bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of hyperspectral images via improved cycle‐MLP
Authors: Gong Na , Zhang Chunlei , Zhou Heng , Zhang Kai , Wu Zhongyuan , Zhang Xin
Published: April 2022

Pixel‐wise classification of hyperspectral image (HSI) is a hot spot in the field of remote sensing. The classification of HSI requires the model to be more sensitive to dense features, which is quite different from the modelling requirements of traditional image classification tasks. Cycle‐Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) has achieved satisfactory results in dense feature prediction tasks because it is an expert in extracting high‐resolution features. In order to obtain a more stable receptive field and enhance the effect of feature extraction in multiple directions, we propose an MLP‐like model called DriftNet for HSI classification inspired by Cycle‐MLP and deformable convolution. Besides, the proposed DriftNet uses a unique ladder‐like fully connected structure to achieve progressive activation of neurons and facilitates the fusion of spatial and spectral information, thereby obtaining more sensitive location information for better classification results. Experimental results on three public hyperspectral datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and generalisation of DriftNet.
Ground glass opacity detection and segmentation using CT images: an image statistics framework
Authors: Banday S.A. , Nahvi Rafia , Mir A.H. , Khan S. , AlGhamdi Ahmad Saeed , Alshamrani Sultan S.
Published: April 2022

Lung cancer is one of the most profound causes of cancer‐related deaths in the world. Early detection is known to significantly improve the chances of survival. Several detection and diagnostic methods are used for this purpose. CT is one of the most widely used non‐invasive medical imaging modalities in this domain. The biggest challenge faced by radiologists in this case is detection and diagnosis of cancerous lung nodules. The growth of ground glass opacity (GGO) lesions is an indication of malignancy. However, GGO is difficult to capture for physicians as it manifests in the form of tiny, faint shadows. This research paper proposes an approach for aiding GGO identification in CT lung images for improved lung cancer prognosis. In the proposed approach, morphological reconstruction is used for segmentation. Once the region of interest (ROI) is extracted, statistical analysis using mean, standard deviation, variance, entropy, skewness, kurtosis, minimum grey scale value, maximum grey scale value and range is performed. The same statistical measures are determined for normal lung and distribution plot is drawn for comparison. It is observed that maximum grey‐scale value demonstrates minimum overlap of approximately 7.4%. To reduce this, a joint feature by summing values of feature mean, skewness, and maximum grey‐scale value was used. This approach reduced the overlap to approximately 1.32%. Lastly, ANN was used for classification of GGO and non‐GGO lung tissue with an achieved accuracy of 99.5%.
The dark matter halo masses of elliptical galaxies as a function of observationally robust quantities
Authors: Sonnenfeld Alessandro , Tortora Crescenzo , Hoekstra Henk , Asgari Marika , Bilicki Maciej , Heymans Catherine , Hildebrandt Hendrik , Kuijken Konrad , Napolitano Nicola R. , Roy Nivya , Valentijn Edwin , Wright Angus H.
Published: April 2022

Context. The assembly history of the stellar component of a massive elliptical galaxy is closely related to that of its dark matter halo. Measuring how the properties of galaxies correlate with their halo mass can therefore help to understand their evolution.

Aims. We investigate how the dark matter halo mass of elliptical galaxies varies as a function of their properties, using weak gravitational lensing observations. To minimise the chances of biases, we focus on the following galaxy properties that can be determined robustly: the surface brightness profile and the colour.

Methods. We selected 2409 central massive elliptical galaxies (log M*/M⊙ ≳ 11.4) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopic sample. We first measured their surface brightness profile and colours by fitting Sérsic models to photometric data from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS). We fitted their halo mass distribution as a function of redshift, rest-frame r-band luminosity, half-light radius, and rest-frame u − g colour, using KiDS weak lensing measurements and a Bayesian hierarchical approach. For the sake of robustness with respect to assumptions on the large-radii behaviour of the surface brightness, we repeated the analysis replacing the total luminosity and half-light radius with the luminosity within a 10 kpc aperture, Lr, 10, and the light-weighted surface brightness slope, Γ10.

Results. We did not detect any correlation between the halo mass and either the half-light radius or colour at fixed redshift and luminosity. Using the robust surface brightness parameterisation, we found that the halo mass correlates weakly with Lr, 10 and anti-correlates with Γ10. At fixed redshift, Lr, 10 and Γ10, the difference in the average halo mass between galaxies at the 84th percentile and 16th percentile of the colour distribution is 0.00 ± 0.11 dex.

Conclusion. Our results indicate that the average star formation efficiency of massive elliptical galaxies has little dependence on their final size or colour. This suggests that the origin of the diversity in the size and colour distribution of these objects lies with properties other than the halo mass.
Covariances of density probability distribution functions. Lessons from hierarchical models
Authors: Bernardeau Francis
Published: April 2022

Context. Statistical properties of the cosmic density fields are to a large extent encoded in the shape of the one-point density probability distribution functions (PDF) as measured in surveys. In order to successfully exploit such observables, a detailed functional form of the covariance matrix of the one-point PDF is needed.

