bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Active Bayesian Brain and the Rorschach Task
Authors: Meyer Gregory J. , Friston Karl J.
Published: September 2022

Abstract. The Rorschach offers a unique and interesting paradigm from the perspective of the (Bayesian) brain. This contribution to the cross-disciplinary special issue considers the Rorschach from the perspective of perceptual inference in the brain and how it might inform subject-specific differences in perceptual synthesis. Before doing so, we provide a broad overview of active inference in its various manifestations. In brief, active inference supposes that our perceptions are the best hypothesis to explain sensory impressions. On a Bayesian account, the requisite belief updating rests sensitively upon the precision or confidence ascribed to sensory input, relative to prior beliefs about the causes of sensations. This focus – on the balance between sensory and prior precision – has been a useful construct in both cognitive science (e.g., as a formal explanation for attention) and neuropsychology (e.g., as a formal explanation for aberrant or false inference in hallucinations). In this setting, false inference is generally understood as abnormally high precision afforded to high-level hypotheses or explanations for visual input, which may compensate for a failure to attenuate sensory precision. On this view, the Rorschach offers an interesting paradigm because the amount of precise information about the causes of visual input is deliberately minimized – and rendered ambiguous – thereby placing greater emphasis on prior beliefs entertained by the respondent. We close by exploring this issue and several other areas of intersection between Rorschach responding and active inference.
Caught Between Extremes: Understanding Human‐Water Interactions During Drought‐To‐Flood Events in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Matanó Alessia , de Ruiter Marleen C. , Koehler Johanna , Ward Philip J. , Van Loon Anne F.
Published: September 2022

Disaster risks are the results of complex spatiotemporal interactions between risk components, impacts and societal response. The complexities of these interactions increase when multi‐risk events occur in vulnerable contexts characterized by ethnic conflicts, unstable governments, and high levels of poverty, resulting in impacts that are larger than anticipated. Yet, only few multi‐risk studies explore human‐environment interactions, as most studies are hazard‐focused, consider only a single‐type of multi‐risk interaction, and rarely account for spatiotemporal dynamics of risk components. Here, we developed a step‐wise, bottom‐up approach, in which a range of qualitative and semi‐quantitative methods was used iteratively to reconstruct interactions and feedback loops between risk components and impacts of consecutive drought‐to‐flood events, and explore their spatiotemporal variations. Within this approach, we conceptualize disaster risk as a set of multiple (societal and physical) events interacting and evolving across space and time. The approach was applied to the 2017–2018 humanitarian crises in Kenya and Ethiopia, where extensive flooding followed a severe drought lasting 18–24 months. The events were also accompanied by government elections, crop pest outbreaks and ethnic conflicts. Results show that (a) the highly vulnerable Kenyan and Ethiopian contexts further aggravated drought and flood impacts; (b) heavy rainfall after drought led to both an increase and decrease of the drought impacts dependent on topographic and socio‐economic conditions; (c) societal response to one hazard may influence risk components of opposite hazards. A better understanding of the human‐water interactions that characterize multi‐risk events can support the development of effective monitoring systems and response strategies.
Decomposing Three Decades of Nitrogen Emissions in Canada
Authors: McCourt S. , MacDonald G. K.
Published: September 2022

Reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions arise from multiple economic sectors, each creating distinct Nr species and impacts on environmental quality. In Canada, the relative contribution of different Nr species to total Nr emissions varies considerably across provinces, yet these Nr species are often studied separately, making comparison difficult. Here, we synthesize data from national emission inventories, as well as agricultural and wastewater statistics, to estimate total and per capita Nr emissions trends across Canada's 10 provinces over three decades between 1990 and 2017. We classified emissions by 4 main species of Nr, 3 source sectors, and 13 subsectors. Nr emissions peaked around 2000 followed by reductions both nationally and across almost all provinces. Agriculture replaced fossil fuel combustion as the largest source of Nr emissions after 2008, coinciding with regulatory interventions that aimed to reduce NOx emissions from transportation, while NH3 from crop production increased in several provinces. Using an index decomposition analysis, we further assessed the socioeconomic drivers of Nr emissions changes, including the roles of emission intensity (Nr emissions per unit of economic output), affluence, population, and structural changes in the economy. Reduced emission intensity (an aggregate indicator of technology and policy changes) counteracted some of the effects of affluence and population as positive drivers of Nr emissions. Economic structural changes had both large negative and positive effects on Nr emissions. Our results underscore the importance of continued reductions in emissions intensity as well as shifting economies toward less Nr intensive sectors to further decouple affluence from Nr pollution.
Months of Gravity Changes Preceded the Tōhoku Earthquake
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: September 2022

Using GRACE satellite data, researchers discovered anomalous gravimetric signals that occurred before a seismic event that started deep within Earth.
Remarkable Variation in the Process of Hg Accumulation in Timberline Forests Indicates an Aggravated Hg Burden in Alpine Forests Under Climate Warming
Authors: Luo Kang , Yuan Wei , Liu Nantao , Zeng Shufang , Wang Dingyong , Lu Zhiyun , Wang Xun , Feng Xinbin
Published: September 2022

