bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flight demonstration of a miniature atomic scalar magnetometer based on a microfabricated rubidium vapor cell
Authors: Korth Haje , Kitching John E. , Bonnell John W. , Bryce Brian A. , Clark George B. , Edens Weston K. , Gardner Christopher B. , Rachelson William , Slagle Amanda
Published: March 2023

We have developed an atomic magnetometer based on the rubidium isotope 87Rb and a microfabricated silicon/glass vapor cell for the purpose of qualifying the instrument for space flight during a ride-along opportunity on a sounding rocket. The instrument consists of two scalar magnetic field sensors mounted at 45° angle to avoid measurement dead zones, and the electronics consist of a low-voltage power supply, an analog interface, and a digital controller. The instrument was launched into the Earth’s northern cusp from Andøya, Norway on December 8, 2018 on the low-flying rocket of the dual-rocket Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics 2 mission. The magnetometer was operated without interruption during the science phase of the mission, and the acquired data were compared favorably with those from the science magnetometer and the model of the International Geophysical Reference Field to within an approximate fixed offset of about 550 nT. Residuals with respect to these data sources are plausibly attributed to offsets resulting from rocket contamination fields and electronic phase shifts. These offsets can be readily mitigated and/or calibrated for a future flight experiment so that the demonstration of this absolute-measuring magnetometer was entirely successful from the perspective of increasing the technological readiness for space flight.
Valley transport via dual-band elastic topological edge states in local-resonant phononic crystal plate
Authors: Xu Gang-Gang , Sun Xiao-Wei , Wen Xiao-Dong , Liu Xi-Xuan , Song Ting , Liu Zi-Jiang
Published: March 2023

Most previously reported Dirac valley degeneracies in continuous phononic crystal plates originate from Bragg scattering of the structures and generally have only single-band elastic-wave topological edge states. In the present work, a pair of triangular prisms is used in the construction of hexagonal-lattice phononic crystal plates to mimic the dual-band elastic valley Hall effect. Based on the spatial inversion symmetry conditions, which are related to the intrinsic frequencies of the resonators, the valley degeneracies, topological nontrivial bandgaps, and energy band inversion characteristics of multiple resonance modes are investigated by using the finite element method. Edge passbands combining distinct topology phases exist in each of the two nontrivial bandgaps of the ribbon configuration. The full-field simulations for flexural waves in the waveguide structure are demonstrated to support topologically valley-protected edge transmission in both bands, which immunizes the transport against backscattering from large corners and defects in the route. This work provides a reference for valley edge protection in subwavelength continuous elastic plate media and for the manipulation of the elastic waves at multiple frequencies.
Fast and accurate determination of the curvature-corrected field emission current
Authors: Biswas Debabrata , Ramachandran Rajasree
Published: March 2023

The curvature-corrected field emission current density, obtained by linearizing at or below the Fermi energy, is investigated. Two special cases, corresponding to the peak of normal energy distribution and mean normal energy, are considered. It is found that the current density evaluated using the mean normal energy results in errors in the net emission current below 3% for apex radius of curvature Ra≥5 nm and for apex fields Ea in the range of 3–10 V/nm for an emitter having a work function of ϕ=4.5 eV. An analytical expression for the net field emission current is also obtained for local parabolic tips using the generalized cosine law. The errors are found to be below 6% for Ra≥5 nm over an identical range of apex field strengths. The benchmark current is obtained by numerically integrating the current density over the emitter surface and the current density itself computed by integrating over the energy states using the exact Gamow factor and the Kemble form for the WKB transmission coefficient. The analytical expression results in a remarkable speed-up in the computation of the net emission current and is especially useful for large area field emitters having tens of thousands of emission sites.
Self-stabilizing three-dimensional particle manipulation via a single-transducer acoustic tweezer
Authors: Shen Lu , Tai Junfei , Crivoi Alexandru , Li Junfei , Cummer Steven , Fan Zheng
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates the mechanism of self-stabilizing, three-dimensional Mie particle manipulation in water via an acoustic tweezer with a single transducer. A carefully designed acoustic lens is attached to the transducer to form an acoustic vortex, which provides angular momentum on the trapped polymer sphere and leads to a fast-spinning motion. The sphere can find equilibrium positions spontaneously during the manipulation by slightly adjusting its relative position, angular velocity, and spinning axis. The spinning motion greatly enhances the low-pressure recirculation region around the sphere, resulting in a larger pressure induced drag. Simultaneously, the Magnus effect is induced to generate an additional lateral force. The spinning motion of the trapped sphere links the acoustic radiation force and hydrodynamic forces together, so that the sphere can spontaneously achieve new force balance and follow the translational motion of the acoustic tweezer. Non-spherical objects can also be manipulated by this acoustic tweezer.
The ro-vibrational ν2 mode spectrum of methane investigated by ultrabroadband coherent Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Mazza Francesco , Thornquist Ona , Castellanos Leonardo , Butterworth Thomas , Richard Cyril , Boudon Vincent , Bohlin Alexis
Published: March 2023

