bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Documentation of Reflective Objects: A Cross-Polarised Photogrammetry Workflow for Complex Materials
Authors: Frost Adam , Mirashrafi Sophia , Sánchez Clara Molina , Vacas-Madrid David , Millan Elina Rodriguez , Wilson Lyn
Published: July 2023

The quality of digital documentation of cultural heritage sites and objects is influenced significantly by the complexity of the subject. Complexity is an encompassing concept comprised of a range of factors including material properties and surface characteristics. Highly reflective items pose a challenge to traditional workflows, which has been previously addressed with a range of mitigating techniques and strategies, often including cross-polarised photogrammetry lighting setups to omit specular type reflections. However, in the removal of reflections to achieve more robust surface geometry, important information about the specular albedo of the surface can be lost. In this paper we demonstrate an accessible single camera cross-polarised photogrammetry workflow to retain the diffuse and specular albedo information. The results have enabled qualitative assessments about the individual objects and their materials through the workflow. The items discussed include ceramic, metal and wood material types, and through the separation of specular information offer unique improvements to their visualisation and insights to their physical condition for conservation purposes.
The mRNA expression and secretion of granzyme B are up-regulated via the histamine H2 receptor in human CD4+ T cells
Authors: Dawodu Damilola , Sand Sophie , Nikolouli Eirini , Werfel Thomas , Mommert Susanne
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Granzyme B (GZMB), a serine protease with cytotoxic and immunomodulatory functions, shows elevated levels in blood plasma of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). It has been observed that GZMB expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is higher in lesional skin in AD than in healthy skin. Since histamine is present in high concentration in the skin of AD patients, we investigated the regulation of GZMB in human CD4+ T cells by histamine.

Methods

Naïve CD4+ T cells polarized into Th2 cells, total CD4+ T cells treated with IL-4 for 72 h and CD4+ T cells isolated from healthy donors and AD patients were investigated. The cells were stimulated with histamine or with different histamine-receptor agonists. Gene expression was evaluated by RNA-Seq. GZMB mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real time PCR, whereas GZMB secretion was measured by ELISpot and ELISA. T cell degranulation was evaluated by flow cytometry using CD107a surface expression as a degranulation marker.

Results

By RNA-Seq, we identified the up-regulation of various genes of the cytotoxic pathway, in particular of GZMB, by histamine in Th2-polarized CD4+ T cells. In Th2-polarized CD4+ T cells and in CD4+ T cells activated by IL-4 the mRNA expression of GZMB was significantly up-regulated by histamine and by histamine H2 receptor (H2R) agonists. The induction of GZMB secretion by histamine was significantly higher in CD4+ T cells from AD patients than in those from healthy donors. CD107a surface expression was up-regulated by trend in response to histamine in Th2-polarized CD4+ T cells.

Conclusion

Our findings may help to elucidate novel mechanisms of the H2R and to achieve a better understanding of the role of GZMB in the pathogenesis of AD.
Values of Binary Partition Function Represented by a Sum of Three Squares
Authors: Sobolewski Bartosz , Ulas Maciej
Published: July 2023

Letmbe a positive integer and$$b_{m}(n)$$bm(n)be the number of partitions of a non-negative integernwith parts being powers of 2, where each part can takemcolors. We show that if$$m=2^{k}-1$$m=2k-1, then the natural density ofnsuch that$$b_{m}(n)$$bm(n)cannot be represented as a sum of three squares exists, and equals 1/12 for$$k=1, 2$$k=1,2and 1/6 for$$k\ge 3$$k≥3. In particular, for$$m=1$$m=1the equation$$b_{1}(n)=x^2+y^2+z^2$$b1(n)=x2+y2+z2has a solution in integers if and only ifnis not of the form$$2^{2k+2}(8s+2t_{s}+3)+i$$22k+2(8s+2ts+3)+ifor$$i=0, 1$$i=0,1andk, sare non-negative integers, and where$$t_{n}$$tnis thenth term in the Prouhet–Thue–Morse sequence. A similar characterization is obtained for the solutions innof the equation$$b_{2^k-1}(n)=x^2+y^2+z^2$$b2k-1(n)=x2+y2+z2.
Early life exposure to air pollution and psychotic-like experiences, emotional symptoms, and conduct problems in middle childhood
Authors: Bradley Melissa , Dean Kimberlie , Lim Samsung , Laurens Kristin R. , Harris Felicity , Tzoumakis Stacy , O’Hare Kirstie , Carr Vaughan J. , Green Melissa J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Air pollution has been linked to a variety of childhood mental health problems, but results are inconsistent across studies and the effect of exposure timing is unclear. We examined the associations between air pollution exposure at two time-points in early development and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), and emotional and conduct symptoms, assessed in middle childhood (mean age 11.5 years).

Methods

Participants were 19,932 children selected from the NSW Child Development Study (NSW-CDS) with available linked multi-agency data from birth, and self-reported psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and psychopathology at age 11–12 years (middle childhood). We used binomial logistic regression to examine associations between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) at two time-points (birth and middle childhood) and middle childhood PLEs, and emotional and conduct symptoms, with consideration of socioeconomic status and other potential confounding factors in adjusted models.

