bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive flexibility and grit during times of crisis for Turkish EFL teachers
Authors: Erarslan Ali
Published: January 2023

Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the abrupt transition to virtual learning environments based on Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) has posed significant challenges for teachers at all levels of education. The challenges of the pandemic revealed the significance of cognitive flexibility as a cognitive skill and grit as a noncognitive skill for teachers to adapt to the ERT conditions and to sustain their passion and perseverance. This study investigated whether the cognitive flexibility and grit levels of Turkish EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers significantly differed based on demographic variables and also explored how cognitive flexibility as a cognitive skill and grit as a noncognitive skill were associated with each other. Using a sequential, exploratory, mixed‐method design, qualitative, and quantitative data were collected from 589 Turkish EFL teachers during the school closures. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, and structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationship between cognitive flexibility and grit. The findings showed that cognitive flexibility and grit differed more in terms of profession‐related variables (teaching experience and school type) than personal demographic variables (age and gender). Also, structural equation modeling showed that both cognitive flexibility and grit significantly correlated with each other as a novel finding contributing to the literature. The qualitative findings showed that teachers used cognitive flexibility and grit‐based strategies to overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Exploration and comparison of molecular mechanisms across diseases using MINERVA Net
Authors: Gawron Piotr , Smula Ewa , Schneider Reinhard , Ostaszewski Marek
Published: January 2023

Protein function is often interpreted using molecular interaction diagrams, encoding roles a given protein plays in various molecular mechanisms. Information about disease‐related mechanisms can be inferred from disease maps, knowledge repositories containing manually constructed systems biology diagrams. Disease maps hosted on the Molecular Interaction Network VisuAlization (MINERVA) Platform are individually accessible through a REST API interface of each instance, making it challenging to systematically explore their contents. To address this challenge, we introduce the MINERVA Net web service, a repository of open‐access disease maps allowing users to publicly share minimal information about their maps. The MINERVA Net repository provides REST API endpoints of particular disease maps, which then can be individually queried for content. In this article, we describe the concept of MINERVA Net and illustrate its use by comparing proteins and their interactions in three different disease maps.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: Stress‐management interventions for patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Horn Anna , Stangl Stephanie , Parisi Sandra , Bauer Nina , Roll Julia , Löffler Claudia , Gágyor Ildikó , Haas Kirsten , Heuschmann Peter U. , Langhorst Jost , Keil Thomas
Published: January 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder of unknown pathological origin that is associated with psychological distress and reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). We investigated the effects of stress‐management for adults with IBS on typical symptoms, HRQoL and mental health. With predefined criteria (patients: adults with IBS; intervention: stress‐management; control: care as usual or waitlist; outcome: patient‐relevant; study‐type: controlled trials), we registered the study with PROSPERO (168030) and searched the main medical databases. Two researchers independently reviewed the publications and assessed the risk of bias using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network checklist. We performed meta‐analysis with homogeneous trials of acceptable quality. After screening 6656 publications, ten suitable randomized trials of acceptable (n = 5) or low methodological quality (n = 5) involving 587 patients were identified. Our meta‐analysis showed no effect of stress‐management on IBS severity 1–2 months after the intervention (Hedges' g = −0.23, 95%‐CI = −0.84 to −0.38, I2 = 86.1%), and after 3–12 months (Hedges' g = −0.77, 95%‐CI = −1.77 to −0.23, I2 = 93.3%). One trial found a short‐term reduction of symptoms, and one trial found symptom relief in the long‐term (at 6 months). One of two studies that examined HRQoL found an improvement (after 2 months). One of two studies that examined depression and anxiety found a reduction of these symptoms (after 3 weeks). Stress‐management may be beneficial for patients with IBS regarding the short‐term reduction of bowel and mental health symptoms, whereas long‐term benefits are unclear. Good quality RCTs with more than 6 months follow‐up are needed.
Biodiesel as an alternate fuel for future energy production: A review
Authors: Dash Priyadarshini , Gajjar Jatin , Anderson A. , Jayaprabakar J. , Senthilkumar G. , Joy Nivin
Published: January 2023

There has been a significant growth in aviation industry due to the increased consumption of aviation fuel which is one of the main sources of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. As a result, using aviation fuels made from renewable resources has drawn a lot of attention. There have been significant attempts made to create renewable fuels as alternatives to petroleum‐based fuels in order to provide a conservative approach for mitigating CO2 emissions from the air transportation sector. Non‐edible oils combined with diesel are preferred as biofuels due to the growing global population and the rising need for edible oils and food crops. Various non edible oils which include candle nut, soap nut, jatropha, groundnut, canola, karanja, mahua, neem, jojoba, rubber seed oil, etc., are employed to produce biofuel. These biodiesels are prepared from the raw oil by a two‐step co‐solvent esterification process. In this study, an attempt is made to compare the important performance parameters of biodiesel blends made from both edible and non‐edible sources. Brake thermal efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption of known biodiesel samples are evaluated based on the reported test results. Emission parameters includes carbon monoxides, carbon di oxides, smoke, and nitrogen oxide emissions are also compared.
Graph-Based Methods for Rational Drug Design
Authors: Droschinsky Andre , Humbeck Lina , Koch Oliver , Kriege Nils M. , Mutzel Petra , Schäfer Till
Published: January 2023

Rational drug design deals with computational methods to accelerate the development of new drugs. Among other tasks, it is necessary to analyze huge databases of small molecules. Since a direct relationship between the structure of these molecules and their effect (e.g., toxicity) can be assumed in many cases, a wide set of methods is based on the modeling of the molecules as graphs with attributes.

