bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Idiosyncratic patterns of local species richness and turnover define global biodiversity hotspots
Authors: Sonne Jesper , Rahbek Carsten
Published: January 2024

Tropical mountains are global biodiversity hotspots, owing to a combination of high local species richness and turnover in species composition. Typically, the highest local richness and turnover levels are implicitly assumed to converge in the same mountain regions, resulting in extraordinary species richness at regional to global scales. We investigated this untested assumption using high-resolution distribution data for all 9,788 bird species found in 134 mountain regions worldwide. Contrary to expectations, the mountain regions with the highest local richness differed from those with the highest species turnover. This finding reflects dissimilarities in the regions’ climates and habitat compositions. Forest habitats and humid tropical climates characterize the mountain regions with the highest local richness. In contrast, mountain regions with the highest turnover are generally colder with drier climates and have mostly open habitat types. The highest local species richness and turnover levels globally converge in only a few mountain regions with the greatest climate volumes and topographic heterogeneity, resulting in the most prominent global hotspots for avian biodiversity. These results underline that species-richness hotspots in tropical mountains arise from idiosyncratic levels of local species richness and turnover, a pattern that traditional analyses of overall regional species richness do not detect.
Bacterivorous nematodes decipher microbial iron siderophores as prey cue in predator–prey interactions
Authors: Hu Minqi , Ma Yeping , Chua Song Lin
Published: January 2024

The minimal levels of biological-available iron in the environment impose growth limitation on all living organisms. Microbes often secrete high iron-binding-affinity siderophores at high concentrations for scavenging iron from the iron-limited habitats. However, the high prevalence of siderophores released by bacteria into the environment raises an intriguing question whether this chemical cue can be detected by bacterivorous predators. Here, we show that the bacterivorous
Caenorhabditis elegans
nematode could employ its chemosensory receptor Odr-10 to detect pyoverdine, an iron siderophore secreted by an environmental bacterium,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. This enabled the nematode predator to migrate toward the prey. Our soil microcosm study showed that the detection of pyoverdine and subsequent feeding of
P. aeruginosa
prey by
C. elegans
could lead to the expansion of its population. These results showed that siderophores are a prey chemical cue by predators, with key implications in predator–prey interactions.
The rise and fall of morphological schemas
Authors: Inglese Guglielmo , Wolfsgruber Anne C.
Published: January 2024

The paper explores the origin and development of the [entre-V] construction in the history of
French. By means of quantitative corpus data, it is shown that the [entre-V] construction, particularly in its
reciprocal function, is productive in earlier stages of French and progressively disappears over time. We argue that this decrease
in productivity is connected to the change in availability of the more abstract [pref-V] construction. While Old French
still shows residual stages of Latin prefixation, this system dissolves in the history of French. As speakers have less access to
the [pref-V] construction, this also engenders numerous changes in the constructional network of the
[entre-V] construction.
Sociophonetic variation in a context of dialect contact
Authors: Almeida Manuel , Hernández-Campoy Juan M.
Published: January 2024

The social contexts of language ​​and dialect contact are an exceptional scenario in which to analyse some of the
most innovative outcomes of language change. In these dynamic contexts, mixed language varieties often develop, constructed
from elements and structures of the languages ​​or dialects that participate in the contact. In the specific case of dialect
contact, one of the most creative hybrid outcomes is interdialectalisms, forms that can coexist in a speech community with
vernacular and standard variants. The study of the structural and social relationships between these alternatives may
contribute towards a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying changes in progress.
After dialectalisation
Authors: Cerruti Massimo
Published: January 2024

This paper provides an overview of ongoing processes of convergence in the Italian language. It focuses on regional
varieties of Italian, which essentially are the result of the so-called dialectalisation of the standard language and are
nowadays affected by extensive processes of vertical and horizontal convergence. It considers the “downward” convergence of
the standard usage towards sub-standard varieties, the “upward” convergence of sub-standard varieties towards the standard
usage, and the supra-regional use, i.e. “horizontal” diffusion, of linguistic features originally confined to distinct
geographic areas. The overall picture suggests that differences persist between regional varieties of Italian, though they are
becoming increasingly less pronounced.1
Eomes-dependent mitochondrial regulation promotes survival of pathogenic CD4+ T cells during inflammation
Authors: Joulia Emeline , Michieletto Michaël F. , Agesta Arantxa , Peillex Cindy , Girault Virginie , Le Dorze Anne-Louise , Peroceschi Romain , Bucciarelli Florence , Szelechowski Marion , Chaubet Adeline , Hakim Nawad , Marrocco Rémi , Lhuillier Emeline , Lebeurrier Manuel , Argüello Rafael J. , Saoudi Abdelhadi , El Costa Hicham , Adoue Veronique , Walzer Thierry , Sarry Jean-Emmanuel , Dejean Anne S.
Published: January 2024

