bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Access to shade during the dry period improves the performance of multiparous Holstein cows
Authors: Román Lorena , Morales Piñeyrúa Jessica T. , Banchero Georgget , La Manna Alejandro
Published: September 2021

Context Heat stress (HS) has a negative effect on milk production and on the final period of gestation. There is almost no information of HS effect on dairy cows with temperature–humidity index (THI) less than 72 and more than 68. Aim Determine the effect of voluntary access to shade during the dry period on physiological parameters and subsequent postpartum performance of Holstein cows. Methods Twenty-six multiparous cows were used in a randomised complete-block design to evaluate two treatments: without access to shade (CON) and with voluntary access to shade (SHA) for 62 ± 5.3 days before calving. During the dry period, cows were housed in two yards. After calving, cows were managed all together. The THI was used to characterise environmental conditions. During the dry period, rectal temperature (7:00 am and 5:00 pm), respiration rate (7:00 am, 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm) and animal behaviour (feed intake, rumination and standing) were measured. Dry matter (DMI) and water intake, bodyweight, body condition score, and serum insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were measured during dry and lactation periods. At calving, calf weight, composition of colostrum, placenta weight, cotyledon number and weight were recorded. During the lactation period, production and composition of milk and resumption of ovarian activity were measured. Key results Average THI during dry and lactation periods were 70.7 ± 4.88 and 57.2 ± 6.53 respectively. During the dry period, SHA cows had a lower respiration rate at 1:00 p.m. (56 ± 0.8 vs 67 ± 0.8 breath per minute (b.p.m), P < 0.0001) and at 5:00 p.m. (48 ± 0.8 vs 55 ± 0.8 b.p.m, P = 0.04), and higher DMI (12.0 ± 0.07 vs 11.4 ± 0.07 kgDM/cow.day, P < 0.0001) than did CON cows. Shaded cows produced more solid-corrected milk (30.4 ± 0.31 vs 29.5 ± 0.31 kg/cow.day, P = 0.04), fat (1.48 ± 0.040 vs 1.33 ± 0.040 kg/cow.day, P = 0.01) and protein (1.12 vs 1.03 ± 0.015 kg/cow.day, P = 0.01). Conclusion There was no effect of access to shade on calf weight, colostrum composition, placenta characteristics, serum non-esterified fatty acid and insulin concentrations, body condition score evolution, lactation DMI and days to first ovulation postpartum. Implications HS during the last 60 days of gestation negatively affected solid-corrected milk, daily fat and protein production.
Constrained public benefits from global catch share fisheries
Authors: Ben-Hasan Abdulrahman , De La Puente Santiago , Flores Diana , Melnychuk Michael C. , Tivoli Emily , Christensen Villy , Cui Wei , Walters Carl J.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Charging industries for exploiting natural resources ensures that the owner of the resources—the public—receives compensation for their usage. Although fishery resources within exclusive economic zones constitute most of the global marine capture production, it is unclear whether fishing industries harvesting these resources are charged for harvesting fish. Our study shows that while global catch share fisheries harvest 17.4 million tons (19% of global catch) with a value of $17.7 billion, rent recovery mechanisms are lacking in 13 of 18 countries. This contrasts with the other extractive industries in the same countries, where rent recovery mechanisms are commonplace. Our findings highlight that most countries are likely forgoing a potential stream of economic revenue from fishery resources.
An organic transistor matrix for multipoint intracellular action potential recording
Authors: Jimbo Yasutoshi , Sasaki Daisuke , Ohya Takashi , Lee Sunghoon , Lee Wonryung , Arab Hassani Faezeh , Yokota Tomoyuki , Matsuura Katsuhisa , Umezu Shinjiro , Shimizu Tatsuya , Someya Takao
Published: September 2021

Significance

We successfully performed the intracellular action potential recording using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). A simultaneous multipoint recording with a 4 × 4 matrix of 5- × 5-μm
2
OECTs demonstrated the feasibility of potential high-resolution recording. The intracellular access was obtained by applying a pulse voltage to the drain electrode, and the amplitude of recorded signal reached 93 µA at maximum. This simple intracellular access method offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio and the waveform of membrane potential compared to the conventional extracellular field potential recording by OECT arrays.
Excess mortality from COVID and non-COVID causes in minority populations
Authors: Cronin Christopher J. , Evans William N.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Research has documented the heavy cost COVID-19 mortality has placed on minorities. There is, however, less discussion of the inordinate burden that non–COVID-19 excess mortality (i.e., pandemic-era non–COVID-19 deaths in excess of the historical average) has exacted on this same group. Our analysis shows that minorities, particularly Black, non-Hispanic men, represent a disproportionate share of excess mortality and life years lost from non–COVID-19 causes. Early evidence suggests a combination of factors, including deaths of despair, murders, uninfected Alzheimer’s patients, reduced health care use, and economic dislocation. Moving forward, the challenge for the public health community is to understand the etiology of non–COVID-19 excess mortality and attack it with the same zeal as it attacks the virus.
Translational targeting of inflammation and fibrosis in frozen shoulder: Molecular dissection of the T cell/IL-17A axis
Authors: Akbar Moeed , Crowe Lindsay A. N. , McLean Michael , Garcia-Melchor Emma , MacDonald Lucy , Carter Kristyn , Fazzi Umberto G. , Martin David , Arthur Angus , Reilly James H. , McInnes Iain B. , Millar Neal L.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Frozen shoulder (FS) is a classic example of a prevalent debilitating pathological inflammatory fibrosis. Using approaches to dissect the molecular pathways subserving FS, we demonstrate the immune cell landscape in FS shifts from primarily macrophages to T cells in disease. We find T cells from FS tissue are able to secrete the inflammatory cytokine IL-17A, and fibroblasts from FS have greater expression of the receptor IL-17RA. Thus, FS fibroblasts produce greater fibrotic and inflammatory responses following IL-17A stimulation, which can be abrogated following NF-κB pathway inhibition or cytokine blockade using an anti–IL-17A antibody. This single-cell dissection of FS highlights a T cell–driven disease with both small molecule and anti-cytokine attenuation of disease-like features.
Gender inequities in the online dissemination of scholars’ work
Authors: Vásárhelyi Orsolya , Zakhlebin Igor , Milojević Staša , Horvát Emőke-Ágnes
Published: September 2021

