bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyrolysis of açai stems (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and cocoa husks (Theobroma cacao L.) residues for the generation of added-value products in rural areas
Authors: Lara Prado Ronald M. , Surculento Villalobos Rodrigo , Lopez Luis , Kusar Henrik
Published: November 2024

Generally, agriculture activities represent the main economic income of rural areas, and during these, huge amounts of biomass are generated. This biomass is considered as garbage due to its high storage cost. However, energy and added-value products can be recovered from biomass. Within this context, açai stems and cocoa husks were collected from different rural areas of Bolivia due to their high importance in the local and international markets as two of the most available products of the country. The preliminary study will contribute in the field of green energy recovery and resource management. Thus, in this study, both residues were tested as renewable feedstocks for the generation of added-value products from pyrolysis at 500 °C for 30 min. Açai stems were found to be more suitable to biochar based with yields up to 49.1% ± 2.4%, but also for biogas production (33.9% ± 2.0%). Cocoa husk was also found to be more suitable for biochar production (38.1% ± 1.7%) but also for bio-oils (33.6% ± 17.6%). Both resulting biochars had basic pH (between 10 and 12) and low density (287.2 kg/m3 and 401.7 kg/m3). Additionally, the lack of heavy metals on the surface makes both biochar products good candidates for soil amendment applications. Furthermore, the bio-oil composition is complex and varied, and products such as Maltol, 2-methyl furane, and D-allose have direct applications in the food industry. Moreover, the presence of phenolic compounds and hydrocarbons with more than five carbons in the structure makes the obtained bio-oils suitable for upgrading processes for biofuel production. Finally, the obtained biogases can be applied for local electricity generation, or to reduce the energy requirements for the pyrolysis reactor.

Graphical Abstract
Validity of Thermal Simulation Models for Different Laser Beam Shapes in Bead-on-Plate Melting
Authors: Holla Vijaya , Grünewald Jonas , Kopp Philipp , Praegla Patrick M. , Meier Christoph , Wudy Katrin , Kollmannsberger Stefan
Published: November 2024

Computational models that predict melt pool shapes and temperature evolution in laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) can range from simple thermal simulation models to more advanced models that incorporate more detailed physics of the process. While advanced models can accurately predict thermal fields and melt pool fluid dynamics, they are computationally more expensive and, thus, less suited for part-scale simulations or numerical optimization, where repeated model evaluations are necessary. On the other hand, thermal simulations are computationally efficient and attractive for their simplicity, but their accuracy is mainly limited to conduction-dominated processes. Moreover, the conduction model’s validity range is not fully understood for non-Gaussian laser beam shapes. This paper demonstrates that predictions of melt pool depth and width carried out by a heat conduction model are accurate to within 20 % for all investigated laser profiles, provided that the simulated maximum temperature does not exceed a certain threshold value for stainless steel 316L. This is established by thoroughly investigating the validity range of the heat conduction model through comparisons with over 200 single-track experiments on bare plates. The temperature predictions from the model are compared with multi-physics simulations using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Through detailed analysis and validation for three laser beam shapes, this contribution provides valuable insights into the accuracy and applicability of heat conduction models in bead-on-plate melting simulations and offers a path to optimize process parameters, such as laser beam shape, scanning strategy, and other processes for diverse applications aimed at PBF-LB/M.
Changing the game on wage setting – recent EU activities on pay and the divided football labour market
Authors: Hansson Mikael
Published: November 2024

Recent activities from the European Union regarding wage setting challenge the labour market for professional football players. The Minimum Wage Directive and the Pay Transparency Directive are soon to be implemented in the member states of the EU. The directives in question are aimed at a different labour market than professional football, which is characterized by a divided labour market for men and women, a significant pay gap between the highest-paid and the lowest-paid players, even though they perform the same kind of work, and the fact that the workers are relatively young and have short careers. These characteristics may place the football labour market in a category outside the scope of EU rules on pay, but the same characteristics that make the football labour market unique are the focus of the recent directives on pay. While the EU has a somewhat ambiguous relationship with sporting rules, it has repeatedly stated that the practice of sport is subject to the provisions of EU law insofar as it constitutes an economic activity. Since football, as an entertainment industry, undeniably constitutes an economic activity, it must adapt to the new rules. This adaptation may require change, and change in established legal structures does not always come easily. Thus, strategies for avoiding or minimizing the effects of these new rules are identified and discussed in this article.
Examining AI Use in Educational Contexts: A Scoping Meta-Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Fu Yao , Weng Zhenjie , Wang Jiaxi
Published: November 2024

