bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimalarial Drug Combination Predictions Using the Machine Learning Synergy Predictor (MLSyPred©) tool
Authors: Roche-Lima Abiel , Rosado-Quiñones Angélica M. , Feliu-Maldonado Roberto A. , Figueroa-Gispert María Del Mar , Díaz-Rivera Jennifer , Díaz-González Roberto G. , Carrasquillo-Carrion Kelvin , Nieves Brenda G. , Colón-Lorenzo Emilee E. , Serrano Adelfa E.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Antimalarial drug resistance is a global public health problem that leads to treatment failure. Synergistic drug combinations can improve treatment outcomes and delay the development of drug resistance. Here, we describe the implementation of a freely available computational tool, Machine Learning Synergy Predictor (MLSyPred©), to predict potential synergy in antimalarial drug combinations.

Methods

The MLSyPred© synergy prediction method extracts molecular fingerprints from the drugs’ biochemical structures to use as features and also cleans and prepares the raw data. Five machine learning algorithms (Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Support vector machine, Ada Boost, and Gradient Boost) were implemented to build prediction models. Implementation and application of the MLSyPred© tool were tested using datasets from 1540 combinations of 79 drugs and compounds biologically evaluated in pairs for three strains of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7, HB3, and Dd2).

Results

The best prediction models were obtained using Logistic Regression for antimalarials with the strains Dd2 and HB3 (0.81 and 0.70 AUC, respectively) and Random Forest for antimalarials with 3D7 (0.69 AUC). The MLSyPred© tool yielded 45% precision for synergistically predicted antimalarial drug combinations that were annotated and biologically validated, thus confirming the functionality and applicability of the tool.

Conclusion

 The MLSyPred© tool is freely available and represents a promising strategy for discovering potential synergistic drug combinations for further development as novel antimalarial therapies.
Whether and Why Do We Need a Vaccine Against Atherosclerosis? Can We Expect It Anytime Soon?
Authors: Surma Stanisław , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Banach Maciej
Published: January 2024

Purpose of Review

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of premature death. Lipid disorders, particularly elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), contribute significantly to ASCVD. The risk of developing ASCVD is influenced by the duration of exposure to elevated LDL-C concentrations (cholesterol-years concept). Implementing lipid-lowering treatments based on the principles of “the earlier the better,” “the lower the better,” and “the longer the better” has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk and significantly extend lifespan. Despite the availability of numerous lipid-lowering drugs, achieving satisfactory control of lipid disorders remains very challenging. Therefore, there is a need for novel approaches to improve treatment adherence.

Recent Findings

One promising solution under investigation is the development of an anti-PCSK9 vaccine, which could be administered annually to provide long-term control over LDL-C concentrations. Experimental studies and the sole clinical trial conducted thus far have demonstrated that the anti-PCSK9 vaccine induces a durable immune response associated with lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Furthermore, it has exhibited good tolerability and a satisfactory safety profile. However, we still need data from phase 2, 3, and cardiovascular outcome trial to confirm its safety and efficacy and add value in the armamentarium of available and perspective lipid-lowering drugs.

This article highlights the significance of developing an anti-PCSK9 vaccine and provides an overview of the current knowledge on various anti-PCSK9 vaccines.
Disentangling the solar activity–solar wind predictive causality at Space Climate scales
Authors: Reda Raffaele , Stumpo Mirko , Giovannelli Luca , Alberti Tommaso , Consolini Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

The variability in the magnetic activity of the Sun is the main source of the observed changes in the plasma and electromagnetic environments within the heliosphere. The primary way in which solar activity affects the Earth’s environment is via the solar wind and its transients. However, the relationship between solar activity and solar wind is not the same at the Space Weather and Space Climate time scales. In this work, we investigate this relationship exploiting five solar cycles data of Ca II K index and solar wind parameters, by taking advantage of the Hilbert–Huang Transform, which allows to separate the contribution at the different time scales. By filtering out the high-frequency components and looking at decennial time scales, we confirm the presence of a delayed response of solar wind to Ca II K index variations, with a time lag of $$\sim$$
∼
3.1-year for the speed and $$\sim$$
∼
3.4-year for the dynamic pressure. To assess the results in a stronger framework, we make use of a Transfer Entropy approach to investigate the information flow between the quantities and to test the causality of the relation. The time lag results from the latter are consistent with the cross-correlation ones, pointing out the presence of a statistical significant information flow from Ca II K index to solar wind dynamic pressure that peaks at time lag of 3.6-year. Such a result could be of relevance to build up a predictive model in a Space Climate context.
Beyond the basics: a perspective on barriers and opportunities for scaling up biochar production from forest slash
Authors: Pierson Derek , Anderson Nathaniel , Brewen Jessica , Clark Nehalem , Hardy Margaret C. , McCollum Daniel , McCormick Frank H. , Morisette Jeffrey , Nicosia Timothy , Page-Dumroese Deborah , Rodriguez-Franco Carlos , Tirocke Joanne
Published: January 2024

