bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peasant Displacement and Food Sustainability: The Colombian Case
Authors: Suárez-Roldan Carolina , Méndez-Giraldo Germán
Published: June 2024

Social migration affects the development of rural territories in multiple ways, as it poses a threat to food security and hinders the achievement of sustainable development objectives. The purpose of this research is to represent peasant migration and measure its impact on food security, since it creates conditions that alter people’s access to healthy food. Our research question is: What variables can be used to measure the impact of peasant migration on food security? A three-stage model is implemented, which includes (i) the acquisition of knowledge, (ii) the representation of knowledge, and (iii) decision-making. These stages are the basis of the methodology developed by the ARCOSES research group (Méndez A. System Dynamics and Social Problems. Bogotá: Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, 2012). The model developed to represent peasant migration and its impact on food security has five components. The model representation was applied in 58 typical rural municipalities, observing a potential loss of 30,580,000 tons of food, which amounts to 5% of the national production. Likewise, it was observed that 70% of migrating farmers are part of the economically active population. Colombian governorships should strive towards a greater and more comprehensive development of rural municipalities in order to avoid massive displacement to urban regions, which affects the availability of rural labor, causes poor agricultural production levels and compromises food sustainability. To ensure peasants’ full access to food and their well-being, an assertive intervention should be carried out by the Colombian State.
Deep Heterogeneous AutoML Trend Prediction Model for Algorithmic Trading in the USD/COP Colombian FX Market Through Limit Order Book (LOB)
Authors: Leon Diego , Sandoval Javier , Cruz Andrea , Hernandez German , Sierra Oscar
Published: June 2024

This study presents a novel and competitive approach for algorithmic trading in the Colombian US dollar inter-bank market (SET-FX). At the core of this strategy is an advanced predictive model, developed using the Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT). TPOT, an automated machine learning platform based on strongly-typed genetic programming, incorporates the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). This multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is instrumental in identifying machine learning models that strike an optimal balance between high accuracy and low complexity, thereby advancing the field of predictive modeling in financial markets.
Docimological Quality Analysis of LLM-Generated Multiple Choice Questions in Computer Science and Medicine
Authors: Grévisse Christian , Pavlou Maria Angeliki S. , Schneider Jochen G.
Published: June 2024

Assessment is an essential part of education, both for teachers who assess their students as well as learners who may evaluate themselves. Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) are one of the most popular types of knowledge assessment, e.g., in medical education, as they can be automatically graded and can cover a wide range of learning items. However, the creation of high-quality MCQ items is a time-consuming task. The recent advent of Large Language Models (LLM), such as Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), caused a new momentum for automatic question generation solutions. Still, evaluating generated questions according to the best practices for MCQ item writing is needed to ensure docimological quality. In this article, we propose an analysis of the quality of LLM-generated MCQs. We employ zero-shot approaches in two domains, namely computer science and medicine. In the former, we make use of 3 GPT-based services to generate MCQs. In the latter, we developed a plugin for the Moodle learning management system that generates MCQs based on learning material. We compare the generated MCQs against common multiple-choice item writing guidelines. Among the major challenges, we determined that while LLMs are certainly useful in generating MCQs more efficiently, they sometimes create broad items with ambiguous keys or implausible distractors. Human oversight is also necessary to ensure instructional alignment between generated items and course contents. Finally, we propose solutions for AQG developers.
Understanding Children and Adolescents’ Experiences Being Bullied: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Snodgrass Makenna A. , Smith Sarah L. , Gregus Samantha
Published: June 2024

Bullying is a common experience among youth around the world, but is not commonly thought of as a traumatic event. However, previous research suggests the outcomes and symptoms children and adolescents experience after bullying parallel those experienced after a traumatic event. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore adolescents’ experiences being bullied and the consequences experienced following being bullied. Contextual factors were explored to understand under which circumstances participants endorsed symptoms consistent with trauma. Ten adolescents (Mage = 12.5 years, 50% boys, 90% White) who reported being bullied at least “sometimes” over a period of “weeks” or more, per a single parent report, in the past year agreed to complete surveys and a semi-structured interview about their bullying experiences. Thematic analysis revealed six themes related to consequences of bullying experiences: Emotional Distress, Avoidance of School Settings, Somatic Complaints, Importance of Social Support, Disruptions within Peer Groups, and Impaired School Performance. Nine participants endorsed at least one posttraumatic stress symptom and three participants endorsed clinical levels of PTSD qualitatively. Contextual factors associated with endorsing posttraumatic stress symptoms in this study were gender, duration and frequency of bullying, age and number of perpetrators, and seriousness of bullying. Results from this study suggest that consequences of bullying vary between victims and that while some participants reported consequences consistent with PTSD, other participants’ consequences seem to parallel other depressive or anxiety disorders. These results have implications for future research and interventions for working with youth who have experienced repeated bullying.
Recycling Preparative Liquid Chromatography, the Overlooked Methodology for the Purification of Natural Products
Authors: Pereda-Miranda Rogelio , Castañeda-Gómez Jhon F. , Fragoso-Serrano Mabel
Published: June 2024

