bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel efficient and scalable design of full-adder in atomic silicon dangling bonds (ASDB) technology
Authors: Rasmi Hadi , Mosleh Mohammad , Jafari Navimipour Nima , Kheyrandish Mohammad
Published: October 2023

Atomic Silicon Dangling Bonds (ASDB) is an advanced emerging nanotechnology to replace CMOS technology; because it allows the designing of circuits with very high-speed and low-density. However, one of the most critical challenges in implementing circuits in ASDB nanotechnology is output stability and possible defects, such as DB omission, DB misalignment, and DB extra deposition, which can be overcome using a suitable designing pattern. Therefore, developing stable and robust structures is considered as one of essential topics in ASDB. This paper first proposes two novel and stable computing circuits, including a three-input majority voter (MV3) and three-input XOR (XOR3); based on triangular and rhombus patterns, respectively. Then, an efficient ASDB full-adder is designed using the suggested MV3 and XOR3 gates. Finally, two and four-bit ripple carry adders are developed using proposed full-adder. Simulation results indicate that the suggested MV3 and XOR3 are superior to previous designs, by more than 80%, 48%, and 9.5%, averagely; in terms of occupied area, energy, and occurrence, respectively. Moreover, the proposed gates are investigated against possible defects, and the results show high stability.
The gamma-ray burst arising from neutrino pair annihilation in the static and spherically symmetric black-hole-like wormholes
Authors: Shi Yuxuan , Cheng Hongbo
Published: October 2023

We look into the neutrino-antineutrino pair
(ν+ν̅ ⟶ e-
+e+
) annihilation in the
Damour-Solodukhin wormhole spacetime whose metric component
involves a shift in contrast to the similar black hole. The deep
analysis of the surface temperature of the accretion disk of
static, spherically symmetric black-hole-like wormholes from R.
Kh. Karimov et al. reveals that the accretion disks of the
wormholes are hotter than that of comparable black holes,
indicating that the wormholes accretion disk can release
neutrinos. Further we investigate the energy deposition rate from
the neutrino pair annihilation around the Damour-Solodukhin
wormhole thought as a mimicker of Schwarzschild black hole. By
comparison made between the black-hole-like wormhole and the
similar black hole, we demonstrate that the wormhole's accretion
disk drawing the annihilation can become a source of gamma-ray
burst although the more significant deviation from the similar
black hole reduces the emitted power slightly. The ratio of energy
deposition per unit time from the annihilation surrounding the
accretion disk of the Damour-Solodukhin wormhole over the emitting
power of black hole might alter noticeably depending on how
slightly the metrics of the wormhole differ from the black hole
spacetime.
Correcting the Contamination of Second-order Spectra: Improving Hα Measurements in Reverberation Mapping Campaigns
Authors: Xi Wen-Zhe , Lu Kai-Xing , Feng Hai-Cheng , Li Sha-Sha , Bai Jin-Ming , Zhou Rui-Lei , Liu Hong-Tao , Wang Jian-Guo
Published: October 2023

Long-term spectroscopic monitoring campaigns on active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provide a wealth of information about its interior structure and kinematics. However, a number of the observations suffer from the contamination of second-order spectra (SOS) which will introduce some undesirable uncertainties at the red side of the spectra. In this paper, we test the effect of SOS and propose a method to correct it in the time domain spectroscopic data using the simultaneously observed comparison stars. Based on the reverberation mapping (RM) data of NGC 5548 in 2019, one of the most intensively monitored AGNs by the Lijiang 2.4 m telescope, we find that the scientific object, comparison star, and spectrophotometric standard star can jointly introduce up to ∼30% SOS for Grism 14. This irregular but smooth SOS significantly affects the flux density and profile of the emission line, while having little effect on the light curve. After applying our method to each spectrum, we find that the SOS can be corrected effectively. The deviation between corrected and intrinsic spectra is ∼2%, and the impact of SOS on time lag is very minor. This method makes it possible to obtain the Hα RM measurements from archival data provided that the spectral shape of the AGN under investigation does not have a large change.
Observation and Analysis of VLF Nocturnal Multimode Interference Phenomenon based on Waveguide Mode Theory
Authors: Yang Sai , Niu You-Tian , Wang Zhe , Zhao Xiu-Kun , Li Bei , Ding Yu-Ling , Zhao Ge-Ge , Zhang An-Qi
Published: October 2023

