bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business intelligence model empowering SMEs to make better decisions and enhance their competitive advantage
Authors: Ragazou Konstantina , Passas Ioannis , Garefalakis Alexandros , Zopounidis Constantin
Published: February 2023

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) typically steer clear of implementing business intelligence (BI) systems because they feel that this sort of modeling is complicated and costly. But the market for business intelligence (BI) has evolved quickly. New opportunities like cloud computing have greatly lowered prices and eventually made it possible to design integrated solutions that are only intended for SMEs. In addition to highlighting the research trends in the sector under investigation, this paper explores the function of business intelligence in enhancing the decision-making process and competitive advantage of SMEs. The research subject has been approached using bibliometric analysis using the R package. The display of the results was done with the aid of Biblioshiny and VOSviewer's bibliometric tools. The study highlighted that SMEs have started integrating Business Intelligence systems. However, a new business model that will combine business analytics and will ensure to SMEs that emerging technologies will not affect them negatively is crucial. Thus, this research proposes the development of a new business model that will be based on Business Intelligence and Technology–organization–environment framework (TOE) framework, which helps SMEs to feel safe with emerging technologies.
Automorphy lifting with adequate image
Authors: Miagkov Konstantin , Thorne Jack A.
Published: February 2023

Let F be a CM number field. We generalise existing automorphy lifting theorems for regular residually irreducible p-adic Galois representations over F by relaxing the big image assumption on the residual representation.
The implementation of a public health alcohol policy in Ireland
Authors: Barry J. , Lyne J.
Published: February 2023

In 2012, the Irish Department of Health published a strategy in relation to alcohol and flagged that a Public Health (Alcohol) Act would be pursued through the Houses of the Oireachtas. This Public Health (Alcohol) Act was intended to reduce alcohol consumption and the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol. The act includes various means for this purpose, including introducing statutory minimum prices on alcohol, restricting alcohol advertising, addition of warning labels to alcohol products, and reducing the visibility of alcohol products in retail outlets. This perspective piece aims to provide an account of how this public health alcohol policy has been implemented in Ireland. The strategy relied in a major way on the World Health Organisation framework for alcohol policy. It took 3 years from the launch of that strategy to get the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill published, in December 2015. It took almost another 3 years to get the Public Health (Alcohol) Act passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, in October 2018. The Act was signed into law by the President of Ireland in November 2018, and it’s implementation has commenced in the last few years. This perspective piece highlights the complexities and challenges of implementing legislation related to public health policy, but also demonstrates that real action can occur with advocacy from public health clinicians and key stakeholders.
Kantian Objectivism and Subject-Relative Well-Being
Authors: Ginther Logan
Published: February 2023

When discussing well-being, subject-relative concerns are intuitively important ones. In this article, I argue that Immanuel Kant's theory of well-being can be satisfactorily subject-relative, despite his emphasis on objective moral well-being. Because the specifics of agents’ situations affect agents’ moral endowments, duties regarding moral well-being can be altered for subject-relative reasons. When it comes to thinking about the well-being of others, the important Kantian notion of respect for rational agents ensures that this will be decidedly subject-relative, too, and, what is more, that this will be aimed specifically at natural well-being (happiness).
The Gallows Alien: Extending the Concept  to Non-Human Organisms
Authors: Hamblin-Yule Caitlin
Published: February 2023

Immanuel Kant maintained throughout his life that non-human persons likely exist but he failed to specify how we could recognise them. In this article, I argue (a) that non-human organisms can be considered non-human persons if they can be judged as belonging to a species with a moral vocation, and (b) a species can be judged as having a moral vocation if at least one of its members is able to make what I will call a “moral sacrifice” in which that member sacrifices its physical life for the sake of its moral life.
WOMAN: An Essentially Contested Concept
Authors: Mohan Madhavi
Published: February 2023

The literature on the metaphysics of gender is partially marked by a tension between conceptions that understand gender categories as importantly at least partly self-determined identities and those that understand them as social or cultural categories imposed upon others as a tool of oppression. I argue that this tension can be mediated by understanding gender categories as essentially contested. I then draw on “radical functionalism” to argue that, while, divorced of context, competing conceptions can simultaneously explicate an essentially contested concept, within context, some conceptions better meet background purposes underlying the use of the concept than others.
Analyzing antifragility among smallholder farmers in Bihar, India: An assessment of farmers’ vulnerability and the strengths of positive deviants
Authors: Adelhart Toorop Roos , Lopez-Ridaura Santiago , Jat Mangi Lal , Eichenseer Pauline , Bijarniya Deepak , Jat Raj Kumar , Groot Jeroen C.J.
Published: February 2023

