bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional continuum percolation models with disks under the generalized Achlioptas process
Authors: Sun Weiqin , Qing Yuqi , Chen Fuxing , Liu Maoxin
Published: April 2022

We investigate the disk percolation phase transitions in continuum models in two dimensions under four kinds of generalized product rule and four kinds of generalized sum rule, respectively. We study the critical behaviors of the largest, second largest clusters and their size ratio to characterize the universality class of percolation transition. Using the finite size scaling analysis and the Monte Carlo simulation, we calculate the critical exponents of the percolation transitions under the above rules. We find that the universality classes of continuum percolation under the generalized product rule, under the generalized sum rule, and the lattice percolation are different.
Numerical simulation of a low Prandtl number flow with a four-parameters turbulence model through an explicit algebraic definition of Reynolds stress and turbulent heat flux
Authors: Barbi G , Chierici A , Chirco L , Giovacchini V , Manservisi S , Sirotti L
Published: April 2022

Computational Fluid Dynamics codes usually adopt the Reynolds analogy in order to simulate dynamic and thermal flow fields for ordinary fluids like water and air. On the other hand, in low Prandtl fluids, such as heavy liquid metals like Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE), the time scales of temperature and velocity fields are rather different and therefore similarity hypothesis cannot be used. Furthermore, to properly predict a complex flow field characterized by anisotropic behavior, it is necessary to overcome eddy-viscosity models and move to more advanced turbulence models. In the present work, we propose a nonlinear method for the computation of the Reynolds stress tensor and of the turbulent heat flux. Explicit algebraic models (EAM) and new time scales have been implemented using a logarithmic four parameters turbulence model (i.e. K-Ω-K
θ
-Ω
θ
). This new model is validated through the simulation of plane channel and cylinder flows and results are compared with DNS data.
Numerical Model of an Evaporative Condenser for the Food Refrigeration Industry
Authors: Giovannini Michael , Lorenzini Marco
Published: April 2022

Evaporative condensers play a key role in refrigeration plants for industrial applications, as they are needed to dispose of the thermal and electric power required by the process. Modelling them as lumped capacitance systems is very expedient when trying to simulate e. g. the steady-state and dynamic behaviour of the whole refrigeration plant, but at the expenses of loss of information and often oversimplifying assumptions. This paper analyses two models for heat and mass transfer in cooling equipment, Poppe’s and its earlier, simpler version, Merkel’s. The two approaches are applied to describe the transport phenomena in an evaporative condenser and the predicted cooling power compared to the data declared by the manufacturer under certain operating conditions. It is demonstrated that predictions are accurate within less than 10%.
A numerical approach to the fractional Laplacian operator with applications to quasi-geostrophic flows
Authors: Barbi G , Capacci D , Chierici A , Chirco L , Giovacchini V , Manservisi S
Published: April 2022

The quasi-geostrophic models have been very successful for the study of oceanic and atmospheric dynamics in the mid-to-high latitude region of the earth where the Coriolis effect is significant. The governing equation of a quasi-geostrophic model is a transport equation with a fractional dissipation term. Although fractional operators have become a topic of great interest in the research community, the numerical discretization of such operators is very challenging due to their non-local behavior. In this work, we propose the numerical approximations of the bounded fractional Laplacian on a finite element discretization. In particular, we rely on the Riesz method and use a semi-analytical technique to approximate all the integrals involving the interaction between the inner local and the outer region. We test the implemented algorithm with numerical benchmarks, and we apply it to quasi-geostrophic flows. All the presented simulations are computationally expensive, due to the non-local behavior of the fractional Laplacian. For this reason, a parallel implementation of the numerical code has been developed.
Analysis of Fukushima Daiichi unit 4 spent fuel pool using MELCOR
Authors: D’Onorio M. , Maggiacomo A. , Giannetti F. , Caruso G.
Published: April 2022

A spent fuel pool is a temporary storage facility designed to store the nuclear fuel assemblies removed from the reactor core. Here, the depleted fuel is vertically arranged in racks structures, accurately spaced to ensure subcriticality safety margins. Until the events occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi power plants, severe accidents in spent fuel pools had never been considered as a major safety concern, mainly because of their slow progression. However, extremely unlikely accident events, aggravated by the loss of site power, highlighted the vulnerability of nuclear fuel stored within spent fuel pools. During these accident sequences, reactor fuel rods can generate enough decay heat to vaporize the coolant around them, causing, during unmitigated scenarios, the uncovering and melting of fuel bundles after several days. In past years, new features have been introduced in the MELCOR code for the evaluation of potential risks associated to accident progression in spent fuel pools. In this paper, the accidental sequence of a loss of cooling accident in a boiling water reactor spent fuel pool is analysed with version 2.2 of the MELCOR code. The spent fuel pool of the Fukushima Daiichi unit 4 has been selected as reference. Main accident events, such as fuel uncovering, claddings oxidation, hydrogen generation, and fission products release, have been analysed assuming the unavailability of safety systems.
elastoCaloric (eC) Cooling: recent studies and preliminary results on materials and devices
Authors: Cirillo Luca , Farina Adriana Rosaria , Greco Adriana , Masselli Claudia
Published: April 2022