Frequently, preparative high-performance liquid chromatography separations of complex natural product mixtures by adsorption chromatography are erratic to achieve full baseline separation. Purification of metabolites with similar or identical polarity, such as epimers, diastereoisomers, homologs in a series, and geometric or positional isomers, by a single chromatographic run, is not properly achieved. Consequently, recycling preparative high-performance liquid chromatography has been proposed with a closed-loop recycling valve designed to increase the capacity of separation of mixtures of low-resolution peaks by a series of consecutive passes through the same column. Thus, the sample zone is basically recycled back into the column to continue the separation process in a closed-loop system. A consequence of this recycling mode is the increment in the number of theoretical plates with each cycle and maintaining a minium peak dispersion in the resulting chromatogram with no additional solvent needed for recycling. Pure samples are collected when the baseline resolution is achieved. Therefore, compounds with comparable physicochemical characteristics are fully separated to provide pure single chemical entities suitable for structure elucidation and further biological assessments. This review article examines the essential fundaments of this efficient method and its advances in isolation of natural products that have made the laborious purification processes less demanding and less time-consuming. Several applications that show the purification of natural products from small to large bioactive natural molecules by recycling preparative high-performance liquid chromatography are revised.

Graphical abstract
Gender-differentiated capture of agro-based climate adaptation interventions: implications for agricultural systems and practices in Cameroon’s Western highlands
Authors: Awazi Nyong Princely , Kimengsi Jude Ndzifon , Forje Gadinga Walter
Published: June 2024

In climate change adaptation, studies exist on extension interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, albeit the dearth of scientific evidence on the differential “capture1” of agro-based adaptation packages. This paper contributes to provide evidence by (1) analyzing the typology of agro-based climate adaptation packages, and (2) exploring gender variations in the capture of agro-based climate adaptation packages. We use key informant interviews (N = 89) and focus group discussions (N = 14) to obtain data, analyzed using content analysis. Variations were observed in the capture of agro-based adaptation packages introduced by state and non-state actors. While men (adult male) mostly employed dominant information, women (adult female) drew from group formation. Agro-based adaptation capture led to major shifts in agricultural systems in the western highlands from monocropping to mixed cropping, mixed farming and agroforestry systems. The results show changes in agricultural systems from monocropping to mixed cropping. It was observed that women (adult female) and youths (both male and female) capture adaptation strategies encouraged by state agencies than the men (adult male) who adopt various adaptation strategies by both state agencies and non-governmental organizations. While these findings shed light on the dynamics of gender differentiated capture, it further calls for an in-depth exploration of other factors which shape agricultural system change.
Determinants of urban household vulnerability to food insecurity in southern Ethiopia
Authors: Borku Abraham Woru , Utallo Abera Uncha , Tora Thomas Toma
Published: June 2024

Food insecurity is a global problem in both urban and rural areas. However, urban food security in Ethiopia has received little attention. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of urban household vulnerability to food insecurity in selected towns in Southern Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed research design, incorporating a household survey, key informant interviews, and focus-group discussions. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 310 survey households. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. The household vulnerability to food insecurity indicator was used to assess the level of vulnerability to food insecurity. An ordered logit model was used to identify the determinants of vulnerability to food insecurity in the urban setup. The results showed 41.3% of households in the study to be highly vulnerable to food insecurity, 48.3% moderately vulnerable, and 10.6% not vulnerable. Among the 16 variables, household ownership of houses, health status, urban agriculture, socio-cultural practices, asset ownership, age, and average monthly income were found to be significant in determining the vulnerability to food insecurity. The study recommended that food security interventions demand due attention, particularly for low-income urban households benefit from the urban productive safety net program. Policymakers and development professionals should implement a multiple approach to address urban food insecurity in Ethiopia. This should include targeted interventions beyond urban productive safety net program for highly vulnerable households.
Statistical Analysis of Factors Associated with Diarrhea in Yemeni Children under Five: Insights from the 2022–2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
Authors: Satty Ali , Salih Mohyaldein , Abdalla Faroug A. , A. Mahmoud Ashraf F. , Gumma Elzain A. E. , Saad Mohamed Khamis Gamal , Adam Ahmed M. A. , Hassaballa Abaker A. , Hamed Omer M. A. , M. S. Mohammed Zakariya
Published: June 2024

Diarrheal disease remains a significant cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population, particularly among children below five years of age. Although the occurrence of diarrheal episodes is on the decline, its impact continues to escalate at a concerning rate among children under the age of five, especially in developing countries. The objective of this paper is to investigate the factors associated with diarrhea in Yemeni children younger than five years, drawing on data from the latest edition of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Yemen conducted in 2022–2023. To identify factors associated with the prevalence of childhood diarrhea, bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were utilized. The findings of this study suggest that age group 6–23, unimproved sanitation, and low-income households are associated with high risk of diarrhea in children under five years of age in Yemen. The study contributes additional evidence regarding factors that should be prioritized in public health strategies geared towards reducing diarrheal prevalence among Yemeni children.
Brain stem death diagnosis: a systematic review of families’ experience
Authors: Shaikh Madiha , Cade-Smith Ella , Mackay Liam , Wijayatilake Dhuleep Sanjay , Kingsley Marc
Published: June 2024

Aim

Receiving a diagnosis of brain stem death poses significant challenges for families. While much research focuses on organ donation in the context of brain stem death, there is a notable dearth of studies examining the experiences of families themselves. The aim of this review is to explore the experiences of families facing brain stem death.

