bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with hemoglobin glycation index in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus: The FGM‐Japan study
Authors: Sakane Naoki , Hirota Yushi , Yamamoto Akane , Miura Junnosuke , Takaike Hiroko , Hoshina Sari , Toyoda Masao , Saito Nobumichi , Hosoda Kiminori , Matsubara Masaki , Tone Atsuhito , Kawashima Satoshi , Sawaki Hideaki , Matsuda Tomokazu , Domichi Masayuki , Suganuma Akiko , Sakane Seiko , Murata Takashi
Published: February 2023

Aims/Introduction

The discrepancy between HbA1c and glucose exposure may have significant clinical implications; however, the association between the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) and clinical parameters in type 1 diabetes remains controversial. This study aimed to find the factors associated with HGI (laboratory HbA1c − predicted HbA1c derived from the continuous glucose monitoring [CGM]).

Materials and Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of adults with type 1 diabetes (n = 211, age 50.9 ± 15.2 years old, female sex = 59.2%, duration of CGM use = 2.1 ± 1.0 years). All subjects wore the CGM for 90 days before HbA1c measurement. Data derived from the FreeStyle Libre sensor were used to calculate the glucose management indicator (GMI) and glycemic variability (GV) parameters. HGI was defined as the difference between the GMI and the laboratory HbA1c levels. The participants were divided into three groups according to the HGI tertile (low, moderate, and high). Multivariate regression analyses were performed.

Results

The female sex ratio, HbA1c, and % coefficient of variation (%CV) significantly increased over the HGI tertile, while eGFR and Hb decreased over the HGI tertile. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with HGI were %CV and eGFR, after adjusting for HbA1c level and sex (R2 = 0.44).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that HGI is associated with female sex, eGFR, and some glycemic variability indices, independently of HbA1c. Minimizing glycemic fluctuations might reduce HGI. This information provides diabetic health professionals and patients with personalized diabetes management for adults with type 1 diabetes.
Sex‐ and ethnic‐specific patterns in the incidence of hip fracture among older US Asian and non‐Hispanic White adults
Authors: Lo Joan C. , Chandra Malini , Lee David R. , Darbinian Jeanne A. , Gordon Nancy P. , Zeltser David W. , Grimsrud Christopher D. , Lee Catherine
Published: February 2023

Background

Asian and Pacific Islander (Asian/PI) adults have lower hip fracture incidence than non‐Hispanic White (NHW) adults, but data regarding Asian/PI subgroups are limited. We compared hip fracture incidence among older US Asian/PI and NHW populations, including ethnic subgroup differences.

Methods

Using observational data from a California healthcare system, we identified Asian/PI and NHW adults aged ≥50 years (2000–2019) and followed subjects to 2021 for hip fracture determined by principal/primary hospital diagnosis or by secondary hospital diagnosis with hip/femur procedure codes. Age‐adjusted hip fracture incidence was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Log‐Poisson regression was used to determine fracture incidence rate ratios (IRRs, [CI]; NHW or Chinese as reference) adjusting for age and year.

Results

Among 215,359 Asian/PI and 776,839 NHW women, hip fracture incidence was 1.34 (1.28–1.40) and 2.97 (2.94–3.01) per 1000 person‐years, respectively, with IRR 0.45 (0.43–0.47). Among 188,328 Asian/PI and 697,046 NHW men, hip fracture incidence was 0.62 (0.58–0.67) and 1.81 (1.78–1.84) per 1000 person‐years, respectively, with IRR 0.34 (0.32–0.37). For the four largest Asian/PI subgroups, Filipina women (IRR 0.85 [0.75–0.96]) had lower, and Japanese (IRR 1.36 [1.20–1.54]) and South Asian (IRR 1.36 [1.07–1.72]) women had higher hip fracture incidence compared to Chinese women. Hip fracture incidence was only higher among South Asian (IRR 1.61 [1.21–2.14]) compared to Chinese men.

Conclusion

Hip fracture incidence among US Asian/PI adults was 55% (women) and 66% (men) lower than NHW adults, but incidence varied by Asian/PI subgroup. The heterogeneity among Asian/PI adults highlights the importance of examining fracture risk by ethnic subgroup.
Willingness to accept or refuse mandibular implant overdenture treatment: A prospective study on edentulous enrolled in a clinical trial
Authors: Leles Cláudio Rodrigues , Nascimento Lays Noleto , Silva Jésio Rodrigues , de Paula Marcella Silva , Curado Thalita Fernandes Fleury , McKenna Gerald , Schimmel Martin
Published: February 2023

Background

Several complete denture wearers have major complaints and may be benefitted from implant treatment. However, the factors that shape the demand for and utilization of implants need further investigation.

Objective

The aim was to evaluate edentulous patient's willingness to accept or refuse the offer and provision of implant‐retained treatment.

Methods

As part of a clinical trial, edentulous subjects were offered a mandibular overdenture retained by four mini‐implants opposing a conventional maxillary denture. Treatment was offered without any financial costs for the patients. Patients' level of interest in receiving treatment was assessed using a 5‐point Likert scale, and they were asked to respond to a list of reasons that led to their decision to accept or refuse implants. Those who refused implants received conventional prosthodontic interventions as required, and those who accepted implant treatment underwent surgical planning and implant placement.

