bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards clinical application of implantable brain–computer interfaces for people with late-stage ALS: medical and ethical considerations
Authors: Vansteensel Mariska J. , Klein Eran , van Thiel Ghislaine , Gaytant Michael , Simmons Zachary , Wolpaw Jonathan R. , Vaughan Theresa M.
Published: November 2022

Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently develop speech and communication problems in the course of their disease. Currently available augmentative and alternative communication technologies do not present a solution for many people with advanced ALS, because these devices depend on residual and reliable motor activity. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) use neural signals for computer control and may allow people with late-stage ALS to communicate even when conventional technology falls short. Recent years have witnessed fast progression in the development and validation of implanted BCIs, which place neural signal recording electrodes in or on the cortex. Eventual widespread clinical application of implanted BCIs as an assistive communication technology for people with ALS will have significant consequences for their daily life, as well as for the clinical management of the disease, among others because of the potential interaction between the BCI and other procedures people with ALS undergo, such as tracheostomy. This article aims to facilitate responsible real-world implementation of implanted BCIs. We review the state of the art of research on implanted BCIs for communication, as well as the medical and ethical implications of the clinical application of this technology. We conclude that the contribution of all BCI stakeholders, including clinicians of the various ALS-related disciplines, will be needed to develop procedures for, and shape the process of, the responsible clinical application of implanted BCIs.
Novel technique of flexible endoscopic therapy of Zenker’s diverticulum using a pulsed Holmium laser—a retrospective single-center analysis
Authors: Singhartinger Franz , Gantschnigg Antonia , Mühlbacher Iris , Wagner Andrej , Koch Oliver , Emmanuel Klaus , Holzinger Josef
Published: November 2022

Background

In recent years, flexible endoscopic therapy of Zenker’s diverticulum seems to become the standard approach. The aim of this study was to assess the safety, efficacy and short-term outcome of flexible endoscopic diverticulotomy of Zenker’s diverticulum with a pulsed Holmium laser (PHL).

Patients and methods

All patients treated with endoscopic laser-diverticulotomy using a PHL between February 2013 and November 2021 at the University Hospital Salzburg were extracted from our prospectively maintained endoscopic database. Demographic data, size of Zenker’s diverticulum, procedure duration, complications, short-term outcome and rate of recurrence were evaluated.

Results

In the study period, 45 procedures in 36 patients were performed. Mean depth of the Zenker diverticulum was 21 mm (10–60 mm), mean procedure time was 31 min (15–60 min), intraprocedural adverse events occurred in 2 out of 45 patients (5%) which were both managed endoscopically, post-procedural stenosis occurred in 1 patient (2%). In the follow-up examinations (mean follow-up after 6.4 months), 27 out of 36 patients (75%) were symptom-free, 6 patients (17%) reported an improvement of dysphagia. 3 patients (9%) suffered from persistent dysphagia. After initial symptom relief, a recurrent diverticulum occurred in 5 patients. Endoscopic re-intervention with PHL was done in these cases.

Conclusions

Flexible endoscopic treatment of primary and recurrent Zenker’s diverticulum using a PHL is a promising, safe and effective treatment with, in our opinion, technical advantages in comparison to the CO2 laser. Further controlled prospective trials are needed.
Embryonic mouse medial neocortex as a model system for studying the radial glial scaffold in fetal human neocortex
Authors: Vaid Samir , Heikinheimo Oskari , Namba Takashi
Published: November 2022

Neocortex is the evolutionarily newest region in the brain, and is a structure with diversified size and morphology among mammalian species. Humans have the biggest neocortex compared to the body size, and their neocortex has many foldings, that is, gyri and sulci. Despite the recent methodological advances in in vitro models such as cerebral organoids, mice have been continuously used as a model system for studying human neocortical development because of the accessibility and practicality of in vivo gene manipulation. The commonly studied neocortical region, the lateral neocortex, generally recapitulates the developmental process of the human neocortex, however, there are several important factors missing in the lateral neocortex. First, basal (outer) radial glia (bRG), which are the main cell type providing the radial scaffold to the migrating neurons in the fetal human neocortex, are very few in the mouse lateral neocortex, thus the radial glial scaffold is different from the fetal human neocortex. Second, as a consequence of the difference in the radial glial scaffold, migrating neurons might exhibit different migratory behavior and thus distribution. To overcome those problems, we propose the mouse medial neocortex, where we have earlier revealed an abundance of bRG similar to the fetal human neocortex, as an alternative model system. We found that similar to the fetal human neocortex, the radial glial scaffold, neuronal migration and neuronal distribution are tangentially scattered in the mouse medial neocortex. Taken together, the embryonic mouse medial neocortex could be a suitable and accessible in vivo model system to study human neocortical development and its pathogenesis.
Marktdesign für die Gasmangellage
Authors: Ockenfels Axel
Published: November 2022

Bisher ist unklar, wer wie viel Gas zu welchem Preis in einer Mangellage in Deutschland bekommt, wenn der Regulierer rationieren muss. Dies droht die Anreize in und im Vorfeld einer Mangellage zu verwässern. In diesem Beitrag wird die potenziell hilfreiche Rolle eines Zertifikatsmarktes für die Allokation und Bepreisung in der Mangellage in den Blick genommen.
Handgrip strength is associated with learning and verbal fluency in older men without dementia: insights from the NHANES
Authors: Prokopidis Konstantinos , Giannos Panagiotis , Ispoglou Theocharis , Kirk Ben , Witard Oliver C. , Dionyssiotis Yannis , Scott David , Macpherson Helen , Duque Gustavo , Isanejad Masoud
Published: November 2022

