bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical Prediction and Experimental Verification of Hitting Targets of Gravity-Powered Trebuchets
Authors: Liu Xiangshu , Chen Qicheng , Zhai Ying , Mo Lintang , Yang Maoli
Published: March 2023

As one of the early weapons used by the ancient Chinese military, the gravity-powered trebuchet is listed as a mandatory program in science and technology games in several provinces. Due to its entertaining and informative features, this program has received continuous attention and discussion from scholars. Currently, most of the studies on this program are empirical, and few studies have been conducted quantitatively based on theoretical models. Therefore, this study established a theoretical model of the trebuchet projection process from the perspective of system energy conservation and gave an accurate analytical expression of hitting target points. In order to verify the reliability of the theoretical model, experimental tests were conducted. The results showed that the experimental results were relatively consistent with the theoretical predictions. These findings could provide a new research idea for facilitating gravity-powered trebuchets to hit targets accurately.
Convexity Estimates for the Solution of the Elliptical Partial Differential Equation det D
2
u = eu
Authors: Yu Xuemei
Published: March 2023

The Monge-Ampère equation det D
2
u = eu
is completely nonlinear and elliptic, the convexity estimates for the solution of the elliptical partial differential equation is very important. We establish a differential inequality by constructing an auxiliary function and give two differential estimates for the solution of the equation det D
2
u = eu
with 0 boundary value condition.
The union of intervals in constructive mathematics
Authors: Liu Chuning , Shen Wenqi
Published: March 2023

Constructive Real Numbers (CRNs) are the concept of real numbers used in Constructive Mathematics, where the objects are thought of as being generated by a computer program. This paper focuses on the property of unions in the constructive end, which means that we study the union of intervals from the viewpoint of Constructive Mathematics. In the end, we prove that for t < u ≤ v < w (t, u, v, w are CRN), then it is always true that [t, v] ∪ [u, w] ⊂ [t, w] but generally it is not true that [t, w] ⊂ [t, v] ∪ [u, w]. However, for t < u < v < w(t, u, v, w are CRN), it is always true that [t, w] = [t, v] ∪ [u, w].
Finite element analysis for residual stress of TB18 billet produced by laser directed energy deposition
Authors: Hu Zhongyuan , Yuan Wuhua
Published: March 2023

In order to study the influence of process parameters on the residual stress of TB18 titanium alloy produced by laser directed energy deposition, a method combining numerical simulation with experimental verification was adopted. The distribution of residual stress in the deposited layer was obtained through experiments, and the influence of process parameters on the residual stress in the deposited layer was analyzed by finite element simulation. Finite element simulation is carried out for different cooling time and scanning strategy between layers. The results show that the residual stress of the deposited layer increases with the increase of the interlayer cooling time. By changing the scanning strategy, the peak residual stress can be reduced by 84.3% at most. This study provides guidance for selecting appropriate process parameters and reducing the residual stress of TB18 titanium alloy produced by laser directional energy deposition.
Simulation of DC glow discharge plasma with free-moving dust particles in the radial direction
Authors: TIAN Ruihuan , LIANG Yonggan , HAO Shuji , FENG Jie , JIANG Xiaonan , LI Hui , YUAN Chengxun , WU Jian
Published: March 2023

A self-consistent fluid model is developed to investigate the radial distributions of dusty plasma parameters in a DC glow discharge, in which the extended fluid approach of plasma particles and the transport equations of dust particles are coupled. The electrical interaction between charged dust particles is considered in the model. The time evolution of radial distributions of dust density, plasma density, the radial component of electric field and the forces acting on dust particles when dust density tends to be stable, are obtained and analyzed under different discharge currents and dust particle radii. It is shown that the dust density structure is determined mainly by the radial electrostatic force, thermophoretic force and ion drag force in the discharge tube, and both discharge current and dust particle radius have an obvious effect on the transport processes of dust particles. The dust particles gather in the central region of the discharge tube for low discharge current and small dust radius, then dust voids are formed and become wider when the discharge current and dust radius increase. The plasma parameters in the dust gathering region are obviously affected by the dust particles due to the charging processes of electrons and ions to the dust surface.
Inferring the heritability of bacterial traits in the era of machine learning
Authors: Mai T Tien , Lees John A , Gladstone Rebecca A , Corander Jukka
Published: March 2023

Quantification of heritability is a fundamental desideratum in genetics, which allows an assessment of the contribution of additive genetic variation to the variability of a trait of interest. The traditional computational approaches for assessing the heritability of a trait have been developed in the field of quantitative genetics. However, the rise of modern population genomics with large sample sizes has led to the development of several new machine learning-based approaches to inferring heritability. In this article, we systematically summarize recent advances in machine learning which can be used to infer heritability. We focus on an application of these methods to bacterial genomes, where heritability plays a key role in understanding phenotypes such as antibiotic resistance and virulence, which are particularly important due to the rising frequency of antimicrobial resistance. By designing a heritability model incorporating realistic patterns of genome-wide linkage disequilibrium for a frequently recombining bacterial pathogen, we test the performance of a wide spectrum of different inference methods, including also GCTA. In addition to the synthetic data benchmark, we present a comparison of the methods for antibiotic resistance traits for multiple bacterial pathogens. Insights from the benchmarking and real data analyses indicate a highly variable performance of the different methods and suggest that heritability inference would likely benefit from tailoring of the methods to the specific genetic architecture of the target organism.

