bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of free preventive dental programme for children: 10 years of Lov'U'r Teeth, France
Authors: Mascre Céline , Bas Anne‐Charlotte
Published: October 2024

Aim

Lov'U'r Teeth is a French oral health prevention programme targeting children. The programme offers an appointment with a dentist for oral examination and individual oral health advice. It covers any necessary primary dental care resulting from that examination. Despite being free, it was under‐utilised at its previous evaluation 10 years ago. The study aims to identify the determinants of participation and their evolution since 2009.

Methods

We worked on the General Beneficiary Sample, a medico‐administrative database representative of the French population, including health‐care consumption data. We selected individuals aged 6 to 15. We performed descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions to analyse and compare the determinants of participation between 2009 and 2019. The final sample included 26 288 children.

Results

Lov'U'r Teeth participation rate increased by 4.2 percentage points from 2009 to 2019. Participation was highest at age 6 and declined as age increased. Children from households facing financial difficulties have a 72% lower probability of participating than other children. Over the study period, increasing poverty rates were consistently associated with lower participation. Children living in the areas with the highest poverty rates were up to 46% less likely to participate than those in areas with the lowest poverty rates.

Conclusion

Participation in Lov'U'r Teeth has improved over the past 10 years, but the programme continues to reproduce social inequalities, as the determinants of using free preventive dental care mirror those of non‐preventive care. Lov'U'r Teeth should enhance communication strategies to reach those in need and clarify the programme's benefits.
Gender Differences in the Migration Process: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Anastasiadou Athina , Kim Jisu , Sanlitürk Ebru , de Valk Helga A. G. , Zagheni Emilio
Published: October 2024

Migration scholars agree that migration is a highly gendered process. While the literature on this topic is increasing, the knowledge produced remains fragmentary and has not been synthesized systematically yet. This literature review aims at summarizing the current findings of quantitative migration research comparing migration patterns between genders and highlighting gaps and patterns in the literature over time. Following a reproducible and systematic approach, 6032 articles have been scanned and 170 were considered for in‐depth content analysis. The review of the literature revealed that women have a lower propensity than men to realize their migration aspirations conditional on migration intentions. Moreover, many articles analyzing migration flows by gender do not support the common narrative of a feminization of migration. Finally, evidence from the migration literature supports the assumption that migrant women experience a double burden of discrimination in the destination country labor market based on their gender and their migration status. It becomes apparent that gender‐based comparisons between migration outcomes have received the most attention in the literature followed by the comparison of determinants. The stage of the journey received only little attention. This literature review also focuses on the data sources used to produce our knowledge on gender differences in the migration process. Thereby, it stands out that the majority of papers rely on survey data for the analysis. Digital trace data are a promising source for gender‐disaggregated data and can potentially complement the scarce aggregate migration data landscape.
Reconsidering the Relationship Between Educational Hypogamy and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from India
Authors: Pandian Roshan K.
Published: October 2024

Past research suggests that the expansion of women's education reduces their exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) due to attitudinal changes and women's greater access to resources. The IPV literature also suggests that educational hypogamy (women marrying men with less education) increases IPV as women face backlash associated with gender‐status inconsistencies. However, existing research has not effectively tested the link between educational hypogamy and IPV. In this study, I provide a direct and explicit test of this backlash hypothesis using nationally representative National Family Health Survey data from India, a country characterized by high levels of IPV and gender inequality but rising levels of educational hypogamy. Using an interactive specification between wife's and husband's education, I do not find evidence for a positive association between educational hypogamy and IPV. Women's education is associated with reduced IPV, even in some instances when it exceeds the husband's education. Further analyses suggest that educational hypogamy by itself does not raise IPV risk in India because increased education does not necessarily grant Indian women greater access to other resources such as employment and income. Rather, education likely shapes IPV by precipitating attitudinal changes that lead to IPV rejection. This study contributes to theories of the family, gender, and violence and presents findings that contradict much of the literature on educational hypogamy and IPV in the Global South.
Bioavailable testosterone and androgen receptor activation, but not total testosterone, are associated with muscle mass and strength in females
Authors: Alexander Sarah E. , Gatto Briana , Knowles Olivia E. , Williams Ross M. , Fiebig Kinga N. , Jansons Paul , Della Gatta Paul A. , Garnham Andrew , Eynon Nir , Wadley Glenn D. , Aisbett Brad , Hiam Danielle , Lamon Séverine
Published: October 2024

