bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon-dioxide-driven increase in foliage projective cover is not the same as increased woody plant density: lessons from an Australian tropical savanna
Authors: Crowley Gabriel M. , Murphy Stephen A.
Published: June 2023

Carbon accounting in tropical savannas relies on a good understanding of the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and land management on foliage projective cover (FPC) and vegetation structure. We used generalised additive modelling to track changes in Autumn Persistent Green (APG, a satellite-image-derived measure of FPC) in six vegetation types on Cape York Peninsula, Australia, over an 18-year period, and examined the influence of fire and grazing land tenure. We then used field monitoring and variography (analysis of spatial autocorrelation) in a smaller study area to determine whether changes in APG reflected vegetation structural change. APG increased through the 18-year study period and was significantly influenced by vegetation type, recent fire history and grazing land tenure. Residual year-on-year increases suggest CO2 fertilisation was the main driver of APG increase. APG was reduced by fires in the previous year, with early dry season fires having greater impact than late dry season fires, particularly in grassland and rainforest. This is consistent with leaves being most fire sensitive early in the year, when they are actively growing, than in the late dry season, when they are dormant. As seedlings and suckers would be particularly fire-sensitive, early fires may therefore be more effective than late fires at preventing woody encroachment. We demonstrated that variography provides a good indication of whether APG increases are caused by increases in FPC alone, or by an increase in tree density. We found support for increased woody plant density in grasslands, and that this increase was most pronounced on grazing lands. Conversely, we found no support for stem density increases in the dominant eucalypt woodland, despite APG increases being highest in this vegetation type. Hence, increases in FPC cannot always be equated to increases in woody biomass, and may occur in their absence. This conclusion has serious implications for global carbon accounting.
Interacting comparatively
Authors: Al-Sheroqi Thajbah , Al-Thani Fatima , Alzini Mariam , Souayah Ilhem , Theodoropoulou Irene
Published: June 2023

Metaphors and proverbs are an indispensable sociocultural aspect of language. In this paper, we look at the sociocultural linguistic heterogeneity codified through metaphors and proverbs among three Arabic dialects, namely the Qatari, the Palestinian, and the Tunisian ones. The corpora of metaphors and proverbs have been elicited through interviews with relatives and friends, who live in Qatar, Palestine, and Tunisia respectively. The data are analyzed in the context of cognitive metaphor theory with a focus on comparative and interactionist perspectives. With a focus on two emerging themes, namely physical appearance, and sexual orientation, we argue that the Qatari dialect seems to be more inventive in the sexual orientation theme, while the Palestinian dialect foregrounds appearance due to the importance of marriage in Palestinian society, and the Tunisian dialect shows no emphasis on a specific theme. The differences we have found in metaphors and proverbs offer a glimpse of the various social orders, symbolic meanings, and lifestyles found in the three respective cultures, which are a vital aspect of cultural literacy in the Arab world. In this sense, the study is a suggestion on how to analyze qualitatively sociocultural linguistic heterogeneity at the level of figurative language and its symbolic meanings.
Design and numerical analysis of a highly sensitive nano-layer coated photonic crystal fiber biosensor
Authors: Mousavi Monazah Seyede Mahboobeh , Salehi Mohammad Reza , Emami Farzin , Salehi Mohammad
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a highly sensitive diabetes detection sensor based on photonic crystal fiber-gold plasmonic material is designed, proposed and analyzed. In this sensor, the application of a gold thin film increases the operating wavelength range (400 nm–1200 nm). The analyte, which is the cell, is placed outside the sensor and makes it easy to fabricate. The proposed sensor detects healthy and diabetic cells based on the refractive indices. Moreover, full-transistor modeling is presented to detect the probability of diabetes. In this model, healthy persons, persons with a low risk of diabetes and persons with a high risk of diabetes are diagnosed. Numerical results show that the proposed biosensor has a maximum amplitude sensitivity of 2127.7 RIU−1, amplitude resolution of 4.69 × 10−6 RIU, maximum wavelength sensitivity of 21 000 nm RIU−1 and wavelength resolution of 4.76 × 10−7 RIU.
New physical structures and patterns to the optical solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a higher dimension
Authors: Ali Karmina K , Yusuf Abdullahi , Alquran Marwan , Tarla Sibel
Published: June 2023

It is commonly recognized that, despite current analytical approaches, many physical aspects of nonlinear models remain unknown. It is critical to build more efficient integration methods to design and construct numerous other unknown solutions and physical attributes for the nonlinear models, as well as for the benefit of the largest audience feasible. To achieve this goal, we propose a new extended unified auxiliary equation technique, a brand-new analytical method for solving nonlinear partial differential equations. The proposed method is applied to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a higher dimension in the anomalous dispersion. Many interesting solutions have been obtained. Moreover, to shed more light on the features of the obtained solutions, the figures for some obtained solutions are graphed. The propagation characteristics of the generated solutions are shown. The results show that the proper physical quantities and nonlinear wave qualities are connected to the parameter values. It is worth noting that the new method is very effective and efficient, and it may be applied in the realisation of novel solutions.
CaPdBi: A Nontrivial Topological Candidate
Authors: Sahoo Sushree Sarita , Behatha Anuroopa , Desai Vishal V , Kanchana V
Published: June 2023

