQ-5D-Y-3L, and 0.32–1.67 for proxy EQ-5D-Y-3L). Child-parent agreement was moderate to good for EQ-5D-Y-3L (ICC: 0.653–0.823; Gwet’s AC1: 0.470–0.738), and responsiveness was good for both EQ-TIPS Level Sum Score (LSS) (ESs: 1.21–1.39) and EQ-5D-Y-3L index scores (ESs: 1.00–1.16).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the experimental EQ-TIPS and the EQ-5D-Y-3L in paediatric COVID-19 patients. It is the first evidence of the EQ-TIPS’ responsiveness, supporting its use in assessing the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric HRQoL.
The resistance to anoikis, mediated by Spp1, and the evasion of immune surveillance facilitate the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Zhengwei , Chen Xiaoning , Li Yapeng , Zhang Feng , Quan Zhen , Wang Zhuo , Yang Yang , Si Wei , Xiong Yuting , Ju Jiaming , Bian Yu , Sun Shibo
Published: July 2024

Anoikis-Related Genes (ARGs) lead to the organism manifesting resistance to anoikis and are associated with unfavorable prognostic outcomes across various malignancies.Therefore, it is crucial to identify the pivotal target genes related to anoikis in HCC .We found that ARGs were significantly correlated with prognosis and immune responses in HCC. The core gene, SPP1, notably promoted anoikis resistance and metastasis in HCC through both in vivo and in vitro studies. The PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway played a critical role in anoikis suppression within HCC contexts. Our research unveiled SPP1’s role in enhancing PKCα phosphorylation, which in turn activated the PI3K-Akt-mTOR cascade. Additionally, SPP1 was identified as a key regulator of MDSCs and Tregs migration, directly affecting their immunosuppressive capabilities.These findings indicate that in HCC, SPP1 promoted anoikis resistance and facilitated immune evasion by modulating MDSCs and Tregs.

Graphical Abstract
Investigating the Effects of Repetitive Paired-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Visuomotor Training Using TMS-EEG
Authors: Sasaki Ryoki , Hand Brodie J. , Liao Wei-Yeh , Semmler John G. , Opie George M.
Published: July 2024

I-wave periodicity repetitive paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTMS) can modify acquisition of a novel motor skill, but the associated neurophysiological effects remain unclear. The current study therefore used combined TMS-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate the neurophysiological effects of iTMS on subsequent visuomotor training (VT). Sixteen young adults (26.1 ± 5.1 years) participated in three sessions including real iTMS and VT (iTMS + VT), control iTMS and VT (iTMSControl + VT), or iTMS alone. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) were measured before and after iTMS, and again after VT, to assess neuroplastic changes. Irrespective of the intervention, MEP amplitude was not changed after iTMS or VT. Motor skill was improved compared with baseline, but no differences were found between stimulus conditions. In contrast, the P30 peak was altered by VT when preceded by control iTMS (P < 0.05), but this effect was not apparent when VT was preceded by iTMS or following iTMS alone (all P > 0.15). In contrast to expectations, iTMS was unable to modulate MEP amplitude or influence motor learning. Despite this, changes in P30 amplitude suggested that motor learning was associated with altered cortical reactivity. Furthermore, this effect was abolished by priming with iTMS, suggesting an influence of priming that failed to impact learning.
Authoritarian Neoliberalism and Asylum Seekers: the Silencing of Accounting and Accountability in Offshore Detention Centres
Authors: George Sendirella , Twyford Erin , Tanima Farzana Aman
Published: July 2024

This paper examines how accounting can both entrench and challenge an inhumane and costly neoliberal policy—namely, the Australian government’s offshore detention of asylum seekers. Drawing on Bruff, Rethinking Marxism 26:113–129 (2014) and Smith, Competition & Change 23:192–217 (2019), we acknowledge that the neoliberalism underpinning immigration policies and the practices related to asylum seekers takes anauthoritariantone. Through the securitisation and militarisation of the border, the Australian state politicises and silences marginalised social groups such as asylum-seekers. Studies have exposed accounting as a technology that upholds neoliberalism by representing policy as objective and factual. Curiously, there has been a wilful intention by successive Australian governments to silence the accounting for offshore detention. We seek to demystify thisunaccounting andunaccountability by exploring counter-accounts produced by meso-level organisations that support asylum seekers. We apply a close-reading method in analysing limited governmental accounts and various counter-accounts to demonstrate how counter-accounts give visibility to practices that an authoritarian neoliberal regime has obfuscated. We also reflect on the potential for counter-accounting to foster broader social change by holding the Australian government accountable to moral and ethical standards of care for human life. This paper considers the intersections between accounting and authoritarian neoliberalism and presents counter-accounts as mechanisms that can challenge these neoliberal norms.
KIAA1429 increases FOXM1 expression through YTHDF1–mediated m6A modification to promote aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis in multiple myeloma
Authors: Wu Yue , Luo Yi , Yao Xingchen , Shi Xiangjun , Xu Ziyu , Re Jie , Shi Ming , Li Meng , Liu Junpeng , He Youzhi , Du Xinru
Published: July 2024

Objective

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a deadly plasma cell malignancy with elusive pathogenesis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is critically engaged in hematological malignancies. The function of KIAA1429, the largest component of methyltransferases, is unknown. This study delved into the mechanism of KIAA1429 in MM, hoping to offer novel targets for MM therapy.

Methods

Bone marrow samples were attained from 55 MM patients and 15 controls. KIAA1429, YTHDF1, and FOXM1 mRNA levels were detected and their correlation was analyzed. Cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis were testified. Glycolysis-enhancing genes (HK2, ENO1, and LDHA), lactate production, and glucose uptake were evaluated. The interaction between FOXM1 mRNA and YTHDF1, m6A-modified FOXM1 level, and FOXM1 stability were assayed. A transplantation tumor model was built to confirm the mechanism of KIAA1429.

Results

KIAA1429 was at high levels in MM patients and MM cells and linked to poor prognoses. KIAA1429 knockdown restrained MM cell viability, and proliferation, arrested G0/G1 phase, and increased apoptosis. KIAA1429 mRNA in plasma cells from MM patients was positively linked with to glycolysis-enhancing genes. The levels of glycolysis-enhancing genes, glucose uptake, and lactate production were repressed after KIAA1429 knockdown, along with reduced FOXM1 levels and stability. YTHDF1 recognized KIAA1429-methylated FOXM1 mRNA and raised FOXM1 stability. Knockdown of YTHDF1 curbed aerobic glycolysis and malignant behaviors in MM cells, which was nullified by FOXM1 overexpression. KIAA1429 knockdown also inhibited tumor growth in animal experiments.

Conclusion

KIAA1429 knockdown reduces FOXM1 expression through YTHDF1-mediated m6A modification, thus inhibiting MM aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis.

Graphical Abstract

KIAA1429 knockdown reduces FOXM1 expression through YTHDF1-mediated m6A modification, thus inhibiting aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis in MM