bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compositional Value Iteration with Pareto Caching
Authors: Watanabe Kazuki , Vegt Marck van der , Junges Sebastian , Hasuo Ichiro
Published: July 2024

The de-facto standard approach in MDP verification is based on value iteration (VI). We proposecompositional VI, a framework for model checking compositional MDPs, that addresses efficiency while maintaining soundness. Concretely, compositional MDPs naturally arise from the combination of individual components, and their structure can be expressed using, e.g., string diagrams. Towards efficiency, we observe that compositional VI repeatedly verifies individual components. We propose a technique calledPareto cachingthat allows to reuse verification results, even for previously unseen queries. Towards soundness, we present two stopping criteria: one generalizes the optimistic value iteration paradigm and the other uses Pareto caches in conjunction with recent baseline algorithms. Our experimental evaluations shows the promise of the novel algorithm and its variations, and identifies challenges for future work.
Regional analysis of technological alternatives for boron reduction in desalinated seawater for irrigation in south-eastern Spain
Authors: Maestre-Valero José Francisco , Imbernón-Mulero Alberto , Martínez-Alvarez Victoriano , Ben Abdallah Saker , Gallego-Elvira Belén
Published: July 2024

Desalinated seawater (DSW) is currently considered a reliable alternative supply of agricultural water in south-eastern Spain able to alleviate the looming water crisis as it buffers natural hydro-climatic volatility. However, irrigation with DSW may pose an agronomic risk because reverse osmosis permeates usually have high boron concentrations, representing a real toxicity damage risk for sensitive crops. Boron reductions to at least 0.5 mg/L, either on-farm or at the coastal seawater desalination plant, should be performed before irrigating with DSW, especially in areas with sensitive crops. The regional economic impact of reducing boron in diverse irrigation districts covered with different crops has never been evaluated. In this article, that impact is analyzed considering three scenarios replacing traditional irrigation water resources with DSW, and two boron reduction technologies: reverse osmosis membranes (RO) and ion exchange resins (IX).

The results reflected that: (i) boron reduction by IX is notably cheaper than by RO; (ii) at seawater desalination plant scale, the boron reduction cost remains constant regardless of the crop type, whereas at on-farm scale the higher the surface area covered by vegetables the lower the boron reduction cost; and (iii) the volume of by-product generated in resin regeneration is 40 times lower than that in the RO process, so consequently its handling and management would be far easier and less costly. Additionally, the study corroborates that the combined use of DSW with traditional resources is the most economically efficient option from the different perspectives of the study, compared to irrigating with DSW alone.
Extramedullary and extranodal manifestations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia – an update
Authors: Robak Tadeusz , Puła Anna , Braun Marcin , Robak Ewa
Published: July 2024

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is a common leukemia characterized by clonal expansion of mature CD5+/CD23 + B cells in the blood, bone marrow (BM) and lymphoid tissues. CLL can undergo extramedullary and extranodal infiltration, with one study noting an incidence of only 0.3 per 100,000 people, and in 17.6% of CLL patients in another report. The most common extranodal sites of leukemic involvement are the skin and central nervous system; however, other organs, including liver, lungs, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, bone, prostate and heart, are occasionally involved. The prognostic significance of extra-medullary CLL is still under debate, but the prognosis in such patients seems to be better in the era of novel targeted drugs. Following a diagnosis of extranodal CLL, survival appears to depend on the site of infiltration. This review presents an overview of CLL in patients with extramedullary and extranodal leukemic lesions, focusing on its epidemiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, clinical characteristics and treatment results.
Deep fine-KNN classification of ovarian cancer subtypes using efficientNet-B0 extracted features: a comprehensive analysis
Authors: Behera Santi Kumari , Das Ashis , Sethy Prabira Kumar
Published: July 2024

This study presents a robust approach for the classification of ovarian cancer subtypes through the integration of deep learning and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) methods. The proposed model leverages the powerful feature extraction capabilities of EfficientNet-B0, utilizing its deep features for subsequent fine-grained classification using the fine-KNN approach. The UBC-OCEAN dataset, encompassing histopathological images of five distinct ovarian cancer subtypes, namely, high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), clear-cell ovarian carcinoma (CC), endometrioid carcinoma (EC), low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC), and mucinous carcinoma (MC), served as the foundation for our investigation. With a dataset comprising 725 images, divided into 80% for training and 20% for testing, our model exhibits exceptional performance. Both the validation and testing phases achieved 100% accuracy, underscoring the efficacy of the proposed methodology. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC), a key metric for evaluating the model’s discriminative ability, demonstrated high performance across various subtypes, with AUC values of 0.94, 0.78, 0.69, 0.92, and 0.94 for MC. Furthermore, the positive likelihood ratios (LR+) were indicative of the model’s diagnostic utility, with notable values for each subtype: CC (27.294), EC (9.441), HGSC (12.588), LGSC (17.942), and MC (17.942). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in distinguishing between ovarian cancer subtypes, positioning it as a promising tool for diagnostic applications. The demonstrated accuracy, AUC values, and LR+ values underscore the potential of the model as a valuable diagnostic tool, contributing to the advancement of precision medicine in the field of ovarian cancer research.
The role of psychological safety in promoting software quality in agile teams
Authors: Alami Adam , Zahedi Mansooreh , Krancher Oliver
Published: July 2024

