bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conformal freeze-in, composite dark photon, and asymmetric reheating
Authors: Chiu Wen Han , Hong Sungwoo , Wang Lian-Tao
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Large classes of dark sector models feature mass scales and couplings very different from the ones we observe in the Standard Model (SM). Moreover, in the freeze-in mechanism, often employed by the dark sector models, it is also required that the dark sector cannot be populated during the reheating process like the SM. This is the so called asymmetric reheating. Such disparities in sizes and scales often call for dynamical explanations. In this paper, we explore a scenario in which slow evolving conformal field theories (CFTs) offer such an explanation. Building on the recent work on conformal freeze-in (COFI), we focus on a coupling between the Standard Model Hypercharge gauge boson and an anti-symmetric tensor operator in the dark CFT. We present a scenario which dynamically realizes the asymmetric reheating and COFI production. With a detailed study of dark matter production, and taking into account limits on the dark matter (DM) self-interaction, warm DM bound, and constraints from the stellar evolution, we demonstrate that the correct relic abundance can be obtained with reasonable choices of parameters. The model predicts the existence of a dark photon as an emergent composite particle, with a small kinetic mixing also determined by the CFT dynamics, which correlates it with the generation of the mass scale of the dark sector. At the same time, COFI production of dark matter is very different from those freeze-in mediated by the dark photon. This is an example of the physics in which a realistic dark sector model can often be much richer and with unexpected features.
Einstein-scalar field solutions in AdS spacetime: clouds, boundary conditions, and scalar multipoles
Authors: Astefanesei Dumitru , Huang Hyat , Kunz Jutta , Radu Eugen
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We consider an Einstein-scalar field model which is a consistent truncation of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 D = 4 gauged supergravity, the scalar field possessing a potential which is unbounded from below and a tachyonic mass above the Breitenlohner-Freedman bound. We investigate the spherically symmetric asymptotically anti-de Sitter soliton and black hole solutions, with the aim of clarifying the asymptotics and the possible boundary conditions at infinity. The emerging picture is contrasted with that found for an Einstein-scalar field model with the same scalar mass and a quartic selfinteraction term. We also provide arguments for the existence of solitonic solutions which can be viewed as non-linear continuation of the (probe) scalar multipolar clouds, with emphasis on the dipole case. Apart from numerical results, exact solutions are found for solitons with a monopole and dipole scalar field, as perturbations around the AdS background.
Mini-twistors and the Cotton double copy
Authors: González Mariana Carrillo , Emond William T. , Moynihan Nathan , Rumbutis Justinas , White Chris D.
Published: March 2023

Abstract

The double copy relates quantities in gauge, gravity and related theories. A well-known procedure for relating exact classical solutions is the Weyl double copy in four spacetime dimensions, and a three-dimensional analogue of this — the Cotton double copy — has recently been found for topologically massive gauge theory and gravity. In this paper, we use twistor methods to provide a derivation of the position-space Cotton double copy, where this is seen to arise from combining appropriate data in so-called minitwistor space. Our methods rely on a massive generalisation of the Penrose transform linking spacetime fields with cohomology classes in minitwistor space. We identify the relevant transform from the twistor literature, but also show that it naturally arises from considering scattering amplitudes in momentum space. We show that the Cotton double copy in position space is only valid for type N solutions, but that a simple twistor space double copy is possible for non-type N solutions, where we use anyons to illustrate our arguments.
Effect of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide on the Microglia Phenotype in Rats with Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Kasarełło Kaja , Seta Martyna , Sulejczak Dorota , Snarski Emilian , Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska Agnieszka
Published: March 2023

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, playing a role in the inflammatory process development and resolution, presenting two main phenotypes, pro-inflammatory M1, and anti-inflammatory M2. Therapies affecting the microglia phenotype may be beneficial in treating inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases. In our experiments, we used the animal multiple sclerosis model, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Rats were treated during the pre- or symptomatic phase of the disease with cyclophosphamide, followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and with/without post-transplantation cyclophosphamide. Our study aimed to analyze the microglia phenotype in animals subjected to this treatment. The number of M1 cells in the spinal cord, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels in the brain were similar in all experimental groups. The differences were observed in M2 cells number and arginase 1 (Arg1) levels, which were decreased in EAE animals, and increased after treatment in the symptomatic phase of EAE, and in the pre-symptomatic phase, but only with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide. Analysis of gene expression in the brain showed decreased iNOS expression in EAE animals treated in the symptomatic phase of EAE and no differences in Arg1 expression. Results indicate that treatment applied to experimental animals influences the microglia phenotype, promoting differentiation towards M2 cells.
Stress Response of European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) Tadpoles to Bti Exposure in an Outdoor Pond Mesocosm
Authors: Gerstle Verena , Solanki Priyanka , Manfrin Alessandro , Kolbenschlag Sara , Brühl Carsten A.
Published: March 2023

