bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal vestiges of avalanches in the driven random field Ising model
Authors: Yao Liheng , Jack Robert L
Published: February 2023

We investigate the non-equilibrium behaviour of the 3 d random field Ising model at finite temperature, as an external field is increased through its coercive field. We show by numerical simulations that the phenomenology of avalanches—which are sharply defined only at zero temperature—also persists over a significant range of finite temperatures. We analyse the main differences between the thermal and zero-temperature systems, including an excess of small avalanches in the thermal case, whose behaviour is consistent with activated dynamical scaling. We also investigate the extent to which individual avalanches at finite temperature can be traced back to parent avalanches in the athermal system.
Comprehensive Modelling for Analyzing the Power Conversion Efficiency of Polycrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Device under Indoor Operating Conditions
Authors: Liew Son Qian , Chong Kok-Keong
Published: February 2023

Recently, most of the studies were mainly focused on the variation between outdoor solar spectral irradiance and standard AM1.5G spectrum, as well as their effects towards the performances of different PV technologies. Interestingly, limited studies have been conducted to study the effect of artificial lighting on the power conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) device. The spectral irradiance produced by indoor lighting differs significantly as compared to the that of standard AM1.5G spectrum, which inevitably leads to different performances of the PV under standard test conditions and under artificial lighting exposure. In this study, the performance modelling has been carried out based on the comprehensive method proposed by Chong et al. to predict the PCE of organic solar cell devices. From the measurement results, the spectrum of LED illumination has been compared with that of AM1.5G, in which the LED shows a relatively narrow band with significant peaks at 450 and 560 nm. Furthermore, the theoretical model has been successfully validated by comparing the simulated PCE and the measured PCE at reasonably deviations in the range of 3.0 – 23.3%.
A numerical analysis of ZnTe/AZO as tunnel junction in CdTe/Si tandem solar cell
Authors: Isah M , Doroody C , Rahman K S , Harif M N , Tiong S K , Amin N
Published: February 2023

Recently, interest has shifted towards developing multijunction or tandem solar cells due to their high potential to generate higher efficiency than traditional single-junction solar cells. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and silicon (Si) solar cell materials have demonstrated significant potential in photovoltaic energy generation as tandem structures if fully developed. One approach for optimising CdTe/Si is to develop an effective tunnel junction that can electrically and optically interconnect the cadmium telluride and silicon cells with minimal loss. The wxAMPS 3.0 numerical simulation was used in this work to develop CdTe/Si tandem using zinc telluride/aluminium doped zinc oxide (ZnTe/AZO) as a tunnel junction (TJ). The result obtained shows an optimum efficiency of over 36 % with Voc = 1.945 V, Jsc = 21.519 mA/cm2, and FF = 86.823 % utilising the optimal 200 nm CdTe and Si absorber thickness of 300 μm. An analysis of the demonstrated results suggests that ZnTe/AZO tunnel junction will significantly contribute to the realisation of the CdTe/Si tandem solar cell. Hence, upon inserting a 40 nm highly doped ZnTe/AZO tunnelling junction to a CdTe/Si tandem configuration, the solar cell’s performance was enhanced by 48.190%.
Device Optimization of a Pb-Free All Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell with 29.59% Power Conversion Efficiency
Authors: Islam Mohammad Aminul , Hashish Mhd Deb Abou , Muhammad Hatta S F W , Soin Norhayati Binti , Khan Sobayel , Amin Nowshad
Published: February 2023

This study has focused on simulating a highly efficient lead-free all-perovskite tandem solar cell using the SCAPS 1D device simulation tool. In the tandem structure, the top cell used Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6 (Eg = 1.80 eV), and the bottom cell used FAMASnGeI3 (Eg = 1.40 eV) as the absorber material. Also, ZnO and NiOx were used as the electron transport layer (ETL) and the hole transport layer (HTL), respectively. Primarily the individual top cell and bottom cell have been optimized. The highest efficiency of the top cell was found to be 17.13% with performance parameters VOC = 1.23V, JSC = 15.57 mA/cm2 and FF = 89.39%, whereas the optimized efficiency of the bottom cell was found to be 17.58% with performance parameters VOC = 0.85V, JSC= 27.38 mA/cm2 and FF = 75.34%. The thickness of the absorber of the top cell and bottom cell shows a significant impact on the device performance and the optimum thickness for the Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6 absorber layer was found to be 400 nm, whereas for the FAMASnGeI3 layer was found to be 200 nm. Careful optimization of the tandem device has resulted in an improvement of the performance and obtained an efficiency of 29.59 %, with JSC of 17.50 mA/cm2, VOC of 2.09 V, and FF of 80.87%. The final simulated device sums up tremendous potential for the fabrication of a highly efficient PSC device using lead-free perovskite materials towards excelling commercialization.
Distribution cycle of wind speed: A case study in the Southern Part of Malaysia
Authors: Derome Daniel , Razali Halim , Fazlizan Ahmad , Jedi Alias
Published: February 2023

