bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Montmorillonite as an Anti-Tuberculosis Rifampicin Drug Carrier: DFT and Experimental Study
Authors: Scholtzová Eva , Jankovič Luboš , Tunega Daniel
Published: July 2023

A hybrid of montmorillonite (Mnt) and rifampicin (RIF) was synthesized and the structure and stability of the drug carrier system clarified. Density functional theory calculations involving dispersion corrections (DFT-D3) were performed to characterize interactions acting in the interlayer space of montmorillonite intercalated with rifampicin. The structure and stability of the RIF-Mnt intercalated complex were determined. Calculations revealed the deformation of the molecular structure of rifampicin after intercalation into the Mnt interlayer space due to the clay environment. The ansa chain of RIF was bent in the interlayer space compared with the structure of the RIF molecule in the monocrystal. RIF was keyed into the Mnt surface by means of numerous hydrogen bonds of weak to moderate strength. The calculated vibrational spectrum from ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) was in good agreement with the FTIR measured spectra and helped to analyze the overlapped vibrational bands. Based on analysis of structural stability, theoretical calculations revealed that Mnt is a suitable drug carrier for delayed release of the RIF drug. Batch adsorption experiments showed the large adsorption capacity of montmorillonite for RIF.
New Constraints on the Late Oligocene‐Miocene Thermo‐Tectonic Evolution of the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau From Low‐Temperature Thermochronology
Authors: He Zhiyuan , Zhong Linglin , Cao Kai , Su Wenbo , Glorie Stijn , Zhong Kanghui , Sun Chuang , De Grave Johan
Published: July 2023

The southeastern (SE) Tibetan Plateau (Yunnan) is characterized by low‐relief uplands that were deeply incised by large rivers. The thermal history of basement rocks in this region remains poorly investigated, while this data is needed to elucidate the complex relationship between tectonics and climate in shaping the surface. To better understand its thermo‐tectonic evolution, we carried out apatite fission track thermochronology on 31 samples collected from a large area that covers different tectonic units, including a vertical profile in the middle Mekong River valley; additional zircon LA‐ICP‐MS U‐Pb dating was performed on four basement rocks. Our results confirm that a large portion of Mesozoic crystalline rocks constitute the basement of the SE Tibetan Plateau. Inverse thermal history modeling of fission track data reveal extensive late Oligocene to Miocene rapid basement cooling and exhumation episodes from both inside and outside the active zones (i.e., ductile shear zone and river valley). These thermal events were coincident with the activities of large‐scale strike‐slip faults that dominate the structural framework. Combined with the published data, we propose that widespread crustal shortening and thickening took place in the SE Tibetan Plateau during the Oligocene‐Miocene in the context of a compressive tectonic regime. Low‐temperature thermochronological data reveal that both tectonic forcing and climate‐driven erosion have played important roles in exhuming the basement rocks in the region. It is also deduced that the present‐day relatively low‐elevation landscape of the Yunnan area resulted from complex interaction between regional tectonic activity and surficial erosion since the late Oligocene.
Enhancing bacteriophage therapeutics through in situ production and release of heterologous antimicrobial effectors
Authors: Du Jiemin , Meile Susanne , Baggenstos Jasmin , Jäggi Tobias , Piffaretti Pietro , Hunold Laura , Matter Cassandra I. , Leitner Lorenz , Kessler Thomas M. , Loessner Martin J. , Kilcher Samuel , Dunne Matthew
Published: July 2023

Bacteriophages operate via pathogen-specific mechanisms of action distinct from conventional, broad-spectrum antibiotics and are emerging as promising alternative antimicrobials. However, phage-mediated killing is often limited by bacterial resistance development. Here, we engineer phages for target-specific effector gene delivery and host-dependent production of colicin-like bacteriocins and cell wall hydrolases. Using urinary tract infection (UTI) as a model, we show how heterologous effector phage therapeutics (HEPTs) suppress resistance and improve uropathogen killing by dual phage- and effector-mediated targeting. Moreover, we designed HEPTs to control polymicrobial uropathogen communities through production of effectors with cross-genus activity. Using phage-based companion diagnostics, we identified potential HEPT responder patients and treated their urine ex vivo. Compared to wildtype phage, a colicin E7-producing HEPT demonstrated superior control of patient E. coli bacteriuria. Arming phages with heterologous effectors paves the way for successful UTI treatment and represents a versatile tool to enhance and adapt phage-based precision antimicrobials.
Involvement of skin TRPV3 in temperature detection regulated by TMEM79 in mice
Authors: Lei Jing , Yoshimoto Reiko U. , Matsui Takeshi , Amagai Masayuki , Kido Mizuho A. , Tominaga Makoto
Published: July 2023