Low handgrip strength, a hallmark measure of whole-body strength, has been linked with greater odds of cognitive decline and dementia; however, conflicting findings, which could be due to population characteristics and choice of tools, such for the assessment of handgrip strength and cognitive function domains, also exist. Therefore, we examined the relationship of handgrip strength with a comprehensive list of tests to assess domains of cognitive function using a representative sample of US older men and women without neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2014, with a study cohort of 777 older adults (380 men and 397 women) above 60 years of age. Handgrip strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer, while cognitive function was assessed through the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) Word List Learning Test (WLLT), Word List Recall Test (WLRT), Intrusion Word Count Test (WLLT-IC and WLRT-IC), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Sex-stratified multiple linear regression analyses were performed upon covariate adjustment for age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, education, medical history, body mass index, physical activity, energy, protein, and alcohol intake. Maximal handgrip strength was positively associated with cognitive function scores, including CERAD WLLT (P = 0.009, R2 = 0.146) and AFT (P = 0.022, R2 = 0.024) in older men, but not in women (CERAD WLLT: P = 0.253, AFT: P = 0.370). No significant associations with CERAD WLLRT (men: P = 0.057, women: P = 0.976), WLLT-IC (men: P = 0.671, women: P = 0.869), WLLRT-IC (men: P = 0.111, women: P = 0.861), and DSST (men: P = 0.108, women: P = 0.091) were observed. Dose–response curves exhibited a prominent linear relationship between all significant associations after covariate adjustment, with no indication of a plateau in these relationships. In conclusion, higher handgrip strength was independently associated with better learning ability for novel verbal information and verbal fluency in US men over the age of 60 and without dementia. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether muscle strength independently predicts cognitive function changes in older adults in a sex-specific manner, and whether this connection is affirmed to the possibility of reverse causation due to declines in physical activity levels in the preclinical phase of dementia.
A framework for the bi-level optimization of a generic transport aircraft fuselage using aeroelastic loads
Authors: Sinha Kautuk , Klimmek Thomas
Published: November 2022

The aeroelastic loads and design processes at the German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aeroelasticity in the framework of multi-disciplinary optimization are constantly evolving. New developments have been made in the in-house model generation tool ModGen, which allow us to create detailed fuselage models for preliminary design. As a part of the subsequent developments to integrate the fuselage structure in our aeroelastic design process, a new framework for optimizing the fuselage structure has been developed. The process is based on a bi-level optimization approach which follows a global–local optimization methodology to simplify a large optimization problem. A sub-structuring procedure is used to define stiffened panels as independent structures for local optimization. The panels are sized with stress and buckling constraints with consideration of several aeroelastic load cases. Furthermore, in this paper, we present a physical sub-structure grouping process which enables reduced number of panel optimizations and saves considerable computational effort with little compromise in the solution accuracy.
Chart-Based Granular Slope Stability Assessment Using the Modified Mohr–Coulomb Criterion
Authors: Zhou Jian , Li Chuanqi , Asteris Panagiotis G. , Shi Xiuzhi , Armaghani Danial Jahed
Published: November 2022

There are usually two types of slopes in nature: soil and rock. However, the granular slope has gradually come into view and has caused concern. In this paper, a modified Mohr–Coulomb (MC) criterion has been proposed to estimate the strength parameters of medium materials using a new parameter ($$\tau_{0}$$

τ
0

) instead of the traditional MC parameter (c). Meanwhile, there is a new stability chart of a granular slope whose core is the dimensionless stability number Ns and dimensionless coefficient DR based on a modified MC criterion to estimate the safety factor of a granular slope preliminarily when the geometric and strength parameters of the slope are determined. A practical case is introduced to test the results, showing that the stability chart proposed in this paper is applicable to granular slopes. The research content and the proposed new viewpoints are intended to offer preliminary judgments on the stability analysis of granular slopes and provide guidance for the stability analysis and construction design of granular slope engineering.
Ecotoxicity of selected carbon-based nanomaterials
Authors: Gamoń F. , Ziembińska-Buczyńska A. , Łukowiec D. , Tomaszewski M.
Published: November 2022

The widespread use of the nanomaterials increases the emission of nano-pollutants into the water. Carbon nanomaterials are particularly interesting. They are characterized by relatively stable structure, which makes them able to migrate and accumulate in the environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the potential toxicity at the different trophic levels of four selected carbon nanostructures: graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) on indicators at three trophic levels. Producers was represented by Lemna minor in growth inhibition test. The ecotoxicological effect for consumers was estimated by acute tests on Artemia franciscana, Brachionus calyciflorus and Thamnocephalus platyurus, while the acute toxicity on decomposers was studied on bacteria Escherichia coli. Results show that the short-term exposure on MWCNTs, f-MWCNTs, GO and rGO can be toxic at three trophic levels. The influence of the tested materials was much higher for the consumers, than for the producers. The lowest toxicity from all researched carbon-based nanomaterials was presented by GO. Moreover, generation of high reactive form of oxygen, mechanical damage of cell wall and membrane is one of the main toxicity mechanism; thus, the toxicity depends heavily of the dose and the shape of the nanomaterials.
The Influence of the Madden–Julian Oscillation on the Wet Season Rainfall over Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almazroui Mansour
Published: November 2022

