bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure plateau of separation induced by shock impingement in a Mach 5 flow
Authors: Xue Longsheng , Jiao Yun , Wang Chengpeng , Cheng Keming
Published: September 2023

Separation induced by impinging shock is a fundamental feature in supersonic and hypersonic flows; however, it is difficult to predict the pressure plateau due to a limited theoretical understanding of the effect of impinging shock strength. In this study, the evolution of the separation configuration and pressure distribution with changes in impinging shock angle is examined, and a theoretical equation for predicting the pressure plateau based on minimum entropy production is proposed. For validation, an experimental device that can measure wall pressure in the separation region at high spatiotemporal resolution is developed, and schlieren visualization is employed to capture the flow structure. Accordingly, the fine characteristics of pressure distributions along the centreline of the separation region as well as the reattachment region induced by shock impingement at various angles (

$8.5^\circ$

to

$30.5^\circ$

) are obtained in a flow of Mach number 5 and Reynolds number

${\approx }1.4\times 10^7\ {\rm m}^{-1}$

. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical results; both indicate that the pressure distribution is strongly related to the impinging shock strength and that there is a critical flow deflection angle

$\alpha ^\ast$

(

${\approx }20.8^\circ$

for Mach 5). The pressure in the separation region grows nearly linearly with increasing impinging shock strength when the flow deflection angle of the impinging shock is less than

$\alpha ^\ast$

; the pressure stops growing and resides in a small range when the flow deflection angle is larger than

$\alpha ^\ast$

. Therefore, the impinging shock strength should be considered a main factor when predicting the pressure plateau.
Equilibriumβ-limits dependence on bootstrap current in classical stellarators
Authors: Baillod A. , Loizu J. , Qu Z.S. , Arbez H.P. , Graves J.P.
Published: September 2023

While it is important to design stellarators with high magnetohydrodynamic stability$\beta$-limit, it is also crucial to ensure that good magnetic surfaces exist in a large range of$\beta$values. As$\beta$increases, pressure-driven currents perturb the vacuum magnetic field and often lead to the emergence of magnetic field line chaos, which can worsen the confinement and is the cause of another kind of$\beta$-limit, the so-called equilibrium$\beta$-limit. In this paper, we explore numerically the dependence of the equilibrium$\beta$-limit on the bootstrap current strength in a classical stellarator geometry using the stepped pressure equilibrium code. We develop a diagnostic to determine whether or not magnetic islands are expected to participate significantly to radial transport, and we build an analytical model to predict the expected equilibrium$\beta$-limit, which recovers the main features of the numerical results. This research opens the possibility to include additional targets in stellarator optimization functions, provides additional understanding on the existence of magnetic surfaces at large$\beta$, and is a step forward in the understanding of the equilibrium$\beta$-limit.
Cold executive function processes and their hot analogs in schizotypy
Authors: Karamaouna Penny , Zouraraki Chrysoula , Economou Elias , Kafetsios Konstantinos , Bitsios Panos , Giakoumaki Stella G.
Published: September 2023

Objective:

To examine cold (based on logical reasoning) versus hot (having emotional components) executive function processes in groups with high individual schizotypal traits.

Method:

Two-hundred and forty-seven participants were administered the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and were allocated into schizotypal (cognitive-perceptual, paranoid, negative, disorganized) or control groups according to pre-specified criteria. Participants were also administered a battery of tasks examining working memory, complex selective attention, response inhibition, decision-making and fluid intelligence and their affective counterparts. The outcome measures of each task were reduced to one composite variable thus formulating five cold and five hot cognitive domains. Between-group differences in the cognitive domains were examined with repeated measures analyses of covariance.

Results:

For working memory, the control and the cognitive-perceptual groups outperformed negative schizotypes, while for affective working memory controls outperformed the disorganized group. Controls also scored higher compared with the disorganized group in complex selective attention, while both the control and the cognitive-perceptual groups outperformed negative schizotypes in complex affective selective attention. Negative schizotypes also had striking difficulties in response inhibition, as they scored lower compared with all other groups. Despite the lack of differences in fluid intelligence, controls scored higher compared with all schizotypal groups (except from cognitive-perceptual schizotypes) in emotional intelligence; the latter group reported higher emotional intelligence compared with negative schizotypes.

Conclusion:

Results indicate that there is no categorical association between the different schizotypal dimensions with solely cold or hot executive function processes and support impoverished emotional intelligence as a core feature of schizotypy.
Both L1 and L2 proficiency impact ToM reasoning in children aged 4 to 6. Painting a more nuanced picture of the relation between bilingualism and ToM
Authors: Białecka Marta , Wodniecka Zofia , Muszyńska Karolina , Szpak Marta , Haman Ewa
Published: September 2023

