bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel techniques for characterising graphene nanoplatelets using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning
Authors: Orts Mercadillo Vicente , Ijije Happiness , Chaplin Luke , Kinloch Ian A , Bissett Mark A
Published: March 2023

A significant challenge for graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) suppliers is the characterisation of platelet morphology in industrial environments. This challenge is further exacerbated to platelet surface chemistry when scalable functionalisation processes, such as plasma treatment, are used to modify the GNPs to improve the filler-matrix interphase in nanocomposites. The costly and complex suite of analytical equipment necessary for a complete material description makes quality control and process optimisation difficult. Raman spectroscopy is a facile and accessible characterisation technique, with recent advancements unlocking fast mapping for rapid data collection. In this study, we develop novel techniques to better characterise GNP morphology and changes in surface chemistry using Raman maps of bulk powders. Providing a bespoke algorithmic framework for the analysis of these advanced materials. An unsupervised peak fitting and processing algorithm was used to extract crystallinity data and correlate it with laser-diffraction-derived lateral size values for a commercial set of GNPs rapidly and accurately. Classical machine learning was used to identify the most informative Raman features for classifying the plasma-functionalised GNPs. The initial material properties were found to affect the peak features that were the most useful for classification. In low defect density and low specific surface area GNPs, the D peak full width at half maximum is found to be the most useful, whereas the

I

2D

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I

G

ratio is the most useful in the opposite case. Finally, a convolutional neural network was trained to discern between different GNP grades with 86% accuracy. This work demonstrates how computer vision could be deployed for rapid and accurate quality control on the factory floor.
Comparative analysis of the qualitative characteristics of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde resins based on styrene-modified oil shale alkylresorcinols
Authors: Jurkeviciute Ana , Grigorieva Larisa , Tõnsuaadu Kaia , Blum Kristina
Published: March 2023

Reducing the amount of volatile compounds in alkylresorcinol-aldehyde resins, reducing the impact of their components on the environment, and improving their performance can be achieved by replacing formaldehyde with acetaldehyde and by preliminary aralkylation of the resorcinol components of the raw material. To prove this, a comparative analysis of the properties of resins synthesized based on oil shale alkylresorcinols pre-treated with styrene, formaldehyde, or acetaldehyde was carried out. The effects of the molar ratio of feedstock/aldehyde and the amount of catalyst on the yield and characteristics of the resins were considered. Both individual alkylresorcinols (R, 5-MR, 2.5-DMR) and industrial fractions (REZOL, HONEYOL) were used as the raw materials. The following indicators were used to compare the obtained resins: softening point, ash content, coke number, moisture content, volatile substances, and solubility in organic solvents. The thermal properties of the resins were studied by TG/DTG/DTA in inert and oxidative atmosphere. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of resins and distillates for the content of unreacted resorcinol, individual alkylresorcinols, and styrene were carried out using iodometry, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and gas chromatography (GC). It has been shown that the use of acetaldehyde makes it possible to obtain resins with the stated characteristics. The formaldehyde (SF) and acetaldehyde (SAc) resins obtained consist of oligomers with different chain lengths. Synthesized SAc resins are solids with a softening point of 51 °C–103 °C. Resins are soluble in acetone, EtOH, acetonitrile, and THF, and insoluble in benzene. SAc resins contain 3–4 times less unreacted original resorcinol components compared to SF resins. The conversion of styrene in the synthesis of Rez100SF resins was 42 wt%, Rez100SAc and Hon100SAc are 98 and 97 wt%, respectively. A comparative analysis of resins synthesized using acetaldehyde instead of formaldehyde helped identify both the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed synthesis variation.
The relationship between sea surface temperature anomalies, wind and translation speed and North Atlantic tropical cyclone rainfall over ocean and land
Authors: Hallam Samantha , McCarthy Gerard D , Feng Xiangbo , Josey Simon A , Harris Elizabeth , Düsterhus André , Ogungbenro Stephen , Hirschi Joël J-M
Published: March 2023

There have been increasing losses from freshwater flooding associated with United States (US) landfalling hurricanes in recent years. This study analyses the relationship between sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA), wind and translation speed and North Atlantic tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) for the period 1998-2017. Based on our statistical analysis of observation data, for a 1 °C SST increase in the main development region (MDR), there is a 6% increase (not statistically significant) in the TCP rate (mmhr−1) over the Atlantic, which rises to over 40% over land (US states) and appears linked not only to the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship but also to the increase in tropical cyclone (TC) intensity associated with increasing SSTA. Total annual TCP is significantly correlated with the SST in the MDR. Over the Atlantic there is an increase of 116% and over land there is an increase of 140% in total TCP for a 1 °C rise in SST in the MDR. Again, this is linked to the increase in windspeed and the number of TC tracks which also rises with positive SSTAs in the MDR. Our analysis of landfalling TC tracks for nine US states provides a systematic review and highlights how TCP varies by US state. The highest number of landfalls per year are found in Florida, North Carolina and Texas. The median tropical cyclone translation speed is 20.3kmhr−1, although this falls to 16.5 kmhr−1 over land and there is a latitudinal dependence on translation speed. Overall, we find a different TCP response to rising SST over the ocean and land, with the response over land over four times more than the Clausius-Clapeyron rate. The links between SSTA in the MDR and both TCP rate and annual total TCP provide useful insights for seasonal to decadal US flood prediction from TCs.
3D printing-based soft auxetic structures using PDMS-Ecoflex Hybrid
Authors: Kim Chae-Hwan , Kim Hyun-Young , Kim Jun-Ho , Kim Jaehwan
Published: March 2023