Psychological safety continues to pique the interest of scholars in a variety of disciplines of study. Recent research indicates that psychological safety fosters knowledge sharing and norm clarity and complements agile values. Although software quality remains a concern in the software industry, academics have yet to investigate whether and how psychologically safe teams provide superior results. In this study, we explore how psychological safety influences agile teams’ quality-related behaviors aimed at enhancing software quality. To widen the empirical coverage and evaluate the results, we chose a two-phase mixed-methods research design with an exploratory qualitative phase (20 interviews) followed by a quantitative phase (survey study, N = 423). Our findings show that, when psychological safety is established in agile software teams, it induces enablers of a social nature that advance the teams’ ability to pursue software quality. For example, admitting mistakes and taking initiatives equally help teams learn and invest their learning in their future decisions related to software quality. Past mistakes become points of reference for avoiding them in the future. Individuals become more willing to take initiatives aimed at enhancing quality practices and mitigating software quality issues. We contribute to our endeavor to understand the circumstances that promote software quality. Psychological safety requires organizations, their management, agile teams, and individuals to maintain and propagate safety principles. Our results also suggest that technological tools and procedures can be utilized alongside social strategies to promote software quality.
The Independent Associations of Attachment Representations to Parents and Depressive Symptoms with Friendships and Romantic Relationships in Young Adults
Authors: Fadli Fatmawati , Moberly Nicholas J. , Psychogiou Lamprini
Published: July 2024

The formation of friendships and romantic relationships represents an important developmental task in young adulthood. However, little is known about the potential factors associated with the quality of these interpersonal relationships. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether attachment representations to parents and depressive symptoms were independently associated with the quality of friendships and romantic relationships. Using the Prolific platform, 196 young adults (M age = 22.01 years, SD = 1.62) participated in the study. Each participant reported their attachment representations to mother and father and depressive symptoms through the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment and Patient Health Questionnaire 8, respectively. Positive (companionship, intimate disclosure, emotional support, approval, and satisfaction) and negative (conflict, criticism, pressure, exclusion, and dominance) dimensions of relationship quality with a close friend and a romantic partner were assessed with the Network of Relationships Inventory-Relationship Quality Version. Results showed that secure attachment representations to mother (but not father) were significantly associated with increased emotional support, approval, and satisfaction in romantic relationships, even after controlling for gender and depressive symptoms. Increased depressive symptoms were significantly associated with more conflict, criticism, and pressure in friendships, above and beyond gender and attachment representations to parents. There was a significant interaction between gender and depressive symptoms in predicting friendship quality. Men with increased depressive symptoms reported more conflict and dominance. No significant effects were found for women. These findings underscore the importance of secure attachment representations to mother in predicting healthy romantic relationships and depressive symptoms in predicting problematic friendships, especially for men.
An assessment of existing wildfire danger indices in comparison to one-class machine learning models
Authors: Ismail Fathima Nuzla , Woodford Brendon J. , Licorish Sherlock A. , Miller Aubrey D.
Published: July 2024

Predicting wildfires using Machine Learning models is relevant and essential to minimize wildfire threats to protect human lives and reduce significant property damage. Reliance on traditional wildfire indices for forecasting wildfires has failed to provide the expected prediction outcomes, resulting in limited application of these models. Thus, this research compares the outcome of wildfire forecasting using fire danger rating indices against Machine Learning model outcomes. Furthermore, the performance effectiveness of the fire danger rating indices and Machine Learning model outcomes are assessed using the same wildfire incidents. The One-class Machine Learning algorithms used are Support Vector Machine, Isolation Forest, Neural network-based Autoencoder and Variational Autoencoder models. The two global wildfire indices investigated were the US National Fire Danger Rating System for California and the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index for Western Australia, using similar features. For the same data sets, the National Fire Danger Rating System and the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index prediction outcomes were compared with Machine Learning model outcomes. Higher wildfire prediction accuracy was achieved by the One-class models, exceeding the performance of the two wildfire danger indices by at least 20%. The implications of our research findings have the potential to influence both these wildfire indices and state-of-the-art methods in wildfire prediction by proposing alternative ML methods to model the onset of wildfires.
High efficiency laser ablation of gold thin film by 2.8 GHz intraburst repetition rate pulses
Authors: Hasar Emre , Aşmanoğlu Selin , Ilday Fatih Ömer , Elahi Parviz
Published: July 2024

This work initially presents our progress in developing a 14 W all-polarization-maintaining (PM) Yb-doped fiber laser system. This system can generate bursts with a 2.8 GHz intra-burst repetition rate and offers flexibility in burst repetition rates, starting from 100 kHz. The laser produces pulse energies up to 210 nJ, which can be dechirped to approximately 650 fs. Subsequently, we utilized the developed laser in thin film gold processing. We sent up to 6.4 W and employed three different intraburst pulse configurations on a 100 nm-thick gold film coated on glass. We achieved a record gold removal efficiency of 125 $$\upmu \text{g}/\text {W.s}$$

