bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colloids in two-dimensional active nematics: conformal cogs and controllable spontaneous rotation
Authors: Houston Alexander J H , Alexander Gareth P
Published: November 2023

A major challenge in the study of active systems is to harness their non-equilibrium dynamics into useful work. We address this by showing how to design colloids with controllable spontaneous propulsion or rotation when immersed in active nematics. This is illustrated for discs with tilted anchoring and chiral cogs, for which we determine the nematic director through conformal mappings. Our analysis identifies two regimes of behaviour for chiral cogs: orientation-dependent handedness and persistent active rotation. Finally, we provide design principles for active nematic colloids to achieve desired rotational dynamics.
Global gyrokinetic simulations of electrostatic microturbulent transport in LHD stellarator with boron impurity
Authors: Singh Tajinder , Nicolau Javier H. , Nespoli Federico , Motojima Gen , Lin Zhihong , Sen Abhijit , Sharma Sarveshwar , Kuley Animesh
Published: November 2023

Global gyrokinetic simulations of electrostatic microturbulent transport for discharge # 166256 of the Large Helical Device stellarator in the presence of boron impurity show the co-existence of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence and trapped electron mode (TEM) turbulence before and during boron powder injection. ITG turbulence dominates in the core, whereas TEM dominates near the edge, consistent with the experimental observations. Linear TEM frequency increases from

∼

80

 kHz to

∼

100

 kHz during boron injection, and ITG frequency decreases from

∼

20

 kHz to

∼

13

 kHz, consistent with the experiments. The poloidal wave number spectrum is broad for both ITG (0–0.5 mm−1) and TEM (0–0.25 mm−1). The nonlinear simulations with boron impurity show a reduction in the heat conductivity compared to the case without boron. The comparison of the nonlinear transport before and during boron injection shows that the ion heat transport is substantially reduced in the region where the TEM is dominant. However, the average electron heat transport throughout the radial domain and the average ion heat transport in the region where the ITG is dominant are similar. The simulations with boron show the effective heat conductivity values qualitatively agree with the estimate obtained from the experiment.
Characteristics of edge temperature ring oscillation during the stationary improved confinement mode in EAST
Authors: Liu A.D. , Zou X.L. , Zhong X.M. , Song Y.T. , Han M.K. , Duan Y.M. , Liu H.Q. , Wang T.B. , Li E.Z. , Zhang L. , Feng X. , Zhuang G. ,   EAST I-mode Working Group
Published: November 2023

The I-mode is a natural edge localized mode (ELM)-free regime with H-mode-like improved energy confinement and L-mode-like particle confinement, making it an attractive scenario for future tokamak-based fusion reactors. A kind of low-frequency oscillation has been widely observed, with a frequency between stationary zonal flow and geodesic-acoustic mode (GAM) zonal flow. In EAST, most stationary I-mode shots have such a mode, called edge temperature ring oscillation (ETRO). This mode probably plays an important role in development and maintenance of the I-mode , while investigations are needed to clarify the differences between ETRO and similar mode low-frequency oscillation in other devices, such as limit cycle oscillation (LCO). In this paper, the properties of ETRO are described in detail, including the structure of its magnetic components, its radial propagation characteristics, statistics of its central frequency, a linear analysis of the alternating transition turbulences and a comparison with GAM and LCO. Although some similarities can be found between ETRO and both GAM and LCO, the main features are not identical. ETRO is probably a novel type of finite frequency zonal flow or pressure gradient-induced drift that is unique to the I-mode. It is found that modest fueling can reduce ETRO intensity while maintaining I-mode confinement, suggesting that supersonic molecular beam injection could be used as an effective tool to control ETRO.
Statistical analysis of plasma filaments in the island divertor of Wendelstein 7-X
Authors: Csillag B. , Zoletnik S. , Killer C. , Vecsei M. , Anda G. , Dunai D. , Hegedus S. , Refy D. , Nagy D. , Otte M. ,   the W7-X Team
Published: November 2023

Plasma filaments have been measured with alkali beam emission spectroscopy in the plasma edge, divertor island, and scrape-off layer of Wendelstein 7-X. Due to the high intensity of a 1–2 kHz plasma mode, a new, correlation based conditional averaging algorithm was used to search for filaments in the signals. With that method, effects of different magnetic configurations and density levels on filament properties are observed. In configurations where the islands are small and do not play an important role for the connection length topology, filaments behave similar to tokamaks. In contrast, in configurations with larger magnetic islands and more complex connection length profiles, filaments behave quite differently, for instance they may or may not appear in the inner side of the divertor island depending on the plasma parameters. Coupling between the filaments and lower frequency events are also showed. The role of filaments in the global and local particle transport is briefly discussed.
Dynamic space packing
Authors: Dandekar Rahul , Krapivsky P L
Published: November 2023

