bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A WOX homolog disrupted by a transposon led to the loss of spines and contributed to the domestication of lettuce
Authors: Sun Peinan , Yuan Huanran , Pan Jiangpeng , Wu Zhihao , Li Weibo , Wang Xin , Kuang Hanhui , Chen Jiongjiong
Published: April 2024

The loss of spines is one of the most important domestication traits for lettuce (Lactuca sativa). However, the genetics and regulation of spine development in lettuce remain unclear.

We examined the genetics of spines in lettuce using a segregating population derived from a cross between cultivated and wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola). A gene encoding WUSCHEL‐related homeobox transcription factor, named as WOX‐SPINE1 (WS1), was identified as the candidate gene controlling the spine development in lettuce, and its function on spines was verified. A CACTA transposon was found to be inserted into the first exon of the ws1 allele, knocking out its function and leading to the lack of spines in cultivated lettuce.

All lettuce cultivars investigated have the nonfunctional ws1 gene, and a selection sweep was found at the WS1 locus, suggesting its important role in lettuce domestication. The expression levels of WS1 were associated with the density of spines among different accessions of wild lettuce. At least two independent loss‐of‐function mutations in the ws1 gene caused the loss of spines in wild lettuce.

These findings provide new insights into the development of spines and facilitate the exploitation of wild genetic resources in future lettuce breeding programs.
Risk response towards roads is consistent across multiple species in a temperate forest ecosystem
Authors: Luca Bastianelli Matteo , von Hoermann Christian , Kirchner Katrin , Signer Johannes , Dupke Claudia , Henrich Maik , Wielgus Elodie , Fiderer Christian , Belotti Elisa , Bufka Luděk , Ciuti Simone , Dormann Carsten F. , Kuemmerle Tobias , Storch Ilse , Grilo Clara , Heurich Marco
Published: April 2024

Roads can have diverse impacts on wildlife species, and while some species may adapt effectively, others may not. Studying multiple species' responses to the same infrastructure in a given area can help understand this variation and reveal the effects of disturbance on the ecology of wildlife communities. This study investigates the behavioural responses of four species with distinctive ecological and behavioural traits to roads in the protected Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in central Europe: European roe deer Capreolus capreolus, a solitary herbivore; red deer Cervus elaphus a gregarious herbivore; wild boar Sus scrofa, a gregarious omnivore and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, a solitary large carnivore. We used GPS data gathered from each species to study movement behaviour and habitat selection in relation to roads using an integrated step selection analysis. For all species and sexes, we predicted increased movement rates in response to roads, selection of vegetation cover near roads and open areas after road crossings, and increased road avoidance during the day. We found remarkably similar behavioural responses towards roads across species. The behavioural adaptations to road exposure, such as increased movement rates and selection for vegetation cover, were analogous to responses to natural predation risk. Roads were more strongly avoided during daytime, when traffic volume was high. Road crossings were more frequent at twilight and at night within open areas offering food resources. Gregarious animals exposed to roads favoured stronger road avoidance over faster movements. Ungulates crossed roads more at twilight, coinciding with commuter traffic during winter. Despite differences in the ecology and behaviour of the four species, our results showed similar adaptations towards a common threat. The continuous expansion of the global transportation network should be accompanied by efforts to understand and minimise the impact of roads on wildlife to assist wildlife management and ensure conservation.
Just collateral damage? Accountability of economic elites in peacebuilding and transitional justice in Colombia
Authors: Layús Rosario Figari
Published: April 2024

Analyzing how transitional justice (TJ) mechanisms address the role of economic and political elites in contexts of widespread violence is crucial for understanding their possible transformative impact. The type of challenges faced by TJ instruments when trying to deal with economic elites involved in human rights violations also reflects the extent and degree of these groups' power in a specific transitional context. Looking at the two main transitional justice processes in Colombia, this paper argues that accountability for these privileged actors tends to materialize in cases in which the alliances between different kinds of elites are threatened, or even collapse. However, as this article will show, judicial TJ mechanisms on their own can only have a very limited transformative impact on the accountability of economic elites and their liability for human rights violations in the absence of strong support by state institutions. TJ instruments can provide an exceptional framework to trigger and motivate meaningful transformations. Nonetheless, the concrete realization of these changes far exceeds the possibilities, capacity, and resources of TJ, which in and of itself cannot replace state institutions, especially an ordinary justice system that should continue to make progress on these cases.
From Stalin to the Aliyev clan: 70 years of hindered autonomy in Nagorno‐Karabakh
Authors: Hein Patrick
Published: April 2024

Despite Azerbaijan's 2020 military victory over Armenia and the forcible expulsion of all Armenian residents from Nagorno‐Karabakh in September 2023, the South Caucasus remains far away from lasting peace and stability. This article addresses the following puzzle: why did secessionism strengthen in Nagorno‐Karabakh despite enjoying autonomy for 70 years from 1923 to 1991? Drawing from the securitization theory and Brubaker's institutionalist nationalism approach, the article identifies three variables: the historical context of Soviet nationalities policies, Soviet Azerbaijan securitization policies; and the lingering Armenian fear of a possible new genocide. The consequences of precluded autonomy impaired any prospects for a peaceful settlement as the Second Karabakh War in 2020, a nine month economic blockade of Karabakh commencing in 2022 followed by the ethnic cleansing of all residents in 2023 demonstrate. The methodology followed in this research is a qualitative analysis based on document analysis and interviews with key stake holders. The conclusion summarizes the main research findings.
Impact of systematic variations in hematocrit and platelet count on thrombelastometry tissue factor activated assay parameters
Authors: Skaugen Julie T. , Yazer Mark H. , Sprogøe Ulrik
Published: April 2024

