bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Honeydew production by the giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its effect on foraging yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Authors: Martínez Andrés S. , Villacide José M. , Buteler Micaela , Serra María Noel , Masciocchi Maité
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

Understanding the factors that promote the success of invasive species is important for managing biological invasions. Interactions between invasives and other species (e.g. competitors, pathogens, or predators), could favor or limit their success. In recent decades, yellowjacket wasps, including Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris, have successfully established in Patagonia. Additionally, the invasive willow Salix fragilis has invaded areas next to watercourses, which in turn are typically colonized by the giant willow aphid (GWA, Tuberolagnus salignus), an additional species characterized as a successful invader in many regions worldwide. Aphid exudate (honeydew) has been reported to be used as a carbohydrate source by social wasps. The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the infestation pattern of the GWA in north‐western Patagonia, its effect on exudate availability and its relationship with yellowjacket foraging patterns. The study was conducted under the working hypothesis that the increase in the size of GWA colonies and resulting honeydew production, will fuel an increase in local Vespula spp. populations.

RESULTS

We found that the aphid honeydew is produced in relatively high amounts in the region (estimated at 1517  139 kg/ha/season), with strong indications that it is used by yellowjackets because of the significantly higher abundance levels of yellowjackets foraging on honeydew compared to nearby areas.

CONCLUSION

Given its effect on yellowjacket foraging behavior, the interaction of these three invasive species, willows, GWA and yellowjackets, needs to receive special attention to develop future environmentally‐sound mitigation tools of these nuisance pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Local reactivity descriptors of the important atoms in chelotropic reactions provide insight into their global variants along the reaction path
Authors: Sánchez‐Márquez Jesús , Mondal Himangshu , Patra Shanti Gopal , Morales‐Bayuelo Alejandro , Chattaraj Pratim Kumar
Published: March 2023

Chelotropic reactions are widely used in organic synthesis. These reactions are of the pericyclic type where a π bond and a lone pair are transformed into a pair of sigma bonds; with both sigma bonds added to the same atom. This work presents an analysis of several representative chelotropic reactions. To study the reaction path, we have divided it into two parts, from the reactants to the transition state and from the transition state to the products which has allowed us to compare the behavior of the reactants in these two ranges of the path. To perform the analysis, global reactivity descriptors based on the conceptual‐density functional theory (DFT), such as electrophilicity and global softness, have been calculated. To analyze these descriptors, the corresponding local descriptors have been used. A model based on Sanderson's principle (electronegativity equalization principle), developed previously, has been used to calculate the local reactivity descriptors (atomic). The statistical methodology of multiple regression analysis has been used to determine which local variables are the most relevant for the global parameter under study (softness, and electrophilicity), also the principal component analysis has been used as a guide to estimate the number of variables to take into account in the analysis, finally this has led us to important correlations between global and local parameters which has allowed us to analyze the reactions of the study. Transition states of the reactions are aromatic as obtained from the nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) and gauge including magnetically induced ring current (GIMIC) analysis.
Polysaccharide Nanofiber‐Stabilized Pickering Emulsion Microparticles Induce Pyroptotic Cell Death in Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells
Authors: Li Qi , Hatakeyama Mayumi , Kitaoka Takuya
Published: March 2023

The intracellular uptake and interaction behavior of emulsion microparticles in liver cells critical to host defense and inflammation is significant to understanding their potential cytotoxicity and biomedical applications. In this study, the cell death responses of fibroblastic, hepatocyte, and Kupffer cells (KCs) induced by four types of emulsion particles that are stabilized by polysaccharide nanofibers (cellulose or chitin), an inorganic nanoparticle (β‐tricalcium phosphate), or surfactants are compared. Pickering emulsion (PE) microparticles stabilized by polysaccharide nanofibers or inorganic nanoparticles have a droplet size of 1–3 µm, while the surfactant‐stabilized emulsion has a diameter of ≈190 nm. Polysaccharide nanofiber‐stabilized PEs (PPEs) markedly induce lactate dehydrogenase release in all cell types. Additionally, characteristic pyroptotic cell death, which is accompanied by cell swelling, membrane blebbing, and caspase‐1 activation, occurs in hepatocytes and KCs. These PE microparticles are co‐cultured with lipopolysaccharide‐primed KCs associated with cytokine interleukin‐1β release, and the PPEs demonstrate biological activity as a mediator of the inflammation response. Well‐designed PPE microparticles induce pyroptosis of liver cells, which may provide new insight into regulating inflammation‐related diseases for designing potent anticancer drugs and vaccine adjuvants.
Allosteric Nucleic Acid Enzyme: A Versatile Stimuli‐Responsive Tool for Molecular Computing and Biosensing Nanodevices
Authors: Hu Yuqiang , Li Changjiang , Hu Minghao , Zhang Zhen , Fu Ruolan , Tang Xinjing , Wu Tongbo
Published: March 2023

