bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomic serum abnormalities in dogs with hepatopathies
Authors: Imbery Carolin A. , Dieterle Frank , Ottka Claudia , Weber Corinna , Schlotterbeck Götz , Müller Elisabeth , Lohi Hannes , Giger Urs
Published: March 2022

Hepatopathies can cause major metabolic abnormalities in humans and animals. This study examined differences in serum metabolomic parameters and patterns in left-over serum samples from dogs with either congenital portosystemic shunts (cPSS, n = 24) or high serum liver enzyme activities (HLEA, n = 25) compared to control dogs (n = 64). A validated targeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy platform was used to assess 123 parameters. Principal component analysis of the serum metabolome demonstrated distinct clustering among individuals in each group, with the cluster of HLEA being broader compared to the other groups, presumably due to the wider spectrum of hepatic diseases represented in these samples. While younger and older adult control dogs had very similar metabolomic patterns and clusters, there were changes in many metabolites in the hepatopathy groups. Higher phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations, lower branched-chained amino acids (BCAAs) concentrations, and altered fatty acid parameters were seen in cPSS dogs compared to controls. In contrast, dogs with HLEA had increased concentrations of BCAAs, phenylalanine, and various lipoproteins. Machine learning based solely on the metabolomics data showed excellent group classification, potentially identifying a novel tool to differentiate hepatopathies. The observed changes in metabolic parameters could provide invaluable insight into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of hepatopathies.
Impact of tissue processing on microbiological colonization in the context of placentophagy
Authors: Johnson Sophia K. , Pastuschek Jana , Benyshek Daniel C. , Heimann Yvonne , Möller Anne , Rödel Jürgen , White Jacob , Zöllkau Janine , Groten Tanja
Published: March 2022

A mother’s postpartum ingestion of raw or processed placental tissue—referred to as human maternal placentophagy—is an emerging health trend observed in industrialized nations. Placenta is commonly consumed as small pieces of raw tissue, or as raw or steamed dehydrated pulverized and encapsulated tissue. To investigate the potential neonatal health risks of this behavior, the present study focused on microbial colonization of processed placenta preparations with potentially pathogenic bacteriaStreptococcus agalactiae(Group-B-Streptococci; GBS) andEscherichia coli(E. coli). In the clinical approach placentas from 24 mothers were analyzed. Two placentas, from 13 mothers with confirmed positive maternal GBS status, showed GBS-growth on their surface (2/13; 15.4%) independent from delivery mode or antibiotic treatment. All processed samples (n = 24) were free from GBS. In the experimental approach, a standardized inoculation protocol was introduced to resemble ascending vaginal and hematogenous colonization. Six placentas from elective term C-sections of GBS negative mothers were collected and artificially inoculated with highly concentrated suspensions of GBS andE. coli. Heat processing significantly reduced the number of colony forming units (CFU) for GBS andE. coli. Our results suggest placentophagy of processed tissue is an unlikely source of clinical infection.
Newcastle disease virus genotype VII gene expression in experimentally infected birds
Authors: Doan Phuong Thi Kim , Low Wai Yee , Ren Yan , Tearle Rick , Hemmatzadeh Farhid
Published: March 2022

Newcastle disease virus genotype VII (NDV-GVII) is a highly contagious pathogen responsible for pandemics that have caused devastating economic losses in the poultry industry. Several features in the transcription of NDV mRNA, including differentially expressed genes across the viral genome, are shared with that for other single, non-segmented, negative-strand viruses. Previous studies measuring viral gene expression using northern blotting indicated that the NDV transcription produced non-equimolar levels of viral mRNAs. However, deep high-throughput sequencing of virus-infected tissues can provide a better insight into the patterns of viral transcription. In this report, the transcription pattern of virulent NDV-GVII was analysed using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. This study revealed the transcriptional profiling of these highly pathogenic NDV-GVII genes: NP:P:M:F:HN:L, in which there was a slight attenuation at the NP:P and HN:L gene boundaries. Our result also provides a fully comprehensive qPCR protocol for measuring viral transcript abundance that may be more convenient for laboratories where accessing RNA-seq is not feasible.
OES diagnostics as a universal technique to control the Si etching structures profile in ICP
Authors: Osipov Artem A. , Iankevich Gleb A. , Speshilova Anastasia B. , Gagaeva Alina E. , Osipov Armenak A. , Enns Yakov B. , Kazakin Alexey N. , Endiiarova Ekaterina V. , Belyanov Ilya A. , Ivanov Viktor I. , Alexandrov Sergey E.
Published: March 2022

In this work, we demonstrate the high efficiency of optical emission spectroscopy to estimate the etching profile of silicon structures in SF6/C4F8/O2 plasma. The etching profile is evaluated as a ratio of the emission intensity of the oxygen line (778.1 nm) to the fluorine lines (685.8 nm and 703.9 nm). It was found that for the creation of directional structures with line sizes from 13 to 100 μm and aspect ratio from ≈ 0.15 to ≈ 5 the optimal intensities ratio is in the range of 2–6, and for structures from 400 to 4000 μm with aspect ratio from ≈ 0.03 to ≈ 0.37 it is in the range 1.5–2. Moreover, the influence of the process parameters on the etching rate of silicon, the etching rate of aluminum, the inclination angle of the profile wall of the etched window, the selectivity of silicon etching with respect to aluminum, and the influence on the overetching (Bowing effect) of the structure was investigated.
Significance of a decrease in the proportion of detrusor muscle to bladder wall for non-invasive diagnosis of detrusor underactivity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: Lee Junghoon , Yoo Sangjun , Cho Min Chul , Jeong Hyeon , Choo Min Soo , Son Hwancheol
Published: March 2022

