bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gravitational signal propagation in the double pulsar studied with the MeerKAT telescope
Authors: Hu H. , Kramer M. , Champion D. J. , Wex N. , Parthasarathy A. , Pennucci T. T. , Porayko N. K. , van Straten W. , Venkatraman Krishnan V. , Burgay M. , Freire P. C. C. , Manchester R. N. , Possenti A. , Stairs I. H. , Bailes M. , Buchner S. , Cameron A. D. , Camilo F. , Serylak M.
Published: October 2022

The double pulsar PSR J0737−3039A/B has offered a wealth of gravitational experiments in the strong-field regime, all of which general relativity has passed with flying colours. In particular, among current gravity experiments that test photon propagation, the double pulsar probes the strongest spacetime curvature. Observations with MeerKAT and, in the future, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) can greatly improve the accuracy of current tests and facilitate tests of next-to-leading-order (NLO) contributions in both orbital motion and signal propagation. We present our timing analysis of new observations of PSR J0737−3039A, made using the MeerKAT telescope over the last three years. The increased timing precision offered by MeerKAT yields a measurement of Shapiro delay parameter s that it twice as good, and an improved mass measurements compared to previous studies. In addition, our results provide an independent confirmation of the NLO signal propagation effects and already surpass the previous measurement from 16 yr data by a factor of 1.65. These effects include the retardation effect due to the movement of the companion and the deflection of the signal by the gravitational field of the companion. We also investigate the novel effects that have been expected. For instance, we search for potential profile variations near superior conjunctions caused by shifts of the line of sight due to latitudinal signal deflection, and we find insignificant evidence with our current data. With simulations, we find that the latitudinal deflection delay is unlikely to be measured with timing because of its correlation with Shapiro delay. Furthermore, although it is currently not possible to detect the expected lensing correction to the Shapiro delay, our simulations suggest that this effect may be measured with the full SKA. Finally, we provide an improved analytical description for the signal propagation in the double pulsar system that meets the timing precision expected from future instruments such as the full SKA.
Discontinuous Galerkin methods for stochastic Maxwell equations with multiplicative noise
Authors: Sun Jiawei , Shu Chi-Wang , Xing Yulong
Published: October 2022

In this paper we propose and analyze finite element discontinuous Galerkin methods for the one- and two-dimensional stochastic Maxwell equations with multiplicative noise. The discrete energy law of the semi-discrete DG methods were studied. Optimal error estimate of the semi-discrete method is obtained for the one-dimensional case, and the two-dimensional case on both rectangular meshes and triangular meshes under certain mesh assumptions. Strong Taylor 2.0 scheme is used as the temporal discretization. Both one- and two-dimensional numerical results are presented to validate the theoretical analysis results.
Reclamation of intermetallic titanium aluminide aero-engine components using directed energy deposition technology
Authors: Mallikarjuna Balichakra , Reutzel Edward W.
Published: October 2022

Titanium Aluminide (TiAl) alloys are intermetallics that offer low density, high melting point, good oxidation and corrosion resistance compared to Ni-based superalloys. As a result, these alloys are used in aero-engine parts such as turbine blades, fuel injectors, radial diffusers, divergent flaps, and more. During operation, aero-engine components are subjected to high thermal loading in an oxidizing and corrosive environment, which results in wear and other material damage. Replacement of the entire component may not be desirable due to long lead time and expense. In such cases, repair and refurbishing may be the best option for the reclamation of TiAl parts. Unfortunately, approved repair technology is not currently available for TiAl based components. Additive Manufacturing (AM) based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) may serve as an option to help repair and restore expensive aero-engine parts. In this work, a review of efforts to utilize the DED technique to repair damaged TiAl-based aerospace parts locally is conducted. Replacing the entire TiAl part is not advisable as it is expensive. DED is a promising technique used to produce, repair, rework, and overhaul (MRO) damaged parts. Considering the high-quality standard of the aircraft industry, DED repaired TiAl parts to be certified for their future use in the aircraft is very important. However, there are no standards for the certification of TiAl repaired parts is reported. Case studies reveal that DED is under consideration for repair of TiAl parts. Hybrid technology comprising machining, repair and finishing capability in a single machine is an attractive implementation strategy to improve repair efficacies. The review shows that the investigations into development and applications of DED-based repairing techniques are limited, which suggests that further investigations are very much needed.
Optimization of machining parameters in drilling of LM6/B4C/Fly ash hybrid composites
Authors: Udaya Prakash Jayavelu , Sarala Rubi Charles , Palani Sivaprakasam , Jebarose Juliyana Sunder , Divya Sadhana Arasumugam
Published: October 2022