Farmers around the world are increasingly vulnerable: climate variability is identified as the primary stressor, but unfavorable biophysical circumstances and disturbances in the socioeconomic domain (labor dynamics and price volatility) also affect farm management and production. To deal with these disturbances, adaptations are recognized as essential. Antifragility acknowledges that adaptations and volatility are inherent characteristics of complex systems and abandons the idea of returning to the pre-disturbance system state. Instead, antifragility recognizes that disturbances can trigger reorganization, enabling selection and removal of weaker system features and allowing the system to evolve toward a better state. In this study, we assessed the vulnerability of different types of smallholder farms in Bihar, India, and explored the scope for more antifragile farming systems that can ‘bounce back better’ after disturbances. Accumulation of stocks, creation of optionality (i.e., having multiple options for innovation) and strengthening of farmer autonomy were identified as criteria for antifragility. We had focus group discussions with in total 92 farmers and found that most expressed themselves to be vulnerable: they experienced challenges but had limited adaptive capacity to change their situation. They mostly made short-term decisions to cope with or mitigate urgent challenges but did not engage in strategic planning driven by longer-term objectives. Instead, they waited for governmental support to improve their livelihoods. Despite being confronted with similar challenges, four positive deviant farmers showed to be more antifragile: their diverse farming systems were abundant in stocks and optionality, and the farmers were distinguished in terms of their autonomy, competence, and connectedness to peers, the community, and markets. To support antifragility among regular farmers, adaptations at policy level may be required, for example, by shifting from a top-down toward a bottom-up adaptation and innovation regime where initiative and cooperation are encouraged. With a more autonomous orientation, farmers’ intrinsic motivation is expected to increase, enabling transitions at the farm level. In this way, connected systems can be developed which are socioeconomically and biophysically adaptive. When practices, knowledge, and skills are continuously developed, an antifragile system with ample stocks and optionality may evolve over time.
Bailment of Intellectual Property in Nigeria: A Conceptual Possibility
Authors: Eze Nicholas Chinedu
Published: February 2023

This article interrogates the traditional limitations of the concept of bailment at common law. It argues that, although possession is a critical element, in modern commerce, a bailment relationship should be capable of being created without actual physical possession and control, but through constructive possession, which is as effective as physical possession and control. With this adjustment to the interpretation of the element of possession, bailment could then apply to intangible property, such as intellectual property. With the support of evidence from other progressive common law jurisdictions and inroads from the tort of conversion and criminal theft, the article argues that this new bailment jurisprudence is beginning to emerge. It then recommends that, in deserving circumstances, the courts should not hesitate to find that a bailment relationship exists, notwithstanding the absence of physical control and possession, at least pending legislative intervention.
Pathways to substance use: Examining conduct problems and parenting behaviors from preschool to adolescence
Authors: Hare Megan M. , Trucco Elisa M. , Hawes Samuel W. , Villar Michelle , Zucker Robert A.
Published: February 2023

While many studies have identified risk and protective factors of substance use (SU), few have assessed the reciprocal associations of child conduct problems (CP) and parenting practices and behaviors in the prediction of SU across development. A greater understanding of how these factors relate over time is needed to improve the timing of targeted prevention efforts. This study examined how child CP, parenting behaviors, and parents’ own antisocial behavior relate from preschool to adolescence and eventuate in SU. Participants included 706 youth (70.6% male; 89.7% white) enrolled in the Michigan Longitudinal Study. Data from waves 1 (ages 3–5), 2 (ages 6–8), 3 (ages 9–11), 4 (ages 12–14), and 5 (ages 15–17) were included. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) examined reciprocal associations between parenting practices, parents’ antisocial behavior, and child CP over time (waves 1–4) and how these factors contribute to adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use (wave 5). At the within-person level, negative parenting and parents’ own antisocial behavior had a strong influence in late childhood/early adolescence. Only child CP emerged as a significant predictor of SU. Results highlight the importance of early intervention and the potential influence of parenting and child factors throughout development in the prevention of SU.
Predicting processing effort during L1 and L2 reading: The relationship between text linguistic features and eye movements
Authors: Nahatame Shingo
Published: February 2023

Researchers have taken great interest in the assessment of text readability. This study expands on this research by developing readability models that predict the processing effort involved during first language (L1) and second language (L2) text reading. Employing natural language processing tools, the study focused on assessing complex linguistic features of texts, and these features were used to explain the variance in processing effort, as evidenced by eye movement data for L1 or L2 readers of English that were extracted from an open eye-tracking corpus. Results indicated that regression models using the indices of complex linguistic features provided better performance in predicting processing effort for both L1 and L2 reading than the models using simple linguistic features (word and sentence length). Furthermore, many of the predictive variables were lexical features for both L1 and L2 reading, emphasizing the importance of decoding for fluent reading regardless of the language used.
Factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among Burmese refugees
Authors: Myo Hnin Wai Lwin , Hosler Akiko S , Schell Lawrence M , Allsopp Marie A , Reid Kaydian
Published: February 2023

Objective:

The Burmese population is one of the fast-growing refugee populations in the USA. This study investigated behavioural and environmental factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among Burmese refugees.

Design:

We conducted a cross-sectional interview survey in 2018–2019. The 24-h recall was used to assess dietary behaviour. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation (two or more servings of fruits and three or more servings of vegetables) as the outcome variable. We selected socio-economics, nutritional knowledge, food shopping frequency, ethnicity of preferred food store owners, perceived neighbourhood food environment and network distance to preferred food stores as potential explanatory variables.

Setting:

Two Upstate New York counties.

Participants:

Burmese refugees (n 173) aged ≥18 years.

