bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovering A Saint
Authors: Pepler Conrad
Published: August 2024

The fact that two great Carmelite saints should both have been called Teresa has inevitably led to a constant comparison between ‘the great’ and ‘the little’ saint, according to the various points of view of the critics. Miss Sackville-West compared them, in her study published eight years ago, as eagle and dove, with a strong bias in favour of the ‘eagle'. We naturally feel uneasy about such a valuation since they are both canonised saints and are therefore both great in the eyes of the Church. But perhaps there is some justification for such a comparison of value even for the Catholic who fully acknowledges the heroic greatness of both in the order of supernatural virtue.

The appearance at this time of several studies of the one and of the other St Teresa, together with the translated Letters of ‘Avila’ herself, gives us the occasion to weigh Miss Sackville-West's title once again.
The Blessed Trinity and Our Adopted Sonship
Authors: Catherinet F. M.
Published: August 2024

The mystery of the blessed Trinity is the most unfathomable of the articles of our faith; but it is likewise the most fruitful for our spiritual life. Many souls, nevertheless, even really interior ones, are more inclined to adore it than to strive to know it well. Doubtless they understand that God is within them, that he lives in them and bestows his graceon them; many even willingly recall that this God living in them is the one God in three persons; and they are overcome by a sweet emotion, a humble reverence when they realise that at every instant the great mystery of the generation of the Word by the Father, the procession of the Holy Ghost from the breathing forth of the mutual love of Father and Son, is accomplished in their heart. But generally their thoughts stop there.
'Primo Feliciter'
Authors: Pius
Published: August 2024

How that, the first year since the promulgation of Our Apostolic Constitution, Provida Mater Ecclesia (cf. A.A.S., XXXIX, n.4, p.114) has happily passed, since I We have before Our eyes so great a number of souls (hidden ‘with Christ in God’ (Col. o, 3) who aspire to perfection in the world and gladly ‘with generous heart and willing mind’ (2 Mac, 1, 3) consecrate their whole life to God in the new Secular Institutes, We cannot refrain from giving thanks to the Divine Goodness for this new militia which has increased the army of those professing the evangelical counsels in the world; and in this way the Catholic apostolate is providentially strengthened in these our times—times of trouble and sorrow —by a strong force.
The Human Basis of Christian Perfection Introductory
Authors: Barker Austin
Published: August 2024

The subject matter of this essay, in so far as it is concerned with what is called the Obediential Potency, naturally finds no exact place within a course of philosophy properly so-called, when later the student proceeds into formal theology, the divine science, it is customarily assumed that the matter has been already sufficiently studied in the preliminaries to theology. It finds its right place within the Science of fundamental theology, or Apologetics, which deals with the Praeambula Fidei, the motives of credibility and similar material. Sometimes, however, its central importance fails to receive adequate attention, and its essential significance, while not being entirely overlooked, rarely obtains the emphasis which is its due. The following pages are intended briefly to co-relate it with the growth of divine action in the soul, and to suggest that the endowment of divine grace progressively proceeds in correspondence with the development of the obediential capacity.
Contemplative Life in the World?
Authors: Steuart Benedict
Published: August 2024

In the May issue of Life Of The Spirit, ‘A Challenge from inside the Cloister’ by a Carmelite nun denied with considerable force that there could be any real contemplative life in the world—mainly ‘because the essential “stripping” could never be accomplished outside Enclosure or the Rule nor could it be born', (p. 556.) It is true that the writer says that it is ‘A Carmelite life in the world’ that does not seem possible, but she goes on to say: ‘May I suggest that it is a great pity so much is made of “contemplative fife” in the world now'; so that evidently it is not only the Carmelite form of that life which is considered impossible outside the cloister.

This ‘challenge’ has given rise to a series of replies—some of which have appeared in the following numbers of Life Of The Spirit—all of which have protested quite decidedly against the theory expressed in the ‘challenge'.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Authors: Albert S. M.
Published: August 2024

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is perhaps the most popular devotion of modern times, and in its present form it may be said to date from the revelations made by our Lord to St Margaret Mary in the 17th century. But though so ‘modern’ it is as old as the Gospels. Our Lord himself taught the Apostles. Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart', and when, after the Resurrection, he invited Thomas to put his hand into his side, the doubting Apostle must surely have felt there the beatings of the heart of whom he forthwith confessed to be his Lord and his God. St John, who leaned upon the Lord's breast at the Last Supper, and who has left us in his Gospel some account of the secrets he learned there, also describes how the soldier opened our Saviour's side as he hung dead on the cross, so that blood and water gushed forth, and it has always been the belief of saints and commentators that the lance pierced the heart too.
Throne of Wisdom
Authors: Todd John
Published: August 2024

As the first, original sin was committed through the sinful mediation of a woman, so it was through a woman's consent and just mediation that we were redeemed from the guilt of this sin. Conceived without the stain of original sin, our Lady was the second Eve. She was the perfect tabernacle of God, simply the mother of Jesus, because she was utterly selfless, because in an old metaphor of the Fathers revived in a recent book, she was like a pipe which waits for the air to blow through it to make music, the Reed of God.

