bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
F-μ bond length and μSR depolarization spectrum calculation for fluoride using two-component density functional theory
Authors: Pan Zhikang , Deng Li , Pan Ziwen , Yuan Yue , Zhang Hongjun , Ye Bangjiao
Published: April 2023

First-principles calculation of muons in ionic fluorides has been proposed recently. However, there is a considerable difference between the obtained F–μ bond length and the experimental data obtained by muon spin relaxation (μSR). Considering that the difference may be caused by ignoring the quantum effect of muons, we use two-component density functional theory (TCDFT) to consider the quantized muon and recalculate the bond length and the μSR depolarization spectrum. After testing several muon–electron correlation, we show that TCDFT can give better results than the commonly used “DFT+μ”.
GEANT4 simulation and spectrum restoration of a pixelated X-ray detector
Authors: Tykhonov Andrii , Winkler Alexander , Smoliar Volodymyr
Published: April 2023

We perform a detailed simulation of a pixelated CdTe detector using the GEANT4 toolkit completed with a custom code emulating the detector's electronic response. We demonstrate that a measured tungsten X-ray spectrum can be majorly restored back to the original incident spectrum using the developed model, without requiring the dedicated hardware charge sharing correction.
Hydrodynamic gauge fixing and higher order hydrodynamic expansion
Authors: De Nardis Jacopo , Doyon Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Hydrodynamics is a powerful emergent theory for the large-scale behaviours in many-body systems, quantum or classical. It is a gradient series expansion, where different orders of spatial derivatives provide an effective description on different length scales. We report the first fully general derivation of third-order, or ‘dispersive’, terms in the hydrodynamic expansion. Our derivation is based on general principles of statistical mechanics, along with the assumption that the complete set of local and quasi-local conserved densities constitutes a good set of emergent degrees of freedom. We obtain fully general Kubo-like expressions for the associated hydrodynamic coefficients (also known as Burnett coefficients), and we determine their exact form in quantum integrable models, introducing in this way purely quantum higher-order terms into generalised hydrodynamics. We emphasise the importance of hydrodynamic gauge fixing at diffusive order, where we claim that it is parity-time-reversal, and not time-reversal, invariance that is at the source of Einstein’s relation, Onsager’s reciprocal relations, the Kubo formula and entropy production. At higher hydrodynamic orders we introduce a more general, nth order ‘symmetric’ gauge, which we show implies the validity of the higher-order hydrodynamic description.
Highly confined low-loss light transmission in linear array-enabled hybrid plasmonic waveguides
Authors: Qin Yimian , Ma Cunbao , Huang Lihao , Yuan Yufeng , Sha Minggong , Ye Xinli , Zheng Kai
Published: April 2023

Deep subwavelength highly confined and long-range optical propagation is vital for photonics integration. However, the performance of the guided mode could be improved by the trade-off between light confinement and loss. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance hybrid waveguide consisting of a high-index nanowire separated from a linear array by a low-index dielectric gap. The array significantly achieves the plasmonic platform optimization based on a linear combination of few-layer graphene (FLG) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers. Through the hybridization of graphene plasmon polaritons and hyperbolic phonon polaritons mode, the resulting hybrid waveguide shows at least double times larger propagation distance and smaller mode area than the multilayer waveguide. Further, modulated by altering material configuration and geometric effects, the mode properties reveal that it is more flexible to adjust the optical transmission, along with a strong deep-subwavelength mode with low loss. Because of highly confined low-loss propagation, the hybrid waveguide is expected to be an excellent building block for various mid-infrared photonic integrated circuits. The present structure also has the potential to be extended to other FLGs, like magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene and trilayer graphene/hBN moiré superlattice.
In-mold electronics applications: the control of ink properties through the use of mixtures of electrically conductive pastes
Authors: Miliciani Michele , Mendicino Gian Maria , DeMeuse Mark T
Published: April 2023

Polymer thick films compatible with a thermoforming process are the key components to realize the next generation of human–machine interface and lighting with a 3D custom shape through an in-mold process. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that a tailored combination of commercial pastes can offer the manufacturer more freedom in developing smart electronic devices. A four-point probe instrument was used to measure the resistivity of the printed circuit. We used the same formed printed sample to estimate the level of elongation under the thermoforming process due to the all-in-one screen design developed for the study. The important objective of this work was to form a paste which should withstand such operations without losing physical properties such as conductivity or adhesion or getting lines cracked.
Entanglement-assisted multi-aperture pulse-compression radar for angle resolving detection
Authors: Wu Bo-Han , Guha Saikat , Zhuang Quntao
Published: April 2023

