bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Random Forest and Logistic Regression algorithms for prediction of groundwater contamination using ammonia concentration
Authors: Madani Ahmed , Hagage Mohammed , Elbeih Salwa F.
Published: October 2022

The present study aims to develop an efficient predictive model for groundwater contamination using Multivariate Logistic Regression (MLR) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. Contamination by ammonia is recorded by many authors at Sohag Governorate, Egypt and is attributed to urban growth, agricultural, and industrial activities. Thirty-two groundwater samples representing the Quaternary aquifer are collected and analyzed for major cations (Ca, Mg, and Na), ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and heavy metals. Lead, magnesium, iron, and zinc variables are used to test the model with ammonia which is used as an index to the groundwater contamination. Spatial distribution maps and statistical analyses show a strong correlation of ammonia with lead and magnesium variables whereas iron and zinc show less correlation. For Random Forest (RF) model, the data is divided into 70% training and 30% testing subsets. The performance of the model is evaluated using the classification reports, and the confusion matrix. Results show (1) high performance of RF model to groundwater contamination with an accuracy of 93% and (2) the MLR accuracy increased from 70 to 83% when “SOLVER” and “C” parameters are modified. The study helps to identify the contaminated zones at the study area and proved the usefulness of the machine learning models for prediction of the groundwater contamination using the ammonia concentration.
Operculina and Neoassilina: A Revision of Recent Nummulitid Genera Based on Molecular and Morphological Data Reveals a New Genus
Authors: Holzmann Maria , Hohenegger Johann , Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil Laure , Morard Raphael , Abramovich Sigal , Titelboim Danna , Pawlowski Jan
Published: October 2022

The genus Operculina, a large symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifer, is characterized by high morphological variability showing thick involute to intermediate semi-involute to flat evolute tests. Different morphotypes are either considered as ecophenotypes or distinct species. In order to test the hypothesis of ecophenotypes versus different species, a single cell high throughput sequencing approach was applied to assess the interspecific diversity of Operculina. This results in two groups of ribotypes, one corresponding to Operculina ammonoides/Operculina discoidalis, the other containing Operculina complanata/Operculina elegans. These groups can also be separated morphologically. Therefore, O. complanata and O. elegans represent a single species and the latter can be regarded as a junior synonym of O. complanata. Operculina ammonoides and O. discoidalis also form a single species, which makes the latter a junior synonym of O. ammonoides. Because generic differences in Operculina species are manifested in morphology and molecular genetics, the genus Neoassilina with the designated species Neoassilina ammonoides is installed. Additional analysis of ribosomal SSU rDNA data of eight recent nummulitid genera confirms the obtained high troughput sequencing results and further shows that Palaeonummulites venosus builds a clade with O. complanata that branches at the base of other Nummulitidae containing Planostegina, Planoperculina, Cycloclypeus, Heterostegina, Operculinella and Neoassilina.
Enhancing the Assessment of Gratitude in Mindfulness Research: a Rasch Analysis of the 6-Item Gratitude Questionnaire
Authors: Bartholomew Emerson , Iqbal Navad , Medvedev Oleg
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The 6-item gratitude questionnaire (GQ-6) is a widely used measure reported to be reliable and valid under traditional and Rasch investigations. However, recent investigations were inconsistent regarding the item structure of the GQ-6, with three investigations concluding that item 6 be removed. Previous Rasch analyses also did not produce interval conversion tables, a key benefit of this method which provides a means of improving scale accuracy and aligning the scale with the fundamental principles of measurement.

Methods

A Partial Credit Rasch Model was used to evaluate psychometric properties of the GQ-6 using a combined sample of 663 respondents from the USA (n = 345) and India (n = 318).

Results

Initial analysis showed significant scale dysfunction, with overall and individual item misfit, local dependency, disordered response thresholds, instances of differential item functioning by age and nationality, along with poor reliability. Through the use of recent advances in the Rasch methodology, locally dependent items were combined into two super-items and the best fit to the Rasch model was obtained with evidence of strict unidimensionality, invariance, and strong reliability. Results indicate the GQ-6 is suitable for individual and group assessment, while also permitting the creation of an ordinal-to-interval conversion algorithm which has been provided here.

Conclusions

This study confirmed the robust psychometric properties of the GQ-6 after minor modifications and provides a means for clinicians and researchers to improve the accuracy of this widely used measure in mindfulness research and other relevant studies without modification of its original response format.
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 RNA in five municipal wastewater treatment plants, hospital wastewater and wastewater collection networks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ardabil Province, Iran
Authors: Dargahi Abdollah , Vosoughi Mehdi , Normohammadi Ali , Sedigh Anoshirvan , Gholizadeh Helia , Sadeghi Hadi , Karami Chiman , Jeddi Farhad
Published: October 2022

