bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential NO2 gas-sensing performance of (Cr, Mo, W)-doped VO-Ti3C2O2-MXenes: a first-principles study
Authors: Yu GuangJun , Liu Xin , Su JiaHui , Zhao Bing , Liu Chi , Feng Yue , Shen Tao
Published: November 2024

Typical Ti3C2O2 MXenes materials have been widely studied in the field of gas sensors due to their excellent properties in optoelectronics. The adsorption properties of four gases (NO2, NO, NH3, H2O) on the intrinsic Ti3C2O2, Ti3C2O2 with oxygen vacancy (VO-Ti3C2O2) and (Cr, Mo, W) doped VO-Ti3C2O2 were studied by density functional theory (DFT). The geometric structure, molecular dynamics, adsorption energy, differential charge density, and band structure of four gas molecules (NO2, NO, NH3, H2O) adsorbed in the intrinsic Ti3C2O2, VO-Ti3C2O2, and (Cr, Mo, W) doped VO-Ti3C2O2 were analyzed systematically. The results show that the adsorption energy and charge transfer properties of the VO-Ti3C2O2 doped with Cr, Mo, W are stronger than those of the intrinsic Ti3C2O2. Among them, the maximum adsorption energy of W-doped Ti3C2O2 for NO2 adsorption is −7.67 eV. Therefore, the inclusion of metal atoms in Ti3C2O2 material can improve the adsorption and selectivity of NO2 and other gases. In addition, W-doped Ti3C2O2 MXenes is a promising material for NO2 gas detection.
A role of fear on diseased food web model with multiple functional response
Authors: Megala Thangavel , Pradeep Manickasundaram Siva , Yavuz Mehmet , Gopal Thangaraj Nandha , Sivabalan Muthuradhinam
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we analyze the role of fear in a three-species non-delayed ecological model that examines the interactions among susceptible prey, infectious (diseased) prey, and predators within a food web. The prey population grows in a logistic manner until it achieves a carrying capacity, reflecting common population dynamics in the absence of predators. Diseased prey is assumed to transmit infection to healthful prey by the use of a Holling type II reaction. Predators, alternatively, are modeled to consume their prey using Beddington–DeAngelis and Crowley–Martin response features. This evaluation specializes in ensuring the non-negativity of solutions, practical constraints on population dynamics, and long-term stability of the system. Each biologically possible equilibrium point is tested to understand the environmental stable states. Local stability is assessed through eigenvalue analysis, while global stability of positive equilibria is evaluated by the use of Lyapunov features to determine the overall stability of the model. Furthermore, Hopf bifurcation is explored primarily based on infection rate ɛ. Numerical simulations are carried out to validate the theoretical effects and offer practical insights into the model behaviour under specific conditions.
Quantum Fisher information of a ♢-type four-level atom interacting with a single-mode quantized field in an optomechanical cavity
Authors: Daneshmand Fatemeh , Baghshahi Hamid Reza , Yahya Mirafzali Sayyed
Published: November 2024

In science and technology, precision measurement of physical quantities is crucial, and the quantum Fisher information (QFI) plays a significant role in the study of quantum systems. In this work, we explore the dynamics of QFI in a hybrid optomechanical system, which consists of a ♢-type four-level atom interacting with a single-mode quantized field via a multi-photon process. We account for various sources of dissipation, including the decay rates of the atom, the cavity and the mechanical modes. Using an effective Hamiltonian, we analytically derive the explicit form of the state vector of the entire system via the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We then investigate the atomic QFI for the estimation precision of the decay rate of the mechanical oscillator. Furthermore, we examine how optomechanical and atom-field coupling strengths, dissipation parameters and multi-photon transition influence the dynamics of atomic QFI. Our numerical results suggest that the estimation precision of the decay rate of the mechanical oscillator can be controlled by these parameters.
The electromagnetic form factors and spin polarization of
in the process
*
Authors: Chen 陈 Cheng 诚 , Yan 闫 Bing 冰 , Xie 谢 Ju-Jun 聚军
Published: November 2024

The total cross sections of the process

close to the threshold are calculated within the vector meson dominance model. It is found that the theoretical results can describe the current experimental measurements. The nontrivial near-threshold energy dependence of the total cross sections of the process

can be well reproduced by considering the contributions from charmonium-like states and the Coulomb factor. In particular, the results for the angular distribution parameters about the differential cross section are consistent with the experiments from the BESIII Collaboration. In addition, the relative phase

of the electromagnetic form factors is given, and the spin polarization of

is predicted at center-mass energy

. It is hopeful that this work will provide a new perspective on the characteristics of the charmed baryon

.
Disempowering The People
Authors: Lafont Cristina , Urbinati Nadia
Published: November 2024

