bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does dispersed phase inertia affect the shape of sheared emulsion droplets?
Authors: Preziosi Valentina , Tarafder Anik , Tomaiuolo Giovanna , Sarkar Kausik , Guido Stefano
Published: July 2024

Inertial effects on sheared emulsion droplets are a topic of scientific and industrial interest for several applications from processing to microfluidics. Most of the literature have addressed so far the role of inertia of the continuous phase, which is known to affect shear-induced droplet deformation and migration at values of the Reynolds number of the external fluid Rec > 1. However, less attention has been paid to the case of inertial effects inside the droplets, corresponding to values of the Reynolds number of the droplet fluid Red > 1. Such a case is especially relevant when the viscosity ratio λ between the droplet and the external fluid is ≪ 1, which is typical of water-in-oil emulsions where the low values of droplet viscosity can result in Red > 1, while Rec < 1 due to the larger oil viscosity. Here, we focus on the effect of droplet inertia under shear flow at λ ≪ 1 by high-speed video microscopy experiments in a microcapillary and by numerical simulations based on a front-tracking finite-difference method. The results unveil the droplet's three-dimensional shape under shear flow at low viscosity ratios and show that droplet inertia tends to increase droplet deformation and orientation along the flow direction and to form two vortices inside the droplets even at small Rec. The latter findings are at variance with the case of external fluid inertia, where droplets become more aligned with the velocity gradient direction.
Evolution of downburst-like flows produced by an active-controlled multi-blade facility
Authors: Yuan Yangjin , Yan Bowen , Zhou Xuhong , Li Xiao , Dong You , Yang Qingshan , Liu Qingkuan
Published: July 2024

The intricate dynamics of vortex structures within the downburst outflow region present significant challenges in studying flow evolutionary features, which are crucial for understanding the effect of such flow on various structures. This study aims to reveal the evolutionary features of downburst-like winds produced by an active-controlled multi-blade (AMBS) facility, using the particle image velocimetry tests and the large-eddy simulation (LES) studies. The numerical simulation indicates that the wind velocity profiles, nonstationary wind velocity time history, and the transient flow patterns of the downward flow impinging on the ground can be well simulated by the LES method. For stationary winds, a series of columnar vortices are produced, and the vortices tend to be more organized as the maximum velocity appears at a lower height. The proper orthogonal decomposition analysis manifests that the primary vortex region is affected by multiple modes of the fluctuating wind field. In addition, the primary vortex structures of the AMBS-generated flow present apparent evolutionary features. During the downward flow impinging on the ground, the nose-shaped wind velocity profile gradually forms at the turntable center and is well developed when the maximum velocity is reached. This observation is in accordance with the findings in available full-scale measurement campaigns.
Hydroacoustic analysis of a full-scale marine vessel: Prediction of the cavitation-induced underwater radiated noise using large eddy simulations
Authors: Pendar Mohammad-Reza , McIntyre Duncan , Oshkai Peter
Published: July 2024

This numerical study provides insight into the mechanism of noise generation by a cavitating flow in the wake of a marine propeller under realistic operating conditions, which poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. We examined a full-scale vessel with an entire hull and an isolated model-scale marine propeller (INSEAN E779A) with a maneuverable rudder under various highly turbulent inflow conditions that strongly affect the spectral characteristics of the radiated noise. Insight into the acoustic behavior was gained by employing a combination of the large eddy simulation (LES) treatment of turbulence and the Schnerr–Sauer volume of fluid cavitation model. The hydrodynamic solution was coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) strategy for noise and vibration identification. We focused on the interactions between the characteristic cavitation patterns of marine propellers (sheet, tip, and hub cavities) and the dominant structures of the turbulent wake (tip, root, trailing edge, and hub vortices, as well as the distributed small-scale vorticity). The small-scale topological structures in the swirling wake of a propeller directly manifest in the radiated sound level and affect the intensity of multiple frequency ranges. Quantitative analysis of thrust, pressure fluctuations, and sound pressure levels (SPLs) demonstrates significant effects of blade loading, wake distribution, and cavitation development. The peak and average SPL distributions obtained through LES show lower dominant and higher average frequencies compared to those obtained by the FW-H method. The overall SPL obtained by LES were higher than those calculated using the FW-H acoustic analogy at all microphone locations. The overall noise was dominated by the low-frequency broadband noise, attributed to energetic helical vortices, and narrow-band peaks in the medium-high frequency range that originated from other sources, like cavitation structures.
Predissociation-based measurements of bond dissociation energies: US2, OUS, and USe
Authors: Tomchak Kimberly H. , Sorensen Jason J. , Tieu Erick , Morse Michael D.
Published: July 2024

