bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magmatism and Polyphase Deformation in the Middle Jurassic Arc of Central Chile: Implications for the Tectonic Development of the Early Andean Margin
Authors: Singleton John S. , Arancibia Gloria , Morata Diego , Pérez De La Maza Ignacia
Published: August 2024

The ∼173–164 Ma Papudo‐Quintero plutonic complex near 32.5°S in central Chile records three deformation events that provide insight into the tectonic development of the early Andean margin. The first event (D1) includes: (a) high‐temperature (>600°C), coaxial‐dominated strain along NE‐ to N‐striking subvertical shear zones; (b) widespread emplacement of granitic dikes that dip gently to steeply NE; and (c) development of narrow (<10 cm thick) strike‐slip and oblique‐reverse shear zones. These D1 structures record NW‐SE to WNW‐ESE transpressional shortening with a component of sinistral shear parallel to the N‐S trending magmatic arc. Zircon and apatite U‐Pb dates and cross‐cutting relations constrain most D1 deformation to ∼166–164 Ma. The second event (D2) occurred during postmagmatic cooling in the Late Jurassic and was characterized by development of pervasive E‐W‐striking veins with alteration halos and minor strike‐slip and normal faults that record N‐S extension in a transtensional regime. Structures associated with the last deformation event (D3) include Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous mafic dikes, veins, and conjugate strike‐slip faults that record NW‐SE to N‐S shortening in a strike‐slip regime. D1 deformation is consistent with studies from other areas that document NW‐SE shortening ± sinistral transpression along the arc throughout the Jurassic, suggesting this deformation was regional in scale and driven by oblique subduction convergence. Deformation associated with oblique convergence was localized within the active magmatic arc, which was an important process in the early Andean orogeny. As the arc migrated eastward, D2 and D3 structures formed in a low‐stress regime in an arc margin or forearc setting.
Water Sample Collection Methods for 222Rn Analysis by Scuba Diving: Insights on Groundwater Flushing of Anchialine Cave Systems of the Yucatan Peninsula
Authors: Cardenas M. Bayani , Chiarino Ivo , Sananda Josiah M. , Nguyen William D. , Rempe Daniella M.
Published: August 2024

Radon (222Rn) is a widely used tracer in groundwater and surface water studies. In some applications of radon, samples need to be collected from deep submerged areas or discharge points such as caves or springs, locations typically accessed by scuba diving. However, there are no established sampling methods for collecting water by scuba diving for Rn analysis. We assessed four underwater sample collection methods: (a) injection into a catheter bag followed by transfer to a bottle after the dive, (b) air purging and then filling of a bottle by allowing gas to escape, (c) air purging followed by gas escape, and then overfilling of water with a syringe, and (d) collection with a syringe followed by transfer to a bottle. The samples were collected from the anchialine caves of the Yucatan Peninsula which are the longest underwater cave systems. The samples were analyzed using the same Rn‐in‐air analyzer and protocols. Statistical comparison of sampling at the same location with different methods showed no significant differences in Rn activity. No collection method is superior in terms of measurement quality; operational simplicity is thus preferred. Statistically significant differences in activity were observed between fresh and saline samples from the same cave, with higher activities in the fresh samples, regardless of sampling method. The saline groundwater therefore has a lower residence time, suggesting vigorous landwards flow. Our assessment shows that in situ sampling of discrete water samples for Rn tracing by divers is a useful and powerful approach allowing the study of otherwise impossible sites.
Monitoring Water Level of a Surficial Aquifer Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing and Ballistic Surface Waves
Authors: Sobolevskaia Valeriia , Ajo‐Franklin Jonathan , Cheng Feng , Dou Shan , Lindsey Nathaniel J. , Wagner Anna
Published: August 2024

Groundwater resources play an increasingly crucial role in providing the water required to sustain the environment. However, our understanding of the state of surficial aquifers and their spatiotemporal dynamics remains poor. In this study, we demonstrate how Rayleigh wave velocity variation can be used as a direct indicator of changes in the water level of a surficial aquifer in a discontinuous permafrost environment. Distributed acoustic sensing data, collected on a trenched fiber‐optic cable in Fairbanks, AK, was processed using the multichannel analysis of surface waves approach to obtain temporal velocity variations. A semi‐permanent surface orbital vibrator was utilized to provide a repeatable source of energy for monitoring. To understand the observed velocity perturbations, we developed a rock physics model (RPM) representing the aquifer with the underlying permafrost and accounting for physical processes associated with water level change. Our analyses demonstrated a strong correlation between precipitation‐driven head variation and seismic velocity changes at all recorded frequencies. The proposed model accurately predicted a recorded 3% velocity increase for each 0.5 m of head drop and indicated that the pore pressure effect accounted for approximately 75% of the observed phase velocity change. Surface wave inversion and sensitivity analysis suggested that the high velocity contrast in the permafrost table shifts the surface wave sensitivity toward the first 3 m of soil where hydrological forcing occurs. This case study demonstrates how surface wave analysis combined with an RPM can be used for quantitative interpretation of the acoustic response of surficial aquifers.
Bayesian Joint Probability Approach for Post‐Processing Monthly Precipitation Prediction in Northwest Iran
Authors: Javanshiri Z. , Pakdaman M.
Published: August 2024

