bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal switching ratio of semiconducting polymers with spatially graded doping
Authors: Adams Michael J. , Yee Shannon K.
Published: February 2023

The switching ratio of a thermal switch is a key design parameter, and electrically activated switches based on thermoelectric effects have been reported to produce large switching ratios over a wide range of temperatures. Previous switches based on the Seebeck effect have switching ratios that are limited by the thermoelectric figure-of-merit zT. Perhaps, more importantly, they are limited by their device construction of alternating p-type and n-type materials with soldered junctions. Alternatively, we show that semiconducting polymers with spatially graded doping can offer similar switching ratios due to a volumetric heat absorption effect. This occurs in heavily doped polymers, which exhibit a sharp decrease in the Seebeck coefficient as charge carriers become fully delocalized. Such heat absorption is analogous to the Thomson effect, where heat is locally absorbed due to temperature-dependent variation of the Seebeck coefficient. Here, a theoretical model is derived to solve the 1D heat equation with spatially graded doping, allowing for optimization of the doping profile for a given material system. Four different material systems are compared according to an analysis of reported measurements to determine the upper limit of the switching ratio. A hypothetical Thomson switch based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with ferric tosylate can produce switching ratios up to 12 under a thermal bias of 10 K, a threefold increase compared to a Peltier switch of the same material. Like a Peltier switch, the switching ratio of a Thomson switch diverges under a small thermal bias. Under a large thermal bias, the switching ratio converges toward that of an equivalent Peltier switch.
Breaking down barriers: standing on the shoulders of Australia’s early female chemists
Authors: McNamara Nicole , Kopinathan Anitha , Wolff Helen , Spurling Thomas H. , Simpson Gregory , Locock Katherine E. S.
Published: February 2023

Women experience numerous forms of discrimination in the workplace, both direct and indirect. Historically, bias against women was institutionalised by organisations and governments to keep women from pursuing long-term careers in science and remain in the home. Although changes to policy have occurred within Australia, societal perceptions around women in science have proven resistant to change, with discrimination continuing even today. Despite the barriers facing them, some women were able to break through and achieve impactful science, proving themselves vital members of the workforce and paving the way for future generations. Herein, we describe four such female chemist trailblazers, Isabel Joy Bear, Enid Plante, Catherine Anne Money and Annabelle Duncan, who each worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) or the subsequent Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and helped to shape the face of chemistry in Australia in a male dominated environment.
Activity and movement of small mammal tick hosts at the urban fringes of Sydney, Australia
Authors: Taylor Casey L. , Hochuli Dieter F. , Banks Peter B.
Published: February 2023

Context Small mammals may traverse the urban fringe and use both natural and anthropogenic resources. In Australia, human commensal black rats (Rattus rattus) and native long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) are important tick hosts, which can be found persisting at the urban fringe, leading to human–wildlife conflict. Aims We aimed to (1) determine the relative activity of small mammals in yards and associations with yard attributes, (2) compare activity of black rats and long-nosed bandicoots in bushland with activity in yards and (3) determine the proportion of black rats and long-nosed bandicoots that crossed the urban fringe. We predicted that native bandicoots would be more active in bushland habitats and that black rats would be more active in yards. Methods We used camera trapping in 56 residential yards, 18 of which were paired with adjacent bushland to measure small mammal activity in the two habitats. We recorded yard attributes and examined these associations using generalised linear models. We used isodar analysis to investigate black rat preferences of bushland habitat compared with yards, and we used Rhodamine B baiting to investigate movement at the urban fringe. Key results We found that black rats were the most active small mammal in residential yards and were detected in more yards than other small mammals, followed by bandicoots. Black rat activity was greater in yards adjacent to bushland, but no other yard attributes were associated with black rat and bandicoot activity. Overall, activity tended to be higher in bushland than in yards at paired locations. Conclusions Our findings suggest residential yards likely provide high-quality resources for long-nosed bandicoots. Low rates of movement at the urban fringe (6%), and a preference for bushland at low densities suggests that black rats may be synanthropic rather than commensal, occupying an urban niche but not depending on anthropogenic resources as expected. Implications Residential properties located adjacent to bushland may be exposed to increased black rat activity in yards. Future work should consider how introduced rats may be controlled in bushland to assist urban rat control efforts and avoid non-target impacts. Residential yards are likely to be important habitat for the persistence of long-nosed bandicoots in urban environments.
Long-term effects of peer and teacher feedback on L2 pronunciation
Authors: Martin Ines A. , Sippel Lieselotte
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the long-term effects of peer and teacher feedback on pronunciation development. Participants included 94 learners of German. They were assigned to a teacher feedback group (TeacherF Group), a peer feedback provider group (PeerF Providers), a peer feedback receiver group (PeerF Receivers), or a control group. After completing general pronunciation training on a segmental and a suprasegmental feature in German, the TeacherF Group received feedback on their pronunciation from a teacher, the PeerF Providers gave feedback to peers, and the PeerF Receivers received feedback from peers. The control group did not complete pronunciation training or receive feedback. Results from native speaker comprehensibility ratings of learners’ productions indicated that while the TeacherF Group and the PeerF Receivers improved in the short term, only the PeerF Providers maintained their gains in pronunciation development over time. Methodological and pedagogical implications of these findings are discussed.
Raymond Roussel et Édouard Levé
Authors: Salceda Hermes
Published: February 2023

Les œuvres d’Édouard Levé sont encadrées par un dispositif de lecture qui nous permet de les situer en rapport avec la biographie de l’auteur, de dégager les principaux traits de sa poétique, de formuler des hypothèses génétiques. Ses travaux se révèlent ainsi d’une grande cohérence, comme autant de variations sur une série de gestes et de questionnements à la fois très simples et très radicaux.