Results

Of 175 eligible subjects, 147 accepted the offer of treatment and were invited to take part in the study (69.4% women, mean age 67.4 ± 10.0 years). Overall, 111 patients (75.5%) expressed a positive intention to undergo implant treatment at the initial contact. Implant treatment was performed for 56.3% (9/16) of those who answered ‘probably yes’ about their level of interest in implant treatment on the Likert scale, and 69.6% (64/92) of ‘certainly yes’ (p < .001). Older subjects were less likely to receive implants (OR = 0.93; p = .036), whilst those with a positive intention towards implants (OR = 3.15; p = .001), those previously treated by the dental team (OR = 7.89; p < .001), and who actively demanded implants (OR = 18.1; p < .001) were more likely to accept treatment. Improved chewing was the most common reason for accepting implants, whilst fear of surgery was the most reported reason for refusal.

Conclusion

Refusal of implants was high among edentate patients even when financial costs were removed. Patients' initial attitude towards acceptance is a key factor in the demand for and uptake of implant therapy.
Correlations between sleep architecture and sleep‐related masseter muscle activity in children with sleep bruxism
Authors: Restrepo Claudia , Lobbezoo Frank , Castrillon Eduardo , Svensson Peter , Santamaria Adriana , Manfredini Daniele
Published: February 2023

Background

Sleep bruxism (SB) occurring during No‐REM (nREM) sleep and increase in microarousals per hour have been described in adults, but not in children.

Objective

To assess the correlation between sleep architecture and masseter muscle activity related to sleep bruxism (SB/MMA) in children.

Materials and methods

Forty‐three children aged 7–12 years (mean age: 9.4 ± 1.3) with confirmed SB underwent a two‐night polysomnographic (PSG) study in a sleep laboratory, for accommodation (first night) and data collection (second night). Data on sleep architecture (total sleep duration (TSD), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep onset latency (SOL), REM and nREM sleep duration and proportion and microarousals/hour during REM and nREM sleep) and episodes/hour of SB/MMA were recorded. Single and multiple‐variable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the correlation between data on sleep architecture (predictors) and SB/MMA (dependent variable).

Results

Shorter TSD, REM and nREM stage 1 sleep duration, longer SOL and more microarousals/hour during REM and nREM sleep were found to be positive predictors of SB/MMA in children in the multiple‐variable regression analysis (R2 = 0.511).

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that SB/MMA is correlated with altered sleep architecture in children (shorter total sleep duration (TSD), shorter nREM and REM sleep and higher microarousals during REM and nREM sleep). Nevertheless, the clinical significance of these findings need to be demonstrated in future studies.
Safety of stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in paediatric congenital heart disease
Authors: Chung Lorraine M , Hariharan Gopakumar , Varma Suraj
Published: February 2023

Aim

To review current literature regarding the safety of stimulant medications for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in paediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods

Embase, MEDLINE complete, CINAHL complete and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection were searched for relevant articles from January 1980 to July 2022.

Results

One hundred and three articles were identified during the initial search after removal of duplicates. Thirty‐five articles were selected for review and 11 were included as relevant to the clinical question.

Conclusions

Stimulant medications are safe in patients with underlying CHD. In mild congenital cardiac conditions (ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and isolated semilunar valve disease), paediatricians can safely initiate stimulant therapy. With complex CHD cases, cardiology opinion is recommended prior to starting stimulants.
pH‐shifting alters textural, thermal, and microstructural properties of mung bean starch–flaxseed protein composite gels
Authors: Min Cong , Zhang Chong , Pu Huayin , Li Hongliang , Ma Wenhui , Kuang Jiwei , Huang Junrong , Xiong Youling L.
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pH‐shifting on the textural and microstructural properties of mung bean starch (MBS)‐flaxseed protein (FP) composite gels. Results showed that different pH‐shifting treatments caused changes in hydrogen bond interactions and secondary structures in composite gels, leading to the formation of loose or compact gel networks. The pH 2‐shifting modified protein and starch molecules with shorter chains tended to form smaller intermolecular aggregates, resulting in the formation of a looser gel network. For pH 12‐shifting treatment, conformational change of FP caused the unfolding of protein and the exposure of more hydrophobic groups, which enhanced the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions between polymers, contributing to the formation of a compact gel network. Furthermore, pH 12‐shifting improved the water‐holding capacity (WHC), storage modulus, and strength of gels, while pH 2‐treated gels exhibited lower WHC, hardness, and gumminess due to the degradation of MBS and denaturation of FP caused by extreme acid condition. These findings suggest that pH‐shifting can alter the gel properties of bi‐polymeric starch‐protein composite systems by affecting the secondary structures of proteins and the hydrogen bonding between the polymers, and provide a promising way for a wide application of FP in soft gel‐type food production.
Utility of a haemoglobin test of gingival crevicular fluid: A multicentre, observational study
Authors: Ito Hiroshi , Numabe Yukihiro , Hashimoto Shuichi , Sekino Satoshi , Murakashi Etsuko , Ishiguro Hitomi , Sasaki Daisuke , Yaegashi Takashi , Takai Hideki , Mezawa Masaru , Ogata Yorimasa , Watanabe Hisashi , Izumi Yuichi , Kido Jun‐Ichi , Hiroshima Yuka , Nagata Toshihiko
Published: February 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study was to verify the accuracy and utility of clinical parameters (plaque index, gingival crevicular fluid volume, probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing and gingival index) and biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, protein and haemoglobin) in a longitudinal analysis during the supportive periodontal therapy period.

