bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistance and Resilience: The Nothing Factory and the Workers’ Self-Management of Fateleva
Authors: Branco Sérgio Dias
Published: February 2023

This article is about the resistance and resilience of workers when confronted with the likelihood of losing their jobs and seeing the factory where they worked close down. It discusses this topic by concentrating on the particular and singular case of workers’ self-management of Fateleva – Indústria de Elevadores, a firm that specialized in the production and maintenance of elevators, located in the northern part of Lisbon Metropolitan Region, Portugal. It was occupied by its workers in the context of the Carnation Revolution (1974–1976) and then self-managed until its closure in 2016.
Null-homotopic knots have Property R
Authors: NI YI
Published: February 2023

We prove that if K is a nontrivial null-homotopic knot in a closed oriented 3–manfiold Y such that
$Y-K$
does not have an
$S^1\times S^2$
summand, then the zero surgery on K does not have an
$S^1\times S^2$
summand. This generalises a result of Hom and Lidman, who proved the case when Y is an irreducible rational homology sphere.
Experimental evidence concerning the significant information depth of X-ray diffraction (XRD) in the Bragg-Brentano configuration
Authors: Wisniewski Wolfgang , Genevois Cécile , Veron Emmanuel , Allix Mathieu
Published: February 2023

X-ray diffraction in the Bragg-Brentano configuration (“XRD”) is a very established method. However, experimental evidence concerning its significant information depth, i.e. microstructure components from which maximum depth can affect the information evaluated from the acquired diffraction pattern, are scarce in the scientific literature. This depth is relevant to all XRD measurements performed on compact samples, especially layered composites and samples showing a crystallographic texture evolution. This article provides experimentally determined upper and lower limits to the significant information depth: XRD patterns acquired from a compact crystal layer through a layer of compact, amorphous glass indicate that the significant information depth of XRD using Cu Kα1 and Kα2 radiation is very likely larger than 48 μm, but smaller than 118 μm, in a material of the composition Mg2Al4Si5O18 with a density of ca. ~2.6 g/cm3. The depth of 48 μm correlates to the depth larger than the layer of material from which 90% of the reflected X-rays originate at 2Θ = 25.8°.
National climate litigation and the international rule of law
Authors: Buser Andreas
Published: February 2023

This article assesses the implications of national climate litigation for what is termed ‘the international rule of law’. Starting from the finding that the current international climate treaty regime lacks several elements of an international rule of law, such as legal bindingness, clarity, and justiciability, the author explores what national courts contribute to filling these gaps. Deviating from a linear progression narrative, which is prevalent in existing literature, this article provides a more nuanced and complex picture. Whereas successful climate litigation is hardly imaginable without reliance on internationally agreed-upon facts – such as reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and global average temperature levels deemed ‘dangerous’ – doctrinally decisions do not represent a turn toward a stricter rule of international climate law. Instead of applying and progressively developing climate treaties, courts thus far have primarily used these provisions only to develop national constitutional law and regional human rights law. The created system of highly contextual national rule(s) of climate law is a fragmented one which is regionally limited to a few states predominantly located in Western Europe. Consequently, it is a far cry from a truly global rule of international climate law.
Demographic consequences of management actions for the successful reintroduction of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia to the UK
Authors: Mayall Elouise , Groves Lucy , Kennerley Rosalind , Hudson Michael , Franco Aldina
Published: February 2023

Species reintroductions can be used in conservation management to increase biodiversity and aid in restoring ecosystem function. For reintroductions to be successful, it is important to identify the conditions required to establish a viable population. We developed a demographic model using Vortex10, an individual-based simulation software, to assess the long-term consequences of different management interventions on the success of the recent reintroduction of the white stork, Ciconia ciconia, to the UK. Demographic data obtained from this reintroduced population were supplemented with information from western European populations to build the models. The impact of incorporating different management actions (e.g. supplementing with captive-bred juveniles, provision of nesting platforms, and habitat improvement/supplementary feeding) on the stochastic population growth rate was assessed. Survival rates also differ depending on an individual’s migratory strategy, hence we tested the impact of having different proportions of the population as residents or migrants. Our models showed that if the British stork population adopts a fully migratory strategy, with its associated higher mortality rates, i.e. all individuals migrating to southern Europe or northern Africa, increasing the supplementation rate would not lead to a positive population growth rate. However, management actions which increased the number of fledglings per nest generated a slight positive growth rate that led to a 54.3% increase in population size after 50 years and, when combining all three management options, the population grew by 378.3%. Alternatively, if a minimum of 9% of individuals overwintered in Britain, which is likely based on field observations and tracking data, a positive growth rate can be achieved without additional management due to this behaviour’s lower mortality rates. We conclude that the British white stork population will likely be viable in the long term, but these models and projections should be updated as more demographic data on this novel population become available.
Health Status Perception and Psychological Sequelae in Buried Victims: An Observational Study on Survivors of the Earthquake in Amatrice (Italy), Three Years Later
Authors: Petrucci Emiliano , Cofini Vincenza , Pizzi Barbara , Sollecchia Giacomo , Cascella Marco , Stefano Necozione , Vittori Alessandro , Marinangeli Franco
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

The extrication from rubble is particularly critical for the survival of the victims of an earthquake. Early repeated infusion of sedative agents (SAs) in the acute trauma phase may interfere with neural processes leading to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Study Objective:

This study aimed to analyze the psychological status reported by the buried victims of the earthquake in Amatrice (August 24, 2016; Italy) by considering type of the SAs administered during the extrication maneuvers.

