bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noise sensitivity of the minimum spanning tree of the complete graph
Authors: Israeli Omer , Peled Yuval
Published: May 2024

We study the noise sensitivity of the minimum spanning tree (MST) of the
$n$
-vertex complete graph when edges are assigned independent random weights. It is known that when the graph distance is rescaled by
$n^{1/3}$
and vertices are given a uniform measure, the MST converges in distribution in the Gromov–Hausdorff–Prokhorov (GHP) topology. We prove that if the weight of each edge is resampled independently with probability
$\varepsilon \gg n^{-1/3}$
, then the pair of rescaled minimum spanning trees – before and after the noise – converges in distribution to independent random spaces. Conversely, if
$\varepsilon \ll n^{-1/3}$
, the GHP distance between the rescaled trees goes to
$0$
in probability. This implies the noise sensitivity and stability for every property of the MST that corresponds to a continuity set of the random limit. The noise threshold of
$n^{-1/3}$
coincides with the critical window of the Erdős-Rényi random graphs. In fact, these results follow from an analog theorem we prove regarding the minimum spanning forest of critical random graphs.
Cognitive behavioural therapy including habit reversal training for treating dermatillomania in the context of anxiety and low mood
Authors: Batchelor Rachel , Penn Cathryn , Anderson Ciorsdan
Published: May 2024

Dermatillomania is characterised by repetitive skin picking, resulting in tissue damage and significant distress and/or functional impairment. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the recommended psychological intervention for dermatillomania in clinical guidelines, with the evidence base also supporting habit reversal training (HRT) as part of CBT. However, research evaluating CBT and HRT for dermatillomania remains scarce. This case study describes a young woman with dermatillomania, in the context of co-morbid anxiety and low mood, treated with 20 sessions of CBT including HRT in a community setting. Guided by her formulation, additional techniques such as those fostering self-compassion were also integrated, and sociocultural factors were adapted for. Improvements were reported in client-centred goals and outcomes of global psychological distress, functioning, anxiety and symptoms and psychosocial impacts of skin picking. The intervention was well received by the client. Limitations as well as clinical practice implications and research recommendations for dermatillomania are discussed.

Key learning aims

(1)

To understand using CBT, including HRT, to treat a case of dermatillomania in the context of anxiety and depression.

(2)

To use a formulation-driven approach to guide the intervention.

(3)

To consider adapting interventions for sociocultural factors.
The Devil as ‘Father of Lies’: Ideas of Diabolical Deceit in the Donatist Controversy
Authors: Lunn-Rockliffe Sophie
Published: May 2024

This article examines the connections in late antique Christian thought between the ideas that heretics were inspired by the devil, and that the devil was a liar. It begins by showing that the association of the devil with lies was founded on scriptural exegesis, and that Scripture was regularly deployed in heresiologies to cement the links between the devil as ‘father of lies’, and heretics and schismatics as liars in Satan's image. It then offers a detailed case study of when, where and how accusations of direct and indirect diabolical dissimulation were made by the opposing parties of the ‘Donatist controversy’ in polemical texts produced primarily for their own side. The final part considers how these accusations were modulated in invented textual dialogues and in oral debates between the two sides, showing how direct accusations of diabolical activity made against opponents were often eschewed for more subtle insinuations of diabolical association.
Prudentes sicut serpentes: Dissimulation and Concealment in Japanese and Chinese Missions in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Nakládalová Iveta
Published: May 2024

This volume aims to explore the concepts of hypocrisy and dissimulation, conceived in the framework of the ‘tensions at the heart of Christian teaching and experience’. This tension primarily points towards a conflict between ideal and lived practice; however, in certain circumstances, dissimulation and deceit might be understood as legitimate responses to a given situation. This article examines significant aspects of dissimulation in the specific case of early modern missions in China and Japan at the end of the sixteenth and throughout the seventeenth century, where missionaries often had to resort to disguise and concealment. Many of them had to overcome immense difficulties just to enter the country; some had to evangelize in secret, living in constant fear and facing ongoing persecution. In these territories, the ‘policy of deceit’ therefore became a relevant part of the proselytizing enterprise. I examine these practices of dissimulation with regard to evangelization strategies, and relate them to the sincerity and the confession of the faith, two of the central problems of the Christian credo. I argue that dissimulation was perceived, by the missionaries, as a legitimate and tactical response to the challenging and complex circumstances of the Japanese and Chinese missions in this period.
OutRage! Hypocrisy, Episcopacy and Homosexuality in 1990s England
Authors: Whyte William
Published: May 2024

The brief but bitter campaign to expose the hidden homosexuality of Anglican bishops in the mid-1990s was framed as a contest about hypocrisy, with bishops – whether suspected of homosexuality or not – condemned as hypocrites, and the Church of England as hypocritical. However, the activists behind this ‘outing’, and the media which covered the story with such enthusiasm, were similarly attacked for hypocrisy. A neglected moment in recent ecclesiastical history, it reveals the ongoing importance of hypocrisy in debates about the nature of faith and the authority of the church. Still more, it sheds light on how contemporary assumptions about authenticity both intensified the perceived importance of hypocrisy and increased the chances of being accused of acting hypocritically.
‘In Defiance of his Cloth’: Monastic (Im)Piety in Late Antique Egypt
Authors: Tutty Paula
Published: May 2024