The biocide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) is applied to wetlands to control nuisance by mosquitoes. Amphibians inhabiting these wetlands can be exposed to Bti multiple times, potentially inducing oxidative stress in developing tadpoles. For biochemical stress responses, ambient water temperature plays a key role. Therefore, we exposed tadpoles of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) three times to field-relevant doses of Bti in outdoor floodplain pond mesocosms (FPM) under natural environmental conditions. We sampled tadpoles after each Bti application over the course of a 51-day experiment (April to June 2021) and investigated the activity of the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and protein carbonyl content as a measure for detoxification activity and oxidative damage. GST activity increased over the course of the experiment likely due to a general increase of water temperature. We did not observe an effect of Bti on either of the investigated biomarkers under natural ambient temperatures. However, Bti-induced effects may be concealed by the generally low water temperatures in our FPMs, particularly at the first application in April, when we expected the highest effect on the most sensitive early stage tadpoles. In light of the global climate change, temperature-related effects of pesticides and biocides on tadpoles should be carefully monitored - in particular since they are known as one of the factors driving the worldwide decline of amphibian populations.
No difference in patient reported outcomes, laxity, and failure rate after revision ACL reconstruction with quadriceps tendon compared to hamstring tendon graft: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Meena Amit , Di Paolo Stefano , Grassi Alberto , Raj Akshya , Farinelli Luca , Hoser Christian , Tapasvi Sachin , Zaffagnini Stefano , Fink Christian
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to synthesize and quantitatively assess the outcomes of ACL Revision using a quadriceps tendon (QT) graft and to compare them with those of ACL Revisions performed with hamstring tendons (HT) graft.

Methods

A comprehensive search based on the PRISMA protocol was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception until February 2022. Clinical studies reporting the outcomes of ACL Revision with QT autograft were included. Subjective and Objective IKDC, Tegner activity level, Lysholm knee score, KOOS score, VAS for pain, knee laxity (KT-1000/2000 arthrometer, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test), and graft failure were assessed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed and a quality assessment of the included studies was carried out with the MINORS score.

Results

Seven studies met the selection criteria and were included in the systematic review for the qualitative synthesis of data. A pooled mean of all the variables was provided for the 7 studies, while 3 studies included a control group of ACL Revision with HT and were included in a meta-analysis. A total of 420 participants with a mean age of 28.9 ± 10.5 years and a mean postoperative follow-up of 39.3 ± 16.4 months were assessed. Of these, 277 patients underwent ACL Revision with QT and 143 patients underwent ACL Revision with HT. In the QT group, average graft failure was 9.8% compared to 17.4% in the HT group. KOOS Sport and pivot-shift test showed better postoperative outcomes in QT than HT, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.052).

Conclusion

The QT autograft was associated with an improved trend of rotatory laxity, PROMs and failure rate compared to HT autograft after revision ACL reconstruction. The QT autograft for revision ACL reconstruction is supported by the current literature. It is a viable graft that should be considered for both primary and revision ACL reconstruction.

Level of evidence

Level IV.
MicroRNA‑124: an emerging therapeutic target in central nervous system disorders
Authors: Zhang Wen-Hao , Jiang Lian , Li Mei , Liu Jing
Published: March 2023

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of neuron and non-neuron cells including neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs), neuroblasts, glia cells (mainly astrocyte, oligodendroglia and microglia), which thereby form a precise and complicated network and exert diverse functions through interactions of numerous bioactive ingredients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with small size approximately  ~ 21nt and as well-documented post-transcriptional key regulators of gene expression, are a cluster of evolutionarily conserved endogenous non-coding RNAs. More than 2000 different miRNAs has been discovered till now. MicroRNA-124(miR-124), the most brain-rich microRNA, has been validated to possess important functions in the central nervous system, including neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, cell fate determination, neuron migration, synapse plasticity and cognition, cell apoptosis etc. According to recent studies, herein, we provide a review of this conversant miR-124 to further understand the potential functions and therapeutic and clinical value in brain diseases.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy: a VAERS based analysis
Authors: Santi Laurini Greta , Montanaro Nicola , Motola Domenico
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Since vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended in pregnant people, we aimed to provide further evidence on the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.

Methods

Data on COVID-19 vaccines adverse events following immunizations (AEFIs) in pregnant people were retrieved from the open-access Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from December 2020 to April 2022.

Results

From December 2020 to April 1, 2022, a total of 4,869 reports involving pregnant women at COVID-19 vaccination were reported to VAERS. Among vaccines recipients, most belonged to the age group between 30 and 39 years old (3,029; 62.21%) and nearly half experienced an adverse event within 48 h of immunization (2,344; 48.14%). Overall, 21,816 suspected adverse reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccines were reported, and for as many as 80.43% of patients, they were described as non-serious. Most reactions occurred after administration of the mRNA-1273 (53.34%) and the BNT162b2 (40.68%) vaccines, while only a small proportion were related to the Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine (5.69%). The most common non-pregnancy specific adverse events were headache (482; 2.21%), fatigue (472; 2.16%), and pyrexia (436; 2.00%), while adverse pregnancy outcomes with the highest reporting rate were abortions spontaneous (762; 3.49%), and vaginal haemorrhage (229; 1.05%).

