bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlocal phonon thermal transport in graphene in hydrodynamic regime
Authors: Luo Xiao-Ping , Guo Yang-Yu , Yi Hong-Liang
Published: December 2023

The hydrodynamic behavior of phonons is of particular interest and importance owing to the strong demand for highly thermal conductive materials. Thermal transport in hydrodynamic regime becomes essentially nonlocal, which can give rise to a number of new and counterintuitive phenomena. In this work, we present a direct numerical study of nonlocal phonon thermal transport in graphene ribbon with vicinity geometry based on the phonon Boltzmann transport equation with first-principles inputs. We demonstrate the viscosity-dominated hydrodynamic transport behaviors with two abnormal thermal transport phenomena: heat current whirlpools and negative nonlocal effect, which originate from phonon viscosity. Phonon viscosity produces the vorticity of shear flows, leading to the backflow of the heat current and the generation of negative nonlocal vicinity response. The system average temperature and the ribbon width as well as the relative positions of the heat sources play a pivotal role in the occurrence of heat current whirlpools and negative nonlocal temperature response. The present work provides solid evidence for phonon hydrodynamic transport in graphene and a potential avenue for experimental detection in the future.
Impact of alkaline earth metal doping on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of all inorganic lead-free CsSnX3 (X = I, Br) perovskites: a first-principles study
Authors: Saikia Dibyajyoti , Alam Mahfooz , Betal Atanu , Das Chayan , Gandi Appala Naidu , Sahu Satyajit
Published: December 2023

Recently, researchers have focused on developing more stable, Pb-free perovskites with improved processing efficiency and notable light harvesting ability. In this regard, Sn-based (Sn-b) perovskites have gained considerable interest in developing eco-friendly perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ deteriorates the performance of Sn-b PSCs. Nevertheless, this issue could be mitigated by doping alkaline earth (AE) metal. Herein, we have studied the significance of AE doping on CsSnX3 (X = Br, I) perovskites using density functional theory based calculations. The structural, electronic, and optical properties of CsAE
y
Sn1−y
X3 (y = 0, 0.25; AE = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr) compounds were systematically investigated to explore potential candidate materials for photovoltaic applications. Formation energy calculations suggested that the synthesis of other AE-doped compounds is energetically favorable except for the Be-doped compounds. The band gaps of the materials were calculated to be in the range of 0.12–1.02 eV using the generalized gradient approximation. Furthermore, the AE doping considerably lowers the exciton binding energy while remarkably enhancing the optical absorption of CsSnX3, which is beneficial for solar cells. However, in the case of Be and Mg doping, an indirect band gap is predicted. Our theoretical findings demonstrate the potential of executing AE-doped perovskites as absorber material in PSCs, which could deliver better performance than pristine CsSnX3 PSCs.
Robot motion visual measurement based on RANSAC and weighted constraints method
Authors: Wu Lulu , Deng Xianglin , Wang Yuan , Du Xin , Jiang Benchi
Published: December 2023

Precision of the coordinate transformation model parameters is crucial for the accuracy of the vision-based robot spatial motion measurement method. In this work, an optimization algorithm integrating RANSAC and iterative weighted singular value decomposition (IR-SVD) is proposed for improving the coordinate transformation model solution precision, aiming at enhancing the spatial motion measurement accuracy of the binocular vision system. Considering noises existing in reference transformation point pairs, the RANSAC algorithm is introduced to filter the raw measurement point pairs and extract inliers, thereby eliminating potential gross errors and realizing the cluster of advantageous points. An enhanced SVD method based on iterative weighted constraints is proposed to substitute traditional SVD. After calculating the coordinate transformation model parameters, the measurement errors of inliers are solved synchronously, and the weights are reallocated in light of the measurement errors value, subsequently recalculating the coordinate transformation model parameters repeatedly until the errors converge. The validation experiments are conducted on the self-built three-degree-of-freedom rectangular coordinate robot platform. The experimental results of discrete point-to-point motion and continuous trajectory motion measurement show that the proposed method can improve the coordinate transformation model parameters solution accuracy effectively, comparing with the traditional SVD method. Comparative experiment with existing commonly used coordinate transformation methods including Quaternion and iterative closest point indicates that the proposed method exhibits the best applicability and minimal errors in robot motion visual measurement. Both accuracy of the coordinate transformation model solution and the visual system’s motion measurement are enhanced with this newly-proposed, optimized method.
High-performance monolayer MoS2 nanosheet GAA transistor
Authors: Chou Bo-Jhih , Chung Yun-Yan , Yun Wei-Sheng , Hsu Chen-Feng , Li Ming-Yang , Su Sheng-Kai , Liew San-Lin , Hou Vincent Duen-Huei , Chen Chien-Wei , Kei Chi-Chung , Shen Yun-Yang , Chang Wen-Hao , Lee T Y , Cheng Chao-Ching , Radu Iuliana P , Chien Chao-Hsin
Published: December 2023