We present the first experimental application of coherent Raman spectroscopy (CRS) on the ro-vibrational ν2 mode spectrum of methane (CH4). Ultrabroadband femtosecond/picosecond (fs/ps) CRS is performed in the molecular fingerprint region from 1100 to 2000 cm−1, employing fs laser-induced filamentation as the supercontinuum generation mechanism to provide the ultrabroadband excitation pulses. We introduce a time-domain model of the CH4ν2 CRS spectrum, including all five ro-vibrational branches allowed by the selection rules Δv = 1, ΔJ = 0, ±1, ±2; the model includes collisional linewidths, computed according to a modified exponential gap scaling law and validated experimentally. The use of ultrabroadband CRS for in situ monitoring of the CH4 chemistry is demonstrated in a laboratory CH4/air diffusion flame: CRS measurements in the fingerprint region, performed across the laminar flame front, allow the simultaneous detection of molecular oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and molecular hydrogen (H2), along with CH4. Fundamental physicochemical processes, such as H2 production via CH4 pyrolysis, are observed through the Raman spectra of these chemical species. In addition, we demonstrate ro-vibrational CH4v2 CRS thermometry, and we validate it against CO2 CRS measurements. The present technique offers an interesting diagnostics approach to in situ measurement of CH4-rich environments, e.g., in plasma reactors for CH4 pyrolysis and H2 production.
Optical differentiation in a polar coordinate system
Authors: Zhu Junfan , Wang Yifan , Gao Fuhua , Zhang Zhiyou
Published: March 2023

Optical analog computing prevails over digital computing in several aspects, such as processing speed and power consumption. Optical differentiation, as a main branch, can be particularly significant in image recognition. Various differentiators have been developed to realize the two-dimensional differentiation in Cartesian coordinates. Here, we propose the optical differentiation in a polar coordinate system, which can be factorized into the radial differentiation and the angular differentiation. Experimental results demonstrate that the variations along radial and angular directions can be, respectively, highlighted by the two kinds of differentiation, which suggests that employing polar coordinates may be more intuitive and informative in practical use. This work is probable to enrich the content of optical differentiation and extend potential applications in image recognition.
Time-averaged flow field behind a transversely spinning sphere: An experimental study
Authors: Li Zhuoyue , Zhang Di , Liu Yakun , Gao Nan
Published: March 2023

The aerodynamic forces on a sphere with a rough surface were measured in a water tunnel at a Reynolds number of 7930 and for a range of spinning ratios (α) from 0 to 6.0. The time-averaged flow fields were also measured using particle image velocimetry. The effect of the spinning ratio α on the flow was found to show distinct trends in different regimes, including α≤0.25; 0.25<α≤0.75; 0.75<α≤2.0; 2.0<α≤3.0; and 3.0<α≤6.0. The study identified two critical spinning ratios, where the flow underwent significant changes. The first change occurred in regime II, where the boundary layer over one side of the sphere transitioned from laminar to turbulent, leading to a significant modification in the lift force on the sphere. The second significant change took place across regimes II and III, where the boundary flow in the vicinity of the entire sphere became turbulent. Beyond this range, with α≥3.0, the high spinning rate disturbed the incoming flow, resulting in less-efficient downwash production. The lift increased with α at a slower rate compared to other regimes, and the less-efficient downwash production caused a decrease in drag as more momentum was directed downstream in the horizontal direction.
Electromechanical properties of textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramics under uniaxial stress, hydrostatic pressure, and bias electric field
Authors: Yang Shuai , Tian Fenghua , Li Chunchun , Wang Mingwen , Zhang Jinjing , Zhu Qingshan , Wu Jie , Li Jinglei , Gao Xiangyu , Li Fei
Published: March 2023

Textured relaxor-PbTiO3 ceramics have received considerable attention from both academia and industry, due to their crystal-like properties, high composition homogeneity easy-to-process, and relatively low cost compared to their crystal counterparts. In this work, the ⟨001⟩-oriented Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-PbTiO3 textured ceramics were fabricated by the template grain growth method. To explore the property variation in these textured ceramics under practical applications of piezoelectric devices, their electromechanical properties were characterized and analyzed under uniaxial stress, hydrostatic pressure, and d.c. bias electric field. The results show that the dielectric constants of all textured ceramics increase with an increase in the uniaxial prestress and hydrostatic pressure but decrease with an increase in the d.c. bias electric field. Among all textured ceramics, the textured ceramic with 3 vol. % BT templates exhibits the best stability under external fields. In particular, the electromechanical coupling factors of the textured ceramic change less than 2% with the hydrostatic pressure increase to 100 MPa. This work provides important data on textured relaxor ferroelectric ceramics, which will benefit the design and application of piezoelectric devices based on textured piezoelectric ceramics.
Review of Scientific Instruments New Products
Authors: Mandelis Andreas
Published: March 2023

