bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous cycles of data-enabled design: reimagining the IoT development process
Authors: Lee Boyeun , Cooper Rachel , Hands David , Coulton Paul
Published: February 2022

With the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) as a new source of “big” data and value creation, businesses encounter novel opportunities as well as challenges in IoT design. Although recent research argues that digital technology can enable new kinds of development processes that are distinctive from their counterparts in the 20th century, minimal attention has been focused on the IoT design process. In order to contextualize New Product Development (NPD) processes for IoT, this paper comprehensively interrogates existing, and emerging development approaches for products, services, software, and integrated products, and several factors that affect designing IoT. This discussion includes the generic development process, the commonalities and differences of different development approaches, and processes. The paper demonstrates that only a few existing approaches reflect vital characteristics of networked artifacts or the integration of data science within the development model, which is one of the key attributes of IoT design. From these investigations, we propose “The Mobius Strip Model of IoT Development ProcessI,” a conceptual process for IoT design, which is distinctive to others. The continuous loops of the IoT design integrate the attributes and phases of different processes and consist of two different development approaches and strategies. Understanding the particular attributes of the IoT NPD process can help novice and experienced researchers in both feeding and drawing insight from the broader design discourse.
Sediment and water geochemistry record of water-rock interactions in King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Gunes Yagmur , Balci Nurgul
Published: February 2022

We used a multidisciplinary approach integrating major, trace and rare earth element geochemistry, mineralogy of rocks and sediments along with the ionic composition of water reservoirs of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, to evaluate the record of water-rock interactions under Maritime Antarctic conditions. Our results showed that the ionic compositions of the streams and meltwaters predominantly reflect the atmospheric inputs, while lake waters have higher Na/Cl, Ca/Mg and HCO3/Cl ratios related to chemical weathering in lake sediments, but this did not allow for distinguishing purely silicate sources. Consistent with the trace and rare earth element data, various alteration indices and Index of Compositional Variability values denote the low degree of chemical weathering in the lake sediments. The records from the previously unexplored Mud Lake and Upper Lake suggest that the lakes of Admiralty Bay are better places to trace the impacts of a succession of environmental changes that have occurred in the watershed, while the stream channel sediments, when accompanied by water chemistry data, may provide a more representative composition of the source rocks than the lake sediments. These findings may help revealing the intensity of contemporary weathering in a colder climate with relatively few mineralogical changes accompanied by a lesser degree of elemental loss.
Phonological variation on Twitter: Evidence from letter repetition in three French dialects
Authors: Lamontagne Jeffrey , McCulloch Gretchen
Published: February 2022

Writing on social media often departs from prescriptive norms through the use of non-standard words, spellings and punctuation. Amongst these traits is the repetition of letters (e.g.  for oui ‘yes’). In this study, we draw upon a corpus of over 65 million tweets from three dialects of French (Laurentian, Metropolitan and Midi) to test phonological motivations for the choice of repeated letter in a word with repetition. Using mixed-effects multinomial regression, we compare dialectal differences in whether repetition targets final consonants (silent or pronounced), word-final orthographic  corresponding to phonological schwa, and prosodically accented penults. We demonstrate that repetition covertly signals phonological properties. We conclude that prosody mediates morphological and phonological effects and that grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences vary between regions, thereby producing phonological patterns that writers likely did not intend to convey at the time of writing. We also propose that orthographic repetition on Twitter has two prosodic sources: the default pitch accent in French (shifted or not) and focus.
Spaces for People: Technology, improvisation and social interaction in the music of Pauline Oliveros
Authors: Andersen Drake
Published: February 2022

The composer Pauline Oliveros emphasised that her music was a by-product of a larger humanistic project aimed at raising awareness and sensitivity through social interaction and community-building. In this article, I highlight the role of technology in facilitating social interaction in improvisatory contexts by considering three examples that span Oliveros’s career: the composition In Memoriam: Nikola Tesla, Cosmic Engineer; her telematic performances; and the Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) project. In each of these examples, technological mediation transforms musical and social interaction in unpredictable ways, presenting obstacles that require participants to work cooperatively to resolve them. This intensification of Oliveros’s larger project is considered through several complementary theoretical frameworks, including Don Ihde’s theory of technological mediation, Daniel Belgrad’s concept of deutero-learning in improvisation and Georgina Born’s orders of social mediation in music. By deploying technology in visible – rather than invisible – ways, and by inviting participants to adapt to and even embrace unexpected elements that might otherwise be regarded as limitations, Oliveros’s work reveals how technology can simultaneously be understood as an affordance for music-making and an extension of a deeply social and community-oriented endeavour.
Relation of the Plasmapause to the Midlatitude Ionospheric Trough, the Sub‐Auroral Temperature Enhancement and the Distribution of Small‐Scale Field Aligned Currents as Observed in the Magnetosphere by THEMIS, RBSP, and Arase, and in the Topside Ionosphere by Swarm
Authors: Heilig Balázs , Stolle Claudia , Kervalishvili Guram , Rauberg Jan , Miyoshi Yoshizumi , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Kumamoto Atsushi , Kasahara Yoshiya , Shoji Masafumi , Nakamura Satoko , Kitahara Masahiro , Shinohara Iku
Published: February 2022