In this article, a 0.7 nm thick monolayer MoS2 nanosheet gate-all-around field effect transistors (NS-GAAFETs) with conformal high-κ metal gate deposition are demonstrated. The device with 40 nm channel length exhibits a high on-state current density of ~410 μA μm−1 with a large on/off ratio of 6 × 108 at drain voltage = 1 V. The extracted contact resistance is 0.48 ± 0.1 kΩ μm in monolayer MoS2 NS-GAAFETs, thereby showing the channel-dominated performance with the channel length scaling from 80 to 40 nm. The successful demonstration of device performance in this work verifies the integration potential of transition metal dichalcogenides for future logic transistor applications.
In vivo characterization of the optical and hemodynamic properties of the human sternocleidomastoid muscle through ultrasound-guided hybrid near-infrared spectroscopies
Authors: Cortese Lorenzo , Fernández Esteberena Pablo , Zanoletti Marta , Lo Presti Giuseppe , Aranda Velazquez Gloria , Ruiz Janer Sabina , Buttafava Mauro , Renna Marco , Di Sieno Laura , Tosi Alberto , Dalla Mora Alberto , Wojtkiewicz Stanislaw , Dehghani Hamid , de Fraguier Sixte , Nguyen-Dinh An , Rosinski Bogdan , Weigel Udo M , Mesquida Jaume , Squarcia Mattia , Hanzu Felicia A , Contini Davide , Mora Porta Mireia , Durduran Turgut
Published: December 2023

Objective. In this paper, we present a detailed in vivo characterization of the optical and hemodynamic properties of the human sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), obtained through ultrasound-guided near-infrared time-domain and diffuse correlation spectroscopies. Approach. A total of sixty-five subjects (forty-nine females, sixteen males) among healthy volunteers and thyroid nodule patients have been recruited for the study. Their SCM hemodynamic (oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin concentrations, blood flow, blood oxygen saturation and metabolic rate of oxygen extraction) and optical properties (wavelength dependent absorption and reduced scattering coefficients) have been measured by the use of a novel hybrid device combining in a single unit time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy, diffuse correlation spectroscopy and simultaneous ultrasound imaging. Main results. We provide detailed tables of the results related to SCM baseline (i.e. muscle at rest) properties, and reveal significant differences on the measured parameters due to variables such as side of the neck, sex, age, body mass index, depth and thickness of the muscle, allowing future clinical studies to take into account such dependencies. Significance. The non-invasive monitoring of the hemodynamics and metabolism of the sternocleidomastoid muscle during respiration became a topic of increased interest partially due to the increased use of mechanical ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Near-infrared diffuse optical spectroscopies were proposed as potential practical monitors of increased recruitment of SCM during respiratory distress. They can provide clinically relevant information on the degree of the patient's respiratory effort that is needed to maintain an optimal minute ventilation, with potential clinical application ranging from evaluating chronic pulmonary diseases to more acute settings, such as acute respiratory failure, or to determine the readiness to wean from invasive mechanical ventilation.
Influence of ‘period four’ transition metal doping in graphene on adsorption and transduction characteristics for CO gas- A detailed ab-initio perspective
Authors: Tiwari Aditya , Bahadursha Naresh , Chakraborty Sudipta , Kanungo Sayan
Published: December 2023

This work analyses the comparative effects of period-four transition metal (TM) dopants for CO molecular adsorption on the monolayer Graphene (Gr) supercell using the density functional theory (DFT) based ab initio method for the first time. Ten different TM dopant species (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Zn) have been incorporated and extensively studied in the context of Carbon Monoxide (CO) adsorption. The study elaborates on the effects of metallic doping in Gr on structural stability, electronic properties, adsorption strength, transduction efficacy, and CO recovery time. The study reveals that introducing each period-four TM dopant in the Gr lattice changes the semi-metallic nature, wherein distinct modulations in the energy band structure and the total density of state profiles can be observed after CO adsorption in each doped Gr matrix. The C atom of the polar CO molecule preferentially adsorbed on the doped TM, forming physical C-X (X: metal) bonds and resulting in slight vertical displacement of the dopant towards adsorbed CO. The results exhibit that depending on the strength of CO adsorption, the metallic dopants can be placed in the following order: Ti > V > Cr > Mn > Fe > Co > Ni > Cu > Zn > Sc, with a significant improvement in charge transfer during CO adsorption after Sc, Co, Ni, V, and Zn doping in Gr. Specifically, the Ni, Zn, and Sc-doped Gr ensures an efficient trade-off between adsorption stability and recovery time with high selectivity in CO2 and N2 environments.
Theoretical study on the structural, electronic, mechanical, vibrational, thermodynamical, and optical properties of the two-dimensional PbC nanomaterials
Authors: Muñoz H , Escamilla R O , Cervantes J M , León-Flores J , Romero M , Arévalo-López E P , Carvajal E , Escamilla R
Published: December 2023

Two-dimensional structures have attracted attention for application in nanoelectronics and optical devices; then, in this work, we are reporting the predicted physical properties (from first-principles calculations) for the two-dimensional PbC systems. Those physical properties reveal that the PbC monolayers (M-PbCs) in crystallographic planes (111) and (100); moreover, the PbC2 structures (paramagnetic and anisotropic compounds) are thermodynamical, structural, and mechanically stable but energetically and dynamically unstable at T = 0 K. However, the PbC2 non-magnetic (NM) is the most stable system at high temperatures. The M-PbCs exhibit sp

