bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium silicate ameliorates zinc deficiency and toxicity symptoms in barley plants through improvements in nitrogen metabolism and photosynthesis
Authors: Paradisone Valeria , Navarro-León Eloy , Ruiz Juan M. , Esposito Sergio , Blasco Begoña
Published: November 2021

Zinc (Zn) deficiency causes serious issues to plant growth and development, negatively affecting crops in many world regions. On the other hand, Zn toxicity impairs plant growth, producing physiological alterations, and even cell death. In plants, two of the processes that most determine growth are nitrogen (N) metabolism and photosynthesis. In the last decades, several authors proved that silicon (Si) and calcium (Ca) mitigate the effects of various abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. The objective of this research is to study the effect of Si application to barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Nure) plants grown under Zn deficiency and Zn toxicity. Hence, barley plants were grown in hydroponics and supplied with a low Zn dose (0.01 µM ZnSO4) and a high Zn dose (100 µM ZnSO4) and were supplied with CaSiO3. Parameters related to Zn accumulation, N metabolism, and photosynthesis were measured. Zn stress affected leaf Zn concentration and reduced biomass in barley plants. Both Zn toxicity and deficiency inhibited N metabolism and enhanced photorespiration, increasing stress symptoms. CaSiO3 mitigated Zn stress effects, probably regulating Zn levels in plant cells and enhancing N metabolism and photosynthesis. We conclude that CaSiO3 could be beneficial to grow barley plants in soils with high or low availability of Zn.
Combination Therapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma: the Best Choice for Every Patient?
Authors: Rossi Ernesto , Bersanelli Melissa , Gelibter Alain Jonathan , Borsellino Nicolò , Caserta Claudia , Doni Laura , Maruzzo Marco , Mosca Alessandra , Pisano Carmela , Verzoni Elena , Zucali Paolo Andrea
Published: November 2021

Purpose of Review

Therapeutic alternatives to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are increasing, and combination therapies, including antiangiogenic agents and tyrosine kinase/mTOR/immune checkpoint inhibitors, are identified as the gold standard driven by the results of recent clinical studies. Nevertheless, the real-world RCC population is very heterogeneous, with categories of patients not represented in the enrolled trial population who may not benefit more from these treatments. The purpose of this expert review is to assess the rationale on which tyrosine kinase alone may still be a viable first-line treatment option for some subgroups of patients with mRCC.

Recent Findings

The first-line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor monotherapy can still be considered an effective tool for addressing selected mRCCs, as highlighted by the successful outcome in a range of subjects such as favorable-risk patients, the ones suffering from autoimmune diseases, those with pancreatic or lung metastases, or previously undergoing organ transplantation and elderly subjects.

Some selected categories of patients may still benefit from monotherapy with TKI, and smart sequential therapies can also be considered instead of a combination strategy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors can also act as immune modulator agents, boosting the immune response to facilitate and potentiate the therapeutic effectiveness of subsequent immunotherapy.
Development of the hungarian version of the short dark triad questionnaire (SD3-HU): psychometric properties and validity
Authors: Szabó Zsolt Péter , Czibor Andrea , Neve Judith , Restás Péter , Hadarics Márton , Szijjártó Linda , Simon Evelin , Marót Janka Laura , Kun Ágota , Bereczkei Tamás
Published: November 2021

The present studies were aimed at developing the Hungarian version of the Short Dark Triad questionnaire (SD3-HU). The internal structure of the translated questionnaire was examined with confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling. Then the construct and concurrent validity of the Hungarian version was tested. The obtained results were based on a total of seven independent samples (NTOTAL = 2161). While the internal structure of the SD3-HU showed inconsistencies with that of the original SD3, it proved consistent with adaptations developed in other languages. The SD3-HU showed adequate construct and concurrent validity. In line with the conceptual framework of, and previous empirical findings on the Dark Triad, each dark trait showed the expected associations with broad personality dimensions, sensation seeking, character strengths, work motivation, and counterproductive work behaviors. Furthermore, self-ratings on the SD3-HU were consistent with peer ratings. In sum, the SD3-HU is a reliable and valid measure of the dark traits.
Diagenesis and reservoir space types of alkaline lake-type shale in Fengcheng Formation of Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, China
Authors: Zhifeng Yang , Yong Tang , Xuguang Guo , Liliang Huang , Qiusheng Chang
Published: November 2021