Entanglement has been known to boost target detection, despite it being destroyed by lossy-noisy propagation. Recently, Zhuang and Shapiro (2022 Phys. Rev. Lett.
128 010501) proposed a quantum pulse-compression radar to extend entanglement’s benefit to target range estimation. In a radar application, many other aspects of the target are of interest, including angle, velocity and cross section. In this study, we propose a dual-receiver radar scheme that employs a high time-bandwidth product microwave pulse entangled with a pre-shared reference signal available at the receiver, to investigate the direction of a distant object and show that the direction-resolving capability is significantly improved by entanglement, compared to its classical counterpart under the same parameter settings. We identify the applicable scenario of this quantum radar to be short-range and high-frequency, which enables entanglement’s benefit in a reasonable integration time.
3D printed variable aperture horn with modular ridges
Authors: Goode Ian , Saavedra Carlos E
Published: April 2023

3D printing technology has significant potential to modernize the student laboratory experience in the area of electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering. In this contribution, a fast and low-cost method to 3D print and metallize a variable aperture horn and waveguide launcher are presented. The launcher converts a SubMiniature version A (SMA) coaxial connector to WR 187 waveguide (standard size of waveguide for 3.95 GHz to 5.85 GHz) and is printed from plastic while being metallized with aluminum tape. The launcher provided similar performance to an off the shelf launcher at one 40th the cost. As a teachable extension to this launcher a variable aperture horn is 3D printed and metallized with aluminum tape. The aperture area of the horn is changed by rotating the

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walls of the horn away from each other by use of pivot in the transition between the launcher and the horn. This horn showed the expected decrease in beamwidth and increase in peak gain as the aperture area was increased while maintaining a usable impedance match. Modular center ridges were also printed to demonstrate the utility of center ridges in a horn antenna without

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walls. Overall, a modular, inexpensive, and easy to construct waveguide system is presented that is useful for teaching electromagnetics specifically the relationship between aperture area and antenna gain, as well as providing a platform for waveguide experiments.
Prevalence of alcohol use amongst sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) communities in the UK: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Meads Catherine , Zeeman Laetitia , Sherriff Nigel , Aranda Kay
Published: April 2023

Background: globally, alcohol use rates vary by sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), but UK government statistics on alcohol use in the LGBTQ+ population are missing. Aim: this systematic scoping review determined the prevalence of alcohol use amongst gender and sexual minority people in the UK. Methods: empirical UK studies from 2010 onwards reporting the prevalence of alcohol use in SOGI compared with heterosexual/cisgender people were included. Searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Google, charity websites and systematic reviews were conducted in October 2021, using SOGI, alcohol and prevalence terms. Citation checking was done by two authors, with disagreements resolved through discussion. Data extraction was done by one author (CM) and checked by another (LZ). Quality assessment was performed by study design, sample type and statistical analysis of results. A narrative synthesis was qualitatively combined with a tabular presentation of results. Results: database and website searches found 6607 potentially relevant citations, and 505 full texts were reviewed with 20 studies included, found in 21 publications and grey literature reports. Most were on sexual orientation, including 12 from large cohort studies. Harmful alcohol use is higher in LGBTQ+ people than heterosexual people in the UK, a result similar to that found in other countries. Qualitative data reflected alcohol’s role as emotional support. Fewer asexual people drank alcohol compared with allosexual people, and there were no data available regarding intersex people. Conclusion: funded cohort studies and service providers should routinely collect SOGI data. Standardized reporting of SOGI and alcohol use would improve comparability across studies.
Recent application of artificial intelligence on histopathologic image-based prediction of gene mutation in solid cancers
Authors: Alam Mohammad Rizwan , Seo Kyung Jin , Abdul-Ghafar Jamshid , Yim Kwangil , Lee Sung Hak , Jang Hyun-Jong , Jung Chan Kwon , Chong Yosep
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Evaluation of genetic mutations in cancers is important because distinct mutational profiles help determine individualized drug therapy. However, molecular analyses are not routinely performed in all cancers because they are expensive, time-consuming and not universally available. Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown the potential to determine a wide range of genetic mutations on histologic image analysis. Here, we assessed the status of mutation prediction AI models on histologic images by a systematic review.

Methods

A literature search using the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases was conducted in August 2021. The articles were shortlisted by titles and abstracts. After a full-text review, publication trends, study characteristic analysis and comparison of performance metrics were performed.

Results

Twenty-four studies were found mostly from developed countries, and their number is increasing. The major targets were gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, lung and head and neck cancers. Most studies used the Cancer Genome Atlas, with a few using an in-house dataset. The area under the curve of some of the cancer driver gene mutations in particular organs was satisfactory, such as 0.92 of BRAF in thyroid cancers and 0.79 of EGFR in lung cancers, whereas the average of all gene mutations was 0.64, which is still suboptimal.

