bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and performance analysis of eight channel demultiplexer using 2D photonic crystal with trapezium cavity
Authors: Kavitha V , Balaji V R , Dhanabalan Shanmuga Sundar , Sridarshini T , Robinson S , Radhouene Massoudi , Hegde Gopalkrishna , Sugesh R G Jesuwanth 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In this work, an eight-channel dense wavelength division multiplexing demultiplexer is designed with a 2D photonic crystal triangular lattice. The proposed demultiplexer consists of a centre bus waveguide, an isosceles trapezium resonant cavity, and an eight-circular ring cavity (CR1, CR2, CR3, CR4, CR5, CR6, CR7, and CR8). The point defect resonant cavity consists of seven rods to drop different wavelengths from eight cavities, each of eight drop waveguides. The design is very simple to realise. The finite difference time domain and plane wave expansion method methods were used to analyse the proposed design’s band structure and transmission spectrum. The resonant wavelengths are 1.5441 μm, 1.5443 μm, 1.544 49 μm, 1.5447 μm, 1.5449 μm, 1.5451 μm, 1.5453 μm, and 1.5455 μm respectively. The proposed device provides a high-quality factor, transmission efficiency, and low crosstalk. The device’s footprint is 490.0 μm2, which can be easily incorporated into photonic integrated circuits.
Assessing the long- and short-run effects of climate change and institutional quality on economic growth in Somalia
Authors: Warsame Abdimalik Ali , Sheik-Ali Ibrahim Abdukadir , Hussein Hassan Abdikadir , Barre Galad Mohamed 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Climate change is considered one of the most defining challenges in this century because it poses a threat to the health and well-being of every person in the world by posing a large aggregate risk to the economy. Developing and least developed countries such as Somalia are the most vulnerable countries to climate change consequences. Besides the vulnerability to climate change, government institutions in Somalia have been malfunctioning since 1991 hence affecting economic growth. Hence, this empirical work addresses the long-and short-run effects of institutional quality and climate change on economic growth in Somalia for the period 1985–2017 using the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL), Johansen and Juselius Cointegration, and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS). The empirical results found that institutional quality and climate change are cointegrated into economic growth in the long run. Furthermore, average rainfall, instutional quality , and capital stimulate economic growth in Somalia in the long run; whereas the average temperature has a devastating effect on economic growth in the long run. These results are robust for various econometric methods. However, the study proposes implementing policies related to climate adaptability and mitigation strategies, and improving institutional quality such as; law and order, government effectiveness, and bureaucratic quality, as these will confirm sustainable economic growth in the long run.
Neglecting complex network structures underestimates delays in a large-capital project
Authors: Ellinas C , Avraam D , Nicolaides C 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Completing large-scale projects on time is a daunting challenge, partly due to the intricate network of dependencies between a project’s activities. To support this challenge, existing theory focuses on predicting whether a delay in completing a single activity is likely to spread and impact downstream activities. Using fine-grained information from 68 546 activities and 84 934 pairs, associated with the delivery of a $1.86Bn infrastructure project, we show that the core mechanism that underpins existing theory underestimates delay propagation. To elucidate the mechanisms that drive delay, we generated null models that destroyed the structural and temporal correlations of the original project activity network. By doing so, we argue that this underestimation is the result of neglecting endogenous structural features within the project’s activity network. Formulating a new mechanism that utilizes both temporal and structural features may help improve our capacity to predict how delays spread within projects.
Variations of Customary Tenure, Chiefly Power, and Global Norms for Responsible Land Investments in Sierra Leone