Significance

Prior work establishes wide-ranging gender inequities in science. Disparities at the level of earnings, support, and promotion indicate that women’s research is not recognized equally to men’s. Since an imbalance in visibility might have consequential downstream effects on citations and awards, the study of online success is critical to address the gender gap. Here we show that women are less successful than men in disseminating their research online. We demonstrate that scientific impact, social capital, and gendered tie formation in coauthorship networks are associated with the online success of men across research areas and levels of success, but not of women.
National religiosity eases the psychological burden of poverty
Authors: Berkessel Jana B. , Gebauer Jochen E. , Joshanloo Mohsen , Bleidorn Wiebke , Rentfrow Peter J. , Potter Jeff , Gosling Samuel D.
Published: September 2021

Significance

According to a fundamental assumption in the social sciences, the burden of lower socioeconomic status (SES) is more severe in developing nations. In contrast to this assumption, recent research has shown that the burden of lower SES is less—not more—severe in developing nations. In three large-scale global data sets, we show that national religiosity can explain this puzzling finding. Developing nations are more religious, and most world religions uphold norms that, in part, function to ease the burden of lower SES and to cast a bad light on higher SES. In times of declining religiosity, this finding is a call to scientists and policymakers to monitor the increasingly harmful effects of lower SES and its far-reaching social consequences.
The transcription regulator BrsR serves as a network hub of natural competence protein–protein interactions in
Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Qin Hua , Zou Zhengzhong , Anderson David , Sang Yu , Higashi Dustin , Kreth Jens , Merritt Justin
Published: September 2021

Significance

Streptococcus mutans
is one of the primary species associated with human dental caries, which affects the vast majority of adults worldwide. Like most streptococci,
S. mutans
is naturally competent and employs this ability to augment its adaptive evolution, ensuring its persistence within the oral microbiome. To increase the ecological benefit provided by natural competence,
S. mutans
has also evolved a poorly understood mechanism to coordinately regulate natural competence with its bacteriocin production ability. Here, we reveal the molecular mechanisms supporting this coordination. The current study illustrates how unrecognized posttranslational regulatory abilities may be found among a highly diverse pool of proteins not normally associated with genetic regulation. These hidden abilities are likely critical for the proper control of genetic networks.
Deep learning for early warning signals of tipping points
Authors: Bury Thomas M. , Sujith R. I. , Pavithran Induja , Scheffer Marten , Lenton Timothy M. , Anand Madhur , Bauch Chris T.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Early warning signals (EWS) of tipping points are vital to anticipate system collapse or other sudden shifts. However, existing generic early warning indicators designed to work across all systems do not provide information on the state that lies beyond the tipping point. Our results show how deep learning algorithms (artificial intelligence) can provide EWS of tipping points in real-world systems. The algorithm predicts certain qualitative aspects of the new state, and is also more sensitive and generates fewer false positives than generic indicators. We use theory about system behavior near tipping points so that the algorithm does not require data from the study system but instead learns from a universe of possible models.
Thyroid hormone receptor phosphorylation regulates acute fasting-induced suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis
Authors: Minakhina Svetlana , De Oliveira Vanessa , Kim Sun Young , Zheng Haiyan , Wondisford Fredric E.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Thyroid hormones (T
4
and T
3
, TH) and fasting suppress the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis. A mechanism for acute down-regulation of the HPT axis is described, involving phosphorylation of a thyroid hormone receptor (THR) B2 isoform at serine 101. S101 is a major THRB2 phosphorylation site not found on other THR isoforms but is present in other members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. S101 is phosphorylated after T
3
binding and increases HPT axis sensitivity to T
3
inhibition. S101A is also phosphorylated by a fasting responsive pathway, yielding HPT axis suppression. A physiologically relevant THR phosphorylation function is described, permitting nutritional deprivation and TH to use a common mechanism for acute suppression of the HPT axis.
Cell–cell contact landscapes in
Xenopus
gastrula tissues
Authors: Barua Debanjan , Nagel Martina , Winklbauer Rudolf
Published: September 2021