2
hybridization while the PbC2 NM shows sp

3

d

2
hybridization, forming a hexagonal lattice; meanwhile, the strong interaction at the C’s double bond in the PbC2 ferro and antiferromagnetic configurations (MAG) generates a rectangular lattice. These systems are ductile materials; however, the PbC2 (with metallic bonds) is more ductile than the M-PbCs due to the pronounced participation of the Pb 6p-orbitals. The M-PbCs have associated greater values for the hardness (than those for the PbC2 systems), but at high temperatures, the PbC2 MAG exhibits the highest mechanical resistance. The calculated optical data show that the M-PbCs and the PbC2 NM are promising as refractory materials. At the same time, the PbC2 MAG could be helpful in optical and optoelectronic devices capable of operating in the low frequencies of the UV region and in the infrared and visible regions.
Quantum gate-assisted teleportation in noisy environments: robustness and fidelity improvement
Authors: Harraz Sajede , Zhang Jiaoyang , Cong Shuang
Published: December 2023

Quantum teleportation as the key strategy for quantum communication requires pure maximally shared entangled states among quantum nodes. In practice, quantum decoherence drastically degrades the shared entanglement during entanglement distribution, which is a serious challenge for the development of quantum networks. However, most of the decoherence control strategies proposed thus far are either resource-intensive or time-consuming. To overcome this obstacle, we enable noise-resistant teleportation through a noisy channel with a limited number of qubits and without applying time-consuming weak measurements. We apply a quantum gate control unit consisting of a controlled NOT gate and a rotation gate after the original teleportation protocol is accomplished. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a teleportation fidelity of unity is attainable when environment-assisted measurement is added to the proposed teleportation protocol via quantum gates. Moreover, we present an entanglement distribution process by employing the designed quantum gate control unit followed by the deterministic standard teleportation protocol to improve teleportation fidelity by establishing improved shared entanglement. Our performance analysis indicates that the proposed teleportation schemes offer a competitive fidelity and success probability compared with the conventional schemes and a recent weak measurement-based teleportation protocol.
DROD: bio-robotic drill/sampler for planetary subterranean exploration: experiments and challenges
Authors: Alkalla Mohamed , Pitcher Craig
Published: December 2023

Key features for space exploration equipment, and in particular drills and sampling mechanisms, are low weight, small size, and energy efficiency. These characteristics are substantially required not only in reducing the spaceship flight cost, but also in extending the exploration time on the extraterrestrial bodies. This article experimentally investigates the feasibility of a novel drill bioinspired by wood-wasp and sand-fish lizard as an integrated robotic solution for rover exploration tasks. A new penetration depth of 820 mm in terms of reciprocation drilling technique has been achieved by the proposed dual reciprocation and oscillation drill (DROD), especially with the new enhancements such as miniature sample compartment and toothed stems. Additionally, a first sampling experiment with DROD has been performed and a sample amount of 20 g and size of 30 cm3 has been collected successfully. Finally, the article provides developments for integration of DROD with rovers for future exploration missions and potentials for horizontal drilling for subterranean applications.
Elevation-dependence of warming due to aerosol-induced snow darkening over the Himalayan-Tibetan region
Authors: Nair Vijayakumar S , Usha K H , Babu S Suresh
Published: December 2023

Temperature trends over the high-altitude mountains depict an increase with elevation during recent years. These stratified warming trends observed over the Himalayan-Tibetan (HT) regions are higher than the mean warming trends observed over low-elevation regions of South and East Asia, which is attributed to several factors including snow albedo feedback, clouds and water vapor feedback. In this study, we demonstrate the effects of deposition of absorbing aerosols like black carbon and dust on snow albedo and its implications for elevation-dependent warming (EDW). Though the aerosol concentration decreases with elevation, warming due to aerosol-induced snow darkening increases with elevation. Further, surface cooling due to the direct radiative effects (DRE) of aerosols is found to decrease with elevation, which also favors higher warming at high altitudes. The effects of both the deposition of absorbing aerosols on snow albedo and the surface cooling due to the DRE of atmospheric aerosols could strengthen EDW. This study clearly shows the potential of albedo feedback due to aerosol-cryosphere interaction as one of the physical mechanisms contributing to the observed EDW over the HT region.
Long-ranged spectral correlations in eigenstate phases
Authors: Prasad Mahaveer , Prakash Abhishodh , Pixley J H , Kulkarni Manas
Published: December 2023

