bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of crystal packing on the optical response of trialkyltetrelethynyl acenes
Authors: Huang Ling-Yi , Ai Qianxiang , Risko Chad
Published: July 2022

The electronic and optical responses of an organic semiconductor (OSC) are dictated by the chemistries of the molecular or polymer building blocks and how these chromophores pack in the solid state. Understanding the physicochemical nature of these responses is not only critical for determining the OSC performance for a particular application, but the UV/visible optical response may also be of potential use to determine aspects of the molecular-scale solid-state packing for crystal polymorphs or thin-film morphologies that are difficult to determine otherwise. To probe these relationships, we report the quantum-chemical investigation of a series of trialkyltetrelethynyl acenes (tetrel = silicon or germanium) that adopt the brickwork, slip-stack, or herringbone (HB) packing configurations; the π-conjugated backbones considered here are pentacene and anthradithiophene. For comparison, HB-packed (unsubstituted) pentacene is also included. Density functional theory and G0W0 (single-shot Green’s function G and/or screened Coulomb function W) electronic band structures, G0W0-Bethe–Salpeter equation-derived optical spectra, polarized ϵ2 spectra, and distributions of both singlet and triplet exciton wave functions are reported. Configurational disorder is also considered. Furthermore, we evaluate the probability of singlet fission in these materials through energy conservation relationships.
Chiral standing spin waves in skyrmion lattice
Authors: Savchenko Andrii S. , Kuchkin Vladyslav M. , Rybakov Filipp N. , Blügel Stefan , Kiselev Nikolai S.
Published: July 2022

This work studies the resonance excitations of the three-dimensional skyrmions lattice in the finite thickness plate of an isotropic chiral magnet using spin dynamics simulations. We found that the absorption spectra and resonance modes differ from those predicted by the two-dimensional model and the model of the unconfined bulk crystal. The features observed on the spectra can be explained by the formation of chiral standing spin waves, which, contrary to conventional standing spin waves, are characterized by the helical profile of dynamic magnetization of fixed chirality that is defined by the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. In this case, the dynamic susceptibility becomes a function of the plate thickness, which gives rise to an interesting effect that manifests itself in periodical fading of the intensity of corresponding modes and makes excitation of these modes impossible at specific thicknesses.
Off-axis Raman spectroscopy for nanoscale stress metrology
Authors: Khan Zoheb , Nuytten Thomas , Favia Paola , Fleischmann Claudia , De Wolf Ingrid , Vandervorst Wilfried
Published: July 2022

Raman spectroscopy is an effective tool for stress and compositional metrology in the semiconductor industry. However, its application toward decoupling a complex stress state in semiconductor materials requires the use of liquid immersion lenses that are process line incompatible. In this work, a practical design concept for off-axis Raman spectroscopy is presented. By tilting the incident light away from the normal incident axis, forbidden Raman modes can be accessed allowing determination of the in-plane stress tensor in semiconductor materials. Furthermore, we benchmark off-axis Raman spectroscopy against oil-immersion Raman spectroscopy for stress characterization in 20 nm-wide strained Ge fin field-effect transistor channels. We demonstrate that off-axis Raman allows anisotropic stress metrology without reliance on liquid immersion lenses, highlighting its viability in the process line. The stress state is validated through nanobeam diffraction measurements.
A broadband Fabry–Perot resonator antenna using partially reflecting surface with positive reflection phase gradient
Authors: Zhu Lele , Liu Yufeng , Liang Jiyu , Zhang Qiang , Zhang Wenmei , Gao Yang
Published: July 2022

A novel Fabry–Perot resonator antenna with a wide impedance- and gain-bandwidth is proposed in this paper. A wideband aperture-coupled microstrip antenna is used as the primary source, and a single-layer frequency selective surface with a positive reflection phase gradient is designed as a partially reflective surface. To validate the proposed approach, a prototype antenna operating in the X-band is designed, fabricated, and measured. Both simulation and measured results indicate that the proposed antenna exhibits wideband characteristics. The measured impedance bandwidth (|S11| < −10 dB) is 64.4%, ranging from 8.68 to 15.12 GHz. The experiments demonstrate that a 3 dB gain bandwidth of 31.9% from 8.61 to 11.80 GHz with a peak gain of 14.0 dBi at 10 GHz is achieved. In addition, the proposed antenna reveals good directional radiation patterns, low side-lobe level, and low cross-polarization over the whole working band.
A comparison of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and the world
Authors: Jasko Katarzyna , LaFree Gary , Piazza James , Becker Michael H.
Published: July 2022

Although political violence has been perpetrated on behalf of a wide range of political ideologies, it is unclear whether there are systematic differences between ideologies in the use of violence to pursue a political cause. Prior research on this topic is scarce and mostly restricted to self-reported measures or less extreme forms of political aggression. Moreover, it has generally focused on respondents in Western countries and has been limited to either comparisons of the supporters of left-wing and right-wing causes or examinations of only Islamist extremism. In this research we address these gaps by comparing the use of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and worldwide using two unique datasets that cover real-world examples of politically motivated, violent behaviors. Across both datasets, we find that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent. In the United States, we find no difference between the level of violence perpetrated by right-wing and Islamist extremists. However, differences in violence emerge on the global level, with Islamist extremists being more likely than right-wing extremists to engage in more violent acts.
Stabilization
Authors: Pienemann Manfred , Lanze Frank , Nicholas Howard , Lenzing Anke
Published: July 2022

