bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limitations of Fundamental Rights in EU Law: Are Human Rights Absolute?
Authors: Trstenjak Verica
Published: November 2023

The importance of fundamental rights has been seen especially during the Covid-19 crisis. Although fundamental rights are usually perceived as abstract by individuals, they concretely and directly influence our everyday lives. With this article I want to confirm the thesis that, despite the fact that rights are generally not absolute, their limitation is possible only in exceptional cases. This article will discuss fundamental rights in the EU. It will present the regulation and possibilities of limiting fundamental rights in EU law, in particular in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter). The article will also present the role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in the field of fundamental rights. Moreover, it will depict the jurisprudence of the CJEU regarding health care rights. This is particularly important due to the problems of restricting several fundamental rights during the Covid-19 crisis, where health-related rights were at the forefront and accompanied by the search for a fair balance and assessment of proportionality. The article will also present the CJEU case law on the limitation of fundamental rights in the digital society, in the context of which we are also often faced with the search for a fair balance between several rights, especially concerning the protection of personal data on the one hand and other rights on the other hand (e.g. the freedom to conduct a business).
Redistributive effects of pension reforms: who are the winners and losers?
Authors: Sánchez-Romero Miguel , Schuster Philip , Prskawetz Alexia
Published: November 2023

As the heterogeneity in life expectancy by socioeconomic status increases, many pension systems imply a wealth transfer from short- to long-lived individuals. Various pension reforms aim to reduce inequalities that are caused by ex-ante differences in life expectancy. However, these pension reforms may induce redistribution effects. We introduce a dynamic general equilibrium-overlapping generations model with heterogeneous individuals that differ in their education, labor supply, lifetime income, and life expectancy. Within this framework we study six different pension reforms that foster the sustainability of the pension system and aim to account for heterogeneous life expectancy. Our results highlight that pension reforms have to be evaluated at various dimensions. Reforms that may increase the sustainability of the pension system are not necessarily conducive to reduce the redistributive wealth transfers from short- to long-lived individuals. Our paper emphasizes the need for studying pension reforms in models with behavioral feedback and heterogeneous socioeconomic groups.
State responses to oil crisis in oil-dependent developing countries: South Korea and Turkey after the 1973 oil crisis
Authors: Küçük Ömer Naim , Yücekaya Metin
Published: November 2023

Why do oil-dependent developing countries exhibit divergent responses to oil crises? This study employs a comparative case study approach and utilizes a ‘most similar system design’ to examine the varying state responses to the 1973 oil shock in Turkey and South Korea. While the former refrained from implementing radical short-term adjustment policies and reforms, the latter adopted proactive measures to mitigate the worsening impact of escalating oil prices. This research contends that the existing literature, which emphasizes distinctions in industrialization strategies and fiscal policies among developing nations, offers an incomplete explanation for the divergent reactions of states to external price shocks. Instead, the study proposes a sociological perspective, focusing on the influence of varying degrees of state autonomy and the characteristics of bureaucratic systems on the decision-making processes of states. The key finding suggests that while pre-crisis economic policies and industrialization strategies may limit the array of policy tools available to counteract the adverse effects of an oil crisis, the extent of state autonomy and the organization of the bureaucracy – whether adhering to Weberian or non-Weberian principles – impact the efficacy of these policy tools and the determination of decision-makers to act in the best interests of the long-term public good.
Iron Limitation and Biogeochemical Effects in Southern California Current Coastal Upwelling Filaments
Authors: Forsch K. O. , Fulton K. C. , Weiss M. M. , Krause J. W. , Stukel M. R. , Barbeau K. A.
Published: November 2023

In the spring and summer, high rates of primary production occur in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) when nutrients are supplied to the euphotic zone. During periods of intense coastal upwelling, a flux of the micronutrient iron comes from nearshore sedimentary sources. In this upwelling region, mesoscale filament features distribute iron laterally, leading to distinct iron‐influenced ecological zones. This study is the first to focus on the biogeochemical links between iron, the macronutrients, and particulates in coastal upwelling filaments. Broad spatial patterns of iron and biogenic silica concentrations, and proxies of iron‐stress of diatoms, support results from microcosm amendment studies conducted during CCE Long Term Ecological Research process cruises in the summers of 2017 and 2019. We found that the benthic boundary layer and shoreward filament endmember supply dissolved and total dissolvable iron to this feature, but rapid assimilation and sinking by biogenic particles (e.g., diatoms) depletes the surface concentrations. Subsequently, diatom blooms which form in recently upwelled water masses become iron limited over time, thereby affecting the ratios of surface macronutrient reservoirs and biogeochemical advective fluxes. The development of Fe‐limitation during lateral advection may lead to efficient carbon export downstream and offshore of the region with the highest phytoplankton growth rates and productivity.
Contributions of Local Land‒Atmosphere Coupling and Mesoscale Atmospheric Circulation to the 2013 Extreme Flash Drought and Heatwave Compound Event Over Southwest China
Authors: Fu Kaiqi , Wang Kaicun
Published: November 2023

