bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat inactivation of foetal bovine serum performed after EV‐depletion influences the proteome of cell‐derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Urzì Ornella , Bergqvist Markus , Lässer Cecilia , Moschetti Marta , Johansson Junko , D´Arrigo Daniele , Olofsson Bagge Roger , Crescitelli Rossella
Published: January 2024

The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cell cultures as well as their molecular cargo can be influenced by cell culture conditions such as the presence of foetal bovine serum (FBS). Although several studies have evaluated the effect of removing FBS‐derived EVs by ultracentrifugation (UC), less is known about the influence of FBS heat inactivation (HI) on the cell‐derived EVs. To assess this, three protocols based on different combinations of EV depletion by UC and HI were evaluated, including FBS ultracentrifuged but not heat inactivated (no‐HI FBS), FBS heat inactivated before EV depletion (HI‐before EV‐depl FBS), and FBS heat inactivated after EV depletion (HI‐after EV‐depl FBS). We isolated large (L‐EVs) and small EVs (S‐EVs) from FBS treated in the three different ways, and we found that the S‐EV pellet from HI‐after EV‐depl FBS was larger than the S‐EV pellet from no‐HI FBS and HI‐before EV‐depl FBS. Transmission electron microscopy, protein quantification, and particle number evaluation showed that HI‐after EV‐depl significantly increased the protein amount of S‐EVs but had no significant effect on L‐EVs. Consequently, the protein quantity of S‐EVs isolated from three cell lines cultured in media supplemented with HI‐after EV‐depl FBS was significantly increased. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of FBS‐derived S‐EVs showed that the EV protein content was different when FBS was HI after EV depletion compared to EVs isolated from no‐HI FBS and HI‐before EV‐depl FBS. Moreover, we show that several quantified proteins could be ascribed to human origin, thus demonstrating that FBS bovine proteins can mistakenly be attributed to human cell‐derived EVs. We conclude that HI of FBS performed after EV depletion results in changes in the proteome, with molecules that co‐isolate with EVs and can contaminate EVs when used in subsequent cell cultures. Our recommendation is, therefore, to always perform HI of FBS prior to EV depletion.
Effects of year‐long exposure to elevated pCO2 on the metabolism of back reef and fore reef communities
Authors: Edmunds Peter J. , Doo Steve S. , Carpenter Robert C.
Published: January 2024

The implications of ocean acidification are acute for calcifying organisms, notably tropical reef corals, for which accretion generally is depressed and dissolution enhanced at reduced seawater pH. We describe year‐long experiments in which back reef and fore reef (17‐m depth) communities from Moorea, French Polynesia, were incubated outdoors under pCO2 regimes reflecting endpoints of representative concentration pathways (RCPs) expected by the end the century. Incubations were completed in three to four flumes (5.0 × 0.3 m, 500 L) in which seawater was refreshed and circulated at 0.1 m s−1, and the response of the communities was evaluated monthly by measurements of net community calcification (NCC) and net community productivity (NCP). For both communities, NCC (but not NCP) was affected by treatments and time, with NCC declining with increasing pCO2, and for the fore reef, becoming negative (i.e., dissolution was occurring) at the highest pCO2 (1067–1433 μatm, RCP8.5). There was scant evidence of community adjustment to reduce the negative effects of ocean acidification, and inhibition of NCC intensified in the back reef as the abundance of massive Porites spp. declined. These results highlight the risks of dissolution under ocean acidification for coral reefs and suggest these effects will be most acute in fore reef habitats. Without signs of amelioration of the negative effects of ocean acidification during year‐long experiments, it is reasonable to expect that the future of coral reefs in acidic seas can be predicted from their current known susceptibility to ocean acidification.
Current insights into the factors affecting the erosion behaviour of iron alloy based coating material
Authors: Kumar S. R. , Sharma R. K.
Published: January 2024

The present paper reviewed the role of factors influencing the wear properties of iron alloy‐based coating material. In brief, these factors are categorized into four major types such as substrate properties, high‐velocity oxy‐fuel spraying parameters, heat treatment processes and wear testing parameters. Substrate properties include roughness, thermal resistance, and adhesive strength between substrate and coating materials. High velocity oxy fuel parameters include spray distance, oxygen flow rate, fuel flow rate, angle of spray, spray density, coating speed, thickness, number of coating layers etc. Erosion wear testing parameters include impact speed, impingement angle, erodent discharge, slurry concentration etc. Furthermore, erosion wear testing parameters are sub‐categorized into three types which are particulate‐based parameters such as size, shape and hardness of particle, impact‐based parameters such as angle of impact, impact velocity, and composition‐based parameters such as microstructure, physical and mechanical properties of materials. The annealing process speeds up the development of crystal phases. Therefore, to get the best coating materials, a detailed investigation and optimization of all the factors must be performed.
Simulation of wire metal transfer in the cold metal transfer (CMT) variant of gas metal arc welding using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) approach
Authors: Mokrov O. , Warkentin S. , Westhofen L. , Jeske S. , Bender J. , Sharma R. , Reisgen U.
Published: January 2024