Hagiographical writing promotes a vision of Egyptian monasticism in which pious ascetic figures are isolated from the world. Peter Brown highlighted the role of the holy man as patron, but nonetheless reinforced a traditional view of Egyptian monasticism based on his readings of works such as the sixth-century Aphothegmata Patrum. Surviving monastic correspondence, in contrast, demonstrates that there was a highly individualized approach to the monastic vocation. In this article, I turn to documentary material to consider the complexities of the early development of the movement. As a case study, I use the Greek and Coptic correspondence of a fourth-century monk called Apa John. My conclusion is that activities and behaviours described in the texts do not always accord with any known typology or ideal, but they are invaluable for exploring aspects of the early monastic impulse and the role played by the movement in wider society.
Early season weed management options in water-seeded rice production
Authors: Webster L. Connor , Rustom Samer Y. , Webster Eric P. , Stoker Ben
Published: May 2024

Two separate field studies were conducted at two locations near Crowley, Louisiana, to evaluate early season applications of florpyrauxifen and a prepackaged mixture of halosulfuron plus prosulfuron in water-seeded rice production. In each study, florpyrauxifen and halosulfuron plus prosulfuron were applied at two rates and either applied to the soil surface 48 h before the seeding flooding and seeding, directly onto the pregerminated seed 24 h following seeding and immediately after removal of the seeding flood (SEED), and at pegging. Data suggest that both florpyrauxifen and halosulfuron plus prosulfuron have a role to play in water-seeded rice production. Crop injury of 19% was observed from applications of florpyrauxifen applied directly to pregerminated SEED. Additionally, 28% crop injury was observed when halosulfuron plus prosulfuron was applied directly to SEED. Due to crop injury observations, both herbicides should be avoided when the pregerminated seed is exposed to the soil surface after removing the seeding flood. These data suggest that florpyrauxifen may be a better option for postemergence application, whereas halosulfuron plus prosulfuron may be a better preemergence option in water-seeded rice production. Overall, the findings show that both herbicide technologies will provide adequate early-season weed control in water-seeded rice production.
Plant growth regulators differentially suppress goosegrass and smooth crabgrass in creeping bentgrass turf
Authors: Peppers John M. , McElroy J. Scott , Askew Shawn D.
Published: May 2024

Goosegrass and smooth crabgrass in creeping bentgrass turf are difficult to control due to a lack of selective herbicides. Based on preliminary field observations, we hypothesized that paclobutrazol and flurprimidol would reduce the overall competitiveness of goosegrass and smooth crabgrass in creeping bentgrass. Greenhouse and field studies were designed to evaluate the effect of several plant growth regulators (PGRs) on goosegrass and smooth crabgrass competitive indices. In greenhouse studies, flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, trinexapac-ethyl, and prohexadione-calcium were applied either preemergence only or preemergence plus two biweekly postemergence applications to goosegrass and smooth crabgrass plants to simulate the first 1.5 mo of typical PGR programs used on golf courses. Two weeks after the final postemergence treatment, aboveground biomass and root biomass were recorded. Programmatic flurprimidol and paclobutrazol applications reduced smooth crabgrass aboveground biomass by 67% and 69%, respectively, and more than trinexapac ethyl or prohexadione-calcium. When averaged across application programs, flurprimidol and paclobutrazol reduced smooth crabgrass root biomass by 74% and goosegrass biomass by 73% to 80%. Field studies were established to further evaluate the influence of PGRs on smooth crabgrass coverage in creeping bentgrass turf. Treatments consisting of flurprimidol, trinexapac-ethyl, flurprimidol plus trinexapac-ethyl, paclobutrazol, and fenoxaprop-p were applied every 3 wk from April to August. Weed coverage data were collected throughout the growing season, and final smooth crabgrass control data were collected at the end of the season. In general, flurprimidol-containing treatments more effectively reduced smooth crabgrass coverage throughout the growing season than trinexapac ethyl. After the studies, regimens that contained flurprimidol controlled smooth crabgrass by 68% to 73%, greater than any other PGR program evaluated. Results from these studies indicate that flurprimidol may be used to effectively control smooth crabgrass or goosegrass in creeping bentgrass turf. These are the first reported data regarding the use of flurprimidol for smooth crabgrass or goosegrass control in turf.
Grain sorghum response to simulated fomesafen and terbacil carryover from watermelon in Georgia
Authors: Shay Nicholas J. , Prostko Eric P.
Published: May 2024