Previous studies that contrasting bilinguals with monolinguals on Theory of Mind (ToM) have shown mixed results. We present a relatively large (N = 102) study comparing Polish–English sequential bilinguals living in the UK with Polish monolinguals living in Poland. Going beyond a simple group comparison, we explored the role of language proficiency and input in ToM abilities. A battery of eight tasks was used to measure ToM, and the groups were matched on age, gender, SES, IQ and L1 word comprehension. Although bilinguals did not differ from monolinguals in accuracy in ToM tasks, they demonstrated better reasoning abilities when providing justification for ToM responses. ToM accuracy scores were best predicted by L1 proficiency, but the justification scores were best predicted by both L1 and L2 proficiency. The findings suggest that the nuances of bilingual experience provide an important scaffolding context for ToM development.
Patient and primary care practitioners’ perspectives on consultations for fibromyalgia: a qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Byrne Ailish , Jones Katherine , Backhouse Michael , Rose Fiona , Moatt Emma , van der Feltz-Cornelis Christina
Published: September 2023

Background:

Fibromyalgia presents a challenge to both the patients experiencing symptoms and the staff aiming to treat them. This qualitative review aimed to synthesise how patients and practitioners experience primary care consultations, develop a rounded picture of how they perceive each other, the challenges to primary care consultation and how they might be tackled.

Methods:

CINAHL, Embase, CENTRAL and Medline were searched from inception to November 2021. Qualitative studies were included if they explored the perspectives and experiences of either fibromyalgia patients or primary care practitioners. Quantitative data, studies not published in English, not set in primary care or that did not distinguish the type of patient or clinician were excluded. Included studies were analysed using thematic synthesis and their quality assessed.

Results:

In total, 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis identified three overarching themes: (1) life turned upside down – exploring the chaos experienced by patients as they seek help; (2) negative cycle – highlighting how patient and practitioner factors can create a detrimental cycle; and (3) breaking the cycle – validating patient–doctor relationships underpinned by clear communication can help break the negative cycle.

Conclusions:

Fibromyalgia patients experience uncertainty and chaos that can clash with the attitudes of GPs and the help they can feasibly provide. Difficult consultations in which neither the GP nor patient are satisfied can easily occur. Promoting supportive, reciprocal and open patient–doctor relationships is essential. Future research is required to further explore GP attitudes and to develop an intervention that could improve consultations, patient outcomes and GP satisfaction.
Exploring the Connections between Confidence in the Digital/Online Future and Changes in Anglican Clergy Psychological Well-being during the Third Covid Lockdown in England during 2021
Authors: Francis Leslie J. , Village Andrew
Published: September 2023

Inspired by the objectives of the Church of England’s Living Ministry Research Project (to understand the factors that enable clergy to flourish and to understand how these factors vary according to person, background, etc.), the present analyses were designed to test the capacity of an individual differences approach to the science of clergy well-being for delivering such objectives. The specific case in point concerned understanding the connections between migration to digital technology and changes in clergy well-being during the pandemic. The data demonstrated how the individual differences approach both offered explanatory power and provided insights into how personal support and professional development could be most effectively structured and targeted.
Anthropogenic Aerosols Delay the Emergence of GHGs‐Forced Wetting of South Asian Rainy Seasons Under a Fossil‐Fuel Intensive Pathway
Authors: Singh Jitendra , Cook Benjamin I. , Marvel Kate , McDermid Sonali , Persad Geeta G. , Rajaratnam Bala , Singh Deepti
Published: September 2023

With continued fossil‐fuel dependence, anthropogenic aerosols over South Asia are projected to increase until the mid‐21st century along with greenhouse gases (GHGs). Using the Community Earth System Model (CESM1) Large Ensemble, we quantify the influence of aerosols and GHGs on South Asian seasonal precipitation patterns over the 21st century under a very high‐emissions (RCP 8.5) trajectory. We find that increasing local aerosol concentrations could continue to suppress precipitation over South Asia in the near‐term, delaying the emergence of precipitation increases in response to GHGs by several decades in the monsoon season and a decade in the post‐monsoon season. Emergence of this wetting signal is expected in both seasons by the mid‐21st century. Our results demonstrate that the trajectory of local aerosols together with GHGs will shape near‐future precipitation patterns over South Asia. Therefore, constraining precipitation response to different trajectories of both forcers is critical for informing near‐term adaptation efforts.
Regional Features of the 20–30 Day Periodic Behavior in the Southern Hemisphere Summer Circulation
Authors: Liu Zhaoyu , Wang Lei
Published: September 2023

The Southern Hemispheric storm tracks exhibit a robust intraseasonal periodicity of 20–30 days as the leading mode of zonal‐mean eddy kinetic energy. To what extent this hemispheric‐scale mode of variability translates to smaller scales remains debated. This work studies the regional features of Southern Hemisphere storm tracks through a filtered variance analysis of local finite‐amplitude wave activity. While the synoptic variance is zonally elongated over the storm track, we find a strong enhancement of intraseasonal variability within the South Pacific. With a minimum strength of the storm track, this region is marked with 20–30 day periodic behavior of local wave activity and precipitation and is driven by enhanced variability of low‐level eddy heat flux on the same timescale. The local nature of 20–30 day periodicity offers a potential source of subseasonal to seasonal predictability for weather analysts and forecasters.
On the Influence of Hydroxyl Radical Changes and Ocean Sinks on Estimated HCFC and HFC Emissions and Banks
Authors: Wang Peidong , Solomon Susan , Lickley Megan , Scott Jeffery R. , Weiss Ray F. , Prinn Ronald G.
Published: September 2023

