bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
It’s a problem, but not mine: Exploring bias-related message acceptance among teachers
Authors: Doyle Lewis , Easterbrook Matthew J. , Harris Peter R.
Published: August 2023

Teachers’ judgements and interactions may be influenced by the backgrounds of their students, yet research shows that they may be reluctant to accept evidence relating to such biases. We investigated teachers’ perceptions of their own and others’ biases and explored whether a brief self-affirmation manipulation—which tends to reduce defensive responding— could increase their acknowledgement of personal and institutional bias. UK-based teachers (N = 288) completed either a values affirmation or control task before reading a mildly threatening research-based article about unconscious bias in education. Overall, teachers exhibited a bias blind spot, whereby they were more likely to perceive unconscious bias as an issue for other teachers to contend with rather than as a concern for themselves. Self-affirmed teachers were more likely to agree to have their teaching filmed to explore if/where personal biases may exist. Nevertheless, the self-affirmation did not alter levels of overall acceptance of the issue or perceptions of personal relevance. Exploratory analyses suggested that greater support for equity-enhancing teaching practices among teachers was associated with increased acknowledgement of bias and support for anti-bias initiatives. The findings suggest that self-affirmation may offer limited scope for improving acknowledgement of biases and that more work needs to be done to challenge and change the narrative of prejudice in schooling, from one that concerns only a few ‘bad apples’ to one that is accepted as an issue for all educators to be aware of and responsible for.
The misappropriation of “woke”: discriminatory social media practices, contributory injustice and context collapse
Authors: Allen Nicholas D. C.
Published: August 2023

This article aims to give an analysis of the phenomena of unjust misappropriation of marginalised groups’ terms online, using the example misappropriation of ‘woke’ from the Black community on Twitter. I argue that using terms such as these outside their original context warps their meaning, decreasing the intelligibility of the experiences of the marginalised agents who use them when attempting to express themselves both within their community and without. I intend to give an analysis of this phenomena, with the expectation that understanding it better will provide a crucial step in combatting it. To this end, I argue it can be understood as a specialised form of what Kristie Dotson calls ‘contributory injustice’, injustices which involve the suppression of a marginalised community’s existing hermeneutical resources, combined with a specific consequence of what Boyd and Marwick call ‘context collapse’, the removal of social norms created through the homogenising effect of social media sites like Twitter. The result is a novel misappropriation phenomenon, I label ‘Context-Collapsed Contributory Injustice’ or ‘CC.CI’. This type of misappropriation is particularly harmful due to it being faster-acting than historical varieties of misappropriation. Furthermore, unchecked continual cases of CC.CI can cause a novel from of what Miranda Fricker calls ‘hermeneutical injustice’, which is demarcated from standard cases by its ability to reintroduce conceptual lacunas through undermining existing hermeneutical resources. I finish by disambiguating cases of CC.CI from natural meaning change and critically analysing some existing philosophical treatments of “woke”.
Psychological motivations for collectivist behavior: comparison between Japan and the U.S
Authors: Hirota Shinichi , Nakashima Kiyotaka , Tsutsui Yoshiro
Published: August 2023

This paper explores the psychological motivations behind collectivist behavior in Japan and the U.S. Using data from a large-scale questionnaire survey, we examine the causes of collectivist behavior (i.e., group conformity) at workplaces and at home. Our key findings are as follows: (i) in Japan, people conform to their groups, both at work and at home, because they consider that cooperation with others will result in greater achievement; (ii) in both Japan and the U.S., people conform to their groups, both at work and at home, because behaving similarly to others makes them feel comfortable; and (iii) in both Japan and the U.S., people conform to their family’s opinion at home because they value cooperation with family members. Our findings suggest that institutional differences between Japan and the U.S. give rise to the differences in psychological motivations for collectivist behavior.
Part-time Parental Leave and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from the Netherlands
Authors: Dillenseger Laëtitia , Burger Martijn J. , Munier Francis
Published: August 2023

There is extensive literature on the relationship between having children and life satisfaction. Although parenthood can provide meaningfulness in life, parenting may increase obligations and decrease leisure time, reducing life satisfaction. In the Netherlands, parental leave is a part-time work arrangement that allows parents with young children to reconcile better work and family commitments. Using panel data from the Dutch Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS), we estimated with fixed-effects models the impact of the part-time parental leave scheme in the Netherlands on the life satisfaction of parents with young children. We find that the legal framework of Dutch parental leave offering job-protected leave and fiscal benefits are conducive to parents’ life satisfaction. Our findings hold using different model specifications. Additionally, we did not find evidence for existing reverse causality and that shorter and more elaborate parental leave schemes are more beneficial for life satisfaction.
Criminal Responsibility Reconsidered
Authors: Morse Stephen J.
Published: August 2023

This essay review addresses the central responsibility thesis of David Brink's "Fair. Opportunity and Responsibility" and then considers two applications of the central. Thesis: legal insanity and diminished capacity.
Advancing Bulk Metallic Glass Formation: Utilizing Rare-Earth Elements in Zr-Based Alloys
Authors: Pajor Krzysztof , Gondek Łukasz , Tyrała Dorota , Błyskun Piotr , Cieniek Łukasz , Kozieł Tomasz
Published: August 2023

Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are characterized by excellent glass-forming ability, combined with superior mechanical properties. However, oxygen impurities degrade both these aspects as oxides serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites during solidification. Rare-earth elements (REEs) are known to be good oxygen scavengers, binding oxygen to less harmful forms. The most stable rare-earth oxide (REO) is M2O3, which occurs in three polymorphic forms, depending on the radius of metal cation: cubic, hexagonal, and monoclinic. Here, we show the effect of Sc, Y, Lu, Nd, and Gd additions in relation to the oxygen content on the glass-forming ability of the Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 alloy. Microscopic observations (SEM) supported by chemical analysis (EDS, WDS), structure identification (XRD), and thermal analysis (DTA) were carried out. The critical diameter for glass formation (Dc) in the high oxygen alloy doped with cubic oxide-forming elements (Sc, Y, and Lu) can be even higher (Dc = 9 mm) compared to the undoped alloy synthesized from low oxygen components. Therefore, we have demonstrated that it is feasible to produce BMG using low-purity constituents with REE-based oxygen scavengers. This bridges the gap between laboratory development and cost-effective commercial applications.

Graphical Abstract
DLTS Study of Defects in HgCdTe Heterostructure Photodiode
Authors: Majkowycz K. , Murawski K. , Manyk T. , Rutkowski J. , Kopytko M. , Martyniuk P.
Published: August 2023

Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements were performed on HgCdTe heterostructure photodiode grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on GaAs substrate. In order to extract defects from individual layers of the heterostructure, three consecutive etchings were performed. In the first experiment, the N+/T/p/T/P+/n+ structure was chemically etched to the N+ bottom contact to obtain a mesa-type detector. Six localized defects were extracted across the entire photodiode. In the second experiment, the bottom contact was made to the p-type absorber. Two localized defects were found in the p/T/P+/n+ structure. In the third experiment, the top layers were removed and N+/T/p type detector was made—the cap contact was made to the p-type absorber, the bottom to the N+ layer. Five defect levels were identified, three of which overlap with the first experiment. A deep-trap level located at 183 meV above the top of the valence band was identified within the absorber bandgap. This energy coincides with the activation energy determined from the Arrhenius plot for the dark currents. A defect at the level of ∼0.5Eg suggests that the dark current at low reverse bias voltage is dominated by the Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) mechanism.
Proof and proving in school and university mathematics education research: a systematic review
Authors: Stylianides Gabriel J. , Stylianides Andreas J. , Moutsios-Rentzos Andreas
Published: August 2023

This systematic review aims to provide a complementary to existing synopses of the state-of-the-art of mathematics education research onproofandprovingin both school and university mathematics. As an organizing framework, we used Cohen et al.’s triadic conceptualization of instruction, which draws attention not only to the main actors of the didactical process (i.e., theTeacherandStudents) and theContentaround which the actors’ work is organized (herein, content related to proof and proving), but also to the relationships among the actors and the content. Out of the 103 papers we reviewed, almost half fell in the Student-Content category, which is consistent with the existence of a substantial number of frameworks, methods, and research findings related to students’ engagement with proof and proving. About a quarter of the papers fell in the Student–Teacher-Content category, which reflects an emphasis on viewing instructional practice in proof and proving in a holistic, systemic way. Only few papers fell in the categories that did not include Content in them, namely, the categories of Student, Teacher, and Student–Teacher; this suggests mathematics education research on proof and proving has a strong disciplinary identity, which potentially differentiates it from other mathematics education research strands. About a fifth of the papers were oriented towards ‘breaking ground’ through making an explicit theoretical and/or methodological contribution (Student–Teacher-Content and Content were the main categories where such contributions appeared), whilst the majority of the papers were focused on ‘building ground’ through elaborating or employing existing methodological and/or theoretical approaches.
Armut, Klassismus und Organisationen
Authors: Prigge Jessica , Simon Stephanie , Kerle Anja
Published: August 2023

Armut als gesamtgesellschaftliches Problem und in Verbindung mit ökologischen Fragen stellt Organisationen der Sozialen Arbeit und der Kindheitspädagogik zugleich vor alte und neue Herausforderungen. Diesen Schwerpunkt einleitend werden Perspektiven auf Armut und Organisationen angerissen, die einen solidarischen, auf Emanzipation zielenden Umgang zu ermöglichen suchen. Über den bisherigen Tellerrand blicken sie hinaus, indem mit Bezug auf Beiträge des Schwerpunktes ökologische Fragen in den Blick genommen werden sowie Fragen nach der Rolle der (organisierten) Sozialen Arbeit in Selbstorganisationszusammenhängen potenziell armutserfahrener Menschen.
Local Agents of International Justice? On the Role of Subnational Units in Refugee Protection
Authors: Tanasoca Ana
Published: August 2023