Very low frequency (VLF) signals are propagated between the ground-ionosphere. Multimode interference will cause the phase to show oscillatory changes with distance while propagating at night, leading to abnormalities in the received VLF signal. This study uses the VLF signal received in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, from the Russian Alpha navigation system to explore the multimode interference problem of VLF signal propagation. The characteristics of the effect of multimode interference phenomena on the phase are analyzed according to the variation of the phase of the VLF signal. However, the phase of VLF signals will also be affected by the X-ray and energetic particles that are released during the eruption of solar flares, therefore the two phenomena are studied in this work. It is concluded that the X-ray will not affect the phase of VLF signals at night, but the energetic particles will affect the phase change, and the influence of energetic particles should be excluded in the study of multimode interference phenomena. Using VLF signals for navigation positioning in degraded or unavailable GPS conditions is of great practical significance for VLF navigation systems as it can avoid the influence of multimode interference and improve positioning accuracy.
Two is better? combining EEG and fMRI for BCI and neurofeedback: a systematic review
Authors: Fleury Mathis , Figueiredo Patrícia , Vourvopoulos Athanasios , Lécuyer Anatole
Published: October 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are two commonly used non-invasive techniques for measuring brain activity in neuroscience and brain–computer interfaces (BCI). Objective. In this review, we focus on the use of EEG and fMRI in neurofeedback (NF) and discuss the challenges of combining the two modalities to improve understanding of brain activity and achieve more effective clinical outcomes. Advanced technologies have been developed to simultaneously record EEG and fMRI signals to provide a better understanding of the relationship between the two modalities. However, the complexity of brain processes and the heterogeneous nature of EEG and fMRI present challenges in extracting useful information from the combined data. Approach. We will survey existing EEG–fMRI combinations and recent studies that exploit EEG–fMRI in NF, highlighting the experimental and technical challenges. Main results. We made a classification of the different combination of EEG-fMRI for NF, we provide a review of multimodal analysis methods for EEG–fMRI features. We also survey the current state of research on EEG-fMRI in the different existing NF paradigms. Finally, we also identify some of the remaining challenges in this field. Significance. By exploring EEG-fMRI combinations in NF, we are advancing our knowledge of brain function and its applications in clinical settings. As such, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and engineers working in the field of neural engineering and rehabilitation, highlighting the promising future of EEG-fMRI-based NF.
Exploration of non-resonant divertor features on the Compact Toroidal Hybrid
Authors: Garcia K.A. , Bader A. , Frerichs H. , Hartwell G.J. , Schmitt J.C. , Allen N. , Schmitz O.
Published: October 2023

Non-resonant divertors (NRDs) separate the confined plasma from the surrounding plasma facing components (PFCs). The resulting striking field line intersection pattern on these PFCs is insensitive to plasma equilibrium effects. However, a complex scrape-off layer (SOL), created by chaotic magnetic topology in the plasma edge, connects the core plasma to the PFCs through varying magnetic flux tubes. The Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) serves as a test-bed to study this by scanning across its inductive current. Simulations observe a significant change of the chaotic edge structure and an effective distance between the confined plasma and the instrumented wall targets. The intersection pattern is observed to be a narrow helical band, which we claim is a resilient strike line pattern. However, signatures of finger-like structures, defined as heteroclinic tangles in chaotic domains, within the plasma edge connect the island chains to this resilient pattern. The dominant connection length field lines intersecting the targets are observed via heat flux modeling with EMC3-EIRENE. At low inductive current levels, the excursion of the field lines resembles a limited plasma wall scenario. At high currents, a private flux region is created in the area where the helical strike line pattern splits into two bands. These bands are divertor legs with distinct SOL parallel particle flow channels. The results demonstrate the NRD strike line pattern resiliency within CTH, but also show the underlying chaotic edge structure determining if the configuration is diverted or limited. This work supports future design efforts for a mechanical structure for the NRD.
Study of voltage reversal of stacked sediment microbial fuel cells
Authors: Liu Xiao , Zhao Zhiwei , Jiang Helong
Published: October 2023

Sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) is a renewable energy source with a wide range of raw materials. They have a simple structure, low cost, and broad application prospects in the field of self-power supply, attracting the attention of many researchers. However, the output current of SMFC is weak and the output voltage is low, which does not meet the power supply requirements of general electronic devices. Therefore, it is necessary to connect multiple SMFCs to obtain the required voltage and current. Series operation can increase the output voltage, while parallel operation can increase the output current. However, voltage reversal occurs in series operation, which can affect the output performance of the battery. In this work, voltage reversal was studied by two SMFCs respectively connected in series and in parallel after their output voltage stabilized. External load of the series and parallel batteries were connected to 330 ohms, 680 ohms, 1000 ohms, 2000 ohms, and 380K ohms, respectively. It was found that batteries with poor performance in series battery packs experienced voltage reversal, which occurred at 330 ohms, 680 ohms, and 1000 ohms. When the resistances became 2000 ohms and 380K ohms, parallel battery packs did not experience similar phenomena. The reason for voltage reversal was provided in this article. In addition, voltage reversal occurred in the stage of low resistances, which indicating that the greater the current, the greater the possibility of voltage reversal.
A study of bottom-contact organic thin-film transistors based on source/drain tunneling structure
Authors: Ye Kang , Di Yunsong , Gan Zhixing , Liu Cihui , Xing Fangjian , Zhang Peng
Published: October 2023