Availability and implementation

The R codes and data used in the numerical experiments are available at: https://github.com/tienmt/her_MLs.
‘Synergistic selection’: a cooperative model of evolution
Authors: Corning Peter A
Published: March 2023

Many developments over the past few decades have undermined the central tenets of the so-called ‘Modern Synthesis’ in evolutionary biology—including its narrow focus on genetic mutations and other molecular level factors as a prime source of innovation in evolution and a deeply competitive model of biological change. It is now apparent that cooperative (synergistic) effects of various kinds, at all ‘levels’ of living systems, have played a major causal role in shaping the overall trajectory of life on Earth, and that living systems themselves have been purposeful participants (‘agents’) and co-developers in this process.
Freshwater protected areas can preserve high-performance phenotypes in populations of a popular sportfish
Authors: Zolderdo A J , Abrams A E I , Lawrence M J , Reid C H , Suski C D , Gilmour K M , Cooke S J
Published: March 2023

Recreational fishing has the potential to cause evolutionary change in fish populations; a phenomenon referred to as fisheries-induced evolution. However, detecting and quantifying the magnitude of recreational fisheries selection in the wild is inherently difficult, largely owing to the challenges associated with variation in environmental factors and, in most cases, the absence of pre-selection or baseline data against which comparisons can be made. However, exploration of recreational fisheries selection in wild populations may be possible in systems where fisheries exclusion zones exist. Lakes that possess intra-lake freshwater protected areas (FPAs) can provide investigative opportunities to evaluate the evolutionary impact(s) of differing fisheries management strategies within the same waterbody. To address this possibility, we evaluated how two physiological characteristics (metabolic phenotype and stress responsiveness) as well as a proxy for angling vulnerability, catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), differed between populations of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) inhabiting long-standing (>70 years active) intra-lake FPAs and adjacent, open access, main-lake areas. Fish from FPA populations had significantly higher aerobic scope (AS) capacity (13%) and CPUE rates compared with fish inhabiting the adjacent main-lake areas. These findings are consistent with theory and empirical evidence linking exploitation with reduced metabolic performance, supporting the hypothesis that recreational fishing may be altering the metabolic phenotype of wild fish populations. Reductions in AS are concerning because they suggest a reduced scope for carrying out essential life-history activities, which may result in fitness level implications. Furthermore, these results highlight the potential for unexploited FPA populations to serve as benchmarks to further investigate the evolutionary consequences of recreational fishing on wild fish and to preserve high-performance phenotypes.
The potential of dynamic 99mTc-sestamibi cadmium zinc telluride-single-photon emission computed tomography camera assessing myocardial flow reserve in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Yoshida Satoya , Unno Kazumasa , Nanasato Mamoru , Niimi Takanaga , Inukai Kohei , Morisaki Hidenori , Hattori Tomoki , Hirose Miku , Hayashi Takumi , Uchida Noriya , Simoda Masahiro , Oishi Hideo , Ando Monami , Hirayama Kenshi , Takenaka Masaki , Maeda Mayuho , Yoshida Ruka , Ogura Yasuhiro , Suzuki Hirohiko , Furusawa Kenji , Morimoto Ryota , Kato Katsuhiko , Isobe Satoshi , Yoshida Yukihiko , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: March 2023

Aims

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is related to the pathophysiology, mortality, and morbidity of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). A novel single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) camera with cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors allows for the quantification of absolute myocardial blood flow and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the potential of CZT-SPECT assessing for CMD has never been evaluated in patients with HFpEF.

Methods and results

The clinical records of 127 consecutive patients who underwent dynamic CZT-SPECT were retrospectively reviewed. Rest and stress scanning were started simultaneously with 3 and 9 MBq/kg of 99mTc-sestamibi administration, respectively. Dynamic CZT-SPECT imaging data were analysed using a net-retention model with commercially available software. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients. The MFR value was significantly lower in the HFpEF group (mean ± SEM = 2.00 ± 0.097) than that in the non-HFpEF group (mean ± SEM = 2.74 ± 0.14, P = 0.0004). A receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that if a cut-off value of 2.525 was applied, MFR could efficiently distinguish HFpEF from non-HFpEF. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction had a consistently low MFR, regardless of the diastolic dysfunction score. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients with MFR values lower than 2.075 had a significantly higher incidence of heart failure exacerbation.