The flash drought and heat wave compound event of the 2013 summer in Southwest China was exceptional, with profound socio‒economic impacts. Existing studies have captured the signal of this compound event; however, its causes are still poorly understood. In this study, we utilized a high‐resolution index to examine the life cycle of this compound event from 1980 to 2020 and quantified the relative contributions of land‒atmosphere coupling and mesoscale atmospheric circulation using the air parcel backward tracking method. It was found that the dry soil caused by the precipitation deficit further inhibited precipitation and caused the soil to become even drier, which then led to the development of the flash drought. The dry soil induced a substantial increase in the land‒atmosphere sensible heat flux and a rise in the near‐surface air temperature. During this process, the strength of land‒atmosphere coupling was 2.5 standard deviations higher than the mean value of the climate, playing an integral role in the near‐surface air temperature increase, accounting for 55.9% of the maximum temperature changes. The mesoscale atmospheric circulation contributed 44.1%, of which horizontal advection accounted for 41.1%, while vertical advection only accounted for 3.0%. The western Pacific subtropical high expanded westward, accompanied by the northward‐moving westerly jet stream, which prevented cold air from accessing the Southwest China, and abnormal subsidence interfered with precipitation formation. Furthermore, the control of an abnormally high‐pressure system over the region led to a decrease in cloud cover, allowing more surface incident solar radiation and contributing to the increase in the near‐surface air temperature.
What Controls the Subseasonal Precipitation Reversal Over the Western Tibetan Plateau in Winter?
Authors: Liu Yong , Li Xiangyu , Zhang Zhongshi , Li Hua , Chen Huopo , Hu Xiaoyu
Published: November 2023

This study reveals a significant subseasonal reversal of precipitation on the western Tibetan Plateau (WTP) from a deficit in December to an increase in January and February (JF). Changes in vertical moisture advection induced by the dynamic effects contribute mostly to the subseasonal precipitation reversal. This process involves the reversal of the subseasonal westerly driven uplift, accompanied by the weakened (enhanced) subtropical westerly jet and anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomalies over the WTP in December (JF). Further analysis shows that the North Atlantic Tripolar‐like (NAT) sea surface temperature (SST) modes could regulate the sunseasonal winter precipitation reversal over the WTP. The spatially inconsistent changes in SST can result in subseasonal reversed turbulent heat flux anomalies over Iceland‐Scandinavia in December and JF. In particular, the suppressed turbulent heat flux over the extratropical Northeast Atlantic in December leads to significant descending motion and upper tropospheric convergence. The advection of absolute vorticity induced by convergent winds associated with the NAT favors the generation of Rossby wave sources over Iceland‐Scandinavia, which then enhances the wave activity fluxes propagation. However, there are no significant changes in wave sources over Iceland‐Scandinavia in JF. The discrepancies in wave propagation intensity over Iceland‐Scandinavia determine the changes in the atmospheric pattern over the WTP, with anomalous anticyclone in December and cyclone in JF, and ultimately lead to the precipitation reversal. Furthermore, our results show that the suppressed transient eddies over the Atlantic storm track in JF may also contribute to the weakened wave propagation over Iceland‐Scandinavia.
Parallel window decoding enables scalable fault tolerant quantum computation
Authors: Skoric Luka , Browne Dan E. , Barnes Kenton M. , Gillespie Neil I. , Campbell Earl T.
Published: November 2023

Large-scale quantum computers have the potential to hold computational capabilities beyond conventional computers. However, the physical qubits are prone to noise which must be corrected in order to perform fault-tolerant quantum computations. Quantum Error Correction (QEC) provides the path for realizing such computations. QEC generates a continuous stream of data that decoders must process at the rate it is received, which can be as fast as 1μs per QEC round in superconducting quantum computers. If the decoder infrastructure cannot keep up, a data backlog problem is encountered and the computation runs exponentially slower. Today’s leading approaches to quantum error correction are not scalable as existing decoders typically run slower as the problem size is increased, inevitably hitting the backlog problem. Here, we show how to parallelize decoding to achieve almost arbitrary speed, removing this roadblock to scalability. Our parallelization requires some classical feed forward decisions to be delayed, slowing-down the logical clock speed. However, the slow-down is now only polynomial in the size of the QEC code, averting the exponential slowdown. We numerically demonstrate our parallel decoder for the surface code, showing no noticeable reduction in logical fidelity compared to previous decoders and demonstrating the predicted speedup.
Successful fat-only whole breast reconstruction using cultured mature adipocytes and conditioned medium containing MCP-1
Authors: Yanaga Hiroko , Koga Mika , Nishina Hiromichi , Tanaka Yoshio , Yanaga Katsu
Published: November 2023