Background

Thromboelastogram testing is increasingly being used to manage patients with massive bleeding. An earlier study found that the test results were influenced by the hematocrit (Hct) and platelet (PLT) concentrations. This study sought to determine if these factors confounded the results of a different manufacturer's thromboelastography testing.

Methods

Using freshly collected whole blood from volunteers and stored red blood cells (RBC) and plasma, the whole blood was manipulated to achieve different Hct values and PLT concentrations. Each reconstituted whole blood sample was tested in triplicate on the ROTEM Delta device and the ExTEM results were recorded.

Results

Many of the ExTEM results varied according to the Hct and PLT concentration. In particular, the ExTEM clot formation time (CFT) was abnormally long when the Hct was 45% and the PLT concentration was ≤75 × 109/L, normalizing only when the PLT count was ≥100 × 109/L. CFT samples with Hct 25% and 35% were also abnormal with low PLT concentrations but normalized at lower PLT concentrations compared to the Hct 45% samples. The ExTEM angle also demonstrated abnormal results when the Hct was 45% and the PLT concentration was ≤50 × 109/L. The ExTEM A10 and maximum clot firmness (MCF) tests tended to also be abnormal when the Hct was between 25% and 45% and the platelet concentrations were below 75 × 109/L.

Conclusion

While thromboelastogram testing is gaining popularity for managing bleeding patients, clinicians should be aware of these confounding factors when making transfusion decisions based on their results.
Prediction of Critical Heat Flux in Tube Bundles With Crossflow
Authors: Shah Mirza M.
Published: April 2024

Evaporators and boilers with flow across horizontal tube bundles are widely used in industries including refrigeration and chemical processing. As yet there is a lack of a well-verified correlation for predicting local or average CHF (critical heat flux) in such bundles. The available data and correlations are reviewed. The available methods for predicting bundle mean CHF were found to be too conservative. More realistic values of bundle average CHF are proposed based on published test data. The author's well-verified correlations for CHF on a single tube with the subcooled and saturated flow at zero quality across it are compared with test data for tubes in tube bundles together with other correlations. The author's correlations agree well with all data while the others fail for data other than their own. The results of the comparison are presented and discussed. The needs for further research are identified.
Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Their Predictors Among Nursing Home Residents—Cross-Sectional Results of the BaSAlt Study
Authors: Pomiersky Rebekka , Matting Leon , Haigis Daniel , Eschweiler Gerhard W. , Frahsa Annika , Niess Andreas , Thiel Ansgar , Sudeck Gordon
Published: April 2024

Little is known about physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among nursing home residents although PA is known as a health promoter. This study examined PA, SB, and their predictors among nursing home residents (n = 63). Dependent variables were accelerometry-based PA and SB. Predictor variables included in a path analysis were age, sex, body mass index, Barthel Index, cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination), physical performance (hand grip strength and habitual walking speed), and well-being (World Health Organization-5 well-being index). PA was very low (M steps per day = 2,433) and SB was high (M percentage of sedentary time = 89.4%). PA was significantly predicted by age (β = −0.27, p = .008), body mass index (β = −0.29, p = .002), Barthel Index (β = 0.24, p = .040), and hand grip strength (β = 0.30, p = .048). SB was significantly predicted by body mass index (β = 0.27, p = .008) and Barthel Index (β = −0.30, p = .012). Results might be helpful for everyday practice to identify individuals at high risk for low PA and high SB.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
scavenges host sialic acid for Siglec-mediated, complement-independent suppression of neutrophil activation
Authors: Cardenas Amaris J. , Thomas Keena S. , Broden Mary W. , Ferraro Noel J. , Pires Marcos M. , John Constance M. , Jarvis Gary A. , Criss Alison K.
Published: April 2024

Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
(Gc), is characterized by neutrophilic influx to infection sites. Gc has developed mechanisms to resist killing by neutrophils that include modifications to its surface lipooligosaccharide (LOS). One such LOS modification is sialylation: Gc sialylates its terminal LOS sugars with cytidine-5′-monophosphate-
N
-acetylneuraminic acid, which is scavenged from the host using LOS sialyltransferase (Lst) since Gc cannot make its sialic acid. Sialylation enables sensitive strains of Gc to resist complement-mediated killing in a serum-dependent manner. However, little is known about the contribution of sialylation to complement-independent, direct Gc-neutrophil interactions. In the absence of complement, we found sialylated Gc expressing opacity-associated (Opa) proteins decreased the oxidative burst and granule exocytosis from primary human neutrophils. In addition, sialylated Opa+ Gc survived better than vehicle treated or Δ
lst
Gc when challenged with neutrophils. However, Gc sialylation did not significantly affect Opa-dependent association with or internalization of Gc by neutrophils. Previous studies have implicated sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs) in modulating neutrophil interactions with sialylated Gc. Blocking neutrophil Siglecs with antibodies that bind to their extracellular domains eliminated the ability of sialylated Opa+ Gc to suppress the oxidative burst and resist neutrophil killing. These findings highlight a new role for sialylation in Gc evasion of human innate immunity, with implications for the development of vaccines and therapeutics for gonorrhea.

