bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small instantons in weakly-gauged holographic models
Authors: Gherghetta Tony , Pomarol Alex
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Small instantons can play an important role in Yang-Mills theories whose gauge couplings are sizeable at small distances. An interesting class of theories where this could occur is in weakly-gauged holographic models (dual to Yang-Mills theories interacting with strongly-coupled CFTs), since gauge couplings are indeed enhanced towards the UV boundary of the 5D AdS space. However, contrary to expectations, we show that small instantons in these non-asymptotically-free models are highly suppressed and ineffective. This is due to the conservation of topological charge that forbids instantons to be localized near the UV boundary. Despite this fact we find non-trivial UV localized instanton-anti-instanton solutions of the Yang-Mills equations where the topological charges annihilate in the AdS bulk. These analytic solutions arise from a 5D conformal transformation of the uplifted 4D instanton. Our analysis therefore reveals unexpected nonperturbative configurations of Yang-Mills theories when they interact with strongly-coupled CFTs.
Stationary solutions in thermodynamics of stochastically forced fluids
Authors: Breit Dominic , Feireisl Eduard , Hofmanová Martina
Published: November 2021

We study the full Navier–Stokes–Fourier system governing the motion of a general viscous, heat-conducting, and compressible fluid subject to stochastic perturbation. The system is supplemented with non-homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions for the temperature and hence energetically open. We show that, in contrast with the energetically closed system, there exists a stationary solution. Our approach is based on new global-in-time estimates which rely on the non-homogeneous boundary conditions combined with estimates for the pressure.
Autosuggestion: a cognitive process that empowers your brain?
Authors: Myga Kasia A. , Kuehn Esther , Azanon Elena
Published: November 2021

Autosuggestion is a cognitive process that is believed to enable control over one’s own cognitive and physiological states. Despite its potential importance for basic science and clinical applications, such as in rehabilitation, stress reduction, or pain therapy, the neurocognitive mechanisms and psychological concepts that underlie autosuggestion are poorly defined. Here, by reviewing empirical data on autosuggestion and related phenomena such as mental imagery, mental simulation, and suggestion, we offer a neurocognitive concept of autosuggestion. We argue that autosuggestion is characterized by three major factors: reinstantiation, reiteration, and volitional, active control over one’s own physiological states. We also propose that autosuggestion might involve the ‘overwriting’ of existing predictions or brain states that expect the most common (but not desired) outcome. We discuss potential experimental paradigms that could be used to study autosuggestion in the future, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of current evidence. This review provides a first overview on how to define, experimentally induce, and study autosuggestion, which may facilitate its use in basic science and clinical practice.
High-intensity resistance exercise is not as effective as traditional high-intensity interval exercise for increasing the cardiorespiratory response and energy expenditure in recreationally active subjects
Authors: Järvinen Laura , Lundin Petersdotter Sofi , Chaillou Thomas
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Traditional high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) highly stimulates the cardiorespiratory system and increases energy expenditure (EE) during exercise. High-intensity resistance exercise (HIRE) has become more popular in recreationally active subjects. The physiological responses to HIRE performed with light or moderate load is currently largely unknown. Here, we examined the effect of the type of interval exercise [HIRE at 40% (HIRE40) and 60% (HIRE60) 1-RM vs. traditional HIIE] on the cardiorespiratory response and EE during and after exercise.

Methods

Fifteen recreationally active adults randomly completed traditional HIIE on an ergocyle, HIRE40 and HIRE60. The sessions consisted of two sets of ten 30-s intervals (power at 100% VO2max during HIIE; maximal number of repetitions for 10 different free-weight exercises during HIRE40 and HIRE60) separated by 30-s active recovery periods. Gas exchange, heart rate (HR) and EE were assessed during and after exercise.

Results

VO2mean, VO2peak, HRmean, the time spent above 90% VO2max and HRmax, and aerobic EE were lower in both HIRE sessions compared with HIIE (P < 0.05). Anaerobic glycolytic contribution to total exercise EE was higher in HIRE40 and HIRE60 compared with HIIE (P < 0.001). EE from excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) was similar after the three sessions. Overall, similar cardiorespiratory responses and EE were found in HIRE40 and HIRE60.

Conclusions

HIRE is not as effective as HIIE for increasing the cardiorespiratory response and EE during exercise, while EPOC remains similar in HIRE and HIIE. These parameters are not substantially different between HIRE40 and HIRE60.
An ensemble-based convolutional neural network model powered by a genetic algorithm for melanoma diagnosis
Authors: Pérez Eduardo , Ventura Sebastián
Published: November 2021