Since 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus with acute respiratory symptoms has caused an epidemic worldwide. Transmission of the disease through respiratory droplets was announced as the main mode of transmission in 2020. But in this study, we discussed the method of indirect transmission of the virus through sewage. In this study, effluents related to urban and hospital wastewater treatment plants in 5 regions of Ardabil Province (northwest of Iran) were investigated. In this research, 120 samples were kept in pre-test conditions (temperature -20 degrees Celsius). To identify the viral genome, special primer and chain reaction probe targeting ORF1ab and N (nucleoprotein gene) genes were used. Out of a total of 120 samples, a total of 3 samples were positive. Wastewater epidemiology (WBE) can be considered as a cost-effective method in the diagnosis and prediction of pathogenic agents. And be considered an effective method for decision-making in order to protect the health of citizens.
The effect of liquid temperature on bubble-size distribution in the presence of power ultrasound and carbon tetrachloride
Authors: Dehane Aissa , Merouani Slimane , Hamdaoui Oualid
Published: October 2022

Acoustic cavitation-induced sonochemistry is employed for a variety of industrial and laboratory-scale physical and chemical applications, including cleaning, nanomaterial synthesis, and destruction of water contaminants. In acoustic bubbles, CCl4 pyrolysis can totally alter the bubble sonochemistry as well as the active bubble-size population. The present theoretical work provides the unique study on the effect of liquid temperature on the size distribution of acoustically active bubbles in the presence of CCl4 (i.e., precursor of reactive chlorine species, RCS, and scavenger of hydrogen atom in pyrolytic reactions) in the bulk liquid. An updated reaction scheme for CCl4 sonopyrolysis is used. It was found that the sonopyrolysis of CCl4 within the bubble reduces its maximal temperature, but it notably increases its maximal molar yield. For lower CCl4 concentrations (≤ 0.1 mM), the broadness of active bubbles range for the total oxidants yield increased proportionally with the rise of liquid temperature from 20 to 50 °C. Nevertheless, the increase of CCl4 concentration amortizes this width increase over the same range of liquid temperature (20–50 °C). At higher concentrations of CCl4 (> 0.1 mM), the broadness of the active bubbles range becomes approximately constant and independent of the liquid temperature and CCl4 concentration.
To Each Technology Its Own Ethics: The Problem of Ethical Proliferation
Authors: Sætra Henrik Skaug , Danaher John
Published: October 2022

Ethics plays a key role in the normative analysis of the impacts of technology. We know that computers in general and the processing of data, the use of artificial intelligence, and the combination of computers and/or artificial intelligence with robotics are all associated with ethically relevant implications for individuals, groups, and society. In this article, we argue that while all technologies are ethically relevant, there is no need to create a separate ‘ethics of X’ or ‘X ethics’ for each and every subtype of technology or technological property—e.g. computer ethics, AI ethics, data ethics, information ethics, robot ethics, and machine ethics. Specific technologies might have specific impacts, but we argue that they are often sufficiently covered and understood through already established higher-level domains of ethics. Furthermore, the proliferation of tech ethics is problematic because (a) the conceptual boundaries between the subfields are not well-defined, (b) it leads to a duplication of effort and constant reinventing the wheel, and (c) there is danger that participants overlook or ignore more fundamental ethical insights and truths. The key to avoiding such outcomes lies in a taking the discipline of ethics seriously, and we consequently begin with a brief description of what ethics is, before presenting the main forms of technology related ethics. Through this process, we develop a hierarchy of technology ethics, which can be used by developers and engineers, researchers, or regulators who seek an understanding of the ethical implications of technology. We close by deducing two principles for positioning ethical analysis which will, in combination with the hierarchy, promote the leveraging of existing knowledge and help us to avoid an exaggerated proliferation of tech ethics.
Realizing translucency in aluminosilicate glass at ultralow temperature via cold sintering process
Authors: Gao Jie , Wang Kangjing , Luo Wei , Cheng Xiaowei , Fan Yuchi , Jiang Wan
Published: October 2022

Glass with high visible-light transparency is widely considered as the most important optical material, which typically requires a processing temperature higher than 1000 °C. Here, we report a translucent aluminosilicate glass that can be prepared by cold sintering process (CSP) at merely 300 °C. After eliminating structural pores in hexagonal faujasite (EMT)-type zeolite by heat treatment, the obtained highly active nanoparticles are consolidated to have nearly full density by adding NaOH solution as liquid aids. However, direct densification of EMT powder cannot remove the structural pores of zeolite completely, leading to an opaque compact after the CSP. It is proved that the chemical reaction between the NaOH- and zeolite-derived powders is highly beneficial to dissolution-precipitation process during sintering, leading to the ultra-low activation energy of 27.13 kJ/mol. Although the addition of 5 M NaOH solution greatly promotes the densification via the reaction with aluminosilicate powder, lower or higher concentration of solvent can deteriorate the transmittance of glass. Additionally, the CSP-prepared glass exhibits a Vickers hardness of 4.3 GPa, reaching 60% of the reported value for spark plasma sintering (SPS)-prepared sample.
Fatigue and Human Performance: An Updated Framework
Authors: Behrens Martin , Gube Martin , Chaabene Helmi , Prieske Olaf , Zenon Alexandre , Broscheid Kim-Charline , Schega Lutz , Husmann Florian , Weippert Matthias
Published: October 2022

