bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coexistence of electron and phonon topology in conjunction with quantum transport device modeling
Authors: V Anusree C , Pradhan Sonali S , Kanchana V
Published: January 2024

The escalating research in the field of topology necessitates an understanding of the underlying rich physics behind the materials possessing unique features of non-trivial topology in both electronic and phononic states. Due to the interaction between electronic quasiparticles and spin degrees of freedom, the realization of magnetic topological materials has opened up a new frontier with unusual topological phases, however, these are rarely reported alongside phononic quasiparticle excitations. In this work, by first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, the intermetallic ferromagnetic compounds MnGaGe and MnZnSb with the coexistence of exceptional topological features in the electronic and phononic states are proposed. These compounds host nodal surface on

k
y

=
π

plane in bulk Brillouin zone in the electronic and phononic spectra protected by the combination of time-reversal symmetry and nonsymmorphic two-fold screw-rotation symmetry. In the former case, a spin-polarized nodal surface is present in the majority and minority spin channels and found to be robust to ground-state magnetic polarization. The presence of nodal line features is analyzed in both the quasiparticle spectra, whose non-trivial nature is confirmed by the Berry phase calculation. The incorporation of spin–orbit coupling in the electron spectra introduces distinctive characteristics in the transport properties, facilitating the emergence of anomalous Hall conductivity through Berry curvature in both bulk and monolayer. Furthermore, the monolayer has been proposed as a two-terminal device model to investigate the quantum transport properties using the non-equilibrium Green’s function approach. This superlative combination of observations and modeling sets the path for a greater level of insight into the behavior and aspects of topological materials at the atomic scale.
Possible quantum-spin-liquid state in van der Waals cluster magnet Nb3Cl8
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhang Yongchao , Han Xin , Sun Jianping , Zhou Honglin , Li Chunhong , Cheng Jinguang , Yan Shaohua , Lei Hechang , Shi Youguo , Yang Huaixin , Li Shiliang
Published: January 2024

The cluster magnet Nb3Cl8 consists of Nb3 trimmers that form an emergent S = 1/2 two-dimensional triangular layers, which are bonded by weak van der Waals interactions. Recent studies show that its room-temperature electronic state can be well described as a single-band Mott insulator. However, the magnetic ground state is non-magnetic due to a structural transition below about 100 K. Here we show that there exists a thickness threshold below which the structural transition will not happen. For a bulk crystal, a small fraction of the sample maintains the high-temperature structure at low temperatures and such remnant gives rise to linear-temperature dependence of the specific heat at very low temperatures. This is further confirmed by the measurements on ground powder sample or c-axis pressed single crystals, which prohibits the formation of the non-magnetic state. Moreover, the intrinsic magnetic susceptibility also tends to be constant with decreasing temperature. Our results suggest that Nb3Cl8 with the high-temperature structure may host a quantum-spin-liquid ground state with spinon Fermi surfaces, which can be achieved by making the thickness of a sample smaller than a certain threshold.
Quantum state complexity meets many-body scars
Authors: Nandy Sourav , Mukherjee Bhaskar , Bhattacharyya Arpan , Banerjee Aritra
Published: January 2024

Scar eigenstates in a many-body system refers to a small subset of non-thermal finite energy density eigenstates embedded into an otherwise thermal spectrum. This novel non-thermal behaviour has been seen in recent experiments simulating a one-dimensional PXP model with a kinetically-constrained local Hilbert space realised by a chain of Rydberg atoms. We probe these small sets of special eigenstates starting from particular initial states by computing the spread complexity associated to time evolution of the PXP hamiltonian. Since the scar subspace in this model is embedded only loosely, the scar states form a weakly broken representation of the Lie algebra. We demonstrate why a careful usage of the forward scattering approximation (FSA), instead of any other method, is required to extract the most appropriate set of Lanczos coefficients in this case as the consequence of this approximate symmetry. Only such a method leads to a well defined notion of a closed Krylov subspace and consequently, that of spread complexity. We show this using three separate initial states, namely|Z2⟩,|Z3⟩and the vacuum state, due to the disparate classes of scar states hosted by these sectors. We also discuss systematic methods of remedying the imperfections in the FSA setup stemming from these approximate symmetries.
Kinetic modeling of the plasma–wall interaction in the DTT divertor region
Authors: Cichocki F , Innocente P , Sciortino V , Minelli P , Taccogna F
Published: January 2024