We study non-local measures of spectral correlations and their utility in characterizing and distinguishing between the distinct eigenstate phases of quantum chaotic and many-body localized systems. We focus on two related quantities, the spectral form factor and the density of all spectral gaps, and show that they furnish unique signatures that can be used to sharply identify the two phases. We demonstrate this by numerically studying three one-dimensional quantum spin chain models with (i) quenched disorder, (ii) periodic drive (Floquet), and (iii) quasiperiodic detuning. We also clarify in what ways the signatures are universal and in what ways they are not. More generally, this thorough analysis is expected to play a useful role in classifying phases of disorder systems.
Environmental and occupational exposures and prognosis in patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the Be-Well Study
Authors: Wang Zinian , Kwan Marilyn L , Haque Reina , Pratt Rachel , Lee Valerie S , Roh Janise M , Ergas Isaac J , Cannavale Kimberly L , Loo Ronald K , Aaronson David S , Quesenberry Charles P , Ambrosone Christine B , Kushi Lawrence H , Tang Li
Published: December 2023

Bladder cancer is primarily diagnosed as non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with high recurrence and progression rates. Environmental and occupational exposures to carcinogens are well-known risk factors for developing bladder cancer, yet their effects on prognosis remain unknown. In the Be-Well Study, a population-based prospective cohort study of 1472 Kaiser Permanente patients newly diagnosed with NMIBC in California from 2015 to 2019, we examined history of environmental and occupational exposures in relation to tumor stage and grade at initial diagnosis by multivariable logistic regression, and subsequent recurrence and progression by Cox proportional hazards regression. Exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens was significantly associated with increased risk of progression (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.04-3.09), specifically with increased progression to muscle-invasive disease (HR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.16-4.50). Exposures to asbestos and arsenic were associated with increased odds of advanced stage at diagnosis (asbestos: odds ratio (OR) = 1.43 [95% CI, 1.11-1.84]; arsenic: OR = 1.27 [95% CI, 1.01-1.63]), and formaldehyde exposure was associated with increased risk of recurrence (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12-1.69). Our findings suggest that considering a patient’s history of these exposures may benefit current risk stratification systems in better tailoring clinical care and improving prognosis among patients with NMIBC.
Advancing the accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 phosphorylation site detection via meta-learning approach
Authors: Pham Nhat Truong , Phan Le Thi , Seo Jimin , Kim Yeonwoo , Song Minkyung , Lee Sukchan , Jeon Young-Jun , Manavalan Balachandran
Published: December 2023

The worldwide appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has generated significant concern and posed a considerable challenge to global health. Phosphorylation is a common post-translational modification that affects many vital cellular functions and is closely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Precise identification of phosphorylation sites could provide more in-depth insight into the processes underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and help alleviate the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Currently, available computational tools for predicting these sites lack accuracy and effectiveness. In this study, we designed an innovative meta-learning model, Meta-Learning for Serine/Threonine Phosphorylation (MeL-STPhos), to precisely identify protein phosphorylation sites. We initially performed a comprehensive assessment of 29 unique sequence-derived features, establishing prediction models for each using 14 renowned machine learning methods, ranging from traditional classifiers to advanced deep learning algorithms. We then selected the most effective model for each feature by integrating the predicted values. Rigorous feature selection strategies were employed to identify the optimal base models and classifier(s) for each cell-specific dataset. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report two cell-specific models and a generic model for phosphorylation site prediction by utilizing an extensive range of sequence-derived features and machine learning algorithms. Extensive cross-validation and independent testing revealed that MeL-STPhos surpasses existing state-of-the-art tools for phosphorylation site prediction. We also developed a publicly accessible platform at https://balalab-skku.org/MeL-STPhos. We believe that MeL-STPhos will serve as a valuable tool for accelerating the discovery of serine/threonine phosphorylation sites and elucidating their role in post-translational regulation.
CellTICS: an explainable neural network for cell-type identification and interpretation based on single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Yin Qingyang , Chen Liang
Published: December 2023

Identifying cell types is crucial for understanding the functional units of an organism. Machine learning has shown promising performance in identifying cell types, but many existing methods lack biological significance due to poor interpretability. However, it is of the utmost importance to understand what makes cells share the same function and form a specific cell type, motivating us to propose a biologically interpretable method. CellTICS prioritizes marker genes with cell-type-specific expression, using a hierarchy of biological pathways for neural network construction, and applying a multi-predictive-layer strategy to predict cell and sub-cell types. CellTICS usually outperforms existing methods in prediction accuracy. Moreover, CellTICS can reveal pathways that define a cell type or a cell type under specific physiological conditions, such as disease or aging. The nonlinear nature of neural networks enables us to identify many novel pathways. Interestingly, some of the pathways identified by CellTICS exhibit differential expression “variability” rather than differential expression across cell types, indicating that expression stochasticity within a pathway could be an important feature characteristic of a cell type. Overall, CellTICS provides a biologically interpretable method for identifying and characterizing cell types, shedding light on the underlying pathways that define cellular heterogeneity and its role in organismal function. CellTICS is available at https://github.com/qyyin0516/CellTICS.
A Bayesian multivariate factor analysis model for causal inference using time-series observational data on mixed outcomes
Authors: Samartsidis Pantelis , Seaman Shaun R , Harrison Abbie , Alexopoulos Angelos , Hughes Gareth J , Rawlinson Christopher , Anderson Charlotte , Charlett André , Oliver Isabel , De Angelis Daniela
Published: December 2023