Auxetic structures with negative Poisson’s ratio have received much attention due to their attractive behavioral properties in next-generation metamaterials and robotic applications. However, until now, there has been a lack of research into using soft materials to reliably develop a largely-deformable auxetic structures. Here, we develop soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Ecoflex auxetic structures using a 3D printing technique, leading to high fabrication reliability and repeatability. Water-soluble filaments are employed to design sacrificial mold structures that quickly dissolve in warm water. By measuring the mechanical properties and light transmittance of soft composite membranes with various mixing ratios of PDMS and Ecoflex, the intrinsic characteristics of the composite membranes are determined. The newly fabricated soft auxetic structures composed of PDMS and Ecoflex composites always exhibit negative Poisson’s ratio during stretching. The negative Poisson’s ratio of the structure is maximized when PDMS and Ecoflex have a 2:1 mixing ratio and nominal strain is less than 5%. Advances in technology to reliably fabricate soft auxetic structures using 3D printers are believed to promote next-generation applications such as wearable sensors and energy-absorbing structures.
Evaluation of energy absorption enhancement of additively manufactured polymer composite lattice structures
Authors: Kumar A Praveen , Ma Quanjin
Published: March 2023

The unique compressive behaviour of lattice cubic structures as well as their high specific strength and significant energy absorbing characteristics makes them an attractive solution for crashworthiness applications. Hence in this research study, the crashworthiness behaviour and energy absorbing characteristics of the thermoplastic polymer composite lattice cubic structures were experimentally investigated under quasi-static compression. Four design patterns such as Cuboctahedron, Kelvin cell, Truncated cube in square and dividend square geometrics were considered and fabricated through fused deposition modelling technique. The proposed structures were additively manufactured with four different thermoplastic polymer based filament materials and their influence on the crashworthiness characteristics were investigated experimentally. The obtained results revealed that the PLA-CF based KC configuration exhibited SEA of 2.50 kJ g−1 and the maximum value of CFE is 84.91% for PETG-CF based KC configuration. Furthermore, the experimental results indicated that the proposed thermoplastic polymer composite based lattice cubic structures are potentially a suitable component for crashworthiness applications owing to their significant energy absorption ability.
Growing inequality in systems showing Zipf’s law
Authors: De Marzo Giordano , Attili Federico , Pietronero Luciano
Published: March 2023

A central problem in economics and statistics is the assessment of income or wealth inequality starting from empirical data. Here we focus on the behavior of Gini index, one of the most used inequality measures, in presence of Zipf’s law, a situation which occurs in many complex financial and economical systems. First, we show that the application of asymptotic formulas to finite size systems always leads to an overestimation of inequality. We thus compute finite size corrections and we show that depending on Zipf’s exponent two distinct regimes can be observed: low inequality, where Gini index is less than one and maximal inequality, where Gini index asymptotically tends to its maximal value one. In both cases, the inequality of an expanding system slowly increases just as effect of growth, with a scaling never faster than the inverse of the size. We test our computations on two real systems, US cities and the cryptocurrency market, observing in both cases an increase of inequality that is completely explained by Zipf’s law and the systems expanding. This shows that in growing complex systems finite size effects must be considered in order to properly assess if inequality is increasing due to natural growth processes or if it is produced by a change in the economical structure of the systems. Finally we discuss how such effects must be carefully considered when analyzing survey data.
Tundra cryogenic land surface processes and CO2–C balance in sub-Arctic alpine environment withstand winter and spring warming
Authors: Väisänen Maria , Klaminder Jonatan , Ylänne Henni , Teuber Laurenz , Dorrepaal Ellen , Krab Eveline J
Published: March 2023

