bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geology of the Simlipal Volcano-sedimentary Basin of Singhbhum Revisited: A Simplistic Interpretation
Authors: Kar Asima , Ray Jyotisankar , Sinha Subhajit , Kar Rajib , Manikyamba C. , Paul Madhuparna , Dey Payel
Published: March 2022

The status of the Proterozoic volcano-sedimentary Simlipal complex (covering latitudes 21°14’-22°20’N and longitudes 86°03’-86°35’E) of Singhbhum, eastern India remains unclear till date. The Simlipal complex has classically been designated to represent three layers of alternate spilitic volcanics and quartzite deposited in a geosyncline that unconformably overlies the meta-sedimentary Singhbhum Group of rocks. The study of the authors (entailing digital elevation map) bring out that the concentric ring-like outcrop pattern of Simlipal complex is only topography-controlled and repetitive bands of quartzite and volcanics do not exist. Further, it has been documented that the Simlipal complex comprises basemental weakly metamorphosed quartzite-phyllite (~450m thick) heterolith unit (proposed Lulung Formation), which is followed upward by fresh, sub-horizontal (~250m thick) volcanic unit (proposed Barehipani Formation) with local presence of peridotite-gabbro, and finally to quartz arenite unit (~150m thick) as the topmost layer (proposed Jurunda Formation). The heterolith unit (proposed Lulung Formation) has been envisaged as a part of the older Singhbhum Group. The basaltic rocks (Barehipani Formation) correspond to calc-alkaline tectonic affinity based on geochemistry. We propose an arc-subduction related setting for the Simlipal complex which may be further confirmed through detailed major/trace elements and isotopic studies.
Subsurface Resistivity Image of Sikkim Himalaya as Derived from Topography Corrected Magnetotelluric Data
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Patro Prasanta K. , Chaudhary B.S.
Published: March 2022

The Sikkim Himalaya is the eastern division of the Himalayan arc and is located between the Nepal and Bhutan Himalaya. Due to the complex geology, the abnormal trend of Main Central Thrust (MCT) and duplex structure in Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) zone, the magnetotelluric (MT) data in Sikkim Himalayan region is modeled using topographic correction. In the present research, the three-dimensional (3-D) topographic correction using impedance tensor correction algorithm was applied to eight sites from the Sikkim Himalayan region and then inverted on the flat terrain. This paper presents the effectiveness of the 3-D topographic correction on two dimensional (2-D) modeling by comparing inversion models (a) model with distorted data on flat terrain, (b) distorted data with topography, (c) 3-D topography corrected data on flat terrain, to mitigate the effects of topography in MT data. The major outcome of the present study is in the form deciphering much bigger dimension in case of topography corrected data of the overlying resistive block (~9000 ohm.m) having depth up to 15 km between the sites Manglay and Lema, which correlate with the exposures of the Daling Formation in the northern Lesser Himalayan Sequence (LHS) and Lingste granite in the MCT zone. The topography corrected MT data brought out the topography of the resistive Indian crust more clearly.
Use of Principal Component Analysis for Parameter Selection to Compute Water Quality Index and Assessment of Groundwater Quality Status: A Case Study of Sanganur Stream, Coimbatore City
Authors: Mohammed Siraj Ansari A. , Saraswathi R.
Published: March 2022

Coimbatore is a major industrial city in Tamil Nadu, India. Due to urbanization there is a rapid increase in the generation of wastewater. The Sanganur stream is one of the major unlined drains in Coimbatore, flowing about 10.8 kilometre within the city. The drain is fed with wastewater from household and industrial units. This study is to explore the physio-chemical contamination in the groundwater sources located near the unlined drains and to assess groundwater quality by computing water quality index using the selected parameters from principal component analysis. Groundwater samples are collected from bore wells close to the drain at respective intervals. The parameter like pH, EC, TDS, chlorides, sulphates, alkalinity and hardness are estimated. Principal component analysis is used to predict the major contributors having impact on groundwater quality and water quality index was computed using the predicted contributors. The results shows that the water quality status was either poor or very poor. Therefore, it is necessary to control the contamination of groundwater by taking proper remedial measures.
An optimized system for mobility evaluation in frailty phenotype assessment
Authors: Pierleoni Paola , Belli Alberto , Pinti Federica , Paoletti Michele , Raggiunto Sara , Palma Lorenzo
Published: March 2022

The rapid ageing of society makes necessary the development of advanced technologies for the identification of frailty. In this paper, we present a system for mobility evaluation in frailty phenotype assessment. The system is equipped with wireless, small and non-invasive wearable sensors for an objective evaluation of mobility. The paper proposes an optimization of gait analysis algorithm using a dynamic threshold. The results obtained from a comparison with the gold standard show errors of 3.7% for double support, 5.1% for stride length, and 5.8% for stride speed. Moreover, a simple and automatic tool, which estimates postural and walking parameters to assist medical staff in assessing frailty, is developed.
Innovation and the persistence of monopoly under diseconomies of scope or scale
Authors: Delbono Flavio , Lambertini Luca
Published: March 2022