Subjects and Methods

A total of 279 test sites of 128 patients were investigated clinically and biochemically. After the first examination of clinical and biochemical parameters, periodontal support treatments were administered immediately and performed once every three months up to the second examination.

Results

All of the clinical and biochemical parameters were significantly lower at the second examination than at the first, except for the plaque index and bleeding on probing. Of these parameters, in particular, aspartate aminotransferase and haemoglobin in the gingival crevicular fluid were significantly reduced compared to those of the first examination in both the ≤4 and ≥5 mm probing depth groups, and they clearly suggested that periodontitis tended to recover.

Conclusion

Adding the haemoglobin test to the bleeding on probing test strongly improves the accuracy of measurement of clinical parameters after periodontal treatment.
Faster induction of photosynthesis increases biomass and grain yield in glasshouse‐grown transgenic Sorghum bicolor overexpressing Rieske FeS
Authors: Ermakova Maria , Woodford Russell , Taylor Zachary , Furbank Robert T. , Belide Srinivas , von Caemmerer Susanne
Published: February 2023

Sorghum is one of the most important crops providing food and feed in many of the world's harsher environments. Sorghum utilizes the C4 pathway of photosynthesis in which a biochemical carbon‐concentrating mechanism results in high CO2 assimilation rates. Overexpressing the Rieske FeS subunit of the Cytochrome b6f complex was previously shown to increase the rate of photosynthetic electron transport and stimulate CO2 assimilation in the model C4 plant Setaria viridis. To test whether productivity of C4 crops could be improved by Rieske overexpression, we created transgenic Sorghum bicolor Tx430 plants with increased Rieske content. The transgenic plants showed no marked changes in abundances of other photosynthetic proteins or chlorophyll content. The steady‐state rates of electron transport and CO2 assimilation did not differ between the plants with increased Rieske abundance and control plants, suggesting that Cytochrome b6f is not the only factor limiting electron transport in sorghum at high light and high CO2. However, faster responses of non‐photochemical quenching as well as an elevated quantum yield of Photosystem II and an increased CO2 assimilation rate were observed from the plants overexpressing Rieske during the photosynthetic induction, a process of activation of photosynthesis upon the dark–light transition. As a consequence, sorghum with increased Rieske content produced more biomass and grain when grown in glasshouse conditions. Our results indicate that increasing Rieske content has potential to boost productivity of sorghum and other C4 crops by improving the efficiency of light utilization and conversion to biomass through the faster induction of photosynthesis.
LAZY3 interacts with LAZY2 to regulate tiller angle by modulating shoot gravity perception in rice
Authors: Cai Yueyue , Huang Linzhou , Song Yuqi , Yuan Yundong , Xu Shuo , Wang Xueping , Liang Yan , Zhou Jie , Liu Guifu , Li Jiayang , Wang Wenguang , Wang Yonghong
Published: February 2023

Starch biosynthesis in gravity‐sensing tissues of rice shoot determines the magnitude of rice shoot gravitropism and thus tiller angle. However, the molecular mechanism underlying starch biosynthesis in rice gravity‐sensing tissues is still unclear. We characterized a novel tiller angle gene LAZY3 (LA3) in rice through map‐based cloning. Biochemical, molecular and genetic studies further demonstrated the essential roles of LA3 in gravity perception of rice shoot and tiller angle control. The shoot gravitropism and lateral auxin transport were defective in la3 mutant upon gravistimulation. We showed that LA3 encodes a chloroplast‐localized tryptophan‐rich protein associated with starch granules via Tryptophan‐rich region (TRR) domain. Moreover, LA3 could interact with the starch biosynthesis regulator LA2, determining starch granule formation in shoot gravity‐sensing tissues. LA3 and LA2 negatively regulate tiller angle in the same pathway acting upstream of LA1 to mediate asymmetric distribution of auxin. Our study defined LA3 as an indispensable factor of starch biosynthesis in rice gravity‐sensing tissues that greatly broadens current understanding in the molecular mechanisms underlying the starch granule formation in gravity‐sensing tissues, and provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of shoot gravitropism and rice tiller angle.
Urogenital presentation of a male patient with focal dermal hypoplasia
Authors: Nguyen Khoa , Sosa Valentina
Published: February 2023

Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH) is a rare X‐linked dominant syndrome characterized by streaky cutaneous atrophy in a blaschkoid distribution, skeletal dysplasias, and ocular abnormalities. Here, we report hypospadias and chordee identified in a male patient with molecularly confirmed FDH. This report highlights a new clinical manifestation of male patients with FDH.
Optimizing the Seasonal Shade and Ultraviolet Protection of a Suburban Playground by Utilization of the Playground Shade Index
Authors: Downs Nathan , Butler Harry , Parisi Alfio , Beckman‐Downs Melanie , Igoe Damien
Published: February 2023

