bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient kernel canonical correlation analysis using Nyström approximation
Authors: Fang Qin , Shi Lei , Xu Min , Zhou Ding-Xuan
Published: February 2024

The main contribution of this paper is the derivation of non-asymptotic convergence rates for Nyström kernel canonical correlation analysis (CCA) in a setting of statistical learning. Our theoretical results reveal that, under certain conditions, Nyström kernel CCA can achieve a convergence rate comparable to that of the standard kernel CCA, while offering significant computational savings. This finding has important implications for the practical application of kernel CCA, particularly in scenarios where computational efficiency is crucial. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of Nyström kernel CCA.
Energy loss of heavy quarks in the presence of magnetic field
Authors: Jamal Mohammad Yousuf , Prakash Jai , Nilima Indrani , Bandyopadhyay Aritra
Published: February 2024

We study the heavy quark energy loss in the presence of a background magnetic field. The analysis considers the high magnetic field generated by spectators from initial hard collisions that were incorporated using the medium-modified Debye mass, determined from quark condensates at finite temperature and magnetic field via recent lattice quantum chromodynamics calculations. We analyse the impact of medium polarization on the heavy quark propagation in a quark–gluon plasma formed in relativistic heavy-ion colliders like relativistic heavy ion collider and large hadron collider. For simplification, we considered the static medium with constant temperature and magnetic field values. Then, we explore the nuclear modification factor (R
AA) at different magnitudes of magnetic field strengths at fixed temperatures. The energy loss of heavy quarks significantly increases, leading to R
AA suppression at higher magnetic field values.
A novel laser-induced fluorescence concept for thermometry measurements in machining lubricoolants
Authors: Koegl Matthias , Glahn Jake , Zigan Lars
Published: February 2024

This study investigates a two-colour laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique for thermometry in cooling lubricants (CL) for machining. The diagnostic technique should enable a simultaneous determination of cooling film thickness and film temperature, which is relevant for typical machining processes like turning and milling processes. The temperature determination is based on a temperature-sensitive fluorescence intensity ratio of a special dye determined in suitable spectral regions representing common band pass filters. For this purpose, two CL emulsions CL6 (6 vol.% CL, 94 vol.% water; normal machining) and CL10 (10 vol.% CL, 90 vol.% water; heavy machining) and its individual components were doped with the fluorescence dye Eosin-Y. Temperature dependent spectral LIF intensities were recorded in the range of 273–313 K, which are relevant for milling and cutting operations. Furthermore, absorption spectra were analysed as well. The temperature-dependent fluorescence measurements revealed a temperature limit for the emulsion stability. The emission peaks of Eosin-Y are shifted with increasing temperature towards longer wavelengths. The sensitivities of CL10 (1.88%/K) and CL6 (1.58%/K) are comparable to or even higher than the sensitivities of other LIF dyes provided in the literature. The literature-based dyes were however not determined in those CL. The measurements showed, that the investigated tracer-CL/water emulsions mixed with the dye enable a reliable temperature determination.
Contactless weighing method based on deep learning and acoustic levitation
Authors: Wang Yingwei , Jiang Liangxu , Chen Ziyi , Zhang Han , Li Xinbo
Published: February 2024

Acoustic weighing is a promising contactless method for screening the mass of micro-nano objects as it avoids contact contamination and losses. Existing acoustic weighing methods determine the mass of an object by detecting its oscillation trajectory with a laser sensor. However, this method suffers from several limitations, such as short measurement distance, poor accuracy in measuring transparent objects, and inducing damage to photosensitive samples. To solve these issues, this work proposes a contactless weighing method based on location-aware neural network (LANet) and acoustic levitation. The proposed LANet is a deep learning-based image processing method that detects object bit oscillation trajectories completely contactless, regardless of the color, shape, and oscillation distance of the levitated object. We employ a cross-stage aggregation module and cross-mixed feature pyramid strategy to build LANet network depth for enhanced feature extraction. In addition, to create a contactless environment, we built an acoustic levitation system, which drives the oscillation of objects. Finally, we verified the accuracy and effectiveness of the method. The results show that the proposed network can accurately detect the oscillation trajectories of various objects with high detection performance, even for small objects in low-contrast backgrounds. Meanwhile, the proposed method can accurately measure the mass of objects with a percentage error of no more than 7.83%.
Interface modification for efficient carbon-electrode CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells using ionic liquid
Authors: Zhang Yaping , Wang Tao , Wang Yanan , Chen Jing , Peng Lin , Liu Xiaolin , Lin Jia
Published: February 2024