Allostery is a naturally occurring mechanism in which effector binding induces the modulation and fine control of a related biomolecule function. Deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme) with catalytic activity and substrate recognition ability is ideal to be regulated by allosteric strategies. However, the current regulations frequently confront various obstacles, such as severe activity decay, signal leakage, and limited effectors. In this work, a rational regulation strategy for developing versatile effectors‐responsive allosteric nucleic acid enzyme (ANAzyme) by introducing an allosteric domain in response to diverse effectors is established. The enzyme‐like activity of this re‐engineered ANAzyme can be modulated in a more predictable and fine way compared with the previous DNAzyme regulation strategies. Based on the allosteric strategy, the construction of allosterically coregulatory nanodevices and a series of basic logic gates and logic circuits are achieved, demonstrating that the proposed ANAzyme‐regulated strategy showed great potential in molecular computing. Given these facts, the rational design of ANAzyme with the allosteric domain presented here can expand the available toolbox to develop a variety of stimuli‐responsive allosteric DNA materials, including molecular machines, computing systems, biosensing platforms, and gene‐silencing tools.
Dielectric elastomer artificial muscle materials advancement and soft robotic applications
Authors: Guo Yuxuan , Qin Qicong , Han Ziqing , Plamthottam Roshan , Possinger Mason , Pei Qibing
Published: March 2023

Conventional robotic systems are built with rigid materials to deal with large forces and predetermined processes. Soft robotics, however, is an emerging field seeking to develop adaptable robots that can perform tasks in unpredictable environments and biocompatible devices that close the gap between humans and machines. Dielectric elastomers (DEs) have emerged as a soft actuation technology that imitates the properties and performance of natural muscles, making them an attractive material choice for soft robotics. However, conventional DE materials suffer from electromechanical instability (EMI), which reduces their performance and limits their applications in soft robotics. This review discusses key innovations in DE artificial muscles from a material standpoint, followed by a survey on their representative demonstrations of soft robotics. Specifically, we introduce modifications of DE materials that enable large strains, fast responses, and high energy densities by suppressing EMI. Additionally, we examine materials that allow variable stiffness and self‐healing abilities in DE actuators. Finally, we review dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) applications in soft robotics in four categories, including automation, manipulation, locomotion, and human interaction.
Ultra‐Fast In Situ Reconstructed Nickel (Oxy)Hydroxide Nanoparticle Crosslinked Structure for Super‐Efficient Alkaline Water Electrolysis by Sacrificing Template Strategy
Authors: Ji Pengxia , Zheng Deyong , Jin Huihui , Chen Ding , Luo Xu , Yang Jinlong , Wang Zhenbo , Mu Shichun
Published: March 2023

The rapid construction of water electrolysis catalysts by a sacrificing template in an electrochemical environment is rarely a concern. Herein, using a fluorine‐rich (F‐rich) nickel fluoride (NiF2) grown on nickel foam (NF) as a sacrificial template, a highly effective alkaline catalyst is designed. In terms of in situ reassembling, the NiF2 template can be transformed into nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively, after only 100 CV cycles, on account of the rapid ion exchange of F− and OH− in an electrochemical environment. Due to the presence of nanocatalytic units, abundant lattice defects, and porous large specific surface structures caused by the reconstruction, it only takes low overpotentials of 57 mV for HER and 228 mV for OER (@10 mA cm−2), with outstanding stability up to 15 d (@100 mA cm−2). Consequently, only a low cell voltage of 1.53 V (@10 mA cm−2) is needed for overall water splitting, superior to commercial noble metal catalysts as benchmarks. Meanwhile, it can output stable current densities of 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2 approaching 10 d under constant cell voltages of 1.55, 2.0, and 2.5 V, respectively.
The status of education for integrative medicine in Japanese medical universities with special reference to Kampo medicines
Authors: Chung Hui‐Yu , Yuasa Motoki , Chen Fu‐Shih , Yukawa Keiko , Motoo Yoshiharu , Arai Ichiro
Published: March 2023

Aim

The Japanese government defined integrative/integrated medicine (IM) as “medical practice led by physicians, cooperating with other specialists.” Therefore, the basics of comprehensive medical education should be provided in medical universities. We investigated the situation of IM with special reference to Kampo medicines in the national core curricula, national examination standards and the syllabuses for lectures published on the universities' websites.

Methods

In the published documents regarding the core curriculum, national examination standards and syllabuses in the academic year 2018, we analyzed whether they include IM.

Results

Four kinds of universities offered “Kampo medicine” (Japanese traditional herbal medicine) as their core curriculum. Pharmaceutical universities included “health food”, and nursing universities included “alternative medicine”. National examination standards for dentists and pharmacists included Kampo medicine, but those for doctors and nurses did not. In the syllabuses of medical universities, 85% included Kampo medicine, but the percentage for IMs was low. The situation was similar in dental universities. All pharmaceutical universities included Kampo medicines and health foods; other IMs were low. The number for all IMs in nursing universities was lower than half.