Results:

Forty-five percentage of respondents met the daily FV consumption recommendation, and nearly all respondents identified ethnic (Burmese, Chinese/pan-Asian, or South Asian/halal) stores as their preferred stores to purchase FV. In the best-fit model, age (OR 1·08, 95 % CI (1·04, 1·12)) and shopping frequency (OR 1·51, 95 % CI (1·01, 2·26)) were positively associated, and network distance to preferred stores in kilometres (OR 0·81, 95 % CI (0·73, 0·90)) was negatively associated with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation. No significant effect modifications by car ownership, poverty, length of stay in the USA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation were detected.

Conclusions:

The findings suggested that having Asian ethnic food stores within a short, walkable distance from home and shopping at these stores often can promote healthy dietary behaviour among Burmese refugees.
Der Zwang in meiner Nähe
Authors: Rufer Michael , Fricke Susanne
Published: February 2023

Grundlagen und praktische Tipps für Betroffene und Angehörige Zwangserkrankungen wirken sich erheblich auf das Umfeld der Betroffenen aus. Familienangehörige, Partner_innen, Freund_innen, Arbeitskolleg_innen und andere Menschen, die einer zwangserkrankten Person nahestehen, sind oft alleine gelassen mit ihren Fragen: Wie kann ich der/dem Betroffenen am besten helfen? Wie kann ich zwanghafte Verhaltensweisen verstehen? Wie kann ich mich abgrenzen, und was mache ich dann mit meinem schlechten Gewissen? Wann ist eine professionelle Therapie notwendig? Soll ich einmal mit zur Therapie gehen? Diese und viele andere häufig gestellte Fragen werden von den Autor_innen, die beide jahrelange Erfahrung in der Beratung von Angehörigen und in der Therapie von Zwangskranken haben, aufgegriffen und mit Beispielen aus der Praxis und konkreten Tipps verständlich beantwortet. Für die dritte Auflage wurde der gesamte Text aktualisiert und dem heutigen Stand des Wissens angepasst. Einige Kapitel wurden erweitert; das betrifft insbesondere Informationen zu neueren Therapiemöglichkeiten wie die achtsamkeitsbasierten Ansätze in der Psychotherapie und die hirnchirurgischen Verfahren, die bei sehr schweren Zwangserkrankungen vermehrt durchgeführt werden. Ein neues Kapitel beschäftigt sich zudem mit den Besonderheiten der Situation von Eltern zwangskranker Kinder.
Verhaltensexperimente
Authors: Stangier Ulrich
Published: February 2023

Verhaltensexperimente sind eine der wirkungsvollsten Interventionsmethoden in der kognitiven Therapie. Zentrales Prinzip ist die Kombination von Erfahrungs- und Einsichtslernen: Es geht darum, Überzeugungen in realen Situationen zu überprüfen, um anschließend die erwarteten und beobachteten Auswirkungen in der Therapie zu reflektieren. Der Band liefert einen Leitfaden zur Planung und Durchführung von Verhaltensexperimenten und schließt damit eine Lücke im deutschsprachigen Raum.
Der Band schildert das praktische Vorgehen in der Therapie und gibt Anregungen, wie Verhaltensexperimente in den Behandlungsprozess eingebettet werden können. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Vorbereitung von Verhaltensexperimenten. Sie dient nicht nur der Motivierung, sondern soll auch helfen, möglichen Verzerrungen durch ungünstige Verarbeitungsweisen und Sicherheitsverhalten vorzubeugen, um eine möglichst unverfälschte Sichtweise der Erfahrung zu ermöglichen. Das Buch stellt Verhaltensexperimente anhand exemplarischer Fallvignetten für eine Vielzahl von Störungen und Problembereichen vor, unter anderem für Grübeln, Angst vor Ablehnung, negatives Selbstwertgefühl, Hoffnungslosigkeit, Angst vor Peinlichkeit, Kontrollverlusterleben, Fehlinterpretation von Körpersymptomen, exzessives Kontrollstreben, negative Zukunftserwartungen, Wiedererleben bei Traumatisierung, eingebildete Hässlichkeit, paranoides Denken und maladaptive positive Affekte.
Winter Vertical Diffusion Rates in the Arctic Ocean, Estimated From 7Be Measurements and Dissipation Rate Profiles
Authors: Schulz K. , Kadko D. , Mohrholz V. , Stephens M. , Fer I.
Published: February 2023

Ocean turbulent mixing is a key process affecting the uptake and redistribution of heat, carbon, nutrients, oxygen and other dissolved gasses. Vertical turbulent diffusivity sets the rates of water mass transformations and ocean mixing, and is intrinsically an average quantity over process time scales. Estimates based on microstructure profiling, however, are typically obtained as averages over individual profiles. How representative such averaged diffusivities are, remains unexplored in the quiescent Arctic Ocean. Here, we compare upper ocean vertical diffusivities in winter, derived from the 7Be tracer‐based approach to those estimated from direct turbulence measurements during the year‐long Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition, 2019–2020. We found that diffusivity estimates from both methods agree within their respective measurement uncertainties. Diffusivity estimates obtained from dissipation rate profiles are sensitive to the averaging method applied, and the processing and analysis of similar data sets must take this sensitivity into account. Our findings indicate low characteristic diffusivities around 10−6 m2 s−1 and correspondingly low vertical heat fluxes.
Rapid diversification underlying the global dominance of a cosmopolitan phytoplankton
Authors: Bendif El Mahdi , Probert Ian , Archontikis Odysseas A , Young Jeremy R , Beaufort Luc , Rickaby Rosalind E , Filatov Dmitry
Published: February 2023

