bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late Quaternary glaciations in the Taniantaweng Mountains
Authors: Chai Le , Zhang Wei , Liu Liang , Li Yapeng , Tang Qianyu , Ma Ruifeng , Sun Bo , Qiao Jingru
Published: November 2023

Constraining the timing and extent of Quaternary glaciations in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is significant for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic environment and understanding the interrelationships among climate, tectonics, and glacial systems. We investigated the late Quaternary glacial history of the Qinggulong and Juequ valleys in the Taniantaweng Mountains, southeastern TP, using cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating. Four major glacial events were identified based on 26 10Be ages. The exposure ages of the oldest late Quaternary glaciation correspond to Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 6. The maximum glacial extent was dated to 48.5–41.1 ka (MIS 3), during the last glaciation, and was more advanced than that of the last glacial maximum (LGM). Geochronology and geomorphological evidence indicate that multiple glacial fluctuations occurred in the study area during the Early–Middle Holocene. These glacial fluctuations likely were driven by the North Atlantic climate oscillations, summer solar insolation variability, Asian summer monsoon intensity, and CO2 concentration.
Heterogeneous Naturalization Effects of Dual Citizenship Reform in Migrant Destinations: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Europe
Authors: PETERS FLORIS , VINK MAARTEN
Published: November 2023

Does dual citizenship acceptance increase immigrants’ propensity to naturalize and, if so, for whom does this matter most? We exploit exogenous variation in citizenship legislation in 200 migrant-origin countries to identify the effect of destination country policy reform. We hypothesize that the value of the origin country citizenship moderates the reform effect. We test our identification strategy in two West European countries with contrasting reforms: a canonical liberal reform in Sweden (2001) and an atypical restrictive reversal in the Netherlands (1997). We apply a staggered difference-in-differences model employing administrative data on complete migrant populations. We find reform effects remarkably similar in effect size and heterogeneity, with liberalizing reform increasing naturalization rates by 6.7 percentage points and restrictive change decreasing rates by 6.4 percentage points. The effect is concentrated among immigrants from EU and highly developed countries. Our quasi-experimental evidence informs naturalization scholarship and public debate on migrant political integration.
The timing of energy intake
Authors: Muscogiuri Giovanna
Published: November 2023

The aim of the paper is to review the current evidence on the impact of ‘the timing of energy intake’ on the risk of developing obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases. The prevalence of obesity is currently increasing worldwide thus becoming a severe health burden for most countries. Indeed, obesity represents a risk factor for several non-communicable diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, CVD and overall mortality. In order to treat obesity, several pharmacological approaches have been developed and are indicated for subjects with obesity with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 or ≥ 27 kg/m2 and obesity-related comorbidities. For severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), bariatric surgery represents a promising approach. The most common bariatric surgical procedures are represented by the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable band, laparoscopic gastric sleeve and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Both anti-obesity pharmacological and surgical treatments require change in lifestyle. When a nutritional plan is established, attention is usually paid to macronutrient composition and energy intake, while ‘the time of food’ is not taken into account. Chronotype, which is the attitude of a subject to carry out most of their daily activities in the first (morning chronotype) or second half (evening chronotype) of the day, has been reported to have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases as well as eating speed. Thus, adopting a physiological timing of energy intake could be an additional strategy to potentiate the current anti-obesity approaches.
Crystal structure of calcium L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate trihydrate type I, C20H23N7O6Ca(H2O)3
Authors: Kaduk James A. , Patel Nilan V. , Golab Joseph T.
Published: November 2023

The crystal structure of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium trihydrate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional techniques. Calcium levomefolate trihydrate crystallizes in space group P212121 (#19) with a = 7.1706(6), b = 6.5371(5), c = 53.8357(41) Å, V = 2523.58(26) Å3, and Z = 4. The structure is characterized by alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers along the c-axis. The Ca cations are 7-coordinate, and share edges to form chains along the b-axis. Each of the water molecules acts as a donor in two hydrogen bonds. The coordinated water molecule makes two strong intermolecular O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds to carboxyl and carbonyl groups. The two zeolitic water molecules form weaker hydrogen bonds, to carbonyl O atoms, ring N atoms, and aromatic C atoms. Several N–H⋯O/N hydrogen bonds, as well as C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds, also contribute to the lattice energy.
Open access violence: Legacies of white supremacist data making at the Penn Museum, from the Morton Cranial Collection to the MOVE remains
Authors: Monteiro Lyra D.
Published: November 2023

This article examines how openly sharing data online can continue the dehumanizing work of 19th century “collectors” who stole the bodies of colonized peoples. It addresses the ongoing controversies at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (“Penn Museum“), regarding the interlinked weaponization of over one thousand crania used by racial scientist Samuel George Morton, and the remains of two Black children murdered by the police in the 1985 MOVE bombing, and asks, how can descendant communities regain their kin and take control of the data the museum has extracted from them? And how can scholars and other heritage workers within colonial institutions support them?
The mid-term outcomes of aortic root replacement after surgical repair for CHD
Authors: Furuta Akihisa , Shinkawa Takeshi , Yoshizawa Saeko , Okugi Satoshi , Niinami Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to assess the mid-term outcomes of aortic root replacement after repair of CHDs.