Using observations and descriptions of drilling cores, image logging, microscopic section, argon ion polishing field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and whole-rock trace element analysis, the study of shale reservoir diagenesis and space types in the Fengcheng Formation of the Mahu Sag was conducted. Considering the trace element contents and their ratios (Sr/Ba, V/Ni, Th/U, V/(V + Ni), U/Mo, and Sr/Cu), the Fengcheng Formation is formed in a dry and hot continental lacustrine basin with a paleoenvironment of saltwater and anoxic/lean oxygen conditions. The shale reservoirs of the Fengcheng Formation with the characteristic of multisource mixed sedimentation include terrigenous clastic, volcaniclastics, and carbonate rocks. Currently, the Fengcheng reservoir of the Mahu Sag is in the middle of diagenetic-stage B. The principal factors for reservoir densification are compaction, dissolution, carbonate mineral cementation, and clay mineral cementation. The Fengcheng Formation develops multiple reservoir storage space types, such as rock fractures, stylolites, and micro–nanoscale pore-throat systems. The macroreservoir space types include tectonic, induced, bedding, and dissolution–expansion fracture types. The microreservoir space types include microfractures, stylolites, and micro–nanoscale pore throats. The research showed that the Fengcheng Formation has tectonic fracture-pore systems (tectonic fracture-type reservoirs) and stylolite-matrix pore-tectonic microfracture systems (shale oil reservoirs), forming the shale oil preponderant charging channel network. Reservoir space type and its spatial distribution are the principal factors for shale oil accumulation of the Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Sag.
Mineralogical and geochemical changes in conglomerate reservoir rocks induced by CO2 influx at Mihályi-Répcelak natural analogue, NW-Hungary
Authors: Forray Viktória , Király Csilla , Demény Attila , Cseresznyés Dóra , Szabó Csaba , Falus György
Published: November 2021

A temporary solution to massive anthropogenic CO2 emissions can be the capture of industrial CO2 from flue gas and sequestering it in geological formations. For safe and effective storage of CO2, interaction processes in the rock-pore fluid–CO2 system should be known. Investigation of natural CO2 accumulations provides valuable examples to what physical and chemical effects could be expected during CO2 influx at future CO2 storage sites. One of the key controlling factors of the processes occurring in natural CO2 reservoirs is the lithology of the storage rocks, which is primarily determined by the formation conditions of these rocks. In this respect, the lithologies of individual CO2 accumulation areas influence the processes between the host rock, the pore fluid, and the CO2 in different ways. In the current study, we focus on a well-studied natural CO2 storage reservoir, namely the Mihályi-Répcelak area, NW Hungary. We provide insight into the so far unstudied conglomerate reservoirs that represent a stratigraphically deeper reservoir unit with significantly different lithology and pore water compositions compared to the sandstone reservoirs. Our results indicate that dawsonite /NaAlCO3(OH)2/ formation also affected the conglomerate reservoirs, which indicates that at least part of the CO2 could be trapped in mineral form. An important role of salinity in reducing the CO2 mineral trapping capacity of the storage system is also demonstrated. Furthermore, H isotope analysis of diagenetic kaolinite was applied to trace the origin of the pore water that was present during the rock formation. Based on the data, dawsonite formation was induced by the flux of meteoric water that infiltrated during a warm and humid period and mixed with ascending CO2.
Hydraulic engineering analysis of Roman water infrastructure: a review of practice and possibilities
Authors: Crapper Martin , Motta Davide , Keenan-Jones Duncan , Monteleone Maria
Published: November 2021

A short review is presented covering English-language publications where quantitative engineering analysis has been used to study and gain insight into how ancient Roman and Mediterranean water systems functioned. The review covers work on using technical engineering perspectives to try and understand the geometrical layout of water systems, quantitative work of a type readily accomplished by undergraduate civil engineering students, such as calculating the flow capacity of aqueducts and other conduits of known dimensions, and more involved studies using computational techniques usually applied by specialist engineers in research or industry. It is concluded that the many different levels of analyses employed have given insight into how Roman water systems worked, for example the amount of water they delivered, and the kinds of issues their designers and operators might have faced. It is hoped that this review will inspire further interdisciplinary study in Archaeohydrology, using modern engineering techniques to amplify and extend the story of Roman water systems told by archaeologists.
Multifunctional lipidic nanocarriers for effective therapy of glioblastoma: recent advances in stimuli-responsive, receptor and subcellular targeted approaches
Authors: Hegde Manasa Manjunath , Prabhu Suma , Mutalik Srinivas , Chatterjee Abhishek , Goda Jayant S. , Satish Rao B. S.
Published: November 2021

Background

Glioblastoma, or glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), remains a fatal cancer type despite the remarkable progress in understanding the genesis and propagation of the tumor. Current treatment modalities, comprising mainly of surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiation, are insufficient for improving patients' survival owing to existing hurdles, including the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In contemporary practice, the prospect of long-term survival or cure continues to be a challenge for patients suffering from GBM. This review provides an insight into the drug delivery strategies and the significant efforts made in lipid-based nanoplatform research to circumvent the challenges in optimal drug delivery in GBM.

Area covered

Owing to the unique properties of lipid-based nanoplatforms and advancements in clinical translation, this article describes the application of various stimuli-responsive lipid nanocarriers and tumor subcellular organelle-targeted therapy to give an idea about the strategies that can be applied to enhance site-specific drug delivery for GBM. Furthermore, active targeting of drugs via surface-modified lipid-based nanostructures and recent findings in alternative therapeutic platforms such as gene therapy, immunotherapy, and multimodal therapy have also been overviewed.