Conclusion

Myocardial flow reserve assessed by CZT-SPECT was significantly reduced in patients with HFpEF. A lower MFR was associated with a higher hospitalization rate in these patients. Myocardial flow reserve assessed by CZT-SPECT has the potential to predict future adverse events and stratify the severity of disease in patients with HFpEF.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a cohort study
Authors: Stern Jules , Dupuis Claire , Kpeglo Hervé , Reuter Jean , Vinclair Camille , Para Marylou , Nataf Patrick , Pelletier Anne-Laure , de Montmollin Etienne , Bouadma Lila , Timsit Jean-François , Sonneville Romain
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common complication in adults treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. We aimed to determine risk factors, prevalence and outcomes associated with VA-ECMO-associated UGIB in adult patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study (2014–2022) on consecutive VA-ECMO patients in the medical and infectious disease intensive care unit of Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, Paris, France. UGIB was defined as (i) an overt bleeding (haematemesis, melena, haematochezia) or (ii) acute anaemia associated with a lesion diagnosed on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. VA-ECMO-associated UGIB was defined as an UGIB occurring during VA-ECMO, or up to 10 days after decannulation in patients weaned off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Cause-specific models were used to identify factors associated with UGIB and death, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 455 patients included, 48 (10%) were diagnosed with UGIB after a median of 12 [7; 23] days following ECMO cannulation. Mortality occurred in 36 (75%) patients with UGIB and 243 (60%) patients without. UGIB patients had longer intensive care unit stays (32 [19; 60] vs 18 [7; 37] days; P < 0.01), longer ECMO (14 [9; 18] vs 7 [4; 11] days; P < 0.01) and mechanical ventilation durations (21 [16; 36] vs 10 [5; 20] days; P < 0.01), as compared to non-UGIB patients. Ninety upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed, and the most frequent lesions detected were gastro-duodenal ulcers (n = 23, 26%), leading to 11/90 therapeutic procedures. By multivariable analysis, a history of peptic ulcer [cause-specific hazard ratio (CSHR) 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.01; 8.51]], a dual antiplatelet therapy (CSHR 2.0, 95% CI [1.07; 3.72]) and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CSHR 2.78, 95% CI [1.42; 5.45]) were independently associated with an increased risk of UGIB.

CONCLUSIONS

In adult patients under VA-ECMO, a history of gastric ulcer, dual antiplatelet therapy and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation were independently associated with an increased risk of UGIB. This study highlights the potential role of acute ischaemia–reperfusion injury in the pathophysiology of VA-ECMO-associated UGIB.
Intrapericardial long non-coding RNA–Tcf21 antisense RNA inducing demethylation administration promotes cardiac repair
Authors: Zhu Dashuai , Liu Shuo , Huang Ke , Li Junlang , Mei Xuan , Li Zhenhua , Cheng Ke
Published: March 2023

Aims

Epicardium and epicardium-derived cells are critical players in myocardial fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been studied for cardiac repair to improve cardiac remodelling, but the actual mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of EV therapy for improving cardiac remodelling and develop a promising treatment addressing myocardial fibrosis.

Methods and results

Extracellular vesicles were intrapericardially injected for mice myocardial infarction treatment. RNA-seq, in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments, and in vivo studies were performed to identify targets that can be used for myocardial fibrosis treatment. Afterward, a lipid nanoparticle–based long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) therapy was prepared for mouse and porcine models of myocardial infarction treatment. Intrapericardial injection of EVs improved adverse myocardial remodelling in mouse models of myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, Tcf21 was identified as a potential target to improve cardiac remodelling. Loss of Tcf21 function in epicardium-derived cells caused increased myofibroblast differentiation, whereas forced Tcf21 overexpression suppressed transforming growth factor-β signalling and myofibroblast differentiation. LncRNA–Tcf21 antisense RNA inducing demethylation (TARID) that enriched in EVs was identified to up-regulate Tcf21 expression. Formulated lncRNA–TARID-laden lipid nanoparticles up-regulated Tcf21 expression in epicardium-derived cells and improved cardiac function and histology in mouse and porcine models of myocardial infarction.

Conclusion

This study identified Tcf21 as a critical target for improving cardiac fibrosis. Up-regulating Tcf21 by using lncRNA–TARID-laden lipid nanoparticles could be a promising way to treat myocardial fibrosis. This study established novel mechanisms underlying EV therapy for improving adverse remodelling and proposed a lncRNA therapy for cardiac fibrosis.
Residence in Peripheral Regions and Low Socioeconomic Status Are Associated With Worse Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Nationwide Study From the epi-IIRN
Authors: Ledder Oren , Harel Sasha , Lujan Rona , Friss Chagit , Orlanski-Meyer Esther , Yogev Dotan , Loewenberg Weisband Yiska , Greenfeld Shira , Kariv Revital , Lederman Natan , Matz Eran , Schwartz Doron , Focht Gili , Dotan Iris , Turner Dan
Published: March 2023

Background

Timely access to quality medical care impacts patient outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a nationwide study from the epidemiology group of the Israeli IBD research nucleus we aimed to assess the impact of residence and socioeconomic status (SES) on disease outcomes.

