bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Efficient Explicit Deferred Correction Framework: Analysis and Applications to Hyperbolic PDEs and Adaptivity
Authors: Micalizzi Lorenzo , Torlo Davide
Published: September 2023

The deferred correction (DeC) is an iterative procedure, characterized by increasing the accuracy at each iteration, which can be used to design numerical methods for systems of ODEs. The main advantage of such framework is the automatic way of getting arbitrarily high order methods, which can be put in the Runge-Kutta (RK) form. The drawback is the larger computational cost with respect to the most used RK methods. To reduce such cost, in an explicit setting, we propose an efficient modification: we introduce interpolation processes between the DeC iterations, decreasing the computational cost associated to the low order ones. We provide the Butcher tableaux of the new modified methods and we study their stability, showing that in some cases the computational advantage does not affect the stability. The flexibility of the novel modification allows nontrivial applications to PDEs and construction of adaptive methods. The good performances of the introduced methods are broadly tested on several benchmarks both in ODE and PDE contexts.
Some new restricted maximal operators of Fejér means of Walsh–Fourier series
Authors: Baramidze Davit , Baramidze Lasha , Perssson Lars-Erik , Tephnadze George
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we derive the maximal subspace of natural numbers $$\left\{ n_{k}:k\ge 0\right\} ,$$

n
k

:
k
≥
0

,

such that the restricted maximal operator, defined by $${\sup }_{k\in {\mathbb {N}}}\left| \sigma _{n_{k}}F\right| $$

sup

k
∈
N

σ

n
k

F

on this subspace of Fejér means of Walsh–Fourier series is bounded from the martingale Hardy space $$H_{1/2}$$

H

1
/
2

to the Lebesgue space $$L_{1/2}.$$

L

1
/
2

.

The sharpness of this result is also proved.
Venture Capital Law in Cambodia: Engineer the Regulatory Framework to Promote the Startup Ecosystem
Authors: Soeun Tharith
Published: September 2023

As the startup ecosystem emerges, Cambodia requires a distinct set of legal frameworks to promote many regulatory aspects to boost national innovation and strengthen the connection of key players in the ecosystem. One of them is financial support for startups, ‘Venture Capital Law’. Therefore, this paper studies the current existing legal framework of Venture Capital (VC) in Cambodia, key bottlenecks that VC encountered, comparative analysis with other countries such as the United States, Japan, and China, and then propose new regulatory frameworks which solve the key bottlenecks and aim to optimise the growth of a startup ecosystem. The finding is that different stages of VC present different bottlenecks such as fundraising (funding source), startup investment (investment readiness of the startup, and deal structure), and exit (immature the capital market for startup's IPO and lack of regulations for Merger and Acquisition (M&A)). The new regulatory frameworks should endorse the use of pension funds as a source of VC funds in the future, encourage private corporations to invest in startup causes, include regulations to promote the readiness of founders, encourage the use of convertible notes, and fasten the regulation governing M&A with the balance of antitrust law.
World Organisation for Animal Health Members’ Capacity to Deal With Animal Welfare Emergencies During Natural Disasters in Europe
Authors: Vroegindewey Gary , Gruszynski Karen , Handler Daniel , Grudnik Tomasz , Balbo Roberto , Dalla Villa Paolo
Published: September 2023

Objective:

Little is known about individual European countries or regional capacity to respond to animal welfare emergencies during natural disasters; therefore, it is important to establish baseline information (eg, types of disasters, training) to enable more focused and data-driven actionable support for future disasters.

Methods:

A 55-question survey was distributed by an email link to the 53 World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) European Region Members plus 1 observer country.

Results:

Forty-nine countries (91%, n = 54) responded to the survey. Fifty-one percent (25/49) indicated they incorporated animal welfare into their national disaster regulatory framework, whereas 59% (29/49) indicated animal welfare was incorporated in the Veterinary Service National Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Plan. Thirty-nine percent (19/49) indicated they had “no” or “limited” legal authority to manage animal emergencies in natural disasters. Floods, forest fires, and snowstorm/extreme cold were the 3 most commonly reported disasters over the last 10 years with 79% (27/34) reporting Veterinary Services was involved in managing these disasters.

Conclusion:

The survey results indicated a wide range in the capacity of WOAH European Member Countries to respond to animal welfare in natural disasters, highlighting the gaps and potential areas of improvement in this arena.
Effect of cone rotation on the nonlinear evolution of Mack modes in supersonic boundary layers
Authors: Song Runjie , Dong Ming , Zhao Lei
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we present a systematic study of the nonlinear evolution of the travelling Mack modes in a Mach 3 supersonic boundary layer over a rotating cone with a

$7^{\circ }$

half-apex angle using the nonlinear parabolic stability equation (NPSE). To quantify the effect of cone rotation, six cases with different rotation rates are considered, and from the same streamwise position, a pair of oblique Mack modes with the same frequency but opposite circumferential wavenumbers are introduced as the initial perturbations for NPSE calculations. As the angular rotation rate

$\varOmega$

increases such that

$\bar \varOmega$

(defined as the ratio of the rotation speed of the cone to the streamwise velocity at the boundary-layer edge) varies from 0 to

