bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Right to Health in Nigeria through Judicial Intervention
Authors: Mike Jennifer Heaven
Published: June 2023

Human rights are best protected when they enjoy the binding enforceability of the law. Recognizing the binding status of human rights in national constitutions and legal systems is central to demanding accountability, compelling actions and sanctioning violations. Conferring human rights with legal recognition also empowers people and provides the option of pursuing remedies. Furthermore, the duty of the state to protect and respect human rights is triggered when they receive prescription under the law. In Nigeria, however, certain rights pertaining to economic, social and cultural rights do not receive the binding force of constitutional law. This article argues that the judiciary can act as an alternative and complementary recourse to advance and secure the commitment to the right to health. Drawing on a comparative perspective from countries where the judiciary has proactively upheld this right, it maintains that the Nigerian judiciary can take action to enhance the legal and judicial implementation of the right to health.
Judges Guarding Judges: Investigating Regional Harbours for Judicial Independence in Africa
Authors: Adjolohoun Sègnonna Horace
Published: June 2023

A body of jurisprudence is emerging in Africa's most active regional courts on the independence of national judiciaries. This article reveals that while regional case law relevantly echoes efforts by municipal courts to safeguard themselves, circumstances demonstrate that such case law requires greater contextualization across systems. In this regard, the traditional paradigm of linking independence to executive appointments does not empirically stand the test of the multiplicity of independence factors, executive-free regimes have not proved effective in safeguarding independence, and legal traditions or judicial systems have increasingly become irrelevant to the effectiveness of any independence regime. Factors that transcend the traditional determinants of executive control include the nature and functions of the court involved, and the history and background of the judicial structure of the country or region. Notably, the discussion also reveals the need to strike a critical balance between individual rights to a fair trial and inter-state directive policy towards judicial independence as set out in the African Charter.
Relation analysis of ship speed & environmental conditions: Can historic AIS data form a baseline for autonomous determination of safe speed?
Authors: Dreyer Leif Ole
Published: June 2023

As no internationally agreed-upon method for determining safe speed values currently exists, collecting vast amounts of information on conventional ship behaviour could be used to train autonomous ship intelligence in determining safe speeds in different conditions. This requires speed data collected from conventional ships to resemble what can be described as safe speeds. To test this, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and environmental data – namely visibility, mean wind speed and significant wave height – were collected and merged for two study areas in Norway in the period between 27 March 2014 and 1 January 2021. Regression analyses based on 47,490 unique vessel transits were conducted and supplemented by two graphical methods for revealing relationships between variables. Contrary to the contemporary understanding of safe speed, reduced visibility did not lead to significantly reduced transit speeds. Wind and waves caused a reduction in speed in the open ocean, but not in coastal waters. Transit speeds were lower in coastal waters than in the open ocean.
A coherence framework for fact-finding before the International Court of Justice
Authors: Devaney James Gerard
Published: June 2023

It is the task of the International Court of Justice to establish the operative facts from which to draw normative conclusions in all contentious cases that come before it. This task, however, is complicated where those facts necessitate engagement with specialized epistemic fields other than law such as science. Drawing on legal theory and epistemology I propose a coherence framework for the establishment of the facts in such cases. In essence, this means that the Court need not show that its factual determinations have been established beyond all doubt, nor even that they satisfy a certain standard of probability. Rather, what the Court must show is that a factual determination it has made has been arrived at through a rational process and that it is coherent. The coherence framework also has both descriptive and normative value as it both maps neatly on to the current (best) practice of the Court and provides a justification for why it should operate this way in the future.
Comparing Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission reconstruction models from whole genome sequence data
Authors: Sobkowiak Benjamin , Romanowski Kamila , Sekirov Inna , Gardy Jennifer L. , Johnston James C.
Published: June 2023

Genomic epidemiology is routinely used worldwide to interrogate infectious disease dynamics. Multiple computational tools exist that reconstruct transmission networks by coupling genomic data with epidemiological models. Resulting inferences can improve our understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics, and yet the performance of these tools has not been evaluated for tuberculosis (TB), a disease process with complex epidemiology including variable latency and within-host heterogeneity. Here, we performed a systematic comparison of six publicly available transmission reconstruction models, evaluating their accuracy when predicting transmission events in simulated and real-world Mycobacterium tuberculosis outbreaks. We observed variability in the number of transmission links that were predicted with high probability (P ≥ 0.5) and low accuracy of these predictions against known transmission in simulated outbreaks. We also found a low proportion of epidemiologically supported case–contact pairs were identified in our real-world TB clusters. The specificity of all models was high, and a relatively high proportion of the total transmission events predicted by some models were true links, notably with TransPhylo, Outbreaker2, and Phybreak. Our findings may inform the choice of tools in TB transmission analyses and underscore the need for caution when interpreting transmission networks produced using probabilistic approaches.
Spatial variation of the star formation history in the disc of M31 galaxy using evolved stars
Authors: Torki Maryam , Navabi Mahdieh , Javadi Atefeh
Published: June 2023

