bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revision of the Pultenaea setulosa species complex (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae) including 14 new species
Authors: Barrett Russell L. , Clugston James A. R. , Albrecht David E. , Elkan Lesley , Hosking John R. , Jobson Peter C. , McCune Seanna F. , Orme Andrew E. , Palsson Ruth L. , Renner Matthew A. M. , Wardrop Catherine , Weston Peter H.
Published: February 2024

A taxonomic revision of the Pultenaea setulosa species complex (Fabaceae, tribe Mirbelieae) is presented. Prior to this study, P. setulosa Benth. was broadly circumscribed as a single, morphologically variable species. Here, we present evidence supporting the recognition of 18 species, 14 of which are new to science. Pultenaea setulosa is recircumscribed as a morphologically uniform taxon endemic to the Marlborough region in south-east Queensland. We reinstate Pultenaea boormanii H.B.Will., Pultenaea campbellii Maiden & Betche and Pultenaea lapidosa Corrick from synonymy of P. setulosa and describe an additional 14 new species: Pultenaea acanthocalyx R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea corrickiae R.L.Barrett, Orme & Clugston, Pultenaea estelleae R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea farmeriana R.L.Barrett, Orme & P.H.Weston, Pultenaea hoskingii R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea imminuta R.L.Barrett & S.F.McCune, Pultenaea murrayi R.L.Barrett, Pultenaea palssoniae R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea praetermissa R.L.Barrett & Albr., Pultenaea purdieae R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea renneri R.L.Barrett & Clugston, Pultenaea venusta R.L.Barrett & Orme, Pultenaea westonii R.L.Barrett & Clugston and Pultenaea woolcockiorum R.L.Barrett & Clugston. Sixteen of these species are endemic to New South Wales, one to Queensland and one to Victoria. All taxa are described and illustrated, and habitats and conservation status are discussed. Two additional related species, Pultenaea procumbens A.Cunn. and P. setigera A.Cunn. ex Benth. are recircumscribed. Pultenaea setigera is reinstated here, known from the type collection made in 1822 and is possibly extinct. Lectotypes are selected for the names Pultenaea boormanii, P. campbellii, P. procumbens, P. setigera and P. setulosa.
Dysregulated inter-mitochondrial crosstalk in glioblastoma cells revealed by in situ cryo-electron tomography
Authors: Wang Rui , Lei Huan , Wang Hongxiang , Qi Lei , Liu Yu’e , Liu Yunhui , Shi Yufeng , Chen Juxiang , Shen Qing-Tao
Published: February 2024

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most lethal primary brain tumors with limited survival, even under aggressive treatments. The current therapeutics for GBMs are flawed due to the failure to accurately discriminate between normal proliferating cells and distinctive tumor cells. Mitochondria are essential to GBMs and serve as potential therapeutical targets. Here, we utilize cryo-electron tomography to quantitatively investigate nanoscale details of randomly sampled mitochondria in their native cellular context of GBM cells. Our results show that compared with cancer-free brain cells, GBM cells own more inter-mitochondrial junctions of several types for communications. Furthermore, our tomograms unveil microtubule-dependent mitochondrial nanotunnel-like bridges in the GBM cells as another inter-mitochondrial structure. These quantified inter-mitochondrial features, together with other mitochondria-organelle and intra-mitochondrial ones, are sufficient to distinguish GBM cells from cancer-free brain cells under scrutiny with predictive modeling. Our findings decipher high-resolution inter-mitochondrial structural signatures and provide clues for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for GBM and other mitochondria-related diseases.
Evolutionary continuity and divergence of auditory dorsal and ventral pathways in primates revealed by ultra-high field diffusion MRI
Authors: Zhang Yang , Shen Sherry Xinyi , Bibic Adnan , Wang Xiaoqin
Published: February 2024

Auditory dorsal and ventral pathways in the human brain play important roles in supporting speech and language processing. However, the evolutionary root of the dual auditory pathways in the primate brain is unclear. By parcellating the auditory cortex of marmosets (a New World monkey species), macaques (an Old World monkey species), and humans using the same individual-based analysis method and tracking the pathways from the auditory cortex based on multi-shell diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI), homologous auditory dorsal and ventral fiber tracks were identified in these primate species. The ventral pathway was found to be well conserved in all three primate species analyzed but extend to more anterior temporal regions in humans. In contrast, the dorsal pathway showed a divergence between monkey and human brains. First, frontal regions in the human brain have stronger connections to the higher-level auditory regions than to the lower-level auditory regions along the dorsal pathway, while frontal regions in the monkey brain show opposite connection patterns along the dorsal pathway. Second, the left lateralization of the dorsal pathway is only found in humans. Moreover, the connectivity strength of the dorsal pathway in marmosets is more similar to that of humans than macaques. These results demonstrate the continuity and divergence of the dual auditory pathways in the primate brains along the evolutionary path, suggesting that the putative neural networks supporting human speech and language processing might have emerged early in primate evolution.
Targeting nuclear receptor corepressors for reversible male contraception
Authors: Hong Suk-Hyun , Castro Glenda , Wang Dan , Nofsinger Russell , Kane Maureen , Folias Alexandra , Atkins Annette R. , Yu Ruth T. , Napoli Joseph L. , Sassone-Corsi Paolo , de Rooij Dirk G. , Liddle Christopher , Downes Michael , Evans Ronald M.
Published: February 2024