Georgia growers can benefit from double-cropping grain sorghum following watermelon to maximize land use and add economic value to their operations. However, capitalizing on the economic advantages of harvesting two crops within a single season must account for potential herbicide injury to rotational crops. An integrated weed management strategy that includes a preplant application of fomesafen and terbacil is recommended for weed control in watermelon production systems. However, currently labeled plant-back restrictions for grain sorghum require a minimum of 10 and 24 mo for fomesafen and terbacil, respectively. Therefore this research aimed to determine the tolerance of grain sorghum to fomesafen and terbacil following soil applications applied 90 to 100 d before planting (DBP). Experiments were conducted at the University of Georgia Ponder Research Farm from 2019 to 2023. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. Five rates of fomesafen (35, 70, 140, 210, and 280 g ai ha−1), four rates of terbacil (3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0 g ai ha−1), and a nontreated control were evaluated. In 2019, fomesafen caused significant sorghum leaf necrosis, plant density reductions, height reductions, and yield reductions of at least 16%, especially when applied at rates ≥ 210 g ai ha−1. Terbacil had little to no effect on sorghum injury, density, height, or yield in any year. These results suggest that sorghum has sufficient tolerance to terbacil when applied 90 to 100 DBP. In four of five years, sorghum had an acceptable tolerance to fomesafen when applied 90 to 100 DBP. However, yield losses observed in 2019 suggest that caution should be taken when fomesafen is applied 90 to 100 DBP grain sorghum at ≥ 210 g ai ha−1.
Impact of Deep Water Formation on Antarctic Circumpolar Transport During Gateway Opening
Authors: Munday D. R. , Sauermilch I. , Klocker A. , Whittaker J. M.
Published: May 2024

Ambiguity over the Eocene opening times of the Tasman Gateway and Drake Passage makes it difficult to determine the initiation time of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. If the Tasman Gateway opened later than Drake Passage, then Australia may have prevented the proto‐ACC from forming. Recent modeling results have shown that only a relatively weak circumpolar transport results under Eocene surface forcing. This leads to warm and buoyant coastal water around Antarctica, which may impede the formation of deep waters and convective processes. This suggests that a change in deep water formation might be required to increase the density contrast across the Southern Ocean and increase circumpolar transport. Here we use a simple reduced gravity model with two basins, to represent the Atlantic and the Pacific. This fixes the density difference between surface and deep water and allows us to isolate the impact of deep water formation on circumpolar transport. With no obstacle on the southern boundary the circumpolar current increases its transport from 82.3 to 270.0 Sv with deep water formation. Placing an Antipodean landmass on the southern boundary reduces this transport as the landmass increases in size. However, circumpolar flow north of this landmass remains a possibility even without deep water formation. Weak circumpolar transport continues until the basin is completely blocked by the Antipodes. When the Antipodes is instead allowed to split from the southern boundary, circumpolar transport recovers to its unobstructed value. Flow rapidly switches to south of the Antipodes when the gateway is narrow.
High‐Resolution Climate Simulations Over the Eastern Mediterranean Black Sea Region Using the Pseudo‐Global Warming Method With a CMIP6 Ensemble
Authors: Bağçaci S. Çağatay , Yücel Ismail , Yilmaz M. Tugrul , Sen Omer L. , Ludwig Patrick
Published: May 2024

The strong drying expected in the Eastern Mediterranean with climate change could cause mass migration of people already living under water shortages. On the other hand, precipitation is expected to increase toward the region’s north, particularly those along the interior of the eastern Black Sea coasts, which could worsen existing floods. However, this double‐sided adverse phenomenon and its underlying reasons have been investigated by relatively low‐resolution models in the Eastern Mediterranean Black Sea (EMBS) region, where orographic precipitation prevails. This study performs 4 km resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations with and without climate change signals retrieved from a CMIP6 GCM ensemble via pseudo‐global‐warming (PGW). The WRF simulations captured the large‐scale dynamics affecting the EMBS fairly well: an anticyclonic low‐level circulation and enhancing subsidence stem from anomalous ridge development over the central Mediterranean in winter (DJF), and a cyclonic low‐level circulation and weakening subsidence rise from heat‐low development over the Eastern Mediterranean in summer (JJA). The resulting picture of future warming and drying over the area generally supports the literature, although new insights emerge in anomalous precipitation increase, especially in the summer season over the Greater Caucasus and nearby regions. Most likely, the warmer‐than‐expected Caspian Sea induces a large increase in specific humidity and, thus, a large moisture source in the lower troposphere and an extension of the heat‐low effect in the mid‐troposphere. In addition, the high‐resolution WRF simulations provide added value over the complex topography of the Caucasian Mountain range for new insights into this region.
Employing the Coupled EUHFORIA‐OpenGGCM Model to Predict CME Geoeffectiveness
Authors: Maharana Anwesha , Cramer W. Douglas , Samara Evangelia , Scolini Camilla , Raeder Joachim , Poedts Stefaan
Published: May 2024

