bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connection Between Foreshock Structures and the Generation of Magnetosheath Jets: Vlasiator Results
Authors: Suni J. , Palmroth M. , Turc L. , Battarbee M. , Johlander A. , Tarvus V. , Alho M. , Bussov M. , Dubart M. , Ganse U. , Grandin M. , Horaites K. , Manglayev T. , Papadakis K. , Pfau‐Kempf Y. , Zhou H.
Published: October 2021

Earth’s magnetosheath consists of shocked solar wind plasma that has been compressed and slowed down at the Earth’s bow shock. Magnetosheath jets are pulses of enhanced dynamic pressure in the magnetosheath. Jets have been observed by numerous spacecraft missions, but their origin has remained unconfirmed, though several formation mechanisms have been suggested. In this study, we use a method for automatically identifying and tracking jets as well as foreshock compressive structures (FCSs) in four 2D runs of the global hybrid‐Vlasov simulation Vlasiator. We find that up to 75% of magnetosheath jets are caused by FCSs impacting the bow shock. These jets propagate deeper into the magnetosheath than the remaining 25% of jets that are not caused by FCSs. We conduct a visual case study of one jet that was not caused by FCSs and find that the bow shock was not rippled before the formation of the jet.
Earthquake Magnitude Distributions on Northern Caribbean Faults From Combinatorial Optimization Models
Authors: Geist Eric L. , ten Brink Uri S.
Published: October 2021

On‐fault earthquake magnitude distributions are calculated for northern Caribbean faults using estimates of fault slip and regional seismicity parameters. Integer programming, a combinatorial optimization method, is used to determine the optimal spatial arrangement of earthquakes sampled from a truncated Gutenberg‐Richter distribution that minimizes the global misfit in slip rates on a complex fault system. Slip rates and their uncertainty on major faults are derived from a previously published GPS block model for the region, with fault traces determined from offshore geophysical mapping and previously published onshore studies. The optimal spatial arrangement of the sampled earthquakes is compared with the 500‐year history of earthquake observations. Rupture segmentation of the subduction interface along the Hispaniola‐Puerto Rico Trench (PRT) fault and seismic coupling on the PRT fault appear to exert the primary control over this spatial arrangement. Introducing a rupture barrier for the Hispaniola‐PRT fault northwest of Mona Passage, based on geophysical and seismicity observations, and assigning a low slip rate of 2 mm/yr on the PRT fault are most consistent with historical earthquakes in the region. The addition of low slip‐rate secondary faults as well as segmentation of the Hispaniola and Septentrional strike‐slip fault improves the consistency with historical seismicity. An important observation from the modeling is that varying the slip rate on the PRT fault and different segmentation scenarios result in significant changes to the optimal magnitude distribution on faults farther away. In general, optimal on‐fault magnitude distributions are more complex and inter‐dependent than is typically assumed in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis.
Global Drivers and Transport Mechanisms of Lunar Rockfalls
Authors: Bickel V. T. , Aaron J. , Manconi A. , Loew S.
Published: October 2021

The long‐ and short‐term drivers and transport mechanisms of lunar rockfalls are currently not well understood, but could provide valuable information about the geologic processes that still shape the surface of the Moon today. Here, we compare the global distribution of rockfalls with relevant geophysical data, such as seismic, topographic, thermal, gravity anomaly, and tidal displacement data sets. Rockfalls appear to predominantly occur (a) on equator‐facing slopes and thus in regions with large thermal amplitudes, (b) on slope angles well above‐average (Δ ∼ 10°), and (c) in regions with above‐average rock abundance. We do not observe a qualitatively or statistically relevant relation between rockfall abundance, monitored Apollo‐era shallow seismic activity, and the distribution of visible tectogenetic features. Informed by our global analysis, we conduct a targeted, in‐depth study of 687 rockfall boulders and trajectories in 13 sites across the Moon, including 7 craters, 2 volcanic vents, 2 tectonic structures, and 2 unclassified geomorphic regions. We identify four different source region types, where the type appears to control the occurrence of rockfalls. The source region type in turn is controlled by surface age rather than geomorphic context. We find that rockfall trajectories are mainly controlled by the trigger energy and the geometry of the slope. Our results suggest that erratic small‐scale impacts (mainly in old, Imbrian‐Nectarian, shallow terranes), aided by solar‐induced thermal fatigue of fractured bedrock (mainly in young, Copernican‐Eratosthenian steep terranes), were the dominant, global‐scale long‐ and short‐term drivers of rockfalls in the Moon's recent geologic past.
The influence of different morphological units on the turbulent flow characteristics in step-pool mountain streams
Authors: Thazhathe Kalathil Sruthi , Chandra Venu
Published: October 2021

