bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compressible, Reliable, and Flexible Pressure Sensor based on carbonized melamine foam capped by Ti3C2Tx MXene for Versatile Applications
Authors: Su Yue , Ma Kainan , Liu Ming , Zhang Xu
Published: February 2023

Flexible pressure sensors with excellent sensing properties have caused widespread concern due to their various potential applications in personalized healthcare monitoring, disease diagnosis and human-machine interaction. However, the challenge remains to simultaneously achieve high sensitivity and low fabrication cost. Herein, a compressible, reliable and flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor of Ti3C2Tx MXene/carbonized melamine foam (MXene@CMF) was fabricated by coating two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx MXene on the skeleton of carbonized melamine foam. Owing to the synergic effect of carbonized melamine foam and Ti3C2Tx MXene, the as-prepared MXene@CMF shows excellent performance in terms of high sensitivity (similar to 0.166 kPa-1), fast response time (similar to 120 ms), and excellent cyclic stability. Benefiting from these excellent sensing capabilities, the applications of the sensor for artery pulse detection and bending joint monitoring are demonstrated. Moreover, with the assistance of the convolutional neural network, the proposed sensor can realize the exquisite identification of letter strokes with an average recognition accuracy of 96.3%. Based on the merit of high sensing performance and versatile application prospects, our proposed sensor may have great potential in medical and healthcare, human motion detection, handwriting verification, and anticounterfeiting applications.
Analysis of various hole transport layers (HTLs) on the performance of CZTS- solar cell
Authors: Dakua Pratap Kumar , Panda Deepak Kumar
Published: February 2023

CZTS is a potential absorber material and received a lot of focus because of its excellent optoelectronic properties. To improve the functionality of CZTS-based solar cells, this study examines the potential HTLs (MoTe2, Cu2O, and SnS) and their contribution to the better performance of the device. HTL improves the overall performance of the device by decreasing the recombination rate at the back contact and photon energy absorption. The impact of the various device parameters such as absorber layer thickness, defect densities, contact work functions, shunt and series resistances (RSh and Rs), and the temperature of the device are briefly examined in this work. The research shows that Cu2O and SnS are more emerged HTLs rather than MoTe2. The device achieved a PCE of 24% and a FF of 74%. The results show that the addition of these HTLs significantly improved the Voc, Jsc, and FF, all of which are within the Shockley-Queasier limits. This study points to the possibility of producing more efficient CZTS heterojunction-based solar cells.
Fast modeling approach of large-scale non-inductive HTS coils under different current supply
Authors: Fawaz Sara , Menana Hocine , Douine Bruno , Queval Loïc
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a fast-integral modeling approach for the design and characterization of large-scale non-inductive high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils made of first-generation HTS tape. The integral modeling is combined with a strategy of far tape approximation allowing to model a reduced set of consecutive tapes instead of the entire coil. It makes it possible to estimate the losses and the current density distribution in the coil, under different current supply. This leads to a considerable reduction in the computation time. The calculated AC losses show a good agreement with the Norris ellipse formula and measurements, highlighting the importance of considering the elliptical section of the superconductor in the tape, in the modeling. The developed modeling approach is in particular useful in the AC + DC mode, where Norris’s formulas cannot be used to determine the losses. Besides, some interesting phenomena have been observed, related to the current distribution in the tapes at different AC and DC current values.
A dual-band antireflection metasurface for air-ground impedance matching in ground penetrating radar
Authors: Li Bo , Yang Helin , Guo Linyan , Ling Jianyu , Qian Rongyi
Published: February 2023

In ground-penetrating radar (GPR) detection, the impedance mismatch between air and the material under tested (MUT) creates a strong reflection at the air-ground interface. It substantially restricts the GPR’s detecting depth by reducing the electromagnetic energy fed into the ground. This paper describes a dual-band antireflection metasurface for an air-ground impedance matching layer (IML) with central frequencies of 1.0 GHz and 2.5 GHz. Its dual-band feature relies on two distinct inner and outer closed resonant ring topologies. The destructive interference theory instructs the design and optimization of the proposed IML. Through simulation and experiment, the dual-band IML can adequately eliminate reflection at the air-ground interface and enhance transmission from the air to the MUT for GPR applications. Real-world GPR experiments demonstrate that a hazy basement interface is clearer when IML is positioned at the ground’s surface. Owing to the passive and electrically thin properties of IML, the proposed approach offers a feasible impedance matching solution for GPR and through-wall radar detection. Moreover, it also has application potential in multi-band GPR and can be extended to microwave and millimeter-wave imaging systems.
Dark matter from primordial black holes would hold charge
Authors: Araya I.J. , Padilla N.D. , Rubio M.E. , Sureda J. , Magaña J. , Osorio L.
Published: February 2023

We explore the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs) contain electric charge down to the present day. We find that PBHs should hold a non-zero net charge at their formation, due to either Poisson fluctuations at horizon crossing or high-energy particle collisions. Although initial charge configurations are subject to fast discharge processes through particle accretion or quantum particle emission, we show that maximally rotating PBHs could produce magnetic fields able to shield them from discharge. Moreover, given that electrons are the lightest and fastest charge carriers, we show that the plasma within virialised dark matter haloes can endow PBHs with net negative charge. We report charge-to-mass ratios between 10-31
C/kg and 10-15
C/kg for PBHs within the mass windows that allow them to constitute the entirety of the dark matter in the Universe.
Slow-rotating black holes with potential in dynamical Chern-Simons modified gravitational theory
Authors: Nashed G.G.L. , Nojiri Shin'ichi
Published: February 2023

