bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing flow-based and anatomy-based features in the data-driven study of nasal pathologies
Authors: Schillaci Andrea , Hasegawa Kazuto , Pipolo Carlotta , Boracchi Giacomo , Quadrio Maurizio
Published: April 2024

In several problems involving fluid flows, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides detailed quantitative information and allows the designer to successfully optimize the system by minimizing a cost function. Sometimes, however, one cannot improve the system with CFD alone, because a suitable cost function is not readily available; one notable example is diagnosis in medicine. The application considered here belongs to the field of rhinology; a correct air flow is key for the functioning of the human nose, yet the notion of a functionally normal nose is not available and a cost function cannot be written. An alternative and attractive pathway to diagnosis and surgery planning is offered by data-driven methods. In this work, we consider the machine learning study of nasal impairment caused by anatomic malformations, with the aim of understanding whether fluid dynamic features, available after a CFD analysis, are more effective than purely geometric features at the training of a neural network for regression. Our experiments are carried out on an extremely simplified anatomic model and a correspondingly simple CFD approach; nevertheless, they show that flow-based features perform better than geometry-based ones and allow the training of a neural network with fewer inputs, a crucial advantage in fields like medicine.
Recurrence and transience of a Markov chain on
$\mathbb Z$
+ and evaluation of prior distributions for a Poisson mean
Authors: Hobert James P. , Khare Kshitij
Published: April 2024

Eaton (1992) considered a general parametric statistical model paired with an improper prior distribution for the parameter and proved that if a certain Markov chain, constructed using the model and the prior, is recurrent, then the improper prior is strongly admissible, which (roughly speaking) means that the generalized Bayes estimators derived from the corresponding posterior distribution are admissible. Hobert and Robert (1999) proved that Eaton’s Markov chain is recurrent if and only if its so-called conjugate Markov chain is recurrent. The focus of this paper is a family of Markov chains that contains all of the conjugate chains that arise in the context of a Poisson model paired with an arbitrary improper prior for the mean parameter. Sufficient conditions for recurrence and transience are developed and these are used to establish new results concerning the strong admissibility of non-conjugate improper priors for the Poisson mean.
The latent cognitive structures of social networks
Authors: Aguiar Izabel , Ugander Johan
Published: April 2024

When people are asked to recall their social networks, theoretical and empirical work tells us that they rely on shortcuts, or heuristics. Cognitive social structures (CSSs) are multilayer social networks where each layer corresponds to an individual’s perception of the network. With multiple perceptions of the same network, CSSs contain rich information about how these heuristics manifest, motivating the question, Can we identify people who share the same heuristics? In this work, we propose a method for identifying cognitive structure across multiple network perceptions, analogous to how community detection aims to identify social structure in a network. To simultaneously model the joint latent social and cognitive structure, we study CSSs as three-dimensional tensors, employing low-rank nonnegative Tucker decompositions (NNTuck) to approximate the CSS—a procedure closely related to estimating a multilayer stochastic block model (SBM) from such data. We propose the resulting latent cognitive space as an operationalization of the sociological theory of social cognition by identifying individuals who share relational schema. In addition to modeling cognitively independent, dependent, and redundant networks, we propose a specific model instance and related statistical test for testing when there is social-cognitive agreement in a network: when the social and cognitive structures are equivalent. We use our approach to analyze four different CSSs and give insights into the latent cognitive structures of those networks.
Bifurcation of the travelling wave solutions in a perturbed (1 + 1)-dimensional dispersive long wave equation via a geometric approach
Authors: Zheng Hang , Xia Yonghui
Published: April 2024

Choosing

${\kappa }$

(horizontal ordinate of the saddle point associated to the homoclinic orbit) as bifurcation parameter, bifurcations of the travelling wave solutions is studied in a perturbed

$(1 + 1)$

-dimensional dispersive long wave equation. The solitary wave solution exists at a suitable wave speed

$c$

for the bifurcation parameter

${\kappa }\in \left (0,1-\frac {\sqrt 3}{3}\right )\cup \left (1+\frac {\sqrt 3}{3},2\right )$

, while the kink and anti-kink wave solutions exist at a unique wave speed

$c^*=\sqrt {15}/3$

for

$\kappa =0$

or

$\kappa =2$

. The methods are based on the geometric singular perturbation (GSP, for short) approach, Melnikov method and invariant manifolds theory. Interestingly, not only the explicit analytical expression of the complicated homoclinic Melnikov integral is directly obtained for the perturbed long wave equation, but also the explicit analytical expression of the limit wave speed is directly given. Numerical simulations are utilized to verify our mathematical results.
Technology diplomacy in early Communist China: the visit to the Jingjiang Flood Diversion Project in 1952
Authors: Liang Yue
Published: April 2024

