bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities and Challenges of Purpose-Led Companies: An Empirical Study Through Expert Interviews
Authors: von Ahsen Anette , Gauch Kevin
Published: July 2021

Purpose-Led Companies do not exclusively pursue profit-oriented goals, but also orient their actions towards a “higher” purpose. One example of this can be found in contributing to the achievement of social objectives. So far, only a few empirical studies analyze the opportunities and challenges associated with this approach. Accordingly, the present paper examines this approach by means of expert interviews in nine companies. The interview partners evidently believe that, by means of purpose-oriented management, their companies achieve both better financial performance and improved reputation, as well as increased employee motivation. Nevertheless, problems are also identified, in particular the possible trade-offs with profit targets, as well as conflicts due to contradictory stakeholder requirements.
Women’s abuse experiences in Jordan: A comparative study using rural and urban classifications
Authors: Alsawalqa Rula Odeh
Published: July 2021

This study explored the patterns of economic abuse among working married women from rural and urban areas in Jordan, and identified their experiences with other abuses interconnected with economic abuse, including psychological, emotional, and physical abuse and harassment. A quantitative research approach using a descriptive comparative design was employed. The findings indicated that 55.5% of urban and 44.5% of rural women have encountered spousal economic abuse in two ways: (1) controlling their economic resources and managing their financial decisions and (2) exploiting their economic resources. Economic abuse was found to be intertwined with other forms of abuse; women who faced economic abuse also endured primarily emotional and psychological abuse, followed by physical abuse and harassment, as tactics to reinforce economic abuse and maintain control over them. The most common form of psychological abuse was being made to feel frustrated and neglected when requesting emotional support, while emotional abuse was typified by resentment and being told they are inadequate. Physical abuse included partners shaking, slapping, or throwing objects at them. Both rural and urban women reported being harassed at their workplace by their partners’ repeated phone calls. In general, urban women faced more economic and other forms of abuse than rural women, especially emotional and physical abuse.
Predicting precise acoustic force to trap particles based on scattering patterns
Authors: Frank Jodi Ackerman
Published: July 2021

Researchers found that patterns are unique for each material target.
Fluorescence intensity correlation imaging with high spatial resolution and elemental contrast using intense x-ray pulses
Authors: Ho Phay J. , Knight Christopher , Young Linda
Published: July 2021

We theoretically investigate the fluorescence intensity correlation (FIC) of Ar clusters and Mo-doped iron oxide nanoparticles subjected to intense, femtosecond, and sub-femtosecond x-ray free-electron laser pulses for high-resolution and elemental contrast imaging. We present the FIC of Kα and Kαh emission in Ar clusters and discuss the impact of sample damage on retrieving high-resolution structural information and compare the obtained structural information with those from the coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) approach. We found that, while sub-femtosecond pulses will substantially benefit the CDI approach, few-femtosecond pulses may be sufficient for achieving high-resolution information with the FIC. Furthermore, we show that the fluorescence intensity correlation computed from the fluorescence of the Mo atoms in Mo-doped iron oxide nanoparticles can be used to image dopant distributions in the nonresonant regime.
The potential of microfluidics-enhanced extrusion bioprinting
Authors: du Chatinier Duilia N. , Figler Kianti P. , Agrawal Prajwal , Liu Wanjun , Zhang Yu Shrike
Published: July 2021

Microfluidics-enhanced bioprinting holds great promise in the field of biofabrication as it enables the fabrication of complex constructs with high shape fidelity and utilization of a broad range of bioinks with varying viscosities. Microfluidic systems contain channels on the micrometer-scale, causing a change in fluid behaviors, enabling unconventional bioprinting applications such as facilitating the precise spatial positioning and switching between bioinks with higher accuracy compared to traditional approaches. These systems can roughly be divided into three groups: microfluidic chips, co- and triaxial printheads, and printheads combining both. Although several aspects and parameters remain to be improved, this technology is promising as it is a step toward recapitulating the complex native histoarchitecture of human tissues more precisely. In this Perspective, key research on these different systems will be discussed before moving onto the limitations and outlook of microfluidics-enhanced bioprinting as a whole.
Strengthening Cu/Ni nanolayered composites by introducing thin Ag interlayers: A molecular dynamics simulation study
Authors: Wang Yaodong , Li Jianjun
Published: July 2021