TRPV3, a non-selective cation transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel, is activated by warm temperatures. It is predominantly expressed in skin keratinocytes, and participates in various somatic processes. Previous studies have reported that thermosensation in mice lacking TRPV3 was impaired. Here, we identified a transmembrane protein, TMEM79, that acts as a negative regulator of TRPV3. Heterologous expression of TMEM79 was capable of suppressing TRPV3-mediated currents in HEK293T cells. In addition, TMEM79 modulated TRPV3 translocalization and promoted its degradation in the lysosomes. TRPV3-mediated currents and Ca2+ influx were potentiated in primary mouse keratinocytes lacking TMEM79. Furthermore, TMEM79-deficient male mice preferred a higher temperature than did wild-type mice due to elevated TRPV3 function. Our study revealed unique interactions between TRPV3 and TMEM79, both in vitro and in vivo. These findings support roles for TMEM79 and TRPV3 in thermosensation.
Tumor-derived GDF-15 blocks LFA-1 dependent T cell recruitment and suppresses responses to anti-PD-1 treatment
Authors: Haake Markus , Haack Beatrice , Schäfer Tina , Harter Patrick N. , Mattavelli Greta , Eiring Patrick , Vashist Neha , Wedekink Florian , Genssler Sabrina , Fischer Birgitt , Dahlhoff Julia , Mokhtari Fatemeh , Kuzkina Anastasia , Welters Marij J. P. , Benz Tamara M. , Sorger Lena , Thiemann Vincent , Almanzar Giovanni , Selle Martina , Thein Klara , Späth Jacob , Gonzalez Maria Cecilia , Reitinger Carmen , Ipsen-Escobedo Andrea , Wistuba-Hamprecht Kilian , Eichler Kristin , Filipski Katharina , Zeiner Pia S. , Beschorner Rudi , Goedemans Renske , Gogolla Falk Hagen , Hackl Hubert , Rooswinkel Rogier W. , Thiem Alexander , Roche Paula Romer , Joshi Hemant , Pühringer Dirk , Wöckel Achim , Diessner Joachim E. , Rüdiger Manfred , Leo Eugen , Cheng Phil F. , Levesque Mitchell P. , Goebeler Matthias , Sauer Markus , Nimmerjahn Falk , Schuberth-Wagner Christine , von Felten Stefanie , Mittelbronn Michel , Mehling Matthias , Beilhack Andreas , van der Burg Sjoerd H. , Riedel Angela , Weide Benjamin , Dummer Reinhard , Wischhusen Jörg
Published: July 2023

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy is beneficial and even curative for some cancer patients. However, the majority don’t respond to immune therapy. Across different tumor types, pre-existing T cell infiltrates predict response to checkpoint-based immunotherapy. Based on in vitro pharmacological studies, mouse models and analyses of human melanoma patients, we show that the cytokine GDF-15 impairs LFA-1/β2-integrin-mediated adhesion of T cells to activated endothelial cells, which is a pre-requisite of T cell extravasation. In melanoma patients, GDF-15 serum levels strongly correlate with failure of PD-1-based immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Neutralization of GDF-15 improves both T cell trafficking and therapy efficiency in murine tumor models. Thus GDF-15, beside its known role in cancer-related anorexia and cachexia, emerges as a regulator of T cell extravasation into the tumor microenvironment, which provides an even stronger rationale for therapeutic anti-GDF-15 antibody development.
Identification of a small-molecule inhibitor that selectively blocks DNA-binding by Trypanosoma brucei replication protein A1
Authors: Mukherjee Aditi , Hossain Zakir , Erben Esteban , Ma Shuai , Choi Jun Yong , Kim Hee-Sook
Published: July 2023

Replication Protein A (RPA) is a broadly conserved complex comprised of the RPA1, 2 and 3 subunits. RPA protects the exposed single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) during DNA replication and repair. Using structural modeling, we discover an inhibitor, JC-229, that targets RPA1 in Trypanosoma brucei, the causative parasite of African trypanosomiasis. The inhibitor is highly toxic to T. brucei cells, while mildly toxic to human cells. JC-229 treatment mimics the effects of TbRPA1 depletion, including DNA replication inhibition and DNA damage accumulation. In-vitro ssDNA-binding assays demonstrate that JC-229 inhibits the activity of TbRPA1, but not the human ortholog. Indeed, despite the high sequence identity with T. cruzi and Leishmania RPA1, JC-229 only impacts the ssDNA-binding activity of TbRPA1. Site-directed mutagenesis confirms that the DNA-Binding Domain A (DBD-A) in TbRPA1 contains a JC-229 binding pocket. Residue Serine 105 determines specific binding and inhibition of TbRPA1 but not T. cruzi and Leishmania RPA1. Our data suggest a path toward developing and testing highly specific inhibitors for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis.
Herbarium specimen sequencing allows precise dating of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri diversification history
Authors: Campos Paola E. , Pruvost Olivier , Boyer Karine , Chiroleu Frederic , Cao Thuy Trang , Gaudeul Myriam , Baider Cláudia , Utteridge Timothy M. A. , Becker Nathalie , Rieux Adrien , Gagnevin Lionel
Published: July 2023

Herbarium collections are an important source of dated, identified and preserved DNA, whose use in comparative genomics and phylogeography can shed light on the emergence and evolutionary history of plant pathogens. Here, we reconstruct 13 historical genomes of the bacterial crop pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xci) from infected Citrus herbarium specimens. Following authentication based on ancient DNA damage patterns, we compare them with a large set of modern genomes to estimate their phylogenetic relationships, pathogenicity-associated gene content and several evolutionary parameters. Our results indicate that Xci originated in Southern Asia ~11,500 years ago (perhaps in relation to Neolithic climate change and the development of agriculture) and diversified during the beginning of the 13th century, after Citrus diversification and before spreading to the rest of the world (probably via human-driven expansion of citriculture through early East-West trade and colonization).
Structural basis of the T4 bacteriophage primosome assembly and primer synthesis
Authors: Feng Xiang , Spiering Michelle M. , de Luna Almeida Santos Ruda , Benkovic Stephen J. , Li Huilin
Published: July 2023

