bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metallic point contacts in a pseudoballistic regime. Phonon generation and electron drag
Authors: Shkorbatov A. G. , Sarkisyants T. Z.
Published: January 2025

The generation of nonequilibrium phonons and electron entrainment by a phonon flow are studied in metallic point contacts with a strong phonon–electron interaction. This situation, corresponding to the condition lph-e ≪ d ≪ le-ph (lph-e , le-ph are the lengths of the phonon–electron and electron–phonon scattering, d is the contact diameter), is tentatively called a pseudoballistic regime. At d ∼ 10−5 − 10−4 cm this regime can set in the point contact at nitrogen temperatures. It is shown that in contacts of this kind, asymmetric phonon generation occurs leading to a temperature difference ΔT(V) between the contact banks which is nonlinear with respect to the applied voltage V. Unlike the case of the ballistic phonon transport (d ≪ lph-e), the ΔT(V) value does not contain the small parameter d/lph-e. There is no complete compensation of the entrainment thermo-emf of the contact Scph and bulk metal Smph, if the momentum length of electron scattering exceeds d. This is proposed as a possible explanation of experimental results on the temperature dependence of Smph−Scph at T ∼ 100 K.
Effect of orthoimpurity on charge velocity in solid parahydrogen
Authors: Levchenko A. A. , Mezhov-Deglin L. P.
Published: January 2025

It has been proved experimentally that the velocity of charge motion in solid hydrogen depends on the orthoimpurity concentration x0. The velocity of positive charge decreases and that of negative ones increases with decreasing x0.
Acoustic studies of 3He–4He superfluid solution with variable concentration
Authors: Mikheev V. A. , Rudavskii E. Ya. , Chagovets V. K. , Sheshin G. A.
Published: January 2025

Relative measurements of the first sound velocity have been made at temperatures above 25 mK in superfluid solutions whose concentration can be controlled directly during the experiment. A two-chamber cell in which the solution concentration can be varied from 0.88 to 6.2% 3He by varying the temperature of one of the chambers is described. It is shown that the concentration value determined from acoustic measurements is in agreement with the thermodynamic calculation based on the data on osmotic pressure and spouting pressure.
Investigation of energy gap and observation of electron–phonon interaction in high-temperature superconductor La1.8Sr0.2CuO4–normal metal point contacts
Authors: Yanson I. K. , Rybal’chenko I. F. , Fisun V. V. , Bobrov N. L. , Obolenskii M. A. , Tret’yakov Yu. D. , Kaul’ A. R. , Graboi I. E.
Published: January 2025

Electrical characteristics [I(eV), dV/dI(eV), d2V/dI2(eV)] are studied comprehensively for pressed submicron point contacts between fresh fractures of LaSrCuO ceramic pellets and a normal metal (Cu). Point contacts (PC) with the direct-type conductivity are investigated, which are characterized by a considerable excess current due to Andreev reflection of quasiparticles at an NS boundary of high transparency. Basic requirements for point contacts suitable for PC measurements are formulated. The models of investigated point contacts permitting the interpretation of the observed characteristics are considered. The results of measurement of the energy gap reveal that LaSrCuO is a superconductor with a strong coupling since the maximum value of the ratio 2Δ/kTc is about 11. It is found that superconducting properties may vary appreciably over distances of several tens of angstroms, resulting in some cases in the simultaneous emergence of two gaps corresponding to two critical temperatures. The dV/dI(eV) and d2V/dI2(eV) curves display some high-intensity singularities whose position on the eV-axis is practically independent of temperature and correlates with the phonon spectrum obtained in neutron scattering experiments. This points to a strong electron-phonon interaction in LaSrCuO.
Structure and superconducting properties of Nb/Si superlattices
Authors: Tovazhnyanskii V. L. , Stetsenko A. N. , Fedorenko A. I. , Cherkasova V. G. , Zubarev E. N. , Dmitrenko I. M.
Published: January 2025

Temperature and orientational dependences of the upper critical Held of Nb/Si superconducting superlattices are studied. The deviations in the behavior of superlattices from that of regular systems with weak Josephson bonds between superconducting layers are found to be due to the interface roughness and nonuniform interdiffusive interaction between Nb and Si layers.
Magnetic phase transitions induced by the field H = (H
x, H
y, 0) in dysprosium orthoferrite
Authors: Gnatchenko S. L. , Lebedev P. P. , Kharchenko N. F. , Piotrowski K. , Szymczak R.
Published: January 2025

Spin-flip transitions induced by a magnetic field oriented in the ab plane of a crystal are investigated in dysprosium orthoferrite. A tilted field H = (Hx, Hy, 0) is shown to induce a first-order phase transition between the Γ124-type states with a spatial orientation of the ferro- and antiferromagnetism vectors. The magnetic H-T phase diagrams of DyFeO3 with different orientations of the field in the ab plane are constructed. It is found that the orientation of H at an angle of α* ≈ 62° to the a-axis is such that the high-temperature (Γ ′124) and low-temperature (Γ ″124) phases at the Morin point are energetically equivalent in the entire interval of investigated magnetic fields. The magnetic field H = (Hx, Hy. 0) induces in the temperature interval T < TM a phase transition between the Γ124-type states only for α > α*, and in the temperature region T > TM, only for α < α*.
Investigation of forbidden transitions at doubled Larmor frequency in hydrogen
Authors: Skrbek L. , Šebek J. , Šafrata S.
Published: January 2025