Conclusion

Based on the definition of IM in this paper, we investigated the actual situation of IM education including Kampo in all universities. There were considerable differences between all the faculties. For medical doctor, the Kampo medicines listed in the model core curriculum that are not included in the national examination standard should be rectified. For pharmacists, it is important to deepen the educational contents in this field.
WTAP contributes to the tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma via modulating ALB in an m6A‐dependent manner
Authors: Pan Qiyong , Lou Jigang , Yan Penghui , Kang Xiaobiao , Li Pengfei , Huang Zongqiang
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a prevalent bone malignancy mainly occurred in adolescents. WTAP/N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification is confirmed to be involved in OS progression. This study is conducted to bring some novel insights to the action mechanism of WTAP/m6A under the hidden pathogenesis of OS.

Methods

qRT‐PCR was executed to evaluate the expression levels of WTAP and ALB. ALB protein level in OS cells was measured by western blotting. The content of m6A in total RNA was assessed by m6A quantification assay. Me‐RIP, dual luciferase reporter, and mRNA stability assays confirmed the target relationship of WTAP with ALB. With the use of the wound healing, CCK‐8, and transwell invasion assays, the functional relationship between WTAP and ALB in OS cells was confirmed. The influences of WTAP on tumor growth in vivo were performed in the xenograft model of mouse.

Results

WTAP was increased but ALB was diminished in OS tissues and/or cell lines. WTAP modulated ALB expression in an m6A‐dependent manner. Silencing of WTAP retarded the development of OS via inhibiting cell viability, migration, invasion, and tumor growth. Knockdown of ALB exerted the opposite effects on OS progression. Additionally, ALB deficiency partially eliminated the inhibiting effects of WTAP silencing on cellular processes in OS.

Conclusions

This is the first report to clarify the interaction of WTAP/m6A with ALB in OS progression. These experimental data to some extent broadened the horizons of WTAP/m6A in the development of OS.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate‐induced apoptosis in kidney cells by triggering the NOX4/ROS/JNK axis and antagonism of cannabidiol
Authors: Du Yongzhen , Xu Tong , Luo Dongliu , Wang Yixuan , Yin Hang , Liu Chengguo , Li Shu
Published: March 2023

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can cause severe nephrotoxicity in mammals. Cannabinol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid obtained from the cannabis plant, has attracted attention in recent years for its excellent antioxidant properties. NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) has an important effect in supporting normal renal physiological function. The potential mechanisms of PFOS nephrotoxicity and whether CBD can prevent renal damage caused by PFOS remain unclear. This work aimed to study the mechanisms of PFOS‐induced kidney damage and the protective role of CBD against PFOS‐induced kidney damage. We demonstrated that PFOS led to renal insufficiency and structural damage in mice, induced overexpression of NOX4 and the onset of oxidative stress, and activated apoptosis of the mitochondrial pathway via the JNK signaling pathway. However, treatment with CBD reversed these changes. For further investigation of the potential mechanism of PFOS‐induced renal cell apoptosis, the expression of NOX4 was inhibited in vitro experiments using Apocynin, an effective NOX4 inhibitor. The outcomes showed that PFOS‐induced ROS production and JNK signaling pathway activation and apoptosis in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells were significantly reduced after inhibition of NOX4. This suggests that PFOS‐induced NOX4 overexpression serves as an upstream event for JNK pathway activation. In conclusion, the findings suggest that PFOS induces apoptosis in renal cells via the NOX4/ROS/JNK pathway. Meanwhile, CBD alleviated PFOS‐induced renal apoptosis through the inhibition of NOX4/ROS/JNK axis activation.
Benchmarking Oxford Nanopore read alignment‐based insertion and deletion detection in crop plant genomes
Authors: Yildiz Gözde , Zanini Silvia F. , Afsharyan Nazanin P. , Obermeier Christian , Snowdon Rod J. , Golicz Agnieszka A.
Published: March 2023

Structural variations (SVs) are larger polymorphisms (> 50 bp in length), which consist of insertions, deletions, inversions, duplications, and translocations. They can have a strong impact on agronomical traits and play an important role in environmental adaptation. The development of long‐read sequencing technologies, including Oxford Nanopore, allows for comprehensive SV discovery and characterization even in complex polyploid crop genomes. However, many of the SV discovery pipeline benchmarks do not include complex plant genome datasets. In this study, we benchmarked insertion and deletion detection by popular long‐read alignment‐based SV detection tools for crop plant genomes. We used real and simulated Oxford Nanopore reads for two crops, allotetraploidBrassica napus(oilseed rape) and diploidSolanum lycopersicum(tomato), and evaluated several read aligners and SV callers across 5×, 10×, and 20× coverages typically used in re‐sequencing studies. We further validated our findings using maize and soybean datasets. Our benchmarks provide a useful guide for designing Oxford Nanopore re‐sequencing projects and SV discovery pipelines for crop plants.
CBT‐Cys click reaction for optical bioimaging in vivo
Authors: Hu Xinyi , Tang Runqun , Bai Lin , Liu Songqin , Liang Gaolin , Sun Xianbao
Published: March 2023

