bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic assisted colectomy versus laparoscopic complete colectomy: a cost analysis
Authors: Zheng Zhaoyang , Du Qiang , Huang Libin , Yang Lie , Zhou Zongguang
Published: May 2024

To compare the short-term outcomes and explore the potential economic benefits of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis (LAC/EA) vs. laparoscopic complete colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (LCC/IA) for patients with non-metastatic resectable colon cancer. Data of patients who underwent laparoscopic hemicolectomy from January 2017 to March 2023 were collected and analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) analyses was carried out to minimize the selection bias. Before PSM, a total of 113 patients met the inclusion criteria (39 in the LCC/IA vs. 74 in the LAC/EA). Clinicopathologic characteristics were comparable except for the median number of removed lymph nodes (P = 0.023). LCC/IA was associated with longer operative time, less intraoperative blood loss, and shorter incision length. The rate of 30-day postoperative complications was similar, but the time to first flatus and soft diet was shorter in the LCC/IA. No deaths were reported in either group within 30 days after surgery. Costs of surgical instruments (25,945.8 ± 1,918.0 vs. 23,551.9 ± 2,665.5 RMB; P < 0.01) were higher for the LCC/IA but overall costs were similar (LCC/IA, 43,220.0 ± 4,954.0 vs. LAC/EA, 41,269.2 ± 6,685.9 RMB; P = 0.112). After PSM, 38 patients in the LCC/IA and 63 patients in the LAC/EA were compared. LCC/IA was superior in terms of intraoperative blood loss, incision length, and postoperative functional recovery. There was an extra charge of 2385.0 RMB regarding surgical instruments in the LCC/IA but the overall cost did not reach statistical significance. LCC/IA is a feasible, safe, and cost-effective surgical treatment for patients with non-metastatic resectable colon cancer.
Epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes upper respiratory tract infections in Poland (2003–2017)
Authors: Sitkiewicz Izabela , Borek Anna , Gryko Monika , Karpińska Aneta , Kozińska Aleksandra , Obszańska Katarzyna , Wilemska-Dziaduszycka Joanna , Walory Jarosław , Bańska Agata , Belkiewicz Katarzyna , Foryś Małgorzata , Gołębiewska Agnieszka , Hryniewicz Waleria , Kadłubowski Marcin , Kiedrowska Marlena , Klarowicz Anna , Matynia Bożena , Ronkiewicz Patrycja , Szczypa Katarzyna , Waśko Izabela , Wawszczak Monika , Wróbel-Pawelczyk Izabela , Zieniuk Bartłomiej
Published: May 2024

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a major human pathogen and causes every year over 600 millions upper respiratory tract onfections worldwide. Untreated or repeated infections may lead to post-infectional sequelae such as rheumatic heart disease, a major cause of GAS-mediated mortality. There is no comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of the M type distribution of upper respiratory tract strains isolated in Poland. Single reports describe rather their antibiotic resistance patterns or focus on the invasive isolates. Our goal was to analyse the clonal structure of the upper respiratory tract GAS isolated over multiple years in Poland. Our analysis revealed a clonal structure similar to the ones observed in high-income countries, with M1, M12, M89, M28, and M77 serotypes constituting over 80% of GAS strains. The M77 serotype is a major carrier of erythromycin resistance and is more often correlated with upper respiratory tract infections than other serotypes.
Abfraction Theory: Controversy Analysis, Scoping Review
Authors: Dioguardi Mario , Spirito Francesca , Iacovelli Giovanna , Sovereto Diego , Laneve Enrica , Caloro Giorgia Apollonia , Ballini Andrea , Martella Angelo , Lo Muzio Lorenzo
Published: May 2024

Purpose of review

The aim of this review was to describe in detail the aetiological events involved in the abfraction phenomenon, examining the action of irregular occlusal forces, analysing the evidence supporting this aetiological hypothesis, and highlighting the controversies surrounding this theory.

Recent findings

Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are the result of two widely accepted pathological mechanisms: erosion and abrasion. These lesions generally affect adults after the age of 30, and approximately 10–40% of adults in this age bracket have this condition. Premolars are the primary teeth affected by NCCLs. Characteristic symptoms include progressive and ongoing loss of mineralized tissue, primarily on the buccal surfaces of collars. As the dentine is exposed, the tooth becomes increasingly sensitive. Over time, the lesion tends to deepen towards the dental pulp, and the dental crown or pulpitis may fracture. Both abrasion and erosion alone cannot fully explain all types of NCCLs. For some lesions, this difference appears to be related to an aetiopathological mechanism defined as abfraction, which combines the aetiological events of erosion and abrasion with the application of irregular occlusal loads along the occlusal surfaces of dental crowns. This study was conducted by following the PRISMA protocol guidelines for scoping reviews, and the protocol was registered on INPLASY prior to execution. The studies were identified through literature searches in the PubMed and Scopus databases using the following keywords: "abfraction" and "NCCL". The risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I.

