bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive power of chest radiography for infectious or inflammatory lung disease
Authors: Hull Nate C. , Thacker Paul G. , Boesch Richard Paul
Published: July 2023

Objective

Children frequently present with chronic cough, recurrent respiratory infections, and dysphagia. These symptoms are poor predictors of significant inflammatory lung disease, such as from chronic aspiration. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is the gold standard for identification of lung infection and airway inflammation but is expensive and requires sedation. Chest X‐rays (CXR) are inexpensive, low‐radiation tests that do not require sedations and can document findings associated with infectious or inflammatory lung disease. The accuracy of CXR to predict or exclude infectious or inflammatory lung disease has not been directly evaluated and is unknown.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of all pediatric patients who underwent FFB with BAL within 2 weeks of a CXR. Blinded CXR images reviewed for findings consistent with inflammatory disease by two senior pediatric radiologists. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for CXR to identify significant inflammation and/or infection on BAL were calculated.

Results

Three hundred and forty‐four subjects included. Two hundred and sixty‐three had positive CXR (77%), 183 had inflammatory BAL (53%), and 110 had infection (32%). The sensitivity of CXR changes for BAL inflammation, infection, and either inflammation or infection was 84.7, 90.9, and 85.3, respectively. The PPV of CXR was 58.9, 38.0, and 59.7. The NPV of CXR was 65.0, 87.5, and 66.3.

Conclusions

Although CXR are inexpensive, do not require sedation, and are of low radiation dose, the ability of an entirely normal CXR to exclude active inflammatory or infectious lung disease is limited.
An ankyrin repeat chaperone targets toxic oligomers during amyloidogenesis
Authors: Gupta Arpit , Lu Chuqi , Wang Feng , Chou Tsui‐Fen , Shan Shu‐ou
Published: July 2023

Numerous age‐linked diseases are rooted in protein misfolding; this has motivated the development of small molecules and therapeutic antibodies that target the aggregation of disease‐linked proteins. Here we explore another approach: molecular chaperones with engineerable protein scaffolds such as the ankyrin repeat domain (ARD). We tested the ability of cpSRP43, a small, robust, ATP‐ and cofactor‐independent plant chaperone built from an ARD, to antagonize disease‐linked protein aggregation. cpSRP43 delays the aggregation of multiple proteins including the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer's disease and α‐synuclein associated with Parkinson's disease. Kinetic modeling and biochemical analyses show that cpSRP43 targets early oligomers during Aβ aggregation, preventing their transition to a self‐propagating nucleus on the fibril surface. Accordingly, cpSRP43 rescued neuronal cells from the toxicity of extracellular Aβ42 aggregates. The substrate‐binding domain of cpSRP43, composed primarily of the ARD, is necessary and sufficient to prevent Aβ42 aggregation and protect cells against Aβ42 toxicity. This work provides an example in which an ARD chaperone non‐native to mammalian cells harbors anti‐amyloidal activity, which may be exploited for bioengineering.
Discovery of a novel antifungal agent: All‐hydrocarbon stapling modification of peptide Aurein1.2
Authors: Zheng Mengjun , Chen Huixuan , Li Xiang , Chen Si , Shi Yejiao , Hu Honggang
Published: July 2023

Aurein1.2 is secreted by the Australian tree frog Litoria aurea and is active against a broad range of infectious microbes including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its antifungal potency has garnered considerable interest in developing novel classes of natural antifungal agents to fight pathogenic infection by fungi. However, serious pharmacological hurdles remain, hindering its clinical translation. To alleviate its susceptibility to proteolytic degradation and improve its antifungal activity, six conformationally locked peptides were synthesized through hydrocarbon stapling modification and evaluated for their physicochemical and antifungal parameters. Among them, SAU2‐4 exhibited significant improvement in helicity levels, protease resistance, and antifungal activity compared to the template linear peptide Aurein1.2. These results confirmed the prominent role of hydrocarbon stapling modification in the manipulation of peptide pharmacological properties and enhanced the application potential of Aurein1.2 in the field of antifungal agent development.
Prescribed‐time cooperative output regulation of heterogeneous multi‐agent systems
Authors: Liang Dong , Dong Yi , Wang Chaoli
Published: July 2023

Cooperative output regulation problem has been studied on the basis of an observer which is capable of estimating the state of the leader system in a distributed fashion. However, in the literature, the convergence rate is at best exponential with infinite settling time. To improve the transient performance of the closed‐loop system, a prescribed‐time distributed control law is synthesized to solve the cooperative output regulation problem for a class of linear multi‐agent systems with external disturbances. Different from existing works, we first design a distributed observer to estimate the state of the dynamic leader in the fixed time which is independent of the initial conditions. The design of such an observer extends the results from a homogeneous multi‐agent system to a heterogeneous one. And then a time‐varying distributed control law is designed on the basis of the parametric Lyapunov function technique. The efficiency of our design has been validated in the control of the lateral directional dynamics of aircraft systems.
Discovery of Phthalimide‐1,2,3‐triazole‐N‐phenylacetamide Hybrids as Potent α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, ADMET Prediction, and in vitro and in silico Enzymatic Evaluations
Authors: Gavanrudi Mahtab Rahmani , Halimi Mohammad , Najafzadehvarzi Hossein , Alikhani Majid , Moazzam Ali , Farzipour Soghra , Hosseini Samanesadat , Mojtabavi Somayeh , Faramarzi Mohammad Ali , Nasli‐Esfahani Ensieh , Mohammadi‐Khanaposhtani Maryam , Mahdavi Mohammad
Published: July 2023