The relation between the plasmapause (PP) and various ionospheric phenomena, such as the midlatitude ionospheric trough (MIT) has been studied for decades. More recently, it was found that the equatorward boundary of small‐scale field‐aligned currents (SSB) and the PP are also closely coupled. In spite of prolonged efforts many details of these relationships, as well as the mechanisms responsible for them remain poorly understood. ESA's Swarm mission in conjunction with magnetospheric missions (RBSP, Arase, and THEMIS) provides an unprecedented opportunity to study these relationships on a global scale and over an extended period. Swarm delivers observations of MIT, the associated sub‐auroral electron temperature enhancement (SETE), as well as SSB, while PP crossings can be inferred from in‐situ magnetospheric electron density measurements. In this study, we use 7 years of Swarm observations and PP positions from 2014 to 2017 to address some of the open questions. We confirm that MIT/SETE and PP are directly coupled, however only in the nighttime. Their correlation remains high after post‐dawn, however, with an increasing, MLT‐dependent time lag. Afternoon MIT observations were found conjugated with a plasmaspheric plume. The correlation between SSB and PP is also high and they intersect each other near MLT midnight. Our results confirm the scenario that the PP is formed on the night side, and propagates to the dayside by co‐rotating with the Earth and suggest that the plasma is transported from the depleted ionospheric/dense plasmaspheric stagnation region also westward/sunward forming the afternoon MIT/narrow plumes, respectively.
Phase Space Density Analysis of Outer Radiation Belt Electron Energization and Loss During Geoeffective and Nongeoeffective Sheath Regions
Authors: Kalliokoski Milla M. H. , Kilpua Emilia K. J. , Osmane Adnane , Jaynes Allison N. , Turner Drew L. , George Harriet , Turc Lucile , Palmroth Minna
Published: February 2022

Coronal mass ejection driven sheath regions are one of the key drivers of drastic outer radiation belt responses. The response can however be significantly different based on the sheath properties and the associated inner magnetospheric wave activity. We performed two case studies on the effects of sheaths on outer belt electrons of various energies using data from the Van Allen Probes. One sheath caused a major geomagnetic disturbance and the other had only a minor impact. We especially investigated the phase space density (PSD) of seed, core, and ultrarelativistic electrons to determine the dominant energization and loss processes taking place during the events. Both sheaths produced substantial variation in the electron fluxes from tens of kiloelectronvolts up to ultrarelativistic energies. The responses were however the opposite: the geoeffective sheath mainly led to enhancement, while the nongeoeffective one caused a depletion throughout most of the outer belt. The case studies highlight that both inward and outward radial transport driven by ultra‐low frequency waves played an important role in both electron energization and loss. Additionally, PSD radial profiles revealed a local peak that indicated significant acceleration to core energies by chorus waves during the geoeffective event. The distinct responses and different mechanisms in action during these events were related to the timing of the peaked solar wind dynamic pressure causing magnetopause compression, and the differing levels of substorm activity. The most remarkable changes in the radiation belt system occurred in key sheath sub‐regions near the shock and the ejecta leading edge.
Wave and Tidally Driven Flow Dynamics Within a Coral Reef Atoll off Northwestern Australia
Authors: Grimaldi C. M. , Lowe R. J. , Benthuysen J. A. , Green R. H. , Reyns J. , Kernkamp H. , Gilmour J.
Published: February 2022

Waves and tides are often the two primary forcing mechanisms responsible for driving hydrodynamic processes within coral reefs worldwide. Although wave‐ and tide‐driven flows are individually well understood, there remain considerable gaps in our understanding of how their interactions control the reef circulation, and consequently how they shape a range of ecological processes. During 11 months of hydrodynamic measurements across Mermaid Reef, a coral reef atoll off northwestern Australia, the atoll was regularly exposed to a range of wave and tidal conditions. Using a validated wave‐flow numerical model, we showed that wave‐ and tidally driven processes interacted to drive the reef's circulation through several mechanisms including wave‐current interactions and tidal water level modulation of wave‐driven flows. The atoll morphology, particularly the higher elevation of the western reef flat, was found to be a key factor controlling the relative importance of waves and tides. Wave‐driven processes dominated for tidal ranges smaller than required to expose the shallower western reef flat. In contrast, tidal processes dominated for larger tidal ranges, when the western reef flat temporarily acted as a physical barrier to incoming and outgoing flows. The residual (tidally averaged) circulation was consistently directed eastward across the atoll. Over time scales of several months to years, Mermaid Reef can be classified as a tide‐dominated reef. However, due to the incident wave energy and spring‐neap tidal range variability, the relative importance of the dominant hydrodynamic drivers can vary on time scales of hours to days allowing wave processes to episodically dominate the reef circulation.
Monitoring Space Weather: Using Automated, Accurate Neural Network Based Whistler Segmentation for Whistler Inversion
Authors: Pataki Bálint Ármin , Lichtenberger János , Clilverd Mark , Máthé Gergely , Steinbach Péter , Pásztor Szilárd , Murár‐Juhász Lilla , Koronczay Dávid , Ferencz Orsolya , Csabai István
Published: February 2022