Refugee protection depends, minimally, on the identification of agents capable of discharging international obligations in this area of international law. Commonly discussed “agents of justice” include states, IOs, and NGOs. This article focuses on a different set of actors: subnational units (cities, states, and provinces in federal States) and the legal mechanisms they may use to discharge international obligations in the area of refugee protection. I advance three distinct theoretical models for understanding subnational units’ responsibilities vis-à-vis international law: (1) derived delegated responsibilities; (2) derived back-up responsibilities; and (3) assumed responsibilities. I conclude by sketching some ways in which subnational units could play an even more salient role in the promotion of international law.
Units of Selection
Authors: Suárez Javier , Lloyd Elisabeth A.
Published: August 2023

This Element introduces the Disambiguating Project (DP) about the units of selection. By DP, the authors mean the thesis that the expression 'units of selection' refers to at least three non-co-extensional functional concepts: interactor, replicator/reproducer/reconstitutor, and manifestor of adaptation/type-1 agent. They present each concept and demonstrate the necessity of their isolation, because each of them responds to a distinct question about the units of selection, and these distinct questions are not always posed in combination in today's biological research. They further apply the framework to the analysis of the debates concerning the Evolutionary Transitions in Individuality (ETI) and argue that the DP interprets the ETI better than any project rejecting the three meanings of 'units of selection.' Thus, they claim that the differentiation between at least these three functional concepts is fundamental to clarify some conceptual confusions in biology, which rest on the conflation of these distinct meanings.
Asymmetric secondary flows above geometrically symmetric surface roughness
Authors: Zhang Wen , Yang Xiang I.A. , Zhu Xiaowei , Wan Minping , Chen Shiyi
Published: August 2023

The mean flow behaviour of a turbulent boundary layer over rough walls is expected to exhibit symmetries that govern the flow dynamics. In particular, when roughness elements are arranged in a spanwise symmetric manner, the mean flow above them should also exhibit spanwise symmetry. This symmetrical consideration has garnered substantial empirical support. We conduct direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flow over aligned cube arrays to test such symmetry considerations further. We vary the surface coverage density from 0.25 % to 6.25 %, and employ an averaging time of about 100 large-eddy turnover times, which is longer than the typical averaging time in prior DNS studies of rough-wall boundary layers. The results suggest the presence of spanwise asymmetry in the mean flow. Specifically, we observe the development of a prominent secondary vortex on one side of the cubical roughness, accompanied by a relatively smaller secondary vortex on the other side. This asymmetry becomes most pronounced when the surface coverage density is approximately 0.59 %, and diminishes as the coverage density approaches either a low or a high value. We also establish that this mean flow asymmetry is robust across variations in the domain size, the initial condition, and the placement of the cubes in the spanwise direction.
Linear global stability of a flow past a sphere under a streamwise magnetic field
Authors: Zheng Xiao-Lin , Pan Jun-Hua , Ni Ming-Jiu
Published: August 2023

The global linear stability analysis for the magnetohydrodynamic liquid metal flow past an insulated sphere subjected to a constant streamwise magnetic field is investigated in the range of the Reynolds number

$Re\leq 400$

and the interaction number

$N\leq 40$

coupled with direct numerical simulations, where

$N$

stands for strength of the electromagnetic force. The stability of the steady axisymmetric base flow to independent time-azimuthal modes is discussed. Five critical curves associated with various wake transitions are obtained in the

$\{Re, N\}$

phase diagram. These critical curves reveal the stabilising effect of a weak magnetic field, the destabilising effect of a strong magnetic field and re-stabilising effect of a much stronger magnetic field. To explore the impact of the magnetic field on flow instability, a sensitivity analysis utilizing an adjoint method is performed for the first regular bifurcation. Sensitivity functions of growth rate to base-flow modifications and Lorentz force are defined to identify the region that has the most significant influence on flow instability, such as the recirculation region responsible for the stabilising effect at a weak magnetic field and the shear layer region responsible for the destabilising effect at a strong magnetic field. Furthermore, a competition between the stabilising and shear destabilising effects of the magnetic field is discussed. This analysis provides valuable insights into the non-monotonic effect of the magnetic field on flow instability.
Secondary flows induced by two-dimensional surface temperature heterogeneity in stably stratified channel flow
Authors: Bon T. , Broos D. , Cal R.B. , Meyers J.
Published: August 2023

The structure and impact of thermally induced secondary motions in stably stratified channel flows with two-dimensional surface temperature inhomogeneities is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS). Starting from a configuration with only spanwise varying surface temperature, where the streamwise direction is homogeneous (Bon & Meyers,J. Fluid Mech., 2022, pp. 1–38), we study cases where the periodic temperature strip length$l_x/h$(with$h$the half-channel height) assumes finite values. The patch width ($l_y/h =\{{\rm \pi} /4, {\rm \pi}/8$}) and length are varied at fixed stability and two different Reynolds numbers. Results indicate that for the investigated patch widths, the streamwise development of the secondary flows depends on the patch aspect ratio ($a=l_x/l_y$), while they reach a fully developed state after approximately$25l_y$. The strength of the secondary motions, and their impact on momentum and heat transfer through the dispersive fluxes, is strongly reduced as the length of the temperature strips decreases, and becomes negligible when$a\lesssim 1$. We demonstrate that upward dispersive and turbulent heat transport in locally unstably stratified regions above the high-temperature patches lead to reduced overall downward heat transfer. Comparison to local Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) reveals that scaled velocity and temperature gradients in homogeneous stably stratified channel flow at$Re_\tau =550$agree reasonably well with empirical correlations obtained from meteorological data. For thermally heterogeneous cases with strips of finite length, the similarity functions only collapse higher above the surface, where dispersive fluxes are negligible. Lastly, we show that mean profiles of all simulations collapse when using outer-layer scaling based on displacement thickness.
Expropriation Risk and Investment: A Natural Experiment
Authors: Bhambhwani Siddharth M. , Dong Hui , Huang Allen H.
Published: August 2023

