bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposing the Concept of Plaston and Strategy to Manage Both High Strength and Large Ductility in Advanced Structural Materials, on the Basis of Unique Mechanical Properties of Bulk Nanostructured Metals
Authors: Tsuji Nobuhiro , Ogata Shigenobu , Inui Haruyuki , Tanaka Isao , Kishida Kyosuke
Published: January 2022

Advanced structural materials are required to show both high strength and large ductility/toughness, but we have not yet acquired the guiding principle for that. The bulk nanostructured metals are polycrystalline metallic materials having bulky dimensions and average grain sizes smaller than 1 μm. Bulk nanostructured metals show very high strength compared with that of the coarse-grained counterparts, but usually exhibit limited tensile ductility, especially small uniform elongation below a few %, due to the early plastic instability. On the other hand, we have recently found that particular bulk nanostructured metals can manage high strength and large tensile ductility. In such bulk nanostructured metals, unusual deformation modes different from normal dislocation slips were unexpectedly activated. Unusual  dislocations, deformation twins with nano-scale thickness, and deformation-induced martensite nucleated from grain boundaries in the bulk nanostructured Mg alloy, high-Mn austenitic steel, and Ni-C metastable austenitic steel, respectively. Those unexpected deformation modes enhanced strain hardening of the materials, leading to high strength and large tensile ductility. It was considered that the nucleation of such unusual deformation modes was attributed to the scarcity of dislocations and dislocation sources in each recrystallized ultrafine grain, which also induced discontinuous yielding with clear yield drop universally recognized in bulk nanostructured metals having recrystallized structures. For discussing the nucleation of different deformation modes in atomistic scales, the new concept of plaston which considered local excitation of atoms under singular dynamic fields was proposed. Based on the findings in bulk nanostructured metals and the concept of plaston, we proposed a strategy for overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off in structural metallic materials. Sequential nucleation of different deformation modes would regenerate the strain-hardening ability of the material, leading to high strength and large tensile ductility. The strategy could be a guiding principle for realizing advanced structural materials that manage both high strength and large tensile ductility.
Collective Motion of Atoms in Metals by First Principles Calculations
Authors: Tanaka Isao , Togo Atsushi
Published: January 2022

Fundamental information on the collective motion of atoms can be learned by tracing imaginary phonon modes in deformed crystals. This should be useful to investigate the atomic process of plaston in a logical manner. Here, we summarize our works on the collective motion of atoms in unary metallic crystals examined by first principles phonon calculations. A simple algorithm for automated searching of the structural transition pathway following the imaginary phonon modes has been constructed. We first show the construction of structure evolution diagrams in Cu, Mg, Ti, and Hf by taking a simple cubic (SC) structure as a starting structure. The pathway corresponds to a route connecting initial and final structures without any energy barrier. Effects of the hydrostatic pressure on the diagram have been examined as well. In the second part, the collective motion of atoms in HCP-Ti under homogeneous shear deformation corresponding to the {$$10\overline{1} 2$$

10

1

¯

2

} twinning mode is shown. The structural transition pathway from the parent to twin, which is widely accepted as the “shuffling”, is shown in detail.
Modular invariance, misalignment and finiteness in non-supersymmetric strings
Authors: Cribiori Niccolò , Parameswaran Susha , Tonioni Flavio , Wrase Timm
Published: January 2022

Abstract

In this article we show that finite perturbative corrections in non-supersymmetric strings can be understood via an interplay between modular invariance and misaligned supersymmetry. While modular invariance is known to be crucial in closed-string models, its presence and role for open strings is more subtle. Nevertheless, we argue that it leads to cancellations in physical quantities such as the one-loop cosmological constant and prevents them from diverging. In particular, we show that if the sector-averaged number of states does not grow exponentially, as predicted by misaligned supersymmetry, all exponential divergences in the one-loop cosmological constant cancel out as well. To account for the absence of power-law divergences, instead, we need to resort to the modular structure of the partition function. We finally comment on the presence of misaligned supersymmetry in the known 10-dimensional tachyon-free non-supersymmetric string theories.
Citrullination in the pathology of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders: recent advances and future perspectives
Authors: Ciesielski Oskar , Biesiekierska Marta , Panthu Baptiste , Soszyński Mirosław , Pirola Luciano , Balcerczyk Aneta
Published: January 2022

Numerous
post-translational modifications (PTMs) govern the collective metabolism of a cell through altering the structure and functions of proteins. The action of the most prevalent PTMs, encompassing phosphorylation, methylation, acylations, ubiquitination and glycosylation is well documented. A less explored protein PTM, conversion of peptidylarginine to citrulline, is the subject of this review. The process of citrullination is catalysed by peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), a family of conserved enzymes expressed in a variety of human tissues. Accumulating evidence suggest that citrullination plays a significant role in regulating cellular metabolism and gene expression by affecting a multitude of pathways and modulating the chromatin status. Here, we will discuss the biochemical nature of arginine citrullination, the enzymatic machinery behind it and also provide information on the pathological consequences of citrullination in the development of inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, periodontitis and COVID-19), cancer and thromboembolism. Finally, developments on inhibitors against protein citrullination and recent clinical trials providing a promising therapeutic approach to inflammatory disease by targeting citrullination are discussed.
Bundling the removal of emerging contaminants with the production of ligninolytic enzymes from residual streams
Authors: González-Rodríguez Sandra , Lu-Chau Thelmo A. , Trueba-Santiso Alba , Eibes Gemma , Moreira María Teresa
Published: January 2022

