bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerating the Development of LLZO in Solid‐State Batteries Toward Commercialization: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Zhen , Jiang Kai , Shen Zexiang , Passerini Stefano , Chen Minghua
Published: May 2024

Solid‐state batteries (SSBs) are under development as high‐priority technologies for safe and energy‐dense next‐generation electrochemical energy storage systems operating over a wide temperature range. Solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) exhibit high thermal stability and, in some cases, the ability to prevent dendrite growth through a physical barrier, and compatibility with the “holy grail” metallic lithium. These unique advantages of SSEs have spurred significant research interests during the last decade. Garnet‐type SSEs, that is, Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), are intensively investigated due to their high Li‐ion conductivity and exceptional chemical and electrochemical stability against lithium metal anodes. However, poor interfacial contact with cathode materials, undesirable lithium plating along grain boundaries, and moisture‐induced chemical degradation greatly hinder the practical implementation of LLZO‐based SSEs for SSBs. In this review, the recent advances in synthesis methods, modification strategies, corresponding mechanisms, and applications of garnet‐based SSEs in SSBs are critically summarized. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation of the challenges and development trends of LLZO‐based electrolytes in practical applications is presented to accelerate their development for high‐performance SSBs.
Synergistic Construction of Superhydrophilic PVDF Membranes by Dual Modification Strategies for Efficient Emulsion Separation
Authors: Zhong Xin , Shi Qinhan , Guo Zhiguang
Published: May 2024

Solving the problem of oil and water pollution is an important topic in environmental protection. The separation of oil‐water emulsion with high efficiency and low consumption has been the direction of social efforts. Membrane separation technology combined with surface wettability and pore size screening is considered to be one of the most promising ways to separate oil‐water emulsions. In this paper, the polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane is prepared by combining the two methods of blending and coating modification as a double barrier. The prepared PVDF membrane can completely wet water, achieve superhydrophilic in air, and superoleophobic underwater. The separation efficiency and flux are 99.57% and 678 L h−1 m−2 bar−1, respectively, for toluene emulsions containing surfactants with an average particle size of 1.7 µm. At the same time, it can also effectively separate different kinds of light/heavy oils. After three cycles of testing still maintain high efficiency of separation. The results show that the prepared PVDF membrane can effectively separate the emulsion containing surfactant with smaller particle size distribution of oil droplets. This method provides a new strategy for the separation of oil‐water emulsions and has broad application prospects.
Text‐to‐Microstructure Generation Using Generative Deep Learning
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyang , Watanabe Ikumu , Paik Jamie , Li Jingjing , Guo Xiaofeng , Naito Masanobu
Published: May 2024

Designing novel materials is greatly dependent on understanding the design principles, physical mechanisms, and modeling methods of material microstructures, requiring experienced designers with expertise and several rounds of trial and error. Although recent advances in deep generative networks have enabled the inverse design of material microstructures, most studies involve property‐conditional generation and focus on a specific type of structure, resulting in limited generation diversity and poor human–computer interaction. In this study, a pioneering text‐to‐microstructure deep generative network (Txt2Microstruct‐Net) is proposed that enables the generation of 3D material microstructures directly from text prompts without additional optimization procedures. The Txt2Microstruct‐Net model is trained on a large microstructure‐caption paired dataset that is extensible using the algorithms provided. Moreover, the model is sufficiently flexible to generate different geometric representations, such as voxels and point clouds. The model's performance is also demonstrated in the inverse design of material microstructures and metamaterials. It has promising potential for interactive microstructure design when associated with large language models and could be a user‐friendly tool for material design and discovery.
Tunneling Proton Grotthuss Transfer Channels by Hydrophilic‐Zincophobic Heterointerface Shielding for High‐Performance Zn‐MnO2 Batteries
Authors: Wang Yahui , Wang Xinran , Zhang Anqi , Han Xiaomin , Yang Jingjing , Chen Wenxing , Zhao Ran , Wu Chuan , Bai Ying
Published: May 2024

Hollandite‐type manganese dioxide (α‐MnO2) is recognized as a promising cathode material upon high‐performance aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) owing to the high theoretical capacities, high working potentials, unique Zn2+/H+ co‐insertion chemistry, and environmental friendliness. However, its practical applications limited by Zn2+ accommodation, where the strong coulombic interaction and sluggish kinetics cause significant lattice deformation, fast capacity degradation, insufficient rate capability, and undesired interface degradation. It remains challenging to accurately modulate H+ intercalation while suppressing Zn2+ insertion for better lattice stability and electrochemical kinetics. Herein, proton Grotthuss transfer channels are first tunneled by shielding MnO2 with hydrophilic‐zincophobic heterointerface, fulfilling the H+‐dominating diffusion with the state‐of‐the‐art ZIBs performance. Local atomic structure and theoretical simulation confirm that surface‐engineered α‐MnO2 affords to the synergy of Mn electron t2g–eg activation, oxygen vacancy enrichment, selective H+ Grotthuss transfer, and accelerated desolvation kinetics. Consequently, fortified α‐MnO2 achieves prominent low current density cycle stability (≈100% capacity retention at 1 C after 400 cycles), remarkable long‐lifespan cycling performance (98% capacity retention at 20 C after 12 000 cycles), and ultrafast rate performance (up to 30 C). The study exemplifies a new approach of heterointerface engineering for regulation of H+‐dominating Grotthuss transfer and lattice stabilization in α‐MnO2 toward reliable ZIBs.
Low‐Coordinated Conductive ZnCu Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Highly Selective H2O2 Electrosynthesis
Authors: Pei Zhihao , Li Yunxiang , Fan Guilan , Guo Yan , Luan Deyan , Gu Xiaojun , Lou Xiong Wen (David)
Published: May 2024