Conclusion

AI has the potential to predict gene mutations on histologic images with appropriate caution. Further validation with larger datasets is still required before AI models can be used in clinical practice to predict gene mutations.
A survey on computational strategies for genome-resolved gut metagenomics
Authors: Jia Longhao , Wu Yingjian , Dong Yanqi , Chen Jingchao , Chen Wei-Hua , Zhao Xing-Ming
Published: April 2023

Recovering high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (HQ-MAGs) is critical for exploring microbial compositions and microbe–phenotype associations. However, multiple sequencing platforms and computational tools for this purpose may confuse researchers and thus call for extensive evaluation. Here, we systematically evaluated a total of 40 combinations of popular computational tools and sequencing platforms (i.e. strategies), involving eight assemblers, eight metagenomic binners and four sequencing technologies, including short-, long-read and metaHiC sequencing. We identified the best tools for the individual tasks (e.g. the assembly and binning) and combinations (e.g. generating more HQ-MAGs) depending on the availability of the sequencing data. We found that the combination of the hybrid assemblies and metaHiC-based binning performed best, followed by the hybrid and long-read assemblies. More importantly, both long-read and metaHiC sequencings link more mobile elements and antibiotic resistance genes to bacterial hosts and improve the quality of public human gut reference genomes with 32% (34/105) HQ-MAGs that were either of better quality than those in the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome catalog version 2 or novel.
Predicting allosteric pockets in protein biological assemblages
Authors: Kumar Ambuj , Kaynak Burak T , Dorman Karin S , Doruker Pemra , Jernigan Robert L
Published: April 2023

Motivation

Allostery enables changes to the dynamic behavior of a protein at distant positions induced by binding. Here, we present APOP, a new allosteric pocket prediction method, which perturbs the pockets formed in the structure by stiffening pairwise interactions in the elastic network across the pocket, to emulate ligand binding. Ranking the pockets based on the shifts in the global mode frequencies, as well as their mean local hydrophobicities, leads to high prediction success when tested on a dataset of allosteric proteins, composed of both monomers and multimeric assemblages.

Results

Out of the 104 test cases, APOP predicts known allosteric pockets for 92 within the top 3 rank out of multiple pockets available in the protein. In addition, we demonstrate that APOP can also find new alternative allosteric pockets in proteins. Particularly interesting findings are the discovery of previously overlooked large pockets located in the centers of many protein biological assemblages; binding of ligands at these sites would likely be particularly effective in changing the protein’s global dynamics.

Availability and implementation

APOP is freely available as an open-source code (https://github.com/Ambuj-UF/APOP) and as a web server at https://apop.bb.iastate.edu/.
Brain tumour segmentation with incomplete imaging data
Authors: Ruffle James K , Mohinta Samia , Gray Robert , Hyare Harpreet , Nachev Parashkev
Published: April 2023

Progress in neuro-oncology is increasingly recognized to be obstructed by the marked heterogeneity—genetic, pathological, and clinical—of brain tumours. If the treatment susceptibilities and outcomes of individual patients differ widely, determined by the interactions of many multimodal characteristics, then large-scale, fully-inclusive, richly phenotyped data—including imaging—will be needed to predict them at the individual level. Such data can realistically be acquired only in the routine clinical stream, where its quality is inevitably degraded by the constraints of real-world clinical care. Although contemporary machine learning could theoretically provide a solution to this task, especially in the domain of imaging, its ability to cope with realistic, incomplete, low-quality data is yet to be determined. In the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, applying state-of-the-art brain tumour segmentation models to large scale, multi-site MRI data of 1251 individuals, here we quantify the comparative fidelity of automated segmentation models drawn from MR data replicating the various levels of completeness observed in real life. We demonstrate that models trained on incomplete data can segment lesions very well, often equivalently to those trained on the full completement of images, exhibiting Dice coefficients of 0.907 (single sequence) to 0.945 (complete set) for whole tumours and 0.701 (single sequence) to 0.891 (complete set) for component tissue types. This finding opens the door both to the application of segmentation models to large-scale historical data, for the purpose of building treatment and outcome predictive models, and their application to real-world clinical care. We further ascertain that segmentation models can accurately detect enhancing tumour in the absence of contrast-enhancing imaging, quantifying the burden of enhancing tumour with an R2 > 0.97, varying negligibly with lesion morphology. Such models can quantify enhancing tumour without the administration of intravenous contrast, inviting a revision of the notion of tumour enhancement if the same information can be extracted without contrast-enhanced imaging. Our analysis includes validation on a heterogeneous, real-world 50 patient sample of brain tumour imaging acquired over the last 15 years at our tertiary centre, demonstrating maintained accuracy even on non-isotropic MRI acquisitions, or even on complex post-operative imaging with tumour recurrence. This work substantially extends the translational opportunity for quantitative analysis to clinical situations where the full complement of sequences is not available and potentially enables the characterization of contrast-enhanced regions where contrast administration is infeasible or undesirable.
Apical papillary muscle displacement is a prevalent feature and a phenotypic precursor of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Filomena Domenico , Vandenberk Bert , Dresselaers Tom , Willems Rik , Van Cleemput Johan , Olivotto Iacopo , Robyns Tomas , Bogaert Jan
Published: April 2023

Aims

Papillary muscle (PM) abnormalities are considered part of the phenotypic spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and frequency of PM displacement in different HCM phenotypes.

