bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term relationships between summer clouds and aerosols over mid-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Watari Akihisa , Iizuka Yoshinori , Fujita Koji , Masunaga Hirohiko , Kawamoto Kazuaki
Published: April 2024

While the short-term relationship between clouds and aerosols is well known, no adequate data is available to verify the longer-term, annual to decadal, relationship. It is important to quantify the aerosol–cloud interaction (ACI) for mitigating uncertainty in climate prediction. Here the long-term ACI over the mid-to-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere was analyzed by using seasonally-resolved ion fluxes reconstructed from a southeastern Greenland ice core (SE-Dome ice core) as aerosol proxies, and satellite-based summer cloud amount between 1982 and 2014. As a result, SO42− flux in the ice core shows significant positive correlation with total cloud amounts ($${CC}_{T}$$

CC

T

) and cloud droplet concentration ($${N}_{d}$$

N
d

) in the summer over the southeastern Greenland Sea, implying that the sulfate aerosols may contribute to the variability of $${CC}_{T}$$

CC

T

via microphysical cloud processes. Significant positive correlations are persistent even under the constrained conditions when cloud formation factors such as relative humidity, air temperature at cloud height, and summer North Atlantic Oscillation are limited within ± 1σ variability. Hence sulfate aerosols should control the interannual variability of summer $${CC}_{T}$$

CC

T

In terms of decadal changes, $${CC}_{T}$$

CC

T

was approximately 3–5% higher in the 1960s–1970s than in the 1990s–2000s, which can be explained by changes in the, $${{{\text{SO}}}_{4}}^{2-}$$

SO
4

2
-

flux preserved in the SE-Dome ice core.
Compliance with web content accessibility guidelines in ophthalmology social media posts
Authors: Sharma Meghan , Huertas Laura , Shah Serena , Gil Alexandra , Bitrian Elena , Chang Ta C.
Published: April 2024

This is a cross-sectional exploratory analysis of publicly available Internet data to examine compliance to web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) on patient education social media posts in ophthalmology. WCAG ensures web content accessibility for those with disabilities (including visual impairment). A total of 100 social media posts were sampled from ten ophthalmology patient education social media pages and ten non-ophthalmology (cardiopulmonary) pages as the comparison group. Three independent graders evaluated the selected posts based on the WCAG 2 checklist by WebAIM, a non-profit affiliated with Utah State University, after its adaptation for social media posts. Validated accessibility standard labels: “0” for not meeting any standards, “1” or “A” for meeting bare minimum accessibility requirements, “2” or “AA” for meeting legal accessibility requirements, or “3” or “AAA” for exceeding accessibility requirements. There was not enough evidence to detect a difference in WCAG scores between ophthalmology and non-ophthalmology posts (p = 0.80). Forty-nine percent of scores for ophthalmology social media posts showed no compliance with any WCAG. The most common reasons that ophthalmology posts failed to meet criteria were due to color and contrast issues (39%). Most ophthalmology social media posts had low WCAG scores, indicating poor compliance to WCAG. Because social media is highly visual, reduced compliance to WCAG may create barriers for low vision individuals to successfully access patient education social media content.
Purity control of simulated moving bed based on advanced fuzzy controller
Authors: Xie Chao-Fan , Chen Xiong , Zhang Hong
Published: April 2024

Simulated moving bed (SMB) technology is considered one of the most successful techniques in chromatographic separation. However, due to the nonlinearity caused by discrete events and sensitivity to numerous separation performance parameters, purity control in SMB systems has been a challenging issue. Fuzzy controllers are increasingly popular in industrial environments due to their simplicity and effectiveness in handling nonlinearity. However, traditional fuzzy controllers used in industry often overlook considerations of error acceleration, resulting in slight deviations from target values under steady-state conditions and oscillatory behavior when system parameters change. This study proposes an advanced fuzzy controller, where in a series of experiments, the purity control targets for component B are set at 94% and 96%, and for component A are set at 96% and 96%, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the advanced fuzzy controller achieves higher precision, with an average deviation of around 0.1%, for both components B and A. Importantly, under variations in adsorbent parameter(from 0.01 to 0.03), feed concentration(from 4.5 to 5.2), and switching time(from 178 to 182), the experimental results demonstrate smoother control with the advanced controller, particularly when oscillations occur with conventional fuzzy controllers due to switching time variations, indicating robust control with the advanced fuzzy controller.
Evidence and sources of placebo effects in transcranial direct current stimulation during a single session of visuospatial working memory practice
Authors: Hooyman Andrew , Haikalis Nicole K. , Wang Peiyuan , Schambra Heidi M. , Lohse Keith R. , Schaefer Sydney Y.
Published: April 2024

