bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanopore sequencing of 1000 Genomes Project samples to build a comprehensive catalog of human genetic variation
Authors: Gustafson Jonas A , Gibson Sophia B , Damaraju Nikhita , Zalusky Miranda PG , Hoekzema Kendra , Twesigomwe David , Yang Lei , Snead Anthony A , Richmond Phillip A , De Coster Wouter , Olson Nathan D , Guarracino Andrea , Li Qiuhui , Miller Angela L , Goffena Joy , Anderson Zachery , Storz Sophie HR , Ward Sydney A , Sinha Maisha , Gonzaga-Jauregui Claudia , Clarke Wayne E , Basile Anna O , Corvelo Andre , Reeves Catherine E , Helland Adrienne , Musunuri Rajeeva Lochan , Revsine Mahler , Patterson Karynne E , Paschal Cate , Zakarian Christina , Goodwin Sara , Jensen Tanner D , Robb Esther ,   1000 Genomes ONT Sequencing Consortium,   University of Washington Center for Rare Disease Research (UW-CRDR),   Genomics Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare Diseases (GREGoR) Consortium, McCombie W. Richard , Sedlazeck Fritz J , Zook Justin M , Montgomery Stephen B , Garrison Erik , Kolmogorov Mikhail , Schatz Michael C , McLaughlin Richard N , Dashnow Harriet , Zody Michael C , Loose Matthew , Jain Miten , Eichler Evan E , Miller Danny E
Published: March 2024

Less than half of individuals with a suspected Mendelian condition receive a precise molecular diagnosis after comprehensive clinical genetic testing. Improvements in data quality and costs have heightened interest in using long-read sequencing (LRS) to streamline clinical genomic testing, but the absence of control datasets for variant filtering and prioritization has made tertiary analysis of LRS data challenging. To address this, the 1000 Genomes Project ONT Sequencing Consortium aims to generate LRS data from at least 800 of the 1000 Genomes Project samples. Our goal is to use LRS to identify a broader spectrum of variation so we may improve our understanding of normal patterns of human variation. Here, we present data from analysis of the first 100 samples, representing all 5 superpopulations and 19 subpopulations. These samples, sequenced to an average depth of coverage of 37x and sequence read N50 of 54 kbp, have high concordance with previous studies for identifying single nucleotide and indel variants outside of homopolymer regions. Using multiple structural variant (SV) callers, we identify an average of 24,543 high-confidence SVs per genome, including shared and private SVs likely to disrupt gene function as well as pathogenic expansions within disease-associated repeats that were not detected using short reads. Evaluation of methylation signatures revealed expected patterns at known imprinted loci, samples with skewed X-inactivation patterns, and novel differentially methylated regions. All raw sequencing data, processed data, and summary statistics are publicly available, providing a valuable resource for the clinical genetics community to discover pathogenic SVs.
Uncovering clinical rehabilitation technology trends: field observations, mixed methods analysis, and data visualization
Authors: Celian Courtney , Redd Hannah , Smaller Kevin , Ryali Partha , Patton James L. , Reinkensmeyer David J. , Rafferty Miriam R.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To analyze real-world rehabilitation technology (RT) use, with a view toward enhancing RT development and adoption.

Design

A convergent, mixed-methods study using direct field observations, semi-structured templates, and summative content analysis.

Setting

Ten neurorehabilitation units in a single health system.

Participants

3 research clinicians (1OT, 2PTs) observed ∼60 OTs and 70 PTs in inpatient; ∼18 OTs and 30 PTs in outpatient.

Interventions

Not applicable

Main Outcome Measures

Characteristics of RT, time spent setting up and using RT, and clinician behaviors.

Results

90 distinct devices across 15 different focus areas were inventoried. 329 RT-uses were documented over 44 hours with 42% of inventoried devices used. RT was used more during interventions (72%) than measurement (28%). Intervention devices used frequently were balance/gait (39%), strength/endurance (30%), and transfer/mobility training (16%). Measurement devices were frequently used to measure vitals (83%), followed by grip strength (7%), and upper extremity function (5%). Device characteristics were predominately AC-powered (56%), actuated (57%), monitor-less (53%), multi-use (68%), and required little familiarization (57%). Set-up times were brief (mean ± SD = 3.8±4.21 and 0.8±1.3 for intervention and measurement, respectively); more time was spent with intervention RT (25.6±15) than measurement RT (7.3±11.2). RT nearly always involved verbal instructions (72%) with clinicians providing more feedback on performance (59.7%) than on results (30%). Therapists’ attention was split evenly between direct attention towards the patient during clinician treatment (49.7%) and completing other tasks such as documentation (50%).