$O(1)$

, three distinguished nonlinear regimes appear, namely the oblique-mode breakdown, the generalised fundamental resonance and the centrifugal-instability-induced transition. For each regime, the mechanisms for the amplifications of the streak mode and the harmonic travelling waves are explained in detail, and the dominant role of the streak mode in triggering the breakdown of the laminar flow is particularly highlighted. Additionally, from the linear stability theory, the dominant travelling mode undergoes the greatest amplification for a moderate

$\varOmega$

, which, according to the

$e^N$

transition-prediction method, indicates premature transition to turbulence. However, this is in contrast to the NPSE results, in which a delay of the transition onset is observed for a moderate

$\varOmega$

. Such a disagreement is attributed to the different nonlinear regimes appearing for different rotation rates. Therefore, the traditional transition-prediction method based on the linear instability should be carefully employed if multiple nonlinear regimes may appear.
Characterization of energy transfer and triadic interactions of coherent structures in turbulent wakes
Authors: Kinjangi Dinesh Kumar , Foti Daniel
Published: September 2023

Turbulent wakes are often characterized by dominant coherent structures over disparate scales. Dynamics of their behaviour can be attributed to interscale energy dynamics and triadic interactions. We develop a methodology to quantify the dynamics of kinetic energy of specific scales. Coherent motions are characterized by the triple decomposition and used to define mean, coherent and random velocity. Specific scales of coherent structures are identified through dynamic mode decomposition, whereby the total coherent velocity is separated into a set of velocities classified by frequency. The coherent kinetic energy of a specific scale is defined by a frequency triad of scale-specific velocities. Equations for the balance of scale-specific coherent kinetic energy are derived to interpret interscale dynamics. The methodology is demonstrated on three wake flows: (i)

${Re}=175$

flow over a cylinder; (ii) a direct numerical simulation of

${Re}=3900$

flow over a cylinder; and (iii) a large-eddy simulation of a utility-scale wind turbine. The cylinder wake cases show that energy transfer starts with vortex shedding and redistributes energy through resonance of higher harmonics. The scale-specific coherent kinetic energy balance quantifies the distribution of transport and transfer among coherent, mean and random scales. The coherent kinetic energy in the rotor scales and the hub vortex scale in the wind turbine interact to produce new scales. The analysis reveals that vortices at the blade root interact with the hub vortex formed behind the nacelle, which has implications for the proliferation of scales in the downwind near wake.
Gaetano Salvemini: profile of a transnational intellectual
Authors: Camurri Renato , Gussoni Alice
Published: September 2023

Gaetano Salvemini (1873–1957) is one of the most influential intellectuals of Italian and European twentieth-century history. As 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Salvemini's birth, this special issue of Modern Italy aims to attract the attention of an international readership and contribute to filling the gap in scholarly publications in English, offering a tool to approach Salvemini's intellectual production and biography. We have chosen to focus on four aspects of Salvemini's life that we consider particularly suitable for introducing his personal trajectory and the evolution of his thinking, adopting a transnational approach: his interpretation of the Great War and the Adriatic question; his antifascist exile in Great Britain and, from 1934, in the United States; and the publication of his most important studies on Fascist Italy. The choice of these topics aims to shed light on Salvemini's contacts and stimulating exchanges with foreign scholars, his international experiences, and how these transformed his ideas on Liberal and Fascist Italy.
Sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments
Authors: Monsalve Camacho Oscar Iván , Castillo-Romero Oscar Gonzalo , Bojacá Aldana Carlos Ricardo , Henao Toro Martha Cecilia
Published: September 2023

A variety of established tools are available for agricultural sustainability assessment at global, regional, and farm geographical scales. However, no assessment has been reported in research literature to indicate their ability to provide insights about the most sustainable cropping system at plot level or experimental unit. Despite the environmental and social importance of soil in agricultural systems, many of the sustainability assessments use few or no indicators related to soil properties or processes. Hence, we propose a sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments (SMAES) by defining its parameters through simulations and testing the methodology with real data from a fertilization tomato experiment with five treatments: chemical control (CR); organic control (OR); and organic:chemical ratios (OR) of 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25. The distance from the maximum, principal component analysis, and product of weighted indicator techniques were chosen for normalization, weighting, and aggregation in a single index process, respectively. Applying the SMAES methodology, the sustainability level of the treatments followed this sequence: CR (0.95) > O25:C75 (0.73) > O50:C50 (0.60) > O75:C25 (0.55) > OR (0.45). The proposed SMAES methodology allows soil researchers to define the best treatment through the interaction of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of agricultural systems.
ATHENA SPITS BLOOD AT ROME, VICTORIA FLEES FROM THE ENEMY: PORTENTA AND IDENTITY IN THE EARLY PRINCIPATE
Authors: Antoniou Alex A.
Published: September 2023

Despite early imperial portenta being largely ignored in secondary literature, the reports of such incidents demand increased scholarly attention. This paper contends that decoding reports of portents from the early empire can give us fundamental insights into key moments of identity negotiation in this period. This paper will primarily focus on two such reports, signs of divine displeasure reported in Athens and in Camulodunum. This paper contends that within such reports we can glimpse complex and contested issues of identity creation and redefinition at intra-local, trans-local, and global levels.
CATULLUS’ PASSER AND OVID'S PSITTACUS: THE DIRTY AND THE DEAD
Authors: Somerville Ted
Published: September 2023