Experiments have shown that the ultrahigh strength of nanolayered metallic composites originates from their high-density interfaces of special characteristics. Hence, the modulation of interface structures becomes an effective route to enhance the mechanical performance of the nanolayered composites. One of the general ways to tune the interfacial feature is to introduce interlayers of several nanometers among constituent layers, such as amorphous (disordered) and crystalline (ordered) interlayers. Here, the deformation of a Cu/Ni layered composite with Ag interlayers of different thicknesses was simulated by molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulations show that the yield stress of 25 nm Cu/25 nm Ni nanolayered composites with Ag interlayers can be significantly enhanced, i.e., it can be 56.4% higher than that of their counterparts without interlayers. We also found that the yield strength of the new composites can be maximized by selecting an appropriate thickness for the Ag interlayer. The optimum interlayer thickness is 2.1 nm in tension and 4.2 nm for compression. It is revealed that the extra strength results from the alleviation of stress concentration by stimulating abundant interfacial dislocations at the Cu–Ag and Ag–Ni interfaces. These findings show that the introduction of additional interlayers is a new route to design stronger nanolayered metallic composites.
Conductance heterogeneities induced by multistability in the dynamics of coupled cardiac gap junctions
Authors: Bragard J. , Witt A. , Laroze D. , Hawks C. , Elorza J. , Rodríguez Cantalapiedra I. , Peñaranda A. , Echebarria B.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we study the propagation of the cardiac action potential in a one-dimensional fiber, where cells are electrically coupled through gap junctions (GJs). We consider gap junctional gate dynamics that depend on the intercellular potential. We find that different GJs in the tissue can end up in two different states: a low conducting state and a high conducting state. We first present evidence of the dynamical multistability that occurs by setting specific parameters of the GJ dynamics. Subsequently, we explain how the multistability is a direct consequence of the GJ stability problem by reducing the dynamical system’s dimensions. The conductance dispersion usually occurs on a large time scale, i.e., thousands of heartbeats. The full cardiac model simulations are computationally demanding, and we derive a simplified model that allows for a reduction in the computational cost of four orders of magnitude. This simplified model reproduces nearly quantitatively the results provided by the original full model. We explain the discrepancies between the two models due to the simplified model’s lack of spatial correlations. This simplified model provides a valuable tool to explore cardiac dynamics over very long time scales. That is highly relevant in studying diseases that develop on a large time scale compared to the basic heartbeat. As in the brain, plasticity and tissue remodeling are crucial parameters in determining the action potential wave propagation’s stability.
Ordered intricacy of Shilnikov saddle-focus homoclinics in symmetric systems
Authors: Xing Tingli , Pusuluri Krishna , Shilnikov Andrey L.
Published: July 2021

Using the technique of Poincaré return maps, we disclose an intricate order of subsequent homoclinic bifurcations near the primary figure-8 connection of the Shilnikov saddle-focus in systems with reflection symmetry. We also reveal admissible shapes of the corresponding bifurcation curves in a parameter space. Their scalability ratio and organization are proven to be universal for such homoclinic bifurcations of higher orders. Two applications with similar dynamics due to the Shilnikov saddle-foci are used to illustrate the theory: a smooth adaptation of the Chua circuit and a 3D normal form.
Experimental study on dynamic and static performance of a new type of pressure-absorbing energy bolt system
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chen Qiyu , Zhang Wei , Ma Youbao , Zhang Sibo , Yan Hao
Published: July 2021

Rock burst support of deep rock mass has always been a difficult problem in geotechnical engineering. Aiming at the problem of rock burst in deep rock mass, a new type of pressure yielding and energy-absorbing bolt system is designed in this paper. The energy absorption characteristics of laminated spring members with different wall thicknesses were studied by the static axial compression test and drop hammer dynamic impact test. The experimental results show that under static axial compression, the laminated spring experiences three stages: elastic, yielding, and plastic strengthening; with the increase in the wall thickness, the energy absorbed by the laminated spring increases gradually. Under the action of impact kinetic energy, with the increase in the wall thickness and impact height, the attenuation time of pressure absorption energy increases, while the tray and nut do not change, and the bolt does not extend and bend. The ANSYS static numerical simulation analysis shows that the center of the top circle of the laminated spring component is the center, and the plastic zone radiates outward; the LS-DYNA numerical simulation shows that most of the impact kinetic energy of the drop hammer is absorbed by the laminated spring component, and the rest is small. The partial energy is borne by the bolt body. Therefore, the laminated spring component can effectively absorb the impact kinetic energy, achieve the effect of active pressure and energy absorption, and avoid the bolt being broken so as to avoid the bolt body bearing all the impact kinetic energy and damage.
Large remanent polarization in Ta-doped HfO2 thin films by reactive sputtering
Authors: Luo Cai-Qin , Kang Chao-Yang , Song Yan-Ling , Wang Wan-Ping , Zhang Wei-Feng
Published: July 2021

Ta-doped HfO2 thin films grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si by reactive sputtering possess strong ferroelectric properties, as detected by corresponding polarization vs electric field measurement and mesoscopic piezoresponse force microscopy. Capacitance/current-electric field curves are used to reveal the substances with ferroelectric properties in the thin films. The ferroelectricity of Ta-doped HfO2 is influenced by Ta contents. The remanent polarization Pr can reach ∼53 μC/cm2 by optimizing the Ta percentage. X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering analyses indicate only the presence of monoclinic phase peaks in undoped HfO2 thin films, while Ta doping promotes the formation of the ferroelectric phase (orthorhombic Pca21). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates that the incorporation of Ta5+ within the HfO2 lattice boosts the ferroelectric properties. A polydomain structure is observed on the bare surface of 16% Ta-doped HfO2. Moreover, the switching behavior of the domain is explored by applying an external voltage, demonstrating the potential for storage device applications.
Critical implications of ion-surface energy accommodation and neutralization mechanism in hollow cathode physics
Authors: Guerrero Pablo , Mikellides Ioannis G. , Polk James E. , Carmina Monreal Rosa , Meiron Daniel I.
Published: July 2021