Significance

Distinct cell contacts like adherens junctions or desmosomes are well studied. Understanding the seemingly amorphous structures of cell–cell adhesion in many tissues still poses a challenge. Here, we explore the landscape of adhesive contacts in
Xenopus
gastrula tissues. Prompted by the continuous, nondiscrete variation of contact morphology, we use contact width spectra to analyze the roles of adhesion molecules. Currently, it is understood that cadherins are the main mediators of adhesion in these tissues. However, we find abundant contacts with intercellular distances far too wide for cadherin–cadherin binding. We show that alongside cadherins, glycocalyx-like structures and associated factors like heparan sulfate proteoglycans, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid control contacts, and glycocalyx-mediated adhesion is essential for gastrula tissue architecture.
The emotional and mental health impact of the murder of George Floyd on the US population
Authors: Eichstaedt Johannes C. , Sherman Garrick T. , Giorgi Salvatore , Roberts Steven O. , Reynolds Megan E. , Ungar Lyle H. , Guntuku Sharath Chandra
Published: September 2021

Significance

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an unarmed Black American male, was murdered by a White police officer in Minneapolis. Footage of his death was widely shared and caused widespread protests. Using data from Gallup before and after his death, we found an unprecedented level of anger and sadness in the population, particularly among Black Americans. Using US Census data, we found that, compared to White Americans, Black Americans reported significantly larger increases in depression and anxiety symptoms after Floyd’s death. Police brutality against Black Americans places Black Americans at disproportionate risk for reduced mental health, both reflecting and reinforcing US racial inequality.
Las construcciones modales condeber
Authors: Oliva Miguel A. Aijón
Published: September 2021

Abstracta

El uso de las construcciones modales condeber(aquella en que va seguido de un infinitivo y aquella en que entre ambos se inserta la partículade) resulta de interés para un enfoque cognitivo-funcional de la elección gramatical como creación de significados. En este trabajo se realiza un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de ambas construcciones en un corpus de prensa y radio de una comunidad peninsular.Deber-Ø es con mucho la elección predominante, generalmente en enunciados de modalidad deóntica. Su uso esporádico en contextos epistémicos contribuye a reforzar la seguridad sobre el contenido, presentándolo como deducción lógica a partir de premisas contextuales. Por su parte,deber-decontribuye generalmente a atenuar la deonticidad del enunciado, favoreciendo su interpretación como hipótesis o sugerencia. Esta última construcción se asocia fuertemente a los contextos conversacionales, y resulta muy poco frecuente en el discurso de los periodistas y locutores de radio. Los resultados muestran la utilidad de combinar el estudio de las pautas cuantitativas y el del uso en contexto para desarrollar explicaciones científicas de la elección morfosintáctica.
The 2021 room-temperature superconductivity roadmap
Authors: Boeri Lilia , Hennig Richard , Hirschfeld Peter , Profeta Gianni , Sanna Antonio , Zurek Eva , Pickett Warren E , Amsler Maximilian , Dias Ranga , Eremets Mikhail I , Heil Christoph , Hemley Russell J , Liu Hanyu , Ma Yanming , Pierleoni Carlo , Kolmogorov Aleksey N , Rybin Nikita , Novoselov Dmitry , Anisimov Vladimir , Oganov Artem R , Pickard Chris J , Bi Tiange , Arita Ryotaro , Errea Ion , Pellegrini Camilla , Requist Ryan , Gross E K U , Margine Elena Roxana , Xie Stephen R , Quan Yundi , Hire Ajinkya , Fanfarillo Laura , Stewart G R , Hamlin J J , Stanev Valentin , Gonnelli Renato S , Piatti Erik , Romanin Davide , Daghero Dario , Valenti Roser
Published: September 2021

Designing materials with advanced functionalities is the main focus of contemporary solid-state physics and chemistry. Research efforts worldwide are funneled into a few high-end goals, one of the oldest, and most fascinating of which is the search for an ambient temperature superconductor (A-SC). The reason is clear: superconductivity at ambient conditions implies being able to handle, measure and access a single, coherent, macroscopic quantum mechanical state without the limitations associated with cryogenics and pressurization. This would not only open exciting avenues for fundamental research, but also pave the road for a wide range of technological applications, affecting strategic areas such as energy conservation and climate change. In this roadmap we have collected contributions from many of the main actors working on superconductivity, and asked them to share their personal viewpoint on the field. The hope is that this article will serve not only as an instantaneous picture of the status of research, but also as a true roadmap defining the main long-term theoretical and experimental challenges that lie ahead. Interestingly, although the current research in superconductor design is dominated by conventional (phonon-mediated) superconductors, there seems to be a widespread consensus that achieving A-SC may require different pairing mechanisms.