IMPORTANCE

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, is an urgent global health concern due to increasing infection rates, widespread antibiotic resistance, and its ability to thwart protective immune responses. The mechanisms by which Gc subverts protective immune responses remain poorly characterized. One way
N. gonorrhoeae
evades human immunity is by adding sialic acid that is scavenged from the host onto its lipooligosaccharide, using the sialyltransferase Lst. Here, we found that sialylation enhances
N. gonorrhoeae
survival from neutrophil assault and inhibits neutrophil activation, independently of the complement system. Our results implicate bacterial binding of sialic acid-binding lectins (Siglecs) on the neutrophil surface, which dampens neutrophil antimicrobial responses. This work identifies a new role for sialylation in protecting
N. gonorrhoeae
from cellular innate immunity, which can be targeted to enhance the human immune response in gonorrhea.
Supplemental Material: Climatic controls on water-mass chemistry in a Paleocene lacustrine setting, Subei Basin, eastern China
Authors: Liu Yang , et al.
Published: April 2024

Figure S1: Cross-plots of (A) Sr vs. δ13Ccarb, (B) Mn/Sr vs. δ13Ccarb, (C) Mg/Ca vs. δ13Ccarb, and (D) δ18O vs. δ13Ccarb. Figure S2: A-CN-K (Al2O3–[CaO* + Na2O]–K2O) ternary diagram of the samples from drill-core QY 1. Figure S3: Cross-plots of (A) Al/Ti vs. CIA and (B) Th/Sc vs. CIA. Figure S4: Cross-plots of (A) CaO vs. Sr and (B) CaO vs. Sr/Ba. Table S1: Geochemical and mineralogical data for lacustrine sediments in Member II of the Paleocene Funing Formation (E1f2) from drill-core QY 1 in the Subei Basin.
Synchronous subarachnoid haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke as a result of complete internal carotid artery occlusion
Authors: Gomaa Aysha , Biyanwila Chemindra , Jantre Mansi
Published: April 2024

A previously healthy man in his 60s presents with a one-day history of insidious onset headache and ‘walking into doors’. He reported transient right arm pain and tingling but no weakness. A CT brain showed a right middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct as well as a synchronous right frontal lobe convexal subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH). An arch to vertex CT angiogram demonstrated right MCA occlusion and complete right internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion from its origin. Reconstitution of flow was seen within the distal right ICA at the level of the distal foramen lacerum. A repeat CT of the brain after one week showed a stable appearance of the bleeding and infarct. He was commenced on antiplatelet therapy for the treatment of the ischaemic stroke as well as secondary prevention.

This is a rare case of synchronous right MCA infarct as well as a right frontal cSAH secondary to ipsilateral carotid artery occlusion.
Impact of a pandemic shock on unmet medical needs of middle-aged and older adults in 10 countries
Authors: Guo Chao , Yuan Dianqi , Tang Huameng , Hu Xiyuan , Lei Yiyang
Published: April 2024

Objective

The objective is to explore the impact of the pandemic shock on the unmet medical needs of middle-aged and older adults worldwide.

Methods

The COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020 was used as a quasiexperiment. Exposure to the pandemic was defined based on an individual’s context within the global pandemic. Data were obtained from the Integrated Values Surveys. A total of 11 932 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 years and above from 10 countries where the surveys conducted two times during 2011 and 2022 were analysed. We used logistic regression models with the difference-in-difference method to estimate the impact of pandemic exposure on unmet medical needs by comparing differences before and after the pandemic across areas with varying degrees of severity.

Results

Among the 11 932 middle-aged and older adults, 3647 reported unmet medical needs, with a pooled unmet rate of 30.56% (95% CI: 29.74% to 31.40%). The pandemic significantly increased the risk of unmet medical needs among middle-aged and older adults (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.94 to 2.79). The deleterious effect of the pandemic on unmet medical needs was prevalent among middle-aged adults (2.53, 2.00 to 3.20) and older adults (2.00, 1.48 to 2.69), as well as among men (2.24, 1.74 to 2.90) and women (2.34, 1.82 to 3.03). The results remained robust in a series of sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that efforts should be made by policymakers and healthcare professionals to balance healthcare resources to adequately address the comprehensive healthcare demands of individuals regarding multiple health issues, taking into account the challenges posed by pandemics.
Call me Ishmael: addressing the white whale of team communication in the operating room with labelled surgical caps at an academic medical centre
Authors: Goldhaber Nicole Hamilton , Mehta Shivani , Longhurst Christopher A , Malachowski Elizabeth , Jones Melissa , Clary Bryan M , Schaefer Robin L , McHale Michael , Rhodes Lisa P , Mekeel Kristin L , Reeves J Jeffery
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Effective communication in the operating room (OR) is crucial. Addressing a colleague by their name is respectful, humanising, entrusting and associated with improved clinical outcomes. We aimed to enhance team communication in the perioperative environment by offering personalised surgical caps labelled with name and provider role to all OR team members at a large academic medical centre.