We accord with Mike Long’s rejection of fossilization as a concept able to describe or explain second language acquisition. And we share his bewilderment (Long, 2003, p. 512f.) that since most studies of fossilization make reference to explanatory factors external to language and cognition, “[s]urprisingly, no one seems to have considered the possibility that if fossilization is, as Selinker (1972) claimed, a cognitive mechanism producing the non-target end-state also called ‘fossilization’, there is no need for other explanations …”. In this paper we take up Mike’s proposition that stabilization might be a more viable alternative to fossilization and propose exactly what Mike asked for, a cognitive mechanism. We demonstrate that in SLA, linguistic simplification, one aspect of stabilization, is a dynamic process that follows its own regularities. We show that it can be modeled in an AI simulation of SLA using the mathematical formalisms of dynamical systems theory that are implied in agent-based modeling. In doing this we show that the formal, mathematical architecture of dynamical systems theory is particularly well suited for a simulation of the cognitive stabilisation mechanism that Mike Long asked for, because agent-based modeling can operate entirely on the basis of the internal dynamics of identifiable stabilization mechanisms, and they can lead to tipping points at which the system may abruptly change direction. Differing from the postmodern DST metaphors that are currently popular among some applied linguists (e.g., Larsen-Freeman, 2006), we have followed Long’s (2003) call for an operationalized concept that is testable. In this chapter, our agent-based model is fully operationalized and tested against longitudinal empirical data. Our chapter spans a period of four decades during which the first author and Mike interacted. Many of these interactions left traces in the research described here. Contextualising this research in its ‘historical’ background may be helpful in tracing the development of ideas that lead up to the AI simulation of SLA reported in this chapter. As the reader will see, many of these ideas were intentionally or unintentionally inspired or provoked by Mike’s critique, comments, suggestions and the presence of his critical mind.
The uncertainty principle in second language acquisition
Authors: Rastelli Stefano
Published: July 2022

This chapter presents three themes that I have discussed with Mike Long on different occasions in recent years: The Discontinuity Hypothesis, the necessity to study the ‘intra-language’ (in addition to the ‘interlanguage’) and the uncertainty principle. The latter is the idea that abstract rules and statistical regularities are entangled states of mind in a L2 learner’s competence, to the extent that researchers can never know whether learners are recognizing a morphosyntactic form (due to its frequency) or they are generating that form by a rule (due to abstract ‘labels that predate the input’). Uncertainty implies that what we can uncover about a learner’s implicit competence depends on how such competence is measured.
Performance on second language speaking tasks
Authors: Skehan Peter
Published: July 2022

This chapter will discuss research into the effects of task characteristics and task conditions on second language performance. It explores a range of task characteristics, such as information structure and familiarity, as well as the operations upon such information. It will also consider the effects of task conditions such as pre-task planning and task repetition. The organisational ‘frame’ for this discussion will be Levelt’s distinction between the stages of Conceptualisation and Formulation. Task characteristics and task conditions will be related to these two stages in speaking, indicating how each stage might be positively or negatively affected. This leads into a discussion of how the task research findings which have been covered are relevant in a pedagogic context. In particular, there is a focus on how second language speakers can achieve a parallel rather than a serial mode of speech, through the use of supportive tasks and task conditions, and the avoidance of impediments which could impair their performance.
Establishing a theoretical framework for AVT research
Authors: Kruger Jan-Louis , Liao Sixin
Published: July 2022

Empirical research on the cognitive processing of audiovisual translation (AVT)
products has been thriving over the past decade. While the use of cutting-edge experimental tools such as eye trackers has drawn
increasing scholarly attention and accelerated the progress in understanding the complex mental processes involved in the
reception of multimodal AVT products, relatively less attention has been devoted to the importance of establishing a theoretical
framework or cognitive model that can explain and predict the behaviours observed in empirical experiments. By reviewing numerous
theories or cognitive models relevant to AVT research in explaining how different perceptual and cognitive systems operate for
understanding multimodal products, this paper calls for engagement with these theoretical frameworks and models to work towards a
robust model that can generate testable hypotheses for the integration and interaction of multiple sources of information involved
in the processing of AVT or other multimodal products.
Features of granulometric and material composition of road dust, bottom sediments and soils in the Rostov region
Authors: Fedorov Yu A , Chepurnaya V I , Dotsenko I V , Gar’kusha D N , Mikhailenko A V
Published: July 2022