Direct electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with high production rate and high selectivity through the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e−ORR) offers a sustainable alternative to the energy‐intensive anthraquinone technology but remains a challenge. Herein, a low‐coordinated, 2D conductive Zn/Cu metal‐organic framework supported on hollow nanocube structures (ZnCu‐MOF (H)) is rationally designed and synthesized. The as‐prepared ZnCu‐MOF (H) catalyst exhibits substantially boosted electrocatalytic kinetics, enhanced H2O2 selectivity, and ultra‐high Faradaic efficiency for 2e−ORR process in both alkaline and neutral conditions. Electrochemical measurements, operando/quasi in situ spectroscopy, and theoretical calculation demonstrate that the introduction of Cu atoms with low‐coordinated structures induces the transformation of active sites, resulting in the beneficial electron transfer and the optimized energy barrier, thereby improving the electrocatalytic activity and selectivity.
Biodegradation of endocrine disrupting compounds from the wastewater by the immobilized indigenous bacteria
Authors: Rajaselvam J. , Kadaikunnan Shine , Alharbi Naiyf S. , Khaled Jamal M. , Vijayaraghavan Ponnuswamy
Published: May 2024

4‐tert‐octyl phenol is one of the important endrocrine‐disrupting compounds and is considered a major health hazard. A total of six isolates degraded 4‐tert‐octylphenol, and the strains Bacillus velezensis LG16 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AC20 exhibited maximum 4‐tert‐octylphenol degradation. Co‐culture of these two strains improved 4‐tert‐octylphenol degradation from the wastewater. One variable at a time approach showed that 40°C incubation temperature, pH 8.0, and an initial 4‐tert‐octylphenol (60 mg/L) influenced biodegradation. The bacterial strains were immobilized in sodium alginate beads, and improved biodegradation was achieved. The biocatalytic process mediated by the immobilized cells was optimized by a statistical approach (two‐level full factorial design and response surface methodology). In a two‐level factorial model, 4‐tert‐octylphenol degradation varied from 1.1% to 55.2%. The 4‐tert‐octylphenol degradation was maximum at pH 6, 0.01 mg/L 4‐tert‐octylphenol, and 10 mg/L glucose with 20 g beads/L. ANOVA revealed that the designed model was statistically significant (p = 0.0310). A central composite design was used to analyze the interactive effect of significant variables and to explore the optimum conditions for 4‐tert‐octylphenol degradation by immobilized bacteria. The maximum phenol degradation was observed (97.4%) at pH 7.0, 0.06 4‐tert‐octylphenol, and 13.75 g sodium alginate beads/L. ANOVA showed that the designed model was statistically significant (p = 0.0091). The designed CCD model, the correlation coefficient value, and the lack of fit value showed that the designed CCD model was significant. The immobilized bacterial cells could more effectively degrade 4‐tert‐octylphenol than free bacterial cells. The high degradation potential indicated its application in degrading 4‐tert‐octylphenol from wastewater under optimized conditions.
Habituation of wildlife to ecotourism: A COVID‐19 lockdown experiment in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Authors: Cruz‐Díaz Juan C. , Villalobos Max , Montalvo Víctor H. , Sáenz‐Bolaños Carolina , Fuller Todd K. , Carrillo Eduardo
Published: May 2024

Corcovado National Park (CNP) in Costa Rica is an important destination for ecotourism. However, the effects of increasing human visitation on wildlife needed evaluation and the global COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown provided a scenario to test the effects of tourist activity on wildlife presence and activity. We performed a camera trap survey initiated during the COVID‐19 lockdown and continuing when tourism resumed (Oct 2020–May 2021). We deployed camera traps on walking trails, including those that remained closed to tourists at all times (control) and those open to tourists after the lockdown was lifted (experimental). With an effort of 2312 trap nights, we assessed the photo rates and diel activity patterns of humans, 11 other species of mammals, and two species of birds. Our results suggest that wildlife species were already habituated to tourists in this area, and thus their behavior and activity did not change after the lockdown was lifted.
Changing Narratives in the History Oceanography
Authors: Adler Antony
Published: May 2024

The formal scientific study of the oceans only gained prominence in the late nineteenth century. The earliest accounts of the development of oceanography focused on notable scientists whose contributions laid the groundwork for later oceanographic exploration. In the second half of the twentieth century, ocean sciences expanded considerably as increased government funding and technological advancements enabled more extensive research and exploration. Subsequently, scholarship on the history of oceanography grew as well, exploring themes that included the overlap of ocean science and empire, the transformative impact of World War II and the Cold War on oceanographic funding and research, and the rise of international collaboration. As the historiography of the history of oceanography evolves, scholars have increasingly adopted interdisciplinary research methods to develop more comprehensive understanding of humanity’s evolving relationship with the ocean.
Grundlagen der Verbraucherinformatik
Authors: Stevens Gunnar , Boden Alexander , Berkholz Jenny
Published: May 2024