Methods:

This was an observational study on data from 51 patients directly rescued under the rubble during the earthquake in Amatrice. During extrication maneuvers, a moderate sedation was administered by titrating ketamine (0.3-0.5mg/kg) or morphine (0.1-0.15mg/kg) with respect to the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS; between -2 and -3) in buried victims.

Three years following the rescue, the survivors were interviewed on their perceived health status and stress using a questionnaire which consisted of 17 items: the standard four-item set of healthy days core questions (CDC HRQOL-4); the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); and in addition, survivors were asked if they had a diagnosis for anxiety, depression, or for PTSD.

Results:

The study analyzed data from the complete clinical documentation of 51 survivors; 30 were males and 21 females, with an average age of 52 years. Twenty-six (26) subjects were treated with ketamine, while 25 were treated with morphine, during the extrication procedures. Concerning the quality-of-life analysis, only 10 survivors out of 51 perceived their health status as good; the others reported psychological disorders. The GHQ-12 scores showed that all survivors had psychological distress with a mean total score of 22.2 (SD = 3.5). Eighteen (18) victims declared to have had a diagnosis of generalized anxiety (35%), while 29 were treated for depression (57%) and PTSD (57%) by a specialist. With regards to the perceived distress level and the anxiety disorder, this analysis showed significant associations with SAs used during extrication, with a better performance for ketamine than for morphine.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest investigating whether early sedation with ketamine directly in the disaster setting may promote the prophylaxis and reduce the risk of developing trauma-related disorders (TRDs) on the buried victims of major natural disasters in future studies.
The association between cannabis use and subjective memory complaints in older adults in the United States
Authors: Mulhauser Kyler , Hampstead Benjamin M. , Coughlin Lara N. , Ilgen Mark A.
Published: February 2023

Objective:

The U.S. population is aging and increasing numbers of older adults are using cannabis. Cognitive decline is common in older age and subjective memory complaints (SMC) have been associated with increased risk for dementia. While residual cognitive effects of cannabis use at younger ages are well understood, the links between cannabis use and cognition in older adults is less clear. The present study represents the first population-level analysis of cannabis use and SMC in older adults in the U.S.

Method:

We used the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) dataset to evaluate SMC in respondents over age 50 (N = 26,399) according to past-year cannabis use.

Results:

Results revealed that 13.2% (95%CI: 11.5%−15.0%) of those who reported cannabis use also reported SMC, compared to 6.4% (95%CI: 6.1%–6.8%) among individuals with no cannabis use. Logistic regression revealed a two-fold increase (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.88–2.60) of reporting SMC in respondents who had used cannabis in the past year, which was attenuated (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.10–1.72) when controlling for additional factors. Other covariates, including physical health conditions, misuse of other substances, and mental illness also significantly contributed to SMC outcomes.

Conclusions:

Cannabis use represents a modifiable lifestyle factor that has potential for both risk and protective properties that may impact the trajectory of cognitive decline in older age. These hypothesis generating results are important for characterizing and contextualizing population-level trends related to cannabis use and SMC in older adults.
Poetry as history: Maulana Muhammad Anwar Shopiani and the Ahl-i Hadith movement in Kashmir
Authors: Yaseen Suvaid
Published: February 2023

The Ahl-i Hadith in South Asia has largely been studied as a textualist, puritan movement as a result of its exclusive emphasis on the Quran, Hadith sources, and connection with a variety of radical political and armed groups. In contrast, poetry has largely been associated with Sufi movements. This article questions this distinction and makes a historiographical intervention by examining the poetry of Maulana Muhammad Anwar Shopiani (d. 1940) in the Kashmiri, Persian, and Urdu languages. Through a close analysis of Shopiani's biography and poetry, the article complicates the hitherto available picture of the Ahl-i Hadith movement which Shopiani helped to take root in Kashmir. Doing so draws attention to the movement's novel literary aspect that engages with regional Sufi and sympathetic Hanafi thinking as well as with the broader Persianate literary traditions and transregional currents of revivalist thinking on the basis of the principle of taḥqīq, research. Even as Shopiani's message remains committed to a ‘factual’ iteration based upon Quran and Hadith sources, it is the concept of love, both in its spiritual and worldly manifestations, that emerges as central to his thought. It is through this that the paradox between the actual historical distance from Prophet Muhammad's time and the Ahl-i Hadith's ideological desire to revive that time by a literal enactment of the sunnah is resolved. In doing so, the article makes a methodological case for employing poetry as a source for writing an intellectual history from below which examines Islamic movements on their own terms.
AN INCIDENCE RESULT FOR WELL-SPACED ATOMS IN ALL DIMENSIONS
Authors: BRADSHAW PETER J.
Published: February 2023

We prove an incidence result counting the k-rich
$\delta $
-tubes induced by a well-spaced set of
$\delta $
-atoms. Our result coincides with the bound that would be heuristically predicted by the Szemerédi–Trotter theorem and holds in all dimensions
$d \geq 2$
. We also prove an analogue of Beck’s theorem for
$\delta $
-atoms and
$\delta $
-tubes as an application of our result.
Heat-induced changes in molecular biosignatures and the influence of Mars-relevant minerals
Authors: Haezeleer Bettina , Fox Stefan , Strasdeit Henry
Published: February 2023

