bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and diversity of seed endophytic bacteria of the endemic holoparasitic plant Cistanche armena (Orobanchaceae) from a semi-desert area in Armenia
Authors: Petrosyan Kristine , Thijs Sofie , Piwowarczyk Renata , Ruraż Karolina , Vangronsveld Jaco , Kaca Wiesław
Published: October 2022

We explored the seed-associated bacterial endophytic microbiome in seeds of the endemic holoparasitic species Cistanche armena from a saline and arid habitat in Armenia. A combination of culture-dependent and molecular techniques was employed for identifying the seed endomicrobiome (culturable and unculturable). From surface-sterilized seeds, 10 phyla, comprising 256 endophytic bacterial genera, were identified. Of the culturable strains, we also investigated the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Most of the isolates were spore forming, halotolerant and alkaliphile Bacillus spp., indicating that the endophytic bacteria of C. armena seeds own traits related to the natural habitat of their host plant. Our results confirm that Bacillus species are common and dominated endophytes from plants growing on saline and arid soils. Pantoea spp. and Stenotrophomonas spp. are more favourable PGP endophytes in seeds of C. armena. The PGP traits of these bacteria, such as production of indole, a precursor of auxin, ACC-deaminase and organic acids have the potential to improve the tolerance of their host plants against the abiotic stresses present in their natural habitat. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning bacterial seed endophytes of the C. armena.
What do we know about experiencing end-of-life in burn intensive care units? A scoping review
Authors: Ribeiro André Filipe , Pereira Sandra Martins , Nunes Rui , Hernández-Marrero Pablo
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The aim of this article is to review and synthesize the evidence on end-of-life in burn intensive care units.

Methods

Systematic scoping review: Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews was used as a reporting guideline. Searches were performed in 3 databases, with no time restriction and up to September 2021.

Results

A total of 16,287 documents were identified; 18 were selected for analysis and synthesis. Three key themes emerged: (i) characteristics of the end-of-life in burn intensive care units, including end-of-life decisions, decision-making processes, causes, and trajectories of death; (ii) symptom control at the end-of-life in burn intensive care units focusing on patients’ comfort; and (iii) concepts, models, and designs of the care provided to burned patients at the end-of-life, mainly care approaches, provision of care, and palliative care.

Significance of results

End-of-life care is a major step in the care provided to critically ill burned patients. Dying and death in burn intensive care units are often preceded by end-of-life decisions, namely forgoing treatment and do-not-attempt to resuscitate. Different dying trajectories were described, suggesting the possibility to develop further studies to identify triggers for palliative care referral. Symptom control was not described in detail. Palliative care was rarely involved in end-of-life care for these patients. This review highlights the need for early and high-quality palliative and end-of-life care in the trajectories of critically ill burned patients, leading to an improved perception of end-of-life in burn intensive care units. Further research is needed to study the best way to provide optimal end-of-life care and foster integrated palliative care in burn intensive care units.
Anchoring and Sleep Inertia
Authors: Frech Marie-Lena , Häusser Jan Alexander , Siems Marie-Carolin , Loschelder David D.
Published: October 2022

Abstract. Many occupational settings require individuals to make important decisions immediately after awakening. Although a plethora of psychological research has separately examined both sleep and anchoring effects on decision-making, little is known about their interaction. In the present study, we seek to shed light on the link between sleep inertia, the performance impairment immediately after awakening, and individuals’ susceptibility to the anchoring bias. We proposed that sleep inertia would moderate participants’ adjustment from anchors because sleep inertia leads to less cognitive effort invested, resulting in a stronger anchoring effect. One hundred four subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group that answered anchoring tasks immediately after being awakened at nighttime or a control group that answered anchoring tasks at daytime. Our findings replicated the well-established anchoring effect in that higher anchors led participants to higher estimates than lower anchors. We did not find significant effects of sleep inertia. While the sleep inertia group reported greater sleepiness and having invested less cognitive effort compared to the control group, no systematic anchoring differences emerged, and cognitive effort did not qualify as a mediator of the anchoring effect. Bayesian analyses provide empirical evidence for these null findings. Implications for the anchoring literature and future research are discussed.
Actions Do Not Always Speak Louder Than Words
Authors: Ludwiczak Agata , Adams Zoe , Osman Magda
Published: October 2022

Abstract. Financial (dis)incentives (e.g., bonuses, taxes) and social incentives (e.g., public praise) have typically been proposed as methods to encourage greater cooperation for the benefit of all. However, when cooperation requires exertion of effort, such interventions might not always be effective. While incentives tend to be highly motivating when choosing to exert effort, evidence suggests that they have less of an effect on behavior during effort execution. The aim of this exploratory study was to incorporate these insights into empirical investigation of the effects of social incentives on cooperative effort. To this end, we modified a public goods game task to require effort contributions to a common good. Crucial manipulation involved incorporating social incentives into this task and linking them to (a) choices that people made or (b) effortful actions they exerted. Our findings suggest, in line with recent effort-based decision-making models, that social incentives have a stronger effect on cooperative effort when they are linked to choices that people make, rather than the actual effort they exert. This study demonstrates potential benefits of eliciting a priori declarations of cooperative effort tied to social incentives to encourage greater effort for the benefit of all.
Energy Partition and Balance at Dipolarization Fronts
Authors: Liu C. M. , Cao J. B. , Pollock C. J.
Published: October 2022