Despite numerous female contraceptive options, nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. Family planning choices for men are currently limited to unreliable condoms and invasive vasectomies with questionable reversibility. Here, we report the development of an oral contraceptive approach based on transcriptional disruption of cyclical gene expression patterns during spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis involves a continuous series of self-renewal and differentiation programs of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that is regulated by retinoic acid (RA)–dependent activation of receptors (RARs), which control target gene expression through association with corepressor proteins. We have found that the interaction between RAR and the corepressor silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) is essential for spermatogenesis. In a genetically engineered mouse model that negates SMRT-RAR binding (SMRT
mRID
mice), the synchronized, cyclic expression of RAR-dependent genes along the seminiferous tubules is disrupted. Notably, the presence of an RA-resistant SSC population that survives RAR de-repression suggests that the infertility attributed to the loss of SMRT-mediated repression is reversible. Supporting this notion, we show that inhibiting the action of the SMRT complex with chronic, low-dose oral administration of a histone deacetylase inhibitor reversibly blocks spermatogenesis and fertility without affecting libido. This demonstration validates pharmacologic targeting of the SMRT repressor complex for non-hormonal male contraception.
“We have to join forces…” – Current status and future European policies as discussed at the One Health EJP conference “Collaborating to face future One Health challenges in Europe”
Authors: Sepe Ludovico P. , Jokelainen Pikka , Cantlay Jennifer , La Ragione Roberto , Käsbohrer Annemarie
Published: February 2024

Ideally, discussions on the One Health policy should bring together actors from several sectors. This was the case at the conference organised by the One Health European Joint Programme (One Health EJP) “Collaborating to face future One Health challenges in Europe”, which took place from the 19 to the 21 June 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Here we report on the discussions and interactions that occurred among lead European One Health stakeholders from the animal health, public health, wider environmental (including ecosystem health), and social sciences sectors, coming from the public and private sectors, and non-governmental organisations. The participants included policy makers, risk assessors, risk managers, experts from the academia, as well as representatives of national, European, and international organisations. The conference served two purposes. First, it highlighted the achievements of the One Health EJP on prevention, detection, and response to health threats. Second, it served as a forum to discuss current and future European One Health policies, analysing interactions across sectors, and setting the scene for the One Health policy agenda of tomorrow. In this article, we highlight the main messages and viewpoints of a wide range of European stakeholders on One Health and its future needs. Discussions covered topics such as policies of the European Commission, operationalisation of these policies through EU agencies, the broadening of the One Health concept to increasingly integrate sectors other than public health and animal health, and the role of the private sector in One Health initiatives. These dialogues gave insights into future One Health policies, providing information that integrate the publicly available policy documents, and aiming at shaping the European One Health approach in preparation for upcoming challenges.
Tunable DNMT1 degradation reveals DNMT1/DNMT3B synergy in DNA methylation and genome organization
Authors: Scelfo Andrea , Barra Viviana , Abdennur Nezar , Spracklin George , Busato Florence , Salinas-Luypaert Catalina , Bonaiti Elena , Velasco Guillaume , Bonhomme Frédéric , Chipont Anna , Tijhuis Andréa E. , Spierings Diana C.J. , Guérin Coralie , Arimondo Paola , Francastel Claire , Foijer Floris , Tost Jӧrg , Mirny Leonid , Fachinetti Daniele
Published: February 2024

DNA methylation (DNAme) is a key epigenetic mark that regulates critical biological processes maintaining overall genome stability. Given its pleiotropic function, studies of DNAme dynamics are crucial, but currently available tools to interfere with DNAme have limitations and major cytotoxic side effects. Here, we present cell models that allow inducible and reversible DNAme modulation through DNMT1 depletion. By dynamically assessing whole genome and locus-specific effects of induced passive demethylation through cell divisions, we reveal a cooperative activity between DNMT1 and DNMT3B, but not of DNMT3A, to maintain and control DNAme. We show that gradual loss of DNAme is accompanied by progressive and reversible changes in heterochromatin, compartmentalization, and peripheral localization. DNA methylation loss coincides with a gradual reduction of cell fitness due to G1 arrest, with minor levels of mitotic failure. Altogether, this system allows DNMTs and DNA methylation studies with fine temporal resolution, which may help to reveal the etiologic link between DNAme dysfunction and human disease.
Disappearance of rapid photoresponse in ultraviolet illumination of Ag–Sb–S films
Authors: Takagaki Y , Hanke M , Brandt O
Published: February 2024