Biochar production from woody biomass generated during forest management (slash) offers significant benefits for soil health and carbon emissions, yet its adoption remains limited in the western United States (U.S.). To address this challenge, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station organized two workshops focused on forest management-centric biochar production. These workshops convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including investors, land management practitioners, industry professionals, and research scientists, each with unique roles in slash-based biochar production. This article presents a synthesis of the insights and perspectives gathered from these workshops, aiming to identify barriers and propose viable pathways for overcoming them. The barriers encompass governance issues such as policy and permitting, economic challenges related to costs, funding, and market stability, technological hurdles concerning methods and equipment, and a need for further research and improved science dissemination. In response to these challenges, workshop attendees collaboratively outlined specific strategies to reduce these barriers. These strategies emphasize the expansion of operational initiatives, the development of proactive policies, the stabilization of biochar markets, and the generation of additional case studies showcasing the effects of biochar amendments across various soils and environments. Collectively, the insights gleaned from this workshop series provide a comprehensive roadmap outlining both the struggles and the necessary actions and investments required to enhance the scale of slash-based biochar production and application in the western U.S.

Graphical Abstract
A Glimpse into Gynecologic Practice During the Islamic Golden Age
Authors: Fadel Hossam E. , Al-Hendy Ayman
Published: January 2024

The Islamic Golden Age was the time in history from eighth to fourteenth century. This era was marked by expansion of Islamic world to all the Middle East, North Africa, South and East Europe, and Central Asia. The Islamic world was the wealthiest region in the world at that time and that wealth was utilized to promote great flourishing in the arts, philosophy, science, and medicine. The practice of healing was considered the most noble of human undertakings by Islamic scholars. In this era, many great physician-scientists emerged in the Islamic world, albeit several were not Muslims, who examined prior writings, corrected many, and proceeded to produce their own observations and innovations. This article highlights some of the most important contributions to gynecology of some prominent scholars during this shining phase of medical history.
Antibacterial Activity and AbFtsZ Binding Properties of Fungal Metabolites Isolated from Mexican Mangroves
Authors: Carrillo-Jaimes Karol , Fajardo-Hernández Carlos A. , Hernández-Sedano Fernanda , Cano-Sánchez Patricia , Morales-Jiménez Jesús , Quiroz-García Beatriz , Rivera-Chávez José
Published: January 2024

Antimicrobial resistance is emerging as a global health challenge that requires immediate and concerted attention. Accordingly, the WHO has issued alerts urging to continue developing antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action toward clinically important pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii. In this context, fungi have played a crucial role in the discovery and development of antibiotics. Therefore, in this work, three fungal strains were prioritized based on their metabolic profiles and antibacterial activity against a pan-resistant isolate of A. baumannii, to identify potential antibiotic molecules. Chemical investigation of the selected fungi (mangrove endophytes) led to the isolation of asperazine (1), aurasperone B (2), aurasperone F (3), TMC-256A1 (4), fonsecin B (5), dianhydroaurasperone C (6), aurasperone A (7), pyrophen (8), and penicillide (9). Moreover, an in vitro assay to detect ligands of the filamentous temperature-sensitive mutant Z enzyme of A. baumannii (AbFtsZ), a GTPase that plays a central role in bacterial division, was developed to correlate the antibacterial properties of the isolated molecules to a mechanism of action. Compounds 1–4 and 9 inhibited the growth of A. baumannii. Interestingly, compounds 2, 3, and 5–9 interacted with AbFtsZ1-412, increasing its GTPase activity. Conversely, compound 4 exhibited an outstanding ability to act as an inhibitor of both the enzymatic activity and the growth of the strain under study.

Graphical Abstract
Phonon thermal transport in bilayer polycrystalline graphene nanoribbons: effects of interlayer interaction, grain size, and vacancy defects
Authors: Yang Zi-Qiang , Shakoori Muhammad Asif , Li Hai-Peng
Published: January 2024

In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations have been employed to investigate the phonon thermal transport in bilayer polycrystalline graphene nanoribbon (pGNR/pGNR), compared with bilayer graphene nanoribbon (GNR/GNR) and pGNR/GNR heterostructure. The interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) of bilayer structures was also calculated using the heat dissipation method. The effects of interlayer interaction, grain size, and vacancy defects on ITR and in-plane phonon thermal conductivity of bilayer structures were investigated. It was found that the ITR as well as in-plane phonon thermal conductivity of pGNR/pGNR was less than that of pGNR/GNR and much less than that of GNR/GNR, for the same size. For the studied bilayer structures, both the ITR and in-plane phonon thermal conductivity decrease with increasing interlayer interactions. Moreover, ITR increases with increasing grain area size whereas decreases with increasing vacancy defects in pGNR-based bilayers. The introduction of pGNR interface roughness and vacancy defects results in an enhanced phonon coupling in pGNR-based bilayers compared to pure GNR/GNR bilayers. Presented simulation investigations will help to understand the interlayer thermal transport properties of polycrystalline graphene and provide essential guidance for experimentally regulating phonon thermal transport between layers of polycrystalline graphene.
The first 30 min hidden aftershocks of the 2022 September 17, ML 6.4, Guanshan, Taiwan earthquake and its seismological implications
Authors: Huang Bor-Shouh , Ku Chin-Shang , Lin Chin-Jen , Lee Shiann‐Jong , Chen Yen-Ling Eileen , Jiang Juen-Shi , Sun Wei-Fang
Published: January 2024

