bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of δ
18
O
atm
in dating a Tibetan ice core record of Holocene/Late Glacial climate
Authors: Thompson Lonnie G. , Severinghaus Jeffrey P. , Yao Tandong , Davis Mary E. , Mosley-Thompson Ellen , Beaudon Emilie , Sierra-Hernández M. Roxana , Porter Stacy E.
Published: November 2022

Ice cores from the northwestern Tibetan Plateau (NWTP) contain long records of regional climate variability, but refrozen meltwater and dust in these cores has hampered development of robust timescales. Here, we introduce an approach to dating the ice via the isotopic composition of atmospheric O
2
in air bubbles (δ
18
O
atm
), along with annual layer counting and radiocarbon dating. We provide a robust chronology for water isotope records (δ
18
O
ice
and d-excess) from three ice cores from the Guliya ice cap in the NWTP. The measurement of δ
18
O
atm
, although common in polar ice core timescales, has rarely been used on ice cores from low-latitude, high-altitude glaciers due to (1) low air pressure, (2) the common presence of refrozen melt that adds dissolved gases and reduces the amount of air available for analysis, and (3) the respiratory consumption of molecular oxygen (O
2
) by micro-organisms in the ice, which fractionates the δ
18
O of O
2
from the atmospheric value. Here, we make corrections for melt and respiration to address these complications. The resulting records of water isotopes from the Guliya ice cores reveal climatic variations over the last 15,000 y, the timings of which correspond to those observed in independently dated lake and speleothem records and confirm that the Guliya ice cap existed before the Holocene. The millennial-scale drivers of δ
18
O
ice
are complex and temporally variable; however, Guliya δ
18
O
ice
values since the mid-20th century are the highest since the beginning of the Holocene and have increased with regional air temperature.
Assessment of a quadrivalent nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that protects against group 2 influenza viruses
Authors: McMahon Meagan , O’Dell George , Tan Jessica , Sárközy András , Vadovics Máté , Carreño Juan Manuel , Puente-Massaguer Eduard , Muramatsu Hiromi , Bajusz Csaba , Rijnink Willemijn , Beattie Mitchell , Tam Ying K. , Kirkpatrick Roubidoux Ericka , Francisco Isabel , Strohmeier Shirin , Kanekiyo Masaru , Graham Barney S. , Krammer Florian , Pardi Norbert
Published: November 2022

Combined vaccine formulations targeting not only hemagglutinin but also other influenza virus antigens could form the basis for a universal influenza virus vaccine that has the potential to elicit long-lasting, broadly cross-reactive immune responses. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines can be utilized to efficiently target multiple antigens with a single vaccine. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP vaccines that contain four influenza A group 2 virus antigens (hemagglutinin stalk, neuraminidase, matrix protein 2, and nucleoprotein) in mice. We found that all vaccine components induced antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses after administration of a single dose. While the monovalent formulations were not exclusively protective, the combined quadrivalent formulation protected mice from all challenge viruses, including a relevant H1N1 influenza virus group 1 strain, with minimal weight loss. Importantly, the combined vaccine protected from morbidity at a dose of 125 ng per antigen after a single vaccination in mice. With these findings, we confidently conclude that the nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP platform can be used to elicit protection against a large panel of influenza viruses.
Cryo–electron microscopy structure of the H3-H4 octasome: A nucleosome-like particle without histones H2A and H2B
Authors: Nozawa Kayo , Takizawa Yoshimasa , Pierrakeas Leonidas , Sogawa-Fujiwara Chizuru , Saikusa Kazumi , Akashi Satoko , Luk Ed , Kurumizaka Hitoshi
Published: November 2022

The canonical nucleosome, which represents the major packaging unit of eukaryotic chromatin, has an octameric core composed of two histone H2A-H2B and H3-H4 dimers with ∼147 base pairs (bp) of DNA wrapped around it. Non-nucleosomal particles with alternative histone stoichiometries and DNA wrapping configurations have been found, and they could profoundly influence genome architecture and function. Using cryo–electron microscopy, we solved the structure of the H3-H4 octasome, a nucleosome-like particle with a di-tetrameric core consisting exclusively of the H3 and H4 histones. The core is wrapped by ∼120 bp of DNA in 1.5 negative superhelical turns, forming two stacked disks that are connected by a H4-H4’ four-helix bundle. Three conformations corresponding to alternative interdisk angles were observed, indicating the flexibility of the H3-H4 octasome structure. In vivo crosslinking experiments detected histone–histone interactions consistent with the H3-H4 octasome model, suggesting that H3-H4 octasomes or related structural features exist in cells.
HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 transduces heat signal in plant cells
Authors: Niu Yanxiao , Bai Jiaoteng , Liu Xinye , Zhang Hao , Bao Jingpei , Zhao Weishuang , Hou Yifeng , Deng Xian , Yang Chao , Guo Lin , Geng Ziyue , Xie Honglian , Wu Hongyuan , Shen Meng , Lou Xiaojie , Tang Wenqiang , Liu Xigang , Sun Daye , Cao Xiaofeng , Zheng Shuzhi
Published: November 2022