Testosterone, the major androgen, influences the reproductive and non‐reproductive systems in males and females via binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Both circulating endogenous testosterone and muscle AR protein content are positively associated with muscle mass and strength in males, but there is no such evidence in females. Here, we tested whether circulating testosterone levels were associated with muscle mass, function, or the muscle anabolic response to resistance training in pre‐menopausal females. Twenty‐seven pre‐menopausal, untrained females (aged 23.5 ± 4.8 years) underwent a 12‐week resistance training programme. Muscle strength, size, power, and plasma and urine androgen hormone levels were measured. Skeletal muscle biopsies were collected before and after the training programme to quantify the effect of resistance training on AR content and nuclear localisation. Primary muscle cell lines were cultured from a subset (n = 6) of the participants’ biopsies and treated with testosterone to investigate its effect on myotube diameter, markers of muscle protein synthesis and AR cellular localisation. Physiological levels of total testosterone were not associated with muscle mass or strength at baseline or with the changes in muscle mass and strength that occurred in response to resistance training in our cohort of pre‐menopausal females. In contrast, bioavailable testosterone and the proportion of nuclear‐localised AR were positively associated with skeletal muscle mass and strength in pre‐menopausal females. In vitro, supra‐physiological doses of testosterone increased myocyte diameter, but this did not occur via the Akt/mTOR pathway as previously suggested. Instead, we show a marked increase in AR nuclear localisation with testosterone administration in vitro.

image

Key points

Total circulating testosterone was not related to muscle mass or strength before or after resistance training in pre‐menopausal females.

Bioavailable testosterone was positively related to exercise‐induced muscle hypertrophy in pre‐menopausal females.

In vivo nuclear localisation of the androgen receptor was positively related to muscle mass in pre‐menopausal females at baseline, but not to resistance training‐induced hypertrophy.

Testosterone treatment induced androgen receptor nuclear translocation but did not induce mTOR signalling in primary skeletal myocytes cultured from pre‐menopausal female muscle.
Dynamics of cardio‐muscular networks in exercise and fatigue
Authors: Garcia‐Retortillo Sergi , Ch Ivanov Plamen
Published: October 2024

A fundamental question in cardiovascular and muscle physiology is how the heart operates in synchrony with distinct muscles to regulate homeostasis, enable movement and adapt to exercise demands and fatigue. Here we investigate how autonomic regulation of cardiac function synchronizes and integrates as a network with the activity of distinct muscles during exercise. Further, we establish how the network of cardio‐muscular interactions reorganizes with fatigue. Thirty healthy young adults performed two body weight squat tests until exhaustion. Simultaneous recordings were taken of a 3‐lead electrocardiogram (EKG) along with electromyography (EMG) signals from the left and right vastus lateralis, and left and right erector spinae. We first obtained instantaneous heart rate (HR) derived from the EKG signal and decomposed the EMG recordings in 10 frequency bands (F1–F10). We next quantified pair‐wise coupling (cross‐correlation) between the time series for HR and all EMG spectral power frequency bands in each leg and back muscle. We uncovered the first profiles of cardio‐muscular network interactions, which depend on the role muscles play during exercise and muscle fibre histochemical characteristics. Additionally, we observed a significant decline in the degree of cardio‐muscular coupling with fatigue, characterized by complex transitions from synchronous to asynchronous behaviour across a range of timescales. The network approach we utilized introduces new avenues for the development of novel network‐based markers, with the potential to characterize multilevel cardio‐muscular interactions to assess global health, levels of fatigue, fitness status or the effectiveness of cardiovascular and muscle injury rehabilitation programmes.

image

Key points

The heart operates in synchrony with muscles to regulate homeostasis, enable movement, and adapt to exercise demands and fatigue. However, the precise mechanisms regulating cardio‐muscular coupling remain unknown.

This study introduces a pioneering approach to assess cardio‐muscular network interactions by examining the synchronization of cardiac function with muscle activity during exercise and fatigue.

We uncover the first profiles of cardio‐muscular interactions characterized by specific hierarchical organization of link strength.

We observe a significant decline in the degree of cardio‐muscular coupling with fatigue, marked by complex transitions from synchronous to asynchronous behaviour.

This network approach offers new network‐based markers to characterize multilevel cardio‐muscular interactions to assess global health, levels of fatigue, fitness status or the effectiveness of cardiovascular and muscle injury rehabilitation programmes.
An Efficient Analysis of Amplitude and Phase Dynamics in Networked MEMS-Colpitts Oscillators
Authors: Rahimpour Shaghayegh , Bajaj Nikhil , Dane Quinn D.
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the interactions of both phase and amplitude in a network of N MEMS-Colpitts oscillators that are resistively coupled. The numerical simulations of the extensive networks of oscillators, required for emerging applications such as clock synchronization and neuromorphic computing, become computationally prohibitive as the number of oscillators increases. This complicates the design and evaluation of such systems, as understanding the effects of changes in coupling and design parameters can require many simulations. This study employs the method of multiple scales (MS) in combination with the harmonic balance method to convert the coupled differential equations governing the system of oscillators into a set of nonlinear evolution equations for the amplitude and phase of the oscillators. The amplitude and phase evolve on a timescale that is slow, commensurate with the damping in the system, compared with the fast timescale of the oscillation frequencies. The approach used in this study to describe the amplitude and phase dynamics offers significant computational efficiency (gains of 10× to 50× are shown) compared to direct numerical integration while maintaining an accurate representation of the response. The results of the presented simulations demonstrate the effect of coupling strength on the dynamics of the network, accounting for both phase and amplitude dynamics.
Impact of the Abrasive Solution Heating Process With Different Techniques on the Etching Parameters for the SSNTD (CN-85)
Authors: Salim Manar Dheyaa , Khalaf Hyam Nazmy Badr , Marzaali Awsam Abdulsattar , Mostafa Mostafa Y. A.
Published: October 2024