Metal matrix composites (MMCs), innovative replacements for traditional materials, are currently achieving a growing trend in engineering and research for operations like aviation, nuclear power, and automotive. Machining of MMCs makes it challenging to get good dimensional accuracy, surface finish and lower tool wear. Drilling is a necessary and immensely useful tool for component assembly in the manufacturing sector. As a result, optimization of drilling process variables is unavoidable. The fundamental purpose of this study is to use the stir casting technique to manufacture LM6/B4C/Fly ash composites with 3, 6 and 9 wt.% of second phase materials. Taguchi's design of experiments strategy was used to drill with three levels of feed rate (F), spindle speed (S), drill material (D) and percentage of reinforcement (R) as input process parameters. Optimization of drilling variables for attaining lower surface roughness (SR) and burr height (BH) using single objective approach. The optimum process variable achieved for surface roughness is F1S3D3R2, i.e., 50 mm/min, 3000 rpm, TiN-coated drill bit and 6 wt.% of reinforcements (B4C and Fly-ash) and for burr height is F1S3D3R3, i.e., 50 mm/min, 3000 rpm, TiN-coated drill bit and 9 wt.% of reinforcements.
Nanoparticulate reinforced composites and their application to additively manufactured TI6AL4V for use in the aerospace sector
Authors: Mashabela Mpho , Maringa Maina , Dzogbewu Thywill
Published: October 2022

Metal matrix composites possess good mechanical properties at high temperatures making them good candidates for components that operate in conditions of high temperatures where they have to withstand static creep and cyclic fatigue loads. The mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V including hardness, strength, modulus of elasticity, and wear resistance can be enhanced with nano particulates to obtain lighter and stronger materials that can function at elevated temperatures. This paper starts with a brief background on composite materials and then turns to analysis of carbon nanotubes, titanium carbide, silicon carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and titanium nitride nano particulate materials as candidates for the reinforcement for Ti6Al4V to form composites for aerospace applications. Based on a comparison of their physical properties of melting point, coefficient of thermal expansion, density and mechanical properties of strength, Young's modulus and hardness all obtained from literature, the paper narrows down on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and titanium diboride as the preferred nano composites for this use. Presently, experimental work is under way to determine optimum process parameters for additively built carbon nanotube/Ti6Al4V composites that will be used to build three-dimensional specimens for testing to determine their mechanical properties. This is expected to clarify the value of incorporating the carbon nanotubes in the Ti6Al4V matrix with respect to selected mechanical properties. Future work is envisaged on additively build titanium diboride/Ti6Al4V composites to the same end and in order to determine which of the two nano particles is best in enhancing the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V.
Efficacy and Safety of Polycaprolactone in Treating Nasolabial Folds: A Prospective, Multicenter, and Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhao Hongyi , Ren Rongxin , Bao Shiwei , Qian Wenjiang , Ma Xiaobing , Wang Ruiyan , Li Xiaoxin , Fang Rouyu , Sun Qiuning , Tian Yan , Zhu Chaonan , Shi Jianling
Published: October 2022

Nasolabial folds (NLFs) are the most pronounced sign of facial aging. This study explored the efficacy and safety of polycaprolactone gel in treating Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe NLFs. Patients with moderate-to-severe NLF who wished to be treated by dermal fillers were recruited from three centers between July 2017 and September 2019. The randomizing ratio was 1:1 in the polycaprolactone group (polycaprolactone injection) or control group (sodium hyaluronate gel injection). The primary endpoint was the effectiveness rate of Wrinkle Severity Rating Score (WSRS) scores at 12 months after injection. The full-analysis set (FAS) and safety sets had 80 patients in the polycaprolactone group and control group, respectively. In the FAS, the effectiveness rate at 12 months in the polycaprolactone group was 88.8% compared with 23.8% in controls (P < 0.001). The improvement in WSRS sustained during 12 months in the polycaprolactone group, while gradually vanished in the control group since 3 months after surgery. The global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) by investigator assessments was improved, much improved, or very much improved in all patients during follow-up, while the proportion of patients with a “no change” assessment gradually increased during follow-up after 6 months in the control group. The rates of injection-related adverse event (AE) and serve injection-related AE were 8.8 versus 11.3% and 0 versus 1.3% in the polycaprolactone group and control groups, respectively. Polycaprolactone gel injection is effective and safe to treat moderate-to-severe NLFs in Chinese patients.
Granuloma eosinofílico cervical en el adolescente: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura
Authors: Yurac Ratko , Zamorano Juan José , Calvo-Mena Rafael , Castoldi María Francesca , Barra Camila De La , Quinteros Guisela , Novoa Felipe
Published: October 2022

Introducción El granuloma eosinofílico (GE) es una patología infrecuente, sobre todo en adultos, que puede afectar la columna cervical. A pesar de la vasta literatura, esta enfermedad afecta principalmente a la población infantil, y no hay un consenso sobre el manejo en adultos. Con el objetivo de aportar conocimiento respecto a esta patología poco frecuente, se presenta un caso clínico de GE cervical en un paciente de 16 años, a quien se trató de manera conservadora, con buenos resultados y retorno completo a sus actividades.

Caso Clínico Un hombre de 16 años, seleccionado de rugby, consultó por dolor cervical axial persistente y nocturno de 6 semanas de evolución, sin trauma evidente. Al examen, destacó dolor a la compresión axial sin compromiso neurológico asociado. Los exámenes de tomografía computarizada (TC) y resonancia magnética (RM) revelaron lesión lítica en el cuerpo de C3 de características agresivas, de presentación monostótica en tomografía por emisión de positrones-tomografía computada (TEP-TC) compatible con tumor primario vertebral. Se decidió realizar biopsia percutánea bajo TC, para definir el diagnóstico y manejo adecuado, la cual fue compatible con células de Langerhans. Al no presentar clínica ni imagenología de inestabilidad ósea evidente o compromiso neurológico, se manejó con tratamiento conservador, inmovilización cervical, analgesia oral, y seguimiento estrecho. A los cuatro meses de evolución, se presentó con una TC con cambios reparativos del cuerpo vertebral y sin dolor, y logró retomar sus actividad habituales.