Heat stress limits plant growth, development, and crop yield, but how plant cells precisely sense and transduce heat stress signals remains elusive. Here, we identified a conserved heat stress response mechanism to elucidate how heat stress signal is transmitted from the cytoplasm into the nucleus for epigenetic modifiers. We demonstrate that HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 (HDA9) transduces heat signals from the cytoplasm to the nucleus to play a positive regulatory role in heat responses in
Arabidopsis
. Heat specifically induces HDA9 accumulation in the nucleus. Under heat stress, the phosphatase PP2AB′β directly interacts with and dephosphorylates HDA9 to protect HDA9 from 26S proteasome-mediated degradation, leading to the translocation of nonphosphorylated HDA9 to the nucleus. This heat-induced enrichment of HDA9 in the nucleus depends on the nucleoporin HOS1. In the nucleus, HDA9 binds and deacetylates the target genes related to signaling transduction and plant development to repress gene expression in a transcription factor YIN YANG 1–dependent and –independent manner, resulting in rebalance of plant development and heat response. Therefore, we uncover an HDA9-mediated positive regulatory module in the heat shock signal transduction pathway. More important, this cytoplasm-to-nucleus translocation of HDA9 in response to heat stress is conserved in wheat and rice, which confers the mechanism significant implication potential for crop breeding to cope with global climate warming.
Initial impressions of compatibility and mate value predict later dating and romantic interest
Authors: Baxter Alexander , Maxwell Jessica A. , Bales Karen L. , Finkel Eli J. , Impett Emily A. , Eastwick Paul W.
Published: November 2022

Romantic first impressions seem to linger, but why? Few studies have investigated how romantic desire during initial interactions predicts later relational outcomes (e.g., later romantic interest, contact attempts) using a design that can tease apart different possible mechanisms (e.g., mate value, selectivity, compatibility). Across three speed-dating studies (
n
= 559) with longitudinal follow-ups (including college and community samples, and a sample of men who date men), we investigated whether different components of initial romantic impressions predicted later romantic outcomes and relationship initiation. Using the social relations model, we partitioned initial desire at speed dating (determined from 6,600+ total dates) into partner effects (a date’s consensual desirability, e.g., mate value), actor effects (a participant’s general desirousness, e.g., selectivity), and relationship effects (a participant’s unique liking for a date over and beyond partner and actor effects, e.g., compatibility) to predict later evaluations (romantic interest, physical attraction, and desire to know better) and behaviors (direct messaging and going on dates). Meta-analyses across the three studies showed that, across 6,100+ follow-up reports, partner and relationship effects were especially strong predictors of relationship initiation variables. Consistent with evolutionary models of human pair bonding, these findings suggest that both consensually desirable traits and unique impressions of compatibility have lingering effects on relationship development, even from the moment that two potential partners meet.
DMP8 and 9 regulate HAP2/GCS1 trafficking for the timely acquisition of sperm fusion competence
Authors: Wang Wei , Xiong Hanxian , Cyprys Philipp , Malka Raphael , Flores-Tornero María , Zhao Peng , Peng Xiongbo , Sprunck Stefanie , Sun Meng-Xiang
Published: November 2022

Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes of opposite sex. Although the sperm-expressed fusogen HAPLESS 2 (HAP2) or GENERATIVE CELL SPECIFIC 1 (GCS1) plays a vital role in this process in many eukaryotic organisms and an understanding of its regulation is emerging in unicellular systems [J. Zhang
et al.
,
Nat. Commun.
12, 4380 (2021); J. F. Pinello
et al. Dev. Cell
56, 3380–3392.e9 (2021)], neither HAP2/GCS1 interactors nor mechanisms for delivery and activation at the fusion site are known in multicellular plants. Here, we show that
Arabidopsis thaliana
HAP2/GCS1 interacts with two sperm DUF679 membrane proteins (DMP8 and DMP9), which are required for the EGG CELL 1 (EC1)-induced translocation of HAP2/GCS1 from internal storage vesicle to the sperm plasma membrane to ensure successful fertilization. Our studies in
Arabidopsis
and tobacco provide evidence for a conserved function of DMP8/9-like proteins as HAP2/GCS1 partner in seed plants. Our data suggest that seed plants evolved a DMP8/9-dependent fusogen translocation process to achieve timely acquisition of sperm fusion competence in response to egg cell–derived signals, revealing a previously unknown critical step for successful fertilization.
Spatial turnover of soil viral populations and genotypes overlain by cohesive responses to moisture in grasslands
Authors: Santos-Medellín Christian , Estera-Molina Katerina , Yuan Mengting , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Firestone Mary K. , Emerson Joanne B.
Published: November 2022