Here, we discuss our results concerning structural molecular similarity searches and molecular clustering and put them into the wider context of graph similarity search. In particular, we discuss algorithms for computing graph similarity w.r.t. maximum common subgraphs and their extension to domain specific requirements.
The Space Complexity of Undirected Graph Exploration
Authors: Disser Yann , Klimm Max
Published: January 2023

We review the space complexity of deterministically exploring undirected graphs. We assume that vertices are indistinguishable and that edges have a locally unique color that guides the traversal of a space-constrained agent. The graph is considered to be explored once the agent has visited all vertices. We visit results for this setting showing that $$\varTheta \,(\log n)$$

Θ

(
log
n
)

bits of memory are necessary and sufficient for an agent to explore all n-vertex graphs. We then illustrate that, if agents only have sublogarithmic memory, the number of (distinguishable) agents needed for collaborative exploration is $$\varTheta \,(\log \log n)$$

Θ

(
log
log
n
)

.
Covering soft rough sets and its topological properties with application
Authors: Atef Mohammed , Nada Shokry , Nawar Ashraf
Published: January 2023

In this article, we introduce the notion of the complementary soft neighborhood and present three kinds of covering soft rough set ($$\mathcal {CSR}$$
CSR
) models. The basic properties of these models are investigated. The relationships among these models are also discussed. Moreover, we establish the topological approach to $$\mathcal {CSR}$$
CSR
say, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-topological spaces (i.e., $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-TS). Hence, the topological properties for $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-TS models such as $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-open sets, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-closed sets, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-interior, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-closure, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-boundary, $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-neighborhood and $$\varDelta $$
Δ
-limit point are studied and the relationships between them are given. Finally, we make use of an algorithm for these proposed models to deal with uncertainties for solving the MGDM problems using the constructed topologies.
Die Tötung überzähliger Versuchstiere – das Erfordernis des “vernünftigen Grundes” und die Übertragung aktueller Rechtsprechung auf den Versuchstierbereich
Authors: Wagenknecht Tobias , Eusemann Beryl , Schwedhelm Philipp , Schönfelder Gilbert , Bert Bettina
Published: January 2023

Das Ziel der EU-Versuchstierrichtlinie 2010/63/EU ist es, einheitliche rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen
für Tierversuche in allen EU-Mitgliedstaaten zu schaffen. Aufgrund eigenständiger mitgliedstaatlicher
Umsetzung der EU-Versuchstierrichtlinie in das jeweilige nationale Versuchstierrecht können nationale
Regelungen durchaus ein unterschiedlich hohes Tierschutzniveau aufweisen. Deutlich zeigt sich dies bei
der Tötung von überzähligen Versuchstieren, die regelmäßig bei der notwendigen
Zucht von Versuchstieren entstehen. Gem. 1 S. 2 TierSchG muss nach deutschem Tierschutzrecht bei jeder
Tötung eines Tieres ein vernünftiger Grund vorliegen. Dieses Erfordernis bezieht sich uneingeschränkt
auch auf Versuchstiere und zeigt sich in seiner konkreten Ausgestaltung als nationale Besonderheit des deutschen
Versuchstierrechts im Vergleich zu anderen Mitgliedstaaten. Fehlt ein vernünftiger Grund im Rahmen
der Tötung eines Tieres, kann dies auch strafrechtliche Konsequenzen gem. 17 Nr. 1 TierSchG nach
sich ziehen. Mangels gefestigter Rechtsprechung im Versuchstierbereich muss bei der rechtlich gebotenen
Auslegung zur Bestimmung des unbestimmten Rechtsbegriffs des vernünftigen Grundes die Rechtsprechung
aus anderen Bereiches des Tierschutzrechts herangezogen und auf das Versuchstierrecht übertragen werden.
Unter Heranziehung der aktuellsten Rechtsprechung des Bundesverwaltungsgerichts zur Tötung von männlichen
Küken zeigt sich, wie schwierig sich eine solche Übertragung in der rechtswissenschaftlichen Praxis
gestaltet. Eine mögliche Übertragung von Wertungen aus dem Nutztierbereich muss dabei aufgrund
der Komplexität der versuchstierrechtlichen Materie stets den konkreten Einzelfall berücksichtigen
und kann keinesfalls pauschal erfolgen.
Review of Clustering Technology and Its Application in Coordinating Vehicle Subsystems
Authors: Zhang Caizhi , Huang Weifeng , Niu Tong , Liu Zhitao , Li Guofa , Cao Dongpu
Published: January 2023