Our Lady was the throne of Wisdom because she can be perfectly described as the Woman who was poor. Here at last was the complete gift of self, the unconditional sacrifice of the creature which God looked for in Adam and Eve, and looked for in vain. So our Lady became infinitely rich, Sedes Sapientiae, and entered upon the earthly motherhood with that perfection which she carried on to her eternal motherhood wherein she dispenses to man the same Wisdom whom she mothered in Palestine.
Making Time for God
Authors: Graef H. C.
Published: August 2024

How I should like to deepen my spiritual life by more prayer and reading; but I simply haven't the time—this complaint can often be heard from many who earnestly desire a more intimate relationship with God and feel that what prevents them from achieving it is mainly lack of that minimum of leisure which is indispensable for an intense life of prayer. Yet, if we look at the Saints we shall discover the paradoxical phenomenon that the more they prayed the more time they seemed to have for their apostolic work. Whether we take St Dominic or St Teresa, St Bernard or St Catherine of Siena, we are confronted with the fact that they accomplished in a very short time tasks sufficient for several ordinary long human lives, and in addition gave what seems to us a disproportionate amount of time to prayer. It looks, indeed, as if our Lord's promise that to those who seek first the Kingdom of God all else will be added includes also time. If we give time to him he will give it back to us with interest.
Parochial Spirituality II—Some Applications
Authors: Evans Illtud
Published: August 2024

If it be true that the rhythm of parish life should be accepted as the Church's normal means of bringing her members to their vocation of holiness, the danger of a false mystique must yet be faced and avoided. It is easy enough to envisage an idyllic order in which social circumstances and personal integrity alike encourage the growth of the Mystical Body as manifest in a local congregation of the faithful. But the facts are often painfully otherwise, and an appeal to a high achievement may trickle away into the lowest common denominator of what is customary.

The immediate difficulty springs from the fragmentation of parochial life, reflecting as it does the broken unity of social life everywhere. The crowded congregations at Mass may deceive; they must certainly be related to the crowds who have fallen away. And even the faithful, so often pitifully unaware of the deep resources of the faith they cling to, have largely ceased to be conscious of the God-given bond that brings them together. There can be no substitute for what is essential in any organism, and the Church is animated by the Holy Ghost himself.
Using Disorder Metrics to Distinguish Discharge‐Driven From Drainage Area‐Driven Incision and Quantify Deviations in Channel Steepness
Authors: Ruiz Sánchez‐Oro Marina , Mudd Simon M. , Gailleton Boris
Published: August 2024

The rate of channel incision in bedrock rivers is often described using a power law relationship that scales erosion with drainage area. However, erosion in landscapes that experience strong rainfall gradients may be better described by discharge instead of drainage area. In this study, we test if these two end member scenarios result in identifiable topographic signatures in both idealized numerical simulations and in natural landscapes. We find that in simulations using homogeneous lithology, we can differentiate a posteriori between drainage area and discharge‐driven incision scenarios by quantifying the relative disorder of channel profiles, as measured by how well tributary profiles mimic both the main stem channel and each other. The more heterogeneous the landscape becomes, the harder it proves to identify the disorder signatures of the end member incision rules. We then apply these indicators to natural landscapes, and find, among eight test areas, no clear topographic signal that allows us to conclude a discharge or area‐driven incision rule is more appropriate. We then quantify the distortion in the channel steepness index induced by changing the incision rule. Distortion in the channel steepness index can also be driven by changes to the assumed reference concavity index, and we find that distortions in the normalized channel steepness index, frequently used as a proxy for erosion rates, is more sensitive to changes in the concavity index than to changes in the assumed incision rule. This makes it a priority to optimize the concavity index even under an unknown incision mechanism.
Vertical Deformation Along a Strike‐Slip Plate Boundary: The Uplifted Marine Terraces of the Gulf of Aqaba and Tiran Island, at the Southern End of the Dead Sea Fault
Authors: Ribot Matthieu , Lefèvre Marthe , Klinger Yann , Pons‐Branchu Edwige , Dapoigny Arnaud , Jónsson Sigurjón
Published: August 2024

Close to its southern end where it connects to the Red Sea rift, the Dead Sea strike‐slip fault (DSF) becomes trans‐tensional in the Gulf of Aqaba. Details of this transition, however, remain difficult to unravel as most of the active tectonic structures are located off‐shore. This study focuses on uplifted marine terraces located in the Gulf of Aqaba and on Tiran Island. Using high‐resolution tri‐stereo Pleiades satellite imagery, we build a Digital Surface Model (DSM) at a 0.5‐m resolution of the eastern coast of the gulf and Tiran Island to map 19 levels of marine terraces. The terraces are preserved at elevations from 1 m to almost 500 m above the current sea level. Correlating laterally U‐Th ages obtained along the gulf with the lower levels found on Tiran Island, we build an age model to estimate the ages of the upper terraces on the island. Combining this with the terrace heights from our DSM, we derive the uplift rate affecting the terraces. The geographic extent of the terraces along the gulf suggests that the DSF is responsible for uplift along the entire eastern coastline of the gulf at a rate of about 0.14 ± 0.03 mm/year at least over the Quaternary. The uplift rate of Tiran Island, located closer to the Red Sea rift, is faster at 0.21 ± 0.02 mm/year over the past 2.4 Myr. This faster uplift rate suggests a combined tectonic uplift related to both the Dead Sea strike‐slip fault system and the Red Sea rift.
Evolution of Drought Mitigation and Water Security Through 100 Years of Reservoir Expansion in Semi‐Arid Brazil
Authors: Meira Neto Antônio Alves , Medeiros Pedro , de Araújo José Carlos , Pereira Bruno , Sivapalan Murugesu
Published: August 2024