We participate in the lasting debate about the persistence of monopolies under technological change, by examining two deterministic games modelling innovation auctions. We highlight some novel aspects within such debate. If product innovation is at stake, the joint effect of diseconomies of scope and product differentiation may allow the entrant to acquire the innovation and give rise to a duopoly. Process innovation is analysed in a model with increasing marginal production costs to show that the innovating monopolist always uses both technologies by virtue of Jensen’s inequality, and this is sufficient but not necessary to preserve its monopoly power.
Artificial systematic attenuation in eta squared and some related consequences: attenuation-corrected eta and eta squared, negative values of eta, and their relation to Pearson correlation
Authors: Metsämuuronen Jari
Published: March 2022

In general linear modeling (GLM), eta squared (η2) is the dominant statistic for the explaining power of an independent variable. This article discusses a less-studied deficiency in η2: its values are seriously deflated, because the estimates by coefficient eta (η) are seriously deflated. Numerical examples show that the deflation in η may be as high as 0.50–0.60 units of correlation and in η2 as high as 0.70–0.80 units of explaining power. A simple mechanism to evaluate and correct the artificial attenuation is proposed. Because the formulae of η and point-biserial correlation are equal, η can also get negative values. While the traditional formulae give us only the magnitude of nonlinear association, a re-considered formula for η gives estimates with both magnitude and direction in binary cases, and a short-cut option is offered for the polytomous ones. Although the negative values of η are not relevant when η2 is of interest, this may be valuable additional information when η is used with non-nominal variables.
Confirmation and Structured Inquiry Teaching: Does It Improve Students’ Achievement Motivations in School Science?
Authors: Toma Radu Bogdan
Published: March 2022

Guided and open inquiry stands as a valuable instructional strategy for science education. Yet, confirmation and structured inquiry, which provides higher levels of teacher guidance, is more often enacted. These approaches, though more workable, remain unexplored in their effectiveness in improving achievement motivations. This study draws on expectancy-value theory to explore the effect of short-term confirmation and structured inquiry on students’ expectancies of success and intrinsic values in school science when compared to traditional lecture-based strategies. One hundred and nineteen Spanish sixth graders were assigned to three pedagogical conditions using classroom clusters: lecture (control group), confirmation inquiry, and structured inquiry. The intervention consisted of two units of three hours each. Findings revealed no statistically significant differences between pedagogical conditions. Overall, this study failed to find evidence of a difference in students’ expectancies of success and intrinsic value of school science when lecture, confirmation, or structured inquiry teaching strategies were used.
The role of bacterial signaling networks in antibiotics response and resistance regulation
Authors: Li Yuying , Feng Tao , Wang Yan
Published: March 2022

Excessive use of antibiotics poses a threat to public health and the environment. In ecosystems, such as the marine environment, antibiotic contamination has led to an increase in bacterial resistance. Therefore, the study of bacterial response to antibiotics and the regulation of resistance formation have become an important research field. Traditionally, the processes related to antibiotic responses and resistance regulation have mainly included the activation of efflux pumps, mutation of antibiotic targets, production of biofilms, and production of inactivated or passivation enzymes. In recent years, studies have shown that bacterial signaling networks can affect antibiotic responses and resistance regulation. Signaling systems mostly alter resistance by regulating biofilms, efflux pumps, and mobile genetic elements. Here we provide an overview of how bacterial intraspecific and interspecific signaling networks affect the response to environmental antibiotics. In doing so, this review provides theoretical support for inhibiting bacterial antibiotic resistance and alleviating health and ecological problems caused by antibiotic contamination.
Techno-economic assessment of a hybrid connected PV solar system
Authors: Falih Hasan , Hamed Ahmed J. , Khalifa Abdul Hadi N.
Published: March 2022

The current work was performed a techno-economic analysis of a 5-kWp capacity hybrid-connected solar system installed on the roof of a house at Diyala province, Iraq (33.77° N, 45.14° E, elevation 44 m). The rooftop PV solar system consists of 18 polycrystalline PV modules of 355 W each, an energy storage system consisting of 8 batteries of 150 Ah, 12 V, and an intelligent inverter of 5-kWp capacity. The PV string output energy and the load sharing between the PV output, the grid, and the discharging energy from the energy storage system are studied. While the economic assessment of the PV system is performed by calculating the net present value (NPV) depending on the discount cash flow method, from the results, the payback time is found. The PV system’s annual results showed that the PV system’s energy yield is 8.9 GWh/year, and the array efficiency, performance ratio, and load efficiency were 0.126, 0.66, and 0.92, respectively. The reference, array, and final yields were 6.1, 3.88, and 3.99 h/day, respectively. The minimum energy feed to the grid was in summer, and the maximum was in winter. On the other hand, the results showed that the maximum purchasing energy was in summer, and the less was in winter. The economic assessment showed that the minimum tariff for Iraq should not be less than 0.1 $/kWh with a PB time equal to PV lifetime; a tariff of 0.12 $/kWh is profitably for Iraq, as the PB time is 10 years.
Mining Boom and Contentious Politics across Central America: Elites, Movements and Party Systems
Authors: Edenhofer Nathan
Published: March 2022

