bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tyranny of the Majority
Authors: Josephson Peter B.
Published: August 2023

The tyranny of the majority is a concept developed most famously in Alexis de Tocqueville's
Democracy in America
. The term was coined by Tocqueville, and later adopted by John Stuart Mill in
On Liberty
. As more and more political communities turn to democratic forms, the problem of the potential for democracy to behave tyrannically becomes increasingly important.
Urbanism
Authors: Craggs David
Published: August 2023

Urbanism, broadly defined, is the study of cities, their economic and social structures and their development over time. It is a multidisciplinary intellectual tradition that incorporates theoretical and practical approaches. Cities have been recognized as a historical feature of human civilization from Mesopotamia onwards, but prior to the mid‐nineteenth century no society could be defined as predominantly urbanized. The Industrial Revolution transformed the function of cities to become motors of industrial capitalism and home to rapid urbanization of the working population. Such transformations led to great changes in the structuring of society and class relations, thus forming the intellectual focus of the first urban scholars such as Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, and Charles Booth
von Neumann, John (1903–57)
Authors: Caverly Matthew M.
Published: August 2023

John von Neumann (December 29, 1903–February 8, 1957) was an American mathematician who contributed to a number of natural and social sciences. It was his work in economics that is most important to empirical political theory.
Voting
Authors: Stone Peter
Published: August 2023

Voting is a social practice whereby a group of people express opinions regarding a set of alternatives. These opinions function as input into avoting rule, the output of which determines some kind of social outcome. The presence of such a rule is critical; it is what distinguishes voting from, say, a public opinion poll. The input a voting rule receives from each voter could be a single option from the set of alternatives, or a subset of the alternatives, or a rank ordering of some or all of the alternatives. The output determined by the voting rule could be enactment of a law or policy; a resolution of some controversy (e.g., is Mr. X guilty of murder?); or the assignment of one or more persons to public office.
War
Authors: Der Derian James
Published: August 2023

War might not be the father of all things, as famously claimed by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, but in the name of war there probably have been as many books written as battles fought, as much ink spent as blood spilt. Many of the west's originating myths (Iliadand Bible), foundational texts (Declaration of IndependenceandCommunist Manifesto), and modern treatises on war (Clausewitz'sOn War) as well as peace (Kant'sPerpetual Peace) were created in response to religious, communal, civil, class, or interstate conflicts. As goes war, so too paintings, photographs, cinema, television, and other means of representation that produce grand narratives of “us” (the good, pure, and saved) as opposed to “them” (the evil, corrupt, and damned). This constitutive power to produce identity from difference and meaning out of violence gives war a political, theoretical, and aesthetic advantage over more serene aspects of life, including, sad to say, the story of “peace” (marked by the conspicuous absence between “Patriotism” and “Peirce, Charles” in this encyclopedia).
Weil, Simone (1909–43)
Authors: Bańkowski Zenon
Published: August 2023

Simone Weil was born in Paris in 1909 into a comfortable bourgeois family. She studied philosophy and taught it in schools but was also politically active in left‐wing circles. She worked in a car factory for nine months, experiencing the pain of life on the assembly line. She was in the Spanish Civil War in an anarchist unit but had to leave after an accident during training. After Spain she had mystical experiences and developed a theology that placed her very close to Roman Catholicism, though she never joined that church. During World War II she was in the south of France – then escaped to the USA to be with her parents. However, she returned to Europe, to London, working with the Free French. She died of tuberculosis and malnutrition (she had refused to eat more than the rations in France) in Ashford, Kent in 1943.
Work
Authors: Muirhead Russell
Published: August 2023

Work was once at the center of modern social and political theory; in recent decades it has been relegated to the margins. Work became a central political and social concern in the wake of the Protestant Reformation, which affirmed the moral status of ordinary life; this centrality was later amplified by the potent critique of labor under capitalism issued by Marx and later Marxists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The more recent marginalization of work is a reflection of the antiperfectionist turn in contemporary political theory. This is likely to be a passing phenomenon: the importance of work in democratic culture and human experience has already led political theorists to a re‐engagement with work and its discontents.
Pd‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cross‐Coupling of N‐Aryl Anthranilic Acids to Access Carbazoles: Gram Scale Total Synthesis of Anti‐ Cancer Drug Ellipticine
Authors: Nadella Lavanya , Dadinaboyina S. Babu , Kumar Perla Bharath , Kanaparthy Suneel , Gaddam Vikram
Published: August 2023

An efficient and scalable Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative cross‐coupling strategy for the synthesis of carbazoles has been developed by using N‐aryl anthranilic acids. By employing a well‐designed catalytic system, this protocol access diverse carbazole derivatives via a C−C bond‐formation in one‐pot. The substituted carbazoles were obtained in good to excellent yields with high functional‐group tolerance. We have also demonstrated the gram‐scale synthesis of the anti‐cancer drug Ellipticine by utilizing this methodology. This concise and scalable total synthesis of ellipticine exemplifies the efficiency of our methodology in producing this significant anti‐cancer compound.
Elastic Polymer Coated Nanoparticles with Fast Clearance for 19F MR Imaging
Authors: Konishi Yuki , Minoshima Masafumi , Fujihara Kohei , Uchihashi Takayuki , Kikuchi Kazuya
Published: August 2023