Conclusion

This post-marketing survey on VAERS data have provided updated evidence on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, thus supporting clinicians in recommending maternal immunization.
A-optimal designs for state estimation in networks
Authors: Müller Christine H. , Schorning Kirsten
Published: March 2023

We consider two models for estimating the expected states of nodes in networks where the observations at nodes are given by random states and measurement errors. In the first model, we assume independent successive observations at the nodes and the design question is how often the nodes should be observed to obtain a precise estimation of the expected states. In the second model, all nodes are observed simultaneously and the design question is to determine the nodes which need larger precision of the measurements than other nodes. Both models lead to the same design problem. We derive explicitly A-optimal designs for the most simple network with star configuration. Moreover, we consider the network with wheel configuration and derive some conditions which simplify the numerical calculation of the corresponding A-optimal designs.
Effects of plant diversity on species-specific herbivory: patterns and mechanisms
Authors: Bröcher M. , Ebeling A. , Hertzog L. , Roscher C. , Weisser W. , Meyer S. T.
Published: March 2023

Invertebrate herbivory can shape plant communities when impacting growth and fitness of some plant species more than other species. Previous studies showed that herbivory varies among plant species and that species-specific herbivory is affected by the diversity of the surrounding plant community. However, mechanisms underlying this variation are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how plant traits and plant apparency explain differences in herbivory among plant species and we explore the effect of plant community diversity on these species-specific relationships. We found that species differed in the herbivory they experienced. Forbs were three times more damaged by herbivores than grasses. Variability within grasses was caused by differences in leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Furthermore, higher plant diversity increased herbivory on 15 plant species and decreased herbivory on nine species. Variation within forb and grass species in their response to changing plant diversity was best explained by species’ physical resistance (LDMC, forbs) and biomass (grasses). Overall, our results show that herbivory and diversity effects on herbivory differ among species, and that, depending on the plant functional group, either species-specific traits or apparency are driving those differences. Thus, herbivores might selectively consume palatable forbs or abundant grasses with contrasting consequences for plant community composition in grasslands dominated by either forbs or grasses.
Homeopathy—A lively relic of the prescientific era
Authors: Borkens Yannick , Endruscheit Udo , Lübbers Christian W.
Published: March 2023

Homeopathy was first postulated by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796 and 220 years later homeopathy is the most popular and widespread alternative medicine. Partly, it is also part of the national healthcare and insurance systems but homeopathy is not without controversy within the medical and healthcare community. Its implausible basic assumptions, some of which contradict natural laws, do not lead us to expect that its remedies have any specific effect. In fact, there is no study or systematic review to date that reliably certifies homeopathy to have an effect beyond the placebo effect and other context effects. In this respect it must be disconcerting how widely homeopathy is applied and represented in therapeutic practice. It indeed claims a role within scientific (evidence-based) medicine but cannot substantiate this claim. It displays clear characteristics of pseudoscience [1]. This implies a lot of problems, such as misleading people and tackling medical ethics up to scientific publication practices. Furthermore, it turns out that quite a few people do not know exactly what homeopathy is, which may lead them to make wrong decisions for their personal health. This article summarizes the information about homeopathy and its problematic implications and serves as a general introduction to this topic and its unacceptable role in today’s medicine.

The medical irrelevance of the sham method of homeopathy has been proven with more than sufficient probability [2]. As a major testimonial, the statement “Homeopathic products and practices” of the European (EASAC 2017) can be regarded. The primary aim of this brief report is therefore not to take another look at homeopathy from a medical scientific perspective, but rather focus attention on the implications of the still continuous and largely uncritically accepted existence of this method in medical practice, in the medical scientific sphere and in the judgement of the general public.
Recognizing shopper demographics from behavioral responses in a virtual reality store
Authors: Gil-López Cristina , Guixeres Jaime , Moghaddasi Masoud , Khatri Jaikishan , Marín-Morales Javier , Alcañiz Mariano
Published: March 2023

