bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An unsupervised defect detection model for a dry carbon fiber textile
Authors: Szarski Martin , Chauhan Sunita
Published: June 2022

Inspection of dry carbon textiles is a key step to ensure quality in aerospace manufacturing. Due to the rarity and variety of defects, collecting a comprehensive defect dataset is difficult, while collecting ‘normal’ data is comparatively easy. In this paper, we present an unsupervised defect detection method for carbon fiber textiles that meets four key criteria for industrial applicability: using only ‘normal’ data, achieving high accuracy even on small and subtle defects, allowing visual interpretation, and achieving real-time performance. We combine a Visual Transformer Encoder and a Normalizing Flow to gather global context from input images and directly produce an image likelihood which is then used as an anomaly score. We demonstrate that when trained on only 150 normal samples, our method correctly detects 100% of anomalies with a 0% false positive rate on a industrial carbon fabric dataset with 34 real defect samples, including subtle stray fiber defects covering only 1% image area where previous methods are shown to fail. We validate the performance on the large public defect dataset MVTec-AD Textures, where we outperform previous work by 4–10%, proving the applicability of our method to other domains. Additionally, we propose a method to extract interpretable anomaly maps from Visual Transformer Attention Rollout and Image Likelihood Gradients that produces convincing explanations for detected anomalies. Finally, we show that the inference time for the model is acceptable at 32 ms, achieving real-time performance.
The Roles of Social Media Use and Friendship Quality in Adolescents’ Internalizing Problems and Well-being
Authors: Luijten Chantie Charissa , van de Bongardt Daphne , Nieboer Anna Petra
Published: June 2022

Adolescents spend increasing amounts of time using social media, but whether social media use has a beneficial or harmful role in internalizing problems and well-being during adolescence remains under debate. The present study explored associations of social media use and friendship quality with adolescents’ internalizing problems and well-being both concurrently and longitudinally, including the exploration of interactive effects between social media use and friendship quality and the examination of gender differences. Online questionnaire data collected in Spring 2018 and Spring 2019 from 1,298 Dutch adolescents aged 11–17 years (mean age 13.7 ± 1.1 years, 53.2% girls) were used. Path analyses showed that, cross-sectionally, girls (not boys) who used social media more frequently had more internalizing problems and lower well-being. Boys and girls with higher-quality friendships reported fewer concurrent internalizing problems and higher concurrent and longitudinal well-being; the association with internalizing problems was significantly stronger for girls as for boys. We found no significant interaction between social media use and friendship quality. Thus, the present study indicates that social media use and friendship quality have unique roles in adolescents’ internalizing problems and well-being. Furthermore, the findings support the importance of gender-specific approaches to decrease adolescents’ internalizing problems and enhance their well-being.
A constructive branch-and-bound algorithm for the project duration problem with partially renewable resources and general temporal constraints
Authors: Watermeyer Kai , Zimmermann Jürgen
Published: June 2022

This paper deals with the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with partially renewable resources and general temporal constraints with the objective to minimize the project duration. The consideration of partially renewable resources allows to integrate the decision about the availability of a resource for a specific time period into the scheduling process. Together with general temporal constraints, which permit to establish minimum and maximum time lags between activities, even more aspects of real-life projects can be taken into account. We present a branch-and-bound algorithm for the stated problem that is based on a serial schedule-generation scheme. For the first time it is shown how a dominance criterion can be applied on the associated generation scheme to reduce the start times in each scheduling step. To improve the performance of the solution procedure, we integrate consistency tests and lower bounds from the literature and devise new pruning techniques. In a comprehensive experimental performance analysis we compare our exact solution procedure with all available branch-and-bound algorithms for partially renewable resources. Additionally, we investigate a directly derived priority rule-based approximation method from our new enumeration scheme. The results of the computational study demonstrate the efficiency of our branch-and-bound algorithm and reveal that the derived approximation method is only suited to solve small- and medium-sized instances.
The effect of science and technology parks on tenant firms: a literature review
Authors: Albahari Alberto , Barge-Gil Andrés , Pérez-Canto Salvador , Landoni Paolo
Published: June 2022

Science and technology parks (STPs) are non-spontaneous agglomerations aimed at encouraging the formation and growth of on-site technology and knowledge-based firms. STPs have diffused worldwide, attracting significant, and often public, investment. However, there are contrasting evidence and insights on the effectiveness of these local development, technology and innovation policy tools. This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the STP literature (221 papers, 1987–2021), focusing especially on quantitative papers aimed at assessing the park effect on tenant’s performance. We perform an in-depth quantitative analyses, which allows us to go beyond the inconclusiveness reported in previous review papers, showing that the likelihood of finding positive STP effects increases considerably with sample size. We discuss the limitations of this literature and offer some suggestions for future research.
Nearly most influential location selection with differentially private user locations in a road network
Authors: Park Sehwa , Park Seog
Published: June 2022