This article brings together two well known literary readings: the obscene interpretation of Catullus’ passer, and the interpretation of Ovid, Amores 2.6 as a self-conscious, creative imitation of Catullus 3. It will first offer a further reason to think that Catullus’ contemporary readers understood c.3 as a poem about impotence, and then go on to suggest that Ovid had some fun with this interpretation in his psittacus-poem.
A TE IN CATULLUS POEM 50: A PUN
Authors: Trafford Simon
Published: September 2023

In Catullus 50, after an enjoyable day writing poetry with Licinius Calvus, the poet warns his friend not to ignore him lest Nemesis punish him for it, ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te (‘lest Nemesis demand punishment from you’). It will be proposed in this article that, in keeping with neoteric ideals, Catullus is playing on the phrase a te to create a bilingual pun on the Greek word ἄτη ‘delusion’, ‘mental blindness (often divinely sent)’.
Latin literature
Authors: Walter Anke
Published: September 2023

Let me start with a fascinating volume that Paolo Felice Sacchi and Marco Formisano have edited on Epitomic Writing in Late Antiquity and Beyond, the first volume in the new series sera tela, devoted to ‘Studies in Late Antique Literature and its Reception’, edited by Marco Formisano. This inaugural volume gets the new series off to a very good start. Sacchi and Formisano offer a new approach to epitomic writing, seen as a typical product of late antique literary culture. The aim of the volume is to focus not so much on what is lost and cut out in the process of condensation, but on the value of the epitomic as a hermeneutic category as well as on its aesthetic value, both textual and visual. The individual contributions follow this editorial lead admirably closely, examining the interplay of repetition, fragmentation, dismemberment and re-composition, cutting and re-uniting, and defamiliarization, and showing how epitomic writing can be playful and entertaining, how it can represent a sophisticated act of interpretation, and serve as a ‘tool for investigating the very borders and paradoxes of language’ (12), even for conveying a spiritual experience.
Philosophy
Authors: Vázquez Daniel
Published: September 2023

The Ancient Commentators of Aristotle series has recently published three important volumes. The first two are the last instalments of Simplicius’ commentary on Aristotle's Physics, the culmination of a monumental endeavour that started in 2001 and now comprises twelve books. One of these two final volumes contains the translation of Simplicius’ On Aristotle Physics 1.1–2, the other is a detailed General Introduction to the whole commentary, both authored by Stephen Menn. In his acknowledgements, Menn explains that the translation began as a joint work with Rachel Barney, who contributed, among other things, by revising early drafts, composing the paragraph summaries, and collaborating on the endnotes. Unfortunately, we are told, she had to withdraw from the project, leaving Menn to finish it and take all responsibility for the final product. The translation is accompanied by an eighteen-page preface by the series editors, Michael Griffin and Richard Sorabji (which, in fact, offers a shorter version of Menn's General Introduction), and a twelve-page note on the text and translation. The translation is, of course, careful and beautifully assembled, supplied with diagrams by Henry Mendell.
The ‘Constitutional Reform’ and the Occupation
Authors: Kretzmer David
Published: September 2023

The ‘constitutional reform’ planned by the government that assumed power in Israel in December 2022 is not an end in itself. Its aim is to provide the basis for planned policies and actions of the government that are incompatible with Israel's present constitutional order, and that are unlikely to stand up to judicial review before the present judges of the Supreme Court. This article discusses the connection between various parts of the reform and the plans to make a radical change in Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank. It examines the coalition agreement between PM Netanyahu's Likud party and the Religious Zionist Party, and exposes the connection between the commitment in that agreement to the policies regarding the occupation and the planned ‘reform’.
CEO Political Ideology and Voluntary Forward-Looking Disclosure
Authors: Elnahas Ahmed , Gao Lei , Hossain Md Noman , Kim Jeong-Bon
Published: September 2023

This study investigates whether the management earnings forecasts of Republican and Democratic CEOs differ due to systematic differences in their information disclosure preferences. We find that Republican CEOs prefer a less asymmetric information environment than Democrat CEOs, and thus make more frequent, timelier, and more accurate disclosures than Democrat CEOs. Results using the propensity score matched sample and difference-in-differences analysis show that our results are unlikely to be driven by potential endogeneity. Our results are robust to controlling for various CEO characteristics and are stronger for firms with higher levels of institutional ownership and litigation risk.
Novel NKX2.5 variant associated with congenital heart disease and increased risk of malignant arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death
Authors: Helm Benjamin M. , Baud Rebecca , Shopp Laura , Kean Adam C. , Ayers Mark D.
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

The NKX2.5 gene is an important cardiac developmental transcription factor, and variants in this gene are most commonly associated with CHD. However, there is an increased need to recognise associations with conduction disease and potentially dangerous ventricular arrhythmias. There is an increased risk of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in patients with NKX2.5 variants, an association with relatively less attention in the literature.