In memoriam, to Neil Ashcroft, who inspired us all.
Efficient uncertainty quantification for Monte Carlo dose calculations using importance (re-)weighting
Authors: Stammer P , Burigo L , Jäkel O , Frank M , Wahl N
Published: September 2021

Objective. To present an efficient uncertainty quantification method for range and set-up errors in Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculations. Further, we show that uncertainty induced by interplay and other dynamic influences may be approximated using suitable error correlation models. Approach. We introduce an importance (re-)weighting method in MC history scoring to concurrently construct estimates for error scenarios, the expected dose and its variance from a single set of MC simulated particle histories. The approach relies on a multivariate Gaussian input and uncertainty model, which assigns probabilities to the initial phase space sample, enabling the use of different correlation models. Through modification of the phase space parameterization, accuracy can be traded between that of the uncertainty or the nominal dose estimate. Main results. The method was implemented using the MC code TOPAS and validated for proton intensity-modulated particle therapy (IMPT) with reference scenario estimates. We achieve accurate results for set-up uncertainties (γ
2 mm/2% ≥ 99.01% (E[
d
]), γ
2 mm/2% ≥ 98.04% (σ(
d
))) and expectedly lower but still sufficient agreement for range uncertainties, which are approximated with uncertainty over the energy distribution. Here pass rates of 99.39% (E[
d
])/ 93.70% (σ(
d
)) (range errors) and 99.86% (E[
d
])/ 96.64% (σ(
d
)) (range and set-up errors) can be achieved. Initial evaluations on a water phantom, a prostate and a liver case from the public CORT dataset show that the CPU time decreases by more than an order of magnitude. Significance. The high precision and conformity of IMPT comes at the cost of susceptibility to treatment uncertainties in particle range and patient set-up. Yet, dose uncertainty quantification and mitigation, which is usually based on sampled error scenarios, becomes challenging when computing the dose with computationally expensive but accurate MC simulations. As the results indicate, the proposed method could reduce computational effort while also facilitating the use of high-dimensional uncertainty models.
Dependence of mechanical and electrical properties on crystal orientation of CuCr0.95Mg0.05O2 ceramics
Authors: Van Hoang Dung , Tuan Thanh Pham Anh , Huu Nguyen Truong , Cao Truong Dai , Kim Pham Ngoc , Kieu Thi Ta Hanh , Bao Nguyen Le Thu , Cao Tran Vinh , Bach Phan Thang
Published: September 2021

Mg-doped CuCrO2 material has emerged as a p-type semiconductor, especially, in the field of thermoelectric materials because of its lowest resistivity in delafossite material family. In this work, CuCr0.95Mg0.05O2 bulk materials were prepared in a series of sintering temperatures including 1000, 1200, and 1400°C using solid-state reaction method. From XRD results, all samples exhibit the significant existence of delafossite phase CuCrO2, and a small portion belongs to the spinel phase MgCr2O4. An interesting finding in this study is that the Vickers hardness is mainly governed by the crystallite size of (110) plane. Besides, the change in the crystallite size of (110) plane also indirectly affects the carrier concentration of the compounds with increasing sintering temperature. The highest power factor (PF) was reached for the sample prepared at the sintering temperature 1400°C with the value of 193 μW/mK2 along with the Seebeck coefficient value of 600 μV/K measured at 400°C.
Surface Temperature Distribution of Aluminum Fins Heated using Thermoelectric
Authors: Triqadafi A O , Zafirah T N , Kusuma F J , Sakti S P
Published: September 2021

The thermoelectric device has advantages for heating and cooling element. The thermoelectric can be used easily as a heater. In applications for small volumes, the temperature distribution of the heating element is necessary to ensure that different samples at different locations receive the same heat treatment. This experiment shows an aluminum fin’s temperature distribution heated using different heat amount. TEC-12706 was used to heat an aluminum fin with a dimension of 40×40×20 mm. The aluminum was placed in an chamber made using a 3D printer with a material of ABS. The surface temperature distribution of the aluminum fin was measured using a thermal camera Fluke-Ti20S. The measurement data showed that the fin’s surface temperature is not the same at all points at the surface, especially the center and the edge. During the heating process, the temperature at the aluminum fin’s center has a higher temperature than the fin’s edge. The lower the duty cycle used, the better the temperature distribution on the heatsink. For 50% duty cycle or more, the temperature variation in the middle with a square dimension of 20×20 mm has a temperature variation of less than 1°C. Therefore, if the temperature distribution between points is important, it is recommended to use an aluminum fin around the center.
Investigation of Cu2ZnSnS4film by Simple Flow-Coating Technique
Authors: Khotummee Nattee , Sumphao Theerawut , Seetawan Tosawat
Published: September 2021

This present study aims to investigate a Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS) film obtained by simple flow-coating technique using with CZTS precursor solution synthesized by non-vacuum sol-gel process and annealing without sulfurization. The precursor solution was prepared by mixture CuCl2, ZnCl2SnCl2and CH4N2S molar to obtain the ion of Cu, Zn, Sn and S. The CZTS film was investigated by using XRD, FE-SEM, and UV-Visible Spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD results show main peak at the angle 28.48° according with (112) plane on the kieserite phase of tetragonal structure, crystallite size average about ∽ 103.137 ± 0.9788 nm. The surface morphology was observing microscopic porosity structure of the particles and cross-section achieve a film thickness of approximately 32.92 ± 0.62 μm. The EDX result was revealed that whereas the composition nonuniformity from the simple flow-coating process. The optical properties show band gap energy quite close to the optimum value ∼ 1.518 eV, good optical absorption (∼105cm−1). These characteristics make the simple fabrication CZTS film suitable material as an absorber layer in photovoltaic.
P-Ca3Co4O9/n-Zn0.98Al0.02O module for high temperature thermoelectric generator
Authors: Pilasuta Panida , Paengson Supasit , Singsoog Kunchit , Seetawan Tosawat
Published: September 2021

