bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evolution and spread of sulfur cycling enzymes reflect the redox state of the early Earth
Authors: Mateos Katherine , Chappell Garrett , Klos Aya , Le Bryan , Boden Joanne , Stüeken Eva , Anderson Rika
Published: July 2023

The biogeochemical sulfur cycle plays a central role in fueling microbial metabolisms, regulating the Earth’s redox state, and affecting climate. However, geochemical reconstructions of the ancient sulfur cycle are confounded by ambiguous isotopic signals. We use phylogenetic reconciliation to ascertain the timing of ancient sulfur cycling gene events across the tree of life. Our results suggest that metabolisms using sulfide oxidation emerged in the Archean, but those involving thiosulfate emerged only after the Great Oxidation Event. Our data reveal that observed geochemical signatures resulted not from the expansion of a single type of organism but were instead associated with genomic innovation across the biosphere. Moreover, our results provide the first indication of organic sulfur cycling from the Mid-Proterozoic onwards, with implications for climate regulation and atmospheric biosignatures. Overall, our results provide insights into how the biological sulfur cycle evolved in tandem with the redox state of the early Earth.
Topological transformations of a nematic drop
Authors: Koizumi Runa , Golovaty Dmitry , Alqarni Ali , Li Bing-Xiang , Sternberg Peter J. , Lavrentovich Oleg D.
Published: July 2023

Morphogenesis of living systems involves topological shape transformations which are highly unusual in the inanimate world. Here, we demonstrate that a droplet of a nematic liquid crystal changes its equilibrium shape from a simply connected tactoid, which is topologically equivalent to a sphere, to a torus, which is not simply connected. The topological shape transformation is caused by the interplay of nematic elastic constants, which facilitates splay and bend of molecular orientations in tactoids but hinders splay in the toroids. The elastic anisotropy mechanism might be helpful in understanding topology transformations in morphogenesis and paves the way to control and transform shapes of droplets of liquid crystals and related soft materials.
Dehydration-enhanced ion-pore interactions dominate anion transport and selectivity in nanochannels
Authors: Lu Chenghai , Hu Chengzhi , Chen Zhibin , Wang Peiyao , Feng Fan , He Guangzhi , Wang Fuyi , Zhang Yanyan , Liu Jefferson Zhe , Zhang Xiwang , Qu Jiuhui
Published: July 2023

State-of-the-art ion-selective membranes with ultrahigh precision are of significance for water desalination and energy conservation, but their development is limited by the lack of understanding of the mechanisms of ion transport at the subnanometer scale. Herein, we investigate transport of three typical anions (F
−
, Cl
−
, and Br
−
) under confinement using in situ liquid time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in combination with transition-state theory. The operando analysis reveals that dehydration and related ion-pore interactions govern anion-selective transport. For strongly hydrated ions [(H
2
O)
n
F
−
and (H
2
O)
n
Cl
−
], dehydration enhances ion effective charge and thus the electrostatic interactions with membrane, observed as an increase in decomposed energy from electrostatics, leading to more hindered transport. Contrarily, weakly hydrated ions [(H
2
O)
n
Br
−
] have greater permeability as they allow an intact hydration structure during transport due to their smaller size and the most right-skewed hydration distribution. Our work demonstrates that precisely regulating ion dehydration to maximize the difference in ion-pore interactions could enable the development of ideal ion-selective membranes.
Prior expectation enhances sensorimotor behavior by modulating population tuning and subspace activity in sensory cortex
Authors: Park JeongJun , Kim Seolmin , Kim HyungGoo R. , Lee Joonyeol
Published: July 2023

Prior knowledge facilitates our perception and goal-directed behaviors, particularly when sensory input is lacking or noisy. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the improvement in sensorimotor behavior by prior expectations remain unknown. In this study, we examine the neural activity in the middle temporal (MT) area of visual cortex while monkeys perform a smooth pursuit eye movement task with prior expectation of the visual target’s motion direction. Prior expectations discriminately reduce the MT neural responses depending on their preferred directions, when the sensory evidence is weak. This response reduction effectively sharpens neural population direction tuning. Simulations with a realistic MT population demonstrate that sharpening the tuning can explain the biases and variabilities in smooth pursuit, suggesting that neural computations in the sensory area alone can underpin the integration of prior knowledge and sensory evidence. State-space analysis further supports this by revealing neural signals of prior expectations in the MT population activity that correlate with behavioral changes.
WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 13 suppresses de novo shoot regeneration via cell fate control of pluripotent callus
Authors: Ogura Nao , Sasagawa Yohei , Ito Tasuku , Tameshige Toshiaki , Kawai Satomi , Sano Masaki , Doll Yuki , Iwase Akira , Kawamura Ayako , Suzuki Takamasa , Nikaido Itoshi , Sugimoto Keiko , Ikeuchi Momoko
Published: July 2023