19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful molecular imaging technique that enables high‐resolution imaging of deep tissues without background signal interference. However, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as 19F MRI probes has been limited by the immediate trapping and accumulation of stiff NPs, typically of around 100 nm in size, in the mononuclear phagocyte system, particularly in the liver. To address this issue, elastic nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for improving delivery efficacy in vivo. Nevertheless, the impact of elasticity on NP elimination has remained unclear due to the lack of suitable probes for real‐time and long‐term monitoring. In this study, we present the development of perfluorocarbon‐encapsulated polymer NPs as a novel 19F MRI contrast agent, with the aim of suppressing long‐term accumulation. The polymer NPs have high elasticity and exhibit robust sensitivity in 19F MRI imaging. Importantly, our 19F MRI data demonstrate a gradual decline in the signal intensity of the polymer NPs after administration, which contrasts starkly with the behavior observed for stiff silica NPs. This innovative polymer‐coated NP system represents a groundbreaking nanomaterial that successfully overcomes the challenges associated with long‐term accumulation, while enabling tracking of biodistribution over extended periods.
Enzymatic Benzofuranoindoline Formation in the Biosynthesis of the Strained Bridgehead Bicyclic Dipeptide (+)‐Azonazine A
Authors: Liu Mengting , Ohashi Masao , Zhou Qingyang , Sanders Jacob N. , McCauley Erin P. , Crews Phillip , Houk K. N. , Tang Yi
Published: August 2023

We uncovered and reconstituted a concise biosynthetic pathway of the strained dipeptide (+)‐azonazine A from marine‐derived Aspergillus insulicola. Formation of the hexacyclic benzofuranoindoline ring system from cyclo‐(l‐Trp‐N‐methyl‐l‐Tyr) is catalyzed by a P450 enzyme through an oxidative cyclization. Supplementing the producing strain with various indole‐substituted tryptophan derivatives resulted in the generation of a series of azonazine A analogs.
Design of an Oxygen‐Tolerant Photo‐RAFT System for Protein‐Polymer Conjugation Achieving High Bioactivity
Authors: Zhang Tong , Wu Zilong , Ng Gervase , Boyer Cyrille
Published: August 2023

Protein‐polymer conjugates have significant potential in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. To enable their widespread use, robust conjugation techniques are crucial. This study introduces a photo‐initiated reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (Photo‐RAFT) polymerization system that exhibits excellent oxygen tolerance. This system allows for the synthesis of protein‐polymer conjugates with high bioactivity under mild and aerobic conditions. Three photocatalytic systems utilizing Eosin Y (EY) as the photocatalyst with two different cocatalysts (ascorbic acid and triethanolamine) were investigated, each generating distinct reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. The impact of these ROS on three model proteins (lysozyme, albumin, and myoglobin) was evaluated, demonstrating varying bioactivities based on the ROS produced. The EY/TEOA system was identified as the optimal photo‐RAFT initiating system, enabling the preparation of protein‐polymer conjugates under aerobic conditions while maintaining high protein enzymatic activity. To showcase the potential of this approach, lysozyme‐poly(dimethylaminoethyl acrylate) conjugates were successfully prepared and exhibited enhanced antimicrobial property against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria.
c‐FOS is an integral component of the IKZF1 transactivator complex and mediates lenalidomide resistance in multiple myeloma
Authors: Osada Naoki , Kikuchi Jiro , Iha Hidekatsu , Yasui Hiroshi , Ikeda Sho , Takahashi Naoto , Furukawa Yusuke
Published: August 2023

Background

The immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide, which is now widely used for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), exerts pharmacological action through the ubiquitin‐dependent degradation of IKZF1 and subsequent down‐regulation of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), a critical factor for the survival of MM cells. IKZF1 acts principally as a tumour suppressor via transcriptional repression of oncogenes in normal lymphoid lineages. In contrast, IKZF1 activates IRF4 and other oncogenes in MM cells, suggesting the involvement of unknown co‐factors in switching the IKZF1 complex from a transcriptional repressor to an activator. The transactivating components of the IKZF1 complex might promote lenalidomide resistance by residing on regulatory regions of the IRF4 gene to maintain its transcription after IKZF1 degradation.

Methods

To identify unknown components of the IKZF1 complex, we analyzed the genome‐wide binding of IKZF1 in MM cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation‐sequencing (ChIP‐seq) and screened for the co‐occupancy of IKZF1 with other DNA‐binding factors on the myeloma genome using the ChIP‐Atlas platform.

Results

We found that c‐FOS, a member of the activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) family, is an integral component of the IKZF1 complex and is primarily responsible for the activator function of the complex in MM cells. The genome‐wide screening revealed the co‐occupancy of c‐FOS with IKZF1 on the regulatory regions of IKZF1‐target genes, including IRF4 and SLAMF7, in MM cells but not normal bone marrow progenitors, pre‐B cells or mature T‐lymphocytes. c‐FOS and IKZF1 bound to the same consensus sequence as the IKZF1 complex through direct protein‐protein interactions. The complex also includes c‐JUN and IKZF3 but not IRF4. Treatment of MM cells with short‐hairpin RNA against FOS or a selective AP‐1 inhibitor significantly enhanced the anti‐MM activity of lenalidomide in vitro and in two murine MM models. Furthermore, an AP‐1 inhibitor mitigated the lenalidomide resistance of MM cells.