Forbidden transitions at the doubled Larmor frequency are registered in hydrogen by using the continuous nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique in the transverse orientation. Forbidden transitions observed during the scanning of external magnetic field at a temperature of ∼ 30 mK in a magnetic field up to 100 Gs. The intensity of these transitions under optimal conditions was about the same as of the principal Larmor line. The ratio of intensities of the principal Larmor line and of the forbidden line at the doubled frequency is determined by the external magnetic field, which is in accord with the Cheng theory [H. Cheng, Phys. Rev. 124, 1359 (1961)] and correlates with the SQUID-NMR measurements made by Kohl et al. [M. Kohl, M. Odehnal, V. Petricek et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. 72, 310 (1988)].
Low-temperature anomalies in the plasticity of crystals with effective Peierls barriers (a review)
Authors: Pustovalov V. V.
Published: January 2025

This paper is a review of works devoted to the experimental and theoretical studies of low-temperature plasticity of bcc metals and alloys, alkali halide crystals with an NaCl-type lattice, and other materials whose deformation is controlled by the Peierls mechanism. Attention is paid to several peculiarities on the temperature dependence of the yield point and the rate sensitivity of deforming stress, which consist in noticeable departures from classical Arrhenius equation. Theoretical hypotheses are discussed to qualitatively explain the observed anomalies in the quantum effects under a low-temperature movement of dislocations. A qualitative comparison between theoretical and experimental results is presented.
Evaluation of Hc2 of high-temperature superconductors RBa2Cu3O7 (R = Y, Gd, Tm, Yb) from the magnetization data
Authors: Dmitriev V. M. , Panfilov A. S. , Svechkarev I. V. , Deineka T. G. , Korshikova T. I. , Ramakaeva R. F.
Published: January 2025

From the data on magnetization of HTS ceramics RBa2Cu3O7, Hc2 at liquid helium temperature is evaluated by using the standard expression for reversible magnetization of type II superconductors in the region of intermediate fields.
Transport and magnetic properties of bismuth metaloxide ceramic (Bi–Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–O
Authors: Asadov A. K. , Mikheenko P. N. , Doroshenko N. A.
Published: January 2025

Transport properties of single-phase metaloxide bismuth ceramics with Tc = 110 K and jc = 20–340 A/cm2 are studied. It is found that cavities surrounded by low-porosity regions are formed in the samples during their synthesis and annealing. These formations produce a step in the temperature dependence of the diamagnetic response, the position of this step depending strongly on low magnetic field of order of 1 Oe. It is shown that the critical current density is mainly determined by the binding force between intergranular contacts inside the cavities. The temperature dependence of the critical current for samples prepared under different thermal treatments is studied.
Pippard oscillations of logarithmic decrement of Damon–Eshbach waves
Authors: Kaganov M. I. , Shalaeva T. I.
Published: January 2025

A dispersion relation is derived for surface excitations (Damon–Eshbach waves) in ferromagnetic metals under the conditions when Pippard oscillations of metal characteristics are observed. The wave attenuation coefficient monotonically depending on magnetic field and the oscillating wave attenuation coefficient are calculated.
Coulomb mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity for low-dimensional conducting systems
Authors: Monarkha Yu. P.
Published: January 2025

It is shown that a new liquid state with a Coulomb gap, which exhibits superconducting properties at high temperatures, can emerge in a one-dimensional conducting system having a fairly low density.
The influence of defects on the critical field of superconducting phase nucleation
Authors: Simonov A. Yu. , Mel’nikov A. S. , Sharov S. V.
Published: January 2025

It is shown that the presence of planar defects near the superconductor surface and crystal faces leads to an increase in the field of nucleation of surface superconductivity as compared to its normal value Hc3 = 1.695Hc2.
Low-temperature structural phase transition in (C2H5NH3)2MnCl4 layered crystals
Authors: Gnezdilov V. P. , Eremenko V. V. , Kurnosov V. S. , Fomin V. I.
Published: January 2025

The structural phase transition (PT) in (C2H5NH3)2MnCl4 layered crystal at Tc = 47 K is studied by the Raman scattering method. It is found that in contrast to the Cd-containing compound with a similar chemical composition, the low-temperature PT in the given crystal occurs without a multiple reduction of volume of a unit cell. The changes in the Raman spectra point towards the difference between the transition under investigation from PT observed in other similar compounds.
Charge mobility in solid parahydrogen along the melting curve
Authors: Levchenko A. A. , Mezhov-Deglin L. P.
Published: January 2025

The measurements of injected charge mobility in solid parahydrogen reveal that the mobility of negative charges along the solid-liquid interface decreases with increasing temperature, while the mobility of positive charges increases. This points towards a considerable difference in the structure of charges of opposite polarities in para-H2 hcp crystals.
Resonance properties of the surface impedance of metal films under quantum size effect
Authors: Zakharov S. P. , Ustinov V. V.
Published: January 2025

