bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine learning-enhanced drug testing for simultaneous morphine and methadone detection in urinary biofluids
Authors: Habibi Mohammad Mehdi , Mousavi Mitra , Shekofteh-Gohari Maryam , Parsaei-Khomami Anita , Hosseini Monireh-Alsadat , Haghani Elnaz , Salahandish Razieh , Ghasemi Jahan B.
Published: April 2024

The simultaneous identification of drugs has considerable difficulties due to the intricate interplay of analytes and the interference present in biological matrices. In this study, we introduce an innovative electrochemical sensor that overcomes these hurdles, enabling the precise and simultaneous determination of morphine (MOR), methadone (MET), and uric acid (UA) in urine samples. The sensor harnesses the strategically adapted carbon nanotubes (CNT) modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets to ensure exceptional precision and sensitivity for the targeted analytes. Through systematic optimization of pivotal parameters, we attained accurate and quantitative measurements of the analytes within intricate matrices employing the fast Fourier transform (FFT) voltammetry technique. The sensor’s performance was validated using 17 training and 12 test solutions, employing the widely acclaimed machine learning method, partial least squares (PLS), for predictive modeling. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) values for morphine, methadone, and uric acid were significantly low, measuring 0.1827 µM, 0.1951 µM, and 0.1584 µM, respectively, with corresponding root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values of 0.1925 µM, 0.2035 µM, and 0.1659 µM. These results showcased the robust resiliency and reliability of our predictive model. Our sensor’s efficacy in real urine samples was demonstrated by the narrow range of relative standard deviation (RSD) values, ranging from 3.71 to 5.26%, and recovery percentages from 96 to 106%. This performance underscores the potential of the sensor for practical and clinical applications, offering precise measurements even in complex and variable biological matrices. The successful integration of g-C3N4-CNT nanocomposites and the robust PLS method has driven the evolution of sophisticated electrochemical sensors, initiating a transformative era in drug analysis.
Efficient reduction of vanadium (V) with biochar and experimental parameters optimized by response surface methodology
Authors: Peng Hao , Wang Laixin , Guo Jing , Wu Yuting , Li Bing , Lin Yinhe
Published: April 2024

Water pollution deteriorates ecosystems and has a great threaten to the environment. The environmental benefits of wastewater treatment are extremely important to minimize pollutants. Here, the biochar purchased from the related industry was used to treat the wastewater which contained high concentration of vanadium (V). The concentration of vanadium was measured by the IC-OES and the results showed that 96.1% vanadium (V) was reduced at selected reaction conditions: the mass ratio of biochar to vanadium of 5.4, reaction temperature of 90 °C, reaction time at 60 min and concentration of H2SO4 of 10 g/L, respectively. Response surface methodology confirmed that all the experimental parameters had positive effect on the reduction of vanadium (V), which could improve the reduction efficiency of vanadium (V) as increased. The influence of each parameter on the reduction process followed the order: A (Concentration of H2SO4) > C (mass ratio of biochar to vanadium) > B (mass ratio of biochar to vanadium). Especially, the mass ratio of biochar to vanadium and concentration of H2SO4 had the greatest influence on the reduction process. This paper provides a versatile strategy for the treatment of wastewater containing vanadium (V) and shows a bright tomorrow for wastewater treatment.
Impairment of lung volume perception and breathing control in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Authors: Hakimi Adrien , Bergoin Cyrille , De Jesus Anna , Hermand Eric , Fabre Claudine , Mucci Patrick
Published: April 2024

Breathing difficulties and exertional dyspnea are frequently reported in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS); however, they are not clearly explained. An impaired proprioception or the addition of a cognitive task could influence ventilatory control. How can the perception of lung volume be measured? Is lung volume perception impaired in hEDS patients? Is the breathing control impaired during a cognitive task in hEDS patients? A device was developed to assess the accuracy of lung volume perception in patients with hEDS and matched control subjects. In the second step, ventilation was recorded in both groups with and without a cognitive task. Two groups of 19 subjects were included. The accuracy of lung volume perception was significantly (P < 0.01) lower at 30% of inspired vital capacity in patients with hEDS in comparison to the control group, and they showed erratic ventilation (based on spatial and temporal criteria) when performing a cognitive task. These data support the influence of the proprioceptive deficit on ventilatory control in hEDS patients. These elements may help to understand the respiratory manifestations found in hEDS. Future research should focus on this relationship between lung volume perception and ventilation, and could contribute to our understanding of other pathologies or exercise physiology.

Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05000151.
Single-cell RNA sequencing explores the evolution of the ecosystem from leukoplakia to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Haibin , Guan Zhenjie , Zheng Lian
Published: April 2024

It has been found that progression from leukoplakia to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a long-term process that may involve changes in the multicellular ecosystem. We acquired scRNA-seq samples information from gene expression omnibus and UCSC Xena database. The BEAM function was used to construct the pseudotime trajectory and analyze the differentially expressed genes in different branches. We used the ssGSEA method to explore the correlation between each cell subgroup and survival time, and obtained the cell subgroup related to prognosis. During the progression from leukoplakia to HNSCC, we found several prognostic cell subgroups, such as AURKB + epithelial cells, SFRP1 + fibroblasts, SLC7A8 + macrophages, FCER1A + CD1C + dendritic cells, and TRGC2 + NK/T cells. All cell subgroups had two different fates, one tending to cell proliferation, migration, and enhancement of angiogenesis capacity, and the other tending to inflammatory immune response, leukocyte chemotaxis, and T cell activation. Tumor-promoting genes such as CD163 and CD209 were highly expressed in the myeloid cells, and depletion marker genes such as TIGIT, LAG3 were highly expressed in NK/T cells. Our study may provide a reference for the molecular mechanism of HNSCC and theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Predicting attitudes toward ambiguity using natural language processing on free descriptions for open-ended question measurements
Authors: Hitsuwari Jimpei , Okano Hirohito , Nomura Michio
Published: April 2024

Individual traits and reactions to ambiguity differ and are conceptualized in terms of an individual’s attitudes toward ambiguity or ambiguity tolerance. The development of natural language processing technology has made it possible to measure mental states and reactions through open-ended questions, rather than predefined numerical rating scales, which have traditionally been the dominant method in psychological research. This study presented three ambiguity-related situations and responses collected online from 591 participants in an open-ended format. After the analysis with bidirectional encoder representations from transformers, correlations were calculated using scores from the numerical evaluation by conventional questionnaire, and a significant moderate positive correlation was found. Therefore, this study found that attitudes toward ambiguity can be measured using an open-ended response method of reporting everyday life states. It is a novel methodology that can be expanded to other scales in psychology and can potentially be used in educational and clinical situations where participants can be asked to respond with minimal burden.
A multi-ancestry GWAS of Fuchs corneal dystrophy highlights the contributions of laminins, collagen, and endothelial cell regulation
Authors: Gorman Bryan R. , Francis Michael , Nealon Cari L. , Halladay Christopher W. , Duro Nalvi , Markianos Kyriacos , Genovese Giulio , Hysi Pirro G. , Choquet Hélène , Afshari Natalie A. , Li Yi-Ju ,   VA Million Veteran Program, Tsao Philip S. , Gaziano J. Michael , Hung Adriana M. , Wu Wen-Chih , Greenberg Paul B. , Pyarajan Saiju , Lass Jonathan H. , Peachey Neal S. , Iyengar Sudha K.
Published: April 2024

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a leading indication for corneal transplantation, but its molecular etiology remains poorly understood. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of FECD in the Million Veteran Program followed by multi-ancestry meta-analysis with the previous largest FECD GWAS, for a total of 3970 cases and 333,794 controls. We confirm the previous four loci, and identify eight novel loci: SSBP3, THSD7A, LAMB1, PIDD1, RORA, HS3ST3B1, LAMA5, and COL18A1. We further confirm the TCF4 locus in GWAS for admixed African and Hispanic/Latino ancestries and show an enrichment of European-ancestry haplotypes at TCF4 in FECD cases. Among the novel associations are low frequency missense variants in laminin genes LAMA5 and LAMB1 which, together with previously reported LAMC1, form laminin-511 (LM511). AlphaFold 2 protein modeling, validated through homology, suggests that mutations at LAMA5 and LAMB1 may destabilize LM511 by altering inter-domain interactions or extracellular matrix binding. Finally, phenome-wide association scans and colocalization analyses suggest that the TCF4 CTG18.1 trinucleotide repeat expansion leads to dysregulation of ion transport in the corneal endothelium and has pleiotropic effects on renal function.
Molecular motion of a nanoscopic moonlander via translations and rotations of triphenylphosphine on graphite
Authors: Tamtögl Anton , Sacchi Marco , Schwab Victoria , Koza Michael M. , Fouquet Peter
Published: April 2024

Mass transport at surfaces determines the kinetics of processes such as heterogeneous catalysis and thin-film growth, with the diffusivity being controlled by excitation across a translational barrier. Here, we use neutron spectroscopy to follow the nanoscopic motion of triphenylphosphine (P(C6H5)3 or PPh3) adsorbed on exfoliated graphite. Together with force-field molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the motion is similar to that of a molecular motor, i.e. PPh3 rolls over the surface with an almost negligible activation energy for rotations and motion of the phenyl groups and a comparably small activation energy for translation. While rotations and intramolecular motion dominate up to about 300 K, the molecules follow an additional translational jump-motion across the surface from 350-500 K. The unique behaviour of PPh3 is due to its three-point binding with the surface: Along with van der Waals corrected density functional theory calculations, we illustrate that the adsorption energy of PPh3 increases considerably compared to molecules with flat adsorption geometry, yet the effective diffusion barrier for translational motion increases only slightly. We rationalise these results in terms of molecular symmetry, structure and contact angle, illustrating that the molecular degrees of freedom in larger molecules are intimately connected with the diffusivity.
A copper-catalyzed asymmetric Friedel–Crafts hydroxyalkylation of pyrazole-4,5-diones with 5-aminoisoxazoles
Authors: Gao Siyu , Sun Xiang , Peng Sijie , Zha Zhenggen , Sun Qi , Wang Zhiyong
Published: April 2024

An asymmetric Friede-Crafts hydroxyalkylation reaction was developed under the catalysis of chiral copper complexes. A variety of pyrazolone derivatives were obtained with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.
Spectroscopic analysis of the bacterially expressed head domain of rotavirus VP6
Authors: Strachan Milaan Simone , Mashapa Tshepo , Gildenhuys Samantha
Published: April 2024