Materials and methods

This was a quasi-experimental, uncontrolled, before-and-after quality improvement study. A survey regarding perceptions of team communication, knowledge of names and roles, communication barriers, and culture was administered before and after cap delivery. Survey results were measured on a 5-point Likert Scale; descriptive statistics and mean scores were compared. All cause National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) morbidity and mortality outcomes for surgical specialties were examined.

Results

1420 caps were delivered across the institution. Mean survey scores increased for knowing the names and roles of providers around the OR, feeling that people know my name and feeling comfortable communicating without barriers across disciplines. The mean score for team communication around the OR is excellent was unchanged. The highest score both before and after was knowing the name of an interdisciplinary team member is important for patient care. A total of 383 and 212 providers participated in the study before and after cap delivery, respectively. Participants agreed or strongly agreed that labelled surgical caps made it easier to talk to colleagues (64.9%) while improving communication (66.0%), team culture (60.5%) and patient care (56.8%). No significant differences were noted in NSQIP outcomes.

Conclusions

Personalised labelled surgical caps are a simple, inexpensive tool that demonstrates promise in improving perioperative team communication. Creating highly reliable surgical teams with optimal communication channels requires a multifaceted approach with engaged leadership, empowered front-line providers and an institutional commitment to continuous process improvement.
Modeling and correction of image drift in dynamic shadowgraphy experiments
Authors: Castellini Stefano , Brizioli Matteo , Giraudet Cédric , Carpineti Marina , Croccolo Fabrizio , Giavazzi Fabio , Vailati Alberto
Published: April 2024

The study of phoretic transport phenomena under non-stationary conditions presents several challenges, mostly related to the stability of the experimental apparatus. This is particularly true when investigating with optical means the subtle temperature and concentration fluctuations that arise during diffusion processes, superimposed to the macroscopic state of the system. Under these conditions, the tenuous signal from fluctuations is easily altered by the presence of artifacts. Here, we address an experimental issue frequently reported in the investigation by means of dynamic shadowgraphy of the non-equilibrium fluctuations arising in liquid mixtures under non-stationary conditions, such as those arising after the imposition or removal of a thermal stress, where experiments show systematically the presence of a spurious contribution in the reconstructed structure function of the fluctuations, which depends quadratically from the time delay. We clarify the mechanisms responsible for this artifact, showing that it is caused by the imperfect alignment of the sample cell with respect to gravity, which couples the temporal evolution of the concentration profile within the sample with the optical signal collected by the shadowgraph diagnostics. We propose a data analysis protocol that enables disentangling the spurious contributions and the genuine dynamics of the fluctuations, which can be thus reliably reconstructed.

Graphic Abstract

The imposition of a thermal gradient across a liquid mixture results in a time-dependent refractive index distribution. In the presence of a misalignment of the confining cell with respect to gravity, this leads to a deflection of the optical probe beam used to monitor concentration fluctuations within the sample in quantitative shadowgraphy experiments. If not properly accounted for, this effect can introduce a significant bias in the optical signal.
Charm physics
Authors: Petrov Alexey A.
Published: April 2024

We review recent developments in charm physics, focusing on the physics of charmed mesons. We discuss recent progress in charm spectroscopy and the multitude of mesonic and baryonic exotic states containing charm quarks. We review searches for new physics with charmed mesons with rare decays. We also touch upon recent theoretical and experimental progress in searches for CP-violation in charm decays and the status of $$D^0-\overline{D}{}^0$$

D
0

-

D
¯

0

mixing.
Organic solvent-free in-situ polymerization of waterborne polyurethane with amino-grafted silica for carbon dioxide separation
Authors: Chin Kai-Yen , Shiue Angus , Wu Li-Chun , Chang Shu-Mei
Published: April 2024

The novel mixed-matrix membrane (MMMs) by incorporating covalently amino groups grafted nano-silica (Amino-NP) into an eco-friendly, organic solvent-free waterborne polyurethane (OSF-WPU) matrix for the separation application of CO2/N2. This investigation focused on the gas permeance and separation performance of the MMMs. The optimized CO2/N2 separation factor reached [Formula: see text], with a CO2 permeance of [Formula: see text] GPU under conditions of 1.0 bar and 25∘C in a wet mixed-gas state. Incorporating even a tiny amount of Amino-NP efficiently enhanced CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity. OSF-WPU/Amino-NP MMMs demonstrated superior performance, emphasize their potential for stable long-term operation in practical CO2 separation applications.
EMPOWERING RURAL LEBANESE FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS: A RESOURCE-BASED PERSPECTIVE
Authors: KHABBAZ LARA , KURAN OMAYA
Published: April 2024