Results

In fully adjusted models, NO2 exposure in middle childhood was associated with concurrent PLEs (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02–1.20). Similar associations with PLEs were found for middle childhood exposure to PM2.5 (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01–1.09). Neither NO2 nor PM2.5 exposure was associated with emotional symptoms or conduct problems in this study.

Conclusions

This study highlights the need for a better understanding of potential mechanisms of action of NO2 in the brain during childhood.
Biological nitrogen fixation in the long-term nitrogen-fertilized and unfertilized paddy fields, with special reference to diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria
Authors: Masuda Yoko , Satoh Sakura , Miyamoto Ryota , Takano Ryo , Ishii Katsuhiro , Ohba Hirotomo , Shiratori Yutaka , Senoo Keishi
Published: July 2023

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is important to sustain nitrogen fertility of paddy soil and rice yield, while could be affected by nitrogen fertilization. Iron-reducing bacteria, Anaeromyxobacter and Geobacter, are newly found diazotrophic bacteria predominant in paddy soil. Experimental field of this study is a long-term (35 years) nitrogen fertilized (6.0 g N/m2/year) and unfertilized paddy field, where ca. 70% of rice yield was obtained yearly in nitrogen unfertilized plot (443 ± 37 g/m2) compared to fertilized plot (642 ± 64 g/m2). Effects of long-term nitrogen fertilization/unfertilization on soil properties related to BNF were investigated with special reference to diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria. Soil chemical/biochemical properties, soil nitrogen-fixing activity, and community composition of diazotrophic bacteria were similar between nitrogen fertilized and unfertilized plot soils. In both plot soils, Anaeromyxobacter and Geobacter were the most predominant diazotrophs. Their nifD transcripts were detected at similar level, while those of other general diazotrophs were under detection limit. It was concluded that long-term use/unuse of nitrogen fertilizer in this field did not affect the predominance and nitrogen-fixing activity of diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria, composition of other general diazotrophs, and the resulting soil nitrogen-fixing activity. BNF, primarily driven by diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria, might significantly contribute to sustain soil nitrogen fertility and rice yield in both plot soils. Appropriate soil management to maintain BNF, including diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria, will be important for sustainable soil nitrogen fertility and rice production.
Effect of chitosan addition on acetaldehyde and polymeric pigments production after oxidation of red wines with different tannin/anthocyanins ratio
Authors: Picariello Luigi , Errichiello Francesco , Coppola Francesca , Rinaldi Alessandra , Moio Luigi , Gambuti Angelita
Published: July 2023

In order to evaluate the effect of the application of chitosan to red wines with different initial composition, four wines showing tannins/anthocyanins ratio (T/A) ranging from 0.15 to 2.44 were treated with this amino polysaccharide. As one of the main factors involved in red wine ageing is the oxidation, even a forced oxidation test was applied on all the samples. The addition of chitosan determined a decrease in total phenolic compounds mainly due to the adsorption of protein-reactive tannins which decreased from 10 to 50% of the initial value. The previous addition of chitosan determined a lower production of acetaldehyde after oxidation confirming the antioxidant activity of this amino polysaccharide. The production of acetaldehyde was lower in samples with a higher T/A ratio probably due to the involvement of acetaldehyde in reactions with flavanols and anthocyanins giving polymeric pigments. These results suggest a possible use of chitosan in red wine with a higher T/A ratio to decrease the content of tannins reactive towards proteins and, contemporary, to act as antioxidant.
DEM-simulation of thin elastic membranes interacting with a granulate
Authors: Götz Holger , Pöschel Thorsten
Published: July 2023

For a wide range of applications, we need DEM simulations of granular matter in contact with elastic flexible boundaries. We present a novel method to describe the interaction between granular particles and a flexible elastic membrane. Here, the standard mass-spring model approach is supplemented by surface patches given by triangulation of the membrane. In contrast to standard mass-spring models, our simulation method allows for an efficient simulation even for large particle size dispersion. The novel method allows coarsening of the mass-spring system leading to a substantial increase in computation efficiency. The simulation method is demonstrated and benchmarked for a triaxial test.
The potential of Ascophyllum nodosum to accelerate green waste composting
Authors: Al-Dulaimi Omar , Rateb Mostafa E. , Hursthouse Andrew S. , Thomson Gary , Yaseen Mohammed
Published: July 2023

Millions of tonnes of green waste are produced annually in the UK. Composting usually extends to more than two months as well as producing greenhouse gases that can affect the environment if not optimised. We proposed a potential approach to use the algal extract from Ascophyllum nodosum as a compost accelerator. Seaweed-based treatments offer an economical and effective biological solution that activates and stabilises organic matter decomposition, promoting better carbon sequestration. Reducing both the cost and time associated with widely used composting approaches. The seaweed was collected from the Scottish coastline, extracted, and formulated to enhance application. Its effects on the timeline of the composting process were systematically investigated through physical, biological, and observational quantification. The emission of gases, the pH, temperature, humidity, consistency, and microbial growth of the compost were studied. Interestingly, the results showed that the compost reached a stable state within six weeks, with lower ammonia and carbon dioxide production. The use of this formulation can minimise expense, reduce resources used, and also lower the levels of harmful volatile organics. This approach is economically beneficial and environmentally crucial in compost formation, controlling contamination, and carbon sequestration optimisation.
Why Ethics Commissions? Four Normative Models
Authors: Hegstad Eilev
Published: July 2023

