bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of copper leaching from direct-to-blister copper flash smelting slag by sulfuric acid
Authors: Gargul Krzysztof , Boryczko Bożena , Handzlik Piotr , Noga Piotr , Palimąka Piotr
Published: November 2022

Coppermaking from sulfide concentrates entails two major steps: smelting and converting. In continuous direct-to-copper smelting process these two steps are combined into one. The principal advantages of this process are: isolation of SO2 emission to a single, continuous, SO2-rich gas stream, minimization of energy consumption and minimization of capital and operating costs. Disadvantages of the process are that about 25% of the Cu entering a direct-to-copper smelting furnace ends up dissolved in the slag (when compared with < 10% in traditional Peirce–Smith converting) and the cost of recovering this Cu is significant. Decopperization process is based on the reduction of cuprous oxide and other metals, mainly lead and iron, in the liquid state in an electric furnace in the presence of coke and technological additives. This paper presents the results of laboratory tests on flash smelting slag leaching with sulfuric acid solutions. Hydrometallurgical treatment of the slag could be an alternative route to the presently used way of processing. The influence of a number of leaching parameters such as sulfuric acid concentration, amount of H2O2 added, liquid to solid phase (l/s) parameter and process temperature on the copper leaching efficiency was investigated. Under optimized process conditions, 95.6% of the copper contained in the original sample of slag was transferred into a solution. The experimental results obtained in the study were supplemented with the analysis of the kinetics of the copper leaching process from the flash smelting slag. The commonly known from the literature diffusion model and chemical reaction model were used. The activation energy of copper leaching from flash smelting slag was estimated in the range from 12.77 to 17.34 kJ/mol.
Reaping the benefits of digital transformation through Public-Private Partnership: A service ecosystem view applied to healthcare
Authors: Casprini Elena , Palumbo Rocco
Published: November 2022

The ongoing digital transformation ushers unprecedented challenges for publicly owned healthcare organizations. Collaborative governance models, such as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), advance their readiness to address such challenges, paving the way for the establishment of a viable service ecosystem. However, little is known about how PPPs enhance the publicly owned healthcare organizations’ ability to thrive amidst the digital transformation. The article investigates this issue, drawing on the exploratory case of “Lab@AOR”, a PPP established between Loccioni and the University Hospital of Marche (Italy) which focused on the robotization of a critical component of healthcare services’ delivery. Three ingredients have been found to nurture the PPP’s cohesiveness and success: (1) the alignment between the public partner’s needs and the private partner’s competences, (2) knowledge contamination, and (3) the adoption of patient-centeredness as the inspiring principle of the collaboration. The PPP represents an initial step of the transition towards a service ecosystem, entailing a fully-fledged partners’ integration for value co-generation.
Effects of lifespan-extending interventions on cognitive healthspan
Authors: Culig Luka , Sahbaz Burcin Duan , Bohr Vilhelm A.
Published: November 2022

Ageing is known to be the primary risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. They are currently incurable and worsen over time, which has broad implications in the context of lifespan and healthspan extension. Adding years to life and even to physical health is suboptimal or even insufficient, if cognitive ageing is not adequately improved. In this review, we will examine how interventions that have the potential to extend lifespan in animals affect the brain, and if they would be able to thwart or delay the development of cognitive dysfunction and/or neurodegeneration. These interventions range from lifestyle (caloric restriction, physical exercise and environmental enrichment) through pharmacological (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors, resveratrol, rapamycin, metformin, spermidine and senolytics) to epigenetic reprogramming. We argue that while many of these interventions have clear potential to improve cognitive health and resilience, large-scale and long-term randomised controlled trials are needed, along with studies utilising washout periods to determine the effects of supplementation cessation, particularly in aged individuals.
Polymyxin flushes for endotracheal tube suction catheters in extremely low birth-weight infants: Any benefit in preventing ventilator-associated events?
Authors: Edzards Michael J. , Jacobs Marni B. , Song Xiaoyan , Basu Sudeepta K. , Hamdy Rana F.
Published: November 2022

We report that receipt of polymyxin B endotracheal tube suction catheter flushes did not reduce the incidence of pediatric ventilator-associated events (PedVAE) in infants weighing <1,000 g in this retrospective study. Incidence of PedVAE in our group of extremely low birth-weight infants was 6 per 1,000 ventilator days.
WALLABY pilot survey: Public release of H i data for almost 600 galaxies from phase 1 of ASKAP pilot observations
Authors: Westmeier T. , Deg N. , Spekkens K. , Reynolds T. N. , Shen A. X. , Gaudet S. , Goliath S. , Huynh M. T. , Venkataraman P. , Lin X. , O’Beirne T. , Catinella B. , Cortese L. , Dénes H. , Elagali A. , For B.-Q. , Józsa G. I. G. , Howlett C. , van der Hulst J. M. , Jurek R. J. , Kamphuis P. , Kilborn V. A. , Kleiner D. , Koribalski B. S. , Lee-Waddell K. , Murugeshan C. , Rhee J. , Serra P. , Shao L. , Staveley-Smith L. , Wang J. , Wong O. I. , Zwaan M. A. , Allison J. R. , Anderson C. S. , Ball Lewis , Bock D. C.-J. , Brodrick D. , Bunton J. D. , Cooray F. R. , Gupta N. , Hayman D. B. , Mahony E. K. , Moss V. A. , Ng A. , Pearce S. E. , Raja W. , Roxby D. N. , Voronkov M. A. , Warhurst K. A. , Courtois H. M. , Said K.
Published: November 2022