Aims. The objectives are to model the properties of this covariance for general stochastic density fields and for stochastic fields that reproduce the properties expected in cosmology. The accuracy of the proposed forms is evaluated in specific cases.

Methods. The study was conducted in a cosmological context and determined whether the density is defined absolutely or relatively to the sample mean density. Leading and subleading contributions were identified within a large class of models, the so-called hierarchical models. They come from either large or short separation contributions. The validity of the proposed forms for the covariance matrix was assessed with the help of a toy model, the minimum tree model, for which a corpus of exact results could be obtained (forms of the one- and two-point PDF, large-scale density-bias functions, and full covariance matrix of the one-point PDF).

Results. It is first shown that the covariance matrix elements are directly related to the spatial average of the two-point density PDF within the sample. The dominant contribution to this average is explicitly given for hierarchical models (coming from large scale contribution), which leads to the construction of specific density-bias functions. However, this contribution alone cannot be used to construct an operational likelihood function. Subdominant large-scale effects are found to provide corrective terms, but also a priori lead to limited information on the covariance matrix. Short distance effects are found to be more important but more difficult to derive as they depend more on the details of the model. However, a simple and generic form of these contributions is proposed. Detailed comparisons in the context of the Rayleigh-Levy flight model show that the large-scale effects capture the bulk of the supersample effects and that, by adding the short-distance contributions, a qualitatively correct model of the likelihood function can be obtained.
Finite-amplitude sound propagation effects in volume backscattering measurements for fish abundance estimation
Authors: Pedersen Audun O. , Lunde Per , Tichy Frank E. , Korneliussen Rolf J.
Published: April 2022

Scientific advice for governmental management of marine resources relies on acoustical observation methods. Quantification and identification of fish and plankton species are often achieved using multi-frequency acoustic data. Accurate measurements of backscattering cross-sections and volume backscattering coefficients are essential. Systematic errors from finite-amplitude sound propagation are demonstrated in experimental survey measurements on Atlantic mackerel using 120 kHz and 200 kHz echosounders and high power settings. Finite-amplitude signal distortion causes excess transmission loss that is not accounted for in fisheries acoustics today, other than by fixed limits on the maximum transmitted power. The demonstrated errors are of a magnitude that can seriously bias abundance estimation and species identification. It is shown how the finite-amplitude effects can be modelled and predicted quantitatively, within a framework of electroacoustic power budget equations. A method is provided to calculate related errors in echosounder calibration and oceanic measurement of acoustic volume backscattering. When accounting for finite-amplitude effects in echosounder signal processing, higher transmit powers can be used when needed to improve signal-to-noise ratio or extend measurement range. The results indicate that historical survey data can be adjusted for such errors using numerical simulations. The echosounder characteristics relevant to finite-amplitude effects can be determined by laboratory measurements.
17.8.5 Porphyrins (Update 2022)
Authors: Jux N. , Montforts F.-P. , Haake E.
Published: April 2022

This chapter covers methods for the synthesis and transformations of porphyrins, and is an update to the earlier Science of Synthesis contribution Section 17.8.1. The focus is on the literature published in the period 2000–2021. The basic principles and strategies for the construction and modification of the porphyrin core are examined, with an emphasis on the most useful approaches reported in the past two decades.
17.8.8 Contracted, Isomeric, and Expanded Porphyrins and Carba and Hetero Analogues (Update 2022)
Authors: Jux N. , Montforts F.-P. , Haake E.
Published: April 2022

In this chapter, a range of porphyrinoid analogues and related macrocyclic structures are described and the key literature covering these types of compounds has been collated.
44.2.6.11 Applications of Allenes in Organic Synthesis (Update 2022)
Authors: Tius M. A.
Published: April 2022

This chapter is an update to the earlier Science of Synthesis article (Section 44.2.6) that described the applications of allenes in organic synthesis. An attempt has been made to cover the literature from the end of 2005 through to approximately the end of June 2020. Allenes generally participate in the same reactions as alkenes, but their strain and the presence of the sp-hybridized carbon atom enable additional pathways. Advances in transition-metal-mediated asymmetric catalysis, especially involving gold and rhodium, have led to the development of many of the novel highly enantioselective processes that are discussed.
Magnetized laser–plasma interactions in high-energy-density systems: Parallel propagation
Authors: Los E. E. , Strozzi D. J.
Published: April 2022

We investigate parametric processes in magnetized plasmas, driven by a large-amplitude pump light wave. Our focus is on laser–plasma interactions relevant to high-energy-density (HED) systems, such as the National Ignition Facility and the Sandia MagLIF concept. We present a self-contained derivation of a “parametric” dispersion relation for magnetized three-wave interactions, meaning the pump wave is included in the equilibrium, similar to the unmagnetized work of Drake et al., Phys. Fluids 17, 778 (1974). For this, we use a multi-species plasma fluid model and Maxwell's equations. The application of an external B field causes right- and left-polarized light waves to propagate with differing phase velocities. This leads to Faraday rotation of the polarization, which can be significant in HED conditions. Phase-matching and linear wave dispersion relations show that Raman and Brillouin scattering have modified spectra due to the background B field, though this effect is usually small in systems of current practical interest. We study a scattering process we call stimulated whistler scattering, where a light wave decays to an electromagnetic whistler wave (ω≲ωce) and a Langmuir wave. This only occurs in the presence of an external B field, which is required for the whistler wave to exist.
Robust Devaney chaos in the two-dimensional border-collision normal form
Authors: Ghosh I. , Simpson D. J. W.
Published: April 2022