Plants can regenerate their bodies via de novo establishment of shoot apical meristems (SAMs) from pluripotent callus. Only a small fraction of callus cells is eventually specified into SAMs but the molecular mechanisms underlying fate specification remain obscure. The expression of WUSCHEL (WUS) is an early hallmark of SAM fate acquisition. Here, we show that a WUS paralog, WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 13 (WOX13), negatively regulates SAM formation from callus in
Arabidopsis thaliana
. WOX13 promotes non-meristematic cell fate via transcriptional repression of
WUS
and other SAM regulators and activation of cell wall modifiers. Our Quartz-Seq2–based single cell transcriptome revealed that WOX13 plays key roles in determining cellular identity of callus cell population. We propose that reciprocal inhibition between WUS and WOX13 mediates critical cell fate determination in pluripotent cell population, which has a major impact on regeneration efficiency.
Mechanical manipulation of cancer cell tumorigenicity via heat shock protein signaling
Authors: Wong Siu Hong Dexter , Yin Bohan , Li Zhuo , Yuan Weihao , Zhang Qin , Xie Xian , Tan Youhua , Wong Nathalie , Zhang Kunyu , Bian Liming
Published: July 2023

Biophysical cues of rigid tumor matrix play a critical role in cancer cell malignancy. We report that stiffly confined cancer cells exhibit robust growth of spheroids in the stiff hydrogel that exerts substantial confining stress on the cells. The stressed condition activated Hsp (heat shock protein)–signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling via the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4–phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt axis, thereby up-regulating the expression of the stemness-related markers in cancer cells, whereas these signaling activities were suppressed in cancer cells cultured in softer hydrogels or stiff hydrogels with stress relief or Hsp70 knockdown/inhibition. This mechanopriming based on three-dimensional culture enhanced cancer cell tumorigenicity and metastasis in animal models upon transplantation, and pharmaceutically inhibiting Hsp70 improved the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapy. Mechanistically, our study reveals the crucial role of Hsp70 in regulating cancer cell malignancy under mechanically stressed conditions and its impacts on cancer prognosis–related molecular pathways for cancer treatments.
Enantioselective Csp3-Csp3 formation by nickel-catalyzed enantioconvergent cross-electrophile alkyl-alkyl coupling of unactivated alkyl halides
Authors: Zhao Wen-Tao , Shu Wei
Published: July 2023

The pervasive occurrence of saturated stereogenic carbon centers in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, functional organic materials, and natural products has stimulated great efforts toward the construction of such saturated carbon centers. We report a reaction mode for the enantioselective construction of alkyl-alkyl bond to access saturated stereogenic carbon centers by asymmetric reductive cross-coupling between different alkyl electrophiles in good yields with great levels of enantioselectivity. This reaction mode uses only alkyl electrophiles for enantioselective C
sp3
-C
sp3
bond-formation, rendering reductive alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling as an alternative to traditional alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling reactions between alkyl nucleophiles and alkyl electrophiles to access saturated stereogenic carbon centers without the use of organometallic reagents. The reaction displays a broad scope for two alkyl electrophiles with good functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction undergoes a single electron transfer that enabled the reductive coupling pathway to form the alkyl-alkyl bond.
Multiplex enzymatic synthesis of DNA with single-base resolution
Authors: Verardo Damiano , Adelizzi Beatrice , Rodriguez-Pinzon Daniel A. , Moghaddam Nicolas , Thomée Emma , Loman Tessa , Godron Xavier , Horgan Adrian
Published: July 2023

Enzymatic DNA synthesis (EDS) is a promising benchtop and user-friendly method of nucleic acid synthesis that, instead of solvents and phosphoramidites, uses mild aqueous conditions and enzymes. For applications such as protein engineering and spatial transcriptomics that require either oligo pools or arrays with high sequence diversity, the EDS method needs to be adapted and certain steps in the synthesis process spatially decoupled. Here, we have used a synthesis cycle comprising a first step of site-specific silicon microelectromechanical system inkjet dispensing of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase enzyme and 3′ blocked nucleotide, and a second step of bulk slide washing to remove the 3′ blocking group. By repeating the cycle on a substrate with an immobilized DNA primer, we show that microscale spatial control of nucleic acid sequence and length is possible, which, here, are assayed by hybridization and gel electrophoresis. This work is distinctive for enzymatically synthesizing DNA in a highly parallel manner with single base control.
The interplay between the DNA damage response and ectonucleotidases modulates tumor response to therapy
Authors: Stagg John , Golden Encouse , Wennerberg Erik , Demaria Sandra
Published: July 2023

The extracellular nucleoside adenosine reduces tissue inflammation and is generated by irreversible dephosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) mediated by the ectonucleotidase CD73. The pro-inflammatory nucleotides adenosine triphosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and cyclic guanosine -monophosphate–AMP (cGAMP), which are produced in the tumor microenvironment (TME) during therapy-induced immunogenic cell death and activation of innate immune signaling, can be converted into AMP by ectonucleotidases CD39, CD38, and CD203a/ENPP1. Thus, ectonucleotidases shape the TME by converting immune-activating signals into an immunosuppressive one. Ectonucleotidases also hinder the ability of therapies including radiation therapy, which enhance the release of pro-inflammatory nucleotides in the extracellular milieu, to induce immune-mediated tumor rejection. Here, we review the immunosuppressive effects of adenosine and the role of different ectonucleotidases in modulating antitumor immune responses. We discuss emerging opportunities to target adenosine generation and/or its ability to signal via adenosine receptors expressed by immune and cancer cells in the context of combination immunotherapy and radiotherapy.
Restoring tumor immunogenicity with dendritic cell reprogramming
Authors: Zimmermannova Olga , Ferreira Alexandra G. , Ascic Ervin , Velasco Santiago Marta , Kurochkin Ilia , Hansen Morten , Met Özcan , Caiado Inês , Shapiro Ilja E. , Michaux Justine , Humbert Marion , Soto-Cabrera Diego , Benonisson Hreinn , Silvério-Alves Rita , Gomez-Jimenez David , Bernardo Carina , Bauden Monika , Andersson Roland , Höglund Mattias , Miharada Kenichi , Nakamura Yukio , Hugues Stephanie , Greiff Lennart , Lindstedt Malin , Rosa Fábio F. , Pires Cristiana F. , Bassani-Sternberg Michal , Svane Inge Marie , Pereira Carlos-Filipe
Published: July 2023