The morphology of step-pools is often implemented for ecological restoration and for the creation of close-to-nature fish passes. Step-pools display spatio-temporal variations in bed and flow characteristics due to meso-scale units such as step, tread, base of step, and pool. Exclusive research on the effects of bed variations in step-pools on the flow dynamics is limited. Here, we conducted laboratory experiments on a physical model downscaled from a field site in the Western Ghats, Kerala, India. The results of Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA show significant differences in the velocity and turbulent intensities for the morphological units. A regression equation of the form Power-Allometric1 has been proposed to relate the normalized turbulent kinetic energy with the velocity magnitude. The present study also estimated the range of Reynolds shear stress and energy dissipation factor existent in the step-pool systems. The normalized values of Reynolds shear stress in thex–z plane ranged from − 19.477 to 13.729, and energy dissipation factors obtained for the three step-pool systems are 321, 207, and 123 W/m3; both the results reveal insufficient pool volume for adequate energy dissipation. The study concludes that while designing close-to-nature step-pool fish passes, pool dimensions should be finalized with respect to the target aquatic species.
Synthesis of some novel coumarin isoxazol sulfonamide hybrid compounds, 3D-QSAR studies, and antibacterial evaluation
Authors: Esfahani Sheida Nasr , Damavandi Mohammad Sadegh , Sadeghi Parisa , Nazifi Zahrasadat , Salari-Jazi Azhar , Massah Ahmad Reza
Published: October 2021

With the progressive and ever-increasing antibacterial resistance pathway, the need for novel antibiotic design becomes critical. Sulfonamides are one of the more effective antibiotics against bacteria. In this work, several novel sulfonamide hybrids including coumarin and isoxazole group were synthesized in five steps starting from coumarin-3-carboxylic acid and 3-amino-5-methyl isoxazole and assayed for antibacterial activity. The samples were obtained in good to high yield and characterized by FT-IR,13C-NMR,1H-NMR, CHN and melting point techniques. 3D-QSAR is a fast, easy, cost-effective, and high throughput screening method to predict the effect of the compound's efficacy, which notably decreases the needed price for experimental drug assay. The 3D-QSAR model displayed acceptable predictive and descriptive capability to find r2 and q2 the pMIC of the designed compound. Key descriptors, which robustly depend on antibacterial activity, perhaps were explained by this method. According to this model, among the synthesized sulfonamide hybrids,9band9fhad the highest effect on the gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria based on the pMIC. The 3D-QSAR results were confirmed in the experimental assays, demonstrating that our model is useful for developing new antibacterial agents. The work proposes a computationally-driven strategy for designing and discovering new sulfonamide scaffold for bacterial inhibition.
Soft tissue radiodensity parameters mediate the relationship between self-reported physical activity and lower extremity function in AGES-Reykjavík participants
Authors: Edmunds Kyle J. , Okonkwo Ozioma C. , Sigurdsson Sigurdur , Lose Sarah R. , Gudnason Vilmundur , Carraro Ugo , Gargiulo Paolo
Published: October 2021

Although previous studies have highlighted the association between physical activity and lower extremity function (LEF) in elderly individuals, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain debated. Our recent work has recognized the utility of nonlinear trimodal regression analysis (NTRA) parameters in characterizing changes in soft tissue radiodensity as a quantitative construct for sarcopenia in the longitudinal, population-based cohort of the AGES-Reykjavík study. For the present work, we assembled a series of prospective multivariate regression models to interrogate whether NTRA parameters mediate the 5-year longitudinal relationship between physical activity and LEF in AGES-Reykjavík participants. Healthy elderly volunteers from the AGES-Reykjavík cohort underwent mid-thigh X-ray CT scans along with a four-part battery of LEF tasks: normal gait speed, fastest-comfortable gait speed, isometric leg strength, and timed up-and-go. These data were recorded at two study timepoints which were separated by approximately 5 years: AGES-I (n = 3157) and AGES-II (n = 3098). Participants in AGES-I were likewise administered a survey to approximate their weekly frequency of engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PAAGES-I). Using a multivariate mediation analysis framework, linear regression models were assembled to test whether NTRA parameters mediated the longitudinal relationship between PAAGES-Iand LEFAGES-II; all models were covariate-adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and baseline LEF, and results were corrected for multiple statistical comparisons. Our first series of models confirmed that all four LEF tasks were significantly related to PAAGES-I; next, modelling the relationship between PAAGES-Iand NTRAAGES-IIidentified muscle amplitude (Nm) and location (μm) as potential mediators of LEF to test. Finally, adding these two parameters into our PAAGES-I → LEFAGES-IImodels attenuated the prior effect of PAAGES-I; bootstrapping confirmedNmandμmas significant partial mediators of the PAAGES-I → LEFAGES-IIrelationship, with the strongest effect found in isometric leg strength. This work describes a novel approach toward clarifying the mechanisms that underly the relationship between physical activity and LEF in aging individuals. IdentifyingNmandμmas significant partial mediators of this relationship provides strong evidence that physical activity protects aging mobility through the preservation of both lean tissue quantity and quality.
Lithium doped poly(3-hexylthiophene) for efficient hole transporter and sensitizer in metal free quaterthiophene dye treated hybrid solar cells
Authors: Pirashanthan Arumugam , Velauthapillai Dhayalan , Robertson Neil , Ravirajan Punniamoorthy
Published: October 2021

This work focuses on the role of Lithium doped Poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) in metal-free quaterthiophene (4T) dye treated Titanium dioxide (TiO2) based hybrid solar cells. The dye treated hybrid solar cells with Lithium doped P3HT showed efficiencies (3.95%) of nearly a factor of four times higher than the pristine P3HT based control TiO2/4T/P3HT devices (1.04%). The enhancement of the efficiency is mainly due to highly efficient charge collection attributed to enhanced charge transport and light harvesting properties of Lithium doped P3HT polymer. The optimized solar cells with Lithium doped P3HT showed a high short circuit current density over 13 mA/cm2, under simulated irradiation of intensity 100 mW/cm2 with AM 1.5 filter. This significant increase in current density in TiO2/4T/doped P3HT solar cell is also confirmed by both the broadened External Quantum Efficiency spectrum and significant photoluminescence quenching upon replacement of pristine P3HT with doped P3HT on 4T dye treated TiO2 electrode. With Lithium doped Spiro-OMeTAD instead of Lithium doped P3HT, similar devices showed efficiencies over 3.30% under simulated irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 with AM 1.5 filter.
Using Cy5-dUTP labelling of RPA-amplicons with downstream microarray analysis for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes
Authors: Warmt Christian , Fenzel Carolin Kornelia , Henkel Jörg , Bier Frank Fabian
Published: October 2021