Derived from the D‐luciferin regeneration pathway in firefly body, the click condensation reaction between 2‐cyanobenzothiazole (CBT) and D‐cysteine (Cys) (CBT‐Cys click reaction) possesses unique advantages, including superior biocompatibility, high second order reaction rate, and metal‐free mild conditions, emerging as a powerful bioorthogonal tool for a variety of chemical biological applications. Moreover, owing to its programmable controllability (e.g., pH, reduction, or enzyme), CBT‐Cys click reaction is exploited to fabricate stimuli‐activatable imaging probes with self‐assembling behaviors in physiological context. At stimuli‐rich pathological lesions of interest, these probes undergo CBT‐Cys click reaction to form cyclic dimers/oligomers or linear polymers, and further self‐assemble into nanostructures. The in situ formed nanostructures promote the selective accumulation and retention of imaging agent cargos at pathological lesions, thus enabling precise and enhanced in vivo imaging of diseases (especially tumors). To address the significance and recent breakthroughs of smart CBT‐Cys probes for enhanced optical imaging of tumors/other diseases, we herein propose this mini‐review, in which advances (particularly in recent 5 years) and potential challenges (or chances) in this field are emphasized.
Interrogating the performance and microbial ecology of an enhanced biological phosphorus removal/post‐anoxic denitrification process at bench and pilot scales
Authors: Coats Erik R. , Appel Felicity J. , Guho Nick , Brinkman Cynthia K. , Mellin Jason
Published: March 2023

Research focused on interrogating post‐anoxic enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) at bench and pilot scales. Average bench‐scale effluent ranged from 0.33 to 1.4 mgP/L, 0.35 to 3.7 mgNH3‐N/L, and 1.1 to 3.9 mgNOx‐N/L. Comparatively, the pilot achieved effluent (50th percentile/average) of 0.13/0.2 mgP/L, 9.7/8.2 mgNH3‐N/L, and 0.38/3.3 mgNOx‐N/L under dynamic influent and environmental conditions. For EBPR process monitoring, P:C ratio data indicated that 0.2–0.4 molP/molC will result in stable EBPR; relatedly, a target design influent volatile fatty acid (VFA):P ratio would exceed 15 mgCOD/mgP. Post‐anoxic EBPR was enriched for Nitrobacter spp. at 1.70%–20.27%, with Parcubacteria also dominating; the former is putatively associated with nitritation and the latter is a putative fermenting heterotrophic organism. Post‐anoxic specific denitrification rates (SDNRs) (20°C) ranged from 0.70 to 3.10 mgN/gVSS/h; there was a strong correlation (R2 = 0.94) between the SDNR and %Parcubacteria for systems operated at a 20‐day solids residence time (SRT). These results suggest that carbon substrate potentially generated by this putative fermenter may enhance post‐anoxic EBPR.

Practitioner Points

Post‐anoxic EBPR can achieve effluent of <0.2 mgP/L and <12 mgN/L.

The P:C and VFA:P ratios can be predictive for EBPR process monitoring.

Post‐anoxic EBPR was enriched for Nitrobacter spp. over Nitrospira spp. and also for Parcubacteria, which is a putative fermenting heterotrophic organism.

Post‐anoxic specific denitrification rates (20°C) ranged from 0.70 to 3.10 mgN/gVSS/h.

BLASTn analysis of 16S rDNA PAO primer set was shown to be improved to 93.8% for Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis and 73.2%–94.0% for all potential PAOs.
Using injectable fillers for chin and jawline rejuvenation
Authors: Go Beatrice C. , Frost Ariel S. , Friedman Oren
Published: March 2023

Objective

As the population ages, facial plastic providers must remain aware of the treatments to prevent and reverse the external signs of aging. In the mandibular region, skin laxity and soft tissue sagging in the jawline may lead to jowling and chin ptosis along with reduced chin projection. While surgical procedures, including chin implantation, may be performed, nonsurgical procedures are becoming increasingly popular due to their temporary, noninvasive, yet effective methods. This review covers the use of hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly‐l‐lactic acid, and polymethyl methacrylate in the jawline.

Methods

PubMed was searched for data on the mechanism of action, pertinent anatomy, indications, contraindications, technique, and evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of the fillers.

Results

There are a wide variety of fillers available for use in the lower face with unique characteristics and application methods. While the advantages of injectable fillers include relatively affordable cost, minimal patient discomfort, and limited recovery times, taking measures to prevent short‐ and long‐term complications is necessary for optimal results.

Conclusions

Understanding the benefits and limitations of injectable fillers in the jawline can help providers appropriately counsel and treat patients.
Blue Planet Law and Ecological Sustainability in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Cortês António
Published: March 2023

In the twenty-first century, the international community and states face the challenge of reconciling the economic and technological development of our post-industrial societies with the prevention or mitigation of global environmental problems such as climate change, ocean degradation, and biodiversity loss. Nowadays, international environmental law leaves up to the sovereignty of each state most of the measures necessary to prevent pollution, ecosystem degradation, and unsustainable use of natural resources. An important step, together with other international and national efforts, towards the transition to a more globalised and effective environmental law, a Blue Planet Law, will be the approval of the Global Pact for the Environment, which is being discussed at UN level. The Pact, along with other new international environmental conventions, will provide a legal framework that will help promote more effective ecological sustainability and preventive responsibility, considering namely the precautionary principle and intergenerational equity. The development of a Blue Planet Law, a Global Law of the Earth Ecosystem, is as urgent now as Human Rights Law was after the Second World War, and, in the next decade, it will be a crucial element for international and domestic implementation of the Agenda 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Suing States: The Role of Courts in Promoting States’ Responsibility for Climate Change
Authors: Rocha Armando
Published: March 2023