Expert opinion

Lipid-based nanoparticles stand out among the other nanocarriers explored for GBM drug delivery, as they support both passive and active drug targeting by crossing/bypassing the BBB at the same time minimizing toxicity and projects better pharmacological parameters. Although these nanocarriers could be a plausible choice for treating GBM, in-depth research is essential to advance neuro-oncology research and enhance outcomes in patients with brain tumors.
Novel P2-type layered medium-entropy ceramics oxide as cathode material for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Yan Shengxue , Luo Shaohua , Yang Liu , Feng Jian , Li Pengwei , Wang Qing , Zhang Yahui , Liu Xin
Published: November 2021

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) and medium-entropy oxides (MEOs) are new types of single-phase solid solution materials. MEOs have rarely been reported as positive electrode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In this study, we first proposed the concept of the application of MEOs in SIBs. P2-type 3-cation oxide Na2/3Ni1/3Mn1/3Fe1/3O2 (NaNMF) and 4-cation oxide Na2/3Ni1/3Mn1/3Fe1/3−xAlxO2 (NaNMFA) were prepared using the solid-state method, rather than the doping technology. In addition, the importance of the concept of entropy stabilization in material performance and battery cycling was demonstrated by testing 3-cation (NaNMF) and 4-cation (NaNMFA) oxides in the same system. Thus, NaNMFA can provide a reversible capacity of about 125.6 mAh·g−1 in the voltage range of 2–4.2 V, and has enhanced cycle stability. The capacity and decay law of the MEO batteries indicate that the configurational entropy (1.28 R (NaNMFA) > 1.10 R (NaNMF)) of the cationic system, is the main factor affecting the structural and cycle stability of the electrode material. This work emphasizes that the rational design of MEOs with novel structures and different electrochemically active elements may be the strategy for exploring high-performance SIB cathode materials in next-generation energy storage devices.
AdjMix: simplifying and attending graph convolutional networks
Authors: Liu Xun , Lei Fangyuan , Xia Guoqing , Zhang Yikuan , Wei Wenguo
Published: November 2021

Simple graph convolution (SGC) achieves competitive classification accuracy to graph convolutional networks (GCNs) in various tasks while being computationally more efficient and fitting fewer parameters. However, the width of SGC is narrow due to the over-smoothing of SGC with higher power, which limits the learning ability of graph representations. Here, we propose AdjMix, a simple and attentional graph convolutional model, that is scalable to wider structure and captures more nodes features information, by simultaneously mixing the adjacency matrices of different powers. We point out that the key factor of over-smoothing is the mismatched weights of adjacency matrices, and design AdjMix to address the over-smoothing of SGC and GCNs by adjusting the weights to matching values. Experiments on citation networks including Pubmed, Citeseer, and Cora show that our AdjMix improves over SGC by 2.4%, 2.2%, and 3.2%, respectively, while achieving same performance in terms of parameters and complexity, and obtains better performance in terms of classification accuracy, parameters, and complexity, compared to other baselines.
Modeling Judgment in Macroeconomic Forecasts
Authors: Franses Philip Hans
Published: November 2021

Many macroeconomic forecasts are the outcome of a judgmental adjustment to a forecast from an econometric model. The size, direction, and motivation of the adjustment are often unknown as usually only the final forecast is available. This is problematic in case an analyst wishes to learn from forecast errors, which could lead to improving the model, the judgment or both. This paper therefore proposes a formal method to include judgment, which makes the combined forecast reproducible. As an illustration, a forecast from a benchmark simple time series model is only modified when the value of a factor, estimated from a multitude of variables, exceeds a user-specified threshold. Simulations and empirical results for forecasting annual real GDP growth in 52 African countries provide an illustration.
Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering
Authors: Chandrupatla Tirupathi , Belegundu Ashok
Published: November 2021

Thoroughly updated with improved pedagogy, the fifth edition of this classic textbook continues to provide students with a clear and comprehensive introduction the fundamentals of the finite element method. New features include coverage of core topics – including mechanics and heat conduction, energy and Galerkin approaches, convergence and adaptivity, time-dependent problems, and computer implementation – in the context of simple 1D problems, before advancing to 2D and 3D problems; expanded coverage of reduction of bandwidth, profile and fill-in for sparse solutions, time-dependent problems, plate bending, and nonlinearity; over thirty additional solved problems; and downloadable Matlab, Python, C, Javascript, Fortran and Excel VBA code providing students with hands-on experience. Accompanied by online solutions for instructors, this is the definitive text for senior undergraduate and graduate students studying a first course in the finite element method, and for professional engineers keen to shore up their understanding of finite element fundamentals.
Absolute instability in shock-containing jets
Authors: Nogueira Petrônio A.S. , Jordan Peter , Jaunet Vincent , Cavalieri André V.G. , Towne Aaron , Edgington-Mitchell Daniel
Published: November 2021