The rate of star formation (SFR) is one of the important quantities that helps to study galaxies’ evolutionary path. In fact, measuring the SFR during the life of the Universe shows us how galaxies have acquired their metallicity and star mass. In this regard, the galaxies of the Local Group give us a great opportunity to study the connection between different stellar populations and galaxy evolution. In this paper, we use the Long-Period variable stars to estimate the radial star formation in the disc of the M31 galaxy. These stars are powerful instruments to achieve this goal. They reach their peak luminosity and coldest state at the final point of their evolution. Also, there is a directly related between their mass and luminosity, so using stellar evolution theoretical models, we construct the mass function and hence the star formation history (SFH). In the disc of M31, we see an increase in the rate of star formation and a decrease in the age of stars in the outer parts. These results predict the inside-out growth well.
Testing the quenching subgrid physics in Green Valley galaxies
Authors: Ferreras Ignacio , Angthopo James , Negri Andrea
Published: June 2023

In the title of this Symposium: “The rise and fall of star formation in galaxies”, the “falling” stage is mostly represented by so-called Green Valley galaxies. In this phase, quenching mechanisms operate, concerning the evolution from star formation towards quiescence. Therefore, GV galaxies are ideal laboratories to test cosmological simulations. This contribution focuses on the application of a novel, dust-independent, definition of the GV, to two of the most recent simulations: EAGLE and Illustris-TNG. We present some of the results, concerning the excess fraction of quenched galaxies in simulations, with respect to observational data from SDSS. We suggest possible causes for the mismatch.
The volumetric star formation law in nearby galaxies
Authors: Bacchini C. , Fraternali F. , Pezzulli G. , Iorio G. , Marasco A. , Nipoti C.
Published: June 2023

Star formation laws are empirical relations between the cold gas (HI+H2) content of a galaxy and its star formation rate (SFR), being crucial for any model of galaxy formation and evolution. A well known example of such laws is the Schmidt-Kennicutt law, which is based on the projected surface densities. However, it has been long unclear whether a more fundamental relation exists between the intrinsic volume densities. By assuming the vertical hydrostatic equilibrium, we infer radial profiles for the thickness of gaseous discs in a sample of 23 local galaxies, and use these measurements to convert the observed surface densities of the gas and the SFR into the de-projected volume densities. We find a tight correlation linking these quantities, that we call the volumetric star formation law. This relation and its properties have crucial implications for our understanding of the physics of star formation.
Radiatively Cooling Superwinds in Ultracompact Hii Regions
Authors: Danehkar A.
Published: June 2023

Ultracompact Hii regions (UC-HII) are the young, very dense cores of massive star-forming regions in dwarf galaxies, where newly formed massive OB stars are surrounded by natal molecular clouds. Thermal energy deposited by mechanical feedback from a cluster of massive OB stars can form a superwind, which may lead to a wind-blown bubble as well as radiative cooling. We investigate the formation of radiatively cooling superwinds in UC-HII using a radiative cooling module in the hydrodynamics program. We built a grid of hydrodynamic simulations to determine the dependence of radiative cooling on the cluster radius, mass-deposition rate, wind velocity, and ambient medium in UC-HII. Our findings could help to better understand star formation in massive star-forming regions, where cool superwinds could trigger the formation of molecular clumpy regions.
Recovering the origin of star formation in the central region of I Zw 81
Authors: Pandey Divya , Saha Kanak , Pradhan Ananta C.
Published: June 2023

We have studied the star formation properties of a massive void galaxy - I Zw 81. We performed 2D structural decomposition on Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) g- and r-band observation of I Zw 81 using GALFIT. The galaxy consists of an unresolved small bulge, a bar, an inner ring, and a truncated disk. We have used far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-UV (NUV) observation of Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat for our analysis. The NUV–r color map of the lenticular galaxy illustrates a shallow positive color gradient in the profile, implying that the bar and inner ring are more star-forming than the outer disk. The FUV emission is mainly concentrated in the central region of the galaxy. A tidal tail-like feature is detected in the CFHT observations. We infer that bar and minor mergers-like interactions enhance the gas inflow and drive star formation in the center of I Zw 81.
The curious case of NGC 5068 and its neutral hydrogen fingers
Authors: Healy J. , de Blok W.J.G. , Maccagni F.M.
Published: June 2023

How galaxies replenish their gas supply in order to sustain star formation, is a research topic of many of the new and upcoming neutral atomic hydrogen (Hi) surveys on the SKA precursor instruments. This replenishment, or accretion, of gas in the form of Hi is likely to occur at column densities one or two orders of magnitude below previous observational limits and it has, so far, not been unambiguously detected. We present recent deep Hi observations of NGC 5068, an isolated nearby star-forming galaxy observed by MeerKAT as part of the MHONGOOSE survey. This survey is the deepest Hi survey of nearby galaxies until the advent of the SKA and is reaching column densities of resolution. The combination of the resolution and sensitivity of the MeerKAT HI data have revealed “fingers” of low column density gas extending out from the main Hi disk of the galaxy. While the origin of these fingers remains a mystery for now, the dynamics of the main galaxy disk and the outer disk in which the fingers are located, as well as the morphology of the fingers, does not seem to suggest a previous merger event.
The Progressive Integral Step Method (PrISM) for Wide Field 3D Spectral Imaging of Nearby Galaxies: an Overview of the TYPHOON Survey
Authors: Grasha Kathryn
Published: June 2023