The resonance properties of the high-frequency surface impedance of a metal film are investigated theoretically as a function of a magnetic field normal to the film surface. It is shown that in the case of strong spatial dispersion, a series of peaks associated with the excitation of specific quantum waves in the film surface impedance is observed under conditions close to the cyclotron resonance in addition to impedance resonances due to the excitation of transitions between size quantization levels induced by a varying electromagnetic field.
Nonlinear properties of YBa2Cu3Ox in microwave radiation field in the temperature interval 4.2–270 K
Authors: Dmitriev V. M. , Solov’ev A. L. , Dmitrenko A. I. , Ishchenko L. A.
Published: January 2025

The effect of microwave radiation in the range (0.2–2) GHz and 10 GHz on the IVC of Nb–YBa2Cu3Ox point contacts is studied in the temperature interval 4.2–300 K. Nonlinear effects associated with the generation of superconductivity in HTS ceramics at T ≤ 270 K have been discovered.
New structural phase transition and magnetic ordering in (C2H5NH3)2MnCl4
Authors: Zherlitsyn S. V. , Stepanov A. A. , Fil’ V. D. , Popov V. P.
Published: January 2025

The behavior of the velocities of sound and thermal expansion in the perovskite-type layered compound (C2H5NH3)2MnCl4 is studied. It is shown that the antiferromagnetic ordering (TN = 42 K) in this compound is preceded by a structural phase transition (T0 = 47 K). Singularities in the velocity of sound near the spin-flop transition are used to construct the H–T diagram for this antiferromagnet. In the temperature region T < 10 K, singularities are observed in the absorption and velocity of sound, which can be treated as a relaxation interaction of acoustic vibrations with inhomogeneous crystal states.
Optical emission of YBa2Cu3O7–δ and copper samples irradiated by slow electrons under laser-induced evaporation
Authors: Fugol’ I. Ya. , Rybalko Yu. I. , Zhuravlev V. M. , Kuzner D. , Schwentner N.
Published: January 2025

A comparative analysis of emission spectra of laser-induced plasma and cathodoluminescence of YBa2Cu3O7–δ and copper samples is carried out. The identification of plasma luminescence reveals the presence of Y, Y+, Ba, Ba+, and Cu emission lines and continual emission of molecular and cluster fragments Cu–O with a peak at 2.7 eV. The bands of intrinsic electron–photon radiation emitted by copper irradiated by slow electrons are detected at 2.0 and 4.5 eV. It is shown that the main contribution to the wide-band luminescence of Y–Ba–Cu–O at 2.7 and 3.7 eV is made by radiative transitions at the defect centers on oxygen vacancies of the type F and F+. The narrow-band radiation at 3.36 and 2.95 eV, which is sensitive to the superconducting transition, is found to belong to charge-sensitive centers of oxygen chemisorption appearing at the surface due to free charge carriers.
Single-molecule lipid biosensors mitigate inhibition of endogenous effector proteins
Authors: Holmes Victoria L. , Ricci Morgan M.C. , Weckerly Claire C. , Worcester Michael , Hammond Gerald R.V.
Published: January 2025

Genetically encoded lipid biosensors uniquely provide real time, spatially resolved kinetic data for lipid dynamics in living cells. Despite clear strengths, these tools have significant drawbacks; most notably, lipid molecules bound to biosensors cannot engage with effectors, potentially inhibiting signaling. Here, we show that although PI 3-kinase (PI3K)–mediated activation of AKT is not significantly reduced in a cell population transfected with a PH-AKT1 PIP3/PI(3,4)P2 biosensor, single cells expressing PH-AKT at visible levels have reduced activation. Tagging endogenous AKT1 with neonGreen reveals its EGF-mediated translocation to the plasma membrane. Co-transfection with the PH-AKT1 or other PIP3 biosensors eliminates this translocation, despite robust recruitment of the biosensors. Inhibition is even observed with PI(3,4)P2-selective biosensor. However, expressing lipid biosensors at low levels, comparable with those of endogenous AKT, produced no such inhibition. Helpfully, these single-molecule biosensors revealed improved dynamic range and kinetic fidelity compared with overexpressed biosensor. This approach represents a noninvasive way to probe spatiotemporal dynamics of PI3K signaling in living cells.
Think About Possibility
Authors: Allen Peter
Published: January 2025

In politics, people regularly end up doing the thing they thought was impossible, suddenly and unexpectedly. Such actions reveal something about the fundamentally uncertain state of politics and the underlying possibility this presents. But individuals often don’t do those things even if they can; something is framed as inevitable, and it doesn’t occur. Why? This chapter shows how the stories that are told about the world are powerful. They guide actions and they shape lives. Stories are arguments that the world is, can be, and will be, a certain way. Stories matter—they show what is possible and what is inevitable. But if one can look through a story, think past it, and see around it, it is possible see that a story is, ultimately, just that: a story. With sufficient will, a different one can be told instead.
Thinking About Politics in the Polycrisis
Authors: Allen Peter
Published: January 2025