In this report we describe Cy5-dUTP labelling of recombinase-polymerase-amplification (RPA) products directly during the amplification process for the first time. Nucleic acid amplification techniques, especially polymerase-chain-reaction as well as various isothermal amplification methods such as RPA, becomes a promising tool in the detection of pathogens and target specific genes. Actually, RPA even provides more advantages. This isothermal method got popular in point of care diagnostics because of its speed and sensitivity but requires pre-labelled primer or probes for a following detection of the amplicons. To overcome this disadvantages, we performed an labelling of RPA-amplicons with Cy5-dUTP without the need of pre-labelled primers. The amplification results of various multiple antibiotic resistance genes indicating great potential as a flexible and promising tool with high specific and sensitive detection capabilities of the target genes. After the determination of an appropriate rate of 1% Cy5-dUTP and 99% unlabelled dTTP we were able to detect the blaCTX-M15 gene in less than 1.6E−03 ng genomic DNA corresponding to approximately 200 cfu of Escherichia coli cells in only 40 min amplification time.
Investigating the relationship between the mechanical properties of plasma polymer-like thin films and their glass transition temperature
Authors: Vinx Nathan , Damman Pascal , Leclère Philippe , Bresson Bruno , Fretigny Christian , Poleunis Claude , Delcorte Arnaud , Cossement Damien , Snyders Rony , Thiry Damien
Published: October 2021

The mechanical properties of plasma polymer-like thin films are investigated and correlated to their glass transition temperature to further develop nanostructured materials.
Ultrathin p–n type Cu2O/CuCoCr-layered double hydroxide heterojunction nanosheets for photo-assisted aqueous Zn–CO2 batteries
Authors: Liu Xuefei , Tao Sheng , Zhang Junzheng , Zhu Yu , Ma Ruili , Lu Jun
Published: October 2021

Photo-assisted Zn–CO2 batteries over a Cu2O/CuCoCr-LDH photocathode were fabricated successfully, which allowed the achievement of the outstanding photoelectric catalytic conversion of CO2 to CO and remarkable round trip efficiency.
Aortenisthmusstenose – eine lebenslange Systemerkrankung
Authors: Eicken Andreas , Kaemmerer Harald
Published: October 2021

Koarktation der Aorta (CoA) ist eine Systemerkrankung aller prästenotischen Arterien.
Während im Säuglingsalter die chirurgische Behandlung im Vordergrund steht, werden erwachsene
Patienten mit CoA oder Re-CoA nach chirurgischer Initialbehandlung, heute überwiegend mit
Stents behandelt, wenn dies technisch möglich ist. Trotz erfolgreicher Beseitigung der
aortalen Enge bleiben viele Patienten hypertensiv. Die Ursache des arteriellen Hypertonus ist
multifaktoriell. Erwachsene CoA-Patienten müssen zum einen regelmäßig in einem EMAH-Zentrum
evaluiert werden und benötigen zum anderen häufig eine permanente antihypertensive
medikamentöse Therapie.
Das Schlaf-Wach-Zentrum
Authors: Corts Magga
Published: October 2021

Unser Schlaf-Wach-Rhythmus unterliegt einem zirkadianen Rhythmus und wird wesentlich vom suprachiasmatischen Kern gesteuert.
Wenn die Luft in den Zellen dünn wird
Authors: Grafen Keren
Published: October 2021

Bei einem Sauerstoffmangel setzt der Organismus einen Mechanismus in Gang, der unter anderem durch Anpassung der Energiegewinnung für ein möglichst langes Überleben sorgen soll. Die Intervall-Hypoxie-Hyperoxie-Therapie (IHHT) setzt Hypoxie in Intervallen gezielt ein, um insbesondere Prozesse der verbesserten Energiegewinnung anzuregen, wodurch wiederum Beschwerden reduziert werden sollen. Die Intervall-Hypoxie-Hyperoxie-Therapie (IHHT) kann zum einen bei Beschwerden wie Fatigue helfen, zum anderen aber auch als Höhentraining vor Aufenthalten in hohen Bergen dienen.
Trauma und Ermüdung
Authors: Pasch Anja
Published: October 2021

Erfahrungsgemäß werden von Menschenhand verursachte und wiederholte Traumata schwerer verarbeitet als einmalige Erlebnisse wie Naturkatastrophen oder Unfälle. Ein unverarbeitetes Trauma bedeutet für den Organismus chronifizierten Stress – mit dem Ergebnis, dass der Körper langfristig ein energieraubendes Notfallprogramm fährt und immer mehr erschöpft. Eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung zeigt sich in der Regel erst Wochen oder Monate nach dem ursächlichen Ereignis, weswegen es häufig zu unklaren Diagnosen kommt.
Kathetergestützte Pulmonalklappenimplantation bei Erwachsenen mit angeborenem Herzfehler
Authors: Ewert Peter
Published: October 2021