We present an analysis of the linear stability characteristics of shock-containing jets. The flow is linearised around a spatially periodic mean, which acts as a surrogate for a mean flow with a shock-cell structure, leading to a set of partial differential equations with periodic coefficients in space. Disturbances are written using the Floquet ansatz and Fourier modes in the streamwise direction, leading to an eigenvalue problem for the Floquet exponent. The characteristics of the solution are directly compared with the locally parallel case, and some of the features are similar. The inclusion of periodicity induces minor changes in the growth rate and phase velocity of the relevant modes for small shock amplitudes. On the other hand, the eigenfunctions are now subject to modulation related to the periodicity of the flow. Analysis of the spatio-temporal growth rates led to the identification of a saddle point between the Kelvin–Helmholtz mode and the guided jet mode, characterising an absolute instability mechanism. Frequencies and mode shapes related to the saddle points for two conditions (associated with axisymmetric and helical modes) are compared with screech frequencies and the most energetic coherent structures of screeching jets, resulting in a good agreement for both. The analysis shows that a periodic shock-cell structure has an impulse response that grows upstream, leading to oscillator behaviour. The results suggest that screech can occur in the absence of a nozzle, and that the upstream reflection condition is not essential for screech frequency selection. Connections to previous models are also discussed.
The effects of the pandemic on mental health in persons with and without a psychiatric history
Authors: Murphy Eleanor , Svob Connie , Van Dijk Milenna , Gameroff Marc J. , Skipper Jamie , Abraham Eyal , Yangchen Tenzin , Posner Jonathan , Shankman Stewart A. , Wickramaratne Priya J. , Weissman Myrna M. , Talati Ardesheer
Published: November 2021

Background

Prospective studies are needed to assess the influence of pre-pandemic risk factors on mental health outcomes following the COVID-19 pandemic. From direct interviews prior to (T1), and then in the same individuals after the pandemic onset (T2), we assessed the influence of personal psychiatric history on changes in symptoms and wellbeing.

Methods

Two hundred and four (19–69 years/117 female) individuals from a multigenerational family study were followed clinically up toT1. Psychiatric symptom changes (T1-to-T2), their association with lifetime psychiatric history (no, only-past, and recent psychiatric history), and pandemic-specific worries were investigated.

Results

AtT2relative toT1, participants with recent psychopathology (in the last 2 years) had significantly fewer depressive (mean,M= 41.7v.47.6) and traumatic symptoms (M= 6.6v.8.1,p< 0.001), while those with no and only-past psychiatric history had decreased wellbeing (M= 22.6v.25.0,p< 0.01). Three pandemic-related worry factors were identified: Illness/death, Financial, and Social isolation. Individuals with recent psychiatric history had greater Illness/death and Financial worries than the no/only-past groups, but these worries were unrelated to depression atT2. Among individuals with no/only-past history, Illness/death worries predicted increasedT2depression [B= 0.6(0.3),p< 0.05].

Conclusions

As recent psychiatric history was not associated with increased depression or anxiety during the pandemic, new groups of previously unaffected persons might contribute to the increased pandemic-related depression and anxiety rates reported. These individuals likely represent incident cases that are first detected in primary care and other non-specialty clinical settings. Such settings may be useful for monitoring future illness among newly at-risk individuals.
MATERIAL TURNS IN BRITISH HISTORY: IV. EMPIRE IN INDIA, CANCEL CULTURES AND THE COUNTRY HOUSE
Authors: Finn Margot C.
Published: November 2021

This lecture seeks to historicise the so-called cancel culture associated with the ‘culture wars’ waged in Britain in c. 2020. Focusing on empire and on the domestic, British impacts of Georgian-era imperial material cultures, it argues that dominant proponents of these ‘culture wars’ in the public sphere fundamentally distort the British pasts they vociferously claim to preserve and defend. By failing to acknowledge the extent to which eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British men and women themselves contested imperial expansion under the aegis of the East India Company – and decried its impact on British material culture, including iconic stately homes – twenty-first-century exponents of culture wars who rail against the present-day rise of histories of race and empire in the heritage sector themselves erase key layers of British experience. In so doing, they impoverish public understanding of the past.
Experiences of adversity in childhood and adolescence and cortisol in late adolescence
Authors: Kessler Courtenay L. , Vrshek-Schallhorn Suzanne , Mineka Susan , Zinbarg Richard E. , Craske Michelle , Adam Emma K.
Published: November 2021

Early life adversity influences the diurnal cortisol rhythm, yet the relative influence of different characteristics of adversity remains unknown. In this study, we examine how developmental timing (childhood vs. adolescence), severity (major vs. minor), and domain of early life adversity relate to diurnal cortisol rhythms in late adolescence. We assessed adversity retrospectively in early adulthood in a subsample of 236 participants from a longitudinal study of a diverse community sample of suburban adolescents oversampled for high neuroticism. We used multilevel modeling to assess associations between our adversity measures and the diurnal cortisol rhythm (waking and bedtime cortisol, awakening response, slope, and average cortisol). Major childhood adversities were associated with flatter daily slope, and minor adolescent adversities were associated with greater average daily cortisol. Examining domains of childhood adversities, major neglect and sexual abuse were associated with flatter slope and lower waking cortisol, with sexual abuse also associated with higher cortisol awakening response. Major physical abuse was associated with higher waking cortisol. Among adolescent adversities domains, minor neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing violence were associated with greater average cortisol. These results suggest severity, developmental timing, and domain of adversity influence the association of early life adversity with stress response system functioning.
A review of questionnaires quantifying bilingual experience in children: Do they document the same constructs?
Authors: Kašćelan Draško , Prévost Philippe , Serratrice Ludovica , Tuller Laurie , Unsworth Sharon , De Cat Cécile
Published: November 2021