The influence of Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is examined on intraseasonal rainfall variability during the wet season (November–April) by using the real-time multivariate (RMM) MJO index, ERA5 reanalysis, and daily observed rainfall dataset from 26 stations in Saudi Arabia for the period 1985–2021. The MJO 8 phases are categorized into wet (phases 1, 2, 7 and 8) and dry (phases 3, 4, 5, and 6) based on the Saudi Arabian intraseasonal rainfall characteristics associated with MJO phases. It is observed that 41% (46%) of total (extreme) rainfall events occur during the MJO wet phases, while only 23% (18%) of such events occur during MJO dry phases. The intraseasonal variability signals are isolated from daily dataset by applying a 30- to 90-day period bandpass filter. The analyses are validated by constructing composites of daily filtered precipitation anomalies during MJO 8 phases. The physical mechanism indicates that the significant intraseasonal wetter conditions are linked with enhanced easterly and southeasterly moisture convergence over Saudi Arabia from the Arabian Sea. The atmospheric cyclonic circulation anomalies during the wet phases favor more moisture convergence and vertical moisture advection, which may lead to enhanced convection and rainfall. However, during the dry phases, anticyclonic circulation anomalies enhance moisture divergence and reduce vertical moisture advection and consequently suppress the convection and rainfall activity over Saudi Arabia. The analyses show that the intraseasonal rainfall variability over Saudi Arabia is significantly influenced by the MJO during the wet season. These findings have important implications for sub-seasonal rainfall forecasting in Saudi Arabia.
Decentralization and Empowerment for Rural Development
Authors: Nagarajan Hari K. , Binswanger-Mkhize Hans P. , Meenakshisundaram S. S.
Published: November 2022

This volume, which combines the experience of local governance in different countries, a qualitative study of local governance in action in one region of India, and a unique forty-year national panel study of rural India, provides a sober assessment of both the remarkable achievements of India’s experiment with the Panchayati Raj and the ways in which this experiment has fallen short of its promise. It is essential reading not only for those looking for ways to make rural governance work better but also for academic social scientists looking for fresh ideas about how to model and analyze the process of rural governance.
Environments of evolved massive stars: evidence for episodic mass ejections
Authors: Kraus M. , Cidale L. S. , Arias M. L. , Torres A. F. , Kolka I. , Maravelias G. , Nickeler D. H. , Glatzel W. , Liimets T.
Published: November 2022

The post-main sequence evolutionary path of massive stars comprises various transition phases, in which the stars shed large amounts of material into their environments. Our studies focus on two of them: B[e] supergiants and yellow hypergiants, for which we investigate the structure and dynamics within their environments. We find that each B[e] supergiant is surrounded by a unique set of rings or arc-like structures. These structures are either stable over time or they display high variability, including expansion and dilution. In contrast, yellow hypergiants are embedded in multiple shells of gas and dust. These objects are famous for their outburst activity. Moreover, the dynamics in their extended atmospheres imply an enhanced pulsation activity prior to outburst. The physical mechanism(s) leading to episodic mass ejections in these two types of stars is still uncertain. We propose that strange-mode instabilities, excited in the inflated envelopes of these objects, play a significant role.
Magnetised gas nebulae of evolved massive stars
Authors: Meyer Dominique M.-A.
Published: November 2022

Massive stars are amongst the rarest but also most intriguing stars. Their extreme, magnetised stellar winds induce, by wind-ISM interaction, famous multi-wavelengths circumstellar gas nebulae of various morphologies, spanning from large-scale wind bubbles to stellar wind bow shocks, rings and bipolar shapes. We present two- and three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of the circumstellar medium of such massive stars at different phase of their evolution. Particularly, we investigate the stability properties of 3D MHD bow shock nebulae around the runaway red supergiant stars IRC-10414 and Betelgeuse. Our results show that their astrospheres are stabilised by an organised, non-parallel ambient magnetic field. These findings suggest that Betelgeuse’s bar is of interstellar origin. Last, we explore the circular aspect of the young nebula around the Wolf-Rayet stars. It is found that Wolf-Rayet nebulae are not affected by the ISM gas distribution in which the stellar objects lie, even in the case of fast stellar motion: as testifies the ring-like surroundings of the Milky Way’s fastest Wolf-Rayet star, WR124. The morphology of these nebulae is tightly related to their pre-Wolf-Rayet wind geometry and to their phase evolution transition properties, which can generate bipolar shapes. We will further discuss their diffuse projected emission by means of radiative transfer calculations and show that the projected diffuse emission can appear as bipolar structures as in NGC6888.
Simulations of Colliding Winds in Massive Binary Systems with Accretion
Authors: Kashi Amit , Michaelis Amir
Published: November 2022

