bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury on Brain Sterol Synthesis and Metabolism
Authors: Dave Amanda M. , Porter Ned A. , Korade Zeljka , Peeples Eric S.
Published: October 2023

Background Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) results from disruptions to blood supply and oxygen in the perinatal brain. The goal of this study was to measure brain sterol metabolites and plasma oxysterols after injury in a neonatal HIBI mouse model to assess for potential therapeutic targets in the brain biochemistry as well as potential circulating diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods Postnatal day 9 CD1-IGS mouse pups were randomized to HIBI induced by carotid artery ligation followed by 30 minutes at 8% oxygen or to sham surgery and normoxia. Brain tissue was collected for sterol analysis by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Plasma was collected for oxysterol analysis by LC–MS/MS.

Results There were minimal changes in brain sterol concentrations in the first 72 hours after HIBI. In severely injured brains, there was a significant increase in desmosterol, 7-DHC, 8-DHC, and cholesterol 24 hours after injury in the ipsilateral tissue. Lanosterol, 24-dehydrolathosterol, and 14-dehydrozymostenol decreased in plasma 24 hours after injury. Severe neonatal HIBI was associated with increased cholesterol and sterol precursors in the cortex at 24 hours after injury.

Conclusions Differences in plasma oxysterols were seen at 24 hours but were not present at 30 minutes after injury, suggesting that these sterol intermediates would be of little value as early diagnostic biomarkers.
Influence of plasma grid bias on the beam extraction of RF driven negative hydrogen ion source
Authors: Peng Xu-Feng , Wei Jiang-Long , Yang Yu-Wen , Xu Yong-Jian , Wu Bin , Hu Chun-Dong , Xie Ya-Hong
Published: October 2023

In the negative hydrogen ion sources, the positive bias of the plasma grid with respect to the discharge chamber is often used to suppress co-extracted electrons. Because most of the co-extracted electrons are magnetically deflected onto the extraction grid, the difference between the extraction and acceleration current (i.e., Iext − Iacc) is commonly used to represent the number of co-extracted electrons. In the single-driver RF negative ion source at ASIPP, the variation of Iext − Iacc with the plasma grid bias voltage was accidentally found to have different trends with and without the Cs seeding. When the current density of Iacc (regarded as JH-) was larger than 120 A/m2 during Cs conditioning, the Iext − Iacc fell first and then rose with the increasing bias voltage. The previous research results from NIFS that the beam optics were changed by the bias voltage can be used to explain the phenomenon. In this paper, the electron temperature (Te) in front of the plasma grid was found to increase from the Langmuir probe measurement, when the bias voltage was higher than a threshold of 4.5 V to the float potential. Interestingly, the bias voltage corresponding to the trough of Iext − Iacc was higher than the float potential—a similar value of 4.1 V to the threshold of Te increasing. Since the negative hydrogen ions are easily destroyed by the high-energy electrons, the increasing of Te may also cause the change of beam optics and the increase in co-extracted electrons. The electron energy distribution function was used to explain the change of plasma parameters in front of the plasma grid.
Breaking through the plasma wavelength barrier to extend the transparency range of ultrathin indium tin oxide films into the far infrared
Authors: Bi Ran , Zheng Chuantao , Yu William W. , Zheng Weitao , Wang Dingdi
Published: October 2023

Indium tin oxide (ITO) film, which is the most commonly used transparent conductive film (TCF), has traditionally been believed to be transparent in the visible spectrum but to reflect infrared (IR) light beyond the plasma wavelength (λp). However, our theoretical analysis challenges this notion by demonstrating that an ultrathin ITO TCF that is thinner than the light's penetration depth can overcome the transmission barrier at λp. To validate the theoretical modeling, we have successfully fabricated ultrathin ITO films that, despite having λp ≈ 1 μm, remain transparent from 400 nm to 20 μm. This represents the broadest transparency range ever reported for any In2O3-based TCF. The 10-nm-thick ITO TCFs have high visible transmittance (91.0% at 550 nm), low resistivity (5 × 10−4 Ω cm), and good IR transmittance (averaging 60% over 1.35–18.35 μm). Their IR transparency facilitates radiative cooling of the underlying circuitry. When an operational resistor is enclosed by commercial ITO TCFs that are 140 nm thick, its temperature increases. However, using 10-nm-thick ITO TCFs instead of the commercial ones can completely avoid this temperature rise. Moreover, attaching a silver grid to a 10-nm-thick ITO TCF can reduce the effective sheet resistance to ∼10 Ω/□ at the expense of only ∼3% transmittance. This development paves the way for large-scale applications that require low sheet resistance and far-IR transparency.
Achieving higher orientation degree in DyBa2Cu3Oy (y ∼ 7) superconductor through linear drive type of modulated rotating magnetic field
Authors: Ali W. B. , Adachi S. , Kimura F. , Horii S.
Published: October 2023