With growing research attention in artificial intelligence in education (AIED), there is a profusion of systematic reviews that have investigated AI integration in a wide variety of educational contexts, including PreK-12 schools and higher education. Even though existing systematic reviews have explored effects of AI on education, few studies have synthesized the results of those reviews. To fill this gap, we conducted a scoping meta-review and bibliometric analysis to map the broad field of AIED and identify research gaps based on our analysis. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched Scopus and Web of Science and collected 126 review articles from 2014 to Mid-August of 2023 that satisfied our inclusion criteria. Specifically, we used four criteria for the screening process: (1) the article’s full text was available in English; (2) the article was published in peer-reviewed journals; (3) the article was a systematic review; and (4) the article was focused on AI use in one or multiple educational context(s). Our findings revealed the key characteristics of the included reviews, such as keyword co-occurrence network, co-authorship network, geographic distribution of authorship, educational levels, and subject areas. Three major themes related to AIED were generated, encompassing AI’s impact on teaching, learning, and administration. We also identified commonalities and nuanced differences between PreK-12 education and higher education along with research areas that have been underexplored. Our study not only expanded understanding of studies on AIED, but also provided suggestions on how to strengthen future research.
A Multifunctional Hydrogel with Multimodal Self-Powered Sensing Capability and Stable Direct Current Output for Outdoor Plant Monitoring Systems
Authors: Guo Xinge , Wang Luwei , Jin Zhenyang , Lee Chengkuo
Published: November 2024

Smart farming with outdoor monitoring systems is critical to address food shortages and sustainability challenges. These systems facilitate informed decisions that enhance efficiency in broader environmental management. Existing outdoor systems equipped with energy harvesters and self-powered sensors often struggle with fluctuating energy sources, low durability under harsh conditions, non-transparent or non-biocompatible materials, and complex structures. Herein, a multifunctional hydrogel is developed, which can fulfill all the above requirements and build self-sustainable outdoor monitoring systems solely by it. It can serve as a stable energy harvester that continuously generates direct current output with an average power density of 1.9 W m−3 for nearly 60 days of operation in normal environments (24 °C, 60% RH), with an energy density of around 1.36 × 107 J m−3. It also shows good self-recoverability in severe environments (45 °C, 30% RH) in nearly 40 days of continuous operation. Moreover, this hydrogel enables noninvasive and self-powered monitoring of leaf relative water content, providing critical data on evaluating plant health, previously obtainable only through invasive or high-power consumption methods. Its potential extends to acting as other self-powered environmental sensors. This multifunctional hydrogel enables self-sustainable outdoor systems with scalable and low-cost production, paving the way for future agriculture.
Morphological Changes of Liver Among Post-Fontan Surgery Patients
Authors: Nainamalai Varatharajan , Jenssen Håvard Bjørke , Tun Suha Khadiza , Rezaeitaleshmahalleh Mostafa , Wang Min , Khan Sarah , Haw Marcus , Jiang Jingfeng , Vettukattil Joseph
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Liver screening and longitudinal study of Fontan Associated Liver Diseases (FALD) is essential to identifying hepatomegaly and how hepatomegaly relates to various stages of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated longitudinal liver shape changes and liver stiffness in a cohort of patients with Fontan Associated Liver Disease.

Methods

We used 170 image volumes of 40 Fontan stage 3 completion patients. We also used 65 computed tomography images of healthy individuals from three datasets for comparison. Thirteen radiomic shape features of Fontan patients and individuals with a healthy liver were extracted and analyzed longitudinally. We studied correlations among features, liver spleen ratio, and liver stiffness with shape features.

Results

The enlargement of the liver, along with all shape features, was observed in all post-surgery intervals related to hepatomegaly and fibrosis. The shape features of healthy individuals and Fontan cases differ significantly in the longitudinal analysis and in the liver-spleen ratio. There is a positive correlation among body mass index, body surface area, age, Fontan surgery years, and liver stiffness.

Conclusion

The changes in shape features between Fontan patients and healthy subjects are statistically significant, which shows the relation for hepatomegaly and liver fibrosis. Accurate delineation of these features with artificial intelligence-based segmentation could serve as a valuable adjunct for the clinical follow-up of Fontan patients.
Biomaterial-derived porous carbon doped with heteroatoms as a separator coating for high-energy–density Zn-I batteries
Authors: Chen Shanshuai , Tian Liu , Feng Xiaoqiang , Bao Huanyu , Wang Hongliang
Published: November 2024

Chitin and phytic acid are abundant sustainable resources commonly found in shrimp shells, crab shells, and various plants. However, they are underutilized, and their biomass value is frequently underestimated. To address this, the current study developed a strategy to synthesize efficient separator coatings for zinc-iodine (Zn-I) batteries using chitin and phytic acid as carbon sources (biochar). First, nanosheets of porous carbon doped with N and P (NP-PC), featuring multiple active sites, are synthesized through in situ carbonization of chitin and phytic acid. Subsequently, the synthesized materials are coated onto the surfaces of glass fiber (GF) separators, effectively addressing several persistent challenges associated with Zn-I batteries. Notably, the modified separator (NP-PC@GF) enhanced the rapid-discharge capability of the involved battery, effectively inhibited the diffusion of intermediate polyiodide species, stabilized the electrolyte interface, suppressed irreversible dendrite formation, and increased I utilization efficiency. Consequently, the battery demonstrated high electrochemical performance, with an initial capacity of 7.8 mAh cm–2 at 20 mA cm–2, an initial specific capacity of 8.9 mAh cm–2 under high I loading, and a retention rate of 56% (5.1 mAh cm–2) at the 174th cycle. Overall, this research demonstrates the effective use of biochar for separator modification, facilitating the development of high-performance Zn-I batteries.