Cryogenic land surface processes (CLSPs), such as cryoturbation, are currently active in landscapes covering 25% of our planet where they dictate key functions, such as carbon (C) cycling, and maintain patterned landscape features. While CLSPs are expected to diminish in the near future due to milder winters especially in the southern parts of the Arctic, the shifts in C cycling in these landscapes may be more complex, since climate change can affect C cycling directly but also indirectly via CLSPs. Here, we study the effects of changing winter and spring climate on CLSPs and C cycling in non-sorted circles consisting of barren frost boils and their vegetated rims. We do this by measuring cryoturbation and ecosystem CO2 fluxes repeatedly in alpine subarctic tundra where temperatures during naturally snow covered period have been experimentally increased with snow-trapping fences and temperatures during winter and spring period after snowmelt have been increased with insulating fleeces. Opposite to our hypothesis, warming treatments did not decrease cryoturbation. However, winter warming via deeper snow increased ecosystem C sink during summer by decreasing ecosystem CO2 release in the frost boils and by counterbalancing the negative effects of cryoturbation on plant CO2 uptake in the vegetated rims. Our results suggest that short-term changes in winter and spring climate may not alter cryoturbation and jeopardize the tundra C sink.
An evaluation of intravenous medication preparation times before and after implementation of first-party digital image capture functionality
Authors: Hsia Bernard M , Shelton A Travis , Mara Kristin C , Lim Dennison , Mistri Amish , Ong Kyle , Draper Evan W
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The intravenous (IV) medication compounding workflow has long been associated with preventable medication errors. This has led to the development of technologies designed to enhance the safety of IV compounding workflows. Digital image capture is a component of this technology about which there is relatively limited published literature. This study evaluates image capture implemented within an electronic health record’s existing first-party IV workflow solution.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study was conducted to measure IV preparation times before and after digital imaging implementation. Preparations during 3 periods (preimplementation, ≤1 month post implementation, and >1 month post implementation) were matched for 5 variables. A less stringent analysis with matching for 2 variables, as well as an unmatched analysis, were performed post hoc. An employee survey assessed satisfaction with the digital imaging workflow, and revised orders were reviewed to identify new problems introduced by image capture.

Results

A total of 134,969 IV dispenses were available for analysis. Median preparation time in the preimplementation and >1 month post implementation cohorts was unchanged in the 5-variable matched analysis (6.87 minutes vs 6.58 minutes, P = 0.14) and increased in the 2-variable matched analysis (6.98 minutes vs 7.35 minutes, P < 0.001) and unmatched analysis (6.55 minutes vs 8.02 minutes, P < 0.001). A large majority of survey respondents (92%) felt that image capture improved patient safety. Of the 105 postimplementation preparations identified as requiring revisions by the checking pharmacist, 24 (22.9%) required revisions directly related to camera functionality.

Conclusion

Implementation of digital image capture likely increased preparation times. Most IV room staff felt that image capture increased preparation times and were satisfied with how the technology improved patient safety. Image capture introduced camera-specific issues that led to preparations requiring revisions.
Proximal mediation analysis
Authors: Dukes Oliver , Shpitser Ilya , Tchetgen Tchetgen Eric J
Published: March 2023

A common concern when trying to draw causal inferences from observational data is that the measured covariates are insufficiently rich to account for all sources of confounding. In practice, many of the covariates may only be proxies of the latent confounding mechanism. Recent work has shown that in certain settings where the standard no-unmeasured-confounding assumption fails, proxy variables can be leveraged to identify causal effects. Results currently exist for the total causal effect of an intervention, but little consideration has been given to learning about the direct or indirect pathways of the effect through a mediator variable. In this work, we describe three separate proximal identification results for natural direct and indirect effects in the presence of unmeasured confounding. We then develop a semiparametric framework for inference on natural direct and indirect effects, which leads us to locally efficient, multiply robust estimators.
Species delimitation in a recently diverged species complex of Eryngium (Apiaceae: Saniculoideae) from the Chilean Mediterranean and the Atacama Desert: morphological, environmental and molecular coalescent-based analyses
Authors: Padin Ariana LucíA , Calviño Carolina Isabel
Published: March 2023

The Eryngium anomalum species complex comprises a group of annual herbs that are found in coastal areas of central-northern Chile which diverged during the Quaternary. According to current taxonomy, this complex comprises two distinct species. However, variation in their fruits suggests the presence of a hitherto undetected species. To improve our understanding of speciation processes in the complex, we follow an integrative approach using morphological, geographical, climatic and molecular data. Quantitative morphological, bioclimatic and topographic variables were analysed using uni- and multivariate statistics, and DNA sequence data from plastid and nuclear genomes using phylogenetic and coalescent-based methods. Geographical data were mapped with QGIS. The recognition of three different species in the complex is supported, one of which is new: Eryngium atacamense. These species diverged during the Quaternary in the Chilean Mediterranean and the Atacama Desert and differ in morphology, geographical distribution and climatic niche. They also show strong genetic structure as three independent lineages. Geographically and ecologically divergent habitats, mainly with different degrees of aridity, probably acted as drivers for speciation of three lineages of the E. anomalum complex during the Quaternary in the Chilean Mediterranean bioclimate.
Hypoxia-inducible factor stabilizers: 27 228 patients studied, yet a role still undefined
Authors: Fishbane Steven , Malieckal Deepa A , Ng Ji H
Published: March 2023

With the emergence of hypoxia inducible factor–prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) came the hope that using these oral drugs could improve the treatment of the anemia of kidney disease. In this editorial we discuss the accumulated knowledge on these agents and the clinical context for use.
Machine-learning versus traditional approaches for atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk prognostication in primary prevention cohorts: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Weber , Laranjo Liliana , Klimis Harry , Chiang Jason , Yue Jason , Marschner Simone , Quiroz Juan C , Jorm Louisa , Chow Clara K
Published: March 2023

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction is important for guiding the intensity of therapy in CVD prevention. Whilst current risk prediction algorithms use traditional statistical approaches, machine learning (ML) presents an alternative method that may improve risk prediction accuracy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether ML algorithms demonstrate greater performance compared with traditional risk scores in CVD risk prognostication.