In the framework of density functional theory, a comprehensive investigation of the mechanical, dynamical, and electronic properties of the compounds CaPdX (X= Sb and Bi) is performed. The investigated systems are both mechanically and dynamically stable. These compounds are claimed to be metallic by the electronic structure properties, with intriguing crossing points in the close proximity of the Fermi level. With spin orbit coupling (SOC) included, a gap appears at particular crossing points. The predicted electronic band structure shows that the d-states of Ca and Pd and the p-states of Bi and Sb dominate at the crossing sites. Inversion and time-reversal symmetry, together with the inclusion of SOC, demonstrate that CaPdBi is a Dirac metal. The calculated Z2 invariants for CaPdSb and CaPdBi are 0 and 1, which infer the trivial and non-trivial strong topological nature, respectively. As a whole, the investigated compound has future scope for its fascinating topological features, one amongst which is the presence of low-energy excitons (Dirac points).
Revisiting quantum transport across junctions of single and double-Weyl semimetals
Authors: Ghosh Suvendu , Nandy Snehasish , Taraphder A.
Published: June 2023

Different types of transport in topological semimetals probe the signatures of their band topology directly. Using Landuer-Buttiker formalism, we study transport through a rectangular potential barrier created across a junction between two topological multi-Weyl semimetals (MSMs). In contrast to a regular Weyl semimetal with topological charge J = 1, MSMs are allowed to have monopole charges J > 1. Consequently, the band structures show highly anisotropic dispersions, being linear exclusively in one momentum direction, and exhibiting a power law dependence, governed by the topological charge J, in other two directions. In this work, we restrict ourselves to MSMs with J = 1 and 2, i.e. single- and double-Weyl semimetals, and our study reveals several unconventional features, which are unique to our systems of study and are useful as diagnostic tools for such topological systems and help to understand the role of anisotropies in these systems. Most strikingly, our study uncovers that the barrier becomes completely transparent to the particles obliquely incident on the barrier only when the incident energy (E) exactly equals to the half of the barrier-height (U) with a certain condition. On the other hand, we show that the Klein tunneling, i.e. the perfect transmission of the particles incident normally on the barrier, exists not only in E < U limit but also in E > U limit. Our study also identifies a new limit (E < U) of occurrence of classical Ramsauer-Townsend effect like condition. The results presented in this work could be tested in simple experiments.
Quantum capacitance of multi-layered 2D iodine for supercapacitor electrode
Authors: Kolavada Himalay , Gupta Sanjeev K. , Gajjar P. N.
Published: June 2023

In recent decades, the utilization of energy storage devices has been at its peak. A supercapacitor is superior to a battery because it has a quick charge-discharge rate and great energy storage capacity. Because of the lack of quantum capacitance, the overall capacitance in the supercapacitor is lower. In this study, we aimed to increase the quantum capacitance of the total capacitance of 2D iodine. For this, we work on 2D iodine from 1 layer to 5 layer and determine its quantum capacitance (CQ) to boost the supercapacitor qualities. Our research reveals that the CQ is rising with the increase of layers. The quantum capacitance of 1 layer is 406.64 μF/cm2 rising linearly to 1732.17 μF/cm2 for 5 layer. The charge storage on the cathode side is more significant than on the anode side, which shows that Iodinene functions as a cathode electrode in a supercapacitor.
Exotic Electronic Properties of Twisted Bilayer Graphene-Emergence of Twistronics
Authors: Veerpal  , Ajay
Published: June 2023

In Twistronics we study the effect of relative twist between the layers of a material on the electronic properties of that layered materials. There are expected to be hundreds of layered materials which can give rise to thousands or even more layered materials with combination of layers and relative twist between the layers. There is a great possibility to encounter many exotic electronic properties in these rather less explored layered materials with relative twist between the layers. There is a lot to explore and understand, to unlock full potential of twistronics. A lot of theoretical and experimental studies have been done and are being done to explore the electronic properties of twisted bilayer graphene, making it a good material to start with to explore the hidden potential of twistronics. Here we present a simple theoretical model study for commensurate twisted bilayer graphene. Starting from understanding of moire pattern in twisted bilayer graphene our study goes through writing of tight binding Hamiltonian, computational codes to determine various model parameters, solution of Hamiltonian to obtain quasi particle energies and density of states near Fermi energy in twisted bilayer graphene. Our theoretical calculations have produced flat band near Dirac point and Van-Hove singularities near Fermi energy, which agree qualitatively with recent experimental studies.
Evidence of half-metallic-2DHG at BiFeO3 based heterointerfaces
Authors: Jena Soumyasree , Bhattacharya Sanchari , Datta Sanjoy
Published: June 2023