All-inorganic CsPbI2Br, as a promising photovoltaic (PV) material, have attracted extensive research attention in society for its outstanding thermal stability and appropriate trade-offs. Carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) without hole transporting layer (HTL) have shown great potential in terms of cost-effectiveness and stability. However, the inevitable defects on the surface of CsPbI2Br films severely hampers the development of high-efficiency CsPbI2Br C-PSCs. Surface engineering has emerged an effective approach to overcome this challenge. Herein, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (DMTT) ionic liquid was introduced between CsPbI2Br and carbon electrode to reduce non-recombination of charges, decrease defect states, minimize the energy-level mismatch, and greatly enhance the device stability. As a result, the HTL-free CsPbI2Br C-PSCs combined with DMTT as an interface modification achieved a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.47% than that of the control devices with a PCE of 11.32%. Furthermore, without any encapsulation, the DMTT-optimized C-PSC remained approximately 84% of its initial PCE after over 700 h under room temperature and 25% relative humidity (RH) conditions. Additionally, when exposed to a temperature of 65 °C for over 400 h, the device still retained 74% of the initial PCE, demonstrating its thermal stability.
Single-mode nanolasers based on FP-WGM hybrid cavity coupling
Authors: Ullah Salman , Zhuge Minghua , Zhang Liang , Fu Xiang , Ma Yaoguang , Yang Qing
Published: February 2024

As an idealized light source, semiconductor nanowire (NW) lasers have been extensively studied due to its potential applications in many fields such as optoelectronics, nanophononics, optical communication, signal processing, and displays. In this letter, we proposed a novel approach to realize a single-mode nanolaser by forming an Fabry–Perot whispering gallery mode (FP-WGM) hybrid nanocavity between two cross-contact CdS NWs, i.e. x and y-NW. In our method, x-NW supports the regular FP oscillation in the axis direction while the cross section of y-NW provides a ultrasmall WGM nanocavity with a higher Q-factor and mode election which confirms the specific single mode can be excited. Experimentally, single-mode lasing emission centered at 517 nm was obtained with full width at half maximum of 0.08 nm and lasing threshold of ∼50 kW cm−2. The suggested designing skills projected a general strategy for lasing mode regulation and single-mode realization. The single-mode low-threshold lasing strategy in coupled NWs may open a new avenue for practical applications of NW lasers and further trigger other photonic devices at a visible range.
Enhancing control in spatial atomic layer deposition: insights into precursor diffusion, geometric parameters, and CVD mitigation strategies
Authors: Nguyen Thien Thanh , Nguyen Thi Kieu Diem , Bui Hao Van , Le Thi Ngoc Loan , Nguyen Viet Huong
Published: February 2024

In recent years, spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) has gained significant attention for its remarkable capability to accelerate ALD growth by several orders of magnitude compared to conventional ALD, all while operating at atmospheric pressure. Nevertheless, the persistent challenge of inadvertent contributions from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in SALD processes continues to impede control over film homogeneity, and properties. This research underscores the often-overlooked influence of diffusion coefficients and important geometric parameters on the close-proximity SALD growth patterns. We introduce comprehensive physical models complemented by finite element method simulations for fluid dynamics to elucidate SALD growth kinetics across diverse scenarios. Our experimental findings, in alignment with theoretical models, reveal distinctive growth rate trends in ZnO and SnO2 films as a function of the deposition gap. These trends are ascribed to precursor diffusion effects within the SALD system. Notably, a reduced deposition gap proves advantageous for both diffusive and low-volatility bulky precursors, minimizing CVD contributions while enhancing precursor chemisorption kinetics. However, in cases involving highly diffusive precursors, a deposition gap of less than 100 μm becomes imperative, posing technical challenges for large-scale applications. This can be ameliorated by strategically adjusting the separation distance between reactive gas outlets to mitigate CVD contributions, which in turn leads to a longer deposition time. Furthermore, we discuss the consequential impact on material properties and propose a strategy to optimize the injection head to control the ALD/CVD growth mode.
A 3D kinetic Monte Carlo study of streamer discharges in
CO2
Authors: Marskar R
Published: February 2024

We theoretically study the inception and propagation of positive and negative streamers in

C

O

2

. Our study is done in 3D, using a newly formulated kinetic Monte Carlo discharge model where the electrons are described as drifting and diffusing particles that adhere to the local field approximation. Our emphasis lies on electron attachment and photoionization. For negative streamers we find that dissociative attachment in the streamer channels leads to appearance of localized segments of increased electric fields, while an analogous feature is not observed for positive-polarity discharges. Positive streamers, unlike negative streamers, require free electrons ahead of them in order to propagate. In

C

O

2

, just as in air, these electrons are supplied through photoionization. However, ionizing radiation in

C

O

2

is absorbed quite rapidly and is also weaker than in air, which has important ramifications for the emerging positive streamer morphology (radius, velocity, and fields). We perform a computational analysis which shows that positive streamers can propagate due to photoionization in

C

O

2

. Conversely, photoionization has no effect on negative streamer fronts, but plays a major role in the coupling between negative streamers and the cathode. Photoionization in

C

O

2

is therefore important for the propagation of both positive and negative streamers. Our results are relevant in several applications, e.g.