EUropean Heliospheric FORecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA) is a physics‐based data‐driven solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) propagation model designed for space weather forecasting and event analysis investigations. Although EUHFORIA can predict the solar wind plasma and magnetic field properties at Earth, it is not equipped to quantify the geo‐effectiveness of the solar transients in terms of geomagnetic indices like the disturbance storm time (Dst) index and the auroral indices, that quantify the impact of the magnetized plasma encounters on Earth's magnetosphere. Therefore, we couple EUHFORIA with the Open Geospace General Circulation Model (OpenGGCM), a magnetohydrodynamic model of the response of Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere to transient solar wind characteristics. In this coupling, OpenGGCM is driven by the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field obtained from EUHFORIA simulations to produce the magnetospheric and ionospheric response to the CMEs. This coupling is validated with two observed geo‐effective CME events driven with the spheromak flux‐rope CME model. We compare these simulation results with the indices obtained from OpenGGCM simulations driven by the measured solar wind data from spacecraft. We further employ the dynamic time warping (DTW) technique to assess the model performance in predicting Dst. The main highlight of this study is to use EUHFORIA simulated time series to predict the Dst and auroral indices 1–2 days in advance, as compared to using the observed solar wind data at L1, which only provides predictions 1–2 hr before the actual impact.
A Method to Assess and Explain Changes in Sub‐Daily Precipitation Return Levels From Convection‐Permitting Simulations
Authors: Dallan Eleonora , Borga Marco , Fosser Giorgia , Canale Antonio , Roghani Bardia , Marani Marco , Marra Francesco
Published: May 2024

Reliable projections of extreme future precipitation are fundamental for risk management and adaptation strategies. Convection‐permitting models (CPMs) explicitly resolve large convective systems and represent sub‐daily extremes more realistically than coarser resolution models, but present short records due to the high computational costs. Here, we evaluate the potential of a non‐asymptotic approach, the Simplified Metastatistical Extreme Value (SMEV) to provide information on the future change of extreme sub‐daily return levels based on CPM simulations. We focus on a complex‐orography area in the North Eastern Italy and use three 10‐year time periods COSMO‐crCLIM simulations (2.2 km resolution) under RCP8.5 scenario. When compared to a block r‐maxima approach currently used in similar applications, the proposed approach shows reduced uncertainty in rare return level estimates (about 5%–10% smaller confidence interval) and can improve the quantification of future changes from CPM simulations. We evaluate these changes and their statistical significance in return levels for 1–24 hr durations. The changes show an interesting spatial organization associated with orography, with significant positive changes located at high elevations. These positive changes tend to increase with increasing return period and decreasing duration. Because SMEV can separate the roles of event intensity and occurrence, it allows for physical interpretations of these changes. We suggest that non‐asymptotic approaches permit the quantification of change in rare extremes within available CPM runs.
How Solar Winds Interact with Jupiter’s Magnetosphere
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: May 2024

Computer simulations and data from NASA’s Juno mission reveal information about the relationship between solar wind and Jupiter’s massive magnetosphere.
Red-Light-Loving Bacteria Could Expand the Search for Life
Authors: Tjandra Kristel
Published: May 2024

Scientists are uncovering genes responsible for oxygenic photosynthesis in cyanobacteria to shift the search for potentially habitable worlds.
Butterfly Distributions of Energetic Electrons Driven by Ducted and Nonducted Chorus Waves
Authors: Ke Yangguang , Gao Xinliang , Lu Quanming , Wang Xueyi , Chen Rui
Published: May 2024

Bursts of electron butterfly distributions at 10s keV correlated with chorus waves are frequently observed in the Earth's magnetosphere. Strictly ducted (parallel) upper‐band chorus waves are proposed to cause them by nonlinear cyclotron trapping. However, chorus waves in these events are probably nonducted or not strictly ducted. In this study, test‐particle simulations are conducted to investigate electron scattering driven by ducted (quasi‐parallel) and nonducted upper‐band chorus waves. Simulation results show butterfly distributions of 10s keV electrons can be created by both ducted and nonducted upper‐band chorus waves in seconds. Ducted upper‐band chorus waves cause these butterfly distributions mainly by accelerating electrons due to cyclotron phase trapping. However, nonducted waves tend to decelerate electrons to form these butterfly distributions via cyclotron phase bunching. Our study provides new insights into the formation mechanisms of electron butterfly distributions and demonstrates the importance of nonlinear interactions in the Earth's magnetosphere.
Migration of Fast Magnetosonic Waves in the Magnetosphere With a Plasmaspheric Plume
Authors: Yu Jiang , Liu Xiaoman , Ren Aojun , Wang Jing , Chen Zuzheng , He Zhaoguo , Liu Nigang , Li Liuyuan , Cui Jun , Cao Jinbin
Published: May 2024