We run numerical simulations of massive colliding wind binaries, and quantify the accretion onto the secondary under different conditions. We set 3D simulation of a LBV–WR system and vary the LBV mass loss rate to obtain different values of wind momentum ratio η. We show that the mean accretion rate for stationary systems fits a power law Macc∝ η–1.6 for a wide range of η, until for extremely small η saturation in the accretion is reached. We find that the stronger the primary wind, the smaller the opening angle of the colliding wind structure (CWS), and compare it with previous analytical estimates. We demonstrate the efficiency of clumpy wind in penetrating the CWS and inducing smaller scale clumps that can be accreted. We propose that simulations of colliding winds can reveal more relations as the ones we found, and can be used to constrain stellar parameters.
Route towards complete 3D hydro-chemical simulations of companion-perturbed AGB outflows
Authors: Maes Silke , Siess Lionel , Homan Ward , Malfait Jolien , De Ceuster Frederik , Ceulemans Thomas , Donné Dion , Esseldeurs Mats , Decin Leen
Published: November 2022

Low- and intermediate mass stars experience a significant mass loss during the last phases of their evolution, which obscures them in a vast, dusty envelope. Although it has long been thought this envelope is generally spherically symmetric in shape, recent high-resolution observations find that most of these stars exhibit complex and asymmetrical morphologies, most likely resulting from binary interaction. In order to improve our understanding about these systems, theoretical studies are needed in the form of numerical simulations. Currently, a handful of simulations exist, albeit they mainly focus on the hydrodynamics of the outflow. Hence, we here present the pathway to more detailed and accurate modelling of companion-perturbed outflows with, by discussing the missing but crucial physical and chemical processes. With these state-of-the-art simulations we aim to make a direct comparison with observations to unveil the true identity on the embedded systems.
MATISSE first pictures of dust and molecules around R Sculptoris
Authors: Drevon J. , Millour F. , Cruzalèbes P. , Paladini C. , Hron J. , Meilland A. , Allouche F. , Aringer B. , Berio P. , Danchi W.C. , Hocdé V. , Hofmann K.-H. , Lagarde S. , Lopez B. , Matter A. , Petrov R. , Robbe-Dubois S. , Schertl D. , Stee P. , Vakili F. , Varga J. , Waters R. , Weigelt G. , Woillez J. , Wittkowski M. , Zins G.
Published: November 2022

Carbon-rich dust is known to form in the atmosphere of the semiregular variable star R Sculptoris. Such stardust, as well as the molecules and gas produced during the lifetime of the star, will be spread into the Galaxy via the mass-loss process. Probing this process is crucial to understand the chemical enrichment of the Galaxy. R Scl was observed using the ESO/VLTI MATISSE instrument in December 2018. Here we show the first images of the star between 3 and 10 R*. Using the complementary MIRA 3D image reconstruction and the RHAPSODY 1D intensity profile reconstruction code, we reveal the location of molecules and dust in the close environment of the star. Indeed, the C2H2 and HCN molecules are spatially located between 1 and 3.4 R* which is much closer to the star than the location of the dust. The R Scl spectrum is fitted by molecules and a dust mixture of 90% of amorphous carbon and 10% of silicone carbide. The inner boundary of the dust envelope is estimated by DUSTY at about 4.6 R*. We derive a mass-loss rate of 1.2 ± 0.4 × 10−6M⊙ yr−1however no clear SiC forming region has been detected in the MATISSE data.
Can pre-supernova winds from massive stars enrich the interstellar medium with nitrogen at high redshift?
Authors: Roy Arpita , Krumholz Mark R. , Dopita Michael A. , Sutherland Ralph S. , Kewley Lisa J. , Heger Alexander
Published: November 2022

Understanding the nucleosynthetic origin of nitrogen and the evolution of the N/O ratio in the interstellar medium is crucial for a comprehensive picture of galaxy chemical evolution at high-redshift because most observational metallicity (O/H) estimates are implicitly dependent on the N/O ratio. The observed N/O at high-redshift shows an overall constancy with O/H, albeit with a large scatter. We show that these heretofore unexplained features can be explained by the pre-supernova wind yields from rotating massive stars (M≳10M⊙,ν/νcrit≳0.4). Our models naturally produce the observed N/O plateau, as well as the scatter at low O/H. We find the scatter to arise from varying star formation efficiency. However, the models that have supernovae dominated yields produce a poor fit to the observed N/O at low O/H. This peculiar abundance pattern at low O/H suggests that dwarf galaxies are most likely to be devoid of SNe yields and are primarily enriched by pre-supernova wind abundances.
Effects of wind mass-loss on the observational properties of Type Ib and Ic supernova progenitors
Authors: Yoon Sung-Chul , Jung Moo-Keon , Jin Harim , Kim Hyun-Jeong
Published: November 2022

Progenitors of Type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe) are stripped envelope stars and provide important clues on the mass-loss history of massive stars. Direct observations of the progenitors before the supernova explosion would provide strong constraints on the exact nature of SN Ib/Ic progenitors. Given that stripped envelope massive stars can have an optically thick wind as in the case of Wolf-Rayet stars, the influence of the wind on the observational properties needs to be properly considered to correctly infer progenitor properties from pre-SN observations. Non-LTE stellar atmosphere models indicate that the optical brightness could be greatly enhanced with an optically thick wind because of lifting-up of the photosphere from the stellar surface to the wind matter, and line and free-free emissions. So far, only a limited number of SN Ib/Ic progenitor candidates have been reported, including iPTF13bvn, SN 2017ein and SN 2019yvr. We argue that these three candidates are a biased sample, being unusually bright in the optical compared to what is expected from typical SN Ib/Ic progenitors, and that mass-loss enhancement during the final evolutionary stage can explain their optical properties.
How did the Stellar Winds of Massive Stars influence the Surrounding Environment in the Galactic Center?
Authors: Zhang Mengfei , Li Zhiyuan
Published: November 2022

