bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“My Back Exercise App”—mHealth for Low Back Pain: Development and Usability Testing
Authors: Comachio Josielli , Mesa-Castrillon Carlos Ivan , Beckenkamp Paula R. , Roberts Katharine , Ho Emma Kwan-Yee , Field Rowena , Nelligan Rachel K. , Ferreira Manuela L. , Bennell Kim L. , Gordon Christopher J. , Ferreira Paulo
Published: November 2024

Effective management of chronic low back pain (LBP) often relies on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Mobile health (mHealth) applications provide a unique opportunity to support LBP sufferers by integrating evidence-based health education into daily routines. However, many existing mHealth apps lack scientific rigour in their development, limiting their impact. This study reports on developing and usability testing My Back Exercise, an mHealth app designed to support individuals managing chronic LBP through a user-centred, theory-based approach. The development followed the Double Diamond framework and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model, focusing on behaviour change theory to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Usability testing involved ten users and employed the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) to assess engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality. Additionally, a think-aloud approach captured real-time feedback and guided iterative improvements. Results showed that the app was well-received, achieving a SUS mean score of 79 (total score of 100) and a MARS mean score of 3.7 (out of 5.0). Key intervention components included exercises, sleep management, diet, and pain education, contributing to a holistic self-management tool. This study provides a transparent roadmap for the development of evidence-based digital health tools. The My Back Exercise app offers an innovative, holistic approach to help people self-manage chronic LBP using evidence-based methods.
Smartphone based human activity recognition irrespective of usage behavior using deep learning technique
Authors: Kundu Soumya , Mallik Manjarini , Saha Jayita , Chowdhury Chandreyee
Published: November 2024

Human activity recognition (HAR) from sensory data is a crucial task for a wide variety of applications. The in-built inertial sensor facilities of commercial smartphones have made the data collection process easier. However, different smartphone configurations exhibit variations in sensor readings for the same activities. Different smartphone holding positions, like in hand, shirt, or trouser pockets, also lead to variations in signal patterns for the same activity. Some recent works have shown that automated feature extraction using deep learning methods can significantly improve activity recognition, although there is a lack of experimentation considering device heterogeneity and different smartphone holding positions. The proposed work addresses this research gap with a two-fold contribution. First, a CNN-based HAR framework is proposed that forms 2-D frequency domain images to capture temporal patterns in the data along with inter-axis spatial features. Second, an ensemble of conditional classifiers has been designed based on CNN that exhibits generality in terms of device configurations and usage behavior. Real life data have been collected for different activities using different devices for experimentation. The proposed ensemble model is found to recognize activities with 94% accuracy even when the training and test devices are different for real datasets.
Feasibility, acceptability and prognostic value of muscle mass and strength measurement in patients with hip fracture: a systematic review
Authors: Prowse James , Jaiswal Sharlene , Gentle Jack , Sorial Antony K. , Witham Miles D.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Sarcopenia is diagnosed on the basis of low muscle strength, with low muscle mass used to confirm diagnosis. The added value of measuring muscle mass is unclear. We undertook a systematic review to assess whether muscle mass measurement in patients with hip fracture was acceptable, feasible and independently associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods

Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.gov) were searched for studies of patients with hip fracture aged ≥ 60 with perioperative muscle mass or strength assessments. Associations with postoperative outcomes including death, length of stay and activities of daily living were extracted. Risk-of-bias was assessed using the AXIS and ROBINS-I tools. Due to the degree of study heterogeneity, data were analysed by narrative synthesis.

Results

The search strategy identified 3317 records. 36 studies were included with 7860 participants. Acceptability of muscle mass measurement was not assessed, but measurement appeared feasible using biompedance, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. Univariate analyses indicated that lower muscle mass was associated with higher death rates at 30 days, worse mobility, worse activity of daily living metrics and worse physical performance but there was no significant association with length of stay or postoperative complications. Four studies included both muscle mass and strength in multivariable analyses; muscle mass was a significant independent predictor of only one adverse outcome in a single study after adjustment for muscle strength and other predictor variables.

Conclusion

Current data suggest that muscle mass assessment offers no additional prognostic information to muscle strength measures in patients with hip fracture.
Flood of techniques and drought of theories: emotion mining in disasters
Authors: Shapouri Soheil , Soleymani Saber , Rezayi Saed
Published: November 2024

Emotion mining has become a crucial tool for understanding human emotions during disasters, leveraging the extensive data generated on social media platforms. This paper aims to summarize existing research on emotion mining within disaster contexts, highlighting both significant discoveries and persistent issues. On the one hand, emotion mining techniques have achieved acceptable accuracy enabling applications such as rapid damage assessment and mental health surveillance. On the other hand, with many studies adopting data-driven approaches, several methodological issues remain. These include arbitrary emotion classification, ignoring biases inherent in data collection from social media, such as the overrepresentation of individuals from higher socioeconomic status on Twitter, and the lack of application of theoretical frameworks like cross-cultural comparisons. These problems can be summarized as a notable lack of theory-driven research and ignoring insights from social and behavioral sciences. This paper underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between computer scientists and social scientists to develop more robust and theoretically grounded approaches in emotion mining. By addressing these gaps, we aim to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of emotion mining methodologies, ultimately contributing to improved disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Plant-level prediction of potato yield using machine learning and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery
Authors: Tatsumi Kenichi , Usami Tamano
Published: November 2024