We present WALLABY pilot data release 1, the first public release of H i pilot survey data from the Wide-field ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind Survey (WALLABY) on the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. Phase 1 of the WALLABY pilot survey targeted three

$60\,\mathrm{deg}^{2}$

regions on the sky in the direction of the Hydra and Norma galaxy clusters and the NGC 4636 galaxy group, covering the redshift range of

$z \lesssim 0.08$

. The source catalogue, images and spectra of nearly 600 extragalactic H i detections and kinematic models for 109 spatially resolved galaxies are available. As the pilot survey targeted regions containing nearby group and cluster environments, the median redshift of the sample of

$z \approx 0.014$

is relatively low compared to the full WALLABY survey. The median galaxy H i mass is

$2.3 \times 10^{9}\,{\rm M}_{{\odot}}$

. The target noise level of

$1.6\,\mathrm{mJy}$

per 30′′ beam and

$18.5\,\mathrm{kHz}$

channel translates into a

$5 \sigma$

H i mass sensitivity for point sources of about

$5.2 \times 10^{8} \, (D_{\rm L} / \mathrm{100\,Mpc})^{2} \, {\rm M}_{{\odot}}$

across 50 spectral channels (

${\approx} 200\,\mathrm{km \, s}^{-1}$

) and a

$5 \sigma$

H i column density sensitivity of about

$8.6 \times 10^{19} \, (1 + z)^{4}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$

across 5 channels (

${\approx} 20\,\mathrm{km \, s}^{-1}$

) for emission filling the 30′′ beam. As expected for a pilot survey, several technical issues and artefacts are still affecting the data quality. Most notably, there are systematic flux errors of up to several 10% caused by uncertainties about the exact size and shape of each of the primary beams as well as the presence of sidelobes due to the finite deconvolution threshold. In addition, artefacts such as residual continuum emission and bandpass ripples have affected some of the data. The pilot survey has been highly successful in uncovering such technical problems, most of which are expected to be addressed and rectified before the start of the full WALLABY survey.
The Effect of Legislature Size on Public Spending: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Freire Danilo , Mignozzetti Umberto , Roman Catarina , Alptekin Huzeyfe
Published: November 2022

In path-breaking work, Weingast et al. argue that there is a positive relationship between legislature size and inefficiency in public expenditures. Their proposition is currently known as the ‘law of 1/n’ and has been widely debated in political science and public administration. However, recent studies have questioned the validity of the theory. In this letter, we conduct the first meta-analysis that assesses the generality of the ‘law of 1/n’. Based on a sample of thirty articles, we find no robust evidence suggesting that legislature size has either a positive or a negative effect on government budgets. Yet, the aggregate results mask considerable heterogeneity. Our findings provide moderate support for the ‘law of 1/n’ in unicameral legislatures and in upper houses, but they also indicate that studies using panel/fixed-effects models or regression-discontinuity designs report negative public spending estimates. We find only limited evidence that electoral systems impact public spending, which suggests that proportional representation systems may not be more prone to overspending than majoritarian ones.
The Cognitive Processus Behind Neolithic Schematic Rock Art. Archaeological Implications and Research Hypothesis
Authors: Defrasne Claudia
Published: November 2022

The issue addressed in this article is essentially whether the same cognitive processes are at work for mimetic prehistoric graphic productions and schematic ones. Holocene schematic rock art is one of the main graphic expressions of European prehistory, from the Iberian peninsula to Italy. Despite its wide distribution and the incomparable insight it may provide on the functioning of prehistoric human groups and the cultural geography of the western European Neolithic, this rock art's imprecise chronology and geometric and schematic nature has often led to its exclusion from research on these societies, particularly in France. This paper proposes a study of schematic rock art from the perspective of the pragmatic and cognitive semiotics of visual culture and suggests that the production and purpose of diagrams, which compose so-called schematic rock art and which are common to all human societies, are different to those of figurative images, as is their cognitive origin. This demonstration sheds a new light on schematic rock art and the social practices it involved and invites us to rethink its coexistence with the Levantine imagery from the Spanish Levant.
A rare complication of Behçet’s disease in a 12-year-old girl: a large intracardiac thrombosis
Authors: Akbay Şenay , Ekici Filiz , Çomak Elif
Published: November 2022

Behcet’s disease is a multi-systemic inflammatory disease with a clinical spectrum as a triple complex of recurrent oral, genital ulcers, and uveitis. Cardiac involvement in patients with Behcet’s disease is extremely rare and often associated with poor prognosis. Behcet’s disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right ventricular mass especially in young adults, even there is no typical clinical features of Behcet’s disease. In this case, a 12-year-old girl who admitted with chest pain and haemoptysis and then was diagnosed with intracardiac thrombus related to Behcet’s disease during follow-up was described.
At risk and overlooked: Children with disabilities and armed conflict
Authors: Ćerimović Emina
Published: November 2022