Refrigeration is a process aimed at lowering the temperature of an environment compared to the outside temperature. It has always played a fundamental role in modern industry: food, for the preservation of food; in the air conditioning of buildings, to make them habitable and even in the field of medicine and biology, for the preservation of samples and particular therapies. Today refrigeration systems, are responsible for about 17% of the world's electricity consumption. Therefore, the scientific community is researching solid-state refrigeration, which is 50% more efficient than vapour compression systems. Solid-state refrigeration is based on some materials' caloric effect, which can release or absorb latent heat when subjected to an external field (magnetic, electric, pressure or strain) release. Elastocaloric Refrigeration is one of the most minor explored frontiers, unlike magnetocaloric and electro-caloric systems. Some preliminary studies confirm that the eC systems have the advantage of being able to decrease the intensity of the external field (with a relative increase of the COP). In this work, a review on Ec systems is carried out, with particular attention to the description of the properties of the materials used, the various types of stress application. The results have been presented in terms of temperature, entropy, latent heat and COP.
Functionally-graded foams for volumetric solar receivers
Authors: Iasiello M. , Chiu W. K. S. , Andreozzi A. , Bianco N. , Naso V.
Published: April 2022

The open volumetric receiver, one of the most important components of a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, is made up by a ceramic foam on which the concentrated solar radiation impinges. Ceramic foams are employed in volumetric solar receivers because of their high specific surfaces and their operating temperatures higher than those of metal foams. Thermo- fluid-dynamics in the graded ceramic foam of a volumetric solar air receiver for concentrated solar power is investigated numerically. Variable porosities and Pores Per Inch (PPI), according to different power laws, are accounted for. Governing equations are written with the Volume Averaging Technique (VAT) and are solved with the commercial software Comsol Multiphysics. The effects of different porosity and PPI laws, on the fluid velocity, pressure drop and temperatures, under different thermo-fluid-dynamic conditions, are highlighted.
Adiabatic frictional pressure gradient during flow boiling of pure refrigerant R1233zd and non-azeotropic mixtures R448A, R452A and R455A
Authors: Arcasi A , Mastrullo R , Mauro A W , Viscito L
Published: April 2022

The research on two-phase flow characteristics of refrigerants is of primary importance in several fields, such as air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Therefore, the determination of the pressure drop during flow boiling is important for the correct design of evaporators and heat spreaders systems. This paper presents a collection of experiments on flow boiling pressure drop using pure refrigerant R1233zd and new low-GWP refrigerant mixtures R448A, R452A and R455A. All tests were performed in adiabatic conditions, in a smooth horizontal stainless-steel tube having an internal diameter of 6.0 mm and a thickness of 1.0 mm. The effect of operating parameters, such as (bubble) saturation temperature (from 25 to 65 °C) and mass flux (from 150 to 600 kg/m2s) is investigated and discussed, and the performance of the chosen fluids is also compared. Finally, an assessment of existing prediction methods is carried-out to find the most suitable correlations for two-phase pressure drop evaluation.
Facial Soft Tissue Repositioning With Neuromodulators: Lessons Learned From Facial Biomechanics
Authors: Hernandez Claudia A , Davidovic Kristina , Avelar Luiz E T , Alfertshofer Michael , Freytag David L , Frank Konstantin , Moellhoff Nicholas , Bihun Rebekah , Green Jeremy B , Cotofana Sebastian
Published: April 2022

Background

Neuromodulators have proven efficacy in reducing facial rhytides and have also been reported to improve jawline contour and the appearance of platysmal bands. Lifting effects of the tail of the eyebrow are expected outcomes when targeting the lateral periorbital region, underscoring the versatility of neuromodulator treatments.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical effectiveness of a novel neuromodulator-based injection algorithm with regards to its ability to reposition the middle and lower facial soft tissues.

Methods

Seventy-five study participants (8 males, 67 females) with a mean [standard deviation] age of 37.5 [8.5] years were injected with neuromodulators in the subdermal plane of the mandibular soft tissues following a standardized algorithm. Live rating of clinical appearance was performed, as well as volume change and skin vector displacement measured by 3-dimensional imaging at baseline, Day 14, and Day 30.

Results

Three-dimensional volume analysis revealed an increase in midfacial volume by 0.46 mL, and a decrease of the lower facial volume by 0.30 mL compared with baseline. Additionally, an improvement of midfacial fullness (by 0.13) and jawline contour (by 0.44) was reported on clinical rating scales at Day 30 compared with baseline.

Conclusions

Facial soft tissues can be repositioned during the 30-day follow-up period following a neuromodulator treatment; this was reflected through an increase in midfacial volume as well as through a decrease in lower facial volume. The novel injection algorithm presented can provide a safe and effective option for patients desiring improvement of midfacial fullness and jawline contour with neuromodulator treatment alone.