This article focuses on the 1952 visit to the Jingjiang Flood Diversion Project, the first large-scale water infrastructure built on the Yangzi river after the founding of the People's Republic of China, by a foreign delegation from the Asia-Pacific Peace Conference. Serving as a form of technology diplomacy, this trip advanced two main purposes for the newly established country – to build up closer ties with ‘foreign friends’ who advocated international peace in the context of the Korean War, and to demonstrate China's own technical capabilities and achievements as part of the national campaign of ‘peaceful construction’ of the early 1950s. I argue that vernacular technologies, which were grounded in indigenous knowledge and practices for water control in the mid-Yangzi region, were essential in shaping China's self-reliant modernization and China's public diplomacy, which targeted individuals without scientific or technical backgrounds.
Cropland can support high bird diversity in heterogeneous rural tropical landscapes
Authors: Davis Sheena , Guerreiro Milheiras Sergio , Olivier Pieter L. , Barnes Lauren , Shirima Deo , Kioko Esther , Sallu Susannah M. , Ishengoma Evodius , Marshall Andrew R. , Pfeifer Marion
Published: April 2024

Land-use change for crop production is one of the key drivers of habitat loss and fragmentation and consequently biodiversity loss and change in tropical regions. This may impact biodiversity-regulated ecosystem services; birds are important to crop health regulating services (e.g. seed dispersal, pest control) and disservices (e.g. seed predation, grain herbivory). However, knowledge is limited on how birds use heterogeneous agricultural landscapes and the consequences for spatial distribution and flow of services and disservices. We studied crop and non-crop–habitat associations of birds in forest–agricultural landscapes of the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. We focused on dietary preference as a key trait impacting bird responses to land-use change, services, and disservices to crops. We surveyed birds across four main habitat types using repeated point counts, recording a total of 148 species. We found that crop habitats supported higher species richness and larger communities of potentially beneficial species to crop health, whereby 34.5% of invertebrate-feeding species were recorded in cropland. We found that habitat heterogeneity within the landscape supports bird functional diversity and that each habitat type supported unique communities of species. Furthermore, the number of species unique to forest habitats increased with increasing forest canopy closure. Our findings suggest that management strategies for maintaining trees and shrubs, and enhancing tree cover within the crop production landscape, can be effective approaches for maintaining bird diversity and services. However, in-depth studies on trade-offs with disservices need further exploration to mitigate negative impacts of birds on crop yields.
Population decline of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis in continental Spain, a main western Palearctic stronghold
Authors: Mougeot François , Fernández-Tizón Mario , Tarjuelo Rocío , Benítez-López Ana , Jiménez José
Published: April 2024

Many European farmland bird populations are rapidly declining because of agricultural intensification and land-use changes. Robust estimates of population sizes and trends, habitat use, and protected area coverage within the distribution range are crucial to inform the conservation and management of threatened species. Here we report on the results of the 2019 Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis (BBS) survey promoted and coordinated by SEO/BirdLife to update its breeding distribution, population size, and trends in continental Spain. A total of 660 grid cells, 10 × 10 km, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), were surveyed (81% of the distribution area), with 2,257 visits to 1,750 walked transects (7,001 km in total; 10.6 km per UTM). BBS was detected in 43% of sampled UTMs. At transect level, occupancy was 11% higher inside protected areas. At UTM level, occupancy was estimated at 0.58 (Bayesian credible interval [BCI] 95%: 0.55–0.61), revealing that BBS occupied about half of its previous breeding range (2003–2005). Using hierarchical distance sampling modelling, we estimated an average density of 1.33 individuals/km2 in occupied areas, and a population of 4,025 individuals (confidence interval: 1,840–7,609) within sampled areas, with an additional 697 individuals (confidence interval 461–1,075) in areas that were not surveyed. Further, the relative abundance of BBS (Kilometric Abundance Index) declined by 63% between 2005 and 2019 (annual decline rate of 4.5%). BBS used agricultural habitats (73%) and unprotected areas (54%) despite a higher occupancy within protected areas. Given the recent decline rate and persistent threats, the BBS conservation status should be upgraded to “Endangered” in peninsular Spain. Its future depends on land-use changes and agricultural practices, in particular the maintenance of fallows, semi-natural habitats, and pastures for extensive grazing. Better protection of important areas and targeted conservation initiatives should be promoted to halt and reverse the population decline in this key western Palearctic stronghold.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCHANGE RATE ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: 1892–1992
Authors: Edwards Sebastian
Published: April 2024

In this paper I analyze the work on exchange rates and external imbalances by University of Chicago faculty members during the university’s first 100 years, 1892 to 1992. Many people associate Chicago’s views with Milton Friedman’s advocacy for flexible exchange rates. But, of course, there was much more than that, including the work of J. Laurence Laughlin on bimetallism, Jacob Viner on the balance of payments, Lloyd Metzler on transfers, Harry Johnson on trade and currencies, Lloyd Mints on exchange rate regimes, Robert Mundell on optimal currency areas, and Arnold Harberger on shadow exchange rates, among others. The analysis shows that, although different scholars emphasized different issues, there was a common thread in this research, anchored on the role of relative prices’ changes during the adjustment process.
In Fairness to Nottebohm: Nationality in an Age of Globalization
Authors: OLMEDO Javier García
Published: April 2024