In armed conflicts and crises, children with disabilities face serious threats to their lives and safety, including those related to their inability to flee attacks, risk of abandonment, lack of access to assistive devices, lack of access to basic services and denial of education as well as experiences of stigma, abuse, psychological harm and poverty. Children with disabilities experience multiple and intersecting forms of human rights violations based on their disability and age. Since 2015, Human Rights Watch has documented the impact of armed conflict on children with disabilities in Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Gaza Strip in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. While international human rights specifically call for the protection of children with disabilities in situations of armed conflict, the United Nations, governments, parties to the conflict and humanitarian actors have long neglected their specific rights and needs. There is an urgent need for the United Nations and governments to increase efforts to protect children with disabilities as part of their international commitments to protect all children impacted by hostilities. Their attention and investment in those most at risk of violence during armed conflicts will in turn enhance protection measures for everyone.
Exploration of Deep Ocean Ferromanganese Nodule Fields Using Radon as a Tracer
Authors: Guo Xiaoyi , Xu Bochao , Yu Huaming , Burnett William C. , Li Sanzhong , Lian Ergang , Zhu Zenghui , Zhao Shibin , Chen Guangquan , Duan Xiaoyong , Dimova Natasha , Wang Yanni , Zhuang Guangchao , Yu Zhigang
Published: November 2022

Ferromanganese nodules (Fe‐Mn nodules) are considered as potential sources of in‐demand metals (such as manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare‐earth elements) that are used in high‐technology industries. The resource potential of Mn nodules in the world ocean remains uncertain due to technological and financial challenges. Here we propose an effective tracer: the natural radioactive radon isotope (222Rn) to assess the abundance of Fe‐Mn nodules on the sea floor. Significant linear relationships were observed between benthic excess 222Rn fluxes and concentrations with Fe‐Mn nodule occurrence and coverage on the global seafloor. Benthic excess 222Rn flux >107 dpm/m2/yr or bottom water 222Rn concentrations >2,000 dpm/m3 indicate the possibility of Fe‐Mn nodules occurrence at >80% and seabed coverage of >25%. Our results indicate radon, relatively easy to measure, could serve as a novel and efficient tool for targeting Fe‐Mn nodule resources in the global abyssal ocean.
Dry Deposition Methods Based on Turbulence Kinetic Energy: 2. Extension to Particle Deposition Using a Single‐Point Model
Authors: Cheng Bin , Alapaty Kiran , Shu Qian , Arunachalam Saravanan
Published: November 2022

Magnitude of atmospheric turbulence, a key driver of several processes that contribute to aerosol (i.e., particle) deposition, is underrepresented in current models. Various formulations have been developed to model particle dry deposition; all these formulations typically rely on friction velocity and some use additional ad hoc factors to represent enhanced impacts of turbulence. However, none were formally linked with the three‐dimensional (3‐D) turbulence. Here, we propose a set of 3‐D turbulence‐dependent resistance formulations for particle dry deposition simulation and intercompare the performance of new resistance formulations with that obtained from using the existing formulations and measured dry deposition velocity. Turbulence parameters such as turbulence velocity scale, turbulence factor, intensity of turbulence, effective sedimentation velocity, and effective Stokes number are newly introduced into two different particle deposition schemes to improve turbulence strength representation. For an assumed particle size distribution, the newly proposed schemes predict stronger diurnal variation of particle dry deposition velocity and are comparable to corresponding measurements while existing formulations indicate large underpredictions. We also find that the incorporation of new turbulence parameters either introduced or added stronger diurnal variability to sedimentation velocity and collection efficiencies values, making the new schemes predict higher deposition values during daytime and nighttime when compared to existing schemes. The findings from this research may help improve the capability of dry deposition schemes in regional and global models.
Streamwise and Vertical Dispersal of Tracer Stones in an Equilibrium Bed
Authors: Viparelli Enrica , Balkus Amanda , Vázquez‐Tarrío Daniel , Hill Kimberly M. , Tal Michal , Fedele Juan
Published: November 2022

Modeling transport, erosion, and deposition of nonuniform sediment over temporal intervals that are short compared to those characterizing channel bed aggradation and degradation remains an open problem due to the complex quantification of the sediment fluxes between the bed material load and the alluvial deposit. Parker, Paola, and Leclair in 2000 proposed a morphodynamic (PPL) framework to overcome this problem. This framework is used here to model the dispersal of a patch of gravel tracers in three different settings, a laboratory flume, a mountain creek, and a braided river. To simplify the problem, (a) the bed slope, bedload transport rate, and bed configuration are assumed to be constant in space and time (equilibrium), (b) sediment entrainment and deposition are modeled with a constant step length formulation, and (c) the PPL framework is implemented in a one‐dimensional (laterally averaged) model. Model validation against laboratory experiments suggests that, as the transport capacity of the flow increases, the maximum elevation‐specific density of sediment entrainment may migrate downward in the deposit. The comparison between model results and field data shows that the equilibrium solution can reasonably capture tracer dispersal. The equilibrium model can also reproduce subdiffusion and superdiffusion of a patch of tracers in the streamwise direction, depending on the magnitude of the short‐term bed level changes. Finally, the average tracer elevation in a cross‐section decreases in time because particles that are buried deep in the deposit are only rarely reentrained into bedload transport.
Dual State‐Parameter Assimilation of SAR‐Derived Wet Surface Ratio for Improving Fluvial Flood Reanalysis
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Huy , Ricci Sophie , Piacentini Andrea , Fatras Christophe , Kettig Peter , Blanchet Gwendoline , Peña Luque Santiago , Baillarin Simon
Published: November 2022