Dynamic space packing (DSP) is a random process with sequential addition and removal of identical objects into space. In the lattice version, objects are particles occupying single lattice sites, and adding a particle to a lattice site leads to the removal of particles on neighboring sites. We show that the model is solvable and determine the steady-state occupancy, correlation functions, desorption probabilities, and other statistical features for the DSP of hyper-cubic lattices. We also solve a continuous DSP of balls into

R

d

.
Multisoliton complex systems with explicit superpotential interactions
Authors: Lohe M A
Published: November 2023

We consider scalar field theories in

1
+
1

dimensions with N fields

φ
1

,
…

φ
N

which interact through a potential

V
=
V
(

φ
1

,
…

φ
N

)

, which is defined in terms of an explicit superpotential W. We construct W for any N in terms of a known superpotential w for a single-scalar model, such as that for the sine-Gordon equation or the ϕ
4 model, leading to an expression for V which has multiple minima that supports solitons. Static solitons which minimize the total energy in each soliton sector appear as solutions of first-order Bogomolny equations, which have a gradient structure. These are identical in form to equations which arise in the context of synchronization phenomena in complex systems, with the space and time variables interchanged. The sine-Gordon superpotential, for example, leads to an explicit periodic superpotential W for N scalar fields, with associated Bogomolny equations that are equivalent to the well-known Kuramoto equations which describe the synchronization of identical phase oscillators on the unit circle. The known asymptotic properties of the Kuramoto system, for both positive and negative coupling constants, ensure that finite-energy solitons exist for any given set of intermediate values imposed at the origin. Besides the models derived from the sine-Gordon equation, we investigate ϕ
4 and ϕ
6 models with N scalar fields and show numerically that solitons again exist over a wide range of parameters. We also derive general properties of the elementary meson excitations of the system, in particular we show that meson-soliton bound states exist over a restricted range of mass parameters with respect to an exact solution of the ϕ
6 system for N = 3.
Parametric based optimization of friction stir welded wrought AZ80A Mg alloy employing response surface methodology
Authors: I John Solomon , P Sevvel , J Gunasekaran , J Vasanthe Roy
Published: November 2023

An endeavour was put forward to friction stir weld flat plates of AZ80A Mg alloy by employing the central composite based design technique of response surface methodology, taking into consideration the parameters namely tool rotational speed, traverse speed, tool’s tilt angle, and pin geometry of the employed tool. Numerical model was formulated to correlate the relationship amidst the employed parameters of FSW process and the responses, namely tensile strength and elongation percentage of the AZ80A Mg alloy joints. The formulated model was also optimized to attain AZ80A Mg alloy joints possessing highest value of tensile strength. Competency of the formulated numerical model was validated employing the analysis of variance and the observations of the affirmation experiments plotted in the form of scatter diagrams revealed an appreciable agreement with the values of the anticipated models. Response and contour plots generated from the established numerical model was employed to understand the interactive impacts of the parameters of FSW process on the variables of the response. AZ80A mg alloy joints fabricated during the employment of tool possessing straight cylindrical geometry at atilt angle of 0.630, rotational speed of 962.077 rpm, tool traverse speed of 2.105 mm sec−1 possessed the highest tensile strength of 195.299 MPa and was proven to be free from flaws.
Field output correction factors of small static field for IBA razor nanochamber
Authors: Mateus D , Greco C , Peralta L
Published: November 2023

Purpose. The goal of this work is present results of field output factors (OF) using an IBA CC003 (Razor NanoChamber) and compare these results with PTW 60019 (MicroDiamond) and IBA Razor Diode. The experimental results for IBA CC003 were also compared with Monte Carlo (MC) Simulation, using Penelope and Ulysses programs. In addition, field output correction factors (

k

Q

clin

,

Q

msr

f

clin

,

f

msr

) for IBA CC003 were derived with three different methods: (1) using PTW 60019 and IBA Razor as reference detectors; (2) comparison between MC and experimental measurements; and (3) using only MC.Material and Methods. The beam collimation included in this study were (1) square field size between 10 × 10 and 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 defined by the MLC and jaws and (2) cones of different diameters. For IBA CC003 it was determined the polarity and ion collection efficiency correction factors in parallel and perpendicular orientation.Results. The results indicate (1) the variation of polarity effect with the field size is relevant for the determination of OF using IBA CC003, especially for parallel orientation; (2) there is no significant variation of the ion collection efficiency with the field size using IBA CC003 in parallel orientation; (3) OF differences between IBA CC003 and PTW 60019/IBA Razor, and experimental and MC results, increase with decreasing field size;The

k

Q

clin

,

Q

msr

f

clin

,

f

msr

results indicate (1) using the first and second method,

k

Q

clin

,

Q

msr

f

clin

,

f

msr

increase with decreasing field size, which can be related with the influence of the volume effect and (2) using the third method,

k

Q

clin

,

Q

msr

f

clin

,

f

msr

decrease with decreasing field size, which can be explained by the perturbation effect.Conclusions. Our results demonstrate the need of applying

k

Q

clin

,

Q

msr

f

clin

,

f

msr

for IBA CC003 for

S

clin

≤

1 cm, to compensate for volume averaging and perturbations effects.
Insight into dust soiling characteristics and cleaning solutions to investigate impact on PV systems performance across the globe
Authors: Alazbe Khaled , Roy Habbie Alex , Alremeithi Aysha , AlKindi Saif , AlHashmi Maram , Daccache Layal , Alnuaimi Aaesha
Published: November 2023