Design

Systematic review.

Method

A narrative synthesis was conducted, drawing on 11 studies that employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The search encompassed four electronic databases: AHMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), Emcare (1995-present), MEDLINE (Ovid), and APA PsycInfo (Ovid). Due to the limited research on this topic, no restrictions were placed on the publication dates.

Results

The synthesis revealed five main themes: The Unexpected Prognosis, Coming to Terms with Brain Stem Death—Grieving Process, Observing Brain Stem Death Testing, The Impact of Staff on Families’ Experience, and The Lasting Impact.

Conclusion

The review underscores the pervasive lack of understanding among families regarding the diagnosis and process of brain stem death, as well as the short- and long-term distress it can engender. There is a clear imperative to establish national or international protocols for brain stem death, ensuring more effective and consistent support for affected families.
Mapping of main and hidden epistatic QTL effects in spring wheat population using medium parental FHB resistance
Authors: ElDoliefy Ahmed ElFatih A. , Anderson James A. , Glover Karl D. , Elias Elias M. , Ashry Hisham A. , ElZahaby Ibrahim M. , Mergoum Mohamed
Published: June 2024

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease lowering the yield and quality of wheat. Intensive use of limited allelic pools critically affects wheat resistance, while advancing pathogenic alleles. This study presents new alleles raised from moderate rather than elite crosses. ‘Parshall’ has indigenous moderate resistance that was crossed with the moderate susceptible ‘Reeder’ and developed the 110 RIL population (noted as PR) that was tested across three states and years in the USA, under open-field and greenhouse conditions. Heading- and FHB-related traits of incidence, severity, and index were assessed. A genetic map (1417 cM) of SNP/DArT markers was generated. Composite interval mapping produced 45 QTL. Permutated LOD assessment identified two consistent QTL (4AL and 4BL) of type I and II resistance. Significant markers at the 4A QTL showed correlation with previous FHB resistance, while at the 4B QTL with pathogen responsive regions. The 1- and 2-D genome scans identified 16 QTL and six pairs of interacting markers for resistance, with additive effects between 0.17% and 2.19%; respectively. Additionally, additive × environment interaction was between 0.04% and 3.18% confirming the high environmental effect. Three pairs of QTL with additive × additive effects between 0.15% and 0.30% were revealed by FHB epistasis. However, the additive × additive environmental interaction at these three loci varied between 0.03% and 1%, confirming the G × E effect on FHB resistance. Hidden heritable epistasis was discovered in PR-population for FHB resistance. PR-alleles will help breeders develop lines mitigating epidemic environments and changeable climates, to boost yield facing hanger, food scarce, and secure worldwide penurious economies.
Democracy and the American Gothic
Authors: Blouin Michael J.
Published: June 2024

While the political undercurrent of the American Gothic has been firmly established, few scholars have surveyed the genre's ambivalent relationship to democracy. The American Gothic routinely undercuts centralised authority by exposing the dark underbelly of the status quo; at the same time, the American Gothic tends to reflect a widespread mistrust of the masses. American readers are too afraid of democracy – and not yet fearful enough. This concise Element theorises the democratic and anti-democratic elements of the American Gothic by surveying the conflicted imaginaries of the genre's mainstays, including Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, and Stephen King.
Validierung des Onlinefragebogens zur sozialen Akzeptanz von Eltern und Lehrkräften gegenüber Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Schule (SAELKIS) und Überprüfung der Faktorstruktur
Authors: Mesenhöller Janne , Böhme Katrin
Published: June 2024

Zusammenfassung: Adaptive Lernanwendungen, die auf Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) basieren, bieten für den Schulkontext großes Potenzial. Unklar ist jedoch, inwieweit solche Systeme von potenziell relevanten Beteiligten sozial akzeptiert werden. Um diese soziale Akzeptanz abbilden zu können, stellt der vorliegende Beitrag die Entwicklung und Validierung des Onlinefragebogens zur „Sozialen Akzeptanz von Eltern und Lehrkräften gegenüber Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Schule“ (SAELKIS) vor. Der Fragebogen wurde theoriebasiert entwickelt und steht für Eltern und Lehrkräfte in zwei verschiedenen Versionen zur Verfügung. Es werden jeweils die drei ökonomisch einsetzbaren Skalen wahrgenommene Nützlichkeit, wahrgenommene Benutzerfreundlichkeit und Verhaltensintention, KI-basierte Lernanwendungen zu nutzen, unterschieden. Für NE = 223 Eltern und NL = 141 Lehrkräfte wurde die faktorielle und konvergente Validität des Fragebogens überprüft. Mithilfe eines Strukturgleichungsmodells konnte die postulierte Modellstruktur für die Eltern bestätigt werden. Auch für die Lehrkräfte zeigte sich nach Entfernung eines Items eine gute Modellpassung. Die internen Konsistenzen sind ebenfalls gut, ferner konnte insgesamt eine hohe Kriteriumsvalidität nachgewiesen werden.
Nonverbal Behavior in Selection Interviews
Authors: Tescari Marie-Eve , Bangerter Adrian
Published: June 2024