This paper examines how rural female entrepreneurs in Lebanon navigate challenges and opportunities amidst economic crises. It aims to understand how they leverage resources to overcome barriers and enhance their entrepreneurial potential, offering insights for fostering sustainable entrepreneurship in crisis-affected regions. This study employs Integrative Qualitative Methods, combining participatory action research (PAR) and narrative inquiry, to explore the motivations, experiences and aspirations of rural female entrepreneurs in Lebanon. Amidst severe economic crises, 28 female entrepreneurs participated in a three-year program supporting their businesses. The findings indicate that rural female entrepreneurs in Lebanon are primarily motivated by family sustainability, social effect and personal fulfillment. They demonstrate significant adaptability to market changes and are able to leverage support networks to manage resources effectively. Strategic resource allocation, communication and collaboration are key to their success. Overall, these findings highlight the resilience and strategic acumen of rural female entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of ongoing support for economic growth and community development.
SELF-REPORTED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND CREDIT DISCOURAGEMENT: RACIAL DIFFERENCES AMONG INDIVIDUAL MICROENTREPRENEURS IN BRAZIL
Authors: PAIXÃO MARCELO , ROSSETTO IRENE
Published: April 2024

Research has shown that credit discouragement is one of the most significant barriers deterring small businesses from accessing credit. Although credit discouragement is often associated with diminished expectations for successfully obtaining credit, the underlying causes of this phenomenon have not been explored fully. Adapting Loury’s (2021) feedback effect theory to the credit market, this study provides insights into the effect of race and emotional distress on credit discouragement among individual microentrepreneurs (IMEs) in Brazil. Using survey data collected in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, the study confirms that Black and Brown IMEs who reported emotional distress in bank branches had a greater credit discouragement rate than those who did not. We also confirmed Brazil’s pigmentocratic pattern of inequality, with higher discouragement among Black IMEs compared to Brown and White IMEs.
EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF MOROCCAN INFORMAL MICROENTERPRISES’ ATTRIBUTES ON THE DECISION TO TRANSITION INTO A FORMAL STATUS
Authors: RAHOU EL HASSANIA , HAJJAJ MOUNA , TAQI AHMED , JARIDE CHAMA , ALLAMMARI YASSIN
Published: April 2024

Microenterprises have long been neglected in theoretical debates on the informal sector, receiving limited attention and superficial analysis. The aim of this article is to study the influence of the characteristics of informal microenterprises in Morocco on the decision to move to the formal sector. The article adopts a quantitative approach, focusing on 500 informal microentrepreneurs in northern Morocco. Through descriptive statistics and the use of a binomial logistic regression model, the study focuses on the effects of multiple aspects of these businesses. Data is collected and analyzed using the open-source tool R. The survey results reveal that engagement in a service-providing activity, the availability of business premises, and hiring more than four workers positively affect the propensity to formalize Moroccan informal microenterprises. Similarly, the use of simplified accounting systems, a longer period of existence and recourse to subcontracting are factors that encourage these ventures to opt for formalization. These findings are of key theoretical importance, exploiting the singularity of the Moroccan context and challenging the adoption of the neoliberal approach to explaining informality in Morocco. The conclusions are accompanied by recommendations designed to stimulate the transition to a formal sector. Implications of these findings for policy-makers, practitioners and entrepreneurs are discussed.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CROSS-CULTURAL ITEM BANK FOR MEASURING ENTREPRENEURIAL PERSONALITY TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH VENTURE SUCCESS
Authors: ESTRADA-LAVILLA RAUL , OVALLE-ZULETA MARÍA ALEJANDRA , RUIZ-NAVARRO JOSÉ , CAMELO-ORDAZ MARÍA DEL CARMEN
Published: April 2024

This study aims to create a cross-cultural item bank that enables accurate, specific and comprehensive measurement of entrepreneurial personality traits associated with successful businesses. The traits were identified through a literature review, a panel of experts and entrepreneurs. Forty-four experts were used for the content analysis of the item bank and 35 entrepreneurs were interviewed to analyze and validate the item bank with considerable evidence. We identified sixteen entrepreneurial personality traits grounded in theory, each linked to entrepreneurial success, constructed a cross-cultural item bank customized to five Spanish-speaking countries to enable a more culturally sensitive measurement, and provided evidence of both content and response process validities. The item bank advances the measurement of entrepreneurial personality traits, transcending the constraints of conventional psychometric tests to offer a less intrusive, yet more accurate and efficient, alternative. A foundation is provided for a computerized adaptive test capable of assessing a range of entrepreneur-specific constructs for a better alignment between project stakeholders and a reduced risk of failure.
Environment Decoherence of Quantum Exclusion Semigroups in Terms of Quantum Bernoulli Noises
Authors: Chen Jinshu , Hai Shexiang
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we study the environment induced decoherence of quantum exclusion semigroups constructed by quantum Bernoulli noises. We first study the structure of the decoherence-free algebra and discuss some of its properties, and give the conditions for its possible mutual inclusions with the set of fixed points. Then we describe the structure of the set of fixed points and use the new results obtained here to discuss the environment induced decoherence properties of the semigroup.
Numerical modelling of the effects of permeability contrasts on underground hydrogen storage in sandstone reservoirs
Authors: Smith Douglas , Arnold Daniel , Hough Edward , Busch Andreas
Published: April 2024