The use of virtual reality (VR) technology in the context of retail is a significant trend in current consumer research, as it offers market researchers a unique opportunity to measure purchase behavior more realistically. Yet, effective methods for assessing the virtual shopping experience based on consumer’s demographic characteristics are still lacking. In this study, we examine the validity of behavioral biometrics for recognizing the gender and age of customers in an immersive VR environment. We used behavior measures collected from eye-tracking, body posture (head and hand), and spatial navigation sources. Participants (n = 57) performed three tasks involving two different purchase situations. Specifically, one task focused on free browsing through the virtual store, and two other tasks focused on product search. A set of behavioral features categorized as kinematic, temporal, and spatial domains was processed based on two strategies. First, the relevance of such features in recognizing age and gender with and without including the spatial segmentation of the virtual space was statistically analyzed. Second, a set of implicit behavioral features was processed and demographic characteristics were recognized using a statistical supervised machine learning classifier algorithm via a support vector machine. The results confirmed that both approaches were significantly insightful for determining the gender and age of buyers. Also, the accuracy achieved when applying the machine learning classifier (> 70%) indicated that the combination of all metrics and tasks was the best classification strategy. The contributions of this work include characterizing consumers in v-commerce spaces according to the shopper’s profile.
The weekend effect in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a single centre experience and review
Authors: Murray Daniel , Choudhry Abdurehman , Rawluk Daniel , Thornton John , O’Hare Alan , Power Sarah , Crockett Matthew , MacNally Stephen , Corr Paula , Nolan Deirdre , Coffey Deirdre , Brennan Paul , Javadpour Mohsen
Published: March 2023

Clinical outcomes for patients admitted to hospital during weekend hours have been reported to be poorer than for those admitted during the week. Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating form of haemorrhagic stroke, with a mortality rate greater than 30%. A number of studies have reported higher mortality for patients with aSAH who are admitted during weekend hours. This study evaluates the effect of weekend admission on patients in our unit with aSAH in terms of time to treatment, treatment type, rebleeding rates, functional outcome, and mortality. We analysed a retrospective database of all patients admitted to our tertiary referral centre with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage between February 2016 and February 2020. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to compare weekday and weekend demographic and clinical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess for any association between admission during weekend hours and increased neurological morbidity (assessed via Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months) and mortality. Of the 571 patients included in this study, 191 were admitted during on-call weekend hours. There were no significant differences found in time to treatment, type of treatment, rebleeding rates, neurological morbidity, or mortality rates between patients admitted during the week and those admitted during weekend hours. Weekend admission was not associated with worsened functional outcome or increased mortality in this cohort. These results suggest that provision of 7-day cover by vascular neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists in high-volume centres could mitigate the weekend effect sometimes reported in the aSAH cohort.
Designing user interfaces for content simplification aimed at people with cognitive impairments
Authors: Moreno Lourdes , Petrie Helen , Martínez Paloma , Alarcon Rodrigo
Published: March 2023

Cognitive accessibility aims to make content more accessible for people with cognitive impairments, such as the elderly and people with intellectual and learning disabilities. In this sense, it is possible to design an accessible user interface from a cognitive point of view. As a contribution, this article presents cognitive accessibility design patterns and their application in designing the Easier web system's user interface. The Easier web system provides a tool that assists in the understanding and readability of text content geared towards people with intellectual disabilities. It detects complex words and offers easier replacements and other resources such as a definition of the complex word. In addition to applying the design patterns, user tests with people with intellectual disabilities and older people have been carried out to evaluate the cognitive accessibility of the Easier system's interface. The results indicate that people with cognitive impairments know how to use the interfaces and have a satisfactory experience. In addition, a design proposal to provide a glossary mechanism to be used in web interfaces with simplified texts is presented and validated.
A method for real-time mechanical characterisation of microcapsules
Authors: Guo Ziyu , Lin Tao , Jing Dalei , Wang Wen , Sui Yi
Published: March 2023

Characterising the mechanical properties of flowing microcapsules is important from both fundamental and applied points of view. In the present study, we develop a novel multilayer perceptron (MLP)-based machine learning (ML) approach, for real-time simultaneous predictions of the membrane mechanical law type, shear and area-dilatation moduli of microcapsules, from their camera-recorded steady profiles in tube flow. By MLP, we mean a neural network where many perceptrons are organised into layers. A perceptron is a basic element that conducts input–output mapping operation. We test the performance of the present approach using both simulation and experimental data. We find that with a reasonably high prediction accuracy, our method can reach an unprecedented low prediction latency of less than 1 millisecond on a personal computer. That is the overall computational time, without using parallel computing, from a single experimental image to multiple capsule mechanical parameters. It is faster than a recently proposed convolutional neural network-based approach by two orders of magnitude, for it only deals with the one-dimensional capsule boundary instead of the entire two-dimensional capsule image. Our new approach may serve as the foundation of a promising tool for real-time mechanical characterisation and online active sorting of deformable microcapsules and biological cells in microfluidic devices.
miR-146a-3p as a potential novel therapeutic by targeting MBD2 to mediate Th17 differentiation in Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma
Authors: Duan Wentao , Huang Jin , Wasti Binaya , Chen Zhifeng , Yuan Yu , He Yi , Li Danhong , Jia Jingsi , Liu Shaokun , Liu Yi , Ma Libing , Zeng Qingping , zhu Liming , Li Jianmin , Zhang Xiufeng , Xiang Xudong
Published: March 2023