Conclusions

C‐FOS determines lenalidomide sensitivity and mediates drug resistance in MM cells as a co‐factor of IKZF1 and thus, could be a novel therapeutic target for further improvement of the prognosis of MM patients.
Linkage between surface energy balance non‐closure and horizontal asymmetric turbulent transport
Authors: Lan Changxing , Wang Baomin , Li Lei , Fang Renzhi , Wang Ye , Zhang Zhijie , Zheng Dan , Zheng Baofeng
Published: August 2023

A number of studies have reported that the traditional eddy covariance (EC) method generally underestimated vertical turbulent fluxes, leading to an outstanding non‐closure problem of the surface energy balance (SEB). Although it is recognized that the enlarged surface energy imbalance frequently coincides with the increasing wind shear, the role of large eddies in affecting the SEB remains unclear. On analyzing data collected by an EC array, considerable horizontal inhomogeneity of kinematic heat flux is observed. The results show that the combined EC method that incorporates the spatial flux contribution increases the kinematic heat flux by 21% relative to the traditional EC method, improving the SEB closure. Additionally, spectral analysis indicates that large eddies with scales ranging from 0.0005 to 0.01 (in the normalized frequency) mainly account for the horizontal inhomogeneity of kinematic heat flux. Under unstable conditions, this process is operating upon large eddies characterized by enlarged asymmetric turbulent flux transport. With enhanced wind shear, the increment of flux contribution associated with sweeps and ejections becomes disproportionate, contributing to the horizontal inhomogeneity of kinematic heat flux, and thus may explain the increased SEB non‐closure.
Fermion hierarchies in SU(5) grand unification from $$ {\Gamma}_6^{\prime } $$ modular flavor symmetry
Authors: Abe Yoshihiko , Higaki Tetsutaro , Kawamura Junichiro , Kobayashi Tatsuo
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We construct an SU(5) grand unified model in which the hierarchies of the quark and lepton masses and mixing are explained by the $$ {\Gamma}_6^{\prime } $$

Γ
6
′

modular flavor symmetry. The hierarchies are realized by the Froggatt-Nielsen-like mechanism due to the residual $$ {Z}_6^T $$

Z
6
T

symmetry, approximately unbroken at τ ~ i∞. We argue that the $$ {\Gamma}_6^{\left({}^{\prime}\right)} $$

Γ
6

′

symmetry is the minimal possibility to realize the up-type quark mass hierarchies, since the Yukawa matrix is symmetric. We find a combination of the representations and modular weights and then show numerical values of (1) coefficients for the realistic fermion hierarchies.
Krylov complexity in large q and double-scaled SYK model
Authors: Bhattacharjee Budhaditya , Nandy Pratik , Pathak Tanay
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Considering the large q expansion of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model in the two-stage limit, we compute the Lanczos coefficients, Krylov complexity, and the higher Krylov cumulants in subleading order, along with the t/q effects. The Krylov complexity naturally describes the “size” of the distribution while the higher cumulants encode richer information. We further consider the double-scaled limit of SYKq at infinite temperature, where q ~ $$ \sqrt{N} $$

N

. In such a limit, we find that the scrambling time shrinks to zero, and the Lanczos coefficients diverge. The growth of Krylov complexity appears to be “hyperfast”, which is previously conjectured to be associated with scrambling in de Sitter space.
Flavor-dependent long-range neutrino interactions in DUNE & T2HK: alone they constrain, together they discover
Authors: Singh Masoom , Bustamante Mauricio , Agarwalla Sanjib Kumar
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Discovering new neutrino interactions would represent evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. We focus on new flavor-dependent long-range neutrino interactions mediated by ultra-light mediators, with masses below 10−10 eV, introduced by new lepton-number gauge symmetries Le – Lμ, Le – Lτ, and Lμ – Lτ. Because the interaction range is ultra-long, nearby and distant matter — primarily electrons and neutrons — in the Earth, Moon, Sun, Milky Way, and the local Universe, may source a large matter potential that modifies neutrino oscillation probabilities. The upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and the Tokai-to-Hyper-Kamiokande (T2HK) long-baseline neutrino experiments will provide an opportunity to search for these interactions, thanks to their high event rates and well-characterized neutrino beams. We forecast their probing power. Our results reveal novel perspectives. Alone, DUNE and T2HK may strongly constrain long-range interactions, setting new limits on their coupling strength for mediators lighter than 10−18 eV. However, if the new interactions are subdominant, then both DUNE and T2HK, together, will be needed to discover them, since their combination lifts parameter degeneracies that weaken their individual sensitivity. DUNE and T2HK, especially when combined, provide a valuable opportunity to explore physics beyond the Standard Model.
Information loss, mixing and emergent type III1 factors
Authors: Furuya Keiichiro , Lashkari Nima , Moosa Mudassir , Ouseph Shoy
Published: August 2023

Abstract

A manifestation of the black hole information loss problem is that the two-point function of probe operators in a large Anti-de Sitter black hole decays in time, whereas, on the boundary CFT, it is expected to be an almost periodic function of time. We point out that the decay of the two-point function (clustering in time) holds important clues to the nature of observable algebras, states, and dynamics in quantum gravity.