Viruses shape microbial communities, food web dynamics, and carbon and nutrient cycling in diverse ecosystems. However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of viral community composition, particularly in soil, precluding a predictive understanding of viral impacts on terrestrial habitats. To investigate soil viral community assembly processes, here we analyzed 43 soil viromes from a rainfall manipulation experiment in a Mediterranean grassland in California. We identified 5,315 viral populations (viral operational taxonomic units [vOTUs] with a representative sequence ≥10 kbp) and found that viral community composition exhibited a highly significant distance–decay relationship within the 200-m
2
field site. This pattern was recapitulated by the intrapopulation microheterogeneity trends of prevalent vOTUs (detected in ≥90% of the viromes), which tended to exhibit negative correlations between spatial distance and the genomic similarity of their predominant allelic variants. Although significant spatial structuring was also observed in the bacterial and archaeal communities, the signal was dampened relative to the viromes, suggesting differences in local assembly drivers for viruses and prokaryotes and/or differences in the temporal scales captured by viromes and total DNA. Despite the overwhelming spatial signal, evidence for environmental filtering was revealed in a protein-sharing network analysis, wherein a group of related vOTUs predicted to infect actinobacteria was shown to be significantly enriched in low-moisture samples distributed throughout the field. Overall, our results indicate a highly diverse, dynamic, active, and spatially structured soil virosphere capable of rapid responses to changing environmental conditions.
Gene delivery available in molluscan cells by strong promoter discovered from bivalve-infectious virus
Authors: Yoon Jeongwoong , Gu Wen-Bin , Konuma Mizuki , Kobayashi Mutsuko , Yokoi Hayato , Osada Makoto , Nagasawa Kazue
Published: November 2022

Understanding gene functions in marine invertebrates has been limited, largely due to the lack of suitable assay systems. Such a system requires investigative methods that are reproducible and can be quantitatively evaluated, such as a cell line, and a strong promoter that can drive high expression of a transgene. In this study, we established primary cell culture from a marine bivalve mollusc,Mizuhopecten yessoensis. Using scallop primary cells, we optimized electroporation conditions for transfection and carried out a luciferase-based promoter activity assay to identify strong promoter sequences that can drive expression of a gene of interest. We evaluated potential promoter sequences from genes of endogenous and exogenous origin and discovered a strong viral promoter derived from a bivalve-infectious virus, ostreid herpesvirus-1 (OsHV-1). This promoter, we termed OsHV-1 promoter, showed 24.7-fold and 16.1-fold higher activity than the cytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV IE) promoter and the endogenous EF1α promoter, the two most commonly used promoters in bivalves so far. Our GFP assays showed that the OsHV-1 promoter is active not only in scallop cells but also in HEK293 cells and zebrafish embryos. The OsHV-1 promoter practically enables functional analysis of marine molluscan genes, which can contribute to unveiling gene-regulatory networks underlying astonishing regeneration, adaptation, reproduction, and aging in marine invertebrates.
The Gasdermin D N-terminal fragment acts as a negative feedback system to inhibit inflammasome-mediated activation of Caspase-1/11
Authors: Hu Yingchao , Jiang Yuying , Li Sheng , Ma Xiaoqing , Chen Min , Yang Rui , Wen Shuang , Moynagh Paul N. , Wang Bingwei , Hu Gang , Yang Shuo
Published: November 2022

Inflammatory pathways usually utilize negative feedback regulatory systems to prevent tissue damage arising from excessive inflammatory response. Whether such negative feedback mechanisms exist in inflammasome activation remains unknown. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is the pyroptosis executioner of downstream inflammasome signaling. Here, we found that GSDMD, after its cleavage by caspase-1/11, utilizes its RFWK motif in the N-terminal β1-β2 loop to inhibit the activation of caspase-1/11 and downstream inflammation in a negative feedback manner. Furthermore, an RFWK motif-based peptide inhibitor can inhibit caspase-1/11 activation and its downstream substrates GSDMD and interleukin-1β cleavage, as well as lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in mice. Collectively, these findings provide a demonstration of the N-terminal fragment of GSDMD as a negative feedback regulator controlling inflammasome activation and a detailed delineation of the underlying inhibitory mechanism.
Coupling-dependent metabolic ultradian rhythms in confluent cells
Authors: Yang Shuzhang , Yamazaki Shin , Cox Kimberly H. , Huang Yi-Lin , Miller Evan W. , Takahashi Joseph S.
Published: November 2022

Ultradian rhythms in metabolism and physiology have been described previously in mammals. However, the underlying mechanisms for these rhythms are still elusive. Here, we report the discovery of temperature-sensitive ultradian rhythms in mammalian fibroblasts that are independent of both the cell cycle and the circadian clock. The period in each culture is stable over time but varies in different cultures (ranging from 3 to 24 h). We show that transient, single-cell metabolic pulses are synchronized into stable ultradian rhythms across contacting cells in culture by gap junction–mediated coupling. Coordinated rhythms are also apparent for other metabolic and physiological measures, including plasma membrane potential (Δψ
p
), intracellular glutamine, α-ketoglutarate, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), cytosolic pH, and intracellular calcium. Moreover, these ultradian rhythms require extracellular glutamine, several different ion channels, and the suppression of mitochondrial ATP synthase by α-ketoglutarate, which provides a key feedback mechanism. We hypothesize that cellular coupling and metabolic feedback can be used by cells to balance energy demands for survival.
Combination of common mtDNA variants results in mitochondrial dysfunction and a connective tissue dysregulation
Authors: Schaefer Patrick M. , Scherer Alves Leonardo , Lvova Maria , Huang Jessica , Rathi Komal , Janssen Kevin , Butic Arrienne , Yardeni Tal , Morrow Ryan , Lott Marie , Murdock Deborah , Song Angela , Keller Kierstin , Garcia Benjamin A. , Francomano Clair A. , Wallace Douglas C.
Published: November 2022