Methods:

We created a family pedigree and reconstructed familial relationships involving numerous relatives with CHD, conduction disease, and ventricular non-compaction following the sudden death of one family member. Two informative but distantly related family members had genetic testing to determine the cause of arrhythmias via arrhythmia/cardiomyopathy gene testing, and we identified obligate genetic-positive relatives based on family relationships and Mendelian inheritance pattern.

Results:

We identified a novel pathogenic variant in the NKX2.5 gene (c.437C > A; p. Ser146*), and segregation analysis allowed us to link family cardiac phenotypes including CHD, conduction disease, left ventricular non-compaction, and ventricular arrhythmias/sudden cardiac death.

Conclusions:

We report a novel NKX2.5 gene variant linking a spectrum of familial heart disease, and we also encourage recognition of the association between NKX2.5 gene and potentially dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, which will inform clinical risk stratification, screening, and management.
The Schematism of Reason from the Dialectic to the Architectonic
Authors: Filieri Luigi
Published: September 2023

In The Architectonic of Reason Lea Ypi argues that Kant ultimately fails in his attempt at grounding the systematic unity of reason because of the lack of the practical domain of freedom in the first Critique. I aim to advance a more nuanced reading of Kant’s alleged failure by (1) distinguishing between the schematism of the ideas in the Appendix to the Transcendental Dialectic and the schematism of pure reason in the Architectonic. (2) I suggest that, while the practical domain of freedom is not established in the first Critique, the Canon and the Architectonic do account for its condition: the practical employment of reason and its unity with the theoretical. I point out that while (3) the schematism of the ideas accounts for the sole systematic arrangement of the understanding’s cognitions and the regulative role of the ideas and the ideal, in the Architectonic, (4) the schematism of pure reason instead bears more generally on systematicity as reason’s way of proceeding in framing its own unitary whole and the unity between its two lawful employments.
Probabilistic simulation of phosphorus loss using the Vermont P-index: a bottom-up field to watershed approach
Authors: Dube Benjamin , Erickson Jon D.
Published: September 2023

Anthropogenic nutrient loading from land use, especially agriculture, is a major threat to waterbodies worldwide. Efforts to govern nutrient pollution are increasingly based on simulation modeling for research, evaluation, and regulation. This study develops a novel approach to simulate nutrient losses from agriculture applied to the Lake Champlain basin in the US state of Vermont. The Vermont Phosphorus-Index—a farm-based empirical model regularly used for site evaluation—is scaled up to the basin level with high-resolution geographic data and probabilistic estimation of unknown parameters and management practices. Results are comparable with analyses using more data and computationally intensive tools. Important insights into basin-wide management include: (1) nutrient-management planning can significantly reduce P losses in a livestock-agriculture-dominated watershed by re-distributing manure applications from areas of high loss to low loss; (2) hotspot identification from geographic data alone may be deeply complicated by high underlying heterogeneity of soil phosphorus; and (3) probabilistic modeling using simple, field-scale models is a potentially useful complement to complex watershed process models. Findings suggest that currently available best-management practices will likely be insufficient to reach reduction targets in the most impaired sub-watersheds. Reductions of agricultural land use and herd size, particularly in intensive dairy operations, may be necessary.
Contrasting Population Projections to Induce Divergent Estimates of Landslides Exposure Under Climate Change
Authors: Lin Qigen , Steger Stefan , Pittore Massimiliano , Zhang Yue , Zhang Jiahui , Zhou Lingfeng , Wang Leibin , Wang Ying , Jiang Tong
Published: September 2023

At first glance, assessing future landslide‐exposed population appears to be a straightforward task if landslide hazard estimates, climate change, and population projections are available. However, the intersection of landslide hazard with socioeconomic elements may result in significant variation of estimated landslide exposure due to considerable variations in population projections. This study aims to investigate the effects of different sources of population data on the evaluation of landslide‐exposed population in China under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios. We utilize multiple global climate models (GCMs) from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and six high‐resolution spatially explicit static and dynamic population data sets to drive available landslide models. The results indicate an overall rise in landslide hazard projections, with an increase in the potential impact area of 0.4%–2.7% and an increase in the landslide frequency of 4.7%–20.1%, depending on the SSPs scenarios and future periods. However, the likely changes in future landslide exposed population, as modeled by incorporating population data from different sources with landslide hazard, yield divergent outcomes depending on the population data source. Thus, some of the projections depict an increase in future landslide exposure, while others show a clear decrease. The nationwide divergence ranged from −64% to +48%. These divergent findings were mainly attributed to differences in population data and a lesser extent to variations in GCMs. The present findings highlight the need to pay closer attention to the dynamic evolution of the elements at risk and the associated data uncertainties.
Climate Base State Influences on South Asian Monsoon Processes Derived From Analyses of E3SMv2 and CESM2
Authors: Meehl Gerald A. , Shields Christine A. , Arblaster Julie M. , Neale Richard , Hu Aixue , Annamalai H. , Golaz Jean‐Christophe , Fasullo John , Rosenbloom Nan , Van Roekel Luke , Capotondi Antonietta
Published: September 2023