In diesem Kapitel werden wichtige theoretische Konsumtheorien und ihr Bezug zur Verbraucherinformatik besprochen. Hierzu gehören Markttheorien, die die Verbraucher:in als rationalen Marktakteur verstehen, und psychologische Ansätze, die das individuelle Konsumverhalten auf Basis von Bedürfnissen, Kognition und Emotionen zu erklären versuchen. Darüber hinaus werden gesellschafts- und kulturwissenschaftliche Ansätze vorgestellt, welche die gesellschaftliche Prägung und symbolische Bedeutung des Konsums betonen. Ein Fokus liegt dabei auf praxistheoretischen Ansätzen, die vor allem die materielle Ebene, die performative Ausgestaltung und die Routinehaftigkeit von Konsum in den Blick nehmen. Ziel des Kapitels ist es, die verschiedenen Ansätze mit ihren jeweiligen Stärken und Schwächen vorzustellen und Leser:innen Orientierungswissen mit an die Hand zu geben, welche theoretische Linse für welche Fragestellung geeignet ist, da die Wahl eines bestimmten Ansatzes von der konkreten Forschungsfrage abhängt.
Digitale Verantwortung
Authors: Recki Lena , Kroth Kalvin , Krauß Veronika , Klöckner Lena , Pakusch Christina , Bossauer Paul , Böhm Lukas , Peters Felix , Stöbitsch Ariane , Boden Alexander
Published: May 2024

Die Verbreitung digitaler Systeme beeinflusst Entscheidungen, Gesetze, Verhalten und Werte in unserer Gesellschaft. Dies wirkt sich auf Konsumgewohnheiten, Marktbeziehungen, Machtverteilung, Privatsphäre und IT-Sicherheit aus. Damit einhergehende Veränderungen haben direkte Auswirkungen auf unser Leben, was im Bereich der Technikfolgenabschätzung bzw. der angewandten Informatik unter dem Stichwort ELSI diskutiert wird. Dieses Kapitel fokussiert auf entsprechende Fragestellungen bezüglich ethischer Auswirkungen. Insbesondere rückt Fairness im Kontext automatisierter Entscheidungen in den Fokus, da Verbraucher:innen diesen zunehmend ausgesetzt sind. Zudem wird im Rahmen der gestiegenen Besorgnis über ökologische Auswirkungen das Thema Nachhaltigkeit am Beispiel von „Sharing Economy“ und „Shared Mobility“ weiter vertieft.
Technological Competence for Graduate Employability: Pedagogical and Professional Perspectives from Cross-National Translation Working Contexts
Authors: Do Thu
Published: May 2024

The need to develop graduate employability in response to globalised industry has become one of the central missions of Higher Education Institutions. This paper reports on how technological competence is approached in university translation programmes and in professional practice. The research used surveys and interviews of 246 students, trainers and professional translators from two growing translation markets, Australiaand Vietnam. The findings highlight that translation programmes need to provide more adequate training in computer-assisted translation tools and research skills, considering both international and local work requirements. The findings may have pedagogical implications for training programmes in Asia Pacific contexts and beyond.
Expanding Knowledge and Enhancing Understandings of Language and Education Issues in Global Vietnam: Coming Together
Authors: Phan Le Ha  , Bao Dat
Published: May 2024

In this wrap-up chapter, we discuss and reiterate the contributions made by the volume as a whole and by the individual chapters.
Framing Language in Contact Zones: A Commentary on Vietnamese as an Expression of Globalisation(s)
Authors: Windle Joel Austin
Published: May 2024

Drawing on contributions across this volume, the present commentary argues for investigating the phenomenon of globalisation from the starting point of contact zones. It uses notions of language ideologyand metapragmatic regime to discuss a series of contact zones shaped by sociopolitical tensions amongst speakers and linguistic forms that are presented in preceding chapters: Chinese–Vietnamese relations; French–Vietnamese colonial relations; diasporic–domestic relations; education–market relations; and micro-political relations mobilised in Vietnamese as a língua franca. These are important ‘southern’ sites of investigation in light of the primacy of research that references the global north.
Literacy Education in Vietnamese Schooling System
Authors: Ngo Hang Thi-Diem , Nguyen Quynh Thu , Smith Robert James
Published: May 2024

Vietnam at its initial announcement of independence, in 1945, had a remarkably high rate of illiteracy. The many wars that followed have contributed to slow down the government effort in delivering literacy education to its citizens. Yet, from the 1980s, Doi Moi marked the big shift in politics, economic policies, as well as educational practices. The privatization of economic factors in Doi Moi went with the liberation of social activities in other cultural fields. The late 1980s and 1990s saw the booming education market, which helped to increase the rate of literacy. Subsequently, in the second decade of twenty-first century, there has been another intensive innovation of education policies on literacy education, responding to increasing social and economic globalization. This chapter provides an overview of literacy education in modern Vietnam and brings those historical marking stones into a discussion of current challenges toward the future for Vietnamese literacy education. The chapter also unpacks current practices in the twenty-first century with some significant landmarks of development toward globalization. Taking the outline of literacy education in Vietnam to the point where it is today, the chapter shows a shift from the centralized nationalist discourse toward a more critical approach, looking outward to global standards and inter-connected settings.
Language Ideology and Its Educational Impact: Insights from Vietnamese Community Language Schools
Authors: Do Hoa
Published: May 2024