Level of Evidence: 4
Clonal gametogenesis is triggered by intrinsic stimuli in the hybrid’s germ cells but is dependent on sex differentiation
Authors: Tichopád Tomáš , Franěk Roman , Doležálková-Kaštánková Marie , Dedukh Dmitrij , Marta Anatolie , Halačka Karel , Steinbach Christoph , Janko Karel , Pšenička Martin
Published: April 2022

Interspecific hybridization may trigger the transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality, but mechanistic reasons for such a change in a hybrid’s reproduction are poorly understood. Gametogenesis of many asexual hybrids involves a stage of premeiotic endoreplication (PMER), when gonial cells duplicate chromosomes and subsequent meiotic divisions involve bivalents between identical copies, leading to production of clonal gametes. Here, we investigated the triggers of PMER and whether its induction is linked to intrinsic stimuli within a hybrid’s gonial cells or whether it is regulated by the surrounding gonadal tissue. We investigated gametogenesis in the Cobitis taenia hybrid complex, which involves sexually reproducing species (Cobitis elongatoides and C. taenia) as well as their hybrids, where females reproduce clonally via PMER while males are sterile. We transplanted spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from C. elongatoides and triploid hybrid males into embryos of sexual species and of asexual hybrid females, respectively, and observed their development in an allospecific gonadal environment. Sexual SSCs underwent regular meiosis and produced normally reduced gametes when transplanted into clonal females. On the other hand, the hybrid’s SSCs lead to sterility when transplanted into sexual males but maintained their ability to undergo asexual development (PMER) and production of clonal eggs, when transplanted into sexual females. This suggests that asexual gametogenesis is under complex control when somatic gonadal tissue indirectly affects the execution of asexual development by determining the sexual differentiation of stem cells and once such cells develop to female phenotypes, hybrid germ cells trigger the PMER from their intrinsic signals.
Design, simulation of different configurations and life-cycle cost analysis of solar photovoltaic–water-pumping system for agriculture applications: use cases and implementation issues
Authors: Kumar L Ashok , Lakshmiprasad C N , Ramaraj G , Sivasurya G
Published: April 2022

Water is an essential resource for agriculture and the majority of land is irrigated through borewells or wells. The power requirement for an irrigation pump motor is fed by the on-grid power supply but the availability of electricity in rural areas is still questionable. With rising concerns about global warming and the rise in carbon footprints, it is necessary to choose clean and green energy, thereby attaining self-sustainable life. India receives yearly a mean solar irradiation of 6.5 kWh/m2day. Hence, a solar photovoltaic–water-pumping system (SPV–WPS) is a suitable alternative to grid energy; thereby, the farmers would generate electricity through the solar photovoltaic system and become self-sufficient in their energy needs. In this paper, two different agricultural fields in Tamil Nadu, India that deploy flood irrigation and drip irrigation are taken as a case study. The paper discusses the concerns on the use of grid power and their carbon footprint, design and simulation of 4- and 5.5-kW SPV–WPSs using PVsyst 7.1.1, and the advantages of using SPV–WPSs and life-cycle cost analysis on different use cases. The Government of India has introduced a special scheme to promote the installation of SPV–WPSs by offering attractive incentives through PM-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) yojana. The results of the case study show that with the use of SPV–WPSs, either with or without subsidy, the farmer could gain a minimum of 250% on the investment with a project lifetime of 25 years.
Oxidative Stress Biomarker Levels of Simulated Artificial Body Fluids: Comparative HPLC-PDA and LC–MS/MS Approaches: Significance of Raw PDA and MS/MS Data for Chemometric Discrimination
Authors: Sengul Ayse , Yengin Cigdem , Egrilmez Sait , Kilinc Emrah
Published: April 2022

HPLC-PDA, LC–MS/MS methods were developed for simultaneous determination of a group of oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs); 2dA, 2dC, 2dU, 3NLT, 5HMU and 8OHdG in 10 simulated artificial body fluids. O-phosphoric acid and methanol composed mobile phases A and B for gradient elution in HPLC-PDA using ODS-2 column. Linearity obtained for 1.0×10−6–1.0×10−4M range. LODs were 1.73×10−6, 1.19×10−6, 2.59×10−6, 1.40×10−6, 2.21×10−6 and 4.07×10−6M for 2dU, 8OHdG, 2dA, 2dC, 5HMU and 3NLT, respectively. LOQs were 5.29×10−6, 4.02×10−6, 6.82×10−6, 4.02×10−6, 6.82×10−6 and 9.92×10−6M. About 10 mM aqueous ammonium acetate solution and methanol containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid composed mobile phases A and B for gradient elution in LC–MS/MS. Linearity obtained for 1.0×10−8–1.0×10−6M range. LODs were 2.88×10−10, 1.01×10−8, 3.38×10−9, 1.36×10−7, 1.81×10−7 and 1.40×10−8M for 2dU, 8OHdG, 2dA, 2dC, 5HMU and 3NLT, respectively. LOQs were 9.37×10−10, 3.22×10−8, 1.91×10−8, 4.53×10−7, 5.90×10−7 and 2.18×10−8M. Both methods were validated using ICH Q2(R1) guideline. Specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision, reproducibility, LOD, LOQ and recovery were achieved. Chemometric analysis was performed on raw PDA and MS data to check their significance for discrimination of OSBs. Sets of single and triple quadrupole fragmentations were evaluated for principle component analysis. Chosen number of PCs successfully distinguished OSBs of interest.
The Novel Polymethacrylate Based Hydrophilic Stationary Phase for Ion Chromatography
Authors: Samatya Ölmez Saba , Kökden Didem , Tuncel Ali
Published: April 2022