Questionnaires documenting children's bilingual experience have been used frequently in research on language and cognitive development. However, there has been little investigation of the comparability between these tools. In this review, we (i) provide a list of available questionnaires used to quantify bilingual experience in children; (ii) identify the components of bilingual experience documented across questionnaires; and (iii) discuss the comparability of the measures used to operationalise these components. In doing so, we review 48 questionnaires and identify 32 overarching constructs, manifested as 194 components, and we calculate the frequency with which they are documented. Finally, by focusing on a subset of overarching constructs (language exposure and use, activities, and current language skills), we observe high variability in how they are operationalised across tools. These findings highlight the need for greater transparency in how we document bilingualism and for more comparable measures.
Risk factors for Veteran food insecurity: findings from a National US Department of Veterans Affairs Food Insecurity Screener
Authors: Cohen Alicia J , Dosa David M , Rudolph James L , Halladay Christopher W , Heisler Michele , Thomas Kali S
Published: November 2021

Objective:

Food insecurity is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. The US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) began universal food insecurity screening in 2017. This study examined prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Veterans screened.

Design:

Retrospective cross-sectional study using VHA administrative data. Multivariable logistic regression models were estimated to identify sociodemographic and medical characteristics associated with a positive food insecurity screen.

Setting:

All US Veterans Administration (VA) medical centres (n 161).

Participants:

All Veterans were screened for food insecurity since screening initiation (July 2017–December 2018).

Results:

Of 3 304 702 Veterans screened for food insecurity, 44 298 were positive on their initial screen (1·3 % of men; 2·0 % of women). Food insecurity was associated with identifying as non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic. Veterans who were non-married/partnered, low-income Veterans without VA disability-related compensation and those with housing instability had higher odds of food insecurity, as did Veterans with a BMI < 18·5, diabetes, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Prior military sexual trauma (MST) was associated with food insecurity among both men and women. Women screening positive, however, were eight times more likely than men to have experienced MST (48·9 % v. 5·9 %).

Conclusions:

Food insecurity was associated with medical and trauma-related comorbidities as well as unmet social needs including housing instability. Additionally, Veterans of colour and women were at higher risk for food insecurity. Findings can inform development of tailored interventions to address food insecurity such as more frequent screening among high-risk populations, onsite support applying for federal food assistance programs and formal partnerships with community-based resources.
Wood vinegar for control of broadleaf weeds in dormant turfgrass
Authors: Hao Zhikui , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar , Li Ying , Qu Mingnan , Wang Zhiyong , Yu Jialin
Published: November 2021

Wood vinegar, a product of pyrolysis, can induce phytotoxicity on plants when applied at an adequate rate and concentration. The objective of this research was to investigate wood vinegar obtained from the pyrolysis of apple tree branches for weed control in dormant zoysiagrass. In environment-controlled growth chambers, white clover visual injury and shoot mass reduction were evaluated and compared to the nontreated control after wood vinegar application at 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 L ha−1 under 10 C or 30 C temperature conditions. Averaged across rates, wood vinegar rapidly desiccated white clover and caused 83% and 71% visual injury at 10 C and 30 C, respectively, at 1 d after treatment (DAT). Averaged across temperatures, wood vinegar at 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 L ha−1 reduced white clover shoot mass by 56%, 81%, and 98% from the nontreated control at 10 DAT, respectively. In field experiments, weed control increased as wood vinegar rates increased from 1,000 to 5,000 L ha−1 in dormant zoysiagrass. The effective application dose of wood vinegar required to provide 90% control (ED90) of annual fleabane, Persian speedwell, and white clover was determined to be 2,450, 2,300, and 4,020 L ha−1, respectively, at 2 wk after treatment. Turf quality did not differ among the wood vinegar treatments and the nontreated control when zoysiagrass completely recovered from dormancy. Overall, results illustrate that wood vinegar resulting from the pyrolysis of apple tree branches can be used as a nonselective herbicide in dormant turfgrass, offering a new nonsynthetic herbicide option for weed control in managed turf.
Low carryover risk of corn and soybean herbicides across soil management practices and environments
Authors: Grint Kolby R. , Proctor Christopher , DeWerff Ryan , Smith Daniel H. , Arneson Nicholas J. , Arriaga Francisco , Stoltenberg David , Werle Rodrigo
Published: November 2021