This study presents a new method for predicting the underground yield of potato at the plant level, using two key approaches: (1) identifying the critical variables for yield prediction based on plant height and vegetation index (VI) maps derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery; (2) evaluating the accuracy of predictions for fresh tuber weight (FTW), number of tubers (NMT), and fresh weight per tuber (FWT), using various machine learning (ML) algorithms. During the growing season of 2022, high-resolution red, green, and blue light and multispectral images were collected weekly using a UAV. In total, 648 variables, including first- and second-order statistical parameters, were extracted from the images. Five feature-selection algorithms were used to identify the key variables influencing the predictions of FTW, NMT, and FWT. Furthermore, ML models, including random forest (RF), ridge regression, and support vector machines, were employed to refine the variable sets for ensuring stable yield component predictions. The results highlighted the importance of considering first- and second-order statistical parameters derived from plant height and VI. Second-order statistics were crucial for predicting the FTW and FWT. The RF model demonstrated high prediction accuracy, with R2 values of 0.57, 0.45, and 0.49 for FTW, NMT, and FWT, respectively, using the best feature selection method. Thus, leveraging RGB and multispectral imagery data recorded that 1.5–2 months before harvest can significantly enhance yield predictions conducted using ML models. The proposed methodology can help farmers growing potatoes or other crops optimize cultivation and predict the yield.
Can American pressure change China?
Authors: Mazarr Michael
Published: November 2024

This essay explores the ongoing strategic debate in the U.S. regarding whether to increase pressure on China to change its behavior or governance. It critiques the “maximum pressure” strategy advocated by some analysts and former officials, which draws inspiration from the Cold War tactics used against the Soviet Union. The essay argues that such a strategy is unlikely to succeed and could lead to unintended consequences, including war. It highlights the historical inaccuracies in comparing the current U.S.-China rivalry to the Cold War, noting that the Soviet Union's collapse was not solely due to U.S. pressure but also internal systemic failures. The article concludes that a strategy focused on coercive pressure may trigger a dangerous backlash from China. It stresses the importance of managing the rivalry in a way that acknowledges the limits of American influence.
Mirroring Privacy Risks with Digital Twins: When Pieces of Personal Data Suddenly Fit Together
Authors: Bäumer Frederik Simon , Schultenkämper Sergej , Geierhos Michaela , Lee Yeong Su
Published: November 2024

With the proliferation of social media, more personal information is being shared online than ever before, raising significant privacy concerns. This paper presents a novel approach to identify and mitigate privacy risks by generating digital twins from social media data. We propose a comprehensive framework that includes data collection, processing, and analysis, with special attention to data standardization, pseudonymization, and the use of synthetic data to ensure privacy compliance. We apply and evaluate state-of-the-art techniques such as Large Language Models, Generative Adversarial Networks, and Vision-Language Models to generate synthetic but realistic social media data that support the construction of accurate and representative digital twins while ensuring strict privacy compliance. Our approach demonstrates the potential for digital twins to help identify and mitigate privacy risks associated with social media use. We discuss the value and feasibility of this concept and suggest that further refinement of the techniques and conditions involved is needed.
A comprehensive review on the current status of culture media for routine standardized isolation of Salmonella and Shigella spp. from contaminated food
Authors: Neyaz Leena A. , Alghamdi Hanan S. , Alghashmari Raghad M. , Alswat Shahad S. , Almaghrabi Reem O. , Bazaid Fahad S. , Albarakaty Fawziah M. , Elbanna Khaled , Abulreesh Hussein H.
Published: November 2024

Salmonella spp. is an important foodborne pathogen and a leading cause of foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Shigella spp. is considered an important foodborne pathogen in low-income countries in Asia and Africa, where it is believed to be endemic in these regions. A broad range of selective plating and enrichment media have been formulated to detect and assess Salmonella and Shigella spp. during the outbreaks of food-related infections and regular food surveillance investigations. To date, culture media-based methods remain standard methods for the microbiological analysis of food and are approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This review elaborates on current culture media, which are employed in culture-based standard methods for Salmonella and Shigella spp. isolation and detection from food samples. The specificity and regulatory acceptance of time-consuming conventional culturing methods make them ‘gold standard’ pathogen detection protocols. However, alternate strategies become necessary because of culture methods’ low sensitivity and inability to detect viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells. The recent approaches with improved detection efficiencies include molecular techniques (PCR), DNA hybridization, and chromogenic culture media. Similarly, the usage of nanoparticles and immunosensors is also rising for pathogen detection. The integration of novel and conventional approaches could enhance the reliability, and sensitivity of routine pathogen surveillance.
Predefined-time cooperative formation control of heterogeneous unmanned surface vehicle-unmanned aerial vehicle systems with uncertain dynamic estimation
Authors: Zhang Sijie , Cai Wei , Li Yongqi , Zhou Xingyu , Zhang Dianhao
Published: November 2024