Thirteen new derivatives of the phthalimide‐1,2,3‐triazole‐N‐phenylacetamide hybrids were synthesized via simple chemical reactions. These hybrids were evaluated for their inhibitory potential against α‐glucosidase in vitro and in silico. Among these thirteen derivatives, seven compounds showed excellent inhibition against studied enzyme (IC50 values=1.30−31.7 μM) as compared to positive control acarbose (IC50 value=750.1 μM) and among them, compound with 2,4‐dichloro substituent on the phenyl ring of N‐phenylacetamide moiety was identified as the most potent inhibitor against α‐glucosidase. This compound was almost 577‐fold more active than acarbose. Kinetic study on the most potent compound demonstrated that this compound is a competitive α‐glucosidase inhibitor. To understand the interaction mode, stability, and flexibility of the most potent compounds, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted. Furthermore, the drug‐likeness, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity properties of the title compounds were predicted by in silico studies.
Designing CoHCF@FeHCF Core–Shell Structures to Enhance the Rate Performance and Cycling Stability of Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Pan Zu‐Tao , He Zheng‐Hua , Hou Jing‐Feng , Kong Ling‐Bin
Published: July 2023

Prussian blue analogs are well suited for sodium‐ion battery cathode materials due to their cheap cost and high theoretical specific capacity. NaxCoFe(CN)6 (CoHCF), one of the PBAs, has poor rate performance and cycling stability, while NaxFeFe(CN)6 (FeHCF) has better rate and cycling performance. The CoHCF@FeHCF core–shell structure is designed with CoHCF as the core material and FeHCF as the shell material to enhance the electrochemical properties. The successfully prepared core–shell structure leads to a significant improvement in the rate performance and cycling stability of the composite compared to the unmodified CoHCF. The composite sample of core–shell structure has a specific capacity of 54.8 mAh g−1 at high magnification of 20 C (1 C = 170 mA g−1). In terms of cycle stability, it has a capacity retention rate of 84.1% for 100 cycles at 1 C, and a capacity retention rate of 82.7% for 200 cycles at 5 C. Kinetic analysis shows that the composite sample with the core–shell structure has fast kinetic characteristics, and the surface capacitance occupation ratio and sodium‐ion diffusion coefficient are higher than those of the unmodified CoHCF.
The Dynamics of Life model
Authors: MacGill Victor
Published: July 2023

This paper attempts to formulate a generic model of living and social system at all levels with three parts. The first is the Dynamics of Life diagram, which follows flows of energy, matter and information through the system. A rule set controls how the parts co‐operate to maintain internal and external processes. As a system acts, it creates the space for a shadow system that opposes it. Unmanaged entropy is expelled or remains as a toxic element.

The second is the Tree of Life that outlines the levels of functioning in a human being from biological to psychological to social. Each level manifests the flows as in the Dynamics of Life diagram.

The third explores the processes of living and social systems through time and borrows heavily from Holling and Gunderson's Adaptive Cycle. The three parts present an integrated overview of the functioning of living and social systems.
Dynamic characteristic measurement of precast and cast in‐situ walls in abandoned high‐rise building using ambient and forced vibration methods
Authors: Hang Le , Karunkritkul Kritcha , Prayoonwet Wanakorn , Jirawattanasomkul Tidarut , Likitlersuang Suched , Stitmannaithum Boonchai , Thammarak Punchet
Published: July 2023

This study evaluates the dynamic characteristics of an abandoned reinforced concrete building with structural deterioration and defects in its precast and cast in‐situ walls. Using ambient vibration and forced excitation, the dynamic characteristics (i.e., modal frequency, modal damping, and strain patterns) were extracted to evaluate existing performances. Then, the numerical modal analysis was conducted with the dynamic properties at the initial service stage since the joint degradation was not accounted. In general, modal frequency obtained from field measurement was approximately 19.8%–20.8% smaller than that obtained from the numerical analysis, indicating the degraded stiffness due to existing cracks at joint connections. In addition, the measured strain patterns and neutral axis location were eventually compared with the analytical results, proving the potential indicators for identifying local imperfections of the targeted high‐rise buildings.
Nanotechnology innovations for increasing the productivity of poultry and the prospective of nanobiosensors
Authors: Sadr Soheil , Lotfalizadeh Narges , Ghafouri Seyed Ali , Delrobaei Matineh , Komeili Nima , Hajjafari Ashkan
Published: July 2023