The effects of differences in climate base state are related to processes associated with the present‐day South Asian monsoon simulations in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model version 2 (E3SMv2) and the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2). Though tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean base state sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are over 1°C cooler in E3SMv2 compared to CESM2, and there is an overall reduction of Indian sector precipitation, the pattern of South Asian monsoon precipitation is similar in the two models. Monsoon‐ENSO teleconnections, dynamically linked by the large‐scale east‐west atmospheric circulation, are reduced in E3SMv2 compared to CESM2. In E3SMv2, this is related to cooler tropical SSTs and ENSO amplitude that is less than half that in CESM2. Comparison to a tropical Pacific pacemaker experiment shows, to a first order, that the base state SSTs and ENSO amplitude contribute roughly equally to lower amplitude monsoon‐ENSO teleconnections in E3SMv2.
Energetic Electron Flux Dropouts Measured by ELFIN in the Ionospheric Projection of the Plasma Sheet
Authors: Shen Yangyang , Artemyev Anton V. , Runov Andrei , Angelopoulos Vassilis , Liu Jiang , Zhang Xiao‐Jia , Weygand James M. , Wu Jiashu , Tsai Ethan , Wilkins Colin
Published: September 2023

Low‐altitude observations of magnetospheric particles provide a unique opportunity for remote probing of the magnetospheric and plasma states during active times. We present the first statistical analysis of a specific pattern in such observations, energetic electron flux dropouts in the low‐altitude projection of the plasma sheet. Using 3.5 years of data from the ELFIN CubeSats we report the occurrence distribution of 145 energetic electron flux dropout events and identify characteristics, including their prevalence in the dusk and premidnight sectors, their association with substorms and enhanced auroral activities, and their correlation with the region‐1 (R1) field‐aligned current region. We also investigate three representative dropout events which benefit from satellite conjunctions between ELFIN, GOES, and THEMIS, to better understand the magnetospheric drivers and magnetic field conditions that lead to such dropouts as viewed by ELFIN. One class of dropouts may be associated with magnetic field mapping distortions due to local enhancements and thinning of cross‐tail current sheets and amplification of R1 field‐aligned currents. The other class may be associated with the increase in perpendicular anisotropy of magnetospheric electrons due to magnetic field dipolarizations near premidnight. These plasma sheet flux dropouts at ELFIN provide a valuable tool for refining magnetospheric models, thereby improving the accuracy of field‐line mapping during substorms.
Cobble Tracking Observations at Torrey Pines State Beach, CA, USA
Authors: Young Adam P. , Matsumoto Hironori , Spydell Matthew S. , Dickson Mark E.
Published: September 2023

Cobbles provide a nature‐based method to help generate beach stability. However, few detailed cobble movement observations exist. This study deployed 344 radio‐frequency identification tagged cobbles in a California beach in November–December 2020. Coincident LiDAR surveys quantified beach morphology. Cobbles were mapped daily for 10 days and then ∼ monthly until January 2023. Cobble detection rates ranged 17%–92%, and generally declined with time (with slight increases during winter months). Cobble movement exhibited complex patterns, sometimes moving in opposing directions during the same time period. Large winter waves (up to ∼4 m) resulted in average displacements of 40 m per month between November 2020 and April 2021. From April 2021 to August 2022, most cobbles were located high on the beach and net alongshore movements were relatively low, despite several moderate size (∼2 m) wave events. The largest wave event in January 2023 (>4 m) moved cobbles to the highest elevations of the study period. The initial release location and accommodation space in the back beach influenced cobble movement and final position. Cobbles high on the beach were relatively stable compared to lower elevation cobbles, and more than half of all cobble detections were within 50 m of the initial release location. However, three cobbles moved >500 m. The probability distribution of displacement was approximately exponential. Statistically, alongshore cobble spreading followed a non‐Gaussian subdiffusive process. Despite myriad sources of noise, the results suggest that cobble shape and mass were related to maximum cobble displacement. Overall, displacements increased with incident wave energy and depended on elevation relative to total water level.
“Interesting and useful, extreme and ultimate”: an interview with Prof. Huigao Duan
Authors: Ding Shuai
Published: September 2023

Editorial

He is an explorer in micro-nano manufacturing, an adventurer in interdisciplinary studies, an impassioned educator; an ever-curious reader, a lover of sports, and a coffee connoisseur. In this episode of Light People Interview, we are honored to have Prof. Huigao Duan from Hunan University share his insights on micro-nano manufacturing, planar optics, teaching, nurturing, reading, growing up, and hobbies. “A man with a great smile”, “a good teacher,” and “an interesting soul” are just some of the descriptions that came through my mind during my conversation with him. Today, let’s get to know this outstanding scholar who pursues “interesting and useful, extreme and ultimate” in micro-nano manufacturing and optics.
Oit3, a promising hallmark gene for targeting liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
Authors: Li Zhi-Wen , Ruan Bai , Yang Pei-Jun , Liu Jing-Jing , Song Ping , Duan Juan-Li , Wang Lin
Published: September 2023