Dipolarization fronts (DFs) have been documented as important structures contributing to energy conversion and flux transport in Earth's magnetotail. However, energy partition and balance at DFs still remain elusive. Using high‐cadence data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we preform a comprehensive investigation of energy budgets at the DFs. We find that material derivatives of particle energy densities in the DF frame are basically close to zero, indicating that particles experience negligible heating and/or acceleration and that the energy released at the DFs is predominantly manifested in the form of energy flux. The energy flux is found to be dominated by ion and electron enthalpy flux, ion heat flux, and Poynting flux, with electron enthalpy flux being locally elevated. In addition, the energy flux tends to increase during the DFs' earthward propagation, without exhibiting clear asymmetry in the dawn‐dusk direction. These results help further understand energy budgets at the DFs.
How and How Much Did Western Central Tibet Raise by India–Asia Collision?
Authors: Zeng Yun‐Chuan , Xu Ji‐Feng , Chen Jian‐Lin , Wang Bao‐Di , Huang Feng
Published: October 2022

This study uses geochemical mohometers to investigate the paleo‐crustal thickness and elevation of western Tibet through the Cretaceous to Eocene. The northern Lhasa Block and southern Qiangtang Block (QB) had a similar paleo‐crustal thickness of ∼55 km during the Late Cretaceous, but the latter had reached its present‐day thickness (∼70 km) and elevation (∼5.5 km) by the mid‐Eocene, which was not caused by underthrusting of Indian crust according to isotopic evidence. Our study demonstrates the western and central QB shared a similar early Paleogene tectonomagmatic evolution with the formation of a continues proto‐plateau in central Tibet, resulting from crustal shortening and subsequent lithospheric foundering. This in turn implies underthrusting of the Indian lithosphere beneath the western QB after Eocene, given the present‐day lithospheric difference between the western and central QB. Our reconstruction of paleo‐crustal thickness and elevation, however, suggests the Indian underthrusting caused minimal further crustal thickening and uplift.
Prolonged Drought Enhances Northwest China Dust Storm Activity
Authors: Zhang Jin , Xu Hai , Lan Jianghu , Cheng Peng , Liu Bin , Liu Xingxing , Zhou Kang'en , Song Yunping , Shi Siwei , Wang Jing , Zeng Fangming , Liu Congqiang
Published: October 2022

The patterns and forcing mechanism of dust storms in arid Northwest China remain unclear and debated due to lack of reliable long‐term geological records. Here we present a ∼1,600‐year dust storm history in Northwest China based on the sedimentary coarse fraction (>63 μm) retrieved from Lake Hurleg and Lake Qinghai on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP). The NETP dust storm history, which agrees well with those from North China, shows two prolonged intervals of high dust storm occurrences during the Medieval Warm Period and the past century, and two prolonged weakened dust storm intervals from ∼400 to 700 CE and during the Little Ice Age. The temporal variation in NETP dust storm activities is out‐of‐phase with moisture records over central Asia, with enhanced dust storms corresponding to warm‐dry intervals, and vice versa. The prolonged centennial warm‐dry climates over arid Northwest China to arid central Asia could have led to decreased soil moisture, deteriorated vegetation cover, and increased dust particle supply and dust storm activities; while the prolonged centennial cold‐wet climates could have increased soil moisture, vegetation cover, and decreased dust storm activities. We contend that whilst human impact could be responsible for the obviously increased eolian dust flux in the most recent century, it is most likely that the prolonged natural hydroclimatic conditions regulate the global dust storm activity before the Anthropocene.
Assessment of the z∼ Time‐Filtered Arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian Coordinate in a Global Eddy‐Permitting Ocean Model
Authors: Megann Alex , Chanut Jérôme , Storkey David
Published: October 2022

A recognized deficiency of ocean models with a constant‐depth vertical coordinate is for truncation errors in the vertical advection scheme to result in spurious numerical mixing of tracers, which can be substantially stronger than that prescribed by the model's mixing scheme. The z∼ vertical coordinate allows vertical levels to displace in a Lagrangian fashion on time scales shorter than a few days, but reverts to fixed levels on longer timescales, and is intended to reduce numerical mixing from transient vertical motions such as internal waves and tides. An assessment of z∼ in a 1/4° global implementation of the Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean model is presented. It is shown that, in the presence of near‐inertial gravity waves in the North Atlantic, z∼ significantly reduces Eulerian vertical velocities with respect to those in a simulation with the default z* vertical coordinate; that the vertical coordinate approaches an isopycnal, or adiabatic, surface on short timescales; and that both tendencies are enhanced when the z∼ timescale parameters are lengthened with respect to the default settings. Analysis based on density transformation rates shows that numerical mixing is consistently reduced by of order 10% as the z∼ timescales are lengthened. The realism of the model simulation with different timescale parameters is assessed in the global domain, and it is shown that drifts in temperature and salinity, and the spindown in z* of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, are reduced with z∼, without incurring significant drawbacks in other metrics such as the strength of the overturning circulation or sea ice cover.
Druggable transcriptomic pathways revealed in Parkinson’s patient-derived midbrain neurons
Authors: van den Hurk Mark , Lau Shong , Marchetto Maria C. , Mertens Jerome , Stern Shani , Corti Olga , Brice Alexis , Winner Beate , Winkler Jürgen , Gage Fred H. , Bardy Cedric
Published: October 2022