The Chern-Simons amended gravity theory appears as a low-energy effective theory of string theory.
The effective theory includes an anomaly-cancelation correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action.
The Chern-Simons expression consists of the product φRR̃ of the Pontryagin density RR̃ with a scalar field φ, 
where the latter is considered a background field
(dynamical construction or non-dynamical construction).
Many different solutions to Einstein's general relativity continue to be valid in the amended theories.
The Kerr metric is, however, considered an exceptional case that raised a search for rotating black hole solutions.
We generalize the solution presented in Phys. Rev. D 77 (2008) 064007 by allowing the potential V to have a non-vanishing value,
and we discuss three different cases of the potential, that is, V = const., V ∝ φ, and V ∝ φ
2 cases.
This study presents, for the first time, novel solutions prescribing rotating black holes in the frame of the dynamical formulation of the Chern-Simons gravity,
where we include a potential and generalize the previously derived solutions.
We derive solutions in the slow-rotation limit, where we write the parameter of the slow-rotation expansion by ε.
These solutions are axisymmetric and stationary, and they make a distortion of the Kerr solution by a dipole scalar field.
Furthermore, we investigate that the correction to the metric behaves in the inverse of the fourth order of radial distance from the center
of the black hole as V ∝ φ. 
This suggests that any meaningful limits from the weak-field experiments could be passed.
We show that the energy conditions associated with the scalar field of the case V ∝ φ are non-trivial and have non-trivial values to the leading order.
These non-trivial values come mainly from the contribution of the potential. Finally, we derived the stability condition using the geodesic deviations.
We conclude this study by showing that other choices of the potential, i.e., V ∝ φn
, where n > 2 are not allowed
because all the solutions to these cases will be of order 𝒪(ε
2), which is not covered in this study.
Calculation of river deformation under conditions of regulated flow of Amu-Darya
Authors: Ibragimov I A , Inomov D I , Ramazonov A I , Idiev N Q , Makhmudov M B
Published: February 2023

In this paper, the authors present the deformation equation in the form of a system of nonlinear non-stationary differential equations. They are presented in partial products describing the deformations occurring in the river. This paper presents a mathematical model and an algorithm for calculating channel deformations in the inflowless section of channel processes. The system of non-stationary differential equations has been provided in the work. The presentation concerns the construction of hydroelectric power plants on the Amu-Darya river.
Water scarcity under global climate change: Ways of addressing water scarcity in the Amu Darya lower reaches
Authors: Khamidov M , Ishchanov J , Khamidova Sh , Isabaev K , Altmishev A
Published: February 2023

The global climate changes and their influence on agriculture in Uzbekistan were analyzed, including problems of irrigation water shortage on irrigated lands in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya with the greatest water shortage due to repeated dry years. Additionally, the recommendations for the effective use of water resources in the conditions of meadow alluvial soils salinization and shallow salinized groundwater were proposed to use subirrigation and drip irrigation to irrigate cotton, maintaining the pre-irrigation soil moisture of the lowest soil moisture capacity. The introduction of a science-based regime for cotton using subirrigation and drip irrigation methods provides conservation of water up to 1.596–1.757 (subirrigation) and 1.596–1.757 (drip irrigation) cbm/ha, an increase in cotton yield of up to 6.3 centner/ha.
Evaluating the effect of phytoameliorative measures on the land reclamation status
Authors: Khamidova Sh M , Juraev U A , Juraev A K , Khamidov M Kh
Published: February 2023

This article presents the results of improving the land ameliorative condition of lands as a result of growing phytoameliorating plants as a secondary crop in conditions of water shortage. There is a scientific research aimed at saving water resources used for salt washing. White sorghum (Sorghum Vulganell pers) and mung bean (Phaselus aureus Piper) were planted as phytoameliorating crops and compared with uncultivated fields. During the experiments, when the effect of phytoameliorating crops on the number of chlorine ions contained in the soil was studied, initially, at the beginning of the vegetation period, the number of chlorine ions in the soil tillage layer (0–30 cm) increased by 0.015%. At the end of the experiments, the number of chlorine ions in the tillage layer (0–100 cm) was 0.012%. Chlorine ion content in the sorghum (Sorghum Vulganell pers) was 0.033% in the driving layer (0–30 cm) and 0.029% in the 0–100 cm layer, while chlorine ion content in the soil was 0.036 and 0.032% in the moss (Phaselus aureus Piper). In addition, the highest saline leaching rate in the experimental field was 5383 cbm/ha in the plowed field. And the seasonal salinity leaching rate was 2380 cbm/ha when sowing white corn (Sorghum Vulganell pers) as a phytoameliorant, and when sowing moss (Phaselus aureus Piper), 3403 cbm/ha. This is 37–56% less than the control or 1980–3003 cbm/ha.
The analysis of the essential oils of Anethum graveolens L. variety “Scythian” cultivated in Russia
Authors: Fedotova V V , Konovalov D A
Published: February 2023