μ
g
/
W.s

using $$\sim$$
∼
5 nJ pulses. Moreover, we determined an ablation pulse energy threshold of approximately 1 nJ, representing the lowest pulse energy to the best of our knowledge.
Analyzing the effectiveness of quantum annealing with meta-learning
Authors: Pellini Riccardo , Ferrari Dacrema Maurizio
Published: July 2024

The field of Quantum Computing has gathered significant popularity in recent years and a large number of papers have studied its effectiveness in tackling many tasks. We focus in particular on Quantum Annealing (QA), a meta-heuristic solver for Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems. It is known that the effectiveness of QA is dependent on the task itself, as is the case for classical solvers, but there is not yet a clear understanding of which are the characteristics of a problem that make it difficult to solve with QA. In this work, we propose a new methodology to study the effectiveness of QA based on meta-learning models. To do so, we first build a dataset composed of more than five thousand instances of ten different optimization problems. We define a set of more than a hundred features to describe their characteristics and solve them with both QA and three classical solvers. We publish this dataset online for future research. Then, we train multiple meta-models to predict whether QA would solve that instance effectively and use them to probe which features with the strongest impact on the effectiveness of QA. Our results indicate that it is possible to accurately predict the effectiveness of QA, validating our methodology. Furthermore, we observe that the distribution of the problem coefficients representing the bias and coupling terms is very informative in identifying the probability of finding good solutions, while the density of these coefficients alone is not enough. The methodology we propose allows to open new research directions to further our understanding of the effectiveness of QA, by probing specific dimensions or by developing new QUBO formulations that are better suited for the particular nature of QA. Furthermore, the proposed methodology is flexible and can be extended or used to study other quantum or classical solvers.
Against digital constitutionalism
Authors: Terzis Petros
Published: July 2024

Digital Constitutionalism makes sense. We can all see the problem it tries to solve. And like many other ‘constitutionalisms’, Digital Constitutionalism is a project fuelled by the institutional hope of striking a power equilibrium between competing actors. In seeking this equilibrium, however, important assumptions are made and serious questions are oversimplified.

Firstly, Digital Constitutionalism ignores the production logics of digital technologies thereby mistaking ‘objects’ with ‘subjects’. Secondly, Digital Constitutionalism’s myopic lenses lead to narrations of ‘constitutional moments’ caused by digital powers and digital revolutions, separate from the histories of private corporations in the global stage. Finally, Digital Constitutionalism falsely implies the absence of law rather than its presence – or indeed irrelevance – as major causes of this ‘constitutional crisis’. On this account, it seeks to respond to the ‘digital revolution’ with a ‘legal revolution’.

Against this background, this Article invites legal scholars to look back to think differently, and to engage critically with the long evolution of legal regulation that has enabled the emergence of the corporate form and the consolidation of economic and political power on the global stage. This historicisation may ultimately lead us to turn inward and reflect on the role of legal experts and professionals in the political economy of technology. It may even inspire us to break free from restraining mental maps and thinking patterns and to unlock novel intellectual and methodological pathways in the field of Law and Technology.

And if it takes a Digital Constitutionalism to come to this, it will have been worth it.
Efficacy and safety of aspirin in venous thromboembolism prevention	after total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty or	fracture
Authors: Jiang Wei , Yan Yici , Huang Tongmin , Lin Zhenyi , Yang Xinyan , Luo Zhouqing , Ye Lin
Published: July 2024

Summary: Background: This study aims to analyse the efficacy and safety of aspirin in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or fracture. Patients and methods: Two independent investigators searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 2000 to June 2023 to retrieve randomized control trials (RCTs) about aspirin in VTE prevention after arthroplasty or fracture. Then, the relative risk (RR) was utilized to evaluate its efficiency and safety. Results: A total of 16 RCTs with 27,864 patients were included. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (RR: 1.31, p = 0.100), pulmonary embolism (RR:1.05, p = 0.850), VTE (RR:1.28, p = 0.290), major bleeding (RR:0.96, p = 0.900), and death (RR:1.01, p = 0.960) between the aspirin group and the anticoagulants group. Subgroup analysis showed that a relatively higher incidence of deep-vein thrombosis in patients undergoing TKA (RR:1.49, p = 0.030), fracture (RR:1.48, p = 0.001), patients receiving 81 mg aspirin twice daily (RR:1.48, p = 0.001) and patients from North America (RR:1.57, p<0.001) when comparing aspirin with anticoagulants. Meanwhile, the incidence of VTE was higher in patients receiving 100 mg aspirin once daily (RR:1.82, p<0.001) compared with anticoagulants. Additionally, the incidence of all bleeding (RR:2.00, p = 0.030) was higher in patients receiving aspirin in Asia compared with anticoagulants. Conclusions: In terms of clinical effectiveness and safety, aspirin (antiplatelet agent) was generally not inferior to anticoagulants in the prevention of VTE after THA, TKA, or fracture. Notably, the clinical effectiveness of aspirin was affected by different surgical types, the doses of aspirin and races.
Determination of Outer Radiation Belt MeV Electron Energization Rates and Delayed Response Times to Solar Wind Driving During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Srinivas P. , Spencer E.
Published: July 2024

Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) data show that seed electrons generated by sub‐storm injections play a role in amplifying chorus waves in the magnetosphere. The wave‐particle interaction leads to rapid heating and acceleration of electrons from 10's of keV to 10's of MeV energies. In this work, we examined the changes in the radiation belt during geomagnetic storm events by studying the RBSP REPT, solar wind, AL, SML, and Dst data in conjunction with the WINDMI model of the magnetosphere. The field‐aligned current output from the model is integrated to generate a proxy E index for various energy bands. These E indices track electron energization from 40 KeV to 20 MeV in the radiation belts. The indices are compared to RBSP data and GOES data. Our proxy indices correspond well to the energization data for electron energy bands between 1.8 and 7.7 MeV. Each E index has a unique empirical loss rate term (τL), an empirical time delay term (τD), and a gain value, that are fit to the observations. These empirical parameters were adjusted to examine the delay and charging rates associated with different energy bands. We observed that the τL and τD values are clustered for each energy band. τL and τD consistently increase going from 1.8 to 7.7 MeV in electron energy flux Ee and the dropout interval increases with increasing energy level. The average trend of ΔτD/ΔEe was 4.1 hr/MeV and the average trend of ΔτL/ΔEe was 2.82 hr/MeV.
Probable Controls From the Lower Layers on Sporadic E Layer Over East Asia
Authors: Zhao Hai‐Sheng , Xu Zheng‐Wen , Xue Kun , Wu Jian , Liu Ya‐Xin , Feng Jie , Wang Cheng , Zhang Yu‐Sheng , Li Na
Published: July 2024

The sporadic E‐layer (Es) exhibits unique opportunity for exploring the coupling from lower to upper atmosphere. It was found that the East Asia is with the highest intensity and occurrence probability of Es. By using the long‐term data of 21 ionosonde stations in China and Japan over the past 60 yrs, this paper explores the probable control on the Es layer from the lower layers. It is found that the intensity of the Es layer is strongly correlated with the surface atmospheric temperature, terrain, and land‐sea boundary. The correlation coefficient of the intensity of Es with surface temperature is as high as 0.8204, while that with the terrain and land‐sea boundary is up to 0.6668. Based on the coupling between the lower and upper atmosphere, this paper reveals the probable controls from lower layers on the intensity of the Es in East Asia.
Physically‐Informed Super‐Resolution Downscaling of Antarctic Surface Melt
Authors: de Roda Husman Sophie , Hu Zhongyang , van Tiggelen Maurice , Dell Rebecca , Bolibar Jordi , Lhermitte Stef , Wouters Bert , Munneke Peter Kuipers
Published: July 2024

Because Antarctic surface melt is mostly driven by local processes, its simulation necessitates high‐resolution regional climate models (RCMs). However, the current horizontal resolution of RCMs (≈25–30 km) is inadequate for capturing small‐scale melt processes. To address this limitation, we present SUPREME (SUPer‐REsolution‐based Melt Estimation over Antarctica), a deep learning method to downscale surface melt to 5.5 km resolution using a physically‐informed super‐resolution model. The physical information integrated into the model originates from observations tied to surface melt, specifically remote sensing‐derived albedo and elevation. These remote sensing data, in addition to a Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO) run at 27 km resolution, account for the diverse drivers of surface melt across Antarctica, facilitating effective generalization beyond the training region of the Antarctic Peninsula. A comparison of SUPREME with a dynamically downscaled RACMO run at 5.5 km over the Antarctic Peninsula shows high accuracy, with average yearly RMSE and bias of 5.5 mm w.e. yr−1 and 4.5 mm w.e. yr−1, respectively. Validation at five automatic weather stations reveals SUPREME's marked improvement with substantially lower average RMSE (81 mm w.e.) compared to RACMO 27 km (129 mm w.e.). Beyond the training region, SUPREME aligns more closely with remote sensing products associated with surface melt than super‐resolution models lacking physical constraints. While further validation of SUPREME is needed, our study highlights the potential of super‐resolution techniques with physical constraints for high‐resolution surface melt monitoring in Antarctica, providing insights into the impacts of localized melting on processes affecting ice shelf integrity such as hydrofracturing.
Partially Saturated Fracture‐Matrix Infiltration in Experiments and Theory
Authors: Rüdiger Florian , Dentz Marco , Kordilla Jannes
Published: July 2024

Fractures provide pathways for preferential flow, whereas porous rock acts as storage that delays fluid propagation through matrix imbibition. These dual‐porosity mechanisms are investigated in laboratory experiments of partially saturated fracture infiltration. We analyze flow dynamics in terms of the fluid penetration depth in the fracture and delineate fracture‐ and matrix‐dominated flow regimes at different flow rates. We compare wetting front propagation in fracture and matrix and examine the interference of matrix‐wetting fronts with the lateral system boundary. The experimental data are interpreted using the analytical model of Nitao (1991), which accounts for the impact of fracture‐matrix interactions on fluid propagation in the fracture. We find that matrix imbibition affects the observed discontinuous, partially saturated fracture flow to behave, on average, like plug flow. Consequently, and within the range of applied flow rates above a critical threshold, the model’s plug flow assumption is not a relevant precondition for its applicability. Fluid propagation in the fracture exhibits three characteristic scaling regimes (FP1‐3) corresponding to the matrix imbibition state. Only two scaling regimes are established for flow rates below a critical threshold, hence required to recover bulk infiltration for the chosen geometry. Furthermore, wetting fronts switch from fracture‐to matrix‐dominated at moderate to high flow rates, indicating a flow‐rate‐dependent limitation of fracture‐dominated infiltration depth. While the scaling regimes agree with experiments for applied flow rates above the critical threshold, the model underestimates the initial penetration depth below. Here, we observe the direct onset of flow regime FP2 and the delayed transition into FP3.
Carbon Export in the Subantarctic Zone Revealed by Multi‐Year Observations From Biogeochemical‐Argo Floats and Sediment Traps
Authors: Yang Xiang , Wynn‐Edwards Cathryn A. , Strutton Peter G. , Shadwick Elizabeth H.
Published: July 2024

