bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oceanic crust—seismic structure, lithology and the cause of the 2A Event at borehole 504B
Authors: Peirce C , Hobbs R W
Published: January 2024

This study focuses on the 3-D velocity structure and thickness of ∼7-Myr-old oceanic crust surrounding borehole 504B, located ∼235 km from the intermediate-spreading Costa Rica Rift (Panama Basin). It investigates how well seismic structure determined by 3-D tomography compares with actual lithology and, consequently, what the origin and cause might be of an amplitude anomaly, the 2A Event, that is observed in multichannel seismic data. Our P-wave model shows an ∼0.3-km-thick sediment layer of velocity between ∼1.6 and 1.9 km s−1 (gradient 1.0 s−1), bound at its base by a velocity step to 4.8 km s−1 at the top of oceanic crustal Layer 2. Layer 2 itself is subdivided into two main units (2A and 2B) by a vertical velocity gradient change at 4.5 km depth, with a gradient of 1.7 s−1 above (4.8–5.8 km s−1) and 0.7 s−1 below (5.8–6.5 km s−1). The base of Layer 2, in turn, is defined by a change in gradient at 5.6 km depth. Below this, Layer 3 has a velocity range of 6.5–7.5 km s−1 and a gradient of ∼0.3 s−1. Corresponding S-wave igneous layer velocities and gradients are: Layer 2A, 2.4–3.1 km s−1 and 1.0 s−1; Layer 2B, 3.1–3.7 km s−1 and 0.5 s−1; Layer 3, 3.7–4.0 km s−1 and 0.1 s−1. The 3-D tomographic models, coupled with gravity modelling, indicate that the crust is ∼6 km thick throughout the region, with a generally flat-lying Moho. Although the P- and S-wave models are smooth, their velocities and gradients are remarkably consistent with the main lithological layering subdivisions logged within 504B. Thus, using the change in velocity gradient as a proxy, Layer 2 is interpreted as ∼1.8 km thick and Layer 3 as ∼3.8 km thick, with little vertical variation throughout the 3-D volume. However, the strike of lateral gradient variation is not Costa Rica Rift-parallel, but instead follows the orientation of the present-day adjacent Ecuador Rift, suggesting a reorientation of the Costa Rica Rift spreading ridge axis. Having determined its consistency with lithological ground-truth, the resulting P-wave model is used as the basis of finite difference calculation of wave propagation to find the origin of the 2A Event. Our modelling shows that no distinct interface, or transition, is required to generate this event. Instead, it is caused by averaging of heterogeneous physical properties by the seismic wave as it propagates through Layer 2 and is scattered. Thus, we conclude that the 2A Event originates and propagates exclusively in the lower part of Layer 2A, above the mean depth to the top of the dykes of Layer 2B. From our synthetic data we conclude that using the 2A Event on seismic reflection profiles as a proxy to determine the Layer 2A/2B boundary's depth will result in an overestimate of up to several hundred metres, the degree of which being dependent on the specific velocity chosen for normal moveout correction prior to stacking.
Correction of high-frequency (> 0.3 mHz) air pressure effects in gravity time-series
Authors: Meurers Bruno
Published: January 2024

Correcting atmospheric effects in measurements of vertical acceleration is challenging, particularly at frequencies above 0.3 mHz. Corrections based on 4-D atmosphere models should be the most effective, but are limited in temporal and spatial resolutions. So these models are commonly combined with a constant admittance between air pressure and gravity, though the correction can be further improved by allowing a frequency-dependent admittance. This paper studies the effectiveness of such procedures given that air pressure admittance varies with time because of variability in the underlying local atmospheric process, and finds that admittances estimated by cross-spectral analysis gives better results than a constant admittance does. The best results are achieved by combining a 4-D model with admittances estimated from time-series that cover the event of interest.
Early impacts of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model on potentially avoidable utilization
Authors: Bourne Donald S , Roberts Eric T , Sabik Lindsay M
Published: January 2024

The Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM) is a novel alternative payment model for rural hospitals that aims to test whether hospital-based global budgets, coupled with delivery transformation plans, improve the quality of health care and health outcomes in rural communities. Eighteen hospitals joined PARHM in 3 cohorts between 2019 and 2021. This study assessed PARHM’s impact on changes in potentially avoidable utilization (PAU)—a measure of admission rates policymakers explicitly targeted for improvement in PARHM. Using a difference-in-differences analysis and all-payer hospital discharge data for Pennsylvania hospitals from 2016 through 2022, we found no significant overall reduction in community-level PAU rates up to 4 years post–PARHM implementation, relative to changes in rural Pennsylvania communities whose hospitals did not join PARHM. However, heterogeneous treatment effects were observed across cohorts that joined PARHM in different years, and between critical access vs prospective payment system hospitals. These findings offer insight into how alternative payment models in rural health care settings may have heterogeneous impacts based on contextual factors and highlight the importance of accounting for these factors in proposed expansions of alternative payment models for rural health systems.
Rapidly developing communications materials during public health emergencies: the Âu Cơ campaign in the USA
Authors: Meekers Dominique , Pham NhuNgoc K , Tran Cam-Thanh , VanLandingham Mark J , Do Mai
Published: January 2024