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases regulated under the Montreal Protocol and its amendments. Emission estimates generally use constant atmospheric lifetimes accounting for loss via hydroxyl radical (OH) reactions. However, chemistry‐climate models suggest OH increases after 1980, implying underestimated emissions. Further, HCFCs and HFCs are soluble in seawater and could be destroyed through in situ oceanic microbial activity. These ocean sinks are largely overlooked. Using a coupled atmosphere‐ocean model, we show that increases in modeled OH imply underestimated HCFC and HFC emissions by ∼10% near their respective peak emissions. Our model results also suggest that oceanic processes could lead to up to an additional 10% underestimation in these halocarbon emissions in the 2020s. Ensuring global compliance to the Protocol and accurate knowledge of contributions to global warming from these gases therefore requires understanding of these processes.
Energetic Electron Precipitation During Slot Region Filling Events
Authors: Nesse H. , Babu E. M. , Salice J. A. , Funke B.
Published: September 2023

The slot region marks the equatorward boundary of the energetic electron precipitation (EEP). There are, however, numerous reports where energetic electrons cross these boundaries and fill the slot region. The ensuing EEP will occur long after the geomagnetic activity subsides. This is a missing energy input in current EEP estimates scaled by geomagnetic indices. This study explores the occurrence rate, duration, and local time dependence of slot region filling events using observations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites over a full solar cycle from 2004 to 2014. The EEP flux estimates are based on the Medium Energy Proton Electron Detector 0° and 90° detectors and the theory of pitch angle diffusion by wave‐particle interaction. The occurrence rates of >43, >114, and >292 keV events are found to be strongly energy and solar cycle dependent. Higher energy events are more likely to be associated with Coronal Mass Ejections and stronger geomagnetic deflections compared to lower energy events. Solar wind speed, Bz, and Ey reveal a calm period before the events, potentially important for preconditioning the ensuing magnetospheric mass convection. The slot region reforms more efficiently closer to the plasmapause, which creates a double EEP band throughout the recovery period. The slot region EEP maximizes around noon throughout the afternoon/evening sector, consistent with pitch angle scattering from plasmaspheric hiss and lightning induced whistler mode waves. Concurrent with slot region filling events, the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding/Envisat nitric oxide density show an increase at <55° corrected geomagnetic latitudes. This demonstrates the importance of including slot region EEP when assessing the EEP impact on the atmosphere.
Plasmasphere Control of ULF Wave Distribution at Different Geomagnetic Conditions
Authors: Rubtsov A. V. , Nosé M. , Matsuoka A. , Kasahara Y. , Kumamoto A. , Tsuchiya F. , Shinohara I. , Miyoshi Y.
Published: September 2023

Magnetic storms and substorms cause global disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere. Plasma clouds injected from the magnetotail during storm or substorm drift around the Earth and generate ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves via various mechanisms. At the same time, the inner part of the magnetosphere called plasmasphere is filled with cold particles and its characteristics are sensitive to the geomagnetic activity level. Previous theoretical and some observational studies suggested plasmasphere and its boundary, plasmapause, are special regions for ULF waves to interact with charged particles. We present a statistical analysis of ULF waves during different geomagnetic conditions. We utilized Arase satellite magnetic field and electron density measurements from March 2017 to December 2020 to investigate spatial distribution of ULF waves and its dependence on the plasmapause location. A 1–2 RE gap between the plasmapause and a region of high transverse waves occurrence rate was found. This gap keeps during quiet geomagnetic conditions when plasmasphere expands, and we concluded that the plasmapause controls the ULF wave distribution in the magnetosphere. ULF wave occurrence rate significantly decreases at quiet time, but dayside and dawnside maxima still occur for poloidal and compressional, and toroidal waves, respectively. Thus, we can distinguish internally and externally excited waves. Average wave frequency distribution revealed field‐line resonance character of toroidal waves as frequency increases toward the Earth. Poloidal and compressional waves distributions clearly distinguish low frequency externally excited waves and high frequency storm‐time pulsations.
A Scaling for the Permeability of Loose Magma Mush Validated Using X‐Ray Computed Tomography of Packed Confectionary in 3D and Estimation Methods From 2D Crystal Shapes
Authors: Bretagne Eloïse , Wadsworth Fabian B. , Vasseur Jérémie , Dobson Katherine J.
Published: September 2023