The Nottebohm judgment from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently come under attack in the context of the European Commission's position on “golden passports” programmes. The judgment has long received intense criticism from a consensus of scholars. This article challenges the conventional wisdom of Nottebohm. The ICJ did not, as critics argue, depart from international law on nationality, nor did it seek to create an international rule based on a “genuine link” requirement. A closer look at the majority's reasoning reveals that the ICJ's conception of nationality as something more than a mere formal classification was prompted by problems that can arise precisely from the phenomenon of globalization, including the instrumentalization of nationality. It further shows that the “substance-over-form” approach adopted by Nottebohm may, or already does, operate in more contemporary contexts.
Leveraging capacity for transformative sustainability science: a theory of change from the Future Earth Pathways Initiative
Authors: Marciniak Gilles , Urbach Davnah , Schneider Flurina , Krug Cornelia , de Bremond Ariane , Stafford-Smith Mark , Selomane Odirilwe , Fenn Rebecca , Chong Natalie , Paillard Sandrine
Published: April 2024

Non-technical summary

To address increasingly pressing social–environmental challenges, the transformative strand of sustainability science seeks to move beyond a descriptive-analytical stance in order to explore and contribute to the implementation of radical alternatives to dominant and unsustainable paradigms, norms, and values. However, in many cases, academia is not currently structured to support and reward inter-/trans-disciplinary and transformative endeavors. This paper introduces a theory of change for the Future Earth Pathways Initiative, and similar initiatives, to help leverage the capacity of sustainability scientists to engage in transformative research.

Technical summary

The increasing body of descriptive-analytical knowledge produced by sustainability science over the last two decades has largely failed to trigger the transformation of policies, norms, and behaviors it was aiming to inform. The emergent transformative strand of sustainability science is a proactive alternative approach seeking to play an active role in processes of societal change by developing knowledge about options, solutions, and pathways, and by participating in their implementation. In principle, scientists can enhance their contribution to more sustainable futures by engaging in transformative research. However, a lack of skills and competencies, relatively unmatured transformative methods and concepts, and an institutional landscape still geared toward disciplinary and descriptive-analytical research, still hinders the sustainability science community from engaging more widely in transformative research. In this paper, the Future Earth Pathways Initiative introduces a theory of change (ToC) for increasing the capacity of sustainability scientists to engage in this type of research. This ToC ultimately aims to build a growing community of practitioners engaged in transformative research, to advance concepts, methods, and paradigms to foster ‘fit-for-purpose transformative research’, and to shape institutions to nurture transformative research-friendly contexts.

Social media summary

What would a theory of change for leveraging the transformative capacity of sustainability science look like?
Temporal Evolution of O+ Population in the Near‐Earth Plasma Sheet During Geomagnetic Storms as Observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
Authors: Regoli L. H. , Gkioulidou M. , Ohtani S. , Raptis S. , Mouikis C. G. , Kistler L. M. , Cohen I. J. , Fuselier S. A.
Published: April 2024

During geomagnetic storms, the increase in energy input into the ionosphere in the form of Poynting flux and electron precipitation leads to an enhanced ionospheric outflow that results in an increase of the O+ content in the magnetosphere. Using different missions and instrumentation, two main ionospheric sources have been identified for the oxygen ions reaching the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms: the dayside cusp, and the night side auroral region. Evidence of both pathways have been presented in the literature. However, the relative contribution of each of these pathways to the enhancement of O+ observed in near‐Earth plasma sheet, as well as the dynamics involved during the development of geomagnetic storms remains an open question. Here, we present the first statistical study to date to address this question, in the form of a superposed epoch analysis of O+ and H+ moments obtained by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission throughout the main phase of 90 geomagnetic storms with a minimum SYM‐H of at least −50 nT. The results show a clear increase in the oxygen density in the near‐Earth plasma sheet, with values further from Earth remaining low. Temperature values for both species show an increase with the progress of the storms. These results combined suggest that, during the main phase of geomagnetic storms, most of the oxygen ions observed in the near‐Earth plasma sheet are traveling directly from the nightside auroral region.
Preserving Tracer Correlations in Moment‐Based Atmospheric Transport Models
Authors: McGraw Robert , Yang Fan , Fierce Laura M.
Published: April 2024

A linear non‐diffusive algorithm for advective transport is developed that greatly improves the detail at which aerosols and clouds can be represented in atmospheric models. Linear advection schemes preserve tracer correlations but the most basic linear scheme is rarely used by atmospheric modelers on account of its excessive numerical diffusion. Higher‐order schemes are in widespread use, but these present new problems as nonlinear adjustments are required to avoid occurrences of negative concentrations, spurious oscillations, and other non‐physical effects. Generally successful at reducing numerical diffusion during the advection of individual tracers, for example, particle number or mass, the higher‐order schemes fail to preserve even the simplest of correlations between interrelated tracers. As a result, important attributes of aerosol and cloud populations including radial moments of particle size distributions, molecular precursors related through chemical equilibria, aerosol mixing state, and distribution of cloud phase are poorly represented. We introduce a new transport scheme, minVAR, that is both non‐diffusive and preservative of tracer correlations, thereby combining the best features of the basic and higher‐order schemes while enabling new features such as the tracking of sub‐grid information at arbitrarily fine scales with high computational efficiency.
Perennial and Non‐Perennial Streamflow Regime Shifts Across California, USA
Authors: Ayers Jessica R. , Yarnell Sarah M. , Baruch Ethan , Lusardi Robert A. , Grantham Theodore E.
Published: April 2024

