bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A commercial finite element approach to modelling Glacial Isostatic Adjustment on spherical self-gravitating compressible earth models
Authors: Huang Pingping , Steffen Rebekka , Steffen Holger , Klemann Volker , Wu Patrick , van der Wal Wouter , Martinec Zdeněk , Tanaka Yoshiyuki
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a method that modifies commercial engineering-oriented finite element packages for the modelling of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) on a self-gravitating, compressible and spherical Earth with 3-D structures. The approach, called the iterative finite element body and surface force (FEMIBSF) approach, solves the equilibrium equation for deformation using the ABAQUS finite element package and calculates potential perturbation consistently with finite element theory, avoiding the use of spherical harmonics. The key to this approach lies in computing the mean external body forces for each finite element within the Earth and pressure on Earth's surface and core–mantle boundary (CMB). These quantities, which drive the deformation and stress perturbation of GIA but are not included in the equation of motion of commercial finite element packages, are implemented therein. The method also demonstrates how to calculate degree-1 deformation directly in the spatial domain and Earth-load system for GIA models. To validate the FEMIBSF method, loading Love numbers (LLNs) for homogeneous and layered earth models are calculated and compared with three independent GIA methodologies: the normal-mode method, the iterative body force method and the spectral-finite element method. Results show that the FEMIBSF method can accurately reproduce the unstable modes for the homogeneous compressible model and agree reasonably well with the Love number results from other methods. It is found that the accuracy of the FEMIBSF method increases with higher resolution, but a non-conformal mesh should be avoided due to creating the so-called hanging nodes. The role of a potential force at the CMB is also studied and found to only affect the long-wavelength surface potential perturbation and deformation in the viscous time regime. In conclusion, the FEMIBSF method is ready for use in realistic GIA studies, with modelled vertical and horizontal displacement rates in a disc load case showing agreement with other two GIA methods within the uncertainty level of GNSS measurements.
Studying inner core and lower mantle structure with a combination of PKP and converted SKP and PKS waves
Authors: Hosseini Samira , Thomas Christine , Garnero Edward J , Abreu Rafael
Published: September 2023

Structure of the inner core is often measured through traveltime differences between waves that enter the inner core (PKPdf) and waves that travel through the outer core only (PKPab and PKPbc). Here we extend the method to converted waves PKSdf and SKPdf and compare results to PKP wave measurements. PKSdf and SKPdf have a very similar path to PKPdf and if velocity variations are present in the inner core, all three wave types should experience them equally. Since traveltime deviations can be due to velocity changes (either isotropic or anisotropy) as well as wave path deviations born from heterogeneity, we simultaneously investigate wave path directions and traveltimes of PKP, SKP and PKS waves for several source-array combinations. One of the path geometries is the anomalous polar corridor from South Sandwich to Alaska, which has strong traveltimes anomalies for PKPdf relative to more normal equatorial path geometries. Here we use array methods and determine slowness, traveltime and backazimuth deviations and compare them to synthetic data. We find that path deviations from theoretical values are present in all wave types and paths, but also that large scatter exists. Although some of the path deviations can be explained by mislocation vectors and crustal variations, our measurements argue that mantle structure has to be considered when investigating inner core anisotropy. Our polar path data show similar traveltime residuals as previously published, but we also find slowness residuals for this path. Interestingly, SKPdf and PKSdf for the South Sandwich to Alaska path show traveltime residuals that are partly opposite to those for PKPdf, possibly due to an interaction with a localized ultra-low velocity zone where waves enter the core.
Near-field seismoacoustic wave scattering due to an irregular interface: a unified framework
Authors: Chen Shaolin , Shen Jirong , Zhang Jiao , Cheng Shulin , Sun Jie
Published: September 2023

Near-field seismoacoustic scattering must be considered across various domains, including marine seismic exploration, ocean acoustics and marine seismic engineering. This is a complex process due to the fluid–solid interaction between seawater and the seabed, particularly when the seabed is saturated with fluid. The interaction between sea fluid, saturated porous seabed and solid bedrock must also be considered. In this study, seawater and dry bedrock are treated as generalized saturated porous media with porosity of one and zero, respectively. The coupling between seawater, saturated seabed and dry bedrock can be analysed within a unified framework of generalized saturated porous media. Therefore, we proposed an efficient, unified method to address the challenges posed by near-field seismoacoustic scattering. This method comprises free field wave motion computation, which is used to provide input for scattering analysis. It also introduces a unified computational framework for modelling the wave propagation in the water-saturated seabed-bedrock system, and local transmitting boundary are used to account for the effect of an infinite domain. First, the differential equation of the generalized saturated porous media is discretized using lumped mass-based FEM, and the ordinary differential equation is integrated in time using an explicit scheme. Then, the equations for the motion of the nodes on the interface between two generalized saturated porous media with various porosity are derived. These equations are suitable for special cases such as fluid–solid interface, fluid-saturated porous media interface and saturated porous media-solid interface. To demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed approach, a 1-D problem is considered, and the obtained response is verified using an analytical solution. Then, we compute the cases of a vertically incident plane P wave onto a 2-D basin-like fluid–solid structure, and compared the synthetic seismograms with results reported by other researchers. In this study, the findings of our proposed approach satisfy the continuity requirements at the interface and are consistent with those obtained using the reflection/transmission matrix method. Additionally, a 3-D site with basin-like terrain was analysed. The proposed approach treats the fluid, saturated porous media and solid in a unified framework, and has high efficiency due to lumped mass matrix-based explicit finite element and local transmitting artificial boundary. Furthermore, our approach can be easily implemented in parallel, making it suitable for solving large-scale seismoacoustic scattering problems.
Expression of Circulating let-7e and miR-126 May Predict Clinical Remission in Patients With Crohn’s Disease Treated With Anti-TNF-α Biologics
Authors: Guglielmi Giorgio , Crucitta Stefania , Bertani Lorenzo , Ruglioni Martina , Baiano Svizzero Giovanni , Ceccarelli Linda , Del Re Marzia , Danesi Romano , Costa Francesco , Fogli Stefano
Published: September 2023