Method:

This is a single-institutional retrospective, cohort study with consecutive patients undergoing aortic root replacement after surgical repair of CHDs between 1999 and 2022. Operative indications included aortic root dilatation with/without aortic insufficiency, sinus of Valsalva rupture, or aortic dissection involving the root.

Results:

Forty-four patients (36 male and 8 female) were enrolled. Mean age at the root replacement was 36.6 ± 11.9 years. The most frequent primary diagnosis was congenital aortic stenosis (n = 10) and ventricular septal defect (n = 10). Mean time from the surgical repair to aortic root replacement was 26.6 ± 13.0 years. Operative indications were aortic root enlargement with or without aortic valve aetiology (n = 40), sinus of Valsalva rupture (n = 2), and aortic dissection (n = 2). Forty-two patients underwent valve-replacing aortic root replacement, and two patients underwent valve-sparing, with 40 concomitant procedures. The median follow-up was 3.5 (1.3–7.6) years. There were one early and five late mortalities and five cardiovascular-related reoperations. Actuarial survival at 5–10 years after root replacement was 81.0 ± 6.6%. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular-related reoperation and aortic root or valve-related reoperation at 5 years after root replacement was 11.9% and 5.6%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The early and mid-term outcomes of aortic root replacement for patients with a history of repair of CHDs were favourable in terms of survival and aortic root or valve-related reoperation.
Globalization and Empire: Market Integration and International Trade among Canada, the US, and Britain, 1750–1870
Authors: Pedersen Maja Uhre , Geloso Vincent , Sharp Paul
Published: November 2023

Wheat market integration between the US and the UK before the “first era of globalization” (in the second half of the nineteenth century) was frequently interrupted by policy and “exogenous” events such as wars. This paper adds Canada to this story by looking at trade and price data, as well as contemporary debates. This allows us to triangulate the role of policy and wars, since Canada as a small open economy was part of the British Empire. We find that, despite its privileged access to British markets, Canada faced similar barriers to the US, suggesting that membership of the British Empire provided only a modest benefit to trade. We also describe the limitations she faced accessing the US market, in particular after American independence.
Structure and Variability of the Jan Mayen Current in the Greenland Sea Gyre From a Yearlong Mooring Array
Authors: Pellichero V. , Lique C. , Kolodziejczyk N. , Balem K.
Published: November 2023

The Jan Mayen Channel is located North of the Jan Mayen Island in the Nordic Seas, and is an important gateway for the exchanges of volume, heat and freshwater between the Greenland and the Norwegian basins via the Jan Mayen Current. Based on observations from moored instruments deployed on the shelf and the continental slope of the Jan Mayen Island from August 2017 to August 2018, we document the mean state and the variability of the currents, temperature and salinity and their associated vertical structure. We found that the main feature of circulation is an intense and permanent south‐eastward jet‐like current centered at 150 m depth, located on the 400 m depth slope, with a maximum mean magnitude of 7 cm·s−1. While the velocities recorded on the shelf are largely constant in speed and direction, without any strong seasonal cycle, the moorings located offshore are capturing larger anomalies on short time scales that are likely the signature of eddies passing across the mooring array. Overall, the variability of the transport across the section is correlated with the large‐scale wind pattern over the Nordic Seas, highlighting that the Jan Mayen Current is part of a complex system of currents that operates at larger scale in the region.
Shear‐Enhanced Electrical Conductivity of Synthetic Quartz‐Graphite Gouges: Implications for Electromagnetic Observations in Carbonaceous Shear Zones
Authors: Chen Jinyu , Chen Jianye , Yao Lu , Ma Xi
Published: November 2023

Graphite is considered as a material that promotes fault weakening and electrical conductivity (σ) enhancement at fault zones. We studied how shear deformation may affect the evolution of friction and electrical conductivity of synthetic quartz (Qz)‐graphite (Gr) mixtures and, more importantly, whether the σ of the mixtures present visible changes at the beginning of the simulated fault slip. Long‐displacement friction experiments were performed on 1.2–2.3 mm‐thick gouge specimens of varied Gr volume fraction (XGr = 0–100 vol.%) under identical normal stress (2 or 5 MPa), slip rate (∼1.0 mm/s), and N2‐flushing conditions. The experimental results suggested that the σ of the specimens with ≥4.6 vol.% XGr abruptly increased under limited shear displacement. With continued shear, the steady‐state electrical conductivity (σss) increased by more than seven orders of magnitude when XGr > 3.4 vol.%, while the steady‐state frictional coefficient remained high (0.54–0.80) except for the specimens with XGr > 13.6 vol.%. The post‐mortem microstructures revealed that the high σss observed in the intermediate Gr content specimens (3.4–13.6 vol.%) is associated with an ad‐hoc fabric (graphite–cortex clasts) present in the principal slip zone. For high Gr content, excess Gr flakes fill the pores and help develop mechanically lubricated surfaces. We propose that low Gr content (i.e., as low as 3.4 vol.%) can cause high conductivity anomalies in natural shear zones. Overall, the findings suggest that the initiation of slips within carbonaceous shear zones can be detected by identifying unusual temporal signals using electromagnetic stations.
Importance of Seasonally Evolving Near‐Surface Salinity Stratification on Mixed Layer Heat Budget During Summer Monsoon Intraseasonal Oscillation in the Northern Bay of Bengal in 2019
Authors: Sherin V. R. , Girishkumar M. S. , Shivaprasad S. , Sureshkumar N. , Farrar J. T. , Athulya K. , Ashin K. , Rama Rao E. Pattabhi , Sengupta D. , Venkatesan R. , Ravichandran M.
Published: November 2023