Th17 (T-helper 17) cells subtype of non-T2 (non-type 2) asthma is related to neutrophilic infiltration and resistance to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), so is also known as severe asthma. Methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) regulates the differentiation of the Th17 cells, tending to show a therapeutic target in severe asthma. miR-146a-3p is associated with anti-inflammatory characteristics and immunity. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis showed that MBD2 may be a target gene of miR-146a-3p. However, the role of miR-146a-3p in the differentiation of Th17 cells via MBD2 in severe asthma remains unknown. Here, we aimed to explore how miR-146a-3p interacts with MBD2 and affects the differentiation of Th17 cells in severe asthma. First, we recruited 30 eligible healthy people and 30 patients with severe asthma to detect the expression of miR-146a-3p in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by qRT-PCR. Then, we established a HDM/LPS (house dust mite/lipopolysaccharide) exposure model of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) to evaluate the expression of miR-146a-3p, the interaction between miR-146a-3p and MBD2 using western blot and luciferase reporter analysis and the effect of miR-146a-3p regulated Th17 cells differentiation by flow cytometry in BECs in vitro. Finally, we constructed a mouse model of Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma to assess the therapeutic potential of miR-146a-3p in severe asthma and the effect of miR-146a-3p regulated Th17 cells differentiation via MBD2 in vivo. Decreased miR-146a-3p expression was noted in severe asthma patients, in the BECs and in the animal severe asthma models. Moreover, we demonstrated that miR-146a-3p suppressed Th17 cells differentiation by targeting the MBD2. miR-146a-3p overexpression significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway mucus secretion, while also inhibiting Th17 cells response in vivo, which relieved severe asthma. By targeting MBD2 to suppress Th17 cells differentiation, miR-146a-3p provides a potential novel therapeutic for Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma.
Auswirkungen von hohen Außentemperaturen und Hitzewellen auf Lungenerkrankungen
Authors: Matthies-Wiesler F. , Nidens N. , Karrasch S. , Schneider A.
Published: March 2023

Hintergrund

Der fortschreitende Klimawandel führt zu häufigeren und intensiveren Hitzewellen. Im Vergleich zu 1951 erlebt Deutschland bereits heute im Durchschnitt nicht nur etwa 3 heiße Tage im Sommer, sondern 8,8 heiße Tage. Für die Sommer 2018, 2019, 2020 und 2022 wurden insgesamt etwa 23.800 hitzebedingte Todesfälle durch Modellierung der Übersterblichkeit berechnet. Für vulnerable Bevölkerungsgruppen stellen Hitzewellen ein erhöhtes Gesundheitsrisiko dar. Zu ihnen gehören ältere Menschen und Menschen mit Vorerkrankungen sowie Säuglinge, Schwangere und Personen, die im Freien körperlich schwer arbeiten oder Sport treiben. Hitze kann zu Hitzeerschöpfung und lebensbedrohlichem Hitzschlag führen und Herzinfarkte und Schlaganfälle auslösen.

Problemstellung

Menschen mit Atemwegserkrankungen sind besonders betroffen, wenn die hohen Temperaturen zusätzlich mit erhöhter Luftverschmutzung einhergehen. Hitzebedingte Lungenprobleme wie eine erhöhte pulmonale Belastung etwa durch hitzebedingte Hyperventilation und erhöhte Luftverschmutzung sowie mit kardialer Beeinträchtigung und Pneumonien assoziierte Effekte erhöhen das Risiko für Mortalität und Morbidität während Hitzewellen für betroffene Patient:innen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Pneumolog:innen können durch hitzespezifische Beratung und Behandlung einen maßgeblichen Beitrag zu gesundheitsbezogenem Hitzeschutz leisten. Sie sind daher aufgefordert, sich in ihrem Fachbereich entsprechend zu informieren und Hitzeschutzmaßnahmen zum Schutz ihrer Patient:innen und Mitarbeiter:innen in Praxen und Krankenhausabteilungen umzusetzen.
Fine-grained view on bribery for group identification
Authors: Boehmer Niclas , Bredereck Robert , Knop Dušan , Luo Junjie
Published: March 2023

Given a set of agents qualifying or disqualifying each other, group identification is the task of identifying a socially qualified subgroup of agents. Social qualification depends on the specific rule used to aggregate individual qualifications . The classical bribery problem in this context asks how many agents need to change their qualifications in order to change the outcome in a certain way. Complementing previous results showing polynomial-time solvability or NP-hardness of bribery for various social rules in the constructive (aiming at making specific agents socially qualified) or destructive (aiming at making specific agents socially disqualified) setting, we provide a comprehensive picture of the parameterized computational complexity landscape. Conceptually, we also consider a more fine-grained concept of bribery cost, where we ask how many single qualifications need to be changed, nonunit prices for different bribery actions, and a more general bribery goal that combines the constructive and destructive setting.
Advancing Adolescent HIV Prevention and Care Through Implementation Science: An Agenda for Combating the Global AIDS Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Goosby Eric , Wasserheit Judith N. , Glass Roger , Kilmarx Peter
Published: March 2023