Methods and results

We retrospectively analysed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in 156 patients (25% females, median age 57 years). Patients were divided into three groups: septal hypertrophy (Sep-HCM, n = 70, 45%), mixed hypertrophy (Mixed-HCM, n = 48, 31%), and apical hypertrophy (Ap-HCM, n = 38, 24%). Fifty-five healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Apical PM displacement was observed in 13% of controls and 55% of patients, which was most common in the Ap-HCM group, followed by the Mixed-HCM and Sep-HCM groups (respectively: inferomedial PM 92 vs. 65 vs. 13%, P < 0.001; anterolateral PM 61 vs. 40 vs. 9%, P < 0.001). Significant differences in PM displacement were found when comparing healthy controls with patients with Ap- and Mixed-HCM subtypes but not when comparing them with patients with the Sep-HCM subtype. T-wave inversion in the inferior and lateral leads was more frequent in patients with Ap-HCM (100 and 65%, respectively) when compared with Mixed-HCM (89 and 29%, respectively) and Sep-HCM (57 and 17%, respectively; P < 0.001 for both). Eight patients with Ap-HCM had prior CMR examinations because of T-wave inversion [median interval 7 (3–8) years], and in the first CMR study, none showed apical hypertrophy [median apical wall thickness 8 (7–9) mm], while all of them presented with apical PM displacement.

Conclusion

Apical PM displacement is part of the phenotypic Ap-HCM spectrum and may precede the development of hypertrophy. These observations suggest a potential pathogenetic, mechanical link between apical PM displacement and Ap-HCM.
Left atrial reservoir strain predicts ischaemic stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting independent of postoperative atrial fibrillation
Authors: Vyff Frederikke , Johansen Niklas Dyrby , Olsen Flemming J , Duus Lisa S , Lindberg Søren , Fritz-Hansen Thomas , Pedersen Sune , Iversen Allan , Galatius Søren , Møgelvang Rasmus , Biering-Sørensen Tor
Published: April 2023

Aims

Measures of left atrial (LA) function are known to predict both ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation in specific patient groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of LA reservoir strain for predicting ischaemic stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and investigate whether the presence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) modified this relationship.

Methods and results

Patients undergoing isolated CABG were included. The primary endpoint was ischaemic stroke. The association between LA reservoir strain and ischaemic stroke was investigated in uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models including adjustment for POAF.

We included 542 patients (mean age 67.3±8.9 years, 16.4% female). During a median follow-up period of 3.9 years, 21 patients (3.9%) experienced an ischaemic stroke. In total, 96 patients (17.7%) developed POAF during the index hospitalization. In a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model, LA reservoir strain was significantly associated with the development of ischaemic stroke [HR (hazard ratio) 1.09 (95% CI 1.02–1.17) per 1% decrease, P = 0.011]. The presence of POAF did not modify this association (p for interaction = 0.07). The predictive value of the LA reservoir strain persisted in multiple sensitivity analyses including restricting the analysis to patients with normal left atrial volumes (LAV<34 ml/m2), patients without POAF, patients without prior stroke, and when excluding patients who developed atrial fibrillation at any time during follow-up.

Conclusion

LA reservoir strain was independently associated with ischaemic stroke in CABG patients. The predictive value of LA reservoir strain was unaffected by the presence of POAF. Prospective studies are warranted to validate the potential usefulness of LA reservoir strain to predict postoperative ischaemic stroke in the setting of CABG.
The Dark Side of Transparency: Mission Variety and Industry Equilibrium in Decentralised Public Good Provision
Authors: Aldashev Gani , Jaimovich Esteban , Verdier Thierry
Published: April 2023

We study the implications of transparency policies on decentralised public good provision by the non-profit sector. We present a model where imperfect monitoring of the use of funds interacts with the competitive structure of the non-profit sector under alternative informational regimes. Increasing transparency regarding the use of funds may have ambiguous effects on total public good provision and on donors’ welfare. On the one hand, transparency encourages all non-profit firms to engage more actively in curbing fund diversion. On the other hand, it tilts the playing field against non-profits facing higher monitoring costs, pressing them to give up on their missions. This effect on the extensive margin implies that transparency policies lead to a reduction in the diversity of social missions addressed by the non-profit sector. We show that the negative impact of transparency on social mission variety and on donors’ welfare is highest for intermediate levels of asymmetry in monitoring costs.
Evaluating semi- and nonparametric regression algorithms in quantifying stem taper and volume with alternative test data selection strategies
Authors: Yang Sheng-I , Burkhart Harold E , Seki Mehmet
Published: April 2023