A precise estimate of the local energy fluxes and erosion profiles at the divertor monoblocks of a fusion reactor requires a kinetic modeling of the plasma–wall interaction. Here, a two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell code is used to quantify the particle and energy fluxes and ion impact distribution functions across the divertor monoblocks of the ‘Divertor Tokamak Test’ reactor, focusing on poloidal gaps with toroidal bevelling. The considered critical locations are close to the strike points at both Inner and Outer Vertical Targets. A worst-case scenario for particle fluxes corresponding to attached plasma conditions and featuring a single-null magnetic configuration is assumed. The separate and cumulative effects of including electron wall emission and ions/electrons collisions with a background neutral gas (recycled at the walls) are also assessed. It is found that a non-negligible energy flux affects the shadowed regions of the monoblocks, especially when accounting for collisions, and that the ion impact distribution functions are strongly influenced by the considered kinetic effects, with important implications on the induced sputtering yield.
Strain-modulated anomalous circular photogalvanic effect in p-type GaAs
Authors: Zeng Xiaolin , Wu Jing , Zhu Shenbo , Liu Yu , Zhang Yang , Li Yuan , Chen Yonghai
Published: January 2024

The influence of spatial strain distribution on the anomalous circular photogalvanic effect (ACPGE) is investigated in the p-type GaAs material. By tuning the position of exerted stress, it is experimentally observed that the uniform strain related ACPGE behaves like the sine function, which resembles the non-strain situation. Whereas the gradient strain related ACPGE shows the unimodal function line shape. To explain the observations, a new theoretical model is constructed based on spin splitting of energy bands. It is demonstrated that the ACPGE could purely derive from the spin splitting effect. Besides, the combination effect of spin splitting and inverse spin Hall effect on the ACPGE is also investigated. This work reveals the importance of bands spin splitting on ACPGE, which has not been considered before.
Stable dynamic wireless power transfer via a space-extendable high-order Non-Hermitian system
Authors: Wu Bintao , Min Yueyang , Zhu Kejia , Jiang Jun , Guo Zhiwei , Sun Yong , Jiang Haitao , Li Yunhui , Chen Hong
Published: January 2024

A prominent problem in wireless power transmission systems is the sensitivity of the mode frequency to changes in position. While a feedback system can address this issue, it also introduces complexity to the system, potentially giving rise to additional problems. Typically, more complex systems exhibit unique properties, and there are modes suitable for power transfer in high-order PT systems.In this paper, we propose a dynamic wireless power transmission system with hybrid coupling, utilizing odd coils only. This approach offers a feasible solution for dynamic wireless power transmission systems. We calculate the eigenvalues of the system and observe that the eigenvalue of a mode does not change as the load moves, remaining a pure real number. In our study, the system’s transmission efficiency can be maintained at a high and stable level at a fixed working frequency, even as the load position changes. This capability can be employed for stable dynamic charging.
The generation and detection of the spin-valley-polarization in semi-Dirac materials
Authors: Huang Yupeng , Shen R
Published: January 2024

We investigated the transport properties in a normal metal/ferromagnet/normal metal/superconductor junction based on semi-Dirac materials with inverted energy gap. With a scattering matrix approach, we show that the electron transport in the junction is spin-valley-polarized due to the ferromagnetic exchange energy. It is also shown that the Andreev reflection is strongly suppressed, which is a clear experimental signal for the spin-valley-polarization in semi-Dirac materials.
Gravitational waves in New General Relativity
Authors: Golovnev Alexey , Semenova A.N. , Vandeev V.P.
Published: January 2024

The models of New General Relativity have recently got attention of research community, and there are some works studying their dynamical properties. The formal aspects of this investigation have been mostly restricted to the primary constraints in the Hamiltonian analysis. However, it is by far not enough for counting their degrees of freedom or judging whether they are any good and viable. In this paper we study linearised equations in vacuum around the trivial Minkowski tetrad. By taking the approach of cosmological perturbation theory we show that the numbers of primary constraints are very easily seen without any need of genuine Hamiltonian techniques, and give the full count of linearised degrees of freedom in the weak field limit of each and every version of New General Relativity without matter.
Construction of conservation laws for the Gardner equation, Landau–Ginzburg–Higgs equation, and Hirota–Satsuma equation
Authors: Chen Cheng , Afzal Faiza , Zhang Yufeng
Published: January 2024

In this paper, two different methods for calculating the conservation laws are used, these are the direct construction of conservation laws and the conservation theorem proposed by Ibragimov. Using these two methods, we obtain the conservation laws of the Gardner equation, Landau–Ginzburg–Higgs equation and Hirota–Satsuma equation, respectively.
Inter-discharge optimization for fast, reliable access to ASDEX Upgrade advanced tokamak scenario
Authors: Van Mulders S. , Sauter O. , Bock A. , Burckhart A. , Contré C. , Felici F. , Fischer R. , Schramm R. , Stober J. , Zohm H. ,   the ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: January 2024

Rapid inter-discharge simulation and optimization using the RAPTOR code have allowed the development of a reliable and reproducible early heating strategy for an advanced tokamak (AT) scenario on ASDEX Upgrade. Solving for electron heat and current diffusion in RAPTOR with ad-hoc formulas for heat transport and electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) efficiency is found to robustly recover the coupled dynamics of