Conclusiones El diagnóstico de GE es infrecuente a esta edad, y se debe plantear entre diagnósticos diferenciales de lesiones líticas agresivas primarias vertebrales. Es necesario el uso de imágenes, y la biopsia vertebral es fundamental para confirmar el diagnóstico. Su manejo va a depender de la sintomatología, del compromiso de estructuras vecinas, y de la estabilidad de la vértebra afectada. El manejo conservador con seguimiento clínico e imagenológico es una opción viable.
Care during ART scale-up: surviving the HIV epidemic in Ethiopia
Authors: Nishi Makoto
Published: October 2022

Over the last decades, there has been a worldwide rise of new technologies for controlling the HIV epidemic by expanding antiretroviral medicines. This article examines how the pharmaceutical-driven model of public health, which emerged as a byproduct of antiretroviral treatment (ART) scale-up in Ethiopia, interplayed with local forms of actions, engagements, and voices through which suffering inflicted by the epidemic was cared for. Through the eyes of an Ethiopian woman with HIV, this article illustrates how the increasing emphasis on ART facilitated the defunding of some community-based care practices. Moreover, it rendered the realities of precarious life with HIV invisible in the landscape of therapeutic citizenship. However, for Ethiopians, ART scale-up unfolded amid multiple forms of HIV care practices and relationships that endured stigma, alienation, and uncertainty before and after ART. The experience of surviving the HIV epidemic in Ethiopia provides a vital premise upon which claims of meaningful care are made, and ways to otherwise develop healthcare actions and engagements are sought.
Accurate in situ measurements of thermoelectric transport properties at high pressure and high temperature
Authors: Zhao Wei , Cheng Jiaen , Wang Dianzhen , You Cun , Zhang Jinmeng , Ye Meiyan , Wang Xin , Dong Shushan , Tao Qiang , Zhu Pinwen
Published: October 2022

Regulating electron structure and electron–phonon coupling by means of pressure and temperature is an effective way to optimize thermoelectric properties. However, in situ testing of thermoelectric transport performance under pressure and temperature is hindered by technical constraints that obscure the intrinsic effects of pressure and temperature on thermoelectric properties. In the present study, a new reliable assembly was developed for testing the in situ thermoelectric transport performance of materials at high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). This reduces the influence of thermal effects on the test results and improves the success rate of in situ experiments at HPHT. The Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity of α-Cu2Se were measured under HPHT, and the former was found to increase with increasing pressure and temperature; for the latter, although an increase in the pressure acted to lower the electrical resistivity, an increase in the temperature acted to increase it. On increasing pressure from 0.8 to 3 GPa at 333 K, the optimal power factor of α-Cu2Se was increased by ∼76% from 2.36 × 10−4–4.15 × 10−4 W m−1 K−2, and the higher pressure meant that α-Cu2Se had its maximum power factor at lower temperature. The present work is particularly important for understanding the thermoelectric mechanism under HPHT.
Surface wetting to enhance thermoreflectance characterization of integrated circuits
Authors: Alajlouni S. , Shakouri A.
Published: October 2022

Thermoreflectance (TR) imaging enables non-contact thermal imaging of devices and integrated circuits (ICs) with sub-µm spatial resolution. TR coefficient of most metals and semiconductors in visible wavelengths is in the 10−5 to 10−3 K−1 range, which gives a temperature resolution of 0.1–0.5 °C with a few minutes of averaging. Here, we show that surface wetting with various solvents, such as water, methanol, as well as Fluorinert, which is a commonly used coolant for high-power ICs, can enhance the TR coefficient by up to 19 times. Systematic characterizations as a function of the heating power, illumination-wavelength, liquid layer thickness, sample’s tilt, and objective lens’s numerical aperture are presented. TR images are distorted due to interference in the liquid layer, but this technique could be used for fast detection of small temperature variations and hot spots in ICs.
Local measurements of the pedestal magnetic field profile throughout the ELM cycle on DIII-D
Authors: Burke M. G. , Fonck R. J. , McKee G. R. , Burrell K. H. , Haskey S. R. , Knolker M. , Laggner F. M. , Osborne T. H. , Victor B. S. , Yan Z.
Published: October 2022

New high speed localized measurements of the pedestal magnetic field during the edge localized mode (ELM) cycle of a DIII-D High confinement mode (H-mode) discharge indicate a temporally and spatial complex redistribution of the edge current density profile, jedge. The measurement technique extracts the magnetic field magnitude, B, via the spectral separation of Stark-split neutral beam radiation in the pedestal. Single spatial channel measurements from a novel spatial heterodyne spectrometer are validated in discharges with core current profile changes. The technique measures Stark-splitting changes that imply B changes as small as 1 mT with high time resolution (50 μs). At normalized poloidal flux ψn=1.0, B appears saturated in the inter-ELM period and then rapidly decreases in <200 μs by ∼1%, before edge recycling emission begins to increase. Radially inboard of jedge, B increases at the ELM crash. The behavior is consistent with a rapid collapse of jedge at the ELM crash and subsequent pedestal recovery. In some discharges, at ψn<0.96, changes in B are observed throughout the ELM cycle. In others, B recovers and is relatively stable until a few ms leading up to the next crash. Measurements of B during the H-mode transition show a large increase at ψn=1 with little change at ψn=0.9, consistent with the formation of the edge bootstrap current density peak. The ψn=0.9 spectrum is complicated by predicted changes to the Stark component intensities with density at the L–H transition.
High piezoelectricity in epitaxial BiFeO3 microcantilevers
Authors: Matzen S. , Gable S. , Lequet N. , Yousfi S. , Rani K. , Maroutian T. , Agnus G. , Bouyanfif H. , Lecoeur P.
Published: October 2022