The first 30 min of the aftershock sequence following the 2022 September 17, ML 6.4, Guanshan, Taiwan earthquake is investigated by the back-projection (BP) method. Based on the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) to process individual earthquake record and sort waveforms by epicentral distance, 80 events are identified near the Guanshan earthquake epicenter to verify its temporal variation. However, most of these events cannot clearly image by the BP method to determine its spatial locations for its small amplitude and short time separation. In total, 29 aftershocks are imaged by this study to identify its spatial locations during this time period. The relocated events are compared with the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) rapid report catalogue. Only 5 events have been reported by the CWB rapid report catalogue. These unreported hidden aftershocks are identified to distribute surrounding the epicenter and extended to the east. This extracted information of hidden aftershocks is crucial for assessing the potential for future large aftershocks and estimating the associated seismic hazards in a given region, and provide extra message to evaluate the source physics in general.
Developing a social sensing index for monitoring place-oriented mental health issues using social media (twitter) data
Authors: Park Jaehee , Tsou Ming-Hsiang , Nara Atsushi , Cassels Susan , Dodge Somayeh
Published: January 2024

Research shows that certain external factors can affect the mental health of many people in a community. Moreover, the importance of mental health has significantly increased in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people communicate and express their emotions through social media platforms, which provide researchers with opportunities to examine insights into their opinions and mental state. While social sensing studies using social media data have flourished in the last decade, many studies using social media data to detect and predict mental health status have focused on the individual level. In this study, we aim to generate a social sensing index for mental health to monitor emotional well-being, which is closely related to mental health, and to identify daily trends in negative emotions at the city level. We conduct sentiment analysis on Twitter data and compute entropy of the degree of sentiment change to develop the index. We observe sentiment trends fluctuate significantly in response to unusual events. It is found that the social sensing index for mental health reflects both city-wide and local events that trigger negative emotions, as well as areas where negative emotions persist. The study contributes to the growing body of research that uses social media data to examine mental health at a city-level. We focus on mental health at the city-level rather than individual, which provides a broader perspective on the mental health of a population. Social sensing index for mental health allows public health professionals to monitor and identify persistent negative sentiments and potential areas where mental health issues may emerge.
The effects of a surgical mask and an N95 mask on intelligibility of explicit and ambiguous speech produced in the operating room environment
Authors: Ishido Hidemi , Oishi Rieko , Yamazaki Yuki , Inoue Satoki
Published: January 2024

Purpose

We investigated the effects of a surgical mask and an N95 mask on speech intelligibility using explicit and ambiguous sentences in Japanese. In addition, the effects of background noise specific to an operating room environment on the speech intelligibility of these sentences were also investigated.

Methods

We created 20 sets of five sentences; 10 sets consisting of explicit words, and 10 containing ambiguous words. Each set was recorded by a speaker while wearing a surgical mask or an N95 mask, combined with a face shield. A total of four combinations of speech data were created. Each subject was asked to listen to one set from each of the four combinations and write down the speech. The test was performed in normal background noise as well as in noise levels of 50, 60, and 70 dB.

Results

Twenty-eight volunteers were included in this study. In the tests for explicit sentences, intelligibility of speech with an N95 mask was significantly lower than that with a surgical mask in the presence of 60 dB noise. As for explicit sentences produced with a surgical mask, intelligibility was significantly decreased in the presence of 70 dB noise. Regarding explicit sentences produced with an N95 mask, intelligibility was significantly decreased in the presence of 60 and 70 dB noise. In the tests for ambiguous sentences, intelligibility of speech produced with an N95 mask was not significantly lower than that with a surgical mask at all noise levels. As for ambiguous sentences produced with a surgical mask, no significant decrease in intelligibility was observed at any noise level. Regarding ambiguous sentences produced with an N95 mask, intelligibility was significantly decreased in the presence of 60 and 70 dB noise.

Conclusion

Speech intelligibility was impaired both with a surgical mask and an N95 mask in the normal background noise specific in an operating room during surgery, even if the speech consisted of explicit words. The impairment of speech intelligibility was significantly exacerbated with the use of ambiguous language and in the background noise typical in an operating room environment. Speech intelligibility was further reduced with the use of an N95 mask.