Authors: Dieterle Carolin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In response to debates around land grabbing, the international community has increasingly developed and promoted global governance norms and guidelines for more responsible land investments. This concern on the part of the international community has particularly taken hold in Sierra Leone—in a post-war context, in which international donor agencies are already steering much of the country’s politics. Yet, despite the enormous influence of international guidelines and the actors promoting their use, there is a spatial variation in the conformity to and effectiveness of such norms in cases of land investments. While some projects seem to resemble ‘showcases’ for their exemplary use, these guidelines seem to be absent in other projects. This article analyses the political economy of customary land tenure, land investments, and international ‘soft laws’ in Sierra Leone. Based on 6 months of fieldwork in Sierra Leone in 2019, I compare several cases of large-scale land investments. I argue that there are important variations in the customary tenure system in the degree to which political authority over land is centralized in the authority of the paramount chief or is devolved to landholding families. This, I suggest, holds important implications for the uptake of global norms for ‘responsible’ investments.
Hustler Populism, Anti-Jubilee Backlash And Economic Injustice In Kenya’s 2022 Elections
Authors: Lockwood Peter 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Deputy President William Ruto’s victorious presidential campaign in Kenya’s 2022 elections saw him champion the plight of the ‘hustlers’, young informal economy workers on low, piecemeal incomes. Reconfiguring political identities around notions of economic hardship and struggle, Ruto’s campaign appeared emblematic of what scholars have recently identified as a turn towards ‘populism’ in Africa, transmuting ethno-nationalist identities into class-based ones. However, whilst Ruto’s campaign capitalized on rising prices to devastating political effect, he also channelled discontent with the Jubilee government and its unmet promises of shared prosperity. Drawing on ethnographic data collected in central Kenya’s Kiambu region since 2017, this article understands Ruto’s victory not through the lens of ‘hustler populism’ but rather as an anti-Jubilee ‘backlash’. Ruto’s campaign took advantage of Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal unpopularity as voters increasingly questioned the nature of ‘dynastic’ authority and ‘state capture’, seeking to punish Uhuru personally for his failures to create prosperity in the region whilst enriching himself at their expense. Elaborating on these tensions, the article points towards broken ‘moral economies’ between voters and politicians as a vital field of research.
Decoding CRISPR–Cas PAM recognition with UniDesign
Authors: Huang Xiaoqiang , Zhou Jun , Yang Dongshan , Zhang Jifeng , Xia Xiaofeng , Chen Yuqing Eugene , Xu Jie 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The critical first step in Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)–associated (CRISPR–Cas) protein-mediated gene editing is recognizing a preferred protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) on target DNAs by the protein’s PAM-interacting amino acids (PIAAs). Thus, accurate computational modeling of PAM recognition is useful in assisting CRISPR–Cas engineering to relax or tighten PAM requirements for subsequent applications. Here, we describe a universal computational protein design framework (UniDesign) for designing protein–nucleic acid interactions. As a proof of concept, we applied UniDesign to decode the PAM–PIAA interactions for eight Cas9 and two Cas12a proteins. We show that, given native PIAAs, the UniDesign-predicted PAMs are largely identical to the natural PAMs of all Cas proteins. In turn, given natural PAMs, the computationally redesigned PIAA residues largely recapitulated the native PIAAs (74% and 86% in terms of identity and similarity, respectively). These results demonstrate that UniDesign faithfully captures the mutual preference between natural PAMs and native PIAAs, suggesting it is a useful tool for engineering CRISPR–Cas and other nucleic acid-interacting proteins. UniDesign is open-sourced at https://github.com/tommyhuangthu/UniDesign.
CONNECTOR, fitting and clustering of longitudinal data to reveal a new risk stratification system
Authors: Pernice Simone , Sirovich Roberta , Grassi Elena , Viviani Marco , Ferri Martina , Sassi Francesco , Alessandrì Luca , Tortarolo Dora , Calogero Raffaele A , Trusolino Livio , Bertotti Andrea , Beccuti Marco , Olivero Martina , Cordero Francesca 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Motivation
The transition from evaluating a single time point to examining the entire dynamic evolution of a system is possible only in the presence of the proper framework. The strong variability of dynamic evolution makes the definition of an explanatory procedure for data fitting and clustering challenging.