Marine phytoplankton play important roles in the global ecosystem, with a limited number of cosmopolitan keystone species driving their biomass. Recent studies have revealed that many of these phytoplankton are complexes composed of sibling species, but little is known about the evolutionary processes underlying their formation. Gephyrocapsa huxleyi, a widely distributed and abundant unicellular marine planktonic algae, produces calcified scales (coccoliths), thereby significantly affects global biogeochemical cycles via sequestration of inorganic carbon. This species is composed of morphotypes defined by differing degrees of coccolith calcification, the evolutionary ecology of which remains unclear. Here, we report an integrated morphological, ecological and genomic survey across globally distributed G. huxleyi strains to reconstruct evolutionary relationships between morphotypes in relation to their habitats. While G. huxleyi has been considered a single cosmopolitan species, our analyses demonstrate that it has evolved to comprise at least three distinct species, which led us to formally revise the taxonomy of the G. huxleyi complex. Moreover, the first speciation event occurred before the onset of the last interglacial period (~140 ka), while the second followed during this interglacial. Then, further rapid diversifications occurred during the most recent ice-sheet expansion of the last glacial period and established morphotypes as dominant populations across environmental clines. These results suggest that glacial-cycle dynamics contributed to the isolation of ocean basins and the segregations of oceans fronts as extrinsic drivers of micro-evolutionary radiations in extant marine phytoplankton.
Regulation of immunological tolerance by the p53-inhibitor iASPP
Authors: Akama-Garren Elliot H. , Miller Paul , Carroll Thomas M. , Tellier Michael , Sutendra Gopinath , Buti Ludovico , Zaborowska Justyna , Goldin Robert D. , Slee Elizabeth , Szele Francis G. , Murphy Shona , Lu Xin
Published: February 2023

Maintenance of immunological homeostasis between tolerance and autoimmunity is essential for the prevention of human diseases ranging from autoimmune disease to cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that p53 can mitigate phagocytosis-induced adjuvanticity thereby promoting immunological tolerance following programmed cell death. Here we identify Inhibitor of Apoptosis Stimulating p53 Protein (iASPP), a negative regulator of p53 transcriptional activity, as a regulator of immunological tolerance. iASPP-deficiency promoted lung adenocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis, while iASPP-deficient mice were less susceptible to autoimmune disease. Immune responses to iASPP-deficient tumors exhibited hallmarks of immunosuppression, including activated regulatory T cells and exhausted CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, iASPP-deficient tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells, CD4+, and γδ T cells expressed elevated levels of PD-1H, a recently identified transcriptional target of p53 that promotes tolerogenic phagocytosis. Identification of an iASPP/p53 axis of immune homeostasis provides a therapeutic opportunity for both autoimmune disease and cancer.
Widespread contribution of transposable elements to the rewiring of mammalian 3D genomes
Authors: Choudhary Mayank N. K. , Quaid Kara , Xing Xiaoyun , Schmidt Heather , Wang Ting
Published: February 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) are major contributors of genetic material in mammalian genomes. These often include binding sites for architectural proteins, including the multifarious master protein, CTCF, which shapes the 3D genome by creating loops, domains, compartment borders, and RNA-DNA interactions. These play a role in the compact packaging of DNA and have the potential to facilitate regulatory function. In this study, we explore the widespread contribution of TEs to mammalian 3D genomes by quantifying the extent to which they give rise to loops and domain border differences across various cell types and species using several 3D genome mapping technologies. We show that specific families and subfamilies of TEs have contributed to lineage-specific 3D chromatin structures across mammalian species. In many cases, these loops may facilitate sustained interaction between distant cis-regulatory elements and target genes, and domains may segregate chromatin state to impact gene expression in a lineage-specific manner. An experimental validation of our analytical findings using CRISPR-Cas9 to delete a candidate TE resulted in disruption of species-specific 3D chromatin structure. Taken together, we comprehensively quantify and selectively validate our finding that TEs contribute to shaping 3D genome organization and may, in some cases, impact gene regulation during the course of mammalian evolution.
Phase-engineered cathode for super-stable potassium storage
Authors: Wu Lichen , Fu Hongwei , Li Shu , Zhu Jian , Zhou Jiang , Rao Apparao M. , Cha Limei , Guo Kunkun , Wen Shuangchun , Lu Bingan
Published: February 2023