It is challenging, yet important, to measure the—ever‐changing—cold electron density in the plasmasphere. The cold electron density inside and outside of the plasmapause is a key parameter for radiation belt dynamics. One indirect measurement is through finding the velocity dispersion relation exhibited by lightning induced whistlers. The main difficulty of the method comes from low signal‐to‐noise ratios for most of the ground‐based whistler components. To provide accurate electron density and ‐shell measurements, whistler components need to be detectable in the noisy background, and their characteristics need to be reliably determined. For this reason, precise segmentation is needed on a spectrogram image. Here, we present a fully automated way to perform such an image segmentation by leveraging the power of convolutional neural networks, a state‐of‐the‐art method for computer vision tasks. Testing the proposed method against a manually, and semi‐manually segmented whistler data set achieved 10% relative electron density prediction error for 80% of the segmented whistler traces, while for the shell, the relative error is 5% for 90% of the cases. By segmenting more than 1 million additional real whistler traces from Rothera station Antarctica, logged over 9 years, seasonal changes in the average electron density were found. The variations match previously published findings, and confirm the capabilities of the image segmentation technique.
Kidins220/ARMS modulates brain morphology and anxiety-like traits in adult mice
Authors: Almacellas-Barbanoj Amanda , Albini Martina , Satapathy Annyesha , Jaudon Fanny , Michetti Caterina , Krawczun-Rygmaczewska Alicja , Huang Huiping , Manago Francesca , Papaleo Francesco , Benfenati Fabio , Cesca Fabrizia
Published: February 2022

Kinase D interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220), also known as ankyrin repeat-rich membrane spanning (ARMS), is a transmembrane scaffold protein that participates in fundamental aspects of neuronal physiology including cell survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. The Kidins220 constitutive knockout line displays developmental defects in the nervous and cardiovascular systems that lead to embryonic lethality, which has so far precluded the study of this protein in the adult. Moreover, Kidins220 mRNA is tightly regulated by alternative splicing, whose impact on nervous system physiology has not yet been addressed in vivo. Here, we have asked to what extent the absence of Kidins220 splicing and the selective knockout of Kidins220 impact on adult brain homeostasis. To answer this question, we used a floxed line that expresses only the full-length, non-spliced Kidins220 mRNA, and a forebrain-specific, CaMKII-Cre driven Kidins220 conditional knockout (cKO) line. Kidins220 cKO brains are characterized by enlarged ventricles in the absence of cell death, and by deficient dendritic arborization in several cortical regions. The deletion of Kidins220 leads to behavioral changes, such as reduced anxiety-like traits linked to alterations in TrkB-BDNF signaling and sex-dependent alterations of hippocampal-dependent spatial memory. Kidins220 floxed mice present similarly enlarged brain ventricles and increased associative memory. Thus, both the absolute levels of Kidins220 expression and its splicing pattern are required for the correct brain development and related expression of behavioral phenotypes. These findings are relevant in light of the increasing evidence linking mutations in the human KIDINS220 gene to the onset of severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
Enhanced cell deconvolution of peripheral blood using DNA methylation for high-resolution immune profiling
Authors: Salas Lucas A. , Zhang Ze , Koestler Devin C. , Butler Rondi A. , Hansen Helen M. , Molinaro Annette M. , Wiencke John K. , Kelsey Karl T. , Christensen Brock C.
Published: February 2022

DNA methylation microarrays can be employed to interrogate cell-type composition in complex tissues. Here, we expand reference-based deconvolution of blood DNA methylation to include 12 leukocyte subtypes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, naïve and memory B cells, naïve and memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, natural killer, and T regulatory cells). Including derived variables, our method provides 56 immune profile variables. The IDOL (IDentifying Optimal Libraries) algorithm was used to identify libraries for deconvolution of DNA methylation data for current and previous platforms. The accuracy of deconvolution estimates obtained using our enhanced libraries was validated using artificial mixtures and whole-blood DNA methylation with known cellular composition from flow cytometry. We applied our libraries to deconvolve cancer, aging, and autoimmune disease datasets. In conclusion, these libraries enable a detailed representation of immune-cell profiles in blood using only DNA and facilitate a standardized, thorough investigation of immune profiles in human health and disease.
Sonogenetic control of mammalian cells using exogenous Transient Receptor Potential A1 channels
Authors: Duque Marc , Lee-Kubli Corinne A. , Tufail Yusuf , Magaram Uri , Patel Janki , Chakraborty Ahana , Mendoza Lopez Jose , Edsinger Eric , Vasan Aditya , Shiao Rani , Weiss Connor , Friend James , Chalasani Sreekanth H.
Published: February 2022