The uranium-containing molecules US2, OUS, and USe have been investigated using a pulsed laser ablation supersonic beam molecular source with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection. Spectra have been recorded using the resonant two-photon ionization method over the spectroscopic range from 277 to 238 nm. These species have a myriad of excited electronic states in this spectroscopic region, leading to spectra that are highly congested and appear quasicontinuous. Sharp predissociation thresholds are observed, allowing precise bond dissociation energies to be measured. In the case of the triatomic molecules, it was necessary to use one laser for excitation and a delayed laser for ionization in order to observe a sharp predissociation threshold that allowed a precise bond dissociation energy to be measured. The resulting thermochemical values are D0(SU-S) = 4.910 ± 0.003 eV, D0(OU-S) = 5.035 ± 0.004 eV, and D0(USe) = 4.609 ± 0.009 eV. These results provide the first measurement of D0(USe) and reduce the error limits in the previous values of D0(SU-S) and D0(OU-S) by a factor of more than 70.
Ferroelastic strain control of multiple nonvolatile resistance tuning in Cr:In2O3/PMN-PT(111) multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Ni Hao , Yuan Yuying , Fu Qiang , Zhang Chen , Liu Lefan , Cheng Deliang , Sun Shuyi
Published: July 2024

Strain can significantly affect the electronic structure and functional properties of dilute magnetic semiconductors. As a wide bandgap transparent semiconductor, doped In2O3 has also received extensive attention for the modulation of physical properties by lattice strain due to its excellent functional properties. Here, we epitaxially grew the Cr:In2O3 thin film on the (111)-oriented 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) ferroelectric single-crystal substrate. By applying an electric field to PMN–PT, multiple reversible and nonvolatile resistance states can be achieved at room temperature. Utilizing in situ XRD, different strain states corresponding to different resistance states induced by the ferroelastic domain switching of the PMN–PT were characterized. Based on first-principles calculations, the influence of lattice strain on the resistivity of the Cr:In2O3 was discussed. These results offer a route for the design of multiple-valued nonvolatile memory devices and multiple functional magneto-electric devices based on dilute magnetic semiconductors.
First-passage properties of bundled networks
Authors: Yuan Zhenhua , Peng Junhao , Gao Long , Shao Renxiang
Published: July 2024

Bundled networks, obtained by attaching a copy of a fiber structure to each node on the base structure, serve as important realistic models for the geometry and dynamics of nontranslationally invariant systems in condensed matter physics. Here, we analyze the first-passage properties, including the mean first-passage time, the mean-trapping time, the global-mean first-passage time (GFPT), and the stationary distribution, of a biased random walk within such networks, in which a random walker moves to a neighbor on base with probability γ and to a neighbor on fiber with probability 1−γ when the walker at a node on base. We reveal the primary properties of both the base and fiber structure, which govern the first-passage characteristics of the bundled network. Explicit expressions between these quantities in the bundled networks and the related quantities in the component structures are presented. GFPT serves as a crucial indicator for evaluating network transport efficiency. Unexpectedly, bases and fibers with similar scaling of GFPT can construct bundled networks exhibiting different scaling behaviors of GFPT. Therefore, bundled networks can be tailored to accommodate specific dynamic property requirements by choosing a suitable base and fiber structure. These findings contribute to advancing the design and optimization of network structures.
Fibrinogen inhibits sonic hedgehog signaling and impairs neonatal cerebellar development after blood–brain barrier disruption
Authors: Weaver Olivia , Gano Dawn , Zhou Yungui , Kim Hosung , Tognatta Reshmi , Yan Zhaoqi , Ryu Jae Kyu , Brandt Caroline , Basu Trisha , Grana Martin , Cabriga Belinda , Alzamora Maria del Pilar S. , Barkovich A. James , Akassoglou Katerina , Petersen Mark A.
Published: July 2024

Cerebellar injury in preterm infants with central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage results in lasting neurological deficits and an increased risk of autism. The impact of blood-induced pathways on cerebellar development remains largely unknown, so no specific treatments have been developed to counteract the harmful effects of blood after neurovascular damage in preterm infants. Here, we show that fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein, plays a central role in impairing neonatal cerebellar development. Longitudinal MRI of preterm infants revealed that cerebellar bleeds were the most critical factor associated with poor cerebellar growth. Using inflammatory and hemorrhagic mouse models of neonatal cerebellar injury, we found that fibrinogen increased innate immune activation and impeded neurogenesis in the developing cerebellum. Fibrinogen inhibited sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, the main mitogenic pathway in cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs), and was sufficient to disrupt cerebellar growth. Genetic fibrinogen depletion attenuated neuroinflammation, promoted CGNP proliferation, and preserved normal cerebellar development after neurovascular damage. Our findings suggest that fibrinogen alters the balance of SHH signaling in the neurovascular niche and may serve as a therapeutic target to mitigate developmental brain injury after CNS hemorrhage.
The impact of marriage equality campaigns on stress: Did a Swiss public vote get under the skin?
Authors: Eisner Léïla , Fischer Susanne , Juster Robert-Paul , Hässler Tabea
Published: July 2024