The metal-mining boom Latin America experienced in recent decades precipitated highly contentious anti-mining social movements in Central America. In this context, El Salvador became the first country in the world to ban all metal mining by law. In contrast, policy in nearby Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua remained pro-mining. These cases are compared using a most similar systems design. Comparison reveals the importance of three variables: how national economic-elite networks and interests relate to multinational corporations; national movement coordination and goals, specifically in relation to prohibition; and how parties and leaders relied on popular bases or capital. These factors shaped the contention between elites and movements that influenced state actions around mining and led to this ‘least likely case’ of extractive policy change in El Salvador.
Neglected food-borne trematodiases: echinostomiasis and gastrodiscoidiasis
Authors: Toledo Rafael , Álvarez-Izquierdo María , Esteban J. Guillermo , Muñoz-Antoli Carla
Published: March 2022

In the present paper, we review two of the most neglected intestinal food-borne trematodiases: echinostomiasis, caused by members of the family Echinostomatidae, and gastrodiscoidiasis produced by the amphistome Gastrodiscoides hominis. Both parasitic infections are important intestinal food-borne diseases. Humans become infected after ingestion of raw or insufficiently cooked molluscs, fish, crustaceans, amphibians or aquatic vegetables. Thus, eating habits are essential to determine the distribution of these parasitic diseases and, traditionally, they have been considered as minor diseases confined to low-income areas, mainly in Asia. However, this scenario is changing and the population at risk are currently expanding in relation to factors such as new eating habits in developed countries, growing international markets, improved transportation systems and demographic changes. These aspects determine the necessity of a better understanding of these parasitic diseases. Herein, we review the main features of human echinostomiasis and gastrodiscoidiasis in relation to their biology, epidemiology, immunology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment.
The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on instrumental reward learning in anorexia nervosa – an fMRI study
Authors: Steding Julius , Ritschel Franziska , Boehm Ilka , Geisler Daniel , King Joseph A. , Roessner Veit , Smolka Michael N. , Zepf Florian Daniel , Ehrlich Stefan
Published: March 2022

Background

The serotonin (5-HT) hypothesis of anorexia nervosa (AN) posits that individuals predisposed toward or recovered from AN (recAN) have a central nervous hyperserotonergic state and therefore restrict food intake as a means to reduce 5-HT availability (via diminished tryptophan-derived precursor supply) and alleviate associated negative mood states. Importantly, the 5-HT system has also been generally implicated in reward processing, which has also been shown to be altered in AN.

Methods

In this double-blind crossover study, 22 individuals recAN and 25 healthy control participants (HC) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing an established instrumental reward learning paradigm during acute tryptophan depletion (ATD; a dietary intervention that lowers central nervous 5-HT availability) as well as a sham depletion.

Results

On a behavioral level, the main effects of reward and ATD were evident, but no group differences were found. fMRI analyses revealed a group × ATD × reward level interaction in the ventral anterior insula during reward anticipation as well as in the medial orbitofrontal cortex during reward consumption.

Discussion

The precise pattern of results is suggestive of a ‘normalization’ of reward-related neural responses during ATD in recAN compared to HC. Our results lend further evidence to the 5-HT hypothesis of AN. Decreasing central nervous 5-HT synthesis and availability during ATD and possibly also by dieting may be a means to normalize 5-HT availability and associated brain processes.
Thermal drift and backlash issues for industrial robots positioning performance
Authors: Le Reun Adrien , Subrin Kévin , Dubois Anthony , Garnier Sébastien
Published: March 2022

Robot positioning performance is studied in the scope of a robotized X-ray computed tomography application on a ABB IRB4600 robot. The robot has the “absolute accuracy” option, that is, the manufacturer has identified the manufacturing defects and included them in the robot control. Laser-tracker measurement on a 6.5-h long linear trajectory shows thermal drift and backlash issues, affecting the positioning unidirectional repeatability and bidirectional accuracy. A thermo-geometrical model with backlash compensation is developed. Geometrical calibration improves the forwards unidirectional mean accuracy from 1.39 to 0.06 mm between theoretical and optimized geometrical parameters with a stable thermal state. Thermo-geometrical calibration reduces the positioning scattering from a maximum of 0.15 to 0.05 mm (close to the repeatability of the robot). Backlash compensation improves the bidirectional mean accuracy from 1.53 to 0.07 mm.
Study on the design and control method of a wire-driven waist rehabilitation training parallel robot
Authors: Yuqi Wang , Jinjiang Cao , Ranran Geng , Lei Zhou , Lei Wang
Published: March 2022

With the increasing demand for rehabilitation and the lack of professional rehabilitation personnel, robot-assisted rehabilitation technology plays an increasingly important role in neurological rehabilitation. In order to recover the exercise ability of patients with waist injury, a new type of wire-driven waist rehabilitation training parallel robot (WWRTPR) is designed. According to the motion trajectory planning of waist rehabilitation training, two coordinate systems are established: moving coordinate system and static coordinate system. The inverse kinematics modeling analysis is carried out, and the dynamic model of the robot is established by using Newton–Euler method. An intelligent control method of force/position hybrid control based on radial basis function neural network is proposed. The stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed, and the results show that WWRTPR tends to be stable. The simulation analysis of rehabilitation training on WWRTPR is carried out, and the simulation results show that the proposed intelligent control method can effectively control the robot system, which provides a reference for the development of a flexible intelligent rehabilitation training robot.
INFERENCE ON THE DIMENSION OF THE NONSTATIONARY SUBSPACE IN FUNCTIONAL TIME SERIES
Authors: Nielsen Morten Ørregaard , Seo Won-Ki , Seong Dakyung
Published: March 2022