T

e

and q, while maintaining model parameters fixed for all discharges. The pedestal top boundary condition in pre-shot simulations is set by a newly derived scaling law for the electron pressure at ρ = 0.8, using a data set of previous AT discharges. RAPTOR simulations have allowed to develop an understanding of the onset of 3/2 tearing modes, which were observed to have a detrimental impact on confinement when low magnetic shear conditions are present at the rational surface during the high-β phase. Delaying the NBI heating, by a specific time interval found via simulations, has led to avoiding these modes. A non-linear optimization scheme has been applied to optimize the ECCD deposition radii to reach a stationary state with

q

m
i
n

>
1

at the beginning of the flat-top phase, while ensuring a non-zero magnetic shear at q = 1.5 throughout the high-β phase, and has been successfully tested in experiment. However, further experiments, aiming for

q

m
i
n

>
1.5

, have highlighted limitations of the present feedforward control approach in the presence of shot-to-shot variations that are not included in the applied model. Application of real-time model-based control is proposed to overcome model-reality mismatches in future work.
Fast-ion orbit origin of neutron emission spectroscopy measurements in the JET DT campaign
Authors: Järleblad H. , Stagner L. , Eriksson J. , Nocente M. , Kirov K. , Rud M. , Schmidt B.S. , Maslov M. , King D. , Keeling D. , Maggi C. , Garcia J. , Lerche E.A. , Mantica P. , Dong Y. , Salewski M. ,   JET Contributors
Published: January 2024

In the JET DTE2 deuterium-tritium campaign, neutron diagnostics were employed to measure 14 MeV neutrons originating from D(T,n)4He reactions. In discharge 99965, a diamond matrix detector (KM14) and a magnetic proton recoil (MPRu) detector with a vertical and an oblique line-of-sight were used, respectively. At the timepoints of interest, a significant decrease in the expected diagnostic signals can be observed as electromagnetic wave heating in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) is switched off. Utilizing only TRANSP simulation data, the fast-ion distribution is found to have been likely composed mostly of trapped orbits. In contrast, analysis performed using orbit weight functions revealed that the majority of neutrons in the KM14

E

d

=
9.3

 MeV and MPRu

X

cm

=
33

 cm measurement bins are to have originated from fast deuterium ions on co-passing orbits. This work explains the perhaps surprising results and shows that the relative signal decrease as ICRF heating is switched off is largest for counter-passing orbits. Finally, for the magnetic equilibria of interest, it is shown how stagnation orbits, corresponding to

∼

1

% of the fast-ion distribution, were completely unobservable by the KM14 diagnostic.
A large field-of-view angled panel detector for the development of a plant PET system
Authors: Yamamoto Seiichi , Watabe Hiroshi , Yamaguchi Mitsutaka , Suzui Nobuo , Kawachi Naoki , Kataoka Jun
Published: January 2024

In plant research, positron emission tomography (PET) is
sometimes employed for physiological studies of plants. However, due
to the generally high cost of PET systems, their application in
plant research centers can be challenging. Furthermore, the
configurations of commercial PET systems might not always align well
with the requirements of plant research. To address these issues, we
have taken the initial steps towards a solution by developing a
large field-of-view (LFOV) angled panel detector intended for the
development of a plant PET system. This panel detector is composed
of two gadolinium orthosilicate (GSO) scintillator blocks, an angled
light guide, and four flat panel photomultiplier tubes
(FP-PMTs). The GSO pixel size used in the scintillator block
measures
2.65 mm (radial)× 2.85 mm (axial)×
15.0 mm, arranged in a configuration of
16 (radial)× 32 (axial) to form a scintillator
block with overall dimensions of
44.0 mm (radial)× 94.4 mm (axial)×
15 mm (depth). By implementing an angled light guide, the
two scintillator blocks were positioned at a 22.5-degree angle,
resulting in the creation of a LFOV angled panel detector. This
specific angle allowed for the arrangement of 16 scintillator blocks
in a hexadecagonal shape using 8 panel detectors when arranged in a
circular configuration. We successfully constructed a panel detector
with an approximate field-of-view of 10 cm× 10 cm
and conducted a comprehensive performance evaluation. Upon
irradiating the panel detector with 511 keV gamma photons, nearly
all 1024 GSO pixels were accurately resolved in the position
histogram, displaying minimal distortion, and exhibiting an average
peak-to-valley ratio of 5.0. Additionally, the energy resolution
achieved was 14% full width at half maximum (FWHM). The resulting
LFOV angled panel detector holds considerable promise for the use
within a cost-effective, user-friendly as well as high performance
plant PET system.
Artificial intelligence methods for in-process high-speed image analysis in laser beam welding of hairpins
Authors: Hake C. , Omlor M. , Breitbarth A. , Notni G. , Dilger K.
Published: January 2024

