bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A blessing or a curse? Can digital economy development narrow carbon inequality in China?
Authors: Zhao Congyu , Wang Jianda , Dong Kangyin , Dong Xiucheng
Published: July 2023

The importance of carbon emissions reduction notwithstanding, the issue of its inequality should also elicit the urgent attention of scholars. This paper first evaluates the carbon inequality between urban and rural areas based on a panel dataset of 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019. Then we quantitively investigate the role of digital economy development in reducing carbon inequality. We further explore the possible moderating role of residential disposable income in the rural areas and the impact channels in the nexus between digital economy development and carbon inequality. We find that (1) the relationship between digital economy development and carbon inequality is negative, and digital economy development exerts a significant mitigating impact on carbon inequality. (2) The nexus between digital economy development and carbon inequality is heterogeneous in terms of capital: provinces endowed with lower levels of social and human capital tend to exhibit a stronger connection between digital economy development and carbon inequality. (3) Rural residential disposable income can not only reduce carbon inequality, but can also show a synergistic effect with digital economy development, which means the interaction between rural residential disposable income and digital economy development also restricts carbon inequality significantly. (4) Digital economy development works on carbon inequality by increasing environmental regulation and technology innovation, and these two channels show a mitigating impact on carbon inequality. We propose several policy implications to accelerate the reduction of carbon inequality and the improvement of digital economy development.
Assessing GPT-4’s role as a co-collaborator in scientific research: a case study analyzing Einstein’s special theory of relativity
Authors: Bryant Steven
Published: July 2023

This paper investigates GPT-4’s role as a research partner, particularly its ability to scrutinize complex theories like Einstein’s Special Relativity Theory (SRT). GPT-4’s advanced capabilities prove invaluable in complex research scenarios where human expertise might be limited. Despite initial biases, an inclination to uphold Einstein’s theory, and certain mathematical limitations, GPT-4 validated an inconsistency within the SRT equations, leading to a questioning of the theory's overall validity. GPT-4 contributed significantly to honing the analytical approach and expanding constraints. This paper explores the strengths and challenges associated with the use of GPT-4 in scientific research, with a strong emphasis on the need for vigilance concerning potential biases and limitations in large language models. The paper further introduces a categorization framework for AI collaborations, and specific guidelines for optimal interaction with advanced models like GPT-4. Future research endeavors should focus on augmenting these models’ precision, trustworthiness, and impartiality, particularly within complex or contentious research domains.
Codesigned Archaeological Research in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Wallis Lynley A. , O'Sullivan Susan , Nango May , Djandomerr Djaykuk , Huntley Jillian , MacDonald Brandi L. , Nadjamerrek Clarry , O'Brien Justin
Published: July 2023

In much of the Western world, collaborative research undertaken by settler archaeologists readily lends itself, at least in part, to a continuation of the colonial project. Yet, against this backdrop, Australia's First Nations’ peoples continue to work with researchers and to drive systemic change in research practice. Community-engaged archaeology, defined here as codeveloped studies of ancestral places (following Schaepe et al. 2017), is directed to improving relationships between Indigenous peoples and archaeologists. Even so, the practice of archaeology with and for nonsettler communities remains underdeveloped with regard to institutional priorities and funding agency bureaucracies. Here, we (Mirarr Traditional Owners, Mirarr employees, and settler archaeologist researchers) reflect on these issues as part of our ongoing research on the ochres and bim (rock art) of the well-known Madjedbebe rockshelter in the Alligator Rivers region, Northern Territory, Australia.
Defending the Rights of Local Communities against Box-Ticking Exercises: An Analysis of Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC v Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Authors: Rankin Claire
Published: July 2023

This piece analyses the recent judgment from the Makhanda High Court in Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC v Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy setting aside the decision to grant Shell and Impact Africa an exploratory right. Shell and Impact Africa intended to conduct a seismic survey along South Africa’s Wild Coast. Such a survey stood to have a substantial impact on the rights and interests of several local communities residing along the coastline. Because Shell, Impact Africa and the Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy failed to consider these rights and interests, the court decided to overturn the decision granting the companies their exploratory right. To this end, the judgment provides a powerful vindication of the rights of local communities, illustrating what is possible when regulatory schemes are applied purposively and not as a mere box-ticking exercise.
Quantum systems at the brink: existence of bound states, critical potentials, and dimensionality
Authors: Hundertmark Dirk , Jex Michal , Lange Markus
Published: July 2023

One of the crucial properties of a quantum system is the existence of bound states. While the existence of eigenvalues below zero, that is, below the essential spectrum, is well understood, the situation of zero energy bound states at the edge of the essential spectrum is far less understood. We present complementary sharp criteria for the existence and nonexistence of zero energy ground states. Our criteria give a straightforward explanation for the folklore that there is a spectral phase transition with critical dimension four, concerning the existence versus nonexistence of zero energy ground states.
The proactive nature of employee voice: The facilitating role of supervisor developmental feedback
Authors: Sibunruang Hataya , Kawai Norifumi
Published: July 2023