Trial Registration

Registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry on March 7, 2023 (UMIN R000050373).
Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (mHRDD) Laws Caught Between Rituals and Ritualism: The Forms and Limits of Business Authority in the Global Governance of Business and Human Rights
Authors: Lichuma Caroline Omari
Published: January 2024

This article utilizes a ‘rituals-ritualism’ framework to assess the perils and potentials of relying upon mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) laws to regulate the behaviour of transnational corporations (TNCs). This framework offers a socio-legal perspective that seeks to show how law is both influenced by and influences the social context within which it operates, i.e., the socially embedded operation of law.1 It has been advanced as a useful rubric for assessing whether and how states comply with human rights treaties,2 but can be extended to an assessment of mHRDD laws. Ultimately, this article hypothesizes that the potential regulatory effectiveness of mHRDD laws hinges on the extent to which HRDD obligations are transformed into rituals akin to cultural norms. In the absence of such a transformation, ritualism in HRDD will only further entrench a problematic status quo that has allowed TNCs to externalize the human rights and environmental impacts of their activities.
Breast-feeding as protective factor against bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
Authors: Uberos Jose , Sanchez-Ruiz Isabel , Fernández-Marin Elizabeth , Ruiz-López Aida , Cubero-Millan Isabel , Campos-Martínez Ana
Published: January 2024

Breast-feeding is associated with fewer comorbidities in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of VLBW infants is a multifactorial pathology in which nutritional aspects may be of special importance. The aim of this study is to determine, in a cohort of VLBW infants, whether breast milk nutrition is associated with a reduced prevalence and severity of BPD. A retrospective study was conducted to record the intake of mother’s own milk (MOM), pasteurised donor human milk or preterm formula milk in the first 2 weeks of postnatal life of 566 VLBW newborns at our hospital during the period January 2008–December 2021. After applying the relevant exclusion criteria, data for 489 VLBW infants were analysed; 195 developed some degree of BPD. Moderate or severe BPD is associated with less weight gain. Moreover, the preferential ingestion of breast milk in the first and second postnatal weeks had effects associated with lower OR for BPD, which were statistically demonstrable for mild (OR 0·16; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·71) and severe (OR 0·08; 95 % CI 0·009, 0·91) BPD. Breast-feeding during the first weeks of postnatal life is associated with a reduced prevalence of BPD, which is frequently associated with less weight gain as a result of greater respiratory effort with greater energy expenditure.
Altered larval activation response associated with multidrug resistance in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum
Authors: McKean Elise L. , Grill Emilia , Choi Young-Jun , Mitreva Makedonka , O'Halloran Damien M. , Hawdon John M.
Published: January 2024

Parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes pose significant health risks to humans, livestock, and companion animals, and their control relies heavily on the use of anthelmintic drugs. Overuse of these drugs has led to the emergence of resistant nematode populations. Herein, a naturally occurring isolate (referred to as BCR) of the dog hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum, that is resistant to 3 major classes of anthelmintics is characterized. Various drug assays were used to determine the resistance of BCR to thiabendazole, ivermectin, moxidectin and pyrantel pamoate. When compared to a drug-susceptible isolate of A. caninum, BCR was shown to be significantly resistant to all 4 of the drugs tested. Multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms have been shown to impart benzimidazole resistance, including the F167Y mutation in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene, which was confirmed to be present in BCR through molecular analysis. The frequency of the resistant allele in BCR was 76.3% following its first passage in the lab, which represented an increase from approximately 50% in the founding hookworm population. A second, recently described mutation in codon 134 (Q134H) was also detected at lower frequency in the BCR population. Additionally, BCR exhibits an altered larval activation phenotype compared to the susceptible isolate, suggesting differences in the signalling pathways involved in the activation process which may be associated with resistance. Further characterization of this isolate will provide insights into the mechanisms of resistance to macrocyclic lactones and tetrahydropyrimidine anthelmintics.
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT in the diagnosis of right-sided endocarditis in children and adults with infective endocarditis
Authors: Ugan Atik Sezen , Arslan Perver , Bilgiç Seçkin , Sonmezoglu Kerim , Cilsal Erman , Gokalp Selman , Guzeltas Alper
Published: January 2024

Objective:

Infectious endocarditis poses a diagnostic challenge due to its highly variable clinical presentation. To establish a definitive diagnosis, different imaging modalities are essential. In recent years, positron emission tomography/CT has gained increasing significance in diagnosing infective endocarditis; however, its application in the pediatric age group remains limited. This study encompasses patients definitively or potentially diagnosed with infectious endocarditis at our institution from 2018 to 2023.

Methods:

A total of 29 patients underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT examinations, with 19 of them presenting with right-sided infective endocarditis.

Results:

Evidence consistent with infective endocarditis was observed in 18 (94.7%) of the patients. Pulmonary septic embolism was identified in 15 (78.9%) cases, and splenic involvement was noted in 12 (57.8%) cases. Transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography failed to reveal vegetation or provided uncertain results in six patients, whereas fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-CT exhibited involvement. Subsequently, the diagnosis of infective endocarditis was confirmed post-surgery based on the fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-CT findings.

Conclusion:

Our results, along with our clinical experience, demonstrate that fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-CT is a safe and viable method for diagnosing right-sided endocarditis, which is often challenging to visualize using echocardiography.
Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the congenital heart surgery service in Lithuania
Authors: Budrys Dominykas , Gegieckienė Rūta , Lebetkevičius Virgilijus , Sudikienė Rita , Tarutis Virgilijus , Jonas Karolis
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

CHD is a unique group of medical pathologies. Literature worldwide reports significant decrements in the case volume of patients with these conditions due to the recent global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019. The only centre providing congenital cardiac care for Lithuanian population is in a hospital which was the main medical institution for the sickest coronavirus disease 2019 patients. Hence, this centre had to maintain its service alongside the mobilisation of resources to tackle the crisis.