In the production of modern electric drives for battery electric vehicles, hairpin technology is used to increase the copper fill factor in the stator of a permanently excited synchronous machine. A central process in the production of these stators is the contacting of the hairpin ends by means of laser beam welding. This welding process is characterized by geometric and process-related deviations from previous process steps, which influence the result of the welded joint. It is desirable to find an in-process method for monitoring. As part of the process monitoring of welded joints, high-speed camera images are often used to detect weld spatter. These can be detected by a program based on a static algorithm. For this reason, a feasibility analysis is performed regarding the application of AI for the detection of spatters, in which the methods of semantic segmentation and single-image classification prove to be useful. In a preliminary experiment, three base networks for each of the two methods are evaluated with respect to the best training results. The single-image classification method will then be extended by a subsequent static algorithm, so that a hybrid use of AI and static algorithm will be investigated. The evaluation and final comparison of all evaluation methods is performed using data from a welding experiment. It turns out that the hybrid approach of single-image classification and static algorithm has numerous advantages in the detection of spatter compared to semantic segmentation and the static algorithm.
Tequila, bats, and agave farmers: towards an understanding of the right incentives to protect genetic diversity
Authors: Zapata-Morán Irene , López-Feldman Alejandro , Bejarano Hernán
Published: January 2024

Tequila has a designation of origin by which it can only be produced with the blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber blue variety) grown in certain regions of Mexico. For several decades, an intensive asexual technique of reproduction has prevailed in the tequila industry. This has not only been detrimental for the agave’s genetic diversity, but it has also harmed bat populations. The low levels of diversity have increased the agave’s exposure to pests and diseases and have limited the possibilities for artificial selection of beneficial characteristics that can improve production. Arguably, with the cooperation of producers and consumers, it is possible to have an environmentally friendly and resilient production system. We focus on the agave producers and analyze their willingness to let some of their plants flower in exchange of some monetary and non-monetary benefits. By analyzing data from a choice experiment, we show that farmers are willing to let some of their plants flower even when they only receive partial compensation for the value of the plants. Farmers also show a willingness to participate in a conservation program if they receive a non-monetary transfer or expect an increase in yield because of the program. Our results provide a relevant piece of information that can help policymakers, producers, NGOs, and other participants in the tequila industry, in the design of effective strategies that can lead to the genetic conservation of blue agave and the protection of magueyero bats.
Rational group algebras of generalized strongly monomial groups: Primitive idempotents and units
Authors: Bakshi Gurmeet , Garg Jyoti , Olteanu Gabriela
Published: January 2024

We present a method to explicitly compute a complete set of orthogonal primitive idempotents in a simple component with Schur index 1 of a rational group algebra

Q

G

\mathbb {Q}G

for

G
G

a finite generalized strongly monomial group. For the same groups with no exceptional simple components in

Q

G

\mathbb {Q}G

, we describe a subgroup of finite index in the group of units

U

(

Z

G
)

\mathcal {U}(\mathbb {Z}G)

of the integral group ring

Z

G

\mathbb {Z}G

that is generated by three nilpotent groups for which we give explicit description of their generators. We exemplify the theoretical constructions with a detailed concrete example to illustrate the theory. We also show that the Frobenius groups of odd order with a cyclic complement are a class of generalized strongly monomial groups where the theory developed in this paper is applicable.
𝑝-DG Cyclotomic nilHecke Algebras
Authors: Khovanov Mikhail , Qi You , Sussan Joshua
Published: January 2024

We categorify a tensor product of two Weyl modules for quantum

s
l

2

\mathfrak {sl}_2

at a prime root of unity.
A systematic literature review on advanced persistent threat behaviors and its detection strategy
Authors: Che Mat Nur Ilzam , Jamil Norziana , Yusoff Yunus , Mat Kiah Miss Laiha
Published: January 2024

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) pose significant security-related challenges to organizations owing to their sophisticated and persistent nature, and are inimical to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational information and services. This study systematically reviews the literature on methods of detecting APTs by comprehensively surveying research in the area, identifying gaps in the relevant studies, and proposing directions for future work. The authors provide a detailed analysis of current methods of APT detection that are based on multi-stage attack-related behaviors. We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and conducted an extensive search of a variety of databases. A total of 45 studies, encompassing sources from both academia and the industry, were considered in the final analysis. The findings reveal that APTs have the capability to laterally propagate and achieve their objectives by identifying and exploiting existing systemic vulnerabilities. By identifying shortcomings in prevalent methods of APT detection, we propose integrating the multi-stage attack-related behaviors of APTs with the assessment of the presence of vulnerabilities in the network and their susceptibility to being exploited in order to improve the accuracy of their identification. Such an improved approach uses vulnerability scores and probability metrics to determine the probable sequence of targeted nodes, and visualizes the path of APT attacks. This technique of advanced detection enables the early identification of the most likely targets, which, in turn, allows for the implementation of proactive measures to prevent the network from being further compromised. The research here contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of integrating multi-stage attack-related behaviors, vulnerability assessment, and techniques of visualization for APT detection to enhance the overall security of organizations.
Landmark annotation through feature combinations: a comparative study on cephalometric images with in-depth analysis of model’s explainability
Authors: S Rashmi , S Srinath , S. Murthy Prashanth , Deshmukh Seema
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to explore and evaluate the automation of anatomical landmark localization in cephalometric images using machine learning techniques, with a focus on feature extraction and combinations, contextual analysis, and model interpretability through Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values.