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be used to non-invasively augment cognitive training. However, the benefits of tDCS may be due in part to placebo effects, which have not been well-characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tDCS can have a measurable placebo effect on cognitive training and to identify potential sources of this effect. Eighty-three right-handed adults were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (no exposure to tDCS), sham tDCS, or active tDCS. The sham and active tDCS groups were double-blinded. Each group performed 20 min of an adapted Corsi Block Tapping Task (CBTT), a visuospatial working memory task. Anodal or sham tDCS was applied during CBTT training in a right parietal-left supraorbital montage. After training, active and sham tDCS groups were surveyed on expectations about tDCS efficacy. Linear mixed effects models showed that the tDCS groups (active and sham combined) improved more on the CBTT with training than the control group, suggesting a placebo effect of tDCS. Participants’ tDCS expectations were significantly related to the placebo effect, as was the belief of receiving active stimulation. This placebo effect shows that the benefits of tDCS on cognitive training can occur even in absence of active stimulation. Future tDCS studies should consider how treatment expectations may be a source of the placebo effect in tDCS research, and identify ways to potentially leverage them to maximize treatment benefit.
Wavelet denoising of fiber optic monitoring signals in permafrost regions
Authors: Ni Bowen , Song Fei , Zhao Liguo , Fu Zhipeng , Huang Yongyi
Published: April 2024

To address the noise issue in fiber optic monitoring signals in frozen soil areas, this study employs wavelet denoising techniques to process the fiber optic signals. Since existing parameter choices for wavelets are typically based on conventional environments, selecting suitable parameters for frozen soil regions becomes crucial. In this work, an index library is constructed based on commonly used wavelet basis functions in civil engineering. An optimal wavelet basis function is objectively selected through specific criteria. Considering the characteristic of small root mean square error in fiber optic signals in frozen soil areas, a multi-index fusion approach is applied to determine the optimal decomposition level. Field observations validate that denoised signals, with parameters set appropriately, can more accurately identify locations where settlement occurs.
Experience-dependent glial pruning of synaptic glomeruli during the critical period
Authors: Nelson Nichalas , Vita Dominic J. , Broadie Kendal
Published: April 2024

Critical periods are temporally-restricted, early-life windows when sensory experience remodels synaptic connectivity to optimize environmental input. In the Drosophila juvenile brain, critical period experience drives synapse elimination, which is transiently reversible. Within olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) classes synapsing onto single projection neurons extending to brain learning/memory centers, we find glia mediate experience-dependent pruning of OSN synaptic glomeruli downstream of critical period odorant exposure. We find glial projections infiltrate brain neuropil in response to critical period experience, and use Draper (MEGF10) engulfment receptors to prune synaptic glomeruli. Downstream, we find antagonistic Basket (JNK) and Puckered (DUSP) signaling is required for the experience-dependent translocation of activated Basket into glial nuclei. Dependent on this signaling, we find critical period experience drives expression of the F-actin linking signaling scaffold Cheerio (FLNA), which is absolutely essential for the synaptic glomeruli pruning. We find Cheerio mediates experience-dependent regulation of the glial F-actin cytoskeleton for critical period remodeling. These results define a sequential pathway for experience-dependent brain synaptic glomeruli pruning in a strictly-defined critical period; input experience drives neuropil infiltration of glial projections, Draper/MEGF10 receptors activate a Basket/JNK signaling cascade for transcriptional activation, and Cheerio/FLNA induction regulates the glial actin cytoskeleton to mediate targeted synapse phagocytosis.
Alfalfa xeno-miR159a regulates bovine mammary epithelial cell proliferation and milk protein synthesis by targeting PTPRF
Authors: Duan Hongjuan , Li Shaojin , Li Chuangwei , Tian Lan , Ma Yun , Cai Xiaoyan
Published: April 2024

Milk protein content is an important index to evaluate the quality and nutrition of milk. Accumulating evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in bovine lactation, but little is known regarding the cross-kingdom regulatory roles of plant-derived exogenous miRNAs (xeno-miRNAs) in milk protein synthesis, particularly the underlying molecular mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to explore the regulatory mechanism of alfalfa-derived xeno-miRNAs on proliferation and milk protein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Our previous study showed that alfalfa miR159a (mtr-miR159a, xeno-miR159a) was highly expressed in alfalfa, and the abundance of mtr-miR159a was significantly lower in serum and whey from high-protein-milk dairy cows compared with low-protein-milk dairy cows. In this study, mRNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and casein content was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, western blot, and flow cytometry. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the regulation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type F (PTPRF) by xeno-miR159a. We found that xeno-miR159a overexpression inhibited proliferation of BMEC and promoted cell apoptosis. Besides, xeno-miR159a overexpression decreased β-casein abundance, and increased α-casein and κ-casein abundance in BMECs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay result confirmed that PTPRF is a target gene of xeno-miR159a. These results provide new insights into the mechanism by which alfalfa-derived miRNAs regulate BMECs proliferation and milk protein synthesis.
Modeling children’s moral development in postwar Taiwan through naturalistic observations preserved in historical texts
Authors: Sui Zhining , Wang Qinyan , Xu Jing
Published: April 2024