During public health emergencies, health communication materials to contain the outbreak are needed promptly, which prevents the use of standard approaches for getting feedback from the intended audience. We propose a strategy for rapidly obtaining community feedback on new health communication materials during the public health emergencies. We illustrate this with COVID-19 testing campaign in a Vietnamese–American enclave in the USA. The project included community-based COVID-19 testing and communication activities to increase the awareness of the testing centers and encourage frequent testing. Our strategy involves two main components: (i) use of a research team with an existing trust relationship with the community and that includes researchers from that community and (ii) co-design of communication materials using community-based gatekeepers and a cultural broker. We developed brochures and posters to increase the awareness of the COVID-19 testing services. The cultural broker and community-based partners identified salient message concepts and worked with the researchers to define the objectives and content of the materials, which were then reviewed by the entire team. In lieu of standard pretesting, we relied on feedback on mockups of the materials and subsequent revisions from the community-based gatekeepers and cultural broker. Our strategy strikes a balance between the need to urgently disseminate new materials and the need for community input. One key takeaway is that effective planning for public health emergencies must start long before the crisis occurs.
Dietary Emulsifier Exposure in People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Compared With Healthy Controls: Is There a Cause for Concern?
Authors: Katsoudas Natasha , Tavakoli Paris , Wu Nan , Shapiro Amanda , Leach Steven T , Williams Astrid-Jane , Paramsothy Ramesh , Ghaly Simon , Connor Susan J , Samocha-Bonet Dorit , Lambert Kelly , Hold Georgina L
Published: January 2024

Background

Emulsifiers are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Few studies have examined emulsifier intake in people with existing IBD. We aimed to describe the frequency of exposure to 6 selected emulsifiers in a contemporary cohort of people with IBD and compare intake with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

Baseline food records from participants in an Australian prospective cohort study examining the microbiome of IBD patients and HCs were analyzed. Exposure to inflammatory emulsifiers polysorbate-80 (P80); carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); carrageenan; xanthan gum (XG); lecithin (soy and sunflower) and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (MDGs) were determined by examining ingredient lists. Frequency of emulsifier exposure between groups (IBD vs HC, Crohn’s disease [CD] vs ulcerative colitis [UC], IBD children vs adults, active disease vs remission) was examined after controlling for confounders.

Results

Records from 367 participants were analyzed (n = 176 IBD, of which there were 101 CD, 75 UC, and 191 HC patients). In total, 5022 unique food items were examined, with 18% containing 1 or more emulsifier of interest. Inflammatory bowel disease participants had significantly higher total daily emulsifier exposure compared with HCs (2.7 ± 1.8 vs 2.3 ± 1.6, P = .02). In IBD participants, emulsifiers with the highest daily exposure were MDGs (1.2 ± 0.93), lecithin (0.85 ± 0.93), and XG (0.38 ± 0.42). There were no recorded exposures to P80.

Conclusions

Inflammatory bowel disease participants were exposed to more emulsifiers than HCs. Intake of inflammatory emulsifiers were low or nonexistent, suggesting their presence in the food supply are not as common as frequently stated.
Intralesional Injections of a TNF-α Inhibitor to Treat Orofacial Granulomatosis
Authors: Lee Jasmine , Kurien Lisa , Marciano Tuvia
Published: January 2024

Lay Summary

We present the first documented case of successful treatment of orofacial granulomatosis by intralesional injections of a tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor to the lip. Our patient had rapid symptomatic improvement after 3 injections, and near resolution within 4 months of anti-tumor necrosis factor α therapy.
Bioclimatic design strategy of vernacular architecture in the south-east of China: a case study in Fujian, China
Authors: Huang Hui , Xie Yan-qiu , Chen Jia-jie , Liang Sen , Chen Zu-jian
Published: January 2024

Vernacular architecture provides valuable insights into bioclimatic design, an integral part of the architectural design process. This study aims to investigate the bioclimatic design strategies used in vernacular architecture in southeastern China, with the goal of inspiring energy-efficient restoration and contemporary architectural design. Initially, the Mahoney Table was used to identify a priori bioclimatic design strategies, serving as a reference for the field survey conducted in three distinct landscape regions. Subsequently, a field survey was conducted to identify and summarize the characteristics of 907 vernacular buildings across 63 settlements, focusing on their bioclimatic potential and categorizing them into five aspects of bioclimatic strategies. The results revealed that bioclimatic design strategies vary in response to local conditions, deviating from the recommendations of the Mahoney Table. This underscores the significance of empirical studies on vernacular bioclimatic design strategies. The findings from this study have practical implications for guiding regional building practices in areas with similar climates and landscapes.
Well-posedness and error estimates for coupled systems of nonlocal conservation laws
Authors: Aggarwal Aekta , Holden Helge , Vaidya Ganesh
Published: January 2024