AIDS continues to be a major driver of adolescent mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite evidence of efficacy in this population, many efforts to address adolescent HIV have had limited impact across the region because of difficulty with implementation. The field of implementation science holds promise for addressing these challenges. The Fogarty-led Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) creates a platform for bidirectional learning between researchers and the users of research evidence that promotes the use of implementation science to strengthen adolescent HIV prevention and care across Africa. The unique contributions of AHISA are reflected in this supplement’s articles which represent the collective learning of the Alliance; illustrate the value of implementation science in the context of adolescent HIV; and identify critical research gaps that should be addressed by implementation science in the future.
Why the COVID-19 Crisis Is an Ethical Issue for Business: Evidence from the Australian JobKeeper Initiative
Authors: Corral de Zubielqui Graciela , Harris Howard
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 virus was unveiled to the world as a health crisis and later also as an economic crisis. For some organisations, it has become an ethical crisis. This is certainly the case for large organisations in Australia, where the way many enterprises handled a government wage subsidy called JobKeeper led to a public backlash, media pressure, and a variety of responses ranging from ‘We acted legally’ to the full return of the subsidy. Some organisations later reported profits, and the public response indicated concern about this behaviour, many considering it immoral despite it being legally compliant. It is, we contend, a question to which stakeholder theory can be applied, examining how organisations view and respond to the public. We use content analysis of mainstream media to provide information about public reactions and information from official sources to confirm corporate action. We show that there is a significant ethical component in the public response to the behaviour of organisations as they respond to the crisis. COVID has been an ethical, health, and financial crisis for these organisations. Public pressure, exerted in and through the media, made the general public a definite stakeholder.
Towards a knowledge-hub destination: analysis and recommendation for implementing TOD for Qatar national library metro station
Authors: Valdeolmillos Nur Alah Abdelzayed , Furlan Raffaello , Tadi Massimo , Sinclair Brian R. , Awwaad Reem
Published: March 2023

During the past two decades, Qatar, a developing country, has invested heavily in infrastructure development to address several challenges caused by the rapid urbanization. Qatar has made a significant step toward its urban sustainability vision through the construction of the Doha Metro system. By adopting Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Qatar is overcoming some urban challenges. TOD promotes compact, walkable, and mixed-use development around the transit nodes, which enhances the public realm through providing pedestrian-oriented and active spaces. Additionally, Qatar aims to transfer to a knowledge-based economy through developing an environment that will attract knowledge and creative human power. Qatar Foundation is taking the lead toward implementing a Knowledge-Based Urban Development (KBUD) through its flagship project: Education City (EC). This study aims therefore to evaluate the integration of TOD and KBUD strategies to leverage the potential of TOD in attracting knowledge and creative economy industries. The selected case study is Qatar National Library (QNL) metro station at the EC in Doha. The study examines the potential of QNL as a destination TOD to enhance the area's mission as a driver for a knowledge-based economy. The methodological approach is based on the analytical concepts obtained from the Integrated Modification Methodology as a sustainable urban design process. The study’s results revealed that void and function, followed by volume, are the weakest layers of the study area's Complex Adaptive System which require morphological modification to achieve sustainability and a knowledge-hub TOD. The study offers recommendations to assist planners and designers in making better decisions toward regenerating urban areas through a knowledge-hub TOD contributing to the spill out of knowledge and creativity into the public realm creating a human-centric vibrant public space adjacent to metro stations.
Multiplicity of Zn coordination sites at cubic spinel ferrites: magnetism and influence of the Zn d band
Authors: Tejera-Centeno César , Rico Rubén , Gallego Silvia
Published: March 2023

Zinc substituted nickel ferrite (ZnxNi1 − xFe2O4) is investigated under density functional theory (DFT) within the DFT + U approximation for x ≤ 0.50, with particular interest in understanding the effect of Zn on the net magnetization. Using as a reference ZnFe2O4, the localization of the Zn d band is proved to have a large impact on the preference for Zn to occupy either tetrahedral (ZnA) or octahedral (ZnB) coordination sites, which in ZnFe2O4 is equivalent to the relative stability of the direct and inverse spinel forms. This affects the lattice volume, with ZnA favoring larger lattice expansions. Additional important consequences emerge on the magnetism of the system, as ZnA and ZnB alter the balance of atoms at the magnetic sublattices in a different way: while ZnA enhances the global magnetization by reducing the minority spin contribution, the opposite occurs for ZnB. On the other hand, the dominant magnetic exchange interactions are not significantly altered by Zn independently of its distribution, while the magnetic anisotropy of soft NiFe2O4 is further weakened. Our simulations support the presence of a significant ratio of Zn atoms at octahedral positions at ZnxNi1 − xFe2O4, mainly as the Zn concentration increases, putting limits to the ability to increase the magnetization of NiFe2O4 by Zn substitution.
Fecal Immunoglobulin Levels as a Modifier of the Gut Microbiome in Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: Nöltner Christina , Bulashevska Alla , Hübscher Katrin , Haberstroh Hanna , Grimbacher Bodo , Proietti Michele
Published: March 2023

Objective

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common clinically relevant entity of inborn errors of immunity. In these patients, an altered gut microbiome composition with reduced diversity has been described. We sought to investigate the fecal immunoglobulin levels and their impact on the gut microflora in patients with CVID.