Decreased antigen presentation contributes to the ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system. We used the minimal gene regulatory network of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) to reprogram cancer cells into professional antigen-presenting cells (tumor-APCs). Enforced expression of the transcription factors PU.1, IRF8, and BATF3 (PIB) was sufficient to induce the cDC1 phenotype in 36 cell lines derived from human and mouse hematological and solid tumors. Within 9 days of reprogramming, tumor-APCs acquired transcriptional and epigenetic programs associated with cDC1 cells. Reprogramming restored the expression of antigen presentation complexes and costimulatory molecules on the surfaces of tumor cells, allowing the presentation of endogenous tumor antigens on MHC-I and facilitating targeted killing by CD8
+
T cells. Functionally, tumor-APCs engulfed and processed proteins and dead cells, secreted inflammatory cytokines, and cross-presented antigens to naïve CD8
+
T cells. Human primary tumor cells could also be reprogrammed to increase their capability to present antigen and to activate patient-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. In addition to acquiring improved antigen presentation, tumor-APCs had impaired tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Injection of in vitro generated melanoma-derived tumor-APCs into subcutaneous melanoma tumors delayed tumor growth and increased survival in mice. Antitumor immunity elicited by tumor-APCs was synergistic with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our approach serves as a platform for the development of immunotherapies that endow cancer cells with the capability to process and present endogenous tumor antigens.
3D chromatin reprogramming primes human memory T
H
2 cells for rapid recall and pathogenic dysfunction
Authors: Onrust-van Schoonhoven Anne , de Bruijn Marjolein J.W. , Stikker Bernard , Brouwer Rutger W.W. , Braunstahl Gert-Jan , van IJcken Wilfred F.J. , Graf Thomas , Huylebroeck Danny , Hendriks Rudi W. , Stik Grégoire , Stadhouders Ralph
Published: July 2023

Memory T cells provide long-lasting defense responses through their ability to rapidly reactivate, but how they efficiently “recall” an inflammatory transcriptional program remains unclear. Here, we show that human CD4
+
memory T helper 2 (T
H
2) cells carry a chromatin landscape synergistically reprogrammed at both one-dimensional (1D) and 3D levels to accommodate recall responses, which is absent in naive T cells. In memory T
H
2 cells, recall genes were epigenetically primed through the maintenance of transcription-permissive chromatin at distal (super)enhancers organized in long-range 3D chromatin hubs. Precise transcriptional control of key recall genes occurred inside dedicated topologically associating domains (“memory TADs”), in which activation-associated promoter-enhancer interactions were preformed and exploited by AP-1 transcription factors to promote rapid transcriptional induction. Resting memory T
H
2 cells from patients with asthma showed premature activation of primed recall circuits, linking aberrant transcriptional control of recall responses to chronic inflammation. Together, our results implicate stable multiscale reprogramming of chromatin organization as a key mechanism underlying immunological memory and dysfunction in T cells.
Zika virus dumbbell-1 structure is critical for sfRNA presence and cytopathic effect during infection
Authors: Graham Monica E. , Merrick Camille , Akiyama Benjamin M. , Szucs Matthew J. , Leach Sarah , Kieft Jeffery S. , Beckham J. David
Published: July 2023

All flaviviruses contain conserved RNA structures in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) that are important for flavivirus RNA replication, translation, and pathogenesis. Flaviviruses like Zika virus (ZIKV) contain multiple conserved RNA structures in the viral 3′ UTR, including the structure known as dumbbell-1 (DB-1). Previous research has shown that the DB-1 structure is important for flavivirus positive-strand genome replication, but the functional role of the flavivirus DB-1 structure and the mechanism by which it contributes to viral pathogenesis are not known. Using the recently solved flavivirus DB RNA structural data, we designed two DB-1 mutant ZIKV infectious clones, termed ZIKV-TL.PK and ZIKV-p.2.5′, which disrupt DB-1 tertiary folding. We found that viral positive-strand genome replication of both ZIKV DB-1 mutant clones is similar to wild-type (WT) ZIKV, but ZIKV DB-1 mutants exhibit significantly decreased cytopathic effect due to reduced caspase-3 activation. We next show that ZIKV DB-1 mutants exhibit decreased levels of sfRNA species compared to ZIKV-WT during infection. However, ZIKV DB-1 mutant 3′ UTRs exhibit unchanged sfRNA biogenesis following XRN1 degradation
in vitro
. We also found that ZIKV DB-1 mutant virus (ZIKV-p.2.5′) exhibited enhanced sensitivity to type I interferon treatment, and both ZIKV-DB-1 mutants exhibit reduced morbidity and mortality due to tissue-specific attenuated viral replication in brain tissue of interferon type I/II receptor knockout mice. We propose that the flavivirus DB-1 RNA structure maintains sfRNA levels during infection despite maintained sfRNA biogenesis, and these results indicate that ZIKV DB-dependent maintenance of sfRNA levels support caspase-3-dependent, cytopathic effect, type I interferon resistance, and viral pathogenesis in mammalian cells and in a ZIKV murine model of disease.