Despite rises in drought frequency and human water demands, streamflow regime shifts from perennial to non‐perennial have not been evaluated in many arid/semi‐arid regions. To document shifts, we created a methodology that classifies streams as naturally perennial or non‐perennial. Our classification used historical, minimally disturbed‐quality USGS streamflow gages (1950–2015) across California. The number of consecutive zero flow days (≥5 days) was used to classify 61% (96/158) and 39% (62/158) of gages as perennial and non‐perennial, respectively. We developed a random forest model to predict flow regime class based on climate and watershed characteristics. To identify regime shifts, we compared the observed class of contemporary (1980–2023) minimally disturbed and disturbed gages with their modeled, natural class. For most minimally disturbed gages, the observed and natural predicted classes were the same, but 13% (7/52) of gages had a modeled perennial regime with an observed non‐perennial class, indicating a drying trend. Among disturbed gages, 22% (64/290) shifted from perennial to non‐perennial and 7% (21/290) from non‐perennial to perennial. Trends in the minimum 7‐day moving average and number of zero‐flow days provided further evidence of drying at minimally disturbed streams, but no pattern at disturbed gages. Our results indicate that few minimally disturbed perennial streams have become non‐perennial to date, but many streams have experienced drying from climate. Streams impacted by human activities had greater drying rates, but regulation has caused some non‐perennial streams to become perennial. By quantifying expected natural streamflow regimes, this work can help monitor, manage, and conserve stream ecosystems.
Climate Change Threatens 70% of Winemaking Regions
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: April 2024

In regions where natural resources are scarce or economies depend on producing certain wines, adapting and diversifying grape crops is easier said than done.
The Impact of Grain‐Size Distributions of Iron‐Oxides on Paleomagnetic Measurements
Authors: Out Frenk , de Boer Rosa A. , Walmsley John , de Groot Lennart V.
Published: April 2024

Magnetic signals in igneous rocks arise from assemblages of iron‐oxide bearing minerals that differ in for example, size, shape, and chemistry. Paleomagnetic measurements on bulk samples measure millions of such grains simultaneously, producing a statistical ensemble of the magnetic moments of the individual grains. Scanning magnetometry techniques such as the Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) measure magnetic signals on micrometer scales, allowing the identification of magnetic moments of individual grains in a sample using for example, Micromagnetic Tomography (MMT). Here we produce a grain‐size distribution of iron‐oxides in a typical Hawaiian basalt from the superparamagnetic threshold (∼40 nm) to grains with a diameter of 10 µm. This grain‐size distribution is obtained by combining FIB‐SEM and MicroCT data from sister specimens, and normalizing them to the mineral surface area of non‐magnetic minerals. Then we use this grain‐size distribution to determine the contributions of individual magnetic carriers to bulk magnetic measurements and surface magnetometry. We found that measurements on bulk samples are sensitive to relatively small grain sizes in the realm of single domain or vortex states (<200 nm), while signals in surface magnetometry arise mainly from larger grains with diameters >1 µm. This implies that bulk measurements cannot be compared straightforwardly to signals from surface magnetometry from the same sample. Moreover, our observations explain why MMT results are insensitive to the presence of many small grains in a sample that intuitively should hamper their outcome.
Loss of TRIM29 mitigates viral myocarditis by attenuating PERK-driven ER stress response in male mice
Authors: Wang Junying , Lu Wenting , Zhang Jerry , Du Yong , Fang Mingli , Zhang Ao , Sungcad Gabriel , Chon Samantha , Xing Junji
Published: April 2024

Viral myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, is a significant cause of sudden death in children and young adults. The current coronavirus disease 19 pandemic emphasizes the need to understand the pathogenesis mechanisms and potential treatment strategies for viral myocarditis. Here, we found that TRIM29 was highly induced by cardiotropic viruses and promoted protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) responses that promote viral replication in cardiomyocytes in vitro. TRIM29 deficiency protected mice from viral myocarditis by promoting cardiac antiviral functions and reducing PERK-mediated inflammation and immunosuppressive monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (mMDSC) in vivo. Mechanistically, TRIM29 interacted with PERK to promote SUMOylation of PERK to maintain its stability, thereby promoting PERK-mediated signaling pathways. Finally, we demonstrated that the PERK inhibitor GSK2656157 mitigated viral myocarditis by disrupting the TRIM29-PERK connection, thereby bolstering cardiac function, enhancing cardiac antiviral responses, and curbing inflammation and immunosuppressive mMDSC in vivo. Our findings offer insight into how cardiotropic viruses exploit TRIM29-regulated PERK signaling pathways to instigate viral myocarditis, suggesting that targeting the TRIM29-PERK axis could mitigate disease severity.
Comparative quantum-classical dynamics of natural and synthetic molecular rotors show how vibrational synchronization modulates the photoisomerization quantum efficiency
Authors: Blanco-Gonzalez Alejandro , Manathunga Madushanka , Yang Xuchun , Olivucci Massimo
Published: April 2024