Cold metal transfer (CMT) is a variant of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) in which the molten metal of the wire is transferred to the weld pool mainly in the short‐circuit phase. A special feature here is that the wire is retracted during this strongly controlled welding process. This allows precise and spatter‐free formation of the weld seams with lower energy input. To simulate this process, a model based on the particle‐based smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is developed. This method provides a native solution for the mass and heat transfer. A simplified surrogate model was implemented as an arc heat source for welding simulation. This welding simulation model based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics method was augmented with surface effects, the Joule heating of the wire, and the effect of the electromagnetic forces. The model of metal transfer in the cold metal transfer process shows good qualitative agreement with real experiments.
A new poly(trialkylsilylethynylphenylacetylene)s membrane toward enhanced oxygen permeability
Authors: Lv Shuaikang , Liu Xiaotian , Li Jixian , Gong Changjun , Wan Liqiang , Huang Farong
Published: January 2024

Polyacetylenes with good performance in O2/N2 separation were reported. A series of cis‐helical poly(trialkylsilylethynylphenylacetylene)s (PSEPAs) with average molecular weight in the range of 105–106 g mol−1 are synthesized under the catalysis of [Rh(nbd)Cl]2. The free‐standing membranes are prepared from the solution of PSEPAs in chloroform. A rigid PSEPA membrane exhibits the tensile strength of 22.2 MPa, while a flexible PSEPA membrane shows an elongation at break of 44.2% at room temperature. Moreover, the rigid PSEPA membrane shows ultra‐high oxygen permeability of 3.09 × 105 Barrer. The results show that PSEPAs are potential polymers for the applications in O2/N2 separation field.
Hemicryptophane: A Viable Supramolecular Approach to Improve Chlordecone Removal from Water
Authors: Della‐Negra Oriane , Poujade Marie , Muselet Delphine , Chevallier‐Michaud Sabine , Dutasta Jean‐Pierre , Chatelet Bastien , Saaidi Pierre‐Loïc , Martinez Alexandre
Published: January 2024

The persistent organic pollutant chlordecone massively contaminates water resources of the French West Indies. Hemicryptophanes are cages capable of complexing chlordecone in organic solvents. Here we demonstrate that a hemicryptophane cage is not only able to recognize this pollutant in chloroform but is also efficient for the removal of chlordecone from water. This evidences that, beyond our previously reported proof of concept, this receptor could be apply as a direct and efficient depolluting agent, making it a promising system for applied supramolecular chemistry. A simple pH switch (basic washing) enables the release of chlordecone from the host, under its deprotonated form, allowing the empty supramolecular cage to be recycled and reused. This method for recycling the receptor, is to the best of our knowledge unprecedented.
Structural Aspects of Split G‐Quadruplexes in Quadruplex‐Duplex Hybrid Systems
Authors: Agustin Dinda Fluor , Vianney Yoanes Maria , Weisz Klaus , Wahjudi Mariana
Published: January 2024

G‐quadruplexes are secondary structures of nucleic acids increasingly employed for biological and also technological applications. Being of particular interest, a structural motif called quadruplex‐duplex (QD) hybrid comprises both a G‐quadruplex and duplex domain. Here, we attempted to engineer a bimolecular quadruplex‐duplex hybrid through dual recognition of a receptor by a target strand with the simultaneous formation of both G‐quadruplex and duplex structures. Three different constructs were designed for the G‐quadruplex receptor, featuring either one, two, or three vacant sites. Addition of the target strand filled the vacancies when simultaneously hybridizing with flanking sequences to form a duplex as shown by NMR studies. Formed QD hybrid constructs either constitute an 11 : 1, 10 : 2, or 9 : 3 split G‐quadruplex system. The 10 : 2 QD construct folds into a non‐canonical V‐loop topology. Remarkably, the latter also accommodates 5’‐overhang residues of the target strand although suggested to impose a steric penalty. Formation of the duplex domain is demonstrated to be critical for the successful formation of the intact G‐quadruplex domain. With the formation of a unique QD junction for detection, the constructs may constitute valuable tools for single strand capturing strategies.
High‐Performance Monolithic 3D Integrated Complementary Inverters Based on Monolayer n‐MoS2 and p‐WSe2
Authors: Liu Ming‐Jin , Lan Wei‐Jie , Huang Cai‐Syuan , Chen Chang‐Zhi , Cyu Ruei‐Hong , Sino Paul Albert L. , Yang Yu‐Lun , Chiu Po‐Wen , Chuang Feng‐Chuan , Shen Chang‐Hong , Chen Jyun‐Hong , Chueh Yu‐Lun
Published: January 2024