Ultrasound has been used to non-invasively manipulate neuronal functions in humans and other animals. However, this approach is limited as it has been challenging to target specific cells within the brain or body. Here, we identify human Transient Receptor Potential A1 (hsTRPA1) as a candidate that confers ultrasound sensitivity to mammalian cells. Ultrasound-evoked gating ofhsTRPA1 specifically requires its N-terminal tip region and cholesterol interactions; and target cells with an intact actin cytoskeleton, revealing elements of the sonogenetic mechanism. Next, we use calcium imaging and electrophysiology to show thathsTRPA1 potentiates ultrasound-evoked responses in primary neurons. Furthermore, unilateral expression ofhsTRPA1 in mouse layer V motor cortical neurons leads toc-fosexpression and contralateral limb responses in response to ultrasound delivered through an intact skull. Collectively, we demonstrate thathsTRPA1-based sonogenetics can effectively manipulate neurons within the intact mammalian brain, a method that could be used across species.
Spatiotemporal expression of regulatory kinases directs the transition from mitosis to cellular morphogenesis in Drosophila
Authors: Yang Shuo , McAdow Jennifer , Du Yingqiu , Trigg Jennifer , Taghert Paul H. , Johnson Aaron N.
Published: February 2022

Embryogenesis depends on a tightly regulated balance between mitosis, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Understanding how the embryo uses a relatively small number of proteins to transition between growth and morphogenesis is a central question of developmental biology, but the mechanisms controlling mitosis and differentiation are considered to be fundamentally distinct. Here we show the mitotic kinase Polo, which regulates all steps of mitosis in Drosophila, also directs cellular morphogenesis after cell cycle exit. In mitotic cells, the Aurora kinases activate Polo to control a cytoskeletal regulatory module that directs cytokinesis. We show that in the post-mitotic mesoderm, the control of Polo activity transitions from the Aurora kinases to the uncharacterized kinase Back Seat Driver (Bsd), where Bsd and Polo cooperate to regulate muscle morphogenesis. Polo and its effectors therefore direct mitosis and cellular morphogenesis, but the transition from growth to morphogenesis is determined by the spatiotemporal expression of upstream activating kinases.
General heterostructure strategy of photothermal materials for scalable solar-heating hydrogen production without the consumption of artificial energy
Authors: Li Yaguang , Bai Xianhua , Yuan Dachao , Zhang Fengyu , Li Bo , San Xingyuan , Liang Baolai , Wang Shufang , Luo Jun , Fu Guangsheng
Published: February 2022

Solar-heating catalysis has the potential to realize zero artificial energy consumption, which is restricted by the low ambient solar heating temperatures of photothermal materials. Here, we propose the concept of using heterostructures of black photothermal materials (such as Bi2Te3) and infrared insulating materials (Cu) to elevate solar heating temperatures. Consequently, the heterostructure of Bi2Te3and Cu (Bi2Te3/Cu) increases the 1 sun-heating temperature of Bi2Te3from 93 °C to 317 °C by achieving the synergy of 89% solar absorption and 5% infrared radiation. This strategy is applicable for various black photothermal materials to raise the 1 sun-heating temperatures of Ti2O3, Cu2Se, and Cu2S to 295 °C, 271 °C, and 248 °C, respectively. The Bi2Te3/Cu-based device is able to heat CuOx/ZnO/Al2O3nanosheets to 305 °C under 1 sun irradiation, and this system shows a 1 sun-driven hydrogen production rate of 310 mmol g−1h−1from methanol and water, at least 6 times greater than that of all solar-driven systems to date, with 30.1% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency and 20-day operating stability. Furthermore, this system is enlarged to 6 m2to generate 23.27 m3/day of hydrogen under outdoor sunlight irradiation in the spring, revealing its potential for industrial manufacture.
Single-cell analysis of human glioma and immune cells identifies S100A4 as an immunotherapy target
Authors: Abdelfattah Nourhan , Kumar Parveen , Wang Caiyi , Leu Jia-Shiun , Flynn William F. , Gao Ruli , Baskin David S. , Pichumani Kumar , Ijare Omkar B. , Wood Stephanie L. , Powell Suzanne Z. , Haviland David L. , Parker Kerrigan Brittany C. , Lang Frederick F. , Prabhu Sujit S. , Huntoon Kristin M. , Jiang Wen , Kim Betty Y. S. , George Joshy , Yun Kyuson
Published: February 2022

A major rate-limiting step in developing more effective immunotherapies for GBM is our inadequate understanding of the cellular complexity and the molecular heterogeneity of immune infiltrates in gliomas. Here, we report an integrated analysis of 201,986 human glioma, immune, and other stromal cells at the single cell level. In doing so, we discover extensive spatial and molecular heterogeneity in immune infiltrates. We identify molecular signatures for nine distinct myeloid cell subtypes, of which five are independent prognostic indicators of glioma patient survival. Furthermore, we identify S100A4 as a regulator of immune suppressive T and myeloid cells in GBM and demonstrate that deleting S100a4 in non-cancer cells is sufficient to reprogram the immune landscape and significantly improve survival. This study provides insights into spatial, molecular, and functional heterogeneity of glioma and glioma-associated immune cells and demonstrates the utility of this dataset for discovering therapeutic targets for this poorly immunogenic cancer.
Histone H3K4me3 modification is a transgenerational epigenetic signal for lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Wan Qin-Li , Meng Xiao , Wang Chongyang , Dai Wenyu , Luo Zhenhuan , Yin Zhinan , Ju Zhenyu , Fu Xiaodie , Yang Jing , Ye Qunshan , Zhang Zhan-Hui , Zhou Qinghua
Published: February 2022