During the past decades, maximum influential location selection (Max-inf) problems have been of intense interest to the spatial database community. The Max-inf problem searches for a location that attracts as many clients as possible, so it is essential to collect the location information of each client for such a query. However, the client location is considered sensitive information, and location privacy has become an emerging issue. To resolve the privacy issue, we present a novel Max-inf problem in a differentially private manner, which is called DP-Max-inf in a road network. Differential privacy is a de-facto standard privacy protection technique that injects controlled noise into statistical query results. In addition, we present the influence region overlapping problem while applying differential privacy to the Max-inf problem using the conventional approach. To remedy this problem, we propose a network Voronoi region-based technique to guarantee query accuracy and a network Voronoi envelope-based pruning heuristic to improve query performance.
Post-transcriptional control of bacterial nitrogen metabolism by regulatory noncoding RNAs
Authors: Han Yueyue , Li Chao , Yan Yongliang , Lin Min , Ke Xiubin , Zhang Yunhua , Zhan Yuhua
Published: June 2022

Nitrogen metabolism is the most basic process of material and energy metabolism in living organisms, and processes involving the uptake and use of different nitrogen sources are usually tightly regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Bacterial regulatory noncoding RNAs are novel post-transcriptional regulators that repress or activate the expression of target genes through complementarily pairing with target mRNAs; therefore, these noncoding RNAs play an important regulatory role in many physiological processes, such as bacterial substance metabolism and stress response. In recent years, a study found that noncoding RNAs play a vital role in the post-transcriptional regulation of nitrogen metabolism, which is currently a hot topic in the study of bacterial nitrogen metabolism regulation. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances that increase our understanding on the regulatory roles of bacterial noncoding RNAs and describe in detail how noncoding RNAs regulate biological nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolic engineering. Furthermore, our goal is to lay a theoretical foundation for better understanding the molecular mechanisms in bacteria that are involved in environmental adaptations and metabolically-engineered genetic modifications.
Improved production of antioxidant-phenolic compounds and certain fungal phenolic-associated enzymes under solid-state fermentation of chia seeds with Trichoderma reesei: response surface methodology-based optimization
Authors: Abdel-Aty Azza M. , Barakat Amal Z. , Bassuiny Roqaya I. , Mohamed Saleh A.
Published: June 2022

Chia seeds (CS) are becoming increasingly consumed due to their great nutritional and therapeutic properties. In this study, solid-state fermentation (SSF) of CS by Trichoderma reesei was employed to maximize the production of the antioxidant-phenolic compounds and some fungal phenolic-associated enzymes (α-amylase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, polygalacturonase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). The SSF-conditions were statistically optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). In the statistical model, four variables were analyzed at two levels. According to RSM, the adjusted R2 (< 0.9) is reasonably consistent with the predicted R2 (< 0.9), indicating that the statistical model is valid. The optimal conditions for maximum production of both phenolic compounds and fungal phenolic-associated enzymes were found to be 28 °C, pH 7.0, 20% moisture, and 7-day fermentation. The total phenolic content of fermented CS (FCS) increased 23 folds and total antioxidant activity was enhanced by 113- and 150-fold using DPPH and ABTS methods, respectively. Three new phenolics (kaempferol, apigenin, and p-coumaric) were recognized in FCS using HPLC analysis. The activities of all the extracted phenolic-associated enzymes showed strong correlations with the phenolic content of FCS. Against some human-pathogenic bacteria, FCS extract displayed considerably better antibacterial activity than UFCS extract. Finally, the phenolic-rich-FCS can be employed as a dietary supplement as well as an antibacterial agent. Furthermore, T. reesei has produced considerable quantities of industrially valuable enzymes.
Single-Anastomosis Sleeve Jejunal (SAS-J) Bypass as Revisional Surgery After Primary Restrictive Bariatric Procedures
Authors: Sewefy Alaa M. , Atyia Ahmed M. , H.Kayed Taha , Hamza Hosam M.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Single-anastomosis sleeve jejunal (SAS-J) bypass is the modification of a single-anastomosis sleeve ileal (SASI) bypass with a short biliary limb. SAS-J bypass is reported to be a good primary bariatric procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the results of SAS-J bypass as a revisional surgery after failed primary restrictive bariatric procedures.

Material and Methods

This was a prospective cohort study including 43 patients who underwent SAS-J bypass as a revisional surgery for weight regain after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), or laparoscopic gastric plication.

Results

Of the total patients, 35 (81.4%) were female, and 8 (18.6%) were male. The mean BMI was 46.3 kg/m2. The mean age was 41 years. Thirty-two patients (74.4%) had a failed sleeve, 9 (20.9%) had a failed LAGB, and 2 (4.7%) had a failed gastric plication. The mean operative time was 104 min. Intra-abdominal bleeding occurred in 1 case (2.3%), and intraluminal bleeding occurred in 3 cases (7%). No case (0%) developed a leak. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) reached 76.5% after 1 year. Type 2 diabetes mellitus remission occurred in all diabetic patients, hypertension remitted in 80%, hyperlipidemia remitted in 83.3%, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome improved in all cases. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms were improved in 86.7% of patients. Significant biliary gastritis occurred in 4 patients (9.3%). Dumping syndrome was reported in 4 patients (9.3%).