The thermoelectric generators can generate electrical power from different temperatures of the top and bottom side thermoelectric modules or devices using n - and p - types thermoelectric materials. We synthesized the p-type Ca3Co4O9 and n-type Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials by solid-state reaction (SSR) and hot-pressing (HP) methods then measured thermoelectric properties such as Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric module of π-shape was fabricated 2 pair p-n junction then measured the electrical voltage, power, and efficiency. It was found that we obtained the single phase of Ca3Co4O9 and Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials. The thermopower of Ca3Co4O9 and Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials are measured by using steady-state method at hot side 976 K. The electricity of thermoelectric cells was increased with increasing temperature difference from 28–603 K. The thermoelectric cells p-n junction 2 pairs generated a maximum voltage about 93.04 mV, power 8 mW and efficiency of 0.23 % at temperature difference of 735 K (hot side 976 K). So, the thermoelectric module has been feasible to fabricate thermoelectric generators and developed a method for fabrication of high stability modules.
New solar elevation angle measuring instrument
Authors: Chen Bowen
Published: September 2021

This paper will introduce a new instrument to measure solar elevation angle. This instrument has advantages of simple structure, cheap price and convenient use, and can easily overcome the influence of ground inclination angle on the measurement, which other instruments measuring solar elevation angel fail to realize. It is portable, can quickly and accurately measure the solar elevation and can be used on uneven ground in the open. The theory of the instrument is simple. It is the application of the Newtonian mechanics, as well as geometry. This paper will introduce general structure and use method of the instrument, carry on brief principle analysis and use manual model of this instrument to measure solar elevation at different ground inclination angles within about one minute. And it is found that all the readings are basically the same. Finally, solar elevation of the afternoon is measured by the instrument model, and the sunset time is predicted. The prediction result is only 13 minutes later than theoretical time, which shows that the measurement is accurate.
Principles and Characteristics of Quantum Computing
Authors: Liu Dianhao
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of science and technology, people tend to have a higher demand for computing. Classical computers can no longer meet part of the computing needs, so quantum information systems have gained more and more attention. Quantum computers have good parallelism, fast information processing speed, large amount of information storage, and performance in many fields far surpasses classical computers. In this article, the author introduces coherent superposition and part of quantum gates and quantum algorithms meanwhile compares classical computers with quantum computers in many aspects. The advantages and disadvantages of quantum computers in principle are also drawn out. Finally, the author proposes future prospects for quantum computers prediction.
Review of Development on Convolution Neural Network Based Structural Health Monitoring on Bridges
Authors: Kondo Gen
Published: September 2021

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has been a rising interest in civil, mechanical and aerospace research. Bridge health monitoring system is able to issue early warning on damages as well as appraising the durability and reliability on bridges. Bridges are exposed to several damages such as wind, overloading and earthquakes, to ensure its structural integrity and avoid costly repairs on late stage deterioration, utilizing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in SHM on complex structures becomes more essential to bridge SHM systems in order to assess structural damage. With the increasing number of studies on integrating convolutional neural network (CNN) in SHM on the bridge. This paper aims to provide a review on the development of CNN based SHM on bridges with a case study.
Laboratory studies of the graupel nuclei formation and the processes of their further growth in a liquid droplet medium
Authors: Khuchunaev B M , Khuchunaev A B
Published: September 2021

The article presents a set of equipment for studying the growth of graupel nuclei and the growth of graupel particles. It was established in the work that the growth parameters as mass, the rate of mass growth have extreme values from –5 °C to –12 °C. It was found that at the initial stage of hail formation, two growth modes are observed: first, the growth of ice particles occurs due to the diffusion of water vapor; second, the growth of ice particles occurs as a result of crystal aggregation. The calculated values of the density of ice formed during the diffusion of water vapor vary from 0.9 to 0.97 g/cm3, in the second case from 0.2 to 0.6 g/cm3. A significant increase in the growth rate of hail occurs during the translational-rotational movement of the air flow in the wind tunnel. The article shows that with an increase in water content, the growth rate of hailstones increases. When the water content reaches approximately one gram per cubic meter there is a sharp decrease in the growth rate. With a further increase in the water content, the growth rate increases. The sharp decrease in the growth rate is most likely due to the fact that at a water level of about one gram per cubic meter, the nuclei are saturated with moisture and the ice density increases, and this leads to a decrease in the rate of hail growth.
Atmospheric electrical effects during a strong explosive eruption of Bezymyanniy volcano (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia) on December 20, 2017
Authors: Firstov P P , Akbashev R R , Malkin E I , Cherneva N V , Druzhin G I
Published: September 2021