IMPORTANCE

The group of viruses termed flaviviruses cause important disease throughout the world and include dengue virus, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and many more. All of these flaviviruses have highly conserved RNA structures in the untranslated regions of the virus genome. One of the shared RNA structures, termed the dumbbell region, is not well studied, but mutations in this region are important for vaccine development. In this study, we made structure-informed targeted mutations in the Zika virus dumbbell region and studied the effect on the virus. We found that Zika virus dumbbell mutants are significantly weakened or attenuated due to a decreased ability to produce non-coding RNA that is needed to support infection, support virus-induced cell death, and support escape from the host immune system. These data show that targeted mutations in the flavivirus dumbbell RNA structure may be an important approach to develop future vaccine candidates.
The Paleoproterozoic granite factory: Voluminous post-collisional, ferroan, A-type granites and implications for crust formation and metallogenic tenor, Labrador, Canada
Authors: Hinchey A.M. , Sandeman H.A. , Butler J.P.
Published: July 2023

Arc magmatism along convergent plate boundaries has been a major contributor to continental crustal growth. During the late Paleoproterozoic−Mesoproterozoic assembly of the supercontinent Nuna, following arc-backarc-continent collisions, the Makkovik Orogen, along the southern margin of the Archean North Atlantic Craton, experienced a pulse of continental arc magmatism at ca. 1800 Ma. Lithogeochemistry indicates compositions typical of ferroan, alkali to alkali-calcic, A-type granites. The granitic rocks have εNd(t) values varying from −5.3 to +2.0 and model ages [T(DM)] from 2750 to 1880 Ma. The very high εNd(t) and young model ages imply a substantial juvenile mantle component in their formation. Oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) ratios, estimated by the proxy ratio of FeOT/(FeOT + MgO), range from 0.58 to 0.99, indicating the parental magmas formed in both reducing and oxidizing conditions. The granites also preserve an alkali-calcic alteration that together with inferred ƒO2 makes them more prospective for a variety of intrusion-related styles of mineralization including iron-oxide-copper-gold and uranium. Based on the petrology, lithogeochemistry, and isotopic compositions, the ca. 1800 Ma magmatic event is interpreted to have been developed post-collisionally following the docking of the Cape Harrison Arc/micro-continent with the North Atlantic Craton during the assembly of the supercontinent Nuna. This collision was followed by slab rollback (possibly breakoff), extensional collapse, and mantle upwelling resulting in the generation of the abundant ca. 1800 Ma felsic magmatism. The timing of the ca. 1818−1799 Ma plutonism in the Makkovik Orogen is coeval with significant felsic plutonism preserved in the Julianehåb Igneous Complex (Ketilidian Orogen) of southern Greenland.
A New Peptide from the Venom of the Madagascar Cat-Eyed Snake Madagascarophis colubrinus Blocks Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Authors: Kryukova E. V. , Ivanov D. A. , Kopylova N. V. , Starkov V. G. , Andreeva T. V. , Ivanov I. A. , Tsetlin V. I. , Utkin Yu. N.
Published: July 2023

Abstract—

In screening the venoms of various snake species, we found that the venom of the Madagascar cat-eyed snake Madagascarophis colubrinus competes with α-bungarotoxin for binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica. Using liquid chromatography, a peptide that inhibits the binding of α‑bungartoxin to this receptor was isolated from the venom and named macoluxin. The amino acid sequence of this 23-amino acid peptide was determined by automatic Edman degradation. Comparison with amino acid sequences of known proteins showed that the macoluxin sequence is homologous to the α-helical region of the sequence of snake venom metalloproteinases. The peptide was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and the study of its biological activity showed that it inhibits the binding of α-bungarotoxin to the Torpedo receptor with an IC50 of 47 μM. Macoluxin also reversibly inhibited acetylcholine-induced currents in the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This is the first data on the presence of a peptide that can inhibit the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the venom of rear-fanged snakes.
Ketamine for atypical facial pain and hormonal dysregulation: a case report
Authors: Darwish Yousef , Willeford Sierra , Mahesh Krithika , Van Stephanie
Published: July 2023

Background

Ketamine has garnered increased interest for its promising applications in chronic pain treatment, particularly in cases where conventional therapies have proven insufficient. Nevertheless, despite its potential advantages, ketamine remains classified as a third-line medication for pain management. While there are well-documented reactions to ketamine such as hypertension and tachycardia, not much is known about its relationship to cortisol. In this case report, we explicate the administration of ketamine in a patient presenting with atypical facial pain, examining its multifaceted effects on cortisol levels and concurrent pain management.

Case presentation

A patient with a history of Cushing’s disease underwent multiple resections of a pituitary tumor. Afterwards, the patient began experiencing a burning-like pain on the left side of the face. The discomfort was initially treated with a variety of neuromodulatory and anti-inflammatory medications, which caused intolerable side effects and were not effective for pain. As a final recourse, we initiated a regimen of oral compounded ketamine at 5–10 mg three times daily as needed. The patient exhibited marked amelioration in their pain symptoms; however, there was an elevation in their baseline cortisol. In view of the potential risk of inducing Cushing’s syndrome, the administration of daily ketamine was discontinued.