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be associated with a range of clinical manifestations. Here, we report a family with a complex phenotype including combinations of connective tissue, neurological, and metabolic symptoms that were passed on to all surviving children. Analysis of the maternally inherited mtDNA revealed a novel genotype encompassing the haplogroup J - defining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
ND5
m.13708G>A (A458T) variant arising on the mtDNA haplogroup H7A background, an extremely rare combination. Analysis of transmitochondrial cybrids with the 13708A-H7 mtDNA revealed a lower mitochondrial respiration, increased reactive oxygen species production (mROS), and dysregulation of connective tissue gene expression. The mitochondrial dysfunction was exacerbated by histamine, explaining why all eight surviving children inherited the dysfunctional histidine decarboxylase allele (W327X) from the father. Thus, certain combinations of common mtDNA variants can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction can affect extracellular matrix gene expression, and histamine-activated mROS production can augment the severity of mitochondrial dysfunction. Most important, we have identified a previously unreported genetic cause of mitochondrial disorder arising from the incompatibility of common, nonpathogenic mtDNA variants.
Double-atom dealloying-derived Frank partial dislocations in cobalt nanocatalysts boost metal–air batteries and fuel cells
Authors: Meng Tao , Sun Pingping , Yang Feng , Zhu Jie , Mao Baoguang , Zheng Lirong , Cao Minhua
Published: November 2022

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), an essential reaction in metal–air batteries and fuel cells, still faces many challenges, such as exploiting cost-effective nonprecious metal electrocatalysts and identifying their surface catalytic sites. Here we introduce bulk defects, Frank partial dislocations (FPDs), into metallic cobalt to construct a highly active and stable catalyst and demonstrate an atomic-level insight into its surface terminal catalysis. Through thermally dealloying bimetallic carbide (Co
3
ZnC), FPDs were in situ generated in the final dealloyed metallic cobalt. Both theoretical calculations and atomic characterizations uncovered that FPD-driven surface terminations create a distinctive type of surface catalytic site that combines concave geometry and compressive strain, and this two-in-one site intensively weakens oxygen binding. When being evaluated for the ORR, the catalyst exhibits onset and half-wave potentials of 1.02 and 0.90 V (versus the reversible hydrogen electrode), respectively, and negligible activity decay after 30,000 cycles. Furthermore, zinc–air batteries and H
2
–O
2
/air fuel cells built with this catalyst also achieve remarkable performance, making it a promising alternative to state-of-the-art Pt-based catalysts. Our findings pave the way for the use of bulk defects to upgrade the catalytic properties of nonprecious electrocatalysts.
Spontaneous phase coordination and fluid pumping in model ciliary carpets
Authors: Kanale Anup V. , Ling Feng , Guo Hanliang , Fürthauer Sebastian , Kanso Eva
Published: November 2022

Ciliated tissues, such as in the mammalian lungs, brains, and reproductive tracts, are specialized to pump fluid. They generate flows by the collective activity of hundreds of thousands of individual cilia that beat in a striking metachronal wave pattern. Despite progress in analyzing cilia coordination, a general theory that links coordination and fluid pumping in the limit of large arrays of cilia remains lacking. Here, we conduct in silico experiments with thousands of hydrodynamically interacting cilia, and we develop a continuum theory in the limit of infinitely many independently beating cilia by combining tools from active matter and classical Stokes flow. We find, in both simulations and theory, that isotropic and synchronized ciliary states are unstable. Traveling waves emerge regardless of initial conditions, but the characteristics of the wave and net flows depend on cilia and tissue properties. That is, metachronal phase coordination is a stable global attractor in large ciliary carpets, even under finite perturbations to cilia and tissue properties. These results support the notion that functional specificity of ciliated tissues is interlaced with the tissue architecture and cilia beat kinematics and open up the prospect of establishing structure to function maps from cilium-level beat to tissue-level coordination and fluid pumping.
A comprehensive analysis of piezoelectric energy harvesting from bridge vibrations
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Xiang Hongjun , Tang Lihua , Yang Weiqing
Published: November 2022

Piezoelectric energy harvesting from bridge vibrations has the potential to power wireless sensors used for bridge health monitoring. Often, it is necessary to store the harvested energy before it could be used to power the sensor intermittently. However, the behavior of the piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) with nonlinear interface circuits for energy extraction and storage subject to realistic bridge vibrations has not been fully understood. This work performs a comprehensive analysis on the performance of the PEH subject to the measured railway bridge vibrations and compares the energy stored on a capacitor using four different interface circuits. Firstly, the dynamic characteristics of the railway bridge is analyzed. A cantilevered PEH is then designed and fabricated based on the dynamic characteristics of the bridge. Subsequently, four realistic energy extraction and storage interface circuits, namely, the standard energy harvesting (SEH), synchronized charge extraction (SCE), parallel synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (P-SSHI) and series SSHI (S-SSHI) circuits, are evaluated and compared when the PEH subject to the measured bridge vibrations. The influence of the storage capacitance and the 1st short-circuit natural frequency of the PEH on the stored energy with these four circuits is then discussed. An optimal storage capacitance exists in the systems based on SEH, P-SSHI and S-SSHI circuits. The system based on P-SSHI circuit has the highest efficiency on energy storage. This work provides a technical framework to develop the realistic energy harvesting and storage system for realization of self-powered bridge condition monitoring.
A rapid high throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer spheroid platform for in vitro drug- and radiation-response
Authors: Johnson Peter A , Menegatti Sara , Chambers Adam C , Alibhai Dominic , Collard Tracey J , Williams Ann C , Bayley Hagan , Perriman Adam W
Published: November 2022