Abstract: In selection interviews, applicant nonverbal cues elicit impressions that affect evaluations. However, little is known about which micro cues and macro impressions are impactful. The current study measured 21 micro and macro impressions and their influence on interview performance from thin slices of 70 videotaped structured mock interviews. Interview performance was positively associated with six macro impressions and with vocal attractiveness. Performance was negatively related to being anxious and facial attractiveness. Micro cues, overall physical appearance, and overall likability were not correlated with performance. Smiling and hand gestures were associated with macro impressions. Moreover, macro impressions combined into the Big Two dimensions of interpersonal perception, Communion and Agency, which both predicted interview performance.
Investigating the Lid Effect on the Generation of Ocean Island Basalts: 1. Geochemical Trends
Authors: Jiang Shihao , Hawkins Rhys , Hoggard Mark J. , Davies D. Rhodri , Campbell Ian H.
Published: June 2024

Ocean island basalts (OIBs) are generated by mantle plumes, with their geochemistry controlled by a combination of source composition, temperature, and thickness of overlying lithosphere. For example, OIBs erupting onto thicker, older oceanic lithosphere are expected to exhibit signatures indicative of higher average melting pressures. Here, we quantitatively investigate this relationship using a global data set of Neogene and younger OIB compositions. Local lithospheric thicknesses are estimated using theoretical plate‐cooling models and Bayes factors are applied to identify trends. Our findings provide compelling evidence for a correlation between OIB geochemistry and lithospheric thickness, with some variables (SiO2, Al2O3, FeO, Lu) showing linear trends that can be attributed to increasing average melting pressure, whereas others (CaO, La, λ0, and λ1) require a bi‐linear fit with a change in gradient at ∼55 km. Observed variations in highly incompatible elements are consistent with degrees of melting that decrease with increasing lithospheric thickness, as expected. Nevertheless, at thicknesses beyond ∼55 km, the implied degree of melting does not decrease as rapidly as is suggested by theoretical expectations. This observation is robust across different lithospheric thickness estimates, including those derived from seismic constraints. We infer that at thicknesses exceeding ∼55 km, weak plumes fail to effectively thin overlying lithosphere and/or produce insufficient melt to erupt. This is supported by independent estimates of plume buoyancy flux, indicating that OIB magmatism on older lithosphere may be biased toward hotter plumes. In addition, we find evidence for a “memory effect” of incomplete homogenization of melts during their ascent.
Slow Slip as an Indicator of Fault Stress Criticality
Authors: Lambert Valère
Published: June 2024

Fault regions inferred to be slowly slipping are interpreted to accommodate much of tectonic plate motion aseismically and potentially serve as barriers to earthquake rupture. Here, we build on prior work using simulations of earthquake sequences with enhanced dynamic fault weakening to show how fault regions that exhibit decades of steady creep or transient slow‐slip events can be driven to dynamically fail by incoming earthquake ruptures. Following substantial earthquake slip, such regions can be under‐stressed and locked for centuries prior to slowly slipping again. Our simulations illustrate that slow fault slip indicates that a region is sufficiently loaded to be failing about its quasi‐static strength. Hence, if a fault region is susceptible to failing dynamically, then observations of slow slip could serve as an indication that the region is critically stressed and ready to fail in a future earthquake, posing a qualitatively different interpretation of slow slip for seismic hazard.
How Much Can Riverine Biogeochemical Fluxes Affect the Arctic Ocean Acidification?
Authors: Zhang Yuanxin , Yamamoto‐Kawai Michiyo , Watanabe Eiji , Park Hotaek
Published: June 2024

Arctic rivers carry not only large amounts of freshwater but also biogeochemical materials into the ocean and play important roles in Arctic ocean acidification (OA). This study quantitatively evaluated the effects of riverine biogeochemical fluxes (R‐BGC; carbon and nutrients) on the Arctic marine carbonate system and OA using multi‐decadal experiments (1979–2018) with a pan‐Arctic sea ice–ocean model. Improved initial and lateral boundary conditions of carbonate properties, observation‐based riverine biogeochemical data, and land model‐based interannually varying riverine freshwater discharge were adopted to enable more realistic experiments. The model simulated negative trends in aragonite saturation state (Ω) and pH in most regions of Arctic Ocean regardless of R‐BGC. The increased riverine freshwater promoted more OA through the higher dilution effect. Compared to the experiment with riverine discharge of only freshwater, the inclusion of R‐BGC caused positive anomalies in Ω and pH (by ∼0.14 and ∼0.03 in central basins, and by ∼0.15 and ∼0.06 in shelf seas, respectively). In the central basins, these anomalies were caused mostly by carbon (total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon) of the R‐BGC. In the shelf seas, nutrient (nitrate and silicate) fluxes also contributed ∼14% and ∼32% of the anomalies owing to the enhanced primary production and a corresponding reduction in seawater pCO2. R‐BGC mitigated OA (ΔΩ = −1.53 × 10−3 year−1 and ΔpH = −0.56 × 10−3 year−1) in regions where riverine freshwater was accumulated (i.e., the Canada Basin, Chukchi Cap, Eurasian Basin, and East Siberian Sea). This study stressed the importance of including R‐BGC for OA model projection.
A Multi‐Data Set Analysis of the Freshwater Transport by the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at Nominally 34.5°S
Authors: Arumí‐Planas Cristina , Dong Shenfu , Perez Renellys , Harrison Matthew J. , Farneti Riccardo , Hernández‐Guerra Alonso
Published: June 2024