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals encounter persistent structural inequalities and discrimination that can lead to detrimental psychological and physiological health outcomes. Amid evolving legal landscapes, little attention has been directed toward understanding the physiological health effects of societal shifts on these communities. This study aims to explore the impact of a national marriage equality vote and associated debates on psychological and biological stress among LGBTIQ+ individuals and cisgender, heterosexual, endosex individuals (termed cis-heterosexual) in Switzerland. We gathered longitudinal survey and biological data collected in hair samples among LGBTIQ+ and cis-heterosexual individuals before, during, and after the 2021 national vote (survey data:NT1T2= 954;NT2T3= 880; biological data:NT1T2= 393;NT2T3= 354). Preregistered analyses reveal a notable increase in biological stress levels (i.e., cortisol and cortisone levels), but not perceived stress, among both LGBTIQ+ as well as cis-heterosexual individuals who were close to them during the campaign. Results further point out the negative impacts of the campaign against marriage equality (i.e., no-campaign) on LGBTIQ+ individuals’ biological stress levels as well as on those of their allies. These effects were, however, moderated by exposure to the campaign for marriage equality (i.e., yes-campaign), indicating the powerful buffering effects of the yes-campaign on the impact of discrimination on individuals’ health. However, these positive effects appear to come at a cost, potentially impacting the well-being of individuals engaged in advocating for the yes-campaign. This research underscores the lasting impact of political campaigns on individuals’ health.
SARS-CoV-2 spike does not interact with the T cell receptor or directly activate T cells
Authors: Gaglione Stephanie A. , Rosales Tatiana J. , Schmidt-Hong Laura , Baker Brian M. , Birnbaum Michael E.
Published: July 2024

SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which resembles superantigen-induced toxic shock syndrome. Recent work has suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein could act as a superantigen by binding T cell receptors (TCRs) and inducing broad antigen-independent T cell responses. Structure-based computational modeling identified potential TCR-binding sites near the S receptor-binding domain, in addition to a site with homology to known neurotoxins. We experimentally examined the mechanism underpinning this theory—the direct interaction between the TCR and S protein. Surface plasmon resonance of recombinantly expressed S protein and TCR revealed no detectable binding. Orthogonally, we pseudotyped lentiviruses with SARS-CoV-2 S in both wild-type and prefusion-stabilized forms, demonstrated their functionality in a cell line assay, and observed no transduction, activation, or stimulation of proliferation of CD8
+
T cells. We conclude that it is unlikely that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein engages nonspecifically with TCRs or has superantigenic character.
Fetal MAVS and type I IFN signaling pathways control ZIKV infection in the placenta and maternal decidua
Authors: Alippe Yael , Wang Leran , Coskun Reyan , Muraro Stéfanie P. , Zhao Fang R. , Elam-Noll Michelle , White J. Michael , Vota Daiana M. , Hauk Vanesa C. , Gordon Jeffrey I. , Handley Scott A. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: July 2024

The contribution of placental immune responses to congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) syndrome remains poorly understood. Here, we leveraged a mouse model of ZIKV infection to identify mechanisms of innate immune restriction exclusively in the fetal compartment of the placenta. ZIKV principally infected mononuclear trophoblasts in the junctional zone, which was limited by mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) and type I interferon (IFN) signaling mechanisms. Single nuclear RNA sequencing revealed MAVS-dependent expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in spongiotrophoblasts but not in other placental cells that use alternate pathways to induce ISGs. ZIKV infection of Ifnar1−/− or Mavs−/− placentas was associated with greater infection of the adjacent immunocompetent decidua, and heterozygous Mavs+/− or Ifnar1+/− dams carrying immunodeficient fetuses sustained greater maternal viremia and tissue infection than dams carrying wild-type fetuses. Thus, MAVS-IFN signaling in the fetus restricts ZIKV infection in junctional zone trophoblasts, which modulates dissemination and outcome for both the fetus and the pregnant mother.
Enhanced energy density of BOPP film by MAH grafting for metallized capacitors
Authors: Chen Ke , Du Bo Xue , Liu Haoliang , Xiao Meng
Published: July 2024

In this paper, maleic anhydride (MAH) was grafted on the surfaces of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film by ultraviolet irradiation treatment to improve the breakdown strength. The addition of MAH, with abundant deep traps, effectively hinders charge injection from the electrode, leading to improved dielectric performance, particularly at elevated temperatures. The experimental results show that the received modified film exhibits an improved permittivity of 2.37 alongside a low dielectric loss of 0.0022 at 1000 Hz. Remarkably, the DC breakdown strength reaches 633.9 kV mm−1, marking a notable 21.4% increase compared to the unmodified BOPP film at 120 °C. Moreover, the film exhibits an energy density of 2.58 J m−3, which is 1.59 times that of the pure film. The charging and discharging efficiency is also greatly improved due to the reduction of conductance losses. Through simulation results, it becomes evident that the enhanced performance is attributed to the alleviation of electric field distortion due to the suppression of injected charge. This work paves a facile route to design scalable polymeric dielectrics with outstanding performance, which facilitates the development of film capacitors.
Three-dimensional drift correction of localised non-raster scanning on atomic force microscopy
Authors: Sun Xizhi , Heaps Edward , Yacoot Andrew , Yang Qingping , Grolich Petr , Klapetek Petr
Published: July 2024