We describe the development of a high-throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer (CRC) spheroid platform with high levels of automation, information content, and low cell number requirement. This is achieved via the formulation of a hydrogel bioink with a compressive Young’s modulus that is commensurate with that of colonic tissue (1–3 kPa), which supports exponential growth of spheroids from a wide range of CRC cell lines. The resulting spheroids display tight cell–cell junctions, bioink matrix-cell interactions and necrotic hypoxic cores. By combining high content light microscopy imaging and processing with rapid multiwell plate bioprinting, dose-response profiles are generated from CRC spheroids challenged with oxaliplatin (OX) and fluorouracil (5FU), as well as radiotherapy. Bioprinted CRC spheroids are shown to exhibit high levels of chemoresistance relative to cell monolayers, and OX was found to be significantly less effective against tumour spheroids than in monolayer culture, when compared to 5FU.
Comparison of in-situ versus ex-situ delivery of polyethylenimine-BMP-2 polyplexes for rat calvarial defect repair via intraoperative bioprinting
Authors: Moncal Kazim K , Yeo Miji , Celik Nazmiye , Acri Timothy M , Rizk Elias , Wee Hwabok , Lewis Gregory S , Salem Aliasger K , Ozbolat Ibrahim T
Published: November 2022

Gene therapeutic applications combined with bio- and nano-materials have been used to address current shortcomings in bone tissue engineering due to their feasibility, safety and potential capability for clinical translation. Delivery of non-viral vectors can be altered using gene-activated matrices to improve their efficacy to repair bone defects. Ex-situ and in-situ delivery strategies are the most used methods for bone therapy, which have never been directly compared for their potency to repair critical-sized bone defects. In this regard, we first time explore the delivery of polyethylenimine (PEI) complexed plasmid DNA encoding bone morphogenetic protein-2 (PEI-pBMP-2) using the two delivery strategies, ex-situ and in-situ delivery. To realize these gene delivery strategies, we employed intraoperative bioprinting (IOB), enabling us to 3D bioprint bone tissue constructs directly into defect sites in a surgical setting. Here, we demonstrated IOB of an osteogenic bioink loaded with PEI-pBMP-2 for the in-situ delivery approach, and PEI-pBMP-2 transfected rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells laden bioink for the ex-situ delivery approach as alternative delivery strategies. We found that in-situ delivery of PEI-pBMP-2 significantly improved bone tissue formation compared to ex-situ delivery. Despite debates amongst individual advantages and disadvantages of ex-situ and in-situ delivery strategies, our results ruled in favor of the in-situ delivery strategy, which could be desirable to use for future clinical applications.
Design of electrical impedance spectroscopy sensing surgical drill using computational modelling and experimental validation
Authors: Devaraj Harshavardhan , K Murphy Ethan , J Halter Ryan
Published: November 2022

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) sensing surgical instruments could provide valuable and real-time feedback to surgeons about hidden tissue boundaries, therefore reducing the risk of iatrogenic injuries. In this paper, we present an EIS sensing surgical drill as an example instrument and introduce a strategy to optimize the mono-polar electrode geometry using a finite element method (FEM)-based computational model and experimental validation. An empirical contact impedance model and an adaptive mesh refinement protocol were developed to accurately preserve the behaviour of sensing electrodes as they approach high impedance boundaries. Specifically, experiments with drill-bit, cylinder, and conical geometries suggested a 15%–35% increase in resistance as the sensing electrode approached a high impedance boundary. Simulations achieved a maximum mean experiment-to-simulation mismatch of +1.7% for the drill-bit and +/−11% range for other electrode geometries. The simulations preserved the increase in resistance behaviour near the high impedance boundary. This highly accurate simulation framework allows us a mechanism for optimizing sensor geometry without costly experimental evaluation.
The nature of nothing: exploring the quantum vacuum in microgravity
Authors: Thompson Rob
Published: November 2022

In this paper we discuss a number of investigations of the quantum vacuum that could potentially take advantage of a microgravity environment. Ultra-cold atoms are exquisite sensors of the electro-magnetic vacuum, and microgravity aids our ability to precisely position and control them in the vicinity of surfaces and cavity modes. Measurements of Casimir–Polder force, Anderson localization and the possibilities for confining atoms with vacuum forces are amongst the intriguing possibilities discussed.
2D tribotronic transistors
Authors: Huo Ziwei , Yu Jinran , Li Yonghai , Wang Zhong Lin , Sun Qijun
Published: November 2022