Conclusions

Even in a tech-friendly hospital, majority of available RT were observed un-used, but identifying these usage patterns is crucial to predict eventual adoption of new designs from earlier stages of RT development. An interactive data visualization page supplement is provided to facilitate this study.
Fit for growing old? Financial protection before and after Indonesia’s national health insurance scheme – a repeated cross-section study
Authors: Tampubolon Gindo
Published: March 2024

The world is ageing with unprecedented momentum, and large global south nations are ageing at higher speed than their northern peers. They have grown old while they have not grown rich, straining their health systems’ ability to deliver financial protection. This work aimed to assess whether Indonesia’s health insurance scheme, seven years on, has delivered equal protection for families with older members (over 60 years) as for other families.

Methods

Before-and-after observation study is designed to estimate how much difference the Scheme made to probabilities of catastrophic payment and financial impoverishment for the two family types. As in recent assessments, two national socioeconomic surveys were used (2013, 2021). Two level observations came from 622,125 families residing in 514 districts across the archipelago. Financial protection indicators against catastrophic payment and impoverishment were constructed following recent works. I estimated two level probit models, then plotted marginal probabilities of financial protection. A sensitivity analysis was conducted with the standard financial protection indicator.

Finding

After the Scheme, financial hardship for all family types has reduced by 19%. But families with older members (compared to other families) have an additional 0.7% risk of incurring catastrophic payment or financial impoverishment. And social and spatial inequalities in health persist.

Discussion

While the Scheme has markedly improved financial protection for all, families with older members remain at higher risk of being unprotected. The global south can prepare for an ageing world by monitoring financial protection and its social determinants and systematically distinguishing families with older members.
Uterine Fibroids and Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Nasab Susan , Gough Ethan K , Nylander Elisabeth , Borahay Mostafa , Segars James , Baker Valerie , Wang Xiaobin , Cameron Katherine
Published: March 2024

Capsule

In this study the presence of uterine fibroids was significantly associated with an increased risk of development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy even when accounting for age and BMI in meta-regression. This finding has potential implications for risk stratification and monitoring for hypertension during pregnancy in this population.

Objective

To examine the association between uterine fibroids and the development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Data sources

Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception through April 2023.

Study Selection and Synthesis

Cohort, case-control, or case series studies including uterine fibroid status and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy status were included. The comparison group was pregnant women without uterine fibroids. Inverse-variance weighted random effects models were used to pool RR and OR estimates separately. Age and BMI were explored as potential sources of heterogeneity using inverse-variance weighted meta-regression.

Main Outcomes

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) defined as gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, superimposed preeclampsia, or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome.

Results

A total of 17 studies were included (Total N=1,374,395 participants, N=64,968 with uterine fibroids). Thirteen studies were retrospective cohorts and four were case-control studies. Women with uterine fibroids had a significantly higher risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared to women without uterine fibroids with RR 1.74 (95% CI 1.33-2.27, p<0.01), and OR 2.87 (95% CI 1.38-5.97, p<0.01), in cohort studies and case-control studies, respectively. In meta-regression analyses, age did not significantly change the positive association between uterine fibroids and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Conclusion

Uterine fibroids were associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy when all available literature was synthesized, including when shared risk factors are examined in meta-regression analyses.

Relevance

If confirmed in future studies, investigations into the mechanisms of this association are needed as this finding potentially has implications for risk stratification and monitoring for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in this population.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO, ID # 331528
Racial Disparities in the Utilization and Outcomes of concomitant Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion during Cardiac Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis
Authors: Hamza Izhan , Ismayl Mahmoud , Abdulla Amer , Pellikka Patricia A. , Chatila Khaled
Published: March 2024

Background: Concomitant left atrial appendage exclusion (LAAE) during cardiac surgery is an effective method of reducing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Previous studies have documented racial disparities in the performance of multiple cardiac procedures. We sought to evaluate if there were any disparities in the utilization and outcomes of concomitant LAAE. Methods: We used the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample database to identify hospitalizations for cardiac surgery in patients with atrial fibrillation with concomitant LAAE. We utilized the weighted data to compare the in-hospital mortality and complications such as stroke, bleeding, infection, heart failure and pericardial complications among different race/ethnic groups. Results: From 2016 to 2020, 432,244 hospitalizations were for cardiac surgery, of which 91,395 (21%) included concomitant LAAE. Of these, 77,440 (84.7%) were in White patients, 4,179 (4.6%) were in Black patients, 4,834 (5.3%) were in Hispanic patients, and 4,939 (5.4%) were in other races. Black and Hispanic patients had lower odds of undergoing concomitant LAAE during cardiac surgery compared to white patients (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.93 and aOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.93, respectively). There were no significant differences between Black and Hispanic patients in in?hospital mortality or procedural complications except for higher bleeding complications in Hispanic patients (aOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.27-2.86) compared to White patients. Through the study period, the proportion of patients receiving concomitant LAAE increased in all race/ethnic groups. Conclusion: Concomitant LAAE during cardiac surgery is underutilized in Black and Hispanic patients compared to White patients despite mostly similar clinical outcomes. Further comparative longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Sortase A-based post-translational modifications on encapsulin nanocompartments
Authors: Helalat Seyed Hossein , Sun Yi , Tellez Rodrigo
Published: March 2024