Wind energy has historically helped many people and has been utilized for farming and seafaring. Today, modern usage is more comprehensive such as generating electricity. However, its usage in Malaysia remains at an all-time low. Numerous factors contribute to this result. Consequently, a full assessment of wind energy in a particular region is deemed necessary. This study investigates wind speed distribution in Mersing. It also illustrates the period during which the regional distribution statistics changed. The researcher used Autofit 5.6 and the Maximum Likelihood Method to figure out the parameter value of each distribution for wind speed data from 2012 to 2016. This study utilized three distinct methods of Goodness of fit (GOF) to estimate the optimal distribution ranking, such as Chi-Square, Anderson-Darling, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov. The results reveal that the Burr, Gamma, and Lognormal distributions correlate to the wind speed data in Mersing and the Burr distribution is the most appropriate. In addition, the findings indicate that distribution changes occur at a minimum rate of 8.89%. In conclusion, these findings reveal that there has been no significant change over the five years. This information enables stakeholders to determine whether they will earn a profit owing to changes in the distribution of a particular area, reducing risk.
The effect of trailing-edge wedge-tails on the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine airfoil
Authors: Abdalkarem Asmail A M , Abdullah Ahmad Fazlizan , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Haw Lim Chin , Muzammil Wan Khairul , Wong Kok Hoe
Published: February 2023

Passive flow control devices have been proposed by many researchers for suppressing dynamic stall and enhancing the aerodynamic performance of turbomachinery including wind turbines. These technologies are usually cheap, easier to implement, and no additional energy needed. In the present study, the effects of adding trailing edge wedge tail (WT)on the aerodynamic characteristics of a static airfoil have been evaluated. The aerodynamic behavior of 2D-NACA0021 airfoil equipped with WT have been studied numerically using the commercial code ANSYS FLUENT to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equation (RANS). The effect of varying heights and lengths to height ratios (L/H) of WT have been studied. The results showed that the aerodynamic efficiency of NACA0021 airfoil influenced significantly by height of WTs comparing to slightly influence by length at L/H<1, and the maximum improvements of the lift and lift-to-drag ratio of the airfoil up to more than +38% and 28.8% respectively at optimum height 1.75%c and length 1%c compared to baseline airfoil case and suggested that to add trailing WTs as a retrofit to existing wind turbines.
Thermal performance of reflective insulation system and comparison against ASHRAE Standard
Authors: Ashhar M Z M , Lim C H
Published: February 2023

The trend in building energy consumption has been steadily increasing and will continue to rise significantly in the future. The application of a reflective insulation system in roof assembly is proven to be effective in reducing heat gain across the roof and can enhance indoor thermal comfort. This paper presents the development of an Indoor Solar Simulator to evaluate the thermal resistance (RSI value) of reflective insulation systems for roof assemblies. This paper also compares RSI values obtained experimentally and the RSI values listed in ASHRAE Standard. The roof assemblies studied in this paper incorporate the same reflective insulation systems as listed in ASHRAE Standard. Thermocouples and heat flux transducers are installed at various locations and the RSI values are calculated using the average method as detailed in ISO 9869-1:2014. From the error analysis, it can be concluded the RSI values obtained experimentally using the Indoor Solar Simulator and ASHRAE Standard are in a good agreement with MAPE value of 6.13%. These discrepancies could be due to the thermal bridges from mechanical supports inside the air gap, or possibly the air gaps are not completely airtight and unventilated.
Mesh sensitivity analysis for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells using ANSYS Fluent
Authors: Ashour Abshir M. , Ibrahim Adnan , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Alzahrani Khaled S.
Published: February 2023

Improving the design of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) is crucial but requires a deep understanding of the basic science surrounding the technology. In this study, the membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), catalyst layers channels, and gas diffusion layers are modelled using the commercial PEMFC simulation package built into ANSYS FLUENT 12.1. With various mesh sizes of 20,40 and 80 cells, a mesh sensitivity study of a cross-section of the fuel cell membrane, anode, and cathode, was carried out while 16000 data iterations were collected. The simulation results showed that all data points of membrane and anode layers converged before or at 10,000 iterations, while varying cathode needs more time to converge. A study of iterations and convergence, resulting in the comparison of various meshes at different data points, is discussed while a comprehensive description of the simulation’s parameters is provided, and the emphasis is placed on determining the convergence criteria that are necessary for delivering consistent results. One of the purposes of this experiment is to demonstrate that high-quality computer modelling and simulation of fuel cells can accelerate the discovery of fuel cell components that are optimally designed. As a result, the study confirmed that computer modelling can contribute to a better understanding the mechanics and reactions occurring within the fuel cell and its layers in order to improve its performance and lifecycle in the future.
Laser-treatment-induced surface integrity modifications of stainless steel
Authors: Gong Na , Wei Yuefan , Meng Tzee Luai , Karyappa Rahul , Cao Jing , Tan Chee Kiang Ivan , Suwardi Ady , Zhu Qiang , Liu Hongfei
Published: February 2023