Melanoma is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths. The development of new computational methods as an important tool for assisting doctors can lead to early diagnosis and effectively reduce mortality. In this work, we propose a convolutional neural network architecture for melanoma diagnosis inspired by ensemble learning and genetic algorithms. The architecture is designed by a genetic algorithm that finds optimal members of the ensemble. Additionally, the abstract features of all models are merged and, as a result, additional prediction capabilities are obtained. The diagnosis is achieved by combining all individual predictions. In this manner, the training process is implicitly regularized, showing better convergence, mitigating the overfitting of the model, and improving the generalization performance. The aim is to find the models that best contribute to the ensemble. The proposed approach also leverages data augmentation, transfer learning, and a segmentation algorithm. The segmentation can be performed without training and with a central processing unit, thus avoiding a significant amount of computational power, while maintaining its competitive performance. To evaluate the proposal, an extensive experimental study was conducted on sixteen skin image datasets, where state-of-the-art models were significantly outperformed. This study corroborated that genetic algorithms can be employed to effectively find suitable architectures for the diagnosis of melanoma, achieving in overall 11% and 13% better prediction performances compared to the closest model in dermoscopic and non-dermoscopic images, respectively. Finally, the proposal was implemented in a web application in order to assist dermatologists and it can be consulted at http://skinensemble.com.
A deep learning model for gas storage optimization
Authors: Curin Nicolas , Kettler Michael , Kleisinger-Yu Xi , Komaric Vlatka , Krabichler Thomas , Teichmann Josef , Wutte Hanna
Published: November 2021

To the best of our knowledge, the application of deep learning in the field of quantitative risk management is still a relatively recent phenomenon. In this article, we utilize techniques inspired by reinforcement learning in order to optimize the operation plans of underground natural gas storage facilities. We provide a theoretical framework and assess the performance of the proposed method numerically in comparison to a state-of-the-art least-squares Monte-Carlo approach. Due to the inherent intricacy originating from the high-dimensional forward market as well as the numerous constraints and frictions, the optimization exercise can hardly be tackled by means of traditional techniques.
Intermittent Hormone Therapy Models Analysis and Bayesian Model Comparison for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Pasetto S. , Enderling H. , Gatenby R. A. , Brady-Nicholls R.
Published: November 2021

The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male reproductive system dependent on androgens (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) for development and maintenance. First-line therapy for prostate cancer includes androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), depriving both the normal and malignant prostate cells of androgens required for proliferation and survival. A significant problem with continuous ADT at the maximum tolerable dose is the insurgence of cancer cell resistance. In recent years, intermittent ADT has been proposed as an alternative to continuous ADT, limiting toxicities and delaying time-to-progression. Several mathematical models with different biological resistance mechanisms have been considered to simulate intermittent ADT response dynamics. We present a comparison between 13 of these intermittent dynamical models and assess their ability to describe prostate-specific antigen (PSA) dynamics. The models are calibrated to longitudinal PSA data from the Canadian Prospective Phase II Trial of intermittent ADT for locally advanced prostate cancer. We perform Bayesian inference and model analysis over the models’ space of parameters on- and off-treatment to determine each model’s strength and weakness in describing the patient-specific PSA dynamics. Additionally, we carry out a classical Bayesian model comparison on the models’ evidence to determine the models with the highest likelihood to simulate the clinically observed dynamics. Our analysis identifies several models with critical abilities to disentangle between relapsing and not relapsing patients, together with parameter intervals where the critical points’ basin of attraction might be exploited for clinical purposes. Finally, within the Bayesian model comparison framework, we identify the most compelling models in the description of the clinical data.
Profit uplift modeling for direct marketing campaigns: approaches and applications for online shops
Authors: Baier Daniel , Stöcker Björn
Published: November 2021

In order to select “best” customers for a direct marketing campaign, response models are widespread: a sample of customers receives an ad, a catalog, a sample pack, or a discount offer on a test basis. Then, their responses (e.g., website visits, conversions, or revenues) are used to build a predictive model. Finally, this model is applied to all customers in order to select “best” ones for the campaign. However, up to now, only models that reflect website visits, conversions, or revenues have been proposed. In this paper, we discuss the shortcomings of these traditional approaches and propose profit uplift modeling appoaches based on one-stage ordinary regression and random forests as well as two-stage Heckman sample selection and zero-inflated negative binomial regression for parameter estimation. The new approaches demonstrate superiority to the traditional ones when applied to real-world datasets. One dataset reflects recent discount offers of a large online fashion retailer. The other is the well-known Hillstrom dataset that describes two Email campaigns.
The Ductility and Shape-Memory Properties of Ni–Mn–Ga–Cu Heusler Alloys
Authors: Brzoza-Kos Agnieszka , Cesari Eduard , Szczerba Maciej Jakub
Published: November 2021

The effect of Cu addition on crystal structure, compressive properties and shape-memory effect of Ni50Mn25Ga25−x
Cu
x
alloys was studied. With increasing Cu content, the type of crystal structure evolves following a sequence: L21 → 10M → 2M → 2M+γ. Addition of Cu significantly improves room temperature ductility. In polycrystalline Ni50Mn25Ga17Cu8 alloy, a full recoverable strain equal to 7 pct was achieved. High martensitic transformation temperature and large shape-memory effect makes this material potential candidate in high-temperature shape-memory applications.
Radiographic Measurement of Gastric Remnant Volume After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Assessment of Reproducibility and Correlation with Weight Loss
Authors: Deręgowska-Cylke Małgorzata , Palczewski Piotr , Błaż Marcin , Cylke Radosław , Ziemiański Paweł , Szeszkowski Wojciech , Lisik Wojciech , Gołębiowski Marek
Published: November 2021