Brazil's Northeast region (BRN), especially the state of Ceará (CE), has dealt historically with severe drought events since the late 1800s, which commonly led to catastrophic impacts of mass migration and deaths of thousands of people. Throughout the last century, the “Droughts Polygon” region experienced an intense infrastructural development, with the expansion of a dense network of reservoirs. This paper presents a parsimonious hydrologic modeling approach to investigate the 100‐year (1920–2020) evolution of the hydrology of the 24,500 km2 Upper Jaguaribe Basin, throughout the development of a dense reservoir network. We aimed at reproducing the hydrology at the basin scale and analyzed the outcomes of reservoir expansion in terms of water fluxes and water security. Our model's structure captured the growth in reservoir count and storage capacity, which was then confronted with an evolving water demand, allowing us to estimate how water security (i.e., proportion of demand being met) varied over the 100‐year period. Significant streamflow reduction at the basin's outlet and increase in evaporation losses, associated with a decrease in streamflow at varying exceedance frequencies were observed at the end of the study period. While reservoir expansion allowed for the transition from complete vulnerability to meteorological droughts to increased levels of water security, drought impacts had, in the meantime, disproportionally intensified, especially in reservoirs of medium to small capacities. Smaller reservoirs are suggested to have played the role of distributing water resources throughout the region, while larger reservoirs were more efficient as tools to promote water security.
Forecasting Next Year's Global Land Water Storage Using GRACE Data
Authors: Li Fupeng , Kusche Jürgen , Sneeuw Nico , Siebert Stefan , Gerdener Helena , Wang Zhengtao , Chao Nengfang , Chen Gang , Tian Kunjun
Published: August 2024

Existing approaches for predicting total water storage (TWS) rely on land surface or hydrological models using meteorological forcing data. Yet, such models are more adept at predicting specific water compartments, such as soil moisture, rather than others, which consequently impedes accurately forecasting of TWS. Here we show that machine learning can be used to uncover relations between nonseasonal terms of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) derived total water storage and the preceding hydrometeorological drivers, and these relations can subsequently be used to predict water storage up to 12 months ahead, and even exceptional droughts on the basis of near real‐time observational forcing data. Validation by actual GRACE observations suggests that the method developed here has the capability to forecast trends in global land water storage for the following year. If applied in early warning systems, these predictions would better inform decision‐makers to improve current drought and water resource management.
Synergistic Forcing of the Troposphere and Stratosphere on Explosively Developing Cyclones Over the North Pacific During Cold Season
Authors: Qian Shengyi , Hu Haibo , Hodges Kevin I. , Yang Xiu‐Qun , Song Tangxuan
Published: August 2024

The mid‐latitude extreme weather disasters are often associated with explosively developing cyclones (ECs). Based on different vertical development characteristics, 4,608 ECs identified over the North Pacific in the cold season of 44 years of NCEP‐CFSR reanalyzes are divided into four types of upward development and four types of downward development categories. ECs with vertical upward (downward) development follow a northeastward (nearly eastward) path, mainly explosively developing over the Northwest Pacific (Asia continent and Pacific). Furthermore, utilizing the piecewise potential vorticity inversion method reveals the synergetic forcing of the turbulent heat transport and baroclinicity in the lower troposphere, the latent heat release in the middle levels, the upper‐level jet stream, and the downward intrusion of stratospheric potential vorticity on the ECs. Different configurations of these influences from the troposphere to the stratosphere result in the occurrences of eight types of ECs in the cold season over the North Pacific.
Interannual Variability of the Heat Budget in the Tropical Pacific Ocean and Its Link to the Overturning Circulation
Authors: Saenko Oleg A. , Tandon Neil F.
Published: August 2024

Using a suite of coupled climate models and an extensive set of ocean heat budget diagnostics, we address the relative roles of heat convergence and surface heat flux in driving the annual rate of ocean heat content (OHC) change in the tropical Pacific and its interannual variability. The net heat convergence is further separated into convergences associated with the large‐scale ocean circulation, (parameterized) mesoscale effects and small‐scale mixing. It is found that the heat convergence due to the large‐scale ocean circulation provides the dominant contribution to the annual OHC tendency. Interannual variations of heat convergence are larger in the tropical Pacific than in the tropical Atlantic. These heat convergence variations are linked to interannual variations of the Pacific meridional overturning circulation (PMOC), driven by the associated variations in the northward Ekman transport (EkT). Northward variations of the tropical PMOC and EkT are typically associated with heat divergence and negative annual OHC tendency in the central and eastern near‐equatorial Pacific along with heat convergence and positive annual OHC tendency in the western and northwestern tropical Pacific. In the Niño3.4 region, interannual variations of the near‐surface OHC tendency negatively (positively) correlate with interannual PMOC variations at zero lag (1 year lag, when PMOC leads OHC).
Radiocarbon Isotopic Disequilibrium Shows Little Incorporation of New Carbon in Mineral Soils of a Boreal Forest Ecosystem
Authors: Tangarife‐Escobar Andrés , Guggenberger Georg , Feng Xiaojuan , Muñoz Estefanía , Chanca Ingrid , Peichl Matthias , Smith Paul , Sierra Carlos A.
Published: August 2024