Scanning of a high-power laser beam on the surface of martensitic stainless steel (SS420) has been studied, addressing the effect of scanning rate V on integrity modifications in the near-surface regions. Structural, compositional, and crystallographic characterizations revealed the presence of ablations, surface melting/resolidification, surface oxidations, and austenite (γ-phase) precipitations when V ≤ 20 mm s−1. Melt pool (MP), heat affected zone (HAZ), and base material have been clearly distinguished at the cross-section of the slow-scanned samples. Adjacent MPs partially overlapped when V = 5 mm s−1. Theγ-phase precipitations solely occurred in the MPs, i.e., of ∼ 400μm deep for V = 5 mm s−1, while oxidations dominantly occurred in the surface regions of shallower than ∼30μm within the MPs. Compositional analysis revealed increased Cr-, Mn-, and Si-to-Fe ratios at the laser-scanned surface but without variations along the surface normal direction. The enhanced surface hardness has been achieved up to 805 HV, and the hardness monotonically decreased when moving deeper (i.e., ∼1000μm) into the base material. These observations shed new light on surface engineering of metallic alloys via laser-based direct energy treatments.
Machine-learning-assisted Monte Carlo fails at sampling computationally hard problems
Authors: Ciarella Simone , Trinquier Jeanne , Weigt Martin , Zamponi Francesco
Published: February 2023

Several strategies have been recently proposed in order to improve Monte Carlo sampling efficiency using machine learning tools. Here, we challenge these methods by considering a class of problems that are known to be exponentially hard to sample using conventional local Monte Carlo at low enough temperatures. In particular, we study the antiferromagnetic Potts model on a random graph, which reduces to the coloring of random graphs at zero temperature. We test several machine-learning-assisted Monte Carlo approaches, and we find that they all fail. Our work thus provides good benchmarks for future proposals for smart sampling algorithms.
Who serves as a juror?
Authors: Lerner Renée Lettow
Published: February 2023

This chapter looks at who serves as a juror. This question is closely linked to the purpose of the jury. Many possible purposes of the jury are mutually incompatible. For example, if the purpose of the jury is to be impartial, then the jury almost certainly will not be representative of the entire community, as certain biases may be widespread. Societies have various rules for jury service, including, in the past, property requirements. In the United States, jury service for women did not automatically follow the right to vote. In the South, black people did not regularly serve on juries until the 1960s. A persistent problem is people who refuse to answer a jury summons; as a result, some legal systems rely on volunteers. The United States is an extreme outlier in permitting extensive questioning of potential jurors. In complicated or technical cases, juries of experts have proved useful.
Peace: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Richmond Oliver P.
Published: February 2023

Peace: A Very Short Introduction explains how the concept of peace has broadened from the absence of overt violence and war. Today, it incorporates concepts and practices such as mediation and negotiation, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, development, law, institutionalization, conflict resolution or transformation, and statebuilding. This VSI traces the evolution of peace, looking at the key themes, concepts, theories, and terminology. It demonstrates how efforts at peacemaking help shape contemporary international politics. Through the use of the latest theoretical and empirical research, the VSI presents and furthers the understanding of the overall evolution of the international peace architecture (IPA).
The victor’s peace in history
Authors: Richmond Oliver P.
Published: February 2023

This chapter discusses the concept of the victor’s peace, which evolved from the historical view that peace emerges from a complete military victory. This formulation implied military control or occupation, colonialism, or imperialism. Massive industrialization strengthened the capacity of states and imperial powers to trigger wars. Eventually, some states shifted to fascism as demands skyrocketed for territory, material sources, and markets. The chapter then looks at the emergence of the balance of power system, which rested upon a framework of alliances that maintained a negative peace between states and empires.
Introduction
Authors: Abbott Carl
Published: February 2023

This introduction argues that suburbs are a global phenomenon and suggests some loose boundaries for suburbs as a spatial, demographic, and social phenomenon. In the two centuries since the first modern suburbs developed around industrializing English cities, peripheral communities have grown around cities in every part of the world. As the world becomes more urbanized over the twenty-first century, most of the new residents of metropolitan areas will live in suburbs. Suburbs come in many styles and with many names, and each nation measures them differently, making it difficult to develop useful statistical comparisons. Even in a single country like the United States, social scientists debate the best approach to defining suburbs as individual entities and as a set of communities that surround a core city. In this light, the term sprawl is particularly slippery, sliding ambiguously between aesthetic and objective criteria.
The first suburban century
Authors: Abbott Carl
Published: February 2023

This chapter covers the first century of large-scale suburban growth in England, the United States, and Australia from roughly 1840 to 1940. A key determinant of suburb patterns was changing transportation technologies, from horse-drawn street railroads to steam railroads and electric trams or streetcars and then to automobiles. Each improvement greatly expanded the land available for development and allowed newer suburbs to have lower residential densities. Suburbs differentiated by economic status—small terrace houses and small cottages for England and for American workers, leafy neighborhoods of large houses for the affluent. Architectural styles differed by national taste, but variations on the bungalow were common in the early twentieth century. Ebenezer Howard’s plan for Garden City satellites inspired idealist planners from England to Germany, Australia, Brazil, and the United States. Even the more successful Garden City suburbs housed only miniscule numbers compared to English council housing and American subdivisions.
Vertical suburbs
Authors: Abbott Carl
Published: February 2023