Non-raster scanning can increase the scanning frame rate and measurement speed of atomic force microscopes (AFMs). It is also possible to correct the 3D drift during the non-raster scanning. However, the algorithm for the drift correction depends upon the properties of each scan pattern. While localised non-raster scanning using a rosette scan may be faster than the frequently used Lissajous scanning patterns, the drift correction is more challenging because the scan has crossing points only in local neighbouring segments where there are short temporal and spatial separations of the crossing paths. This design note presents a novel solution that successfully overcomes this problem and extends a drift correction method previously developed for Lissajous scans to the 3D drift correction of localised non-raster scanning using a rosette scan trajectory. The drift in the X, Y and Z axes can be determined using the crossing points and locally repeated scans of the same features. The general procedure is presented together with experiments using rosette scans of a two-dimensional lateral calibration standard. Experimental results have demonstrated that the method can effectively correct both the drift in the three axes and sample tilt, leading to significantly improved images. The method requires only localised crossing points in the scan and does not need additional scans to determine the three-dimensional drift based on cross-correlation and least squares techniques, and it can be used with any AFMs capable of rosette scanning.
Development and fault-tolerant control of a distributed piezoelectric stack actuator
Authors: Zhang Yunzhi , Ling Jie , Zhu Yuchuan
Published: July 2024

Piezoelectric stack actuator (PSA) has attracted widespread attention in aerospace applications. However, the severe operating conditions would bring certain risks to PSA, leading to decreased performance or even failure. The conventional PSA structure lacks adaptability in the event of a complete failure occurring within the piezoelectric stack layer (PSL) due to its centralized design and driving method. To address the reliability challenges inherent in PSAs, this paper proposes a novel distributed PSA (DPSA) by means of mechanical and electrical dispersion. Additionally, dual-redundant PSLs are integrated into the DPSA as backups, providing hardware redundancy for active fault-tolerant control (FTC). Building upon this foundation, an sliding mode observer (SMO)-based fault detector for DPSA is developed to facilitate fault reconstruction. Subsequently, an active FTC strategy, comprising dual-SMO-based fault detectors and a tracking controller, is introduced to effectively manage faults and reallocate control resources. Comprehensive experiments under various fault scenarios are carried out to assess the performance of the SMO-based fault detector and FTC strategy. The results demonstrate that the proposed fault detector and FTC strategy promptly detect faults and efficiently restore the DPSA to a stable state, thereby ensuring effective trajectory tracking even in the presence of faults.
Adaptive quantum accelerated imaging for space domain awareness
Authors: Choi Hyunsoo , Bao Fanglin , Jacob Zubin
Published: July 2024

The growth in space activity has increased the need for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) to ensure safe space operations. Imaging and detecting space targets is, however, challenging due to their dim appearance, small angular size/separation, dense distribution, and atmospheric turbulence. These challenges render space targets in ground-based imaging observations as point-like objects in the sub-Rayleigh regime, with extreme brightness contrast but a low photon budget. Here, we propose to use the recently developed quantum-accelerated imaging (QAI) for the SDA challenge. We mainly focus on three SDA challenges (1) minimal a priori assumptions (2) many-object problem (3) extreme brightness ratio. We also present results on source estimation and localization in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. QAI shows significantly improved estimation in position, brightness, and number of targets for all SDA challenges. In particular, we demonstrate up to 2.5 times better performance in source detection than highly optimized direct imaging in extreme scenarios like stars with a 1000 times brightness ratio. With over 10 000 simulations, we verify the increased resolution of our approach compared to conventional state-of-the-art direct imaging paving the way towards quantum optics approaches for SDA.
Global gyrokinetic analysis of Wendelstein 7-X discharge: unveiling the importance of trapped-electron-mode and electron-temperature-gradient turbulence
Authors: Wilms Felix , Bañón Navarro Alejandro , Windisch Thomas , Bozhenkov Sergey , Warmer Felix , Fuchert Golo , Ford Oliver , Zhang Daihong , Stange Torsten , Jenko Frank ,   the W7-X Team
Published: July 2024

We present the first nonlinear, gyrokinetic, radially global simulation of a discharge of the Wendelstein 7-X-like stellarator, including kinetic electrons, an equilibrium radial electric field, as well as electromagnetic and collisional effects. By comparison against flux-tube and full-flux-surface simulations, we assess the impact of the equilibrium ExB-flow and flow shear on the stabilisation of turbulence. In contrast to the existing literature, we further provide substantial evidence for the turbulent electron heat flux being driven by trapped-electron-mode and electron-temperature-gradient turbulence in the core of the plasma. The former manifests as a hybrid together with ion-temperature-gradient turbulence and is primarily driven by the finite electron temperature gradient, which has largely been neglected in nonlinear stellarator simulations presented in the existing literature.
Production and launch studies of cryogenic pellets for the ITER disruption mitigation system
Authors: Zoletnik Sándor , Bartók Gergely , Buzás Attila , Cseh Gábor , Dunai Dániel , Gárdonyi Gábor , Hegedűs Sándor , Kocsis Gábor , Málics Marcell , Nagy Domonkos , Réfy Dániel Imre , Szabolics Tamás , Szepesi Tamás , Vavrik Márton , Vécsei Miklós , Walcz Erik , Jachmich Stefan , Kruezi Uron , Lehnen Michael
Published: July 2024