This article deals with the error estimates for numerical approximations of the entropy solutions of coupled systems of nonlocal hyperbolic conservation laws. The systems can be strongly coupled through the nonlocal coefficient present in the convection term. A fairly general class of fluxes is being considered, where the local part of the flux can be discontinuous at infinitely many points, with possible accumulation points. The aims of the paper are threefold: (1) Establishing existence of entropy solutions with rough local flux for such systems, by deriving a uniform $\operatorname{BV}$ bound on the numerical approximations; (2) Deriving a general Kuznetsov-type lemma (and hence uniqueness) for such systems with both smooth and rough local fluxes; (3) Proving the convergence rate of the finite volume approximations to the entropy solutions of the system as $1/2$ and $1/3$, with homogeneous (in any dimension) and rough local parts (in one dimension), respectively. Numerical experiments are included to illustrate the convergence rates.
How Global Collaboration Can Improve the Medical Countermeasure Life Cycle for Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Authors: Swenson Jessica , Disbrow Gary , Johnson Robert A
Published: January 2024

Infectious disease outbreaks have become increasingly common and require global partnership for adequate preparedness and response. During outbreaks, medical countermeasures (MCMs)—vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics—need to reach patients quickly. Recent outbreaks exemplify that products with regulatory approval can expand access and reach patients quicker than investigational products. Unfortunately, insufficient funding globally and differences in funders' prioritization puts gains and future efforts at risk. Of primary concern is (1) lack of a feasible regulatory path and clinical capability to achieve regulatory approval for new MCMs for many diseases; and (2) the need for partners with the mandate, funding, and capabilities to support long-term sustainment of manufacturing capability and stockpiling of licensed products. Without collaboration, the global community runs the risk of losing the capabilities built through years of investment and being underprepared to combat future threats. Synergies between funders are critical to create long-term sustainment of products to ensure access.
Proscribing Time?: Proscription and Temporality in Terrorism Trials
Authors: Chukwuma Kodili Henry
Published: January 2024

This article explores the closely knit yet complex link between proscription and temporality through the examination of terrorism trials in Nigeria. Through the notion of proscribing time, this article demonstrates the ways in which proscription is enacted, imagined, and contested in light of important temporal effects. With a few exceptions, recent debates around proscription remain almost overwhelmingly focused on the banning of particular groups linked to terrorism, and on proscription power and its wider political and ethical ramifications. This “actor-oriented” focus (proscribed/proscriber), I argue, reinforces certain theoretical and ontological claims recognizable in the dominant analysis of terrorism. Moreover, such a perspective is predominantly organized around a forward-oriented logic of security preemption, which does not fully reveal the complexity and broader consequences of proscription. Thus, drawing upon relevant insights about temporality, especially as discussed in critical security studies, critical legal studies, and beyond, this article demonstrates how time is proscribed (rather than terrorist groups) to render visible the complexity and ramifications of proscription. The article, as such, contributes theoretically to ongoing debates about proscription and temporality in critical security studies more broadly. It also, empirically, makes a worthwhile contribution to a relatively small, though important, scholarship on terrorism trials in Nigeria.
The Election Effect: Democratic Leaders in Inter-Group Conflict
Authors: Chaudoin Stephen , Hummel Sarah , Park Yon Soo
Published: January 2024

How does the experience of being elected alter subsequent leader behavior at the international level? We argue for the existence of an election effect, through which a democratic election intensifies in-group identification and generates a sense of obligation to voters, while simultaneously increasing out-group hostility. These combined effects cause leaders to overexert costly efforts in competitive situations against other groups. Using an online laboratory experiment, we show that democratic leader selection increases effort in inter-group contest games, which share key features with interstate conflicts. We use a carefully specified decomposition strategy to distinguish the election effect from better-known selection effects, wherein eventual leaders are nonrandomly chosen. Our results show that a democratic election has negative implications in inter-group games, despite the near-universally positive effects of democracy found in intra-group ones.
Cross-Network Weaponization in the Semiconductor Supply Chain
Authors: Beaumier Guillaume , Cartwright Madison
Published: January 2024

How do states’ positions across multiple and interconnected economic networks affect their power? The Weaponized Interdependence (WI) scholarship emphasizes that states centrally located in global economic networks have access to new sources of coercion. In this paper, we look at how their positions across multiple networks interact with each other to create new opportunities and vulnerabilities. We use network analysis to map the semiconductor supply chain and show that it can be viewed as four interrelated networks: (1) design, (2) raw material, (3) manufacturing equipment, and (4) assembled chips. We then highlight how states’ centrality varies across these networks and how it shapes their respective opportunities for coercion. Looking specifically at the United States, we emphasize how its centrality in the design network enables it to weaponize chokepoints in the trade network of assembled chips. In so doing the paper makes three contributions. First, it highlights how interactions among multiple economic networks provide new opportunities for states to weaponize interdependence. Second, it contributes to recent attempts using network analysis to analyze structural power on the global stage. Last, it demonstrates how network methodology can help detect potential (ab)uses of WI and how the potential for weaponization evolves over time.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced intestinal stricturing: diaphragm disease
Authors: Johnson Nathan , Solkar Maseera , Sehgal Rishabh , Riyad Kallingal
Published: January 2024