To investigate the significance of detrusor muscle thickness (DMT) to bladder wall thickness (BWT) ratio as a detrusor-sarcopenia and a consistently applicable factor for noninvasive diagnosis of detrusor underactivity (DU). We prospectively performed a urodynamic study of 100 male with medical refractory lower-urinary-tract-symptoms during 2017–2019. The DMT, BWT and DMT/BWT ratio were measured by ultrasonography every 50 mL during bladder filling, and were analyzed for non-invasive diagnosis of DU and prediction of prostate surgery outcome with questionnaire and the maximum-flow-rate. Of the 94 patients, DU was urodynamically diagnosed in 24 (25.5%). The DMT/BWT ratio was maintained in all patients until the 50% of the maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), and then rapidly decreased. At 20% of the MCC, the DMT/BWT ratio was significantly lower in the DU group (44.0 ± 4.9% vs. 49.4 ± 6.7%, p = 0.008). The DMT/BWT ratio of less than 47.5% at 20% of the MCC showed the ideal accuracy for diagnosing DU (AUC = 0.763), and was a predictor of failure at 12 months after prostate surgery (OR 8.78, p = 0.024). A DMT/BWT ratio of less than 47.5% at 20% of the MCC is a consistently applicable factor for non-invasive diagnosis of DU and could also be considered detrusor-sarcopenia.
Renal impairment is one of appropriate predictors of future diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a hospital-based 6-year follow-up study
Authors: Wang Chi-Sheng , Pai Yen-Wei , Lin Ching-Heng , Lee I-Te , Chang Ming-Hong
Published: March 2022

The relationship between renal impairment and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) remains inconclusive. We aim to investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of DPN in Taiwanese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and focus on renal impairment. A hospital-based study was conducted from 2013 to 2019 and 552 Taiwanese people who had T2DM without DPN at baseline were enrolled. DPN was diagnosed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Potential risk factors were recorded, including patient’s sociodemographic factors, current medication usage and biochemical markers. As of 2019, 73 developed DPN and 479 had no DPN. The cumulative incidence during the 6-year period was 13.22%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (odds ratio [OR] 0.98, p = 0.005), advanced age (OR 1.06, p = 0.001), increased body weight (OR 1.04, p = 0.018), duration of DM (OR 1.05, p = 0.036) and male gender (OR 3.69, p = 0.011) were significantly associated with future DPN. In addition, patients with T2DM under the age of 65 with higher serum creatinine concentration (OR 8.91, p = 0.005) and higher baseline HbA1C (OR 1.71, p < 0.001) revealed significantly associated with future DPN. In conclusion, this is the first large scaled hospital-based study with long term follow-up to investigate risk factors for DPN in Taiwanese. Lower eGFR and higher serum creatinine concentration, particularly in people under the age of 65, are predictors of future DPN in Taiwanese people with T2DM. Other predictors included advanced age, increased body weight, duration of DM, male gender for all ages and HbA1c in enrolled patients under the age of 65. Our study not only confirms the association between renal impairment and future DPN but also provides a commonly available assessment to predict the future DPN.
Impact of healthcare-associated infections on functional outcome of severe acquired brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation
Authors: Bartolo Michelangelo , Zucchella Chiara , Aabid Hend , Valoriani Beatrice , Copetti Massimiliano , Fontana Andrea , Intiso Domenico , Mancuso Mauro
Published: March 2022

To describe healthcare-associated infections in inpatient neuro-rehabilitation and their impact on functional outcome, a multicenter observational study with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) patients was performed. Patients were divided into infected (INF-group) or not infected (noINF-group) and assessed at admission and discharge, by means of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCF), the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and the modified Barthel Index (mBI). One hundred-nineteen patients were included in the INF-group, and 109 in the noINF-group. Culture specimens were found positive for bloodstream (43.8%), respiratory tract (25.7%), urinary tract (16.2%), gastro-intestinal system (8.6%) and skin (2.4%) infections. Multiple microorganisms were the most frequent (58.1%) and 55.5% of patients needed functional isolation due to multidrug resistant germs. The functional status of both groups improved after rehabilitation, but multivariable analyses showed that the INF-group showed a significantly lower gain to GCS (p = 0.008), DRS (p = 0.020) and mBI (p = 0.021) compared to the noINF-group. Length of stay (LOS) and number of skipped rehabilitative sessions were not statistically different between the groups; mortality rate was significantly higher in the INF-group (p = 0.04). Infected sABI patients showed longer LOS, significant increased mortality, and a lower functional outcome than not infected patients.
The concurrence of sexual violence and physical fighting among adolescent suicide ideators and the risk of attempted suicide
Authors: Li Xun , Xiang Shi-Ting , Dong Jie
Published: March 2022