The search led to the inclusion of only 6 studies out of a total of 1449 identified articles. The analysis of these studies, which correlated the progression of NCCLs to the forces applied to the teeth, did not provide sufficient evidence to confirm or refute the aetiological role of occlusal loads in the onset of abfractions. However, clues emerged that would require further confirmation through prospective longitudinal studies, which must consider the inclusion of other aetiological mechanisms, such as abrasion and erosion.
On the existence of cycles with restrictions in the color transitions in edge-colored complete graphs
Authors: Galeana-Sánchez Hortensia , Hernández-Lorenzana Felipe , Sánchez-López Rocío , Vilchis-Alfaro Carlos
Published: May 2024

Consider the following edge-coloring of a graph G. Let H be a graph possibly with loops, an H-coloring of a graph G is defined as a function $$c : E(G) \rightarrow V(H).$$

c
:
E
(
G
)
→
V
(
H
)
.

We will say that G is an H-colored graph whenever we are taking a fixed H-coloring of G. A cycle $$(x_0,x_1,\ldots ,x_n,x_0),$$

(

x
0

,

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

,

x
0

)
,

in an H-colored graph, is an H-cycle if and only if $$(c(x_0x_1),c(x_1x_2),\ldots , c(x_nx_0),$$

(
c

(

x
0

x
1

)

,
c

(

x
1

x
2

)

,
…
,
c

(

x
n

x
0

)

,

$$c(x_0x_1))$$

c
(

x
0

x
1

)
)

is a walk in H. Notice that the graph H determines what color transitions are allowed in a cycle in order to be an H-cycle, in particular, when H is a complete graph without loops, every H-cycle is a properly colored cycle. In this paper, we give conditions on an H-colored complete graph G,  with local restrictions, implying that every vertex of G is contained in an H-cycle of length at least 5. As a consequence, we obtain a previous result about properly colored cycles. Finally, we show an infinite family of H-colored complete graphs fulfilling the conditions of the main theorem, where the graph H is not a complete k-partite graph for any k in $${\mathbb {N}}.$$

N
.
Impact of Residential Segregation on Healthcare Utilization and Perceived Quality of Care Among Informal Caregivers in the United States
Authors: Kim Hyunmin , Mahmood Asos , Kedia Satish , Ogunsanmi Deborah O. , Sharma Sadikshya , Wyant David K.
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of racial residential segregation on healthcare utilization and perceived quality of care among informal caregivers in the US. It further assessed potential variations in the estimated impact across caregivers’ race and socioeconomic status. We used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey Data Linkage Project (fielded in 2020) for a sample of 583 self-identified informal caregivers in the US. Fitting a series of regression models with the maximum likelihood estimation, we computed the beta coefficients (β) of interest and their associated Wald 95% confidence limits (CI). Caregivers who resided in areas with higher segregation, compared to those living in lower segregated areas, were less likely to visit a healthcare professional [β =  − 2.08; Wald 95%CI − 2.093, − 2.067] (moderate); [β =  − 2.53; Wald 95%CI − 2.549, − 2.523] (high)]. Further, caregivers residing in moderate [β =  − 0.766; Wald 95%CI − 0.770, − 0.761] and high [β =  − 0.936; Wald 95%CI − 0.941, − 0.932] segregation regions were less likely to perceive a better quality of care compared to those located in low segregation areas. Moreover, as segregation level increased, Black caregivers were less likely to see a health professional, less frequently used healthcare services, and had poorer perceived healthcare quality when compared to Whites. Our findings indicate that higher residential segregation is associated with lower healthcare utilization, such as visiting a healthcare professional, and poorer perceived healthcare quality among informal caregivers. Given the essential role of informal caregivers in the current healthcare system, it is vital to investigate and address challenges associated with access to and quality of essential healthcare services to improve caregivers’ health and well-being, specifically for caregivers of minority backgrounds.
Improved Iron-Tolerance in Recycled Aluminum Alloys via Direct Strip Casting Process
Authors: Jiang L. , Marceau R. K. W. , Dorin T.
Published: May 2024

Recycled aluminum alloys are pivotal for sustainable manufacturing, offering strength, durability, and environmental advantages. However, the presence of iron (Fe) impurities poses a major challenge, undermining their properties and recyclability. Conventional manufacturing processes result in coarse Fe-rich intermetallic compounds that limit the tolerance of Fe content and negatively influence performance of advanced aluminum alloys. To address this, rapid solidification techniques like direct strip casting have been explored. In this work, a detailed study of the strip cast microstructure was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscattered diffraction and atom probe tomography. Our results reveal that alloys produced by direct strip casting exhibit significantly refined microstructures and are free from coarse Fe-rich intermetallics, thereby retaining the majority of Fe in solid solution. These findings indicate that strip casting significantly enhances Fe-tolerance in aluminum alloys, making it an attractive process for future aluminum recycling, with implications for sustainable high-performance applications.