Boreal forests fix substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon (C). However, the timescales at which this C is cycled through the ecosystem are not yet well understood. To elucidate the temporal dynamics between photosynthesis, allocation and respiration, we assessed the radiocarbon () disequilibrium (D) between different C pools and the current atmosphere to understand the fate of C in a boreal forest ecosystem. Samples of vegetation, fungi, soil and atmospheric were collected at the Integrated Carbon Observation System station Svartberget in northern Sweden. Additionally, we analyzed the C‐ from incubated topsoil and forest floor soil respiration (FFSR) collected over a 24‐hr cycle, and calculated the C signature of the total ecosystem respiration (Re) using the Miller‐Tans method. We found that vegetation pools presented a positive D enriched with bomb , suggesting a fast‐cycling rate (months to years) for living biomass and intermediate (years to decades) for dead biomass. In contrast, mineral soils showed a negative D, indicating minimal incorporation of bomb . FFSR showed diurnal C variability (mean = 8.5‰), suggesting predominance of autotrophic respiration of recently fixed labile C. Calculations for C in Re (median = 12.7‰) demonstrate the predominance of C fixed from days to decades. Although the boreal forest stores significant amounts of C, most of it is in the soil organic layer and the vegetation, where it is cycled relatively fast. Only minimal amounts of recent C are incorporated into the mineral soil over long timescales despite the current stocks in soils being relatively old.
TGF-β signaling promotes eosinophil activation in inflammatory responses
Authors: Zhu Chen , Weng Qingyu , Gao Shenwei , Li Fei , Li Zhouyang , Wu Yinfang , Wu Yanping , Li Miao , Zhao Yun , Han Yinling , Lu Weina , Qin Zhongnan , Yu Fangyi , Lou Jiafei , Ying Songmin , Shen Huahao , Chen Zhihua , Li Wen
Published: August 2024

Eosinophils, traditionally associated with allergic phenomena, play a pivotal role in inflammatory responses. Despite accumulating evidence suggesting their pro-inflammatory function upon activation, the underlying mechanisms governing eosinophil activation remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we investigate the local activation of pulmonary and colon eosinophils within the inflammatory microenvironment. Leveraging transcriptional sequencing, we identify TGF-β as a putative regulator of eosinophil activation, leading to the secretion of granule proteins, including peroxidase. Genetic deletion of TGF-β receptors on eosinophils resulted in the inhibition of peroxidase synthesis, affirming the significance of TGF-β signaling in eosinophil activation. Using models of HDM-induced asthma and DSS-induced colitis, we demonstrate the indispensability of TGF-β-driven eosinophil activation in both disease contexts. Notably, while TGF-β signaling did not significantly influence asthmatic inflammation, its knockout conferred protection against experimental colitis. This study delineates a distinct pattern of eosinophil activation within inflammatory responses, highlighting the pivotal role of TGF-β signaling in regulating eosinophil behavior. These findings deepen our comprehension of eosinophil-related pathophysiology and may pave the way for targeted therapeutic approaches in allergic and inflammatory diseases.
DNA methylation governs the sensitivity of repeats to restriction by the HUSH-MORC2 corepressor
Authors: Pandiloski Ninoslav , Horváth Vivien , Karlsson Ofelia , Koutounidou Symela , Dorazehi Fereshteh , Christoforidou Georgia , Matas-Fuentes Jon , Gerdes Patricia , Garza Raquel , Jönsson Marie E. , Adami Anita , Atacho Diahann A. M. , Johansson Jenny G. , Englund Elisabet , Kokaia Zaal , Jakobsson Johan , Douse Christopher H.
Published: August 2024

The human silencing hub (HUSH) complex binds to transcripts of LINE-1 retrotransposons (L1s) and other genomic repeats, recruiting MORC2 and other effectors to remodel chromatin. How HUSH and MORC2 operate alongside DNA methylation, a central epigenetic regulator of repeat transcription, remains largely unknown. Here we interrogate this relationship in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs), a somatic model of brain development that tolerates removal of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1. Upon loss of MORC2 or HUSH subunit TASOR in hNPCs, L1s remain silenced by robust promoter methylation. However, genome demethylation and activation of evolutionarily-young L1s attracts MORC2 binding, and simultaneous depletion of DNMT1 and MORC2 causes massive accumulation of L1 transcripts. We identify the same mechanistic hierarchy at pericentromeric α-satellites and clustered protocadherin genes, repetitive elements important for chromosome structure and neurodevelopment respectively. Our data delineate the epigenetic control of repeats in somatic cells, with implications for understanding the vital functions of HUSH-MORC2 in hypomethylated contexts throughout human development.
Interdomain-linkers control conformational transitions in the SLC23 elevator transporter UraA
Authors: Kuhn Benedikt T. , Zöller Jonathan , Zimmermann Iwan , Gemeinhardt Tim , Özkul Dogukan H. , Langer Julian D. , Seeger Markus A. , Geertsma Eric R.
Published: August 2024