Sexual violence and physical fighting are independent risk factors for suicidal behaviors among adolescents. However, whether the concurrence of these two risk factors increases the risk of suicidal behaviors among ideators, and by how much that risk increases are unknown. This study analyzed data from the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Students who reported having seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year were included (n = 1755). The associations between physical fighting/sexual violence status and the risk of suicide attempt/plan/attempt requiring medical intervention were estimated. The concurrence of physical fighting and sexual violence substantially increased the relative risk of attempted suicide (adjusted relative risk, adRR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.72, 2.29) and attempted suicide requiring medical intervention (adRR = 4.07, 95% CI 2.84, 5.85; subgroup analyses: among women, adRR = 3.33, 95% CI 2.14, 5.17; among men, adRR = 6.25, 95% CI 3.32, 12.28). Among students who had experienced concurrent physical fighting and sexual violence, more suicide-attempt-associated health-risk behaviors were reported by men (median = 14) than women (median = 12) (p = 0.0023). The concurrence of physical fighting and sexual violence among adolescent suicide ideators was shown to be significantly associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide. A wide variety of health-risk behaviors were shown to cluster with the concurrence of physical fighting and sexual violence. This was especially the case among men, consistent with their higher rate of attempted suicide requiring medical intervention.
Seroconversion dynamic and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in unvaccinated population during the first and second outbreaks in Mexico
Authors: Fernández-Rojas Miguel A. , Luna-Ruiz Esparza Marco A. , Campos-Romero Abraham , Calva-Espinosa Diana Y. , Moreno-Camacho José L. , Mendlovic Fela , Plett-Torres Tanya , Alcántar-Fernández Jonathan
Published: March 2022

Serosurveillance helps establish reopening guidelines and determine the immunity levels in different populations to reach herd immunity. Then, there is an urgent need to estimate seroprevalence population wide. In Mexico, information about COVID-19 cases and related deaths is scarce. Also, there is no official serosurveillance, limiting our knowledge of the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Here, we report the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 522,690 unvaccinated people from July 5th to December 31st, 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 32.8% and highest in adults aged 30–39 years (38.5%) than people under 20 years (33.0%) or older (28.9%). Moreover, in a cohort of 1655 individuals confirmed COVID-19 by PCR, we found that symptomatic people (HR = 2.56) increased seroconversion than presymptomatic. Also, we identified that the most discriminative symptoms for COVID-19 that could predict seroconversion were anosmia and ageusia (HR = 1.70), fever, myalgia/arthralgia, and cough (HR = 1.75). Finally, we found that obese people had lower seroconversion (HR = 0.53) than healthy people, but the opposite happens in diabetic people (HR = 1.39). These findings reveal that around one-third of Mexican outpatients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before vaccination. Also, some symptoms improve empirically COVID-19 diagnosis and seroconversion. This information could help fine-tune vaccination schemes and the reopening and back-to-work algorithms.
Repeatable and deterministic all electrical switching in a mixed phase artificial multiferroic
Authors: Griggs W. , Thomson T.
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate a repeatable all-electric magnetic switching behaviour in a PMN-PT/FeRh thin film artificial multiferroic. The magnitude of the effect is significantly smaller than expected from conventional thermomagnetic switching of FeRh thin films and we explore properties of the PMN-PT/FeRh system in order to understand the origin of this reduction. The data demonstrate the importance of the crystallographic phase of PMN-PT and show how a phase transition at ~ 100 °C modifies the magneto-electric coupling. We demonstrate a large strain remanence effect in the PMN-PT substrate, which limits the magnetoelectric coupling on successive cycling of the applied electric field.
Larvicidal and histopathological efficacy of cinnamic acid analogues: a novel strategy to reduce the dengue vector competence
Authors: Naresh P. , Rajesh Kumar R. , Vishwas H. N. , Rajagopal Gopalan , Prabha T. , Jubie S.
Published: March 2022

Cinnamic acid analogues as potent compounds for controllingAedes aegyptiin biological way.
Extension of hydrogen borrowing alkylation reactions for the total synthesis of (−)-γ-lycorane
Authors: Hall Christopher J. J. , Marriott Indi S. , Christensen Kirsten E. , Day Aaron J. , Goundry William R. F. , Donohoe Timothy J.
Published: March 2022

The total synthesis of (–)-γ-lycorane (10 steps) was completed from cyclohexenone. This is one of the first examples of hydrogen borrowing C–C bond formation being used as a key step in a total synthesis project.
Porous organic polymers for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Xu , Liu Cheng-Fang , Xu Shihao , Cheng Tao , Wang Shi , Lai Wen-Yong , Huang Wei
Published: March 2022

This review summarizes recent advances and design strategies of porous organic polymers as efficient electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors.
A mild tetradehydro-Diels–Alder reaction of aryldiyne compounds affords exclusively linear products
Authors: Lu Yuling , Duan Xianxian , Chen Xia , Yao Meng , Chen Chunmei , Zhu Hucheng , Luo Zengwei , Zhang Yonghui
Published: March 2022

A mild aromatic tetradehydro-Diels–Alder reaction of aryldiynes is described for linear substituted naphthalenes.
Content determination of ampicillin by Ni(ii)-mediated UV-Vis spectrophotometry
Authors: Lin Yu , Cen Siyuan
Published: March 2022