Herbicides with soil-residual activity have the potential for carryover into subsequent crops, resulting in injury to sensitive crops and limiting productivity if severe. The increased use of soil-residual herbicides in the United States for management of troublesome weeds in corn- and soybean-cropping systems has potential to result in more cases of carryover. Soil management practices have different effects on the soil environment, potentially influencing herbicide degradation and likelihood of carryover. Field experiments were conducted at three sites in 2019 and 2020 to determine the effects of corn (clopyralid and mesotrione) and soybean (fomesafen and imazethapyr) herbicides applied in the fall at reduced rates (25% and 50% of labeled rates) and three soil management practices (tillage, no-tillage, and a fall-established cereal rye cover crop) on subsequent growth and productivity of the cereal rye cover crop and the soybean and corn crops, respectively. Most response variables (cereal rye biomass and crop canopy cover at cover crop termination in the spring, early-season crop stand and herbicide injury ratings, and crop yield) were not affected by herbicide carryover. Corn yield was lower when soil was managed with a cereal rye cover crop compared with tillage at all three sites, while yield was lower for no-till compared with tillage at two sites. Soybean yield was lower when managed with a cereal rye cover crop compared with tillage and no-till at one site. Findings from this research indicate a low carryover risk for these herbicides across site-years when label rotational restrictions are followed and environmental conditions favorable for herbicide degradation exist, regardless of soil management practice on silt loam or silty clay loam soil types in the U.S. Midwest region.
Sulfur Isotope Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the Kimberley Kimberlites
Authors: Fitzpayne Angus , Giuliani Andrea , Magalhães Nivea , Soltys Ashton , Fiorentini Marco L. , Farquhar James
Published: November 2021

Cretaceous kimberlites in southern Africa have been suggested to host deeply subducted material in their mantle sources based on radiogenic isotope systematics. However, potential subducted material contributions to the volatile budget, including sulfur, of these kimberlites is unclear. Here we report new petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic data on sulfides and sulfates in sub‐volcanic kimberlites from Kimberley, South Africa. The examined kimberlites were divided into four groups based on their sulfide mineralogy, sulfur contents, and isotopic compositions. None of these groups exhibit clear signs of mass‐independent fractionation. Three samples contain sphalerite, have moderate bulk‐sulfide S concentrations (203–329 μg/g) and highly negative bulk‐sulfide δ34S values (−10 to −13‰). Four samples have moderate‐to‐high bulk‐sulfide S contents (220–745 μg/g), positive δ34Ssulfide values (+0.2 to +14‰), and contain galena, pyrite or secondary Cu‐sulfides as the dominant sulfides. These groups of S‐rich kimberlites were probably contaminated by fluids sourced from local country rocks. The remaining eight samples contain negligible amounts of crustal sulfides (e.g., sphalerite, galena), have lower bulk‐sulfide S concentrations (≤111 μg/g), and display a different δ34Ssulfide range (−5.7 to +1.1‰) compared to the S‐rich groups. By considering only the five samples with fresh primary Cu‐Fe‐Ni sulfides, the δ34S range contracts to between −5.7 and −3.4‰, which is considered representative of the mantle source composition. This range indicates the presence of a deeply recycled sedimentary component in the melt source. The combination of detailed sulfide petrography and S isotope geochemistry in fresh kimberlite rocks provides a further tool to investigate mantle chemical geodynamics through time.
How Does In Situ Stress Rotate Within a Fault Zone? Insights From Explicit Modeling of the Frictional, Fractured Rock Mass
Authors: Zhang Shihuai , Ma Xiaodong
Published: November 2021

We quantitatively investigate the spatial stress variations within the fault zone rock mass by explicitly incorporating macroscopic fractures into a 2D multilayer model. Based on elastic crack theory, we first derive a unified constitutive law for frictional fractures, featuring elastic and plastic shear deformation and shear‐induced dilatancy. To honor the varying degrees of damage across fault zones, the multilayer model is composed of varying densities of randomly oriented frictional fractures from layer to layer. Under the boundary conditions specific to fault zones, the global mechanical response of each layer is quantitatively related to the local fracture deformation. We show that the major principal stress always rotates toward a limiting angle of 45° with respect to the fault plane and that the differential stress invariantly decreases with increasing fracture density. Approaching the fault core, the mean stress can either increase or decrease, depending on whether the fault strikes at a high (>45°) or low (<45°) angle to the regional major principal stress. Accumulated damage also results in the decrease and increase of the effective Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the fractured rock mass, respectively. Both the fracture properties and pore pressure affect the stress variations by modulating the fracture‐associated deformation and the relative proportion of the elastic and plastic components. Our model illuminates the systematic variations of in situ stresses and effective elastic properties within the damage zone of a mature fault.
Estimated Amounts and Rates of Carbon Mobilized by Landsliding in Old‐Growth Temperate Forests of SE Alaska
Authors: Vascik Bryce A. , Booth Adam M. , Buma Brian , Berti Matteo
Published: November 2021