Self-heating thermionic hollow cathodes are essential components in modern plasma thrusters. To fully understand their operation, three interdependent physical domains must be considered: plasma discharge physics, thermal response of the cathode structure, and chemical evolution of plasma exposed surfaces. In this work, we develop the first self-consistently coupled plasma–thermal–chemical simulation platform for hollow cathode operation using lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) and Xe and study its performance against our experimentally determined temperature measurements. Results show that the customary assumptions of single-step resonant neutralization and full energy accommodation in ion-surface collisions fail to reproduce our empirical observations. We propose a two-step neutralization mechanism that consists of resonant neutralization to the first excited state of xenon followed by Auger de-excitation to the ground state, along with system specific accommodation factors. In this way, the agreement between the results of the simulations and experiments was achieved. These fundamental processes could govern neutralization in other cathode technologies where low work function emitters are employed and should therefore be accounted for in physical models. In addition, the new simulation platform allows us to better estimate the equilibrium work function of LaB6 hollow cathode emitters. In the cathode studied here, we found that the effective work function is 2.25 eV, which is significantly lower than previous estimates, and leads to better than expected cathode material performance with important implications for space missions.
Electronic spectroscopy of Mg-phthalocyanine embedded in cold hydrogen clusters produced by a pulsed nozzle
Authors: Otani Hatsuki , Nakahara Hiroko , Goto Haruka , Kuma Susumu , Momose Takamasa
Published: July 2021

Cold clusters of molecular hydrogen were created using a pulsed nozzle. The thermodynamical states of the clusters were characterized by measuring the cluster beam velocity and the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of embedded molecules. Two distinct velocity components were identified in the beam that originates from different clustering mechanisms. The fast velocity component corresponds to the expansion of H2 from the gas phase, while the slow velocity component corresponds to the expansion from the liquid phase. The velocity distribution of these two components showed no significant difference between the expansions of para and normal hydrogen. In this study, LIF spectroscopy of single Mg-phthalocyanine molecules embedded in the H2 clusters consisting of 105 H2 molecules was used to investigate the properties of the fast component. The observed peak frequencies of the LIF signals, compared to those observed in helium droplets, were used to infer the possible presence of the liquid phase in the fast component of the H2 clusters below 5 K. The shift, linewidth, and splitting in the spectra, which strongly depend on the ortho/para ratio, are attributed to the local configurations of hydrogen in the vicinity of the probe molecules.
Random-batch list algorithm for short-range molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Liang Jiuyang , Xu Zhenli , Zhao Yue
Published: July 2021

We propose a fast method for the calculation of short-range interactions in molecular dynamics simulations. The so-called random-batch list method is a stochastic version of the classical neighbor-list method to avoid the construction of a full Verlet list, which introduces two-level neighbor lists for each particle such that the neighboring particles are located in core and shell regions, respectively. Direct interactions are performed in the core region. For the shell zone, we employ a random batch of interacting particles to reduce the number of interaction pairs. The error estimate of the algorithm is provided. We investigate the Lennard-Jones fluid by molecular dynamics simulations and show that this novel method can significantly accelerate the simulations with a factor of several fold without loss of the accuracy. This method is simple to implement, can be well combined with any linked cell methods to further speed up and scale up the simulation systems, and can be straightforwardly extended to other interactions, such as Ewald short-range part, and thus it is promising for large-scale molecular dynamics simulations.
Bandgap widening and behavior of Raman-active phonon modes of cubic single-crystalline (In,Ga)2O3 alloy films
Authors: Feldl Johannes , Feneberg Martin , Papadogianni Alexandra , Lähnemann Jonas , Nagata Takahiro , Bierwagen Oliver , Goldhahn Rüdiger , Ramsteiner Manfred
Published: July 2021

The influence of Ga incorporation into cubic In2O3 on the electronic and vibrational properties is discussed for (In1−x,Gax)2O3 alloy films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, a linear dependence of the absorption onset on the Ga content x is found with a blueshift of up to 150 meV for x = 0.1. Consistently, the fundamental bandgap exhibits a blueshift as determined by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The dependence of the absorption onset and the effective electron mass on the electron concentration is derived from the infrared dielectric functions for a Sn doped alloy film. The influence of alloying on phonon modes is analyzed on the basis of Raman spectroscopic measurements. The frequencies of several phonon modes are identified as sensitive measures for the spectroscopic determination of the Ga content.
Reversible strain-induced spin–orbit torque on flexible substrate
Authors: Wong Grayson Dao Hwee , Ang Calvin Ching Ian , Gan Weiliang , Law Wai Cheung , Xu Zhan , Xu Feng , Seet Chim Seng , Lew Wen Siang
Published: July 2021