This work addresses the distributed predefined-time cooperative formation of heterogeneous multiagent systems comprising unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with inherent dynamic uncertainties. By transforming the model coordinates, the underactuated heterogeneous USV-UAV systems can be converted into a fully actuated second-order multiagent framework. Subsequently, a predefined-time dynamic observer is designed to estimate the uncertain dynamics of each agent. Combining the backstepping method and the virtual leader model, a predefined-time distributed cooperative formation control based on uncertain dynamic estimation is designed for the heterogeneous USV-UAV systems. The convergence of the formation errors is rigorously demonstrated by constructing a suitable Lyapunov function under a predefined time framework. Ultimately, the two numerical cases in both the fixed and time-varying formation scenarios confirm the effectiveness of the constructed method.
Social Media and Politics in Southeast Asia
Authors: Lim Merlyna
Published: November 2024

This Element endeavors to enrich and broaden Southeast Asian research by exploring the intricate interplay between social media and politics. Employing an interdisciplinary approach and grounded in extensive longitudinal research, the study uncovers nuanced political implications, highlighting the platform's dual role in both fostering grassroots activism and enabling autocratic practices of algorithmic politics, notably in electoral politics. It underscores social media's alignment with communicative capitalism, where algorithmic marketing culture overshadows public discourse, and perpetuates affective binary mobilization that benefits both progressive and regressive grassroots activism. It can facilitate oppositional forces but is susceptible to authoritarian capture. The rise of algorithmic politics also exacerbates polarization through algorithmic enclaves and escalates disinformation, furthering autocraticizing trends. Beyond Southeast Asia, the Element provides analytical and conceptual frameworks to comprehend the mutual algorithmic/political dynamics amidst the contestation between progressive forces and the autocratic shaping of technological platforms.
Interweaving Jurisdictions: A Critical Examination of Legal Authority, Sentencing, and Deportation
Authors: Templeman Jessica
Published: November 2024

The statutory authorities to remove and to review appeals of removal assigned in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) exist in a complicated, interweaving relationship with the legal power to sentence held by judges of the criminal court. Judges do not retain the legal authority to decide on removal. Judges do, however, hold the jurisdiction to consider deportation at sentencing. The practice of judicial jurisdiction in turn has potentially significant effects for subsequent practices of jurisdiction under the IRPA, including where judges use their legal power to apply sentences protecting permanent residents from removal and/or losing their right of appeal. Despite these important jurisdictional connections, how judicial authority to consider deportation is enacted has not received scholarly examination. This paper draws from an analysis of case law and interviews to address this gap, tracing how judges practice their jurisdiction when sentencing permanent residents.
Implementation of a clinical research “One Signature Initiative” at a large academic medical center
Authors: Robison Elizabeth Elin , Moy Trina Lynn , Trigg Katelyn Leanna
Published: November 2024

A clinical research team’s goal is to support the implementation, conduct, and monitoring of research studies and corresponding protocols. There is a need to ensure that study teams have adequate resources and regulatory support to successfully adhere to regulations and good clinical research practices. Our team, the UC Davis Division of Infectious Diseases Research Unit (IDRU), sought to establish a One Signature Initiative program for all studies and protocols supported by the IDRU. The One Signature Initiative designates one point of contact from each ancillary team or department to sign delegation and training logs, who in turn is delegated to train their team. The goals of the One Signature Initiative were, and are still, to reduce task redundancy, lessen regulatory burden on research teams, and minimize audit findings. Since the implementation of the One Signature Initiative in 2023, acceptance has been favorable, and we have expanded its footprint by incorporating it into our standard operating procedures. This article discusses our experiences, and ancillary departments’ experiences, with the One Signature Initiative. Our experience is an example of how a One Signature Initiative can be developed that is efficient, effective, and well-accepted by clinical research stakeholders.
Corrupt Traditions and Traditions of Corruption: Caste, Colonialism, and Corruption in Late Nineteenth-Century India
Authors: Anushree Anubha
Published: November 2024

This article examines the corruption scandal that exploded in 1889 with the apprehension of Arthur Crawford and the dismissal of several Mamlatdars in colonial western India. Using Ian Hacking's concept of “making up people” and the “looping effect,” this article demonstrates the instability of categories such as corruption and suggests that the everyday life of empire was undergirded by the colonial construction of deviancy to normalize the exceptionality of foreign rule. Additionally, the Crawford-Mamlatdar corruption scandal undercut the imperial ideology of the modernizing state. The corruption network revealed the simultaneity of imperial bureaucratic rationality along with the traditional patronage structures based on indigenous sexual and filial (caste) ties. It was precisely the British investigation that also revealed the reality of the homosocial empire and its privileging of caste recruitments. The Indian challenge to the case brought together rural and urban groups signalling the ascendance of a nationalistic solidarity. The Indians queried the imperial claims of moral superiority. At the same time, they acknowledged “native vulnerabilities” towards corruption, confirming the British stereotype of Indians as inherently corrupt. These selective claims, indicative of the emergence of upper caste, urban, and bourgeois notion of public virtue, signified the iterative nature of the “looping effect.”
‘Here there be monsters’: Confronting the (post)coloniality of Britain’s borders
Authors: Tyerman Thom , van Isacker Travis
Published: November 2024