Background

As a restrictive procedure, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) relies primarily on the reduction of gastric volume. It has been suggested that an immediate postoperative gastric remnant volume (GRV) may influence long-term results of LSG; however, there are no consensus in this matter. The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of different radiographic methods of GRV calculation and evaluate their correlation with the weight loss (WL) after surgery.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated 174 patients who underwent LSG in the period from 2014 to 2017. Using UGI, GRV was measured with 3 different mathematical methods by 2 radiologists. Intraobserver and interobserver calculations were made. Correlation between GRV and WL were estimated with calculations percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) after 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively.

Results

During analysis of intraobserver similarities, the results of ICC calculation showed that reproducibility was good to excellent for all GRV calculation methods. The intraobserver reproducibility for Reader I was highest for cylinder and truncated cone formula and for Reader II for ellipsoid formula. The interobserver reproducibility was highest for ellipsoid formula. Regarding correlation between GRV and WL, significant negative correlation has been shown on the 12th month after LSG in %TWL and %EWL for every method of GRV calculation, most important for ellipsoid formula (%TWL – r(X,Y) = -0.335, p < 0.001 and %EWL – r(X,Y) = -0.373, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Radiographic methods of GRV calculation are characterized by good reproducibility and correlate with the postoperative WL.

Graphical Abstract
Local interactions and homophily effects in actor collaboration networks for urban resilience governance
Authors: Li Qingchun , Mostafavi Ali
Published: November 2021

Understanding actor collaboration networks and their evolution is essential to promoting collective action in resilience planning and management of interdependent infrastructure systems. Local interactions and choice homophily are two important network evolution mechanisms. Network motifs encode the information of network formation, configuration, and the local structure. Homophily effects, on the other hand, capture whether the network configurations have significant correlations with node properties. The objective of this paper is to explore the extent to which local interactions and homophily effects influence actor collaboration in resilience planning and management of interdependent infrastructure systems. We mapped bipartite actor collaboration network based on a post-Hurricane Harvey stakeholder survey that revealed actor collaborations for hazard mitigation. We examined seven bipartite network motifs for the mapped collaboration network and compared the mapped network to simulated random models with same degree distributions. Then we examined whether the network configurations had significant statistics for node properties using exponential random graph models. The results provide insights about the two mechanisms—local interactions and homophily effect—influencing the formation of actor collaboration in resilience planning and management of interdependent urban systems. The findings have implications for improving network cohesion and actor collaborations from diverse urban sectors.
Influence of urban land-use change on cold-air path occurrence and spatial distribution
Authors: Grunwald Laura , Weber Stephan
Published: November 2021

The urban population is predicted to reach a 70% share of global population by mid-century. Future urbanization might be directed along several development typologies, e.g. sprawling urbanization, more compact cities, greener cities, or a combination of different typologies. These developments induce urban land-use change that will affect urban climate and might reinforce phenomena such as the urban heat island and thermal discomfort of urban residents. A planning-based mitigation approach to ensure thermal comfort of residents are urban cold-air paths, i.e. low-roughness areas enabling drainage and transport of colder air masses from rural surroundings. We study how urban land-use change scenarios influence cold-air path occurrence probability and spatial distribution in a mid-European city using a machine learning approach, i.e. boosted regression trees. The Urban Sprawl Scenario results in the strongest reduction of cold-air path area by 3.6% in comparison to the reference case. The Green City Scenario gives evidence for an increase of cold-air path area (2.2%) whereas the Compact Green City Scenario partly counteracts the negative influence of urban densification by increased fractions of vegetated areas. The proposed method allows for the identification of priority areas for cold-air path preservation in urban planning.
Enlarging ovarian cysts mimicking malignant or borderline tumors during pregnancy
Authors: Dai Yibo , Liu Guoli , Wang Yan , Wei Jun , Wang Zhiqi , Wang Jianliu
Published: November 2021

Background

Ovarian cysts are uncommon gestational complications. Because of high-level progesterone, ovarian endometriomas may undergo decidualization during pregnancy, manifesting as enlarging cysts with papillae and rich blood flow. Such cases can mimic malignant or borderline tumors, causing dilemmas in clinical management. Here, we present two cases of enlarging ovarian cysts during pregnancy with evidence suggesting decidualized endometrioma. The diagnosis and treatment are further discussed, which add to our limited knowledge and might help future clinical practice.