C

O

2

conversion and high-voltage technology (where

C

O

2

is used in pure form or admixed with other gases).
Potential design strategy of wide-bandgap semiconductor p-type β-Ga2O3
Authors: Liu Xinglin , Huang Jun , Wei Qiangmin , Ye Lei
Published: February 2024

Wide bandgap semiconductor gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) has emerged as a prominent material in the field of high-power microelectronics and optoelectronics, due to its excellent and stable performance. However, the lack of high-quality p-type β-Ga2O3 hinders the realization of its full potential. Here, we initially summarize the origins of p-type doping limitation in β-Ga2O3, followed by proposing four potential design strategies to enhance the p-type conductivity of β-Ga2O3. (i) Lowering the formation energy of acceptors to enhance its effective doping concentration. (ii) Reducing the ionization energy of acceptors to increase the concentration of free holes in the valence band maximum (VBM). (iii) Increasing the VBM of β-Ga2O3 to decrease the ionization energy of acceptors. (iv) Intrinsic defect engineering and nanotechnology of β-Ga2O3. For each strategy, we illustrate the design principles based on fundamental physical theories along with specific examples. From this review, one could learn the p-type doping strategies for β-Ga2O3.
Low-voltage operating, high mobility top-gate structural flexible organic thin-film transistor with a one-step spin-coated binary polymer gate dielectric
Authors: Su Jing , Yan Zhenxiang , Lin Yijie , Xie Wenfa , Wang Wei
Published: February 2024

Low-voltage operation is one of the prerequisites for the practical applications of the organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). Up to date, the most reported low-voltage operatable OTFTs use a bottom-gate structure, and are fabricated by several different technologies in the whole process, in which the organic semiconductors and/or gate dielectrics are prepared in the expensive vacuum equipment. The simple fabricating technologies and fewer processes can better demonstrate the inherent advantages, and enhance the commercial competitiveness of OTFTs. Here, we propose a strategy to fabricate the binary polymers gate dielectric by one-step spin-coating in the top-gate structured flexible OTFTs, by which not only the device performances are prominently improved, but also the fabricating process of the OTFTs is minimized. As a result, the flexible OTFTs exhibit a high mobility over 0.5 cm2 Vs−1, low threshold voltage near to −0.5 V, and excellent mechanical bending durability with a very slightly performances degradation after the tensile and compressive bending at a small curvature radius of 3.0 mm over 1000 cycles.
Exploring exact solutions for physical differential models through generalized derivatives
Authors: Hyder Abd-Allah , Barakat Mohamed A , Soliman Ahmed H , Almoneef Areej A
Published: February 2024

In this study, we develop three well-known fractional differential physical models with novel exact solutions. Liouville, Dodd-Bullough-Mikhailov (DBM), and Sinh-Gordon equations are the models under consideration. These models will be broken down into three nonlinear ordinary differential equations using a waveform transformation, which can be precisely solved using the approach of the simplest equation method. The suggested method is applicable to several categories of nonlinear physical models and allows us to extract numerous generalized solutions in soliton and periodic forms The resulting solutions may also be directly compared with a number of findings obtained in the literature. Additionally, representations in two and three dimensions are provided to show how changing the fractional parameter’s amount may impact how monotonic the solutions are obtained.
Dynamic switching: vanadium dioxide and graphene-based terahertz perfect absorber for tunable broadband absorption and tri-band absorption
Authors: Liu Fangfang , Qi Yunping , Wang Li , Wen Yujiao , Wang Xiangxian
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a dual-function switchable perfect absorber in the terahertz band is simulated and proposed. The design leverages the phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2) and the dynamically tunable properties of graphene. The absorber exhibits broadband absorption when VO2 is operated in the insulating state alone, with a bandwidth of 7.09 THz and a high modulation depth of 99.45% resulting in absorption levels above 90%. Additionally, by operating the graphene square ring and the graphene round ring at the Fermi levels of 0.72 eV and 0.75 eV, respectively, the absorber demonstrates tri-band absorption, making it suitable for refractive index sensing applications. The absorber’s operating frequency can be easily tuned by adjusting the conductivity of VO2 and the Fermi levels of graphene, enabling dynamic tunability. The feasibility of our work positions it as a promising candidate for designing switchable broadband and multi-band absorbers. Consequently, our research holds significant potential for applications in terahertz devices.
Theory of Burstein-Moss effect in semiconductors with anisotropic energy bands
Authors: Ivchenko Vladimir
Published: February 2024

We study the peculiarities of the Burstein–Moss shift employing two-band model with an anisotropic valence band. There is a long wave tail which has a convex or concave shape depending on the ratio between the longitudinal and transverse hole masses. The width of this anisotropy-induced tail is temperature-independent and increases with increasing electron concentration and difference between the hole masses. This width also does not depend upon the value of the energy gap. Having experimentally evaluated the tail width and the position of the break in the optical absorption curve, one can deduce the values of the reduced hole masses.
Analysis of bioprinting strategies for skin diseases and injuries through structural and temporal dynamics: historical perspectives, research hotspots, and emerging trends
Authors: Teng Fei , Wang Wei , Wang Zhi-Qiang , Wang Gui-Xue
Published: February 2024