Graphical Abstract
Open-Source Software for Satellite-Based Crop Health Monitoring
Authors: Kim James Y.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Timely information on agricultural crops is essential to support informed crop management decisions. Satellite remote sensing technology offers a new paradigm for monitoring agricultural crops at large scale. Daily access to satellite imagery from Planet Scope allows opportunities to continuously monitor the Earth’s surface in 3-m resolution with various spectrums. However, satellites on agricultural applications are still in less information to agriculture producers due to the limited access to analytic software. The paper aims to fill the gap between the satellite resources and the agricultural users, specifically to develop satellite image analytic software publicly available for agricultural crop health monitoring.

Methods

Open-source software, iCalendar, was developed for high-throughput image analysis and visualization of a vegetation index (VI) and a time-series crop growth. Application programing interface (API) was used to automate the image queuing, activation, and download based on user-defined time and area of interest.

Results

The API was refined to filter unusable data such as multiples of clipped images and duplicates of tile images. iCalendar resulted in the seamless data processing and automated user-friendly visualization of a seasonal VI profile and a corresponding field map calendar, that are key sources of crop production cycle. Machine learning-based segmentation algorithm and radiometric calibration showed the detection and correction of abnormalities in the image.

Conclusion

The satellite image-based plant monitoring system through open-source software iCalendar provided a significant improvement to spatiotemporal field observation and allows growers and researchers in-season crop health assessment, thereby promoting new management strategies for crop productivity and protection.
Mycoflora diversity, exposure to mycotoxins, and cancer risk characterization associated with the consumption of two traditionally fermented alcoholic beverages in the Ho municipality of Ghana
Authors: Kortei Nii Korley , Lamptey Harrison Nii Odartey , Harley Benjamin Kingsley , Boateng Ernest Yeboah , Madilo Felix Kwashie , Baah-Tuahene Sylvia , Kyei-Baffour Vincent , Ansah Leslie Owusu , Richard Seidu A. , Odamtten George Tawia
Published: November 2024

Traditionally fermented alcoholic drinks are made with locally sourced ingredients and traditional knowledge, and they are typically drank in the immediate area of production. The ingredients are sources of microbial contamination in these drinks. This study aimed to update the mycoflora and evaluate levels of Ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins contamination of some local beverages (Raffia Sap ‘Palm wine’ and sorghum beer ‘Pito’) in the Ho municipality, Volta Region, Ghana. Standard mycological analyses were carried out on the samples and the plates were incubated for 5–7 days at 28 ± 1 °C. Mycotoxin levels in the samples were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) was used. Deterministic models recommended by a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Additives were used to assess cancer risk. The fungal counts of palm wine samples in the Ho municipality recorded were in a range of 3.29- 4.59 log10 CFU/ml, while pito samples recorded a fungal range between 2.55 and 4.08 log10 CFU/ml. A total of 13 fungal species, namely; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium oligosporus, Fusarium verticillioides, Trichoderma harzianum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium verrucosum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa., Mucor racemosus and Yeasts were isolated from both palm wine and pito samples. Notably, ochratoxin A (OTA) quantities ranged between 5.50 and 14.93 μg/kg for both samples while Total aflatoxins ranged between LOD-10.70 μg/kg for pito. No aflatoxins were detected in palm wine. Consumer risk assessment values computed for both moderate and heavy drinkers ranged between 4.08–40.20 ng/kg bw/day, 13.88–50.44, and 0.314–1.156 cases/10,000 person/year for Total aflatoxins while ochratoxin A contents ranged 4.08–40.20 ng/kg bw/day, 0.44–4.38, and 0.131–1.286 cases/10,000 person/year correspondingly for Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Margin of Exposure (MOE), and Cancer Risks for the age categories considered. Generally, mean fungal counts in both palm wine and pito beverages were high and were found to be unsatisfactory while the fungi species in these beverages showed great diversity. Cancer Risk assessments for the mycotoxins suggested a potential health hazard to the consumers of these beverages in the Ho municipality.
Comparative study of turbulence models in CFD for transonic flow over the ONERA M6 wing
Authors: Mazumder Md. Hasib Mahmud
Published: November 2024

Transonic flight presents significant challenges due to complex phenomena such as shock waves and turbulent boundary layer interactions, often leading to flow separation and instabilities. This study aims to evaluate the performance of various turbulence models in predicting these phenomena using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with ANSYS-Fluent 2020R1. The ONERA M6 wing model is analyzed under specific flow conditions (angle of attack, α = 3.06°, Mach number, M∞ = 0.8395, and Reynolds number, Re = 11.72 × 10^6) to assess five turbulence models: Spalart–Allmaras, k-ε Standard, k-ε Realizable, k-ω Standard, and k-ω SST. Results from the simulations closely matched experimental data, with all models demonstrating a margin of error within 5% compared to NASA’s CFD benchmarks. Notably, the Spalart–Allmaras and k-ω SST models showed superior accuracy in predicting shock formation and pressure distribution, highlighting their potential for enhanced predictive capabilities in aerodynamic analysis. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ANSYS-Fluent in aerodynamic performance evaluation and suggests pathways for advancing aircraft design efficiency and safety through improved turbulence modeling.
Parties and New Technologies in Latin America
Authors: Rodríguez Rafael Piñeiro , Rosenblatt Fernando , Vommaro Gabriel , Wills-Otero Laura
Published: November 2024