Significant knowledge gaps in mercury (Hg) cycling challenge our ability to assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in reducing human and wildlife Hg exposure due to the complicated impacts of climate change. In this study, we comprehensively quantified the Hg spatial distribution and determined the Hg stable isotopes to understand the Hg sources and accumulation pathways in forests along the timberline ecotone, an ecosystem that provides an early bellwether of global warming effects. Our results show that although there were subtle variations in meteorological and environmental conditions among the <50 m elevation variation, a spruce to shrub vegetation structure shift led to a distinct decrease in vegetation and soil Hg pool sizes by 36%–56% along the timberline ecotone. Further Hg isotopic evidence verified that vegetation‐induced atmospheric Hg0 deposition was the main source for Hg accumulation in soils, and the source contribution of such input decreases from 73% to 45% along the timberline ecotone. Our results indicate that if global warming induced a spruce tree line upward shift, it would significantly promote the atmospheric Hg burden, thus resulting in a conspicuous “Hg hotspot”. We recommend further studies to assess the Hg ecological risk promoted by global warming in alpine ecosystems.
Identification and analysis of deletion breakpoints in four Mohr-Tranebjærg syndrome (MTS) patients
Authors: Rendtorff Nanna Dahl , Karstensen Helena Gásdal , Lodahl Marianne , Tolmie John , McWilliam Catherine , Bak Mads , Tommerup Niels , Nazaryan-Petersen Lusine , Kunst Henricus , Wong Melanie , Joss Shelagh , Carelli Valerio , Tranebjærg Lisbeth
Published: September 2022

Mohr-Tranebjærg syndrome is an X-linked syndrome characterized by sensorineural hearing impairment in childhood, followed by progressive neurodegeneration leading to a broad phenotypic spectrum. Genetically MTS is caused by pathogenic variants in the TIMM8A gene, including gene deletions and larger contiguous gene deletions. Some of the latter involve the neighboring gene BTK, resulting in agammaglobulinemia. By next‐generation mate‐pair sequencing we have mapped the chromosomal deletion breakpoints of one MTS case and three XLA-MTS cases and used breakpoint-spanning PCR to fine map the breakpoints by Sanger sequencing. Two of the XLA-MTS cases presented with large deletions (63.5 and 27.2 kb), and the junctional regions were characterized by long stretches of microhomology, indicating that the events have emerged through homologous recombination. Conversely, the MTS case exhibited a small 2 bp region of microhomology, and the regions were not characterized by extensive microhomology. The third XLA-MTS case had a more complex breakpoint, including a 59 bp inverted insertion, thus at least four breakpoints were involved in this event. In conclusion, mate-pair library generation combined with next-generation sequencing is an efficient method for breakpoint identification, also in regions characterized by repetitive elements.
Dipeptidylpeptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor therapy increases circulating levels of anti-inflammatory soluble frizzle receptor protein (sFRP)-5 which is decreased in severe COVID-19 disease
Authors: Brandes Juliane , Zobel Isabelle , Rohmann Nathalie , Schlicht Kristina , Geisler Corinna , Hartmann Katharina , Türk Kathrin , von Schönfels Witigo , Beckmann Jan , Tran Florian , Laudes Matthias
Published: September 2022

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) show an increased risk for a severe COVID-19 disease. Treatment with DPP4 inhibitor (DPP4i) results in reduced mortality and better clinical outcome. Here, we aimed to identify potential mechanisms for the observed DPP4i effect in COVID-19. Comparing T2D subjects with and without DPP4i treatment, we identified a significant increase of the anti-inflammatory adipokine sFRP5 in relation to DPP4 inhibition. sFRP5 is a specific antagonist to Wnt5a, a glycopeptide secreted by adipose tissue macrophages acting pro-inflammatory in various diseases. We therefore examined sFRP5 levels in patients hospitalised for severe COVID-19 and found significant lower levels compared to healthy controls. Since sFRP5 might consequently be a molecular link for the beneficial effects of DPP4i in COVID-19, we further aimed to identify the exact source of sFRP5 in adipose tissue on cellular level. We therefore isolated pre-adipocytes, mature adipocytes and macrophages from adipose tissue biopsies and performed western-blotting. Results showed a sFRP5 expression specifically in mature adipocytes of subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue. In summary, our data suggest that DPP4i increase serum levels of anti-inflammatory sFRP5 which might be beneficial in COVID-19, reflecting a state of sFRP5 deficiency.
Vacancy-engineered nodal-line semimetals
Authors: Liu Fujun , Qu Fanyao , Žutić Igor , Malard Mariana
Published: September 2022