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural hazards to which our society worldwide must adapt, especially as its severity and occurrence tend to increase with climate changes. This research work focuses on the assimilation of two‐dimensional (2D) flood observations derived from remote‐sensing images acquired during overflowing events. To do so, the resulting binary wet/dry maps are expressed in terms of wet surface ratios (WSR) over a number of floodplain subdomains. This ratio is assimilated jointly with in‐situ water‐level gauge observations to improve the flow dynamics within the floodplain. An Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) with a dual state‐parameter analysis approach is implemented on top of a TELEMAC‐2D hydrodynamic model. The EnKF control vector is composed of spatially‐distributed friction coefficients and a corrective parameter of the inflow discharge. It is extended with the hydraulic states within the floodplain subdomains. This data assimilation strategy was validated and evaluated over a reach of the Garonne river. The observation operator associated with the WSR observations, as well as the dual state‐parameter sequential correction, was first validated in the context of Observing System Simulation Experiments. It was then applied to two real flood events that occurred in 2019 and 2021. The merits of assimilating synthetic aperture radar‐derived WSR observations, in complement to the in‐situ water‐level observations, are shown in the parameter and observation spaces with assessment metrics computed over the entire flood events. It is also shown that the hydraulic state correction within the dual state‐parameter analysis approach significantly improves the flood dynamics, especially during the flood recess.
Perineuronal nets affect memory and learning after synapse withdrawal
Authors: Ruzicka Jiri , Dalecka Marketa , Safrankova Kristyna , Peretti Diego , Jendelova Pavla , Kwok Jessica C. F. , Fawcett James W.
Published: November 2022

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) enwrap mature neurons, playing a role in the control of plasticity and synapse dynamics. PNNs have been shown to have effects on memory formation, retention and extinction in a variety of animal models. It has been proposed that the cavities in PNNs, which contain synapses, can act as a memory store and that they remain stable after events that cause synaptic withdrawal such as anoxia or hibernation. We examine this idea by monitoring place memory before and after synaptic withdrawal caused by acute hibernation-like state (HLS). Animals lacking hippocampal PNNs due to enzymatic digestion by chondroitinase ABC or knockout of the PNN component aggrecan were compared with wild type controls. HLS-induced synapse withdrawal caused a memory deficit, but not to the level of untreated naïve animals and not worsened by PNN attenuation. After HLS, only animals lacking PNNs showed memory restoration or relearning. Absence of PNNs affected the restoration of excitatory synapses on PNN-bearing neurons. The results support a role for hippocampal PNNs in learning, but not in long-term memory storage for correction of deficits.
Pathways explaining racial/ethnic and socio-economic disparities in incident all-cause dementia among older US adults across income groups
Authors: Beydoun May A. , Beydoun Hind A. , Banerjee Sri , Weiss Jordan , Evans Michele K. , Zonderman Alan B.
Published: November 2022

Differential racial and socioeconomic disparities in dementia incidence across income groups and their underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. A retrospective cohort study examining all-cause dementia incidence across income groups was conducted linking third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES III) to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-Medicare data over ≤26 y of follow-up (1988–2014). Cox regression and generalized structural equations models (GSEM) were constructed among adults aged≥60 y at baseline (N = 4,592). Non-Hispanic Black versus White (NHW) adults had higher risk of dementia in age and sex-adjusted Cox regression models (HR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.15–1.55,P < 0.001), an association that was attenuated in the SES-adjusted model (HR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01–1.34,P = 0.092). SES was inversely related to dementia risk overall (per Standard Deviation, HR = 0.80, 95% CI:0.69–0.92,P = 0.002, Model 2), mainly within the middle-income group. Within the lowest and middle-income groups and in socio-economic status (SES)-adjusted models, Mexican American participants were at lower all-cause dementia risk compared with their NHW counterparts. GSEM models further detected 3 pathways explaining >55% of the total effect of SES on dementia risk (Total effect = −0.160 ± 0.067,p = 0.022), namely SES→LIFESTYLE→DEMENTIA (Indirect effect (IE) = −0.041 ± 0.014,p = 0.004), SES→LIFESTYLE→COGN→DEMENTIA (IE = −0.006 ± 0.001,p < 0.001), SES→COGN→DEMENTIA(IE = −0.040 ± 0.008,p < 0.001), with the last two remaining significant or marginally significant in the uppermost income groups. Diet and social support were among key lifestyle factors involved in socio-economic disparities in dementia incidence. We provide evidence for modifiable risk factors that may delay dementia onset differentially across poverty-income ratio groups, underscoring their importance for future observational and intervention studies.
Ascertaining cells’ synaptic connections and RNA expression simultaneously with barcoded rabies virus libraries
Authors: Saunders Arpiar , Huang Kee Wui , Vondrak Cassandra , Hughes Christina , Smolyar Karina , Sen Harsha , Philson Adrienne C. , Nemesh James , Wysoker Alec , Kashin Seva , Sabatini Bernardo L. , McCarroll Steven A.
Published: November 2022