The T4 bacteriophage gp41 helicase and gp61 primase assemble into a primosome to couple DNA unwinding with RNA primer synthesis for DNA replication. How the primosome is assembled and how the primer length is defined are unclear. Here we report a series of cryo-EM structures of T4 primosome assembly intermediates. We show that gp41 alone is an open spiral, and ssDNA binding triggers a large-scale scissor-like conformational change that drives the ring closure and activates the helicase. Helicase activation exposes a cryptic hydrophobic surface to recruit the gp61 primase. The primase binds the helicase in a bipartite mode in which the N-terminal Zn-binding domain and the C-terminal RNA polymerase domain each contain a helicase-interacting motif that bind to separate gp41 N-terminal hairpin dimers, leading to the assembly of one primase on the helicase hexamer. Our study reveals the T4 primosome assembly process and sheds light on the RNA primer synthesis mechanism.
Age-related self-DNA accumulation may accelerate arthritis in rats and in human rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Luo Wei-Dan , Wang Yu-Ping , Lv Jun , Liu Yong , Qu Yuan-Qing , Xu Xiong-Fei , Yang Li-Jun , Lin Zi-Cong , Wang Lin-Na , Chen Rui-Hong , Yang Jiu-Jie , Zeng Ya-Ling , Zhang Rui-Long , Huang Bai-Xiong , Yun Xiao-Yun , Wang Xuan-Ying , Song Lin-Lin , Wu Jian-Hui , Wang Xing-Xia , Chen Xi , Zhang Wei , Wang Hui-Miao , Qu Li-Qun , Liu Meng-Han , Liu Liang , Law Betty Yuen Kwan , Wong Vincent Kam Wai
Published: July 2023

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increasing with age. DNA fragments is known to accumulate in certain autoimmune diseases, but the mechanistic relationship among ageing, DNA fragments and RA pathogenesis remain unexplored. Here we show that the accumulation of DNA fragments, increasing with age and regulated by the exonuclease TREX1, promotes abnormal activation of the immune system in an adjuvant‐induced arthritis (AIA) rat model. Local overexpression of TREX1 suppresses synovial inflammation in rats, while conditional genomic deletion of TREX1 in AIA rats result in higher levels of circulating free (cf) DNA and hence abnormal immune activation, leading to more severe symptoms. The dysregulation of the heterodimeric transcription factor AP-1, formed by c-Jun and c-Fos, appear to regulate both TREX1 expression and SASP induction. Thus, our results confirm that DNA fragments are inflammatory mediators, and TREX1, downstream of AP-1, may serve as regulator of cellular immunity in health and in RA.
Topological properties and organizing principles of semantic networks
Authors: Budel Gabriel , Jin Ying , Van Mieghem Piet , Kitsak Maksim
Published: July 2023

Interpreting natural language is an increasingly important task in computer algorithms due to the growing availability of unstructured textual data. Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications rely on semantic networks for structured knowledge representation. The fundamental properties of semantic networks must be taken into account when designing NLP algorithms, yet they remain to be structurally investigated. We study the properties of semantic networks from ConceptNet, defined by 7 semantic relations from 11 different languages. We find that semantic networks have universal basic properties: they are sparse, highly clustered, and many exhibit power-law degree distributions. Our findings show that the majority of the considered networks are scale-free. Some networks exhibit language-specific properties determined by grammatical rules, for example networks from highly inflected languages, such as e.g. Latin, German, French and Spanish, show peaks in the degree distribution that deviate from a power law. We find that depending on the semantic relation type and the language, the link formation in semantic networks is guided by different principles. In some networks the connections are similarity-based, while in others the connections are more complementarity-based. Finally, we demonstrate how knowledge of similarity and complementarity in semantic networks can improve NLP algorithms in missing link inference.
On the equivalence between squeezing and entanglement potential for two-mode Gaussian states
Authors: Li Bohan , Das Aritra , Tserkis Spyros , Narang Prineha , Lam Ping Koy , Assad Syed M.
Published: July 2023

The maximum amount of entanglement achievable under passive transformations by continuous-variable states is called the entanglement potential. Recent work has demonstrated that the entanglement potential is upper-bounded by a simple function of the squeezing of formation, and that certain classes of two-mode Gaussian states can indeed saturate this bound, though saturability in the general case remains an open problem. In this study, we introduce a larger class of states that we prove saturates the bound, and we conjecture that all two-mode Gaussian states can be passively transformed into this class, meaning that for all two-mode Gaussian states, entanglement potential is equivalent to squeezing of formation. We provide an explicit algorithm for the passive transformations and perform extensive numerical testing of our claim, which seeks to unite the resource theories of two characteristic quantum properties of continuous-variable systems.
Evaluation of in-service smartphone battery drainage profile for video calling feature in major apps
Authors: Ali Hayder , Khan Hassan Abbas , Pecht Michael
Published: July 2023