This article uses the enactment of China’s 2007 Property Law (the Law), which reduces the risk of expropriation by local governments, as the setting to investigate the importance of property rights protection for private firm investment. Using propensity score matching and a difference-in-differences design, we find that firms facing weaker property rights protection prior to the Law significantly increase their investment and investment efficiency after the Law. Cross-sectional analyses document evidence consistent with a decrease in firms’ perceived expropriation risk as the main mechanism underlying the Law’s effect. Finally, we show that the Law improves local economic outcomes and employment.
Listening evaluation of cochlear implant users: comparison of subjective and objective evaluation by visual analogue scale
Authors: Yano T , Tomioka R , Shirai K , Nishiyama N , Tsukahara K
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study aimed to use short-form visual analogue scale cochlear implantation questionnaires to evaluate subjective aspects at each out-patient visit. The correlation between subjective hearing tests using the short-form visual analogue scale and objective hearing outcomes was evaluated.

Method

This study was conducted in a single centre. Cochlear implant users (n = 199) evaluated their hearing on a scale of 0 to 100 for the right, left and both ears. The Japanese speech perception test (CI-2004) Japanese monosyllable speech perception test (67-S) and cochlear implantation threshold were used for the objective cochlear implantation evaluation.

Results

A significant correlation was found between the short-form visual analogue scale questionnaire and objective hearing outcome, for words (r = 0.64) and sentences (r = 0.62) in CI-2004 and 67-S (r = 0.56) tests. No significant correlation was found between the short-form visual analogue scale score and cochlear implantation threshold (r = −0.18).

Conclusion

Short-form visual analogue scale cochlear implantation questionnaires mean cochlear implant users spend less time answering subjective visual analogue scale questionnaires, and clinicians estimate a patient's cochlear implantation hearing and abnormality by chronological evaluation.
Noise-induced hearing loss in the pre-industrial era: early contributions in De Morbis Artificum by Bernardino Ramazzini (1633–1714)
Authors: Paladino M E , Belingheri M , Mazzagatti R , Riva M A
Published: August 2023

Objective

Noise-induced hearing loss is the most prevalent occupational disease worldwide and is historically associated with the Industrial Revolution. This study analyses early descriptions of this disorder during the pre-industrial period in the work of the Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini (1633–1714).

Method

Primary and secondary historical literature were reviewed.

Results

Ramazzini described hearing loss in corn millers and in coppersmiths and recognised that this disorder is irreversible and progressive when exposure to noise continues. He also seemed to describe tinnitus. He further suggested the use of earplugs as a preventive measure for these classes of workers. Ramazzini's anatomical and pathological knowledge appears to be based on ancient authors; he did not discuss contemporaneous medical authors’ work on hearing function.

Conclusion

Despite some limitations, Ramazzini's work appears pioneering for his time and represents an important milestone in the history of otolaryngology.
Evaluation of Eustachian tube dimensions by temporal bone computed tomography in patients with chronic otitis media
Authors: Taylan Cebi Isil , Bayram Ozlem , Gocgun Nurdan , Yilmaz Behice Kaniye , Karatas Abdullah
Published: August 2023

Objective

To clarify the relationship between Eustachian tube dimensions and chronic otitis media aetiology using temporal bone computed tomography.

Methods

The data of 231 adults who had undergone surgery for unilateral chronic otitis media were reviewed retrospectively. Diseased and healthy ears were enrolled in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Group 1A included chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma (n = 28) and group 1B included chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma (n = 203). The Eustachian tube dimensions of groups 1 and 2 were compared, to clarify the relationship between the Eustachian tube dimensions and chronic otitis media aetiology. Groups 1A and 1B were compared to assess the effect of Eustachian tube dimensions on cholesteatoma development.

Results

The Eustachian tube was shorter, narrower and located more horizontally in ears with chronic otitis media. No significant difference was found between groups 1A and 1B.