The probabilistic prediction of monthly precipitation events, specifically more‐than‐normal (MN), normal (N), and less‐than‐normal (LN) events, holds significant importance in the field of water resource management. In this paper, we employ the Bayesian Joint Probability (BJP) modeling approach to generate monthly probabilistic forecasts for LN, N, and MN events in Northwest Iran. To model the joint distribution of observed precipitation and model precipitation, we propose the utilization of a log‐sinh transformed multivariate normal distribution. The prior distribution for the parameters of this multivariate normal distribution is established as the normal‐inverse‐Wishart, which is known to be the conjugate of the multivariate normal distribution. Bayesian inference of model parameters and associated uncertainties is conducted using STAN Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. The methodology is applied to the outputs of four North American Multi‐Model Ensemble (NMME) models, namely CanCM4i, CCSM4, NEMO, and NASA, spanning the period from 1982 to 2017 for a 4‐month forecast horizon. The accuracy of predictions is assessed through various statistical measures and graphical methods using a 12‐fold cross‐validation strategy. The results demonstrate that (a) BJP probabilistic predictions of precipitation consistently outperform raw predictions across all models, months, lead times. (b) The BJP‐NASA model exhibits superior discrimination and reliability compared to other models. (c) May and November show the least amount of discrimination. This observation may be attributed to the fact that these months serve as transitional periods in Iran. (d) Fall forecasts are the most reliable, while summer forecasts are the least reliable.
Three Forcing Mechanisms of Freshwater Transport in Fram Strait
Authors: Karpouzoglou T. , De Steur L. , Smedsrud L. H. , Karcher M. , Sumata H.
Published: August 2024

Fram Strait is one of the main gateways for fresh water leaving the Arctic Ocean toward the deep‐water formation regions of the North Atlantic. Monitoring transport through Fram Strait is important to quantify the impact of Arctic amplification on the hydrography in lower latitudes. We update existing time series from the moorings in the western Fram Strait and investigate the monthly and interannual variability of the liquid freshwater transport (FWT, reference salinity 34.9), volume transport and freshwater content between 2003 and 2020. We examine composites and correlations of sea‐level pressure (SLP) reanalysis, and remote‐sensing dynamic‐ocean topography (DOT) in the Arctic Ocean. We identify two remote forcing mechanisms of FWT: (a) North Pole convergence freshens the region north of Fram Strait 13–24 months before high FWT events. (b) Beaufort Gyre weakening allows spreading of fresh water to the margins of the Arctic Basin zero to 9 months before high FWT events. In addition a third mechanism occurs locally, (b) Fram Strait northerly winds confine freshwater to the Greenland shelf and drive stronger southward FWT. Additionally, we find a decreasing trend in the total volume transport, concurrent with weakening northerly winds and reducing north‐south DOT gradient across the strait. We also examined correlations between the Fram Strait time series and the Arctic Oscillation and Arctic Ocean Oscillation. Both are found to correlate positively with the total volume transport, while the Arctic Oscillation correlates negatively with FWT with 1‐year lag.
Feedbacks, Pattern Effects, and Efficacies in a Large Ensemble of HadGEM3‐GC3.1‐LL Historical Simulations
Authors: Mutton Harry , Andrews Timothy , Hermanson Leon , Seabrook Melissa , Smith Doug M. , Ringer Mark A. , Jones Gareth S. , Webb Mark J.
Published: August 2024

Climate feedbacks over the historical period (here defined as 1850–2014) have been investigated in large ensembles of historical and single forcing experiments (hist‐ghg, hist‐aer, and hist‐nat), with 47 members for each experiment. Across the historical ensemble with all forcings, a range in estimated Effective Climate Sensitivity (EffCS) between approximately 3–6 K is found, a considerable spread stemming solely from initial condition uncertainty. The spread in EffCS is associated with varying Sea Surface Temperature (SST) patterns seen across the ensemble due to their influence on different feedback processes. For example, the level of polar amplification is strongly correlated with the amount of sea ice melt per degree of global warming. This mechanism is related to the large spread in shortwave clear‐sky feedbacks and is the main contributor to the different forcing efficacies seen across the different forcing agents, although in HadGEM3‐GC3.1‐LL these differences in forcing efficacy are shown to be small. The spread in other feedbacks is also investigated, with the level of tropical SST warming strongly correlated with the longwave clear‐sky feedbacks, and the local surface‐air‐temperatures well correlated with the spread in cloud radiative effect feedbacks. The metrics used to understand the spread in feedbacks can also help to explain the disparity between feedbacks seen in the historical experiment simulations and modeled estimate of the feedbacks seen in the real world derived from an atmosphere‐only experiment prescribed with observed SSTs (termed amip‐piForcing).
Assessing Surface Saturation and Transpiration Potential by Hypsometric Curves and the HAND Model
Authors: Bjerkén August , Cuartas Luz A. , Peeters Luk , Persson Kenneth M.
Published: August 2024