The rotavirus capsid protein VP6 forms the middle of three protein layers and is responsible for many critical steps in the viral life cycle. VP6 as a structural protein can be used in various applications including as a subunit vaccine component. The head domain of VP6 (VP6H) contains key sequences that allow the protein to trimerize and that represent epitopes that are recognized by human antibodies in the viral particle. The domain is rich in β-sheet secondary structures. Here, VP6H was solubilised from bacterial inclusion bodies and purified using a single affinity chromatography step. Spectral (far-UV circular dichroism and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence) analysis revealed that the purified domain had native-like secondary and tertiary structures. The domain could maintain structure up to 44°C during thermal denaturation following which structural changes result in an intermediate forming and finally irreversible aggregation and denaturation. The chemical denaturation with urea and guanidinium hydrochloride produces intermediates that represent a loss in the cooperativity. The VP6H domain is stable and can fold to produce its native structure in the absence of the VP6 base domain but cannot be defined as an independent folding unit.
Deep Learning in Cybersecurity: A Hybrid BERT–LSTM Network for SQL Injection Attack Detection
Authors: Liu Yixian , Dai Yupeng
Published: April 2024

In the past decade, cybersecurity has become increasingly significant, driven largely by the increase in cybersecurity threats. Among these threats, SQL injection attacks stand out as a particularly common method of cyber attack. Traditional methods for detecting these attacks mainly rely on manually defined features, making these detection outcomes highly dependent on the precision of feature extraction. Unfortunately, these approaches struggle to adapt to the increasingly sophisticated nature of these attack techniques, thereby necessitating the development of more robust detection strategies. This paper presents a novel deep learning framework that integrates Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) networks, enhancing the detection of SQL injection attacks. Leveraging the advanced contextual encoding capabilities of BERT and the sequential data processing ability of LSTM networks, the proposed model dynamically extracts word and sentence‐level features, subsequently generating embedding vectors that effectively identify malicious SQL query patterns. Experimental results indicate that our method achieves accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores of 0.973, 0.963, 0.962, and 0.958, respectively, while ensuring high computational efficiency.
Robust T‐S fuzzy‐model‐based nonfragile sampled‐data control for cyber‐physical systems with stochastic delay and cyber‐attacks
Authors: Arunagirinathan Srinivasan , Lee Tae H.
Published: April 2024

This work addresses the nonfragile sampled‐data control (SDC) of the Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy model for cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) subject to cyber‐attacks (CAs). The sets of random variables satisfying the Bernoulli distribution are utilized to depict the probability of the data transmitted by the network being subjected to stochastic delay and CAs. Then, the information for the entire sampling interval to with a relation of the augmented state vectors is considered for designing the SDC of the T‐S fuzzy systems (TSFSs). In this regard, the fractional delayed state looped functional (LF) approach is presented to handle the formulated Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional. Based on the LF method, new criteria are acquired to design SDC such that the proposed CPS is asymptotically stable in terms of linear matrix inequalities. It is worth noting that the proposed control strategy for the TSFSs guarantees stable performance while dealing with the attacks in the numerical section. Also, for the various attacking strengths of periodic and non‐periodic nature, the TSFSs have been simulated to show the efficiency of the proposed control method. Additionally, three numerical models have been performed to validate the less conservatism and superiority of the derived results over the existing ones.
Vibration characteristics of a single‐phase four‐column auto‐transformer core excited by geomagnetically induced currents
Authors: Xin Wenkai , Liu Chunming , Wang Guyue , Zhan Ruopu , Li Bing , Wang Zezhong
Published: April 2024

During geomagnetic storms, geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) occur in the power grid. GIC is a quasi‐direct current, which is represented by using a fixed DC current, the authors propose an approach that combines field‐circuit‐coupled and weakly coupled magneto‐mechanical models to investigate the magnetostriction characteristics of single‐phase, four‐column autotransformer cores excited by GICs. A non‐linear magnetostrictive constitutive model that considers the impact of stress and magnetisation intensity on ferromagnetic materials is introduced. The model reveals that the strain in the core initially increases as the magnetisation intensity increases; however, when the core begins to saturate, the magnetostrictive strain weakens as the magnetisation intensity increases. Moreover, the results of multiphysics finite‐element modelling are experimentally verified using a direct current bias platform. The results show that when excited by GICs, there is an enhancement in the vibration of the iron core, and the harmonic content of the vibration acceleration increases considerably, with the odd harmonics most significantly increasing in amplitude. The conclusion drawn is that GICs can exacerbate transformer vibration and significantly increase the content of harmonics, especially odd harmonics.
A wideband end‐fire stepped slot antenna with gain enhancement and filtering capability
Authors: Wang Shiyan , Li Hao‐Chen , Li Yin , Guo Zai‐Cheng , Zhang Gang , Yang Li , Gómez‐García Roberto
Published: April 2024