Aim of Study:

To evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the service of congenital heart surgery in Lithuania.

Methods:

The activity of a single centre providing congenital heart care working in a main coronavirus 2019 pandemic hospital during the pandemic was analysed and compared to a matched period of pre-pandemic activity.

Results:

The number of admitted patients was similar during both pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. During the pandemic period, younger patients were more often operated as urgent cases. Their postoperative length of stay was longer. However, there were no differences in early postoperative mortality between the two groups.

Conclusions:

It was possible to maintain an accessible and high-quality specialised congenital cardiac care for various age patients during global pandemic events, while working in the main pandemic hospital.
A CATEGORICAL APPROACH TO THE BAUM–CONNES CONJECTURE FOR ÉTALE GROUPOIDS
Authors: Bönicke Christian , Proietti Valerio
Published: January 2024

We consider the equivariant Kasparov category associated to an étale groupoid, and by leveraging its triangulated structure we study its localization at the ‘weakly contractible’ objects, extending previous work by R. Meyer and R. Nest. We prove the subcategory of weakly contractible objects is complementary to the localizing subcategory of projective objects, which are defined in terms of ‘compactly induced’ algebras with respect to certain proper subgroupoids related to isotropy. The resulting ‘strong’ Baum–Connes conjecture implies the classical one, and its formulation clarifies several permanence properties and other functorial statements. We present multiple applications, including consequences for the Universal Coefficient Theorem, a generalized ‘going-down’ principle, injectivity results for groupoids that are amenable at infinity, the Baum–Connes conjecture for group bundles, and a result about the invariance of K-groups of twisted groupoid
$C^*$
-algebras under homotopy of twists.
Longitudinal Measurement Invariance of the DSM-5 Anxiety and	Depression Severity Measures
Authors: Vidal-Arenas Verónica , Bravo Adrian J. , Ortet-Walker Jordi , Ortet Generós , Ibáñez Manuel I. , Mezquita Laura
Published: January 2024

Abstract: There is scarce evidence on the psychometric properties of the Severity Measures (SMs) of the DSM-5 longitudinally, especially among Spanish young adults. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to analyze the Longitudinal Measurement Invariance (LMI) of the SMs for Depression, Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Panic, Separation Anxiety, Agoraphobia, and Specific Phobia scales in four assessment waves at 6-month intervals. A total of 564 Spanish young adults ( Mage = 21.5 years; 67.9% females) participated in the study. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) were carried out at each wave. Once the adequacy of the factor structure of the models was confirmed, three levels of LMI were examined (i.e., configural, metric, and scalar). Finally, we examined internal consistency (i.e., Cronbach’s α and ω) across assessment waves and gender groups. CFAs analyses supported a two-factor solution for the specific phobia scale and a one-factor solution for the rest of the SMs in baseline models. Evidence of LMI at the configural, metric, and scalar levels was observed for all seven SMs. Reliability indices ranged from .73 to .96. These results suggest that the DSM-5 SMs are useful assessment tools for longitudinal and follow-up studies in Spanish young adults.
Efficient Thermoelectric Conversion of Sulfide Chimneys in Submarine Volcanic Systems
Authors: Jia Haoning , Zhu Jiaqi , Li Yanzhang , Li Jiwei , Ye Huan , Du Yimei , Hua Tianci , Zhuang Ziyi , Lu Anhuai , Ding Hongrui , Lai Yong , Wang Changqiu , Li Yan
Published: January 2024

Submarine volcanos are the most active areas in the deep sea, but the environmental consequences of frequent volcanic activity on the geophysical fields and biogeochemical processes near hydrothermal chimneys have not been fully understood yet. In particular, how continuous high‐flux thermal energy, the most typical form of energy in active submarine volcanic systems, affects electron transport and geoelectric field remains unknown. This study provides the first evidence that thermal energy can be efficiently converted to electrical energy at an extremely small spatial scale of the submarine black chimneys. The Seebeck coefficient of sulfide chimneys can reach more than 200 μV/K, with high electrical conductivity of 104 S/m and low thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/(m·K) within 300–700 K. A maximal potential gradient of 300 mV/cm under a temperature difference of 300–700 K can be generated by the thermoelectric conversion of sulfide chimneys, with a maximum energy converting efficiency up to 1%. The thermoelectric conversion effect of a global‐scale submarine volcanos could enable electroactive bacteria to fix appromaxiately 105–106 tons of carbon per year. In addition, the thermal‐electrochemical experiments indicated sulfides underwent rapid oxidation under thermoelectric effects, which may help explain the intense oxidative weathering of sulfides in some anoxic deep‐sea hydrothermal zones.
A Medium‐Sized Paleo‐Tsunami Reconstruction by a Deep Neural Network Processing Sedimentary Deposits
Authors: Batubo P. , Morra G. , Oppo D. , Moore A.
Published: January 2024