Background

The identification of new biomarkers predictive of response to antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) monoclonal antibodies remains an unmet medical need in Crohn’s disease (CD) because a high percentage of patients show no clinical improvement after treatment or can lose response over time. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate inflammatory and immunological responses and were found to play a role in CD.

Methods

Baseline serum samples from 37 CD patients previously treated with infliximab or adalimumab, as per clinical practice, were obtained from the serum library at the Gastroenterology Unit of the University Hospital of Pisa, Italy. Patients were categorized as responders or nonresponders based on the following treatment outcomes: clinical remission at weeks 14 and 54 and endoscopic remission at week 54. The expression levels of a panel of selected miRNAs were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons of miRNA expression between responders and nonresponders and statistical analyses were performed by MedCalc and GraphPad Prism software. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of potential biomarkers.

Results

Patients in clinical remission at week 14 had a lower let-7e expression, whereas those in clinical remission at week 54 had lower levels of circulating miR-126 than nonresponders. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified optimal cutoff values with assay sensitivity and specificity of 92.9% and 61.1%, for let-7e, and 62.5% and 83.3%, for miR-126, respectively.

Conclusion

These results provide evidence that expression levels of circulating let-7e and miR-126 at baseline may predict clinical remission in CD patients treated with anti-TNF-α biologics.
An Explanation for Reports of Increased Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction With Omicron: Asymptomatic Infections
Authors: von Bartheld Christopher S , Wang Lingchen
Published: September 2023

The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction (OD) in people infected with the Omicron variant is substantially reduced compared with previous variants. However, 4 recent studies reported a greatly increased prevalence of OD with Omicron. We provide a likely explanation for these outlier studies and reveal a major methodological flaw. When the proportion of asymptomatic infections is large, studies on the prevalence of OD will examine and report predominantly on nonrepresentative cohorts, those with symptomatic subjects, thereby artificially inflating the prevalence of OD by up to 10-fold. Estimation of the true OD prevalence requires representative cohorts that include relevant fractions of asymptomatic cases.
Hello World: Digital Media and the Search for Interplanetary Life on Religion’s Final Frontier
Authors: Furiasse Amanda
Published: September 2023

NASA’s 2021 Perseverance Rover races toward the farthest reaches of our known world to search for signs of life. Although promising to discover life on the surface of Mars, the rover’s digital images of Mars’s barren and scorched wasteland paradoxically reinforce the fear that death is inevitable. Why search for life on the barren wasteland of Mars? This article explores this question from the perspective of scholarly examinations of Spiritualism and argues that the search for extraterrestrial life on Mars’s surface constitutes a growing religious community, one that reframes religious practice around digital media’s interface and endows digital technologies with the potentiality to transform the burden of our impending extinction into an opportunity to extend humanity’s perceived temporal and spatial finitude.
The influence of dietary patterns on skin bacterial diversity, composition, and co-occurrence relationships at forearm and neck sites of healthy Korean adults
Authors: Lee Ju-Young , Kim Seayonn , Kim Dongkyu , Cho Yunhi , Kim Kun-Pyo
Published: September 2023

Aims

Diet and nutrition are important aspects of skin physiology and health. However, the influence of diet on the bacterial flora of different skin sites is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between dietary patterns (DPs) and skin bacterial flora on the forearm (a dry site) and the neck (a sebaceous site) of healthy Korean adults.

Methods and results

In metagenomics analysis, Shannon and Simpson indices were higher on the forearm than on the neck and were negatively correlated with the two dominant species, Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, on two skin sites. In addition, the Simpson index of the forearm was positively associated with DP1 (characterized by a high intake of vegetables, mushrooms, meat, fish and shellfish, seaweed, and fat and oil), while that on the neck was negatively associated with DP2 (characterized by a high intake of fast food). A high intake of DP1 was associated with a lower abundance of dominant species, including C. acnes, and higher degrees of the co-occurrence network, whereas a high intake of DP2 was associated with the opposite pattern.