Brain function depends on synaptic connections between specific neuron types, yet systematic descriptions of synaptic networks and their molecular properties are not readily available. Here, we introduce SBARRO (Synaptic Barcode Analysis by Retrograde Rabies ReadOut), a method that uses single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal directional, monosynaptic relationships based on the paths of a barcoded rabies virus from its “starter” postsynaptic cell to that cell’s presynaptic partners. Thousands of these partner relationships can be ascertained in a single experiment, alongside genome-wide RNAs. We use SBARRO to describe synaptic networks formed by diverse mouse brain cell types in vitro, finding that different cell types have presynaptic networks with differences in average size and cell type composition. Patterns of RNA expression suggest that functioning synapses are critical for rabies virus uptake. By tracking individual rabies clones across cells, SBARRO offers new opportunities to map the synaptic organization of neural circuits.
XNAzymes targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome inhibit viral infection
Authors: Gerber Pehuén Pereyra , Donde Maria J. , Matheson Nicholas J. , Taylor Alexander I.
Published: November 2022

The unprecedented emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that can be rapidly tailored to novel threats. Here, we show that site-specific RNA endonuclease XNAzymes – artificial catalysts composed of single-stranded synthetic xeno-nucleic acid oligonucleotides (in this case 2’-deoxy-2’-fluoro-β-D-arabino nucleic acid) – may be designed, synthesised and screened within days, enabling the discovery of a range of enzymes targeting SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab, ORF7b, spike- and nucleocapsid-encoding RNA. Three of these are further engineered to self-assemble into a catalytic nanostructure with enhanced biostability. This XNA nanostructure is capable of cleaving genomic SARS-CoV-2 RNA under physiological conditions, and when transfected into cells inhibits infection with authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus by RNA knockdown. These results demonstrate the potential of XNAzymes to provide a platform for the rapid generation of antiviral reagents.
On-chip generation and dynamic piezo-optomechanical rotation of single photons
Authors: Bühler Dominik D. , Weiß Matthias , Crespo-Poveda Antonio , Nysten Emeline D. S. , Finley Jonathan J. , Müller Kai , Santos Paulo V. , de Lima Mauricio M. , Krenner Hubert J.
Published: November 2022

Integrated photonic circuits are key components for photonic quantum technologies and for the implementation of chip-based quantum devices. Future applications demand flexible architectures to overcome common limitations of many current devices, for instance the lack of tuneabilty or built-in quantum light sources. Here, we report on a dynamically reconfigurable integrated photonic circuit comprising integrated quantum dots (QDs), a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducers directly fabricated on a monolithic semiconductor platform. We demonstrate on-chip single photon generation by the QD and its sub-nanosecond dynamic on-chip control. Two independently applied SAWs piezo-optomechanically rotate the single photon in the MZI or spectrally modulate the QD emission wavelength. In the MZI, SAWs imprint a time-dependent optical phase and modulate the qubit rotation to the output superposition state. This enables dynamic single photon routing with frequencies exceeding one gigahertz. Finally, the combination of the dynamic single photon control and spectral tuning of the QD realizes wavelength multiplexing of the input photon state and demultiplexing it at the output. Our approach is scalable to multi-component integrated quantum photonic circuits and is compatible with hybrid photonic architectures and other key components for instance photonic resonators or on-chip detectors.
RasGRP1 promotes the acute inflammatory response and restricts inflammation-associated cancer cell growth
Authors: Wang Cong , Li Xue , Xue Binbin , Yu Changping , Wang Luoling , Deng Rilin , Liu Hui , Chen Zihao , Zhang Yingdan , Fan Suping , Zuo Chaohui , Sun Hungyu , Zhu Haizhen , Wang Jianli , Tang Songqing
Published: November 2022

An acute inflammatory response needs to be properly regulated to promote the elimination of pathogens and prevent the risk of tumorigenesis, but the relevant regulatory mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein 1 (RasGRP1) is a bifunctional regulator that promotes acute inflammation and inhibits inflammation-associated cancer. At the mRNA level, Rasgrp1 activates the inflammatory response by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA to specifically promote IL-6 expression by sponging let-7a. In vivo overexpression of the Rasgrp1 3’ untranslated region enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation and dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in Il6+/+ mice but not in Il6-/- mice. At the protein level, RasGRP1 overexpression significantly inhibits the tumour-promoting effect of IL-6 in hepatocellular carcinoma progenitor cell-like spheroids. Examination of the EGFR signalling pathway shows that RasGRP1 inhibits inflammation-associated cancer cell growth by disrupting the EGFR-SOS1-Ras-AKT signalling pathway. Tumour patients with high RasGRP1 expression have better clinical outcomes than those with low RasGRP1 expression. Considering that acute inflammation rarely leads to tumorigenesis, this study suggests that RasGRP1 may be an important bifunctional regulator of the acute inflammatory response and tumour growth.
F-actin architecture determines constraints on myosin thick filament motion
Authors: Muresan Camelia G. , Sun Zachary Gao , Yadav Vikrant , Tabatabai A. Pasha , Lanier Laura , Kim June Hyung , Kim Taeyoon , Murrell Michael P.
Published: November 2022

