bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities and challenges with the German act for the protection of children with variations of sex development
Authors: Danon Limor Meoded , Schweizer Katinka , Thies Barbara
Published: October 2022

In May 2021, the German parliament passed a long-debated law to protect children with variations of sex development/sex characteristics from medically unnecessary surgeries until they are old enough to decide for themselves. This law joins similar laws passed in other countries in recent years and recognizes the rights of people with variations of sex development to self-determination and bodily autonomy. In this article, we discuss the notion of bodily autonomy and examine details of the German legislation in the context of psychosocial care. We focus on the following questions: (1) How may the law help to preserve the genital integrity and future bodily autonomy of newborns with variations of sex development (VSD)? (2) What are the opportunities and challenges of this law? (3) What strategies are needed to implement the law in ways that include medical professionals’ knowledge and skills, parental cooperation, and protection for the genital integrity as well as the future genital autonomy of newborns with VSD? We make two main arguments. On the one hand, this law has created a space for a new discourse and discussion on VSD in German society and enables the “wait and see” approach. This approach challenges the traditional “psychosocial emergency” policy aimed at quickly “repairing” atypical genitalia. On the other hand, the law is characterized by significant challenges. For example, it does not address the meaning of bodily autonomy in the context of newborns and their families with VSD, and it overlooks the important distinction between genital appearance, genital function, and gender identity. We offer various educational strategies that can be implemented with different target groups in Germany to meet these challenges and ensure the adequate implementation of this law.
The design and evaluation of hybrid controlled trials that leverage external data and randomization
Authors: Ventz Steffen , Khozin Sean , Louv Bill , Sands Jacob , Wen Patrick Y. , Rahman Rifaquat , Comment Leah , Alexander Brian M. , Trippa Lorenzo
Published: October 2022

Patient-level data from completed clinical studies or electronic health records can be used in the design and analysis of clinical trials. However, these external data can bias the evaluation of the experimental treatment when the statistical design does not appropriately account for potential confounders. In this work, we introduce a hybrid clinical trial design that combines the use of external control datasets and randomization to experimental and control arms, with the aim of producing efficient inference on the experimental treatment effects. Our analysis of the hybrid trial design includes scenarios where the distributions of measured and unmeasured prognostic patient characteristics differ across studies. Using simulations and datasets from clinical studies in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma, we illustrate the potential advantages of hybrid trial designs compared to externally controlled trials and randomized trial designs.
Adsorbate chemical environment-based machine learning framework for heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Ghanekar Pushkar G. , Deshpande Siddharth , Greeley Jeffrey
Published: October 2022

Heterogeneous catalytic reactions are influenced by a subtle interplay of atomic-scale factors, ranging from the catalysts’ local morphology to the presence of high adsorbate coverages. Describing such phenomena via computational models requires generation and analysis of a large space of atomic configurations. To address this challenge, we present Adsorbate Chemical Environment-based Graph Convolution Neural Network (ACE-GCN), a screening workflow that accounts for atomistic configurations comprising diverse adsorbates, binding locations, coordination environments, and substrate morphologies. Using this workflow, we develop catalyst surface models for two illustrative systems: (i) NO adsorbed on a Pt3Sn(111) alloy surface, of interest for nitrate electroreduction processes, where high adsorbate coverages combined with low symmetry of the alloy substrate produce a large configurational space, and (ii) OH* adsorbed on a stepped Pt(221) facet, of relevance to the Oxygen Reduction Reaction, where configurational complexity results from the presence of irregular crystal surfaces, high adsorbate coverages, and directionally-dependent adsorbate-adsorbate interactions. In both cases, the ACE-GCN model, trained on a fraction (~10%) of the total DFT-relaxed configurations, successfully describes trends in the relative stabilities of unrelaxed atomic configurations sampled from a large configurational space. This approach is expected to accelerate development of rigorous descriptions of catalyst surfaces under in-situ conditions.
CD36-mediated metabolic crosstalk between tumor cells and macrophages affects liver metastasis
Authors: Yang Ping , Qin Hong , Li Yiyu , Xiao Anhua , Zheng Enze , Zeng Han , Su Chunxiao , Luo Xiaoqing , Lu Qiannan , Liao Meng , Zhao Lei , Wei Li , Varghese Zac , Moorhead John F. , Chen Yaxi , Ruan Xiong Z.
Published: October 2022

Liver metastasis is highly aggressive and treatment-refractory, partly due to macrophage-mediated immune suppression. Understanding the mechanisms leading to functional reprogramming of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) will benefit cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we find that the scavenger receptor CD36 is upregulated in metastasis-associated macrophages (MAMs) and deletion of CD36 in MAMs attenuates liver metastasis in mice. MAMs contain more lipid droplets and have the unique capability in engulfing tumor cell-derived long-chain fatty acids, which are carried by extracellular vesicles. The lipid-enriched vesicles are preferentially partitioned into macrophages via CD36, that fuel macrophages and trigger their tumor-promoting activities. In patients with liver metastases, high expression of CD36 correlates with protumoral M2-type MAMs infiltration, creating a highly immunosuppressive TME. Collectively, our findings uncover a mechanism by which tumor cells metabolically interact with macrophages in TME, and suggest a therapeutic potential of targeting CD36 as immunotherapy for liver metastasis.
XPF activates break-induced telomere synthesis
Authors: Guh Chia-Yu , Shen Hong-Jhih , Chen Liv WeiChien , Chiu Pei-Chen , Liao I-Hsin , Lo Chen-Chia , Chen Yunfei , Hsieh Yu-Hung , Chang Ting-Chia , Yen Chien-Ping , Chen Yi-Yun , Chen Tom Wei-Wu , Chen Liuh-Yow , Wu Ching-Shyi , Egly Jean-Marc , Chu Hsueh-Ping Catherine
Published: October 2022

Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) utilizes a recombination mechanism and break-induced DNA synthesis to maintain telomere length without telomerase, but it is unclear how cells initiate ALT. TERRA, telomeric repeat-containing RNA, forms RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) at ALT telomeres. We show that depleting TERRA using an RNA-targeting Cas9 system reduces ALT-associated PML bodies, telomere clustering, and telomere lengthening. TERRA interactome reveals that TERRA interacts with an extensive subset of DNA repair proteins in ALT cells. One of TERRA interacting proteins, the endonuclease XPF, is highly enriched at ALT telomeres and recruited by telomeric R-loops to induce DNA damage response (DDR) independent of CSB and SLX4, and thus triggers break-induced telomere synthesis and lengthening. The attraction of BRCA1 and RAD51 at telomeres requires XPF in FANCM-deficient cells that accumulate telomeric R-loops. Our results suggest that telomeric R-loops activate DDR via XPF to promote homologous recombination and telomere replication to drive ALT.
Triangular lattice quantum dimer model with variable dimer density
Authors: Yan Zheng , Samajdar Rhine , Wang Yan-Cheng , Sachdev Subir , Meng Zi Yang
Published: October 2022

Quantum dimer models are known to host topological quantum spin liquid phases, and it has recently become possible to simulate such models with Rydberg atoms trapped in arrays of optical tweezers. Here, we present large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation results on an extension of the triangular lattice quantum dimer model with terms in the Hamiltonian annihilating and creating single dimers. We find distinct odd and even $${{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$

Z

2

spin liquids, along with several phases with no topological order: a staggered crystal, a nematic phase, and a trivial symmetric phase with no obvious broken symmetry. We also present dynamic spectra of the phases, and note implications for experiments on Rydberg atoms.
Exploiting endogenous and therapy-induced apoptotic vulnerabilities in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis with BH3 mimetics
Authors: Fraser Cameron S. , Spetz Johan K. E. , Qin Xingping , Presser Adam , Choiniere Jonathan , Li Chendi , Yu Stacey , Blevins Frances , Hata Aaron N. , Miller Jeffrey W. , Bradshaw Gary A. , Kalocsay Marian , Sanchorawala Vaishali , Sarosiek Shayna , Sarosiek Kristopher A.
Published: October 2022

Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is an incurable hematologic disorder typically characterized by the production of amyloidogenic light chains by clonal plasma cells. These light chains misfold and aggregate in healthy tissues as amyloid fibrils, leading to life-threatening multi-organ dysfunction. Here we show that the clonal plasma cells in AL amyloidosis are highly primed to undergo apoptosis and dependent on pro-survival proteins MCL-1 and BCL-2. Notably, this MCL-1 dependency is indirectly targeted by the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, currently the standard of care for this disease and the related plasma cell disorder multiple myeloma, due to upregulation of pro-apoptotic Noxa and its inhibitory binding to MCL-1. BCL-2 inhibitors sensitize clonal plasma cells to multiple front-line therapies including bortezomib, dexamethasone and lenalidomide. Strikingly, in mice bearing AL amyloidosis cell line xenografts, single agent treatment with the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 (venetoclax) produces deeper remissions than bortezomib and triples median survival. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis reveals rewiring of signaling pathways regulating apoptosis, proliferation and mitochondrial metabolism between isogenic AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma cells that divergently alter their sensitivity to therapies. These findings provide a roadmap for the use of BH3 mimetics to exploit endogenous and induced apoptotic vulnerabilities in AL amyloidosis.
The alarmin interleukin-1α triggers secondary degeneration through reactive astrocytes and endothelium after spinal cord injury
Authors: Bretheau Floriane , Castellanos-Molina Adrian , Bélanger Dominic , Kusik Maxime , Mailhot Benoit , Boisvert Ana , Vallières Nicolas , Lessard Martine , Gunzer Matthias , Liu Xiaoyu , Boilard Éric , Quan Ning , Lacroix Steve
Published: October 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers neuroinflammation, and subsequently secondary degeneration and oligodendrocyte (OL) death. We report that the alarmin interleukin (IL)−1α is produced by damaged microglia after SCI. Intra-cisterna magna injection of IL-1α in mice rapidly induces neutrophil infiltration and OL death throughout the spinal cord, mimicking the injury cascade seen in SCI sites. These effects are abolished through co-treatment with the IL-1R1 antagonist anakinra, as well as in IL-1R1-knockout mice which demonstrate enhanced locomotor recovery after SCI. Conditional restoration of IL-1R1 expression in astrocytes or endothelial cells (ECs), but not in OLs or microglia, restores IL-1α-induced effects, while astrocyte- or EC-specific Il1r1 deletion reduces OL loss. Conditioned medium derived from IL-1α-stimulated astrocytes results in toxicity for OLs; further, IL-1α-stimulated astrocytes generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and blocking ROS production in IL-1α-treated or SCI mice prevented OL loss. Thus, after SCI, microglia release IL-1α, inducing astrocyte- and EC-mediated OL degeneration.
Topological zero-dimensional defect and flux states in three-dimensional insulators
Authors: Schindler Frank , Tsirkin Stepan S. , Neupert Titus , Andrei Bernevig B. , Wieder Benjamin J.
Published: October 2022