Methods

We utilized data from the 4 health maintenance organizations in Israel, representing 98% of the population. Regions were defined as central, northern and southern; SES was graded from lowest to highest (from 1 to 4) as per Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. The primary outcome was steroid dependency, with secondary outcomes of surgeries and biologic therapy use.

Results

A total of 28 216 IBD patients were included: 15 818 (56%) Crohn’s disease (CD) and 12 398 (44%) ulcerative colitis; 74%, 12% and 14% resided in central, southern, and northern Israel, respectively (SES 1: 21%, SES 4: 12%). Lower SES was associated with steroid dependency (20% in SES 1 vs 12% in SES 4 in CD; P < .001; and 18% vs 12% in ulcerative colitis; P < .001), and higher surgery rates (12% vs 7%; P < .001, and 1.4% vs 0.7%; P = .115, respectively). There were higher steroid dependency and CD surgery rates in peripheral vs central regions. In multivariable models, both SES and peripheral region were independently associated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions

We found that lower SES and peripheral residence were associated with deleterious outcomes in IBD. This should be considered by policymakers and should encourage strategies for improving outcomes in populations at risk.
Evaluation of a Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Δ9-THC-COOH) Immunoassay and a Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Method for the Detection of Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Δ8-THC-COOH)
Authors: Baird Serena N , Frazee Clinton C , Garg Uttam
Published: March 2023

Background

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) is a naturally occurring or synthetically prepared cannabinoid that elicits psychological and physiological experiences commonly reported for its more infamous isomer, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Unlike Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC products are generally legal under federal law and there has been a rise in their usage. One of the main targets for detection and quantitation of Δ9-THC is its inactive metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC-COOH).

Methods

This study evaluated the ability of the currently used Δ9-THC-COOH immunoassay and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods to detect 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC-COOH) and distinguish it from Δ9-THC-COOH.

Results

The EMIT II Plus® Cannabinoid immunoassay for Δ9-THC-COOH with a cutoff of 20 ng/mL showed positive results for Δ8-THC-COOH with concentrations of 30 ng/mL or higher. Although many of the ion fragments generated by mass spectrometry were found to overlap between the 2 compounds, the GC-MS method presently used to quantify Δ9-THC-COOH separated the 2 compounds sufficiently to identify them independently by relative retention time.

Conclusion

Current immunoassays and GC-MS methods should be evaluated for the ability to detect and distinguish the presence of Δ8-THC-COOH.
CRISPR-Cas12a-based genome editing and transcriptional repression for biotin synthesis inPseudomonas mutabilis
Authors: Zhao Jiarun , Zuo Siqi , Huang Lei , Lian Jiazhang , Xu Zhinan
Published: March 2023

Aims

To establish a dual-function clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas12a system combined genome editing and transcriptional repression for multiplex metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas mutabilis.

Materials and results

This CRISPR-Cas12a system consisted of two plasmids that enabled single gene deletion, replacement, and inactivation with efficiency >90% for most targets within 5 days. With the guidance of truncated crRNA containing 16 bp spacer sequences, a catalytically active Cas12a could be employed to repress the expression of the reporter gene eGFP up to 66.6%. When bdhA deletion and eGFP repression were tested simultaneously by transforming a single crRNA plasmid and Cas12a plasmid, the knockout efficiency reached 77.8% and the expression of eGFP was decreased by >50%. Finally, the dual-functional system was demonstrated to increase the production of biotin by 3.84-fold, with yigM deletion and birA repression achieved simultaneously.

Conclusions

This CRISPR-Cas12a system is an efficient genome editing and regulation tool to facilitate the construction of P. mutabilis cell factories.
The pharmacological mechanism of Xiaoyaosan polysaccharide reveals improvement of CUMS-induced depression-like behavior by carbon source-triggered butyrate-producing bacteria
Authors: Xiong Linlin , Wu Yanning , Shu Qinglong , Xiong Wei
Published: March 2023

Aims

Here, regulatory effects of Xiaoyaosan polysaccharide on entire intestinal flora and butyrate-producing bacteria were investigated to reveal their pharmacological mechanism serving as bacterial-derived carbon sources for regulating intestinal microecology during the treatment of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression in rats.

