bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A complete MAP kinase cascade controls hyphopodium formation and virulence of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Ye Ziqin , Qin Jun , Wang Yu , Zhang Jinghan , Wu Xiaoyun , Li Xiangguo , Sun Lifan , Zhang Jie
Published: May 2023

Phytopathogens develop specialized infection-related structures to penetrate plant cells during infection. Different from phytopathogens that form appressoria or haustoria, the soil-borne root-infecting fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae forms hyphopodia during infection, which further differentiate into penetration pegs to promote infection. The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of hyphopodium formation in V. dahliae remain poorly characterized. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are highly conserved cytoplasmic kinases that regulate diverse biological processes in eukaryotes. Here we found that deletion of VdKss1, out of the five MAPKs encoded by V. dahliae, significantly impaired V. dahliae hyphopodium formation, in vitro penetration, and pathogenicity in cotton plants. Constitutive activation of MAPK kinase (MAPKK) VdSte7 and MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) VdSte11 specifically activate VdKss1. Deletion of VdSte7 or VdSte11 resulted in a phenotype similar to that of the mutant with VdKss1 deletion. Thus, this study demonstrates that VdSte11-VdSte7-VdKss1 is a core MAPK cascade that regulates hyphopodium formation and pathogenicity in V. dahliae.
Effect of the conversion of the plastic deformation work to heat on the behaviour of TWIP steels: a review
Authors: Jabłońska M. B.
Published: May 2023

The study discusses the subject of a temperature change of TWIP steels during their deformation as a result of a conversion of the plastic deformation work into heat, based on a literature review and the authors' own research. The methods of measuring or modelling the changes of these temperatures are presented. It also points out that the heat generated during plastic deformation of TWIP steels has higher values than in the case of conventional steels, due to their higher yield stresses and limit strains. The heat has a very important effect on the microstructure of the deformed material and thus also on its properties. Its high increase can lead to e.g. a change of the deformation mechanism from twinning to dislocation glide, which is also connected with worse workability and thus also the energy consumption of the bodywork elements. On the basis of the selected literature works, the study determines the possible microstructural changes of TWIP steels related to the generated heat and demonstrates that materials with similar chemical compositions can behave differently at high deformation rates.
The democratic offset: Contestation, deliberation, and participation regarding military applications of AI
Authors: Thumfart Johannes
Published: May 2023

Authoritarian regimes’ unrestricted collection of citizens’ data might constitute an advantage regarding the development of some types of AI, and AI might facilitate authoritarian practices. This feedback loop challenges democracies. In a critical continuation of the Pentagon’s Third Offset Strategy, I investigate a possible Democratic Offset regarding military applications of AI focussed on contestation, deliberation, and participation. I apply Landemore’s Open Democracy, Hildebrandt’s Agonistic Machine Learning, and Sharp’s Civilian-Based Defence. Discussing value pluralism in AI ethics, I criticise parts of the literature for leaving the fundamental ethical incompatibility of democracies and authoritarian regimes unaddressed. I am focussing on the duty to disobey illegal orders derived from customary international humanitarian law (IHL) and the standard of ‘meaningful human control’, which is central to the partially outdated debate about lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). I criticize the standard of ‘meaningful human control’ following two pathways: First, the ethical and legal principles of just war theory and IHL should be implemented in military applications of AI to submit human commands to more control, in the sense of technological disaffordances. Second, the debate should focus on the societal circumstances for personal responsibility and disobedience to be trained and exerted in deliberation and participation related to military applications of AI, in the sense of societal affordances. In a larger picture, this includes multi-level stakeholder involvement, robust documentation to facilitate auditing, civilian-based defence in decentralized smart cities, and open-source intelligence. This multi-layered approach fosters cognitive diversity, which might constitute a strategic advantage for democracies regarding AI.
Progress in the treatment of acute fatty liver of pregnancy and management of perioperative anesthesia review
Authors: Qin Xuewei , Chen Xuanling , Yao Lan , Wang Jing , Lin Li
Published: May 2023

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare and critical disease in obstetrics, mainly characterized by liver failure, severe coagulopathy and other clinical manifestations, with rapid progression and high mortality. This article discusses the epidemic characteristics, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute fatty liver during pregnancy. This paper summarizes the related contents of perioperative anesthesia in anesthesia methods, drug selection, coagulation regulation, organ protection and postpartum disease outcome.
Isabel la Católica en la producción teatral española del siglo XVII
Authors: Caba María Y.
Published: May 2023

La representación de Isabel la Católica en el teatro del Siglo de Oro.
Residential mobility and the value of water quality improvements in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern
Authors: Donnelly Emma , Melstrom Richard T.
Published: May 2023