This article analyses the (post)colonial politics of UK bordering through the lens of monstrosity. Historicising contemporary bordering within colonial-era monsterisations of racialised people and their mobility, we identify four mechanisms through which migrants are constructed and policed as monsters today: animalisation, zombification, criminalisation, and barbarisation. We then examine how the state embodies monstrosity itself through border policies of deterrence and creating ‘hostile environments’. In addition to the instrumentalisation of horror, this entails extending the border’s reach domestically throughout everyday life and internationally through deportation and externalisation measures. We argue these developments embody a new form of state power, depicted as a headless, tentacled Leviathan. Doing so provides insights into monstrosity as a form of liberal statecraft, the local/global diffusion of bordering, the transnationalisation of sovereign power, and the racialisation of citizenship. It also raises important questions about the construction of border violence as a necessary and legitimate monstrosity in (post)colonial liberal societies, the everyday complicity of citizens, and the limits of efforts to humanise monsterised migrants or reform monstrous state institutions. Revealing how within liberal regimes of citizenship and humanitarianism values ‘there be monsters’, we argue, opens space for thinking about abolitionist alternatives in international politics.
The Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation According to Occupation and Other Employment Variables
Authors: Niedhammer Isabelle , Pineau Elodie , Bertrais Sandrine
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Background: The literature is scant on the associations between employment-related variables and suicidal ideation. Aims: The objectives were to explore these associations in the national French working population. Methods: The study relied on two independent national French surveys and their samples of 22,420 workers (employees and self-employed workers) and 25,628 employees, respectively. Employment variables included occupation, economic activity of the company, public/private sector, company size, permanent/temporary work, full/part time, seniority, and employee/self-employed worker. Suicidal ideation was assessed using one item. The associations between employment variables and suicidal ideation were studied using bi- and multivariable weighted analyses (Rao-Scott Chi-2 test and logistic regression). Gender differences were explored and covariates were taken into account. Results: The associations between employment variables and suicidal ideation were mostly not statistically significant. Some differences in suicidal ideation between occupations and economic activities were difficult to interpret due to overlaps in the confidence intervals. The prevalence of suicidal ideation increased with seniority among employees. Limitations: The study design was cross-sectional. Conclusion: The studied employment variables may have little effect on suicidal ideation. As suicidal ideation is a risk factor for suicide, more research is needed to explore the work-related risk factors for suicide and suicidal ideation.
To Bleed‐Off or Not to Bleed‐Off?
Authors: Boyet Auregan , De Simone Silvia , Vilarrasa Víctor
Published: November 2024

Bleed‐off and shut‐in of injection have been implemented in different Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in an attempt to mitigate the induced seismicity at and after the injection stop. This article tackles the controversial discussion on the mitigation of the post‐injection induced seismicity through ending fluid injection by either a bleed‐off or a shut‐in. Both scenarios failed to mitigate the occurrence of large magnitude earthquake after stopping injection in numerous EGS. The two protocols are compared by using a seismological forecasting methodology coupled with a hydro‐mechanical model reproducing flow, poroelastic stress and fault failure in a domain including a discrete fault network based on Basel EGS (Switzerland, 2006). Unlike bleed‐off, shut‐in mitigates early post‐injection seismicity by smoothly reducing pressure, and consequently poroelastic stress changes in the modelled Basel EGS. Although post‐injection pore pressure diffusion eventually reaches distant faults and destabilizes them, seismicity is not initiated according to our simulation forecasting.
Climate and Substrate Stoichiometry Co‐Regulate Free‐Living Nitrogen Fixation at Regional and Global Scales
Authors: Dai Haixiao , Liu Zekang , Bahadur Ali , Zheng Mianhai , Wu Jihua
Published: November 2024

The traditional view holds that the global distribution of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in terrestrial ecosystems is primarily affected by climate, associating certain warm, wet low‐latitude regions with higher BNF rates. However, this view fails to explain the observation of the low free‐living BNF rates in these sites. Here, we conducted two field experiments and a global synthesis to assess the regulatory patterns of free‐living BNF at both regional and global scales. The field experiments showed that the regional distributions of litter free‐living BNF did not necessarily peak at warm and wet sites, due to co‐regulation by climate and substrate stoichiometry (especially carbon:(nitrogen:phosphorus)). Subsequently, the global synthesis demonstrated that these phenomena and co‐regulatory patterns persisted in free‐living BNF in litter and other substrates (e.g., soil) at global scale. Our findings highlight the important role of substrate stoichiometry in regulating the spatial distribution of free‐living BNF.
Dynamical Factors Heavily Modulate the Future Increase of Sub‐Daily Extreme Precipitation in the Alpine‐Mediterranean Region
Authors: Dallan Eleonora , Marra Francesco , Fosser Giorgia , Marani Marco , Borga Marco
Published: November 2024