The biological gravitational pump (BGP) and particle injection pumps (PIPs) are significant export pathways for particulate organic carbon from the surface ocean to the interior. Part of this exported carbon fuels remineralization in the mesopelagic ocean and part is sequestered in the deep ocean. Using observations from Biogeochemical‐Argo, we characterized the seasonality and magnitude of the BGP and two PIPs: the mixed layer pump (MLP) and eddy subduction pump (ESP), in the Australian sector of the Subantarctic Zone (SAZ sector). For the first time, float‐based estimates were rigorously combined with sediment trap flux (F1000) observations from the Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS), to investigate these pumps' relative and cumulative contributions to carbon export. The BGP exports about 28.6 g C m−2 year−1, mostly during the productive season and dominates the F1000 seasonality. The MLP exports about 7.6 g C m−2 year−1, mostly while the mixing layer seasonally shoals; the ESP sporadically exports up to 100 mg C m−2 day−1, such that these two PIPs have a short but intense impact on the F1000. The carbon transfer efficiency is 3.6% in the SOTS region. An oxygen‐based annual net community production estimate (∼50 g C m−2 year−1) further strengthens this study, and suggests the BGP and MLP make the dominant contribution to the mesopelagic carbon budget. This is representative of the broader SAZ sector in terms of the magnitude and seasonality of carbon export, the consumption of organic material in the mesopelagic, and the organic carbon sequestration in the deep sea.
Summer Westerly Wind Intensification Weakens Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Under Global Warming
Authors: Zhang Yiwen , Chen Changlin , Hu Shineng , Wang Guihua , McMonigal Kay , Larson Sarah M.
Published: July 2024

Since the 1950s, observations and climate models show an amplification of sea surface temperature (SST) seasonal cycle in response to global warming over most of the global oceans except for the Southern Ocean (SO), however the cause remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed observations, ocean reanalysis, and a set of historical and abruptly quadrupled CO2 simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 archive and found that the weakened SST seasonal cycle over the SO could be mainly attributed to the intensification of summertime westerly winds. Under the historical warming, the intensification of summertime westerly winds over the SO effectively deepens ocean mixed layer and damps surface warming, but this effect is considerably weaker in winter, thus weakening the SST seasonal cycle. This wind‐driven mechanism is further supported by our targeted coupled model experiments with the wind intensification effects being removed.
Linear Array Double Difference Adjoint Ambient Noise Tomography of the Central Tanlu Fault Zone, Eastern China
Authors: Yan Mengxuan , Yao Huajian , Lei Ting , Luo Song , Feng Jikun
Published: July 2024

In response to the need for high‐resolution imaging of shallow crustal structure, we present a linear array double‐difference (DD) adjoint tomography method, using DD Rayleigh wave traveltime measurements for enhanced spatial resolution. This method, validated through synthetic experiments, improves velocity anomaly detection with fewer iterations compared to absolute traveltime measurements. Applied to data from four linear seismic arrays in the central Tanlu fault zone (TLFZ) in the eastern China, our approach integrated both DD and absolute difference (AD) of adjoint traveltime measurements. We performed cluster analysis for data quality control, reducing data outliers and increasing reliability, particularly in suppressing cycle skipping for short‐period measurements. The resulting high‐resolution S‐wave velocity profiles in the shallow crust well delineate geological structures, revealing a continuous low‐velocity anomaly beneath the eastern branch of TLFZ. Our comparative analysis with the southern segment of TLFZ further highlights the segmented nature of the fault zone structure. These variations might suggest a dominant influence of deep magmatic processes due to destruction of the North China Craton. Our study links shallow structural features to deeper geodynamic activities, emphasizing the role of TLFZ as a critical tectonic boundary.
Fine Sediment in Mixed Sand‐Silt Environments Impacts Bedform Geometry by Altering Sediment Mobility
Authors: de Lange S. I. , Niesten I. , van de Veen S. H. J. , Baas J. H. , Lammers J. , Waldschläger K. , Boelee D. , Hoitink A. J. F.
Published: July 2024