In the Galactic center, there are many massive stars blowing strong stellar winds, which will strongly influence the surrounding environment and even the Galactic feedback. The Galactic center is quiescent at present, so the unique continuous energy input source is the massive star, consequently giving rise to many special features, such as the radio bubbles, the X-ray chimneys, the non-thermal filaments and high-metallicity abundance. However, it is difficult to quantify their contributions due to the complex environment in this region, and the past supernovae and Sgr A* activity are also important factors shaping these features. In this work, we discuss some structures possibly related to the stellar winds and perform preliminary simulations to study their evolution. We conclude the stellar winds can obviously influence a large scale ∼ 100 pc, and can possibly influence a larger scale environment indirectly.
Mass transfer in AGB binaries - uncovering a new evolution channel by 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Ivanova Natalia , Carroll-Nellenback Jonathan
Published: November 2022

The origin of chemically peculiar stars and nonzero eccentricity in evolved close binaries have been long-standing problems in binary stellar evolution. Answers to these questions may trace back to an intense mass transfer during the asymptotic-giant-branch (AGB) binary phase. We use AstroBEAR to solve the 3D radiation hydrodynamic equations and calculate the mass transfer rate in AGB binaries that undergo the wind-Roche-lobe overflow or Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton (BHL) accretion. One of the goals of this work is to illustrate the transition from the wind- Roche-lobe overflow to BHL accretion. Both circumbinary disks and spiral structure outflows can appear in the simulations. As a result of enhanced mass transfer and angular momentum transfer, some AGB binaries may undergo orbit shrinkage, and some will expand. The high mass transfer efficiency is closely related to the presence of the circumbinary disks.
Gender, intimate partner homicide, and rurality in early-twentieth-century New South Wales
Authors: Strange Carolyn , Payne Collin , Fraser Fiona
Published: November 2022

Rural criminological literature on lethal domestic violence and feminist historical research on the patriarchal judgment of women accused of killing male intimate partners (IPs) have developed a dystopic image of the past for nonurban women. This paper questions that impression by asking whether women were more likely than men to be convicted of IP murder, and whether rural women were treated more harshly than urban women. Through quantitative analysis of 221 IP murder trials in New South Wales, 1901–1955, plus four representative case studies, it reveals that women tried for IP murders in rural areas were treated more leniently than their urban counterparts and significantly less harshly than male perpetrators of IP homicide. This paper demonstrates how historical criminological analysis of illustrative qualitative evidence, grounded in quantitative data on locational distinctions, can expose significant variations over time and place in the fate of abused women prosecuted for IP homicide.
Lithospheric and Slab Configurations From Receiver Function Imaging in Northwestern South America, Colombia
Authors: Mojica Boada Manuel Jose , Poveda Esteban , Tary Jean Baptiste
Published: November 2022

The northwestern corner of South America presents a highly complex geodynamical setting including the convergence between South America, Nazca, and Caribbean plates; which also entails heterogeneity and complexity in the lithospheric structure. Here, we present depth‐migrated common‐conversion point (CCP) teleseismic receiver function profiles carried out using seismological data between 2011 and 2020 from the Colombian Geological Service, combined with some stations of observatories and international networks. These profiles provide better constraints on the lateral interpretation of the main lithospheric discontinuities in this region. We provide an updated crustal thickness map displaying some differences from previous studies, especially in the northernmost part of the cordilleran system. Our results also show some intracrustal features such as the regional detachment surface beneath the Eastern Cordillera and the presence of deep melt reservoirs under the Central Cordillera and the Paipa‐Iza complex in the Eastern Cordillera. We also discuss the lithospheric thickness and the potential existence of a highly hydrated and serpentinized mantle wedge under the forearc over the slab segment south of the Caldas tear. Furthermore, the CCP profiles further support the subduction system segmentation under northwestern South America, with at least five slab segments, two of them overlapping between ∼5.5 and ∼8°N, three belonging to the Nazca plate, and two having a Caribbean origin. The Bucaramanga nest appears to be linked to the interaction between the two northmost slab segments, while the Cauca cluster might be related to a slab dehydration process of a highly fractured zone.
Chronic hypoxia leads to cognitive impairment by promoting HIF-2α-mediated ceramide catabolism and alpha-synuclein hyperphosphorylation
Authors: Li Gaifen , Liu Jia , Guo Mengyuan , Gu Yakun , Guan Yuying , Shao Qianqian , Ma Wei , Ji Xunming
Published: November 2022