Assessing the impact of an intervention by using time-series observational data on multiple units and outcomes is a frequent problem in many fields of scientific research. Here, we propose a novel Bayesian multivariate factor analysis model for estimating intervention effects in such settings and develop an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to sample from the high-dimensional and nontractable posterior of interest. The proposed method is one of the few that can simultaneously deal with outcomes of mixed type (continuous, binomial, count), increase efficiency in the estimates of the causal effects by jointly modeling multiple outcomes affected by the intervention, and easily provide uncertainty quantification for all causal estimands of interest. Using the proposed approach, we evaluate the impact that Local Tracing Partnerships had on the effectiveness of England’s Test and Trace programme for COVID-19.
Transdiagnostic inflexible learning dynamics explain deficits in depression and schizophrenia
Authors: Kirschner Hans , Nassar Matthew R , Fischer Adrian G , Frodl Thomas , Meyer-Lotz Gabriela , Froböse Sören , Seidenbecher Stephanie , Klein Tilmann A , Ullsperger Markus
Published: December 2023

Deficits in reward learning are core symptoms across many mental disorders. Recent work suggests that such learning impairments arise by a diminished ability to use reward history to guide behaviour, but the neuro-computational mechanisms through which these impairments emerge remain unclear. Moreover, limited work has taken a transdiagnostic approach to investigate whether the psychological and neural mechanisms that give rise to learning deficits are shared across forms of psychopathology.

To provide insight into this issue, we explored probabilistic reward learning in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (n = 33) or schizophrenia (n = 24) and 33 matched healthy controls by combining computational modelling and single-trial EEG regression. In our task, participants had to integrate the reward history of a stimulus to decide whether it is worthwhile to gamble on it. Adaptive learning in this task is achieved through dynamic learning rates that are maximal on the first encounters with a given stimulus and decay with increasing stimulus repetitions. Hence, over the course of learning, choice preferences would ideally stabilize and be less susceptible to misleading information.

We show evidence of reduced learning dynamics, whereby both patient groups demonstrated hypersensitive learning (i.e. less decaying learning rates), rendering their choices more susceptible to misleading feedback. Moreover, there was a schizophrenia-specific approach bias and a depression-specific heightened sensitivity to disconfirmational feedback (factual losses and counterfactual wins). The inflexible learning in both patient groups was accompanied by altered neural processing, including no tracking of expected values in either patient group.

Taken together, our results thus provide evidence that reduced trial-by-trial learning dynamics reflect a convergent deficit across depression and schizophrenia. Moreover, we identified disorder distinct learning deficits.
Ataxia with giant axonopathy in Acbd5-deficient mice halted by adeno-associated virus gene therapy
Authors: Granadeiro Luis , Zarralanga Violeta Enríquez , Rosa Ricardo , Franquinho Filipa , Lamas Sofia , Brites Pedro
Published: December 2023

Acyl-CoA binding domain containing 5 (ACBD5) is a critical player in handling very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) en route for peroxisomal β-oxidation. Mutations in ACBD5 lead to the accumulation of VLCFA and patients present retinal dystrophy, ataxia, psychomotor delay and a severe leukodystrophy. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated and characterized an Acbd5 Gly357* mutant allele.

Gly357* mutant mice recapitulated key features of the human disorder, including reduced survival, impaired locomotion and reflexes, loss of photoreceptors, and demyelination. The ataxic presentation of Gly357* mice involved the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and a giant axonopathy throughout the CNS. Lipidomic studies provided evidence for the extensive lipid dysregulation caused by VLCFA accumulation. Following a proteomic survey, functional studies in neurons treated with VLCFA unravelled a deregulated cytoskeleton with reduced actin dynamics and increased neuronal filopodia. We also show that an adeno-associated virus-mediated gene delivery ameliorated the gait phenotypes and the giant axonopathy, also improving myelination and astrocyte reactivity. Collectively, we established a mouse model with significance for VLCFA-related disorders.

The development of relevant neuropathological outcomes enabled the understanding of mechanisms modulated by VLCFA and the evaluation of the efficacy of preclinical therapeutic interventions.
‘Growing up with a red nose’: a patient’s perspective on rosacea
Authors: Costa Blasco Marta , McFeely Orla , Doyle Claire , Murphy Lisa , Wolinska Anna , Andrawis Madonna , Salim Asad
Published: December 2023

We highlight the impact of rosacea in a young man, who presents a patient perspective on growing up with rosacea and how this impacted on his quality of life. Physicians should consider each patient’s unique concerns and perception of disease severity when prescribing a treatment plan.
Evaluation of ChatGPT's acne advice
Authors: Li Kaiyang , Hsu Jeffrey T S , Li Monica K
Published: December 2023

We evaluated ChatGPT's responses to common acne questions based on accuracy, completeness, relevance, understandability, actionability and readability. Responses related to acne treatment were less likely to be satisfactory, understandable, or easily readable. Overall, ChatGPT could serve as a valuable initial tool for patients with this dermatological condition but currently cannot replace in-depth dermatology consultations.
Seasonally hydrological load and background seismicity in the intraplate collision zone, the Longmen Shan, China
Authors: She Yawen , Zhao Qian , Xu Changyi , Fu Guangyu , Jiang Zhongshan , Liu Xiaoxia
Published: December 2023