The electronic properties of tetragonal BiFeO3 based hetero-structures, along with the tetragonal phase of SrTiO3 and PbTiO3 in (001) direction, is investigated with two types of interfaces. In the case of BiFeO3/SrTiO3(001) hetero-structure, the (FeO2)−/(SrO)0, and (BiO)+/(TiO2)0 interfaces are investigated respectively. For BiFeO3/PbTiO3(001) hetero-structure, the (FeO2)−/(PbO)0, and (BiO)+ / (TiO2)0 interfaces are studied. A tiny amount of half-metallicity has been found in the (FeO2)−/(SrO)0 interface while (BiO)+/(TiO2)0 interface behaves as metallic in the case of BiFeO3/SrTiO3(001) heterostructure. However, interestingly, (FeO2)−/(PbO)0 interface turns out to be a prominent half-metal with hole-type charge carriers, and (BiO)+/(TiO2)0 exhibits two-dimensional electron gas in the case of BiFeO3/PbTiO3(001).
Synthesis, applications and biosafety evaluation of carbon dots derived from herbal medicine
Authors: Sun Lingxiang , Zhang Ran , Zhang Tong , Liu Xiaoming , Zhao Yifan , Yang Mengqi , Cheng Huaiyi , Zhang Qingmei , Zhang Yanjie , Wu Xiuping , Li Bing
Published: June 2023

Carbon dots (CDs) are novel zero-dimensional spherical nanoparticles with water solubility, biocompatibility and photoluminescence properties. As the variety of raw materials for CDs synthesis becomes more and more abundant, people tend to choose precursors from nature. Many recent studies have shown that CDs can inherit properties similar to their carbon sources. Chinese herbal medicine has a variety of therapeutic effects to many diseases. In recent years, many literatures have chosen herbal medicine as raw materials, however, how the properties of raw materials affect CDs has not been systematically summarized. The intrinsic bioactivity and potential pharmacological effects of CDs have not received sufficient attention and have become a ‘blind spot’ for research. In this paper, the main synthesis methods were introduced and the effects of carbon sources from different herbal medicine on the properties of CDs and related applications were reviewed. In addition, we briefly review some of the biosafety assessments of CDs, and make recommendations for biomedical applications. CDs that inherit the therapeutic properties of herbs can enable diagnosis and treatment of clinical diseases, bioimaging, and biosensing in the future.
Autologous endothelialisation by the stromal vascular fraction on laminin-bioconjugated nanocellulose–alginate scaffolds
Authors: Oskarsdotter Kristin , Säljö Karin , Sämfors Sanna , Niemi Essi M , Li Susann , Simonsson Stina , Apelgren Peter , Scholz Hanne , Gatenholm Paul , Kölby Lars
Published: June 2023

Establishing a vascular network in biofabricated tissue grafts is essential for ensuring graft survival. Such networks are dependent on the ability of the scaffold material to facilitate endothelial cell adhesion; however, the clinical translation potential of tissue-engineered scaffolds is hindered by the lack of available autologous sources of vascular cells. Here, we present a novel approach to achieving autologous endothelialisation in nanocellulose-based scaffolds by using adipose tissue-derived vascular cells on nanocellulose-based scaffolds. We used sodium periodate-mediated bioconjugation to covalently bind laminin to the scaffold surface and isolated the stromal vascular fraction and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs; CD31+CD45−) from human lipoaspirate. Additionally, we assessed the adhesive capacity of scaffold bioconjugation in vitro using both adipose tissue-derived cell populations and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The results showed that the bioconjugated scaffold exhibited remarkably higher cell viability and scaffold surface coverage by adhesion regardless of cell type, whereas control groups comprising cells on non-bioconjugated scaffolds exhibited minimal cell adhesion across all cell types. Furthermore, on culture day 3, EPCs seeded on laminin-bioconjugated scaffolds showed positive immunofluorescence staining for the endothelial markers CD31 and CD34, suggesting that the scaffolds promoted progenitor differentiation into mature endothelial cells. These findings present a possible strategy for generating autologous vasculature and thereby increase the clinical relevance of 3D-bioprinted nanocellulose-based constructs.
Do beaver ponds increase methane emissions along Arctic tundra streams?
Authors: Clark Jason A , Tape Ken D , Baskaran Latha , Elder Clayton , Miller Charles , Miner Kimberley , O’Donnell Jonathan A , Jones Benjamin M
Published: June 2023

Beaver engineering in the Arctic tundra induces hydrologic and geomorphic changes that are favorable to methane (CH4) production. Beaver-mediated methane emissions are driven by inundation of existing vegetation, conversion from lotic to lentic systems, accumulation of organic rich sediments, elevated water tables, anaerobic conditions, and thawing permafrost. Ground-based measurements of CH4 emissions from beaver ponds in permafrost landscapes are scarce, but hyperspectral remote sensing data (AVIRIS-NG) permit mapping of ‘hotspots’ thought to represent locations of high CH4 emission. We surveyed a 429.5 km2 area in Northwestern Alaska using hyperspectral airborne imaging spectroscopy at ∼5 m pixel resolution (14.7 million observations) to examine spatial relationships between CH4 hotspots and 118 beaver ponds. AVIRIS-NG CH4 hotspots covered 0.539% (2.3 km2) of the study area, and were concentrated within 30 m of waterbodies. Comparing beaver ponds to all non-beaver waterbodies (including waterbodies >450 m from beaver-affected water), we found significantly greater CH4 hotspot occurrences around beaver ponds, extending to a distance of 60 m. We found a 51% greater CH4 hotspot occurrence ratio around beaver ponds relative to nearby non-beaver waterbodies. Dammed lake outlets showed no significant differences in CH4 hotspot ratios compared to non-beaver lakes, likely due to little change in inundation extent. The enhancement in AVIRIS-NG CH4 hotspots adjacent to beaver ponds is an example of a new disturbance regime, wrought by an ecosystem engineer, accelerating the effects of climate change in the Arctic. As beavers continue to expand into the Arctic and reshape lowland ecosystems, we expect continued wetland creation, permafrost thaw and alteration of the Arctic carbon cycle, as well as myriad physical and biological changes.
The impact of particulate pollution control on aerosol hygroscopicity and CCN activity in North China
Authors: Wang Yuxiang , Wang Yuying , Song Xiaorui , Shang Yi , Zhou Yunxiang , Huang Xin , Li Zhanqing
Published: June 2023

