bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling and enhancing magnetic immunity of STT-MRAM
Authors: Zhang Guangjun , Jiang Yanfeng
Published: February 2023

In this paper, the magnetic immunity model of STT-MRAM is established. The influence of the external magnetic field on the effective energy barrier of STT-MRAM is investigated, which is the crucial issue to influence the reliability of STT-MRAM cells in the standby, active read and active write modes. The influence factors on the magnetic immunity of STT-MRAM array are also discussed in the paper, such as the electrode, package material, insert layer and array spacing, etc. Moreover, the magnetic shield models in the BGA and QFP packages are designed and analyzed for the enhancement of the magnetic immunity of STT-MRAM, whose shielding efficiency is up to 98.2%.
Novel multi-bit parallel pipeline-circuit design for STT-MRAM
Authors: Zhang Guangjun , Jiang Yanfeng
Published: February 2023

In the paper, novel multi-bit parallel pipeline circuit design of STT-MRAM is proposed to improve the read and write efficiency. The shift register is utilized to change the series data into the parallel ones. Combined with the corresponding sense amplifier (SA) circuit and the write drive circuit, 4-bit data can be read or written in parallel in single cycle. With the 32 Kbit data test, the efficiencies of the read and the write operations of the proposed pipeline circuit are increased by 72.3% and 74.4%, separately, with the comparison of the incumbent series operations. The proposed strategy has potential application in the embedded high speed STT-MRAM.
Effect of Hubbard U on calculations of magnetic properties of α″–Fe16N2
Authors: Stoeckl Peter , Swatek Przemyslaw Wojciech , Wang Jian-Ping
Published: February 2023

The ordered iron nitride phase α″–Fe16N2 has been a potential candidate for rare-earth free magnets with giant saturation magnetization, but first-principles electronic-structure calculations have struggled to reproduce recent observations of high magnetic moment, while calculations of magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) vary significantly. Within the framework of density-functional theory (DFT), a common extension to the usual generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) exchange-correlation (XC) functional is the inclusion of Hubbard parameters U (,J) as GGA + U. A number of previous papers have applied this method to Fe16N2, each with their own choice of Hubbard parameters. The plane-wave DFT code Quantum ESPRESSO was employed to more comprehensively study the effect of the value of Hubbard parameters U and J on the system, particularly with respect to its magnetic properties. Various approaches for setting U and J were compared, including self-consistent calculations via the linear-response method.
Mapping the delivery of interventions for vaccine-preventable infections in pregnancy in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Yussf Nafisa , Allard Nicole , Romero Nicole , Wilson Ann , Wallace Jack , Perrier Meg , Rowe Stacey , Morey Rosemary , Aykut Neylan , Cowie Benjamin
Published: February 2023

Background Standard care for pregnant women includes universal screening for hepatitis B, and administration of influenza and pertussis vaccination to women and hepatitis B infant vaccination. This study explored how perinatal services relating to the prevention of these vaccine-preventable diseases are delivered to women and their infants in Victoria, Australia. Methods Two online surveys investigated service delivery for the prevention of influenza, pertussis and hepatitis B to identify barriers to optimal care during January–June 2021; (1) The Birthing Hospitals Survey captured facility-level information about service delivery for influenza and pertussis vaccination, and interventions to prevent mother-to-child-transmission of chronic hepatitis B (CHB); and (2) The Healthcare Providers Survey captured individual staff perceptions and knowledge in community and hospital settings. Results Thirty-four hospital unit managers (61%) completed The Birthing Hospitals Survey. One-hundred and forty participants completed The Healthcare Providers Survey. Half of the birthing hospitals provided influenza (50%) and pertussis (53%) vaccinations to pregnant women, and 53% provided an infectious diseases service for women with CHB. Barriers to optimal care delivery included reliance on pregnant woman’s self-report to confirm influenza, pertussis vaccination and CHB status, lack of standardised reporting, inadequate workforce training, poor communication between services, and lack of guideline-based clinical care for mothers with CHB and their infants. Three hospitals reported ‘stock out’ of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). Conclusion Coordinated and standardised system and clinical care improvements are required to provide equitable care for pregnant women and their infants, including training and education for healthcare providers, improving data capture and communication among health services.
Ice and ocean constraints on early human migrations into North America along the Pacific coast
Authors: Praetorius Summer K. , Alder Jay R. , Condron Alan , Mix Alan C. , Walczak Maureen H. , Caissie Beth E. , Erlandson Jon M.
Published: February 2023