Accurately quantifying stem taper is essential to predict diameter at any given height along the stem and to estimate tree volume for various sections of the stem. With increased computing power, semi- and nonparamatric methods have been proposed as alternative approaches for modelling tree taper. The main objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of stem taper predicted for four pine and four hardwood species by semi- and nonparametric models. Specifically, generalized additive models (GAM), random forests (RF) and regression-enhanced random forests (RERF) were compared with two widely-used parametric models: variable-exponent function (VAR) and segmented polynomial regression model (SEG). Test datasets selected from four different data splitting methods were used to examine the prediction accuracy of the models. Results showed that all examined models can be used to quantify stem taper and volume for all species when prediction is limited to be within the range of tree sizes used in model building. The nonparametric RF algorithm generally produced higher bias and lower precision than the semiparametric (GAM and RERF) and parametric models (VAR and SEG). For all species, GAM, VAR and SEG provided more robust predictions of stem taper than RF and RERF algorithms, especially when small or large trees were withheld for model testing. The data splitting strategies used in this work provide an efficient ‘stress test’ to evaluate model performance when collecting an independent test dataset is not feasible. The findings of this work provide additional insights for forest practitioners and resource managers to select appropriate methods in stem taper modelling.
Canopy and surface fuel estimations using RPAS and ground-based point clouds
Authors: Arkin Jeremy , Coops Nicholas C , Daniels Lori D , Plowright Andrew
Published: April 2023

Forest management activities intended to reduce wildfire risk rely on accurate characterizations of the amount and arrangement of canopy and surface fuels. Metrics that describe these fuels are typically estimated with various systems that transform plot-level field data into metrics that can be used within fire behaviour models. Remote sensing data have long been used to estimate these metrics across large spatial scales, but more advanced, high-density point clouds have the potential to estimate these metrics with higher accuracy. This study collected LiDAR and digital aerial photogrammetric (DAP) point clouds from a remotely piloted aerial system (RPAS), as well as mobile laser scanning (MLS) point clouds from a mobile ground-based system, and compared their ability to estimate fuel metrics. This involved the extraction of predictor variables from each point cloud, of which small subsets were used to estimate various fuel metrics. These included six overstory canopy metrics (stand height, canopy cover, tree density, canopy fuel load, canopy bulk density and canopy base height), three diameter at breast height (DBH)–related metrics (stand density index, basal area and quadratic mean diameter) and three surface fuel metrics (total woody debris (TWD), coarse woody debris (CWD) and fine woody debris (FWD)). Overall, canopy metrics were estimated most accurately by the RPAS LiDAR models, although none of the point clouds were able to accurately estimate DBH-related metrics. For the other six canopy metrics, RPAS LiDAR models had an average R2 value of 0.70; DAP – 0.63 and MLS – 0.63. CWD (>7 cm) and TWD loads were estimated most accurately by the MLS models (average R2 values – 0.70), followed by the RPAS LiDAR – 0.38 and DAP – 0.13. None of these models were able to accurately estimate FWD loads (≤7 cm in diameter), with the three types of point clouds having a maximum R2 value of 0.08. Overall, this research shows the relative ability of three types of high-density point clouds to estimate metrics relevant for fire behaviour modeling.
Population Aging and Heat Exposure in the 21st Century: Which U.S. Regions Are at Greatest Risk and Why?
Authors: Carr Deborah , Falchetta Giacomo , Sue Wing Ian
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives

The co-occurring trends of population aging and climate change mean that rising numbers of U.S. older adults are at risk of intensifying heat exposure. We estimate county-level variations in older populations’ heat exposure in the early (1995–2014) and mid (2050) 21st century. We identify the extent to which rising exposures are attributable to climate change versus population aging.

Research Design and Methods

We estimate older adults’ heat exposure in 3,109 counties in the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Analyses use NASA NEX Global Daily Downscaled Product (NEX-GDDP-CMIP6) climate data and county-level projections for the size and distribution of the U.S. age 69+ population.

Results

Population aging and rising temperatures are documented throughout the United States, with particular “hotspots” in the Deep South, Florida, and parts of the rural Midwest. Increases in heat exposure by 2050 will be especially steep in historically colder regions with large older populations in New England, the upper Midwest, and rural Mountain regions. Rising temperatures are driving exposure in historically colder regions, whereas population aging is driving exposure in historically warm southern regions.

Discussion and Implications

Interventions to address the impacts of temperature extremes on older adult well-being should consider the geographic distribution and drivers of this exposure. In historically cooler areas where climate change is driving exposures, investments in warning systems may be productive, whereas investments in health care and social services infrastructures are essential in historically hot regions where exposures are driven by population aging.
Religious masculinities in William of Newburgh’s Historia rerum Anglicarum
Authors: Perisanidi Maroula
Published: April 2023

William’s revenant stories, far from being oddities, fit well within the Historia rerum Anglicarum and can be read as reformist models of masculine behaviour. They present the reader with negative examples, such as clerics who acted in inappropriate ways and got their rightful punishment, as well as positive examples of men who not only stayed faithful to the precepts of the church but bolstered their masculinity by doing so. Reading the revenant stories within this framework allows us to see how religious men adopted and adapted secular masculine ideals, shows us the value of focusing on the intersection of gender and religious status, reveals the different means through which gendered messages spread, and acts as a reminder that although one group may have been the target of regulations, all men were affected by them.
Effectiveness and Safety of Vortioxetine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in the Real World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Zejun , Liu Shouhuan , Wu Qiuxia , Li Jing , Yang Qian , Wang Xin , Peng Pu , Wang Qianjin , Liu Yueheng , Li Manyun , Hao Yuzhu , Xu Huixue , He Li , Wang Yunfei , Chen Shubao , Liu Tieqiao
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent and burdensome condition. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of vortioxetine in treating MDD based on real-world data.