Methods and results

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and SCOPUS Web of Science Core collections were searched for studies comparing ML models to traditional risk scores for CVD risk prediction between the years 2000 and 2021. We included studies that assessed both ML and traditional risk scores in adult (≥18 year old) primary prevention populations. We assessed the risk of bias using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) tool. Only studies that provided a measure of discrimination [i.e. C-statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 16 studies were included in the review and meta-analysis (3302 515 individuals). All study designs were retrospective cohort studies. Out of 16 studies, 3 externally validated their models, and 11 reported calibration metrics. A total of 11 studies demonstrated a high risk of bias. The summary C-statistics (95% CI) of the top-performing ML models and traditional risk scores were 0.773 (95% CI: 0.740–0.806) and 0.759 (95% CI: 0.726–0.792), respectively. The difference in C-statistic was 0.0139 (95% CI: 0.0139–0.140), P < 0.0001.

Conclusion

ML models outperformed traditional risk scores in the discrimination of CVD risk prognostication. Integration of ML algorithms into electronic healthcare systems in primary care could improve identification of patients at high risk of subsequent CVD events and hence increase opportunities for CVD prevention. It is uncertain whether they can be implemented in clinical settings. Future implementation research is needed to examine how ML models may be utilized for primary prevention.

This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020220811).
Non-missense variants ofKCNH2show better outcomes in type 2 long QT syndrome
Authors: Aizawa Takanori , Wada Yuko , Hasegawa Kanae , Huang Hai , Imamura Tomohiko , Gao Jingshan , Kashiwa Asami , Kohjitani Hirohiko , Fukuyama Megumi , Kato Koichi , Kato Eri Toda , Hisamatsu Takashi , Ohno Seiko , Makiyama Takeru , Kimura Takeshi , Horie Minoru
Published: March 2023

Aims

More than one-third of type 2 long QT syndrome (LQT2) patients carry KCNH2 non-missense variants that can result in haploinsufficiency (HI), leading to mechanistic loss-of-function. However, their clinical phenotypes have not been fully investigated. The remaining two-thirds of patients harbour missense variants, and past studies uncovered that most of these variants cause trafficking deficiency, resulting in different functional changes: either HI or dominant-negative (DN) effects. In this study, we examined the impact of altered molecular mechanisms on clinical outcomes in LQT2 patients.

Methods and results

We included 429 LQT2 patients (234 probands) carrying a rare KCNH2 variant from our patient cohort undergoing genetic testing. Non-missense variants showed shorter corrected QT (QTc) and less arrhythmic events (AEs) than missense variants. We found that 40% of missense variants in this study were previously reported as HI or DN. Non-missense and HI-groups had similar phenotypes, while both exhibited shorter QTc and less AEs than the DN-group. Based on previous work, we predicted the functional change of the unreported variants—whether they cause HI or DN via altered functional domains—and stratified them as predicted HI (pHI)- or pDN-group. The pHI-group including non-missense variants exhibited milder phenotypes compared to the pDN-group. Multivariable Cox model showed that the functional change was an independent risk of AEs (P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Stratification based on molecular biological studies enables us to better predict clinical outcomes in the patients with LQT2.
Cryptic genetic variation of expression quantitative trait locus architecture revealed by genetic perturbation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: van Wijk Marijke H , Riksen Joost A G , Elvin Mark , Poulin Gino B , Maulana Muhammad I , Kammenga Jan E , Snoek Basten L , Sterken Mark G
Published: March 2023

Genetic perturbation in different genetic backgrounds can cause a range of phenotypes within a species. These phenotypic differences can be the result of the interaction between the genetic background and the perturbation. Previously, we reported that perturbation of gld-1, an important player in the developmental control of Caenorhabditis elegans, released cryptic genetic variation (CGV) affecting fitness in different genetic backgrounds. Here, we investigated the change in transcriptional architecture. We found 414 genes with a cis-expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) and 991 genes with a trans-eQTL that were specifically found in the gld-1 RNAi treatment. In total, we detected 16 eQTL hotspots, of which 7 were only found in the gld-1 RNAi treatment. Enrichment analysis of those 7 hotspots showed that the regulated genes were associated with neurons and the pharynx. Furthermore, we found evidence of accelerated transcriptional aging in the gld-1 RNAi–treated nematodes. Overall, our results illustrate that studying CGV leads to the discovery of hidden polymorphic regulators.
Hepatitis B virus X protein induces ALDH2 ubiquitin-dependent degradation to enhance alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Zhou Haoxiong , Wan Sizhe , Luo Yujun , Liu Huiling , Jiang Jie , Guo Yunwei , Xiao Jia , Wu Bin
Published: March 2023

Background

Excessive alcohol intake with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection accelerates chronic liver disease progression and patients with HBV infection are more susceptible to alcohol-induced liver disease. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in disease pathogenesis, while its specific role in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) progression has not yet been elucidated. Here, we studied the role of HBx on the development of ALD.