Viele angeborene Herzfehler erfordern einen biologischen Pulmonalklappenersatz. Aufgrund
der Klappendegenerationen ist im Laufe des Lebens eine kumulative Zahl an Re-Operationen
notwendig. Durch zunehmende Verwachsungen wird jede weitere Re-Operation allerdings für den
Chirurgen komplizierter, für den Patienten risikoreicher und für das Herz belastender. Das
Ziel, auch Patienten mit komplexen angeborenen Herzfehlern ein möglichst unbeschwertes Leben
mit guter kardialer Funktion bis ins hohe Alter zu gewährleisten, erhält deshalb durch die
katheterinterventionelle Klappenimplantation eine neue Dimension. Aufgrund der guten
Ergebnisse und der geringen Belastung für den Patienten ist es im Einzelfall sogar
gerechtfertigt, die Indikation zum Eingriff früher zu stellen als zur Operation. Für die Therapie
angeborener Herzfehler zählt die kathetergestützte Pulmonalklappenimplantation daher zu einer
der wichtigsten Innovationen der letzten 20 Jahre.
Two-dimensional gyrokinetic integral eigenmode equation for drift instabilities in tokamak
Authors: Wang Lingfeng , Dong Jiaqi
Published: October 2021

Based on the Vlasov equation, a set of two-dimensional gyrokinetic integral eigenmode equations for drift instabilities in tokamak plasmas is derived. All kinetic effects of ions, including transience parallel to the magnetic field, drifts induced by the curvature and gradient of the magnetic field, and drifts induced by the equilibrium electric potential, and the effects of finite Larmor radius are taken into account. Not only the radial structure but also the poloidal structure of the modes as well as coupling of neighboring poloidal modes induced by toroidicity of the magnetic field can be obtained from these equations. This is an alternative to ballooning mode representation treatment, which can give mode structures along magnetic field lines only. The equations provide a theoretical base for relevant numerical simulation investigations.
Laminar flow characterization using low-field magnetic resonance techniques
Authors: Guo Jiangfeng , Ross Michael M. B. , Newling Benedict , Lawrence Maggie , Balcom Bruce J.
Published: October 2021

Laminar flow velocity profiles depend heavily on fluid rheology. Developing methods of laminar flow characterization, based on low-field magnetic resonance (MR), contribute to the widespread industrial application of the MR technique in rheology. In this paper, we outline the design of a low-cost, palm-sized permanent magnet with a 1H resonance frequency of 20.48 MHz to measure the laminar flow. The magnet consists of two disk magnets, which were each tilted at an angle of 1° from an edge separation of 1.4 cm to generate a constant gradient, 65 G/cm, in the direction of flow. Subsequently, a series of process methods, for MR measurements, were proposed to characterize Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid flows in a pipe, including phase-based method, magnitude-based method, and a velocity spectrum method. The accuracy of the proposed methods was validated by simulations, and experiments in Poiseuille flow and shear-thinning flow with the designed magnet. The new velocity profile methods proposed are advantageous because the MR hardware and measurement methods are simple and will result in a portable instrument. Although the governing equations are complicated, the data analysis is straightforward.
Lipid microspheres containing urea for slow release of non-protein N in ruminant diets
Authors: Netto Antonio Joelson , de Azevedo Silva Aderbal Marcos , Bezerra Leilson Rocha , de Barros Carvalho Ariádne , da Silva Agostini Deuber Lincon , Vasconcelos de Oliveira Diego Lomonaco , Mazzetto Selma Elaine , Viana Kotzebue Lloyd Ryan , Ribeiro Oliveira Jéssica , Oliveira Ronaldo Lopes , Pereira Filho José Morais , da Silva André Leandro
Published: October 2021

Context Urea is widely used in ruminant diets as a source of non-protein nitrogen (NPN), partially substituting for true protein in feed, but high levels of urea in the diet may cause toxicity. Aims This study investigated the microencapsulation of urea in carnauba wax for slow release in the rumen to improve the N efficiency and growth of sheep. Methods Two microencapsulated systems were developed with urea:carnauba wax ratios (w/w) of 1:2 (U12) and 1:4 (U14). Based on the initial characterisation, only U12 was examined in an in vivo experiment with Santa Ines crossbred male sheep (n = 40) initially weighing 28 ± 0.6 kg at 270 days of age. The experimental arrangement was a completely randomised design, and the animals were distributed into four treatments; i.e. four levels of inclusion (0, control; 15; 30; and 45 g/kg DM) of microencapsulated urea in the diet. Key results The dietary inclusion of microencapsulated urea was associated with linear increases (P ≤ 0.05) in the intake of DM and metabolisable energy, the digestibility of crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates and fibre fractions, and N balance. Additionally, liveweight gain and feed efficiency increased quadratically (P < 0.001). There were also linear reductions (P < 0.001) in blood urea and urinary urea concentrations. Conclusions The study demonstrated that the inclusion of up to 30 g/kg U12 microencapsulated urea can be recommended as a source of slow-release urea in sheep diets since it improved the performance and feed efficiency and promoted lower concentrations of blood urea and urinary urea. Implications The use of urea microencapsulated in carnauba wax can reduce the risk of urea toxicity and provide a safer way to supply NPN to ruminants and improve N utilisation.
Sperm interaction with the uterine innate immune system: toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a main sensor in cattle
Authors: Akthar Ihshan , Marey Mohamed A. , Kim Yejin , Shimada Masayuki , Suarez Susan S. , Miyamoto Akio
Published: October 2021