As a major risk factor to human health, obesity presents a massive burden to people and society. Interestingly, the obese status of parents can cause progeny’s lipid accumulation through epigenetic inheritance in multiple species. To date, many questions remain as to how lipid accumulation leads to signals that are transmitted across generations. In this study, we establish a nematode model of C. elegans raised on a high-fat diet (HFD) that leads to measurable lipid accumulation, which can transmit the lipid accumulation signal to their multigenerational progeny. Using this model, we find that transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO and SBP-1/SREBP, nuclear receptors NHR-49 and NHR-80, and delta-9 desaturases (fat-5, fat-6, and fat-7) are required for transgenerational lipid accumulation. Additionally, histone H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) marks lipid metabolism genes and increases their transcription response to multigenerational obesogenic effects. In summary, this study establishes an interaction between a network of lipid metabolic genes and chromatin modifications, which work together to achieve transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of obesogenic effects.
An optogenetic approach for regulating human parathyroid hormone secretion
Authors: Liu Yunhui , Zhang Lu , Hu Nan , Shao Jie , Yang Dazhi , Ruan Changshun , Huang Shishu , Wang Liping , Lu William W. , Zhang Xinzhou , Yang Fan
Published: February 2022

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays crucial role in maintaining calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. In the progression of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), expression of calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR) in the parathyroid gland decreases, which leads to persistent hypersecretion of PTH. How to precisely manipulate PTH secretion in parathyroid tissue and underlying molecular mechanism is not clear. Here, we establish an optogenetic approach that bypasses CaSR to inhibit PTH secretion in human hyperplastic parathyroid cells. We found that optogenetic stimulation elevates intracellular calcium, inhibits both PTH synthesis and secretion in human parathyroid cells. Long-term pulsatile PTH secretion induced by light stimulation prevented hyperplastic parathyroid tissue-induced bone loss by influencing the bone remodeling in mice. The effects are mediated by light stimulation of opsin expressing parathyroid cells and other type of cells in parathyroid tissue. Our study provides a strategy to regulate release of PTH and associated bone loss of SHPT through an optogenetic approach.
Artificial neural network approach for multiphase segmentation of battery electrode nano-CT images
Authors: Su Zeliang , Decencière Etienne , Nguyen Tuan-Tu , El-Amiry Kaoutar , De Andrade Vincent , Franco Alejandro A. , Demortière Arnaud
Published: February 2022

The segmentation of tomographic images of the battery electrode is a crucial processing step, which will have an additional impact on the results of material characterization and electrochemical simulation. However, manually labeling X-ray CT images (XCT) is time-consuming, and these XCT images are generally difficult to segment with histographical methods. We propose a deep learning approach with an asymmetrical depth encode-decoder convolutional neural network (CNN) for real-world battery material datasets. This network achieves high accuracy while requiring small amounts of labeled data and predicts a volume of billions voxel within few minutes. While applying supervised machine learning for segmenting real-world data, the ground truth is often absent. The results of segmentation are usually qualitatively justified by visual judgement. We try to unravel this fuzzy definition of segmentation quality by identifying the uncertainty due to the human bias diluted in the training data. Further CNN trainings using synthetic data show quantitative impact of such uncertainty on the determination of material’s properties. Nano-XCT datasets of various battery materials have been successfully segmented by training this neural network from scratch. We will also show that applying the transfer learning, which consists of reusing a well-trained network, can improve the accuracy of a similar dataset.
Tea compound-saliva interactions and their correlations with sweet aftertaste
Authors: Chong Pik Han , Chen Jianshe , Yin Danting , Qin Lanxi
Published: February 2022

Huigan is an important sensory attribute which is commonly used as a quality indicator evaluation of tea products. Previous studies showed a strong correlation between the lubrication behavior of saliva-tea compound mixture and the sensory perception of Huigan from trained panelists. This work was further designed to investigate how the effect of tea consumption on the rate of saliva secretion and its functional properties including total protein content of saliva (TPC), salivary α-amylase (AMY) and lipase activity (LP). A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was applied to reveal the adsorption behavior of human whole saliva and how the salivary film is affected by the presence of tea compounds. Results showed a significant positive correlation among TPC, LP and Huigan intensity for subjects who are Huigan-sensitive. Compared to the desorption of salivary film, the desorption of saliva-EC/EGC (epicatechin/epigallocatechin) mixture from the gold surface by QCM-D observation showed a significant effect on Huigan intensity in sensitive group when comparing to the salivary layer (blank).
A three-terminal non-volatile ferroelectric switch with an insulator–metal transition channel
Authors: Vaidya Jaykumar , Kanthi R. S. Surya , Alam Shamiul , Amin Nazmul , Aziz Ahmedullah , Shukla Nikhil
Published: February 2022