Graphical Abstract
Geometry-induced process and part characteristics in support-free powder bed fusion of polypropylene at room temperature
Authors: Schlicht Samuel , Drummer Dietmar
Published: May 2024

Laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) of semi-crystalline polymers enables the support-free layer-wise manufacturing of geometrically diverse, complex components. In contrast to the established quasi-isothermal powder bed fusion of polymers at elevated temperatures, non-isothermal, cold processing strategies allow to significantly extend the range of applicable material systems. Relying on the superposition of discretized, fractal exposure strategies and the implicit mesoscopic compensation of crystallization shrinkage, the support-free LPBF of polypropylene at room temperature is demonstrated. The present paper displays the temporally and spatially discrete exposure of superposed fractal, space-filling curves that enable the support-free LPBF of polypropylene through combining the mesoscopic compensation of crystallization shrinkage and the laser-induced minimization of thermal shrinkage through the implementation of pre-exposure scans. The non-isothermal processing regime was observed to exhibit an intrinsic robustness towards the influence of processing parameters on emerging peak temperatures while showing a significant extent of accumulated heat within manufactured parts. Complementary mechanical characterizations showed an orientation-dependent influence of the applied energy density on emerging mechanical properties, correlated with geometry-dependent temporal process characteristics that implicitly influence the available coalescence time and the timespan available for the thermal homogenization.
Sintering of 3D-printed aluminum specimens from the slurry-based binder jetting process
Authors: Angenoorth Jan , Erhard Patricia , Wächter Dennis , Volk Wolfram , Günther Daniel
Published: May 2024

This work investigates a novel method of producing complex-shaped aluminum parts by slurry-based binder jetting and sintering. In this process, a green body is built up by layer-wise deposition of an aqueous aluminum suspension and selective powder bonding by ink-jet printing. The powder bulk generated from the suspension shows an increased density compared to powder-based binder jetting and, thus, a high initial density for the subsequent densification step. This allows for higher final densities and reduced shrinkage. Aluminum is of special interest as it is widely available and of low density but challenging to sinter due to an oxide skin surrounding every particle. The research in this paper investigates the effects of the sintering atmosphere and sintering additives on the microstructure of powder compacts produced by slurry-based binder jetting. The incorporation of magnesium as an additive during the sintering process of aluminum has been found to substantially improve densification during sintering in an argon atmosphere.
Performance in Command and Control: Results From a Scoping Review
Authors: Drews Patrick , Fiedrich Frank
Published: May 2024

Command and control are critical components of emergency management when disaster strikes. Command posts act as a support system within the command chain for leaders, and the performance of these teams is essential for the successful operation. This paper presents the findings of a scoping review on the performance of command posts, identifying six performance factors: scenario, resilience, situational awareness, decision making, team structures and teamwork, and operational execution. Furthermore, this paper presents objective indicators for performance measurement in three dimensions: process, effectiveness, and efficiency. Additionally, it provides insights and methodologies for evaluating command post exercises.
Tolerability of N-chlorotaurine in comparison with routinely used antiseptics: an in vitro study on chondrocytes
Authors: Pilz Magdalena , Staats Kevin , Assadian Ojan , Windhager Reinhard , Holinka Johannes
Published: May 2024

Background

Currently, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are frequently used antiseptics in joint infections, but the cytotoxic effects of these solutions are already reported. N-chlorotaurine (NCT) shows a broad-spectrum bactericidal activity and is well tolerated in various tissues, but its effect on human chondrocytes is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effect of NCT, PVP-I, and H2O2 on human chondrocytes compared to a control group in an in vitro setting to get first indications if NCT might be a promising antiseptic in the treatment of septic joint infections for the future.

Material and methods

Chondrocytes extracted from human cartilage were incubated with various concentrations of NCT, PVP-I, and H2O2 for 5 and 30 min respectively. EZ4U cell viability kit was used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations determining cell viability. To assess cell viability based on their nuclear morphology, cells were stained with acridine-orange and identified under the fluorescence microscope.

Results

EZ4U kit showed after 5 and 30 min of incubation a significant decrease in cell viability at NCT 1%, NCT 0.1%, PVP-I, and H2O2, but not for NCT 0.001% and NCT 0.01%. Acridine-orange staining likewise presented a significant decrease in vital cells for all tested solutions except NCT 0.001% and NCT 0.01% after 5 and 30 min of incubation.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that NCT is well tolerated by chondrocytes in vitro at the tested lower NCT concentrations 0.01% and 0.001% in contrast to the higher NCT concentrations 1% and 0.1%, PVP-I (1.1%), and H2O2 (3%), for which a significant decrease in cell viability was detected. Considering that the in vivo tolerability is usually significantly higher, our findings could be an indication that cartilage tissue in vivo would tolerate the already clinically used 1% NCT solution. In combination with the broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, NCT may be a promising antiseptic for the treatment of septic joint infections.