Methods

HBx-transgenic (HBx-Tg) mice and their wild-type littermates were exposed to chronic plus binge alcohol feeding. Primary hepatocytes, cell lines, and human samples were used to investigate the interaction between HBx and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). Lipid profiles in mouse livers and cells were assessed by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results

We identified that HBx significantly aggravated alcohol-induced steatohepatitis, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation in mice. In addition, HBx induced worse lipid profiles with high lysophospholipids generation in alcoholic steatohepatitis, as shown by using lipidomic analysis. Importantly, serum and liver acetaldehyde were markedly higher in alcohol-fed HBx-Tg mice. Acetaldehyde induced lysophospholipids generation through oxidative stress in hepatocytes. Mechanistically, HBx directly bound to mitochondrial ALDH2 to induce its ubiquitin–proteasome degradation, resulting in acetaldehyde accumulation. More importantly, we also identified that patients with HBV infection reduced ALDH2 protein levels in the liver.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that HBx-induced ubiquitin-dependent degradation of mitochondrial ALDH2 aggravates alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Surface waves at a fluid/double-porosity medium interface
Authors: Wang Enjiang , Carcione José M , Ba Jing
Published: March 2023

We consider surface-wave propagations at an interface separating a fluid layer and a double-porosity medium embedded with cracks. The theory is based on a generalization of the Biot-Rayleigh model from spherical cavities to penny-shaped cracks randomly embedded into a host medium, where mesoscopic local fluid flow (LFF) plays an important role. We derive closed-form dispersion equations of surface waves, based on potentials and suitable boundary conditions (BCs), to obtain the phase velocity and attenuation by using numerical iterations. Two special cases are considered by letting the thickness of the fluid (water) layer to be zero and infinity. We obtain pseudo-Rayleigh and pseudo-Stoneley waves for zero and infinite thickness and high-order surface modes for finite nonzero thickness. Numerical examples confirm that the LFF affects the propagation at low frequencies, causing strong attenuation, whereas the impact of BCs is mainly observed at high frequencies, due to the propagation of slow wave modes. The crack density mainly affects the level of attenuation, whereas the aspect ratio the location of the relaxation peak. The fundamental mode undergoes a significant velocity dispersion, whose location moves to low frequencies as the thickness increases. In all cases, there also exist two slower surface modes that resemble the two slow body waves, only present for sealed BCs.
Proxy gene-by-environment Mendelian randomization study of the association between cigarette smoking during pregnancy and offspring mental health
Authors: Sallis Hannah M , Wootton Robyn E , Davey Smith George , Munafò Marcus R
Published: March 2023

Background

Smoking prevalence is higher among individuals with schizophrenia or depression, and previous work has suggested this relationship is causal. However, this may be due to dynastic effects, for example reflecting maternal smoking during pregnancy rather than a direct effect of smoking. We used a proxy gene-by-environment Mendelian randomization approach to investigate whether there is a causal effect of maternal heaviness of smoking during pregnancy on offspring mental health.

Methods

Analyses were performed in the UK Biobank cohort. Individuals with data on smoking status, maternal smoking during pregnancy, a diagnosis of schizophrenia or depression, and genetic data were included. We used participants’ genotype (rs16969968 in the CHRNA5 gene) as a proxy for their mothers’ genotype. Analyses were stratified on participants’ own smoking status in order to estimate the effect of maternal smoking heaviness during pregnancy independently of offspring smoking.

Results

The effect of maternal smoking on offspring schizophrenia was in opposing directions when stratifying on offspring smoking status. Among offspring of never smokers, each additional risk allele for maternal smoking heaviness appeared to have a protective effect [odds ratio (OR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62 to 0.95, P = 0.015], whereas among ever smokers the effect of maternal smoking was in the reverse direction (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.45, P = 0.011, Pinteraction <0.001). There was no clear evidence of an association between maternal smoking heaviness and offspring depression.

Conclusions

These findings do not provide clear evidence of an effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on offspring schizophrenia or depression, which implies that any causal effect of smoking on schizophrenia or depression is direct.
A new second-order low-regularity integrator for the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Cao Jiachuan , Li Buyang , Lin Yanping
Published: March 2023

This article is concerned with the question of whether it is possible to construct a time discretization for the one-dimensional cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation with second-order convergence for initial data with regularity strictly below $H^2$. We address this question with a positive answer by constructing a new second-order low-regularity integrator for the one-dimensional cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The proposed method can have second-order convergence in $L^2$ for initial data in $H^{\frac 53}$, and first-order convergence up to a logarithmic factor for initial data in $H^1$. This significantly relaxes the regularity requirement for second-order approximations to the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, while retaining the by far best convergence order for initial data in $H^1$. Numerical experiments are presented to support the theoretical analysis and to illustrate the performance of the proposed method in approximating nonsmooth solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The numerical results show that, among the many time discretizations, the proposed method is the only one that has second-order convergence in $L^2$ for initial data strictly below $H^2$.
Global Fukaya category I
Authors: Savelyev Yasha
Published: March 2023