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can balance the divergent variations in seasonal energy demand and energy supply from renewables. Underground hydrogen storage in porous formations, such as depleted gas sandstone reservoirs or saline aquifers, provides the capacities needed for large-scale, long-duration energy balancing. This paper reports on the fundamental behaviour of hydrogen in a model reservoir setup, involving a two-phase (H
2
, water) system and a two well (injector, producer) setup placed at different depths in the reservoir. We specifically focus on the impact of natural heterogeneities, and associated permeability contrasts, on flow and efficacy of hydrogen injection and production. We found that positioning the wells, both injector and producer, at the top of the reservoir facilitates the highest hydrogen production. We also found that permeability contrasts of three to four orders of magnitude significantly affect hydrogen flow; however, factors affecting the pressure gradient also need to be considered. These factors include compartmentalization, the behaviour of co-existing fluids and the localized pressure gradient created by the hydrogen plume. Our research underlines the need to understand the architecture of the whole reservoir, from seismic to sub-seismic scales, not just the zones surrounding the wells and pathways in-between, as this controls capacity, pressure fluctuations and informs operational management decisions.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Hydrogen as a future energy source collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/hydrogen
Modelling sulfate concentrations in the global ocean through Phanerozoic time
Authors: Krause Alexander J. , Shields Graham A. , Newton Robert J. , Mills Benjamin J. W.
Published: April 2024

Understanding the long-term variations in seawater sulfate concentrations ([SO
4
2−
]
sw
) is crucial to our understanding of the dynamic relationships between the sulfur, carbon, calcium and oxygen cycles, and their influence on the habitability of the Earth. Here, we explore how [SO
4
2−
]
sw
has changed throughout the Phanerozoic and its impact on other elemental cycles. We do this by utilizing the biogeochemical box model GEOCARBSULFOR. The model suggests that [SO
4
2−
]
sw
increased throughout the Paleozoic, decreased during the Mesozoic and then increased once more in the Cenozoic, generally matching geochemical proxies. Atmospheric oxygen mirrors [SO
4
2−
]
sw
changes during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, but, intriguingly, decouples during the Cenozoic. We further explored the controls on [SO
4
2−
]
sw
by modifying the modelled gypsum fluxes via the incorporation of evaporite data from the geological record. We found that forcing gypsum burial with the observed evaporite deposition data causes the model to better match proxy records at some times, but worsens predictions at others. We also investigated the reliance of the model on a prescribed record of marine calcium concentrations, finding that it is a dominant control on modelled Phanerozoic [SO
4
2−
]
sw
and that removing this control seriously degrades the model predictions. We conclude that no model can yet simulate a reasonable evolution of both the calcium and sulfur cycles.

Supplementary material:
Figures S1–S5 are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7164928

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Sulfur in the Earth system collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/sulfur-in-the-earth-system
Identification and Semiparametric Efficiency Theory of Nonignorable Missing Data with a Shadow Variable
Authors: Miao Wang , Liu Lan , Li Yilin , Tchetgen Tchetgen Eric J. , Geng Zhi
Published: April 2024

We consider identification and estimation with an outcome missing not at random (MNAR). We study an identification strategy based on a so-calledshadow variable. A shadow variable is assumed to be correlated with the outcome but independent of the missingness process conditional on the outcome and fully observed covariates. We describe a general condition for nonparametric identification of the full data law under MNAR using a valid shadow variable. Our condition is satisfied by many commonly used models; moreover, it is imposed on the complete cases, and therefore has testable implications with observed data only. We characterize the semiparametric efficiency bound for the class of regular and asymptotically linear estimators and derive a closed form for the efficient influence function. We describe a doubly robust and locally efficient estimation method and evaluate its performance on both simulation data and a real data example about home pricing.
Document-level Relation Extraction with Progressive Self-distillation
Authors: Wang Quan , Mao Zhendong , Gao Jie , Zhang Yongdong
Published: April 2024

Document-level relation extraction (RE) aims to simultaneously predict relations (including no-relation cases denoted as NA) between all entity pairs in a document. It is typically formulated as a relation classification task with entities pre-detected in advance and solved by a hard-label training regime, which, however, neglects the divergence of the NA class and the correlations among other classes. This article introduces
progressive self-distillation
(PSD), a new training regime that employs online, self-knowledge distillation (KD) to produce and incorporate soft labels for document-level RE.The key idea of PSD is to gradually soften hard labels using past predictions from an RE model itself, which are adjusted adaptively as training proceeds. As such, PSD has to learn only one RE model within a single training pass, requiring no extra computation or annotation to pretrain another high-capacity teacher. PSD is conceptually simple, easy to implement, and generally applicable to various RE models to further improve their performance, without introducing additional parameters or significantly increasing training overheads into the models. It is also a general framework that can be flexibly extended to distilling various types of knowledge, rather than being restricted to soft labels themselves. Extensive experiments on four benchmarking datasets verify the effectiveness and generality of the proposed approach. The code is available at
https://github.com/GaoJieCN/psd
ARM-CO-UP: ARM COoperative Utilization of Processors
Authors: Aghapour Ehsan , Sapra Dolly , Pimentel Andy , Pathania Anuj
Published: April 2024

HMPSoCs combine different processors on a single chip. They enable powerful embedded devices, which increasingly perform ML inference tasks at the edge. State-of-the-art HMPSoCs can perform on-chip embedded inference using different processors, such as CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. HMPSoCs can potentially overcome the limitation of low single-processor CNN inference performance and efficiency by cooperative use of multiple processors. However, standard inference frameworks for edge devices typically utilize only a single processor.