The Playground Shade Index (PSI) is introduced as a design metric for assessing the shade and solar ultraviolet (UV) protection provided by eight different cloth weave shade structures currently utilized in public playgrounds across a regional city located in southern Queensland, Australia. The PSI, expressing the ratio of available ambient solar UV exposure relative to the UV exposure received by a shaded 184 m2 playground surface over a whole day in midsummer and midwinter, is used to determine the best design and aspect of all eight existing structures. Unlike subjective shade audits that may only consider the type of shade structure, the number and characteristics of surrounding trees, and surface materials available at a given site, the PSI considers, in addition to previous factors, the available sky fraction and the direct solar UV contribution underneath the shade structure over a full day. By considering the in situ UV protection characteristics of the shade structure, the PSI has demonstrated its value as a robust design metric. Of the eight shade structure styles examined, this research presents the most likely structure best suited for UV protection over the two solar UV extremes in summer and winter, including optimal structure aspect.
Comparison of sonographic and CT findings for the identification of renal nodules in dogs and cats
Authors: Rossi Federica , Gianni Beatrice , Marconato Laura , Sabattini Silvia , Caleri Elvanessa , Mattolini Mirko , Camosci Veronica , Carozzi Gregorio
Published: February 2023

Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) are used to diagnose neoplastic and non‐neoplastic focal renal lesions in dogs and cats; however, comparative studies between these two diagnostic tools are lacking. The aim of this retrospective, methods comparison study was to evaluate and compare the performance of US compared to CT in identifying at least one renal nodule in animals with confirmed focal renal lesions. Imaging studies of animals with uni‐ or bilateral renal nodules smaller than 3 cm that underwent both US and CT and that had a pathologically confirmed diagnosis were reviewed. Animals with renal cysts and infarcts were excluded. Recorded features for both modalities included the following: shape, size, number, localization, margins, renal profile. For CT only, recorded features also included attenuation (HU) and pattern of enhancement.  For US only, recorded features also included echogenicity, echostructure, and rate of visibility. Final diagnosis was obtained by cytology or histopathology. Using CT, lesions were identified in all 39 (100%) kidneys of 18 dogs and seven cats. Most lesions were multiple, cortical, well‐defined, iso‐attenuating (precontrast), hypo‐attenuating, and moderately enhancing (postcontrast). Using US, lesions were identified in 29 of 39 (74%) kidneys. Overall, nine (31%) lesions were poorly visible; 10 (26%) kidneys appeared normal; in 17 (59%) organs, lesions’ number was underestimated. Isoechoic, non‐protruding lesions were difficult to identify by US. Ultrasonography underestimated renal lesions compared to CT in 59% of the kidneys (P = 0.001). Final diagnoses included metastatic disease (n = 16), infiltration by feline lymphoma (n = 4), primary neoplasia (n = 3), and non‐neoplastic benign lesions (n = 2).
Factors affecting prognosis in canine subcutaneous mast cell tumors: 45 cases
Authors: Cherzan Nathan L. , Fryer Katy , Burke Blaise , Farrelly John
Published: February 2023

Objective

To evaluate the clinical outcome of subcutaneous mast cell tumors (SQMCT) and to identify clinical and histological characteristics of more aggressive disease.

Study design

Retrospective study.

Animals

Forty‐five dogs with 48 SQMCTs.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed (2011–2021) for patient information, clinical, and histopathological data including multinucleation, necrosis, invasion into local muscle, an infiltrative growth pattern, tumor grade (if listed), mitotic index, and surgical margins. The presence of local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, survival time, and other parameters evaluating patient outcome were also recorded.

Results

Local recurrence occurred in 17.8% (8/45) of dogs, 11.1% (5/45) developed metastatic recurrence, and 26.7% (12/45) developed lymph node metastasis. Dogs with lymph node metastases had a median disease‐free interval (DFI) of 194 days (18–1864), while median DFI was not reached for dogs without lymph node metastasis (p = .0012). Median survival time for dogs with lymph node metastasis was 551 days (110–2050) compared to 1722 days (10–1722) without metastasis (p = .0432). Local recurrence resulted in a significantly shorter median survival time of 551 days (80–2050) compared to 1722 days (10–1722) for dogs without local recurrence (p = .0038). Dogs with infiltrative tumors had a median DFI of 268 days (3–1722) and DFI for dogs without an infiltrative pattern had not reached median at 1864 days (10–1864) (p = .011).

Conclusion

Lymph node metastasis decreased disease‐free interval and survival.