Enzymes offer interesting features as biological catalysts for industry: high specificity, activity under mild conditions, accessibility, and environmental friendliness. Being able to produce enzymes in large quantities and having them available in a stable and reusable form reduces the production costs of any enzyme-based process. Agricultural residues have recently demonstrated their potential as substrates to produce ligninolytic enzymes by different white rot fungi. In this study, the biotechnological production of a manganese peroxidase (MnP) by Irpex lacteus was conducted through solid-state fermentation (SSF) with wheat straw as substrate and submerged fermentation (SmF) employing wheat straw extract (WSE). The obtained enzyme cocktail also showed manganese-independent activity (MiP), related to the presence of a short MnP and a dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP) which was confirmed by shotgun proteomic analyses. In view of the enhanced production of ligninolytic enzymes in SmF, different parameters such as WSE concentration and nitrogen source were evaluated. The highest enzyme titers were obtained with a medium formulated with glucose and peptone (339 U/L MnP and 15 U/L MiP). The scale-up to a 30 L reactor achieved similar activities, demonstrating the feasibility of enzyme production from the residual substrate at different production scales. Degradation of five emerging pollutants was performed to demonstrate the high oxidative capacity of the enzyme. Complete removal of hormones and bisphenol A was achieved in less than 1 h, whereas almost 30% degradation of carbamazepine was achieved in 24 h, which is a significant improvement compared to previous enzymatic treatments of this compound.

Key points

• Wheat straw extract is suitable for the growth of I. lacteus.

• The enzyme cocktail obtained allows the degradation of emerging contaminants.

• Mn-dependent and Mn-independent activities increases the catalytic potential.

Graphical abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with SOD1 mutations shows distinct brain metabolic changes
Authors: Canosa Antonio , Calvo Andrea , Moglia Cristina , Vasta Rosario , Palumbo Francesca , Solero Luca , Di Pede Francesca , Cabras Sara , Arena Vincenzo , Zocco Grazia , Casale Federico , Brunetti Maura , Sbaiz Luca , Gallone Salvatore , Grassano Maurizio , Manera Umberto , Pagani Marco , Chiò Adriano
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Neuropathological data suggest that ALS with SOD1 mutations (SOD1-ALS) is a distinct form of ALS. We evaluated brain metabolic changes characterizing SOD1-ALS as compared to sporadic ALS (sALS), employing 18fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET).

Methods

We included 18 SOD1-ALS patients, 40 healthy controls (HC), and 46 sALS patients without mutations in SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and C9ORF72, randomly selected from 665 subjects who underwent brain 18F-FDG-PET at diagnosis between 2008 and 2019 at the ALS Centre of Turin. We excluded patients with frontotemporal dementia. We used the full factorial design in SPM12 to evaluate whether differences among groups exist overall. In case the hypothesis was confirmed, group comparisons were performed through the two-sample t-test model of SPM12. In all the analyses, the height threshold was P < 0.001 (P < 0.05 FWE-corrected at cluster level).

Results

The full factorial design resulted in a significant main effect of groups. We identified a relative hypometabolism in sALS patients compared to SOD1-ALS cases in the right precentral and medial frontal gyrus, right paracentral lobule, and bilateral postcentral gyrus. SOD1 patients showed a relative hypermetabolism as compared to HC in the right precentral gyrus and paracentral lobule. As compared to HC, sALS patients showed relative hypometabolism in frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices.

Conclusion

SOD1-ALS was characterized by a relative hypermetabolism in the motor cortex as compared to sALS and HC. Since promising, targeted, therapeutic strategies are upcoming for SOD1-ALS, our data support the use of PET to study disease pathogenesis and to track its course in clinical trials, in both asymptomatic and symptomatic mutation carriers.
Comparative transcriptomics reveal tissue level specialization towards diet in prickleback fishes
Authors: Herrera Michelle J. , Heras Joseph , German Donovan P.
Published: January 2022

Beyond a few obvious examples (e.g., gut length, amylase activity), digestive and metabolic specializations towards diet remain elusive in fishes. Thus, we compared gut length, δ13C and δ15N signatures of the liver, and expressed genes in the intestine and liver of wild-caught individuals of four closely-related, sympatric prickleback species (family Stichaeidae) with different diets: Xiphister mucosus (herbivore), its sister taxon X. atropurpureus (omnivore), Phytichthys chirus (omnivore) and the carnivorous Anoplarchus purpurescens. We also measured the same parameters after feeding them carnivore or omnivore diets in the laboratory for 4 weeks. Growth and isotopic signatures showed assimilation of the laboratory diets, and gut length was significantly longer in X. mucosus in comparison to the other fishes, whether in the wild, or in the lab consuming the different diets. Dozens of genes relating to digestion and metabolism were observed to be under selection in the various species, but P. chirus stood out with some genes in the liver showing strong positive selection, and these genes correlating with differing isotopic incorporation of the laboratory carnivore diet in this species. Although the intestine showed variation in the expression of hundreds of genes in response to the laboratory diets, the liver exhibited species-specific gene expression patterns that changed very little (generally <40 genes changing expression, with P. chirus providing an exception). Overall, our results suggest that the intestine is plastic in function, but the liver may be where specialization manifests since this tissue shows species-specific gene expression patterns that match with natural diet.
Österreichweite Regionalisierung bodenhydraulischer Eigenschaften
Authors: Zeitfogel Hanna , Feigl Moritz , Schulz Karsten
Published: January 2022