Drawing on Gal and Irvine’s (1995), (Signs of difference: Language and ideology in social life. Cambridge University Press, 2019) concept of linguistic differentiation, this chapter examines if and how teachers, principals and stakeholders at Vietnamese community language schools (CLSs) in Australia were engaged in linguistic differentiation and the extent to which their engagement influenced their decision-making and classroom practices. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews demonstrates that the participants were actively engaged in noticing and justifying linguistic differences. Language-in-education planning wise, it is argued that the teaching of Vietnamese at the CLSs under study was, to some extent, politicized, evidenced by the participants’ language standardization and low interest in resources developed inside Vietnam.
Complete EFT operator bases for dark matter and weakly-interacting light particle
Authors: Song Huayang , Sun Hao , Yu Jiang-Hao
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The standard model can be extended to include weakly-interacting light particle (WILP): real or complex singlet scalar with a conserved U(1) charge, Majorana or Dirac neutral fermion, neutral or hidden-charged vector boson, etc. Imposing the Z2 symmetry, these particles can be lifted as the weakly-interacting massive particle (WIMP), the candidate of dark matter. Instead, imposing the shift symmetry on the scalar components gives rise to the axion-like particle, dark photon, etc. Utilizing these light degrees of freedom along with the standard model particles and imposing different symmetries, we construct the complete and independent sets of effective operators up to dimension eight with the Young tensor technique, consistent with counting from the Hilbert series.
Zig-zag deformations of toric quiver gauge theories. Part I. Reflexive polytopes
Authors: Cremonesi Stefano , Sá José
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study one-parameter families of U(1)2 preserving deformations relating pairs of toric quiver gauge theories on D-branes probing local toric (pseudo) del Pezzo surfaces. The superpotential deformations are defined by zig-zag paths in the brane tiling and are non-trivial in the chiral ring if the geometry has a non-isolated singularity. In the dual (p, q) web, the deformation is realized as a Hanany-Witten move that reverses a semi-infinite fivebrane. We use these deformations to find RG flows between 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 SCFTs on D3-branes probing local toric (pseudo) del Pezzo surfaces of the same degree, and briefly comment on the interpretation for BPS quivers of rank one 5d SCFTs on S1.
Probing lepton number violation: a comprehensive survey of dimension-7 SMEFT
Authors: Fridell Kåre , Gráf Lukáš , Harz Julia , Hati Chandan
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Observation of lepton number violation would represent a groundbreaking discovery with profound consequences for fundamental physics and as such, it has motivated an extensive experimental program searching for neutrinoless double beta decay. However, the violation of lepton number can be also tested by a variety of other observables. We focus on the possibilities of probing this fundamental symmetry within the framework of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) beyond the minimal dimension-5. Specifically, we study the bounds on ∆L = 2 dimension-7 effective operators beyond the electron flavor imposed by all relevant low-energy observables and confront them with derived high-energy collider limits. We also discuss how the synergy of the analyzed multi-frontier observables can play a crucial role in distinguishing among different dimension-7 SMEFT operators.
Electric shocks: bounding Einstein-Maxwell theory with time delays on boosted RN backgrounds
Authors: Cremonini Sera , McPeak Brian , Tang Yuezhang
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The requirement that particles propagate causally on non-trivial backgrounds implies interesting constraints on higher-derivative operators. This work is part of a systematic study of the positivity bounds derivable from time delays on shockwave backgrounds. First, we discuss shockwaves in field theory, which are infinitely boosted Coulomb-like field configurations. We show how a positive time delay implies positivity of four-derivative operators in scalar field theory and electromagnetism, consistent with the results derived using dispersion relations, and we comment on how additional higher-derivative operators could be included.