This chapter brings the five ideas outlined in the book to bear on the very real political problems presented by the polycrisis. Considering the interaction of the environmental, geopolitical, and economic crises that characterize the current political moment, the chapter demonstrates how the five fundamental ideas discussed in the book can be used to think about the different aspects of these problems. What can they illuminate? The chapter argues that, despite the apparent novelty and complexity of the issues facing democratic societies, they can be understood by focusing on the fundamental ideas of power, knowledge, representation, interests, and possibility. Taken together, the lesson to be drawn from this is that the scope of what politics is and what it can achieve might be more than is commonly thought.
Rethinking ‘farmer–herder’ conflicts in the Ivorian internal frontier
Authors: Allouche Jeremy , Yao Yao Cyprien , Soumahoro Amédée Kando
Published: January 2025

There is a heightened concern among the media, United Nations (UN) agencies, and security experts about the rising number of localized conflicts in West Africa. While many of these conflicts are labelled as farmer–herder conflicts, they are, in fact, more complex and multidimensional. This article demonstrates as much for the Ivorian case by building on the concept of the internal frontier in West African rural institutions. Population mobility has been central to state policies and practices towards the internal frontier in order to optimize conditions for economic growth and capital accumulation. Drawing on the case of Bouna, Côte d’Ivoire in 2016, this article argues that the conflict is driven by a reconfiguration of local social orders, whereby the state’s internal frontier logic faces a crisis due to the ideological contradictions between capital accumulation and autochthony.
Deciphering cell states and the cellular ecosystem to improve risk stratification in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Zhang Zheyang , Tang Ronghan , Zhu Ming , Zhu Zhijuan , Zhu Jiali , Li Hua , Tong Mengsha , Li Nainong , Huang Jialiang
Published: January 2025

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) demonstrates significant cellular heterogeneity in both leukemic and immune cells, providing valuable insights into clinical outcomes. Here, we constructed an AML single-cell transcriptome atlas and proposed sciNMF workflow to systematically dissect underlying cellular heterogeneity. Notably, sciNMF identified 26 leukemic and immune cell states that linked to clinical variables, mutations, and prognosis. By examining the co-existence patterns among these cell states, we highlighted a unique AML cellular ecosystem (ACE) that signifies aberrant tumor milieu and poor survival, which is confirmed by public RNA-seq cohorts. We further developed the ACE signature (ACEsig), comprising 12 genes, which accurately predicts AML prognosis, and outperforms existing signatures. When applied to cytogenetically normal AML or intensively treated patients, the ACEsig continues to demonstrate strong performance. Our results demonstrate that large-scale systematic characterization of cellular heterogeneity has the potential to enhance our understanding of AML heterogeneity and contribute to more precise risk stratification strategy.
tagtango: an application to compare single-cell annotations
Authors: Bramon Mora Bernat , Lindsay Helen , Thiébaut Antonin , Stuart Kenneth D , Gottardo Raphael
Published: January 2025

In this article, we present tagtango, an innovative R package and web application designed for robust and intuitive comparison of single-cell clusters and annotations. It offers an interactive platform that simplifies the exploration of differences and similarities among different clustering and annotation methods. Leveraging single-cell data analysis and different visualizations, it allows researchers to dissect the underlying biological differences across groups. tagtango is a user-friendly application that is portable and works seamlessly across multiple operating systems.

Availability and implementation

tagtango is freely available at https://github.com/bernibra/tagtango as an R package as well as an online web service at https://tagtango.unil.ch.
Quantitative susceptibility mapping is more sensitive and specific than phase imaging in detecting chronic active multiple sclerosis lesion rims: pathological validation
Authors: Gillen Kelly M , Nguyen Thanh D , Dimov Alexey , Kovanlikaya Ilhami , Luu Ha Manh , Demmon Emily , Markowitz Daniel M , Bagnato Francesca , Pitt David , Gauthier Susan A , Wang Yi
Published: January 2025

Quantitative susceptibility mapping and phase imaging are used to identify multiple sclerosis lesions with paramagnetic rims that slowly expand over time and are associated with earlier progression to disability, decreased brain volume and increased frequency of clinical relapse. However, the presence of iron-laden microglia/macrophages at the lesion rim and demyelination within the lesion both contribute to phase and quantitative susceptibility mapping images. Therefore, simultaneous pathological validation is needed to assess accuracies in identifying iron-positive lesions. MRI was performed on 15 multiple sclerosis brain slabs; 32 lesions of interest were processed for myelin, iron and microglial markers. Three experienced readers classified lesions as rim positive or negative on quantitative susceptibility mapping and phase; these classifications were compared with Perls’ stain as the gold standard. All 10 of the quantitative susceptibility mapping-positive lesions had iron-positive rims on histology. Of the 16 phase-positive lesions, only 10 had iron-positive rims on histology. Using Perls’ stain as the ground truth, the positive predictive value was 100% for quantitative susceptibility mapping and 63% for phase; the negative predictive value was 95% for quantitative susceptibility mapping and 94% for phase. Post-mortem imaging results demonstrate that quantitative susceptibility mapping is a more reliable indicator of an iron-positive rim compared with phase imaging.
Parathyroid gland volume and treatment resistance in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism: a 4-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kato Kazuhiko , Nakashima Akio , Morishita Masamitsu , Ohkido Ichiro , Yokoo Takashi
Published: January 2025

Background

The role of parathyroid gland (PTG) ultrasonography in the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism after the introduction of calcimimetics remains unclear. Recent investigations have prompted renewed interest in the use of PTG ultrasonography for assessing treatment resistance to calcimimetics and determining the optimal timing for surgical intervention. This study aimed to explore the hypothesis that the PTG volume correlates with the calcimimetic dose.