Conclusions

Specific diets may impact both skin bacterial diversity and composition, as well as the co-occurrence of bacteria, which may vary across different skin sites.
Efficacy of Massage Techniques for Hypertrophic Burn Scars – A Systematic Review of Literature
Authors: Barnes Sabrina Poppy , Ma Yangmyung , Patel Bijendra , Muthayya Preetha
Published: September 2023

Despite advancements in burn care, evidence estimates that pathological scarring occurs in 32%–75% of cutaneous burns. Scar massage therapy is an under researched method of management for hypertrophic burn scars which has scope to be a low-cost treatment alternative.

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of scar massage techniques for common hypertrophic burn scar symptoms such as contraction, pruritus, pain and visibility.

The keywords and corresponding MeSH terms were inputed into PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database of Systematic Reviews, University Library of Hull, York and Queen Mary, University of London. Following the implementation of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten papers were included for data extraction. Quality assessment of all papers was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and ROBINS-I tool. Data pertaining to the nature of the participant demographics, scar massage treatment, and study outcomes was extracted.

Nine of the ten studies showed a significant improvement for scar massage treatment of hypertrophic burn scar symptoms despite using different massage techniques. Friction and oscillation massage was used in partnership to improve scar function, whereas effleurage and petrissage used in longer sessions was seen to improve scar visibility and pain. Scar pruritus was improved by each massage technique.

Scar massage has been shown to be effective at improving scar outcomes. This paper suggests massage techniques should be tailored to the patients’ symptoms. A large, randomized control trial is required to advance this area of research.
A high-resolution method of spectral fitting with horizon constraints and its application
Authors: Deng Haibo , Cheng Xiaoyan , Zeng Yongjian , Tianwei Du
Published: September 2023

When seismic waves propagate underground, subsurface media can absorb high-frequency components of the seismic waves, resulting in attenuation of the high-frequency portion of the seismic data. Therefore, the seismic resolution is low and it is difficult to provide the information needed for thin layer prediction. In this paper, a spectral fitting method with horizon constraints is proposed. This method fully takes into account the spectral characteristics and tectonic changes of the seismic data. It can effectively extend the seismic frequency bandwidth by spectral fitting and improve the seismic resolution. At the same time, the structural information is integrated into the high-resolution processing as the layer information is used to constrain the target equation, and more accurate spectral features of multi-channel data can be obtained. Then the spectral weighting coefficient can be calculated more accurately, resulting in more realistic and accurate seismic data. At the same time, the seismic phase is not destroyed by the processing, so the structural features become clearer, especially for small fractures and thin layers. This method is used for comparison with traditional robust deconvolution and statistical wavelet deconvolution. The spectral components are more faithful and the resolution is higher when processed with this method.
Hachette and controlled digital lending: the end of the line, or merely the story thus far?
Authors: Liptrap J S
Published: September 2023

On 24 March 2023, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued its decision in Hachette Book Group, Inc. v Internet Archive. The Court held that the Internet Archive’s practice of scanning print copyrighted titles and lending digital copies to patrons online was not ‘fair use’ under section 107 of the US Copyright Act 1976. The present analysis addresses whether the case forecloses other kinds of libraries from engaging in controlled digital lending. The academic law library is used to illustrate that Hachette is not the end of the line.
The origin of the observed Ly α EW distribution of dwarf galaxies at z ∼ 2
Authors: Snapp-Kolas Christopher , Siana Brian , Gburek Timothy , Alavi Anahita , Emami Najmeh , Richard Johan , Stark Daniel P , Scarlata Claudia , Lemaux Brian C , Zamorani Giovanni , Bardelli Sandro , Hathi Nimish , Cassata Paolo
Published: September 2023

We present a rest-UV-selected sample of 32 lensed galaxies at z ∼ 2 observed with joint Keck/LRIS rest-UV and Keck/MOSFIRE rest-optical spectra behind the clusters Abell 1689, MACS J0717, and MACS J1149. The sample pushes towards the faintest UV luminosities observed ($-19 \le {M_{\rm UV}} \le -17$) at this redshift. The fraction of dwarf galaxies identified as Ly α emitters ($\rm EW \ge 20$ Å) is ${X_{\rm LAE}}=33^{+17}_{-12}\,{\rm per\, cent}$. We use the Balmer lines and UV continuum to estimate both the intrinsic EW and the Ly α escape fraction to determine their relative importance in dictating the observed EW distribution. Fainter galaxies (MUV > −19) show larger intrinsic EWs and escape fractions than brighter galaxies. Only galaxies with intrinsic EWs greater than 40 Å have escape fractions larger than 5  per cent. We find little to no anticorrelation between the escape fraction and dust in dwarf galaxies. The volumetric escape fraction of our sample is $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm Ly\alpha } = 4.6^{+2.0}_{-1.4}\,{\rm per\, cent}$ in agreement with measurements found elsewhere in the literature. 60  per cent of the total integrated Ly α luminosity density comes from galaxies with EWobs > 20 Å.
On the similarity of rotational motion of dust particles in the inner atmosphere of comets
Authors: Ivanovski Stavro L , Zakharov V V , Moreno F , Bykov N Y , Muñoz O , Fulle M , Rotundi A , Corte V Della , Rodionov A V
Published: September 2023

