bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quercetin as a promising intervention for rat osteoarthritis by decreasing M1‐polarized macrophages via blocking the TRPV1‐mediated P2X7/NLRP3 signaling pathway
Authors: Li Wenjun , He Hebei , Du Min , Gao Mu , Sun Qijie , Wang Yeyang , Lu Hanyu , Ou Shuanji , Xia Changliang , Xu Changpeng , Zhao Qi , Sun Hongtao
Published: February 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by an imbalance between M1 and M2 polarized synovial macrophages. Quercetin has shown protective effects against OA by altering M1/M2‐polarized macrophages, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, rat chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL of IL‐1β. To create M1‐polarized macrophages in vitro, rat bone marrow‐derived macrophages (rBMDMs) were treated with 100 ng/mL LPS. To mimic OA conditions observed in vivo, a co‐culture system of chondrocytes and macrophages was established. ATP release assays, immunofluorescence assays, Fluo‐4 AM staining, Transwell assays, ELISA assays, and flow cytometry were performed. Male adult Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were used to create an OA model. Histological analyses, including H&E, and safranin O‐fast green staining were performed. Our data showed a quercetin‐mediated suppression of calcium ion influx and ATP release, with concurrent downregulation of TRPV1 and P2X7 in the chondrocytes treated with IL‐1β. Activation of TRPV1 abolished the quercetin‐mediated effects on calcium ion influx and ATP release in chondrocytes treated with IL‐1β. In the co‐culture system, overexpression of P2X7 in macrophages attenuated the quercetin‐mediated effects on M1 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Either P2X7 or NLRP3 knockdown attenuated IL‐1β‐induced M1/M2 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Moreover, overexpression of TRPV1 reduced the quercetin‐mediated suppressive effects on OA by promoting M1/M2‐polarized macrophages in vivo. Collectively, our data showed that quercetin‐induced suppression of TRPV1 leads to a delay in OA progression by shifting the macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 subtypes via modulation of the P2X7/NLRP3 pathway.
Critical review on anti‐inflammation effects of saponins and their molecular mechanisms
Authors: Wijesekara Tharuka , Luo Jinhai , Xu Baojun
Published: February 2024

This review highlights the increasing interest in one of the natural compounds called saponins, for their potential therapeutic applications in addressing inflammation which is a key factor in various chronic diseases. It delves into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti‐inflammatory effects of these amphiphilic compounds, prevalent in plant‐based foods and marine organisms. Their structures vary with soap‐like properties influencing historical uses in traditional medicine and sparking renewed scientific interest. Recent research focuses on their potential in chronic inflammatory diseases, unveiling molecular actions such as NF‐κB and MAPK pathway regulation and COX/LOX enzyme inhibition. Saponin‐containing sources like Panax ginseng and soybeans suggest novel anti‐inflammatory therapies. The review explores their emerging role in shaping the gut microbiome, influencing composition and activity, and contributing to anti‐inflammatory effects. Specific examples, such as Panax notoginseng and Gynostemma pentaphyllum, illustrate the intricate relationship between saponins, the gut microbiome, and their collective impact on immune regulation and metabolic health. Despite promising findings, the review emphasizes the need for further research to comprehend the mechanisms behind anti‐inflammatory effects and their interactions with the gut microbiome, underscoring the crucial role of a balanced gut microbiome for optimal health and positioning saponins as potential dietary interventions for managing chronic inflammatory conditions.
Decomposing the role of dry intrusions for ocean evaporation during mistral
Authors: Givon Yonatan , Keller Douglas , Pennel Romain , Drobinski Philippe , Raveh‐Rubin Shira
Published: February 2024

The mistral is a northerly gap‐wind regime blowing through the Rhone Valley in Southern France. It is held responsible for the sea‐surface cooling necessary to produce deep convection in the Gulf of Lion through turbulent ocean heat loss. The mistral is tightly connected to lee‐cyclogenesis in the Gulf of Genoa, where topography forces substantial downward motion. Dry intrusions (DIs) are airstreams forming the descending branch of extratropical cyclones. Known to induce cold and dry surface anomalies, DIs are potential contributors to enhanced surface evaporation during mistral. In this study, a climatological database (ERA‐INTERIM, 1981–2016) of mistral–DI co‐occurrence is constructed, allowing quantification of the impact of DIs on the mistral evaporative hot spot for the first time. We find that, on average, mistral–DI evaporation rates are doubled, compared to mistral without DIs. Moreover, cluster‐composite analysis reveals amplifications exceeding 300% between dynamically similar mistral events, with response to DIs. Daily latent heat‐flux anomalies in the Gulf of Lion are decomposed into contributions from the various parameters to analyse the mistral evaporation response to DIs. Mistral–DI events are shown to produce extreme evaporation rates through increased mistral wind speeds. The results highlight the downward momentum flux delivered by DIs to the mistral at the Gulf of Lion as the primary driver of the evaporation amplification mechanism. We further explore the variability between different mistral–DI events and conclude that extreme mistral–DI evaporation events are linked to descending air trajectories entering the Gulf of Lion at an early stage of their lifetimes. These DIs charge the mistral with maximum vertical momentum fluxes, which act to intensify surface winds and hence evaporation rates.
Unusual subseasonal variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall in 2020
Authors: Darshana Patekar , Chowdary Jasti S. , Parekh Anant , Gnanaseelan C. , Fousiya T. S. , Vibhute Amol , Halder Subrota , Singh Prem , Kakatkar Rashmi
Published: February 2024