A mastectomy is a curative treatment for breast cancer. It causes breast and soft tissue deficits, resulting in a chest with poor vascularity. Autologous tissue breast reconstruction is commonly associated with donor site morbidity. Breast implants are another reconstruction alternative, but they are associated with infection, rupture, and the need for replacement. Autologous aspirated fat grafting has appeared as an ideal breast reconstruction method, but low graft viability and high resorption remain as the main shortcomings. We developed a novel method for fat-only grafts using cultured mature adipocytes (CMAs) mixed with their condition medium. Twenty-five mastectomy patients, aged 32–72 years, received a mixed grafting of CMAs, MCP1-containing condition medium, and fat grafts for total breast reconstruction. In follow-up periods of 24–75 months, MRI analysis showed full thickness fat-engraftment. The cell proliferation marker Ki67 was negative in post-transplant biopsy specimens from all patients. Aesthetic full breast morphology was achieved, patient satisfaction was evaluated 1 year and 3–6 years after surgery. All grafts were confirmed safe, demonstrating high reliability and long-term sustainability.
Two novel phages PSPa and APPa inhibit planktonic, sessile and persister populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and mitigate its virulence in Zebrafish model
Authors: Karthika Chandrasekar , Malligarjunan Nambiraman , Jothi Ravi , Kasthuri Thirupathi , Alexpandi Rajaiah , Ravi Arumugam Veera , Pandian Shunmugiah Karutha , Gowrishankar Shanmugaraj
Published: November 2023

The present study explores the avenue of phage therapy as an alternative antimicrobial therapeutic approach to counter multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Our study investigated two novel virulent phages PSPa and APPa, specific to P. aeruginosa, in which in vitro evaluations were carried out to assess the therapeutic potential of phages. Both the identified phages exhibited host specificity by showing antagonistic activity of about 96.43% (27/28) and 92.85% (26/28) towards the 28 MDR clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. The PSPa phage was found to have linear dsDNA with a sequence length of 66,368 bp and 92 ORFs, of which 32 were encoded for known functions of the phage life cycle and the remaining 60 were hypothetical functions. The APPa phage was found to have linear dsDNA with 59,591 bp of genome length and 79 ORFs, of which 15 were found to have known phage functions and the remaining 64 were found to be hypothetical proteins. Notably, the genome of both the phages lacks genes coding for tRNA, rRNA, and tmRNA. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that PSPa and APPa share > 95% sequence similarity with previously sequenced Pseudomonas viruses of their respective families. Further, the in vivo efficacy evaluation using the zebrafish model revealed that the treatment with PSPa and APPa has remarkably improved the survival rate of bacterial-infected zebrafish, reinforcing the anti-infective potential of the isolated phages PSPa and APPa against P. aeruginosa infection.
Exploring the impact of integrated polyvagal exercises and knee reinforcement in females with grade II knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rizvi Moattar Raza , Sharma Ankita , Hasan Shahnaz , Ahmad Fuzail , Asad Mohammad Rehan , Iqbal Amir , Alghadir Ahmad H.
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to compare the effects of knee strengthening exercises to those of polyvagal theory–based exercises combined with knee strengthening exercises on selected outcomes in women with grade II knee osteoarthritis (OA). A randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which 60 female participants diagnosed with grade II knee OA, with a mean age of 57.27 ± 7.81 years and knee pain rated between 4 and 7 on the visual analog scale (VAS), were assigned to either the knee strengthening exercise group (Group 1, n = 30) or the polyvagal theory–based exercise plus knee strengthening exercise group (Group 2, n = 30). Pre- and posttreatment assessment of outcome variables, including WOMAC scores (joint pain, joint stiffness, functional limitations, and the overall index), WHOQOL scores (overall quality of life, general health, physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains), and heart rate variability (HRV, time and frequency domains), were analyzed. Group 2 demonstrated significantly greater reductions in joint pain, stiffness, and functional limitations than Group 1 after the intervention. Group 2 presented with significantly improved WOMAC scores, indicating better overall outcomes. Group 2 showed significant improvements in the psychological and social domains regarding quality of life. There were no significant differences in the physical domain or the environmental domain. Group 2 showed a significant increase in high-frequency power (HF) and a significant decrease in the LF/HF ratio, suggesting improved autonomic regulation. A combination of polyvagal exercise and knee strengthening training resulted in superior outcomes compared to knee strengthening exercises alone in women with grade II knee OA. These findings support the potential effectiveness of incorporating polyvagal exercises as an adjunctive intervention for osteoarthritis management.
Comparisons of conventional in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection in women with thyroid autoimmunity and non-male factor infertility, a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Zhang Yuchao , Liu Yanli , Shen Chunyan , Guan Yichun
Published: November 2023

The aim of the study is to compare the outcomes between the insemination methods of conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in infertile women with thyroid autoimmunity and non-male factor infertility. This was a retrospective cohort study which included women with thyroid autoimmunity and non-male factor infertility. Reproductive outcomes such as embryo development parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. The propensity score matching was applied to balance the general characteristics with significant differences between the two groups. Generalized estimating equations were used to explore the impact of ICSI on the embryo development potential of the inseminated oocytes. Sensitivity analysis using E-values was used to account for unknown confounders. After 1:2 propensity score matching, the general characteristics were all comparable. The good cleavage embryo rate, blastocyst utilization rate, and good blastocyst rate were significantly lower in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection group than those in the conventional in vitro fertilization group. After controlling for the confounding factors, intracytoplasmic sperm injection was significantly negatively associated with development of usable blastocysts and good blastocysts, while showed no impact on fertilized oocytes, usable cleavage embryos and good cleavage embryos. Although limited by the limited sample size, there were comparable clinical and obstetrical outcomes between conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection groups. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection neither improved the embryo development potential nor increased the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates compared to conventional in vitro fertilization in the studied population. Prospective studies that randomly divide the studied population in two the two groups and compare the reproductive outcomes are warranted.
Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotics by RGO-CdTe composite with enhanced apparent quantum efficiency
Authors: Ghosh Suvendu , Chakraborty Koushik , Pal Tanusri , Ghosh Surajit
Published: November 2023