During recent years, OLED display has become one of the important products for consuming electronics and industrial domains. For AMOLED display, thin film transistor (TFT) is necessary for driving OLED devices. As the polysilicon and amorphous silicon TFTs have become mainstreams, organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) have also been proposed and shown their advantages in low-temperature process compatible with flexible substrates. However, OTFTs applicable to drive OLED generally adopt bottom-contact configuration. The performance of bottom-contact OTFTs are often inferior relative to top-contact OTFTs, due primarily to the high contact resistance of bottom-contact OTFTs. To overcome this disadvantage, the source/drain tunneling structure is proposed in this article. This tunneling structure can not only decorate the electrode/organic semiconductor interface to obtain a good metal-semiconductor contact, but also can form a MOS configuration at source/drain contact, so as to increase the carrier concentration at the contact to further reduce contact resistance. In this paper, a typical P-type high-mobility small molecule material of Pentacene is employed as the active layer of the OTFT, while CuO film, Polystyrene (PS) film is separately selected as the tunneling layer at source/drain contact. The diverse parameters, especially field effect mobility, were analyzed by analyzing electrical characteristics of the top-contact and bottom-contact OTFTs. In addition, the contact resistances were confirmed by line transfer method. The bottom-contact OTFTs incorporating tunneling layer own a maximum hole mobility of 0.143cm2/V·s.

This suggested that the source/drain tunneling structure can indeed improve the electrical characteristics of bottom-contact OTFT, and further improvement is necessitated to achieve the high performance comparable to top-contact device.
High-order Sliding Mode Tracking Differentiator with Neural Network based Adaptive Parameter Estimation
Authors: Wang Xueyi , Jin Shanhai
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a new high-order sliding mode tracking differentiator with backpropagation neural network based adaptive parameter estimation (SMF-BP) to obtain accurate filtering and differentiation estimates from signals that contain noise. It is improved based on the Levant’s high-order sliding mode tracking differentiator. First, SMF-BP incorporates a sigmoid function to reduce overshoot. Second, the BP neural network is introduced to adjust the parameters adaptively to balance response speed and filtering performance. Finally, the validity of SMF-BP has been demonstrated through numerical simulation examples.
Preface
Authors: Chen Youmin
Published: October 2023

Since its inception in 2018, IWEG conferences (International Workshop on Environment and Geoscience) were successfully held for last six years, Hangzhou (2018, 2019, 2021), online (2020, 2022, 2023) attracted delegates from a lot of countries and regions including China, Australia, Poland, Slovenia, Japan and so on. As an annual international conference, IWEG aims at being a fast and efficient platform for researchers and scholars worldwide to discuss recent developments in the area of Environment and Geoscience.

There were about 40 experts and scholars attending the conference. Three sessions were included: keynote speeches, oral presentations and poster presentations, covering a wide range of Environment and Geoscience. There were 3 keynote speakers, 3 oral presenters and 6 poster presenter sharing their latest research results and ideas with the audience.

This conference proceeding included 11 accepted articles selected from 53 submissions, all the papers have been through rigorous review and process to meet the requirements of international publication standard. We would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers of these manuscripts, who provided constructive criticism and stimulated comments and suggestions to the authors. We are extremely grateful as organizers, technical program committee and editors and extend our most sincere thanks to all the authors for their excellent contribution and work. Our sincere gratitude also goes to the IOP Publishing editors and managers for their helpful cooperation during the preparation of the proceeding.

On behalf of the Organizing Committees of IWEG2023.

List of Technical Program Committee are available in this pdf.
Chemical composition and formation conditions of thermal spring “Teply Klyuch”, Primorskiy krai (Russia)
Authors: Pavlov A.A. , Bragin I.V. , Chelnokov G.A. , Chelnokova B.I. , Kharitonova N.A.
Published: October 2023

The paper presents the results of half-century geochemical parameters monitoring of thermal spring, called Teply Klyuch, occurring outside volcanic activity territory of the Russian Far East. The case of unique tectonic and geological conditions leading to formation of such deposits is being discussed as well. The waters of the deposit are characterized as warm, ultra-fresh, alkaline, and siliceous. It is controlled by the active part of the fault, which runs along the bed of the Amgu River and its watercourses, in the zone of intersection by a shallower fault. Formation of thermal waters probably took place in open fractures of deep faults, where atmospheric waters by downward flow penetrated to a depth of about 1.0–1.5 km and under the influence of heat of locally heated in the fault zone rocks acquired the temperature of +30 +40°C. The movement of heated water to the surface is caused by the thermolift. Discharge area goes along the opened cracks in the weakened zones located in the river valleys. In practical terms, the waters of the investigated deposit are applicable for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, externally, in the form of baths for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, skin diseases, consequences of burns.
Move up or move over: mapping opportunities for climate adaptation in Pakistan’s Indus plains
Authors: Schmitt Rafael J P , Virgüez Edgar , Ashfaq Sara , Caldeira Ken
Published: October 2023