Above‐normal all‐India summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall was received in 2020 with 109% of its long‐period average. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ISM 2020 experienced robust month‐to‐month rainfall variations; in particular, the peak monsoon month of July 2020 witnessed deficit rainfall. The present study investigated the possible mechanisms that are responsible for the July 2020 deficit rainfall. Analysis revealed that the strong low‐level moisture divergence caused by the westward‐propagating atmospheric Rossby wave, induced by suppressed western North Pacific (WNP) convection, is primarily responsible for the July rainfall deficit. The WNP suppressed convection is linked to anomalous low‐level anticyclonic circulation. It is noted that the intense WNP anticyclone is maintained by the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) warming‐induced atmospheric Kelvin waves and strong low‐level convergence over the Meiyu‐Baiu rainband. Unlike July, the strength of the WNP anticyclone and TIO warming are weaker in June and August. In addition to the observational analysis, the skill of the Climate Forecast System version‐2 (CFSv2) model in predicting the July rainfall at a lead of about two months is examined. Strong positive rainfall anomalies over India are predicted by the model in July, which is in contrast to the observations. Despite predicting the TIO warming, the model failed to capture the westward extension of the WNP anticyclone, which impacted the July rainfall prediction. To understand the importance of the WNP anticyclone on ISM rainfall, a CFSv2 sensitivity experiment is carried out by imposing strong negative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the WNP region to excite the anticyclone. Both the westward extension of the WNP anticyclone and suppressed rainfall over the core monsoon region in July are captured by the model when low‐level circulation is imposed. The model sensitivity experiment strongly supports the role of the WNP anticyclone and its westward extension in inducing reduced rainfall in July 2020 over the monsoon trough region.
Impact of modified Harris hawks optimization on hybrid deep learning for untrained plant leaf classification
Authors: Dudi Bhanuprakash , Rajesh V.
Published: February 2024

Plants are extensively dispersed in nature, and they are essential for the survival and growth of the entire living creatures on the planet. Leaf classification and identification are critical in botany for recognizing new or endangered tree species. Leaf classification must be done quickly and accurately to sustain agricultural products. Traditional methods used manual classification of plant species. However, this method is costly, time‐consuming, and in some circumstances, impracticable. In the domains of image classification, target identification, and other fields, the new generation of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has shown outstanding outcomes. However, there exist some practical difficulties in executing these artificial neural networks. Owing to its high complexity and colossal running time, and also insufficient efficiency, the performance of classification is affected. An inappropriate count of neurons at each hidden layer may lead to an overfitting or underfitting problem. Thus, the core concept of this task is concerned with a novel technique for the growth of plant leaf classification for untrained data by hybridized classifiers. The core concept of this task is to find untrained data. The leaf images are collected from online sources. The images are further fed to the preprocessing phase. Pattern extraction is done on the preprocessed image using Weighted Weber Local Pattern. This preprocessed image is used for the classification of untrained data using hybridized deep‐structured architectures. Here, the combination of CNN with Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) and CNN with Support Vector Machine (SVM) is utilized for classification. Averaging the classification score of both hybrid techniques with parameter and threshold being optimized by the Best Searchable Modified Harris Hawks Optimization (BM‐HHO) produces the best classification outcome for untrained data. Here, the corresponding leaf type is classified if the input is given as the trained leaf images. Simultaneously, if the other types of data, like, palm tree leaf images, are given as input, and then explicitly shows the output as another type of leaves (or) untrained data. The experimental outcomes on the benchmark data set containing leaf images reveal that the introduced method achieved a higher accuracy than the conventional techniques. The accuracy of BM‐HHO‐CRNN + CSVM at the 65th learning rate is 3.43%, 0.84%, 1.80%, and 1.05% superior to HHO‐CRNN + CSVM, SS‐WOA‐CRNN + CSVM, WOA‐CRNN + CSVM, and SSO‐CRNN + CSVM.
Assessing entrainment of larval fish in the Hogback Diversion Canal, San Juan River
Authors: Clark Barkalow Stephani L. , Dudley Robert K. , Platania Steven P. , Brandenburg W. Howard , McKinstry Mark C. , White Gary C.
Published: February 2024