Fatigue has been defined differently in the literature depending on the field of research. The inconsistent use of the term fatigue complicated scientific communication, thereby limiting progress towards a more in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Therefore, Enoka and Duchateau (Med Sci Sports Exerc 48:2228–38, 2016, [3]) proposed a fatigue framework that distinguishes between trait fatigue (i.e., fatigue experienced by an individual over a longer period of time) and motor or cognitive task-induced state fatigue (i.e., self-reported disabling symptom derived from the two interdependent attributes performance fatigability and perceived fatigability). Thereby, performance fatigability describes a decrease in an objective performance measure, while perceived fatigability refers to the sensations that regulate the integrity of the performer. Although this framework served as a good starting point to unravel the psychophysiology of fatigue, several important aspects were not included and the interdependence of the mechanisms driving performance fatigability and perceived fatigability were not comprehensively discussed. Therefore, the present narrative review aimed to (1) update the fatigue framework suggested by Enoka and Duchateau (Med Sci Sports Exerc 48:2228–38, 2016, [3]) pertaining the taxonomy (i.e., cognitive performance fatigue and perceived cognitive fatigue were added) and important determinants that were not considered previously (e.g., effort perception, affective valence, self-regulation), (2) discuss the mechanisms underlying performance fatigue and perceived fatigue in response to motor and cognitive tasks as well as their interdependence, and (3) provide recommendations for future research on these interactions. We propose to define motor or cognitive task-induced state fatigue as a psychophysiological condition characterized by a decrease in motor or cognitive performance (i.e., motor or cognitive performance fatigue, respectively) and/or an increased perception of fatigue (i.e., perceived motor or cognitive fatigue). These dimensions are interdependent, hinge on different determinants, and depend on body homeostasis (e.g., wakefulness, core temperature) as well as several modulating factors (e.g., age, sex, diseases, characteristics of the motor or cognitive task). Consequently, there is no single factor primarily determining performance fatigue and perceived fatigue in response to motor or cognitive tasks. Instead, the relative weight of each determinant and their interaction are modulated by several factors.
Wearables for Running Gait Analysis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mason Rachel , Pearson Liam T. , Barry Gillian , Young Fraser , Lennon Oisin , Godfrey Alan , Stuart Samuel
Published: October 2022

Background

Running gait assessment has traditionally been performed using subjective observation or expensive laboratory-based objective technologies, such as three-dimensional motion capture or force plates. However, recent developments in wearable devices allow for continuous monitoring and analysis of running mechanics in any environment. Objective measurement of running gait is an important (clinical) tool for injury assessment and provides measures that can be used to enhance performance.

Objectives

We aimed to systematically review the available literature investigating how wearable technology is being used for running gait analysis in adults.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature was conducted in the following scientific databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus. Information was extracted from each included article regarding the type of study, participants, protocol, wearable device(s), main outcomes/measures, analysis and key findings.

Results

A total of 131 articles were reviewed: 56 investigated the validity of wearable technology, 22 examined the reliability and 77 focused on applied use. Most studies used inertial measurement units (n = 62) [i.e. a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers in a single unit] or solely accelerometers (n = 40), with one using gyroscopes alone and 31 using pressure sensors. On average, studies used one wearable device to examine running gait. Wearable locations were distributed among the shank, shoe and waist. The mean number of participants was 26 (± 27), with an average age of 28.3 (± 7.0) years. Most studies took place indoors (n = 93), using a treadmill (n = 62), with the main aims seeking to identify running gait outcomes or investigate the effects of injury, fatigue, intrinsic factors (e.g. age, sex, morphology) or footwear on running gait outcomes. Generally, wearables were found to be valid and reliable tools for assessing running gait compared to reference standards.

Conclusions

This comprehensive review highlighted that most studies that have examined running gait using wearable sensors have done so with young adult recreational runners, using one inertial measurement unit sensor, with participants running on a treadmill and reporting outcomes of ground contact time, stride length, stride frequency and tibial acceleration. Future studies are required to obtain consensus regarding terminology, protocols for testing validity and the reliability of devices and suitability of gait outcomes.

Clinical Trial Registration

CRD42021235527.
Emotion recognition, alexithymia, empathy, and emotion regulation in women with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Saure Emma , Raevuori Anu , Laasonen Marja , Lepistö-Paisley Tuulia
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with challenges in recognizing, understanding, and interpreting one’s own and other’s emotional states, feelings, and thoughts. It is unknown whether difficulties in emotion processing occur independently of common comorbid symptoms of AN and predict acute eating disorder characteristics. We aimed to examine emotion recognition, alexithymia, emotion regulation, and empathy in individuals with AN and to assess whether these predict eating disorder symptoms independently from comorbid symptoms.

Methods

Participants included 42 women with AN and 40 healthy control (HC) women between 18–30 years. Basic and complex emotion recognition was assessed with face photos and video clips. Alexithymia, empathy, emotion regulation, and comorbid symptoms (anxiety, depressive, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms and ASD traits) were assessed with self-assessment questionnaires.