Angesichts der Klimawandelproblematik gewinnt auch die flächige Verfügbarkeit von bodenhydraulischen Informationen an Bedeutung. Diese Bodeninformationen bilden die Grundlage zur Modellierung hydrologischer Prozesse, speziell bei aktuellen Problemfeldern wie der Gefahrenausweisung von pluvialem Hochwasser. In Österreich gibt es derzeit kein Produkt, das die Bodendaten bundesweit flächig abbildet und gleichzeitig die hohe natürliche Variabilität der Bodeneigenschaften widerspiegelt. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, auf Basis verfügbarer Daten relevante bodenhydraulische Parameter für die Gesamtfläche Österreichs abzuleiten und auch entsprechende Unsicherheiten anzugeben. Hierzu wurden zwei gängige Verfahren aus dem „Machine Learning“ (ML), XGBoost und FNN, getestet, um Zusammenhänge zwischen leicht messbaren bzw. flächig verfügbaren physio-geografischen sowie zusätzlichen Informationen aus Satellitenfernerkundung und den relevanten Bodenparametern zu entwickeln. Auf Basis der ML-Verfahren wurden die Bodenparameter Sand, Schluff, Ton und Humus flächig für ganz Österreich und für drei verschiedene Tiefenstufen auf einer Rasterbasis von 1 × 1 km2 abgeleitet. Die Ergebnisse stellen im direkten Vergleich mit dem derzeitig einzig österreichweit flächig verfügbaren Bodeninformationssystem eine deutliche Verbesserung dar. Die Regionalisierung der gesättigten hydraulischen Leitfähigkeit (ks) wurde indirekt – auf Grundlage der regionalisierten Bodenparameter und mithilfe von existierenden Pedotransfer Funktionen (PTFs) – und direkt – auf Basis vorhandener bodenhydraulischer Datensätze – getestet. Die Ableitung von ks ist nur mit großen Unsicherheiten möglich. Die erstellten Bodenkarten leisten einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Reduktion der vorhandenen Bodendatenlücken in Österreich und sollen als Grundlage für weitere Arbeiten zur Abschätzung der pluvialen Hochwassergefahr dienen.
The Co-construct/ Co-evolving Process between Organization’s Absorptive Capacity and Enterprise System Practice under Changing Context: The Case of ERP Practice
Authors: Wu Kai , Beydoun Ghassan , Sohaib Osama , Gill Asif
Published: January 2022

Long term sustainability in a competitive and changing environment requires an organization to continuously learn and adapt. The ability to access and use new knowledge is contingent on the organisational absorptive capacity (AC). In this paper, we focus on how an organization’s absorptive capacity and its enterprise system practices develop and co-evolve over time. Analysing a fifteen years’ ERP practice in an organisational context, this study synthesizes a new AC analysis framework that takes into account the dynamic nature of AC. This high-level analysis coupled with a longitudinal view resolves inconsistent results between current AC studies and suggest further directions for organisational AC research.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Perceptions of Health, Work Environment and Experiences of Work-Related Symptoms Among Cleaning Workers
Authors: Kyung Minjung , Collman Nicole , Domeracki Sandra , Hong OiSaeng , Lee Soo-Jeong
Published: January 2022

This study explored racial and ethnic differences in perception of work environment, safe work practices, general health status, experience of work-related injury or illness and subsequent symptom reporting and health care seeking behaviors among cleaning workers. This study analyzed cross-sectional data obtained from 183 cleaning workers employed in a university hospital or a health sciences campus in Northern California. The sample included 120 Asians (65.6%), 37 Hispanics (20.2%), and 27 other ethnicities (14.2%); 85.7% were foreign-born. Asian workers perceived lower job control and supervisor support and higher job strain than other workers. The odds of perceiving general health as excellent or very good were lower among Asians compared to Hispanics and Others. Asians who experienced chemical-related symptoms were less likely than Hispanics and others to report the symptoms to their supervisor or seek healthcare. Our study findings indicated racial/ethnic differences in perceptions of work and general health, seeking healthcare, and reporting behaviors among cleaning workers. Asian workers, specifically, may need special attention to improve their experiences of work environments and health in the workplace.
Flexible neural network for fast and accurate road scene perception
Authors: Mehtab Sabeeha , Yan Wei Qi
Published: January 2022

Accurate object detection on the road is the most important requirement of autonomous vehicles. Extensive work has been accomplished for car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection; however, comparatively, very few efforts have been put into 2D object detection. In this article, a dynamic approach is investigated to design a perfect unified neural network that could achieve the best results based on our available hardware. The proposed architecture is based on CSPNet for feature extraction in an end-to-end way. The net extracts visual features by using backbone subnet, visual object detection is based on a feature pyramid network (FPN). In order to increase the net flexibility, an auto-anchor generating method is applied to the detection layer that makes the net suitable for any datasets. For fine-tuning the net, activation, optimization, and loss functions are considered along with multiple check points. The proposed net is trained and tested based on the benchmark KITTI dataset. Our extensive experiments show that the proposed model for visual object detection is superior to others, where other nets output very low accuracy for pedestrian and cyclist detection, our proposed model achieves 99.3% recall rate based on our dataset.
How the design and complexity of concept maps influence cognitive learning processes
Authors: Krieglstein Felix , Schneider Sascha , Beege Maik , Rey Günter Daniel
Published: January 2022