The TYPHOON program is producing an atlas of spectroscopic data cubes of 44 large-angular-sized galaxies with complete spatial coverage from 3650–9000 Å. This survey provides an unparalleled opportunity to study variations in the interstellar medium (ISM) properties within individual H ii regions across the entire star-forming disks of nearby galaxies. This can provide key insights into the spatial distribution and resolved properties of the ISM to understand how efficiently metals are mixed and redistributed across spirals and dwarf galaxies. In this Proceeding, we present early science results from six nearby spiral galaxies as part of the TYPHOON program from Grasha et al. (2022). We use HIIPhot to identify the H ii regions within the galaxy based on the surface brightness of the Hα emisison line and measure variations of the H ii region oxygen abundance. In this initial work, we find that while the spiral pattern plays a role in organizing the ISM, it alone does not establish the relatively uniform azimuthal variations we observe across all the galaxies. Differences in the metal abundances are more likely driven by the strong correlations with the local physical conditions. We find a strong and positive correlation between the ionization parameter and the local abundances as measured by the relative metallicity offset Δ(O/H), indicating a tight relationship between local physical conditions and their localized enrichment of the ISM. These variations can be explained by a combination of localized, star formation-driven self-enrichment and large-scale mixing-driven dilution due to the passing of spiral density waves.
The Impact of the Group Environment on the Molecular Gas and Star Formation Activity
Authors: Lee Bumhyun , Wang Jing , Chung Aeree , Ho Luis C. , Molina Juan , Kim Yongjung , Wang Shun , For Bi-Qing , Koribalski Bärbel S. , Spekkens Kristine , Bosma Albert , Holwerda Benne W. , Verdes-Montenegro Lourdes
Published: June 2023

At least half of the local galaxies reside in galaxy groups, which indicates that the group is the common environment where galaxies evolve. Therefore, it is important to probe how significantly galaxies are affected by group environmental processes, in order to obtain a better understanding of galaxy evolution. We carried out a new CO imaging survey for 31 galaxies in the IC 1459 and NGC 4636 groups, using the Atacama Compact Array, to study the effect of the group environment on the molecular gas properties and the star formation activity. With our resolved CO data, combined with high-resolution H i images, we find asymmetric CO and H i distributions in the group galaxies. Compared to isolated galaxies, group members have relatively low molecular gas fraction and low star formation rate. These results suggest that the group environment can change the properties of cold gas components and star formation in group galaxies.
Collision-induced formation of dark-matter-deficient galaxies
Authors: Otaki Koki , Mori Masao
Published: June 2023

The standard galaxy formation model predicts that galaxies form within a Cold Dark Matter (CDM) halo and that galaxies are dominated by dark matter. However, recent observations have discovered dark-matter-deficient galaxies with much less dark matter mass than theoretical predictions, and the process of their formation has been discussed. Here, we investigate the physical processes of galaxy formation by collisions between gas-rich dark matter subhalos within the context of the CDM paradigm. We investigate the formation process of dark-matter-deficient galaxies by running three-dimensional simulations of the collision process between dark matter subhalos (DMSHs) with the same mass of 109M⊙ colliding the velocity of 100 km s−1. We then compared the effect of different supernova feedback models, the subgrid physics of the simulation, on the collision-induced formation of galaxies. The results show that the strong feedback model ejects gas out of the system more efficiently than the weak feedback model, leading to lower star formation rates and the formation of a more extended galaxy. Finally, dark-matter-deficient galaxies with stellar masses of ∼ 107M⊙ and ∼ 108M⊙ are formed in the weak and strong feedback models, respectively.
Evolution of Gas Flows over the Starburst to Post-Starburst to Quiescent Galaxy Sequence
Authors: Sun Yang , Lee Gwang-Ho , Zabludoff Ann I. , Decker French K. , Helton Jakob M. , Kerrison Nicole A. , Tremonti Christy A. , Yang Yujin
Published: June 2023

Even though galactic winds are common in galaxies with starbursts or active galactic nuclei (AGN), the role of such gas flows in galaxy evolution remains uncertain. Here we examine how winds vary along a likely evolutionary sequence connecting starburst to post-starburst to quiescent galaxies. To detect the interstellar medium and measure its bulk flows, we examine the residual Na D absorption line doublet after the stellar contribution has been removed from each galaxy’s spectrum. We discover that outflows diminish along this sequence, i.e., as star formation ends. We then focus on the wind behavior within the post-starburst sample, for which we have measured the time elapsed since the starburst ended (post-burst age) via detailed modeling of their star formation histories (French et al.2018). Even within our post-starburst sample, the fraction of galaxies with significant winds and the average wind velocities decrease with post-burst age after controlling for stellar mass.
Effect of gas percentage during minor mergers on the star formation in galaxies
Authors: Hasan S. N. , Thakkalapally Swetha , Hasan Priya
Published: June 2023