An expedition was carried out to take samples of road dust, soils, sediments at the water’s edge and bottom sediments of watercourses and reservoirs of Eastern Donbass and other districts of the Rostov region. The goal was to study the granulometric composition of the selected material. In all samples, particles with a dimension of less than 0.01 mm were dominant, while particles with a diameter of <0.002 played a subordinate role. Particles with a diameter of <0.01 prevailed in the composition of the studied samples, regardless of the place of their selection. It was found that the content of the sum of fractions with particle sizes < 0.01 mm and <0.002 are in the selected samples in the following sequence: bottom sediments > sediments at the water’s edge > soil > road dust. The composition of natural formations includes soil particles, aggregates of clay particles, fine sand-siltstone quartz grains, calcite, feldspar, gypsum, single grains of magnetite and titanomagnetite. Technogenic impurities in the dust were represented by aluminosilicate microspheres, metal particles of varying degrees of corrosion, carbon particles.
Ethnobotany in the city: Medicinal tree species in university green space
Authors: Susilowati A , Ginting I M , Rachmat H H , Dwiyanti F G , Iswanto A H , Sucipto T
Published: July 2022

The university’s green open space (UGS) serves as the city’s lungs, climate stabilization, improving bioclimate conditions, and reducing dust. In addition to these functions, UGS also acts as a provider of medical materials. The purpose of this study was to identify tree species containing medicinal properties on the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) campus in Padang Bulan. The field inventory was employed in this research by collecting data on all tree species in 120 hectares of the campus area. Furthermore, the utilization of each tree species identified was assessed using the book Indonesian Useful Plants. The research showed that, 65.29% tree species classified into 27 families on the USU campus could be a source of natural medicinal properties. Polyalthia longifolia had the largest number of individuals, while Premna corymbosa had the fewest. The leaf is the most commonly used organ based on the part used (55.69 %). Trees on the USU campus provide such a number of advantages, including treating cancer, antioxidants, anti malarial, and other therapies. Our research pointed out that, the presence of green space at the University is important to the conservation of biological diversity and potential tree species.
Response of growth and production of excellent variety of gogo inpago 12 agritan rice to the number of seed per different planting holeand different depth of soil treatment
Authors: Ginting J , Meiriani  , Sitepu F
Published: July 2022

The study was done at the Palawija Seedling Center, Tanjung Selamat, Regency of Deli Serdang, North Sumatra Province, Medan, Indonesia, with an altitude of about 50 meters above sea level. The research was carried out from July to November 2021. This study aims to obtain the best amount of grain per planting hole in the optimal depth of tillage for the growth and yield of upland paddy varieties Inpago 12 Agritan. The research method used a factorial randomized block design. From the results of this research, it was concluded that the depth of tillage had an affect on plant height while the amount of tillers had no affect. The best amount of seeds per planting hole was 6 grains per planting hole based on the amount of tillers per plant clump.
Quantity and Quality Test of DNA Marigold Plants (Tagetes erecta L.) for the Suistainability of Plant Breeding
Authors: Pangaribuan O , Hanafiah D S , Setiado H , Simamora J R M , Sari N W
Published: July 2022

Marigold is one of the potential commercial flowers and demand continues toincrease. The high demand for marigold plants among the community so that the need for mutation plant breeding for marigold plants. It is hoped that giving mutations, it can increase genetic diversity in marigold plants which will be used as material for plant breeding activities to form new superior marigold varieties. This study aimed to examine the quantity and quality of mutant DNA marigold plants for the suistainabiliy of plant breeding. This research was conducted in the molecular genetics laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara. The DNA of 5 mutant samples of marigold plants was isolated using the CTAB extraction method. The results showed that the lines that had bright and thick band patterns were found in samples P0, P2, P3 and P4 while thin and less bright bands were found insample P1. The purity of the resulting DNA ranged from 1.84 to 2.00 and the concentration of the resulting DNA ranged from 30.2 to 53.7 g/ml.
Farm business analysis and marketing channels for Andaliman agroforestry in Humbang Hasundutan District
Authors: Pane T C , Rumaijuk B T , Jufri M , Khaliqi M
Published: July 2022

As an endemic plant from the vicinity forest around Lake Toba area in North Sumatera Province, Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) is very beneficial. However, its utilization depends on Batak communities’ traditions so that it is not cultivated and marketed extensively. Due to the uncertain price at the farmers level which had become an obstacle in marketing Andaliman, this study was conducted to provide data and suggestions about farm business analysis and marketing channels for Andaliman agroforestry in Humbang Hasundutan District, hoping it can assist in formulating policies related to price stabilization. The study results show that the farmers’ income was still very varied between IDR 2,441.03-73,882.37 with an average IDR 31,080.32. The Andaliman’s marketing channels in Humbang Hasundutan District consisted of three channels, where Channel I was the longest and most common one, with four marketing agencies involved, namely the farmers, the village level middlemen, the district level middlemen, and the retailers.
Causal Loop Diagram approach of rice supply in anticipation of rice shortage in North Sumatera
Authors: Lindawati  , Emalisa  , Zulfida I
Published: July 2022