Methods

We retrospectively observed outpatients undergoing haemodialysis at baseline and a 4-year follow-up. PTG volume was measured using ultrasonography between January and December 2017 and January and December 2021. We examined the association between baseline PTG volume and calcimimetic doses after 4 years.

Results

Of the 121 patients {median age 64 years [interquartile range (IQR) 54–72]}, 71 had PTG nodules on ultrasonography and the median total PTG volume was 34 mm3 (IQR 0–178). In the short dialysis vintage group, baseline parathyroid hormone levels tended to correlate with baseline calcimimetic doses; however, this trend was not observed in the extended dialysis vintage group. Baseline PTG volume correlated with the cinacalcet-equivalent calcimimetic dose (correlation coefficient 0.46; P < .001) after 4 years. The calcimimetic dose in the group with an estimated PTG volume >500 mm3 was ≈80 mg/day higher than that in the non-PTG nodule group after 4 years. In multivariate linear regression analysis, PTG volume >500 mm3 was associated with a high calcimimetic dose at 4 years in all analysis models.

Conclusions

Assessing PTG volume using ultrasonography may help predict high calcimimetic doses.
HoloFood Data Portal: holo-omic datasets for analysing host–microbiota interactions in animal production
Authors: Rogers Alexander B , Kale Varsha , Baldi Germana , Alberdi Antton , Gilbert M Thomas P , Gupta Dipayan , Limborg Morten T , Li Sen , Payne Thomas , Petersen Bent , Rasmussen Jacob A , Richardson Lorna , Finn Robert D
Published: January 2025

The HoloFood project used a hologenomic approach to understand the impact of host–microbiota interactions on salmon and chicken production by analysing multiomic data, phenotypic characteristics, and associated metadata in response to novel feeds. The project’s raw data, derived analyses, and metadata are deposited in public, open archives (BioSamples, European Nucleotide Archive, MetaboLights, and MGnify), so making use of these diverse data types may require access to multiple resources. This is especially complex where analysis pipelines produce derived outputs such as functional profiles or genome catalogues. The HoloFood Data Portal is a web resource that simplifies access to the project datasets. For example, users can conveniently access multiomic datasets derived from the same individual or retrieve host phenotypic data with a linked gut microbiome sample. Project-specific metagenome-assembled genome and viral catalogues are also provided, linking to broader datasets in MGnify. The portal stores only data necessary to provide these relationships, with possible linking to the underlying repositories. The portal showcases a model approach for how future multiomics datasets can be made available.

Database URL:  https://www.holofooddata.org
Migration of toxic elements from recycled paper food contact materials to food simulants: compatibility and influence of sample preparation methods
Authors: Kourkopoulos Athanasios , Sijm Dick Theodorus Hubertus Maria , Vrolijk Misha
Published: January 2025

The presence of toxic elements in paper and board food contact materials (FCMs) has been previously shown by various studies employing different sample preparation methods. This study elucidates the influence of migration methods on the migration of toxic elements from recycled paper FCMs to food simulants and compares these methods with exhaustive extraction approaches. Migration samples were prepared with four food simulants as specified in Commission Regulation (EU) 10/2011: 3% acetic acid (volume fraction), 10% and 50% ethanol (volume fraction), and Tenax. The extraction process underestimated the number and quantity of elements. Migration methodologies revealed distinct element transfer patterns influenced by the physicochemical properties of the food simulants. Toxic elements, including aluminum, cobalt, nickel, arsenic, lead, cadmium, barium, and uranium, were detected in quantities exceeding safety reference values. These findings underscore the need for harmonized migration testing and regulatory specific migration limits (SMLs).
Improvement of plant growth and fruit quality by introducing a phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase mutation into Methylorubrum populi
Authors: Zhang Cong , Yao Lu , Zhang Ming-Ming , Tian Dan-Dan , Wu Jing , Hu Yu-Zheng , Bao Kai , Ma Zeng-Xin , Tan Ling-Ling , Yang Song
Published: January 2025

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the introduction of a phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase (PRS) mutation into a plant growth-promoting strain of Methylorubrum on the enhancement of phyllosphere colonization, with the ultimate goal of improving plant growth and quality.

Methods and results

A strain of Methylorubrum populi (named HS04) was isolated from the groundnut leaves and found to process the plant-promoting traits, including the ability to produce indole acetic acid, siderophore, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, and to fix nitrogen. The application via foliar spray significantly increased the fresh weight of cucumber seedlings cultivated in a standard growth chamber, with 43.0% higher than the control group. Genomic analysis revealed that the presence of an array of genes involved in plant growth promotion, including accD, aldB, and ltaE, as well as potential nitrogen-fixation-related genes, including nifA, bchlLNB, and bchXYZ, in the HS04 strain. The introduction of the PRS mutation (an aspartic acid to an asparagine residue, D38N) in the HS04 strain (named HS04PTR) enhanced the utilization capacity of low concentrations of methanol and multi-carbon sources (C2–C5 carbon sources). The HS04PTR strain indicated a notable enhancement in the phyllosphere colonization, with the subsequent application further promoting the growth of cucumber seedlings. An agricultural solar greenhouse experiment was thus performed to assess the efficiency of the HS04PTR strain, sprayed at low abundance, in improving the growth and quality of cucumber plants, including vitamin C, reducing sugars, and total sugars.