We propose a statistical procedure to determine the dimension of the nonstationary subspace of cointegrated functional time series taking values in the Hilbert space of square-integrable functions defined on a compact interval. The procedure is based on sequential application of a proposed test for the dimension of the nonstationary subspace. To avoid estimation of the long-run covariance operator, our test is based on a variance ratio-type statistic. We derive the asymptotic null distribution and prove consistency of the test. Monte Carlo simulations show good performance of our test and provide evidence that it outperforms the existing testing procedure. We apply our methodology to three empirical examples: age-specific U.S. employment rates, Australian temperature curves, and Ontario electricity demand.
Acaciainvasion differentially impacts soil properties of two contrasting tropical lowland forests in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Jaafar Salwana Md. , Metali Faizah , Sukri Rahayu Sukmaria
Published: March 2022

InvasiveAcaciaspecies are known to modify soil properties, although effects are often site-specific. We examined the impact ofAcaciaspecies on the soils of intact and invaded habitats of two contrasting tropical lowland rain forest types in Brunei Darussalam: heath forest (HF) and mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF). Impacts on soil properties differed between the two forest types. Overall,Acacia-invaded HF soil recorded significantly higher gravimetric water content, pH and total P, K and Ca compared to the intact HF soil. In contrast, invaded MDF soil exhibited significantly higher organic matter content and total soil N, P, K and Mg compared to its intact habitat.Acacia-invaded MDF soils were more nutrient-enriched thanAcacia-invaded HF soils by the addition of threefold, threefold and fourfold total soil P, K and Mg, respectively. The positive effect of addition of total soil Ca was, however, fourfold greater in HF soil than MDF soil, indicating that the magnitude of impact on soil properties was strongly site-specific. Overall,Acaciainvasion significantly impacted soil properties in nutrient-rich MDF more than those of nutrient-poor HFs, indicating a potential vulnerability of MDFs to invasion.
Clinical audit of breast cancer patients treated with helical tomotherapy for irradiation of the internal mammary chain
Authors: Shrivastav Garima , Datta Debanjali , Wadasadawala Tabassum , Rane Pallavi , Panda Subhajit , Pathak Rima , Scaria Libin , Krishnamurthy Revathy , Sarin Rajiv
Published: March 2022

Aim:

To evaluate efficacy of helical tomotherapy (HT) for treatment of breast cancer with internal mammary lymph node involvement.

Methods:

This is a retrospective clinical audit of planning, dosimetry, toxicity and short-term survival of a cohort of 65 patients. Patients were treated between November 2014 and May 2019. The primary and nodal region was prescribed a dose of 50 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions, while all cases of breast conserving surgery received a simultaneous integrated boost to a dose of 61 Gy in 25 fractions.

Results:

The 95% coverage for the primary, supraclavicular, internal mammary node and tumour bed was 93·4%, 96·8%, 90·7% and 98·3%, respectively. Mean dose to total lung, heart and contra-lateral breast was 10·6 Gy, 6·92 Gy and 4·32 Gy, respectively. None developed grade III skin or oesophageal toxicity. Twenty-one patients had progression; of which eighteen developed only distant failure while three also had loco-regional recurrence. At a median follow-up of 36 months, the 3-year loco-regional control, disease-free survival and overall survival were 93·5, 73·9 and 85·9%, respectively.

Conclusion:

We report encouraging clinical outcome for patients treated uniformly with HT. The predominant pattern of failure was distant metastases which suggests the need for systemic control intensification.
Motivation Alignment, Historical Cleavages, and Women’s Suffrage in Latin America
Authors: Castillo Isabel
Published: March 2022

Calculations of the electoral effects of incorporating new voters and beliefs on how inclusion alters gender hierarchies constitute two central motivations of decision makers when facing the prospect of suffrage reform. In contrast to the dominant electoral approach, by focusing on the case of early (before World War II) women’s suffrage in Latin America, I show that both these motivations are necessary and need to align for reform to occur. To explain the (mis)alignment of electoral calculations and social order concerns in Latin America, I consider the region’s historical oligarchic–anti-oligarchic cleavage structure, which is rooted in overlapping class and religious divisions. In most cases, this cleavage produced contradictory motivations and led actors to block women’s enfranchisement. Only cases of weak cleavages or low politicization of the issue had early reform. To illustrate the argument, this article uses process tracing to analyze Uruguay and Ecuador as successful early reformers and Peru as a negative case.
The concept of legal space: A topological approach to addressing multiple legalities
Authors: Burchardt Dana
Published: March 2022

The notion of legal space is increasingly being used to address the challenges of multiple and overlapping spheres of legality that the notion of legal order cannot capture. This article shows how legal space can serve as an alternative (or at least complementary) concept to legal order in view of the limitations of the latter. It sketches out a notion of legal space that is inspired by topology, an approach that analyses the qualitative nature of spaces. It is concerned with understanding the ways in which legalities interact, rather than with ‘measuring’ their spatial dimensions. A topology-inspired approach to legal space can contribute to conceptualizing, in a novel manner, the inner structure of legal spaces, the boundaries of these spaces and their interrelations with other spaces. It offers an analytical toolkit for better understanding multiple legalities, providing categories to characterize sets of legal elements as well as phenomena such as overlaps and hybridity. It is conceptually less constrained than the concept of legal order, and thus allows us to address various bodies of law ranging from classical domestic law, EU law and international law to global administrative law, corporate social responsibility law, platform law and lex sportiva.
COVID-19: Effects of Pandemic Related Restrictions on Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Mental Well-being in German adolescents
Authors: Marckhoff Matthias , Siebald Milena , Timmesfeld Nina , Janßen Marius , Romer Georg , Föcker Manuel
Published: March 2022