Ferroelectrics offer a promising material platform to realize energy-efficient non-volatile memory technology with the FeFET-based implementations being one of the most area-efficient ferroelectric memory architectures. However, the FeFET operation entails a fundamental trade-off between the read and the program operations. To overcome this trade-off, we propose in this work, a novel device concept, Mott-FeFET, that aims to replace the Silicon channel of the FeFET with VO2- a material that exhibits an electrically driven insulator–metal phase transition. The Mott-FeFET design, which demonstrates a (ferroelectric) polarization-dependent threshold voltage, enables the read current distinguishability (i.e., the ratio of current sensed when the Mott-FeFET is in state 1 and 0, respectively) to be independent of the program voltage. This enables the device to be programmed at low voltages without affecting the ability to sense/read the state of the device. Our work provides a pathway to realize low-voltage and energy-efficient non-volatile memory solutions.
Ultrasound does not activate but can inhibit in vivo mammalian nerves across a wide range of parameters
Authors: Guo Hongsun , Offutt Sarah J. , Hamilton II Mark , Kim Yohan , Gloeckner Cory D. , Zachs Daniel P. , Alford Jamu K. , Lim Hubert H.
Published: February 2022

Ultrasound (US) has been shown to stimulate brain circuits, however, the ability to excite peripheral nerves with US remains controversial. To the best of our knowledge, there is still no in vivo neural recording study that has applied US stimulation to a nerve isolated from surrounding tissue to confirm direct activation effects. Here, we show that US cannot excite an isolated mammalian sciatic nerve in an in vivo preparation, even at high pressures (relative to levels recommended in the FDA guidance for diagnostic ultrasound) and for a wide range of parameters, including different pulse patterns and center frequencies. US can, however, reliably inhibit nerve activity whereby greater suppression is correlated with increases in nerve temperature. By prohibiting the nerve temperature from increasing during US application, we did not observe suppressive effects. Overall, these findings demonstrate that US can reliably inhibit nerve activity through a thermal mechanism that has potential for various health disorders, though future studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety of therapeutic ultrasound applications.
Mycobacterium vaccae immunization in rats ameliorates features of age-associated microglia activation in the amygdala and hippocampus
Authors: Sanchez Kevin , Darling Jeffrey S. , Kakkar Reha , Wu Sienna L. , Zentay Andrew , Lowry Christopher A. , Fonken Laura K.
Published: February 2022

Aging and reduced exposure to environmental microbes can both potentiate neuroinflammatory responses. Prior studies indicate that immunization with the immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae), in aged rats limits neuroimmune activation and cognitive impairments. However, the mechanisms by which M. vaccae immunization ameliorates age-associated neuroinflammatory “priming” and whether microglia are a primary target remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether M. vaccae immunization protects against microglia morphological changes in response to aging. Adult (3 mos) and aged (24 mos) Fisher 344 × Brown Norway rats were immunized with either M. vaccae or vehicle once every week for 3 weeks. Aging led to elevated Iba1 immunoreactivity, microglial density, and deramification of microglia processes in the hippocampus and amygdala but not other brain regions. Additionally, aged rats exhibited larger microglial somas in the dorsal hippocampus, suggestive of a more activated phenotype. Notably, M. vaccae treatment ameliorated indicators of microglia activation in both the amygdala and hippocampus. While changes in morphology appeared to be region-specific, gene markers indicative of microglia activation were upregulated by age and lowered in response to M. vaccae in all brain regions evaluated. Taken together, these data suggest that peripheral immunization with M. vaccae quells markers of age-associated microglia activation.
Pilot study to determine differences in breath odour between cigarette and e-cigarette consumers
Authors: Dalrymple Annette , Coburn Steven , Brandt Marianne , Hardie George , Murphy James
Published: February 2022

Cigarette smoke is known to influence breath odour, but the effect of e-cigarettes is unknown. In this pilot study, we aimed to determine differences in breath odour between cigarette smokers (CSs) and e-cigarette consumers (ECs) in 33 healthy subjects: 11 CSs, 11 ECs and 11 non-smokers (NSs). Breath was sampled at baseline and following product use (CSs and ECs) or a waiting period (NSs) by eight trained odour judges using a six-point smoke intensity scale and a nine-point hedonic scale. We observed a statistically significant difference between CSs and ECs. Smoke intensity values were significantly higher in CSs than ECs and NSs, which were comparable both at baseline and after product use. In addition, hedonic values for CSs were significantly lower than both NSs and ECs after product use. These acute results indicate that cigarette and e-cigarette use results in significantly different breath. ECs breath has a reduced smoke odour and more pleasant aroma than CSs, and is comparable to NSs. This suggests there may be cosmetic benefits for CSs who quit smoking or switch to exclusive use of ECs. Further studies are required to understand the long-term effects of e-cigarette use on breath odour.
Face masks reduce interpersonal distance in virtual reality
Authors: Kroczek Leon O. H. , Böhme Stephanie , Mühlberger Andreas
Published: February 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic several behavioral measures have been implemented to reduce viral transmission. While these measures reduce the risk of infections, they may also increase risk behavior. Here, we experimentally investigate the influence of face masks on physical distancing. Eighty-four participants with or without face masks passed virtual agents in a supermarket environment to reach a target while interpersonal distance was recorded. Agents differed in wearing face masks and age (young, elderly). In addition, situational constraints varied in whether keeping a distance of 1.5 m required an effortful detour or not. Wearing face masks (both self and other) reduced physical distancing. This reduction was most prominent when keeping the recommended distance was effortful, suggesting an influence of situational constraints. Similarly, increased distances to elderly were only observed when keeping a recommended distance was effortless. These findings highlight contextual constraints in compensation behavior and have important implications for safety policies.
Ruddlesden–Popper 2D perovskites of type (C6H9C2H4NH3)2(CH3NH3)n−1PbnI3n+1 (n = 1–4) for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Rahil Mohammad , Ansari Rashid Malik , Prakash Chandra , Islam S. S. , Dixit Ambesh , Ahmad Shahab
Published: February 2022

Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) phase metal halide organo perovskites are being extensively studied due to their quasi-two dimensional (2D) nature which makes them an excellent material for several optoelectronic device applications such as solar cells, photo-detectors, light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers etc. While most of reports show use of linear carbon chain based organic moiety, such as n-Butylamine, as organic spacer in RP perovskite crystal structure, here we report a new series of quasi 2D perovskites with a ring type cyclic carbon group as organic spacer forming RP perovskite of type (CH)2(MA)n−1PbnI3n+1; CH = 2-(1-Cyclohexenyl)ethylamine; MA = Methylamine). This work highlights the synthesis, structural, thermal, optical and optoelectronic characterizations for the new RP perovskite series n = 1–4. The demonstrated RP perovskite of type for n = 1–4 have shown formation of highly crystalline thin films with alternate stacking of organic and inorganic layers, where the order of PbI6 octahedron layering are controlled by n-value, and shown uniform direct bandgap tunable from 2.51 eV (n = 1) to 1.92 eV (n = 4). The PL lifetime measurements supported the fact that lifetime of charge carriers increase with n-value of RP perovskites [154 ps (n = 1) to 336 ps (n = 4)]. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed highly stable nature of reported RP perovskites with linear increase in phase transition temperatures from 257 °C (n = 1) to 270 °C (n = 4). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) are used to investigate the surface morphology and elemental compositions of thin films. In addition, the photodetectors fabricated for the series using (CH)2(MA)n−1PbnI3n+1 RP perovskite as active absorbing layer and without any charge transport layers, shown sharp photocurrent response from 17 nA/cm2 for n = 1 to 70 nA/cm2 for n = 4, under zero bias and low power illumination conditions (470 nm LED, 1.5 mW/cm2). Furthermore, for lowest bandgap RP perovskite n = 4, (CH)2MA3Pb4I13 the photodetector showed maximum photocurrent density of ~ 508 nA/cm2 at 3 V under similar illumination condition, thus giving fairly large responsivity (46.65 mA/W). Our investigations show that 2-(1-Cyclohexenyl)ethylamine based RP perovskites can be potential solution processed semiconducting materials for optoelectronic applications such as photo-detectors, solar cells, LEDs, photobatteries etc.
Screening of rice drought-tolerant lines by introducing a new composite selection index and competitive with multivariate methods
Authors: Sabouri Atefeh , Dadras Ahmad Reza , Azari Matin , Saberi Kouchesfahani Abbas , Taslimi Mehraneh , Jalalifar Reza
Published: February 2022