The large switchable ferroelectric polarization and lead-free composition of BiFeO3 make it a promising candidate as an active material in numerous applications, in particular, in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) when BiFeO3 is integrated in a thin film form on a silicon substrate. Here, 200-nm-thick Mn-doped BiFeO3 thin films have been epitaxially grown on a SrRuO3/SrTiO3/Si substrate and patterned into microcantilevers as prototype device structures for piezoelectric actuation. The devices demonstrate excellent ferroelectric response with a remanent polarization of 55 μC/cm2. The epitaxial BiFeO3 MEMS exhibit very high piezoelectric response with transverse piezoelectric coefficient d31 reaching 83 pm/V. The BiFeO3 cantilevers show larger electromechanical performance (the ratio of curvature/electric field) than that of state-of-art piezoelectric cantilevers, including well-known PZT (Pb(Zr,Ti)O3) and the hyper-active PMN–PT (Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3). In addition, the piezoelectricity in BiFeO3 MEMS is found to depend on the ferroelectric polarization direction, which could originate from the flexoelectric effect and be exploited to further enhance the electromechanical performance of the devices. These results could potentially lead to a replacement of lead-based piezoelectrics by BiFeO3 in many microdevices.
Spin pumping in nanolayers of WS2/Co2FeAl heterostructures: Large spin mixing conductance and spin transparency
Authors: Hait Soumyarup , Gupta Nanhe Kumar , Sharma Nikita , Pandey Lalit , Kumar Nakul , Barwal Vineet , Kumar Prabhat , Chaudhary Sujeet
Published: October 2022

Materials with high spin–orbit coupling (SOC) are a prerequisite for the realization of spin–orbit torque-based magnetic memories. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are an apt choice for such applications due to their high SOC strength. In this work, we have investigated the spin pumping phenomenon at the interface between thin tungsten disulphide (WS2) films and Co2FeAl (CFA) Heusler alloy films by performing ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements on WS2/CFA heterostructures capped with the 4 nm thin Al film. While Raman spectroscopy conclusively proves the number of monolayers in the WS2 films, atomic force microscopy and x-ray reflectivity measurements were used to quantify the smoothness of the grown interfaces (<0.4 nm) as well as the individual layer thicknesses in the heterostructure stacks. Here, we vary the WS2 layer numbers and CFA thicknesses to quantify the spin pumping parameters such as spin mixing conductance, and spin transparency. FMR measurements revealed that damping enhancement reached ∼41% with a monolayer of WS2. Interfacial effective spin mixing conductance and spin transparency of the WS2/CFA interface are found to be 7.47 ± 0.97 nm−2 and 73.35 ± 9.52%, respectively. Thus, high-quality TMDs can be used as efficient materials for magnetic memory device applications.
Linear magnetoresistance in textured Bi1−xSbx ribbons prepared by melt spinning method
Authors: Wang Jian , Luo Feng , Zhu Can , Zhang Shun , Yang Zhen , Wang Jiafu , He Xiong , Zhang Yan , Sun Zhigang
Published: October 2022

Bi1−xSbx alloys with large linear magnetoresistance (LMR) are a promising candidate for magneto-electronic devices. In this work, the highly (00l) textured Bi1−xSbx (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04) ribbons with nano-sized lamellar grains were prepared by the melt spinning method and their magneto-transport properties were investigated. All the ribbons exhibit obvious LMR features, and the crossover magnetic field (Bc) from quadratic to linear magnetoresistance is remarkably reduced by Sb doping. Compared with the Bc of the x = 0 ribbon (about 1.28 T at 300 K), the Bc values of the Sb doped ribbons are significantly smaller, especially for the Bc of the x = 0.03 ribbon (only about 0.53 T at 300 K). Besides, for the x = 0.03 ribbon, the parameter Φ (MR%(B = 1 T)/Bc) relevant to LMR performance reaches up to 52 at 300 K. Analysis of the LMR reveals that Sb doping makes the LMR mechanism transition from recombination of carriers for x = 0 ribbon to spatial fluctuation of carrier mobility governed LMR for x = 0.03 ribbon. This work is instructive to understand the transport features of textured Bi1−xSbx ribbons.
Chern insulators and high Curie temperature Dirac half-metal in two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Chen Cui-Qun , Ni Xiao-Sheng , Yao Dao-Xin , Hou Yusheng
Published: October 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials with nontrivial topological states have recently drawn considerable attention. Among them, 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are standing out due to their advantages such as the easy synthesis in practice and less sensitivity to oxidation that are distinctly different from inorganic materials. By means of density-functional theory calculations, we systematically investigate the electronic and topological properties of a class of 2D MOFs X(C21H15N3) (X = transition metal element from 3d to 5d). Excitingly, we find that X(C21H15N3) (X = Ti, Zr, Ag, Au) are Chern insulators with sizable band gaps (∼7.1 meV). By studying a four-band effective model, it is revealed that the Chern insulator phase in X(C21H15N3) (X = Ti, Zr, Ag, Au) is caused cooperatively by the band inversion of the p orbitals of the C21H15N3 molecule and the intrinsic ferromagnetism of X(C21H15N3). Additionally, Mn(C21H15N3) is a Dirac half-metal ferromagnet with a high Curie temperature up to 156 K. Our work demonstrates that 2D MOFs X(C21H15N3) are good platforms for realizing the quantum anomalous Hall effect and designing spintronic devices based on half-metals with high-speed and long-distance spin transport.
What does microbiology have to do with the Hearing for Learning Initiative (HfLI)?
Authors: Leach Amanda J.
Published: October 2022