Methods

A systematic search of 8 electronic databases was performed from inception until October 2022 to identify real-world studies, excluding randomized controlled trials. We conducted subgroup, meta-regression, sensitivity analyses, publication bias, and quality assessments using the random-effects model. The effects were summarized by rates or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Of the 870 records identified, 11 studies (3139 participants) and 10 case reports or series were eligible for inclusion. Vortioxetine significantly relieved depression symptoms as assessed by both patients (SMD = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.60−2.89) and physicians (SMD = 3.73, 95% CI = 2.78−4.69). Cognitive function (SMD =1.86, 95% CI = 1.11−2.62) and functional disability (SMD =1.71, 95% CI = 1.14−2.29) were similarly markedly improved. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed that geographic location and medication regimen (whether combined with other antidepressants) were crucial factors influencing effectiveness (in terms of depression severity and cognitive function), potentially contributing to significant heterogeneity. The estimated response and remission rates were 66.4% (95% CI = 51.2%−81.5%) and 58.0% (95% CI = 48.9%−67.1%), respectively. Vortioxetine was well tolerated, with a pooled dropout rate of 3.5% (95% CI = 1.8%−5.8%), and the most common adverse event was nausea, with an estimated rate of 8.9% (95% CI = 3.8%−15.8%).

Limitations

The study has some limitations, including significant heterogeneity and limited evidence for some outcomes.

Conclusions

Vortioxetine is effective, well tolerated, and safe for treating MDD in clinical practice, with significant improvements observed in depressive severity, cognitive function, and functioning. Future studies should directly compare vortioxetine with other antidepressants in real-world settings to further evaluate its clinical utility.
Efficacy of a bacterial 6-phytase supplemented beyond traditional dose levels on jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, ileal nutrient digestibility, bone parameters, and intestinal health, and growth performance of nursery pigs
Authors: Moita Vitor Hugo C , Kim Sung Woo
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a bacterial 6-phytase (Buttiauxella spp.) supplemented beyond traditional dose levels based on jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, apparent ileal digestibility (AID), intestinal health and bone parameters, and growth performance of nursery pigs. Seventy-two weaned pigs (36 barrows and 36 gilts at 21 d of age with 5.8 ± 0.5 kg BW) were allotted to six treatments based on randomized complete block design with sex and initial BW as blocks and fed in three dietary phases (phase 1 for 14 d, phase 2 for 10 d, and phase 3 for 14 d). The treatments included a negative control (NC) diet without phytase formulated meeting nutrient requirements by NRC and the other five treatments were deficient in calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) by 0.12% with increasing levels of a bacterial 6-phytase (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 FTU/kg feed). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to phase 3 diets as an indigestible marker to measure AID of nutrients. On day 45, all pigs were euthanized to collect ileal digesta to measure AID, the third metacarpus to measure bone parameters, and jejunal mucosa to evaluate intestinal health and microbiota. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure for polynomial contrasts and the NLMIXED procedure for broken line analysis using the SAS 9.4. Broken line analysis demonstrated that 948 FTU/kg feed increased (P < 0.05) the ADG and the bone P content. Increasing phytase supplementation increased (linear, P < 0.05) AID of CP, bone P, and ash content. Increasing phytase supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) the fecal score during phases 2 and 3. Broken line analysis demonstrated that 1,889 FTU/kg feed increased (P < 0.05) bone breaking strength. Increasing phytase supplementation (PC vs. Phy) increased (P < 0.05) AID of ether extract (EE) and P. The supplementation of phytase at 2,000 FTU/kg feed tended (P = 0.087) to reduce the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae. In conclusion, the supplementation of a bacterial 6-phytase beyond traditional dose levels improved bone breaking strength, bone ash, and P content, AID of CP, EE, and P, and growth performance of nursery pigs with reduced relative abundance of Bacteroidetes specifically Prevotellaceae in the jejunal mucosa. Supplementation of a bacterial 6-phytase between 1,000 and 2,000 FTU/kg feed provided benefits associated with growth performance and bone parameters of nursery pigs.
Potential therapeutic role for pigment epithelium-derived factor in post-menopausal breast cancer bone metastasis
Authors: Brook Naomi , Dharmarajan Arun , Chan Arlene , Dass Crispin R
Published: April 2023

Objectives

This review discusses key oestrogens associated with the circulating pre- and post-menopausal milieu and how they may impact intratumoral oestrogen levels and breast cancer (BC) metastasis. It also identifies critical steps in BC metastasis to bone from the viewpoint of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) function, and discusses the role of several associated pro-metastatic biomarkers in BC bone metastasis.