Conclusion

While ketamine is primarily known to control pain through the antagonization of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, its effects on cortisol may also contribute to its analgesic properties. Physicians should be aware of the potential for these interactions, particularly when treating patients with a predisposition to hormonal imbalances.
Deep parasternal intercostal plane nerve block: an anatomical study
Authors: Harbell Monica W , Langley Natalie R , Seamans David P , Kraus Molly B , Carey Frederick J , Craner Ryan C
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The superficial and deep parasternal intercostal plane (DPIP) blocks are two new blocks for thoracic pain. There are limited cadaveric studies evaluating the dye spread with these blocks. In this study, we examined the dye spread of an ultrasound-guided DPIP block in a human cadaveric model.

Methods

Five ultrasound-guided DPIP blocks were performed in four unembalmed human cadavers using an in-plane approach with a linear transducer oriented in a transverse plane adjacent to the sternum. Twenty milliliters of 0.1% methylene blue were injected between ribs 3 and 4 into the plane deep to the internal intercostal muscles and superficial to the transversus thoracis muscle layer. The chest muscles were dissected, and the extent of dye spread was documented in both cephalocaudal and mediolateral directions.

Results

The transversus thoracis muscle slips were stained in all cadavers from 4 to 6 levels. Intercostal nerves were dyed in all specimens. Four levels of intercostal nerves were dyed in each specimen with variability in number of levels stained above and below the level of the injection.

Conclusions

The DPIP block spreads along the tissue plane above the transversus thoracis muscles to multiple levels to dye the intercostal nerves in this cadaver study. This block may be of clinical value for analgesia in anterior thoracic surgical procedures.
Variation in establishment success for American mistletoe [Phoradendron leucarpum(Raf.) Reveal & M.C. Johnst. (Viscaceae)] appears most likely to predict its distribution in Virginia and North Carolina, United States
Authors: Flanders Nicholas P. , Randle Christopher P. , Walters Eric L. , Musselman Lytton J.
Published: July 2023

Dispersal limitation and variation in habitat suitability may determine an association of American mistletoe [ Phoradendron leucarpum (Raf.) Reveal & M.C. Johnst. (Viscaceae)] with forested wetlands in Virginia and North Carolina, United States. Here, we first tested the alternative hypothesis that variation in host availability drives this habitat relationship. We used a generalized linear model to show a positive effect of forested wetland habitat on American mistletoe occurrence after accounting for both variation in host availability and differences among regions in host use. We then used seed sowing experiments to quantify how light availability and flood regime determine the viability of American mistletoe, allowing us to evaluate the potential for establishment limitation to determine this habitat relationship. Light availability predicted establishment rates but % canopy openness did not predict seed germination rates. Thus, variation in the ability for American mistletoe to establish across forested habitat types with different local light availabilities is a potentially important mechanism in determining its distribution.
$$A_4$$ modular flavour model of quark mass hierarchies close to the fixed point $$\tau = \omega $$
Authors: Petcov S. T. , Tanimoto M.
Published: July 2023

We investigate the possibility to describe the quark mass hierarchies as well as the CKM quark mixing matrix without fine-tuning in a quark flavour model with modular $$A_4$$

A
4

symmetry. The quark mass hierarchies are considered in the vicinity of the fixed point $$\tau = \omega \equiv \exp ({i\,2\pi /3})$$

τ
=
ω
≡
exp
(

i

2
π
/
3

)

(the left cusp of the fundamental domain of the modular group), $$\tau $$
τ
being the VEV of the modulus. The model involves modular forms of level 3 and weights 6, 4 and 2, and contains eight constants, only two of which, $$g_u$$

g
u

and $$g_d$$

g
d

, can be a source of CP violation in addition to the VEV of the modulus, $$\tau = \omega + \epsilon $$

τ
=
ω
+
ϵ

, $$(\epsilon )^* \ne \epsilon $$

(
ϵ
)

∗

≠
ϵ

, $$|\epsilon |\ll 1$$

|
ϵ
|
≪
1

. We find that in the case of real (CP-conserving) $$g_u$$

g
u

and $$g_d$$

g
d

and common $$\tau $$
τ
($$\epsilon $$
ϵ
) in the down-type and up-type quark sectors, the down-type quark mass hierarchies can be reproduced without fine tuning with $$|\epsilon | \cong 0.03$$

|
ϵ
|
≅
0.03

, all other constants being of the same order in magnitude, and correspond approximately to $$1: |\epsilon |: |\epsilon |^2$$