En s’inspirant largement du Procédé de Raymond Roussel Levé a fondé une partie de son œuvre sur une poétique des décalages consistant à brouiller les rapports des mots aux images. Cette poétique est mise en œuvre dans trois séries Homonymes, Angoisse et Amérique, produites par une même contrainte linguistique et des protocoles de réalisation semblables, mais chacune répond à des attitudes et des effets différents de ces contraintes et de ces protocoles. Il s’agit dans Angoisse de créer une fiction, dans Homonymes d’interroger le panthéon culturel et dans Amérique d’offrir un négatif de l’american dream.
The analysis of the far-field phase and the tilt-to-length error contribution in space-based laser interferometry
Authors: Xiao Qing , Duan Huizong , Ming Min , Zhang Jingyi , Zhu Fan , Jiang Yuwei , Yeh Hsien-Chi
Published: February 2023

The arm length of the space-based interferometer for gravitational wave detection is 108–109

m

, and picometer precision is required. The wavefront error in the far-field coupled with the pointing jitter is a major noise source, which raises higher requirements of the wavefront quality of the telescope. By extending the analytical solutions of the far-field phase to 21 Zernike aberrations, this paper demonstrates that the far-field phase could be regarded as the sum of the effects of the individual aberrations and a phase plane with its slope related to the wavefront RMS. For individual aberrations, only low-order aberrations have a significant effect on the far-field phase, but high-order aberrations will contribute to the coupling terms which is shown as a phase slope. So there is a definite corresponding relationship between the aberrations and the far-field phase, and it can be easily illustrated graphically. Based on the analytical solutions of the far-field phase, we proposed to consider the tilt-to-length (TTL) error together with the far-field phase. The TTL error is also one of the main noise sources in space-based laser interferometry, which presents big difficulties in the optical system. We found that TTL error could be added to the far-field phase as a piston term during pointing, which then help to bring the stationary point closer to the z-axis and reduce the phase noise detected at the stationary point. By considering the TTL together with the far-field phase, the requirement of the telescope could be λ/25 wavefront RMS (λ = 1064

nm

). And there will be a large tolerance range for the TTL error, so it is only necessary to evaluate the TTL error and limit it to a suitable range, not to eliminate it.
Shape resonances in angle-resolved photoionization of aligned CF3I molecules
Authors: Brausse Felix , Vrakking Marc J J , Rouzée Arnaud
Published: February 2023

The photoionization of CF3I molecules in the photon energy range between 10 eV and 40 eV is investigated using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in the molecular frame. Using a femtosecond laser pulse, the molecules are impulsively aligned prior to their ionization by a series of extreme ultra-violet photon energies obtained by high-harmonic generation. The manifestation of molecular alignment in the photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) is well reproduced by non-relativistic quantum-mechanical photoionization calculations carried out with the ePolyScat software package, taking into account all open ionization channels. Our analysis points to two prominent shape resonances that dominate the photoelectron scattering dynamics and that therefore largely explain the observed changes in the PADs as a function of molecular alignment.
A speakerless acoustic thermometer
Authors: Dong Zhifei , Xiong Linsen , Yue Yan , Cai Chen , Wang Junbo , Qi Zhi-mei
Published: February 2023

Existing acoustic thermometers are often implemented using speaker-microphone systems, which are power-consuming and inconvenient to operate. Here we demonstrate a simple speakerless acoustic thermometer, which is an acoustic Fabry–Perot resonator (AFPR) consisting of a tubular acoustic waveguide and a microphone whose diaphragm acts as a reflective surface of the AFPR. Theoretical analysis shows that the resonant frequency (RF) ( fm
) at a given mode order (m) for the AFPR is a linear function of m with the slope (Δf/Δm) depending on the ambient temperature. Therefore, when the linear relationship between fm
and m for the AFPR is measured, the ambient temperature can be determined from its slope. The values of fm
at different m can be easily obtained by using the AFPR to detect ambient white noise rather than the sound signal from a loudspeaker. The thermometric performance of the prepared AFPR was investigated in a range of temperatures from −17 °C to 60 °C. The measured temperatures show the mean absolute error below 0.9 °C relative to those simultaneously obtained with a commercial electronic thermometer. As experimentally demonstrated in this work, the AFPR can detect extremely weak white noise in the anechoic room and thus enables to accurate measure the ambient temperature there, attributable to its ultrahigh pressure sensitivity at each RF. The advantages of simple structure, low power consumption, convenient operation, and high detection accuracy offer the AFPR outstanding applicability for on-site temperature measurements in various environments.
Mapping atomic trapping in an optical superlattice onto the libration of a planar rotor in electric fields
Authors: Mirahmadi Marjan , Friedrich Bretislav , Schmidt Burkhard , Pérez-Ríos Jesús
Published: February 2023