Methods for soil water conditions assessment are often highly localized or data demanding. In this study we propose a new scalable approach to assess soil water conditions. The main goal is to test whether the approach can be used to provide information about local conditions, without the need of extensive data sets. The approach utilizes a combination of normalized topography derived from the HAND terrain model (Height Above the Nearest Drainage) and hypsometric curves to identify wet and saturated areas for any given geographical extent. The study was conducted through a case study in the Lagan River catchment in the southwest of Sweden. To analyze the performance of the approach, a non‐linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the fraction of wet area and the normalized terrain. This was followed by a correlation analysis, in which the correspondence of the derived output was validated against the national Soil Moisture Map provided by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The results show a strong, and statistically significant, negative exponential relationship between the fraction of wet area, and the maximum heights within the studied area. The approach also corresponds well with the spatial variations highlighted in the Soil Moisture Map, although better in predicted wetter areas than under dry conditions. Going forward, we believe the integration of hypsometric curves and the HAND model could not only improve water balance calculations but assist in the assessments of flood and drought‐prone areas.
A neutrophil elastase-generated mature form of IL-33 is a potent regulator of endothelial cell activation and proliferative retinopathy
Authors: Bisen Shivantika , Verma Shailendra Kumar , Mukhopadhyay Chandra Sekhar , Singh Nikhlesh K.
Published: August 2024

Human interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a 270 amino acid protein that belongs to the IL-1 cytokine family and plays an important role in various inflammatory disorders. Neutrophil proteases (Cathepsin G and Elastase) and mast cell proteases (tryptase and chymase) regulate the activity of IL-33 by processing full-length IL-33 into its mature form. There is little evidence on the role of these mature forms of IL-33 in retinal endothelial cell signaling and pathological retinal angiogenesis. Here, we cloned, expressed, and purified the various mature forms of human IL-33 and then evaluated the effects of IL-3395-270, IL-3399-270, IL-33109-270, and IL-33112-270 on angiogenesis in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMVECs). We observed that IL-3395-270, IL-3399-270, IL-33109-270, and IL-33112-270 significantly induced HRMVEC migration, tube formation and sprouting angiogenesis. However, only IL-3399-270 could induce HRMVEC proliferation. We used a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) to assess the role of these mature forms of IL-33 in pathological retinal neovascularization. Our 3′-mRNA sequencing and signaling studies indicated that IL-3399-270 and IL-33109-270 were more potent at inducing endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis than the other mature forms. We found that genetic deletion of IL-33 significantly reduced OIR-induced retinal neovascularization in the mouse retina and that intraperitoneal administration of mature forms of IL-33, mainly IL-3399–270 and IL-33109–270, significantly restored ischemia-induced angiogenic sprouting and tuft formation in the hypoxic retinas of IL-33–/– mice. Thus, our study results suggest that blockade or inhibition of IL-33 cleavage by neutrophil proteases could help mitigate pathological angiogenesis in proliferative retinopathies.
Age-related alveolar bone maladaptation in adult orthodontics: finding new ways out
Authors: Zhang Yunfan , Yan Jiale , Zhang Yuning , Liu Hao , Han Bing , Li Weiran
Published: August 2024

Compared with teenage patients, adult patients generally show a slower rate of tooth movement and more pronounced alveolar bone loss during orthodontic treatment, indicating the maladaptation of alveolar bone homeostasis under orthodontic force. However, this phenomenon is not well-elucidated to date, leading to increased treatment difficulties and unsatisfactory treatment outcomes in adult orthodontics. Aiming to provide a comprehensive knowledge and further inspire insightful understanding towards this issue, this review summarizes the current evidence and underlying mechanisms. The age-related abatements in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in adult cells and periodontal tissue may contribute to retarded and unbalanced bone metabolism, thus hindering alveolar bone reconstruction during orthodontic treatment. To this end, periodontal surgery, physical and chemical cues are being developed to reactivate or rejuvenate the aging periodontium and restore the dynamic equilibrium of orthodontic-mediated alveolar bone metabolism. We anticipate that this review will present a general overview of the role that aging plays in orthodontic alveolar bone metabolism and shed new light on the prospective ways out of the impasse.
Ecological genomics in the Northern krill uncovers loci for local adaptation across ocean basins
Authors: Unneberg Per , Larsson Mårten , Olsson Anna , Wallerman Ola , Petri Anna , Bunikis Ignas , Vinnere Pettersson Olga , Papetti Chiara , Gislason Astthor , Glenner Henrik , Cartes Joan E. , Blanco-Bercial Leocadio , Eriksen Elena , Meyer Bettina , Wallberg Andreas
Published: August 2024

Krill are vital as food for many marine animals but also impacted by global warming. To learn how they and other zooplankton may adapt to a warmer world we studied local adaptation in the widespread Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica). We assemble and characterize its large genome and compare genome-scale variation among 74 specimens from the colder Atlantic Ocean and warmer Mediterranean Sea. The 19 Gb genome likely evolved through proliferation of retrotransposons, now targeted for inactivation by extensive DNA methylation, and contains many duplicated genes associated with molting and vision. Analysis of 760 million SNPs indicates extensive homogenizing gene-flow among populations. Nevertheless, we detect signatures of adaptive divergence across hundreds of genes, implicated in photoreception, circadian regulation, reproduction and thermal tolerance, indicating polygenic adaptation to light and temperature. The top gene candidate for ecological adaptation wasnrf-6, a lipid transporter with a Mediterranean variant that may contribute to early spring reproduction. Such variation could become increasingly important for fitness in Atlantic stocks. Our study underscores the widespread but uneven distribution of adaptive variation, necessitating characterization of genetic variation among natural zooplankton populations to understand their adaptive potential, predict risks and support ocean conservation in the face of climate change.
Nigral ATP13A2 depletion induces Parkinson’s disease-related neurodegeneration in a pilot study in non-human primates
Authors: Sikora Joanna , Dovero Sandra , Kinet Rémi , Arotcarena Marie-Laure , Bohic Sylvain , Bezard Erwan , Fernagut Pierre-Olivier , Dehay Benjamin
Published: August 2024