Water diversions worldwide may entrain or impinge fish and have population‐level impacts, but barriers like fish screens can reduce such threats. Traditional barriers are ineffective in the San Juan River, USA, due to high sediment and debris loads, so the Hogback Diversion Canal, NM, employs a novel weir wall design to reduce entrainment of sub‐adult and adult fishes. We evaluated the effectiveness of the weir wall in reducing the entrainment of larval fish using a combination of experimental and overnight trials. Larval fish densities were compared between the irrigation canal that delivers water to irrigators and subsequently entrains fish and the bypass canal that conveys water and fish back to the river. The density of hatchery‐produced larval fish collected in the irrigation canal during the experimental trial (0.74 fish/m3) was 52% of their density in the bypass canal (1.43 fish/m3), suggesting entrainment reduction. The density of wild‐produced larvae during overnight trials indicated some minor, mostly nonsignificant, differences between catch rates in irrigation and bypass canals, ontogenetic phases, and sampling dates. Though entrainment rates of wild‐produced larvae were not significantly reduced, density differences among postflexion mesolarvae and metalarvae suggest possible entrainment reduction of more developed ontogenetic phases. More intensive research is necessary to better elucidate the efficacy of the novel weir wall for reducing the entrainment of larval fish. However, our larval fish results and the results from prior large‐bodied entrainment studies suggest the novel weir wall may reduce fish entrainment in water diversions and benefit fluvial ecosystems in which traditional screens are unfeasible.
Quantification of sediments and delineation of their sources in Nyabugogo Stream, RWANDA: Relationship with economic development activities
Authors: Turatsinze Jules , Ndokoye Pancras
Published: February 2024

Nyabugogo Stream receives sediment loads from practiced economic activities along its path, these sediment loads affect the composition of the water by changing its natural state, and lead to its deterioration and riverine wetland ecosystem. In this study the main sources of sediments are delineated, while corresponding loads are also quantified. After the analysis of those sediments in different periods, the relationship between economic development activities and sediment loads in Nyabugogo Stream were also determined. The findings revealed that the top most economic activities impacting the quantity of sediment load in Nyabugogo Stream were found to be mining followed by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, untreated sewages, and clay mining/fabrication of bricks respectively. Analysed samples showed in laboratory that at point A situated in Rutare sector have the lowest value of sediment loads of 3.29 × 106 tons/year while at point C situated in Kigali sector have the highest value of 141.35 × 106 tons/year, these results showed to be increased as the stream flows from Lake Muhazi to Nyabarongo River as the Stream continue to be experiencing the increase of economic activities practiced in the its catchment which also have been delineated using ArcMap, this showed the relationship between economic activities and sediment loads generated in the stream. The researchers recommend to impose the enforcement of regulations, policies and guidelines for different economic activities so that they cannot pollute natural water bodies and disturb aquatic ecosystem.
Do you believe it? Green advertising skepticism and perceived value in buying electric vehicles
Authors: Higueras‐Castillo Elena , Liébana‐Cabanillas Francisco , Santos Manuel Alonso Dos , Zulauf Katrin , Wagner Ralf
Published: February 2024

The transportation sector's substantial greenhouse gas emissions necessitate solutions that promote sustainability. One potential approach is the higher adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This study aims to empirically investigate the determinants of customers' intentions to adopt EVs, with a strong focus on the concept of green value. Framed in adaption‐innovation theory and based on the customer perceived value model, this research analyses the influence of emotion, price, quality, social, green value and green advertising skepticism on purchase intention and customer engagement. Employing a PLS approach to fit the conceptual model to data obtained from an online survey of potential customers in Germany, Spain, and Chile (N = 791), we found evidence of a substantial and significant impact of green advertising skepticism on purchase intention and green perceived value. Notably, the social value of electric vehicles is the most crucial driver of customers' buying intention and is more important than price and green perceived value.
Devastating the Supply Wagons: Multifaceted Liposomes Capable of Exhausting Tumor to Death via Triple Energy Depletion
Authors: Wang Tian‐Yu , Zhu Xiao‐Yu , Jia Hao‐Ran , Zhu Ya‐Xuan , Zhou Yong‐Xi , Li Yan‐Hong , Gao Cheng‐Zhe , Pan Guang‐Yu , Wu Fu‐Gen
Published: February 2024

The anabolism of tumor cells can not only support their proliferation, but also endow them with a steady influx of exogenous nutrients. Therefore, consuming metabolic substrates or limiting access to energy supply can be an effective strategy to impede tumor growth. Herein, a novel treatment paradigm of starving‐like therapy—triple energy‐depleting therapy—is illustrated by glucose oxidase (GOx)/dc‐IR825/sorafenib liposomes (termed GISLs), and such a triple energy‐depleting therapy exhibits a more effective tumor‐killing effect than conventional starvation therapy that only cuts off one of the energy supplies. Specifically, GOx can continuously consume glucose and generate toxic H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment (including tumor cells). After endocytosis, dc‐IR825 (a near‐infrared cyanine dye) can precisely target mitochondria and exert photodynamic and photothermal activities upon laser irradiation to destroy mitochondria. The anti‐angiogenesis effect of sorafenib can further block energy and nutrition supply from blood. This work exemplifies a facile and safe method to exhaust the energy in a tumor from three aspects and starve the tumor to death and also highlights the importance of energy depletion in tumor treatment. It is hoped that this work will inspire the development of more advanced platforms that can combine multiple energy depletion therapies to realize more effective tumor treatment.
Hierarchical MOFs with Good Catalytic Properties and Structural Stability in Oxygen‐Rich and High‐Temperature Environments
Authors: Zheng Zeyu , Zhou Peng , Tang Xiaolin , Zeng Qihui , Yi Shengping , Liao Jun , Hu Mingjie , Wu Dan , Zhang Bin , Liang Jiqiu , Huang Chi
Published: February 2024