Hydrological modulation of background seismicity provides a way to understand the seismogenic process and interaction mechanism between the hydrosphere and lithosphere. To elucidate the hydrological modulation of background seismicity in the Longmen Shan, the monthly spatio-temporal distribution of terrestrial water storage (TWS) variations is inverted from the seasonal term of continuous GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data and compared with monthly precipitation. In the Longmen Shan, monthly TWS variations are in phase with precipitation variations in the northern area but lag precipitation variation by 2 months in the southern area. The annual amplitude of the inverted TWS is about 0.2 m, which is consistent with the amplitude of precipitation. To investigate the stress perturbations in the crustal interior induced by the hydrological load, monthly Coulomb failure stress (CFS) variation caused by TWS and precipitation load is calculated on a simplified fault model of the Longmen Shan, respectively. The maximum CFS variations of TWS and precipitation are about 2.4 kPa. To obtain the background seismicity, different earthquake declustering methods are employed on a two-decade earthquake catalogue (M ≥ 2.5). The declustered results are subjected to null hypothesis tests, including assessing whether the earthquake distribution follows a homogeneous Poisson distribution in time or exhibits a temporally homogeneous, spatially heterogeneous Poisson distribution in space and time. The only declustered catalogue derived by the epidemic type aftershock sequence model pass all the tests. Furthermore, the monthly CFS variation and its rate caused by TWS and precipitation are compared with the monthly background seismic events. Notably, a correlation is observed between CFS variation rate due to precipitation and background seismicity. This correlation suggests the presence of long-term hydrological modulation of seasonal background seismicity in the Longmen Shan.
Direct assessment of the hydraulic structure of the plate boundary at the toe of the Nankai accretionary prism
Authors: Pwavodi Joshua , Doan Mai-Linh
Published: December 2023

The Nankai Trough is a locus of slow slip, low-frequency earthquakes, and large magnitude (Mw > 8) earthquakes. It is usually assumed that high pore pressure contributes substantially to earthquake dynamics. Hence, a thorough understanding of the hydraulic regime of the Nankai accretionary prism is needed to understand this diversity of behaviours. We focus on the toe of the accretionary prism by studying data from Hole C0024A, part of the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) project, that intersected the décollement at 813 m below seafloor (mbsf) about 3 km away from the trench. We contribute to this understanding by innovatively integrating drilling and logging data to derive high-resolution hydraulic profiles along the borehole. A quantitative re-analysis of the variation in the downhole annular pressure monitored during drilling show localized fluid flow from the formation to the borehole in excess of 0.05  m3 s−1, especially in the damage zones at the footwall of the décollement. To validate the fluid flow profile, pore pressure was estimated independently from empirical relationships between pore pressure, porosity and P-wave velocity, obtained from consolidation experiments and Eaton-type methods based on drilling or sonic velocity data. The formation fluids are becoming significantly overpressurized with depth in the few hundred metres above décollement. The hydraulic profile suggests that the core of the décollement acts as a barrier inhibiting upward fluid convection, whereas the damage zone acts as an efficient longitudinal channel able to diffuse high pressure from the deeper part of the subduction.
Thermal histories reveal spatiotemporal distribution and population overlapping of Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Authors: Chiang Chun-I , Chung Ming-Tsung , Shiao Jen-Chieh , Wang Pei-Ling , Wang Chia-Hui
Published: December 2023

Thermal histories describe ambient temperature experienced by cephalopod species from birth to death, reflecting their habitats and distributions. Thermal histories were reconstructed by analyzing ontogenetic oxygen isotopes (δ18O values) in statoliths of adult Sepioteuthis lessoniana collected from northeastern and southwestern Taiwan between 2017 and 2019. The probabilities of occurrence associated with thermal histories in the two populations were modeled using a spatial interpolation approach, ordinary kriging method. The northeastern population exhibited larger ontogenetic variations in experienced temperature (ranging from 9.1 to 10.4°C) than did the southwestern population (ranging from 4.3°C to 6.8°C). The two geographical populations exhibited distinct ontogenetic movement patterns and distribution. The southwestern population demonstrated wide dispersal influenced by seasonal wind directions and tended to remain in 20°C isotherm areas around the Penghu Islands for maturing and spawning. At the seasonal cohort level, the northeastern population exhibited a southward shift during the 2-year study period as a result of the El Niño event. The distribution of the two geographical populations overlapped in the adult stage primarily in the northern Taiwan Strait, supporting an assumption of population connection in Taiwan. This study revealed the thermal histories of S. lessoniana, providing insights into the field observation of distribution patterns and the progress in relating population dynamics to environmental variability, which are essential for the sustainable management of squid fisheries.
Mathematical analysis of a time-delayed model for cocoa yield
Authors: Babasola Oluwatosin , Budd Chris
Published: December 2023