Ampicillin could be degraded under alkaline conditions, of which the degradation products formed a complex with Ni2+in a ratio of 2 : 1 in ammonium hydroxide.
Application of a dual functional blocking layer for improvement of the responsivity in a self-powered UV photodetector based on TiO2 nanotubes
Authors: Zare Alireza , Behaein Saeed , Moradi Mahmoud , Hosseini Zahra
Published: March 2022

A layer of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was applied on the photoanode of a self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) UV photodetector based on TiO2 nanotubes (NTs).
Exploring a silicene monolayer as a promising sensor platform to detect and capture NO and CO gas
Authors: Nguyen Duy Khanh , Hoang Duc-Quang , Hoat D. M.
Published: March 2022

Magnetic and electronic properties of the NO-adsorbed silicene monolayer have been investigated.
Determining the inherent selectivity for carbon radical hydroxylation versus halogenation with high-spin oxoiron(iv)–halide complexes: a concerted rebound step
Authors: Tao Yaping , Li Zixian , Zhang Yiman , Sun kexi , Liu Zhaojun
Published: March 2022

DFT calculation for the hydroxylation versus halogenation of propylene by [FeIV(O)(TQA)X]+ (X = F, Cl and Br) reveals that after hydrogen abstraction, halogen and oxygen rebound reactions are a synergistic process.
Lens parameters for Gaia18cbf – a long gravitational microlensing event in the Galactic plane
Authors: Kruszyńska K. , Wyrzykowski Ł. , Rybicki K. A. , Maskoliūnas M. , Bachelet E. , Rattenbury N. , Mróz P. , Zieliński P. , Howil K. , Kaczmarek Z. , Hodgkin S. T. , Ihanec N. , Gezer I. , Gromadzki M. , Mikołajczyk P. , Stankevičiūtė A. , Čepas V. , Pakštienė E. , Šiškauskaitė K. , Zdanavičius J. , Bozza V. , Dominik M. , Figuera Jaimes R. , Fukui A. , Hundertmark M. , Narita N. , Street R. , Tsapras Y. , Bronikowski M. , Jabłońska M. , Jabłonowska A. , Ziółkowska O.
Published: March 2022

Context. The timescale of a microlensing event scales as a square root of a lens mass. Therefore, long-lasting events are important candidates for massive lenses, including black holes.

Aims. Here, we present the analysis of the Gaia18cbf microlensing event reported by the Gaia Science Alerts system. It exhibited a long timescale and features that are common for the annual microlensing parallax effect. We deduce the parameters of the lens based on the derived best fitting model.

Methods. We used photometric data collected by the Gaia satellite as well as the follow-up data gathered by the ground-based observatories. We investigated the range of microlensing models and used them to derive the most probable mass and distance to the lens using a Galactic model as a prior. Using a known mass-brightness relation, we determined how likely it is that the lens is a main-sequence (MS) star.

Results. This event is one of the longest ever detected, with the Einstein timescale of tE = 491.41−84.94+128.31 days for the best solution and tE = 453.74−105.74+178.69 days for the second best. Assuming Galaxy priors, this translates to the most probable lens masses of ML = 2.65−1.48+5.09 M⊙ and ML = 1.71−1.06+3.78 M⊙, respectively. The limits on the blended light suggest that this event was most likely not caused by a MS star, but rather by a dark remnant of stellar evolution.
Properties and applications of a predicted population of runaway He-sdO/B stars ejected from single degenerate He-donor SNe
Authors: Neunteufel P. , Preece H. , Kruckow M. , Geier S. , Hamers A. S. , Justham S. , Podsiadlowski Ph.
Published: March 2022

Context. Thermonuclear supernovae (SNe), a subset of which are the highly important SNe of Type Ia and Iax, are relatively poorly understood phenomena. One of the more promising scenarios leading up to the creation of a thermonuclear SN involves accretion of helium-rich material from a binary companion. Following the SN, the binary companion is then ejected from the location of the progenitor binary at velocities possibly large enough to unbind it from the gravitational potential of the Galaxy. Ejected companion stars should form a detectable population, if their production mechanism is not exceedingly rare.

Aims. This study builds on previous works, producing the most extensive prediction of the properties of such a hypothetical population to date, taking both Chandrasekhar and non-Chandrasekhar mass events into account. These results are then used to define criteria for membership of this population and characterise putative subpopulations.

Methods. This study contains 6 × 106 individual ejection trajectories out of the Galactic plane calculated with the stellar kinematics framework SHyRT, which are analysed with regard to their bulk observational properties. These are then put into context with the only previously identified population member US 708 and applied to a number of other possible candidate objects.

Results. We find that two additional previously observed objects possess properties to warrant a designation as candidate objects. Characterisation of these object with respect to the predicted population finds all of them to be extreme in at least one astrometric observable. Higher mass (> 0.7 M⊙) objects should be over-represented in the observationally accessible volume, with the ratio of bound to unbound objects being an accessible observable for the determination of the dominant terminal accretor mass. We find that current observations of runaway candidates within 10 kpc support a Galactic SN rate of the order of ∼3×10−7 yr−1 to ∼2×10−6 yr−1, three orders of magnitude below the inferred Galactic SN Ia rate and two orders of magnitude below the formation rate of predicted He-donor progenitors.