Concept maps are assumed to enhance learning as their inherent structure makes relations between information more salient. Nevertheless, research on how to design concept maps as conducive to learning as possible is still rare. In particular, the salience of spatial arrangement of thematically related concepts within the map as well as the complexity of the map were found to be central design elements that influence learning. This study aimed to examine how the structure (i.e., the salience of the spatial relationship between individual concepts) and the complexity (i.e., number of nodes per sub concept) influence learning. Accordingly, a 2 (low vs. high salience of map structure) × 2 (few vs. many nodes) between-subject design was used (N = 122) to examine cognitive processes while learning with a concept map. No significant learning performance differences were found. Concepts maps with a low salience of map structure increased perceptions of disorientation. A serial mediation with learning performances as dependent variable revealed that the salience of the map structure is significantly associated with disorientation and extraneous cognitive load perceptions. By this, current attempts to measure extraneous cognitive load are questioned.
Envisioning just transformations in and beyond the EU bioeconomy: inspirations from decolonial environmental justice and degrowth
Authors: Ramcilovic-Suominen Sabaheta
Published: January 2022

The European Union (EU) is adhering to decarbonization of its economy to tackle what is narrowly framed as ‘environmental issues’ of our socioecological and civilizational crises—including, but not limited to, climate change and biodiversity loss. A shift to bio-based economy (bioeconomy) is an important component of this effort. This paper applies theoretical ideas from decolonial environmental justice and degrowth, placed in the wider context of transformations, to analyse the EU bioeconomy policy within the global context, and to draw lessons and recommendations for just transformations in the EU bioeconomy policy. I identify five dominant logics and approaches in the EU bioeconomy that act as barriers for just transformations and propose alternative ones that can support such transformations. Barriers and alternatives include (1) framing ‘nature’ as a resource and service provider for humans, who are seen as separate from nature, and the need to abandon human–nature duality; (2) dominance of economic green growth and technoscientific policy solutions, and the need to place planetary justice at the centre of tackling socioecological crises; (3) a limited approach to justice, and the need to act upon climate and epistemic justice, including self-determination and self-governing authority; (4) the EU’s ambition for global leadership and competitiveness in global bioeconomic markets and governance, and the need to redefine global governance towards partnerships based on the principles of solidarity, mutual respect, reconciliation and redistribution of power and wealth; (5) hegemonic politico-economic structures and actor coalitions in charge of the EU bioeconomy, and the need for decentralized bottom-up leadership coalitions that promote direct democracy, local autonomy and sovereignty beyond state. I conclude with reflections on the politics of change and risks of co-optation, with a hope to inspire decolonial and just socioecological transformations in and beyond bioeconomy.
Notwendigkeit einer kritischen Prüfung von Methoden zur Lügenerkennung und Vernehmungstaktiken zur Informationsgewinnung von Beschuldigten: ein Positionspapier aus Psychologie und Polizei
Authors: May Lennart , Schneider Teresa , Okulicz-Kozaryn Malgorzata
Published: January 2022

Polizeiliche Entscheidungsträger*innen und Ermittelnde in Deutschland erhalten regelmäßig Aus- und Fortbildungsangebote zu Methoden der Lügenerkennung und zu Vernehmungstaktiken für Beschuldigte, die teilweise unseriös sind. Keinesfalls sollten ineffektive oder ungeprüfte Methoden und Taktiken durch die Polizei angewandt werden, da sie gravierende Folgen für unschuldige Personen (z. B. Freiheitsentzug, soziale Schäden) und die Bevölkerung (z. B. weitere Straftaten durch die eigentlichen Täter*innen, sinkendes Vertrauen in die polizeiliche Ermittlungstätigkeiten) nach sich ziehen können. Besonders problematisch sind pseudowissenschaftliche Angebote, die nicht systematisch geprüfte oder nachweislich ineffektive Inhalte vermitteln, jedoch wissenschaftlich begründet scheinen (z. B. aufgrund des Titels oder der Berufsbeschreibung der anbietenden Personen). Dieses Positionspapier will diese Problematik beleuchten und Personen aus der polizeilichen Lehre und Praxis dazu anregen, Angebote kritisch zu prüfen und schwerpunktmäßig theoretisch fundierte und nachgewiesenermaßen effektive Methoden zum Einschätzen von Falschaussagen (z. B. anhand von Widersprüchen) und Konzepten zur Vernehmung Beschuldigter anzuwenden.
CO2 Gasification of Densified Biomass: The Influence of K on Reaction Rate
Authors: Kaffash Hamideh , Tangstad Merete
Published: January 2022