Herein, the structure of integrated M3D inverters are successfully demonstrated where a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesized monolayer WSe2 p‐type nanosheet FET is vertically integrated on top of CVD synthesized monolayer MoS2 n‐type film FET arrays (2.5 × 2.5 cm) by semiconductor industry techniques, such as transfer, e‐beam evaporation (EBV), and plasma etching processes. A low temperature (below 250 °C) is employed to protect the WSe2 and MoS2 channel materials from thermal decomposition during the whole fabrication process. The MoS2 NMOS and WSe2 PMOS device fabricated show an on/off current ratio exceeding 106 and the integrated M3D inverters indicate an average voltage gain of ≈9 at VDD = 2 V. In addition, the integrated M3D inverter demonstrates an ultra‐low power consumption of 0.112 nW at a VDD of 1 V. Statistical analysis of the fabricated inverters devices shows their high reliability, rendering them suitable for large‐area applications. The successful demonstration of M3D inverters based on large‐scale 2D monolayer TMDs indicate their high potential for advancing the application of 2D TMDs in future integrated circuits.
High‐Temperature Melt Stamping of Polymers Using Polymer/Nanoporous Gold Composite Stamps
Authors: Periz Ruža , Geuß Markus , Mameka Nadiia , Markmann Jürgen , Steinhart Martin
Published: January 2024

Parallel lithographic deposition of polymers onto counterpart substrates is a widely applied surface manufacturing operation. However, polymers may only be soluble in organic solvents or are insoluble at all. Solvent evaporation during stamping may trigger hardly controllable capillarity‐driven flow processes or phase separation, and polymer solutions may spread on the counterpart substrates. Solvent‐free stamping of melts prevents these drawbacks. Here, a stamp design for the deposition of melts is devised, which intrinsically circumvents ink depletion. The stamps’ topographically patterned contact surfaces with protruding contact elements contacting the counterpart substrates consist of a nanoporous gold layer with a thickness of a few micrometers. The nanoporous gold layer is attached to a molten polymer layer, which is support for the nanoporous gold layer and ink reservoir at the same time. The nanoporous gold layer in turn stabilizes the topography of the stamps’ contact surfaces. As examples, arrays of submicron microdots of polystyrene and poly(vinylidenefluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (PVDF‐TrFE) are manufactured. The P(VDF‐TrFE) microdots are partially crystalline, ferroelectric, and can be locally poled. It is envisioned that the methodology reported here can be automatized and may be extended to functional low‐molecular‐mass compounds, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Peptide‐Based Assemblies for Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Chakraborty Sohini , el Battioui Kamal , Beke-Somfai Tamás
Published: January 2024

The increased focus on green energy storage devices and the related rapid advancement in biomedical technologies makes the investigation of biocompatible integrated systems with medical relevance increasingly important. Peptides and their assembled morphologies with their innate biocompatibility and biodegradability are emerging as promising candidates in this respect due to their structural attributes which can be easily tuned to form supramolecular 3D architectures with extended pathways for ionic mobility. However, to comprehend their applicability in energy storage devices, it is crucial to explore their self‐assembling characteristics, charge‐storage mechanisms, and coating efficacies. Herein, all these aspects are compiled with specific emphasis on peptide‐based systems for supercapacitor applications. The electrochemical charge storage mechanisms that are used for categorizing conventional supercapacitors with the theories and mechanisms outlining biological electron transfer, such as tunneling, hopping, superexchange, and flickering resonance, are collated. Furthermore, the characterization techniques solely pertaining to the study of such systems and their role in predicting the morphology of self‐assembly patterns which could directly impact the overall electrochemical properties are also addressed. Finally, some of the critical challenges associated with these systems while realizing their future potential in the field of sustainable energy storage devices are highlighted.
Groundwater contamination and sources of potentially toxic elements in Korba Basin, India
Authors: Patel Khageshwar Singh , Pandey Piyush Kant , Sahu Bharat Lal , Patel Raj Kishore , Wysocka Irena , Yurdakul Sema , Martín‐Ramos Pablo , Bhattacharya Prosun
Published: January 2024

Most coal in India originates from the Korb basin (Chhattisgarh), where coal mines, thermal power, and aluminum plants operate. Groundwater in this region faces severe pollution due to land reclamation, leaching of coal‐related contaminants, waste disposal, and industrial effluent seepage. This work presents results from monitoring groundwater pollution in the Korba basin from 2012 to 2017. Fluoride, aluminum, manganese, and iron levels exceeded acceptable quality limits across all 28 studied locations, with excessive nitrate, magnesium, calcium, and lead levels in specific sites. Tracking seasonal and temporal fluctuations in the most polluted site, namely Kudurmal, revealed peak solute concentrations during the monsoon period and a sustained 18% increase during the study period. Factorial analysis suggests groundwater contamination arises from both human activities and natural sources. These findings underscore the urgent necessity of devising remediation strategies for the drinking water supply.
Building digital solutions to support brain health prescribing in primary care: Where to begin?
Authors: Siette Joyce , Adam Patrick J.
Published: January 2024

National and international policy goals on healthy ageing and dementia risk reduction are yet to be fully realised in community healthcare settings. Disease modification strategies through lifestyle and social interventions are viable, evidence‐based solutions to reduce age‐related disease burden. However, prescribing lifestyle interventions targeting dementia risk in primary care remains deficient. Using digital technologies to support older individuals and healthcare professionals through formal health checks and lifestyle management is likely to enable shared understanding and consequences of personalized care and treatment options. These tailored solutions may bridge the translation gap and support healthy ageing.
New and Not‐Well‐Known Research about Reading Disabilities: Teachers Want to Know
Authors: Truckenmiller Adrea
Published: January 2024