The mechanisms whereby Eomes controls tissue accumulation of T cells and strengthens inflammation remain ill-defined. Here, we show that Eomes deletion in antigen-specific CD4+ T cells is sufficient to protect against central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. While Eomes is dispensable for the initial priming of CD4+ T cells, it is required for long-term maintenance of CNS-infiltrating CD4+ T cells. We reveal that the impact of Eomes on effector CD4+ T cell longevity is associated with sustained expression of multiple genes involved in mitochondrial organization and functions. Accordingly, epigenetic studies demonstrate that Eomes supports mitochondrial function by direct binding to either metabolism-associated genes or mitochondrial transcriptional modulators. Besides, the significance of these findings was confirmed in CD4+ T cells from healthy donors and multiple sclerosis patients. Together, our data reveal a new mechanism by which Eomes promotes severity and chronicity of inflammation via the enhancement of CD4+ T cell mitochondrial functions and resistance to stress-induced cell death.
Locus folding mechanisms determine modes of antigen receptor gene assembly
Authors: Allyn Brittney M. , Hayer Katharina E. , Oyeniran Clement , Nganga Vincent , Lee Kyutae , Mishra Bikash , Sacan Ahmet , Oltz Eugene M. , Bassing Craig H.
Published: January 2024

The dynamic folding of genomes regulates numerous biological processes, including antigen receptor (AgR) gene assembly. We show that, unlike other AgR loci, homotypic chromatin interactions and bidirectional chromosome looping both contribute to structuring Tcrb for efficient long-range V(D)J recombination. Inactivation of the CTCF binding element (CBE) or promoter at the most 5′Vβ segment (Trbv1) impaired loop extrusion originating locally and extending to DβJβ CBEs at the opposite end of Tcrb. Promoter or CBE mutation nearly eliminated Trbv1 contacts and decreased RAG endonuclease-mediated Trbv1 recombination. Importantly, Trbv1 rearrangement can proceed independent of substrate orientation, ruling out scanning by DβJβ-bound RAG as the sole mechanism of Vβ recombination, distinguishing it from Igh. Our data indicate that CBE-dependent generation of loops cooperates with promoter-mediated activation of chromatin to juxtapose Vβ and DβJβ segments for recombination through diffusion-based synapsis. Thus, the mechanisms that fold a genomic region can influence molecular processes occurring in that space, which may include recombination, repair, and transcriptional programming.
Gravitational waves from neutron-star mountains
Authors: Gittins Fabian
Published: January 2024

Rotating neutron stars that support long-lived, non-axisymmetric deformations known as mountains have long been considered potential sources of gravitational radiation. However, the amplitude from such a source is very weak and current gravitational-wave interferometers have yet to witness such a signal. The lack of detections has provided upper limits on the size of the involved deformations, which are continually being constrained. With expected improvements in detector sensitivities and analysis techniques, there is good reason to anticipate an observation in the future. This review concerns the current state of the theory of neutron-star mountains. These exotic objects host the extreme regimes of modern physics, which are related to how they sustain mountains. We summarise various mechanisms that may give rise to asymmetries, including crustal strains built up during the evolutionary history of the neutron star, the magnetic field distorting the star’s shape and accretion episodes gradually constructing a mountain. Moving beyond the simple rotating model, we also discuss how precession affects the dynamics and modifies the gravitational-wave signal. We describe the prospects for detection and the challenges moving forward.
Strain-induced enhancement of 2D electron gas density in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction: a first-principles study
Authors: Cao Yuelong , Guan Qi , He Yang , Wang Xinmei , Zhang Lin , Li Enling , Jia Wanli
Published: January 2024

In this study, we investigated the impact of strain on the electronic structure and polarization of Al
x
Ga1−x
N and AlGaN/GaN heterojunctions using first-principles density functional theory. Our findings reveal that, in the absence of strain, the band gap and electron effective mass of Al
x
Ga1−x
N increase with higher Al composition. Similarly, the spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization also increase accordingly. Moreover, under biaxial 5% tensile strain and 5% compressive strain, the two-dimensional (2D) electron gas surface density in the AlGaN/GaN heterojunction reaches 8.12 × 1012 cm−2 and 2.50 × 1012 cm−2, respectively. Comparatively, the surface density without strain is 5.62 × 1012 cm−2. Tensile strain significantly enhances the 2D electron gas surface density, which holds potential theoretical value for improving the electrical performance of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors.
The influence of antiferromagnetic spin cantings on the magnetic helix pitch in cubic helimagnets
Authors: Chizhikov Viacheslav A , Dmitrienko Vladimir E
Published: January 2024

In cubic helimagnets MnSi and Cu2OSeO3 with their nearly isotropic magnetic properties, the magnetic structure undergoes helical deformation, which is almost completely determined by the helicoid wavenumber

k
=

D

/

J

, where magnetization field stiffness

J

is associated with isotropic spin exchange, and

D

is a pseudoscalar value characterizing the antisymmetric Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction. Another magnetic feature of these crystals, also caused by the DM interactions, are antiferromagnetic spin cantings, similar to the ferromagnetic cantings responsible for the phenomenon of weak ferromagnetism. Here we show that cantings can strongly influence the helical order through the value of the parameter