During the passage through the female reproductive tract, sperm interact with various compartments and their immune systems. The immune system that protects the female against pathogens also could destroy sperm or prevent them from reaching the site of fertilisation. In particular, the uterine innate immune response is crucial from the perspectives of both the sperm and the uterus. Following insemination, sperm immediately start to trigger inflammation in the uterus by entering uterine glands and activating an innate immune response. In cattle, the activation occurs mainly via TLR2 signalling, if not the only one, between sperm and the uterine epithelium lining the glands. This acute immune response is manifested as the upregulation of mRNA expression of IL8, TNFA, IL1B, and PGES. As a consequence, many sperm are trapped by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, the first and major component of innate immunity. The sperm-induced uterine innate immune responses apparently serve to clear the uterus of excess sperm and, importantly, prepare the endometrium for implantation. Pathophysiological conditions in the uterus seriously disrupt this phenomenon, and thus could directly decrease fertility.
Freeze tolerance influenced forest cover and hydrology during the Pennsylvanian
Authors: Matthaeus William J. , Macarewich Sophia I. , Richey Jon D. , Wilson Jonathan P. , McElwain Jennifer C. , Montañez Isabel P. , DiMichele William A. , Hren Michael T. , Poulsen Christopher J. , White Joseph D.
Published: October 2021

Significance

Computer-assisted studies of natural history that consider extinct plant function contribute to the understanding of how Paleozoic glacial cycles controlled the distribution of forest cover and continental surface erosion. Simulated plant water balance supports widespread vegetation during the late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA). However, physiological inference suggests that plant freezing limited the geographic distribution of vegetation. Assuming LPIA plants had limited freeze tolerance, we found that increased surface runoff could have contributed to late Paleozoic climate change. Modeling that combines deep time climate reconstructions and paleobotanical data improves understanding of past Earth systems, which can help project future change.
Opt-out choice framing attenuates gender differences in the decision to compete in the laboratory and in the field
Authors: He Joyce C. , Kang Sonia K. , Lacetera Nicola
Published: October 2021

Significance

How can we close the gender gap in high-level positions in organizations? Interventions such as unconscious bias training or the “lean in” approach have been largely ineffective. This article suggests, and experimentally tests, a “nudge” intervention, altering the choice architecture around the decision to apply for top positions from an “opt in” to an “opt out” default. Evidence from the laboratory and the field shows that a choice architecture in which applicants must opt out from competition reduces gender differences in competition. Opt-out framing thus seems to remove some of the bias inherent in current promotion systems, which favor those who are overconfident or like to compete. Importantly, we show that such an intervention is feasible and effective in the field.
Translating narrative style
Authors: Molés-Cases Teresa , Cifuentes-Férez Paula
Published: October 2021

Within the context of the Thinking-for-translating framework, this paper analyses the translation of boundary-crossing events including Manner from English into German (both satellite-framed languages) and Catalan and Spanish (both verb-framed languages) to investigate whether student translators transfer these specific types of motion event or otherwise omit (or modulate) some information. Three groups of student translators (having respectively German, Catalan and Spanish as their mother tongues) were asked to translate a series of excerpts from English narrative texts into their respective first languages. The resulting data suggest that the way student translators deal with the translation of these events is influenced by their mother tongues and the nature of the event itself (axis, suddenness, type of Figure, type of Path, type of Manner). It is also noted that German students’ translations are much more similar to the published versions than the Catalan and Spanish ones, and that Catalan and Spanish-speaking students tend to omit boundary-crossing.
Identity and investment in language learning
Authors: Ali Farah
Published: October 2021

Norton (2000) argues that investment in L2 acquisition is also an investment in learner identity, which changes in the context of time and space – a notion that also has relevance for heritage learners. As such, the purpose of this study is to examine investment in language learning among HL Spanish speakers and the role of identity in their learning experiences. This study comprises of ten participants enrolled in an HL Spanish course who completed a background questionnaire, interviews, and writing prompts. Using narrative analysis, this study examines participants’ reflections on their heritage identity, HL exposure, and their investment, experiences and progress in their HL course. Results show that participants demonstrate varying degrees of investment in the HL, and heritage identity plays a role in this variance.
Trapped mode resonances in symmetric rectangular-hole tetramers
Authors: Yin Xiao-gang , Liu You-wen , Huang Cheng-ping
Published: October 2021

High Q-factor trapped mode resonances are mostly supported by weakly asymmetric metamolecules. In this paper, we study theoretically and experimentally a planar all-metallic metamaterial comprising highly symmetric metamolecules (rectangular-hole tetramers in a freestanding metallic plate) and find that high Q-factor trapped mode resonances can also be realized. The effect comes from the destructive interference between two anti-phased excitations: the electric dipole modes of the two inner and two outer rectangular holes within individual tetramers. Here, the high Q-factor resonance is dominated by the hole separation that affects greatly the coupling and radiation. At the resonance, a huge enhancement of electric field in each hole appears, accompanied by a significant slow-wave effect in the reflection process. Our design has potential applications in constructing high Q-factor filters, highly sensitive sensors and slow-wave devices.
X-ray beams produced by hot electrons with directional drift velocity in fusion plasmas
Authors: Hui (惠得轩) De-Xuan , Hu (胡章虎) Zhang-Hu , Shang (尚万里) Wan-Li , Mei (梅显秀) Xian-Xiu , Wang (王友年) You-Nian
Published: October 2021