This Element analyzes the incorporation of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) by different parties in Latin America to organize volunteers and mobilize supporters during elections. It assesses ICT-related changes in how parties recruit prospective candidates, collect information about citizens' preferences, and mobilize for elections and how these changes have reduced the power of the rank and file within party organizations. Party leaders have an incentive to incorporate new ICTs to increase electoral efficacy and reduce the role of rank-and-file members in performing essential party functions. However, the result of the incorporation of technology depends on leaders' capacity to control the process within the party. Based on case studies of ICT incorporation by various Latin American parties and electoral campaigns, the authors posit that the incorporation of technology will consolidate a power dynamic that predates the adoption of ICTs to fulfill organizational functions.
The strategic advantage of innovative organizational culture: An exploratory analysis in digital transformation and big data analytics capabilities
Authors: Orero-Blat Maria , Leal Rodríguez Antonio L. , Palacios-Marqués Daniel
Published: November 2024

This study examines the antecedent role of organizational culture and the mediating role of digital transformation when promoting big data analytics capabilities. Employing the Competing Values Framework, we scrutinize the influence of various cultural typologies, including digital culture on the successful deployment of digital transformation and the enhancement of big data analytics capabilities. Our analysis utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling on a dataset of 183 firms to evaluate our hypotheses. The findings reveal that adhocratic, digital and hierarchical cultures significantly foster big data analytics capabilities mediated by digital transformation, which is a dynamic process that needs supportive digital and innovative values. In contrast, market and clan cultures exhibit weaker linkages. By providing empirical evidence and practical implications, this study highlights how organizations with a strong adhocratic and digital cultures outperform those with traditional cultures in their digital transformation and big data analytics capabilities efforts.
Provenance of the Pauline Gradual of Jasna Góra in Poland from 1596
Authors: JĘDRZEJSKI MICHAŁ , SMOLAREK DARIUSZ
Published: November 2024

Abtract

Polish cathedral and monastic archives preserve multiple precious handwritten sources of musical and liturgical contents originating from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Three such manuscripts have been the topic of research in this paper. The article’s problem is the provenance of the Pauline Gradual (PL-CZ III-913 olim R659) from 1596, owned by the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit in the Jasna Góra Monastery (Luminous Mount) in Częstochowa, Poland. The authors have examined the provenance by comparing the book’s repertoire of alleluiatic verses of the commune sanctorum with the contents of two older Polish codices from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, kept in the Archives and Library of the Cracow Cathedral Chapter: Wawel Gradual (PL-Kk Ms. 45) and Jan Olbracht Gradual (PL-Kk Ms. 44). The research leads to an ascertainment that the Pauline codex has, to some extent, been modelled on the Cracow manuscripts. The main text has been accompanied by photographs of each source’s selected original folios, and by transcriptions of the alleluiatic chants analysed.
Why Politicians Won't Apologize: Communication Effects in the Aftermath of Sex Scandals
Authors: Hamrak Bence , Simonovits Gabor , Rusnak Alex , Szucs Ferenc
Published: November 2024

A startling feature of the countless recent sex scandals involving politicians has been the almost complete lack of public apologies. This note explores the electoral incentives politicians face when crafting communication strategies in the aftermath of sex scandals. We focus on two communication strategies – denials and apologies – and assess their impact on incumbent support across a wide range of scandals that vary in terms of the seriousness of the charges as well as the availability of evidence. Using data from a series of survey experiments, including over 10,000 respondents we find that citizens punish incumbents who apologize, even in the case of accusations that appear the least serious in the eyes of voters. Moreover, apologies fail to generate political support compared to denials, even in cases when voters are exposed to evidence. This suggests that in most cases apologies are simply not politically viable communication strategies.
The Shadow Carceral State and Racial Inequality in Turnout
Authors: Enamorado Ted , McDonough Anne , Mendelberg Tali
Published: November 2024

Scholars have studied the carceral state extensively. However, little is known about the ‘shadow’ carceral state, coercive institutions lacking even the limited safeguards of the carceral state. Pretrial incarceration is one such institution. It often lasts months and causes large resource losses. Yet it is imposed in rushed hearings, with wide discretion for bail judges. These circumstances facilitate quick, heuristic judgments relying on racial stereotypes of marginalized populations. We merge court records from Miami-Dade with voter records to estimate the effect of this ‘shadow’ institution on turnout. We find that quasi-randomly assigned harsher bail judges depress voting by Black and Hispanic defendants. Consistent with heuristic processing, these racial disparities result only from inexperienced judges. Unlike judge experience, judge race does not matter; minority judges are as likely to impose detention and reduce turnout. The ‘shadow’ carceral state undermines democratic participation, exacerbating racial inequality.
Adam and the names
Authors: Hussain Saqib
Published: November 2024