Case summary

In the first case, a right ovarian cyst was detected by ultrasound in a 32-year-old pregnant woman. The cyst measured 4.2 cm in diameter at 7+6weeks of gestation, and gradually increased to 9.6 cm ​× ​7.6 cm ​× ​5.6 cm at 37+5weeks, with multiple solid papillae lining the inner wall. During cesarean section, an ovarian mass of approximately 9 cm in diameter was surgically removed, which was later identified by pathological review as an endometrioma with decidualization. The second case also presented as an enlarging ovarian mass during the first and second trimester. The size of the cyst peaked at 24+5weeks of gestation, measuring 6.9 cm ​× ​5.6 cm ​× ​4.1 cm. But in the third trimester, the tumor slightly regressed. Careful follow-up was adopted after successful vaginal delivery, and the cyst was found to have undergone quick regression shortly after pregnancy. Both patients recovered well after delivery with no further complications.

Conclusion

Endometriomas with decidualization during gestation may resemble borderline or malignant tumors. Close monitoring and proper management are essential for guiding clinical management.
Unseen City
Authors: Mukherjee Ankhi
Published: November 2021

In Unseen City: The Psychic Lives of the Urban Poor, Ankhi Mukherjee offers a magisterial work of literary and cultural criticism which examines the relationship between global cities, poverty, and psychoanalysis. Spanning three continents, this hugely ambitious book reads fictional representations of poverty with each city's psychoanalytic and psychiatric culture, particularly as that culture is fostered by state policies toward the welfare needs of impoverished populations. It explores the causal relationship between precarity and mental health through clinical case studies, the product of extensive collaborations and knowledge-sharing with community psychotherapeutic initiatives in six global cities. These are layered with twentieth- and twenty-first-century works of world literature that explore issues of identity, illness, and death at the intersections of class, race, globalisation, and migrancy. In Unseen City, Mukherjee argues that a humanistic and imaginative engagement with the psychic lives of the dispossessed is key to an adapted psychoanalysis for the poor, and that seeking equity of the unconscious is key to poverty alleviation.
Fundamentals of Rock Physics
Authors: Bagdassarov Nikolai
Published: November 2021

Rock physics encompasses practically all aspects of solid and fluid state physics. This book provides a unified presentation of the underlying physical principles of rock physics, covering elements of mineral physics, petrology and rock mechanics. After a short introduction on rocks and minerals, the subsequent chapters cover rock density, porosity, stress and strain relationships, permeability, poroelasticity, acoustics, conductivity, polarizability, magnetism, thermal properties and natural radioactivity. Each chapter includes problem sets and focus boxes with in-depth explanations of the physical and mathematical aspects of underlying processes. The book is also supplemented by online MATLAB exercises to help students apply their knowledge to numerically solve rock physics problems. Covering laboratory and field-based measurement methods, as well as theoretical models, this textbook is ideal for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in rock physics. It will also make a useful reference for researchers and professional scientists working in geoscience and petroleum engineering.
Conformal Blocks, Generalized Theta Functions and the Verlinde Formula
Authors: Kumar Shrawan
Published: November 2021

In 1988, E. Verlinde gave a remarkable conjectural formula for the dimension of conformal blocks over a smooth curve in terms of representations of affine Lie algebras. Verlinde's formula arose from physical considerations, but it attracted further attention from mathematicians when it was realized that the space of conformal blocks admits an interpretation as the space of generalized theta functions. A proof followed through the work of many mathematicians in the 1990s. This book gives an authoritative treatment of all aspects of this theory. It presents a complete proof of the Verlinde formula and full details of the connection with generalized theta functions, including the construction of the relevant moduli spaces and stacks of G-bundles. Featuring numerous exercises of varying difficulty, guides to the wider literature and short appendices on essential concepts, it will be of interest to senior graduate students and researchers in geometry, representation theory and theoretical physics.
Effects of diets rich in ghee or olive oil on cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy adults: a two-period, crossover, randomised trial
Authors: Mohammadi Hosseinabadi Susan , Nasrollahzadeh Javad
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular health-related effects of consuming ghee in the usual diet. Thirty healthy men and women were studied in a free-living outpatient regimen. The participants were instructed for the isoenergetic inclusion of ghee or olive oil in their diets for 4 weeks using a randomised crossover design. At the end of run-in (baseline), 2-week wash-out and interventions, fasting blood samples were drawn. In addition, 2-h postprandial blood samples were collected after ingestion of a meal containing olive oil or ghee at week 4 of each dietary intervention. Body weight was not different between the two interventions. Compared with the olive oil, the diet with ghee increased fasting plasma apo-B (apo B) (0·09, 95 % CI 0·02, 0·17 g/l, P = 0·018), non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-cholesterol) (0·53, 95 % CI 0·01, 1·05 mmol/l, P = 0·046) and LDL-cholesterol did not differ significantly between diet groups (0·29, 95 % CI –0·05, 0·63 mmol/l, P = 0·092), but had no significant effect on total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (0·75, 95 % CI − 0·24 to 1·74 mmol/l, P = 0·118). No significant difference was observed in fasting as well as 2-h postprandial plasma TAG, glucose, insulin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations. This study showed that ghee that is predominantly saturated fats had an increasing effect on plasma apo B and non-HDL-cholesterol compared with olive oil, adding further evidence to the existing recommendations to replace dietary fats high in SFA with dietary fats high in unsaturated fats to reduce CVD risk.
Evolutionary foundations of knowledge and belief attribution in nonhuman primates
Authors: Kano Fumihiro , Call Josep
Published: November 2021