The presented work aims to compare and analyze the impact of the abrasive solution heating process using three different techniques on the etching parameters for the solid-state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) (CN-85). Water bath technique (WB) is using water as a conduction medium of heat transfer to heat the etching solution. The thermal oven technique (TO) is using air as a convection heat transfer medium to heat the etching solution. Finally, the micro-wave technique (MW) as electromagnetic radiation no need for a medium to heat the etching solution. That comparison will be achieved at different irradiation times to an Americium-241 source (241Am) of 5.486 MeV energy and 10 μCi activity as an alpha particle's emitter. Two irradiation times 10 s and 20 s are applied. Small pieces of CN-85 detectors (1 × 1) cm2 were used. CN-85 detector parameters of the etching process, with the three applying techniques (WB, TO, and MW), are estimated and compared. The obtained results from the three techniques are compared. The etching process time is developed to nearly 5 min for MW with heating by radiation mechanism compared to 25–35 min for etching techniques (WB and TO) with heating by conduction and convection mechanisms, respectively. The efficiency of MW technique with range of from 70% to 75% are five times greater than that for WB and TO techniques.
Dynamic Response and Damage Analysis of a Large Steel Tank Impacted by an Explosive Fragment
Authors: Zhou Lijian , Deng Hua , Xu Liguang , Zhang Rui
Published: October 2024

The fragments generated by explosions of storage tanks in chemical industrial parks may cause perforations or dents in adjacent tanks and trigger a domino effect. This paper determined reasonable fragment parameters based on the statistical laws of accidents and empirical formulas. The dynamic response process of large steel tanks impacted by fragments was simulated with ls-dyna. The typical impact process and results were analyzed in detail, and the damage laws of the tanks were discussed under various filling coefficients, volumes, fragment velocities, and impact angles. The results indicate that the inertial resistance of the inner liquid shortens the impact duration. Multiple collisions occur between the fragment and tank during impact, and the impact process involves three stages: initial collision, crushing and collision, and separation flight. The impact center displacement shows a fast and then slow reduction trend as the liquid level height increases, and the damage to the tank is negatively correlated with the liquid level height. The damage is lower when the tank volume is larger in an empty tank or at a high liquid level, while the damage instead increases when the volume exceeds 5000 m3 at a low liquid level. The peak impact force of the end-cap fragment is greatest when frontal impact occurs. Fragment flipping and curling occur at 45 deg and 90 deg impact, respectively. As the vertical impact angle increases from 0 deg to 90 deg, the fragment impact mode changes from initial frontal impact to flip detachment and finally to curling deformation.
Tool Wear Prediction in Broaching Based on Tool Geometry
Authors: Zachert Christoph , Meurer Markus , Bergs Thomas
Published: October 2024

The aircraft engine is a safety-critical part of an aircraft. Constructive modifications resulting in ecological and economic improvements of the engine lead to necessary changes in manufacturing processes. The turbine disks in the low-pressure section are made of temperature resistant nickel-based superalloys. For the connection of the turbine blades with the disk, fir-tree slots are machined by broaching. The broaching process achieves high geometrical accuracy as well as process reliable rim zone properties. Alternative manufacturing processes such as milling or wire electrical discharge machining are still the subject of research in many applications and do not yet achieve the required process reliability. Especially in finishing operations, tool geometry is complex. In previous research work, the local rake angle and, as a result, the acting cutting force were determined analytically and empirically. Based on these results, the relationship between tool geometry, cutting force, and tool wear will be investigated in this work to enable a cutting length dependent prediction of tool wear. The aim of this work is a model-based prediction of tool wear for a given cutting length and a previously unknown tool geometry. For this purpose, a method was developed to predict tool wear using empirical test data and internal machine data. With these results, it is not only possible to identify critical points on newly developed broaching tools by maxima of the cutting force but also to predict wear locally, depending on the cutting length. Thus, tools can be optimized, and efficiency of the broaching process is increased.
Electric Vehicle Energy Management via Traffic Light Detection and Segmental Velocity Forecasting
Authors: Liu Yuanzhi , Wang Jingbo , Zhang Jie
Published: October 2024