Anethum graveolens L. (Dill) is an aromatic, medicinal, and food plant that is widely known in the world. This paper presents the results of the study of the essential oil of A. graveolens, which was cultivated in the Stavropol region (Russia, North Caucasus) to restore its growth. Herb of A. graveolens, variety “Scythian”, was collected in different fields of the limited company “Cossack agriculture “Staropavlovskoe”. The essential oil was obtained by Clevenger distillation. The chemical composition of the essential oils was studied by the GC/MS method. 25 compounds were detected in essential oil: carvone; 3.9-epoxy-1-p-menthene; ipsdienol; 2-hydroxycineol; allyl caprate; carveol; 6-camphenol; 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] heptane-2-ol; piperitone oxide; 3-methyl-2-pent-2-enyl-cyclopent-2-enone; cis-p-mentha-2.8-dien-1-ol; 2-cyclol piperitone oxidehydroxy-3-methyl-6-(1- methyleth); limonene-6-ol, pivalate; isopulegol acetate; z-(13,14-epoxy) tetradec-11-en-1-ol acetate. The major component in the oil detected was arvone (36.9–44.5%). The obtained data confirmed the positive result of the cultivation of A.graveolens with the content of carvone in the essential oil of herbs comparable to the content of carvone in fruits.
A study of the effect of mineral fertilizers as a factor in improving environmental safety and productivity of crop rotation
Authors: Shikhova O A , Chukhina O S , Demidova A I
Published: February 2023

The crop rotation productivity depends on the crops and chemicals used, especially fertilizers. Cultivation of crops makes it possible to obtain environmentally safe products due to biologically correctly selected predecessors and with the correct alternation of crops in space and time. This allows for savings in plant protection products and differentiated use of fertilizers. Based on the results of 28-year research into the yield and productivity of crop rotation with the use of various doses of fertilizers, the regularities of changes in the content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the soddy-podzolic medium loamy soil of Vologda Oblast were revealed, and regression models that reflect their relationship with the productivity of crop rotation were built. The results made it possible to build a non-linear regression model that reflects quantitative features of the dependence of crop rotation productivity on the levels of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium. With an increase in the content of mobile elements in the soil in the case of mobile phosphorus, the productivity of crop rotation will increase with a slight slowdown with each single dose, and in the case of exchangeable potassium it will increase evenly.
Determination of the significance of quality criteria and functional limitations affecting the effectiveness of robotization of mobile energy means in crop production
Authors: Godzhaev Z A , Senkevich S E , Zubina V A , Godzhaev T Z
Published: February 2023

To assess the effectiveness of the robotization of mobile energy means (RMES), it is necessary to consider many quality criteria and functional limitations that characterize the work of RMES (operational, economic, functional, etc.). The formation of quality criteria allows us to justify the effectiveness of the robotization of MES, the improvement of the multi-criteria optimization apparatus and the software package for performing optimization calculations considering the aspect of robotization of mobile power facilities for agricultural purposes in crop production. However, unfortunately, most of the quality criteria cannot be formalized, that is, it is not always possible to establish mathematical dependencies of these quality criteria on variable parameters. In this regard, the purpose of these studies is to solve the problem of assessing the weight of each quality criterion and functional limitations, including using expert methods
Line-encoded structured light measurement method in measuring shiny and transparent objects
Authors: Yang Shichao , Yang Tian , Wu Yanxue , Wu Gaoxu , Liu Fei
Published: February 2023

Structured light measurement (SLM) has been widely used in acquiring the three-dimensional (3D) shape of objects because of its high precision and high speed. However, the intensity based structured light coding strategies like sinusoidal patterns is difficult to measure transparent and shiny objects with high dynamic range surface reflectance due to inaccurate light intensity information. Divergent multi-line structured light projection and traditional gray-code method avoids this problem by extracting lines. However, traditional gray-code method requires additional many patterns to distinguish the order of lines, which reduces the measurement efficiency. To overcome defects, this paper proposes a line-encoded few-pattern SLM method in measuring shiny and transparent objects. In this method, we simultaneously extract the edge line, the center line and obtain their orders by projecting only five patterns. Many experiments were implemented to prove its accuracy and robustness. Because only five patterns are required, the proposed method greatly accelerate the process of reconstruction, which is indispensable for 3D real-time reconstruction. We conducted a dental model dynamic scanning experiment to prove it.
Effect of intermetallic compound on the corrosion behaviour of resistance spot welding joints between 5182 aluminium alloy and galvanized DP780 dual-phase steel
Authors: Zhang Sai , Li Siwei , Meng Xianming , Chen Yajun , Cheng Congqian
Published: February 2023

Interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer is critical during realizing the galvanic corrosion mechanism and strength degradation of aluminium/steel resistance spot welding (RSW) joints. The effect of IMC layer on the corrosion behaviour of RSW joint between 5182 aluminium alloy and galvanized DP780 dual-phase steel was investigated by immersion corrosion method and electrochemical method. Results demonstrated localized corrosion around Fe-rich phase particles on aluminium nugget and preferential corrosion at the interface front near IMC layer. The IMC layer had the highest open circuit potential value of −0.569 V and low corrosion current density among the investigated nugget and substrates. The potential difference (0.184 V) between the cathodic IMC layer and large area of anodic aluminium nugget was responsible for the preferential initiation of localized corrosion at the interface front near the IMC layer.
The Riemann-Hilbert approach to the generating function of the higher order Airy point processes
Authors: Cafasso Mattia , Tarricone Sofia
Published: February 2023

We prove a Tracy-Widom type formula for the generating function of occupancy numbers on several disjoint intervals of the higher order Airy point processes. The formula is related to a new vector-valued Painlevé II hierarchy we define, together with its Lax pair.
The Role of Uncertainty in Professionals’ Thinking about Children Who Harm Other People
Authors: Heron Gavin , Black Kate
Published: February 2023

Uncertainty in thinking and reasoning is crucial in allowing professionals to engage with the complexities of practice, yet the way it is expressed in childcare social work remains under-researched. This study examines the uncertainty expressed by professionals when discussing children who present a serious threat of harm to others. Discourse analysis is used to examine data from twenty meetings involving seventy-five professionals. The findings suggest that there is considerable variance in the way professionals express uncertainty and in many of the meetings it appears to be relatively infrequent. The low levels of expression of uncertainty in such complex cases are problematic because it reflects limitations in professionals’ thinking and actions. The majority of instances of uncertainty occur in response to a question from another professional. This is a positive aspect of professional interaction and suggests that robust questioning from peers that encourage analysis of our practice might be particularly useful in prompting uncertainty. Rather than ignore or supress uncertainty by viewing it in negative terms, it should be valued and embraced by professionals who want to reduce unnecessary errors and enhance children’s safety.
When the sun rises
Authors: Grazionale Karen
Published: February 2023

‘When The Sun Rises’ describes the impact a traumatic brain injury has on a marriage and how unwilling and unprepared the medical community can be to deal with those impacts. This essay challenges us to look beyond rehabilitation of the injured person and offer solutions to help the couple support one another in their new lives.
Assessment of Bio-Based Materials as a Sustainable and Scalable Alternative for Detection of Plasmodium spp. (Haemospororida: Plasmodiidae) Sporozoites in Field Deployable Testing
Authors: Gomez-Maldonado Diego , Stephens Haley , Sutcliffe Alice C , Camarano Eula Maria Andrea , Vega Erramuspe Iris Beatriz , Dotson Ellen M , Peresin Maria Soledad , Zohdy Sarah
Published: February 2023

Malaria is responsible for over 435,000 deaths annually, mostly occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Detecting Plasmodium spp. sporozoites (spzs) in the salivary glands of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors with circumsporozoite enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (csELISA) is an important surveillance method. However, current technological advances are intellectual property and often require of distribution and highly trained users. The transition into paper-based rapid plataforms would allow for decentralization of survillance, especially in areas where it was virtually eliminated. The addition of bio-based materials have shown the potential to improve binding of target antigens, while being widely available. Here, we evaluate the use of chitosan and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as antibody carriers and substrate coatings on 96-well plates and on wax hydrophobized paper plates for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), P. vivax VK210 (Pv210), and P. vivax VK247 (Pv247). To further improve the user-friendliness of the paper plates a quantitative photograph image-based color analysis was done. Interactions between the materials and the assay antibodies were studied by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Overall, the addition of chitosan increased the interaction with antibodies and enhanced signaling in all tests. This work demonstrated that the adaptation of a PcsELISA shows potential as a cost-effective alternative assay platform easily adaptable in deployable testing sites that also showed reduction in reagent volumes by 80% and assay run time by seventh. While dipstick assays were previously developed, paper-based assays are a cost-effective and field-deployable alternative, reducing volumes of reagents that could be used in malaria control and elimination settings.
The Impact of Diet and Photoperiodism on the Life History ofThanatophilus sinuatus(Coleoptera: Silphidae)
Authors: Qubaiová J , Jakubec P , Montoya-Molina S , Novák M , Šuláková H
Published: February 2023

The forensically important genus Thanatophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is a widespread group of carrion beetles that occupies the Holarctic and Afrotropical realms. It has recently received more recognition, as its species are frequently detected on large carrion, including humans, and can be useful in estimating the time of colonization (TOC) and the post-mortem interval (PMI). The immature stages of Thanatophilus sinuatus (Fabricius, 1775) were reared on three different meat diets (pork liver, pork muscle, and chicken muscle). Diet influence on some of the essential life history traits of the species was examined for different populations. Our findings indicated an accelerated development on pork muscle followed closely by pork liver and a prolonged development on chicken muscle. The diet significantly affected the size, and the body condition (weight/ size) as both pork muscle and liver produced individuals in better physical condition (larger and heavier). The impact of two cyclic photoperiod regimes (16 h Light (L): 8 h Dark (D) and 12 h L: 12 h D) was further evaluated and indicated no significant variability.
The communicative constitution of atomization: online prepper communities and the crisis of collective action
Authors: Husted Emil , Just Sine N , du Plessis Erik Mygind , Dahlman Sara
Published: February 2023