A core issue in the interdisciplinary study of human morality is its ontogeny in diverse cultures, but systematic, naturalistic data in specific cultural contexts are rare to find. This study conducts a novel analysis of 213 children’s socio-moral behavior in a historical, non-Western, rural setting, based on a unique dataset of naturalistic observations from the first field research on Han Chinese children. Using multilevel multinomial modeling, we examined a range of proactive behaviors in 0-to-12-year-old children’s peer cooperation and conflict in an entire community in postwar Taiwan. We modeled the effects of age, sex, kinship, and behavioral roles, and revealed complex interactions between these four variables in shaping children’s moral development. We discovered linkages between coercive and non-coercive behaviors as children strategically negotiated leadership dynamics. We identified connections between prosocial and aggressive behaviors, illuminating the nuances of morality in real life. Our analysis also revealed gendered patterns and age-related trends that deviated from cultural norms and contradicted popular assumptions about Chinese family values. These findings highlight the importance of naturalistic observations in cultural contexts for understanding how we become moral persons. This re-analysis of historically significant fieldnotes also enriches the interdisciplinary study of child development across societies.
Spontaneous Akt2 deficiency in a colony of NOD mice exhibiting early diabetes
Authors: Hervé Julie , Haurogné Karine , Allard Marie , Sourice Sophie , Lindenbaum Pierre , Bach Jean-Marie , Lieubeau Blandine
Published: April 2024

Diabetes constitutes a major public health problem, with dramatic consequences for patients. Both genetic and environmental factors were shown to contribute to the different forms of the disease. The monogenic forms, found both in humans and in animal models, specially help to decipher the role of key genes in the physiopathology of the disease. Here, we describe the phenotype of early diabetes in a colony of NOD mice, with spontaneous invalidation of Akt2, that we called HYP. The HYP mice were characterised by a strong and chronic hyperglycaemia, beginning around the age of one month, especially in male mice. The phenotype was not the consequence of the acceleration of the autoimmune response, inherent to the NOD background. Interestingly, in HYP mice, we observed hyperinsulinemia before hyperglycaemia occurred. We did not find any difference in the pancreas’ architecture of the NOD and HYP mice (islets’ size and staining for insulin and glucagon) but we detected a lower insulin content in the pancreas of HYP mice compared to NOD mice. These results give new insights about the role played by Akt2 in glucose homeostasis and argue for the ß cell failure being the primary event in the course of diabetes.
A single-photon lidar observes atmospheric clouds at decimeter scales: resolving droplet activation within cloud base
Authors: Yang Fan , Kostinski Alex B. , Zhu Zeen , Lamer Katia , Luke Edward , Kollias Pavlos , Sua Yong Meng , Hou Pei , Shaw Raymond A. , Vogelmann Andrew M.
Published: April 2024

Clouds, crucial for understanding climate, begin with droplet formation from aerosols, but observations of this fleeting activation step are lacking in the atmosphere. Here we use a time-gated time-correlated single-photon counting lidar to observe cloud base structures at decimeter scales. Results show that the air–cloud interface is not a perfect boundary but rather a transition zone where the transformation of aerosol particles into cloud droplets occurs. The observed distributions of first-arriving photons within the transition zone reflect vertical development of a cloud, including droplet activation and condensational growth. Further, the highly resolved vertical profile of backscattered photons above the cloud base enables remote estimation of droplet concentration, an elusive but critical property to understanding aerosol–cloud interactions. Our results show the feasibility of remotely monitoring cloud properties at submeter scales, thus providing much-needed insights into the impacts of atmospheric pollution on clouds and aerosol-cloud interactions that influence climate.
Rummagene: massive mining of gene sets from supporting materials of biomedical research publications
Authors: Clarke Daniel J. B. , Marino Giacomo B. , Deng Eden Z. , Xie Zhuorui , Evangelista John Erol , Ma’ayan Avi
Published: April 2024

Many biomedical research publications contain gene sets in their supporting tables, and these sets are currently not available for search and reuse. By crawling PubMed Central, the Rummagene server provides access to hundreds of thousands of such mammalian gene sets. So far, we scanned 5,448,589 articles to find 121,237 articles that contain 642,389 gene sets. These sets are served for enrichment analysis, free text, and table title search. Investigating statistical patterns within the Rummagene database, we demonstrate that Rummagene can be used for transcription factor and kinase enrichment analyses, and for gene function predictions. By combining gene set similarity with abstract similarity, Rummagene can find surprising relationships between biological processes, concepts, and named entities. Overall, Rummagene brings to surface the ability to search a massive collection of published biomedical datasets that are currently buried and inaccessible. The Rummagene web application is available at https://rummagene.com.
A practical synthesis of nitrone-derived C5a-functionalized isofagomines as protein stabilizers to treat Gaucher disease
Authors: Li Huang-Yi , Chen Wei-An , Lin Hung-Yi , Tsai Chi-Wei , Chiu Yu-Ting , Yun Wen-Yi , Lee Ni-Chung , Chien Yin-Hsiu , Hwu Wuh-Liang , Cheng Wei-Chieh
Published: April 2024

Isofagomine (IFG) and its analogues possess promising glycosidase inhibitory activities. However, a flexible synthetic strategy toward both C5a-functionalized IFGs remains to be explored. Here we show a practical synthesis of C5a-S and R aminomethyl IFG-based derivatives via the diastereoselective addition of cyanide to cyclic nitrone 1. Nitrone 1 was conveniently prepared on a gram scale and in high yield from inexpensive (−)-diethyl d-tartrate via a straightforward method, with a stereoselective Michael addition of a nitroolefin and a Nef reaction as key steps. A 268-membered library (134 × 2) of the C5a-functionalized derivatives was submitted to enzyme- or cell-based bio-evaluations, which resulted in the identification of a promising β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) stabilizer demonstrating a 2.7-fold enhancement at 25 nM in p.Asn370Ser GCase activity and a 13-fold increase at 1 μM in recombinant human GCase activity in Gaucher cell lines.
Last Interglacial subsurface warming on the Antarctic shelf triggered by reduced deep-ocean convection
Authors: Yeung Nicholas King-Hei , Menviel Laurie , Meissner Katrin J. , Choudhury Dipayan , Ziehn Tilo , Chamberlain Matthew A.
Published: April 2024