The energy crisis we currently struggle with is an augmentation of decades of neglect and irrational exploitation of the Earth’s resources. With manifold contributing factors such as the high demand for energy, highly over-populated areas, and fossil fuel depletion, the EU has proposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% of 1990 levels by 2030, on the ambitious road to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Enlarging and diversifying efficient renewable resources is a crucial pillar to satisfying the overwhelming energy needs. The road to this goal is paved by the intensive implementation of solar and wind resources, which are the most promising with their ability to cover an entire year’s energy consumption by just one hour of irradiation if almost 100% of the incoming solar energy could be converted. As widespread and evolved as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems might be, they do present a myriad of challenges in their lifetime. PV soiling is among the major bottlenecks in PV power plants due to its direct influence on both the performance and efficiency of the overall system. This work will shed light on soiling characteristics after guiding through the soiling concepts, rates, and geographical distribution probability. The nature of soiling, its composition, and its impact on the performance of PV modules with full-sized cells will be described. The essence of this review is based on the various cleaning mechanisms that aim to reduce soiling and enhance PV plant performance. This work is concluded by summarizing the review content whilst highlighting the current support and efforts put forth by worldwide organizations to embody the motivation and essence of requirements in the pursuit of soiling reduction and green energy pathways.
Critical windows of greenness exposure during preconception and gestational periods in association with birthweight outcomes
Authors: Yang Zhenchun , Liao Jiawen , Zhang Yi , Lin Yan , Ge Yihui , Chen Wu , Qiu Chenyu , Berhane Kiros , Bai Zhipeng , Han Bin , Xu Jia , Jiang Yong Hui , Gilliland Frank , Yan Weili , Chen Zhanghua , Huang Guoying , Zhang Junfeng (Jim)
Published: November 2023

Few studies have examined the association between greenness exposure and birth outcomes. This study aims to identify critical exposure time windows during preconception and pregnancy for the association between greenness exposure and birth weight. A cohort of 13 890 pregnant women and newborns in Shanghai, China from 2016–2019 were included in the study. We assessed greenness exposure using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) during the preconception and gestational periods, and evaluated the association with term birthweight, birthweight z-score, small-for-gestational age, and large-for-gestational age using linear and logistic regressions adjusting for key maternal and newborn covariates. Ambient temperature, relative humidity, ambient levels of fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) assessed during the same period were adjusted for as sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, we explored the potential different effects by urbanicity and park accessibility through stratified analysis. We found that higher greenness exposure at the second trimester of pregnancy and averaged exposure during the entire pregnancy were associated with higher birthweight and birthweight Z-score. Specifically, a 0.1 unit increase in second trimester averaged NDVI value was associated with an increase in birthweight of 10.2 g (95% CI: 1.8–18.5 g) and in birthweight Z-score of 0.024 (0.003–0.045). A 0.1 unit increase in an averaged NDVI during the entire pregnancy was associated with 10.1 g (95% CI: 1.0–19.2 g) increase in birthweight and 0.025 (0.001–0.048) increase in birthweight Z-score. Moreover, the associations were larger in effect size among urban residents than suburban residents and among residents without park accessibility within 500 m compared to those with park accessibility within 500 m. Our findings suggest that increased greenness exposure, particularly during the second trimester, may be beneficial to birth weight in a metropolitan area.
Kinetic investigation reveals an HIV-1 Nef-dependent increase in AP-2 recruitment and productivity at endocytic sites
Authors: Iwamoto Yuichiro , Ye Anna A. , Shirazinejad Cyna , Hurley James H. , Drubin David G.
Published: November 2023

The HIV-1 accessory protein Nef hijacks clathrin adaptors to degrade or mislocalize host proteins involved in antiviral defenses. Here, using quantitative live-cell microscopy in genome-edited Jurkat cells, we investigate the impact of Nef on clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), a major pathway for membrane protein internalization in mammalian cells. Nef is recruited to CME sites on the plasma membrane, and this recruitment is associated with an increase in the recruitment and lifetime of the CME coat protein AP-2 and the late-arriving CME protein dynamin2. Furthermore, we find that CME sites that recruit Nef are more likely to recruit dynamin2 and transferrin, suggesting that Nef recruitment to CME sites promotes site maturation to ensure high efficiency in host protein downregulation. Implications of these observations for HIV-1 infection are discussed.
Suicide Mortality Among Formerly Incarcerated People Compared With the General Population in North Carolina, 2000–2020
Authors: Fitch Kate Vinita , Pence Brian W , Rosen David L , Miller Vanessa E , Gaynes Bradley N , Swilley-Martinez Monica E , Kavee Andrew L , Carey Timothy S , Proescholdbell Scott K , Ranapurwala Shabbar I
Published: November 2023