Nanotechnology is an innovative, promising technology with a great scope of applications and socioeconomic potential in the poultry industry sector. Nanoparticles (NPs) show the advantages of high absorption and bioavailability with more effective delivery to the target tissue than their bulk particles. Various nanomaterials are available in different forms, sizes, shapes, applications, surface modifications, charges and natures. Nanoparticles can be utilised in the delivery of medicines, targeting them to their right effective site in the body and, at the same time, decreasing their toxicity and side effects. Furthermore, nanotechnology can be beneficial in the diagnosis of diseases and prevention of them and in enhancing the quality of animal products. There are different mechanisms through which NPs could exert their action. Despite the vast benefits of NPs in poultry production, some concerns about their safety and hazardous effects should be considered. Therefore, this review article focuses on NPs’ types, manufacture, mechanism of action and applications regarding safety and hazard impact.
Ten recommendations for sarcoma surgery: consensus of the surgical societies based on the German S3 guideline “Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas”
Authors: Jakob Jens , Andreou Dimosthenis , Bedke Jens , Denschlag Dominik , Dürr Hans Roland , Frese Steffen , Gösling Thomas , Graeter Thomas , Grünwald Viktor , Grützmann Robert , Hoffmann Jürgen , Juhasz-Boess Ingolf , Kasper Bernd , Kogosov Vlada , Knoefel Wolfram Trudo , Lehner Burkhard , Lehnhardt Marcus , Lindner Lars H. , Matthies Cordula , Sehouli Jalid , Ugurel Selma , Hohenberger Peter
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The evidence-based (S3) guideline “Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas” (AWMF Registry No. 032/044OL) published by the German Guideline Program in Oncology (GGPO) covers all aspects of sarcoma treatment with 229 recommendations. Representatives of all medical specialties involved in sarcoma treatment contributed to the guideline. This paper compiles the most important recommendations for surgeons selected by delegates from the surgical societies.

Methods

A Delphi process was used. Delegates from the surgical societies involved in guideline process selected the 15 recommendations that were most important to them. Votes for similar recommendations were tallied. From the resulting ranked list, the 10 most frequently voted recommendations were selected and confirmed by consensus in the next step.

Results

The statement “Resection of primary soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities should be performed as a wide resection. The goal is an R0 resection” was selected as the most important term. The next highest ranked recommendations were the need for a preoperative biopsy, performing preoperative MRI imaging with contrast, and discussing all cases before surgery in a multidisciplinary sarcoma committee.

Conclusion

The evidence-based guideline “Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas” is a milestone to improve the care of sarcoma patients in Germany. The selection of the top ten recommendations by surgeons for surgeons has the potential to improve the dissemination and acceptance of the guideline and thus improve the overall outcome of sarcoma patients.
Radiological Diagnosis of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review
Authors: Singh Sonit , Hoque Shakira , Zekry Amany , Sowmya Arcot
Published: July 2023

Medical image analysis plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of diseases, including screening, surveillance, diagnosis, and prognosis. Liver is one of the major organs responsible for key functions of metabolism, protein and hormone synthesis, detoxification, and waste excretion. Patients with advanced liver disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) are often asymptomatic in the early stages; however delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to increased rates of decompensated liver diseases, late-stage HCC, morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound (US) is commonly used imaging modality for diagnosis of chronic liver diseases that includes fibrosis, cirrhosis and portal hypertension. In this paper, we first provide an overview of various diagnostic methods for stages of liver diseases and discuss the role of Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems in diagnosing liver diseases. Second, we review the utility of machine learning and deep learning approaches as diagnostic tools. Finally, we present the limitations of existing studies and outline future directions to further improve diagnostic accuracy, as well as reduce cost and subjectivity, while also improving workflow for the clinicians.
Predicting Volunteers’ Decisions to Stay in or Quit an NGO Using Neural Networks
Authors: de-Miguel-Molina Blanca , Boix-Domènech Rafael , Martínez-Villanueva Gema , de-Miguel-Molina María
Published: July 2023

This paper uses non-traditional approaches to predict why volunteers remain in or quit a non-governmental organisation position. A questionnaire featuring 55 predictors was conducted via an online survey mechanism from March to May 2021. A total of 250 responses were received. The subsequent data analysis compared logistic regression and artificial neural network results, using machine-learning interpreters to explain the features which determined decisions. The results indicate greater accuracy for neural networks. According to the logistic regression results, intrinsic motivation, volunteering through an NGO and the age of volunteers influenced the intention to remain. Moreover, NGOs that offered online volunteering opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher rates of intention to remain. However, the neural network analysis, performed using the Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) method, indicated the need to consider different predictors to those identified by the logistic regression. The LIME method also enables the individualisation of the explanations of predictions, indicating the importance of considering the role of volunteers’ feelings in both quit and remain decisions, which is something that is not provided by traditional methods such as logistic regression. Furthermore, the LIME approach demonstrates that NGOs must address both volunteer management and experience to retain volunteers. Nonetheless, volunteer management is more critical to stop volunteers quitting, suggesting that volunteer integration is crucial.
Tuna sidestream valorization: a circular blue bioeconomy approach
Authors: Sasidharan Abhilash , Rustad Turid , Cusimano Giovanni M.
Published: July 2023