RGO-CdTe composite was synthesized using a straightforward, easy-to-realize, one-pot solvothermal technique. The synthesized composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), Raman spectra, UV-Vis absorption, and photoluminescence measurement. The RGO-CdTe composite exhibited 83.6% photocatalytic degradation efficiency for the aqueous tetracycline (TC) antibiotic solution and the apparent quantum yield (AQY) for the same was as high as 22.29% which is 2.63 times higher than that of CdTe. The scavenger investigation demonstrated that although hole acts as the leading active species, despite that, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals have also played crucial roles. The initial pH-dependent photocatalytic performance was measured. The zeta potential of the composite at different pH values was evaluated to establish the photocatalytic performance of the RGO-CdTe towards TC degradation at different pH. The recycling experiment depicts that only a 10% degradation performance declines after 5 times recycle use of the RGO-CdTe photocatalyst. An efficient photocurrent generation in RGO-CdTe thin film device has also been observed. Our study establishes as-synthesized composite of RGO-CdTe as a highly potential, and stable photocatalyst for the degradation of antibiotics from the polluted aqueous environment with a very good photoinduced charge generation efficiency in its solid phase.
CSA@g-C3N4 as a novel, robust and efficient catalyst with excellent performance for the synthesis of 4H-chromenes derivatives
Authors: Hosseini Saber , Azizi Najmedin
Published: November 2023

A pioneering robust and green heterogeneous acidic catalyst (CSA@g-C3N4) was rationally designed via immobilization of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) on the g-C3N4 surface under mild conditions. Grafting CSA in the g-C3N4 lattice is distinguished as the root cause of facilitating the structure change of g-C3N4, leading to a unique morphology, accordingly the remarkable catalytic efficiency of CSA@g-C3N4. The morphology of new as-prepared nano-catalyst was specified by means of FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, TGA, and BET. For the first time, it is exhibited that the efficient catalyst CSA@g-C3N4 can productively accomplish the three-component reactions with high yields and also serve as an inspiration for easily performing various sorts of MCRs based on our finding. The recommended synthesis pathway of chromenes derivatives is facile and cost-effective which applies a condensation reaction of salicylaldehyde, thiophenol, and malononitrile followed by ready purification in a benign manner. Moreover, the CSA@g-C3N4 nanocomposite can be promptly reused, illustrating no sensational decrease in the catalytic activity after ten times.
Green synthesis of biocompatible Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles using Citrus Sinensis peels extract for their biological activities and magnetic-hyperthermia applications
Authors: Eldeeb Bahig A. , El-Raheem Walaa M. Abd , Elbeltagi Shehab
Published: November 2023

Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is eco-friendly, biocompatible, cost-effective, and highly stable. In the present study, Citrus sinensis peel extract was utilized to the fabrication of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The fabricated SPIONs were first characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The UV–Vis spectra analysis displayed a peak at 259 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance. The FTIR spectrum showed bands at 3306 cm−1, and 1616 cm−1 revealed the protein’s involvement in the development and capping of NPs. TEM analysis indicated that green synthesized SPIONs were spherical in shape with particle size of 20–24 nm. Magnetization measurements indicate that the synthesized SPIONs exhibited superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. The antimicrobial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory effect, and catalytic degradation of methylene blue by SPIONs were investigated in this study. Results demonstrated that SPIONs had variable antimicrobial effect against different pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria. At the highest concentration (400 μg/mL), SPIONs showed inhibition zones (14.7–37.3 mm) against all the target isolates. Furthermore, the MIC of synthesized SPIONs against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Candida albicans were 3, 6.5, 6.5, 12.5, 50, 25 μg/mL, respectively. SPIONs exhibited strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and catalytic dye degradation activities. Interestingly, Fe3O4 SPIONs shows optimum magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) techniques under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) measured in specific absorption rate (SAR) of 164, 230, and 286 W/g at concentrations 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, these newly fabricated SPIONs virtually achieve significant execution under the AMF in fluid MHT and are suitable for biomedical applications.
Asthma incidence can be influenced by climate change in Italy: findings from the GEIRD study—a climatological and epidemiological assessment
Authors: Bonomo S. , Marchetti P. , Fasola S. , Vesentini R. , Marcon A. , Ferrante G. , Antonicelli L. , Battaglia S. , Bono R. , Squillacioti G. , Murgia N. , Pirina P. , Villani S. , La Grutta S. , Verlato G. , Viegi G.
Published: November 2023