We then turn to gravitational shockwave backgrounds. We compute the infinite boost limit of Reissner-Nordström black holes to derive charged shockwave backgrounds. We consider photons traveling on these backgrounds and interacting through four-derivative corrections to Einstein-Maxwell theory. The inclusion of gravity introduces a logarithmic term into the time delay that interferes with the straightforward bounds derivable in pure field theory, a fact consistent with CEMZ and with recent results from dispersion relations. We discuss two ways to extract a physically meaningful quantity from the logarithmic time delay — by introducing an IR cutoff, or by considering the derivative of the time delay — and comment on the bounds implied in each case. Finally, we review a number of additional shockwave backgrounds which might be of use in future applications, including spinning shockwaves, those in higher dimensions or with a cosmological constant, and shockwaves from boosted extended objects.
Cosmological correlators through the looking glass: reality, parity, and factorisation
Authors: Stefanyszyn David , Tong Xi , Zhu Yuhang
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We consider the evolution of quantum fields during inflation, and show that the total-energy singularities appearing in the perturbative expansion of the late-time Wavefunction of the Universe are purely real when the external states are massless scalars and massless gravitons. Our proof relies on the tree-level approximation, Bunch-Davies initial conditions, and exact scale invariance (IR-convergence), but without any assumptions on invariance under de Sitter boosts. We consider all n-point functions and allow for the exchange of additional states of any mass and integer spin. Our proof makes use of a decomposition of the inflationary bulk-bulk propagator of massive spinning fields which preserves UV-convergence and ensures that the time-ordered contributions are purely real after we rotate to Euclidean time. We use this reality property to show that the maximally-connected parts of wavefunction coefficients, from which total-energy singularities originate, are purely real. In a theory where all states are in the complementary series, this reality extends to the full wavefunction coefficient. We then use our reality theorem to show that parity-odd correlators (correlators that are mirror asymmetric) are factorised and do not diverge when the total-energy is conserved. We pay special attention to the parity-odd four-point function (trispectrum) of inflationary curvature perturbations and use our reality/factorisation theorems to show that this observable is factorised into a product of cubic diagrams thereby enabling us to derive exact shapes. We present examples of couplings between the inflaton and massive spin-1 and spin-2 fields, with the parity-violation in the trispectrum driven by Chern-Simons corrections to the spinning field two-point function, or from parity-violating cubic interactions which we build within the Effective Field Theory of Inflation. In addition, we present a first-of-its-kind example of a parity-violating trispectrum, generated at tree-level, that arises in a purely scalar theory where the inflaton mixes linearly with an additional massive scalar field.
The quark flavor-violating ALPs in light of B mesons and hadron colliders
Authors: Li Tong , Qian Zhuoni , Schmidt Michael A. , Yuan Man
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The axion-like particle (ALP) may induce flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNCs) when the fermions’ Peccei-Quinn charges are not generation universal. The search for flavor-violating ALP couplings with a bottom quark so far focused on FCNC processes of B mesons at low energies. The recent measurements of B → K + X rare decays place stringent bounds on the quark flavor violations of a light ALP in different decay modes. In this work we propose a novel direct search for bottom flavor-violating interaction of a heavy ALP at the LHC and its upgrades, namely QCD production of an ALP associated with one b jet and one light jet p p → b j a. We consider the decay of the ALP to photons, muons and invisible ALP decays. The Boosted Decision Tree (BDT) algorithm is used to analyze the events and we train the BDT classifier by feeding in the kinematic observables of signal and backgrounds. Finally, we show the complementarity between the search prospects of hadron colliders and the low-energy B meson constraints from B meson mixing and B meson decays to a light ALP.
Toward QCD on quantum computer: orbifold lattice approach
Authors: Bergner Georg , Hanada Masanori , Rinaldi Enrico , Schäfer Andreas
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We propose an orbifold lattice formulation of QCD suitable for quantum simulations. We show explicitly how to encode gauge degrees of freedom into qubits using noncompact variables, and how to write down a simple truncated Hamiltonian in the coordinate basis. We show that SU(3) gauge group variables and quarks in the fundamental representation can be implemented straightforwardly on qubits, for arbitrary truncation of the gauge manifold.
Numerical Ranges of Antilinear Operators
Authors: Kołaczek Damian , Müller Vladimir
Published: May 2024

We study numerical ranges of antilinear operators on both Hilbert and Banach spaces. We prove that the numerical range of an antilinear operator on at least two-dimensional space is always a disc, and so a convex set. This improves existing results. We also study other properties known for numerical ranges of linear operators and discuss similarities and differences in the antilinear setting.
Impaired skin barrier and allergic sensitization in 16-year-old adolescents
Authors: Pechlivanis Sonali , Schmausser-Hechfellner Elisabeth , Schaub Bianca , Skevaki Chrysanthi , Barnig Cindy , Roduit Caroline , Divaret-Chauveau Amandine , Karvonen Anne M. , Riedler Josef , Illi Sabina , von Mutius Erika ,   PASTURE Study Group, Beerweiler Claudia , Böck Andreas , Renz Harald , Foppiano Francesco , Genuneit Jon , Theodorou Johanna , Depner Martin , Ege Markus J , Pagani Giulia , Kabesch Michael , Pfefferle Petra I. , Pekkanen Juha , Roponen Marjut , Täubel Martin , Kirjavainen Pirkka V. , Frei Remo , Lauener Roger , Laurent Lucie , Dalphin Marie-Laure
Published: May 2024

Background

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) has been used to measure skin barrier function and has been associated with atopic dermatitis and allergic diseases in infancy. However, few studies have assessed the association between TEWL and allergic diseases in adolescents.

Objective

To investigate the association between TEWL and allergic sensitizations in 16-year-old adolescents.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in 78 adolescents of the PASTURE study. Different types of sensitization (seasonal, perennial, inhalant, food and any) were defined using serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and skin prick test. TEWL was measured on the crook of either right or the left arm using a TEWAMETER® TM 300 (Courage + Khazaka electronic, Cologne, Germany) at mean temperature and humidity of 24.1 °C and 36.1%, respectively. The mean TEWL and interquartile range (IQR) were 11.9 ± 4.4 and 4.8 g/m2/h respectively.