In situ measurements of individual dust grain parameters in the immediate vicinity of a cometary nucleus are being carried by the Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. For interpretation of these observational data, a model of dust grain motion as realistic as possible is requested. In particular, the results of Stardust mission and analysis of samples of interplanetary dust have shown that these particles are highly non-spherical. In many cases precise simulations of non-spherical grain’s dynamics is either impossible or computationally too expensive. In such situation it is proposed to use available experimental or numerical data obtained for other conditions and rescale them considering similarity of the physical process. In the present paper we focus on the derivation of scaling laws of rotational motion applicable for any shape of particles. We use a set of universal, dimensionless parameters characterizing the dust motion in the inner cometary coma. The scaling relations for translational and rotational motion of dust grains in a cometary environment are proposed. The scaled values are compared with numerically computed ones in our previous works.
A new method for spatially resolving the turbulence-driving mixture in the ISM with application to the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Gerrard Isabella A , Federrath Christoph , Pingel Nickolas M , McClure-Griffiths Naomi M , Marchal Antoine , Joncas Gilles , Clark Susan E , Stanimirović Snežana , Lee Min-Young , van Loon Jacco Th , Dickey John , Dénes Helga , Ma Yik Ki , Dempsey James , Lynn Callum
Published: September 2023

Turbulence plays a crucial role in shaping the structure of the interstellar medium. The ratio of the three-dimensional density contrast ($\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}$) to the turbulent sonic Mach number ($\mathcal {M}$) of an isothermal, compressible gas describes the ratio of solenoidal to compressive modes in the turbulent acceleration field of the gas, and is parameterized by the turbulence driving parameter: $b=\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}/\mathcal {M}$. The turbulence driving parameter ranges from b = 1/3 (purely solenoidal) to b = 1 (purely compressive), with b = 0.38 characterizing the natural mixture (1/3 compressive, 2/3 solenoidal) of the two driving modes. Here, we present a new method for recovering $\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}$, $\mathcal {M}$, and b, from observations on galactic scales, using a roving kernel to produce maps of these quantities from column density and centroid velocity maps. We apply our method to high-resolution ${\rm H}\,\rm{\small I}$ emission observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) from the GASKAP-HI survey. We find that the turbulence driving parameter varies between b ∼ 0.3 and 1.0 within the main body of the SMC, but the median value converges to b ∼ 0.51, suggesting that the turbulence is overall driven more compressively (b > 0.38). We observe no correlation between the b parameter and ${\rm H}\,\rm{\small I}$ or H α intensity, indicating that compressive driving of ${\rm H}\,\rm{\small I}$ turbulence cannot be determined solely by observing ${\rm H}\,\rm{\small I}$ or H α emission density, and that velocity information must also be considered. Further investigation is required to link our findings to potential driving mechanisms such as star-formation feedback, gravitational collapse, or cloud–cloud collisions.
A kinematic study of the disc-outflow system around a high-mass protostar G59.783+0.065 probed by methanol and water masers
Authors: Nakamura M , Motogi K , Nakamura H , Yonekura Y , Fujisawa K
Published: September 2023

Class II CH3OH masers are used as a convenient tracer of disc-like structures in high-mass star formation. However, more than half of them show a complex distribution in Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) maps. The origin of such a complex distribution is still unknown. We conducted VLBI monitoring observations to unveil the origin of a complex class II CH3OH maser in the high-mass star-forming region G59.783+0.065. We observed the CH3OH maser at 6.7 GHz and the H2O maser at 22 GHz to probe detailed circumstellar kinematics and structures by the Japanese VLBI network and the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry. We found similar bipolar distributions in both masers, specifically two clusters located 2000 au apart along the east–west direction. We detected a linear distribution of CH3OH masers in the western cluster. A position–velocity diagram shows that the western CH3OH masers trace a rotating disc-wind or infalling component inside an edge-on disc-like structure. In contrast to the simple bipolar expanding motions of the H2O masers, the CH3OH masers exhibited complex motions despite their spatial coincidence. Some of the eastern CH3OH masers showed bipolar expansions similar to the H2O masers, while others displayed random or even inward motions. Such complex kinematics and their close association with the H2O maser could occur at the boundary between outflow and inflow. We suggest that the complex distribution of class II CH3OH masers, like G59.783+0.065 arises from several distinct circumstellar structures that simultaneously achieve maser excitation.
The SAMI galaxy survey: impact of black hole activity on galaxy spin–filament alignments
Authors: Barsanti Stefania , Colless Matthew , D’Eugenio Francesco , Oh Sree , Bryant Julia J , Casura Sarah , Croom Scott M , Mai Yifan , Ristea Andrei , van de Sande Jesse , Welker Charlotte , Zovaro Henry R M
Published: September 2023