D

. Changing the cantings in a strong magnetic field is predicted to affect the magnon spectrum of the crystals.
Galvanic stabilization of Zn metals for long-life aqueous batteries
Authors: Yuan Linhua , Shi Ziying , Wan Yong , Zhang Jun , Liu Xianghong
Published: January 2024

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries have received extensive attention due to their environmental friendliness, high safety, and low cost. However, the Zn dendrite growth during plating/stripping cycles, which deteriorates coulombic efficiency and shortens the cycle life, dramatically hinders the application of Zn anodes in batteries. Herein, we propose to grow an In layer on Zn foils through spontaneous Galvanic reaction to address the challenging Zn dendrites. In-situ optical observations show that this strategy effectively suppresses the dendrite growth, thereby leading to a robust and stable Zn metal anode with low voltage hysteresis (30 mV at 0.4 mA·cm−2) and long cycle life of over 1200 h in symmetric cells. Meanwhile, the full cell assembled with the modified Zn anode and MnO2 cathode exhibits excellent cycling performance over 2000 cycles and a high discharge capacity of 89.1 mAh·g−1. This work provides an efficient pathway for interfacial engineering towards stable Zn anodes.
Non-ferromagnetic thin metal micron-sized defect detection system based on a coherent accumulation-difference method
Authors: Wei Bingkun , Chen Chen , Liu Runcong , Yang Jinling , Wang Xiaodong
Published: January 2024

Copper and aluminum foils serve as predominant materials in fluid collectors, and defects within them can significantly impact the electrochemical performance of cells. However, existing methods for detecting defects within non-ferromagnetic thin metals, such as copper and aluminum foils, have several limitations. This study aims to address the need for detecting micrometer-scale defects on 0.1 mm copper foils, aligning with industrial field requirements. We devised an inspection device based on the induced magnetic field detection principle and explored the impact of copper foil undulations on micrometer-scale defect detection using COMSOL modeling. Subsequently, we introduced a coherent cumulative-differential algorithm to effectively mitigate the influences of circuit noise and sampling heave noise on defect signals. Consequently, the signal-to-noise ratios of 100- and 200-micron defect signals were significantly improved by 157% and 234%, respectively. This approach shows promise for detecting micrometer-scale defects in non-ferromagnetic thin metals and lays a robust foundation for future defect identification and inversion endeavors.
Asymptotic study of critical wave fronts for parameter-dependent Born–Infeld models: physically predicted behaviors and new phenomena
Authors: Garrione Maurizio
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we study some parameter-dependent reaction-diffusion models governed by the Born–Infeld (or Minkowski) operator. In dependence on two parameters

a
,
b
>
0

, related to the field strength and to the diffusivity, we investigate the limit critical speed for traveling fronts, together with the limit behavior of the associated critical profiles. As the two main results, on the one hand we rigorously show that for arbitrarily large electric fields the critical speed and the critical profile converge to the ones of the linear diffusion problem, agreeing with the well-known physical prediction that, in this case, Born’s law and Maxwell’s law coincide. Such a result is accompanied by a counterpart for arbitrarily small electric fields and a complete analysis for vanishing/large diffusion. On the other hand, we prove the onset of a new and unexpected phenomenon for the singular perturbation problem: the critical speed of propagation does not converge to zero and, for KPP or combustion-type reactions, the limit front profile becomes sharp on one side only. In fact, this latter coincides with the C
1-gluing of a piecewise linear profile having slope equal to 1 when nonconstant, and of a regular inviscid profile propagating at the limit speed. The gluing point and the value of the limit speed are determined explicitly. The outcomes of the whole discussion, based on a careful analysis of the first-order reduction associated with the original equation, show substantial differences and peculiarities of the Born–Infeld operator with respect to linear or saturating diffusions, and are supported by several numerical experiments.
A highly homogeneous electrorheological fluid with potential applications in optics
Authors: Hu Xueyan , Wei Hua , Li Chunde , Liu Shi , Zhou Yuxuan , Huang Yingzhou , Yu Hua , Wen Weijia
Published: January 2024

A new type of electrorheological fluid (ERF) with high ER efficiency, low zero-field viscosity and high uniformity was synthesized by a hydrolysis method, based on modified titanium and succinic acid. The electro-responsive performance of ERF under electric field 0–3 kV mm−1 were studied in detail. In addition to traditional research methods to explore the morphology of the ER particles, we also utilized optical diffraction imaging to study the uniformity of the chain-like structure formed by the ER particles. Due to the relatively uniform size, the particles aggregate into a periodic spatial modulation structure parallel to the electric field direction and similar to a grating on the macroscopic scale, which can further manufacture liquid controllable gratings. The observed diffraction spots, up to six levels, indicate the ERFs have potential applications in the field of optics.
Miniature water flow energy harvester based on savonius-type microturbine: an experimental study
Authors: Lepipas Georgios , Holmes Andrew S
Published: January 2024