Many countries have chosen to build their suburbs upward, with high-rise apartments, rather than outward, with low-rise terrace housing and single-family houses. Since World War II, this has been a common choice when national governments have taken the lead in providing for exploding urban populations, and this chapter focuses on three areas in which this approach was dominant. The Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies shared a common style, using precast concrete slabs to build clusters of eight- or ten-story towers with small, standard apartments for immigrants from the countryside. Western European nations such as Sweden and especially France did much the same, creating the banlieue cityscape of suburban Paris. Singapore did the same, providing standardized tower block apartments as part of the national modernization strategy. Other cities, such as Toronto, have groves of suburban apartments, but Prague, Paris, and now Beijing have entire forests.
Understanding the terrain
Authors: Humphreys Keith
Published: February 2023

This chapter introduces the concept of addiction. It clarifies that not all drugs are considered addictive. However, addictive drugs produce short-term and intense effects such as increased happiness and lessened pain. The chapter lists swallowing, snorting, inhalation, and injection as the common methods of consuming drugs, while ethanol, nicotine, and cannabis are regarded as the most widely consumed addictive drugs. Meanwhile, tolerance refers to a drug losing its potency to induce an effect at a familiar dose. As a person regularly uses an addictive drug, they could shift between seeking positive to negative reinforcements. The chapter then highlights the presence of harm in addiction.
179 WHAT MATTERS TO THE FRAIL OLDER PERSON CHANGES DURING COVID-19 AND SHOULD INFORM PATIENT CENTRED CHANGE
Authors: Murphy R , Sayers K , Ryan S , Maher J , Pillay I
Published: February 2023

Background

‘What Matters to You’(WMTY) is a routine question in the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) of the frail older person. The aim was to categorise WMTY and investigate changes during COVID-19.

Methods

WMTY, clinical frailty score (CFS), age, gender, vision and hearing impairment, malnutrition risk, modified Barthel Index (mBI), living alone status, 4AT and dementia screening results were prospectively entered onto MS Excel. Answers were retrospectively categorised and compared, pre-COVID-19 (April to June 2019) and during COVID-19 (April to June 2020). Descriptive statistics and MS Excel T-test were used for data analysis.

Results

The mean CFS (5), age (82 years), male: female ratio (1:1.3), prevalence of visual and hearing impairment (20–30%) and malnutrition risk were similar (23%) in both groups mBI was non-significantly reduced by a 1 point average during COVID-19.

Less patients lived alone during COVID-19 (p = 0.05). Positive delirium screen doubled (12% vs 26%) during COVID-19. Positive dementia screen doubled (10% vs 20%) during COVID-19.

Themes in decreasing order were family, health, home, functional independence, pets, discharge plan, religion, work, social activities and other pre-COVID-19. Family and health accounted for 49% of responses.

During COVID-19, the order changed to health, family and home, functional independence, work and discharge planning, pets, religion and social activities.

There was a 50% increase in functional independence as a response, a 40% increase in home and a 58% decrease in family as a response.

Conclusion

Cognitive vulnerability doubled during COVID-19. Nine themes were identified. WMTY themes shifted during COVID-19. Health become the most frequent response. Family became a less frequent response with less people living alone. Functional independence was more frequent reflecting the need for self-reliance during COVID-19. Home, where all COVID-19 life was lived, was expressed as WMTY by a greater number of respondents. Promotion of functional independence has been identified as a key driver for practice change.
Jekyll and Hyde: Day–night personality differences in the water scorpionNepa hoffmanni
Authors: Hyun Hyoseul , Han Chang S
Published: February 2023

Differences between daytime and night-time behaviors are common in insects due to potential trade-offs between predator avoidance and foraging. While diel effects on average behavior are well documented, it remains unclear whether individuals differ in how they adjust their behavior between daytime and night-time. In this study, we focused on two light dependent behaviors, activity and tonic immobility, in the water scorpion (Nepa hoffmanni). Each individual was assayed for each behavior six times during the day and six times at night. Then, we explored diel differences in (1) average behavior, (2) among-individual variation in behavior, (3) individual rank order of behavioral expression, and (4) the sign and magnitude of behavioral syndromes (among-individual correlations between behaviors). At night, N. hoffmanni was more active and exhibited shorter periods of tonic immobility. Among-individual variation in activity was greater at night than during the day, but among-individual variation in tonic immobility did not differ between day and night. Individuals also differed in their diel plasticity in activity but not in tonic immobility. Thus, both (1) day–night differences in among-individual variation and (2) individual variation in diel plasticity contributed to the light-dependent sign of the behavioral syndromes. Our findings highlight the need for individual-level studies to fully elucidate diel influences on animal behavior. We suggest that day–night differences in behavioral syndromes as well as in selection might be key to behavioral evolution, especially in animals active during both day and night.
scSTAR reveals hidden heterogeneity with a real-virtual cell pair structure across conditions in single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Hao Jie , Zou Jiawei , Zhang Jiaqiang , Chen Ke , Wu Duojiao , Cao Wei , Shang Guoguo , Yang Jean Y H , Wong-Lin KongFatt , Sun Hourong , Zhang Zhen , Wang Xiangdong , Chen Wantao , Zou Xin
Published: February 2023