Uptake of nucleobases and ascorbate is an essential process in all living organisms mediated by SLC23 transport proteins. These transmembrane carriers operate via the elevator alternating-access mechanism, and are composed of two rigid domains whose relative motion drives transport. The lack of large conformational changes within these domains suggests that the interdomain-linkers act as flexible tethers. Here, we show that interdomain-linkers are not mere tethers, but have a key regulatory role in dictating the conformational space of the transporter and defining the rotation axis of the mobile transport domain. By resolving a wide inward-open conformation of the SLC23 elevator transporter UraA and combining biochemical studies using a synthetic nanobody as conformational probe with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that interdomain-linkers control the function of transport proteins by influencing substrate affinity and transport rate. These findings open the possibility to allosterically modulate the activity of elevator proteins by targeting their linkers.
Electric-field-enhanced second-harmonic domain contrast and nonreciprocity in a van der Waals antiferromagnet
Authors: Wang Ziqian , Wang Meng , Lehmann Jannis , Shiomi Yuki , Arima Taka-hisa , Nagaosa Naoto , Tokura Yoshinori , Ogawa Naoki
Published: August 2024

Imaging antiferromagnetic 180° domains with actively controlled visibility is vital for both fundamental science and sophisticated applications. While optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) is a well-known technique for distinguishing such domains in non-centrosymmetric antiferromagnets, a general material-based strategy to control domain contrast remains elusive. Using van der Waals antiferromagnet MnPS3 as a proof of concept, we demonstrate the tuning of nonreciprocity-induced domain contrast in SHG through applying an in-plane electric field that transforms the magnetic point group to its unitary subgroup. The interference among intrinsic electric-dipole, magnetic-dipole, and field-induced electric-dipole transitions, each carrying distinct characters under space-inversion ($${{\mathcal{P}}}$$
P
) and time-reversal ($${{\mathcal{T}}}$$
T
) operations, enables large tuning of domain contrast and nonreciprocity in a broad spectral range. This strategy, generically applicable to systems characterized by $${{\mathcal{P}}}{{\mathcal{T}}}$$
P
T
-symmetric magnetic groups with a polar unitary subgroup, offers a path to fast electrical modulation of nonlinear nonreciprocal photonic behaviors using antiferromagnets.
Genome-wide analyses of neonatal jaundice reveal a marked departure from adult bilirubin metabolism
Authors: Solé-Navais Pol , Juodakis Julius , Ytterberg Karin , Wu Xiaoping , Bradfield Jonathan P. , Vaudel Marc , LaBella Abigail L. , Helgeland Øyvind , Flatley Christopher , Geller Frank , Finel Moshe , Zhao Mengqi , Lazarus Philip , Hakonarson Hakon , Magnus Per , Andreassen Ole A. , Njølstad Pål R. , Grant Struan F. A. , Feenstra Bjarke , Muglia Louis J. , Johansson Stefan , Zhang Ge , Jacobsson Bo
Published: August 2024

Jaundice affects almost all neonates in their first days of life and is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin. Although the core biochemistry of bilirubin metabolism is well understood, it is not clear why some neonates experience more severe jaundice and require treatment with phototherapy. Here, we present the first genome-wide association study of neonatal jaundice to date in nearly 30,000 parent-offspring trios from Norway (cases ≈ 2000). The alternate allele of a common missense variant affecting the sequence of UGT1A4 reduces the susceptibility to jaundice five-fold, which replicated in separate cohorts of neonates of African American and European ancestries. eQTL colocalization analyses indicate that the association may be driven by regulation of UGT1A1 in the intestines, but not in the liver. Our results reveal marked differences in the genetic variants involved in neonatal jaundice compared to those regulating bilirubin levels in adults, suggesting distinct genetic mechanisms for the same biological pathways.
Ultraconformable cuff implants for long-term bidirectional interfacing of peripheral nerves at sub-nerve resolutions
Authors: Carnicer-Lombarte Alejandro , Boys Alexander J. , Güemes Amparo , Gurke Johannes , Velasco-Bosom Santiago , Hilton Sam , Barone Damiano G. , Malliaras George G.
Published: August 2024

Implantable devices interfacing with peripheral nerves exhibit limited longevity and resolution. Poor nerve-electrode interface quality, invasive surgical placement and development of foreign body reaction combine to limit research and clinical application of these devices. Here, we develop cuff implants with a conformable design that achieve high-quality and stable interfacing with nerves in chronic implantation scenarios. When implanted in sensorimotor nerves of the arm in awake rats for 21 days, the devices record nerve action potentials with fascicle-specific resolution and extract from these the conduction velocity and direction of propagation. The cuffs exhibit high biocompatibility, producing lower levels of fibrotic scarring than clinically equivalent PDMS silicone cuffs. In addition to recording nerve activity, the devices are able to modulate nerve activity at sub-nerve resolution to produce a wide range of paw movements. When used in a partial nerve ligation rodent model, the cuffs identify and characterise changes in nerve C fibre activity associated with the development of neuropathic pain in freely-moving animals. The developed implantable devices represent a platform enabling new forms of fine nerve signal sensing and modulation, with applications in physiology research and closed-loop therapeutics.
CELL: a Python package for cluster expansion with a focus on complex alloys
Authors: Rigamonti Santiago , Troppenz Maria , Kuban Martin , Hübner Axel , Draxl Claudia
Published: August 2024

