bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Undeveloped till soils in scree areas are an overlooked important phosphorus source for waters in alpine catchments
Authors: Kaňa Jiří , Kaštovská Eva , Choma Michal , Čapek Petr , Tahovská Karolina , Kopáček Jiří
Published: September 2023

Scree deposits in alpine catchments contain undeveloped till soils that are “hidden” between and under stones. These scree areas have no vegetation except for sparse lichen patches on stone surfaces, but the soils exhibit biological activity and active cycling of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and organic carbon (C). We compared the chemical and biochemical properties of till soils in the scree areas (scree soils) with developed soils in alpine meadows (meadow soils) of 14 catchments in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains. The data showed that scree soils served as an important source of mobile P forms for waters in high elevation catchments. We then conducted a detailed soil survey focused on four selected alpine catchments with scree cover proportions > 30%. This study confirmed that scree soils have significantly higher concentrations of mobile P forms compared to meadow soils, and a high specific microbial activity directed towards the extraction of P with rapid turnover in the microbial biomass. The combination of these properties and the amounts of scree soils in high-elevation areas highlight their importance in overall biogeochemical P cycling in alpine catchments, and the terrestrial P export to receiving waters.
Honeybees’ foraging choices for nectar and pollen revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Leponiemi Matti , Freitak Dalial , Moreno-Torres Miguel , Pferschy-Wenzig Eva-Maria , Becker-Scarpitta Antoine , Tiusanen Mikko , Vesterinen Eero J. , Wirta Helena
Published: September 2023

Honeybees are the most widespread managed pollinators of our food crops, and a crucial part of their well-being is a suitable diet. Yet, we do not know how they choose flowers to collect nectar or pollen from. Here we studied forty-three honeybee colonies in six apiaries over a summer, identifying the floral origins of honey and hive-stored pollen samples by DNA-metabarcoding. We recorded the available flowering plants and analyzed the specialized metabolites in honey. Overall, we find that honeybees use mostly the same plants for both nectar and pollen, yet per colony less than half of the plant genera are used for both nectar and pollen at a time. Across samples, on average fewer plant genera were used for pollen, but the composition was more variable among samples, suggesting higher selectivity for pollen sources. Of the available flowering plants, honeybees used only a fraction for either nectar or pollen foraging. The time of summer guided the plant choices the most, and the location impacted both the plants selected and the specialized metabolite composition in honey. Thus, honeybees are selective for both nectar and pollen, implicating a need of a wide variety of floral resources to choose an optimal diet from.
The regulatory role of cancer stem cell marker gene CXCR4 in the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer
Authors: Zhao Hongying , Jiang Rongke , Zhang Chunmei , Feng Zhijing , Wang Xue
Published: September 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq) are increasingly used for screening genes involved in carcinogenesis due to their capacity for dissecting cellular heterogeneity. This study aims to reveal the molecular mechanism of the cancer stem cells (CSCs) marker gene CXCR4 in gastric cancer (GC) growth and metastasis through scRNA-seq combined with bulk RNA-seq. GC-related scRNA-seq data were downloaded from the GEO database, followed by UMAP cluster analysis. Non-malignant cells were excluded by the K-means algorithm. Bulk RNA-seq data and clinical sample information were downloaded from the UCSC Xena database. GO and KEGG pathway analyses validated the correlation between genes and pathways. In vitro and in vivo functional assays were used to examine the effect of perturbed CXCR4 on malignant phenotypes, tumorigenesis, and liver metastasis. A large number of highly variable genes were identified in GC tissue samples. The top 20 principal components were selected, and the cells were clustered into 6 cell types. The C4 cell cluster from malignant epithelial cells might be CSCs. CXCR4 was singled out as a marker gene of CSCs. GC patients with high CXCR4 expression had poor survival. Knockdown of CXCR4 inhibited the malignant phenotypes of CSCs in vitro and curtailed tumorigenesis and liver metastasis in nude mice. CSC marker gene CXCR4 may be a key gene facilitating malignant phenotypes of CSCs, which thus promotes tumor growth and liver metastasis of GC.
Nitrogen-vacancy magnetometry of CrSBr by diamond membrane transfer
Authors: Ghiasi Talieh S. , Borst Michael , Kurdi Samer , Simon Brecht G. , Bertelli Iacopo , Boix-Constant Carla , Mañas-Valero Samuel , van der Zant Herre S. J. , van der Sar Toeno
Published: September 2023