We show that two seemingly unrelated problems—the trapping of an atom in an optical superlattice (OSL) and the libration of a planar rigid rotor in combined electric and optical fields (PR) – have isomorphic Hamiltonians. Formed by the interference of optical lattices whose spatial periods differ by a factor of two, OSL gives rise to a periodic potential that acts on atomic translation via the AC Stark effect. The PR system, also known as the generalized planar pendulum, is realized by subjecting a planar rigid rotor to combined orienting and aligning interactions due to the coupling of the rotor’s permanent and induced electric dipole moments to the combined fields. The PR system belongs to the class of conditionally quasi-exactly solvable problems and exhibits intriguing spectral properties that have been established in our previous work Becker et al (2017 Eur. Phys. J. D
71 149). Herein, we make use of both the PR

↦

OSL mapping and the quasi-exact solvability of the PR system to treat ultracold atoms in an OSL as a semifinite-gap system. The band structure of this system follows from the eigenenergies and their genuine and avoided crossings obtained previously for the PR system as solutions of the Whittaker-Hill equation. These solutions characterize both the squeezing and the tunneling of atoms trapped in an OSL and pave the way to unraveling their dynamics in analytic form. Furthermore, the PR

↦

OSL mapping makes it possible to establish correspondence between concepts developed for the two eigenproblems individually, such as localization on the one hand and orientation/alignment on the other.
Reverse-time type nonlocal Sasa–Satsuma equation and its soliton solutions
Authors: Yan Xue-Wei , Chen Yong
Published: February 2023

In this work, we study the Riemann–Hilbert problem and the soliton solutions for a nonlocal Sasa–Satsuma equation with reverse-time type, which is deduced from a reduction of the coupled Sasa–Satsuma system. Since the coupled Sasa–Satsuma system can describe the dynamic behaviors of two ultrashort pulse envelopes in birefringent fiber, our equation presented here has great physical applications. The classification of soliton solutions is studied in this nonlocal model by considering an inverse scattering transform to the Riemann–Hilbert problem. Simultaneously, we find that the symmetry relations of discrete data in the special nonlocal model are very complicated. Especially, the eigenvectors in the scattering data are determined by the number and location of eigenvalues. Furthermore, multi-soliton solutions are not a simple nonlinear superposition of multiple single-solitons. They exhibit some novel dynamics of solitons, including meandering and sudden position shifts. Also, they have the bound state of multi-soliton entanglement and its interaction with solitons.
Design and readout architecture of a monolithic binary active pixel sensor in TPSCo 65 nm CMOS imaging technology
Authors: Cecconi L. , Piro F. , de Melo J.L.A. , Deng W. , Hong G.H. , Snoeys W. , Mager M. , Suljic M. , Kugathasan T. , Buckland M. , Aglieri Rinella G. , Leitao P.V. , Reidt F. , Baudot J. , Bugiel S. , Colledani C. , Contin G. , Hu C. , Kluge A. , Kluit R. , Vitkovskiy A. , Russo R. , Becht P. , Grelli A. , Hasenbichler J. , Munker M. , Soltveit H.K. , Menzel M.W. , Sonneveld J. , Tiltmann N.
Published: February 2023

The Digital Pixel Test Structure (DPTS) is a monolithic active pixel sensor prototype chip designed to explore the TPSCo 65 nm ISC process in the framework of the CERN-EP R&D on monolithic sensors and the ALICE ITS3 upgrade. It features a 32 × 32 binary pixel matrix at 15 μm pitch with event-driven readout, with GHz range time-encoded digital signals including Time-Over-Threshold. The chip proved fully functional and efficient in testbeam allowing early verification of the complete sensor to readout chain. This paper focuses on the design, in particular the digital readout and its perspectives with some supporting results.
Design and simulation of 2450 MHz microwave cavity for resonance and off-resonance plasma diagnosis in-situ plasma irradiation facility
Authors: Swaroop Ram , Kumar Narender , Sabavath Gopikishan , Choudhary Virendra Singh , Jewariya Yogesh , Rodrigues G.
Published: February 2023

The microwave plasma diagnosis in-situ irradiation system
has been developed at the Central University of Punjab,
Bathinda. The final design is achieved by a combination of
analytical and simulation methods using CST and Comsol Multiphysics
software. Simulations outcome reveals the electric field profile at
the center of the microwave plasma chamber is strong and dense. A
strong electric field profile inside the microwave cavity has been
verified by the confinement of the plasma in the absence of an
external magnetic field. The magnetic field profile for the
2450 MHz microwave facility is simulated and confirmed
experimentally. Different RF powers and working gas pressures have
been used with Langmuir probes to record the plasma signal. As a
second stage, we studied the practicality of using a plasma cavity
to treat materials with plasma for materials science experiment in
plasma environment. This work shows the results of a thorough
computational analysis of a microwave plasma source that has been
tested in lab.
Thermodynamic speed limits for mechanical work
Authors: Aghion Erez , Green Jason R
Published: February 2023