This paper examines the naming episode in the Quran's Adam story, in which God teaches Adam “the names, all of them”, to counter the angels' objection to the creation of the human creature on the basis that he will “spread corruption … and will shed blood”. I try to show that the traditional understanding of this narrative in Western scholarship, which connects it ultimately to the Genesis 2 episode in which Adam names all the creatures of the land and sky, fails to do justice to a close reading of the quranic text itself. Instead, I argue for an alternative reading of the passage already suggested by early Muslim exegetes, in which God's teaching Adam the “names” refers to Adam being introduced to his future offspring. This, in turn, is central to the Quran's engagement with the problem of theodicy.
Heritage Conflict and the Council: The UNSC, UNESCO, and the View from Iraq and Syria
Authors: Meskell Lynn , Isakhan Benjamin
Published: November 2024

Cultural heritage preservation and protection are increasingly tethered to an international security agenda constituted across multilateral agencies. UNESCO and other organizations have securitized heritage, engaging in military training and peacekeeping, international law and prosecution, and cultural property protection. Following the events in Iraq and Syria, UN Security Council resolutions have instantiated norms of heritage violence, risk, and threat, while the Global War on Terror also interpolated looting, trafficking, and terror financing into a heritage-protection agenda. We compare these developments with our large-scale public opinion survey of Mosul and Aleppo residents’ experiences of heritage violence and the implications for security and reconstruction. While our results display potential overlaps with UNSC concerns, we suggest that site destruction and broader security concerns are understood differently on the ground, shaped by political and economic factors. We argue for a more humanitarian focus if any relationship between heritage, security, and, indeed, peacebuilding is to be forged.
Reducing antimicrobial use in livestock alone may be not sufficient to reduce antimicrobial resistance among human Campylobacter infections: an ecological study in the Netherlands
Authors: Deng Huifang , Chanamé Pinedo Linda E. , Meijs Anouk P. , Sanders Pim , Veldman Kees T. , Brouwer Michael S. M. , Wieke Altorf-vander Kuil , Wullings Bart ,   ISIS-AR Study Group, van den Beld Maaike J. C. , de Greeff Sabine C. , Dierikx Cindy M. , van Duijkeren Engeline , Franz Eelco , Mughini-Gras Lapo , Pijnacker Roan
Published: November 2024

Reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock may be one of the keys to limit the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial populations, including zoonotic pathogens. This study assessed the temporal association between AMU in livestock and AMR among Campylobacter isolates from human infections in the Netherlands between 2004 – 2020. Moreover, the associations between AMU and AMR in livestock and between AMR in livestock and AMR in human isolates were assessed. AMU and AMR data per antimicrobial class (tetracyclines, macrolides and fluoroquinolones) for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from poultry, cattle, and human patients were retrieved from national surveillance programs. Associations were assessed using logistic regression and the Spearman correlation test. Overall, there was an increasing trend in AMR among human C. jejuni/coli isolates during the study period, which contrasted with a decreasing trend in livestock AMU. In addition, stable trends in AMR in broilers were observed. No significant associations were observed between AMU and AMR in domestically produced broilers. Moderate to strong positive correlations were found between the yearly prevalence of AMR in broiler and human isolates. Reducing AMU in Dutch livestock alone may therefore not be sufficient to tackle the growing problem of AMR in Campylobacter among human cases in the Netherlands. More insight is needed regarding the population genetics and the evolutionary processes involved in resistance and fitness among Campylobacter.
Rising government debt on the path of going green in China
Authors: Li Haoyang , Wang Yuqin , Yang Guohan , Zhang Tongbin
Published: November 2024

In this study, we examine how local government debt responds to environmental policies in China. We show that when an environmental policy impacts the economy, local governments are likely to increase debt issuance, with this effect becoming stronger when local officials have greater career incentives within the Chinese bureaucratic system. Over-accumulation of local government debt, which leads to social welfare losses, is closely tied to the urgency local officials feel to secure promotions. Our analysis offers valuable insights for better coordination between fiscal and environmental policies.
Seismic Full‐Waveform Inversion Reveals Radially Anisotropic Upper Mantle Structures Beneath the Australian Plate
Authors: Bodur Ömer , Li Xueyan , Lumley David , Zhu Hejun
Published: November 2024

To explore seismic structures beneath the Australian continents and subduction zone geometry around the Australian plate, we introduce a new radially‐anisotropic shear‐wavespeed model, AU21. By employing full‐waveform inversion on data from 248 regional earthquakes and 1,102 seismographic stations, we iteratively refine AU21, resulting in 32,655 body‐wave and 35,897 surface wave measurements. AU21 reveals distinct shear‐wavespeed contrasts between the Phanerozoic eastern continental margin and the Precambrian western and central Australia, with the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary estimated at 250–300 km beneath central and western Australia. Notably, a unique weak radial anisotropy layer at 80–150 km is identified beneath the western Australian craton, possibly due to alignments of dipping layers or tilted symmetry axes of anisotropic minerals. Furthermore, slow anomalies extending to the uppermost lower mantle beneath the east of New Guinea, Tasmania, and the Tasman Sea indicate deep thermal activities, likely contributing to the formation of a low wavespeed band along the eastern Australian margin. In addition, our findings demonstrate the stagnant Tonga slab within the mantle transition zone and the Kermadec slab's penetration through the 660‐km discontinuity into the lower mantle.
Modulation of Surface Seawater CO2 System at 80°E: Impacts of the Positive IOD in 2019
Authors: Murata A. , Kouketsu S. , Sasaoka K. , Arulananthan K.
Published: November 2024