In this experimental study, a miniature turbine-based water flow energy harvester designed for the purpose of providing power to wireless sensors within water pipes is reported. The device comprises a Savonius-type turbine and a radial flux permanent magnet electromagnetic generator. The two are magnetically coupled so that, while the turbine is submerged in the water flow, the generator operates in air. The device is cylindrical with a diameter of 0.8 cm and a length of 7.2 cm and, when inserted through a hole in a pipe wall so that only the turbine protrudes into the flow, it presents a cross-sectional area to the flow of only 1.25 cm2. Manufacturing was achieved through a blend of conventional machining methods, laser cutting, rapid prototyping, and the utilization of flexible printed circuit board technology for the generator stator. To ensure low friction and minimize cut in speed, ceramic ball bearings were employed. The prototype can function effectively at water velocities as low as 0.5 m s−1, generating electrical power within the range of 125 µW–5.1 mW when subjected to flow speeds between 0.5 and 2 m s−1. A maximum overall efficiency of 2.2% is achieved, when the water speed is 0.8 m s−1. Performance curves derived from experimental testing of the turbine for a range of rotor designs, obtained on a water flow rig, are presented and discussed.
Design and performance of a novel magnetically induced penta-stable piezoelectric energy harvester
Authors: Sun Shuailing , Su Xukun , Chen Xiaoyu , Xu Junjie , Leng Yonggang , Bao Hong , Yang Yintang , Lai Zhihui
Published: January 2024

The magnetically induced multi-stable piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters have garnered significant attention due to their strong nonlinear characteristics, wide operating bandwidths, and high electromechanical energy conversion efficiency. However, a traditional penta-stable design typically requires four rectangular external magnets. The excessive number of structural parameters amplify complexities in system optimization, dynamic analysis, and prototype installation, impeding harvester manufacturing and application. This study presents a novel penta-stable harvester design that utilizes interaction forces among a rectangular magnet and two annular magnets, resulting in a simplified system requiring only two external magnets. This design approach streamlines system design, dynamic analysis, and prototype installation, providing a fresh perspective on magnetic penta-stable vibration energy harvester design. The magnetizing current method is employed to accurately determine the system’s magnetic field and magnetic force. Stability analysis indicates that the multi-stability of the harvester is influenced by both the vertical magnetic force and equivalent linear elastic force, which can be effectively controlled by adjusting the system’s components. Dynamic simulations conducted under Gaussian white noise excitation confirm the penta-stable behavior of the system, and the dynamic responses verify that a shallower potential well depth contributes to the system’s ability to attain a higher output voltage. Experimental validations closely align with simulation results, providing strong evidence for the accuracy of the study’s findings. Furthermore, a practical application experiment demonstrates the harvester’s capability to power a hygrothermograph, highlighting its potential for real-world energy harvesting applications.
Realization of an autonomous virtual acoustic black hole with piezoelectric patches
Authors: Quaegebeur Samuel , Raze Ghislain , Cheng Li , Kerschen Gaëtan
Published: January 2024

Acoustic black holes (ABHs) offer new opportunities for designing mechanical devices that can trap and reduce the vibrational energy of a system. This paper proposes the digital realization of the ABH effect, also called virtual ABH (VABH), through piezoelectric patches. A self-contained and autonomous reduction vibration device is thus developed. However, piezoelectric VABHs raise theoretical and experimental difficulties which are discussed herein. An improved pseudo-collocated approach is proposed, and the synthetic impedance is theoretically derived. Experiments are conducted using a cantilever beam where the VABH is implemented with few piezoelectric patches. It is shown to provide excellent vibration reduction over a large frequency range. The herein presented original concept solves the two long-lasting challenges of mechanical ABHs, i.e, its manufacturing and inability to operate at low frequencies, making it highly attractive for applications on real-life structures.
Monitoring of crack repair in concrete using spherical smart aggregates based on electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique
Authors: Lan Chengming , Liu Honghui , Zhuang Shuo , Wang Jianjun , Li Weijie , Lin Genghao
Published: January 2024

Cracks will inevitably occur in concrete structures or members during the construction process and service life due to aging, environmental factors, external loads, etc. To improve the strength and stability of the cracked concrete structures, many methods have been proposed to repair the cracks. However, the monitoring of the repairing process and repair quality has not been fully studied. The previous studies have proved that the spherical smart aggregates (SSAs) based on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique have outperformed the traditional smart aggregates (SAs) based on the EMI technique in structural health monitoring of civil structures, however, SSAs have not been applied to the monitoring of the concrete crack repair. In this work, the monitoring of the concrete crack repair using the SSAs based on the EMI technique was explored. A total of eight concrete specimens were prepared, and cracks in the concrete specimens were simulated by manually cutting under laboratory conditions. According to the principle of grouting method, two repair agents including cement paste and cement mortar were used to repair the cracks. The impedance signals of 28 d were measured, and three quantitative indicators, namely root mean square deviation, mean absolute percentage deviation, and correlation coefficient deviation were used to evaluate the quality of the concrete repair effect. The results indicate that the SSAs show excellent sensitivity and stability over the traditional SAs. In addition, the normalized values of the quantitative indicators were analyzed to distinguish the types of repair agents. A mathematical expression of exponential function was also proposed by fitting the experimental data to quantitatively evaluate and predict the repair effect of concrete cracks. Further, the influences of temperature, humidity, crack depth and width on the experimental results were analyzed and discussed. The numerical simulation was also presented to validate the reasonability of the experimental results.
A conical spiral piezoelectric energy harvester with parallel beams for all-directional flow energy harvesting
Authors: Ding Jiang , Huang Changyang , Zeng Ziyang , Chen Zihao
Published: January 2024

Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology using flow-induced vibration is a type of interference-resistant and miniaturizable power generation technology, which is promising on powering the wireless micro electromechanical system in flow filed. However, the flow direction of the natural flow field is changeable while most existing flow-induced piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are limited by their working direction. In this paper, we propose a conical spiral piezoelectric energy harvester with parallel beams (CSPEH-PB) that can collect energy under flow excitation in all directions. Based on the multi-dimensional vibration analysis of conical spiral structure, we investigate the resonance mode and effective flow velocity range of the CSPEH-PB through numerical analysis. In comparative experiments with a bimorph flat PEH, we verify the effective flow velocity range and voltage of the CSPEH-PB and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films attached. The results demonstrate that the CSPEH-PB generates an effective voltage greater than 0.53 V through the PVDF films under any direction of the water flow, and has a wider resonance bandwidth than PEH with straight beam. This study provides a practical solution for adapting PEHs to changeable flow direction.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering to realize the phonon processes in Ag nanoparticles-decorated CdS thin film
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Faisal , Shabbir Fiza , Toqeer Irfan , Ullah Kaleem , Ali Faizan , Farid Sumbal , Khan Abbas Ahmad , Amami Mongi , Hassan Ali , Marzouki Riadh , Tang Guodong
Published: January 2024

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique can achieve an ultra-high sensitivity (i.e., down to the single-molecule level) via coinage-metal nanostructures such as silver, gold, copper, etc. In this work, a geometry is proposed that consists of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decorated on cadmium chloride (CdCl2) annealed cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film on a glass substrate. A strong SERS enhancement in AgNPs on CdCl2 annealed CdS thin films is achieved, which is twelve times larger than the scattering from the bare CdCl2 annealed CdS thin film. The improved SERS signal allows us to observe fundamental phonon processes in CdCl2 annealed CdS thin film. Moreover, a finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is used to understand the underlying SERS physics. By using the FDTD method, robust electromagnetic field localization in the nanogap between AgNPs and at the contact point of Ag NPs and CdS thin film is studied.
Cosmological constraints of Palatini f(ℛ) gravity
Authors: Gomes Débora Aguiar , Briffa Rebecca , Kozak Aleksander , Said Jackson Levi , Saal Margus , Wojnar Aneta
Published: January 2024

In this study, we investigate a Palatini f(R) gravity model featuring a quadratic term correction, aligning it with the most recent expansion rate data, with a particular focus on the latest SNIa and BAO data. Our analysis employs CC data as the fundamental dataset, complemented by contributions from the SN sample and a combination of non-overlapping transversal BAO datasets. We conduct a comprehensive MCMC analysis for each data set combination, yielding constraints on all cosmological parameters within the model. Additionally, we incorporate the latest Hubble constant value from the SH0ES Team. Finally, we present a statistical comparison between the Palatini quadratic model and ΛCDM using the AIC and BIC metrics, ultimately obtaining the constraint |α| ≤ 1049 m2. We also stress the significance of studying stellar and substellar objects for obtaining more precise constraints on modified gravity compared to those derived from cosmological observations.
Third harmonic generation microscopy of magnetic domains in garnet films
Authors: Maydykovskiy Anton , Popov Nikita S , Murzina Tatiana
Published: January 2024

Nonlinear optical microscopy is a powerful non-destructive technique that allows to study a wide range of phenomena. Optical third harmonic generation (THG) is mostly known by its applications in investigation of biological structures, while magneto-optical effects in THG are not well recognized. Here we demonstrate high efficiency of the THG probe in studies of magnetic domain structure of epitaxial garnet films. We show that in spite of relatively small values of the magneto-optical effect at the THG wavelength, the THG microscopy may be efficient for the characterization of magnetic surface domains if the THG wavelength falls in the absorption band of a medium. Moreover, the in-depth sensitivity of this probe may be higher as compared to the case of the second harmonic generation microscopy.
Quantifying the indirect effects of different air pollutants on crop yields in North China Plain
Authors: Lu Chenxi , Leng Guoyong , Yu Linfei
Published: January 2024