Reconstructing the magnitude and recurrence time of tsunamis, one of the most destructive and unpredictable natural hazards impacting coastal communities, is essential. While major tsunamis are the most studied due to their disastrous impact, small/medium tsunamis (SMTs) are much more frequent and can still significantly impact the coast. Therefore, SMTs potentially provide an extensive archive of information preserved in the geological record. Analyzing the deposits of small/medium paleo‐tsunamis (SMPTs) opens a window into when their direct observation was unavailable. However, deposits of SMPTs are often degraded, traditional sediment deposition inversion models might fail. Recent research has shown that Deep Neural Networks (DNN) can effectively reconstruct the flow conditions of major tsunamis from their deposits. We evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in reconstructing the characteristics of a recent medium size tsunami (2006 Java) and of a medium paleo‐tsunami (1929 Grand Banks). We successfully reconstruct the flow characteristics of the 2006 Java event and show that an inversion of comparable quality is possible for the 1929 Grand Banks tsunami, despite greater uncertainties due to the deposit degradation. Our research shows that Machine Learning has the potential to unseal the meaning of data of thousands SMPTs.
Assessing Global Reservoir‐Based Hydrological Droughts by Fusing Storage and Evaporation
Authors: Shah Deep , Zhao Gang , Li Yao , Singh Vijay P. , Gao Huilin
Published: January 2024

Although reservoirs serve as a lifeline for drought mitigation and adaptation, reservoir‐based droughts (RBD) have received limited attention. Especially RBD that incorporate reservoir evaporation have remained overlooked. Here, we develop an Integrated Reservoir Drought Index (IRDI) using a Frank copula by combining the effects of reservoir storage and evaporation rate for 164 global reservoirs. Results show that Africa, South America, and Australia have experienced relatively longer RBD, whereas Asia and Africa have experienced more intense RBD. Furthermore, when significant (p‐value < 0.05) trends in inflow and IRDI have shown opposite signs at a given reservoir, it is implied that human influence was the dominant driver of the long‐term changes in RBD. We found that RBD was driven by climate in 71% of the 38 reservoirs examined and by human activities in the remaining 29% of reservoirs. Our study provides reservoir specific drought outlook that has significant environmental and sustainability implications.
Calibration of an SKA‐Low Prototype Station Using Holographic Techniques
Authors: Thekkeppattu Jishnu N. , Wayth Randall B. , Sokołowski Marcin
Published: January 2024

Performance of digitally beamformed phased arrays relies on accurate calibration of the array by obtaining gains of each antenna in the array. The stations of the Square Kilometer Array‐Low (SKA‐Low) are such digital arrays, where the station calibration is currently performed using conventional interferometric techniques. An alternative calibration technique similar to holography of dish based telescopes has been suggested in the past. In this paper, we develop a novel mathematical framework for holography employing tensors, which are multi‐way data structures. Self‐holography using a reference beam formed with the station under test itself and cross‐holography using a different station to obtain the reference beam are unified under the same formalism. Besides, the relation between the two apparently distinct holographic approaches in the literature for phased arrays is shown, and we show that under certain conditions the two methods yield the same results. We test the various holographic techniques on an SKA‐Low prototype station Aperture Array Verification System 2 (AAVS2) with the Sun as the calibrator. We perform self‐holography of AAVS2 and cross‐holography with simultaneous observations carried out with another station Engineering Development Array 2. We find the results from the holographic techniques to be consistent among themselves as well as with a more conventional calibration technique.
Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Yield of “Dual‐Priority” Water Rights in Carryover Systems at Catchment Scale
Authors: Ren Peizhen , Stewardson Michael , Peel Murray , Turner Margot , John Andrew
Published: January 2024

Future water availability is threatened by changes in both climate and water demand. Water rights with differing priorities are an important foundation of demand‐side tools (e.g., buyback, water pricing, and water market) to improve water use efficiency and reduce water scarcity, especially in highly regulated river systems. This paper assesses the impact of climate change on water yields from carryover storage with dual‐priority (high/low) water rights allocation systems using a simple and rapid analytical method. The method characterizes reservoir inflows using readily available flow characteristics (annual mean and Cv). We evaluate this method against a water resource simulation model in the Goulburn River basin, Australia. In general, our analytical “dual‐priority” Gould‐Dincer model reproduces water allocation estimates from the simulation model. We further demonstrate this method across 12 Australian catchments to investigate the climate change impact on “dual‐priority” water rights yield at the catchment scale. The hydrological projections show decreasing mean annual runoff and increasing annual runoff variability, except for some catchments in northern Australia. Water yield for high‐priority water rights (HPWRs) and low‐priority water rights (LPWRs) decreases for most catchments except for some catchments in northern Australia. South Dandalup in the 2070s (RCP8.5) shows the largest percentage decrease in HPWR and LPWR yield (about −53.53% and −56.81%, respectively). Our results show that changes in mean annual inflow have a more significant influence on water yield of HPWR and LPWR than Cv. Overall, the simple method provides a rapid assessment of water yields with “dual‐priority” water rights which is applicable across multiple sites at regional or even global scale.
The Hippo-YAP signaling pathway drives CD24-mediated immune evasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via macrophage phagocytosis
Authors: Zhou Xiaofeng , Yan Ziyi , Hou Jinghan , Zhang Lichen , Chen Zhen , Gao Can , Ahmad Nor Hazwani , Guo Mingzhou , Wang Weilong , Han Tao , Chang Tingmin , Kang Xiaohong , Wang Lidong , Liang Yinming , Li Xiumin
Published: January 2024