This paper presents research on the benefits of removing legacy pollutants in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). AOCs are heavily polluted coastal locations identified as priorities for restoration under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) between the United States and Canada. Legacy pollutants pose a human and environmental health risk that can limit opportunities for redevelopment, recreation, and wildlife habitats. The AOC program improves water quality through remediation and restoration projects, which may increase the desirability of living in proximity to AOCs. In this paper, we estimate the economic benefit of cleaning up part of the Milwaukee Estuary AOC with a two-part sorting model using panel data on neighborhood populations and moving decisions before and after a series of remediation actions. Our results provide evidence that residents value remediation, though estimates are sensitive to the definition of the cleanup area. The average annual benefit for a household living near the AOC just downstream of cleanup is $268, with a range of $28-$499 depending on their race and tenure group; the aggregate benefit is $350 million. Results indicate a large difference in benefits between renters and owners but statistically insignificant differences between race groups.
How reliable – and (net) beneficial – is the green in green infrastructure
Authors: Groffman Peter M. , Matsler A. Marissa , Grabowski Zbigniew J.
Published: May 2023

The idea of green infrastructure (GI) has generated great interest and creativity in addressing a range of challenging and expensive environmental problems, from coastal resilience to control of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The appeal of GI stems from its cost savings compared to traditional “gray” infrastructure and the multiple benefits it provides, including biodiversity, aesthetics, and carbon sequestration. For example, a “green” approach to controlling CSOs in New York City saved $1.5 billion compared to a “gray” approach. Despite these advantages, GI still does not have detailed design and reliability specifications as compared to engineered gray infrastructure, potentially hindering its adoption. In this paper, we review some of the potential applications of GI in modern environmental science and discuss how reliability and associated (un)certainty in net benefits need to be addressed to realize the potential of this new approach.
Estimating the VaR-induced Euler allocation rule
Authors: Gribkova N.V. , Su J. , Zitikis R.
Published: May 2023

The prominence of the Euler allocation rule (EAR) is rooted in the fact that it is the only return on risk-adjusted capital (RORAC) compatible capital allocation rule. When the total regulatory capital is set using the value-at-risk (VaR), the EAR becomes – using a statistical term – the quantile-regression (QR) function. Although the cumulative QR function (i.e., an integral of the QR function) has received considerable attention in the literature, a fully developed statistical inference theory for the QR function itself has been elusive. In the present paper, we develop such a theory based on an empirical QR estimator, for which we establish consistency, asymptotic normality, and standard error estimation. This makes the herein developed results readily applicable in practice, thus facilitating decision making within the RORAC paradigm, conditional mean risk sharing, and current regulatory frameworks.
Probabilistic Prediction of Oceanographic Velocities with Multivariate Gaussian Natural Gradient Boosting
Authors: O’Malley Michael , Sykulski Adam M. , Lumpkin Rick , Schuler Alejandro
Published: May 2023

Many single-output regression problems require estimates of uncertainty along with the point predictions. For this purpose, there exists a class of regression algorithms that predict a conditional distribution rather than a point estimate. The off-the-shelf options are much more limited, however, when the prediction output is multivariate and a joint measure of uncertainty is required. In this paper, we predict a distribution around a multivariate random vector of dimension P, such that the joint uncertainty would quantify the probability of any vector in P-dimensional space. This is more expressive than providing separate uncertainties in each dimension. To enable joint probabilistic regression, we propose a natural gradient boosting approach based on nonparametrically modeling the conditional parameters of the multivariate predictive distribution, where we focus on the multivariate Gaussian distribution. Our method is robust, can be easily trained without extensive tuning, and performs competitively in comparison to existing approaches. The motivating application of our methodology is to predict two-dimensional oceanographic currents measured by freely floating Global Drifter Program drifters using remotely sensed data. We also demonstrate the method’s performance on simulated data. We find this method excels when strong correlation between output dimensions is present. As part of this work, we have added the model to the open source package at github.com/stanfordmlgroup/ngboost.
Doppelgänger Changes the Game
Authors: Janda Pavel
Published: May 2023

Thirders sometimes feel compelled to give the same answer – a credence of 1/3 – to the original and the duplicating Sleeping Beauty problem, which leads to some unwanted consequences. I will argue that they do not have to feel compelled to give the same answer, because the original and the duplicating version of the Sleeping Beauty problem are different types of decision problems. If one accepts that it is rationally permissible to give different answers to different types of decision problems, both versions do not require the same solution.
A large deviation theorem for a supercritical super-Brownian motion with absorption
Authors: Zhu Yaping
Published: May 2023

We consider a one-dimensional superprocess with a supercritical local branching mechanism
$\psi$
, where particles move as a Brownian motion with drift
$-\rho$
and are killed when they reach the origin. It is known that the process survives with positive probability if and only if
$\rho<\sqrt{2\alpha}$
, where
$\alpha=-\psi'(0)$
. When
$\rho<\sqrt{2 \alpha}$
, Kyprianou et al. [18] proved that
$\lim_{t\to \infty}R_t/t =\sqrt{2\alpha}-\rho$
almost surely on the survival set, where
$R_t$
is the rightmost position of the support at time t. Motivated by this work, we investigate its large deviation, in other words, the convergence rate of
$\mathbb{P}_{\delta_x} (R_t >\gamma t+\theta)$
as
$t \to \infty$
, where
$\gamma >\sqrt{2 \alpha} -\rho$
,
$\theta \ge 0$
. As a by-product, a related Yaglom-type conditional limit theorem is obtained. Analogous results for branching Brownian motion can be found in Harris et al. [13].
The Multidimensional Soft Power of Illiberal States: Russia in the Western Balkans
Authors: Cuppuleri Adriana , Veliu Ashiku Liridona
Published: May 2023