A wideband end‐fire stepped slot antenna with gain enhancement and filtering capability is proposed. On one hand, a parasitic dipole serving as a director is introduced in the stepped slot to improve the radiation gain of the slot antenna without increasing its physical size. It is found that a gain enhancement of about 2 dB can be achieved after adopting such approach. On the other hand, an absorptive branch possessing a nearly complementary frequency response with regard to the one of the slot antenna is in‐parallel loaded at the microstrip feedline. It allows the partial dissipation of the out‐of‐band/non‐radiated RF‐signal power of the antenna to attain both an RF‐quasi‐absorptive behaviour and filtering capability. It is found that after loading the dissipative branch, the out‐of‐band radiation efficiency of the slot antenna is reduced to less than 20%. The measured results of a fabricated proof‐of‐concept antenna prototype show a reasonable agreement with the simulated ones and verify the RF performance merits of the proposed stepped slot antenna, such as wide RF operating band covering the 3.39−4.73‐GHz range, end‐fire radiation with a front‐to‐back ratio (FBR) above 10 dB, flat radiation gain, and co‐integrated filtering functionality with RF‐quasi‐absorptive capability.
Die evidenzbasierte Medizin
Authors: Best Norman
Published: April 2024

Nicht erst seitdem Herr Minister Lauterbach die evidenzbasierte Medizin und den
medizinischen Sachstand in die Diskussion eingebracht hat, werden diese Termini oft
ge- und benutzt. Herr Lauterbach postuliert, dass zukünftig nur evidenzbasierte
Therapiemaßnahmen bezahlt werden sollen. Nebenbei sei genannt, dass ich aus dem
Terminus „medizinischer Sachstand“ nicht so recht schlau werde. Ich kenne den
Ausdruck „Stand der Wissenschaft“ oder „Stand des medizinischen Wissens“. Einstein
soll gesagt haben: „Wissenschaft ist der aktuelle Stand des Irrtums“. Sei es
drum.
FDG-PET/CT is a powerful tool to predict and evaluate response to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in Non-Hodgkin-Lymphoma (NHL)
Authors: Wielenberg Christoph-Ferdinand , Fostitsch Johannes Christian , Volz Christian , Marks Reinhard , Michalski Kerstin , Wäsch Ralph , Zeiser Robert , Ruf Juri , Meyer Philipp T , Klein Claudius
Published: April 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has dramatically shifted the landscape of treatment especially for Non-Hodgkin-Lymphoma (NHL). This study evaluates the role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in NHL treated with CAR T-cell therapy concerning response assessment and prognosis.

We evaluated 34 patients with NHL who received a CAR T-cell therapy between August 2019 and July 2022. All patients underwent a pre-therapeutic FDG-PET/CT (PET-0) 6 days prior and a post-therapeutic FDG-PET/CT (PET-1) 34 days after CAR T-cell therapy. Deauville score (DS) was used for evaluation of response to therapy and compared to a minimum follow-up of 5 months.

19/34 (55.9%) patients achieved DS ≤ 3 on PET-1, the remaining 15 (44.1%) patients had DS > 3 on PET-1. 14/19 patients with DS ≤ 3 on PET-1 had no relapsed or refractory (r/r)-disease and were still alive at last follow-up. The other 5 patients had r/r-disease and 4 of these died. Except for two patients who had no r/r-disease, all other patients (13/15) with DS > 3 on PET-1 had r/r-disease and 12 of these subsequently died. Patients with DS ≤ 3 on PET-1 had significantly better progression free survival (PFS; HR: 5.7; p < 0.01) and overall survival (OS; HR: 5.0; p < 0.01) compared to patients with DS > 3 on PET-1. In addition, we demonstrated that patients with DS ≤ 4 on PET-0 tended to have longer PFS (HR: 3.6; p = 0.05).

Early FDG-PET/CT using the established DS after CAR T-cell therapy is a powerful tool to evaluate response to therapy.
Butadienyl Ketene: An Unexplored Intermediate in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Mann Maninderjeet K. , Wahan Simranpreet K. , Bhargava Gaurav , Tandon Nitin
Published: April 2024

Butadienyl ketene is a useful intermediate because of its role as a 2p-component in cycloaddition reactions with a variety of substrates such as simple or conjugated imines and dienes. This review article summarizes recent reports on the generation of butadienyl ketene in situ and their cycloaddition reactions to afford heterocyclic systems. The chemistry of butadienyl ketene is explored with a focus on its [2+2] and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with a variety of imines and azadiene derivatives such as 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes, for the synthesis of four- and six-membered heterocycles, respectively.
The soundscape and tourism experience in rural destinations: an empirical investigation from Shawan Ancient Town
Authors: Bai Wenxi , Wang Jiaojiao , Wong Jose Weng Chou , Han Xingyu , Guo Yiqing
Published: April 2024

Rural tourism is becoming more valued by different tourist destinations along with the expansion of its market, especially, ancient town tourism, as one of the special rural tourism destinations, has become popular in recent years. This study aims to take Shawan ancient town as a case to comprehend the role of soundscape perceptions in affecting both flow experience and memorable tourism experience and further influence future behavioral intentions. The method of systematic sampling was performed, and finally, 394 samples were retained for further PLS-SEM analysis. The results show that both natural soundscape perceptions and human-made soundscape perceptions have significant effects on flow experience and memorable tourism experience, and natural soundscape perceptions have a stronger effect on tourism experience. In addition, both flow experience and memorable tourism experience were found to influence behavioral intention positively, and flow experience shows the stronger impact. Findings provide managerial implications suggesting that destination managers should cleverly integrate natural soundscape elements into the design of ancient towns and reduce interference from human-made soundscapes. Additionally, practical implications are provided for destination managers in designing soundscapes in the ancient town.
A ripple effect? The impact of obesity on sperm quality and function
Authors: Alfaiate Maria Inês , Tavares Renata Santos , Ramalho-Santos João
Published: April 2024