An association between climatic conditions and asthma incidence has been widely assumed. However, it is unclear whether climatic variations have a fingerprint on asthma dynamics over long time intervals. The aim of this study is to detect a possible correlation of the Summer North Atlantic Oscillation (S-NAO) index and the self-calibrated palmer drought severity index (scPDSI) with asthma incidence over the period from 1957 to 2006 in Italy. To this aim, an analysis of non-stationary and non-linear signals was performed on the time series of the Italian databases on respiratory health (ISAYA and GEIRD) including 36,255 individuals overall, S-NAO, and scPDSI indices to search for characteristic periodicities. The ISAYA (Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults) and GEIRD (Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases) studies collected information on respiratory health in general population samples, born between 1925 and 1989 and aged 20–84 years at the time of the interview, from 13 Italian centres. We found that annual asthma total incidence shared the same periodicity throughout the 1957–2006 time interval. Asthma incidence turned out to be correlated with the dynamics of the scPDSI, modulated by the S-NAO, sharing the same averaged 6 year-periodicity. Since climate patterns appear to influence asthma incidence, future studies aimed at elucidating the complex relationships between climate and asthma incidence are warranted.
Microwave-assisted Catalytic Biodiesel Production
Authors: Fattah I. M. R. , Mujtaba M. A. , Veza I. , Smaisim G. F.
Published: November 2023

Microwave-enhanced biodiesel synthesis is a favoured approach due to various advantages such as decreased energy usage, a significant reduction in reaction durations and solvent needs, higher selectivity, and improved conversions with generation of fewer byproducts. Because of society’s increased concern for sustainability, the conversion of bio-based feedstocks into biodiesel is an important study topic. Various technologies have been used for biodiesel production, one of which, the application of microwaves, has been shown to hold a lot of promise. Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths ranging from 1 cm to 1 m (30 GHz to 300 MHz). This work investigates the use of microwave radiation to produce biodiesel at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, the normal operating range available for commercially accessible microwave applicators. It is possible to accelerate the rate of reactions and improve selectivity by using microwave heating instead of conventional heating. Several parameters, including the catalyst type and concentration, microwave irradiation power, reaction temperature, type of alcohol and alcohol-to-oil ratio, the water content of oil, and stirring rate, could all influence microwave-assisted biodiesel production. As a result, it is critical to gain a thorough understanding of the effects of these parameters on the biodiesel production process.
Scale-up of Microwave-assisted Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes
Authors: Julian Ignacio A. , Fresneda-Cruz Alejandro
Published: November 2023

Energy has become a critical issue for industrial activities, prompting a demand for the implementation of techno-economically viable carbon-neutral technologies. Industrial complexes may require more flexible solutions for their processes. Microwave-assisted heating technology (MWH) is being positioned as a promising alternative for promoting energy-efficient, sustainable, and clean heterogeneous catalytic processes. The scale-up and integration of MWH into industrial heterogeneous catalytic processes, thus, rely on a clean application and thorough understanding of its different main components. The most prominent bottlenecks hindering its upscaling are related to reactor cavity design, processing volume/mass microwave absorption correlation with its placement distribution inside cavities, and temperature measurement systems. The current chapter presents an overview of reported heterogeneously catalyzed thermo-chemical transformations assisted by microwave irradiation, highlighting the technological readiness level, industrialization degree and scale-up strategies, advantages, drawbacks, and challenges for each application.
Direct and remote control of electronic structures and redox potentials in μ-oxo diferric complexes
Authors: Finke Sebastian , Stammler Anja , Oldengott Jan , Walleck Stephan , Glaser Thorsten
Published: November 2023

The potential for the oxidation shifted cathodically by 590 mV by substituting the exogenous ligand from OAc− to OH−. The potential of the complex with mixed OH−/OAc− is the mean value of the potentials of OH−/OH− and OAc−/OAc− complexes.
Reversible single-crystal to single-crystal transformation between triangular single-molecule toroics
Authors: Feng Lixi , Yang Yue , Wang Yu-Xia , Zhao Yizhen , Liu Zhong-Yi , Cong Junzhuang , Zhang Yi-Quan , Cheng Peng
Published: November 2023

Single-crystal to single-crystal transformation by solvent exchange provides a new way to study magneto-structural relationships in single-molecule magnets.
Chimeric GFP–uracil based molecular rotor fluorophores
Authors: Chowdhury Mria , Turner Julia A. , Cappello Daniela , Hajjami Maryam , Hudson Robert H. E.
Published: November 2023

GFP-like chromophores incorporating uracil possess molecular rotor and base-pairing properties.
Modulating the shuttling motion of [2]rotaxanes built of p-xylylenediamine units through permethylation at the benzylic positions of the ring
Authors: Puigcerver Julio , Alajarin Mateo , Martinez-Cuezva Alberto , Berna Jose
Published: November 2023

A novel permethylated macrocycle allows to modulate rotaxane shuttling rates, revealing untapped strategy for the MIMs’ building.
PE (0:0/14:0), an endogenous metabolite of the gut microbiota, exerts protective effects against sepsis-induced intestinal injury by modulating the AHR/CYP1A1 pathway
Authors: Tian Wang Ze , Yue Qi , Fei Wang , Yao Peng Zi , Han Rui Qin , Tang Jianguo
Published: November 2023