The collection of all non-degenerate, continuous, two-piece, piecewise-linear maps on R2 can be reduced to a four-parameter family known as the two-dimensional border-collision normal form. We prove that throughout an open region of parameter space, this family has an attractor satisfying Devaney’s definition of chaos. This strengthens the existing results on the robustness of chaos in piecewise-linear maps. We further show that the stable manifold of a saddle fixed point, despite being a one-dimensional object, densely fills an open region containing the attractor. Finally, we identify a heteroclinic bifurcation, not described previously, at which the attractor undergoes a crisis and may be destroyed.
Coherence-encoded synthetic aperture for super-resolution quantitative phase imaging
Authors: Ďuriš Miroslav , Bouchal Petr , Rovenská Katarína , Chmelík Radim
Published: April 2022

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) has quickly established its role in identifying rare events and screening in biomedicine or automated image data analysis using artificial intelligence. These and many other applications share the requirement for extensive high-quality datasets, which is challenging to meet because the invariance of the space–bandwidth product (SBP) fundamentally limits the microscope system throughput. Here, we present a method to overcome the SBP limit by achieving QPI super-resolution using a synthetic aperture approach in a holographic microscope with a partially coherent broad source illumination. We exploit intrinsic coherence-gating properties of the partially coherent light combined with the oblique illumination provided by the diffraction on a simple phase grating placed in proximity of the specimen. We sequentially coherence gate the light scattered into each grating’s diffraction order, and we use the acquired images to synthesize QPI with significantly increased spatial frequency bandwidth. The resolution of QPI is increased substantially beyond Abbe’s diffraction limit while a large field of view of low numerical aperture objectives is kept. This paper presents a thorough theoretical treatment of the coherence-gated imaging process supplemented by a detailed measurement methodology. The capability of the proposed method is demonstrated by imaging a phase resolution target and biological specimens. We envision our work providing an easily implementable super-resolution QPI method particularly suitable for high-throughput biomedical applications.
Graphene/Ge microcrystal photodetectors with enhanced infrared responsivity
Authors: Falcone Virginia , Ballabio Andrea , Barzaghi Andrea , Zucchetti Carlo , Anzi Luca , Bottegoni Federico , Frigerio Jacopo , Sordan Roman , Biagioni Paolo , Isella Giovanni
Published: April 2022

We report on the electrical and optical properties of microcrystal arrays obtained by depositing Ge on a deeply patterned Si substrate. Finite difference time domain simulations indicate that the faceted morphology and high refractive index of Ge microcrystals lead to strong light trapping effects, enhancing infrared light absorption in the spectral window between the direct and indirect absorption edge of Ge (≈1550–1800 nm). This is experimentally confirmed by fabricating microcrystal-based Ge-on-Si photodiodes employing graphene as a top transparent contact. In these devices, the ratio between the responsivities at 1550 and 1700 nm is more than ten times larger than that of photodiodes based on conventional Ge-on-Si epilayers.
Graph neural networks accelerated molecular dynamics
Authors: Li Zijie , Meidani Kazem , Yadav Prakarsh , Barati Farimani Amir
Published: April 2022

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is a powerful tool for understanding the dynamics and structure of matter. Since the resolution of MD is atomic-scale, achieving long timescale simulations with femtosecond integration is very expensive. In each MD step, numerous iterative computations are performed to calculate energy based on different types of interaction and their corresponding spatial gradients. These repetitive computations can be learned and surrogated by a deep learning model, such as a Graph Neural Network (GNN). In this work, we developed a GNN Accelerated MD (GAMD) model that directly predicts forces, given the state of the system (atom positions, atom types), bypassing the evaluation of potential energy. By training the GNN on a variety of data sources (simulation data derived from classical MD and density functional theory), we show that GAMD can predict the dynamics of two typical molecular systems, Lennard-Jones system and water system, in the NVT ensemble with velocities regulated by a thermostat. We further show that GAMD’s learning and inference are agnostic to the scale, where it can scale to much larger systems at test time. We also perform a comprehensive benchmark test comparing our implementation of GAMD to production-level MD software, showing GAMD’s competitive performance on the large-scale simulation.
Stochastic switches of eutrophication and oligotrophication: Modeling extreme weather via non-Gaussian Lévy noise
Authors: Yang Anji , Wang Hao , Zhang Tonghua , Yuan Sanling
Published: April 2022