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples trying to conceive. Male-related causes account for roughly 50% of cases, with obesity emerging as a possible significant factor. Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30.0 or higher, has become a widespread epidemic associated with numerous health issues, including a decrease of fertility. This review discusses the relationship between obesity and male infertility, particularly focusing on sperm quality and function. An overview of the literature suggests that obesity may influence the male reproductive system via disruptions in hormonal profiles, oxidative stress, and inflammation, leading to changes in sperm parameters. Several studies have discussed if obesity causes a decrease in sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology, so far without a consensus being reached. However, available evidence suggests an impairment of sperm function in obese men, due to an increase in DNA damage and oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial function and acrosome reaction in response to progesterone. Finally, the relationship between obesity and assisted reproductive technologies outcomes remains debatable, with conflicting evidence regarding the influence on fertilisation, pregnancy, and live birth rates. Therefore, the actual impact of obesity on human spermatozoa still needs to be clarified, due to the multiple factors potentially in play.
Structure and design of Langya virus glycoprotein antigens
Authors: Wang Zhaoqian , McCallum Matthew , Yan Lianying , Gibson Cecily A. , Sharkey William , Park Young-Jun , Dang Ha V. , Amaya Moushimi , Person Ashley , Broder Christopher C. , Veesler David
Published: April 2024

Langya virus (LayV) is a recently discovered henipavirus (HNV), isolated from febrile patients in China. HNV entry into host cells is mediated by the attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins which are the main targets of neutralizing antibodies. We show here that the LayV F and G glycoproteins promote membrane fusion with human, mouse, and hamster target cells using a different, yet unknown, receptor than Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) and that NiV- and HeV-elicited monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies do not cross-react with LayV F and G. We determined cryoelectron microscopy structures of LayV F, in the prefusion and postfusion states, and of LayV G, revealing their conformational landscape and distinct antigenicity relative to NiV and HeV. We computationally designed stabilized LayV G constructs and demonstrate the generalizability of an HNV F prefusion-stabilization strategy. Our data will support the development of vaccines and therapeutics against LayV and closely related HNVs.
The cAMP signaling module regulates sperm motility in the liverwort
Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Yamamoto Chiaki , Takahashi Fumio , Suetsugu Noriyuki , Yamada Kazumasa , Yoshikawa Shinya , Kohchi Takayuki , Kasahara Masahiro
Published: April 2024

Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is a universal signaling molecule that acts as a second messenger in various organisms. It is well established that cAMP plays essential roles across the tree of life, although the function of cAMP in land plants has long been debated. We previously identified the enzyme with both adenylyl cyclase (AC) and cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity as the cAMP-synthesis/hydrolysis enzyme COMBINED AC with PDE (CAPE) in the liverwort
Marchantia polymorpha
.
CAPE
is conserved in streptophytes that reproduce with motile sperm; however, the precise function of
CAPE
is not yet known. In this study, we demonstrate that the loss of function of
CAPE
in
M. polymorpha
led to male infertility due to impaired sperm flagellar motility. We also found that two genes encoding the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA-R) were also involved in sperm motility. Based on these findings, it is evident that CAPE and PKA-Rs act as a cAMP signaling module that regulates sperm motility in
M. polymorpha
. Therefore, our results have shed light on the function of cAMP signaling and sperm motility regulators in land plants. This study suggests that cAMP signaling plays a common role in plant and animal sperm motility.
Temporal repertoires in contemporary activism: The cases of Fridays for Future, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and ‘It’s Thursday Again!’
Authors: Siročić Zorica
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes the novel concept of ‘temporal activist repertoires’ (TAR) defined as the intentional and meaningful selection and use of temporal elements, such as time frame, timing, tempo, duration, and temporality in collective action’s tactics and frames. Collectives thereby draw on culturally resonant temporal references to interweave the symbolic and strategic choices in making their demands, organising political action and/or sustaining commitment to the political cause. To answer the question of how social movements use TAR and how these are positioned alongside other repertoires of contention, the paper analyses: the global Fridays for the Future and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and the Austrian ‘It’s Thursday Again!’. The paper shows that the innovative potential of TAR is linked to the use of technologically advanced media tools for the purposes of coordination, pressure, recruitment, mobilisation and visibility, as well as for the adaptations that these movements require, which include strategies to build on past traditions and/or to connect with currently existing allied movements.
Inverse design from the catenary problem
Authors: de Lima P D S , de Araújo J M , Ferreira M S
Published: April 2024

Inverse problems in science normally involve the challenge of obtaining from a set of observations the causal factors that generated them in the first place. However, physics students are seldom exposed to such problems as part of their training. Here we revisit the mechanics problem of finding the shape of a hanging cable, but this time in reverse, i.e. by asking what mass density a cable must have to follow a specific shape. This concept is then generalised into the possibility of identifying a cable whose hanging shape follows any form we wish to design. This inverted design strategy is experimentally verified with an inexpensive setup that is suitable for classroom activities.
Rare and exclusive few-body decays of the Higgs, Z, W bosons, and the top quark
Authors: d'Enterria David , Le Dung Van
Published: April 2024