The search for signs of life is a major objective in the exploration of Mars. Of particular interest are chemical biosignatures such as biomolecules. However, molecular biosignatures are susceptible to extreme environmental conditions such as heat, ionising radiation and strong oxidants. Therefore, a knowledge of the stability of possible biosignature molecules under present and past conditions on Mars is important, as well as the nature of possible alteration products. In the light of the long volcanically active history of Mars, we have studied the thermal behaviour of selected biological compounds, namely, haemin (an iron porphyrin closely related to the haem prosthetic group), cytochrome c (a small protein) and lecithin (a mixture of phospholipids). Samples were exposed to temperatures up to 900°C under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen, either in neat form or in mineral matrices. The matrix materials used were sodium chloride, gypsum (CaSO4 ⋅ 2H2O), Ca-montmorillonite (STx-1b), the Martian regolith simulant JSC Mars-1A and some mixtures thereof. Key results are: (1) The onset of significant decomposition for haemin, cytochrome c and lecithin occurs around 240°C. At slightly higher temperatures the disappearance of all characteristic infrared spectral bands indicates complete decomposition and loss of the primary biosignatures. (2) Haemin stoichiometrically releases CO2 and HCl during the initial thermal decomposition phase, at the end of which the iron porphyrin core is still intact. High-temperature products of haemin include graphite, α-iron and cementite (Fe3C). (3) Neat lecithin forms long-chain polyphosphates at 500°C, whereas lecithin‒NaCl mixtures form diphosphate (pyrophosphate). As these anions are absent and rare, respectively, in minerals, they may potentially serve as secondary biosignatures. (4) Heating a mixture of NaCl and JSC Mars-1A at 800°C in the presence of lecithin produces the aluminosilicate mineral sodalite (Na8[AlSiO4]6Cl2), which however appears to be of limited use as a secondary biosignature.
Visualization and quality control tools for large-scale multiplex tissue analysis in TissUUmaps3
Authors: Behanova Andrea , Avenel Christophe , Andersson Axel , Chelebian Eduard , Klemm Anna , Wik Lina , Östman Arne , Wählby Carolina
Published: February 2023

Large-scale multiplex tissue analysis aims to understand processes such as development and tumor formation by studying the occurrence and interaction of cells in local environments in, for example, tissue samples from patient cohorts. A typical procedure in the analysis is to delineate individual cells, classify them into cell types, and analyze their spatial relationships. All steps come with a number of challenges, and to address them and identify the bottlenecks of the analysis, it is necessary to include quality control tools in the analysis workflow. This makes it possible to optimize the steps and adjust settings in order to get better and more precise results. Additionally, the development of automated approaches for tissue analysis requires visual verification to reduce skepticism with regard to the accuracy of the results. Quality control tools could be used to build users’ trust in automated approaches. In this paper, we present three plugins for visualization and quality control in large-scale multiplex tissue analysis of microscopy images. The first plugin focuses on the quality of cell staining, the second one was made for interactive evaluation and comparison of different cell classification results, and the third one serves for reviewing interactions of different cell types.
Überlebensbuch Pflege
Authors: Boychuk Duchscher Judy. E.
Published: February 2023

In der Pflegepraxis Fuß fassen und den eigenen Weg finden! Warum verliert die Pflege viele ihrer neu und gut ausgebildeten Pflegefachfrauen und -männer im ersten Jahr der Berufstätigkeit? Was erleichtert oder erschwert den erfolgreichen Übergang von Ausbildung und Studium in die Pflegepraxis? Die kanadische Pflegeexpertin und -wissenschaftlerin Judy Duchscher erforschte über zwölf Jahre hinweg das erste Berufsjahr in der Pflege. Ihre Erkenntnisse aus Interviews mit Neueinsteigenden erklären, wie sie den Übergang erleben und bieten Methoden und Instrumente zur Unterstützung junger Kolleginnen und Kollegen an. So wird das Buch ein wertvoller Leitfaden für Pflegefachpersonen, Pflegelehrende und Pflegeleitende. Die Autorin dieses Einsteigerbuches: •beschreibt, wie Berufseinsteiger_innen den Übergang von -Ausbildung und Studium in die Pflegepraxis durchleben und ihn bewältigen können •erläutert die Faktoren, welche einen Rollenwechsel begünstigen, wie Stabilität, Vorhersehbarheit, Vertrautheit und Verlässlichkeit •identifiziert und differenziert Faktoren, die das Erleben des Übergangs in die Pflegepraxis beeinflussen, wie Rollenidentität, Verantwortung, Beziehungen und Fachwissen •bietet ein praxisbezogenes „what to do“-Buch für Berufeinsteigerinnen und -einsteiger in der Pflege, das von Arbeitsorganisation über Bullying, Schichtarbeitsmanagement, Stellensuche bis bin zur interdisziplinären Teamarbeit und unterschiedlichen Settings der Pflege informiert •entwickelt empirische Modelle zum Verständnis von Praxisschocks, erfolgreichen Übergängen und Rollenwechseln in die Pflegepraxis •bietet praxisbezogene Methoden und einen Orientierungsrahmen für Einsteiger_innen, Praktiker_innen, Leitende und Lehrende für einen gelingenden Berufseinstieg, einen abgefederten Praxisschock und eine gute Teamintegration und -einbindung •unterstützt erfahrenere Mitarbeitende dabei, Pflegeeinsteiger_innen einzuarbeiten, zu begleiten, zu respektieren und langfristig zu binden.
Summer Marine Fog Distribution in the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas
Authors: Yi Li , Li King‐Fai , Chen Xianyao , Tung Ka‐Kit
Published: February 2023