Plasmaspheric density structures are considered to control the propagation trajectories of fast magnetosonic (MS) waves in the inner magnetosphere. However, whether the plasmaspheric plume can effectively alter the propagation of MS waves remains unknown. Based on the analytical model of plasma density, ray tracing simulations are performed to investigate the propagation of exactly perpendicular MS waves in the equatorial plane in the magnetosphere containing a plasmaspheric plume. We find that plasmatrough and plume MS waves propagating toward the plasmaspheric plume can be reflected into the plasmaspheric core by the plume, then potentially migrating globally and thus quasi‐trapped inside the plasmaspheric core. The simulations also indicate that lower‐frequency MS waves approaching the plasmaspheric plume are more easily reflected and quasi‐trapped inside the plasmaspheric core. Our findings illustrate a previously unexplored way that plasmatrough MS waves could access and be trapped inside the plasmaspheric core via azimuthal plasmaspheric density structures.
Interoceptive training impacts the neural circuit of the anterior insula cortex
Authors: Sugawara Ayako , Katsunuma Ruri , Terasawa Yuri , Sekiguchi Atsushi
Published: May 2024

Interoception is the perception of afferent information that arises from anywhere and everywhere within the body. Recently, interoceptive accuracy could be enhanced by cognitive training. Given that the anterior insula cortex (AIC) is a key node of interoception, we hypothesized that resting functional connectivity (RSFC) from AIC was involved in an effect of interoceptive training. To address this issue, we conducted a longitudinal intervention study using interoceptive training and obtained RSFC using fMRI before and after the intervention. A heartbeat perception task evaluated interoceptive accuracy. Twenty-two healthy volunteers (15 females, age 19.9 ± 2.0 years) participated. After the intervention, interoceptive accuracy was enhanced, and anxiety levels and somatic symptoms were reduced. Also, RSFC from AIC to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), superior marginal gyrus (SMG), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and brain stem, including nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) were enhanced, and those from AIC to the visual cortex (VC) were decreased according to enhanced interoceptive accuracy. The neural circuit of AIC, ACC, and NTS is involved in the bottom-up process of interoception. The neural circuit of AIC, DLPFC, and SMG is involved in the top-down process of interoception, which was thought to represent the cognitive control of emotion. The findings provided a better understanding of neural underpinnings of the effect of interoceptive training on somatic symptoms and anxiety levels by enhancing both bottom-up and top-down processes of interoception, which has a potential contribution to the structure of psychotherapies based on the neural mechanism of psychosomatics.
Critical outcomes to be included in the Core Outcome Set for nutritional intervention studies in older adults with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition: a modified Delphi Study
Authors: Mendonça Nuno , Avgerinou Christina , Çavdar Sibel , Cederholm Tommy , Cruz-Jentoft Alfonso J. , Torbahn Gabriel , Sieber Cornel , Siebentritt Hanna M. , Kiesswetter Eva , Volkert Dorothee , Visser Marjolein
Published: May 2024

Introduction

As part of the development of an agreed minimum set of outcomes or Core Outcome Set (COS) for future nutritional intervention trials in older adults with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition, this work reports on the Delphi surveys and final consensus.

Methods

Outcomes from a scoping review were incorporated into a two-round Delphi survey. Researchers and healthcare professionals experienced in malnutrition in older adults were invited to take part in an online survey to rate 38 selected outcomes on a nine-point Likert scale ranging from ‘not important’ to ‘critical’ for their setting (community, hospital, or long-term care). Consensus for inclusion was reached when ≥75% (or ≥60% if a patient-reported outcome) of the participants scored the outcome as ‘critical’ and <15% as ‘not important’. Resulting outcomes were voted for inclusion or exclusion in the COS in a final online consensus meeting.

Results

Ninety-three and 72 participants from diverse professional backgrounds and countries participated in the 1st and 2nd Delphi round, respectively. After both rounds eleven outcomes met the inclusion criteria, largely irrespective of setting. Fifteen participants, representing academia, health care, health policy, industry, and PPI, voted in a final online consensus meeting resulting in ten outcomes: malnutrition status, dietary intake, appetite, body weight or BMI, muscle strength, muscle mass, functional performance, functional limitations, quality of life, and acceptability of the intervention.

Conclusions

Ten outcomes will form the COS which is intended to be used by the scientific community in all future nutritional intervention studies for older adults with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition. The subsequent phase will establish the appropriate methods to measure these outcomes.
TET activity safeguards pluripotency throughout embryonic dormancy
Authors: Stötzel Maximilian , Cheng Chieh-Yu , IIik Ibrahim A. , Kumar Abhishek Sampath , Omgba Persia Akbari , van der Weijden Vera A. , Zhang Yufei , Vingron Martin , Meissner Alexander , Aktaş Tuğçe , Kretzmer Helene , Bulut-Karslioğlu Aydan
Published: May 2024