We propose the use of mechanical strain and mild annealing to achieve reversible modulation of spin–orbit torque (SOT) and Gilbert damping parameter. X-ray diffraction results show that the residual spin–orbit torque enhancement and Gilbert damping reduction, due to the post-mechanical strain treatment, can be reset using mild annealing to alleviate the internal strain. The spin Hall efficiency of the heat- and strain-treated Pt/Co bilayer was characterized through spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance, and it was found that the device could switch between the strain enhanced SOT and the pristine state. The Gilbert damping parameter behaves inversely with the spin Hall efficiency, and therefore, strain can be used to easily tune the device switching current density by a factor of ∼2 from its pristine state. Furthermore, the resonance frequency of the Pt/Co bilayer could be tuned using purely mechanical strain, and from the endurance test, the Pt/Co device can be reversibly manipulated over 104 cycles demonstrating its robustness as a flexible device.
Nonlinear wave interactions in pulsatile nanofluidics due to bending nanotube vibration: Net flow induced by the multiple resonances of complex pressure gradients and coupled fluid-tube forces
Authors: Fernández K. A. , Miranda L. E. , Torres-Herrera U.
Published: July 2021

We study the dynamics of Newtonian fluids subject to complex pressure gradients within bent oscillating nanotubes. Pressure gradients with four different purely oscillatory time profiles are explored by theoretical means, in order to unveil the mechanism of interaction between the characteristic time of tube vibration and the multiple characteristic times involved in the complex pressure signal. We find out that all the characteristic times of the system are mixed as a consequence of the nonlinear fluid-tube coupling caused by Coriolis force, which is induced by the local nanotube rotation and is distinctive of micro- and nanometric confinements subject to vibration. Our computations predict a vast range of resonances, not only the ones expected when the magnitude of pressure frequency is close to the magnitude of tube frequency, but also resonances where the pressure frequency is considerably lower than the tube frequency. These resonances could be exploited to obtain controllable combined oscillatory and net flow rates, even when the actuator's frequencies cannot reach the tube vibration frequencies. Our findings provide a theoretical framework for future applications in generation of complex oscillatory and net flow rates with a single actuator, using relatively low instrumentation.
Nanoparticle diffusion in polymer melts in the presence of weak nanoparticle–monomer attractive interactions: A mode-coupling theory study
Authors: Egorov Sergei A.
Published: July 2021

Mode-coupling theory is developed and employed to compute the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient in polymer solutions. Theoretical results are compared with molecular dynamics simulation data for a similar model. The theory properly reproduces the simulated effects of the nanoparticle size, mass, and concentration on the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient. Within the mode-coupling theory framework, a microscopic interpretation of the nonmonotonic dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the nanoparticle concentration is given in terms of structural and dynamic effects. Both the size dependence and mass dependence of the diffusion coefficient indicate a pronounced breakdown of the Stokes–Einstein relation for the present model.
Impact ionization-induced bistability in CMOS transistors at cryogenic temperatures for capacitorless memory applications
Authors: Zaslavsky A. , Richter C. A. , Shrestha P. R. , Hoskins B. D. , Le S. T. , Madhavan A. , McClelland J. J.
Published: July 2021

Cryogenic operation of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) silicon transistors is crucial for quantum information science, but it brings deviations from standard transistor operation. Here, we report on sharp current jumps and stable hysteretic loops in the drain current as a function of gate voltage VG for both n- and p-type commercial-foundry 180-nm-process CMOS transistors when operated at voltages exceeding 1.3 V at cryogenic temperatures. The physical mechanism responsible for the device bistability is impact ionization charging of the transistor body, which leads to effective back-gating of the inversion channel. This mechanism is verified by independent measurements of the body potential. The hysteretic loops, which have a >107 ratio of high to low drain current states at the same VG, can be used for a compact capacitorless single-transistor memory at cryogenic temperatures with long retention times.
Effects of straw return and fertilisation on root growth and nutrient utilisation efficiency of cotton in an arid area
Authors: Zhang G. J. , Yan J. W. , Zuo W. Q. , Zhang P. P. , Zhang W. F.
Published: July 2021

Reducing input of chemical fertiliser to cotton fields has the benefits of reduced costs, increased crop production efficiency, and positive environmental impact. We investigated the impacts of stalk management and fertiliser application on the morphology, physiological activity and nutrient use efficiency of cotton roots in arid areas when grown under drip irrigation with plastic film mulching. This 9-year field experiment involved a split-plot design with two stalk management treatments (removed or mixed with soil) as main plots and four fertiliser treatments (no fertiliser, NPK fertiliser, poultry manure, combined NPK fertiliser plus poultry manure) as subplots. Fertilisation increased root tissue mass density, specific surface area, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reducing capacity, and glutamine synthetase, but decreased specific root length. Straw return and fertilisation increased soil available N, P and K. Nutrient use efficiencies of N, P and K in roots were sensitive to fertilisation treatment, whereas nutrient use efficiencies in total dry matter were sensitive to straw return treatment. Fertilisation increased the root:shoot ratio, root biomass, fine:coarse root mass ratio, and seed cotton yield. Combined application of NPK fertiliser and poultry manure can prompt the formation of ﬁne roots, which maximised the contact area between poultry manure and roots, thus increasing the chance of the root acquiring mineral nutrients. Therefore, organic matter promotes the absorption of mineral nutrients by roots, thereby improving the efficiency of fertiliser utilisation.
Mapping variability of pasture sward height, dry matter availability and disappearance during grazing
Authors: Dobos R. C. , Alvarenga F. A. P. , Bansi H. , Austin K. L. , Donaldson A. J. , Woodgate R. T. , Greenwood P. L.
Published: July 2021