Rice is a staple food that requires important management in anticipating food shortages. This study aims to design a Causal Loop Diagram on the condition of rice supply in North Sumatera. The research was conducted in North Sumatera with the consideration that this area is the center of rice production which has decreased. The results of the study show that there are 32 variables that explain the causal relationship in the form of a Causal Loop Diagram of rice supply. Rice supply in North Sumatera is an accumulation of production, government rice reserves and imports. Rice consumption is assumed to only take into account consumption in North Sumatera without any exports outside the region. Positive and negative production is obtained through a combination of several factors of production. The total number of rice imports will positively increase with rice imports imported from several countries. The government’s rice reserves in Bulog come from the initial stock plus rice intake. The consumption of rice by the community will reduce the supply of rice in North Sumatera. Rice consumption increases in line with the increase in population and per capita rice consumption
The development potential level of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism, Pantai Labu Subdistrict
Authors: Ulfa M , Harahap M M
Published: July 2022

Ecotourism is a type of ethical travel that preserves the natural environment while also benefiting the local community culturally, socially, and economically if implemented correctly. Ecotourism in the Bagan Serdang mangrove forest was initiated in 2018 as an effort to make this area as one of the leading tourism alternatives with mangrove-based edu-tourism Recently, the condition of mangrove vegetation is degraded in several spots, facilities and infrastructure are neglected and even damaged, and accessibility is not optimal. These, on the other hand, are some of the factors that must be considered for the feasibility of developing ecotourism in mangrove areas. This research aims to identify the development potential level of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism. Data collecting was done through the field observation and the potency of ecotourism development was measured based on ADO-ODTWA guidebook from Indonesian Forestry Department. The attraction of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism had a moderate potential level with 21 species of vegetation and 9 species of fauna. Accessibility and accommodation had a low potential level, whereas facilities and infrastructures had a high potential level. The low potential criteria were suggested to be priority in the ecotourism development of Bagan Serdang.
Economic valuation of green open space (GOS) as climate change mitigation
Authors: Sulistiyono N , Patana P , Marsudi S , Yosia B M , Sudianto G , marpaung R B , Lumbantobing S D , Ihsani U M , Raini W A
Published: July 2022

Green open space (GOS) is an area whose use is open and dominated by vegetation. GOS in the urban landscape is needed to beautify and increase the comfort of the city. Because it is dominated by vegetation, GOS can also function to absorb CO2 gas in urban air. GOS also plays a role in mitigating climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to determine the economic value of GOS in mitigating climate change in Stabat City, Langkat Regency. The method used is using the Contingent valuation method (CVM). The results showed that the economic value of GOS in mitigating climate change in Stabat City was Rp.809,099,537.04/year.
Distribution of Chlorophyll-a and Sea Surface Temperature for Skipjack in Nias Water
Authors: Fadhilah A , Siahaan K , Saridu S A
Published: July 2022

The fishing area for skipjack is always in a state of change following changes in environmental conditions, which naturally causes fish to choose suitable habitats. Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a are factors that affect skipjack fishing areas. The purpose of this study was to look at the potential distribution of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a for skipjack fishing areas in the waters of Nias. The data was taken from the Aqua MODIS (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite from 2015-2018. Data processing is divided into three seasons, namely transitional season I, east season, and transitional season II. The results showed that the waters of Nias have an average sea surface temperature of 29.40°C – 31.05°C with an average chlorophyll-a ranging from 0.108 mg/m3 – 0.146 mg/m3. Based on the analysis of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a, the potential fishing area is assumed to be in transition II with an average seasonal catch of 2497.8 kg with a potential temperature range of 29.73°C and a range of chlorophyll-a the potential is 0.14 mg/m3.
Quantum technology and human rights: an agenda for collaboration*
Authors: Krishnamurthy Vivek
Published: July 2022

Quantum technologies have the potential to transform many aspects of our lives as they come into wider use, but how do we ensure that these technologies promote human rights instead of harming them? This article will draw lessons from our collective experience in managing the human rights impacts of internet technologies to help the quantum science and technology community build and develop technologies that respect and promote the fundamental rights of all people.
Electrochemical detection of homovanillic acid, a breast cancer biomarker, using Pluronic-modified MoS2 nanosheets
Authors: Zniber Mohammed , Vahdatiyekta Parastoo , Roy Shounak , Nikiforow Kostiantyn , Jaiswal Amit , Huynh Tan-Phat
Published: July 2022

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have gained considerable attention from the scientific community for their various applications thanks to their remarkable chemical, physical, optical and electronic properties. In this study, MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized using a kitchen blender with the assistance of a surfactant, Pluronic F-127, through a shear-exfoliation process. The chemical composition, nanostructure and electrochemical properties of the synthesized MoS2–F127 were characterized by different methods. A Pt electrode modified with MoS2–F127 (Pt/MoS2–F127) was used with differential pulse voltammetry for the electrochemical detection of homovanillic acid (HVA) – a breast-cancer biomarker, in the presence of common interferents in urine. This study provides a new approach to discriminate the electrochemical signals of HVA and uric acid, leading to higher selectivity of the sensor.
Surveillance and examination of microbial contamination in ice cream in China
Authors: Yan Lin , Pei Xiaoyan , Miao Junjie , Li Ying , Yang Shuran , Peng Zixin , Yang Xiaorong , Mei Lingling , Yang Qingwen , Ren Huan , Yang Dajin , Shi Hongmei
Published: July 2022