Quantifying the future probability of sub‐daily extreme precipitation in a changing climate is crucial for risk management, engineering, and insurance. Kilometer‐scale convection‐permitting climate models (CPMs) represent convective precipitation and complex terrain more realistically than other climate models, thereby enhancing the representation of sub‐daily extremes. This study employs a novel statistical approach to evaluate projected changes in extreme sub‐daily precipitation and provides a physical interpretation of their driving processes. It focuses on the complex‐topography area of northern Italy, where resides almost half of the Italian population and a significant portion of the Italian economy, with a rich diversity in industry, agriculture, tourism. We use precipitation data from a CPMs ensemble covering three periods: historical (1996–2005), near future (2041–2050), far future (2090–2099) under the RCP8.5 scenario. Sub‐daily to daily precipitation extremes with return periods up to 100 years are examined. We find a general intensification of extremes across all durations (from 1 to 24 hr), stronger at shorter durations and rarer probabilities. Spatial patterns vary with duration, with higher and significant increases emerging in mountainous areas in Eastern Alps and North Apennines. The detected changes cannot be explained by thermodynamics alone, highlighting the modulating role of the changes in atmospheric dynamics. These findings are crucial for enhancing risk management strategies and adapting to natural hazards in a warming climate. This approach may be exploited in larger scale analysis.
An Impact of Cobalt on Freshwater Phytoplankton in Warming Polar Regions?
Authors: Zhu Kechen , Krause Jana , Marín‐Arias Camila , Mestre Mireia , Höfer Juan , Browning Thomas J. , Achterberg Eric P. , Hopwood Mark J.
Published: November 2024

Polar freshwater ecosystems are sensitive to climate change, facing increasing temperatures and its consequences such as glacier retreat. Phosphorus and/or fixed nitrogen are widely expected to limit primary production in most freshwater environments, however the role of micronutrients is largely un‐characterized. We measured dissolved nitrate and nitrite, phosphate, cobalt, iron, manganese and zinc in a selection of Greenland and Antarctic lakes, and report the first evaluation of cobalt regulating phytoplankton growth in these systems using bioassay incubations. Results showed cobalt potentially co‐limited phytoplankton in three of the eight sites tested. A time‐series of dissolved cobalt measured in Kobbefjord (southwest Greenland) runoff corroborated low cobalt availability during summer. This was in contrast to manganese and iron which remained at high concentrations throughout summer. We hypothesize that high manganese:cobalt and/or zinc:cobalt ratios in runoff, may impede cellular cobalt acquisition, meaning cobalt co‐limitation of primary production is plausible in many polar freshwater environments.
TerraWind: A Deep Learning‐Based Near‐Surface Winds Downscaling Model for Complex Terrain Region
Authors: Lian Jie , Huang Sirong , Shao Jiahao , Chen Peiyan , Tang Shengming , Lu Yi , Yu Hui
Published: November 2024

Wind downscaling is crucial for refining coarse‐scale wind estimates, improving local‐scale predictions, and supporting various applications like risk assessment and planning. Dynamic downscaling models demand extensive computational resources and time, leading to a shift toward more efficient statistical downscaling, whereas it often overlooks inter‐variable and inter‐station spatial correlations. Addressing this, we propose TerraWind, a deep learning‐based downscaling method for complex terrain regions. TerraWind enhances accuracy by incorporating topographic factors and inter‐station linkages, capturing wind field interactions with terrain at multiple scales. Experimental results in Eastern China demonstrate that TerraWind reduces wind speed Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) by an average of 42.6 and 33.3, respectively, compared to three interpolation methods (bicubic, bilinear, and Inverse Distance Weighting). Furthermore, TerraWind achieves an average reduction of 35.3 in wind speed MAE and 25.6 in wind speed RMSE compared to four deep learning models (Wind‐Topo, DeepCAMS, RCM‐emulator, and Uformer).
Segmented Trapdoor Fault in Kita‐Ioto Caldera, Japan: Insights From Millimeter Tsunami Waves Captured by an Array Network of Ocean Bottom Pressure Gauges
Authors: Sandanbata Osamu , Saito Tatsuhiko
Published: November 2024