Air quality has greatly improved in China owing to the strict control policy enforced during the last decade. This study investigated the impact of particulate pollution control on aerosol hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in North China based on several data sources. The mass concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) decreased by one third from the summer of 2014 to the summer of 2020 in Xinzhou (XZ). The mass fractions of aerosol chemical components in PM2.5 also clearly changed, showing an increase in hydrophilic inorganics and a decrease in hydrophobic organics and black carbon from 2014 to 2020. Measurements of the particle number size distribution in XZ indicate that the occurrence frequency of new particle formation (NPF) events decreased significantly from 2014 to 2020, leading to a reduction in the generation of daytime ultrafine particles. The weakened NPF and increasing influence of morning and evening peak emissions modified the diurnal variations of the number concentration of condensation nuclei (N
CN) and CCN (N
CCN). The aerosol activation ratio was always higher in the summer of 2014 than in the summer of 2020. These results demonstrate that particulate pollution control can decrease N
CN and N
CCN but enhance aerosol hygroscopicity and activation ability.
Climate change is enforcing physiological changes in Arctic Ecosystems
Authors: Madani Nima , Parazoo Nicholas C , Miller Charles E
Published: June 2023

Remote sensing and site-level observations have shown unprecedented changes in Arctic ecosystems owing to climate warming. These observations include greening and browning trends in Arctic vegetation as well as changes in species composition both in the tundra and the boreal forests. Here, we leveraged solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to study changes in ecosystem phenology across the pan-Arctic domain from 2000 to 2020. Ecoregions, as a proxy for plants’ functional traits, were the single most important variable to explain the spatial and phenological heterogeneity in observed SIF trends. We observed unique regional trends in ecosystems responses to climate change affecting the timing of spring photosynthesis onset, magnitude of peak productivity during the growing season (GS) and fall senescence. While, Photosynthetic activity in the early GS showed increasing trends across the vast majority of the pan-Arctic, it tends to decline at the end of the season for nearly half of the land area, including parts of North America but more significantly in central Siberia. The observed changes in phenology highlight the role of biodiversity in regional climate sensitivity and emphasizes the need for better representations of sub-biomes to community level information in Arctic ecosystem process models and projections. These results also highlight the importance of phenology information in ecosystem models for better understanding of the timing and magnitude of carbon uptake in the Arctic domain with accelerated changes in climate.
Effective binding potential from Casimir interactions: the case of the Bose gas
Authors: Pruszczyk Marcin , Jakubczyk Paweł
Published: June 2023

We consider the thermal Casimir effect in ideal Bose gases, where the dispersion relation involves both terms quadratic and quartic in momentum. We demonstrate that if macroscopic objects are immersed in such a fluid in spatial dimensionality

d
∈
{
3
,
7
,
11
,
…
}

and at the critical temperature

T

c

, the Casimir force acting between them is characterized by a sign which depends on the separation D between the bodies and changes from attractive at large distances to repulsive at smaller separations. In consequence, an effective potential which binds the two objects at a finite separation arises. We demonstrate that for odd integer dimensionality

d
∈
{
3
,
5
,
7
,
…
}

, the Casimir energy is a polynomial of degree

(
d
−
1
)

in D
−2. We point out a very special role of dimensionality d = 3, where we derive a strikingly simple form of the Casimir energy as a function of D at Bose–Einstein condensation. We discuss crossover between monotonous and oscillatory decay of the Casimir interaction above the condensation temperature.
Telling compositeness at a distance with outer automorphisms and CP
Authors: Bischer Ingolf , Döring Christian , Trautner Andreas
Published: June 2023

We investigate charge-parity (CP) and non-CP outer automorphism of groups and the transformation behavior of group representations under them. We identify situations where composite and elementary states that transform in exactly the same representation of the group, transform differently under outer automorphisms. This can be instrumental in discriminating composite from elementary states solely by their quantum numbers with respect to the outer automorphism, i.e. without the need for explicit short distance scattering experiments. We discuss under what conditions such a distinction is unequivocally possible. We cleanly separate the case of symmetry constrained (representation) spaces from the case of multiple copies of identical representations in flavor space, and identify conditions under which non-trivial transformation in flavor space can be enforced for composite states. Next to composite product states, we also discuss composite states in non-product representations. Comprehensive examples are given based on the finite groups