Abstract. Objective: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions (PR) in April and May 2020 on physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST), and mental well-being (MWB) in German adolescents, and to analyze associations between these variables. Methods: The Münster District Government invited all secondary school students (aged 11–17) in the region to take part in the online survey that assessed PA, SST, and MWB. For data analysis, we calculated descriptive statistics and ran linear regression analysis. Results: 1,038 students (627 [60.4%] female; 14.18 [± 1.97] years) were included in the analysis. During the PR, a marked decline in overall PA ( p < .001) and a significant increase ( p < .001) in SST were observed. One-third of the students reported worrying more and being less satisfied with their lives since PR. A decrease in life satisfaction (ß = –.524, p < .001) as well as an increase in general worrying (ß = –.336, p = .015) were associated with a decrease in PA during PR. Conclusion: The results show that the restrictions led to a decrease in physical activity, which may have detrimental effects on the students’ mental and physical health.
Primordial Helium‐3 Exchange Between Earth's Core and Mantle
Authors: Olson Peter L. , Sharp Zachary D.
Published: March 2022

Volatiles from the solar nebula are known to be present in Earth's deep mantle. The core also may contain solar nebula‐derived volatiles, but in unknown amounts. Here we use calculations of volatile ingassing and degassing to estimate the abundance of primordial 3He now in the core and track the rate of 3He exchange between the core and mantle through Earth history. We apply an ingassing model that includes a silicate magma ocean and an iron‐rich proto‐core coupled to a nebular atmosphere of solar composition to calculate the amounts of 3He acquired by the mantle and core during accretion and core formation. Using experimentally determined partitioning between core‐forming metals and silicate magma, we find that dissolution from the nebular atmosphere deposits one or more petagrams of 3He into the proto‐core. Following accretion, 3He exchange depends on the convective history of the coupled core‐mantle system. We combine determinations of the present‐day surface 3He flux with estimates of the present‐day mantle 3He abundance, mantle and core heat fluxes, and our ingassed 3He abundances in a convective degassing model. According to this model, the mantle 3He abundance is evolving toward a statistical steady state, in which surface losses are compensated by enrichments from the core.
Volcanic Activity on Venus: How Long Must We Look to Find a Smoking Gun?
Authors: King Scott D.
Published: March 2022

While volcanic landforms attest to the numerous and varied volcanic processes on Venus, estimates of the frequency of volcanic eruptions are lacking. Constraints from volcanic resurfacing volumes can be equally satisfied by infrequent large eruptions or numerous smaller events. Recently, Byrne and Krishnamoorthy (2022), https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE007040, used the 40‐year period from 1980 to 2020 from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (GVP) database (Global Volcanism Program, 2013) to extrapolate the frequency of volcanic events on Earth to Venus. They evaluated the tectonic settings from the GVP database and provided estimates that consider the differences in those settings between Earth and Venus. Byrne and Krishnamoorthy extrapolated the rate of volcanism between Earth and Venus using the mass/volume ratios, freeing their results from the uncertain tectonic evolution of Venus. The assumption that Venus is in a stagnant‐lid tectonic regime with a straight‐forward geodynamic evolution has been challenged by Weller and Kiefer (2020), https://doi.org/10.1029/2019je005960, who showed that a planetary surface may reflect different styles of convection with highly active and sluggish and inactive regions occurring at the same time. The straight‐forward scaling allowed Byrne and Krishnamoorthy to estimate that as many as 120 eruptions might take place on Venus every year, a frequency that should be detectable by upcoming Venus missions.
Bevacizumab attenuates osteosarcoma angiogenesis by suppressing MIAT encapsulated by serum-derived extracellular vesicles and facilitating miR-613-mediated GPR158 inhibition
Authors: Wang Bao-Dong , Yu Xiao-Jun , Hou Ji-Chun , Fu Bo , Zheng Hao , Liu Qi-Kun , Wang Shan-Xi , Bi Zheng-Gang , Cao Yang
Published: March 2022

Targeting angiogenesis has been considered a promising treatment for a large number of malignancies, including osteosarcoma. Bevacizumab (Bev) is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor being used for this purpose. We herein investigate the therapeutic potential of Bev in angiogenesis during osteosarcoma and the related mechanisms. Bioinformatics were performed for identification of osteosarcoma-related microarray dataset to collect related lncRNA and miRNA, with MIAT and miR-613 obtained. The predicted binding site between miR-613 and GPR158 3′UTR region was further confirmed by luciferase assay. Then, their effects combined with treatment with Bev on osteosarcoma cells were explored by the gain- and loss-of-function. After extraction from osteosarcoma patients’ serum (serum-EVs) and identification, EVs were co-cultured with osteosarcoma cells, the biological behaviors of which were detected by CCK-8 assay and microtubule formation in vitro. A mouse tumor xenograft model was used to determine the effect of Bev on tumor angiogenesis in vivo. Bev inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation and angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Besides, serum-EVs could transfer MIAT (EV-MIAT) into osteosarcoma cells, where it is competitively bound to miR-613 to elevate GPR158, thus promoting osteosarcoma cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Furthermore, Bev arrested osteosarcoma cell proliferation and angiogenesis by inhibiting EV-MIAT and inducing miR-613-mediated GPR158 inhibition. In conclusion, the Bev-mediated MIAT/miR-613/GPR158 regulatory feedback revealed a new molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma angiogenesis.
Mantle exhumation at magma-poor rifted margins controlled by frictional shear zones
Authors: Theunissen Thomas , Huismans Ritske S.
Published: March 2022