This study investigated the microbial contamination of ice cream in China. A total of 2887 ice cream samples were collected from different regions of China. Contamination by the aerobic plate count (APC), coliforms, and three foodborne pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Salmonella spp., was detected in the samples. L. monocytogenes isolates were further analyzed for antibiotic susceptibility and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The results showed that APC was more than 105 colony forming units (CFU)/g in 6.10% (176/2887) and coliform was more than 102 CFU/g in 15.69% (453/2887) of all samples. The positive rates of S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. were 0.66%, 0.62%, and 0.10%, respectively. Among these, S. aureus contamination was more than 102 CFU/g in two samples, and L. monocytogenes in the positive sample was in the range of 0.3–240 most probable number (MPN)/g, with a median of 4.3 MPN/g. The hygienic status of the packaged samples was much better than that of the bulk samples (P<0.05). Catering samples were more frequently and heavily contaminated than samples from retail and wholesale outlets (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in samples bought from urban and rural areas (P>0.05). For 18 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from ice cream, the resistance rate of nine antibiotics was 5.56% (1/18). By MLST, the L. monocytogenes strains were classified into nine sequence types (STs), of which ST8 was the most common (six isolates). These results indicate that a potential health risk to the public may be caused by ice cream, particularly in susceptible populations.
The statistical foundation of the reference population for semen analysis included in the sixth edition of the WHO manual: a critical reappraisal of the evidence
Authors: Paffoni Alessio , Somigliana Edgardo , Boeri Luca , Viganò Paola
Published: July 2022

In the most recent version of the ‘WHO Laboratory Manual For The Examination And Processing Of Human Semen’, the updated target population used to infer reference values included 3589 fertile subjects, representative of 12 countries and 5 continents, and 10 studies. We have critically evaluated the newly proposed distribution of semen examination results using an approach borrowed from clinical chemistry laboratories and based on the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry for estimation of reference intervals. Surprisingly, most prerequisites to produce common reference intervals through multicentric data were not met. Moreover, when we assessed with the bootstrap method the descriptive reference values obtained from raw data of the 10 individual studies for sperm concentration, sperm number, motility and normal forms, we found that none of the populations was completely correctly described by the reference centiles. We concluded that aggregated data used to build the reference distribution cannot be considered to originate from the same population, and this can result from real differences among individuals or different methodological approaches used in the various studies. Transferability conditions across studies did not seem to have been met. Our findings strengthen the relevance of concerns regarding the use of reference populations in the World Health Organization manual to discriminate between fertile and infertile men.
Estimating growth from length frequency distribution: comparison of ELEFAN and Bayesian approaches for red endeavour prawns (Metapenaeus ensis)
Authors: Zhou Shijie , Hutton Trevor , Lei Yeming , Miller Margaret , van Der Velde Tonya , Deng Roy Aijun
Published: July 2022

Using length frequency distribution data (LFD) is cost-effective for estimating somatic growth in fish or invertebrates as length data are relatively easy to obtain. The recently developed R packages TropFishR and fishboot extend classic ELEFAN (Electronic LEngth Frequency ANalysis) programs and include more powerful optimization procedures and a bootstrap method for estimating uncertainties. Yet, the fundamental functions require users to provide search conditions (e.g. upper and lower limits for each parameter, length-class size, number of length-classes for the calculation of moving average), which can significantly affect the results. In this paper, we compare the ELEFAN approach with a Bayesian approach in analysing LFD, employing both standard and seasonal von Bertalanffy growth functions. We apply both approaches to a commercially valuable but poorly studied red endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus ensis) harvested in Australia's Northern Prawn Fishery. Sensitivity tests on ELEFAN confirm that any change in search settings would affect the results. Simulation studies on Bayesian growth models show that Linf and K can be accurately obtained even with modal progression of only one year-class and using non-informative priors. However, age information, including the theoretical age at length zero (t0), is difficult to estimate and requires LFD from multiple age classes and informative priors. The Bayesian models yield mean parameters of: Linf = 36.56 mm (carapace length), K = 2.74 yr–1, and t0 = -0.02 yr for the males, and Linf = 51.81 mm, K = 1.94 yr–1, and t0 = -0.02 yr for the females. Seasonal oscillation models fit the LFD better, but the improvement is small and the estimated season-related parameters have large variances.
b-Monotone Hurwitz Numbers: Virasoro Constraints, BKP Hierarchy, and O(N)-BGW Integral
Authors: Bonzom Valentin , Chapuy Guillaume , Dołęga Maciej
Published: July 2022