In order to supplement manufacturers’ information, this department will welcome the submission by our readers of brief communications reporting measurements on the physical properties of materials, which supersede earlier data or suggest new research applications.
Three amphioxus reference genomes reveal gene and chromosome evolution of chordates
Authors: Huang Zhen , Xu Luohao , Cai Cheng , Zhou Yitao , Liu Jing , Xu Zaoxu , Zhu Zexian , Kang Wen , Cen Wan , Pei Surui , Chen Duo , Shi Chenggang , Wu Xiaotong , Huang Yongji , Xu Chaohua , Yan Yanan , Yang Ying , Xue Ting , He Wenjin , Hu Xuefeng , Zhang Yanding , Chen Youqiang , Bi Changwei , He Chunpeng , Xue Lingzhan , Xiao Shijun , Yue Zhicao , Jiang Yu , Yu Jr-Kai , Jarvis Erich D. , Li Guang , Lin Gang , Zhang Qiujin , Zhou Qi
Published: March 2023

The slow-evolving invertebrate amphioxus has an irreplaceable role in advancing our understanding of the vertebrate origin and innovations. Here we resolve the nearly complete chromosomal genomes of three amphioxus species, one of which best recapitulates the 17 chordate ancestor linkage groups. We reconstruct the fusions, retention, or rearrangements between descendants of whole-genome duplications, which gave rise to the extant microchromosomes likely existed in the vertebrate ancestor. Similar to vertebrates, the amphioxus genome gradually establishes its three-dimensional chromatin architecture at the onset of zygotic activation and forms two topologically associated domains at the
Hox
gene cluster. We find that all three amphioxus species have ZW sex chromosomes with little sequence differentiation, and their putative sex-determining regions are nonhomologous to each other. Our results illuminate the unappreciated interspecific diversity and developmental dynamics of amphioxus genomes and provide high-quality references for understanding the mechanisms of chordate functional genome evolution.
Fault diagnosis for rotor based on multi-sensor information and progressive strategies
Authors: Hu Xiao , Wei Daohong , Liu Dong , Xiao Zhihuai , Xia Xiangchen , Malik O P
Published: March 2023

Fault diagnosis is an effective tool to ensure safe operation of machinery and avoid serious accidents. As most currently used fault diagnosis methods usually employ mapping relationship established by training samples and their labels to achieve classification of testing samples, it is difficult for them to achieve fault diagnosis under the condition of incomplete training sample types. In addition, previous studies usually focus on feature extraction of single-channel vibration signal, which cannot get complete fault feature information. To solve the above problems, a progressive fault diagnosis method is investigated in this paper. First, the preliminary fault detection for the rotor is performed by studying reconstruction error of a sparse auto-encoder. Second, if a fault exists in the rotor, the outlier detection is implemented by the support vector data description method. Finally, if there are no outlier samples, the well -trained support vector machine is used to confirm the type of fault samples and complete the diagnosis. The performance of the proposed method was verified using the data obtained from a rotor laboratory bench. The types of rotor states investigated include normal, contact-rubbing, unbalance and misalignment. The experimental results verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in reducing the incidents of fault omission and fault misunderstanding.
Energy efficiency evaluation of a three-phase extendable-level inverter
Authors: Aishwarya V , Gnana Sheela K
Published: March 2023

This paper details the energy efficiency evaluation of an Extendable-Level Inverter (ELI). ELI achieves very high voltage levels, excellent DC-link utilization, and very good power quality with a minimized component count. An experimental setup of a three-phase ELI is implemented to investigate the power losses and to calculate efficiency. The ELI obtained a high efficiency of 99.09% with reduced switching and conduction power losses of 0.1% and 0.81% respectively. Comparative analysis of the theoretical calculation, simulation results and hardware results validated the consistency of a very high efficiency of over 99.09% for a broad range of operating frequencies. The power quality metrics conformed to the limits prescribed in the IEEE 519 standard.
Beyond antibody fucosylation: α-(1,6)-fucosyltransferase (Fut8) as a potential new therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Mao Changchuin , Li Jun , Feng Lili , Gao Wenda
Published: March 2023

Aberrant post-translational glycosylation is a well-established hallmark of cancer. Altered core fucosylation mediated by α-(1,6)-fucosyltransferase (Fut8) is one of the key changes in tumor glycan patterns that contributes to neoplastic transformation, tumor metastasis, and immune evasion. Increased Fut8 expression and activity are associated with many types of human cancers, including lung, breast, melanoma, liver, colorectal, ovarian, prostate, thyroid, and pancreatic cancer. In animal models, inhibition of Fut8 activity by gene knockout, RNA interference, and small analogue inhibitors led to reduced tumor growth/metastasis, downregulation of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, PD-L1/2, and B7-H3, and reversal of the suppressive state of tumor microenvironment. Although the biologics field has long benefited tremendously from using FUT8−/− Chinese hamster ovary cells to manufacture IgGs with greatly enhanced effector function of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity for therapy, it is only in recent years that the roles of Fut8 itself in cancer biology have been studied. Here, we summarize the pro-oncogenic mechanisms involved in cancer development that are regulated by Fut8-mediated core fucosylation, and call for more research in this area where modifying the activity of this sole enzyme responsible for core fucosylation could potentially bring rewarding surprises in fighting cancer, infections, and other immune-related diseases.
Improving annotation propagation on molecular networks through random walks: introducing ChemWalker
Authors: Borelli Tiago Cabral , Arini Gabriel Santos , Feitosa Luís G P , Dorrestein Pieter C , Lopes Norberto Peporine , da Silva Ricardo R
Published: March 2023