Graphical abstract
Curved surface form-finding with self-shaping perforated plates
Authors: Bahremandi-Tolou Mahnaz , Wang Chenhao , Gattas Joseph M. , Luo Dan
Published: May 2024

Self-shaping systems offer a promising approach for making complex 3D geometries from the material-driven transformation of 2D sheets. However, current research development of such systems is focused on small-scale applications. This study proposes a self-shaping composite for generation of larger-scale curved surfaces suitable for spatial structures. The composite arises from the novel combination of a perforated plate passive layer and a heat-shrinkable active layer. Experimental investigations are undertaken to assess the influence of perforation parameters of the passive layer over the degree of curvature generated in the self-shaping composite system. A 3D scanner and parametric curvature evaluation tool were used to extract and analyse the fabricated surface curvatures. Three key deformation characteristics were identified: the generated surface is cylindrical with dominant curvature in the x-direction; curvature is approximately uniform across the surface width and length; and curvature is strongly influenced by perforation bridge and strap length parameters. Results of this study support the application of self-shaping curved surfaces for customizable discrete structure parts.
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Authors: Albrecht Theodore
Published: May 2024

Brings to life the day-to-day details of staging the premiere of one the most iconic works of Western classical music.
The epidemiology of errors in data capture, management, and analysis: A scoping review of retracted articles and retraction notices in clinical and translational research
Authors: Baldridge Abigail S. , Bellinger Grace C. , Fleming Oriana M. , Rasmussen Luke V. , Whitley Eric W. , Welty Leah J.
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

To better understand and prevent research errors, we conducted a first-of-its-kind scoping review of clinical and translational research articles that were retracted because of problems in data capture, management, and/or analysis.

Methods:

The scoping review followed a preregistered protocol and used retraction notices from the Retraction Watch Database in relevant subject areas, excluding gross misconduct. Abstracts of original articles published between January 1, 2011 and January 31, 2020 were reviewed to determine if articles were related to clinical and translational research. We reviewed retraction notices and associated full texts to obtain information on who retracted the article, types of errors, authors, data types, study design, software, and data availability.

Results:

After reviewing 1,266 abstracts, we reviewed 884 associated retraction notices and 786 full-text articles. Authors initiated the retraction over half the time (58%). Nearly half of retraction notices (42%) described problems generating or acquiring data, and 28% described problems with preparing or analyzing data. Among the full texts that we reviewed: 77% were human research; 29% were animal research; and 6% were systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Most articles collected data de novo (77%), but only 5% described the methods used for data capture and management, and only 11% described data availability. Over one-third of articles (38%) did not specify the statistical software used.

Conclusions:

Authors may improve scientific research by reporting methods for data capture and statistical software. Journals, editors, and reviewers should advocate for this documentation. Journals may help the scientific record self-correct by requiring detailed, transparent retraction notices.
Eugenics, Sex and Family Life Education, and Juvenile Delinquency in Los Angeles County, California
Authors: Haager Julia B.
Published: May 2024

This glimpse into sex education in the Los Angeles region illustrates the eugenic ideas about racially “fit” reproduction that emerged in family life curricula during the Second World War. Ideas about eugenic reproduction in public schools responded to broader cultural fears about increasing divorce rates, criminality, immigration, and birthright citizenship. Eugenics in sex and family life education, importantly, portrayed a woman’s choice of mate as a civic responsibility, a move that paved the way for future conflicts about teaching gender and sexuality in public school sex education. Amid a half-century-long conflict over abstinence-only versus comprehensive sex education in public schools, topics like genetics and heredity have come to be widely accepted by both sides—recognized as a presumably value-neutral staple of sex education in US public schools. Yet recent innovations in genetic and reproductive technologies, as well as the conflict over trans and queer youth in the United States, challenge the assumption that teaching genetics and heredity in public schools really is “value neutral.”
Augmenting a Spanish clinical dataset for transformer-based linking of negations and their out-of-scope references
Authors: Tamayo-Herrera Antonio Jesús , Burgos Diego A. , Gelbukh Alexander
Published: May 2024

A negated statement consists of three main components: the negation cue, the negation scope, and the negation reference. The negation cue is the indicator of negation, while the negation scope defines the extent of the negation. The negation reference, which may or may not be within the negation scope, is the part of the statement being negated. Although there has been considerable research on the negation cue and scope, little attention has been given to identifying negation references outside the scope, even though they make up almost half of all negations. In this study, our goal is to identify out-of-scope references (OSRs) to restore the meaning of truncated negated statements identified by negation detection systems. To achieve this, we augment the largest available Spanish clinical dataset by adding annotations for OSRs. Additionally, we fine-tune five robust BERT-based models using transfer learning to address negation detection, uncertainty detection, and OSR identification and linking with their respective negation scopes. Our best model achieves state-of-the-art performance in negation detection while also establishing a competitive baseline for OSR identification (Macro F1 = 0.56) and linking (Macro F1 = 0.86). We support these findings with relevant statistics from the newly annotated dataset and an extensive review of existing literature.
La résistance interne chez Nicole Oresme. Étude sur saPhysiqueet son commentaire latin au traitéDu ciel
Authors: Laverdière Yanick
Published: May 2024

Afin d'encourager la réflexion sur l'impact de la résistance interne dans la théorie du mouvement au XIVesiècle, je propose d'examiner ici l’évolution du concept chez l'universitaire parisien Nicole Oresme. Dans saPhysique, le penseur présente une position qui ne paraît pas tout à fait aboutie et qui soulève quelques questions en lien avec les qualités motrices des différents éléments constituant les mobiles. Cette situation devient d'autant plus évidente lorsque sa position change, plus tard, dans ses questions sur le traitéDu ciel. Oresme semble alors encore moins enclin à accepter l'idée d'une résistance interne dans le mouvement.
Conflict Escalation Done Wrong? The Free City of Regensburg Seizes Ehrenfels Castle, 13 April 1417
Authors: Kaar Alexandra
Published: May 2024