The Antarctic ice-sheet could have contributed 3 to 5 m sea-level equivalent to the Last Interglacial sea-level highstand. Such an Antarctic ice-mass loss compared to pre-industrial requires a subsurface warming on the Antarctic shelf of ~ 3 °C according to ice-sheet modelling studies. Here we show that a substantial subsurface warming is simulated south of 60 °S in an equilibrium experiment of the Last Interglacial. It averages +1.2 °C at ~ 500 m depth from 70 °W to 160 °E, and it reaches +2.4 °C near the Lazarev Sea. Weaker deep-ocean convection due to reduced sea-ice formation is the primary driver of this warming. The associated changes in meridional density gradients and surface winds lead to a weakened Antarctic Circumpolar Current and strengthened Antarctic Slope Current, which further impact subsurface temperatures. A subsurface warming on the Antarctic shelf that could trigger ice-mass loss from the Antarctic ice-sheet can thus be obtained during warm periods from reduced sea-ice formation.
Rational design of comb-like 1D–1D ZnO–ZnSe heterostructures toward their excellent performance in flexible photodetectors
Authors: Liu Ming-Jin , Chen Hsuan-Chu , Yang Tse-Ning , Wu Shu-Chi , Kuo Yao-Jen , Cyu Ruei-Hong , Peng Yu-Ren , Chueh Yu-Lun
Published: April 2024

Comb-like 1D–1D ZnO–ZnSe heterostructures with ZnO and ZnSe nanowires have been prepared. The as-prepared heterostructures show high photosensitivity and excellent endurance in flexible photodetectors.
Salt-inclusion sulfides [K4Cl][MII11In9S26] (MII = Zn, Cd) displaying robust nonlinear optical activity
Authors: Zhang Yang-Ping , Pei Shao-Min , Jiang Xiao-Ming , Liu Bin-Wen , Guo Guo-Cong
Published: April 2024

The parallel-oriented [MII11In9S26]3− framework synergistically interacts with the [K4Cl]3+ motif to achieve remarkable nonlinear optical activities.
Homoleptic hexa- and penta-coordinated gallium(i) amide complexes of ruthenium and molybdenum
Authors: Bühler Raphael , Weininger Richard J. J. , Stephan Johannes , Muhr Maximilian , Bock Balasai M.-T. , Gemel Christian , Fischer Roland A.
Published: April 2024

The all gallium(i)-amide coordinated [Ru(GaTMP)5] and [Mo(GaTMP)6] complexes were isolated and DFT calculations unveil competing π-interaction between the transition metal center and the amido substituent.
Halogen-bonded charge-transfer co-crystal scintillators for high-resolution X-ray imaging
Authors: Chen Yu-Hua , Zhang Guo-Zhen , Chen Fu-Hai , Zhang Shu-Quan , Fang Xin , Chen Hong-Ming , Lin Mei-Jin
Published: April 2024

Two organic halogen co-crystal scintillators with strong halogen-bond-induced charge-transfer interactions enable a fast response, low detection limit and ultra-high-resolution imaging.
Weighted Sum Secrecy Rate Optimization for Cooperative Double‐IRS‐Assisted Multiuser Network
Authors: Yang Shaochuan , Huang Kaizhi , Niu Hehao , Wang Yi , Chu Zheng , Chen Gaojie , Li Zhen
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a double‐intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS)‐assisted multiuser secure system where the inter‐IRS channel is considered. In particular, we maximize the weighted sum secrecy rate of the system by jointly optimizing the beamforming vector for transmitted signal and artificial noise at the base station (BS) and the cooperative phase shifts of two IRSs, under the constraints of transmission power at the BS and the unit‐modulus phase shift of IRSs. To tackle the nonconvexity of the optimization problem, we first convert the objective function to its concave lower bound by utilizing a novel successive convex approximation technique, then solve the transformed problem iteratively by applying an alternating optimization method. The Lagrange dual method, Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions, and alternating direction method of multipliers are applied to develop a low‐complexity solution for each subproblem. Finally, simulation results are provided to verify the advantages of the cooperative double‐IRS scheme in comparison with the benchmark schemes.
MECSBO: Multi‐strategy enhanced circulatory system based optimisation algorithm for global optimisation and reliability‐based design optimisation problems
Authors: Yang Shiyuan , Guo Chenhao , Meng Debiao , Guo Yipeng , Guo Yongqiang , Pan Lidong , Zhu Shun‐Peng
Published: April 2024