The crystal phase structure of cathode material plays an important role in the cell performance. During cycling, the cathode material experiences immense stress due to phase transformation, resulting in capacity degradation. Here, we show phase-engineered VO2as an improved potassium-ion battery cathode; specifically, the amorphous VO2exhibits superior K storage ability, while the crystalline M phase VO2cannot even store K+ions stably. In contrast to other crystal phases, amorphous VO2exhibits alleviated volume variation and improved electrochemical performance, leading to a maximum capacity of 111 mAh g−1delivered at 20 mA g−1and over 8 months of operation with good coulombic efficiency at 100 mA g−1. The capacity retention reaches 80% after 8500 cycles at 500 mA g−1. This work illustrates the effectiveness and superiority of phase engineering and provides meaningful insights into material optimization for rechargeable batteries.
Flexible fully organic indirect detector for megaelectronvolts proton beams
Authors: Calvi Sabrina , Basiricò Laura , Carturan Sara M. , Fratelli Ilaria , Valletta Antonio , Aloisio Alberto , De Rosa Stefania , Pino Felix , Campajola Marcello , Ciavatti Andrea , Tortora Luca , Rapisarda Matteo , Moretto Sandra , Verdi Matteo , Bertoldo Stefano , Cesarini Olivia , Di Meo Paolo , Chiari Massimo , Tommasino Francesco , Sarnelli Ettore , Mariucci Luigi , Branchini Paolo , Quaranta Alberto , Fraboni Beatrice
Published: February 2023

A flexible, fully organic detector for proton beams is presented here. The detector operates in the indirect mode and is composed of a polysiloxane-based scintillating layer coupled to an organic phototransistor, that is assessed for flexibility and low-voltage operation (V = −1 V), with a limit of detection of 0.026 Gy min−1. We present a kinetic model able to precisely reproduce the dynamic response of the device under irradiation and to provide further insight into the physical processes controlling it. This detector is designed to target real-time and in-situ dose monitoring during proton therapy and demonstrates mechanical flexibility and low power operation, assessing its potential employment as a personal dosimeter with high comfort and low risk for the patient. The results show how such a proton detector represents a promising tool for real-time particle detection over a large area and irregular surfaces, suitable for many applications, from experimental scientific research to innovative theranostics.
Cost-effective adaptation strategies to rising river flood risk in Europe
Authors: Dottori Francesco , Mentaschi Lorenzo , Bianchi Alessandra , Alfieri Lorenzo , Feyen Luc
Published: February 2023

River flood risk in Europe could rise to unprecedented levels due to global warming and continued development in flood-prone areas. Here, we appraise the potential of four key adaptation strategies to reduce flood risk across Europe based on flood risk modelling and cost–benefit analysis. We find that reducing flood peaks using detention areas is economically the most attractive option. In a scenario without climate mitigation (3 °C global warming), they can lower projected flood losses in Europe by 2100 from €44(30–61) billion to €8.1(5.5–10.7) billion per year and lower population exposed by 84% (75–90%) or achieve a risk level comparable to today. The economic investment required over 2020–2100 would provide a return of €4(3.5–6.3) for each €1 invested. The risk reduction potential of strengthening of dykes is somewhat lower, at 70% (59–83%) for a comparable annual investment. Implementing building-based flood proofing and relocation measures is less cost-effective but can reduce impacts in localized areas.
Near-real-time global gridded daily CO2 emissions 2021
Authors: Dou Xinyu , Hong Jinpyo , Ciais Philippe , Chevallier Frédéric , Yan Feifan , Yu Ying , Hu Yifan , Huo Da , Sun Yun , Wang Yilong , Davis Steven J. , Crippa Monica , Janssens-Maenhout Greet , Guizzardi Diego , Solazzo Efisio , Lin Xiaojuan , Song Xuanren , Zhu Biqing , Cui Duo , Ke Piyu , Wang Hengqi , Zhou Wenwen , Huang Xia , Deng Zhu , Liu Zhu
Published: February 2023

We present a near-real-time global gridded daily CO2 emissions dataset (GRACED) throughout 2021. GRACED provides gridded CO2 emissions at a 0.1° × 0.1° spatial resolution and 1-day temporal resolution from cement production and fossil fuel combustion over seven sectors, including industry, power, residential consumption, ground transportation, international aviation, domestic aviation, and international shipping. GRACED is prepared from the near-real-time daily national CO2 emissions estimates (Carbon Monitor), multi-source spatial activity data emissions and satellite NO2 data for time variations of those spatial activity data. GRACED provides the most timely overview of emissions distribution changes, which enables more accurate and timely identification of when and where fossil CO2 emissions have rebounded and decreased. Uncertainty analysis of GRACED gives a grid-level two-sigma uncertainty of value of ±19.9% in 2021, indicating the reliability of GRACED was not sacrificed for the sake of higher spatiotemporal resolution that GRACED provides. Continuing to update GRACED in a timely manner could help policymakers monitor energy and climate policies’ effectiveness and make adjustments quickly.
Discovering novel clues of natural selection on four worldwide goat breeds
Authors: Manunza Arianna , Diaz Johanna Ramirez , Sayre Brian L , Cozzi Paolo , Bobbo Tania , Deniskova Tatiana , Dotsev Arsen , Zinovieva Natalia , Stella Alessandra
Published: February 2023