The discharge of freshwater from major rivers into the northern Bay of Bengal (BoB) increases dramatically during the summer monsoon season, reaching a peak in August–September, and there is a corresponding increase in the vertical salinity gradient in the upper ocean. Here we study the impact of seasonally evolving near‐surface salinity stratification on the response of ocean mixed layer temperature (MLT) to Summer Monsoon Intraseasonal Oscillations (MISO), using accurate surface fluxes and high vertical resolution (∼2 m) hydrographic measurements from a mooring in the northern BoB (17.8°N, 89.5°E) during June–September 2019. Prominent MLT warming and cooling with a range of 1.5°C is observed between suppressed (clear skies, calm winds) and active (cloudy, windy) phases of MISO convection. However, the intraseasonal MLT response to the active phase of a late‐season MISO event is minimal compared to MISO events in early summer. We infer this is primarily due to the much smaller contribution from oceanic vertical processes (∼6 Wm−2) in late summer 2019, compared to their role in early summer (−15 to −55 Wm−2). During the active phase of the MISO event of late summer 2019, the combined effect of reduced entrainment and weak vertical temperature gradients associated with a barrier layer inhibits near‐surface cooling. Conversely, the near‐surface salinity stratification and the barrier layer are weak during MISO events in the early summer of 2019—these hydrographic conditions lead to enhanced MLT cooling in response to MISO, apparently through a freer turbulent exchange of cool thermocline water with the surface layer.
Divergent Response of Carbon Sink to Climate Change Along Topographical Gradient in China Based on EEMD Detrending
Authors: Kong Y. , Zhang M. , Gong H. , Jiao F. , Xue P. , Wang K. , Liu H.
Published: November 2023

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is important in the carbon cycle. However, the divergent responses of NEP to climate change along topographical gradient, particularly slope, and aspect, is not yet well understood. This study investigates divergent response of NEP to climate change during 1981–2018 along topographical gradient by Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition and multiple regression. The results indicate that: (a) NEP increases at low elevations, but first decreases and then increases at mid‐high elevations, and decreases at high elevations. NEP increases with slope. NEP is higher in the east and west but lower in the north and south. (b) With elevation increasing, negative correlation of temperature (TEM) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), along with the positive correlation of precipitation (PRE) and Solar radiation (SR) strengthens first and then weaken, but PRE's positive correlation strengthens again after 4,000 m, and TEM's negative correlation changes to positive at high elevations. Moreover, soil moisture (SM's) positive correlation strengthens overall. NEP changes are dominated by PRE and VPD below 2,000 m, by TEM and PRE at 2,000–4,000 m, and by PRE and SM above 4,000 m. (c) With slope increasing, the negative correlation of TEM and the positive correlation of SM and SR and their importance strengthen. While PRE's positive correlation and VPD's negative correlation, and their importance weaken. (d) NEP changes are controlled by PRE and VPD in all respect, but the positive relationship of PRE and its importance weakens from north to west, opposite to VPD. Our results highlight the importance of topography for deeply understanding NEP's response to climate changes.
Estimating Fine‐Scale Transpiration From UAV‐Derived Thermal Imagery and Atmospheric Profiles
Authors: Morgan Bryn E. , Caylor Kelly K.
Published: November 2023

Accurate and timely observations of individual‐scale transpiration are critical for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change. Existing remote sensing methods for measuring transpiration lack the spatial resolution needed to resolve individual plants, and their sources of uncertainty are not well‐constrained. We present two novel approaches for independently quantifying fine‐scale transpiration using thermal imagery and a suite of environmental sensors mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform. The first is a surface energy balance (SEB) approach designed for fine‐scale thermal imagery; the second uses profiles of air temperature (Ta) and humidity (hr) to calculate transpiration from the Bowen Ratio. Both approaches derive the energy equivalent of transpiration, latent heat flux (λE), solely using data acquired from the UAV. We compare the two approaches and their sources of uncertainty using data from several flights at a grassland eddy covariance site in 2021 and 2022 and using typical diurnal conditions to evaluate the uncertainty of λE estimates for each approach. The SEB approach generated independent, UAV‐based estimates of λE within ∼20% of eddy covariance measurements and was most sensitive to surface temperature and resistance to heat transfer. λE calculated from the Bowen Ratio approach was ∼30% higher than tower values due to inaccuracies in Ta and hr, the main sources of uncertainty in this approach. The Bowen Ratio approach has a lower overall potential uncertainty, indicating its potential for improvement over the SEB approach. Our results are the first physically‐based observations of transpiration derived solely from a UAV platform, with no ancillary data inputs.
Task-adaptive physical reservoir computing
Authors: Lee Oscar , Wei Tianyi , Stenning Kilian D. , Gartside Jack C. , Prestwood Dan , Seki Shinichiro , Aqeel Aisha , Karube Kosuke , Kanazawa Naoya , Taguchi Yasujiro , Back Christian , Tokura Yoshinori , Branford Will R. , Kurebayashi Hidekazu
Published: November 2023