The 2022 Indus floods in Pakistan underscore the urgency of adapting to more frequent and severe natural disasters in a warming world. Post-disaster reconstruction offers a chance to built-in adaptation measures, but identifying feasible and cost-effective adaptation options is challenging, especially in data-scarce regions. Here we employ a high-resolution rapid assessment of flood stages combined with demographic data to identify adaptation opportunities and costs for the Indus floodplains. Under a plausible set of assumptions, we find that rebuilding houses in a flood-proof, elevated manner (‘moving up’) or (temporary) relocation (‘moving over’) could have protected 13%, respectively 16% of people affected during the 2022 floods, while the remaining 70% of people were exposed to shallow water levels that could have been addressed with low-cost adaptation. Implementing these measures during ongoing reconstruction could be an effective adaptation to future floods but will come with substantial costs. Rebuilding in a flood-proofed manner (‘moving up’) alone would already increase costs by 26%–63% ($1.5bn–$3.6bn) compared to estimated reconstruction costs without adaptation ($5.8bn). Additional costs would be incurred by relocation and adaptation of other infrastructure. The absence of local flood stage and socio-economic data creates uncertainty and points to future research avenues. Yet, our prototype approach demonstrates the value of rapid assessments for guiding post-disaster adaptation of livelihoods to future floods.
Farmer–herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa: drivers, impacts, and resolution and peacebuilding strategies
Authors: Adams Ellis Adjei , Thill Audrey , Kuusaana Elias Danyi , Mittag Anna
Published: October 2023

Resource scarcity and insecurity due to climate change, coupled with ethnic, religious, and identity politics, have strained peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in West and Central Africa over the last few decades. Violent farmer–herder clashes now pose a significant threat to security and stability in the Sahelian and savannah dryland regions. Despite the large and increasing literature on these conflicts in recent decades, no comprehensive reviews or syntheses of knowledge on these conflicts have been published. We review empirical studies on farmer–herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa published from 2000 to 2021, focusing holistically on drivers, impacts, and the opportunities and limits of the main resolution and peacebuilding strategies different actors use to manage the conflicts. Most of the studies focused on Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Mali and mainly covered conflict dynamics, political ecology, agriculture, climate change, conflict management, governance, land tenure, and peacebuilding. The majority were cross-sectional and relied on qualitative data and mixed methods. The reviewed literature shows that main drivers of farmer–herder conflicts are climate-induced environmental factors, land tenure insecurity, resource competition and intergroup conflicts and prejudices. Conflict control and prevention strategies fell along a spectrum of aggressive, through passive, to constructive tactics. The main conflict management strategies used included third-party intervention (mediation and arbitration), litigation, and direct negotiations for damage compensation. Key actors involved in peacebuilding efforts included farmers and herders themselves, community leaders, community-based organizations, police and courts, and informal community groups. Our findings and discussion advance broader understanding of farmer–herder conflicts, establish the opportunities and limits of various resolution approaches, and highlight gaps and directions for relevant future research.
Quantum uncertainty as an intrinsic clock
Authors: Livine Etera R
Published: October 2023

In quantum mechanics, a classical particle is raised to a wave-function, thereby acquiring many more degrees of freedom. For instance, in the semi-classical regime, while the position and momentum expectation values follow the classical trajectory, the uncertainty of a wave-packet can evolve and beat independently. We use this insight to revisit the dynamics of a 1d particle in a time-dependent harmonic well. One can solve it by considering time reparameterizations and the Virasoro group action to map the system to the harmonic oscillator with constant frequency. We prove that identifying such a simplifying time variable is naturally solved by quantizing the system and looking at the evolution of the width of a Gaussian wave-packet. We further show that the Ermakov-Lewis invariant for the classical evolution in a time-dependent harmonic potential is actually the quantum uncertainty of a Gaussian wave-packet. This naturally extends the classical Ermakov-Lewis invariant to a constant of motion for quantum systems following Schrödinger equation. We conclude with a discussion of potential applications to quantum gravity and quantum cosmology.
Long-time error bounds of low-regularity integrators for nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Feng Yue , Maierhofer Georg , Schratz Katharina
Published: October 2023

We introduce a new non-resonant low-regularity integrator for the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) allowing for long-time error estimates which are optimal in the sense of the underlying partial differential equation. The main idea thereby lies in treating the zeroth mode exactly within the discretization. For long-time error estimates, we rigorously establish the error bounds of different low-regularity integrators for the NLSE with small initial data characterized by a dimensionless parameterε∈(0,1]\varepsilon \in (0, 1]. We begin with the low-regularity integrator for the quadratic NLSE in which the integral is computed exactly and the improved uniform first-order convergence inHrH^ris proven atO(ετ)O(\varepsilon \tau )for solutions inHrH^rwithr>1/2r > 1/2up to the timeTε=T/εT_{\varepsilon } = T/\varepsilonwith fixedT>0T > 0. Then, the improved uniform long-time error bound is extended to a symmetric second-order low-regularity integrator in the long-time regime. For the cubic NLSE, we design new non-resonant first-order and symmetric second-order low-regularity integrators which treat the zeroth mode exactly and rigorously carry out the error analysis up to the timeTε=T/ε2T_{\varepsilon } = T/\varepsilon ^2. With the help of the regularity compensation oscillation technique, the improved uniform error bounds are established for the new non-resonant low-regularity schemes, which further reduces the long-time error by a factor ofε2\varepsilon ^2compared with classical low-regularity integrators for the cubic NLSE. Numerical examples are presented to validate the error estimates and compare with the classical time-splitting methods in the long-time simulations.
Pro-isomorphic zeta functions of some 𝐷* Lie lattices of even rank
Authors: Moadim-Lesimcha Yifat , Schein Michael
Published: October 2023