Since the discovery of graphene, two-dimensional (2D) materials have been widely applied to field-effect transistors due to their great potential in optoelectronics, photodetectors, intelligent sensors, and neuromorphic devices. By integrating a 2D transistor with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) into a tribotronic transistor, the induced triboelectric potential can readily regulate the charge carrier transport characteristics in the semiconductor channel. The emerging research field of tribotronics (mainly tribotronic transistors) has attracted extensive attention due to their significant applications in various sensation and human–machine interactions. Here, this review summarizes the recent developments of 2D tribotronic transistors. Firstly, the electrical, optoelectronic, and piezoelectric properties of typical 2D materials are introduced. Then, tribotronic tuning at the micro/nanoscale is discussed together with the methodologies of thermionic emission, triboelectricity tunneling, and atomic force microscope probe scanning, which is of great significance for the investigation of the underlying mechanism of the tribotronic effect. In addition, macroscale tribotronic regulation via TENG mechanical displacement is discussed in detail to explore the applications of 2D tribotronic transistors in intelligent sensors, logic devices, memory devices, and artificial synapses. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for 2D tribotronic transistors are discussed.
Multimodal shunt damping of mechanical structures using multiple digital vibration absorbers
Authors: Dietrich Jennifer , Raze Ghislain , Kerschen Gaëtan
Published: November 2022

A novel piezoelectric shunt damping methodology for structures featuring different mode families with high modal density is introduced in this work. To this end, multiple digital vibration absorbers comprising each a voltage sensor, a digital processing unit and a current injector are connected to multiple piezoelectric transducers bonded to these structures. The digital absorbers mimic a multi-stage current blocking shunt circuit whose parameters are determined in a sequential manner to account for the interaction between the different branches. Two tuning strategies which target either an actual resonance frequency of a mode family or a so-called mean frequency are developed and compared, and their robustness to mistuning is addressed. The use of these tuning strategies in combination with the multi-stage shunt design allows to target multiple mode families at the same time. Finally, the theoretical developments are demonstrated experimentally on a 3D-printed rail with 5 blades.
Investigation of the damping behavior of shape memory alloy-nitinol reinforced composite
Authors: Patil Ranjit Anil , Rane Santosh B , Kumbhar Samir B
Published: November 2022

The use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) recently increased in smart structures. It is essential to investigate the impact of viscoelastic material, and transformation temperatures of SMA on dynamic behavior, especially the damping capability of the SMA reinforced composite. In this paper, the damping constants of SMA and viscoelastic material are evaluated experimentally, and a damping model based on experimental results is proposed for the composite. The effect of SMA wires in combination and selective activation has been studied using the proposed model and validated experimentally. It has been observed that damping predicted by the model is close to damping calculated by experimentation. Also, damping varies with the transformation temperatures of SMA. Thus, dynamic control of the SMA reinforced composite is feasible by controlling transformation temperature. The composite studied in this work can shift the damping by 9.58% by activating all nitinol wires.
Coot optimization based Enhanced Global Pyramid Network for 3D hand pose estimation
Authors: Malavath Pallavi , Devarakonda Nagaraju
Published: November 2022

Due to its importance in various applications that need human-computer interaction (HCI), the field of 3D hand pose estimation (HPE) has recently got a lot of attention. The use of technological developments, such as deep learning networks has accelerated the development of reliable 3D HPE systems. Therefore, in this paper, a 3D HPE based on Enhanced Global Pyramid Network (EGPNet) is proposed. Initially, feature extraction is done by backbone model of DetNetwork with improved EGPNet. The EGPNet is enhanced by the Smish activation function. After the feature extraction, the HPE is performed based on 3D pose correction network. Additionally, to enhance the estimation performance, Coot optimization algorithm is used to optimize the error between estimated and ground truth hand pose. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimented on Bharatanatyam, yoga, Kathakali and sign language datasets with different networks in terms of area under the curve, median end-point-error (EPE) and mean EPE. The Coot optimization is also compared with existing optimization algorithms.
Slopes of modular forms and reducible Galois representations, an oversight in the ghost conjecture
Authors: Bergdall John , Pollack Robert
Published: November 2022

The ghost conjecture, formulated by this article’s authors, predicts the list of

p
p

-adic valuations of the non-zero

a
p

a_p

-eigenvalues (“slopes”) for overconvergent

p
p

-adic modular eigenforms in terms of the Newton polygon of an easy-to-describe power series (the “ghost series”). The prediction is restricted to eigenforms whose Galois representation modulo

p
p

is reducible on a decomposition group at

p
p

. It has been discovered, however, that the conjecture is not formulated correctly. Here we explain the issue and propose a salvage.
Global transfer systems of abelian compact Lie groups
Authors: Barrero Miguel
Published: November 2022

Global transfer systems are equivalent to global

N
∞

N_\infty

-operads, which parametrize different levels of commutativity in globally equivariant homotopy theory, where objects have compatible actions by all compact Lie groups. In this paper we explicitly describe and completely classify global transfer systems for the family of all abelian compact Lie groups.
The Kudla-Rapoport conjecture at a ramified prime for 𝑈(1,1)
Authors: He Qiao , Shi Yousheng , Yang Tonghai
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we proved a local arithmetic Siegel-Weil formula for a

U
(
1
,
1
)

U(1, 1)

-Shimura variety at a ramified prime, a.k.a. a Kudla-Rapoport conjecture at a ramified case. The formula needs to be modified from the original Kudla-Rapoport conjecture. In the process, we also give an explicit decomposition of the special divisors of the Rapoport-Zink space of unitary type