Symmetry-enforced nodal-line semimetals are immune to perturbations that preserve the underlying symmetries. This intrinsic robustness enables investigations of fundamental phenomena and applications utilizing diverse materials design techniques. The drawback of symmetry-enforced nodal-line semimetals is that the crossings of energy bands are constrained to symmetry-invariant momenta in the Brillouin zone. On the other end are accidental nodal-line semimetals whose band crossings, not being enforced by symmetry, are easily destroyed by perturbations. Some accidental nodal-line semimetals have, however, the advantage that their band crossings can occur in generic locations in the Brillouin zone, and thus can be repositioned to tailor material properties. We show that lattice engineering with periodic distributions of vacancies yields a hybrid type of nodal-line semimetals which possess symmetry-enforced nodal lines and accidental nodal lines, with the latter endowed with an enhanced robustness to perturbations. Both types of nodal lines are explained by a symmetry analysis of an effective model which captures the relevant characteristics of the proposed materials, and are verified by first-principles calculations of vacancy-engineered borophene polymorphs. Our findings offer an alternative path to relying on complicated compounds to design robust nodal-line semimetals; one can instead remove atoms from a common monoatomic material.
Characterizing the temporal discrimination threshold in musician’s dystonia
Authors: Borngräber Friederike , Hoffmann Martina , Paulus Theresa , Junker Johanna , Bäumer Tobias , Altenmüller Eckart , Kühn Andrea A. , Schmidt Alexander
Published: September 2022

The temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) has been established as a biomarker of impaired temporal processing and endophenotype in various forms of focal dystonia patients, such as cervical dystonia, writer’s cramp or blepharospasm. The role of TDT in musician’s dystonia (MD) in contrast is less clear with preceding studies reporting inconclusive results. We therefore compared TDT between MD patients, healthy musicians and non-musician controls using a previously described visual, tactile, and visual-tactile paradigm. Additionally, we compared TDT of the dystonic and non-dystonic hand and fingers in MD patients and further characterized the biomarker regarding its potential influencing factors, i.e. musical activity, disease variables, and personality profiles. Repeated measures ANOVA and additional Bayesian analyses revealed lower TDT in healthy musicians compared to non-musicians. However, TDTs in MD patients did not differ from both healthy musicians and non-musicians, although pairwise Bayesian t-tests indicated weak evidence for group differences in both comparisons. Analyses of dystonic and non-dystonic hands and fingers revealed no differences. While in healthy musicians, age of first instrumental practice negatively correlated with visual-tactile TDTs, TDTs in MD patients did not correlate with measures of musical activity, disease variables or personality profiles. In conclusion, TDTs in MD patients cannot reliably be distinguished from healthy musicians and non-musicians and are neither influenced by dystonic manifestation, musical activity, disease variables nor personality profiles. Unlike other isolated focal dystonias, TDT seems not to be a reliable biomarker in MD.
Trait emotional intelligence in American pilots
Authors: Dugger Zachary , Petrides K. V. , Carnegie Nicole , McCrory Bernadette
Published: September 2022

There is a dearth of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) research within an aviation context. Using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), the present study investigated potential trait EI differences between pilots and general population controls in the United States. The forty-four pilots who volunteered to participate were primarily male (93%) and between 24 and 67 years with a wide range of flight experience (150–5000 + hrs.) They were matched with controls based on age, gender, and ethnicity. Comparisons on global trait EI and the four trait EI factors revealed significant differences, with pilots scoring consistently lower than their matched counterparts in global trait EI, Well-being, Emotionality, and Sociability, but not Self-control. Overall, the findings indicated that pilots felt less connected to their emotional world than controls. Though limited by sample size and participant diversity, the results provide a basis for future studies into the trait EI profile of pilots, which had not been previously investigated.
Sub-toxic events induced by truck speed-facilitated PM2.5 and its counteraction by epigallocatechin-3-gallate in A549 human lung cells
Authors: Pan Shih Yu , Chi Kai Hsien , Wang Yen-Cih , Wei Wen-Chi , Ueng Yune-Fang
Published: September 2022

To distinguish the influences of fuel type and truck speed on chemical composition and sub-toxic effects of particulates (PM2.5) from engine emissions, biomarkers—interleukin-6 (IL-6), cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, and NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase (NQO)-1—were studied in A549 human lung cells. Fuel type and truck speed preferentially affected the quantity and ion/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) composition of PM2.5, respectively. Under idling operation, phenanthrene was the most abundant PAH. At high speed, more than 50% of the PAHs had high molecular weight (HMW), of which benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), benzo[ghi]perylene (B[ghi]P), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (I[cd]P) were the main PAHs. B[a]P, B[ghi]P, and I[cd]P caused potent induction of IL-6, CYP1A1, and NQO-1, whereas phenanthrene mildly induced CYP1A1. Based on the PAH-mediated induction, the predicted increases in biomarkers were positively correlated with the measured increases. HMW-PAHs contribute to the biomarker induction by PM2.5, at high speed, which was reduced by co-exposure to epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
Bioinspired polypyrrole based fibrillary artificial muscle with actuation and intrinsic sensing capabilities
Authors: Beregoi Mihaela , Beaumont Samuel , Evanghelidis Alexandru , Otero Toribio F. , Enculescu Ionut
Published: September 2022