1
:
|
ϵ
|
:
|
ϵ
|

2

. The up-type quark mass hierarchies can be achieved with the same $$|\epsilon | \cong 0.03$$

|
ϵ
|
≅
0.03

but allowing $$g_u\sim \mathcal{O}(10)$$

g
u

∼
O

(
10
)

and correspond to $$1: |\epsilon |/|g_u|: |\epsilon |^2/|g_u|^2$$

1
:
|
ϵ
|
/
|

g
u

|
:
|
ϵ
|

2

/

|

g
u

|

2

. In this setting the reproduction of the value of the CKM element $$|V_{\textrm{cb}}|$$

|

V
cb

|

is problematic. A much more severe problem is the correct description of the CP violation in the quark sector since it arises as a higher order correction in $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
with $$|\epsilon |\ll 1$$

|
ϵ
|
≪
1

. We show that this problem is somewhat alleviated in the case of complex $$g_u$$

g
u

and $$g_d$$

g
d

although the rephasing invariant $$J_{\textrm{CP}}$$

J
CP

is larger by a factor of $$\sim 1.8$$

∼
1.8

than the correct value. A correct no-fine-tuned description of the quark mass hierarchies, the quark mixing and CP violation is possible with all constants being of the same order in magnitude and complex $$g_u$$

g
u

and $$g_d$$

g
d

, if one allows different values of $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
in the down-type and up-type quark sectors, or in a modification of the considered model which involves modular forms of level 3 and weights 8, 6 and 4.
Temperature effects on thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the InP, InAs and InSb compounds
Authors: Nghia Nguyen Van , Hung Phan Q. , Hanh Pham Thi Minh , Hieu Ho Khac
Published: July 2023

The thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the zinc-blende indium pnictides InP, InAs and InSb compounds have been investigated thanks to the statistical moment method in statistical mechanics. We have derived the analytical expressions of thermal induced atomic displacement, lattice constant, elastic moduli (Young’s modulus, bulk modulus and shear modulus) and elastic constants of the zinc-blende compounds. The difference of temperature effects on mechanical properties of InSb comparing to InP and InAs compounds has been pointed out. We show that InSb is less affected by temperature while InP changes its mechanical properties from hardness to softness quickly when the temperature increases. The advancement of this method is that it has included the anharmonic effects of thermal lattice vibrations by taking into account the higher-order atomic displacement terms.
Analytical analysis of graphene oxide ethylene glycol and graphene oxide blood base nanofluid over a vertical surface
Authors: Rehman Ali , Guedri Kamel , Inc Mustafa , Alqahtani Rubayyi T.
Published: July 2023

This work considers the analytical analysis of graphene oxide ethylene glycol and graphene oxide blood base nanofluid over a vertical sheet. The principal objective of this study is to make an effort to improve the heat transfer ratio, which is the core part of the engineering and industrial sectors. Following a continuity check, the problem is modeled using the conservation rules of momentum and energy. Nonlinear PDEs are produced through modeling, which are then transformed into ODEs using the similarity transformation and thermophysical characteristics. The resultant ODEs are resolved using the Homotopy Asymptotic Method, and graphical interpretations are given to highlight the influence of different contributing parameters such as unsteady parameter, nanoparticle volume fraction, mixed convection parameter, Grashof number and Prandtl number on the velocity profile and temperature distribution. It is noted that increasing the values of nanoparticle volume fraction and stretching parameter slow down the velocity profile. Also, increasing the values of mixed convection parameter and Grashof number (Gr) enhance the velocity profile, and increasing values of Prandtl number and Graship number reduce the temperature distribution. The Nusselt number and the skin friction are examined through graphical representation. It is noted that increasing the value of mixed convection parameter decreases the skin friction of the fluids, and the Nusselt number decreases with the growing value of Prandtl number.
Noise2Split — Single Image Denoising Via Single Channeled Patch-Based Learning
Authors: Ashwini G. , Ramashri T. , Ahmed Mohammad Rasheed
Published: July 2023

The prominence and popularity of Image Denoising in medical image processing has been obvious since its early conception. Medical Image Denoising is primarily a significant pre-processing method for further image processing steps in various fields. Its ability to speed up the diagnosis by enhancing the sensory quality of noisy images is proven to be working in most of the cases. The efficiency of the deep neural networks for Medical Image Denoising has been well proven traditionally. Both noisy and clean images are equal requirements in most of these training methods. However, it is not always possible to procure clean images for various applications such as Dynamic Imaging, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Camera Photography due to the inevitable presence of naturally occurring noisy signals which are intrinsic to the images. There have been self-supervised single Image Denoising methods proposed recently. Being inspired by these methods, taking this a step further, we propose a novel and better denoising method for single images by training the learning model on each of the channels of the input data, which is termed as “Noise2Split”. It ultimately proves to reduce the noise granularly in each channel, pixel by pixel, by using Single Channeled Patch-Based (SCPB) learning, which is found to be resulting in a better performance. Further, to obtain optimum results, the method leverages BRISQUE image quality assessment. The model is demonstrated on X-ray, CT, PET, Microscopy, and real-world noisy images.
Control of Tissue Development by Morphogens
Authors: Kicheva Anna , Briscoe James
Published: July 2023

Intercellular signaling molecules, known as morphogens, act at a long range in developing tissues to provide spatial information and control properties such as cell fate and tissue growth. The production, transport, and removal of morphogens shape their concentration profiles in time and space. Downstream signaling cascades and gene regulatory networks within cells then convert the spatiotemporal morphogen profiles into distinct cellular responses. Current challenges are to understand the diverse molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying morphogen gradient formation, as well as the logic of downstream regulatory circuits involved in morphogen interpretation. This knowledge, combining experimental and theoretical results, is essential to understand emerging properties of morphogen-controlled systems, such as robustness and scaling.
Welcoming More Participation in Open Data Science for the Oceans
Authors: Fredston Alexa L. , Lowndes Julia S. Stewart
Published: July 2023