Ion chromatography is widely used as a useful and powerful tool for the analysis of anionic and cationic components found in waters and aqueous media. The performance and selectivity of ion chromatography are based on the stationary phase column packed material. In this study, it is aimed to develop new column material with quaternary ammonium functional group based on monodisperse polymeric particles for ion chromatography and to investigate their chromatographic performance. For the analysis of inorganic anions by ion chromatography, new stationary phases macroporous monodisperse particles based on 3-chloro-2-hydroxy propylmethacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate are obtained as column packing material. 3-chloro-2-hydroxy propylmethacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate are transformed to porous monodisperse particle form by using glycidyl methacrylate as the seed latex and ethyl benzene as the porogen solvent via micro-suspension polymerization technique. Then macroporous monodisperse particles surface is functionalized by triethylamine so strong anion exchange is obtained for ion chromatography packing material. A series of stationary phases prepared from polymer particles containing different amounts of porogen solvent were tested. The results show that column packing material is successful to separate inorganic anions mixture such as F−, Cl−, NO2−, Br−, NO3− by using the carbonate and bicarbonate solutions as mobile phases.
Phylogenomic Analyses Show Repeated Evolution of Hypertrophied Lips Among Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes
Authors: Masonick Paul , Meyer Axel , Hulsey Christopher Darrin
Published: April 2022

Cichlid fishes have repeatedly evolved an astounding diversity of trophic morphologies. For example, hypertrophied lips have evolved multiple times in both African and Neotropical cichlids and could have even evolved convergently within single species assemblages such as African Lake Malawi cichlids. However, the extremely high diversification rate in Lake Malawi cichlids and extensive potential for hybridization has cast doubt on whether even genome-level phylogenetic reconstructions could delineate if these types of adaptations have evolved once or multiple times. To examine the evolution of this iconic trait using protein-coding and noncoding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we analyzed the genomes of 86 Lake Malawi cichlid species, including 33 de novo resequenced genomes. Surprisingly, genome-wide protein-coding SNPs exhibited enough phylogenetic informativeness to reconstruct interspecific and intraspecific relationships of hypertrophied lip cichlids, although noncoding SNPs provided better support. However, thinning of noncoding SNPs indicated most discrepancies come from the relatively smaller number of protein-coding sites and not from fundamental differences in their phylogenetic informativeness. Both coding and noncoding reconstructions showed that several “sand-dwelling” hypertrophied lip species, sampled intraspecifically, form a clade interspersed with a few other nonhypertrophied lip lineages. We also recovered Abactochromis labrosus within the rock-dwelling “mbuna” lineage, starkly contrasting with the affinities of other hypertrophied lip taxa found in the largely sand-dwelling “nonmbuna” component of this radiation. Comparative analyses coupled with tests for introgression indicate there is no widespread introgression between the hypertrophied lip lineages and taken together suggest this trophic phenotype has likely evolved at least twice independently within-lake Malawi.
K-Theory and Formality
Authors: Carlson Jeffrey D
Published: April 2022

We compare several notions of equivariant formality for complex K-theory with respect to a compact Lie group action, including surjectivity of the forgetful map and the weak equivariant formality of Harada–Landweber, and find all are equivalent under standard hypotheses. As a consequence, we present an expression for the equivariant K-theory of the isotropy action of $H$ on a homogeneous space $G/H$ in all the classical cases. The proofs involve mainly homological algebra and arguments with the Atiyah–Hirzebruch–Leray–Serre spectral sequence, but a more general result depends on a map of spectral sequences from Hodgkin’s Künneth spectral sequence in equivariant K-theory to that in Borel cohomology that seems not to have been otherwise defined. The hypotheses for the main structure result are analogous to a previously announced characterization of cohomological equivariant formality, first proved here, expanding on the results of Shiga and Takahashi.
Link Conditions for Cubulation
Authors: Ashcroft Calum J
Published: April 2022