The activity of central supermassive black holes might affect the alignment of galaxy spin axes with respect to the closest cosmic filaments. We exploit the Sydney–AAO Multi-object Integral-field Galaxy Survey to study possible relations between black hole activity and the spin–filament alignments of stars and ionized gas separately. To explore the impact of instantaneous black hole activity, active galaxies are selected according to emission-line diagnostics. Central stellar velocity dispersion (σc) is used as a proxy for black hole mass and its integrated activity. We find evidence for the gas spin–filament alignments to be influenced by AGN, with Seyfert galaxies showing a stronger perpendicular alignment at fixed bulge mass with respect to galaxies, where ionization is consequence of low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) or old stellar populations (retired galaxies). On the other hand, the greater perpendicular tendency for the stellar spin–filament alignments of high-bulge mass galaxies is dominated by retired galaxies. Stellar alignments show a stronger correlation with σc compared to the gas alignments. We confirm that bulge mass (Mbulge) is the primary parameter of correlation for both stellar and gas spin–filament alignments (with no residual dependency left for σc), while σc is the most important property for secular star formation quenching (with no residual dependency left for Mbulge). These findings indicate that Mbulge and σc are the most predictive parameters of two different galaxy evolution processes, suggesting mergers trigger spin–filament alignment flips and integrated black hole activity drives star formation quenching.
Determining the ratio of the jet to the unbeamed luminosities for γ-ray blazars
Authors: Pei Zhiyuan , Li Ziyan , Huang Xiulin , Qian Yanjun , Huang Danyi , Li Chengfeng , Liao Jiru , Ye Xiao , Liang Jingchao , Chen Guohai , Fan Junhui
Published: September 2023

The spectacular observational phenomena lying in blazars can be well explained and described by the relativistic beaming effect that the emission in the jet is highly boosted along the line of sight to observers. Aiming to reveal the intrinsic emission core dominance in γ-ray loud blazars, we collect a large sample including 226 blazars with available superluminal motion data and radio core-dominance parameters at 5 GHz, and calculate a crucial parameter, R⊥, defined as the ratio of the luminosity in the jet to the unbeamed luminosity when the viewing angle comes up to 90°. R⊥ is a better parameter than the well-known core-dominance parameter, R, to reveal more intrinsic physical properties behind the prominent observational characteristics within blazars. We primarily ascertain the updated median value of R⊥ = 0.032 at 5 GHz, illustrating around 97 per cent of the total radio emission are dominated by the jets in γ-ray loud blazars. We also make further discussion on the physical difference in BL Lacertae objects and flat-spectrum radio quasars.
The spectroscopic orbit of Polaris and its pulsation properties
Authors: Torres Guillermo
Published: September 2023

Polaris is the nearest and brightest classical Cepheid, and pulsates with a period of about 4 d. It has long been known as a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 30 yr. Historical photometric and spectroscopic records indicate that, until recently, the pulsation period has been increasing at a rate of about 4.5 s yr−1, and that the amplitude of the pulsation declined for most of the 20th century, but more recently halted its decline and began to increase. Here, we report an analysis of the more than 3600 individual radial velocity measurements of Polaris available from the literature over the past 126 yr. We find that the pulsation period is now becoming shorter, and that the amplitude of the velocity variations has stopped increasing, and may be getting smaller again. We also find tantalizing evidence that these changes in pulsation behaviour over the last century may be related to the binary nature of the system, as they seem to occur near each periastron passage, when the secondary comes within 29 stellar radii of the Cepheid in its eccentric orbit. This suggests the companion may be perturbing the atmosphere of the Cepheid and altering its pulsation properties at each encounter. After removal of the pulsation component of the velocities, we derive a much improved spectroscopic orbit for the binary that should serve as the basis for a more accurate determination of the dynamical masses, which are still rather uncertain.
A linearized approach to radial velocity extraction
Authors: Shahaf S , Zackay B
Published: September 2023

High-precision radial velocity (RV) measurements are crucial for exoplanet detection and characterization. Efforts to achieve ∼10 cm s–1 precision have been made over the recent decades, with significant advancements in instrumentation, data reduction techniques, and statistical inference methods. However, despite these efforts, RV precision is currently limited to ∼50 cm s–1. This value exceeds state-of-the-art spectrographs’ expected instrumental noise floor and is mainly attributed to RV signals induced by stellar variability. In this work, we propose a factorization method to overcome this limitation. The factorization is particularly suitable for controlling the effect of localized changes in the stellar emission profile, assuming some smooth function of a few astrophysical parameters governs them. We use short-time Fourier transforms (STFTs) to infer the RV in a procedure equivalent to least-squares minimization in the wavelength domain and demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in treating arbitrary temperature fluctuations on the star’s surface. The proposed prescription can be naturally generalized to account for other effects, either intrinsic to the star, such as magnetic fields, or extrinsic to it, such as telluric contamination. As a proof-of-concept, we empirically derive a set of factorization terms describing the solar centre-to-limb variation and apply them to a set of realistic SOAP-GPU spectral simulations. We discuss the method’s capability to mitigate variability-induced RV signals and its potential extensions to serve as a tomographic tool.
Low-degree solar rotational splitting from 45 yr of BiSON observations
Authors: Howe Rachel , Chaplin W J , Elsworth Y P , Hale S J , Nielsen M B
Published: September 2023