We study the spatial and temporal variability of summer marine fog in the Chukchi–Beaufort region (175°E−150°W, 70°–86°N) using the in‐situ visibility measurements aboard the Chinese research fleet Xuelong (I and II) and a fog product we derive using the Vertical Feature Mask product of the spaceborne Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) observations. The Xuelong in‐situ observations show that the fog frequency in the Chukchi–Beaufort region has a maximum of ∼18% in the early morning and is less than 10% in the rest of the day. The latitudinal distribution of the Xuelong‐based in‐situ fog frequency further shows high fog occurrences at 74°N and 79°N, which are related to the local high fog occurrences near 72°–74°N and 76°–80°N in the central Chukchi–Beaufort region, as revealed by the longitude‐latitude pattern of the CALIPSO‐based spaceborne fog frequency distribution. The CALIPSO‐based fog frequency is also shown to be lower along the continental coastlines than in the Chukchi–Beaufort region. This longitude‐latitude distribution may be explained by a reduced fog formation due to the Pacific warm current flowing into the Arctic region through the Bering Strait in the summer as well as an enhanced fog formation in the Chukchi–Beaufort region when the southward flow of the Beaufort Gyre interacts with the Pacific warm current.
The Impact of the Eastern Pacific Fresh and Warm Pools on the Bimodal Seasonality of Barrier Layers
Authors: Chi Jianwei , Du Yan , Qi Jifeng , Wang Minyang , Chen Ruyan
Published: February 2023

Observations of Argo profiles and TAO/TRITON array confirm the significant seasonality of the barrier layer (BL) and temperature inversion (TI) in the northeastern tropical Pacific (NETP). Statistical result of the occurrence based on the Argo profiles reveals a bimodal variability of the BL, with two peaks in July and October. This bimodal seasonality of BL is attributed to the out‐of‐phase variations of the eastern Pacific fresh and warm pools. The fresh and warm pools both expand westward from May to July, when the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) becomes intense and broad. Heavy rainfall is the dominant contributor to the extension of the fresh and warm pools, leading to a high frequency of thick BL (40%). This frequent thick BL provides a precondition for its another development after August. The fresh pool is stable from August to November, while the warm pool contracts sharply. The cold tongue becomes active due to a prevailing trade wind and horizontal advection transports surface cold water to the northeastern warm pool. This cold advection deepens the isothermal layer and contributes to a frequent TI (30%) and thick BL (46%). The results suggest that the ITCZ rainfall and northward cold advection from equator dominate the upper layer stratification of NETP in summer and autumn, respectively.
Variability of Atmospheric CO2 Over the Arctic Ocean: Insights From the O‐Buoy Chemical Observing Network
Authors: Graham K. A. , Holmes C. D. , Friedrich G. , Rauschenberg C. D. , Williams C. R. , Bottenheim J. W. , Chavez F. P. , Halfacre J. W. , Perovich D. K. , Shepson P. B. , Simpson W. R. , Matrai P. A.
Published: February 2023

As the Arctic climate rapidly warms, there is a critical need for understanding variability and change in the Arctic carbon cycle, but sparse spatial coverage of observations has hindered progress. This work analyzes measurements of atmospheric CO2 in the Arctic from long‐term on‐ice measurements (the O‐Buoy Network), as well as coastal observatories from 2009 to 2016. The on‐ice measurements showed smaller seasonal amplitudes than coastal observatories, in contrast to the general observation of poleward increases of seasonal cycle amplitude. Average on‐ice measurements were also lower than their coastal counterparts during winter and spring, contradicting the expectation that CO2 increases poleward in boreal winter. We compared the observations to CO2 simulated in an updated version of GEOS‐Chem 3‐D chemical transport model, which includes new tracers of airmass history and CO2 sources and sinks. The model reproduced the observed features of the seasonal cycle and showed that terrestrial biosphere fluxes and synoptic transport explain most CO2 variability (both synoptic and interannual) over the Arctic Ocean surface. The polar airmass partially isolates the Arctic Ocean surface air from terrestrial CO2 exchange, which explains the reduced seasonal cycle amplitude and winter maxima. All Arctic coastal sites had similar CO2 interannual variability, particularly in summer, which was largely reproduced by the model. The interannual variability observed over sea ice, however, was distinct from the coastal sites and not reproduced by the model. Air‐sea CO2 exchange in and around sea ice, which was once thought to be negligible, may be an important driver of interannual variability over the Arctic Ocean.
High‐Resolution, Basin‐Scale Simulations Reveal the Impact of Intermediate Zonal Jets on the Atlantic Oxygen Minimum Zones
Authors: Calil Paulo H. R.
Published: February 2023