Conclusions. The number of currently observed population members suggests that the He-donor scenario, as suspected before, is not a dominant contributor to the number of observed SNe Ia. However, even at the low event rate suggested, we find that the majority of possibly detectable population members is still undetected. The extreme nature of current population members suggests that a still larger number of objects has simply evaded detection up to this point, hinting at a higher contribution than is currently supported by observation.
Observational constraints on the origin of the elements
Authors: Magg Ekaterina , Bergemann Maria , Serenelli Aldo , Bautista Manuel , Plez Bertrand , Heiter Ulrike , Gerber Jeffrey M. , Ludwig Hans-Günter , Basu Sarbani , Ferguson Jason W. , Gallego Helena Carvajal , Gamrath Sébastien , Palmeri Patrick , Quinet Pascal
Published: March 2022

Context.The chemical composition of the Sun is required in the context of various studies in astrophysics, among them in the calculation of standard solar models (SSMs) used to describe the evolution of the Sun from the pre-main-sequence to its present age.

Aims.In this work, we provide a critical re-analysis of the solar chemical abundances and corresponding SSMs.

Methods.For the photospheric values, we employed new high-quality solar observational data collected with the IAG facility, state-of-the art non-equilibrium modelling, new oscillator strengths, and different atmospheric models, including the MARCS model, along with averages based on Stagger and CO5BOLD 3D radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of stellar convection. We performed new calculations of oscillator strengths for transitions in O I and N I. For O I, which is a critical element with regard to the interior models, calculations were carried out using several independent methods. We investigated our results in comparison with the previous estimates.

Results.We find an unprecedented agreement between the new estimates of transition probabilities, thus supporting our revised solar oxygen abundance value. We also provide new estimates of the noble gas Ne abundance. In addition, we discuss the consistency of our photospheric measurements with meteoritic values, taking into account the systematic and correlated errors. Finally, we provide revised chemical abundances, leading to a new value proposed for the solar photospheric present-day metallicity of Z/X = 0.0225, which we then employed in SSM calculations. We find that the puzzling mismatch between the helioseismic constraints on the solar interior structure and the model can be resolved thanks to this new chemical composition.
Partially accreted crusts of neutron stars
Authors: Suleiman L. , Zdunik J. L. , Haensel P. , Fortin M.
Published: March 2022

Context. Neutron stars in low-mass binary systems are subject to accretion when material originating from the companion star accumulates on the surface. In most cases, the justified and common assumption in studying the properties of the neutron star crust is the fully accreted crust approximation. However, observations of some X-ray transient sources indicate that the original crust has not been completely replaced by accreted material, but is partly composed of the compressed original crust.

Aims. The crust of an accreting neutron star beyond the fully accreted crust approximation was studied; a two-part (or hybrid) crust made of the original crust that is compressed and of the accreted material crashing onto it was reconstructed as a function of the accretion stage. The differences in the composition and energy sources for the fully accreted and hybrid crusts influence the cooling and transport properties.

Methods. A simple semi-empirical formula of a compressible liquid drop was used to compute the equation of state and composition of the hybrid crust. Calculations were based on the single-nucleus model, with a more accurate treatment of the neutron drip point. We compared the nuclear reactions triggered by compression in the original crust and in the accreted matter part of the hybrid crust. We discuss another crust compression astrophysical phenomenon related to spinning neutron stars.

Results. The compression of the originally catalyzed outer crust triggers exothermic reactions (electron captures and pycnonuclear fusions) that deposit heat in the crust. The heat sources are cataloged as a function of the compression until the fully accreted crust approximation is reached. The pressure at which neutron drip occurs is a nonmonotonic function of the depth, leading to a temporary neutron drip anomaly. The additional potential source of energy for partially accreted crusts is the occurrence of a density inversion phenomenon between some compressed layers.

Conclusions. The original crust of a neutron star cannot be neglected for the initial period of accretion, when the original crust is not fully replaced by the accreted matter. The amount of heat associated with the compression of the original crust is on the same order of magnitude as that from the sources acting in the accreted part of the hybrid crust.
Desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by cosmic rays
Authors: Dartois E. , Chabot M. , Koch F. , Bachelet C. , Bender M. , Bourçois J. , Duprat J. , Frereux J. , Godard M. , Hervé S. , Merk B. , Pino T. , Rojas J. , Schubert I. , Trautmann C.
Published: March 2022

Context. The rate of sputtering and release of condensed species is an important aspect of interstellar chemistry, as is photodesorption for the most volatile species, because in the absence of such mechanisms the whole gas phase would have to condense in times often shorter than the lifetime of the considered medium, in particular for dense clouds. The recent detection of cyclic aromatic molecules by radioastronomy requires an understanding of the potential mechanisms supporting the rather high abundances observed.

Aims. We perform experiments to advance our understanding of the sputtering yield due to cosmic rays for very large carbonaceous species in the solid phase.

Methods. Thin films of perylene and coronene were deposited on a quartz cell microbalance and exposed to a 1.5 MeV N+ ion beam at the Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab, Orsay, France) and a 230 MeV 48Ca10+ ion beam at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI, Darmstadt, Germany). The mass loss was recorded as a function of the fluence for the N+ beam. The microbalance response was calibrated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) reflectance measurements of the produced films. In addition, the destruction cross-section of the same species was measured with the 48Ca10+ ion beam by in situ monitoring of the evolution of the infrared spectra of the bombarded films.