We provide a condition on the links of polygonal complexes that is sufficient to ensure groups acting properly discontinuously and cocompactly on such complexes contain a virtually free codimension-$1$ subgroup. We provide stronger conditions on the links of polygonal complexes, which are sufficient to ensure groups acting properly discontinuously and cocompactly on such complexes act properly discontinuously on a $CAT(0)$ cube complex. If the group is hyperbolic, then this action is also cocompact; hence, by Agol’s Theorem the group is virtually special (in the sense of Haglund–Wise). In particular, it is linear over $\mathbb {Z}$, virtually torsion free, and has the Haagerup property. We consider some applications of this work. Firstly, we consider the groups classified by Kangaslampi–Vdovina and Carbone–Kangaslampli–Vdovina, which act simply transitively on the vertices of $CAT(0)$ triangular complexes with the generalized quadrangle of order $2$ as their links, proving that these groups are virtually special. We further apply this theorem by considering generalized triangle groups, in particular a subset of those considered by Caprace–Conder–Kaluba–Witzel.
The Poisson Saturation of Coregular Submanifolds
Authors: Geudens Stephane
Published: April 2022

This paper is devoted to coregular submanifolds in Poisson geometry. We show that their local Poisson saturation is an embedded Poisson submanifold, and we give a normal form for this Poisson submanifold around the coregular submanifold. This result recovers the normal form around Poisson transversals, and it yields Poisson versions of some normal form/rigidity results around constant rank submanifolds in symplectic geometry. As an application, we prove a uniqueness result concerning coisotropic embeddings of Dirac manifolds in Poisson manifolds. We also show how our results generalize to the setting of coregular submanifolds in Dirac geometry.
Effect of fermented corn by-products on production performance, blood biochemistry, and egg quality indices of laying hens
Authors: Yang Ru , Khalid Anam , Khalid Fatima , Ye Miao , Li Yang , Zhan Kai , Li Yan , Liu Wei , Wang Zaigui
Published: April 2022

Residual wastes can be fermented by using probiotics to formulate a well-balanced diet for poultry. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented feed (FF) formulated by the supplementation of probiotics into corn by-products, on the production performance of laying hens. A total of 468 49-wk-old Hy-Line Brown chickens were randomly allocated into four treatments with 3 replicates, control group (basal diet), group I (4% FF, w/w), group II (8% FF, w/w), and antibiotic group (flavomycin, 50 mg/kg). Laying hens were housed in 3-tier cages (28 × 48 cm × 48 cm) and the temperature was maintained at 21 °C. The birds were fed 4.56 kg of feed to each group twice a day. Compared with the control group, the egg production and feed intake in the FF groups increased significantly. Egg weight in group I was higher than that of group II and antibiotic (P < 0.01) while that in group II was lower than control (P < 0.05). The feed-to-egg ratio of FF groups compared with control was decreased (P < 0.05). Eggshell strength and egg shape index in group II were decreased significantly when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Yolk color, albumen height (AH), and Haugh unit (HU) in FF groups were improved compared with the control group and antibiotic group (P < 0.01). Yolk triglyceride level was significantly reduced in group II, compared with group I. These results indicated that the FF has no adverse effects and has beneficial effects on production performance and egg quality parameters of laying hens.
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture: The Effects of Preventive Action
Authors: González Pinto Lorena
Published: April 2022

After the adoption of the Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in 2002, prevention became one central part of the fight against torture. This article looks at the preventive impact of OPCAT’s tripartite system consisting of States Parties, the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs). It presents the States Parties’ obligations regarding the prohibition of torture as well as the SPT’s and the NPMs’ mandate. It also discusses the challenges the SPT and the NPMs face and how through their work, torture can be prevented more effectively. Particular attention will be paid to the SPT’s options to assist both States Parties and the NPMs in further strengthening the prevention of torture. The article is written from the perspective of a former member and vice chair of the SPT and is mainly based on international regulations and jurisprudence of treaty bodies.
Spiritual Training across the Sahara: Debating the Need for the Living Sufi Master in the Tijāniyya
Authors: Wright Zachary
Published: April 2022

The Tijaniyya has witnessed a lively debate concerning the classic Sufi requirement of a living guide to give spiritual training (tarbiya) to aspirants. Prominent Tijani scholars across the Sahara—modern-day Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal—have apparently staked different positions on this issue from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The discourse has acquired added significance since the emergence of the community of the twentieth-century Senegalese Shaykh Ibrāhīm Niasse, whose widespread teaching of gnosis (maʿrifa) reinvigorated discussions surrounding the need for a living shaykh. This article argues that some Tijānī scholars, responding to a North African public discourse that had turned against Sufism, did indeed deemphasize the need for a Sufi guide other than the enduring spiritual presence of the founder of the Tijāniyya, Shaykh Aḥmad Tijānī. But close reading of the relevant source material reveals that Niasse’s practice of tarbiya reflected the general consensus of Tijānī scholars, even if some scholars substantiated this consensus more subtly than others.
Cancer Relevance of Human Genes
Authors: Qing Tao , Mohsen Hussein , Cannataro Vincent L , Marczyk Michal , Rozenblit Mariya , Foldi Julia , Murray Michael , Townsend Jeffrey P , Kluger Yuval , Gerstein Mark , Pusztai Lajos
Published: April 2022

Background

We hypothesize that genes that directly or indirectly interact with core cancer genes (CCGs) in a comprehensive gene-gene interaction network may have functional importance in cancer.