Ethics commissions are government advisory commissions mandated to give expert advice on contentious moral issues. As this requires making explicit value judgments, members with expert knowledge of ethics have a natural place as members of such commissions. Apart from these commissions being widespread, their recommendations assume a special normative authority within the legislative process. This raises many fundamental questions concerning the nature of moral expertise and how such commissions should deal with the political contexts in which they operate. Through a reading of the relevant discussions in the literature in which the underlying normative ideals are located, this article reconstructs four normative models of the proper role of ethics commissions. This reconstruction seeks to contribute to analytical clarity and to elucidate the underlying disagreements concerning our expectations of ethics commissions. The four models, labeled ‘commission consensus model’, ‘society-proxy model’, ‘correctness model’, and ‘deep pluralism model’, differ from one another in terms of two main dimensions: the expertise and the public/political dimensions. After describing the models, giving examples from the literature on how they can be explicated, and describing an empirical example of a commission that has approximated the ideals, the strengths and weaknesses of the four models are discussed before the article concludes by asking whether there is one correct model of ethics commissions.
Trustworthy Science Advice: The Case of Policy Recommendations
Authors: Gundersen Torbjørn
Published: July 2023

This paper examines how science advice can provide policy recommendations in a trustworthy manner. Despite their major political importance, expert recommendations are understudied in the philosophy of science and social epistemology. Matthew Bennett has recently developed a notion of what he calls recommendation trust, according to which well-placed trust in experts’ policy recommendations requires that recommendations are aligned with the interests of the trust-giver. While interest alignment might be central to some cases of public trust, this paper argues against the significance of interest-alignment to meritorious public trust. First, political bodies and citizens can have a basic kind of well-placed recommendation trust in science advice based on an all-things-considered judgement regarding the possession of relevant competencies, responsible conduct, and a proper institutional design. Moreover, scientists’ policy recommendations can be seen as open-ended and as dynamic proposals that enable inter-institutional reasoning and political deliberation. Finally, by providing conditional recommendations, scientists can expand the scope of feasible policy options from which political bodies can choose, thus making the condition of interest alignment even less significant to the trustworthy provision of recommendations.
Pitfalls in hydrologic model calibration in a data scarce environment with a strong seasonality: experience from the Adyar catchment, India
Authors: Tigabu Tibebe B. , Wagner Paul D. , Narasimhan Balaji , Fohrer Nicola
Published: July 2023

Process-based hydrologic models can provide necessary information for water resources management. However, the reliability of hydrological models depends on the availability of appropriate input data and proper model calibration. In this study, we demonstrate that common calibration procedures that assume stationarity of hydrological processes can lead to unsatisfactory model performance in areas that experience a strong seasonal climate. Moreover, we develop a more robust calibration procedure for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the Adyar catchment of Chennai, India. Calibration was carried out based on seasonal decomposition and by successively shifting the calibration period. Daily and monthly streamflow records were used to investigate how these different calibration procedures influence model parameterization. Results show that SWAT model performance improved when calibrated after separating the streamflow into wet and dry seasons. The wet season calibration increased the Kling Gupta Efficiency coefficient and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficient values from 0.56 to 0.68 and 0.19 to 0.51, respectively, compared to calibration based on wet and dry seasons together. In addition, when calibration time periods were shifted, resultant sets of model parameter values and performance metrics differed. Calibration based on the 2004–2009 period resulted in an overestimation of streamflow by 8.2%, whereas the overestimation was 12.1%, 18.3%, and 20.0% for the 2004–2010, 2004–2011, and 2004–2012 periods, respectively. This study underlines that both the availability of observed streamflow data and the way these data are applied to calibration have a strong impact on model parameterization and performance.
Integrating Vision Transformer-Based Bilinear Pooling and Attention Network Fusion of RGB and Skeleton Features for Human Action Recognition
Authors: Sun Yaohui , Xu Weiyao , Yu Xiaoyi , Gao Ju , Xia Ting
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we propose VT-BPAN, a novel approach that combines the capabilities of Vision Transformer (VT), bilinear pooling, and attention network fusion for effective human action recognition (HAR). The proposed methodology significantly enhances the accuracy of activity recognition through the following advancements: (1) The introduction of an effective two-stream feature pooling and fusion mechanism that combines RGB frames and skeleton data to augment the spatial–temporal feature representation. (2) The development of a spatial lightweight vision transformer that mitigates computational costs. The evaluation of this framework encompasses three widely employed video action datasets, demonstrating that the proposed approach achieves performance on par with state-of-the-art methods.
Stick-slip squirmers: slip asymmetry can qualitatively change self-swimming characteristics of squirmers
Authors: Yang Fu-Ling , Chen You-An , Premlata A.R. , Wei Hsien-Hung
Published: July 2023

A slip asymmetry can break the fore–aft symmetry of the local hydrodynamic force distribution on the surface of an otherwise no-slip or uniform-slip particle. Here, we use the Lorentz reciprocal theorem to demonstrate that such asymmetry, even in a fractional amount, can qualitatively alter the swimming characteristics of a self-propelled spherical squirmer, markedly different from those of no-slip or uniform-slip squirmers. Unlike the usual tangential squirming by the thrust-providing B1 mode and the type-determining B2 mode, we discover two unique features for a stick-slip squirmer. First, the squirmer can acquire a swimming velocity
U
without the B1 mode but simply by a symmetric extensile/contractile squirming from the B2 mode, which is able to reverse the swimming direction of the squirmer. Second, a stresslet