The Circulatory System Based Optimisation (CSBO) stands as a nascent metaheuristic optimisation algorithm known for its proficiency in tackling global optimisation problems. The authors introduce the Multi‐strategy Enhanced CSBO (MECSBO), an algorithm designed for global optimisation and Reliability‐based Design Optimisation (RBDO). MECSBO integrates adaptive inertia weight, golden sine operator and chaos strategy to augment the convergence capacity and efficiency of the original CSBO. Furthermore, MECSBO‐based RBDO algorithm is presented to address RBDO problem. The comparative analysis utilising standard real‐world benchmark functions has been carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed MECSBO. Several RBDO problems, including three typical numerical examples and three engineering cases, are used to show abilities of the proposed MECSBO‐based RBDO algorithm. The results demonstrated that MECSBO is outperformed comparing to the state‐of‐the‐art algorithms in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and robustness in RBDO problems.
Energy efficient RF chains selection based on integrated Hungarian and genetic approaches for uplink cell‐free millimetre‐wave massive MIMO systems
Authors: Al Ayidh Abdulrahman , Alammar Mohammed M.
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this work is to explore the decrease of total used power in cell‐free millimetre‐wave (mm‐Wave) massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems, which can be regarded an essential technology for future wireless generations to improve system performance. One of the most important strategies for reducing total power consumption is to activate and deactivate radio frequency (RF) chains at each access point (AP) in the coverage region. Nonetheless, the optimization issue for this methodology is NP‐hard, and an exhaustive search method may be used to determine the ideal number of RF chains at each AP in the cell‐free network. Unfortunately, the exhaustive searching approach is prohibitively complicated, indicating that it is unworkable when there are a significant number of APs in the service region. Furthermore, present RF chain selection approaches prioritize decreasing consumed power and complexity at the price of system performance in terms of total possible rate. This research solves this issue by introducing a unique RF chain selection approach that combines Hungarian and genetic algorithms. The fact that the genetic algorithm (GA) can readily determine the ideal number of active RF chains, yet this technique generally entails significant complexity in large‐scale cell‐free networks, prompted this notion. As a result, the Hungarian method is used early in the GA to overcome the complexity problem while still retaining system performance. In addition, the suggested system employs a semi‐centralized hybrid beamforming architecture in which all analogue combiners for all APs are operated at a central processing unit using channel state information. In addition, each AP has a fully linked phase shifters network and restricted RF chains connecting to its antennas. Finally, simulation findings reveal that, when compared to state‐of‐the‐art techniques, the suggested approach achieves the maximum attainable rate and overall energy efficiency with a tolerable computational complexity.
HGSNet: A hypergraph network for subtle lesions segmentation in medical imaging
Authors: Wang Junze , Zhang Wenjun , Li Dandan , Li Chao , Jing Weipeng
Published: April 2024

Lesion segmentation is a fundamental task in medical image processing, often facing the challenge of subtle lesions. It is important to detect these lesions, even though they can be difficult to identify. Convolutional neural networks, an effective method in medical image processing, often ignore the relationship between lesions, leading to topological errors during training. To tackle topological errors, move is made from pixel‐level to hypergraph representations. Hypergraphs can model lesions as vertices connected by hyperedges, capturing the topology between lesions. This paper introduces a novel dynamic hypergraph learning strategy called DHLS. DHLS allows for the dynamic construction of hypergraphs contingent upon input vertex variations. A hypergraph global‐aware segmentation network, termed HGSNet, is further proposed. HGSNet can capture the key high‐order structure information, which is able to enhance global topology expression. Additionally, a composite loss function is introduced. The function emphasizes the global aspect and the boundary of segmentation regions. The experimental setup compared HGSNet with other advanced models on medical image datasets from various organs. The results demonstrate that HGSNet outperforms other models and achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance on three public datasets.
XMM-Newton – NuSTAR monitoring campaign of the Seyfert 1 galaxy IC 4329A
Authors: Tortosa A. , Ricci C. , Shablovinskaia E. , Tombesi F. , Kawamuro T. , Kara E. , Mantovani G. , Balokovic M. , Chang C.-S. , Gendreau K. , Koss M. J. , Liu T. , Loewenstein M. , Paltani S. , Privon G. C. , Trakhtenbrot B.
Published: April 2024

We present the results of a joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR campaign on the active galactic nucleus (AGN) IC 4329A, consisting of 9 × 20 ks XMM-Newton observations, and 5 × 20 ks NuSTAR observations within nine days, performed in August 2021. Within each observation, the AGN is not very variable, and the fractional variability never exceeds 5%. Flux variations are observed between the different observations on timescales of days, with a ratio of 30% of the minimum and maximum 2–10 keV flux. These variations follow the softer-when-brighter behavior typically observed in AGN. In all observations, a soft excess is clearly present. Consistently with previous observations, the X-ray spectra of the source exhibit a cutoff energy between 140 and 250 keV that is constant within the error in the different observations. We detected a prominent component of the 6.4 keV Fe Kα line consistent with being constant during the monitoring, consisting of an unresolved narrow core and a broader component likely originating in the inner accredion disk. We find that the reflection component is weak (Rmax = 0.009 ± 0.002) and most likely originates in distant neutral medium. We also found a warm absorber component together with an ultrafast outflow. Their energetics show that these outflows have enough mechanical power for significant feedback on the environment of the AGN.
Tracing the quenching journey across cosmic time
Authors: De Lucia Gabriella , Fontanot Fabio , Xie Lizhi , Hirschmann Michaela
Published: April 2024