Clustering is an unsupervised learning technology, and it groups information (observations or datasets) according to similarity measures. Developing clustering algorithms is a hot topic in recent years, and this area develops rapidly with the increasing complexity of data and the volume of datasets. In this paper, the concept of clustering is introduced, and the clustering technologies are analyzed from traditional and modern perspectives. First, this paper summarizes the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of 20 traditional clustering algorithms and 4 modern algorithms. Then, the core elements of clustering are presented, such as similarity measures and evaluation index. Considering that data processing is often applied in vehicle engineering, finally, some specific applications of clustering algorithms in vehicles are listed and the future development of clustering in the era of big data is highlighted. The purpose of this review is to make a comprehensive survey that helps readers learn various clustering algorithms and choose the appropriate methods to use, especially in vehicles.
Nitrite sensor using activated biochar synthesised by microwave-assisted pyrolysis
Authors: Allende Scarlett , Liu Yang , Zafar Muhammad Adeel , Jacob Mohan V.
Published: January 2023

Developing applications for the by-products obtained from waste processing is vital for resource recovery. The synthesis of ZnCl2-activated biochar with high electrocatalytic activity was carried out by the microwave-assisted pyrolysis of pineapple peel and subsequent chemical activation process. Activated biochar is employed in the electrochemical sensing of nitrite by drop casting in a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The activated biochar exhibited a stacked carbon sheet, 254 m2 g−1 Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area, 0.076 cm3 g−1 pore volume, 189.53 m2 g−1 micropore area and oxygen-containing functional groups. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the modified GCE showed a reduced charge transfer resistance of  61%. This is crucial to determine the electrochemical properties of biochar. The sensor showed a significant current response and an excellent limit of detection of 0.97 µmol L−1. The modified-activated biochar electrochemical sensor demonstrated high selectivity, reproducibility (RSD=2.4%), and stability (RSD=2.6%).

Graphical abstract
The Modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty: Fulfilled or Broken Promises?
Authors: Verbeek Bart-Jaap
Published: January 2023

On 24 June 2022, the Contracting Parties of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) finalized discussions on the modernization of the treaty. After fifteen rounds of negotiations, an agreement in principle was reached to be adopted by the Energy Charter Conference on 22 November 2022 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.1 The ECT, adopted in 1994, establishes a legal framework that aims to promote international cooperation in the energy sector.2 It has a membership of 53 countries primarily from Europe and Central Asia, as well as the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community. In recent years, the ECT attracted widespread public attention due to its impact on states’ environmental and climate policies. Particularly, the treaty’s provisions on investment protection, with investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) at the centre, allow foreign investors in the energy sector to challenge adverse state action before international arbitration and claim compensation for measures affecting their business activities. Fossil fuel investors have increasingly used the ECT to challenge environmental and climate measures, such as phasing out coal-fired power generation, banning offshore oil drilling in coastal areas, and prohibiting gas fracking projects. Such cases have fuelled concerns regarding the abilities of governments to roll-out large-scale climate action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that international investment agreements (IIAs) like the ECT could ‘be used by fossil-fuel companies to block national legislation aimed at phasing out the use of their assets’.3 With some of these damage claims running into billions of euros, the ECT enables fossil fuel investors to offload the costs and risks associated with their affected assets onto society at large in the face of necessary climate action. This would go, in the words of the editorial board of the Financial Times, against the ‘heart of the capitalist social contract’ and the ‘ability of markets to deal adequately with the challenge of climate change’.4
On the mechanics of droplet surface crater during impact on immiscible viscous liquid pool
Authors: Roy Durbar , M Sophia , Basu Saptarshi
Published: January 2023

We study drop impacts on an immiscible viscous liquid pool and investigate the formation of droplet surface craters using experimental and theoretical analyses. We attribute the formation of air craters to the rapid deceleration of the droplet due to viscous drag force. The droplet response to the external impulsive decelerating force induces oscillatory modes on the surface exposed to the air forming capillary waves that superimpose to form air craters of various shapes and sizes. We introduce a non-dimensional parameter (${\varGamma }$), that is, the ratio of the drag force to the capillary force acting on the droplet. We show that${\varGamma }$is directly proportional to the capillary number. We show that droplets forming air craters of significant depths have${\varGamma }>1$. Further, we demonstrate that Legendre polynomials can locally approximate the central air crater jet profile. We also decipher that the air crater response time scale ($T$) varies as the square root of impact Weber number ($T\sim We^{1/2}$). Further, we generalize the local droplet response with a global response model for low impact energies based on an eigenvalue problem. We represent the penetrating drop as a constrained Rayleigh drop problem with a dynamic contact line. The air–water interface dynamics is analysed using an inviscid droplet deformation model for small deformation amplitudes. The local and global droplet response theories conform with each other and depict that the deformation profiles could be represented as a linear superposition of eigenmodes in Legendre polynomial basis. We unearth that the droplet response in an immiscible impact system differs from the miscible impact systems due to the presence of such a dynamic contact line.
Acroagonines: Ugo Cerletti’s audacious attempt to place the neurophysiological effects of electroconvulsive therapy in vials
Authors: Sirgiovanni Elisabetta
Published: January 2023