We compute the local pro-isomorphic zeta functions at all but finitely many primes for a family of class-two-nilpotent Lie lattices of even rank, parametrized by irreducible monic non-linear polynomials

f
(
x
)
∈

Z

[
x
]

f(x) \in \mathbb {Z}[x]

. These Lie lattices correspond to a family of groups introduced by Grunewald and Segal. The result is expressed in terms of a combinatorially defined family of rational functions.
Equality and democratic authority
Authors: Vraciu Cosmin
Published: October 2023

Does the democratic provenance of the law ground a pro tanto duty to obey the law? According to the social-egalitarian argument, it does, because individuals have a pro tanto duty to uphold relations of social equality, and because, by obeying a democratically made law, they uphold relations of social equality. In this paper, I argue, however, that even if we grant the premisses of the argument, the conclusion still does not follow.
Understanding complex mirror-image flowers – a commentary on: ‘The enantiostylous floral polymorphism of Barberetta aurea (Haemodoraceae) facilitates wing pollination by syrphid flies’
Authors: Huang Shuang-Quan
Published: October 2023

This article comments on:

Steven D. Johnson, Jeremy J. Midgley and Nicola Illing. The enantiostylous floral polymorphism of Barberetta aurea (Haemodoraceae) facilitates wing pollination by syrphid flies, Annals of Botany, Volume 132, Issue 6, 3 November 2023, Pages 1107–1118, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcad118
Gluteoplasty With Lumbar Gluteal Flap Associated With Liposuction and Fat Grafting: A Safe Technique for Massive Weight Loss Patients
Authors: Alves Helio Ricardo Nogueira , Nicolas Gregory
Published: October 2023

Background

Weight loss leads to excessive flaccidity, volume loss, and tissue descent in the gluteal region. Translated autologous flaps during lower body lifting have been utilized in patients; they address sagging tissue and the lack of volume. However, sometimes use of these autologous flaps does not provide adequate gluteal projection, and a second procedure with fat injection may be required.

Objectives

The authors describe their technique of a lower body lift with a lumbosacral flap in association with liposuction and lipofilling for gluteoplasty.

Methods

A prospective series of 23 post–bariatric surgery individuals who underwent a lower body lift with lumbosacral flap gluteal augmentation, liposuction, and lipofilling between January 2021 and September 2022 were described. The satisfaction rate and complications were assessed 6 months postoperatively with a validated questionnaire (BODY-Q scale).

Results

The patients had a mean age of 38.18 (range, 28-56 years) and median body mass index of 26. Four patients with dehiscence were diagnosed and treated conservatively. All wound breakdowns were observed in the paramedian plane of the torsoplasty. No reoperations were performed. The mean satisfaction percentage of the BODY-Q scale transformed score was 97.5.

Conclusions

A technique for a lower body lift with buttock augmentation combined with liposuction and fat grafting was presented. In future studies other techniques to maximize gluteal contouring should be investigated.
The genetic diversity and population structure of Macridiscus multifarius along the coast of China using IIB-RAD sequencing
Authors: Li Zhong , Ye Yingying , Li Jiji , Guo Baoying
Published: October 2023

The clam Macridiscus multifarius is ecologically and economically important in the coastal regions of China. In this study, the IIB-RAD method was used to investigate the population diversity and structure of M. multifarius along the coast of China. Genomic DNA was extracted, sequenced, and subjected, resulting in 110.88 Gb of clean reads. Analysis showed that the M. multifarius populations along the coast of China exhibited a moderate to high level of genetic diversity (mean: HO = 0.272, HE = 0.365, π = 0.390, and FIS = 0.268). Further analysis of high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms was used to generate a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree, principal component analysis, and FST values. The results revealed that there is no notable genetic differentiation among the nine M. multifarius populations south of the Yangtze River estuary. However, the Yancheng population shows clear genetic differentiation compared with the other nine populations, possibly linked to the barrier effect of the Yangtze dilution water and ocean current system. We believe that these results provide genetic insights for fisheries management to plan fisheries policies for M. multifarius and conserve natural resources.
Revisiting a cryptic species complex: interspecific gene flow among woodland salamanders in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, USA
Authors: Pierson Todd W , Camp Carlos D , Cross Jadin , Wooten Jessica A , Jensen John B , Elliott Matt J
Published: October 2023