Magnetic imaging using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spins in diamonds is a powerful technique for acquiring quantitative information about sub-micron scale magnetic order. A major challenge for its application in the research on two-dimensional (2D) magnets is the positioning of the NV centers at a well-defined, nanoscale distance to the target material required for detecting the small magnetic fields generated by magnetic monolayers. Here, we develop a diamond “dry-transfer” technique akin to the state-of-the-art 2D-materials assembly methods and use it to place a diamond micro-membrane in direct contact with the 2D interlayer antiferromagnet CrSBr. We harness the resulting NV-sample proximity to spatially resolve the magnetic stray fields generated by the CrSBr, present only where the CrSBr thickness changes by an odd number of layers. From the magnetic stray field of a single uncompensated ferromagnetic layer in the CrSBr, we extract a monolayer magnetization of MCSB = 0.46(2) T, without the need for exfoliation of monolayer crystals or applying large external magnetic fields. The ability to deterministically place NV-ensemble sensors into contact with target materials and detect ferromagnetic monolayer magnetizations paves the way for quantitative analysis of a wide range of 2D magnets assembled on arbitrary target substrates.
Hybrid hierarchical learning for solving complex sequential tasks using the robotic manipulation network ROMAN
Authors: Triantafyllidis Eleftherios , Acero Fernando , Liu Zhaocheng , Li Zhibin
Published: September 2023

Solving long sequential tasks remains a non-trivial challenge in the field of embodied artificial intelligence. Enabling a robotic system to perform diverse sequential tasks with a broad range of manipulation skills is a notable open problem and continues to be an active area of research. In this work, we present a hybrid hierarchical learning framework, the robotic manipulation network ROMAN, to address the challenge of solving multiple complex tasks over long time horizons in robotic manipulation. By integrating behavioural cloning, imitation learning and reinforcement learning, ROMAN achieves task versatility and robust failure recovery. It consists of a central manipulation network that coordinates an ensemble of various neural networks, each specializing in different recombinable subtasks to generate their correct in-sequence actions, to solve complex long-horizon manipulation tasks. Our experiments show that, by orchestrating and activating these specialized manipulation experts, ROMAN generates correct sequential activations accomplishing long sequences of sophisticated manipulation tasks and achieving adaptive behaviours beyond demonstrations, while exhibiting robustness to various sensory noises. These results highlight the significance and versatility of ROMAN’s dynamic adaptability featuring autonomous failure recovery capabilities, and underline its potential for various autonomous manipulation tasks that require adaptive motor skills.
Three-dimensional ordered macroporous cerium–manganese composite oxide for NO oxidation
Authors: Qu Canyang , Wang Ping , He Miao , Yang Cheng , Xiong Jing , Sun Xiaohua , Wei Yuechang , Li Zhenxing
Published: September 2023

Three-dimensional ordered microporous cerium–manganese composite oxide catalysts with different cerium–manganese ratios were prepared by a sol–gel method for NO oxidation and soot combustion.
Synthesis, biological activities, and future perspectives of steroidal monocyclic pyridines
Authors: Hammouda Mohamed M. , Elattar Khaled M. , Rashed Marwa M. , Osman Amany M. A.
Published: September 2023

The current review highlights the synthesis and biological activities of steroidal monocyclic pyridines. The synthetic approaches, proposed mechanisms, biological activities are described.
Atomic insights into the mechanisms of Al3+ or Cr3+ affecting ferrihydrite nucleation
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Yan , Liu Fan , Xie Haijiao , Yin Hui , Yi Tian
Published: September 2023