This study investigated whether geostatistical methods can be applied to severely drought-affected pastures to assess spatial variability in sward height (SH) and dry matter yield (DMY) and change in SH and DM in response to grazing. Geo-referenced SH data were collected using a rapid, non-destructive method (rapid pasture meter) and analysed by geostatistical methodology. Eight severely drought-affected paddocks (~1.25 ha) were grazed individually by two groups of 20 Angus heifers in two 28-day phases (P1 and P2) between 2 July and 29 August 2019. Pasture DMY was estimated from calibration equations developed for P1 and P2. Ordinary kriging was used to generate estimated surface forming maps with which to visualise the spatial variability. The degree of spatial dependence (dSD) was strongest for SH during P2 post-grazing (11%) and for DMY during P2 pre-grazing (6%). For change in SH, the dSD was 50% for P1 and 0% for P2. Disappearance of DMY dSD was 56% for P1 and 47% for P2. The range of spatial dependence (distance until variability stabilised) for both SH and DMY was lowest for P1 post-grazing (11 m), indicating that intensive sampling is required. The ranges of spatial dependence for the change in both SH and DMY were similar for P1 and P2. These results confirm that intensity of grazing by cattle is not random. Incorporation of this methodology into rapid, non-destructive pasture data collection devices would assist producers and their advisers in improving grazing management decisions. Further analysis with data from non-drought affected pastures is required to determine the robustness of this method.
Impact of cotton picker traffic on vertosol soil and yield in individual rows
Authors: Al-Shatib Mohammed A. M. , Bennett John McL. , Chen Guangnan , Jensen Troy A.
Published: July 2021

This study investigated the impact of soil compaction owing to cotton picker traffic, and the impact of this compaction on cotton yield on a row-by-row basis across the field under both random traffic farming (RTF) and controlled traffic farming (CTF) systems. Measurements of soil water content, dry bulk density and soil penetration resistance were taken and compared with a depth of 80 cm both before and after traffic. It was found that the traffic of JD7760 round-bale cotton picker caused significant compaction in cotton rows and furrows located between, adjacent to, and in wheel tracks under both RTF and CTF systems, particularly for the top 30-cm depth. Because of the soil compaction, the yield was more significantly reduced (7~10% by the machine-pick method) in the rows between the dual-wheel than in those adjacent to the wheel track. Adopting CTF reduces the area of soil compaction and ensures the maintenance of soil characteristics of the cultivated portions of the farm, hence enhancing cotton yield.
Effects of moderate COVID-19 infection on semen oxidative status and parameters 14 and 120 days after diagnosis
Authors: Falahieh Fatemeh Mohanazadeh , Zarabadipour Mahsa , Mirani Maryam , Abdiyan Milad , Dinparvar Marziyeh , Alizadeh Hamideh , Paktinat Shahrokh , Hosseinirad Hossein
Published: July 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because COVID-19 is a multisystem infection, there are some concerns regarding its possible effects on male fertility. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on semen oxidative status and parameters 14 and 120 days after diagnosis in patients presenting with moderate infection (defined as respiratory symptoms, with or without fever, with Spo2 <93% and >90% and lung involvement <50%). Semen samples were obtained from 20 participants at two time points: the first sample on Day 14 and the second on Day 120 after diagnosis. Semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and viability) were evaluated, as were levels of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and sperm DNA fragmentation. Semen parameters, including sperm motility and DNA integrity, improved at 120 days after the COVID-19 diagnosis relative to values at 14 days. In addition, ROS and MDA levels were significantly reduced in patients 120 days after infection, and TAC increased at 120 days compared with 14 days (during the acute stage of infection). In conclusion, the present study shows that the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on sperm properties caused by oxidative stress decrease up to Day 120 after diagnosis.
Asymmetry in scales enhances learning of new musical structures
Authors: Pelofi Claire , Farbood Morwaread M.
Published: July 2021

Significance

This study examines a fundamental aspect of human cognition: how listeners learn musical systems. It provides evidence that certain types of symmetry featured in musical scales help listeners process melodic and tonal information more easily. We propose that this cognitive benefit is the reason for the prevalence of unevenly spaced notes in scales across musical cultures. From a broader perspective, this work provides a cognitive perspective on the trade-off between cross-cultural diversity and fundamental similarity in a universal human activity, music.
The p53 transcriptional response across tumor types reveals core and senescence-specific signatures modulated by long noncoding RNAs
Authors: Tesfaye Ephrath , Martinez-Terroba Elena , Bendor Jordan , Winkler Lauren , Olivero Christiane , Chen Kevin , Feldser David M. , Zamudio Jesse R. , Dimitrova Nadya
Published: July 2021