Motivation

Annotation of the mass signals is still the biggest bottleneck for the untargeted mass spectrometry analysis of complex mixtures. Molecular networks are being increasingly adopted by the mass spectrometry community as a tool to annotate large-scale experiments. We have previously shown that the process of propagating annotations from spectral library matches on molecular networks can be automated using Network Annotation Propagation (NAP). One of the limitations of NAP is that the information for the spectral matches is only propagated locally, to the first neighbor of a spectral match. Here, we show that annotation propagation can be expanded to nodes not directly connected to spectral matches using random walks on graphs, introducing the ChemWalker python library.

Results

Similarly to NAP, ChemWalker relies on combinatorial in silico fragmentation results, performed by MetFrag, searching biologically relevant databases. Departing from the combination of a spectral network and the structural similarity among candidate structures, we have used MetFusion Scoring function to create a weight function, producing a weighted graph. This graph was subsequently used by the random walk to calculate the probability of ‘walking’ through a set of candidates, departing from seed nodes (represented by spectral library matches). This approach allowed the information propagation to nodes not directly connected to the spectral library match. Compared with NAP, ChemWalker has a series of improvements, on running time, scalability and maintainability and is available as a standalone python package.

Availability and implementation

ChemWalker is freely available at https://github.com/computational-chemical-biology/ChemWalker

Contact

ridasilva@usp.br

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hope for a new therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa: blocking of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor
Authors: Wolk Kerstin
Published: March 2023

There is little evidence on the optimal clinical and histological margins required to reduce local recurrence in melanoma in situ (MIS.) Our aim was to identify the number of lesions on the trunk and limbs with histological clearance >1mm after initial narrow margin excision. In our cohort 93.6% were considered clear after initial exclusion with no residual MIS seen when further wide local excision was carried out.
The unbreakable journey: using photovoice to raise awareness and fight leprosy stigma in Papua, Indonesia
Authors: Dien Ragil , Krismawati Hana , Ayomi Ivon , Timoria Diana  , Chambers Mary , Soebono Hardyanto , Grijsen Marlous L
Published: March 2023

In preparation of an ongoing trial to improve the treatment of leprosy (MetLep, clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05243654), we conducted a photovoice project among persons affected by leprosy in eastern Indonesia. Photovoice is a participatory visual method in which photographic images are used to explore community health and social issues among disadvantaged populations. This project generated opportunities to visualize stigma and misunderstandings people with leprosy face, and the social and mental burden that this puts on them and those around them.
Properties of REM sleep alterations with epilepsy
Authors: Ikoma Yoko , Takahashi Yusuke , Sasaki Daichi , Matsui Ko
Published: March 2023

It is usually assumed that individuals rest during sleep. However, coordinated neural activity that presumably requires high energy consumption is increased during REM sleep. Here, using freely moving male transgenic mice, the local brain environment and astrocyte activity during REM sleep were examined using the fibre photometry method with an optical fibre inserted deep into the lateral hypothalamus, a region that is linked with controlling sleep and metabolic state of the entire brain. Optical fluctuations of endogenous autofluorescence of the brain parenchyma or fluorescence of sensors for Ca2+ or pH expressed in astrocytes were examined. Using a newly devised method for analysis, changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and pH in astrocytes and changes in the local brain blood volume (BBV) were extracted. On REM sleep, astrocytic Ca2+ decreases, pH decreases (acidification) and BBV increases. Acidification was unexpected, as an increase in BBV would result in efficient carbon dioxide and/or lactate removal, which leads to alkalinization of the local brain environment. Acidification could be a result of increased glutamate transporter activity due to enhanced neuronal activity and/or aerobic metabolism in astrocytes. Notably, optical signal changes preceded the onset of the electrophysiological property signature of REM sleep by ∼20–30 s. This suggests that changes in the local brain environment have strong control over the state of neuronal cell activity. With repeated stimulation of the hippocampus, seizure response gradually develops through kindling. After a fully kindled state was obtained with multiple days of stimuli, the optical properties of REM sleep at the lateral hypothalamus were examined again. Although a negative deflection of the detected optical signal was observed during REM sleep after kindling, the estimated component changed. The decrease in Ca2+ and increase in BBV were minimal, and a large decrease in pH (acidification) emerged. This acidic shift may trigger an additional gliotransmitter release from astrocytes, which could lead to a state of hyperexcitable brain. As the properties of REM sleep change with the development of epilepsy, REM sleep analysis may serve as a biomarker of epileptogenesis severity. REM sleep analysis may also predict whether a specific REM sleep episode triggers post-sleep seizures.
Cytotoxic T cells and plasma cells dominate early in temporal lobe epilepsy with GAD antibodies
Authors: Thaler Franziska S , Meinl Edgar
Published: March 2023

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Temporal lobe epilepsy with GAD antibodies: neurons killed by T cells not by complement membrane attack complex’ by Tröscher et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac404).
Recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and haemodialysis: analysis from the 4D Study
Authors: Marx Nikolaus , Wanner Christoph , Jankowski Joachim , März Winfried , Krane Vera , Genser Bernd
Published: March 2023

Background

In the ‘Die Deutsche Diabetes Dialyse Studie’ (4D Study), treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on haemodialysis (HD) with atorvastatin compared with placebo had no significant effect on the first composite primary major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) endpoint of death from cardiac causes, fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke. In this study we analysed first and recurrent events in 1255 patients from the 4D Study.