To elucidate impacts of an Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event on surface seawater CO2 dynamics, we analyzed data collected along the World Ocean Circulation Experiment Hydrographic Program I08 N line (latitudes 20°S–6°N at 80°E) in December 2019, when a strong positive IOD (pIOD) event occurred. After removing the effects of anthropogenic CO2 accumulation, we examined anomalies of the surface seawater CO2 fugacity (fCO2) from the climatology in relation to other marine properties. At latitudes 11°S–6°S, where horizontal advection of upwelled water off Sumatra was observed, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity, both normalized to a salinity of 35 (nTCO2 and nTA) showed positive anomalies of +11.4 and +8.1 μmol kg−1, respectively. At latitudes 5°S–5°N, where distinct low‐salinity water was observed because of the pIOD, nTCO2 and nTA showed negative anomalies of −4.0 and ‒0.5 μmol kg−1, respectively. The combined effects of the nTCO2 and nTA anomalies on fCO2 made the observed fCO2 anomalies small, +3.2 and −6.6 μatm for 6°S–11°S and 5°S–5°N, respectively, because the direction of the Revelle factor for TCO2 is opposite to that for TA. We estimated that the pIOD modulated the air–sea CO2 flux by +0.45 and −0.55 mmol m−2 d−1 on average within11°S–6°S and 5°S–5°N, respectively. The impacts of the pIOD on the CO2 dynamics could be explained by the anomalous salinity conditions associated with upwelled water and the freshwater balance.
Efficacy of topical anesthetics of lidocaine, benzocaine, and EMLA in reducing pain during inferior alveolar nerve block in schoolchildren: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Karkoutly Mawia , Alatassi Laila , Azrak Lilian , Bshara Nada
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 5% EMLA cream and 8% lidocaine gel in reducing pain during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) compared with 20% Benzocaine in children aged 6–10 years.

Materials and methods

This was a triple‐blinded, randomized, parallel‐group, active-controlled trial with three arms. 45 children were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group 1: control group, 20% benzocaine gel (n = 15). Group 2: 8% lidocaine gel (n = 15). Group 3: 5% EMLA cream (n = 15). Each topical anesthetic was applied in an amount of 0.3 mL using a cotton swab for 2 min, followed by IANB administration. The following primary outcome measures were considered: pulse rate, the face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain assessment scale, and the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale.

Results

The mean score of the FLACC behavioral pain assessment scale in group 2 (2.20 ± 1.86) was slightly higher, but this result was not statistically significant p = (0.806). Regarding the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale scores, no statistically significant difference was noted between the study groups p = (0.593). After IANB administration, the mean pulse rate was higher in group 3 (102.40 ± 14.28). However, this difference was not statistically significant p = (0.351). In addition, the mean change of the pulse rate from the baseline to this time point was not statistically significant p = (0.638), indicating a smaller physiologic response to the painful stimulus.

Conclusion

8% lidocaine gel was not superior to 20% benzocaine nor 5% EMLA in reducing pain during IANB administration.
YY1 downregulation underlies therapeutic response to molecular targeted agents
Authors: Zhou Shichao , Zang Jingyu , Cai Mei-Chun , Ye Kaiyan , Liu Jin , Ma Pengfei , Wu Jie , Dai Chenyang , Lu Haijiao , Zhang Qing , Jiang Junhong , Chu Tianqing , Shen Ying , Tan Li , Zhuang Guanglei , Zhao Xiaojing , Wang Lan , Zhuang Yu , Fu Yujie
Published: November 2024

During targeted treatment, oncogene-addicted tumor cells often evolve from an initial drug-sensitive state through a drug-tolerant persister bottleneck toward the ultimate emergence of drug-resistant clones. The molecular basis underlying this therapy-induced evolutionary trajectory has not yet been completely elucidated. Here, we employed a multifaceted approach and implicated the convergent role of transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in the course of diverse targeted kinase inhibitors. Specifically, pharmacological perturbation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway resulted in the downregulation of YY1 transcription, which subsequently resumed upon therapeutic escape. Failure to decrease YY1 subverted cytotoxic effects, whereas elimination of residual YY1 maximized anticancer efficacy and forestalled the emergence of drug resistance. Mechanistically, YY1 was uncovered to dictate cell cycle and autophagic programs. Immunohistochemical analysis on a wide spectrum of clinical specimens revealed that YY1 was ubiquitously expressed across lung adenocarcinomas and exhibited anticipated fluctuation in response to corresponding RTK/MAPK inhibition. These findings advance our understanding of targeted cancer management by highlighting YY1 as a determinant node in the context of genotype-directed agents.
Frequency of FGF14 intronic GAA repeat expansion in patients with multiple system atrophy and undiagnosed ataxia in the Japanese population
Authors: Kakumoto Toshiyuki , Orimo Kenta , Matsukawa Takashi , Mitsui Jun , Ishihara Tomohiko , Onodera Osamu , Suzuki Yuta , Morishita Shinichi ,   Japan Multiple System Atrophy Registry Consortium, Chikada Ayaka , Orimo Kenta , Matsukawa Takashi , Toda Tatsushi , Mitsui Jun , Ishiura Hiroyufki , Abe Koji , Yamashita Toru , Mizusawa Hidehiro , Takahashi Yuji , Katsuno Masahisa , Hara Kazuhiro , Onodera Osamu , Ishihara Tomohiko , Tada Masayoshi , Kuwabara Satoshi , Sugiyama Atsuhiko , Yamanaka Yoshitaka , Takahashi Ryosuke , Sakato Yusuke , Ishimoto Tomoyuki , Sawamoto Nobukatsu , Hanajima Ritsuko , Watanabe Yasuhiro , Takigawa Hiroshi , Adachi Tadashi , Takashima Hiroshi , Higashi Keiko , Kira Junichi , Yabe Ichiro , Matsushima Masaaki , Ogata Katsuhisa , Ishikawa Kinya , Nishida Yoichiro , Ishiguro Taro , Ozaki Kokoro , Nagata Tetsuya , Tsuji Shoji , Toda Tatsushi , Tsuji Shoji
Published: November 2024