This article aims to make a threefold contribution to the study of soft power. First, considering that the potential of soft power of illiberal states is both underestimated and distorted, this study presents a two-dimensional conceptualization of Russia’s soft power, distinguishing between Russia’s posture toward the liberal international order, and sources of Russia’s foreign policy. Second, it analyzes whether Russian soft power in the Western Balkan countries remains ideologically relevant beyond its hitherto conceptualizations as either the result of its historic cultural ties with the region, or a reflection of Russian foreign policy strategies. Through an analysis of elite discourses and news media as exemplified in speeches, press releases, and interviews, this article locates, challenges, and develops on Russia’s soft power indicators in the Western Balkans. Finally, it contributes to surmounting the residing liberal democratic bias in the study of soft power of illiberal states, showing that not only can they be ideologically attractive but that their scope of influence differs according to the multi-layered nature of soft power.
On No-Miracles and the Base-Rate Fallacy
Authors: Dyck Keith
Published: May 2023

Howson (2000) contends that the No-Miracles argument fails as an argument in support of scientific realism because it commits the base-rate fallacy. Psillos (2009) has defended the argument by appealing to cases that involve conditional probabilities but where base-rate information can properly be ignored. I show that Psillos’s defense of the No-Miracles argument is inadequate and that the prospects for a purely probabilistic formulation of the argument are dim. I end by considering whether interpreting the argument as an inference to the best explanation might better serve the scientific realist, concluding that such an approach would limit the realist’s ability to effectively counter the Pessimistic Induction.
State Terror and Long-Run Development: The Persistence of the Khmer Rouge
Authors: GRASSE DONALD
Published: May 2023

Does mass repression have a long-term economic legacy, and if so, what explains persistence? I argue repression can undermine development by delimiting human capital. I study the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The regime implemented a campaign of violence to reorganize society, yet governing elites varied across the communist ideological spectrum. I exploit an arbitrary border that allocated villages to either the loyalist Mok or the relatively moderate Sy in Kampong Speu province. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find villages in the more extremist Southwest zone are poorer today compared with villages in the adjacent West zone, and had lower human capital immediately after the regime. Exposure to more intense repression shapes labor markets and child health, explaining intergenerational persistence. I find no conclusive evidence for other persistence channels. My findings add a novel pathway to the library of mechanisms which explain why historical coercion undermines development.
Theorising policy advisory system management: approaches and practice
Authors: Marciano Reut , Craft Jonathan
Published: May 2023

This article develops the concept of policy advisory system (PAS) management in recognition of the need to better theorise and empirically study how governments approach the complex systems of advice around them. In our analysis, we go beyond the conceptualisation of degrees of government’s “control” over advisory sources. We use the dimensions of government agency and discretion and argue that PAS management falls into four forms: authoritative, dependent, laissez-faire, or absent. Using evidence from Australia, Canada, Britain, and New Zealand, we explore how governments operationalise these approaches through a range of choices and practices. The analysis points to the need to recognise that attempts to manage these systems occur both proactively and reactively with clear differences in the broad or narrow scope of management efforts.
Prevalence of respiratory pathogens and risk of developing pneumonia under non-pharmaceutical interventions in Suzhou, China
Authors: Shi Ting , Huang Linlin
Published: May 2023

This study aims to evaluate the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the prevalence of respiratory pathogens among hospitalised children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Suzhou. Children with ARIs admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2022 and subjected to 13 respiratory pathogen multiplex PCR assays were included in the study. We retrospectively collected demographic details, results of respiratory pathogen panel tests, and discharge diagnostic information of the participants, and described the age and seasonal distribution of respiratory pathogens and risk factors for developing pneumonia. A total of 10,396 children <16 years of age, including 5,905 males and 4,491 females, were part of the study. The positive rates of the 11 respiratory pathogen assays were 23.3% (human rhinovirus (HRV)), 15.9% (human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV)), 10.5% (human metapneumovirus (HMPV)), 10.3% (human parainfluenza virus (HPIV)), 8.6% (mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)), 5.8% (Boca), 3.5% (influenza A (InfA)), 2.9% (influenza B (InfB)), 2.7% (human coronavirus (HCOV)), 2.0% (adenovirus (ADV)), and 0.5% (Ch), respectively. Bocavirus and HPIV detection peaked during the period from September to November (autumn), and MP and HMPV peaked in the months of November and December. The peak of InfA detection was found to be in summer (July and August), whereas the InfB peak was observed to be in winter (December, January, and February). HRSV and HRV predominated in the <3 years age group. HRV and HMPV were common in the 3–6 years group, whereas MP was predominant in the ≥6 years group. MP (odds ratio (OR): 70.068, 95%CI: 32.665–150.298, P < 0.01), HMPV (OR: 6.493, 95%CI: 4.802–8.780, P < 0.01), Boca (OR: 3.300, 95%CI: 2.186–4.980, P < 0.01), and HRSV (OR: 2.649, 95%CI: 2.089–3.358, P < 0.01) infections were more likely to develop into pneumonia than the other pathogens. With the use of NPIs, HRV was the most common pathogen in children with ARIs, and MP was more likely to progress to pneumonia than other pathogens.
Successful transition for adolescent survivors of CHD: the Cambridge cardiac transition pathway
Authors: Yap Norah Y.S. , Patil Parth , Phoenix Carole , Russell Katie Bradly , Lewis Clive , Yates Robert , Kelsall Wilf
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