Methods

We analyzed the gut microbiome of 28 CVID patients and 42 healthy donors (HDs), including 21 healthy household controls, by sequencing the V3 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene extracted from stool samples. The fecal levels of immunoglobulin A, M, and G of 27 CVID patients and 41 HDs were measured in the supernatant by ELISA and normalized for protein concentration.

Results

We measured decreased IgA and increased IgG in stool samples from CVID patients compared to HDs. Decreased levels of fecal IgA and IgM were associated with reduced microbial diversity and increased dysbiosis. We identified a large number of significantly differentially abundant taxa, especially in patients with decreased IgA levels, but also in patients with decreased IgM levels compared to their counterparts.

Conclusions

CVID patients have an altered gut microbiota composition, which is most prevalent in patients with decreased fecal IgA and IgM levels. In this study, we identify fecal immunoglobulins as a potential modifier of the gut microbiome in CVID patients.
Designing Improved Safer Gambling Messages for Race and Sports Betting: What can be Learned from Other Gambling Formats and the Broader Public Health Literature?
Authors: Newall Philip W. S. , Rockloff Matthew , Hing Nerilee , Thorne Hannah , Russell Alex M. T. , Browne Matthew , Armstrong Tess
Published: March 2023

Safer gambling messages are one potential input to a public health approach toward reducing gambling-related harm, and yet there is no strong evidence supporting current messages such as “gamble responsibly” or “keep the fun in the game”. Furthermore, sports betting is increasing in popularity in multiple jurisdictions, such as Australia and the US, increasing the need to design effective messaging campaigns for race and sports betting. Compared to other gambling formats, such as electronic gambling machines, the level of potential skill involved in race and sports betting may raise unique issues regarding the design of effective messages. This review first highlights research from the related public health domains of alcohol and tobacco. Then, five potential areas for further messaging-based research in race and sports betting are discussed: teaching safer gambling practices, correcting gambling misperceptions, boosting conscious decision making, norm-based messages, and emotional messages. A broad approach to message design is encouraged, given the potential for individual differences in message receptivity, and for frequently-repeated messages to be ignored or cause negative psychological reactance.
Parenting, Adolescent Sensation Seeking, and Subsequent Substance Use: Moderation by Adolescent Temperament
Authors: Kapetanovic Sabina , Zietz Susannah , Lansford Jennifer E. , Bacchini Dario , Bornstein Marc H. , Chang Lei , Deater-Deckard Kirby , Di Giunta Laura , Dodge Kenneth A. , Gurdal Sevtap , Oburu Paul , Junla Daranee , Pastorelli Concetta , Skinner Ann T. , Sorbring Emma , Tapanya Sombat , Steinberg Laurence , Tirado Liliana Maria Uribe , Yotanyamaneewong Saengduean , Alampay Liane Peña , Al-Hassan Suha M.
Published: March 2023

Although previous research has identified links between parenting and adolescent substance use, little is known about the role of adolescent individual processes, such as sensation seeking, and temperamental tendencies for such links. To test tenets from biopsychosocial models of adolescent risk behavior and differential susceptibility theory, this study investigated longitudinal associations among positive and harsh parenting, adolescent sensation seeking, and substance use and tested whether the indirect associations were moderated by adolescent temperament, including activation control, frustration, sadness, and positive emotions. Longitudinal data reported by adolescents (n = 892; 49.66% girls) and their mothers from eight cultural groups when adolescents were ages 12, 13, and 14 were used. A moderated mediation model showed that parenting was related to adolescent substance use, both directly and indirectly, through sensation seeking. Indirect associations were moderated by adolescent temperament. This study advances understanding of the developmental paths between the contextual and individual factors critical for adolescent substance use across a wide range of cultural contexts.
Second-Order Properties for Planar Mondrian Tessellations
Authors: Betken Carina , Kaufmann Tom , Meier Kathrin , Thäle Christoph
Published: March 2023