Eastward zonal jets at intermediate depths of 300–800 m connect the oxygen‐rich western boundary of the Atlantic basin with the oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) on the eastern boundary. They are not well represented in climate models because the low horizontal resolution of these models yields excessive viscosity. We use two physical‐biogeochemical model configurations of the Tropical Atlantic to show that the increase in resolution results in more robust intermediate zonal jets and a better representation of the OMZs. The OMZ structure is distorted at low‐resolution as surface, westward jets advect low‐oxygen waters from the eastern boundary much further west than in the climatology. The emergence of robust eastward jets in the high‐resolution run alleviate this problem and reproduce the Atlantic OMZs more accurately. The asymmetry between westward and eastward jets occurs because the former are associated with homogenous potential vorticity regions originating in the eastern boundary while the latter are associated with potential vorticity gradients. Intermediate, eastward jets constrain the westward expansion of the OMZs by supplying oxygen to their western edge. Within the OMZs, higher resolution allows a better representation of the boundary current system and eddying processes at depth which redistribute of low oxygen values from the productive eastern boundary. Basin‐scale, high‐resolution simulations reproduce more accurately the transfer of energy across scales that results in robust zonal jets as well as their impact on the ocean biogeochemistry. Accurate model predictions provide a pathway to disentangle natural and anthropogenic causes of ocean deoxygenation.
Two Alternatives to the Two‐Source Energy Balance Evapotranspiration Model
Authors: Wei Guoxiao , Zhao Zijing , Tian Wei , Qiu Zhongqi , Yang Zewei , Wang Fubing
Published: February 2023

Environmental models are sensitive to inaccuracies in their approximation algorithms, which can bias model simulations and even lead to incorrect concepts. We present two alternatives to the two‐source evapotranspiration (ET) model, which utilize a more accurate approximation of the Clausius‐Clapeyron relation. Model performance was evaluated through a comparison with observed half‐hourly eddy covariance fluxes. Modeled representations of sensible heat dynamics and the limiting behaviors were also evaluated to identify the causes of model inaccuracies. Our analysis shows that the new exponential approximation used here significantly reduces errors that stem from solutions to the energy balance equations. The proposed parallel and series models are both more accurate than the Shuttleworth‐Wallace (SW) model under the conditions evaluated here, but we cannot conclude that the new models are consistently more accurate over a broader range of conditions. The new models can correctly reproduce several theoretical limiting behaviors, whereas the SW model generates conceptually incorrect results for several important limiting cases in which some key conductances approach both zero and infinity. Importantly, these models seriously underestimate the observed latent heat fluxes at night; the major causes of the nighttime model inadequacies are thought to be uncertainties of the estimated conductances and forcing data errors. The central concepts and processes related to new models are described via plots of temperature versus specific humidity to explore the theory behind an ET model. Through these efforts, we anticipate making more reliable ET predictions that will lead to a complete understanding of vegetation–atmosphere interactions.
Tailoring chiral optical properties by femtosecond laser direct writing in silica
Authors: Lu Jiafeng , Tian Jing , Poumellec Bertrand , Garcia-Caurel Enrique , Ossikovski Razvigor , Zeng Xianglong , Lancry Matthieu
Published: February 2023

An object that possesses chirality, that is, having its mirror image not overlayed on itself by rotation and translation, can provide a different optical response to a left- or right-handed circular polarized light. Chiral nanostructures may exhibit polarization-selective optical properties that can be controlled for micro-to-nano optical element engineering. An attractive way to induce such complex nanostructures in three-dimension in glass is femtosecond laser direct writing. However, the mechanism of femtosecond laser induced chirality remains to be unveiled due to complex physical and chemical processes occurring during the ultrashort light-matter interaction. Here, a phenomenological model is proposed and is built on two-layers phase shifters to account for this laser-induced optical chirality in an initially achiral material (silica glass). This model is based on the observation that femtosecond laser induced nanogratings own two principal contributions to its aggregate birefringent response: a form and a stress-related one. By refining this formalism, a multilayer approach is developed to imprint on demand optical rotation. Values up to +/-60° at 550 nm within an optimal 80 μm thickness in silica glass are possible, corresponding to the highest value in a glass to date. These results provide new insights of circular-optical control in micro-nano optical manufacturing and open new opportunities for photonics applications.
Chemogenetic rectification of the inhibitory tone onto hippocampal neurons reverts autistic-like traits and normalizes local expression of estrogen receptors in the Ambra1+/- mouse model of female autism
Authors: Pignataro Annabella , Krashia Paraskevi , De Introna Margherita , Nobili Annalisa , Sabetta Annamaria , Stabile Francesca , La Barbera Livia , D’Addario Sebastian Luca , Ventura Rossella , Cecconi Francesco , D’Amelio Marcello , Ammassari-Teule Martine
Published: February 2023

Female, but not male, mice with haploinsufficiency for the proautophagic Ambra1 gene show an autistic-like phenotype associated with hippocampal circuits dysfunctions which include loss of parvalbuminergic interneurons (PV-IN), decrease in the inhibition/excitation ratio, and abundance of immature dendritic spines on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Given the paucity of data relating to female autism, we exploit the Ambra1+/− female model to investigate whether rectifying the inhibitory input onto hippocampal principal neurons (PN) rescues their ASD-like phenotype at both the systems and circuits level. Moreover, being the autistic phenotype exclusively observed in the female mice, we control the effect of the mutation and treatment on hippocampal expression of estrogen receptors (ER). Here we show that excitatory DREADDs injected in PV_Cre Ambra1+/− females augment the inhibitory input onto CA1 principal neurons (PN), rescue their social and attentional impairments, and normalize dendritic spine abnormalities and ER expression in the hippocampus. By providing the first evidence that hippocampal excitability jointly controls autistic-like traits and ER in a model of female autism, our findings identify an autophagy deficiency-related mechanism of hippocampal neural and hormonal dysregulation which opens novel perspectives for treatments specifically designed for autistic females.
Skeletal phenotypes in secreted frizzled-related protein 4 gene knockout mice mimic skeletal architectural abnormalities in subjects with Pyle’s disease from SFRP4 mutations
Authors: Brommage Robert , Liu Jeff , Powell David R.
Published: February 2023