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by autonomic nervous system dysfunction and cerebellar ataxia or parkinsonism. Recently, expanded GAA repeats (≥250 repeat units) in intron 1 of FGF14 have been shown to be responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia type 27B (SCA27B), a late-onset ataxia with an autosomal dominant inheritance. Patients with SCA27B may also exhibit autonomic nervous system dysfunction, potentially overlapping with the clinical presentations of MSA patients. In this study, to explore the possible involvement of expanded GAA repeats in MSA, we investigated the frequencies of expanded GAA repeats in FGF14 in 548 patients with MSA, 476 patients with undiagnosed ataxia, and 455 healthy individuals. To fully characterize the structures of the expanded GAA repeats, long-range PCR products suggesting the expansion of GAA repeats were further analyzed using a long-read sequencer. Of the 548 Japanese MSA patients, we identified one MSA patient (0.2%) carrying an expanded repeat with (GAA)≥250. Among the 476 individuals with undiagnosed ataxia, (GAA)≥250 was observed in six (1.3%); this frequency was higher than that in healthy individuals (0.2%). The clinical characteristics of the MSA patient with (GAA)≥250 were consistent with those of MSA, but not with SCA27B. Further research is warranted to explore the possibility of the potential association of expanded GAA repeats in FGF14 with MSA.
Cryo-EM structure of single-layered nucleoprotein-RNA complex from Marburg virus
Authors: Zinzula Luca , Beck Florian , Camasta Marianna , Bohn Stefan , Liu Chuan , Morado Dustin , Bracher Andreas , Plitzko Juergen M. , Baumeister Wolfgang
Published: November 2024

Marburg virus (MARV) causes lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans, posing a threat to global health. We determined by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) the MARV helical ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex structure in single-layered conformation, which differs from the previously reported structure of a double-layered helix. Our findings illuminate novel RNP interactions and expand knowledge on MARV genome packaging and nucleocapsid assembly, both processes representing attractive targets for the development of antiviral therapeutics against MARV disease.
Study design features increase replicability in brain-wide association studies
Authors: Kang Kaidi , Seidlitz Jakob , Bethlehem Richard A. I. , Xiong Jiangmei , Jones Megan T. , Mehta Kahini , Keller Arielle S. , Tao Ran , Randolph Anita , Larsen Bart , Tervo-Clemmens Brenden , Feczko Eric , Dominguez Oscar Miranda , Nelson Steven M. ,   Lifespan Brain Chart Consortium, Alexander-Bloch Aaron F. , Fair Damien A. , Schildcrout Jonathan , Fair Damien A. , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Alexander-Bloch Aaron , Vandekar Simon
Published: November 2024

Brain-wide association studies (BWAS) are a fundamental tool in discovering brain–behaviour associations1,2. Several recent studies have shown that thousands of study participants are required for good replicability of BWAS1–3. Here we performed analyses and meta-analyses of a robust effect size index using 63 longitudinal and cross-sectional MRI studies from the Lifespan Brain Chart Consortium4 (77,695 total scans) to demonstrate that optimizing study design is critical for increasing standardized effect sizes and replicability in BWAS. A meta-analysis of brain volume associations with age indicates that BWAS with larger variability of the covariate and longitudinal studies have larger reported standardized effect size. Analysing age effects on global and regional brain measures from the UK Biobank and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, we showed that modifying study design through sampling schemes improves standardized effect sizes and replicability. To ensure that our results are generalizable, we further evaluated the longitudinal sampling schemes on cognitive, psychopathology and demographic associations with structural and functional brain outcome measures in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development dataset. We demonstrated that commonly used longitudinal models, which assume equal between-subject and within-subject changes can, counterintuitively, reduce standardized effect sizes and replicability. Explicitly modelling the between-subject and within-subject effects avoids conflating them and enables optimizing the standardized effect sizes for each separately. Together, these results provide guidance for study designs that improve the replicability of BWAS.
Genome editing with the HDR-enhancing DNA-PKcs inhibitor AZD7648 causes large-scale genomic alterations
Authors: Cullot Grégoire , Aird Eric J. , Schlapansky Moritz F. , Yeh Charles D. , van de Venn Lilly , Vykhlyantseva Iryna , Kreutzer Susanne , Mailänder Dominic , Lewków Bohdan , Klermund Julia , Montellese Christian , Biserni Martina , Aeschimann Florian , Vonarburg Cédric , Gehart Helmuth , Cathomen Toni , Corn Jacob E.
Published: November 2024