Geometric characteristics of subaqueous bedforms, such as height, length and leeside angle, are crucial for determining hydraulic form roughness and interpreting sedimentary records. Traditionally, bedform existence and geometry predictors are primarily based on uniform, cohesionless sediments. However, mixtures of sand, silt and clay are common in deltaic, estuarine, and lowland river environments, where bedforms are ubiquitous. Therefore, we investigate the impact of fine sand and silt in sand‐silt mixtures on bedform geometry, based on laboratory experiments conducted in a recirculating flume. We systematically varied the fraction of sand and silt for different discharges, and utilized an acoustic Doppler velocimeter to measure flow velocity profiles. The final bed geometry was captured using a line laser scanner. Our findings reveal that the response of bedforms to an altered fine sediment percentage is ambiguous, and likely depends on, among others, bimodality‐driven bed mobility and sediment cohesiveness. When fine, non‐cohesive material (fine sand or coarse silt) is mixed with the base material (medium sand), an increased dune height and length is observed, possibly caused by the hiding‐exposure effect, resulting in enhanced mobility of the coarser material. However, weakly cohesive fine silt suppresses dune height and length, possibly caused by reduced sediment mobility. Finally, in the transition from dunes to upper stage plane bed, there are indications that the bed becomes unstable and dune heights vary over time. The composition of the bed material does not significantly impact the hydraulic roughness, but mainly affects roughness via the bed morphology, especially the leeside angle.
The m6A methyltransferase METTL14 promotes cell proliferation via SETBP1-mediated activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in myelodysplastic neoplasms
Authors: Jiang Lingxu , Zhang Yudi , Qian Jiejing , Zhou Xinping , Ma Liya , Zhu Shuanghong , Wang Lu , Wang Wei , Yang Wenli , Luo Yingwan , Lang Wei , Xu Gaixiang , Ren Yanling , Mei Chen , Ye Li , Zhang Qi , Liu Xiaozhen , Jin Jie , Sun Jie , Tong Hongyan
Published: July 2024

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent epitranscriptomic modification in mammalian mRNA. Recent studies have revealed m6A is involved in the pathogenesis of various malignant tumors including hematologic neoplasms. Nevertheless, the specific roles of m6A modification and m6A regulators in myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) remain poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrated that m6A level and the expression of m6A methyltransferase METTL14 were elevated in MDS patients with bone marrow blasts ≥5%. Additionally, m6A level and METTL14 expression were upregulated as the disease risk increased and significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Knockdown of METTL14 inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation ability of MDS cells. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed METTL14 knockdown remarkably reduced tumor burden and prolonged the survival of mice. Mechanistically, METTL14 facilitated the m6A modification of SETBP1 mRNA by formation of METTL3-METTL14 complex, leading to increased stabilization of SETBP1 mRNA and subsequent activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Overall, this study elucidated the involvement of the METTL14/m6A/SETBP1/PI3K-AKT signaling axis in MDS, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting METTL3-METTL14 complex-mediated m6A modification for MDS therapy.
Immune and neural response to acute social stress in adolescent humans and rodents
Authors: Gabbay Vilma , Ely Benjamin A. , Vileisis Julia N. , Petrovic Zorica , Cicvaric Ana , Asnis Gregory M. , Kim-Schulze Seunghee , Radulovic Jelena
Published: July 2024

Studies in adults have linked stress-related activation of the immune system to the manifestation of psychiatric conditions. Using a translational design, this study aimed to examine the impact of social stress on immune activity in adolescents and on neuronal activity in a preclinical mouse model. Participants were 31 adolescents (ages 12–19), including 25 with mood and anxiety symptoms. Whole-blood samples were collected before and after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a stress-inducing public speaking task, then cultured for 6 hours in the presence and absence of the inflammatory endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects of TSST and LPS on 41 immune biomarkers were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Separately, juvenile (8-week-old) male mice were non-stressed or exposed to reminder social defeat then intraperitoneally injected with saline or LPS (n = 6/group). Brains were perfused and collected for immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy at 0, 1, 6, and 24 hours post-injection. The activity was determined by the density of cFos-positive neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus, paraventricular thalamus, and basolateral amygdala, regions known to show sustained activation to immunological challenge. Analyses in the adolescent study indicated a strong effect of LPS but no effects of TSST or TSST×LPS interaction on immune biomarkers. Similarly, reminder social defeat did not induce sustained neuronal activity changes comparable to LPS immunological challenge in juvenile mice. Our convergent findings across species suggest that the acute immune response to stress documented in adults is not present in youth. Thus, aging and chronicity effects may play an important role in the inflammatory response to acute psychosocial stress.
IgG replacement in multiple myeloma
Authors: Wonnaparhown Alex , Hilal Talal , Squire Jacqueline , Freeman Catherine , Fonseca Rafael
Published: July 2024

T cell engagers (TCE) such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies (BiAbs) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have significantly improved clinical outcomes, but have also raised awareness for ensuing post-treatment secondary immunodeficiency and hypogammaglobulinemia (HG). As patients with MM live longer, recurrent infections become a significant component of therapy-associated morbidity and mortality. Treatment of HG with immunoglobulin G replacement therapy (IgG-RT) has been a mainstay of the primary immunodeficiency (PI) world, and extrapolation to MM has recently started to show promising clinical outcomes. However, IgG-RT initiation, dosing, route, timing, monitoring, and management in MM has not been standardized in the setting of TCE. Progress in MM treatment will involve greater recognition and screening of underlying secondary immunodeficiency, identification of risk-stratification markers, optimizing IgG-RT management, and implementing other approaches to decrease the risk of infection. In this review, we summarize infection risk, risk of HG, and management strategies for IgG-RT in patients with relapsed MM after TCE.
Predictive value of serum inflammatory markers in retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Kıran Yenice Eşay , Kara Caner , Karsli Türkoglu Tijen , Ulubaş Işık Dilek , Çelik İstemi Han
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Material and methods

The medical records of 153 preterm infants born before the 34th week of gestation, were retrospectively reviewed. Complete blood cell (CBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) results measured within the first 24 h of life were recorded. NLR, LMR and PLR were calculated by dividing neutrophil count by lymphocyte count, lymphocyte count by monocyte count, and platelet count by lymphocyte count, respectively. Analysis of possible risk factors related with ROP development was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results were compared between infants with and without ROP.