Recent findings from anticipatory-looking false-belief tests have shown that nonhuman great apes and macaques anticipate that an agent will go to the location where the agent falsely believed an object to be. Phillips et al.'s claim that nonhuman primates attribute knowledge but not belief should thus be reconsidered. We propose that both knowledge and belief attributions are evolutionary old.
Teleology first: Goals before knowledge and belief
Authors: Schlicht Tobias , Brandl Johannes L. , Esken Frank , Glock Hans-Johann , Newen Albert , Perner Josef , Poprawe Franziska , Schmidt Eva , Strasser Anna , Wolf Julia
Published: November 2021

Comparing knowledge with belief can go wrong in two dimensions: If the authors employ a wider notion of knowledge, then they do not compare like with like because they assume a narrow notion of belief. If they employ only a narrow notion of knowledge, then their claim is not supported by the evidence. Finally, we sketch a superior teleological view.
Intersubjectivity and social learning: Representation of beliefs enables the accumulation of cultural knowledge
Authors: Salazar Carles
Published: November 2021

I accept the main thesis of the article according to which representation of knowledge is more basic than representation of belief. But I question the authors’ contention that humans' unique capacity to represent belief does not underwrite the capacity for the accumulation of cultural knowledge.
Two distinct concepts of knowledge
Authors: Starmans Christina
Published: November 2021

The central claim in the target article is that representations of knowledge are more basic than representations of beliefs. However, the authors are blending together two distinct concepts of knowledge: “awareness” and “propositional knowledge.” Distinguishing these two concepts of knowledge clarifies how the developmental and comparative data fit within the philosophical literature.
Conceptual design and error analysis of a cable-driven parallel robot
Authors: Li Jiaxuan , Zhao Yongjie , Tang Qingqiong , Sun Wei , Yuan Feifei , Lu Xinjian
Published: November 2021

This paper develops the conceptual design and error analysis of a cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR). The earlier error analysis of CDPRs generally regarded the cable around the pulley as a center point and neglected the radius of the pulleys. In this paper, the conceptual design of a CDPR with pulleys on its base platform is performed, and an error mapping model considering the influence of radius of the pulleys for the CDPR is established through kinematics analysis and a full matrix complete differential method. Monte Carlo simulation is adopted to deal with the sensitivity analysis, which can directly describe the contribution of each error component to the total orientation error of the CDPR by virtue of the error modeling. The results show that the sensitivity coefficients of pulleys’ geometric errors and geometric errors of the cables are relatively larger, which confirms that the cable length errors and pulleys’ geometric errors should be given higher priority in design and processing.
Word-order variation in a contact setting: A corpus-based investigation of Russian spoken in Daghestan
Authors: Naccarato Chiara , Panova Anastasia , Stoynova Natalia
Published: November 2021

This paper deals with word-order variation in a situation of language contact. We present a corpus-based investigation of word order in the variety of Russian spoken in Daghestan, focusing specifically on noun phrases with a genitive modifier. In Daghestanian Russian, the nonstandard word order GEN+N (prepositive or left genitive) often occurs. At first glance, this phenomenon might be easily explained in terms of syntactic calquing from the speakers’ left-branching L1s. However, the order GEN+N does not occur with the same frequency in all types of genitive noun phrases but is affected by several lexicosemantic and formal features of both the head and the genitive modifier. Therefore, we are not dealing with simple pattern borrowing. Rather, L1 influence strengthens certain universal tendencies that are not motivated by contact. The comparison with monolinguals’ Russian, in which prepositive genitives sporadically occur too, supports this hypothesis.
Submarine hydrothermal vent systems: the relevance of dynamic systems in chemical evolution and prebiotic chemistry experiments
Authors: Villafañe-Barajas Saúl A. , Colín-García María
Published: November 2021

Since their discovery, submarine hydrothermal vent systems have been pointed out as important places where chemical evolution on Earth could have occurred; and their role in the process has been highlighted. Similarly, some hypotheses have considered these systems in origin of life scenarios. In this way, many experiments have been developed, and the knowledge about these systems has increased. Due to their complexity, many experimental simulations have only included a few of the geochemical variables present in these environments, pressure and temperature. Other main variables have hardly been included, such as mineralogy, thermal and pH gradients, dissolved ions and/or redox reactions. As it has been understood, the dynamism and heterogeneity of these environments are huge, and it comprises different scales, from single vents to full hydrothermal fields. However, the vast majority of experiments focus on a specific part of these systems and do not include salinity, mineralogy and pH gradients. For this reason, in this paper, we pointed out some considerations about how this dynamism can be interpreted, and included in some models, as well their importance in prebiotic chemistry experiments and their extrapolations regarding the hypothesis about the origins of life.
Active Basalt Alteration at Supercritical Conditions in a Seawater‐Recharged Hydrothermal System: IDDP‐2 Drill Hole, Reykjanes, Iceland
Authors: Zierenberg Robert A. , Friðleifsson Guðmundur Ó. , Elders Wilfred A. , Schiffman Peter , Fowler Andrew P. G.
Published: November 2021