We present the latest version of the GAlaxy Evolution and Assembly (GAEA) theoretical model of galaxy formation. Our new model now combines (i) an updated treatment of feedback from active galactic nuclei, including an improved modelling of cold gas accretion on super-massive black holes and an explicit implementation of quasar winds; and (ii) a treatment for both cold and hot gas stripping from satellite galaxies. We show that our latest model version predicts specific star formation rate distributions that are in remarkable agreement with observational measurements in the local Universe. Our updated model predicts quenched fractions that are in very nice agreement with observational measurements up to z ∼ 3 − 4, and a turn-over of the number densities of quenched galaxies at low stellar masses that is in qualitative agreement with current observational estimates. We show that the main reasons for the improved behaviour with respect to previous renditions of our model are the updated treatment for satellites at low galaxy masses (< 1010 M⊙) and the inclusion of quasar winds at intermediate to large stellar masses (> 1010 M⊙). However, we show that the better treatment of the star formation threshold, due to our explicit partitioning of the cold gas in its atomic and molecular components, also plays an important role in suppressing excessive residual star formation in massive galaxies. While our analysis is based on a selection of quiescent galaxies that takes advantage of the information about their star formation rate, we demonstrate that the impact of a different (colour-colour) selection is not significant up to z ∼ 3, at least for galaxies above the completeness limits of current surveys. Our new model predicts number densities of massive quiescent galaxies at z > 3 that are the largest among recently published state-of-the-art models. Yet, our model predictions still appear to be below post-JWST observational measurements. We show that the expected cosmic variance is large, and can easily accommodate some of the most recent measurements.
The nature of the mesoscale field-aligned currents in the auroral oval for positive IMF BZ: More frequent occurrence in the dawnside sector than in the duskside sector
Authors: Yokoyama Yoshihiro , Taguchi Satoshi
Published: April 2024

To understand the similarities and differences between the duskside mesoscale quasistatic field-aligned currents (FACs) and the dawnside mesoscale FACs, we examined the magnetic field data obtained through the constellation measurements of Swarm satellites for a four-year period. The automatic event identification method developed in the previous study (Yokoyama Y et al., 2021) identified events of quasistatic mesoscale FACs, which are embedded in the diminished dawnside and duskside Region 1/2 current systems, in 774 passes out of 4001 passes on the dawnside, and 443 out of 3755 passes on the duskside, respectively. The dawnside and duskside mesoscale FACs have similar occurrence tendencies such that both have a relatively high occurrence ratio for positive IMF BZ, occur regardless of sunlight conditions, and have the current density increasing with the solar wind proton density. On the other hand, one notable difference was found; the occurrence ratio of the dawnside mesoscale FACs is approximately 1.7 times higher than that of the duskside mesoscale FACs. This difference is discussed in terms of the dawn–dusk asymmetry of the occurrence of Kelvin Helmholtz instabilities on the magnetopause.
Clinico-radiologic Spectrum and Outcome of Pediatric Acquired Demyelinating Disorders of Central Nervous System: A Retrospective Indian Tertiary Care Hospital Cohort
Authors: Prithviraj Ramakrishna , Banerjee Bidisha , Acharya Ullas V. , Hafis Muhammed , Sashidharan Sruthi
Published: April 2024

Background Pediatric acquired demyelinating syndrome (ADS) constitutes a group of treatable disorders with acute neurologic dysfunction. Neuroimaging has played a significant role in diagnosis of ADS. We describe clinico-radiologic spectrum, outcomes, and comparison of the groups: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD).

Methods Retrospective review of 70 children with ADS at a tertiary care hospital over 15 years (2008–2023) was performed. Diagnosis was assigned as per International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group criteria 2016. Fisher's exact and chi-square tests were applied.

Results Thirty-nine boys and 31 girls aged 8.2 ± 4.0 years with CIS (n = 27), ADEM (n = 16), NMOSD (n = 13), MS (n = 1), and MOGAD (n = 13) were included. Clinical syndromes with positive significant association included polyfocal symptoms, encephalopathy in ADEM, optic neuritis (ON) in MOGAD, brainstem, area postrema syndrome in NMOSD. MOGAD presented with atypical presentations like prolonged fever (PF; 76.9%) and aseptic meningitis (23%). Seropositivity for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin-G was 62% and for NMO-IgG 2.6%. Neuroimaging of MOGAD showed lesions predominantly in basal ganglia/thalami (69.2%), optic nerve (46.2%), and cerebellum (46.2%). Imaging patterns between ADEM and MOGAD were comparable except for more ON (p = 0.004), spinal cord (p = 0.01), and cerebellar lesions (p = 0.03) in MOGAD. Area postrema lesion was unique to NMOSD. All patients received immunotherapy, of whom 91.4% (n = 64) had good recovery, 8.6% (n = 6) had functional limitation on modified Rankin scale at discharge, and 12 (17.1%) relapsed.