Results

Participants with AN exhibited difficulties in basic and complex emotion recognition, as well as increased alexithymia, decreased empathy, and challenges in emotion regulation when compared to HCs. After controlling for comorbid symptoms, differences remained only in complex emotion recognition. Challenges in emotion recognition were associated with lower body mass index, and increased alexithymia was associated with increased eating disorder symptoms. Increased challenges in emotion regulation were associated with a shorter duration of illness, higher body mass index, and increased eating disorder symptoms.

Conclusions

Participants with AN displayed widespread deficit in emotion processing, but only challenges in complex emotion recognition occurred independently from comorbid symptoms. Deficits in emotion processing may contribute to the illness severity and thus could be an important treatment target.

Level of Evidence

Level III, case-control analytic study.
Fecal microbiota composition is related to brown adipose tissue 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in young adults
Authors: Ortiz-Alvarez L. , Acosta F. M. , Xu H. , Sanchez-Delgado G. , Vilchez-Vargas R. , Link A. , Plaza-Díaz J. , Llamas J. M. , Gil A. , Labayen I. , Rensen P. C. N. , Ruiz J. R. , Martinez-Tellez B.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) has gained considerable attention as a potential therapeutic target for obesity and its related cardiometabolic diseases; however, whether the gut microbiota might be an efficient stimulus to activate BAT metabolism remains to be ascertained. We aimed to investigate the association of fecal microbiota composition with BAT volume and activity and mean radiodensity in young adults.

Methods

82 young adults (58 women, 21.8 ± 2.2 years old) participated in this cross-sectional study. DNA was extracted from fecal samples and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyse the fecal microbiota composition. BAT was determined via a static 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan (PET/CT) after a 2 h personalized cooling protocol. 18F-FDG uptake was also quantified in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscles.

Results

The relative abundance of Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae sp. and Ruminococcus genera was negatively correlated with BAT volume, BAT SUVmean and BAT SUVpeak (all rho ≤ − 0.232, P ≤ 0.027), whereas the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium genus was positively correlated with BAT SUVmean and BAT SUVpeak (all rho ≥ 0.262, P ≤ 0.012). On the other hand, the relative abundance of Sutterellaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae families was positively correlated with 18F-FDG uptake by WAT and skeletal muscles (all rho ≥ 0.213, P ≤ 0.042). All the analyses were adjusted for the PET/CT scan date as a proxy of seasonality.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that fecal microbiota composition is involved in the regulation of BAT and glucose uptake by other tissues in young adults. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Clinical trial information

ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT02365129 (registered 18 February 2015).
Comparative Studies of Cr/Ti Additions for Cu40Mn25Al20Fe5Ni5 HEA on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior in HNO3 Solution
Authors: Mohamed Lamiaa Z. , Abdelghafar Khaled A. , Aly Hayam A. , Gaber Ghalia A.
Published: October 2022

The influence of Cr or Ti additions to Cu40Mn25Al20Fe5Ni5 high entropy alloy (HEA) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior in different concentrations of HNO3 solution were investigated. The microstructures of the Cu-rich HEAs are characterized and analyzed. Microstructural analysis of the HEAs indicates the formation of a dendritic structure. Also, the phases are identified by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The corrosion behavior of the investigated HEAs in the HNO3 solution was studied. The corrosion rate (CR) for Cu40Mn25Al20Fe5Ni5Ti5 HEA (Ti5 HEA) has a lower value than Cu40Mn25Al20Fe5Ni5Cr5 HEA (Cr5 HEA). The morphology of the corroded HEAs was investigated by using SEM images, EDX analysis, and mapping for elemental distribution. Cr addition led to the formation of a Cr2O3 protective film on the dendrites. However, the Ti5 HEA has a good surface morphology with a homogenous distribution than Cr5 HEA which is associated with a decrease in the corrosion rate.
On the fundamental solution for degenerate Kolmogorov equations with rough coefficients
Authors: Anceschi Francesca , Rebucci Annalaura
Published: October 2022

The aim of this work is to prove the existence of a fundamental solution associated to the Kolmogorov equation$$\mathscr {L}u = f$$Lu=fin the dilation invariant case, with bounded measurable first order coefficients and bounded diffusion coefficients satisfying a sort of divergence free assumption. Finally, we prove Gaussian upper and lower bounds for the fundamental solution, and other related properties, under less restrictive assumptions on the coefficients.
Olympic Planning, Profit, and Participation: Towards a Children’s rights-based Approach to Sport mega-event Research?
Authors: Byrne Seamus , Ludvigsen Jan Andre Lee
Published: October 2022

It is well-established that sport mega-events remain highly relevant sites of enquiry for sociologists of leisure. Whereas sport mega-events are associated with a range of diverse and (un-)intended socio-spatial impacts, they can also have transformative impacts on children and young people. Against this backdrop, this article discusses the inter-relationship between sport mega-events and young people. By focusing predominantly on Olympic planning, participation and profits – which we call the ‘3Ps’ – we argue that researchers may turn towards research methodologies that are underpinned by children’s rights principles and which increasingly voice the perceptions of children and young people on the social impacts of sport mega-events. At the same time, we also reflect on exactly how children’s rights-based methodologies in this context can push the boundaries of the sociology of leisure, events and sport. In this sense, we contend that this article makes an important contribution to the academic work on the nexus between sport mega-events and young people and to our understanding of mega-events’ social costs.
Why We Should Be Suspicious of Conspiracy Theories: A Novel Demarcation Problem
Authors: Boudry Maarten
Published: October 2022