Video calling is one of the most energy-intensive features in apps requiring the simultaneous operation of the mobile camera, display screen, audio speaker, and internet services. This feature impacts a smartphone battery's runtime and lifetime. This paper is the first of its kind experimental study, which quantifies the operating profile (discharge current, temperature, and terminal voltage) of video call feature in multiple widely used social media apps, which include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, Skype, WeChat, Google Hangouts, Imo and Viber. One smartphone each of Vivo and Motorola has been evaluated as the manufacturer-provided application programming interface (API) allowed real-time measurement of the operating profile. Results indicate that the video calling feature for Facebook Messenger and Imo is the most energy efficient. In contrast, Google Hangouts is up to 35% more energy-intensive for video calling than other apps. Measurements also show that Vivo's in-service battery temperature is lower than Motorola due to its efficient chipset. For instance, during active Google Hangouts operation for 1 h, Vivo temperature is limited to 46 °C, whereas Motorola temperature rises to 52 °C. Finally, the influence of app algorithms and codecs on energy efficiency is also discussed with regard to operating performance.
The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among the patients with diabetes in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Akhtar Sohail , Hassan Fazal , Saqlain Seda Rakhshanda , Ali Aqsa , Hussain Sardar
Published: July 2023

The most frequent complication of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy. The estimated prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes varies substantially between published studies in Pakistan. We conducted this meta-analysis to summarize the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes. Different electronic databases were systematically searched using keywords and MeSH terms. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to pool the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes in Pakistan. Heterogeneity was investigated by random-effects meta-regression and stratification. Two independent authors reviewed studies, extracted data, and conducted the risk of bias analysis. Nineteen studies with a total of 8487 diabetic patients were included. The overall pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 43.16% (95% CI 32.93–53.69%), with significant heterogeneity between estimates. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among those newly diagnosed with diabetes was 26.52% (95% CI 14.97–39.96%, n = 5). According to the subgroup meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was highest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (55.29%; 95% CI 23.91–84.50%), followed by Sindh (40.04%; 95% CI 24.00–57.25%), and the lowest was found in Punjab (34.90%; 95% CI 15.05–57.95%). A significant association was found between the pooled prevalence estimate and the duration of diabetes. The results of this meta-analysis indicate a relatively high prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes in Pakistan. The study protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO, with the registration number CRD42022371617.
pH-Activatable copper-axitinib coordinated multifunctional nanoparticles for synergistic chemo-chemodynamic therapy against aggressive cancers
Authors: Ji Muse , Liu Hongbing , Wang Hanxun , Liang Xinxin , Wei Mingli , Shi Dongmei , Gou Jingxin , Yin Tian , He Haibing , Tang Xing , Zhang Yu
Published: July 2023

Schematic illustration of Cu-AXB NPs synthesis and Cu-AXB NPs based treatment for cancer in mice.
Photochemically generated reactive sites at ruthenium/gallium complexes: catalysis vs. cluster growth
Authors: Bühler Raphael , Muhr Maximilian , Stephan Johannes , Wolf Robert A. , Schütz Max , Gemel Christian , Fischer Roland A.
Published: July 2023

Reactive bimetallic species are photochemically formed through irradiation. These species are catalytically active or participate in cluster growth reactions.
Microbiota dysbiosis caused by dietetic patterns as a promoter of Alzheimer's disease through metabolic syndrome mechanisms
Authors: Navalón-Monllor Víctor , Soriano-Romaní Laura , Silva Mariana , de las Hazas María-Carmen López , Hernando-Quintana Natalia , Suárez Diéguez Teodoro , Esteve Pere Morell , Nieto Juan Antonio
Published: July 2023

Microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic syndrome, consequences of a non-adequate diet, generate a feedback pathogenic state implicated in Alzheimer's disease development.
AlCl3-mediated ring-opening reactions of indoline-2-thiones with acyl cyclopropanes, bi-cyclopropanes and spirocyclic cyclopropanes
Authors: Ma Hao-Jie , Gao Ke , Wang Xue-Long , Zeng Jun-Yi , Yang Yi , Jiang Yan
Published: July 2023

A series of indolylthio-functionalized ketones were constructed via a ring-opening reaction, and the linear ketones could be further transformed into dihydro-2H-thiepino[2,3-b]indoles.
Retro Diels–Alder-triggered self-assembly of a polymerizable macrocyclic diacetylene
Authors: Heo Jung-Moo , Park Jaeyoung , Kim Jong–Man
Published: July 2023

A new triggered self-assembly (SA) method, which utilizes retro Diels–Alder (rDA)-promoted self-assembly of a macrocyclic diacetylene, was developed.
Comparison of Balanites aegyptiaca parts: metabolome providing insights into plant health benefits and valorization purposes as analyzed using multiplex GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR-based metabolomics, and molecular networking
Authors: Farag Mohamed A. , Baky Mostafa H. , Morgan Ibrahim , Khalifa Mohamed R. , Rennert Robert , Mohamed Osama G. , El-Sayed Magdy M. , Porzel Andrea , Wessjohann Ludger A. , Ramadan Nehal S.
Published: July 2023

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae), also known as the desert date, is an edible fruit-producing tree popular for its nutritional and several health benefits.
Porous nanorods by stacked NiO nanoparticulate exhibiting corn-like structure for sustainable environmental and energy applications
Authors: Manjunath Vishesh , Bimli Santosh , Singh Diwakar , Biswas Rathindranath , Didwal Pravin N. , Haldar Krishna Kanta , Deshpande Nishad G. , Bhobe Preeti A. , Devan Rupesh S.
Published: July 2023