Methods

We conducted an event history analysis to investigate the effects of previous clinical events on the risk of different endpoints in the total patient group and after stratification by randomization group.

Results

During a median follow-up of 4 years, a total of 548 MACEs occurred, with 469 first and 79 recurrent events. The most frequent event was sudden cardiac death, followed by death due to infection/sepsis. Of the 548 total MACEs, 260 occurred in the atorvastatin group and 288 in the placebo group [hazard ratio 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.76–1.07), P = .266]. Interestingly, analyses of the baseline hazard functions for first and recurrent events as a function of time after randomization demonstrated that the risks of the composite primary endpoint continually increased in the placebo group with increasing time in the study, whereas the risk in the atorvastatin group remained constant after ≈1.5 years.

Conclusion

This recurrent and total event analysis from the 4D Study underscores the high risk of sudden cardiac death and death due to infection/sepsis in patients with T2DM receiving HD and raises the hypothesis that atorvastatin may stabilize cardiovascular risk only after 1–2 years in this high-risk population.
Comparing directed networks via denoising graphlet distributions
Authors: Silva Miguel E P , Gaunt Robert E , Ospina-Forero Luis , Jay Caroline , House Thomas
Published: March 2023

Network comparison is a widely used tool for analysing complex systems, with applications in varied domains including comparison of protein interactions or highlighting changes in structure of trade networks. In recent years, a number of network comparison methodologies based on the distribution of graphlets (small connected network subgraphs) have been introduced. In particular, NetEmd has recently achieved state of the art performance in undirected networks. In this work, we propose an extension of NetEmd to directed networks and deal with the significant increase in complexity of graphlet structure in the directed case by denoising through linear projections. Simulation results show that our framework is able to improve on the performance of a simple translation of the undirected NetEmd algorithm to the directed case, especially when networks differ in size and density.
BetweenBacchaeandBahanalii—balkanizing classical reception
Authors: Todorović Nebojša
Published: March 2023

This article sets Euripides’ Bacchae in dialogue with Goran Stefanovski’s Bahanalii, a play that was performed in the immediate aftermath of Yugoslavia’s break-up. Contrapuntal reading shows how the two plays problematize conservative epistemologies by imagining their borderlands as privileged sites of knowledge production. Euripides’ Bacchae opens with a Dionysus who arrives on stage from a faraway land where Greeks and non-Greeks live mixed together. My reading of this passage challenges Edward Said’s interpretation of the Bacchae as a play about the dangers of ‘what lies beyond familiar borders’. Instead, the Bacchae performs an exercise in literary imagination in which a border-minded worldview responds to Athens’ dwindling geopolitical prestige, resists narratives of Greek exceptionalism inherited in the aftermath of the Persian wars, and foresees a return to a kind of Hellenic balkanization avant la lettre. In Bahanalii, Stefanovski resists idealizing mindsets by staging a contradictory Dionis, one that focalizes the epistemological power of the border, while also embodying the uncanny poltergeist of the violence that plagued Yugoslavia in the 1990s. In juxtaposing the narratives of Yugoslav and ancient Athenian exceptionalism, this comparison unlocks a ‘balkanizing’ paradigm of classical reception which complements and complicates existing theoretical accounts of classical reception.
Ivermectin: A Critical Review on Characteristics, Properties, and Analytical Methods
Authors: Suvarna Vasanti
Published: March 2023

Background

Ivermectin is one of the first, safe, broad-spectrum avermectin class of antiparasitic agent, widely used to control parasitic growth in livestock. Ivermectin being highly lipophilic accumulates in fat tissues, causing its long-term existence in the body. Accordingly, ivermectin residues are observed in various animal products such as milk and meat presenting several health hazards. Therefore, monitoring of ivermectin residue levels in the various food products of animal origin is greatly important to ensure the safety of consumers. This review could be of significant importance in the area of ivermectin analytical method development studies.

Objective

In this context, objective of the present work is to provide a critical review of analytical methods in the literature for detection and quantification of ivermectin in pharmaceutical formulations, and biological materials including animal tissues.

Methods

The data from analysis of accessible literature within the time span of 1980 to 2022 was selected.

Results

Several analytical methods based on HPLC–fluorescence detector, UV-diode array detector, HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography–MS/MS, and capillary electrophoresis techniques have been utilized for the simultaneous determination of ivermectin singly or in the presence of other drugs with realistic retention times. Several derivatization strategies were used to introduce a fluorophore followed by extraction into organic phase to remove the matrix interferences and enhance the sensitivity by pre-concentration. Methods such as HPLC linked to MS/MS were developed to lower the detection limit and quantification limit, with no requirement for derivatization.