Σ
(
72
)

and D
8. The discussion also applies to

S
U

(
N
)

and we scrutinize recent claims in the literature that

S
U

(
2
N
)

outer automorphism with antisymmetric matrices correspond to distinct outer automorphisms. We show that outer automorphism transformations with antisymmetric matrices are related by an inner automorphism to the standard

Z

2

outer automorphism of

S
U

(
N
)

. As a direct implication, no non-trivial transformation behavior can arise for composite product states under the outer automorphism of

S
U

(
N
)

.
Nanomaterial-based flexible sensors for metaverse and virtual reality applications
Authors: Wang Jianfei , Suo Jiao , Song Zhengxun , Li Wen Jung , Wang Zuobin
Published: June 2023

Nanomaterial-based flexible sensors (NMFSs) can be tightly attached to the human skin or integrated with clothing to monitor human physiological information, provide medical data, or explore metaverse spaces. Nanomaterials have been widely incorporated into flexible sensors due to their facile processing, material compatibility, and unique properties. This review highlights the recent advancements in NMFSs involving various nanomaterial frameworks such as nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanofilms. Different triggering interaction interfaces between NMFSs and metaverse/virtual reality (VR) applications, e.g. skin-mechanics-triggered, temperature-triggered, magnetically triggered, and neural-triggered interfaces, are discussed. In the context of interfacing physical and virtual worlds, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a promising tool for processing sensor data for controlling avatars in metaverse/VR worlds, and many ML algorithms have been proposed for virtual interaction technologies. This paper discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and prospects of NMFSs in metaverse/VR applications.
Additive manufacturing of promising heterostructure for biomedical applications
Authors: Shuai Cijun , Li Desheng , Yao Xiong , Li Xia , Gao Chengde
Published: June 2023

As a new generation of materials/structures, heterostructure is characterized by heterogeneous zones with dramatically different mechanical, physical or chemical properties. This endows heterostructure with unique interfaces, robust architectures, and synergistic effects, making it a promising option as advanced biomaterials for the highly variable anatomy and complex functionalities of individual patients. However, the main challenges of developing heterostructure lie in the control of crystal/phase evolution and the distribution/fraction of components and structures. In recent years, additive manufacturing techniques have attracted increasing attention in developing heterostructure due to the unique flexibility in tailored structures and synthetic multimaterials. This review focuses on the additive manufacturing of heterostructure for biomedical applications. The structural features and functional mechanisms of heterostructure are summarized. The typical material systems of heterostructure, mainly including metals, polymers, ceramics, and their composites, are presented. And the resulting synergistic effects on multiple properties are also systematically discussed in terms of mechanical, biocompatible, biodegradable, antibacterial, biosensitive and magnetostrictive properties. Next, this work outlines the research progress of additive manufacturing employed in developing heterostructure from the aspects of advantages, processes, properties, and applications. This review also highlights the prospective utilization of heterostructure in biomedical fields, with particular attention to bioscaffolds, vasculatures, biosensors and biodetections. Finally, future research directions and breakthroughs of heterostructure are prospected with focus on their more prospective applications in infection prevention and drug delivery.
A label-free dielectric-modulated biosensor using SiGe-heterojunction dual cavity dual metal electrically doped TFET
Authors: Dewan Basudha , Chaudhary Shalini , Yadav Menka
Published: June 2023

The detection of biomolecules has been accomplished in this article by using the tunnel field effect transistor’s (TFET) bipolar nature. The fabrication procedure has been made simpler, the prices have gone down, and random dopant fluctuation (RDFs) have been eliminated using the charge plasma concept. The objective of this work is to investigate the performance of a DopingLess- Dual Metal Gate- Dual Cavity- HeteroJunction- Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (DL-DMG-DC-HJ-TFET) biosensor that can sense biomolecules in both the ON and ambipolar states. It is feasible to recognize many types of biomolecules concurrently by taking into account the cavities at both tunneling junctions. The suggested biosensor’s OFF state current has been reduced and its sensitivity has been increased via the use of gate workfunction engineering and bandgap engineering. It has been investigated how the presence of proteins in the cavities affects electrical properties such as energy band diagram (EBD), surface potential (SP), subthreshold Swing (SS), threshold voltage

(

V

T
H

)

, and current ratio

(

I

O
N

/

I

O
F
F

)
.