We present the Python package , which provides a modular approach to the cluster expansion (CE) method. can treat a wide variety of substitutional systems, including one-, two-, and three-dimensional alloys, in a general multi-component and multi-sublattice framework. It is capable of dealing with complex materials comprising several atoms in their parent lattice. uses state-of-the-art techniques for the construction of training data sets, model selection, and finite-temperature simulations. The user interface consists of well-documented Python classes and modules (http://sol.physik.hu-berlin.de/cell/). also provides visualization utilities and can be interfaced with virtually any ab initio package, total-energy codes based on interatomic potentials, and more. The usage and capabilities of are illustrated by a number of examples, comprising a Cu-Pt surface alloy with oxygen adsorption, featuring two coupled binary sublattices, and the thermodynamic analysis of its order-disorder transition; the demixing transition and lattice-constant bowing of the Si-Ge alloy; and an iterative CE approach for a complex clathrate compound with a parent lattice consisting of 54 atoms.
Temporal changes in the size resolved fractions of bacterial aerosols in urban and semi-urban residences
Authors: Grydaki N. , Colbeck I. , Whitby C.
Published: August 2024

Despite the significant amount of time spent in the domestic environment, culture-independent size distribution data of bioaerosols are largely missing. This study investigated the temporal changes in size-resolved bacterial aerosols in urban and semi-urban residential settings. Overall, airborne bacterial taxa identified in both sites were dispersed across particles of various sizes. qPCR analysis showed that outdoors bacteria dominated particles > 8 μm, whilst indoor bacterial loadings were greater with 1–2 μm (winter) and 2–4 μm (summer) ranges. Indoor and outdoor aerosols harboured distinct bacterial communities due to the dominance of human-associated taxa (Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium) in indoor air. The aerosol microbiome exhibited significant temporal variation, with Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli predominant indoors, whereas Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were the most abundant taxa outdoors. The variation between the two residences was mostly driven by particles < 2 μm, whereas differences between indoors and outdoors were mostly influenced by particles > 2 μm. Source-tracking analysis estimated that household surfaces accounted for the greatest source proportion of bacteria, surpassing that of outdoor air, which varied due to natural ventilation throughout the year. Our findings provide new insights into the factors governing the aerosol microbiome in residential environments which are crucial for exposure assessment.
Chrono-EEG dynamics influencing hand gesture decoding: a 10-hour study
Authors: Egger Johanna , Kostoglou Kyriaki , Müller-Putz Gernot R.
Published: August 2024

Long-term electroencephalography (EEG) recordings have primarily been used to study resting-state fluctuations. These recordings provide valuable insights into various phenomena such as sleep stages, cognitive processes, and neurological disorders. However, this study explores a new angle, focusing for the first time on the evolving nature of EEG dynamics over time within the context of movement. Twenty-two healthy individuals were measured six times from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. with intervals of 2 h while performing four right-hand gestures. Analysis of movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs) revealed a reduction in amplitude for the motor and post-motor potential during later hours of the day. Evaluation in source space displayed an increase in the activity of M1 of the contralateral hemisphere and the SMA of both hemispheres until 8 p.m. followed by a decline until midnight. Furthermore, we investigated how changes over time in MRCP dynamics affect the ability to decode motor information. This was achieved by developing classification schemes to assess performance across different scenarios. The observed variations in classification accuracies over time strongly indicate the need for adaptive decoders. Such adaptive decoders would be instrumental in delivering robust results, essential for the practical application of BCIs during day and nighttime usage.
PIP-seq identifies novel heterogeneous lung innate lymphocyte population activation after combustion product exposure
Authors: Huang Yung-An , Wang Xinyu , Kim Jong-Chan , Yao Xiang , Sethi Anshika , Strohm Allyssa , Doherty Taylor A.
Published: August 2024

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a heterogeneous population that play diverse roles in airway inflammation after exposure to allergens and infections. However, how ILCs respond after exposure to environmental toxins is not well understood. Here we show a novel method for studying the heterogeneity of rare lung ILC populations by magnetic enrichment for lung ILCs followed by particle-templated instant partition sequencing (PIP-seq). Using this method, we were able to identify novel group 1 and group 2 ILC subsets that exist after exposure to both fungal allergen and burn pit-related constituents (BPC) that include dioxin, aromatic hydrocarbon, and particulate matter. Toxin exposure in combination with fungal allergen induced activation of specific ILC1/NK and ILC2 populations as well as promoted neutrophilic lung inflammation. Oxidative stress pathways and downregulation of specific ribosomal protein genes (Rpl41 and Rps19) implicated in anti-inflammatory responses were present after BPC exposure. Increased IFNγ expression and other pro-neutrophilic mediator transcripts were increased in BPC-stimulated lung innate lymphoid cells. Further, the addition of BPC induced Hspa8 (encodes HSC70) and aryl hydrocarbon transcription factor activity across multiple lung ILC subsets. Overall, using an airway disease model that develops after occupational and environmental exposures, we demonstrate an effective method to better understand heterogenous ILC subset activation.
Pasture-finishing of cattle in Western U.S. rangelands improves markers of animal metabolic health and nutritional compounds in beef
Authors: Evans Nikia , Cloward Jennifer , Ward Robert E. , van Wietmarschen Herman A. , van Eekeren Nick , Kronberg Scott L. , Provenza Frederick D. , van Vliet Stephan
Published: August 2024