Conclusion

Eustachian tube dimensions are closely related to chronic otitis media aetiopathology, but are not related to cholesteatoma development.
Development of compact tokamak fusion reactor use cases to inform future transport studies
Authors: Holland C. , Bass E.M. , Orlov D.M. , McClenaghan J. , Lyons B.C. , Grierson B.A. , Jian X. , Howard N.T. , Rodriguez-Fernandez P.
Published: August 2023

The OMFIT STEP (Meneghini et al., Nucl. Fusion, vol. 10, 2020, p. 1088) workflow has been used to develop inductive and steady-state H-mode core plasma scenario use cases for a

$B_0 = 8 \, {\rm T}$

,

$R_0 = 4 \, {\rm m}$

machine to help guide and inform future higher-fidelity studies of core transport and confinement in compact tokamak reactors. Both use cases are designed to produce 200 MW or more of net electric power in an up-down symmetric plasma with minor radius

$a = 1.4 \, {\rm m}$

, elongation

$\kappa = 2.0$

, triangularity

$\delta = 0.5$

and effective charge

$Z_{{\rm eff}} \simeq 2$

. Additional considerations based on the need for compatibility of the core with reactor-relevant power exhaust solutions and external actuators were used to guide and constrain the use case development. An extensive characterization of core transport in both scenarios is presented, the most important feature of which is the extreme sensitivity of the results to the quantitative stiffness level of the transport model used as well as the predicted critical gradients. This sensitivity is shown to arise from different levels of transport stiffness exhibited by the models, combined with the gyroBohm-normalized fluxes of the predictions being an order of magnitude larger than other H-mode plasmas. Additionally, it is shown that although heating in both plasmas is predominantly to the electrons and collisionality is low, the plasmas remain sufficiently well coupled for the ions to carry a significant fraction of the thermal transport. As neoclassical transport is negligible in these conditions, this situation inherently requires long-wavelength ion gyroradius-scale turbulence to be the dominant transport mechanism in both plasmas. These results are combined with other basic considerations to propose a simple heuristic model of transport in reactor-relevant plasmas, along with simple metrics to quantify coupling and core transport properties across burning and non-burning plasmas.
The real cause of our complicity: The preoccupation with human weakness
Authors: Hertwig Ralph
Published: August 2023

Chater & Loewenstein offer an incisive criticism of how behavioral sciences and public policy have become complicit with corporations in blaming public health and societal problems on individual weaknesses, thus deflecting support away from systemic reforms. However, their analysis stops short of holding the field to account in one important respect: its preoccupation with human irrationality and weakness.
When nudges have societal-level impact
Authors: Johnson Eric J. , Mrkva Kellen
Published: August 2023

Individual-level research in behavioral science can have massive impact and create system-level changes, as several recent mandates and other policy actions have shown. Although not every nudge creates long-term behavior change, defaults and other forms of choice architecture can not only change individual behavior but also reduce inequities and lead to changes in public policy and norms.
Use behavioral research to improve the feasibility and effectiveness of system-level policy
Authors: Cherry Todd L. , Kallbekken Steffen
Published: August 2023

Individual-level interventions are inadequate to address complex societal problems. Meaningful solutions require system-level policies that alter the incentives that govern behavior. We argue that individual-level interventions can help improve both the feasibility and effectiveness of system-level interventions, especially when designed as an integrated policy package.
COVID-19 cluster identification and support vector machine classifier model construction using global healthcare and socio-economic features
Authors: Guha Soumya Kanti , Sadhukhan Sandip , Niyogi Sougata
Published: August 2023

Coronaviruses of the human variety have been the culprit of global epidemics of varying levels of lethality, including COVID-19, which has impacted more than 200 countries and resulted in 5.7 million fatalities as of May 2022. Effective clinical management necessitates the allocation of sufficient resources and the employment of appropriately skilled personnel. The elderly population and individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of more severe manifestations of COVID-19. Countries with a higher gross domestic product (GDP) typically exhibit superior health outcomes and reduced mortality rates. Here, we suggest a predictive model for the density of medical doctors and nursing personnel for 134 countries using a support vector machine (SVM). The model was trained in 107 countries and tested in 27, with promising results shown by the kappa statistics and ROC analysis. The SVM model used for predictions showed promising results with a high level of agreement between actual and predicted cluster values.
A study towards contextual understanding of toxicity in online conversations
Authors: Madhyastha Pranava , Founta Antigoni , Specia Lucia
Published: August 2023

Identifying and annotating toxic online content on social media platforms is an extremely challenging problem. Work that studies toxicity in online content has predominantly focused on comments as independent entities. However, comments on social media are inherently conversational, and therefore, understanding and judging the comments fundamentally requires access to the context in which they are made. We introduce a study and resulting annotated dataset where we devise a number of controlled experiments on the importance of context and other observable confounders – namely gender, age and political orientation – towards the perception of toxicity in online content. Our analysis clearly shows the significance of context and the effect of observable confounders on annotations. Namely, we observe that the ratio of toxic to non-toxic judgements can be very different for each control group, and a higher proportion of samples are judged toxic in the presence of contextual information.
Forest Resilience in the Himalayas Inferred From Tree Growth After Earthquake Disturbances
Authors: Pandey Jayram , Camarero J. Julio , Lu Xiaoming , Sigdel Shalik Ram , Gao Shan , Liang Eryuan
Published: August 2023