We study the effect of minor mergers on star formation using simulations. We use GADGET4 code which has both collisionless and hydrodynamical particles. Our goal is to establish a relation between gas percentage present in the galaxies and the star formation in the merged galaxy. We use 1:10 minor mergers and we run the isolated simulations with varying gas percentages in the primary galaxy. We observe that the gas particles convert into stars due to the impact of the minor merger. As the gas percentage increases in the primary disk of the galaxy, more number of stars are formed. We also observed that newly formed star particles settle down in the disk of the primary galaxy and increase the thickness of the disk. We also observe that the thickness of the stellar disk containing the old stars also increases due to the impact of the merger.
The spatially resolved view of star formation in galaxy clusters
Authors: Poggianti Bianca M. ,   the GASP team
Published: June 2023

Integral field spectroscopic studies of galaxies in dense environments, such as clusters and groups of galaxies, have provided new insights for understanding how star formation proceeds, and quenches. I present the spatially resolved view of the star formation activity and its link with the multiphase gas in cluster galaxies based on MUSE and multi-wavelength data of the GASP survey. I discuss the link among the different scales (i.e. the link between the spatially resolved and the global star formation rate-stellar mass relation), the spatially resolved signatures and the quenching histories of jellyfish (progenitors) and post-starburst (descendants) galaxies in clusters. Finally, I discuss the multi-wavelength view of star-forming clumps both in galaxy disks and in the tails of stripped gas.
Parsec scale CO depletion in KAGONMA 71, or a star-forming filament in CMa OB1
Authors: Handa T. , Hirata Y. , Murase T. , Nishi J. , Shimajiri Y. , Omodaka T. , Nakano M. , Sunada K. , Ito T. , Chibueze J. O.
Published: June 2023

The depletion of CO molecules is observed in infrared dark clouds. However, only few exsamples are found in pc-scale. An NH3 emission is one of good counter parts of C18O because of similar effective critical density. Our NH3 observations of a molecular filament associated with CMa OB1 or KAG 71, which is a target of Kagoshima Galactic Object survey with Nobeyama 45-m telescope by Mapping in Ammonia lines (KAGONMA) project. Although NH3 data shows similarity in morphology with infrared data suggesting no depletion, C18O in the clumps 4 and 6 are weaker than expected based on NH3 data. After examining the dissipation of the high-density gas, photodissociation, and depletion, we concluded that CO is depleted at least in the clump 4. It is a new example of depletion in pc-scale.
Hierarchical star formation in the Magellanic Clouds with the VMC survey
Authors: Miller Amy E. , Cioni Maria-Rosa L. , de Grijs Richard , Sun Ning-Chen ,   The VMC Team
Published: June 2023

The VISTA Magellanic Clouds Survey (VMC) is a near-infrared survey of the Magellanic system. The VMC data has been exploited to detect and study statistically correlated young groups of stars — also known as “young stellar structures” — in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC). We showcase the ∼ 3000 recently detected young stellar structures in the LMC and their similarity to the fractal interstellar medium. We discuss how their properties indicate their formation mechanisms and that there are no preferred scales of star formation in the LMC.
The evolution of carbon-chain chemistry from prestellar to protostellar cores in Taurus Molecular Cloud
Authors: Ramos Jenny M. , Yang Yao-Lun
Published: June 2023

The discovery of abundant carbon-chain molecules in protostellar cores motivates the development of the warm carbon-chain chemistry. To understand the role of warm carbon-chain chemistry in star-forming regions, we studied C2H and c-C3H2 in 15 embedded protostars in the Taurus molecular cloud, whose evolutionary stages range from prestellar to Class I/II, using data from the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT). We calculated the excitation temperature, column density, and abundance of C2H and c-C3H2 in each source. We compared those properties with evolutionary indicators of the protostars. We also estimated the kinetic temperature using RADEX. Finally, we compared the abundance of C2H and c-C3H2 in our survey with that in the survey of protostellar cores in the Perseus molecular cloud. While we are unable to identify new WCCCs, our results suggest that the abundances of C2H and c-C3H2 could be an indicator to find WCCC candidates.
The JWST/NIRSpec GTO programme “The Physics of Galaxy Assembly: IFS observations of high-z galaxies”
Authors: Perna Michele
Published: June 2023

We present an overview of the project “The Physics of Galaxy Assembly: IFS observations of high-z galaxies”, a Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) programme of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It an ambitious project aimed at investigating the internal structure of distant galaxies with the NIRSpec integral field spectrograph (IFS), having allocated 273 hours of JWST prime time. The NIRSpec capability will provide us with spatially resolved spectroscopy in the 1-5 μm range of a sample of over forty galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei in the redshift range 3 < z 9. IFS observations of individual galaxies will enable us to investigate in detail the most important physical processes driving galaxy evolution across the cosmic epoch. More in detail, the main specific objectives are: to trace the distribution of star formation, to map the resolved properties of the stellar populations, to trace the gas kinematics (i.e. velocity fields, velocity dispersion) and, hence, determine dynamical masses and also identify non-virial motions (outflow and inflows), and to map metallicity gradients and dust attenuation.
Revealing the Relation between Star Formation Activity of Jellyfish Galaxies and Ram Pressure Stripping
Authors: Lee Jeong Hwan , Lee Myung Gyoon , Mun Jae Yeon , Cho Brian S. , Kang Jisu
Published: June 2023