Results

In our study, TEWL was positively associated with any sensitization (adjusted odds ratio [OR] per-IQR of the probability of increased TEWL [95% confidence interval]: OR 2.64; [1.12–6.19]; p = 0.03) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC; OR 1.92; [1.04–3.54]; p = 0.04), but not with asthma or atopic dermatitis. When separating any sensitization into perennial and seasonal, only perennial sensitization (OR 3.30; [1.42–7.43]; p = 0.005) was associated with TEWL.

Conclusion

In the present study, we show the association of defective skin barrier function measured as TEWL with perennial sensitization and ARC suggesting its possible role in the pathogenesis of ARC through sensitization.
High-Grade REE accumulation in regolith: Insights from supergene alteration of an apatite-rich vein at the Kapunda Cu mine, South Australia
Authors: Bamforth Tobias G. , Xia Fang , Tiddy Caroline J. , González-Álvarez Ignacio , Brugger Joël , Hu Si-Yu , Schoneveld Louise E. , Pearce Mark A. , Putnis Andrew
Published: May 2024

The stratiform and vein-hosted Kapunda Cu deposit in South Australia contains a saprolitized hydrothermal vein with 12.37 wt.% total rare earth oxide (TREO). The vein was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction to understand the controls that govern high-grade REE accumulation during periods of intense weathering. Petrological assessments indicate the transformation of an apatite-calcite-aluminosilicate-bearing protolith to a supergene assemblage of Fe-oxides, kaolinite and REE-phosphate minerals that include rhabdophane-(Ce), monazite-(Ce) and florencite-(Ce). This transformation was facilitated by progressive acidification of the weathering fluid, which is indicated by: 1) the increasing crystallinity of authigenic Fe-oxides and kaolinite, which led to REE desorption; 2) the textural evolution and increase in grain size of authigenic REE-phosphates from nanoscopic crystallites, to acicular needles, to micro-scale hexagonal prisms; 3) the late dissolution of REE-phosphates; and 4) the replacement of goethite by jarosite, whose sulfate component originated from the oxidation and weathering of proximal sulfide minerals. Alongside the depletion of pH-buffering carbonate minerals that are indicated by the preservation of calcite menisci, this sulfide dissolution also facilitated acid generation. Results illustrate how highly acidic weathering fluids might facilitate either REE mobilization or REE accumulation in regolith. High-grade REE accumulation under acidic supergene conditions is prioritized when the host-rock contains a significant source of depositional ligands (i.e., phosphate in the form of apatite) that can be readily leached during intense weathering. Exploration companies should therefore assay routinely for REEs in any heavily weathered phosphatic rock, due to the observed efficiency of phosphate minerals as geochemical traps for REE accumulation.
The Executioner Paradox: understanding self-referential dilemma in computational systems
Authors: Mahajan Sachit
Published: May 2024

As computational systems burgeon with advancing artificial intelligence (AI), the deterministic frameworks underlying them face novel challenges, especially when interfacing with self-modifying code. The Executioner Paradox, introduced herein, exemplifies such a challenge where a deterministic Executioner Machine (EM) grapples with self-aware and self-modifying code. This unveils a self-referential dilemma, highlighting a gap in current deterministic computational frameworks when faced with self-evolving code. In this article, the Executioner Paradox is proposed, highlighting the nuanced interactions between deterministic decision-making and self-aware code, and the ensuing challenges. This article advocates for a re-evaluation of existing deterministic frameworks, emphasizing the need for adaptive decision-making mechanisms in computational systems. By dissecting the Executioner Paradox, the aim is to foster a robust discussion on evolving deterministic frameworks to accommodate the dynamic nature of self-modifying code, thereby contributing a forward-looking lens to the discourse on computational systems amidst advancing AI.
On the optimality of DIA-estimators: theory and applications
Authors: Teunissen P. J. G.
Published: May 2024

In this contribution, we introduce, in analogy to penalized ambiguity resolution, the concept of penalized misclosure space partitioning, with the goal of directing the performance of the DIA-estimator towards its application-dependent tolerable risk objectives. We assign penalty functions to each of the decision regions in misclosure space and use the distribution of the misclosure vector to determine the optimal partitioning by minimizing the mean penalty. As each minimum mean penalty partitioning depends on the given penalty functions, different choices can be made, in dependence of the application. For the DIA-estimator, we introduce a special set of penalty functions that penalize its unwanted outcomes. It is shown how this set allows one to construct the optimal DIA-estimator, being the estimator that within its class has the largest probability of lying inside a user specified tolerance region. Further elaboration shows how these penalty functions are driven by the influential biases of the different hypotheses and how they can be used operationally. Hereby the option is included of extending the misclosure partitioning with an additional undecided region to accommodate situations when it will be hard to discriminate between some of the hypotheses or when identification is unconvincing. By extending the analogy with integer ambiguity resolution to that of integer-equivariant ambiguity resolution, we also introduce the maximum probability estimator within the similar larger class.
Effect of channel expansion angle near injector outlet on a rotating detonation engine performance
Authors: Nakajima K. , Matsuoka K. , Itouyama N. , Kasahara J. , Kawasaki A. , Matsuo A.
Published: May 2024