We study a $b$-deformation of monotone Hurwitz numbers, obtained by deforming Schur functions into Jack symmetric functions. We give an evolution equation for this model and derive from it Virasoro constraints, thereby proving a conjecture of Féray on Jack characters. A combinatorial model of non-oriented monotone Hurwitz maps that generalize monotone transposition factorizations is provided. In the case $b=1$, we obtain an explicit Schur expansion of the model and show that it obeys the BKP integrable hierarchy. This Schur expansion also proves a conjecture of Oliveira–Novaes relating zonal polynomials with irreducible representations of $O(N)$. We also relate the model to an $O(N)$ version of the Brézin–Gross–Witten integral, which we solve explicitly in terms of Pfaffians in the case of even multiplicities.
Primary Decomposition with Differential Operators
Authors: Cid-Ruiz Yairon , Sturmfels Bernd
Published: July 2022

We introduce differential primary decompositions for ideals in a commutative ring. Ideal membership is characterized by differential conditions. The minimal number of conditions needed is the arithmetic multiplicity. Minimal differential primary decompositions are unique up to change of bases. Our results generalize the construction of Noetherian operators for primary ideals in the analytic theory of Ehrenpreis–Palamodov, and they offer a concise method for representing affine schemes. The case of modules is also addressed. We implemented an algorithm in Macaulay2 that computes the minimal decomposition for an ideal in a polynomial ring.
Bounds on the Hausdorff Dimension of Teichmüller Horocycle Flow Orbit Closures
Authors: Arana-Herrera Francisco
Published: July 2022

We show that the Hausdorff dimension of any proper Teichmüller horocycle flow orbit closure on any irreducible $\textrm {SL}{(2,\textbf {R})}$-invariant subvariety of Abelian or quadratic differentials is bounded away from the dimension of the subvariety in terms of the polynomial mixing rate of the Teichmüller horocycle flow on the subvariety. The proof is based on abstract methods for measurable flows adapted from work of Bourgain and Katz on sparse ergodic theorems.
Rank of Matrices with Entries from a Multiplicative Group
Authors: Alon Noga , Solymosi József
Published: July 2022

We establish lower bounds on the rank of matrices in which all but the diagonal entries lie in a multiplicative group of small rank. Applying these bounds we show that the distance sets of finite pointsets in $\mathbb {R}^d$ generate high-rank multiplicative groups and that multiplicative groups of small rank cannot contain large sumsets.
Pluripotential-Theoretic Stability Thresholds
Authors: Xia Mingchen
Published: July 2022

Given a compact polarized manifold $(X,L)$, we introduce two new stability thresholds in terms of singularity types of global quasi-plurisubharmonic functions on $X$. We prove that in the Fano setting, the new invariants can effectively detect K-stability of $X$. We study some functionals of geodesic rays in the space of Kähler potentials by means of the corresponding test curves. In particular, we introduce a new entropy functional of quasi-plurisubharmonic functions and relate the radial entropy functional to this new entropy functional.
Isobarycentric Inequalities
Authors: Gilboa Shoni , Haim-Kislev Pazit , Slomka Boaz A
Published: July 2022

We prove the following isoperimetric-type inequality: Given a finite absolutely continuous Borel measure on ${\mathbb {R}}^n$, half-spaces have maximal measure among all subsets with prescribed barycenter. As a consequence, we make progress towards a solution to a problem of Henk and Pollehn, which is equivalent to a log-Minkowski inequality for a parallelotope and a centered convex body. Our probabilistic approach to the problem also gives rise to several inequalities and conjectures concerning the truncated mean of certain log-concave random variables.
A protein kinase D inhibitor suppresses AKT on T cells and antagonizes cancer immunotherapy by anti-PD-1
Authors: Miyamoto Kazuhide , Hayabuchi Hodaka , Tokifuji Yukiko , Ando Makoto , Onishi Nobuyuki , Okamura Tadashi , Yoshimura Akihiko , Chikuma Shunsuke
Published: July 2022

Antibodies that block the interaction between PD-1 and PD-1 ligands (anti-PD-1) are in clinical use for the treatment of cancer, yet their efficacy is limited. Pre-approved therapies that enhance the effect of anti-PD-1 in combination are beneficial. Small-molecule inhibitors that attenuate T cell receptor signaling are reported to prevent T cell exhaustion and induce memory T cells with stem cell potential, resulting in a durable effector T cell response in combination with anti-PD-1. In search of such targets, we focused on protein kinase D (PKD), which is suggested to be suppressive in both tumor growth and TCR signaling. We report that CRT0066101, a PKD inhibitor (PKDi), suppressed the growth of mouse tumors at a sub-micromolar concentration in vitro. Despite its inhibitory effects on tumors, a single treatment of tumor-bearing mice with PKDi did not inhibit, but rather accelerated tumor growth, and reversed the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1. Mice treated with PKDi showed reduced T cell infiltration and defects in the generation of effector T cells, compared to those treated with anti-PD-1, suggesting that PKDi inhibited ongoing antitumor responses. Mechanistically, PKDi inhibited phosphorylation of AKT, a primary checkpoint that is reactivated by anti-PD-1. In conclusion, PKD is fundamentally required for T cell reactivation by anti-PD-1; therefore, inhibition of PKD is not appropriate for combination therapy with anti-PD-1. On the other hand, a single dose of PKDi was shown to strongly suppress experimental autoimmunity in mice, indicating that PKDi could be useful for the treatment of immune-related adverse events that are frequently reported in anti-PD-1 therapy.
Women, Peace, and Security and Increasing Gendered Risk in the Era of COVID-19: Insights from Nepal and Sri Lanka
Authors: K C Luna , Whetstone Crystal
Published: July 2022