Protein-based encapsulin nanocompartments, known for their well-defined structures and versatile functionalities, present promising opportunities in the biotechnology and nanomedicine area. In this investigation, we effectively developed a sortase A-mediated protein ligation system inE. colito site-specifically attach target proteins to encapsulin, both internally and on its surfaces without any furtherin vitrosteps. We explored the potential applications of fusing sortase enzyme and a protease for post-translational ligation of encapsulin to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and anti-CD3 scFv. Our results demonstrated that this system could attach other proteins to the nanoparticles’ exterior surfaces without adversely affecting their folding and assembly processes. Additionally, this system enabled the attachment of proteins inside encapsulins which varied shapes and sizes of the nanoparticles due to cargo overload. This research opens up avenues for further exploration of the applications and engineering possibilities of encapsulins in the rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology.
Developmental trajectory of cortical somatostatin interneuron function
Authors: Wang Alex , Ferguson Katie A. , Gupta Jyoti , Higley Michael J. , Cardin Jessica A.
Published: March 2024

GABAergic inhibition is critical to the proper development of neocortical circuits. However, GABAergic interneurons are highly diverse and the developmental roles of distinct inhibitory subpopulations remain largely unclear. Dendrite-targeting, somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs) in the mature cortex regulate synaptic integration and plasticity in excitatory pyramidal neurons (PNs) and exhibit unique feature selectivity. Relatively little is known about early postnatal SST-IN activity or impact on surrounding local circuits. We examined juvenile SST-INs and PNs in mouse primary visual cortex. PNs exhibited stable visual responses and feature selectivity from eye opening onwards. In contrast, SST-INs developed visual responses and feature selectivity during the third postnatal week in parallel with a rapid increase in excitatory synaptic innervation. SST-INs largely exerted a multiplicative effect on nearby PN visual responses at all ages, but this impact increased over time. Our results identify a developmental window for the emergence of an inhibitory circuit mechanism for normalization.
Status, determinants and risk factors of all-cause dementia in South Asia: Findings from a preliminary analysis of global health data
Authors: Palliyaguru Dushani L. , Palliyaguru Nipuni , Ligo Teixeira Camila Vieira , Armstrong Nicole M. , Liyanage Sanka , Senarath Upul , Arambepola Carukshi , Jayasinghe Saroj , Dalpatadu Chamila
Published: March 2024

South Asia is one of the most populous regions of the world. At present, South Asians make up more than 25% of the world’s population but little effort has been dedicated to studying trends and etiological factors driving aging and aging-related conditions in this part of the world. Even less characterization has been done on brain-related conditions, particularly all-cause dementia in South Asia. To address this, we examined data from the US Census Bureau, World Health Organization Global Dementia Observatory and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 Study, and conducted a comparative analysis of population statistics, dementia as a priority health area, and dementia incidence rates, death rates and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 8 South Asian countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Our analysis reiterated that there are limited resources dedicated to dementia in this region. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan had the highest dementia crude rates and age-standardized rates, respectively. The burden of dementia in some South Asian countries was comparable to estimated global averages, and was largely driven by population aging. Analyses of available data on known biological, behavioral, environmental and disease risk factors, highlighted the role of metabolic risk factors such as high fasting blood glucose. Here, we also underscore the critical need for future follow-up longitudinal studies focusing on brain aging and dementia and describe a roadmap for designing them - taking into account cultural, economic and public health dynamics that may be uniquely applicable to countries in South Asia.

KEY MESSAGE

Very few resources are dedicated to dementia care and research in South Asia, in spite of high burden in some countries. We examine publicly available global health data to highlight that metabolic dysfunction plays a critical role in dementia risk and also detail considerations for future follow-up programs aiming to study dementia in South Asia.
Entrainment echoes in the cerebellum
Authors: Zoefel Benedikt , Abbasi Omid , Gross Joachim , Kotz Sonja A
Published: March 2024