Significance

The work by Tesfaye and colleagues defines universal and tumor type–specific features of the p53 tumor suppressor transcriptional network. This study determines a “core” signature of the p53 response across different oncogenic contexts, which defines a universal set of p53 target genes. In addition, this study clarifies the basis for outcome specificity downstream of p53 activation in different oncogenic contexts. We observe that while apoptosis in lymphoma cells is not primarily determined by p53’s transcriptional activity, p53 indirectly promotes senescence in lung adenocarcinoma and sarcoma cells by activating the
cis
-regulatory long noncoding RNA
Pvt1b
, which represses Myc levels and its proliferative function.
The contribution of mutation and selection to multivariate quantitative genetic variance in an outbred population of
Drosophila serrata
Authors: Dugand Robert J. , Aguirre J. David , Hine Emma , Blows Mark W. , McGuigan Katrina
Published: July 2021

Significance

Phenotypic evolution depends on genetic variation. However, the genetic variation, and, hence, evolutionary potential, varies markedly across multitrait phenotypes. By experimentally relaxing natural selection in
Drosophila serrata
, we investigated the relative contributions from mutation and selection in causing the observed inequality of genetic variance among multivariate wing phenotypes. Our results suggest that low mutational input can limit genetic variance in some multivariate wing phenotypes. However, our results also suggest that selection eliminates some mutations more rapidly than others, resulting in genetic variance being more even across multivariate phenotypes than predicted from their mutational variance. This work extends our understanding of mutation beyond inbred lines, providing observations of multivariate mutational variance in an outbred population.
Germ-line mutations in
WDR77
predispose to familial papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Zhao Yanyang , Yu Tian , Sun Jie , Wang Feiliang , Cheng Chaoze , He Shurong , Chen Lan , Xie Donghui , Fu Liping , Guan Xuhuizi , Yan An , Li Yao , Miao Gang , Zhu Xiaoquan
Published: July 2021

Significance

Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) accounts for up to 15% of all thyroid tumors. Here, we report two germ-line loss-of-function variants in
WDR77
in two unrelated families with NMTC.
WDR77
is expressed in diverse human tissues. It forms a complex with the protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 and mediates H4R3me2 in frogs and mammals. Functional analyses show that
WDR77
variants impair formation of the complex of WDR77–PRMT5, resulting in reduced H4R3me2 in patients. Knockdown of
WDR77
results in increased growth of thyroid cancer cells. Taken together, our findings reveal a predisposing gene of FNMTC and expand the variant profile predisposing to FNMTC. Additionally, this report presents germ-line variants in
WDR77
associated with human disease.
Dodecagonal quasicrystals of oil-swollen ionic surfactant micelles
Authors: Jayaraman Ashish , Baez-Cotto Carlos M. , Mann Tyler J. , Mahanthappa Mahesh K.
Published: July 2021

Significance

Quasicrystals, which exhibit local rotational symmetries and infinite unit cells, are intermediate states of matter between glasses and periodic three-dimensional (3D) crystals. Despite their ubiquity in metal alloys, self-assembled micellar quasicrystals have only serendipitously emerged from intricate molecular building blocks or complex materials-processing protocols. We demonstrate that hydration of a simple oil and surfactant (“soap”) mixture stimulates dodecagonal quasicrystalline ordering of oil-swollen spherical micelles, while oil addition to surfactant/water mixtures instead yields only periodic 3D crystals. Aperiodic order thus emerges as a scale-invariant feature of materials spanning metal alloys to self-assembled soft particles. The straightforward and path-dependent preparation of nonequilibrium quasicrystalline states from simple building blocks suggests that these complex sphere packings may often lurk in plain sight.
Learning hidden elasticity with deep neural networks
Authors: Chen Chun-Teh , Gu Grace X.
Published: July 2021

Significance

Elastography has been applied to medical imaging to detect cancerous tissues for decades. The conventional elastography based on the assumption of stress uniformity is prone to inaccuracies. Accurately reconstructing elasticity distributions of heterogeneous objects requires solving an inverse problem in elasticity, which is difficult due to its ill-posed nature. By implementing machine learning techniques, we have developed ElastNet, an elastography method for extracting the hidden elasticity of objects based on measured strain distributions. We show that by combining the theory of elasticity with a deep-learning approach, ElastNet can provide rapid and accurate predictions. We validate ElastNet by applying it to various elastography problems with complex elasticity distributions.
Formation of porous ice frameworks at room temperature
Authors: Liu Yuan , Zhu Weiduo , Jiang Jian , Zhu Chongqin , Liu Chang , Slater Ben , Ojamäe Lars , Francisco Joseph S. , Zeng Xiao Cheng
Published: July 2021

Significance

Crystalline ice with ultralow density is metastable at negative pressures but challenging to make via direct nucleation of liquid water at low temperature. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, we show a class of ultralow-density porous ices which all exhibit water oxygen-vertex frameworks (WOFs), akin to the porous metal–organic frameworks. The WOFs can be formed spontaneously from liquid water at room temperature with the prearranged carbon nanotube array as the “guest array” and the structures of WOFs can be viewed as assemblies of nanoribbons of two-dimensional hexagonal bilayer ice at the armchair edges. The lowest-density WOF presents exceptionally high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen storage capacities (27.5 wt % and 111.7 g/L), even higher than that (70.85 g/L) of liquid H
2
.
Microplastics destabilize lipid membranes by mechanical stretching
Authors: Fleury Jean-Baptiste , Baulin Vladimir A.
Published: July 2021