Reservoir computing is a neuromorphic architecture that may offer viable solutions to the growing energy costs of machine learning. In software-based machine learning, computing performance can be readily reconfigured to suit different computational tasks by tuning hyperparameters. This critical functionality is missing in ‘physical’ reservoir computing schemes that exploit nonlinear and history-dependent responses of physical systems for data processing. Here we overcome this issue with a ‘task-adaptive’ approach to physical reservoir computing. By leveraging a thermodynamical phase space to reconfigure key reservoir properties, we optimize computational performance across a diverse task set. We use the spin-wave spectra of the chiral magnet Cu2OSeO3 that hosts skyrmion, conical and helical magnetic phases, providing on-demand access to different computational reservoir responses. The task-adaptive approach is applicable to a wide variety of physical systems, which we show in other chiral magnets via above (and near) room-temperature demonstrations in Co8.5Zn8.5Mn3 (and FeGe).
Electrospun membrane of bismuth vanadate-polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers for efficient piezo-photocatalysis applications
Authors: Porwal Chirag , Verma Sahil , Kumar Manish , Gaur Akshay , Chauhan Vishal Singh , Vaish Rahul , Kebaili Imen , Boukhris Imed , Park Hyeong Kwang Benno , Joo Yun Hwan , Sung Tae Hyun , Kumar Anuruddh
Published: November 2023

The fabrication of a Poly (vinylidene fluoride) membrane (PVDF) and ceramic-assisted bismuth vanadate-polyvinylidene fluoride (BiVO4-PVDF) composite membrane was achieved through the utilization of the electrospinning technique. The composition and structure of the fabricated membranes were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Thermo gravimetric analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. The prepared polymeric membranes were then utilized for catalytic investigation and to explore, how structure affects catalytic activity using 5 mg/L, 10 mL methylene blue (MB) dye solution. Ultrasonication, visible light irradiation, and the combination were used to study piezocatalysis, photocatalysis, and piezo-photocatalysis, moreover, degradation intermediates were also explored using scavengers. Electrospun BiVO4-PVDF (BV-PVDF) composite has been found to have better piezocatalytic and photocatalytic properties than PVDF. The experimental findings reveal that the composite of BiVO4-PVDF demonstrates the highest efficiency in dye degradation, achieving a maximum degradation rate of 61% within a processing time of 180 min. The rate of degradation was calculated to be 0.0047 min−1, indicating a promising potential for the composite in the field of dye degradation.
Gender identification of the horsehair crab, Erimacrus isenbeckii (Brandt, 1848), by image recognition with a deep neural network
Authors: Ueki Yoshitaka , Toyota Kenji , Ohira Tsuyoshi , Takeuchi Ken , Satake Shin-ichi
Published: November 2023

Appearance-based gender identification of the horsehair crab [Erimacrus isenbeckii (Brandt, 1848)] is important for preventing indiscriminate fishing of female crabs. Although their gender is easily identified by visual observation of their abdomen because of a difference in the forms of their sex organs, most of the crabs settle with their shell side upward when placed on a floor, making visual gender identification difficult. Our objective is to use deep learning to identify the gender of the horsehair crab on the basis of images of their shell and abdomen sides. Deep learning was applied to a photograph of 60 males and 60 females captured in Funka Bay, Southern Hokkaido, Japan. The deep learning algorithms used the AlexNet, VGG-16, and ResNet-50 convolutional neural networks. The VGG-16 network achieved high accuracy. Heatmaps were enhanced near the forms of the sex organs in the abdomen side (F-1 measure: 98%). The bottom of the shell was enhanced in the heatmap of a male; by contrast, the upper part of the shell was enhanced in the heatmap of a female (F-1 measure: 95%). The image recognition of the shell side based on a deep learning algorithm enabled more precise gender identification than could be achieved by human-eye inspection.
Encapsulating commercial accelerometers with epoxy and fluoroelastomer for harsh hydrocarbon fluid environment
Authors: Wankhede Sahil P. , Du Xian , Brashler Keith W. , Ba’adani Mohammad M. , Turcan Doru C. , Shehri Ali H. , Youcef-Toumi Kamal
Published: November 2023

Traditionally, in the oil and gas industry, accelerometers are mounted externally on motors for condition monitoring of vertically suspended, closed suction hydrocarbon pumps due to their inability to withstand harsh downhole environments, preventing the detection of impeller failures. This study addresses the need for encapsulation solutions for accelerometers submerged in hydrocarbon fluid environments. It evaluates the feasibility of epoxy and fluoroelastomer as encapsulation materials for long-term immersion in high-temperature hydrocarbon fluid and determines their impact on the accelerometer's performance. Extensive testing involved submersion in high-temperature hydrocarbon fluid at 150 °C for over 10,000 h and six months in brine. Material characterization, including mass variation, microscopic imaging, and FTIR spectroscopy, revealed negligible degradation. Encapsulated accelerometers effectively detected vibrations with an acceptable alteration in amplitude. In comparison with commercial alternatives, our encapsulation outperformed them. While oil traces became evident within just 24 h in the alternatives, our solution exhibited no signs of leakage. This research pioneers a novel packaging solution employing epoxy and fluoroelastomer for side-exit commercial sensors tailored for high-temperature hydrocarbon fluid applications, addressing a critical gap in the industry. Our work enhances reliability and safety for vertical oil pump condition monitoring in downhole applications, benefiting the oil and gas sector.
DVNE-DRL: dynamic virtual network embedding algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Xiao Xiancui
Published: November 2023