The impact of temperature, germanium mole fraction, and position of biomolecules is also analyzed in this work. A comparative analysis for drain current sensitivity is presented considering different previous works.
Long time gyrokinetic equations
Authors: Cheverry Christophe , Farhat Shahnaz
Published: June 2023

The aim of this text is to elucidate the oscillating patterns (see C. Cheverry [Res. Rep. Math. (2018)]) which are generated in a toroidal plasma by a strong external magnetic field and a nonzero electric field. It is also to justify and then study new modulation equations which are valid for longer times than before. Oscillating coherent structures are induced by the collective motions of charged particles which satisfy a system of ODEs implying a large parameter, the gyrofrequency

ε

−
1

≫
1

\varepsilon ^{-1} \gg 1

. By exploiting the properties of underlying integrable systems, we can complement the KAM picture (see G. Benettin and P. Sempio [Nonlinearity 7 (1994), pp. 281–303]; M. Braun [SIAM Rev. 23 (1981), pp. 61–93]) and go beyond the classical results about gyrokinetics (see M. Bostan [Multiscale Model. Simul. 8 (2010), pp. 1923–1957]; A. J. Brizard and T. S. Hahm [Rev. Modern Phys. 79 (2007), pp. 421–468]). The purely magnetic situation was addressed by C. Cheverry [Comm. Math. Phys. 338 (2015), pp. 641–703; J. Differential Equations 262 (2017), pp. 2987–3033]. We are concerned here with the numerous additional difficulties due to the influence of a nonzero electric field.
“No Complaining, No Crying”: A Qualitative Study of the Strong Black Woman Schema in the Breast Cancer Context
Authors: Denyse Tammie , Martin Kimberly J , Kim Jacqueline H J , Pageot Yrvane K , Owoyemi Praise , DeLuz Kamala Denise , Stanton Annette L
Published: June 2023

Background

Black women have the highest mortality from breast cancer compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Black women with breast cancer also evidence compromised quality of life in some domains. Culturally relevant aspects of their experience are understudied.

Purpose

The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the relevance of the Strong Black Woman schema in the cancer context.

Methods

Three Gatherings (i.e., culturally curated focus groups) were conducted with Black women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and recruited from cancer-related listservs and events. A five-person team conducted reflexive thematic analysis of Gathering transcripts.

Results

The 37 participants ranged in age (30 to 94 years) and in diagnosis duration (2 months to 29 years). Reflexive thematic analysis yielded six themes that characterized the women’s experience: historical legacy of the Strong Black Woman, navigating intersecting Strong Black Woman identities, everyday challenges encountered on the battlefield by Strong Black Women, Strong Black Woman in action during the breast cancer journey, the complexities of seeking and accepting support, and the liberated Strong Black Woman. The schema’s negative consequences included the oncologic team and others expecting the participants to be strong and not to need support. Expectations to suppress emotions and continue caring for others to the neglect of the self also were evident. Positive consequences included engaging in self-advocacy in the oncologic context and redefining strength to include expressing emotions and accepting help.

Conclusions

The Strong Black Woman schema is highly relevant in the breast cancer context and could be addressed in culturally centered interventions.
The Effects of Personalized Dietary Intervention on Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Control Trial in Jieshou
Authors: Qun Xue , Xue-wu Zhang , Qian Wang , Xiao-qin Guan , Guo-cheng Li , Rong Liu , De-bin Wang , Shi Yan , Yu-chen Liu , Yu-wen Wu , Xing-rong Shen
Published: June 2023

Background

To design a personalized dietary intervention package for hypertensive patients (PDIPH) and to assess its impact on the patient’s blood pressure and knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) score.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial of 3,005 hypertensive patients from JieShou City were recruited and used the iFLYTEK intelligent voice sphygmomanometer. After excluding unqualified patients, there were 1,190 and 1,202 patients randomly divided into intervention and control groups respectively. Patients in the control group received the same health care as the intervention group, with the exception of PDIPH. The intervention period was from 15 August 2021 to 15 February 2022. The difference in blood pressure, knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAP) scores between the 2 groups before and after the intervention was evaluated. Blood pressure values were assessed for all patients in both groups, and KAP scores were assessed for a total of 529 patients randomly selected from the 2 groups.

Results

At the 6th month, the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased by (9.11 ± 18.76) and (3.26 ± 12.50) mm Hg, respectively in the intervention group, while it decreased by (5.71 ± 17.63) and (2.15 ± 12.76) mm Hg, respectively in the control group. There was a significant difference in the decrease of systolic blood pressure between the 2 groups (t = 5.554, P < 0.05). After 6 months of intervention, the increases in KAP score of the intervention group were higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). A multivariable linear regression model showed that the difference in eating behavior scores was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure difference (β = 0.19, P = 0.024) and BMI had the greatest positive effect on diastolic blood pressure difference (β = 0.20, P = 0.034).

Conclusions

In hypertensive patients, PDIPH could reduce patients’ blood pressure levels and improve their KAP scores.
GraphGPSM: a global scoring model for protein structure using graph neural networks
Authors: He Guangxing , Liu Jun , Liu Dong , Zhang Guijun
Published: June 2023