Conclusion

More simple, selective, fast, sensitive, and green chemistry-oriented methods for ivermectin analysis need to be developed. Novel analytical devices based on pulsed electrochemical methods, voltammetry, and amperometry can be developed for real-time analysis of ivermectin, in addition to biosensors based on nanotechnology including quantum dots and nanoparticles, etc.

Highlights

Various methods are described in the review including HPLC techniques with UV or visible spectrophotometric, fluorescence, and mass spectrometric detection, capillary electrophoresis, and immunological methods.
Evaluating Data Fusion Methods to Improve Income Modeling
Authors: Emmenegger Jana , Münnich Ralf , Schaller Jannik
Published: March 2023

Income is an important economic indicator to measure living standards and individual well-being. In Germany, different data sources yield ambiguous evidence for analyzing the income distribution. The Tax Statistics (TS)—an income register recording the total population of more than 40 million taxpayers in Germany for the year 2014—contains the most reliable income information covering the full income distribution. However, it offers only a limited range of socio-demographic variables essential for income analysis. We tackle this challenge by enriching the tax data with information on education and working time from the Microcensus, a representative 1 percent sample of the German population. We examine two types of data fusion methods well suited to the specific data fusion scenario of the TS and the Microcensus: missing-data methods and performant prediction models. We conduct a simulation study and provide an empirical application comparing the proposed data fusion methods, and our results indicate that Multinomial Regression and Random Forest are the most suitable methods for our data fusion scenario.
A multiwavelength study of the IRAS 23139+5939 (G111.256−0.770) star-forming site and its relation to Sh2-157
Authors: Tapia Mauricio , Persi Paolo
Published: March 2023

The far-infrared source IRAS 23139+5939 (G111.25−0.77) is a well-studied massive star-forming region at the centre of a dense molecular clump. It is associated with a low-luminosity and variable methanol maser, a number of water maser clusters, and several compact H ii regions. We present new sub-arcsec-resolution broad- and narrow-band near- and mid-infrared calibrated images. These were analysed together with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer images and longer wavelength published data. We establish that IRAS 23139+5939 is a multiple massive young stellar object (YSO) with a spectral energy distribution characteristic of a Class I object. Its deeply embedded (AV = 21) central YSOs have a total luminosity of 3 × 104 L⊙ and a mass of 16 M⊙. We find several small knots of H2 emission in its vicinity, bordering a large CO outflow driven by the protostar. Their distribution suggests the presence of several YSOs with jets. A young embedded stellar cluster of size ∼40 arcsec (0.65 pc) is found around the massive protostar, with evidence of protoplanetary discs in more than 50 per cent of the likely members. We also report a large arc of H2 emission surrounding a nearby H α-emission star displaying a large infrared excess, with a total luminosity of 1.5 × 103 L⊙. Gaia Data Release 3 and very long baseline interferometry parallaxes indicate a common distance of 3.34 kpc to these two YSOs, a distance similar to that to Sh2-157, a nearby massive star-forming region, which appears connected to IRAS 23139+5939 by a warm dust filament.
Constellations of co-orbital planets: horseshoe dynamics, long-term stability, transit timing variations, and potential as SETI beacons
Authors: Raymond Sean N , Veras Dimitri , Clement Matthew S , Izidoro Andre , Kipping David , Meadows Victoria
Published: March 2023

Co-orbital systems contain two or more bodies sharing the same orbit around a planet or star. The best-known flavours of co-orbital systems are tadpoles (in which two bodies’ angular separations oscillate about the L4/L5 Lagrange points 60° apart) and horseshoes (with two bodies periodically exchanging orbital energy to trace out a horseshoe shape in a co-rotating frame). Here, we use N-body simulations to explore the parameter space of many-planet horseshoe systems. We show that up to 24 equal-mass, Earth-mass planets can share the same orbit at 1 au, following a complex pattern in which neighbouring planets undergo horseshoe oscillations. We explore the dynamics of horseshoe constellations, and show that they can remain stable for billions of years and even persist through their stars’ post-main sequence evolution. With sufficient observations, they can be identified through their large-amplitude, correlated transit timing variations. Given their longevity and exotic orbital architectures, horseshoe constellations may represent potential SETI beacons.
Characterising SMSS J2157–3602, the most luminous known quasar, with accretion disc models
Authors: Lai (赖民希) Samuel , Wolf Christian , Onken Christopher A , Bian (边福彦) Fuyan
Published: March 2023