The mesoporous nanorods by stacked NiO nanoparticulates exhibiting corn-like structure show sustainable multifunctionality towards CO2 capture, energy storage, and electrocatalytic H2/O2 evolution through water splitting.
A visible-light-driven molecular motor based on barbituric acid
Authors: Kuntze Kim , Pooler Daisy R. S. , Di Donato Mariangela , Hilbers Michiel F. , van der Meulen Pieter , Buma Wybren Jan , Priimagi Arri , Feringa Ben L. , Crespi Stefano
Published: July 2023

Yeehaw! The rotation of a visible-light-driven molecular motor based on barbituric acid is tamed by a hydrogen bonding “lasso” mechanism between its serendipitously-formed tertiary hydroxy stereocentre and its lower half carbonyl groups.
Recipe for the design of mixed cation lead halide perovskites: adsorption and charge transfer from A-site cations to PbI2
Authors: Chen Hongfei , Yan Hejin , Cai Yongqing
Published: July 2023

An ideal recipe of A-site cations in lead-halide perovskites is determined by first-principles simulation. Besides, the initial growth mechanism of perovskites via ionic diffusion driven by a built-in electric field is proposed.
Spin measurement of 4U 1543–47 with Insight-HXMT and NICER from its 2021 outburst
Authors: Yorgancioglu E. S. , Bu Q. C. , Santangelo A. , Tao L. , Davis S. W. , Vahdat A. , Kong L. D. , Piraino S. , Zhou M. , Zhang S. N.
Published: July 2023

Context. 4U 1543–47 is one of a handful of known black hole candidates located in the Milky Way galaxy. It underwent a very luminous outburst in 2021, reaching a peak intensity of ~9 Crab, as observed by the Monitor of All-sky Image (MAXI), and exceeding twice its Eddington luminosity.

Aims. The unprecedented bright outburst of 4U 1543–47 provides a unique opportunity to test the behavior of accretion disk models at high luminosities and accretion rates. In addition, we explore the possibility of constraining the spin of the source at high accretion rates, given that the previous spin measurements of 4U 1543–47 are largely inconsistent with each other.

Methods. We measure the spectral evolution of the source throughout its outburst as observed by Insight-HXMT, and compare the behavior of both the thin-disk model kerrbb2 and the slim disk model slimbh up to the Eddington limit for two different values of disk α-viscosity. In addition, given the behavior of these two models, we identify two “golden” epochs in which it is most suitable to measure the spin with the continuum fitting method.

Results. We find evidence of a disk state transition from a thicker slim disk to a thin disk occurring around 1 LEdd from fits to the luminosity-temperature relation. We obtain consistent and constant spin measurements from both slimbh and kerrbb2 as the luminosity varies towards the Eddington limit, implying the recovery of thin-disk solutions above the traditional thin-disk criterion of 30% LEdd. We constrain the spin to a* = 0.65−0.24+0.14, assuming an α-viscosity = 0.01 from both Insight-HXMT and NICER observations from the above-mentioned “golden” epochs where the condition of the disk being truncated at the innermost stable circular orbit is most closely met.
Formation of Hεin the solar atmosphere
Authors: Krikova K. , Pereira T. M. D. , Rouppe van der Voort L. H. M.
Published: July 2023

Context.In the solar spectrum, the Balmer series line Hεis a weak blend on the wing of Ca IIH. Recent high-resolution Hεspectroheliograms reveal a reversed granulation pattern and in some cases, even unique structures. It is apparent that Hεcould potentially be a useful diagnostic tool for the lower solar atmosphere.

Aims.Our aim is to understand how Hεis formed in the quiet Sun. In particular, we consider the particular physical mechanism that sets its source function and extinction, how it is formed in different solar structures, and why it is sometimes observed in emission.

Methods.We used a 3D radiative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation that accounts for non-equilibrium hydrogen ionization, run with the Bifrost code. To synthesize Hεand Ca IIH spectra, we made use of the RH code, which was modified to take into account the non-equilibrium hydrogen ionization. To determine the dominant terms in the Hεsource function, we adopted a multi-level description of the source function. Making use of the synthetic spectra and simulation, we studied the contribution function to the relative line absorption or emission and compared it with atmospheric quantities at different locations.

Results.Our multi-level source function description suggests that the Hεsource function is dominated by interlocking, with the dominant interlocking transition being through the ground level, populating the upper level of Hεvia the Lyman series. This makes the Hεsource function partly sensitive to temperature. The Hεextinction is set by Lyman-α. In some cases, this temperature dependence gives rise to Hεemission, indicating heating. The typical absorption profiles show reversed granulation and the Hεline core reflects mostly the Ca IIH background radiation.