What, if anything, is wrong with conspiracy theories (CTs)? A conspiracy refers to a group of people acting in secret to achieve some nefarious goal. Given that the pages of history are full of such plots, however, why are CTs often regarded with suspicion and even disdain? According to “particularism,” the currently dominant view among philosophers, each CT should be evaluated on its own merits and the negative reputation of CTs as a class is wholly undeserved. In this paper, I defend a moderate version of “generalism,” the view that there is indeed something prima facie suspicious about CTs, properly defined, and that they suffer from common epistemic defects. To demarcate legitimate theorizing about real-life conspiracies from “mere conspiracy theories” (in the pejorative sense), I draw on a deep asymmetry between causes and effects in the natural world. Because of their extreme resilience to counterevidence, CTs can be seen as the epistemological equivalent of black holes, in which unwary truth-seekers are drawn, never to escape. Finally, by presenting a generic “recipe” for generating novel CTs around any given event, regardless of the circumstances and the available evidence, I rescue the intuitions beneath colloquial phrases like “That's just a conspiracy theory.”
Spodoptera frugiperda in Togo 5 years on: early impact of the invasion and future developments
Authors: Koffi Djima , Agboka Komi , Fening Ken Okwae , Adjevi Mawuko Kossi Anani , Badziklou Judith Edjodjinam Adjo , Tchegueni Matotiloa , Tchao Manguilibè , Meagher Robert L.
Published: October 2022

The infestation of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Africa since 2016 has been a major threat to maize production. Previous studies in Togo and Ghana from 2016 to 2018 did not correlate FAW infestation to yield losses. Thus, the aim of this study which assesses the impact of FAW infestation by inspecting 150 maize farms throughout the five Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of Togo for FAW plant damage, and third instar larvae were used to infest 10-day-old maize plants in netted plots under controlled conditions at an experiment station (Station d'Expérimentations Agronomiques de Lomé) in 2019 and 2020. As control plots at the experiment station, plots were both netted and treated with emamectin benzoate, simply netted, or open to natural infestation. The number of larvae, egg masses, percent damaged plants, and damage proportions of leaves and ears were scored until harvest. Infestations and damages on maize plant throughout Togo were similar between the two years but were higher in the southern part of the county (AEZ5). At the experiment station, the yield losses were significantly considerable and increased from 25% infestation. The losses were 0.37 t ha−1 for 25% infestation, 0.34 t ha−1 for 30%, 0.59 t ha−1 for the open plots, 0.70 t ha−1 for simple netted and 50% infestation, 1.03 t ha−1 for 75%, and 1.27 t ha−1 for 100% infestation. This current study suggested thorough inspection on maize farms to set off management practices from 25% of infestation.
Group Creativity
Authors: Gaut Berys
Published: October 2022

Group creativity is vital in overcoming the numerous challenges that the world faces. Yet group creativity is deeply puzzling. It seems plausible that only agents can be creative, so group creativity requires group agency. But how could groups possess the mental states required to be agents, let alone the rich range of them required to be creative? It appears more reasonable to hold that group creativity is not a real phenomenon, but is merely the summed creativity of the individuals forming the group. There is also much empirical evidence that groups are no more creative than their members. In this paper I examine the conceptual and empirical challenges to group creativity, defend its existence, and offer an explanation of how it is possible.
The Virtue of Hope in a Turbulent World
Authors: Mason Cathy
Published: October 2022

I argue that hope is an ethical virtue. Hope, I suggest, is necessary for engaging in a broad kind of project which is essential for living a meaningful human life, and this gives us reason to think that it is non-instrumentally valuable in our lives. Specifically, I claim that hope is well understood as a ‘structural virtue’ without which we are prone to slip into despair, fantasy and cynicism. Moreover, I argue that this virtue will be particularly significant in turbulent times, when we may not be in a position to have outright (positive) expectations about the future.
Reclaiming Care and Privacy in the Age of Social Media
Authors: Desmond Hugh
Published: October 2022

Social media has invaded our private, professional, and public lives. While corporations continue to portray social media as a celebration of self-expression and freedom, public opinion, by contrast, seems to have decidedly turned against social media. Yet we continue to use it just the same. What is social media, and how should we live with it? Is it the promise of a happier and more interconnected humanity, or a vehicle for toxic self-promotion? In this essay I examine the very structure of social media communications in order to sketch how we should engage with social media. Social media communications are, I argue, a public communication of private content. This allows connections to be made with others in ways that would not otherwise be possible; however, it also submits the private to a status competition, which in turn is linked to mental health challenges. A ‘virtuous’ engagement with social media means being aware of these dynamics, and choosing to subordinate social media to other, more important goods.
GLOBAL ARIDIFICATION AND THE DECLINE OF NPP: A COMMENTARY on Projected increases in global terrestrial net primary productivity loss caused by drought under climate change by Dan Cao, Jiahua Zhang, Jiaqi Han, Tian Zhang, Shanshan Yang, Jingwen Wang, Foyez Ahmed Prodhan, and Fengmei Yao
Authors: Running Steven W.
Published: October 2022