We present solar low-degree rotational splitting values based on a new analysis of Sun-as-a-star observations from the Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network, covering a 16 425-d period from 1976 December 31 to 2021 December 20 with a duty cycle of 57 per cent. The splitting values are estimated from the power spectrum using a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling method, and we also present for comparison the results from an analysis of 100 realizations of synthetic data with the same resolution and gap structure. Comparison of the scatter in the results from the synthetic realizations with their estimated uncertainties suggests that for this data set the formal uncertainty estimates are about 30 per cent too small. An upward bias in the splittings at frequencies above 2200 μHz, where the components are not fully resolved, is seen in both the observed and synthetic data. When this bias is taken into account, our results are consistent with a frequency-independent synodic rotational splitting value of 400 nHz.
Srsf1 and Elavl1 act antagonistically on neuronal fate choice in the developing neocortex by controlling TrkC receptor isoform expression
Authors: Weber A Ioana , Parthasarathy Srinivas , Borisova Ekaterina , Epifanova Ekaterina , Preußner Marco , Rusanova Alexandra , Ambrozkiewicz Mateusz C , Bessa Paraskevi , Newman Andrew G , Müller Lisa , Schaal Heiner , Heyd Florian , Tarabykin Victor
Published: September 2023

The seat of higher-order cognitive abilities in mammals, the neocortex, is a complex structure, organized in several layers. The different subtypes of principal neurons are distributed in precise ratios and at specific positions in these layers and are generated by the same neural progenitor cells (NPCs), steered by a spatially and temporally specified combination of molecular cues that are incompletely understood. Recently, we discovered that an alternatively spliced isoform of the TrkC receptor lacking the kinase domain, TrkC-T1, is a determinant of the corticofugal projection neuron (CFuPN) fate. Here, we show that the finely tuned balance between TrkC-T1 and the better known, kinase domain-containing isoform, TrkC-TK+, is cell type-specific in the developing cortex and established through the antagonistic actions of two RNA-binding proteins, Srsf1 and Elavl1. Moreover, our data show that Srsf1 promotes the CFuPN fate and Elavl1 promotes the callosal projection neuron (CPN) fate in vivo via regulating the distinct ratios of TrkC-T1 to TrkC-TK+. Taken together, we connect spatio-temporal expression of Srsf1 and Elavl1 in the developing neocortex with the regulation of TrkC alternative splicing and transcript stability and neuronal fate choice, thus adding to the mechanistic and functional understanding of alternative splicing in vivo.
Sustained pigmentation causes DNA damage and invokes translesion polymerase Polκ for repair in melanocytes
Authors: Ghazi Madeeha , Khanna Shivangi , Subramaniam Yogaspoorthi , Rengaraju Jeyashri , Sultan Farina , Gupta Iti , Sharma Kanupriya , Chandna Sudhir , Gokhale Rajesh S , Natarajan Vivek T
Published: September 2023

Melanin protects skin cells from ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage. However, intermediates of eumelanin are highly reactive quinones that are potentially genotoxic. In this study, we systematically investigate the effect of sustained elevation of melanogenesis and map the consequent cellular repair response of melanocytes. Pigmentation increases γH2AX foci, DNA abasic sites, causes replication stress and invokes translesion polymerase Polκ in primary human melanocytes, as well as mouse melanoma cells. Confirming the causal link, CRISPR-based genetic ablation of tyrosinase results in depigmented cells with low Polκ levels. During pigmentation, Polκ activates replication stress response and keeps a check on uncontrolled proliferation of cells harboring melanin-damaged DNA. The mutational landscape observed in human melanoma could in part explain the error-prone bypass of DNA lesions by Polκ, whose absence would lead to genome instability. Thereby, translesion polymerase Polκ is a critical response of pigmenting melanocytes to combat melanin-induced DNA alterations. Our study illuminates the dark side of melanin and identifies (eu)melanogenesis as a key missing link between tanning response and mutagenesis, mediated via the necessary evil translesion polymerase, Polκ.
Key enzyme in charge of ketone reabsorption of renal tubular SMCT1 may be a new target in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Guo Zhenhong , Zhong Feifei , Hou Meng , Xie Jinlan , Zhang A Zhong , Li Xinran , Li Yuan , Chang Baocheng , Yang Juhong
Published: September 2023

Objective

A ketogenic diet or mildly increased ketone body levels are beneficial for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients. Our previous study has found that sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter 1 (SMCT1), a key enzyme in charge of ketone reabsorption, possesses beneficial effects on the function of renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) in energy crisis. Our present study is to investigate whether SMCT1 is important in maintaining the physiological function of renal tubular and plays a role in DKD.