Key findings

PEDF is regulated by oestrogen in a number of oestrogen-sensitive tissues. Changes in circulating oestrogen levels associated with menopause may enhance the growth of BC bone metastases, leading to the establishment of a pre-metastatic niche. The establishment of such a pre-metastatic niche is driven by several key mediators, with pro-osteoclastic and pro-metastatic function which are upregulated by BC cells. These mediators appear to be regulated by oestrogen, as well as differentially affected by menopausal status. PEDF interacts with several pro-metastatic, pro-osteoclastic biomarkers, including C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in BC bone metastasis.

Conclusion

Mediators such as CXCR4 and MT1-MMP underpin the ability of PEDF to function as an antimetastatic in other cancers such as osteosarcoma, highlighting the possibility that this serpin could be used as a therapeutic against BC metastasis in future.
Measurement error models for spatial network lattice data: Analysis of car crashes in Leeds
Authors: Gilardi Andrea , Borgoni Riccardo , Presicce Luca , Mateu Jorge
Published: April 2023

Road casualties represent an alarming concern for modern societies. During the last years, several authors proposed sophisticated approaches to help authorities implement new policies. These models were usually developed considering a set of socio-economic variables and ignoring the measurement error, which can bias the statistical inference. This paper presents a Bayesian model to analyse car crash occurrences at the network-lattice level, taking into account measurement error in the spatial covariate. The suggested methodology is exemplified by considering the collisions in the road network of Leeds (UK) during 2011–2019. Traffic volumes are approximated using an extensive set of counts obtained from mobile devices and the estimates are adjusted using a spatial measurement error correction.
Role of hydraulic traits in stomatal regulation of transpiration under different vapour pressure deficits across five Mediterranean tree crops
Authors: Hernandez-Santana Virginia , Rodriguez-Dominguez Celia M , Sebastian-Azcona Jaime , Perez-Romero Luis Felipe , Diaz-Espejo Antonio
Published: April 2023

The differential stomatal regulation of transpiration among plant species in response to water deficit is not fully understood, although several hydraulic traits have been reported to influence it. This knowledge gap is partly due to a lack of direct and concomitant experimental data on transpiration, stomatal conductance, and hydraulic traits. We measured sap flux density (Js), stomatal conductance (gs), and different hydraulic traits in five crop species. Our aim was to contribute to establishing the causal relationship between water consumption and its regulation using a hydraulic trait-based approach. The results showed that the species-specific regulation of Js by gs was overall coordinated with the functional hydraulic traits analysed. Particularly relevant was the negative and significant relationship found between the Huber value (Hv) and its functional analogue ratio between maximum Js and gs (Jsmax/gsmax) which can be understood as a compensation to maintain the hydraulic supply to the leaves. The Hv was also significantly related to the slope of the relationship between gs and Js response to vapour pressure deficit and explained most of its variability, adding up to evidence recognizing Hv as a major trait in plant water relations. Thus, a hydraulic basis for regulation of tree water use should be considered.
Chemical cartography with LAMOST and Gaia reveal azimuthal and spiral structure in the Galactic disc
Authors: Hawkins Keith
Published: April 2023

Chemical Cartography, or mapping, of our Galaxy has the potential to fully transform our view of its structure and formation. In this work, we use chemical cartography to explore the metallicity distribution of OBAF-type disc stars from the LAMOST survey and a complementary sample of disc giant stars from Gaia DR3. We use these samples to constrain the radial and vertical metallicity gradients across the Galactic disc. We also explore whether there are detectable azimuthal variations in the metallicity distribution on top of the radial gradient. For the OBAF-type star sample from LAMOST, we find a radial metallicity gradient of Δ[Fe/H]/ΔR ∼−0.078 ± 0.001 dex kpc−1 in the plane of the disc and a vertical metallicity gradient of Δ[Fe/H]/ΔZ ∼−0.15 ± 0.01 dex kpc−1 in the solar neighbourhood. The radial gradient becomes shallower with increasing vertical height, while the vertical gradient becomes shallower with increasing Galactocentric radius, consistent with other studies. We also find detectable spatially dependent azimuthal variations on top of the radial metallicity gradient at the level of ∼0.10 dex. Interestingly, the azimuthal variations appear be close to the Galactic spiral arms in one data set (Gaia DR3) but not the other (LAMOST). These results suggest that there is azimuthal structure in the Galactic metallicity distribution and that in some cases it is co-located with spiral arms.
Wet compaction to a blue nugget: a critical phase in galaxy evolution
Authors: Lapiner Sharon , Dekel Avishai , Freundlich Jonathan , Ginzburg Omri , Jiang Fangzhou , Kretschmer Michael , Tacchella Sandro , Ceverino Daniel , Primack Joel
Published: April 2023