Landslides, a forest disturbance, mobilize carbon (C) sequestered in vegetation and soils. Mobilized C is deposited either onto hillslopes or into the water, sequestering C from and releasing C to the atmosphere at different time scales. The C‐dense old‐growth temperate forests of SE Alaska are a unique location to quantify C mobilization rate by frequent landslides that often evolve into saturated moving masses known as debris flows. In this study, the amount of C mobilized by debris flows over historic time scales was estimated by combining a landslide inventory with maps of modeled biomass and soil carbon. We analyzed SE Alaskan landslides over a 55‐year period where a total of 4.69 ± 0.21 MtC was mobilized, an average rate of 2.5 tC km−2 yr−1. A single event in August 2015 mobilized 57,651 ± 3,266 tC, an average of 63 tC km−2. Depositional fate was inferred using two methods, a standard stream intersection analysis and a second novel approach using simulated debris flow deposition modeling calibrated to the study area. Approximately 60% of debris flow deposits intersected the stream network (9% into mainstem channels, 91% into small tributaries), consistent with long‐term modeled connectivity, suggesting that debris flows are likely to contribute to globally significant amounts of C buried in local fjord sediments. Our results are consistent with an emerging consensus that landslide disturbances that mobilize organic carbon may play an important role in the global carbon cycle over geologic time, with coastal temperate forests being hotspots of potential carbon sequestration.
Optical Anisotropy in van der Waals materials: Impact on Direct Excitation of Plasmons and Photons by Quantum Tunneling
Authors: Wang Zhe , Kalathingal Vijith , Hoang Thanh Xuan , Chu Hong-Son , Nijhuis Christian A.
Published: November 2021

Inelastic quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons across plasmonic tunnel junctions can lead to surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and photon emission. So far, the optical properties of such junctions have been controlled by changing the shape, or the type of the material, of the electrodes, primarily with the aim to improve SPP or photon emission efficiencies. Here we show that by tuning the tunneling barrier itself, the efficiency of the inelastic tunneling rates can be improved by a factor of 3. We exploit the anisotropic nature of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as the tunneling barrier material in Au//hBN//graphene tunnel junctions where the Au electrode also serves as a plasmonic strip waveguide. As this junction constitutes an optically transparent hBN–graphene heterostructure on a glass substrate, it forms an open plasmonic system where the SPPs are directly coupled to the dedicated strip waveguide and photons outcouple to the far field. We experimentally and analytically show that the photon emission rate per tunneling electron is significantly improved (~ ×3) in Au//hBN//graphene tunnel junction due to the enhancement in the local density of optical states (LDOS) arising from the hBN anisotropy. With the dedicated strip waveguide, SPP outcoupling efficiency is quantified and is found to be ∼ 80% stronger than the radiative outcoupling in Au//hBN//graphene due to the high LDOS of the SPP decay channel associated with the inelastic tunneling. The new insights elucidated here deepen our understanding of plasmonic tunnel junctions beyond the isotropic models with enhanced LDOS.
Unravelling similarities and differences in the role of circular and linear PVT1 in cancer and human disease
Authors: Traversa Debora , Simonetti Giorgia , Tolomeo Doron , Visci Grazia , Macchia Gemma , Ghetti Martina , Martinelli Giovanni , Kristensen Lasse S. , Storlazzi Clelia Tiziana
Published: November 2021

The plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) is a long non-coding RNA gene involved in human disease, mainly in cancer onset/progression. Although widely analysed, its biological roles need to be further clarified. Notably, functional studies on PVT1 are complicated by the occurrence of multiple transcript variants, linear and circular, which generate technical issues in the experimental procedures used to evaluate its impact on human disease. Among the many PVT1 transcripts, the linear PVT1 (lncPVT1) and the circular hsa_circ_0001821 (circPVT1) are frequently reported to perform similar pathologic and pro-tumorigenic functions when overexpressed. The stimulation of cell proliferation, invasion and drug resistance, cell metabolism regulation, and apoptosis inhibition is controlled through multiple targets, including MYC, p21, STAT3, vimentin, cadherins, the PI3K/AKT, HK2, BCL2, and CASP3. However, some of this evidence may originate from an incorrect evaluation of these transcripts as two separate molecules, as they share the lncPVT1 exon-2 sequence. We here summarise lncPVT1/circPVT1 functions by mainly focusing on shared pathways, pointing out the potential bias that may exist when the biological role of each transcript is analysed. These considerations may improve the knowledge about lncPVT1/circPVT1 and their specific targets, which deserve further studies due to their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential.
Cooperative miRNA-dependent PTEN regulation drives resistance to BTK inhibition in B-cell lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Kapoor Isha , Bodo Juraj , Hill Brian T. , Almasan Alexandru
Published: November 2021