The Himalayas are one of the most seismically active regions in the world; thus, experiencing frequent catastrophic earthquakes. A growing body of evidence has shown that large earthquakes severely impact on forest ecosystems, particularly in mountain regions. However, little is known about the impact of severe earthquakes on Himalayan forests. Herein, we analyzed tree radial growth patterns following major earthquakes that occurred in 1833, 1905, 1916, 1934, and 1936 in the Himalayas. Based on 46 tree‐ring sites, 77%, 64%, 73%, 72%, and 77% of total analyzed trees showed responses to these seismic events, respectively. On average, 72% of responsive trees undergo growth suppressions following the earthquake events. Superposed epoch analysis showed a strong growth decline 1–5 years after the earthquake. A negative relationship was found between the percentage of responsive trees and the distance of the tree‐ring site from the earthquake's epicenter. The mean time required for 75% of trees to recover reached 5, 5, 5, 13, and 28 years following the earthquake of 1833, 1905, 1916, 1934, and 1936, respectively. The recovery time after a low growth period showed a negative relationship with the distance to earthquake's epicenter. However, the growth resistance improved with increasing distance from the epicenter. Thus, forests located close to earthquakes' epicenters can serve as reliable archive for the reconstruction of earthquakes' impacts. As the Himalayas are prone to earthquakes, adaptive management strategies are required to minimize the impacts of earthquakes on the mountain forest ecosystem.
Structural Analysis of Nano Core PCF With Fused Cladding for Supercontinuum Generation in 6G Networks
Authors: Anbazhagan Rajesh , Chandru S. , Chinthaginjala Ravikumar , Bagadi Kalapraveen , Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Virdee Bal S. , Ali Syed Mansoor , Dayoub Iyad , Livreri Patrizia , Aïssa Sonia
Published: August 2023

The Sixth Generation (6G) networks have identified the use of frequency range between 95 GHz and 3 THz with a targeted data rate of 1 Terabytes/second at the access network for holographic video applications. As is demands broadening of spectrum at the core network, this paper proposes a Supercontinuum Generation (SCG) through photonic crystal fiber (PCF) as it provides excellent broadening of the optical spectrum. Discussed in the paper is supercontinuum generation at high pumping power as per the standards specified by the International Telecommunications Union. The proposed PCF is designed with silicon nanocrystal core and the cladding microstructures is arranged in a fusion approach to effectively optimize the optical parameters such as dispersion, nonlinearity, birefringence, group‐velocity dispersion, and confinement loss. The fused cladding comprises of a flower‐cladding assembly in which air‐holes arrangement is inspired from petals in a pleated structure. Such arrangement is shown here to provide high nonlinearity and negative dispersion for high power supercontinuum generation. The novel nanocore assembly with improved structural constraints delivers a non‐linearity of 6.37 × 106 W−1 km−1 and a negative dispersion of −142.1 (ps/nm‐km) at 1,550 nm. Moreover, a supercontinuum spectrum is generated using different pulse widths ranging from 350 to 650 ps with 25 kW pump power for PCF lengths of 10 and 15 mm.
Widespread retreat of coastal habitat is likely at warming levels above 1.5 °C
Authors: Saintilan Neil , Horton Benjamin , Törnqvist Torbjörn E. , Ashe Erica L. , Khan Nicole S. , Schuerch Mark , Perry Chris , Kopp Robert E. , Garner Gregory G. , Murray Nicholas , Rogers Kerrylee , Albert Simon , Kelleway Jeffrey , Shaw Timothy A. , Woodroffe Colin D. , Lovelock Catherine E. , Goddard Madeline M. , Hutley Lindsay B. , Kovalenko Katya , Feher Laura , Guntenspergen Glenn
Published: August 2023

Several coastal ecosystems—most notably mangroves and tidal marshes—exhibit biogenic feedbacks that are facilitating adjustment to relative sea-level rise (RSLR), including the sequestration of carbon and the trapping of mineral sediment1. The stability of reef-top habitats under RSLR is similarly linked to reef-derived sediment accumulation and the vertical accretion of protective coral reefs2. The persistence of these ecosystems under high rates of RSLR is contested3. Here we show that the probability of vertical adjustment to RSLR inferred from palaeo-stratigraphic observations aligns with contemporary in situ survey measurements. A deficit between tidal marsh and mangrove adjustment and RSLR is likely at 4 mm yr−1 and highly likely at 7 mm yr−1 of RSLR. As rates of RSLR exceed 7 mm yr−1, the probability that reef islands destabilize through increased shoreline erosion and wave over-topping increases. Increased global warming from 1.5 °C to 2.0 °C would double the area of mapped tidal marsh exposed to 4 mm yr−1 of RSLR by between 2080 and 2100. With 3 °C of warming, nearly all the world’s mangrove forests and coral reef islands and almost 40% of mapped tidal marshes are estimated to be exposed to RSLR of at least 7 mm yr−1. Meeting the Paris agreement targets would minimize disruption to coastal ecosystems.
LTP induction by structural rather than enzymatic functions of CaMKII
Authors: Tullis Jonathan E. , Larsen Matthew E. , Rumian Nicole L. , Freund Ronald K. , Boxer Emma E. , Brown Carolyn Nicole , Coultrap Steven J. , Schulman Howard , Aoto Jason , Dell’Acqua Mark L. , Bayer K. Ulrich
Published: August 2023