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world with poor prognosis. Despite the promising applications of immunotherapy, the objective response rate is still unsatisfactory. We have previously shown that Hippo/YAP signaling acts as a powerful tumor promoter in ESCC. However, whether Hippo/YAP signaling is involved in tumor immune escape in ESCC remains largely unknown. Here, we show that YAP directly activates transcription of the “don’t eat me” signal CD24, and plays a crucial role in driving tumor cells to avoid phagocytosis by macrophages. Mechanistically, YAP regulates CD24 expression by interacting with TEAD and binding the CD24 promoter to initiate transcription, which facilitates tumor cell escape from macrophage-mediated immune attack. Our animal model data and clinical data show that YAP combined with CD24 in tumor microenvironment redefines the impact of TAMs on the prognosis of ESCC patients which will provide a valuable basis for precision medicine. Moreover, treatment with YAP inhibitor altered the distribution of macrophages and suppressed tumorigenesis and progression of ESCC in vivo. Together, our study provides a novel link between Hippo/YAP signaling and macrophage-mediated immune escape, which suggests that the Hippo-YAP-CD24 axis may act as a promising target to improve the prognosis of ESCC patients.
Transport and inhibition mechanism for VMAT2-mediated synaptic vesicle loading of monoamines
Authors: Wang Yuwei , Zhang Pei , Chao Yulin , Zhu Zhini , Yang Chuanhui , Zhou Zixuan , Li Yaohui , Long Yonghui , Liu Yuehua , Li Dianfan , Wang Sheng , Qu Qianhui
Published: January 2024

Monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are loaded by vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) into synaptic vesicles for storage and subsequent release in neurons. Impaired VMAT2 function underlies various neuropsychiatric diseases. VMAT2 inhibitors reserpine and tetrabenazine are used to treat hypertension, movement disorders associated with Huntington’s Disease and Tardive Dyskinesia. Despite its physiological and pharmacological significance, the structural basis underlying VMAT2 substrate recognition and its inhibition by various inhibitors remains unknown. Here we present cryo-EM structures of human apo VMAT2 in addition to states bound to serotonin, tetrabenazine, and reserpine. These structures collectively capture three states, namely the lumen-facing, occluded, and cytosol-facing conformations. Notably, tetrabenazine induces a substantial rearrangement of TM2 and TM7, extending beyond the typical rocker-switch movement. These functionally dynamic snapshots, complemented by biochemical analysis, unveil the essential components responsible for ligand recognition, elucidate the proton-driven exchange cycle, and provide a framework to design improved pharmaceutics targeting VMAT2.
All-in-one porous membrane enables full protection in guided bone regeneration
Authors: Wu Shuyi , Luo Shulu , Cen Zongheng , Li Qianqian , Li Luwei , Li Weiran , Huang Zhike , He Wenyi , Liang Guobin , Wu Dingcai , Zhou Minghong , Li Yan
Published: January 2024

The sophisticated hierarchical structure that precisely combines contradictory mechanical and biological characteristics is ideal for biomaterials, but it is challenging to achieve. Herein, we engineer a spatiotemporally hierarchical guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane by rational bilayer integration of densely porous N-halamine functionalized bacterial cellulose nanonetwork facing the gingiva and loosely porous chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite micronetwork facing the alveolar bone. Our GBR membrane asymmetrically combine stiffness and flexibility, ingrowth barrier and ingrowth guiding, as well as anti-bacteria and cell-activation. The dense layer has a mechanically matched space maintenance capacity toward gingiva, continuously blocks fibroblasts, and prevents bacterial invasion with multiple mechanisms including release-killing, contact-killing, anti-adhesion, and nanopore-blocking; the loose layer is ultra-soft to conformally cover bone surfaces and defect cavity edges, enables ingrowth of osteogenesis-associated cells, and creates a favorable osteogenic microenvironment. As a result, our all-in-one porous membrane possesses full protective abilities in GBR.
Spatial structure, chemotaxis and quorum sensing shape bacterial biomass accumulation in complex porous media
Authors: Scheidweiler David , Bordoloi Ankur Deep , Jiao Wenqiao , Sentchilo Vladimir , Bollani Monica , Chhun Audam , Engel Philipp , de Anna Pietro
Published: January 2024