The transition zone from continental crust to the mature mid-ocean ridge spreading center of the Iberia-Newfoundland magma-poor rifted margins is mostly composed of exhumed mantle characterized by highs and domes with varying elevation, spacing and shape. The mechanism controlling strain localization and fault migration explaining the geometry of these peridotite ridges is poorly understood. Here we show using forward geodynamic models that multiple out-of-sequence detachments with recurring dip reversal form during magma-poor rifting and mantle exhumation as a consequence of the strength competition between weak frictional-plastic shear zones and the thermally weakened necking domain beneath the exhuming footwall explaining geometry of these peridotite ridges. Model behaviour also shows that fault types and detachment styles vary with spreading rate and fault strength and confirm that these results can be compared to other magma poor passive margins such as along Antarctica-Australia and to ultra-slow mid-ocean spreading systems as the South-West Indian Ridge.
Genome-wide association studies of metabolites in Finnish men identify disease-relevant loci
Authors: Yin Xianyong , Chan Lap Sum , Bose Debraj , Jackson Anne U. , VandeHaar Peter , Locke Adam E. , Fuchsberger Christian , Stringham Heather M. , Welch Ryan , Yu Ketian , Fernandes Silva Lilian , Service Susan K. , Zhang Daiwei , Hector Emily C. , Young Erica , Ganel Liron , Das Indraniel , Abel Haley , Erdos Michael R. , Bonnycastle Lori L. , Kuusisto Johanna , Stitziel Nathan O. , Hall Ira M. , Wagner Gregory R. ,   FinnGen, Ripatti Samuli , Palotie Aarno , Kang Jian , Morrison Jean , Burant Charles F. , Collins Francis S. , Ripatti Samuli , Palotie Aarno , Freimer Nelson B. , Mohlke Karen L. , Scott Laura J. , Wen Xiaoquan , Fauman Eric B. , Laakso Markku , Boehnke Michael
Published: March 2022

Few studies have explored the impact of rare variants (minor allele frequency < 1%) on highly heritable plasma metabolites identified in metabolomic screens. The Finnish population provides an ideal opportunity for such explorations, given the multiple bottlenecks and expansions that have shaped its history, and the enrichment for many otherwise rare alleles that has resulted. Here, we report genetic associations for 1391 plasma metabolites in 6136 men from the late-settlement region of Finland. We identify 303 novel association signals, more than one third at variants rare or enriched in Finns. Many of these signals identify genes not previously implicated in metabolite genome-wide association studies and suggest mechanisms for diseases and disease-related traits.
Linear growth of quantum circuit complexity
Authors: Haferkamp Jonas , Faist Philippe , Kothakonda Naga B. T. , Eisert Jens , Yunger Halpern Nicole
Published: March 2022

The complexity of quantum states has become a key quantity of interest across various subfields of physics, from quantum computing to the theory of black holes. The evolution of generic quantum systems can be modelled by considering a collection of qubits subjected to sequences of random unitary gates. Here we investigate how the complexity of these random quantum circuits increases by considering how to construct a unitary operation from Haar-random two-qubit quantum gates. Implementing the unitary operation exactly requires a minimal number of gates—this is the operation’s exact circuit complexity. We prove a conjecture that this complexity grows linearly, before saturating when the number of applied gates reaches a threshold that grows exponentially with the number of qubits. Our proof overcomes difficulties in establishing lower bounds for the exact circuit complexity by combining differential topology and elementary algebraic geometry with an inductive construction of Clifford circuits.
Salmon lice in the Pacific Ocean show evidence of evolved resistance to parasiticide treatment
Authors: Godwin Sean C. , Bateman Andrew W. , Kuparinen Anna , Johnson Rick , Powell John , Speck Kelly , Hutchings Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2022

Parasitic salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) threaten the economic and ecological sustainability of salmon farming, and their evolved resistance to treatment with emamectin benzoate (EMB) has been a major problem for salmon farming in the Atlantic Ocean. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean, where wild salmon are far more abundant, has not seen widespread evolution of EMB-resistant lice. Here, we use EMB bioassays and counts of lice on farms from the Broughton Archipelago, Canada—a core region of salmon farming in the Pacific—to show that EMB sensitivity has dramatically decreased since 2010, concurrent with marked decrease in the field efficacy of EMB treatments. Notably, these bioassay data were not made available through public reporting by industry or by the federal regulator, but rather through Indigenous-led agreements that created a legal obligation for salmon-farming companies to provide data to First Nations. Our results suggest that salmon lice in the Pacific Ocean have recently evolved substantial resistance to EMB, and that salmon-louse outbreaks on Pacific farms will therefore be more difficult to control in the coming years.
A vectorial tree distance measure
Authors: Priel Avner , Tamir Boaz
Published: March 2022