The DNA-PKcs inhibitor AZD7648 enhances CRISPR–Cas9-directed homology-directed repair efficiencies, with potential for clinical utility, but its possible on-target consequences are unknown. We found that genome editing with AZD7648 causes frequent kilobase-scale and megabase-scale deletions, chromosome arm loss and translocations. These large-scale chromosomal alterations evade detection through typical genome editing assays, prompting caution in deploying AZD7648 and reinforcing the need to investigate multiple types of potential editing outcomes.
Probabilistic metaplasticity for continual learning with memristors in spiking networks
Authors: Zohora Fatima Tuz , Karia Vedant , Soures Nicholas , Kudithipudi Dhireesha
Published: November 2024

Edge devices operating in dynamic environments critically need the ability to continually learn without catastrophic forgetting. The strict resource constraints in these devices pose a major challenge to achieve this, as continual learning entails memory and computational overhead. Crossbar architectures using memristor devices offer energy efficiency through compute-in-memory and hold promise to address this issue. However, memristors often exhibit low precision and high variability in conductance modulation, rendering them unsuitable for continual learning solutions that require precise modulation of weight magnitude for consolidation. Current approaches fall short to address this challenge directly and rely on auxiliary high-precision memory, leading to frequent memory access, high memory overhead, and energy dissipation. In this research, we propose probabilistic metaplasticity, which consolidates weights by modulating their updateprobabilityrather than magnitude. The proposed mechanism eliminates high-precision modification to weight magnitudes and, consequently, the need for auxiliary high-precision memory. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed mechanism by integrating probabilistic metaplasticity into a spiking network trained on an error threshold with low-precision memristor weights. Evaluations of continual learning benchmarks show that probabilistic metaplasticity achieves performance equivalent to state-of-the-art continual learning models with high-precision weights while consuming ~ 67% lower memory for additional parameters and up to ~ 60× lower energy during parameter updates compared to an auxiliary memory-based solution. The proposed model shows potential for energy-efficient continual learning with low-precision emerging devices.
Evolutionary plasticity in nematode Hox gene complements and genomic loci arrangement
Authors: Kirangwa Joseph , Laetsch Dominik R. , King Erna , Stevens Lewis , Blaxter Mark , Holovachov Oleksandr , Schiffer Philipp
Published: November 2024

Hox genes are central to metazoan body plan formation, patterning and evolution, playing a critical role in cell fate decisions early in embryonic development in invertebrates and vertebrates. While the archetypical Hox gene cluster consists of members of nine ortholog groups (HOX1-HOX9), arrayed in close linkage in the order in which they have their anterior-posterior patterning effects, nematode Hox gene sets do not fit this model. The Caenorhabditis elegans Hox gene set is not clustered and contains only six Hox genes from four of the ancestral groups. The pattern observed in C. elegans is not typical of the phylum, and variation in orthologue set presence and absence and in genomic organisation has been reported. Recent advances in genome sequencing have resulted in the availability of many novel genome assemblies in Nematoda, especially from taxonomic groups that had not been analysed previously. Here, we explored Hox gene complements in high-quality genomes of 80 species from all major clades of Nematoda to understand the evolution of this key set of body pattern genes and especially to probe the origins of the “dispersed” cluster observed in C. elegans. We also included the recently available high-quality genomes of some Nematomorpha as an outgroup. We find that nematodes can have Hox genes from up to six orthology groups. While nematode Hox “clusters” are often interrupted by unrelated genes we identify species in which the cluster is intact and not dispersed.
An autonomous navigation system with a trajectory prediction-based decision mechanism for rubber forest navigation
Authors: Zhang Xirui , Liu Yongqi , Liu Junxiao , Chen Xuanli , Xu Ruiwu , Ma Weiqiang , Zhang Zhifu , Fu Shaohua
Published: November 2024

The use of rubber-tapping robots capable of autonomous navigation in place of manual rubber-tapping is a growing trend, but the challenging multi-objective navigation task in forest environments impedes their autonomous operation. To tackle this issue, an autonomous navigation system with a trajectory prediction-based decision mechanism for rubber forest navigation is designed. This navigation decision mechanism is comprised of obtaining coordinates of target points (OCTP), selecting the next coordinate (SNC), generating the additional coordinates (GAC), and optimizing the planned paths (OPP). By utilizing this mechanism, the robot can autonomously select the next target point based on its current position and the actual operating logic while navigating in the forest areas, adding additional coordinates during row or column changes, and planning and optimizing the path. The on-site experiments demonstrate that during autonomous navigation, the positioning accuracy is favorable and supports subsequent operations. The overall rationality of the planned path reaches 92.14%, further confirming its effectiveness.