High concentrations of air pollutants could affect crop yield directly via influencing crop physiology and indirectly via regulating climate conditions. How multiple air pollutants affect crop yields directly and indirectly remains elusive in the North China Plain (NCP), which is the hotspot of air pollution and crop production. Here, we construct data-driven models to quantify the indirect effects of four major air pollutants on the yields of winter wheat and summer maize through modulating climate variations in the NCP during 2005–2020. Our results show that wheat has a greater negative sensitivity to absorbing aerosol optical thickness (AAOD), ozone concentration (O3), sulfur dioxide concentration (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide concentration (NO2) than maize. The indirect effects of AAOD, O3 and SO2 in November and O3 in April control wheat yield variation, while the indirect effects of AAOD and O3 in June, O3 and SO2 in July, O3 and NO2 in August, and O3 in September dominate maize yield variation. Our results emphasize the indirect effects of air pollutants on crop yield via regulating climate variations, which has great implications for improving our understanding of air pollution-climate-crop interactions and guiding targeted adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Carbon pricing – perceived strengths, weaknesses and knowledge gaps according to a global expert survey
Authors: Savin Ivan , Drews Stefan , van den Bergh Jeroen
Published: January 2024

Researchers from different disciplines have different opinions about carbon pricing. To better understand the reasoning behind these perspectives, we utilize responses to three open-ended questions from a global survey among almost 800 researchers from a wide variety of fields who published on climate policy. Using methods from computational linguistics, we classify reflections of researchers on the main strengths and weaknesses of carbon pricing compared with other policy instruments in seven and six topics, respectively. The results indicate that the main perceived strengths of carbon pricing are that it is effective and efficient at reducing emissions, gives clear investment incentives, decentralizes policy, among others. The main perceived weaknesses of carbon pricing are related to its potentially regressive effects on households, low social-political support, and amenability to manipulation—to name a few. Surprisingly, not all these perceptions are in line with established theory and empirical evidence. Finally, we collect suggestions for future research. Among nine frequently mentioned themes are improving public understanding of carbon pricing, political acceptability, synergies with other policies, long-term effects, and implementation in an equitable way in developing countries and worldwide. In addition, we highlight several less frequent but arguably innovative research avenues. Finally, we report to what extent the identified topics on strengths, weaknesses and knowledge gaps are significantly related to academic experience, gender, GDP per capita in the countries of origin and residence of the survey participants, and perceived importance of carbon pricing. This information helps identifying key differences in views within the scientific community on carbon pricing and can guide communication between fields aimed at reaching more consensus on climate policy.
A numerical survey of parameters to reach ignition condition for axial compression of a large-sized field reversed configuration
Authors: LI 李 Yilin 宜霖 , LIAO 廖 Hui 晖 , ZHOU 周 Haiyang 海洋 , SUN 孙 Xuan 玄
Published: January 2024

Field reversed configuration (FRC) is widely considered as an ideal target plasma for magneto-inertial fusion. However, its confinement and stability, both proportional to the radius, will deteriorate inevitably during radial compression. Hence, we propose a new fusion approach based on axial compression of a large-sized FRC. The axial compression can be made by plasma jets or plasmoids converging onto the axial ends of the FRC. The parameter space that can reach the ignition condition while preserving the FRC’s overall quality is studied using a numerical model based on different FRC confinement scalings. It is found that ignition is possible for a large FRC that can be achieved with the current FRC formation techniques if compression ratio is greater than 50. A more realistic compression is to combine axial with moderate radial compression, which is also presented and calculated in this work.
Generation and characterization of polarization-entangled states using quantum dot single-photon sources
Authors: Valeri Mauro , Barigelli Paolo , Polacchi Beatrice , Rodari Giovanni , Santis Gianluca De , Giordani Taira , Carvacho Gonzalo , Spagnolo Nicolò , Sciarrino Fabio
Published: January 2024

Single-photon sources based on semiconductor quantum dots find several applications in quantum information processing due to their high single-photon indistinguishability, on-demand generation, and low multiphoton emission. In this context, the generation of entangled photons represents a challenging task with a possible solution relying on the interference in probabilistic gates of identical photons emitted at different pulses from the same source. In this work, we implement this approach via a simple and compact design that generates entangled photon pairs in the polarization degree of freedom. We operate the proposed platform with single photons produced through two different pumping schemes, the resonant excited one and the longitudinal-acoustic phonon-assisted configuration. We then characterize the produced entangled two-photon states by developing a complete model taking into account relevant experimental parameters, such as the second-order correlation function, Hong–Ou–Mandel visibility, multiphoton emission and pump laser filtering. Our source shows long-term stability and high quality of the generated entangled states, thus constituting a reliable building block for optical quantum technologies.
Hamiltonian learning with real-space impurity tomography in topological moiré superconductors
Authors: Khosravian Maryam , Koch Rouven , Lado Jose L
Published: January 2024