Predictive-based power control has been widely recognized as a promising approach to boost driving range and improve system-level energy efficiency for electric vehicles (EVs), in which vehicle velocity forecasting generally serves as a preliminary input to optimally schedule the operations of varying onboard electrical and thermal systems. A segment-based velocity forecasting approach for individual commuting vehicles developed in this study reveals that it is challenging to forecast the velocity at intersection segments only using the velocity data. To address this challenge, this study seeks to develop a YOLO-V2-based object detection deep network to recognize the traffic lights in advance and leverage the detected signals to establish a forecasting model that integrates with the probability-based hybrid forecasting approach. The case study results show that the traffic light detection-based forecasting model can significantly improve the forecasting accuracy for intersection segments. Based on the forecasting velocity 5–15 s ahead, the effectiveness of model predictive control-based energy management strategy is further evaluated with a liquid-based battery thermal control system. The proposed battery thermal management system (BTMS) model shows promising results in maintaining battery temperature within an appropriate range, thus improving the overall energy efficiency of the EV. Moreover, a traffic light-based real-time energy management framework is developed to directly control the power demand from the air conditioning (AC) system.
An Alternative Finite Element Formulation to Predict Ductile Fracture in Highly Deformable Materials
Authors: de Toledo Paula Gabriel , Pascon João Paulo
Published: October 2024

An alternative finite element formulation to predict ductile damage and fracture in highly deformable materials is presented. For this purpose, a finite-strain elastoplastic model based on the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) formulation is employed, in which the level of damage is described by the void volume fraction (or porosity). The model accounts for large strains, associative plasticity, and isotropic hardening, as well as void nucleation, coalescence, and material failure. To avoid severe damage localization, a nonlocal enrichment is adopted, resulting in a mixed finite element whose degrees-of-freedom are the current positions and nonlocal porosity at the nodes. In this work, 2D triangular elements of linear-order and plane-stress conditions are used. Two systems of equations have to be solved: the global variables system, involving the degrees-of-freedom; and the internal variables system, including the damage and plastic variables. To this end, a new numerical strategy has been developed, in which the change in material stiffness due to the evolution of internal variables is embedded in the consistent tangent operator regarding the global system. The performance of the proposed formulation is assessed by three numerical examples involving large elastoplastic strains and ductile fracture. Results confirm that the present formulation is capable of reproducing fracture initiation and evolution, as well as necking instability. Convergence analysis is also performed to evaluate the effect of mesh refinement on the mechanical response. In addition, it is demonstrated that the nonlocal parameter alleviates damage localization, providing smoother porosity fields.
Analysis of Erosion of Surfaces in Falling Particle Concentrating Solar Power
Authors: Kant K. , Kondaiah P. , Pitchumani R.
Published: October 2024

Next generation concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, which utilize solid particles for energy capture, transport, and storage, offer prospects for higher temperature operation, improved efficiency, and reduced overall costs. Nevertheless, the continuous impingement of particles on component materials can result in substantial erosion, significantly constraining the performance and longevity of the components. A comprehensive understanding of particle erosion on surfaces is essential for designing components and operational parameters or coatings that minimize wear. This study presents a computational physics-based particle tracking model of the erosion rate of incident surfaces under different geometric, operational, and particle parameters. The computational model is validated with experimental measurements conducted as part of the study. Computational simulations are presented to elucidate the effects of each parameter and further used to investigate erosion rates in a systematic design of experiments covering a wide range of parameters. Based on the simulation results, a generalized analytical model is developed to relate erosion wear to pertinent dimensionless groups governing the physics of the process. The analytical model is shown to be accurate to within 10% and its use in understanding surface erosion as well as designing wear-resistant coatings to limit erosion within acceptable values is presented.
Enhancing the Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Cells Using a Hybrid Cooling Technique of Thermoelectric Generator and Heat Sink
Authors: Hachim Dhafer Manea , Al-Manea Ahmed , Al-Rbaihat Raed , Abed Qahtan A. , Sadiq Mohammed , Homod Raad Z. , Alahmer Ali
Published: October 2024

This study aims to enhance the performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells by employing a hybrid cooling technique involving a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and heat sink. Three configuration modules are investigated both experimentally and numerically: module 01: PV only (PV), module 02: PV with TEG (PV-TEG), and module 03: PV with TEG and heat sink (PV-TEG-HS). These modules have been examined numerically under various weather conditions, including solar radiation, wind speed, and ambient temperature. The experimental and numerical results indicate that as solar radiation increases from 500 W/m2 to 1000 W/m2, the temperature of the PV back sheet and PV solar cell also increases. Specifically, for module PV, module PV-TEG, and module PV-TEG-HS, the temperature increases by 57.3%, 56.1%, and 32% respectively. Additionally, the percentage output power (Pout) of the PV increases with rising solar radiation for the three modules, reaching 60.5%, 62.0%, and 87.39% respectively. Moreover, the percentage Pout of the TEG also increases with the increasing solar radiation for the three modules, with percentages of 0%, 299.25%, and 311.96% respectively. Furthermore, increasing wind speed leads to a decrease in the temperatures of the back sheet and solar cell, while simultaneously increasing the Pout of the PV for all three modules. However, the Pout of the TEG in module PV-TEG-HS decreases. The impact of increasing ambient temperatures on module PV-TEG-HS is relatively small compared to the other modules.
Studying microbially induced corrosion on glass using ToF-SIMS
Authors: Parker Gabriel D. , Plymale Andrew , Hager Jacqueline , Hanley Luke , Yu Xiao-Ying
Published: October 2024