In goat breeds, the domestication followed by artificial selection for economically important traits have shaped genetic variation within populations, leading to the fixation of specific alleles for specific traits. This led to the formation and evolution of many different breeds specialised and raised for a particular purpose. However, and despite the intensity of artificial selection, natural selection continues acting, possibly leaving a more diluted contribution over time, whose traces may be more difficult to capture. In order to explore selection footprints as response of environmental adaptation, we analysed a total of 993 goats from four transboundary goats breeds (Angora, Boer, Nubian and Saanen) genotyped with the SNP chip 50 K using outlier detection, runs of homozygosity and haplotype-based detection methods. Our results showed that all methods identified footprints on chromosome 6 (from 30 to 49 Mb) for two specific populations of Nubian goats sampled in Egypt. In Angora and Saanen breeds, we detected two selective sweeps using HapFLK, on chromosome 21 (from 52 to 55 Mb) and chromosome 25 (from 1 to 5 Mb) respectively. The analysis of runs of homozygosity showed some hotspots in all breeds. The overall investigation of the selected regions detected combining the different approaches and the gene ontology exploration revealed both novel and well-known loci related to adaptation, especially for heat stress. Our findings can help to better understand the balance between the two selective pressures in commercial goat breeds providing new insights on the molecular mechanisms of adaptation.
High-precision automatic identification method for dicentric chromosome images using two-stage convolutional neural network
Authors: Shen Xiang , Ma Tengfei , Li Chaowen , Wen Zhanbo , Zheng Jinlin , Zhou Zhenggan
Published: February 2023

Dicentric chromosome analysis is the gold standard for biological dose assessment. To enhance the efficiency of biological dose assessment in large-scale radiation catastrophes, automatic identification of dicentric chromosome images is a promising and objective method. In this paper, an automatic identification method for dicentric chromosome images using two-stage convolutional neural network is proposed based on Giemsa-stained automatic microscopic imaging. To automatically segment the adhesive chromosome masses, ak-means based adaptive image segmentation and watershed segmentation algorithm is applied. The first-stage CNN is used to identify the dicentric chromosome images from all the images and the second-stage CNN works to specifically identify the dicentric chromosome images. This two-stage CNN identification method can effectively detects chromosome images with concealed centromeres, poorly expanded and long-armed entangled chromosomes, and tricentric chromosomes. The novel two-stage CNN method has a chromosome identification accuracy of 99.4%, a sensitivity of 85.8% sensitivity, and a specificity of 99.6%, effectively reducing the false positive rate of dicentric chromosome. The analysis speed of this automatic identification method can be 20 times quicker than manual detection, providing a valuable reference for other image identification situations with small target rates.
AI-accelerated protein-ligand docking for SARS-CoV-2 is 100-fold faster with no significant change in detection
Authors: Clyde Austin , Liu Xuefeng , Brettin Thomas , Yoo Hyunseung , Partin Alexander , Babuji Yadu , Blaiszik Ben , Mohd-Yusof Jamaludin , Merzky Andre , Turilli Matteo , Jha Shantenu , Ramanathan Arvind , Stevens Rick
Published: February 2023

Protein-ligand docking is a computational method for identifying drug leads. The method is capable of narrowing a vast library of compounds down to a tractable size for downstream simulation or experimental testing and is widely used in drug discovery. While there has been progress in accelerating scoring of compounds with artificial intelligence, few works have bridged these successes back to the virtual screening community in terms of utility and forward-looking development. We demonstrate the power of high-speed ML models by scoring 1 billion molecules in under a day (50 k predictions per GPU seconds). We showcase a workflow for docking utilizing surrogate AI-based models as a pre-filter to a standard docking workflow. Our workflow is ten times faster at screening a library of compounds than the standard technique, with an error rate less than 0.01% of detecting the underlying best scoring 0.1% of compounds. Our analysis of the speedup explains that another order of magnitude speedup must come from model accuracy rather than computing speed. In order to drive another order of magnitude of acceleration, we share a benchmark dataset consisting of 200 million 3D complex structures and 2D structure scores across a consistent set of 13 million “in-stock” molecules over 15 receptors, or binding sites, across the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. We believe this is strong evidence for the community to begin focusing on improving the accuracy of surrogate models to improve the ability to screen massive compound libraries 100 × or even 1000 × faster than current techniques and reduce missing top hits. The technique outlined aims to be a fast drop-in replacement for docking for screening billion-scale molecular libraries.
Mind evolutionary algorithm optimization in the prediction of satellite clock bias using the back propagation neural network
Authors: Bai Hongwei , Cao Qianqian , An Subang
Published: February 2023

Satellite clock bias is the key factor affecting the accuracy of the single point positioning of a global navigation satellite system. The traditional model back propagation (BP) neural network is prone to local optimum problems. This paper presents a prediction model and algorithm for the clock bias of the BP neural network based on the optimization of the mind evolutionary algorithm (MEA), which is used to optimize the initial weights and thresholds of the BP neural network. The accuracy of the comparison between clock bias data is verified with and without one-time difference processing. Compared with grey model (GM (1,1)) and BP neural network, this paper discusses the advantages and general applicability of this method from different constellation satellites, different atomic clock type satellites, and the amount of modeling data. The accuracy of the grey model (GM(1,1)), BP, and MEA-BP models for satellite clock bias prediction is analyzed and the root mean square error, range difference error, and the mean of the clock bias data compared. The results demonstrate that the prediction accuracy of the three satellites significantly increased after one-time difference processing and that they have good stability. The prediction accuracy of four sessions of 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h obtained using the MEA-BP model was better than 0.74, 0.80, 1.12, and 0.87 ns, respectively. The MEA-BP model has a specific degree of improvement in the prediction accuracy of the different sessions. Additionally, the prediction accuracy of different models has a specific relationship with the length of the original modeling sequence, of which BP model is the most affected, and MEABP is relatively less affected by the length of the modeling sequence, indicating that the MEA-BP model has strong anti-interference ability.
Screening of novel peptides that specifically interact with vitamin D bound biocomplex proteins
Authors: Kim Taehwan , Lee Jaewoong , Lee Jin-Pyo , Kim Bit-Na , Kim Yang-Hoon , Lee Youn-Sik , Min Jiho
Published: February 2023