Diaphragm disease (DD) is a rare small bowel enteropathy associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Since the first description there have only been approximately 100 cases of DD reported in the literature. Stricturing webs or ‘diaphragms’ form in the bowel, causing non-specific abdominal symptoms that can ultimately lead to bleeding and obstruction. Diagnosis is notoriously challenging as there is no single gold standard investigation. We present two cases of DD both of which were ultimately diagnosed by surgical resection. We also propose a novel flow algorithm that can be utilized for working up patients with suspected DD.
Dysphagia lusoria in a young patient with a concomitant aortic arch anomaly, successfully treated with surgery: a case report
Authors: Endara Santiago A , Dávalos Gerardo A , Cardenas Alberto , Gangotena Karina , Flores Alexis , Dueñas Sabine , Molina Gabriel A
Published: January 2024

Dysphagia is a common condition in clinical practice; however, an unusual type of dysphagia due to compression of the esophagus by an abnormal right subclavian artery may be discovered in a rare subset of patients. The prognosis and treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms and the compromise of surrounding structures. We present the case of an 18-year-old female who presented with gradually progressive dysphagia. At first, it was treated as gastroesophageal reflux disease; nonetheless, the dysphagia became severe, and after a thorough evaluation, an aberrant right subclavian artery that compressed the esophagus was discovered along with a truncus bicaroticus. She was successfully treated with surgery without any complications. On follow-ups, she’s doing well.
Management of ‘floating arm’: a case report of adolescent ipsilateral proximal humerus fracture with open distal complex intraarticular fracture
Authors: Alqahtani Yousef S , Alotaibi Bader N , Alqahtani Lujane S , Aljaafri Ziad A
Published: January 2024

Simultaneous ipsilateral fractures of the proximal and distal humerus, known as ‘floating arm’, are rarely seen in adolescents and are considered challenging to manage. Most of the published cases have involved proximal humerus and distal supracondylar fractures. This paper presents a special case of floating arm injury in a 14-year-old boy following a motor vehicle accident that was managed in a well-established trauma center. The injury consisted of displaced proximal humerus and open distal T-condylar intraarticular fractures. The patient was discharged in good condition and regained functionality with no reported complications.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma in an adult female patient—case report and review of literature
Authors: Alsahouri Mohammad I , Alsalah Qusai A , Abufara Arein A , Hammouri Ahmad G , Alzatari Ibrahim , Qumsieh Usama
Published: January 2024

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) in adults is very rare with only a few cases documented in the literature, adult prevalence varies between 1 in 40 000 and 1 in 63 000. Most SCTs are located either mainly extra-pelvic (types I and II), which are more commonly seen in neonates; however, mainly intra-pelvic tumors (types III and IV) are more typical in adulthood. Extra-pelvic teratomas are extremely rare in adults. When SCT manifests in an adult, it appears as a slow-growing tumor without symptoms and usually manifests after becoming large enough to cause compression symptoms. SCT has a 1–2% probability of malignant transformation. Herein, we report a 20-year-old female, who was diagnosed with lower back swelling since childhood that increased in size over the last 2 months; imaging revealed an extra-pelvic mass. This case describes an atypical scenario for SCT, which was successfully managed with surgery. The histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis.
Emphysematous changes in pneumoperitoneum and tension pneumothorax following robot-assisted bronchoscopy: a case report
Authors: Vuong Richard Q , Liechty Shawn T , Nicoara Michael D
Published: January 2024

Pneumoperitoneum is most commonly caused by perforation of a hollow viscus but can also result as an extension of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum. We present a case of pneumoperitoneum preceded by intraprocedural hemoptysis and tension pneumothorax that developed during transbronchial needle aspiration using robot-assisted flexible bronchoscopy. After stabilization and management of the pneumothorax, diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and revealed no evidence of diaphragmatic or intra-abdominal perforation but showed diffuse emphysematous changes in the gastrohepatic ligament, small and large bowel mesentery, and preperitoneal space. These findings suggest the implication of subserosal and preperitoneal emphysema as the pathophysiological mechanism of pneumoperitoneum and pneumothorax complicating bronchoscopy procedures.
The epidemiology of imported and locally acquired dengue in Australia, 2012–2022
Authors: Sohail Asma , Anders Katherine L , McGuinness Sarah L , Leder Karin
Published: January 2024

Background

Dengue is the most important arboviral disease globally and poses ongoing challenges for control including in non-endemic countries with competent mosquito vectors at risk of local transmission through imported cases. We examined recent epidemiological trends in imported and locally acquired dengue in Australia, where the Wolbachia mosquito population replacement method was implemented throughout dengue-prone areas of northern Queensland between 2011 and 2019.

Methods

We analysed dengue cases reported to the Australian National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System between January 2012 and December 2022, and Australian traveller movement data.