Where would we be without microbiology in tackling the high prevalence of otitis media (OM; middle ear infection) and disabling hearing loss that disadvantage Australian First Nations children living in remote communities? Understanding the microbiology of OM in this population has been critical in directing innovative clinical trials research and developing appropriate evidence-based practice guidelines. While these processes are critical to reducing disadvantage associated with OM and disabling hearing loss, a remaining seemingly insurmountable gap has remained, threatening progress in improving the lives of children with ear and hearing problems. That gap is created by the crisis in primary health care workforce in remote communities. Short stay health professionals and fly-in fly-out specialist services are under-resourced to manage the complex needs of the community, including prevention and treatment of otitis media and hearing loss rehabilitation. Hence the rationale for the Hearing for Learning Initiative – a workforce enhancement model to improve sustainability, cultural appropriateness, and effectiveness of evidence-based ear and hearing health care for young children in remote settings. This paper summarises the role of microbiology in the pathway to the Hearing for Learning Initiative.
Accelerating soil aggregate formation: a review on microbial processes as the critical step in a post-mining rehabilitation context
Authors: da Silva Guilherme Oliveira Andrade , Southam Gordon , Gagen Emma Jayne
Published: October 2022

One of the most difficult challenges facing the coal mining industry is rehabilitation of open cut mines in the absence of sufficient quality and quantity of topsoil. As a result, the growth medium for rehabilitation of open cut mines is often mine spoil that has poor chemical and structural properties. Microorganisms play a critical role in natural soil forming processes, nutrient cycling and soil aggregate stabilisation. However, soil microbiota and their impact on soil chemistry and structure has traditionally been overlooked in mine site remediation and mine spoil amelioration. Soil bioengineering, using microbial inoculants to modify soil chemistry and structure, is a novel approach that has the potential to positively alter the chemical and physical limitations prevented by mine spoil and improve mine site rehabilitation outcomes. This review focuses on the importance of microbiology in the spoil-to-soil transformation after open cut coal mining and discusses the ways that microbial inoculants could be used to accelerate the amelioration of coal mine spoil during rehabilitation. The work seeks to establish a platform for soil bioengineering approaches to be considered during rehabilitation of open cut coal mines. The review focuses on Australian open cut coal mines but has application for all mines with nutrient limited substrates and/or saline or sodic spoil that is prone to erosion.
Observed changes in China’s methane emissions linked to policy drivers
Authors: Zhang Yuzhong , Fang Shuangxi , Chen Jianmeng , Lin Yi , Chen Yuanyuan , Liang Ruosi , Jiang Ke , Parker Robert J. , Boesch Hartmut , Steinbacher Martin , Sheng Jian-Xiong , Lu Xiao , Song Shaojie , Peng Shushi
Published: October 2022

China is set to actively reduce its methane emissions in the coming decade. A comprehensive evaluation of the current situation can provide a reference point for tracking the country’s future progress. Here, using satellite and surface observations, we quantify China’s methane emissions during 2010–2017. Including newly available data from a surface network across China greatly improves our ability to constrain emissions at subnational and sectoral levels. Our results show that recent changes in China’s methane emissions are linked to energy, agricultural, and environmental policies. We find contrasting methane emission trends in different regions attributed to coal mining, reflecting region-dependent responses to China’s energy policy of closing small coal mines (decreases in Southwest) and consolidating large coal mines (increases in North). Coordinated production of coalbed methane and coal in southern Shanxi effectively decreases methane emissions, despite increased coal production there. We also detect unexpected increases from rice cultivation over East and Central China, which is contributed by enhanced rates of crop-residue application, a factor not accounted for in current inventories. Our work identifies policy drivers of recent changes in China’s methane emissions, providing input to formulating methane policy toward its climate goal.
A single helix repression domain is functional across diverse eukaryotes
Authors: Leydon Alexander R. , Ramos Báez Román , Nemhauser Jennifer L.
Published: October 2022