Metal‐organic framework materials are ideal materials characterized by open frameworks, adjustable components, and high catalytic activity. They are extensively utilized for catalysis. Due to decomposition and structural collapse under high temperatures and an oxygen‐rich environment, the potential of thermal catalysis is greatly limited. In this research, Co‐rich hollow spheres (Co‐HSs) with a gradient composition are designed and synthesized to investigate their thermal catalytic properties in the ammonium perchlorate（AP）system. The results demonstrate that Co‐HSs@AP exhibits good thermal catalytic activity and a high‐temperature decomposition of 292.5 °C, which is 121.6 °C lower than pure AP. The hierarchical structure confers structural stability during the thermal decomposition process. Thermogravimetry‐infrared indicates that the inclusion of Co‐HSs successfully boosts the level of reactive oxygen species and achieves thorough oxidation of NH3. Based on the above phenomenon, macro dynamics calculations are carried out. The results show that Co‐HSs can promote the circulation of lattice oxygen and reactive oxygen species and the multidimensional diffusion of NH3 in an oxygen‐rich environment. This material has significant potential for application in the fields of thermal catalysis and ammonia oxidation.
Recent Advances in Understanding of the Singlet Oxygen in Energy Storage and Conversion
Authors: Liu Yanxia , Li Zhenglong , Gao Yong , Wang Chenxing , Wang Xinqiang , Wang Xin , Xue Xu , Wang Ke , Cui Wengang , Gao Fan , He Shengnan , Wu Zhijun , Qi Fulai , Gan Jiantuo , Wang Yujing , Zheng Wenjun , Yang Yaxiong , Chen Jian , Pan Hongge
Published: February 2024

Singlet oxygen (term symbol 1Δg, hereafter 1O2), a reactive oxygen species, has recently attracted increasing interest in the field of rechargeable batteries and electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. These sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies are of vital significance to replace fossil fuels and promote carbon neutrality and finally tackle the energy crisis and climate change. Herein, the recent progresses of 1O2 for energy storage and conversion is summarized, including physical and chemical properties, formation mechanisms, detection technologies, side reactions in rechargeable batteries and corresponding inhibition strategies, and applications in electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. The formation mechanisms and inhibition strategies of 1O2 in particular aprotic lithium‐oxygen (Li‐O2) batteries are highlighted, and the applications of 1O2 in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is also emphasized. Moreover, the confronting challenges and promising directions of 1O2 in energy conversion and storage systems are discussed.
A pH‐Sensitive Stretchable Zwitterionic Hydrogel with Bipolar Thermoelectricity
Authors: Lee Ling‐Chieh , Huang Kang‐Ting , Lin Yen‐Ting , Jeng U‐Ser , Wang Chia‐Hsin , Tung Shih‐Huang , Huang Chun‐Jen , Liu Cheng‐Liang
Published: February 2024

Amid growing interest in using body heat for electricity in wearables, creating stretchable devices poses a major challenge. Herein, a hydrogel composed of two core constituents, namely the negatively‐charged 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid and the zwitterionic (ZI) sulfobetaine acrylamide, is engineered into a double‐network hydrogel. This results in a significant enhancement in mechanical properties, with tensile stress and strain of up to 470.3 kPa and 106.6%, respectively. Moreover, the ZI nature of the polymer enables the fabrication of a device with polar thermoelectric properties by modulating the pH. Thus, the ionic Seebeck coefficient (Si) of the ZI hydrogel ranges from −32.6 to 31.7 mV K−1 as the pH is varied from 1 to 14, giving substantial figure of merit (ZTi) values of 3.8 and 3.6, respectively. Moreover, a prototype stretchable ionic thermoelectric supercapacitor incorporating the ZI hydrogel exhibits notable power densities of 1.8 and 0.9 mW m−2 at pH 1 and 14, respectively. Thus, the present work paves the way for the utilization of pH‐sensitive, stretchable ZI hydrogels for thermoelectric applications, with a specific focus on harvesting low‐grade waste heat within the temperature range of 25–40 °C.
Biosystematic studies on Lilium (Liliaceae) II. Evolutionary history and taxon recognition in the L. maculatum–L. pensylvanicum complex in Japan
Authors: Watanabe Seita T. , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Arakawa Katsuro , Fuse Shizuka , Takayama Koji , Nagamasu Hidetoshi , Tamura Minoru N.
Published: February 2024