Methods and results

The effects were measured by analyzing depression-like behavior, intestinal flora, butyrate-producing bacteria diversity, and fecal butyrate content. After intervention, CUMS rats exhibited alleviated depression and increased body weight, sugar water consumption rate, and performance index in the open-field test (OFT). The abundance of dominant phyla, such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and dominant genera, such as Lactobacillus and Muribaculaceae, was regulated to restore the diversity and abundance of the entire intestinal flora to a healthy level. The polysaccharide enriched the diversity of butyrate-producing bacteria, increased the abundance of the butyrate-producing bacteria Roseburia sp. and Eubacterium sp., reduced the abundance of Clostridium sp., increased the distribution of Anaerostipes sp., Mediterraneibacter sp., and Flavonifractor sp., and subsequently increased the content of butyrate in the intestine.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the Xiaoyaosan polysaccharide alleviates unpredictable mild stress-induced depression-like chronic behavior in rats by regulating the composition and abundance of the entire intestinal flora, restoring the diversity of butyrate-producing bacteria, and increasing the butyrate levels.
Modern Pandemics: Recession and Recovery
Authors: Ma Chang , Rogers John , Zhou Sili
Published: March 2023

We examine the immediate and bounce-back effects from six modern health crises that preceded Covid-19. Time-series models for a large cross-section of economies indicate that real GDP growth falls by around 2 percentage points in affected economies relative to unaffected economies in the year of the outbreak. Bounce-back in GDP growth is rapid and strong, especially when compared to non-health crises. Unemployment for less educated workers is higher and exhibits more persistence, and there is significantly greater persistence in female unemployment than male. Moreover, the negative initial effects of pandemics and bounce-back are economically contagious through international trade. The negative effects on GDP and unemployment are felt less in economies with larger first-year responses in government spending, especially on health care. Our estimates imply that the impact effect of the Covid-19 shock on world GDP growth is approximately four standard deviations worse than the average past pandemic.
Trophic Path of Marked Exuviae Within Colonies ofCoptotermes gestroi(Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: Tong Reina L , Choi Eun-Kyung , Ugarelli Kelly , Chouvenc Thomas , Su Nan-Yao
Published: March 2023

Nitrogen, a limiting growth factor in wood-feeding insects, was hypothesized to play a role in the recently discovered behavior of subterranean termites returning to the nest to molt. Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) exuviae is approximately 11% N by dry weight, and therefore a potentially rich source of recyclable nitrogen. Exuviae from a C. gestroi colony were marked with immunoglobulin G (IgG) and were fed to two-year-old C. gestroi colonies. IgG-marked exuviae were detected with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The IgG marker was later detected in every caste and life stage except first-instar larvae (L1). The proportion of individuals positive for the marker varied by caste, with the queens always being positive for the marker. The queens and second-or-higher-instar workers (W2+) had significantly higher concentrations of the marker than the eggs and L1. The trophic path of exuviae includes individuals that directly fed on marked exuviae (workers and possibly second-instar larvae) and individuals that secondarily received marked exuviae through trophallaxis (queens, kings, and soldiers). This study described the trophic path of consumed exuviae and demonstrated its role in the recycling of nitrogen in a subterranean termite. Molting at the central nest may be an efficient means to transfer nitrogen from shed exuviae to recipients and may be a nitrogen recycling behavior conserved from a termite ancestor.
Predicting interstellar radiation fields from chemical evolution models
Authors: Romero M , Corcho-Caballero P , Millán-Irigoyen I , Mollá M , Ascasibar Y
Published: March 2023

We present a self-consistent prediction of the interstellar radiation field (ISRF), from the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) to submm range, based on two chemical evolution models of a Milky-Way-like galaxy . To this end, we develop a new tool called mixclask to include gas emission, absorption, and scattering from the photoionization code cloudy in the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code skirt. Both algorithms are invoked iteratively, until the physical properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) converge. We have designed a first test, reminiscent of a H ii region, and we find that the results of mixclask are in good agreement with a spherically symmetric cloudy simulation. Both MWG models based on chemical evolution codes give results broadly consistent with previous empirical models reported in the literature for the ISRF of our Galaxy, albeit they systematically underestimate the mid-infrared emission. We also find significant differences between our two models in the whole ultraviolet range, not fully explored in previous ISRF models. These results show the feasibility of our method of combining radiative transfer with chemical evolution models: there is increased predictive power and the ISRF obtained provides further constraints on the model parameters. python source code to implement our method is publicly available at https://github.com/MarioRomeroC/Mixclask.
A joint Roman Space Telescope and Rubin Observatory synthetic wide-field imaging survey
Authors: Troxel M A , Lin C , Park A , Hirata C , Mandelbaum R , Jarvis M , Choi A , Givans J , Higgins M , Sanchez B , Yamamoto M , Awan H , Chiang J , Doré O , Walter C W , Zhang T , Cohen-Tanugi J , Gawiser E , Hearin A , Heitmann K , Ishak M , Kovacs E , Mao Y-Y , Wood-Vasey M ,   the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, Becker Matt , Meyers Josh , Melchior Peter
Published: March 2023