The freshwater transport (Mov) by the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) across 34.5°S is computed using observations from 49 eXpendable BathyThermograph (XBT) transects between 2002 and 2019. The Mov at 34.5°S serves as a possible indicator of the AMOC stability, with a negative (southward) freshwater transport indicating a possible bistable AMOC regime and positive (northward) transport indicating a monostable regime. A negative Mov mean of −0.15 ± 0.09 Sv is estimated from the repeated XBT transects, suggesting a bistable AMOC regime. Results are complemented with two data sets derived from Argo float observations, numerical ocean models, and coupled climate models. More than half of the coupled models examined, 20 out of 32, present positive Mov mean values. To investigate the causes of the differing signs of the Mov across the models, we examine the salinity vertical structure in models with positive and negative Mov, indicating fresher upper and saltier deep waters in models with positive Mov. The South Atlantic meridional fluxes show linear relationships, with a negative slope (positively correlated in magnitude) between Mov/MOC and Mov/MHT, and a positive slope (positively correlated) between MHT/MOC. Seasonally, the South Atlantic meridional fluxes from most of the data sets considered here, show a more negative Mov and a more positive MOC and MHT in austral fall and winter from April to August across 34.5°S.
A Novel Localized Fast Multipole Method for Computations With Spatially Correlated Observation Error Statistics in Data Assimilation
Authors: Hu Guannan , Dance Sarah L.
Published: June 2024

Several observation types (e.g., geostationary satellite and Doppler radar observations) have recently been found to exhibit strong spatial error correlations. Including these error statistics in data assimilation for numerical weather prediction can improve analysis quality and forecast skill. Moreover, it allows for increases in the spatial density of observations assimilated, which is needed for the provision of information on appropriate scales for high‐resolution forecasting. However, introducing correlated error statistics may increase the computational complexity and parallel communication costs of matrix‐vector products involving observation precision matrices (inverse observation error covariance matrices). Without new approaches, we cannot take full advantage of new observation uncertainty estimates. We develop a new numerical approximation method based on a particular type of fast multipole method and a domain localization approach. The basic idea is to divide the observation domain into boxes and then separate calculations of matrix‐vector products according to the partition. These calculations can be done in parallel with very low communication overheads. The new method is easy to implement and parallelize, and it is applicable to a wide variety of observation precision matrices. We applied the new method to a simple variational data assimilation problem and found that the computational cost of the variational minimization was dramatically reduced while preserving analysis accuracy across a range of scales. The new method has the potential to be used as an efficient technique for practical applications where a large number of observations with mutual error correlations need to be assimilated quickly.
Kinematic Evolution of the Santa Bárbara System in the Foreland of the Central Andes of Northwestern Argentina (26°S)
Authors: Arnous Ahmad , García Victor H. , Pingel Heiko , Giambiagi Laura , Strecker Manfred R.
Published: June 2024

Compared to the thin‐skinned Subandean foreland fold‐and‐thrust belt of northern Argentina and Bolivia, the tectonically active morphotectonic province of the Santa Bárbara System in the Andean broken foreland of northwestern Argentina is characterized by a temporally and spatially disparate deformation style. Although there is no well‐defined orogenic deformation front associated with the uplift of these basement‐cored, reverse‐fault bounded mountain ranges, there has been an overall eastward trend in Andean compressional deformation since the Miocene. While reactivation of basement anisotropies, such as early Paleozoic metamorphic fabrics and Cretaceous normal faults, has been proposed to have profoundly affected deformation processes in the Santa Bárbara System, other mechanisms involving Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover rocks may also have played an important role in orogenic deformation in this sector of the Andean foreland. We present structural field observations, interpretations of seismic reflection profiles, and kinematic modeling from the basins bordering the Candelaria Range in the southern sector of the Santa Bárbara System at 26°S. Our analysis features a 110‐km‐long structural cross section that images and links deep‐seated structures with shallow neotectonic faults. We find that regional shortening has been facilitated by several faults associated with a regional detachment at a depth of 23 km, resulting in total horizontal shortening of about 17% (18.4 km). While the deep‐seated first‐order structures seem closely linked to seismogenic processes in the Andean foreland, shallow second‐order structures within the sedimentary cover modify the intermontane landscapes and appear to be associated with aseismic creep.
Short and mid-term neonatal outcomes in high-risk infants undergoing FICare: a case control study
Authors: Moreno-Sanz Bárbara , Antón Marta , Montes María Teresa , Cabrera-Lafuente Marta , Losantos-García Itsaso , Pellicer Adelina
Published: June 2024

Background

FICare model has been evaluated mostly on the stable preterm infant.We have scaled the model to two implementation levels(basic/advanced),making it suitable for all high-risk neonates.We report on the short- and mid-term outcomes of infants enrolled in a pilot on FICare implementation at our NICU.