Results
We developed CONNECTOR, a data-driven framework able to analyze and inspect longitudinal data in a straightforward and revealing way. When used to analyze tumor growth kinetics over time in 1599 patient-derived xenograft growth curves from ovarian and colorectal cancers, CONNECTOR allowed the aggregation of time-series data through an unsupervised approach in informative clusters. We give a new perspective of mechanism interpretation, specifically, we define novel model aggregations and we identify unanticipated molecular associations with response to clinically approved therapies.

Availability and implementation
CONNECTOR is freely available under GNU GPL license at https://qbioturin.github.io/connector and https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv56e74g1b/v1.
Building an Infectious Disease Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (ID2EA) Curriculum: A Single Center's Experience and Reflections
Authors: Gleeson Shana E , Zapata Heidi , Bathgate Meghan E , Emu Brinda , Frederick Jennifer , Friedland Gerald , Golden Marjorie P , Meyer Jaimie P , Radin Joanna , Sideleau Robert , Shaw Albert , Shenoi Sheela V , Trubin Paul A , Virata Michael , Barakat Lydia A , Desruisseaux Mahalia S 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In response to longstanding healthcare inequities unmasked by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, the infectious diseases (ID) section at the Yale School of Medicine designed and implemented a pilot curriculum integrating Infectious Disease Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (ID2EA) into ID educational training and measured program outcomes. We herein describe a mixed-methods assessment of section members on whether the ID2EA curriculum affected their beliefs and behaviors regarding racism and healthcare inequities. Participants rated the curriculum as useful (92% averaging across sessions) and effective in achieving stated learning objectives (89% averaging across sessions), including fostering understanding of how inequities and racism are linked to health disparities and identifying strategies to effectively deal with racism and inequities. Despite limitations in response rates and assessment of longer-term behavioral change, this work demonstrates that training in diversity, equity, and antiracism can be successfully integrated into ID physicians’ educational activities and affect physicians’ perspectives on these topics.
Long-term clinical outcomes of tricuspid valve replacement using bovine versus porcine valves: a nationwide population-based study
Authors: Sohn Suk Ho , Kang Yoonjin , Kim Ji Seong , Hwang Ho Young , Kim Kyung Hwan , Choi Jae Woong 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The early and long-term clinical outcomes of bovine versus porcine tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) were compared based on the nationwide database from the National Health Insurance Service.

METHODS
Of 1464 patients who underwent TVR from 2002 to 2018 in Korea, 541 were enrolled after excluding mechanical TVR, re-TVR, complex congenital heart disease, Ebstein anomaly and age &lt;19 years at operation. Bovine (group B) and porcine valves (group P) were used in 342 and 199 patients, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 4.1 years [interquartile range 1.2–9.0]. Inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis was performed for adjustment between the groups. Early and long-term clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, endocarditis and reoperation, were compared.

RESULTS
In inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis, operative mortality and early clinical outcomes were comparable between the groups. The cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality demonstrated no significant differences between the groups [36.8% vs 38.0% at 5 years in group B versus group P; adjusted hazard ratio = 0.93; P = 0.617]. The cumulative incidence of cardiac death, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke and endocarditis also demonstrated no significant differences between the groups (28.1% vs 25.9%, 7.1% vs 1.2%, 3.2% vs 4.2% and 9.7% vs 6.0% at 5 years in group B versus group P, respectively). However, the cumulative incidence of reoperation was higher in group B than in group P (20.2% vs 3.4% at 5 years in group B vs group P; adjusted hazard ratio = 4.76; P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS
Early clinical outcomes and long-term outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiac death, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke and endocarditis, were comparable between bovine and porcine TVRs. However, porcine valves demonstrated a lower cumulative incidence of reoperation than bovine valves.
Biomarker-based prediction of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Haller Paul M , Goßling Alina , Magnussen Christina , Brenner Hermann , Schöttker Ben , Iacoviello Licia , Costanzo Simona , Kee Frank , Koenig Wolfgang , Linneberg Allan , Sujana Chaterina , Thorand Barbara , Salomaa Veikko , Niiranen Teemu J , Söderberg Stefan , Völzke Henry , Dörr Marcus , Sans Susana , Padró Teresa , Felix Stephan B , Nauck Matthias , Petersmann Astrid , Palmieri Luigi , Donfrancesco Chiara , De Ponti Roberto , Veronesi Giovanni , Ferrario Marco M , Kuulasmaa Kari , Zeller Tanja , Ojeda Francisco M , Blankenberg Stefan , Westermann Dirk ,   for the BiomarCaRE Consortium
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Aims
The role of biomarkers in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk individuals is not well established. We aimed to investigate benefits of adding biomarkers to cardiovascular risk assessment in individuals with and without diabetes.