National standards to ensure effective transition and smooth transfer of adolescents from paediatric to adult services are available but data on successful transition in CHD are limited. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of our transition pathway.

Methods:

Adolescents with CHD, aged 15–19 years, who attended the joint cardiac transition clinic between 2009 and 2018 were identified from the Patient Administration Systems. Patient attendance at their first adult CHD service appointment at Royal Papworth Hospital was recorded.

Results:

179 adolescents were seen in the joint cardiac transition clinic in the 9-year study period. The median age of the patients when seen was 16 (range 15–19) years. 145 patients were initially planned for transfer to the Royal Papworth Hospital adult CHD service. Three patients were subsequently excluded and the success of the transfer of care in 142 patients were analysed. 112 (78%) attended their first follow-up in the adult CHD clinic as planned, 28 (20%) attended after reminders were sent out with 5/28 requiring multiple reminders, and only 2 (1.4%) failed to attend. Overall, transfer of care was achieved in 140 (98.6%) patients.

Conclusion:

A dedicated joint cardiac transition clinic involving multi-professional medical and nursing teams from paediatric and adult cardiology services appears to achieve high engagement rates with the adult services. This approach allows a ‘face’ to be put on a named clinician delivering the adult service and should be encouraged.
Survival factors in the early Middle English lexicon
Authors: VOGELSANGER JOHANNA
Published: May 2023

Using a corpus linguistic approach, this article aims to answer the question of which factors contribute to a better chance of survival for words in the early Middle English lexicon. Because of the cognitive benefits of rhyme that have been shown in modern studies, there is a particular interest in rhyming position as a potential factor; other factors include frequency, suffix and geographical spread. The data are analysed using survival analysis, random forests and conditional inference trees in R. The results show that geographical spread is the most important factor, usually in combination with particular suffixes. Rhyme is not generally a significant factor in the same vein, and its importance seems to be restricted to individual cases.
Double modals in contemporary British and Irish speech
Authors: COATS STEVEN
Published: May 2023

This article reports on the use of double modals, a non-standard syntactic feature, in the contemporary speech of the UK and Ireland. Most data on the geographic extent of the feature and its combinatorial types come from surveys or acceptability ratings or from older attestations focused on northern England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, with relatively few attestations in naturalistic data and from England and Wales. Manual verification of double modals in a large corpus of geolocated Automatic Speech Recognition transcripts from YouTube videos of local government channels from the UK and Ireland shows that the feature exhibits a larger inventory of combinatorial types than has previously been found and is attested in speech from throughout the UK and Ireland. The development may be related to ongoing changes in the semantic space occupied by modal auxiliaries in English.
Association between pre-pregnancy weight status and dietary patterns during pregnancy: results from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Ishitsuka Kazue , Yamamoto-Hanada Kiwako , Mezawa Hidetoshi , Saito-Abe Mayako , Sasaki Hatoko , Nishizato Minaho , Sato Miori , Ohya Yukihiro ,   Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Pre-pregnancy weight status is related to offspring health and may influence dietary patterns during pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the link between pre-pregnancy weight status and dietary patterns during pregnancy.

Design:

Dietary data were collected using a FFQ during middle or late pregnancy. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Anthropometric data were extracted from medical charts. Multiple linear regression was used to assess associations between pre-pregnancy weight status (severely or moderately underweight, mildly underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) and dietary patterns during pregnancy after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics.

Setting:

Nationwide Japan.

Participants:

Pregnant Japanese women enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a prospective birth cohort study (n 90 765).

Results:

We identified three dietary patterns. Compared with women with pre-pregnancy normal weight, those with pre-pregnancy obesity were less likely to habitually consume ‘fruits and vegetables’ pattern (coefficient, –0·18; 95 % CI, –0·21, –0·14) and ‘confectionery’ pattern (coefficient, –0·18; 95 % CI, –0·21, –0·14) and more likely to consume ‘white rice and soy products’ pattern (coefficient, 0·08; 95 % CI, 0·04, 0·11), and those with severely or moderately pre-pregnancy underweight were more likely to consume ‘confectionery’ pattern (coefficient, 0·06; 95 % CI, 0·03, 0·09) during pregnancy, after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion:

We found that moderately and severely pre-pregnancy underweight women and those with obesity had unhealthy dietary patterns compared to those with pre-pregnancy normal weight. Our findings suggest that prenatal dietary advice is important and should be based on the pre-pregnancy weight status.
The Technological Priestess: The Piano Recital, Photography, and Clara Schumann
Authors: Prince April L.
Published: May 2023

Musicologists often consider Clara Schumann to be one of the most influential figures in the establishment of the solo piano recital – a musical experience that encouraged the dominance of the serious music aesthetic. Schumann's connection to this ideal is perhaps most evident in her enshrinement as the priestess, a nineteenth-century title that honoured the interpretive power of her virtuosic performances. While her commitment to canonical values cannot be questioned, Schumann's piano virtuosity was also undeniably popular, incredibly physical and acutely tied to the century's rapidly changing musical and visual technologies.