Methods

During 52 months study period,families were invited to join the program if their newborns’ admission required neonatal specialized care for at least 3 weeks,and trained according to the program’s curricula.Following a rigorous sequential admission order,each case(FICare group:134 < 34 weeks;52 term newborns)was matched by a contemporary control(CC:134 < 34 weeks;52 term newborns)and 2 historical controls born within the 3 years prior to FICare site implementation(HC:268 < 34 weeks;104 term newborns),cared as usual

Results

FICare intervention started by the end of first week of postnatal life.Rates of breastfeeding during admission and at discharge,and direct breastfeeding upon discharge were higher in FICare compared to CC and HC.Duration of intermediate care hospitalization(preterm and term cohorts)and total hospital length of stay (term cohorts)were shorter in FICare group.Use of Emergency Services after discharge was also lower in the FICare group

Conclusions

Short and mid-term efficacy of FICare on health outcomes and family empowerment in a broader and highly-vulnerable neonatal population supports its generalization in complex healthcare neonatal services.

Impact statement

Scaling the FICare model to the critically ill, unstable premature and term infant is feasible and safe.

The early intervention shows similar benefits in the short- and mid-term infants’ outcomes in the whole spectrum of neonatal specialized care.
The miR-30-5p/TIA-1 axis directs cellular senescence by regulating mitochondrial dynamics
Authors: Tak Hyosun , Cha Seongho , Hong Youlim , Jung Myeongwoo , Ryu Seungyeon , Han Sukyoung , Jeong Seung Min , Kim Wook , Lee Eun Kyung
Published: June 2024

Senescent cells exhibit a diverse spectrum of changes in their morphology, proliferative capacity, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) production, and mitochondrial homeostasis. These cells often manifest with elongated mitochondria, a hallmark of cellular senescence. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms orchestrating this phenomenon remain predominantly unexplored. In this study, we provide compelling evidence for decreases in TIA-1, a pivotal regulator of mitochondrial dynamics, in models of both replicative senescence and ionizing radiation (IR)-induced senescence. The downregulation of TIA-1 was determined to trigger mitochondrial elongation and enhance the expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, a marker of cellular senescence, in human foreskin fibroblast HS27 cells and human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Conversely, the overexpression of TIA-1 mitigated IR-induced cellular senescence. Notably, we identified the miR-30-5p family as a novel factor regulating TIA-1 expression. Augmented expression of the miR-30-5p family was responsible for driving mitochondrial elongation and promoting cellular senescence in response to IR. Taken together, our findings underscore the significance of the miR-30-5p/TIA-1 axis in governing mitochondrial dynamics and cellular senescence.
Design of a water-soluble transmembrane receptor kinase with intact molecular function by QTY code
Authors: Li Mengke , Tang Hongzhi , Qing Rui , Wang Yanze , Liu Jiongqin , Wang Rui , Lyu Shan , Ma Lina , Xu Ping , Zhang Shuguang , Tao Fei
Published: June 2024

Membrane proteins are critical to biological processes and central to life sciences and modern medicine. However, membrane proteins are notoriously challenging to study, mainly owing to difficulties dictated by their highly hydrophobic nature. Previously, we reported QTY code, which is a simple method for designing water-soluble membrane proteins. Here, we apply QTY code to a transmembrane receptor, histidine kinase CpxA, to render it completely water-soluble. The designed CpxAQTY exhibits expected biophysical properties and highly preserved native molecular function, including the activities of (i) autokinase, (ii) phosphotransferase, (iii) phosphatase, and (iv) signaling receptor, involving a water-solubilized transmembrane domain. We probe the principles underlying the balance of structural stability and activity in the water-solubilized transmembrane domain. Computational approaches suggest that an extensive and dynamic hydrogen-bond network introduced by QTY code and its flexibility may play an important role. Our successful functional preservation further substantiates the robustness and comprehensiveness of QTY code.
Biocatalytic stereocontrolled head-to-tail cyclizations of unbiased terpenes as a tool in chemoenzymatic synthesis
Authors: Schneider Andreas , Lystbæk Thomas B. , Markthaler Daniel , Hansen Niels , Hauer Bernhard
Published: June 2024

Terpene synthesis stands at the forefront of modern synthetic chemistry and represents the state-of-the-art in the chemist’s toolbox. Notwithstanding, these endeavors are inherently tied to the current availability of natural cyclic building blocks. Addressing this limitation, the stereocontrolled cyclization of abundant unbiased linear terpenes emerges as a valuable tool, which is still difficult to achieve with chemical catalysts. In this study, we showcase the remarkable capabilities of squalene-hopene cyclases (SHCs) in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of head-to-tail-fused terpenes. By combining engineered SHCs and a practical reaction setup, we generate ten chiral scaffolds with >99% ee and de, at up to decagram scale. Our mechanistic insights suggest how cyclodextrin encapsulation of terpenes may influence the performance of the membrane-bound enzyme. Moreover, we transform the chiral templates to valuable (mero)-terpenes using interdisciplinary synthetic methods, including a catalytic ring-contraction of enol-ethers facilitated by cooperative iodine/lipase catalysis.
Targeting fatty acid synthase in preclinical models of TNBC brain metastases synergizes with SN-38 and impairs invasion
Authors: Serhan Habib A. , Bao Liwei , Cheng Xu , Qin Zhaoping , Liu Chia-Jen , Heth Jason A. , Udager Aaron M. , Soellner Matthew B. , Merajver Sofia D. , Morikawa Aki , Merrill Nathan M.
Published: June 2024