We present and validate 20 deg2 of overlapping synthetic imaging surveys representing the full depth of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope High-Latitude Imaging Survey (HLIS) and 5 yr of observations of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The two synthetic surveys are summarized, with reference to the existing 300 deg2 of LSST simulated imaging produced as part of Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) Data Challenge 2 (DC2). Both synthetic surveys observe the same simulated DESC DC2 universe. For the synthetic Roman survey, we simulate for the first time fully chromatic images along with the detailed physics of the Sensor Chip Assemblies derived from lab measurements using the flight detectors. The simulated imaging and resulting pixel-level measurements of photometric properties of objects span a wavelength range of ∼0.3–2.0 μm. We also describe updates to the Roman simulation pipeline, changes in how astrophysical objects are simulated relative to the original DC2 simulations, and the resulting simulated Roman data products. We use these simulations to explore the relative fraction of unrecognized blends in LSST images, finding that 20–30 per cent of objects identified in LSST images with i-band magnitudes brighter than 25 can be identified as multiple objects in Roman images. These simulations provide a unique testing ground for the development and validation of joint pixel-level analysis techniques of ground- and space-based imaging data sets in the second half of the 2020s – in particular the case of joint Roman–LSST analyses.
Planet engulfment detections are rare according to observations and stellar modelling
Authors: Behmard Aida , Dai Fei , Brewer John M , Berger Travis A , Howard Andrew W
Published: March 2023

Dynamical evolution within planetary systems can cause planets to be engulfed by their host stars. Following engulfment, the stellar photosphere abundance pattern will reflect accretion of rocky material from planets. Multistar systems are excellent environments to search for such abundance trends because stellar companions form from the same natal gas cloud and are thus expected to share primordial chemical compositions to within 0.03–0.05 dex. Abundance measurements have occasionally yielded rocky enhancements, but a few observations targeted known planetary systems. To address this gap, we carried out a Keck-HIRES survey of 36 multistar systems, where at least one star is a known planet host. We found that only HAT-P-4 exhibits an abundance pattern suggestive of engulfment but is more likely primordial based on its large projected separation (30 000 ± 140 au) that exceeds typical turbulence scales in molecular clouds. To understand the lack of engulfment detections among our systems, we quantified the strength and duration of refractory enrichments in stellar photospheres using mesa stellar models. We found that observable signatures from 10 M⊕ engulfment events last for ∼90 Myr in 1 M⊙ stars. Signatures are largest and longest lived for 1.1–1.2 M⊙ stars, but are no longer observable ∼2 Gyr post-engulfment. This indicates that engulfment will rarely be detected in systems that are several Gyr old.
White Storks nest at high densities near landfills changing stork nesting distributions in the last four decades in Central Spain
Authors: López-García Alejandro , Aguirre José I
Published: March 2023

Human-induced environmental changes are the main drivers of the ongoing redistribution of biodiversity. The millions of tons of organic waste that is added daily to landfills can increase the carrying capacity of ecological systems with direct effects on species’ population sizes and/or distributions. Understanding the effect of landfills on bird distribution is essential to assess management decisions. Our aim was to determine the role of landfills in the distribution of the breeding population of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in the last 4 decades. For that purpose, we used historical and current census data of breeding pairs before and after landfill exploitation. In this study, we found that landfills have altered the distribution of the breeding population over the last 4 decades in the province of Madrid, Spain. We found that birds occupied new nesting sites near landfills independently of habitat quality as defined by prey abundance and quality according to the previous studies. Nest density was higher near landfills and increased after the landfills began to be utilized by this species. Population growth and extremely high breeding densities may translate into conflicts with humans, particularly when new nesting sites are in urban areas, and possibly alter the perception of this bird species by the human population. Landfill closures, mandated by the European Landfill legislation, are an opportunity to reduce the effects of landfills on animal populations, and reduce human–wildlife conflicts. However, there must be a process of transition and a preliminary evaluation of habitat quality and suitability in the region to avoid a dramatic decline of the White Stork population.
Zygote structure enables pluripotent shape-transforming deployable structure
Authors: Lee Yu-Ki , Hao Yue , Xi Zhonghua , Kim Woongbae , Park Youngmin , Cho Kyu-Jin , Lien Jyh-Ming , Choi In-Suk
Published: March 2023

We propose an algorithmic framework of a pluripotent structure evolving from a simple compact structure into diverse complex 3D structures for designing the shape-transformable, reconfigurable, and deployable structures and robots. Our algorithmic approach suggests a way of transforming a compact structure consisting of uniform building blocks into a large, desired 3D shape. Analogous to a fertilized egg cell that can grow into a preprogrammed shape according to coded information, compactly stacked panels named the zygote structure can evolve into arbitrary 3D structures by programming their connection path. Our stacking algorithm obtains this coded sequence by inversely stacking the voxelized surface of the desired structure into a tree. Applying the connection path obtained by the stacking algorithm, the compactly stacked panels named the zygote structure can be deployed into diverse large 3D structures. We conceptually demonstrated our pluripotent evolving structure by energy-releasing commercial spring hinges and thermally actuated shape memory alloy hinges, respectively. We also show that the proposed concept enables the fabrication of large structures in a significantly smaller workspace.
Increase in grain production potential of China under climate change
Authors: Liang Zhuoran , Sun Laixiang , Tian Zhan , Fischer Günther , Yan Huimin
Published: March 2023