This study presents an approach to achieve a triaxial magnetic alignment through a linear drive type of modulated rotating magnetic field by using a permanent magnet array. This magnet array generates a modulated rotating magnetic field (MRF) without moving the sample and can produce an MRF of ∼ 0.8 T. By utilizing this magnet array, DyBa2Cu3Oy (Dy123, y ∼ 7) grains were biaxially aligned. After cutting the as-aligned sample that was magnetically aligned, we observed a location dependence of the orientation degree. We achieved the higher in-plane orientation degree of ∼ 8.5° and the c-axis orientation degree of ∼ 6.0°, respectively. The 3D simulation analysis played a key role in identifying the region where the uniformity of the MRF is within the magnet array. Compared to the epitaxial growth techniques, the use of the magnet array offers a cost-effective and versatile solution for achieving triaxial magnetic alignment.
4.55 W continue-wave dual-end pumping of Er:Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 microchip laser at 1.5
μ
m
Authors: Cheng Wenwen , Zhang Tianshan , Jiang Zeqian , Huang Gang , Huang Yongcheng , Li Bingxuan , Lin Zhanglang , Chen Yujin , Huang Yidong , Lin Yanfu , Liao Wenbin , Zhang Ge
Published: October 2023

This paper demonstrates an eye-safe 1.5 μm continue wave (CW) Er:Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 (Er:Yb:YAB) microchip laser with dual-end pumping. By using a 1.5 mm thick Er:Yb:YAB crystal and 2.5% output coupling transmittance, its maximum output power could reach 4.55 W at the incident power of 15.4 W. This is the largest CW laser output power in the reported Er:Yb:YAB laser. The output laser beam was observed. The beam quality factors M2 in the X and Y directions were 1.65 and 1.71, respectively. The beam quality of the output laser of the CW Er:Yb:YAB microchip laser pumped by dual-end is significantly improved compared to previous works.
Molecular size exclusion effect extending the cycling stability of a non-aqueous redox flow battery
Authors: Mohapatra Sandeep Kumar , Ramanujam Kothandaraman , Sankararaman Sethuraman
Published: October 2023

Non-aqueous organic redox flow batteries (NAORFBs) suffer from rapid capacity fading mainly due to the crossover of redox-active species across the membrane. Minimizing the crossover of redox-active species through ion exchange membranes remains a complex challenge in NAORFBs. To address the crossover issue, we approached the problem through a molecular size exclusion principle designing a dimer of viologen derivative as an anode material. Coupled with N-hexyl phenothiazine as a catholyte, a static cell was demonstrated, which exhibits an excellent cycling stability (100 cycles) with an average Coulombic efficiency of 90% at 10 mA cm−2 current density.
Transients of Marangoni and Stefan advection dynamics during generic sessile droplet evaporation
Authors: Paul Arnov , Dhar Purbarun
Published: October 2023

We probe the transient evolution of Marangoni thermo-hydrodynamics in the liquid domain and the Stefan advection in the gaseous domain during evaporation of sessile droplets with generic contact line dynamics [both constant contact radius (CCR) and constant contact angle (CCA) modes]. A transient arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework was considered to computationally model the evaporation phenomenon over the droplet lifetime. The governing equations corresponding to the transport processes in both liquid and gaseous domains are simulated in a fully coupled manner, while precisely tracing the liquid–vapor interface and three phase contact line. The effects of the wetting state and contact line dynamics during CCR and CCA modes were explored, and good agreement with experimental observations is noted. The results show that the non-uniformity in an internal temperature field due to evaporation leads to formation of multi-vortex Marangoni patterns in the flow field at initial periods. At the quasi-stable state, the temperature variation becomes monotonic, thereby resulting in a single recirculation vortex in both liquid and gaseous domains. For the CCR mode, the strength of these advection fields is solely governed by a critical contact angle of ∼32°, which is determined to correspond to the critical Marangoni number. Beyond this critical point, viscous action becomes significant, and the fluid motion mitigates progressively with the formation of twin vortices at final stages due to localized heat advection near the contact line. For the CCA mode, the strength of initial vortices augments with progressing time due to amplified evaporative fluxes at smaller contact radius. The internal thermofluidic patterns and evaporative modes in turn modulate the external Stefan flow fields and neighborhood temperature fields. These findings may hold strong implications for efficient functioning of practical droplet based processes involving transport, mixing, and deposition of dissolved particles.
Phase field study on electrical treeing under combined AC/DC voltage based on bipolar barrier transfer model
Authors: Shang Gaoyi , Sun Yingman , Chen Ming , Shao Yuhang , Li Minjie , Tang Hao , Li Xining , Liu Xuandong
Published: October 2023

The study of insulation degradation processes is crucial for the reliable operation of power equipment and electronic devices. The phase field method has been widely used in recent years to simulate the degradation process of insulation materials. However, the effect of space charge was ignored. In this paper, a novel phase field method based on the bipolar carrier transfer model is suggested. This model can simulate degradation under different temperatures and DC or combined AC/DC voltage. The cases under AC and combined AC/DC voltage at different temperatures are simulated by COMSOL. Methods to ensure model convergence are proposed. The results show that the field strength distribution under a combined AC/DC field is more uniform, especially for negative polarity. For the same voltage form, temperature and breakdown time show an exponential relationship. The results are consistent with those of previous experimental studies, proving the usability of the model. In addition, the processes of initiation, growth, and breakdown stage of the dielectric degradation process, as well as the stagnation period, are explored theoretically. The stagnation time at low temperatures under combined AC/negative DC voltage is long. The research in this paper is useful for insulation optimization design, condition assessment, and longevity prediction.
A semi-analytical and semi-numerical method for solving plasma instability of nonuniform two-dimensional electron gas
Authors: Qiu Zijian , Yang Shengpeng , Zhang Ping , Guo Hongyang , Deng Hanghui , Wang Shaomeng , Gong Yubin
Published: October 2023