Methods and results
We used individual-level data of 95 292 individuals of the European population harmonized in the Biomarker for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment across Europe consortium and investigated the prognostic ability of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Cox-regression models were used to determine adjusted hazard ratios of diabetes and log-transformed biomarkers for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Models were compared using the likelihood ratio test. Stratification by specific biomarker cut-offs was performed for crude time-to-event analysis using Kaplan–Meier plots. Overall, 6090 (6.4%) individuals had diabetes at baseline, median follow-up was 9.9 years. Adjusting for classical risk factors and biomarkers, diabetes [HR 2.11 (95% CI 1.92, 2.32)], and all biomarkers (HR per interquartile range hs-cTnI 1.08 [95% CI 1.04, 1.12]; NT-proBNP 1.44 [95% CI 1.37, 1.53]; hs-CRP 1.27 [95% CI 1.21, 1.33]) were independently associated with cardiovascular events. Specific cut-offs for each biomarker identified a high-risk group of individuals with diabetes losing a median of 15.5 years of life compared to diabetics without elevated biomarkers. Addition of biomarkers to the Cox-model significantly improved the prediction of outcomes (likelihood ratio test for nested models P &lt; 0.001), accompanied by an increase in the c-index (increase to 0.81).

Conclusion
Biomarkers improve cardiovascular risk prediction in individuals with and without diabetes and facilitate the identification of individuals with diabetes at highest risk for cardiovascular events.
Atrial Fibrillation can adversely impact Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction by its association with Heart Failure Progression and Mortality: A Post-Hoc Propensity Score–Matched Analysis of the TOPCAT Americas Trial
Authors: Saksena Sanjeev , Slee April , Natale Andrea , Lakkireddy Dhanunjaya R , Shah Dipen , Di Biase Luigi , Lewalter Thorsten , Nagarakanti Rangadham , Santangeli Pasquale 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Aims
Prevalent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with excess cardiovascular (CV) death (D) and hospitalizations (H) in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (pEF). We evaluated if it had an independent role in excess CVD in HFpEF and studied its impact on cause-specific mortality and HF morbidity.

Methods and results
We used propensity score–matched (PSM) cohorts from the TOPCAT Americas trial to account for confounding by other co-morbidities. Two prevalent AF presentations at study entry were compared: (i) subjects with Any AF event by history or on electrocardiogram (ECG) with PSM subjects without an AF event and (ii) subjects in AF on ECG with PSM subjects in sinus rhythm. We analyzed cause-specific modes of death and HF morbidity during a mean follow-up period of 2.9 years. A total of 584 subjects with Any AF event and 418 subjects in AF on ECG were matched. Any AF was associated with increased CVH [hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.61, P = 0.003], HFH (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12–1.86, P = 0.004), pump failure death (PFD) (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.05–3.62, P = 0.035), and HF progression from New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes I/II to III/IV (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.04–1.62, P = 0.02). Atrial fibrillation on ECG was associated with increased risk of CVD (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.09, P = 0.039), PFD (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.11–4.40, P = 0.024), and CVH and HFH (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09–1.72, P = 0.006 and HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.22–2.23, P = 0.001, respectively). Atrial fibrillation was not associated with risk of sudden death. Both Any AF and AF on ECG cohorts were associated with PFD in NYHA class III/IV HF.