Net primary production (NPP) is an important metric of the global carbon cycle, critical for monitoring climate stabilization and for societal economic products. Global NPP should be monitored continuously to adapt societal policy to emerging declines.
Managing Mudslide Debris After Fires
Authors: Donovan Robin
Published: October 2022

California officials faced a conundrum in dealing with mudslides after the Thomas Fire.
Not Your Childhood Water Cycle
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: October 2022

The USGS just debuted a complete remaking of the water cycle diagram—with humans as headliners.
High Emission Scenario Substantially Damages China's Photovoltaic Potential
Authors: Lu Ning , Yao Ling , Qin Jun , Yang Kun , Wild Martin , Jiang Hou
Published: October 2022

Quantifying future changes in solar photovoltaic (PV) potential is of great significance for energy planning and policy making to achieve carbon neutrality. To constrain the uncertainties of applying directly Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) projections to such quantification, we construct the performance‐weighted CMIP6 solar irradiance and air temperature data, and then assess the future changes in China's PV potential and accompanying economic benefits under three typical climate change scenarios. We find that the high emission scenario will substantially damage China's PV potential, resulting in a reduction of 314 TWh/year in electricity generation by the planned installed capacity in 2100, with a corresponding loss of US $25 billion/year. However, the low emission scenario will enhance the PV potential, yielding an additional electricity generation of 226 TWh/year and a corresponding bonus of US $18 billion/year in 2100. China's commitment to carbon neutrality will lead to low‐carbon emissions, which brings great economic rewards to its PV industry.
Influence of Titan's Variable Electromagnetic Environment on the Global Distribution of Energetic Neutral Atoms
Authors: Tippens Tyler , Liuzzo Lucas , Simon Sven
Published: October 2022

We combine the electromagnetic fields from a hybrid plasma model with a particle tracing tool to study the spatial distribution of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) emitted from Titan's atmosphere when the moon is exposed to different magnetospheric upstream regimes. These ENAs are generated when energetic magnetospheric ions undergo charge exchange within Titan's atmosphere. The spatial distribution of the emitted ENA flux is largely determined by the parent ions' trajectories through the draped fields in Titan's interaction region. Since images from the ENA detector aboard Cassini captured only a fraction of the ENA population, we provide context for such observations by calculating maps of the ENA flux through a spherical detector concentric with Titan. We determine the global distribution of ENA emissions and constrain deviations between the locations of ENA production and detection. We find that the ENA flux is highest in a band that encircles Titan perpendicular to the ambient magnetospheric field, which was strictly perpendicular to the moon's orbital plane during only one Cassini flyby. The field line draping strongly attenuates the emitted ENA flux, but does not alter the overall morphology of the detectable flux pattern. The majority of detectable ENAs leave Titan's atmosphere far from where they are produced, that is, even a spacecraft located directly above the moon's atmosphere would detect ENAs generated beyond its immediate environment. Some energetic parent ions produce ENAs only after they are mirrored by the field perturbations in Titan's wake and return to the moon, demonstrating the complex histories of detectable ENAs.
Pore‐Scale Visualization and Quantification of Dissolution in Microfluidic Rough Channels
Authors: Zhou Chen‐Xing , Hu Ran , Li Hong‐Wei , Yang Zhibing , Chen Yi‐Feng
Published: October 2022

The dissolution dynamics of rough channels is a fundamental issue involved in widening fracture channels (cavity evolution), solution mining, and upscaling of dissolution rate. Previous studies have focused on the dissolution patterns at the sample scale, but the study of rough surface evolution at the pore scale is lacking. Here, we fabricate a soluble microfluidic chip with rough channels to investigate pore‐scale dissolution dynamics. Through direct, real‐time imaging of dissolution processes together with micro‐PIV measurements, we observe two distinct dissolution patterns and the roughness smoothing effect. The smoothing effect is characterized by the disappearance of small‐scale peaks and the rapid decline of the surface roughness factor. We demonstrate that this smoothing effect is attributed to the heterogeneous dissolution rates resulting from surface roughness. Through micro‐PIV measurements, we quantify that the roughness smoothing significantly affects the local mass transfer rate by modifying local flow velocity at the scale of 200 μm and by shrinking the diffusion zone (including eddy) at the scale of 2 mm, accelerating the mass transfer rate between diffusion and main flow zones. Due to the smoothing effect, the enhanced local mass transfer rate eventually intensifies the overall dissolution rate. Finally, we provide a theoretical prediction for the transition of two dissolution patterns, which agrees well with experimental observation. Our work develops a useful tool for studying the pore‐scale dissolution behavior in 2D rough channels and improves our understanding of how the pore‐scale dissolution behavior affects the overall dissolution rate and dissolution patterns.
Combining Commercial Microwave Link and Rain Gauge Observations to Estimate Countrywide Precipitation: A Stochastic Reconstruction and Pattern Analysis Approach
Authors: Blettner Nico , Chwala Christian , Haese Barbara , Hörning Sebastian , Kunstmann Harald
Published: October 2022