Learning and memory are thought to require hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), and one of the few central dogmas of molecular neuroscience that has stood undisputed for more than three decades is that LTP induction requires enzymatic activity of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)1–3. However, as we delineate here, the experimental evidence is surprisingly far from conclusive. All previous interventions inhibiting enzymatic CaMKII activity and LTP4–8 also interfere with structural CaMKII roles, in particular binding to the NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunit GluN2B9–14. Thus, we here characterized and utilized complementary sets of new opto-/pharmaco-genetic tools to distinguish between enzymatic and structural CaMKII functions. Several independent lines of evidence demonstrated LTP induction by a structural function of CaMKII rather than by its enzymatic activity. The sole contribution of kinase activity was autoregulation of this structural role via T286 autophosphorylation, which explains why this distinction has been elusive for decades. Directly initiating the structural function in a manner that circumvented this T286 role was sufficient to elicit robust LTP, even when enzymatic CaMKII activity was blocked.
Gut microbial carbohydrate metabolism contributes to insulin resistance
Authors: Takeuchi Tadashi , Kubota Tetsuya , Nakanishi Yumiko , Tsugawa Hiroshi , Suda Wataru , Kwon Andrew Tae-Jun , Yazaki Junshi , Ikeda Kazutaka , Nemoto Shino , Mochizuki Yoshiki , Kitami Toshimori , Yugi Katsuyuki , Mizuno Yoshiko , Yamamichi Nobutake , Yamazaki Tsutomu , Takamoto Iseki , Kubota Naoto , Kadowaki Takashi , Arner Erik , Carninci Piero , Ohara Osamu , Arita Makoto , Hattori Masahira , Koyasu Shigeo , Ohno Hiroshi
Published: August 2023

Insulin resistance is the primary pathophysiology underlying metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes1,2. Previous metagenomic studies have described the characteristics of gut microbiota and their roles in metabolizing major nutrients in insulin resistance3–9. In particular, carbohydrate metabolism of commensals has been proposed to contribute up to 10% of the host’s overall energy extraction10, thereby playing a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and prediabetes3,4,6. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we investigate this relationship using a comprehensive multi-omics strategy in humans. We combine unbiased faecal metabolomics with metagenomics, host metabolomics and transcriptomics data to profile the involvement of the microbiome in insulin resistance. These data reveal that faecal carbohydrates, particularly host-accessible monosaccharides, are increased in individuals with insulin resistance and are associated with microbial carbohydrate metabolisms and host inflammatory cytokines. We identify gut bacteria associated with insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity that show a distinct pattern of carbohydrate metabolism, and demonstrate that insulin-sensitivity-associated bacteria ameliorate host phenotypes of insulin resistance in a mouse model. Our study, which provides a comprehensive view of the host–microorganism relationships in insulin resistance, reveals the impact of carbohydrate metabolism by microbiota, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for ameliorating insulin resistance.
Epitope editing enables targeted immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Casirati Gabriele , Cosentino Andrea , Mucci Adele , Salah Mahmoud Mohammed , Ugarte Zabala Iratxe , Zeng Jing , Ficarro Scott B. , Klatt Denise , Brendel Christian , Rambaldi Alessandro , Ritz Jerome , Marto Jarrod A. , Pellin Danilo , Bauer Daniel E. , Armstrong Scott A. , Genovese Pietro
Published: August 2023

Despite the considerable efficacy observed when targeting a dispensable lineage antigen, such as CD19 in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia1,2, the broader applicability of adoptive immunotherapies is hampered by the absence of tumour-restricted antigens3–5. Acute myeloid leukaemia immunotherapies target genes expressed by haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) or differentiated myeloid cells, resulting in intolerable on-target/off-tumour toxicity. Here we show that epitope engineering of donor HSPCs used for bone marrow transplantation endows haematopoietic lineages with selective resistance to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells or monoclonal antibodies, without affecting protein function or regulation. This strategy enables the targeting of genes that are essential for leukaemia survival regardless of shared expression on HSPCs, reducing the risk of tumour immune escape. By performing epitope mapping and library screenings, we identified amino acid changes that abrogate the binding of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting FLT3, CD123 and KIT, and optimized a base-editing approach to introduce them into CD34+ HSPCs, which retain long-term engraftment and multilineage differentiation ability. After CAR T cell treatment, we confirmed resistance of epitope-edited haematopoiesis and concomitant eradication of patient-derived acute myeloid leukaemia xenografts. Furthermore, we show that multiplex epitope engineering of HSPCs is feasible and enables more effective immunotherapies against multiple targets without incurring overlapping off-tumour toxicities. We envision that this approach will provide opportunities to treat relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia and enable safer non-genotoxic conditioning.
Association of driving while intoxicated and suicide ideation and attempts in South Korea: a study in a nationally representative sample
Authors: Kim Namwoo , Lee Jieun , Hahm Bong-Jin , Yang Bo Ram
Published: August 2023