A support laboratory has been set up to study pellet production, launch and shattering of cryogenic protium, deuterium, and neon pellets for the ITER disruption mitigation system, which plans to use 28.5 × 57 mm (diameter × length) protium, neon an mixture pellets in the Shattered Pellet Injectors. Such large protium pellets have not been produced and launched before, therefore the desublimation and launch process have been studied in detail in two steps. First 19 mm diameter pellets were produced, followed by the demonstration of the final pellet size. Pellet desublimation recipes were established for all pellet types, and it was found that, under certain conditions, even the large neon pellets can be launched with a propellant gas pulse, without requiring a mechanical punch device. This is attributed to cryogenic snow formation on the surface of the pellet. Conditions for the snow formation are studied and tendencies are understood using simple calculations.
Re-patterning of cylindrical packing of diblock copolymers under confinement and curvature effects by using approximations of PDE’s involved in the CDS model on polar mesh system
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Javed , Soomro Inayatullah , Mahar Mumtaz Hussain
Published: July 2024

Soft materials, including diblock copolymers, are advancing nanotechnology due to their unique properties, applications materials include energy harvesting, water sanitation, environmental treatment, nanosensors, drug delivery and nanolithography. These materials are light, cheap, efficient, sensitive, durable and more functional, whose new morphologies have been predicted by mathematicians through simulation. This work produces and predicts the pattern of packing of nano-cylinders by using confinement to appreciate the frustration in the packing of nano-cylinders under the influence of curvature. In this contribution, the cell dynamic simulations model is used to examine the impact of circular annular pore confinement on system orientation toward cylindrical morphologies. A 9-point stencil approximates the isotropic Laplacian by finite-difference discretization on a polar grid to meet the requirement of a cell dynamic simulation model. FORTRAN codes are generated for the set of PDEs included in the CDS model. OPEN DX is used to visualise the predicted cylindrical patterns. The consistency of our results with experimental observations makes our research valid and significant.
Machinability of gas metal arc based 3D printed Al-Mg 5356 alloy using wire-EDM
Authors: Doreswamy Deepak , Vijayan Vijeesh , Jain Krrish , Bhat Subraya Krishna
Published: July 2024

Wire-Arc Additive Manufactured (WAAM) is relatively new method of metal 3D printing in which the raw material is heated by the gas metal arc and the molten metal pool is deposited layer-by-layer using a computer numerically controlled axis drive system. Since WAAM needs a finishing process for attaining the final dimensions of the components, there is a need to investigate the machinability aspects of WAAM fabricated materials. This work investigates the machinability of Al-Mg 5356 alloy test samples fabricated by WAAM process using wire-electric discharge machining (Wire-EDM). The test samples were subjected to Wire-EDM and the obtained material removal rate (MRR), kerf width (KW) and surface roughness (Ra) were investigated at different Wire-EDM process settings of voltage, current, pulse-on time (Ton), pulse-off time (Toff) and wire speed (Ws). Statistical analysis revealed that current had a significant influence on MRR. Ton had a strong influence on KW and Ra, whereas Toff exhibited a considerable impact on all these responses. Notably, Ws demonstrated a significant impact on Ra. However, voltage was found to have statistically negligible impact on all the machining responses. Microstructural investigations and compositional analysis were conducted providing valuable information on the cut surfaces. The results derived from the present investigation are useful for predicting the optimum process parameter settings for machining of WAAM-based 3D printed Al-Mg alloy in various manufacturing industries.
Coarse-graining model reveals universal exponential scaling in axonal length distributions
Authors: Józsa Máté , Ercsey-Ravasz Mária , Zsolt I Lázár
Published: July 2024

The exponential distance rule (EDR) is a well-documented phenomenon suggesting that the distribution of axonal lengths in the brain follows an exponential decay pattern. Nevertheless, individual-level axon data supporting this assertion is limited to Drosophila and mice, while inter-region connectome data is also accessible for macaques, marmosets, and humans. Although axon-level data in Drosophila and mice support the generality of the EDR, region-level data can significantly deviate from the exponential curve. In this study, we establish that the axon number-weighted length distribution of region-level connections converges onto a universal curve when rescaled to the mean axonal length, demonstrating similarities across different species. To explain these observations, we present a simple mathematical model that attributes the observed deviations from the EDR in the weighted length distribution of inter-regional connectomes to the inherent coarse-graining effect of translating from neuron-level to region-level connectomics. We demonstrate that the qualitative predictions of the model are robust with respect to various aspects of brain region-geometry, including dimensionality, resolution, and curvature. On the other hand, the performance of the model exhibits a monotonous dependence on the amount of region-geometry related detail incorporated into the model. The findings validate the universality of the EDR rule across various species, paving the way for further in-depth exploration of this remarkably simple principle.
OmniJet-α: the first cross-task foundation model for particle physics
Authors: Birk Joschka , Hallin Anna , Kasieczka Gregor
Published: July 2024