In this paper planar STIT tessellations with weighted axis-parallel cutting directions are considered. They are known also as weighted planar Mondrian tessellations in the machine learning literature, where they are used in random forest learning and kernel methods. Various second-order properties of such random tessellations are derived, in particular, explicit formulas are obtained for suitably adapted versions of the pair- and cross-correlation functions of the length measure on the edge skeleton and the vertex point process. Also, explicit formulas and the asymptotic behaviour of variances are discussed in detail.
Phase angle and COVID-19: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Cornejo-Pareja Isabel , Vegas-Aguilar Isabel M. , Fernández-Jiménez Rocío , García-García Cristina , Bellido-Guerrero Diego , Tinahones Francisco , García-Almeida Jose Manuel
Published: March 2023

Phase angle (PhA) has been identified as a poor prognostic factor in patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to achieve a systematic review, where we discussed the potential role of PhA value as a prognostic marker of adverse clinical outcomes such as mortality and complication in hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection and established the strength of recommendations for use. A systematic literature review with meta-analysis was done in the main electronic databases from 2020 to January 2023. The selected articles had to investigate adverse consequences of the COVID-19 population and raw bioimpedance parameters such as PhA and published in peer-reviewed journals. GRADE tools regarded the quality of the methodology. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Only eight studies, 483 studies, were eligible for the analysis. In general, differences in PhA were seen between the comparative study groups. Patients with a low PhA experienced poor outcomes. A low PhA was associated with a significantly increased mortality risk [RR: 2.44; 95% CI (1.20–4.99), p = 0.01; I2 = 79% (p = 0.0008)] and higher complications risk [OR: 3.47, 95% CI (1.16 – 10.37), p = 0.03; I2 = 82% (p = 0.004)] in COVID-19 patients. Our analysis showed four evidence-based recommendations on the prognostic value of PhA with two strong recommendations, one of moderate and another of low-moderate quality, for predicting mortality and complications, respectively. We recommend using PhA as a prognostic marker for mortality and complications in this population. Although the results are promising, future studies must identify the PhA cut-off to guide therapeutic decisions more precisely.

Registration code in PROSPERO: CRD42023391044
Compressibility Effect on Darcy Porous Convection
Authors: Arnone Giuseppe , Capone Florinda , De Luca Roberta , Massa Giuliana
Published: March 2023

Perfectly incompressible materials do not exist in nature but are a useful approximation of several media which can be deformed in non-isothermal processes but undergo very small volume variations. In this paper, the linear analysis of the Darcy-Bénard problem is performed in the class of extended-quasi-thermal-incompressible fluids, introducing a factor $$\beta$$
β
which describes the compressibility of the fluid and plays an essential role in the instability results. In particular, in the Oberbeck-Boussinesq approximation, a more realistic constitutive equation for the fluid density is employed in order to obtain more thermodynamically consistent instability results. The critical Rayleigh-Darcy number for the onset of convection is determined, via linear instability analysis of the conduction solution, as a function of a dimensionless parameter $$\widehat{\beta }$$

β
^

proportional to the compressibility factor $$\beta$$
β
, proving that $$\widehat{\beta }$$

β
^

enhances the onset of convective motions.

Article Highlights

The onset of convection in fluid-saturated porous media is analyzed, taking into account fluid compressibility effect.

The critical Rayleigh-Darcy number is determined in a closed algebraic form via linear instability analysis.

The critical Rayleigh-Darcy number is shown to be a decreasing function of the dimensionless compressibility factor.
Sleep parameter characteristics of patients with OSA who have retropalatal circumferential narrowing and the clinical significance of lateral pharyngeal wall collapse during sleep
Authors: A Han Sun , Cha Hyunkyung , Yang Seung Koo , Kim Seo Young , Han Doo Hee , Kim Dong-Young , Rhee Chae-Seo , Kim Hyun Jik
Published: March 2023

Background

The lateral pharyngeal wall (LPW) is a critical anatomic structure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Resolving the retropalatal circumferential (RC) narrowing caused by combination of both LPW collapse and antero-posterior (AP) narrowing holds promise for surgical treatment of OSA. We sought to determine the clinical characteristics and distinctive alterations in sleep parameters of patients with OSA who have RC narrowing and LPW collapse.

Methods

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), polysomnography findings, and sleep questionnaires were reviewed retrospectively in patients with OSA.

Results

Of the 106 OSA patients examined, 48% showed RC narrowing and 44% showed AP narrowing at the oropharynx level during sleep while 8% of the patients showed only LPW collapse. Patients with RC narrowing with LPW collapse exhibited a higher BMI than those with AP narrowing only. In addition, patients with RC narrowing showed more aggravated sleep parameters including apneic events than patients with AP narrowing alone. The degree of RC narrowing correlated significantly with the severity of OSA as shown by a higher apnea index and lower oxygen desaturations.

Conclusions

Our clinical findings suggest that the presence of RC narrowing with LPW collapse in OSA is closely related to increased apneic and oxygen desaturation events. RC narrowing with LPW collapse may be targets for surgical correction in patients with OSA to improve therapeutic outcomes.