Accurate spatiotemporal precipitation quantification is a crucial prerequisite for hydrological analyses. The optimal reconstruction of the spatial distribution, that is, the rainfall patterns, is particularly challenging. In this study, we reconstructed spatial rainfall on a countrywide scale for Germany by combining commercial microwave link and rain gauge observations for a better representation of the variability and spatial structure of rainfall. We further developed and applied the Random‐Mixing‐Whittaker‐Shannon method, enabling the stochastic reconstruction of ensembles of spatial fields via linear combinations of unconditional random fields. The pattern of rainfall objects is evaluated by three performance characteristics, that is, ensemble Structure‐, Amplitude‐, and Location‐error. Precipitation estimates obtained are in good agreement with the gauge‐adjusted weather radar product RADOLAN‐RW of the German Weather Service (DWD) which was used as a reference. Compared to reconstructions by Ordinary Kriging, Random Mixing showed clear advantages in the pattern representation via a five times smaller median structure error.
Disrupted tenogenesis in masseter as a potential cause of micrognathia
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhou Nan , Li Nan , Xu Tian , Chen Xiaoyan , Zhou Hailing , Xie Ailun , Liu Han , Zhu Lei , Wang Songlin , Xiao Jing
Published: October 2022

Micrognathia is a severe craniofacial deformity affecting appearance and survival. Previous studies revealed that multiple factors involved in the osteogenesis of mandibular bone have contributed to micrognathia, but concerned little on factors other than osteogenesis. In the current study, we found that ectopic activation of Fgf8 by Osr2-cre in the presumptive mesenchyme for masseter tendon in mice led to micrognathia, masseter regression, and the disrupted patterning and differentiation of masseter tendon. Since Myf5-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 mice exhibited the normal masseter and mandibular bone, the possibility that the micrognathia and masseter regression resulted directly from the over-expressed Fgf8 was excluded. Further investigation disclosed that a series of chondrogenic markers were ectopically activated in the developing Osr2-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 masseter tendon, while the mechanical sensing in the masseter and mandibular bone was obviously reduced. Thus, it suggested that the micrognathia in Osr2-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 mice resulted secondarily from the reduced mechanical force transmitted to mandibular bone. Consistently, when tenogenic or myogenic components were deleted from the developing mandibles, both the micrognathia and masseter degeneration took place with the decreased mechanical sensing in mandibular bone, which verified that the loss of mechanical force transmitted by masseter tendon could result in micrognathia. Furthermore, it appeared that the micrognathia resulting from the disrupted tenogenesis was attributed to the impaired osteogenic specification, instead of the differentiation in the periosteal progenitors. Our findings disclose a novel mechanism for mandibular morphogenesis, and shed light on the prevention and treatment for micrognathia.
The role of E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and the regulation of PARP1 by ubiquitinated degradation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Lu Xinxin , Huang Xinyue , Xu Haiqi , Lu Saien , You Shilong , Xu Jiaqi , Zhan Qianru , Dong Chao , Zhang Ning , Zhang Ying , Cao Liu , Zhang Xingang , Zhang Naijin , Zhang Lijun
Published: October 2022

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been a huge threat for people's health and finding effective target therapy is urgent and important. WWP2, as one of E3 ubiquitin ligase, is involved in many biological processes by specifically binding to substrates. PARP1 plays a role in cell apoptosis and is considered as a therapeutic target of certain cancers. In this study, we firstly found that WWP2 expressed higher in newly diagnosed ALL patients comparing with complete remission (CR) ALL patients and normal control people, and WWP2 in relapse ALL patients expressed higher than normal control people. WWP2 expression was related with the FAB subtype of ALL and the proportion of blast cells in bone marrow blood tested by flow cytometry. We demonstrated knockout WWP2 inhibited the ALL growth and enhanced apoptosis induced by Dox in vitro and vivo for the first time. WWP2 negatively regulated and interacted with PARP1 and WWP2 mechanically degraded PARP1 through polyubiquitin-proteasome pathway in ALL. These findings suggested WWP2 played a role in ALL development as well as growth and apoptosis, and also displayed a regulatory pathway of PARP1, which provided a new potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ALL.
Infection, pathology and interferon treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant in juvenile, adult and aged Syrian hamsters
Authors: Yuan Lunzhi , Zhu Huachen , Chen Peiwen , Zhou Ming , Ma Jian , Liu Xuan , Wu Kun , Chen Rirong , Liu Qiwei , Yu Huan , Li Lifeng , Wang Jia , Zhang Yali , Ge Shengxiang , Yuan Quan , Tang Qiyi , Cheng Tong , Guan Yi , Xia Ningshao
Published: October 2022