Conclusion
Prevalent AF can be an independent risk factor for adverse CV outcomes by its selective association with worsening HF, HFH, and PFD in HFpEF. Prevalent AF was not associated with excess sudden death risk in HFpEF. Atrial fibrillation was also associated with HF progression in early symptomatic HFpEF and PFD in advanced HFpEF.

Trial registration
TOPCAT trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov:identifier NCT00094302.
Digest: Massive mixing and merging of Madagascar Gemsnakes
Authors: Ottenburghs Jente 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Introgressive hybridization can give rise to reticulated patterns in a phylogeny. In a recent study, DeBaun et al. detected 12 reticulation events across the phylogeny of the Madagascar Gemsnakes, suggesting that their evolutionary history cannot be captured in a bifurcating tree. Moreover, identifying the true network of a group is difficult when using only available extant data. The evolution of these snakes might thus be even more tangled than we currently think.
Rapid generation of Caenorhabditis elegans single-copy transgenes combining recombination-mediated cassette exchange and drug selection
Authors: Nonet Michael L 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
I outline a streamlined method to insert large, single-copy transgenes into the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using recombination-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) that relies solely on drug selection yielding a homozygous fluorescent protein (FP) marked transgene in 3 generations (8 days) at high efficiency (&gt;1 insertion per 2 injected P0 animals). Landing sites for this approach are available on four chromosomes in several configurations which yield lines marked in distinct cell types. An array of vectors permit creating transgenes using a variety of selection methods (HygR, NeoR, PuroR, and unc-119) that yield lines expressing different colored FPs (BFP, GFP, mNG, and Scarlet). Although these transgenes retain a plasmid backbone and a selection marker, the inclusion of these sequences typically does not alter the expression of several cell-specific promoters tested. However, in certain orientations, promoters exhibit crosstalk with adjacent transcription units. In cases where crosstalk is problematic, the loxP-flanked fluorescent marker, plasmid backbone, and hygR gene can be excised by crossing through germline Cre expressing lines also created using this technique. Finally, genetic and molecular reagents designed to facilitate customization of both targeting vectors and landing sites are also described. Together, the rapid RMCE toolbox provides a platform for developing further innovative uses of RMCE to create complex genetically engineered tools.
A hybrid implicit-explicit discontinuous Galerkin spectral element time domain (DG-SETD) method for computational elastodynamics
Authors: Liu Qi Qiang , Zhuang Mingwei , Zhan Weichen , Shi Linlin , Liu Qing Huo 
Published: April 2023

SUMMARY
A hybrid implicit-explicit (IMEX) discontinuous Galerkin spectral element time domain (DG-SETD) algorithm is proposed to simulate 3D elastic wave propagation in inhomogeneous media. In this method, the original problem can be divided into a number of well designed subdomains, and the mesh generation of different subdomains is completely independent, thus allowing flexible spatial discretization of complex geometry. The neighboring subdomains are connected by a Riemann transmission condition (RTC), and spectral elements with different interpolation orders can be used in different subdomains to maximize the computational efficiency of multiscale problems to facilitate parallel computing for different subdomains. In particular, the explicit or implicit time iteration scheme can be appropriately selected for a subdomain according to the size of its mesh elements to increase the global time step increment, thus giving higher computational efficiency: For subdomains with coarse meshes, the explicit time integration scheme is used and the time step increment is limited by the Courant−Friedrichs−Lewy (CFL) stability condition; for subdomain with fine structures and thus fine meshes, an implicit time integration scheme is used so that a large time step increment can be used without affecting the stability. In addition, a jump condition of displacement and velocity is introduced to accurately simulating fractures and faults, including lossless and viscous fractures with plane, curve or cross structures. This avoids the volume modeling of the extremely thin fracture structures, and effectively reduces the number of degrees of freedoms (DoFs) in the discretized system without the loss of accuracy. The accuracy, robustness and efficiency of the DG-SETD algorithm are demonstrated by quantitative comparisons of the waveforms with the commercial finite element software COMSOL.