Founding populations of the first Americans likely occupied parts of Beringia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The timing, pathways, and modes of their southward transit remain unknown, but blockage of the interior route by North American ice sheets between ~26 and 14 cal kyr BP (ka) favors a coastal route during this period. Using models and paleoceanographic data from the North Pacific, we identify climatically favorable intervals when humans could have plausibly traversed the Cordilleran coastal corridor during the terminal Pleistocene. Model simulations suggest that northward coastal currents strengthened during the LGM and at times of enhanced freshwater input, making southward transit by boat more difficult. Repeated Cordilleran glacial-calving events would have further challenged coastal transit on land and at sea. Following these events, ice-free coastal areas opened and seasonal sea ice was present along the Alaskan margin until at least 15 ka. Given evidence for humans south of the ice sheets by 16 ka and possibly earlier, we posit that early people may have taken advantage of winter sea ice that connected islands and coastal refugia. Marine ice-edge habitats offer a rich food supply and traversing coastal sea ice could have mitigated the difficulty of traveling southward in watercraft or on land over glaciers. We identify 24.5 to 22 ka and 16.4 to 14.8 ka as environmentally favorable time periods for coastal migration, when climate conditions provided both winter sea ice and ice-free summer conditions that facilitated year-round marine resource diversity and multiple modes of mobility along the North Pacific coast.
Heterochromatin and RNAi act independently to ensure genome stability in Mucorales human fungal pathogens
Authors: Navarro-Mendoza María Isabel , Pérez-Arques Carlos , Heitman Joseph
Published: February 2023

Chromatin modifications play a fundamental role in controlling transcription and genome stability and yet despite their importance, are poorly understood in early-diverging fungi. We present a comprehensive study of histone lysine and DNA methyltransferases across the Mucoromycota, emphasizing heterochromatin formation pathways that rely on the Clr4 complex involved in H3K9-methylation, the Polycomb-repressive complex 2 driving H3K27-methylation, or DNMT1-like methyltransferases that catalyze 5mC DNA methylation. Our analysis uncovered H3K9-methylated heterochromatin as the major chromatin modification repressing transcription in these fungi, which lack both Polycomb silencing and cytosine methylation. Although small RNAs generated by RNA interference (RNAi) pathways facilitate the formation of heterochromatin in many eukaryotic organisms, we show that RNAi is not required to maintain either genomic or centromeric heterochromatin in
Mucor
. H3K9-methylation and RNAi act independently to control centromeric regions, suggesting a functional subspecialization. Whereas the H3K9 methyltransferase Clr4 and heterochromatin formation are essential for cell viability, RNAi is dispensable for viability yet acts as the main epigenetic, regulatory force repressing transposition of centromeric GremLINE1 elements. Mutations inactivating canonical RNAi lead to rampant transposition and insertional inactivation of targets resulting in antimicrobial drug resistance. This fine-tuned, Rdrp2-dependent RNAi activity is critical for genome stability, restricting GremLINE1 retroelements to the centromeres where they occupy long heterochromatic islands. Taken together, our results suggest that RNAi and heterochromatin formation are independent genome defense and regulatory mechanisms in the Mucorales, contributing to a paradigm shift from the cotranscriptional gene silencing observed in fission yeasts to models in which heterochromatin and RNAi operate independently in early-diverging fungi.
Expert but not persuasive: middle school students’ consideration of source in the processing of conflicting videos (Expertas pero no persuasivas: la consideración de las fuentes por parte de los estudiantes de secundaria en el procesamiento de vídeos contradictorios)
Authors: Lescarret Colin , Magnier Julien , Le Floch Valérie , Sakdavong Jean-Christophe , Boucheix Jean-Michel , Tricot André , Amadieu Franck
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to better understand how middle school students consider the source of information when processing videos with conflicting information. To this end, we exposed a sample of seventh-graders to a series of videos in which two interviewees expressed divergent positions on a socioscientific issue (‘Will organic farming be able to feed the entire world population by 2050?’). After viewing the videos, students were asked to recall the sources they had seen and indicate how far they had perceived the sources to be credible and convincing. Results showed that students paid close attention to the information given about the sources during viewing and rated their credibility accordingly. However, only a minority of students rated the expert sources as the most convincing after viewing the videos, while students’ beliefs on the topic contributed to source evaluation. These results suggest that although middle school students may pay attention to the identity of sources when viewing a video, they are unlikely to use this information to assess the reliability of the message.
Do more effective schools succeed in reducing the gender gap in linguistic communicative competence in a bilingual context? (¿Consiguen los centros más eficaces reducir la brecha de género en competencia comunicativa lingüística en un contexto bilingüe?)
Authors: Intxausti-Intxausti Nahia , Rodríguez-Miguel Sandra , Aierbe-Barandiaran Ana
Published: February 2023

The study aims to determine whether schools in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (ACBC) succeed in reducing gender differences in Spanish and Basque language achievement in accordance with their effectiveness level. The study was based on a census sample (30,148 girls/32,000 boys) encompassing all students in grade four of primary (9–10 years) who had completed Diagnostic Assessments (DAs) on three different occasions. We used a quantitative methodology. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare the scores obtained for language competence by students from schools with high and low effectiveness levels, as well as to compare boys’ and girls’ mean scores and scores across different years. The results reveal that, on average, girls scored lower than boys for language competence in Spanish and higher than boys for language competence in Basque, regardless of their school’s effectiveness. These findings suggest that although most studies report that women score higher than men for language competence, it is important to explore the specific situation of each individual language in relation to gender roles.
A systematic analysis of deuteron breakup
Authors: Torabi F , Carlson B V
Published: February 2023