In the years 1947–57, following a turbulent retirement, Ugo Cerletti, the father of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (1938), invested his energies in a new audacious project conceived as an extension of his ECT research. Forced to leave the direction of the Sapienza University Clinic, he got funds from the National Research Council of Italy to carry out his experimental activities, and founded a ‘Center for the study of the physiopathology of Electro-shock’ in Rome. The Center was aimed at studying liquid substances extracted from electro-shocked animals’ brains that Cerletti named acroagonine and injected into human patients. Inspired by coeval literature, Cerletti believed that electroshock efficacy was due to stimulating some homeostatic processes in the brain, specifically in the meso-diencephalic area (i.e. involving neuroendocrine response in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis). Cerletti’s team wished not only to find these effects, but also to reproduce them. With this hypothesis, that proved ineffective, Cerletti anticipated intuitions on the neuroendocrine effects of ECT and the necessity for the development of psychopharmacology. In this article, I cross-combined previously unexplored archival materials stored at Sapienza University of Rome (‘ES Section’) with established bibliographic and archival sources.
Cardiovascular and renal profiles in rat offspring that do not undergo catch-up growth after exposure to maternal protein restriction
Authors: Wood-Bradley Ryan J. , Henry Sarah L. , Evans Roger G. , Bertram John F. , Cullen-McEwen Luise A. , Armitage James A.
Published: January 2023

Maternal protein restriction is often associated with structural and functional sequelae in offspring, particularly affecting growth and renal-cardiovascular function. However, there is little understanding as to whether hypertension and kidney disease occur because of a primary nephron deficit or whether controlling postnatal growth can result in normal renal-cardiovascular phenotypes. To investigate this, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a low-protein (LP, 8.4% protein) or normal-protein (NP, 19.4% protein) diet prior to mating and until offspring were weaned at postnatal day (PN) 21. Offspring were then fed a non ‘growth’ (4.6% fat) which ensured that catch-up growth did not occur. Offspring growth was determined by weight and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Nephron number was determined at PN21 using the disector-fractionator method. Kidney function was measured at PN180 and PN360 using clearance methods. Blood pressure was measured at PN360 using radio-telemetry. Body weight was similar at PN1, but by PN21 LP offspring were 39% smaller than controls (Pdiet < 0.001). This difference was due to proportional changes in lean muscle, fat, and bone content. LP offspring remained smaller than NP offspring until PN360. In LP offspring, nephron number was 26% less in males and 17% less in females, than NP controls (Pdiet < 0.0004). Kidney function was similar across dietary groups and sexes at PN180 and PN360. Blood pressure was similar in LP and NP offspring at PN360. These findings suggest that remaining on a slow growth trajectory after exposure to a suboptimal intrauterine environment does not lead to the development of kidney dysfunction and hypertension.
The Development and Demonstration of the Portable Acousto‐Optic Spectrometer for Astrobiology in Cave Environments
Authors: Chanover N. J. , Uckert K. , Voelz D. G. , Boston P.
Published: January 2023

Planetary caves are desirable environments for the search for biosignatures corresponding to extant or extinct extraterrestrial life due to the protection they offer from surface‐level solar radiation and ionizing particles. Near‐infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy is one of a multitude of techniques that, when taken together, can provide a comprehensive understanding of the geomicrobiology in planetary subsurface regions. To that end, we developed two portable NIR spectrometers that employ acousto‐optic tunable filters and demonstrated them in three geochemically distinct cave environments. The instruments were deployed both as stand‐alone spectrometers positioned against the targets manually and as a component of an instrument payload mounted on a quadruped robot capable of vertical excursions of several meters. In situ measurements of calcium carbonates, sulfates, metal oxides, and microbial colonies and mats revealed spectral signatures that enable a distinction between the targets of interest and the underlying substrates. The ruggedness and portability of the instruments, and their low size, weight, and power, spectral agility, and active illumination make AOTF‐based spectrometers ideally suited for studies of planetary caves.
Evaluation of Consistency Among MODIS Land Surface Temperature Products for Monitoring Surface Warming Trend Over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yang Mengjiao , Zhao Wei , Cai Junfei , Yang Yujia , Fu Hao
Published: January 2023