Clinical significance

Subcutaneous mast cell tumors may be a more aggressive disease than previously reported.
Optical studies of pure and (Cu, Co) doped nickel zinc ferrite films deposited on quartz substrate
Authors: Kothapally Sneha , Kotru Sushma , Paul Roni , Abu Qahouq Jaber A.
Published: February 2023

In this work, the optical properties of pure and doped films were investigated as a function of annealing temperature. Films with compositions Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, Ni0.35Cu0.2Zn0.45Fe2O4, and Ni0.35Co0.2Zn0.45Fe2O4 were deposited on quartz substrate using the sol–gel method. The grown films were annealed at 500 and 800 °C in a rapid thermal annealing furnace. The single-phase spinel structure of these films was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) results. The average crystallite size calculated from the XRD data was observed to increase with the annealing temperature and decrease for films doped with Cu and Co. The lattice constant was observed to decrease with the annealing temperature and increase for films doped with Cu and Co. The cross-sectional images obtained from field emission scanning electron microscope were used to calculate the thickness of these films. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was used to obtain the absorbance spectra as a function of wavelength in the range of 200–800 nm. The bandgap obtained from the absorbance spectra was seen to decrease for films annealed at higher temperatures for pure and doped films. Furthermore, the bandgap of doped films was seen to decrease in comparison to that of pure films. Optical parameters such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical conductivity, and real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant were observed to increase with the reduction in the bandgap.
De novo human brain enhancers created by single-nucleotide mutations
Authors: Li Shan , Hannenhalli Sridhar , Ovcharenko Ivan
Published: February 2023

Advanced human cognition is attributed to increased neocortex size and complexity, but the underlying evolutionary and regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. Using human and macaque embryonic neocortical H3K27ac data coupled with a deep learning model of enhancers, we identified ~4000 enhancer gains in humans, which, per our model, can often be attributed to single-nucleotide essential mutations. Our analyses suggest that functional gains in embryonic brain development are associated with de novo enhancers whose putative target genes exhibit increased expression in progenitor cells and interneurons and partake in critical neural developmental processes. Essential mutations alter enhancer activity through altered binding of key transcription factors (TFs) of embryonic neocortex, including ISL1, POU3F2, PITX1/2, and several SOX TFs, and are associated with central nervous system disorders. Overall, our results suggest that essential mutations lead to gain of embryonic neocortex enhancers, which orchestrate expression of genes involved in critical developmental processes associated with human cognition.
Scaffold coupling: ERK activation by trans-phosphorylation across different scaffold protein species
Authors: Martín-Vega Ana , Ruiz-Peinado Laura , García-Gómez Rocío , Herrero Ana , de la Fuente-Vivas Dalia , Parvathaneni Swetha , Caloto Rubén , Morante Marta , von Kriegsheim Alex , Bustelo Xosé R. , Sacks David B. , Casar Berta , Crespo Piero
Published: February 2023

RAS-ERK (extracellular signal–regulated kinase) pathway signals are modulated by scaffold proteins that assemble the components of different kinase tiers into a sequential phosphorylation cascade. In the prevailing model scaffold proteins function as isolated entities, where the flux of phosphorylation events progresses downstream linearly, to achieve ERK phosphorylation. We show that different types of scaffold proteins, specifically KSR1 (kinase suppressor of Ras 1) and IQGAP1 (IQ motif-containing guanosine triphosphatase activating protein 1), can bind to each other, forming a complex whereby phosphorylation reactions occur across both species. MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) bound to IQGAP1 can phosphorylate ERK docked at KSR1, a process that we have named “trans-phosphorylation.” We also reveal that ERK trans-phosphorylation participates in KSR1-regulated adipogenesis, and it also underlies the modest cytotoxicity exhibited by KSR-directed inhibitors. Overall, we identify interactions between scaffold proteins and trans-phosphorylation as an additional level of regulation in the ERK cascade, with broad implications in signaling and the design of scaffold protein–aimed therapeutics.
Rhombohedral-stacked bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides for high-performance atomically thin CMOS devices
Authors: Li Xuefei , Shi Xinhang , Marian Damiano , Soriano David , Cusati Teresa , Iannaccone Giuseppe , Fiori Gianluca , Guo Qi , Zhao Wenjie , Wu Yanqing
Published: February 2023

Van der Waals coupling with different stacking configurations is emerging as a powerful method to tune the optical and electronic properties of atomically thin two-dimensional materials. Here, we investigate 3R-stacked transition-metal dichalcogenides as a possible option for high-performance atomically thin field-effect transistors (FETs). We report that the effective mobility of 3R bilayer WS
2
(WSe
2
) is 65% (50%) higher than that of 2H WS
2
(WSe
2
). The 3R bilayer WS
2
n-type FET exhibits a high on-state current of 480 μA/μm at
V
ds
 = 1 V and an ultralow on-state resistance of 1 kilohm·μm. Our observations, together with multiscale simulations, reveal that these improvements originate from the strong interlayer coupling in the 3R stacking, which is reflected in a higher conductance compared to the 2H stacking. Our method provides a general and scalable route toward advanced channel materials in future electronic devices for ultimate scaling, especially for complementary metal oxide semiconductor applications.
Phase separation of an actin nucleator by junctional microtubules regulates epithelial function
Authors: Tsukita Kazuto , Kitamata Manabu , Kashihara Hiroka , Yano Tomoki , Fujiwara Ikuko , Day Timothy F. , Katsuno Tatsuya , Kim Jaewon , Takenaga Fumiko , Tanaka Hiroo , Park Sungsu , Miyata Makoto , Watanabe Hitomi , Kondoh Gen , Takahashi Ryosuke , Tamura Atsushi , Tsukita Sachiko
Published: February 2023