Spectra and emission efficiencies of x-rays produced by hot electrons (hot-e’s) with drift Maxwellian distribution are studied using both analytical and numerical methods. The analytic expressions are particularly useful for the analysis of x-ray spectra produced by hot-e’s in laser-produced plasma. Both analytical and numerical results show that when hot-e’s have a nonzero drift velocity, the bremsstrahlung spectrum is still approximately a linear function in logarithmic coordinates, which indicates that the process of inferring hot-e’s temperature from the slope of x-ray spectrum needs to be revisited under certain circumstances.
First results from beam emission spectroscopy in SPIDER negative ion source
Authors: Barbisan M , Zaniol B , Pasqualotto R , Serianni G , Ugoletti M
Published: October 2021

The SPIDER experiment, part of the neutral beam test facility at Consorzio RFX (Padua, Italy), is the prototype of the negative ion source for the ITER neutral beam injectors; the source is coupled to a 100 kV three-grid acceleration system. A beam emission spectroscopy (BES) diagnostic was installed in SPIDER to study and optimize the energy distribution, aim, uniformity and divergence of the H−/D− beam extracted from the source. The diagnostic is based on analysis of the Doppler shifted Hα
/Dα
light emitted in the interaction between the beam particles and the H
2/D
2 molecules of the background. In 2019 the BES diagnostic in SPIDER was installed and calibrated, allowing us to characterize the first hydrogen beams extracted from the SPIDER source, in cesium-free conditions. The number of active beamlets of which the beam was composed was reduced from 1280 to 80, affecting the BES diagnostic capabilities. This paper presents the BES diagnostic setup and discusses the first collected results. Under limited extracted current density (∼10 A m−2) and ion energy (⩽35 keV), no significant vertical beam deflection caused by the magnetic filter field in the source was detected. In some cases the beamlets were observed to be elongated in the horizontal direction; beamlet divergence values down to 20 mrad and 30 mrad e-folding were measured in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively; the intensity of the Doppler shifted radiation was found to be strongly correlated to the beam current and to the beam divergence. The progressive compensation of beamlet deflections (caused by electron suppression filter fields), with increasing voltage in the extraction gap, was studied.
Angular dependence of the critical current density in FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films on metal substrates
Authors: Fan Fan , Zhang Xianping , Cai Chuanbing , Ma Yanwei
Published: October 2021

Biaxially textured FeSe0.5Te0.5 (FST) thin films were fabricated on ion-beam assisted-deposition LaMnO3 (LMO) buffered metal substrate with additional CeO2 as a buffer layer. Profiting from the implementation of CeO2 layers, the resultant FST films show a small out-of-plane misalignment of about 2.04° and an in-plane misalignment around 4.02°. In addition, the films have a high superconducting transition temperature (T
c) ∼ 17 K and a comparatively high critical current density (J
c) of 0.78 MA cm−2 in self-field at 4.2 K. On the other hand, a high J
c peak for H//c above H//ab at temperatures below 10 K was observed, which results from grain boundaries along the c-axis. In addition, J
c peaks for H//ab emerge above 10 K and become more pronounced than those for H//c at 12 K, indicating both a temperature- and field-dependent pinning mechanism. Moreover, J
c(θ) data except for in the vicinity of H//ab and H//c can be successfully scaled using the anisotropic Ginzburg–Landau approach with an appropriate J
c anisotropy ratio of γJ

c ∼ 1.5, implying the presence of both ab-plane and c-axis correlated flux pinning centers in FST films.
Doubled J
c of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O
x
wires by partial melting and recrystallization heat treatment under 10 bar after vacuum degassing of the precursor powder and pre-densifying of the wires
Authors: Hao Q , Li C , Xu X , Jiao G , Liu G , Zheng H , Qin J , Jin L , Zhang S , Li G , Bai L , Feng J
Published: October 2021

Final heat treatment involving partial melting and recrystallization under a high pressure of 50–100 bar is not conducive to the preparation of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O
x
(Bi2212) magnets; it also greatly increases the cost of research into Bi2212 wires. To solve these problems, in this work a final heat treatment under 10 bar was used to prepare Bi2212 wires with a high bulk density and high critical current density (J
c). The ambient pressure of the final heat treatment in this paper is only one-fifth of that of the traditional overpressure for final heat treatment of Bi2212 wires. The J
c of the wires is more than 2.4 times higher than that of Bi2212 wires with a final heat treatment at 1 bar and is consistent with that of samples having a final heat treatment at the traditional 50–100 bar. The reason why the ambient pressure of the final heat treatment can be greatly reduced in this work is: (a) vacuum degassing of the precursor powder eliminated the adsorption and interstitial impurity gases in the long Bi2212 wires, and reduced the internal gas pressure of the wires; (b) pre-treatment at 800 °C and 250 bar compressed the Bi2212 wires to their full density. Thus, during the subsequent final heat treatment, the low ambient pressure of 10 bar can overcome the difference between the residual gas pressure inside the wires and the yield strength or creep strength of the Ag sheath, and prevent expansion of the internal gas in the wires, so that the Bi2212 wires are always close to full density. The ambient pressure of the final heat treatment in this paper needs to prevent the expansion of the Bi2212 wires not compress them, so the pressure can be very low. The 10 bar low pressure final heat treatment will solve the problems of the high cost of research into Bi2212 wires and the difficult overpressure heat treatment of Bi2212 magnets.
Realistic inflation in no-scale U(1)
R
symmetric flipped SU(5)
Authors: Abid Mian Muhammad Azeem , Mehmood Maria , Rehman Mansoor Ur , Shafi Qaisar
Published: October 2021