The plasma instability of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is a crucial physical mechanism for generating terahertz radiation in field-effect transistors, especially in high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In this paper, we have proposed a new semi-analytical and semi-numerical method to deal with oscillation problems of any nonuniform 2DEG plasma, especially considering the steady-state distribution, which can be calculated and analyzed more quickly than only using numerical calculation. By constructing a wave equation, using the auxiliary function and Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation method, the wave vector of the plasma wave is obtained. On this basis, combined with the Dyakonov–Shur instability's boundary conditions, the oscillation frequency, the wave amplitude increment, and their correction caused by the nonuniformity can be obtained by numerical calculation. Furthermore, the analytical solution is obtained under reasonable approximate conditions for the linear distribution of electron concentration. It is proved that the electron concentration gradient in the channel will not only attenuate the wave increment but also decrease the plasmonic frequency in the case of linear distribution. Moreover, we get the reasons for the above conclusions through theoretical derivation. We also investigate the effects of various device parameters on attenuation, such as gate length, electron mobility, and voltage, which may explain the difference between the actual and theoretical values in HEMTs and provide new guidance for device design.
Infrared dielectric function of GaAs1−xPx semiconductor alloys near the reststrahlen bands
Authors: Zollner Stefan , Vangala Shivashankar R. , Tassev Vladimir L. , Brinegar Duane , Linser Samuel
Published: October 2023

The infrared dielectric function of thick GaAs1−xPx alloy layers grown on (001) GaAs substrates by hydride vapor phase epitaxy was investigated in the reststrahlen region using Fourier-transform infrared ellipsometry. The spectra are influenced by the Berreman artifact at the longitudinal optical phonon frequency of the GaAs substrate and by interference fringes due to the finite layer thickness. The ellipsometric angles were analyzed to determine the dielectric function of the alloy layer. Two-mode behavior, including strong GaAs-like and GaP-like optical phonons, was observed, confirming the results of Verleur and Barker [Phys. Rev. 149, 715 (1966)]. Due to the increased sensitivity of ellipsometry in the reststrahlen region, several weak phonon features could also be seen. The lattice absorption peaks are asymmetric and show side bands at the lower and higher frequencies. A single additional peak, as suggested by the percolation model, does not describe the spectra. The cluster model proposed by Verleur and Barker is a better fit to the data. Due to the broadening of the phonon absorption peaks, the authors were unable to find a unique decomposition into multiple components.
Uncertainty in boundedly rational household adaptation to environmental shocks
Authors: Taberna Alessandro , Filatova Tatiana , Hadjimichael Antonia , Noll Brayton
Published: October 2023

Despite the growing calls to integrate realistic human behavior in sustainability science models, the representative rational agent prevails. This is especially problematic for climate change adaptation that relies on actions at various scales: from governments to individuals. Empirical evidence on individual adaptation to climate-induced hazards reveals diverse behavioral and social factors affecting economic considerations. Yet, implications of replacing the rational optimizer by realistic human behavior in nature–society systems models are poorly understood. Using an innovative evolutionary economic agent-based model we explore different framings regarding household adaptation behavior to floods, leveraging on behavioral data from a household survey in Miami, USA. We find that a representative rational agent significantly overestimates household adaptation diffusion and underestimates damages compared to boundedly rational behavior revealed from our survey. This “adaptation deficit” exhibited by a population of empirically informed agents is explained primarily by diverse “soft” adaptation constraints—awareness, social influences—rather than heterogeneity in financial constraints. Besides initial inequality disproportionally impacting low/medium adaptive capacity households post-flood, our findings suggest that even under a nearly complete adaptation diffusion, adaptation benefits are uneven, with late or less-efficient actions locking households to a path of higher damages, further exacerbating inequalities. Our exploratory modeling reveals that behavioral assumptions shape the uncertainty of physical factors, like exposure and objective effectiveness of flood-proofing measures, traditionally considered crucial in risk assessments. This unique combination of methods facilitates the assessment of cumulative and distributional effects of boundedly rational behavior essential for designing tailored climate adaptation policies, and for equitable sustainability transitions in general.
Boosted C–C coupling with Cu–Ag alloy sub-nanoclusters for CO
2
-to-C
2
H
4
photosynthesis
Authors: Yu Yangyang , He Ye , Yan Ping , Wang Shengyao , Dong Fan
Published: October 2023

The selective photocatalytic conversion of CO
2
and H
2
O to high value-added C
2
H
4
remains a great challenge, mainly attributed to the difficulties in C–C coupling of reaction intermediates and desorption of C
2
H
4
* intermediates from the catalyst surface. These two key issues can be simultaneously overcome by alloying Ag with Cu which gives enhanced activity to both reactions. Herein, we developed a facile stepwise photodeposition strategy to load Cu–Ag alloy sub-nanoclusters (ASNCs) on TiO
2
for CO
2
photoreduction to produce C
2
H
4
. The optimized catalyst exhibits a record-high C
2
H
4
formation rate (1110.6 ± 82.5 μmol g
−1
h
−1
) with selectivity of 49.1 ± 1.9%, which is an order-of-magnitude enhancement relative to current work for C
2
H
4
photosynthesis. The in situ FT-IR spectra combined with DFT calculations reveal the synergistic effect of Cu and Ag in Cu–Ag ASNCs, which enable an excellent C–C coupling capability like Ag and promoted C
2
H
4
* desorption property like Cu, thus advancing the selective and efficient production of C
2
H
4
. The present work provides a deeper understanding on cluster chemistry and C–C coupling mechanism for CO
2
reduction on ASNCs and develops a feasible strategy for photoreduction CO
2
to C
2
fuels or industrial feedstocks.
Evolutionary stability of antigenically escaping viruses
Authors: Chardès Victor , Mazzolini Andrea , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M.
Published: October 2023