Methods

We categorized 12 767 human genes into CCGs (n = 468), 1 (n = 5467), 2 (n = 5573), 3 (n = 915), and more than 3 steps (n = 416) removed from the nearest CCG in the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins network. We estimated cancer-relevant functional importance in these neighborhood categories using 1) gene dependency score, which reflects the effect of a gene on cell viability after knockdown; 2) somatic mutation frequency in The Cancer Genome Atlas; 3) effect size that estimates to what extent a mutation in a gene enhances cell survival; and 4) negative selection pressure of germline protein-truncating variants in healthy populations.

Results

Cancer biology–related functional importance of genes decreases as their distance from the CCGs increases. Genes closer to cancer genes show greater connectedness in the network, have greater importance in maintaining cancer cell viability, are under greater negative germline selection pressure, and have higher somatic mutation frequency in cancer. Based on these 4 metrics, we provide cancer relevance annotation to known human genes.

Conclusions

A large number of human genes are connected to CCGs and could influence cancer biology to various extent when dysregulated; any given mutation may be functionally important in one but not in another individual depending on genomic context.
Testicular ischemia as a result of an incarcerated inguinal hernia containing omentum: a two-case series
Authors: Chang Wendy , Schulze Bettina , Stephens Daryl
Published: April 2022

Acute scrotal pain is a very common presentation to the emergency room. The most important pathology we must exclude is testicular infarction or testicular ischemia. Here we describe two rare cases of acute scrotum where incarcerated inguinal hernias containing omentum resulted in testicular ischemia/infarction. In Case 1, we describe a rare case in an adult where a large, incarcerated hernia containing omentum along with direct trauma to the testicle resulted in testicular infarction. In Case 2, we describe a 2-year-old boy who presented with left scrotal tenderness due to a left inguinal hernia containing omentum resulting in compromised testicular blood flow. Both patients underwent scrotal exploration. This article also explores the possible pathophysiology of how omentum containing hernias may result in an increased risk of testicular ischemia.
Outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Canada: impact of ethnicity, migration status and country of birth
Authors: Passos-Castilho Ana Maria , Labbé Annie-Claude , Barkati Sapha , Luong Me-Linh , Dagher Olina , Maynard Noémie , Tutt-Guérette Marc-Antoine , Kierans James , Rousseau Cecile , Benedetti Andrea , Azoulay Laurent , Greenaway Christina
Published: April 2022

Background

Ethnoracial groups in high-income countries have a 2-fold higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, associated hospitalizations, and mortality than Whites. Migrants are an ethnoracial subset that may have worse COVID-19 outcomes due to additional barriers accessing care, but there are limited data on in-hospital outcomes. We aimed to disaggregate and compare COVID-19 associated hospital outcomes by ethnicity, immigrant status and region of birth.

Methods

Adults with community-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized March 1–June 30, 2020, at four hospitals in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, were included. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, migration status, region of birth, self-identified ethnicity [White, Black, Asian, Latino, Middle East/North African], intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality were collected. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for ICU admission and mortality by immigrant status, ethnicity and region of birth adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status and comorbidities were estimated using Fine and Gray competing risk models.

Results

Of 1104 patients (median [IQR] age, 63.0 [51.0–76.0] years; 56% males), 57% were immigrants and 54% were White. Immigrants were slightly younger (62 vs 65 years; p = 0.050), had fewer comorbidities (1.0 vs 1.2; p < 0.001), similar crude ICU admissions rates (33.0% vs 28.2%) and lower mortality (13.3% vs 17.6%; p < 0.001) than Canadian-born. In adjusted models, Blacks (aHR 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.83) and Asians (1.64, 1.15–2.34) were at higher risk of ICU admission than Whites, but there was significant heterogeneity within ethnic groups. Asians from Eastern Asia/Pacific (2.15, 1.42–3.24) but not Southern Asia (0.97, 0.49–1.93) and Caribbean Blacks (1.39, 1.02–1.89) but not SSA Blacks (1.37, 0.86–2.18) had a higher risk of ICU admission. Blacks had a higher risk of mortality (aHR 1.56, p = 0.049).