Complex genetic predispositions accelerate the chronic degeneration of midbrain substantia nigra neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Deciphering the human molecular makeup of PD pathophysiology can guide the discovery of therapeutics to slow the disease progression. However, insights from human postmortem brain studies only portray the latter stages of PD, and there is a lack of data surrounding molecular events preceding the neuronal loss in patients. We address this gap by identifying the gene dysregulation of live midbrain neurons reprogrammed in vitro from the skin cells of 42 individuals, including sporadic and familial PD patients and matched healthy controls. To minimize bias resulting from neuronal reprogramming and RNA-seq methods, we developed an analysis pipeline integrating PD transcriptomes from different RNA-seq datasets (unsorted and sorted bulk vs. single-cell and Patch-seq) and reprogramming strategies (induced pluripotency vs. direct conversion). This PD cohort’s transcriptome is enriched for human genes associated with known clinical phenotypes of PD, regulation of locomotion, bradykinesia and rigidity. Dysregulated gene expression emerges strongest in pathways underlying synaptic transmission, metabolism, intracellular trafficking, neural morphogenesis and cellular stress/immune responses. We confirmed a synaptic impairment with patch-clamping and identified pesticides and endoplasmic reticulum stressors as the most significant gene-chemical interactions in PD. Subsequently, we associated the PD transcriptomic profile with candidate pharmaceuticals in a large database and a registry of current clinical trials. This study highlights human transcriptomic pathways that can be targeted therapeutically before the irreversible neuronal loss. Furthermore, it demonstrates the preclinical relevance of unbiased large transcriptomic assays of reprogrammed patient neurons.
Distribution of soil macrofauna across different habitats in the Eastern European Alps
Authors: Seeber Julia , Steinwandter Michael , Tasser Erich , Guariento Elia , Peham Thomas , Rüdisser Johannes , Schlick-Steiner Birgit C. , Steiner Florian M. , Tappeiner Ulrike , Meyer Erwin
Published: October 2022

Macro-invertebrates are important components of soil ecosystems as they provide a wide range of crucial functions and ecosystem services. Knowledge on their distribution in mountain soils is scarce despite the importance of such soils for people living in mountain regions as well as downstream. The present dataset contains records on soil macro-invertebrates belonging to nineteen taxa listed at class or order level and earthworms listed at species level from 22 different habitat types characteristic for the Eastern European Alps. Data were collected over a period of more than 30 years (1987–2020) following a standard protocol. We compiled 1572 single records from 241 unique sampling sites, providing default site parameters (GPS coordinates, habitat type, type of management, elevation, exposition, inclination, bedrock, soil type following WRB classification). Such data are important to analyse global trends and macroecological patterns and to set a basis for tracking long-term changes in macrofauna composition. In addition, this dataset will add to the still sparse knowledge on the occurrence and abundance of alpine soil fauna taxa.
The rediscovered motor-related area 55b emerges as a core hub of music perception
Authors: Siman-Tov Tali , Gordon Carlos R. , Avisdris Netanell , Shany Ofir , Lerner Avigail , Shuster Omer , Granot Roni Y. , Hendler Talma
Published: October 2022

Passive listening to music, without sound production or evident movement, is long known to activate motor control regions. Nevertheless, the exact neuroanatomical correlates of the auditory-motor association and its underlying neural mechanisms have not been fully determined. Here, based on a NeuroSynth meta-analysis and three original fMRI paradigms of music perception, we show that the long-ignored pre-motor region, area 55b, an anatomically unique and functionally intriguing region, is a core hub of music perception. Moreover, results of a brain-behavior correlation analysis implicate neural entrainment as the underlying mechanism of area 55b’s contribution to music perception. In view of the current results and prior literature, area 55b is proposed as a keystone of sensorimotor integration, a fundamental brain machinery underlying simple to hierarchically complex behaviors. Refining the neuroanatomical and physiological understanding of sensorimotor integration is expected to have a major impact on various fields, from brain disorders to artificial general intelligence.
Direct experimental observation of blue-light-induced conformational change and intermolecular interactions of cryptochrome
Authors: Li Pei , Cheng Huaqiang , Kumar Vikash , Lupala Cecylia Severin , Li Xuanxuan , Shi Yingchen , Ma Chongjun , Joo Keehyoung , Lee Jooyoung , Liu Haiguang , Tan Yan-Wen
Published: October 2022

Cryptochromes are blue light receptors that mediate circadian rhythm and magnetic sensing in various organisms. A typical cryptochrome consists of a conserved photolyase homology region domain and a varying carboxyl-terminal extension across species. The structure of the flexible carboxyl-terminal extension and how carboxyl-terminal extension participates in cryptochrome’s signaling function remain mostly unknown. In this study, we uncover the potential missing link between carboxyl-terminal extension conformational changes and downstream signaling functions. Specifically, we discover that the blue-light induced opening of carboxyl-terminal extension in C. reinhardtii animal-like cryptochrome can structurally facilitate its interaction with Rhythm Of Chloroplast 15, a circadian-clock-related protein. Our finding is made possible by two technical advances. Using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer technique, we directly observe the displacement of carboxyl-terminal extension by about 15 Å upon blue light excitation. Combining structure prediction and solution X-ray scattering methods, we propose plausible structures of full-length cryptochrome under dark and lit conditions. The structures provide molecular basis for light active conformational changes of cryptochrome and downstream regulatory functions.
Generative and reinforcement learning approaches for the automated de novo design of bioactive compounds
Authors: Korshunova Maria , Huang Niles , Capuzzi Stephen , Radchenko Dmytro S. , Savych Olena , Moroz Yuriy S. , Wells Carrow I. , Willson Timothy M. , Tropsha Alexander , Isayev Olexandr
Published: October 2022