Drawing upon Parker, Bindl, and Strauss' [(2010). Making things happen: A model of proactive motivation. Journal of Management, 36(4), 827–856] model of proactive motivation, we provide an explanation for how employees who exhibit a high need for achievement can take a proactive initiative through the expression of voice. Importantly, the extent to which employee voice can bring about desired changes depends largely on how positively received the behavior is by those in higher positions, such as supervisors. In this regard, we further highlight the facilitating role of supervisor developmental feedback in shaping the effectiveness of voice behavior. Data from 392 independently matched subordinate–supervisor dyads from Japan provide empirical support for proposed relationships as follows: (a) there is a positive mediating relationship between the need for achievement, employee voice, and supervisors' evaluations of employee task performance and discretionary work effort, and (b) the mediating relationship becomes stronger when supervisor developmental feedback is high. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.
SELF-DIVISIBLE ULTRAFILTERS AND CONGRUENCES IN
Authors: DI NASSO MAURO , LUPERI BAGLINI LORENZO , MENNUNI ROSARIO , PIEROBON MORENO , RAGOSTA MARIACLARA
Published: July 2023

We introduceself-divisibleultrafilters, which we prove to be precisely those$w$such that the weak congruence relation$\equiv _w$introduced by Šobot is an equivalence relation on$\beta {\mathbb Z}$. We provide several examples and additional characterisations; notably we show that$w$is self-divisible if and only if$\equiv _w$coincides with the strong congruence relation$\mathrel {\equiv ^{\mathrm {s}}_{w}}$, if and only if the quotient$(\beta {\mathbb Z},\oplus )/\mathord {\mathrel {\equiv ^{\mathrm {s}}_{w}}}$is a profinite group. We also construct an ultrafilter$w$such that$\equiv _w$fails to be symmetric, and describe the interaction between the aforementioned quotient and the profinite completion$\hat {{\mathbb Z}}$of the integers.
Late Pleistocene Neanderthal exploitation of stable and mosaic ecosystems in northern Iberia shown by multi-isotope evidence
Authors: Pederzani Sarah , Britton Kate , Jones Jennifer Rose , Agudo Pérez Lucía , Geiling Jeanne Marie , Marín-Arroyo Ana B.
Published: July 2023

During the last glacial period, rapidly changing environments posed substantial challenges to Neanderthal populations in Europe. Southern continental regions, such as Iberia, have been proposed as important climatic “buffer” zones during glacial phases. Contextualising the climatic and ecological conditions Neanderthals faced is relevant to interpreting their resilience. However, records of the environments and ecosystems they exploited across Iberia exhibit temporal and spatial gaps in coverage. Here we provide new evidence for palaeotemperatures, vegetation structure, and prey herbivore ecology during the late Pleistocene (MIS 5–3) in northern Spain, by applying multiple stable isotope tracers (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) to herbivore skeletal remains associated with Neanderthal occupations at Axlor Cave, Bizkaia. The results show little change over time and indicate stable climatic conditions and ecosystems across different occupations. Large within-layer isotopic variability in nitrogen and sulphur suggests the presence of a mosaic environment and a variety of isotopic ecotones that were exploited by Neanderthals and their prey. We implement a combination of carbonate and phosphate δ18O measurements to estimate palaeotemperatures using a cost-effective workflow. We show that the targeted use of phosphate δ18O measurements to anchor summer peak and winter trough areas enables high-precision seasonal palaeoclimatic reconstructions.
Radio Silences: The ‘Kidnapped Voices’ and the Production of Political Memory in Colombia (1994–2018)
Authors: Quiroga-Villamarín Daniel R
Published: July 2023

After being kidnapped by the FARC-EP guerrilla group in 1994, the Colombian war reporter Herbin Hoyos created the radio show Las Voces del Secuestro (roughly, The Kidnapped Voices). Every morning, for 24 years, the families of those abducted by the guerrilla group sent out public messages of remembrance, hoping that their loved ones, deep in the jungles of Colombia, would be able to hear the broadcasts on their radios. Although the show closed in 2018, its legacy lives on, not only in the collective memory of many Colombians but also as an exhibition at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva (Switzerland). This article examines this show as a dispositif of power and knowledge that (re)produces a particular understanding of law, justice and memory. The show was used by far-right actors in Colombia to mobilise against the recent (2016) peace process – its crown jewel, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). As the JEP tackles the question of the FARC-EP kidnapping through its macro-case 01, the shadow of the Voces looms large over Colombia's transitional justice system. In the longest non-international armed conflict in Latin America, even radio waves served the continuation of war by other means.
Sea slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) associated with Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) in southern Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean Sea
Authors: Vital Xochitl G. , Palomino-Alvarez Lilian A. , Ortigosa Deneb , Guerra-Castro Edlin J. , Simões Nuno
Published: July 2023