The complex topography of mountainous landscapes can create biogeographical barriers and promote allopatric speciation—even among morphologically cryptic species. However, these biogeographical barriers may not be permanent, and secondary contact between previously independently evolving populations can result in hybridization and introgression. In this study, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data to re-examine a classic example of cryptic species in the Appalachian Mountains: the slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) species complex. This group of morphologically similar terrestrial salamanders includes 14 species with parapatric distributions across the eastern USA. We focused on the Chattahoochee slimy salamander (P. chattahoochee) in northern Georgia and used a series of complementary phylogenomic and population genomic analyses to evaluate spatial genetic structure within this species and admixture with at least four other species of parapatric woodland salamanders. Our results highlight the utility of genomic data in clarifying species boundaries and underline the difficulty of species delimitation in organisms with complex evolutionary histories.
Role of the NLRP1 inflammasome in skin cancer and inflammatory skin diseases
Authors: Calabrese Laura , Fiocco Zeno , Mellett Mark , Aoki Rui , Rubegni Pietro , French Lars E , Satoh Takashi K
Published: October 2023

Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic protein complexes that play a crucial role in protecting the host against pathogenic and sterile stressors by initiating inflammation. Upon activation, these complexes directly regulate the proteolytic processing and activation of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 to induce a potent inflammatory response, and induce a programmed form of cell death called pyroptosis to expose intracellular pathogens to the surveillance of the immune system, thus perpetuating inflammation. There are various types of inflammasome complexes, with the NLRP1 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-1) inflammasome being the first one identified and currently recognized as the predominant inflammasome sensor protein in human keratinocytes. Human NLRP1 exhibits a unique domain structure, containing both an N-terminal pyrin (PYD) domain and an effector C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (CARD). It can be activated by diverse stimuli, such as viruses, ultraviolet B radiation and ribotoxic stress responses. Specific mutations in NLRP1 or related genes have been associated with rare monogenic skin disorders, such as multiple self-healing palmoplantar carcinoma; familial keratosis lichenoides chronica; autoinflammation with arthritis and dyskeratosis; and dipeptidyl peptidase 9 deficiency. Recent research breakthroughs have also highlighted the involvement of dysfunctions in the NLRP1 pathway in a handful of seemingly unrelated dermatological conditions. These range from monogenic autoinflammatory diseases to polygenic autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and Kaposi sarcoma. Additionally, emerging evidence implicates NLRP1 in systemic lupus erythematosus, pemphigus vulgaris, Addison disease, Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome and leprosy. The aim of this review is to shed light on the implications of pathological dysregulation of the NLRP1 inflammasome in skin diseases and investigate the potential rationale for targeting this pathway as a future therapeutic approach.
Putting the bug to bed: untangling perspectives on France’s bedbug crisis
Authors: O’Malley Seán , Feighery Cliona
Published: October 2023

France's bedbug resurgence has become a topic of intense media scrutiny and social media commentary in recent weeks, highlighted by the country's position in the global spotlight because of the Rugby World Cup and Paris Fashion Week. However, in the context of a global resurgence in bedbugs over the past two decades, there is limited evidence to suggest that France is an outlier compared with other countries and social media reporting may be distorting this perception resulting in disproportionate fear among the public, politicians and neighbouring countries.
Characterization of sun-protective behaviours among Asian people in the USA stratified by geographic location of birth
Authors: Lau William C , Yang Kevin , Lau Charles B , Patel Shrey , Nambudiri Vinod E
Published: October 2023

We examined national survey data on sun-protective behaviours and risk factors among Asian respondents from various regions of origin. Our findings highlight significant differences in behaviours across respondents from each geographic region included in the study.
Kindler syndrome with a novel mutation and gynaecological complication
Authors: Tanigassalame Pavithren , Murthy Aravind Baskar , Palaniappan Vijayasankar , Karthikeyan Kaliaperumal , Kumar T Senthil
Published: October 2023

Kindler syndrome is a rare genodermatosis characterized by mechanical skin fragility, acral blisters, photosensitivity, poikiloderma, skin atrophy and mucosal inflammation. Kindler syndrome occurs as a result of a mutation in the gene FERMT1 (also known as KIND1) located on chromosome 20p12.3, which codes for kindlin-1. Here, we report a case of a 40-year-old woman with Kindler syndrome associated with a giant myometrial cyst of the uterus, fused labia minora, vaginal stenosis, right eye complicated cataract and chronic periodontal disease. Clinical exome and whole mitochondrial genome sequencing showed a homozygous 4-base-pair deletion (c.1909_1912del) in exon 15 of FERMT1 (NM_017671.5).
Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroid Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Randomized, Controlled Trials
Authors: Bergmann Felix , Pracher Lena , Sawodny Rebecca , Blaschke Amelie , Gelbenegger Georg , Radtke Christine , Zeitlinger Markus , Jorda Anselm
Published: October 2023

Background

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of corticosteroids on all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized with CAP.

Methods

For this meta-analysis and meta-regression, we conducted a systematic search of trials that evaluated the effect of corticosteroid therapy in patients hospitalized with CAP through March 2023. We included randomized, controlled trials, comparing adjunctive corticosteroid therapy with the standard of care alone for treatment of patients hospitalized with CAP and reporting all-cause mortality. We excluded retrospective analyses, observational data, and trial protocols. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days after hospital admission. The safety analysis included the frequency of adverse events and steroid-associated adverse events.