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua daily land surface temperature (LST) products are important data sets for global warming monitoring. To reveal the consistency and differences between MODIS Terra and Aqua daily LST products for monitoring LST trends, this study used these two products to extract the mean annual surface temperature (MAST) of the Tibetan Plateau from 2003 to 2020. Then, nine MAST combinations were constructed for daytime, nighttime, and daily average conditions separately with Terra and Aqua MAST series, including Terra only, Aqua only, and the integrated one. Finally, the Mann‐Kendall trend test was applied to these series and obtained the spatiotemporal variability. The results indicated that there was high spatial consistency of the multi‐year averaged MAST of different combinations at daytime/nighttime/daily average scales. Meanwhile, there are quite similar temporal trends in terms of spatial distribution and change rate. The MAST changes are dominated by warming trends, and the areas and change rates of the significant changing pixels at different elevations, vegetation cover ranges, and land cover types presented similar distribution patterns. Although there are some discrepancies in the detailed location for pixels with significant trends among different combinations, the proportion of the pixels with the same trends of daytime/nighttime/daily‐average groups is as high as 68.88%, 66.75%, and 71.76%, respectively. These findings reveal that different MODIS LST products have similar performance in monitoring LST trends, indicating that the detection can well reflect the variation of surface thermal environment regardless of which MODIS LST product is used.
Quantitative Impact of Organic Matter and Soil Moisture on Permafrost
Authors: Du Ran , Peng Xiaoqing , Frauenfeld Oliver W. , Jin Haodong , Wang Kun , Zhao Yaohua , Luo Dongliang , Mu Cuicui
Published: January 2023

Climate warming causes permafrost degradation that not only leads to the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, but also to soil moisture increases due to ground ice melt. These processes are particularly prevalent in peat‐rich and ice‐rich permafrost regions. Peat is important because of its high organic matter content and soil moisture. Although previous work has focused on the importance of two factors, their precise quantitative impact on permafrost is still not clear. Here we apply the Geophysical Institute Permafrost Laboratory model and sensitivity experiments to quantify the role of organic matter and soil moisture on permafrost, with a case study focused on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. We verify that organic matter and soil moisture has a cooling effect in the warm season and an insulating effect in the cold season. The average thawing onset was delayed 10 days at 0.05–1.4 m depths, when organic matter content increases from 0% to 90%. Freezing onset occurs slightly earlier. Furthermore, active layer thickness (ALT) decreased by 0.40 m. Soil moisture has similar effect on permafrost as organic matter, but ALT changes have a higher magnitude, decreasing by 0.46 m. The results show that both organic matter and soil moisture have an insulating effect on permafrost. Further, the magnitude of impact is larger as organic matter or soil moisture increase. These results can be helpful in assessing permafrost carbon mitigation with climate change.
Correlates of immunity to Group A Streptococcus: a pathway to vaccine development
Authors: Frost Hannah , Excler Jean-Louis , Sriskandan Shiranee , Fulurija Alma
Published: January 2023

Understanding immunity in humans to Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) is critical for the development of successful vaccines to prevent the morbidity and mortality attributed to Strep A infections. Despite decades of effort, no licensed vaccine against Strep A exists and immune correlates of protection are lacking; a major impediment to vaccine development. In the absence of a vaccine, we can take cues from the development of natural immunity to Strep A in humans to identify immune correlates of protection. The age stratification of incidence of acute Strep A infections, peaking in young children and waning in early adulthood, coincides with the development of specific immune responses. Therefore, understanding the immune mechanisms involved in natural protection from acute Strep A infection is critical to identifying immune correlates to inform vaccine development. This perspective summarises the findings from natural infection studies, existing assays of immunity to Strep A, and highlights the gaps in knowledge to guide the development of Strep A vaccines and associated correlates of protection.
Predicting cascading extinctions and efficient restoration strategies in plant–pollinator networks via generalized positive feedback loops
Authors: Fatemi Nasrollahi Fatemeh Sadat , Campbell Colin , Albert Réka
Published: January 2023

The extinction of a species in a plant–pollinator mutualistic community can cause cascading effects and lead to major biodiversity loss. The ecologically important task of predicting the severity of the cascading effects is made challenging by the complex network of interactions among the species. In this work, we analyze an ensemble of models of communities of plant and pollinator species. These models describe the mutualistic inter-species interactions by Boolean threshold functions. We show that identifying generalized positive feedback loops can help pinpoint the species whose extinction leads to catastrophic and substantial damage to the whole community. We compare these results with the damage percentage caused by the loss of species identified as important by previously studied structural measures and show that positive feedback loops and the information gained from them can identify certain crucial species that the other measures fail to find. We also suggest mitigation measures for two specific purposes: (1) prevent the damage to the community by protecting a subset of the species, and (2) restore the community after the damage by restoring a subset of species. Our analyses indicate that the generalized positive feedback loops predict the most efficient strategies to achieve these purposes. The correct identification of species in each category has important implications for conservation efforts and developing community management strategies.
Metallic lead (Pb) nanospheres discovered in Hadean and Eoarchean zircon crystals at Jack Hills
Authors: Kusiak Monika A. , Wirth Richard , Wilde Simon A. , Pidgeon Robert T.
Published: January 2023