Dormancy is an essential biological process for the propagation of many life forms through generations and stressful conditions. Early embryos of many mammals are preservable for weeks to months within the uterus in a dormant state called diapause, which can be induced in vitro through mTOR inhibition. Cellular strategies that safeguard original cell identity within the silent genomic landscape of dormancy are not known. Here we show that the protection ofcis-regulatory elements from silencing is key to maintaining pluripotency in the dormant state. We reveal a TET–transcription factor axis, in which TET-mediated DNA demethylation and recruitment of methylation-sensitive transcription factor TFE3 drive transcriptionally inert chromatin adaptations during dormancy transition. Perturbation of TET activity compromises pluripotency and survival of mouse embryos under dormancy, whereas its enhancement improves survival rates. Our results reveal an essential mechanism for propagating the cellular identity of dormant cells, with implications for regeneration and disease.
Deep-learning-based sampling position selection on color Doppler sonography images during renal artery ultrasound scanning
Authors: Wang Xin , Yang Yu-Qing , Cai Sheng , Li Jian-Chu , Wang Hong-Yan
Published: May 2024

Accurate selection of sampling positions is critical in renal artery ultrasound examinations, and the potential of utilizing deep learning (DL) for assisting in this selection has not been previously evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of DL object detection technology applied to color Doppler sonography (CDS) images in assisting sampling position selection. A total of 2004 patients who underwent renal artery ultrasound examinations were included in the study. CDS images from these patients were categorized into four groups based on the scanning position: abdominal aorta (AO), normal renal artery (NRA), renal artery stenosis (RAS), and intrarenal interlobular artery (IRA). Seven object detection models, including three two-stage models (Faster R-CNN, Cascade R-CNN, and Double Head R-CNN) and four one-stage models (RetinaNet, YOLOv3, FoveaBox, and Deformable DETR), were trained to predict the sampling position, and their predictive accuracies were compared. The Double Head R-CNN model exhibited significantly higher average accuracies on both parameter optimization and validation datasets (89.3 ± 0.6% and 88.5 ± 0.3%, respectively) compared to other methods. On clinical validation data, the predictive accuracies of the Double Head R-CNN model for all four types of images were significantly higher than those of the other methods. The DL object detection model shows promise in assisting inexperienced physicians in improving the accuracy of sampling position selection during renal artery ultrasound examinations.
Male proboscis monkey cranionasal size and shape is associated with visual and acoustic signalling
Authors: Balolia Katharine L. , Fitzgerald Pippa L.
Published: May 2024

The large nose adorned by adult male proboscis monkeys is hypothesised to serve as an audiovisual signal of sexual selection. It serves as a visual signal of male quality and social status, and as an acoustic signal, through the expression of loud, low-formant nasalised calls in dense rainforests, where visibility is poor. However, it is unclear how the male proboscis monkey nasal complex, including the internal structure of the nose, plays a role in visual or acoustic signalling. Here, we use cranionasal data to assess whether large noses found in male proboscis monkeys serve visual and/or acoustic signalling functions. Our findings support a visual signalling function for male nasal enlargement through a relatively high degree of nasal aperture sexual size dimorphism, the craniofacial region to which nasal soft tissue attaches. We additionally find nasal aperture size increases beyond dental maturity among male proboscis monkeys, consistent with the visual signalling hypothesis. We show that the cranionasal region has an acoustic signalling role through pronounced nasal cavity sexual shape dimorphism, wherein male nasal cavity shape allows the expression of loud, low-formant nasalised calls. Our findings provide robust support for the male proboscis monkey nasal complex serving both visual and acoustic functions.
The proteus effect on human pain perception through avatar muscularity and gender factors
Authors: Yim Youchan , Xia Zongheng , Kubota Yuki , Tanaka Fumihide
Published: May 2024

The Proteus effect, which occurs when using an avatar in virtual reality, influences user behavior, changes attitudes, and improves physical performance. Here, we show that human pain perception can be alleviated by the Proteus effect. To investigate the pain alleviation effect of using an avatar in a virtual environment, we conducted two experiments using a head-mounted display and a thermal pain stimulator to induce acute pain. The first experiment involved 20 adult participants, while the second experiment involved 44 adult participants. Experimental results show that participants reported significantly lower pain scores (15.982% reduction), as measured by the Pain Assessment Scale (PAS), when using a muscular avatar than when using a normal avatar. The experiments also revealed several significant gender factors. For example, participants reported significantly lower pain scores when using a gender-congruent avatar. In addition, the use of a muscular avatar was particularly effective for male participants. In contrast, female participants consistently reported lower pain scores when using the avatar regardless of its body type (muscular/normal). To further our understanding, we also measured participants’ gender-related pain stereotypes using the Gender Role Expectations of Pain (GREP) questionnaire, as well as participants’ sense of embodiment. The results of these questionnaires are consistent with the results of the PAS, suggesting possible relationships between stereotypes and the Proteus effect on pain perception, and between the degree of immersion in an avatar and the user’s perception of pain.
Physics to system-level modeling of silicon-organic-hybrid nanophotonic devices
Authors: Moridsadat Maryam , Tamura Marcus , Chrostowski Lukas , Shekhar Sudip , Shastri Bhavin J.
Published: May 2024