Conclusions

SAS-J bypass was effective as a salvage surgery after failed restrictive bariatric procedures, but long-term follow-up is needed.

Graphical abstract
Boundary-Rigidity of Projective Metrics and the Geodesic X-Ray Transform
Authors: Kurusa Árpád , Ódor Tibor
Published: June 2022

We prove that given a compact convex non-empty domain $${\mathcal {M}}$$
M
in the plane, a function $$\delta :\partial \mathcal M\times \partial {\mathcal {M}}\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}_+$$

δ
:
∂
M
×
∂
M
→

R
+

can be extended to a projective metric d on $${\mathcal {M}}$$
M
if and only if $$ \delta (P,R)+\delta (Q,S)-\delta (P,S)-\delta (Q,R)>0 $$

δ
(
P
,
R
)
+
δ
(
Q
,
S
)
-
δ
(
P
,
S
)
-
δ
(
Q
,
R
)
>
0

for any convex quadrangle $$\Box (PQRS)$$

□
(
P
Q
R
S
)

inscribed in $$\partial {\mathcal {M}}$$

∂
M

. Moreover, this extension is unique.
Student Agency in a High School Computer Science Course
Authors: Gale Jessica , Alemdar Meltem , Boice Katherine , Hernández Diley , Newton Sunni , Edwards Douglas , Usselman Marion
Published: June 2022

This study explores student agency in the context of a culturally authentic computer science (CS) curriculum implemented in an introductory CS course in two high schools. Drawing on focus group and interview data, the study utilizes qualitative research methods to examine how students exercise critical agency as they engage in the course and how the curriculum supports student agency. Findings suggest three ways in which the curriculum served as a context for student agency: (1) gaining CS knowledge and skills that students then apply to address real-world needs and problems, (2) creating opportunities to “try-on” or improvise new identities and/or envision “future selves” in CS, and (3) engaging in personally relevant project work that leverages assets students brought to their experience with the curriculum. Implications for CS education research and practice are discussed.
Parameter and Model Recovery of Reinforcement Learning Models for Restless Bandit Problems
Authors: Danwitz Ludwig , Mathar David , Smith Elke , Tuzsus Deniz , Peters Jan
Published: June 2022

Multi-armed restless bandit tasks are regularly applied in psychology and cognitive neuroscience to assess exploration and exploitation behavior in structured environments. These models are also readily applied to examine effects of (virtual) brain lesions on performance, and to infer neurocomputational mechanisms using neuroimaging or pharmacological approaches. However, to infer individual, psychologically meaningful parameters from such data, computational cognitive modeling is typically applied. Recent studies indicate that softmax (SM) decision rule models that include a representation of environmental dynamics (e.g. the Kalman Filter) and additional parameters for modeling exploration and perseveration (Kalman SMEP) fit human bandit task data better than competing models. Parameter and model recovery are two central requirements for computational models: parameter recovery refers to the ability to recover true data-generating parameters; model recovery refers to the ability to correctly identify the true data generating model using model comparison techniques. Here we comprehensively examined parameter and model recovery of the Kalman SMEP model as well as nested model versions, i.e. models without the additional parameters, using simulation and Bayesian inference. Parameter recovery improved with increasing trial numbers, from around .8 for 100 trials to around .93 for 300 trials. Model recovery analyses likewise confirmed acceptable recovery of the Kalman SMEP model. Model recovery was lower for nested Kalman filter models as well as delta rule models with fixed learning rates. Exploratory analyses examined associations of model parameters with model-agnostic performance metrics. Random exploration, captured by the inverse softmax temperature, was associated with lower accuracy and more switches. For the exploration bonus parameter modeling directed exploration, we confirmed an inverse- U-shaped association with accuracy, such that both an excess and a lack of directed exploration reduced accuracy. Taken together, these analyses underline that the Kalman SMEP model fulfills two basic requirements of a cognitive model.
Spatio-temporal stratified associations between urban human activities and crime patterns: a case study in San Francisco around the COVID-19 stay-at-home mandate
Authors: Chen Tongxin , Bowers Kate , Zhu Di , Gao Xiaowei , Cheng Tao
Published: June 2022

Crime changes have been reported as a result of human routine activity shifting due to containment policies, such as stay-at-home (SAH) mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the way in which the manifestation of crime in both space and time is affected by dynamic human activities has not been explored in depth in empirical studies. Here, we aim to quantitatively measure the spatio-temporal stratified associations between crime patterns and human activities in the context of an unstable period of the ever-changing socio-demographic backcloth. We propose an analytical framework to detect the stratified associations between dynamic human activities and crimes in urban areas. In a case study of San Francisco, United States, we first identify human activity zones (HAZs) based on the similarity of daily footfall signatures on census block groups (CBGs). Then, we examine the spatial associations between crime spatial distributions at the CBG-level and the HAZs using spatial stratified heterogeneity statistical measurements. Thirdly, we use different temporal observation scales around the effective date of the SAH mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate the dynamic nature of the associations. The results reveal that the spatial patterns of most crime types are statistically significantly associated with that of human activities zones. Property crime exhibits a higher stratified association than violent crime across all temporal scales. Further, the strongest association is obtained with the eight-week time span centred around the SAH order. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the relationships between urban crime and human activities, but also offer insights into that tailored crime intervention strategies need to consider human activity variables.
Readers in a Revolution
Authors: McKitterick David
Published: June 2022