Disturbances related to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heavy precipitation events, and droughts, are important drivers of evolution processes of a shallow lake ecosystem. A non-Gaussian α-stable Lévy process is esteemed to be the most suitable model to describe such extreme events. This paper incorporates extreme weather via α-stable Lévy noise into a parameterized lake model for phosphorus dynamics. We obtain the stationary probability density function of phosphorus concentration and examine the pivotal roles of α-stable Lévy noise on phosphorus dynamics. The switches between the oligotrophic state and the eutrophic state can be induced by the noise intensity σ, skewness parameter β, or stability index α. We calculate the mean first passage time, also referred to as the mean switching time, from the oligotrophic state to the eutrophic state. We observe that the increased noise intensity, skewness parameter, or stability index makes the mean switching time shorter and thus accelerates the switching process and facilitates lake eutrophication. When the frequency of extreme weather events exceeds a critical value, the intensity of extreme events becomes the most key factor for promoting lake eutrophication. As an application, we analyze the available data of Lake Taihu (2014–2018) for monthly precipitation, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a concentrations and quantify the linkage among them using the Lévy-stable distribution. This study provides a fundamental framework to uncover the impact of any extreme climate event on aquatic nutrient status.
Wearable devices for continuous monitoring of biosignals: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Stuart Tucker , Hanna Jessica , Gutruf Philipp
Published: April 2022

The ability for wearable devices to collect high-fidelity biosignals continuously over weeks and months at a time has become an increasingly sought-after characteristic to provide advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Wearable devices for this purpose face a multitude of challenges such as formfactors with long-term user acceptance and power supplies that enable continuous operation without requiring extensive user interaction. This review summarizes design considerations associated with these attributes and summarizes recent advances toward continuous operation with high-fidelity biosignal recording abilities. The review also provides insight into systematic barriers for these device archetypes and outlines most promising technological approaches to expand capabilities. We conclude with a summary of current developments of hardware and approaches for embedded artificial intelligence in this wearable device class, which is pivotal for next generation autonomous diagnostic, therapeutic, and assistive health tools.
Origin of strong Coulomb interactions in borophene: First-principles Wannier function analysis
Authors: Rai D. P. , Ekuma C. E.
Published: April 2022

We report the first-principles Wannier function study of the electronic structure of two polymorphs of borophene: 8-Pmmn and 6-P6/mmm (henceforth denoted as 6-Pmmm) borophene, where 8 and 6 depict the number of nonequivalent atoms per unit cell. Both structures are found to be anisotropic metals with electronic structures dominated by weak inter- and intra-hopping physics, suggesting strongly correlated metallic ground states. Our findings could aid in explaining the recently observed strong Coulomb interaction in related materials such as graphene bilayer.
Turbulent flow characteristics in an 84-pin rod bundle for typical and damaged spacer grids
Authors: Menezes Craig , Carroll Alfred D. , Matozinhos Camila Freitas , Vaghetto Rodolfo , Hassan Yassin A.
Published: April 2022

Hexagonal rod bundles arranged in a tightly packed triangular lattice are extensively used for heat transfer and energy generation applications. Staggered spacer grids are used to maintain the structural integrity of gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) fuel assemblies, while inducing localized turbulence in flow. Damage to these spacer grids results in a disruption of flow fields within these hexagonal fuel bundles. Experimental flow visualizations are critical to identify the differences in local flow properties that the structural damage may cause. This experimental research investigates the flow-field characteristics at a near-wall and center plane in a prototypical 84-pin GFR fuel assembly. Newly installed typical spacers and spacers subject to naturally occurring damage due to material degradation over prolonged experimentation were investigated. Velocity fields were acquired by utilizing the matched-index-of-refraction method to obtain time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements for a Reynolds number of 12 000. Reynolds decomposition statistical results divulged differences in the time-averaged velocity, velocity fluctuations, flow anisotropy, and Reynolds stress distributions. Galilean decomposition demarcated the influence of spacer grid damage on the velocity fields. To extract turbulent structures and elucidate mechanisms of flow instabilities, proper orthogonal decomposition analysis was employed. Reduced order flow reconstructions enabled the application of vortex identification algorithms to determine the spatial and statistical characteristics of vortices generated. This research work provides unique experimental data on the spacer grid condition-dependent flow. The results offer a deeper understanding of fluid dynamics behavior to support GFR rod bundle design efforts and computational fluid dynamics model validation.
Research progress on hydroxyl protection of iridoid glycosides
Authors: Kong Yuanfang , Yang Bin , Zhang Jingyu , Dong Chunhong
Published: April 2022