Evidence indicating driving as a means for suicide has been consistently reported. However, there have been few reported studies examining the association between driving while intoxicated (DWI) and suicide. We aimed to investigate the associations between DWI and suicide ideation and suicide attempts taking into account the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption. This cross-sectional study used data from semi-structured, face-to-face interviews conducted with a nationally representative sample of the Korea Community Health Survey in 2009, 2013, and 2017. The study included 267,457 adult participants who drank alcohol at least once and had driven a motor vehicle at least once in the preceding year. The DWI group comprised participants who had driven under the influence of alcohol at least once in the preceding year. The associations between DWI and suicide ideation and suicide attempts were examined using a logistic regression model, adjusting for the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption and history of depressive episodes in the preceding year. The role of DWI as a risk factor for suicide was also examined in an analysis stratified by the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption. The DWI group included 39,062 (14.6%) subjects, who were at higher risk for suicide ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.91; 95% CI 1.81–2.01) and suicide attempts (aOR = 1.56; 1.27–1.92) than those not involved in DWI. Increased risks of suicide ideation and suicide attempts were observed in most strata in the stratified analysis. People who engage in DWI may have an increased risk of suicide ideation and suicide attempts; this relationship was generally observed regardless of the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption.
Downregulated APOD and FCGR2A correlates with immune infiltration and lipid-induced symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Ran Yamei , Wu Kangqi , Hu Chenglin , Liang Renzheng , Zhang Li , Xiao Juan , Peng Yongmei , Sun Wenjing
Published: August 2023

Fat intake is among the most significant triggers for symptom development in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nevertheless, long-term restriction in fatty foods ingestion may lead to nutritional inadequacies. This study aimed to identify the crucial genes involved in lipid-induced gastrointestinal symptoms, contributing to helping IBS patients regulate fat. The clinical characteristics of the subjects were collected by questionnaire investigation and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) and signaling pathways were analyzed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. ImmuInfiltration and CIBERSORT packages evaluated small intestine immune cell infiltration. Random forest and SVM-RFE algorithms were used to select hub genes. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to access the diagnostic significance of each hub gene. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify hub genes’ molecular processes in IBS development after lipid infusion. IBS patients’ risk, severity, and quality of life increased with fat intake. In total, 116 robust DEGs were identified in IBS patients after lipid infusion using the GSE166869 dataset and were mainly clustered in the immune and inflammatory pathways. IBS patients had greater Neutrophils, CD4+ T cells, and M1 Macrophages than healthy controls. Furthermore, infiltration levels of Neutrophils and resting memory CD4+ T cells were inversely related to the expression of hub genes (IGKV1D-43, IGKV1-12, APOD, FCGR2A and IGKV2-29). After lipid infusion, GSEA results of each hub gene indicated the relevance of proinflammatory pathways in IBS pathogenesis. After verification, only APOD and FCGR2A were stably downregulated in small intestinal mucosa and plasma of IBS patients. The area under the curve of APOD combined with FCGR2A expression was 0.9. APOD and FCGR2A may be promising biomarkers for IBS diagnosis and lipid-sensitive IBS patients. Their potential roles in the immune microenvironment of the small intestinal mucosa may provide a vital clue to IBS precision therapy.
Modifications in ocular microperfusion after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Wolpers Anne Caroline , Welchowski Thomas , Sedaghat Alexander , Wintergerst Maximilian W. M. , Al-Kassou Baravan , Finger Robert P. , Terheyden Jan Henrik
Published: August 2023

Cerebral embolization is a known complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) but the effect of the procedure on the ocular perfusion is currently unclear. Thus, we investigated post-procedural morphologic and perfusion changes of the retina and choroid, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and color fundus photography (CFP) in a prospective cohort study. Ophthalmic examinations were conducted pre- and post-TAVI. OCTA images were analyzed quantitatively based on vessel density and skeleton density of the superficial and deep retinal plexus as well as the signal intensity and flow deficits in the choriocapillaris. CFP images were assessed for presence of acute retinal ischemia, optic nerve swelling, vessel emboli, hemorrhages and cotton wool spots. Data was analyzed using linear mixed models. Twenty patients (9 women; 11 men) at a mean age of 81 ± 6 years were included. Pre- and post-interventional ocular imaging data were available for 32 eyes. The analysis revealed a significant impairment of the choriocapillaris perfusion after TAVI with an increased proportion of flow deficits (p = 0.044). When controlling for blood pressure, the average size of choriocapillaris flow voids was significantly increased (systolic and diastolic, p = 0.039 and 0.029). Qualitatively, focal areas of retinal ischemia were detected on OCTA in 33% of participants. Silent emboli or cotton wool spots were identified on CFP in 21%. Our findings indicate a reduced choroidal perfusion as well as areas of retinal ischemia and embolization in a considerable proportion of patients following TAVI. Pending confirmation in a larger sample, these complications merit monitoring as well as inclusion in consent procedures for TAVI.