This article examines the various modes of conflict management used by the free city of Regensburg and the local nobleman Hans I Staufer of Ehrenfels during a prolonged dispute over revenues from 1413 to 1418. In the early years of this feud, both parties utilized nonviolent methods such as legal action and arbitration, which were occasionally accompanied by minor military interventions. In April 1417, however, the Regensburg councilors broke with convention and decided to escalate the conflict with their feud opponent by capturing his ancestral castle, Ehrenfels, near Beratzhausen in the Upper Palatinate region. Using both urban account books and documentary evidence, the case study investigates the reasons behind the councilors' decision to launch this ostentatious military attack, their objectives in seizing Ehrenfels castle, and the impact of their show of force on the ongoing conflict. It portrays late medieval Central European towns as potent military actors and argues for a more systematic integration of economic considerations and cost-benefit calculations into our picture of late medieval feuding.
The Real-Time Impact of the War on Russian Imports: A Synthetic Control Method Approach
Authors: Mancini Michele , Conteduca Francesco Paolo , Borin Alessandro
Published: May 2024

In response to the invasion of Ukraine, the EU and most other advanced economies imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, intending to harm its production capabilities and hinder its economic activities by restricting its access to international trade and financial markets. This paper develops an empirical framework based on the synthetic control method to assess the impact of the war and the following sanctions on bilateral and sectoral exports to Russia almost in real time. The war and the following sanctions reduced aggregate exports to Russia by a third between March and December 2022, with the effects being stronger for sanctioning countries than for non-sanctioning ones, albeit with substantial country-level heterogeneity within each group. Exports to Russia in high-tech sectors – relatively more targeted by trade sanctions – have been disproportionately affected.
The 2021 La Palma (Canary Islands) Eruption Ending Forecast Through Magma Pressure Drop
Authors: Charco M. , González P. J. , Pallero J. L. G. , García‐Cañada L. , del Fresno C. , Rodríguez‐Ortega A.
Published: May 2024

Forecast of eruptive activity is a core challenge in volcanology. Here, we present an actual forecast for the end of the 2021 La Palma eruption. Using continuous GNSS data, we identified a co‐eruptive quasi‐exponential deflation trend. Assuming mass conservation, magma upflow from an overpressurized reservoir drives the eruptive process. The forecast was carried out during the eruption, however there was uncertainty in the key percentage of drop in driving pressure necessary to stop this eruption. In hindcast, we explore how forecast uncertainty reduces with increase in ingested near‐real time data. We conclude that precise forecasts could have been possible, but only after twice a characteristic exponential decay time‐scale, providing error estimates of 45% of the actual duration. We verify the mass conservation assumption using eruptive material volumes and propose that the eruption dynamics was controlled by a main reservoir at a depth close to Moho discontinuity beneath Cumbre Vieja volcano.
Topographic Controls on Pyroclastic Density Current Hazard at Aluto Volcano (Ethiopia) Identified Using a Novel Zero‐Censored Gaussian Process Emulator
Authors: Tierz Pablo , Spiller Elaine T. , Clarke Ben A. , Dessalegn Firawalin , Bekele Yewubinesh , Lewi Elias , Yirgu Gezahegn , Wolpert Robert L. , Loughlin Susan C. , Calder Eliza S.
Published: May 2024

Aluto volcano (Central Ethiopia) displays a complex, hybrid topography, combining elements typical of caldera systems (e.g., a central, flat caldera floor) and stratovolcanoes (e.g., relatively high and steep, radial flanks, related to eruptions occurring clustered in space). The most recent known eruptions at Aluto have commonly generated column‐collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), a hazardous phenomenon that can pose a significant risk to inhabited areas on and around the volcano. In order to analyze and quantify the role that Aluto's complex topography has on PDC hazard, we apply a versatile probabilistic strategy, which merges the TITAN2D model for PDCs with a novel zero‐censored Gaussian Process (zGP) emulator, enabling robust uncertainty quantification at tractable computational costs. Results from our analyses indicate a critical role of the eruptive vent location, but also highlight a complex interplay between the topography and PDC volume and mobility. The relative importance of each factor reciprocally depends on the other factors. Thus, large PDCs (≥0.1–0.5 km3) can diminish the influence of topography over proximal regions of flow propagation, but PDCs respond to large‐ and small‐scale topographic features over medial to distal areas, and the zGP captures processes like PDC channelization and overbanking. The novel zGP can be applied to other PDC models and can enable specific investigations of PDC dynamics, topographic interactions, and PDC hazard at many volcanic systems worldwide. Potentially, it could also be used during volcanic crises, when time constraints usually only permit computation of scenario‐based hazard assessments.
Verification of Long‐Term Ensemble Evapotranspiration Hindcast Using a Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Parameter Perturbation Ensemble Prediction Method on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Sun Guodong , Mu Mu , Zhang Qiyu , Ren Qiujie , You Qinglong
Published: May 2024