Laws, practices, and research about reading difficulties have been gradually and rapidly changing since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1974. It is difficult for schools to keep up, especially when it takes approximately 16 years for research to reach widespread public knowledge. In this article, I frame the latest research about reading difficulties within the daily discussions occurring in schools. I address misconceptions and best practices about dyslexia, learning disabilities, screening, instruction, and a common, but unknown cause of reading difficulties—developmental language disorder. Research cited in this article come from studies funded by the National Institutes of Child Health and Development and the Institute of Education Sciences.
Combination effect of ADP‐intercalated kaolinite and ammonium polyphosphate on simultaneously enhancing the flame retardancy and smoke suppression of epoxy resins
Authors: Yan Long , Guan Jingjing , Wei Zheng , Tang Xinyu , Xu Zhisheng
Published: January 2024

In this article, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) was successfully intercalated into kaolinite (Kaol) to prepare a novel synergist named ADP‐intercalated kaolinite (K‐ADP). The chemical structure of K‐ADP was thoroughly characterized using various analytical methods, and then K‐ADP was combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to enhance the fire safety of epoxy resins (EPs). The flammability results indicate that the combination of K‐ADP and APP exerts super positive effects on reducing the heat release and smoke emission of EPs than the mixture of Kaol and APP. Especially, the EP/8 wt% APP/2 wt% K‐ADP has a super LOI value of 33.2% and reaches a UL94 V‐0 rating accompanying with a 29.1% reduction in total heat release (THR) and a 72.7% reduction in total smoke production (TSP) compared to pure EP. The morphology and component analyses show that the combination of K‐ADP and APP facilitates the formation of more phosphorus‐rich crosslinking and aromatic structures in the condensed phase to enhance the compactness and intumescence of char layer, which effectively segregates heat, combustible compounds and smoke particles. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the combination of K‐ADP and APP exerts super char‐forming ability in EPs, and the residual weight of EP/8 wt% APP/2 wt% K‐ADP at 800°C increases from 7.8% of pure EP to 19.7%. Mechanical test shows that the addition of K‐ADP displays the less adverse effect on the mechanical properties of EP composites compared to Kaol due to the better compatibility of K‐ADP and epoxy matrix with DSC analysis support.

Highlights

A novel ammonium dihydrogen phosphate‐intercalated kaolinite (K‐ADP) was synthesized.

APP/K‐ADP system exerts super positive effect on reducing fire hazards of EPs.

APP/K‐ADP system takes effect in both gas phase and condensed phase.

APP/K‐ADP has a satisfying balance between fire safety and mechanical properties in EPs.
Quadratus lumborum block versus transversus abdominis plane block for inguinal hernia repair: A systematic review and meta‐analysis with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Marcolin Patrícia , Amaral Sara , Motter Sarah Bueno , Brandão Gabriela R , de Oliveira Trindade Bruna , Messer Nir , Poli de Figueiredo Sérgio Mazzola
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery with Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) and Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAPB) emerging as potential techniques. We aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of QLB and TAPB in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of Cochrane, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases to identify randomized controlled trials comparing QLB and TAPB in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair. Outcomes included postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. The review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023445513).

Results

We included five RCTs encompassing 255 patients. QLB was associated with a significant decrease in postoperative pain (MD −0.45; 95% CI −0.75 to −0.14; and p = 0.004; I2 = 94%). However, we found no difference in 24‐h opioid consumption between QLB and TAPB groups.

Conclusion

QLB may offer superior pain reduction. However, its effect on opioid consumption remains unclear.
Personal AI to Maximize the Value of Personal Data while Defending Human Rights and Democracy
Authors: Hasida Kôiti
Published: January 2024

The combination of centralized AIs (CAIs; AIs based on centralized management of personal data (PD)) and the attention economy (AE) has given rise to digital Leninism and surveillance capitalism and spread misinformation and biases, threatening human rights and democracy and impairing value creation by PD. Worse still, it is impossible for humanity to jointly restrict CAIs and AE, because they create winners: surveillance capitalism and digital Leninism may eventually confer upon some companies and countries huge profits and power. Only decentralized management of PD (DMPD) can dissolve this problem. First, personal AIs (PAIs) based on DMPD can displace CAIs by letting service providers employ PAIs instead of CAIs in order to improve their own profits, as PAIs create much larger value than CAIs by fully utilizing a subject’s PD to more deeply and carefully intervene in their lives. Second, the optimal medium of the human-PAI interaction is a graph document (document with explicit semantic structures in the form of diagram or graph), which should facilitate verification and enhance diversity of information. Third, DMPD also enables decentralized governance of PAIs and other services to maximize their added value while well-balancing value distribution among individuals, businesses, and societies.
Europe’s Scaleup Geography and the Role of Access to Talent
Authors: Cséfalvay Zoltán
Published: January 2024