Conclusions.Synthetic Hεspectra can reproduce quiet Sun observations quite well. High-resolution observations reveal that Hεis not just a weak absorption line. Regions with Hεin emission are especially interesting to detect small-scale heating events in the lower solar atmosphere, such as Ellerman bombs. Thus, Hεcan be an important new diagnostic tool for studies of heating in the solar atmosphere, augmenting the diagnostic potential of Ca IIH when observed simultaneously.
Pressure induced tuning of the physical properties of SnZrO3 and SnHfO3: A first principle study
Authors: Abedin Md. Jaynal , Hossain Md. Sajib , Rahman M. Atikur , Azim Ehsanul , Haque Babu Md. Majibul , Kholil Md. Ibrahim , Kabir Alamgir
Published: July 2023

Structural, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of cubic SnZrO3 and SnHfO3 have been studied under different hydrostatic pressures within the framework of density functional theory. A strong atomic interaction resulting from a considerable drop in the lattice parameter and bond length was observed. The Sn–O and Hf/Zr–O showed strong ionic and weak covalent characteristics, respectively, and the bond strengths are found to enhance under the applied pressure. Poisson’s ratio of these compounds also supports the bonding nature. The external pressure remarkably changed the optical absorption and conductivity of the materials to a higher value in the UV region of the solar spectrum and the direct bandgap of Sn(Zr/Hf)O3 significantly reduced, thereby enhancing the conductivity. Likewise, in other optical parameters, the elastic properties exhibited some noticeable changes: the stiffness, ductility, anisotropy, hardness, and machinability of these materials were significantly increased due to external pressure. All the findings indicate the high potentiality of these compounds to be used in optoelectronics and photovoltaic applications in the UV spectrum under hydrostatic pressure.
Spreading the words
Authors: Grenby M. O.
Published: July 2023

From the sixteenth century on, a vast amount of
cheap print offering instruction in the basics of literacy and
religion was published, much of it intended primarily for the use of
children. Alphabets, primers, catechisms, and other similar texts
circulated widely in Europe, but this chapter considers their
distribution around the globe via emerging mercantilist and
missionary networks. Ranging from 1500 to 1850, and taking examples
from Mexico, Tranquebar, and New England, and from
nineteenth-century Bengal, Malacca, and the United States’ “Indian
Territory”, an overarching (though inevitably incomplete) history of
the global circulation of cheap children’s print is attempted. The
chapter concludes that, even though these texts must be understood
as contributing to processes of colonization, coercive evangelism,
and cultural and linguistic loss, they also produced many
fascinating hybrid formats, fusing indigenous, colonialist, and
missionary practices.
Comenius in New York
Authors: Crain Patricia
Published: July 2023

While the seventeenth-century humanist and
educator John Amos Comenius (1592–1670) never travelled to New York,
his 1658 Orbis Sensualium Pictus (Visible World in
Pictures) did, as a seventeenth- and eighteenth-century London
import and as an 1810 New York imprint. Editions and expressively
annotated individual copies of this image-rich, encyclopaedic,
bilingual English-Latin book for children chart the social life of
the Orbis Pictus in the United States. The first US
facsimile (1887,
Syracuse, New York) echoes the Orbis Sensualium
Pictus’s diasporic roots, as a reader’s marks in the
sole copy in the New York Public Library situate it amid the early
twentieth century’s migrations of Eastern and Southern Europeans to
New York.
Translating, transforming, and targeting books for
children
Authors: Appel Charlotte
Published: July 2023

This chapter investigates the work of Morten
Hallager (1740–1803), one of the most productive figures in the
emerging market for children’s books in Denmark. With strong
language skills in German and French, know-how as a former printer,
and a career as a schoolmaster, he had important qualifications and
experiences for transmitting books and transforming them for a
Danish audience. Based on analyses of 38 publications for children
by Hallager, mostly from the 1790s, the chapter demonstrates the
importance of analysing different variables and dimensions, when
mapping translation practices, not least the number of source texts
and the degree of “localization”. Being shaped by, and taking
advantage of, specific developments in Denmark, Hallager needs also
to be seen as one of many European transnational agents dealing with
children’s books during the late Enlightenment.1
Girlhood as a transnational creation
Authors: Dietz Feike
Published: July 2023

Although the late-eighteenth-century Dutch
market for children’s books was reliant on international examples,
it was also a space for the development and dissemination of
innovative forms of education by Dutch authors in the Dutch Republic
and beyond. Focusing on girls’ books as one segment of the market,
this chapter demonstrates that many progressive girls’ books from
abroad were translated into Dutch, serving as manifestations of a
hierarchically organized educational process involving girls and
adult women. The Dutch, however, also reshaped these examples by
developing an innovative epistolary model that enabled girls to find
their own voices and to educate one another. This model, in turn,
exerted an impact on international book production. The chapter
argues that Dutch girls’ books fostered the development of peer
education among girls through continuous and sophisticated
transnational interactions with international markets.
Childhood and its afterlives
Authors: Pryce Stella Miriam
Published: July 2023

There is an opening in the study of children’s literature in the form of spectralities. By way of revealing this lacuna, this chapter diffractively reads J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan through Avery Gordon’s seminal spectral project Ghostly Matters. Reading these texts through one another shows that if we are to begin thinking after childhood, we must shift our conception of childhood away from a binary ontology governed by generational orderings. The argument presented herein is twofold: characters within children’s literature and the children’s book itself exist in dialogue with the past and the future, simultaneously before and after individual and subjective childhoods. Thus, a wider haunting occurs in children’s literature belonging to the so-called spectral turn that scholars have suggested exists across literature and culture.
Dynamics of age and power in a children’s literature research assemblage
Authors: Duthoy Leander
Published: July 2023