Sepsis is known to cause damage to the intestinal mucosa, leading to bacterial translocation, and exacerbation of both local and remote organ impairments. In the present study, fecal samples were collected from both septic and healthy individuals. Analysis through 16s rRNA sequencing of the fecal microbiota revealed that sepsis disrupts the balance of the gut microbial community. Recent research has highlighted the association of lipid metabolism with disease. By analyzing the fecal metabolome, four lipid metabolites that showed significant differences between the two groups were identified: PE (O-16:0/0:0), PE (17:0/0:0), PE (0:0/14:0), and PE (12:0/20:5 (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17Z)). Notably, the serum levels of PE (0:0/14:0) were higher in the healthy group. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the protective effects of this compound against sepsis-induced intestinal barrier damage. Label-free proteomic analysis showed significant differences in the expression levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a protein implicated in sepsis pathogenesis, between the LPS-Caco-2 and LPS-Caco-2 + PE (0:0/14:0) groups. Further analysis, with the help of Discovery Studio 3.5 software and co-immunoprecipitation assays, confirmed the direct interaction between AHR and PE (0:0/14:0). In the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model, treatment with PE (0:0 /14:0) was found to up-regulate the expression of tight junction proteins through the AHR/Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, and polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) pathway. This highlights the potential therapeutic use of PE (0:0/14:0) in addressing sepsis-induced intestinal barrier damage.
Production of s-process elements in asymptotic giant branch stars as revealed by Gaia/GSP-Spec abundances
Authors: Contursi G. , de Laverny P. , Recio-Blanco A. , Palicio P. A. , Abia C.
Published: November 2023

Context. The recent parameterisation by the GSP-Spec module of Gaia/Radial Velocity Spectrometer stellar spectra has produced an homogeneous catalogue of about 174 000 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Among the 13 chemical elements presented in this Gaia third data release, the abundance of two of them (cerium and neodymium) have been estimated in most of these AGB stars. These two species are formed by slow neutron captures (s-process) in the interior of low- and intermediate-mass stars. They belong to the family of second-peak s-process elements.

Aims. We study the content and production rate of Ce and Nd in AGB stars, using the atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances derived by the GSP-Spec module.

Methods. We defined a working sample of 19 544 AGB stars with high-quality Ce and/or Nd abundances, selected by applying a specific combination of the GSP-Spec quality flags. We compared these abundances with the yield production predicted by AGB evolutionary models.

Results. We first confirmed that the majority of the working sample is composed of AGB stars by estimating their absolute magnitude in the K-band and their properties in a Gaia-2MASS diagram. We also checked that these stars are oxygen-rich AGB stars, as assumed during the GSP-Spec parameterisation. We found a good correlation between the Ce and Nd abundances, confirming the high quality of the derived abundances and that these species indeed belong to the same s-process family. We also found higher Ce and Nd abundances for more evolved AGB stars of similar metallicity, illustrating the successive mixing episodes enriching the AGB star surface in s-process elements formed deeper in their stellar interior. We then compared the observed Ce and Nd abundances with the FRUITY and Monash AGB yields and found that the higher Ce and Nd abundances cannot be explained by AGB stars of masses higher than 5 M⊙. In contrast, the yields predicted by both models for AGB stars with an initial mass between ∼1.5 and ∼2.5 M⊙ and metallicities between ∼−0.5 and ∼0.0 dex are fully compatible with the observed GSP-Spec abundances.

Conclusions. This work based on the largest catalogue of high-quality second-peak s-element abundances in oxygen-rich AGB stars allows evolutionary models to be constrained and confirms the fundamental role played by low- and intermediate-mass stars in the enrichment of the Universe in these chemical species.
Galaxy groups and clusters and their brightest galaxies within the cosmic web
Authors: Einasto Maret , Einasto Jaan , Tenjes Peeter , Korhonen Suvi , Kipper Rain , Tempel Elmo , Liivamägi Lauri Juhan , Heinämäki Pekka
Published: November 2023

Context.The evolution of galaxy groups and the brightest group galaxies (BGGs) is influenced by their location in the cosmic web.

Aims.Our aim is to combine data on galaxy groups, their BGGs, and their location in the cosmic web, to determine classes of groups and clusters, and to obtain a better understanding of their properties and evolution.

Methods.Data on groups and their BGGs are based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR10 MAIN spectroscopic galaxy sample in the redshift range 0.009 ≤ z ≤ 0.200. We characterize the group environments by the luminosity–density field and their filament membership. We divide BGGs according to their star formation properties as quenched (Q), red star-forming galaxies (RSF), and blue star-forming galaxies (BSF). We apply multidimensional Gaussian mixture modelling to divide groups based on the properties of the groups, their BGGs, and their environments. We analyse the offset of BGGs with respect to the group centre, and the relation between the stellar velocity dispersion of BGGsσ⋆and the group velocity dispersionsσv. For comparison we also analyse the properties of single galaxies of different star formation properties in various environments.