Chronic hypoxia leads to irreversible cognitive impairment, primarily due to hippocampal neurodegeneration, for which the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. We administered hypoxia (13%) to C57BL mice for 1–14 days in this study. Chronic hypoxia for 7 or 14 d, but not 1 or 3 d, resulted in alpha-synuclein hyperphosphorylation at serine129 (α-Syn p-S129) and protein aggregation, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and cognitive deficits, whereas the latter could be prevented by alpha-synuclein knockdown or an administered short peptide competing at α-Syn S129. These results suggest that α-Syn p-S129 mediates hippocampal degeneration and cognitive impairment following chronic hypoxia. Furthermore, we found that chronic hypoxia enhanced ceramide catabolism by inducing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α and HIF-2α-dependent transcriptional activation of alkaline ceramidase 2 (Acer2). Thus, the enzymatic activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a specific phosphatase for α-syn, is inhibited, leading to the sustained induction of α-Syn p-S129. Finally, we found that intermittent hypoxic preconditioning protected against subsequent chronic hypoxia-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment by preventing α-Syn p-S129. These results proved the critical role of α-syn pathology in chronic hypoxia-afforded cognitive impairment and revealed a novel mechanism underlying α-syn hyperphosphorylation during chronic hypoxia. The findings bear implications in developing novel therapeutic interventions for chronic hypoxia-related brain disorders.
Real-time chirality transfer monitoring from statistically random to discrete homochiral nanotubes
Authors: Fa Shixin , Shi Tan-hao , Akama Suzu , Adachi Keisuke , Wada Keisuke , Tanaka Seigo , Oyama Naoki , Kato Kenichi , Ohtani Shunsuke , Nagata Yuuya , Akine Shigehisa , Ogoshi Tomoki
Published: November 2022

Real time monitoring of chirality transfer processes is necessary to better understand their kinetic properties. Herein, we monitor an ideal chirality transfer process from a statistically random distribution to a diastereomerically pure assembly in real time. The chirality transfer is based on discrete trimeric tubular assemblies of planar chiral pillar[5]arenes, achieving the construction of diastereomerically pure trimers of pillar[5]arenes through synergistic effect of ion pairing between a racemic rim-differentiated pillar[5]arene pentaacid bearing five benzoic acids on one rim and five alkyl chains on the other, and an optically resolved pillar[5]arene decaamine bearing ten amines. When the decaamine is mixed with the pentaacid, the decaamine is sandwiched by two pentaacids through ten ion pairs, initially producing a statistically random mixture of a homochiral trimer and two heterochiral trimers. The heterochiral trimers gradually dissociate and reassemble into the homochiral trimers after unit flipping of the pentaacid, leading to chirality transfer from the decaamine and producing diastereomerically pure trimers.
Constraints on exotic spin-velocity-dependent interactions
Authors: Wei Kai , Ji Wei , Fu Changbo , Wickenbrock Arne , Flambaum Victor V. , Fang Jiancheng , Budker Dmitry
Published: November 2022

Experimental searches for exotic spin-dependent forces are attracting a lot of attention because they allow to test theoretical extensions to the standard model. Here, we report an experimental search for possible exotic spin-dependent force, specifically spin-and-velocity-dependent forces, by using a K-Rb-21Ne co-magnetometer and a tungsten ring featuring a high nucleon density. Taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the co-magnetometer, the pseudomagnetic field from this exotic force is measured to be ≤7 aT. This sets limits on coupling constants for the neutron-nucleon and proton-nucleon interactions in the range of ≥0.1 m (mediator boson mass ≤2 μeV). The coupling constant limits are established to be $$|{g}_{V}^{n}|\,\le \,8.2\times 1{0}^{-11}$$
∣

g

V

n

∣

≤

8.2
×
1

0

−
11

and $$|{g}_{V}^{p}|\,\le \,3.7\times 1{0}^{-10}$$
∣

g

V

p

∣

≤

3.7
×
1

0

−
10

, which are more than one order of magnitude tighter than astronomical and cosmological limits on the coupling between the new gauge boson such as Z’ and standard model particles.
Inner southern magnetosphere observation of Mercury via SERENA ion sensors in BepiColombo mission
Authors: Orsini S. , Milillo A. , Lichtenegger H. , Varsani A. , Barabash S. , Livi S. , De Angelis E. , Alberti T. , Laky G. , Nilsson H. , Phillips M. , Aronica A. , Kallio E. , Wurz P. , Olivieri A. , Plainaki C. , Slavin J. A. , Dandouras I. , Raines J. M. , Benkhoff J. , Zender J. , Berthelier J.-J. , Dosa M. , Ho G. C. , Killen R. M. , McKenna-Lawlor S. , Torkar K. , Vaisberg O. , Allegrini F. , Daglis I. A. , Dong C. , Escoubet C. P. , Fatemi S. , Fränz M. , Ivanovski S. , Krupp N. , Lammer H. , Leblanc François , Mangano V. , Mura A. , Rispoli R. , Sarantos M. , Smith H. T. , Wieser M. , Camozzi F. , Di Lellis A. M. , Fremuth G. , Giner F. , Gurnee R. , Hayes J. , Jeszenszky H. , Trantham B. , Balaz J. , Baumjohann W. , Cantatore M. , Delcourt D. , Delva M. , Desai M. , Fischer H. , Galli A. , Grande M. , Holmström M. , Horvath I. , Hsieh K. C. , Jarvinen R. , Johnson R. E. , Kazakov A. , Kecskemety K. , Krüger H. , Kürbisch C. , Leblanc Frederic , Leichtfried M. , Mangraviti E. , Massetti S. , Moissenko D. , Moroni M. , Noschese R. , Nuccilli F. , Paschalidis N. , Ryno J. , Seki K. , Shestakov A. , Shuvalov S. , Sordini R. , Stenbeck F. , Svensson J. , Szalai S. , Szego K. , Toublanc D. , Vertolli N. , Wallner R. , Vorburger A.
Published: November 2022