The new predominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron, can robustly escape current vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. Although Omicron has been reported to have milder replication and disease manifestations than some earlier variants, its pathogenicity in different age groups has not been well elucidated. Here, we report that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 sublineage causes elevated infection and lung pathogenesis in juvenile and aged hamsters, with more body weight loss, respiratory tract viral burden, and lung injury in these hamsters than in adult hamsters. Juvenile hamsters show a reduced interferon response against Omicron BA.1 infection, whereas aged hamsters show excessive proinflammatory cytokine expression, delayed viral clearance, and aggravated lung injury. Early inhaled IFN-α2b treatment suppresses Omicron BA.1 infection and lung pathogenesis in juvenile and adult hamsters. Overall, the data suggest that the diverse patterns of the innate immune response affect the disease outcomes of Omicron BA.1 infection in different age groups.
Selective macrocyclic peptide modulators of Lys63-linked ubiquitin chains disrupt DNA damage repair
Authors: Vamisetti Ganga B. , Saha Abhishek , Huang Yichao J. , Vanjari Rajeshwer , Mann Guy , Gutbrod Julia , Ayoub Nabieh , Suga Hiroaki , Brik Ashraf
Published: October 2022

Developing an effective binder for a specific ubiquitin (Ub) chain is a promising approach for modulating various biological processes with potential applications in drug discovery. Here, we combine the Random Non-standard Peptides Integrated Discovery (RaPID) method and chemical protein synthesis to screen an extended library of macrocyclic peptides against synthetic Lys63-linked Di-Ub to discover a specific binder for this Ub chain. Furthermore, next-generation binders are generated by chemical modifications. We show that our potent cyclic peptide is cell-permeable, and inhibits DNA damage repair, leading to apoptotic cell death. Concordantly, a pulldown experiment with the biotinylated analog of our lead cyclic peptide supports our findings. Collectively, we establish a powerful strategy for selective inhibition of protein-protein interactions associated with Lys63-linked Di-Ub using cyclic peptides. This study offers an advancement in modulating central Ub pathways and provides opportunities in drug discovery areas associated with Ub signaling.
Proteome effects of genome-wide single gene perturbations
Authors: Öztürk Merve , Freiwald Anja , Cartano Jasmin , Schmitt Ramona , Dejung Mario , Luck Katja , Al-Sady Bassem , Braun Sigurd , Levin Michal , Butter Falk
Published: October 2022

Protein abundance is controlled at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels, and its regulatory principles are starting to emerge. Investigating these principles requires large-scale proteomics data and cannot just be done with transcriptional outcomes that are commonly used as a proxy for protein abundance. Here, we determine proteome changes resulting from the individual knockout of 3308 nonessential genes in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We use similarity clustering of global proteome changes to infer gene functionality that can be extended to other species, such as humans or baker’s yeast. Furthermore, we analyze a selected set of deletion mutants by paired transcriptome and proteome measurements and show that upregulation of proteins under stable transcript expression utilizes optimal codons.
Membrane-based TBADT recovery as a strategy to increase the sustainability of continuous-flow photocatalytic HAT transformations
Authors: Wen Zhenghui , Pintossi Diego , Nuño Manuel , Noël Timothy
Published: October 2022

Photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) processes have been the object of numerous studies showcasing the potential of the homogeneous photocatalyst tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) for the functionalization of C(sp3)–H bonds. However, to translate these studies into large-scale industrial processes, careful considerations of catalyst loading, cost, and removal are required. This work presents organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) as an answer to reduce TBADT consumption, increase its turnover number and lower its concentration in the product solution, thus enabling large-scale photocatalytic HAT-based transformations. The operating parameters for a suitable membrane for TBADT recovery in acetonitrile were optimized. Continuous photocatalytic C(sp3)-H alkylation and amination reactions were carried out with in-line TBADT recovery via two OSN steps. Promisingly, the observed product yields for the reactions with in-line catalyst recycling are comparable to those of reactions performed with pristine TBADT, therefore highlighting that not only catalyst recovery (>99%, TON > 8400) is a possibility, but also that it does not happen at the expense of reaction performance.
Controlled filamentation instability as a scalable fabrication approach to flexible metamaterials
Authors: Esposito William , Martin-Monier Louis , Piveteau Pierre-Luc , Xu Bingrui , Deng Daosheng , Sorin Fabien
Published: October 2022

Long and flexible arrays of nanowires find impactful applications in sensing, photonics, and energy harvesting. Conventional manufacturing relies largely on lithographic methods limited in wafer size, rigidity, and machine write time. Here, we report a scalable process to generate encapsulated flexible nanowire arrays with high aspect ratios and excellent tunable size and periodicity. Our strategy is to control nanowire self-assembly into 2D and 3D architectures via the filamentation of a textured thin film under anisotropic stretching. This is achieved by coupling soft lithography, glancing angle deposition, and thermal drawing to obtain well-ordered meters-long nanowires with diameters down to 50 nanometers. We demonstrate that the nanowire diameter and period of the array can be decoupled and manipulated independently. We propose a filamentation criterion and perform numerical simulations implementing destabilizing long-range Van der Waals interactions. Applied to high-index chalcogenide glasses, we show that this decoupling allows for tuning diffraction. Finally, harnessing Mie resonance, we demonstrate the possibility of manufacturing macroscopic meta-grating superstructures for nanophotonic applications.