Active stresses are generated and transmitted throughout diverse F-actin architectures within the cell cytoskeleton, and drive essential behaviors of the cell, from cell division to migration. However, while the impact of F-actin architecture on the transmission of stress is well studied, the role of architecture on the ab initio generation of stresses remains less understood. Here, we assemble F-actin networks in vitro, whose architectures are varied from branched to bundled through F-actin nucleation via Arp2/3 and the formin mDia1. Within these architectures, we track the motions of embedded myosin thick filaments and connect them to the extent of F-actin network deformation. While mDia1-nucleated networks facilitate the accumulation of stress and drive contractility through enhanced actomyosin sliding, branched networks prevent stress accumulation through the inhibited processivity of thick filaments. The reduction in processivity is due to a decrease in translational and rotational motions constrained by the local density and geometry of F-actin.
Accessibility and availability of smartphone apps for schizophrenia
Authors: Kwon Sam , Firth Joseph , Joshi Devayani , Torous John
Published: November 2022

App-based interventions have the potential to enhance access to and quality of care for patients with schizophrenia. However, less is known about the current state of schizophrenia apps in research and how those translate to publicly available apps. This study, therefore, aimed to review schizophrenia apps offered on marketplaces and research literature with a focus on accessibility and availability. A search of recent reviews, gray literature, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted in August 2022. A search of the U.S. Apple App Store and Google Play App Store was conducted in July 2022. All eligible studies and apps were systematically screened/reviewed. The academic research search produced 264 results; 60 eligible studies were identified. 51.7% of research apps were built on psychosis-specific platforms and 48.3% of research apps were built on non-specific platforms. 83.3% of research apps offered monitoring functionalities. Only nine apps, two designed on psychosis-specific platforms and seven on non-specific platforms were easily accessible. The search of app marketplaces uncovered 537 apps; only six eligible marketplace apps were identified. 83.3% of marketplace apps only offered psychoeducation. All marketplace apps lacked frequent updates with the average time since last update 1121 days. There are few clinically relevant apps accessible to patients on the commercial marketplaces. While research efforts are expanding, many research apps are unavailable today. Better translation of apps from research to the marketplace and a focus on sustainable interventions are important targets for the field.
Maternal childhood trauma is associated with offspring body size during the first year of life
Authors: Apanasewicz Anna , Danel Dariusz P. , Piosek Magdalena , Wychowaniec Patrycja , Babiszewska-Aksamit Magdalena , Ziomkiewicz Anna
Published: November 2022

Maternal childhood trauma (MCT) is an important factor affecting offspring size at birth. Whether the effect of MCT persists during the subsequent development remains unclear. We present the results of a semi-longitudinal investigation examining the physical growth of infants born to mothers with high (HCT) and low (LCT) childhood trauma during the first year of life. One hundred healthy mother-infant dyads were included based on following criteria: exclusive breastfeeding, birth on term with appropriate weight for gestational age. MCT was assessed using the Early Life Stress Questionnaire. The weight, length, and head circumference of the infant were taken at birth, 5 and 12 months postpartum. Separate MANCOVA models were run for infant size at each age. We found an association between MCT and infant size at 5 and 12 months. The children of mothers with HCT had higher weight and greater head circumference than the children of mothers with LCT. These results suggest that MCT might contribute to developmental programming of offspring growth during the first year of life. From an evolutionary perspective, the larger size of HCT mother's offspring might represent an adaptation to potentially harsh environmental conditions. This effect might be mediated by epigenetic changes to DNA and altered breast milk composition.
Discovering the structure and organization of a free Cantonese emotion-label word association graph to understand mental lexicons of emotions
Authors: Wong Ting Yat , Fang Zhiqian , Yu Yat To , Cheung Charlton , Hui Christy L. M. , Elvevåg Brita , De Deyne Simon , Sham Pak Chung , Chen Eric Y. H.
Published: November 2022

Emotions are not necessarily universal across different languages and cultures. Mental lexicons of emotions depend strongly on contextual factors, such as language and culture. The Chinese language has unique linguistic properties that are different from other languages. As a main variant of Chinese, Cantonese has some emotional expressions that are only used by Cantonese speakers. Previous work on Chinese emotional vocabularies focused primarily on Mandarin. However, little is known about Cantonese emotion vocabularies. This is important since both language variants might have distinct emotional expressions, despite sharing the same writing system. To explore the structure and organization of Cantonese-label emotion words, we selected 79 highly representative emotion cue words from an ongoing large-scale Cantonese word association study (SWOW-HK). We aimed to identify the categories of these emotion words and non-emotion words that related to emotion concepts. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to generate word clusters and investigate the underlying emotion dimensions. As the cluster quality was low in hierarchical clustering, we further constructed an emotion graph using a network approach to explore how emotions are organized in the Cantonese mental lexicon. With the support of emotion knowledge, the emotion graph defined more distinct emotion categories. The identified network communities covered basic emotions such as love, happiness, and sadness. Our results demonstrate that mental lexicon graphs constructed from free associations of Cantonese emotion-label words can reveal fine categories of emotions and their relevant concepts.
Resistin as a risk factor for all-cause (and cardiovascular) death in the general population
Authors: del Cristo Rodríguez Pérez María , González Delia Almeida , Rodríguez Itahisa Marcelino , Coello Santiago Domínguez , Fernández Francisco J. Cuevas , Díaz Buenaventura Brito , de León Antonio Cabrera
Published: November 2022