Jellyfish galaxies are starburst galaxies with ram-pressure-stripped tails and blue star-forming knots. These galaxies show a snapshot of star formation enhancement triggered by ram pressure stripping (RPS), being important targets for studying the RPS-induced star formation in gas-rich galaxies. Here we investigate the star formation activity of five jellyfish galaxies in massive clusters, using Gemini GMOS/IFU observations. From the Hα-derived star formation rates (SFRs), we find that our sample shows higher SFR excess to the star formation main sequence than the jellyfish galaxies in low-mass clusters. From the compiled sample of jellyfish galaxies in low-mass to high-mass host clusters, we suggest that the star formation activity of jellyfish galaxies has positive correlations with host cluster mass and degree of RPS. These relationships imply that higher ram pressure environments tend to trigger stronger starbursts in jellyfish galaxies in the early stage of RPS.
Piktogramme zur Erfassung der Schmerzqualität bei fremdsprachigen Patient_innen
Authors: Bachmann-Windler Antje , Heine Michelle , Ernst Jutta , Koch Astrid
Published: June 2023

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Numerische Assessmentinstrumente ermöglichen fremdsprachigen Patient_innen, ihren Schmerz zu quantifizieren. Für eine vollständige Einschätzung der Schmerzsituation ist jedoch auch die Beschreibung der Schmerzqualität wichtig. Problemstellung: Um die Schmerzqualität vollständig zu erfassen, fehlte dem Behandlungsteam ein Hilfsmittel. Zielsetzung: Fremdsprachige Patient_innen können ihren Schmerz dem Behandlungsteam vermitteln und sind aktiv in den Behandlungsprozess einbezogen. Das Behandlungsteam entwickelt Hilfsmittel zur Erfassung der Schmerzqualität und reflektiert seine Erfahrungen. Methode: In einem Praxisentwicklungsprojekt wurden Piktogramme des Iconic Pain Assessment Tool 2 (IPAT2) zur Erfassung der Schmerzqualität gewählt. Die Piktogramme wurden alltagstauglich aufbereitet, getestet und evaluiert. Ergebnisse: Mithilfe der Piktogramme wurde die Schmerzqualität bei 72 Patient_innen fast 50% häufiger dokumentiert als vor dem Projekt. Das Pflegeteam erlebte IPAT2 als hilfreich zur Informationsgewinnung und Vertiefung der Beziehungsqualität. Ein Gefühl des Gesehen- und Verstandenwerdens entstand. Diskussion: Piktogramme sind eine valide Methode zur nonverbalen Schmerzerfassung. Jedoch besteht die Gefahr von Verständnisschwierigkeiten. Das Projekt erlaubte lediglich eine Außeneinschätzung des Patient_innenempfindens. Eine empirische Untersuchung der Patient_innensicht wäre wünschenswert. Schlussfolgerungen: Piktogramme sollten bei der Kommunikation mit fremdsprachigen Patient_innen eingesetzt und weiterentwickelt werden.
Provenance and Tectonic Evolution of Bauxite Deposits in the Tethys: Perspective From Random Forest and Logistic Regression Analyses
Authors: Zhou Jintao , Yu Wenchao , Wei Wei , Yang Mingyu , Du Yuansheng
Published: June 2023

Developments in Earth system research have led to widespread interest in multi‐sphere interactions that may have controlled bauxite formation. Although karst bauxite ores are abundant in the Tethyan Metallogenic Domain (TMD), their genesis and distribution are not yet fully understood. This study utilizes the Random Forest (RF) model to analyze geochemical data sets compiled from three bauxite provinces in the Tethys, including the Mediterranean, Central Asian, and Chinese provinces. Meaningful variables among the provenance, paleolatitude and tectonic setting that affected the formation of the bauxite deposits are identified. The Logistic Regression model is used to verify the importance of various factors. Our study shows that when RF model achieves the best classifier performance, TiO2 is the variable that has the greatest impact on the model. TiO2 content is the highest in the Central Asian Province. The high TiO2 content in bauxites indicates a provenance of magmatic origine associated with the Subduction Provenance Zone. Bauxites with TiO2 content similar to that of the continental basement are derived from siliciclastic and carbonate rocks, identified as the Orogenic Provenance Zone. This study illustrates a novel link between geochemical compositions (TiO2 content) of bauxites, provenance and regional tectonic setting.
Infectious Disease Sensitivity to Climate and Other Driver‐Pressure Changes: Research Effort and Gaps for Lyme Disease and Cryptosporidiosis
Authors: Ma Y. , Kalantari Z. , Destouni G.
Published: June 2023

Climate sensitivity of infectious diseases is discussed in many studies. A quantitative basis for distinguishing and predicting the disease impacts of climate and other environmental and anthropogenic driver‐pressure changes, however, is often lacking. To assess research effort and identify possible key gaps that can guide further research, we here apply a scoping review approach to two widespread infectious diseases: Lyme disease (LD) as a vector‐borne and cryptosporidiosis as a water‐borne disease. Based on the emerging publication data, we further structure and quantitatively assess the driver‐pressure foci and interlinkages considered in the published research so far. This shows important research gaps for the roles of rarely investigated water‐related and socioeconomic factors for LD, and land‐related factors for cryptosporidiosis. For both diseases, the interactions of host and parasite communities with climate and other driver‐pressure factors are understudied, as are also important world regions relative to the disease geographies; in particular, Asia and Africa emerge as main geographic gaps for LD and cryptosporidiosis research, respectively. The scoping approach developed and gaps identified in this study should be useful for further assessment and guidance of research on infectious disease sensitivity to climate and other environmental and anthropogenic changes around the world.
An Evaluation of CMIP6 Models in Representing the Biophysical Effects of Deforestation With Satellite‐Based Observations
Authors: Luo Xing , Ge Jun , Guo Weidong , Cao Yipeng , Liu Yu , Chen Chaorong , Yang Limei
Published: June 2023