The Boudouard reactivity of metallurgical coke and densified charcoals was investigated in this study. Potassium is known to accumulate in ferromanganese furnaces and hence was evaluated as a catalyst of CO2 reactivity. Samples were impregnated using a gaseous impregnation technique with K2CO3.The reactivity experiments were designed to simulate conditions occurring in an industrial furnace, as used for production of Mn-alloys. To find out the catalytic effect of potassium, the concentration varied from a fraction of a percent up to 5 wt.%. The results show that with increasing potassium content, the CO2 reactivity of coke and charcoal increased, and this change was more significant for coke. The CO2 reactivities of coke and densified charcoal were much closer to each other at the highest content of potassium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that potassium distributed on the surface as well as on deposited carbon particles formed on densified charcoal.
Awareness of environmental legislation as a deterrent for wildlife crime: A case with Masaai pastoralists, poison use and the Kenya Wildlife Act
Authors: Didarali Zahra , Kuiper Timothy , Brink Christiaan W. , Buij Ralph , Virani Munir Z. , Reson Eric O. , Santangeli Andrea
Published: January 2022

Illegal wildlife crime is a global phenomenon, accelerating the ongoing biodiversity crisis. In the Old World, and particularly in Africa, illegal use of poisons to eliminate carnivores is the main driver of the continental vulture crisis. Knowledge about the underlying source and drivers of this threat is lacking for most areas, including Kenya, a global vulture and biodiversity hotspot. An extensive questionnaire survey of over 1300 respondents was run, using a specialized questioning technique and quantitative analytical approaches. Results show that, while pastoralists have a positive attitude towards vultures, over 20% of them use poisons to eliminate predators. Poisoning was largely driven by livestock losses to predators, and by negative attitude towards predators. Poisoning was less prevalent among respondents aware of the Kenya Wildlife Act. Overall, we suggest that a combination of top-down, e.g. legislation, and bottom-up (such as corrals or compensation) along with awareness campaigns may help reduce poisoning on the ground.
Multi-Bandgap Monolithic Metal Nanowire Percolation Network Sensor Integration by Reversible Selective Laser-Induced Redox
Authors: Bang Junhyuk , Jung Yeongju , Kim Hyungjun , Kim Dongkwan , Cho Maenghyo , Ko Seung Hwan
Published: January 2022

Active electronics are usually composed of semiconductor and metal electrodes which are connected by multiple vacuum deposition steps and photolithography patterning. However, the presence of interface of dissimilar material between semiconductor and metal electrode makes various problems in electrical contacts and mechanical failure. The ideal electronics should not have defective interfaces of dissimilar materials. In this study, we developed a novel method to fabricate active electronic components in a monolithic seamless fashion where both metal and semiconductor can be prepared from the same monolith material without creating a semiconductor–metal interface by reversible selective laser-induced redox (rSLIR) method. Furthermore, rSLIR can control the oxidation state of transition metal (Cu) to yield semiconductors with two different bandgap states (Cu2O and CuO with bandgaps of 2.1 and 1.2 eV, respectively), which may allow multifunctional sensors with multiple bandgaps from the same materials. This novel method enables the seamless integration of single-phase Cu, Cu2O, and CuO, simultaneously while allowing reversible, selective conversion between oxidation states by simply shining laser light. Moreover, we fabricated a flexible monolithic metal–semiconductor–metal multispectral photodetector that can detect multiple wavelengths. The unique monolithic characteristics of rSLIR process can provide next-generation electronics fabrication method overcoming the limitation of conventional photolithography methods.
Crystal Facet Engineering of TiO2 Nanostructures for Enhancing Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting with BiVO4 Nanodots
Authors: Lee Mi Gyoung , Yang Jin Wook , Park Hoonkee , Moon Cheon Woo , Andoshe Dinsefa M. , Park Jongseong , Moon Chang-Ki , Lee Tae Hyung , Choi Kyoung Soon , Cheon Woo Seok , Kim Jang-Joo , Jang Ho Won
Published: January 2022

Although bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has been promising as photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting, its charge recombination issue by short charge diffusion length has led to various studies about heterostructure photoanodes. As a hole blocking layer of BiVO4, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been considered unsuitable because of its relatively positive valence band edge and low electrical conductivity. Herein, a crystal facet engineering of TiO2 nanostructures is proposed to control band structures for the hole blocking layer of BiVO4 nanodots. We design two types of TiO2 nanostructures, which are nanorods (NRs) and nanoflowers (NFs) with different (001) and (110) crystal facets, respectively, and fabricate BiVO4/TiO2 heterostructure photoanodes. The BiVO4/TiO2 NFs showed 4.8 times higher photocurrent density than the BiVO4/TiO2 NRs. Transient decay time analysis and time-resolved photoluminescence reveal the enhancement is attributed to the reduced charge recombination, which is originated from the formation of type II band alignment between BiVO4 nanodots and TiO2 NFs. This work provides not only new insights into the interplay between crystal facets and band structures but also important steps for the design of highly efficient photoelectrodes.
Quantitative considerations about the size dependence of cellular entry and excretion of colloidal nanoparticles for different cell types
Authors: Kang Yanan , Nack Leroy Marwin , Liu Yang , Qi Bing , Huang Yalan , Liu Ziyao , Chakraborty Indranath , Schulz Florian , Ahmed Abdullah A. A. , Clavo Poveda Mirco , Hafizi Fereshta , Roy Sathi , Mutas Marina , Holzapfel Malte , Sanchez-Cano Carlos , Wegner K. David , Feliu Neus , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: January 2022