This chapter focuses on the lottocratic interpretation of political equality. While it is widely assumed that lottery-based institutions promote political equality better than electoral institutions, we show in detail that the lottocratic interpretation of political equality has two worrisome features: (1) it severely weakens the political rights and power that citizens collectively exercise as equals in electoral democracies regularly (under the “one person, one vote” principle); and it does so for the sake of (2) equalizing asymmetric relationships of power among citizens which are objectionable precisely from the perspective of democratic equality. Against the lottocratic interpretation, we argue that the democratic ideal of political equality requires not to equalize the chances of “ruling” but rather to equalize citizens’ opportunities to collectively make important political decisions as equals, instead of letting a few citizens unilaterally impose their political decisions on the rest of the citizenry.
Bridging the continuity: Practice-enhancing publications about the ambulatory care medication-use process in 2022
Authors: Gazda Nicholas P , Vest Tyler A , Peek Grayson K , Francart Suzanne , Eckel Stephen F
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This article identifies, summarizes, and prioritizes literature on the ambulatory care medication-use process (ACMUP) published in 2022 that can describe ambulatory pharmacy practice. The medication-use process (MUP) is the foundational system that provides the framework for safe medication utilization within the healthcare environment and was reimagined to focus on new innovations and advancements in ambulatory pharmacy practice. The ACMUP is defined in this article as having the following components: transitions of care, prescribing, access, dispensing, adherence, and evaluating. Articles evaluating at least one step of the ACMUP were assessed for their usefulness toward practice improvement.

A PubMed search for articles published in 2022 was conducted in January 2023 using targeted Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords and the table of contents of selected pharmacy journals, providing a total of 4,125 articles. A thorough review identified 49 potentially practice-enhancing articles: 6 for transitions of care, 9 for prescribing, 5 for access, 2 for dispensing, 6 for adherence, and 21 articles for evaluating. Trends from the impact articles are described.

Conclusion

It is important to routinely review the published literature and to incorporate significant findings into daily practice. This article continues a series of articles defining and evaluating the currently published literature around the ACMUP. As healthcare continues to advance and care shifts to ambulatory settings, the ACMUP will continue to be a crucial process to evaluate.
Lying and oblique intention: reply to Krstić
Authors: Sneddon Andrew
Published: November 2024

Vladimir Krstić (2023) argues that some putative counterexamples to the definition of lying in terms of an intention to deceive are not genuine counterexamples. He suggests that the agents in these cases have an ‘oblique intention’ to deceive. I argue that Krstić is incorrect about both these cases and the very notion of oblique intention.
SpaGIC: graph-informed clustering in spatial transcriptomics via self-supervised contrastive learning
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Bo , Bai Yuting , Liang Xiao , Xue Li , Luo Jiawei
Published: November 2024

Spatial transcriptomics technologies enable the generation of gene expression profiles while preserving spatial context, providing the potential for in-depth understanding of spatial-specific tissue heterogeneity. Leveraging gene and spatial data effectively is fundamental to accurately identifying spatial domains in spatial transcriptomics analysis. However, many existing methods have not yet fully exploited the local neighborhood details within spatial information. To address this issue, we introduce SpaGIC, a novel graph-based deep learning framework integrating graph convolutional networks and self-supervised contrastive learning techniques. SpaGIC learns meaningful latent embeddings of spots by maximizing both edge-wise and local neighborhood-wise mutual information of graph structures, as well as minimizing the embedding distance between spatially adjacent spots. We evaluated SpaGIC on seven spatial transcriptomics datasets across various technology platforms. The experimental results demonstrated that SpaGIC consistently outperformed existing state-of-the-art methods in several tasks, such as spatial domain identification, data denoising, visualization, and trajectory inference. Additionally, SpaGIC is capable of performing joint analyses of multiple slices, further underscoring its versatility and effectiveness in spatial transcriptomics research.
Predicting bacterial transcription factor binding sites through machine learning and structural characterization based on DNA duplex stability
Authors: Borges Farias André , Sganzerla Martinez Gustavo , Galán-Vásquez Edgardo , Nicolás Marisa Fabiana , Pérez-Rueda Ernesto
Published: November 2024

Transcriptional factors (TFs) in bacteria play a crucial role in gene regulation by binding to specific DNA sequences, thereby assisting in the activation or repression of genes. Despite their central role, deciphering shape recognition of bacterial TFs-DNA interactions remains an intricate challenge. A deeper understanding of DNA secondary structures could greatly enhance our knowledge of how TFs recognize and interact with DNA, thereby elucidating their biological function. In this study, we employed machine learning algorithms to predict transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) and classify them as directed-repeat (DR) or inverted-repeat (IR). To accomplish this, we divided the set of TFBS nucleotide sequences by size, ranging from 8 to 20 base pairs, and converted them into thermodynamic data known as DNA duplex stability (DDS). Our results demonstrate that the Random Forest algorithm accurately predicts TFBS with an average accuracy of over 82% and effectively distinguishes between IR and DR with an accuracy of 89%. Interestingly, upon converting the base pairs of several TFBS-IR into DDS values, we observed a symmetric profile typical of the palindromic structure associated with these architectures. This study presents a novel TFBS prediction model based on a DDS characteristic that may indicate how respective proteins interact with base pairs, thus providing insights into molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial TFs-DNA interaction.
A review of applications of photon-counting computed tomography in head and neck imaging
Authors: Dogra Siddhant , Shekhrajka Nitesh , Moonis Gul
Published: November 2024