Results

The literature search identified 35 713 citations, of which 15 studies and 3367 patients were eligible for the final analysis. The all-cause mortality at 30 days was significantly lower in the corticosteroid group (104 of 1690, 6.15%) than in the control group (152 of 1677, 9.06%; risk ratio [RR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], .53 to .85; P = .001; I2 = 0%). In 9 studies (2549 patients) that reported the occurrence of adverse events, corticosteroid therapy was not associated with an increased risk of developing any adverse event compared with standard care (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, .65 to 1.24; P = .5; I2 = 88%).

Conclusions

Adjunctive systemic corticosteroid therapy in patients hospitalized with CAP was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality by day 30. The benefits were more pronounced in patients with severe pneumonia.
A Systematic Review of Predictor Composition, Outcomes, Risk of Bias, and Validation of COVID-19 Prognostic Scores
Authors: Appel Katharina S , Geisler Ramsia , Maier Daniel , Miljukov Olga , Hopff Sina M , Vehreschild J Janne
Published: October 2023

Background

Numerous prognostic scores have been published to support risk stratification for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

We performed a systematic review to identify the scores for confirmed or clinically assumed COVID-19 cases. An in-depth assessment and risk of bias (ROB) analysis (Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool [PROBAST]) was conducted for scores fulfilling predefined criteria ([I] area under the curve [AUC)] ≥ 0.75; [II] a separate validation cohort present; [III] training data from a multicenter setting [≥2 centers]; [IV] point-scale scoring system).

Results

Out of 1522 studies extracted from MEDLINE/Web of Science (20/02/2023), we identified 242 scores for COVID-19 outcome prognosis (mortality 109, severity 116, hospitalization 14, long-term sequelae 3). Most scores were developed using retrospective (75.2%) or single-center (57.1%) cohorts. Predictor analysis revealed the primary use of laboratory data and sociodemographic information in mortality and severity scores. Forty-nine scores were included in the in-depth analysis. The results indicated heterogeneous quality and predictor selection, with only five scores featuring low ROB. Among those, based on the number and heterogeneity of validation studies, only the 4C Mortality Score can be recommended for clinical application so far.

Conclusions

The application and translation of most existing COVID scores appear unreliable. Guided development and predictor selection would have improved the generalizability of the scores and may enhance pandemic preparedness in the future.
The way forward from Guild Socialism: a comment on Hodgson
Authors: Ferrero Mario
Published: October 2023

This note starts from Hodgson’s (2023) thorough review and critique of Guild Socialism and argues that his proposed way forward—a decentralised producer cooperative sector embedded in a competitive market economy—is likely to be a political impossibility. A political economy model of a system of labour-managed firms is outlined which shows that laissez-faire on investment decisions is likely to be outvoted by a capital tax/subsidy scheme that redistributes income from rich coops to poor coops.
Matrix metalloproteinases in intestinal fibrosis
Authors: Biel Carin , Faber Klaas Nico , Bank Ruud A , Olinga Peter
Published: October 2023

Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], in particular Crohn’s disease [CD]. Unfortunately, at present intestinal fibrosis is not yet preventable, and cannot be treated by interventions other than surgical removal. Intestinal fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix [ECM], which is caused by activated fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Accumulation of ECM results from an imbalanced production and degradation of ECM. ECM degradation is mainly performed by matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs], enzymes that are counteracted by tissue inhibitors of MMPs [TIMPs]. In IBD patients, MMP activity [together with other protease activities] is increased. At the same time, CD patients have a generally lower MMP activity compared to ulcerative colitis patients, who usually do not develop intestinal strictures or fibrosis. The exact regulation and role[s] of these MMPs in fibrosis are far from understood. Here, we review the current literature about ECM remodelling by MMPs in intestinal fibrosis and their potential role as biomarkers for disease progression or druggable targets.
Survival and reoperation in acute aortic syndromes—a single-centre experience of 912 patients
Authors: Murana Giacomo , Gliozzi Gregorio , Rucci Paola , Votano Daniela , Orioli Valentina , Rosa Simona , Folesani Gianluca , Buia Francesco , Lovato Luigi , Pacini Davide
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES

Acute aortic syndromes are associated with poor outcomes, despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances. We analysed trends in volumes and outcomes from 2000 to 2021.

METHODS

The study population includes 494 type A acute aortic syndromes (TAAAS) (54.2%) and 418 type B acute aortic syndromes (TBAAS) (45.8%). Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, long-term survival and freedom from aortic reoperation.