Results.The galaxy groups in our sample can be divided into two main classes: high-luminosity rich groups and clusters, and low-luminosity poor groups with threshold luminosityLgrthr = 15 × 1010 h−2 L⊙and total massMgrthr ≈ 23 × 1012 h−1 M⊙. The brightest galaxies in clusters and groups have different star formation properties. In rich groups and clusters ≈90% of the BGGs are red quenched galaxies, while in poor groups only ≈40 − 60% of BGGs are red and quenched, and the rest of the BGGs are star-forming, either blue (20 − 40% of BGGs) or red (∼17% of BCGs). Rich groups and clusters are located in global high-density regions (superclusters) in filaments or filament outskirts, while poor groups reside everywhere in the cosmic web regardless of the global density (superclusters or voids). Clusters with quenched BGGs have higher luminosities and their BGGs are closer to the cluster centre than in clusters with star-forming BGGs. Groups of the same richness with red (quenched and star-forming) BGGs are more luminous, and they lie in higher global density environment than groups with blue star-forming BGGs.

Conclusions.Our results suggest that the evolution of groups and clusters and their BGGs is related to their location in the cosmic web. We emphasize the role of global high-density regions–superclusters as a special environment for group growth. The processes that shape the properties of groups and their BGG are different and/or have different timescales in groups and clusters.
An almost dark galaxy with the mass of the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Montes Mireia , Trujillo Ignacio , Karunakaran Ananthan , Infante-Sainz Raúl , Spekkens Kristine , Golini Giulia , Beasley Michael , Cebrián Maria , Chamba Nushkia , D’Onofrio Mauro , Kelvin Lee , Román Javier
Published: November 2023

Almost dark galaxies are objects that have eluded detection by traditional surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The low surface brightness of these galaxies (μr(0) > 26 mag arcsec−2), and hence their low surface stellar mass density (a few solar masses per pc2 or less), suggest that the energy density released by baryonic feedback mechanisms is inefficient in modifying the distribution of the dark matter halos they inhabit. For this reason, almost dark galaxies are particularly promising for probing the microphysical nature of dark matter. In this paper, we present the serendipitous discovery of Nube, an almost dark galaxy with ⟨μV⟩e ∼ 26.7 mag arcsec−2. The galaxy was identified using deep optical imaging from the IAC Stripe82 Legacy Project. Follow-up observations with the 100 m Green Bank Telescope strongly suggest that the galaxy is at a distance of 107 Mpc. Ultra-deep multi-band observations with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias favour an age of ∼10 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] ∼ −1.1. With a stellar mass of ∼4 × 108 M⊙ and a half-mass radius of Re = 6.9 kpc (corresponding to an effective surface density of ⟨Σ⟩e ∼ 0.9 M⊙ pc−2), Nube is the most massive and extended object of its kind discovered so far. The galaxy is ten times fainter and has an effective radius three times larger than typical ultradiffuse galaxies with similar stellar masses. Galaxies with comparable effective surface brightness within the Local Group have very low mass (tens of 105 M⊙) and compact structures (effective radius Re < 1 kpc). Current cosmological simulations within the cold dark matter scenario, including baryonic feedback, do not reproduce the structural properties of Nube. However, its highly extended and flattened structure is consistent with a scenario where the dark matter particles are ultralight axions with a mass of mB = (0.8−0.2+0.4) × 10−23 eV.
The external photoevaporation of structured protoplanetary disks
Authors: Gárate Matías , Pinilla Paola , Haworth Thomas J. , Facchini Stefano
Published: November 2023

Context. The dust in planet-forming disks is known to evolve rapidly through growth and radial drift. In the high irradiation environments of massive star-forming regions where most stars form, external photoevaporation also contributes to rapid dispersal of disks. This raises the question of why we still observe quite high disk dust masses in massive star-forming regions.

Aims. We test whether the presence of substructures is enough to explain the survival of the dust component and observed millimeter continuum emission in protoplanetary disks located within massive star-forming regions. We also characterize the dust content removed by the photoevaporative winds.

Methods. We performed hydrodynamical simulations (including gas and dust evolution) of protoplanetary disks subject to irradiation fields of FUV = 102, 103, and 104 G0, with different dust trap configurations. We used the FRIED grid to derive the mass loss rate for each irradiation field and disk properties, and then proceed to measure the evolution of the dust mass over time. For each simulation we estimated the continuum emission at λ = 1.3 mm along with the radii encompassing 90% of the continuum flux, and characterized the dust size distribution entrained in the photoevaporative winds, in addition to the resulting far-ultraviolet (FUV) cross section.

Results. Our simulations show that the presence of dust traps can extend the lifetime of the dust component of the disk to a few millionyears if the FUV irradiation is FUV ≲ 103 G0, but only if the dust traps are located inside the photoevaporative truncation radius. The dust component of a disk will be quickly dispersed if the FUV irradiation is strong (104 G0) or if the substructures are located outside the photoevaporation radius. We do find however, that the dust grains entrained with the photoevaporative winds may result in an absorption FUV cross section of σ ≈ 10−22 cm2 at early times of evolution (<0.1 Myr), which is enough to trigger a self-shielding effect that reduces the total mass loss rate, and slow down the disk dispersal in a negative feedback loop process.
Investigating Gaia EDR3 parallax systematics using asteroseismology of cool giant stars observed by Kepler, K2, and TESS
Authors: Khan S. , Anderson R. I. , Miglio A. , Mosser B. , Elsworth Y. P.
Published: November 2023