Antigenic variation is the main immune escape mechanism for RNA viruses like influenza or SARS-CoV-2. While high mutation rates promote antigenic escape, they also induce large mutational loads and reduced fitness. It remains unclear how this cost–benefit trade-off selects the mutation rate of viruses. Using a traveling wave model for the coevolution of viruses and host immune systems in a finite population, we investigate how immunity affects the evolution of the mutation rate and other nonantigenic traits, such as virulence. We first show that the nature of the wave depends on how cross-reactive immune systems are, reconciling previous approaches. The immune-virus system behaves like a Fisher wave at low cross-reactivities, and like a fitness wave at high cross-reactivities. These regimes predict different outcomes for the evolution of nonantigenic traits. At low cross-reactivities, the evolutionarily stable strategy is to maximize the speed of the wave, implying a higher mutation rate and increased virulence. At large cross-reactivities, where our estimates place H3N2 influenza, the stable strategy is to increase the basic reproductive number, keeping the mutation rate to a minimum and virulence low.
Polarizing agents beyond pentacene for efficient triplet dynamic nuclear polarization in glass matrices
Authors: Sakamoto Keita , Hamachi Tomoyuki , Miyokawa Katsuki , Tateishi Kenichiro , Uesaka Tomohiro , Kurashige Yuki , Yanai Nobuhiro
Published: October 2023

Triplet dynamic nuclear polarization (triplet-DNP) is a technique that can obtain high nuclear polarization under moderate conditions. However, in order to obtain practically useful polarization, large single crystals doped with a polarizing agent must be strictly oriented with respect to the magnetic field to sharpen the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, which is a fatal problem that prevents its application to truly useful biomolecular targets. Instead of this conventional physical approach of controlling crystal orientation, here, we propose a chemical approach, i.e., molecular design of polarizing agents; pentacene molecules, the most typical triplet-DNP polarizing agent, are modified so as to make the triplet electron distribution wider and more isotropic without loss of the triplet polarization. The thiophene-modified pentacene exhibits a sharper and stronger ESR spectrum than the parent pentacene, and state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations revealed that the direction of the spin polarization is altered by the modification with thiophene moieties and the size of
D
and
E
parameters are reduced from parent pentacene due to the partial delocalization of spin densities on the thiophene moieties. The triplet-DNP with the new polarizing agent successfully exceeds the previous highest
1
H polarization of glassy materials by a factor of 5. This demonstrates the feasibility of a polarizing agent that can surpass pentacene, the best polarizing agent for more than 30 y since triplet-DNP was first reported, in the unoriented state. This work provides a pathway toward practically useful high nuclear polarization of various biomolecules by triplet-DNP.
A degron-based approach to manipulate Eomes functions in the context of the developing mouse embryo
Authors: Bisia Alexandra M. , Costello Ita , Xypolita Maria-Eleni , Harland Luke T. G. , Kurbel Philipp J. , Bikoff Elizabeth K. , Robertson Elizabeth J.
Published: October 2023

The T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes), also known as Tbr2, plays essential roles in the early mouse embryo. Loss-of-function mutant embryos arrest at implantation due to Eomes requirements in the trophectoderm cell lineage. Slightly later, expression in the visceral endoderm promotes anterior visceral endoderm formation and anterior–posterior axis specification. Early induction in the epiblast beginning at day 6 is necessary for nascent mesoderm to undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Eomes acts in a temporally and spatially restricted manner to sequentially specify the yolk sac haemogenic endothelium, cardiac mesoderm, definitive endoderm, and axial mesoderm progenitors during gastrulation. Little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms governing Eomes actions during the formation of these distinct progenitor cell populations. Here, we introduced a degron-tag and mCherry reporter sequence into the Eomes locus. Our experiments analyzing homozygously tagged embryonic stem cells and embryos demonstrate that the degron-tagged Eomes protein is fully functional. dTAG (degradation fusion tag) treatment in vitro results in rapid protein degradation and recapitulates the Eomes-null phenotype. However in utero administration of dTAG resulted in variable and lineage-specific degradation, likely reflecting diverse cell type–specific Eomes expression dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate that Eomes protein rapidly recovers following dTAG wash-out in vitro. The ability to temporally manipulate Eomes protein expression in combination with cell marking by the mCherry-reporter offers a powerful tool for dissecting Eomes-dependent functional roles in these diverse cell types in the early embryo.
Evaluating stakeholders in information for parents of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
Authors: Kecman Emily , Knox John S.
Published: October 2023