Iridoids, an important active ingredient, are widely distributed in varieties of Chinese herbal medicines and have varieties of pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and so on, most of which exist in the form of glycosides in nature. However, its clinical application is limited by poor lipid solubility, low bioavailability and short half-life. It is necessary to optimize the structure of iridoids. It is hard to modify the hydroxyl groups at specific sites because iridoid glycosides are polyhydroxy compounds and very complex. In this paper, the words of ‘Iridoid glycosides’ and ‘Hydroxyl protection’ were used as the keywords, more than 200 articles from 1965 to 2021 were obtained from databases, such as CNKI, PubMed, Scifinder and so on. Finally, 60 articles were selected to summarize the hydroxyl protection of iridoid glycosides, which will provide a theoretical basis for their structural modification and stimulate their application potential in the field of drug research and development.
Effectiveness of biochar- and boron-coated diammonium phosphate for improving boron availability to sunflower (
Authors: Samreen Tayyaba , Kanwal Nafeesa , Nadeem Faisal , Farooq Muhammad , Noreen Saima , Nazir Muhammad Zulqernain , Bashir Muhammad Asaad , Naveed Muhammad , Zahir Zahir Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth and yield are severely compromised by boron (B) deficiency in alkaline calcareous soils of Pakistan. Biochar produced through low-temperature pyrolysis helps to maintain acidic functional groups in such soils. The aim of this study was to enhance B availability in biochar-amended alkaline calcareous soils in order to improve morpho-physiological and yield attributes of sunflower. In a pot experiment, sunflower was grown with three fertiliser treatments: diammonium phosphate (DAP) alone; simple B + DAP; and DAP coated with biochar and B (BC-BDAP). All treatments were grown in soil receiving no biochar, and the BC-BDAP treatment was also applied in soil amended with wheat straw biochar at 2% and 4%. Preparation with wheat straw biochar improved soil properties such that soil with 4% biochar showed highest levels of organic matter (0.97%), total nitrogen (0.08%), available phosphorus (6.21 mg/kg), extractable potassium (93.4 mg/kg) and available B (0.41 mg/kg). Furthermore, compared with DAP alone and B + DAP, BC-BDAP in 4% biochar-amended soil enhanced the concentrations of shoot B (by 64% and 35%) and root B (by 41% and 26%), respectively. This indicated sufficient B availability in soil for root absorption, which subsequently increased sunflower achene weight per plant (by 33% and 17%), protein content (by 29% and 18%) and oil content (by 17% and 10%). Thus, application of BC-BDAP fertiliser in 4% biochar-amended soil can be an efficient strategy for enhancing B availability in alkaline calcareous soils and increasing sunflower growth and yield.
Decision-making on listing new medicines for public funding in New Zealand: the case of ‘new’ type 2 diabetes medications
Authors: Sarkisova Farzana , Lessing Charon , Stretton Caroline
Published: April 2022

Introduction New medicines for the management of type 2 diabetes became available internationally in 2005, yet only in 2018 did the first of these become available in New Zealand. Access to these new medicines in New Zealand is largely dependent on decisions made by the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC). Aim This study sought to describe the decision-making processes to better understand access to new medicines in New Zealand. Methods We conducted an analysis of publicly accessible information on therapeutic committee deliberations, prices of medicines and registration and formulary listing dates. Results Prices for the new diabetes medicines in New Zealand are lower than comparator countries, but access to them takes longer. Discussion Given that knowledge on efficacy, safety and quality is widely available to support decision-making on new medicines, differences in access to them between nations appears to depend on the fourth hurdle of cost. However, we suggest that a rush to market is the norm, that activities of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies are less transparent than desirable, and that greater focus on availability of safety data is required. Deliberations of PHARMAC therapeutic committees are robust yet protracted. Opportunities to expedite decision-making, as well as resolving inequities, may be worthy of examination.
Plio-Pleistocene environmental variability in Africa and its implications for mammalian evolution
Authors: Cohen Andrew S. , Du Andrew , Rowan John , Yost Chad L. , Billingsley Anne L. , Campisano Christopher J. , Brown Erik T. , Deino Alan L. , Feibel Craig S. , Grant Katharine , Kingston John D. , Lupien Rachel L. , Muiruri Veronica , Owen R. Bernhart , Reed Kaye E. , Russell James , Stockhecke Mona
Published: April 2022

Significance

We have developed an Africa-wide synthesis of paleoenvironmental variability over the Plio-Pleistocene. We show that there is strong evidence for orbital forcing of variability during this time that is superimposed on a longer trend of increasing environmental variability, supporting a combination of both low- and high-latitude drivers of variability. We combine these results with robust estimates of mammalian speciation and extinction rates and find that variability is not significantly correlated with these rates. These findings do not currently support a link between environmental variability and turnover and thus fail to corroborate predictions derived from the variability selection hypothesis.
Hamilton’s rule in economic decision-making
Authors: Levy Moshe , Lo Andrew W.
Published: April 2022

Significance

Kin selection—helping genetically related individuals even at a cost to oneself—can be evolutionarily advantageous. This is the main theoretical explanation for altruism in the natural world. Hamilton’s rule provides a simple algebraic relationship that captures this profound idea. While behavior consistent with Hamilton’s rule has been observed in many species, a direct and sharp test of this rule has not yet been performed. In this paper, we employ techniques borrowed from experimental economics to test the predictions of Hamilton’s rule. We find strong support for the rule. This result sheds light on the dominant role played by evolutionary biology in explaining human behavior.
Dynamics of
Drosophila
endoderm specification
Authors: Keenan Shannon E. , Avdeeva Maria , Yang Liu , Alber Daniel S. , Wieschaus Eric F. , Shvartsman Stanislav Y.
Published: April 2022