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is involved in various dynamic biological phenomena. In epithelial cells, dynamic regulation of junctional actin filaments tethered to the apical junctional complex (AJC) is critical for maintaining internal homeostasis against external perturbations; however, the role of LLPS in this process remains unknown. Here, after identifying a multifunctional actin nucleator, cordon bleu (Cobl), as an AJC-enriched microtubule-associated protein, we conducted comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analyses. We found that apical microtubules promoted LLPS of Cobl at the AJC, and Cobl actin assembly activity increased upon LLPS. Thus, microtubules spatiotemporally regulated junctional actin assembly for epithelial morphogenesis and paracellular barriers. Collectively, these findings established that LLPS of the actin nucleator Cobl mediated dynamic microtubule-actin cross-talk in junctions, which fine-tuned the epithelial barrier.
Structural basis for ATG9A recruitment to the ULK1 complex in mitophagy initiation
Authors: Ren Xuefeng , Nguyen Thanh N. , Lam Wai Kit , Buffalo Cosmo Z. , Lazarou Michael , Yokom Adam L. , Hurley James H.
Published: February 2023

The assembly of the autophagy initiation machinery nucleates autophagosome biogenesis, including in the PINK1- and Parkin-dependent mitophagy pathway implicated in Parkinson’s disease. The structural interaction between the sole transmembrane autophagy protein, autophagy-related protein 9A (ATG9A), and components of the Unc-51–like autophagy activating kinase (ULK1) complex is one of the major missing links needed to complete a structural map of autophagy initiation. We determined the 2.4-Å x-ray crystallographic structure of the ternary structure of ATG9A carboxyl-terminal tail bound to the ATG13:ATG101 Hop1/Rev7/Mad2 (HORMA) dimer, which is part of the ULK1 complex. We term the interacting portion of the extreme carboxyl-terminal part of the ATG9A tail the “HORMA dimer–interacting region” (HDIR). This structure shows that the HDIR binds to the HORMA domain of ATG101 by β sheet complementation such that the ATG9A tail resides in a deep cleft at the ATG13:ATG101 interface. Disruption of this complex in cells impairs damage-induced PINK1/Parkin mitophagy mediated by the cargo receptor NDP52.
Regulation of Multidrug Efflux Pumps by TetR Family Transcriptional Repressor Negatively Affects Secondary Metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
Authors: Lei Yukun , Asamizu Shumpei , Ishizuka Takumi , Onaka Hiroyasu
Published: February 2023

The bacterial metabolic potential to synthesize diverse secondary metabolites in the environment has been revealed by recent (meta)genomics of both unculturable and culturable bacteria. These studies imply that bacteria are continuously exposed to harmful chemical compounds in the environment.
Streptomyces
spp. contain antibiotic efflux pumps and SM biosynthetic gene clusters.
Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of Two Canine
Mamastrovirus 5
Strains from Latin America
Authors: de Deus Danielle Rodrigues , Siqueira Jones Anderson Monteiro , Teixeira Dielle Monteiro , Maués Marcelino Antonio Costa , de Figueiredo Márcia Janete de Fátima Mesquita , Sousa Edivaldo Costa , Portal Thayara Morais , Soares Luana da Silva , Resque Hugo Reis , da Silva Luciana Damascena , Gabbay Yvone Benchimol
Published: February 2023

We report the nearly complete genome sequences of CAstV-PK01 and CAstV-PK03, two canine astrovirus strains belonging to the species
Mamastrovirus 5
, which were detected in fecal swab samples collected from puppies with diarrhea from two different kennels in the Brazilian Amazon.
Robustly Learning General Mixtures of Gaussians
Authors: Liu Allen , Moitra Ankur
Published: February 2023

This work represents a natural coalescence of two important lines of work — learning mixtures of Gaussians and algorithmic robust statistics. In particular, we give the first provably robust algorithm for learning mixtures of any constant number of Gaussians. We require only mild assumptions on the mixing weights and that the total variation distance between components is bounded away from zero. At the heart of our algorithm is a new method for proving a type of dimension-independent polynomial identifiability — which we call robust identifiability — through applying a carefully chosen sequence of differential operations to certain generating functions that not only encode the parameters we would like to learn but also the system of polynomial equations we would like to solve. We show how the symbolic identities we derive can be directly used to analyze a natural sum-of-squares relaxation.
Interval Temporal Logic for Visibly Pushdown Systems
Authors: Bozzelli Laura , Montanari Angelo , Peron Adriano
Published: February 2023

In this article, we introduce and investigate an extension of Halpern and Shoham’s interval temporal logic
HS
for the specification and verification of branching-time context-free requirements of pushdown systems under a state-based semantics over Kripke structures enforcing visibility of the pushdown operations. The proposed logic, called nested
BHS
, supports branching-time both in the past and in the future and is able to express non-regular properties of linear and branching behaviours of procedural contexts in a natural way. It strictly subsumes well-known linear time context-free extensions of
LTL
such as
CaRet
 [
4
] and
NWTL
 [
2
]. The main result is the decidability of the visibly pushdown model-checking problem against nested
BHS
. The proof exploits a non-trivial automata-theoretic construction.
Conference Reports
Authors: Dennis Louise A.
Published: February 2023

This section is compiled from reports of recent events sponsored or run in cooperation with ACM SIGAI. In general these reports were written and submitted by the conference organisers.
Events
Authors: Samarasinghe Dilini
Published: February 2023