Lysosomal impairment is strongly implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Among the several PD-linked genes, the ATP13A2 gene, associated with the PARK9 locus, encodes a transmembrane lysosomal P5-type ATPase. Mutations in the ATP13A2 gene were primarily identified as the cause of Kufor-Rakeb syndrome (KRS), a juvenile-onset form of PD. Subsequently, an increasing list of several mutations has been described. These mutations result in truncation of the ATP13A2 protein, leading to a loss of function but surprisingly causing heterogeneity and variability in the clinical symptoms associated with different brain pathologies. In vitro studies show that its loss compromises lysosomal function, contributing to cell death. To understand the role of ATP13A2 dysfunction in disease, we disrupted its expression through a viral vector-based approach in nonhuman primates. Here, in this pilot study, we injected bilaterally into the substantia nigra of macaques, a lentiviral vector expressing an ATP13A2 small hairpin RNA. Animals were terminated five months later, and brains were harvested and compared with historical non-injected control brains to evaluate cerebral pathological markers known to be affected in KRS and PD. We characterised the pattern of dopaminergic loss in the striatum and the substantia nigra, the regional distribution of α-synuclein immunoreactivity in several brain structures, and its pathological status (i.e., S129 phosphorylation), the accumulation of heavy metals in nigral sections and occurrence of lysosomal dysfunction. This proof-of-concept experiment highlights the potential value of lentivirus-mediated ATP13A2 silencing to induce significant and ongoing degeneration in the nigrostriatal pathway, α-synuclein pathology, and iron accumulation in nonhuman primates.
Modulation of naïve mesenchymal stromal cells by extracellular vesicles derived from insulin-producing cells: an in vitro study
Authors: Gabr Mahmoud M. , El-Halawani Sawsan M. , Refaie Ayman F. , Khater Sherry M. , Ismail Amani M. , Karras Mary S. , Magar Raghda W. , Sayed Shorouk El , Kloc Malgorzata , Uosef Ahmed , Sabek Omaima M. , Ghoneim Mohamed A.
Published: August 2024

This study was to determine whether extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from insulin-producing cells (IPCs) can modulate naïve mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to become insulin-secreting. MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue. The cells were then differentiated to generate IPCs by achemical-based induction protocol. EVs were retrieved from the conditioned media of undifferentiated (naïve) MSCs (uneducated EVs) and from that of MSC-derived IPCs (educated EVs) by sequential ultracentrifugation. The obtained EVs were co-cultured with naïve MSCs.The cocultured cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, C-peptide nanogold silver-enhanced immunostaining, relative gene expression and their response to a glucose challenge.Immunostaining for naïve MSCs cocultured with educated EVs was positive for insulin, C-peptide, and GAD65. By flow cytometry, the median percentages of insulin-andC-peptide-positive cells were 16.1% and 14.2% respectively. C-peptide nanogoldimmunostaining providedevidence for the intrinsic synthesis of C-peptide. These cells released increasing amounts of insulin and C-peptide in response to increasing glucose concentrations. Gene expression of relevant pancreatic endocrine genes, except for insulin, was modest. In contrast, the results of naïve MSCs co-cultured with uneducated exosomes were negative for insulin, C-peptide, and GAD65. These findings suggest that this approach may overcome the limitations of cell therapy.
The interaction of genetics and physical activity in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease
Authors: Frostdahl Hanna , Ahmad Nouman , Hammar Ulf , Mora Andrés Martínez , Langner Taro , Fall Tove , Kullberg Joel , Ahlström Håkan , Brooke Hannah L. , Ahmad Shafqat
Published: August 2024

Genetic variants associated with increased liver fat and volume have been reported, but whether physical activity (PA) can attenuate the impact of genetic susceptibility to these traits is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate whether higher PA modify genetic impact on liver-related traits in the UK Biobank cohort. PA was self-reported, while magnetic resonance images were used to estimate liver fat (n = 27,243) and liver volume (n = 24,752). Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) and chronic liver disease (CLD) were diagnosed using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Ten liver fat and eleven liver volume-associated genetic variants were selected and unweighted genetic-risk scores for liver fat (GRSLF) and liver volume (GRSLV) were computed. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore interactions between GRSLF/ GRSLV and PA in relation to liver-related traits. Association between GRSLF and liver fat was not different among lower (β = 0.063, 95% CI 0.041–0.084) versus higher PA individuals (β = 0.065, 95% CI 0.054–0.077, pinteraction = 0.62). The association between the GRSLV and liver volume was not different across different PA groups (pinteraction = 0.71). Similarly, PA did not modify the effect of GRSLF and GRSLV on MASLD or CLD. Our findings show that physical activity and genetic susceptibility to liver-related phenotypes seem to act independently, benefiting all individuals regardless of genetic risk.
The role of thickness on the structural and luminescence properties of Y2O3:Ho3+, Yb3+ upconversion films
Authors: Makumbane Vhahangwele , Kroon Robin E. , Yagoub Mubarak Y. A. , Erasmus Lucas J. B. , Coetsee E. , Swart Hendrik C.
Published: August 2024