The scoring models used for protein structure modeling and ranking are mainly divided into unified field and protein-specific scoring functions. Although protein structure prediction has made tremendous progress since CASP14, the modeling accuracy still cannot meet the requirements to a certain extent. Especially, accurate modeling of multi-domain and orphan proteins remains a challenge. Therefore, an accurate and efficient protein scoring model should be developed urgently to guide the protein structure folding or ranking through deep learning. In this work, we propose a protein structure global scoring model based on equivariant graph neural network (EGNN), named GraphGPSM, to guide protein structure modeling and ranking. We construct an EGNN architecture, and a message passing mechanism is designed to update and transmit information between nodes and edges of the graph. Finally, the global score of the protein model is output through a multilayer perceptron. Residue-level ultrafast shape recognition is used to describe the relationship between residues and the overall structure topology, and distance and direction encoded by Gaussian radial basis functions are designed to represent the overall topology of the protein backbone. These two features are combined with Rosetta energy terms, backbone dihedral angles and inter-residue distance and orientations to represent the protein model and embedded into the nodes and edges of the graph neural network. The experimental results on the CASP13, CASP14 and CAMEO test sets show that the scores of our developed GraphGPSM have a strong correlation with the TM-score of the models, which are significantly better than those of the unified field score function REF2015 and the state-of-the-art local lDDT-based scoring models ModFOLD8, ProQ3D and DeepAccNet, etc. The modeling experimental results on 484 test proteins demonstrate that GraphGPSM can greatly improve the modeling accuracy. GraphGPSM is further used to model 35 orphan proteins and 57 multi-domain proteins. The results show that the average TM-score of the models predicted by GraphGPSM is 13.2 and 7.1% higher than that of the models predicted by AlphaFold2. GraphGPSM also participates in CASP15 and achieves competitive performance in global accuracy estimation.
Phylogeography of alpine and subalpine adapted Pseudostenophylax caddisflies (Limnephilidae: Trichoptera): a strong relationship with mountain formation
Authors: Mikami Kenji , Takenaka Masaki , Nozaki Takao , Bae Yeon Jae , Tojo Koji
Published: June 2023

Organisms that inhabit the alpine zone tend to have distribution areas that are isolated and scattered in patches, in effect ‘sky islands’. We focused on Pseudostenophylax caddisflies, a typical alpine aquatic insect group. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on all eight Japanese species, with the monophyletic lineage of each strongly supported. The traditional classification system dividing Pseudostenophylax into ‘ondakensis’ and ‘adlimitans’ species groups was also strongly supported. For the first time, the existence of a cryptic species in Hokkaido was revealed in this study. Two species of the adlimitans species group live in western Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, but those distribution areas are difficult to explain in terms of the current geography. The phylogenetic analyses results also closely reflected the related geological history and palaeogeography. Interestingly, Pseudostenophylax amurensis, recently recorded on the Korean Peninsula, was positioned within the Japanese lineage of the ondakensis species group. Thus, some Japanese lineages may have reversely dispersed to the Korean Peninsula. Many interesting insights can be gained from the close relationship between the genetic structure of aquatic insects adapted to alpine and subalpine regions and their palaeogeographical history.
Repeatability of crossover rate in wild sticklebacks
Authors: Kivikoski Mikko , Fraimout Antoine , Rastas Pasi , Löytynoja Ari , Merilä Juha
Published: June 2023

Crossovers in meiosis have an important role in sexual reproduction in ensuring the segregation of chromosomes and shuffling of genetic material. Despite their profound importance, little is known about heritability and repeatability of the crossover rate in the wild. We studied crossover rate variation in outbred nine- (Pungitius pungitius) and three-spined (Gasterosteus aculeatus) stickleback populations to estimate its heritability (h2) and repeatability (R). Based on crossover rate interpreted from parent–F1-offspring linkage maps created from single nucleotide polymorphism data, the repeatability of crossover rate was moderate at best, but higher in females (R = 0.24 and R = 0.33) than in males (R = 0.017 and R = 0.11) in both species. Owing to the low degree and variance of parental relatedness and low sample sizes, heritabilities could not be estimated with confidence. However, given that R sets the upper limit to h2, the heritability of crossover rate is indicated to be low in males. A review and comparison with the previously reported repeatability and heritability estimates revealed that the repeatabilities in stickleback females were relatively high, whereas those in males were very low. Collectively, our results and review of earlier estimates suggest low evolvability of the crossover rate.
Efficacy and Safety of Advanced Oral Small Molecules for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Solitano Virginia , Vuyyuru Sudheer K , MacDonald John K , Zayadi Alexa , Parker Claire E , Narula Neeraj , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Danese Silvio , Feagan Brian G , Singh Siddharth , Ma Christopher , Jairath Vipul
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

Oral small-molecule drugs [SMDs] are expanding the therapeutic landscape for inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitor [JAKi] and sphingosine-1-phosphate [S1P] receptor modulator treatments for ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn’s disease [CD].

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to May 30, 2022. Randomized controlled trials [RCTs] of JAKi and S1P receptor modulators in adults with UC or CD were eligible. Clinical, endoscopic, histological, and safety data were pooled and analysed using a random-effects model.