Thermodynamic speed limits are a set of classical uncertainty relations that, so far, place global bounds on the stochastic dissipation of energy as heat and the production of entropy. Here, instead of constraints on these thermodynamic costs, we derive integral speed limits that are upper and lower bounds on a thermodynamic benefit—the minimum time for an amount of mechanical work to be done on or by a system. In the short time limit, we show how this extrinsic timescale relates to an intrinsic timescale for work, recovering the intrinsic timescales in differential speed limits from these integral speed limits and turning the first law of stochastic thermodynamics into a first law of speeds. As physical examples, we consider the work done by a flashing Brownian ratchet and the work done on a particle in a potential well subject to external driving.
Quartic Hamiltonians, and higher Hamiltonians at next-to-leading order, for the affine
sl2
Gaudin model
Authors: Franzini Tommaso , Young Charles
Published: February 2023

In this work we will use a general procedure to construct higher local Hamiltonians for the affine

s
l

2

Gaudin model. We focus on the first non-trivial example, the quartic Hamiltonians. We show by direct calculation that the quartic Hamiltonians commute amongst themselves and with the quadratic Hamiltonians which define the model. We go on to introduce a certain next-to-leading-order semi-classical limit of the model. In this limit, we are able to write down the full hierarchy of higher local Hamiltonians and prove that they commute.
3D bioprinting of dECM/Gel/QCS/nHAp hybrid scaffolds laden with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes to improve angiogenesis and osteogenesis
Authors: Kang Yue , Xu Jie , Meng Ling’ao , Su Ya , Fang Huan , Liu Jiaqi , Cheng Yuen Yee , Jiang Daqing , Nie Yi , Song Kedong
Published: February 2023

Craniofacial bone regeneration is a coupled process of angiogenesis and osteogenesis, which, associated with infection, still remains a challenge in bone defects after trauma or tumor resection. 3D tissue engineering scaffolds with multifunctional-therapeutic properties can offer many advantages for the angiogenesis and osteogenesis of infected bone defects. Hence, in the present study, a microchannel networks-enriched 3D hybrid scaffold composed of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), gelatin (Gel), quaterinized chitosan (QCS) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) (dGQH) was fabricated by an extrusion 3D bioprinting technology. And enlightened by the characteristics of natural bone microstructure and the demands of vascularized bone regeneration, the exosomes (Exos) isolated from human adipose derived stem cells as angiogenic and osteogenic factors were then co-loaded into the desired dGQH20 hybrid scaffold based on an electrostatic interaction. The results of the hybrid scaffolds performance characterization showed that these hybrid scaffolds exhibited an interconnected pore structure and appropriate degradability (>61% after 8 weeks of treatment), and the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold displayed the highest porosity (83.93 ± 7.38%) and mechanical properties (tensile modulus: 62.68 ± 10.29 MPa, compressive modulus: 16.22 ± 3.61 MPa) among the dGQH hybrid scaffolds. Moreover, the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold presented good antibacterial activities (against 94.90 ± 2.44% of Escherichia coli and 95.41 ± 2.65% of Staphylococcus aureus, respectively) as well as excellent hemocompatibility and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the results of applying the Exos to the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold showed that the Exo promoted the cell attachment and proliferation on the scaffold, and also showed a significant increase in osteogenesis and vascularity regeneration in the dGQH@Exo scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this novel dECM/Gel/QCS/nHAp hybrid scaffold laden with Exo has a considerable potential application in reservation of craniofacial bone defects.
An update of the pharmacological treatment options for generalized myasthenia gravis in adults with anti–acetylcholine receptor antibodies
Authors: Riley Tanya R , Douglas Janine S , Wang Christopher , Bowser Kiarra M
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This review aims to provide an update on current pharmacological agents for the management of generalized myasthenia gravis (MG).

MG is an autoimmune disease characterized by impaired neuromuscular transmission and muscle weakness. Most patients have autoimmune antibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, with treatments aimed at eliminating or decreasing levels of autoantibodies. Limitations of current treatments for generalized MG include limited efficacy and serious adverse effects, indicating a continued need for new treatments. Efgartigimod alfa, a biologic newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration, provides a novel treatment option for patients with chronic generalized MG.