Conclusion The largest group was CIS. Seropositivity of MOG was high with atypical presentations like PF and aseptic meningitis. Specific neuroimaging patterns correlated with ADS categories. Short-term outcome with immunotherapy was favorable in spite of relapses.
Migrated Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in the Right Ventricle and Bilateral Pulmonary Arteries: A Case Report
Authors: Anand Reena , Dagar Vineeta , Aggarwal Rajeev , Batra Sandeep
Published: April 2024

Introduction Central venous catheterization is a common tool widely used in medical treatment for long-term intravenous administration of medication (e.g. chemotherapy or antibiotics) or parenteral nutrition. Here, we present a case of a missing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) which was detected on computed tomography (CT) scan thorax.

Case Report A 50-year-old female admitted for follow-up for adenocarcinoma rectum was found to have a missing PICC line and advised CT thorax for evaluation. The imaging findings revealed coiled PICC line in the right atrium extending to inferior vena cava and into right ventricle and further extending and coiled PICC is seen in the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries. Through emergency interventional procedure, the PICC line was successfully retrieved percutaneously via the right femoral vein.

Conclusion PICC fracture is less common and always seen without significant discomfort if not found timely, and it may lead to serious complications, such as pulmonary embolism, and even death. Early detection and removal may help to prevent signiﬁcant mortality.
Demystifying the Mystery of Genes: A Case Report on Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency
Authors: Siju Jose , Sahu Arpita , Bhattacharya Kajari , Prasad Maya , Sarin Rajiv , Gupta Tejpal
Published: April 2024

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a rare childhood cancer predisposition syndrome that results from biallelic germline mutations in one of the four MMR genes, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, or PMS2. This syndrome is characterized by a broad spectrum of early-onset malignancies, including hematologic malignancies, colorectal malignancies, brain tumors, and other malignancies. It is common to have more than one malignancy in an individual diagnosed with CMMRD. In addition to malignancies, primary immunodeficiency in the form of low or absent immunoglobulin levels can also be seen in CMMRD. Congenital abnormalities such as agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), cavernous hemangioma, and other non-neoplastic diseases can also be linked to it. In this case report, we discussed the case of a girl born out of consanguineous marriage initially identified as having T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma and later found to have selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency. Her younger sibling with a pontine cavernous hemangioma was also diagnosed with lymphoma. The girl exhibited brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which were initially diagnosed as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) related changes; however, one of the lesions persisted and remained stable over a period of 2 years and more in favor of diffuse glioma. The younger sibling also showed a solitary lesion in the brain. Based on the clinical and radiological findings, a diagnosis of CMMRD was suspected. Next-generation sequence (NGS) analysis of her blood sample was done. The results showed a homozygous mutation in the MSH6 gene was diagnostic of CMMRD.
Bilobed Prepontine White Epidermoid Cyst Camouflaged as Tubercular Abscess: A Case Report
Authors: Gala Foram , Madhariya Vaishali
Published: April 2024

Epidermoid cysts are ectodermally derived benign extra-axial lesions that have typical imaging characteristics following cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal intensity, but occasionally show unusual hyperintensity on T1-weighted images (T1WI), known as white epidermoid, thus posing a diagnostic challenge. We report an unusual case of bilobed prepontine white epidermoid masquerading as tuberculous abscess in a known case of tubercular meningitis.
Ultrasound Differentiation of Twins with Discordant Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in the Delivery Room
Authors: Cullen Sean Michael , Kasdorf Ericalyn , Cohen Sara , Kovanlikaya Arzu , Roser Brittany , Oxford-Horrey Corrina , Perez Cynthia , Chang Catherine
Published: April 2024

Most infants with prenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are intubated rapidly after birth to optimize oxygenation and ventilation while avoiding abdominal distention and high mean airway pressures. A twin pregnancy complicated by one twin with a CDH diagnosis is a rare event and is associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight compared to singletons with CDH. In rare cases of discordant CDH in twin pregnancies with an absence of external distinguishing features (similar weights, fetal presentation, and sex), it may be difficult to quickly determine which twin has CDH in the delivery room (DR), raising ambiguity about the best management of both infants. This case describes the successful use of ultrasound (US) in the DR to rapidly diagnose the presence or absence of CDH in discordant twins. By developing a resuscitation algorithm and using in situ simulations prior to delivery, the twin with CDH was rapidly identified, intubated, and transported to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for further management. The twin without CDH received routine care and was transferred to the well-baby nursery. Interprofessional planning and simulation may be used to design a safe resuscitation plan incorporating US diagnosis of diaphragmatic anomalies into the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) algorithm.
Nonfistulizing Perianal Crohn's Disease
Authors: Simon Emily , Steinhagen Emily
Published: April 2024

Perianal Crohn's disease (CD) includes a wide range of nonfistulizing sequela, including fissures and ulcers, skin tags, anal stricture, and anal cancer. Symptoms related to perianal manifestations of CD are often disabling and have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. They include pain, drainage, bleeding, difficulty with hygiene and may cause secondary difficulties with sexual and defecatory dysfunction. The care of patients with perianal CD requires a thoughtful approach, including detailed history taking, physical examination, and often multidisciplinary care teams to maximize quality of life and ameliorate symptoms.
Deconstructing ESG scores: investing at the category score level
Authors: Ehlers Torsten , Elsenhuber Ulrike , Jegarasasingam Anandakumar , Jondeau Eric
Published: April 2024