The rapid growth of China's demand for grains is expected to continue in the coming decades, largely as a result of the increasing feed demand to produce protein-rich food. This leads to a great concern on future supply potentials of Chinese agriculture under climate change and the extent of China's dependence on world food markets. While the existing literature in both agronomy and climate economics indicates a dominance of the adverse impacts of climate change on rice, wheat, and maize yields, there is a lack of study to assess changes in multi-cropping opportunities induced by climate change. Multi-cropping benefits crop production by harvesting more than once per year from a given plot. To address this important gap, we established a procedure within the agro-ecological zones (AEZ) modeling framework to assess future spatial shifts of multi-cropping conditions. The assessment was based on an ensemble of five general circulation models under four representative concentration pathway scenarios in the phase five of coupled model inter-comparison project and accounted for the water scarcity constraints. The results show significant northward extensions of single-, double-, and triple-cropping zones in the future which would provide good opportunities for crop-rotation-based adaptation. The increasing multi-cropping opportunities would be able to boost the annual grain production potential by an average scale of 89(±49) Mt at the current irrigation efficiency and 143(±46) Mt at the modernized irrigation efficiency with improvement between the baseline (1981–2010) and the mid-21st century (2041–2070).
The Harrowing of Hell in English Poetry from Spenser to Milton
Authors: Adkins David
Published: March 2023

By Spenser’s time, the doctrine of Christ’s literal descent to hell was controversial in the Church of England, and English harrowing poetry all but disappears in the following century. And yet we find a depiction of Christ’s descensus in Book 3 of Paradise Lost, as many critics have acknowledged. Why does the doctrine appear in a Puritan poem of the seventeenth century? This essay argues that the narrative tradition of Christ’s descent survived in the poetry of the seventeenth-century Spenserians. After introducing the Reformation controversy, the first section explores how Spenser and his followers—Giles and Phineas Fletcher, Aemilia Lanyer, and Joseph Beaumont—preserve the tradition, but also how they respond to contemporary theological debate. The second section examines, first, how mortalism offers Milton a theological rationale for a local descent (i.e., a literal visit to the place of the dead) in De Doctrina Christiana, and then how this theological recovery allows him to continue the tradition of harrowing poetry in Paradise Lost. The final section considers two additional poets and thinkers of the late seventeenth century, Henry More and Samuel Wesley, who attest to the doctrine’s imaginative power and hence offer insight into why it persisted long after it failed to meet the Reformation’s new standards of credibility.
TWEAK and Fn14 are overexpressed in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy: implications for muscle damage and repair
Authors: Yang Mengge , Ge Huizhen , Ji Suqiong , Li Yue , Xu Li , Bi Zhuajin , Bu Bitao
Published: March 2023

Objectives

TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its sole receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) are involved in various inflammatory conditions. This study was performed to investigate the potential role of TWEAK/Fn14 in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).

Methods

Muscle biopsies from patients with IMNM (n = 37) and controls (n = 11) were collected. Human muscle cells were treated with TWEAK in vitro. Muscle biopsies and cultured muscle cells were analysed by immunostaining and quantitative PCR. Serum levels of TWEAK and Fn14 were detected by ELISA.

Results

TWEAK and Fn14 were overexpressed in IMNM muscle biopsies. The percentage of Fn14-positive myofibers correlated with disease severity, myonecrosis, regeneration and inflammation infiltrates. Fn14-positive myofibers tended to be surrounded or invaded by CD68+ macrophages. TWEAK treatment had a harmful effect on cultured muscle cells by inducing the production of multiple chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Serum Fn14 levels were increased in patients with IMNM and correlated with muscle weakness.

Conclusions

TWEAK/Fn14 signalling was activated in IMNM, most likely aggravating muscle damage via amplifying inflammatory response and macrophages chemotaxis. Fn14 seems to be a biomarker for assessing disease severity in IMNM. In addition, Fn14 may also contribute to muscle injury repair.
Does Adult Spinal Deformity Affect Cardiac Function? A Prospective Perioperative Study
Authors: Mihara Yuki , Saitoh Takeji , Hasegawa Tomohiko , Yamato Yu , Yoshida Go , Banno Tomohiro , Arima Hideyuki , Oe Shin , Ide Koichiro , Yamada Tomohiro , Kurosu Kenta , Nakai Keiichi , Matsuyama Yukihiro
Published: March 2023

Study Design.

Prospective comparative study.

Objective.

The objective of this study was to investigate perioperative cardiac function using echocardiography in patients undergoing surgery for the adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Summary of Background Data.

Corrective surgery for ASD has increased, especially in older persons. However, perioperative complication rates remain high in ASD surgery, including cardiopulmonary complications.

Materials and Methods.