To clarify the evolutionary history of the Lilium maculatum–L. pensylvanicum complex in Japan and to improve the circumscription of its component taxa, we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast and nuclear internal and external transcribed spacer (ITS, ETS) DNA sequences, a genome‐wide analysis of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG‐seq), and morphological observations. Topological differences between the chloroplast and nuclear ITS + ETS phylogenies indicate that ancient hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting were involved in the origin of “maculatum”, but the relatively long length of relevant branches indicates that incomplete lineage sorting is implausible. The results of STRUCTURE analysis (K = 3, the highest delta K value) using MIG‐seq indicate that “maculatum” has already developed its own cluster and can be considered a species (L. maculatum) that originated through the hybridization of L. pacificum (sp. nov.) and L. pensylvanicum. MIG‐seq Neighbor‐Net and STRUCTURE analyses (K = 3), as well as chloroplast DNA phylogeny, reveal that populations in disjunct limestone areas (L. maculatum var. bukosanense) originated via the hybridization of L. maculatum and L. pacificum, whereas populations in the Sado‐Tobishima Islands (L. maculatum var. sadoense, var. nov.) originated via hybridization between L. maculatum and L. pensylvanicum. These taxa appear to be more or less genetically isolated from other populations based on the STRUCTURE analysis (K = 5), although we do not know whether this isolation resulted from geographic distance or reproductive barriers. Based on available MIG‐seq and morphological data, respectively, we consider the two hybrid‐origin populations to be independent varieties. Furthermore, the morphology of seaside populations of L. maculatum in East Tohoku District appears to have deviated slightly from that of mountain populations (L. maculatum f. monticola); as such, coastal populations merit recognition as a form of L. maculatum (L. maculatum f. spontaneum, comb. & stat. nov.). Other seaside populations of L. maculatum in the West Tohoku District appear to have originated from populations of L. pacificum, but have been successively taken over by L. maculatum through introgression, and have consequently evolved into a form of L. maculatum (L. maculatum f. maculatum). In addition, we found putative extant hybrid populations of L. maculatum × L. pensylvanicum. We recognize three species, two varieties, two forms, and one hybrid in the L. maculatum–L. pensylvanicum complex in Japan.
FERPA and transcript disclosures
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: February 2024

Just as we finished discussing the role of coaches as school officials and their sometimes unique experiences related to FERPA disclosures, a registrar recently asked me for my opinion on a situation involving a coach. Although I had not planned a segue to transcript disclosures involving a coach, it seemed like a good pretext to introduce a very common type of disclosure of education records.
Lymphocytic colitis can be transcriptionally divided into channelopathic and inflammatory lymphocytic colitis
Authors: Bhardwaj Archana , Münch Andreas , Montague Julia , Koch Stefan , Rosenstiel Philip , Escudero‐Hernández Celia
Published: February 2024

Background

The pathobiology of the non‐destructive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) lymphocytic colitis (LC) is poorly understood. We aimed to define an LC‐specific mucosal transcriptome to gain insight into LC pathology, identify unique genomic signatures, and uncover potentially druggable disease pathways.

Methods

We performed bulk RNA‐sequencing of LC and collagenous colitis (CC) colonic mucosa from patients with active disease, and healthy controls (n = 4–10 per cohort). Differential gene expression was analyzed by gene‐set enrichment and deconvolution analyses to identify pathologically relevant pathways and cells, respectively, altered in LC. Key findings were validated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR and/or immunohistochemistry. Finally, we compared our data with a previous cohort of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients (n = 4 per group) to distinguish non‐destructive from classic IBD.

Results

LC can be subdivided into channelopathic LC, which is governed by organic acid and ion transport dysregulation, and inflammatory LC, which is driven by microbial immune responses. Inflammatory LC displays an innate and adaptive immunity that is limited compared to CC and classic IBD. Conversely, we noted a distinct induction of regulatory non‐coding RNA species in inflammatory LC samples. Moreover, compared with CC, water channel and cell adhesion molecule gene expression decreased in channelopathic LC, whereas it was accentuated in inflammatory LC and associated with reduced intestinal epithelial cell proliferation.

Conclusions

We conclude that LC can be subdivided into channelopathic LC and inflammatory LC that could be pathomechanistically distinct subtypes despite their shared clinical presentation. Inflammatory LC exhibits a dampened immune response compared to CC and classic IBDs. Our results point to regulatory micro‐RNAs as a potential disease‐specific feature that may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.
Three‐dimensional modelling and morphometric analysis of skull of badger (Meles meles) with computed tomography images
Authors: Aslan Kanmaz Yeşim , Güzel Barış Can , Baygeldi Saime Betül , Karan Meryem
Published: February 2024

Background

Morphometric measurements help to understand the skull morphology in different animal species, detect skull deformations and figure out their causes.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to make a three‐dimensional (3D) modelling of the badger skull using computed tomography, to show its anatomical structures and to reveal the morphometric measurement values.

Methods

Skull measurements were carried out using a digital calliper at 27 measurement points based on metric measurement points. After the scanned images were stored in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format, they were transferred to MIMICS 20.1 (The Materialize Group) programme and 3D models the skulls were created. The surface area and volume values of the skulls were calculated on these models.