Results. We deduced the sputtering yield for perylene and coronene and their radiolysis destruction cross-sections. Combining these results with a cosmic ray astrophysical spectrum, we discuss the impact on the possible abundance that may originate from the sputtering of dust grains with these molecules as well as from polycyclic aromatic molecules when they are trapped in ice mantles.
Orion A’s complete 3D magnetic field morphology
Authors: Tahani M. , Glover J. , Lupypciw W. , West J. L. , Kothes R. , Plume R. , Inutsuka S. , Lee M.-Y. , Grenier I. A. , Knee L. B. G. , Brown J. C. , Doi Y. , Robishaw T. , Haverkorn M.
Published: March 2022

Magnetic fields permeate the interstellar medium and are important in the star formation process. Determining the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic fields of molecular clouds will allow us to better understand their role in the evolution of these clouds and the formation of stars. We fully reconstruct the approximate 3D magnetic field morphology of the Orion A molecular cloud (on scales of a few to ∼100 pc) using Galactic magnetic field models, as well as available line-of-sight and plane-of-sky magnetic field observations. While previous studies identified the 3D magnetic field morphology of the Orion A cloud as an arc shape, in this study we provide the orientation of this arc-shaped field and its plane-of-sky direction for the first time. We find that this 3D field is a tilted, semi-convex (from our point of view) structure and mostly points in the direction of decreasing latitude and longitude on the plane of the sky from our vantage point. The previously identified bubbles and events in this region were key in shaping this arc-shaped magnetic field morphology.
Five hole probe errors caused by fluctuating incidence
Authors: Coull John , Dickens Tony , Ng Henry , Serna José
Published: March 2022

Steady multi-hole pressure probes are used extensively in turbomachinery research. While various sources of error are known, this paper demonstrates that fluctuations in probe incidence can be particularly damaging for accuracy. A simple, quasi-steady model of five-hole-probe response explains why angle fluctuations can cause large errors in the indicated total and static pressure. The model explains why measurements in a shedding wake over-estimated loss by 40%. Simulated traverses behind rotors show similar behavior: fluctuating incidence causes efficiency to be under-estimated by over 1% in some cases. The model can correct five-hole-probe errors using an estimate of unsteady flow angles. This approach reduces errors by an order of magnitude and can be used to post-correct existing test data.
Weak and strong domination on some graphs
Authors: Durgun Derya Doğan , Kurt Berna Lökçü
Published: March 2022

Let G = (V(G), E(G)) be a graph and uvεE. A subset D ⊆ V of vertices is a dominating set if every vertex in V − D is adjacent to at least one vertex of D. The domination number is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set. Let u and v be elements of V. Then, u strongly dominates u and v weakly dominates u if (i)uvεE and (ii)deg(u) ≥ deg(v). A set D ⊆ V is a strong (weak) dominating set (sd-set)(wd-set) of G if every vertex in V − D is strongly dominated by at least one vertex in D. The strong (weak) domination number γs(γw) of G is the minimum cardinality of a sd-set (wd-set). In this paper, the strong and weak domination numbers of comet, double comet, double star and theta graphs are given. The theta graphs are important geometric graphs that have many applications, including wireless networking, motion planning, MST construction and real-time animation.
Diversification and Solvency II: the capital effect of portfolio swaps on non-life insurers
Authors: Sheehan Barry , Humberg Christian , Shannon Darren , Fortmann Michael , Materne Stefan
Published: March 2022

Diversification plays a pivotal role under the risk-based capital regime of Solvency II. The new rules reward large and well-diversified insurance companies with relatively low capital requirements compared to those of small and specialised nature. To enhance diversification, insurance companies can adjust their strategy by engaging in mergers and acquisitions or new market entries. Alternatively, insurers can accept higher Solvency II capital requirements, displaying a competitive disadvantage and impeding future growth. This research proposes a Solvency II portfolio swap as a new diversification solution that allows small and specialised insurance companies to improve their diversification, and thus, mitigate their diversification disadvantage. The effect of such swaps is demonstrated through the use of two hypothetical insurance companies by swapping 20% of their portfolio over four different scenarios. The swap allowed for a 6% reduction in the Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR) and a maximum increase of the SCR coverage ratio of 17%. With Solvency II posited to stimulate further mergers and acquisitions within the European insurance market, this paper offers an alternative method for insurers to diversify their portfolio. Furthermore, it is suggested that the proposed alternative risk transfer method may improve insurance market competition within the EU by facilitating small and specialised insurers’ competitiveness.
Working against the current to transport material through cell membranes
Authors: Piccone Ashley
Published: March 2022

Secondary active transporters change between two states to move ions, nutrients, and waste across cells
An innovative data-driven energy planning framework for developing regions based on multi-objective optimization and multi-index comprehensive evaluation
Authors: Ma Weiwu , Zhang Yucong , Fan Jiaqian , Wu Xiaotian , Liu Gang
Published: March 2022