$\boldsymbol{\mathsf{S}}$

can also be induced by a unidirectional squirming from the B1 mode, capable of inverting the squirmer's stresslet from extensile type to contractile type or vice versa to change the squirmer from puller to pusher or in a reverse manner. We further show that the two squirming modes can reinforce or compete with each other to enhance or diminish
U
and

$\boldsymbol{\mathsf{S}}$

due to interplays between the asymmetric squirming forces on the stick and the slip faces. A phase diagram is also established to categorize a variety of newly emerging swimming states, such as an enhanced/degraded puller/pusher and a backward puller/pusher, depending on the relative strength of the squirming modes β = B2/B1, the direction of the stick-slip polarity and the degree of the slip disparity. As a result of such cooperative and competitive natures, a stick-slip squirmer can swim more or less efficiently than no-slip and uniform-slip ones. These distinctive features arising from stick-slip disparity can not only be made geometrically tuneable for steering the motion of a squirmer, but also provide new means for making efficient artificial microswimmers using amphiphilic Janus particles.
Dynamics of cavitating tip vortex
Authors: Ye Qingqing , Wang Yuwei , Shao Xueming
Published: July 2023

The three-dimensional dynamic behaviour of a tip vortex generated by a NACA

$66_2$

-415 hydrofoil is investigated under wetted flow and cavitating conditions using time-resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry. Two main cavitation modes are studied, namely the breathing and double-helical modes. The time-averaged flow field consists of a system of two streamwise vortices for all three conditions. The shape of the tip vortex resembles that of the cavitation mode, instead of a circular cylinder. Multi-scale vortical structures are captured in the instantaneous flow field. The surface oscillation of the cavity contributes to the growth of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability over the tip vortex, leading to the onset of hairpin vortices. Stronger spanwise interaction between the tip vortex and flow separation of the hydrofoil is produced by cavitation, further intensifying the perturbation growth. The proper orthogonal decomposition analysis gives insight into the relationship between cavity oscillation and vortex instability. Two major types of unstable modes of the tip vortex are obtained, leading to serpentine centreline displacement and elliptical deformation motion. The selection of the dominant unstable mode is associated with cavity surface oscillation. For the wetted flow condition, the displacement mode dominates the growth of vortex perturbation, while for breathing mode cavitation, the most energetic unstable mode changes into an elliptical deformation pattern, the disturbance energy of which is negligible in the wetted flow condition. Consistency is found between the peak frequency of the deformation mode and the cavity resonance frequency, indicating the contribution of cavity oscillation to the disturbance growth and breakdown of the tip vortex.
Geochronology and formal stratigraphy of the Sturtian Glaciation in the Adelaide Superbasin
Authors: Lloyd Jarred C. , Preiss Wolfgang V. , Collins Alan S. , Virgo Georgina M. , Blades Morgan L. , Gilbert Sarah E. , Subarkah Darwinaji , Krapf Carmen B.E. , Amos Kathryn J.
Published: July 2023

The glaciogenic nature of the Yudnamutana Subgroup was first recognized over a century ago, and its global significance was recognized shortly after, with the eventual postulation of a global Sturtian Glaciation and Snowball Earth theory. Much debate on the origin and timing of these rocks, locally and globally, has ensued in the years since. A significant corpus of research on the lithology, sedimentology, geochronology and formal lithostratigraphy of these sequences globally has attempted to resolve many of these debates. In the type area for the Sturtian Glaciation, South Australia’s Adelaide Superbasin, the lithostratigraphy and sedimentology are well understood; however, formal stratigraphic nomenclature has remained complicated and contested. Absolute dates on the stratigraphy are also extremely sparse in this area. The result of these longstanding issues has been disagreement as to whether the sedimentary rocks of the Yudnamutana Subgroup are truly correlative throughout South Australia, and if they were deposited in the same time span recently defined for Sturtian glacial rocks globally, c. 717 Ma to c. 660 Ma. This study presents a large detrital zircon study, summarizes and compiles existing global geochronology for the Sturtian Glaciation and revises the formal lithostratigraphic framework of the Yudnamutana Subgroup. We show equivalence of the rocks that comprise the revised Sturt Formation, the main glaciogenic unit of the Yudnamutana Subgroup, and that it was deposited within the time span globally defined for the Sturtian Glaciation.
Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Herbivorous Waterbird Habitat in Floodplain Wetland Driven by Hydrology
Authors: Teng Jiakun , Xia Shaoxia , Duan Houlang , Liu Yu , Yu Xiubo , Yang Wenjuan
Published: July 2023