Although the concept of the ecosystem for entrepreneurs and startups dominates the discourse on promoting innovation, the geographical pattern of cities with startups remains largely uncharted territory. This study’s author first gives an overview of this concept’s roots in regional sciences and then outlines the contours of Europe’s scaleup geography by analyzing data on 12,500 scaleups (startups that raised more than 1 million euros) at the municipal level. Performance is marked by a strong West-East and North-South divide, and most scaleups and funding concentrate in a handful of cities. One may assume some convergence, however, from the upstream of locally available talent, especially in university towns. The study’s author concludes that scaleup ecosystems in Europe have only developed into a self-reinforcing system in a few cities. Although they have become self-sustaining in a multitude of Western and Northern European cities, large cities in Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe lag behind, not least because of the weak upstream of university talent.
Pre-TAVI imaging: an Italian survey by the CT PRotocol optimization (CT-PRO) group
Authors: D’Angelo Tommaso , Lanzafame Ludovica R. M. , Liguori Carlo , Mantini Cesare , Russo Vincenzo , Palumbo Pierpaolo , Scalera Giovanni B. , Iozzelli Andrea , Borghesi Andrea , Matta Gildo , Greco Fabio , Garretto Valeria , Danti Massimiliano , Iezzi Roberto , Francone Marco
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the current state-of-art of pre-TAVI imaging in a large radiological professional community.

Methods

Between December 2022 and January 2023 all members of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM) were invited by the CT PRotocol Optimization group (CT-PRO group) to complete an online 24-item questionnaire about pre-TAVI imaging.

Results

557 SIRM members participated in the survey. The greatest part of respondents were consultant radiologists employed in public hospitals and 84% claimed to routinely perform pre-TAVI imaging at their institutions. The most widespread acquisition protocol consisted of an ECG-gated CT angiography (CTA) scan of the aortic root and heart followed by a non-ECG-synchronized CTA of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. Contrast agent administration was generally tailored on the patient’s body weight with a preference for using high concentration contrast media. The reports were commonly written by radiologists with expertise in cardiovascular imaging, and included all the measurements suggested by current guidelines for adequate pre-procedural planning. About 60% of the subjects affirmed that the Heart Team is present at their institutions, however only 7% of the respondents regularly attended the multidisciplinary meetings.

Conclusions

This survey defines the current pre-TAVI imaging practice in a large radiological professional community. Interestingly, despite the majority of radiologists follow the current guidelines regarding acquisition and reporting of pre-TAVI imaging studies, there is still a noteworthy absence from multidisciplinary meetings and from the Heart Team.
E-values for k-Sample Tests with Exponential Families
Authors: Hao Yunda , Grünwald Peter , Lardy Tyron , Long Long , Adams Reuben
Published: January 2024

We develop and comparee-variables for testing whetherksamples of data are drawn from the same distribution, the alternative being that they come from different elements of an exponential family. We consider the GRO (growth-rate optimal)e-variables for (1) a ‘small’ null inside the same exponential family, and (2) a ‘large’ nonparametric null, as well as (3) ane-variable arrived at by conditioning on the sum of the sufficient statistics. (2) and (3) are efficiently computable, and extend ideas from Turner et al. (2021) and Wald (1947) respectively from Bernoulli to general exponential families. We provide theoretical and simulation-based comparisons of thesee-variables in terms of their logarithmic growth rate, and find that for small effects all foure-variables behave surprisingly similarly; for the Gaussian location and Poisson families, e-variables (1) and (3) coincide; for Bernoulli, (1) and (2) coincide; but in general, whether (2) or (3) grows faster under the alternative is family-dependent. We furthermore discuss algorithms for numerically approximating (1).
Size-dependent characterization of particles from domestic boilers fuelled with exhausted olive cake and almond shells
Authors: Collado Rocío , Monedero Esperanza , Borjabad Elena , Hernández Juan José
Published: January 2024

The general purpose of this work has been the detailed characterization of particles (PM) produced by almond shells and exhausted olive cake (both wastes with a great potential in the Mediterranean region) in a domestic boiler at nominal (55 kW) and partial (24 kW) load. The latter, still little explored, has allowed to evaluate conditions with practical interest in current modular burners. The dominant PM formation mechanisms depending on the particle size have been identified. Non-woody biomass exhibited a unimodal distribution with PM0.1–1 accounting for most of the particles. SEM–EDX analyses revealed irregular and large agglomerates composed mainly by and Na, K and Cl, thus suggesting heterogeneous condensation of alkali chlorides and sulphates as the main formation pathway. Whilst decreasing the load allowed other formation routes to gain importance (homogeneous nucleation) for almond shells, the high alkali content of exhausted olive cake confirmed heterogeneous condensation as the dominant route.
Knowledge transfer based many-objective approach for finding bugs in multi-path loops
Authors: Semujju Stuart D. , Liu Fangqing , Huang Han , Xiang Yi , Yan Xueming , Hao Zhifeng
Published: January 2024