Historically, researchers have considered the cerebellum a coordinator of motor programs that ensures precise timing of movements and their adaptation to external events1. However, it has become increasingly clear that this role is not restricted to the motor system2. Rather, the cerebellum seems to play an important role in temporal prediction in general, as shown in its involvement in multiple functions that rely on precise event timing3. Although previous work suggested that the cerebellum exclusively predicts the interval between two events4, rather than tracking a global rhythm, it is also active when a rhythmic stimuluschangesin rate5. The latter finding is in line with a cerebellar role in speech processing6that entails frequent rate changes7. Neural mechanisms underlying the cerebellum’s involvement in speech processing, however, remain poorly understood. Moreover, there is a lack of studies contrasting speech and non-speech stimuli to establish speech-specificity of the observed effects8. In a re-analysis of magnetoencephalography (MEG) data9, we found that activity in the cerebellum aligned to rhythmic sequences of noise-vocoded speech, irrespective of its intelligibility. We then tested whether these “entrained” responses persist, and how they interact with other brain regions, when the rhythmic stimulus stopped and temporal predictions had to be updated. We found that only intelligible speech produced rhythmic responses in the cerebellum that outlasted the stimulus. During this “entrainment echo”, but not during rhythmic speech itself, cerebellar activity was coupled with that in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and specifically at rates corresponding to the preceding stimulus rhythm. This finding represents unprecedented evidence for specific cerebellum-driven temporal predictions in speech processing and their relay to cortical regions.
Structure of a Ca2+bound phosphoenzyme intermediate in the inward-to-outward transition of Ca2+-ATPase 1 fromListeria monocytogenes
Authors: Hansen Sara Basse , Flygaard Rasmus Kock , Kjaergaard Magnus , Nissen Poul
Published: March 2024

Active transport by Ca2+-ATPases of the P-type ATPase family maintain a very low cytosolic calcium concentration and steep electrochemical gradients. Detailed mechanisms of this transport have been described from structures of mammalian sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCA) stabilized by inhibitors at specific intermediate steps of the transport cycle. An essentially irreversible step is crucial to prevent reflux in active transport against steep gradients. Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) study of the bacterial Ca2+-ATPase LMCA1 revealed an intermediate of the transition between so-called [Ca]E1P and E2P states, suggesting that calcium release from this intermediate is the irreversible step. Here, we present a 3.5Å cryo-EM structure for a four-glycine insertion mutant (G4-LMCA1) in a lipid nanodisc obtained under turnover conditions and adopting such a calcium-bound intermediate, denoted [Ca]E2P. The cytosolic domains are positioned in the E2P-like conformation, while the calcium-binding transmembrane (TM) domain is similar to calcium-bound E1P-ADP like conformation of SERCA. Missing density for the E292 residue at the calcium site (equivalent of SERCA1a E309) suggests flexibility and a site poised for calcium release and proton uptake. The structure suggests a mechanism for the inward-to-outward transition in Ca2+-ATPases, where ADP release and re-organisation of the cytoplasmic domains precede calcium release.
Circular RNAHMGCS1spongesMIR4521to aggravate type 2 diabetes-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Zhang Ming , Du Guangyi , Xie Lianghua , Xu Yang , Chen Wei
Published: March 2024

Noncoding RNA plays a pivotal role as novel regulators of endothelial cell function. Type 2 diabetes, acknowledged as a primary contributor to cardiovascular diseases, plays a vital role in vascular endothelial cell dysfunction due to induced abnormalities of glucolipid metabolism and oxidative stress. In this study, aberrant expression levels ofcircHMGCS1andMIR4521were observed in diabetes-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell dysfunction. Persistent inhibition ofMIR4521accelerated development and exacerbated vascular endothelial dysfunction in diabetic mice. Mechanistically,circHMGCS1upregulated arginase 1 by spongingMIR4521, leading to decrease in vascular nitric oxide secretion and inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, and an increase in the expression of adhesion molecules and generation of cellular reactive oxygen species, reduced vasodilation and accelerated the impairment of vascular endothelial function. Collectively, these findings illuminate the physiological role and interacting mechanisms ofcircHMGCS1andMIR4521in diabetes-induced cardiovascular diseases, suggesting that modulating the expression ofcircHMGCS1andMIR4521could serve as a potential strategy to prevent diabetes-associated cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, our findings provide a novel technical avenue for unraveling ncRNAs regulatory roles of ncRNAs in diabetes and its associated complications.
Spatiotemporal regulation of Pseudorabies Virus Thymidine kinase UL23 by post-translational modification
Authors: Li Chuang , Cao Rui , Zhang Rui , Tang Jun
Published: March 2024

Post-translational modification plays a significant role in the interaction between viruses and their hosts. The pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a highly contagious herpesvirus that affects the central nervous system and respiratory tract of swine. However, the role of post-translational modifications, including Ubiquitination and SUMOylation, in host and PRV interplays is poorly understood. Here we examined the SUMO modification of PRV proteins and revealed that the PRV thymidine kinase UL23 can undergo SUMO modification. Bioinformatic analysis suggested four potential modification sites for UL23. Site-directed mutagenesis indicates that SUMO modification occurs at sites K242 and K267 as the wild type localizes in the nucleus while the mutants localize in the cytoplasm. Subsequently, polyclonal antibodies against mouse derived UL23 were employed to reveal that wild type UL23 was mainly located in the nucleus during PRV infection. Co-expression of UL23 with SUMO deconjugating enzymes showed that SENP1/2 inhibited the nuclear import of UL23. Whereas SUMO modification significantly impacted the localization of UL23, it did not detectably affect its stability.
Predictive learning shapes the representational geometry of the human brain
Authors: Greco Antonino , Moser Julia , Preissl Hubert , Siegel Markus
Published: March 2024