We perform an extensive survey of rare and exclusive few-body decays ---defined as those with branching fractions $\mathcal{B} \lesssim 10^{-5}$ and two or three final particles--- of the Higgs, Z, W bosons, and the top quark. Such rare decays can probe physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), constitute a background for exotic decays into new BSM particles, and provide precise information on quantum chromodynamics factorization with small nonperturbative corrections. We tabulate the theoretical $\mathcal{B}$ values for almost 200 rare decay channels of the four heaviest elementary particles, indicating the current experimental limits in their observation. Among those, we have computed for the first time ultrarare Higgs boson decays into photons and/or neutrinos, H and Z radiative decays into leptonium states, radiative H and Z quark-flavour-changing decays, and semiexclusive top-quark decays into a quark plus a meson, while updating predictions for a few other rare H, Z, and top quark partial widths. The feasibility of measuring each of these unobserved decays is estimated for p-p collisions at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), and for $e^+e^-$ and p-p collisions at the future circular collider (FCC).
Mass–radius relation of neutron stars and massive pulsars with realistic equation of state
Authors: Seif W M , Hashem A S , Abualhamd H A
Published: April 2024

We use up-to-date constraints on the mass and radius of 15 neutron star objects and pulsars, from electromagnetic and gravitational wave observables and different theoretical schemes, to extend the nuclear equation of state (EOS) based on realistic Michigan-three-Yukawa (M3Y) nucleon–nucleon interaction, which truly accounts for the low-density EOS of nuclear matter (NM), to describe dense NM. The considered EOSs are employed to map the mass–radius profiles using the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equations of hydrostatic equilibrium. We found that the EOSs from CDM3Y-230 to CDM3Y-270, with saturation incompressibility K
0 = 230–270 MeV, successfully reproduce most of the recent constraints on the NS masses and radii. Based on both M3Y-Paris and M3Y-Reid NN interactions, these EOSs indicate radius of 11.67 ± 0.34 km for the NS of 1.4 M
ʘ mass, and the expected maximum NS mass (M
max) to be 1.93 ± 0.21 M
ʘ. The upper limits of constraints indicated stiffer EOSs of K
0 = 300–330 MeV, which have estimated 1arger radii of 12.29 ± 0.14 km for NS (1.4 M
ʘ) and heavier M
max of 2.31 ± 0.14 M
ʘ. Increasing the stiffness of the employed EOS is found to increase the indicated maximum mass of NS, its radius and maximum compactness, the core–crust transition density, the speed of sound in its interior, and slightly the transition proton-fraction, but to decrease the abundance of the proton, muon, and electron over npeμ core matter of NS, as well as the estimated central density.
Electron power absorption in CF4 capacitively coupled RF plasmas operated in the striation mode
Authors: Masheyeva Ranna , Vass Mate , Wang Xiao-Kun , Liu Yong-Xin , Derzsi Aranka , Hartmann Peter , Schulze Julian , Donkó Zoltán
Published: April 2024

The electron power absorption mechanisms in electronegative capacitively coupled plasmas in CF4 are investigated using particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions simulations at a pressure of

p
=

 60 Pa, a driving frequency of

f
=

13.56 MHz for voltage amplitudes in the interval of

ϕ
0

=

100

−

300 V, where pronounced self-organized density variations, i.e. striations, develop. The calculations are based on the Boltzmann term analysis, a computational diagnostic method capable of providing a complete spatio-temporal description of electron power absorption. The discharge undergoes an electron power absorption mode transition from the drift-ambipolar- to the striation-mode at φ
0 = 180 V. Although Ohmic power absorption is found to be the dominant electron power absorption mechanism in the parameter range considered, the electron power absorption mode transition can be inferred from the behaviour of the spatio-temporally averaged ambipolar power absorption as a function of the voltage amplitude. Furthermore, it is shown, that as a consequence of the presence of striations, the temporal modulation of the electron density leads to a temporal modulation of the ambipolar electric field, which is responsible for the striated structures of various physical quantities related to electrons, such as the electron temperature and the ionization source function.
Dynamic modeling and optimization of mechanical drift for compliant parallel micromanipulation driven by V-shape linear ultrasonic motors
Authors: Li Xinjian , Yao Zhiyuan , Xu Hao , Dai Shichao
Published: April 2024