As environmental and societal crises increase in numbers, severity, and urgency, online forums for so-called “doomsday preppers” have seen a concomitant surge in membership. Beginning from the perspective of communicative constitution of organization, we explore the sociotechnical communities that emerge on such forums. Methodologically, we use netnographic observations to show that online prepper communities are organizational, in the sense of being networks of communicative episodes that use common narratives to build identities around material objects and physical practices. However, the online prepper communities do not move from the enactment of organization to acting as organizations. This observation leads us to conceptualize online prepper communities as atomizations whose communicative constitution does not entail a capacity for collective action, but only manifests the similarity of disparate individuals. The communicative constitution of atomization, we argue, is symptomatic of an underlying social logic, which promotes individualized responses to collective problems.
Galaxy interactions are the dominant trigger for local type 2 quasars
Authors: Pierce J C S , Tadhunter C , Ramos Almeida C , Bessiere P , Heaton J V , Ellison S L , Speranza G , Gordon Y , O’Dea C , Grimmett L , Makrygianni L
Published: February 2023

The triggering mechanism for the most luminous, quasar-like active galactic nuclei (AGN) remains a source of debate, with some studies favouring triggering via galaxy mergers, but others finding little evidence to support this mechanism. Here, we present deep Isaac Newton Telescope/Wide Field Camera imaging observations of a complete sample of 48 optically selected type 2 quasars – the QSOFEED sample ($L_{\rm [O\, \small {III}]}\gt 10^{8.5}\, \mathrm{L}_{\odot }$; z < 0.14). Based on visual inspection by eight classifiers, we find clear evidence that galaxy interactions are the dominant triggering mechanism for quasar activity in the local universe, with 65$^{+6}_{-7}$ per cent of the type 2 quasar hosts showing morphological features consistent with galaxy mergers or encounters, compared with only 22$^{+5}_{-4}$ per cent of a stellar-mass- and redshift-matched comparison sample of non-AGN galaxies – a 5σ difference. The type 2 quasar hosts are a factor of 3.0$^{+0.5}_{-0.8}$ more likely to be morphologically disturbed than their matched non-AGN counterparts, similar to our previous results for powerful 3CR radio AGN of comparable [O iii] emission-line luminosity and redshift. In contrast to the idea that quasars are triggered at the peaks of galaxy mergers as the two nuclei coalesce, and only become visible post-coalescence, the majority of morphologically disturbed type 2 quasar sources in our sample are observed in the pre-coalescence phase (61$^{+8}_{-9}$ per cent). We argue that much of the apparent ambiguity that surrounds observational results in this field is a result of differences in the surface brightness depths of the observations, combined with the effects of cosmological surface brightness dimming.
Modelling the energy distribution in CHIME/FRB catalogue-1
Authors: Bhattacharyya Siddhartha , Bharadwaj Somnath , Tiwari Himanshu , Majumdar Suman
Published: February 2023

We characterize the intrinsic properties of any FRB using its redshift z , spectral index α and energy E33 in units of $10^{33} \, {\rm J}$ emitted across 2128–2848 MHz in the FRB’s rest frame. Provided that z is inferred from the measured extra-galactic dispersion measure DMEx, the fluence F of the observed event defines a track in (α, E33) space which we refer to as the ’energy track’. Here, we consider the energy tracks for a sample of 254 non-repeating low dispersion measure FRBs from the CHIME/FRB catalogue-1, and use these to determine the conditional energy distribution, n(E33∣α), i.e. the number of FRBs in the interval ΔE33 given a value of α. For all values of α, we can identify two distinct energy ranges indicating that there are possibly two distinct FRB populations. At high energies, the distribution is well fitted by a modified Schechter function whose slope and characteristic energy both increase with α. At low energies, the number of FRBs are in excess of the predictions of the modified Schechter function indicating that we may have a distinctly different population of low-energy FRBs. We have checked that our main findings are reasonably robust to the assumptions regarding the Galactic Halo and Host galaxy contributions to the dispersion measure.
Dynamical data mining captures disc–halo couplings that structure galaxies
Authors: Johnson Alexander C , Petersen Michael S , Johnston Kathryn V , Weinberg Martin D
Published: February 2023

Studying coupling between different galactic components is a challenging problem in galactic dynamics. Using basis function expansions (BFEs) and multichannel singular spectrum analysis (mSSA) as a means of dynamical data mining, we discover evidence for two multicomponent disc–halo dipole modes in a Milky-Way-like simulated galaxy. One of the modes grows throughout the simulation, while the other decays throughout the simulation. The multicomponent disc–halo modes are driven primarily by the halo, and have implications for the structural evolution of galaxies, including observations of lopsidedness and other non-axisymmetric structure. In our simulation, the modes create surface density features up to 10 per cent relative to the equilibrium model stellar disc. While the simulated galaxy was constructed to be in equilibrium, BFE + mSSA also uncovered evidence of persistent periodic signals incited by aphysical initial conditions disequilibrium, including rings and weak two-armed spirals, both at the 1 per cent level. The method is sensitive to distinct evolutionary features at and even below the 1 per cent level of surface density variation. The use of mSSA produced clean signals for both modes and disequilibrium, efficiently removing variance owing to estimator noise from the input BFE time series. The discovery of multicomponent halo–disc modes is strong motivation for application of BFE + mSSA to the rich zoo of dynamics of multicomponent interacting galaxies.
X-ray non-detection of PSR J0250 + 5854
Authors: Tan C M , Rigoselli M , Esposito P , Stappers B W
Published: February 2023