Predictive coding theories propose that the brain constantly updates its internal models of the world to minimize prediction errors and optimize sensory processing. However, the neural mechanisms that link the encoding of prediction errors and optimization of sensory representations remain unclear. Here, we provide direct evidence how predictive learning shapes the representational geometry of the human brain. We recorded magnetoencephalography (MEG) in human participants listening to acoustic sequences with different levels of regularity. Representational similarity analysis revealed how, through learning, the brain aligned its representational geometry to match the statistical structure of the sensory inputs, by clustering the representations of temporally contiguous and predictable stimuli. Crucially, we found that in sensory areas the magnitude of the representational shift correlated with the encoding strength of prediction errors. Furthermore, using partial information decomposition we found that, prediction errors were processed by a synergistic network of high-level associative and sensory areas. Importantly, the strength of synergistic encoding of precition errors predicted the magnitude of representational alignment during learning. Our findings provide evidence that large-scale neural interactions engaged in predictive processing modulate the representational content of sensory areas, which may enhance the efficiency of perceptual processing in response to the statistical regularities of the environment.
Single-cell analysis identifies distinct macrophage phenotypes associated with pro-disease and pro-resolving functions in the endometriotic niche
Authors: Henlon Yasmin , Panir Kavita , McIntyre Iona , Hogg Chloe , Dhami Priya , Cuff Antonia O. , Senior Anna , Moolchandani-Adwani Niky , Courtois Elise T. , Horne Andrew W , Rosser Matthew , Ott Sascha , Greaves Erin
Published: March 2024

Endometriosis negatively impacts the health-related quality of life of 190 million women worldwide. Novel advances in non-hormonal treatments for this debilitating condition are desperately needed. Macrophages play a vital role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and represent a promising therapeutic target. In the current study, we revealed the full transcriptomic complexity of endometriosis-associated macrophage subpopulations using single-cell analyses in a preclinical mouse model of experimental endometriosis. We have identified two key lesion-resident populations that resemble i) tumour-associated macrophages (characterized by expression ofFolr2,Mrc1,Gas6andCcl8+) that promoted expression ofCol1a1andTgfb1in human endometrial stromal cells and increased angiogenic meshes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and ii) scar-associated macrophages (Mmp12, Cd9, Spp1, Trem2+) that exhibited a phenotype associated with fibrosis and matrix remodelling. We also described a population of pro-resolving large peritoneal macrophages (LpM) that align with a lipid-associated macrophage phenotype (Apoe, Saa3, Pid1) concomitant with altered lipid metabolism and cholesterol efflux. Gain of function experiments using an Apoe mimetic resulted in decreased lesion size and fibrosis, and modification of peritoneal macrophage populations in the preclinical model. Using cross-species analysis of mouse and human single-cell datasets, we determined the concordance of peritoneal and lesion-resident macrophage subpopulations, identifying key similarities and differences in transcriptomic phenotypes. Ultimately, we envisage that these findings will inform the design and use of specific macrophage-targeted therapies and open new avenues for the treatment of endometriosis.
Psat1-generated α-ketoglutarate and glutamine promote muscle stem cell activation and regeneration
Authors: Ciuffoli Veronica , Feng Xuesong , Jiang Kan , Acevedo-Luna Natalia , Ko Kyung Dae , Wang A. Hong Jun , Riparini Giulia , Khateb Mamduh , Glancy Brian , Dell'Orso Stefania , Sartorelli Vittorio
Published: March 2024

By satisfying bioenergetic demands, generating biomass, and providing metabolites serving as cofactors for chromatin modifiers, metabolism regulates adult stem cell biology. Here, we report that a branch of glycolysis, the serine biosynthesis pathway (SBP), is activated in regenerating muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Gene inactivation and metabolomics revealed that Psat1, one of the three SBP enzymes, controls MuSC activation and expansion of myogenic progenitors through production of the metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and α-KG-generated glutamine.Psat1ablation resulted in defective expansion of MuSCs and impaired regeneration. Psat1, α-KG, and glutamine were reduced in MuSCs of old mice. α-KG or glutamine re-established appropriate muscle regeneration of adult conditionalPsat1−/−mice and of old mice. These findings contribute insights into the metabolic role of Psat1 during muscle regeneration and suggest α-KG and glutamine as potential therapeutic interventions to ameliorate muscle regeneration during aging.
Boundary terms in the Witten-Sakai-Sugimoto model at finite density
Authors: Bartolini Lorenzo , Gudnason Sven Bjarke
Published: March 2024