With the continuous development of renewable energy in developing countries, energy supply composition, and demand have become very complex. Therefore, energy planning in developing countries is essential. This paper proposes a novel data-driven long-term energy planning method for developing countries to formulate generation expansion planning. It is based on a dynamic energy model and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to predict the development path and uses the CRITIC method to construct a comprehensive evaluation index that incorporates system independence and excessive power generation issues as the basis for post-processing. The proposed method is applied to the 2020–2025 generation expansion planning of Hunan Province, China. The results show that Hunan cannot immediately halt the development of coal power and that when the installed capacities of coal power, photovoltaic, and wind power increase by 6340, 4360, and 8900 MW, respectively, the excess electricity production and the proportion of imported electricity will be reduced by 41.7 and 6.14% at most. In addition, Hunan needs to increase its energy storage capacity by about 21 GWh in the next 5 years. This study can help developing countries compare different energy development paths and provides a reference for formulating appropriate energy expansion schemes. At the same time, it also gives an assessment method that considers the excessive power generation of renewable energy and the energy self-sufficiency rate, which can provide a reference for local decision-makers to develop renewable energy and avoid waste and dependence.
Slow-light dispersion of a cavity polariton in an organic crystal microcavity
Authors: Amano Masamitsu , Otsuka Kazuhito , Fujihara Tohru , Kondo Hisao , Bando Kazuki
Published: March 2022

Herein, we have measured the phase dispersion of a cavity polariton in a single-crystalline anthracene microcavity via interference spectroscopy. Results show slow-light dispersion at the cavity polariton's lower polariton resonance, which agrees well with the transfer matrix method calculation results. According to the theoretical calculations, the slow-light dispersion's group refractive index is 24. We found that the structural dispersion due to a phenomenological photon cavity and material dispersion caused by the exciton contributed to the large group refractive index. These efforts will aid in realizing optical buffer memories for organic microcavities.
Continuously tunable middle-IR bandpass filters based on gradient metal-hole arrays for multispectral sensing and thermography
Authors: Chernomyrdin N. V. , Lavrukhin D. V. , Ulitko V. E. , Galiev R. R. , Gavdush A. A. , Anzin V. B. , Perov A. N. , Katyba G. M. , Tuchin V. V. , Skorobogatiy M. , Reshetov I. V. , Ponomarev D. S. , Zaytsev K. I.
Published: March 2022

Continuously tunable middle-infrared bandpass filters have been developed based on gradient metal-hole arrays with two distinct geometries. The rotation filter relies on an array of metal holes with gradually changing periods and hole sizes in the azimuthal direction, while the translation filter exploits a metal-hole array with a linear gradient. The filters are fabricated in a Ti film on a ZnSe substrate using electron-beam nanolithography. They are characterized experimentally using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and the observed results are compared with numerical predictions of the finite element method. The developed filters offer wide spectral tunability when operating with a focused beam. Particularly, the central wavelength of the transmission band is tunable in the λc∈(9,15)μm range, for the rotation filter, and in the λc∈(8,13)μm range for the translation one, as a linear function of the filter angular or linear displacement. The filters feature relatively broad bandwidths of Δλ≃0.2λc, while their spectral contrast and energy efficiency depend on the gradient type. The filter spectral response function shape and the extent of its spectra tunability can be further optimized by judicious design of the hole geometry and the metal-hole array gradient, respectively. The developed filters hold strong potential in the infrared multispectral sensing and imaging, thanks to their conceptual simplicity. Considering the linearity of Maxwell’s equations and availability of appropriate technologies for the fabrication of gradient arrays of sub-wavelength metal holes, the developed concept can be translated to other spectral ranges.
Long-wave infrared super-resolution wide-field microscopy using sum-frequency generation
Authors: Niemann Richarda , Wasserroth Sören , Lu Guanyu , Gewinner Sandy , De Pas Marco , Schöllkopf Wieland , Caldwell Joshua D. , Wolf Martin , Paarmann Alexander
Published: March 2022

Super-resolution microscopy in the visible is an established powerful tool in various disciplines. In the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectral range, however, no comparable schemes have been demonstrated to date. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate super-resolution microscopy in the LWIR range (λIR≈10–12 μm) using IR-visible sum-frequency generation. We operate our microscope in a wide-field scheme and image localized surface phonon polaritons in 4H-SiC nanostructures as a proof-of-concept. With this technique, we demonstrate an enhanced spatial resolution of ∼λIR/9, enabling to resolve the polariton resonances in individual sub-diffractional nanostructures with sub-wavelength spacing. Furthermore, we show that this resolution allows us to differentiate between spatial patterns associated with different polariton modes within individual nanostructures.
Large-scale volumetric flow studies on transport of aerosol particles using a breathing human model with and without face protections
Authors: Schröder A. , Schanz D. , Bosbach J. , Novara M. , Geisler R. , Agocs J. , Kohl A.
Published: March 2022