Results

A total of 153 infants, of which 64 (41.9%) with ROP and 89 (58.1%) without ROP, were included in the study. While lymphocyte count and LMR were found to be significantly lower in infants with ROP (p = 0.015 and p = 0.044), neutrophil count and NLR were found to be significantly higher (p = 0.021 and p = 0.046, respectively). No significant difference were observed in platelet and monocyte count and PLR (p = 0.808, p = 0.170 and p = 0.075, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that gestational age, birth weight and NLR were major risk factors for the development of ROP (OR:0.59; p = 0.01, OR:1.00; p = 0.02 and OR: 2.56; p = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

This study supports that, in addition to prematurity, NLR on the first postnatal day has a significant predictive value in ROP.
Universal subunit vaccine protects against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV
Authors: Wang Gang , Verma Abhishek K. , Shi Juan , Guan Xiaoqing , Meyerholz David K. , Bu Fan , Wen Wei , Liu Bin , Li Fang , Perlman Stanley , Du Lanying
Published: July 2024

Although Omicron RBD of SARS-CoV-2 accumulates many mutations, the backbone region (truncated RBD) of spike protein is highly conserved. Here, we designed several subunit vaccines by keeping the conserved spike backbone region of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 subvariant (S-6P-no-RBD), or inserting the RBD of Delta variant (S-6P-Delta-RBD), Omicron (BA.5) variant (S-6P-BA5-RBD), or ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (S-6P-WT-RBD) to the above backbone construct, and evaluated their ability to induce immune responses and cross-protective efficacy against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV. Among the four subunit vaccines, S-6P-Delta-RBD protein elicited broad and potent neutralizing antibodies against all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants, the BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.75, BA.4.6, and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, and the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2. This vaccine prevented infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, and completely protected immunized mice against lethal challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and SARS-CoV. Sera from S-6P-Delta-RBD-immunized mice protected naive mice against challenge with the Delta variant, with significantly reduced viral titers and without pathological effects. Protection correlated positively with the serum neutralizing antibody titer. Overall, the designed vaccine has potential for development as a universal COVID-19 vaccine and/or a pan-sarbecovirus subunit vaccine that will prevent current and future outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-related CoVs.
Early Cretaceous troodontine troodontid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Ohyamashimo Formation of Japan reveals the early evolution of Troodontinae
Authors: Kubota Katsuhiro , Kobayashi Yoshitsugu , Ikeda Tadahiro
Published: July 2024

A new troodontid dinosaur, Hypnovenator matsubaraetoheorum gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an articulated postcranial skeleton recovered from the fluvial deposits of the Albian Ohyamashimo Formation of the Sasayama Group in Tambasasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Hypnovenator is distinguished from other troodontids by four autapomorphies and a combination of additional features. Our phylogenetic analysis positions Hypnovenator as the oldest and one of the most basal troodontines, forming a clade with Gobivenator mongoliensis. The discovery of Hypnovenator suggests that small-bodied maniraptorans with a sleeping posture were common not only in environments with volcanic and eolian events or alluvial systems but also in fluvial systems. Geometric morphometric analysis of manual ungual phalanges shows that manual ungual phalanges I and III of Hypnovenator exhibit considerable morphological variation but are functionally similar, which differs from those of non-troodontine troodontids, reflecting the transition of manual motion within Troodontinae. Hypnovenator also has mosaic features in the pes related to cursoriality. This study reveals that asymmetrical arctometatarsus occurred by the Albian, and some morphological changes, such as shorter digit IV than digit III and non-ungual phalanges of digits III with roller joints and digit IV with weakly ginglymoid articulation, arose during the early Late Cretaceous.
Efficient removal of methylene blue by water-stable anionic coordination polymer in aqueous media
Authors: Alp Arici Tuğba , Şevik Melike , Kavak Enes , Kavak Emrah , Arici Mürsel
Published: July 2024

An anionic 3D interpenetrated framework displayed high MB adsorption over MO, CR and RhB dyes.
Pentacoordinated pyramidal structures and bonding properties of WN10−/0: anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations
Authors: Liu Kai-Wen , Li Jia-Le , Xu Xi-Ling , Xu Hong-Guang , Ding Ke-Wei , Zheng Wei-Jun
Published: July 2024

In the C4v symmetric structure of WN10−, the π backdonation between W and N2 significantly weakens the N–N bond.
Effect of the heteroatom on the magnetic and luminescence properties of hybrid lanthanide-substituted Keggin-type polyoxometalates
Authors: Bustamante-Fernández Janire , Ruiz-Bilbao Estibaliz , Rodríguez-Esteban Corina , Gonidec Mathieu , García José A. , Lezama Luis , Gutiérrez-Zorrilla Juan M. , Oyarzabal Itziar , Artetxe Beñat
Published: July 2024