Methods

We conducted extensive experimentation on a private dataset of 300 lateral cephalograms to thoroughly study the annotation results obtained using pixel feature descriptors including raw pixel, gradient magnitude, gradient direction, and histogram-oriented gradient (HOG) values. The study includes evaluation and comparison of these feature descriptions calculated at different contexts namely local, pyramid, and global. The feature descriptor obtained using individual combinations is used to discern between landmark and nonlandmark pixels using classification method. Additionally, this study addresses the opacity of LGBM ensemble tree models across landmarks, introducing SHAP values to enhance interpretability.

Results

The performance of feature combinations was assessed using metrics like mean radial error, standard deviation, success detection rate (SDR) (2 mm), and test time. Remarkably, among all the combinations explored, both the HOG and gradient direction operations demonstrated significant performance across all context combinations. At the contextual level, the global texture outperformed the others, although it came with the trade-off of increased test time. The HOG in the local context emerged as the top performer with an SDR of 75.84% compared to others.

Conclusions

The presented analysis enhances the understanding of the significance of different features and their combinations in the realm of landmark annotation but also paves the way for further exploration of landmark-specific feature combination methods, facilitated by explainability.
Sustainable ESL teacher support in the Global South through e-coaching
Authors: Inwang Victoria Idongesit
Published: January 2024

This qualitative study investigates the challenges faced by five ESL teachers in Nigeria and the role of an e-coaching intervention in providing support for these challenges. In undertaking the study, the author engaged in a two-cycle coaching session involving a pre-planning conference and post-observation feedback with the teachers. Teachers were interviewed to examine their perceptions about e-coaching support. Analysis revealed several key findings on the role of the coach in providing instrumental support to the teachers, which they felt had a positive impact on their professional development. The study proposes e-coaching as a feasible teacher development activity in low-resource contexts and sheds light on whether the coaching models adopted via online platforms are accessible and practicable for experienced ESL teachers in comparable contexts across both sub-Saharan Africa and the wider Global South.
Discrimination and Cognition in Midlife Black Women: The Roles of Social Support and Spirituality
Authors: Dixon Jasmine S , Wang Dongwei , Ready Rebecca E
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Black women are at high risk for discrimination and cognitive impairment in late life. It is not known if discrimination is a risk factor for cognitive decline in Black women and if so, what factors are protective against the adverse cognitive effects of discrimination. Using the biopsychosocial model of gendered racism, we determined if discrimination is associated with poorer cognition in midlife Black women and if social support and/or spirituality would protect against the deleterious effects of discrimination on cognition.

Methods

Participants were midlife Black women (N = 669) from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Discrimination was measured by the Everyday Discrimination scale. Cognitive outcomes included episodic memory, processing speed, and working memory. Total social support, emotional support, instrumental support, and spirituality were assessed as protective factors.

Results

Contrary to expectations, structural equation modeling indicated that discrimination was associated with better immediate recall. For women with more emotional support, greater discrimination was associated with better immediate recall than for women with lower emotional support. Spirituality was not a significant moderator in the association between discrimination and cognition.

Discussion

Discrimination had unexpected positive associations with learning and attention-based cognitive skills for midlife Black women. Discrimination might enhance vigilance, which could be facilitated by higher levels of emotional support. There is an opportunity for clinical and public health interventions for cognitive health and discrimination focused on Black women to better incorporate emotional support as a coping resource.
Noticing education campaigns or public health messages about vaping among youth in the United States, Canada and England from 2018 to 2022
Authors: East Katherine , Taylor Eve , Simonavičius Erikas , Nottage Matilda , Reid Jessica L , Burkhalter Robin , Brose Leonie , Wackowski Olivia A , Liber Alex C , McNeill Ann , Hammond David
Published: January 2024

Public health campaigns have the potential to correct vaping misperceptions. However, campaigns highlighting vaping harms to youth may increase misperceptions that vaping is equally/more harmful than smoking. Vaping campaigns have been implemented in the United States and Canada since 2018 and in England since 2017 but with differing focus: youth vaping prevention (United States/Canada) and smoking cessation (England). We therefore examined country differences and trends in noticing vaping campaigns among youth and, using 2022 data only, perceived valence of campaigns and associations with harm perceptions. Seven repeated cross-sectional surveys of 16–19 year-olds in United States, Canada and England (2018–2022, n = 92 339). Over half of youth reported noticing vaping campaigns, and noticing increased from August 2018 to February 2020 (United States: 55.2% to 74.6%, AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.18-1.24; Canada: 52.6% to 64.5%, AOR = 1.13, 1.11-1.16; England: 48.0% to 53.0%, AOR = 1.05, 1.02-1.08) before decreasing (Canada) or plateauing (England/United States) to August 2022. Increases were most pronounced in the United States, then Canada. Noticing was most common on websites/social media, school and television/radio. In 2022 only, most campaigns were perceived to negatively portray vaping and this was associated with accurately perceiving vaping as less harmful than smoking among youth who exclusively vaped (AOR = 1.46, 1.09-1.97). Consistent with implementation of youth vaping prevention campaigns in the United States and Canada, most youth reported noticing vaping campaigns/messages, and most were perceived to negatively portray vaping.
Microtargeting, voters’ unawareness, and democracy
Authors: van Gils Freek , Müller Wieland , Prüfer Jens
Published: January 2024