In the era of climate change, decisive action is needed from States. However, it is dismaying to see the lack of ambitious efforts in climate treaty negotiations, which is reflected downstream in the ambiguous nature of non-binding or soft mitigation obligations. In that light, this article argues that courts can be agents of change and pressure States,cum grano salis, to take decisive action. Domestic courts may be better positioned to compel States to adopt stringent mitigation measures, but all courts (international or domestic, general or specialised) maypress for regulationorassess regulation. In both cases, courts are helpful in mapping States’ obligations under international law (including, but not exclusively, the UNFCCC legal framework).
Connected and automated driving: consideration of the local, spatial context and spatial differentiation
Authors: Bruck Emilia M. , Soteropoulos Aggelos
Published: March 2023

The articles in this volume deal with effects on spaces and with control and planning approaches at municipal and regional level. It is essential to distinguish here between the spatial conditions of rural communities and regions and those of urban centres and major cities. Neither rural nor urban areas are homogeneous, but are complex areas with a wide variety of settlement structures, natural spaces and infrastructures, functions and challenges (VCÖ 2019: 9).
Collinear functions for QCD resummations
Authors: Catani Stefano , Dhani Prasanna K.
Published: March 2023

Abstract

The singular behaviour of QCD squared amplitudes in the collinear limit is factorized and controlled by splitting kernels with a process-independent structure. We use these kernels to define collinear functions that can be used in QCD resummation formulae of hard-scattering observables. Different collinear functions are obtained by integrating the splitting kernels over different phase-space regions that depend on the hard-scattering observables of interest. The collinear functions depend on an auxiliary vector nμ that can be either light-like (n2 = 0) or time-like (n2> 0). In the case of transverse-momentum dependent (TMD) collinear functions, we show that the use of a time-like auxiliary vector avoids the rapidity divergences, which are instead present if n2 = 0. The perturbative computation of the collinear functions lead to infrared (IR) divergences that can be properly factorized with respect to IR finite functions that embody the logarithmically-enhanced collinear contributions to hard-scattering cross sections. We evaluate various collinear functions and their nμ dependence at $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(αS). We compute the azimuthal-correlation component of the TMD collinear functions at $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_{\textrm{S}}^2\right) $$
O

α
S
2

, and we present the results of the $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_{\textrm{S}}^2\right) $$
O

α
S
2

contribution of linearly-polarized gluons to transverse-momentum resummation formulae. Beyond $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_{\textrm{S}}^2\right) $$
O

α
S
2

the collinear functions of initial-state colliding partons are process dependent, as a consequence of the violation of strict collinear factorization of QCD squared amplitudes.
Recurrence relation for instanton partition function in SU(N) gauge theory
Authors: Sysoeva Ekaterina , Bykov Aleksei
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We derive a residue formula and as a consequence a recurrence relation for the instanton partition function in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supersymmetric theory on ℂ2 with SU(N) gauge group.

The particular cases of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge groups were considered in the literature before. The recurrence relation with SU(2) gauge group is long well known and was found as the Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa (AGT) counterpart of the Zamolodchikov relation for the Virasoro conformal blocks. In the SU(3) case a residue formula for the term with the minimal number of instantons was found and basing on it a recurrence relation was conjectured.

We give a complete proof of the residue formula in all instanton orders in presence of any number of matter hypermultiplets in the adjoint and fundamental representations. The recurrence relation however describes only theories with not too much matter hypermultiplets so that the behaviour at infinity is moderate. The guideline of the proof is an algebro-geometric interpretation of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supersymmetric gauge theory partition function in terms of the framed torsion-free sheaves. Lead by this interpretation we formulate a refined version of the residue formula and prove it by direct algebraic manipulations.
Multi-variable integration with a neural network
Authors: Maître D. , Santos-Mateos R.
Published: March 2023

Abstract

In this article we present a method for automatic integration of parametric integrals over the unit hypercube using a neural network. The method fits a neural network to the primitive of the integrand using a loss function designed to minimize the difference between multiple derivatives of the network and the function to be integrated. We apply this method to two example integrals resulting from the sector decomposition of a one-loop and two-loop scalar integrals. Our method can achieve per-mil and percent accuracy for these integrals over a range of invariant values. Once the neural network is fitted, the evaluation of the integral is between 40 and 125 times faster than the usual numerical integration method for our examples, and we expect the speed gain to increase with the complexity of the integrand.
Electroweak precision tests of composite Higgs models
Authors: Frandsen Mads T. , Rosenlyst Martin
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We study constraints on Composite Higgs models with fermion partial compositeness from electroweak precision measurements, including the 2022 W-boson mass result from the CDF collaboration. We focus on models where the Composite Higgs sector arises from underlying four-dimensional strongly interacting gauge theories with fermions, and where the SM fermions obtain their mass via linear mixing terms between the fermions and the composite sector — the so-called fermion partial compositeness scenario. In general, the Composite Higgs sector leads to a small and positive S parameter, and a negative T parameter, but the fermion partial compositeness sector results in an overall positive T parameter in a large part of parameter space. We, therefore, find good agreement between the full composite models and the current electroweak precision measurement bounds on S and T from LEP and CDF, including the offset and correlation of S, T with respect to the SM predictions.
Heron’s Legacy: An Example of Ancient Calculations Applied to Roman Imperial Architecture
Authors: Roca Alicia , Juan-Vidal Francisco , Cipriani Luca , Fantini Filippo
Published: March 2023