Open science is a global movement happening across all research fields. Enabled by technology and the open web, it builds on years of efforts by individuals, grassroots organizations, institutions, and agencies. The goal is to share knowledge and broaden participation in science, from early ideation to making research outputs openly accessible to all (open access). With an emphasis on transparency and collaboration, the open science movement dovetails with efforts to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in science and society. The US Biden–Harris Administration and many other US government agencies have declared 2023 the Year of Open Science, providing a great opportunity to boost participation in open science for the oceans. For researchers day-to-day, open science is a critical piece of modern analytical workflows with increasing amounts of data. Therefore, we focus this article on open data science—the tooling and people enabling reproducible, transparent, inclusive practices for data-intensive research—and its intersection with the marine sciences. We discuss the state of various dimensions of open science and argue that technical advancements have outpaced our field's culture change to incorporate them. Increasing inclusivity and technical skill building are interlinked and must be prioritized within the marine science community to find collaborative solutions for responding to climate change and other threats to marine biodiversity and society.
Utilizing Pore Network Modeling for Performance Analysis of Multi-Layer Electrodes in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Authors: Misaghian Niloofar , Sadeghi Mohammad Amin , Lee Kyu Min , Roberts Edward P. L. , Gostick Jeff T.
Published: July 2023

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are promising energy storage devices. The microstructure of the porous electrode affects the performance of VRFBs. Therefore, identifying optimized electrode structures is an active research area. However, designing optimal microstructures requires studying varieties of structural parameters and design cases using a modeling tool with low computational cost. In this study, a pore network modeling (PNM) framework was developed to study the effects of multi-layer electrodes on VRFB electrode performance. In contrast to previous experimental works that were focused on multi-layer structure of the same material, this study explored the effect of using different microstructures in each layer. Using an image generation algorithm, fibrous materials were generated from which pore networks were extracted. The developed PNM included a modification by adding throat nodes in the geometry to accommodate a velocity dependent mass transfer coefficient. The results showed that putting a highly permeable layer near the membrane provides an alternative preferential path for fluid to distribute and supply those regions with reactive species, resulting in 57% increase in limiting current density in contrast to the opposite order. However, selection of the desired structures must be based on a trade-off between the current/power density and pressure drop.
Electrochemical Separation of Porous Anodic Aluminum Oxide with Thick Barrier Layers
Authors: Kikuchi Tatsuya , Miyamoto Kazuya , Iwai Mana
Published: July 2023

We investigated an electrochemical separation method for anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films possessing thicker barrier layers by electrolysis in sodium chloride (NaCl) and ethylene glycol (EG) solution and subsequent fabrication of through-hole AAO membranes by immersion in phosphoric acid (H3PO4) solution. The AAO films with different barrier layer thicknesses were formed on the aluminum surface by anodizing in sulfuric, oxalic, and H3PO4 solutions at up to 130 V. The AAO-covered aluminum specimens were immersed in NaCl/EG solution, and then constant voltage electrolysis at 10 V higher than the anodizing voltage was performed for the separation of AAO from the aluminum surface. Many nanoscale paths were formed throughout the barrier alumina layer in the initial stage of electrolysis, and then the aluminum substrate electrochemically dissolved through these narrow paths during electrolysis. Although the AAO film formed by anodizing at 130 V was partially fractured by electrolysis, the AAO films formed at up to 80 V were uniformly separated from the aluminum surface. As the separated AAO membrane was immersed in H3PO4 aqueous solution after electrolysis, the barrier layer with narrow paths preferentially dissolved into the solution, and a through-hole AAO membrane could be successfully obtained.
Impact of Calcium on Air Stability of Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 Positive Electrode Material for Sodium-ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Libin , Deshmukh Jay , Hijazi Hussein , Ye Ziwei , Johnson Michel B. , George Andy , Dahn Jeff R. , Metzger Michael
Published: July 2023

O3-type Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 is a promising positive electrode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, it suffers from structural degradation accompanied by surface-impurity growth during ambient storage and processing. In this study, we synthesized Na1–2yCay[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 with y = 0 and 0.02, and studied their structural stability towards ambient exposure. Na0.96Ca0.02[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 demonstrated excellent air stability by retaining 0.93 of lattice Na in the original O3 structure after 6 days of ambient storage. Titration experiments confirmed that the presence of Ca in Na0.96Ca0.02[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 effectively suppressed the otherwise rigorous Na+/H+ ion exchange in the presence of water. Charge/discharge cycling in half cells suggested that Ca improved the active material’s specific capacity and capacity retention by retaining its structural integrity and eliminating surface impurity formation during ambient electrode processing. Finally, the cycling performance of Na0.96Ca0.02[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2/hard carbon full cells was evaluated with upper cut-off voltages of 4.0 V and 4.1 V. Raising the upper cut-off voltage to 4.1 V resulted in a 20% gain in specific energy, but also accelerated capacity fade and voltage polarization, most likely due to an irreversible phase transition above 4.0 V.
Pregnancy-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy hospitalizations in the United States
Authors: Mogos Mulubrhan F. , Ahn Soojung , Muchira James M. , Osmundson Sarah , Piano Mariann R.
Published: July 2023