The structural, surface, and upconversion (UC) luminescence properties of Y2O3:Ho3+,Yb3+ films grown by pulsed laser deposition, for different numbers of laser pulses, were studied. The crystallinity, surface, and UC luminescence properties of the thin films were found to be highly dependent on the number of laser pulses. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis revealed that Y2O3:Ho3+,Yb3+ films were formed in a cubic structure phase with an Ia $$\overline{3 }$$

3
¯

space group. The thicknesses of the films were estimated by using cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy, depth profiles using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the Swanepoel method. The high-resolution XPS was used to determine the chemical composition and oxidation states of the prepared films. The UC emissions were observed at 538, 550, 666, and 756 nm, assigned to the 5F4 → 5I8, 5S2 → 5I8, 5F5 → 5I8, and 5S2 → 5I7 transitions of the Ho3+ ions. The power dependence measurements confirmed the involvement of a two-photon process in the UC process. The color purity estimated from the Commission International de I’Eclairage coordinates confirmed strong green UC emission. The results suggested that the Y2O3:Ho3+,Yb3+ UC transparent films are good candidates for various applications, including solar cell applications.
Compact inertial sensors for measuring external disturbances of physics experiments
Authors: Carter Jonathan J. , Birckigt Pascal , Gerberding Oliver , Koehlenbeck Sina M.
Published: August 2024

Compact, high-precision inertial sensors are needed in the control schemes of many modern physics experiments to isolate them from disturbances caused by seismic motion. We present an inertial sensor whose mechanical oscillator fits on a one-inch diameter optic. The oscillators achieve a mechanical Quality factor of a fundamental oscillation mode of 600,000 and a resonance frequency of 50 Hz, giving them a suspension thermal noise floor lower than all commercially available inertial sensors. The motion of this fundamental mode is suitable to encode inertial motion into the sensor readout. The oscillator is combined with an optical resonator readout scheme that achieves a displacement noise of 100 fm/$$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$$

Hz

above 0.2 Hz. We validate the sensors’ noise floor using a huddle test. Below 20 Hz, the sensor offers comparable performance to the best inertial sensors available today while being a fraction of the size. Above 20 Hz, the sensor is, to the author’s knowledge, the best demonstrated in the literature to date for such a sensor, with a self-noise floor of 0.1 ng/$$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$$

Hz

. The excellent performance of the sensors across seismically relevant frequencies, vacuum compatibility, and compact size make it a prime candidate for integration into sophisticated seismic isolation schemes, such as those used by gravitational wave detectors.
Engineering a GPCR-based yeast biosensor for a highly sensitive melatonin detection from fermented beverages
Authors: Bisquert Ricardo , Guillén Alba , Muñiz-Calvo Sara , Guillamón José M.
Published: August 2024

Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule with diverse biological roles that holds great value as a health-promoting bioactive molecule in any food product and yeast’s ability to produce it has been extensively demonstrated in the last decade. However, its quantification presents costly analytical challenges due to the usual low concentrations found as the result of yeast metabolism. This study addresses these analytical challenges by optimizing a yeast biosensor based on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) for melatonin detection and quantitation. Strategic genetic modifications were employed to significantly enhance its sensitivity and fluorescent signal output, making it suitable for detection of yeast-produced melatonin. The optimized biosensor demonstrated significantly improved sensitivity and fluorescence, enabling the screening of 101 yeast strains and the detection of melatonin in various wine samples. This biosensor’s efficacy in quantifying melatonin in yeast growth media underscores its utility in exploring melatonin production dynamics and potential applications in functional food development. This study provides a new analytical approach that allows a rapid and cost-effective melatonin analysis to reach deeper insights into the bioactivity of melatonin in fermented products and its implications for human health. These findings highlight the broader potential of biosensor technology in streamlining analytical processes in fermentation science.
Correcting directional dark field x-ray imaging artefacts using position dependent image deblurring and attenuation removal
Authors: Croughan Michelle K. , Paganin David M. , Alloo Samantha J. , Ahlers Jannis N. , How Ying Ying , Harker Stephanie A. , Morgan Kaye S.
Published: August 2024

In recent years, a novel x-ray imaging modality has emerged that reveals unresolved sample microstructure via a “dark-field image”, which provides complementary information to conventional “bright-field” images, such as attenuation and phase-contrast modalities. This x-ray dark-field signal is produced by unresolved microstructures scattering the x-ray beam resulting in localised image blur. Dark-field retrieval techniques extract this blur to reconstruct a dark-field image. Unfortunately, the presence of non-dark-field blur such as source-size blur or the detector point-spread-function can affect the dark-field retrieval as they also blur the experimental image. In addition, dark-field images can be degraded by the artefacts induced by large intensity gradients from attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, particularly around sample edges. By measuring any non-dark-field blurring across the image plane and removing it from experimental images, as well as removing attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, we show that a directional dark-field image can be retrieved with fewer artefacts and more consistent quantitative measures. We present the details of these corrections and provide “before and after” directional dark-field images of samples imaged at a synchrotron source. This paper utilises single-grid directional dark-field imaging, but these corrections have the potential to be broadly applied to other x-ray imaging techniques.
The role of general cognitive skills in integrating visual and linguistic information during sentence comprehension: individual differences across the lifespan
Authors: Hintz Florian , Voeten Cesko C. , Dobó Dorottya , Lukics Krisztina Sára , Lukács Ágnes
Published: August 2024