Submarine calderas with active magma supply have recently been identified as potential sources of volcanic tsunamis due to sudden meter‐scale uplift by trapdoor faulting, occurring every few years to a decade. These trapdoor uplifts are seismically recorded as non‐double‐couple earthquakes with magnitudes M > 5. Kita‐Ioto Caldera, a submarine caldera in the Izu‐Bonin arc, caused such earthquakes every 2–5 years. Our previous study (Sandanbata & Saito, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jb027917) analyzed data from a single ocean bottom pressure (OBP) gauge in the Philippine Sea, confirming trapdoor uplifts during the earthquakes in 2008 and 2015. However, high temporal‐resolution data for the earthquakes in 2017 and 2019 were lost, preventing source mechanism investigation. To address this, we examine OBP data of the two recent earthquakes from the array network of Dense Oceanfloor Network system for Earthquakes and Tsunamis, deployed off the southwestern coast of Japan. Despite the poor signal‐to‐noise ratio in each record, we successfully detect clear tsunami signals associated with the earthquakes using a waveform stacking method, with sea‐surface wave amplitudes of only 1–2 mm. By analyzing the data, we propose source models that represent trapdoor uplifts in the submarine caldera and accurately reproduce the detected tsunami waveforms, confirming the recurrence of trapdoor uplifts. Notably, differences in the tsunami waveforms between the 2017 and 2019 earthquakes suggest that different segments of the intra‐caldera fault system were activated. This segmentation likely influences the recurrence characteristics of the inflation cycle in calderas, which would be a key to understanding the magma accumulation process and assessing the sizes and timings of future trapdoor uplifts.
High Pressure Melting Curve of Fe‐Si: Implication for the Thermal Properties in Mercury's Core
Authors: Ezenwa Innocent C. , Fei Yingwei , Hrubiak Rostislav , Kenney‐Benson Curtis
Published: November 2024

The motion of liquid iron (Fe) alloy materials in the outer core drives the dynamo, which generates Mercury's magnetic field. The assessment of core models requires laboratory measurements of the melting temperature of Fe alloys at high pressure. Here, we experimentally determined the melting curve of Fe9wt%Si and Fe17wt%Si up to 17 GPa using in situ and ex situ measurements of intermetallic fast diffusion that serves as the melting criterion in a large‐volume press. Our determined melting slopes are comparable with previous studies up to about 17 GPa. However, when extrapolated, our melting slopes significantly deviate from previous studies at higher pressures. For Mercury's core with a model composition of Fe9wt%Si, the melting temperature‐depth profile determined in our study is lower by ∼150–250 K when compared with theoretical calculations. Using the new melting curve of Fe9wt%Si and the electrical resistivity values from a previous study of Fe8.5wt%Si, we estimate that the electronic thermal conductivity of liquid Fe9wt%Si is 30 Wm−1K−1 at the Mercury's CMB pressure of 5 GPa and 37 Wm−1K−1 at an assumed ICB of 21 GPa, corresponding to heat flux values of 23 mWm−2 and 32 mWm−2, respectively. These values provide new constraints on the core models.
Influence of Solar Wind High‐Speed Streams on the Brazilian Low‐Latitude Ionosphere During the Descending Phase of Solar Cycle 24
Authors: Moraes‐Santos S. P. , Cândido C. M. N. , Becker‐Guedes F. , Nava B. , Klausner V. , Borries C. , Chingarandi F. S. , Osanyin T. O.
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the Brazilian low‐latitude ionospheric response to CIR/HSS‐driven geomagnetic storms during the declining phase of solar cycle 24, from 2016 to 2017. In this period the geomagnetic storms were mostly moderate, SymHmin ≈ −72 nT, AEmax ≈ 1580 nT, Vswmax ≈ 690 km/s and lasted, on average, for 6 days. We analyze the variations in Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) at three representative regions: bele, over the equatorial region; boav and cuib, at the northern and southern crests of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly. Our findings reveal the role of High‐Speed Solar Wind Streams and Corotating Interaction Region—driven geomagnetic storms. The VTEC intensifications were up to 30 TECu, during the daytime and nighttime. Additionally, three categories of nighttime enhancements were observed and analyzed with distinct characteristics and levels of pre‐reversal strengthening; Depletions up to 20 TECu also occurred during the day and nighttime. The delay between the storm commencement and the positive and negative variations were, on average, 7 and 20 hours, respectively. We discuss the Prompt Penetration Electric Fields and Disturbance Dynamo Electric Fields following the magnetic reconnection between Earth's and interplanetary magnetic field, using observational data and modeling. Furthermore, this study presents catalogs of low‐latitude ionospheric storms, providing detailed information for space weather applications and ionospheric modeling.
Understanding Heterogeneous and Anisotropic Porous Media Based on Geometric Properties Derived From Three‐Dimensional Images
Authors: Tian Rongrong , Yin Tingchang , Tian Yanmei , Yu Chen , Zhou Jiazuo , Gao Xiangbo , Zhang Xingyu , Galindo‐Torres Sergio Andres , Lei Liang
Published: November 2024

Natural porous media are generally heterogeneous and anisotropic. The structure of porous media plays a vital role and is often the source of their heterogeneity and anisotropy. In physical processes such as fluid flow in porous media, a small number of dominant features, here referred to as wide channels, are responsible for the majority of the flow. The thickness and orientation of these channels often determine the permeability characteristics of the media. Typically, identifying such dominant features requires extensive and costly simulations. Here, we propose a prompt approach based on geometric properties derived from three‐dimensional (3D) images. The size or radius of the dominant features is obtained via distance maps, and their orientations are determined using Principal Component Analysis. Subsequently, we visualize these dominant features with color and color brightness according to their orientation and size, together with their location and distribution in 3D space. The combined visualization of anisotropy (orientation) and heterogeneity (size) in a single plot provides a straightforward way to enhance our understanding of pore structure characteristics. Besides, we propose a refined stereographic projection method to statistically illustrate both heterogeneity and anisotropy. Based on these insights, we further present a potential approach to reduce model size in numerical simulations, significantly reducing computational costs while preserving essential characteristics.
Intrinsically anisotropic 1D NbTe4 for self-powered polarization-sensitive photodetection
Authors: Luo Huahu , Wu Fafa , He Chaowei , Shen Wanfu , Hu Chunguang , Zhao Weina , Yu Peng , Yang Guowei
Published: November 2024