Melt percolation through partially molten “mushy” regions of the crust underpins models for magma migration, accumulation, and processes that prime systems for eruption. Knowledge of the hydraulic properties of magma mush, specifically permeability, is required for accurate predictions of melt migration rates and accumulation timescales. Previous studies, validated for cuboidal crystal analogs, show that crystal shape exerts a first‐order control on the permeability, and is tested here for anisometric natural crystal shapes using X‐ray CT 3D data sets of magma mush analogs made from packed confectionary particles arranged randomly. We use a lattice‐Boltzmann fluid flow simulation tool to determine the permeability of the analogue melt phase network between the packed particles. We find excellent agreement with our data sets to within ∼0.1 log units, when the specific surface area is measured. To extend this to more typical cases where the specific surface area is unknown, we use the shape and size of the objects determined in both 3D and 2D to estimate the specific surface area assuming a cuboid approximation. These approximate solutions give good results to within ∼0.5 log units of the measured permeability and offer a method by which permeability could be estimated from a thin section of a cumulate or pluton sample. Our shape‐sensitive approach is more accurate than existing models for permeability of magma mush, most approximating natural crystal shapes to spheres. We therefore propose that these could be implemented in dynamic magma mush models for melt movement in the crust to produce more accurate flux predictions.
GPER deletion triggers inhibitory effects in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells through the JNK/c-Jun/p53/Noxa transduction pathway
Authors: Cirillo Francesca , Talia Marianna , Santolla Maria Francesca , Pellegrino Michele , Scordamaglia Domenica , Spinelli Asia , De Rosis Salvatore , Giordano Francesca , Muglia Lucia , Zicarelli Azzurra , Di Dio Marika , Rigiracciolo Damiano Cosimo , Miglietta Anna Maria , Filippelli Gianfranco , De Francesco Ernestina Marianna , Belfiore Antonino , Lappano Rosamaria , Maggiolini Marcello
Published: September 2023

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) mediates estrogen action in different pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. GPER expression and signaling have been found to join in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), even though controversial data have been reported. In present study, we aimed at providing new mechanistic and biological discoveries knocking out (KO) GPER expression by CRISPR/Cas9 technology in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells. GPER KO whole transcriptome respect to wild type (WT) MDA-MB-231 cells was determined through total RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. We ascertained that anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic gene signatures characterize GPER KO MDA-MB-231 cells. Thereafter, we determined that these cells exhibit a reduced proliferative, clonogenic and self-renewal potential along with an increased mitochondria-dependent apoptosis phenotype. In addition, we recognized that decreased cAMP levels trigger the JNK/c-Jun/p53/Noxa axis, which in turn orchestrates the pro-apoptotic effects observed in GPER KO cells. In accordance with these data, survival analyses in TNBC patients of the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) dataset indicated that high Noxa expression correlates with improved outcomes in TNBC patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GPER KO in TNBC cells impairs the expression and secretion of the well-acknowledged GPER target gene named CTGF, thus resulting in the inhibition of migratory effects in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Overall, the present study provides novel mechanistic and biological insights on GPER KO in TNBC cells suggesting that GPER may be considered as a valuable target in comprehensive therapeutic approaches halting TNBC progression.
Ictogenesis proceeds through discrete phases in hippocampal CA1 seizures in mice
Authors: Mueller John-Sebastian , Tescarollo Fabio C. , Huynh Trong , Brenner Daniel A. , Valdivia Daniel J. , Olagbegi Kanyin , Sangappa Sahana , Chen Spencer C. , Sun Hai
Published: September 2023

Epilepsy is characterized by spontaneous non-provoked seizures, yet the mechanisms that trigger a seizure and allow its evolution remain underexplored. To dissect out phases of ictogenesis, we evoked hypersynchronous activity with optogenetic stimulation. Focal optogenetic activation of putative excitatory neurons in the mouse hippocampal CA1 reliably evoked convulsive seizures in awake mice. A time-vs-time pulsogram plot characterized the evolution of the EEG pulse response from a light evoked response to induced seizure activity. Our results depict ictogenesis as a stepwise process comprised of three distinctive phases demarcated by two transition points. The induction phase undergoes the first transition to reverberant phase activity, followed by the second transition into the paroxysmal phase or a seizure. Non-seizure responses are confined to either induction or reverberant phases. The pulsogram was then constructed in seizures recorded from a murine model of temporal lobe epilepsy and it depicted a similar reverberance preceding spontaneous seizures. The discovery of these distinct phases of ictogenesis may offer means to abort a seizure before it develops.
Divergent Deborah number-dependent transition from homogeneity to heterogeneity
Authors: Xu Dan , Yang Yang , Emmerich Lukas , Wang Yong , Zhang Kai
Published: September 2023

Heterogeneous structures are ubiquitous in natural organisms. Native heterogeneous structures inspire many artificial structures that are playing important roles in modern society, while it is challenging to identify the relevant factors in forming these structures due to the complexity of living systems. Here, hybrid hydrogels consisting of flexible polymer networks with embedded stiff cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are considered an open system to simulate the generalized formation of heterogeneous core-sheath structures. As the result of the modified air drying process of hybrid hydrogels, the formation of heterogeneous core-sheath structure is found to be correlated to the relative evaporation speed. Specifically, the formation of such heterogeneity in xerogel fibers is found to be correlated with the divergence of Deborah number (De). During the transition of De from large to small values with accompanying morphologies, the turning point is around De = 1. The mechanism can be considered a relative humidity-dependent glass transition behavior. These unique heterogeneous structures play a key role in tuning water permeation and water sorption capacity. Insights into these aspects can prospectively contribute to a better understanding of the native heterogeneous structures for bionics design.
Low-temperature anode-free potassium metal batteries
Authors: Tang Mengyao , Dong Shuai , Wang Jiawei , Cheng Liwei , Zhu Qiaonan , Li Yanmei , Yang Xiuyi , Guo Lin , Wang Hua
Published: September 2023