We use quantum-classical trajectories to investigate the origin of the different photoisomerization quantum efficiency observed in the dim-light visual pigment Rhodopsin and in the light-driven biomimetic molecular rotor para-methoxy N-methyl indanylidene-pyrrolinium (MeO-NAIP) in methanol. Our results reveal that effective light-energy conversion requires, in general, an auxiliary molecular vibration (called promoter) that does not correspond to the rotary motion but synchronizes with it at specific times. They also reveal that Nature has designed Rhodopsin to exploit two mechanisms working in a vibrationally coherent regime. The first uses a wag promoter to ensure that ca. 75% of the absorbed photons lead to unidirectional rotations. The second mechanism ensures that the same process is fast enough to avoid directional randomization. It is found that MeO-NAIP in methanol is incapable of exploiting the above mechanisms resulting into a 50% quantum efficiency loss. However, when the solvent is removed, MeO-NAIP rotation is predicted to synchronize with a ring-inversion promoter leading to a 30% increase in quantum efficiency and, therefore, biomimetic behavior.
Consummating ion desolvation in hard carbon anodes for reversible sodium storage
Authors: Lu Ziyang , Yang Huijun , Guo Yong , Lin Hongxin , Shan Peizhao , Wu Shichao , He Ping , Yang Yong , Yang Quan-Hong , Zhou Haoshen
Published: April 2024

Hard carbons are emerging as the most viable anodes to support the commercialization of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries due to their competitive performance. However, the hard carbon anode suffers from low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), and the ambiguous Na-ion (Na+) storage mechanism and interfacial chemistry fail to give a reasonable interpretation. Here, we have identified the time-dependent ion pre-desolvation on the nanopore of hard carbons, which significantly affects the Na+ storage efficiency by altering the solvation structure of electrolytes. Consummating the pre-desolvation by extending the aging time, generates a highly aggregated electrolyte configuration inside the nanopore, resulting in negligible reductive decomposition of electrolytes. When applying the above insights, the hard carbon anodes achieve a high average ICE of 98.21% in the absence of any Na supplementation techniques. Therefore, the negative-to-positive capacity ratio can be reduced to 1.02 for full cells, which enables an improved energy density. The insight into hard carbons and related interphases may be extended to other battery systems and support the continued development of battery technology.
Cross-species spill-over potential of the H9N2 bat influenza A virus
Authors: El-Shesheny Rabeh , Franks John , Kandeil Ahmed , Badra Rebecca , Turner Jasmine , Seiler Patrick , Marathe Bindumadhav M. , Jeevan Trushar , Kercher Lisa , Hu Meng , Sim Yul Eum , Hui Kenrie P. Y. , Chan Michael C. W. , Thompson Andrew J. , McKenzie Pamela , Govorkova Elena A. , Russell Charles J. , Vogel Peter , Paulson James C. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Webster Robert G. , Ali Mohamed A. , Kayali Ghazi , Webby Richard J.
Published: April 2024

In 2017, a novel influenza A virus (IAV) was isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat. In contrast to other bat influenza viruses, the virus was related to avian A(H9N2) viruses and was probably the result of a bird-to-bat transmission event. To determine the cross-species spill-over potential, we biologically characterize features of A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017(H9N2). The virus has a pH inactivation profile and neuraminidase activity similar to those of human-adapted IAVs. Despite the virus having an avian virus–like preference for α2,3 sialic acid receptors, it is unable to replicate in male mallard ducks; however, it readily infects ex-vivo human respiratory cell cultures and replicates in the lungs of female mice. A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017 replicates in the upper respiratory tract of experimentally-infected male ferrets featuring direct-contact and airborne transmission. These data suggest that the bat A(H9N2) virus has features associated with increased risk to humans without a shift to a preference for α2,6 sialic acid receptors.
Memory-electroluminescence for multiple action-potentials combination in bio-inspired afferent nerves
Authors: Wang Kun , Liao Yitao , Li Wenhao , Li Junlong , Su Hao , Chen Rong , Park Jae Hyeon , Zhang Yongai , Zhou Xiongtu , Wu Chaoxing , Liu Zhiqiang , Guo Tailiang , Kim Tae Whan
Published: April 2024

The development of optoelectronics mimicking the functions of the biological nervous system is important to artificial intelligence. This work demonstrates an optoelectronic, artificial, afferent-nerve strategy based on memory-electroluminescence spikes, which can realize multiple action-potentials combination through a single optical channel. The memory-electroluminescence spikes have diverse morphologies due to their history-dependent characteristics and can be used to encode distributed sensor signals. As the key to successful functioning of the optoelectronic, artificial afferent nerve, a driving mode for light-emitting diodes, namely, the non-carrier injection mode, is proposed, allowing it to drive nanoscale light-emitting diodes to generate a memory-electroluminescence spikes that has multiple sub-peaks. Moreover, multiplexing of the spikes can be obtained by using optical signals with different wavelengths, allowing for a large signal bandwidth, and the multiple action-potentials transmission process in afferent nerves can be demonstrated. Finally, sensor-position recognition with the bio-inspired afferent nerve is developed and shown to have a high recognition accuracy of 98.88%. This work demonstrates a strategy for mimicking biological afferent nerves and offers insights into the construction of artificial perception systems.
Local incomplete combustion emissions define the PM2.5 oxidative potential in Northern India
Authors: Bhattu Deepika , Tripathi Sachchida Nand , Bhowmik Himadri Sekhar , Moschos Vaios , Lee Chuan Ping , Rauber Martin , Salazar Gary , Abbaszade Gülcin , Cui Tianqu , Slowik Jay G. , Vats Pawan , Mishra Suneeti , Lalchandani Vipul , Satish Rangu , Rai Pragati , Casotto Roberto , Tobler Anna , Kumar Varun , Hao Yufang , Qi Lu , Khare Peeyush , Manousakas Manousos Ioannis , Wang Qiyuan , Han Yuemei , Tian Jie , Darfeuil Sophie , Minguillon Mari Cruz , Hueglin Christoph , Conil Sébastien , Rastogi Neeraj , Srivastava Atul Kumar , Ganguly Dilip , Bjelic Sasa , Canonaco Francesco , Schnelle-Kreis Jürgen , Dominutti Pamela A. , Jaffrezo Jean-Luc , Szidat Sönke , Chen Yang , Cao Junji , Baltensperger Urs , Uzu Gaëlle , Daellenbach Kaspar R. , El Haddad Imad , Prévôt André S. H.
Published: April 2024

The oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) is a major driver of PM-associated health effects. In India, the emission sources defining PM-OP, and their local/regional nature, are yet to be established. Here, to address this gap we determine the geographical origin, sources of PM, and its OP at five Indo-Gangetic Plain sites inside and outside Delhi. Our findings reveal that although uniformly high PM concentrations are recorded across the entire region, local emission sources and formation processes dominate PM pollution. Specifically, ammonium chloride, and organic aerosols (OA) from traffic exhaust, residential heating, and oxidation of unsaturated vapors from fossil fuels are the dominant PM sources inside Delhi. Ammonium sulfate and nitrate, and secondary OA from biomass burning vapors, are produced outside Delhi. Nevertheless, PM-OP is overwhelmingly driven by OA from incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels, including traffic. These findings suggest that addressing local inefficient combustion processes can effectively mitigate PM health exposure in northern India.
Sweat permeable and ultrahigh strength 3D PVDF piezoelectric nanoyarn fabric strain sensor
Authors: Fan Wei , Lei Ruixin , Dou Hao , Wu Zheng , Lu Linlin , Wang Shujuan , Liu Xuqing , Chen Weichun , Rezakazemi Mashallah , Aminabhavi Tejraj M. , Li Yi , Ge Shengbo
Published: April 2024

Commercial wearable piezoelectric sensors possess excellent anti-interference stability due to their electronic packaging. However, this packaging renders them barely breathable and compromises human comfort. To address this issue, we develop a PVDF piezoelectric nanoyarns with an ultrahigh strength of 313.3 MPa, weaving them with different yarns to form three-dimensional piezoelectric fabric (3DPF) sensor using the advanced 3D textile technology. The tensile strength (46.0 MPa) of 3DPF exhibits the highest among the reported flexible piezoelectric sensors. The 3DPF features anti-gravity unidirectional liquid transport that allows sweat to move from the inner layer near to the skin to the outer layer in 4 s, resulting in a comfortable and dry environment for the user. It should be noted that sweating does not weaken the piezoelectric properties of 3DPF, but rather enhances. Additionally, the durability and comfortability of 3DPF are similar to those of the commercial cotton T-shirts. This work provides a strategy for developing comfortable flexible wearable electronic devices.
Dynamic corticothalamic modulation of the somatosensory thalamocortical circuit during wakefulness
Authors: Dimwamwa Elaida D. , Pala Aurélie , Chundru Vivek , Wright Nathaniel C. , Stanley Garrett B.
Published: April 2024

The feedback projections from cortical layer 6 (L6CT) to the sensory thalamus have long been implicated in playing a primary role in gating sensory signaling but remain poorly understood. To causally elucidate the full range of effects of these projections, we targeted silicon probe recordings to the whisker thalamocortical circuit of awake mice selectively expressing Channelrhodopsin-2 in L6CT neurons. Through optogenetic manipulation of L6CT neurons, multi-site electrophysiological recordings, and modeling of L6CT circuitry, we establish L6CT neurons as dynamic modulators of ongoing spiking in the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPm), either suppressing or enhancing VPm spiking depending on L6CT neurons’ firing rate and synchrony. Differential effects across the cortical excitatory and inhibitory sub-populations point to an overall influence of L6CT feedback on cortical excitability that could have profound implications for regulating sensory signaling across a range of ethologically relevant conditions.
Seismic evidence for melt-rich lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath young slab at Cascadia
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Ling , Wang Kelin , Chen Qi-Fu , Zhan Zhongwen , Yang Jianfeng
Published: April 2024

The Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary (LAB) beneath oceanic plates is generally imaged as a sharp seismic velocity reduction, suggesting the presence of partial melts. However, the fate of a melt-rich LAB is unclear after these plates descend into the mantle at subduction zones. Recent geophysical studies suggest its persistence with down-going old and cold slabs, but whether or not it is commonly present remains unclear, especially for young and warm slabs such as in the Cascadia subduction zone. Here we provide evidence for its presence at Cascadia in the form of a large (9.8$$\pm$$
±
1.5$$\%$$
%
) decrease in shear-wave velocity over a very small (<3 km) depth interval. Similarly large and sharp seismic velocity reduction at the bottom of both old and young slabs, as well as along the base of oceanic plates before subduction, possibly represents widespread presence of melts. The melt-rich sub-slab LAB may strongly influence subduction dynamics and viscoelastic earthquake cycles.
Household alternating current electricity plug-and-play quantum-dot light-emitting diodes
Authors: Wang Jiming , Yuan Cuixia , Chen Shuming
Published: April 2024