Significance

The effects of plastic pollution on living organisms is a highly debated subject. There is no direct evidence of high toxicity of microplastic abundantly present in the environment. Nevertheless, microplastic particles can cross many biological barriers and come in direct contact with lipid membranes, which is the last cell protective barrier from the environment. This study demonstrates that microplastic beads ranging from 1 to 10 μm attach to lipid membranes. This attachment leads to significant stretching of the lipid bilayer without requiring any oxidative, or biological, e.g., inflammatory, reactions. This mechanical stretching can potentially lead to serious dysfunction of the cell machinery.
A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform
Authors: Gordon Amie M. , Mendes Wendy Berry
Published: July 2021

Significance

Exaggerated blood pressure (BP) reactivity is associated with the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Stress, and, to a lesser extent, emotions are suggested to be linked to BP reactivity, but this theorizing lacks robust evidence beyond small laboratory or field studies with narrow participant demographics. Using an app-based research study and analyzing more than 330,000 daily responses from over 20,000 people, we show that momentary stress, conceptualized as the perception of demands relative to resources, is associated with greater BP and heart rate reactivity. High-arousal negative emotions are associated with increased physiologic reactivity whereas low-arousal positive emotions are associated with decreased reactivity. These data point to daily stress experiences as likely candidates for improving physical health.
On the obligatory versus no control split in Korean
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Berger Mike
Published: July 2021

In Korean, Obligatory Control may, under certain
conditions, fail to obtain. We present non-canonical cases of
logophoric object control where (1) movement of the control clause,
and (2) an overt infinitival subject give rise to configurations
unexpectedly lacking the Obligatory Control signature; complements
to logophoric object control verbs thus exhibit an alternation
between Obligatory Control and No Control. In the No Control case,
however, the embedded subject remains subject to the restriction
that it cannot refer to the matrix author. We model the
Obligatory versus No Control split derivationally, and show that
control complementizers encode information sensitive to attitudinal
function.
The (null) subject of adjunct infinitives in spoken
Spanish
Authors: Herbeck Peter
Published: July 2021

In this paper, I present a corpus study of
adjunct infinitives in spoken Spanish, investigating null and overt
subjects with respect to their control properties. I provide
quantitative as well as qualitative data which show that (i) some
instances of (null) subjects in adjunct infinitives do not easily
fall into a division of predicative vs. logophoric control (Williams 1992), but that
topicality is a relevant factor as well (Landau 2013, 2019), and (ii) control in spoken Spanish
adjunct infinitives is a scalar phenomenon, being located at the
syntax-pragmatics interface.
Lipid anchoring and electrostatic interactions target NOT-LIKE-DAD to pollen endo-plasma membrane
Authors: Gilles Laurine M. , Calhau Andrea R.M. , La Padula Veronica , Jacquier Nathanaël M.A. , Lionnet Claire , Martinant Jean-Pierre , Rogowsky Peter M. , Widiez Thomas
Published: July 2021

Phospholipases cleave phospholipids, major membrane constituents. They are thus essential for many developmental processes, including male gamete development. In flowering plants, mutation of phospholipase NOT-LIKE-DAD (NLD, also known as MTL or ZmPLA1) leads to peculiar defects in sexual reproduction, notably the induction of maternal haploid embryos. Contrary to previous reports, NLD does not localize to cytosol and plasma membrane of sperm cells but to the pollen endo-plasma membrane (endo-PM), a specific membrane derived from the PM of the pollen vegetative cell that encircles the two sperm cells. After pollen tube burst, NLD localizes at the apical region of the egg apparatus. Pharmacological approaches coupled with targeted mutagenesis revealed that lipid anchoring together with electrostatic interactions are involved in the attachment of NLD to this atypical endo-PM. Membrane surface-charge and lipid biosensors indicated that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate is enriched in the endo-PM, uncovering a unique example of how membrane electrostatic properties can define a specific polar domain (i.e., endo-PM), which is critical for plant reproduction and gamete formation.
Hypoxia-inducible factors individually facilitate inflammatory myeloid metabolism and inefficient cardiac repair
Authors: DeBerge Matthew , Lantz Connor , Dehn Shirley , Sullivan David P. , van der Laan Anja M. , Niessen Hans W.M. , Flanagan Margaret E. , Brat Daniel J. , Feinstein Matthew J. , Kaushal Sunjay , Wilsbacher Lisa D. , Thorp Edward B.
Published: July 2021