A set of parameters of various geophysical methods is considered, which made it possible to quite clearly represent the mechanism of the explosive eruption of Bezymyanny volcano on January 20, 2017. The explosion began according to the «soft» scenario, which was reflected both in the seismic method and in the thunderstorm activity of the eruptive cloud (EC). The transition to Plinian activity was accompanied by the generation of an infrasonic signal and an increase in lightning discharges in the EC. The two-tiered EC was well traced in the potential gradient response in atmospheric electric field. The combination of various geophysical methods provides a detailed understanding of the mechanism of explosive eruptions and contributes to a better understanding of the physics of the explosive process on volcanoes.
Dual-wavelength radar studies of hail clouds
Authors: Inyukhin V S
Published: September 2021

The report deals with the study of hail clouds using the MRL-5 meteorological radar. The determination of the microphysical parameters of hail clouds is carried out using the dual-wavelength radar method for λ = 3.2 and 10 cm.

It is known that the radar reflectivity of precipitation depends on many factors, but the results of calculations and their comparison with experimental data showed that the radar reflectivity of a population of hail particles is mainly determined by their cubic mean size (

d
¯

3

) and concentration (N). For the case of two wavelengths, there is a system of equations that relate the radar reflectivity to the cubic mean size and the concentration of hail in the cloud (when parameterizing the remaining characteristics). In other words, for each thermodynamic regime of hail growth and melting, there will be a different set of coefficients of the system of equations. The report calculates the microstructure parameters for a real hail cloud.
Implementation of the trigger mechanism in hydrometeorological and other environmental processes exposed to cosmic rays
Authors: Erofeev V Ya
Published: September 2021

The analysis of multiyear readings of the TiNi sensor and variations of atmospheric parameters over the same time period is presented. The detected regularities reveal a common external factor acting simultaneously on several heterogeneous environmental components independent from each other. Under certain local environmental conditions and the parameters of the acting factor, the interaction becomes resonant, which leads to the synchronization of changes in the parameters of heterogeneous components. The observed synchronism is a type of resonance arising due to the convergence of vibration frequencies of the acting factor particles and vibrations of the particles forming the components of the environment.
Forecast of thunderstorm with increasing advance time
Authors: Kagermazov A Kh , Sozaeva L T
Published: September 2021

A method for assessing the hail hazard of the atmospheric situation according to the output data of the global atmospheric model (GFS NCEP) with increasing lead time is proposed. The method is implemented on the basis of multivariate discriminant analysis. The evaluation of the success of the method is carried out and the preservation of its predictive potential is shown for a lead time of up to five days.
Movements of hail cells on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic in 2017
Authors: Liev K B , Kushchev S A , Inuhin V S , Anischenko E A
Published: September 2021

The article is devoted to the analysis of the movement of powerful convective hail cells over the territory of the central part of the North Caucasus. The authors reviewed the studies carried out earlier in this area and analysed the results of the obtained works. The disadvantages of the previous studies are: use of materials, hail observations, meteorological stations and posts, and the fact they do not show the spatial distribution of hail cloud movements; for meteorological analysis, stations located up to 1000 m above sea level were used, which does not give us a complete picture of hail hazard. Now it is possible to study powerful convective clouds with the help of radar, which completely covers the territory of the study regardless of the inaccessibility. Also the software was used, which made it possible to create a database of radar characteristics of hail clouds.
Methodological approach to the problem of increasing precipitation in specific physical and geographical regions of Russia by affecting cloud cover
Authors: Doronin A P , Kozlova N A , Petrochenko V M , Timoshchuk A S
Published: September 2021

The article presents a methodological approach to the problem of increasing precipitation in a specific physical and geographical area of the country by modifying clouds of various shapes in order to cause artificial and intensify natural precipitation. The implementation of this approach is carried out in the work on the example of the central region of the European territory of Russia (Moscow).
Analysis of climate change in Terskol over the last 60 years
Authors: Tashilova A A
Published: September 2021

In connection with the ongoing climatic changes, the tasks of monitoring the climate of the high-mountainous zone of the Caucasus are of particular importance. Climatological studies in this work are based on the material of long-term meteorological observations from 1961 to 2020. according to the Terskol weather station. Correlation analysis showed the spatial homogeneity of temperature changes in Terskol and weather stations of all climatic zones of southern Russia, in contrast to the regional precipitation regime with a small scale of coherence (up to 200 km). In the modern period (1991-2020), the change in average temperatures in comparison with climatic norms (1961-1990) is not confirmed by statistical estimates, with the exception of the summer season. Over the 60-year period, from 1961 to 2020, there was a statistically significant increase in average summer temperatures by 0.31 °C/10 years (D = 26.8%). At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries a steady increase in winter, spring and annual temperatures is formed, while summer temperatures maintain a positive trend, but statistically insignificant at this time interval. Period from 2006 characterized by the addition of a statistically significant increase in the absolute maximums of all seasonal temperatures, in contrast to the sums and daily maximum precipitation, the decrease in which in the winter season is statistically insignificant, and there are no trends in other seasons. Such a prevailing thermal and precipitation regime in recent decades has become the main component of many factors leading to dangerous slope phenomena, glacier degradation and significant changes in the hydrological regime.
Optimal size for wind farms revealed by computational study
Authors: Wogan Tim
Published: September 2021