We consider the Witten-Sakai-Sugimoto model in the approximation of smeared instantons at finite density via a homogeneous ansatz, which is known to be discontinuous in order to be able to contain a nonvanishing baryon density. The discontinuity at the infrared tip of the bulk spacetime gives rise to subtleties of discarding boundary terms that are normally discarded in the literature. We propose a reason for discarding this boundary term, by scrutinizing the currents and topological properties of the model. Along the way, we find a very effective and simple condition to compute the point of thermodynamic equilibrium.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Converting Long-Range Entanglement into Mixture: Tensor-Network Approach to Local Equilibration
Authors: Frías-Pérez Miguel , Tagliacozzo Luca , Bañuls Mari Carmen
Published: March 2024

In the out-of-equilibrium evolution induced by a quench, fast degrees of freedom generate long-range entanglement that is hard to encode with standard tensor networks. However, local observables only sense such long-range correlations through their contribution to the reduced local state as a mixture. We present a tensor network method that identifies such long-range entanglement and efficiently transforms it into mixture, much easier to represent. In this way, we obtain an effective description of the time-evolved state as a density matrix that captures the long-time behavior of local operators with finite computational resources.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Heavy-Quark Pair Production at Lepton Colliders at NNNLO in QCD
Authors: Chen Xiang , Guan Xin , He Chuan-Qi , Liu Xiao , Ma Yan-Qing
Published: March 2024

We compute the total cross section and invariant mass distribution for heavy-quark pair production in e+e− annihilation at the next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD. The obtained results are expressed as piecewise functions defined by several deeply expanded power series, facilitating a rapid numerical evaluation. Utilizing top-pair production at a collision energy of 500 GeV as a benchmark, we observe a correction of approximately 0.1% for the total cross section and around 10% for the majority of the invariant mass distribution range. These results play a crucial role in significantly reducing theoretical uncertainty: the scale dependence has been diminished to 0.06% for the total cross section and to 5% for the invariant mass distribution. This reduction of uncertainty meets the stringent requirements of future lepton colliders.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Spontaneous charge-ordered state in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene
Authors: Jiang Xiu-Cai , Song Ze-Yi , Ruan Ze , Zhang Yu-Zhong
Published: March 2024

We propose that a weakly spontaneous charge-ordered insulating state probably exists in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene, which can account for experimentally observed nonmonotonic behavior of resistance as a function of the gated field, namely, the gap closes and reopens at a critical gated field. The underlying physics is demonstrated by a simple model on a corresponding lattice that contains the nearest intralayer and interlayer hoppings, electric field, and staggered potential between different sublattices. Combining density functional theory calculations with model analyses, we argue that the interlayer van der Waals interactions cooperating with ripples may be responsible for the staggered potential, which induces a charge-ordered insulating state in the absence of the electric field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Pressure-Induced Superconductivity In Polycrystalline
La3Ni2O7−δ
Authors: Wang G. , Wang N. N. , Shen X. L. , Hou J. , Ma L. , Shi L. F. , Ren Z. A. , Gu Y. D. , Ma H. M. , Yang P. T. , Liu Z. Y. , Guo H. Z. , Sun J. P. , Zhang G. M. , Calder S. , Yan J.-Q. , Wang B. S. , Uwatoko Y. , Cheng J.-G.
Published: March 2024

We synthesized polycrystalline La3Ni2O7−δ (δ≈0.07) samples by using the sol-gel method without postannealing under high oxygen pressure, and then measured temperature-dependent resistivity under various hydrostatic pressures up to 18 GPa by using the cubic anvil and two-stage multianvil apparatus. We find that the density-wave-like anomaly in resistivity is progressively suppressed with increasing pressure and the resistivity drop corresponding to the onset of superconductivity emerges at pressure as low as ∼6  GPa. Zero resistivity is achieved at 9 GPa below Tczero≈6.6  K, which increases quickly with pressure to 41 K at 18 GPa. However, the diamagnetic response was not detected in the ac magnetic susceptibility measurements up to 15 GPa, indicating a filamentary nature of the observed superconductivity in the studied pressure range. The constructed T−P phase diagram reveals an intimate relationship between superconductivity, density-wave-like order, and the strange-metal-like behaviors. The observation of zero-resistance state in the polycrystalline La3Ni2O7−δ samples under high pressures not only corroborates the recent report of superconductivity in the pressurized La3Ni2O7 crystals but also facilitates further studies on this emerging family of nickelate high-Tc superconductors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Challenges in High-Throughput Inorganic Materials Prediction and Autonomous Synthesis
Authors: Leeman Josh , Liu Yuhan , Stiles Joseph , Lee Scott B. , Bhatt Prajna , Schoop Leslie M. , Palgrave Robert G.
Published: March 2024