RESULTS

Regardless the type of acute aortic syndrome, patient volumes increased over time. Patients with TBAAS were older, more likely to have comorbid conditions and previous cardiac surgery (P < 0.001), while cerebrovascular accidents were more frequent in TAAAS (P < 0.05). Among TAAAS, 143 (28.9%) required total arch and 351 (71.1%) hemiarch replacement. TBAAS management was medical therapy in 182 (43.5%), endovascular in 198 (47.4%) and surgical in 38 (9.1%) cases. Overall in-hospital mortality was 14.6% [18.2% in TAAAS (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.4–21.2%) vs 10.7% in TBAAS (95% CI 7.8%–13.7%); P = 0.0027]. After propensity score adjustment, in-hospital mortality exhibited a significantly decreasing trend from 2000 to 2021 (P < 0.001) in TAAAS and TBAAS. 1-, 5- and 10-year survival was 74.2%, 62.2% and 45.5% in TAAAS and 75.4%, 60.7% and 41.0% in TBAAS (P = 0.975), with no differences among treatment strategies. The adjusted cumulative reoperation risk at 10 years was more than two-fold in TBAAS versus TAAAS (9.5% vs 20.5%, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.30, 95% I 1.31–4.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In the last decades, better patient triage and surgical/endovascular techniques led to substantial improvements in the management of acute aortic syndrome, with reduction in early mortality and reoperation rate. However, long-term mortality is still >50%.
Steffani’s Amor vien dal Destino: new answers to old questions
Authors: Timms Colin
Published: October 2023

Steffani made an important contribution to the cultivation of Italian opera in north Germany. Amor vien dal Destino must have been composed at Hanover in the 1690s but was not performed until 1709, at Düsseldorf. Several questions arise. Was it meant for 1694, the only year during his period at Hanover when there was no opera at the court? If so, why was it not performed? Why was it not performed before 1709? Why was it then staged at Düsseldorf? Why and how was the opera revised for that production? Who were the singers involved? Answers emerge from consideration of the Düsseldorf wordbook (especially its preface), of the autograph score and a hitherto neglected manuscript copy in Hanover, and of the circumstances of the two courts concerned. If these answers are correct, they demonstrate a close relationship between the opera and its social and political context.
Objectively assessed school-based intervention to reduce children’s sedentary time: a systematic review
Authors: Bernal Caroline Maité Marie , Lhuisset Léna , Fabre Nicolas , Trudeau François , Bois Julien
Published: October 2023

Childhood is a period characterized by a constant increase in sedentary time (ST) but also provides a great window of opportunity for children to learn how to limit ST. As a result, school-based interventions aimed at reducing and preventing children’s ST are increasingly becoming more widespread. A previous review found that school-based multi-component interventions appeared to be more effective in comparison to those based on a single component. However, this conclusion was based on just 11 studies published before 2016 and needs to be verified due to the currently growing number of studies on this topic. The objective of this systematic review is to update the evaluation of the effectiveness of school-based interventions published since the previous review according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between August 2015 and August 2023 containing objective measures of ST were analyzed. Of the 18 studies identified, 11 (61.1%) reported significant positive results. Multi-component studies were slightly more effective than their single-component equivalent (63.7% vs. 57.1%). The components that proved the most effective of the multi-component studies were the implementation of sit-to-stand desks (100%), and teachers’ training (77.8%). The combination of these two components is the most promising method to limit ST in the school context. Future research should determine how sit-to-stand desks can be introduced into the class environment and how courses can be adapted to this material.
Cucumber malate decarboxylase, CsNADP-ME2, functions in the balance of carbon and amino acid metabolism in fruit
Authors: Shan Nan , Zhang Youjun , Guo Yicong , Zhang Wenna , Nie Jing , Fernie Alisdair R , Sui Xiaolei
Published: October 2023

Central metabolism produces carbohydrates and amino acids that are tightly correlated to plant growth and thereby crop productivity. Malate is reported to link mitochondrial respiratory metabolism with cytosolic biosynthetic pathways. Although the function of malate metabolism-related enzymes in providing carbon has been characterized in some plants, evidence for this role in the fleshy fruit of cucumber is lacking. Here, radiolabeled bicarbonate fed into the xylem stream from the cucumber roots was incorporated into amino acids, soluble sugars, and organic acids in the exocarp and vasculature of fruits. The activities of decarboxylases, especially decarboxylation from NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), were higher in cucumber fruit than in the leaf lamina. Histochemical localization revealed that CsNADP-ME2 was mainly located in the exocarp and vascular bundle system of fruit. Radiotracer and gas-exchange analysis indicated that overexpression of CsNADP-ME2 could promote carbon flux into soluble sugars and starch in fruits. Further studies combined with metabolic profiling revealed that the downregulation of CsNADP-ME2 in RNA interference (RNAi) lines caused the accumulation of its substrate, malate, in the exocarp. In addition to inhibition of glycolysis-related gene expression and reduction of the activities of the corresponding enzymes, increased amino acid synthesis and decreased sugar abundance were also observed in these lines. The opposite effect was found in CsNADP-ME2-overexpressing lines, suggesting that there may be a continuous bottom-up feedback regulation of glycolysis in cucumber fruits. Overall, our studies indicate that CsNADP-ME2 may play potential roles in both central carbon reactions and amino acid metabolism in cucumber fruits.