Optimizing the placement of turbines within a wind farm can significantly increase how much energy can be extracted – but only until the installation reaches a certain size.
Go ahead for the SKA radio telescope
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: September 2021

Costing €2bn, the Square Kilometre Array will be complete by 2029 and feature hundreds of radio dishes and more than 130,000 radio antennas to observe the universe, as Michael Banks reports
Call for single standard for astronaut radiation risk
Authors: Blaustein Richard
Published: September 2021

NASA must embrace a single standard of radiation exposure for both male and female astronauts when sending astronauts to the Moon, Mars or for extended stays in outer space. That is according to a new report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
£50m boost for science infrastructure
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: September 2021

The UK has announced it will invest £50m in research and innovation infrastructure to support more than 15 projects, including several physics programmes.
China enters the space race
Authors: Xin Ling
Published: September 2021

With construction of its first dedicated space station set to be complete next year, China is now firmly becoming a major space power, as Ling Xin reports
Top tips for super sandcastles
Authors: Randall Ian
Published: September 2021

Building sandcastles is one of the little pleasures of a holiday on the beach, but what do you really know about the science of these structures? Ian Randall grabs his bucket and spade to explore the weird world of sand science
The cosmos in 30 questions
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: September 2021

Laura Hiscott reviews What’s Eating the Universe and Other Cosmic Questions by Paul Davies
Unique and Transdiagnostic Dimensions of Reward Functioning in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms
Authors: Oddo Lauren E , Acuff Samuel F , Arenson Melanie B , Oshri Assaf , Chronis-Tuscano Andrea , MacKillop James , Murphy James G
Published: September 2021

Aims

Contemporary theories of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) emphasize core dysfunctions in reward-related processes and behaviors as pathognomonic characteristics. However, to date, it is unclear which domains of reward functioning are unique to ADHD versus AUD symptom dimensions, and which represent underlying shared correlates.

Methods

The current study employed secondary data analyses from a large community sample of emerging adults (N = 602; 57.3% female) and novel transdiagnostic modeling (i.e. bi-factor confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling) of ADHD, AUD and shared symptom dimensions to identify unique and common reward-related dimensions: environmental suppressors, reward probability, hedonic capacity, proportionate substance-related reinforcement and delay discounting.

Results

The presence of environmental suppressors was the only reward-related construct that correlated with the underlying ADHD-AUD shared dimension. The AUD symptom dimension was uniquely associated with proportionate substance-related reinforcement, whereas the ADHD symptom dimension was uniquely associated with limited reward probability. No significant associations were found for delay discounting or hedonic capacity.

Conclusions

These novel findings highlight specific aspects of reward-related functioning in ADHD, AUD and shared symptom dimensions. In so doing, this work meaningfully advances theoretical conceptualizations of these two commonly co-occurring presentations and suggests future directions for research on transdiagnostic correlates. Future longitudinal studies should include clinical samples with diagnoses of AUD and ADHD to further identify underlying correlates over time.
Is It Time to Reconsider the ‘Gold Standard’ for Nativelikeness in ERP Studies on Grammatical Processing in a Second Language? A Critical Assessment Based on Qualitative Individual Differences
Authors: Freunberger Dominik , Bylund Emanuel , Abrahamsson Niclas
Published: September 2021

In most event-related potential (ERP) studies on the second language (L2) processing, the native speaker (L1) control group’s grand average ERP pattern serves as the ‘gold standard’ that the L2 group has to reach to be labeled ‘native-like’. This relies on the assumption that the grand average is representative of all or most individuals in a group. Recent research, however, has shown that there can be considerable systematic qualitative variability between individuals even in coherent L1 samples, especially in studies on morphosyntactic processing. We discuss how these qualitative individual differences can undermine previous findings from the gold standard paradigm, and critically assess the main ERP components used as markers for nativelike grammatical processing, namely the left-anterior negativity and the P600. We argue that qualitative variation reflects the dynamics characteristic of nativelike grammatical processing and propose a model for experimental designs that can capture these processing dynamics and, thereby, has the potential to provide a more fine-grained understanding of nativelike attainment in an L2.
Ensemble of kernel ridge regression-based small molecule–miRNA association prediction in human disease
Authors: Wang Chun-Chun , Zhu Chi-Chi , Chen Xing
Published: September 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in human disease and can be targeted by small molecule (SM) drugs according to numerous studies, which shows that identifying SM–miRNA associations in human disease is important for drug development and disease treatment. We proposed the method of Ensemble of Kernel Ridge Regression-based Small Molecule–MiRNA Association prediction (EKRRSMMA) to uncover potential SM–miRNA associations by combing feature dimensionality reduction and ensemble learning. First, we constructed different feature subsets for both SMs and miRNAs. Then, we trained homogeneous base learners based on distinct feature subsets and took the average of scores obtained from these base learners as SM–miRNA association score. In EKRRSMMA, feature dimensionality reduction technology was employed in the process of construction of feature subsets to reduce the influence of noisy data. Besides, the base learner, namely KRR_avg, was the combination of two classifiers constructed under SM space and miRNA space, which could make full use of the information of SM and miRNA. To assess the prediction performance of EKRRSMMA, we conducted Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV), SM-fixed local LOOCV, miRNA-fixed local LOOCV and 5-fold CV based on two datasets. For Dataset 1 (Dataset 2), EKRRSMMA got the Area Under receiver operating characteristic Curves (AUCs) of 0.9793 (0.8871), 0.8071 (0.7705), 0.9732 (0.8586) and 0.9767 ± 0.0014 (0.8560 ± 0.0027). Besides, we conducted four case studies. As a result, 32 (5-Fluorouracil), 19 (17β-Estradiol), 26 (5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine) and 11 (cyclophosphamide) out of top 50 predicted potentially associated miRNAs were confirmed by database or experimental literature. Above evaluation results demonstrated that EKRRSMMA is reliable for predicting SM–miRNA associations.
LRez: a C++ API and toolkit for analyzing and managing Linked-Reads data
Authors: Morisse Pierre , Lemaitre Claire , Legeai Fabrice
Published: September 2021