(
1
,
1
)

(1, 1)

(Krämer model). A key ingredient is to relate the Rapoport-Zink space to the Drinfeld upper plane.
Another look at the Balázs-Quastel-Seppäläinen theorem
Authors: Gu Yu , Komorowski Tomasz
Published: November 2022

We study the KPZ equation with a1+1−1+1-dimensional spacetime white noise, started at equilibrium, and give a different proof of the main result of Balázs, Quastel, and Seppäläinen [J. Amer. Math. Soc. 24 (2011), pp. 683–708], i.e., the variance of the solution at timettis of ordert2/3t^{2/3}. Instead of using a discrete approximation through the exclusion process and the second class particle, we utilize the connection to directed polymers in random environment. Along the way, we show the annealed density of the stationary continuum directed polymer equals to the two-point covariance function of the stationary stochastic Burgers equation, confirming the physics prediction of Maes and Thiery [J. Stat. Phys. 168 (2017), pp. 937–963].
The Association Between Salt Taste Threshold and Hypertensive Nephropathy in Patients With Essential Hypertension
Authors: Yang Pei-li , Yang Xiao-li , Xue Yuan-zheng , Gong Xue , Li Fang-tang , Wu Geng-ze , Zeng Chun-yu , Chen Ken , Yang Yong-jian
Published: November 2022

Background

To investigate the relationship between salt taste threshold and hypertensive nephropathy in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 346 hypertensive patients in Daping Hospital from 2017 to 2019. Among them 94 patients were hypertensive nephropathy and 252 hypertensive patients without renal damage served as controls. The salt taste threshold of patients was measured by taking different concentrations of NaCl solution. The difference in salt taste threshold between the 2 groups of patients was compared, and the correlation between salt taste threshold and hypertensive nephropathy was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of salt taste threshold to predict hypertensive nephropathy.

Results

The salt taste threshold of the hypertensive nephropathy patients was significantly higher than that in hypertensive patients without renal damage [0.075 (0.050–0.100) vs. 0.050 (0.050–0.100) mol/l, P = 0.010]. As salt taste threshold increased, the renal function decreased gradually, which was manifested by the increase of urine microalbumin to creatinine ratio, blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urine N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, and the decrease of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for traditional risk factors, a higher salt taste threshold was an independent risk factor for hypertensive nephropathy (odds ratio = 1.299, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.020–1.655, P = 0.034). The area under ROC curve was 0.586 (95% CI 0.520–0.652).

Conclusions

Salt taste threshold correlates with biochemical indicators of renal damage, and a higher salt taste threshold is a risk factor of hypertensive nephropathy in patients with essential hypertension.
MIDAS2: Metagenomic Intra-species Diversity Analysis System
Authors: Zhao Chunyu , Dimitrov Boris , Goldman Miriam , Nayfach Stephen , Pollard Katherine S
Published: November 2022

The Metagenomic Intra-Species Diversity Analysis System (MIDAS) is a scalable metagenomic pipeline that identifies single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and gene copy number variants in microbial populations. Here, we present MIDAS2, which addresses the computational challenges presented by increasingly large reference genome databases, while adding functionality for building custom databases and leveraging paired-end reads to improve SNV accuracy. This fast and scalable reengineering of the MIDAS pipeline enables thousands of metagenomic samples to be efficiently genotyped.

Availability and implementation

The source code is available at https://github.com/czbiohub/MIDAS2.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Accounting for transgenerational effects of toxicant exposure in population models alters the predicted long-term population status
Authors: Brander Susanne M , White J Wilson , DeCourten Bethany M , Major Kaley , Hutton Sara J , Connon Richard E , Mehinto Alvine
Published: November 2022

Acute environmental stressors such as short-term exposure to pollutants can have lasting effects on organisms, potentially impacting future generations. Parental exposure to toxicants can result in changes to the epigenome (e.g., DNA methylation) that are passed down to subsequent, unexposed generations. However, it is difficult to gauge the cumulative population-scale impacts of epigenetic effects from laboratory experiments alone. Here, we developed a size- and age-structured delay-coordinate population model to evaluate the long-term consequences of epigenetic modifications on population sustainability. The model emulated changes in growth, mortality, and fecundity in the F0, F1, and F2 generations observed in experiments in which larval Menidia beryllina were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of bifenthrin (Bif), ethinylestradiol (EE2), levonorgestrel (LV), or trenbolone (TB) in the parent generation (F0) and reared in clean water up to the F2 generation. Our analysis suggests potentially dramatic population-level effects of repeated, chronic exposures of early-life stage fish that are not captured by models not accounting for those effects. Simulated exposures led to substantial declines in population abundance (LV and Bif) or near-extinction (EE2 and TB) with the exact trajectory and timeline of population decline dependent on the combination of F0, F1, and F2 effects produced by each compound. Even acute one-time exposures of each compound led to declines and recovery over multiple years due to lagged epigenetic effects. These results demonstrate the potential for environmentally relevant concentrations of commonly used compounds to impact the population dynamics and sustainability of an ecologically relevant species and model organism.
Importance of external validation and subgroup analysis of artificial intelligence in the detection of low ejection fraction from electrocardiograms
Authors: Yagi Ryuichiro , Goto Shinichi , Katsumata Yoshinori , MacRae Calum A , Deo Rahul C
Published: November 2022

Aim

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) carries an increased risk for overt heart failure and mortality, yet treatable to mitigate disease progression. An artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) model demonstrated promise in LVSD screening, but the performance dropped unexpectedly in external validation. We thus sought to train de novo models for LVSD detection and investigated their performance across multiple institutions and across a broader set of patient strata.