Virtual network embedding (VNE), as the key challenge of network resource management technology, lies in the contradiction between online embedding decision and pursuing long-term average revenue goals. Most of the previous work ignored the dynamics in Virtual Network (VN) modeling, or could not automatically detect the complex and time-varying network state to provide a reasonable network embedding scheme. In view of this, we model a network embedding framework where the topology and resource allocation change dynamically with the number of network users and workload, and then introduce a deep reinforcement learning method to solve the VNE problem. Further, a dynamic virtual network embedding algorithm based on Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL), named DVNE-DRL, is proposed. In DVNE-DRL, VNE is modeled as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), and then deep learning is introduced to perceive the current network state through historical data and embedded knowledge, while utilizing reinforcement learning decision-making capabilities to implement the network embedding process. In addition, we improve the method of feature extraction and matrix optimization, and consider the characteristics of virtual network and physical network together to alleviate the problem of redundancy and slow convergence. The simulation results show that compared with the existing advanced algorithms, the acceptance rate and average revenue of DVNE-DRL are increased by about 25% and 35%, respectively.
A glutamate-gated chloride channel as the mite-specific target-site of dicofol and other diphenylcarbinol acaricides
Authors: Vandenhole Marilou , Mermans Catherine , De Beer Berdien , Xue Wenxin , Zhao Yilan , Ozoe Yoshihisa , Liu Genyan , Dermauw Wannes , Van Leeuwen Thomas
Published: November 2023

Dicofol has been widely used to control phytophagous mites. Although dicofol is chemically related to DDT, its mode of action has remained elusive. Here, we mapped dicofol resistance in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae to two genomic regions. Each region harbored a glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) gene that contained a mutation—G314D or G326E—known to confer resistance against the unrelated acaricide abamectin. Using electrophysiology assays we showed that dicofol and other diphenylcarbinol acaricides—bromopropylate and chlorobenzilate—induce persistent currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing wild-type T. urticae GluCl3 receptors and potentiate glutamate responses. In contrast, the G326E substitution abolished the agonistic activity of all three compounds. Assays with the wild-type Drosophila GluClα revealed that this receptor was unresponsive to dicofol. Homology modeling combined with ligand-docking confirmed the specificity of electrophysiology assays. Altogether, this work elucidates the mode of action of diphenylcarbinols as mite-specific agonists of GluCl.
SMN deficiency perturbs monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Valsecchi Valeria , Errico Francesco , Bassareo Valentina , Marino Carmen , Nuzzo Tommaso , Brancaccio Paola , Laudati Giusy , Casamassa Antonella , Grimaldi Manuela , D’Amico Adele , Carta Manolo , Bertini Enrico , Pignataro Giuseppe , D’Ursi Anna Maria , Usiello Alessandro
Published: November 2023

Beyond motor neuron degeneration, homozygous mutations in thesurvival motor neuron 1(SMN1) gene cause multiorgan and metabolic defects in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). However, the precise biochemical features of these alterations and the age of onset in the brain and peripheral organs remain unclear. Using untargeted NMR-based metabolomics in SMA mice, we identify cerebral and hepatic abnormalities related to energy homeostasis pathways and amino acid metabolism, emerging already at postnatal day 3 (P3) in the liver. Through HPLC, we find that SMN deficiency induces a drop in cerebral norepinephrine levels in overt symptomatic SMA mice at P11, affecting the mRNA and protein expression of key genes regulating monoamine metabolism, including aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DβH) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). In support of the translational value of our preclinical observations, we also discovered that SMN upregulation increases cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine concentration in Nusinersen-treated SMA1 patients. Our findings highlight a previously unrecognized harmful influence of low SMN levels on the expression of critical enzymes involved in monoamine metabolism, suggesting that SMN-inducing therapies may modulate catecholamine neurotransmission. These results may also be relevant for setting therapeutic approaches to counteract peripheral metabolic defects in SMA.
Carboxyl position-directed structure diversity in zirconium-tricarboxylate frameworks
Authors: Xia Jun , Si Jincheng , Zhou Kang , Xia Hai-Lun , Zhang Jian , Xu Yingqian , Wang Lei , Liu Xiao-Yuan
Published: November 2023

Zr-MOFs with different topologies were constructed by changing carboxyl group positions on thiophene moiety of tritopic carboxylic acids, which provides new insights into investigating organic linker directed structure evolution of Zr-MOFs.
A thermally driven rotaxane–catenane interconversion with a dynamic bis(hindered amino) disulfide
Authors: Takashima Rikito , Aoki Daisuke , Takahashi Akira , Otsuka Hideyuki
Published: November 2023

A thermally driven rotaxane–catenane interconversion is achieved by using a dynamic bis(hindered amino) disulfide.
Acrylamide-induced enhanced solubilization of poly(propylene glycol) in aqueous solution
Authors: Zheng Chao , Chen Yanlin , Chen Feng
Published: November 2023

Acrylamide (AM) and temperature both can affect coil-to-globule transition of poly(propylene oxide) (PPG) in water. AM can compensate the decrease in contacts between PPG and water during increase in temperature, leading to observed AM-induced enhanced solubilization of PPG.
Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots from biomass as a FRET-based sensing platform for the selective detection of H2O2 and aspartic acid
Authors: Raju K. Sandeep , Das Gouri Sankar , Tripathi Kumud Malika
Published: November 2023