Photon-counting CT (PCCT), approved for clinical practice for over 2 years now, both improves on features of conventional energy-integrating detector (EID)-CT and introduces new capabilities such as multienergy acquisition. PCCT is already transforming all domains of radiology, including head and neck imaging, and will become increasingly utilized in the approaching years. In this review, we first concisely explain the key physical principles distinguishing PCCT from EID-CT. We then discuss how the underlying physics leads to the novel features associated with PCCT, focusing on improved artefact reduction, spatial resolution, contrast-to-noise ratio, as well as multienergy acquisition and reduced contrast and radiation doses. Next, we review head and neck PCCT applications and comparison to EID-CT in dental imaging, sinus imaging, temporal bone, tumour imaging, and vascular imaging. Within the temporal bone applications, we explore normal anatomy, pathologic anatomy, and the appearance of prostheses and implants. Representative imaging is provided to highlight differences between PCCT and EID-CT. Finally, we highlight areas of ongoing research in PCCT.
Real-world efficacy and safety of dupilumab for paediatric atopic dermatitis: a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Pirov Eitan , Molho-Pessach Vered , Cohen-Barak Eran , Barak Levitt Jen A , Barzilai Aviv , Bar Jonathan , Renert-Yuval Yael , Bar-Ilan Efrat , Friedland Rivka , Greenberger Shoshana
Published: November 2024

Background

Real-world data regarding the use of dupilumab in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited.

Objectives

To evaluate the real-world efficacy of dupilumab in children with moderate-to-severe AD over an extended follow-up period.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of patients (≤ 18 years) with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab in four Israeli tertiary centres. Efficacy and safety were assessed using descriptive statistics.

Results

In total, 230 patients were included in the analysis [age 9.9 years (SD 4.3), male/female 1 : 1 ratio)]. Of them, 59.6% (137/230) had ≥ 1 atopic comorbidity. The follow-up duration ranged from 2 to 248 weeks, with a median of 52 weeks (interquartile range 24–96). Within 12 weeks of treatment, 41.7% (68/163) of patients had reached Investigator Global Assessment 0–1. The mean body surface area was reduced from 58.0% (SD 20.5%) at baseline to 27.8% (SD 20.2%) at 12 weeks. The average Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale score was reduced from 7.9 (SD 2.2) at baseline to 2.3 (SD 2.8) at 12 weeks. Adverse events, in 210 patients, included conjunctivitis in 34 patients (16.2%), injection-site reactions in 11 patients (5.2%) and dupilumab-associated head and neck dermatitis in 6 patients (2.9%). Overall, 26 of 210 patients (12.3%) discontinued the treatment: 9 of the 26 patients (35%) because of adverse events and 15 patients (58%) because of inadequate efficacy. The overall probability of dupilumab survival at 52 weeks was 94.0%.

Conclusions

Real-world data presented here for 230 paediatric and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD reinforce dupilumab’s efficacy and safety and highlight dupilumab’s high survival rate after 1 year of treatment in the paediatric population.
Optimizing ring selection for secondary tricuspid regurgitation: the role of body size
Authors: Ono Yoshikazu , Yajima Shin , Kainuma Satoshi , Kawamoto Naonori , Tadokoro Naoki , Fujita Tomoyuki , Fukushima Satsuki
Published: November 2024

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to investigate whether a larger prosthetic ring relative to a patient’s body surface area (BSA) is associated with an increased risk of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) recurrence after tricuspid annuloplasty and of adverse effects on long-term outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 239 patients who underwent tricuspid ring annuloplasty and mitral valve surgery between 2011 and 2016. The tricuspid annuloplasty ring index (TARI) was calculated by dividing the size of the annuloplasty ring (mm) by the BSA (m2). Risk factors for recurrent TR were determined using multivariate analysis. Long-term clinical outcomes were compared between propensity score matched large and small TARI groups.

RESULTS

The annuloplasty ring size unadjusted for BSA did not affect TR recurrence (P = 0.388). TARI [subdistribution hazard ratio 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.67, P = 0.009] and right ventricular dimension (P = 0.020) were independent risk factors for recurrent TR in multivariate analyses. The cut-off value for differentiating the small from the large TARI group was 19.0 mm/m2. In the matched cohort, the cumulative TR recurrence at 3 years postoperatively was 0% in the small TARI group and 7.1% (95% CI 0–14.8%) in the large TARI group (P = 0.025). The cumulative incidence of adverse events at 3 years postoperatively was 8.3% (95% CI 5.1–16.2%) in the small TARI group and 13.2% (95% CI 3.3–23.0) in the large TARI group (P = 0.085).