A non-conventional, bioinspired device based on polypyrrole coated electrospun fibrous microstructures, which simultaneously works as artificial muscle and mechanical sensor is reported. Fibrous morphology is preferred due to its high active surface which can improve the actuation/sensing properties, its preparation still being challenging. Thus, a simple fabrication algorithm based on electrospinning, sputtering deposition and electrochemical polymerization produced electroactive aligned ribbon meshes with analogous characteristics as natural muscle fibers. These can simultaneously generate a movement (by applying an electric current/potential) and sense the effort of holding weights (by measuring the potential/current while holding objects up to 21.1 mg). Electroactivity was consisting in a fast bending/curling motion, depending on the fiber strip width. The amplitude of the movement decreases by increasing the load, a behavior similar with natural muscles. Moreover, when different weights were hung on the device, it senses the load modification, demonstrating a sensitivity of about 7 mV/mg for oxidation and − 4 mV/mg for reduction. These results are important since simultaneous actuation and sensitivity are essential for complex activity. Such devices with multiple functionalities can open new possibilities of applications as e.g. smart prosthesis or lifelike robots.
Static and stationary dark fluid universes: a gravitoelectromagnetic perspective
Authors: Nouri-Zonoz M. , Nourizonoz A.
Published: September 2022

The usual characterization of exact solutions of Einstein field equations, including cosmological solutions, is based on the symmetry properties of their corresponding metrics which is obviously mathematically involved. Here we present a physical characterization of the static and stationary perfect fluid solutions of the Einstein field equations by employing the $$1+3$$

1
+
3

formulation of spacetime decomposition which introduces the so-called quasi-Maxwell form of the Einstein field equations in the broader context of gravitoelectromagnetism. These solutions have a single or 2-component perfect fluid sources, and are characterized according to their gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic fields which are the gravitational analogs of the electromagnetic fields. It is shown that the absence or presence of either or both of these fields could restrict the equations of state of the contributing perfect fluid sources. As the representative of each family of solutions, we consider those spaces that include the cosmological term as a dark fluid source with the equation of state $$p=-\rho = constant$$

p
=
-
ρ
=
c
o
n
s
t
a
n
t

.
Cognitive effort for self, strangers, and charities
Authors: Depow Gregory J. , Lin Hause , Inzlicht Michael
Published: September 2022

Effort is aversive and often avoided, even when earning benefits for oneself. Yet, people sometimes work hard for others. How do people decide who is worth their effort? Prior work shows people avoid physical effort for strangers relative to themselves, but invest more physical effort for charity. Here, we find that people avoid cognitive effort for others relative to themselves, even when the cause is a personally meaningful charity. In two studies, participants repeatedly decided whether to invest cognitive effort to gain financial rewards for themselves and others. In Study 1, participants (N = 51; 150 choices) were less willing to invest cognitive effort for a charity than themselves. In Study 2, participants (N = 47; 225 choices) were more willing to work cognitively for a charity than an intragroup stranger, but again preferred cognitive exertion that benefited themselves. Computational modeling suggests that, unlike prior physical effort findings, cognitive effort discounted the subjective value of rewards linearly. Exploratory machine learning analyses suggest that people who represented others more similarly to themselves were more willing to invest effort on their behalf, opening up new avenues for future research.
Spontaneous emergence of computation in network cascades
Authors: Wilkerson Galen , Moschoyiannis Sotiris , Jensen Henrik Jeldtoft
Published: September 2022

Neuronal network computation and computation by avalanche supporting networks are of interest to the fields of physics, computer science (computation theory as well as statistical or machine learning) and neuroscience. Here we show that computation of complex Boolean functions arises spontaneously in threshold networks as a function of connectivity and antagonism (inhibition), computed bylogic automata (motifs)in the form ofcomputational cascades. We explain the emergent inverse relationship between the computational complexity of the motifs and their rank-ordering by function probabilities due to motifs, and its relationship to symmetry in function space. We also show that the optimal fraction of inhibition observed here supports results in computational neuroscience, relating to optimal information processing.
The association between hypothyroidism and proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Matsuoka-Uchiyama Natsumi , Tsuji Kenji , Sang Yizhen , Takahashi Kensaku , Fukushima Kazuhiko , Takeuchi Hidemi , Inagaki Kenichi , Uchida Haruhito A. , Kitamura Shinji , Sugiyama Hitoshi , Wada Jun
Published: September 2022

Hypothyroidism is known to be correlated with kidney function and nephrotic range proteinuria. However, it is uncertain whether non-nephrotic proteinuria is associated with hypothyroidism. This study aimed to evaluate the association of proteinuria and hypothyroidism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study composed of 421 CKD patients in a single hospital with measurements of 24-h urine protein excretion (UP) and thyroid function tests. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that 24-h Cr clearance (24hrCcr) was positively (r = 0.273, p < 0.001) and UP was negatively (r = − 0.207, p < 0.001) correlated with free triiodothyronine. Frequency distribution analysis stratified by CKD stage and UP for hypothyroidism revealed that the prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher among participants with higher CKD stage and nephrotic range proteinuria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that 24hrCcr and UP were significantly correlated with hypothyroidism (24hrCcr/10 mL/min decrease: odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–1.41; UP/1 g increase: OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.17). In addition, nephrotic range proteinuria, but not moderate UP (UP: 1.5–3.49 g/day), was significantly correlated with hypothyroidism compared to UP < 0.5 g/day. In summary, decreased kidney function and nephrotic range proteinuria, not non-nephrotic proteinuria, are independently associated with the hypothyroidism.
A TGFβR inhibitor represses keratin-7 expression in 3D cultures of human salivary gland progenitor cells
Authors: Fowler Eric W. , van Venrooy Emmett J. , Witt Robert L. , Jia Xinqiao
Published: September 2022