Materials discovery lays the foundation for many technological advancements. The prediction and discovery of new materials are not simple tasks. Here, we outline some basic principles of solid-state chemistry, which might help to advance both, and discuss pitfalls and challenges in materials discovery. Using the recent work of Szymanski [Nature 624, 86 (2023)], which reported the autonomous discovery of 43 novel materials, as an example, we discuss problems that can arise in unsupervised materials discovery and hope that by addressing these, autonomous materials discovery can be brought closer to reality. We discuss all 43 synthetic products and point out four common shortfalls in the analysis. These errors unfortunately lead to the conclusion that no new materials have been discovered in that work. We conclude that there are two important points of improvement that require future work from the community, as follows. (i) Automated Rietveld analysis of powder x-ray diffraction data is not yet reliable. Future improvement of such, and the development of a reliable artificial-intelligence-based tool for Rietveld fitting, would be very helpful, not only for autonomous materials discovery but also for the community in general. (ii) We find that disorder in materials is often neglected in predictions. The predicted compounds investigated herein have all their elemental components located on distinct crystallographic positions but in reality, elements can share crystallographic sites, resulting in higher-symmetry space groups and—very often—known alloys or solid solutions. This error might be related to the difficulty of modeling disorder in a computationally economical way and needs to be addressed both by computational and experimental material scientists. We find that two thirds of the claimed successful materials in Szymanski are likely to be known compositionally disordered versions of the predicted ordered compounds. We highlight important issues in materials discovery, computational chemistry, and autonomous interpretation of x-ray diffraction. We discuss concepts of materials discovery from an experimentalist point of view, which we hope will be helpful for the community to further advance this important new aspect of our field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
The financial performance of Lebanese banks up to the financial crisis: do audit committee characteristics and ownership concentration matter?
Authors: Nouraldeen Rasha Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The focus on corporate governance has increased after the financial collapses of several banks worldwide, such as Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank in the USA, and the failure of the Lebanese banking sector. This study examines the impact of audit committee (AC) characteristics on financial performance and investigates the moderating effect of ownership concentration (OC) on the associations between AC characteristics and profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research is carried out based on 211 Lebanese banks’ annual reports, focusing on the period from 2012 to 2021. The ordinal least squares (OLS) and the hierarchical multiple regression analysis were adopted to test the study’s hypotheses.

Findings

The outcomes reveal that AC size, AC frequency of meetings, and banks’ size (control variable) positively affect financial performance; however, OC does not moderate the associations between the AC characteristics and banks’ profitability.

Originality/value

According to the researcher’s knowledge, no prior study has investigated the moderating effect of OC on these associations. Moreover, the current study contributes to the literature that documented mixed and inconsistent results regarding the direct associations between AC characteristics and financial performance.
Writing with, for, and against the algorithm: TikTokers’ relationships with AI as audience, co-author, and censor
Authors: Jerasa Sarah , Burriss Sarah K.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly important and influential in reading and writing. The influx of social media digital spaces, like TikTok, has also shifted the ways multimodal composition takes place alongside AI. This study aims to argue that within spaces like TikTok, human composers must attend to the ways they write for, with and against the AI-powered algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection was drawn from a larger study on #BookTok (the TikTok subcommunity for readers) that included semi-structured interviews including watching and reflecting on a TikTok they created. The authors grounded this study in critical posthumanist literacies to analyze and open code five #BookTok content creators’ interview transcripts. Using axial coding, authors collaboratively determined three overarching and entangled themes: writing for, with and against.

Findings

Findings highlight the nuanced ways #BookTokers consider the AI algorithm in their compositional choices, namely, in the ways how they want to disseminate their videos to a larger audience or more niche-focused community. Throughout the interviews, participants revealed how the AI algorithm was situated differently as both audience member, co-author and censor.

Originality/value

This study is grounded in critical posthumanist literacies and explores composition as a joint accomplishment between humans and machines. The authors argued that it is necessary to expand our human-centered notions of what it means to write for an audience, to co-author and to resist censorship or gatekeeping.
Impact of memory-dependent heat transfer on Rayleigh waves propagation in nonlocal piezo-thermo-elastic medium with voids
Authors: Gupta Vipin , M.S. Barak , Das Soumik
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper addresses a significant research gap in the study of Rayleigh surface wave propagation within a piezoelectric medium characterized by piezoelectric properties, thermal effects and voids. Previous research has often overlooked the crucial aspects related to voids. This study aims to provide analytical solutions for Rayleigh waves propagating through a medium consisting of a nonlocal piezo-thermo-elastic material with voids under the Moore–Gibson–Thompson thermo-elasticity theory with memory dependencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical solutions are derived using a wave-mode method, and roots are computed from the characteristic equation using the Durand–Kerner method. These roots are then filtered based on the decay condition of surface waves. The analysis pertains to a medium subjected to stress-free and isothermal boundary conditions.