CONCLUSIONS

The patient’s body size might better be considered when determining the tricuspid ring size.
Semi-constant source radius and variable stress drop of repeating earthquakes: a fluid-invasion hypothesis for earthquake generation
Authors: Nakajima Junichi , Hasegawa Akira
Published: November 2024

Earthquakes with very similar waveforms have been recognized as repeating earthquakes, or repeaters, which are interpreted as repeated ruptures of an isolated, frictionally locked asperity patch that are caused by stress loading due to aseismic slip in the surrounding stable regime of the fault. Ideally, the repeated ruptures of the same asperity result in the same source dimension and stress drop. However, significant variations in the stress drop have been observed during fluid-injection experiments even for a single repeater sequence. This study focuses repeater sequences in three different tectonic regimes beneath the Japanese Islands and investigates variations in the source dimension and stress drop in the same repeater sequences. The obtained results show that the variation in the source radius is mostly within 20–30 per cent in individual repeater sequences but the stress drop is largely variable by one order of magnitude or more. We propose a fluid-invasion hypothesis to explain our observations. When pore-fluid pressures gradually invade into an asperity, the edge of the asperity tends to behave as aseismic because of the reduction of the effective normal stress to values below the critical value of effective normal stress, which makes the source radius somewhat smaller. Simultaneously, the amount of the fluid invasion into the asperity fluctuates the shear strength of the asperity, with the stress drop being smaller for higher pore-fluid pressures. The reduced source radius and stress drop expected from the fluid-invasion hypothesis can explain positive correlations between the source radius and seismic moment. We propose a conceptual model for earthquake generation by involving the triggering of aseismic slip by the enhancement of pore-fluid pressures and subsequent rupture of asperity by the stress loading due to the aseismic slip, which can be potentially applied to the genesis of repeaters and non-repeaters.
VISTA: A Tool for Fast Taxonomic Assignment of Viral Genome Sequences
Authors: Zhang Tao , Liu Yiyun , Guo Xutong , Zhang Xinran , Zheng Xinchang , Zhang Mochen , Bao Yiming
Published: November 2024

The rapid expansion of the number of viral genome sequences in public databases necessitates a scalable, universal, and automated preliminary taxonomic framework for comprehensive virus studies. Here, we introduce VISTA (Virus Sequence-based Taxonomy Assignment), a computational tool that employs a novel pairwise sequence comparison system and an automatic demarcation threshold identification framework for virus taxonomy. Leveraging physio-chemical property sequences, k-mer profiles, and machine learning techniques, VISTA constructs a robust distance-based framework for taxonomic assignment. Functionally similar to PASC (Pairwise Sequence Comparison), a widely used virus assignment tool based on pairwise sequence comparison, VISTA demonstrates superior performance by providing significantly improved separation for taxonomic groups, more objective taxonomic demarcation thresholds, greatly enhanced speed, and a wider application scope. We successfully applied VISTA to 38 virus families, as well as to the class Caudoviricetes. This demonstrates VISTA's scalability, robustness, and ability to automatically and accurately assign taxonomy to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses. Furthermore, the application of VISTA to 679 unclassified prokaryotic virus genomes recovered from metagenomic data identified 46 novel virus families. VISTA is available as both a command line tool and a user-friendly web portal at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/vista.
Why Symptoms Linger in Quiescent Crohn’s Disease: Investigating the Impact of Sulfidogenic Microbes and Sulfur Metabolic Pathways
Authors: Golob Jonathan , Rao Krishna , Berinstein Jeffrey A , Singh Prashant , Chey William D , Owyang Chung , Kamada Nobuhiko , Higgins Peter D R , Young Vincent , Bishu Shrinivas , Lee Allen A
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Even in the absence of inflammation, persistent symptoms in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are prevalent and worsen quality of life. We previously demonstrated enrichment in sulfidogenic microbes in quiescent Crohn’s disease patients with (qCD + S) vs without persistent GI symptoms (qCD-S). Thus, we hypothesized that sulfur metabolic pathways would be enriched in stool while differentially abundant microbes would be associated with important sulfur metabolic pathways in qCD + S.

Methods

We performed a multicenter observational study nested within SPARC IBD. Quiescent inflammation was defined by fecal calprotectin level < 150 mcg/g. Persistent symptoms were defined by CD-PRO2. Active CD (aCD) and non-IBD diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) were included as controls.

Results

Thirty-nine patients with qCD + S, 274 qCD-S, 21 aCD, and 40 IBS-D underwent paired shotgun metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomic profiling. The fecal metabolome in qCD + S was significantly different relative to qCD-S and IBS-D but not aCD. Patients with qCD + S were enriched in sulfur-containing amino acid pathways, including cysteine and methionine, as well as serine, glycine, and threonine. Glutathione and nicotinate/nicotinamide pathways were also enriched in qCD + S relative to qCD-S, suggestive of mitochondrial dysfunction, a downstream target of H2S signaling. Multi-omic integration demonstrated that enriched microbes in qCD + S were associated with important sulfur metabolic pathways. Bacterial sulfur metabolic genes, including CTH, isfD, sarD, and asrC, were dysregulated in qCD + S. Finally, sulfur metabolites with and without sulfidogenic microbes showed good accuracy in predicting the presence of qCD + S.