This article analyzes the effects of COVID-19 on women and girls. It examines policy responses to the pandemic crisis and its implications on the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda in postwar Nepal and Sri Lanka. Building on our previous work in Nepal and Sri Lanka, we rely on secondary studies, news sources, and governmental and nongovernmental organization reports and social media from March 2020 through March 2022 to demonstrate our argument that policymakers should place women and girls at the center of COVID-19 recovery plans. We further stress the need for an intersectional approach to understand the contextual relationships among gender, race, class, caste, ability, religion, sexual orientation, and additional markers that situate women's and girls’ experiences. The WPS agenda promotes women and girls’ participation in peace and security governance and has seen significant rollbacks given the impacts of the pandemic. We conclude by sketching new policy frontiers for the WPS agenda and urge WPS implementers to rethink their approach to WPS policies to promote women's diverse needs and interests in postwar Nepal and Sri Lanka in pandemic recovery policies.
Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on Chronic Liver Disease Patient Care Experiences and Outcomes
Authors: Jiang Shirley X , Schwab Katerina , Enns Robert , Ko Hin Hin
Published: July 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has a secondary impact on the health of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Our objective was to study this impact on care provision, telemedicine, and health behaviours in CLD patients.

Methods

CLD patients of an urban gastroenterology clinic who attended a telemedicine appointment between March 17, 2020 and September 17, 2020, completed an online survey on care delays, health behaviours, and experience with telemedicine. Chart review was conducted in 400 randomly selected patients: 200 charts from during the pandemic were compared to 200 charts the previous year. Data were extracted for clinicodemographic variables, laboratory investigations, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Of 399 patients invited to participate, 135 (34%) completed the online survey. Fifty (39%) patients reported 83 care delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority (71%) of delays persisting beyond 2 months. Ninety-five (75%) patients were satisfied with telemedicine appointments. There was a longer delay between lab work and appointments in patients seen during the pandemic compared to 2019 (P = 0.01). Compared to the year prior, during the COVID pandemic, there was a similar number of cases of cirrhosis decompensation (n = 26, 13% versus n = 22, 11%) and hospitalization (n = 12, 6% versus n = 5, 3%).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to care delays for CLD outpatients, with most delays on the scale of months. These patient-reported experiences and clinical observations can direct optimization of CLD care as effects from the pandemic evolve.
Acknowledging and addressing the gender disparity in pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention
Authors: Allen Dion C , Rabionet Silvia E , Popovici Ioana , Zorrilla Carmen D
Published: July 2022

Objective

One in four persons living with HIV in the USA is a woman. While the annual HIV diagnoses for 2019 decreased by approximately 9% when compared with 2015, this decrease was seen in men, while the rates remained stable for women. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is one major biomedical tool that could benefit women at risk of HIV. However, women only account for approximately 5% of PrEP users annually. The objective of this study is to identify and address the gender disparity in PrEP use.

Methods

This study used epidemiological data from the AIDSVu database to confirm the presence of a gender disparity in PrEP use across the USA. Cross-sectional data from 2019 showed that PrEP use was significantly higher in men, which suggested the existence of a disparity. The PrEP-to-Need ratio was then used to examine the trends in PrEP use relative to the rate of HIV infections, from 2012 to 2019, and to confirm the existence of the gender disparity in PrEP use.

Key findings

There is a marked gender disparity in PrEP use. This disparity is widening and therefore demands more attention to women at risk of HIV. Some recommendations for addressing the disparity include the following: raising awareness, capacity building for providers, scaling up efforts to better reach women at risk of HIV and additional research to understand the drivers of the disparity.

Conclusions

Policy makers could therefore prioritize the health outcomes of women by promoting research and education aimed at extending PrEP offerings to effectively reach women.
Definitive radiotherapy with stereotactic or IMRT boost with or without radiosensitization strategy for operable breast cancer patients who refuse surgery
Authors: Shibamoto Yuta , Takano Seiya , Iida Masato , Urano Misugi , Ohta Kengo , Oguri Masanosuke , Murai Taro
Published: July 2022