Methods and results

ECGs taken within 14 days of an echocardiogram were obtained from four academic hospitals (three in the United States and one in Japan). Four AI models were trained to detect patients with ejection fraction (EF) <40% using ECGs from each of the four institutions. All the models were then evaluated on the held-out test data set from the same institution and data from the three external institutions. Subgroup analyses stratified by patient characteristics and common ECG abnormalities were performed. A total of 221 846 ECGs were identified from the 4 institutions. While the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)-trained and Keio-trained models yielded similar accuracy on their internal test data [area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) 0.913 and 0.914, respectively], external validity was worse for the Keio-trained model (AUROC: 0.905–0.915 for BWH trained and 0.849–0.877 for Keio-trained model). Although ECG abnormalities including atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block, and paced rhythm-reduced detection, the models performed robustly across patient characteristics and other ECG features.

Conclusion

While using the same model architecture, different data sets produced models with different performances for detecting low-EF highlighting the importance of external validation and extensive stratification analysis.
Burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to particulate matter pollution in the eastern Mediterranean region: analysis of the 1990–2019 global burden of disease
Authors: Motairek Issam , Ajluni Steven , Khraishah Haitham , AlAhmad Barrak , Al-Dulaimi Sarah , Abi Khalil Charbel , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Al-Kindi Sadeer
Published: November 2022

Aims

Particulate matter pollution is the most important environmental mediator of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Air pollution evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is limited, owing to scarce local studies, and the omission from multinational studies. We sought to investigate trends of particulate matter (PM2.5)-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in the EMR from 1990 to 2019.

Methods and results

We used the 1990–2019 global burden of disease methodology to investigate total PM2.5, ambient PM2.5, and household PM2.5-related CVD deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and cause-specific CVD mortality in the EMR. The average annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure in EMR region was 50.3 μg/m3 [95% confidence interval (CI):42.7–59.0] in 2019, which was comparable with 199 048.1 μg/m3 (95% CI: 36.5–65.3). This was despite an 80% reduction in household air pollution (HAP) sources since 1990. In 2019, particulate matter pollution contributed to 25.67% (95% CI: 23.55–27.90%) of total CVD deaths and 28.10% (95% CI: 25.75–30.37%) of DALYs in the region, most of which were due to ischaemic heart disease and stroke. We estimated that 353 071 (95% CI: 304 299–404 591) CVD deaths in EMR were attributable to particulate matter in 2019, including 264 877 (95% CI: 218 472–314 057) and 88 194.07 (95% CI: 60 149–119 949) CVD deaths from ambient PM2.5 pollution and HAP from solid fuels, respectively. DALY’s in 2019 from CVD attributable to particulate matter was 28.1% when compared with 26.69% in 1990. The age-standardized death and DALY rates attributable to air pollution was 2122 per 100 000 in EMR in 2019 and was higher in males (2340 per 100 000) than in females (1882 per 100 000).

Conclusion

The EMR region experiences high PM2.5 levels with high regional heterogeneity and attributable burden of CVD due to air pollution. Despite significant reductions of overall HAP in the past 3 decades, there is continued HAP exposure in this region with rising trend in CVD mortality and DALYs attributable to ambient sources. Given the substantial contrast in disease burden, exposures, socio-economic and geo-political constraints in the EMR region, our analysis suggests substantial opportunities for PM2.5 attributable CVD burden mitigation.
Stratification of Companion Animal Life Stages from Electronic Medical Record Diagnosis Data
Authors: Salt Carina , Saito Emi K , O’Flynn Ciaran , Allaway David
Published: November 2022

Aging is a complex, multifactorial process, where different life stages reflect changes in metabolic processes, immune capacities, and genetic/epigenetic repertoires. With accumulating exposure to environmental stresses and deterioration of physiological functions, body systems become more prone to low-grade chronic inflammation and an increasing range of pathologies. We hypothesized that differential susceptibility to diseases across life span reflects phased changes in an organism’s physiological capacity that may highlight when interventions may be appropriately used. Furthermore, the number of life stages may vary between species and be impacted by signalment such as breed. We tested this hypothesis using disease diagnoses data from veterinary electronic medical records containing almost 2 million cats and over 4 million dogs. Bi-clustering (on rates of disease diagnoses) and adaptive branch pruning were used to identify age clusters that could be used to define adult life stages. Clustering among diagnoses were then interpreted within the context of each defined life stage. The analyses identified 5 age clusters in cats and 4 age clusters within each of the 4 canine breed size categories used. This study, using population scale data for two species, one with differential size and life expectancies, is the first to our knowledge to use disease diagnosis data to define adult life stages. The life stages presented here are a result of a data-driven approach to age and disease stratification and are intended to support conversations between clinicians and clients about appropriate health care recommendations.