N-doped CQDs with uniform particle sizes were synthesized from drumstick leaves via a simple hydrothermal process, and explored as a PL “on–off–on” probe for the selective detection of H2O2 and aspartic acid.
BICEPS: An improved characterization model for low- and intermediate-mass exoplanets
Authors: Haldemann Jonas , Dorn Caroline , Venturini Julia , Alibert Yann , Benz Willy
Published: November 2023

Context.The number of exoplanets with precise mass and radius measurements is constantly increasing thanks to novel ground- and space-based facilities such as HARPS, ESPRESSO, CHEOPS, and TESS. The accuracy and robustness of the planetary characterization largely depends on the quality of the data, but also requires a planetary structure model, capable of accurately modeling the interior and atmospheres of exoplanets over a large range of boundary conditions.

Aims.Our goal is to provide an improved characterization model for planets with masses between 0.5 and 30 Earth masses, equilibrium temperatures below <2000 K, and a wide range of planetary compositions and physical phases.

Methods.In this work, we present the Bayesian Interior Characterization of ExoPlanetS (BICEPS) model, which combines an adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling method with a state-of-the-art planetary structure model. BICEPS incorporates many recently developed equations of state suited for large ranges of pressures and temperatures, a description for solid and molten planetary cores and mantles, a gaseous envelope composed of hydrogen, helium, and water (with compositional gradients), and a non-gray atmospheric model.

Results.We find that the usage of updated equations of state has a significant impact on the interior structure prediction. The impact varies, depending on the planetary composition. For dense rocky planets, BICEPS predicts radii a few percent different to prior internal structure models. For volatile rich planets, we find differences of 10% or even larger. When applying BICEPS to a particular exoplanet, TOI-130 b, we inferred a 25% larger water mass fraction and a 15% smaller core than previous models.

Conclusions.The presented exoplanet characterization model is a robust method applicable over a large range of planetary masses, compositions, and thermal boundary conditions. We show the importance of implementing state-of-the-art equations of state for the encountered thermodynamic conditions of exoplanets. Hence, using BICEPS improves the predictive strength of the characterization process compared to previous methods.
Quantifying the stellar ages of dynamically separated bulges and disks of CALIFA spiral galaxies
Authors: Jin Yunpeng , Zhu Ling , Zibetti Stefano , Costantin Luca , van de Ven Glenn , Mao Shude
Published: November 2023

We employ a recently developed population-orbit superposition technique to simultaneously fit the stellar kinematic and age maps of 82 CALIFA spiral galaxies and obtain the ages of stars in different dynamical structures. We first evaluated the capabilities of this method on CALIFA-like mock data created from the Auriga simulations. The recovered mean ages of dynamically cold, warm, and hot components match the true values well, with an observational error of up to 20% in the mock age maps. For CALIFA spiral galaxies, we find that the stellar ages of the cold, warm, and hot components all increase with the stellar mass of the galaxies, from tcold ~ 2.2 Gyr, twarm ~ 2.3 Gyr, and thot ~ 2.6 Gyr for galaxies with stellar mass M* < 1010 M⊙, to tcold ~ 4.0 Gyr, twarm ~ 5.1 Gyr, and thot ~ 5.9 Gyr for galaxies with M* > 1011 M⊙. About 80% of the galaxies in our sample have thot > tcold, and the mean values of thot − tcold also increase with stellar mass, from 0.7−0.2+0.6 Gyr in low-mass galaxies (108.9 M⊙ < M* ≤ 1010.5 M⊙) to 1.7−0.2+0.7 Gyr in high-mass galaxies (1010.5 M⊙ < M* < 1011.3 M⊙). The stellar age is younger in disks than in bulges, on average. This suggests that either the disks formed later and/or that they experienced a more prolonged and extensive period of star formation. Lower-mass spiral galaxies have younger bulges and younger disks, while higher-mass spiral galaxies generally have older bulges, and their disks span a wide range of ages. This is consistent with the scenario in which the bulges in more massive spirals formed earlier than those in less massive spirals.
A3COSMOS: Dissecting the gas content of star-forming galaxies across the main sequence at 1.2 ≤ z < 1.6
Authors: Wang Tsan-Ming , Magnelli Benjamin , Schinnerer Eva , Liu Daizhong , Jiménez-Andrade Eric Faustino , Karoumpis Christos , Adscheid Sylvia , Bertoldi Frank
Published: November 2023

Aims. We aim to understand the physical mechanisms that drive star formation in a sample of mass-complete (>109.5 M⊙) star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 1.2 ≤ ɀ < 1.6.

Methods. We selected SFGs from the COSMOS2020 catalog and applied a uυ-domain stacking analysis to their archival Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) data. Our stacking analysis provides precise measurements of the mean molecular gas mass and size of SFGs down to a stellar mass of M★ ~ 109.5 M⊙, even though at these stellar mass galaxies on the main sequence (MS) are no longer detected individually in the archival ALMA data. We also applied an image-domain stacking analysis on their HST i-band and UltraVISTA J - and Ks-band images. This allowed us to trace the distribution of their stellar component. Correcting these rest-frame optical sizes using the Rhalf–stellar–light-to-Rhalf–stellar–mass conversion at rest 5000 Å, we obtain the stellar mass size of MS galaxies and compare them to the sizes of their star-forming component obtained from our ALMA stacking analysis.