Let $Ham (M,\omega ) $ denote the Frechet Lie group of Hamiltonian symplectomorphisms of a monotone symplectic manifold $(M, \omega ) $. Let $NFuk (M, \omega )$ be the $A _{\infty } $-nerve of the Fukaya category $Fuk (M, \omega )$, and let $(|\mathbb {S}|, NFuk (M, \omega ))$ denote the $NFuk (M, \omega )$ component of the “space of $\infty $-categories” $|\mathbb {S}| $. Using Floer-Fukaya theory for a monotone $(M, \omega ),$ we construct a natural up to homotopy classifying map $$ \begin{align*}& BHam (M, \omega) \to (|\mathbb{S}|, NFuk (M, \omega)). \end{align*}$$This verifies one sense of a conjecture of Teleman on existence of action of $Ham (M, \omega )$ on the Fukaya category of $(M, \omega ) $. This construction is very closely related to the theory of the Seidel homomorphism and the quantum characteristic classes of the author, and this map is intended to be the deepest expression of their underlying geometric theory. In part II, the above map is shown to be nontrivial by an explicit calculation. In particular, we arrive at a new non-trivial “quantum” invariant of any smooth manifold, which motives the statement of a kind of “quantum” Novikov conjecture.
Tax Aversion and the Social Contract in Africa
Authors: Robinson James A
Published: March 2023

Despite the low levels of taxation and public good provision in Africa, I provide evidence that a large proportion of Africans prefer lower taxation and fewer public goods. This cannot be explained by standard arguments about problems of accountability, governance or state capacity. Instead, I argue that it reflects deeply seated ideas about the nature of the state and its potential threats to the autonomy of society. I show the historic social contracts in Africa rarely featured taxation and kept the state to limited jurisdictions. These social contracts have in many ways reproduced themselves and influence the way Africa is governed today.
Changing or stopping testosterone-lowering medication in men convicted of sexual offenses: clinical evaluation of the COSTLow-R Scale
Authors: Wolba Jochen , Tozdan Safiye , Briken Peer , Freese Roland , Retz Wolfgang , Turner Daniel
Published: March 2023

Background

Individuals convicted of a sexual offense (ICSO) can be treated with testosterone-lowering medication (TLM) in order to support the control of paraphilic sexual fantasies and to decrease the risk of sexual recidivism. However, due to partly severe side effects, TLM should not be a lifelong treatment.

Aim

The aim of the current study was to further evaluate the Change or Stop Testosterone-Lowering Medication (COSTLow)-R Scale in forensic outpatient aftercare practice. The scale was developed to assist forensic professionals in deciding on whether to change or stop TLM treatment in ICSO.

Methods

The COSTLow-R Scale was applied retrospectively in a forensic-psychiatric outpatient institution in Hesse, Germany, on 60 ICSO. TLM was terminated in 24 patients (40%). Moreover, 10 forensic professionals of the institution as well as an experienced working group within the institution focusing on the treatment of ICSO, qualitatively evaluated the COSTLow-R Scale by participating in an open designed survey.

Outcomes

The COSTLow-R Scale ratings as assessed by forensic professionals were collected. In addition, a survey was performed among these professionals about the usefulness of the scale and their practical experiences with it.

Results

A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to ascertain the predictive power of the scale regarding the stopping of TLM. Three items of the COSTLow-R Scale significantly predicted stopping decisions: the possibility of psychotherapy before TLM treatment, psychopathic traits, and a substantial decrease of paraphilic severity. Thus, a decision towards stopping TLM was more likely for patients who showed greater treatment readiness before starting TLM, lower psychopathy scores, and a higher decrease of paraphilic severity. The forensic professionals described the scale as a good and structured tool that displays which aspects are important to consider during TLM treatment decisions.

Clinical Implications

The COSTLow-R Scale provides structure to the decision of whether to change or stop TLM and should thus be implemented in the forensic treatment process of patients with TLM more frequently.

Strengths and Limitations

Although the small sample size limits generalizability of the findings, the present study was conducted directly in a forensic outpatient practice and, therefore, has high external validity and a strong impact on the life and health of patients treated with TLM.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the COSTLow-R Scale can be a useful instrument facilitating the TLM decision-making process by providing a structured compendium of criteria. Further research is still needed to evaluate the scale and to provide additional evidence for the results of the current study.
Diversity and roles of cysteine desulfurases in photosynthetic organisms
Authors: Caubrière Damien , Moseler Anna , Rouhier Nicolas , Couturier Jérémy
Published: March 2023

As sulfur is part of many essential protein cofactors such as iron–sulfur clusters, molybdenum cofactors, or lipoic acid, its mobilization from cysteine represents a fundamental process. The abstraction of the sulfur atom from cysteine is catalysed by highly conserved pyridoxal 5ʹ-phosphate-dependent enzymes called cysteine desulfurases. The desulfuration of cysteine leads to the formation of a persulfide group on a conserved catalytic cysteine and the concomitant release of alanine. Sulfur is then transferred from cysteine desulfurases to different targets. Numerous studies have focused on cysteine desulfurases as sulfur-extracting enzymes for iron–sulfur cluster synthesis in mitochondria and chloroplasts but also for molybdenum cofactor sulfuration in the cytosol. Despite this, knowledge about the involvement of cysteine desulfurases in other pathways is quite rudimentary, particularly in photosynthetic organisms. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the different groups of cysteine desulfurases and their characteristics in terms of primary sequence, protein domain architecture, and subcellular localization. In addition, we review the roles of cysteine desulfurases in different fundamental pathways and highlight the gaps in our knowledge to encourage future work on unresolved issues especially in photosynthetic organisms.
Regulatory mechanisms of sulfur metabolism affecting tolerance and accumulation of toxic trace metals and metalloids in plants
Authors: Sun Sheng-Kai , Chen Jie , Zhao Fang-Jie
Published: March 2023