Significance

To understand developmental patterning of an organism, it is necessary to accurately measure how the state of a gene regulatory network is changing over time. One way of extracting dynamics of a network involves simultaneously imaging several reporters within fixed tissue. Reconstructing dynamics from such data requires staging many samples over time and often leads to low temporal resolution. Time-lapse microscopy of fluorescent transcriptional reporters has revolutionized studies of biological dynamics at the single-cell level. However, this method is limited by the number of reporters that can be imaged at one time. We present a computational method for addressing this problem and demonstrate its application by modeling the gene regulatory network underlying
Drosophila
posterior patterning and reconstructing its developmental dynamics.
Human shoulder development is adapted to obstetrical constraints
Authors: Kawada Mikaze , Nakatsukasa Masato , Nishimura Takeshi , Kaneko Akihisa , Ogihara Naomichi , Yamada Shigehito , Coudyzer Walter , Zollikofer Christoph P. E. , Ponce de León Marcia S. , Morimoto Naoki
Published: April 2022

Significance

During human birth, the risk of complications is relatively high because of the comparatively large dimensions of the fetal head and shoulders relative to the maternal birth canal. Here we show that humans exhibit a developmental mode of the shoulders that likely contributes to mitigating obstetrical problems. Human shoulder growth is decelerated before birth but accelerated after birth, which stands in contrast to the more uniform shoulder growth trajectories of chimpanzees and macaques. This indicates that fetal developmental modifications were required during human evolution not only in the head but also in the shoulders to compensate obstetrical constraints.
Correcting inaccurate metaperceptions reduces Americans’ support for partisan violence
Authors: Mernyk Joseph S. , Pink Sophia L. , Druckman James N. , Willer Robb
Published: April 2022

Significance

Prominent events, such as the 2021 US Capitol attack, have brought politically motivated violence to the forefront of Americans’ minds. Yet, the causes of support for partisan violence remain poorly understood. Across four studies, we found evidence that exaggerated perceptions of rival partisans’ support for violence are a major cause of partisans’ own support for partisan violence. Further, correcting these false beliefs reduces partisans’ support for and willingness to engage in violence, especially among those with the largest misperceptions, and this effect endured for 1 mo. These findings suggest that a simple correction of partisans’ misperceptions could be a practical and scalable way to durably reduce Americans’ support for, and intentions to engage in, partisan violence.
A molecular complex of Ca
v
1.2/CaMKK2/CaMK1a in caveolae is responsible for vascular remodeling via excitation–transcription coupling
Authors: Suzuki Yoshiaki , Ozawa Takumi , Kurata Tomo , Nakajima Nanami , Zamponi Gerald W. , Giles Wayne R. , Imaizumi Yuji , Yamamura Hisao
Published: April 2022

Significance

Excitation–transcription (E-T) coupling can initiate and modulate essential physiological or pathological responses in cells, such as neurons and cardiac myocytes. Although vascular myocytes also exhibit E-T coupling in response to membrane depolarization, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Our study reveals that E-T coupling in vascular myocytes converts intracellular Ca
2+
signals into selective gene transcription related to chemotaxis, leukocyte adhesion, and inflammation. Our discovery identifies a mechanism for vascular remodeling as an adaptation to increased circumferential stretch.
Hereditary retinoblastoma iPSC model reveals aberrant spliceosome function driving bone malignancies
Authors: Tu Jian , Huo Zijun , Yu Yao , Zhu Dandan , Xu An , Huang Mo-Fan , Hu Ruifeng , Wang Ruoyu , Gingold Julian A. , Chen Yi-Hung , Tsai Kuang-Lei , Forcioli-Conti Nicolas R. , Huang Sarah X. L. , Webb Thomas R. , Su Jie , Bazer Danielle A. , Jia Peilin , Yustein Jason T. , Wang Lisa L. , Hung Mien-Chie , Zhao Zhongming , Huff Chad D. , Shen Jingnan , Zhao Ruiying , Lee Dung-Fang
Published: April 2022

Significance

Rare human hereditary disorders provide unequivocal evidence of the role of gene mutations in human disease pathogenesis and offer powerful insights into their influence on human disease development. Using a hereditary retinoblastoma (RB) patient–derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform, we elucidate the role of pRB/E2F3a in regulating spliceosomal gene expression. Pharmacological inhibition of the spliceosome in
RB1
-mutant cells preferentially increases splicing abnormalities of genes involved in cancer-promoting signaling and impairs cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Expression of pRB/E2F3a–regulated spliceosomal proteins is negatively associated with pRB expression and correlates with poor clinical outcomes of osteosarcoma (OS) patients. Our findings strongly indicate that the spliceosome is an “Achilles’ heel” of
RB1
-mutant OS.
Rhesus monkeys have an interoceptive sense of their beating hearts
Authors: Charbonneau Joey A. , Maister Lara , Tsakiris Manos , Bliss-Moreau Eliza
Published: April 2022