Inclusive breakup cross sections for deuterons incident on a wide range of nuclei at different incident energies are studied. In our analysis, we use the post-form distorted-wave-Born approximation (DWBA) to calculate the elastic and nonelastic breakup cross sections. We also calculate exciton and statistical compound-nucleus model cross sections to account for pre-equilibrium and equilibrium emissions. The calculations are performed using the code EMPIRE and are compared to the available experimental data. The comparisons of the integrated cross sections reveal a generally good agreement between the calculations and the data. However, systematic discrepancies are observed between the calculated double differential neutron and proton cross sections and the data, especially for heavier targets. Possible reasons for the disagreements between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data are discussed.
63Cu(n, α)60Co cross sections in the MeV region
Authors: Liu Jie , Cui Zengqi , Hu Yiwei , Bai Haofan , Yang Yi , Ruan Xichao , Xia Cong , Chen Jinxiang , Zhang Guohui , Gledenov Yu M , Sansarbayar E , Khuukhenkhuu G , Krupa L , Chuprakov I , Huang Hanxiong , Ren Jie , Fan Qiwen , Gao Yuan , Yang Xiangjun
Published: February 2023

Cross sections of the 63Cu(n, α)60Co reaction in the MeV neutron energy region were measured using both the direct measurement method and the activation method. A twin-gridded ionization chamber was used for the direct measurement while the high-purity germanium detector was used for the activation method. The measured cross sections using the two methods are consistent within measurement uncertainties. The present results support the evaluation data in the ENDF/B-VII.1 library instead of the latest evaluation data in the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library, which is helpful to clarify discrepancies in measurement and evaluation data. TALYS-1.9 code analysis was performed which shows that the measurement cross sections can be well reproduced with minor adjustments of the input parameters. Through the calculation, it is found that the compound mechanism predominates the 63Cu(n, α)60Co reaction with ratios higher than 0.7 for neutron energy less than 20 MeV.
Thermoelectric transport properties of metal phosphide XLiP (X = Sr,Ba)
Authors: Yuan Xingzhu , Zhao Yinchang , Ni Jun , Meng Sheng , Dai Zhenhong
Published: February 2023

Metal phosphides are stable and have excellent electrical characteristics, their high thermal conductivity has prevented them from being used as thermoelectric materials. In this paper, the thermoelectric transport properties of XLiP (X = Sr Ba) are investigated on the basis of first-principles calculations, Boltzmann transport equation and self-consistent phonon theory. In addition, we also consider the effect of quartic anharmonicity on the thermal transport properties and lattice dynamics of SrLiP and BaLiP. The strong anharmonicity of the two compounds make the lattice thermal conductivity decrease rapidly with the increase of temperature. At 300 K, the lattice thermal conductivity of SrLiP and BaLiP on the a(b)-axis is only 2.98 and 2.93 Wm−1K−1, respectively. Due to its excellent electron transport properties, it has greater conductivity in the a(b) axis. Finally, due to the energy pocket and anisotropy at the bottom of the conduction band, the n-type maximum ZT values of trapped SrLiP and BaLiP on the a(b) axis are 0.87 and 0.94 at 900 K, respectively. The high thermoelectric performance of both compounds encourages further studies on the thermoelectric properties of metal phosphides.
Nanodesigns for Na3V2(PO4)3-based cathode in sodium-ion batteries: a topical review
Authors: Hao Ze-Lin , Du Miao , Guo Jin-Zhi , Gu Zhen-Yi , Zhao Xin-Xin , Wang Xiao-Tong , Lü Hong-Yan , Wu Xing-Long
Published: February 2023

With the rapid development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), it is urgent to exploit the cathode materials with good rate capability, attractive high energy density and considerable long cycle performance. Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP), as a NASICON-type electrode material, is one of the cathode materials with great potential for application because of its good thermal stability and stable. However, NVP has the inherent problem of low electronic conductivity, and various strategies are proposed to improve it, moreover, nanotechnology or nanostructure are involved in these strategies, the construction of nanostructured active particles and nanocomposites with conductive carbon networks have been shown to be effective in improving the electrical conductivity of NVP. Herein, we review the research progress of NVP performance improvement strategies from the perspective of nanostructures and classifies the prepared nanomaterials according to their different nano-dimension. In addition, NVP nanocomposites are reviewed in terms of both preparation methods and promotion effects, and examples of NVP nanocomposites at different nano-dimension are given. Finally, some personal views are presented to provide reasonable guidance for the research and design of high-performance polyanionic cathode materials of SIBs.
Electronic and surface modulation of 2D MoS2 nanosheets for an enhancement on flexible thermoelectric property
Authors: Yang Yaocheng , He Dunren , Zhou Yuan , Wen Shuangchun , Huang Huihui
Published: February 2023