Cryptic species in coral reefs, such as sea slugs, represent an important portion of their biodiversity, which is usually underestimated. Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) have been implemented to estimate cryptic diversity in coral reefs. Therefore, this research aimed to contribute to the southern Gulf of Mexico (GM) and the Caribbean Sea (CAR) coral reefs’ sea slugs’ diversity and distribution using ARMS as a collection method. Fifty-eight ARMS were placed at three coral reefs in the GM and CAR, recovered after 1–2 years and then, disassembled at the laboratory. Plates were individually placed in trays with seawater, where we searched for sea slugs. A total of 242 organisms were found belonging to 31 species; 20 of them were identified to the species level, while 11 were determined up to genus or family. More than half of the species (19) were found in Bajo de 10 (GM), while 15 species were found in the CAR localities. Unlike previous studies, we assessed sea slugs’ diversity exclusively by an indirect sampling method. In this work, we found 9.4% of the sea slug diversity recorded in the Caribbean, and we report four determined species for the first time in the country. New records of species, and even one family for the GM stress the gap of information that we still need to fulfil in the area. We recognize ARMS as a useful tool to find juvenile, cryptic and rare species of sea slugs, as well as to standardize their quantification and record their diversity.
Examining associations, moderators and mediators between childhood maltreatment, social functioning, and social cognition in psychotic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fares-Otero Natalia E. , Alameda Luis , Pfaltz Monique C. , Martinez-Aran Anabel , Schäfer Ingo , Vieta Eduard
Published: July 2023

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been related to social functioning and social cognition impairment in people with psychotic disorders (PD); however, evidence across different CM subtypes and social domains remains less clear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify associations between CM, overall and its different subtypes (physical/emotional/sexual abuse, physical/emotional neglect), and domains of social functioning and social cognition in adults with PD. We also examined moderators and mediators of these associations. A PRISMA-compliant systematic search was performed on 24 November 2022 (PROSPERO CRD42020175244). Fifty-three studies (N = 13 635 individuals with PD) were included in qualitative synthesis, of which 51 studies (N = 13 260) with 125 effects sizes were pooled in meta-analyses. We found that CM was negatively associated with global social functioning and interpersonal relations, and positively associated with aggressive behaviour, but unrelated to independent living or occupational functioning. There was no meta-analytic evidence of associations between CM and social cognition. Meta-regression analyses did not identify any consistent moderation pattern. Narrative synthesis identified sex and timing of CM as potential moderators, and depressive symptoms and maladaptive personality traits as possible mediators between CM and social outcomes. Associations were of small magnitude and limited number of studies assessing CM subtypes and social cognition are available. Nevertheless, adults with PD are at risk of social functioning problems after CM exposure, an effect observed across multiple CM subtypes, social domains, diagnoses and illness stages. Maltreated adults with PD may thus benefit from trauma-related and psychosocial interventions targeting social relationships and functioning.
FLIGHT LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON SINGLE ROTOR AND COAXIAL HELICOPTERS BY THE LIFT EQUATION
Authors: MALDON B. , MEYLAN MICHAEL H.
Published: July 2023

To compute the maximum speed threshold for helicopters, we model the lift produced by the rotor blades. Using this model, we derive limits for each method traditionally used to alleviate dissymmetry of lift. Additionally, we find the minimum rotor angular velocity required to produce a prescribed lift at a given forward velocity. We derive conditions on the coefficient of lift for helicopter airfoils that maintain altitude. Further considerations are also made with regard to the properties of the air and its effect on helicopter dynamics.
p-ADIC L-FUNCTIONS AND RATIONAL POINTS ON CM ELLIPTIC CURVES AT INERT PRIMES
Authors: Burungale Ashay A. , Kobayashi Shinichi , Ota Kazuto
Published: July 2023

Let K be an imaginary quadratic field and
$p\geq 5$
a rational prime inert in K. For a
$\mathbb {Q}$
-curve E with complex multiplication by
$\mathcal {O}_K$
and good reduction at p, K. Rubin introduced a p-adic L-function
$\mathscr {L}_{E}$
which interpolates special values of L-functions of E twisted by anticyclotomic characters of K. In this paper, we prove a formula which links certain values of
$\mathscr {L}_{E}$
outside its defining range of interpolation with rational points on E. Arithmetic consequences include p-converse to the Gross–Zagier and Kolyvagin theorem for E.

A key tool of the proof is the recent resolution of Rubin’s conjecture on the structure of local units in the anticyclotomic
${\mathbb {Z}}_p$
-extension
$\Psi _\infty $
of the unramified quadratic extension of
${\mathbb {Q}}_p$
. Along the way, we present a theory of local points over
$\Psi _\infty $
of the Lubin–Tate formal group of height
$2$
for the uniformizing parameter
$-p$
.
Cultivation potential of Taraxacum campylodes G.E.Haglund wild populations: morphological and biochemical variation
Authors: Kronberga Arta , Nakurte Ilva , Kaļāne Laura , Vecvanags Alekss , Jakovels Dainis , Fiļipovs Jevgēņijs , Mežaka Ieva
Published: July 2023

The common dandelion (Taraxacum campylodes G.E.Haglund) is known for its medicinal properties and as a non-toxic, highly nutritious edible plant. Even though the herb is mostly collected in the wild, the food and pharmaceutical industries prefer cultivated plant material. Cultivation offers the possibility to achieve predictable yields, ensure the botanical identity of the plants and products can be certified according to organic or biodynamic standards; therefore the interest in domestication is growing. Due to the scarcity of research on dandelion cultivation in agricultural systems, the current study focused on determining the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of 13 wild populations from Latvia in an organic farming system. Populations collected at Gluda, Priekuli, Mundigciems, Marupe as well as variety TA008 had the highest dry root weight (>100 g per plant) and exceeded the root weight of variety Nouvelle more than two-fold. The highest concentration of chlorogenic acid (CHA) (0.12%) and chicoric acid (CCA) (0.15%) was found in the wild population collected in Turaida. The wild populations from Marupe and Mundigciems had a high average root weight as well as a relatively high CHA and CCA content, making them suitable for commercial growing. The present study examined the feasibility of cultivating wild dandelion populations in an organic farming system. The results revealed a high degree of variation within and between populations; therefore, dandelion wild populations can be used for domestication, breeding and selection of accessions most suitable for the pharmaceutical or food industries.
TESTING DEFINITIONAL EQUIVALENCE OF THEORIES VIA AUTOMORPHISM GROUPS
Authors: ANDRÉKA HAJNAL , MADARÁSZ JUDIT , NÉMETI ISTVÁN , SZÉKELY GERGELY
Published: July 2023