We conducted a deep XMM–Newton observing campaign on the 23.5-s radio pulsar PSR J0250 + 5854 in order to better understand the connection between long-period, radio-emitting neutron stars and their high-energy-emitting counterparts. No X-ray emission was detected resulting in an upper limit in the bolometric luminosity of PSR J0250 + 5854 of <1031 erg s−1 for an assumed blackbody with a temperature of 85 eV, typical of an X-ray Dim Isolated Neutron Star (XDINS). We compared the upper limit in the bolometric luminosity of PSR J0250 + 5854 with the known population of XDINSs and found that the upper limit is lower than the bolometric luminosity of all but one XDINS. We also compared PSR J0250 + 5854 with SGR 0418+5729, the magnetar with low dipole magnetic field strength, where the upper limit suggests that if PSR J0250 + 5854 has a thermal hotspot like SGR 0418 + 5729, it would have a blackbody temperature of <200 eV, compared to 320 eV of the magnetar.
Cardiovascular disease in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease
Authors: Adams Leon A.
Published: February 2023

Purpose of review

Fatty liver disease is increasingly common worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Recent findings

This review describes the cardiovascular outcomes, clinical assessment and management as well as the impact of emerging drug treatment on CVD risk.

Patients with fatty liver require CVD risk assessment including consideration of statin therapy. Emerging therapeutic drugs for fatty liver may have both adverse and beneficial effects on CVD risk.
Midterm surgical outcomes of duplicated thumbs according to new classification
Authors: Horii Emiko , Koh Shukuki , Otsuka Junko , Hamada Yoshitaka , Saito Takanori
Published: February 2023

Background:

Surgical outcomes of duplicated thumbs differ depending on the branching type. We developed a new classification system and report surgical outcomes with an average 10.2-year follow-up.

Methods:

A total of 529 patients with 562 duplicated thumbs were reviewed. We compared surgical anatomies and X-rays, and then developed a new classification system, based on the branching level and particular bone shape observed via X-ray; D-type included Wassel types I and II, and P-type included Wassel types Ⅲ and Ⅳ and four types of subdivisions, Po, Pa, Pb, and Pc, according to particular bone structure. The MC-type included Wassel types V and VI. All hands were assessed using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH) evaluation form, and factors causing poor outcomes were analyzed.

Results:

There were 25% D-type, 59% P-type, and 14% MC-type hands, and 2% of hands were not classified. Overall, 351 hands (63%) were directly assessed when the patients reached 5 years of age. A total of 17% of hands were fair. Good results were shown for 90% of D- and Po- type hands. Pa-, Pb-, Pc-, and MC-type hands had lower JSSH scores than D- or Po-type hands. Pa- and Pb-type hands tended to develop interphalangeal joint malalignment and instability, while Pc- and MC- type hands developed disorders in the metacarphophalangeal joint with growth.

Conclusions:

Through a new classification system, we clarified the potential pitfalls for each type of duplicated thumb. More than 90% of D- and Po- type hand obtained good results. Care should be paid of interphalangeal joint reconstruction for Pa-and Pb-type hands, while meticulous reconstruction of metacarpophalangeal joint was essential for Pc- and MC-type hands. Analyzing this large cohort of duplicated thumbs provides important information for surgeons and patients.

Type of study of evince: Therapeutic IV.
“Molding Helmet Therapy for severe Deformational Brachycephaly: Position of Eurion and Therapeutic Effect”
Authors: Okamoto Toyoko , Harada Atsuko , Takamatsu Ako , Kyutoku Shigeo , Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Ueda Koichi
Published: February 2023

Background:

Molding helmet therapy is routinely used for moderate to severe deformational plagiocephaly. However, there have been few reports for deformational brachycephaly (DB). Additionally, the incidence and severity of DB is high in Asians, including Japanese, but there are still no reports of treatment for severe cases. The present study showed significant improvement even in severe DB with various deformities. Furthermore, the difference in improvement according to the morphological classification was investigated.

Methods:

The study included 47 patients treated with helmet therapy for DB with a cephalic index (CI) of >100%. Three-dimensional head scans were used for classification and measurement. DB was classified into four types according to the position of the eurion and the presence of deformational plagiocephaly. The therapeutic effect was determined by the changes in CI and cranial asymmetry (CA).

Results:

The patients exhibited a mean change of 8.0% in CI and 6.4 mm in CA. An older age at initiation was associated with less change in both CI and CA. A significant difference in the amount of CI change was observed depending on the position of the eurion when the starting age was ≥6 months (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Molding helmet therapy for severe DB results in significant morphological improvement. However, depending on the position of the eurion, the effect of treatment may decrease if it is started too late. It is necessary to understand the difference in improvement depending on the morphology and to ensure early intervention.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic III
Are We Over-Operating Isolated Orbital Floor Fractures?
Authors: Billig Allan B. , Dengler Jana , Hardisty Michael , Chew Hall F. , Kiss Alex , Fialkov Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

Orbital floor fracture defect size (DS) and Inferior Rectus (IR) Rounding Index are currently accepted indications for surgery to prevent late enophthalmos. Herein, we analyze the positive predictive value (PPV) of these indications.