The majority of the vitamin D that is present in the blood binds to vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and circulates in the form of a complex (VDBP-Complex). Knowing the level of vitamin D in the body is crucial for vitamin D-related treatments so that the right dosage of vitamin D can be given. In other words, it is essential to distinguish between the protein VDBP and the complex form bound to vitamin D. As a novel way for the detection of VDBP-Complex, a more effective phage display methodology was applied in this study along with the addition of two approaches. In order to screen a sequence specific to the target only, the pre-binding method and after-binding method were performed. VDBP-Complex was directly coated on the petri dishes. In order to select phages that specifically bind to the VDBP-Complex, random phages were attached, and selected by 7 times of biopanning. Individual DNA sequences were analyzed for each biopanning to find specific peptide sequences for VDBP-Complex. The affinity of binding phages was verified by ELISA assay using an anti-M13 antibody. The phage having a sequence of SFTKTSTFTWRD (called as M3) has shown the highest binding affinity to VDBP-Complex. As a result of the removal test of VDBP-Complex using magnetic beads conjugated with M3 peptide, it was confirmed that significant decrease of VDBP-Complex. The unique characteristic of the M3 sequence was confirmed through a sequence-modified peptide (SFT motif). That is, it is expected that the M3 peptide may be used to determine the vitamin D levels in the blood.
Microwave-sensor-node integrated into a short-range wireless sensor network
Authors: Hernandez-Aguila Miguel , Olvera-Cervantes Jose-Luis , Perez-Ramos Aldo-Eleazar , Meza-Arenas Juan-Mateo , Corona-Chavez Alonso
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the first microwave-sensor-node integrated into a short-range wireless sensor network based on ZigBee technology. The node includes an analog front-end circuit, a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave generator, an Analog-to-Digital-Converter module, a transceiver, a power unit, a processing unit and a new one-port dielectric permittivity sensor which is able to measuring the separation of structural cracks by the reflection coefficient measured in microwave frequencies. The analog front-end is composed of a pair of power dividers, an isolator and a mixer. The dielectric permittivity sensor is based on a patch antenna of variable length. The processing unit and transceiver are implemented with an Arduino UNO and an XBee module respectively. Additionally, the methodology for data processing is presented and the results of the measurement of a synthetic crack are presented. The results show that the system was successfully implemented with a sensitivity of 0.07 GHz/mm, for an opening range of between 0 and 5 mm and for a frequency range ranging from 2.782 GHz to 3.131 GHz. It is important to mention that the measurement was done remotely, placing the sensor 3 m from the client PC.
A granular mechanics model study of the influence of non-spherical shape on aggregate collisions
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Rahul , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: February 2023

Collisions between granular aggregates influence the size distribution of dust clouds. Granular aggregates may possess non-spherical shapes as a result of, for instance, previous collision processes. Here, we study aggregate collisions using a granular mechanics simulation code. Collisions between spherical aggregates are compared to collisions of ellipsoidal aggregates of equal mass. As the most prominent result, we find that the growth velocity, i.e., the velocity above which the post-collision aggregates are smaller than before collision, is generally reduced for ellipsoidal aggregates. The reason hereto lies in the less compact structure of ellipsoids which allows for a larger degree of fragmentation in a ‘rim peel-off’ mechanism. On the other hand, relative fragment distributions are only little influenced by aggregate shape.
Bacteriological spectrum, extended-spectrum β-lactamase production and antimicrobial resistance pattern among patients with bloodstream infection in Addis Ababa
Authors: Bitew Adane , Adane Amanuel , Abdeta Abera
Published: February 2023

Bloodstream infection coupled with drug resistance in bloodborne bacteria is a major health problem globally. The current study sought to identify the bacterial spectrum, extended-spectrum -lactamase production, and antimicrobial resistance pattern in patients with bloodstream infection. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Arsho Advanced Medical Laboratory, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January 2019- until July 2020. Blood collected from patients was inoculated into blood culture bottles and incubated appropriately. Identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-production were determined with the VITEK 2 compact system. Of the samples collected, 156 (18.5%) were culture-positive.Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus epidermidiswere the dominant isolates. In Gram-negative bacteria, the prevalence of drug resistance was the highest against ampicillin (80.8%) and the lowest against imipenem (5.2%). While in Gram-positive bacteria it was the highest against clindamycin and the lowest against vancomycin and daptomycin. The prevalence of multi-drug resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamase production of Gram-negative bacteria were 41.6% and 34.2%, respectively. The prevalence of bloodstream infection was 18.5%. Serious life-threatening pathogens includingS.aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, andEnterobacter sppwas predominant. The prevalence of multi-drug resistance to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-production were high but prevalence of carbapenem resistance was low. All these situations call for the establishment of strong infection control strategies, a drug regulatory system, and established antibiotic stewardship in healthcare settings.
Enhancing the ecological value of oil palm agriculture through set-asides
Authors: Bicknell Jake E. , O’Hanley Jesse R. , Armsworth Paul R. , Slade Eleanor M. , Deere Nicolas J. , Mitchell Simon L. , Hemprich-Bennett David , Kemp Victoria , Rossiter Stephen J. , Lewis Owen T. , Coomes David A. , Agama Agnes L. , Reynolds Glen , Struebig Matthew J. , Davies Zoe G.
Published: February 2023