Two-dimensional materials have potential applications for flexible thermoelectric materials because of their excellent mechanical and unique electronic transport properties. Here we present a functionalization method by a Lewis acid-base reaction to modulate atomic structure and electronic properties at surface of the MoS2 nanosheets. By AlCl3 solution doping, the lone pair electronics from S atoms would enter into the empty orbitals of Al3+ ions, which made the Fermi level of the 1T phase MoS2 move towards valence band, achieving a 1.8-fold enhancement of the thermoelectric power factor. Meanwhile, benefiting from the chemical welding effect of Al3+ ions, the mechanical flexibility of the nanosheets restacking has been improved. We fabricate a wearable thermoelectric wristband based on this improved MoS2 nanosheets and achieved 5 mV voltage output when contacting with human body. We think this method makes most of the transition metal chalcogenides have great potential to harvest human body heat for supplying wearable electronic devices due to their similar molecular structure.
Nonlinear stability of the two-jet Kolmogorov type flow on the unit sphere under a perturbation with nondissipative part
Authors: Miura Tatsu-Hiko
Published: February 2023

We consider the vorticity form of the Navier–Stokes equations on the two-dimensional unit sphere and study the nonlinear stability of the two-jet Kolmogorov type flow which is a stationary solution given by the zonal spherical harmonic function of degree two. In particular, we assume that a perturbation contains a nondissipative part given by a linear combination of the spherical harmonics of degree one and investigate the effect of the nondissipative part on the long-time behaviour of the perturbation through the convection term. We show that the nondissipative part of a weak solution to the nonlinear stability problem is preserved in time for all initial data. Moreover, we prove that the dissipative part of the weak solution converges exponentially in time towards an equilibrium which is expressed explicitly in terms of the nondissipative part of the initial data and does not vanish in general. In particular, it turns out that the asymptotic behaviour of the weak solution is finally determined by a system of linear ordinary differential equations. To prove these results, we make use of properties of Killing vector fields on a manifold. We also consider the case of a rotating sphere.
Effective optimization strategy for large optimization volume object, remaining volume at risk (RVR): α-value selection and usage from generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) curve deviation perspective
Authors: Anetai Yusuke , Takegawa Hideki , Koike Yuhei , Nakamura Satoaki , Tanigawa Noboru
Published: February 2023

Objective. A large optimization volume for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), such as the remaining volume at risk (RVR), is traditionally unsuitable for dose-volume constraint control and requires planner-specific empirical considerations owing to the patient-specific shape. To enable less empirical optimization, the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) optimization is effective; however, the utilization of parameter a-values remains elusive. Our study clarifies the a-value characteristics for optimization and to enable effective a-value use. Approach. The gEUD can be obtained as a function of its a-value, which is the weighted generalized mean; its curve has a continuous, differentiable, and sigmoid shape, deforming in its optimization state with retained curve characteristics. Using differential geometry, the gEUD curve changes in optimization is considered a geodesic deviation intervened by the forces between deforming and retaining the curve. The curvature and gradient of the curve are radically related to optimization. The vertex point (a = a

k
) was set and the a-value roles were classified into the following three parts of the curve with respect to the a-value: (i) high gradient and middle curvature, (ii) middle gradient and high curvature, and (iii) low gradient and low curvature. Then, a strategy for multiple a-values was then identified using RVR optimization. Main results. Eleven head and neck patients who underwent static seven-field IMRT were used to verify the a-value characteristics and curvature effect for optimization. The lower a-value (i) (a = 1–3) optimization was effective for the whole dose-volume range; in contrast, the effect of higher a-value (iii) (a = 12–20) optimization addressed strongly the high-dose range of the dose volume. The middle a-value (ii) (around a = a

k
) showed intermediate but effective high-to-low dose reduction. These a-value characteristics were observed as superimpositions in the optimization. Thus, multiple gEUD-based optimization was significantly superior to the exponential constraints normally applied to the RVR that surrounds the PTV, normal tissue objective (NTO), resulting in up to 25.9% and 8.1% improvement in dose-volume indices D2% and V10Gy, respectively. Significance. This study revealed an appropriate a-value for gEUD optimization, leading to favorable dose-volume optimization for the RVR region using fixed multiple a-value conditions, despite the very large and patient-specific shape of the region.
Ergodicity in glass relaxation
Authors: Wan Li
Published: February 2023

We derive an equation for the glass relaxation. In the derivation, the Zwanzig-Mori projection method is not applied explicitly, which makes our equation different from the mode coupling theory. Due to the nonlinearity, it is difficult to solve the equation to get the full behaviors of the glass relaxation. But we can simplify the equation when time approaches infinity and obtain the static result analytically. The static result shows that the density correlation function decays to zero finally, meaning that the glass relaxation is ergodic. In this study, we also find that the force fluctuation of one individual particle averaged in the glass is sensitive to the temperature and is suggested to be a parameter to reflect the structural transition for the glass relaxation.
Shapes of non-Gaussianity in warm inflation
Authors: Mirbabayi Mehrdad , Gruzinov Andrei
Published: February 2023

Sphaleron heating has been recently proposed as a mechanism to realize warm
inflation when inflaton is an axion coupled to pure Yang-Mills. As a result of heating, there is a
friction coefficient γ ∝ T
3 in the equation of motion for the inflaton, and a
thermal contribution to cosmological fluctuations. Without the knowledge of the inflaton
potential, non-Gaussianity is the most promising way of searching for the signatures of this
model. Building on an earlier work by Bastero-Gil, Berera, Moss and Ramos, we compute the scalar
three-point correlation function and point out some distinct features in the squeezed and folded
limits. As a detection strategy, we show that the combination of the equilateral template and one
new template has a large overlap with the shape of non-Gaussianity over the range 0.01 ≤ γ/H ≤ 1000, and in this range 0.7 < |f
NL| < 50.
Optimal Observational Scheduling Framework for Binary and Multiple Stellar Systems*
Authors: Videla Miguel , Mendez Rene A. , Silva Jorge F. , Orchard Marcos E.
Published: February 2023