The mid-nineteenth century brought a revolution in popular and scholarly understandings of old and second-hand books. Manuals introduced new ideas and practices to increasing numbers of collectors, exhibitions offered opportunities previously unheard of, and scholars worked together to transform how the history of printing was understood. These dramatic changes would have profound consequences for bibliographical study and collecting, accompanied as they were by a proliferation in means of access. Many ideas arising during this time would even continue to exert their influence in the digitised arena of today. This book traces this revolution to its roots in commercial and personal ties between key players in England, France and beyond, illuminating how exhibitions, libraries, booksellers, scholars and popular writers all contributed to the modern world of book studies. For students and researchers, it offers an invaluable means of orientation in a field now once again undergoing deep and wide-ranging transformations.
Influence of the gas-phase Lewis number and thermocapillary stress on motion of a slowly evaporating droplet in Stokes flow
Authors: Shaw Benjamin D.
Published: June 2022

The influence of thermocapillary stresses on motion of a slowly evaporating single-component droplet in Stokes flow is investigated analytically for the situation where the environment does not have a temperature gradient in the far field. The conservation equations are solved in the liquid and gas phases and coupled at the gas–liquid interface by applying conditions for conservation of mass, species, momentum and energy. It is found that thermocapillary stresses may influence droplet motion by changing the the interface velocity, and that the gas-phase Lewis number of the evaporating component determines whether Marangoni effects increase or decrease droplet drag. If the Lewis number is less than unity, then thermal Marangoni effects increase droplet drag, while if the Lewis number is greater than unity, then thermal Marangoni effects decrease droplet drag. This is related to the sign of the temperature gradient along the droplet surface that is induced by convection. It is found that conditions may exist where a vaporizing droplet in a microgravity environment will exhibit continuous translational motion driven by thermocapillary effects.
Improved bounds for the solutions of renewal equations
Authors: Chadjiconstantinidis Stathis , Tzavelas George
Published: June 2022

Sequences of non-decreasing (non-increasing) lower (upper) bounds for the renewal-type equation as well as for the renewal function which are improvements of the famous corresponding bounds of Marshal [(1973). Linear bounds on the renewal function. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 24(2): 245–250] are given. Also, sequences such bounds converging to the ordinary renewal function are obtained for several reliability classes of the lifetime distributions of the inter-arrival times, which are refinements of all of the existing known corresponding bounds. For the first time, a lower bound for the renewal function with DMRL lifetimes is given. Finally, sequences of such improved bounds are given for the ordinary renewal density as well as for the right-tail of the distribution of the forward recurrence time.
Evolution and Electoral Implications of Congressional Gun Control Issue Framing: “From Crime Control to Mass Shootings”
Authors: QUINN GENEVIEVE
Published: June 2022

This paper traces the political development of Congressional gun control issue framing (with a specific focus from the early 1990s to the present), demonstrating that there have been two primary contexts in which gun control policy has been debated over this time frame: as a component of general crime control and as a specific response to mass shooting events. It identifies the primary historical, political, and electoral forces shaping the gun control debate in a given period while distinguishing the critical changes that drove the evolution from a crime control to a mass shooting focus. It assesses the degree of policy coherence and electoral salience specific to each context, illuminating why “gun control as crime control” had bipartisan Congressional support in the early 1990s and identifying what comparative disadvantages hinder the mass shooting focus of the present while also recognizing that the latter unfolded against a backdrop of heighted partisan polarization. The paper concludes that although one cannot compare the crime control and mass shooting framing contexts in a political vacuum, the electoral implications particular to each are relevant for understanding legislative action or inaction in Congress over the past thirty years, if more so in some periods than others.
Images of the East African Rift System by Global Adaptive‐Resolution Surface‐Wave Tomography
Authors: Korostelev Félicie , Lu Yang , Magrini Fabrizio , Boschi Lapo , Leroy Sylvie , Vétel William
Published: June 2022

In this study we map the entire East African Rift System (EARS) within a global surface‐wave velocity model to better constrain the structure of the underlying mantle, as well as patterns that might be associated with its continuation in the Mozambique Channel. We use all publicly available seismograms from the African continent, amounting to 1296 stations and more than 30 years of recordings. From these data, we obtain dispersion curves using both ambient noise and teleseismic earthquakes. To our measurements, we add global counterparts and jointly invert them for phase‐velocity maps. We exploit a linearized inversion based on the ray theory, with an adaptive parameterization that allows for maximizing the resolution of the final maps based on the density of data coverage. We thus image the main African cratons and also some of the Archean blocks within them. We highlight the discontinuous nature of magmatic activity along the EARS and also display low‐velocity anomalies beneath the Comores Archipelago, Madagascar and Bassas da India volcanic islands and seamounts. This last low‐velocity anomaly is in the direct continuation of the EARS and could unveil an important magmatic system in the Mozambique Channel.
Sulfur Biogeochemical Cycling and Redox Dynamics in a Shale‐Dominated Mountainous Watershed
Authors: Fox Patricia M. , Carrero Sergio , Anderson Cam , Dewey Christian , Keiluweit Marco , Conrad Mark , Naughton Hannah R. , Fendorf Scott , Carroll Rosemary , Dafflon Baptiste , Malenda‐Lawrence Helen , Dwivedi Dipankar , Gilbert Benjamin , Christensen John N. , Boye Kristin , Beutler Curtis , Brown Wendy , Newman Alexander , Versteeg Roelof , Williams Kenneth H. , Nico Peter S.
Published: June 2022

Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient and important component of the earth’s crust, and its cycling has critical impacts on trace metal mobility, water quality, and human health. Pyrite weathering is the primary pathway by which sulfur enters surface waters. However, biogeochemical cycling of sulfur in soils and the river corridor mediates sulfate exports. In this study, we identified the major forms of sulfur across multiple compartments and scales in a pristine mountainous watershed, including shale bedrock weathering profiles, hillslope soils, and alluvial floodplain sediments, in order to provide insight into biogeochemical sulfur cycling in a hydrologically variable alpine system. X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis of shale weathering profiles showed clear evidence of pyrite oxidation to sulfate, with large accumulations of intermediate S(0) (20%–53%). Micro‐scale XANES showed evidence of reprecipitation of pyrite at fracture surfaces within the permanently saturated zone. Organic sulfur dominated S speciation in shallow hillslope soil and floodplain sediment, with little evidence of reduced inorganic S. However, mackinawite formation, representing active sulfate reduction, was observed in saturated oxbow sediments and saturated weathered shale underlying floodplain sediments. Further evidence of sulfate reduction from aqueous sulfur isotopic analysis was observed in shallow groundwater transects across an Fe‐reducing meander, whereas increases in pore water sulfate concentrations implied sulfur oxidation at other locations. The data present an integrated picture of sulfur cycling in a shale‐dominated watershed, where riverine sulfate exports are mediated by biological cycling, particularly in redox‐stratified and temporally dynamic hyporheic zone sediments.
Chemical Mohometry: Assessing Crustal Thickness of Ancient Orogens Using Geochemical and Isotopic Data
Authors: Luffi P. , Ducea M. N.
Published: June 2022

Convergent plate boundaries are key sites for continental crustal formation and recycling. Quantifying the evolution of crustal thickness and paleoelevation along ancient convergent margins represents a major goal in orogenic system analyses. Chemical and in some cases isotopic compositions of igneous rocks formed in modern supra‐subduction arcs and collisional belts are sensitive to Moho depths at the location of magmatism, implying that igneous suites from fossil orogens carry information about crustal thickness from the time they formed. Several whole‐rock chemical parameters correlate with crustal thickness, some of which were calibrated to serve as “mohometers,” that is, quantitative proxies of paleo‐Moho depths. Based on mineral‐melt partition coefficients, this concept has been extended to detrital zircons, such that combined chemical and geochronological information extracted from these minerals allows us to reconstruct the crustal thickness evolution using the detrital archive. We discuss here the mohometric potential of a variety of chemical and isotopic parameters and show that their combined usage improves paleocrustal thickness estimates. Using a MATLAB® app developed for the underlying computations, we present examples from the modern and the deeper time geologic record to illustrate the promises and pitfalls of the technique. Since arcs are in isostatic equilibrium, mohometers are useful in reconstructing orogenic paleoelevation as well. Our analysis suggests that many global‐scale correlations between magma composition and crustal thickness used in mohometry originate in the sub‐arc mantle; additional effects resulting from intracrustal igneous differentiation depend on the compatible or incompatible behavior of the involved parameters.
Inception and Evolution of La Corona Lava Tube System (Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain)
Authors: Tomasi I. , Massironi M. , Meyzen C. M. , Pozzobon R. , Sauro F. , Penasa L. , Santagata T. , Tonello M. , Santana Gomez G. D. , Martinez‐Frìas J.
Published: June 2022

Growing interest in studying large terrestrial lava tubes is motivated in part by their analogy with their extra‐terrestrial counterparts. However, on Earth, the formation of such structures is still poorly understood. Here, the lava tube system of La Corona (Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain) is studied to identify how pre‐existing stratigraphy can govern a lava tube's evolution. Combining terrestrial laser scanner technology with field observations and geochemical analyses of the pre‐existing lava enabled us to reconstruct the three‐dimensional geometry of the lava tube system, the paleo‐surface trough which it developed, and the volcanic series into which it carved its path. We show that a pyroclastic layer played a key role in the development of the lava tube. The layer—Derived from late Quaternary Strombolian activity—Is traceable along almost the full length of the tube path and defines the paleo‐topography. The excavation process mostly happens because of the mechanical strength of the substrate, that controls the widening of the growing lava tube. Other influential parameters controlling erosion include slope variations of the paleo‐surface (i.e., knickpoints), and the lava physical properties. Since weak layers such as regolith are a common feature of extra‐terrestrial lava flows, the processes seen at La Corona to the may be highly relevant to the development of planetary lava tube systems.
Addressing bias and knowledge gaps regarding race and ethnicity in neonatology manuscript review
Authors: Karvonen Kayla L. , Bonachea Elizabeth M. , Burris Heather H. , Fraiman Yarden S. , Lee Henry C. , Proaño Alvaro , Walker Valencia P. , Parker Margaret G.
Published: June 2022