In this research, a conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation related to parameters (CNOP‐P) method is employed to propose an ensemble prediction method titled as the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation related to parameters ensemble prediction (CNOP‐PEP) method. Within the CNOP‐PEP method, all ensemble members are generated by the CNOP‐P method. To explore the operability and validity of the CNOP‐PEP method, long‐term evapotranspiration (ET) hindcast skill is evaluated at 13 sites on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during the period of 2001–2018 with a land surface model. Two traditional ensemble prediction methods (the stochastically perturbed parameters (SPP) method and the one‐at‐a‐time (OAT) method) are also applied to assess the ET hindcast skills. The numerical results indicate that the CNOP‐PEP method shows the best hindcast skill for estimated ET at 13 stations on the TP among the three methods (CNOP‐PEP, OAT, and SPP methods) during the period of 2001–2018. This suggests that the CNOP‐PEP method is helpful and effective for long‐term and interannual hydrological predictions, such as long‐term and interannual ET predictions. The numerical results also indicate that ensemble members with certain special properties of fast‐growing types should be selected to implement ensemble prediction compared to these ordinary and traditional samples. The CNOP‐PEP method could supply special samples to improve the ensemble prediction and hindcast skill of hydrological cycle.
A Non‐Magnetized Chondrite Parent Body Revealed by Paleomagnetic Investigation of LL6 Chondrite NWA 14180
Authors: Li Haijun , Wang Huapei , Wen Chen , Cao Ting , Liu Jiabo
Published: May 2024

Magnetic records from meteorites provide valuable information about the formation and evolution of the solar system and planets. The parent planetesimals of chondrites are typically considered to be undifferentiated based on their primary chemical composition and texture. However, recent paleomagnetic investigations of various chondrites indicate that they carry a primary remanence generated by a dynamo, suggesting partial differentiation of their parent planetesimals. The presence of a dynamo within the parent planetesimal of LL chondrites remains uncertain due to the ambiguous origin of the remanent magnetism. Here, we report petrographic, paleomagnetic, and rock magnetic properties for the novel LL6 chondrite NWA 14180. The high metamorphic temperature experienced by NWA 14180 could have removed the pre‐accretionary remanence. The fusion crust baked‐contact test suggests that NWA 14180 preserves primary magnetic information about its parent body. Alternating field demagnetization results from interior subsamples reveal distinct low‐ and medium‐coercivity components that may represent a viscous remanent magnetization acquired in the geomagnetic field. No natural remanent magnetization was unblocked in the high coercivity range, implying that NWA 14180 cooled in zero‐field conditions. Therefore, we suggest that the parent body of NWA 14180 did not have a dynamo. Furthermore, this result suggests that the LL chondrite parent planetesimal accreted later and was smaller in size than other chondrite classes.
The Temperature of the Deep Ocean Is a Robust Proxy for Global Mean Surface Temperature During the Cenozoic
Authors: Evans David , Brugger Julia , Inglis Gordon N. , Valdes Paul
Published: May 2024

Reconstructing global mean surface temperature (GMST) is one of the key contributions that paleoclimate science can make in addressing societally relevant questions and is required to determine equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS). GMST has been derived from the temperature of the deep ocean (Td), with previous work suggesting a simple Td‐GMST scaling factor of 1 prior to the Pliocene. However, this factor lacks a robust mechanistic basis, and indeed, is intuitively difficult to envisage given that polar amplification is a ubiquitous feature of past warm climate states and deep water overwhelmingly forms at high latitudes. Here, we interrogate whether and crucially, why, this relationship exists using a suite of curated data compilations and two sets of paleoclimate model simulations. We show that models and data are in full agreement that a 1:1 relationship is a good approximation. Taken together, the two sets of climate models suggest that (a) a lower sensitivity of SST in the season of deep water formation than high latitude mean annual SST in response to climate forcing, and moreover (b) a greater degree of land versus ocean surface warming are the two processes that act to counterbalance a possible polar amplification‐derived bias on Td‐derived GMST. Using this knowledge, we provide a new Cenozoic record of GMST. Our estimates are substantially warmer than similar previous efforts for much of the Paleogene and are thus consistent with a substantially higher‐than‐modern ECS during deep‐time high CO2 climate states.
Using Convex Optimization to Efficiently Apportion Tracer and Pollutant Sources From Point Concentration Observations
Authors: Barnes Richard , Lipp Alex G.
Published: May 2024