Aberrant microRNA (miR) expression plays an important role in pathogenesis of different types of cancers, including B-cell lymphoid malignancies and in the development of chemo-sensitivity or -resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as well as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Ibrutinib is a first-in class, oral, covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor (BTKi) that has shown impressive clinical activity, yet many ibrutinib-treated patients relapse or develop resistance over time. We have reported that acquired resistance to ibrutinib is associated with downregulation of tumor suppressor protein PTEN and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Yet how PTEN mediates chemoresistance in B-cell malignancies is not clear. We now show that the BTKi ibrutinib and a second-generation compound, acalabrutinib downregulate miRNAs located in the 14q32 miRNA cluster region, including miR-494, miR-495, and miR-543. BTKi-resistant CLL and DLBCL cells had striking overexpression of miR-494, miR-495, miR-543, and reduced PTEN expression, indicating further regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in acquired BTKi resistance. Additionally, unlike ibrutinib-sensitive CLL patient samples, those with resistance to ibrutinib treatment, demonstrated upregulation of 14q32 cluster miRNAs, including miR-494, miR-495, and miR-543 and decreased pten mRNA expression. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-494 directly targeted and suppressed PTEN expression by recognizing two conserved binding sites in the PTEN 3′-UTR, and subsequently activated AKTSer473. Importantly, overexpression of a miR-494 mimic abrogated both PTEN mRNA and protein levels, further indicating regulation of apoptosis by PTEN/AKT/mTOR. Conversely, overexpression of a miR-494 inhibitor in BTKi-resistant cells restored PTEN mRNA and protein levels, thereby sensitizing cells to BTKi-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-494 and miR-495 sensitized cells by cooperative targeting of pten, with additional miRNAs in the 14q32 cluster that target pten able to contribute to its regulation. Therefore, targeting 14q32 cluster miRNAs may have therapeutic value in acquired BTK-resistant patients via regulation of the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling axis.
Lateral transduction is inherent to the life cycle of the archetypical Salmonella phage P22
Authors: Fillol-Salom Alfred , Bacigalupe Rodrigo , Humphrey Suzanne , Chiang Yin Ning , Chen John , Penadés José R.
Published: November 2021

Lysogenic induction ends the stable association between a bacteriophage and its host, and the transition to the lytic cycle begins with early prophage excision followed by DNA replication and packaging (ERP). This temporal program is considered universal for P22-like temperate phages, though there is no direct evidence to support the timing and sequence of these events. Here we report that the long-standing ERP program is an observation of the experimentally favored Salmonella phage P22 tsc229 heat-inducible mutant, and that wild-type P22 actually follows the replication-packaging-excision (RPE) program. We find that P22 tsc229 excises early after induction, but P22 delays excision to just before it is detrimental to phage production. This allows P22 to engage in lateral transduction. Thus, at minimal expense to itself, P22 has tuned the timing of excision to balance propagation with lateral transduction, powering the evolution of its host through gene transfer in the interest of self-preservation.
Competitive binding and molecular crowding regulate the cytoplasmic interactome of non-viral polymeric gene delivery vectors
Authors: Raynold Aji Alex M. , Li Danyang , Chang Lan , Gautrot Julien E.
Published: November 2021

In contrast to the processes controlling the complexation, targeting and uptake of polycationic gene delivery vectors, the molecular mechanisms regulating their cytoplasmic dissociation remains poorly understood. Upon cytosolic entry, vectors become exposed to a complex, concentrated mixture of molecules and biomacromolecules. In this report, we characterise the cytoplasmic interactome associated with polycationic vectors based on poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(2-methacrylolyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) brushes. To quantify the contribution of different classes of low molar mass molecules and biomacromolecules to RNA release, we develop a kinetics model based on competitive binding. Our results identify the importance of competition from highly charged biomacromolecules, such as cytosolic RNA, as a primary regulator of RNA release. Importantly, our data indicate the presence of ribosome associated proteins, proteins associated with translation and transcription factors that may underly a broader impact of polycationic vectors on translation. In addition, we bring evidence that molecular crowding modulates competitive binding and demonstrate how the modulation of such interactions, for example via quaternisation or the design of charge-shifting moieties, impacts on the long-term transfection efficiency of polycationic vectors. Understanding the mechanism regulating cytosolic dissociation will enable the improved design of cationic vectors for long term gene release and therapeutic efficacy.
High-harmonic generation in Weyl semimetal β-WP2 crystals
Authors: Lv Yang-Yang , Xu Jinlong , Han Shuang , Zhang Chi , Han Yadong , Zhou Jian , Yao Shu-Hua , Liu Xiao-Ping , Lu Ming-Hui , Weng Hongming , Xie Zhenda , Chen Y. B. , Hu Jianbo , Chen Yan-Feng , Zhu Shining
Published: November 2021

As a quantum material, Weyl semimetal has a series of electronic-band-structure features, including Weyl points with left and right chirality and corresponding Berry curvature, which have been observed in experiments. These band-structure features also lead to some unique nonlinear properties, especially high-order harmonic generation (HHG) due to the dynamic process of electrons under strong laser excitation, which has remained unexplored previously. Herein, we obtain effective HHG in type-II Weyl semimetal β-WP2 crystals, where both odd and even orders are observed, with spectra extending into the vacuum ultraviolet region (190 nm, 10th order), even under fairly low femtosecond laser intensity. In-depth studies have interpreted that odd-order harmonics come from the Bloch electron oscillation, while even orders are attributed to Bloch oscillations under the “spike-like” Berry curvature at Weyl points. With crystallographic orientation-dependent HHG spectra, we further quantitatively retrieved the electronic band structure and Berry curvature of β-WP2. These findings may open the door for exploiting metallic/semimetallic states as solid platforms for deep ultraviolet radiation and offer an all-optical and pragmatic solution to characterize the complicated multiband electronic structure and Berry curvature of quantum topological materials.