Significance

The capacity to sense interoceptive signals is thought to be fundamental to broad functions including, but not limited to, homeostasis and the experience of the self. While neuroanatomical evidence suggests that nonhuman animals—namely, nonhuman primates—may possess features necessary for interoceptive processing in a way that is similar to humans, behavioral evidence of this capacity is slim. We presented macaques with audiovisual stimuli that were either synchronous or asynchronous with their heartbeat and demonstrated that they view asynchronous stimuli, whether faster or slower, for a significantly longer period than they do synchronous stimuli.
High-Mg calcite nanoparticles within a low-Mg calcite matrix: A widespread phenomenon in biomineralization
Authors: Bianco-Stein Nuphar , Polishchuk Iryna , Lang Arad , Portal Lotan , Dejoie Catherine , Katsman Alexander , Pokroy Boaz
Published: April 2022

Significance

Biominerals are extraordinarily intricate and possess superior mechanical properties compared with their synthetic counterparts. In this study, we show that the presence of high-Mg calcite nanoparticles within a low-Mg calcite matrix is a widespread phenomenon among marine organisms whose skeletons are composed of high-Mg calcite. It seems most likely that formation of such a complex structure is possible because of the phase separation that occurs as a result of spinodal decomposition of an amorphous Mg–calcium carbonate precursor and is followed by crystallization. We demonstrate that the basis of such phase separation stems from chemical composition rather than from biological similarities. The presence of high-Mg calcite nanoparticles increases the skeletons’ toughness and hardness.
Processing of a plant peptide hormone precursor facilitated by posttranslational tyrosine sulfation
Authors: Royek Stefanie , Bayer Martin , Pfannstiel Jens , Pleiss Jürgen , Ingram Gwyneth , Stintzi Annick , Schaller Andreas
Published: April 2022

Most peptide hormones and growth factors are matured from larger inactive precursor proteins by proteolytic processing and further posttranslational modification. Whether or how posttranslational modifications contribute to peptide bioactivity is still largely unknown. We address this question here for TWS1 (Twisted Seed 1), a peptide regulator of embryonic cuticle formation in
Arabidopsis thaliana
. Using synthetic peptides encompassing the N- and C-terminal processing sites and the recombinant TWS1 precursor as substrates, we show that the precursor is cleaved by the subtilase SBT1.8 at both the N and the C termini of TWS1. Recognition and correct processing at the N-terminal site depended on sulfation of an adjacent tyrosine residue. Arginine 302 of SBT1.8 was found to be required for sulfotyrosine binding and for accurate processing of the TWS1 precursor. The data reveal a critical role for posttranslational modification, here tyrosine sulfation of a plant peptide hormone precursor, in mediating processing specificity and peptide maturation.
Translating refugee culinary cultures
Authors: Todorova Marija
Published: April 2022

Several non-profit organizations provide asylum claimants in Hong Kong a platform to engage in activities that help them integrate into the local community. These activities include sharing food and recipes with the aim of introducing Hongkongers to refugee cultures. Based on interviews with representatives from two charities and analysis of two cookbooks and a website with food-related refugee stories, this article investigates food preparation by asylum seekers as a translation activity influenced by food materiality and its cultural significance. The analysis reveals how food and its preparation, when examined as community translation events and products, serves as a tool for intercultural mediation that allows refugees and asylum seekers to communicate their culture and negotiate their place in the local community, helping establish meaningful connections with the local population.
Dissimilar friction welding of NiTi shape memory alloy and steel reinforcing bars for seismic performance
Authors: Lezaack Matthieu B. , Simar Aude , Marchal Yannick , Steinmetz Martin , Faes Koen , Pacheco de Almeida João
Published: April 2022

Integration of NiTi superelastic bars with steel reinforcing bars is a promising path for increasing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures. Welding of NiTi alloy to steel is however not straightforward with standard welding techniques. Friction welding is investigated for performing this dissimilar junction using both regular friction (forced controlled) and milling (position-controlled) machines. When adequate shortenings and forging forces are selected, the welds can withstand the tensile strength of the steel rebars. Failure actually occurs in the heat-affected zone of the steel bars. The intermetallic (IM) layer at the welded interface should be kept thin and cracks should be limited in the steel layer next to the interface in order to avoid early brittle interfacial cracking.
Bone health and asymmetry in elite female cricketers
Authors: Alway Peter , Wedatilake Thamindu , Peirce Nicholas , Warren Anna , King Mark , Brooke‐Wavell Katherine
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) and bone asymmetry differs between female cricket fast bowlers, spin bowlers and batters. BMD was determined at the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femurs in 12 fast bowlers, 13 batters and 11 spin bowlers from pre‐season DXA scans. High Z‐scores at the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur were observed in all cricketers (mean Z‐scores: +1.4 to +3.3) compared with a general age matched reference population. Fast bowlers had significantly greater BMD on the contralateral side of the lumbar spine compared with the ipsilateral side (p = 0.001, 5.9–12.1%). No asymmetry was found between hips in all groups. All cricket positions demonstrated high BMD at all measured sites. The lumbar spine of fast bowlers is asymmetric, with significantly greater BMD on the contralateral side of the spine, particularly at L4, possibly in response to the asymmetric lumbar loading patterns observed in bowling.