As environmental and health concerns of beef production and consumption mount, there is growing interest in agroecological production methods, including finishing beef cattle on pastures with phytochemically diverse grasses, forbs, and/or shrubs. The goal of this metabolomics, lipidomics, and fatty acid methyl ester profiling study was to compare meat (pectoralis profundus) of Black Angus cattle from two commercial US beef finishing systems (pasture-finished on Western U.S. rangeland; n = 18 and grain-finished in a Midwest U.S. feedlot; n = 18). A total of 907 out of 1575 compounds differed in abundance between pasture-finished and grain-finished beef samples (all, false discovery rate adjusted P < 0.05). Pasture-finished beef contained higher levels of phenolic antioxidants (2.6-fold), alpha-tocopherol (3.1-fold), nicotinate/vitamin B3 (9.4-fold), choline (1.2-fold), myo-inositol (1.8-fold), and omega-3 fatty acids (4.1-fold). Grain-finished beef contained higher levels of gamma-tocopherol (14.6-fold), nicotinamide/vitamin B3 (1.5-fold), pantothenate/vitamin B5 (1.3-fold), and pyridoxine/vitamin B6 (1.3-fold); indicating that feeding some grain (by-products) could be beneficial to increase levels of certain B-vitamins. Pasture-finished beef samples also displayed lower levels of oxidative stress (homocysteine, 0.6-fold; and 4-hydroxy-nonenal-glutathione, 0.4-fold) and improved mitochondrial function (1.3-fold) compared to grain-finished animals. Two potential metabolites of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, 2,8-quinolinediol and 2,8-quinolinediol sulfate, were only observed in grain-finished beef, though the source remains unknown. While pasture-finished cattle displayed improved markers of metabolic health and concentrated additional, potentially health-promoting compounds in their meat, our findings should not be interpreted as that grain-finished beef is unhealthy to consume. Randomized controlled trials in humans are required to further assess whether observed differences between pasture-finished and feedlot-finished beef have an appreciable effect on human health.
Semiochemical-baited traps as a new method supplementing light traps for faunistic and ecological studies of Macroheterocera (Lepidoptera)
Authors: Szanyi Szabolcs , Molnár Attila , Szanyi Kálmán , Tóth Miklós , Jósvai Júlia Katalin , Varga Zoltán , Nagy Antal
Published: August 2024

Attractivity and selectivity of two types of traps with synthetic, long-lasting, bisexual generic attractants were compared to conventional light traps to promote their wider use, as an easy-to-use standardised method for entomology. The targeted herbivorous Macroheterocera species playing important role in ecosystems as food source for higher trophic levels (e.g. predatory arthropods, birds and mammals), while other hand they can cause significant economic loss in agriculture. Data on their population dynamic and composition of their assemblages are necessary for both nature conservation and efficient pest management. Light- and semiochemical-baited traps with semisynthetic- (SBL = the acronym stands for semisynthetic bisexual lure) and synthetic lures (FLO = the acronym stands for floral lure of synthetic floral compounds) were used in species rich area of West Ukraine, and in all 10,926 lepidopterans trapped were identified. The attractivity of the light trap was highest with 252 species caught, while traps with semiochemicals captured 132 species including 28 exclusively caught only by them. The qualitative selectivity of light vs. semiochemical-baited traps differed considering both taxa and habitat preferences in such a way that they completed each-other. Differences in quantitative selectivity were also proved even in case of pest species. The parameters of methods varied depending on the phenological phases of the studied assemblages. Considering the revealed attractivity and selectivity, the parallel use of the two methods can offer improved reliable data for conservation biology and pest management.
Temporal regulation of BMP2 growth factor signaling in response to mechanical loading is linked to cytoskeletal and focal adhesion remodeling
Authors: Görlitz Sophie , Brauer Erik , Günther Rebecca , Duda Georg N. , Knaus Petra , Petersen Ansgar
Published: August 2024

Biophysical cues have the ability to enhance cellular signaling response to Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, an essential growth factor during bone development and regeneration. Yet, therapeutic application of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) is restricted due to uncontrolled side effects. An understanding of the temporal characteristics of mechanically regulated signaling events and underlying mechanism is lacking. Using a 3D bioreactor system in combination with a soft macroporous biomaterial substrate, we mimic the in vivo environment that BMP2 is acting in. We show that the intensity and duration of BMP2 signaling increases with increasing loading frequency in synchrony with the number and size of focal adhesions. Long-term mechanical stimulation increases the expression of BMP receptor type 1B, specific integrin subtypes and integrin clustering. Together, this triggered a short-lived mechanical echo that enhanced BMP2 signaling even when BMP2 is administered directly after mechanical stimulation, but not when it is applied after a resting period of ≥30 min. Interfering with cytoskeletal remodeling hinders focal adhesion remodeling verifying its critical role in shifting cells into a state of high BMP2 responsiveness. The design of biomaterials that exploit this potential locally at the site of injury will help to overcome current limitations of clinical growth factor treatment.
Anomalous Nernst effect in the noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn5Si3
Authors: Sürgers Christoph , Fischer Gerda , Campos Warlley H. , Hellenes Anna Birk , Šmejkal Libor , Sinova Jairo , Merz Michael , Wolf Thomas , Wernsdorfer Wolfgang
Published: August 2024