Individuals exhibit massive variability in general cognitive skills that affect language processing. This variability is partly developmental. Here, we recruited a large sample of participants (N = 487), ranging from 9 to 90 years of age, and examined the involvement of nonverbal processing speed (assessed using visual and auditory reaction time tasks) and working memory (assessed using forward and backward Digit Span tasks) in a visual world task. Participants saw two objects on the screen and heard a sentence that referred to one of them. In half of the sentences, the target object could be predicted based on verb-selectional restrictions. We observed evidence for anticipatory processing on predictable compared to non-predictable trials. Visual and auditory processing speed had main effects on sentence comprehension and facilitated predictive processing, as evidenced by an interaction. We observed only weak evidence for the involvement of working memory in predictive sentence comprehension. Age had a nonlinear main effect (younger adults responded faster than children and older adults), but it did not differentially modulate predictive and non-predictive processing, nor did it modulate the involvement of processing speed and working memory. Our results contribute to delineating the cognitive skills that are involved in language-vision interactions.
Designing athermal disordered solids with automatic differentiation
Authors: Zu Mengjie , Goodrich Carl P.
Published: August 2024

The ability to control forces between sub-micron-scale building blocks offers significant potential for designing new materials through self-assembly. Traditionally, this involves identifying a crystal structure with a desired property and then designing building-block interactions so that it assembles spontaneously. However, this paradigm fails for structurally disordered solids, which lack a well-defined structure. Here, we show that disordered solids can still be treated from an inverse self-assembly perspective by bypassing structure and directly targeting material properties. Using the Poisson’s ratio as a primary example, we demonstrate how differentiable programming links interaction parameters with emergent behavior, enabling iterative training to achieve the desired Poisson’s ratio. We also tune other properties, including pressure and local 8-fold structural order, and can even control multiple properties simultaneously. This robust, transferable, and scalable approach can handle a wide variety of systems and properties, demonstrating the utility of disordered solids as a practical avenue for self-assembly platforms.
Garden design can reduce wildfire risk and drive more sustainable co-existence with wildfire
Authors: Ondei Stefania , Price Owen F. , Bowman David M.J.S.
Published: August 2024

Destructive wildfire disasters are escalating globally, challenging existing fire management paradigms. The establishment of defensible space around homes in wildland and rural urban interfaces can help to reduce the risk of house loss and provide a safe area for residents and firefighters to defend the property from wildfire. Although defensible space is a well-established concept in fire management, it has received surprisingly limited scientific discussion. Here we reviewed guidelines on the creation of defensible space from Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. We developed a conceptual model of defensible space framed around the key recommended approaches to mitigate fire attack mechanisms, which address fuel types, amount, and spatial distribution. We found that zonation within the defensible space is commonly recommended; reduction (or removal) of all fuels, and particularly dead plant material, is usually suggested in close ( < 1.5 m; Fuel-free zone) proximity to a house. Conversely, in an intermediate space (1.5–10 m; Open zone), guidelines focus predominantly on minimizing fuel horizontal and vertical connectivity. Finally, in the outer part of the garden (10–30 m; Tree zone) trees can provide canopy shielding from ember attack and radiant energy, but management of on-ground fuel is still recommended. Evidence from the scientific literature broadly supported these defensible space design elements, although many studies were highly localised. Further empirical and modelling research is required to identify optimal zonation surrounding houses, and to better understand how garden structure, species composition and moisture status affects risk of ignition from embers, radiant heat, and flames.
Seismic signature of an extreme hydro-meteorological event in Italy
Authors: Coviello Velio , Palo Mauro , Adirosi Elisa , Picozzi Matteo
Published: August 2024

Flash floods are a major threat for Mediterranean countries and their frequency is expected to increase in the next years due to the climatic change. Civil protection agencies are called to deal with increasing hydrological risk, but existing hydro-meteorological monitoring networks might not be enough for detecting, tracking, and characterizing rapidly evolving floods produced by severe convective storms. Nowadays, hydro-meteorological information in several watersheds particularly in small and mid-size in orographically complex regions or in third-world countries, is still not available or insufficient. To improve our observational capability of these events, we propose to exploit the seismic recordings, which act as opportunistic signals and can complement well-established procedures to early detect the occurrence of flash floods at regional scale. Here, we investigate the hydro-meteorological event that hit central Italy in September 2022 and resulted in a devastating flash flood. We compare seismic data from a national monitoring network with raingauges and hydrometer data. Our evidence suggests that the main stages of the hydro-meteorological events can be tracked by the spatio-temporal evolution of the seismic noise confirming the capability of this multi-sensor approach in detecting and characterizing such kind of events.
Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry: Structure and Mechanism
Authors: Sinnott Michael
Published: August 2024

This fully updated and expanded second edition of a highly popular text book focuses on the structure and mechanism in carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry.