Highlights

Elite female cricketers demonstrate high BMD at total body, lumbar spine and proximal femur sites, regardless of playing position compared with a general age and ethnic group matched reference population.

Fast bowlers have greater BMD on the contralateral (opposite bowling arm) side of the lumbar spine compared with the ipsilateral side, while a symmetrical pattern was observed in spin bowlers and batters.

No asymmetry in BMD or section modulus between hips was observed at any proximal femur site for any cricket position.
The Classification of Handwriting Features of the Kazakh Language Written in Latin Script
Authors: Galymzhanova Akyldana , Gooch James , Frascione Nunzianda
Published: April 2022

In 2017, the Republic of Kazakhstan began the phased transition of its alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin script. This transition has presented significant challenges to Kazakhstani document examiners, who have yet to develop appropriate methodologies for the analysis of handwriting samples written in the Kazakh language using Latin letters. This study aims to identify distinguishing macro and micro features of letters within Kazakh writing samples produced using the Latin alphabet and determine their frequencies of occurrence and discriminating power indices. Micro features were examined using the four most frequently appearing letters: “a”, “y”, “e” and “n”. A comparative analysis of tested Latin letters with those of a similar configuration in Cyrillic demonstrated differences in the number of distinguishing features, as well as in the frequency of occurrence and discriminating power indices of similar features. These results show that separate statistical bases should be used for Latin and Cyrillic letters when analysing handwriting samples based on the frequencies of occurrence of micro and macro writing features. Key PointsThe Republic of Kazakhstan is currently moving from the use of a Cyrillic alphabet to a Latin one.Kazakhstani document examiners are faced with new difficulties in the identification of handwriting samples based on Latin script.In this article, 100 Kazakh-language handwriting samples prepared using Latin letters were obtained from Kazakh nationals and analysed.Distinguishing macro and micro features within these samples were identified and their frequencies of occurrence and discriminating power indices were calculated.Results from this study show that features of Latin letters should be analysed using a separate statistical base from that used for Cyrillic.
The effect of cochlear implants on vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in adults
Authors: Abdel-Salam Gehan M. Shafeek , Fadel Hanaa
Published: April 2022

Background

Cochlear implants (CIs) as a golden solution for improving hearing for patients with profound hearing loss may although causes damage for peripheral vestibular system during insertion of electrode interpretatively leading to vestibular dysfunction. This can be assessed by several methods. One of the important methods is cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) which can assess the function of saccule.

Aim of the work

Study the effect of insertion of electrodes of CIs on the saccular function, by using cVEMP test which was performed before and after the operation. Also, cVEMP was measured in the CI-on and CI-off modes to determine if electrical stimulation of electrodes of CIs affects the saccular function or not.

Materials and method

Thirty adult CI candidates were recruited from the audiology unit of Hearing and Speech Institute. cVEMP was recorded preoperatively for each candidate and two months post operative. cVEMP testing was performed in the CI-on and CI-off modes.

Results

cVEMP response was recorded postoperatively for 19 out of 30 (63%) implanted ears. The amplitude of wave P and wave N in implanted ears with CI-off mode was decreased compared to preoperative results and this decrease is statistically significant. Also, amplitude of wave P and wave N in implanted ears with CI-on mode were increased compared to preoperative results and this increase is statistically significant. The interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio in postoperative CI-on mode was decreased compared to preoperative results and this decrease is not statistically significant.

Conclusion

cVEMP should be included in cochlear implant selection protocol with caloric testing as it is more sensitive for discovering vestibular disorders. Also, postoperative cVEMP testing in the CI-on and CI-off modes will offer accurate evaluation of saccule function after CI surgery.
X rays activate T cell calcium signaling
Authors: Short Ben
Published: April 2022

JGP study reveals that clinically relevant doses of ionizing radiation induce an immune response in T cells by triggering the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway.
Deep learning for electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) metasurface optimization design
Authors: Zhu Lei , Zhang Cong , Guo Jing , Dong Liang , Gong Jinyue
Published: April 2022

In order to accelerate the design process of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) metasurface, a deep learning-based EIT metasurface design method is proposed, where the spectral profile of EIT metasurface can be predicted by the forward prediction process, and the EIT metasurface geometry parameters based on the target spectral profile can be obtained by the inverse design process. In the inverse design process, a cascaded convolutional neural network (CNN) consisting of one-dimensional convolutional layer, a batch normalization layer, a pooling layer and an exponential linear unit (ELU) activation function is employed. Each CNN is designed to achieve feature extraction for spectra. The inverse network achieves low mean square errors (MSE), with MSE of 0.011 on the validation sets. After training, the model can more accurately predict the parameters with error of 0.3 μm. This method is more efficient and saves computing resources, allowing designers to focus on the target spectra. More importantly, it can be extended to the design of arbitrary metasurface.