Results

Thirty-five RCTs [26 UC, nine CD] were included. In UC, JAKi therapy was associated with induction of clinical (risk ratio [RR] 3.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03–4.92; I2 = 65%) and endoscopic [RR 3.99, 95% CI 2.36–6.75; I2 = 36%] remission compared to placebo. Upadacitinib was associated with histological response [RR 2.63, 95% CI 1.97–3.53]. S1P modulator therapy was associated with induction of clinical [RR 2.52, 95% CI 1.88–3.39; I2 = 1%] and endoscopic [RR 2.39, 95% CI 1.07–5.33; I2 = 0%] remission relative to placebo. Ozanimod was superior to placebo for inducing histological remission in UC [RR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43–3.37; I2 = 0%], while etrasimod was not [RR 2.36, 95% CI 0.71–7.88; I2 = 0%]. In CD, JAKi therapy was superior to placebo for induction of clinical remission [RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–1.98; I2 = 31%], and endoscopic remission [RR 4.78, 95% CI 1.63–14.06; I2 = 43%] compared to placebo. The risk of serious infections was similar for oral SMDs and placebo.

Conclusion

JAKi and S1P receptor modulator therapies are effective in IBD for inducing clinical and endoscopic remission and, in some circumstances, histological response.
Population modeling of oilseed brassica aphids and their biocontrol agents with weather parameters in the north-west Himalayan region of India
Authors: Soni Saurbh , Kumar Surjeet , Kumar Sood Ajay , Singh Rana Ranbir , Singh Chandel Ravinder
Published: June 2023

We studied the impact of weather parameters on the population build-up of Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Cabbage aphid), Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Mustard aphid), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Green peach aphid) and their biocontrol agents (coccinellids, syrphids, and a parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae M’Intosh) on oilseed brassicas in Himachal Pradesh, India, during winters from 2016–2017 to 2018–2019. The temperature and sunshine resulted in the build-up of B. brassicae and their biocontrol agents’ population, while rainfall and relative humidity caused a negative influence at surveyed locations. The L. erysimi and M. persicae populations showed an inverse correlation with the density-independent factors at most locations. Correlation coefficients indicated a negative correlation of the coccinellids population with the build-up of L. erysimi and M. persicae, while the predator population was positively related to the B. brassicae population at maximum locations. Parasitization by D. rapae showed a negative relationship with the aphid population. Stepwise regression analysis showed that minimum temperature and rainfall had a significant effect on the variability in the population of aphids. The predictive model could interpret more than 90% variation by minimum temperature in the coccinellid population at the surveyed locations. Further, regression analysis with temperature could explain up to 94% variability in parasitization by D. rapae. This study will contribute to predicting the changes that may occur in a population of aphids concerning the weather.
Approach to surveying egg masses of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)
Authors: Keller Joseph A , Hoover Kelli
Published: June 2023

For the invasive planthopper Lycorma delicatula, eggs are an attractive target for surveys and management because they can persist from September through May before hatching, and remnants may be retained for years after hatching. Efforts to control this invasive species, though, are hampered by imperfect detection, which impedes early detection and rapid response, obscures management impacts, and reduces the fraction of egg masses that can be managed. To estimate egg mass detectability, we conducted 75 duplicate surveys of 20 × 5 m plots located in forest edges and disturbed areas frequently used by L. delicatula. We fit binomial mixture models and investigated the effects of weather, height (above or below 3 m), season (winter or spring), and basal area of trees within plots, finding no evidence that these factors affected detection rate, which averaged 52.2%. We additionally estimated the fraction of L. delicatula eggs that were laid above 3 m, putting them outside of easy reach for management by scraping or targeted ovicide application. This proportion varied with basal area of trees within plots, and the estimated mean was greater than 50% across the range of basal areas in study plots. Finally, we found that counts of old egg masses correlated with counts of new egg masses laid the year prior, but the ability to infer prior years’ egg mass counts was limited. Together, these findings inform managers delimiting L. delicatula populations in mixed habitats and those treating egg masses to slow population growth and spread of this pest.
A critical appraisal of acute sore throat guidelines using the AGREE II instrument: a scoping review
Authors: Supper Irène , Gratadour Johanna , François Mathilde , Jaafari Nemat , Boussageon Rémy
Published: June 2023

Background

Conflicting international guidelines exist on the management of sore throat by antibiotics.

Objectives

To assess with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE) instrument the quality of guidelines for uncomplicated acute group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) sore-throat. To make a sensitivity analysis restricted to guidelines with a rigour of development score higher than 60% and to describe their recommendations on scores, tests, and antibiotic therapy, including their justification.

Methods

A guideline literature review of acute GABHS sore throat, published between January 2000 and December 2019 in primary care and secondary care. The PubMed database, the Canadian Medical Association Infobase on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the International Network Guidelines were used. The quality of guidelines was assessed using the AGREE II instrument. The guidelines were classified into 2 categories: high-quality guidelines had to rate >60% for the rigour of development score, the others were classified as low-quality guidelines.

Results

Significant heterogeneity between the 15 guidelines concerned the scores of the 6 assessment domains. Among them, 6 guidelines presented a score above 60% with regards to the rigor of development domain and used a systematic literature search method, citing meta-analyses of recent randomised clinical trials. Most of the 6 high-quality guidelines no longer recommended the systematic use of diagnostic scores and tests, nor antibiotic therapy to prevent acute rheumatic fever or loco-regional complications, except for high-risk patients.

Conclusion

Major discrepancies emphasise the need for only high-quality guidelines, based on adequately assessed evidence. Restricted antibiotic prescriptions to severe cases or high-risk patients would avoid antibiotic resistance.