We develop an accretion disc (AD)-fitting method, utilizing thin and slim disc models and Bayesian inference with the Markov-Chain Monte Carlo approach, testing it on the most luminous known quasar, SMSS J215728.21-360215.1, at redshift z = 4.692. With a spectral energy distribution constructed from near-infrared spectra and broad-band photometry, the AD models find a black hole mass of $\log (M_{\rm {AD}}/{\rm M}_{\odot }) = 10.31^{+0.17}_{-0.14}$ with an anisotropy-corrected bolometric luminosity of $\log {(L_{\rm {bol}}/\rm {erg\, s^{-1}})} = 47.87 \pm 0.10$ and derive an Eddington ratio of $0.29^{+0.11}_{-0.10}$ as well as a radiative efficiency of $0.09^{+0.05}_{-0.03}$. Using the near-infrared spectra, we estimate the single-epoch virial black hole mass estimate to be log (MSE/M⊙) = 10.33 ± 0.08, with a monochromatic luminosity at 3000 Å of $\log {(L(\rm {3000{\AA}})/\rm {erg\, s^{-1}})} = 47.66 \pm 0.01$. As an independent approach, AD fitting has the potential to complement the single-epoch virial mass method in obtaining stronger constraints on properties of massive quasar black holes across a wide range of redshifts.
The r-modes of slowly rotating, stratified neutron stars
Authors: Gittins Fabian , Andersson Nils
Published: March 2023

The only r-modes that exist in a globally barotropic, rotating, Newtonian star are the fundamental l = |m| solutions, where l and m are the indices of the spherical harmonic $Y_l^m$ that describe the mode’s angular dependence. This is in stark contrast to a stellar model that is non-barotropic throughout its interior, which hosts all the l ≥ |m| perturbations including radial overtones. In reality, neutron stars are stratified with locally barotropic regions. Therefore, we explore how stratification alters a star’s ability to support r-modes. We consider the globally stratified case and examine the behaviour of the modes as the star gets close to barotropicity. In this limit, we find that all but the fundamental l = |m| perturbations change character and become generic inertial modes. Restricting the analysis to l = |m| perturbations, we develop the r-mode equations in order to consider stellar models that exhibit local barotropicity. Our results for such models show that the r-mode overtones diverge and join the inertial modes. In order to see which r-modes persist and retain their character in realistic neutron stars, these calculations will need to be brought into full general relativity.
Helical coiling of metaphase chromatids
Authors: Kubalová Ivona , Câmara Amanda Souza , Cápal Petr , Beseda Tomáš , Rouillard Jean-Marie , Krause Gina Marie , Holušová Kateřina , Toegelová Helena , Himmelbach Axel , Stein Nils , Houben Andreas , Doležel Jaroslav , Mascher Martin , Šimková Hana , Schubert Veit
Published: March 2023

Chromatids of mitotic chromosomes were suggested to coil into a helix in early cytological studies and this assumption was recently supported by chromosome conformation capture (3C) sequencing. Still, direct differential visualization of a condensed chromatin fibre confirming the helical model was lacking. Here, we combined Hi-C analysis of purified metaphase chromosomes, biopolymer modelling and spatial structured illumination microscopy of large fluorescently labeled chromosome segments to reveal the chromonema - a helically-wound, 400 nm thick chromatin thread forming barley mitotic chromatids. Chromatin from adjacent turns of the helix intermingles due to the stochastic positioning of chromatin loops inside the chromonema. Helical turn size varies along chromosome length, correlating with chromatin density. Constraints on the observable dimensions of sister chromatid exchanges further supports the helical chromonema model.
Differential requirements for Gcn5 and NuA4 HAT activities in the starvation-induced versus basal transcriptomes
Authors: Zheng Qiaoyun , Qiu Hongfang , Zhang Hongen , Hinnebusch Alan G
Published: March 2023

The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) subunit of coactivator complex SAGA, Gcn5, stimulates eviction of promoter nucleosomes at certain highly expressed yeast genes, including those activated by transcription factor Gcn4 in amino acid-deprived cells; however, the importance of other HAT complexes in this process was poorly understood. Analyzing mutations that disrupt the integrity or activity of HAT complexes NuA4 or NuA3, or HAT Rtt109, revealed that only NuA4 acts on par with Gcn5, and functions additively, in evicting and repositioning promoter nucleosomes and stimulating transcription of starvation-induced genes. NuA4 is generally more important than Gcn5, however, in promoter nucleosome eviction, TBP recruitment, and transcription at most other genes expressed constitutively. NuA4 also predominates over Gcn5 in stimulating TBP recruitment and transcription of genes categorized as principally dependent on the cofactor TFIID versus SAGA, except for the most highly expressed subset including ribosomal protein genes, where Gcn5 contributes strongly to PIC assembly and transcription. Both SAGA and NuA4 are recruited to promoter regions of starvation-induced genes in a manner that might be feedback controlled by their HAT activities. Our findings reveal an intricate interplay between these two HATs in nucleosome eviction, PIC assembly, and transcription that differs between the starvation-induced and basal transcriptomes.
Oncogenic YAP mediates changes in chromatin accessibility and activity that drive cell cycle gene expression and cell migration
Authors: Fetiva Maria Camila , Liss Franziska , Gertzmann Dörthe , Thomas Julius , Gantert Benedikt , Vogl Magdalena , Sira Nataliia , Weinstock Grit , Kneitz Susanne , Ade Carsten P , Gaubatz Stefan
Published: March 2023