Results

Between 2012 and 2022, 13 343 dengue cases were reported in Australia (median 1466 annual cases); 12 568 cases (94.2%) were imported, 584 (4.4%) were locally acquired and 191 (1.4%) had no origin recorded. Locally acquired cases decreased from a peak in 2013 (n = 236) to zero in 2021–22. Annual incidence of imported dengue ranged from 8.29/100 000 (n = 917 cases) to 22.10/100 000 (n = 2203) annual traveller movements between 2012 and 2019, decreased in 2020 (6.74/100 000 traveller movements; n = 191) and 2021 (3.32/100 000 traveller movements; n = 10) during COVID-19-related border closures, then rose to 34.79/100 000 traveller movements (n = 504) in 2022. Imported cases were primarily acquired in Southeast Asia (n = 9323; 74%), Southern and Central Asia (n = 1555; 12%) and Oceania (n = 1341; 11%). Indonesia (n = 5778; 46%) and Thailand (n = 1483; 12%) were top acquisition countries. DENV-2 (n = 2147; 42%) and DENV-1 (n = 1526; 30%) were predominant serotypes.

Conclusion

Our analysis highlights Australia’s successful control of locally acquired dengue with Wolbachia. Imported dengue trends reflect both Australian travel destinations and patterns and local epidemiology in endemic countries.
Tulip transcription factor TgWRKY75 activates salicylic acid and abscisic acid biosynthesis to synergistically promote petal senescence
Authors: Meng Lin , Yang Haipo , Yang Jinli , Wang Yaping , Ye Tiantian , Xiang Lin , Chan Zhulong , Wang Yanping
Published: January 2024

WRKY transcription factors play a central role in controlling plant organ senescence; however, it is unclear whether and how they regulate petal senescence in the widely grown ornamental plant tulip (Tulipa gesneriana). In this study, we report that TgWRKY75 promotes petal senescence by enhancing the synthesis of both abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) in tulip and in transgenic Arabidopsis. The expression level of TgWRKY75 was up-regulated in senescent petals, and exogenous ABA or SA treatment induced its expression. The endogenous contents of ABA and SA significantly increased during petal senescence and in response to TgWRKY75 overexpression. Two SA synthesis-related genes, TgICS1 and TgPAL1, were identified as direct targets of TgWRKY75, which binds to their promoters. In parallel, TgWRKY75 activated the expression of the ABA biosynthesis-related gene TgNCED3 via directly binding to its promoter region. Site mutation of the W-box core motif located in the promoters of TgICS1, TgPAL1, and TgNCED3 eliminated their interactions with TgWRKY75. In summary, our study demonstrates a dual regulation of ABA and SA biosynthesis by TgWRKY75, revealing a synergistic process of tulip petal senescence through feedback regulation between TgWRKY75 and the accumulation of ABA and SA.
The synergistic effect of multiple organic macromolecules on the formation of calcium oxalate raphides of Musa spp.
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Fan Yuke , Chi Jialin
Published: January 2024

Needle-like calcium oxalate crystals called raphides are unique structures in the plant kingdom. Multiple biomacromolecules work together in the regulatory and transportation pathways to form raphides; however, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. Using banana (Musa spp.), this study combined in vivo methods including confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Q Exactive mass spectrometry to identify the main biomolecules, such as vesicles, together with the compositions of lipids and proteins in the crystal chamber, which is the membrane compartment that surrounds each raphide during its formation. Simulations of the vesicle transportation process and the synthesis of elongated calcium oxalate crystals in vitro were then conducted, and the results suggested that the vesicles carrying amorphous calcium oxalate and proteins embedded in raphides are transported along actin filaments. These vesicles subsequently fuse with the crystal chamber, utilizing the proteins embedded in the raphides as a template for the final formation of the structure. Our findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of the regulation of the diverse biomacromolecules that are crucial for raphide formation. Moreover, the implications of these findings extend to other fields such as materials science, and particularly the synthesis of functionalized materials.
A Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain that can suppress Helicobacter pylori: isolation, in vitro and in vivo validation
Authors: Zheng Yanyi , Zhang Silu , Zhang Tengxun , Teng Xin , Ling Xueping , Li Bin , Xiao Guoxun , Huang Song
Published: January 2024

The administration of probiotics is an effective approach for treatment of Helicobacter pylori, which is associated with human gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. To explore more effective probiotics for H. pylori infection elimination, bacteria from infant feces were screened in this study. We successfully isolated the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains and evaluated its efficacy to inhibit H. pylori growth in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a B. animalis strain (named BB18) sustained a high survival rate after incubation in gastric juice. The rapid urease test suggested that B. animalis BB18 reduced pathogen loads in H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. Alleviation of H. pylori infection-induced gastric mucosa damage and decreased levels inflammatory cytokines were observed after the B. animalis BB18 administration. These findings demonstrated that B. animalis BB18 can inhibit H. pylori infection both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential application for the prevention and eradication therapy of H. pylori infection.
Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase regulates systemic lipid homeostasis via glycosylation-dependent lipoprotein production
Authors: Li Jie , Dong Yue , Zhou Tianxing , Tian He , Huang Xiahe , Zhang Yong Q , Wang Yingchun , Lam Sin Man , Shui Guanghou
Published: January 2024