Foundation models are multi-dataset and multi-task machine learning methods that once pre-trained can be fine-tuned for a large variety of downstream applications. The successful development of such general-purpose models for physics data would be a major breakthrough as they could improve the achievable physics performance while at the same time drastically reduce the required amount of training time and data. We report significant progress on this challenge on several fronts. First, a comprehensive set of evaluation methods is introduced to judge the quality of an encoding from physics data into a representation suitable for the autoregressive generation of particle jets with transformer architectures (the common backbone of foundation models). These measures motivate the choice of a higher-fidelity tokenization compared to previous works. Finally, we demonstrate transfer learning between an unsupervised problem (jet generation) and a classic supervised task (jet tagging) with our newOmniJet-αmodel. This is the first successful transfer between two different and actively studied classes of tasks and constitutes a major step in the building of foundation models for particle physics.
Multi-perspective feedback-attention coupling model for continuous-time dynamic graphs
Authors: Zhu Xiaobo , Wu Yan , Che Jin , Wang Chao , Wang Liying , Chen Zhanheng
Published: July 2024

Representation learning over graph networks has recently gained popularity, with many models showing promising results. However, several challenges remain: (1) most methods are designed for static or discrete-time dynamic graphs; (2) existing continuous-time dynamic graph algorithms focus on a single evolving perspective; and (3) many continuous-time dynamic graph approaches necessitate numerous temporal neighbors to capture long-term dependencies. In response, this paper introduces a Multi-Perspective Feedback-Attention Coupling (MPFA) model. MPFA incorporates information from both evolving and original perspectives to effectively learn the complex dynamics of dynamic graph evolution processes. The evolving perspective considers the current state of historical interaction events of nodes and uses a temporal attention module to aggregate current state information. This perspective also makes it possible to capture long-term dependencies of nodes using a small number of temporal neighbors. Meanwhile, the original perspective utilizes a feedback attention module with growth characteristic coefficients to aggregate the original state information of node interactions. Experimental results on one dataset organized by ourselves and seven public datasets validate the effectiveness and competitiveness of our proposed model.
Policy Recommendations
Authors: Pflücke Felix
Published: July 2024

This chapter aims to translate the monograph’s empirical findings into targeted and actionable policy recommendations to increase the efficiency of EU consumer contract law and trader compliance. However, it is not an exhaustive list of necessary reforms. All policy recommendations build on the findings of the book’s empirical inquiry or similar studies in the field, comply with the EU’s principles of conferral, subsidiarity, and proportionality, adhere to the Better Regulation guidelines, and align with existing proposals or laws on the EU and national levels. The chapter addresses all policy recommendations to the relevant stakeholders, the EU legislator, the Member States, and other groups, such as e-commerce traders or consumer organizations.
Phloem
Authors: Roy Sumana
Published: July 2024

This chapter delves into the intertwined narratives of individuals whose works, though not explicitly focused on environmentalism, subtly contribute to a rich tradition of plant thinking in the Indian subcontinent. Through a mosaic of interconnected lives and creative endeavours, the chapter illuminates a hidden thread of botanical consciousness that permeates literature, art, and everyday life. From physicists fascinated by wireless communication to poets crafting a new poetic language around plant life, the narrative weaves through diverse experiences and perspectives. It challenges the Western-centric lens through which academia often views intellectual traditions, advocating for a decolonized approach that honours indigenous modes of thought. The chapter underscores the intrinsic connection between literary history and ecological consciousness, urging readers to reconsider the boundaries of theory and literature. Through meticulous examination of texts and cultural artifacts, the chapter aims to resurrect a history of plant thinking that is at risk of being forgotten, offering a glimpse into a world where humans coexist intimately with the botanical realm.
Anonymous
Authors: Roy Sumana
Published: July 2024

In trying to understand the colloquial culture around plant life, this chapter goes to Maya-mashi, a Bangladeshi refugee living in sub-Himalayan Bengal, whose tic is to annotate her conversations with Bangla idioms and phrases about plants. What made her, a single mother who had chosen a new country to save her life, identify with the plant world? As we move towards a world where both the proverbs and the plant life that gave birth to them seem on the verge of extinction, this rich archive that was polished by everyone who walked in the language shows that the anonymous were also plant thinkers.
Understanding proteome quantification in an interactive learning module on Google Cloud Platform
Authors: O’Connell Kyle A , Kopchick Benjamin , Carlson Thad , Belardo David , Byrum Stephanie D
Published: July 2024