The optimal instant of observation of astrophysical phenomena for objects that vary on human timescales is an important problem, as it bears on the cost-effective use of usually scarce observational facilities. In this paper, we address this problem in the case of tight visual binary systems through a Bayesian framework based on the maximum entropy sampling principle. Our proposed information-driven methodology exploits the periodic structure of binary systems to provide a computationally efficient estimation of the probability distribution of the optimal observation time. We show the optimality of the proposed sampling methodology in the Bayes sense and its effectiveness through direct numerical experiments. We successfully apply our scheme to the study of two visual-spectroscopic binaries and one purely astrometric triple hierarchical system. We note that our methodology can be applied to any time-evolving phenomena, a particularly interesting application in the era of dedicated surveys, where a definition of the cadence of observations can have a crucial impact on achieving the science goals.
Application of Neural Networks to Estimation and Prediction of Seeing at the Large Solar Telescope Site
Authors: Shikhovtsev Artem Yu. , Kovadlo Pavel G. , Kiselev Alexander V. , Eselevich Maxim V. , Lukin Vladimir P.
Published: February 2023

Optical turbulence limits the angular resolution of ground-based astronomical telescopes. The key parameter of optical turbulence is seeing. In this study, seasonal variations of seeing estimated from differential image motion monitor measurements at the Large Solar Telescope site are discussed. The Large Solar Telescope will be located at an elevation of 2000 m above sea level (

51
°
37
′
18
″

N,

100
°
55
′
07
″
E

). The highest seeing values are observed in winter. The median of seeing is 2.″1. In summer, the median decreases to 1.″1. The best atmospheric conditions are observed in April–May, when the medians of seeing are low and the standard deviations are high. During this period, atmospheric situations with low values of seeing (∼0.″5–0.″6) are often observed. We simulated multilayer neural networks for the measured seeing by applying a group method of data handling. Modeled seeing is well described in terms of mean meteorological parameters, which include wind speed components and large-scale vorticity of air flows at different altitudes in the atmosphere. The 12-layer optimal neural network obtained has a high correlation coefficient between modeled and measured seeing values. The linear correlation coefficient is 0.77.
Inference of main ion particle transport coefficients with experimentally constrained neutral ionization during edge localized mode recovery on DIII-D
Authors: Rosenthal A.M. , Hughes J.W. , Laggner F.M. , Odstrčil T. , Bortolon A. , Wilks T.M. , Sciortino F.
Published: February 2023

The plasma and neutral density dynamics after an edge localized mode are investigated and utilized to infer the plasma transport coefficients for the density pedestal. The Lyman-Alpha Measurement Apparatus (LLAMA) diagnostic provides sub-millisecond profile measurements of the ionization and neutral density and shows significant poloidal asymmetries in both. Exploiting the absolute calibration of the LLAMA diagnostic allows quantitative comparison to the electron and main ion density profiles determined by charge-exchange recombination, Thomson scattering and interferometry. Separation of diffusion and convection contributions to the density pedestal transport are investigated through flux gradient methods and time-dependent forward modeling with Bayesian inference by adaptation of the Aurora transport code and IMPRAD framework to main ion particle transport. Both methods suggest time-dependent transport coefficients and are consistent with an inward particle pinch on the order of 1 m s−1 and diffusion coefficient of 0.05 m2 s−1 in the steep density gradient region of the pedestal. While it is possible to recreate the experimentally observed phenomena with no pinch in the pedestal, low diffusion in the core and high outward convection in the near scrape-off layer are required without an inward pedestal pinch.
A machine learning approach in the estimation of a radioactive source position using a coded aperture device
Authors: Karafasoulis K. , Kaissas I. , Papadimitropoulos C. , Potiriadis K. , Lambropoulos C.P.
Published: February 2023

Coded Aperture γ-cameras have been used for more than three decades for imaging radioactive source distributions encountered in astrophysics, in decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and in nuclear medicine. These devices enable the identification of the coordinates of γ-emitters located within their Field of View (FOV) with the use of the coded-aperture shadow projected on pixelated detectors. In this work we have developed machine learning algorithms based on Gradient Boosted Decision Trees (BDTG) and Deep Neural Networks (DNN). The algorithms have been trained using 21000 shadowgrams created with simulation. A custom fast simulation tool was used to produce the shadowgrams due to sources placed randomly at different positions within the FOV at distances from 20 cm up to 20 m from the detector plane. The performance of the algorithms has been evaluated with the aid of a different independent simulation sample of shadowgrams and verified with real data.
Global analysis of benthic complexity in shallow coral reefs
Authors: Li Jiwei , Asner Gregory P
Published: February 2023