A rotating detonation engine (RDE) is expected to achieve a pressure gain (PG) in which the total pressure of the product at the engine exit exceeds the total pressure of the supplied oxidizer. However, many non-ideal phenomena exist in the RDE, which hinder the achievement of a PG. This study focused on the channel expansion angle near injector outlet which is considered to impact the structure of detonation wave and the PG performance. Combustion tests were conducted by varying the channel expansion angle near the axially injected oxidizer injector outlet to 90$$^{\circ }$$

∘

and 30$$^{\circ }$$

∘

. As a result, the thrust was not affected by the expansion angle, but the propagation velocity of detonation wave at an expansion angle of 90$$^{\circ }$$

∘

was approximately 5% higher than that at an expansion angle of 30$$^{\circ }$$

∘

. A comparison utilizing the pressure increase ratio obtained from the fluctuating pressure in the combustion chamber suggested that the Mach number of the detonation wave was higher for an expansion angle of 90$$^{\circ }$$

∘

. As a result of evaluating the PG performance utilizing the equivalent available pressure obtained from thrust measurements, it was not confirmed to differ with changes in the expansion angle.
Does “all disease begin in the gut”? The gut-organ cross talk in the microbiome
Authors: Chaudhary Prem Prashant , Kaur Mahaldeep , Myles Ian A.
Published: May 2024

The human microbiome, a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms within the body, plays pivotal roles in health and disease. This review explores site-specific microbiomes, their role in maintaining health, and strategies for their upkeep, focusing on oral, lung, vaginal, skin, and gut microbiota, and their systemic connections. Understanding the intricate relationships between these microbial communities is crucial for unraveling mechanisms underlying human health. Recent research highlights bidirectional communication between the gut and distant microbiome sites, influencing immune function, metabolism, and disease susceptibility. Alterations in one microbiome can impact others, emphasizing their interconnectedness and collective influence on human physiology. The therapeutic potential of gut microbiota in modulating distant microbiomes offers promising avenues for interventions targeting various disorders. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and technological advancements, we can harness the power of the microbiome to revolutionize healthcare, emphasizing microbiome-centric approaches to promote holistic well-being while identifying areas for future research.
Effects of irrigation amounts and a deficit irrigation strategy on water status and yields of intensively cultivated jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
Authors: Ben-Gal Alon , Badichi Shamir , Ron Yonatan , Perry Aviad , Yermiyahu Uri , Tietel Zipora , Tel Zur Noemi , Dag Arnon
Published: May 2024

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is cultivated for its seeds, which contain a high-value liquid wax. There is little known regarding irrigation requirements of intensively cultivated jojoba. The project’s objectives were to evaluate the effects of irrigation regime on water status, growth, yield, and water productivity (WP, wax yield per unit of water applied) of intensely cultivated jojoba. An experiment was conducted over six years in a 14-year-old commercial plantation in Israel’s Northern Negev Desert. Treatments included: Control irrigation according to best commercial practice of returning reference evapotranspiration multiplied by a crop coefficient (Kc) of 0.5; Low irrigation providing 75% (Kc = 0.375) of the control; High irrigation providing 125% (Kc = 0.625) of the control; Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) according to the control treatment, terminated for one to two months, after the wax accumulation stage. Stem water potential (SWP) consistently indicated jojoba water status. Increasing water application from − 25% to the control and further to + 25% led to augmented vegetative growth and number of seeds, but yield was increased at rates lower than the differences in water application by the treatments, such that WP was negatively associated. Effects on yield were limited to higher yielding ‘On’ years. The RDI treatment resulted in yield not different from the control and 15% higher WP, but significantly inhibited seed removal during mechanical harvesting. The results suggest commercial potential for increasing profits through water savings. Further research is needed to determine RDI regimes without detrimental effects on harvesting efficiency.
A hybrid transmission model for Plasmodium vivax accounting for superinfection, immunity and the hypnozoite reservoir
Authors: Mehra Somya , Taylor Peter G. , McCaw James M. , Flegg Jennifer A.
Published: May 2024

Malaria is a vector-borne disease that exacts a grave toll in the Global South. The epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically expansive agent of human malaria, is characterised by the accrual of a reservoir of dormant parasites known as hypnozoites. Relapses, arising from hypnozoite activation events, comprise the majority of the blood-stage infection burden, with implications for the acquisition of immunity and the distribution of superinfection. Here, we construct a novel model for the transmission of P. vivax that concurrently accounts for the accrual of the hypnozoite reservoir, (blood-stage) superinfection and the acquisition of immunity. We begin by using an infinite-server queueing network model to characterise the within-host dynamics as a function of mosquito-to-human transmission intensity, extending our previous model to capture a discretised immunity level. To model transmission-blocking and antidisease immunity, we allow for geometric decay in the respective probabilities of successful human-to-mosquito transmission and symptomatic blood-stage infection as a function of this immunity level. Under a hybrid approximation—whereby probabilistic within-host distributions are cast as expected population-level proportions—we couple host and vector dynamics to recover a deterministic compartmental model in line with Ross-Macdonald theory. We then perform a steady-state analysis for this compartmental model, informed by the (analytic) distributions derived at the within-host level. To characterise transient dynamics, we derive a reduced system of integrodifferential equations, likewise informed by our within-host queueing network, allowing us to recover population-level distributions for various quantities of epidemiological interest. In capturing the interplay between hypnozoite accrual, superinfection and acquired immunity—and providing, to the best of our knowledge, the most complete population-level distributions for a range of epidemiological values—our model provides insights into important, but poorly understood, epidemiological features of P. vivax.
Are the Nutritional Properties of Organic Tomatoes Altered by Single and Combined Microbial Soil Inoculants?: A Multiperspective Approach
Authors: Tóth Eszter , Csambalik László , Biró Borbála , Gere Attila , Koren Dániel , Kotroczó Zsolt , Szalai Zita
Published: May 2024