In contrast to conventional batteries, anode-free configurations can extend cell-level energy densities closer to the theoretical limit. However, realizing alkali metal plating/stripping on a bare current collector with high reversibility is challenging, especially at low temperature, as an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase and uncontrolled dendrite growth occur more easily. Here, a low-temperature anode-free potassium (K) metal non-aqueous battery is reported. By introducing Si-O-based additives, namely polydimethylsiloxane, in a weak-solvation low-concentration electrolyte of 0.4 M potassium hexafluorophosphate in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, the in situ formed potassiophilic interface enables uniform K deposition, and offers K||Cu cells with an average K plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 99.80% at −40 °C. Consequently, anode-free Cu||prepotassiated 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylicacid-dianhydride full batteries achieve stable cycling with a high specific energy of 152 Wh kg−1 based on the total mass of the negative and positive electrodes at 0.2 C (26 mA g−1) charge/discharge and −40 °C.
Metabolic inputs in the probiotic bacterium Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus contribute to cell-wall remodeling and increased fitness
Authors: Suissa Ronit , Olender Tsviya , Malitsky Sergey , Golani Ofra , Turjeman Sondra , Koren Omry , Meijler Michael M. , Kolodkin-Gal Ilana
Published: September 2023

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a Gram-positive beneficial bacterium that resides in the human intestinal tract and belongs to the family of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This bacterium is a widely used probiotic and was suggested to provide numerous benefits for human health. However, as in most LAB strains, the molecular mechanisms that mediate the competitiveness of probiotics under different diets remain unknown. Fermentation is a fundamental process in LAB, allowing the oxidation of simple carbohydrates (e.g., glucose, mannose) for energy production under oxygen limitation, as in the human gut. Our results indicate that fermentation reshapes the metabolome, volatilome, and proteome architecture of LGG. Furthermore, fermentation alters cell envelope remodeling and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, which leads to altered cell wall thickness, aggregation properties, and cell wall composition. In addition, fermentable sugars induced the secretion of known and novel metabolites and proteins targeting the enteric pathogens Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Overall, our results link simple carbohydrates with cell wall remodeling, aggregation to host tissues, and biofilm formation in probiotic strains and connect them with the production of broad-spectrum antimicrobial effectors.
Discrepancies and error evaluation metrics for machine learning interatomic potentials
Authors: Liu Yunsheng , He Xingfeng , Mo Yifei
Published: September 2023

Machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) are a promising technique for atomic modeling. While small errors are widely reported for MLIPs, an open concern is whether MLIPs can accurately reproduce atomistic dynamics and related physical properties in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In this study, we examine the state-of-the-art MLIPs and uncover several discrepancies related to atom dynamics, defects, and rare events (REs), compared to ab initio methods. We find that low averaged errors by current MLIP testing are insufficient, and develop quantitative metrics that better indicate the accurate prediction of atomic dynamics by MLIPs. The MLIPs optimized by the RE-based evaluation metrics are demonstrated to have improved prediction in multiple properties. The identified errors, the evaluation metrics, and the proposed process of developing such metrics are general to MLIPs, thus providing valuable guidance for future testing and improvements of accurate and reliable MLIPs for atomistic modeling.
Modeling the effects of salt concentration on aqueous and organic electrolytes
Authors: van der Lubbe Stephanie C. C. , Canepa Pieremanuele
Published: September 2023

Understanding the thermodynamic properties of electrolyte solutions is of vital importance for a myriad of physiological and technological applications. The mean activity coefficient γ± is associated with the deviation of an electrolyte solution from its ideal behavior and may be obtained by combining the Debye-Hückel (DH) and Born (B) equations. However, the DH and B equations depend on the concentration and temperature-dependent static permittivity of the solution εr(c, T) and the size of the solvated ions ri, whose experimental data is often not available. Here, we use a combination of molecular dynamics and density functional theory to predict εr(c, T) and ri, which enables us to apply the DH and B equations to any technologically relevant aqueous and nonaqueous electrolyte at any concentration and temperature of interest.
Preventing inadvertent drain removal using a novel catheter securement device
Authors: Russo Mario , Di Capua John , Anlage April , Bendre Hersh , Kusner Jon , Lieberman Graham , Jang Sean , Irani Zubin , Arellano Ronald S. , Sutphin Patrick D. , Smolinski-Zhao Sara , Daye Dania , Kalva Sanjeeva P. , Succi Marc D. , Som Avik , Thabet Ashraf
Published: September 2023