Two first-order logic theories are definitionally equivalent if and only if there is a bijection between their model classes that preserves isomorphisms and ultraproducts (Theorem 2). This is a variant of a prior theorem of van Benthem and Pearce. In Example 2, uncountably many pairs of definitionally inequivalent theories are given such that their model categories are concretely isomorphic via bijections that preserve ultraproducts in the model categories up to isomorphism. Based on these results, we settle several conjectures of Barrett, Glymour and Halvorson.
Causal Relationship Between Inflammation and Preeclampsia: Genetic Evidence from a Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhong Qiongxiang , Yao Chanjiao , Zhong Wei
Published: July 2023

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. PE patients were reported to have higher serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) than those in healthy controls. However, whether the expressions of these inflammation biomarkers have a causal relationship with PE is unspecified. We applied the Mendelian randomization method to infer the causal relationship between inflammation biomarkers (e.g., CRP, IL-6, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist [IL-1ra] and TNF-α) and PE. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly related to inflammation biomarkers were used as instrumental variables. CRP, IL-1ra and IL-6 levels showed no significant effect on PE progression, while the genetic predicted higher level of TNF-α significantly increased the risk of PE (OR per 1-SD increase in TNF-α: 4.33; 95% CI [1.99, 9.39]; p = .00021). The findings suggest that pro-inflammatory activity of TNF-α could be a determinant for PE progression. More antenatal care should be given to those pregnant women with higher level of inflammation biomarkers, especially TNF-α.
The Mental Health of Frontline Chinese Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fu Zongmei , Yu Lili , Zhou Caihong , Chen Yuying , Zheng Yi
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial stress to healthcare workers (HCW) worldwide. This study examined the mental health of frontline Chinese HCW through their dream experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and their subjective perception of reported dreams. Using semistructured interviews, we evaluated 45 dreams from 28 HCW from various hospital departments. Six themes emerged after a thematic analysis of these dreams: warning, escape, alienation of HCW, gender inequality, archetypal-mythological dreams, and negative emotions. The findings indicate a close relationship between the participants’ mental health state and their dreams, which contributes a new insight into understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on frontline HCW. It allows us to provide them with better psychological support in a global public health crisis. In the conclusion to this article, we discuss future research directions for the dreams of frontline HCW.
On the Control of Soil Heterogeneity, Péclet Number and Spatially Variable Diffusion Over Unsaturated Transport
Authors: Henri Christopher V. , Diamantopoulos Efstathios
Published: July 2023

Physical properties of soils are ubiquitously heterogeneous. This spatial variability has a profound, yet still partially understood, impact on conservative transport. Moreover, molecular diffusion is often a disregarded process that can have an important counter‐intuitive effect on transport: diffusion can prevent non‐Fickian tailing by mobilizing mass otherwise trapped in low velocity zones. Here, we focus on macroscopically homogeneous soils presenting small scale heterogeneity, as described by the Miller‐Miller theory. We then analyze the dynamic control of soil heterogeneity, advection and diffusion on conservative transport. We focus especially on the importance of diffusion and of its tortuosity‐dependent spatial variability on the overall transport. Our results confirm previous finding that relatively high Péclet number systems are highly sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity, which promotes non‐Fickian transport. Also, diffusion appears to have a profound impact on transport, depending on both the degree of heterogeneity and the Péclet number. For a high Péclet number and a very heterogeneous system, diffusion leads to the counter‐intuitive decrease of non‐Fickian spreading described previously. This is not observed for a low Péclet number due to the impact of the spatial variability in the diffusion coefficient, which appears to be a significant controlling factor of transport by promoting or preventing the accumulation of mass in low velocity zones. Globally, this work (a) highlights the complex, synergistic effect of soil heterogeneity, advective fluxes and diffusion on transport and (b), alerts on potential upscaling challenges when the spatial variability of such key processes cannot be properly described.
High‐Resolution CCAM Simulations Over New Zealand and the South Pacific for the Detection and Attribution of Weather Extremes
Authors: Gibson Peter B. , Stone Dáithí , Thatcher Marcus , Broadbent Ashley , Dean Samuel , Rosier Suzanne M. , Stuart Stephen , Sood Abha
Published: July 2023