Findings

Computational simulations are performed to determine the attenuation coefficient and phase velocity of Rayleigh waves. This investigation goes beyond mere calculations and examines particle motion to gain deeper insights into Rayleigh wave propagation. Furthermore, this investigates how kernel function and nonlocal parameters influence these wave phenomena.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study reveal several unique cases that significantly contribute to the understanding of Rayleigh wave propagation within this intricate material system, particularly in the presence of voids.

Practical implications

This investigation provides valuable insights into the synergistic dynamics among piezoelectric constituents, void structures and Rayleigh wave propagation, enabling advancements in sensor technology, augmented energy harvesting methodologies and pioneering seismic monitoring approaches.

Originality/value

This study formulates a novel governing equation for a nonlocal piezo-thermo-elastic medium with voids, highlighting the significance of Rayleigh waves and investigating the impact of memory.
Islamic, ethical and conventional mutual funds: a comparative study (1990–2022)
Authors: Elfakhani Said
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to test mutual fund superiority, comparing the performance of 646 Islamic mutual funds with 475 ethical funds and conventional proxies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses statistical methods including paired t-statistics of independent samples, one-way Bonferroni test–analysis of variance–F-statistic for testing means equality, the chi-squared test for median equality and regression models corrected for heteroscedasticity. These methods are used to identify superiority of mutual funds and to validate the significance of the results.

Findings

The findings confirm the superiority of conventional funds over ethical funds and ethical funds over Islamic funds. Both ethical and Islamic funds, however, outperform conventional proxies during some recessionary periods. Moreover, stronger performance is recorded for Islamic funds in Europe and North America regions and across age and asset allocation categories, but limited support for reversal fund size, composition focus and reversed price effect.

Research limitations/implications

These findings should assist investors when deciding to invest and motivate Islamic and ethical funds to improve their portfolio formation and asset allocation strategies set by their professional managers.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is in its comprehensive approach in that it compares the performance of funds after accounting for such characteristics as fund objectives, size, age, asset allocation, geographical investment focus, fund composition focus, share price levels and the effect of global crises. This study approach is not only original and productive in documenting Islamic funds’ performance for the past three decades (1990–2022) but can also update the literature on these characteristics collectively and individually.
Coastal communities’ participation in reducing single-use plastic bags: the role of awareness of harm and responsibility for environmental protection
Authors: Le Huy Van , Chi Cong Le , Leenders Mark A.A.M.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This research aims to explore the role of awareness of harm and responsibility for environmental protection in reducing pollution from single-use plastic bags (SPBs) in coastal communities (CCs). To this end, this study develops and tests a unique model that explains residents’ intention to reduce the use of SPBs in coastal regions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was used to collect data from 721 coastal residents in Vietnam. Structural equation modeling and moderation analysis were applied to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that awareness of the impact of SPBs on the environment and human health and awareness of the responsibility to protect the coastal environment significantly affect attitudes and intentions to reduce the use of SPBs. Moreover, such awareness of responsibility strengthens the attitude-intention relationship.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that CCs should not receive a lower priority in campaigns and efforts to reduce SPBs. In this regard, providing residents with free environmentally friendly bags and education programs on the impact of SPBs could be implemented.

Originality/value

CCs are directly impacted by pollution from SPBs. However, little is known about how this affects their polluting behavior. This study shows that CCs are not immune to polluting behaviors and that SPBs can be significant among residents. It also demonstrates that awareness of harm and feeling responsible for the environment are essential drivers of (intended) sustainable behaviors.
Hiding the elephant: The tragedy of COVID policy and its economist apologists
Authors: Foster Gigi , Frijters Paul
Published: March 2024

In 2020 and 2021, the world witnessed policies that caused enormous net damage to most countries. We demonstrate the usefulness of the new WELLBY currency in gauging the costs and benefits of COVID policies and review the contributions of Australian economists to the scholarly and public debates about these policies. Our analysis documents the value of what was destroyed, the weak resistance mounted by the Australian economics profession during this period, and the role played by many Australian economists as apologists for what we view as Australia's most catastrophic peacetime economic policy failure. We close with ideas for working towards a better future.
Same but different: On continuity and change in agricultural policy reforms
Authors: Melås Anders M. , Vik Jostein , Farsund Arild A.
Published: March 2024

This article contributes to the Historical Institutionalism literature on stability and change by unpacking how an institution has persisted for more than 70 years despite substantial contextual changes. The overall stability of the institution comes both through changes in policy instruments and their settings, and through the incorporation of differing, but aligned rationales. Ideational multidimensionality yields stability by providing leeway to recondition the institution in response to changing circumstances. This allows for different interests in the coalition to stimulate overall institutional stability by supporting incremental changes in policy instruments whilst avoiding institutional exhaustion and third order changes. This shows that policies initiated under a certain set of circumstances may be better equipped to persist when circumstances change if they are able to incorporate differing, but aligned, rationales and to respond to upcoming issues through policy instrument changes. The theoretical arguments are exemplified through a case study analysis of Norwegian agricultural policy.