Tuna is an economically significant seafood, harvested throughout the world, and is heavily traded due to its high nutritional quality and consumer acceptance. Tuna meat is rich in essential nutrients such as amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and trace minerals. The huge volume of solid and liquid sidestreams generated during the processing stages of tuna is creating environmental and socioeconomic challenges in coastal areas. Different products such as fish meal, protein hydrolysates, collagen, enzymes, oil, and bone powder can be produced from tuna sidestreams. Using different nutrient recovery technologies like enzymatic hydrolysis, chemical processing, and green technologies, various categories of product value chains can be created in line with the conventional processing industry. This review attempts to provide a route map for the tuna industry for achieving the circular blue-bioeconomic objectives and reorient the irregular utilization pattern into a sustainable and inclusive path.
3D printed porous particle and its geotechnical properties
Authors: Matsumura Satoshi , Kawamura Shima , Kandpal Lalit , Vangla Prashanth
Published: July 2023

The study of effects of particle breakage on the mechanical properties of soil composed of porous particles is challenging due to the heterogeneity of the shape and inner void structure of individual particles, even for an identical soil sample, which imparts a compound effect on the mechanical properties. Advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technique have enabled the replication of objects with the same shape but different inner structures. This study investigated the feasibility of replicating porous and non-porous particles with the same particle shape characteristics, such as form, waviness, and texture, using 3D printing technique. The particle shape characteristics were evaluated using image analysis. Single particle crushing and triaxial compression tests were conducted to characterize the mechanical properties of the 3D printed and porous volcanic soil particles. It is observed that the mechanical response in the single particle crushing test varies for volcanic soil, which may be attributed to the heterogeneity in the shape and porosity of the particles. However, for each type of 3D printed particle, the response has a high repeatability and varies based on particle porosity. Furthermore, the effects of porosity on the shear response are demonstrated through triaxial tests on 3D printed particles of different porosities. It is noted that although a quantitative comparison is not possible, a qualitative similarity is observed in the response of the 3D printed porous particles with natural porous volcanic soil. Thus, insights into the mechanical response of porous particles can be gained using 3D printed particles.
Sterben braucht Latenz. Organisierte Sterbebegleitung im Spannungsfeld von Handeln und Erleben
Authors: Nassehi Armin , Saake Irmhild , Barth Niklas , Mayr Katharina
Published: July 2023

In soziologischen Studien über Hospize und Palliativstationen wird häufig kritisiert, dass die Organisationsförmigkeit solcher Einrichtungen das Erleben der Sterbenden überformt. Anhand von problemzentrierten Experteninterviews mit Ärzten und Ärztinnen, Pflegefachkräften sowie narrativen Interviews mit Sterbenden wird in dieser Studie untersucht, nach welchen Kriterien alle Beteiligten Handlungs- und Erlebensmöglichkeiten des Sterbens sich und anderen zurechnen. Auf diese Weise können wir zeigen, dass Sterbeverläufe von professionellen Akteuren als „gut“ erlebt werden, wenn sie als gemeinsames Erleben von einerseits professionellen Akteuren und andererseits Sterbenden, die es so gewollt haben, gedeutet werden können. Dies ist bemerkenswert vor dem Hintergrund eines weiteren Befundes dieser Studie, nämlich der systematischen Perspektivendifferenzen im Erleben des Sterbeverlaufs zwischen professionellen Akteuren einerseits und Sterbenden andererseits. Während Sterbende in unserer Studie ihr Sterben als bedrohliche Diskontinuität erleben, erleben die professionellen Akteure Sterben als kontinuierlich erwartbaren Verlauf. Die Konsensfiktion des gemeinsamen Erlebens des Sterbens stellt offenbar eine hilfreiche Erweiterung der Handlungsmöglichkeiten im Umgang mit dem Sterben dar, da hiermit die Unversöhnlichkeit zwischen Ideal und Praxis, die Perspektivendifferenzen zwischen Sterbenden und professionellen Akteuren und damit auch das unlösbare Problem der Endlichkeit unsichtbar gehalten werden können. Wer Hospize und Palliativstationen untersucht, sollte mit enormen Freiräumen der Deutungsarbeit rechnen, die dem Sterben Latenz verschaffen.
Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome in patients with solid tumors: a scoping review of the literature
Authors: Papapanou Michail , Athanasopoulos Anastasios E. , Georgiadi Eleni , Maragkos Stefanos A. , Liontos Michalis , Ziogas Dimitrios C. , Damaskos Dimitrios , Schizas Dimitrios
Published: July 2023

No systematic synthesis of all cases of spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) in adult patients with solid tumors is available to date. Herein, we aim to recognize specific STLS characteristics and parameters related to a worse prognosis. We conducted a systematic search for randomized controlled trials, cohorts, case-control studies, and case reports. The primary endpoints were death and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) due to STLS. We estimated crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) via univariate binary logistic regression. We included one cohort of 9 patients and 66 case reports of 71 patients [lung cancer 15(21.1%)]. Regarding the case reports, most patients [61(87.1%)] had metastatic disease [liver 46(75.4%)], developed acute kidney injury [59(83.1%)], needed RRT [25(37.3%)], and died due to STLS [36(55.4%)]. Metastatic disease, especially in the liver [p = 0.035; OR (95%CI): 9.88 (1.09, 89.29)] or lungs [p = 0.024; 14.00 (1.37, 142.89)], was significantly associated with STLS-related death compared to no metastasis. Cases resulting in death had a significantly higher probability of receiving rasburicase monotherapy than receiving no urate-lowering agents [p = 0.034; 5.33 (1.09, 26.61)], or the allopurinol-rasburicase combination [p = 0.023; 7.47 (1.40, 39.84)]. Patients receiving allopurinol were less likely to need RRT compared to those not receiving it or those receiving rasburicase. In conclusion, current anecdotal evidence demonstrated that metastatic disease, especially in the liver and lungs, may be associated with STLS-related death compared to no metastatic status. Careful surveillance of high-risk cases within larger studies is essential to identify markers predicting morbidity or mortality.
Adaptive password guessing: learning language, nationality and dataset source
Authors: Murray Hazel , Malone David
Published: July 2023