The photoconduction in Ag0.5Sb0.5S films changes anomalously with the excitation energy. Although the usual instantaneous generation and recombination of photocarriers appear in the resistance of the films for the illumination at a wavelength of 633 nm, the photoresponse becomes slow with time scales of minutes when the illumination is performed at a wavelength of 280 nm. The rapid and slow phototransients are mixed for an intermediate excitation wavelength of 375 nm. In the simultaneous photoexcitation at multiple wavelengths, the response is complex instead of a superposition of the rapid and slow behaviors, indicating the mutual interaction in the photocarrier transport. The ultraviolet (UV) illumination can thereby block the rapid response that should be caused by the visible light. Moreover, the resistance can even increase during the illumination. Although the adsorption of molecules at the film surface plays an important role for the resistance, the anomalous properties are unaffected by the surface condition. They are thus suggested to be the bulk properties of the films, plausibly caused by the defects generated in the UV irradiation.
B-site disorder driven Griffiths-like phase and electrochemical behavior in Y2NiCrO6 double perovskite
Authors: Islam M A , Tarek Mohasin , Asif Adib Md , Basith M A
Published: February 2024

In this investigation, nanoparticles of B-site disordered Y2NiCrO6 (YNCO) double perovskite were synthesized by the facile sol–gel method to evaluate their magnetic and electrochemical properties. Their crystallographic structure is monoclinic and the average size of the particles is 79±16 nm. XPS analysis indicated a mixed oxidation states of B-site transition metals Ni2+/Ni3+ and Cr2+/Cr3+. The mixed valence states of Ni and Cr, along with the mixed magnetic phases of YNCO, constitute a signature of the B-site disorder. This antisite disorder contributed to the observation of a Griffiths-like phase arising from ferromagnetic short-range interactions above the magnetic transition up to the Griffiths temperature, T
G = 137 K. The synthesized YNCO double perovskite demonstrated a promising behavior as an electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors. In a three-electrode system, it displayed a specific capacitance of 270 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. In a symmetric two-electrode system, YNCO exhibited a specific capacitance of 180 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, alongside an energy density of 6.25 Wh kg−1 at 250 W kg−1 power density. In both cases, we employed a mild 0.5 M neutral aqueous Na2SO4 solution as the electrolyte, in contrast to the typically employed corrosive and concentrated alkaline aqueous solution. The fascinating magnetic and charge storage properties of the B-site disordered YNCO double perovskite indicate its potential for use in spintronic devices and as efficient electrodes in symmetric hybrid supercapacitors.
Simple fabrication of high-sensitivity capacitive tactile sensor based on a polydimethylsiloxane dielectric layer using a biomimetic gray kangaroo leg structure
Authors: Hou Ming , Hong Weiqiang , Chen Honglin , Zhang Tianxu , Zhu Xiaowen , Hao Jianhong , Yin Zhihao , Yan Zihao , Li Xianghui , Zhang Anqing , Lin Zihan , Zhao Yunong , Kong Deli , Ding Jiamu , Guo Xiaohui
Published: February 2024

Design of the capacitive tactile sensor with ultra-high sensitivity and fast response/recovery times is critical to the advancement of wearable devices. However, achieving both fast response/recovery time and ultra-high sensitivity simultaneously is a huge challenge. In this work a simple and easy-to-prepare flexible capacitive tactile sensor is presented, using a biomimetic gray kangaroo structured dielectric layer of polydimethylsiloxane. By using finite element analysis to study the influences of various structures, the test result of the experimentally optimized tactile sensor showed ultra-high sensitivity (1.202 kPa−1), outstanding response and recovery time (60/85 ms), wide pressure range (0–220 kPa), and excellent stability. Finally, the tactile sensors are tested for practical applications, including robot tactile, human motion monitoring, and Morse code detection.
Estimation of geomagnetic components under unknown interferences for drilling tools
Authors: Li Zhenyuan , Geng Yanfeng , Yang Yisen , Wang Weiliang , Hang Shuaishuai
Published: February 2024

The geomagnetic components measurement directly influences the azimuth and magnetic Toolface of downhole drilling tools. Accurate estimation of the geomagnetic components is crucial for wellbore trajectory control. However, the unknown magnetic interferences caused by ferromagnetic drilling tools introduce significant errors in the estimation of the geomagnetic components. Firstly, this paper considers the constraint of a constant total magnetic field value and introduces the unknown axial interferences of the drilling tools as a new state. At the same time, parameter uncertainties and radial interferences within the drilling tools are regarded as unknown but bounded, leading to the establishment of a linear time-varying system model for the measurement system. Then, a state estimation method based on the Zonotopic Kalman filter (ZKF) is proposed for geomagnetic components and attitude measurements. The simulation results indicate that, compared to the ZKF method without considering nonlinear constraints, the method proposed in this paper effectively separates the axial interference of the geomagnetic components from the drilling tools during dynamic measurements. The root mean square errors of the estimated three-axis geomagnetic components are reduced to 0.0249 Gauss, 0.0082 Gauss, and 0.0148 Gauss, resulting in improvements in accuracy of 96.06%, 28.6%, and 14.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the root mean square errors of the gravity Toolface, magnetic Toolface, and azimuth estimation decreased to 1.8296°, 1.8294°, and 3.2898°, leading to enhancements in accuracy of 9.61%, 9.71%, and 96.37%, respectively. Finally, experimental validation confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method, providing a reference basis for dynamic measurement while drilling.
Effects of grain boundary and gradient structure on machining property of CoCrFeMnNi alloys
Authors: Lu Yu-Sheng , Bui Thi-Xuyen , Fang Te-Hua
Published: February 2024

CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) has a high degree of thermodynamic stability and excellent ductility, making it a crucial structural material. However, the plastic deformation and microstructural behavior of gradient grain structured CoCrFeMnNi HEA under cutting remain unclear. In this study, the machining properties of gradient nanostructured CoCrFeMnNi HEA under conventional cutting were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The results displayed that the small grain gradient samples exhibited grain size softening. The shear angle and cutting ratio increased with the increase in the grain gradient. The grain boundaries of the low grain gradient samples were damaged and slid during the cutting process. Moreover, the dislocation density increased with the increasing grain gradient. The multi-dislocation nodes and the Lomer–Cottrell junction were produced in the grain coarsening gradient samples, contributing to work hardening. The cutting forces from low to high cutting velocities were 136.70, 147.91, 165.82, and 164.79 nN, which confirmed that the cutting forces increased with increased cutting velocity. This work elucidated the cutting mechanism of the nanostructured CoCrFeMnNi HEA and highlighted the influence of the gradient grain sizes.
Construction of SnS2-modified multi-hole carbon nanofibers with sulfur encapsulated as free-standing cathode electrode for lithium sulfur battery
Authors: Liu Hanyu , Li RuiXue , Yang Ting , Wang Juntao
Published: February 2024

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries exhibit a huge potential in energy storage devices for the thrilling theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg−1). Nevertheless, the serious shuttle effect rooted in polysulfides and retardative hysteresis reaction kinetics results in inferior cycling and rate performances of Li–S batteries, impeding commercial applications. In order to further promote the energy storage abilities of Li–S batteries, a unique binder-free sulfur carrier consisting of SnS2-modified multi-hole carbon nanofibers (SnS2-MHCNFs) has been constructed, where MHCNFs can offer abundant space to accommodate high-level sulfur and SnS2 can promote the adsorption and catalyst capability of polysulfides, synergistically promoting the lithium-ion storage performances of Li–S batteries. After sulfur loading (SnS2-MHCNFs@S), the material was directly applied as a cathode electrode of the Li–S battery. The SnS2-MHCNFs@S electrode maintained a good discharge capacity of 921 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles when the current density was 0.1 C (1 C = 1675 mA g−1), outdistancing the MHCNFs@S (629 mAh g−1) and CNFs@S (249 mAh g−1) electrodes. Meanwhile, the SnS2-MHCNFs@S electrode still exhibited a discharge capacity of 444 mAh g−1 at 2 C. The good performance of SnS2-MHCNFs@S electrode indicates that combining multihole structure designation and polar material modification are highly effective methods to boost the performances of Li–S batteries.
100 MeV protons from nanostructured hemispherical target using PIC simulations
Authors: Choudhury Jubaraj , Bhagawati Ankita , Sarma Jyotirup , Das Nilakshi
Published: February 2024

The improvement of laser-driven proton energy with the use of nano-structured hemispherical targets of 100 nm thickness over conventional flat foil has been reported in this work. The curvature of the target is found to result in focussed particle density at the center of the hemispherical target followed by emergence of energetic ions due to combined action of sheath electric field and ambipolar expansion. The presence of nano-rods on the curved hemispherical target further increases the laser energy absorption by the electrons, thus resulting in increase in the maximum proton energy. Use of hemispherical target embedded with nanorods is possibly reported here for the first time that may generate protons with energy 92 MeV by using linearly polarised laser of intensity 1021 W cm−2 and pulse duration of 30 fs. At this laser intensity, the energy gain by the protons is much higher compared to the conventional flat foil targets. The maximum proton energy can be increased further to 103 MeV by using truncated hemispherical target of similar parameter.
Diffusion transitions induced by shear-thinning viscosity: application to laser-cooled atomic gases
Authors: Li Ming-Gen , Liu Jian , Fan Li-Ming , Yue Xian-Feng , Bao Jing-Dong , Li Peng-Cheng
Published: February 2024

We study the diffusive dynamics of a system in a nonlinear velocity-dependent frictional environment within a continuous time random walk model. In this model, the motion is governed by a shear-thinning frictional force,

−

γ
0

v

/

[
1
+
(

v
2

/

v

c

2

)

]
μ

(

0
<
μ
⩽
1

), where γ
0 represents the coefficient of static friction and µ is the scaling index. Through analytical and numerical results, we construct a diffusion phase diagram that encompasses different regimes upon variations in parameters γ
0 and µ: normal diffusion; superdiffusion; and hyperdiffusion. These transitions occur because the induced weaker friction enhances the diffusion. With a decrease in the scaling index, we find that the γ
0-dependent exponent of diffusion converges towards the experimental findings for ultracold 87Rb atoms because the strong effective friction arises. The discrepancies between the fractional Lévy kinetics and the experimental findings may be potentially reconciled. We believe that these findings are helpful for analyzing experimental observations of cold atoms diffusing in optical lattices.
Short study on mechanism of morphology change of γ′ precipitates in IN718 Plus
Authors: Duan Lingjie
Published: February 2024