Cell-state transition can reveal additional information from single-cell ribonucleic acid (RNA)-sequencing data in time-resolved biological phenomena. However, most of the current methods are based on the time derivative of the gene expression state, which restricts them to the short-term evolution of cell states. Here, we present single-cell State Transition Across-samples of RNA-seq data (scSTAR), which overcomes this limitation by constructing a paired-cell projection between biological conditions with an arbitrary time span by maximizing the covariance between two feature spaces using partial least square and minimum squared error methods. In mouse ageing data, the response to stress in CD4+ memory T cell subtypes was found to be associated with ageing. A novel Treg subtype characterized by mTORC activation was identified to be associated with antitumour immune suppression, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy and survival analysis in 11 cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program. On melanoma data, scSTAR improved immunotherapy-response prediction accuracy from 0.8 to 0.96.
Insights into risk factors for basal cell carcinoma: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Wenjie , Wang Wei
Published: February 2023

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common skin cancers. However, risk factors for BCC, especially nonenvironmental features, have not been wholly identified. Consequently, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore possible causal risk factors in a cohort of millions of Europeans. We used data on genetic variants for risk factors from publicly available genome-wide association studies. This resulted in the present MR study that analysed 43 risk factors and demonstrates that telomere length [odds ratio (OR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–1.74, P < 0.001], birthweight (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.26, P = 0.03) and height (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13, P = 0.02) may casually be related to an increased risk of BCC. However, no genetic liability between BCC risk and other potential risk factors was noted. These findings may help contribute to identifying high-risk populations susceptible to BCC.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rescues simulated space complex environment–induced emotional and social impairments by enhancing neuronal excitability in the medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Liang Rong , Wang Ling , Li Xinyao , Liu Xiaohui , Chang Haonan , Xu Qing , Wang Yue , Xu Dong , Liu Dong , Yang Jiajia , Zheng Chenguang , Ming Dong
Published: February 2023

Studies have shown that spaceflight affects the emotional and social performance of astronauts. Identifying the neural mechanisms underlying the emotional and social effects of spacefaring-specific environments is essential to specify targeted treatment and prevention interventions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to improve the neuronal excitability and is used to treat psychiatric disorders such as depression. To study the changes of excitatory neuron activity in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in simulated space complex environment (SSCE), and to explore the role of rTMS in behavioral disorders caused by SSCE and the neural mechanism. We found that rTMS effectively ameliorated the emotional and social impairments of mice in SSCE, and acute rTMS could instantaneously enhance the excitability of mPFC neurons. During depression-like and social novelty behaviors, chronic rTMS enhanced the mPFC excitatory neuronal activity that was inhibited by SSCE. Above results suggested that rTMS can completely reverse the SSCE-induced mood and social impairment by enhancing the suppressed mPFC excitatory neuronal activity. It was further found that rTMS suppressed the SSCE-induced excessive dopamine D2 receptor expression, which may be the cellular mechanism by which rTMS potentiates the SSCE-evoked hypoactive mPFC excitatory neurons. Our current results raise the possibility of rTMS being applied as a novel neuromodulation for mental health protection in spaceflight.
Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk
Authors: Diaz-Torres Santiago , Ogonowski Natalia , García-Marín Luis M , Bonham Luke W , Duran-Aniotz Claudia , Yokoyama Jennifer S , Rentería Miguel E
Published: February 2023

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has a complex genetic etiology, where the precise mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of brain regions remain unknown. We leveraged summary-based data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and performed LD score regression to estimate pairwise genetic correlations between FTD risk and cortical brain imaging. Then, we isolated specific genomic loci with a shared etiology between FTD and brain structure. We also performed functional annotation, summary-data-based Mendelian randomization for eQTL using human peripheral blood and brain tissue data, and evaluated the gene expression in mice targeted brain regions to better understand the dynamics of the FTD candidate genes.

Pairwise genetic correlation estimates between FTD and brain morphology measures were high but not statistically significant. We identified 5 brain regions with a strong genetic correlation (rg > 0.45) with FTD risk. Functional annotation identified 8 protein-coding genes. Building upon these findings, we show in a mouse model of FTD that cortical N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) expression decreases with age. Our results highlight the molecular and genetic overlap between brain morphology and higher risk for FTD, specifically for the right inferior parietal surface area and right medial orbitofrontal cortical thickness. In addition, our findings implicate NSF gene expression in the etiology of FTD.
Mortality in heart failure with and without autoimmune disease
Authors: Sun Guoli , Faurschou Mikkel , Vinding Naja E , Yafasova Adelina , Kristensen Søren L , Ahlehoff Ole , Schou Morten , Fosbøl Emil L , Køber Lars , Butt Jawad H
Published: February 2023