Designing micro-mechanisms that satisfy large strokes, high precision, and multiple degrees of freedom has consistently been a research focus and challenge in the field of micromanipulation systems. Linear ultrasonic motors (LUMs), with advantages such as millimeter-level travel, nanometer-level motion resolution, and power-off self-locking, significantly contribute to the advancement in the mechanism design of micromanipulation systems. However, the challenge of mechanical drift lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis to explain its cause and limits its application. This paper presents a mechanical drift modeling method for a compliant parallel micromanipulation (CPM) driven by a LUM. The model primarily focuses on the creep characteristics of the flexure clamp element in the LUM. Based on the stiffness matrix analysis method of the compliant parallel mechanism kinematics, the mechanical drift dynamics model of the CPM is established. The influence of the main structural parameters on the CPM mechanical drift is investigated. The research indicates that the creep of flexure clamps in the CPM is the main factor leading to the mechanical drift. Optimization of mechanical drift is achieved by choosing flexure clamps with higher tangential stiffness for LUM and flexure hinge joints with greater flexibility for CPM. Finally, experimental studies reveal that under equivalent conditions, the mechanical drift of the optimized CPM was significantly reduced than before, proving the rationality of the theoretical model and optimization method.
Spectroscopy of flux-driven Kerr parametric oscillators by reflection coefficient measurement
Authors: Yamaguchi Aiko , Masuda Shumpei , Matsuzaki Yuichiro , Yamaji Tomohiro , Satoh Tetsuro , Morioka Ayuka , Kawakami Yohei , Igarashi Yuichi , Shirane Masayuki , Yamamoto Tsuyoshi
Published: April 2024

We report the spectroscopic characterization of a Kerr parametric oscillator (KPO) based on the measurement of its reflection coefficient under a two-photon drive induced by flux modulation. The measured reflection spectra show good agreement with numerical simulations in terms of their dependence on the two-photon drive amplitude. The spectra can be interpreted as changes in system’s eigenenergies, transition matrix elements, and the population of the eigenstates, although the linewidth of the resonance structure is not fully explained. We also show that the drive-amplitude dependence of the spectra can be explained analytically by using the concepts of Rabi splitting and the Stark shift. By comparing the experimentally obtained spectra with theory, we show that the two-photon drive amplitude at the device can be precisely determined, which is important for the application of KPOs in quantum information processing.
Tuning the lattice thermal conductivity of Janus SnSSe by interlayer twisting: a machine-learning-based study
Authors: Luo Yufeng , Cao Haibin , Li Mengke , Yuan Hongmei , Liu Huijun
Published: April 2024

Twisted two-dimensional materials have recently attracted tremendous interest owing to their unique structures and fantastic electronic properties. However, the effect of interlayer twisting on the phonon transport properties is less known, especially for the twist-angle-dependent lattice thermal conductivity (

κ

L

). Using the emerging Janus SnSSe bilayer as a prototypical example, we develop an accurate machine learning potential, which is adopted to efficiently predict the

κ

L

at a series of twist angles via iterative solution of the Boltzmann transport equation. It is found that the

κ

L

exhibits a distinct non-monotonous dependence on the twist angle, which can be traced back to the bonding heterogeneity between high-symmetry stacking regions inside the moiré unit cell. In contrast to the general belief, the optical phonons make a major contribution toward the

κ

L

of the twisted structures. Moreover, we demonstrate that four-phonon scattering can significantly reduce the

κ

L

of SnSSe bilayer at higher temperatures, which becomes more pronounced by interlayer twisting. Our work not only highlights the strong predictive power of machine learning potential, but also offers new insights into the design of thermal smart materials with tunable

κ

L

.
Bayesian analysis of a generalized Starobinsky model with reheating constraints
Authors: Linares Cedeño Francisco X. , Germán Gabriel , Hidalgo Juan Carlos
Published: April 2024

We study a generalization of the Starobinsky model adding a term of the form R
2p
to the Einstien-Hilbert action. we take the power p as a parameter of the model and explore the constraints from CMB plus BAO data through a Bayesian analysis, thus exploring a range of values for the exponent parameter. We incorporate a reheating phase to the model through the background matter content (equation of state) and the duration of this period (number of e-foldings of reheating). We find that incorporating information from reheating imposes constraints on cosmological quantities, more stringent than the case of no reheating when tested with the Planck+BAO data. The inferred value of the exponent parameter is statistically consitent with p = 1, favoring the original Starobinsky potential. Moreover, we report tighter constraints on p and the number of e-folds in comparison with previous works. The obtained values for other inflationary observational parameters, such as the scalar spectral index ns
and the scalar amplitude of perturbations As
, are consistent with prior measurements. Finally we present the alternative use of consistency relations in order to simplify the parameter space and test the generalized Starobinsky potential even more efficiently.
Sovereignty, Territoriality, and Private International Law in Classical Muslim International Law
Authors: Fadel Mohammad
Published: April 2024

Scholars in recent years have shown interest in challenging the historical origins of international law and its normative claims to universality. This Article challenges the prevailing conceptions of Islamic international law (al-siyar), first set out in English-language scholarship by Majid Khadduri, as primarily an ad-hoc response to the failed aspiration of a universal Muslim commonwealth. It shows that Islamic international law, in its classical phase (eighth–thirteenth centuries), as first formulated by Iraqi, and later, Central Asian, scholars (who together later came to be known as Ḥanafīs), understood all legal order as being rooted in sovereignty and territoriality, with shared religion a secondary concern. This theory of legal order arose out of an understanding of political order as emerging from a natural and universal condition of war that is incidental to the individual’s natural sovereignty. I trace the genealogy of this conception to the founding moment of the Muslim commonwealth and describe its manifestation in classical Ḥanafī solutions to a series of cases in “private international law.”
Side scatter ratio of the CD105-positive and CD105-negative red blood cell fractions is useful for the detection of low-grade myelodysplastic neoplasms by flow cytometry
Authors: Wang Zijan , Ciarlini Pedro C , Oduro Kwadwo A , Gadde Ramya , O’Neill Stacey , Zhao Chen , Meyerson Howard J
Published: April 2024

Objectives

We assessed the utility of red blood cell (RBC) CD105 and side scatter (SSC) parameters by flow cytometry for the detection of low-grade myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) in bone marrow specimens.