Percutaneous drains have provided a minimally invasive way to treat a wide range of disorders from abscess drainage to enteral feeding solutions to treating hydronephrosis. These drains suffer from a high rate of dislodgement of up to 30% resulting in emergency room visits, repeat hospitalizations, and catheter repositioning/replacement procedures, which incur significant morbidity and mortality. Using ex vivo and in vivo models, a force body diagram was utilized to determine the forces experienced by a drainage catheter during dislodgement events, and the individual components which contribute to drainage catheter securement were empirically collected. Prototypes of a skin level catheter securement and valved quick release system were then developed. The system was inspired by capstans used in boating for increasing friction of a line around a central spool and quick release mechanisms used in electronics such as the Apple MagSafe computer charger. The device was tested in a porcine suprapubic model, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the device to prevent drain dislodgement. The prototype demonstrated that the miniaturized versions of technologies used in boating and electronics industries were able to meet the needs of preventing dislodgement of patient drainage catheters.
Rapid, high-sensitivity detection of biomolecules using dual-comb biosensing
Authors: Miyamura Shogo , Oe Ryo , Nakahara Takuya , Koresawa Hidenori , Okada Shota , Taue Shuji , Tokizane Yu , Minamikawa Takeo , Yano Taka-Aki , Otsuka Kunihiro , Sakane Ayuko , Sasaki Takuya , Yasutomo Koji , Kajisa Taira , Yasui Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Rapid, sensitive detection of biomolecules is important for biosensing of infectious pathogens as well as biomarkers and pollutants. For example, biosensing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still strongly required for the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, we aim to achieve the rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen by enhancing the performance of optical biosensing based on optical frequency combs (OFC). The virus-concentration-dependent optical spectrum shift produced by antigen–antibody interactions is transformed into a photonic radio-frequency (RF) shift by a frequency conversion between the optical and RF regions in the OFC, facilitating rapid and sensitive detection with well-established electrical frequency measurements. Furthermore, active-dummy temperature-drift compensation with a dual-comb configuration enables the very small change in the virus-concentration-dependent signal to be extracted from the large, variable background signal caused by temperature disturbance. The achieved performance of dual-comb biosensing will greatly enhance the applicability of biosensors to viruses, biomarkers, environmental hormones, and so on.
Large strain correction for tunnel analyses considering hydromechanical coupling and ground anisotropy
Authors: Natale Matteo , Nordas Alexandros N. , Kopp Seraina , Anagnostou Georgios
Published: September 2023

The deformations resulting from tunnel analyses for heavily squeezing ground may be very large, necessitating numerical formulations that consider geometric nonlinearity. Alternatively, for a certain class of problems, routine small strain analyses can be performed, and their results can be corrected to account for large strains by means of a simple hyperbolic expression proposed a few years ago. The present paper shows that this correction equation is sufficiently accurate for practical purposes even in the case of anisotropic material behaviour and for hydromechanically coupled, steady state or transient analyses of tunnels. The accuracy of the equation prediction varies amongst these cases but is satisfactory overall for the purpose of preliminary calculations, thus broadening its value and usefulness as a preliminary design tool.
Large numbers of patients are needed to obtain additional approvals for new cancer drugs: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ouimet Charlotte , Hutchinson Nora , Wang Catherine , Matyka Carol , Del Paggio Joseph C. , Kimmelman Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Patients endure risk and uncertainty when they participate in clinical trials. We previously estimated that 12,217 patient-participants are required to bring a new cancer drug to market. However, many development efforts are aimed at extending the label of already approved drugs. Herein, we estimate the number of patients required to extend the indication of an FDA approved cancer drug. We identified all anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA 2012 to 2015. We searched clinicaltrials.gov to identify all drug development trajectories (i.e., a series of one or more clinical trials testing a unique drug-indication pairing) launched after FDA approval for each drug. We identified which trajectories produced the following milestones: secondary FDA approvals, secondary FDA approvals achieving substantial clinical benefit in ESMO-MCBS, and recommendations in NCCN clinical practice guidelines. Using the total enrollment, we estimated the number of patients needed to reach each milestone. Forty-two drugs were approved by the FDA between 2012 and 2015, leading to 451 post-approval trajectories enrolling 129,548 patients. Fourteen secondary FDA approvals were identified, of which 4 met the ESMO-MCBS definition of substantial clinical benefit. Fourteen NCCN off-label recommendations were obtained. A total of 9253, 32,387 and 4627 patients were needed to attain an FDA approval, an approval with substantial clinical benefit on ESMO-MCBS, and an NCCN guideline recommendation, respectively. The number of patients needed to obtain a first secondary FDA approval was 16,596. Large numbers of patients are needed to extend the label of prior FDA approved drugs. Label extension after approval entails lower marginal costs for developers. However, extra knowledge available to researchers about a drug’s safety and pharmacology after FDA approval does not appear to translate into reduced patient numbers required for developing new cancer applications.
The influence of voice familiarity and linguistic content on dogs’ ability to follow human voice direction
Authors: Langner Livia , Žakelj Sabina , Bolló Henrietta , Topál József , Kis Anna
Published: September 2023