This study endeavors to investigate the progression, research focal points, and budding trends in the realm of skin bioprinting over the past decade from a structural and temporal dynamics standpoint. Scholarly articles on skin bioprinting were obtained from WoSCC. A series of bibliometric tools comprising R software, CiteSpace, HistCite, and an alluvial generator were employed to discern historical characteristics, evolution of active topics, and upcoming tendencies in the area of skin bioprinting. Over the past decade, there has been a consistent rise in research interest in skin bioprinting, accompanied by an extensive array of meaningful scientific collaborations. Concurrently, diverse dynamic topics have emerged during various periods, as substantiated by an aggregate of 22 disciplines, 74 keywords, and 187 references demonstrating citation bursts. Four burgeoning research subfields were discerned through keyword clustering—namely, #3 ‘in situ bioprinting’, #6 ‘vascular’, #7 ‘xanthan gum’, and #8 ‘collagen hydrogels’. The keyword alluvial map reveals that Module 1, including ‘transplantation’ etc, has primarily dominated the research module over the previous decade, maintaining enduring relevance despite annual shifts in keyword focus. Additionally, we mapped out the top six key modules from 2023 being ‘silk fibroin nanofiber’, ‘system’, ‘ionic liquid’, ‘mechanism’, and ‘foot ulcer’. Three recent research subdivisions were identified via timeline visualization of references, particularly Clusters #0 ‘wound healing’, #4 ‘situ mineralization’, and #5 ‘3D bioprinter’. Insights derived from bibliometric analyses illustrate present conditions and trends in skin bioprinting research, potentially aiding researchers in pinpointing central themes and pioneering novel investigative approaches in this field.
Disentangling the reasons why older adults do not readily participate in cancer trials: a socio-epidemiological mixed methods approach
Authors: Hagège Meoïn , Bringuier Michaël , Martinez-Tapia Claudia , Chouaïd Christos , Helissey Carole , Brain Etienne , Lempdes Godelieve Rochette , Dubot Coraline , Bello-Roufai Diana , Geiss Romain , Kempf Emmanuelle , Gourden Audrey , Elgharbi Hanane , Garrigou Sonia , Gregoire Laetitia , Derbez Benjamin , Canouï-Poitrine Florence
Published: February 2024

Background

Few studies of the under-representation of older adults in cancer clinical trials (CTs) have encompassed the entire pathway from a trial being available in a cancer centre to the patient’s invitation to participate and then agreement or refusal to participate.

Objectives

The study’s primary objective was to evaluate CT non-invitation and refusal rates. The secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with non-invitation and refusal and to assess experiences of CT participation from the patients’ and professionals’ perspectives.

Methods

Here, we used mixed methods and a socio-epidemiological approach to analyse reasons for the non-participation of eligible older patients with a solid cancer in cancer CTs in France.

Results

We found that non-invitation and low CT participation are mainly related to the patients’ sociodemographic characteristics and living conditions (such as social isolation, being single, divorced or widowed, not having children and the absence of close family members) and the healthcare professionals’ perceptions of insufficient informal support or a high homecare requirement.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that efforts to increase fair inclusion and the participation of older adults in CTs should target the physician–patient relationship, the medical profession and hospital funding, rather than the patient alone.
eccDNA-pipe: an integrated pipeline for identification, analysis and visualization of extrachromosomal circular DNA from high-throughput sequencing data
Authors: Fang Minghao , Fang Jingwen , Luo Songwen , Liu Ke , Yu Qiaoni , Yang Jiaxuan , Zhou Youyang , Li Zongkai , Sun Ruoming , Guo Chuang , Qu Kun
Published: February 2024

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is currently attracting considerable attention from researchers due to its significant impact on tumor biogenesis. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) methods for eccDNA identification are continually evolving. However, an efficient pipeline for the integrative and comprehensive analysis of eccDNA obtained from HTS data is still lacking. Here, we introduce eccDNA-pipe, an accessible software package that offers a user-friendly pipeline for conducting eccDNA analysis starting from raw sequencing data. This dataset includes data from various sequencing techniques such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS), Circle-seq and Circulome-seq, obtained through short-read sequencing or long-read sequencing. eccDNA-pipe presents a comprehensive solution for both upstream and downstream analysis, encompassing quality control and eccDNA identification in upstream analysis and downstream tasks such as eccDNA length distribution analysis, differential analysis of genes enriched with eccDNA and visualization of eccDNA structures. Notably, eccDNA-pipe automatically generates high-quality publication-ready plots. In summary, eccDNA-pipe provides a comprehensive and user-friendly pipeline for ﻿customized analysis of eccDNA research.
Standigm ASK™: knowledge graph and artificial intelligence platform applied to target discovery in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Han Seokjin , Lee Ji Eun , Kang Seolhee , So Minyoung , Jin Hee , Lee Jang Ho , Baek Sunghyeob , Jun Hyungjin , Kim Tae Yong , Lee Yun-Sil
Published: February 2024