A vectorial distance measure for trees is presented. Given two trees, we define a Tree-Alignment (T-Alignment). We T-align the trees from their centers outwards, starting from the root-branches, to make the next level as similar as possible. The algorithm is recursive; condition on the T-alignment of the root-branches we T-align the sub-branches, thereafter each T-alignment is conditioned on the previous one. We define a minimal T-alignment under a lexicographic order which follows the intuition that the differences between the two trees constitutes a vector. Given such a minimal T-alignment, the difference in the number of branches calculated at any level defines the entry of the distance vector at that level. We compare our algorithm to other well-known tree distance measures in the task of clustering sets of phylogenetic trees. We use the TreeSimGM simulator for generating stochastic phylogenetic trees. The vectorial tree distance (VTD) can successfully separate symmetric from asymmetric trees, and hierarchical from non-hierarchical trees. We also test the algorithm as a classifier of phylogenetic trees extracted from two members of the fungi kingdom, mushrooms and mildews, thus showimg that the algorithm can separate real world phylogenetic trees. The Matlab code can be accessed via: https://gitlab.com/avner.priel/vectorial-tree-distance.
Rational design and synthesis of a novel BODIPY-based probe for selective imaging of tau tangles in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons
Authors: Soloperto Alessandro , Quaglio Deborah , Baiocco Paola , Romeo Isabella , Mori Mattia , Ardini Matteo , Presutti Caterina , Sannino Ida , Ghirga Silvia , Iazzetti Antonia , Ippoliti Rodolfo , Ruocco Giancarlo , Botta Bruno , Ghirga Francesca , Di Angelantonio Silvia , Boffi Alberto
Published: March 2022

Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between the number of neurofibrillary tangles of the tau protein and Alzheimer's disease progression, making the quantitative detection of tau very promising from a clinical point of view. However, the lack of highly reliable fluorescent probes for selective imaging of tau neurofibrillary tangles is a major challenge due to sharing similar β–sheet motifs with homologous Amyloid-β fibrils. In the current work, we describe the rational design and the in silico evaluation of a small-size focused library of fluorescent probes, consisting of a BODIPY core (electron acceptor) featuring highly conjugated systems (electron donor) with a length in the range 13–19 Å at C3. Among the most promising probes in terms of binding mode, theoretical affinity and polarity, BT1 has been synthesized and tested in vitro onto human induced pluripotent stem cells derived neuronal cell cultures. The probe showed excellent photophysical properties and high selectivity allowing in vitro imaging of hyperphosphorylated tau protein filaments with minimal background noise. Our findings offer new insight into the structure-activity relationship of this class of tau selective fluorophores, paving the way for boosting tau tangle detection in patients possibly through retinal spectral scans.
Enhanced photonics devices based on low temperature plasma-deposited dichlorosilane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride (Si8N)
Authors: Ng Doris K. T. , Gao Hongwei , Xing Peng , Chen George F. R. , Chia Xavier X. , Cao Yanmei , Ong Kenny Y. K. , Tan Dawn T. H.
Published: March 2022

Ultra-silicon-rich nitride with refractive indices ~ 3 possesses high nonlinear refractive index—100× higher than stoichiometric silicon nitride and presents absence of two-photon absorption, making it attractive to be used in nonlinear integrated optics at telecommunications wavelengths. Despite its excellent nonlinear properties, ultra-silicon-rich nitride photonics devices reported so far still have fairly low quality factors of $$\sim 6\times {10}^{4}$$

∼
6
×

10

4

, which could be mainly attributed by the material absorption bonds. Here, we report low temperature plasma-deposited dichlorosilane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride (Si8N) with lower material absorption bonds, and ~ 2.5× higher quality factors compared to ultra-silicon-rich nitride conventionally prepared with silane-based chemistry. This material is found to be highly rich in silicon with refractive indices of ~ 3.12 at telecommunications wavelengths and atomic concentration ratio Si:N of ~ 8:1. The material morphology, surface roughness and binding energies are also investigated. Optically, the material absorption bonds are quantified and show an overall reduction. Ring resonators fabricated exhibit improved intrinsic quality factors $$\sim 1.5\times {10}^{5}$$

∼
1.5
×

10

5

, ~ 2.5× higher compared to conventional silane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride films. This enhanced quality factor from plasma-deposited dichlorosilane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride signifies better photonics device performance using these films. A pathway has been opened up for further improved device performance of ultra-silicon-rich nitride photonics devices at material level tailored by choice of different chemistries.
Oldest leaf mine trace fossil from East Asia provides insight into ancient nutritional flow in a plant–herbivore interaction
Authors: Imada Yume , Oyama Nozomu , Shinoda Kenji , Takahashi Humio , Yukawa Hirokazu
Published: March 2022