Rivers transport elements, minerals, chemicals, and pollutants produced in their upstream basins. A sample from a river is a mixture of all of its upstream sources, making it challenging to pinpoint the contribution from each individual source. Here, we show how a nested sample design and convex optimization can be used to efficiently unmix downstream samples of a well‐mixed, conservative tracer in a steady state system into the contributions of their upstream sources. Our approach is significantly faster than previous methods. We represent the river's sub‐catchments, defined by sampling sites, using a directed acyclic graph. This graph is used to build a convex optimization problem which, thanks to its convexity, can be quickly solved to global optimality—in under a second on desktop hardware for data sets of ∼100 samples or fewer. Uncertainties in the upstream predictions can be generated using Monte Carlo resampling. We provide an open‐source implementation of this approach in Python. The inputs required are straightforward: a table containing sample locations and observed tracer concentrations, along with a D8 flow‐direction raster map. As a case study, we use this method to map the elemental geochemistry of sediment sources for rivers draining the Cairngorms mountains, UK. This method could be extended to non‐conservative and non‐steady state tracers. We also show, theoretically, how multiple tracers could be simultaneously inverted to recover upstream run‐off or erosion rates as well as source concentrations. Overall, this approach can provide valuable insights to researchers in various fields, including water quality, geochemical exploration, geochemistry, hydrology, and wastewater epidemiology.
The Beginning of a Wilson Cycle in an Accretionary Orogen: The Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean Opened Assisted by a Devonian Mantle Plume
Authors: Zhu Mingshuai , Pastor–Galán Daniel , Smit Matthijs A. , Sanchir Dorjgochoo , Zhang Fuqin , Liu Chenghao , Luo Ye , Miao Laicheng
Published: May 2024

The opening of oceans within accretionary orogens is important for understanding the Wilson cycle. The Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean (MOO) began opening within the early Paleozoic accretionary collage of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), representing a world‐class example to constrain the geodynamic history of ocean opening in accretionary orogens, but the kinematics and mechanisms associated to this process are highly debated. We report on a newly‐discovered bimodal volcanic suite and associated volcanic‐sediments that comprise part of the Altay‐Sayan Rift System, which indicate a widespread Early Devonian extensional event within the CAOB. This extension regime is attributed to a Devonian mantle plume, which is thought to have impinged upon and weakened the lithosphere of the Early Paleozoic collage, and drove the opening of the MOO. Opening of the MOO suggests continent breakup in accretionary orogens tends to focus along intervening weak orogenic lithosphere between the rigid microcontinents.
Exploiting sweet relief for preeclampsia by targeting autophagy-lysosomal machinery and proteinopathy
Authors: Huang Zheping , Cheng Shibin , Jash Sukanta , Fierce Jamie , Agudelo Anthony , Higashiyama Takanobu , Hanna Nazeeh , Nakashima Akitoshi , Saito Shigeru , Padbury James , Schuster Jessica , Sharma Surendra
Published: May 2024

The etiology of preeclampsia (PE), a severe complication of pregnancy with several clinical manifestations and a high incidence of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, remains unclear. This issue is a major hurdle for effective treatment strategies. We recently demonstrated that PE exhibits an Alzheimer-like etiology of impaired autophagy and proteinopathy in the placenta. Targeting of these pathological pathways may be a novel therapeutic strategy for PE. Stimulation of autophagy with the natural disaccharide trehalose and its lacto analog lactotrehalose in hypoxia-exposed primary human trophoblasts restored autophagy, inhibited the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates, and restored the ultrastructural features of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Importantly, trehalose and lactotrehalose inhibited the onset of PE-like features in a humanized mouse model by normalizing autophagy and inhibiting protein aggregation in the placenta. These disaccharides restored the autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis machinery by increasing nuclear translocation of the master transcriptional regulator TFEB. RNA-seq analysis of the placentas of mice with PE indicated the normalization of the PE-associated transcriptome profile in response to trehalose and lactotrehalose. In summary, our results provide a novel molecular rationale for impaired autophagy and proteinopathy in patients with PE and identify treatment with trehalose and its lacto analog as promising therapeutic options for this severe pregnancy complication.
The phenotype of MEGF8-related Carpenter syndrome (CRPT2) is refined through the identification of eight new patients
Authors: Watts Laura M. , Bertoli Marta , Attie-Bitach Tania , Roux Natalie , Rausell Antonio , Paschal Cate R. , Zambonin Jessica L. , Curry Cynthia J. , Martin Blanche , Tooze Rebecca S. , Hawkes Lara , Kini Usha , Twigg Stephen R. F. , Wilkie Andrew O. M.
Published: May 2024

Carpenter syndrome (CRPTS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition caused by biallelic variants in genes that encode negative regulators of hedgehog signalling (RAB23 [CRPT1] or, more rarely, MEGF8 [CRPT2]), and is characterised by craniosynostosis, polysyndactyly, and other congenital abnormalities. We describe a further six families comprising eight individuals with MEGF8-associated CRPT2, increasing the total number of reported cases to fifteen, and refine the phenotype of CRPT2 compared to CRPT1. The core features of craniosynostosis, polysyndactyly and (in males) cryptorchidism are almost universal in both CRPT1 and CRPT2. However, laterality defects are present in nearly half of those with MEGF8-associated CRPT2, but are rare in RAB23-associated CRPT1. Craniosynostosis in CRPT2 commonly involves a single midline suture in comparison to the multi-suture craniosynostosis characteristic of CRPT1. No patient to date has carried two MEGF8 gene alterations that are both predicted to lead to complete loss-of-function, suggesting that a variable degree of residual MEGF8 activity may be essential for viability and potentially contributing to variable phenotypic severity. These data refine the phenotypic spectrum of CRPT2 in comparison to CRPT1 and more than double the number of likely pathogenic MEGF8 variants in this rare disorder.
Bioinformatics leading to conveniently accessible, helix enforcing, bicyclic ASX motif mimics (BAMMs)
Authors: Mi Tianxiong , Nguyen Duyen , Gao Zhe , Burgess Kevin
Published: May 2024