We call operators that cluster in time “mixing” and explore the necessary and sufficient conditions for mixing. The information loss problem is a special case of the statement that in type I algebras, there exists no mixing operators. We prove that, in a thermofield double state (KMS state), if mixing operators form an algebra (close under multiplication), the resulting algebra must be a von Neumann type III1 factor. In other words, the physically intuitive requirement that all nonconserved operators should exponentially mix is so strong that it fixes the observable algebra to be an exotic algebra called a type III1 factor. More generally, for an arbitrary out-of-equilibrium state of a general quantum system (von Neumann algebra), we show that if the set of operators that mix under modular flow forms an algebra, it is a type III1 von Neumann factor.

In a theory of Generalized Free Fields (GFF), we show that if the two-point function clusters in time, all operators are mixing, and the algebra is a type III1 factor. For example, in 𝒩 = 4 SYM, above the Hawking-Page phase transition, clustering of the single trace operators implies that the algebra is a type III1 factor, settling a recent conjecture of Leutheusser and Liu. We explicitly construct the C∗-algebra and von Neumann subalgebras of GFF associated with time bands and, more generally, open sets of the bulk spacetime using the HKLL reconstruction map.
A small remark on Bernstein’s theorem
Authors: Bildhauer Michael , Farquhar Bernhard , Fuchs Martin
Published: August 2023

We investigate splitting-type variational problems with some linear growth conditions. For balanced solutions of the associated Euler–Lagrange equation, we receive a result analogous to Bernstein’s theorem on non-parametric minimal surfaces. Without assumptions of this type, Bernstein’s theorem cannot be carried over to the splitting case, which follows from an elementary counterexample. We also include some modifications of our main theorem.
Protease-independent control of parthanatos by HtrA2/Omi
Authors: Weiß Jonas , Heib Michelle , Korn Thiemo , Hoyer Justus , Fuchslocher Chico Johaiber , Voigt Susann , Koudelka Tomas , Tholey Andreas , Adam Dieter
Published: August 2023

HtrA2/Omi is a mitochondrial serine protease with ascribed pro-apoptotic as well as pro-necroptotic functions. Here, we establish that HtrA2/Omi also controls parthanatos, a third modality of regulated cell death. Deletion of HtrA2/Omi protects cells from parthanatos while reconstitution with the protease restores the parthanatic death response. The effects of HtrA2/Omi on parthanatos are specific and cannot be recapitulated by manipulating other mitochondrial proteases such as PARL, LONP1 or PMPCA. HtrA2/Omi controls parthanatos in a manner mechanistically distinct from its action in apoptosis or necroptosis, i.e., not by cleaving cytosolic IAP proteins but rather exerting its effects without exiting mitochondria, and downstream of PARP-1, the first component of the parthanatic signaling cascade. Also, previously identified or candidate substrates of HtrA2/Omi such as PDXDC1, VPS4B or moesin are not cleaved and dispensable for parthanatos, whereas DBC-1 and stathmin are cleaved, and thus represent potential parthanatic downstream mediators of HtrA2/Omi. Moreover, mass-spectrometric screening for novel parthanatic substrates of HtrA2/Omi revealed that the induction of parthanatos does not cause a substantial proteolytic cleavage or major alterations in the abundance of mitochondrial proteins. Resolving these findings, reconstitution of HtrA2/Omi-deficient cells with a catalytically inactive HtrA2/Omi mutant restored their sensitivity against parthanatos to the same level as the protease-active HtrA2/Omi protein. Additionally, an inhibitor of HtrA2/Omi’s protease activity did not confer protection against parthanatic cell death. Our results demonstrate that HtrA2/Omi controls parthanatos in a protease-independent manner, likely via novel, unanticipated functions as a scaffolding protein and an interaction with so far unknown mitochondrial proteins.
Higher revision rates in patients with preoperative contralateral pes planovalgus deformity following total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Pearson Zachary C. , Harris Andrew B. , Agarwal Amil R. , Kreulen R. Timothy , Martin Jalen , Ahiarakwe Uzoma , Golladay Gregory J. , Thakkar Savyasachi C.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of revision in those with pes planovalgus deformity to those without using a large national database. Given the reciprocal changes in lower extremity alignment associated with planovalgus foot deformity, it has been suggested that patients with this deformity has worse outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of patients undergoing elective TKA was conducted using the PearlDiver database. Patients were stratified into three cohorts: those without pes planovalgus, patients with ipsilateral or bilateral pes planovalgus relative to the TKA, and patients with contralateral pes planovalgus. Patients with prior foot reconstructive surgery were excluded. The cohorts were each matched to those without pes planovalgus. Bivariate analysis was performed comparing 90‐day medical complications and 2‐ and 4‐year revisions following TKA. An adjusted number needed to be exposed for one additional person to be harmed (NNEH) was calculated using the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and unexposed event rate.