Most studies about the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with cells have focused on how the physicochemical properties of NPs will influence their uptake by cells. However, much less is known about their potential excretion from cells. However, to control and manipulate the number of NPs in a cell, both cellular uptake and excretion must be studied quantitatively. Monitoring the intracellular and extracellular amount of NPs over time (after residual noninternalized NPs have been removed) enables one to disentangle the influences of cell proliferation and exocytosis, the major pathways for the reduction of NPs per cell. Proliferation depends on the type of cells, while exocytosis depends in addition on properties of the NPs, such as their size. Examples are given herein on the role of these two different processes for different cells and NPs.
Das Narrativ der unaufhaltsam steigenden Ungleichheit geht an der Lebenswirklichkeit der meisten Menschen vorbei
Authors: Wagner Gert G.
Published: January 2022

In diesem Artikel wird diskutiert, warum das weit verbreitete Narrativ einer wachsenden ökonomischen Ungleichheit in Deutschland nicht zu einer Stärkung der entsprechenden politischen Kräfte (SPD, Linkspartei und Gewerkschaften) geführt hat. Der Fokus liegt dabei nicht auf politischen Widerständen und Gegenkräften, die es bezüglich mehr Gleichheit zweifelsohne gab und gibt, sondern auf der Gültigkeit des Narrativs. Es zeigt sich, dass es methodisch und empirisch wenig robust ist und – gemessen an der Lebenszufriedenheit der Menschen in Deutschland – an der Lebenswirklichkeit der Mehrheit vorbeigeht. Zumindest war dies bis zum Beginn der Corona-Pandemie der Fall. Der Artikel leugnet keineswegs nicht oder nur schwer zu rechtfertigende Ungleichheiten, er soll aber deutlich machen, dass es weder methodisch noch empirisch gerechtfertigt ist, von einer unaufhaltsamen unerwünschten Zunahme der ökonomischen Ungleichheit in Deutschland zu sprechen. Will man die Ungleichheit substanziell verkleinern oder zumindest abmildern, bedarf es nach Überzeugung des Autors eines Narrativs, das methodisch und empirisch belastbar ist und das zugleich die Mittelschicht, ohne die keine politischen Mehrheiten möglich sind, erreicht und so genügend Wählerinnen und Wähler in der Mitte u. a. von einer gezielten Umverteilung überzeugt. Der Artikel macht abschliessend Vorschläge für die Verbesserung der empirischen Grundlagen der Messung und Analyse von ökonomischen Ungleichheiten und der Kommunikation der entsprechenden Analyseergebnisse. Prolog und Epilog versuchen aus persönlicher Sicht des Autors eine politische Einordnung der methodischen und empirischen Überlegungen vorzunehmen.
JAX-CNV: A Whole-Genome Sequencing-Based Algorithm for Copy Number Detection at Clinical Grade Level
Authors: Lee Wan-Ping , Zhu Qihui , Yang Xiaofei , Liu Silvia , Cerveira Eliza , Ryan Mallory , Mil-Homens Adam , Bellfy Lauren , Ye Kai , Lee Charles , Zhang Chengsheng
Published: January 2022

We aimed to develop a whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based copy number variant (CNV) calling algorithm with the potential of replacing chromosomal microarray assay (CMA) for clinical diagnosis. JAX-CNV is thus developed for CNV detection from WGS data. The performance of this CNV calling algorithm was evaluated in a blinded manner on 31 samples and compared to the 112 CNVs reported by clinically validated CMAs for these 31 samples. The result showed that JAX-CNV recalled 100% of these CNVs. Besides, JAX-CNV identified an average of 30 CNVs per individual, respresenting an approximately seven-fold increase compared to calls of clinically validated CMAs. Experimental validation of 24 randomly selected CNVs showed one false positive, i.e., a false discovery rate (FDR) of 4.17%. A robustness test on lower-coverage data revealed a 100% sensitivity for CNVs larger than 300 kb (the current threshold for College of American Pathologists) down to 10× coverage. For CNVs larger than 50 kb, sensitivities were 100% for coverages deeper than 20×, 97% for 15×, and 95% for 10×. We developed a WGS-based CNV pipeline, including this newly developed CNV caller JAX-CNV, and found it capable of detecting CMA-reported CNVs at a sensitivity of 100% with about a FDR of 4%. We propose that JAX-CNV could be further examined in a multi-institutional study to justify the transition of first-tier genetic testing from CMAs to WGS. JAX-CNV is available at https://github.com/TheJacksonLaboratory/JAX-CNV.
ASpediaFI: Functional Interaction Analysis of Alternative Splicing Events
Authors: Lee Kyubin , Yu Doyeong , Hyung Daejin , Cho Soo Young , Park Charny
Published: January 2022