Exhalation of small aerosol particle droplets and their airborne transport, dispersion, and (local) accumulation in closed rooms have been identified as the main pathways for direct and indirect respiratory virus transmission from person to person, for example, for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 or measles. Therefore, understanding airborne transport mechanisms of aerosol particles inside closed populated rooms is an important key factor for assessing and optimizing various mitigation strategies. Unsteady flow features, which are typically evolving in such mixed convection flow scenarios, govern the respective particle transport properties. Experimental and numerical methods that enable capturing the related broad range of scales in such internal flows over many cubic meters in order to provide reliable data for the adaptation of proper mitigation measures (distances, masks, shields, air purifiers, ventilation systems, etc.) are required. In the present work, we show results of a large-scale, three-dimensional Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT) experiment, which has been performed in a 12-m3 generic test room capturing up to 3 × 106 long-lived and nearly neutrally buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles (HFSBs) with a mean diameter of dHFSB ∼370 μm as (almost) passive tracers. HFSBs are used as fluid mechanical replacements for small aerosol particles dP < 5 μm, which allow to resolve the Lagrangian transport properties and related unsteady flow field inside the whole room around a cyclically breathing thermal manikin with and without mouth-nose-masks and shields applied. Six high-resolution complementary metal-oxide semiconductor streaming cameras, a large array of powerful pulsed light emitting diodes, and the variable-time step Shake-The-Box LPT algorithm have been applied in this experimental study of internal flows in order to gain insight into the complex transient and turbulent aerosol particle transport and dispersion processes around a seated and breathing human model.
Ultralow thermal conductivity and anharmonic rattling in two-dimensional WB4 monolayer
Authors: Jiang Xi , Zhang Zhen , Liu Zhao , Wang Jing , Liu Ying
Published: March 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) WB4 monolayer is a typical graphene analog with high electrical conductivity and structural stability. Yet, its thermal transport properties are not available. By using first-principles calculations and iteratively solving the linearized Boltzmann transport equation, we predict an ultralow in-plane lattice thermal conductivity (κlat) of 0.28 W/m K at T = 300 K. Such an ultralow κlat is attributed to WB4 monolayer's predominantly large phonon scattering rates and flat acoustic phonon dispersion caused by strong anharmonicity. By analyzing the vibrational patterns and bonding environment, we confirm the origin of the strong anharmonicity to be tungsten atom rattling inside the framework of two boron sheets. Such a mechanism fulfills the concept of phonon glass-electron crystal, making the WB4 monolayer an outstanding 2D thermoelectric material. The rich formation mechanism, including multiple interactions in the WB4 monolayer, provides us inspiration for searching for materials with ultralow κlat.
Ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of 100 nm-thick CeO2-HfO2 epitaxial films
Authors: Shiraishi Takahisa , Konno Toyohiko J. , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

Scaling up the film thickness of HfO2-based ferroelectrics is an important factor leading to their potential application in piezoelectric devices. In this paper, we report the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of 100 nm-thick 0.1CeO2-0.9HfO2 films, epitaxially grown on (001) indium-tin-oxide//(001)yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates. The crystal structure was investigated using x-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). These analyses revealed that the polar orthorhombic phase was stabilized, even at a thickness of 100 nm, whereas the formation of a nonpolar monoclinic phase was suppressed. In addition, the elemental mappings obtained by STEM–energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed that the film was compositionally uniform across its thickness. The chemical state of Ce in the polar orthorhombic domain was investigated using STEM–electron energy loss spectroscopy, which revealed the coexistence of Ce4+ and Ce3+. In addition, pinched polarization-electric field loops were observed, and their shapes were found to remain unaltered even after 109 electric field cycles. The strain-electric field curves originating from ferroelectricity were observed before and after the electric field cycling, and the high-field observed strain, Smax/Emax, was found to be approximately 7.2 pm/V. These results demonstrate that thicker CeO2-HfO2 ferroelectric films are promising candidates for use as piezoelectric materials.
e+(PsH)2: A three-positron molecule with a positronic chemical bond
Authors: Bressanini Dario
Published: March 2022

Two new positronic molecules have been recently discovered: e+H−2 [Charry et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 57, 8859 (2018)] and (PsH)2 [D. Bressanini, J. Chem. Phys. 155, 054306 (2021)]. These molecules seem to be stabilized by a new type of bond, the positronic bond, where one or two positrons are directly responsible for the bonding of two otherwise repelling negative ions. We show that an additional positron can attach to (PsH)2 to form a locally stable species with three positrons whose potential energy curve shows an equilibrium structure at about 8 bohr and a binding energy of 11.5(5) mhartree with respect to the dissociation into PsH + e+PsH. This molecule, tentatively called e+(PsH)2, is the first system with three positrons discovered.
Variation in upstream open reading frames contributes to allelic diversity in maize protein abundance
Authors: Gage Joseph L. , Mali Sujina , McLoughlin Fionn , Khaipho-Burch Merritt , Monier Brandon , Bailey-Serres Julia , Vierstra Richard D. , Buckler Edward S.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Proteins are the machinery which execute essential cellular functions. However, measuring their abundance within an organism can be difficult and resource-intensive. Cells use a variety of mechanisms to control protein synthesis from mRNA, including short open reading frames (uORFs) that lie upstream of the main coding sequence. Ribosomes can preferentially translate uORFs instead of the main coding sequence, leading to reduced translation of the main protein. In this study, we show that uORF sequence variation between individuals can lead to different rates of protein translation and thus variable protein abundances. We also demonstrate that natural variation in uORFs occurs frequently and can be linked to whole-plant phenotypes, indicating that uORF sequence variation likely contributes to plant adaptation.