The 4.5 km deep IDDP‐2 drill hole was drilled at Reykjanes, Iceland, in an active seawater‐recharged hydrothermal system on the landward extension the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. Drilling targeted a well‐defined hydrothermal up‐flow zone feeding the Reykjanes geothermal reservoir, which produces fluids compositionally equivalent to basalt‐hosted deep sea hydrothermal vents. Spot cores recovered from depths between 3,648 to 4,659 m depths consist of pervasively altered sheeted diabase dikes. The shallowest core has an alteration mineral assemblage similar to the producing geothermal reservoir but is being overprinted by the underlying Hornblende Zone assemblage dominated by labradorite and hornblende. The deepest cored section (4,634–4,659 m) retains a diabasic texture, but all primary minerals are replaced or have changed composition. Plagioclase ranges from An30 to An99 and igneous augite is replaced by intergrown hornblende, clinopyroxene, and orthopyroxene. Hydrothermal biotite and potassium feldspar formed locally due to reaction with a phase‐separated brine, indicated by co‐existing vapor‐rich and salt + vapor‐rich fluid inclusions. Seawater‐derived supercritical hydrothermal fluid entering the bottom of the bore hole actively phase separates due pressure drop controlled by the fluid levels in the drill hole. Felsic veins, present in trace amounts, record a continuous transition from magmatic to hydrothermal conditions, including incipient hydrous melting. The vertical changes observed in mineralogy and mineral chemistry indicate that fluids from the deep high temperature reaction zone can undergo significant cooling and reaction with host rocks along their path to the seafloor.
Predicting Frigid Mixed‐Phase Clouds for Pristine Coastal Antarctica
Authors: Hines Keith M. , Bromwich David H. , Silber Israel , Russell Lynn M. , Bai Lesheng
Published: November 2021

Supercooled water is common in the clouds near coastal Antarctica and occasionally occurs at temperatures at or below −30°C. Yet the ice physics in most regional and global numerical models will glaciate out these clouds. This presents a challenge for the simulation of highly supercooled clouds that were observed at McMurdo, Antarctica during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE) project during 2015–2017. The polar optimized version of the Weather Research and Forecasting model (Polar WRF) with the recently developed two‐moment P3 microphysics scheme was used to simulate observed supercooled liquid water cases during March and November 2016. Nudging of the simulations to observed rawinsonde profiles and Antarctic automatic weather station observations provided increased realism and much greater cloud water amounts. Sensitivity tests that adjust the ice physics for extremely low ice nucleating particle (INP) concentrations decrease cloud ice and increases the cloud liquid water closer to observed amounts. In these tests, a liquid layer near cloud top is simulated, in agreement with observations. Accurate representation of INP concentrations appears to be critical for the simulation of coastal Antarctic clouds.
In Search of Subsurface Oceans Within the Uranian Moons
Authors: Cochrane C. J. , Vance S. D. , Nordheim T. A. , Styczinski M. J. , Masters A. , Regoli L. H.
Published: November 2021

The Galileo mission to Jupiter discovered magnetic signatures associated with hidden subsurface oceans at the moons Europa and Callisto using the phenomenon of magnetic induction. These induced magnetic fields originate from electrically conductive layers within the moons and are driven by Jupiter's strong time‐varying magnetic field. The ice giants and their moons are also ideal laboratories for magnetic induction studies. Both Uranus and Neptune have a strongly tilted magnetic axis with respect to their spin axis, creating a dynamic and strongly variable magnetic field environment at the orbits of their major moons. Although Voyager 2 visited the ice giants in the 1980s, it did not pass close enough to any of the moons to detect magnetic induction signatures. However, Voyager 2 revealed that some of these moons exhibit surface features that hint at recent geologically activity, possibly associated with subsurface oceans. Future missions to the ice giants may therefore be capable of discovering subsurface oceans, thereby adding to the family of known “ocean worlds” in our Solar System. Here, we assess magnetic induction as a technique for investigating subsurface oceans within the major moons of Uranus. Furthermore, we establish the ability to distinguish induction responses created by different interior characteristics that tie into the induction response: ocean thickness, conductivity and depth, and ionospheric conductance. The results reported here demonstrate the possibility of single‐pass ocean detection and constrained characterization within the moons of Miranda, Ariel, and Umbriel, and provide guidance for magnetometer selection and trajectory design for future missions to Uranus.
Occurrence rate of ultra-low frequency waves in the foreshock of Mercury increases with heliocentric distance
Authors: Romanelli N. , DiBraccio G. A.
Published: November 2021