Biologically active compounds are key-important ingredients of tomato fruits, especially those produced by organic agricultural practices. Being biologically effective soil treatments, microbial inoculants can improve soil quality through a variety of mechanisms. Their activity can influence soil properties and plant development, thereby determining the quantity and quality of the crop. However, little research was done on how these inoculants affect the nutritional quality of the tomato fruit and on the antioxidant status of the fruits. This study investigated lycopene content and total antioxidant capacity of organically grown tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. ‘Mobil’) using various types of single and combined bioeffector products in two growing seasons. Single inoculation contained Trichoderma harzianum, plant growth promoting Pseudomonas sp., and phosphorus-mobilizing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains. The combined treatment consisted of biotic Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis strains with abiotic micronutrients of zinc and manganese. Sum of ranking differences method, as a multicriteria optimization method, was used to rank the treatments and identify the ones deviating the least from the reference treatment. The results showed that all microbial soil inoculants positively affected tomato lycopene content. The combined treatment showed significantly higher lycopene content than the Control in both years. We found that weather and climate conditions also greatly influence the total antioxidant capacity. Based on our results, we recommend the use of combined bioeffective treatments to improve the food quality value of tomato fruits.
Covariance structure tests for multivariate t-distribution
Authors: Filipiak Katarzyna , Kollo Tõnu
Published: May 2024

We derive an equation system for finding Maximum Likelihood Estimators (MLEs) for the parameters of a p-dimensional t-distribution with $$\nu $$
ν
degrees of freedom, $$t_{p,\nu }$$

t

p
,
ν

, and use the MLEs for testing covariance structures for the $$t_{p,\nu }$$

t

p
,
ν

-distributed population. The likelihood ratio test (LRT), Rao score test (RST) and Wald test (WT) statistics are derived under the general null-hypothesis $$\textrm{H}_0:\varvec{\Sigma }=\varvec{\Sigma }_0$$

H
0

:

Σ

=

Σ

0

, using a matrix derivative technique. Here the $$p\times p$$

p
×
p

-matrix $$\varvec{\Sigma }$$

Σ

is a dispersion/scale parameter. Convergence to the asymptotic chi-square distribution under the null hypothesis is examined in extensive simulation experiments. Also the convergence to the chi-square distribution is studied empirically in the situation when the MLEs of a $$t_{p,\nu }$$

t

p
,
ν

-distribution are changed to the corresponding estimators for a normal population. Type I errors and the power of the tests are also examined by simulation. In the simulation study the RST behaved more adequately than all remaining statistics in the situation when the dimensionality p was growing.
Disentangling the heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis through identification of independent neuropathological dimensions
Authors: de Boer Alyse , van den Bosch Aletta M. R. , Mekkes Nienke J. , Fransen Nina L. , Dagkesamanskaia Ekaterina , Hoekstra Eric , Hamann Jörg , Smolders Joost , Huitinga Inge , Holtman Inge R.
Published: May 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous neurological disorder with regards to clinical presentation and pathophysiology. Here, we investigated the heterogeneity of MS by performing an exploratory factor analysis on quantitative and qualitative neuropathology data collected for 226 MS donors in the Netherlands Brain Bank autopsy cohort. Three promising dimensions were identified and subsequently validated with clinical, neuropathological, and genetic data. Dimension 1 ranged from a predominance of remyelinated and inactive lesions to extensive pathological changes, higher proportions of active and mixed lesions, and foamy microglia morphology. This pattern was positively correlated with more severe disease, the presence of B and T cells, and neuroaxonal damage. Scoring high on dimension 2 was associated with active lesions, reactive sites, and the presence of nodules. These donors had less severe disease, a specific pattern of cortical lesions, and MS risk variants in the human leukocyte antigen region, the latter indicating a connection between disease onset and this neuropathological dimension. Donors scoring high on dimension 3 showed increased lesional pathology with relatively more mixed and inactive lesions and ramified microglia morphology. This pattern was associated with longer disease duration, subpial cortical lesions, less involvement of the adaptive immune system, and less axonal damage. Taken together, the three dimensions may represent (1) demyelination and immune cell activity associated with pathological and clinical progression, (2) microglia (re)activity and possibly lesion initiation, and (3) loss of lesion activity and scar formation. Our findings highlight that a thorough understanding of the interplay between multiple pathological characteristics is crucial to understand the heterogeneity of MS pathology, as well as its association with genetic predictors and disease outcomes. The scores of donors on the dimensions can serve as an important starting point for further disentanglement of MS heterogeneity and translation into observations and interventions in living cohorts with MS.