Domestic dogs are well-known for their abilities to utilize human referential cues for problem solving, including following the direction of human voice. This study investigated whether dogs can locate hidden food relying only on the direction of human voice and whether familiarity with the speaker (owner/stranger) and the relevance of auditory signal features (ostensive addressing indicating the intent for communication to the receiver; linguistic content) affect performance. N = 35 dogs and their owners participated in four conditions in a two-way object choice task. Dogs were presented with referential auditory cues representing different combinations of three contextual parameters: the (I) ‘familiarity with the human informant’ (owner vs. stranger), the (II) communicative function of attention getter (ostensive addressing vs. non-ostensive cueing) and the (III) ‘tone and content of the auditory cue’ (high-pitched/potentially relevant vs. low-pitched/potentially irrelevant). Dogs also participated in a ‘standard’ pointing condition where a visual cue was provided. Significant differences were observed between conditions regarding correct choices and response latencies, suggesting that dogs’ response to auditory signals are influenced by the combination of content and intonation of the message and the identity of the speaker. Dogs made correct choices the most frequently when context-relevant auditory information was provided by their owners and showed less success when auditory signals were coming from the experimenter. Correct choices in the ‘Pointing’ condition were similar to the experimenter auditory conditions, but less frequent compared to the owner condition with potentially relevant auditory information. This was paralleled by shorter response latencies in the owner condition compared to the experimenter conditions, although the two measures were not related. Subjects’ performance in response to the owner- and experimenter-given auditory cues were interrelated, but unrelated to responses to pointing gestures, suggesting that dogs’ ability to understand the referential nature of auditory cues and visual gestures partly arise from different socio-cognitive skills.
Deepfake smiles matter less—the psychological and neural impact of presumed AI-generated faces
Authors: Eiserbeck Anna , Maier Martin , Baum Julia , Abdel Rahman Rasha
Published: September 2023

High-quality AI-generated portraits (“deepfakes”) are becoming increasingly prevalent. Understanding the responses they evoke in perceivers is crucial in assessing their societal implications. Here we investigate the impact of the belief that depicted persons are real or deepfakes on psychological and neural measures of human face perception. Using EEG, we tracked participants’ (N = 30) brain responses to real faces showing positive, neutral, and negative expressions, after being informed that they are either real or fake. Smiling faces marked as fake appeared less positive, as reflected in expression ratings, and induced slower evaluations. Whereas presumed real smiles elicited canonical emotion effects with differences relative to neutral faces in the P1 and N170 components (markers of early visual perception) and in the EPN component (indicative of reflexive emotional processing), presumed deepfake smiles showed none of these effects. Additionally, only smiles presumed as fake showed enhanced LPP activity compared to neutral faces, suggesting more effortful evaluation. Negative expressions induced typical emotion effects, whether considered real or fake. Our findings demonstrate a dampening effect on perceptual, emotional, and evaluative processing of presumed deepfake smiles, but not angry expressions, adding new specificity to the debate on the societal impact of AI-generated content.
Time series forecasting methods in emergency contexts
Authors: Villoria Hernandez P. , Mariñas-Collado I. , Garcia Sipols A. , Simon de Blas C. , Rodriguez Sánchez M. C.
Published: September 2023

The key issues in any fire emergency are recognising fire hotspots, locating the emergency intervention team (EI), following the evolution of the fire, and selecting the evacuation path. This leads to the study and development of HelpResponder, a solution capable of detecting the focus of interest in hostile spaces derived from fire due to high temperatures without visibility. A study is conducted to determine which model best predicts measured $$\text {CO}_2$$

CO
2

levels. The variables used are temperature, humidity, and air quality, obtained from sensors installed in a fire tower. The statistical methods applied, namely ARIMAX, KNN, SVM, and TBATS, allow the adjustment and modelling of the variables. Explanatory variables with temporal structure are incorporated into SVM, a new improvement proposal. Moreover, combining different models showed the best efficiency in forecasting. In fact, another contribution of our work lies in offering a small-scale prediction system that is specifically designed to save batteries. The system has been tested and validated in a hostile environment (building), simulating real emergency situations. The system has been tested and validated in several hostile environments, simulating real emergency situations. It can help firefighters respond faster in an emergency. This reduces the risks associated with the lack of information and improves the time for tactical operations, which could save lives.
Non-inferiority of deep learning ischemic stroke segmentation on non-contrast CT within 16-hours compared to expert neuroradiologists
Authors: Ostmeier Sophie , Axelrod Brian , Verhaaren Benjamin F. J. , Christensen Soren , Mahammedi Abdelkader , Liu Yongkai , Pulli Benjamin , Li Li-Jia , Zaharchuk Greg , Heit Jeremy J.
Published: September 2023