We aimed to compare rates and characteristics of suicide mortality in formerly incarcerated people with those of the general population in North Carolina. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 266,400 people released from North Carolina state prisons between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2020. Using direct and indirect standardization by age, sex, and calendar year, we calculated standardized suicide mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios comparing formerly incarcerated people with the North Carolina general population. We evaluated effect modification by race/ethnicity, sex, age, and firearm involvement. Formerly incarcerated people had approximately twice the overall suicide mortality of the general population for 3 years after release, with the highest rate of suicide mortality being observed in the 2-week period after release. In contrast to patterns in the general population, formerly incarcerated people had higher rates of non–firearm-involved suicide mortality than firearm-involved suicide mortality. Formerly incarcerated female, White and Hispanic/Latino, and emerging adult people had a greater elevation of suicide mortality than their general-population peers compared with other groups. These findings suggest a need for long-term support for formerly incarcerated people as they return to community living and a need to identify opportunities for interventions that reduce the harms of incarceration for especially vulnerable groups.

This article is part of a Special Collection on Mental Health.
Adaptive constraints at the range edge of a widespread and expanding invasive plant
Authors: Fletcher Rebecca A , Atwater Daniel Z , Haak David C , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar V , DiTommaso Antonio , Lehnhoff Erik , Paterson Andrew H , Auckland Susan , Govindasamy Prabhu , Lemke Cornelia , Morris Edward , Rainville Lisa , Barney Jacob N
Published: November 2023

Identifying the factors that facilitate and limit invasive species’ range expansion has both practical and theoretical importance, especially at the range edges. Here, we used reciprocal common garden experiments spanning the North/South and East/West range that include the North American core, intermediate and range edges of the globally invasive plant, Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) to investigate the interplay of climate, biotic interactions (i.e. competition) and patterns of adaptation. Our results suggest that the rapid range expansion of Johnsongrass into diverse environments across wide geographies occurred largely without local adaptation, but that further range expansion may be restricted by a fitness trade-off that limits population growth at the range edge. Interestingly, plant competition strongly dampened Johnsongrass growth but did not change the rank order performance of populations within a garden, though this varied among gardens (climates). Our findings highlight the importance of including the range edge when studying the range dynamics of invasive species, especially as we try to understand how invasive species will respond to accelerating global changes.
A field experiment reveals reciprocal effects of host personality and parasitism in wild lizards
Authors: Payne Eric , Sinn David L , Spiegel Orr , Gardner Michael G , Sih Andrew
Published: November 2023

Host behavior and parasite infection reciprocally interact, but this dynamic is rarely studied experimentally in the field with multiple behaviors. We investigated the interplay between parasitism and host behavior via an in situ experimental tick infestation of a wild population of sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. Using Bayesian models, we assessed the relationship between experimental infestation and lizard aggression and boldness before and after infestation. First, we tested whether lizard aggression and boldness prior to infestation predicted the probability of tick attachment in the infestation experiment. Second, we evaluated whether experimental infestation affected subsequent lizard aggression and boldness. We found that aggression and boldness related interactively with infestation: for unaggressive lizards, higher boldness was associated with reduced experimental infestation success, but the opposite occurred for aggressive individuals. Second, increased tick infestation did not affect post-infestation aggression, but tended to increase boldness. Taken together, these results highlight the potential for feedbacks between parasites and multi-dimensional host behaviors.
PROSTATA: a framework for protein stability assessment using transformers
Authors: Umerenkov Dmitriy , Nikolaev Fedor , Shashkova Tatiana I , Strashnov Pavel V , Sindeeva Maria , Shevtsov Andrey , Ivanisenko Nikita V , Kardymon Olga L
Published: November 2023

Motivation

Accurate prediction of change in protein stability due to point mutations is an attractive goal that remains unachieved. Despite the high interest in this area, little consideration has been given to the transformer architecture, which is dominant in many fields of machine learning.

Results

In this work, we introduce PROSTATA, a predictive model built in a knowledge-transfer fashion on a new curated dataset. PROSTATA demonstrates advantage over existing solutions based on neural networks. We show that the large improvement margin is due to both the architecture of the model and the quality of the new training dataset. This work opens up opportunities to develop new lightweight and accurate models for protein stability assessment.