Discussion

Microbial-derived sulfur pathways and downstream mitochondrial function are perturbed in qCD + S, which implicate H2S signaling in the pathogenesis of this condition. Future studies will determine whether targeting H2S pathways results in improved quality of life in qCD + S.
Environmental Versus Economic Concerns in Bolivia: Does Support for Extractivism Affect Environmental Concern?
Authors: Marull Maita Carmen Rosa , Schorr Bettina
Published: November 2024

This article examines environmental concerns in Bolivia, a middle-income country with an extractivist economy, addressing a gap in the literature that predominantly focuses on the Global North. We investigate how extractivism, a common condition in many Global South countries, influences environmental concerns. Our approach highlights the multidimensional nature of environmental concern and the significance of context in shaping it. We explore whether individuals are willing to overlook the environmental costs of extractivism if they perceive it as economically beneficial. Drawing on the literature on environmental concern and extractivism, the study presents 2 key findings. First, it confirms that individuals supporting the extractivist development model are more likely to accept its environmental costs as long as they expect economic gains. Second, it reveals a positive relationship between support for extractivism and environmental awareness, suggesting that while people care about the environment, they prioritize economic over ecological concerns. These findings reinforce the argument that extractivism is an important contextual factor influencing environmental concern and highlight the trade-offs between economic and environmental priorities in extractivist economies. Our conclusions are based on descriptive statistics and multivariate regressions using data from the 2022 “Ecobarómetro—Environmental Culture Survey” conducted in 3 Bolivian cities.
Epistemology and history: how to ‘make’ post-critical history—with Actor-Network Theory and Bruno Latour
Authors: Rohstock Anne
Published: November 2024

Constructivism, contextualization, and critique—these three concepts are central to and representative of educational research. This article elaborates in three steps why it is important for educational research to engage epistemologically with Bruno Latour and Actor-Network Theory (ANT) in order to revise these basic concepts. The first section identifies some of the historical trajectories that helped to establish the belief in constructivism, contextualization, and critique in educational research. A second section deals with the shifts Latour proposes in order to revision constructivism and contextualization, and, in doing so, to reframe critique. I suggest that this reframing may be called ‘post-critique’. A third section takes up the example of the history of educational technologies to illustrate why it is important to link epistemology and history in educational research and how exactly this can be done by ‘making’ post-critical history with Latour and ANT.
Sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors: a scoping review
Authors: Durosier Mertilus Dorothie S , Rodriguez Carmen S
Published: November 2024

Background

Lymphoma and cancer-related treatment can cause many complications, including sexual dysfunction, a common symptom experienced by lymphoma survivors during the disease trajectory and survivorship.

Aims

A scoping review was performed to determine the current state of knowledge about sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors and identify knowledge gaps and implications for future research.

Methods

PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycINFO were searched to identify all primary peer-reviewed research articles published in the English language that were pertinent to sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors. The framework of Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist were used to assess and synthesize the available evidence on sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors.

Outcomes

This review provided supportive evidence that sexual function in lymphoma survivors is a major ongoing area of concern.

Results

Thirty eligible articles published from 1979 to 2023 were appraised in this review. Most of the studies (73.33%) used a cross-sectional design. Using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies, more than half of the publications (53.33%) achieved a C quality ranking. The reviewed studies revealed that sexual dysfunction was a prevalent symptom experienced by lymphoma survivors, with predictors such as age, gender, sex hormones, stage of disease, and types of cancer treatment.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers need to consistently perform routine assessment of sexual function and provide adequate treatment options.

Strengths and Limitations

The reviewed studies document the problem of sexual dysfunction and offer potential areas of improvement for clinical practice. However, in the majority of the studies, longitudinal data were not obtained which could provide valuable insights on sexual functioning in lymphoma survivors.

Conclusion

Despite many years of research on sexual function in lymphoma survivors, substantial gaps in knowledge regarding sexual issues in this population remain.

Implications for Practice

Healthcare providers should routinely assess sexual function of survivors and provide treatment options. Psychosexual interventions should be tailored for the needs of cancer survivors. Sexual function education is essential for all oncologists and should be included in the care pathway from diagnosis until survivorship.
Pair counting without binning – a new approach to correlation functions in clustering statistics
Authors: Yue Shiyu , Feng Longlong , Ju Wenjie , Pan Jun , Huang Zhiqi , Fang Feng , Li Zhuoyang , Cai Yan-Chuan , Zhu Weishan
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a novel perspective on correlation functions in the clustering analysis of the large-scale structure of the Universe. We begin with the recognition that pair counting in bins of radial separation is equivalent to evaluating counts in cells, which can be modelled using a filtered density field with a binning window function. This insight leads to an in situ expression for the two-point correlation function (2PCF). Essentially, the core idea underlying our method is to introduce a window function to define the binning scheme, enabling pair counting without binning. This approach develops an idea of generalized 2PCF, which extends beyond conventional discrete pair counting by accommodating non-sharp-edged window functions. In the context of multiresolution analysis, we can implement a fast algorithm to estimate the generalized 2PCF. To extend this framework to N-point correlation functions using current optimal edge-corrected estimators, we developed a binning scheme that is independent of the specific parametrization of polyhedral configurations. In particular, we demonstrate a fast algorithm for the three-point correlation function (3PCF), where triplet counting is accomplished by assigning either a spherical tophat or a Gaussian filter to each vertex of triangles. Additionally, we derive analytical expressions for the 3PCF using a multipole expansion in Legendre polynomials, accounting for filtered field (binning) corrections. Our method provides an exact solution for quantifying binning effects in practical measurements and offers a high-speed algorithm, enabling high-order clustering analysis in extremely large data sets from ongoing and upcoming surveys such as Euclid, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI).
Tracking the influence of a very close secondary star on planetary growth and evolution
Authors: Camargo B C B , Moraes R A , Winter O C , Foryta D W
Published: November 2024