Standigm ASK™ revolutionizes healthcare by addressing the critical challenge of identifying pivotal target genes in disease mechanisms—a fundamental aspect of drug development success. Standigm ASK™ integrates a unique combination of a heterogeneous knowledge graph (KG) database and an attention-based neural network model, providing interpretable subgraph evidence. Empowering users through an interactive interface, Standigm ASK™ facilitates the exploration of predicted results. Applying Standigm ASK™ to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a complex lung disease, we focused on genes (AMFR, MDFIC and NR5A2) identified through KG evidence. In vitro experiments demonstrated their relevance, as TGFβ treatment induced gene expression changes associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition characteristics. Gene knockdown reversed these changes, identifying AMFR, MDFIC and NR5A2 as potential therapeutic targets for IPF. In summary, Standigm ASK™ emerges as an innovative KG and artificial intelligence platform driving insights in drug target discovery, exemplified by the identification and validation of therapeutic targets for IPF.
Modeling genotype–protein interaction and correlation for Alzheimer’s disease: a multi-omics imaging genetics study
Authors: Zhang Jin , Ma Zikang , Yang Yan , Guo Lei , Du Lei ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2024

Integrating and analyzing multiple omics data sets, including genomics, proteomics and radiomics, can significantly advance researchers’ comprehensive understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current methodologies primarily focus on the main effects of genetic variation and protein, overlooking non-additive effects such as genotype–protein interaction (GPI) and correlation patterns in brain imaging genetics studies. Importantly, these non-additive effects could contribute to intermediate imaging phenotypes, finally leading to disease occurrence. In general, the interaction between genetic variations and proteins, and their correlations are two distinct biological effects, and thus disentangling the two effects for heritable imaging phenotypes is of great interest and need. Unfortunately, this issue has been largely unexploited. In this paper, to fill this gap, we propose $\textbf{M}$ulti-$\textbf{T}$ask $\textbf{G}$enotype-$\textbf{P}$rotein $\textbf{I}$nteraction and $\textbf{C}$orrelation disentangling method ($\textbf{MT-GPIC}$) to identify GPI and extract correlation patterns between them. To ensure stability and interpretability, we use novel and off-the-shelf penalties to identify meaningful genetic risk factors, as well as exploit the interconnectedness of different brain regions. Additionally, since computing GPI poses a high computational burden, we develop a fast optimization strategy for solving MT-GPIC, which is guaranteed to converge. Experimental results on the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data set show that MT-GPIC achieves higher correlation coefficients and classification accuracy than state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, our approach could effectively identify interpretable phenotype-related GPI and correlation patterns in high-dimensional omics data sets. These findings not only enhance the diagnostic accuracy but also contribute valuable insights into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of AD.
ULDNA: integrating unsupervised multi-source language models with LSTM-attention network for high-accuracy protein–DNA binding site prediction
Authors: Zhu Yi-Heng , Liu Zi , Liu Yan , Ji Zhiwei , Yu Dong-Jun
Published: February 2024

Efficient and accurate recognition of protein–DNA interactions is vital for understanding the molecular mechanisms of related biological processes and further guiding drug discovery. Although the current experimental protocols are the most precise way to determine protein–DNA binding sites, they tend to be labor-intensive and time-consuming. There is an immediate need to design efficient computational approaches for predicting DNA-binding sites. Here, we proposed ULDNA, a new deep-learning model, to deduce DNA-binding sites from protein sequences. This model leverages an LSTM-attention architecture, embedded with three unsupervised language models that are pre-trained on large-scale sequences from multiple database sources. To prove its effectiveness, ULDNA was tested on 229 protein chains with experimental annotation of DNA-binding sites. Results from computational experiments revealed that ULDNA significantly improves the accuracy of DNA-binding site prediction in comparison with 17 state-of-the-art methods. In-depth data analyses showed that the major strength of ULDNA stems from employing three transformer language models. Specifically, these language models capture complementary feature embeddings with evolution diversity, in which the complex DNA-binding patterns are buried. Meanwhile, the specially crafted LSTM-attention network effectively decodes evolution diversity-based embeddings as DNA-binding results at the residue level. Our findings demonstrated a new pipeline for predicting DNA-binding sites on a large scale with high accuracy from protein sequence alone.
Evaluating the efficacy of MEANGS for mitochondrial genome assembly of cartilaginous and ray-finned fish species
Authors: Xu Sheng-Yong , Cai Shan-Shan , Han Zhi-Qiang
Published: February 2024

The assembly of complete and circularized mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) is essential for population genetics, phylogenetics and evolution studies. Recently, Song et al. developed a seed-free tool called MEANGS for de novo mitochondrial assembly from whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in animals, achieving highly accurate and intact assemblies. However, the suitability of this tool for marine fish remains unexplored. Additionally, we have concerns regarding the overlap sequences in their original results, which may impact downstream analyses. In this Letter to the Editor, the effectiveness of MEANGS in assembling mitogenomes of cartilaginous and ray-finned fish species was assessed. Moreover, we also discussed the appropriate utilization of MEANGS in mitogenome assembly, including the implementation of the data-cut function and circular detection module. Our observations indicated that with the utilization of these modules, MEANGS efficiently assembled complete and circularized mitogenomes, even when handling large WGS datasets. Therefore, we strongly recommend users employ the data-cut function and circular detection module when using MEANGS, as the former significantly reduces runtime and the latter aids in the removal of overlapped sequences for improved circularization. Furthermore, our findings suggested that approximately 2× coverage of clean WGS data was sufficient for MEANGS to assemble mitogenomes in marine fish species. Moreover, due to its seed-free nature, MEANGS can be deemed one of the most efficient software tools for assembling mitogenomes from animal WGS data, particularly in studies with limited species or genetic background information.
Explicit solutions for the asymptotically optimal bandwidth in cross-validation
Authors: Abadir Karim M , Lubrano Michel
Published: February 2024