This manuscript describes the development of a resource module that is part of a learning platform named ‘NIGMS Sandbox for Cloud-based Learning’ https://github.com/NIGMS/NIGMS-Sandbox. The overall genesis of the Sandbox is described in the editorial NIGMS Sandbox at the beginning of this Supplement. This module delivers learning materials on protein quantification in an interactive format that uses appropriate cloud resources for data access and analyses. Quantitative proteomics is a rapidly growing discipline due to the cutting-edge technologies of high resolution mass spectrometry. There are many data types to consider for proteome quantification including data dependent acquisition, data independent acquisition, multiplexing with Tandem Mass Tag reporter ions, spectral counts, and more. As part of the NIH NIGMS Sandbox effort, we developed a learning module to introduce students to mass spectrometry terminology, normalization methods, statistical designs, and basics of R programming. By utilizing the Google Cloud environment, the learning module is easily accessible without the need for complex installation procedures. The proteome quantification module demonstrates the analysis using a provided TMT10plex data set using MS3 reporter ion intensity quantitative values in a Jupyter notebook with an R kernel. The learning module begins with the raw intensities, performs normalization, and differential abundance analysis using limma models, and is designed for researchers with a basic understanding of mass spectrometry and R programming language. Learners walk away with a better understanding of how to navigate Google Cloud Platform for proteomic research, and with the basics of mass spectrometry data analysis at the command line.

This manuscript describes the development of a resource module that is part of a learning platform named ``NIGMS Sandbox for Cloud-based Learning'' https://github.com/NIGMS/NIGMS-Sandbox. The overall genesis of the Sandbox is described in the editorial NIGMS Sandbox [1] at the beginning of this Supplement. This module delivers learning materials on the analysis of bulk and single-cell ATAC-seq data in an interactive format that uses appropriate cloud resources for data access and analyses.
Frequency-specific directed connectivity between the hippocampus and parietal cortex during verbal and spatial episodic memory: an intracranial EEG replication
Authors: Das Anup , Menon Vinod
Published: July 2024

Hippocampus-parietal cortex circuits are thought to play a crucial role in memory and attention, but their neural basis remains poorly understood. We employed intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to investigate the neurophysiological underpinning of these circuits across three memory tasks spanning verbal and spatial domains. We uncovered a consistent pattern of higher causal directed connectivity from the hippocampus to both lateral parietal cortex (supramarginal and angular gyrus) and medial parietal cortex (posterior cingulate cortex) in the delta–theta band during memory encoding and recall. This connectivity was independent of activation or suppression states in the hippocampus or parietal cortex. Crucially, directed connectivity from the supramarginal gyrus to the hippocampus was enhanced in participants with higher memory recall, highlighting its behavioral significance. Our findings align with the attention-to-memory model, which posits that attention directs cognitive resources toward pertinent information during memory formation. The robustness of these results was demonstrated through Bayesian replication analysis of the memory encoding and recall periods across the three tasks. Our study sheds light on the neural basis of casual signaling within hippocampus–parietal circuits, broadening our understanding of their critical roles in human cognition.
EValuating the Effect of periopeRaTIve empaGliflOzin on cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury: rationale and design of the VERTIGO study
Authors: Coca Armando , Bustamante-Munguira Elena , Fidalgo Verónica , Fernández Manuel , Abad Cristina , Franco Marta , González-Pinto Ángel , Pereda Daniel , Cánovas Sergio , Bustamante-Munguira Juan
Published: July 2024

Background

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a serious complication in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) that increases postoperative complications and mortality. CSA-AKI develops due to a combination of patient- and surgery-related risk factors that enhance renal ischemia–reperfusion injury. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) such as empagliflozin reduce renal glucose reabsorption, improving tubulo-glomerular feedback, reducing inflammation and decreasing intraglomerular pressure. Preclinical studies have observed that SGLT2i may provide significant protection against renal ischemia–reperfusion injury due to their effects on inadequate mitochondrial function, reactive oxygen species activity or renal peritubular capillary congestion, all hallmarks of CSA-AKI. The VERTIGO (EValuating the Effect of periopeRaTIve empaGliflOzin) trial is a Phase 3, investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study that aims to explore whether empagliflozin can reduce the incidence of adverse renal outcomes in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods

The VERTIGO study (EudraCT: 2021-004938-11) will enroll 608 patients that require elective cardiac surgery with ECC. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either empagliflozin 10 mg orally daily or placebo. Study treatment will start 5 days before surgery and will continue during the first 7 days postoperatively. All participants will receive standard care according to local practice guidelines. The primary endpoint of the study will be the proportion of patients that develop major adverse kidney events during the first 90 days after surgery, defined as ≥25% renal function decline, renal replacement therapy initiation or death. Secondary, tertiary and safety endpoints will include rates of AKI during index hospitalization, postoperative complications and observed adverse events.

Conclusions

The VERTIGO trial will describe the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in preventing CSA-AKI. Patient recruitment is expected to start in May 2024.
Huge, invasive, and destructive Abiotrophia defectiva endocarditis of the aortic valve and the aortic wall: a case report of an emergency but successful Ross–Konno operation in a child
Authors: Cetera Vera , Cantinotti Massimiliano , Barberi Elisa , Pak Vitali
Published: July 2024

Background

Abiotrophia defectiva forms Gram-positive cocci, is part of normal oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal flora, and is rarely involved in endocarditis in children population. Its special nutritional requirements and subacute clinical course may delay diagnosis and proper treatment, leading to life-threatening consequences.