Attention to the analytical and imaginative connections between these transformative technologies actively complicates the divine, dehumanized and mythological stature that has come to centre Schumann's historiography. Her mass-produced photographs, and especially her cartes-de-visite, could both compound her priestessness and stimulate unresolvable fissures within it. Aligned with recent scholarship that expands Schumann's virtuosity into the realms of the popular, photographs and other forms of mass media reveal the inherent flexibility of the priestess ideology and this mythology's (seemingly) easy inclusion of various ambiguous and sometimes contradictory ideals. In effect, photographs of Schumann could instigate a kind of exhilarating, cognitive dissonance in their viewers: seeing was not necessarily believing her as only priestess. Seeing could, in fact, mean imagining and reimagining Clara Schumann in all kinds of fantastical ways: ways that aligned her piano virtuosity with the commodified visual technology in an increasingly mechanized world, or ways that underscored her feminine sexuality and virtuosity as socially destabilizing or democratizing.
Associations between Social Support Dimensions and Resilience Factors and Pathways of Influence in Depression and Anxiety Rates in Young Adults
Authors: Mecha Patricia , Martin-Romero Nuria , Sanchez-Lopez Alvaro
Published: May 2023

Emerging adulthood is an important developmental period, associated to mental health risk. Resilience research points to both social and personal protective factors against development of psychopathology, but there is paucity with their comprehensive study in young adults. This study provides and initial integrative approach to model multiple dimensions of perceived social support (i.e., from family, friends, significant others) and personal factor of trait resilience (i.e., coping and persistence during stress, tolerance to negative affect, positive appraisals, trust) and their hypothesized contributions to reducing depression and anxiety rates. The study was conducted with a sample of 500 Spanish emerging adults (18 to 29 years old). Regression analyses and multiple mediation models were performed to test our hypotheses. Results showed that social support from family was the dimension with the highest strength relating individual differences in resilience. Furthermore, analyses supported a differential mediating role of specific resilience factors (coping and persistence during stress, tolerance to negative affect, positive appraisals, trust) in partially accounting for the association between higher social support from family and lower depression and anxiety levels in young adults. These results may inform new programs of mental health during emerging adulthood via the promotion of different sources of social support and their related resilience pathways contributing to low emotional symptomatology at this stage of development.
Trapped Between Goal Conflict and Availability Norm?
Authors: Halfmann Annabell , Meier Adrian , Reinecke Leonard
Published: May 2023

Abstract: An increasing number of studies indicate that individuals have difficulties in exerting self-control over media use, such as mobile messaging. Specifically, individuals frequently experience that their messenger use conflicts with primary goals (e.g., work tasks), which may cause negative self-conscious emotions such as guilt. At the same time, not checking and answering messages violates a now widely established availability norm, which may trigger negative self-conscious emotions as well. The current study, therefore, tests how goal conflicts and connection cues interact in influencing users’ negative self-conscious emotions about their messenger usage behavior. Drawing on self-control research in conjunction with self-determination theory and theoretical approaches to social norms, we derived hypotheses on the boundary conditions under which the frequency of messenger use causes negative self-conscious emotions. We thereby significantly extend previous research on the self-regulation of mobile media use, which largely assumes that self-control failure results from users’ intrinsic motivation to experience need satisfaction and pleasure and tends to overlook the fact that mediated communication is often extrinsically motivated due to the availability norm. The hypotheses were tested based on a preregistered laboratory experiment.
Downslope Wind‐Driven Fires in the Western United States
Authors: Abatzoglou J. T. , Kolden C. A. , Williams A. P. , Sadegh M. , Balch J. K. , Hall A.
Published: May 2023