Availability and implementation

PROSTATA is available at https://github.com/AIRI-Institute/PROSTATA and https://prostata.airi.net.
Do northern species of amphibians and reptiles of Eurasia need southern refugia?
Authors: Ratnikov Viatcheslav
Published: November 2023

I do not support modern ideas regarding the sheltering of northern species of amphibians and reptiles in southern refugia during glacial periods. The current article presents arguments that reject the traditional point of view. The northern species did not fall within southern refugia, and therefore new forms (haplotypes) appeared within the periglacial hyperzone. I describe how these processes may have taken place.
Population genetics of queen conch, Aliger gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gastropoda: Strombidae) at the Cuban island platform
Authors: Hernández Vázquez Ana María , Madrigal-Roca Luis Javier , Echenique Días Lázaro M , Álvarez Lemus José Alberto , Berovides Álvarez Vicente , Espinosa López Georgina
Published: November 2023

The queen conch, Aliger gigas is a large marine gastropod mollusc that inhabits shallow seagrass meadows and sandplain habitats throughout the Caribbean. Owing to overfishing and degradation of the environment, it has become an endangered species in most of its habitat. Research on Cuban populations of A. gigas is scarce and mostly focused on conch exploitation. The present study assesses, for the first time, the genetic diversity and population structure of A. gigas from six locations on the Cuban platform, using five microsatellite loci. At most of the sampled locations, the observed heterozygosity was lower than expected and the FIS value was significantly positive, both of which suggest inbreeding. Also, we found evidence of bottlenecks for two of the locations with a deficit of heterozygotes. Although statistically significant, only 1.66% of the total variance was explained by genetic differentiation among populations, and discriminant analysis of principal components showed different degrees of overlapping between all locations. Accordingly, the results showed that there is an extensive and symmetrical exchange of genetic information. Sparse non-negative matrix factorization analysis determined the existence of three ancestral populations admixed across the sampled locations. Thus, our results suggest that A. gigas from the Cuban island platform could be a unique population, which is relevant for management and conservation strategies.
An analysis of inter- and intra-rater Facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index assessments in adults with active nonsegmental vitiligo
Authors: Banerjee Anindita , Ezzedine Khaled , Shore Ronald , Peeva Elena , Yamaguchi Yuji , Cox Lori , Sloan Abigail , Gamalo Margaret , Reyes Christian Russel
Published: November 2023

With several vitiligo therapies currently under development, a reliable clinician-reported outcome is needed to assess disease severity and treatment response. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliabilities of the F-VASI in assessing the extent and severity of vitiligo in a central reader paradigm as part of a clinical trial of the oral dual Janus kinase 3/Tec family kinase inhibitor ritlecitinib in patients with vitiligo. We found strong and consistent inter-rater agreement between two central readers across all F-VASI measurements and observed similar reliability for intra-rater assessments across two separate readings of the same patient images.
Machine learning models to predict surgical case duration compared to current industry standards: scoping review
Authors: Spence Christopher , Shah Owais A , Cebula Anna , Tucker Keith , Sochart David , Kader Deiary , Asopa Vipin
Published: November 2023

Background

Surgical waiting lists have risen dramatically across the UK as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effective use of operating theatres by optimal scheduling could help mitigate this, but this requires accurate case duration predictions. Current standards for predicting the duration of surgery are inaccurate. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for greater accuracy in predicting surgical case duration. This study aimed to investigate whether there is evidence to support that AI is more accurate than current industry standards at predicting surgical case duration, with a secondary aim of analysing whether the implementation of the models used produced efficiency savings.

Method

PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE libraries were searched through to July 2023 to identify appropriate articles. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and the Arksey and O’Malley framework were followed. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the reporting guidelines for surgical AI papers by Farrow et al. Algorithm performance was reported using evaluation metrics.

Results

The search identified 2593 articles: 14 were suitable for inclusion and 13 reported on the accuracy of AI algorithms against industry standards, with seven demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in prediction accuracy (P < 0.05). The larger studies demonstrated the superiority of neural networks over other machine learning techniques. Efficiency savings were identified in a RCT. Significant methodological limitations were identified across most studies.

Conclusion

The studies suggest that machine learning and deep learning models are more accurate at predicting the duration of surgery; however, further research is required to determine the best way to implement this technology.
Hippocampal subfield associations with memory depend on stimulus modality and retrieval mode
Authors: Aumont Etienne , Bussy Aurélie , Bedard Marc-André , Bezgin Gleb , Therriault Joseph , Savard Melissa , Fernandez Arias Jaime , Sziklas Viviane , Vitali Paolo , Poltronetti Nina Margherita , Pallen Vanessa , Thomas Emilie , Gauthier Serge , Kobayashi Eliane , Rahmouni Nesrine , Stevenson Jenna , Tissot Cecile , Chakravarty Mallar M , Rosa-Neto Pedro
Published: November 2023

Hippocampal atrophy is a well-known feature of age-related memory decline, and hippocampal subfields may contribute differently to this decline. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between hippocampal subfield volumes and performance in free recall and recognition memory tasks in both verbal and visual modalities in older adults without dementia.

We collected MRIs from 97 (41 males) right-handed participants aged over 60. We segmented the right and left hippocampi into (i) dentate gyrus and cornu ammonis 4 (DG/CA4); (ii) CA2 and CA3 (CA2/CA3); (iii) CA1; (iv) strata radiatum, lacunosum and moleculare; and (v) subiculum. Memory was assessed with verbal free recall and recognition tasks, as well as visual free recall and recognition tasks. Amyloid-β and hippocampal tau positivity were assessed using [18F]AZD4694 and [18F]MK6240 PET tracers, respectively.