Results

Following matched analysis, those with contralateral pes planovalgus had similar odds (OR 3.41; 95% CI 0.93–12.54; p = n.s.) for aseptic revision within 2 years but significantly higher odds (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.08–10.41; p = 0.03) within 4 years when compared to those without a pes planovalgus deformity. Within 4 years, there was no significant difference in the incidence of aseptic revision (p = n.s.) in patients with ipsilateral/bilateral pes planovalgus. No patients in any cohort underwent septic revision within 4 years of TKA.

Conclusion

This study found that patients with contralateral pes planovalgus deformity had higher odds of aseptic revision within 4 years following primary TKA in a national database, suggesting that the change in gait kinematics associated with this deformity could possibly be associated with increased revision rates.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Biodistribution and intestinal inflammatory response following voluntary oral intake of silver nanoparticles by C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Sousa Adelaide , Azevedo Rui , Costa Vera Marisa , Oliveira Sara , Preguiça Inês , Viana Sofia , Reis Flávio , Almeida Agostinho , Matafome Paulo , Dias-Pereira Patrícia , Carvalho Félix , Fernandes Eduarda , Freitas Marisa
Published: August 2023

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are among the most widely commercialized nanomaterials globally, with applications in medicine and the food industry. Consequently, the increased use of AgNP in the food industry has led to an unavoidable rise  in human exposure to these nanoparticles. Their widespread use raises concerns about potential hazards to human health, specifically their intestinal pro-inflammatory effects. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of two subacute doses of 5 nm polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-AgNP in C57BL/6J mice. One mg/kg body weight or 10 mg/kg bw was provided once a day for 14 days, using a new technology (HaPILLness) that allows voluntary, stress-free, and accurate oral dosing. It was observed that after oral ingestion, while AgNP is biodistributed throughout the entire organism, most of the ingested dose is excreted in the feces. The passage and accumulation of AgNP throughout the intestine instigated a prominent inflammatory response, marked by significant histological, vascular, and cellular transformations. This response was driven by the activation of the nuclear factor-кB (NF-кB) inflammatory pathway, ultimately leading to the generation of multiple cytokines and chemokines.
Reduced order modelling using neural networks for predictive modelling of 3d-magneto-mechanical problems with application to magnetic resonance imaging scanners
Authors: Miah S. , Sooriyakanthan Y. , Ledger P. D. , Gil A. J. , Mallett M.
Published: August 2023

The design of magnets for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners requires the numerical simulation of a coupled magneto-mechanical system where the effects that different material parameters and in-service loading conditions have on both imaging and MRI performance are key to aid with the design and the manufacturing process. To correctly capture the complex physics, and to obtain accurate solutions, finite element simulations with dense meshes and high order elements are needed. Reduced order model approaches, based on the established proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) approach, are attractive as they can rapidly predict the numerical simulations needed under changing parameters or conditions. However, the projected (PODP) approach has an invasive computational implementation, whilst the interpolated (PODI) approach presents challenges when the dimension of the space of parameters to be investigated becomes large. As an alternative, we investigate a POD technique based on using a neural network regression, which is not as invasive as PODP, but has superior approximation properties compared to PODI. We apply this to the coupled magneto-mechanical system to understand three pressing industrial problems: firstly, the accurate and rapid computation of the resonant frequencies associated with this coupled magneto-mechanical system, secondly, the effects of magnet motion on the Ohmic power and kinetic energy curves, and, thirdly, the prediction of the uncertainty in Ohmic power and kinetic energy curves as a function of exciting frequency for uncertain material parameters.
Monazite in the eclogite and blueschist of the Svalbard Caledonides: its origin and forming-reactions
Authors: Kośmińska Karolina , Fassmer Kathrin , McClelland William C. , Majka Jarosław , Coble Matthew , Thomas Jay , Manecki Maciej , Lorenz Henning , Bazarnik Jakub , Münker Carsten
Published: August 2023

High-pressure low-temperature rocks from Svalbard are an excellent target for studying metamorphic reactions in Phanerozoic subduction zones. This study reveals the presence of monazite in an eclogite and a blueschist from the Vestgötabreen Complex, southwestern Svalbard. In order to investigate the monazite-forming reaction, we obtained pressure–temperature estimates coupled with U–Pb and Lu–Hf dating. Combined geothermobarometry allows to constrain three evolutionary stages of garnet growth in the eclogite: nucleation (1.6 ± 0.3 GPa at 460 ± 60 °C), peak-pressure (2.3 ± 0.3 GPa at 507 ± 60 °C), and peak-temperature (2.1 ± 0.3 GPa at 553 ± 60 °C). A zircon age of 482 ± 10 Ma is interpreted to belong to the prograde part of the pressure–temperature path. Monazite forms inclusions within garnet rims, or it is surrounded by allanite and apatite, altogether forming pseudomorphs of a tabular shape in the matrix. Textures, geothermobarometry and geochronology support the conclusion the monazite formed under high-pressure conditions at 471 ± 6 Ma. We propose that the monazite crystallization in the eclogite happened due to a decomposition of accessory phases during the decompression after peak-pressure of the metamorphic cycle. Monazite in the blueschist occurs as inclusions in garnet cores and gives an indicative age of 486 ± 6 Ma, which is interpreted to reflect the prograde growth of the garnet. Lu–Hf garnet dating resolves an age of peak-pressure metamorphism in the blueschist at 471.1 ± 4 Ma under conditions of 2.0 ± 0.03 GPa and 500 ± 30 °C. The Vestgötabreen Complex provides evidence for an early Ordovician modern-style subduction system in the proximity of the Baltica margin. Hence, this study also supports the tectonic models that favour a mixed Baltican and Laurentian provenance of south-western Svalbard.
Convergence of genealogies through spinal decomposition with an application to population genetics
Authors: Foutel-Rodier Félix , Schertzer Emmanuel
Published: August 2023