Methods

Ten RBC parameters incorporating CD105 or SSC combined with the Meyerson-Alayed scoring system (MASS) metrics were retrospectively evaluated by flow cytometry for utility in detecting low-grade MDS (n = 56) compared with cytopenic controls (n = 86).

Results

Myelodysplastic neoplasms were associated with 7 of the RBC parameters in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis using cutoff values based on optimal and 95% specificity levels of the RBC metrics and the MASS parameters revealed the SSC ratio of CD105-positive and CD105-negative RBC fractions (CD105+/− SSC); the percentage and coefficient of variation of the CD105-positive fraction of RBCs (CD105%, CD105+CV) emerged as significant RBC variables. Two simple scoring schemes using these RBC values along with MASS parameters were identified: 1 using CD105+/− SSC, CD105%, and CD105+CV combined with the percentage of CD177-positive granulocytes (CD177%), myeloblast percentage (CD34%), and granulocyte SSC (GranSSC), and the other incorporating CD105+/− SSC, CD105+CV, CD177%, CD34%, GranSSC, and B-cell progenitor percentage. Both demonstrated a sensitivity of approximately 80%, with a specificity of roughly 90% for the detection of MDS compared with cytopenic controls.

Conclusions

The red blood cell parameter, CD105+/− SSC, appears to be beneficial in the evaluation of low-grade MDS by flow cytometry.
Pulmonary symptoms associated with heavy alcohol consumption among people living with HIV: an analysis of the NHANES 1999–2010
Authors: New-Aaron Moses , Kang Mohleen , Yeligar Samantha M
Published: April 2024

Aim

This matched case–control study aimed to provide epidemiologic evidence of increased burden of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function decline among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a history of heavy alcohol consumption.

Methods

Cases were participants with HIV (PWH; n = 75, 33%), and controls were participants without HIV (PWoH; n = 150, 67%). PWH were matched to PWoH by age and sex in the ratio of 1:2. Eligible participants responded to the respiratory health National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaire [prolonged coughs (≥3 months), bringing up of phlegm (≥3 months), and a history of wheezing or whistling in the chest (past year)]. The effects of both alcohol and HIV on participants’ pulmonary function were determined using linear regression analysis.

Results

History of heavy alcohol consumption was more prevalent among PWH (40%) compared to PWoH (27%). PWH who had a history of heavy alcohol consumption had a higher prevalence of coughing most days (45% vs. 4%, P = .0010), bringing up phlegm most days (31% vs. 0%, P = .0012), and wheezing or whistling in the chest (40% vs. 20%, P = .058) compared to participants who did not heavily consume alcohol. Furthermore, a history of heavy alcohol consumption was associated with decreased forced expiratory volume (ml) in 1 s/forced vital capacity among PWH (β = − 0.098 95% C.I. −0.16, −0.04, P = .03) after adjusting for having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in life.

Conclusion

A history of heavy alcohol use increased respiratory symptoms and suppressed pulmonary function among people living with HIV. This study provides epidemiological evidence of the respiratory symptom burden of people living with HIV who have a history of heavy alcohol consumption.
A Novel Computerized Flexible Attention Test in Detecting Executive Dysfunction of Patients with Early-Onset Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Tikkanen Veera , Krüger Johanna , Heikkinen Anna-Leena , Hänninen Tuomo , Hublin Christer , Koivisto Anne M , Virkkala Jussi , Saari Toni T , Remes Anne M , Paajanen Teemu I
Published: April 2024

Objective

The number of computer-based cognitive tests has increased in recent years, but there is a need for tests focusing on the assessment of executive function (EF), as it can be crucial for the identification of early-onset neurodegenerative disorders. This study aims to examine the ability of the Flexible Attention Test (FAT), a new computer-based test battery for detecting executive dysfunction of early-onset cognitive impairment and dementia patients.

Method

We analyzed the FAT subtask results in memory clinic patients with cognitive symptom onset at ≤65 years. The patients were divided into four groups: early onset dementia (EOD, n = 48), mild cognitive impairment due to neurological causes (MCI-n, n = 34), MCI due to other causes (MCI-o, n = 99), and subjective cognitive decline (SCD, n = 14). The test accuracy to distinguish EOD patients from other groups was examined, as well as correlations with pen-and-paper EF tests. We also reported the 12-months follow-up results.

Results

The EOD and MCI-n patients performed significantly poorer (p ≤ .002) than those in the MCI-o and SCD groups in most of the FAT subtasks. The accuracies of the FAT subtasks to detect EOD from other causes were mainly moderate (0.34 ≤ area under the curve < 0.74). The FAT subtasks correlated logically with corresponding pen-and-paper EF tests (.15 ≤ r ≤ .75). No systematic learning effects were detected in the FAT performance at follow-up.

Conclusions

The FAT appears to be a promising method for the precise evaluation of EF and applicable distinguishing early-onset neurodegenerative disorders from patients with other causes of cognitive problems.