γ′ Ni3Al phase (L12 structure) strengthened superalloy has become an important strengthening phase in Ni based superalloys because of its excellent high-temperature service performance, and has been widely used. The process of γ′ phase precipitation has also received a lot of attention and research. However, most studies focused on its growth rate. There were few studies on the morphology transformation of γ′ phase, and the morphology transformation process is complex. The mechanism of γ′ phase transformation process was systematically analyzed in this paper. Firstly, through molecular dynamics calculation, the most stable morphology of the γ′ phase in the nickel matrix was obtained under ideal conditions. The stability of spherical precipitates is higher than that of cubic precipitates. When the temperature is greater than 800 K, the stability is more obvious.Then through the micro EDS analysis of the γ′ phase in the morphology transformation process, it was shown that the soft impingement phenomenon exists in the nickel base alloy with high γ′ phase volume fraction. Further, by the derivation of the formula of solid-state phase transformation, it was found that the growth rate of precipitate is directly proportional to the concentration gradient of Al in the matrix at the interface, while increases with the rising of the Al concentration in the matrix at the interface. Finally, the way and mechanism of soft impingement affecting the morphology transformation were analyzed. The precipitates formed by soft impingement are nearly cubic precipitates with rounded edges and corners.
Bipolar electron waveguides in two-dimensional materials with tilted Dirac cones
Authors: Hartmann R R , Portnoi M E
Published: February 2024

We show that the (2+1)-dimensional massless Dirac equation, which includes a tilt term, can be reduced to the biconfluent Heun equation for a broad range of scalar confining potentials, including the well-known Morse potential. Applying these solutions, we investigate a bipolar electron waveguide in 8–Pmmn borophene, formed by a well and barrier, both described by the Morse potential. We demonstrate that the ability of two-dimensional materials with tilted Dirac cones to localize electrons in both a barrier and a well can be harnessed to create pseudogaps in their electronic spectrum. These pseudogaps can be tuned through varying the applied top-gate voltage. Potential opto-valleytronic and terahertz applications are discussed.
Potential energy curve for B1Π state of 85Rb133Cs obtained via genetic algorithm
Authors: Yin Yide , Li Ziang , Bai Xuhui , Gong Ting , Ji Zhonghua , Zhao Yanting , Han Yongchang , Yu Jie , Wang Gaoren
Published: February 2024

We adopt the genetic algorithm to fit the potential energy curve for B1Π state of 85Rb133Cs molecule based on the data of rovibrational energy levels, which were observed previously by Fourier-transform spectroscopy and photoassociation spectroscopy. We explore the effect of different hyperparameter settings on the evolutionary process and final results to optimise the performance of the algorithm. Finally, the fitting procedure can reproduce the rovibrational levels with an error less than 0.06 cm−1 compared to the experimental data.
Generation multi-scroll chaotic attractors using composite sine function and its application in image encryption
Authors: Ding Pengfei , Li Ke , Wang Zixuan
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a composite sine function is proposed and applied in a chaotic system, which is capable of generating definite number of chaotic attractors. The proposed composite sine function possesses infinite breakpoints, but it can produce a fixed number of scrolls by adjusting its parameters. Compared to other chaotic systems with multiple scrolls chaotic attractors, the realization circuit of the chaotic system with compound sine function allows obtaining different numbers of scrolls by adjusting only one resistance value. As a result, the circuit structure remains unchanged despite variations in the number of scrolls. Various analytical methods are applied to study the dynamical behaviors of the proposed chaotic system, including Lyapunov exponent, equilibrium point, bifurcation diagram, phase diagram, spectral entropy and C0-algorithm. Furthermore, based on the analysis of dynamical characteristics, the electronic circuits of the proposed system are given on Multisim circuit simulation software, and the multi-scroll chaotic attractors exhibit consistency with the numerical simulation results. Finally, we incorporated the proposed chaotic system into a Deoxyribonucleic acid coding algorithm for image encryption, and this method exhibits excellent encryption efficiency and high level of security.
Small resonant magnetic perturbations result in three-dimensional material transport in the fusion plasma edge
Authors: Navarro Marcos , Romazanov Juri , Kirschner Andreas , Van Blarcum Jonathan , Hinson Edward , Abrams Tyler , Schmitz Oliver
Published: February 2024

Erosion patterns in a 3D magnetic topology are significantly altered when compared to an axisymmetric scenario due to differences in the impurity transport in a plasma environment. When resonant magnetic perturbations are applied in L-Mode discharges, eroded impurities can buildup in regions where an axisymmetric plasma would otherwise lead to zones of net erosion across the full toroidal length of the divertor. The reduction on the local and integrated erosion observed across a parametric study of the anomalous diffusion and impurity content in a plasma, can lead to the extension of divertor lifetimes in low power scenarios when 3D fields are applied. By contrast, in axisymmetric scenarios, most of the carbon eroded from the divertor are carried away to the far scrape-off layer.
Comparison of textured nylon surfaces manufactured by CNC micromachining and 3D printing
Authors: Ballesteros Luis Miguel , Cano David , García Camilo Andrés , Giraldo Laura Vanessa , Jiménez Luis Felipe , Rave Esteban , Rudas J S , Isaza M Cesar A , Toro Alejandro
Published: February 2024