Replacement of the heteroatom modifies the magneto-luminescence properties of [Ln(α-GeW11O39)(H2L)]5− (Ln = Sm to Lu) hybrid anions. The Yb-derivative exhibits simultaneous slow relaxation of magnetization and NIR emission at room temperature.
Cd-containing quantum dots transform during simulated human digestion causing increased adverse subcellular effects to intestinal cells
Authors: Xu Ke , Bechu Aude , Farrell Connor , Basu Niladri , Ghoshal Subhasis , George Saji , Moores Audrey
Published: July 2024

Nanomaterials (NMs) entering the human body via the oral route are subjected to successive digestive chambers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which altered their physicochemical properties and toxicity profile.
Green method of synthesizing l-malate from d-glucose via CO2 fixation using an ATP-free in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystem
Authors: Fan Lin , Sun Shangshang , Zhang Zhidan , Qin Yanmei , Jensen Peter Ruhdal , You Chun
Published: July 2024

An in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystem (ivSEB) comprising five thermophilic enzymes with balanced NAD+/NADH was developed for the biomanufacturing of 2 moles of l-malate from 1 mole of d-glucose through the fixation of 2 moles of CO2.
The development of lignin towards a natural and sustainable platform for optical materials
Authors: Liu Hai , Guan Yanhua , Yan Li , Zheng Yong , Si Chuanling , Dai Lin
Published: July 2024

An overview and perspectives on the development of lignin as a raw material for optical materials are provided with the objective of opening up a new avenue for lignin valorization.
Universal synthesis of coral-like ternary MOF-derived sulfides as efficient OER electrocatalysts
Authors: Liu Tianpeng , Zhang Yangping , Yu Jun , Hu Mengyun , Wu Zhengying , Wei Xiao , Yu Shudi , Du Yukou
Published: July 2024

Synthesize and tune a series of trimetallic sulfides to achieve efficient catalysis for the OER.
Low-cost precision agriculture for sustainable farming using paper-based analytical devices
Authors: Albuquerque Jéssica Rodrigues de Paula , Makara Cleyton Nascimento , Ferreira Vinícius Guimarães , Brazaca Laís Canniatti , Carrilho Emanuel
Published: July 2024

A paper-based platform quantifies essential soil macronutrients (nitrate, magnesium, calcium, ammonium) using colorimetry and a smartphone. This device enhances soil fertility assessment, supporting precision agriculture and boosting food production.
Overcoming the mobility penalty introduced by dipole disorder in small-molecule HTM films
Authors: Vella Benjamin , Fsadni Miriam H. , Pope Thomas , Giza Marcin , Angus Fraser J. , Shmarov Ivan , Lalaguna Paula L. , Cariello Michele , Wilson Claire , Kadodwala Malcolm , Penfold Thomas J. , Docampo Pablo , Cooke Graeme
Published: July 2024

Strong dipoles in molecular HTMs can cause energetic disorder, leading to reduced mobility. This can be counteracted by a preferential antiparallel dipole ordering brought about by intermolecular hydrogen bond-assisted pairing.
Latest advances in in situ and operando X-ray-based techniques for the characterisation of photoelectrocatalytic systems
Authors: Barawi Mariam , Mesa Camilo A. , Collado Laura , Villar-García Ignacio J. , Oropeza Freddy , de la Peña O'Shea Víctor A. , García-Tecedor Miguel
Published: July 2024

The present review gives an overview of the different state-of-the-art X-ray techniques employed for the characterisation of photoelectrocatalytic systems, focusing on the possibilities of the studied techniques, cell designs and relevant results.
Donor–π–acceptor heterojunctions constructed from the rGO network and redox-active covalent organic frameworks for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Anqi , Ran Pan , Han Xiao , Ke Siwen , Qiu Aoqian , Zhang Zedong , Lv Yang , Ding Mengning , Zuo Jing-Lin
Published: July 2024

The orderly assembled Ni-bis(dithiolene) units with unique electronic structure, heterostructure formed between COFs and rGO, and efficient electron transfer contribute to the outstanding supercapacitor performance.
A dual aliovalent ion doped NASICON ceramic filler embedded in the PEO–NaTFSI polymer matrix for high-performance solid-state sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Dwivedi Sushmita , Vasudevan Sudharshan , Balaya Palani
Published: July 2024

Demonstrating a high-performance all-solid-state sodium-ion battery system, with a maximum discharge capacity of ∼105 mA h g−1 at 0.1C, achieved for NVP symmetric cells enabled via polymer–ceramic composite electrodes and electrolytes.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on skin based on supramolecular hyaluronic acid–ectoin
Authors: Lu Beibei , Zhao Siran , Zhang Jichuan , Zhan Jingbo , Zhang Jianglin , Liu Zhe , Zhang Jiaheng
Published: July 2024

We prepared supramolecular hyaluronic acid–ectoin (HA–ECT) using intermolecular forces between hyaluronic acid and ectoin. Supramolecular HA–ECT has potential application in the field of cosmetics for skin antioxidants, anti-aging, and repair.