We present the
ARM-CO-UP
framework built on the
ARM-CL
library. The
ARM-CO-UP
framework supports two modes of operation – Pipeline and Switch. It optimizes inference throughput using pipelined execution of network partitions for consecutive input frames in the Pipeline mode. It improves inference latency through layer-switched inference for a single input frame in the Switch mode. Furthermore, it supports layer-wise CPU/GPU
DVFS
in both modes for improving power efficiency and energy consumption.
ARM-CO-UP
is a comprehensive framework for multi-processor CNN inference that automates CNN partitioning and mapping, pipeline synchronization, processor type switching, layer-wise
DVFS
, and closed-source NPU integration.
R-Blocks: an Energy-Efficient, Flexible, and Programmable CGRA
Authors: de Bruin Barry , Vadivel Kanishkan , Wijtvliet Mark , Jääskeläinen Pekka , Corporaal Henk
Published: April 2024

Emerging data-driven applications in the embedded, e-Health, and internet of things (IoT) domain require complex on-device signal analysis and data reduction to maximize energy efficiency on these energy-constrained devices. Coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures (CGRAs) have been proposed as a good compromise between flexibility and energy efficiency for ultra-low power (ULP) signal processing. Existing CGRAs are often specialized and domain-specific or can only accelerate simple kernels, which makes accelerating complete applications on a CGRA while maintaining high energy efficiency an open issue. Moreover, the lack of instruction set architecture (ISA) standardization across CGRAs makes code generation using current compiler technology a major challenge. This work introduces R-Blocks; a ULP CGRA with HW/SW co-design tool-flow based on the OpenASIP toolset. This CGRA is extremely flexible due to its well-established VLIW-SIMD execution model and support for flexible SIMD-processing, while maintaining an extremely high energy efficiency using software bypassing, optimized instruction delivery, and local scratchpad memories. R-Blocks is synthesized in a commercial 22-nm FD-SOI technology and achieves a full-system energy efficiency of 115 MOPS/mW on a common FFT benchmark, 1.45× higher than a highly tuned embedded RISC-V processor. Comparable energy efficiency is obtained on multiple complex workloads, making R-Blocks a promising acceleration target for general-purpose computing.
Operando Ultrasonic Monitoring of the Internal Temperature of Lithium-ion Batteries for the Detection and Prevention of Thermal Runaway
Authors: Owen Rhodri E. , Wiśniewska Ewelina , Braglia Michele , Stocker Richard , Shearing Paul R. , Brett Dan J. L. , Robinson James B.
Published: April 2024

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play an integral role in powering various applications, from consumer electronics to stationary storage, and notably in the accelerating domain of electric vehicles (EVs). Despite their widespread adoption and numerous benefits, safety issues are of major concern, especially with the surge in their utilization and increasing proliferation of second-life cells, particularly in domestic energy storage applications. A critical concern revolves around susceptibility to thermal runaway, leading to highly hazardous and challenging-to-contain fires. Addressing these concerns necessitates effective methods to monitor internal temperature dynamics within lithium-ion cells swiftly and cost-effectively, alongside a need to develop prognostic techniques to pre-empt thermal runaway occurrences. This study presents an innovative approach that uses ultrasound analysis to track intricate internal temperature fluctuations and gradients within cells. Moreover, an efficient multi-stage warning system is proposed that is designed to proactively prevent thermal runaway events. The findings offer promising avenues for enhancing the safety and reliability of lithium-ion battery systems.
Shorting at Long Duration: Impact of Extended Discharge Capacity on Battery Solid Electrolytes
Authors: Hill Ryan C. , Peretti Amanda S. , Small Leo J. , Spoerke Erik D. , Cheng Yang-Tse
Published: April 2024

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is critical to a stable, resilient, and decarbonized electric grid. While batteries are emerging as important LDES devices, extended, high-power discharges necessary for cost-competitive LDES present new materials challenges. Focusing on a new generation of low-temperature molten sodium batteries, we explore here unique phenomena related to long-duration discharge through a well-known solid electrolyte, NaSICON. Specifically, molten sodium symmetric cells at 110 °C were cycled at 0.1 A cm−2 for 1–23 h discharges. Longer discharges led to unstable overpotentials, reduced resistances, and decreased electrolyte strength, caused by massive sodium penetration not observed in shorter duration discharges. Scanning electron microscopy informed mechanisms of sodium penetration and even “healing” during shorter-duration cycling. Importantly, these findings show that traditional, low-capacity, shorter-duration tests may not sufficiently inform fundamental materials phenomena that will impact LDES battery performance. This case highlights the importance that candidate LDES batteries be tested under pertinent long-duration conditions.
Impact of Dual-Gate Configuration on the Endurance of Ferroelectric Thin-Film Transistors With Nanosheet Polycrystalline-Silicon Channel Film
Authors: Ma William Cheng-Yu , Su Chun-Jung , Kao Kuo-Hsing , Cho Ta-Chun , Guo Jing-Qiang , Wu Cheng-Jun , Wu Po-Ying , Hung Jia-Yuan
Published: April 2024