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores are a key tool for asset managers in designing and implementing ESG investment strategies. They, however, amalgamate a broad range of fundamentally different factors, creating ambiguity for investors as to the underlying drivers of higher or lower ESG scores. We explore the feasibility and performance of more targeted investment strategies based on specific ESG categories by deconstructing ESG scores into their granular components. We implement “best-in-class” strategies by excluding firms with the lowest category scores and reinvesting the proceeds in firms with the highest scores, maintaining the same regional and sectoral composition. These approaches reduce the portfolio’s tracking error and slightly improve its risk-adjusted performance, while still yielding large gains in targeted ESG scores.
Social relationships as strategic variable in the sharing economy: an empirical analysis of accommodation-sharing market
Authors: Ravula Prashanth
Published: April 2024

Accommodation services are perceived by consumers as possessing a greater purchase risk compared to goods, especially in first-purchase situations and during international travel. To mitigate this risk, consumer prospects look for cues that indicate the quality of service they can expect. This research investigates the role of social relationships in consumer purchase decision-making within rapidly growing accommodation sector of the sharing economy. Utilizing Airbnb’s social connection feature, consumers can see how they are socially connected with Airbnb hosts worldwide. We employ a censored proportional hazard model on a sample of 4,316 consumer prospects who have used social connection feature at least once. Additionally, we re-estimate the model using a propensity score matched sample of 8,632 consumers. The study reveals a positive association between the use of social connection feature and the hazard rate. Specifically, findings indicate that the using social connection feature for searching for accommodation reduces the time to make a first purchase. The article discusses the managerial implications of these findings.
Viral decisions: unmasking the impact of COVID-19 info and behavioral quirks on investment choices
Authors: Rehman Wasim ul , Saltik Omur , Jalil Faryal , Degirmen Suleyman
Published: April 2024

This study aims to investigate the impact of behavioral biases on investment decisions and the moderating role of COVID-19 pandemic information sharing. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of considering cognitive biases and sociodemographic factors in analyzing investor behavior and in designing agent-based models for market simulation. The findings reveal that these behavioral factors significantly positively affect investment decisions, aligning with prior research. The agent-based model’s outcomes indicate that younger, less experienced agents are more prone to herding behavior and perform worse in the simulation compared to their older, higher-income counterparts. In conclusion, the results offer valuable insights into the influence of behavioral biases and the moderating role of COVID-19 pandemic information sharing on investment decisions. Investors can leverage these insights to devise effective strategies that foster rational decision-making during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feasibility and acceptability of NIDUS-professional, a training and support intervention for homecare workers caring for clients living with dementia: a cluster-randomised feasibility trial
Authors: Cooper Claudia , Zabihi Sedigheh , Akhtar Amirah , Lee Teresa , Isaaq Abdinasir , Le Novere Marie , Barber Julie , Lord Kathryn , Rapaport Penny , Banks Sara , Duggan Sandra , Ogden Margaret , Walters Kate , Orgeta Vasiliki , Rockwood Kenneth , Butler Laurie T , Manthorpe Jill , Dow Briony , Hoe Juanita , Hunter Rachael , Banerjee Sube , Budgett Jessica , Duffy Larisa
Published: April 2024

Introduction

In the first randomised controlled trial of a dementia training and support intervention in UK homecare agencies, we aimed to assess: acceptability of our co-designed, manualised training, delivered by non-clinical facilitators; outcome completion feasibility; and costs for a future trial.

Methods

This cluster-randomised (2:1) single-blind, feasibility trial involved English homecare agencies. Intervention arm agency staff were offered group videocall sessions: 6 over 3 months, then monthly for 3 months (NIDUS-professional). Family carers (henceforth carers) and clients with dementia (dyads) were offered six to eight complementary, individual intervention sessions (NIDUS-Family). We collected potential trial measures as secondary outcomes remotely at baseline and 6 months: HCW (homecare worker) Work-related Strain Inventory (WRSI), Sense of Competence (SoC); proxy-rated Quality of Life (QOL), Disability Assessment for Dementia scale (DAD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Homecare Satisfaction (HCS).

Results

From December 2021 to September 2022, we met agency (4 intervention, 2 control) and HCWs (n = 62) recruitment targets and recruited 16 carers and 16/60 planned clients. We met a priori progression criteria for adherence (≥4/6 sessions: 29/44 [65.9%,95% confidence interval (CI): 50.1,79.5]), HCW or carer proxy-outcome completion (15/16 (93.8% [69.8,99.8]) and proceeding with adaptation for HCWs outcome completion (46/63 (73.0% [CI: 60.3,83.4]). Delivery of NIDUS-Professional costs was £6,423 (£137 per eligible client). WRSI scores decreased and SoC increased at follow-up, with no significant between-group differences. For intervention arm proxy-rated outcomes, carer-rated QOL increased, HCW-rated was unchanged; carer and HCW-rated NPI decreased; DAD decreased (greater disability) and HCS was unchanged.

Conclusion

A pragmatic trial is warranted; we will consider using aggregated, agency-level client outcomes, including neuropsychiatric symptoms.