Extracting Hamiltonian parameters from available experimental data is a challenge in quantum materials. In particular, real-space spectroscopy methods such as scanning tunneling spectroscopy allow probing electronic states with atomic resolution, yet even in those instances extracting the effective Hamiltonian is an open challenge. Here we show that impurity states in modulated systems provide a promising approach to extracting non-trivial Hamiltonian parameters of a quantum material. We show that by combining the real-space spectroscopy of different impurity locations in a moiré topological superconductor, modulations of exchange and superconducting parameters can be inferred via machine learning. We demonstrate our strategy with a physically-inspired harmonic expansion combined with a fully-connected neural network that we benchmark against a conventional convolutional architecture. We show that while both approaches allow extracting exchange modulations, only the former approach allows inferring the features of the superconducting order. Our results demonstrate the potential of machine learning methods to extract Hamiltonian parameters by real-space impurity spectroscopy as local probes of a topological state.
The role of ncRNA regulatory mechanisms in diseases—case on gestational diabetes
Authors: Gao Dong , Ren Liping , Hao Yu-Duo , Schaduangrat Nalini , Liu Xiao-Wei , Yuan Shi-Shi , Yang Yu-He , Wang Yan , Shoombuatong Watshara , Ding Hui
Published: January 2024

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not have the potential to encode proteins. Meanwhile, they can occupy a significant portion of the human genome and participate in gene expression regulation through various mechanisms. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pathologic condition of carbohydrate intolerance that begins or is first detected during pregnancy, making it one of the most common pregnancy complications. Although the exact pathogenesis of GDM remains unclear, several recent studies have shown that ncRNAs play a crucial regulatory role in GDM. Herein, we present a comprehensive review on the multiple mechanisms of ncRNAs in GDM along with their potential role as biomarkers. In addition, we investigate the contribution of deep learning-based models in discovering disease-specific ncRNA biomarkers and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ncRNA. This might assist community-wide efforts to obtain insights into the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in disease and guide a novel approach for early diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Development of innovative multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using in silico approaches
Authors: Asadinezhad Maryam , Khoshnood Saeed , Asadollahi Parisa , Ghafourian Sobhan , Sadeghifard Nourkhoda , Pakzad Iraj , Zeinivand Yasaman , Omidi Nazanin , Hematian Ali , Kalani Behrooz Sadeghi
Published: January 2024

The rising issue of antibiotic resistance has made treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections increasingly challenging. Therefore, vaccines have emerged as a viable alternative to antibiotics for preventing P. aeruginosa infections in susceptible individuals. With its superior accuracy, high efficiency in stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses, and low cost, mRNA vaccine technology is quickly replacing traditional methods. This study aimed to design a novel mRNA vaccine by using in silico approaches against P. aeruginosa. The research team identified five surface and antigenic proteins and selected their appropriate epitopes with immunoinformatic tools. These epitopes were then examined for toxicity, allergenicity and homology. The researchers also checked their presentation and identification by major histocompatibility complex cells and other immune cells through valuable tools like molecular docking. They subsequently modeled a multi-epitope protein and optimized it. The mRNA was analyzed in terms of structure and stability, after which the immune system’s response against the new vaccine was simulated. The results indicated that the designed mRNA construct could be an effective and promising vaccine that requires laboratory and clinical trials.
CEMIG: prediction of the cis-regulatory motif using the de Bruijn graph from ATAC-seq
Authors: Wang Yizhong , Li Yang , Wang Cankun , Lio Chan-Wang Jerry , Ma Qin , Liu Bingqiang
Published: January 2024

Sequence motif discovery algorithms enhance the identification of novel deoxyribonucleic acid sequences with pivotal biological significance, especially transcription factor (TF)-binding motifs. The advent of assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) has broadened the toolkit for motif characterization. Nonetheless, prevailing computational approaches have focused on delineating TF-binding footprints, with motif discovery receiving less attention. Herein, we present Cis rEgulatory Motif Influence using de Bruijn Graph (CEMIG), an algorithm leveraging de Bruijn and Hamming distance graph paradigms to predict and map motif sites. Assessment on 129 ATAC-seq datasets from the Cistrome Data Browser demonstrates CEMIG’s exceptional performance, surpassing three established methodologies on four evaluative metrics. CEMIG accurately identifies both cell-type-specific and common TF motifs within GM12878 and K562 cell lines, demonstrating its comparative genomic capabilities in the identification of evolutionary conservation and cell-type specificity. In-depth transcriptional and functional genomic studies have validated the functional relevance of CEMIG-identified motifs across various cell types. CEMIG is available at https://github.com/OSU-BMBL/CEMIG, developed in C++ to ensure cross-platform compatibility with Linux, macOS and Windows operating systems.
Are we entering the ‘Tau-lemaic’ era of Parkinson’s disease?
Authors: Espay Alberto J , Lees Andrew J
Published: January 2024

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Nigrostriatal tau pathology in parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease’ by Chu et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad388).
E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF148 functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer by ubiquitination-mediated degradation of CHAC2
Authors: Liu Shuiping , Zhuo Lvjia , Chen Lu , He Ying , Chen Xudong , Zhang Hao , Zhou Yuan , Ni Ziheng , Zhao Shujuan , Hu Xiaotong
Published: January 2024