Here, we report small randomly-distributed crystalline lead (Pb) nanospheres occurring in detrital zircon grains obtained from a weakly metamorphosed Archean conglomerate at Jack Hills, Western Australia, making this the third known global example of this phenomenon. They form in zircon crystals ranging from Hadean (> 4 billion years—Ga) to Eoarchean (> 3.6 Ga) in age, but are absent from Paleoarchean (~ 3.4 Ga) crystals. Unlike previous discoveries of nanospheres in zircon from Precambrian gneisses in Antarctica and India, detrital zircon from Jack Hills shows no evidence of ever undergoing ultra-high temperature (UHT) metamorphism, either before or after deposition, therefore implying that nanospheres can form at temperatures lower than ca. 900 °C. The nanospheres are composed of radiogenic Pb released by the breakdown of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) and are present in zircon irrespective of its U, Th and water contents, its oxygen isotopic composition, and the degree of discordance due to Pb loss or gain. The nanospheres pre-date annealed cracks in the crystals, showing that, once formed, they effectively ‘freeze’ radiogenic Pb in the zircon structure, precluding any further interaction during subsequent geological processes. Both Pb nanoclusters and nanospheres are now reported from Jack Hills, and it appears likely the former is a precursor stage in the formation of the latter. Although the precise mechanism for this transition remains unresolved, a later thermal event is required, but this likely did not reach UHT conditions at Jack Hills.
Respiratory rhythm affects recalibration of body ownership
Authors: Kosuge Miku , Honma Motoyasu , Masaoka Yuri , Kosuge Shota , Nakayama Momoka , Kamijo Shotaro , Shikama Yusuke , Izumizaki Masahiko
Published: January 2023

Change in body perception requires recalibration of various sensory inputs. However, it is less known how information other than sensations relates to the recalibration of body perception. Here, we focused on the relationship between respiration and cognition and investigated whether respiratory rhythms are related to the recalibration of hand perception. We built a visual feedback environment, in which a mannequin hand moved in conjunction with its own respiratory rhythm, and participants performed an experiment under conditions in congruency/incongruency for spatial and temporal factors. The temporal and spatial congruency between own respiratory rhythm and the mannequin hand markedly facilitated the phenomenon of hand ownership sense transfer to the mannequin hand, while incongruency had little effect on the change in hand ownership. The finding suggests that an internal model in the brain allows respiratory rhythms to be involved in the adaptation of the body’s neural representations.
Tumor-specific intracellular delivery: peptide-guided transport of a catalytic toxin
Authors: Allred Curtis A. , Gormley Claire , Venugopal Indu , Li Shunzi , McGuire Michael J. , Brown Kathlynn C.
Published: January 2023

There continues to be a need for cancer-specific ligands that can deliver a wide variety of therapeutic cargos. Ligands demonstrating both tumor-specificity and the ability to mediate efficient cellular uptake of a therapeutic are critical to expand targeted therapies. We previously reported the selection of a peptide from a peptide library using a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line as the target. Here we optimize our lead peptide by a series of chemical modifications including truncations, N-terminal capping, and changes in valency. The resultant 10 amino acid peptide has an affinity of <40 nM on four different NSCLC cell lines as a monomer and is stable in human serum for >48 h. The peptide rapidly internalizes upon cell binding and traffics to the lysosome. The peptide homes to a tumor in an animal model and is retained up to 72 h. Importantly, we demonstrate that the peptide can deliver the cytotoxic protein saporin specifically to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, resulting in an effective anticancer agent.
Arabidopsis LSH10 transcription factor and OTLD1 histone deubiquitinase interact and transcriptionally regulate the same target genes
Authors: Vo Phan Mi Sa , Keren Ido , Tran Phu Tri , Lapidot Moshe , Citovsky Vitaly
Published: January 2023

Histone ubiquitylation/deubiquitylation plays a major role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In plants, OTLD1, a member of the ovarian tumor (OTU) deubiquitinase family, deubiquitylates histone 2B and represses the expression of genes involved in growth, cell expansion, and hormone signaling. OTLD1 lacks the intrinsic ability to bind DNA. How OTLD1, as well as most other known plant histone deubiquitinases, recognizes its target genes remains unknown. Here, we show that Arabidopsis transcription factor LSH10, a member of the ALOG protein family, interacts with OTLD1 in living plant cells. Loss-of-function LSH10 mutations relieve the OTLD1-promoted transcriptional repression of the target genes, resulting in their elevated expression, whereas recovery of the LSH10 function results in down-regulated transcription of the same genes. We show that LSH10 associates with the target gene chromatin as well as with DNA sequences in the promoter regions of the target genes. Furthermore, without LSH10, the degree of H2B monoubiquitylation in the target promoter chromatin increases. Hence, our data suggest that OTLD1-LSH10 acts as a co-repressor complex potentially representing a general mechanism for the specific function of plant histone deubiquitinases at their target chromatin.
Multivalent effect of peptide functionalized polymeric nanoparticles towards selective prostate cancer targeting
Authors: Murar Madhura , Pujals Silvia , Albertazzi Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Multivalent nanoparticles facilitate simultaneous interaction of weak surface ligands with multiple target receptors resulting in higher avidity and enhanced cell selectivity.
Photoredox-catalyzed sequential Dowd–Beckwith ring expansion and C–H functionalization of THIQs
Authors: Xin Hong , Guo Li-Na , Yang Mingyu , Guan Cheng , Yuan Zi-Hang , Duan Xin-Hua
Published: January 2023