This section features information about upcoming events relevant to the readers of AI Matters, including those supported by SIGAI. We would love to hear from you if you are are organizing an event and would be interested in cooperating with SIGAI.For more information about conference support visit sigai.acm.org/activities/requesting_sponsorship.html.
Catastrophe by Design in Population Games: A Mechanism to Destabilize Inefficient Locked-in Technologies
Authors: Leonardos Stefanos , Sakos Joseph , Courcoubetis Costas , Piliouras Georgios
Published: February 2023

In multi-agent environments in which coordination is desirable, the history of play often causes lock-in at sub-optimal outcomes. Notoriously, technologies with significant environmental footprint or high social cost persist despite the successful development of more environmentally friendly and/or socially efficient alternatives. The displacement of the status quo is hindered by entrenched economic interests and network effects. To exacerbate matters, the standard mechanism design approaches based on centralized authorities with the capacity to use preferential subsidies to effectively dictate system outcomes are not always applicable to modern decentralized economies. What other types of mechanisms are feasible?

In this article, we develop and analyze a mechanism that induces transitions from inefficient lock-ins to superior alternatives. This mechanism does not exogenously favor one option over another; instead, the phase transition emerges endogenously via a standard evolutionary learning model, Q-learning, where agents trade off exploration and exploitation. Exerting the same transient influence to both the efficient and inefficient technologies encourages exploration and results in irreversible phase transitions and permanent stabilization of the efficient one. On a technical level, our work is based on bifurcation and catastrophe theory, a branch of mathematics that deals with changes in the number and stability properties of equilibria. Critically, our analysis is shown to be structurally robust to significant and even adversarially chosen perturbations to the parameters of both our game and our behavioral model.
Learning Music Blind: Understanding the Application of Technology to Support BLV Music Learning
Authors: Lu Leon
Published: February 2023

Learning to play a musical instrument and engaging in musical activities have enabled blind and/or low vision people to develop self-identity, find community and pursue music as a career. However, blind and/or low vision music learners face complex obstacles to learn music. They are highly reliant on their learning environment and music teachers for accommodations and flexibility. Prior research has identified the challenges faced by blind and/or low vision musicians and recognized the importance of touch for music reading and physical guidance. However, limited research has addressed these challenges through the development of assistive technology. The development of music computer technologies with haptics and the affordances of wearable technologies provides encouraging opportunities to develop haptic wearable devices to support blind and/or low vision music learning. I identify three unexplored research questions: (1) what design considerations must be addressed in future assistive technologies for BLV music learning, (2) how can wearable technologies with vibrotactile feedback support BLV student-teacher interactions, and (3) what are the long-term benefits and limitations of the use of assistive technologies for BLV music learning? I outline my research to date and highlight my findings.
Evaluating Haptic Technology in Accessibility of Digital Audio Workstations for Visually Impaired Creatives
Authors: Karpodini Christina
Published: February 2023

This research suggests new ways of making interaction with Digital Audio Workstations more accessible for musicians with visual impairments. Accessible tools such as screen reader are often unable to support users within the music production environment. Haptic technologies have been proposed as solutions but are often generic and not address the needs of the individual. A series of experiments is being suggested to examine the possibilities of mapping haptic feedback to audio effects parameters. Sequentially, the use of machine learning is being suggested in order enable automated mapping and expand accessibility to the individual. The expected results will provide visually impaired musicians with a new way of producing music but also will provide academic research on material and technologies that can be used for future accessibility tools.
Understanding the Role of Socio-Technical Infrastructures on the Organization of Access for the Mixed-Ability Collaborators
Authors: Yildiz Zeynep
Published: February 2023

TPositioning disabled people as deficient, dysfunctional, and locating the 'problem' of disability within the individual, the over-medicalized, individualistic, and not equity-oriented perspectives of disability have led to oppression, discrimination, and exclusion of disabled people from important parts of public life. The global politics of disability rights and disability movements have brought thorny questions regarding the nature of dominant explanations. Equity-oriented perspectives and collaborative approaches regarding organization and distribution of access started to gain visibility. HCI research has a vital potential to contribute to this by providing related tools and technologies for integrating equal access in the collaborative organization of access. Considering the existing literature, the question of how access is collaboratively organized, negotiated, distributed and scaled through socio-technical mechanisms especially at an institutional level, as well as how mixed-ability groups reorganize access by interacting with institutional socio-technical structures remains open. In this research, I aim to extend the body of literature in collaborative access by presenting the importance of socio-technical perspectives for designing collaborative technologies to support equal distribution of access. My research is about the signifcance of equity perspectives in access and interaction. Specifcally, this research focuses on understanding the role of socio-technical infrastructures for the organization and distribution of access by mixed-ability collaborators and developing design insights for socio-technical mechanisms to support equal distribution of access for people with disabilities.
Fifty Years of Biophysics at the Membrane Frontier
Authors: White Stephen H.
Published: February 2023