The hydrological rhythm of floodplain wetlands affected by natural climate variability and human activities is the driving factor affecting the distribution of herbivorous geese habitats. It has always been challenging to determine its long‐term variation, due to the lack of data on species distribution and broad wetland observation. In this study, the key normalized difference vegetation index threshold range suitable for herbivorous geese, greater white‐fronted geese (Anser albifrons, GWG) and bean geese (Anser fabalis, BG), was discovered by combining GPS tracking data with Landsat satellite data. The suitable habitat area and distribution variation characteristics of GWG and BG from 1982 to 2020 were extracted based on the threshold range. The results showed that the suitable habitat area had a declining trend after 2003, that the distribution had moved toward the lake's center, and that its average elevation had decreased by around 1 m, particularly during the arrival period. The change of herbivorous geese habitat is caused by the continuous drying of Poyang Lake. The study can offer a rational scientific foundation for wetland waterbird protection and watershed hydrological management.
Comparing Sediment Microbial Communities of Arctic Beaver Ponds to Tundra Lakes and Streams
Authors: Shannon Kelly C. , Christman Natasha R. , Crump Byron C. , Carey Michael P. , Koch Joshua , Lapham Laura L. , O’Donnell Jonathan , Poulin Brett A. , Tape Ken D. , Clark Jason A. , Colwell Frederick S.
Published: July 2023

In recent decades the habitat of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has expanded from boreal forests into Arctic tundra ecosystems. Beaver ponds in Arctic watersheds are known to alter stream biogeochemistry, which is likely coupled with changes in the activity and composition of microbial communities inhabiting beaver pond sediments. We investigated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities in beaver pond sediments along tundra streams in northwestern Alaska (AK), USA and compared them to those of tundra lakes and streams in north‐central Alaska that are unimpacted by beavers. β‐glucosidase activity assays indicated higher cellulose degradation potential in beaver ponds than in unimpacted streams and lakes within a watershed absent of beavers. Beta diversity analyses showed that dominant lineages of bacteria and archaea in beaver ponds differed from those in tundra lakes and streams, but dominant fungal lineages did not differ between these sample types. Beaver pond sediments displayed lower relative abundances of Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota archaea and of bacteria from typically anaerobic taxonomic groups, suggesting differences in rates of fermentative organic matter (OM) breakdown, syntrophy, and methane generation. Beaver ponds also displayed low relative abundances of Chytridiomycota (putative non‐symbiotic) fungi and high relative abundances of ectomycorrhizal (plant symbionts) Basidiomycota fungi, suggesting differences in the occurrence of plant and fungi mutualistic interactions. Beaver ponds also featured microbes with taxonomic identities typically associated with the cycling of nitrogen and sulfur compounds in higher relative abundances than tundra lakes and streams. These findings help clarify the microbiological implications of beavers expanding into high latitude regions.
Detection of the fungicide transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil in serum of pregnant women from Sweden and Costa Rica
Authors: Krais Annette M. , de Joode Berna van Wendel , Liljedahl Emelie Rietz , Blomberg Annelise J. , Rönnholm Anna , Bengtsson Marie , Cano Juan Camilo , Hoppin Jane A. , Littorin Margareta , Nielsen Christel , Lindh Christian H.
Published: July 2023

Background

4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281), a transformation product of the fungicide chlorothalonil, was recently identified in human serum and breast milk. There are indications that HCT may be more toxic and environmentally persistent than chlorothalonil.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate serum concentrations of HCT in pregnant women in Sweden and Costa Rica.

Methods

We developed a quantitative analytical method for HCT using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We measured HCT in 1808 serum samples from pregnant women from the general population in Sweden (1997–2015) and in 632 samples from 393 pregnant women from an agricultural population in Costa Rica (2010–2011). In Swedish samples, we assessed time trends and investigated seasonality. In the Costa Rican samples, we evaluated variability between and within women and explanatory variables of HCT concentrations.

Results

HCT was detected in all serum samples, and the limit of detection was 0.1 µg/L. The median HCT concentration in the Swedish samples was 4.1 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR] of 2.9 − 5.8 µg/L), and 3.9 times higher in the Costa Rican samples (median: 16.1 µg/L; IQR: 10.6 − 25.0 µg/L). We found clear seasonal variation with higher concentrations in the first half of each year among Swedish women. In the Costa Rican study, women working in agriculture and living near banana plantations had higher HCT concentrations, whilst higher parity and having a partner working in agriculture were associated with decreased HCT, and no clear seasonal pattern was observed.

Impact statement

For the first time, this study quantifies human exposure to the fungicide chlorothalonil and/or its transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281) and finds higher serum concentrations in women from a tropical agricultural setting as compared with women from the general population in Sweden.
Genetically engineered mouse models of head and neck cancers
Authors: Tasoulas Jason , Srivastava Sonal , Xu Xiaonan , Tarasova Valentina , Maniakas Anastasios , Karreth Florian A. , Amelio Antonio L.
Published: July 2023

The head and neck region is one of the anatomic sites commonly afflicted by cancer, with ~1.5 million new diagnoses reported worldwide in 2020 alone. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the underlying disease mechanisms, personalizing care based on each tumor’s individual molecular characteristics, and even therapeutically exploiting the inherent vulnerabilities of these neoplasms. In this regard, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have played an instrumental role. While progress in the development of GEMMs has been slower than in other major cancer types, several GEMMs are now available that recapitulate most of the heterogeneous characteristics of head and neck cancers such as the tumor microenvironment. Different approaches have been employed in GEMM development and implementation, though each can generally recapitulate only certain disease aspects. As a result, appropriate model selection is essential for addressing specific research questions. In this review, we present an overview of all currently available head and neck cancer GEMMs, encompassing models for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and salivary and thyroid gland carcinomas.
Imaging the electron charge density in monolayer MoS2 at the Ångstrom scale
Authors: Martis Joel , Susarla Sandhya , Rayabharam Archith , Su Cong , Paule Timothy , Pelz Philipp , Huff Cassandra , Xu Xintong , Li Hao-Kun , Jaikissoon Marc , Chen Victoria , Pop Eric , Saraswat Krishna , Zettl Alex , Aluru Narayana R. , Ramesh Ramamoorthy , Ercius Peter , Majumdar Arun
Published: July 2023