Recent technological developments have raised concerns about threats to democracy because of their potential to distort election outcomes: (a) data-driven voter research enabling political microtargeting and (b) growing news consumption via social media and news aggregators that obfuscate the origin of news items, leading to voters’ unawareness about a news sender’s identity. We provide a theoretical framework in which we can analyze the effects that microtargeting by political interest groups and unawareness have on election outcomes in comparison to “conventional” news reporting. We show which voter groups suffer from which technological development (a) or (b). While both microtargeting and unawareness have negative effects on voter welfare, we show that only unawareness can flip an election. Our model framework allows the theory-based discussion of policy proposals, such as to ban microtargeting or to require news platforms to signal the political orientation of a news item’s originator (JEL C72, D72, D82, D83).
Efficient auxiliary information synthesis for cure rate model
Authors: Ding Jie , Li Jialiang , Wang Xiaoguang
Published: January 2024

We propose a new auxiliary information synthesis method to utilize subgroup survival information at multiple time points under the semi-parametric mixture cure rate model. After summarizing the auxiliary information via estimating equations, a control variate technique is adopted to reduce the variance efficiently, together with a test statistic to check the homogeneity assumption. Revision using penalization is further considered to adaptively accommodate potential population heterogeneity. Our methods can be adjusted when the uncertainty is not negligible. We establish asymptotic properties of our proposed estimators, and demonstrate their practical performances through extensive simulations and an invasive breast cancer study.
A pseudo-response approach to constructing confidence intervals for the subset of patients expected to benefit from a new treatment
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhang Zhiwei , Hu Zonghui , Xu Ping , Cohen Calvin J
Published: January 2024

In precision medicine, there is much interest in estimating the expected-to-benefit (EB) subset, i.e. the subset of patients who are expected to benefit from a new treatment based on a collection of baseline characteristics. There are many statistical methods for estimating the EB subset, most of which produce a ‘point estimate’ without a confidence statement to address uncertainty. Confidence intervals for the EB subset have been defined only recently, and their construction is a new area for methodological research. This article proposes a pseudo-response approach to EB subset estimation and confidence interval construction. Compared to existing methods, the pseudo-response approach allows us to focus on modelling a conditional treatment effect function (as opposed to the conditional mean outcome given treatment and baseline covariates) and is able to incorporate information from baseline covariates that are not involved in defining the EB subset. Simulation results show that incorporating such covariates can improve estimation efficiency and reduce the size of the confidence interval for the EB subset. The methodology is applied to a randomized clinical trial comparing two drugs for treating HIV infection.
Ukrainian Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences During Operation Gunpowder: Implications for Increasing and Enhancing Training Partnerships
Authors: Shumaker Jonathan T , Shen Cynthia , Cole Rebekah
Published: January 2024

Because of the diverse backgrounds of their healthcare professionals, Ukrainian military medicine needs expanded and enhanced military medical training to increase their readiness in the war against Russia. During March 2023, eight Ukrainian healthcare professionals participated in Operation Gunpowder, a high-fidelity prolonged casualty care simulation conducted by the USU as a part of its Military Unique Curriculum. In order to evaluate their experiences, we interviewed each healthcare professional and analyzed the data to determine common themes. The participants first described the challenges of operational medicine in Ukraine. They then described the benefits of simulation training such as learning how to navigate a resource-limited operational environment, learning prolonged casualty care, and enhancing leadership and teamwork. Finally, they discussed how they planned to implement training such as Operation Gunpowder in Ukraine in order to increase force readiness. After experiencing the prolonged casualty care simulation training, the Ukrainian participants believed Operation Gunpowder to be a valuable training tool due to its ability to help them overcome the current challenges they are facing in their war against Russia. They described how they would integrate similar training in Ukraine, and follow-up correspondence revealed the success of these efforts. Other universities and institutions are likewise called to use their knowledge and resources to help train Ukrainian health professionals using simulation-based training or other education modalities.
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K promotes cap-independent translation initiation of retroviral mRNAs
Authors: Fuentes Yazmín , Olguín Valeria , López-Ulloa Brenda , Mendonça Dafne , Ramos Hade , Abdalla Ana Luiza , Guajardo-Contreras Gabriel , Niu Meijuan , Rojas-Araya Barbara , Mouland Andrew J , López-Lastra Marcelo
Published: January 2024