We show that least-squares cross-validation methods share a common structure that has an explicit asymptotic solution, when the chosen kernel is asymptotically separable in bandwidth and data. For density estimation with a multivariate Student-t(ν) kernel, the cross-validation criterion becomes asymptotically equivalent to a polynomial of only three terms. Our bandwidth formulae are simple and noniterative, thus leading to very fast computations, their integrated squared-error dominates traditional cross-validation implementations, they alleviate the notorious sample variability of cross-validation and overcome its breakdown in the case of repeated observations. We illustrate our method with univariate and bivariate applications, of density estimation and nonparametric regressions, to a large dataset of Michigan State University academic wages and experience.
Impact of clonal haematopoiesis on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease according to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in general population
Authors: Lee Heesun , Song Han , Choi Su-Yeon , Koh Youngil , Ryu Gangpyo , Park Hyo Eun , Yoon Ji Won , Kim Min Joo , Chung Soie , Bae Jung Ho , Choi Seung Ho , Koo Bon-Kwon
Published: February 2024

Aims

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), defined as a clonal expansion of age-related recurrent somatic mutations, has recently emerged as a novel cardiovascular risk factor. However, the precise role of CHIP in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unclear.

Methods and results

Among 4300 asymptomatic Korean participants aged 40–79 years, we investigated the risk of ASCVD by CHIP and the interplay between CHIP and conventional risk factors in ASCVD development. Additionally, we assessed changes in coronary arteries based on the presence of CHIP using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). CHIP was present in 363 participants (8.4%), and its prevalence increased with age. Commonly mutated genes were DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1, in order. During the follow-up (median 4.7 years), 18 ASCVD cases (5.0%) were observed in CHIP carriers vs. 62 (1.6%) in non-carriers (P < 0.001), indicating an elevated risk of ASCVD associated with CHIP [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45–4.29; P < 0.001]. Notably, with high levels of LDL cholesterol, CHIP enhanced the risk of ASCVD (adjusted HR 6.20; 95% CI 3.14–12.23; P < 0.001), demonstrating synergism between CHIP and LDL cholesterol levels (S-index 4.94; 95% CI 1.08–22.53; P = 0.039). Serial CCTAs confirmed that CHIP, in conjunction with high LDL cholesterol levels, had a significant early impact on coronary arteries, revealing new measurable coronary atherosclerosis, mainly with unstable plaque, in proximal lesions.

Conclusion

The presence of CHIP was significantly associated with the risk of ASCVD, promoting the early stage of atherosclerosis through synergy with high LDL cholesterol in the general population.
Develop and Validate a Prognostic Index With Laboratory Tests to Predict Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Adults Using Machine Learning Models: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Huang Chi-Hsien , Fang Yao-Hwei , Zhang Shu , Wu I-Chien , Chuang Shu-Chun , Chang Hsing-Yi , Tsai Yi-Fen , Tseng Wei-Ting , Wu Ray-Chin , Liu Yen-Tze , Lien Li-Ming , Juan Chung-Chou , Tange Chikako , Otsuka Rei , Arai Hidenori , Hsu Chih-Cheng , Hsiung Chao Agnes
Published: February 2024

Background

Prognostic indices can enhance personalized predictions of health burdens. However, a simple, practical, and reproducible tool is lacking for clinical use. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based prognostic index for predicting all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older individuals.

Methods

We utilized the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) cohort, encompassing data from 5 663 participants. Over the 5-year follow-up, 447 deaths were confirmed. A machine learning-based routine blood examination prognostic index (MARBE-PI) was developed using common laboratory tests based on machine learning techniques. Participants were grouped into multiple risk categories by stratum-specific likelihood ratio analysis based on their MARBE-PI scores. The MARBE-PI was subsequently externally validated with an independent population-based cohort from Japan.

Results

Beyond age, sex, education level, and BMI, 6 laboratory tests (low-density lipoprotein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, lymphocyte count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatinine) emerged as pivotal predictors via stepwise logistic regression (LR) for 5-year mortality. The area under curves of MARBE-PI constructed by LR were 0.799 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.778–0.819) and 0.756 (95% CI: 0.694–0.814) for the internal and external validation data sets, and were 0.801 (95% CI: 0.790–0.811) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.774–0.845) for the extended 10-year mortality in both data sets, respectively. Risk categories stratified by MARBE-PI showed a consistent dose–response association with mortality. The MARBE-PI also performed comparably with indices constructed with clinical health deficits and/or laboratory results.