Four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) has recently gained widespread attention for its ability to image atomic electric fields with sub-Ångstrom spatial resolution. These electric field maps represent the integrated effect of the nucleus, core electrons and valence electrons, and separating their contributions is non-trivial. In this paper, we utilized simultaneously acquired 4D-STEM center of mass (CoM) images and annular dark field (ADF) images to determine the projected electron charge density in monolayer MoS2. We evaluate the contributions of both the core electrons and the valence electrons to the derived electron charge density; however, due to blurring by the probe shape, the valence electron contribution forms a nearly featureless background while most of the spatial modulation comes from the core electrons. Our findings highlight the importance of probe shape in interpreting charge densities derived from 4D-STEM and the need for smaller electron probes.
Computational analysis of peripheral blood smears detects disease-associated cytomorphologies
Authors: de Almeida José Guilherme , Gudgin Emma , Besser Martin , Dunn William G. , Cooper Jonathan , Haferlach Torsten , Vassiliou George S. , Gerstung Moritz
Published: July 2023

Many hematological diseases are characterized by altered abundance and morphology of blood cells and their progenitors. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), for example, are a group of blood cancers characterised by cytopenias, dysplasia of hematopoietic cells and blast expansion. Examination of peripheral blood slides (PBS) in MDS often reveals changes such as abnormal granulocyte lobulation or granularity and altered red blood cell (RBC) morphology; however, some of these features are shared with conditions such as haematinic deficiency anemias. Definitive diagnosis of MDS requires expert cytomorphology analysis of bone marrow smears and complementary information such as blood counts, karyotype and molecular genetics testing. Here, we present Haemorasis, a computational method that detects and characterizes white blood cells (WBC) and RBC in PBS. Applied to over 300 individuals with different conditions (SF3B1-mutant andSF3B1-wildtype MDS, megaloblastic anemia, and iron deficiency anemia), Haemorasis detected over half a million WBC and millions of RBC and characterized their morphology. These large sets of cell morphologies can be used in diagnosis and disease subtyping, while identifying novel associations between computational morphotypes and disease. We find that hypolobulated neutrophils and large RBC are characteristic ofSF3B1-mutant MDS. Additionally, while prevalent in both iron deficiency and megaloblastic anemia, hyperlobulated neutrophils are larger in the latter. By integrating cytomorphological features using machine learning, Haemorasis was able to distinguish SF3B1-mutant MDS from other MDS using cytomorphology and blood counts alone, with high predictive performance. We validate our findings externally, showing that they generalize to other centers and scanners. Collectively, our work reveals the potential for the large-scale incorporation of automated cytomorphology into routine diagnostic workflows.
Engineered reporter phages for detection of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella in urine
Authors: Meile Susanne , Du Jiemin , Staubli Samuel , Grossmann Sebastian , Koliwer-Brandl Hendrik , Piffaretti Pietro , Leitner Lorenz , Matter Cassandra I. , Baggenstos Jasmin , Hunold Laura , Milek Sonja , Guebeli Christian , Kozomara-Hocke Marko , Neumeier Vera , Botteon Angela , Klumpp Jochen , Marschall Jonas , McCallin Shawna , Zbinden Reinhard , Kessler Thomas M. , Loessner Martin J. , Dunne Matthew , Kilcher Samuel
Published: July 2023