Translation initiation of the human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) genomic mRNA (vRNA) is cap-dependent or mediated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). The HIV-1 IRES requires IRES-transacting factors (ITAFs) for function. In this study, we evaluated the role of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) as a potential ITAF for the HIV-1 IRES. In HIV-1-expressing cells, the depletion of hnRNPK reduced HIV-1 vRNA translation. Furthermore, both the depletion and overexpression of hnRNPK modulated HIV-1 IRES activity. Phosphorylations and protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1)-induced asymmetrical dimethylation (aDMA) of hnRNPK strongly impacted the protein's ability to promote the activity of the HIV-1 IRES. We also show that hnRNPK acts as an ITAF for the human T cell lymphotropic virus-type 1 (HTLV-1) IRES, present in the 5′UTR of the viral sense mRNA, but not for the IRES present in the antisense spliced transcript encoding the HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper protein (sHBZ). This study provides evidence for a novel role of the host hnRNPK as an ITAF that stimulates IRES-mediated translation initiation for the retroviruses HIV-1 and HTLV-1.
Healthcare Resource Utilization and Discharge Readiness in Adult Hospitalized Patients With Candidemia or Invasive Candidiasis Who Received an Echinocandin: An Analysis of United States Hospitals
Authors: Lodise Thomas P , Garey Kevin W , Aram Jalal A , Nathanson Brian H
Published: January 2024

Background

Scant real-world outcomes data are available among hospitalized patients with candidemia (C) or invasive candidiasis without candidemia (IC) who were treated with an echinocandin and few have assessed if there is an opportunity to accelerate the transition of their care to the outpatient setting. This study described the outcomes associated with echinocandin therapy for C/IC and determined the proportion of patients on an echinocandin at hospital discharge (HD) who were potentially eligible for an earlier HD.

Methods

A retrospective, multicenter observational study was performed using the PINC AI Healthcare Database (January 2016–April 2019) of hospitalized adult patients with C/IC who received ≥3 days of an echinocandin. Outcomes included post–index culture hospital costs and discharge location. Patients were considered potentially dischargeable earlier than actual HD day if they met the following 3 criteria prior to their actual HD day: resided on a non–intensive care unit hospital ward until HD, received any oral medications, and had no diagnostic/therapeutic interventions.

Results

A total of 1865 patients met study criteria. Mean (standard deviation) post–index culture hospital costs for patients with C and IC were 50 196 (64 630) US dollars and 61 551 (73 080) US dollars, respectively. Of the 1008 patients on an echinocandin near HD and discharged alive, 432 (42.9%) were potentially dischargeable prior to their actual hospital day. Most patients (35.8%) were discharged to a long-term care facility.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that a high proportion of hospitalized C/IC patients receiving an echinocandin near the time of HD were potentially dischargeable earlier. Like all studies of this nature, the findings need to be prospectively validated.
Why should we study plant sex chromosomes?
Authors: Charlesworth Deborah , Harkess Alex
Published: January 2024

Understanding plant sex chromosomes involves studying interactions between developmental and physiological genetics, genome evolution, and evolutionary ecology. We focus on areas of overlap between these. Ideas about how species with separate sexes (dioecious species, in plant terminology) can evolve are even more relevant to plants than to most animal taxa because dioecy has evolved many times from ancestral functionally hermaphroditic populations, often recently. One aim of studying plant sex chromosomes is to discover how separate males and females evolved from ancestors with no such genetic sex-determining polymorphism, and the diversity in the genetic control of maleness vs femaleness. Different systems share some interesting features, and their differences help to understand why completely sex-linked regions may evolve. In some dioecious plants, the sex-determining genome regions are physically small. In others, regions without crossing over have evolved sometimes extensive regions with properties very similar to those of the familiar animal sex chromosomes. The differences also affect the evolutionary changes possible when the environment (or pollination environment, for angiosperms) changes, as dioecy is an ecologically risky strategy for sessile organisms. Dioecious plants have repeatedly reverted to cosexuality, and hermaphroditic strains of fruit crops such as papaya and grapes are desired by plant breeders. Sex-linked regions are predicted to become enriched in genes with sex differences in expression, especially when higher expression benefits one sex function but harms the other. Such trade-offs may be important for understanding other plant developmental and physiological processes and have direct applications in plant breeding.
Salicylic acid in plant immunity and beyond
Authors: Spoel Steven H , Dong Xinnian
Published: January 2024

As the most widely used herbal medicine in human history and a major defence hormone in plants against a broad spectrum of pathogens and abiotic stresses, salicylic acid (SA) has attracted major research interest. With applications of modern technologies over the past 30 years, studies of the effects of SA on plant growth, development, and defence have revealed many new research frontiers and continue to deliver surprises. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in our understanding of SA metabolism, perception, and signal transduction mechanisms in plant immunity. An overarching theme emerges that SA executes its many functions through intricate regulation at multiple steps: SA biosynthesis is regulated both locally and systemically, while its perception occurs through multiple cellular targets, including metabolic enzymes, redox regulators, transcription cofactors, and, most recently, an RNA-binding protein. Moreover, SA orchestrates a complex series of post-translational modifications of downstream signaling components and promotes the formation of biomolecular condensates that function as cellular signalling hubs. SA also impacts wider cellular functions through crosstalk with other plant hormones. Looking into the future, we propose new areas for exploration of SA functions, which will undoubtedly uncover more surprises for many years to come.
Competing claims to crypto-assets
Authors: Woxholth Jannik , Zetzsche Dirk A , Buckley Ross P , Arner Douglas W
Published: January 2024