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) play a pivotal role in maintaining liver homeostasis and influencing the pathological processes of various liver diseases. However, neither LSEC-specific hallmark genes nor a LSEC promoter-driven Cre mouse line has been introduced before, which largely restricts the study of liver diseases with vascular disorders. To explore LSEC-specific hallmark genes, we compared the top 50 marker genes between liver endothelial cells (ECs) and liver capillary ECs and identified 18 overlapping genes. After excluding globally expressed genes and those with low expression percentages, we narrowed our focus to two final candidates: Oit3 and Dnase1l3. Through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and analysis of the NCBI database, we confirmed the extrahepatic expression of Dnase1l3. The paired-cell sequencing data further demonstrated that Oit3 was predominantly expressed in the midlobular liver ECs. Subsequently, we constructed inducible Oit3-CreERT2 transgenic mice, which were further crossed with ROSA26-tdTomato mice. Microscopy validated that the established Oit3-CreERT2-tdTomato mice exhibited significant fluorescence in the liver rather than in other organs. The staining analysis confirmed the colocalization of tdTomato and EC markers. Ex-vivo experiments further confirmed that isolated tdTomato+ cells exhibited well-differentiated fenestrae and highly expressed EC markers, confirming their identity as LSECs. Overall, Oit3 is a promising hallmark gene for tracing LSECs. The establishment of Oit3-CreERT2-tdTomato mice provides a valuable model for studying the complexities of LSECs in liver diseases.
The origin of suspended particulate matter in the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Bahadori Mohammad , Chen Chengrong , Lewis Stephen , Wang Juntao , Shen Jupei , Hou Enqing , Rashti Mehran Rezaei , Huang Qiaoyun , Bainbridge Zoe , Stevens Tom
Published: September 2023

River run-off has long been regarded as the largest source of organic-rich suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), contributing to high turbidity, pollutant exposure and increasing vulnerability of coral reef to climate change. However, the terrestrial versus marine origin of the SPM in the GBR is uncertain. Here we provide multiple lines of evidence (13C NMR, isotopic and genetic fingerprints) to unravel that a considerable proportion of the terrestrially-derived SPM is degraded in the riverine and estuarine mixing zones before it is transported further offshore. The fingerprints of SPM in the marine environment were completely different from those of terrestrial origin but more consistent with that formed by marine phytoplankton. This result indicates that the SPM in the GBR may not have terrestrial origin but produced locally in the marine environment, which has significant implications on developing better-targeted management practices for improving water quality in the GBR.
Multidisciplinary studies with mutated HIV-1 capsid proteins reveal structural mechanisms of lattice stabilization
Authors: Gres Anna T. , Kirby Karen A. , McFadden William M. , Du Haijuan , Liu Dandan , Xu Chaoyi , Bryer Alexander J. , Perilla Juan R. , Shi Jiong , Aiken Christopher , Fu Xiaofeng , Zhang Peijun , Francis Ashwanth C. , Melikyan Gregory B. , Sarafianos Stefan G.
Published: September 2023

HIV-1 capsid (CA) stability is important for viral replication. E45A and P38A mutations enhance and reduce core stability, thus impairing infectivity. Second-site mutations R132T and T216I rescue infectivity. Capsid lattice stability was studied by solving seven crystal structures (in native background), including P38A, P38A/T216I, E45A, E45A/R132T CA, using molecular dynamics simulations of lattices, cryo-electron microscopy of assemblies, time-resolved imaging of uncoating, biophysical and biochemical characterization of assembly and stability. We report pronounced and subtle, short- and long-range rearrangements: (1) A38 destabilized hexamers by loosening interactions between flanking CA protomers in P38A but not P38A/T216I structures. (2) Two E45A structures showed unexpected stabilizing CANTD-CANTD inter-hexamer interactions, variable R18-ring pore sizes, and flipped N-terminal β-hairpin. (3) Altered conformations of E45Aa α9-helices compared to WT, E45A/R132T, WTPF74, WTNup153, and WTCPSF6 decreased PF74, CPSF6, and Nup153 binding, and was reversed in E45A/R132T. (4) An environmentally sensitive electrostatic repulsion between E45 and D51 affected lattice stability, flexibility, ion and water permeabilities, electrostatics, and recognition of host factors.
Previous immunity shapes immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination and Omicron breakthrough infection risk
Authors: Pérez-Alós Laura , Hansen Cecilie Bo , Almagro Armenteros Jose Juan , Madsen Johannes Roth , Heftdal Line Dam , Hasselbalch Rasmus Bo , Pries-Heje Mia Marie , Bayarri-Olmos Rafael , Jarlhelt Ida , Hamm Sebastian Rask , Møller Dina Leth , Sørensen Erik , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Frikke-Schmidt Ruth , Hilsted Linda Maria , Bundgaard Henning , Nielsen Susanne Dam , Iversen Kasper Karmark , Garred Peter
Published: September 2023