Soil contamination with trace metals and metalloids can cause toxicity to plants and threaten food safety and human health. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to cope with excess trace metals and metalloids in soils, including chelation and vacuolar sequestration. Sulfur-containing compounds, such as glutathione and phytochelatins, play a crucial role in their detoxification, and sulfur uptake and assimilation are regulated in response to the stress of toxic trace metals and metalloids. This review focuses on the multi-level connections between sulfur homeostasis in plants and responses to such stresses, especially those imposed by arsenic and cadmium. We consider recent progress in understanding the regulation of biosynthesis of glutathione and phytochelatins and of the sensing mechanism of sulfur homeostasis for tolerance of trace metals and metalloids in plants. We also discuss the roles of glutathione and phytochelatins in controlling the accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium in plants, and possible strategies for manipulating sulfur metabolism to limit their accumulation in food crops.
Real-life epidemiology and current outcomes of hospitalized adults with invasive fungal infections
Authors: Monzó-Gallo Patricia , Chumbita Mariana , Lopera Carlos , Aiello Tommaso Francesco , Peyrony Oliver , Bodro Marta , Herrera Sabina , Sempere Abiu , Fernández-Pittol Mariana , Cuesta Genoveva , Simó Silvia , Benegas Mariana , Fortuny Claudia , Mensa Josep , Soriano Alex , Puerta-Alcalde Pedro , Marco Francesc , Garcia-Vidal Carolina
Published: March 2023

We aimed to describe the current epidemiology of both hosts with invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and causative fungi. And, detail outcomes of these infections at 12 weeks in a real-life cohort of hospitalized patients. The study was retrospective and observational to describe IFI diagnosed in a tertiary hospital (February 2017–December 2021). We included all consecutive patients meeting criteria for proven or probable IFI according to EORTC-MSG and other criteria. A total of 367 IFIs were diagnosed. 11.7% were breakthrough infections, and 56.4% were diagnosed in the intensive care unit. Corticosteroid use (41.4%) and prior viral infection (31.3%) were the most common risk factors for IFI. Lymphoma and pneumocystis pneumonia were the most common baseline and fungal diseases. Only 12% of IFI occurred in patients with neutropenia. Fungal cultures were the most important diagnostic tests (85.8%). The most frequent IFIs were candidemia (42.2%) and invasive aspergillosis (26.7%). Azole-resistant Candida strains and non-fumigatus Aspergillus infections represented 36.1% and 44.5% of the cases, respectively. Pneumocystosis (16.9%), cryptococcosis (4.6%), and mucormycosis (2.7%) were also frequent, as well as mixed infections (3.4%). Rare fungi accounted for 9.5% of infections. Overall, IFI mortality at 12 weeks was 32.2%; higher rates were observed for Mucorales (55.6%), Fusarium (50%), and mixed infections (60%). We documented emerging changes in both hosts and real-life IFI epidemiology. Physicians should be aware of these changes to suspect infections and be aggressive in diagnoses and treatments. Currently, outcomes for such clinical scenarios remain extremely poor.
Tidally excited gravity waves in the cores of solar-type stars: resonances and critical-layer formation
Authors: Guo Zhao , Ogilvie Gordon I , Barker Adrian J
Published: March 2023

We simulate the propagation and dissipation of tidally induced non-linear gravity waves in the cores of solar-type stars. We perform hydrodynamical simulations of a previously developed Boussinesq model using a spectral-element code to study the stellar core as a wave cavity that is periodically forced at the outer boundary with a given azimuthal wavenumber and an adjustable frequency. For low-amplitude forcing, the system exhibits resonances with standing g modes at particular frequencies, corresponding to a situation in which the tidal torque is highly frequency-dependent. For high-amplitude forcing, the excited waves break promptly near the centre and spin up the core so that subsequent waves are absorbed in an expanding critical layer (CL), as found in previous work, leading to a tidal torque with a smooth frequency-dependence. For intermediate-amplitude forcing, we find that linear damping of the waves gradually spins up the core such that the resonance condition can be altered drastically. The system can evolve towards or away from g-mode resonances, depending on the difference between the forcing frequency and the closest eigenfrequency. Eventually, a CL forms and absorbs the incoming waves, leading to a situation similar to the high-amplitude case in which the waves break promptly. We study the dependence of this process on the forcing amplitude and frequency, as well as on the diffusion coefficients. We emphasize that the small Prandtl number in the centre of solar-like stars facilitates the development of a differentially rotating core owing to the non-linear feedback of waves. Our simulations and analysis reveal that this important mechanism may drastically change the phase of gravity waves and thus the classical picture of resonance locking in solar-type stars needs to be revised.
Searching for bounce signature in the early universe from current and future large-scale structure surveys
Authors: Li Shang , Dai Ji-Ping , Tan Xiu-Hui , Yan Yang-Jie , Xia Jun-Qing
Published: March 2023