Serum resistin is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been described as a risk factor associated with mortality in several clinical sets including type 2 diabetes. Mortality studies in the general population are needed to find out the risk of death associated to this cytokine. In a follow-up study of a cohort of adult population (n = 6636) in Spain over a period of fifteen years (447 deaths/102,255 person-years), serum resistin measurements and death records were obtained. The risks of all-cause deaths, and deaths from cardiovascular and oncological diseases were estimated. Hazard ratios (HR) and its confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable Cox models, adjusting the effect of 11 traditional risk factors. The risk of all-cause mortality among participants exposed to the highest quintile of resistin was always higher than among those in the lowest quintile (HR varied between 1.55 when smoking was the adjusted factor [95% CI 1.17–2.05], and 1.68 when the adjusted factor was physical activity [95% CI 1.27–2.21]). The maximally adjusted model, accounting for the effect of all traditional factors, corroborated this higher risk of all-cause mortality among people in the highest resistin quintile (HR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.13–2.05). The effect of resistin was even higher for cardiovascular deaths (HR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.13–4.06), being exceeded only by suffering diabetes (HR = 3.04; 95% CI 1.98–4.69) or previous acute coronary syndrome (HR = 3.67; 95% CI 2.18–6.18). This findings corroborate the role of resistin as a risk factor for all-cause (and cardiovascular) death in the general population.
Bionic adaptive fault-tolerant control of non-Gaussian stochastic attitude hypersonic vehicle
Authors: Hu Kai-Yu , Zhu Kun , Sun Wenjing
Published: November 2022

This study investigates an adaptive fault-tolerant control (FTC) for hypersonic flight vehicles (HFVs) with incipient faults and non-Gaussian stochastic output attitudes. In the nonlinear HFV dynamics, a hybrid fuzzy approximation method achieves the linearization, then the stochastic outputs are transformed into probability density functions (PDFs) via rational square root B-spline. The disturbance and faults are estimated simultaneously by an adaptive augmented observer. Then actuator faults are compensated by an bionic adaptive fault-tolerant controller to ensure that the output PDFs accurately track the expected PDFs, thereby matching actual attitude angles with the desired ones, the bionic prey adaptive law can make FTC accurately repair the incipient fault deviations. Lyapunov theory proves the robust stability of the scheme, and simulation illustrates the effectiveness.
Physiological and biochemical responses of selected weed and crop species to the plant-based bioherbicide WeedLock
Authors: Hasan Mahmudul , Mokhtar Anis Syahirah , Mahmud Khairil , Berahim Zulkarami , Rosli Adam Mustafa , Hamdan Hafizuddin , Motmainna Mst. , Ahmad-Hamdani Muhammad Saiful
Published: November 2022

WeedLock is a broad-spectrum plant-based bioherbicide that is currently on the market as a ready-to-use formulation. In this study, we investigated the physiological and biochemical effects of WeedLock (672.75 L ha-1) on Ageratum conyzoides L., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn, Zea mays L., and Amaranthus gangeticus L. at four different time points. WeedLock caused significant reductions in chlorophyll pigment content and disrupted photosynthetic processes in all test plants. The greatest inhibition in photosynthesis was recorded in A. conyzoides at 24 h post-treatment with a 74.88% inhibition. Plants treated with WeedLock showed increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline production, which is indicative of phytotoxic stress. Remarkably, MDA contents of all treated plants increased by more than 100% in comparison to untreated. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) was elevated following treatment with WeedLock. Significant increases were observed in the SOD activity of A. conyzoides ranging from 69.66 to 118.24% from 6 to 72 h post-treatment. Our findings confirm that WeedLock disrupts the normal physiological and biochemical processes in plants following exposure and that its mode of action is associated with ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, similar to that of PPO (protoporphyrinogen oxidase) inhibitors, although specific site-of-action of this novel bioherbicide warrants further investigation.
Seismic response of benchmark high-speed rail (HSR) round-ended rectangular-shaped cross-section solid (RERSCSS) concrete pier based on the shaking table tests
Authors: Chen Lingun , Jiang Lizhong , Kang Xin , Hu Xiaolun , Huang Xiaoming , Xu Liang , Sun Linlin , Wang Lu , Tian Yuan , Zhai Chencheng
Published: November 2022

High-speed rail (HSR) has recently expanded its networks globally, but its 350 km/h bridges have not yet been tested for high-level earthquakes. This study tests the typical HSR bridge on a shaking table to assess the seismic performance in high-level earthquakes such as Maximum Considered Earthquake. Based on the model similarity theory, it creates nine round-ended rectangular-shaped cross-section solid RC HSR bridge piers. It employs the orthogonal testing method to conduct experimental design considering four influential factors: aspect ratio, axial load ratio, longitudinal reinforcement rate, and volumetric stirrup ratio. Experimental research was conducted to examine the dynamic response of these piers subjected to varying seismic impacts and design parameters, and the implications of the four factors on the seismic performance of the piers were discussed. After all the earthquake circumstances, the test findings demonstrate that the concrete of the pier specimens has not cracked or spalled much. An earthquake with a peak acceleration of 0.96 g indicates that the pier body of the standard high-speed rail round-end solid pier retains its integrity and stability. The extent of the pier's earthquake damage is not immediately evident. HSR bridges' seismic design may benefit from this research, which examines the impact of dynamic characteristics, including aspect ratio, axial load ratio, and longitudinal reinforcement rate, on HSR bridge piers' seismic performance.
Crystal optics simulations for delineation of the three-dimensional cellular nuclear distribution using analyzer-based refraction-contrast computed tomography
Authors: Sunaguchi Naoki , Huang Zhuoran , Shimao Daisuke , Ichihara Shu , Nishimura Rieko , Iwakoshi Akari , Yuasa Tetsuya , Ando Masami
Published: November 2022