Detection and attribution experiments are designed for the causal diagnosis of features in the climate system, including trends in mean climate and extreme events. While several detection and attribution data sets now exist, the coarse resolution of the climate models used (∼100‐km) often hinders their application to topographically complex regions like Aotearoa New Zealand and small island nations. The coarse atmospheric resolution may also be detrimental for simulating certain features of the atmospheric circulation, including the jets, blocking and cyclones. To address this, here we introduce a new set of climate model runs consisting of high‐resolution atmospheric simulations from the Conformal Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM) non‐hydrostatic global model. The variable‐resolution grid employed by CCAM enables targeted high‐resolution simulations over New Zealand (12‐km) and intermediate resolution over the wider South Pacific region (12–35‐km). Simulations from the historical experiment (years 1982–2021), consisting of ten initial condition ensemble members, are presented and evaluated here. The evaluation focuses on the representation of the large‐scale atmospheric circulation over the Southern Hemisphere including the jet streams, storm tracks, cyclones, blocking and teleconnections, as well as more localized temperature and precipitation variability and extremes specifically over New Zealand. While certain biases are highlighted and discussed for the large‐scale atmospheric circulation, CCAM is found to perform especially well for various precipitation and temperature‐based extreme indices at smaller scales across New Zealand, generally outperforming state‐of‐the‐art reanalysis and coarser resolution global atmospheric models. These results support further application of the CCAM ensemble for studying weather and climate extremes in attribution studies.
Definition of Spatial Copula Based Dependence Using a Family of Non‐Gaussian Spatial Random Fields
Authors: Bárdossy András , Hörning Sebastian
Published: July 2023

Spatial structures of natural variables are often very complex due to the different physical chemical or biological processes which contributed to the emergence of the fields. These structures often show non‐Gaussian spatial dependence. Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of approaches that can explicitly consider non‐Gaussian behavior. In this contribution, a very flexible way of defining non‐Gaussian spatial dependence is presented. The approach is based on a kind of continuous deformation of fields with different Gaussian spatial dependence. Theoretical examples illustrate the methodology for a wide variety of non‐Gaussian structures. A real‐life example of groundwater quality parameters shows the practical applicability of the geostatistical model.
Novel pelagiphage isolate Polarivirus skadi is a polar specialist that dominates SAR11-associated bacteriophage communities at high latitudes
Authors: Buchholz Holger H , Bolaños Luis M , Bell Ashley G , Michelsen Michelle L , Allen Michael J , Temperton Ben
Published: July 2023

The SAR11 clade are the most abundant members of surface marine bacterioplankton and a critical component of global biogeochemical cycles. Similarly, pelagiphages that infect SAR11 are ubiquitous and highly abundant in the oceans. Pelagiphages are predicted to shape SAR11 community structures and increase carbon turnover throughout the oceans. Yet, ecological drivers of host and niche specificity of pelagiphage populations are poorly understood. Here we report the global distribution of a novel pelagiphage called “Polarivirus skadi”, which is the sole representative of a novel genus. P. skadi was isolated from the Western English Channel using a cold-water ecotype of SAR11 as bait. P. skadi is closely related to the globally dominant pelagiphage HTVC010P. Along with other HTVC010P-type viruses, P. skadi belongs to a distinct viral family within the order Caudovirales, for which we propose the name Ubiqueviridae. Metagenomic read recruitment identified P. skadi as one of the most abundant pelagiphages on Earth. P. skadi is a polar specialist, replacing HTVC010P at high latitudes. Experimental evaluation of P. skadi host range against cold- and warm-water SAR11 ecotypes supported cold-water specialism. Relative abundance of P. skadi in marine metagenomes correlated negatively with temperature, and positively with nutrients, available oxygen, and chlorophyll concentrations. In contrast, relative abundance of HTVC010P correlated negatively with oxygen and positively with salinity, with no significant correlation to temperature. The majority of other pelagiphages were scarce in most marine provinces, with a few representatives constrained to discrete ecological niches. Our results suggest that pelagiphage populations persist within a global viral seed bank, with environmental parameters and host availability selecting for a few ecotypes that dominate ocean viromes.
Multiplexed RNA profiling by regenerative catalysis enables blood-based subtyping of brain tumors
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wong Chi Yan , Lim Carine Z. J. , Chen Qingchang , Yu Zhonglang , Natalia Auginia , Wang Zhigang , Pang Qing You , Lim See Wee , Loh Tze Ping , Ang Beng Ti , Tang Carol , Shao Huilin
Published: July 2023

Current technologies to subtype glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal brain tumor, require highly invasive brain biopsies. Here, we develop a dedicated analytical platform to achieve direct and multiplexed profiling of circulating RNAs in extracellular vesicles for blood-based GBM characterization. The technology, termed ‘enzyme ZIF-8 complexes for regenerative and catalytic digital detection of RNA’ (EZ-READ), leverages an RNA-responsive transducer to regeneratively convert and catalytically enhance signals from rare RNA targets. Each transducer comprises hybrid complexes – protein enzymes encapsulated within metal organic frameworks – to configure strong catalytic activity and robust protection. Upon target RNA hybridization, the transducer activates directly to liberate catalytic complexes, in a target-recyclable manner; when partitioned within a microfluidic device, these complexes can individually catalyze strong chemifluorescence reactions for digital RNA quantification. The EZ-READ platform thus enables programmable and reliable RNA detection, across different-sized RNA subtypes (miRNA and mRNA), directly in sample lysates. When clinically evaluated, the EZ-READ platform established composite signatures for accurate blood-based GBM diagnosis and subtyping.
New constraints on Ti diffusion in quartz and the priming of silicic volcanic eruptions
Authors: Audétat Andreas , Schmitt Axel K. , Njul Raphael , Saalfeld Megan , Borisova Anastassia , Lu Yongjun
Published: July 2023