Salivary gland tissue engineering offers an attractive alternative for the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia. Key to the success of this approach is the maintenance and expansion of secretory acinar cells in vitro. However, recent studies revealed that in vitro culture of primary salivary gland epithelial cells led to undesirable upregulation of the expression of keratin-7 (K7), a marker of ductal phenotype and frequently associated with cellular stress. We have previously shown that hyaluronic acid (HA)-based, RGDSP-decorated hydrogels support the 3D growth and assembly of primary human salivary gland stem/progenitor cells (hS/PCs). Here, we investigate whether the RGDSP culture also promotes K7 expression, and if so, what factors govern the K7 expression. Compared to hS/PCs maintained in blank HA gels, those grown in RGDSP cultures expressed a significantly higher level of K7. In other tissues, various transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily members are reported to regulate K7 expression. Similarly, our immunoblot array and ELISA experiments confirmed the increased expression of TGF-β1 and growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in RGDSP cultures. However, 2D model studies show that only TGF-β1 is required to induce K7 expression in hS/PCs. Immunocytochemical analysis of the intracellular effectors of TGF-β signaling, SMAD 2/3, further confirmed the elevated TGF-β signaling in RGDSP cultures. To maximize the regenerative potential of h/SPCs, cultures were treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of TGF-β receptor, A83-01. Our results show that A83-01 treatment can repress K7 expression not only in 3D RGDSP cultures but also under 2D conditions with exogenous TGF-β1. Collectively, we provide a link between TGF-β signaling and K7 expression in hS/PC cultures and demonstrate the effectiveness of TGF-β inhibition to repress K7 expression while maintaining the ability of RGDSP-conjugated HA gels to facilitate the rapid development of amylase expressing spheroids. These findings represent an important step towards regenerating salivary function with a tissue-engineered salivary gland.
Cytoplasmic anion/cation imbalances applied across the membrane capacitance may form a significant component of the resting membrane potential of red blood cells
Authors: Hughes Michael Pycraft , Fry Christopher H. , Labeed Fatima H.
Published: September 2022

Electrical aspects of cell function manifest in many ways. The most widely studied is the cell membrane potential, Vm, but others include the conductance and capacitance of the membrane, the conductance of the enclosed cytoplasm, as well as the charge at the cell surface (an electrical double layer) producing an extracellular electrical potential, the ζ-potential. Empirical relationships have been identified between many of these, but not the mechanisms that link them all. Here we examine relationships between Vm and the electrical conductivities of both the cytoplasm and extracellular media, using data from a suspensions of red blood cells. We have identified linear relationships between extracellular medium conductivity, cytoplasm conductivity and Vm. This is in contrast to the standard model of a resting membrane potential which describes a logarithmic relationship between Vm and the concentration of permeable ions in the extracellular medium. The model here suggests that Vm is partially electrostatic in origin, arising from a charge imbalance at an inner electrical double-layer, acting across the membrane and double-layer capacitances to produce a voltage. This model describes an origin for coupling between Vm and ζ, by which cells can alter their electrostatic relationship with their environment, with implications for modulation of membrane ion transport, adhesion of proteins such as antibodies and wider cell–cell interactions.
Analyzing self-evaluation capacity scores related to infectious disease control in International Health Regulations during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Satria Fauzi Budi , Tsai Feng-Jen , Turbat Battsetseg
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to identify changes in the average score of countries' International Health Regulation (IHR) self-evaluation capacity (e-SPAR) in 2020 compared to 2019, and the factors associated with these changes. We collected the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) website in May 2021, then calculated the significant differences between the e-SPAR score in both years. Next, we conducted a test to identify the association between changes in member states' e-SPAR capacity scores and their COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR), Human Development Index, Civil Liberties, and Government Effectiveness. The results showed that the average e-SPAR scores in 2020 were significantly higher than in 2019. Among the 154 countries, we included in this study, the scores of 98 countries increased in 2020, of which 37.75% were lower-middle-income countries. Meanwhile, among the 56 countries whose scores did not increase, 26 (46.42%) were high-income countries. The COVID-19 CFR was significantly associated with the changes in e-SPAR scores of 154 countries (p < 0.01), as well as the countries whose scores increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we consider e-SPAR to still be a useful tool to facilitate countries in monitoring their International Health Regulation (IHR) core capacity progress, especially in infectious disease control to prepare for future pandemics.
Common and novel metabolic pathways related ESTs were upregulated in three date palm cultivars to ameliorate drought stress
Authors: Alhajhoj Mohammed Refdan , Munir Muhammad , Sudhakar Balakrishnan , Ali-Dinar Hassan Muzzamil , Iqbal Zafar
Published: September 2022