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is an emerging topic that has huge environmental impacts, such as long-term evaluation of microbial interactions with radioactive waste glass, environmental cleanup and disposal of radioactive material, and weathering effects of microbes. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), a powerful mass spectral imaging technique with high surface sensitivity, mass resolution, and mass accuracy, can be used to study biofilm effects on different substrates. Understanding how to prepare biofilms on MIC susceptible substrates is critical for proper analysis via ToF-SIMS. We present here a step-by-step protocol for preparing bacterial biofilms for ToF-SIMS analysis, comparing three biofilm preparation techniques: no desalination, centrifugal spinning (CS), and water submersion (WS). Comparisons of two desalinating methods, CS and WS, show a decrease in the media peaks up to 99% using CS and 55% using WS, respectively. Proper desalination methods also can increase biological signals by over four times for fatty acids using WS, for example. ToF-SIMS spectral results show chemical compositional changes of the glass exposed in a Paenibacillus polymyxa SCE2 biofilm, indicating its capability to probe microbiologically induced corrosion of solid surfaces. This represents the proper desalination technique to use without significantly altering biofilm structure and substrate for ToF-SIMS analysis. ToF-SIMS spectral results showed chemical compositional changes of the glass exposed by a Paenibacillus bacterial biofilm over 3-month inoculation. Possible MIC products include various phosphate phase molecules not observed in any control samples with the highest percent increases when experimental samples were compared with biofilm control samples.
Generalized contact matrices allow integrating socioeconomic variables into epidemic models
Authors: Manna Adriana , Dall’Amico Lorenzo , Tizzoni Michele , Karsai Márton , Perra Nicola
Published: October 2024

Variables related to socioeconomic status (SES), including income, ethnicity, and education, shape contact structures and affect the spread of infectious diseases. However, these factors are often overlooked in epidemic models, which typically stratify social contacts by age and interaction contexts. Here, we introduce and study generalized contact matrices that stratify contacts across multiple dimensions. We demonstrate a lower-bound theorem proving that disregarding additional dimensions, besides age and context, might lead to an underestimation of the basic reproductive number. By using SES variables in both synthetic and empirical data, we illustrate how generalized contact matrices enhance epidemic models, capturing variations in behaviors such as heterogeneous levels of adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions among demographic groups. Moreover, we highlight the importance of integrating SES traits into epidemic models, as neglecting them might lead to substantial misrepresentation of epidemic outcomes and dynamics. Our research contributes to the efforts aiming at incorporating socioeconomic and other dimensions into epidemic modeling.
Attentional guidance through object associations in visual cortex
Authors: Lerebourg Maëlle , de Lange Floris P. , Peelen Marius V.
Published: October 2024

Efficient behavior requires the rapid attentional selection of task-relevant objects. Preparatory activity of target-selective neurons in visual cortex is thought to support attentional selection, guiding spatial attention and favoring processing of target-matching input. However, naturalistic searches are often guided by nontargets, including target-associated “anchor” objects. For instance, when looking for a pen, we may direct our attention to the office desk on which we expect to find it. Here, using fMRI and eye tracking in a context-guided search task, we tested whether preparatory activity in visual cortex reflected the target, the guiding anchor object, or both. Participants learned associations between targets and anchors, reversing across two scene contexts, before searching for these targets. Participants’ first fixations were reliably guided by the associated anchor. Preparatory activity in lateral occipital cortex (LOC) and right intraparietal sulcus (IPS) represented the target-associated anchor rather than the target. These results shed light on the neural basis of context-guided search in structured environments.
Macroscale connectome topographical structure reveals the biomechanisms of brain dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhao Kun , Wang Dawei , Wang Dong , Chen Pindong , Wei Yongbin , Tu Liyun , Chen Yuqi , Tang Yi , Yao Hongxiang , Zhou Bo , Lu Jie , Wang Pan , Liao Zhengluan , Chen Yan , Han Ying , Zhang Xi , Liu Yong
Published: October 2024

The intricate spatial configurations of brain networks offer essential insights into understanding the specific patterns of brain abnormalities and the underlying biological mechanisms associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), normal aging, and other neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigated alterations in the topographical structure of the brain related to aging and neurodegenerative diseases by analyzing brain gradients derived from structural MRI data across multiple cohorts (
n
= 7323). The analysis identified distinct gradient patterns in AD, aging, and other neurodegenerative conditions. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that inorganic ion transmembrane transport was the most significant term in normal aging, while chemical synaptic transmission is a common enrichment term across various neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the findings show that each disorder exhibits unique dysfunctional neurophysiological characteristics. These insights are pivotal for elucidating the distinct biological mechanisms underlying AD, thereby enhancing our understanding of its unique clinical phenotypes in contrast to normal aging and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Dephosphorylation and ion binding in prokaryotic calcium transport
Authors: Prabudiansyah Irfan , Orädd Fredrik , Magkakis Konstantinos , Pounot Kevin , Levantino Matteo , Andersson Magnus
Published: October 2024