Mercury’s southern inner magnetosphere is an unexplored region as it was not observed by earlier space missions. In October 2021, BepiColombo mission has passed through this region during its first Mercury flyby. Here, we describe the observations of SERENA ion sensors nearby and inside Mercury’s magnetosphere. An intermittent high-energy signal, possibly due to an interplanetary magnetic flux rope, has been observed downstream Mercury, together with low energy solar wind. Low energy ions, possibly due to satellite outgassing, were detected outside the magnetosphere. The dayside magnetopause and bow-shock crossing were much closer to the planet than expected, signature of a highly eroded magnetosphere. Different ion populations have been observed inside the magnetosphere, like low latitude boundary layer at magnetopause inbound and partial ring current at dawn close to the planet. These observations are important for understanding the weak magnetosphere behavior so close to the Sun, revealing details never reached before.
Analysis of the first genetic engineering attribution challenge
Authors: Crook Oliver M. , Warmbrod Kelsey Lane , Lipstein Greg , Chung Christine , Bakerlee Christopher W. , McKelvey T. Greg , Holland Shelly R. , Swett Jacob L. , Esvelt Kevin M. , Alley Ethan C. , Bradshaw William J.
Published: November 2022

The ability to identify the designer of engineered biological sequences—termed genetic engineering attribution (GEA)—would help ensure due credit for biotechnological innovation, while holding designers accountable to the communities they affect. Here, we present the results of the first Genetic Engineering Attribution Challenge, a public data-science competition to advance GEA techniques. Top-scoring teams dramatically outperformed previous models at identifying the true lab-of-origin of engineered plasmid sequences, including an increase in top-1 and top-10 accuracy of 10 percentage points. A simple ensemble of prizewinning models further increased performance. New metrics, designed to assess a model’s ability to confidently exclude candidate labs, also showed major improvements, especially for the ensemble. Most winning teams adopted CNN-based machine-learning approaches; however, one team achieved very high accuracy with an extremely fast neural-network-free approach. Future work, including future competitions, should further explore a wide diversity of approaches for bringing GEA technology into practical use.
Self-cleaving guide RNAs enable pharmacological selection of precise gene editing events in vivo
Authors: Tiyaboonchai Amita , Vonada Anne , Posey Jeffrey , Pelz Carl , Wakefield Leslie , Grompe Markus
Published: November 2022

Expression of guide RNAs in the CRISPR/Cas9 system typically requires the use of RNA polymerase III promoters, which are not cell-type specific. Flanking the gRNA with self-cleaving ribozyme motifs to create a self-cleaving gRNA overcomes this limitation. Here, we use self-cleaving gRNAs to create drug-selectable gene editing events in specific hepatocyte loci. A recombinant Adeno Associated Virus vector targeting the Albumin locus with a promoterless self-cleaving gRNA to create drug resistance is linked in cis with the therapeutic transgene. Gene expression of both are dependent on homologous recombination into the target locus. In vivo drug selection for the precisely edited hepatocytes allows >30-fold expansion of gene-edited cells and results in therapeutic levels of a human Factor 9 transgene. Importantly, self-cleaving gRNA expression is also achieved after targeting weak hepatocyte genes. We conclude that self-cleaving gRNAs are a powerful system to enable cell-type specific in vivo drug resistance for therapeutic gene editing applications.
South Asian black carbon is threatening the water sustainability of the Asian Water Tower
Authors: Yang Junhua , Kang Shichang , Chen Deliang , Zhao Lin , Ji Zhenming , Duan Keqin , Deng Haijun , Tripathee Lekhendra , Du Wentao , Rai Mukesh , Yan Fangping , Li Yuan , Gillies Robert R.
Published: November 2022

Long-range transport of black carbon from South Asia to the Tibetan plateau and its deposition on glaciers directly enhances glacier melt. Here we find South Asian black carbon also has an indirect effect on the plateau’s glaciers shrinkage by acting to reduce the water supply over the southern Tibetan plateau. Black carbon enhances vertical convection and cloud condensation, which results in water vapor depletion over the Indian subcontinent that is the main moisture flux source for the southern Tibetan plateau. Increasing concentrations of black carbon causes a decrease in summer precipitation over the southern Tibetan plateau, resulting in 11.0% glacier deficit mass balance on average from 2007 to 2016; this loss rises to 22.1% in the Himalayas. The direct (accelerated melt) and indirect (mass supply decrease) effects of black carbon are driving the glacial mass decline of the so-called “Asian Water Tower”.
Extensive androgen receptor enhancer heterogeneity in primary prostate cancers underlies transcriptional diversity and metastatic potential
Authors: Kneppers Jeroen , Severson Tesa M. , Siefert Joseph C. , Schol Pieter , Joosten Stacey E. P. , Yu Ivan Pak Lok , Huang Chia-Chi Flora , Morova Tunç , Altıntaş Umut Berkay , Giambartolomei Claudia , Seo Ji-Heui , Baca Sylvan C. , Carneiro Isa , Emberly Eldon , Pasaniuc Bogdan , Jerónimo Carmen , Henrique Rui , Freedman Matthew L. , Wessels Lodewyk F. A. , Lack Nathan A. , Bergman Andries M. , Zwart Wilbert
Published: November 2022