Downslope wind‐driven fires have resulted in many of the wildfire disasters in the western United States and represent a unique hazard to infrastructure and human life. We analyze the co‐occurrence of wildfires and downslope winds across the western United States (US) during 1992–2020. Downslope wind‐driven fires accounted for 13.4% of the wildfires and 11.9% of the burned area in the western US yet accounted for the majority of local burned area in portions of southern California, central Washington, and the front range of the Rockies. These fires were predominantly ignited by humans, occurred closer to population centers, and resulted in outsized impacts on human lives and infrastructure. Since 1999, downslope wind‐driven fires have accounted for 60.1% of structures and 52.4% of human lives lost in wildfires in the western US. Downslope wind‐driven fires occurred under anomalously dry fuels and exhibited a seasonality distinct from other fires—occurring primarily in the spring and fall. Over 1992–2020, we document a 25% increase in the annual number of downslope wind‐driven fires and a 140% increase in their respective annual burned area, which partially reflects trends toward drier fuels. These results advance our understanding of the importance of downslope winds in driving disastrous wildfires that threaten populated regions adjacent to mountain ranges in the western US. The unique characteristics of downslope wind‐driven fires require increased fire prevention and adaptation strategies to minimize losses and incorporation of changing human‐ignitions, fuel availability and dryness, and downslope wind occurrence to elucidate future fire risk.
Sliding or Stumbling on the Staircase: Numerics of Ocean Circulation Along Piecewise‐Constant Coastlines
Authors: Nasser Antoine‐Alexis , Madec Gurvan , de Lavergne Casimir , Debreu Laurent , Lemarié Florian , Blayo Eric
Published: May 2023

Coastlines in most ocean general circulation models are piecewise constant. Accurate representation of boundary currents along staircase‐like coastlines is a long‐standing issue in ocean modeling. Pioneering work by Adcroft and Marshall (1998, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v50i1.14514) revealed that artificial indentation of model coastlines, obtained by rotating the numerical mesh within an idealized square basin, generates a spurious form drag that slows down the circulation. Here, we revisit this problem and show how this spurious drag may be eliminated. First, we find that physical convergence to spatial resolution (i.e., the main characteristics of the flow are insensitive to the increase of the mesh resolution) allows simulations to become independent of the mesh orientation. An advection scheme with a wider stencil also reduces sensitivity to mesh orientation from coarser resolution. Second, we show that indented coastlines behave as straight and slippery shores when a true mirror boundary condition on the flow is imposed. This finding applies to both symmetric and rotational‐divergence formulations of the stress tensor, and to both flux and vector‐invariant forms of the equations. Finally, we demonstrate that the detachment of a vortex flowing past an outgoing corner of the coastline is missed with a free‐slip (zero vorticity) condition at the corner. These results provide guidance for a better numerical treatment of coastlines (and isobaths) in ocean general circulation models.
On the Requirements for Inferring Aquifer‐Scale T and S in Heterogeneous Confined Aquifers
Authors: Naderi Mostafa , Gupta Hoshin V.
Published: May 2023

We study the sensitivity of aquifer‐scale estimates of transmissivity (T) and storativity (S) to the variance and correlation length scale of aquifer heterogeneity, when such estimates are obtained by the traditional approach of analyzing pumping test data. We consider both constant‐rate and variable‐rate pumping tests, and a variety of Theis‐based solution methodologies (single‐ and multiple‐observation well methods, and interpreted single value or transient values for T and S parameters) applied in pumping test data analysis. Our results indicate that achieving reliable inference of effective T and S requires that pumping be continued until the radius of the test‐induced cone of depression exceeds a “representative length” that corresponds to ∼15 times than the correlation length scale of the aquifer heterogeneity. Independent of solution type, pumping history, correlation length scale, magnitude of the sill, and location of observation well, the estimates for T will converge toward the geometric mean. For S, the estimation uncertainty is relatively large for observation wells that are close to the pumping well, but diminishes for observation wells located beyond the representative distance, resulting in convergence to the arithmetic mean. Given that these results have practical implications for how pumping tests should be carried out, we present a simple “rule‐of‐thumb” for estimating the correlation length scale of the heterogeneity of an aquifer.
A quinary WTaCrVHf nanocrystalline refractory high-entropy alloy withholding extreme irradiation environments
Authors: El Atwani O. , Vo H. T. , Tunes M. A. , Lee C. , Alvarado A. , Krienke N. , Poplawsky J. D. , Kohnert A. A. , Gigax J. , Chen W.-Y. , Li M. , Wang Y. Q. , Wróbel J. S. , Nguyen-Manh D. , Baldwin J. K. S. , Tukac O. U. , Aydogan E. , Fensin S. , Martinez E.
Published: May 2023

In the quest of new materials that can withstand severe irradiation and mechanical extremes for advanced applications (e.g. fission & fusion reactors, space applications, etc.), design, prediction and control of advanced materials beyond current material designs become paramount. Here, through a combined experimental and simulation methodology, we design a nanocrystalline refractory high entropy alloy (RHEA) system. Compositions assessed under extreme environments and in situ electron-microscopy reveal both high thermal stability and radiation resistance. We observe grain refinement under heavy ion irradiation and resistance to dual-beam irradiation and helium implantation in the form of low defect generation and evolution, as well as no detectable grain growth. The experimental and modeling results—showing a good agreement—can be applied to design and rapidly assess other alloys subjected to extreme environmental conditions.
Two-dimensional semiconducting SnP2Se6 with giant second-harmonic-generation for monolithic on-chip electronic-photonic integration
Authors: Zhu Cheng-Yi , Zhang Zimeng , Qin Jing-Kai , Wang Zi , Wang Cong , Miao Peng , Liu Yingjie , Huang Pei-Yu , Zhang Yao , Xu Ke , Zhen Liang , Chai Yang , Xu Cheng-Yan
Published: May 2023