Although rare, pregnancy-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy hospitalizations are more likely to occur during the postpartum period and are associated with in-hospital mortality and prolonged hospital stay.
Preliminary Analysis of Quality and Cryopreservation of Sex-Reversed Female Culter alburnus Sperm
Authors: Cheng Shun , Liu Man , Liu Shi-li , Zheng Jian-bo , Chi Mei-li , Jiang Wen-ping , Liu Yi-nuo , Hang Xiao-ying , Peng Miao , Li Fei , Wang Dan-li
Published: July 2023

Sex-reversed females are the fathers of all-female fish and their sperm quality directly affects the quality of all-female fish. In this study, fecundity, physiological characteristics, biochemical characteristics, ultrastructure, and viability of sex-reversed female sperm after cryopreservation were investigated to understand sperm quality. (1) The sex-reversed female sperm had a lower fertilization rate, hatching rate, and larval survival rate of 72 hr and higher larval deformation rate compared with normal male sperm. (2) The changes in activation rate between normal male and sex-reversed female sperm under different salinity and pH conditions were the same; the optimum salinity was between 0 and 4%, and the optimum pH was 5.5. (3) The preservation time of sex-reversed female sperm is significantly shorter than that of normal male sperm at room temperature. (4) Sex-reversed female sperm had lower ATPase content and c/p value than normal male sperm. (5) Ultrastructural injury including damaged membranes of the head and mitochondria, broken flagella, greater mitochondrial damage, and mitochondrial membrane expansion were found in the sex-reversed female sperm. (6) The most suitable antifreeze for cryopreservation of sex-reversed female and normal male sperm was 10% ethylene glycol and dilution was D-15, but the activation rate, movement, and life span of sex-reversed female sperm were reduced after cryopreservation. It was speculated that the sperm mitochondria of the sex-reversed female were more damaged than those of the normal male, which led to differences in fertility and cryopreservation.
Research on Intelligent English Education Based on the Short Video Recommendation Algorithm
Authors: Li Xiaoyu
Published: July 2023

In order to solve the problems of English education in the form of a short video, a research method of English intelligent education based on a short video recommendation algorithm was proposed. The recommendation system is a branch of artificial intelligence data mining, which improves the efficiency of short videos for English learning. The density ratio of users and video scoring matrix was 1000000/(1030 × 9394) = 10.3%. The dataset was a relatively sparse matrix. The original dataset was randomly divided into the training set and the test set, accounting for 80% and 20%, respectively. Then, the results of the short video recommendation algorithm were elaborated based on time weighting. Finally, the intelligent initial question bank of English intelligent education based on a short video recommendation algorithm was elaborated, which provided a guarantee for the promotion of short videos in English education.
Multiobjective Prioritized Workflow Scheduling in Cloud Computing Using Cuckoo Search Algorithm
Authors: Sahu Babuli , Swain Sangram Keshari , Mangalampalli Sudheer , Mishra Satyasis
Published: July 2023

Effective workflow scheduling in cloud computing is still a challenging problem as incoming workflows to cloud console having variable task processing capacities and dependencies as they will arise from various heterogeneous resources. Ineffective scheduling of workflows to virtual resources in cloud environment leads to violations in service level agreements and high energy consumption, which impacts the quality of service of cloud provider. Many existing authors developed workflow scheduling algorithms addressing operational costs and makespan, but still, there is a provision to improve the scheduling process in cloud paradigm as it is an nondeterministic polynomial-hard problem. Therefore, in this research, a task-prioritized multiobjective workflow scheduling algorithm was developed by using cuckoo search algorithm to precisely map incoming workflows onto corresponding virtual resources. Extensive simulations were carried out on workflowsim using randomly generated workflows from simulator. For evaluating the efficacy of our proposed approach, we compared our proposed scheduling algorithm with existing approaches, i.e., Max–Min, first come first serve, minimum completion time, Min–Min, resource allocation security with efficient task scheduling in cloud computing-hybrid machine learning, and Round Robin. Our proposed approach is outperformed by minimizing energy consumption by 15% and reducing service level agreement violations by 22%.
Performance of Ecological Pervious Concrete Prepared with Sandstone/Limestone-Mixed Aggregates
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Zhikui , Yan Yan , Huang Bingyan , Xie Yongxiong
Published: July 2023

To understand the performance of ecological pervious concrete prepared with mixed sandstone/limestone aggregates, limestone and sandstone were used as two aggregates. The sandstone-to-limestone volume ratio was calculated in 0 : 1, 0.25 : 0.75, 0.5 : 0.5, 0.75 : 0.25, and 1 : 0 in coarse aggregate to prepare ecological pervious concrete specimens. The compressive test, water permeability test, cooling test, evaporation test, alkaline test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were carried out with qualified compressive strength as the indicator to determine the optimum sandstone-to-limestone volume ratio for the ecological pervious concrete. The results show that the water permeability, cooling property, and evaporation property of the ecological pervious concrete increase with the sandstone content. When the sandstone-to-limestone volume ratio is less than 0.32 : 0.68 (the substitution rate of sandstone for limestone in ecological pervious concrete is 32%), the strength of ecological pervious concrete meets the requirements of 5 MPa and achieves the best permeability coefficient of 9 mm/s. This realizes the full use of net water storage and cooling capacity of the ecological pervious concrete and makes the ecological pervious concrete meet the construction requirement of slope protection in sponge cities in the south.