We previously reported that RNF148 was involved in the ubiquitination-mediated degradation of CHAC2. However, its molecular mechanism was not determined. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of RNF148 in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in the process of ubiquitination-mediated degradation of CHAC2. Our results revealed that RNF148 was upregulated in most CRC tissues, and its expression significantly correlated with the 3-year overall survival rate and most clinicopathological parameters of CRC patients. Furthermore, RNF148 served as an independent prognostic biomarker of CRC and promoted CRC cell proliferation and migration while inhibiting cell apoptosis and sensitivity to 5-FU. Mechanistically, RNF148 used its protease-associated domain to bind to the CHAC domain of CHAC2 and target it for degradation. In addition, we identified two phosphorylation and three ubiquitination residues of CHAC2 and identified Y118 and K102 as the critical phosphorylation and ubiquitination residues, respectively. We also identified CHAC2’s and RNF148’s interacting proteins and discovered their potential interaction network. In conclusion, our current study unveiled the role of RNF148 in CRC and the mechanism of RNF148 in the ubiquitination-mediated degradation of CHAC2, which shed light on providing potential prognostic biomarkers and molecular targets for CRC patients.
A woman with a disfiguring elephantine nose
Authors: Hajj Ibtisam Al , Abdelmaksoud Ayman , Wollina Uwe , Hasan Abdulkarim
Published: January 2024

A Yemeni woman in her fifties presented with a 2-year history of progressive disfiguring enlargement of the nose with fleshy lesions on the margin of the nose and the lips. Similar lesions developed slowly on the eyelids and proximal thighs. Clinical examination showed multiple, asymptomatic, smooth, lobulated and indurated violaceous papules and nodules on the nasal alae.
Genetic analyses identify brain imaging-derived phenotypes associated with the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Liu Yi , Jia Yiming , Sun Hongyan , Sun Lulu , Wang Yinan , Xu Qingyun , He Yu , Chang Xinyue , Guo Daoxia , Shi Mengyao , Chen Guo-Chong , Zheng Jin , Zhu Zhengbao
Published: January 2024

Previous observational studies have reported associations between brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but the causality between them remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate the potential causal relationship between IDPs and ICH by a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. We selected genetic instruments for 363 IDPs from a genome-wide association study (GWASs) based on the UK Biobank (n = 33,224). Summary-level data on ICH was derived from a European-descent GWAS with 1,545 cases and 1,481 controls. Inverse variance weighted MR method was applied in the main analysis to investigate the associations between IDPs and ICH. Reverse MR analyses were performed for significant IDPs to examine the reverse causation for the identified associations. Among the 363 IDPs, isotropic or free water volume fraction (ISOVF) in the anterior limb of the left internal capsule was identified to be associated with the risk of ICH (OR per 1-SD increase, 4.62 [95% CI, 2.18–9.81], P = 6.63 × 10−5). In addition, the reverse MR analysis indicated that ICH had no effect on ISOVF in the anterior limb of the left internal capsule (beta, 0.010 [95% CI, −0.010-0.030], P = 0.33). MR-Egger regression analysis showed no directional pleiotropy for the association between ISOVF and ICH, and sensitivity analyses with different MR models further confirmed these findings. ISOVF in the anterior limb of the left internal capsule might be a potential causal mediator of ICH, which may provide predictive guidance for the prevention of ICH. Further studies are warranted to replicate our findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Finger motor representation supports the autonomy in arithmetic: neuroimaging evidence from abacus training
Authors: Wang Yanjie , Zhang Yi , Xu Tianyong , Han Xiao , Ge Xuelian , Chen Feiyan
Published: January 2024

Researches have reported the close association between fingers and arithmetic. However, it remains unclear whether and how finger training can benefit arithmetic. To address this issue, we used the abacus-based mental calculation (AMC), which combines finger training and mental arithmetic learning, to explore the neural correlates underlying finger-related arithmetic training. A total of 147 Chinese children (75 M/72 F, mean age, 6.89 ± 0.46) were recruited and randomly assigned into AMC and control groups at primary school entry. The AMC group received 5 years of AMC training, and arithmetic abilities and resting-state functional magnetic resonance images data were collected from both groups at year 1/3/5. The connectome-based predictive modeling was used to find the arithmetic-related networks of each group. Compared to controls, the AMC’s positively arithmetic-related network was less located in the control module, and the inter-module connections between somatomotor-default and somatomotor-control modules shifted to somatomotor-visual and somatomotor-dorsal attention modules. Furthermore, the positive network of the AMC group exhibited a segregated connectivity pattern, with more intra-module connections than the control group. Overall, our results suggested that finger motor representation with motor module involvement facilitated arithmetic-related network segregation, reflecting increased autonomy of AMC, thus reducing the dependency of arithmetic on higher-order cognitive functions.