Conclusion

While the landscape for treatment of generalized MG has expanded over recent years, there is still an unmet need for patients for whom multiple lines of treatment have failed. The introduction of neonatal Fc receptor antagonists such as efgartigimod alfa may have an immediate impact in patients for whom standard-of-care therapy has failed.
A hybrid positive unlabeled learning framework for uncovering scaffolds across human proteome by measuring the propensity to drive phase separation
Authors: Jiang Peiran , Cai Ruoxi , Lugo-Martinez Jose , Guo Yaping
Published: February 2023

Scaffold proteins drive liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form biomolecular condensates and organize various biochemical reactions in cells. Dysregulation of scaffolds can lead to aberrant condensate assembly and various complex diseases. However, bioinformatics predictors dedicated to scaffolds are still lacking and their development suffers from an extreme imbalance between limited experimentally identified scaffolds and unlabeled candidates. Here, using the joint distribution of hybrid multimodal features, we implemented a positive unlabeled (PU) learning-based framework named PULPS that combined ProbTagging and penalty logistic regression (PLR) to profile the propensity of scaffolds. PULPS achieved the best AUC of 0.8353 and showed an area under the lift curve (AUL) of 0.8339 as an estimation of true performance. Upon reviewing recent experimentally verified scaffolds, we performed a partial recovery with 2.85% increase in AUL from 0.8339 to 0.8577. In comparison, PULPS showed a 45.7% improvement in AUL compared with PLR, whereas 8.2% superiority over other existing tools. Our study first proved that PU learning is more suitable for scaffold prediction and demonstrated the widespread existence of phase separation states. This profile also uncovered potential scaffolds that co-drive LLPS in the human proteome and generated candidates for further experiments. PULPS is free for academic research at http://pulps.zbiolab.cn.
Serum biomarker-based endotypes of atopic dermatitis in China and prediction for efficacy of dupilumab
Authors: Wu Yuemeng , Gu Chaoying , Wang Shangshang , Yin Huibin , Qiu Zhuoqiong , Luo Yang , Li Zheng , Wang Ce , Yao Xu , Li Wei
Published: February 2023

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly heterogeneous disease clinically and biologically. Serum biomarkers have been utilized for endotype identification and have the potential to be predictors for treatment.

Objectives

To explore the serum biomarker-based endotypes of Chinese patients with AD and to identify biomarkers for prediction of the efficacy of dupilumab.

Methods

Sera from 125 patients with moderate-to-severe AD and 60 normal controls (NC) were analysed for 24 cytokines/chemokines using the magnetic Luminex assay. After the patients received 16 weeks of dupilumab treatment, the efficacy was evaluated, and blood eosinophils, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E and biomarkers were measured.

Results

Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe AD were characterized by T-helper (Th)2-dominant serum biomarkers that were mixed with differentially increased Th1-, Th17- and Th22-type cytokines/chemokines, and it was mainly Th2-type serum biomarkers that were positively correlated with disease severity and eosinophil counts. Adult (but not adolescent or elderly) patients with AD showed a consistent and more significant increase of biomarkers across different types of inflammation. The patients were grouped into two clusters by unsupervised k-means analysis, which were differentially associated with inflammation. Treatment with dupilumab decreased the levels of most cytokines/chemokines analysed. While there was no difference between the two clusters in the efficacy of dupilumab, baseline levels of CD25/soluble interleukin (sIL)-2Rα, IL-31 and IL-36β were identified as predictive factors associated with the efficacy.

Conclusions

Our study revealed two inflammation-related endotypes of Chinese patients with AD based on serum biomarkers. High levels of CD25/sIL-2Rα, IL-31 and IL-36β might predict good efficacy of dupilumab treatment.
Prospective Validation of the Lémann Index in Children: A Report From the Multicentre Image Kids Study
Authors: Focht Gili , Kuint Ruth Cytter , Greer Mary-Louise C , Pratt Li-Tal , Castro Denise A , Church Peter C , Navas-López Víctor Manuel , Baldassano Robert N , Mortensen Joachim Høg , Rieder Florian , Yerushalmi Baruch , Ilivitzki Anat , Konen Osnat , Griffiths Anne M , Turner Dan
Published: February 2023

Background

The Lémann Index [LI] and the recently updated LI are tools for measuring structural bowel damage in adults with Crohn’s disease [CD] but have not been evaluated in children. We aimed to validate the updated LI in the prospective multicentre ImageKids study of paediatric CD.

Methods

We included children with CD undergoing magnetic resonance enterography [MRE], pelvic magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and ileocolonoscopy. Half were followed for 18 months, when MRE was repeated. Serum was collected for fibrosis-related proteomic markers. The LI was calculated by central readers from the MRE, ileocolonoscopy, physical examination and surgical data. Reliability and construct validity were assessed at baseline, while responsiveness and test–retest reliability were explored longitudinally.

Results

In total, 240 children were included (mean age, 14.2 ± 2.5 years; median disease duration, 2.2 years [interquartile range, IQR 0.25–4.42]; median baseline LI, 4.23 [IQR 2.0–8.8]). The updated LI had excellent inter-observer reliability (interclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92–0.95) but poor, although statistically significant, correlation with radiologist and gastroenterologist global assessments of damage and with serum proteomic levels of fibrotic markers [rho = 0.15–0.30, most p < 0.05]. The updated LI had low discriminative validity for detecting damage (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC-ROC] 0.69, 95% CI 0.62–0.75). In 116 repeated MREs, responsiveness was suboptimal for differentiating improved from unchanged disease [AUC-ROC 0.58, 95% CI 0.45–0.71]. Test–retest reliability was high among stable patients [ICC = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.91].