This work investigated the dynamics of planets in binary systems and provided insights into the stability and evolution of these systems. We explored the influence of a nearby secondary star on planetary growth and evolution, focusing on S-type configurations. We tracked the orbits of the planets and analysed their stability over long time-scales, considering various parameters such as mass, eccentricity, and inclination. Our results show that the presence of a secondary star can significantly impact the growth and evolution of planets, leading to changes in their orbits and potential ejection from the system, however, it was possible to identify stable planets even in systems experiencing multiple disturbances. One of the most significant results of the work was the analysis of the increased material in the disc near the primary star, which contributes to planet growth, driven by the density spirals influenced by the binary star. These findings have important implications for the search for habitable exoplanets and emphasize the need for further studies of planetary systems in binary star environments.
Revealing hidden structures in the Zone of Avoidance – a blind MeerKAT H i Survey of the Vela Supercluster
Authors: Rajohnson Sambatriniaina H A , Kraan-Korteweg Renée C , Frank Bradley S , Chen Hao , Staveley-Smith Lister , Serra Paolo , Steyn Nadia , Kurapati Sushma , Pisano D J , Goedhart Sharmila
Published: November 2024

We conducted the MeerKAT Vela Supercluster survey, named Vela$-$$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$, to bridge the gap between the Vela SARAO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory) MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (Vela$-$SMGPS, $-2^{\circ } \le b \le 1^{\circ }$), and optical and near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the Vela Supercluster (hereafter Vela$-$OPT/NIR) at $|b| \gtrsim 7^{\circ }$. Covering coordinates from $263^{\circ } \le \ell \le 284^{\circ }$ and $1^{\circ } \le b \le 6.2^{\circ }$ above, and $-6.7^{\circ } \le b \le -2^{\circ }$ below the Galactic Plane (GP), we sampled 667 fields spread across an area of ${\sim } \rm 242 ~deg^2$. With a beam size of ${\sim } 38 \ \mathrm{ arcsec} \times 31 \ \mathrm{ arcsec}$, Vela$-$$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$ achieved a sensitivity of $\langle \rm rms \rangle = 0.74$$\rm mJy\, beam^{-1}$ at 44.3 $\rm km\, s^{-1}$ velocity resolution over ${\sim }$67 h of observations. We catalogued 719 galaxies, with only 211 (29 per cent) previously documented in the literature, primarily through the H i Parkes Zone of Avoidance survey (HIZOA), Two Micron All-sky Survey Extended Source Catalog (2MASX), and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) data bases. Among these known galaxies, only 66 had optical spectroscopic redshift information. We found marginal differences of less than one channel resolution for all galaxies in common between HIZOA and Vela$-$SMGPS, and a mean difference of $70 \pm 15$$\rm km\, s^{-1}$ between optical and $\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$ velocities. Combining data from Vela$-$SMGPS, Vela$-$$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$, and Vela$-$OPT/NIR confirmed the connection of the Hydra/Antlia filament across the GP and revealed a previously unknown diagonal wall at a heliocentric velocity range of $6500\!\!-\!\!8000$$\rm km\, s^{-1}$. Vela$-$$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$ reinforces the connection between the first wall at $18\,500\!\!-\!\!20\,000$$\rm km\, s^{-1}$ and the inner Zone of Avoidance. The second wall seems to traverse the GP at $270^{\circ } \le \ell \le 279^{\circ }$, where it appears that both walls intersect, jointly covering the velocity range $18\,500\!\!-\!\!21\,500$$\rm km\, s^{-1}$.
The formation of multiples in small-N subclusters
Authors: Ambrose Hannah E , Whitworth A P
Published: November 2024

We explore the relative percentages of binary systems and higher-order multiples that are formed by pure stellar dynamics, within a small subcluster of N stars. The subcluster is intended to represent the fragmentation products of a single isolated core, after most of the residual gas of the natal core has dispersed. Initially, the stars have random positions, and masses drawn from a lognormal distribution. For low-mass cores spawning multiple systems with Sun-like primaries, the best fit to the observed percentages of singles, binaries, triples, and higher-order systems is obtained if a typical core spawns on average between $N=$ 4.3 and 5.2 stars, specifically a distribution of N with mean $\mu _{_{N}}\sim 4.8$ and standard deviation $\sigma _{_N}\sim 2.4$. This fit is obtained when $\sim 50~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the subcluster’s internal kinetic energy is invested in ordered rotation and $\sim 50~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in isotropic Maxwellian velocities. There is little dependence on other factors, for example mass segregation or the rotation law. While such high values of N are at variance with the lower values often quoted (i.e. $N\!=\!1\,\,{\rm or}\,\,2$), very similar values ($N\!=\!4.3\pm 0.4$ and $N\!=\!4.5\pm 1.9$) have been derived previously by completely independent routes, and seem inescapable when the observed distribution of multiplicities is taken into account.
Alkaline phosphatase is useful for predicting giant cell arteritis complications in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors: Yamashita Ryo , Izumi Yusuke , Hiramoto Jun
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study determined whether alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can be used to distinguish giant cell arteritis (GCA) complications in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with PMR between January 2014 and October 2023 at our hospital. The predictive accuracy of biomarkers for diagnosing GCA was evaluated. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors predicting GCA complications.