Fatty acid synthesis (FAS) has been shown to play a key role in the survival of brain-metastatic (BM) breast cancer. We demonstrate that the fatty acid synthase inhibitor TVB-2640 synergizes with the topoisomerase inhibitor SN-38 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) BM cell lines, upregulates FAS and downregulates cell cycle progression gene expression, and slows the motility of TNBC BM cell lines. The combination of SN-38 and TVB-2640 warrants further consideration as a potential therapeutic option in TNBC BMs.
Dynamic mode decomposition of nonequilibrium electron-phonon dynamics: accelerating the first-principles real-time Boltzmann equation
Authors: Maliyov Ivan , Yin Jia , Yao Jia , Yang Chao , Bernardi Marco
Published: June 2024

Nonequilibrium dynamics governed by electron–phonon (e-ph) interactions plays a key role in electronic devices and spectroscopies and is central to understanding electronic excitations in materials. The real-time Boltzmann transport equation (rt-BTE) with collision processes computed from first principles can describe the coupled dynamics of electrons and atomic vibrations (phonons). Yet, a bottleneck of these simulations is the calculation of e–ph scattering integrals on dense momentum grids at each time step. Here we show a data-driven approach based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) that can accelerate the time propagation of the rt-BTE and identify dominant electronic processes. We apply this approach to two case studies, high-field charge transport and ultrafast excited electron relaxation. In both cases, simulating only a short time window of ~10% of the dynamics suffices to predict the dynamics from initial excitation to steady state using DMD extrapolation. Analysis of the momentum-space modes extracted from DMD sheds light on the microscopic mechanisms governing electron relaxation to a steady state or equilibrium. The combination of accuracy and efficiency makes our DMD-based method a valuable tool for investigating ultrafast dynamics in a wide range of materials.
A possible direct exposure of the Earth to the cold dense interstellar medium 2–3 Myr ago
Authors: Opher Merav , Loeb Abraham , Peek J. E. G.
Published: June 2024

Cold, dense clouds in the interstellar medium of our Galaxy are 4–5 orders of magnitude denser than their diffuse counterparts. Our Solar System has most likely encountered at least one of these dense clouds during its lifetime. However, evidence for such an encounter has not been studied in detail yet. Here we derive the velocity field of the Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds (LRCC) by modelling the 21 cm data from the HI4PI survey, finding that the Solar System may have passed through the LRCC in the constellation Lynx 2–3 million years ago. Using a state-of-the-art simulation of the heliosphere, we show that during the passage, the heliosphere shrinks to a scale of 0.22 au, smaller than the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This would have put the Earth in direct contact with the dense interstellar medium for a period of time and exposed it to a neutral hydrogen density above 3,000 cm−3. Such a scenario agrees with geological evidence from 60Fe and 244Pu isotopes. The encounter and related increased radiation from Galactic cosmic rays might have had a substantial impact on the Earth’s system and climate.
A somatic genetic clock for clonal species
Authors: Yu Lei , Renton Jessie , Burian Agata , Khachaturyan Marina , Bayer Till , Kotta Jonne , Stachowicz John J. , DuBois Katherine , Baums Iliana B. , Werner Benjamin , Reusch Thorsten B. H.
Published: June 2024

Age and longevity are key parameters for demography and life-history evolution of organisms. In clonal species, a widespread life history among animals, plants, macroalgae and fungi, the sexually produced offspring (genet) grows indeterminately by producing iterative modules, or ramets, and so obscure their age. Here we present a novel molecular clock based on the accumulation of fixed somatic genetic variation that segregates among ramets. Using a stochastic model, we demonstrate that the accumulation of fixed somatic genetic variation will approach linearity after a lag phase, and is determined by the mitotic mutation rate, without direct dependence on asexual generation time. The lag phase decreased with lower stem cell population size, number of founder cells for the formation of new modules, and the ratio of symmetric versus asymmetric cell divisions. We calibrated the somatic genetic clock on cultivated eelgrass Zostera marina genets (4 and 17 years respectively). In a global data set of 20 eelgrass populations, genet ages were up to 1,403 years. The somatic genetic clock is applicable to any multicellular clonal species where the number of founder cells is small, opening novel research avenues to study longevity and, hence, demography and population dynamics of clonal species.
Prominent misinformation interventions reduce misperceptions but increase scepticism
Authors: Hoes Emma , Aitken Brian , Zhang Jingwen , Gackowski Tomasz , Wojcieszak Magdalena
Published: June 2024