Human chosen passwords are often predictable. Research has shown that users of similar demographics or choosing passwords for the same website will often choose similar passwords. This knowledge is leveraged by human password guessers who use it to tailor their attacks. In this paper, we demonstrate that a learning algorithm can actively learn these same characteristics of the passwords as it is guessing and that it can leverage this information to adaptively improve its guessing. Furthermore, we show that if we split our candidate wordlists based on these characteristics, then a multi-armed bandit style guessing algorithm can adaptively choose to guess from the wordlist which will maximise successes.
Technologies for Children
Authors: Fleer Marilyn
Published: July 2023

Technologies for Children is a comprehensive guide to teaching design and digital technologies to children from birth to 12 years. Aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum: Technologies, this book provides practical ideas for teaching infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary-aged children. The third edition includes expanded content on teaching digital technologies, with a new chapter on computational thinking. Key topics covered include food and fibre production, engineering principles and systems, and computational thinking. The content goes beyond discussing the curriculum to consider technology pedagogies, planning, assessment and evaluation. Case studies drawn from Australian primary classrooms and early childhood centres demonstrate the transition from theory to practice. Each chapter is supported by pedagogical reflections, research activities and spotlights, as well as extensive online student resources. Written by Marilyn Fleer, this book presents innovative, engaging and student-centred approaches to integrating technologies in the classroom.
Perceived usefulness of a mnemonic to improve nurses’ evaluation of reported penicillin allergies
Authors: Carter Eileen J. , Schramm Carol , Baron Kate , Zolla Meagan M. , Zavez Katherine , Banach David B.
Published: July 2023

We surveyed clinicians to evaluate the perceived usefulness of a mnemonic, STORY, to improve penicillin allergy evaluation. Survey responses indicated that the perceived usefulness of STORY was high, and support for nurses’ involvement in penicillin allergy assessment was high. Future research may evaluate the feasibility of STORY implementation in clinical care.
Automotive Supply Chain Links to the Uyghur Genocide: Reversing a Growing Crisis
Authors: Salcito Kendyl
Published: July 2023

Since 2017, the government of the People’s Republic of China has heightened repression of Uyghur and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Repressive tactics involve family separations, mass incarceration, forced labour and cultural indoctrination. This has been accompanied, in recent years, with an aggressive industrialization of the area which relies heavily on the forced labour of Uyghur and other minorities. The automotive industry, in particular, has expanded into the region. This piece describes China’s push of heavy industry into XUAR and recent findings by Sheffield Hallam University and NomoGaia of abuses against Uyghurs and their links to the global automotive sector. It then explains the methodology employed by NomoGaia in its co-authored report with scholars from Sheffield Hallam University for linking abuses in the XUAR to global brands, and proposes a way forward for the industry.
CURVATURE-TORSION ENTROPY FOR TWISTED CURVES UNDER CURVE SHORTENING FLOW
Authors: KHAN GABRIEL
Published: July 2023

We study curve-shortening flow for twisted curves in
$\mathbb {R}^3$
(that is, curves with nowhere vanishing curvature
$\kappa $
and torsion
$\tau $
) and define a notion of torsion-curvature entropy. Using this functional, we show that either the curve develops an inflection point or the eventual singularity is highly irregular (and likely impossible). In particular, it must be a Type-II singularity which admits sequences along which
${\tau }/{\kappa ^2} \to \infty $
. This contrasts strongly with Altschuler’s planarity theorem, which shows that
${\tau }/{\kappa } \to 0$
along any essential blow-up sequence.
The flower, then the sword: The militarisation of Burma's most beautiful book
Authors: Kaloyanides Alexandra
Published: July 2023

This article examines the highly ornamented Burmese manuscript known as the Kammavāca to understand what its luxurious materials and distinctive illustrations reveal about Buddhist practice and politics in Burma's last kingdom, the Konbaung dynasty (1752–1885). This article shows that the illustrations on Kammavāca manuscripts transformed during the Konbaung dynasty to feature new sword-wielding guardians. This article argues that this militarisation was part of the Burmese kingdom's increasing reliance on ritual practices and religious materials to fortify a kingdom at war with the British and threatened by ethnic divisions.
Being exposed to the same trigger increases the risk of recurrence of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in children and can have fatal results: a case report
Authors: Garcia de Oteyza Maria , Dolader Paola , Gran Ferran
Published: July 2023