Interorgan lipid transport is crucial for organism development and the maintenance of physiological function. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (dAcsl), which catalyzes the conversion of fatty acids into acyl-coenzyme As (acyl-CoAs), plays a critical role in regulating systemic lipid homeostasis. dAcsl deficiency in the fat body led to the ectopic accumulation of neutral lipids in the gut, along with significantly reduced lipoprotein contents in both the fat body and hemolymph. The aberrant phenotypes were rescued by fat body-specific overexpression of apolipophorin. A multi-omics investigation comprising lipidomics, metabolomics, and proteomics in conjunction with genetic screening revealed that glycosylation processes were suppressed in dAcsl knockdown flies. Overexpression of CG9035, human ortholog of which is implicated in the congenital disorder of glycosylation, ameliorated gut lipid accumulation in Drosophila. Aberrant lipoprotein glycosylation led to accelerated proteasome-related degradation and induced ER stress in dAcsl knockdown flies, impairing lipoprotein release into the circulation which compromised interorgan lipid transport between the fat body and the gut. Inhibition of ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation alleviated the phenotype of gut ectopic fat accumulation in dAcsl knockdown flies. Finally, we verified that ACSL4, the human homolog of dAcsl, also regulated lipoprotein levels in HepG2 cells, indicating that the role of dAcsl in modulating lipoprotein secretion and systemic lipid homeostasis is possibly conserved in humans.
Dynamics of the Oral Microbiome During Initial Military Training at Fort Benning, Georgia
Authors: Zudock Kristina K , Player Robert , Ernlund Amanda , Timm Collin M , English Caroline E , Ellis Michael W , Tribble David R , Merrell D Scott , Bennett Jason W , Millar Eugene V
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Military trainees are at increased risk for infectious disease outbreaks because of the unique circumstances of the training environment (e.g., close proximity areas and physiologic/psychologic stress). Standard medical countermeasures in military training settings include routine immunization (e.g., influenza and adenovirus) as well as chemoprophylaxis [e.g., benzathine penicillin G (Bicillin) for the prevention of group A streptococcal disease] for pathogens associated with outbreaks in these settings. In a population of U.S. Army Infantry trainees, we evaluated changes in the oral microbiome during a 14-week military training cycle.

Materials and Methods

Trainees were enrolled in an observational cohort study in 2015–2016. In 2015, Bicillin was administered to trainees to ameliorate the risk of group A Streptococcus outbreaks, whereas in 2016, trainees did not receive a Bicillin inoculation. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from participants at days 0, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 of training. Swabs were collected, flash frozen, and stored. DNA was extracted from swabs, and amplicon sequencing of the 16s rRNA gene was performed. Microbiome dynamics were evaluated using the QIIME 2 workflow along with DADA2, SINA with SILVA, and an additional processing in R.

Results

We observed that microbiome samples from the baseline (day 0) visit were distinct from one another, whereas samples collected on day 14 exhibited significant microbiome convergence. Day 14 convergence was coincident with an increase in DNA sequences associated with Streptococcus, though there was not a significant difference between Streptococcus abundance over time between 2015 and 2016 (P = .07), suggesting that Bicillin prophylaxis did not significantly impact overall Streptococcus abundance.

Conclusions

The temporary convergence of microbiomes is coincident with a rise in communicable infections in this population. The dynamic response of microbiomes during initial military training supports similar observations in the literature of transient convergence of the human microbiome under cohabitation in the time frame including in this experiment. This population and the associated longitudinal studies allow for controlled studies of human microbiome under diverse conditions.
LSBGnet: an improved detection model for low-surface brightness galaxies
Authors: Su Hao , Yi Zhenping , Liang Zengxu , Du Wei , Liu Meng , Kong Xiaoming , Bu Yude , Wu Hong
Published: January 2024

The Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST) is scheduled to launch soon, which is expected to provide a vast amount of image potentially containing low-surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs). However, detecting and characterizing LSBGs is known to be challenging due to their faint surface brightness, posing a significant hurdle for traditional detection methods. In this paper, we propose LSBGnet, a deep neural network specifically designed for automatic detection of LSBGs. We established LSBGnet-SDSS model using data set from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The results demonstrate a significant improvement compared to our previous work, achieving a recall of 97.22 per cent and a precision of 97.27 per cent on the SDSS test set. Furthermore, we use the LSBGnet-SDSS model as a pre-training model, employing transfer learning to retrain the model with LSBGs from Dark Energy Survey (DES), and establish the LSBGnet-DES model. Remarkably, after retraining the model on a small DES sample, it achieves over 90 per cent precision and recall. To validate the model’s capabilities, we utilize the trained LSBGnet-DES model to detect LSBG candidates within a selected 5 sq. deg area in the DES footprint. Our analysis reveals the detection of 204 LSBG candidates, characterized by a mean surface brightness range of $23.5\ \mathrm{ mag}\ \mathrm{ arcsec}^{-2}\le \bar{\mu }_{\text{eff}}(g)\le 26.8\ \mathrm{ mag}\ \mathrm{ arcsec}^{-2}$ and a half-light radius range of 1.4 arcsec ≤ r1/2 ≤ 8.3 arcsec. Notably, 116 LSBG candidates exhibit a half-light radius ≥2.5 arcsec. These results affirm the remarkable performance of our model in detecting LSBGs, making it a promising tool for the upcoming CSST.
The role of drag and gravity on dust concentration in a gravitationally unstable disc
Authors: Rowther Sahl , Nealon Rebecca , Meru Farzana , Wurster James , Aly Hossam , Alexander Richard , Rice Ken , Booth Richard A
Published: January 2024