The corepressor TOPLESS (TPL) and its paralogs coordinately regulate a large number of genes critical to plant development and immunity. As in many members of the larger pan-eukaryotic Tup1/TLE/Groucho corepressor family, TPL contains a Lis1 Homology domain (LisH), whose function is not well understood. We have previously found that the LisH in TPL—and specifically the N-terminal 18 amino acid alpha-helical region (TPL-H1)—can act as an autonomous repression domain. We hypothesized that homologous domains across diverse LisH-containing proteins could share the same function. To test that hypothesis, we built a library of H1s that broadly sampled the sequence and evolutionary space of LisH domains, and tested their activity in a synthetic transcriptional repression assay in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Using this approach, we found that repression activity was highly conserved and likely the ancestral function of this motif. We also identified key residues that contribute to repressive function. We leveraged this new knowledge for two applications. First, we tested the role of mutations found in somatic cancers on repression function in two human LisH-containing proteins. Second, we validated function of many of our repression domains in plants, confirming that these sequences should be of use to synthetic biology applications across many eukaryotes.
ZnPSe
3
as ultrabright indirect band-gap system with microsecond excitonic lifetimes
Authors: Grzeszczyk M. , Novoselov K. S. , Koperski M.
Published: October 2022

ZnPSe
3
was identified as a two-dimensional material wherein valley and spin can be optically controlled in technologically relevant timescales. We report an optical characterization of ZnPSe
3
crystals that show indirect band-gap characteristics in combination with unusually strong photoluminescence. We found evidence of interband recombination from photoexcited electron–hole states with lifetimes in a microsecond timescale. Through a comparative analysis of photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra, we reconstructed the electronic band scheme relevant to fundamental processes of light absorption, carrier relaxation, and radiative recombination through interband pathways and annihilation of defect-bound excitons. The investigation of the radiative processes in the presence of a magnetic field revealed spin splitting of electronic states contributing to the ground excitonic states. Consequently, the magnetic field induces an imbalance in the number of excitons with the opposite angular momentum according to the thermal equilibrium as seen in the photoluminescence decay profiles resolved by circular polarization.
Hyper-active RAS/MAPK introduces cancer-specific mitotic vulnerabilities
Authors: Herman Jacob A. , Romain Romario R. , Hoellerbauer Pia , Shirnekhi Hazheen K. , King David C. , DeLuca Keith F. , Osborne Nishimura Erin , Paddison Patrick J. , DeLuca Jennifer G.
Published: October 2022

Aneuploidy, the incorrect number of whole chromosomes, is a common feature of tumors that contributes to their initiation and evolution. Preventing aneuploidy requires properly functioning kinetochores, which are large protein complexes assembled on centromeric DNA that link mitotic chromosomes to dynamic spindle microtubules and facilitate chromosome segregation. The kinetochore leverages at least two mechanisms to prevent aneuploidy: error correction and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). BubR1, a factor involved in both processes, was identified as a cancer dependency and therapeutic target in multiple tumor types; however, it remains unclear what specific oncogenic pressures drive this enhanced dependency on BubR1 and whether it arises from BubR1’s regulation of the SAC or error-correction pathways. Here, we use a genetically controlled transformation model and glioblastoma tumor isolates to show that constitutive signaling by RAS or MAPK is necessary for cancer-specific BubR1 vulnerability. The MAPK pathway enzymatically hyperstimulates a network of kinetochore kinases that compromises chromosome segregation, rendering cells more dependent on two BubR1 activities: counteracting excessive kinetochore–microtubule turnover for error correction and maintaining the SAC. This work expands our understanding of how chromosome segregation adapts to different cellular states and reveals an oncogenic trigger of a cancer-specific defect.
Policy interventions and competing management paradigms shape the long-term distribution of forest harvesting across the landscape
Authors: Benner Jordan , Lertzman Ken
Published: October 2022

Industrial economic models of natural resource management often incentivize the sequential harvesting of resources based on profitability, disproportionately targeting the higher-value elements of the environment. In fisheries, this issue is framed as a problem of “fishing down the food chain” when these elements represent different trophic levels or sequential depletion more generally. Harvesting that focuses on high grading the most profitable, productive, and accessible components of environmental gradients is also thought to occur in the forestry sector. Such a paradigm is inconsistent with a stewardship ethic, entrenched in the forestry literature, that seeks to maintain or enhance forest condition over time. We ask 1) how these conflicting paradigms have influenced patterns of forest harvesting over time and 2) whether more recent conservation-oriented policies influenced these historical harvesting patterns. We use detailed harvest data over a 47-y period and aggregated time series data that span over a century on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada to assess temporal changes in how logging is distributed among various classes of site productivity and terrain accessibility, corresponding to timber value. Most of this record shows a distinct trend of harvesting shifting over time to less productive stands, with some evidence of harvesting occurring in increasingly less accessible forests. However, stewardship-oriented policy changes enacted in the mid-1990s appear to have strongly affected these trends. This illustrates both a profit-maximizing tendency to log down the value chain when choices are unconstrained and the potential of policy choices to impose a greater stewardship ethic on harvesting behavior.
Arabidopsis
AAR2, a conserved splicing factor in eukaryotes, acts in microRNA biogenesis
Authors: Fan Lusheng , Gao Bin , Xu Ye , Flynn Nora , Le Brandon , You Chenjiang , Li Shaofang , Achkar Natalia , Manavella Pablo A. , Yang Zhenbiao , Chen Xuemei
Published: October 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in plant growth and development, and as such, their biogenesis is fine-tuned via regulation of the core microprocessor components. Here, we report that
Arabidopsis
AAR2, a homolog of a U5 snRNP assembly factor in yeast and humans, not only acts in splicing but also promotes miRNA biogenesis. AAR2 interacts with the microprocessor component hyponastic leaves 1 (HYL1) in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and dicing bodies. In
aar2
mutants, abundance of nonphosphorylated HYL1, the active form of HYL1, and the number of HYL1-labeled dicing bodies are reduced. Primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) accumulation is compromised despite normal promoter activities of
MIR
genes in
aar2
mutants. RNA decay assays show that the
aar2-1
mutation leads to faster degradation of pri-miRNAs in a HYL1-dependent manner, which reveals a previously unknown and negative role of HYL1 in miRNA biogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal a dual role of AAR2 in miRNA biogenesis and pre-messenger RNA splicing.
CGG repeat expansion in
NOTCH2NLC
causes mitochondrial dysfunction and progressive neurodegeneration in
Drosophila
model
Authors: Yu Jiaxi , Liufu Tongling , Zheng Yilei , Xu Jin , Meng Lingchao , Zhang Wei , Yuan Yun , Hong Daojun , Charlet-Berguerand Nicolas , Wang Zhaoxia , Deng Jianwen
Published: October 2022