We analyse Gaia EDR3 parallax systematics as a function of magnitude and sky location using a recently published catalogue of 12 500 asteroseismic red-giant star distances. We selected ∼3500 red clump (RC) stars of similar chemical composition as the optimal subsample for this purpose because (1) their similar luminosity allows for straightforward interpretation of trends with apparent magnitude; (2) RC stars are the most distant stars in our sample at a given apparent magnitude, so uncertainties related to asteroseismic radii and distances are the smallest; (3) and they provide the largest sample of intrinsically similar stars. We performed a detailed assessment of systematic uncertainties relevant for parallax offset estimation based on the asteroseismic distances. Specifically, we investigated (1) the impact of measuring the basic asteroseismic quantities νmax and ⟨Δν⟩ using different pipelines, (2) uncertainties related to extinction, (3) the impact of adopting spectroscopic information from different surveys, and (4) blending issues related to photometry. Following this assessment, we adopted for our baseline analysis the asteroseismic parameters measured in Elsworth et al. (2020, Res. Notes Am. Astron. Soc., 4, 177) and spectroscopy from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (DR17), and we further restricted the sample to low-extinction (AV ≤ 0.5 mag) RC stars with quality astrometric solutions from Gaia EDR3, as indicated by RUWE < 1.4. We then investigated both the parallax offset relative to the published Gaia EDR3 parallaxes and the residual parallax offset after correcting Gaia EDR3 parallaxes following Lindegren et al. (2021, A&A, 649, A4). We found residual parallax offsets very close to zero (−1.6 ± 0.5 (stat.)±10 (syst.) μas) for stars fainter than G > 11 mag in the initial Kepler field, suggesting that the Lindegren parallax offset corrections are adequate in this magnitude range. For 17 K2 campaigns in the same magnitude range, the residual parallax offset is +16.5 ± 1.7 (stat.)±10 (syst.) μas. At brighter magnitudes (G ≤ 11 mag), we found inconsistent residual parallax offsets between the Kepler field, 17 K2 campaigns, and the TESS southern continuous viewing zone, with differences of up to 60 μas. This contradicts the studies that suggest a monotonic trend between magnitude and residual parallax offsets and instead suggests a significant dependence on sky location at bright magnitudes due to a lack of bright physical pairs being available to determine the parallax offset corrections. Inspection of the 17 K2 campaigns allowed for investigation of parallax offsets as a function of ecliptic longitude and revealed a possible signal. Finally, we estimated the absolute magnitude of the red clump and obtained MKsRC = −1.650 ± 0.025 mag in the 2MASS Ks band and MGRC = (0.432 ± 0.004) − (0.821 ± 0.033) · (Teff [K]−4800 K)/1000 K [mag] in the Gaia G-band.
Intranasal immunisation with recombinant Toxoplasma gondii uridine phosphorylase confers resistance against acute toxoplasmosis in mice
Authors: Yin Li-Tian , Ren Ying-Jie , You Yu-Jie , Yang Yong , Wang Zhi-Xin , Wang Hai-Long
Published: November 2023

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Currently, control measures for T. gondii infection are insufficient due to the lack of effective medications or vaccines. In this paper, recombinant T. gondii uridine phosphorylase (rTgUPase) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified via Ni2+-NTA agarose. rTgUPase was inoculated intranasally into BALB/c mice, and the induced immune responses were evaluated by mucosal and humoral antibody and cytokine assays and lymphoproliferative measurements. Moreover, the protective effect against the T. gondii RH strain infection was assessed by calculating the burdens of tachyzoites in the liver and brain and by recording the survival rate and time. Our results revealed that mice immunised with 30 μg rTgUPase produced significantly higher levels of secretory IgA (sIgA) in nasal, intestinal, vaginal and vesical washes and synthesised higher levels of total IgG, IgG1 and, in particular, IgG2a in their blood sera. rTgUPase immunisation increased the production of IFN-gamma, interleukin IL-2 and IL-4, but not IL-10 from isolated mouse spleen cells and enhanced splenocyte proliferation in vitro. rTgUPase-inoculated mice were effectively protected against infection with the T. gondii RH strain, showing considerable reduction of tachyzoite burdens in liver and brain tissues after 30 days of infection, and a 44.29% increase in survival rate during an acute challenge. The above findings show that intranasal inoculation with rTgUPase provoked mucosal, humoral and cellular immune responses and indicate that rTgUPase might serve as a promising vaccine candidate for protecting against toxoplasmosis.
Iridium-Catalyzed Ligand-Controlled Semi-Reduction of Alkynes Employing H2O as the Hydrogen Donor and Its Application
Authors: Zhao Wei , Zhou Siyi , Zhang Yi , Xu Dawei , Wang Chengniu
Published: November 2023

An iridium-catalyzed ligand-controlled semi-reduction of alkynes employing H2O as the hydrogen donor, together with its application, is reported. The use of di-tert-butylphosphinous chloride is crucial for stereoselectivity toward Z-olefins, whereas the use of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde is crucial for stereoselectivity toward E-olefins. More than 35 alkenes were obtained in good yields and high stereoselectivities. The utility of the current method in practical applications was investigated by studying the drug effects of (E)-1,3-dimethoxy-5-styrylbenzene on nerve growth in a zebrafish model.