During ferrihydrite formation, Al3+ or Cr3+ hinders the formation of μ-oxo dimers but promotes the conversion of μ-oxo dimer to dihydroxo dimer and the creation of crystal growth sites.
Investigation of Al droplet wetting behavior on highly-oriented SiC
Authors: Zhang Song , Zuo Kaixin , Lu Pengjian , Xu Qingfang , Yang Meijun , Liu Kai , Tu Rong
Published: September 2023

In the integrated circuit industry, metal liquids are frequently in contact with chemical vapor deposited (CVD) SiC, and it is important to understand the interactions between CVD-SiC and metal droplets.
Optimizing volumetric surface area of UiO-66 and its functionalized analogs through compression
Authors: Kuznicki Andrew , Bloch Eric D.
Published: September 2023

Compression of UiO-66 and functionalized analogs at high pressures, yields robust pellets with enhanced volumetric surface areas.
Encapsulation and thermal properties of composite phase change materials based on cobalt/nitrogen double-doped ZIF-67 derived carbon
Authors: Li Yanteng , Gao Yan , Cao Xuankai , Rong Xing , Chen Baoming , Tian Guohong , Zhu Zishang , Zhao Xudong , Zhang Zhanchao
Published: September 2023

The cobalt/nitrogen-doped ZIF-67 derived carbon (CoN-ZIF-Cx) was constructed as the carrier material, and paraffin was used as the phase change core material to construct thermally enhanced shaped composite phase change materials.
Investigation of simultaneous volatile organic compound removal by indoor plants using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Peterson Geoffrey , Jones Timothy , Rispoli Diana , Haddadi Shokouh , Niri Vadoud
Published: September 2023

Comparative assessment of indoor plants for simultaneous removal of hazardous volatile organic compounds: efficiency analysis and removal rates for common houseplant species.
Comparative study of distinct halide composites for highly efficient perovskite solar cells using a SCAPS-1D simulator
Authors: Bhattarai Sagar , Pandey Rahul , Madan Jaya , Tayeng Soney , Kalita P. K. , Ansari Mohd Zahid , Ben Farhat Lamia , Amami Mongi , Hossain M. Khalid
Published: September 2023

This research investigates the influence of halide-based methylammonium-based perovskites as the active absorber layer (PAL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs).
Naturally occurring phenylethanoids and phenylpropanoids: antimalarial potential
Authors: Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Bayoumi Soad A. L. , Mohamed Nesma M. , Mostafa Yaser A. , Ngwa Che J. , Pradel Gabriele , Farag Salwa F.
Published: September 2023

Naturally occurring phenylethanoids and phenylpropanoids were assessed for antimalarial potential usingin silicoandin vitrostudies.
Adsorption isotherms and kinetics for Pb(ii) ion removal from aqueous solutions with biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Mashentseva Anastassiya A. , Seitzhapar Nurzhigit , Barsbay Murat , Aimanova Nurgulim A. , Alimkhanova Assel N. , Zheltov Dmitriy A. , Zhumabayev Alisher M. , Temirgaziev Bakhtiyar S. , Almanov Alimzhan A. , Sadyrbekov Daniyar T.
Published: September 2023

This study investigates the sorption removal of lead(ii) ions using zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper(ii) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles synthesized through a wet combustion synthesis with the aid of plant extract from Serratula coronata L.
From traditional to greener alternatives: potential of plant resources as a biotransformation tool in organic synthesis
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Saha Rituparna , Chatterjee Satyaki , Mishra Vivek
Published: September 2023

This study demonstrates a biomimetic approach that facilitates organic frameworks in the laboratory using common fruits and vegetables promoting environmental as well as fiscal sustainability—a “Green leaves to Green chemistry” technique.
Molecular aggregation in liquid-crystalline layers crucially affects their physics: smectic A (SmA)–nematic (N) phase transition
Authors: Yamamura Yasuhisa , Ito Mizuki , Sugai Kazutaka , Noda Hiroshi , Galewski Zbigniew , Saito Kazuya
Published: September 2023