Conclusions

Data disaggregated by region of birth identified subgroups of immigrants at increased risk of COVID-19 ICU admission, providing more actionable data for health policymakers to address health inequities.
Odd radio circles as supernovae remnants in the intragroup medium
Authors: Omar A
Published: April 2022

A measurable fraction (∼8 per cent) of recently discovered arcmin-size circular diffuse radio sources termed as odd radio circles or ORCs can be supernovae remnants in the intragroup medium, within the Local Group and its immediate neighbour groups of galaxies. This estimate is based on the optical detection rate of the intragroup supernovae events in the nearby (z ∼ 0.1−0.2) galaxy groups. A rate of about 5400 intragroup supernovae per million year is expected within the local and its immediate neighbour groups of galaxies. For a radio detectability period of about 104 yr, on average 1.3 intragroup medium supernovae remnants per 1000 deg2 are expected to be detected in the radio surveys with a sensitivity that led to discovery of ORCs. The angular size, surface brightness, and radio flux of the supernova remnants up to a distance of ∼3 Mpc in the intragroup medium can be expected to be similar to the five known ORCs. The intragroup supernovae remnants are not residing in the dense and cold interstellar medium of the galaxies but evolving in low-density (10−4−10−5 cm−3) warm medium (105−106 K) in galactic haloes or beyond, and may find their progenitors in the diffuse stellar light associated with various tidal streamers surrounding the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies.
Promoting Health-Related Lifestyle
Authors: Araújo Liliana S. , Spahn Claudia
Published: April 2022

Making music require musicians to show optimal levels of physical, cognitive, emotional, and technical skills, which at times can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. The many job challenges that musicians face related to work culture and practices, job insecurity, antisocial work patterns, and other psychosocial and financial challenges can also exacerbate the risks for musicians’ health and wellbeing. Therefore, promoting healthy lifestyles play a central role in helping musicians achieve the adequate physical and mental conditions to meet the demands of making music, preventing ill health and optimizing their performance. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section introduces approaches to health promotion and specific behavioral change models, offering an overview of relevant considerations in health prevention, promotion, and education that explain how people adopt healthier lifestyles. We also discuss the concept of health literacy as an asset in music settings that can empower musicians to adopt healthy lifestyles. The second section focuses on practical applications, in particular psychosocial protective factors, healthy practice and performance, and additional strategies to sustain healthy lifestyles. We believe that healthy lifestyles not only protect musicians’ health but have added value to unleash musicians’ true potential and sustain performance excellence.
Intergenerational Metaphors
Authors: Gosseries Axel
Published: April 2022

The chapter looks into metaphors aimed at enlightening people about the nature of intergenerational relations and the possible normative implications of their characteristics. The chapter presents and discusses classical metaphors including generations as relay race runners, generations as populations of mayflies, and generations as bound together through a chain relationship. The chapter then discusses the mountain hut metaphor, stressing three types of rules applicable to successive user spaces and their respective properties. Finally, it draws on the Jeffersonian project of comparing generations with nations, exploring the meaning and implications of looking at generations as “period-locked”, comparing them with “land-locked nations”.
Individuals as Bystanders to Atrocity Crimes
Authors: Moerland Roland
Published: April 2022

This chapter focuses on individual bystanders to atrocity crimes, and it aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the most relevant research on the subject. The first part of the discussion focuses on the question of how to define the bystander and discusses the role that individual bystanders play in atrocity crimes. The second part of the chapter addresses the question of how individuals become bystanders and discusses research that has investigated how the social and psychological features of atrocity situations enable and facilitate bystander behavior. Bystander passivity has crime-enabling and facilitative implications, and it is thus far from innocent. It raises questions about moral and legal responsibility, which are addressed in the third part. Despite the wealth of research on the subject of the individual bystander, several lacunae remain. Therefore, the last section proposes several possible avenues for future research.
Aligning AI Regulation to Sociotechnical Change
Authors: Maas Matthijs M.
Published: April 2022

How do we regulate a changing technology, with changing uses, in a changing world? This chapter argues that while existing (inter)national AI governance approaches are important, they are often too siloed. Often, technology-centric approaches focus on individual AI applications, while law-centric approaches emphasize AI’s effects on pre-existing legal fields or doctrines. This chapter argues that to foster a more systematic, functional, and effective AI regulatory ecosystem, policy actors should instead complement these approaches with a regulatory perspective that emphasizes how, when, and why AI applications enable patterns of “sociotechnical change.” Drawing on theories from the emerging field of “techlaw,” it explores how this perspective can provide informed, more nuanced, and actionable perspectives on AI regulation. A focus on sociotechnical change can help analyze when and why AI applications actually create a meaningful rationale for new regulation—and how they are consequently best approached as targets for regulatory intervention, considering not just the technology, but also six distinct “problem logics” that accompany AI issues across domains. The chapter concludes by briefly sketching concrete institutional and regulatory actions that can draw on this approach to improve the regulatory triage, tailoring, timing and responsiveness, and design of AI policy.
Dimethyl fumarate ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis through enhancing Nrf2 signaling
Authors: Li Huayu , Li Mengyan , Dong Chao , Liu Bing
Published: April 2022

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are clinically severe respiratory disorders, and there are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved drug therapies. It is of great interest to us that dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DMF could alleviate lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI, and to explore its mechanism of action.