The heterogeneity of the SARS-CoV-2 immune responses has become considerably more complex over time and diverse immune imprinting is observed in vaccinated individuals. Despite vaccination, following the emergence of the Omicron variant, some individuals appear more susceptible to primary infections and reinfections than others, underscoring the need to elucidate how immune responses are influenced by previous infections and vaccination. IgG, IgA, neutralizing antibodies and T-cell immune responses in 1,325 individuals (955 of which were infection-naive) were investigated before and after three doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, examining their relation to breakthrough infections and immune imprinting in the context of Omicron. Our study shows that both humoral and cellular responses following vaccination were generally higher after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to infection-naive. Notably, viral exposure before vaccination was crucial to achieving a robust IgA response. Individuals with lower IgG, IgA, and neutralizing antibody responses postvaccination had a significantly higher risk of reinfection and future Omicron infections. This was not observed for T-cell responses. A primary infection before Omicron and subsequent reinfection with Omicron dampened the humoral and cellular responses compared to a primary Omicron infection, consistent with immune imprinting. These results underscore the significant impact of hybrid immunity for immune responses in general, particularly for IgA responses even after revaccination, and the importance of robust humoral responses in preventing future infections.
Construction of double reaction zones for long-life quasi-solid aluminum-ion batteries by realizing maximum electron transfer
Authors: Yu Zhijing , Wang Wei , Zhu Yong , Song Wei-Li , Huang Zheng , Wang Zhe , Jiao Shuqiang
Published: September 2023

Achieving high energy density and long cycling life simultaneously remains the most critical challenge for aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs), especially for high-capacity conversion-type positive electrodes suffering from shuttle effect in strongly acidic electrolytes. Herein, we develop a layered quasi-solid AIBs system with double reaction zones (DRZs, Zone 1 and Zone 2) to address such issues. Zone 1 is designed to accelerate reaction kinetics by improving wetting ability of quasi-solid electrolyte to active materials. A composite three-dimensional conductive framework (Zone 2) interwoven by gel network for ion conduction and carbon nanotube network as electronic conductor, can fix the active materials dissolved from Zone 1 to allow for continuing electrochemical reactions. Therefore, a maximum electron transfer is realized for the conversion-type mateials in DRZs, and an ultrahigh capacity (400 mAh g−1) and an ultralong cycling life (4000 cycles) are achieved. Such strategy provides a new perspective for constructing high-energy-density and long-life AIBs.
A Lassa virus mRNA vaccine confers protection but does not require neutralizing antibody in a guinea pig model of infection
Authors: Ronk Adam J. , Lloyd Nicole M. , Zhang Min , Atyeo Caroline , Perrett Hailee R. , Mire Chad E. , Hastie Kathryn M. , Sanders Rogier W. , Brouwer Philip J. M. , Saphire Erica Olmann , Ward Andrew B. , Ksiazek Thomas G. , Alvarez Moreno Juan Carlos , Thaker Harshwardhan M. , Alter Galit , Himansu Sunny , Carfi Andrea , Bukreyev Alexander
Published: September 2023

Lassa virus is a member of the Arenaviridae family, which causes human infections ranging from asymptomatic to severe hemorrhagic disease with a high case fatality rate. We have designed and generated lipid nanoparticle encapsulated, modified mRNA vaccines that encode for the wild-type Lassa virus strain Josiah glycoprotein complex or the prefusion stabilized conformation of the Lassa virus glycoprotein complex. Hartley guinea pigs were vaccinated with two 10 µg doses, 28 days apart, of either construct. Vaccination induced strong binding antibody responses, specific to the prefusion conformation of glycoprotein complex, which were significantly higher in the prefusion stabilized glycoprotein complex construct group and displayed strong Fc-mediated effects. However, Lassa virus-neutralizing antibody activity was detected in some but not all animals. Following the challenge with a lethal dose of the Lassa virus, all vaccinated animals were protected from death and severe disease. Although the definitive mechanism of protection is still unknown, and assessment of the cell-mediated immune response was not investigated in this study, these data demonstrate the promise of mRNA as a vaccine platform against the Lassa virus and that protection against Lassa virus can be achieved in the absence of virus-neutralizing antibodies.
Unexpected doping effects on phonon transport in quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals crystal TiS3 nanoribbons
Authors: Liu Chenhan , Wu Chao , Tan Xian Yi , Tao Yi , Zhang Yin , Li Deyu , Yang Juekuan , Yan Qingyu , Chen Yunfei
Published: September 2023

Doping usually reduces lattice thermal conductivity because of enhanced phonon-impurity scattering. Here, we report unexpected doping effects on the lattice thermal conductivity of quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) van der Waals (vdW) TiS3 nanoribbons. As the nanoribbon thickness reduces from ~80 to ~19 nm, the concentration of oxygen atoms has a monotonic increase along with a 7.4-fold enhancement in the thermal conductivity at room temperature. Through material characterizations and atomistic modellings, we find oxygen atoms diffuse more readily into thinner nanoribbons and more sulfur atoms are substituted. The doped oxygen atoms induce significant lattice contraction and coupling strength enhancement along the molecular chain direction while have little effect on vdW interactions, different from that doping atoms induce potential and structural distortions along all three-dimensional directions in 3D materials. With the enhancement of coupling strength, Young’s modulus is enhanced while phonon-impurity scattering strength is suppressed, significantly improving the phonon thermal transport.
SiGra: single-cell spatial elucidation through an image-augmented graph transformer
Authors: Tang Ziyang , Li Zuotian , Hou Tieying , Zhang Tonglin , Yang Baijian , Su Jing , Song Qianqian
Published: September 2023