Results

The volume and surface area parameters were expressed as mean ± SE. Four different indices were calculated using osteometric measurements. Statistical analyses were made by determining the mean value and standard deviation of the examined properties and the correlation coefficients among these properties. In the metric measurement points taken as a basis, the longest measurement in the skulls was the total length and its mean value was 124.60 ± 0.64 mm. The shortest measurement was the breadth dorsal to the external auditory meatus, and its mean value was 6.75 ± 0.24 mm.

Conclusions

Consequently, statistical differences in the craniometric values of badgers’ skulls were determined by using CT and 3D modelling software. In addition, it was concluded that the badger skull can be easily distinguished from other carnivore species by carrying out morphometric measurements.
Impact of yaw misalignment on turbine loads in the presence of wind farm blockage
Authors: Bernardoni Federico , Rotea Mario A. , Leonardi Stefano
Published: February 2024

Wake steering is very effective in optimizing the power production of an array of turbines aligned with the wind direction. However, the wind farm behaves as a porous obstacle for the incoming flow, inducing a secondary flow in the lateral direction and a reduction of the upstream wind speed. This is normally referred to as blockage effect. Little is known on how the blockage and the secondary flow influence the loads on the turbines when an intentional yaw misalignment is applied to steer the wake. In this work, we assess the variation of the loads on a virtual 4 by 4 array of turbines with intentional yaw misalignment under different levels of turbulence intensity. We estimate the upstream distance at which the incoming wind is influenced by the wind farm, and we determine the wind farm blockage effect on the loads. In presence of low turbulence intensity in the incoming flow, the application of yaw misalignment was found to induce a significant increase of damage equivalent load (DEL) mainly in the most downstream row of turbines. We also found that the sign (positive or negative) of the yaw misalignment affects differently the dynamic loads and the DEL on the turbines. Thus, it is important to consider both the power production and the blade fatigue loads to evaluate the benefits of intentional yaw misalignment control especially in conditions with low turbulence intensity upstream of the wind farm.
Collections and Museums in the Historiography of the Earth Sciences
Authors: Podgorny Irina
Published: February 2024

This chapter wants to show how museums and collections have been treated in recent historiographies of earth sciences as well as to examine the genesis, disappearance, and reemergence of museums and collections as spaces linked (or not) to knowledge production. It considers collections of minerals; rocks and fossils; and meteorites and gems; as well as inventories, books, and catalogues.
Introduction
Authors: Steytler Nico
Published: February 2024

While local government is found in all federal countries, its place and role in the governance of these countries vary considerably. In some, local government is considered an essential part of the federal nature of the state and recognised in the constitution as such; in others, it is simply a creature of the subnational states or provinces and firmly under their thumb. When referring to local government, it is more correct to refer to local governments (plural), as these institutions come in all shapes and sizes and perform widely divergent functions.
Austria
Authors: Kössler Karl
Published: February 2024

This chapter explores the role of local government in Austria’s federal system. It argues that municipalities play a rather junior role compared to federal and Länder government levels, and that the practice of ‘three-level federalism’ is essentially confined to financial relations, though even here local governments do not really enjoy equal standing. Unsurprisingly, the associations representing local government continue to call for a stronger voice in political and constitutional affairs. In addition, the chapter shows that while various crises (especially those besetting the smaller municipalities) exacerbate structural problems, they can also work as catalysts for much-needed reform. The global financial crisis of 2007–2008 played precisely such a role; whether the Covid-19 pandemic will do so too remains to be seen.
Germany
Authors: Scheller Henrik
Published: February 2024

Although municipalities in Germany do not have their own constitutional level of government similar to the federal government or Länder, they make an essential contribution to the provision of goods and services of general interest. Municipalities, granted autonomy in self-government by the constitution, operate in a highly charged and politically contested area of governance. On the one hand, municipalities enjoy the right to self-government, and neither the federal government nor the Länder may interfere with this arbitrarily. On the other, as a constitutional part of the Länder, the municipalities are dependent on them, especially so in financial terms. As a result, municipalities constantly have to balance their derived responsibilities with their voluntary tasks as both formal expectations and specific demands from citizens continue to grow due to a constantly changing global conditions and new types of crises. Municipalities in Germany are torn between fulfilling their administrative implementation mandate, on the one hand, and responding to the more immediate claims of local politics and their constituencies, on the other.
Reflections on ALiVE’s Collaborative Endeavour
Authors: Turner Fergal , Babu Michael , Mcintire Olivia
Published: February 2024

AliVE’s visible achievement has been to develop contextualised assessment tools for three life skills and one value, undertake a large-scale assessment program at household level across three countries, and engage with hundreds of stakeholders in the process. What is less visible is how this has been achieved, who is responsible for it, and what the motivating force behind it has been. This chapter describes reflections on the collaborative processes that underlie these activities. In so doing, the chapter locates that collaboration within the history of community and civil society contributions to education in East Africa, and more specifically within Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The chapter’s reflections make explicit who the contributors were and how they were able to work together. In these reflections two factors are of particular interest. The first concerns the link between the way individuals and organisations worked together, and the actual life skills that were the object of their attention, in particular the skill of collaboration. The second is the constituting of the endeavour as a learning journey. The process is seen not merely as a production of an assessment tool and consequent results which can be used to advocate for life skills in education, but as a vehicle for equipping collaborators with the technical and work skills that they can take forward into future education spaces.
Implications of ALiVE Process and Evidence for Policy and Practice in East Africa
Authors: Kabutha Mugo John
Published: February 2024