Motivation

Linked-Reads technologies combine both the high quality and low cost of short-reads sequencing and long-range information, through the use of barcodes tagging reads which originate from a common long DNA molecule. This technology has been employed in a broad range of applications including genome assembly, phasing and scaffolding, as well as structural variant calling. However, to date, no tool or API dedicated to the manipulation of Linked-Reads data exist.

Results

We introduce LRez, a C++ API and toolkit that allows easy management of Linked-Reads data. LRez includes various functionalities, for computing numbers of common barcodes between genomic regions, extracting barcodes from BAM files, as well as indexing and querying BAM, FASTQ and gzipped FASTQ files to quickly fetch all reads or alignments containing a given barcode. LRez is compatible with a wide range of Linked-Reads sequencing technologies, and can thus be used in any tool or pipeline requiring barcode processing or indexing, in order to improve their performances.

Availability and implementation

LRez is implemented in C++, supported on Unix-based platforms and available under AGPL-3.0 License at https://github.com/morispi/LRez, and as a bioconda module.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Valid sequential inference on probability forecast performance
Authors: Henzi Alexander , Ziegel Johanna F
Published: September 2021

Probability forecasts for binary events play a central role in many applications. Their quality is commonly assessed with proper scoring rules, which assign forecasts numerical scores such that a correct forecast achieves a minimal expected score. In this paper, we construct e-values for testing the statistical significance of score differences of competing forecasts in sequential settings. E-values have been proposed as an alternative to $p$-values for hypothesis testing, and they can easily be transformed into conservative $p$-values by taking the multiplicative inverse. The e-values proposed in this article are valid in finite samples without any assumptions on the data-generating processes. They also allow optional stopping, so a forecast user may decide to interrupt evaluation, taking into account the available data at any time, and still draw statistically valid inference, which is generally not true for classical $p$-value-based tests. In a case study on post-processing of precipitation forecasts, state-of-the-art forecast dominance tests and e-values lead to the same conclusions.
Fruit development, structure and histology inNelumbo(Nelumbonaceae: Proteales)
Authors: Romanov Mikhail S , Bobrov Alexey V F C H , Romanova Ekaterina S , Zdravchev Nikita S , Sorokin Alexey N
Published: September 2021

Nelumbonaceae, along with Proteaceae and Platanaceae, comprise a sister clade to the family Sabiaceae in the order Proteales, although these families were previously not considered to be related. In this work, we investigated fruitlet development in Nelumbo with a special focus on the principal events of fruitlet ontogenesis and its pericarp histogenesis, aiming to determine whether fruit structure and histology can provide characters supporting current systematic positions and affinities of these families and reveal potential synapomorphies for the order. We demonstrated for the first time that each carpel comprises a biseriate outer and inner epidermis and thick mesophyll with numerous air canals, which differentiate after pollination into a pericarp with a biseriate palisade exocarp and undifferentiated endocarp. The mesocarp differentiated into a protective hard peripheral zone and a soft inner zone. We propose the following additional autapomorphies for Nelumbonaceae: (1) the development of a specific zone of palisade cells of the subdermal layer of the exocarp with U-shaped cell walls thickening to form a light line around the locule, and potentially preventing apoplastic water transport; (2) the presence of a soft inner parenchymatous zone of the pericarp comprising numerous air cavities, channels and layers of spongy parenchyma, which can function as a seed cushion; (3) simultaneous growth of pollinated and unpollinated fruiting carpels up until the middle developmental stages; and (4) intensive development of the embryo and the seed at the late developmental stage in both Nelumbo spp., which has not been reported in any other member of Proteales. The presence of numerous vascular bundles in the fruitlets of Nelumbonaceae, Platanaceae and some Proteaceae is a synapomorphy for these three families forming a well-supported clade in Proteales.