In insulating crystals, it was previously shown that defects with two fewer dimensions than the bulk can bind topological electronic states. We here further extend the classification of topological defect states by demonstrating that the corners of crystalline defects with integer Burgers vectors can bind 0D higher-order end (HEND) states with anomalous charge and spin. We demonstrate that HEND states are intrinsic topological consequences of the bulk electronic structure and introduce new bulk topological invariants that are predictive of HEND dislocation states in solid-state materials. We demonstrate the presence of first-order 0D defect states in PbTe monolayers and HEND states in 3D SnTe crystals. We relate our analysis to magnetic flux insertion in insulating crystals. We find that π-flux tubes in inversion- and time-reversal-symmetric (helical) higher-order topological insulators bind Kramers pairs of spin-charge-separated HEND states, which represent observable signatures of anomalous surface half quantum spin Hall states.
Self-organization of an inhomogeneous memristive hardware for sequence learning
Authors: Payvand Melika , Moro Filippo , Nomura Kumiko , Dalgaty Thomas , Vianello Elisa , Nishi Yoshifumi , Indiveri Giacomo
Published: October 2022

Learning is a fundamental component of creating intelligent machines. Biological intelligence orchestrates synaptic and neuronal learning at multiple time scales to self-organize populations of neurons for solving complex tasks. Inspired by this, we design and experimentally demonstrate an adaptive hardware architecture Memristive Self-organizing Spiking Recurrent Neural Network (MEMSORN). MEMSORN incorporates resistive memory (RRAM) in its synapses and neurons which configure their state based on Hebbian and Homeostatic plasticity respectively. For the first time, we derive these plasticity rules directly from the statistical measurements of our fabricated RRAM-based neurons and synapses. These "technologically plausible” learning rules exploit the intrinsic variability of the devices and improve the accuracy of the network on a sequence learning task by 30%. Finally, we compare the performance of MEMSORN to a fully-randomly-set-up spiking recurrent network on the same task, showing that self-organization improves the accuracy by more than 15%. This work demonstrates the importance of the device-circuit-algorithm co-design approach for implementing brain-inspired computing hardware.
Ancient marine sediment DNA reveals diatom transition in Antarctica
Authors: Armbrecht Linda , Weber Michael E. , Raymo Maureen E. , Peck Victoria L. , Williams Trevor , Warnock Jonathan , Kato Yuji , Hernández-Almeida Iván , Hoem Frida , Reilly Brendan , Hemming Sidney , Bailey Ian , Martos Yasmina M. , Gutjahr Marcus , Percuoco Vincent , Allen Claire , Brachfeld Stefanie , Cardillo Fabricio G. , Du Zhiheng , Fauth Gerson , Fogwill Chris , Garcia Marga , Glüder Anna , Guitard Michelle , Hwang Ji-Hwan , Iizuka Mutsumi , Kenlee Bridget , O’Connell Suzanne , Pérez Lara F. , Ronge Thomas A. , Seki Osamu , Tauxe Lisa , Tripathi Shubham , Zheng Xufeng
Published: October 2022

Antarctica is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change on Earth and studying the past and present responses of this polar marine ecosystem to environmental change is a matter of urgency. Sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) analysis can provide such insights into past ecosystem-wide changes. Here we present authenticated (through extensive contamination control and sedaDNA damage analysis) metagenomic marine eukaryote sedaDNA from the Scotia Sea region acquired during IODP Expedition 382. We also provide a marine eukaryote sedaDNA record of ~1 Mio. years and diatom and chlorophyte sedaDNA dating back to ~540 ka (using taxonomic marker genes SSU, LSU, psbO). We find evidence of warm phases being associated with high relative diatom abundance, and a marked transition from diatoms comprising <10% of all eukaryotes prior to ~14.5 ka, to ~50% after this time, i.e., following Meltwater Pulse 1A, alongside a composition change from sea-ice to open-ocean species. Our study demonstrates that sedaDNA tools can be expanded to hundreds of thousands of years, opening the pathway to the study of ecosystem-wide marine shifts and paleo-productivity phases throughout multiple glacial-interglacial cycles.
Structure of the TnsB transposase-DNA complex of type V-K CRISPR-associated transposon
Authors: Tenjo-Castaño Francisco , Sofos Nicholas , López-Méndez Blanca , Stutzke Luisa S. , Fuglsang Anders , Stella Stefano , Montoya Guillermo
Published: October 2022

CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) are mobile genetic elements that co-opted CRISPR-Cas systems for RNA-guided transposition. Here we present the 2.4 Å cryo-EM structure of the Scytonema hofmannii (sh) TnsB transposase from Type V-K CAST, bound to the strand transfer DNA. The strand transfer complex displays an intertwined pseudo-symmetrical architecture. Two protomers involved in strand transfer display a catalytically competent active site composed by DDE residues, while other two, which play a key structural role, show active sites where the catalytic residues are not properly positioned for phosphodiester hydrolysis. Transposon end recognition is accomplished by the NTD1/2 helical domains. A singular in trans association of NTD1 domains of the catalytically competent subunits with the inactive DDE domains reinforces the assembly. Collectively, the structural features suggest that catalysis is coupled to protein-DNA assembly to secure proper DNA integration. DNA binding residue mutants reveal that lack of specificity decreases activity, but it could increase transposition in some cases. Our structure sheds light on the strand transfer reaction of DDE transposases and offers new insights into CAST transposition.
Schemas provide a scaffold for neocortical integration of new memories over time
Authors: Audrain Sam , McAndrews Mary Pat
Published: October 2022

Memory transformation is increasingly acknowledged in theoretical accounts of systems consolidation, yet how memory quality and neural representation change over time and how schemas influence this process remains unclear. We examined the behavioral quality and neural representation of schema-congruent and incongruent object-scene pairs retrieved across 10-minutes and 72-hours using fMRI. When a congruent schema was available, memory became coarser over time, aided by post-encoding coupling between the anterior hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Only schema-congruent representations were integrated in the mPFC over time, and were organized according to schematic context. In the hippocampus, pattern similarity changed across 72-hours such that the posterior hippocampus represented specific details and the anterior hippocampus represented the general context of specific memories, irrespective of congruency. Our findings suggest schemas are used as a scaffold to facilitate neocortical integration of congruent information, and illustrate evolution in hippocampal organization of detailed contextual memory over time.
Farey tree and devil’s staircase of frequency-locked breathers in ultrafast lasers
Authors: Wu Xiuqi , Zhang Ying , Peng Junsong , Boscolo Sonia , Finot Christophe , Zeng Heping
Published: October 2022

Nonlinear systems with two competing frequencies show locking or resonances. In lasers, the two interacting frequencies can be the cavity repetition rate and a frequency externally applied to the system. Conversely, the excitation of breather oscillations in lasers naturally triggers a second characteristic frequency in the system, therefore showing competition between the cavity repetition rate and the breathing frequency. Yet, the link between breathing solitons and frequency locking is missing. Here we demonstrate frequency locking at Farey fractions of a breather laser. The winding numbers exhibit the hierarchy of the Farey tree and the structure of a devil’s staircase. Numerical simulations of a discrete laser model confirm the experimental findings. The breather laser may therefore serve as a simple test bed to explore ubiquitous synchronization dynamics of nonlinear systems. The locked breathing frequencies feature a high signal-to-noise ratio and can give rise to dense radio-frequency combs, which are attractive for applications.
Low 13C-13C abundances in abiotic ethane
Authors: Taguchi Koudai , Gilbert Alexis , Sherwood Lollar Barbara , Giunta Thomas , Boreham Christopher J. , Liu Qi , Horita Juske , Ueno Yuichiro
Published: October 2022

Distinguishing biotic compounds from abiotic ones is important in resource geology, biogeochemistry, and the search for life in the universe. Stable isotopes have traditionally been used to discriminate the origins of organic materials, with particular focus on hydrocarbons. However, despite extensive efforts, unequivocal distinction of abiotic hydrocarbons remains challenging. Recent development of clumped-isotope analysis provides more robust information because it is independent of the stable isotopic composition of the starting material. Here, we report data from a 13C-13C clumped-isotope analysis of ethane and demonstrate that the abiotically-synthesized ethane shows distinctively low 13C-13C abundances compared to thermogenic ethane. A collision frequency model predicts the observed low 13C-13C abundances (anti-clumping) in ethane produced from methyl radical recombination. In contrast, thermogenic ethane presumably exhibits near stochastic 13C-13C distribution inherited from the biological precursor, which undergoes C-C bond cleavage/recombination during metabolism. Further, we find an exceptionally high 13C-13C signature in ethane remaining after microbial oxidation. In summary, the approach distinguishes between thermogenic, microbially altered, and abiotic hydrocarbons. The 13C-13C signature can provide an important step forward for discrimination of the origin of organic molecules on Earth and in extra-terrestrial environments.
Spike-antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination by demographic and clinical factors in a prospective community cohort study
Authors: Shrotri Madhumita , Fragaszy Ellen , Nguyen Vincent , Navaratnam Annalan M. D. , Geismar Cyril , Beale Sarah , Kovar Jana , Byrne Thomas E. , Fong Wing Lam Erica , Patel Parth , Aryee Anna , Braithwaite Isobel , Johnson Anne M. , Rodger Alison , Hayward Andrew C. , Aldridge Robert W.
Published: October 2022

Vaccination constitutes the best long-term solution against Coronavirus Disease-2019; however, vaccine-derived immunity may not protect all groups equally, and the durability of protective antibodies may be short. We evaluate Spike-antibody responses following BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1-S vaccination amongst SARS-CoV2-naive adults across England and Wales enrolled in a prospective cohort study (Virus Watch). Here we show BNT162b2 recipients achieved higher peak antibody levels after two doses; however, both groups experience substantial antibody waning over time. In 8356 individuals submitting a sample ≥28 days after Dose 2, we observe significantly reduced Spike-antibody levels following two doses amongst individuals reporting conditions and therapies that cause immunosuppression. After adjusting for these, several common chronic conditions also appear to attenuate the antibody response. These findings suggest the need to continue prioritising vulnerable groups, who have been vaccinated earliest and have the most attenuated antibody responses, for future boosters.
Rapid complete reconfiguration induced actual active species for industrial hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Wang Luqi , Hao Yixin , Deng Liming , Hu Feng , Zhao Sheng , Li Linlin , Peng Shengjie
Published: October 2022