Three-dimensional shallow benthic complexity (also known as benthic rugosity) reflects the physical conditions of shallow coral reefs environments and can be used to estimate fish biomass and coral cover on reefs. Spatially explicit data on benthic complexity could offer critical information for coral reef conservation and management. However, benthic complexity has not yet been mapped at a global scale. We mapped global shallow water benthic complexity to 20 m depth at a spatial resolution of 10 m using 22 000 Sentinel-2 satellite images and a globally applicable underwater algorithm. We quantified geographic variation of benthic complexity in shallow coral reef areas from individual reef to ocean basin scales. We found that shallow benthic complexity is unevenly distributed worldwide, with high benthic complexity regions found in areas known to have high levels of benthic biodiversity such as the Coral Triangle, Coral Sea, and Great Barrier Reef. Yet nearly 60% of detected coral reef regions (size = 61 156 km2) are not listed as protected under current marine protected plans. These unprotected regions include substantial reef areas of high benthic complexity that may harbor high levels of biodiversity. Our global coral reef benthic complexity map supports plans to improve marine protected areas, reef conservation, and management.
Three billion new trees in the EU’s biodiversity strategy: low ambition, but better environmental outcomes?
Authors: Lee Heera , Pugh Thomas A M , Patacca Marco , Seo Bumsuk , Winkler Karina , Rounsevell Mark
Published: February 2023

The EU Biodiversity strategy aims to plant 3 billion trees by 2030, in order to improve ecosystem restoration and biodiversity. Here, we compute the land area that would be required to support this number of newly planted trees by taking account of different tree species and planting regimes across the EU member states. We find that 3 billion trees would require a total land area of between 0.81 and 1.37 Mha (avg. 1.02 Mha). The historic forest expansion in the EU since 2010 was 2.44 Mha, meaning that despite 3 billion trees sounding like a large number this target is considerably lower than historic afforestation rates within the EU, i.e. only 40% of the past trend. Abandoned agricultural land is often proposed as providing capacity for afforestation. We estimate agricultural abandoned land areas from the HIstoric Land Dynamics Assessment+ database using two time thresholds (abandonment since 2009 or 2014) to identify potential areas for tree planting. The area of agricultural abandoned land was 2.6 Mha (potentially accommodating 7.2 billion trees) since 2009 and 0.2 Mha (potentially accommodating 741 million trees) since 2014. Our study highlights that sufficient space could be available to meet the 3 billion tree planting target from abandoned land. However, large-scale afforestation beyond abandoned land could have displacement effects elsewhere in the world because of the embodied deforestation in the import of agricultural crops and livestock. This would negate the expected benefits of EU afforestation. Hence, the EU’s relatively low ambition on tree planting may actually be better in terms of avoiding such displacement effects. We suggest that tree planting targets should be set at a level that considers physical ecosystem dynamics as well as socio-economic conditions.
Multi-hop quantum teleportation of an arbitrary two-qubit state based on hierarchical simultaneous entanglement swapping
Authors: Wu Fan , Bai Ming-Qiang , Tang Liang , Mo Zhi-Wen
Published: February 2023

Combined with hierarchy simultaneous entanglement swapping, the scheme of the multi-hop quantum teleportation (QT) is proposed by using multi-pair Bell states. The scheme consists of two levels based on simultaneous entanglement swapping, namely Level-1 and Level-2. The former realizes simultaneous entanglement swapping of the inner segment, while the latter completes simultaneous entanglement swapping of the inter segment. Besides, the effect of four different types of noise (phase-damping, amplitude-damping, phase-flip, and bit-flip noise) on our scheme is analyzed by calculating the fidelity and concurrence. The results indicate that the fidelity and concurrence are related to the amplitude parameter, decoherence rate and number of nodes. Furthermore, compared with the scheme of the multi-hop QT adopting simultaneous entanglement swapping, our scheme can greatly reduce classical communication cost, and shows that the optimal classical communication cost can be obtained by selecting different segmentation methods.
Hybrid quantum–classical convolutional neural networks with privacy quantum computing
Authors: Huang Siwei , Chang Yan , Lin Yusheng , Zhang Shibin
Published: February 2023

Machine learning algorithms help us discover knowledge from big data. Data used for training or prediction often contain private information about users. Discovering knowledge while protecting data or user privacy is the way machine learning is expected, especially in the cloud environment. Quantum machine learning is a kind of machine learning that realizes parallel acceleration by quantum superposition. Quantum computing power for quantum machine learning is typically provided by quantum cloud computing services. Existing quantum machine learning algorithms hardly consider privacy protection. This paper presents an encryption method for image data which can effectively protect the input data privacy in hybrid quantum–classical convolutional neural networks algorithm. The user’s original image data is first encrypted, and then sent to the quantum cloud to calculate the image convolution. By doing so, the feature map of the ciphertext image is obtained by the user. The result obtained by decrypting the feature map is the same as that obtained by using the original image as the input of convolution calculation. Experiments show that our privacy protection scheme can protect the privacy of input image data in the hybrid quantum–classical neural networks algorithm, but does not affect the accuracy of the algorithm. In addition to image encryption and feature map decryption, the proposed scheme does not bring additional computational complexity.
Validating EEG source imaging using intracranial electrical stimulation
Authors: Unnwongse Kanjana , Rampp Stefan , Wehner Tim , Kowoll Annika , Parpaley Yaroslav , von Lehe Marec , Lanfer Benjamin , Rusiniak Mateusz , Wolters Carsten , Wellmer Jörg
Published: February 2023