Heron of Alexandria is a well-known author in the field of mathematics and engineering, but his work is of great interest for understanding ancient construction problems related to architecture. The formulas translated and commented on by Heiberg (1914a, b) are analyzed through geometric diagrams and applied to famous Roman domed architecture.
Mechanical characterization and sustainability assessment of recycled EVA for footwears
Authors: Bianchi Iacopo , Forcellese Archimede , Simoncini Michela , Vita Alessio
Published: March 2023

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a thermoplastic material largely used in the footwear industry. Indeed, it is employed to produce outsoles and midsoles with high shock absorption. For producing these parts of the shoes, EVA is injected into a heated mold. During this process, gates and runners, which are necessary to allow a correct infill of the mold, are generated and they are treated as scraps and disposed in landfill. In this paper, a method for recovering pre-vulcanized EVA waste is presented and the possibility of developing a recycled product is investigated. EVA waste was shredded and dispersed into virgin EVA with a weight content of 10%. This mixture was employed in an injection molding process to produce samples for characterizing tensile, compression, and abrasion resistances and compare them with those of virgin EVA. At the same time, the environmental sustainability of the recovery process was evaluated through the standard methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by comparing the production of recovered outsoles with traditional virgin ones. The LCA was paired with a Life Cycle Costing analysis to quantify possible economic benefits of the innovative system. Even though the resistances are quite lower than the virgin EVA, the recycled one demonstrates remarkable benefits in terms of environmental and cost sustainability, paving the way for a zero-waste system to produce outsoles and, more in general, EVA components.
Material characteristics of WO3/Bi2O3 substitution on the thermal, structural, and electrical properties of lithium calcium borate glasses
Authors: Ali A. A. , Fathi Ahlam M. , Ibrahim S.
Published: March 2023

Glasses belonging to the xWO3-(30-x) Bi2O3–15Li2O–15CaO–40B2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) have been obtained by melt-quenching technique. With increasing the concentration of WO3, an increase in the measured glass transition temperature $${T}_{\mathrm{g}}$$

T
g

and crystallization temperature $${T}_{\mathrm{c}}$$

T
c

are observed, while the values of the thermal expansion coefficient decrease. Due to the unpaired pentavalent ions, the electron spin resonance spectra of glasses doped with $${\mathrm{WO}}_{3}$$

WO
3

them show unique signals. The results of Raman spectra show that the glass network is mainly constituted by [$${\mathrm{BiO}}_{6}$$

BiO
6

], [$${\mathrm{BO}}_{3}$$

BO
3

], [$${\mathrm{BO}}_{4}$$

BO
4

], and [$${\mathrm{WO}}_{4}$$

WO
4

] basic structural units. The activation energies for all studied samples were observed to range from 0.02 to 0.08 eV, and the dielectric constant and the conductivities of the investigated glasses increased with increasing temperature. The electrical behavior of the prepared samples revealed their semiconducting character. The prepared samples are being investigated as potential semiconductor material candidates for use in electronic devices.
Chitinase-3-like 1-protein in CSF: a novel biomarker for progression in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Talaat Foraysa , Abdelatty Sahar , Ragaie Christine , Dahshan Ahmed
Published: March 2023

Background

Chitinase -3-like 1-protein (CHI3L1) is a glycoside secreted by monocytes, microglia, and activated astrocytes. Its distribution in inflammatory lesions denotes its role in astrocytic response to modulate CNS inflammation. In multiple sclerosis (MS), CHI3L1 levels have been found to be influenced by disease severity, activity, and progression. We aimed to measure CSF level of CHI3L1 in patients with MS and correlate its level with disability measures for a possible role as a biomarker for disease progression.

Methods

Fifty-two MS patients (30 relapsing-remitting MS and 22 progressive MS) and thirty-five age and sex-matched healthy controls were included. They all underwent full clinical assessment (including disability and cognitive scales), radiological assessment, and CSF level of CHI3L1.

Results

Patients with MS had higher CSF level of CHI3L1 than controls. Patients with progressive forms had higher levels than relapsing forms. There were positive correlations between disease duration, number of attacks, total EDSS, and CSF level of CHI3L1. Patients who had higher level of CSF CHI3L1 showed worse performance in MMSE and BICAMS and more lesions in T2 MRI brain. A cut off value of 154 ng/mL was found between patients with RRMS and PMS patients.