An efficient tandem Dowd–Beckwith ring expansion/C–H functionalization of tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) is disclosed upon photocatalysis, which provided a unique thought to connect important medium-sized cycloalkanones with THIQs skeletons together.
Aluminum methylamidoborane complexes: mechanochemical synthesis, structure, stability, and reactive hydride composites
Authors: Zhang Ting , Steenhaut Timothy , Li Xiao , Devred François , Devillers Michel , Filinchuk Yaroslav
Published: January 2023

Na[Al(CH3NHBH3)4] and an intermediate Na[AlH(CH3NHBH3)3] were synthesized by ball milling. Na[Al(CH3NHBH3)4] + 12NaH/6NaNH2 released pure hydrogen at moderate temperatures, making this and similar systems interesting candidates for H-storage.
La courbure de capteurs d’image : une amélioration astronomique ?
Authors: Hugot Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Étudiée pour la première fois par la NASA au début des années 2000, l’idée de pouvoir modifier la forme des composants semi-conducteurs afin qu’ils épousent la surface focale d’un système optique a intéressé nombre d’acteurs mondiaux – Sony, Apple, Microsoft, Teledyne E2V pour ne citer que les plus importants – mais aussi français avec le CEA-LETI et le CNRS qui depuis plus de 10 ans ont permis des avancées grâce à la réalisation de prototypes de démonstration divers, jusqu’à l’utilisation récente de ces composants d’un nouveau genre pour l’instrumentation scientifique de pointe. Alors courber des capteurs d’image, oui, mais pourquoi ?
Knowledge and Perceptions of Speech-Language Pathology Students Participating in a Feeding Training Program: A Pilot Study
Authors: Viccaro Sitler Elizabeth , Springer Carolyn
Published: January 2023

This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of speech-language pathology students working with older adults before and after their participation in a feeding training program. A secondary objective evaluated the feeding training program in terms of improving students' knowledge and skills. A repeated measures design was used to assess changes in perceptions and knowledge over time of students participating in a feeding training program assisting older adults at a skilled nursing facility. Twenty-four students in the communication sciences and disorders department from a university were recruited. Data were collected on the perceptions of working with older adults, knowledge of feeding and swallowing, and the evaluation of the program. Participants reported feeling less fearful of assisting older adults with feeding issues and appeared to acquire a higher level of knowledge in certain areas post-training. Analysis of the evaluation forms revealed that students were positive about their experience. The findings provide additional support that perceptions become more favorable following early exposure to older adults through participation in service-learning experiences. This study supplements the literature about the knowledge and perceptions of speech-language pathology students working with older adults. This information may be used to improve the quality of care for older adults in various settings.
Small area variations in four measures of poverty among Indian households: Econometric analysis of National Family Health Survey 2019–2021
Authors: Jain Anoop , Rajpal Sunil , Rana Md Juel , Kim Rockli , Subramanian S. V.
Published: January 2023

India has seen enormous reductions in poverty in the past few decades. However, much of this progress has been unequal throughout the country. This paper examined the 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey to examine small area variations in four measures of household poverty. Overall, the results show that clusters and states were the largest sources of variation for the four measures of poverty. These findings also show persistent within-district inequality when examining the bottom 10th wealth percentile, bottom 20th wealth percentile, and multidimensional poverty. Thus, these findings pinpoint the precise districts where between-cluster inequality in poverty is most prevalent. This can help guide policy makers in terms of targeting policies aimed at reducing poverty.
Korean imperatives at two different speech levels
Authors: Kim Mary Shin
Published: January 2023

Korean imperatives are differentiated by speech levels or levels of honorification. Accordingly, most research on
Korean imperatives examines them from the perspective of politeness and interpersonal relations. This study takes a different
approach, focusing on two types of non-honorific imperative turn design: one with the intimate speech level imperative
e/a and the other with the plain speech level imperative ela/ala. Close examination of the
forms in naturally occurring conversation provides a clearer picture of when and how the use of these imperatives is warranted by
specific interactional configurations and contexts in everyday Korean talk-in-interaction. This study shows that alternate
imperatives do not simply index politeness or social status, but are important resources for implementing separate action formats
that pursue divergent interactional trajectories.
Breaking the limits of purification: postselection enhances heat-bath algorithmic cooling
Authors: Goldberg Aaron Z , Heshami Khabat
Published: January 2023

Quantum technologies require pure states, which are often generated by extreme refrigeration. Heat-bath algorithmic cooling is the theoretically optimal refrigeration technique: it shuttles entropy from a multiparticle system to a thermal bath, thereby generating a quantum state with a high degree of purity. Here, we show how to surpass this hitherto-optimal technique by taking advantage of a single binary-outcome measurement. Our protocols can create arbitrary numbers of pure quantum states without any residual mixedness by using a recently discovered device known as a quantum switch to put two operations in superposition, with postselection certifying the complete purification.
The electronic structure of genome editors from the first principles
Authors: Nierzwicki Łukasz , Ahsan Mohd , Palermo Giulia
Published: January 2023