Results. Across the MS (−0.2 < ∆MS = log(SFR/SFRMS) < 0.2), the mean molecular gas fraction of SFGs increases by a factor of ~1.4, while their mean molecular gas depletion time decreases by a factor of ~1.8. The scatter of the MS could thus be caused by variations in both the star formation efficiency and molecular gas fraction of galaxies. The mean molecular gas fraction of MS galaxies decreases by a factor of ~7 from M★~ 109.7 M⊙ to ~1011.3 M⊙, while their mean molecular gas depletion time remains roughly the same at all stellar masses. This finding could be a hint that the bending of the MS at ɀ ~1.4 is primarily driven by variations in cold gas accretion. The majority of the galaxies lying on the MS have RFIR ≈ Rstellar. Their central regions are subject to large dust attenuation. Starbursts (SBs, ∆MS > 0.7) have a mean molecular gas fraction ~2.1 times larger and mean molecular gas depletion time ~3.3 times shorter than MS galaxies. Additionally, they have more compact star-forming regions (~2.5 kpc for MS galaxies vs. ~1.4 kpc for SBs) and systematically disturbed rest-frame optical morphologies, which is consistent with their association with major-mergers. SBs and MS galaxies follow the same relation between their molecular gas mass and star formation rate surface densities with a slope of ~ 1.1–1.2, that is, the so-called Kennicutt-Schmidt relation.
O Corona, where art thou? eROSITA’s view of UV-optical-IR variability-selected massive black holes in low-mass galaxies
Authors: Arcodia R. , Merloni A. , Comparat J. , Dwelly T. , Seppi R. , Zhang Y. , Buchner J. , Georgakakis A. , Haberl F. , Igo Z. , Kyritsis E. , Liu T. , Nandra K. , Ni Q. , Ponti G. , Salvato M. , Ward C. , Wolf J. , Zezas A.
Published: November 2023

Finding massive black holes (MBHs,MBH≈ 104–107M⊙) in the nuclei of low-mass galaxies $\left( {{M_*}\mathop {\mathop < \limits_ }\limits_ {{10}^{10}}{M_ \odot }} \right)$ is crucial to constrain seeding and growth of black holes over cosmic time, but it is particularly challenging due to their low accretion luminosities. Variability selection via long-term photometric ultraviolet, optical, or infrared (UVOIR) light curves has proved effective and identifies lower-Eddington ratios compared to broad and narrow optical spectral lines searches. In the inefficient accretion regime, X-ray and radio searches are effective, but they have been limited to small samples. Therefore, differences between selection techniques have remained uncertain. Here, we present the first large systematic investigation of the X-ray properties of a sample of known MBH candidates in dwarf galaxies. We extracted X-ray photometry and spectra of a sample of ~200 UVOIR variability-selected MBHs and significantly detected 17 of them in the deepest available SRG/eROSITA image, of which four are newly discovered X-ray sources and two are new secure MBHs. This implies that tens to hundreds of LSST MBHs will have SRG/eROSITA counterparts, depending on the seeding model adopted. Surprisingly, the stacked X-ray images of the many non-detected MBHs are incompatible with standard disk-corona relations, typical of active galactic nuclei, inferred from both the optical and radio fluxes. They are instead compatible with the X-ray emission predicted for normal galaxies. After careful consideration of potential biases, we identified that this X-ray weakness needs a physical origin. A possibility is that a canonical X-ray corona might be lacking in the majority of this population of UVOIR-variability selected low-mass galaxies or that unusual accretion modes and spectral energy distributions are in place for MBHs in dwarf galaxies. This result reveals the potential for severe biases in occupation fractions derived from data from only one waveband combined with SEDs and scaling relations of more massive black holes and galaxies.
Climate-related risk management practices in pond-based tilapia culture: A case study of the small-scale fish farmers of Agusan del Sur, Philippines
Authors: Formento Claire Zen D. , Dulaca Ma. Niña Mae B. , Rojas-Salinas Amor , Cortes Jaynos R.
Published: November 2023

Climate change vulnerability of the fisheries sector of the Philippines risks the nation’s economy. Adapting to these impacts requires effective use of shared climate information in aquaculture. This study assessed the climate-related risk management practices among tilapia pond farmers in Agusan del Sur, Philippines. Quantitative method and purposive sampling were employed, interviewing thirty knowledgeable participants. Common damages encountered during floods included fish escape (56.6%), while slow growth prevailed during droughts, cold weather (20% and 16.6% respectively), and hot weather (46.6%). Most of the respondents applied constant monitoring or surveillance as their primary risk management practices to cope with floods, droughts, cold weather, and hot weather. Other risk management practices include changes in tillage practices, changes in the stocking date, harvest ahead of schedule, efficient water use, irrigation, and stopping rearing. The Chi-square analysis showed that there is a highly significant relationship (p<0.05) between climate-related risk and risk management practices, while there is no significant relationship between the socio-demographic profile and applied risk management practices. These findings provide insights into climate-related risk management, emphasizing the significance of monitoring and targeted interventions. The findings help to build better risk management approaches for farmers dealing with the effects of climate change.*
Hatching and survival rate of milkfish (Chanos chanos) larvae treated with nanosilver
Authors: Ruliaty Lisa , Amalia Indrian Rizka , Nur Abidin , Aulia Rahma , Sumarwan Joko
Published: November 2023