Conclusion

Overall, the updated LI had insufficient psychometric performance for recommending its use in children. An age-specific index may be needed for children with shorter disease duration than typical adult cohorts.
A streamlined, machine learning-derived approach to risk-stratification in heart failure patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation
Authors: Heitzinger Gregor , Spinka Georg , Koschatko Sophia , Baumgartner Clemens , Dannenberg Varius , Halavina Kseniya , Mascherbauer Katharina , Nitsche Christian , Dona Caroliná , Koschutnik Matthias , Kammerlander Andreas , Winter Max-Paul , Strunk Guido , Pavo Noemi , Kastl Stefan , Hülsmann Martin , Rosenhek Raphael , Hengstenberg Christian , Bartko Philipp E , Goliasch Georg
Published: February 2023

Aims

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (sTR) is the most frequent valvular heart disease and has a significant impact on mortality. A high burden of comorbidities often worsens the already dismal prognosis of sTR, while tricuspid interventions remain underused and initiated too late. The aim was to examine the most powerful predictors of all-cause mortality in moderate and severe sTR using machine learning techniques and to provide a streamlined approach to risk-stratification using readily available clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory parameters.

Methods and results

This large-scale, long-term observational study included 3359 moderate and 1509 severe sTR patients encompassing the entire heart failure spectrum (preserved, mid-range and reduced ejection fraction). A random survival forest was applied to investigate the most important predictors and group patients according to their number of adverse features.

The identified predictors and thresholds, that were associated with significantly worse mortality were lower glomerular filtration rate (<60 mL/min/1.73m2), higher NT-proBNP, increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum albumin < 40 g/L and hemoglobin < 13 g/dL. Additionally, grouping patients according to the number of adverse features yielded important prognostic information, as patients with 4 or 5 adverse features had a fourfold risk increase in moderate sTR [4.81(3.56–6.50) HR 95%CI, P < 0.001] and fivefold risk increase in severe sTR [5.33 (3.28–8.66) HR 95%CI, P < 0.001].

Conclusion

This study presents a streamlined, machine learning-derived and internally validated approach to risk-stratification in patients with moderate and severe sTR, that adds important prognostic information to aid clinical-decision-making.
Glycaemic status, insulin resistance, and risk of infection-related mortality: a cohort study
Authors: Cheong Hae Suk , Chang Yoosoo , Kim Yejin , Joo Eun-Jeong , Kwon Min-Jung , Wild Sarah H , Byrne Christopher D , Ryu Seungho
Published: February 2023

Importance

The impact of non-diabetic hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance on infection-related mortality risk remains unknown.

Objective

We investigated the association of glycaemic status and insulin resistance with infection-related mortality in individuals with and without diabetes.

Design

Cohort study based on Kangbuk Samsung Health Study and national death records.

Participants

About 666 888 Korean adults who underwent fasting blood measurements including glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin during health-screening examinations were followed for up to 15.8 years.

Main outcome and measures

Infection-related mortality, therefore we used Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for infection-related mortality. Vital status and infection-related mortality were ascertained through national death records. Variable categories were created based on established cut-offs for glucose and HbA1c levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) quintiles.

Results

During a median follow-up of 8.3 years, 313 infectious disease deaths were dentified. The associations of glucose and HbA1c levels with infection-related mortality were J-shaped (P for quadratic trend<.05). The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CIs) for infection-related mortality comparing glucose levels <5, 5.6-6.9, and ≥7.0 mmol/L to 5.0–5.5 mmol/L (the reference) were 2.31 (1.47–3.64), 1.65 (1.05–2.60), and 3.41 (1.66–7.00), respectively. Among individuals without diabetes, the multivariable-adjusted HR for infection-related mortality for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥75th centile versus <75th centile) was 1.55 (1.04–2.32).

Conclusions and relevance

Both low and high glycaemic levels and insulin resistance were independently associated with increased infection-related mortality risk, indicating a possible role of abnormal glucose metabolism in increased infection-related mortality.
How to do (or not to do)…how to embed equity in the conduct of health research: lessons from piloting the 8Quity tool
Authors: Kakoti Misimi , Nambiar Devaki , Bestman Amy , Garozzo-Vaglio Damian , Buse Kent
Published: February 2023

Global health research reflects and can either perpetuate or challenge the complex power hierarchies and inequities that characterize our health systems and the societies in which they are situated. The imperative to embed equity in health research aligns with broader efforts globally to promote equitable partnerships among researchers, and between researchers and the communities potentially impacted by their research, or with whom knowledge is co-produced. We describe lessons learnt from piloting a heuristic and diagnostic tool for researchers to assess integration of equity considerations into their research practices. The ‘8Quity’ tool comprises eight domains of equity we developed which roughly correspond to the typical stages in the research process—from team formation to capacity strengthening, research ethics and governance to relationships with research partners, participants and stakeholders beyond the project period. Resources that detail how this can be done on a practical level are also shared, corresponding to each of the eight domains. We acknowledge that tools like 8Quity may be helpful, even necessary, but are insufficient for the broader societal changes required to ensure equity in the research enterprise. However, by firmly setting intentions and accountabilities within our research practices, we (as researchers) can play a role, however modest, in turning the tide of the injustices that leave some communities behind.
The Paradox of Anthropocene Inaction: Knowledge Production, Mobilization, and the Securitization of Social Relations
Authors: Fagan Madeleine
Published: February 2023