Electrical source imaging is used in presurgical epilepsy evaluation and in cognitive neurosciences to localize neuronal sources of brain potentials recorded on EEG. This study evaluates the spatial accuracy of electrical source imaging for known sources, using electrical stimulation potentials recorded on simultaneous stereo-EEG and 37-electrode scalp EEG, and identifies factors determining the localization error. In 11 patients undergoing simultaneous stereo-EEG and 37-electrode scalp EEG recordings, sequential series of 99–110 biphasic pulses (2 ms pulse width) were applied by bipolar electrical stimulation on adjacent contacts of implanted stereo-EEG electrodes. The scalp EEG correlates of stimulation potentials were recorded with a sampling rate of 30 kHz. Electrical source imaging of averaged stimulation potentials was calculated utilizing a dipole source model of peak stimulation potentials based on individual four-compartment finite element method head models with various skull conductivities (range from 0.0413 to 0.001 S/m). Fitted dipoles with a goodness of fit of ≥80% were included in the analysis. The localization error was calculated using the Euclidean distance between the estimated dipoles and the centre point of adjacent stimulating contacts. A total of 3619 stimulation locations, respectively, dipole localizations, were included in the evaluation. Mean localization errors ranged from 10.3 to 26 mm, depending on source depth and selected skull conductivity. The mean localization error increased with an increase in source depth (r(3617) = [0.19], P = 0.000) and decreased with an increase in skull conductivity (r(3617) = [−0.26], P = 0.000). High skull conductivities (0.0413–0.0118 S/m) yielded significantly lower localization errors for all source depths. For superficial sources (<20 mm from the inner skull), all skull conductivities yielded insignificantly different localization errors. However, for deeper sources, in particular >40 mm, high skull conductivities of 0.0413 and 0.0206 S/m yielded significantly lower localization errors. In relation to stimulation locations, the majority of estimated dipoles moved outward-forward-downward to inward-forward-downward with a decrease in source depth and an increase in skull conductivity. Multivariate analysis revealed that an increase in source depth, number of skull holes and white matter volume, while a decrease in skull conductivity independently led to higher localization error. This evaluation of electrical source imaging accuracy using artificial patterns with a high signal-to-noise ratio supports its application in presurgical epilepsy evaluation and cognitive neurosciences. In our artificial potential model, optimizing the selected skull conductivity minimized the localization error. Future studies should examine if this accounts for true neural signals.
Gasdermin D represses inflammation-induced colon cancer development by regulating apoptosis
Authors: Tanaka Shigekazu , Orita Hajime , Kataoka Taro , Miyazaki Masahiro , Saeki Harumi , Wada Ryo , Brock Malcolm V , Fukunaga Tetsu , Amano Takanori , Shiroishi Toshihiko
Published: February 2023

Chronic inflammation is widely recognized as a major risk factor for cancer formation, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Recently, it was shown that Gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein drives pyroptotic cell death in macrophages on cleavage by inflammatory caspases. Even though the Gsdmd gene is specifically expressed in the intestinal epithelium, the role of Gsdmd in the intestinal tissues remains poorly characterized. In this study, we examined the biological role of Gsdmd in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, employing an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium carcinogenesis model. Results show that GSDMD deficiency enhances CRC development, probably due to decreased apoptosis caused by downregulation of interferon-gamma (IFNγ)—signal transducer and activator 1 (STAT1) signaling. Furthermore, we show that GSDMD protein is diminished in human colorectal cancer, indicating involvement of GSDMD in repression of CRC development in humans. Our findings provide a new insight into functions of Gsdmd/GSDMD in colonic inflammation and human CRC development.
Effect and mechanisms of dexmedetomidine combined with macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibition on the expression of inflammatory factors and AMPK in mice
Authors: Chen Siyu , Wu Jianjiang , Li Aimei , Huang Yidan , Tailaiti Taiwangu , Zou Tiantian , Jiang Jin , Wang Jiang
Published: February 2023