Titanium diffusion profiles in quartz crystals are widely applied to constrain the duration of magmatic processes. However, experimentally determined Ti diffusion coefficients in quartz diverge by three orders of magnitude. To rectify this problem we derive Ti diffusion coefficients from natural quartz phenocrysts from the 1991 eruption at Mt. Pinatubo, by combining U-Th ages of small (15–40 µm long) zircon inclusions with Ti diffusion profiles measured at nearby growth zone contacts in the same quartz crystals. Application of the obtained data to quartz crystals with Ti-rich rims from thirteen silicic volcanic tuffs worldwide suggests that the magmas erupted years to thousands of years after magma chamber rejuvenation, with the priming time increasing with magma volume and decreasing temperature. Here we show that the time scales involved in the generation of silicic volcanic eruptions are much longer than originally thought.
Versatile synthesis of metal-compound based mesoporous Janus nanoparticles
Authors: Yu Yan , Lin Runfeng , Yu Hongyue , Liu Minchao , Xing Enyun , Wang Wenxing , Zhang Fan , Zhao Dongyuan , Li Xiaomin
Published: July 2023

The construction of mesoporous Janus nanoparticles (mJNPs) with controllable components is of great significance for the development of sophisticated nanomaterials with synergistically enhanced functionalities and applications. However, the compositions of reported mJNPs are mainly the functionally inert SiO2 and polymers. The universal synthesis of metal-compound based mJNPs with abundant functionalities is urgently desired, but remains a substantial challenge. Herein, we present a hydrophilicity mediated interfacial selective assembly strategy for the versatile synthesis of metal-compound based mJNPs. Starting from the developed silica-based mJNPs with anisotropic dual-surface of hydrophilic SiO2 and hydrophobic organosilica, metal precursor can selectively deposit onto the hydrophilic SiO2 subunit to form the metal-compound based mJNPs. This method shows good universality and can be used for the synthesis of more than 20 kinds of metal-compound based mJNPs, including alkali-earth metal compounds, transition metal compounds, rare-earth metal compounds etc. Besides, the composition of the metal-compound subunit can be well tuned from single to multiple metal elements, even high-entropy complexes. We believe that the synthesis method and obtained new members of mJNPs provide a very broad platform for the construction and application of mJNPs with rational designed functions and structures.
A polycistronic system for multiplexed and precalibrated expression of multigene pathways in fungi
Authors: Yue Qun , Meng Jie , Qiu Yue , Yin Miaomiao , Zhang Liwen , Zhou Weiping , An Zhiqiang , Liu Zihe , Yuan Qipeng , Sun Wentao , Li Chun , Zhao Huimin , Molnár István , Xu Yuquan , Shi Shuobo
Published: July 2023

Synthetic biology requires efficient systems that support the well-coordinated co-expression of multiple genes. Here, we discover a 9-bp nucleotide sequence that enables efficient polycistronic gene expression in yeasts and filamentous fungi. Coupling polycistronic expression to multiplexed, markerless, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, we develop a strategy termed HACKing (Highly efficient and Accessible system by CracKing genes into the genome) for the assembly of multigene pathways. HACKing allows the expression level of each enzyme to be precalibrated by linking their translation to those of host proteins with predetermined abundances under the desired fermentation conditions. We validate HACKing by rapidly constructing highly efficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factories that express 13 biosynthetic genes, and produce model endogenous (1,090.41 ± 80.92 mg L−1 squalene) or heterologous (1.04 ± 0.02 mg L−1 mogrol) terpenoid products. Thus, HACKing addresses the need of synthetic biology for predictability, simplicity, scalability, and speed upon fungal pathway engineering for valuable metabolites.
Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters
Authors: Machado Rafael R. G. , Walker Jordyn L. , Scharton Dionna , Rafael Grace H. , Mitchell Brooke M. , Reyna Rachel A. , de Souza William M. , Liu Jianying , Walker David H. , Plante Jessica A. , Plante Kenneth S. , Weaver Scott C.
Published: July 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 rapidly spread worldwide and replaced BA.1/BA.2 in many countries, becoming globally dominant. BA.5 has unique amino acid substitutions in the spike protein that both mediate immune escape from neutralizing antibodies produced by immunizations and increase ACE2 receptor binding affinity. In a comprehensive, long-term (up to 9 months post primary vaccination), experimental vaccination study using male Syrian hamsters, we evaluate neutralizing antibody responses and efficacy against BA.5 challenge after primary vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) followed by a homologous or heterologous booster with mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax). Notably, one high or low dose of Ad26.COV2.S provides more durable immunity than two primary doses of BNT162b2, and the NVX-CoV2373 booster provides the strongest augmentation of immunity, reduction in BA.5 viral replication, and disease. Our data demonstrate the immunogenicity and efficacy of different prime/boost vaccine regimens against BA.5 infection in an immune-competent model and provide new insights regarding COVID-19 vaccine strategies.
Structural basis of sequence-specific cytosine deamination by double-stranded DNA deaminase toxin DddA
Authors: Yin Lulu , Shi Ke , Aihara Hideki
Published: July 2023