The continuous growth in data volume has sparked interest in silicon-organic-hybrid (SOH) nanophotonic devices integrated into silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs). SOH devices offer improved speed and energy efficiency compared to silicon photonics devices. However, a comprehensive and accurate modeling methodology of SOH devices, such as modulators corroborating experimental results, is lacking. While some preliminary modeling approaches for SOH devices exist, their reliance on theoretical and numerical methodologies, along with a lack of compatibility with electronic design automation (EDA), hinders their seamless and rapid integration with silicon PICs. Here, we develop a phenomenological, building-block-based SOH PICs simulation methodology that spans from the physics to the system level, offering high accuracy, comprehensiveness, and EDA-style compatibility. Our model is also readily integrable and scalable, lending itself to the design of large-scale silicon PICs. Our proposed modeling methodology is agnostic and compatible with any photonics-electronics co-simulation software. We validate this methodology by comparing the characteristics of experimentally demonstrated SOH microring modulators (MRMs) and Mach Zehnder modulators with those obtained through simulation, demonstrating its ability to model various modulator topologies. We also show our methodology's ease and speed in modeling large-scale systems. As an illustrative example, we use our methodology to design and study a 3-channel SOH MRM-based wavelength-division (de)multiplexer, a widely used component in various applications, including neuromorphic computing, data center interconnects, communications, sensing, and switching networks. Our modeling approach is also compatible with other materials exhibiting the Pockels and Kerr effects. To our knowledge, this represents the first comprehensive physics-to-system-level EDA-compatible simulation methodology for SOH modulators.
Accretion of “young” Phanerozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle triggered by back-arc extension—the case of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone
Authors: Ogunyele Abimbola C. , Sanfilippo Alessio , Salters Vincent J. M. , Bonazzi Mattia , Zanetti Alberto
Published: May 2024

The subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath Phanerozoic regions is mostly constituted by fertile lherzolites, which sharply contrast with cratonic mantle made of highly-depleted peridotites. The question of whether this chemical difference results from lower degrees of melting associated with the formation of Phanerozoic SCLM or from the refertilization of ancient depleted SCLM remains a subject of debate. Additionally, the timing and geodynamic environment of accretion of the fertile SCLM in many Phanerozoic regions are poorly constrained. We here document new geochemical and Nd-Hf isotopic data for orogenic lherzolite massifs from the Ivrea-Verbano Zone (IVZ), Southern Alps. Even though a few Proterozoic Re depletion ages are locally preserved in these mantle bodies, our data reveal that the IVZ lherzolitic massifs were “recently” accreted to the SCLM in the Upper Devonian (ca. 370 Ma) during Pangea amalgamation, with a petrochemical evolution characterized by low-degree (~ 5–12%) depletion and nearly contemporaneous pervasive to focused melt migration. The lithospheric accretion putatively took place through asthenospheric upwelling triggered by Variscan intra-continental extension in a back-arc setting related to the subduction of the Rheic Ocean. We thus conclude that the fertile sections of Phanerozoic SCLM can be accreted during “recent” events of back-arc continental extension, even where Os isotopes preserve memories of melting events in much older times.
Multitasking across the lifespan in different task contexts
Authors: Van Humbeeck Nathan , Van Wilderode Mira , Kliegl Reinhold , van Wieringen Astrid , Krampe Ralf T.
Published: May 2024

We assessed lifespan development of multitasking in a sample of 187 individuals aged 8–82 years. Participants performed a visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) task together with either postural control or reaction time (RT) tasks. Using criterion-referenced testing we individually adjusted difficulty levels for the VSWM task to control for single-task differences. Age-differences in single-task performances followed U-shaped patterns with young adults outperforming children and older adults. Multitasking manipulations yielded robust performance decrements in VSWM, postural control and RT tasks. Presumably due to our adjustment of VSWM challenges, costs in this task were small and similar across age groups suggesting that age-differential costs found in earlier studies largely reflected differences already present during single-task performance. Age-differences in multitasking costs for concurrent tasks depended on specific combinations. For VSWM and RT task combinations increases in RT were the smallest for children but pronounced in adults highlighting the role of cognitive control processes. Stabilogram diffusion analysis of postural control demonstrated that long-term control mechanisms were affected by concurrent VSWM demands. This interference was pronounced in older adults supporting concepts of compensation or increased cognitive involvement in sensorimotor processes at older age. Our study demonstrates how a lifespan approach can delineate the explanatory scope of models of human multitasking.
Continuity of GNSS as a critical attribute for safety applications in land transport
Authors: Filip Aleš , Rispoli Francesco
Published: May 2024