The verbal free recall and verbal recognition performances were positively associated with CA1 and strata radiatum, lacunosum and moleculare volumes. The verbal free recall and visual free recall were positively correlated with the right DG/CA4. The visual free recall, but not verbal free recall, was also associated with the right CA2/CA3. The visual recognition was not significantly associated with any subfield volume. Hippocampal tau positivity, but not amyloid-β positivity, was associated with reduced DG/CA4, CA2/CA3 and strata radiatum, lacunosum and moleculare volumes.

Our results suggest that memory performances are linked to specific subfields. CA1 appears to contribute to the verbal modality, irrespective of the free recall or recognition mode of retrieval. In contrast, DG/CA4 seems to be involved in the free recall mode, irrespective of verbal or visual modalities. These results are concordant with the view that DG/CA4 plays a primary role in encoding a stimulus’ distinctive attributes, and that CA2/CA3 could be instrumental in recollecting a visual memory from one of its fragments. Overall, we show that hippocampal subfield segmentation can be useful for detecting early volume changes and improve our understanding of the hippocampal subfields’ roles in memory.
Safety of topical tacrolimus and corticosteroids in young children with atopic dermatitis: a 5-year questionnaire-based follow-up study
Authors: Salava Alexander , Remitz Anita
Published: November 2023

We previously conducted a randomized double-blinded clinical cohort study on topical tacrolimus safety issues in 1–3-year-old children with atopic dermatitis. Five years on, the participants were contacted via a postal questionnaire to obtain long-term data. There were no significant differences regarding infections, growth parameters (height, weight, body mass index), quality of life and disease severity between use of topical tacrolimus and topical corticosteroids.
The journalist in the story. Conceptualizing ethos as integral framework to study news production, news texts and news audiences
Authors: Smeenk Kim , Harbers Frank , Broersma Marcel
Published: November 2023

This theoretical article presents ethos as a conceptual framework to understand journalism’s authority and shifting epistemologies. We argue that ethos, the strategic self-image of the journalist in the text, is an essential part of the performative potential of journalism, even in detached “objective” journalism where journalists are seemingly absent in their articles. Analyzing journalism from an ethos perspective, elucidates how journalists build on and rework epistemological frameworks while ensuring the performativity of their text. Drawing on narratological theory, we show that ethos is ambiguous and that the possible disparate evaluations of the journalist’s reliability by audiences impact the possibility of news stories to enact their performative potential. Ethos offers an integrated framework for studying relationships between news texts and news production, contexts and audiences, highlighting how values such as reliability, authenticity or objectivity are projected, circulated and attributed in the journalistic field and the information ecology at large.
Temporal changes in coronary plaque as assessed by an artificial intelligence–based optical coherence tomography: from the first-in-human trial on DREAMS 3G scaffold
Authors: Garcia-Garcia Hector M , Waksman Ron , Melaku Gebremedhin D , Garg Mohil , Beyene Solomon , Wlodarczak Adrian , Kerai Ajay , Levine Molly B , van der Schaaf René J , Torzewski Jan , Ferdinande Bert , Escaned Javier , Iglesias Juan F , Bennett Johan , Toth Gabor G , Joner Michael , Toelg Ralph , Wiemer Marcus , Olivecrona Göran , Vermeersch Paul , Haude Michael
Published: November 2023

Aims

The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the baseline plaque composition on the DREAMS 3G luminal late loss and to compare the serial plaque changes between baseline and 6 and 12 months (M) follow-up.

Methods and results

A total of 116 patients were enrolled in the BIOMAG-I trial. Patients were imaged with optical coherence tomography (OCT) pre- and post-DREAMS 3G implantation and at 6 and 12 M. OCTPlus software uses artificial intelligence to assess composition (i.e. lipid, calcium, and fibrous tissue) of the plaque. The differences between the OCT-derived minimum lumen area (MLA) post-percutaneous coronary intervention and 12 M were grouped into three terciles. Patients with larger MLA differences at 12 M (P = 0.0003) had significantly larger content of fibrous tissue at baseline. There was a reduction of 24.8% and 20.9% in lipid area, both P < 0.001, between the pre-DREAMS 3G OCT and the 6 and 12 M follow-up. Conversely, the fibrous tissue increased by 48.4% and 36.0% at 6 and 12 M follow-up, both P < 0.001.

Conclusion

The larger the fibrous tissue in the lesion at baseline, the larger the luminal loss seen at 6 and 12 M. Following the implantation of DREAMS 3G, favourable healing of the vessel coronary wall occurs as shown by a decrease in the lipid area and an increase in fibrous tissue.
Effects of intraoral aging on mechanical properties of directly printed aligners vs. thermoformed aligners: an in vivo prospective investigation
Authors: Sayahpour Babak , Zinelis Spiros , Polychronis Georgios , Eliades Theodore , Goteni Malcolm , Kopp Stefan , Eslami Sara
Published: November 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of intraoral aging on the mechanical properties of directly printed aligners (DPA) compared to thermoformed aligners (TA).