Cocoa is an important crop that is predominantly grown in the western part of Africa. However, there have been fluctuations and declining trends in production and several factors have been identified to be responsible for this. A significant factor is the effect of climate variation, which could result in a low farm-level yield. Therefore, to understand the contribution of climate variability on the farm-level yield, we construct and analyse a time-delayed model to capture the effect of rainfall on cocoa production. This work uses a system of differential equations to model the crop transition from the flowering stage to pod formation, pod ripening and then to harvesting. We introduce a periodic forcing function into the model of flowering to account for the impact of seasonal rainfall variations. This leads to a novel nonlinear parametrically forced ODE for the flowering with periodically varying coefficients, which is coupled to a time-delayed model for the ripened pod formation and then harvesting. We perform an analysis of all parts of the system proving that it has a periodic solution when (parametrically) forced periodically, and we then conduct an asymptotic analysis on this periodic solution to show how its rich behaviour depends on the parameters of the climatic forcing in the model.
Familial uveal melanoma and other tumors in 25 families with monoallelic germline MBD4 variants
Authors: Villy Marie-Charlotte , Le Ven Anaïs , Le Mentec Marine , Masliah-Planchon Julien , Houy Alexandre , Bièche Ivan , Vacher Sophie , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Dubois d’Enghien Catherine , Schwartz Mathias , Piperno-Neumann Sophie , Matet Alexandre , Malaise Denis , Bubien Virginie , Lortholary Alain , Ait Omar Amal , Cavaillé Mathias , Stoppa-Lyonnet Dominique , Cassoux Nathalie , Stern Marc-Henri , Rodrigues Manuel , Golmard Lisa , Colas Chrystelle
Published: December 2023

Background

Monoallelic germline MBD4 pathogenic variants were recently reported to cause a predisposition to uveal melanoma, associated with a specific tumor mutational signature and good response to immunotherapy. Monoallelic tumor pathogenic variants have also been described in brain tumors, breast cancers, and myxofibrosarcomas, whereas biallelic germline MBD4 pathogenic variants have been involved in a recessive hereditary adenomatous polyposis and a specific type of acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods

We analyzed MBD4 for all patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma at Institut Curie since July 2021 and in the 3240 consecutive female probands explored at the Institut Curie for suspicion of predisposition to breast cancer between July 2021 and February 2023.

Results

We describe 25 families whose probands carry a monoallelic germline pathogenic variant in MBD4. Eighteen of these families presented with uveal melanoma (including a case patient with multiple uveal melanoma), and 7 families presented with breast cancer. Family histories showed the first familial case of uveal melanoma in monoallelic MBD4 pathogenic variant carriers and other various types of cancers in relatives, especially breast, renal, and colorectal tumors.

Conclusions

Monoallelic MBD4 pathogenic variant may explain some cases of familial and multiple uveal melanoma as well as various cancer types, expanding the tumor spectrum of this predisposition. Further genetic testing in relatives combined with molecular tumor analyses will help define the tumor spectrum and estimate each tumor’s risk.
Product Hopping and Innovation Incentives
Authors: Lemus Jorge , Ozkul Olgu
Published: December 2023

We study innovation incentives under “product hopping,” whereby an incumbent patents a minor modification of a pioneer drug (for example, a new delivery method) and promotes the modified version to shift demand from the original drug. We develop a model in which an incumbent races against an entrant to discover a drastic innovation. We show that product hopping can decrease the total research and development (R&D) investment for drastic innovation. Moreover, an incumbent only chooses to engage in product hopping when drastic innovation is sufficiently difficult. Although product hopping may boost ex-ante R&D for pioneer drugs, it comes at the expense of decreasing R&D for subsequent drastic innovations and consumer surplus through socially wasteful marketing expenses. Our results contribute to the policy debate on product hopping, welfare, and antitrust.
Behind the Wheel: Unraveling the Impact of Experience Over Age Over the First 18 Months of Licensure
Authors: Stavrinos Despina , McManus Benjamin , Mrug Sylvie , Anthony Thomas , Underhill Andrea T , Pawar Piyush
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study examined how driving attention develops with age and driving.

Methods

In this observational longitudinal study, 190 adolescents (53% female, 73% Black) were enrolled across four groups: 16- and 18-year olds with and without driving experience. They underwent driving simulation with eye-tracking technology seven times over 18 months. By using a combination of factorial and longitudinal designs, the study examined the individual and combined effects of age and driving experience on driving attention over time.

Results

Licensed participants had higher odds of glancing at safety-critical events initially (OR = 15.01, 95% CI: 1.36–165.53), but these odds decreased at higher driving speeds (b = −0.17, p<.01). Average glance length decreased over time (b = −0.26, p=.01), but less so in licensed participants (b=0.14, p=.01). Several visual behaviors were influenced by environmental and driving factors.