Deforestation can impact surface temperature via biophysical processes. Earth system models (ESMs) are commonly used tools to examine biophysical effects of deforestation, but the model capacity to represent deforestation effects remains unclear. In this study, we comprehensively evaluate the performance of four ESMs of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in representing deforestation effects with a satellite‐based benchmark. The results show that the ESMs can basically capture the sign of the temperature response but over‐ or underestimate the magnitude. Such biases are the consequence of biases in the simulated responses of albedo and sensible and latent heat fluxes. Specifically, the ESMs consistently overestimate the albedo response under snow‐covered conditions, for example, in the northern latitudes and in the cold season. The ESMs fail to fully reproduce the observed responses of sensible and latent heat fluxes, and the model bias depends on the model, region and season. The ESMs and observations even disagree on the sign of responses of sensible and latent heat fluxes in some cases. An attribution analysis further shows that biases in the simulated surface temperature response mainly result from biases related to the response of the surface energy partitioning. Biases related to the albedo response only play an important role under snow‐covered conditions. Given these model biases, we highlight that when the CMIP6 models are used to investigate deforestation effects, the simulated result should be interpreted with caution. Moreover, the identified model deficiency shown here also has implications for model improvement.
Can Convective Cold Pools Lead to the Development of Low‐Level Jets?
Authors: Luiz E. W. , Fiedler S.
Published: June 2023

We present the first observational evidence for convectively generated cold pools (CP) as driving mechanism for low‐level jets (LLJ). Our findings are based on a unique campaign data set that allowed us to perform a systematic assessment of the process. During the three‐month campaign in Germany, 6.8% of all identified LLJ profiles were connected to a CP (CPLLJ). Most measured CPLLJs appeared with the CP front and lasted for up to two hours. Moreover, we have observed a CP favoring the formation of a several‐hours long LLJ. In that case, a strong LLJ and cooling of the atmosphere between the surface and at least 400 m a.g.l. were seen when the density current reached the measurement site. The development led to the formation of a near‐surface temperature inversion during daytime as a prerequisite for the LLJ, not unlike the mechanism of nocturnal LLJs.
Buried Silicic Volcanoes Discovered in the Gruithuisen Region on the Moon
Authors: Qiu Denggao , Sasaki Sho , Yan Jianguo , Ye Mao , Deng Qingyun , Liang Feng , Liu Lu , Li Fei
Published: June 2023

Mons Gruithuisen is a rare example of nonmare silicic volcanoes on the Moon. We have conducted analyses of the topography, chemical compositions, and subsurface structures of the Gruithuisen region based on remote sensing and gravity data. Our findings include presence of newly detected magma chambers in addition to the previously identified silicic domes in Gruithuisen Region. Our analysis suggests that multiple phases of silicic volcanism have occurred in the Gruithuisen region. The subsurface density revealed by the gravity data also suggests the presence of several low‐density masses in the crust. These early‐formed silicic volcanoes at low elevations are overlain by later‐emplaced mare basalts, however, the side slopes of these volcanoes are not covered by mare basalts, and the low‐FeO abundance material is exposed on the lunar surface.
Network analysis of plasma proteomes in affective disorders
Authors: Rhee Sang Jin , Shin Dongyoon , Shin Daun , Song Yoojin , Joo Eun-Jeong , Jung Hee Yeon , Roh Sungwon , Lee Sang-Hyuk , Kim Hyeyoung , Bang Minji , Lee Kyu Young , Lee Jihyeon , Kim Jaenyeon , Kim Yeongshin , Kim Youngsoo , Ahn Yong Min
Published: June 2023

The conventional differentiation of affective disorders into major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) has insufficient biological evidence. Utilizing multiple proteins quantified in plasma may provide critical insight into these limitations. In this study, the plasma proteomes of 299 patients with MDD or BD (aged 19–65 years old) were quantified using multiple reaction monitoring. Based on 420 protein expression levels, a weighted correlation network analysis was performed. Significant clinical traits with protein modules were determined using correlation analysis. Top hub proteins were determined using intermodular connectivity, and significant functional pathways were identified. Weighted correlation network analysis revealed six protein modules. The eigenprotein of a protein module with 68 proteins, including complement components as hub proteins, was associated with the total Childhood Trauma Questionnaire score (r = −0.15, p = 0.009). Another eigenprotein of a protein module of 100 proteins, including apolipoproteins as hub proteins, was associated with the overeating item of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (r = 0.16, p = 0.006). Functional analysis revealed immune responses and lipid metabolism as significant pathways for each module, respectively. No significant protein module was associated with the differentiation between MDD and BD. In conclusion, childhood trauma and overeating symptoms were significantly associated with plasma protein networks and should be considered important endophenotypes in affective disorders.
Weak-coupling to strong-coupling quantum criticality crossover in a Kitaev quantum spin liquid α-RuCl3
Authors: Han Jae-Ho , Do Seung-Hwan , Choi Kwang-Yong , Park Sang-Youn , Kim Jae-You , Ji Sungdae , Kim Ki-Seok , Park Jae-Hoon
Published: June 2023