Deep generative neural networks have been used increasingly in computational chemistry for de novo design of molecules with desired properties. Many deep learning approaches employ reinforcement learning for optimizing the target properties of the generated molecules. However, the success of this approach is often hampered by the problem of sparse rewards as the majority of the generated molecules are expectedly predicted as inactives. We propose several technical innovations to address this problem and improve the balance between exploration and exploitation modes in reinforcement learning. In a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate the application of the deep generative recurrent neural network architecture enhanced by several proposed technical tricks to design inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and further experimentally validate their potency. The proposed technical solutions are expected to substantially improve the success rate of finding novel bioactive compounds for specific biological targets using generative and reinforcement learning approaches.
Skyrmionic spin structures in layered Fe5GeTe2 up to room temperature
Authors: Schmitt Maurice , Denneulin Thibaud , Kovács András , Saunderson Tom G. , Rüßmann Philipp , Shahee Aga , Scholz Tanja , Tavabi Amir H. , Gradhand Martin , Mavropoulos Phivos , Lotsch Bettina V. , Dunin-Borkowski Rafal E. , Mokrousov Yuriy , Blügel Stefan , Kläui Mathias
Published: October 2022

The role of the crystal lattice, temperature and magnetic field for the spin structure formation in the 2D van der Waals magnet Fe5GeTe2 with magnetic ordering up to room temperature is a key open question. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we experimentally observe topological spin structures up to room temperature in the metastable pre-cooling and stable post-cooling phase of Fe5GeTe2. Over wide temperature and field ranges, skyrmionic magnetic bubbles form without preferred chirality, which is indicative of centrosymmetry. These skyrmions can be observed even in the absence of external fields. To understand the complex magnetic order in Fe5GeTe2, we compare macroscopic magnetometry characterization results with microscopic density functional theory and spin-model calculations. Our results show that even up to room temperature, topological spin structures can be stabilized in centrosymmetric van der Waals magnets.
Rights and representation support justice across aquatic food systems
Authors: Hicks Christina C. , Gephart Jessica A. , Koehn J. Zachary , Nakayama Shinnosuke , Payne Hanna J. , Allison Edward H. , Belhbib Dyhia , Cao Ling , Cohen Philippa J. , Fanzo Jessica , Fluet-Chouinard Etienne , Gelcich Stefan , Golden Christopher D. , Gorospe Kelvin D. , Isaacs Moenieba , Kuempel Caitlin. D. , Lee Kai N. , MacNeil M. Aaron , Maire Eva , Njuki Jemimah , Rao Nitya , Sumaila U. Rashid , Selig Elizabeth R. , Thilsted Shakuntala H. , Wabnitz Colette C. C. , Naylor Rosamond L.
Published: October 2022

Injustices are prevalent in food systems, where the accumulation of vast wealth is possible for a few, yet one in ten people remain hungry. Here, for 194 countries we combine aquatic food production, distribution and consumption data with corresponding national policy documents and, drawing on theories of social justice, explore whether barriers to participation explain unequal distributions of benefits. Using Bayesian models, we find economic and political barriers are associated with lower wealth-based benefits; countries produce and consume less when wealth, formal education and voice and accountability are lacking. In contrast, social barriers are associated with lower welfare-based benefits; aquatic foods are less affordable where gender inequality is greater. Our analyses of policy documents reveal a frequent failure to address political and gender-based barriers. However, policies linked to more just food system outcomes centre principles of human rights, specify inclusive decision-making processes and identify and challenge drivers of injustice.
Triplet sensitization via charge recombination at organic heterojunction for efficient near-infrared to visible solid-state photon upconversion
Authors: Sakamoto Yuji , Izawa Seiichiro , Ohkita Hideo , Hiramoto Masahiro , Tamai Yasunari
Published: October 2022

Realizing efficient near-infrared to visible photon upconversion in the solid state is pivotal for commercial applications in various fields. We previously reported a solid-state upconversion device which imitated the photovoltaic conversion mechanisms of organic solar cells. This leads to a significant improvement of up to 2.3% in the external quantum efficiency, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional devices. Here, we investigate the upconversion mechanism of this device. We examine exciton and charge dynamics using transient absorption spectroscopy and find that approximately 67% of incident photons are utilized owing to fast singlet exciton diffusion in the nonfullerene acceptor layer. Strikingly, triplet excitons are accumulated near the donor/acceptor interface, enabling accelerated triplet–triplet annihilation by a factor of more than 10.
Molecular understanding of charge effect on desalination performance in lamellar MoS2 membranes
Authors: Yao Junhui , Chen Chen , Zhang Jing , Zhang Li , Zhang Wei , Shen Jia-Wei , Liang Lijun
Published: October 2022