We carry out three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations to study the role of gravitational and drag forces on the concentration of large dust grains (St > 1) in the spiral arms of gravitationally unstable protoplanetary discs, and the resulting implications for planet formation. We find that both drag and gravity play an important role in the evolution of large dust grains. If we include both, grains that would otherwise be partially decoupled will become well coupled and trace the spirals. For the dust grains most influenced by drag (with Stokes numbers near unity), the dust disc quickly becomes gravitationally unstable and rapidly forms clumps with masses between 0.15–6M⊕. A large fraction of clumps are below the threshold where runaway gas accretion can occur. However, if dust self-gravity is neglected, the dust is unable to form clumps, despite still becoming trapped in the gas spirals. When large dust grains are unable to feel either gas gravity or drag, the dust is unable to trace the gas spirals. Hence, full physics is needed to properly simulate dust in gravitationally unstable discs. Dust trapping of large grains in spiral arms of discs stable to gas fragmentation could explain planet formation in very young discs by a population of planetesimals formed due to the combined roles of drag and gravity in the earliest stages of a disc’s evolution. Furthermore, it highlights that gravitationally unstable discs are not just important for forming gas giants quickly, it can also rapidly form Earth mass bodies.
Oscillating shocks in the transonic viscous, variable Γ accretion flows around black holes
Authors: Debnath Sanjit , Chattopadhyay Indranil , Joshi Raj Kishor
Published: January 2024

We investigate the time evolution of the transonic-viscous accretion flow around a non-rotating black hole. The input parameters used for the simulation are obtained from semi-analytical solutions. This code is based on the total variation diminishing routine and correctly handles the angular momentum transport due to viscosity. The thermodynamic properties of the flow are described by a variable adiabatic index equation of state. We regenerate the inviscid and viscous steady-state solutions, including shocks, using the simulation code and compare them with the semi-analytical solutions. The angular momentum piles up across a shock due to shock-jump conditions and viscous transport of angular momentum. This will push the shock-front outward and can result in shock oscillation or a complete destabilization of shock. We study how shocks behave in the presence of viscosity. As the viscosity parameter (α) crosses a critical value, the previously steady shock becomes time-dependent, eventually leading to oscillations. The value of this critical viscosity depends on the injection angular momentum (λou) and the specific energy (ϵ). We estimated the posteriori bremsstrahlung and synchrotron cooling, and the net radiative output also oscillates with the frequency of the shock. We also study the variation of frequency, amplitude, and mean position of oscillation with α. Considering a black hole with a mass of 10 M⊙, we observed that the power spectrum exhibits a prominent peak at the fundamental frequency of a few to about tens of Hz, accompanied by multiple harmonics. This characteristic is frequently observed in numerous accreting black hole candidates.
Reverse shock emission in an off-axis top-hat jet model for gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Pang Sen-Lin , Dai Zi-Gao
Published: January 2024

The afterglow of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) has been widely argued to arise from the interaction of a relativistic outflow with its ambient medium. During such an interaction, a pair of shocks are generated: a forward shock that propagates into the medium and a reverse shock that propagates into the outflow. Extensive studies have been conducted on the emission from the forward shock viewed off-axis. Furthermore, the observation of a reverse shock in an on-axis short GRB suggests that the reverse shock can produce an electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave-detected merger. In this paper, we investigate the contribution of the reverse shock to the afterglow from a top-hat jet viewed off-axis, and apply our model to some short GRBs previously modelled by an off-axis emission. We employ the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to get the model parameters (i.e. the jet’s half-opeaning angle θj, the viewing angle θobs, the initial Lorentz factor Γ0, and the isotropic energy Eiso). Our model successfully reproduces off-axis afterglow emission without a structured jet. In addition, our calculations suggest that the reverse shock may produce a prominent feature in an early afterglow, which can be potentially observed in an orphan optical afterglow.
Potential biases and prospects for the Hubble constant estimation via electromagnetic and gravitational-wave joint analyses
Authors: Gianfagna Giulia , Piro Luigi , Pannarale Francesco , Van Eerten Hendrik , Ricci Fulvio , Ryan Geoffrey
Published: January 2024