The rapid detection and species-level differentiation of bacterial pathogens facilitates antibiotic stewardship and improves disease management. Here, we develop a rapid bacteriophage-based diagnostic assay to detect the most prevalent pathogens causing urinary tract infections: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. For each uropathogen, two virulent phages were genetically engineered to express a nanoluciferase reporter gene upon host infection. Using 206 patient urine samples, reporter phage-induced bioluminescence was quantified to identify bacteriuria and the assay was benchmarked against conventional urinalysis. Overall, E. coli, Enterococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. were each detected with high sensitivity (68%, 78%, 87%), specificity (99%, 99%, 99%), and accuracy (90%, 94%, 98%) at a resolution of ≥103 CFU/ml within 5 h. We further demonstrate how bioluminescence in urine can be used to predict phage antibacterial activity, demonstrating the future potential of reporter phages as companion diagnostics that guide patient-phage matching prior to therapeutic phage application.
Multi-omics analysis of human mesenchymal stem cells shows cell aging that alters immunomodulatory activity through the downregulation of PD-L1
Authors: Gao Yuchen , Chi Ying , Chen Yunfei , Wang Wentian , Li Huiyuan , Zheng Wenting , Zhu Ping , An Jinying , Duan Yanan , Sun Ting , Liu Xiaofan , Xue Feng , Liu Wei , Fu Rongfeng , Han Zhibo , Zhang Yingchi , Yang Renchi , Cheng Tao , Wei Jun , Zhang Lei , Zhang Xiaomin
Published: July 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess potent immunomodulatory activity and have been extensively investigated for their therapeutic potential in treating inflammatory disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the immunosuppressive function of MSCs are not fully understood, hindering the development of standardized MSC-based therapies for clinical use. In this study, we profile the single-cell transcriptomes of MSCs isolated from adipose tissue (AD), bone marrow (BM), placental chorionic membrane (PM), and umbilical cord (UC). Our results demonstrate that MSCs undergo a progressive aging process and that the cellular senescence state influences their immunosuppressive activity by downregulating PD-L1 expression. Through integrated analysis of single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic data, we identify GATA2 as a regulator of MSC senescence and PD-L1 expression. Overall, our findings highlight the roles of cell aging and PD-L1 expression in modulating the immunosuppressive efficacy of MSCs and implicating perinatal MSC therapy for clinical applications in inflammatory disorders.
A maize epimerase modulates cell wall synthesis and glycosylation during stomatal morphogenesis
Authors: Zhou Yusen , Zhang Tian , Wang Xiaocui , Wu Wenqiang , Xing Jingjing , Li Zuliang , Qiao Xin , Zhang Chunrui , Wang Xiaohang , Wang Guangshun , Li Wenhui , Bai Shenglong , Li Zhi , Suo Yuanzhen , Wang Jiajia , Niu Yanli , Zhang Junli , Lan Chen , Hu Zhubing , Li Baozhu , Zhang Xuebin , Wang Wei , Galbraith David W. , Chen Yuhang , Guo Siyi , Song Chun-Peng
Published: July 2023

The unique dumbbell-shape of grass guard cells (GCs) is controlled by their cell walls which enable their rapid responses to the environment. The molecular mechanisms regulating the synthesis and assembly of GC walls are as yet unknown. Here we have identified BZU3, a maize gene encoding UDP-glucose 4-epimerase that regulates the supply of UDP-glucose during GC wall synthesis. The BZU3 mutation leads to significant decreases in cellular UDP-glucose levels. Immunofluorescence intensities reporting levels of cellulose and mixed-linkage glucans are reduced in the GCs, resulting in impaired local wall thickening. BZU3 also catalyzes the epimerization of UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, and the BZU3 mutation affects N-glycosylation of proteins that may be involved in cell wall synthesis and signaling. Our results suggest that the spatiotemporal modulation of BZU3 plays a dual role in controlling cell wall synthesis and glycosylation via controlling UDP-glucose/N-acetylglucosamine homeostasis during stomatal morphogenesis. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms controlling formation of the unique morphology of grass stomata.
Probing the symmetry breaking of a light–matter system by an ancillary qubit
Authors: Wang Shuai-Peng , Ridolfo Alessandro , Li Tiefu , Savasta Salvatore , Nori Franco , Nakamura Y. , You J. Q.
Published: July 2023

Hybrid quantum systems in the ultrastrong, and even more in the deep-strong, coupling regimes can exhibit exotic physical phenomena and promise new applications in quantum technologies. In these nonperturbative regimes, a qubit–resonator system has an entangled quantum vacuum with a nonzero average photon number in the resonator, where the photons are virtual and cannot be directly detected. The vacuum field, however, is able to induce the symmetry breaking of a dispersively coupled probe qubit. We experimentally observe the parity symmetry breaking of an ancillary Xmon artificial atom induced by the field of a lumped-element superconducting resonator deep-strongly coupled with a flux qubit. This result opens a way to experimentally explore the novel quantum-vacuum effects emerging in the deep-strong coupling regime.
Polarization conversion in bottom-up grown quasi-1D fibrous red phosphorus flakes
Authors: Sun Zhaojian , Chen Wujia , Zhang Bowen , Gao Lei , Tao Kezheng , Li Qiang , Sun Jia-Lin , Yan Qingfeng
Published: July 2023

Fibrous red phosphorus (RP) has triggered growing attention as an emerging quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) van der Waals crystal recently. Unfortunately, it is difficult to achieve substrate growth of high-quality fibrous RP flakes due to their inherent quasi-1D structure, which impedes their fundamental property exploration and device integration. Herein, we demonstrate a bottom-up approach for the growth of fibrous RP flakes with (001)-preferred orientation via a chemical vapor transport (CVT) reaction in the P/Sn/I2 system. The formation of fibrous RP flakes can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Sn-mediated P4 partial pressure and the SnI2 capping layer-directed growth. Moreover, we investigate the optical anisotropy of the as-grown flakes, demonstrating their potential application as micro phase retarders in polarization conversion. Our developed bottom-up approach lays the foundation for studying the anisotropy and device integration of fibrous red phosphorus, opening up possibilities for the two-dimensional growth of quasi-1D van der Waals materials.
Short-wave infrared cavity resonances in a single GeSn nanowire
Authors: Kim Youngmin , Assali Simone , Joo Hyo-Jun , Koelling Sebastian , Chen Melvina , Luo Lu , Shi Xuncheng , Burt Daniel , Ikonic Zoran , Nam Donguk , Moutanabbir Oussama
Published: July 2023