We have realized non-minimal Higgs inflation and standard hybrid inflation in the supersymmetric flipped SU(5) model with U(1)
R
symmetry using the no-scale form of the Kähler potential. In non-minimal Higgs inflation the waterfall Higgs field plays the role of inflaton, and in standard hybrid inflation the gauge singlet field S is employed as an inflaton. The predictions of both models are in good agreement with the Planck 2018 data. For numerical calculations we have fixed the gauge symmetry breaking scale, M, around 2 × 1016 GeV. In both models the inflaton field values are constrained below mP
. The tensor to scalar ratio r in non-minimal inflation is of the order of 10-3 and for standard hybrid inflation r is tiny, of order 10-15–10-4. The scalar spectral index in both cases lie within the Planck 1-σ bounds, and the running of the scalar spectral index lies in the range, -dns
/d ln k ∼ 6 × 10-4 for non-minimal model and 10-9–10-3 for the standard hybrid model. A realistic scenario of reheating and non-thermal leptogenesis is employed with reheat temperature Tr
 ∼ 109 GeV for non-minimal model and 106–1010 GeV for standard hybrid model. The R-symmetry plays a vital role in forbidding rapid proton decay, but at the same time it also suppresses terms responsible for generating right handed neutrino masses. A realistic scenario of right handed neutrino masses is obtained by considering effective R symmetry breaking at the nonrenormalizable level with adequate suppression of rapid proton decay.
Performance of non-parametric reconstruction techniques in the late-time universe
Authors: Escamilla-Rivera Celia , Levi Said Jackson , Mifsud Jurgen
Published: October 2021

In the context of a Hubble tension problem that is growing in its statistical significance, we reconsider the effectiveness of non-parametric reconstruction techniques which are independent of prescriptive cosmological models. By taking cosmic chronometers, Type Ia Supernovae and baryonic acoustic oscillation data, we compare and contrast two important reconstruction approaches, namely Gaussian processes (GP) and the Locally weighted Scatterplot Smoothing together with Simulation and extrapolation method (LOESS-Simex or LS). In the context of these methods, besides not requiring a cosmological model, they also do not require physical parameters in their approach to their reconstruction of data (but they do depend on statistical hyperparameters). We firstly show how both GP and LOESS-Simex can be used to successively reconstruct various data sets to a high level of precision. We then directly compare both approaches in a quantitative manner by considering several factors, such as how well the reconstructions approximate the data sets themselves to how their respective uncertainties evolve. In light of the puzzling Hubble tension, it is important to consider how the uncertain regions evolve over redshift and the methods compare for estimating cosmological parameters at current times. For cosmic chronometers and baryonic acoustic oscillation compiled data sets, we find that GP generically produce smaller variances for the reconstructed data with a minimum value of σGP-min = 1.1, while the situation for LS is totally different with a minimum of σLS-min = 50.8. Moreover, some of these characteristics can be alleviate at low z, where LS presents less underestimation in comparison to GP.
Unprecedented threats to cities from multi-century sea level rise
Authors: Strauss Benjamin H , Kulp Scott A , Rasmussen D J , Levermann Anders
Published: October 2021

A portion of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions will stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, raising temperatures and sea levels globally. Most nations’ emissions-reduction policies and actions do not seem to reflect this long-term threat, as collectively they point toward widespread permanent inundation of many developed areas. Using state-of-the-art new global elevation and population data, we show here that, under high emissions scenarios leading to 4 ∘C warming and a median projected 8.9 m of global mean sea level rise within a roughly 200- to 2000-year envelope, at least 50 major cities, mostly in Asia, would need to defend against globally unprecedented levels of exposure, if feasible, or face partial to near-total extant area losses. Nationally, China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, global leaders in recent coal plant construction, have the largest contemporary populations occupying land below projected high tide lines, alongside Bangladesh. We employ this population-based metric as a rough index for the potential exposure of the largely immovable built environment embodying cultures and economies as they exist today. Based on median sea level projections, at least one large nation on every continent but Australia and Antarctica would face exceptionally high exposure: land home to at least one-tenth and up to two-thirds of current population falling below tideline. Many small island nations are threatened with near-total loss. The high tide line could encroach above land occupied by as much as 15% of the current global population (about one billion people). By contrast, meeting the most ambitious goals of the Paris Climate Agreement will likely reduce exposure by roughly half and may avoid globally unprecedented defense requirements for any coastal megacity exceeding a contemporary population of 10 million.
Intrinsic winding of braided vector fields in tubular subdomains
Authors: Prior Christopher B , Yeates Anthony R
Published: October 2021