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has an incidence of 1% of acute coronary syndrome in the adult population, and the risk of recurrence is approximately 1.5% per year. However, only a few cases have been reported in children. Having a neurologic disorder and being exposed to the same trigger repeatedly have been associated with an increased risk.
Eingriffsbezogene Anforderungen: Kriterien einer OP-spezifischen Patientenklassifikation
Authors: Ninow Beate , Rettke Horst
Published: July 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Infolge der Ökonomisierung im Gesundheitswesen und der Skill-Grademix-Entwicklung im OP-Bereich hat die Frage nach dem bestmöglichem Personaleinsatz hohe Priorität. Ein häufig thematisiertes Bedürfnis besteht darin, eingriffsbezogene Anforderungen an OP-Pflegefachpersonen möglichst exakt abzubilden. Eine OP-spezifische Patientenklassifikation kann hilfreich sein. Ziel: Dieser Beitrag zielt darauf ab, Kernelemente perioperativer Pflege im Deutschschweizer Kontext darzustellen sowie eine Verknüpfung mit dem Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) herstellen zu können. Methodik: Drei Fokusgruppeninterviews mit OP-Pflegefachpersonen fanden an einem Deutschschweizer Universitätsspital statt. Die Datenauswertung erfolgte analog zur qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring. Die inhaltliche Strukturierung der Kategorien orientierte sich an den entsprechenden PNDS-Taxonomien. Ergebnisse: Eingriffsbezogene Anforderungen lassen sich in drei Bereiche unterteilen: „Patientensicherheit (S)“, „Pflege und Betreuung (P)“ und „Umgebungsfaktoren (U)“. Die Verknüpfung mit der PNDS-Taxonomie dient als theoretisches Fundament. Schlussfolgerung: Elemente der PNDS-Taxonomie können die Anforderungen der perioperativen Pflege im Deutschschweizer Kontext beschreiben. Die ermittelte Definition eingriffsbezogener Anforderungen kann zur Sichtbarkeit der perioperativen Pflege beitragen sowie die Professionalisierung und Praxisentwicklung im OP fördern.
Upper Ocean Transport in the Anegada Passage From Multi‐Year Glider Surveys
Authors: Gradone J. C. , Wilson W. D. , Glenn S. M. , Miles T. N.
Published: July 2023

Caribbean through‐flow accounts for two‐thirds of the Florida Current and consequently is an important conduit of heat and salt fluxes in the upper limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Considering there is evidence that up to one‐half of the Florida Current originates as South Atlantic Water (SAW), determining the distribution of SAW throughout the Caribbean Island passages is important as this constitutes the major pathway for cross‐equatorial AMOC return flow. The Anegada Passage (AP) is a major pathway for subtropical gyre inflow and suggested to be a potential SAW inflow pathway worth revisiting. Here, we present glider‐based observations of temperature, salinity and subsurface velocity that represent the first observations of any type in the AP in nearly 20 years. An isopycnal water mass analysis is conducted to quantify the transport of water masses with South Atlantic or North Atlantic origin. Two potentially new aspects of AP transport are revealed. The total AP transport (−4.8 Sv) is shown to be larger than previously estimated, potentially by up to a factor of two. The transport of SAW through the AP (−1.66 Sv) is also shown to be larger than previously estimated, which represents 35% of the total transport reported here and 28% of the SAW entering the Caribbean north of the Windward Island Passages. These results indicate the AP may be an important pathway for cross‐equatorial AMOC return flow. These results also provide evidence that gliders with acoustic doppler profilers are a viable method for measuring island passage transport.
Novel Geometric Parameters for Assessing Flow Over Realistic Versus Idealized Urban Arrays
Authors: Lu Jiachen , Nazarian Negin , Hart Melissa Anne , Krayenhoff E. Scott , Martilli Alberto
Published: July 2023

Urban heterogeneity, such as the variation of street layouts, building shapes, and building heights, cannot be fully represented by density parameters commonly used in idealized urban environmental analyses. To address this shortcoming and better model flow fields over complex urban neighborhoods, we propose two novel descriptive geometric parameters, alignedness and building facet entropy, which quantify the connectivity of inter‐building spaces along the prevailing wind direction and the variation of building facet orientations, respectively. We then conducted large eddy simulations over 101 urban layouts, including realistic urban configurations with uniform building height as well as idealized building arrays with variable heights, and evaluated the resulting bulk flow properties. Urban canopy flow over realistic neighborhoods resembles staggered building arrays for low urban densities but becomes similar to aligned configurations beyond λp ∼ 0.25 where the realistic flow is less sensitive to changes in density. We further show that compared to traditional density parameters (such as plan and frontal area densities), the mean alignedness, a measure of connectivity of flow paths in street canyons, better predicts canopy‐averaged flow properties. Furthermore, for realistic urban flow, the dispersive momentum flux shows a clear increasing trend with building density, and a decreasing trend with alignedness, which is in contrast with idealized cases that exhibit no clear trend. This distinct behavior further highlights the necessity of evaluating flow over realistic urban layouts for flow parameterization. This study provides an improved method of describing urban layouts for flow characterization that can be applied in neighborhood‐scale urban canopy parameterization.
Dynamics of the Marine Dissolved Organic Carbon Reservoir in Glacial Climate Simulations: The Importance of Biological Production
Authors: Gilchrist Maya D. , Matsumoto Katsumi
Published: July 2023

The marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) reservoir rivals the atmospheric carbon inventory in size. Recent work has suggested that the size of the DOC reservoir may respond to variations in sea temperature and global overturning circulation strength. Moreover, mobilization of marine DOC has been implicated in paleoclimate events including Cryogenian glaciation and Eocene hyperthermals. Despite these suggestions, the dynamics of the marine DOC reservoir are poorly understood, and previous carbon cycle modeling has generally assumed this reservoir to be static. In this study, we utilize an Earth system model of intermediate complexity to assess the response of the marine DOC reservoir to various glacial boundary conditions. Our results indicate that the marine DOC reservoir is responsive to glacial perturbations and may shrink or expand on the order of 10–100 Pg C. In contrast to recent studies that emphasize the importance of DOC degradation in driving the mobility of DOC reservoir, our study indicates the importance of DOC production. In the experiment under full glacial boundary conditions, for example, a 19% drop in net primary production leads to an 81 Pg C reduction in the DOC pool, without which the atmospheric CO2 concentration would have been lower by approximately 38 ppm by dissolved inorganic carbon changes alone. Thus, DOC reservoir variability is necessary to fully account for the simulated changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Our findings based on glacial experiments are corroborated in a different set of simulations using freshwater flux to induce weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation.
Structure of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in Three Generations of Climate Models
Authors: Wang Fuchang , Xu Xiaobiao , Zhang Feng , Ma Leiming
Published: July 2023

Through a large meridional transport of heat and freshwater, the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) plays a fundamental role in the earth climate system. Yet, there exist significant biases in representing AMOC structures in climate models and it is unclear whether or to what extent the biases have reduced through different generations of climate models. To address this question, this study compared the AMOC represented in three phases of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) models with a similar horizontal resolution: CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6. We found that (a) although the model spread is large, the multi‐model ensemble of each CMIP reproduced a similar AMOC magnitude and the overturning depth that are in a reasonable agreement with observations; (b) in each CMIP, there is a smaller temperature and salinity difference between the northward flowing top limb and the southward flowing second limb of the AMOC, which lead to a systematic bias of a weaker meridional transport of heat and freshwater; (c) these biases are generally similar in CMIP5 and CMIP6 and significantly improved from CMIP3.
What Methane Jets Might Tell Us About Enceladus
Authors: Tillman Nola
Published: July 2023

Plumes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus are dumping methane into space—fast. Something must be resupplying the organic compound.
Global forest fragmentation change from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Ma Jun , Li Jiawei , Wu Wanben , Liu Jiajia
Published: July 2023

A comprehensive quantification of global forest fragmentation is urgently required to guide forest protection, restoration and reforestation policies. Previous efforts focused on the static distribution patterns of forest remnants, potentially neglecting dynamic changes in forest landscapes. Here, we map global distribution of forest fragments and their temporal changes between 2000 and 2020. We find that forest landscapes in the tropics were relatively intact, yet these areas experienced the most severe fragmentation over the past two decades. In contrast, 75.1% of the world’s forests experienced a decrease in fragmentation, and forest fragmentation in most fragmented temperate and subtropical regions, mainly in northern Eurasia and South China, declined between 2000 and 2020. We also identify eight modes of fragmentation that indicate different recovery or degradation states. Our findings underscore the need to curb deforestation and increase connectivity among forest fragments, especially in tropical areas.
Short-term particulate matter contamination severely compromises insect antennal olfactory perception
Authors: Wang Qike , Liu Genting , Yan Liping , Xu Wentian , Hilton Douglas J. , Liu Xianhui , Pei Wenya , Li Xinyu , Wu Jinbiao , Zhao Haifeng , Zhang Dong , Elgar Mark A.
Published: July 2023

The consequences of sub-lethal levels of ambient air pollution are underestimated for insects, for example, the accumulation of particulate matter on sensory receptors located on their antennae may have detrimental effects to their function. Here we show that the density of particulate matter on the antennae of houseflies (Musca domestica) collected from an urban environment increases with the severity of air pollution. A combination of behavioural assays, electroantennograms and transcriptomic analysis provide consistent evidence that a brief exposure to particulate matter pollution compromises olfactory perception of reproductive and food odours in both male and female houseflies. Since particulate matter can be transported thousands of kilometres from its origin, these effects may represent an additional factor responsible for global declines in insect numbers, even in pristine and remote areas.
Intranasal influenza-vectored COVID-19 vaccine restrains the SARS-CoV-2 inflammatory response in hamsters
Authors: Zhang Liang , Jiang Yao , He Jinhang , Chen Junyu , Qi Ruoyao , Yuan Lunzhi , Shao Tiange , Zhao Hui , Chen Congjie , Chen Yaode , Wang Xijing , Lei Xing , Gao Qingxiang , Zhuang Chunlan , Zhou Ming , Ma Jian , Liu Wei , Yang Man , Fu Rao , Wu Yangtao , Chen Feng , Xiong Hualong , Nie Meifeng , Chen Yiyi , Wu Kun , Fang Mujin , Wang Yingbin , Zheng Zizheng , Huang Shoujie , Ge Shengxiang , Cheng Shih Chin , Zhu Huachen , Cheng Tong , Yuan Quan , Wu Ting , Zhang Jun , Chen Yixin , Zhang Tianying , Li Changgui , Qi Hai , Guan Yi , Xia Ningshao
Published: July 2023