For breast cancer (BC) patients who refused surgery, we developed a definitive treatment employing modern sophisticated radiation techniques. Thirty-eight operable BC patients were treated by conventionally fractionated whole-breast (WB) radiotherapy in combination with stereotactic (for primary tumor) or intensity-modulated (for primary tumor with/without regional lymph nodes [LN]) radiotherapy (IMRT) boost. Standard doses were 50 Gy/25 fractions, 21 Gy/3 fractions and 20 Gy/8 fractions, respectively, for the three radiation modalities. Disease stages were 0 (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) in seven patients, I in 12, II in 16 and III in three. In 26 patients, intratumoral hydrogen peroxide injection or hyperthermia with oral tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium (S-1) was also used to sensitize the tumors to radiation. Hormonal and standard systemic therapy were administered in 25 and 13 patients, respectively. Complete and partial responses were obtained in 19 patients each; in patients with partial response, no further regrowth of the residual mass was observed, except for two patients who developed local recurrence. During a follow-up of 8–160 months (median, 50 months for living patients), two, one and two patients developed local relapse, sub-clavicular node metastasis and distant metastasis, respectively. The 5-year rates for overall, progression-free and local relapse-free survival were 97.2, 90.9 and 93.4%, respectively. Fourteen patients developed Grade 3 radiation dermatitis but all recovered after treatment. In 47%, the affected breast became better-rounded, and the nipple of the irradiated breast became higher by ≥1 cm than the contralateral nipple. Our method might be a treatment option for operable BC patients.
Smooth muscle AKG/OXGR1 signaling regulates epididymal fluid acid–base balance and sperm maturation
Authors: Xu Chang , Yuan Yexian , Zhang Cha , Zhou Yuchuan , Yang Jinping , Yi Huadong , Gyawali Ishwari , Lu Jingyi , Guo Sile , Ji Yunru , Tan Chengquan , Wang Songbo , Zhang Yongliang , Jiang Qingyan , Shu Gang
Published: July 2022

Infertility is a global concern attributed to genetic defects, lifestyle, nutrition, and any other factors that affect the local metabolism and niche microenvironment of the reproductive system. 2-Oxoglutarate receptor 1 (OXGR1) is abundantly expressed in the testis; however, its cellular distribution and biological function of OXGR1 in the male reproductive system remain unclear. In the current study, we demonstrated that OXGR1 is primarily expressed in epididymal smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Aging and heat stress significantly reduced OXGR1 expression in the epididymis. Using OXGR1 global knockout and epididymal-specific OXGR1 knockdown models, we revealed that OXGR1 is essential for epididymal sperm maturation and fluid acid–base balance. Supplementation of α-ketoglutaric acid (AKG), the endogenous ligand of OXGR1, effectively reversed epididymal sperm maturation disorders caused by aging and heat stress. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that AKG markedly stimulated the release of instantaneous intracellular calcium from epididymal SMCs and substantially reduced the pHi value in the epididymal SMCs via OXGR1. Mechanistically, we discovered that AKG/OXGR1 considerably increased the expression of Na+/HCO3− cotransporter (NBCe1) mRNA in the epididymal SMCs, mediated by intracellular calcium signaling. The local AKG/OXGR1 system changed the epididymal fluid pH value and HCO3− concentration, thereby regulating sperm maturation via intracellular calcium signaling and NBCe1 mRNA expression. This study for the first time reveals the crucial role of OXGR1 in male fertility and sheds light on the applicability of metabolic intermediates in the nutritional intervention of reproduction.
Notch-dependent and -independent functions of transcription factor RBPJ
Authors: Friedrich Tobias , Ferrante Francesca , Pioger Léo , Nist Andrea , Stiewe Thorsten , Andrau Jean-Christophe , Bartkuhn Marek , Giaimo Benedetto Daniele , Borggrefe Tilman
Published: July 2022

Signal transduction pathways often involve transcription factors that promote activation of defined target gene sets. The transcription factor RBPJ is the central player in Notch signaling and either forms an activator complex with the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) or a repressor complex with corepressors like KYOT2/FHL1. The balance between these two antagonizing RBPJ-complexes depends on the activation state of the Notch receptor regulated by cell-to-cell interaction, ligand binding and proteolytic cleavage events. Here, we depleted RBPJ in mature T-cells lacking active Notch signaling and performed RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq and ATAC-seq analyses. RBPJ depletion leads to upregulation of many Notch target genes. Ectopic expression of NICD1 activates several Notch target genes and enhances RBPJ occupancy. Based on gene expression changes and RBPJ occupancy we define four different clusters, either RBPJ- and/or Notch-regulated genes. Importantly, we identify early (Hes1 and Hey1) and late Notch-responsive genes (IL2ra). Similarly, to RBPJ depletion, interfering with transcriptional repression by squelching with cofactor KYOT2/FHL1, leads to upregulation of Notch target genes. Taken together, RBPJ is not only an essential part of the Notch co-activator complex but also functions as a repressor in a Notch-independent manner.
Les tests et le dépistage génétiques chez les enfants
Authors: Moore Aideen M , Richer Julie
Published: July 2022

Les tests génétiques, qui ont évolué rapidement depuis vingt ans, deviennent monnaie courante en pédiatrie. Le présent document de principes procure un aperçu des récents développements qui peuvent avoir des répercussions sur les tests génétiques chez les enfants. La génétique est un domaine en constante évolution, et le présent document de principes s’attarde tout particulièrement au dépistage néonatal élargi, au séquençage de nouvelle génération, aux découvertes fortuites, aux tests commercialisés directement auprès des consommateurs, aux tests d’histocompatibilité et aux tests génétiques dans le contexte de la recherche.