Calcium (Ca
2+
) signaling is fundamental to cellular processes in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. While the mechanisms underlying eukaryotic Ca
2+
transport are well documented, an understanding of prokaryotic transport remains nascent. LMCA1, a Ca
2+
adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) from
Listeria monocytogenes
, has emerged as a prototype for elucidating structure and dynamics in prokaryotic Ca
2+
transport. Here, we used a multidisciplinary approach integrating kinetics, structure, and dynamics to unravel the intricacies of LMCA1 function. A cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of a Ca
2+
-bound E1 state showed ion coordination by Asp
720
, Asn
716
, and Glu
292
. Time-resolved x-ray solution scattering experiments identified phosphorylation as the rate-determining step. A cryo-EM E2P state structure exhibited remarkable similarities to a SERCA1a E2-P* state, which highlights the essential role of the unique P-A domain interface in enhancing dephosphorylation rates and reconciles earlier proposed mechanisms. Our study underscores the distinctiveness between eukaryotic and prokaryotic Ca
2+
ATPase transport systems and positions LMCA1 as a promising drug target for developing antimicrobial strategies.
Provenance of the Mesoproterozoic Shennongjia Group in the north Yangtze Block, South China, and implications for reconstructions of the Nuna and Rodinia supercontinents
Authors: Yang Jie , Hu Lisha , Cawood Peter A. , Du Yuansheng
Published: October 2024

Magmatic activity in the range ca. 1.6–1.5 Ga is spatially restricted globally, and its distribution has been an important tool for constraining the reconstruction of the Nuna supercontinent. Abundant ca. 1.6 Ga detrital zircons have recently been discovered in the Luanshigou and Taizi formations of the middle Mesoproterozoic Shennongjia Group in the north Yangtze Block, South China. Detrital zircon age spectra and multi-dimensional scaling results indicate the Shennongjia Group was derived from variable sources. The ca. 1.6 Ga detrital zircons in the middle Mesoproterozoic units were probably sourced from Laurentia and Australia-Mawson, whereas detrital zircons of other age groups were provided by the local rock units in the north Yangtze Block. Similarities in sedimentary sequences, detrital zircon age spectra, and corresponding Hf isotopic patterns of the Shennongjia Group with other Mesoproterozoic successions in Yangtze Block (e.g., Baoban-Shilu, Huili, and Kunyang groups) suggest that the block contained a number of micro-blocks during the Mesoproterozoic. Furthermore, the compiled new and published detrital zircon data from the north Yangtze Block along with those from other continents containing ca. 1.6 Ga zircons reveal that the Yangtze Block was most likely situated within a rift zone between southeast Australia-Mawson and southwest Laurentia. The ca. 1.6 Ga zircons in the Shennongjia Group were derived from these bounding source regions during the middle Mesoproterozoic. By the late Mesoproterozoic, based on a comprehensive provenance analyses and comparison of detrital zircon data, the Yangtze Block was probably located on the margins of the Rodinia supercontinent, close to north-central India, Australia, and East Antarctica.
Protracted mantle heat conduction after lithospheric foundering beneath the Malagasy orogen
Authors: Kaare-Rasmussen Jonas , Horton Forrest , Holder Robert , Kylander-Clark Andrew , Bouvier Anne-Sophie , Müntener Othmar , Rakotondrazafy Michel
Published: October 2024

Ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism (UHTM) is important for the evolution and long-term stability of continental crust. The Anosyen domain in southeastern Madagascar is a well-preserved UHTM terrane that formed during the amalgamation of Gondwana. The heat source(s) required to reach peak conditions is(are) a matter of debate. One potential cause of extreme crustal heating is the intrusion of mantle-derived melts into the crust. Foundering of the mantle lithosphere can also lead to increased heat flow. To assess the role of these heating mechanisms, we measured zircon δ18O, εHf(t) compositions, and U-Pb dates for plutonic rocks in the midcrustal UHTM domain. Our results indicate that pluton emplacement predated UHTM by as much as 40 m.y. and that all zircons have crustal O and Hf isotopic compositions. We propose that mantle lithosphere foundering caused melting in the lower crust, producing the magmas responsible for plutonism during the early stages of orogenesis. Prolonged conductive heating of the crust—combined with above-average radiogenic heating—may explain why UHTM occurred ∼40 m.y. after foundering. This suggests that foundering of the mantle lithosphere can swiftly lead to partial melting in the lower crust, as well as protracted heating of the middle crust that culminates tens of millions of years later.
A “natural sand plant” at the shelf edge in the low-energy Gulf of Lions, western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Berné Serge , Agin Grégory , Alonso Yoann , Bassetti Maria-Angela , Bourrin François , Hébert Bertil , Estournel Claude , Many Gaël , Olariu Cornel , Petrenko Anne
Published: October 2024