Conclusions

Our findings provide insights into the potential of Methylorubrum/Methylobacterium strains with the PRS mutations as an efficient inoculant for advantageous agricultural applications.
A novel multi-task algorithm for operational optimization of coal mine integrated energy system under multiple uncertainties
Authors: Fei Xiaotian , Ma Jun , Zhang Jianhua , Zhang Yong , Gong Dunwei
Published: January 2025

The operational optimization of the coal mine integrated energy system (CMIES) is crucial for reducing costs and carbon emissions. However, the system’s multi-objective nature, stringent constraints, and the uncertainty of renewable and mine-derived energy make solving its optimization challenging. Thus, this paper first presents a data-driven uncertainty transformation method to address the uncertainty of renewable energy and mining derived energy output; then, a multi-task multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on adaptive auxiliary tasks (MMOEA-AS) is proposed, which includes a main task and three auxiliary tasks. Meanwhile, an adaptive update strategy for auxiliary tasks and a matching degree-guided knowledge transfer mechanism are proposed to improve the performance of the algorithm. Finally, taking the energy scheduling problem of a coal mine in Shanxi, China as an example, MMOEA-AS is compared with five advanced evolutionary algorithms. The results show that MMOEA-AS can effectively solve the operation optimization of the CMIES, and obtain the optimal scheduling results.
R. Joseph Kimḥi's translation of Baḥya Ibn Paquda's Duties of the Hearts: A revised reading of MS Leipzig UBL B.H. 39, and its implications
Authors: Avirbach Barak
Published: January 2025

Baḥya ibn Paquda's Al-Hidāya ‘ilā Farā‘iḍ Al-Qulūb was translated from Arabic into medieval Hebrew by R. Judah Ibn Tibbon and R. Joseph Kimḥi. While Ibn Tibbon's translation has many surviving witnesses, only a fragment of Kimḥi's remains in four sources: one manuscript (MS Leipzig UBL B.H. 39) and three printed editions. A study of MS Leipzig reveals the inaccuracies in all editions of Kimḥi's translation, which were treated as an appendix to Ibn Tibbon's translation. These inaccuracies include abbreviations, word replacements, changes in verb tenses, pronouns, verbal stems, omissions, and additions. The impact of these discrepancies on the text's meaning and the study of medieval Hebrew and Kimḥi's translation method are significant. This article analyzes the codicological and philological aspects of MS Leipzig, presents a new reading of the manuscript, and discusses the central linguistic significance of the new reading compared to the printed editions and their implications for the text's meaning and linguistic nature.
‘The Last Day’ in John: Future or Realized?
Authors: Méndez Hugo
Published: January 2025

The Gospel of John applies many terms associated with future eschatology to describe realized-eschatological realities (‘judgment’, ‘death’, ‘condemnation’, ‘eternal life’, the ‘hour’, and ‘coming’). This paper defends the view that the Gospel’s six references to the ‘last day’ fit the same pattern (6:39–40, 44, 54; 11:24; 12:48). John’s Jesus takes up the language of a ‘last day’ from the sphere of future-eschatological expectations, but by his peculiar uses of the phrase, he guides the reader into a figurative, Spirit-realized interpretation of that language. In John, the ‘last day’ is not a specific, single day in the remote future. Rather, it is a cipher for the time materializing with Jesus’ coming into the word and fully realized at his departure and the coming of the Spirit, through which humans experience a spiritual resurrection and receive eternal life. The paper develops this thesis with special attention to such verses as 6:38–39; 7:37–39; and 11:24–26.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Weight Loss in Male and Female Active-duty Service Members: A Weight Management Study
Authors: Morse Jessica L , Fishbein Joel N , Wooldridge Jennalee S , Herbert Matthew S , Afari Niloofar
Published: January 2025

Background

Overweight and obesity are critical public health concerns with relevance to U.S. military personnel, as active duty service members must meet physical fitness and body composition standards. Biological sex and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis may affect service members’ weight management efforts, but it is unclear what contribution each of these factors independently or in combination have on weight loss.

Method

Addressing this gap in knowledge, the current study used multilevel models to examine the effects of sex and self-reported PTSD diagnosis on change in weight of active duty Navy service members (n = 178, 61% female, 24% PTSD) over the course of and after a behavioral weight management intervention.

Results

On average, participants’ weights decreased significantly during the intervention (P < .001), and there was a significant sex-by-PTSD interaction effect such that male participants without a self-reported PTSD diagnosis and female participants with a self-reported PTSD diagnosis lost significantly more weight during the intervention than their counterparts (P = .015). The main effects of sex and self-reported PTSD diagnosis on weight change during the intervention were nonsignificant (P’s ≥ .24). While weight remained stable on average during the follow-up period (P = .28), female sex marginally predicted weight loss during the follow-up period (P = .07), whereas self-reported PTSD diagnosis and the sex-by-PTSD interaction were not significant (P’s ≥ .16).