Studies of Mercury’s foreshock have analyzed in detail the properties of ultra-low frequency waves. However, an open question remains in regards to understanding favorable conditions for these planetary foreshocks waves. Here, we report that 0.05–0.41 Hz quasi-monochromatic waves are mostly present under quasi-radial and relatively low intensity Interplanetary Magnetic Field, based on 17 Mercury years of MESSENGER Magnetometer data. These conditions are consistent with larger foreshock size and reflection of solar wind protons, their most likely source. Consequently, we find that the wave occurrence rate increases with Mercury’s heliocentric distance. Detection of these waves throughout Mercury’s highly eccentric orbit suggests the conditions for backstreaming protons are potentially present for all of Mercury’s heliocentric distances, despite the relatively low solar wind Alfvén Mach number regime. These results are relevant for planetary magnetospheres throughout the solar system, and the magnetospheres of exoplanets, and provide knowledge of particle acceleration mechanisms occurring inside foreshocks.
Efficient protein incorporation and release by a jigsaw-shaped self-assembling peptide hydrogel for injured brain regeneration
Authors: Yaguchi Atsuya , Oshikawa Mio , Watanabe Go , Hiramatsu Hirotsugu , Uchida Noriyuki , Hara Chikako , Kaneko Naoko , Sawamoto Kazunobu , Muraoka Takahiro , Ajioka Itsuki
Published: November 2021

During injured tissue regeneration, the extracellular matrix plays a key role in controlling and coordinating various cellular events by binding and releasing secreted proteins in addition to promoting cell adhesion. Herein, we develop a cell-adhesive fiber-forming peptide that mimics the jigsaw-shaped hydrophobic surface in the dovetail-packing motif of glycophorin A as an artificial extracellular matrix for regenerative therapy. We show that the jigsaw-shaped self-assembling peptide forms several-micrometer-long supramolecular nanofibers through a helix-to-strand transition to afford a hydrogel under physiological conditions and disperses homogeneously in the hydrogel. The molecular- and macro-scale supramolecular properties of the jigsaw-shaped self-assembling peptide hydrogel allow efficient incorporation and sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor, and demonstrate cell transplantation-free regenerative therapeutic effects in a subacute-chronic phase mouse stroke model. This research highlights a therapeutic strategy for injured tissue regeneration using the jigsaw-shaped self-assembling peptide supramolecular hydrogel.
Propagating wave in a fluid by coherent motion of 2D colloids
Authors: Sano Koki , Wang Xiang , Sun Zhifang , Aya Satoshi , Araoka Fumito , Ebina Yasuo , Sasaki Takayoshi , Ishida Yasuhiro , Aida Takuzo
Published: November 2021

Just like in living organisms, if precise coherent operation of tiny movable components is possible, one may generate a macroscopic mechanical motion. Here we report that ~1010pieces of colloidally dispersed nanosheets in aqueous media can be made to operate coherently to generate a propagating macroscopic wave under a non-equilibrium state. The nanosheets are initially forced to adopt a monodomain cofacial geometry with a large and uniform plane-to-plane distance of ~420 nm, where they are strongly correlated by competitive electrostatic repulsion and van der Waals attraction. When the electrostatic repulsion is progressively attenuated by the addition of ionic species, the nanosheets sequentially undergo coherent motions, generating a propagating wave. This elaborate wave in time and space can transport microparticles over a long distance in uniform direction and velocity. The present discovery may provide a general principle for the design of macroscopically movable devices from huge numbers of tiny components.
Dynamic recurrence risk and adjuvant chemotherapy benefit prediction by ctDNA in resected NSCLC
Authors: Qiu Bin , Guo Wei , Zhang Fan , Lv Fang , Ji Ying , Peng Yue , Chen Xiaoxi , Bao Hua , Xu Yang , Shao Yang , Tan Fengwei , Xue Qi , Gao Shugeng , He Jie
Published: November 2021

Accurately evaluating minimal residual disease (MRD) could facilitate early intervention and personalized adjuvant therapies. Here, using ultradeep targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), we evaluate the clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for dynamic recurrence risk and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) benefit prediction in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Both postsurgical and post-ACT ctDNA positivity are significantly associated with worse recurrence-free survival. In stage II-III patients, the postsurgical ctDNA positive group benefit from ACT, while ctDNA negative patients have a low risk of relapse regardless of whether or not ACT is administered. During disease surveillance, ctDNA positivity precedes radiological recurrence by a median of 88 days. Using joint modeling of longitudinal ctDNA analysis and time-to-recurrence, we accurately predict patients’ postsurgical 12-month and 15-month recurrence status. Our findings reveal longitudinal ctDNA analysis as a promising tool to detect MRD in NSCLC, and we show pioneering work of using postsurgical ctDNA status to guide ACT and applying joint modeling to dynamically predict recurrence risk, although the results need to be further confirmed in future studies.
Plasmodium sporozoite phospholipid scramblase interacts with mammalian carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 to infect hepatocytes
Authors: Cha Sung-Jae , Kim Min-Sik , Na Chan Hyun , Jacobs-Lorena Marcelo
Published: November 2021