Selection and breeding for drought tolerance in rice have always been one of the leading objectives for rice breeders in water-deficient farming areas. In the present study, we applied the potential of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population, which were derived from cross Shahpasand (Iranian landrace) and IR28, for the development of drought-tolerant rice lines. One hundred fifty-two lines along with five check varieties were investigated from 2017 to 2019 under non-stress and drought stress conditions. The yield reduction caused by drought based on overall mean during 2017, 2018, and 2019 were estimated to be 89.40, 57.95, and 35.31%, respectively. Using different statistical methods, certain lines, including L33, L90, and L109, which are considered as the best lines in most environments, were found to be promising for being utilized to increase rice drought tolerance. The averages of grain yield of the above-mentioned lines were respectively 6.45, 5.80, and 5.70 t ha−1 under non-stress condition, and respectively 2.77, 2.66, and 2.59 t ha−1 under drought stress condition. The yield reduction of the selected lines were significantly lower than that of others indicating the significant transgressive segregation. The results revealed using the combination of the best identified tolerance and susceptibility indices and GT-biplot are effective methods for screening superior lines. However, their utilization is not easy and requires specialized packages. For the first time, we introduced a new composite index as a combination of significant indices (CSI). CSI is in the form of a linear function of indices which effectiveness is determined by their correlation coefficient with grain yield. According to our results, using CSI, the identified rice drought-tolerant lines were in high agreement with those obtained by other methods, demonstrating that CSI is a simple but reliable composite index.
Exendin-4 alleviates steatosis in an in vitro cell model by lowering FABP1 and FOXA1 expression via the Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Khalifa Olfa , AL-Akl Neyla S. , Errafii Khaoula , Arredouani Abdelilah
Published: February 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading chronic liver disease worldwide. Agonists of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), currently approved to treat type 2 diabetes, hold promise to improve steatosis and even steatohepatitis. However, due to their pleiotropic effects, the mechanisms underlying their protective effect on NAFLD remain elusive. We aimed to investigate these mechanisms using an in vitro model of steatosis treated with the GLP-1R agonist Exendin-4 (Ex-4). We established steatotic HepG2 cells by incubating the cells with 400 µM oleic acid (OA) overnight. Further treatment with 200 nM Ex-4 for 3 h significantly reduced the OA-induced lipid accumulation (p < 0.05). Concomitantly, Ex-4 substantially reduced the expression levels of Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 1 (FABP1) and its primary activator, Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1). Interestingly, the silencing of β-catenin with siRNA abolished the effect of Ex-4 on these genes, suggesting dependency on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Additionally, after β-catenin silencing, OA treatment significantly increased the expression of nuclear transcription factors SREBP-1 and TCF4, whereas Ex-4 significantly decreased this upregulation. Our findings suggest that direct activation of GLP-1R by Ex-4 reduces OA-induced steatosis in HepG2 cells by reducing fatty acid uptake and transport via FABP1 downregulation.
Impact of lifestyle and comorbidities on seropositive rheumatoid arthritis risk from Korean health insurance data
Authors: Ro JunSoo , Kim Se Hee , Kim Hae-Rim , Lee Sang-Heon , Min Hong Ki
Published: February 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory arthritis in which primary prevention is key. However, the impact of lifestyle and comorbidities on RA development is unknown. Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-national sample cohort from 2002 to 2016 were used. At baseline, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, type of residential area, lifestyle behaviours (including exercise), and comorbidities (including the Charlson Comorbidity Index, CCI) were included. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to evaluate the impact of lifestyle and comorbidities on seropositive RA occurrence. A total of 517,053 participants were included in the analysis for seropositive RA occurrence. Mean follow up duration was 71.5 and 142.3 person-month for seropositive RA occurrence group and non-occurrence group, respectively. Seropositive RA was diagnosed in 1,948 participants (0.37%) during follow-up. Cox regression analysis revealed that being aged between 40 and 79, a higher CCI, and hyperlipidemia resulted in elevated hazard ratios (HRs) for seropositive RA, whereas male gender, city residence, moderate alcohol consumption, high regular exercise and a BMI between 23 and 34.9 kg/m2 resulted in lower HRs. Using Korean NHIS data, the present study demonstrates that high-intensity regular physical exercise and moderate alcohol consumption are negatively associated with seropositive RA occurrence, which are modifiable lifestyle habits that might aid the primary prevention of seropositive RA.
Linkage between precipitation isotopes and biosphere-atmosphere interaction observed in northeast India
Authors: Chakraborty Supriyo , Burman Pramit Kumar Deb , Sarma Dipankar , Sinha Nitesh , Datye Amey , Metya Abirlal , Murkute Charuta , Saha Subodh K. , Sujith Krishnakumar , Gogoi Nirmali , Bora Abhijit , Maji Sabyasachi , Parua Dipak K. , Bera S.
Published: February 2022

The intra-seasonal variation in precipitation isotopes shows a characteristic declining trend over northeast India. As of now, no mechanism offers a consistent explanation of this trend. We have performed the isotopic analysis of precipitation (rain) and estimated net ecosystem exchange and latent heat fluxes using an eddy-covariance system in northeast India. Additionally, we have used a diagnostic model to determine the recycled rainfall in this region. We find a strong link between the enhanced ecosystem productivity and isotopic enrichment in rainwater during the premonsoon season. Subsequently, on the advent of monsoon, the Bay of Bengal generated moisture enters this region and depletes the isotopic values. Additionally, the regional-scale convective activities produce periodic lows in the precipitation isotopes. Contrary to the general understanding, our study shows that the internal factors, such as the local land-atmosphere interactions, rather than the external influences, play a significant role in governing the precipitation isotopes in northeast India.
Anthropogenic warming disrupts intraseasonal monsoon stages and brings dry-get-wetter climate in future East Asia
Authors: Dai Lun , Cheng Tat Fan , Lu Mengqian
Published: February 2022

East Asia will face a skewed monsoon cycle with soaring flood, drought, and weather whiplash risks in a warming climate. In our objective eight-intraseasonal-monsoon-stage framework, we uncover a ‘dry-get-wetter’ paradigm in East Asia, contesting the fallen ‘rich-get-richer’ common belief. On timing, the Mid-summer and Fall periods are stretching at the expense of three delayed, shortened, and weakened winter stages, especially near the end of the twenty-first century. On threats, entire East Asia will experience up to 14–20 more heavy precipitation days during the rainy Spring to Mid-summer stages. Specifically, the Yangtze basin will suffer from an earlier pluvial period with escalating flood risks. Moreover, societal security and ecosystem resilience in the Huai-Yellow basin, South Japan, and the Korean Peninsula will be challenged by more frequent weather whiplash. Under the monsoon-stage framework, a complete moisture budget decomposition sheds light on the causes of a slower precipitation scaling and the ‘dry-get-wetter’ paradigm.
Self-assembling Nanoarchitectonics for Oral Drug Delivery
Authors: Kawakami K.
Published: February 2022

Orally taken drugs are dissolved in gastrointestinal tract, followed by their absorption mainly from the small intestinal walls. However, many drugs experience problems during this process, which may lead to an insufficient therapeutic effect of the drug. This may be overcome by the concept of self-assembling nanoarchitectonics. Well-designed formulations which may include surfactant and polymers enables the spontaneous formation of nanoarchitectures in the small intestine to aid the absorption process of drug molecules. In this chapter, features and detailed action mechanisms of self-assemble nanoarchitectures composed of drug and other molecules are discussed for enabling the design of an effective oral drug delivery system.