Generating test cases is essential for discovering software bugs. However, finding bugs in multi-path loops is challenging, especially when bugs can only be exposed after a specific interleaving execution order. Furthermore, the number of paths increases exponentially when the iteration count increases. It results in running out of resources (e.g., allocated search budget) in existing algorithms for test case generation before finding program bugs. To overcome these challenges and improve the effectiveness of existing algorithms in finding bugs among multi-path loops, we propose a path-oriented test case generation framework to explore loop paths of bounded depth. To fulfill this task, we first present a method that groups loop paths based on their latent similarities. Then, we formulate the problem of generating test cases to cover loop paths as a many-objective optimization one. The many-objective optimization problem is designed to optimize one group of loop paths at a time. Finally, a many-objective test case generation framework is used to generate test cases for covering loop paths. In this framework, a knowledge transfer scheme is incorporated to reuse suitable archived test cases at the start of the search process for a similar group of paths. We have implemented the proposed knowledge transfer scheme with generalized differential evolution 3 (KT-GDE3) and evaluated it with benchmarks from the competition on software verification (SV-COMP16 and SV-COMP21). The experimental results show that KT-GDE3 outperforms alternative search-based test case generation algorithms in bug finding capability for multi-path loops. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed knowledge transfer scheme, our approach is compared with the variant without this scheme (called KT-GDE3-unarchived) in the benchmarks. The corresponding experimental results verify our assumption that the knowledge transfer scheme can significantly enhance the optimization process of multi-objective algorithms such as generalized differential evolution when finding bugs in multi-path loops.
The Ideology of Brazilian Parties and Presidents: A Research Note on Coalitional Presidentialism Under Stress
Authors: Zucco Cesar , Power Timothy J.
Published: January 2024

This research note contributes updated and extended point estimates of the ideological positions of Brazilian political parties and novel estimates of the positions of all presidents since redemocratization in 1985. Presidents and parties are jointly responsible for the operability of Brazil’s version of coalitional presidentialism. Locating these key political actors in a unidimensional left–right space over time reveals rising challenges to the institutional matrix, particularly since 2013. Ideological polarization among parties has sharply increased, presidents have become more distant from Congress, and the political center has become increasingly vacated. Coalitional presidentialism is being subjected to unprecedented ideological stress as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begins his third term in office.
CLASSICAL DIFFUSION
Authors: Best Stephen
Published: January 2024

At Howard University, the only historically Black university in the United States with a Classics department, campus leaders decided in 2021 to eliminate that department after a three-year review of its academic programs. The response was vehement and swift, with students, faculty, and alumni condemning the decision as a case of administrative overreach. The philosopher Cornel West described the divestment from the Classics curriculum as a ‘spiritual catastrophe’ for the institution. Few missed the irony that Toni Morrison, one of Howard's most celebrated alumni, studied with Frank Snowden, Jr., a renowned professor of Classics, and received a ‘minor’ in that field as an undergraduate; or that the central inspiration for Morrison's Beloved was a fugitive slave woman named Margaret Garner who became known as ‘the modern Medea’ for having decided (in 1856, in flight from her master's agents) that it was better to kill her children than see them returned to enslavement in the American South. Others would point to the long tradition of transformational Black thinkers who admit to having been inspired by the classics, including Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr.
IPHIGENIA'S STIGMATOLOGIES
Authors: Telò Mario
Published: January 2024

The title of Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding's opera—not simply Iphigenia, but rather …(Iphigenia)—invites reflection on its programmatic punctuation: Iphigenia dwells between parentheses, supplemented by an ellipsis.
OPERANT: …(IPHIGENIA) AT BERKELEY
Authors: Flynn Catherine
Published: January 2024

Speaking by phone to a critic several weeks before the premiere of …(Iphigenia), director Lileana Blain-Cruz announced: ‘esperanza challenges the absurdity of this myth… Men must kill a young woman so they can go to war. Why repeat what does not work? What does it feel like to be a young woman thrust into this absurd story?’ In fact, the Wayne Shorter-esperanza spalding production exaggerates the myth's absurdity, minimizing the pain of Agamemnon and flattening the familial calamity at the heart of Euripides’ play until it becomes a conflict between aggressive men and suffering women. It is easy to judge these toxic male warriors with their Wagnerian helmets and hints of white nationalism. It is also easy for the female members of the audience to identify with Iphigenia, and with the series of Iphigenias whom the warriors put to death. Yet, at our moment, Shorter and spalding's reimagining of a myth about the sacrifice of a virgin to power a fleet invites us to consider our own implication in an urgent calamity, one in which we are both warrior and virgin.
AESCHYLUS’, EURIPIDES’, CACOYANNIS'S—AND SHORTER-SPALDING'S IPHIGENIAS
Authors: Griffith Mark
Published: January 2024