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and “anatomical escape” characteristics threaten the effectiveness of current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. There is an urgent need to understand the immunological mechanism of broad-spectrum respiratory tract protection to guide broader vaccines development. Here we investigate immune responses induced by an NS1-deleted influenza virus vectored intranasal COVID-19 vaccine (dNS1-RBD) which provides broad-spectrum protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamsters. Intranasal delivery of dNS1-RBD induces innate immunity, trained immunity and tissue-resident memory T cells covering the upper and lower respiratory tract. It restrains the inflammatory response by suppressing early phase viral load post SARS-CoV-2 challenge and attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokine (Il6, Il1b, and Ifng) levels, thereby reducing excess immune-induced tissue injury compared with the control group. By inducing local cellular immunity and trained immunity, intranasal delivery of NS1-deleted influenza virus vectored vaccine represents a broad-spectrum COVID-19 vaccine strategy to reduce disease burden.
DipM controls multiple autolysins and mediates a regulatory feedback loop promoting cell constriction in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Izquierdo-Martinez Adrian , Billini Maria , Miguel-Ruano Vega , Hernández-Tamayo Rogelio , Richter Pia , Biboy Jacob , Batuecas María T. , Glatter Timo , Vollmer Waldemar , Graumann Peter L. , Hermoso Juan A. , Thanbichler Martin
Published: July 2023

Proteins with a catalytically inactive LytM-type endopeptidase domain are important regulators of cell wall-degrading enzymes in bacteria. Here, we study their representative DipM, a factor promoting cell division in Caulobacter crescentus. We show that the LytM domain of DipM interacts with multiple autolysins, including the soluble lytic transglycosylases SdpA and SdpB, the amidase AmiC and the putative carboxypeptidase CrbA, and stimulates the activities of SdpA and AmiC. Its crystal structure reveals a conserved groove, which is predicted to represent the docking site for autolysins by modeling studies. Mutations in this groove indeed abolish the function of DipM in vivo and its interaction with AmiC and SdpA in vitro. Notably, DipM and its targets SdpA and SdpB stimulate each other’s recruitment to midcell, establishing a self-reinforcing cycle that gradually increases autolytic activity as cytokinesis progresses. DipM thus coordinates different peptidoglycan-remodeling pathways to ensure proper cell constriction and daughter cell separation.
Synaptotagmin-1-dependent phasic axonal dopamine release is dispensable for basic motor behaviors in mice
Authors: Delignat-Lavaud Benoît , Kano Jana , Ducrot Charles , Massé Ian , Mukherjee Sriparna , Giguère Nicolas , Moquin Luc , Lévesque Catherine , Burke Samuel , Denis Raphaëlle , Bourque Marie-Josée , Tchung Alex , Rosa-Neto Pedro , Lévesque Daniel , De Beaumont Louis , Trudeau Louis-Éric
Published: July 2023

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), motor dysfunctions only become apparent after extensive loss of DA innervation. This resilience has been hypothesized to be due to the ability of many motor behaviors to be sustained through a diffuse basal tone of DA; but experimental evidence for this is limited. Here we show that conditional deletion of the calcium sensor synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) in DA neurons (Syt1 cKODA mice) abrogates most activity-dependent axonal DA release in the striatum and mesencephalon, leaving somatodendritic (STD) DA release intact. Strikingly, Syt1 cKODA mice showed intact performance in multiple unconditioned DA-dependent motor tasks and even in a task evaluating conditioned motivation for food. Considering that basal extracellular DA levels in the striatum were unchanged, our findings suggest that activity-dependent DA release is dispensable for such tasks and that they can be sustained by a basal tone of extracellular DA. Taken together, our findings reveal the striking resilience of DA-dependent motor functions in the context of a near-abolition of phasic DA release, shedding new light on why extensive loss of DA innervation is required to reveal motor dysfunctions in PD.
Exciton dissociation in 2D layered metal-halide perovskites
Authors: Simbula Angelica , Wu Luyan , Pitzalis Federico , Pau Riccardo , Lai Stefano , Liu Fang , Matta Selene , Marongiu Daniela , Quochi Francesco , Saba Michele , Mura Andrea , Bongiovanni Giovanni
Published: July 2023

Layered 2D perovskites are making inroads as materials for photovoltaics and light emitting diodes, but their photophysics is still lively debated. Although their large exciton binding energies should hinder charge separation, significant evidence has been uncovered for an abundance of free carriers among optical excitations. Several explanations have been proposed, like exciton dissociation at grain boundaries or polaron formation, without clarifying yet if excitons form and then dissociate, or if the formation is prevented by competing relaxation processes. Here we address exciton stability in layered Ruddlesden-Popper PEA2PbI4 (PEA stands for phenethylammonium) both in form of thin film and single crystal, by resonant injection of cold excitons, whose dissociation is then probed with femtosecond differential transmission. We show the intrinsic nature of exciton dissociation in 2D layered perovskites, demonstrating that both 2D and 3D perovskites are free carrier semiconductors and their photophysics is described by a unique and universal framework.