Carbohydrates play important roles in biological systems as energy sources, as structural materials, and as informational structures (when they are often attached to proteins or lipids). Their chemical reactivity and conformational behaviour is governed by mechanistic and stereochemical rules, which apply as much to enzymic as to non-enzymic reactivity. The same principles of reactivity and conformation govern changes brought about in the process industries, such as pulp, paper and food.

Extensively referenced with citations and a detailed index, the book contains everything the reader needs to know to start a carbohydrate research project with one of the real strengths being the treatment and integration of the important physical-chemical principles and methods (though lead references only are given to the finer points of carbohydrate synthesis).

The book is suitable for both researchers who are new to the subject and those more established as well as a readership from diverse backgrounds and interests, including chemists, biochemists, food scientists and technologists involved with the processing of polysaccharides in the paper, textile, cosmetics, biofuels and other industries.
Extensive HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry characterization of soluble degradation products of biodegradable nanoplastics under environmentally relevant temperature and irradiation conditions
Authors: Douki Thierry , Bard Vérane , Boulée Maëva , Carrière Marie
Published: August 2024

The low molecular weight degradation products of nanosize biodegradable plastics were identified by mass spectrometry. The only detected products for PLA, PCL and PET were found to a rise from hydrolysis.
Recent advances in near-infrared stimulated nanohybrid hydrogels for cancer photothermal therapy
Authors: Hu Yongjun , Zhou Yi , Li Kaichun , Zhou Dong
Published: August 2024

Photothermal nanogels exhibit good colloidal stability and high drug loading capacity, and can selectively accumulate at the tumor site through active or passive targeting, and then synergize with photothermal therapy to kill the tumor.
Metal-free photoinduced generation and alkynylation of carbamoyl radicals: a facile synthesis of alkynyl amides
Authors: Duan Yurong , Zhang Kai , Xing Tongtong , Bai Yubin , Li Jinfeng , Yang Xiaojun , Zhao Yu , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: August 2024

A metal-free photoinduced alkynylation of carbamoyl radicals with hypervalent iodine(iii) reagents for a facile synthesis of alkynyl amides has been developed.
Chiral 2D and quasi-2D hybrid organic inorganic perovskites: from fundamentals to applications
Authors: Moroni Marco , Coccia Clarissa , Malavasi Lorenzo
Published: August 2024

The field of chiral 2D and quasi-2D perovskite is reviewed highlighting the most important results to date and indicating future directions for advancement.
Glycine modified copper promotes CO2 electroreduction to multi-carbon products: a computational study
Authors: Wang Haibin , Lu Ruihu , Dong Cunku , Du Xiwen , Liang Hongyan
Published: August 2024

A molecular modification strategy exhibits great potential for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction.
CeO2-modified monolithic ceramic foams for efficient catalytic ozonation of refractory organic pollutants in a continuous-flow reactor
Authors: Zhao Yang , Ding Wenfei , Chen Xiaochi , Chen Shuo
Published: August 2024

The monolithic catalyst of CeO2-loaded ceramic foam for the catalytic ozonation of organic pollutants operated in a continuous-flow mode was developed, achieving effective TOC removal of organic pollutants and high utilization efficiency of ozone.
Field-responsive grain boundary against dendrite penetration for all-solid-state batteries
Authors: Xiong Bing-Qing , Liu Xiaoye , Nian Qingshun , Wang Zihong , Zhu Yuhong , Luo Xuan , Jiang Jinyu , Ruan Digen , Ma Jun , Jiang Junhao , Cheng Yi-Feng , Li Changhao , Ren Xiaodi
Published: August 2024

Ferroelectric BaTiO3 improves all-solid-state Li metal batteries with garnet-based solid electrolytes by reducing electric fields at grain boundary, preventing Li filament growth, and forming mixed-conducting interlayers.
Enzymatic modification of cold pressed coconut meal protein: nutritional, functional and biological properties
Authors: Akbarbaglu Zahra , Sarabandi Khashayar , Peighambardoust Seyed Hadi , Sarabandi Roxana , Kafil Hossein Samadi , Hesarinejad Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2024

Bioactive peptides (BPs) generated by hydrolysis of food proteins exhibit a broad spectrum of biological properties in both in vitro and in vivo models.
Direct regeneration of fluorine-doped carbon-coated LiFePO4 cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Han Yurong , Fang Yinzhuang , Yan Menglong , Qiu Haoyu , Han Yifeng , Chen Yi , Lin Liangyou , Qian Jingwen , Mei Tao , Wang Xianbao
Published: August 2024

Fluorine-doped carbon-coated LiFePO4 materials are regenerated by sintering residual PVDF after separating spent electrode strips via methanol-citric acid, with a good capacity of 141.5 mA h g−1 at 1C and a retention rate of 99.6% after 100 cycles.
Introduction to the themed issue on liquid-based materials: novel concepts from fundamentals to applications
Authors: Hou Xu , Seo Jungmok
Published: August 2024

Xu Hou and Jungmok Seo introduce the Industrial Chemistry & Materials themed issue on liquid-based materials.
Pt(iv) derivatives of cisplatin and oxaliplatin bearing an EMT-related TMEM16A/COX-2-selective dual inhibitor against colorectal cancer cells HCT116
Authors: Ma Zhong-Ying , Ding Xiao-Jing , Zhu Zhen-Zhen , Chen Qian , Wang Dong-Bo , Qiao Xin , Xu Jing-Yuan
Published: August 2024