Method:

28 patients with orbital floor fractures presenting without enophthalmos underwent Hertel exophthalmometry at presentation and at weeks 1, 2, 3, 6, 13, 26, and ≥52 following injury. Orbital defect size (DS) and IR Rounding Index (IR) were measured from CT scans, and PPVs of defect size ≥1.5-2cm 2 and IR Rounding Index ≥1 for enophthalmos (≥2mm) were calculated.

Results:

19 patients had isolated orbital floor fractures (Group A), 3 had non-continuous orbital floor and medial wall fractures (Group B), and 6 had continuous orbital floor with medial wall fractures (Group C). Mean follow-up time was 440 days. Of all patients, 20 had DS ≥1.5cm 2, 12 had DS ≥2.0cm 2, and 13 had IR Rounding Index ≥1. Of the 28 patients, only one from group A and two from group C developed enophthalmos of 2mm only. The PPV of orbital floor DS ≥1.5cm 2 and ≥2cm 2 (groups A and B only) for late enophthalmos was 6.7% and 0%, respectively. The PPV of IR Rounding Index ≥1 for late enophthalmos (all groups) was 0%.

Conclusions:

For patients with orbital floor fractures presenting without enophthalmos, defect size ≥1.5cm 2 and ≥2cm 2 , and IR rounding ≥1 are weakly predictive of late enophthalmos. Furthermore, patients who do not develop enophthalmos within 3 weeks of injury are unlikely to develop significant (>2mm) late enophthalmos.
Lower Lip Sensory Outcomes of Allograft Inferior Alveolar Nerve Reconstruction Following Free Fibula Mandible Reconstruction in Cancer Patients1
Authors: Kaplan Jordan , Lee Z-Hye , Grome Luke , Yao Christopher M.K.L. , Mericli Alexander F. , Roubaud Margaret S. , Largo Rene D. , Garvey Patrick B.
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

As patient survival with head and neck cancer has improved, treatment goals have had to evolve to focus on improving quality of life. Traditionally patients who have undergone mandibulectomy are left with an insensate chin and lower lip secondary to resection of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate our initial experience using processed nerve allografts (PNA) for IAN reconstruction following oncologic mandibulectomy and reconstruction with free fibula osteocutaneous flaps and to assess our patients’ sensory outcomes.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of the first 32 patients who underwent immediate IAN reconstruction with PNA at the time of oncologic mandibulectomy and mandible reconstruction with free fibula osteocutaneous flaps at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center over a one-year period. Semmes-Weinstein filament sensory testing was conducted at multiple surgical follow-up appointments to evaluate the quality of sensory recovery.

Results:

Thirteen of the 32 patients underwent post-operative Semmes-Weinstein filament testing. All 13 patients demonstrated partial return of sensation. At a mean follow-up of 8.33 months, the average level of sensation was 60.93% that of the unaffected side of the lower lip.

Conclusion:

Patients were consistently afforded improvement in lower lip sensation using PNA-based IAN grafting as an adjunct to free fibula-based mandible reconstruction. The procedure adds no additional surgical morbidity and has shown consistent positive results.
Physiological Age by Artificial Intelligence–Enhanced Electrocardiograms as a Novel Risk Factor of Mortality in Kidney Transplant Candidates
Authors: Lorenz Elizabeth C. , Zaniletti Isabella , Johnson Bradley K. , Petterson Tanya M. , Kremers Walter K. , Schinstock Carrie A. , Amer Hatem , Cheville Andrea L. , LeBrasseur Nathan K. , Winkelmayer Wolfgang C. , Navaneethan Sankar D. , Baez-Suarez Abraham , Attia Zachi I. , Lopez-Jimenez Francisco , Friedman Paul A. , Kennedy Cassie C. , Rule Andrew D.
Published: February 2023

Background.

Mortality risk assessment before kidney transplantation (KT) is imperfect. An emerging risk factor for death in nontransplant populations is physiological age as determined by the application of artificial intelligence to the electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ECG age and KT waitlist mortality.

Methods.

We applied a previously developed convolutional neural network to the ECGs of KT candidates evaluated 2014 to 2019 to determine ECG age. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to examine whether ECG age was associated with waitlist mortality.

Results.

Of the 2183 patients evaluated, 59.1% were male, 81.4% were white, and 11.4% died during follow-up. Mean ECG age was 59.0 ± 12.0 y and mean chronological age at ECG was 53.3 ± 13.6 y. After adjusting for chronological age, comorbidities, and other characteristics associated with mortality, each increase in ECG age of >10 y than the average ECG age for patients of a similar chronological age was associated with an increase in mortality risk (hazard ratio 3.59 per 10-y increase; 95% confidence interval, 2.06-5.72; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions.