This study was aimed to know the effect of hatching and survival rate of milkfish larvae (Chanos chanos) treated with nanosilver. Three concentrations of nanosilver such as 0.25 ppm, 0.5 ppm and 0.75 ppm were applied to culture media at least an hour before stocking. Newly hatched larvae were stocked at the density of 50 pcs l-1, and it was reared for 25 days in 5 m3 of concrete tank. Result of the study found that no significant effect (p>0.05) of the treatments given on hatching rate and survival of milkfish larvae. However, larvae treated with nanosilver tend to gain higher hatching rate (65.5±4.1 86.6±19.0%) compared to control one (65.3±7.2%). Further, larvae survival it was ranged of 24.2±0.9-26.3±0.1% by the end of the trial. Nanosilver treatments has potential to reduce the total bacteria and Vibrio concentration into the media and need further study primarily on dosage and frequency used.
Growth performances and gonadal development of golden rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus fed with two types of floating diets in sea cages
Authors: Makmur  , Ramadhan  , Nawang Agus , Undu Muhammad Chaidir , Rosni  , Safri Muhamad , Ardyansyah Syaiful , Husuri Laode Muhamad Hafizh Akbar , Kurniasih Titin , Laining Asda
Published: November 2023

A feeding trial was designed to evaluate the effects of utilizing floating pellets on the growth performances, feed utilization and gonadal maturation of the golden rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus. The treatments were two kinds of commercial floating pellet containing different crude protein (CP) levels which were 26% (FD1) and 33% (FD2). The tested diets were fed to golden rabbitfish. Golden rabbitfish with initial body weight of 239.7±4.8 g were stocked into six sea cages with size of 2x2x2 m3 with density of 50 fishes/cage. The feeding trial lasted for 120 days with results showed that the growth performances of weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly higher (P<0.05) in fish fed FD2 diet (55.0±3.7% and 0.37±0.02 %/d) compared to those fed with FD1 diet (41.7±1.6 and 0.29±0.01%/d), respectively. Both female and male fishes had developed gonad at the end of feeding trial. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) for spermatid significantly higher (<0.05) in fish fed FD2 (4.8±0.6%) than FD1 group (3.4±0.3%). Similarly, the GSI for oocyte of fish fed FD2 diet (8.9±1.0%) was significantly higher than the group fed FD1 diet (4.2±0.5%). The FD2 diet produced higher protein content in the whole body and fillet. In contrast, lipid content of whole body and fillet of fish fed FD1 diet was higher than FD2 diet. As conclusion, better growth performances and gonadal development was found in fish fed FD2 diet, a floating diet containing approximately 33% CP.
Morfometric of Placuna placenta from Wulan Estuary, Demak, Indonesia
Authors: Hartati Retno , Widianingsih Widianingsih
Published: November 2023

Bivalves are easily found along Central Java’s coast and are an ecologically and economically important marine group of organisms. One of them was Placuna placenta, the Window Pane Scallops. It is commonly consumed, and the shell of this species is manufactured for many handicrafts. The present work reports the morphometric and size class of P. placenta in the Wulan estuary, Demak. The samples were collected using a dredge from seven sampling sites and then were measured for their shell length. The P. placenta’s shell is considerably inequivalve, thin, fragile, almost equilateral, rounded to saddle-shaped, and extremely compressed laterally. The umbones are low and submedian, and the outer surface is relatively smooth, with lamellate growth lines and occasionally fine radiating threads. The density of P. placenta was found to be varied with the sampling sites. The highest density coincided with high chlorophyll-a and the small and large class groups living in sampling sites 1, 2, and 7 for the small and 5, 6, and 10 for the big, respectively. The existence of the small size group in some sampling sites showed that it was the nursery ground for this species. Hence, it is urged to be conserved to maintain its stock.
Reproductive biology of paradise threadfin Polynemus paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Shibsa River in Bangladesh
Authors: Naser Abu , Ahmmed Shawon , Parvin Shahanaj , Islam Latiful , Rashid Harunur , Mahmud Yahia
Published: November 2023

The paradise threadfin, Polynemus paradiseus is one of the commercially important brackishwater finfish of the family Perciformes in Bangladesh. The present study aimed to investigate the reproductive biology of paradise threadfin from Shibsa River in Bangladesh. The fish samples (66) were collected from May 2021 to April 2022. The relationship between body weight (BW) and total length (TL) of sampled fish were analyzed with a non-linear power equation where R2 = 0.915 and ‘b’ value (3.22) indicates a positive allometric growth pattern. Linear relationship indicates gonad weight (GW) increases with the BW and fecundity increases with BW, TL, GW and gonadosomatic index (GSI). The highest GSI was recorded in June (11.10±0.91), whereas, the lowest in November (0.44±0.08). The maximum fecundity was found in June (32410±7790). Ovarian histology displayed different stages of oocyte development. Late yolk granule stage (LYGS) was found in the months of September-October and May-July, respectively. Based on the GSI, fecundity and ovarian histology, it was revealed that the spawning season of P. paradiseus was from May to October with a major peak in June and minor one in September. The knowledge on different aspects of reproductive biology of paradise threadfin would be helpful for planning captive breeding and to design sustainable management policies for conservation of this species in the south-west coast of Bangladesh.