The effect of atomic charge information on the desalination performance of lamellar MoS2 membranes was investigated at the molecular level.
Role of tilt grain boundaries on the structural integrity of WSe2 monolayers
Authors: Sakib Nuruzzaman , Paul Shiddartha , Nayir Nadire , van Duin Adri C. T. , Neshani Sara , Momeni Kasra
Published: October 2022

Grain boundaries in transition metal dichalcogenides have a profound effect on their characteristics.
Mechanistic insight into the repair of C8-linked pyrrolobenzodiazepine monomer-mediated DNA damage
Authors: Joseph Asha Mary , Nahar Kazi , Daw Saheli , Hasan Md. Mahbub , Lo Rebecca , Le Tung B. K. , Rahman Khondaker Miraz , Badrinarayanan Anjana
Published: October 2022

Our understanding about the mode of action of pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) monomers remains incomplete. This study reveals the DNA damaging potential of PBD monomers in bacteria, and identifies mechanisms involved in repair of these PBD-adducts.
Pyrazolines as potential anti-Alzheimer's agents: DFT, molecular docking, enzyme inhibition and pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Machado Valkiria , Cenci Arthur R. , Teixeira Kerolain F. , Sens Larissa , Tizziani Tiago , Nunes Ricardo J. , Ferreira Leonardo L. G. , Yunes Rosendo A. , Sandjo Louis P. , Andricopulo Adriano D. , de Oliveira Aldo S.
Published: October 2022

We report the synthesis and investigation of the anticholinesterase potential of pyrazolines, using experimental and theoretical techniques.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives as TRK inhibitors
Authors: Liu Nian , Wang Xin , Fu Qinglin , Qin Qiaohua , Wu Tianxiao , Lv Ruicheng , Zhao Dongmei , Cheng Maosheng
Published: October 2022

Based on scaffold hopping and computer-aid drug design, 38 pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives were synthesised. Among them, compound C03 showed acceptable activity with an IC50 value of 56 nM to TRKA kinase.
Proteomics-based molecular and functional characteristic profiling of muscle tissue in Triploid crucian carp
Authors: Wang Lingxiang , Dong Xiaoping , Wu Yun , Zhou Qian , Xu Rongfang , Ren Li , Zhang Chun , Tao Min , Luo Kaikun , Zeng Yong , Liu Shaojun
Published: October 2022

The overall experimental design and research ideas of this study.
Oxygen-evolving hollow polydopamine alleviates tumour hypoxia for enhancing photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment
Authors: Zhan Qichen , Han Xuan , Mu Jiankang , Shi Xianqing , Zheng Yuhan , Wang Ting , Cao Tao , Xi Yulu , Weng Zhongpei , Wang Xiaoqing , Cao Peng
Published: October 2022

O2-evolving hollow polydopamine (HPDA) based on an O2 bubble template is designed as a carrier for zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) to fabricate nanomedicine (HZNPs). HZNPs could alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhance PDT-anticancer efficiency.
Oriented growth of stacking α-cobalt hydroxide salt continuous films and their topotactic-like transformation to oriented mesoporous films of Co3O4 and CoO
Authors: Shinagawa Tsutomu , Kotobuki Natsuko , Ohtaka Atsushi
Published: October 2022

A unique synthetic route based on “direct oriented growth of layered hydroxide films” and “topotactic-like pseudomorphic transformation” allows the template-free facile formation of oriented mesoporous cobalt oxide films.
Facile preparation of amorphous cobalt phosphate as inorganic carrier for direct separation and immobilization of his-tagged β-glucosidase from cell lysate
Authors: Ma Xinnan , Chen Zhili , Han Juan , Zhou Yang , Mao Yanli , Li Chunmei , Wang Lei , Wang Yun
Published: October 2022

The present work was aimed to develop a facile method to fabricate solid support for the separation and immobilization of his-tagged enzymes directly from cell lysate without pre-purification of the enzymes.
Activated carbon supported Fe–Cu–NC as an efficient cathode catalyst for a microbial fuel cell
Authors: Ren Linde , Lu Jinrong , Liu Hua
Published: October 2022

Herein, the output power density produced by Fe–Cu–NC-x as the cathode catalyst of a MFC was higher than that of the AC control.
Two-dimensional materials for electrocatalysis and energy storage applications
Authors: Li Tingting , Jing Tianyun , Rao Dewei , Mourdikoudis Stefanos , Zuo Yunpeng , Wang Mengye
Published: October 2022

In this review, two-dimensional (2D) materials beyond graphene and their applications in electrocatalysis and energy storage have been summarized. Specifically, the electronic structure, chemical properties and synergistic phenomena are analyzed.
Liquid crystal-assisted manufacturing of flexible holographic polymer nanocomposites for high-security level anticounterfeiting
Authors: Chen Guannan , Wei Wei , Li Song , Zhou Xingping , Li Zhong’an , Peng Haiyan , Xie Xiaolin
Published: October 2022

Flexible manufacturing of holographic polymer nanocomposites has been realized by the synergy of hydrogen bonding networks with thiol–ene click reaction, which allows for the reconstruction of polarization-sensitive 3D images for advanced security.
Multiscale modelling of the radical-induced chemistry of acetohydroxamic acid in aqueous solution
Authors: Conrad Jacy K. , Pilgrim Corey D. , Pimblott Simon M. , Mezyk Stephen P. , Horne Gregory P.
Published: October 2022