Refraction-contrast computed tomography (RCT) using a refractive angle analyzer of Si perfect crystal can reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of biological soft tissue with contrast comparable to that of stained two-dimensional pathological images. However, the blurring of X-ray beam by the analyzer has prevented improvement of the spatial resolution of RCT, and the currently possible observation of tissue structure at a scale of approximately 20 µm provides only limited medical information. As in pathology, to differentiate between benign and malignant forms of cancer, it is necessary to observe the distribution of the cell nucleus, which is approximately 5–10 µm in diameter. In this study, based on the X-ray dynamical diffraction theory using the Takagi–Taupin equation, which calculates the propagation of X-ray energy in crystals, an analyzer crystal optical system depicting the distribution of cell nuclei was investigated by RCT imaging simulation experiments in terms of the thickness of the Laue-case analyzer, the camera pixel size and the difference in spatial resolution between the Bragg-case and Laue-case analyzers.
Atmosphere-solid earth coupling signals generated by the 15 January 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption
Authors: Diaz Jordi
Published: November 2022

The January 15th 2022 eruption of the Hunga-Tonga volcano was associated to one of the highest energy volcanic explosions of the past few decades. Here we present a compilation of data from global seismic networks to explore three main topics: the time evolution of the eruption, the propagation of the atmospheric waves around the Earth and the low-frequency, long-lasting seismic signals worldwide after the main event. We find that the eruption started around 04:00, included two large explosions at 05:30 and 08:25 and produced atmospheric waves which circled the Earth more than two times during a time span of 3.5 days and were detected seismically. We also identify very low frequency signals, detected over several hours, which we interpret as resulting from the excitation of Earth normal modes. To our knowledge, there are no previous examples of atmospheric-solid Earth coupling over such a long time interval and only two examples of normal mode excitation following volcanic eruptions.
Selective gas adsorption by calixarene-based porous octahedral M32coordination cages
Authors: Khariushin Ivan V. , Ovsyannikov Alexander S. , Baudron Stéphane A. , Ward Jas S. , Kiesilä Anniina , Rissanen Kari , Kalenius Elina , Kovalenko Konstantin A. , Fedin Vladimir P. , Solovieva Svetlana E. , Antipin Igor S. , Bulach Véronique , Ferlay Sylvie
Published: November 2022

A porous behaviour of supramolecular nanosized calixarene based containers has been evidenced: they behave as adsorbents for the separation of small gases mixtures.
The amphiphilic nanostructure of ionic liquids affects the dehydration of alcohols
Authors: Matthewman Emma L. , Kapila Bhavana , Grant Mason L. , Weber Cameron C.
Published: November 2022

The amphiphilic nanostructures of ionic liquids were found to have opposing effects on the rate of dehydration of secondary alcohols in the presence and absence of an added acid catalyst.
A topotactic structural transformation synthetic route for β-NaYF4upconversion nanocrystals from YF3at room temperature
Authors: Shao Baiqi , Yang Mei , Ye Fangfu
Published: November 2022

A novelin situtopotactic structural transformation route for direct wet synthesis of hexagonal phase β-NaYF4upconversion nanocrystals was developed.
Post-synthetic modification of NH2-MIL88B(Fe) with sulfonic acid groups for acid-catalyzed epoxide ring-opening reaction
Authors: Mohammadikish Maryam , Valimohammadi Zahra , Masteri-Farahani Majid
Published: November 2022

A new metal–organic framework-based solid acid catalyst was successfully prepared and exploited in the catalytic ring-opening of epoxides.
Relaxation dynamics in excited helium nanodroplets probed with high resolution, time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: LaForge A. C. , Asmussen J. D. , Bastian B. , Bonanomi M. , Callegari C. , De S. , Di Fraia M. , Gorman L. , Hartweg S. , Krishnan S. R. , Kling M. F. , Mishra D. , Mandal S. , Ngai A. , Pal N. , Plekan O. , Prince K. C. , Rosenberger P. , Aguirre Serrata E. , Stienkemeier F. , Berrah N. , Mudrich M.
Published: November 2022

The ultrafast relaxation dynamics of excited helium nanodroplets were studied using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. We observed an efficient population of triplet atomic states as well as the formation of the first excimer state of He2*.
Enhancement of oxygen reduction reactivity on TiN by tuning the work function via metal doping
Authors: Chisaka Mitsuharu , Abe Toshiyuki , Xiang Rong , Maruyama Shigeo , Daiguji Hirofumi
Published: November 2022

A new strategy, optimising the work function via the doping of foreign metals, is revealed to enhance the oxygen reduction reactivity on TiN surface.