Conclusions

These results highlight the importance of considering both sex and PTSD diagnosis as factors that together may influence the efficacy of behavioral weight management programs for active duty service members.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT01757847
Azimuthal metallicity variations, spiral structure, and the failure of radial actions based on assuming axisymmetry
Authors: Debattista Victor P , Khachaturyants Tigran , Amarante João A S , Carr Christopher , Beraldo e Silva Leandro , Laporte Chervin F P
Published: January 2025

We study azimuthal variations in the mean stellar metallicity, $\langle {\rm{[Fe/H]}}\rangle $, in a self-consistent, isolated simulation in which all stars form out of gas. We find $\langle {\rm{[Fe/H]}}\rangle$ variations comparable to those observed in the Milky Way and which are coincident with the spiral density waves. The azimuthal variations are present in young and old stars and therefore are not a result of recently formed stars. Similar variations are present in the mean age and $\rm \alpha$-abundance. We measure the pattern speeds of the $\langle {\rm{[Fe/H]}}\rangle$-variations and find that they match those of the spirals, indicating that spirals are the cause of the metallicity patterns. Because younger stellar populations are not just more $\rm [Fe/H]$-rich and $\rm \alpha$-poor but also dynamically cooler, we expect them to more strongly support spirals, which is indeed the case in the simulation. However, if we measure the radial action, $J_{R}$, using the Stäckel axisymmetric approximation, we find that the spiral ridges are traced by regions of high $J_{R}$, contrary to expectations. Assuming that the passage of stars through the spirals leads to unphysical variations in the measured $J_{R}$, we obtain an improved estimate of $J_{R}$ by averaging over a $1\rm{\:{Gyr}}$ time interval. This time-averaged $J_{R}$ is a much better tracer of the spiral structure, with minima at the spiral ridges. We conclude that the errors incurred by the axisymmetric approximation introduce correlated deviations large enough to render the instantaneous radial actions inadequate for tracing spirals.
Quasi-periodic eruptions as Lense–Thirring precession of super-Eddington flows
Authors: Middleton M , Gúrpide A , Kwan T M , Dai L , Arcodia R , Chakraborty J , Dauser T , Fragile P C , Ingram A , Miniutti G , Pinto C , Kosec P
Published: January 2025

Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs) are a recently identified class of X-ray transient associated with tidal disruption events by supermassive black holes, and for which there are multiple possible explanations. In this paper, we present a simple model which requires the black hole be spinning, be misaligned with the accretion flow (both conditions of which are almost certainly met), and that the accretion rate is a few times the Eddington limit. We speculate that the resulting Lense–Thirring torques force the disc and entrained outflows to precess, leading to increased X-ray flux when the wind-cone is oriented at lower inclinations to the observer. We test the range of parameters for which this model could explain the period and brightness of the QPE events discovered thus far, and make qualitative comparisons between the observed X-ray spectra and light curves to those extracted from general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Overall, we find some areas of promising concordance, and identify challenges related to the details of current simulations.
The Presumption of Duties to Oneself
Authors: Kanygina Yuliya
Published: January 2025

Morality is fundamentally impartial. No one can be simply excluded from moral consideration without justification in terms of a morally relevant distinction. I claim that moral impartiality justifies establishing the presumption in favor of duties to oneself. I vindicate this claim against the challenge that there must be a morally relevant self-other distinction which explains the commonsense moral asymmetry. I show that the asymmetry can be explained instead by the presupposition of consent. I end by responding to the objection that the consent-based explanation of the asymmetry condemns potential duties to oneself as practically uninteresting.
Duties to Oneself in the Light of African Values: Two Theoretical Approaches
Authors: Metz Thaddeus
Published: January 2025

I draw on ideas salient in African philosophy to construct two new theoretical ways of capturing the essence of duties to oneself. According to one theory, a person has a basic duty to “relate” to herself in ways similar to how the African field has often thought one should relate to others, viz., harmoniously, while, according to a second, one has such a duty to produce liveliness in oneself. Beyond articulating these two novel attempts to account for what all duties to oneself have in common and showing that each captures several intuitions about them, I offer reasons to favor the harmony theory, meriting consideration by a global audience as a rival to, say, the Kantian-rationalism common in the West and Confucianism in the East.
Duties to the Unified Self
Authors: Leuenberger Muriel
Published: January 2025

Duties to self are commonly considered as incoherent. If I owed a duty to myself, I could release myself from it at will which would be incoherent with it being a duty. Recent years have seen various attempts at defending duties to self against this argument. A common strategy entails that the self is divided. One part of the self owes a duty to another. I argue that understanding duties to self as being owed to a part of the self leads to problems because a person has interests that go beyond those of the single parts. Instead, I suggest that duties to self are owed by a local self (or rather, a local perspective) to an extended or unified self.
Integrity and Morality
Authors: Schaab Janis David
Published: January 2025

This paper defends a strong link between personal integrity and morality in a way that preserves the overriding and universal authority of impartial morality. I argue that, when we are committed to a personal project or relationship, we hold ourselves accountable, from the perspective of a corresponding practical identity, for living up to the commitment. Under the right conditions, this generates an obligation to ourselves. Supposing that holding someone accountable constitutively presupposes a version of Kant’s Formula of Humanity (as Stephen Darwall argues), such obligations of integrity turn out to be moral obligations. Although the picture presented here resembles Christine Korsgaard’s account of the link between integrity of morality, it has several advantages over that account.
The Normative Power of Resolutions
Authors: Sun Angela
Published: January 2025