Case summary

We report a rare case of huge and destructive A. defectiva infective endocarditis (IE) of the aortic valve and the aortic wall in a 3-year-old child, in follow-up after surgical valvuloplasty for congenital aortic stenosis. The child presented at our department with signs of left side hemiplegia. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation due to large vegetation extending to the aortic wall up to the aortic arch. Blood cultures resulted positive for A. defectiva. He was initially treated conservatively with antibiotic therapy. Ten days after admission, because of clinical deterioration, he required intubation and an emergency Ross–Konno operation. Despite the critical conditions and highly risky surgery, the child recovered well and was discharged home 5 weeks after the operation.

Discussion

Abiotrophia defectiva IE is rare in children. Since 1995, only 16 cases of A. defectiva IE have been reported in children, including our case. This pathogen has a higher rate of complications when affecting children rather than adult population. Our case demonstrates that conservative strategy with antibiotics is rarely resolutive in the case of IE caused by A. defectiva. Whenever one or more indications for surgery are present, surgical intervention should always be taken into consideration, even if clinical conditions are prohibitive and surgery is at very high risk.
A Grounded Theory of Walking for Health Promotion in Older Urban Adults
Authors: Kim Dong Ha , Yoo Seunghyun
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives

Walking enhances the health, quality of life, and independence of older adults. However, a global decline in urban walking necessitates a re-evaluation of segmented, quantitative approaches to policies and theoretical frameworks in geriatric medicine for promoting walking among older adults. This study conceptualized the perceptions, experiences, and behaviors regarding walking, from a health promotion perspective, among older urban adults.

Research Design and Methods

Pedestrian-friendly communities were explored for older adults in Seoul, South Korea, using a grounded theory. Thirty-eight older adults actively engaged in walking were recruited between July and December 2020. A qualitative multimethod approach was used, and the collected data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, with axial coding integrating textual and spatiobehavioral information.

Results

The open-coding process yielded 92 concepts, 47 subcategories, and 19 categories. Using axial and selective coding principles, a conceptual framework was developed to explain how walking shaped the daily lives of older urban adults and provided multidimensional health benefits. Walking perception attributes were characterized by “embodied subjectivity as a healthy older adult,” “autonomy of movement,” and “walking as a way to enrich or sustain life.” Active walking facilitated interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment within the context of compact and accessible urban living.

Discussion and Implications

A healthy and age-friendly community encourages interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment by providing opportunities for daily walking for several purposes, such as providing a sense of autonomy, increasing health-promoting behaviors, and creating a sense of community.
Deep learning for detection and counting of Nephrops norvegicus from underwater videos
Authors: Burguera Antoni Burguera , Bonin-Font Francisco , Chatzievangelou Damianos , Fernandez Maria Vigo , Aguzzi Jacopo
Published: July 2024

The Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is one of the most important fishery items for the EU blue economy. This paper describes a software architecture based on neural networks, designed to identify the presence of N. norvegicus and estimate the number of its individuals per square meter (i.e. stock density) in deep-sea (350–380 m depth) Fishery No-Take Zones of the northwestern Mediterranean. Inferencing models were obtained by training open-source networks with images obtained from frames partitioning of in submarine vehicle videos. Animal detections were also tracked in successive frames of video sequences to avoid biases in individual recounting, offering significant success and precision in detection and density estimations.
Prevalence of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Urban Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Canada, 2017–2019
Authors: Alessandrini Jenna , Cox Joseph , de Pokomandy Alexandra , Hart Trevor A , Grace Daniel , Grennan Troy , Moore David , Lambert Gilles , Chambers Catharine , Deeks Shelley L , Grewal Ramandip , Lachowsky Nathan J , Sauvageau Chantal , Tan Darrell H S , Coutlée François , Burchell Ann N ,   the Engage-HPV Team, Jollimore Jody , Nisenbaum Rosane , Ogilvie Gina , Grace Daniel , Hart Trevor , Cox Joseph , Lambert Gilles , Jollimore Jody , Lachowsky Nathan , Moore David , Burchell Ann , Grennan Troy , de Pokomandy Alexandra
Published: July 2024

Background

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers. In 2015 and 2016, HPV vaccines became publicly funded for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) under 27 years of age in most Canadian provinces.

Methods

Between 2017 and 2019, sexually active GBM in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver were recruited through respondent-driven sampling. Participants aged 16–30 years were invited to self-collect oral rinse specimens for HPV testing. We estimated HPV prevalence in the oral tract overall and compared these by vaccination status.

Results

Among the 838 GBM with a valid oral specimen, 36.9% reported receiving ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine. Overall, oral HPV prevalence was 2.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5%–3.7%) for at least 1 HPV type and 1.2% (95% CI, .5%–1.9%) for any high-risk type. We detected quadrivalent (HPV 6/11/16/18) vaccine-preventable types in 0.3% (95% CI, .0%–1.0%) of vaccinated individuals and 1.1% (95% CI, .1%–2.0%) of unvaccinated individuals.

Conclusions

Oral HPV prevalence was low in a population of young urban GBM in Canada, of whom 37% were vaccinated. Findings serve as a benchmark for monitoring of vaccination impacts on oral HPV infection within this priority population.