Two molecular packing modes recently found for the alkyl chain in the SmA liquid crystal phase, normal and tilted types, decide the thermodynamic order of the SmA–N phase transition.
Optical properties of ytterbium-doped and undoped Cs2AgInCl6 thin films deposited by co-evaporation of chloride salts
Authors: Liu Yukun , Jain Pulkita , Cleveland Iver J. , Tran Minh , Sarp Seda , Sandrakumar Kajini , Rodriguez Rafaella Saa , Aydil Eray S.
Published: September 2023

Ytterbium doped and undoped Cs2AgInCl6 films deposited by co-evaporation of metal halide salts luminesce in the visible and near infrared when excited with ultraviolet photons above its bandgap.
A Mixed-Methods Exploration of the Experience of People With Aphasia Using Text-to-Speech Technology to Support Virtual Book Club Participation
Authors: Wallace Sarah E. , Hux Karen , Knollman-Porter Kelly , Patterson Briana , Brown Jessica A.
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

This mixed-methods research sought to examine the experience of people with aphasia who used text-to-speech (TTS) support to read a novel for virtual book club participation.

Method:

Six people with chronic aphasia used a TTS system to review portions of a novel about which they conversed during eight virtual book club meetings occurring over 5 weeks. During one-on-one interactions prior to each meeting, participants answered comprehension questions and provided feedback about reading experiences. Then, during group meetings, they reviewed and discussed relevant book content and predicted upcoming content. During a structured individual interview, participants reflected on their supported reading and book club experience.

Results:

Participants reported a range of reading confidence prior to study participation, mostly influenced by decreased comprehension or reading speed. After book club participation, four participants expressed increased confidence. Some reported searching for key words and skipping difficult words as strategies additional to TTS support. All reviewed at least some book sections more than once either with or without TTS support. Highly motivated participants expressed low frustration and high reading ease and enjoyment. Perceived comprehension was roughly consistent with actual comprehension across participants. Most believed TTS support promoted faster reading than otherwise possible. Participants liked adjustable features affecting speech output rate, word or sentence highlighting, and font size. Psychosocial benefits included decreased isolation and increased friendship.

Conclusions:

The findings extend previous evidence about perceived and actual benefits associated with TTS support. People with aphasia express positive experiences when given TTS support during book club participation.
High‐accuracy DOA estimation via parallel sparse nested array with extended aperture and reduced mutual coupling
Authors: Yang Yunlong , Jiang Guojun
Published: September 2023

This letter proposes a novel parallel sparse nested array and then provides a matrix reconstruction‐based method with three steps, to enhance the performance of direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in practice. The spacings between the closest antennas along x‐ and y‐axes, are coprime and much greater than half‐wavelength in the proposed array, which contributes to efficiently eliminate the mutual coupling and achieve larger aperture with limited physical antennas. By using the oblique projection operator with iteration, the proposed method can employ all items of covariance matrix of the received data to construct a virtual covariance matrix with increased degrees of freedom, for effectively improving angle estimation performance. Then the unique and high‐accuracy DOA estimation is obtained via the coprime‐ness. The simulation results show the superiority of the proposed array and method for DOA estimation in the presence of mutual coupling and limited antennas.
Two‐stage personalized federated learning based on sparse pretraining
Authors: Liu Tong , Xie Kaixuan , Kong Yi , Chen Guojun , Xu Yinfei , Xin Lun , Yu Fei
Published: September 2023

Aiming at solving the performance degradation of federated learning (FL) under heterogeneous data distribution, personalized FL (PFL) was proposed. It is designed to produce a dedicated model for each client. However, the existing PFL solution only focuses on the performance of personalized model, ignoring the performance of global model, which will affect the willingness of new clients to participate. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a new PFL solution, a two‐stage PFL based on sparse pretraining, which can not only train a sparse personalized model for each client, but also obtain a sparse global model. The whole training process is divided into sparse pretraining and sparse personalized training, which focus on the performance of global model and personalized model respectively. Also, we propose a mask sparse aggregation technique to maintain the sparsity of the global model in the sparse personalized training stage. Experimental results show that compared with existing algorithms, our proposed algorithm can improve the accuracy of the global model while maintaining advanced personalized model accuracy, and has higher communication efficiency.
Collaborative and effective scheduling of integrated energy systems with consideration of carbon restrictions
Authors: Meng Qinglin , Xu Jing , Luo Fengzhang , Jin Xiaolong , Xu Liang , Yao Wei , Jin Shangting
Published: September 2023