Ab-initio molecular dynamics enables following the dynamics of biological systems from the first principles, describing the electronic structure and offering the opportunity to “watch” the evolution of biochemical processes with unique resolution, beyond the capabilities of state-of-the-art experimental techniques. This article reports the role of first-principles (ab-initio) molecular dynamics (MD) in the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing revolution, achieving a profound understanding of the enzymatic function and offering valuable insights for enzyme engineering. We introduce the methodologies and explain the use of ab-initio MD simulations to establish the two-metal dependent mechanism of DNA cleavage in the RuvC domain of the Cas9 enzyme, and how a second catalytic domain, HNH, cleaves the target DNA with the aid of a single metal ion. A detailed description of how ab-initio MD is combined with free-energy methods—i.e., thermodynamic integration and metadynamics—to break and form chemical bonds is given, explaining the use of these methods to determine the chemical landscape and establish the catalytic mechanism in CRISPR-Cas9. The critical role of classical methods is also discussed, explaining theory and application of constant pH MD simulations, used to accurately predict the catalytic residues’ protonation states. Overall, first-principles methods are shown to unravel the electronic structure and reveal the catalytic mechanism of the Cas9 enzyme, providing valuable insights that can serve for the design of genome editing tools with improved catalytic efficiency or controllable activity.
Vulnerability of California roadways to post-wildfire debris flows
Authors: Li Rui , Chester Mikhail V
Published: January 2023

Post-wildfire debris flows represent a significant hazard for transportation infrastructure. The location and intensity of post-fire debris movements are difficult to predict, and threats can persist for several years until the watershed is restored to pre-fire conditions. This situation might worsen as climate change forecasts predict increasing numbers of wildfire burned areas and extreme precipitation intensity. New insights are needed to improve understanding of how roadways are vulnerable to post-fire flows and how to prioritize protective efforts. Using California as a case study, the vulnerability of transportation infrastructure to post-fire debris flow was assessed considering geologic conditions, vegetation conditions, precipitation, fire risk, and roadway importance under current and future climate scenarios. The results showed significant but uneven statewide increases in the number of vulnerable roadways from the present to future emission scenarios. Under current climate conditions, 0.97% of roadways are highly vulnerable. In the future, the ratio of vulnerable roadways is expected to increase 1.9–2.3 times in the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 emission scenarios, and 3.5–4.2 times in the RCP 8.5 emission scenarios. The threat of post-fire debris flow varies across the state, as precipitation changes are uneven. The vulnerability assessment is positioned to (a) identify, reinforce, and fortify highly vulnerable roadways, (b) prioritize watershed fire mitigation, and (c) guide future infrastructure site selection.
Isolated subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator generator displacement causing inappropriate shocks despite preserved lead tip and coil position: a case report
Authors: Chow Ji-Jian , Bilham James , Lane Rebecca
Published: January 2023

Background

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) are increasingly used in patients without a pacing indication, and may reduce venous complications, endocarditis and extraction morbidity. Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator displacements may be less obvious than their transvenous counterparts.

Case summary

A 59-year-old man was found to have dilated cardiomyopathy associated with heavy alcohol intake following investigation for a stroke. Despite 2 years of alcohol cessation and optimal drug therapy, his ejection fraction remained severely impaired, and he received an S-ICD using the manufacturer recommended screening and implant method, and by an experienced operator. Ten months later, inappropriate shocks were delivered despite optimal programming. Device displacement was demonstrated by lateral chest radiography on the second instance of inappropriate therapy. On the first admission, a lateral film was not performed, and simple device programming was undertaken which failed to prevent the second occurrence. The patient requested an explant; as ventricular function had improved following initiation of sacubutril/valsartan, the clinical team opted to remove the device.

Discussion

Careful inspection of lateral chest films and review of device indication are needed to reduce the risk of inappropriate shocks. This is the first description of inappropriate device activity following lone generator displacement—lead displacement is well described.
Case report: human granulocytic anaplasmosis causes acute myopericarditis with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Levy Alexander M , Martin Lila M , Krakower Douglas S , Grandin E Wilson
Published: January 2023

Background

Tick-borne illness are becoming increasingly common, in a spreading geographic area. Lyme disease is a well-known cause of cardiovascular disease, but anaplasmosis has previously had relatively little reported association with conduction and myocardial disease.

Case Summary

A 65-year-old man with fever and malaise was admitted to the intensive care unit in shock. Electrocardiogram showed new atrial fibrillation and conduction abnormalities. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated normal left ventricular ejection fraction but significant right ventricle dysfunction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings were consistent with myopericarditis. Workup revealed human granulocytic anaplasmosis without Lyme. He recovered with doxycycline.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is one of the first reported cases of anaplasmosis causing electrical conduction and myocardial disease with haemodynamic instability in an isolated infection. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics and supportive care allowed the patient to recover to his functional baseline within a month from being discharged from the hospital. Recognition of anaplasmosis in the absence of Lyme disease as a potential cause of electrical and myocardial disease is important in the context of increasing anaplasmosis incidence across the United States.