Polarization-sensitive photodetection enhances scene information capture, crucial for modern optoelectronic devices. One-dimensional (1D) materials with intrinsic anisotropy, capable of directly sensing polarized light, are promising for such photodetectors. NbTe4, a quasi-1D transition metal tetra-chalcogenide, offers significant benefits for polarization-sensitive photodetection due to its structural anisotropy. Nonetheless, to date, the anisotropic properties of 1D NbTe4 have not been reported. Herein, NbTe4 nanobelts were synthesized via mechanical exfoliation from needle-like bulk crystals, and their anisotropic and optoelectronic properties were comprehensively studied. Angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy, in conjunction with azimuth-dependent reflectance difference microscopy, confirmed that 1D NbTe₄ exhibits intrinsic structural and in-plane optical anisotropy. The 1D NbTe4 device demonstrated characteristic anisotropic photodetection behavior, achieving dichroic ratios of 1.16 at 671 nm and 1.25 at 1064 nm. Meanwhile, the device exhibits a pronounced photothermoelectric effect, conferring a broad spectral photoresponse ranging from visible to near-infrared wavelengths (532-1064 nm), with a rapid response time of 158 ms. This study demonstrates that NbTe4 inherently possesses in-plane anisotropy, making it a promising candidate for polarization-sensitive photodetection applications.
Simultaneous surgery for gastrostomy and laryngotracheal separation in a patient with Tay‒Sachs disease
Authors: Moroto Masaharu , Daisuke Uda , Yodoi Tomoya , Nitta Yoshihiro , Sugimoto Yohei , Chiyonobu Tomohiro , Yamada Hiroyuki , Ozaki Kayo , Nakatani Taichi , Sakai Norio
Published: November 2024

Genetic testing identified novel compound heterozygous missense variants in the HEXA gene (NM_00520.6: c.775A>C and NM_000520.6: c.508C>T) in a 16-month-old girl diagnosed with Tay‒Sachs disease. The patient gradually became unable to consume food orally. She suffered severe aspiration pneumonia and underwent gastrostomy and laryngotracheal separation at 2 years and 4 months of age. Despite an initially good prognosis, she died at 3 years of age.
Vascular FLRT2 regulates venous-mediated angiogenic expansion and CNS barriergenesis
Authors: Llaó-Cid C. , Peguera B. , Kobialka P. , Decker L. , Vogenstahl J. , Alivodej N. , Srivastava S. , Jin J. , Kirchmaier B. C. , Milla C. , Schlierbach H. , Schänzer A. , Acker T. , Segarra M. , Acker-Palmer A.
Published: November 2024

Veins have emerged as the origin of all other endothelial cell subtypes needed to expand vascular networks during developmental and pathological neoangiogenesis. Here, we uncover the role of the angioneurin Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane protein (FLRT) 2 in central nervous system (CNS) vascular development in the mouse. Early postnatal FLRT2 deletion reveals specific defects in retinal veins, impacting endothelial cell proliferation, sprouting and polarity that result in reduced tip cells at the vascular front. FLRT2 interacts with VE-cadherin and together with the endocytic adaptor protein Numb contribute to the modulation of adherens junction morphology in both retina and cerebral cortex in vivo. Utilizing expansion microscopy, we visualize the altered dynamic distribution of VE-cadherin in tissue of FLRT2 endothelial mutants. Additionally, FLRT2 in cortical vessels regulates the crosstalk between adherens and tight junctions, influencing blood-brain barrier development. Our findings position FLRT2 as a vein-specific regulator of CNS vascular development.
KANK1 promotes breast cancer development by compromising Scribble-mediated Hippo activation
Authors: Guo Shiny Shengzhen , Liu Zhiying , Wang Guan M. , Sun Zhiqi , Yu Kaikai , Fawcett James P. , Buettner Reinhard , Gao Bo , Fässler Reinhard
Published: November 2024

KANK1 is expressed in epithelial cells and connects focal adhesions with the adjacent cortical microtubule stabilizing complex. Although KANK1 was shown to suppress cancer cell growth in vitro, TCGA database points to high KANK1 levels associated with poor prognosis in a wide spectrum of human malignancies. Here, we address this discrepancy and report that KANK1 promotes proliferation and survival of PyMT-transformed mammary tumor cells in vivo. Mechanistically, KANK1 localizes to the basal side of basement membrane (BM)-attached transformed luminal epithelial cells. When these cells lose the contact with the BM and disassemble integrin adhesions, KANK1 is found at cell-cell junctions where it competes with the polarity and tumor suppressor Scribble for NOS1AP binding, which curbs the ability of Scribble to promote Hippo pathway activity. The consequences are stabilization and nuclear accumulation of TAZ, growth and survival of tumor cells and elevated breast cancer development.
Ultrafast adaptive optics for imaging the living human eye
Authors: Liu Yan , Crowell James A. , Kurokawa Kazuhiro , Bernucci Marcel T. , Ji Qiuzhi , Lassoued Ayoub , Jung Hae Won , Keller Matthew J. , Marte Mary E. , Miller Donald T.
Published: November 2024