Parents of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) need clear and complete information about early
intervention options. There is a body of research on parents’ reactions to, and perceptions of, information they encountered
following their child’s diagnosis, but little research examining the information itself. This paper reports on a research project
examining the evaluative meanings of information on the websites of the two early intervention providers in NSW, Australia. Both
providers describe their services as “family-centered” on their websites. The appraisal framework from systemic functional
linguistics was used to analyze each website. Specifically, evaluations regarding the ‘capacity’ of providers and D/HH children
are reported here. Providers are consistently evaluated as altruistic and expert, while D/HH children are consistently evaluated
as requiring the specific kind of intervention program offered by these organizations in order to live a “normal” or “successful”
life. Coupled with the lack of information about alternative approaches to early intervention, the information provided appears to
be inconsistent with principles of family-centered intervention.
The use and perception of question tags in Trinidadian English
Authors: Westphal Michael
Published: October 2023

This study presents an analysis of the use and perception of variant question tags and the seven invariant forms eh, ent, nah, OK, not so, right, and you know in Trinidadian English. The analysis of use is based on four dialogue text types from the Trinidad and Tobago component of the International Corpus of English and takes a variationist approach. The analysis of the perception is based on a survey that combines a multiple-choice test, where participants were presented with different dialogue scenarios and had to select the form they found most appropriate, and an indirect language attitude test, in which participants rated the use of the eight question tags on attitudinal scales and added open comments. The usage and perception profiles of the eight forms largely overlap but there are marked differences for individual forms.
Speech in the British Hansard
Authors: Alexander Marc
Published: October 2023

This chapter provides a detailed textual and linguistic
history of Hansard, the records of debates of the British parliament from
1803 to the present, on which the Hansard Corpus is based. It analyses how
parliamentary speech is recorded and presented across that period, examining
the changes in direct and indirect speech types arising from commercial
factors, pressure from parliament, editorial practice, and the availability
and quality of source material. The chapter concludes with a breakdown, for
each period of Hansard’s history, of what the data for that period does and
does not represent.
“The job requires considerable expertise”
Authors: Hiltunen Turo
Published: October 2023

While clearly important in decision-making in democratic
societies, the authority of science and expertise in public forums is
nowadays increasingly challenged by different advocacy groups and
crowd-based politics. Using the Hansard Corpus, this chapter explores how
experts and expert knowledge are referred to in the British parliamentary
record from 1800 to 2005, focusing on how frequently members of parliament
(MPs) refer to different kinds of experts and their expertise in
parliamentary debates, and whether diachronic changes can be linked to
historical events and cultural and intellectual changes. The quantitative
analysis is complemented with a qualitative investigation of how experts and
expert knowledge are framed in parliamentary debates. The analysis shows
that overall the references to experts have increased in the twentieth
century and especially after the 1950s. Yet variation among individual terms
and discourse contexts is evident, indicating that cultural explanations of
corpus data should be approached with caution.
Language variation in parliamentary speech in Suriname
Authors: Borges Robert , van den Berg Margot
Published: October 2023

Surinamese Dutch is widely considered to be distinct
from Netherlandic Dutch varieties, but grammatical differences remain
understudied. The primary aim of this chapter is to explore some of the
claims made in the literature about how the grammar of Surinamese Dutch
differs from Netherlandic Dutch, using spoken data from the Surinamese
parliament. We also introduce an exploratory method that uses automatic
speech-to-text software to efficiently construct a corpus of spoken-language
data, avoiding some of the pitfalls associated with working with spoken
language data. We explore constructions involving the particle
er ‘there’, word order, and non-standard imperfective
constructions in the Surinamese Dutch data. Our analyses illustrate that
pinpointing characteristic differences between Surinamese and Netherlandic
Dutch is extremely nuanced.
Units of sub-sign meaning in NGT
Authors: Zwitserlood Inge , van der Kooij Els , Crasborn Onno
Published: October 2023

This paper provides an overview of all the meaningful sub-sign form units (form-meaning units; FMUs) in lexical signs in Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT). We investigated the potential meaning of all form features that were previously established in analyses of NGT form by analyzing their distribution in lexical signs. The data set consisted of 500 NGT signs in the lexical database Global Signbank, and a set of 163 elicited newly-formed lexical signs. All features in these data sets appear to bear meaning (at least once). No completely arbitrary features were found, and some features appeared to be always associated to a specific meaning. This toolkit and the set of FMUs in NGT provides a possible basis for cross-linguistic study and for a more fine-grained approach in various research disciplines, for instance psycholinguistics and acquisition, and it may thus advance the theoretical and applied study of sign languages.
AC zero crossing compensation for thermal stress linear birefringence in optical voltage transducer
Authors: Huang Yifan , Xu Qifeng , Li Chao , Tan Qiao
Published: October 2023

The optical voltage transducer (OVT) based on the Pockels effect has a perennial issue of the thermal stress linear birefringence (TSLB) in the electro-optic crystal being overlapped with the electro-optic phase delay, which is difficult to be eliminated and seriously affects the measurement accuracy and reliability. In this paper an AC zero crossing compensation method for TSLB is proposed. It is based on that when the steady-state AC voltage crosses zero points the electric field is zero, and the electro-optic crystal does not have any electro-optic effect, so the electro-optic phase delay is zero. In this case, the output of the OVT is an additional phase delay caused by the TSLB, which can be separated and compensated by the linear demodulation OVT and the AC zero crossing detection circuit. The experimental results show that in the temperature range of −40 °C to 70 °C, the measurement accuracy of the OVT after TSLB compensation is improved from 0.5 class to 0.2 class. This method is helpful for the practicality of the OVT.
SpacePix3: SOI MAPS detector for space radiation monitoring
Authors: Vančura P. , Gečnuk J. , Janoška Z. , Jirsa J. , Korchak O. , Kostina A. , Kafka V. , Lednický D. , Marčišovská M. , Marčišovský M. , Strnad M. , Švihra P. , Tomášek L. , Staněk P.
Published: October 2023