A comprehensive multiscale model determines the fundamental reaction mechanisms of the radical-induced degradation of acetohydroxamic acid in acidic aqueous solutions.
One-pot two-step synthesis of alkyl levulinates directly from furfural by combining Ni3Sn2 alloy nanoparticles and montmorillonite K10
Authors: Yamanaka Nobutaka , Abe Daiki , Miwaka-Saiga Masaiku , Yasunaga Kenji , Yamada Hiroshi , Shimazu Shogo
Published: October 2022

In this work, we developed a catalytic system comprising Ni3Sn2 alloy nanoparticles and montmorillonite K10 that is effective for the one-pot two-step synthesis of alkyl levulinates directly from furfural.
Predictive energetic tuning of quinoid O-nucleophiles for the electrochemical capture of carbon dioxide
Authors: Alherz Abdulaziz W. , Petersen Haley A. , Singstock Nicholas R. , Sur Sohan N. , Musgrave Charles B. , Luca Oana R.
Published: October 2022

We use quinone reduction potentials to showcase molecularly tunable CO2 binding strengths for a family of electrochemically generated quinoid molecular sorbents. In our study, we find that CO2 binding stoichiometry varies with CO2 concentration.
Can vehicle-to-grid facilitate the transition to low carbon energy systems?
Authors: Owens James , Miller Ian , Gençer Emre
Published: October 2022

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) allows electric vehicles to provide power and services to the grid. At scale, V2G can bolster renewable energy growth and eliminate storage and displace firm generators traditionally used to balance wind and solar intermittency.
A leakage‐based hybrid beamforming design for multi‐user mmWave massive MIMO systems
Authors: Zhang Ran , Wang Ye , Feng Youhong
Published: October 2022

In massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems, hybrid beamforming (HBF) is an attractive technique due to its excellent tradeoff between system performance and hardware implementation cost. In this paper, the signal‐to‐leakage‐plus‐noise ratio is considered as the optimization criterion and investigate the HBF design for multi‐user millimetre‐wave massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems. To overcome the difficulty of solving the multi‐variable design problem, a novel two‐stage HBF scheme to optimize the analogue and digital beamformers are proposed. In particular, an orthogonal matching pursuit‐based method and a joint design method are introduced respectively to find the solution in the analogue stage. Then, in the digital stage, the digital precoder and combiner are designed to suppress the inter‐user interference plus noise, aiming at maximizing the sum‐signal‐to‐leakage‐plus‐noise ratio of multi‐user systems. Simulation results show that the proposed HBF scheme with lower complexity can achieve superior performance over the existing HBF schemes. Moreover, it is also indicated that the performance of the HBF scheme remains strong even with the imperfect channel state information.
A systematic comparison of the accuracy of monocular RGB tracking and LiDAR for neuronavigation
Authors: Khan Talha , Biehl Jacob T. , Andrews Edward G. , Babichenko Dmitriy
Published: October 2022

With the advent of augmented reality (AR), the use of AR‐guided systems in the field of medicine has gained traction. However, the wide‐scale adaptation of these systems requires highly accurate and reliable tracking. In this work, the tracking accuracy of two technology platforms, LiDAR and Vuforia, are developed and rigorously tested for a catheter placement neurological procedure. Several experiments (900) are performed for each technology across various combinations of catheter lengths and insertion trajectories. This analysis shows that the LiDAR platform outperformed Vuforia; which is the state‐of‐the‐art in monocular RGB tracking solutions. LiDAR had 75% less radial distance error and 26% less angle deviation error. Results provide key insights into the value and utility of LiDAR‐based tracking in AR guidance systems.
A self‐adaptive phase‐segmentation and health assessment framework for point machines
Authors: Wang Ning , Kou Linlin , Zhang Huiyue , Jia Limin , Qin Yong , Wang Hongguang , Wang Zhipeng
Published: October 2022

Health assessment for point machines is crucial to the safety of rail systems. The operation of the point machine is a typical multi‐stage process, each with its own characteristic features that allow a health assessment. Therefore, to segment various phases self‐adaptively is quite essential to assess the health state of the point machine. Besides, the degradation of the point machine is characterized as non‐linear. However, these issues are barely discussed when assessing the degradation degree. By converting it into a multi‐classification problem, this paper proposes a novel phase segmentation method based on dimensionless time‐domain features and characteristics of time series by utilizing the adaptive Multiclass Mahalanobis Taguchi System (aMMTS) to segment the signal self‐adaptively. Furthermore, this paper proposes a novel algorithm named Non‐linear Dynamic Time Warping (NLDTW), which modifies the conventional Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) by using a non‐linear distance to overcome the lack of global consistency in the non‐linear degradation assessment. Finally, a modified formula of confidence value is presented to assess the actual degradation degree. The efficiency and feasibility of the proposed framework have been verified by the actual data collected from the point machines of Guangzhou Metro.
Slew rate control of switching transient for SiC MOSFET in boost converter using digital active gate driver
Authors: Fukunaga Shuhei , Takayama Hajime , Hikihara Takashi
Published: October 2022