Conclusion

CHI3L1 can be considered as a biomarker of disease progression. CHI3L1 level increases in progressive MS more than RRMS. Also, high CSF level of CHI3L1 was associated with more disability including motor, cognitive, and radiological aspects.
A Monte Carlo simulation-based simulated annealing algorithm for predicting the minimum staffing requirement at a blood donor centre
Authors: Wellalage Achini , Fackrell Mark , Zhang Lele
Published: March 2023

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood collects blood from non-remunerated voluntary donors. Thus, it is important to ensure that donors experience good service so they will return to donate blood again. Donor experience is adversely influenced by prolonged waiting times, but they may be reduced by determining the staffing demand over the day. In this paper, we propose a Monte-Carlo simulation-based simulated annealing algorithm that seeks the minimum number of employees to meet demand over a single day while ensuring the system’s predicted average waiting time does not exceed a specified threshold. To enhance the efficiency of our simulated annealing algorithm, we develop a novel neighbourhood search method based on the staff occupancy levels. We use data from four different Australian Red Cross Lifeblood donor centres, demonstrating that our methodology can be adapted to any donor centre to determine the minimum staffing demand. Since these staffing demands ensure the donor waiting time target is met for each donor centre, they have the potential to improve both donor and staff satisfaction as well as streamline the donor flow.
Probabilistic seismic risk assessment framework: case study Adapazari, Turkey
Authors: Sianko Ilya , Ozdemir Zuhal , Hajirasouliha Iman , Pilakoutas Kypros
Published: March 2023

While earthquakes can have a devastating impact on the economic growth and social welfare of earthquake prone regions, probabilistic seismic risk assessment can be employed to assess and mitigate such risks from future destructive events. In a previous study (Sianko et al. in Bull Earthq Eng 18:2523–2555, 2020), a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) tool based on the Monte-Carlo approach, was developed to predict the seismic hazard for high seismicity areas. In this study, a seismic risk assessment framework is developed incorporating the previously developed PSHA tool, with vulnerability functions based on various damage criteria, exposures and casualty models. Epistemic uncertainty is addressed using logic trees and distribution functions. The developed seismic risk assessment framework can estimate human and economic losses for particular return periods using an event-based stochastic procedure. The framework is applied to a case study area, the city of Adapazari in Turkey. Seismic risk assessment is carried out for different return periods to identify the most vulnerable areas of the city. The verification of the developed seismic risk framework is performed by comparing the predicted seismic losses to those observed during the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake that severely affected the city of Adapazari. The results of the study indicate that while overall predictions for extensive and complete damage states demonstrate strong correlation with the observed data, accurate risk predictions at the district level are not achievable without microzonation studies.
How Criminal Is It to Rape a Partner According to the Justice System? Analysis of Sentences in Spain (2015–2022)
Authors: Sumalla J.M. Tamarit , Seseña P. Romero , Arràez L. Arantegui , Aizpitarte A.
Published: March 2023

Sexual violence in an intimate relationship is a less studied phenomenon than other forms of intimate partner violence, despite data pointing to a high prevalence. Studies on how the cases are sentenced are scarce. Until recently, many laws did not allow marital rape to be punished as a crime of rape, and some studies showed a tendency for the courts to punish these cases less severely. The present study is based on an analysis of 964 rape cases of adult women in Spain. All the information was extracted from sentences of the Provincial Courts issued between 2015 and 2022. Results showed that significantly lower conviction rates and less severe penalties were imposed when the rape was committed by the intimate partner compared to other rape cases where the offenders were not partners (family members, acquaintances, or unknown strangers). The practical implications of these results in several areas are discussed.
Pointillisme à la Signac and Construction of a Quantum Fiber Bundle Over Convex Bodies
Authors: de Gosson Maurice , de Gosson Charlyne
Published: March 2023

We use the notion of polar duality from convex geometry and the theory of Lagrangian planes from symplectic geometry to construct a fiber bundle over ellipsoids that can be viewed as a quantum-mechanical substitute for the classical symplectic phase space. The total space of this fiber bundle consists of geometric quantum states, products of convex bodies carried by Lagrangian planes by their polar duals with respect to a second transversal Lagrangian plane. Using the theory of the John ellipsoid we relate these geometric quantum states to the notion of “quantum blobs” introduced in previous work; quantum blobs are the smallest symplectic invariant regions of the phase space compatible with the uncertainty principle. We show that the set of equivalence classes of unitarily related geometric quantum states is in a one-to-one correspondence with the set of all Gaussian wavepackets. We emphasize that the uncertainty principle appears in this paper as geometric property of the states we define, and is not expressed in terms of variances and covariances, the use of which was criticized by Hilgevoord and Uffink.
Metrics of student dissatisfaction and disagreement: longitudinal explorations of a national survey instrument
Authors: Langan A. Mark , Harris W. Edwin
Published: March 2023