Mutations in SFRP4 cause Pyle’s bone disease with wide metaphyses and increased skeletal fragility. The WNT signaling pathway plays important roles in determining skeletal architecture and SFRP4 is a secreted Frizzled decoy receptor that inhibits WNT signaling. Seven cohorts of male and female Sfrp4 gene knockout mice, examined through 2 years of age, had a normal lifespan but showed cortical and trabecular bone phenotypes. Mimicking human Erlenmeyer flask deformities, bone cross-sectional areas were elevated 2-fold in the distal femur and proximal tibia but only 30% in femur and tibia shafts. Reduced cortical bone thickness was observed in the vertebral body, midshaft femur and distal tibia. Elevated trabecular bone mass and numbers were observed in the vertebral body, distal femur metaphysis and proximal tibia metaphysis. Midshaft femurs retained extensive trabecular bone through 2 years of age. Vertebral bodies had increased compressive strength, but femur shafts had reduced bending strength. Trabecular, but not cortical, bone parameters in heterozygous Sfrp4 mice were modestly affected. Ovariectomy resulted in similar declines in both cortical and trabecular bone mass in wild-type and Sfrp4 KO mice. SFRP4 is critical for metaphyseal bone modeling involved in determining bone width. Sfrp4 KO mice show similar skeletal architecture and bone fragility deficits observed in patients with Pyle’s disease with SFRP4 mutations.
Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 knockdown induces apoptosis in ccRCC by causing lysosomal membrane permeabilization via metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Liu Zhangnan , Fan Mengzhen , Hou Junqing , Pan Sijing , Xu Yanxin , Zhang Hailong , Liu Chen , Hao Xiangjun , Li Xia , Wang Huijuan
Published: February 2023

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) plays an important role in converting serine to glycine and supplying carbon to one-carbon metabolism to sustain cancer cell proliferation. However, the expression, function, and underlying mechanisms of SHMT2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that SHMT2 was upregulated in ccRCC tissues compared with controls and associated with patient survival. SHMT2 knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion in ccRCC cells. Overexpression of SHMT2 promoted tumor progression. Mechanistically, SHMT2 depletion disrupted one-carbon metabolism, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and decreased ATP levels via metabolic reprogramming, which destroyed cell homeostasis. The SHMT2 knockdown-induced stress activated autophagy. A mass of autophagosomes fused with lysosomes, resulting in lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and leakage of lysosomal contents into the cytoplasm, which eventually led to apoptosis. Our work reveals that SHMT2 functions as an oncogenic gene to promote ccRCC progression. SHMT2 depletion induces apoptosis by causing LMP through excessive activation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway via metabolic reprogramming.
TIM-4 orchestrates mitochondrial homeostasis to promote lung cancer progression via ANXA2/PI3K/AKT/OPA1 axis
Authors: Wang Yuzhen , Wang Yingchun , Liu Wen , Ding Lu , Zhang Xiaodi , Wang Bo , Tong Zheng , Yue Xuetian , Li Chunyang , Xu Liyun , Wu Zhuanchang , Liang Xiaohong , Ma Chunhong , Gao Lifen
Published: February 2023

Mitochondrial function and homeostasis are critical to the proliferation of lung cancer cells. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 4 (TIM-4) promotes the development and progression of lung cancer. However, the role of TIM-4 in mitochondria homeostasis in tumor cells remains completely unknown. In this study, we found that TIM-4 promoted growth and proliferation of lung cancer cells by the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. Consistently, inhibition of OXPHOS reversed TIM-4-induced proliferation of lung cancer cells. Notably, TIM-4 promoted mitochondrial fusion via enhancing L-OPA1 protein expression. Mechanistically, TIM-4 regulated protein of L-OPA1 through the PI3K/AKT pathway, and TIM-4 interacted with ANXA2 to promote the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling. Collectively, TIM-4 promotes oxidative phosphorylation of lung cancer cells to accelerate tumor progress via ANXA2/PI3K/AKT/OPA1 axis, which sheds significant new lights on the potential role of TIM-4 in regulating tumor cell metabolism.
KidneyNetwork: using kidney-derived gene expression data to predict and prioritize novel genes involved in kidney disease
Authors: Boulogne Floranne , Claus Laura R. , Wiersma Henry , Oelen Roy , Schukking Floor , de Klein Niek , Li Shuang , Westra Harm-Jan , van der Zwaag Bert , van Reekum Franka ,   Genomics England Research Consortium, Sierks Dana , Schönauer Ria , Li Zhigui , Bijlsma Emilia K. , Bos Willem Jan W. , Halbritter Jan , Knoers Nine V. A. M. , Besse Whitney , Deelen Patrick , Franke Lude , van Eerde Albertien M.
Published: February 2023