This paper experimentally validates a fully digitalized active gate driver for suppressing the switching surge voltage of SiC MOSFETs in a boost converter. High‐voltage power conversion systems are expected to adopt SiC unipolar power devices utilizing their high‐speed switching capability. The high‐speed switching operation causes the switching surge voltage in its switching transient. Active gate driving is a key technology for suppressing it. A fully digitalized active gate driver is particularly focused upon, which freely shaped the output gate‐source voltage waveform by a multi‐bit gate control signal. This driver achieves the dynamical control of the voltage/current behaviours of MOSFET in the switching transient by taking the Miller effect into account. It contributes to suppressing the switching surge voltage. This paper applies this digital active gate driver to a high voltage power conversion circuit. The switching surge voltage is experimentally suppressed by slew rate control with the digital active gate driver for various operating conditions. The results clarify the control strategy of the digital active gate driver for SiC MOSFET in a power conversion circuit.
Iterative angular differential imaging (IADI): An exploration of recovering disk structures in scattered light with an iterative ADI approach
Authors: Stapper L. M. , Ginski C.
Published: October 2022

Context. Distinguishing the signal from young gas-rich circumstellar disks from the stellar signal in near-infrared (NIR) light is a difficult task. Multiple techniques have been developed over the years of which angular differential imaging (ADI) and polarimetric differential imaging (PDI) have been most successful. However, both techniques cope with drawbacks such as self-subtraction. To address these drawbacks, we explore iterative ADI (IADI) techniques to increase signal throughput in total intensity observations.

Aims. The aim of this work is to explore the effectiveness of IADI in recovering the self-subtracted regions of disks by applying ADI techniques iteratively.

Methods. IADI works by feeding back all positive signal of the result from standard ADI over multiple iterations. To determine the effectiveness of IADI, a model of a disk image is made and post-processed with IADI. We explored two versions of IADI, classical IADI, which uses the median of the data set to reconstruct the point spread function (PSF), and PCA-IADI, which uses principal component analysis to model the PSF. In addition, we explored masking based on polarimetric images and a signal threshold for feeding back signal.

Results. Asymmetries are a very important factor in recovering the disk because these lead to less overlap of the disk in the data set. In some cases, we were able to recover a factor ~75 more flux with IADI than with ADI. The Procrustes distance is used to quantify the impact of the algorithm on the scattering phase function. Depending on the level of noise and the ratio between the stellar signal and disk signal, the phase function can be recovered a factor 6.4 in Procrustes distance better than standard ADI. Amplification and smearing of noise over the image due to many iterations did occur. By using binary masks and a dynamic threshold this feedback was mitigated, but it is still a problem in the final pipeline. Finally, observations of protoplanetary disks made with VLT/SPHERE were processed with IADI giving rise to very promising results.

Conclusions. While IADI has problems with low-signal-to-noise-ratio (S/N) observations due to noise amplification and star reconstruction, higher S/N observations show promising results with respect to standard ADI.
Barbell-shaped giant radio galaxy with ∼100 kpc kink in the jet
Authors: Dabhade P. , Shimwell T. W. , Bagchi J. , Saikia D. J. , Combes F. , Gaikwad M. , Röttgering H. J. A. , Mohapatra A. , Ishwara-Chandra C. H. , Intema H. T. , Raychaudhury S.
Published: October 2022

We present for the first time a study of peculiar giant radio galaxy (GRG) J223301+131502 using deep multi-frequency radio observations from GMRT (323, 612, and 1300 MHz) and LOFAR (144 MHz) along with optical spectroscopic observations with the WHT 4.2m optical telescope. Our observations have firmly established its redshift of 0.09956 and unveiled its exceptional jet structure extending more than ∼200 kpc leading to a peculiar kink structure of ∼100 kpc. We measure the overall size of this GRG to be ∼1.83 Mpc; it exhibits lobes without any prominent hotspots and closely resembles a barbell. Our deep low-frequency radio maps clearly reveal the steep-spectrum diffuse emission from the lobes of the GRG. The magnetic field strength of ∼5 μG and spectral ages between about 110 to 200 mega years for the radio lobes were estimated using radio data from LOFAR 144 MHz observations and GMRT 323 and 612 MHz observations. We discuss the possible causes leading to the formation of the observed kink feature for the GRG, which include precession of the jet axis, development of instabilities and magnetic reconnection. Despite its enormous size, the Barbell GRG is found to be residing in a low-mass (M200 ∼ 1014 M⊙) galaxy cluster. This GRG with two-sided large-scale jets with a kink and diffuse outer lobes residing in a cluster environment, provides an opportunity to explore the structure and growth of GRGs in different environments.
A new scenario for magnetar formation: Tayler-Spruit dynamo in a proto-neutron star spun up by fallback
Authors: Barrère P. , Guilet J. , Reboul-Salze A. , Raynaud R. , Janka H.-T.
Published: October 2022