Conclusions

The MARBE-PI is considered the most applicable measure for risk stratification in busy clinical settings. It holds potential to pinpoint older individuals at elevated mortality risk, thereby aiding clinical decision-making.
Daily Dynamics of Awareness of Aging and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration in Middle and Older Adulthood
Authors: Windsor Tim D , Wilton-Harding Bethany , Sabatini Serena
Published: February 2024

Objectives

This daily diary study examined associations between awareness of age-related change (AARC) and satisfaction/frustration of basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in a sample of midlife and older adults. We expected that greater satisfaction and lower frustration of needs would be associated with higher AARC-gains and lower AARC-losses. We also examined whether within-person associations of need satisfaction/frustration with AARC were moderated by age.

Methods

Participants (N = 152; aged 53+) completed measures of AARC and basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration on their smartphones for 10 consecutive days. Data were analyzed using multilevel models, with time-varying basic need satisfaction/frustration variables disaggregated into between-person and within-person components.

Results

On days participants reported higher than usual overall satisfaction of needs, and lower than usual frustration of needs, AARC-gains was higher, and AARC-losses was lower. Analysis of individual needs showed that autonomy and competence were more consistently related to higher AARC-gains and lower AARC-losses than relatedness. Within-person autonomy satisfaction was more strongly (negatively) associated with AARC-losses at older ages.

Discussion

Findings suggest that daily experiences related to satisfaction and frustration of goals related to autonomy and competence in particular may be proximal antecedents of short-term variation in AARC.
Implementation of an Advance Care Planning Intervention in Nursing Homes: An International Multiple Case Study
Authors: Brazil Kevin , Walshe Catherine , Doherty Julie , Harding Andrew J E , Preston Nancy , Bavelaar Laura , Cornally Nicola , Di Giulio Paola , Gonella Silvia , Hartigan Irene , Henderson Catherine , Kaasalainen Sharon , Loucka Martin , Sussman Tamara , Vlckova Karolina , van der Steen Jenny T ,   mySupport Study Group, Achterberg Wilco , Visser Mandy , Fitzgerald Serena , Just Danielle , Wilson Christine Brown , Carter Gillian , Simionato Laura , Buckley Catherine , Foley Tony , Fox Siobhan , Timmons Suzanne , O’Caoimh Ronan , O’Connell Selena , Sweeney Catherine , Cousins Emily , De Vries Kay , Dixon Josie , Dening Karen Harrison
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

The inability of individuals in the advanced stage of dementia to communicate about preferences in care at the end-of-life poses a challenge for healthcare professionals and family carers. The proven effective Family Carer Decision Support intervention has been designed to inform family carers about end-of-life care options available to a person living with advanced dementia. The objectives of the mySupport study were to adapt the application of the intervention for use in different countries, assess impact on family satisfaction and decision-making, and identify costs and supportive conditions for the implementation of the intervention.

Research Design and Methods

A multiple-case study design was chosen where the nursing home was the case. Nursing homes were enrolled from six countries: Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, and United Kingdom.

Results

Seventeen cases (nursing homes) participated, with a total of 296 interviews completed including family carers, nursing home staff, and health providers. Five themes relevant to the implementation of the intervention were identified: supportive relationships; committed staff; perceived value of the intervention; the influence of external factors on the nursing home; and resource impact of delivery.

Discussion and Implications

There is a commonality of facilitators and barriers across countries when introducing practice innovation. A key learning point was the importance of implementation being accompanied by committed and supported nursing home leadership. The nursing home context is dynamic and multiple factors influence implementation at different points of time.
An overview of the existing and future state of the art advancement of hybrid energy systems based on PV-solar and wind
Authors: Soudagar Manzoore Elahi M , Ramesh S , Khan T M Yunus , Almakayeel Naif , Ramesh R , Ghazali Nik Nazri Nik , Cuce Erdem , Shelare Sagar
Published: February 2024

Increasing solar and wind power use in existing power systems could create significant technical issues, especially for grids with poor connectivity or stand-alone systems needing more adequate storage capacity. This is due to the unpredictable and intermittent nature of solar and wind power. The intermittent nature of solar and wind resources can be reduced by integrating them optimally, making the entire system more reliable and cost-effective to operate. The advantages and disadvantages of hybrid wind and solar energy integration systems are discussed in this research. The impact of voltage and frequency oscillations and harmonics is amplified in weak grids, affecting both grid-connected and stand-alone systems. This may be fixed by ensuring that hybrid systems are well designed, equipped with cutting-edge quick reaction control capabilities, and optimized. This review offers an overview of existing advances in PV-solar and wind-based hybrid energy systems while exploring potential future developments. Further, this review also provides an overview of the primary studies published on optimum design considerations for compactness, topologies for power electronics, and control. As the global energy environment shifts toward sustainability and resilience, this review helps researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders understand, adapt, and enhance PV-solar-wind hybrid energy systems.
Steroid Drugs Inhibit Bacterial Respiratory Oxidases and Are Lethal Toward Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Henry Samantha A , Webster Calum M , Shaw Lindsey N , Torres Nathanial J , Jobson Mary-Elizabeth , Totzke Brendan C , Jackson Jessica K , McGreig Jake E , Wass Mark N , Robinson Gary K , Shepherd Mark
Published: February 2024

Background

Cytochrome bd complexes are respiratory oxidases found exclusively in prokaryotes that are important during infection for numerous bacterial pathogens.