To address the balancing challenge of real‐time power demand and supply in power systems caused by unpredictable output fluctuations of renewable energies, collaborative and effective scheduling of integrated energy systems is proposed with consideration for carbon restrictions. The model incorporates various energy resources, including cold, heat, electricity, and gas, and overcomes the barriers among different levels of heterogeneous energy grid systems. This makes it possible to coordinate the vertical complementarity of source‐grid‐load‐storage and the horizontal complementarity of multi‐energy while taking into account investment costs and carbon trading to achieve the economic operation of the system. This analysis shows that the proposed model can dissipate the excess of new energy generation from the grid. and achieve a balance between supply and demand, while effectively reducing the economic operation cost of the whole system.
A unified model for the fairness mechanism‐based coordinated vehicle route guidance
Authors: Zhang Le , Khalgui Mohamed , Li Zhiwu , Zheng Shanshui , Zhang Yongsheng
Published: September 2023

Coordinated vehicle route guidance is recognized as an effective way to alleviate the Braess' paradox that new congestion is generated since numerous vehicles obey the same guidance from Google Maps. In conventional route games, decision‐makers are assumed to be completely rational (maximized utility is taken as an optimization objective). However, behavioral research finds that not only the expected profit is pursued, but also the fairness psychology is concerned by decision‐makers in game theory. In existing studies, the fairness concern of players is widely accepted in supply chains. Inspired by the fairness psychology of supply chain members, the vehicle fairness coefficient is originally proposed in this paper. Moreover, a unified fairness mechanism of the routing game is built to perfect the existing theoretical framework of route games. Specifically, the formulated vehicle fairness coefficient is incorporated into the payoff functions of a perfectly rational‐based routing game, which makes the single‐objective problem to be multiple. Compared with the current completely rational‐based route games, this improvement allows vehicles to focus not only on travel time but also on route schemes' fairness. The consideration of vehicle fairness concern leads the original symmetric payoff matrix of the route game to be asymmetric. Since the existing solving theorems are not necessarily valid for the asymmetrical multi‐player game, a matched reinforcement learning algorithm is adopted to solve this new game. An experimental study shows that the averaged fairness coefficient is increased from 0.798 to 1.00 on the basis of the equal travel time due to the working of the designed fairness mechanism.
Transjuguläre Nierenbiopsie
Authors: Maßmann Alexander , Koniker Alina , Backes Maik , Kraft Leonie , Ketteler Markus , Latus Jörg
Published: September 2023

Die Nierenbiopsie ist eine integrale Maßnahme zur richtungsweisenden Diagnostik und Prognose. In der klinischen Routine ist die perkutane, sonografisch gesteuerte Durchführung fest etabliert. Eine gefürchtete Komplikation der Nierenbiopsie ist eine assoziierte relevante Blutung. Bei erhöhtem Blutungsrisiko bietet die transvenöse transjuguläre Nierenbiopsie (TJNB) eine unkomplizierte Alternative, die eine höhere Sicherheit und vergleichbare klinische Ergebnisse aufweist. In diesem Beitrag erhalten Sie einen Überblick über Empfehlungen zu den Indikationen, die Technik und die Ergebnisse im Vergleich zur üblichen perkutanen Nierenbiopsie.
Richtlinie für das DGKN-Fortbildungscurriculum
„Nicht-invasive Hirnstimulation“ zum Erwerb des DGKN-Zertifikats
für „Nicht-invasive Hirnstimulation
(NIBS)“
Authors: Paulus Walter , Antal Andrea , Claßen Joseph , Flöel Agnes , Hasan Alkomiet , Moliadze Vera , Padberg Frank , Schnitzler Alfons , Volkmann Jens , Ziemann Ulf , Grefkes-Hermann Christian
Published: September 2023