Alternative splicing (AS) regulates biological processes governing phenotypes and diseases. Differential AS (DAS) gene test methods have been developed to investigate important exonic expression from high-throughput datasets. However, the DAS events extracted using statistical tests are insufficient to delineate relevant biological processes. In this study, we developed a novel application, Alternative Splicing Encyclopedia: Functional Interaction (ASpediaFI), to systemically identify DAS events and co-regulated genes and pathways. ASpediaFI establishes a heterogeneous interaction network of genes and their feature nodes (i.e., AS events and pathways) connected by co-expression or pathway gene set knowledge. Next, ASpediaFI explores the interaction network using the random walk with restart algorithm and interrogates the proximity from a query gene set. Finally, ASpediaFI extracts significant AS events, genes, and pathways. To evaluate the performance of our method, we simulated RNA sequencing (RNA-  seq) datasets to consider various conditions of sequencing depth and sample size. The performance was compared with that of other methods. Additionally, we analyzed three public datasets of cancer patients or cell lines to evaluate how well ASpediaFI detects biologically relevant candidates. ASpediaFI exhibits strong performance in both simulated and public datasets. Our integrative approach reveals that DAS events that recognize a global co-expression network and relevant pathways determine the functional importance of spliced genes in the subnetwork. ASpediaFI is publicly available at https://bioconductor.org/packages/ASpediaFI.
Theoretical Computer Science for the Working Category Theorist
Authors: Yanofsky Noson S.
Published: January 2022

Using basic category theory, this Element describes all the central concepts and proves the main theorems of theoretical computer science. Category theory, which works with functions, processes, and structures, is uniquely qualified to present the fundamental results of theoretical computer science. In this Element, readers will meet some of the deepest ideas and theorems of modern computers and mathematics, such as Turing machines, unsolvable problems, the P=NP question, Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorem, intractable problems, cryptographic protocols, Alan Turing's Halting problem, and much more. The concepts come alive with many examples and exercises.
Divide and conquer: spatially fractionated radiation therapy
Authors: Prezado Yolanda
Published: January 2022

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) challenges some of the classical dogmas in conventional radiotherapy. The highly modulated spatial dose distributions in SFRT have been shown to lead, both in early clinical trials and in small animal experiments, to a significant increase in normal tissue dose tolerances. Tumour control effectiveness is maintained or even enhanced in some configurations as compared with conventional radiotherapy. SFRT seems to activate distinct radiobiological mechanisms, which have been postulated to involve bystander effects, microvascular alterations and/or immunomodulation. Currently, it is unclear which is the dosimetric parameter which correlates the most with both tumour control and normal tissue sparing in SFRT. Additional biological experiments aiming at parametrizing the relationship between the irradiation parameters (beam width, spacing, peak-to-valley dose ratio, peak and valley doses) and the radiobiology are needed. A sound knowledge of the interrelation between the physical parameters in SFRT and the biological response would expand its clinical use, with a higher level of homogenisation in the realisation of clinical trials. This manuscript reviews the state of the art of this promising therapeutic modality, the current radiobiological knowledge and elaborates on future perspectives.
How History Wars Shape Foreign Policy: An Ancient Kingdom and the Future of China–South Korea Relations
Authors: Gries Peter , Masui Yasuki
Published: January 2022

Do history wars shape international affairs? If so, how and for whom? Taking the historical dispute between China and South Korea over the ancient Gaogouli/Goguryeo Kingdom as a case study, this article explores the individual-level psychological micro-foundations of history wars. A 2020 survey experiment in South Korea pit “ours” vs “theirs” Goguryeo imitation Wikipedia entries to explore their downstream consequences. It revealed direct, indirect, and conditional effects. Exposure to China's claim to the Kingdom undermined Korean pride, increasing dislike of China, and lessening desires to cooperate with it. Pre-existing levels of nationalism divided South Koreans in how angry they became after exposure the Wikipedia primes. That anger, however, only shaped the China policy preferences of those South Koreans who viewed the balance of military power with China favorably. Implications for ownership disputes over kimchi and other national possessions are also discussed, as are the implications of history wars for war and peace in twenty-first-century East Asia.
Wave breaking and jet formation on axisymmetric surface gravity waves
Authors: McAllister M.L. , Draycott S. , Davey T. , Yang Y. , Adcock T.A.A. , Liao S. , van den Bremer T.S.
Published: January 2022

Axisymmetric standing waves occur across a wide range of free surface flows. When these waves reach a critical height (steepness), wave breaking and jet formation occur. For travelling surface gravity waves, wave breaking is generally considered to limit wave height and reversible wave motion. In the ocean, the behaviour of directionally spread waves lies between the limits of purely travelling (two dimensions) and axisymmetric (three dimensions). Hence, understanding wave breaking and jet formation on axisymmetric surface gravity waves is an important step in understanding extreme and breaking waves in the ocean. We examine an example of axisymmetric wave breaking and jet formation colloquially known as the ‘spike wave’, created in the FloWave circular wave tank at the University of Edinburgh, UK. We generate this spike wave with maximum crest amplitudes of 0.15–6.0 m (0.024–0.98 when made non-dimensional by characteristic radius), with wave breaking occurring for crest amplitudes greater than 1.0 m (0.16 non-dimensionalised). Unlike two-dimensional travelling waves, wave breaking does not limit maximum crest amplitude, and our measurements approximately follow the jet height scaling proposed by Ghabache et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 761, 2014, pp. 206–219) for cavity collapse. The spike wave is predominantly created by linear dispersive focusing. A trough forms, then collapses producing a jet, which is sensitive to the trough's shape. The evolution of the jets that form in our experiments is predicted well by the hyperbolic jet model proposed by Longuet–Higgins (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 127, 1983, pp. 103–121), previously applied to jets forming on bubbles.
Influence of Reynolds number on the dynamics of rigid, slender and non-axisymmetric fibres in channel flow turbulence
Authors: Alipour Mobin , De Paoli Marco , Soldati Alfredo
Published: January 2022