Biological tissues, sediments, or engineered systems are spatially structured media with a tortuous and porous structure that host the flow of fluids. Such complex environments can influence the spatial and temporal colonization patterns of bacteria by controlling the transport of individual bacterial cells, the availability of resources, and the distribution of chemical signals for communication. Yet, due to the multi-scale structure of these complex systems, it is hard to assess how different biotic and abiotic properties work together to control the accumulation of bacterial biomass. Here, we explore how flow-mediated interactions allow the gut commensal Escherichia coli to colonize a porous structure that is composed of heterogenous dead-end pores (DEPs) and connecting percolating channels, i.e. transmitting pores (TPs), mimicking the structured surface of mammalian guts. We find that in presence of flow, gradients of the quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) promote E. coli chemotactic accumulation in the DEPs. In this crowded environment, the combination of growth and cell-to-cell collision favors the development of suspended bacterial aggregates. This results in hot-spots of resource consumption, which, upon resource limitation, triggers the mechanical evasion of biomass from nutrients and oxygen depleted DEPs. Our findings demonstrate that microscale medium structure and complex flow coupled with bacterial quorum sensing and chemotaxis control the heterogenous accumulation of bacterial biomass in a spatially structured environment, such as villi and crypts in the gut or in tortuous pores within soil and filters.
Incidence and transmission of respiratory syncytial virus in urban and rural South Africa, 2017-2018
Authors: Cohen Cheryl , Kleynhans Jackie , Moyes Jocelyn , McMorrow Meredith L. , Treurnicht Florette K. , Hellferscee Orienka , Wolter Nicole , Martinson Neil A. , Kahn Kathleen , Lebina Limakatso , Mothlaoleng Katlego , Wafawanaka Floidy , Gómez-Olivé Francesc Xavier , Mkhencele Thulisa , Mathunjwa Azwifarwi , Carrim Maimuna , Mathee Angela , Piketh Stuart , Language Brigitte , von Gottberg Anne , Tempia Stefano
Published: January 2024

Data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence and household transmission are limited. To describe RSV incidence and transmission, we conducted a prospective cohort study in rural and urban communities in South Africa over two seasons during 2017-2018. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected twice-weekly for 10 months annually and tested for RSV using PCR. We tested 81,430 samples from 1,116 participants in 225 households (follow-up 90%). 32% (359/1116) of individuals had ≥1 RSV infection; 10% (37/359) had repeat infection during the same season, 33% (132/396) of infections were symptomatic, and 2% (9/396) sought medical care. Incidence was 47.2 infections/100 person-years and highest in children <5 years (78.3). Symptoms were commonest in individuals aged <12 and ≥65 years. Individuals 1-12 years accounted for 55% (134/242) of index cases. Household cumulative infection risk was 11%. On multivariable analysis, index cases with ≥2 symptoms and shedding duration >10 days were more likely to transmit; household contacts aged 1-4 years vs. ≥65 years were more likely to acquire infection. Within two South African communities, RSV attack rate was high, and most infections asymptomatic. Young children were more likely to introduce RSV into the home, and to be infected. Future studies should examine whether vaccines targeting children aged <12 years could reduce community transmission.
Metal-support interaction boosts the stability of Ni-based electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation
Authors: Tian Xiaoyu , Ren Renjie , Wei Fengyuan , Pei Jiajing , Zhuang Zhongbin , Zhuang Lin , Sheng Wenchao
Published: January 2024

Ni-based hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) electrocatalysts are promising anode materials for the anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), but their application is hindered by their inherent instability for practical operations. Here, we report a TiO2supported Ni4Mo (Ni4Mo/TiO2) catalyst that can effectively catalyze HOR in alkaline electrolyte with a mass activity of 10.1 ± 0.9 A g−1Niand remain active even up to 1.2 V. The Ni4Mo/TiO2anode AEMFC delivers a peak power density of 520 mW cm−2and durability at 400 mA cm−2for nearly 100 h. The origin for the enhanced activity and stability is attributed to the down-shifteddband center, caused by the efficient charge transfer from TiO2to Ni. The modulated electronic structure weakens the binding strength of oxygen species, rendering a high stability. The Ni4Mo/TiO2has achieved greatly improved stability both in half cell and single AEMFC tests, and made a step forward for feasibility of efficient and durable AEMFCs.
Waste milk humification product can be used as a slow release nano-fertilizer
Authors: Zhu Yanping , Cao Yuxuan , Fu Bingbing , Wang Chengjin , Shu Shihu , Zhu Pengjin , Wang Dongfang , Xu He , Zhong Naiqin , Cai Dongqing
Published: January 2024

The demand for milk has increased globally, accompanied by an increase in waste milk. Here, we provide an artificial humification technology to recycle waste milk into an agricultural nano-fertilizer. We use KOH-activated persulfate to convert waste milk into fulvic-like acid and humic-like acid. We mix the product with attapulgite to obtain a slow-release nano fulvic-like acid fertilizer. We apply this nano-fertilizer to chickweeds growing in pots, resulting in improved yield and root elongation. These results indicate that waste milk could be recycled for agricultural purposes, however, this nano-fertilizer needs to be tested further in field experiments.