Braided vector fields on spatial subdomains which are homeomorphic to the cylinder play a crucial role in applications such as solar and plasma physics, relativistic astrophysics, fluid and vortex dynamics, elasticity, and bio-elasticity. Often the vector field’s topology—the entanglement of its field lines—is non-trivial, and can play a significant role in the vector field’s evolution. We present a complete topological characterisation of such vector fields (up to isotopy) using a quantity called field line winding. This measures the entanglement of each field line with all other field lines of the vector field, and may be defined for an arbitrary tubular subdomain by prescribing a minimally distorted coordinate system. We propose how to define such coordinates, and prove that the resulting field line winding distribution uniquely classifies the topology of a braided vector field. The field line winding is similar to the field line helicity considered previously for magnetic (solenoidal) fields, but is a more fundamental measure of the field line topology because it does not conflate linking information with field strength.
The alarmin S100A12 causes sterile inflammation of the human chorioamniotic membranes as well as preterm birth and neonatal mortality in mice
Authors: Motomura Kenichiro , Romero Roberto , Plazyo Olesya , Garcia-Flores Valeria , Gershater Meyer , Galaz Jose , Miller Derek , Gomez-Lopez Nardhy
Published: October 2021

Sterile inflammation is triggered by danger signals, or alarmins, released upon cellular stress or necrosis. Sterile inflammation occurring in the amniotic cavity (i.e. sterile intra-amniotic inflammation) is frequently observed in women with spontaneous preterm labor resulting in preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide; this condition is associated with increased amniotic fluid concentrations of alarmins. However, the mechanisms whereby alarmins induce sterile intra-amniotic inflammation are still under investigation. Herein, we investigated the mechanisms whereby the alarmin S100A12 induces inflammation of the human chorioamniotic membranes in vitro and used a mouse model to establish a causal link between this alarmin and adverse perinatal outcomes. We report that S100A12 initiates sterile inflammation in the chorioamniotic membranes by upregulating the expression of inflammatory mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and pattern recognition receptors. Importantly, S100A12 induced the priming and activation of inflammasomes, resulting in caspase-1 cleavage and the subsequent release of mature IL-1β by the chorioamniotic membranes. This alarmin also caused the activation of the chorioamniotic membranes by promoting MMP-2 activity and collagen degradation. Lastly, the ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injection of S100A12 at specific concentrations observed in the majority of women with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation induced preterm birth (rates: 17% at 200 ng/sac; 25% at 300 ng/sac; 25% at 400 ng/sac) and neonatal mortality (rates: 22% at 200 ng/sac; 44% at 300 ng/sac; 31% at 400 ng/sac), thus demonstrating a causal link between this alarmin and adverse perinatal outcomes. Collectively, our findings shed light on the inflammatory responses driven by alarmins in the chorioamniotic membranes, providing insight into the immune mechanisms leading to preterm birth in women with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation.
Molecular trans-dural efflux to skull bone marrow in humans with CSF disorders
Authors: Ringstad Geir , Eide Per Kristian
Published: October 2021

Dural sinuses were recently identified as a hub for peripheral immune surveillance of brain-derived antigens cleared through CSF. However, animal studies have also indicated that substances and cells may enter the intracranial compartment directly from bone marrow.

We used MRI and a CSF tracer to investigate in vivo whether intracranial molecules can move via dura to skull bone marrow in patients with suspicion of CSF disorders. Tracer enrichment in CSF, dural regions and within skull bone marrow was assessed up to 48 h after intrathecal administration of gadobutrol (0.5 ml, 1 mmol/ml) in 53 patients. In participants diagnosed with disease, tracer enrichment within diploe of skull bone marrow was demonstrated nearby the parasagittal dura, nearby extensions of parasagittal dura into diploe, and in diploe of skull bone remote from the dura extensions.

This crossing of meningeal and skull barriers suggests that bone marrow may contribute in brain immune surveillance also in humans.
ECG-AI: electrocardiographic artificial intelligence model for prediction of heart failure
Authors: Akbilgic Oguz , Butler Liam , Karabayir Ibrahim , Chang Patricia P , Kitzman Dalane W , Alonso Alvaro , Chen Lin Y , Soliman Elsayed Z
Published: October 2021

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death. Early intervention is the key to reduce HF-related morbidity and mortality. This study assesses the utility of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in HF risk prediction.

Methods and results

Data from the baseline visits (1987–89) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study was used. Incident hospitalized HF events were ascertained by ICD codes. Participants with good quality baseline ECGs were included. Participants with prevalent HF were excluded. ECG-artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict HF was created as a deep residual convolutional neural network (CNN) utilizing standard 12-lead ECG. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate prediction models including (CNN), light gradient boosting machines (LGBM), and Cox proportional hazards regression. A total of 14 613 (45% male, 73% of white, mean age ± standard deviation of 54 ± 5) participants were eligible. A total of 803 (5.5%) participants developed HF within 10 years from baseline. Convolutional neural network utilizing solely ECG achieved an AUC of 0.756 (0.717–0.795) on the hold-out test data. ARIC and Framingham Heart Study (FHS) HF risk calculators yielded AUC of 0.802 (0.750–0.850) and 0.780 (0.740–0.830). The highest AUC of 0.818 (0.778–0.859) was obtained when ECG-AI model output, age, gender, race, body mass index, smoking status, prevalent coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate were used as predictors of HF within LGBM. The ECG-AI model output was the most important predictor of HF.

Conclusions

ECG-AI model based solely on information extracted from ECG independently predicts HF with accuracy comparable to existing FHS and ARIC risk calculators.