A recent shift in public attention to racism, racial disparities, and health equity have resulted in an abundance of calls for relevant papers and publications in academic journals. Peer-review for such articles may be susceptible to bias, as subject matter expertise in the evaluation of social constructs, like race, is variable. From the perspective of researchers focused on neonatal health equity, we share our positive and negative experiences in peer-review, provide relevant publicly available data regarding addressing bias in peer-review from 12 neonatology-focused journals, and give recommendations to address bias and knowledge gaps in the peer review process of health equity research.
Immunogenicity and safety of NVSI-06-07 as a heterologous booster after priming with BBIBP-CorV: a phase 2 trial
Authors: Kaabi Nawal Al , Yang Yun Kai , Zhang Jing , Xu Ke , Liang Yu , Kang Yun , Su Ji Guo , Yang Tian , Hussein Salah , ElDein Mohamed Saif , Shao Shuai , Yang Sen Sen , Lei Wenwen , Gao Xue Jun , Jiang Zhiwei , Wang Hui , Li Meng , Mekki Hanadi Mekki , Zaher Walid , Mahmoud Sally , Zhang Xue , Qu Chang , Liu Dan Ying , Zhang Jing , Yang Mengjie , Eltantawy Islam , Xiao Peng , Wang Zhao Nian , Yin Jin Liang , Mao Xiao Yan , Zhang Jin , Liu Ning , Shen Fu Jie , Qu Liang , Zhang Yun Tao , Yang Xiao Ming , Wu Guizhen , Li Qi Ming
Published: June 2022

The increased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) breakthrough cases pose the need of booster vaccination. We conducted a randomised, double-blinded, controlled, phase 2 trial to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the heterologous prime-boost vaccination with an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) followed by a recombinant protein-based vaccine (NVSI-06-07), using homologous boost with BBIBP-CorV as control. Three groups of healthy adults (600 individuals per group) who had completed two-dose BBIBP-CorV vaccinations 1–3 months, 4–6 months and ≥6 months earlier, respectively, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either NVSI-06-07 or BBIBP-CorV boost. Immunogenicity assays showed that in NVSI-06-07 groups, neutralizing antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) against the prototype SARS-CoV-2 increased by 21.01–63.85 folds on day 28 after vaccination, whereas only 4.20–16.78 folds of increases were observed in control groups. For Omicron variant, the neutralizing antibody GMT elicited by homologous boost was 37.91 on day 14, however, a significantly higher neutralizing GMT of 292.53 was induced by heterologous booster. Similar results were obtained for other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta and Delta. Both heterologous and homologous boosters have a good safety profile. Local and systemic adverse reactions were absent, mild or moderate in most participants, and the overall safety was quite similar between two booster schemes. Our findings indicated that NVSI-06-07 is safe and immunogenic as a heterologous booster in BBIBP-CorV recipients and was immunogenically superior to the homologous booster against not only SARS-CoV-2 prototype strain but also VOCs, including Omicron.
SMYD2 aggravates gastrointestinal stromal tumor via upregulation of EZH2 and downregulation of TET1
Authors: Ji Yong , Xu Xiaofeng , Long Cong , Wang Jianjiang , Ding Li , Zheng Zhizhong , Wu Huiping , Yang Liu , Tao Lan , Gao Feng
Published: June 2022

SMYD2, as an oncogene, has been involved in multiple types of cancer, but the potential role of SMYD2 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) remains enigmatic and requires further investigation. Hence, this study was conducted with the main objective of analyzing the effect of SMYD2 on GIST. GIST and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 46 patients with GIST where the expression of EZH2, SMYD2, and TET1 was determined, followed by the analysis of their interactions. The functional role of SMYD2 in cell biological functions was determined using a loss-of-function assay in GIST-T1 cells. Nude mouse xenograft experiments were performed to verify the role of the SMYD2/EZH2/TET1 axis in GIST in vivo. EZH2 was upregulated in GIST tissues and cell lines, which was positively correlated with SMYD2 expression and inversely correlated with TET1 expression in GIST tissues. EZH2 silencing due to SMYD2 inhibition reduced GIST-T1 cell proliferation and accelerated cell senescence. EZH2 repressed TET1 expression by promoting H3K27me3 methylation in the TET1 promoter region. TET1 inhibition reversed the effect of EZH2 silencing on the biological functions of GIST-T1 cells. In vivo data further revealed the promoting effect of SMYD2 on the progression of GIST by regulating the EZH2/TET1 axis. Overall, this study demonstrates that SMYD2 can increase EZH2 expression while suppressing TET1 expression, thus accelerating GIST, and creating new treatment opportunities for GIST.
Novel cleavage sites identified in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveal mechanism for cathepsin L-facilitated viral infection and treatment strategies
Authors: Zhao Miao-Miao , Zhu Yun , Zhang Li , Zhong Gongxun , Tai Linhua , Liu Shuo , Yin Guoliang , Lu Jing , He Qiong , Li Ming-Jia , Zhao Ru-Xuan , Wang Hao , Huang Weijin , Fan Changfa , Shuai Lei , Wen Zhiyuan , Wang Chong , He Xijun , Chen Qiuluan , Liu Banghui , Xiong Xiaoli , Bu Zhigao , Wang Youchun , Sun Fei , Yang Jin-Kui
Published: June 2022