The SpacePix3 monolithic active pixel sensor is a novel ASIC for space radiation monitoring designed in a 180 nm SOI CMOS technology. The detector is capable of detecting and differentiating protons, electrons, and heavy ions. Its active sensor area is 3.84×3.84 mm2, pixel matrix is arranged in a 64×64 square array with 60 µm pitch. The pixel front-end amplifier signal range is 1–80 ke-, extended up to 30 Me- using a backside channel. Diodes integrated in the handle wafer in each pixel are biased at -150 V, creating a depleted layer approximately 35 µm deep. Impinging particle generates a charge pulse converted to a voltage pulse by the charge-sensitive amplifier. Maximum voltage memorized by the peak detector hold circuit is digitized using on-chip 10-bit asynchronous column SAR ADCs. Two readout interfaces are available, 400 MHz LVDS and 50 MHz SPI. Total current consumption is 31 mA from a 1.8 V power supply in the SPI mode.
RAAD: LIGHT-1 CubeSat's payload for the detection of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes
Authors: Di Giovanni A. , Arneodo F. , Al Qasim A. , Alblooshi H. , AlKhouri F. , Alkindi L. , AlMannei A. , Almarri N.H. , Benabderrahmane M.L. , Bruno G. , Conicella V. , Fawwaz O. , Franchi G. , Kalos S. , Oikonomou P. , Perillo L. , Pittori C. , Roberts M.S. , Torres R.
Published: October 2023

The Rapid Acquisition Atmospheric Detector (RAAD), onboard
the LIGHT-1 3U CubeSat, detects photons between hard X-rays and soft
gamma-rays, in order to identify and characterize Terrestrial Gamma
Ray Flashes (TGFs). Three detector configurations are tested, making
use of Cerium Bromide and Lanthanum BromoChloride scintillating
crystals coupled to photomultiplier tubes or Multi-Pixel Photon
Counters, in order to identify the optimal combination for TGF
detection. High timing resolution, a short trigger window, and the
short decay time of its electronics allow RAAD to perform accurate
measurements of prompt, transient events. Here, we describe the
overview of the detection concept, the development of the front-end
acquisition electronics, as well as the ground testing and
simulation that the payload underwent prior to its launch on
December 21st, 2021. We further present an analysis of
the detector's in-orbit system behavior and some preliminary
results.
S-matrix on effective string and compactified membrane
Authors: Seibold Fiona K , Tseytlin Arkady A
Published: October 2023

Expanding Nambu–Goto action near infinitely long string vacuum one can compute scattering amplitudes of 2d massless fields representing transverse string coordinates. As was shown in (Dubovsky et al 2012 J. High Energy Phys. JHEP09(2012)044), the resulting S-matrix is integrable (provided appropriate local counterterms are added), in agreement with known free string spectrum and also with an interpretation of the static-gauge NG action as a

T

T
ˉ

deformation of a free massless theory. We consider a generalization of this computation to the case of a membrane, expanding its 3d action near an infinite membrane vacuum that has cylindrical

R

×

S
1

shape (we refer to such membrane as ‘compactified’). Representing 3d fields as Fourier series in S
1 coordinate we get an effective 2d model in which the massless string modes are coupled to an infinite KK tower of massive 2d modes. We find that the resulting 2d S-matrix is not integrable already at the tree level. We also compute 1-loop scattering amplitude of massless string modes with all compactified membrane modes propagating in the loop. The result is UV finite and is a non-trivial function of the kinematic variables. In the large momentum limit or when the radius of S
1 is taken to infinity we recover the expression for the 1-loop scattering amplitude of the uncompactified

R

2

membrane. We also consider a 2d model which is the

T

T
ˉ

deformation to the free theory with the same massless plus infinite massive tower of modes. The corresponding 2d S-matrix is found, as expected, to be integrable. Contribution to the special issue of Journal of Physics A: ‘Fields, Gravity, Strings and Beyond: In Memory of Stanley Deser’
A conformal coding metasurface for dual polarization conversion and radar cross section (RCS) reduction
Authors: Khan Hamza Asif , Zhang Jun Wei , Liang Jing Cheng , Xia Jun , Zhang Jingjing
Published: October 2023