At the height of the ‘crypto winter’, with several crypto intermediaries filing for insolvency and subjected to schemes of arrangement, who owns what and who has a claim on what becomes all important. At the same time, distributed ledger technologies are frequently presented as a digital solution to these perennial problems of competing claims to the same asset. This article makes two contributions to the literature. First, we show that neither current technology nor law solves the competing claims issue. Second, we suggest policy solutions based on a comparative legal analysis. In essence, the law must: (i) recognize property rights in crypto-assets; (ii) protect bona fide purchasers that receive crypto-assets from a transferor who exerts control over private keys; and (iii) facilitate the enforcement of titles in crypto-assets by the interplay of private and financial law. While full harmonization of national private laws is out of reach, some level of international consensus around these three principles would strengthen the impact of private law in the proper ordering and enforcement of claims to crypto-assets.
Introducing the legislative priority rule: a constitutional compass for the Court
Authors: Ní Chaoimh Eadaoin
Published: January 2024

The ambiguous nature of the internal market allows for EU legislative input on two tensions animating this field since its inception, those being how to divide power between the EU and Member States and how to reconcile the requirements of integration and regulation. The Court can sometimes struggle with accommodating such input with its Treaty interpretation, leading to further tension with the EU legislator. In the internal market for goods, however, it can rely on the Legislative Priority Rule to resolve disputes in a coherent, Treaty-compliant manner. Casting exhaustive EU legislation as the sole norm against which to assess national product measures, to the exclusion of Articles 34–36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), this longstanding Rule is, from one perspective, a simple procedural tool to establish the Court’s framework of reference. In reality, however, invoking (or excluding) the Rule can have a substantive and institutional dimension, as its application (or not) engages the relationships between national, secondary, and primary law and, by extension, the Member States, EU legislator, and Court. On the one hand, the Rule enforces EU primacy by pre-empting national competence in the presence of harmonization. On the other, by suspending direct application of Articles 34–35 TFEU, it also implies deference to the EU legislator, and indirectly to the Member States, which enjoy discretion to set standards and determine how power is shared. As a result, while Member States cannot avoid free movement obligations, they can defend national rules by reference to this EU standard to which they have contributed. There is in other words an alignment under the Rule between the dynamics of Exit and Voice, with the Court exercising boundary control to ensure compliance with primary law. It is on this basis that I have come to identify the Legislative Priority Rule as a sort of ‘constitutional compass’ to guide the distribution of power in the internal market for goods. Despite this key role, however, its existence and impact remain relatively unknown or at best ignored, reflecting a gap in understanding the Court’s toolbox for review and a failure to appreciate the role of secondary legislation in building a stable, Treaty-compliant regulatory system.
Safety and efficacy of the EndoRotor device for the treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis after EUS-guided cystenterostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ramai Daryl , Ahmed Zohaib , Chandan Saurabh , Facciorusso Antonio , Deliwala Smit S. , Alastal Yaseen , Nawras Ali , Maida Marcello , Barakat Monique T. , Anderloni Andrea , Adler Douglas G.
Published: January 2024

Debridement of infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis is indicated to treat and prevent sepsis-related multiorgan failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the EndoRotor-powered endoscopic debridement system to remove solid debris under direct endoscopic visualization. Search strategies were developed for PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 2022, in accordance with Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Outcomes of interest included technical success defined as successful use of device for debridement, clinical success defined as complete debridement and cyst resolution, and procedure-related adverse events. A random-effects model was used for analysis, and results were expressed as odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval. A total of 7 studies (n = 79 patients) were included. The mean walled-off pancreatic necrosis size was 154.6 ± 34.0 mm, whereas the mean procedure time was 71.4 minutes. The mean number of necrosectomy sessions required was 2.2 (range, 1–7). The pooled rate of clinical success was 96% (95% confidence interval, 91%–100%; I
2 = 0%) with a pooled technical success rate of 96% (91%–100%; I
2 = 0%). The pooled procedure-related adverse event rate was 8% (2%–14%; I
2 = 6%), which included procedure-associated bleeding, pneumoperitoneum, peritonitis, pleural effusion, and dislodgement of lumen-apposing metal stents. Our study shows that the novel EndoRotor device seems to be safe and effective for treating pancreatic necrosis. Patients undergoing endoscopic necrosectomy with the EndoRotor seem to require less debridement sessions when compared with studies using conventional instruments.