This article argues that the Anthropocene produces a paradox when thinking about political mobilization. I show how the knowledge production practices that render the Anthropocene visible and actionable, including planetary boundaries, Earth System Science modeling of earth systems, and geological strata, also circulate a security rationality. This rationality is one that attempts to manage, co-opt, or productively direct processes of becoming, which limits possibilities for mobilization. A lens that assumes political mobilization is a function of increased knowledge, understanding, and evidence contributes to this problem. By starting instead with an understanding of possibilities for mobilization as emerging from social relations, the article highlights the way in which the security rationality circulated by Anthropocene knowledge production risks transforming those social relations into security relations. Netting the planet and the human together through the practices of calculation and representation that make the Anthropocene visible produces a decontextualized, disaggregated, and dispersed subject and so limits possibilities for collective political mobilization.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Two Chitin Synthases in the Black Cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Ren Meifeng , Lu Junjiao , Li Daqi , Yang Jing , Zhang Yuying , Dong Jinming , Niu Yanbing , Zhou Xuguo , Zhang Xianhong
Published: February 2023

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), a seasonal migrant and a prolific generalist, can feed on nearly all vegetables and grain crops, causing considerable economic impacts on a global scale. Given its cryptic nature, A. ipsilon management has been extremely challenging. Chitin synthase (CHS), a key enzyme involved in chitin biosynthetic pathway and crucially important for the growth and development of insects, is the molecular target of chitin synthesis inhibitors, a group of broad-spectrum insecticides that is compatible with Integrated Pest Management practices. In this study, we investigated the potential of targeting chitin synthases to control A. ipsilon. As a result, two chitin synthases, AiCHS1 and AiCHS2, were identified and cloned from A. ipsilon. The temporal-spatial distribution study showed that AiCHS1 was predominantly expressed at the pupal stage and most abundant among tissues of head capsule and integument, while AiCHS2 was mainly expressed at the sixth instar larval stage and tissues of foregut and midgut. RNAi-based functional study confirmed gene silencing caused significant reduction in the expression levels of the corresponding mRNA, as well as resulted in abnormal pupation and mortality, respectively. Furthermore, under the treatment of lufenuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, A. ipsilon responded with an elevated expression in AiCHS1 and AiCHS2, while larvae showed difficulty in shedding old cuticle, and a cumulative mortality of 69.24% at 48 h. In summary, chitin synthases are crucial for chitin biosynthesis in A. ipsilon and can be targeted for the control (e.g., RNAi-based biopesticides) of this devastating insect pest.
New Stem Boring Pest of Quinoa in the United States
Authors: Szczepaniec Adrianna , Alnajjar Gabriel
Published: February 2023

Climate change and its impact on agricultural crops is driving the expansion of cropping systems to plants better adapted to rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, poor soils, and high salinity. One such crop is quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae), a traditionally Andean grain that has been recently adopted in dry, high-elevation regions of Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. However, in 2021, a stem-boring fly, Amauromyza karli Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was reported in quinoa grown in Colorado’s San Luis Valley and abruptly halted expansion of this climate-resilient crop. This new agromyzid pest has caused complete yield loss in some instances and contributed to substantial declines in quinoa acreage from 3,000 acres in 2021 to 900 acres in 2022. Distinguishing morphological features of A. karli adults include a yellow head, light yellow halteres, a dark brown body, and a dark brown femur and tibia that are yellow near the tips. Larvae feed within quinoa stems and destroy the pith, which disrupts nutrient transport and causes death or significant declines in yield and quality. Here, we summarize the impact of A. karli on quinoa, and discuss life history and management for other agromyzid species that can inform management of A. karli. Research focused on effective integrated management tactics including use of biological control, host plant resistance, and systemic insecticides is urgently needed to suppress this pest.
Statistical calibration for infinite many future values in linear regression: simultaneous or pointwise tolerance intervals or what else?
Authors: Han Yang , Sun Yujia , Wang Lingjiao , Liu Wei , Bretz Frank
Published: February 2023