Two-dimensional (2D) layered semiconductors with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties hold great promise to address the growing demand of multifunction integration in electronic-photonic integrated circuits (EPICs). However, electronic-photonic co-design with 2D NLO semiconductors for on-chip telecommunication is limited by their essential shortcomings in terms of unsatisfactory optoelectronic properties, odd-even layer-dependent NLO activity and low NLO susceptibility in telecom band. Here we report the synthesis of 2D SnP2Se6, a van der Waals NLO semiconductor exhibiting strong odd-even layer-independent second harmonic generation (SHG) activity at 1550 nm and pronounced photosensitivity under visible light. The combination of 2D SnP2Se6 with a SiN photonic platform enables the chip-level multifunction integration for EPICs. The hybrid device not only features efficient on-chip SHG process for optical modulation, but also allows the telecom-band photodetection relying on the upconversion of wavelength from 1560 to 780 nm. Our finding offers alternative opportunities for the collaborative design of EPICs.
Synergistic binding sites in a metal-organic framework for the optical sensing of nitrogen dioxide
Authors: del Castillo-Velilla Isabel , Sousaraei Ahmad , Romero-Muñiz Ignacio , Castillo-Blas Celia , S. J. Méndez Alba , Oropeza Freddy E. , de la Peña O’Shea Víctor A. , Cabanillas-González Juan , Mavrandonakis Andreas , Platero-Prats Ana E.
Published: May 2023

Luminescent metal-organic frameworks are an emerging class of optical sensors, able to capture and detect toxic gases. Herein, we report the incorporation of synergistic binding sites in MOF-808 through post-synthetic modification with copper for optical sensing of NO2 at remarkably low concentrations. Computational modelling and advanced synchrotron characterization tools are applied to elucidate the atomic structure of the copper sites. The excellent performance of Cu-MOF-808 is explained by the synergistic effect between the hydroxo/aquo-terminated Zr6O8 clusters and the copper-hydroxo single sites, where NO2 is adsorbed through combined dispersive- and metal-bonding interactions.
Structural basis for the self-recognition of sDSCAM in Chelicerata
Authors: Cheng Jie , Yu Yamei , Wang Xingyu , Zheng Xi , Liu Ting , Hu Daojun , Jin Yongfeng , Lai Ying , Fu Tian-Min , Chen Qiang
Published: May 2023

To create a functional neural circuit, neurons develop a molecular identity to discriminate self from non-self. The invertebrate Dscam family and vertebrate Pcdh family are implicated in determining synaptic specificity. Recently identified in Chelicerata, a shortened Dscam (sDscam) has been shown to resemble the isoform-generating characters of both Dscam and Pcdh and represent an evolutionary transition. Here we presented the molecular details of sDscam self-recognition via both trans and cis interactions using X-ray crystallographic data and functional assays. Based on our results, we proposed a molecular zipper model for the assemblies of sDscam to mediate cell-cell recognition. In this model, sDscam utilized FNIII domain to form side-by-side interactions with neighboring molecules in the same cell while established hand-in-hand interactions via Ig1 domain with molecules from another cell around. Together, our study provided a framework for understanding the assembly, recognition, and evolution of sDscam.
Gut microbiome dysbiosis across early Parkinson’s disease, REM sleep behavior disorder and their first-degree relatives
Authors: Huang Bei , Chau Steven W. H. , Liu Yaping , Chan Joey W. Y. , Wang Jing , Ma Suk Ling , Zhang Jihui , Chan Paul K. S. , Yeoh Yun Kit , Chen Zigui , Zhou Li , Wong Sunny Hei , Mok Vincent C. T. , To Ka Fai , Lai Hei Ming , Ng Simon , Trenkwalder Claudia , Chan Francis K. L. , Wing Yun Kwok
Published: May 2023

The microbiota-gut-brain axis has been suggested to play an important role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here we performed a cross-sectional study to profile gut microbiota across early PD, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), first-degree relatives of RBD (RBD-FDR), and healthy controls, which could reflect the gut-brain staging model of PD. We show gut microbiota compositions are significantly altered in early PD and RBD compared with control and RBD-FDR. Depletion of butyrate-producing bacteria and enrichment of pro-inflammatory Collinsella have already emerged in RBD and RBD-FDR after controlling potential confounders including antidepressants, osmotic laxatives, and bowel movement frequency. Random forest modelling identifies 12 microbial markers that are effective to distinguish RBD from control. These findings suggest that PD-like gut dysbiosis occurs at the prodromal stages of PD when RBD develops and starts to emerge in the younger RBD-FDR subjects. The study will have etiological and diagnostic implications.
Hierarchical porous photosensitizers with efficient photooxidation
Authors: Fang Yajun , Yang Yuntian , Xu Rui , Liang Mingyun , Mou Qi , Chen Shuixia , Kim Jehan , Jin Long Yi , Lee Myongsoo , Huang Zhegang
Published: May 2023