Androgen receptor (AR) drives prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. AR chromatin binding profiles are highly plastic and form recurrent programmatic changes that differentiate disease stages, subtypes and patient outcomes. While prior studies focused on concordance between patient subgroups, inter-tumor heterogeneity of AR enhancer selectivity remains unexplored. Here we report high levels of AR chromatin binding heterogeneity in human primary prostate tumors, that overlap with heterogeneity observed in healthy prostate epithelium. Such heterogeneity has functional consequences, as somatic mutations converge on commonly-shared AR sites in primary over metastatic tissues. In contrast, less-frequently shared AR sites associate strongly with AR-driven gene expression, while such heterogeneous AR enhancer usage also distinguishes patients’ outcome. These findings indicate that epigenetic heterogeneity in primary disease is directly informative for risk of biochemical relapse. Cumulatively, our results illustrate a high level of AR enhancer heterogeneity in primary PCa driving differential expression and clinical impact.
Post-covid medical complaints following infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron vs Delta variants
Authors: Magnusson Karin , Kristoffersen Doris Tove , Dell’Isola Andrea , Kiadaliri Ali , Turkiewicz Aleksandra , Runhaar Jos , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita , Englund Martin , Magnus Per Minor , Kinge Jonas Minet
Published: November 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant has been associated with less severe acute disease, however, concerns remain as to whether long-term complaints persist to a similar extent as for earlier variants. Studying 1 323 145 persons aged 18-70 years living in Norway with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection in a prospective cohort study, we found that individuals infected with Omicron had a similar risk of post-covid complaints (fatigue, cough, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety/depression) as individuals infected with Delta (B.1.617.2), from 14 to up to 126 days after testing positive, both in the acute (14 to 29 days), sub-acute (30 to 89 days) and chronic post-covid (≥90 days) phases. However, at ≥90 days after testing positive, individuals infected with Omicron had a lower risk of having any complaint (43 (95%CI = 14 to 72) fewer per 10,000), as well as a lower risk of musculoskeletal pain (23 (95%CI = 2-43) fewer per 10,000) than individuals infected with Delta. Our findings suggest that the acute and sub-acute burden of post-covid complaints on health services is similar for Omicron and Delta. The chronic burden may be lower for Omicron vs Delta when considering musculoskeletal pain, but not when considering other typical post-covid complaints.
Solution-processed quantum-dot light-emitting diodes combining ultrahigh operational stability, shelf stability, and luminance
Authors: Ye Zi , Chen Mengyu , Chen Xingtong , Ma Wenchen , Sun Xiaojuan , Wu Longjia , Lin Xiongfeng , Chen Yu , Chen Song
Published: November 2022

The shelf-stability issue, originating from the ZnO-induced positive aging effect, poses a significant challenge to industrializing the display technology based on solution-processed quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Currently, none of the proposed solutions can simultaneously inhibit exciton quenching caused by the ZnO-based electron-transporting layer (ETL) and retain other advantages of ZnO. Here in this work, we propose a bilayer design of ETL in which a buffer layer assembled of SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) suppresses the QD-ETL exciton quenching and tunes charge balance while ZnO NPs provide high electron conductivity. As a result, the bottom-emitting QLED combining capped ZnO and SnO2 buffer exhibit a maximum luminance over 100,000 cd m−2 and a T95 operational lifetime averaging 6200 h at 1000 cd m−2 on the premise of entirely inhibiting positive aging.
Psychometric evaluation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8 among women with chronic non-cancer pelvic pain
Authors: Ali Amira Mohammed , Hendawy Amin Omar , Al-Amer Rasmieh , Shahrour Ghada , Ali Esraa M. , Alkhamees Abdulmajeed A. , Ibrahim Nashwa , Lamadah Sahar Mansour Taha , Ahmed Afaf Hassan
Published: November 2022

Psychiatric comorbidity and abusive experiences in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) conditions may prolong disease course. This study investigated the psychometrics of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8 (DASS-8) among women with CPP (N = 214, mean age = 33.3 ± 12.4 years). The DASS-8 expressed excellent fit, invariance across age groups and menopausal status, good know-group validity (differentiating women with psychiatric comorbidity from those without comorbidity: U = 2018.0, p = 0.001), discriminant validity (HTMT ratios < 0.85), excellent reliability (alpha = 0.90), adequate predictive and convergent validity indicated by strong correlation with the DASS-21 (r = 0.94) and high values of item-total correlations (r = 0.884 to 0.893). In two-step cluster analysis, the DASS-8 classified women into low- and high-distress clusters (n = 141 and 73), with significantly higher levels of distress, pain severity and duration, and physical symptoms in cluster 2. The DASS-8 positively correlated with pain severity/duration, subjective symptoms of depression/anxiety, experiences of sexual assault, fatigue, headache severity, and collateral physical symptoms (e.g., dizziness, bloating, fatigue etc.) at the same level expressed by the parent scale and the DASS-12, or even greater. Accordingly, distress may represent a target for early identification of psychiatric comorbidity, CPP severity, experiences of sexual assault, and collateral physical complaints. Therefore, the DASS-8 is a useful brief measure, which may detect mental distress symptoms among women with CPP.