Nanowires are promising platforms for realizing ultra-compact light sources for photonic integrated circuits. In contrast to impressive progress on light confinement and stimulated emission in III-V and II-VI semiconductor nanowires, there has been no experimental demonstration showing the potential to achieve strong cavity effects in a bottom-up grown single group-IV nanowire, which is a prerequisite for realizing silicon-compatible infrared nanolasers. Herein, we address this limitation and present an experimental observation of cavity-enhanced strong photoluminescence from a single Ge/GeSn core/shell nanowire. A sufficiently large Sn content ( ~ 10 at%) in the GeSn shell leads to a direct bandgap gain medium, allowing a strong reduction in material loss upon optical pumping. Efficient optical confinement in a single nanowire enables many round trips of emitted photons between two facets of a nanowire, achieving a narrow width of 3.3 nm. Our demonstration opens new possibilities for ultrasmall on-chip light sources towards realizing photonic-integrated circuits in the underexplored range of short-wave infrared (SWIR).
Systemic risks from climate-related disruptions at ports
Authors: Verschuur Jasper , Koks Elco E. , Hall Jim W.
Published: July 2023

Disruptions to ports from climate extremes can have systemic impacts on global shipping, trade and supply chains. By combining estimated climatic-related port downtime at 1,320 ports with a global model of transport flows, we pinpoint systemic risks to global maritime transport, trade and supply-chain networks. We estimate a total of US$81 billion of global trade and at least US$122 billion of economic activity being at-risk on average annually.
Organizing memories for generalization in complementary learning systems
Authors: Sun Weinan , Advani Madhu , Spruston Nelson , Saxe Andrew , Fitzgerald James E.
Published: July 2023

Memorization and generalization are complementary cognitive processes that jointly promote adaptive behavior. For example, animals should memorize safe routes to specific water sources and generalize from these memories to discover environmental features that predict new ones. These functions depend on systems consolidation mechanisms that construct neocortical memory traces from hippocampal precursors, but why systems consolidation only applies to a subset of hippocampal memories is unclear. Here we introduce a new neural network formalization of systems consolidation that reveals an overlooked tension—unregulated neocortical memory transfer can cause overfitting and harm generalization in an unpredictable world. We resolve this tension by postulating that memories only consolidate when it aids generalization. This framework accounts for partial hippocampal–cortical memory transfer and provides a normative principle for reconceptualizing numerous observations in the field. Generalization-optimized systems consolidation thus provides new insight into how adaptive behavior benefits from complementary learning systems specialized for memorization and generalization.
Excitatory nucleo-olivary pathway shapes cerebellar outputs for motor control
Authors: Wang Xiaolu , Liu Zhiqiang , Angelov Milen , Feng Zhao , Li Xiangning , Li Anan , Yang Yan , Gong Hui , Gao Zhenyu
Published: July 2023

The brain generates predictive motor commands to control the spatiotemporal precision of high-velocity movements. Yet, how the brain organizes automated internal feedback to coordinate the kinematics of such fast movements is unclear. Here we unveil a unique nucleo-olivary loop in the cerebellum and its involvement in coordinating high-velocity movements. Activating the excitatory nucleo-olivary pathway induces well-timed internal feedback complex spike signals in Purkinje cells to shape cerebellar outputs. Anatomical tracing reveals extensive axonal collaterals from the excitatory nucleo-olivary neurons to downstream motor regions, supporting integration of motor output and internal feedback signals within the cerebellum. This pathway directly drives saccades and head movements with a converging direction, while curtailing their amplitude and velocity via the powerful internal feedback mechanism. Our finding challenges the long-standing dogma that the cerebellum inhibits the inferior olivary pathway and provides a new circuit mechanism for the cerebellar control of high-velocity movements.
The SUMO–NIP45 pathway processes toxic DNA catenanes to prevent mitotic failure
Authors: Hertz Emil P. T. , Vega Ignacio Alonso-de , Kruse Thomas , Wang Yiqing , Hendriks Ivo A. , Bizard Anna H. , Eugui-Anta Ania , Hay Ronald T. , Nielsen Michael L. , Nilsson Jakob , Hickson Ian D. , Mailand Niels
Published: July 2023

SUMOylation regulates numerous cellular processes, but what represents the essential functions of this protein modification remains unclear. To address this, we performed genome-scale CRISPR–Cas9-based screens, revealing that the BLM-TOP3A-RMI1-RMI2 (BTRR)-PICH pathway, which resolves ultrafine anaphase DNA bridges (UFBs) arising from catenated DNA structures, and the poorly characterized protein NIP45/NFATC2IP become indispensable for cell proliferation when SUMOylation is inhibited. We demonstrate that NIP45 and SUMOylation orchestrate an interphase pathway for converting DNA catenanes into double-strand breaks (DSBs) that activate the G2 DNA-damage checkpoint, thereby preventing cytokinesis failure and binucleation when BTRR-PICH-dependent UFB resolution is defective. NIP45 mediates this new TOP2-independent DNA catenane resolution process via its SUMO-like domains, promoting SUMOylation of specific factors including the SLX4 multi-nuclease complex, which contributes to catenane conversion into DSBs. Our findings establish that SUMOylation exerts its essential role in cell proliferation by enabling resolution of toxic DNA catenanes via nonepistatic NIP45- and BTRR-PICH-dependent pathways to prevent mitotic failure.