We utilize high-resolution cosmological simulations to reveal that high-redshift galaxies tend to undergo a robust ‘wet compaction’ event when near a ‘golden’ stellar mass of $\sim \!\!10^{10}\, \rm M_\odot$ . This is a gaseous shrinkage to a compact star-forming phase, a ‘blue nugget’ (BN), followed by central quenching of star formation to a compact passive stellar bulge, a ‘red nugget’ (RN), and a buildup of an extended gaseous disc and ring. Such nuggets are observed at cosmic noon and seed today’s early-type galaxies. The compaction is triggered by a drastic loss of angular momentum due to, e.g. wet mergers, counter-rotating cold streams, or violent disc instability. The BN phase marks drastic transitions in the galaxy structural, compositional, and kinematic properties. The transitions are from star forming to quenched inside-out, from diffuse to compact with an extended disc or ring and a stellar envelope, from dark matter to baryon central dominance, from prolate to oblate stellar shape, from pressure to rotation support, from low to high metallicity, and from supernova to AGN feedback. The central black hole growth, first suppressed by supernova feedback when below the golden mass, is boosted by the compaction, and the black hole keeps growing once the halo is massive enough to lock in the supernova ejecta.
Orientation of the spins of galaxies in the local volume
Authors: Karachentsev I D , Zozulia V D
Published: April 2023

We estimated the angular momentum, J, of 720 galaxies in the Local Volume with distances r < 12 Mpc. The distribution of the average angular momentum along the Hubble sequence has a maximum at the morphological type T = 4 (Sbc), while the dispersion of the J-values for galaxies is minimal. Among the Local Volume population, 27 elite spiral galaxies stand out, with an angular momentum > 0.15 of the Milky Way, J > 0.15JMW, making the main contribution ($\gt 90~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ ) to the total angular momentum of galaxies in the considered volume. Using observational data on the kinematics and structure of these galaxies, we determined the direction of their spins. We present the first map of the distribution of the spins of 27 nearby massive spiral galaxies in the sky and note that their pattern does not exhibit significant alignment with respect to the Local Sheet plane. The relationship between the magnitude of the angular momentum and stellar mass of the local galaxies is well represented by a power law with an exponent of (5/3) over an interval of six orders of magnitude of the mass of galaxies.
Micro Germline-Restricted Chromosome in Blue Tits: Evidence for Meiotic Functions
Authors: Mueller Jakob C , Schlebusch Stephen A , Pei Yifan , Poignet Manon , Vontzou Niki , Ruiz-Ruano Francisco J , Albrecht Tomáš , Reifová Radka , Forstmeier Wolfgang , Suh Alexander , Kempenaers Bart
Published: April 2023

The germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is likely present in all songbird species but differs widely in size and gene content. This extra chromosome has been described as either a microchromosome with only limited basic gene content or a macrochromosome with enriched gene functions related to female gonad and embryo development. Here, we assembled, annotated, and characterized the first micro-GRC in the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) using high-fidelity long-read sequencing data. Although some genes on the blue tit GRC show signals of pseudogenization, others potentially have important functions, either currently or in the past. We highlight the GRC gene paralog BMP15, which is among the highest expressed GRC genes both in blue tits and in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and is known to play a role in oocyte and follicular maturation in other vertebrates. The GRC genes of the blue tit are further enriched for functions related to the synaptonemal complex. We found a similar functional enrichment when analyzing published data on GRC genes from two nightingale species (Luscinia spp.). We hypothesize that these genes play a role in maintaining standard maternal inheritance or in recombining maternal and paternal GRCs during potential episodes of biparental inheritance.
OrthoVenn3: an integrated platform for exploring and visualizing orthologous data across genomes
Authors: Sun Jiahe , Lu Fang , Luo Yongjiang , Bie Lingzi , Xu Ling , Wang Yi
Published: April 2023

Advancements in comparative genomics research have led to a growing interest in studying species evolution and genetic diversity. To facilitate this research, OrthoVenn3 has been developed as a powerful, web-based tool that enables users to efficiently identify and annotate orthologous clusters and infer phylogenetic relationships across a range of species. The latest upgrade of OrthoVenn includes several important new features, including enhanced orthologous cluster identification accuracy, improved visualization capabilities for numerous sets of data, and wrapped phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, OrthoVenn3 now provides gene family contraction and expansion analysis to support researchers better understanding the evolutionary history of gene families, as well as collinearity analysis to detect conserved and variable genomic structures. With its intuitive user interface and robust functionality, OrthoVenn3 is a valuable resource for comparative genomics research. The tool is freely accessible at https://orthovenn3.bioinfotoolkits.net.