As an intrinsically direct current device, quantum-dot LED cannot be directly driven by household alternating current electricity. Thus, a driver circuit is required, which increases the complexity and cost. Here, by using a transparent and conductive indium-zinc-oxide as an intermediate electrode, we develop a tandem quantum-dot LED that can be operated at both negative and positive alternating current cycles with an external quantum efficiency of 20.09% and 21.15%, respectively. Furthermore, by connecting multiple tandem devices in series, the panel can be directly driven by household alternating current electricity without the need for complicated back-end circuits. Under 220 V/50 Hz driving, the red plug-and-play panel demonstrates a power efficiency of 15.70 lm W−1 and a tunable brightness of up to 25,834 cd m−2. The developed plug-and-play quantum-dot LED panel could enable the production of cost-effective, compact, efficient, and stable solid-state light sources that can be directly powered by household alternating current electricity.
A dynamic nomogram for predict individual risk of malignant brain edema after endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Wang Huiyuan , Xu Chenghua , Xiao Yu , Shen Panpan , Guo Shunyuan , Shang Yafei , Chen Xinyi , Xu Jie , Li Chunrong , Tan Mingming , Zhang Sheng , Geng Yu
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to develop a dynamic nomogram combining clinical and imaging data to predict malignant brain edema (MBE) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS). We analyzed the data of LVOS patients receiving EVT at our center from October 2018 to February 2023, and divided a 7:3 ratio into the training cohort and internal validation cohort, and we also prospectively collected patients from another stroke center for external validation. MBE was defined as a midline shift or pineal gland shift > 5 mm, as determined by computed tomography (CT) scans obtained within 7 days after EVT. A nomogram was constructed using logistic regression analysis, and its receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration were assessed in three cohorts. A total of 432 patients were enrolled in this study, with 247 in the training cohort, 100 in the internal validation cohort, and 85 in the external validation cohort. MBE occurred in 24% (59) in the training cohort, 16% (16) in the internal validation cohort and 14% (12) in the external validation cohort. After adjusting for various confounding factors, we constructed a nomogram including the clot burden score (CBS), baseline neutrophil count, core infarct volume on CTP before EVT, collateral index, and the number of retrieval attempts. The AUCs of the training cohorts were 0.891 (95% CI 0.840–0.942), the Hosmer–Lemeshow test showed good calibration of the nomogram (P = 0.879). And our nomogram performed well in both internal and external validation data. Our nomogram demonstrates promising potential in identifying patients at elevated risk of MBE following EVT for LVOS.
Influence of low-cost Thai leucoxene minerals on the growth, bioactive compounds, and antibacterial activities of Chrysanthemum indium L. cuttings in in vitro culture
Authors: Pavasupree Sorapong , Chanchula Nattapong , Nunya Narittaya , Kashima Sirinya , Nakorn Pariya Na , Thongaram Esther , Shindo Yayoi , Bootchanont Atipong , Wattanawikkam Chakkaphan , Noonuruk Russameeruk , Srilopan Kamonporn , Porjai Porramain
Published: April 2024

The effects of low-cost Thai leucoxene mineral (LM) at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/L) on the growth and antibacterial properties of Chrysanthemum indium L. cuttings under in vitro were evaluated. The primary chemical composition of LM was approximately 86% titanium dioxide (TiO2), as determined by dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The crystalline structure, shape, and size were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. LM at 40 and 50 mg/L significantly increased plant height, leaf number, node number, and fresh and dry weight. These growth-promoting properties were accompanied by improved chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced malondialdehyde levels. Additionally, LM treatment at 40 and 50 mg/L had positive effects on antibacterial activity, as indicated by the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. The high levels of phenolic compounds in the plants contributed to the MIC and MBC values. In conclusion, these findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of LM in enhancing the growth of Chrysanthemum plants in in vitro culture and improving their antibacterial abilities.
Achieving water-floatable photocatalyst on recycled bamboo chopsticks
Authors: Guan Sujun , Wang Lijun , Hao Liang , Yoshida Hiroyuki , Itoi Takaomi , Lu Yun , Terashima Chiaki , Fujishima Akira
Published: April 2024