Thick sand deposits at the edge of continental shelves, sometimes covered with large bedforms, are generally considered as relict features inherited from periods of low sea level, but alternative interpretations are possible, even in zones where modern oceanic processes are moderate. Detailed investigations in the western Gulf of Lions (western Mediterranean Sea) reveal the presence of remains of Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4) and MIS 2 shelf-edge deltas at the head of canyons. The sands were then “cannibalized” by strong rising sea-level currents, forming a 20-km-long, strike-oriented sand body covered by dunes. Presently, the migration of dunes is maintained by strong storm-driven currents. The seasonal reversal of circulation is at the origin of inversion of dune morphology, thus the sand body mimics a tidal sand bank with clockwise circulation of bedforms. In the long term, dunes migrate southward with a negative angle of climb, eroding into the underlying shelf-edge deltas. Acoustic Doppler current profiles and numerical simulations indicate that the sediment is sorted, once in suspension, and is flushed to the deep sea while sand bedload contributes to bedform migration. This relative enrichment of sand without external supply is referred to as a “natural sand plant,” by analogy with industrial sand plants where sand is washed and sieved. It forms a discontinuous sand belt, 5–20 m thick, more than 110 km along-strike, connecting multiple shelf-edge deltas. The geological importance of recognizing this recycling mechanism is indicated by the preservation of similarly large buried dunes formed during the deglaciation leading to interglacial MIS 7 at ca. 240 ka (Termination III).
Orogen-scale inverted metamorphism during Cretaceous–Paleogene terminal suturing along the North American Cordillera, Alaska, USA
Authors: Regan Sean P. , Holland Mark E. , Waldien Trevor S. , Miller McKenzie , Taylor Peter , Kylander-Clark Andrew , Marble Sean , Hofmann Florian
Published: October 2024

The northern North American Cordilleran margin has been active for >200 million years, as recorded by punctuated phases of crustal growth and deformation. Accretion of the exotic Wrangellia Composite Terrane (Insular Belt) is considered the largest addition of juvenile crust to the Cordilleran margin, though margin-parallel translation during the Cenozoic has obscured much of the accretionary history. Three zones of inverted metamorphism spatially correspond to the Insular–North American suture zone from north to south: (1) Clearwater Mountains; (2) Kluane Lake; and (3) Coast Mountains, each preserving kinematics indicative of thrusting of North American–derived rocks over Insular-derived assemblages. We performed in situ monazite petrochronology on samples collected across strike in both the Clearwater and Coast Mountain regions. New and recently published data from these three metamorphic belts indicate that thrust-sense deformation accompanied the formation of inverted metamorphic isograds from 72 to 56 Ma. We leverage recent estimates of Denali fault offset to reconstruct a >1000-km-long zone of inverted metamorphism and interpret it as the Insular–North America terminal suture.
Inferring Parameters and Reconstruction of Two-Dimensional Turbulent Flows with Physics-Informed Neural Networks
Authors: Parfenyev V. , Blumenau M. , Nikitin I.
Published: October 2024

Obtaining system parameters and reconstructing the full flow state from limited velocity observations using conventional fluid dynamics solvers can be prohibitively expensive. Here we employ machine learning algorithms to overcome the challenge. As an example, we consider a moderately turbulent fluid flow, excited by a stationary force and described by a two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equation with linear bottom friction. Using dense in time, spatially sparse and probably noisy velocity data, we reconstruct the spatially dense velocity field, infer the pressure and driving force up to a harmonic function and its gradient, respectively, and determine the unknown fluid viscosity and friction coefficient. Both the root-mean-square errors of the reconstructions and their energy spectra are addressed. We study the dependence of these metrics on the degree of sparsity and noise in the velocity measurements. Our approach involves training a physics-informed neural network by minimizing the loss function, which penalizes deviations from the provided data and violations of the governing equations. The suggested technique extracts additional information from velocity measurements, potentially enhancing the capabilities of particle image/tracking velocimetry.
‘Headspin hole’: an overuse injury among breakdancers
Authors: Skotting Mikkel Bundgaard , Søndergaard Christian Baastrup
Published: October 2024

This case report focuses on ‘headspin hole’, a unique overuse injury in breakdancers caused by repetitive headspins. It manifests as a fibrous mass on the scalp, hair loss and tenderness. The literature on this condition is limited. We present a detailed case report of a male breakdancer in his early 30s who developed a noticeable scalp protuberance over 5 years of extensive head-spinning practice. MRI showed significant subgaleal fibrosis and thickening of the subcutis, consistent with the ‘cone-head sign’. The patient underwent successful surgical tumour removal, leading to aesthetic improvement and symptom relief. Histological analysis showed extensive fibrosis with no malignancy. Postoperative follow-up indicated high patient satisfaction and a significant reduction of the mass. This case underscores the importance of recognising chronic scalp conditions in breakdancers and suggests that surgical intervention can be an effective treatment.
A coupled VOF-DEM investigation into contact erosion under the effects of cyclic loading and seepage path
Authors: Cai Guoqing , Diao Xianfeng
Published: October 2024