Date palm is an important staple crop in Saudi Arabia, and about 400 different date palm cultivars grown here, only 50–60 of them are used commercially. The most popular and commercially consumed cultivars of these are Khalas, Reziz, and Sheshi, which are also widely cultivated across the country. Date palm is high water-demanding crop in oasis agriculture, with an inherent ability to tolerate drought stress. However, the mechanisms by which it tolerates drought stress, especially at the transcriptomic level, are still elusive. This study appraised the physiological and molecular response of three commercial date palm cultivars Khalas, Reziz, and Sheshi at two different field capacities (FC; 100% and 25%) levels. At 25% FC (drought stress), leaf relative water content, chlorophyll, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration were significantly reduced. However, leaf intercellular CO2concentration and water use efficiency increased under drought stress. In comparison to cvs. Khalas and Reziz, date palm cv. Sheshi showed less tolerance to drought stress. A total of 1118 drought-responsive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were sequenced, 345 from Khalas, 391 from Reziz, and 382 from Sheshi and subjected to functional characterization, gene ontology classification, KEGG pathways elucidation, and enzyme codes dissemination. Three date palm cultivars deployed a multivariate approach to ameliorate drought stress by leveraging common and indigenous molecular, cellular, biological, structural, transcriptional and reproductive mechanisms. Approximately 50% of the annotated ESTs were related to photosynthesis regulation, photosynthetic structure, signal transduction, auxin biosynthesis, osmoregulation, stomatal conductance, protein synthesis/turnover, active transport of solutes, and cell structure modulation. Along with the annotated ESTs, ca. 45% of ESTs were novel. Conclusively, the study provides novel clues and opens the myriads of genetic resources to understand the fine-tuned drought amelioration mechanisms in date palm.
Nitrogen–nitrogen-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ruthenium(ii) complexes realized efficient CO2 hydrogenation to formate
Authors: Gong Huihua , Cui Tianhua , Liu Zheyuan , Zheng Yanling , Zheng Xueli , Fu Haiyan , Yuan Maolin , Chen Hua , Xu Jiaqi , Li Ruixiang
Published: September 2022

Three new Ru–CNN complexes are synthesized for the hydrogenation of CO2 to formate. The Ru–CNN complex exhibits a long lifetime of over 400 h at 170 °C with a high TON of 6.5 × 105.
Post-synthesis of MSE-type titanosilicates by interzeolite transformation for selective anisole hydroxylation
Authors: Peng Rusi , Pan Huang , Li Xintong , Jin Shaoqing , Wang Zhendong , Jiang Jingang , Yang Weimin , Xu Hao , Wu Peng
Published: September 2022

MSE-type titanosilicate was efficiently post-synthesized by the combination of interzeolite transformation by siliceous Beta, dealumination and isomorphous substitution of Ti, and it exhibited high catalytic activity in anisole hydroxylation.
Stubborn aerosol: why particulate mass concentrations do not drop during the wet season in Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Hilario Miguel Ricardo A. , Bañaga Paola Angela , Betito Grace , Braun Rachel A. , Cambaliza Maria Obiminda , Cruz Melliza Templonuevo , Lorenzo Genevieve Rose , MacDonald Alexander B. , Pabroa Preciosa Corazon , Simpas James Bernard , Stahl Connor , Yee John Robin , Sorooshian Armin
Published: September 2022

Seasonal particulate matter concentrations in Metro Manila, Philippines are consistent even with higher rain amounts in the wet season. Inefficient scavenging by rain events shorter than one hour is an important contributor to this seasonal feature.
Vitamin D3attenuates cisplatin-induced intestinal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and ROS-mediated excessive mitochondrial fission
Authors: Liu Xingyao , Wang Shuang , Jin Shengzi , Huang Siqi , Liu Yun
Published: September 2022

The use of vitamin D3represents a novel and pragmatic strategy to alleviate CP-induced intestinal injuryviaits antioxidant and anti-ferroptosis activity. Ferroptosis may be a promising target for theattenuationof CP-induced intestinal injury.
Longevity-promoting properties of ginger extract inCaenorhabditis elegans viathe insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Xu Tingting , Tao Mingfang , Li Rong , Xu Xiaoyun , Pan Siyi , Wu Ting
Published: September 2022

Ginger is a traditional medicinal and edible plant with multiple health-promoting properties.
Porous spherical gold nanoparticles via a laser induced process
Authors: Schmidl Gabriele , Raugust Marc , Jia Guobin , Dellith Andrea , Dellith Jan , Schmidl Frank , Plentz Jonathan
Published: September 2022

Nanoparticles consisting of a mixture of several metals and also porous nanoparticles due to their special structure exhibit properties that find application in spectroscopic detection or catalysis.
A TiN@C core–shell support for improving Pt catalyst corrosion resistance
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Liu Jia , Li Xiaolin , Duan Xiao , Yuan Mengchen , Cao Feng , Sun Kui , Zhang Yunbo , Wang Ying , Gu Zhengbin , Li Jia , Liu Jianguo
Published: September 2022

TiN@C composite support with high corrosion resistance improves catalyst durability because of SMSI between the Pt and N site in TiN.
Testing the robustness of DYNAMITE triaxial Schwarzschild modelling: The effects of correcting the orbit mirroring
Authors: Thater Sabine , Jethwa Prashin , Tahmasebzadeh Behzad , Zhu Ling , den Brok Mark , Santucci Giulia , Ding Yuchen , Poci Adriano , Lilley Edward , Tim de Zeeuw P. , Zocchi Alice , Maindl Thomas I. , Rigamonti Fabio , Yang Meng , Fahrion Katja , van de Ven Glenn
Published: September 2022