This work explores the characteristics of ferroelectric thin-film transistors (FeTFTs) utilizing an asymmetric dual-gate (DG) structure in both single-gate (SG) and DG operation modes. In the transfer characteristics, DG mode exhibits a memory window (MW) of 1.075 V, smaller than SG mode’s MW of 1.402 V, attributed to the back-gate bias effect causing a reduction in the device’s threshold voltage. However, DG mode demonstrates superior endurance characteristics with 106 cycles compared to SG mode’s 105 cycles. Additionally, the increase in erase pulse voltage (VERS) exacerbates the polycrystalline-silicon channel lattice damage of FeTFT, resulting in subthreshold swing (SS) degradation. Nevertheless, the extent of SS degradation from DG mode operation is significantly lower than that of SG mode, contributing to the superior endurance of DG mode. The elevation of program pulse voltage (VPRG) induces imprint and charge-trapping effects in the top-gate ferroelectric dielectric, leading to reduced endurance. Due to the use of SiO2 as the back-gate dielectric in FeTFT, DG mode exhibits lower impacts of charge-trapping effects from the top-gate ferroelectric dielectric layer, resulting in better endurance compared to SG mode. The asymmetric DG structure provides greater tolerance in the selection of VPRG and VERS.
SIRT4 promotes neuronal apoptosis in models of Alzheimer’s disease via the STAT2–SIRT4–mTOR pathway
Authors: Xing Dianxia , Zhang Wenjin , Cui Wei , Yao Xiuya , Xiao Yaping , Chen Lihua , Yuan Shiyun , Duan Yanyan , Yu Weihua , Pan Pengfei , Lü Yang
Published: April 2024

The study reveals that in Alzheimer’s disease models, SIRT4 expression increases, contributing to neuronal apoptosis and amyloid-β deposition. Reducing SIRT4 lessens apoptosis and amyloid-β accumulation, improving memory in mice. This process involves the mTOR pathway, regulated by STAT2 transcription factor. These findings suggest targeting the STAT2-SIRT4-mTOR axis as a potential Alzheimer’s treatment strategy.
Ox-LDL-induced CD80+ macrophages expand pro-atherosclerotic NKT cells via CD1d in atherosclerotic mice and hyperlipidemic patients
Authors: Wang Yin , Zou Yao , Jiang Qingsong , Li Wenming , Chai Xinyu , Zhao Tingrui , Liu Siyi , Yuan Zhiyi , Yu Chao , Wang Tingting
Published: April 2024

This work proposed the ox-LDL-CD80+ monocyte/macrophage-CD1d-NKT cell-IFN-γ axis in the progression of atherosclerosis. The proinflammatory IFN-γ+ NKT cells are closely related to CD1d+CD80+ monocytes in hyperlipidemic patients. Inhibiting CD80+ macrophages to present lipid antigens to NKT cells through CD1d blocking may be a new therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
Transfer Learning Reveals Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Are Associated with Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Inflammation in Cancer Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guinn Samantha , Kinny-Köster Benedict , Tandurella Joseph A. , Mitchell Jacob T. , Sidiropoulos Dimitrios N. , Loth Melanie , Lyman Melissa R. , Pucsek Alexandra B. , Zabransky Daniel J. , Lee Jae W. , Kartalia Emma , Ramani Mili , Seppälä Toni T. , Cherry Christopher , Suri Reecha , Zlomke Haley , Patel Jignasha , He Jin , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Yu Jun , Zheng Lei , Ryan David P. , Ting David T. , Kimmelman Alec , Gupta Anuj , Danilova Ludmila , Elisseeff Jennifer H. , Wood Laura D. , Stein-O'Brien Genevieve , Kagohara Luciane T. , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Burkhart Richard A. , Fertig Elana J. , Zimmerman Jacquelyn W.
Published: April 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment enriched with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). This study used a convergence approach to identify tumor cell and CAF interactions through the integration of single-cell data from human tumors with human organoid coculture experiments. Analysis of a comprehensive atlas of PDAC single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that CAF density is associated with increased inflammation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells. Transfer learning using transcriptional data from patient-derived organoid and CAF cocultures provided in silico validation of CAF induction of inflammatory and EMT epithelial cell states. Further experimental validation in cocultures demonstrated integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) and vascular endothelial factor A (VEGFA) interactions with neuropilin-1 mediating CAF-epithelial cell cross-talk. Together, this study introduces transfer learning from human single-cell data to organoid coculture analyses for experimental validation of discoveries of cell–cell cross-talk and identifies fibroblast-mediated regulation of EMT and inflammation.

Significance:

Adaptation of transfer learning to relate human single-cell RNA sequencing data to organoid-CAF cocultures facilitates discovery of human pancreatic cancer intercellular interactions and uncovers cross-talk between CAFs and tumor cells through VEGFA and ITGB1.