Magnetars are isolated young neutron stars characterised by the most intense magnetic fields known in the Universe, which power a wide variety of high-energy emissions from giant flares to fast radio bursts. The origin of their magnetic field is still a challenging question. In situ magnetic field amplification by dynamo action could potentially generate ultra-strong magnetic fields in fast-rotating progenitors. However, it is unclear whether the fraction of progenitors harbouring fast core rotation is sufficient to explain the entire magnetar population. To address this point, we propose a new scenario for magnetar formation involving a slowly rotating progenitor, in which a slow-rotating proto-neutron star is spun up by the supernova fallback. We argue that this can trigger the development of the Tayler-Spruit dynamo while other dynamo processes are disfavoured. Using the findings of previous studies of this dynamo and simulation results characterising the supernova fallback, we derive equations modelling the coupled evolution of the proto-neutron star rotation and magnetic field. Their time integration for different accreted masses is successfully compared with analytical estimates of the amplification timescales and saturation value of the magnetic field. We find that the magnetic field is amplified within 20 − 40 s after the core bounce, and that the radial magnetic field saturates at intensities between ∼1013 and 1015 G, therefore spanning the full range of a magnetar’s dipolar magnetic fields. The toroidal magnetic field is predicted to be a factor of 10–100 times stronger, lying between ∼1015 and 3 × 1016 G. We also compare the saturation mechanisms proposed respectively by H.C. Spruit and J. Fuller, showing that magnetar-like magnetic fields can be generated for a neutron star spun up to rotation periods of ≲8 ms and ≲28 ms, corresponding to accreted masses of ≳ 4 × 10−2 M⊙ and ≳ 1.1 × 10−2 M⊙, respectively. Therefore, our results suggest that magnetars can be formed from slow-rotating progenitors for accreted masses compatible with recent supernova simulations and leading to plausible initial rotation periods of the proto-neutron star.
Lithium, masses, and kinematics of young Galactic dwarf and giant stars with extreme [α/Fe] ratios
Authors: Borisov S. , Prantzos N. , Charbonnel C.
Published: October 2022

Context. Recent spectroscopic explorations of large Galactic stellar samples stars have revealed the existence of red giants with [α/Fe] ratios that are anomalously high, given their relatively young ages.

Aims. We revisit the GALAH DR3 survey to look for both dwarf and giant stars with extreme [α/Fe] ratios, that is, the upper 1% in the [α/Fe]–[Fe/H] plane over the range in [Fe/H] between −1.1 and +0.4 dex. We refer to these outliers as “exαfe” stars.

Methods. We used the GALAH DR3 data along with their value-added catalog to trace the properties (chemical abundances, masses, ages, and kinematics) of the exαfe stars. We applied strict criteria to the quality of the determination of the stellar parameters, abundances, and age determinations to select our sample of single stars. We investigated the effects of secular stellar evolution and the magnitude limitations of the GALAH survey to understand the mass and metallicity distributions of the sample stars. Here, we also discuss the corresponding biases in previous studies of stars with high – albeit not extreme – [α/Fe] in other spectroscopic surveys.

Results. We find both dwarf and giant exαFe stars younger than 3 Gyr, which we refer to as “y-exαfe” stars. Dwarf y-exαFe stars exhibit lithium abundances similar to those of young [α/Fe]-normal dwarfs at the same age and [Fe/H]. In particular, the youngest and most massive stars of both populations exhibit the highest Li abundances, A(Li) ∼ 3.5 dex (i.e., a factor of 2 above the protosolar value), while cooler and older stars exhibit the same Li depletion patterns increasing with both decreasing mass and increasing age. In addition, the [Fe/H] and mass distributions of both the dwarf and giant y-exαFe stars do not differ from those of their [α/Fe]-normal counterparts found in the thin disk and they share the same kinematic properties, with lower eccentricities and velocities with respect to the local standard of rest than old stars of the thick disk.

Conclusions. We conclude that y-exαFe dwarf and giant stars are indeed young, their mass distribution shows no peculiarity, and they differ from young [α/Fe]-normal stars by their extreme [α/Fe] content only. However, their origins still remain unclear.
The typical width of Herschel filaments
Authors: André P. J. , Palmeirim P. , Arzoumanian D.
Published: October 2022

Context. Dense molecular filaments are widely believed to be representative of the initial conditions of star formation in interstellar clouds. Characterizing their physical properties, such as their transverse size, is therefore of paramount importance. Herschel studies suggest that nearby (d <  500 pc) molecular filaments have a typical half-power width of ∼0.1 pc, but this finding has been questioned recently on the ground that the measured widths tend to increase with distance to the filaments.

Aims. Here we revisit the dependence of measured filament widths on distance or, equivalently, spatial resolution in an effort to determine whether nearby molecular filaments have a characteristic half-power width or whether this is an artifact of the finite resolution of the Herschel data.

Methods. We perform a convergence test on the well-documented B211/213 filament in Taurus by degrading the resolution of the Herschel data several times and reestimating the filament width from the resulting column density profiles. We also compare the widths measured for the Taurus filament and other filaments from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey to those found for synthetic filaments with various types of simple, idealized column density profiles (Gaussian, power law, and Plummer-like).

Results. We find that the measured filament widths do increase slightly as the spatial resolution worsens and/or the distance to the filaments increases. However, this trend is entirely consistent with what is expected from simple beam convolution for filaments with density profiles that are Plummer-like and have intrinsic half-power diameters of ∼0.08–0.1 pc and logarithmic slopes 1.5 <  p <  2.5 at large radii, as directly observed in many cases, including for the Taurus filament. Due to the presence of background noise fluctuations, deconvolution of the measured widths from the telescope beam is difficult and quickly becomes inaccurate.

Conclusions. We conclude that the typical half-power filament width of ∼0.1 pc measured with Herschel in nearby clouds most likely reflects the presence of a true common scale in the filamentary structure of the cold interstellar medium, at least in the solar neighborhood. We suggest that this common scale may correspond to the magnetized turbulent correlation length in molecular clouds.