Like Euripides’ play, Iphigenia at Aulis, the Shorter-spalding opera is open-ended and unresolved—partly because, again like the Euripidean version, it is multi-authored and somewhat incomplete. Euripides’ play, in the form(s) in which we possess it, presents at least three different endings, none of which is likely to come from Euripides’ own pen; other authors certainly contributed to various sections of the final scene. Euripides himself also had a musical collaborator, Cephisophon, who presumably continued to work on finishing and rehearsing the play after Euripides himself died, up to its first production. The Shorter-spalding opera, …(Iphigenia), likewise is the result of collaboration—often at a distance, and over several years—between musicians, writers, and designers (as Morales describes in her Introduction to this issue). At least six different authors altogether are identified in the program notes as contributing to the libretto, including the three poets whose lyrics were sung in Act II: Ganavya Doraiswamy, Joy Harjo, and Safiya Sinclair, respectively South Asian, Native American, and Jamaican. As for the opera's ending—the most notoriously uncertain aspect of this myth ever since archaic Greek times—esperanza spalding states in her notes on the opera that the process of creating an ending has been one of constant adjustment, wholesale rewriting, and improvisation, and that even through the rehearsals the singers themselves onstage, as well as the instrumental jazz trio, were still trying out new things, right up to and including perhaps the performance that we saw. (I attended the Berkeley performance on February 12, 2022.) The opera is, we may say, unfinished.
Scoping article: research frontiers on the governance of the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Hickmann Thomas , Biermann Frank , Sénit Carole-Anne , Sun Yixian , Bexell Magdalena , Bolton Mitzi , Bornemann Basil , Censoro Jecel , Charles Aurelie , Coy Dominique , Dahlmann Frederik , Elder Mark , Fritzsche Felicitas , Gehre Galvão Thiago , Grainger-Brown Jarrod , Inoue Cristina , Jönsson Kristina , Koloffon Rosas Montserrat , Krellenberg Kerstin , Moallemi Enayat , Lobos Alva Ivonne , Malekpour Shirin , Ningrum Dianty , Paneva Aneliya , Partzsch Lena , Ramiro Rodrigo , Raven Rob , Szedlacsek Eszter , Thompson John , van Driel Melanie , Viani Damasceno Jéssica , Webb Robert , Weiland Sabine
Published: January 2024

Non-Technical Summary

This article takes stock of the 2030 Agenda and focuses on five governance areas. In a nutshell, we see a quite patchy and often primarily symbolic uptake of the global goals. Although some studies highlight individual success stories of actors and institutions to implement the goals, it remains unclear how such cases can be upscaled and develop a broader political impact to accelerate the global endeavor to achieve sustainable development. We hence raise concerns about the overall effectiveness of governance by goal-setting and raise the question of how we can make this mode of governance more effective.

Technical Summary

A recent meta-analysis on the political impact of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has shown that these global goals are moving political processes forward only incrementally, with much variation across countries, sectors, and governance levels. Consequently, the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains uncertain. Against this backdrop, this article explores where and how incremental political changes are taking place due to the SDGs, and under what conditions these developments can bolster sustainability transformations up to 2030 and beyond. Our scoping review builds upon an online expert survey directed at the scholarly community of the ‘Earth System Governance Project’ and structured dialogues within the ‘Taskforce on the SDGs’ under this project. We identified five governance areas where some effects of the SDGs have been observable: (1) global governance, (2) national policy integration, (3) subnational initiatives, (4) private governance, and (5) education and learning for sustainable development. This article delves deeper into these governance areas and draws lessons to guide empirical research on the promises and pitfalls of accelerating SDG implementation.

Social Media Summary

As SDG implementation lags behind, this article explores 5 governance areas asking how to strengthen the global goals.
Ferroptosis: Emerging mechanisms, biological function, and therapeutic potential in cancer and inflammation
Authors: Jin Xin , Tang Jiuren , Qiu Xiangyu , Nie Xiaoya , Ou Shengming , Wu Geyan , Zhang Rongxin , Zhu Jinrong
Published: January 2024

Ferroptosis represents a distinct form of programmed cell death triggered by excessive iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation-induced damage. This mode of cell death differentiates from classical programmed cell death in terms of morphology and biochemistry. Ferroptosis stands out for its exceptional biological characteristics and has garnered extensive research and conversations as a form of programmed cell death. Its dysfunctional activation is closely linked to the onset of diseases, particularly inflammation and cancer, making ferroptosis a promising avenue for combating these conditions. As such, exploring ferroptosis may offer innovative approaches to treating cancer and inflammatory diseases. Our review provides insights into the relevant regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis, examining the impact of ferroptosis-related factors from both physiological and pathological perspectives. Describing the crosstalk between ferroptosis and tumor- and inflammation-associated signaling pathways and the potential of ferroptosis inducers in overcoming drug-resistant cancers are discussed, aiming to inform further novel therapeutic directions for ferroptosis in relation to inflammatory and cancer diseases.
The principles of natural climate solutions
Authors: Ellis Peter Woods , Page Aaron Marr , Wood Stephen , Fargione Joseph , Masuda Yuta J. , Carrasco Denney Vanessa , Moore Campbell , Kroeger Timm , Griscom Bronson , Sanderman Jonathan , Atleo Tyson , Cortez Rane , Leavitt Sara , Cook-Patton Susan C.
Published: January 2024

Natural climate solutions can mitigate climate change in the near-term, during a climate-critical window. Yet, persistent misunderstandings about what constitutes a natural climate solution generate unnecessary confusion and controversy, thereby delaying critical mitigation action. Based on a review of scientific literature and best practices, we distill five foundational principles of natural climate solutions (nature-based, sustainable, climate-additional, measurable, and equitable) and fifteen operational principles for practical implementation. By adhering to these principles, practitioners can activate effective and durable natural climate solutions, enabling the rapid and wide-scale adoption necessary to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation.
Ultrafast and persistent photoinduced phase transition at room temperature monitored by streaming powder diffraction
Authors: Hervé Marius , Privault Gaël , Trzop Elzbieta , Akagi Shintaro , Watier Yves , Zerdane Serhane , Chaban Ievgeniia , Torres Ramírez Ricardo G. , Mariette Celine , Volte Alix , Cammarata Marco , Levantino Matteo , Tokoro Hiroko , Ohkoshi Shin-ichi , Collet Eric
Published: January 2024

Ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions at room temperature, driven by a single laser shot and persisting long after stimuli, represent emerging routes for ultrafast control over materials’ properties. Time-resolved studies provide fundamental mechanistic insight into far-from-equilibrium electronic and structural dynamics. Here we study the photoinduced phase transformation of the Rb0.94Mn0.94Co0.06[Fe(CN)6]0.98 material, designed to exhibit a 75 K wide thermal hysteresis around room temperature between MnIIIFeII tetragonal and MnIIFeIII cubic phases. We developed a specific powder sample streaming technique to monitor by ultrafast X-ray diffraction the structural and symmetry changes. We show that the photoinduced polarons expand the lattice, while the tetragonal-to-cubic photoinduced phase transition occurs within 100 ps above threshold fluence. These results are rationalized within the framework of the Landau theory of phase transition as an elastically-driven and cooperative process. We foresee broad applications of the streaming powder technique to study non-reversible and ultrafast dynamics.
EUV-induced hydrogen desorption as a step towards large-scale silicon quantum device patterning
Authors: Constantinou Procopios , Stock Taylor J. Z. , Tseng Li-Ting , Kazazis Dimitrios , Muntwiler Matthias , Vaz Carlos A. F. , Ekinci Yasin , Aeppli Gabriel , Curson Neil J. , Schofield Steven R.
Published: January 2024

Atomically precise hydrogen desorption lithography using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has enabled the development of single-atom, quantum-electronic devices on a laboratory scale. Scaling up this technology to mass-produce these devices requires bridging the gap between the precision of STM and the processes used in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing. Here, we demonstrate the ability to remove hydrogen from a monohydride Si(001):H surface using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. We quantify the desorption characteristics using various techniques, including STM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM). Our results show that desorption is induced by secondary electrons from valence band excitations, consistent with an exactly solvable non-linear differential equation and compatible with the current 13.5 nm (~92 eV) EUV standard for photolithography; the data imply useful exposure times of order minutes for the 300 W sources characteristic of EUV infrastructure. This is an important step towards the EUV patterning of silicon surfaces without traditional resists, by offering the possibility for parallel processing in the fabrication of classical and quantum devices through deterministic doping.
Sublimed C60 for efficient and repeatable perovskite-based solar cells
Authors: Said Ahmed A. , Aydin Erkan , Ugur Esma , Xu Zhaojian , Deger Caner , Vishal Badri , Vlk Aleš , Dally Pia , Yildirim Bumin K. , Azmi Randi , Liu Jiang , Jackson Edward A. , Johnson Holly M. , Gui Manting , Richter Henning , Pininti Anil R. , Bristow Helen , Babics Maxime , Razzaq Arsalan , Mandal Suman , Allen Thomas G. , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Ledinský Martin , Yavuz Ilhan , Rand Barry P. , De Wolf Stefaan
Published: January 2024

Thermally evaporated C60 is a near-ubiquitous electron transport layer in state-of-the-art p–i–n perovskite-based solar cells. As perovskite photovoltaic technologies are moving toward industrialization, batch-to-batch reproducibility of device performances becomes crucial. Here, we show that commercial as-received (99.75% pure) C60 source materials may coalesce during repeated thermal evaporation processes, jeopardizing such reproducibility. We find that the coalescence is due to oxygen present in the initial source powder and leads to the formation of deep states within the perovskite bandgap, resulting in a systematic decrease in solar cell performance. However, further purification (through sublimation) of the C60 to 99.95% before evaporation is found to hinder coalescence, with the associated solar cell performances being fully reproducible after repeated processing. We verify the universality of this behavior on perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells by demonstrating their open-circuit voltages and fill factors to remain at 1950 mV and 81% respectively, over eight repeated processes using the same sublimed C60 source material. Notably, one of these cells achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.9%. These findings provide insights crucial for the advancement of perovskite photovoltaic technologies towards scaled production with high process yield.
Recent intensified erosion and massive sediment deposition in Tibetan Plateau rivers
Authors: Li Jinlong , Wang Genxu , Song Chunlin , Sun Shouqin , Ma Jiapei , Wang Ying , Guo Linmao , Li Dongfeng
Published: January 2024

Recent climate change has caused an increase in warming-driven erosion and sediment transport processes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Yet a lack of measurements hinders our understanding of basin-scale sediment dynamics and associated spatiotemporal changes. Here, using satellite-based estimates of suspended sediment, we reconstruct the quantitative history and patterns of erosion and sediment transport in major headwater basins from 1986 to 2021. Out of 13 warming-affected headwater regions, 63% of the rivers have experienced significant increases in sediment flux. Despite such intensified erosion, we find that 30% of the total suspended sediment flux has been temporarily deposited within rivers. Our findings reveal a pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity within and across basins. The recurrent fluctuations in erosion-deposition patterns within river channels not only result in the underestimation of erosion magnitude but also drive continuous transformations in valley morphology, thereby endangering local ecosystems, landscape stability, and infrastructure project safety.