Helix mimicry provides probes to perturb protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Helical conformations can be stabilized by joining side chains of non-terminal residues (stapling) or via capping fragments. Nature exclusively uses capping, but synthetic helical mimics are heavily biased towards stapling. This study comprises: (i) creation of a searchable database of unique helical N-caps (ASX motifs, a protein structural motif with two intramolecular hydrogen-bonds between aspartic acid/asparagine and following residues); (ii) testing trends observed in this database using linear peptides comprising only canonical L-amino acids; and, (iii) novel synthetic N-caps for helical interface mimicry. Here we show many natural ASX motifs comprise hydrophobic triangles, validate their effect in linear peptides, and further develop a biomimetic of them, Bicyclic ASX Motif Mimics (BAMMs). BAMMs are powerful helix inducing motifs. They are synthetically accessible, and potentially useful to a broad section of the community studying disruption of PPIs using secondary structure mimics.
Structures of the mumps virus polymerase complex via cryo-electron microscopy
Authors: Li Tianhao , Liu Mingdong , Gu Zhanxi , Su Xin , Liu Yunhui , Lin Jinzhong , Zhang Yu , Shen Qing-Tao
Published: May 2024

The viral polymerase complex, comprising the large protein (L) and phosphoprotein (P), is crucial for both genome replication and transcription in non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses (nsNSVs), while structures corresponding to these activities remain obscure. Here, we resolved two L–P complex conformations from the mumps virus (MuV), a typical member of nsNSVs, via cryogenic-electron microscopy. One conformation presents all five domains of L forming a continuous RNA tunnel to the methyltransferase domain (MTase), preferably as a transcription state. The other conformation has the appendage averaged out, which is inaccessible to MTase. In both conformations, parallel P tetramers are revealed around MuV L, which, together with structures of other nsNSVs, demonstrates the diverse origins of the L-binding X domain of P. Our study links varying structures of nsNSV polymerase complexes with genome replication and transcription and points to a sliding model for polymerase complexes to advance along the RNA templates.
Liver ACOX1 regulates levels of circulating lipids that promote metabolic health through adipose remodeling
Authors: Lu Dongliang , He Anyuan , Tan Min , Mrad Marguerite , El Daibani Amal , Hu Donghua , Liu Xuejing , Kleiboeker Brian , Che Tao , Hsu Fong-Fu , Bambouskova Monika , Semenkovich Clay F. , Lodhi Irfan J.
Published: May 2024

The liver gene expression of the peroxisomal β-oxidation enzyme acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1), which catabolizes very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), increases in the context of obesity, but how this pathway impacts systemic energy metabolism remains unknown. Here, we show that hepatic ACOX1-mediated β-oxidation regulates inter-organ communication involved in metabolic homeostasis. Liver-specific knockout of Acox1 (Acox1-LKO) protects mice from diet-induced obesity, adipose tissue inflammation, and systemic insulin resistance. Serum from Acox1-LKO mice promotes browning in cultured white adipocytes. Global serum lipidomics show increased circulating levels of several species of ω−3 VLCFAs (C24-C28) with previously uncharacterized physiological role that promote browning, mitochondrial biogenesis and Glut4 translocation through activation of the lipid sensor GPR120 in adipocytes. This work identifies hepatic peroxisomal β-oxidation as an important regulator of metabolic homeostasis and suggests that manipulation of ACOX1 or its substrates may treat obesity-associated metabolic disorders.
Electrically empowered microcomb laser
Authors: Ling Jingwei , Gao Zhengdong , Xue Shixin , Hu Qili , Li Mingxiao , Zhang Kaibo , Javid Usman A. , Lopez-Rios Raymond , Staffa Jeremy , Lin Qiang
Published: May 2024

Optical microcomb underpins a wide range of applications from communication, metrology, to sensing. Although extensively explored in recent years, challenges remain in key aspects of microcomb such as complex soliton initialization, low power efficiency, and limited comb reconfigurability. Here we present an on-chip microcomb laser to address these key challenges. Realized with integration between III and V gain chip and a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuit (PIC), the laser directly emits mode-locked microcomb on demand with robust turnkey operation inherently built in, with individual comb linewidth down to 600 Hz, whole-comb frequency tuning rate exceeding 2.4 × 1017 Hz/s, and 100% utilization of optical power fully contributing to comb generation. The demonstrated approach unifies architecture and operation simplicity, electro-optic reconfigurability, high-speed tunability, and multifunctional capability enabled by TFLN PIC, opening up a great avenue towards on-demand generation of mode-locked microcomb that is of great potential for broad applications.