Genetic testing in patients with suspected hereditary kidney disease may not reveal the genetic cause for the disorder as potentially pathogenic variants can reside in genes that are not yet known to be involved in kidney disease. We have developed KidneyNetwork, that utilizes tissue-specific expression to inform candidate gene prioritization specifically for kidney diseases. KidneyNetwork is a novel method constructed by integrating a kidney RNA-sequencing co-expression network of 878 samples with a multi-tissue network of 31,499 samples. It uses expression patterns and established gene-phenotype associations to predict which genes could be related to what (disease) phenotypes in an unbiased manner. We applied KidneyNetwork to rare variants in exome sequencing data from 13 kidney disease patients without a genetic diagnosis to prioritize candidate genes. KidneyNetwork can accurately predict kidney-specific gene functions and (kidney disease) phenotypes for disease-associated genes. The intersection of prioritized genes with genes carrying rare variants in a patient with kidney and liver cysts identified ALG6 as plausible candidate gene. We strengthen this plausibility by identifying ALG6 variants in several cystic kidney and liver disease cases without alternative genetic explanation. We present KidneyNetwork, a publicly available kidney-specific co-expression network with optimized gene-phenotype predictions for kidney disease phenotypes. We designed an easy-to-use online interface that allows clinicians and researchers to use gene expression and co-regulation data and gene-phenotype connections to accelerate advances in hereditary kidney disease diagnosis and research.

Translational statement

Genetic testing in patients with suspected hereditary kidney disease may not reveal the genetic cause for the patient’s disorder. Potentially pathogenic variants can reside in genes not yet known to be involved in kidney disease, making it difficult to interpret the relevance of these variants. This reveals a clear need for methods to predict the phenotypic consequences of genetic variation in an unbiased manner. Here we describe KidneyNetwork, a tool that utilizes tissue-specific expression to predict kidney-specific gene functions. Applying KidneyNetwork to a group of undiagnosed cases identified ALG6 as a candidate gene in cystic kidney and liver disease. In summary, KidneyNetwork can aid the interpretation of genetic variants and can therefore be of value in translational nephrogenetics and help improve the diagnostic yield in kidney disease patients.
Cerebral malaria—using the retina to study the brain
Authors: Beare Nicholas A. V.
Published: February 2023

Cerebral malaria (CM) remains a common cause of death of children in Africa with annual mortality of 400 000. Malarial retinopathy is a unique set of fundus signs which has diagnostic and prognostic value in CM. Assessment of malarial retinopathy is now widely utilised in clinical care, and routinely incorporated into clinical studies to refine entry criteria. As a visible part of the central nervous system, the retina provides insights into the pathophysiology of this infectious small-vessel vasculitis with adherent parasitised red blood cells. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have shown that patchy capillary non-perfusion is common and causes ischaemic changes in the retina in CM. It is likely this is mirrored in the brain and may cause global neurological impairments evident on developmental follow up. Three types of blood-retina barrier breakdown are evident: large focal, punctate, and vessel leak. Punctate and large focal leak (haemorrhage in formation) are associated with severe brain swelling and fatal outcome. Vessel leak and capillary non-perfusion are associated with moderate brain swelling and neurological sequelae. These findings imply that death and neurological sequelae have separate mechanisms and are not a continuum of severity. Each haemorrhage causes a temporary uncontrolled outflow of fluid into the tissue. The rapid accumulation of haemorrhages, as evidenced by multiple focal leaks, is a proposed mechanism of severe brain swelling, and death. Current studies aim to use optic nerve head OCT to identify patients with severe brain swelling, and macula OCT to identify those at risk of neurological sequelae.
Reactive oxygen species affect the potential for mineralization processes in permeable intertidal flats
Authors: van Erk Marit R. , Bourceau Olivia M. , Moncada Chyrene , Basu Subhajit , Hansel Colleen M. , de Beer Dirk
Published: February 2023

Intertidal permeable sediments are crucial sites of organic matter remineralization. These sediments likely have a large capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) because of shifting oxic-anoxic interfaces and intense iron-sulfur cycling. Here, we show that high concentrations of the ROS hydrogen peroxide are present in intertidal sediments using microsensors, and chemiluminescent analysis on extracted porewater. We furthermore investigate the effect of ROS on potential rates of microbial degradation processes in intertidal surface sediments after transient oxygenation, using slurries that transitioned from oxic to anoxic conditions. Enzymatic removal of ROS strongly increases rates of aerobic respiration, sulfate reduction and hydrogen accumulation. We conclude that ROS are formed in sediments, and subsequently moderate microbial mineralization process rates. Although sulfate reduction is completely inhibited in the oxic period, it resumes immediately upon anoxia. This study demonstrates the strong effects of ROS and transient oxygenation on the biogeochemistry of intertidal sediments.
Future sea-level projections with a coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice-sheet model
Authors: Park Jun-Young , Schloesser Fabian , Timmermann Axel , Choudhury Dipayan , Lee June-Yi , Nellikkattil Arjun Babu
Published: February 2023