Investigating the off-diagonal components of the conductivity and thermoelectric tensor of materials hosting complex antiferromagnetic structures has become a viable method to reveal the effects of topology and chirality on the electronic transport in these systems. In this respect, Mn5Si3 is an interesting metallic compound that exhibits several antiferromagnetic phases below 100 K with different collinear and noncollinear arrangements of Mn magnetic moments determined from neutron scattering. Previous electronic transport measurements have shown that the transitions between the various phases give rise to large changes of the anomalous Hall effect. Here, we report measurements of the anomalous Nernst effect of Mn5Si3 single crystals that also show clear transitions between the different magnetic phases. In the noncollinear phase, we observe an unusual sign change of the zero-field Nernst signal with a concomitant decrease of the Hall signal and a gradual reduction of the remanent magnetization. Furthermore, a symmetry analysis of the proposed magnetic structures shows that both effects should actually vanish. These results indicate a symmetry-breaking modification of the magnetic state with a rearrangement of the magnetic moments at low temperatures, thus questioning the previously reported models for the noncollinear magnetic structure obtained from neutron scattering.
Realization of high-performance optical metasurfaces over a large area: a review from a design perspective
Authors: Choi Minseok , Park Junkyeong , Shin Jehyeon , Keawmuang Harit , Kim Hongyoon , Yun Jooyeong , Seong Junhwa , Rho Junsuk
Published: August 2024

Remarkable advancements have been made in the design of optical metasurfaces in recent years, particularly in compact designs. However, for their practical integration into diverse optical systems, there is a pressing need for metasurfaces to transition toward larger areas without compromising their performance. From a design perspective, efforts in the design process must focus on reducing computational costs and enhancing performance in larger areas. In this review, we introduce diverse optical analyses applicable to wide areas, including the modification of boundary conditions, fast multipole methods, coupled mode theory, and neural network–based approaches. In addition, inverse design methods based on the adjoint method or deep learning, which are suitable for large-scale designs, are described. Numerous fast and accurate simulation methods make it possible to assess optical properties over large areas at a low cost, whereas diverse inverse design methods hold promise for high performance. By concurrently addressing both the essential aspects of designing large-area metasurfaces, we comprehensively discuss various approaches to develop metasurfaces with high performance over expansive regions. Finally, we outline additional challenges and prospects for realizing mass-produced high-performance metasurfaces, unlocking their full potential for optical applications.
Hybrid nanovesicles derived from grapes and tomatoes with synergistic antioxidative activity
Authors: Wang Jialin , Xie Fangting , He Qiuxia , Gu Ruilan , Zhang Siqin , Su Xueqi , Pan Xueping , Zhang Tianyu , Karrar Emad , Li Jian , Wu Weijing , Chen Chaoxiang
Published: August 2024

A solvent-assisted hybridization technique was developed to prepare hybrid plant-derived nanovesicles with enhanced bioactive properties and uniformity.
Experimental and theoretical approach for a better understanding of the mechanisms of adsorption and inhibition of corrosion for carbon steel by thiazolidine derivatives in 1 M HCl medium
Authors: Chahir L. , Benzbiria N. , Tahri F. Z. , El Faydy M. , Benhiba F. , Benmessaoud Left D. , Zertoubi M. , Warad I. , Allali M. , Bougrin K. , Zarrouk A.
Published: August 2024

Many sectors have employed various strategies to prolong the life of steel because of its strength and high manufacturing and installation costs.
Aerobic homocoupling of arylboronic acids using Cu-doped amorphous zirconia: impact of catalyst amorphousness on reaction efficiency
Authors: Kondo Masaru , Joutsuka Tatsuya , Mori Yamato , Nishijima Masahiko , Honma Tetsuo , Miura Akira , Tada Shohei
Published: August 2024

Homocoupling of arylboronic acids under additive-free and mild conditions has been developed with CuO/amorphous-ZrO2 as a heterogeneous catalyst.
Overcharge protection in aqueous zinc-ion batteries via self-sacrificial additives
Authors: Yang Shuo , Mei Liang , Wu Zhuoxi , Zhu Jiaxiong , Li Pei , Hong Hu , Zeng Zhiyuan , Li Hongfei , Mo Funian , Zhi Chunyi
Published: August 2024

This research investigated the behavior of zinc-ion batteries during overcharging and electrolyte decomposition was identified as a primary cause of battery failure. Self-sacrificial electrolytes were developed to provide overcharge protection.
Open-air, green-solvent processed organic solar cells with efficiency approaching 18% and exceptional stability
Authors: Mai Thi Le Huyen , Sun Zhe , Kim Seoyoung , Jeong Seonghun , Lee Seunglok , Park Jeewon , Yang Changduk
Published: August 2024

H75-2F, a fluorinated cathode material, boosts organic solar cell efficiency, achieving 19.44% PCE in controlled conditions and 17.78% with open-air green-solvent processing, while offering strong thermal and moisture stability.
Stripping analysis of Pb2+ and Hg2+ in deveined shrimp and eggshells using a H2bpabza/MWCNT–modified graphite electrode
Authors: Selvan Kumar Sangeetha , Gayathri Jayagopi , Sivalingam Sivakumar
Published: August 2024

Measurement of the H2bpabza/MWCNT electrode for detection of Pb2+ and Hg2+.
Water sorption studies with mesoporous multivariate monoliths based on UiO-66
Authors: Marazani Linia Gedi , Gascon-Perez Victoria , Pathak Ayush , Tricarico Michele , Tan Jin-Chong , Zaworotko Michael J. , Wheatley Andrew E. H. , Makhubela Banothile C. E. , Mehlana Gift
Published: August 2024

The new field of conformed metal–organic frameworks made without high pressures or additives is extended to multivariate systems. Hierarchical linker thermolysis is used to vary porosity and excellent water vapour uptake is reported.