Rational regulation of electrochemical reconfiguration and exploration of activity origin are important foundations for realizing the optimization of electrocatalyst activity, but rather challenging. Herein, we potentially develop a rapid complete reconfiguration strategy for the heterostructures of CoC2O4coated by MXene nanosheets (CoC2O4@MXene) during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process. The self-assembled CoC2O4@MXene nanotubular structure has high electronic accessibility and abundant electrolyte diffusion channels, which favor the rapid complete reconfiguration. Such rapid reconfiguration creates new actual catalytic active species of Co(OH)2transformed from CoC2O4, which is coupled with MXene to facilitate charge transfer and decrease the free energy of the Volmer step toward fast HER kinetics. The reconfigured components require low overpotentials of 28 and 216 mV at 10 and 1000 mA cm−2in alkaline conditions and decent activity and stability in natural seawater. This work gives new insights for understanding the actual active species formation during HER and opens up a new way toward high-performance electrocatalysts.
Chemotherapy-induced complement signaling modulates immunosuppression and metastatic relapse in breast cancer
Authors: Monteran Lea , Ershaid Nour , Doron Hila , Zait Yael , Scharff Ye’ela , Ben-Yosef Shahar , Avivi Camila , Barshack Iris , Sonnenblick Amir , Erez Neta
Published: October 2022

Mortality from breast cancer is almost exclusively a result of tumor metastasis and resistance to therapy and therefore understanding the underlying mechanisms is an urgent challenge. Chemotherapy, routinely used to treat breast cancer, induces extensive tissue damage, eliciting an inflammatory response that may hinder efficacy and promote metastatic relapse. Here we show that systemic treatment with doxorubicin, but not cisplatin, following resection of a triple-negative breast tumor induces the expression of complement factors in lung fibroblasts and modulates an immunosuppressive metastatic niche that supports lung metastasis. Complement signaling derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) mediates the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to the metastatic niche, thus promoting T cell dysfunction. Pharmacological targeting of complement signaling in combination with chemotherapy alleviates immune dysregulation and attenuates lung metastasis. Our findings suggest that combining cytotoxic treatment with blockade of complement signaling in triple-negative breast cancer patients may attenuate the adverse effects of chemotherapy, thus offering a promising approach for clinical use.
Invisible ship tracks show large cloud sensitivity to aerosol
Authors: Manshausen Peter , Watson-Parris Duncan , Christensen Matthew W. , Jalkanen Jukka-Pekka , Stier Philip
Published: October 2022

Cloud reflectivity is sensitive to atmospheric aerosol concentrations because aerosols provide the condensation nuclei on which water condenses1. Increased aerosol concentrations due to human activity affect droplet number concentration, liquid water and cloud fraction2, but these changes are subject to large uncertainties3. Ship tracks, long lines of polluted clouds that are visible in satellite images, are one of the main tools for quantifying aerosol–cloud interactions4. However, only a small fraction of the clouds polluted by shipping show ship tracks5,6. Here we show that even when no ship tracks are visible in satellite images, aerosol emissions change cloud properties substantially. We develop a new method to quantify the effect of shipping on all clouds, showing a cloud droplet number increase and a more positive liquid water response when there are no visible tracks. We directly detect shipping-induced cloud property changes in the trade cumulus regions of the Atlantic, which are known to display almost no visible tracks. Our results indicate that previous studies of ship tracks were suffering from selection biases by focusing only on visible tracks from satellite imagery. The strong liquid water path response we find translates to a larger aerosol cooling effect on the climate, potentially masking a higher climate sensitivity than observed temperature trends would otherwise suggest.
Discovering faster matrix multiplication algorithms with reinforcement learning
Authors: Fawzi Alhussein , Balog Matej , Huang Aja , Hubert Thomas , Romera-Paredes Bernardino , Barekatain Mohammadamin , Novikov Alexander , R. Ruiz Francisco J. , Schrittwieser Julian , Swirszcz Grzegorz , Silver David , Hassabis Demis , Kohli Pushmeet
Published: October 2022

Improving the efficiency of algorithms for fundamental computations can have a widespread impact, as it can affect the overall speed of a large amount of computations. Matrix multiplication is one such primitive task, occurring in many systems—from neural networks to scientific computing routines. The automatic discovery of algorithms using machine learning offers the prospect of reaching beyond human intuition and outperforming the current best human-designed algorithms. However, automating the algorithm discovery procedure is intricate, as the space of possible algorithms is enormous. Here we report a deep reinforcement learning approach based on AlphaZero1 for discovering efficient and provably correct algorithms for the multiplication of arbitrary matrices. Our agent, AlphaTensor, is trained to play a single-player game where the objective is finding tensor decompositions within a finite factor space. AlphaTensor discovered algorithms that outperform the state-of-the-art complexity for many matrix sizes. Particularly relevant is the case of 4 × 4 matrices in a finite field, where AlphaTensor’s algorithm improves on Strassen’s two-level algorithm for the first time, to our knowledge, since its discovery 50 years ago2. We further showcase the flexibility of AlphaTensor through different use-cases: algorithms with state-of-the-art complexity for structured matrix multiplication and improved practical efficiency by optimizing matrix multiplication for runtime on specific hardware. Our results highlight AlphaTensor’s ability to accelerate the process of algorithmic discovery on a range of problems, and to optimize for different criteria.
Hall current and morphological effects on MHD micropolar non-Newtonian tri-hybrid nanofluid flow between two parallel surfaces
Authors: Rauf Abdul , Faisal  , Shah Nehad Ali , Botmart Thongchai
Published: October 2022