The process and product of the Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE), including the opportunities created by this assessment, provide a useful lens for viewing the mainstreaming of assessment of these competences in the region. This chapter summarises ALiVE and provides perspectives on the use and lack of use of education evidence. Key insights cover the breadth of factors to be considered in influencing uptake by government. The chapter reviews the global and regional landscapes as they relate to life skills and values, and concludes that these competencies are increasingly acknowledged and adopted. Lastly, the chapter draws from the discussions in this volume to identify and discuss five implications for policy and practice. A call to bolden the focus and contextualise holistic learning is first made. Second is the call for a paradigm shift in assessment, including the review of assessment frameworks, leveraging technology, and prioritising the use of the evidence generated by the assessments. Third is the call to focus on teacher capacities, while considering that these would be facilitated by system-wide focus on capacity development. Fourth is the call for shared space and responsibility between parents and teachers, to perceive assessment as a common project between communities and schools. Lastly is the call for a resilient and comprehensive approach that secures alignment, timeliness, engagement and institutionalisation.
Generating Evidence from Life Skills Assessments to Inform Policy in East Africa
Authors: Shariff Khadija , Mlay Devotha Festo , Owino Samuel Otieno
Published: February 2024

Life skills are rapidly becoming recognised as critical skills for children to acquire in order to succeed in school and in life. This is particularly true in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) context where youth educational attainment is low, unemployment and informal employment is high and a growing youth bulge provides both an opportunity and a high risk for the development or under development of SSA countries. Developing appropriate life skills and values in youth has become imperative for education systems in order to ensure youth have the chance to succeed, especially in terms of employment after finishing school. Global large-scale learning assessments have primarily been focused on basic or foundational competencies such as literacy and numeracy. These assessments have paved the way in showing how large-scale evidence generation can influence policy and practice in different countries. When it comes to the life skills and values space however, few assessments have produced evidence to influence systemic shifts in educational delivery. This chapter outlines how the Assessment of Life skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) collaboration has addressed gaps in large scale evidence of life skills and values, and more specifically a lack of life skills and values assessments contextual to East Africa.
Quantum entanglement of ions for light dark matter detection
Authors: Ito Asuka , Kitano Ryuichiro , Nakano Wakutaka , Takai Ryoto
Published: February 2024

Abstract

A detection scheme is explored for light dark matter, such as axion dark matter or dark photon dark matter, using a Paul ion trap system. We first demonstrate that a qubit, constructed from the ground and first excited states of vibrational modes of ions in a Paul trap, can serve as an effective sensor for weak electric fields due to its resonant excitation. As a consequence, a Paul ion trap allows us to search for weak electric fields induced by light dark matter with masses around the neV range. Furthermore, we illustrate that an entangled qubit system involving N ions can enhance the excitation rate by a factor of N2. The sensitivities of the Paul ion trap system to axion-photon coupling and gauge kinetic mixing can reach previously unexplored parameter space.
A note on O6 intersections in AdS flux vacua
Authors: Junghans Daniel
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The DGKT-CFI construction of AdS flux vacua in type IIA string theory has interesting features such as classical moduli stabilization and a parametric scale separation between the Hubble scale and the Kaluza-Klein scale. A possible worry regarding the consistency of these vacua is that pathologies could arise due to intersections of the O6-planes, which are not well understood in the 10D solution. In this note, we show in explicit examples that such intersections are absent if one compactifies on smooth Calabi-Yau manifolds instead of toroidal orbifolds. In particular, we show that the blow-up of the T6/ℤ3 orbifold yields a single O6-plane which wraps a smooth submanifold without any (self-)intersections. On the other hand, blowing up the T6/$$ {\mathbb{Z}}_3^2 $$

ℤ
3
2

orbifold seems to yield an O6-plane which self-intersects. However, we show that this is due to an inconsistent orientifold involution in the original DGKT model. Imposing a consistent involution again yields a single smooth O6-plane without self-intersections on the blown-up manifold.
Was Ulam right? II: small width and general ideals
Authors: Inamdar Tanmay , Rinot Assaf
Published: February 2024

We continue our study of Sierpiński-type colourings. In contrast to the prequel paper, we focus here on colourings for ideals stratified by their completeness degree. In particular, improving upon Ulam’s theorem and its extension by Hajnal, it is proved that if $$\kappa $$
κ
is a regular uncountable cardinal that is not weakly compact in L, then there is a universal witness for non-weak-saturation of $$\kappa $$
κ
-complete ideals. Specifically, there are $$\kappa $$
κ
-many decompositions of $$\kappa $$
κ
such that, for every $$\kappa $$
κ
-complete ideal J over $$\kappa $$
κ
, and every $$B\in J^+$$