The interbacterial deaminase toxin DddA catalyzes cytosine-to-uracil conversion in double-stranded (ds) DNA and enables CRISPR-free mitochondrial base editing, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its unique substrate selectivity have remained elusive. Here, we report crystal structures of DddA bound to a dsDNA substrate containing the 5′-TC target motif. These structures show that DddA binds to the minor groove of a sharply bent dsDNA and engages the target cytosine extruded from the double helix. DddA Phe1375 intercalates in dsDNA and displaces the 5′ (−1) thymine, which in turn replaces the target (0) cytosine and forms a noncanonical T–G base pair with the juxtaposed guanine. This tandem displacement mechanism allows DddA to locate a target cytosine without flipping it into the active site. Biochemical experiments demonstrate that DNA base mismatches enhance the DddA deaminase activity and relax its sequence selectivity. On the basis of the structural information, we further identified DddA mutants that exhibit attenuated activity or altered substrate preference. Our studies may help design new tools useful in genome editing or other applications.
Mechanistic and evolutionary insights into a type V-M CRISPR–Cas effector enzyme
Authors: Omura Satoshi N. , Nakagawa Ryoya , Südfeld Christian , Villegas Warren Ricardo , Wu Wen Y. , Hirano Hisato , Laffeber Charlie , Kusakizako Tsukasa , Kise Yoshiaki , Lebbink Joyce H. G. , Itoh Yuzuru , van der Oost John , Nureki Osamu
Published: July 2023

RNA-guided type V CRISPR–Cas12 effectors provide adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in bacteria and archaea. Among diverse Cas12 enzymes, the recently identified Cas12m2 (CRISPR–Cas type V-M) is highly compact and has a unique RuvC active site. Although the non-canonical RuvC triad does not permit dsDNA cleavage, Cas12m2 still protects against invading MGEs through transcriptional silencing by strong DNA binding. However, the molecular mechanism of RNA-guided genome inactivation by Cas12m2 remains unknown. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of two states of Cas12m2–CRISPR RNA (crRNA)–target DNA ternary complexes and the Cas12m2–crRNA binary complex, revealing structural dynamics during crRNA–target DNA heteroduplex formation. The structures indicate that the non-target DNA strand is tightly bound to a unique arginine-rich cluster in the recognition (REC) domains and the non-canonical active site in the RuvC domain, ensuring strong DNA-binding affinity of Cas12m2. Furthermore, a structural comparison of Cas12m2 with TnpB, a putative ancestor of Cas12 enzymes, suggests that the interaction of the characteristic coiled-coil REC2 insertion with the protospacer-adjacent motif-distal region of the heteroduplex is crucial for Cas12m2 to engage in adaptive immunity. Collectively, our findings improve mechanistic understanding of diverse type V CRISPR–Cas effectors and provide insights into the evolution of TnpB to Cas12 enzymes.
Impact of cigarette smoking on fluorescence lifetime of ocular fundus
Authors: Sonntag Svenja Rebecca , Kreikenbohm Marie , Böhmerle Giulia , Stagge Jessica , Grisanti Salvatore , Miura Yoko
Published: July 2023

Cigarette smoking is known to adversely affect cellular metabolism and is a risk factor for various retinal diseases. Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) has the potential to detect metabolic changes in the ocular fundus. Aim of this study was to analyze the influence of cigarette smoking on fluorescence lifetime (FLT) of healthy eyes using FLIO. Twenty-six non-smokers and 28 smokers aged between 20 and 37 years without systemic and ocular diseases were investigated by FLIO (excitation: 473 nm, emission: short spectral channel (SSC) 498–560 nm, long spectral channel (LSC) 560–720 nm). The FLT at the ETDRS grid regions were analyzed and compared. In SSC, the mean FLT (τm) of smokers was significantly longer in the ETDRS inner ring region, whereas the τm in LSC was significantly shorter in the outer ring. For the long component (τ2), smokers with pack year < 7.11 showed significantly shorter τ2 in SSC than non-smokers and the smokers with pack year ≥ 7.11. There were no significant differences in retinal thickness. The lack of obvious structural differences implies that the observed FLT changes are likely related to smoking-induced metabolic changes. These results suggest that FLIO may be useful in assessing retinal conditions related to lifestyle and systemic metabolic status.
Numerical simulation for impact of implement of reflector and turbulator within the solar system in existence of nanomaterial
Authors: Sheikholeslami M. , Jafaryar M.
Published: July 2023

Turbulent flow of oil based hybrid nanofluid within an absorber tube of concentrated solar system has been evaluated in this article. To concentrate the solar irradiation, the parabolic plate has been located below the tube and variable heat flux was considered as the boundary condition of the tube. The presence of a turbulator within the circular tube causes secondary flow to increase. Both thermal (Sgen,th) and frictional (Sgen,f) components of irreversibility were reported in outputs. As Re increases, the residence time decreases and lower outlet temperature has been achieved. Sgen,th decreases about 57.36% with growth of Re while Sgen,f increases about 17.44 times. As the number of rows of tapes increases, the value of Sgen,f enhances about 69.23% while the value of Sgen,th decreases around 3.67%. Increase of pitch ratio causes Sgen,th to decrease about 11.25% while frictional component increases around 76.7%.
A comparison of synthetic data generation and federated analysis for enabling international evaluations of cardiovascular health
Authors: Azizi Zahra , Lindner Simon , Shiba Yumika , Raparelli Valeria , Norris Colleen M. , Kublickiene Karolina , Herrero Maria Trinidad , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Klimek Peter , Gisinger Teresa , Pilote Louise , El Emam Khaled
Published: July 2023