In the present work, the magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a micropolar tri-hybrid nanofluid between two porous surfaces inside a rotating system has been examined. A tri-hybrid nanofluid is a new idea in the research area, which gives a better heat transfer rate as compared to hybrid nanofluid and nanofluid. We also incorporated the thermal radiation effects and Hall current in this article. The similarity techniques are used to reduce the governing nonlinear PDEs to a set of ODEs. For the numerical solution of the considered problem, we have used the MATLAB-based Bvp4c method. The results are presented for tri-hybrid Fe3O4-Al2O3-TiO2/H2O nanofluid. The main focus of this study is to examine the magnetohydrodynamic heat transfer and tri-hybrid nanofluid flow in a rotating system between two orthogonal permeable plates by taking into account the Hall current and thermal radiation effects. The obtained results have been explained with the help of graphical illustrations and tables. It is observed that the heat transfer rate of tri-hybrid nanofluid is greater than as compared to hybrid nanofluid and nanofluid. The increasing behavior is also noticed in micro rotational velocity for augmented values of$${R}_{0}$$R0,$$Ha,$$Ha,and$$\beta$$β. The larger values of$${\phi }_{1}$$ϕ1,$${\phi }_{2}$$ϕ2, and$${\phi }_{3}$$ϕ3result in the decrement of SFC and increment in Nusselt number in both (suction and injection) cases.
Numerical analysis of permeate flux in reverse osmosis by varying strand geometry
Authors: Shoukat Gohar , Idrees Hassaan , Sajid Muhammad , Ali Sara , Ayaz Yasar , Nawaz Raheel , Ansari A. R.
Published: October 2022

In regions with limited potable water availability, membrane desalination is being employed to filter water using a pressure-driven approach. Because of the high energy consumption required to produce the pressure differential needed for this method, researchers have been trying different geometric designs of spacer filaments to enhance the amount of permeate flux in terms of energy utilization. The purpose of spacer filaments is to support membranes structurally and induce turbulent mixing in spiral wound membrane desalination. In this paper, the improvement of mass transfer in desalination driven by reverse osmosis has been studied using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with the introduction of spiral wound membranes that are lined with spacer filaments in a zig-zag formation having alternating diameters for strands. The fluid flow characteristics for a 2-dimensional geometric model were resolved using the open-source program OpenFOAM by changing the Reynolds number to just before the inception of instabilities. Ratios of alternate strand diameters were also varied between one and two. Based on a detailed analysis of velocity contours, pressure distribution, wall shear stresses, and steady-state vortex systems, the research findings offer guidance for employing alternating strand design in zig-zag formation for optimum mass transfer and minimal pressure drop when accounting for concentration polarization.
Analysis of the top coal stability of the large section open-off cut under the gob in thick seams slicing mining
Authors: Chai Jing , Liu Yongliang , Gao Shigang , Yang Jianfeng , Zhang Dingding , Du Wengang , Ma Chenyang , Han Zhicheng
Published: October 2022

The reserved thickness of top coal has an important influence on the stability of a large section open-off cut under gob in the thick seams slicing mining. The destabilization extremum conditions of the open-off cut top coal were derived from by elastic–plastic theory, and the optical fibre sensing technology was utilized to monitor the top coal deformation law with different thicknesses (3, 3.5, and 4 m) in the physical similar simulation experiment in the paper. The results show that the top coal thickness is greater than 3.4 m without tension cracks. In the vertical direction, the top coal of the large open-off cut is divided into mining and excavation disturbance zones under the influence of the upper slice coal mining and the excavation disturbance. In the direction of the span of the top coal can be divided into the roof fall risk zone and the warning zone. The deformation changes from exponential to linear to logarithmic in the roof fall risk zone, and it changes from linear to logarithmic in the roof fall warning zone as the number of excavations increases. The sinking amount in the two zones is smaller as the thickness of the top coal becomes larger. It is comprehensively determined that the thickness of the top coal of open-off cut is set as 3.5 m, the stability is moderate, and the field application shows that the integrity of the top coal is good after support, and the maximum off-layer value is 6 mm, which can satisfy the production requirements.
Magnetic resonance imaging-based lower limb muscle evaluation in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A patients and its correlation with clinical data
Authors: Kim Yeo Jin , Kim Hyun Su , Lee Ji Hyun , Yoon Young Cheol , Choi Byung-Ok
Published: October 2022