Materials and methods

We established a mice model of ALI with intratracheal instillation of LPS and intraperitoneal injection of DMF to treat ALI. The pathological damage and inflammatory response of lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, ELISA assay and western blot. ATP plus LPS was used for the establishment of ALI in vitro model, the therapeutic effects of DMF was explored by ELISA assay, RT-qPCR, western blot, and flow cytometry, and the therapeutic mechanisms of DMF was explored by administration of Brusatol (BT), a nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor.

Results

We found that intraperitoneal injection of DMF significantly reduced LPS-induced the pulmonary injury, pulmonary edema, and infiltration of inflammatory mediators. In LPS-induced ALI, NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis was markedly activated, followed by cleavage of caspase-1 and GSDMD. DMF inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis in both lung of ALI mice and ATP plus LPS-induced BEAS-2B cells. Mechanistically, DMF enhanced expressions of Nrf2, leading to inactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome and reduced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, BT reduced the inhibitory effects of DMF on NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis, and consequently blocked the improvement roles of DMF on ALI.

Conclusions

DMF could improve LPS-induced ALI via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis, and that these effects were mediated by triggering Nrf2 expression, suggesting a therapeutic potential of DMF as an anti-inflammatory agent for ALI/ARDS treatment.
Rank and Tenure Amongst Faculty at Academic Medical Centers: A Study of More Than 50 Years of Gender Disparities
Authors: Franks Adam M. , Calamur Nandini , Dobrian Anca , Danielsen Mark , Neumann Serina A. , Cowan Eileen , Weiler Tracey
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To investigate progress toward gender equality in academic medicine through a longitudinal analysis of gender parity among faculty at medical schools.

Method

The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Roster data on gender, tenure status, and academic rank of faculty in basic science (BSc) and clinical science (CSc) departments from 1966 to 2019. They expressed data as whole numbers and percent female. A trend analysis projected time to gender parity across rank and tenure categories, and cross-tabulation analysis revealed the relative odds of females being in a rank and tenure position relative to males.

Results

A 12-fold increase in the number of faculty occurred from 1966 to 2019, driven largely by increases in non-tenure track faculty. Female tenured and tenure track numbers increased at consistent rates (121 and 174 per year; P < .001). Female non-tenure track rates mirrored those for males, both changing in 2000. Odds ratios in 2019 for BSc and CSc females to be in tenure track versus non-tenure track positions compared with males were 0.83/0.98 and to be tenured were 0.63/0.44. Odds ratios in 2019 for BSc and CSc females to be full professors versus assistant or associate professors compared with males were 0.55/0.42. BSc assistant and associate professor percent female rates increased linearly from 1966 to 2019, while full professor rates increased in 1986. Transition points between periods of linear change were seen later in CSc departments (1977, 1980, 1985, 1994). Best fit line models indicated gender parity will be reached for BSc/CSc faculty in 2034/2023, 2047/2033, and 2065/2053 for assistant, associate, and full professors, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings suggest large historical changes in medical school expansion, medical education, and economics have shifted gender curves at all academic ranks. To achieve gender parity, additional national changes are needed.
Gartland Type IIa Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: Outcomes of Attempted Nonoperative Management
Authors: McCartney Christian C. , Thompson Samuel , Waller Garrett , Parker John , Hart Thomas , Malloy Kimberly , Chong David
Published: April 2022

Background:

The optimal treatment of Gartland type IIa supracondylar humerus fractures remains controversial. We report the results of a series of patients with type IIa fractures who underwent closed reduction and immobilization using conscious sedation in the emergency department. Our goal was to identify variables associated with fractures that were successfully managed nonoperatively.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent closed reduction of Gartland type IIa supracondylar humerus fractures with the use of conscious sedation in the emergency department. Prereduction and postreduction radiographs were reviewed to determine the degree of fracture extension, anterior humeral line index, Baumann angle, and splint flexion angle. The success of closed reduction was defined as a reduction that was maintained without the need for surgical intervention.

Results:

A total of 54 patients (54 elbows) were included in this study. The mean overall age was 5.2±2.5 years. Following the closed reduction in the emergency department, 38 (70%) patients were successfully managed nonoperatively with casting, and 16 (30%) patients required operative intervention. The degree of fracture extension on the injury radiograph was 13.2±8.4 degrees in the nonoperative group compared with 19.8±7.5 degrees in the operative group (P=0.008). The postreduction degree of fracture extension was 3.0±3.4 degrees in the nonoperative group and 10.0±7.2 degrees in the operative group (P<0.0001). The mean anterior humeral line index on the injury radiograph was 0.34 in the nonoperative group and 0.13 in the operative group (P=0.104). The mean anterior humeral line index on the postreduction radiograph was 1.2 in the nonoperative group and 0.38 in the operative group (P=0.0002). Patient age, prereduction and postreduction Baumann angle, and the postreduction splint flexion angle did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions:

Closed reduction under conscious sedation in the emergency department is a viable treatment option for Gartland type IIa supracondylar humerus fractures. Increasing fracture extension on injury radiographs can help predict failure of nonoperative management following closed reduction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective comparative study.