B
∈

J
+

, one of the decompositions shatters B into $$\kappa $$
κ
-many $$J^+$$

J
+

-sets. A second focus here is the feature of narrowness of colourings, one already present in the theorem of Sierpiński. This feature ensures that a colouring suitable for an ideal is also suitable for all superideals possessing the requisite completeness degree. It is proved that unlike successors of regulars, every successor of a singular cardinal admits such a narrow colouring.
Experimental evidence, global patterns of treeline position and climate provide no substance for a lignin limitation hypothesis of tree growth
Authors: Körner Christian , Hiltbrunner Erika , Hoch Günter
Published: February 2024

While the position of alpine and arctic treelines can be predicted by climatic data, the underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. In a recent paper in this journal  (Körner C, Lenz A, Hoch G (2023) Chronic in situ tissue cooling does not reduce lignification at the Swiss treeline but enhances the risk of 'blue' frost rings. Alpine Botany https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-023-00293-6) we presented results of an in situ stem-cooling experiment at a Swiss treeline site. The experiment provided answers to two entirely different questions, related to xylogenesis at treeline: (a) the absence of chronic effects of low temperature on lignification, and (b) a high time resolution insight into the rare occurrence of damages in young, still undifferentiated, and thus, non-lignified cells at the occasion of an exceptional early season frost event. In the last issue of Alpine Botany (August 7, 2023), our data had been re-interpreted by (Büntgen, Alpine Botany, 2023) by confusing (b) with (a). Cell death before secondary wall formation interrupts all metabolism, and thus, cannot exert a specific limitation of lignification. For the xylem to lignify, it requires a secondary cell wall in the first place. A frost damage in young tracheid cells is unsuitable for a dendrological treeline hypothesis based on a low-temperature threshold for lignification. Generally, the global pattern of treeline position is not associated with local freezing conditions.
A loss-of-function mutation in KCNJ11 causing sulfonylurea-sensitive diabetes in early adult life
Authors: Vedovato Natascia , Salguero Maria V. , Greeley Siri Atma W. , Yu Christine H. , Philipson Louis H. , Ashcroft Frances M.
Published: February 2024

Aims/hypothesis

The ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel couples beta cell electrical activity to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Loss-of-function mutations in either the pore-forming (inwardly rectifying potassium channel 6.2 [Kir6.2], encoded by KCNJ11) or regulatory (sulfonylurea receptor 1, encoded by ABCC8) subunits result in congenital hyperinsulinism, whereas gain-of-function mutations cause neonatal diabetes. Here, we report a novel loss-of-function mutation (Ser118Leu) in the pore helix of Kir6.2 paradoxically associated with sulfonylurea-sensitive diabetes that presents in early adult life.

Methods

A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed with mild hyperglycaemia during an employee screen. After three pregnancies, during which she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the patient continued to show elevated blood glucose and was treated with glibenclamide (known as glyburide in the USA and Canada) and metformin. Genetic testing identified a heterozygous mutation (S118L) in the KCNJ11 gene. Neither parent was known to have diabetes. We investigated the functional properties and membrane trafficking of mutant and wild-type KATP channels in Xenopus oocytes and in HEK-293T cells, using patch-clamp, two-electrode voltage-clamp and surface expression assays.

Results

Functional analysis showed no changes in the ATP sensitivity or metabolic regulation of the mutant channel. However, the Kir6.2-S118L mutation impaired surface expression of the KATP channel by 40%, categorising this as a loss-of-function mutation.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our data support the increasing evidence that individuals with mild loss-of-function KATP channel mutations may develop insulin deficiency in early adulthood and even frank diabetes in middle age. In this case, the patient may have had hyperinsulinism that escaped detection in early life. Our results support the importance of functional analysis of KATP channel mutations in cases of atypical diabetes.

Graphical Abstract
The common factor of executive functions measures nothing but speed of information uptake
Authors: Löffler Christoph , Frischkorn Gidon T. , Hagemann Dirk , Sadus Kathrin , Schubert Anna-Lena
Published: February 2024

﻿Abstract﻿

There is an ongoing debate about the unity and diversity of executive functions and their relationship with other cognitive abilities such as processing speed, working memory capacity, and intelligence. Specifically, the initially proposed unity and diversity of executive functions is challenged by discussions about (1) the factorial structure of executive functions and (2) unfavorable psychometric properties of measures of executive functions. The present study addressed two methodological limitations of previous work that may explain conflicting results: The inconsistent use of (a) accuracy-based vs. reaction time-based indicators and (b) average performance vs. difference scores. In a sample of 148 participants who completed a battery of executive function tasks, we tried to replicate the three-factor model of the three commonly distinguished executive functions shifting, updating, and inhibition by adopting data-analytical choices of previous work. After addressing the identified methodological limitations using drift–diffusion modeling, we only found one common factor of executive functions that was fully accounted for by individual differences in the speed of information uptake. No variance specific to executive functions remained. Our results suggest that individual differences common to all executive function tasks measure nothing more than individual differences in the speed of information uptake. We therefore suggest refraining from using typical executive function tasks to study substantial research questions, as these tasks are not valid for measuring individual differences in executive functions.