Photosensitizers (PSs) with nano- or micro-sized pore provide a great promise in the conversion of light energy into chemical fuel due to the excellent promotion for transporting singlet oxygen (1O2) into active sites. Despite such hollow PSs can be achieved by introducing molecular-level PSs into porous skeleton, however, the catalytic efficiency is far away from imagination because of the problems with pore deformation and blocking. Here, very ordered porous PSs with excellent1O2generation are presented from cross-linking of hierarchical porous laminates originated by co-assembly of hydrogen donative PSs and functionalized acceptor. The catalytic performance strongly depends on the preformed porous architectures, which is regulated by special recognition of hydrogen binding. As the increasing of hydrogen acceptor quantities, 2D-organized PSs laminates gradually transform into uniformly perforated porous layers with highly dispersed molecular PSs. The premature termination by porous assembly endows superior activity as well as specific selectivity for the photo-oxidative degradation, which contributes to efficient purification in aryl-bromination without any postprocessing.
Mechanistic models project bird invasions with accuracy
Authors: Strubbe Diederik , Jiménez Laura , Barbosa A. Márcia , Davis Amy J. S. , Lens Luc , Rahbek Carsten
Published: May 2023

Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity and inflict massive economic costs. Effective management of bio-invasions depends on reliable predictions of areas at risk of invasion, as they allow early invader detection and rapid responses. Yet, considerable uncertainty remains as to how to predict best potential invasive distribution ranges. Using a set of mainly (sub)tropical birds introduced to Europe, we show that the true extent of the geographical area at risk of invasion can accurately be determined by using ecophysiological mechanistic models that quantify species’ fundamental thermal niches. Potential invasive ranges are primarily constrained by functional traits related to body allometry and body temperature, metabolic rates, and feather insulation. Given their capacity to identify tolerable climates outside of contemporary realized species niches, mechanistic predictions are well suited for informing effective policy and management aimed at preventing the escalating impacts of invasive species.
Gut microbiota and circadian rhythm in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology: a review and hypothesis on their association
Authors: Khezri Mohammad Rafi , Ghasemnejad-Berenji Morteza
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Different pathologic changes have been introduced to be involved in its progression. Although amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation are mainly considered the main characterizations of AD, several other processes are involved. In recent years, several other changes, including alterations in gut microbiota proportion and circadian rhythms, have been noticed due to their role in AD progression. However, the exact mechanism indicating the association between circadian rhythms and gut microbiota abundance has not been investigated yet. This paper aims to review the role of gut microbiota and circadian rhythm in AD pathophysiology and introduces a hypothesis to explain their association.
Risk assessment of retinal vascular occlusion after COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Li Jing-Xing , Wang Yu-Hsun , Bair Henry , Hsu Shu-Bai , Chen Connie , Wei James Cheng-Chung , Lin Chun-Ju
Published: May 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are associated with several ocular manifestations. Emerging evidence has been reported; however, the causality between the two is debatable. We aimed to investigate the risk of retinal vascular occlusion after COVID-19 vaccination. This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX global network and included individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines between January 2020 and December 2022. We excluded individuals with a history of retinal vascular occlusion or those who used any systemic medication that could potentially affect blood coagulation prior to vaccination. To compare the risk of retinal vascular occlusion, we employed multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models after performing a 1:1 propensity score matching between the vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts. Individuals with COVID-19 vaccination had a higher risk of all forms of retinal vascular occlusion in 2 years after vaccination, with an overall hazard ratio of 2.19 (95% confidence interval 2.00–2.39). The cumulative incidence of retinal vascular occlusion was significantly higher in the vaccinated cohort compared to the unvaccinated cohort, 2 years and 12 weeks after vaccination. The risk of retinal vascular occlusion significantly increased during the first 2 weeks after vaccination and persisted for 12 weeks. Additionally, individuals with first and second dose of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 had significantly increased risk of retinal vascular occlusion 2 years following vaccination, while no disparity was detected between brand and dose of vaccines. This large multicenter study strengthens the findings of previous cases. Retinal vascular occlusion may not be a coincidental finding after COVID-19 vaccination.
Online biofilm monitoring is missing in technical systems: how to build stronger case-studies?
Authors: Pereira Ana , Melo Luis F.
Published: May 2023

Using physical tools to assess online, real-time, continuous information about biofilms in technical water systems is a key component of an early-warning antifouling strategy. However, online biofilm monitoring is not yet relevant in real-field practice, nor in lab studies. In this review we analyse online biofilm monitoring from an academic perspective to provide insights on what science can improve to bring it to the spotlight of biofouling management and prevention. We argue the need to involve a broader community of biofilm researchers on the use of online monitoring to deepen biofilm studies (e.g. linking biofilm features, dynamics and operational impact) as well as the need for more, and better detailed studies. This will, consequently, reinforce the added value of biofilm monitoring as part of an early-warning antifouling strategy while bridging the techniques’ potential to the real-field needs. Finally, we propose a framework to improve laboratorial and field studies.