Climate-forced, offline ice-sheet model simulations have been used extensively in assessing how much ice-sheets can contribute to future global sea-level rise. Typically, these model projections do not account for the two-way interactions between ice-sheets and climate. To quantify the impact of ice-ocean-atmosphere feedbacks, here we conduct greenhouse warming simulations with a coupled global climate-ice-sheet model of intermediate complexity. Following the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 1-1.9, 2-4.5, 5-8.5 emission scenarios, the model simulations ice-sheet contributions to global sea-level rise by 2150 of 0.2 ± 0.01, 0.5 ± 0.01 and 1.4 ± 0.1 m, respectively. Antarctic ocean-ice-sheet-ice-shelf interactions enhance future subsurface basal melting, while freshwater-induced atmospheric cooling reduces surface melting and iceberg calving. The combined effect is likely to decelerate global sea-level rise contributions from Antarctica relative to the uncoupled climate-forced ice-sheet model configuration. Our results demonstrate that estimates of future sea-level rise fundamentally depend on the complex interactions between ice-sheets, icebergs, ocean and the atmosphere.
Open-circuit and short-circuit loss management in wide-gap perovskite p-i-n solar cells
Authors: Caprioglio Pietro , Smith Joel A. , Oliver Robert D. J. , Dasgupta Akash , Choudhary Saqlain , Farrar Michael D. , Ramadan Alexandra J. , Lin Yen-Hung , Christoforo M. Greyson , Ball James M. , Diekmann Jonas , Thiesbrummel Jarla , Zaininger Karl-Augustin , Shen Xinyi , Johnston Michael B. , Neher Dieter , Stolterfoht Martin , Snaith Henry J.
Published: February 2023

In this work, we couple theoretical and experimental approaches to understand and reduce the losses of wide bandgap Br-rich perovskite pin devices at open-circuit voltage (VOC) and short-circuit current (JSC) conditions. A mismatch between the internal quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS) and the external VOC is detrimental for these devices. We demonstrate that modifying the perovskite top-surface with guanidinium-Br and imidazolium-Br forms a low-dimensional perovskite phase at the n-interface, suppressing the QFLS-VOC mismatch, and boosting the VOC. Concurrently, the use of an ionic interlayer or a self-assembled monolayer at the p-interface reduces the inferred field screening induced by mobile ions at JSC, promoting charge extraction and raising the JSC. The combination of the n- and p-type optimizations allows us to approach the thermodynamic potential of the perovskite absorber layer, resulting in 1 cm2 devices with performance parameters of VOCs up to 1.29 V, fill factors above 80% and JSCs up to 17 mA/cm2, in addition to a thermal stability T80 lifetime of more than 3500 h at 85 °C.
Pelagic calcium carbonate production and shallow dissolution in the North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Ziveri Patrizia , Gray William Robert , Anglada-Ortiz Griselda , Manno Clara , Grelaud Michael , Incarbona Alessandro , Rae James William Buchanan , Subhas Adam V. , Pallacks Sven , White Angelicque , Adkins Jess F. , Berelson William
Published: February 2023

Planktonic calcifying organisms play a key role in regulating ocean carbonate chemistry and atmospheric CO2. Surprisingly, references to the absolute and relative contribution of these organisms to calcium carbonate production are lacking. Here we report quantification of pelagic calcium carbonate production in the North Pacific, providing new insights on the contribution of the three main planktonic calcifying groups. Our results show that coccolithophores dominate the living calcium carbonate (CaCO3) standing stock, with coccolithophore calcite comprising ~90% of total CaCO3production, and pteropods and foraminifera playing a secondary role. We show that pelagic CaCO3production is higher than the sinking flux of CaCO3at 150 and 200 m at ocean stations ALOHA and PAPA, implying that a large portion of pelagic calcium carbonate is remineralised within the photic zone; this extensive shallow dissolution explains the apparent discrepancy between previous estimates of CaCO3production derived from satellite observations/biogeochemical modeling versus estimates from shallow sediment traps. We suggest future changes in the CaCO3cycle and its impact on atmospheric CO2will largely depend on how the poorly-understood processes that determine whether CaCO3is remineralised in the photic zone or exported to depth respond to anthropogenic warming and acidification.
Amyloidogenic proteins in the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 proteomes
Authors: Bhardwaj Taniya , Gadhave Kundlik , Kapuganti Shivani K. , Kumar Prateek , Brotzakis Zacharias Faidon , Saumya Kumar Udit , Nayak Namyashree , Kumar Ankur , Joshi Richa , Mukherjee Bodhidipra , Bhardwaj Aparna , Thakur Krishan Gopal , Garg Neha , Vendruscolo Michele , Giri Rajanish
Published: February 2023

The phenomenon of protein aggregation is associated with a wide range of human diseases. Our knowledge of the aggregation behaviour of viral proteins, however, is still rather limited. Here, we investigated this behaviour in the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 proteomes. An initial analysis using a panel of sequence-based predictors suggested the presence of multiple aggregation-prone regions (APRs) in these proteomes and revealed a strong aggregation propensity in some SARS-CoV-2 proteins. We then studied the in vitro aggregation of predicted aggregation-prone SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 proteins and protein regions, including the signal sequence peptide and fusion peptides 1 and 2 of the spike protein, a peptide from the NSP6 protein, and the ORF10 and NSP11 proteins. Our results show that these peptides and proteins can form amyloid aggregates. We used circular dichroism spectroscopy to reveal the presence of β-sheet rich cores in aggregates and X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to confirm the formation of amyloid structures. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 NSP11 aggregates are toxic to mammalian cell cultures. These results motivate further studies about the possible role of aggregation of SARS proteins in protein misfolding diseases and other human conditions.