Materials and methods

This prospective in vivo experiment included three types of aligners: DPAs (group DP) fabricated from Tera Harz TC-85 DAC resin (Graphy, Korea), TA (group INV) made from a polyurethane-based polymer (Align Technology, Inc., CA, USA), and TA (group DUR) made from polyethylene glycol terephthalate based polymer (Scheu-Dental, Germany). Each group was categorized into retrieved (Clin) and unused aligners (Ctr). Thirty patients (10 per group) wore the aligners for 7 days, thereby generating the retrieved samples. Thirty unused aligners were employed as control samples. The following mechanical properties were determined: Martens Hardness (HM), indentation modulus (EIT), elastic index (ηIT), and indentation relaxation (RIT). Intergroup comparisons were conducted using ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis test. Comparisons between retrieved and control samples were done using Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney-U/Student’s t-test/Welch’s test.

Results

Statistically significant differences between the groups were found for both control and used samples (P < .001). Pairwise comparisons also revealed significant differences between the samples. The mechanical properties did not differ significantly between unused and retrieved INV- and DUR-aligners, whereas for DP-aligners significant differences for ηIT and RIT were found following intraoral service (P-values .012 and .002, respectively).

Conclusions

Group DUR showed generally more favorable mechanical properties compared to DP and INV. The much higher RIT and EIT in DP aligners suggest their higher rigidity and force decay, which could compromise their clinical efficacy.
The role of the behavioural immune system on covid-19 lockdown attitudes: The relationship with authoritarianism and collectivism
Authors: van Diepenbeek Femke , Kessler Sharon E
Published: November 2023

Background and objectives

The behavioural immune system (BIS) is a motivational system that facilitates the avoidance of pathogens and is thought to have evolved as a less costly mechanism to combat infectious diseases compared to the physiological immune system. The Parasite Stress Theory of Social Values predicts that authoritarianism and collectivist attitudes may impact the BIS by predisposing people to support disease control measures, including severe restrictions like lockdowns or stay-at-home orders. This study investigates the relationship between authoritarianism, collectivism and Covid-19 worry on support for lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methodology

A total of 187 UK participants were recruited to complete an online survey, which was administered between 22 June and 7 July 2020. The survey included measures of authoritarianism, collectivism, Covid-19 worry and support for lockdown measures. The data were analysed using moderated parallel mediation analysis.

Results

Covid-19 worry had a direct effect on support for and enforcement of lockdown measures, but not on the idea that adherence to lockdown rules should be an individual choice. The relationship between Covid Worry and Support for and Enforcement of lockdown measures was not mediated by authoritarianism, nor was it moderated by Collectivism. Collectivism and Authoritarianism were related to increased levels of support for lockdown independently from Covid Worry but were not related to enforcement.

Conclusions and implications

Support for lockdown restrictions and enforcement was mainly associated with covid worry. Our findings do not support the parasite stress theory of social values and indicate that the BIS manifested in a more direct way, and not through social values.
Arrhythmic risk stratification in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Authors: Gasperetti Alessio , James Cynthia A , Carrick Richard T , Protonotarios Alexandros , te Riele Anneline S J M , Cadrin-Tourigny Julia , Compagnucci Paolo , Duru Firat , van Tintelen Peter , Elliot Perry M , Calkins Hugh
Published: November 2023

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a heritable cardiomyopathy characterized by a predominantly arrhythmic presentation. It represents the leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among athletes and poses a significant morbidity threat in the general population. As a causative treatment for ARVC is still not available, the placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator represents the current cornerstone for SCD prevention in this setting. Thanks to international ARVC-dedicated efforts, significant steps have been achieved in recent years towards an individualized, patient-centred risk stratification approach. A novel risk calculator algorithm estimating the 5-year risk of arrhythmias of patients with ARVC has been introduced in clinical practice and subsequently validated. The purpose of this article is to summarize the body of evidence that has allowed the development of this tool and to discuss the best way to implement its use in the care of an individual patient.
Tracking hybrid viability across life stages in a natural avian contact zone
Authors: Ålund Murielle , Marzal J Carolina Segami , Zhu Yishu , Menon P Navaneeth Krishna , Jones William , Qvarnström Anna
Published: November 2023