Reperfusion after acute myocardial infarction can cause ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which not only impedes restoration of the functions of tissues and organs but may also aggravate structural tissue and organ damage and dysfunction, worsening the patient’s condition. Thus, the mechanisms that underpin myocardial I/R injury need to be better understood. We aimed to examine the effect of dexmedetomidine on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in cardiomyocytes from mice with myocardial I/R injury and to explore the mechanistic role of adenosine 5ʹ-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in this process. Myocardial I/R injury was induced in mice. The expression of serum inflammatory factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and AMPK pathway-related proteins, as well as myocardial tissue structure and cell apoptosis rate, were compared between mice with I/R injury only; mice with I/R injury treated with dexmedetomidine, ISO-1 (MIF inhibitor), or both; and sham-operated mice. Dexmedetomidine reduced serum interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations and increased IL-10 concentration in mice with I/R injury. Moreover, dexmedetomidine reduced myocardial tissue ROS content and apoptosis rate and increased ATP content and MIF expression. MIF inhibition using ISO-1 reversed the protective effect of dexmedetomidine on myocardial I/R injury and reduced AMPK phosphorylation. Dexmedetomidine reduces the inflammatory response in mice with I/R injury and improves adverse symptoms, and its mechanism of action may be related to the MIF-AMPK pathway.
Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Patients With Laboratory-Confirmed Invasive Pneumococcal Disease: A Self-Controlled Case Series Study
Authors: Wiese Andrew D , Mitchel Ed , Ndi Danielle , Markus Tiffanie M , Talbot H Keipp , Schaffner William , Grijalva Carlos G
Published: February 2023

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) events have been reported among patients with certain viral and bacterial infections. Whether invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) increases the risk of AMI remains unclear. We examined whether laboratory-confirmed IPD was associated with the risk of AMI.

Methods

We conducted a self-controlled case series analysis among adult Tennessee residents with evidence of an AMI hospitalization (2003–2019). Patient follow-up started 1 year before the earliest AMI and continued through the date of death, 1 year after AMI, or study end (December 2019). Periods for AMI assessment included the 7 to 1 days before IPD specimen collection (pre-IPD detection), day 0 through day 7 after IPD specimen collection (current IPD), day 8 to 28 after IPD specimen collection (post-IPD), and a control period (all other follow-up). We used conditional Poisson regression to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each risk period compared with control periods using within-person comparisons.

Results

We studied 324 patients hospitalized for AMI with laboratory-confirmed IPD within 1 year before or after the AMI hospitalization. The incidence of AMI was significantly higher during the pre-IPD detection (IRR, 10.29; 95% CI: 6.33–16.73) and the current IPD (IRR, 92.95; 95% CI: 72.17–119.71) periods but nonsignificantly elevated in the post-IPD risk period (IRR, 1.83; 95% CI: .86–3.91) compared with control periods. The AMI incidence was higher in the post-IPD control period (29 to 365 days after IPD; IRR, 2.95; 95% CI: 2.01–4.32).

Conclusions

Hospitalizations with AMI were strongly associated with laboratory-confirmed IPD.
What is the significance of the Hill classification?
Authors: Brännström Lisa , Werner Mårten , Wallner Bengt , Franklin Karl A , Karling Pontus
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to investigate the significance of Hill classification to predict esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptomatology, and future prescriptions of proton pump inhibitors in clinical practice. A total of 922 patients (546 women and 376 men; mean age 54.3 [SD 18.4] years) who underwent gastroscopy between 2012 and 2015 were analyzed. Patient questionnaire regarding symptoms were compared with endoscopy findings. A medical chart review was done that focused on the prescription of PPIs, additional gastroscopies, and GERD surgery in a 3-year period before the index gastroscopy and in a 6-year period afterward. In patients naïve to PPI prescriptions (n = 466), Hill grade III was significantly associated with esophagitis (AOR 2.20; 95% CI 1.00–4.84) and > 2 PPI prescriptions 6 year after the index gastroscopy (AOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.01–3.75), whereas Hill grade IV was significantly associated with esophagitis (AOR 4.41; 95% CI 1.92–10.1), with Barrett’s esophagus (AOR 12.7; 95% CI 1.45–112), with reported heartburn (AOR 2.28; 95% CI 1.10–4.74), and with >2 PPI prescriptions (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.02–4.55). In patients ‘non-naïve’ to PPI prescription (n = 556), only Hill grade IV was significantly associated with esophagitis, reported heartburn, and with >2 PPI prescriptions. The gastroscopic classification in Hill grades III and IV is important in clinical practice because they are associated with esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, symptoms of GERD, and prescriptions of PPIs, whereas a differentiation between Hill grades I and II is not.
What would a pluralist institutional approach to constitutional interpretation look like? Some methodological implications
Authors: De Visser Maartje , Neo Jaclyn L
Published: February 2023

This article makes the case for adopting a genuinely pluralist perspective when studying constitutional interpretation and sets out the principal forms such inquiries can take. While it has now been accepted that the court-centricity that characterized much of the earlier work on constitutional interpretation must be recalibrated, the approach taken in much constitutional scholarship remains underinclusive, as the role of executives, agencies, ad hoc commissions, and social actors in constructing the meaning of the constitutional text is often downplayed, or altogether overlooked. We argue that a pluralist perspective is necessary to fully appreciate the practice of constitutionalism in each jurisdiction and enable more informed analyses of the relationship between constitutions and law-making. Through a series of case studies, we further demonstrate that, while nonjudicial interpretation is an important practice in all countries, such a perspective could be particularly apposite in dominant-party states, as well as those favoring political constitutionalism, where courts are unlikely to position themselves as the principal, let alone exclusive, authority on what the constitution means. This article also explores the methodological implications in designing pluralistic constitutional interpretation studies, focusing on the questions that await investigation, the core variables at play, and the particular hazards in collating and assessing the materials that must be reckoned with.