Transportation infrastructure, being exposed to natural environments for a prolonged period, is susceptible to contact erosion between different particle size soil layers due to complex water-force interactions such as cyclical loading and water infiltration. The significant loss of particles leads to uneven deformation and decreased stability of the soil mass, and in severe cases, it can even result in the overall collapse of structures. To reveal the mechanism of contact erosion, a coupled solid–liquid–gas contact erosion model based on the VOF-DEM method was established. The study investigates the particle migration process, macroscopic deformation response, and evolution of contact forces under different particle size ratios (PSR) and seepage path influences. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) Significant particle migration between coarse and fine particles occurs only after being subjected to the effects of seepage. The particle erosion rate reaches its maximum after the soil mass becomes saturated. Cyclic loading intensifies the severity of particle erosion under seepage conditions. (2) Particle erosion mainly occurs at the contact surface, and the squeezing action of coarse particles and stress relaxation during unloading contribute to particle migration and loss. (3) Particle migration induces significant axial deformation in the soil mass and increases energy dissipation during loading and unloading processes. (4) Reducing the PSR effectively suppresses particle loss in the contact erosion process. (5) Seepage perpendicular to the contact surface results in more severe particle loss and soil deformation.
Residual feed intake measured as replacement heifers is indicative of residual feed intake measured as mature cows
Authors: Olson C.A. , Li C. , Block H. , McKeown L. , Valente T. , Fitzsimmons C. , Plastow G. , Basarab J.A.
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to quantify the relationship between residual feed intake (RFI) measured in 500 heifers and subsequently as mid-gestation cows at the Roy Berg Kinsella Research Station (KIN; n = 227) and Lacombe Research and Development Centre (LRDC; n = 273). Heifers were initially tested for RFI adjusted for end of test rib fat (RFIfat) at 8–12 months of age and then again as 3-year-old first-calf heifers at KIN and as 4–13-year-old cows at LRDC. Heifer RFIfat measured in drylot on a forage diet was associated ( R2 > 0.53; P < 0.001) with RFIfat measured again as older cows. Each 1 kg DM day−1 change in heifer RFIfat equaled 0.48 ± 0.10 and 0.75 ± 0.19 kg DM day−1 change in cow RFIfat for KIN and LRDC, respectively. Linear effects were also reported for RFIfat component traits, where DMI ( P < 0.001), ADG ( P < 0.060), mid-test metabolic weight ( P < 0.001), and end of test rib fat ( P < 0.001) measured as heifers were related when measured again as older cows. In addition, the linear effects of heifer RFIfat on cow RFIfat were constant across cow age groups from 4–10 years of age. These results show that selection for RFI in heifers will result in cows that are also more feed efficient.
New method to model the wind speed distribution: method of decile
Authors: Ur Rehman Shafiq , Razzak Atteeq , Insaf Ambreen , Rajput Ahmed Ali , Khan Tahreem , Rashid Tehreem
Published: October 2024

Energy is a primary need for individuals and societies; the new era has revolutionized everything, from cell phones to daily used equipment in houses; all need electrical energy. Advanced countries have already managed energy demand according to their need. Renewable energy is better than conventional energy sources such as gas, coal, and nuclear fuel. Researchers have continuously worked on renewable energy to make it as helpful as possible. Mathematical modeling and new methods of harnessing energy are the leading fields researchers are working in. Wind energy is ubiquitous; however, it depends on a cut-off speed. In numerous places worldwide, the wind speed surpasses the cut-off speed. Such locations are good candidates for generating electricity from wind energy. Proper modeling of wind energy enables one to know available wind potential. An effort has been made to model wind speed; a new method known as the method of decile has been developed. The method works using the first and last decile of the wind distribution. The Weibull parameters, average wind speed, and errors have been calculated and compared to five other methods. Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to see the suitability of the new method. The AIC values for the new method were calculated for 12 months of wind speed data in 2016; the minimum values occurred for the novel method. It shows that the new method is the best among the other five methods. The annual output energy is estimated using E-5 (by Ryse Energy company) horizontal axis wind turbine and evaluated as 6900 kWh at Hyderabad, the highest among the three sites.
Noiselessly amplified thermal states and after multi-photon addition or subtraction
Authors: Zhan Xue-feng , Xu Xue-xiang
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we study the combined effects of the ideal amplification operator ([Formula: see text]) and m-photon added operator [Formula: see text] (or m-photon subtracted operator [Formula: see text]) on the thermal state ([Formula: see text]), with mean photon number (MPN [Formula: see text]). By only operating [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text], we introduce a noiselessly amplified thermal state (ATS [Formula: see text]) with larger MPN [Formula: see text]. The selection of [Formula: see text] and g must ensure that the process is physical ([Formula: see text]). By operating [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (or [Formula: see text]) on [Formula: see text] successively, we further introduce photon-added-ATS (ρ m+) or photon-subtracted-ATS (ρ m−). Then, we analyze their photon number distributions and prove that the purity of ρ m+ is equal to that of ρ m−. Meanwhile, we study their nonclassicality by examing Mandel parameter and second-order correlation function. Finally, we study their three quasiprobability distributions, whose negativities are other signatures of the nonclassicality. Our study demonstrates that photon addition has more pronounced effects on nonclassicality than photon subtraction. Our study will provide useful theoretical references for experiments and applications.