We aimed to derive comprehensive MRI parameters that reflect intramuscular fat infiltration severity for designated lower extremity levels, based on semiquantitative analyses in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) patients. We reviewed lower extremity MRIs of 116 CMT1A patients. Intramuscular fat infiltration grading using the Mercuri scale was performed for the non-dominant lower extremity at three levels (proximal, mid, and distal) for the thigh and at two levels (proximal and distal) for the lower leg. Based on MRI results, the following parameters were calculated for each level and for entire muscles: fat infiltration proportion (FIP), significant fat infiltration proportion (SigFIP), and severe fat infiltration proportion (SevFIP). The relationships between the MRI parameters and clinical data were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation analysis. FIP, SigFIP, and SevFIP measured for entire muscles significantly correlated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Score (p < 0.001), functional disability scale (p < 0.001), 10-m walk test time (p = 0.0003, 0.0010, and 0.0011), and disease duration (p < 0.001). Similar correlations were demonstrated for FIP, SigFIP, and SevFIP acquired from the lower leg. Our MRI parameters obtained through semiquantitative analyses of muscles significantly correlated with clinical parameters in CMT1A patients, suggesting their potential applicability as imaging markers for clinical severity.
A transition phase in late mouse oogenesis impacts DNA methylation of the early embryo
Authors: Eleftheriou Kristeli , Peter Antonia , Fedorenko Ivanna , Schmidt Katy , Wossidlo Mark , Arand Julia
Published: October 2022

A well-orchestrated program of oocyte growth and differentiation results in a developmentally competent oocyte. In late oogenesis, germinal vesicle oocytes (GVOs) undergo chromatin remodeling accompanied by transcriptional silencing from an NSN (non-surrounded nucleolus) to an SN (surrounded nucleolus) chromatin state. By analyzing different cytoplasmic and nuclear characteristics, our results indicate that murine NSN-GVOs transition via an intermediate stage into SN-GVOs in vivo. Interestingly, this transition can also be observed ex vivo, including most characteristics seen in vivo, which allows to analyze this transition process in more detail. The nuclear rearrangements during the transition are accompanied by changes in DNA methylation and Tet enzyme-catalyzed DNA modifications. Early parthenogenetic embryos, derived from NSN-GVOs, show lower DNA methylation levels than SN-derived embryos. Together, our data suggest that a successful NSN-SN transition in oogenesis including proper DNA methylation remodeling is important for the establishment of a developmentally competent oocyte for the beginning of life.
Clean air policies are key for successfully mitigating Arctic warming
Authors: von Salzen Knut , Whaley Cynthia H. , Anenberg Susan C. , Van Dingenen Rita , Klimont Zbigniew , Flanner Mark G. , Mahmood Rashed , Arnold Stephen R. , Beagley Stephen , Chien Rong-You , Christensen Jesper H. , Eckhardt Sabine , Ekman Annica M. L. , Evangeliou Nikolaos , Faluvegi Greg , Fu Joshua S. , Gauss Michael , Gong Wanmin , Hjorth Jens L. , Im Ulas , Krishnan Srinath , Kupiainen Kaarle , Kühn Thomas , Langner Joakim , Law Kathy S. , Marelle Louis , Olivié Dirk , Onishi Tatsuo , Oshima Naga , Paunu Ville-Veikko , Peng Yiran , Plummer David , Pozzoli Luca , Rao Shilpa , Raut Jean-Christophe , Sand Maria , Schmale Julia , Sigmond Michael , Thomas Manu A. , Tsigaridis Kostas , Tsyro Svetlana , Turnock Steven T. , Wang Minqi , Winter Barbara
Published: October 2022

A tighter integration of modeling frameworks for climate and air quality is urgently needed to assess the impacts of clean air policies on future Arctic and global climate. We combined a new model emulator and comprehensive emissions scenarios for air pollutants and greenhouse gases to assess climate and human health co-benefits of emissions reductions. Fossil fuel use is projected to rapidly decline in an increasingly sustainable world, resulting in far-reaching air quality benefits. Despite human health benefits, reductions in sulfur emissions in a more sustainable world could enhance Arctic warming by 0.8 °C in 2050 relative to the 1995–2014, thereby offsetting climate benefits of greenhouse gas reductions. Targeted and technically feasible emissions reduction opportunities exist for achieving simultaneous climate and human health co-benefits. It would be particularly beneficial to unlock a newly identified mitigation potential for carbon particulate matter, yielding Arctic climate benefits equivalent to those from carbon dioxide reductions by 2050.
A colorimetric aptasensor based on a hemin/EpCAM aptamer DNAzyme for sensitive exosome detection
Authors: Kuang Jingjing , Fu Zhibo , Sun Xuezhi , Lin Chuhui , Yang Shenglong , Xu Jiayao , Zhang Min , Zhang Hongyang , Ning Fanghong , Hu Ping
Published: October 2022

Exosomes are considered as potential biomarkers that can reflect information from their parent cell-associated cancer microenvironment.
Microstructural probing of phosphonium-based ionic liquids on a gold electrode using colloid probe AFM
Authors: Wang Tiantian , Li Licheng , Zhang Fan , Dai Zhongyang , Shah Faiz Ullah , Wang Wen , Xu Feng , An Rong
Published: October 2022

A “…anion–anion–cation–cation…” bilayer structure in longer chain phosphonium-based ionic liquids at the gold electrode surface facilitates the reduction of the ionic resistance and enhancement of the capacitance.
Supercritical CO2-induced anti-nanoconfinement effect to obtain novel 2D structures
Authors: Zhou Yannan , Xu Qun
Published: October 2022

Supercritical CO2-induced anti-nanoconfinement effects, including strain, defect, phase and coordination engineering, bring us enormous potential for the development of artificial 2D materials with engineered intrinsic structures and electronic band.
Structural formation of multifunctional NiMoO4 nanorods for thermoelectric applications
Authors: Aishwarya K. , Maruthasalamoorthy S. , Mani J. , Anbalagan G. , Nirmala R. , Navaneethan M. , Navamathavan R.
Published: October 2022