Aims

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are associated with a higher risk of heart failure (HF). However, data on the prognosis of HF patients with a history of AID are limited. The aim was to investigate the rates of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization in a large, nationwide cohort of patient with HF according to a history of 29 AIDs

Methods and results

Using Danish nationwide registries, each HF patient (diagnosed 2000–18) with a history of AID was matched with four HF patients without AID by age, sex, and year of HF diagnosis. Rates of outcomes were compared by Cox regression models. The prevalence of AID in patients with HF was 10.7%. In total, 21 256 HF patients with a history of AID were matched with 85 024 HF patients without AID (median age 77 years; 58.9% female). During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, the incidence rates per 100 person-years for all-cause mortality were 17.1 (95% confidence interval, 16.9–17.4) and 14.4 (14.3–14.6) in patients with and without AID, respectively. The corresponding rates for HF hospitalization were 5.0 (4.9–5.1) and 5.2 (5.1–5.4), respectively. A history of AID was associated with higher rate of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.14 (1.12–1.17)], but not HF hospitalization [HR 1.00 (0.96–1.04)] compared with no AID.

Conclusions

In a nationwide cohort study, patients with HF and a history of AID had a higher associated rate of mortality than those without a history of AID.
New insights into trait introgression with the look-ahead intercrossing strategy
Authors: Ni Zheng , Moeinizade Saba , Kusmec Aaron , Hu Guiping , Wang Lizhi , Schnable Patrick S
Published: February 2023

Trait introgression (TI) can be a time-consuming and costly task that typically requires multiple generations of backcrossing (BC). Usually, the aim is to introduce one or more alleles (e.g. QTLs) from a single donor into an elite recipient, both of which are fully inbred. This article studies the potential advantages of incorporating intercrossing (IC) into TI programs when compared with relying solely on the traditional BC framework. We simulate a TI breeding pipeline using 3 previously proposed selection strategies for the traditional BC scheme and 3 modified strategies that allow IC. Our proposed look-ahead intercrossing method (LAS-IC) combines look-ahead Monte Carlo simulations, intercrossing, and additional selection criteria to improve computational efficiency. We compared the efficiency of the 6 strategies across 5 levels of resource availability considering the generation when the major QTLs have been successfully introduced into the recipient and a desired background recovery rate reached. Simulations demonstrate that the inclusion of intercrossing in a TI program can substantially increase efficiency and the probability of success. The proposed LAS-IC provides the highest probability of success across the different scenarios using fewer resources compared with BC-only strategies.
Highly accurate genome assembly of an improved high-yielding silkworm strain, Nichi01
Authors: Waizumi Ryusei , Tsubota Takuya , Jouraku Akiya , Kuwazaki Seigo , Yokoi Kakeru , Iizuka Tetsuya , Yamamoto Kimiko , Sezutsu Hideki
Published: February 2023

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an important lepidopteran model insect and an industrial domestic animal traditionally used for silk production. Here, we report the genome assembly of an improved Japanese strain Nichi01, in which the cocoon yield is comparable to that of commercial silkworm strains. The integration of PacBio Sequel II long-read and ddRAD-seq-based high-density genetic linkage map achieved the highest quality genome assembly of silkworms to date; 22 of the 28 pseudomolecules contained telomeric repeats at both ends, and only four gaps were present in the assembly. A total of 452 Mbp of the assembly with an N50 of 16.614 Mbp covered 99.3% of the complete orthologs of the lepidopteran core genes. Although the genome sequence of Nichi01 and that of the previously reported low-yielding tropical strain p50T assured their accuracy in most regions, we corrected several regions, misassembled in p50T, in our assembly. A total of 18,397 proteins were predicted using over 95 Gb of mRNA-seq derived from 10 different organs, covering 96.9% of the complete orthologs of the lepidopteran core genes. The final assembly and annotation files are available in KAIKObase (https://kaikobase.dna.affrc.go.jp/index.html) along with a genome browser and BLAST searching service, which would facilitate further studies and the breeding of silkworms and other insects.
Inferring Balancing Selection From Genome-Scale Data
Authors: Bitarello Bárbara D , Brandt Débora Y C , Meyer Diogo , Andrés Aida M
Published: February 2023

The identification of genomic regions and genes that have evolved under natural selection is a fundamental objective in the field of evolutionary genetics. While various approaches have been established for the detection of targets of positive selection, methods for identifying targets of balancing selection, a form of natural selection that preserves genetic and phenotypic diversity within populations, have yet to be fully developed. Despite this, balancing selection is increasingly acknowledged as a significant driver of diversity within populations, and the identification of its signatures in genomes is essential for understanding its role in evolution. In recent years, a plethora of sophisticated methods has been developed for the detection of patterns of linked variation produced by balancing selection, such as high levels of polymorphism, altered allele-frequency distributions, and polymorphism sharing across divergent populations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of classical and contemporary methods, offer guidance on the choice of appropriate methods, and discuss the importance of avoiding artifacts and of considering alternative evolutionary processes. The increasing availability of genome-scale datasets holds the potential to assist in the identification of new targets and the quantification of the prevalence of balancing selection, thus enhancing our understanding of its role in natural populations.
Geroscience and Public Health’s Plastic “Ecology of Ideas”
Authors: Farrelly Colin
Published: February 2023