In the past 15 yr, the triaxial Schwarzschild orbit-superposition code developed by van den Bosch and van de Ven in Leiden has been widely applied to study the dynamics of galaxies. Recently, a bug was reported in the orbit calculation of this code, specifically in the mirroring procedure that is used to speed up the computation. We have fixed the incorrect mirroring in the DYNAMITE code, which is the publicly-released successor of the Leiden triaxial Schwarzschild code. In this study, we provide a thorough quantification of how this bug has affected the results of dynamical analyses performed with this code. We compare results obtained with the original and corrected versions of DYNAMITE, and discuss the differences in the phase-space distribution of a single orbit and in the global stellar orbit distribution, in the mass estimate of the central black hole in the highly triaxial galaxy PGC 46832, and in the measurement of intrinsic shape and enclosed mass for more than 50 galaxies. Focusing on the typical scientific applications of the Schwarzschild method, in all our tests we find that differences are negligible with respect to the statistical and systematic uncertainties. We conclude that previous results with the Leiden triaxial Schwarzschild code are not significantly affected by the incorrect mirroring.
Observable tests for the light-sail scenario of interstellar objects
Authors: Zhou Wen-Han , Liu Shang-Fei , Zhang Yun , Lin Douglas N. C.
Published: September 2022

Context.Enigmatic dynamical and spectral properties of the first interstellar object (ISO), 1I/2017 U1 (Oumuamua), led to many hypotheses, including a suggestion that it may be an “artificial” spacecraft with a thin radiation-pressure-driven light sail. Since similar discoveries by forthcoming instruments, such as theVera C. Rubintelescope and the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), are anticipated, a critical identification of key observable tests is warranted for the quantitative distinctions between various scenarios.

Aims.We scrutinize the light-sail scenario by making comparisons between physical models and observational constraints. These analyses can be generalized for future surveys of ‘Oumuamua-like objects.

Methods.The light sail goes through a drift in interstellar space due to the magnetic field and gas atoms, which poses challenges to the navigation system. When the light sail enters the inner Solar System, the sideways radiation pressure leads to a considerable non-radial displacement. The immensely high dimensional ratio and the tumbling motion could cause a light curve with an extremely large amplitude and could even make the light sail invisible from time to time. These observational features allow us to examine the light-sail scenario of interstellar objects.

Results.The drift of the freely rotating light sail in the interstellar medium is ~100 au even if the travel distance is only 1 pc. The probability of the expected brightness modulation of the light sail matching with ‘Oumuamua’s observed variation amplitude (~2.5–3) is <1.5%. In addition, the probability of the tumbling light sail being visible (brighter thanV= 27) in all 55 observations spread over two months after discovery is 0.4%. Radiation pressure could cause a larger displacement normal to the orbital plane for a light sail than that for ‘Oumuamua. Also, the ratio of antisolar to sideways acceleration of ‘Oumuamua deviates from that of the light sail by ~1.5σ.

Conclusions.We suggest that ‘Oumuamua is unlikely to be a light sail. The dynamics of an intruding light sail, if it exists, has distinct observational signatures, which can be quantitatively identified and analyzed with our methods in future surveys.
A compact dual-band patch coupler design for modern wireless applications
Authors: Abouhssous Khadija , Zugari Asmaa , Zakriti Alia
Published: September 2022

This paper presents a compact rectangular patch hybrid coupler design which can be operated at dual resonant frequencies and is suitable for modern wireless applications. The dual-band functionality while maintaining practical compactness is achieved by introducing a series of parallel rectangular slots. The proposed design is optimized by the CST studio suite software and etched on the FR4 substrate. The good agreement between the simulated and measured frequency responses indicate that the presented coupler is capable of operating from 2.44 GHz to 3.1 GHz and from 5 GHz to 5.8 GHz, with fractional bandwidth of 24.44% and 14.8%, respectively, and a size reduction of 56.28%. The robust simulation results indicate that the proposed design is suitable for microwave integrated circuits (ICs) that require small size and dual functionality.
Front-to-Back Ratio Enhancement of an Aperture-stacked patch antenna by an Improved circular slots and New Reflector element
Authors: Aourik Salaheddine , Errkik Ahmed
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we investigate an aperture-stacked patch microstrip antenna with three slots in a circular shape that feeds the antenna in order to have an improvement in its performance. The structure optimized and analyzed in this study has an upper substrate of foam dielectric material with a thickness of 0.254 mm and a dielectric constant of 1, a lower substrate of rogers RT3003 with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a loss tangent of 0.001. A cost-effective technique of improving the front-to-back ratio used in this work is to install a reflector which take shape like an aperture-stacked, printed on a thin dielectric layer (0.254 mm) with a dielectric constant of 4.4 and a loss tangent of 0.025. As a result of using the proposed reflector to increase the directivity, the front-to-back ratio of the proposed antenna improved by about 10 dB. With 7.79 dB and matching S11 -40 dB, the structure provides an intriguing gain value.
High-Directivity and Circularly Polarized Compact Patch Antenna for UHF RFID Reader Devices
Authors: Latrach Mohamed , Saiful Islam MD
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the design, construction, and testing of a high directivity and circularly polarized small patch antenna for the RFID Base Stations (Readers) operating in the European UHF RFID band. The designed and optimized patch antenna structure has a 15cm ×15 cm × 0.6 cm compact size where the -3dB beam angle is reduced by using slotted ring embedded in the patch. The gain of the antenna at 862 MHz is 3.2 dBic with the E and H plain beam angle are 61.6º and 65.2º respectively. Finally, the designed antenna is compared to a single-layer patch antenna of the same cross-sectional dimensions as the proposed antenna structure.
Performance Evaluation of OTFS and OFDM for 6G Waveform
Authors: Mohammadi Abderrahim , Chakkor Saad , El Oualkadi Ahmed , Moussaoui Mohamed , Dkiouak Aziz , Baghouri Mostafa
Published: September 2022

Orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) modulation is a coming technique addressing the challenges of 5G and 6G. It’s appeared to bring about outstanding error performance in delay – Doppler (DeDo) channels. Still, a really fair comparison with its competitor's direct orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and is extensively used in this participation, we will make a comparison of the performance of OTFS and OFDM with the digital modulation format in terms of bit error rate (BER) versus signal-to-noise rate (SNR) for the 16- QAM technique. From the numerical simulations under MATLAB, the results showed that the OTFS admits a small BER to the OFDM in given cases
Analysis of transmission lines considering frequency-dependent parameters with linear and nonlinear loads
Authors: Bouzidi Zahra , Rouijaa Hicham , El Idrissi Abdelaziz , Saih Mohamed
Published: September 2022

The primary objective of this paper is to model transmission lines with frequency-dependent parameters loaded with linear and nonlinear terminations using an approach based on Pade approximations. To validate our algorithm in the case of lines with constant losses and frequency-dependent parameters, examples of applications in the time and frequency domains are presented. The simulations and obtained results are reported and analysed.
Parallel Hybrid 2-Opt Flower Pollination Algorithm for Real-Time UAV Trajectory Planning on GPU
Authors: Roberge Vincent , Tarbouchi Mohammed
Published: September 2022

Abstract. The development of autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a priority to many civilian and military organizations. An essential aspect of UAV autonomy is the ability for automatic trajectory planning. In this paper, we use a parallel Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA) to deal with the problem's complexity and compute feasible and quasi-optimal trajectories for fixed-wing UAVs in complex 3D environments, taking into account the vehicle's flight properties. The global optimization algorithm is

improved with the addition of 2-opt local search providing a significant improvement. The proposed trajectory planner in implemented and parallelized on a multicore processor (CPU) using OpenMP and a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) using CUDA resulting in a 9.6x and a 68.5x speedup respectively compared to the sequential implementation on CPU.

Index Terms—Flower Pollination Algorithm, Graphics Processing Unit, Parallel Programming, Trajectory Planning, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
Backstepping control strategy for induction motor with rotor flux and load torque observers
Authors: El haissouf Mohammed , Elharoussi Mustapha , Ba-razzouk Abdellfattah
Published: September 2022

This paper deal with Backstepping control strategy for induction motor drive, using rotor flux and load torque observers. The proposed study uses a modified motor model with new variables, and Luenberger observers for both rotor flux and load torque. This work proposes a precise calculation method for controller parameters based on response time and damping coefficient. Simulation is performed in Simulink, results show that Backstepping works well by adding observers.
Novel Method for DC Bus Voltage Sags Estimation Using the Switching Function Approach and ADALINE Method
Authors: Bensaid Mounir , Ba-Razzouk Abdellfattah , Elharoussi Mustapha
Published: September 2022

In this study, a functional model for diode bridge rectifiers (DB) is developed based on the concept of switching functions. The developed model is suitable for the estimation of the average voltage at the rectifier terminals from the fundamental three-phase voltage estimation based on the Adaline method and a DC bus estimator based on the switching function method, The performance of the detection estimator was validated in simulation using Matlab software under normal, unbalanced and line fault conditions. The high accuracy and efficiency of the developed estimator were demonstrated by comparison with rectifier models from SPS (SimPowerSystems), PSIM, and a reel rectifier from the pedagogical model (THREE-PHASE EDUCATIONAL INVERTER SEMITEACH 08753450BB)
Design of a Particle Swarm Optimized Photovoltaic system during various partial shading conditions
Authors: Chekenbah Hamid , El Maataoui Yassir , Boutfarjoute Omar , El Abderrahmani Abdellatif , Lasri Rafik
Published: September 2022

This work discusses an enhanced photovoltaic system using the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. The proposed method has been evaluated under several scenarios of partial shading, and the results obtained are contrasted with the Perturb and Observe technique. Hence, it has shown its effectiveness in locating the global maximum power point whatever the meteorological conditions, especially in inhomogeneous conditions. This technique makes it possible to enhance the effectiveness of the photovoltaic system studied because it makes it possible to minimize the loss of power in the case of non-homogeneous irradiation conditions.