This study explores dissatisfaction and neutrality metrics from 12 years of a national-level undergraduate student survey. The notion of dissatisfaction is much less prevalent in the narratives surrounding student survey outcomes, and the underpinning metrics are seldom considered. This is despite an increasingly vociferous debate about ‘value for money’ of higher education and the positioning of students as consumers in a marketised sector. We used machine learning methods to explore over 2.7 million national survey outcomes from 154 institutions to describe year-on-year stability in the survey items that best predicted dissatisfaction and neutrality, together with their similarity to known metric predictors of satisfaction. The widely publicised annual increases in student ‘satisfaction’ are shown to be the result of complex reductions in the proportions of disagreement and neutrality across different survey dimensions. Due to the widespread use of survey metrics in university league tables, we create an anonymised, illustrative table to demonstrate how UK institutional rankings would have differed if dissatisfaction metrics had been the preferred focus for reporting. We conclude by debating the tensions of balancing the provision of valuable information about dissatisfaction, with perpetuating negative impacts that derive from this important subset of the survey population.
Implementation status of safety measures to prevent errors with non-oncologic methotrexate: surveys in community and hospital pharmacies
Authors: Brühwiler Lea D. , Gresch Simone J. , Schwappach David L. B.
Published: March 2023

Background

Accidental overdose of low-dose methotrexate can lead to serious patient harm. Different safety measures are recommended to prevent errors, yet, as errors continue to happen, their implementation is questionable.

Aim

To evaluate the implementation status of safety measures for methotrexate in community and hospital pharmacies.

Method

An electronic questionnaire was sent to head pharmacists of 163 community and 94 hospital pharmacies in Switzerland. The implementation of recommended safety measures (general measures, safety working procedures, IT-based measures) was assessed and descriptive analysis performed. An analysis of sales data underlined the relevance of our results, i.e., the population under risk for overdose.

Results

A response was obtained from 53% (n = 87) of community and 50% (n = 47) of hospital pharmacists. Pharmacies had implemented a median of 6 (IQR 3, community) and 5 (IQR 5, hospital) safety measures overall. Most of these were defined safety procedures, instructing staff on how to handle methotrexate prescriptions. Across all safety measures, compliance with single procedures was perceived as “very likely” by 54% of community pharmacies. IT-based measures (e.g., alerts) were absent in 38% (n = 31) of community and 57% (n = 27) of hospital pharmacies. On average, every community pharmacy dispensed 22 packages annually.

Conclusion

Safety in relation to methotrexate in pharmacies relies mostly on staff instructions, which are considered weak measures. In light of the serious risk imposed on patients, pharmacies should set a focus on stronger IT-based measures that rely less on human performance.
Kinetic Models for Epidemic Dynamics in the Presence of Opinion Polarization
Authors: Zanella Mattia
Published: March 2023

Understanding the impact of collective social phenomena in epidemic dynamics is a crucial task to effectively contain the disease spread. In this work, we build a mathematical description for assessing the interplay between opinion polarization and the evolution of a disease. The proposed kinetic approach describes the evolution of aggregate quantities characterizing the agents belonging to epidemiologically relevant states and will show that the spread of the disease is closely related to consensus dynamics distribution in which opinion polarization may emerge. In the present modelling framework, microscopic consensus formation dynamics can be linked to macroscopic epidemic trends to trigger the collective adherence to protective measures. We conduct numerical investigations which confirm the ability of the model to describe different phenomena related to the spread of an epidemic.
Effects of Age of In Vitro-Derived Potato Plantlets on Early Above- and Below-Ground Development After Planting in Different Cultivars
Authors: Lommen W. J. M.
Published: March 2023

In vitro-propagated potato plantlets are commonly used in potato seed tuber production. Four experiments were carried out to identify how the duration of the last in vitro phase (‘age’) before planting of in vitro-produced plantlets affects the early growth and development ex vitro, assessed 10–14 days after planting. Experiments included varying ranges in age of the in vitro plantlets at planting (10–40, 15–45, 14–28 and 14–56 days old at the moment of planting in the respective experiments) and different cultivars. Because in vitro plantlet size increases with age, the first experiment studied interactions between age and planting method. Planting ‘deep’ (the upper four visible leaves above the ground) seemed more robust than planting ‘shallow’ (all nodes/leaves above ground except the lowest two), and in later experiments, only deep planting was applied. Across experiments, plants grown from younger in vitro plantlets had smaller leaf areas 10–14 days after planting than those from older in vitro plantlets. The increase in leaf area levelled off with increasing age of the in vitro plantlets used, especially when plantlets were older than c. 28 days. Larger leaf areas 10–14 days after planting were related to the older in vitro plantlets having higher absolute growth rates after planting and a larger above-ground leaf area at planting, even though four leaves were kept above ground in all treatments. Below ground, plants from older in vitro plantlets had more stem nodes, initiated stolons earlier after planting and initiated more stolons per plant. Tuber initiation rarely occurred within 14 days after planting, but was observed in some plants from 42- and especially 56-day-old in vitro plantlets of the very early cultivar Gloria and a single plant from 56-day-old in vitro plantlets of the mid-early cultivar Bintje. The data show that planting older in vitro plantlets can enhance early leaf area growth. Plants from older in vitro plantlets also more readily initiate stolons below ground and may be more advanced in the tuber formation process, especially when from early cultivars.