In his 1910 JAMA address, the physician and pathologist Christian Herter (1865–1910) emphasized the importance of plasticity in science. Herter’s insight is significant for understanding how public health’s “ecology of ideas” must evolve and change as the health challenges facing populations alter through the different stages of “epidemiologic transition”. The foundational moral aspiration (ie, disease control) and intellectual suppositions (eg, that public health is “purchasable”) of the early twentieth-century public health pioneers C.-E.A Winslow (1877–1957) and his mentor Hermann Biggs (1859–1923) were shaped by sanitation science and were deployed to mitigate the risks of early-life mortality. But to meet the health challenges of today’s aging world, public health’s “ecology of ideas” must be plastic, and thus open to revision and refinement in terms of both its foundational moral aspirations and the intellectual suppositions concerning how to best improve population health. More medical research is needed in rate (of aging) control versus disease control.
Examining the Impact of Socioeconomic Position Across the Life Course on Cognitive Function and Brain Structure in Healthy Aging
Authors: De Looze Céline , Demnitz Naiara , Knight Silvin , Carey Daniel , Meaney Jim , Kenny Rose Anne , McCrory Cathal
Published: February 2023

This study explores the relationship of life-course intergenerational social mobility with cognitive function and brain structure in older adults using Diagonal Reference Models. Data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, a population-based cohort of adults aged 50 years and older (N = 4 620 participants; mean age: 66.1; standard deviation: 9.1; 55% female) was used for analysis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging data were available for 464 participants. Social mobility was characterized as the difference between childhood socioeconomic position (SEP; ie, father’s occupation) and adulthood SEP (ie, own occupation). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), cortical thickness, and total gray matter volume (GMV) served as global cognitive and brain measures. Exploratory analyses included the volumes of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior cingulate (AC), hippocampus, and amygdala. A social gradient in cognitive function was observed among the intergenerationally stable; brain structure was not as clearly socially patterned. Adulthood SEP was significantly associated with MoCA (weight = 0.76; p < .001), MMSE (weight = 0.91; p < .001), GMV (weight = 0.77; p = .002), and AC volume (weight = 0.76; p < .001), whereas childhood SEP was associated with vmPFC volume (weight = 1.00; p = .003). There was no independent association of social mobility with any of the outcomes. Together our results suggest that both childhood and adulthood SEP are important in shaping later-life brain health, but that adulthood SEP predominates in terms of its influence. This is potentially an important insight as it suggests that brain health may be modifiable if socioeconomic circumstances change.
Identification of novel compound heterozygous variants in the SLC30A7 (ZNT7) gene in two French brothers with stunted growth, testicular hypoplasia and bone marrow failure
Authors: Huang Liping , Yang Zhongyue , Kirschke Catherine P , Prouteau Clément , Copin Marie-Christine , Bonneau Dominique , Pellier Isabelle , Coutant Régis , Miot Charline , Ziegler Alban
Published: February 2023

Zinc is an essential trace mineral. Dietary zinc deficiency results in stunted growth, skin lesions, hypogonadism and frequent infections in humans. Mice genetically lacking Slc30a7 suffer from mild zinc deficiency and are prone to development of prostate cancer and insulin resistance. Disease-causing variants or mutations in the human SLC30A7 (ZNT7) gene have not been previously reported. Here, we describe two-boy siblings from a French family with stunted growth, testicular hypoplasia and bone marrow failure. Exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous variants in ZNT7 consisting of NM_133496.5:c.21dup; p.Asp8ArgfsTer3 and c.842 + 15 T > C inherited from their unaffected mother and father, respectively. The c.21dup variant led to a premature stop codon generated in exon 1 of the ZNT7 coding sequence. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that the c.842 + 15 T > C variant resulted in a leaky mRNA splicing event generating a premature stop codon right after the splicing donor site of exon 8. Moreover, the expression of ZNT7 protein was remarkably reduced by 80–96% in the affected brothers compared to the control cells. These findings strongly suggest that biallelic variants in SLC30A7 should be considered as a cause of growth retardation, testicular hypoplasia and syndromic bone marrow failure.
PathogenDx DetectX Combined Demonstrates Equivalent Performance in Comparison to Four AOAC Certified Methods for the Detection of Aspergillus Species, Salmonella Species, and STEC in Dried Hemp Flower
Authors: Katchman Benjamin A , Tomchaney Michael , Rueda Austin , Stice Shaun , Hogan Mike
Published: February 2023

Background

The PathogenDx DetectX Combined method is a certified Performance Tested MethodSM (012201) that is enrichment-free and utilizes a DNA microarray-based end point PCR method for the simultaneous detection of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. terreus), Salmonella spp., and a broad range of Shiga toxin-producing Esherichia coli (STEC) from hemp and cannabis flower, edibles, and concentrates.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the PathogenDx DetectX Combined enrichment-free method to four AOAC INTERNATIONAL certified molecular methods that utilize enrichment prior to quantitative PCR (qPCR) amplification in hemp flower for the detection of Aspergillus (A. flavus), S. enterica, and Escherichia coli 026.