Statistical calibration using regression is a useful statistical tool with many applications. For confidence sets for x-values associated with infinitely many future y-values, there is a consensus in the statistical literature that the confidence sets constructed should guarantee a key property. While it is well known that the confidence sets based on the simultaneous tolerance intervals (STIs) guarantee this key property conservatively, it is desirable to construct confidence sets that satisfy this property exactly. Also, there is a misconception that the confidence sets based on the pointwise tolerance intervals (PTIs) also guarantee this property. This paper constructs the weighted simultaneous tolerance intervals (WSTIs) so that the confidence sets based on the WSTIs satisfy this property exactly if the future observations have the x-values distributed according to a known specific distribution F(⋅). Through the lens of the WSTIs, convincing counter examples are also provided to demonstrate that the confidence sets based on the PTIs do not guarantee the key property in general and so should not be used. The WSTIs have been applied to real data examples to show that the WSTIs can produce more accurate calibration intervals than STIs and PTIs.
Genome Sequence and Analysis ofNicotiana benthamiana, the Model Plant for Interactions between Organisms
Authors: Kurotani Ken-ichi , Hirakawa Hideki , Shirasawa Kenta , Tanizawa Yasuhiro , Nakamura Yasukazu , Isobe Sachiko , Notaguchi Michitaka
Published: February 2023

Nicotiana benthamiana is widely used as a model plant for dicotyledonous angiosperms. In fact, the strains used in research are highly susceptible to a wide range of viruses. Accordingly, these strains are subject to plant pathology and plant–microbe interactions. In terms of plant–plant interactions, N. benthamiana is one of the plants that exhibit grafting affinity with plants from different families. Thus, N. benthamiana is a good model for plant biology and has been the subject of genome sequencing analyses for many years. However, N. benthamiana has a complex allopolyploid genome, and its previous reference genome is fragmented into 141,000 scaffolds. As a result, molecular genetic analysis is difficult to perform. To improve this effort, de novo whole-genome assembly was performed in N. benthamiana with Hifi reads, and 1,668 contigs were generated with a total length of 3.1 Gb. The 21 longest scaffolds, regarded as pseudomolecules, contained a 2.8-Gb sequence, occupying 95.6% of the assembled genome. A total of 57,583 high-confidence gene sequences were predicted. Based on a comparison of the genome structures between N. benthamiana and N. tabacum, N. benthamiana was found to have more complex chromosomal rearrangements, reflecting the age of interspecific hybridization. To verify the accuracy of the annotations, the cell wall modification genes involved in grafting were analyzed, which revealed not only the previously indeterminate untranslated region, intron and open reading frame sequences but also the genomic locations of their family genes. Owing to improved genome assembly and annotation, N. benthamiana would increasingly be more widely accessible.
LC–ESI–MS phenolic contents assessment, antioxidant, and protective ability of Punica granatum root bark extract against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats: in silico H+, K+-ATPase inhibitory pathway study
Authors: Alimi Hichem , Mabrouk Faten Haj , Zouari Nacim , Sakly Mohsen , Rhouma Khémais Ben
Published: February 2023

The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the Punica granatum root bark extract’s (PGE) antioxidant and gastroprotective activities against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in Wistar rats and to elucidate the putative mechanism of action using in silico analysis. The PGE phytochemical study shows high levels of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and polysaccharides. In vitro, the PGE was more effective at scavenging hydroxyl radicals than quercetin and had lower ferric reducing activity than catechin. In vivo, it was revealed that pretreatment of ethanol-ulcerated rats with PGE at oral doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. offered a dose-dependent shield against ethanol-induced ulcers when compared to Omeprazole (20 mg/kg b.w.) by preventing the development of deep ulcer lesions, lowering gastric juice output and pH rises, boosting gastric mucus production and antioxidant enzyme levels, and attenuating malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase contents. Moreover, the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of PGE identified 5 phenolic acids and 4 flavonoids, which revealed an in silico high oral bioavailability, drug-likenesses, and good binding affinities and thus inhibitory effects on the gastric H+, K+-ATPase enzyme. PGE may have synergistic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and H+, K+-proton pump inhibitory actions that contribute to its antiulcer efficacy.
Institutional performance and validation of severity of illness score for children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis
Authors: Kothari Ezan A. , Hoggard Jason J. , Torrez Timothy W. , Padgett Anthony M. , McGwin Gerald , Conklin Michael J. , Gilbert Shawn R.
Published: February 2023

A scoring system has recently been published that uses parameters within the first 4–5 days of hospitalization to determine the severity of illness (SOI) in children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO). To our knowledge, no additional studies to date have examined the validity of the SOI score outside of the institution of origin. This study evaluates the performance of the SOI score in a retrospective cohort of cases at our institution. Patients admitted to our institution over the past 5 years with AHO who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed. Parameters including C reactive protein over the first 96 h of hospitalization, febrile days on antibiotics, ICU admission, and presence of disseminated disease were used to calculate the SOI score for each patient. Pearson and Spearman correlations were used when appropriate. SOI score comparison between groups was achieved with the Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon two-sample tests. Seventy-four patients were analyzed. Significantly higher SOI scores were noted for patients with bacteremia, ICU admission, fever for two or more days on presentation, multiple surgeries, and any complication. Markers of disease severity that significantly correlated with SOI score were total length of stay, LOS, duration of antibiotic course, number of surgical procedures, and case mix index. The SOI score functioned well as higher scores were associated with sicker patients. The SOI score is helpful for determining which patients will require longer hospitalizations and more intense treatment in a setting other than the institution of origin.