We report a quantum criticality crossover representing two different universal scaling behaviors in a Kitaev quantum magnetic material α-RuCl3. α-RuCl3 presents both a symmetry-breaking antiferromagnetic order and a long-range entangled topological order of a quantum spin liquid, and thus could be a candidate system for a unique universality class involving deconfined fractionalized excitations of the local Z2 fluxes and itinerant Majorana fermions. Theoretical analyses on the inelastic neutron scattering, ac-magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat results demonstrate that Wilson–Fisher-Yukawa-type ‘conventional’ weak-coupling quantum criticality in high-energy scales crosses over to heavy-fermion-type ‘local’ strong-coupling one in low-energy scales. Our findings provide deep insight on how quantum criticality evolves in fermion-boson coupled topological systems with different types of deconfined fermions.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents following COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccination
Authors: Katoto Patrick D. M. C. , Byamungu Liliane N. , Brand Amanda S. , Tamuzi Jacques L. , Kakubu Mireille A. M. , Wiysonge Charles S. , Gray Glenda
Published: June 2023

Myocarditis and pericarditis are frequent complications of COVID-19, but have also been reported following vaccination against COVID-19 in adolescents. To build vaccine confidence and inform policy, we characterized the incidence of myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following BNT162b2 vaccination and explored the association with dose and sex. We searched national and international databases for studies reporting the incidence of myocarditis/pericarditis following BNT162b2 vaccination as the primary endpoint. The intra-study risk of bias was appraised, and random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate the pooled incidence by dose stratified by sex. The pooled incidence of myocarditis/pericarditis was 4.5 (95%CI: 3.14–6.11) per 100,000 vaccinations across all doses. Compared to dose 1, the risk was significantly higher after dose 2 (RR: 8.62, 95%CI: 5.71–13.03). However, adolescents experienced a low risk after a booster dose than after dose 2 (RR: 0.06; 95%CI: 0.04–0.09). Males were approximately seven times (RR: 6.66, 95%CI: 4.77–4.29) more likely than females to present myocarditis/pericarditis. In conclusion, we found a low frequency of myocarditis/pericarditis after BNT162b2, which occurred predominantly after the second dose in male adolescents. The prognosis appears to be favorable, with full recovery in both males and females. National programs are recommended to adopt the causality framework to reduce overreporting, which undercuts the value of the COVID-19 vaccine on adolescent life, as well as to extend the inter-dose interval policy, which has been linked to a lower frequency of myocarditis/pericarditis.
Application of Zr-MOFs based copper complex in synthesis of pyrazolo[3, 4-b]pyridine-5-carbonitriles via anomeric-based oxidation
Authors: Tavakoli Elham , Sepehrmansourie Hassan , Zarei Mahmoud , Zolfigol Mohammad Ali , Khazaei Ardeshir , As’Habi Mohammad Ali
Published: June 2023

In this research article, Zr-MOFs based copper complex as a novel heterogeneous and porous catalyst was designed and prepared. The structure of catalyst has verified by various techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms (BET), EDS, SEM-elemental mapping, TG and DTG analysis. UiO-66-NH2/TCT/2-amino-Py@Cu(OAc)2 was used as an efficient catalyst in the synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carbonitrile derivatives. The aromatization of titled molecules is performed via a cooperative vinylogous anomeric-based oxidation both under air and inert atmospheres. The unique properties of the presented method are short reaction time, high yield, reusability of catalyst, synthesis of desired product under mild and green condition.
A safe and effective micro-choice based rehabilitation for patients with long COVID: results from a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Frisk Bente , Jürgensen Marte , Espehaug Birgitte , Njøten Kiri Lovise , Søfteland Eirik , Aarli Bernt Bøgvald , Kvale Gerd
Published: June 2023

At least 65 million people suffer from long COVID. Treatment guidelines are unclear, especially pertaining to recommendations of increased activity. This longitudinal study evaluated safety, changes in functional level and sick leave following a concentrated rehabilitation program for patients with long COVID. Seventy-eight patients (19–67 years) participated in a 3-day micro-choice based rehabilitation program with 7-day and 3-month follow-up. Fatigue, functional levels, sick leave, dyspnea and exercise capacity were assessed. No adverse events were reported and 97.4% completed the rehabilitation. Fatigue measured with Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire decreased at 7-days [mean difference (MD = − 4.5, 95% CI − 5.5 to − 3.4) and 3-month (MD = − 5.5, 95% CI − 6.7 to − 4.3). Sick leave rates and dyspnea were reduced (p < 0.001) and exercise capacity and functional level increased (p < 0.001) at 3-month follow-up regardless of severity of fatigue at baseline. Micro-choice based concentrated rehabilitation for patients with long COVID was safe, highly acceptable and showed rapid improvements in fatigue and functional levels, sustaining over time. Even though this is a quasi-experimental study, the findings are of importance addressing the tremendous challenges of disability due to long COVID. Our results are also highly relevant for patients, as they provide the base for an optimistic outlook and evidence supported reason for hope.
Biophysical models resolution affects coral connectivity estimates
Authors: Saint-Amand Antoine , Lambrechts Jonathan , Hanert Emmanuel
Published: June 2023