Methods

In this method comparison study, each method was evaluated according to the AOAC validated instructions for use (IFU) and the AOAC Appendix J validation guidelines. A total of 16 samples at three levels of contamination (0, 0.7, and 2 CFU/10g test portion) were analyzed by each method. The results for all methods were evaluated by using the probability of detection statistical model (POD).

Results

Results of the validation study demonstrate that the PathogenDx DetectX Combined enrichment-free method is equivalent in performance to the three proprietary methods evaluated in this study.

Conclusion

The method comparison study indicated that the PathogenDx DetectX Combined enrichment-free method provides equivalent detection of the target analytes (A. flavus, Salmonella, and a broad range of STEC) in hemp flower.

Highlights

The performance of The PathogenDx DetectX Combined method is significantly faster and possesses a higher or equivalent degree of sensitivity and specificity. Implementation of this method for routine microbial pathogen analysis in laboratories would save significant time and resources.
An integrated strategy to explore the wine-processed mechanism of Corni Fructus on chronic renal failure based on metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics approaches
Authors: Sun Shilin , Jia Xinming , Yang Mengxin , Wang Nan , Zhang Qian , Wang Qiao , Xu Huijun , Liu Minyan , Jin Yiran , Du Yingfeng
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Corni Fructus is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for the treatment of various chronic kidney diseases. Wine-processed Corni Fructus (WCF) is the main processed form of Crude Corni Fructus (CCF). In this study, potential mechanisms of action of CCF and WCF on chronic renal failure (CRF) model were developed to explore wine-processed mechanism of Corni Fructus.

Methods

An integrated strategy combining metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics analysis has been established to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of WCF and CCF in rats with CRF.

Key findings

The histopathological results showed that both WCF and CCF improved kidney injury and dysfunction of CRF rats, but WCF was more effective than CCF. Metabolic pathway analysis indicated that 24 metabolites and 5 major disturbed pathways associated with CCF, while WCF regulated 27 metabolites and 2 metabolic pathways. Bioinformatic analysis and network analysis revealed that 8 genes and 7 genes were regulated by CCF and WCF on CRF rats, respectively. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments verified the regulatory ability of CCF and WCF on the expression of 4 genes.

Conclusions

An integrated strategy combined metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics was established to provide valuable holistic insight to explore the processing mechanism of TCMs.
A Person-Centered, Strengths-Based Framing of Self-Injury
Authors: Lewis Stephen P. , Hasking Penelope A.
Published: February 2023

This chapter begins by discussing existing models of self-injury and highlighting their commonalities. This includes coverage of how many of these conceptualizations are grounded in medical and deficit-based approaches, which may have limitations and unintended consequences. Acknowledging that individuals with lived experience of self-injury have many strengths, an overview of strengths-based movements is presented next. This is followed by introduction to a new person-centered, strengths-based framing of self-injury and the rationale for its need. The chapter concludes by emphasizing how such a framing can be applied and implemented, thereby setting the stage for the second part of the book.
Self-Injury, the Internet, and Social Media
Authors: Lewis Stephen P. , Hasking Penelope A.
Published: February 2023

Communicating and connecting with people via the Internet has emerged as highly salient for people across the globe. It should come as no surprise, then, that individuals with lived experience of self-injury also use the Internet and social media platforms with ubiquity. There are many factors that contribute to why online communication may have relevance to people with lived experience. There are also potential risks and benefits of online communication regarding self-injury. Indeed, online communication about self-injury represents a double-edged sword. Accordingly, the present chapter unpacks the extant literature concerning what motivates people with lived experience to use the Internet alongside what potential risks and benefits this may have. From here, we offer a person-centered contextualization of this literature and offer guidance about how to talk about online communication about self-injury with people who have lived experience.
Addressing Self-Injury in Schools
Authors: Lewis Stephen P. , Hasking Penelope A.
Published: February 2023

Although people of all ages can self-injure, most often the behavior first emerges in early adolescence, and appears to be most prevalent among school-aged youth. In most jurisdictions, children between the ages of 6 and 16 are legally required to attend school (or enroll in alternate schooling). With children spending approximately one-third of their day at school, schools offer a unique opportunity to fight stigma associated with self-injury, upskill and educate staff and students, identify students engaging in self-injury, offer early intervention through the school mental health professionals, and engage external supports when required. Further, schools have an opportunity to engage parents and guardians, and in doing so both better support their students and reduce the fears and concerns of caregivers of young people who self-injure. Importantly, students in supportive school environments are less likely to engage in self-injury, and engage in the behavior less frequently if they do self-injure. Consistent with the person-centered approach we propose, schools provide a forum where resilience and strengths can not only be rewarded, but can be actively fostered.