ECG age is a risk factor for KT waitlist mortality. Determining ECG age through artificial intelligence may help guide risk-benefit assessment when evaluating candidates for KT.
How useful is genomic data for predicting maladaptation to future climate?
Authors: Lind Brandon M. , Candido-Ribeiro Rafael , Singh Pooja , Lu Mengmeng , Vidakovic Dragana Obreht , Booker Tom R. , Whitlock Michael C. , Yeaman Sam , Isabel Nathalie , Aitken Sally N.
Published: February 2023

Methods using genomic information to forecast potential population maladaptation to climate change are becoming increasingly common, yet the lack of model validation poses serious hurdles toward their incorporation into management and policy. Here, we compare the validation of maladaptation estimates derived from two methods – Gradient Forests (GFoffset) and the Risk Of Non-Adaptedness (RONA) – using exome capture pool-seq data from 35 to 39 populations across three conifer taxa: two Douglas-fir varieties and jack pine. We evaluate sensitivity of these algorithms to the source of input loci (markers selected from genotype-environment associations [GEA] or those selected at random). We validate these methods against two-year and 52-year growth and mortality measured in independent transplant experiments. Overall, we find that both methods often better predict transplant performance than climatic or geographic distances. We also find that GFoffsetand RONA models are surprisingly not improved using GEA candidates. Even with promising validation results, variation in model projections to future climates makes it difficult to identify the most maladapted populations using either method. Our work advances understanding of the sensitivity and applicability of these approaches, and we discuss recommendations for their future use.
Reply to: Caution Regarding the Specificities of Pan-Cancer Microbial Structure
Authors: Sepich-Poore Gregory D. , Kopylova Evguenia , Zhu Qiyun , Carpenter Carolina , Fraraccio Serena , Wandro Stephen , Kosciolek Tomasz , Janssen Stefan , Metcalf Jessica , Song Se Jin , Kanbar Jad , Miller-Montgomery Sandrine , Heaton Robert , Mckay Rana , Patel Sandip Pravin , Swafford Austin D , Knight Rob
Published: February 2023

The cancer microbiome field tremendously accelerated following the release of our manuscript nearly three years ago1, including direct validation of our cancer type-specific conclusions in independent, international cohorts2,3and the tumor microbiome’s adoption into the hallmarks of cancer4. Disentangling contamination signals from biological signals is an important consideration for this research field. Therefore, despite numerous, high-impact, peer-reviewed research papers that either validated our conclusions or extended them using data we released2,5–13, we carefully considered criticism raised by Gihawiet al. about potential mishandling of contaminants, batch effects, and machine learning approaches—all of which were central topics in our manuscript. Nonetheless, a close examination of each concern alongside the original manuscript and re-analyses of our published data strongly demonstrates the robustness of the original findings. To remove all doubt, however, we have reproduced all key conclusions from the original manuscript using only overlapping bacterial genera identified in a highly decontaminated, multi-cancer, international cohort (Weizmann Institute of Science, WIS)2, with or without batch correction, and with multiclass machine learning analyses to mitigate class imbalances. Our published pan-cancer mycobiome manuscript3also affirms these findings using updated, state-of-the-art methods. We also note that every analysis shown here was possible using public data and code that we had already provided.
Optimization of chickpea irrigation in a semi-arid climate based on morpho-physiological parameters
Authors: Avneri Asaf , Peleg Zvi , Bonfil David , Sadeh Roy , Perach Omer , Herrmann Ittai , Abbo Shahal , Lati Ran N.
Published: February 2023

While the world population is steadily growing, the demand for plant-based protein in general, and chickpea in particular, is rising. Heatwaves and terminal drought are the main environmental constraints on chickpea production worldwide. Thus, developing better irrigation management for the chickpea agro-system can promote higher and more sustainable yields. Supplemental irrigation at the right timing and dose can increase yield dramatically. Here, we studied the response of a modern Kabuli chickpea cultivar to supplemental irrigation during the critical pod-filling period over three growing seasons (2019-2021) in northern Negev, Israel, under semi-arid conditions. Six irrigation treatments were applied based on irrigation factors of 0, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 of crop evapotranspiration (ET0) as measured by an on-site meteorological station. Morpho-physiological parameters and above-ground biomass accumulation were monitored throughout the cropping seasons, and the final grain yield was determined at maturation. Irrigation onset was determined based on plants’ leaf water potential (ΨLWP> 15 bar) in the field. Our results indicate that optimal water status (as reflected by pressure chamber values) was 12-14 bar during the irrigation period. Irrigation according to evapotranspiration (ET0) with an irrigation factor of 1.2 resulted in the highest grain yields over the three years. To ensure optimal water supply during the reproductive phase compatible with the crop water requirements, maintaining a 25 mm node length above the last fully developed pod and a 90 mm distance between the last fully developed pod to the stem apex is recommended. In conclusion, irrigation onset when the crop is already at mild drought stress, followed by sufficient irrigation while following the indicated morphology and water potential values, may help farmers optimize irrigation and maximize chickpea crop production.

Highlights

Chickpea irrigation is optimized based on meteorological data (ETc) and morphological traits.

Morphological- not only physiological- traits can capture the dynamics of crop water status.

Irrigation onset should be at mild drought stress (>15 bar) during the reproductive stage.

Extending the reproductive phase is essential for grain yield improvement under semi-arid conditions.

IF=1.2 provides the most productive irrigation regime for chickpea in Mediterranean conditions.