Methods

We tested the expression of SMCT1 in kidney tissues from DKD patients receiving kidney biopsy as well as diabetes mice. We compared the difference of β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) levels in serum, urine and kidney tissues between diabetic mice and control. Using recombinant adeno-associated viral vector containing SMCT1 (encoded by Slc5a8 gene), we tested the effect of SMCT1 upregulation on microalbuminuria as well as its effects on mitochondrial energy metabolism in diabetic mice. Then we investigated the role of SMCT1 and its β-HB reabsorption function in maintaining the physiological function of renal tubular using renal tubule-specific Slc5a8 gene knockout mice. Transcriptomes and proteomics analysis were used to explore the underlying mechanism.

Results

SMCT1 downregulation was found in DKD patients as well as in diabetic mice. Moreover, diabetic mice had a decreased renal β-HB level compared with control, and SMCT1 upregulation could improve microalbuminuria and mitochondrial energy metabolism. In renal tubule–specific Slc5a8 gene knockout mice, microalbuminuria occurred early at 24 weeks of age, accompanied by ATP shortage and metabolic reprogramming in the kidney; however, supplementation with β-HB precursor substance 1,3-butanediol in food alleviated kidney damage as well as energy metabolic reprogramming.

Conclusions

Decreased SMCT1 expression and its ketone reabsorption function play an important role in the occurrence of DKD. SMCT1 may be a new promising target in treating DKD.
Recommended calcium intake in adults and children with chronic kidney disease—a European consensus statement
Authors: Evenepoel Pieter , Jørgensen Hanne Skou , Bover Jordi , Davenport Andrew , Bacchetta Justine , Haarhaus Mathias , Hansen Ditte , Gracia-Iguacel Carolina , Ketteler Markus , McAlister Louise , White Emily , Mazzaferro Sandro , Vervloet Marc , Shroff Rukshana
Published: September 2023

Mineral and bone disorders (MBD) are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. For several decades, the first-line approach to controlling hyperparathyroidism in CKD was by exogenous calcium loading. Since the turn of the millennium, however, a growing awareness of vascular calcification risk has led to a paradigm shift in management and a move away from calcium-based phosphate binders. As a consequence, contemporary CKD patients may be at risk of a negative calcium balance, which, in turn, may compromise bone health, contributing to renal bone disease and increased fracture risk. A calcium intake below a certain threshold may be as problematic as a high intake, worsening the MBD syndrome of CKD, but is not addressed in current clinical practice guidelines. The CKD-MBD and European Renal Nutrition working groups of the European Renal Association (ERA), together with the CKD-MBD and Dialysis working groups of the European Society for Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN), developed key evidence points and clinical practice points on calcium management in children and adults with CKD across stages of disease. These were reviewed by a Delphi panel consisting of ERA and ESPN working groups members. The main clinical practice points include a suggested total calcium intake from diet and medications of 800–1000 mg/day and not exceeding 1500 mg/day to maintain a neutral calcium balance in adults with CKD. In children with CKD, total calcium intake should be kept within the age-appropriate normal range. These statements provide information and may assist in decision-making, but in the absence of high-level evidence must be carefully considered and adapted to individual patient needs.
Serum uric acid levels and health outcomes in CKD: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Shijie , Xue Wen , Yu Hanqing , Yu Hanjie , Shi Zhaoqiang , Wang Ling , Peng Ai
Published: September 2023

Background

Hyperuricemia is prevalent in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations have been considered an independent risk factor for the onset of CKD. However, the relationship between SUA concentrations and long-term health outcomes among patients with CKD remains unclear.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study with nationally representative sample to investigate the relationship between SUA concentrations and mortality risk including all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality, among patients with CKD. The weighted restricted cubic spline analyses combined with the multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to test the nonlinearity of relationship.

Results

The 6642 patients participating in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018 were enrolled. During 656 885 person-months of follow-up time, 2619 all-cause deaths were recorded, including 1030 CVD deaths and 458 cancer deaths. Our study presented J-shaped non-linear relationships between SUA concentrations and all-cause and CVD mortality with inflection points at 311.65 μmol/L and 392.34 μmol/L, respectively. When SUA concentration was higher than those inflection points, every increase of 50 μmol/L SUA was associated with 11.7% and 17.0% greater multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. In addition, a negative linear correlation with cancer mortality was detected.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that maintaining appropriate SUA concentrations may improve long-term health outcomes among CKD patients. The corresponding inflection points of J-shaped non-linear relationships were 311.65 and 392.34 μmol/L for all-cause and CVD mortality. Further clinical trials are required to investigate uric acid–lowering targets.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Treatment Practices for Patients With Early Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Large Cancer Center in Italy
Authors: Girardi Fabio , Marini Sabrina , Porra Francesca , Carpentieri Sonia , Marchet Alberto , Saibene Tania , Lo Mele Marcello , Giarratano Tommaso , Giorgi Carlo Alberto , Mioranza Eleonora , Falci Cristina , Faggioni Giovanni , Caumo Francesca , Griguolo Gaia , Dieci Maria Vittoria , Guarneri Valentina
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted health services worldwide. The evidence on the impact of the pandemic on cancer care provision, however, is conflicting. We aimed to audit the management of patients diagnosed with early breast cancer (EBC) during the pandemic in a large, tertiary-level cancer center in Italy.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study to track the route to first treatment for patients diagnosed with EBC during 2019, 2020, and 2021. We abstracted data for all consecutive patients referred to the Veneto Institute of Oncology (Padua, Italy). We defined as point of contact (POC) the date of the first consultation with a breast cancer specialist of the breast unit. First treatment was defined as either upfront surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Results