The bounce scenario has been an interesting research topic in cosmology, due to its ability to resolve both the singularity problem and the trans-Planckian issue, which are left from the standard inflationary theory. In previous works, we considered an inflationary cosmology with a preceding non-singular bounce and found that this model could suppress the primordial power spectrum at large scales and leave the signature on the angular power spectra of cosmic microwave background (CMB). In this work, we extend this analysis to the large-scale structure (LSS) measurements. Firstly, we consider the angular power spectrum of current LSS data sets, such as the 2MPZ, SDSS-DR12, and DES Y3 galaxy surveys at low redshifts and the NVSS radio survey at high redshifts, and do not obtain good constraint on the model parameters, due to the precision limitation at large scales. When we include the Planck CMB measurements, the constraints become a little bit better: the amplitude Ar = 0.8 ± 0.2 and the slope ${\rm log_{10}}(k_B)=-2.6^{+0.3}_{-1.0}$ at 68 per cent confidence level. In order to evaluate the constraining ability of future LSS surveys, we forecast the clustering measurements, such as the galaxy angular power spectrum and the galaxy lensing shear power spectrum, based on the China Space Station Telescope photometric survey. We find that the standard deviations of model parameters will be significantly shrunk, ΔAr = 0.1 and Δlog10(kB) = 0.1, due to the high precision measurements. Finally, we consider the bounce feature and the primordial non-Gaussianity from inflation theory simultaneously and find that in the bounce inflationary model the limit on fNL will be weaker than that obtained in the standard inflationary model, due to the strong degeneracy among parameters.
On the gravitational lensing interpretation of three gravitational wave detections in the mass gap by LIGO and Virgo
Authors: Bianconi Matteo , Smith Graham P , Nicholl Matt , Ryczanowski Dan , Richard Johan , Jauzac Mathilde , Massey Richard , Robertson Andrew , Sharon Keren , Ridley Evan
Published: March 2023

We search for gravitational wave (GW) events from LIGO-Virgo’s third run that may have been affected by gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing delays the arrival of GWs, and alters their amplitude – thus biasing the inferred progenitor masses. This would provide a physically well-understood interpretation of GW detections in the ‘mass gap’ between neutron stars and black holes, as gravitationally lensed binary neutron star (BNS) mergers. We selected three GW detections in LIGO-Virgo’s third run for which the probability of at least one of the constituent compact objects being in the mass gap was reported as high with low latency – i.e. candidate lensed BNS mergers. Our observations of powerful strong lensing clusters located adjacent to the peak of their sky localization error maps reached a sensitivity $\rm AB\simeq 25.5$ in the z′ band with the GMOS instruments on the Gemini telescopes, and detected no candidate lensed optical counterparts. We combine recent kilonova light-curve models with recent predictions of the lensed BNS population and the properties of the objects that we followed up to show that realistic optical counterparts were detectable in our observations. Further detailed analysis of two of the candidates suggests that they are a plausible pair of images of the same low-mass binary black hole merger, lensed by a local galaxy or small group of galaxies. This further underlines that access to accurate mass information with low latency would improve the efficiency of candidate lensed BNS selection.
Global Dynamics of Porcine Enteric Coronavirus PEDV Epidemiology, Evolution, and Transmission
Authors: Zhang Hao , Zou Chuangchao , Peng Ouyang , Ashraf Usama , Xu Qiuping , Gong Lang , Fan Baochao , Zhang Yun , Xu Zhichao , Xue Chunyi , Wei Xiaona , Zhou Qingfeng , Tian Xiaoyan , Shen Hanqin , Li Bin , Zhang Xiangbin , Cao Yongchang
Published: March 2023

With a possible origin from bats, the alphacoronavirus Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes significant hazards and widespread epidemics in the swine population. However, the ecology, evolution, and spread of PEDV are still unclear. Here, from 149,869 fecal and intestinal tissue samples of pigs collected in an 11-year survey, we identified PEDV as the most dominant virus in diarrheal animals. Global whole genomic and evolutionary analyses of 672 PEDV strains revealed the fast-evolving PEDV genotype 2 (G2) strains as the main epidemic viruses worldwide, which seems to correlate with the use of G2-targeting vaccines. The evolving pattern of the G2 viruses presents geographic bias as they evolve tachytely in South Korea but undergo the highest recombination in China. Therefore, we clustered six PEDV haplotypes in China, whereas South Korea held five haplotypes, including a unique haplotype G. In addition, an assessment of the spatiotemporal spread route of PEDV indicates Germany and Japan as the primary hubs for PEDV dissemination in Europe and Asia, respectively. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the epidemiology, evolution, and transmission of PEDV, and thus may lay a foundation for the prevention and control of PEDV and other coronaviruses.