Patterned surfaces can be designed and engineered to control friction and wear resistance in various applications. In the present work, a comparative analysis of two contrasting manufacturing processes for surface texturing of polyamide, namely 3D printing by fused filament fabrication (FFF) and CNC micromachining (micro CNC) as additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques respectively was carried out. The analysis included the evaluation of the topography, roughness, mechanical properties, and tribological performance of the texturized surfaces. Both manufacturing routes were suitable for fabricating deterministic surfaces, being the micro CNC method the one that provided better repeatability and surface finishing as well as higher hardness. These factors influenced the tribological behavior of the polyamide when in contact with AISI 304 stainless steel. The effects of size, distribution and height of the texture elements and the manufacturing technique on the Coefficient of Friction (COF) were also discussed.
Calculation of biological effectiveness of SOBP proton beams: a TOPAS Monte Carlo study
Authors: Chattaraj Arghya , Selvam T Palani
Published: February 2024

Objective. This study aims to investigate the biological effectiveness of Spread-Out Bragg-Peak (SOBP) proton beams with initial kinetic energies 50–250 MeV at different depths in water using TOPAS Monte Carlo code. Approach. The study modelled SOBP proton beams using TOPAS time feature. Various LET-based models and Repair-Misrepair-Fixation model were employed to calculate Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) for V79 cell lines at different on-axis depths based on TOPAS. Microdosimetric Kinetic Model and biological weighting function-based models, which utilize microdosimetric distributions, were also used to estimate the RBE. A phase-space-based method was adopted for calculating microdosimetric distributions. Main results. The trend of variation of RBE with depth is similar in all the RBE models, but the absolute RBE values vary based on the calculation models. RBE sharply increases at the distal edge of SOBP proton beams. In the entrance region of all the proton beams, RBE values at 4 Gy i.e. RBE(4 Gy) resulting from different models are in the range of 1.04–1.07, comparable to clinically used generic RBE of 1.1. Moving from the proximal to distal end of the SOBP, RBE(4 Gy) is in the range of 1.15–1.33, 1.13–1.21, 1.11–1.17, 1.13–1.18 and 1.17–1.21, respectively for 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 MeV SOBP beams, whereas at the distal dose fall-off region, these values are 1.68, 1.53, 1.44, 1.42 and 1.40, respectively. Significance. The study emphasises application of depth-, dose- and energy- dependent RBE values in clinical application of proton beams.
Complexities of urban impacts on long-term seasonal trends in a mid-sized arid city
Authors: Chen Jingyi , Qian Yun , Chakraborty T C , Yang Zhao
Published: February 2024

The variability of surface air temperature is of great importance for both society and the environment, is impacted by global warming and local-scale changes. In the arid eastern part of Washington state of USA, substantial urbanization has transformed the Tri-cities into the state’s third-largest urban cluster. This study utilizes a combination of in situ observations and reanalysis datasets to investigate the influence of land use changes on the region’s 2-meter temperature, revealing local effects that compensate for the background global warming. Within the urban fabric, distinct microclimates have emerged due to varying land use, establishing unique relationships between greenness and temperature alterations caused by land use transitions. Notably, our findings demonstrate that the observed compensating signal in the temperature of farmland locations is primarily attributed to local vegetation increases. Through these observations, this research highlights the urban impacts on local climate, offering valuable insights into the complexities surrounding land use and its consequences on the environment.
Spectro-angular analysis of roadside-integrated bifacial solar power systems with reflecting sound barriers
Authors: Bundo Silvi , Pal Shweta , Ernst Marco , Saive Rebecca
Published: February 2024

Bifacial photovoltaic modules along highways provide energy supply and act as sound barriers simultaneously. This study examines the impact on energy production when incorporating sound barriers with varying light reflection properties into this integrated solar infrastructure along roadways. Specifically, we use advanced computational simulations to analyze the effects of integrating black, ideal specular, and ideal diffuse (Lambertian) reflectors into an existing highway solar power plant located in the Netherlands. Our analysis combines realistic spectro-angular irradiance data as input with our in-house reverse ray tracing software. Our calculations show that for an east-west facing system, an ideal diffuse reflector increases the annual yield by 70%, while a specular reflector decreases the yield due to shading. Most notably, the diffuse reflector doubles the energy yield during winter months, thereby offering a pathway to decrease the seasonal energy demand and supply gap.
An application of Gorilla troops optimizer in solving the problem of economic load dispatch considering valve point loading effect
Authors: Wadood Abdul , Ghani Abdul
Published: February 2024

Economic load dispatch (ELD) is one of the fundamental and important optimization problems in an electrical power system. The goal of the ELD problem is to minimize the overall cost of fuel used by generators while satisfying the different constraints like power balance limitations, operational capacity limits, ramp-rate limits, and prohibited operating zones and valve point loading effect (VPLE). The paper introduces a novel optimization technique, termed Gorilla Troop Optimization (GTO), inspired by the mimic’s behavior of gorilla troops, for solving the Economic Load Dispatch (ELD) Problem. The ELD Problem is assessed both with and without the valve-point effect, considering best, average, and worst fuel costs in dollars per hour ($/hr). The proposed GTO is applied to four different case studies to find the best global solution. The effectiveness of the GTO is evaluated using four distinct IEEE unit systems, including the IEEE 3-unit, 6-unit, 10-unit, and 40-unit test systems. From the simulation results, it has been realized that GTO show superior results as compared to other algorithms in terms of the total fuel cost minimization, convergence speed, and computation time to achieve the global optimal solution in all the case studies.
Ethnic politics and party realignment in African constitutional referendums: Understanding Kenya’s ‘industry of insults’
Authors: Harris Kirk A
Published: February 2024