The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important target for vaccine and drug development. However, the rapid emergence of variant strains with mutated S proteins has rendered many treatments ineffective. Cleavage of the S protein by host proteases is essential for viral infection. Here, we discovered that the S protein contains two previously unidentified Cathepsin L (CTSL) cleavage sites (CS-1 and CS-2). Both sites are highly conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our structural studies revealed that CTSL cleavage promoted S to adopt receptor-binding domain (RBD) “up” activated conformations, facilitating receptor-binding and membrane fusion. We confirmed that CTSL cleavage is essential during infection of all emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants (including the recently emerged Omicron variant) by pseudovirus (PsV) infection experiment. Furthermore, we found CTSL-specific inhibitors not only blocked infection of PsV/live virus in cells but also reduced live virus infection of ex vivo lung tissues of both human donors and human ACE2-transgenic mice. Finally, we showed that two CTSL-specific inhibitors exhibited excellent In vivo effects to prevent live virus infection in human ACE2-transgenic mice. Our work demonstrated that inhibition of CTSL cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 S protein is a promising approach for the development of future mutation-resistant therapy.
Online tools for efficient paper writing
Authors: Yamamoto Yasunori , Fujiwara Toyofumi
Published: June 2022

For researchers, writing a paper is an essential task, and it is crucial for them to have an environment to facilitate the paper writing process. In addition, writing in English is more difficult for many non-native English speakers. The Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) provides researchers in the life sciences with several text-mining related services, such as Allie and inMeXes, which were developed to facilitate paper writing. Allie is an abbreviation database that shows researchers expanded forms and several relevant data, such as the papers that contain the abbreviations and their corresponding expanded forms. Since a large amount of abbreviations are coined, remembering their meanings is difficult, even in one’s research field. Therefore, Allie helps one lookup abbreviations. inMeXes is an incremental search service for English phrases appearing in PubMed. Researchers can learn English phrases used in life science papers, such as the use of prepositions or widely used phrases that contain a specific word. Allie and inMeXes are updated monthly and yearly, respectively, to provide the latest information.
Free-living wrist and hip accelerometry forecast cognitive decline among older adults without dementia over 1- or 5-years in two distinct observational cohorts
Authors: Shi Chengjian , Babiker Niser , Urbanek Jacek K. , Grossman Robert L. , Huisingh-Scheetz Megan , Rzhetsky Andrey
Published: June 2022

The prevalence of major neurocognitive disorders is expected to rise over the next 3 decades as the number of adults ≥65 years old increases. Noninvasive screening capable of flagging individuals most at risk of subsequent cognitive decline could trigger closer monitoring and preventive strategies. In this study, we used free-living accelerometry data to forecast cognitive decline within 1- or 5-years in older adults without dementia using two cohorts. The first cohort, recruited in the south side of Chicago, wore hip accelerometers for 7 continuous days. The second cohort, nationally recruited, wore wrist accelerometers continuously for 72 h. Separate classifier models forecasted 1-year cognitive decline with over 85% accuracy using hip data and forecasted 5-year cognitive decline with nearly 70% accuracy using wrist data, significant improvements compared to demographics and comorbidities alone. The proposed models are readily translatable to clinical practices serving ageing populations.
Machine learning in concrete science: applications, challenges, and best practices
Authors: Li Zhanzhao , Yoon Jinyoung , Zhang Rui , Rajabipour Farshad , Srubar III Wil V. , Dabo Ismaila , Radlińska Aleksandra
Published: June 2022

Concrete, as the most widely used construction material, is inextricably connected with human development. Despite conceptual and methodological progress in concrete science, concrete formulation for target properties remains a challenging task due to the ever-increasing complexity of cementitious systems. With the ability to tackle complex tasks autonomously, machine learning (ML) has demonstrated its transformative potential in concrete research. Given the rapid adoption of ML for concrete mixture design, there is a need to understand methodological limitations and formulate best practices in this emerging computational field. Here, we review the areas in which ML has positively impacted concrete science, followed by a comprehensive discussion of the implementation, application, and interpretation of ML algorithms. We conclude by outlining future directions for the concrete community to fully exploit the capabilities of ML models.
Observation of light-driven band structure via multiband high-harmonic spectroscopy
Authors: Uzan-Narovlansky Ayelet J. , Jiménez-Galán Álvaro , Orenstein Gal , Silva Rui E. F. , Arusi-Parpar Talya , Shames Sergei , Bruner Barry D. , Yan Binghai , Smirnova Olga , Ivanov Misha , Dudovich Nirit
Published: June 2022