Methods

In silico docking was employed to screen approved drugs for their ability to bind to the quinol site of Escherichia coli cytochrome bd-I. Respiratory inhibition was assessed with oxygen electrodes using membranes isolated from E. coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains expressing single respiratory oxidases (ie, cytochromes bd, bo′, or aa3). Growth/viability assays were used to measure bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects.

Results

The steroid drugs ethinylestradiol and quinestrol inhibited E. coli bd-I activity with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 47 ± 28.9 µg/mL (158 ± 97.2 µM) and 0.2 ± 0.04 µg/mL (0.5 ± 0.1 µM), respectively. Quinestrol inhibited growth of an E. coli “bd-I only” strain with an IC50 of 0.06 ± 0.02 µg/mL (0.2 ± 0.07 µM). Growth of an S. aureus “bd only” strain was inhibited by quinestrol with an IC50 of 2.2 ± 0.43 µg/mL (6.0 ± 1.2 µM). Quinestrol exhibited potent bactericidal effects against S. aureus but not E. coli.

Conclusions

Quinestrol inhibits cytochrome bd in E. coli and S. aureus membranes and inhibits the growth of both species, yet is only bactericidal toward S. aureus.
Asymptomatic Low-Density Plasmodium falciparum Infections: Parasites Under the Host's Immune Radar?
Authors: Prah Diana Ahu , Laryea-Akrong Elizabeth
Published: February 2024

A large body of evidence suggests that low parasite carriage in Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic infection is required for the maintenance of malaria immunity. However, the fact that treating such infections has little to no impact on subsequent clinical malaria is rarely noted. In this paper, we review data and argue that low-density parasite carriage in asymptomatic infection may not support host immune processes and that parasites are virtually under the host's immunological radar. We also discuss factors that may be constraining parasitemia in asymptomatic infections from reaching the threshold required to cause clinical symptoms. A thorough understanding of this infectious reservoir is essential for malaria control and eradication because asymptomatic infections contribute significantly to Plasmodium transmission.
Stressful life events in electronic health records: a scoping review
Authors: Scherbakov Dmitry , Mollalo Abolfazl , Lenert Leslie
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Stressful life events, such as going through divorce, can have an important impact on human health. However, there are challenges in capturing these events in electronic health records (EHR). We conducted a scoping review aimed to answer 2 major questions: how stressful life events are documented in EHR and how they are utilized in research and clinical care.

Materials and Methods

Three online databases (EBSCOhost platform, PubMed, and Scopus) were searched to identify papers that included information on stressful life events in EHR; paper titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance by 2 independent reviewers.

Results

Five hundred fifty-seven unique papers were retrieved, and of these 70 were eligible for data extraction. Most articles (n = 36, 51.4%) were focused on the statistical association between one or several stressful life events and health outcomes, followed by clinical utility (n = 15, 21.4%), extraction of events from free-text notes (n = 12, 17.1%), discussing privacy and other issues of storing life events (n = 5, 7.1%), and new EHR features related to life events (n = 4, 5.7%). The most frequently mentioned stressful life events in the publications were child abuse/neglect, arrest/legal issues, and divorce/relationship breakup. Almost half of the papers (n = 7, 46.7%) that analyzed clinical utility of stressful events were focused on decision support systems for child abuse, while others (n = 7, 46.7%) were discussing interventions related to social determinants of health in general.

Discussion and Conclusions

Few citations are available on the prevalence and use of stressful life events in EHR reflecting challenges in screening and storing of stressful life events.
“Disgust” and “Disgrace”: Cultural Evangelicals’ Reaction to Jimmy Carter’s Draft Evader Pardon and Early Memory of the Vietnam War in Texas
Authors: Nanninga David
Published: February 2024

This article examines the reactions of cultural evangelicals in Texas to Jimmy Carter’s pardon of Vietnam War draft evaders. This article seeks to answer two questions: Did cultural evangelicals agree or disagree with Carter’s pardon, and why? This article finds that the vast majority vehemently disagreed with the pardon for a variety of reasons, but one reason loomed above all: These cultural evangelicals thought that the pardon was profoundly disrespectful to veterans of the Vietnam War because, in their minds, it appeared to give draft evaders, whom many cultural evangelicals saw as cowards, moral approval from the White House. To make this argument, this article takes a microhistorical approach and focuses on the cities of Waco and Amarillo, Texas, and uses sources like letters to the editor of local newspapers, news articles, opinion editorials, and, most critically, constituent letters to US members of Congress. Ultimately, this article provides another lens for understanding Carter–evangelicals relations and demonstrates how the understanding of white evangelicalism put forth by Kristin Kobes Du Mez in Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation can be used in a political and religious microhistory.