Integrated meta-devices are the need of modern stealth application systems and have recently received a great deal of attention. Most studies have concentrated on the physics and structural design of planar metasurfaces, while conformal design that is suitable for arbitrarily curved surfaces has been rarely discussed. In this study, a conformal polarization-independent 1-bit coding metasurface (CM) is proposed. A fundamental element of a proposed CM is firstly designed which converts the linearly polarized incident electromagnetic wave into its orthogonal equivalent at 8.53–11.63 and 18.67–22.34 GHz with a polarization-conversion-ratio of more than 90%, and enables linear-to-circular polarization conversion from 12.40 to 17.56 GHz. Next, the basic element is rotated by 90° to generate another element with a phase difference of π between them. Both these elements are distributed in an array using a random aperiodic coding sequence to form 1-bit CM for radar cross section (RCS) reduction. More than 10 dB RCS reduction for arbitrarily polarized waves has been realized in dual frequency bands ranging 8.75–11.22 and 19.10–21.20 GHz, for planar as well as with conformal structures. A prototype is fabricated, and the experiments show a good agreement with simulated results. Potential applications of the proposed design include reflector antennas, radar, satellite communication, and stealth technology.
Spike-based local synaptic plasticity: a survey of computational models and neuromorphic circuits
Authors: Khacef Lyes , Klein Philipp , Cartiglia Matteo , Rubino Arianna , Indiveri Giacomo , Chicca Elisabetta
Published: October 2023

Understanding how biological neural networks carry out learning using spike-based local plasticity mechanisms can lead to the development of real-time, energy-efficient, and adaptive neuromorphic processing systems. A large number of spike-based learning models have recently been proposed following different approaches. However, it is difficult to assess if these models can be easily implemented in neuromorphic hardware, and to compare their features and ease of implementation. To this end, in this survey, we provide an overview of representative brain-inspired synaptic plasticity models and mixed-signal complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor neuromorphic circuits within a unified framework. We review historical, experimental, and theoretical approaches to modeling synaptic plasticity, and we identify computational primitives that can support low-latency and low-power hardware implementations of spike-based learning rules. We provide a common definition of a locality principle based on pre- and postsynaptic neural signals, which we propose as an important requirement for physical implementations of synaptic plasticity circuits. Based on this principle, we compare the properties of these models within the same framework, and describe a set of mixed-signal electronic circuits that can be used to implement their computing principles, and to build efficient on-chip and online learning in neuromorphic processing systems.
Residual intersections and linear powers
Authors: Eisenbud David , Huneke Craig , Ulrich Bernd
Published: October 2023

If

I
I

is an ideal in a Gorenstein ring

S
S

, and

S

/

I

S/I

is Cohen-Macaulay, then the same is true for any linked ideal

I
′

I’

; but such statements hold for residual intersections of higher codimension only under restrictive hypotheses, not satisfied even by ideals as simple as the ideal

L

n

L_{n}

of minors of a generic

2
×
n

2 \times n

matrix when

n
>
3

n>3

.

In this paper we initiate the study of a different sort of Cohen-Macaulay property that holds for certain general residual intersections of the maximal (interesting) codimension, one less than the analytic spread of

I
I

. For example, suppose that

K
K

is the residual intersection of

L

n

L_{n}

by

2
n
−
4

2n-4

general quadratic forms in

L

n

L_{n}

. In this situation we analyze

S

/

K

S/K

and show that

I

n
−
3

(
S

/

K
)

I^{n-3}(S/K)

is a self-dual maximal Cohen-Macaulay

S

/

K

S/K

-module with linear free resolution over

S
S

.

The technical heart of the paper is a result about ideals of analytic spread 1 whose high powers are linearly presented.
Breaking the cycle: Reforming pesticide regulation to protect pollinators
Authors: Fisher Adrian , Tadei Rafaela , Berenbaum May , Nieh James , Siviter Harry , Crall James , Glass Jordan R , Muth Felicity , Liao Ling-Hsiu , Traynor Kirsten , DesJardins Nicole , Nocelli Roberta , Simon-Delso Noa , Harrison Jon F
Published: October 2023

Over decades, pesticide regulations have cycled between approval and implementation, followed by the discovery of negative effects on nontarget organisms that result in new regulations, pesticides, and harmful effects. This relentless pattern undermines the capacity to protect the environment from pesticide hazards and frustrates end users that need pest management tools. Wild pollinating insects are in decline, and managed pollinators such as honey bees are experiencing excessive losses, which threatens sustainable food security and ecosystem function. An increasing number of studies demonstrate the negative effects of field-realistic exposure to pesticides on pollinator health and fitness, which contribute to pollinator declines. Current pesticide approval processes, although they are superior to past practices, clearly continue to fail to protect pollinator health. In the present article, we provide a conceptual framework to reform cyclical pesticide approval processes and better protect pollinators.
Third molar agenesis relates to human craniofacial form
Authors: Kanavakis Georgios , Alamoudi Ragda , Oeschger Elias S , Tacchi Manuel , Halazonetis Demetrios , Gkantidis Nikolaos
Published: October 2023

Objective

To investigate the association between the number of third molars and craniofacial shape.

Subjects and methods

The study sample comprised 470 individuals (194 males and 276 females), out of whom 310 (124 males, mean age: 14.6 years and 186 females, mean age: 14.1 years) had a full permanent dentition including third molars and 160 (70 males, mean age: 13.7 years and 90 females, mean age: 13.9 years) had at least one missing third molar. Pre-orthodontic treatment cephalometric images were digitized using 127 landmarks to describe the shape of the entire craniofacial configuration, the cranial base, the maxilla, and the mandible. The shapes of the various configurations were described by principal components (PCs) of shape. The effect of third molar agenesis on craniofacial shape was evaluated with multivariate regression models, considering shape PCs as the dependent variables, and age and sex as predictors.