Kenya’s constitutional referendums in 2005 and 2010 stand out for their continuity with the national elections that followed both polls. During campaigns for and against the draft constitutions, politicians attempted to leverage their popularity amongst co-ethnics to signal their viability as coalition partners or ‘formateurs’ in subsequent general elections: rather than nuanced debates on constitutional issues, the campaigns became personal contests that one observer dubbed an ‘industry of insults’. A decade later, this process was repeated as the country’s political class considered further revisions to the constitution. Kenya’s referendum campaigns thus reflect a layer of strategic behaviour that has not been recognized in much of the contemporary literature on democratization and constitutional change in Africa. While the substance of the country’s constitution matters to Kenyan elites, referendum campaigns have added value to leaders independently of the outcomes of the polls themselves. The prominence of ethnicity as an organizing feature in Kenyan politics combined with high levels of party volatility produces an environment in which referendum campaigns serve as opportunities for Kenyan politicians to renegotiate political coalitions and realign party politics in between election cycles. In this way, the country’s referendum politics are a distinct byproduct of its historical and political circumstances.
An introduction to bayesian spatial smoothing methods for disease mapping: modeling county firearm suicide mortality rates
Authors: Gause Emma L , Schumacher Austin E , Ellyson Alice M , Withers Suzanne D , Mayer Jonathan D , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali
Published: February 2024

This article introduces bayesian spatial smoothing models for disease mapping—a specific application of small area estimation where the full universe of data is known—to a wider audience of public health professionals using firearm suicide as a motivating example. Besag, York, and Mollié (BYM) Poisson spatial and space–time smoothing models were fitted to firearm suicide counts for the years 2014-2018. County raw death rates in 2018 ranged from 0 to 24.81 deaths per 10 000 people. However, the highest mortality rate was highly unstable, based on only 2 deaths in a population of approximately 800, and 80.5% of contiguous US counties experienced fewer than 10 firearm suicide deaths and were thus suppressed. Spatially smoothed county firearm suicide mortality estimates ranged from 0.06 to 4.05 deaths per 10 000 people and could be reported for all counties. The space–time smoothing model produced similar estimates with narrower credible intervals as it allowed counties to gain precision from adjacent neighbors and their own counts in adjacent years. bayesian spatial smoothing methods are a useful tool for evaluating spatial health disparities in small geographies where small numbers can result in highly variable rate estimates, and new estimation techniques in R software have made fitting these models more accessible to researchers.
Understanding racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality using a novel metric: COVID excess mortality percentage
Authors: Yuan Andy Ye , Atanasov Vladimir , Barreto Natalia , Franchi Lorenzo , Whittle Jeff , Weston Benjamin , Meurer John , Luo Qian (Eric) , Black Bernard
Published: February 2024

Prior research on racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality has often not considered to what extent they reflect COVID-19–specific factors, versus preexisting health differences. This study examines how racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality vary with age, sex, and time period over April-December 2020 in the United States, using mortality from other natural causes as a proxy for underlying health. We study a novel measure, the COVID excess mortality percentage (CEMP), defined as the COVID-19 mortality rate divided by the non-COVID natural mortality rate, converted to a percentage, where the CEMP denominator controls (albeit imperfectly) for differences in population health. Disparities measured using CEMP deviate substantially from those in prior research. In particular, we find very high disparities (up to 12:1) in CEMP rates for Hispanics versus Whites, particularly for nonelderly men. Asians also have elevated CEMP rates versus Whites, which were obscured in prior work by lower overall Asian mortality. Native Americans and Blacks have significant disparities compared with White populations, but CEMP ratios to Whites are lower than ratios reported in other work. This is because the higher COVID-19 mortality for Blacks and Native Americans comes partly from higher general mortality risk and partly from COVID-specific risk.
Development of occupation-based exposure matrix of lead for Korean workers: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Koh Dong-Hee , Choi Sangjun , Park Ju-Hyun , Lee Sang-Gil , Kim Hwan-Cheol , Kim Inah , Lim Daesung , Seo Hoekyeong , Park Dong-Uk
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Industry- and occupation-based carcinogen exposure matrices play a pivotal role in preventing occupational cancer. While the Korean CARcinogen EXposure (K-CAREX) has been developed in recent years to assess exposure prevalence and intensity by industry, the feasibility of constructing an occupation-based exposure matrix remains unexplored. Hence, the objective of this study is to explore the potential of combining the nationwide work environment measurement database (WEMD) and the special health examination database (SHED) to develop a comprehensive occupation-based exposure matrix.

Methods

The WEMD provides information on airborne lead measurements, including industry codes, but it does not include data related to occupations. In contrast, the SHED contains information on both occupation and blood lead levels. By integrating these 2 databases, we attempted to assess airborne lead exposure levels by occupation. Additionally, we performed a rank correlation analysis to compare the airborne exposure levels with corresponding blood lead levels according to occupation.