We investigate experimentally the dynamics of non-axisymmetric fibres in channel flow turbulence, focusing specifically on the importance of the fibre size relative to the flow scales. To this aim, we maintain the same physical size of the fibres and we increase the shear Reynolds number. Experiments are performed in the TU Wien Turbulent Water Channel for three values of shear Reynolds number, namely 180, 360 and 720. Fibres are slender – length to diameter ratio of 120 – rigid, curved and neutrally buoyant particles and their shape ranges from low curvature – almost straight fibres – to moderate curvature. In all cases, fibre size remains small compared with the channel height (${\leqslant }1.5\,\%$). Three-dimensional and time-resolved recordings of the laser-illuminated measurement region are obtained from four high-speed cameras and used to infer fibre dynamics. With the aid of multiplicative algebraic reconstruction techniques, fibre position, orientation, velocity and rotation rates are determined. Our measurements span over the half-channel height, from wall to centre, and allow a complete characterisation of the fibre dynamics in all regions of the flow. Specifically, we measure fibre preferential distribution and orientation. We observe that the fibre dynamics is always influenced by their curvature. Through a comparison between measurements of the near-wall dynamics of the fibres and the near-wall dynamics of the flow, we identify a causal relationship between fibre velocity and orientation, and the near-wall turbulence dynamics. Finally, we have been able to provide original measurements of the tumbling rate of the fibres, for which we report the influence of fibre curvature. We underline that our measurements confirm previous findings obtained in numerical and experimental works.
A computational study of thermally induced secondary atomization in multicomponent droplets
Authors: Guida Paolo , Ceschin Alberto , Saxena Saumitra , Im Hong G. , Roberts William L.
Published: January 2022

This study presents computational simulations of multicomponent and multiphase flows to reproduce the physical phenomena in the secondary atomization of a droplet induced by a hot temperature environment. The computational fluid dynamics model is based on the geometric volume of fluid method, with piecewise linear interface calculation reconstruction for accurate determination of the curvature and evaporation fluxes at the interface. The purpose of the model was to faithfully reproduce complex physical processes, such as internal gas cavity formation, liquid–vapour interface instability, cavity collapse and liquid jet ejection, and the pinch-off of a secondary droplet, leading to the microexplosion phenomenon that greatly enhances the evaporation rate of non-volatile liquid droplets. The solver was validated against the analytical solution in benchmark cases, and experimental data with bicomponent droplets reported in the literature. The developed model was used to predict the atomization of heavy fuel oil exposed at high temperatures under microgravity conditions. Different atomization regimes were identified, depending on the initial size of the internal bubbles. While small bubbles led to simple gas ejections, cavity collapse caused the larger bubbles to produce a jet formation. When the ratio between the bubble and droplet volumes was bigger than 0.7, microexplosions occurred. The results were found to be consistent with cases of bubble burst on flat surfaces, showing a strong dependence on the Ohnesorge number (

$Oh$

). Key observable quantities, particularly jet velocity and bubble cap drainage velocity, were found to agree with correlations reported in other studies. The similarities were also supported by studies extending over a wide range of simulations (4000 cases) at different

$Oh$

. An inversion in the dependence of the jet velocity on

$Oh$

(above a critical value

$Oh_c$

) was observed.
The Carboniferous conodont Lochriea commutata (Branson and Mehl, 1941), the type species of Lochriea Scott, 1942: nomenclatural history, apparatus composition and effects on Lochriea species
Authors: von Bitter Peter H. , Norby Rodney D. , Stamm Robert G.
Published: January 2022

Lochriea commutata (Branson and Mehl, 1941), a senior subjective synonym of Lochriea montanaensis Scott, 1942, is the type species of Lochriea Scott, 1942, one of the first conodont genera named using bedding-plane assemblages. Lochriea commutata is both wide- and long-ranging, locally stratigraphically important, and a consistently recognized Carboniferous species, despite its taxonomic journey from Spathognathodus to Gnathodus to Paragnathodus to Lochriea.

Lochriea commutata was, as Lochriea montanaensis, initially reported to contain 22+ elements, the apparatus composition of the genus being subsequently amended to 17+ elements based on Lochriea wellsi Melton and Scott, 1973, which is an untenable hypothesis because the latter was a conodontophage. Restudy of original and new bedding-plane assemblages in the mid 1970s established that the first assemblages studied were fecal, the initial reconstruction incorporated elements of two individuals, and Lochriea commutata possessed a feeding apparatus of 2P1, 2P2, 2M, 2S1, 2S2, 2S3, 2S4, and 1S0 elements. A Lochriea sp. bedding-plane assemblage was subsequently found to have the same element composition, and restudy of type material, available bedding-plane assemblages, and new fused clusters confirms that Lochriea commutata had a 15-element ozarkodinid apparatus.

While species are still assigned to Lochriea using carminiscaphate P1 elements almost exclusively, those assignments must be considered tentative until their apparatuses are determined to be similar to that of L. commutata, and until characteristics of elements other than the P1 element, particularly the makellate M element and the bipennate S3/4 element, are also taken into account.

Lochriea bigsnowyensis Scott, 1942 is reassigned to Cavusgnathus Harris and Hollingsworth, 1933.