Adaptive optics (AO) is a powerful method for correcting dynamic aberrations in numerous applications. When applied to the eye, it enables cellular-resolution retinal imaging and enhanced visual performance and stimulation. Most ophthalmic AO systems correct dynamic aberrations up to 1−2 Hz, the commonly-known cutoff frequency for correcting ocular aberrations. However, this frequency may be grossly underestimated for more clinically relevant scenarios where the medical impact of AO will be greatest. Unfortunately, little is known about the aberration dynamics in these scenarios. A major bottleneck has been the lack of sufficiently fast AO systems to measure and correct them. We develop an ultrafast ophthalmic AO system that increases AO bandwidth by ~30× and improves aberration power rejection magnitude by 500×. We demonstrate that this much faster ophthalmic AO is possible without sacrificing other system performances. We find that the discontinuous-exposure AO-control scheme runs 32% slower yet achieves 53% larger AO bandwidth than the commonly used continuous-exposure scheme. Using the ultrafast system, we characterize ocular aberration dynamics in six clinically-relevant scenarios and find their power spectra to be 10−100× larger than normal. We show that ultrafast AO substantially improves aberration correction and retinal imaging performance in these scenarios compared with conventional AO.
Y chromosome introgression between deeply divergent primate species
Authors: Jensen Axel , Horton Emma R. , Amboko Junior , Parke Stacy-Anne , Hart John A. , Tosi Anthony J. , Guschanski Katerina , Detwiler Kate M.
Published: November 2024

Hybridization and introgression are widespread in nature, with important implications for adaptation and speciation. Since heterogametic hybrids often have lower fitness than homogametic individuals, a phenomenon known as Haldane’s rule, loci inherited strictly through the heterogametic sex rarely introgress. We focus on the Y-chromosomal history of guenons, African primates that hybridized extensively in the past. Although our inferences suggest that Haldane’s rule generally applies, we uncover a Y chromosome introgression event between two species ca. six million years after their initial divergence. Using simulations, we show that selection likely drove the introgressing Y chromosome to fixation from a low initial frequency. We identify non-synonymous substitutions on the novel Y chromosome as candidate targets of selection, and explore meiotic drive as an alternative mechanism. Our results provide a rare example of Y chromosome introgression, showing that the ability to produce fertile heterogametic hybrids likely persisted for six million years in guenons.
Enhanced wind mixing and deepened mixed layer in the Pacific Arctic shelf seas with low summer sea ice
Authors: Wang Yuanqi , Feng Zhixuan , Lin Peigen , Song Hongjun , Zhang Jicai , Wu Hui , Jin Haiyan , Chen Jianfang , Qi Di , Grebmeier Jacqueline M.
Published: November 2024

The Arctic Ocean has experienced significant sea ice loss over recent decades, shifting towards a thinner and more mobile seasonal ice regime. However, the impacts of these transformations on the upper ocean dynamics of the biologically productive Pacific Arctic continental shelves remain underexplored. Here, we quantified the summer upper mixed layer depth and analyzed its interannual to decadal evolution with sea ice and atmospheric forcing, using hydrographic observations and model reanalysis from 1996 to 2021. Before 2006, a shoaling summer mixed layer was associated with sea ice loss and surface warming. After 2007, however, the upper mixed layer reversed to a generally deepening trend due to markedly lengthened open water duration, enhanced wind-induced mixing, and reduced ice meltwater input. Our findings reveal a shift in the primary drivers of upper ocean dynamics, with surface buoyancy flux dominant initially, followed by a shift to wind forcing despite continued sea ice decline. These changes in upper ocean structure and forcing mechanisms may have substantial implications for the marine ecosystem, potentially contributing to unusual fall phytoplankton blooms and intensified ocean acidification observed in the past decade.
Behavioural determinants of physiologically-relevant light exposure
Authors: Biller Anna M. , Balakrishnan Priji , Spitschan Manuel
Published: November 2024

Light exposure triggers a range of physiological and behavioural responses that can improve and challenge health and well-being. Insights from laboratory studies have recently culminated in standards and guidelines for measuring and assessing healthy light exposure, and recommendations for healthy light levels. Implicit to laboratory paradigms is a simplistic input-output relationship between light and its effects on physiology. This simplified approach ignores that humans actively shape their light exposure through behaviour. This article presents a novel framework that conceptualises light exposure as an individual behaviour to meet specific, person-based needs. Key to healthy light exposure is shaping behaviour, beyond shaping technology.