Consider a branching Markov process with values in some general type space. Conditional on survival up to generation N, the genealogy of the extant population defines a random marked metric measure space, where individuals are marked by their type and pairwise distances are measured by the time to the most recent common ancestor. In the present manuscript, we devise a general method of moments to prove convergence of such genealogies in the Gromov-weak topology when $$N \rightarrow \infty $$

N
→
∞

. Informally, the moment of order k of the population is obtained by observing the genealogy of k individuals chosen uniformly at random after size-biasing the population at time N by its kth factorial moment. We show that the sampled genealogy can be expressed in terms of a k-spine decomposition of the original branching process, and that convergence reduces to the convergence of the underlying k-spines. As an illustration of our framework, we analyse the large-time behavior of a branching approximation of the biparental Wright–Fisher model with recombination. The model exhibits some interesting mathematical features. It starts in a supercritical state but is naturally driven to criticality. We show that the limiting behavior exhibits both critical and supercritical characteristics.
Using eDNA to understand predator–prey interactions influenced by invasive species
Authors: Riaz Maria , Warren Dan , Wittwer Claudia , Cocchiararo Berardino , Hundertmark Inga , Reiners Tobias Erik , Klimpel Sven , Pfenninger Markus , Khaliq Imran , Nowak Carsten
Published: August 2023

Invasive predatory species may alter population dynamic processes of their prey and impact biological communities and ecosystem processes. Revealing biotic interactions, however, including the relationship between predator and prey, is a difficult task, in particular for species that are hard to monitor. Here, we present a case study that documents the utility of environmental DNA analysis (eDNA) to assess predator–prey interactions between two invasive fishes (Lepomis gibbosus, Pseudorasbora parva) and two potential amphibian prey species, (Triturus cristatus, Pelobates fuscus). We used species-specific TaqMan assays for quantitative assessment of eDNA concentrations from water samples collected from 89 sites across 31 ponds during three consecutive months from a local amphibian hotspot in Germany. We found a negative relationship between eDNA concentrations of the predators (fishes) and prey (amphibians) using Monte-Carlo tests. Our study highlights the potential of eDNA application to reveal predator–prey interactions and confirms the hypothesis that the observed local declines of amphibian species may be at least partly caused by recently introduced invasive fishes. Our findings have important consequences for local conservation management and highlight the usefulness of eDNA approaches to assess ecological interactions and guide targeted conservation action.
A Tight Bound for the Number of Edges of Matchstick Graphs
Authors: Lavollée Jérémy , Swanepoel Konrad
Published: August 2023

A matchstick graph is a plane graph with edges drawn as unit-distance line segments. Harborth introduced these graphs in 1981 and conjectured that the maximum number of edges for a matchstick graph on n vertices is $$\lfloor 3n-\sqrt{12n-3}\rfloor $$

⌊
3
n
-

12
n
-
3

⌋

. In this paper we prove this conjecture for all $$n\ge 1$$

n
≥
1

. The main geometric ingredient of the proof is an isoperimetric inequality related to L’Huilier’s inequality.
Field Choice Problem in Persistent Homology
Authors: Obayashi Ippei , Yoshiwaki Michio
Published: August 2023

This paper tackles the problem of coefficient field choice in persistent homology. When we compute a persistence diagram, we need to select a coefficient field before computation. We should understand the dependence of the diagram on the coefficient field to facilitate computation and interpretation of the diagram. We clarify that the dependence is strongly related to the torsion part of $$\mathbb {Z}$$
Z
relative homology in the filtration. We show the sufficient and necessary conditions of the independence of coefficient field choice. An efficient algorithm is proposed to verify the independence. A slight modification of the standard persistence algorithm gives the verification algorithm. In a numerical experiment with the algorithm, a persistence diagram rarely changes even when the coefficient field changes if we consider a filtration in $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

R

3

. The experiment suggests that, in practical terms, changes in the field coefficient will not change persistence diagrams when the data are in $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

R

3

.
Drain versus no drain in elective open incisional hernia operations: a registry-based analysis with 39,523 patients
Authors: Sahm M. , Pross M. , Hukauf M. , Adolf D. , Köckerling F. , Mantke R.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Elective open incisional hernia operations are a frequently performed and complex procedure. Prophylactic drainage is widely practised to prevent local complications, but nevertheless the benefit of surgical drain placement remains a controversially discussed subject. Objective of this analysis was to evaluate the current status of patient care in clinical routine and outcome in this regard.