Hybrid inviability is an important post-zygotic reproductive barrier between species, but emerging signs of reduced viability can be difficult to study across the lifespan of natural hybrids. We use a combination of long-term monitoring, extra-pair paternity, and mitochondrial DNA identification in a natural hybrid zone of Ficedula flycatchers to detect emerging signs of intrinsic hybrid inviability across their entire lifespan. We evaluate possible evidence of Darwin’s corollary to Haldane’s rule, predicting asymmetries in inviability between hybrids resulting from reciprocal crosses, due to incompatible genetic factors with sex-specific inheritance patterns. We found higher hatching failure among mixed-species pairs, possibly indicating early developmental impairments associated with specific parental genetic combinations. Adult hybrids had a higher basal mortality rate than both parental species and different age-specific mortality trajectories. There were signs of differences in age-independent mortality rates between the reciprocal hybrid crosses: hybrids with a pied flycatcher mother experienced slightly increased mortality later in life. Using an exceptional dataset with many natural hybrids tracked across life stages, we provide evidence for several emerging signs of reduced hybrid viability. Incompatibilities between alleles located on autosomes and uniparentally inherited factors such as Z-linked and/or mitochondrial genes are strong candidates underlying intrinsic hybrid dysfunction in this system.
Effect of long-term oral glutathione supplementation on gut microbiome of type 2 diabetic individuals
Authors: Gaike Akshay H , Kalamkar Saurabh D , Gajjar Vijay , Divate Uma , Karandikar-Iyer Sucheta , Goel Pranay , Shouche Yogesh S , Ghaskadbi Saroj S
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to check the effect of long-term oral glutathione (GSH) supplementation on alteration in gut microbiome of Indian diabetic individuals. Early morning fresh stool sample of diabetic individuals recruited in a randomized clinical trial wherein they were given 500 mg GSH supplementation orally once a day for a period of 6 months was collected and gut microbiome was analysed using high throughput 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Long-term GSH supplementation as reported in our earlier work showed significant increase in body stores of GSH and stabilized decreased glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Analysis of gut microbiome revealed that abundance of phylum Proteobacteria significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in individuals with GSH supplementation after 6 months compared to those without it. Beneficial dominant genera such as Megasphaera, Bacteroides, and Megamonas were found to be significantly enriched (P < 0.05), while pathogenic Escherichia/Shigella was found to be depleted (P < 0.05) after supplementation. Data clearly demonstrate that GSH supplementation along with antidiabetic treatment helps restore the gut microbiome by enriching beneficial bacteria of healthy gut and reducing significantly the load of pathogenic bacteria of diabetic gut.
Discounting constituent attitudes: motivated reasoning, ambiguity, and policymaker perceptions of constituent characteristics
Authors: Bergan Daniel E , Shulman Hillary C , Carnahan Dustin
Published: November 2023

In experimental work, researchers have found that policymakers discount the opinions of constituents with whom they disagree. We build on these results with a national sample of local policymakers in the United States, exploring whether communicators can prevent policymakers from discounting their opinions by providing evidence of their own knowledge about a topic. We find that policymakers discount the opinions of hypothetical constituents with whom they disagree, but there is evidence that providing unambiguous evidence about a letter-writer’s positive traits can reduce this discounting. We conclude with a discussion of implications for theory as well as practical implications for communicating with policymakers.
Multipolar or multiplex? Interaction capacity, global cooperation and world order
Authors: Acharya Amitav , Estevadeordal Antoni , Goodman Louis W
Published: November 2023

This article uses a new concept—multiplexity, rather than multipolarity or liberal hegemony—to describe and analyse the changing world order. Instead of conventional measures like economic or military power, it uses ‘interaction capacity’ among states, or the relative ability of nations to exercise leadership and organize cooperation as the key world order measure. Using a new dataset composed of post-Second World War treaties to measure interaction capacity, it finds the world order changing from United States leadership, toward a more de-centered, pluralistically led (multiplex) world—a decline in the relative importance of great powers, an increase in the interaction capacity of middle and small powers, and the significance of clusters of cooperation among nations that are not necessarily geographically close to each other. We conclude that, while leadership in global cooperation is increasingly pluralized along actors and issue areas, it is not collapsing or becoming overly transactional. These findings should guide debates on the future of world order and reform of international institutions. While policy makers must prepare for a transition from the unipolar moment and the rise of non-western nations, they should not succumb to undue pessimism about the collapse of global cooperation, which is underpinned by long-term dynamics of interaction capacity among nations.
Implications of methodologies for integrating empirical kinships into ex situ population management using PMx: A case study of Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri) in North America
Authors: Chaille Asako Y , Lacy Robert C , Putnam Andrea S , Toste Jamie L , Wilder Aryn P , Ivy Jamie A
Published: November 2023

The application of molecular tools to population management can improve the long-term genetic viability of ex situ populations. In this study, we aimed to understand the implications of integrating empirical kinships into the genetic management of an ex situ population of the endangered waterfowl, Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri), in North America. Single nucleotide polymorphism data were generated for 141 Baer’s pochard using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing and empirical kinships were derived and integrated into the population management software PMx. Analyses suggested 37.7% of pairwise relationships previously assumed to be unrelated were first, second, or third-order relatives. We determined that most genetic summary statistics were impacted through the calculation of the population’s mean kinship, which increased from MK¯=0.0772 to MK¯=0.2074 after empirical kinships were integrated into our analyses. Our results also revealed the importance of understanding how molecular kinships derived from a particular estimator are scaled, if the scale differs significantly from pedigree-based kinships. We describe the theory behind the genetic metrics impacted and provide general guidance on incorporating empirical kinships into ex situ population management as well as provide suggestions for sampling strategies to minimize the biases inherent in merging two types of kinship estimators.