This study included patients with ASD who underwent surgery between May 2016 and April 2018. A cardiologist performed all echocardiography imaging preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. Left ventricular contractility was measured using left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and right ventricular contractility was measured using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (S’). Spinopelvic radiographic parameters, the apices of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, and the inflection point where the vertebral curvature changes from kyphosis to lordosis were also measured. Differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements for continuous variables were analyzed using a paired Student t test. Differences in continuous and categorical variables between two independent groups were analyzed using an unpaired Student t test and Fisher exact test, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to detect influential factors.

Results.

Sixty-one patients were included [12 males and 49 females; average age, 64.0 (22–84) yr]. LVEF, TAPSE, and S’, respectively changed from 64.4%, 24.9 mm, and 14.3 cm/s to 65.4%, 25 mm, and 15 cm/s postoperatively with no significance. However, in LVEF<59.3% (average−1 SD), TAPSE<17 mm, and S’<11.8 cm/s cases, respectively, these increased significantly from 55.7%, 17.9 mm, and 10.5 cm/s to 60.9%, 21.4 mm, and 14.2 cm/s postoperatively (P=0.036, 0.029, and 0.022, respectively). The LVEF<59.3% group showed a significantly lower inflection point level (1.5 vs. 2.9) preoperatively (P=0.007). The S’<11.8 cm/s group showed significantly larger thoracic kyphosis (28.3° vs. 19.4°) preoperatively (P=0.013).

Conclusions.

Perioperative cardiac function did not deteriorate after surgery in patients with ASD. In those with lower cardiac function preoperatively, there were significant improvements noted postoperatively. The preoperative inflection point level was significantly lower in the lower LVEF group. Preoperative thoracic kyphosis was significantly larger in the lower tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity group.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of atrial fibrillation in hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension: a cross-sectional study from 2008 to 2018
Authors: Xin Qian , Zhang Sijin , Wang Chi , Yao Siyu , Yun Cuijuan , Sun Yizhen , Hou Ziwei , Wang Miao , Zhao Maoxiang , Tian Lu , Li Yanjie , Feng Zekun , Xue Hao
Published: March 2023

Background:

The clinical characteristics of patients with the comorbidities of hypertension and coronary artery disease (HT-CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of AF in patients with HT-CAD and clinical characteristics of patients with both HT-CAD and AF.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, China, and included 20,747 inpatients with HT-CAD with or without AF from August 2008 to July 2018. We examined the overall prevalence, clinical characteristics, comorbidity profiles, treatment patterns, and blood pressure (BP) control of patients with both HT-CAD and AF. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the associations of cardiovascular risk factors with AF in patients with HT-CAD.

Results:

The overall prevalence of AF in patients with HT-CAD was 4.87% (1011/20,747), and this increased with age; to be specific, the prevalence in women and men increased from 0.78% (2/255) and 1.02% (26/2561) at the age of <50 years to 8.73% (193/2210) and 10.28% (298/2900) at the age of ≥70 years, respectively. HT-CAD patients who had AF had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular-related comorbidities than those without AF. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, gender (male), body mass index, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease were independently associated with the risk of AF in patients with HT-CAD. For those with both HT-CAD and AF, 73.49% (743/1011) had a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥4, and only about half of them had the BP controlled at <140/90 mmHg, which indicated a high risk of thromboembolism and stroke. The use of oral anticoagulation increased during the study period (10.00% [20/200] in 2008 to 2011 vs. 30.06% [159/529] in 2015 to 2018, P < 0.01), but remained at a relatively low level.

Conclusions:

AF is highly prevalent among patients with HT-CAD. Patients with both HT-CAD and AF have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular-related comorbidities, low BP control rate, and low use of oral anticoagulation.
Tobramycin a Priori Dosing Regimens Based on PopPK Model Simulations in Critically Ill Patients: Are They Transferable?
Authors: Duong Alexandre , Simard Chantale , Williamson David , Marsot Amélie
Published: March 2023

Background:

In recent years, multiple population pharmacokinetic models have been developed for drugs such as tobramycin that need therapeutic drug monitoring. Some of these models have been used to develop a priori dosing regimens for their respective populations. However, these dosing regimens may not apply to other populations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate tobramycin population pharmacokinetic models in critically ill patients and establish an adequate dosing regimen.

Methods:

Evaluated models were identified from a literature review of aminoglycoside population pharmacokinetic models in critically ill patients. After retrospective data collection in 2 Quebec hospitals, external evaluation and model re-estimation were performed with NONMEM (v7.5) to assess imprecision and bias values. Dosing regimens were simulated and compared between the best-performing model and its re-estimated counterparts.

Results:

None of the 3 evaluated models showed acceptable imprecision or bias values in the data sets of the 19 patients. Similar percentages of target attainment were obtained for the original and re-estimated models after the dosing regimen simulations.

Conclusion:

Although the predictive performance evaluation criteria were inadequate, the original and re-estimated models yielded similar results. This raises the question of what a priori bias and imprecision thresholds should be defined as acceptable for the external evaluation of models to be applied in clinical practice. Studies evaluating the impact of these thresholds are needed.