Recent advances in high-throughput molecular imaging have pushed spatial transcriptomics technologies to subcellular resolution, which surpasses the limitations of both single-cell RNA-seq and array-based spatial profiling. The multichannel immunohistochemistry images in such data provide rich information on the cell types, functions, and morphologies of cellular compartments. In this work, we developed a method, single-cell spatial elucidation through image-augmented Graph transformer (SiGra), to leverage such imaging information for revealing spatial domains and enhancing substantially sparse and noisy transcriptomics data. SiGra applies hybrid graph transformers over a single-cell spatial graph. SiGra outperforms state-of-the-art methods on both single-cell and spot-level spatial transcriptomics data from complex tissues. The inclusion of immunohistochemistry images improves the model performance by 37% (95% CI: 27–50%). SiGra improves the characterization of intratumor heterogeneity and intercellular communication and recovers the known microscopic anatomy. Overall, SiGra effectively integrates different spatial modality data to gain deep insights into spatial cellular ecosystems.
Single nucleus transcriptomics of ventral midbrain identifies glial activation associated with chronic opioid use disorder
Authors: Wei Julong , Lambert Tova Y. , Valada Aditi , Patel Nikhil , Walker Kellie , Lenders Jayna , Schmidt Carl J. , Iskhakova Marina , Alazizi Adnan , Mair-Meijers Henriette , Mash Deborah C. , Luca Francesca , Pique-Regi Roger , Bannon Michael J. , Akbarian Schahram
Published: September 2023

Dynamic interactions of neurons and glia in the ventral midbrain mediate reward and addiction behavior. We studied gene expression in 212,713 ventral midbrain single nuclei from 95 individuals with history of opioid misuse, and individuals without drug exposure. Chronic exposure to opioids was not associated with change in proportions of glial and neuronal subtypes, however glial transcriptomes were broadly altered, involving 9.5 − 6.2% of expressed genes within microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Genes associated with activation of the immune response including interferon, NFkB signaling, and cell motility pathways were upregulated, contrasting with down-regulated expression of synaptic signaling and plasticity genes in ventral midbrain non-dopaminergic neurons. Ventral midbrain transcriptomic reprogramming in the context of chronic opioid exposure included 325 genes that previous genome-wide studies had linked to risk of substance use traits in the broader population, thereby pointing to heritable risk architectures in the genomic organization of the brain’s reward circuitry.
Scalable electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals from biomass by suppressing non-Faradaic transformations
Authors: Zhou Hua , Ren Yue , Yao Bingxin , Li Zhenhua , Xu Ming , Ma Lina , Kong Xianggui , Zheng Lirong , Shao Mingfei , Duan Haohong
Published: September 2023

Electrooxidation of biomass platforms provides a sustainable route to produce valuable oxygenates, but the practical implementation is hampered by the severe carbon loss stemming from inherent instability of substrates and/or intermediates in alkaline electrolyte, especially under high concentration. Herein, based on the understanding of non-Faradaic degradation, we develop a single-pass continuous flow reactor (SPCFR) system with high ratio of electrode-area/electrolyte-volume, short duration time of substrates in the reactor, and separate feeding of substrate and alkaline solution, thus largely suppressing non-Faradaic degradation. By constructing a nine-stacked-modules SPCFR system, we achieve electrooxidation of glucose-to-formate and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)-to-2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with high single-pass conversion efficiency (SPCE; 81.8% and 95.8%, respectively) and high selectivity (formate: 76.5%, FDCA: 96.9%) at high concentrations (formate: 562.8 mM, FDCA: 556.9 mM). Furthermore, we demonstrate continuous and kilogram-scale electrosynthesis of potassium diformate (0.7 kg) from wood and soybean oil, and FDCA (1.17 kg) from HMF. This work highlights the importance of understanding and suppressing non-Faradaic degradation, providing opportunities for scalable biomass upgrading using electrochemical technology.
Vanquishing the computational cost of passive gamma emission tomography simulations leveraging physics-aware reduced order modeling
Authors: Cavallini Nicola , Ferretti Riccardo , Bostrom Gunnar , Croft Stephen , Fassi Aurora , Mercurio Giovanni , Nonneman Stefan , Favalli Andrea
Published: September 2023

Passive Gamma Emission Tomography (PGET) has been developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency to directly image the spatial distribution of individual fuel pins in a spent nuclear fuel assembly and determine potential diversion. The analysis and interpretation of PGET measurements rely on the availability of comprehensive datasets. Experimental data are expensive and limited, so Monte Carlo simulations are used to augment them. However, Monte Carlo simulations have a high computational cost to simulate the 360 angular views of the tomography. Similar challenges pervade numerical science. With the aim to create a large dataset of PGET simulated scenarios, we addressed the computational cost of Monte Carlo simulations by developing a physics-aware reduced order modeling approach. This approach combines a small subset of the 360 angular views (limited views approach) with a computationally inexpensive proxy solution (real-time forward model) that brings the essence of the physics to obtain a real-time high-fidelity solution at all angular views but at a fraction of the computational cost. The method’s ability to reconstruct 360 views with accuracy from a limited set of angular views is demonstrated by testing its performance for different types of reactor fuel assemblies.