GW170817 is a binary neutron star merger that exhibited a gravitational wave (GW) and a gamma-ray burst, followed by an afterglow. In this work, we estimate the Hubble constant (H0) using broad-band afterglow emission and relativistic jet motion from the Very Long Baseline Interferometry and HST images of GW170817. Compared to previous attempts, we combine these messengers with GW in a simultaneous Bayesian fit. We probe the H0 measurement robustness depending on the data set used, the assumed jet model, the possible presence of a late time flux excess. Using the sole GW leads to a 20 per cent error ($77^{+21}_{-10}$ $\rm km\, s^{-1}\, Mpc^{-1}$, medians, 16th–84th percentiles), because of the degeneracy between viewing angle (θv) and luminosity distance (dL). The latter is reduced by the inclusion in the fit of the afterglow light curve, leading to $H_0=96^{+13}_{-10}$ $\rm km\, s^{-1}\, Mpc^{-1}$, a large value, caused by the fit preference for high viewing angles due to the possible presence of a late-time excess in the afterglow flux. Accounting for the latter by including a constant flux component at late times brings $H_0=78.5^{+7.9}_{-6.4}$$\rm km\, s^{-1}\, Mpc^{-1}$. Adding the centroid motion in the analysis efficiently breaks, the dL − θv degeneracy and overcome the late-time deviations, giving $H_0 = 69.0^{+4.4}_{-4.3}$ $\rm km\, s^{-1}\, Mpc^{-1}$ (in agreement with Planck and SH0ES measurements) and $\theta _{\rm v} = 18.2^{+1.2}_{-1.5}$°. This is valid regardless of the jet structure assumption. Our simulations show that for next GW runs radio observations are expected to provide at most few other similar events.
Shock-driven synchrotron radio emission from the 2021 outburst of RS Ophiuchi
Authors: A J Nayana , Anupama G C , Roy Nirupam , Banerjee Dipankar P K , Singh Kulinder Pal , Sonith L S , Kamath U S
Published: January 2024

We present low-frequency radio observations of the Galactic symbiotic recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi during its 2021 outburst. The observations were carried out with the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope spanning a frequency range of 0.15–1.4 GHz during 23–287 d post the outburst. The average value of the optically thin spectral index is α ∼ −0.4 (Fν ∝ να), indicating a non-thermal origin of the radio emission at the observed frequencies. The radio light curves are best represented by shock-driven synchrotron emission, initially absorbed by a clumpy ionized circumbinary medium. We estimate the mass-loss rate of the red giant companion star to be $\dot{M} \sim$ 7.5 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1 for an assumed stellar wind velocity of 20 km s−1. The 0.15–1.4 GHz radio light curves of the 2021 outburst are systematically brighter than those of the 2006 outburst. Considering similar shock properties between the two outbursts, this is indicative of a relatively higher particle number density in the synchrotron emitting plasma in the current outburst.
TREVR2: illuminating fast N log2N radiative transfer
Authors: Wadsley James W , Baumschlager Bernhard , Shen Sijing
Published: January 2024

We present trevr2 (Tree-based REVerse Ray Tracing 2), a fast, general algorithm for computing the radiation field, suitable for both particle and mesh codes. It is designed to self-consistently evolve chemistry for zoomed-in astrophysical simulations, such as cosmological galaxies with both internal sources and prescribed background radiation, rather than large periodic volumes. Light is propagated until absorbed, with no imposed speed limit other than those due to opacity changes (e.g. ionization fronts). trevr2 searches outward from receiving gas in discrete directions set by the healpix algorithm (unlike its slower predecessor trevr), accumulating optical depth and adding the flux due to sources combined into progressively larger tree cells with distance. We demonstrate Nactivelog2N execution time with absorption and many sources. This allows multiband radiative transfer costs comparable to tree-based gravity and hydrodynamics, and the usual speed-up when active particles evolve on individual time-steps. Sources embedded in non-homogeneous absorbing material introduce systematic errors. We introduce transmission averaging instead of absorption averaging which dramatically reduces these systematic effects. We outline other ways to address systematics including an explicit complex source model. We demonstrate the overall performance of the method via a set of astrophysical test problems.
MHz to TeV expectations from scotogenic WIMP dark matter
Authors: Eisenberger Laura , Siegert Thomas , Mannheim Karl , Porod Werner
Published: January 2024

The indirect search for dark matter is typically restricted to individual photon bands and instruments. In the context of multiwavelength observations, finding a weak signal in large foreground and background at only one wavelength band is hampered by systematic uncertainties dominating the signal strength. Dark matter particle annihilation is producing Standard Model particles of which the prompt photon emission is searched for in many studies. However, also the secondary emission of charged particles from dark matter annihilation in the TeV range results in comparable or even stronger fluxes in the GHz–GeV range. In this study, we calculate the prompt and secondary emission of a scotogenic weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) with a mass of 1 TeV in 27 dwarf galaxies of the Milky Way. For the secondary emission, we include inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, and synchrotron radiation, which results in a ‘triple hump’ structure characteristic for only dark matter and no other astrophysical source. In order to determine the best candidates for multi-instrument analyses, we estimate the diffuse emission component of the Milky Way itself, including its own dark matter halo from the same scotogenic WIMP model. We find signal-to-background ratios of individual sources on the order of 10−3 to 10−2 across X-ray to γ-ray assuming J factors for the cold dark matter distribution inferred from observations and no additional boosting due to small-scale clumping. We argue that a joint multiwavelength analysis of all nearby galaxies and the extension towards the cosmic gamma-ray background is required to disentangle possible dark matter signals from astrophysical background and foreground.