YAP, the key protein effector of the Hippo pathway, is a transcriptional co-activator that controls the expression of cell cycle genes, promotes cell growth and proliferation and regulates organ size. YAP modulates gene transcription by binding to distal enhancers, but the mechanisms of gene regulation by YAP-bound enhancers remain poorly understood. Here we show that constitutive active YAP5SA leads to widespread changes in chromatin accessibility in untransformed MCF10A cells. Newly accessible regions include YAP-bound enhancers that mediate activation of cycle genes regulated by the Myb-MuvB (MMB) complex. By CRISPR-interference we identify a role for YAP-bound enhancers in phosphorylation of Pol II at Ser5 at MMB-regulated promoters, extending previously published studies that suggested YAP primarily regulates the pause-release step and transcriptional elongation. YAP5SA also leads to less accessible ‘closed’ chromatin regions, which are not directly YAP-bound but which contain binding motifs for the p53 family of transcription factors. Diminished accessibility at these regions is, at least in part, a consequence of reduced expression and chromatin-binding of the p53 family member ΔNp63 resulting in downregulation of ΔNp63-target genes and promoting YAP-mediated cell migration. In summary, our studies uncover changes in chromatin accessibility and activity that contribute to the oncogenic activities of YAP.
Atlas of phosphoinositide signatures in the retina identifies heterogeneity between cell types
Authors: Rajala Ammaji , Rajala Rahul , Gopinadhan Nair Gopa Kumar , Rajala Raju V S
Published: March 2023

Phosphoinositides (PIPs) are a family of minor acidic phospholipids in the cell membrane. Phosphoinositide (PI) kinases and phosphatases can rapidly convert one PIP product into another resulting in the generation of seven distinct PIPs. The retina is a heterogeneous tissue composed of several cell types. In the mammalian genome, around 50 genes encode PI kinases and PI phosphatases; however, there are no studies describing the distribution of these enzymes in the various retinal cell types. Using translating ribosome affinity purification, we have identified the in vivo distribution of PI-converting enzymes from the rod, cone, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Müller glia, and retinal ganglion cells, generating a physiological atlas for PI-converting enzyme expression in the retina. The retinal neurons, rods, cones, and RGCs, are characterized by the enrichment of PI-converting enzymes, whereas the Müller glia and RPE are characterized by the depletion of these enzymes. We also found distinct differences between the expression of PI kinases and PI phosphatases in each retinal cell type. Since mutations in PI-converting enzymes are linked to human diseases including retinal diseases, the results of this study will provide a guide for what cell types are likely to be affected by retinal degenerative diseases brought on by changes in PI metabolism.
Experts or Politicians? Citizen Responses to Vaccine Endorsements across Five OECD Countries
Authors: Barceló Joan , Sheen Greg Chih-Hsin , Tung Hans H , Wu Wen-Chin
Published: March 2023

Who is more influential in shaping citizens' health-related behaviors, experts or politicians? We conduct five conjoint experiments on 6,255 residents of France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, asking them to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines alongside randomly varying endorsements from national politicians and medical professionals. In every country, our results show that citizens are more likely to rely on medical professionals, the experts, more than on politicians when choosing a COVID-19 vaccine. Even after accounting for citizens' political alignment with the government, our evidence reveals that politicians play a very limited role in shaping vaccine acceptance. These results have implications for the role of political elites in shaping people's behaviors amid a large-scale crisis.
Do the EEG and behavioral criteria of NREM arousal disorders apply to sexsomnia?
Authors: Rossi Jessica , Gales Ana , Attali Valérie , Leu-Semenescu Smaranda , Dodet Pauline , Groos Elisabeth , Arnulf Isabelle
Published: March 2023

Study Objectives

To establish whether the recent EEG and behavioral criteria of arousal disorders apply to sexsomnia.

Methods

EEG and behavioral markers upon N3 sleep interruptions in videopolysomnography were retrospectively compared in 24 participants with sexsomnia, 41 participants with arousals disorders, and 40 healthy controls. The specificity and sensitivity of previously suggested EEG and behavioral cutoffs for supporting arousal disorders diagnosis were measured in the sexsomnia vs. control groups.

Results

Participants with sexsomnia and arousals disorders showed a higher N3 fragmentation index, slow/mixed N3 arousal index, and number of eye openings during N3 interruptions than healthy controls. Ten (41.7%) participants with sexsomnia (vs. one sleepwalker and no control) displayed an apparently sexual behavior (masturbation, sexual vocalization, pelvic thrusting, and hand within the pajama) during N3 arousal. An N3 sleep fragmentation index ≥6.8/h of N3 sleep and two or more N3 arousals associated with eye opening was 95% specific but poorly (46% and 42%) sensitive for diagnosing sexsomnia. An index of slow/mixed N3 arousals ≥2.5/h of N3 sleep was 73% specific and 67% sensitive. An N3 arousal with trunk raising, sitting, speaking, showing an expression of fear/surprise, shouting, or exhibiting sexual behavior was 100% specific for a diagnosis of sexsomnia.

Conclusions

In patients with sexsomnia, videopolysomnography based markers of arousal disorders are intermediate between healthy individuals and patients with other arousal disorders, supporting the concept of sexsomnia as a specialized, but less neurophysiologically severe, NREM parasomnia. Previously validated criteria for arousal disorders partially fit in patients with sexsomnia.