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is widely used for air traffic management—more than 150,000 aircraft and 5000 airports worldwide are equipped with SBAS (Satellite-based augmentation system) technology, which contributes to safer and more efficient air operations. The next challenge is to extend GNSS positioning to maritime, autonomous cars and railway control systems preserving their safety requirements. The main parameter is the integrity of the GNSS positioning, although the time for which the integrity is guaranteed, defined by continuity, the most demanding requirement for aviation applications, has not been sufficiently investigated for land transportation. The aim of this paper is to close this gap by clarifying: (1) where the requirement for GNSS continuity comes from, (2) why GNSS continuity is needed in land transport, and (3) how GNSS-based applications can be made more reliable when needed. Using a comparative analysis, the continuity requirements in aviation, rail, maritime, and road transport have been investigated showing their importance for railways and automotive control, paving the way to eventually update the current EN 50126 (RAMS) and ISO/TR 4804 standards respectively for railways and automated cars. One of the main findings, through Markov modeling, is the improvement of the Mean Time to System Failure (MTTFsys) that for the railway safety-of-life applications can be significantly increased from about 521 h up to 5 × 105 h. These results can contribute to accelerating the adoption of GNSS positioning for automated land transportation, by exploiting the extensive experience brought by the aviation sector where GNSS was introduced 20 years ago.
Integrating blockchain and ZK-ROLLUP for efficient healthcare data privacy protection system via IPFS
Authors: Ma Shengchen , Zhang Xing
Published: May 2024

With the rapid development of modern medical technology and the dramatic increase in the amount of medical data, traditional centralized medical information management is facing many challenges. In recent years blockchain, which is a peer-to-peer distributed database, has been increasingly accepted and adopted by different industries and use cases. Key areas of healthcare blockchain applications include electronic medical record (EMR) management, medical device supply chain management, remote condition monitoring, insurance claims and personal health data (PHD) management, among others. Even so, there are a number of challenges in applying blockchain concepts to healthcare and its data, including interoperability, data security privacy, scalability, TPS and so on. While these challenges may hinder the development of blockchain in healthcare scenarios, they can be improved with existing technologies In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based healthcare operations management framework that is combined with the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) for managing EMRs, protects data privacy through a distributed approach while ensuring that this medical ledger is tamper-proof. Doctors act as full nodes, patients can participate in network maintenance either as light nodes or as full nodes, and the hospital acts as the endpoint database of data, i.e., the IPFS node, which saves the arithmetic power of nodes and allows the data stored in the hospitals and departments to be shared with the other organizations that have uploaded the data. Therefore, the integration of blockchain and zero-knowledge proof proposed in this paper helps to protect data privacy and is efficient, better scalable, and more throughput.
Active transport of a passive colloid in a bath of run-and-tumble particles
Authors: Dhar Tanumoy , Saintillan David
Published: May 2024

The dispersion of a passive colloid immersed in a bath of non-interacting and non-Brownian run-and-tumble microswimmers in two dimensions is analyzed using stochastic simulations and an asymptotic theory, both based on a minimal model of swimmer-colloid collisions characterized solely by frictionless steric interactions. We estimate the effective long-time diffusivity$${\mathscr {D}}$$Dof the suspended colloid resulting from its interaction with the active bath, and elucidate its dependence on the level of activity (persistence length of swimmer trajectories), the mobility ratio of the colloid to a swimmer, and the number density of swimmers in the bath. We also propose a semi-analytical model for the colloid diffusivity in terms of the variance and correlation time of the net fluctuating active force on the colloid resulting from swimmer collisions. Quantitative agreement is found between numerical simulations and analytical results in the experimentally-relevant regime of low swimmer density, low mobility ratio, and high activity.
Assessing the efficacy of 2D and 3D CNN algorithms in OCT-based glaucoma detection
Authors: Rasel Rafiul Karim , Wu Fengze , Chiariglione Marion , Choi Stacey S. , Doble Nathan , Gao Xiaoyi Raymond
Published: May 2024

Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the gradual degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, leading to irreversible blindness worldwide. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis of glaucoma is crucial, enabling early intervention and facilitating effective disease management to mitigate further vision deterioration. The advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has marked a transformative era in ophthalmology, offering detailed visualization of the macula and optic nerve head (ONH) regions. In recent years, both 2D and 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms have been applied to OCT image analysis. While 2D CNNs rely on post-prediction aggregation of all B-scans within OCT volumes, 3D CNNs allow for direct glaucoma prediction from the OCT data. However, in the absence of extensively pre-trained 3D models, the comparative efficacy of 2D and 3D-CNN algorithms in detecting glaucoma from volumetric OCT images remains unclear. Therefore, this study explores the efficacy of glaucoma detection through volumetric OCT images using select state-of-the-art (SOTA) 2D-CNN models, 3D adaptations of these 2D-CNN models with specific weight transfer techniques, and a custom 5-layer 3D-CNN-Encoder algorithm. The performance across two distinct datasets is evaluated, each focusing on the macula and the ONH, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the models’ capabilities in identifying glaucoma. Our findings demonstrate that the 2D-CNN algorithm consistently provided robust results compared to their 3D counterparts tested in this study for glaucoma detection, achieving AUC values of 0.960 and 0.943 for the macular and ONH OCT test images, respectively. Given the scarcity of pre-trained 3D models trained on extensive datasets, this comparative analysis underscores the overall utility of 2D and 3D-CNN algorithms in advancing glaucoma diagnostic systems in ophthalmology and highlights the potential of 2D algorithms for volumetric OCT image-based glaucoma detection.