Estimating connectivity between coral reefs is essential to inform reef conservation and restoration. Given the vastness of coral reef ecosystems, connectivity can only be simulated with biophysical models whose spatial resolution is often coarser than the reef scale. Here, we assess the impact of biophysical models resolution on connectivity estimates by comparing the outputs of five different setups of the same model with resolutions ranging from 250 m to 4 km. We show that increasing the model resolution around reefs yields more complex and less directional dispersal patterns. With a fine-resolution model, connectivity graphs have more connections but of weaker strength. The resulting community structure therefore shows larger clusters of well-connected reefs. Virtual larvae also tend to stay longer close to their source reef with a fine-resolution model, leading to an increased local retention and self-recruitment for species with a short pre-competency period. Overall, only about half of the reefs with the largest connectivity indicator values are similar for the finest and coarsest resolution models. Our results suggest that reef management recommendations should only be made at scales coarser than the model resolution. Reef-scale recommendations can hence only be made with models not exceeding about 500 m resolution.
Prevalence and therapeutic impact of adverse life event reexperiencing under ceremonial ayahuasca
Authors: Weiss Brandon , Wingert Aleksandra , Erritzoe David , Campbell W. Keith
Published: June 2023

The present study examined the safety and efficacy of the ceremonial use of ayahuasca in relation to reports of heightened life event reexperiencing under psychedelics. The study examined (1) the prevalence of specific types of adverse life event reexperiencing, (2) characteristics predictive of reexperiencing, (3) the psychological character of reexperiencing, and (4) the impact of reexperiencing on mental health. Participants were recruited from three ayahuasca healing and spiritual centers in South and Central America (N = 33 military veterans, 306 non-veterans) using self-report data at three timepoints (Pre-retreat, Post-retreat, 3-months post-retreat). Reexperiencing adverse life events under ayahuasca was common, with women showing particularly high probability of reexperiencing sexual assault, veterans reexperiencing combat-related trauma, and individuals with a self-reported lifetime diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder exhibiting a substantively higher prevalence of reexperiencing. Reexperiencing was associated with states of cognitive reappraisal, psychological flexibility, and discomfort during ceremonies, and participants who reexperienced adverse life events exhibited greater reductions in trait neuroticism following their ceremonies. Clinical implications of these results for the application of psychedelics to mood and stress disorders are discussed.
The spatio-temporal architecture of everyday manual behavior
Authors: Sili Daniele , De Giorgi Chiara , Pizzuti Alessandra , Spezialetti Matteo , de Pasquale Francesco , Betti Viviana
Published: June 2023

In everyday activities, humans move alike to manipulate objects. Prior works suggest that hand movements are built by a limited set of basic building blocks consisting of a set of common postures. However, how the low dimensionality of hand movements supports the adaptability and flexibility of natural behavior is unknown. Through a sensorized glove, we collected kinematics data from thirty-six participants preparing and having breakfast in naturalistic conditions. By means of an unbiased analysis, we identified a repertoire of hand states. Then, we tracked their transitions over time. We found that manual behavior can be described in space through a complex organization of basic configurations. These, even in an unconstrained experiment, recurred across subjects. A specific temporal structure, highly consistent within the sample, seems to integrate such identified hand shapes to realize skilled movements. These findings suggest that the simplification of the motor commands unravels in the temporal dimension more than in the spatial one.
Allopurinol non-covalently facilitates binding of unconventional peptides to HLA-B*58:01
Authors: Huan Xuelu , Zhuo Nicole , Lee Haur Yueh , Ren Ee Chee
Published: June 2023

Allopurinol, widely used in gout treatment, is the most common cause of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. The risk of developing such life-threatening reactions is increased particularly for HLA-B*58:01 positive individuals. However the mechanism of action between allopurinol and HLA remains unknown. We demonstrate here that a Lamin A/C peptide KAGQVVTI which is unable to bind HLA-B*58:01 on its own, is enabled to form a stable peptide-HLA complex only in the presence of allopurinol. Crystal structure analysis reveal that allopurinol non-covalently facilitated KAGQVVTI to adopt an unusual binding conformation, whereby the C-terminal isoleucine does not engage as a PΩ that typically fit deeply in the binding F-pocket. A similar observation, though to a lesser degree was seen with oxypurinol. Presentation of unconventional peptides by HLA-B*58:01 aided by allopurinol contributes to our fundamental understanding of drug-HLA interactions. The binding of peptides from endogenously available proteins such as self-protein lamin A/C and viral protein EBNA3B suggest that aberrant loading of unconventional peptides in the presence of allopurinol or oxypurinol may be able to trigger anti-self reactions that can lead to Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).