Methods

The study based on prospectively collected data of the Herniamed Register. Included were all patients with elective open incisional hernia between 1/2005 and 12/2020 and completed 1-year follow-up. Multiple linear and logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relation of individual factors to the outcome variables.

Results

Analysed were data from 39,523 patients (28,182 with drain, 11,341 without). Patients with drain placement were significantly older, had a higher BMI, more preoperative risk factors, and a larger defect size. Drained patients furthermore showed a significant disadvantage in the outcome parameters intraoperative complications, general complications, postoperative complications, complication-related reoperations, and pain at the 1-year follow-up. No significant difference was observed with respect to the recurrent rate.

Conclusion

With 71.3%, the use of surgical drainages has a high level of acceptance in elective open incisional hernia operations. The worse outcome of patients is associated with the use of drains, independent of other influencing factors in the model such as patient or surgical characteristics. The use of drains may be a surrogate parameter for other unobserved confounders.
Design principles for social exchange in social virtual reality-enabled virtual teams
Authors: Torro Osku , Pirkkalainen Henri
Published: August 2023

Social virtual reality (SVR) is a novel technology that can simulate and potentially enhance our face-to-face interactions. However, our understanding of interpersonal communication in SVR is still limited. To address this research gap, we describe how SVR enables social exchange (i.e., fundamental communication patterns of trust and reciprocity between individuals), which is closely related to virtual team performance. We present an information systems design theory for social exchange in SVR-enabled virtual teams (SE-SVR). Drawing from affordance theory and social exchange theory, we describe how SVR material properties (i.e., avatars, virtual objects, virtual space, and verbal and nonverbal communication features) enable and foster social exchange in SVR. As a theoretical contribution, we propose design principles for social exchange in SVR and connect them with testable theoretical propositions. Furthermore, we present the concept of interacting with presence, which facilitates users’ affordance perceptions in SVR. We conceptually validate our design principles and illustrate our design through an artifact instantiation: XR Campus, which is a minimum viable product of a collaborative platform for the ECIU University. Our SE-SVR theory has important research and practice implications because it explains how critical aspects of organizational remote communication can be considered in SVR design.
Realtime gray-box algorithm configuration using cost-sensitive classification
Authors: Weiss Dimitri , Tierney Kevin
Published: August 2023

A solver’s runtime and the quality of the solutions it generates are strongly influenced by its parameter settings. Finding good parameter configurations is a formidable challenge, even for fixed problem instance distributions. However, when the instance distribution can change over time, a once effective configuration may no longer provide adequate performance. Realtime algorithm configuration (RAC) offers assistance in finding high-quality configurations for such distributions by automatically adjusting the configurations it recommends based on instances seen so far. Existing RAC methods treat the solver as a black box, meaning the solver is given a configuration as input, and it outputs either a solution or runtime as an objective function for the configurator. However, analyzing intermediate output from the solver can enable configurators to avoid wasting time on poorly performing configurations. We propose a gray-box approach that utilizes intermediate output during evaluation and implement it within the RAC method Contextual Preselection with Plackett-Luce (CPPL blue). We apply cost-sensitive machine learning with pairwise comparisons to determine whether ongoing evaluations can be terminated to free resources. We compare our approach to a black-box equivalent on several experimental settings and show that our approach reduces the total solving time in several scenarios and improves solution quality in an additional scenario.
Using N-BEATS ensembles to predict automated guided vehicle deviation
Authors: Karamchandani Amit , Mozo Alberto , Vakaruk Stanislav , Gómez-Canaval Sandra , Sierra-García J. Enrique , Pastor Antonio
Published: August 2023

A novel AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) control architecture has recently been proposed where the AGV is controlled remotely by a virtual Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), which is deployed on a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) platform and connected to the AGV via a radio link in a 5G network. In this scenario, we leverage advanced deep learning techniques based on ensembles of N-BEATS (state-of-the-art in time-series forecasting) to build predictive models that can anticipate the deviation of the AGV’s trajectory even when network perturbations appear. Therefore, corrective maneuvers, such as stopping the AGV, can be performed in advance to avoid potentially harmful situations. The main contribution of this work is an innovative application of the N-BEATS architecture for AGV deviation prediction using sequence-to-sequence modeling. This novel approach allows for a flexible adaptation of the forecast horizon to the AGV operator’s current needs, without the need for model retraining or sacrificing performance. As a second contribution, we extend the N-BEATS architecture to incorporate relevant information from exogenous variables alongside endogenous variables. This joint consideration enables more accurate predictions and enhances the model’s overall performance. The proposed solution was thoroughly evaluated through realistic scenarios in a real factory environment with 5G connectivity and compared against main representatives of deep learning architectures (LSTM), machine learning techniques (Random Forest), and statistical methods (ARIMA) for time-series forecasting. We demonstrate that the deviation of AGVs can be effectively detected by using ensembles of our extended N-BEATS architecture that clearly outperform the other methods. Finally, a careful analysis of a real-time deployment of our solution was conducted, including retraining scenarios that could be triggered by the appearance of data drift problems.
CFD Uncertainty Quantification using PCE–HDMR: Exemplary Application to a Buoyancy-Driven Mixing Process
Authors: Wenig Philipp J. , Kelm Stephan , Klein Markus
Published: August 2023