Sharing health data for research purposes across international jurisdictions has been a challenge due to privacy concerns. Two privacy enhancing technologies that can enable such sharing are synthetic data generation (SDG) and federated analysis, but their relative strengths and weaknesses have not been evaluated thus far. In this study we compared SDG with federated analysis to enable such international comparative studies. The objective of the analysis was to assess country-level differences in the role of sex on cardiovascular health (CVH) using a pooled dataset of Canadian and Austrian individuals. The Canadian data was synthesized and sent to the Austrian team for analysis. The utility of the pooled (synthetic Canadian + real Austrian) dataset was evaluated by comparing the regression results from the two approaches. The privacy of the Canadian synthetic data was assessed using a membership disclosure test which showed an F1 score of 0.001, indicating low privacy risk. The outcome variable of interest was CVH, calculated through a modified CANHEART index. The main and interaction effect parameter estimates of the federated and pooled analyses were consistent and directionally the same. It took approximately one month to set up the synthetic data generation platform and generate the synthetic data, whereas it took over 1.5 years to set up the federated analysis system. Synthetic data generation can be an efficient and effective tool for enabling multi-jurisdictional studies while addressing privacy concerns.
Investigation on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Ti-modified AA5083 aluminum alloy for aerospace and automotive applications
Authors: Alghannam Abdullah A. , Soliman Mahmoud S. , Seikh Asiful H. , Alnaser Ibrahim A. , Fouly Ahmed , Mohammed Jabair A. , Ragab Sameh A. , Abdo Hany S.
Published: July 2023

Casting of aluminum with different concentration of alloying elements such as Mg, Mn (similar to that in AA5083) with additional percentages of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% Ti, are carried out using graphite crucible. The as-cast microstructure is modified by hot rolling to a thickness of ~ 2 mm. Mechanical and metallurgical and characterization of heat-treated thin sheets are carried out using tensile testing, hardness measurement, metallography, image analysis and optical microscope. By increasing the Ti content, the results show grain refinement and increase in the formation of Al3Ti which reflected positively on the mechanical properties. Specifically, Ultimate tensile strength is increased from 260 MPa (0 wt% Ti) to 345 MPa (0.3 wt% Ti) when using water quenching, 32.6% improvement for air cooling, and 23.3% for furnace cooling. Electrochemical corrosion behavior of heat-treated water quenched, air cooled and furnace cooled samples were tested in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results show that the heat-treated alloys have very good resistance against corrosion, while by increasing the Ti content, the corrosion rate increases due to the grain refinement phenomena.
Enabling X-ray fluorescence imaging for in vivo immune cell tracking
Authors: Staufer Theresa , Körnig Christian , Liu Beibei , Liu Yang , Lanzloth Clarissa , Schmutzler Oliver , Bedke Tanja , Machicote Andres , Parak Wolfgang J. , Feliu Neus , Bosurgi Lidia , Huber Samuel , Grüner Florian
Published: July 2023

The infiltration of immune cells into sites of inflammation is one key feature of immune mediated inflammatory diseases. A detailed assessment of the in vivo dynamics of relevant cell subtypes could booster the understanding of this disease and the development of novel therapies. We show in detail how advanced X-ray fluorescence imaging enables such quantitative in vivo cell tracking, offering solutions that could pave the way beyond what other imaging modalities provide today. The key for this achievement is a detailed study of the spectral background contribution from multiple Compton scattering in a mouse-scaled object when this is scanned with a monochromatic pencil X-ray beam from a synchrotron. Under optimal conditions, the detection sensitivity is sufficient for detecting local accumulations of the labelled immune cells, hence providing experimental demonstration of in vivo immune cell tracking in mice.
A new role for concentrated solar radiation (CSR) as a renewable heat source for the catalyst-solvent free synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran scaffolds
Authors: Mohamadpour Farzaneh
Published: July 2023

Increased energy consumption as a result of population growth and industrialization necessitates the use of renewable energy sources in the field of chemistry. Nonrenewable energy sources release not only greenhouse gases but also other hazardous pollutants that are damaging to all living things. This plainly mandates the researchers' use of a renewable energy source that is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. This study shows that a renewable energy source (sunlight) can be used to synthesize tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran scaffolds using the Knoevenagel–Michael cyclocondensation of aldehyde derivatives, malononitrile, and dimedone via a three-condensation domino reaction. This research establishes a new role for solar energy as a renewable energy source for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran scaffolds under catalyst-solvent-free conditions, with outstanding yields, shorter reaction time, and great atom economy. This cyclization may also be done on a gram scale with free, safe, and clean energy from concentrated solar radiation (CSR), indicating the reaction's potential for industrial applications.