Agricultural expansion is the primary driver of ecological degradation across the tropics. Set-asides—uncultivated parts of agricultural landscapes, often on steep slopes and alongside rivers—may alleviate environmental impacts but can reduce the area cultivated. Here we model an approach to configuring set-asides aimed at optimizing ecological outcomes (biodiversity, above-ground carbon storage and nutrient cycling) without reducing net cultivation area. We compare set-asides in an oil palm landscape where all plantations adopt the same configuration (‘uniform’ approach) with a scenario where there can be variation in configuration among plantations (‘variable’ approach). We find that all set-aside configurations support substantial ecological values but that the best strategies involve set-asides, particularly alongside rivers, that are spatially targeted and variable among plantations. This ‘variable’ approach can increase ecological outcomes twofold over the ‘uniform’ approach without reducing net cultivation area. Our findings underscore the potential importance of well-planned set-asides for enhancing agricultural sustainability.
Large-area synthesis and transfer of multilayer hexagonal boron nitride for enhanced graphene device arrays
Authors: Fukamachi Satoru , Solís-Fernández Pablo , Kawahara Kenji , Tanaka Daichi , Otake Toru , Lin Yung-Chang , Suenaga Kazu , Ago Hiroki
Published: February 2023

Multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) can be used to preserve the intrinsic physical properties of other two-dimensional materials in device structures. However, integrating the material into large-scale two-dimensional heterostructures remains challenging due to the difficulties in synthesizing high-quality large-area multilayer hBN and combining it with other two-dimensional material layers of the same scale. Here we show that centimetre-scale multilayer hBN can be synthesized on iron–nickel alloy foil by chemical vapour deposition, and then used as a substrate and as a surface-protecting layer in graphene field-effect transistors. We also develop an integrated electrochemical transfer and thermal treatment method that allows us to create high-performance graphene/hBN heterostacks. Arrays of graphene field-effect transistors fabricated by conventional and scalable methods show an enhancement in room-temperature carrier mobility when hBN is used as an insulating substrate, and a further increase—up to a value of 10,000 cm2 V−1 s−1—when graphene is encapsulated with another hBN sheet.
Non-invasive mapping of systemic neutrophil dynamics upon cardiovascular injury
Authors: Bouvain Pascal , Ding Zhaoping , Kadir Shiwa , Kleimann Patricia , Kluge Nils , Tiren Zeynep-Büsra , Steckel Bodo , Flocke Vera , Zalfen Ria , Petzsch Patrick , Wachtmeister Thorsten , John Gordon , Subramaniam Nirojah , Krämer Wolfgang , Strasdeit Tobias , Mehrabipour Mehrnaz , Moll Jens M. , Schubert Rolf , Ahmadian Mohammad Reza , Bönner Florian , Boeken Udo , Westenfeld Ralf , Engel Daniel Robert , Kelm Malte , Schrader Jürgen , Köhrer Karl , Grandoch Maria , Temme Sebastian , Flögel Ulrich
Published: February 2023

Neutrophils play a complex role during onset of tissue injury and subsequent resolution and healing. To assess neutrophil dynamics upon cardiovascular injury, here we develop a non-invasive, background-free approach for specific mapping of neutrophil dynamics by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging using targeted multimodal fluorine-loaded nanotracers engineered with binding peptides specifically directed against murine or human neutrophils. Intravenous tracer application before injury allowed non-invasive three-dimensional visualization of neutrophils within their different hematopoietic niches over the entire body and subsequent monitoring of their egress into affected tissues. Stimulated murine and human neutrophils exhibited enhanced labeling due to upregulation of their target receptors, which could be exploited as an in vivo readout for their activation state in both sterile and nonsterile cardiovascular inflammation. This non-invasive approach will allow us to identify hidden origins of bacterial or sterile inflammation in patients and also to unravel cardiovascular disease states on the verge of severe aggravation due to enhanced neutrophil infiltration or activation.
Academic free speech or right-wing grievance?
Authors: Herbert John M.
Published: February 2023

A counterpoint to the idea that “academic freedom” should protect bigotry, an evidence-driven case for diversity, and a call to fight White, cisgender, heterosexual male supremacy within the scientific enterprise.
Controllable preparation of 2D carbon paper modified with flower-like WS2 for efficient microwave absorption
Authors: Chen Hao , Xu Zhengjian , Zhou Yuming , Zhang Meiyun , Feng Shuangjiang , Bu Xiaohai , Zhang Zewu , He Man
Published: February 2023

2D composite films with WS2 flowers loaded on the surface of carbon paper (CP) were fabricated by a simple solvothermal approach. At a low filler content (5 wt%), the maximum reflection loss (RL) of the film is up to −50 dB at 12.5 GHz.