The author first describes his childhood in the South and the ways in which it fostered the values he has espoused throughout his life, his development of a keen fascination with science, and the influences that supported his progress toward higher education. His experiences in ROTC as a student, followed by two years in the US Army during the Vietnam War, honed his leadership skills. The bulk of the autobiography is a chronological journey through his scientific career, beginning with arrival at the University of California, Irvine in 1972, with an emphasis on the postdoctoral students and colleagues who have contributed substantially to each phase of his lab's progress. White's fundamental findings played a key role in the development of membrane biophysics, helping establish it as fertile ground for research. A story gradually unfolds that reveals the deeply collaborative and painstakingly executed work necessary for a successful career in science.
Using Response Surface Methodology to Optimize Edible Coating Formulations to Delay Ripening and Preserve Postharvest Quality of Tomatoes
Authors: Tsague Donjio Robin , Aghofack Nguemezi Jean , Anoumaa Mariette , Tafre Phounzong Eugene , Kenfack Justine Odelonne , Fonkou Théophile
Published: February 2023

Tomato is a nutrient-rich but highly perishable fruit. In order to delay the rapid ripening and degradation of fruits and reduce postharvest losses, response surface methodology (RSM) was used as the optimizing method to formulate edible coating based on pineapple peel extract and Arabic gum of twenty concentrations of pineapple (0.5–0.83 kg/l) and 20 concentrations of Arabic gum (5–15%, w/v). Tomatoes were soaked for 10–30 min in any of the coating solution. Five parameters including ripening rate, chlorophyll a content, firmness, total flavonoid content, and titratable acidity of tomatoes were evaluated after 8 days of storage at 24 ± 0.5°C and 82 ± 1.5% relative humidity. Results showed that the experimental data could be adequately fitted into a second-order polynomial model with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.775 to 0.976 for all the variables studied. The optimum concentrations were predicted as 0.70 kg/l pineapple peel extract and 17.04% with 18.72 min optimum time. Under these conditions, predicted values of response variables are as follows: ripening rate (RR) 40.75, chlorophyll a (Chl a) 8.11, firmness (Fir) 4.00, total flavonoid content (TFC) 43.51, and titratable acidity (TA) 0.30. It is concluded that RSM can be used to optimize pineapple peel extract and Arabic gum-based edible coating formulation to extend the shelf life or delay the ripening process of tomato fruit at ambient conditions.
The Influence Mechanism of Space-Time Kinetics of ADS Subcritical Reactor under Beam Transients
Authors: Deng Nian-Biao , Ding De-Xin , Xie Jin-Sen , Yu Tao , Hou Cheng
Published: February 2023

The space-time kinetics of ADS Subcritical Reactor (ADSR) under beam transients play an important role in ensuring the reliability of the control and safety system of the accelerator-driven subcritical system (ADS). In order to elucidate the effect of high heterogeneity of neutron flux density in space-time on the neutron space-time kinetics of ADSR under different subcriticality and beam transients, in this paper, the multimode core few-group constants, which is more adaptable to the beam transients, is used to investigate the mechanism of neutron flux density, core few-group constants, and kinetic parameters of ADSR under the synergistic effect of external neutron source, subcriticality, and the beam transients. The results show that with the deepening of the subcriticality, with the increasing role of external neutron source, the neutron flux density of the ADSR has a higher heterogeneity of space-time, which leads to a larger difference in the core few-group constant library of different modes, and thus a larger difference in the kinetic parameters (especially the neutron generation time) of different modes. Therefore, in the study of the influence mechanism of neutron space-time kinetics of ADSR under beam transients, the multimode core few-group constants should be used, and the influence of external neutron source and subcriticality on the kinetic parameters, especially the neutron generation time, should be emphasized.
Effect of Pilot Injection with Various Starts of Second Injection Command (SOIC2) and Fuel Injection Pressures on Gasoline Compression Ignition Combustion
Authors: Jwa Kyeonghun , Setiawan Ardhika , Lim Ocktaeck
Published: February 2023

This experimental study was conducted using a single-cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine with a pilot injection strategy to determine the effect of fuel injection pressure and the timing of the second start of injection (SOI2) on combustion and emission characteristics. This experiment used a mixture of 80% commercial gasoline (G80%) and 20% soybean biodiesel (B20%), by volume. The pilot injection strategy was applied with varying SOI2. Meanwhile, the first start of injection (SOI1) was constant at -350° ATDC and 900 bar fuel injection pressure. A range of fuel injection pressures from 400 to 900 bars and varied injection timing from -44 to -36 CA ATDC was applied at SOI2 to analyze the effect of injection timing and injection pressure on combustion characteristics and emissions. The increasing fuel injection pressure of GB20 in early injection timing will cause a longer ignition delay. The autoignition resistance of GB20 and the improvement of spray velocity enhance the wall wetting probability, consequently reducing the autoignition capability as fuel deposits were formed in the cylinder wall vicinity. Closer injection timing to TDC inhibits spray penetration due to higher room pressure and density, causing lower ignition delay. For GB20, 700 bar fuel injection pressure became the turning point in the ignition delay due to a lower fuel penetration velocity as a higher fuel injection pressure was applied. NOx emissions were identified as a sign of high temperature produced during combustion. The lowest CO2 emissions and the longest ignition delay appeared at the 700-bar injection pressure. Because incomplete combustion resulted in fuel deposits in the vicinity of the cylinder and temperature decrease, injection timings earlier than 40°CA BTDC initiated low thermal reaction (LTR) conditions, causing a temperature decrease during combustion.