The link between age and power in children’s literature has been explored through various lenses in recent years, with some scholars emphasizing the adult’s power and others focusing on the child’s power. To add to the current debate, this chapter analyses empirical qualitative data from readers’ reflections on their own age and the age of characters in the Dutch children’s book Iep!, written by Joke van Leeuwen. The chapter aims to adopt a “post-age” (Haynes & Murris 2017) perspective, with the participants’ individual experiences of Iep! becoming entwined and changed through encounters with human beings and matter.
Down the back of a chair
Authors: Rijke Victoria de , Osgood Jayne , Laura-Rosa
Published: July 2023

In this chapter, the authors work with Ursula Le Guin’s (1986) Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction to offer a reconfiguration of “the book” in childhood contexts. Attending to the relational agencies generated from messy entanglements of (hence hyphenated) reader-book-child-chair-cat-lice-mites, they feel their way around to arrive at other ideas about what books are, what books do, and what else they might potentiate in contemporary imaginations of “the child”. Le Guin retells the story of human origin by redefining technology as a cultural “carrier bag” rather than a weapon of domination. The authors offer a scrabbling methodology of “research-creation”: a method of scrabbling “down the back of the chair” (both literally and metaphorically). This feminist methodology attunes to assemblages of odds and ends, hair and dust mites, children’s literature and child readers and facilitates an exploration of the intersectional, relational meanings that might tell us something else about childhood in the Anthropocene.
Historical corpora and linguistic geography of Spanish
Authors: Rodríguez Vicente J. Marcet , Navarro Manuel Nevot
Published: July 2023

This chapter discusses the evolution of different
linguistic phenomena in Castile and León between the 13th and the
16th century. We study four historical corpora consisting of various
original notarial and chancellor documents. For this purpose, we
have accessed several corpora, representing three main distinct
linguistic domains of Castile and León: the North of Burgos, shown in
CODOMME; the South of Ávila, collected in CODOMSA and CODAHSA; and
the West of León, compiled in CODOMSAE. The examined phenomena were
the evolution of compound tenses, the devoicing of sibilants, and
the evolution and aspiration of Latin F- (the latter is reflected in
writing as ,  and ). These phenomena
serve to illustrate the linguistic differences and similarities in
different regions of Castile and León during the Middle Ages.
Granularity in the Verbalization of Events and Objects
Authors: Stathi Katerina
Published: July 2023

The study departs from the observation that in expressing ideas, some languages encode more details than others. It investigates whether languages encode events and/or objects at a coarse-grained (e.g., put, glass) as opposed to a fine-grained (e.g., lay, wine glass) level systematically. The level of detail is termed granularity, which is viewed as a cline from fine-grained (semantic specificity) to coarse-grained meaning (semantic generality). Four languages are investigated: German, English, Greek, and Turkish. The study draws on elicited data from a naming task. The verbalization of events is based on event and object descriptions in selected semantic domains. The results reveal significant granularity effects between languages and language types (satellite-framed vs. verb-framed). The study is relevant for scholars interested in linguistic typology, lexical and semantic typology, contrastive linguistics, event representation, psycholinguistics, and cognitive semantics.
Oscillatory banded Hessenberg matrices, multiple orthogonal polynomials and Markov chains
Authors: Branquinho Amílcar , FoulquiéMoreno Ana , Mañas Manuel
Published: July 2023

A spectral Favard theorem is derived for bounded banded lower Hessenberg matrices that possess a positive bidiagonal factorization. The rich knowledge concerning the spectral and factorization properties of oscillatory matrices forms the basis of this theorem, which is formulated in terms of sequences of multiple orthogonal polynomials of types I and II, associated with a set of positive Lebesgue-Stieltjes measures. Additionally, a multiple Gauss quadrature is established, and the corresponding degrees of precision are determined. The spectral Favard theorem finds application in the context of Markov chains with transition matrices having (p+ 2) diagonals, extending beyond the birth and death scenario, while still maintaining a positive stochastic bidiagonal factorization. In the finite case, the Karlin–McGregor spectral representation is provided, along with the demonstration of recurrent behavior and explicit expressions for the stationary distributions in terms of the orthogonal polynomials. Analogous results are obtained for countably infinite Markov chains. In this case, the Markov chain may not be recurrent, and its characterization is expressed in relation to the first measure. The ergodicity of the Markov chain is explored, taking into consideration the presence of a mass at 1, which corresponds to eigenvalues associated with the right and left eigenvectors.
Neutral Hydrogen Content of Dwarf Galaxies in Different Environments
Authors: Hu Hui-Jie , Guo Qi , Renard Pablo , Yang Hang , Zheng Zheng , Jing Yingjie , Chen Hao , Li Hui
Published: July 2023