Conclusions

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are burdensome and costly to society. This study focused on the role of inattention in MVCs, particularly during the risky period of adolescence. Findings indicated that driving experience, as determined by licensure, had a considerable impact on visual behavior in both the short term (within two weeks of obtaining a license) and over the first 18 months of independent driving. Overall, these findings suggest that licensed adolescents are more likely to identify potential hazards on the road and navigate safely. To ensure effective guidance, pediatric psychologists and other professionals should consider the unique circumstances, needs, and concerns of individual patients.
The stellar mass function of quiescent galaxies in 2 < z < 2.5 protoclusters
Authors: Edward Adit H , Balogh Michael L , Bahé Yannick M , Cooper M C , Hatch Nina A , Marchioni Justin , Muzzin Adam , Noble Allison , Rudnick Gregory H , Vulcani Benedetta , Wilson Gillian , De Lucia Gabriella , Demarco Ricardo , Forrest Ben , Hirschmann Michaela , Castignani Gianluca , Cerulo Pierluigi , Finn Rose A , Hewitt Guillaume , Jablonka Pascale , Kodama Tadayuki , Maurogordato Sophie , Nantais Julie , Xie Lizhi
Published: December 2023

We present an analysis of the galaxy stellar mass function (SMF) of 14 known protoclusters between 2.0 < z < 2.5 in the COSMOS field, down to a mass limit of 109.5 M⊙. We use existing photometric redshifts with a statistical background subtraction, and consider star-forming and quiescent galaxies identified from (NUV − r) and (r − J) colours separately. Our fiducial sample includes galaxies within 1 Mpc of the cluster centres. The shape of the protocluster SMF of star-forming galaxies is indistinguishable from that of the general field at this redshift. Quiescent galaxies, however, show a flatter SMF than in the field, with an upturn at low mass, though this is only significant at ∼2σ. There is no strong evidence for a dominant population of quiescent galaxies at any mass, with a fraction <15 per cent at 1σ confidence for galaxies with log M*/M⊙ < 10.5. We compare our results with a sample of galaxy groups at 1 < z < 1.5, and demonstrate that a significant amount of environmental quenching must take place between these epochs, increasing the relative abundance of high-mass ($\rm M_{\ast } \gt 10^{10.5} {\rm M}_{\odot }$) quiescent galaxies by a factor ≳ 2. However, we find that at lower masses ($\rm M_{\ast } \lt 10^{10.5} {\rm M}_{\odot }$), no additional environmental quenching is required.
Deep learning prediction of galaxy stellar populations in the low-redshift Universe
Authors: Wang Li-Li , Yang Guang-Jun , Zhang Jun-Liang , Rong Li-Xia , Zheng Wen-Yan , Liu Cong , Chen Zong-Yi
Published: December 2023

The increasing size and complexity of data provided by both ongoing and planned galaxy surveys greatly contribute to our understanding of galaxy evolution. Deep learning methods are particularly well suited for handling the complex and massive data. We train a convolutional neural network (CNN) to simultaneously predict the stellar populations in galaxies: age, metallicity, colour excess E(B − V), and central velocity dispersion (VD) using spectra with redshift ≤ 0.3 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This is the first time to use spectra based on deep learning to derive the four galaxy properties. The testing results show that our CNN predictions of galaxy properties are in good consistent with values by the traditional stellar population synthesis method with little scatters (0.11 dex for age and metallicity, 0.018 mag for E(B − V), and 31 km s−1 for VD). In terms of the computational time, our method reduces by more than 10 times compared to traditional method. We further evaluate the performance of our CNN prediction model using spectra with different signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns), redshifts, and spectral classes. We find that our model generally exhibits good performance, although the errors at different S/Ns, redshifts, and spectral classes vary slightly. Our well-trained CNN model and related codes are publicly available on https://github.com/sddzwll/CNNforStellarp.
DNA Polymerase Diversity Reveals Multiple Incursions of Polintons During Nematode Evolution
Authors: Jeong Dae-Eun , Sundrani Sameer , Hall Richard Nelson , Krupovic Mart , Koonin Eugene V , Fire Andrew Z
Published: December 2023

Polintons are double-stranded DNA, virus-like self-synthesizing transposons widely found in eukaryotic genomes. Recent metagenomic discoveries of Polinton-like viruses are consistent with the hypothesis that Polintons invade eukaryotic host genomes through infectious viral particles. Nematode genomes contain multiple copies of Polintons and provide an opportunity to explore the natural distribution and evolution of Polintons during this process. We performed an extensive search of Polintons across nematode genomes, identifying multiple full-length Polinton copies in several species. We provide evidence of both ancient Polinton integrations and recent mobility in strains of the same nematode species. In addition to the major nematode Polinton family, we identified a group of Polintons that are overall closely related to the major family but encode a distinct protein-primed DNA polymerase B (pPolB) that is related to homologs from a different group of Polintons present outside of the Nematoda. Phylogenetic analyses on the pPolBs support the evolutionary scenarios in which these extrinsic pPolBs that seem to derive from Polinton families present in oomycetes and molluscs replaced the canonical pPolB in subsets of Polintons found in terrestrial and marine nematodes, respectively, suggesting interphylum horizontal gene transfers. The pPolBs of the terrestrial nematode and oomycete Polintons share a unique feature, an insertion of an HNH nuclease domain, whereas the pPolBs in the marine nematode Polintons share an insertion of a VSR nuclease domain with marine mollusc pPolBs. We hypothesize that horizontal gene transfer occurs among Polintons from widely different but cohabiting hosts.