This article argues that resolutions are reason-giving: when an agent resolves to φ, she incurs an additional normative reason to φ. I argue that the reasons we incur from making resolutions are importantly similar to the reasons we incur from making promises. My account explains why it can be rational for an agent to act on a past resolution even if temptation causes preference and even judgment shifts at the time of action, and offers a response to a common objection to the normativity of resolutions known as the bootstrapping problem, on which if resolutions were reason-giving they would problematically allow us to bootstrap any action into rationality simply by resolving to perform it.
Scepticism About Self-Knowledge of Motives
Authors: Hubacher Haerle Pablo
Published: January 2025

Many philosophers claim that we have a duty to know our motives. However, prominent theories of the mind suggest that we can’t. Such scepticism about knowledge of one’s motives is based on psychological evidence. I show that this evidence only mandates scepticism about knowledge of one’s motives if we rely on a mistaken assumption which I call ‘the myth of the one true motive’. If we reject this myth, we see that there is space to plausibly interpret the empirical data such that knowledge of one’s motives is difficult, but not impossible.
GDBr: genomic signature interpretation tool for DNA double-strand break repair mechanisms
Authors: Ryu Hyunwoo , Han Hyunho , Kim Chuna , Kim Jun
Published: January 2025

Large genetic variants can be generated via homologous recombination (HR), such as polymerase theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ) or single-strand annealing (SSA). Given that these HR-based mechanisms leave specific genomic signatures, we developed GDBr, a genomic signature interpretation tool for DNA double-strand break repair mechanisms using high-quality genome assemblies. We applied GDBr to a draft human pangenome reference. We found that 78.1% of non-repetitive insertions and deletions and 11.0% of non-repetitive complex substitutions contained specific signatures. Of these, we interpreted that 98.7% and 1.3% of the insertions and deletions were generated via TMEJ and SSA, respectively, and all complex substitutions via TMEJ. Since population-level pangenome datasets are being dramatically accumulated, GDBr can provide mechanistic insights into how variants are formed. GDBr is available on GitHub at https://github.com/Chemical118/GDBr.
Extensive homologous recombination safeguards oocyte genome integrity in mammals
Authors: Cao Huiwen , Qiu Cheng , Fang Anxuan , Shang Jianzhou , Xu Wei , He Lugeng , Duan Xing , Zhang Qianting , Yu Chao
Published: January 2025

Meiosis in mammalian oocytes is interrupted by a prolonged arrest at the germinal vesicle stage, during which oocytes have to repair DNA lesions to ensure genome integrity or otherwise undergo apoptosis. The FIRRM/FLIP-FIGNL1 complex dissociates RAD51 from the joint DNA molecules in both homologous recombination (HR) and DNA replication. However, as a type of non-meiotic, non-replicative cells, whether this RAD51-dismantling mechanism regulates genome integrity in oocytes remains elusive. Here, we show that FIRRM/FLIP is required for disassembly of RAD51-filaments and maintenance of genome integrity in oocytes. Deletion of FIRRM in oocytes leads to formation of massive nuclear RAD51 foci in oocytes of primordial follicles and activated follicles in mice. These RAD51 foci colocalize with the sites of DNA damage repair, as indicated by RPA2 and EdU, suggesting substantial DNA damage and extensive HR in oocytes. Especially in fully-grown FIRRM-deleted oocytes, RAD51 forms a net-like structure. As a consequence, FIRRM-deleted females are infertile due to aberrant homologous chromosome segregation at metaphase I and primordial follicle insufficiency at young adulthood. Hence, our study demonstrates the physiological importance of HR in maintaining genome integrity in oocytes.
Modeling Falco naumanni (Lesser Kestrel) habitat selection according to meteorological conditions to identify risk-inducing wind turbines
Authors: Sassi Yohan , Bartholus Lise , Garcia Mathieu , Saulnier Nicolas , Pilard Philippe , Duriez Olivier
Published: January 2025

Wind energy can produce energy while limiting carbon emissions, but it has many negative impacts on biodiversity. Raptors, relying on updrafts to soar and reduce their energy expenditure, are among the most vulnerable to collisions with wind turbines. In this study, we investigated the factors underlying the use of a wind energy facility in Southern France by Falco naumanni (Lesser kestrels), where they are the most frequent victims of collisions. As F. naumanni relies on wind updrafts to practice hovering flight when looking for prey, we hypothesized that these birds would be distributed according to the distribution of orographic updrafts. Using telemetry tracking data collected on 26 adults F. naumanni, between 2017 and 2021, we found that their presence in the wind energy facility increased with orographic updrafts velocity but decreased as the breeding season progressed. Using resource selection models, we predicted the relative probability of selection of habitat by the kestrels, within the facility, according to environmental conditions. Based on these predictions, we identified turbines, where kestrel’s presence was more likely to increase the risk of collision, and proposed a selective curtailment of these turbines. This mitigation measure could represent a step toward a win-win situation in which a selective curtailment allows stakeholders to continue producing renewable energy while reducing the collision risk of vulnerable bird populations.