The Late Triassic saw a flourish of plant–arthropod interactions. By the Late Triassic, insects had developed all distinct strategies of herbivory, notably including some of the earliest occurrences of leaf-mining. Herein we describe exceptionally well-preserved leaf-mine trace fossils on aCladophlebisBrongniart fern pinnule from the Momonoki Formation, Mine Group, Japan (Middle Carnian), representing the oldest unequivocal leaf-mines from East Asia. The mines all display a distinctive frass trail—a continuous meandering line, which later becomes a broad band containing spheroidal particles—demonstrating larval development. Although the shapes of the frass trails are generally comparable to those of Lepidoptera or Coleoptera, they cannot be unequivocally assigned to a specific extant leaf-mining taxon. Furthermore, elemental analyses by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) reveals that the frass trail comprises phosphate coprolites. The quantitative variations in P, S, and Si between coprolites and leaf veins may reflect physiological processes (e.g., consumption, absorption, and excretion) mediated by plant chemicals. Our findings reinforce the idea that leaf-mining had become a pervasive feeding strategy of herbivorous insects by the Late Triassic.
Using electrophysiological correlates of early semantic priming to test models of reading aloud
Authors: Perry Conrad
Published: March 2022

The speed at which semantics is accessed by words with consistent (simple) and inconsistent (difficult) spelling–sound correspondences can be used to test predictions of models of reading aloud. Dual-route models that use a word-form lexicon predict consistent words may access semantics before inconsistent words. The Triangle model, alternatively, uses only a semantic system and no lexicons. It predicts inconsistent words may access semantics before consistent words, at least for some readers. We tested this by examining event-related potentials in a semantic priming task using consistent and inconsistent target words with either unrelated/related or unrelated/nonword primes. The unrelated/related primes elicited an early effect of priming on the N1 with consistent words. This result supports dual-route models but not the Triangle model. Correlations between the size of early priming effects between the two prime groups with inconsistent words were also very weak, suggesting early semantic effects with inconsistent words were not predictable by individual differences. Alternatively, there was a moderate strength correlation between the size of the priming effect with consistent and inconsistent words in the related/unrelated prime group on the N400. This offers a possible locus of individual differences in semantic processing that has not been previously reported.
Nanoscale electrochemical 3D deposition of cobalt with nanosecond voltage pulses in an STM
Authors: Reiser Alain , Schuster Rolf , Spolenak Ralph
Published: March 2022

A feature size <100 nm for localized electrodeposition of Co on Au exceeds predictions of previous models for confined double-layer charging with ns-long voltage pulses. We show 2D patterning and demonstrate the potential for out-of-plane growth.
Supervised dimension reduction for optical vapor sensing
Authors: Meier Maycon , Kittle Joshua D. , Yee Xin C.
Published: March 2022

Comparison between principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis and least-squares regression principal component analysis for dimension reduction of spectral reactance data in optical vapor sensing.
Effects of biochar pyrolysis temperature on thermal properties of polyethylene glycol/biochar composites as shape-stable biocomposite phase change materials
Authors: Liu Shiwang , Peng Shigui , Zhang Bingbing , Xue Bin , Yang Zhao , Wang Sheng , Xu Guomin
Published: March 2022

The micropore and mesopore of biochar and the interaction between PEG and biochar surface effectively prevented the leakage of PEG and affected the crystallization and adsorption properties of PEG and the heat storage of composite PCMs.
Fabrication of conductive silver paste recovered from leaching of waste catalyst using hydrochloric acid
Authors: Lee Suhyeon , Frimpong Brakowaa , Abbey Stanley , Moon Yoon Sil , Yoo Kyoungkeun , Oh Young-Min , Kim Soo-Kyung , Kim Sang-Joon , Oh Min-Wook
Published: March 2022

The silver paste was synthesized by a hydrometallurgical method from waste catalyst.
Chemoenzymatic approaches to plant natural product inspired compounds
Authors: Roddan Rebecca , Carter Eve M. , Thair Benjamin , Hailes Helen C.
Published: March 2022

Chemoenzymatic routes to plant natural products and analogues are described, highlighting the advantages of incorporating biocatalysis into synthetic strategies.
Investigation on photopolymerization of PEGDA to fabricate high-aspect-ratio microneedles
Authors: Kim Sohyun , Lee Hyemin , Choi Hyewon , Yoo Kee-Youn , Yoon Hyunsik
Published: March 2022

Fabrication conditions for high-aspect-ratio MNs by the photopolymerization of PEGDA were investigated. The influence of prepolymer molecular weight and the degree of UV absorption by the photoinitiator (PI) were studied to optimize the conditions.
Exploration of microplastic pollution with particular focus on source identification and spatial patterns in riverine water, sediment and fish of the Swat River, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Luqman , Ghias Sidra , Zafar Mazhar Iqbal , Alhodaib Aiyeshah , Fatima Humaria , Ur-Rehman Tofeeq , Waseem Amir , Howari Haidar
Published: March 2022

MPs' pollution was explored in Freshwater Swat riverine ecosystem sediment, surface water, and fish. Schizothorax plagiostomus is found to be extremely vulnerable to MP pollution. Human activities are the prime source of microplastics in SR.
Large-area and low-cost SERS substrates based on a gold-coated nanostructured surface fabricated on a wafer-scale
Authors: Das Abhijit , Gupta Nitin , Agrawal Ajay Kumar , Dhawan Anuj
Published: March 2022

A simple and novel fabrication process for fabricating a uniform and reproducible SERS substrate over a large area.