Results

In total, 128 participants were included in this study and divided into two groups: isolated PMR (n = 111) and PMR with GCA (n = 17). The median ALP level of PMR with GCA group was significantly higher than that of the isolated PMR group (242.0 [interquartile range, 221.0–595.0] vs. 187.0 [interquartile range 97.5–254.5] U/L, P < .001). Setting a cut-off value of 214 U/L for ALP yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 and 0.55, respectively, for diagnosing GCA. Multivariate analysis revealed that ALP was a significant independent variable in the complications of GCA (odds ratio, 25.2; P = .032).

Conclusions

ALP can help distinguish GCA complications in patients with PMR.
RiboSeq.Org: an integrated suite of resources for ribosome profiling data analysis and visualization
Authors: Tierney Jack A S , Świrski Michał I , Tjeldnes Håkon , Kiran Anmol M , Carancini Gionmattia , Kiniry Stephen J , Michel Audrey M , Kufel Joanna , Valen Eivind , Baranov Pavel V
Published: November 2024

Ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) has revolutionised our understanding of translation, but the increasing complexity and volume of Ribo-Seq data present challenges for its reuse. Here, we formally introduce RiboSeq.Org, an integrated suite of resources designed to facilitate Ribo-Seq data analysis and visualisation within a web browser. RiboSeq.Org comprises several interconnected tools: GWIPS-viz for genome-wide visualisation, Trips-Viz for transcriptome-centric analysis, RiboGalaxy for data processing and the newly developed RiboSeq data portal (RDP) for centralised dataset identification and access. The RDP currently hosts preprocessed datasets corresponding to 14840 sequence libraries (samples) from 969 studies across 96 species, in various file formats along with standardised metadata. RiboSeq.Org addresses key challenges in Ribo-Seq data reuse through standardised sample preprocessing, semi-automated metadata curation and programmatic information access via a REST API and command-line utilities. RiboSeq.Org enhances the accessibility and utility of public Ribo-Seq data, enabling researchers to gain new insights into translational regulation and protein synthesis across diverse organisms and conditions. By providing these integrated, user-friendly resources, RiboSeq.Org aims to lower the barrier to reproducible research in the field of translatomics and promote more efficient utilisation of the wealth of available Ribo-Seq data.
Characteristics of tritium, stable isotopes and chemical components in monthly precipitation at Hiroshima, Japan
Authors: Yamada Ryohei , Kuwata Haruka , Kheamsiri Khemruthai , Ohno Kaho , Kitayama Yuisa , Yoshinaka Yukiko , Yoshinaga Shinji , Kurita Naoyuki , Akata Naofumi
Published: November 2024

This article mainly discusses tritium concentrations in monthly precipitation at Hiroshima City during 2021. The tritium concentrations, which were measured with a low background liquid scintillation counter, fluctuated from 0.16 to 0.78 Bq L−1. Additionally, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes and ionic species were measured in order to characterize precipitation, and their trends including tritium concentrations were compared with data collected in other regions of Japan in previous studies. Although the results showed the characteristics of precipitation were similar to those observed in the other regions, the tritium concentrations were found to be contrary to behavior expected from the latitude effect and some of the observed ionic components were suggested to be continental in origin. Since these results are not common at other sites in Japan, the tritium concentration in the westernmost region of Honshu, including Hiroshima City, may be influenced by Asian continental influences.
Construction of a realistic voxel phantom of the Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) based on MRI imaging and estimation of its background external radiation dose rate from environmental radionuclides
Authors: Ohtsuka Yoshihito , Hisamatsu Shun’ichi
Published: November 2024

In this study, we selected the Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) as a representative mid-size mammal from the forests near the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at Rokkasho. A fox voxel phantom was constructed based on magnetic resonance imaging of a female red fox caught in Rokkasho. This phantom consisted of 264 × 321 × 383 voxels (each voxel size: 0.78 × 0.78 × 2 mm) with internal organs. The external radiation dose rate to the voxel phantom by beta and gamma rays from environmental radionuclides was estimated using a Monte Carlo code (EGS4 and UCPIXEL). We estimated the dose rates to the phantom on the ground and in an average fox burrow in the Rokkasho forest, which were 11 and 27 nGy h−1, respectively. Assuming that the animal on the ground was irradiated by cosmic rays of 27 nGy h−1, the total external dose rate was evaluated to be 38 nGy h−1. Based on the assumption that the fox lives on the ground for 12 h and in the burrow for 12 h, the dose rate was estimated to be 33 nGy h−1.
Simulation of the shielding effect of lead apron undergoing chest CT scan
Authors: Xin Lin , Zhuo Weihai
Published: November 2024