Intense light–matter interactions have revolutionized our ability to probe and manipulate quantum systems at sub-femtosecond timescales1, opening routes to the all-optical control of electronic currents in solids at petahertz rates2–7. Such control typically requires electric-field amplitudes in the range of almost volts per angstrom, when the voltage drop across a lattice site becomes comparable to the characteristic bandgap energies. In this regime, intense light–matter interaction induces notable modifications to the electronic and optical properties8–10, dramatically modifying the crystal band structure. Yet, identifying and characterizing such modifications remain an outstanding problem. As the oscillating electric field changes within the driving field’s cycle, does the band structure follow and how can it be defined? Here we address this fundamental question, proposing all-optical spectroscopy to probe the laser-induced closing of the bandgap between adjacent conduction bands. Our work reveals the link between nonlinear light–matter interactions in strongly driven crystals and the sub-cycle modifications in their effective band structure.
Sirt6-mediated epigenetic modification of DNA accessibility is essential for Pou2f3-induced thymic tuft cell development
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Jiayu , Lei Tong , Liang Zhanfeng , Dong Xue , Sun Liguang , Zhao Yong
Published: June 2022

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential for the production of self-tolerant T cells. The newly identified thymic tuft cells are regulated by Pou2f3 and represent important elements for host type 2 immunity. However, epigenetic involvement in thymic tuft cell development remains unclear. We performed single-cell ATAC-seq of medullary TEC (mTEC) and established single-cell chromatin accessibility profiling of mTECs. The results showed that mTEC III cells can be further divided into three groups (Late Aire 1, 2, and 3) and that thymic tuft cells may be derived from Late Aire 2 cells. Pou2f3 is expressed in both Late Aire 2 cells and thymic tuft cells, while Pou2f3-regulated genes are specifically expressed in thymic tuft cells with simultaneous opening of chromatin accessibility, indicating the involvement of epigenetic modification in this process. Using the epigenetic regulator Sirt6-defect mouse model, we found that Sirt6 deletion increased Late Aire 2 cells and decreased thymic tuft cells and Late Aire 3 cells without affecting Pou2f3 expression. However, Sirt6 deletion reduced the chromatin accessibility of Pou2f3-regulated genes in thymic tuft cells, which may be caused by Sirt6–mediated regulation of Hdac9 expression. These data indicate that epigenetic regulation is indispensable for Pou2f3-mediated thymic tuft cell development.
Coordination of siderophore gene expression among clonal cells of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Mridha Subham , Kümmerli Rolf
Published: June 2022

There has been great progress in understanding how bacterial groups coordinate social actions, such as biofilm formation and public-goods secretion. Less clear is whether the seemingly coordinated group-level responses actually mirror what individual cells do. Here, we use a microscopy approach to simultaneously quantify the investment of individual cells of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa into two public goods, the siderophores pyochelin and pyoverdine. Using gene expression as a proxy for investment, we initially observe no coordination but high heterogeneity and bimodality in siderophore investment across cells. With increasing cell density, gene expression becomes more homogenized across cells, accompanied by a moderate shift from pyochelin to pyoverdine expression. We find positive associations in the expression of pyochelin and pyoverdine genes across cells, with cell-to-cell variation correlating with cellular metabolic states. Our work suggests that siderophore-mediated signalling aligns behaviour of individuals over time and spurs a coordinated three-phase siderophore investment cycle.
Gametocyte-specific and all-blood-stage transmission-blocking chemotypes discovered from high throughput screening on Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes
Authors: Paonessa Giacomo , Siciliano Giulia , Graziani Rita , Lalli Cristiana , Cecchetti Ottavia , Alli Cristina , La Valle Roberto , Petrocchi Alessia , Sferrazza Alessio , Bisbocci Monica , Falchi Mario , Toniatti Carlo , Bresciani Alberto , Alano Pietro
Published: June 2022

Blocking Plasmodium falciparum human-to-mosquito transmission is essential for malaria elimination, nonetheless drugs killing the pathogenic asexual stages are generally inactive on the parasite transmissible stages, the gametocytes. Due to technical and biological limitations in high throughput screening of non-proliferative stages, the search for gametocyte-killing molecules so far tested one tenth the number of compounds screened on asexual stages. Here we overcome these limitations and rapidly screened around 120,000 compounds, using not purified, bioluminescent mature gametocytes. Orthogonal gametocyte assays, selectivity assays on human cells and asexual parasites, followed by compound clustering, brought to the identification of 84 hits, half of which are gametocyte selective and half with comparable activity against sexual and asexual parasites. We validated seven chemotypes, three of which are, to the best of our knowledge, novel. These molecules are able to inhibit male gametocyte exflagellation and block parasite transmission through the Anopheles mosquito vector in a standard membrane feeding assay. This work shows that interrogating a wide and diverse chemical space, with a streamlined gametocyte HTS and hit validation funnel, holds promise for the identification of dual stage and gametocyte-selective compounds to be developed into new generation of transmission blocking drugs for malaria elimination.