We report on the synthesis and characterization of NiMoO4 (NMO) nanorods via the hydrothermal method.
You will know by its tail: a method for quantification of heterogeneity of bacterial populations using single-cell MIC profiling
Authors: Pacocha Natalia , Zapotoczna Marta , Makuch Karol , Bogusławski Jakub , Garstecki Piotr
Published: October 2022

Severe non-healing infections are often caused by multiple pathogens or by genetic variants of the same pathogen exhibiting different levels of antibiotic resistance.
A 3D structure C/Si/ZnCo2O4/CC anode for flexible lithium-ion batteries with high capacity and fast charging ability
Authors: Li Shuangpeng , Xiao Huang , Zhou Jiaying , Zhao Chenyu , Yuan Yi , Xia Xiaohong , Bao Yuwen , Lourenço Manon , Homewood Kevin , Gao Yun
Published: October 2022

CSZCO/CC was prepared via a facile solution method combined with magnetron sputtering. CSZCO/CC exhibits excellent lithium storage performance in LIBs, providing a high reversible area capacity of 1.16 mA h cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2 after 500 cycles.
Non-covalent modification of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by thienothiophene derivatives
Authors: Isci Recep , Baysak Elif , Kesan Gurkan , Minofar Babak , Eroglu Mehmet S. , Duygulu Ozgur , Gorkem Sultan F. , Ozturk Turan
Published: October 2022

Non-covalent modifications of SWCNT were examined using functionable TT derivatives without any binding agents. Three novel hybrids based on TTs and SWCNT were investigated by surface and computational studies.
Mechanistic investigation of cyclic ketene acetal radical ring-opening homo- and co-polymerization and preparation of PEO graft copolymers with tunable composition
Authors: Du Yifeng , Du Yuhui , Lazzari Stefano , Reimers Tom , Konradi Rupert , Holcombe Thomas W. , Coughlin E. Bryan
Published: October 2022

Radical ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) led to homogeneous ester insertion during semi-batch reactions with N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP). Investigation of CKA radical transfer allowed for CKA–NVP graft copolymer preparation.
A facile depolymerization reaction enables efficient feedstock recycling of polymerized small molecule acceptors in all-polymer solar cells
Authors: Jia Tao , Zhang Jiabin , Yuan Dong , Chen Zirun , Liu Chunchen , Chen Shihao , Xue Qifan , Zhang Kai , Huang Fei
Published: October 2022

A facile depolymerization reaction of polymerized small molecule acceptors (PSMAs) is developed for efficiently recovering the polymeric monomers in various circumstances, showing potential on decreasing the cost of PSMA-based all-PSCs.
Speech Errors in the Production of Initial Consonant Clusters: The Roles of Frequency and Sonority
Authors: Wulfert Sophia , Auer Peter , Hanulíková Adriana
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

One of the central questions in speech production research is to what degree certain structures have an inherent difficulty and to what degree repeated encounter and practice make them easier to process. The goal of this article was to determine the extent to which frequency and sonority distance of consonant clusters predict production difficulties.

Method:

We used a tongue twister paradigm to elicit speech errors on syllable-initial German consonant clusters and investigated the relative influences of cluster frequency and sonority distance between the consonants of a cluster on production accuracy. Native speakers of German produced pairs of monosyllabic pseudowords beginning with consonant clusters at a high speech rate.

Results:

Error rates decreased with increasing frequency of the consonant clusters. A high sonority distance, on the other hand, did not facilitate a cluster's production, but speech errors led to optimized sonority structure for a subgroup of clusters. In addition, the combination of consonant clusters in a stimulus pair has a great impact on production accuracy.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that both frequency of use and sonority distance codetermine production ease, as well as syntagmatic competition between adjacent sound sequences.
Biased Stackelberg game‐based UAV relay anti‐jamming communications: Exploiting trajectory optimization and transmission mode selection
Authors: Su Zhe , Wu Qihui , Qi Nan , Jia Luliang , Du Zhiyong
Published: October 2022

Although unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) relay can provide auxiliary communication due to its flexible mobility, it is vulnerable to jamming attacks. This paper considers the UAV relay anti‐jamming communication issue under the threat of a malicious jammer with beam‐forming jamming capability. To prevent the relay link from deteriorating, UAV trajectory adjustment and transmission mode switching between half‐duplex and full‐duplex are two available schemes, while they will incur the additional flying costs and continuous mode switching, respectively. To balance the trade‐off between trajectory optimization and mode selection, this paper investigates the joint trajectory optimization and mode selection anti‐jamming approach. First, an anti‐jamming utility considering the cost‐efficient and end‐to‐end capacity gains is designed. Second, to model the bounded rationality of both the UAV relay and the jammer due to the adversarial context, a biased Stackelberg game to analyse the competitive system interactions is proposed. Moreover, the existence of Stackelberg equilibrium (SE) in the problem is proved. Finally, a joint mode selection and trajectory optimization (JMSTO) algorithm based on the multi‐armed bandit is proposed to obtain the SE. It is further demonstrated that the JMSTO algorithm has a logarithmic regret. The results show that our proposed JMSTO algorithm is superior to non‐joint optimization methods.