Lead aprons are used to reduce radiation dose to patients. As the distance between the lead apron and the edge of the scan range increases, organ dose is expected to decrease, but with increasing scattered radiation dose in the body. By simulation, this work aims at estimate whether the organ dose increases due to the scattered radiation in the body with lead apron. A standard-sized male and a female phantom is used to simulate organ doses of chest scans in various lead apron shielding situations. Simulations in this work considered different distance between the edge of the 0.35-mm lead apron and the edge of the scan range. For the female phantom, the dose to the gonads was significantly reduced (56% on average), but not as much as men (78% on average). However, the amount of dose reduction is small for male and female phantoms (0.0082 mGy/100 mAs and 0.0160 mGy/100 mAs).
Measurements of hydrogen deposition velocities by farmland soil using D2 gas
Authors: Nagai Masaru , Kakiuchi Hideki , Masuda Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2024

Using D2 gas as a substrate, this study investigated the hydrogen deposition velocities of farmland soils around a reprocessing plant located in Rokkasho Village, Aomori, Japan. To determine the hydrogen deposition velocities, closed chambers with fans were set on the soils of farmlands that grow Japanese radishes, and changes in D2 concentration in the chambers were measured by gas chromatography. Results showed hydrogen deposition velocities of six soils were within the range of 1.0 × 10−4 ~ 2.0 × 10−4 m s−1. The heavy water (HDO) formations were detected in the soil after the experiment, showing the oxidation of D2 and conversion to water. Relationships between the obtained hydrogen deposition velocities and environmental conditions such as soil temperature, moisture and porosity were examined. A correlation was found between the hydrogen deposition velocities and soil gas phase rate (r = 0.98, p < 0.05).
Absorption and translocation to fruit for cesium applied on apple tree leaf surface
Authors: Kawabata Hitoshi , Yanai Masumi , Takaku Yuichi , Hisamatsu Shun’ichi
Published: November 2024

We investigated the behavior of stable Cs+ ions contained in droplets applied directly on the leaf surfaces of plumleaf crab apple trees (2–3 years old Malus domestica ‘Alps Otome’) at three different fruit growing stages: before bearing fruit, early fruit development and late fruit development stages. Most of the Cs was rapidly transferred from the leaf surfaces into the applied leaves after application, and then gradually transferred to the fruit through the branches. The mean proportion of Cs transferred to fruit by harvest time ranged from 11 to 30% not directly depending on the fruit growing stages. Cs absorption from leaf surfaces was faster at early and late fruit development stages than before bearing fruit stage, and Cs transfer from leaf surfaces to the fruit was faster as the fruit growing stage progressed. To describe the transfer of Cs, we constructed a compartment model using the datasets of obtained for each fruit growing stage. However, it did not well reproduce the measured values, showing that further studies are necessary.
Effect of PI3-kinase inhibitors on DNA double strand break repair pathways: observations using a site specific DSB induction system
Authors: Myodo Tomoki , Sakamoto Yuki , Sato Keita , Kobayashi Honami , Iijima Kenta , Komatsu Kenshi , Matsuura Shinya , Tauchi Hiroshi
Published: November 2024

We established two types of site-specific DNA double strand breaks (DSB) induction systems to elucidate factors which affect the efficiency or quality of DSB repair. For mutation assays, a site specific DSB was generated by the transient expression of a zinc finger nuclease which targets the human HPRT1 gene. A cell line in which time and site specific DSBs can be generated in a HR reporter construct was used for homology-directed repair (HR) analysis. By using these two systems, we investigated the effects of PI3-kinase inhibitors on the efficiency and quality of DSB repair. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inhibition resulted a decrease in mutant frequency and a slight increase in deletion-type mutations accompanied by microhomology. Furthermore, the HR frequency increased significantly when ATM kinase activity was inhibited. Thus, ATM kinase activity might be involved in the suppression of DSB end resection, and this may promote DSB repair through canonical non-homologous end joining.
Estimation of radon progeny concentration based on track morphological parameters
Authors: Yao Yupeng , Chen Bo , Li Zhiling , Zhao Chao , Zhuo Weihai
Published: November 2024

As the integrated measurements of radon progeny are essential to its risk assessment, a new method based on the morphological analysis of tracks on CR-39 was established for the discrimination of alpha particles emitted from different progenies. The preliminary experiment confirmed its feasibility and revealed its potential for application in long-term surveys of indoor radon progeny. This new attempt was expected be benefit to the improvement of integrated measurements of radon progeny.
Changes in 129I concentration of soil samples after thermal drying
Authors: Satoh Yuhi , Ohtsuka Yoshihito
Published: November 2024

To precisely evaluate the concentration of iodine-129 (129I) in soil samples, changes in this concentration after thermal drying under several temperature conditions were investigated. The soil sample used in this study was collected from a site located near a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, which atmospherically released 129I in a test operation in 2006–2008, resulting in the soil sample containing higher 129I concentrations than their natural levels. Thermal drying was conducted from 60°C to 110°C and compared with lyophilization result, showing that the 129I concentration in the soil sample was statistically comparable among all the drying treatments.