We determined if a convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning model can accurately segment acute ischemic changes on non-contrast CT compared to neuroradiologists. Non-contrast CT (NCCT) examinations from 232 acute ischemic stroke patients who were enrolled in the DEFUSE 3 trial were included in this study. Three experienced neuroradiologists independently segmented hypodensity that reflected the ischemic core on each scan. The neuroradiologist with the most experience (expert A) served as the ground truth for deep learning model training. Two additional neuroradiologists’ (experts B and C) segmentations were used for data testing. The 232 studies were randomly split into training and test sets. The training set was further randomly divided into 5 folds with training and validation sets. A 3-dimensional CNN architecture was trained and optimized to predict the segmentations of expert A from NCCT. The performance of the model was assessed using a set of volume, overlap, and distance metrics using non-inferiority thresholds of 20%, 3 ml, and 3 mm, respectively. The optimized model trained on expert A was compared to test experts B and C. We used a one-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank test to test for the non-inferiority of the model-expert compared to the inter-expert agreement. The final model performance for the ischemic core segmentation task reached a performance of 0.46 ± 0.09 Surface Dice at Tolerance 5mm and 0.47 ± 0.13 Dice when trained on expert A. Compared to the two test neuroradiologists the model-expert agreement was non-inferior to the inter-expert agreement, $$p < 0.05$$

p
<
0.05

. The before, CNN accurately delineates the hypodense ischemic core on NCCT in acute ischemic stroke patients with an accuracy comparable to neuroradiologists.
Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and venous thromboembolic disease in healthy adults in Korea: a nationwide study
Authors: Kim Chang-Yeon , Kim Namkyun , Roh Jae-Hyung
Published: September 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to a prothrombotic state, which significantly burdens public healthcare systems. This study investigated the relationship between NAFLD and the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Korea using National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2.0 data. A population-based retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 472,212 healthy individuals who underwent national health check-ups in Korea from 2009 to 2014. NAFLD was defined using the fatty liver index (FLI). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the association between FLI and VTE. Individuals were categorized into four quartiles according to FLI values (first quartile [Q1], 0–5.7; second quartile [Q2], 5.8–15.3; third quartile [Q3], 15.4–37.2; and fourth quartile [Q4], > 37.2). The incidence of VTE tended to increase with increasing FLI values (Q1, 598 [0.5%]; Q2, 1,033 [0.9%]; Q3, 1,443 [1.2%]; and Q4, 1,425 [1.2%]). In the age- and sex-adjusted multivariate model, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 1.47 (1.33‒1.62) for Q4 compared with Q1. After adjusting for clinical variables with P < 0.1 in the univariate analyses, the HR (95% CI) was 1.45 (1.30‒1.62) for Q4 compared with Q1. FLI was related to VTE risk, as confirmed after adjusting for other risk factors.
The role of vesicle trafficking genes in osteoblast differentiation and function
Authors: Zhu Hui , Su Yingying , Wang Jamie , Wu Joy Y.
Published: September 2023

Using Col2.3GFP transgenic mice expressing GFP in maturing osteoblasts, we isolated Col2.3GFP+ enriched osteoblasts from 3 sources. We performed RNA-sequencing, identified 593 overlapping genes and confirmed these genes are highly enriched in osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization annotation categories. The top 3 annotations are all associated with endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi vesicle transport. We selected 22 trafficking genes that have not been well characterized in bone for functional validation in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. Transient siRNA knockdown of trafficking genes including Sec24d, Gosr2, Rab2a, Stx5a, Bet1, Preb, Arf4, Ramp1, Cog6 and Pacs1 significantly increased mineralized nodule formation and expression of osteoblast markers. Increased mineralized nodule formation was suppressed by concurrent knockdown of P4ha1 and/or P4ha2, encoding collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase isoenzymes. MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts with knockdown of Cog6, Gosr2, Pacs1 or Arf4 formed more and larger ectopic mineralized bone nodules in vivo, which was attenuated by concurrent knockdown P4ha2. Permanent knockdown of Cog6 and Pacs1 by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts recapitulated increased mineralized nodule formation and osteoblast differentiation. In summary, we have identified several vesicle trafficking genes with roles in osteoblast function. Our findings provide potential targets for regulating bone formation.
Study on the relationship between permeability coefficient and porosity, the confining and osmotic pressure of attapulgite-modified loess
Authors: Zhang Zhengrui , Pishro Ahad Amini , Zhang Lili , Ma Xuejiao , Matlan Siti Jahara , Taha Nazaruddin Abdul , Pishro Mojdeh Amini
Published: September 2023

This study investigated attapulgite-modified loess as an efficient and cost-effective method for creating an impermeable liner for landfills in regions with scarce clay resources. Laboratory permeability tests were conducted using a flexible wall permeameter to determine the permeability of compacted loess and attapulgite mixtures under varying osmotic conditions. The relationship between the permeability coefficient, attapulgite dosage, radial pressure, and osmotic pressure was analyzed. Nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy were also used to observe the microstructure of the modified loess. The results showed that attapulgite dosage significantly reduced the permeability coefficient, but the effect became limited when the content surpassed 10%. The decrease of the permeability coefficient of the modified loess is mainly due to the filling of pores between the loess by attapulgite, which makes the pore size and throat size of the modified loess smaller. The modified loess displayed a sheet structure that contributed to an increased permeability coefficient due to increased radial pressure. This study provides valuable insights into using attapulgite-modified loess as a material for landfill lining in regions with scarce clay resources.