For the investigation of uncertainties in high dimensional spaces of computationally expensive engineering applications, reliable Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) methods are needed. These methods should provide accurate and efficient High-Dimensional Model Representations of stochastic results using a reasonable number of calculations. Therefore, the PCE–HDMR approach (Polynomial Chaos Expansion–High-Dimensional Model Representation) is utilized to qualify appropriate UQ methods for large-scale computations in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics. This technique is a combination of Cut-HDMR, a hierarchical decomposition modeling approach, with PCE. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the PCE–HDMR methodology in conjunction with complementary modeling techniques is applied for the UQ analysis of a buoyancy-driven mixing process between two miscible fluids within the Differentially Heated Cavity of aspect ratio 4. The results include a thorough probabilistic representation of time-dependent response quantities that comprehensively describe the mixing process. The stochastic models are derived from Large Eddy Simulations using PCE–HDMR and the Sparse Grid Method, which serves as a reference for the results from PCE–HDMR. The results show that PCE–HDMR provides accurate statistics of the modeled time-dependent stochastic processes and shows good agreement with the reference results. Thus, PCE–HDMR indicates great potential for UQ of technical-scale computations due to its efficiency and flexibility in the construction of stochastic models.
Neutral genetic diversity follows a latitudinal gradient in the endangered plant Arnica montana L.: a range-wide study
Authors: Capria Loris , Liepelt Sascha , Eimert Klaus , Leyer Ilona , Mosner Eva
Published: August 2023

Arnica montana is a clonal, self-incompatible herb of economic and intrinsic ecological value which is declining in large parts of its range. With the employment of microsatellite markers, we characterized the population structure and distribution of genetic diversity of 40 populations of A. montana sampled throughout Europe. We detected a clear geographical pattern of isolation and strong population structure, indicating limited gene flow. We also observed a negative latitudinal gradient in genetic diversity. Such patterns can be explained by paleo-historical colonization routes following the last glacial maximum, with regions characterized by higher genetic diversity corresponding to former glacial refugia. We recommend the implementation of conservation measures such as assisted gene flow in the populations characterized by low genetic diversity under consideration of the observed population structure. For the populations where high levels of genetic diversity are still retained, we recommend the maintenance of suitable habitat conditions. Our study emphasises the importance of conducting large-scale population genetic studies that consider postglacial recolonization history when planning active conservation measures such as assisted gene flow.
Fluorescence of D-Glucose-Derived Carbon Dots: Effect of Process Parameters
Authors: Piasek Anna , Pulit-Prociak Jolanta , Zielina Michał , Banach Marcin
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to synthesize highly fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) from glucose using a microwave hydrothermal method. It explored the impact of glucose concentration, process time, molar ratio of KH2PO4 to glucose, and homogenization time on the resulting CDs, employing a fractional plan 3(k-1) with four independent parameters for twenty-seven synthesis. Results showed that longer process times at 200°C increased the fluorescence intensity of the CDs. The molar ratio of KH2PO4 to glucose, glucose concentration, and process time significantly influenced fluorescence. Homogenization was crucial for obtaining small particles, though an anti-aggregation agent might still be needed. UV-vis spectroscopy, spectrofluorimetry, and DLS were used to analyze the synthesized CDs. The UV-vis absorption maxima were observed around 230 nm and 282 nm, with peak shifts at different excitation wavelengths. Out of the twenty-seven samples, six CDs samples were identified to be below 10 nm and a total of twelve below 50 nm. Analyzing the results, the study concluded that the CDs possess strong fluorescence and are suitable for diverse applications. For enhanced fluorescence, longer process times at 200°C and the use of KH2PO4 were recommended, while shorter processes were preferred for obtaining smaller particles. Hierarchical clustering, the k-means method, Pareto charts, and profiles for predicted values and desirability were used to analyze the results. It was confirmed that higher fluorescence is favored by longer process time at 200°C and the use of KH2PO4. In order to obtain smaller particles, shorter processes should be used.
Transcending the national: on worlding the peripheral literatures
Authors: Pokrivčák Anton , Zelenka Miloš
Published: August 2023

The study is concerned with contemporary theoretical concepts of world literature (“literature of the world”, “worldliness of literature”, “world literary system”, “world literary republic”). Considering the results of the XXII International Congress ICLA/AICL in Macau 2019, it discusses how the concepts are reflected in the Slovenian scholar Marko Juvan´s monograph Worlding a Peripheral Literature (2019). The book analyses conditions under which small national texts (for example, Slavic) become world texts. According to Juvan, the space of world literature was historically originating in the mid-nineteenth century, in parallel with the genesis of national literatures. The decisive factors of this process included the importance of language and the significance of the country. On the one hand, Juvan’s idea of world literature admits that an acceptable consensus can be reached in the form of an epistemological and terminological basis defined by a set of concrete concepts and principles, on the other hand, the acceptance of inequality between the so-called big and small literatures as a way of thinking is a consequence of economic and mass media globalization. Overall, however, Juvan’s concept, inspired by Moretti’s theory of evolution and economic models, brings a fundamental theoretical contribution to current discussions on the forms, essence, and functions of world literature as a universal phenomenon.