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are activated in parenchymal cells in response to low oxygen and as such have been proposed as therapeutic targets during hypoxic insult, including myocardial infarction (MI). HIFs are also activated within macrophages, which orchestrate the tissue repair response. Although isoform-specific therapeutics are in development for cardiac ischemic injury, surprisingly, the unique role of myeloid HIFs, and particularly HIF-2α, is unknown. Using a murine model of myocardial infarction and mice with conditional genetic loss and gain of function, we uncovered unique proinflammatory roles for myeloid cell expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α during MI. We found that HIF-2α suppressed anti-inflammatory macrophage mitochondrial metabolism, while HIF-1α promoted cleavage of cardioprotective MerTK through glycolytic reprogramming of macrophages. Unexpectedly, combinatorial loss of both myeloid HIF-1α and HIF-2α was catastrophic and led to macrophage necroptosis, impaired fibrogenesis, and cardiac rupture. These findings support a strategy for selective inhibition of macrophage HIF isoforms and promotion of anti-inflammatory mitochondrial metabolism during ischemic tissue repair.
Ultra-small lipid carriers with adjustable release profiles for synergistic treatment of drug-resistant ovarian cancer
Authors: Wang Chenghao , Wang Jia , Han Xinyu , Liu Jiaxin , Ma Mengchao , Tian Siyu , Zhang Liying , Tang Jingling
Published: July 2021

Multidrug resistance has dramatically compromised the effectiveness of paclitaxel (PTX). The combined application of PTX and tetrandrine (TET) is a promising avenue in drug-resistant cancer therapy. However, poor drug release and limited intracellular drug accumulation greatly impede this combinational antitumor therapy. To address this problem, we successfully developed a tunable controlled release lipid platform (PT@usNLC) for coordinated drug delivery. The drug release rate of PT@usNLC can be tuned by varying the lipid ratio, which has potential to maximize the therapeutic effects of combined drugs. The TET release rate from PT@usNLC was faster than PTX, which could restore the sensitivity of tumor cells to PTX and exert a synergistic antitumor effect. The appropriate size of PT@usNLC could effectively increase the intracellular drug accumulation. Both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that PT@usNLC significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect compared to conventional therapies. This study provides a new strategy for resistant ovarian cancer therapy.
Observation of phase synchronization and alignment during free induction decay of quantum spins with Heisenberg interactions
Authors: Vorndamme Patrick , Schmidt Heinz-Jürgen , Schröder Christian , Schnack Jürgen
Published: July 2021

Equilibration of observables in closed quantum systems that are described by a unitary time evolution is a meanwhile well-established phenomenon apart from a few equally well-established exceptions. Here we report the surprising theoretical observation that integrable as well as non-integrable spin rings with nearest-neighbor or long-range isotropic Heisenberg interaction not only equilibrate but moreover also synchronize the directions of the expectation values of the individual spins. We highlight that this differs from spontaneous synchronization in quantum dissipative systems. Here, we observe mutual synchronization of local spin directions in closed systems under unitary time evolution. In our numerical simulations, we investigate the free induction decay of an ensemble of up toN= 25 quantum spins withs= 1/2 each by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation numerically exactly. Our findings are related to, but not fully explained by conservation laws of the system. Even if we cannot provide a full understanding of the phenomenon, it is very robust against for instance random fluctuations of the Heisenberg couplings and inhomogeneous magnetic fields. The observed synchronization is independent of whether the interaction is ferro- or antiferromagnetic. Synchronization is not observed with strong enough symmetry-breaking interactions such as the dipolar interaction. We also compare our results to closed-system classical spin dynamics which does not exhibit phase synchronization due to the lack of entanglement and since the fixed magnitude of individual classical spins effectively acts like additionalNconservation laws.
Development of the front end amplifier circuit for the ATLAS ITk silicon strip detector
Authors: Cormier K.J.R. , Gallop B. , Kaplon J. , Li Z. , Noy M. , Phillips P.W. , Sawyer C.A. , Sperlich D. , Warren M.
Published: July 2021

We present the development of the front end amplifier
circuit for the ABCStar readout ASIC designed for the upgraded ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) detector. The amplifier is intended to work with silicon
strip sensors of moderate length between 1.9 cm and 5.5 cm dependent on position in the detector. The final circuit is implemented in a commercial 130 nm CMOS process tolerant up to the total ionizing doses (TID) predicted for the lifetime of the detector, that is maximum of 66 Mrad (660 kGy) (Si) for the endcap region. The final architecture and the performance of the circuit is presented in the context of a long development program which started soon after the construction of the present ATLAS Semi-Conductor Tracker (SCT) detector.
Stratospheric ozone loss-induced cloud effects lead to less surface ultraviolet radiation over the Siberian Arctic in spring
Authors: Xia Yan , Hu Yongyun , Huang Yi , Bian Jianchun , Zhao Chuanfeng
Published: July 2021

Surface ultraviolet (UV) radiation has important effects on human health, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and air pollution. Both stratospheric ozone and clouds are key factors that influence surface UV radiation. Here we find that Arctic ozone loss may lead to a decrease in surface UV radiation over the Siberian Arctic in spring using ERA5 reanalysis. It is found that Arctic ozone loss is associated with an increase in high clouds by modifying static stability in the upper troposphere. Stratospheric ozone loss allows more UV radiation to reach the surface. On the contrary, the increase in high clouds results in a reduction of surface UV radiation. Interestingly, a composite analysis suggests that this cloud masking effect is found to be stronger than that from stratospheric ozone loss over the Siberian Arctic in spring. These results suggest that we should pay more attention to the high-ozone events which would lead to more surface UV radiation by the cloud effects.