We reviewed medical records for 878 patients for whom an MDT report during 2019-2021 (April through June) was available. Of these, 431 (49%) were eligible. The proportion of screen-detected tumors was larger in 2019 and 2021 than in 2020 (59%). Conversely, the proportion of screen-detected tumors was offset by the proportion of palpable tumors in 2020 (P = .004). Distribution of tumor and nodal stage was unchanged over time, but in situ tumors were slightly fewer in 2020 than in 2019 or 2021. The adjusted odds ratio for treatment delay (45 days or more) was 0.87 for 2020 versus 2019 (95% CI, 0.5-1.53) and 0.9 for 2021 versus 2019 (95% CI, 0.52-1.55).

Conclusions

There was no evidence for major changes in the management of patients with EBC during 2019-2021 and no treatment delays were observed. Our findings suggest that more women presented with palpable nodules at diagnosis, but the stage distribution did not change over time. Validation on a larger cohort of patients is warranted to robustly assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment practices for patients with EBC.
Language: the ignored determinant of health
Authors: Mansoor Yasmeen , Wong Tania , Comeau Jeannette L
Published: September 2023

Canada is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with growing numbers of families who do not speak English or French as a first language. However, providing language-concordant services for patients with non-official language preference (NOLP) is not a standardized or measured component of our healthcare system, reflecting the historical marginalization of minority groups in our society. Existing evidence from other countries demonstrates the importance of language as a social determinant of health, and illustrates improved healthcare outcomes for patients with NOLP with the use of medical interpretation. This commentary proposes that a change in our approach to patients with NOLP needs to be accomplished through concerted efforts at the policy, research, and institutional levels in healthcare.
Patient-centeredness and psychometric properties of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale 2.0 (DVPRS)
Authors: Costantino Ryan C , Gressler Laura E , Highland Krista B , Oehrlein Elisabeth M , Villalonga-Olives Ester , Perfetto Eleanor M
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study aims to assess the patient-centeredness and psychometric properties of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale 2.0 (DVPRS) as a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for pain assessment in a military population.

Design

A critical evaluation of the DVPRS was conducted, considering its fit-for-purpose as a PROM and its patient-centeredness using the National Health Council’s Rubric to Capture the Patient Voice.

Setting

The study focused on the use of the DVPRS within the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Health Administration (VA) healthcare settings.

Subjects

The DVPRS was evaluated based on published studies and information provided by measure developers. The assessment included content validity, reliability, construct validity, and ability to detect change. Patient-centeredness and patient engagement were assessed across multiple domains.

Methods

Two independent reviewers assessed the DVPRS using a tool/checklist/questionnaire, and any rating discrepancies were resolved through consensus. The assessment included an evaluation of psychometric properties and patient-centeredness based on established criteria.

Results

The DVPRS lacked sufficient evidence of content validity, with no patient involvement in its development. Construct validity was not assessed adequately, and confirmatory factor analysis was not performed. Patient-centeredness and patient engagement were also limited, with only a few domains showing meaningful evidence of patient partnership.

Conclusions

The DVPRS as a PROM for pain assessment in the military population falls short in terms of content validity, construct validity, and patient-centeredness. It requires further development and validation, including meaningful patient engagement, to meet current standards and best practices for PROMs.
Electoral Proximity and Issue-Specific Responsiveness
Authors: Pomirchy Michael
Published: September 2023

Do elections increase responsiveness of legislators to their constituents? Previous studies that examine the effect of electoral proximity have been unable to hold the roll-call agenda constant and control for differences in unobserved covariates between legislators. This paper utilizes a natural experiment in four state legislatures—Arkansas, Illinois, Florida, and Texas—where term length was randomly assigned. This design compares the responsiveness to constituency opinion of those randomly assigned to a two-year term to those assigned a four-year term on different issue areas, like the economy, environment, and crime. I find no evidence for an electoral proximity effect on responsiveness. In addition, in the Illinois State Senate, the causal effect of electoral proximity on responsiveness is measured on several individual roll-call votes, including the legalization of medical marijuana and gay marriage.