After inoculation by the bite of an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter the blood stream and infect the liver, where each infected cell produces thousands of merozoites. These in turn, infect red blood cells and cause malaria symptoms. To initiate a productive infection, sporozoites must exit the circulation by traversing the blood lining of the liver vessels after which they infect hepatocytes with unique specificity. We screened a phage display library for peptides that structurally mimic (mimotope) a sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte recognition. We identified HP1 (hepatocyte-binding peptide 1) that mimics a ~50 kDa sporozoite ligand (identified as phospholipid scramblase). Further, we show that HP1 interacts with a ~160 kDa hepatocyte membrane putative receptor (identified as carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1). Importantly, immunization of mice with the HP1 peptide partially protects them from infection by the rodent parasite P. berghei. Moreover, an antibody to the HP1 mimotope inhibits human parasite P. falciparum infection of human hepatocytes in culture. The sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte invasion is a potential novel pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate.
One-pot fabrication of Ag @Ag2O core–shell nanostructures for biosafe antimicrobial and antibiofilm applications
Authors: Elyamny Shaimaa , Eltarahony Marwa , Abu-Serie Marwa , Nabil Marwa M. , Kashyout Abd El-Hady B.
Published: November 2021

Microbial contamination is one of the major dreadful problems that raises hospitalization, morbidity and mortality rates globally, which subsequently obstructs socio-economic progress. The continuous misuse and overutilization of antibiotics participate mainly in the emergence of microbial resistance. To circumvent such a multidrug-resistance phenomenon, well-defined nanocomposite structures have recently been employed. In the current study, a facile, novel and cost-effective approach was applied to synthesize Ag@Ag2O core–shell nanocomposites (NCs) via chemical method. Several techniques were used to determine the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the as-prepared NCs. XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS and SAED analysis revealed a crystalline hybrid structure of Ag core and Ag2O shell. Besides, SEM and HRTEM micrographs depicted spherical nanoparticles with size range of 19–60 nm. Additionally, zeta potential and fluorescence spectra illustrated aggregated nature of Ag@Ag2O NCs by − 5.34 mV with fluorescence emission peak at 498 nm. Ag@Ag2O NCs exhibited higher antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and algicidal activity in dose-dependent behavior. Interestingly, a remarkable mycocidal potency by 50 μg of Ag@Ag2O NCs against Candida albican; implying promising activity against COVID-19 white fungal post-infections. Through assessing cytotoxicity, Ag@Ag2O NCs exhibited higher safety against Vero cells than bulk silver nitrate by more than 100-fold.
Isotopic investigation of skeletal remains at the Imdang tombs reveals high consumption of game birds and social stratification in ancient Korea
Authors: Choy Kyungcheol , Yun Hee Young , Kim Seung Hee , Jung Sangsoo , Fuller Benjamin T. , Kim Dae Wook
Published: November 2021

Understanding the development of early states on the Korean Peninsula is an important topic in Korean archaeology. However, it is not clear how social structure was organized by these early states and what natural resources were utilized from their surrounding environments. To investigate dietary adaptation and social status in ancient Korea, stable isotope ratios and radiocarbon dates were measured from humans and animals from the Imdang cemetery, Gyeongsan city, South Korea. The results indicate that the Imdang diet was mainly based on C3 plants and terrestrial animals. Animal remains in the graves were directly consumed as daily food items as well as for ritual offerings. MixSIAR modeling results revealed that the dietary sources for the humans were: game birds > C3 plants > terrestrial herbivores > marine fish > C4 plants. The finding that the game birds represented the highest contribution to the whole diet, indicates that game birds must have been intensively hunted. Furthermore, elites consumed more game birds than their retainers and they also consumed seafood as a privileged dietary item in the Imdang society. This study demonstrates that the Apdok was a stratified society having high variations in the consumption of food items available to an individual and provides new insights about the subsistence and social status of the early ancient Apdok state on the Korean Peninsula.
Miniaturized spoof SPPs filter based on multiple resonators or 5G applications
Authors: Mazdouri Behnam , Honari Mohammad Mahdi , Mirzavand Rashid
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a novel and compact band-pass filter based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) concept for 5G applications. In the first place, an SSPPs unit cell including L-shaped grooves and its equivalent circuit model are introduced. The obtained results from dispersion analysis shows that cut-off frequency of the cell can be considerably decreased thanks to its geometrical configuration. In the second place, a miniaturized SSPP transmission line (TL) consisting of the proposed unit cell with cut-off frequency of 29.5 GHz is designed. Two mode convertors have been employed for efficient connection between coplanar waveguides and SSPP TL. Moreover, a new method based on loading one unit cell of SSPP TL by stub resonators is proposed in order to block a specific frequency band. An equivalent circuit model for the cell with the resonators is proposed to predict rejected frequency range. Thereafter, as an example of our method, a SSPPs filter operating at 26.5–29.5 GHZ is designed by means of connecting stub resonators with different lengths to provide close resonance frequencies. The circuit model, full wave simulation, and measurement results are in a good agreement. The results of proposed groundless SSPP TL and filter structures are promising to make groundless 5G applications possible.