Environments play an important role in galaxy formation and evolution, particularly in regulating the content of neutral gas. However, current H i surveys have limitations in their depth, which prevents them from adequately studying low H i content galaxies in high-density regions. In this study, we address this issue by employing the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope with extensive integration times to complement the relatively shallow Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-band Feed Array H i survey. This approach allows us to explore the gas content of dwarf galaxies across various environments. We observe a positive relationship between H i mass and stellar mass in dwarf galaxies, with a well-defined upper boundary for H i mass that holds true in both observations and simulations. Furthermore, we find a decrease in the H i-to-stellar mass ratio (M
H I/M
*) as the density of the environment increases, irrespective of whether it is determined by the proximity to the nearest group or the projected number density. Comparing our observations to simulations, we note a steeper slope in the relationship, indicating a gradual gas-stripping process in the observational data. Additionally, we find that the scaling relation between the M
H I/M
* and optical properties can be improved by incorporating galaxy environments.
Fuzzy Inference System in Assessing the Improved Wastewater Quality for Irrigation through Sedimentation, Dilution, and Biochar Filtration in Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq
Authors: Hamabor Nabaz Omer , Fattah Mohammed Abdulrazzaq , Khwakaram Ahmed Ibrahim
Published: July 2023

The study aims to improve the quality of wastewater in Sulaymaniyah city, Iraq, which has been facing drought problems, by using sedimentation, dilution (1:1), and biochar filtration. It provides an alternative source of water for agriculture, addressing the water shortage problem in the region. The irrigation water quality is evaluated based on the Water Quality Index (WQI) using a fuzzy inference system, a mathematical tool that converts complex statements into mathematical terms and simplifies them into outputs. The centroid defuzzification technique is applied to convert the fuzzy results into crisp numbers. The output of the FIS score is used to determine the suitability of water for irrigation. The study utilized six different samples: groundwater (GW), wastewater (WW), sedimented wastewater (SW), filtered sedimented wastewater (FSW), diluted sedimented wastewater (DSW), and filtered diluted sedimented wastewater (FDSW). The samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity (TUR), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphate (TP), cations (Ca, Na), anions (Cl and SO4), and heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu). The study found that the WQI FIS-I values for wastewater increased with each treatment step, with the final step of passing the DSW through a biochar filter resulting in an FIS WQI-I value of 61.59, indicating good water quality. The deterministic method also showed improved levels for TP, TN, TSS, and turbidity. Mean TN and TP values decreased to 8.9 mg L-1 and 3.62 mg L-1, respectively, in the FDSW, with turbidity and TSS also decreasing to 0.37 NTU and 21 mg L-1. The resulting FDSW was of the best quality among the treated waters, making it suitable for drip irrigation.
Role of Mineral Micronutrient on some Qualitative Traits and Yield of Sweet Pepper Under Protected Cultivation System in Calcareous Soil
Authors: Al-Ogaidi Ziyad A. Humod , Alwan Bushra Mahmoud
Published: July 2023

In the 2020/2021 agricultural season, a private greenhouse farm in Al-Madaen city/Old Diyala Bridge/Western Tuwaitha Village (N 44,29,47-E 36,33,11) studied the influence of mineral micronutrients on biofortification, growth, and yield of sweet pepper cultivated on calcareous soil. Dutch Oloumpus peppers were planted. The plastic home grew seedlings on 11/11/20202. Nutrients (50 mg Fe) were employed. 60 mg Zn/L. 30 mg Mn/L. L-1 and 25 mg Cu. L-1) of the following salts: ferrous sulfate FeSO4.7H2O Fe=20%, zinc sulfate ZnSO4.7H2O Zn=22.78%, manganese MnSO4.H2O Mn=32.54%, copper CuSO4.5H2O Cu= 25.45%, successively. The split plot design factor experiment had three replications and two techniques of delivering nutrients: spraying the shoots and irrigation. Each technique of addition had 16 treatments, including single, double, triple, and quadruple additions of the nutrients employed in the experiment plus a reference treatment. The first addition came after two weeks of field cultivation, and subsequent addition was one week apart. N, P, and K were utilized at 425, 175, and 250 kg.h-1, respectively. The Fe treatment of irrigation water and the Fe+Mn+Cu treatment of sprayed shoots yielded the greatest vitamin C content of 23.57 mg.100gm-1 fresh weight. The Fe+Mn+Cu treatment had the greatest total soluble solids (TSS) value of 5.8, and all spray application treatments outperformed irrigation water on the vegetative system. Fe+Cu had the highest leaf chlorophyll index of 74.68. The maximum cumulative output was 159.15 Mg.h-1 for Fe+Zn+Mn spraying on shoots.
Effect of Foliar Spray of Nano Nitrogen and Bread Yeast on some Vegetative Growth of Pepper Plants
Authors: Salloom Yasamen F. , Mejbel Manal H. , Obaid Mohammad. H. , Al-Hchami Salah H. J.
Published: July 2023

The College of Agriculture - Sumer University conducted a field experiment in 2019 to explore the effects of spraying pepper plants with nano-nitrogen and yeast extract on various vegetative features. Two variables’ effects were investigated in this experiment. Spraying pepper seedlings with three different concentrations of nano nitrogen (0, 2, 4 mlliter-1) and three different concentrations of yeast extract were the first two factors (0, 3, 6 g L-1). With three repetitions and nine experimental units per duplicate, the experiment was conducted in a fully randomized block design (RCBD). According to the findings, spraying with nano-nitrogen N2 resulted in a significant increase in the plant height and stem diameter, as well as an increase in leaf area and chlorophyll content in the leaves compared to the control treatment with N0. In contrast to spraying with yeast extract, the spraying treatment Y2 was more effective in terms of plant height and stem diameter, the number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll content in the leaves and percentages of N, P and K in the leaves than the control treatment Y0.