The niflumic acid-based Pt(iv) prodrug exerts effective anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer by affecting multi-signaling pathways of DNA/TMEM16A/COX-2.
Discovery of highly potent SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 methyltransferase inhibitors based on adenosine 5′-carboxamides
Authors: Kocek Hugo , Chalupská Dominika , Dejmek Milan , Dvořáková Alexandra , Zgarbová Michala , Šála Michal , Chalupský Karel , Krafčíková Petra , Otava Tomáš , Drexler Matúš , Procházková Eliška , Klepetářová Blanka , Štefek Milan , Kozic Ján , Mertlíková-Kaiserová Helena , Boura Evzen , Weber Jan , Nencka Radim
Published: August 2024

SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 methyltransferase inhibitors based on adenosine 5′-carboxamides.
Mineralized aggregates based on native protein phase transition for non-destructive diagnosis of seborrheic skin by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Hao , Liu Zhiming , Zhang Hao , Huang Ke , Liu Xiaohui , Jiang Hui , Wang Xuemei
Published: August 2024

A biomimetic mineralized aggregates strategy has been proposed, which could obtain molecular information about sebum by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Impacts of heteroatom substitution on the excited state dynamics of π-extended helicenes
Authors: Kondo Yuto , Tsutsui Yusuke , Matsuo Yusuke , Tanaka Takayuki , Seki Shu
Published: August 2024

The excited state dynamics of heterohelicenes [9]TH and [9]AH were spectroscopically studied. [9]AH showed enhanced fluorescence, while phosphorescence occurred in [9]TH due to its enhanced spin–orbit coupling and swift intersystem crossing.
A comparative study of the sonocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by using silicon carbide and titanium dioxide
Authors: Chen Hongye , Gao Ruqin , Ren Ke , Li Changhui , He Jianling , Li Guoting
Published: August 2024

Under ultrasonic irradiation, the bubbles periodically expand and collapse rapidly. SiC is stimulated by UV irradiation through sonoluminescence to produce photoinduced e−–h+ pairs and ˙OH, then methylene blue is completely mineralized.
Chirality induction to porphyrin derivatives co-confined at the air–water interface with silica nano-helices: towards enantioselective thin solid film surfaces
Authors: Ottolini Michela , Anfar Zakaria , Grover Nitika , Magna Gabriele , Stefanelli Manuela , Paolesse Roberto , Senge Mathias O. , Bettini Simona , Valli Ludovico , Oda Reiko , Giancane Gabriele
Published: August 2024

An achiral hydrophobic porphyrin was assembled onto water suspended silica helices in a Langmuir trough, inducing tunable chirality in the aggregates. Chiral discrimination was observed, ruled by the analyte's chirality and the helices’ helicity.
Prediction of the binding interactions between rosmarinic acid and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor type 1 by molecular docking and immobilized receptor chromatography
Authors: Shi Bowen , Wang Jing
Published: August 2024

Drug–protein interaction analysis is significant for illustrating the binding mechanisms and providing valuable information for selecting drug candidates with ideal properties.
Visible light driven (VLD) reduced TiO2−x nanocatalysts designed by inorganic and organic reducing agent-mediated solvothermal methods for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications
Authors: Jamil Sadaf , Jabeen Naila , Sajid Fatima , Khan Latif U. , Kanwal Afia , Sohail Manzar , Zaheer Muhammad , Akhter Zareen
Published: August 2024

Visible light driven (VLD) modified titania based nanocatalysts synthesized via inorganic and organic synthesis routes for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications.
A novel mucoadhesive paliperidone-nanoemulsion developed using the ultrasonication method in the treatment of schizophrenia
Authors: Ahmad Niyaz , Ansari Khalid , Alamoudi Mariam K. , Haque Anzarul , Ullah Zabih , Khalid Mohammed Saifuddin , Ahmad Sarfaraz
Published: August 2024

Enhancing the brain bioavailability of paliperidone by developing a novel mucoadhesive-CS-coated-PLP-NE and examining the quantity of PLP by developing a novel method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in schizophrenic rat brain treatment.
Engineered species-selective ion-exchange in tuneable dual-phase zeolite composites
Authors: Reed James L. A. , James Andrew , Carey Thomas , Fitzgerald Neelam , Kellet Simon , Nearchou Antony , Farrelly Adele L. , Fell Harrison A. H. , Allan Phoebe K. , Hriljac Joseph A.
Published: August 2024

The partial interzeolite transformation of a natural mordenite presents an effective method to diversify the structure of natural zeolites and enhance their ion-exchange properties.
Nanocluster catalysts for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide
Authors: Wijaya Devina Thasia , Luthfiah Annisa , Woo Lee Chan
Published: August 2024

Nanocluster materials for CO2 electroreduction are analyzed with a focus on rational design, considering size effects and stronger interactions with reaction intermediates, electrolytes, and support materials.
The search for rigid, tough polyesters with high Tg – renewable aromatic polyesters with high isosorbide content
Authors: Bottega Pergher Bruno , Weinland Daniel H. , van Putten Robert-Jan , Gruter Gert-Jan M.
Published: August 2024

Renewable polyesters with a good balance between impact strength and elastic modulus (stiffness) are not very common, especially when combined with high glass transition temperature (Tg).