Results

A total of 35 425 workers who both wore air samplers for lead and underwent special health examinations for lead were extracted between 2019 and 2021. An occupation-based exposure matrix was developed to evaluate the intensity of lead exposure across a range of occupations, encompassing 51 minor occupations and 70-unit occupations. Rank correlation analyses showed strong positive correlations between airborne lead and blood lead measurements according to occupation.

Conclusions

Our study findings suggest that combining 2 nationwide surveillance databases can be an effective approach for creating an occupation-based exposure matrix. However, our results also highlight several limitations that need to be addressed in future studies to improve the accuracy and reliability of such matrices.
Oral Methotrexate Treatment of Delayed-Onset Inflammatory Reactions to Dermal Fillers
Authors: Landau Marina , Silikovich Fernando , Fida Monika , Cartier Hugues , Kroumpouzos George
Published: February 2024

Background

In aesthetic practice, delayed-onset (late) inflammatory reactions (DIRs) to dermal fillers are encountered. The treatment of DIRs can be challenging, with a response to established therapies, including oral antibiotics, intralesional and oral steroids, and hyaluronidase injection, occasionally reported as unsatisfactory.

Objectives

Evaluate the efficacy of low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy in treating recalcitrant DIRs.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed cases of recalcitrant DIRs treated with oral MTX. Data collected included individuals' gender and age, medical history, filler type, facial area(s) injected, previous treatments attempted to dissolve the DIR, MTX treatment dosage and duration, and outcome. Adverse events were monitored throughout the treatment.

Results

Thirteen females with a mean age of 52.6 years (range, 31-67 years) who developed recalcitrant DIRs to dermal filler injection are included. Eight reactions were triggered by the injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, 4 by liquid injectable silicone (LIS), and 1 by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The average starting dosage of MTX was 12.1 mg/week (range, 7.5-12.5 mg/week). Patients were treated for 2 to 3 months in most cases. The average follow-up post-MTX therapy was 11.8 months (range, 2-36 months). A complete response to MTX treatment was observed in 10 patients (6 HA and 4 LIS cases), partial response in 1 (HA case), and an unsatisfactory response in 2 (HA and PMMA cases). Treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions

A short course of low-dose oral MTX is a possible treatment for DIRs that have not responded to established therapies. The promising results of this report require validation by powered studies.

Level of Evidence: 4
Novel symmetry-preserving neural network model for phylogenetic inference
Authors: Tang Xudong , Zepeda-Nuñez Leonardo , Yang Shengwen , Zhao Zelin , Solís-Lemus Claudia
Published: February 2024

Motivation

Scientists world-wide are putting together massive efforts to understand how the biodiversity that we see on Earth evolved from single-cell organisms at the origin of life and this diversification process is represented through the Tree of Life. Low sampling rates and high heterogeneity in the rate of evolution across sites and lineages produce a phenomenon denoted “long branch attraction” (LBA) in which long nonsister lineages are estimated to be sisters regardless of their true evolutionary relationship. LBA has been a pervasive problem in phylogenetic inference affecting different types of methodologies from distance-based to likelihood-based.

Results

Here, we present a novel neural network model that outperforms standard phylogenetic methods and other neural network implementations under LBA settings. Furthermore, unlike existing neural network models in phylogenetics, our model naturally accounts for the tree isomorphisms via permutation invariant functions which ultimately result in lower memory and allows the seamless extension to larger trees.

Availability and implementation

We implement our novel theory on an open-source publicly available GitHub repository: https://github.com/crsl4/nn-phylogenetics.
Geometry-complete perceptron networks for 3D molecular graphs
Authors: Morehead Alex , Cheng Jianlin
Published: February 2024

Motivation

The field of geometric deep learning has recently had a profound impact on several scientific domains such as protein structure prediction and design, leading to methodological advancements within and outside of the realm of traditional machine learning. Within this spirit, in this work, we introduce GCPNet, a new chirality-aware SE(3)-equivariant graph neural network designed for representation learning of 3D biomolecular graphs. We show that GCPNet, unlike previous representation learning methods for 3D biomolecules, is widely applicable to a variety of invariant or equivariant node-level, edge-level, and graph-level tasks on biomolecular structures while being able to (1) learn important chiral properties of 3D molecules and (2) detect external force fields.

Results

Across four distinct molecular-geometric tasks, we demonstrate that GCPNet’s predictions (1) for protein–ligand binding affinity achieve a statistically significant correlation of 0.608, more than 5%, greater than current state-of-the-art methods; (2) for protein structure ranking achieve statistically significant target-local and dataset-global correlations of 0.616 and 0.871, respectively; (3) for Newtownian many-body systems modeling achieve a task-averaged mean squared error less than 0.01, more than 15% better than current methods; and (4) for molecular chirality recognition achieve a state-of-the-art prediction accuracy of 98.7%, better than any other machine learning method to date.

Availability and implementation

The source code, data, and instructions to train new models or reproduce our results are freely available at https://github.com/BioinfoMachineLearning/GCPNet.