Results

There was a strong association between third molar agenesis and the shape of all craniofacial configurations in both sexes. Individuals with missing third molars presented a less convex craniofacial configuration, a shorter anterior facial height and a more retrusive maxilla and mandible. In cases with third molar agenesis only in one jaw, shape differences were also evident in the opposing jaw.

Limitations

Interpretation of study outcomes should take into consideration the two-dimensional data and the analysis of only white-European subjects.

Conclusions

There is a strong association between third molar formation and craniofacial shape. The effect is rather generalized than local and is potentially linked to an ongoing evolutionary mechanism that leads to smaller and fewer teeth, as well as smaller craniofacial configurations, in modern humans.
Superanionic DNA: enzymatic synthesis of hypermodified DNA bearing four different anionic substituents at all four nucleobases
Authors: Kuprikova Natalia , Ondruš Marek , Bednárová Lucie , Riopedre-Fernandez Miguel , Slavětínská Lenka Poštová , Sýkorová Veronika , Hocek Michal
Published: October 2023

We designed and synthesized a set of four 2′-deoxyribonucleoside 5′-O-triphosphates (dNTPs) derived from 5-substituted pyrimidines and 7-substituted 7-deazapurines bearing anionic substituents (carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphonate, and phosphate). The anion-linked dNTPs were used for enzymatic synthesis of modified and hypermodified DNA using KOD XL DNA polymerase containing one, two, three, or four modified nucleotides. The polymerase was able to synthesize even long sequences of >100 modified nucleotides in a row by primer extension (PEX). We also successfully combined two anionic and two hydrophobic dNTPs bearing phenyl and indole moieties. In PCR, the combinations of one or two modified dNTPs gave exponential amplification, while most of the combinations of three or four modified dNTPs gave only linear amplification in asymmetric PCR. The hypermodified ONs were successfully re-PCRed and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. Biophysical studies including hybridization, denaturation, CD spectroscopy and molecular modelling and dynamics suggest that the presence of anionic modifications in one strand decreases the stability of duplexes while still preserving the B-DNA conformation, whilst the DNA hypermodified in both strands adopts a different secondary structure.
Molecular insight into the specific enzymatic properties of TREX1 revealing the diverse functions in processing RNA and DNA/RNA hybrids
Authors: Huang Kuan-Wei , Wu Chia-Yun , Toh Shu-Ing , Liu Tung-Chang , Tu Chun-I , Lin Yin-Hsin , Cheng An-Ju , Kao Ya-Ting , Chu Jhih-Wei , Hsiao Yu-Yuan
Published: October 2023

In various autoimmune diseases, dysfunctional TREX1 (Three prime Repair Exonuclease 1) leads to accumulation of endogenous single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and DNA/RNA hybrids in the cytoplasm and triggers immune activation through the cGAS–STING pathway. Although inhibition of TREX1 could be a useful strategy for cancer immunotherapy, profiling cellular functions in terms of its potential substrates is a key step. Particularly important is the functionality of processing DNA/RNA hybrids and RNA substrates. The exonuclease activity measurements conducted here establish that TREX1 can digest both ssRNA and DNA/RNA hybrids but not dsRNA. The newly solved structures of TREX1–RNA product and TREX1–nucleotide complexes show that 2′-OH does not impose steric hindrance or specific interactions for the recognition of RNA. Through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we illustrate that the 2′-OH-mediated intra-chain hydrogen bonding in RNA would affect the binding with TREX1 and thereby reduce the exonuclease activity. This notion of higher conformational rigidity in RNA leading TREX1 to exhibit weaker catalytic cleavage is further validated by the binding affinity measurements with various synthetic DNA–RNA junctions. The results of this work thus provide new insights into the mechanism by which TREX1 processes RNA and DNA/RNA hybrids and contribute to the molecular-level understanding of the complex cellular functions of TREX1 as an exonuclease.
PancanQTLv2.0: a comprehensive resource for expression quantitative trait loci across human cancers
Authors: Chen Chengxuan , Liu Yuan , Luo Mei , Yang Jingwen , Chen Yamei , Wang Runhao , Zhou Joseph , Zang Yong , Diao Lixia , Han Leng
Published: October 2023

Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis is a powerful tool used to investigate genetic variations in complex diseases, including cancer. We previously developed a comprehensive database, PancanQTL, to characterize cancer eQTLs using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, and linked eQTLs with patient survival and GWAS risk variants. Here, we present an updated version, PancanQTLv2.0 (https://hanlaboratory.com/PancanQTLv2/), with advancements in fine-mapping causal variants for eQTLs, updating eQTLs overlapping with GWAS linkage disequilibrium regions and identifying eQTLs associated with drug response and immune infiltration. Through fine-mapping analysis, we identified 58 747 fine-mapped eQTLs credible sets, providing mechanic insights of gene regulation in cancer. We further integrated the latest GWAS Catalog and identified a total of 84 592 135 linkage associations between eQTLs and the existing GWAS loci, which represents a remarkable ∼50-fold increase compared to the previous version. Additionally, PancanQTLv2.0 uncovered 659516 associations between eQTLs and drug response and identified 146948 associations between eQTLs and immune cell abundance, providing potentially clinical utility of eQTLs in cancer therapy. PancanQTLv2.0 expanded the resources available for investigating gene expression regulation in human cancers, leading to advancements in cancer research and precision oncology.