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a neuromuscular/neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of CGG repeats in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the
NOTCH2NLC
gene. These repeats can be translated into a polyglycine-containing protein, uN2CpolyG, which forms protein inclusions and is toxic in cell models, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here, we established a transgenic
Drosophila
model expressing uN2CpolyG in multiple systems, which resulted in progressive neuronal cell loss, locomotor deficiency, and shortened lifespan. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial swelling both in transgenic flies and in muscle biopsies of individuals with NIID. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed colocalization of uN2CpolyG with mitochondria in cell and patient samples, while biochemical analysis revealed that uN2CpolyG interacted with a mitochondrial RNA binding protein, LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat motif-containing protein). Furthermore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and functional assays showed down-regulated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in uN2CpolyG-expressing flies and NIID muscle biopsies. Finally, idebenone treatment restored mitochondrial function and alleviated neurodegenerative phenotypes in transgenic flies. Overall, these results indicate that transgenic flies expressing uN2CpolyG recapitulate key features of NIID and that reversing mitochondrial dysfunction might provide a potential therapeutic approach for this disorder.
Another look at rational torsion of modular Jacobians
Authors: Ribet Kenneth A. , Wake Preston
Published: October 2022

We study the rational torsion subgroup of the modular Jacobian

J
0

(
N
)

for
N
a square-free integer. We give a proof of a result of Ohta on a generalization of Ogg’s conjecture: For a prime number

p
∤
6
N

, the
p
-primary part of the rational torsion subgroup equals that of the cuspidal subgroup. Whereas previous proofs of this result used explicit computations of the cardinalities of these groups, we instead use their structure as modules for the Hecke algebra.
Docking-based long timescale simulation of cell-size protein systems at atomic resolution
Authors: Vakser Ilya A. , Grudinin Sergei , Jenkins Nathan W. , Kundrotas Petras J. , Deeds Eric J.
Published: October 2022

Computational methodologies are increasingly addressing modeling of the whole cell at the molecular level. Proteins and their interactions are the key component of cellular processes. Techniques for modeling protein interactions, thus far, have included protein docking and molecular simulation. The latter approaches account for the dynamics of the interactions but are relatively slow, if carried out at all-atom resolution, or are significantly coarse grained. Protein docking algorithms are far more efficient in sampling spatial coordinates. However, they do not account for the kinetics of the association (i.e., they do not involve the time coordinate). Our proof-of-concept study bridges the two modeling approaches, developing an approach that can reach unprecedented simulation timescales at all-atom resolution. The global intermolecular energy landscape of a large system of proteins was mapped by the pairwise fast Fourier transform docking and sampled in space and time by Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation protocol was parametrized on existing data and validated on a number of observations from experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation protocol performed consistently across very different systems of proteins at different protein concentrations. It recapitulated data on the previously observed protein diffusion rates and aggregation. The speed of calculation allows reaching second-long trajectories of protein systems that approach the size of the cells, at atomic resolution.
Stabilization of insect cell membranes and soluble enzymes by accumulated cryoprotectants during freezing stress
Authors: Grgac Robert , Rozsypal Jan , Des Marteaux Lauren , Štětina Tomáš , Koštál Vladimír
Published: October 2022

Most multicellular organisms are freeze sensitive, but the ability to survive freezing of the extracellular fluids evolved in several vertebrate ectotherms, some plants, and many insects. Here, we test the coupled hypotheses that are perpetuated in the literature: that irreversible denaturation of proteins and loss of biological membrane integrity are two ultimate molecular mechanisms of freezing injury in freeze-sensitive insects and that seasonally accumulated small cryoprotective molecules (CPs) stabilize proteins and membranes against injury in freeze-tolerant insects. Using the drosophilid fly,Chymomyza costata, we show that seven different soluble enzymes exhibit no or only partial loss of activity upon lethal freezing stress applied in vivo to whole freeze-sensitive larvae. In contrast, the enzymes lost activity when extracted and frozen in vitro in a diluted buffer solution. This loss of activity was fully prevented by adding low concentrations of a wide array of different compounds to the buffer, includingC. costatanative CPs, other metabolites, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and even the biologically inert artificial compounds HistoDenz and Ficoll. Next, we show that fat body plasma membranes lose integrity when frozen in vivo in freeze-sensitive but not in freeze-tolerant larvae. Freezing fat body cells in vitro, however, resulted in loss of membrane integrity in both freeze-sensitive and freeze-tolerant larvae. Different additives showed widely different capacities to protect membrane integrity when added to in vitro freezing media. A complete rescue of membrane integrity in freeze-tolerant larvae was observed with a mixture of proline, trehalose, and BSA.
Changes in second-language learners’ oral skills and socio-affective profile following short-term study abroad to Japan
Authors: Hardison Debra M. , Okuno Tomoko
Published: October 2022