Current interventions to combat misinformation, including fact-checking, media literacy tips and media coverage of misinformation, may have unintended consequences for democracy. We propose that these interventions may increase scepticism towards all information, including accurate information. Across three online survey experiments in three diverse countries (the United States, Poland and Hong Kong; total n = 6,127), we tested the negative spillover effects of existing strategies and compared them with three alternative interventions against misinformation. We examined how exposure to fact-checking, media literacy tips and media coverage of misinformation affects individuals’ perception of both factual and false information, as well as their trust in key democratic institutions. Our results show that while all interventions successfully reduce belief in false information, they also negatively impact the credibility of factual information. This highlights the need for further improved strategies that minimize the harms and maximize the benefits of interventions against misinformation.
Brillouin gain microscopy
Authors: Shaashoua Roni , Kasuker Lir , Kishner Mor , Levy Tal , Rotblat Barak , Ben-Zvi Anat , Bilenca Alberto
Published: June 2024

Optical imaging techniques with mechanical contrast, including passive microrheology, optical coherence elastography and Brillouin microscopy, are critical for material and biological discovery owing to their less perturbative nature compared with traditional mechanical imaging methods. An emerging optical microscopy approach for mechanical imaging is stimulated Brillouin scattering microscopy, which has been shown to be useful for biomechanical imaging with high sensitivity and specificity. However, the excitation energy used is high and the temporal resolution remains limited by the need to acquire full spectra. Here we develop Brillouin gain microscopy that detects the Brillouin gain at a specific mechanically contrasting frequency corresponding to a Brillouin acoustic-vibrational mode of interest in the sample. Brillouin gain microscopy affords a 200-fold improvement in temporal resolution compared with stimulated Brillouin scattering microscopy, down to 100 μs at excitation energy as low as 23 μJ. Using Brillouin gain microscopy, we demonstrate cross-sectional, all-optical mechanical imaging of materials as well as of the structure and dynamics in living systems with low excitation energy and at high temporal resolution.
Systematic rare variant analyses identify RAB32 as a susceptibility gene for familial Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Hop Paul J. , Lai Dongbing , Keagle Pamela J. , Baron Desiree M. , Kenna Brendan J. , Kooyman Maarten , Shankaracharya  , Halter Cheryl , Straniero Letizia , Asselta Rosanna , Bonvegna Salvatore , Soto-Beasley Alexandra I. ,   Project MinE ALS Sequencing Consortium, Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Uitti Ryan J. , Isaias Ioannis Ugo , Pezzoli Gianni , Ticozzi Nicola , Ross Owen A. , Veldink Jan H. , Foroud Tatiana M. , Kenna Kevin P. , Landers John E.
Published: June 2024

Despite substantial progress, causal variants are identified only for a minority of familial Parkinson’s disease (PD) cases, leaving high-risk pathogenic variants unidentified1,2. To identify such variants, we uniformly processed exome sequencing data of 2,184 index familial PD cases and 69,775 controls. Exome-wide analyses converged on RAB32 as a novel PD gene identifying c.213C > G/p.S71R as a high-risk variant presenting in ~0.7% of familial PD cases while observed in only 0.004% of controls (odds ratio of 65.5). This variant was confirmed in all cases via Sanger sequencing and segregated with PD in three families. RAB32 encodes a small GTPase known to interact with LRRK2 (refs. 3,4). Functional analyses showed that RAB32 S71R increases LRRK2 kinase activity, as indicated by increased autophosphorylation of LRRK2 S1292. Here our results implicate mutant RAB32 in a key pathological mechanism in PD—LRRK2 kinase activity5–7—and thus provide novel insights into the mechanistic connections between RAB family biology, LRRK2 and PD risk.
Fast and robust feature-based stitching algorithm for microscopic images
Authors: Mohammadi Fatemeh Sadat , Shabani Hasti , Zarei Mojtaba
Published: June 2024

The limited field of view of high-resolution microscopic images hinders the study of biological samples in a single shot. Stitching of microscope images (tiles) captured by the whole-slide imaging (WSI) technique solves this problem. However, stitching is challenging due to the repetitive textures of tissues, the non-informative background part of the slide, and the large number of tiles that impact performance and computational time. To address these challenges, we proposed the Fast and Robust Microscopic Image Stitching (FRMIS) algorithm, which relies on pairwise and global alignment. The speeded up robust features (SURF) were extracted and matched within a small part of the overlapping region to compute the transformation and align two neighboring tiles. In cases where the transformation could not be computed due to an insufficient number of matched features, features were extracted from the entire overlapping region. This enhances the efficiency of the algorithm since most of the computational load is related to pairwise registration and reduces misalignment that may occur by matching duplicated features in tiles with repetitive textures. Then, global alignment was achieved by constructing a weighted graph where the weight of each edge is determined by the normalized inverse of the number of matched features between two tiles. FRMIS has been evaluated on experimental and synthetic datasets from different modalities with different numbers of tiles and overlaps, demonstrating faster stitching time compared to existing algorithms such as the Microscopy Image Stitching Tool (MIST) toolbox. FRMIS outperforms MIST by 481% for bright-field, 259% for phase-contrast, and 282% for fluorescence modalities, while also being robust to uneven illumination.