Disposable bamboo chopsticks (DBCs) are difficult to recycle, which inevitably cause secondary pollution. Based on energy and environmental issues, we propose a facile strategy to fabricate floatable photocatalyst (fPC) coated onto DBCs, which can be flexibly used in water purification. The photocatalyst of titania and titanium carbide on bamboo (TiO2/TiC@b) was successfully constructed from TiC-Ti powders and DBCs using a coating technique followed heat treatment in carbon powder, and the fPC exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradation. The analysis results indicate that rutile TiO2 forms on TiC during heat treatment, achieving a low-density material with an average value of approximately 0.5233 g/cm3. The coatings of TiO2/TiC on the bamboo are firm and uniform, with a particle size of about 20–50 nm. XPS results show that a large amount of oxygen vacancies is generated, due to the reaction atmosphere of more carbon and less oxygen, further favoring to narrowing the band gap of TiO2. Furthermore, TiO2 formed on residual TiC would induce the formation of a heterojunction, which effectively inhibits the photogenerated electron–hole recombination via the charge transfer effect. Notably, the degradation of dye Rhodamine B (Rh.B) is 62.4% within 3 h, while a previous adsorption of 36.0% for 1 h. The excellent photocatalytic performance of TiO2/TiC@b can be attributed to the enhanced reaction at the water/air interface due to the reduced light loss in water, improved visible-light response, increased accessible area and charge transfer effect. Our findings show that the proposed strategy achieves a simple, low-cost, and mass-producible method to fabricate fPC onto the used DBCs, which is expected to applied in multiple fields, especially in waste recycling and water treatment.
The IPCC’s reductive Common Era temperature history
Authors: Esper Jan , Smerdon Jason E. , Anchukaitis Kevin J. , Allen Kathryn , Cook Edward R. , D’Arrigo Rosanne , Guillet Sébastien , Ljungqvist Fredrik C. , Reinig Frederick , Schneider Lea , Sigl Michael , Stoffel Markus , Trnka Mirek , Wilson Rob , Büntgen Ulf
Published: April 2024

Common Era temperature variability has been a prominent component in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports over the last several decades and was twice featured in their Summary for Policymakers. A single reconstruction of mean Northern Hemisphere temperature variability was first highlighted in the 2001 Summary for Policymakers, despite other estimates that existed at the time. Subsequent reports assessed many large-scale temperature reconstructions, but the entirety of Common Era temperature history in the most recent Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was restricted to a single estimate of mean annual global temperatures. We argue that this focus on a single reconstruction is an insufficient summary of our understanding of temperature variability over the Common Era. We provide a complementary perspective by offering an alternative assessment of the state of our understanding in high-resolution paleoclimatology for the Common Era and call for future reports to present a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of our knowledge about this important period of human and climate history.
Perspectives of soil nanoremediation: the case of nano zerovalent iron and metal(loid) contaminants
Authors: Komárek Michael
Published: April 2024

The use of nano zero-valent iron in environmental remediation has gained much attention in the last two decades. While these engineered nanoparticles have been successfully used in groundwater remediation, their potential in soil remediation remains limited, mainly due to the associated higher costs and comparable efficiency when compared to conventional iron-based materials, e.g., iron grit. Additionally, there is still a limited number of studies describing their efficiency under field conditions, possible toxicological issues, including toxicity to humans, LCA of the technology, and its economic viability in general. This perspective article aims to describe the mechanisms behind this technology and critically review the potentials and drawbacks of nZVI use in the remediation of soil contaminated with metals and metalloids as its potential for its widespread use in soil remediation is probably still limited.
Structural basis of Zika virus NS1 multimerization and human antibody recognition
Authors: Chew Bing Liang Alvin , Ngoh An Qi , Phoo Wint Wint , Weng Mei Jie Grace , Sheng Ho Jun , Chan Kitti Wing Ki , Tan Eddie Yong Jun , Gelbart Terri , Xu Chenrui , Tan Gene S. , Vasudevan Subhash G. , Luo Dahai
Published: April 2024

Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to theFlavivirusgenus of theFlaviviridaefamily along with the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV1–4). The recent global outbreaks of contemporary ZIKV strains demonstrated that infection can lead to neurological sequelae in adults and severe abnormalities in newborns that were previously unreported with ancestral strains. As such, there remains an unmet need for efficacious vaccines and antiviral agents against ZIKV. The non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted from the infected cell and is thought to be associated with disease severity besides its proven usefulness for differential diagnoses. However, its physiologically relevant structure and pathogenesis mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we present high-resolution cryoEM structures of ZIKV recombinant secreted NS1 (rsNS1) and its complexes with three human monoclonal antibodies (AA12, EB9, GB5), as well as evidence for ZIKV infection-derived secreted NS1 (isNS1) binding to High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). We show that ZIKV rsNS1 forms tetramers and filamentous repeats of tetramers. We also observed that antibody binding did not disrupt the ZIKV NS1 tetramers as they bound to the wing and connector subdomain of the β-ladder. Our study reveals new insights into NS1 multimerization, highlights the need to distinguish the polymorphic nature of rsNS1 and isNS1, and expands the mechanistic basis of the protection conferred by antibodies targeting NS1.
Optimization of water chestnut (Trapa bispinosa) starch, fructo-oligosaccharide and inulin concentrations for low-fat flavoured yogurt consisting of a probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain
Authors: Borah Sangita , Kakoty Tridisha , Borah Pallab Kumar , Mahnot Nikhil Kumar , Seth Dibyakanta , Patra Falguni , Duary Raj Kumar
Published: April 2024

A low-fat flavoured probiotic yogurt consisting of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, mango pulp and water chestnut starch as a fat replacer together with prebiotics was formulated with better shelf life (15 days), technological and sensory properties.