Thirty-seven second language (L2) learners of Japanese (21 L1 English, 16 L1 Chinese) participated in an
eight-week study abroad (SA) program to Japan. Pre- and post-SA oral proficiency interviews were used for ACTFL-level assessments
and ratings of component skills (pronunciation, fluency, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary/content, interaction skills). Surveys
measured socio-affective variables and L2 engagement (using a modified Language Contact Profile). Thirty-six participants
increased in ACTFL level. Both L1 groups showed a significant increase in component skills and perceived competence. For L1
Chinese participants, pre-SA perceived competence significantly correlated with time spent in brief exchanges using Japanese. For
L1 English participants, gains in interaction scores remained significant after controlling for the significant increase in
positive communication affect. Thematic analysis of participants’ journals revealed the homestay environment was the nexus of
activities supporting communication skill development through exchanges of viewpoints and culture learning, frequently over
dinner. Homestays also contributed to developing greater L2 speaking confidence.
Exploring physical properties of minimally deformed strange star model and constraints on maximum mass limit in f(𝒬) gravity
Authors: Maurya S.K. , Mustafa G. , Govender M. , Newton Singh Ksh.
Published: October 2022

Our current investigation is inherently linked to the observations of gravitational waves from the GW190814 event which suggests that the source of the signals can be ascribed to a compact binary coalescence of a 22.2 to 24.3M
⊙ black hole and a compact object endowed with a mass of 2.50 to 2.67M
⊙. In the current exposition, we are concerned with modeling of the lower mass component of the coalescence pair. We utilize the f(𝒬) gravity together with the Minimal Geometric Deformation (MGD) technique to obtain compact stellar objects with masses aligned with the GW190814 event. Starting off with the Tolman IV ansatz for one of the metric functions, together with an MIT Bag model equation of state we are able to reduce the problem of fully describing the gravitational behavior of the seed solution to a quadrature. Through the MGD technique, we introduce anisotropy by deforming the radial part of the gravitational potential. This enables us to obtain two new classes of solutions which depend on the metricity parameter, 𝒬 and the deformation constant, β. We show that these two parameters play a crucial role in determining the thermodynamical behavior and stability of our models. In particular, we show that the interplay between the metricity parameter and the deformation constant predicts the mass of the progenitor articulating as the secondary component of GW190814.
Complementarity of direct detection experiments in search of light Dark Matter
Authors: Angevaare J.R. , Bertone G. , Colijn A.P. , Decowski M.P. , Kavanagh B.J.
Published: October 2022

Dark Matter experiments searching for Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) primarily use nuclear recoils (NRs) in their attempt to detect WIMPs.
Migdal-induced electronic recoils (ERs) provide additional sensitivity to light Dark Matter with 𝒪(GeV/c
2) masses.
In this work, we use Bayesian inference to find the parameter space where future detectors like XENONnT and SuperCDMS SNOLAB will be able to detect WIMP Dark Matter through NRs, Migdal-induced ERs or a combination thereof.
We identify regions where each detector is best at constraining the Dark Matter mass and spin independent cross-section and infer where two or more detection configurations are complementary to constraining these Dark Matter parameters through a combined analysis.
A 1030 nm all-PM SESAM mode-locked dissipative soliton fiber oscillator and its amplification with Yb-doped fiber and a Yb:YAG thin rod
Authors: Kim Jun Wan , Park Seolwon , Kim Guang-Hoon , Yashin Vladimir E , Yang Juhee
Published: October 2022

In this research, an all- polarization-maintained semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) mode-locked fiber oscillator and its amplification by Yb-doped fiber and a Yb:YAG thin rod are presented. From a ring-type cavity configuration created with commercially accessible components, including SESAM, the dissipative soliton fiber oscillator exhibits stable mode-locking near 1030 nm. Subsequent three-stage fiber amplifiers pumped by single-mode fiber-coupled laser diodes and a single-stage Yb:YAG thin-rod amplifier boost the output power to 11.3 W at a repetition rate of 495 kHz. After pulse compression, a pulse duration of 758 fs is achieved with output power and pulse energy levels of 9 W and 18.2 μJ, respectively.
The condition of masking quantum qutric states
Authors: Wang Qin , Zhang Su-Juan , Bai Chen-Ming , Liu Lu
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we obtain a general condition of quantum information masking by studying the quantum states in

C

3

. This condition suggests that quantum information can be masked, if and only if the coefficients of the quantum state satisfy the given system of equations. In this case, we discuss a specific example and give an intuitive representation of the image. For the non-orthogonal case of quantum state in

C

3

, we acquire the masking quantum information conclusion about the basis. Finally, under the circumstances that one pair of quantum state is not orthogonal, we classify quantum states based on whether they can be masked.