Nicht-invasive Hirnstimulation ist ein sehr vielversprechendes Feld in der
therapeutischen Anwendung von Methoden der klinischen Neurophysiologie. Die
Vielzahl der physikalisch möglichen Stimulationsparameter erfordern eine
detaillierte Kenntnis der einzelnen Verfahren, wie sie in diesem Curriculum
vermitteln werden.
Was tun bei Modic Changes?
Authors: Dankaerts Wim , Rosenbaum Mathias
Published: September 2023

Aktivierte Osteochondrosen, auch Modic 1-Changes genannt, bilden eine Subgruppe
der chronischen Rückenschmerzen. Diese rückten vor allem durch
die Forschung zur Antibiotikatherapie von Dr. Hanne Albert aus Dänemark
in den 2010er Jahren in den Fokus. Prof. Dr. Wim Dankaerts stellt im
Gespräch dar, anhand welcher Kriterien er klinische Entscheidungen in
der Therapie von Patient*innen mit Modic 1-Changes fällt.
Psychologische Faktoren im Fokus: Fragen als Schlüssel zum
Behandlungserfolg
Authors: Luomajoki Hannu , Pfeiffer Fabian , Hotz Boendermaker Sabina
Published: September 2023

Schmerzen können zu bestimmten Verhaltensweisen führen, die
wiederum die Chronifizierung der Schmerzen begünstigen. Ein
klassischer Teufelskreis. Umso wichtiger, dass
Physiotherapeut*innen mit ihren
Patient*innen sprechen und die richtigen Fragen
stellen.
Positive Effects of Physical Activity on Prescription on Glycemic Control, Fitness, and Quality of Life in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Nguyen Tam Ngoc , Vu Huyen Thi Thanh , Khuong Long Quynh , van der Ploeg Ingeborg , Sundberg Carl Johan
Published: September 2023

The aim was to investigate the effects of physical activity on prescription (PAP) compared with standard care (SC) in adult drug-naïve T2D patients. A randomized control trial was conducted with drug-naïve T2D patients attending an out-patient clinic Vietnam. Participants were randomly assigned to the PAP group (n+=+44) or the SC group (n+=+43). The PAP group received individualized recommendations for PA, intensive face-to-face training every two weeks. The SC group received the standard recommendations according to WHO guidelines. The mean HbA1c level change was larger (–10.6±6.4 mmol/mol) in the PAP group than in the SC group (–2.4±5.8 mmol/mol) (p<0.001). A one thousand step counts per day increase was significantly associated with a decrease of –2.43 mmol/mol in HbA1c [β=–2.43, 95%CI: (–2.94, –1.92]) in the PAP group. The fasting plasma glucose levels of the PAP group decreased significantly compared with the SC group. The VO2-max increased significantly more in the PAP group than in the SC group. PAP had clear positive effects on health-related Quality of Life [mean between group difference: 9.54 (95%CI 5.84,13.23)]. Insulin resistance, BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly more decreased in the PAP group than in the control group. In conclusion, the fact that even a small change in mean step counts over three months had a beneficial effect on health-related outcomes in drug-naïve T2D patients can have large implications for treatment and management practices, not least in a middle-income country like Vietnam.
Protein engineering strategies contribute efficient production of therapeutic antibody fragments
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: September 2023

Advances in production methods make antibody fragments a valuable tool in therapeutic applications.
Emerging trends in the development of flexible optrode arrays for electrophysiology
Authors: Almasri Reem M. , Ladouceur François , Mawad Damia , Esrafilzadeh Dorna , Firth Josiah , Lehmann Torsten , Poole-Warren Laura A. , Lovell Nigel H. , Al Abed Amr
Published: September 2023

Optical-electrode (optrode) arrays use light to modulate excitable biological tissues and/or transduce bioelectrical signals into the optical domain. Light offers several advantages over electrical wiring, including the ability to encode multiple data channels within a single beam. This approach is at the forefront of innovation aimed at increasing spatial resolution and channel count in multichannel electrophysiology systems. This review presents an overview of devices and material systems that utilize light for electrophysiology recording and stimulation. The work focuses on the current and emerging methods and their applications, and provides a detailed discussion of the design and fabrication of flexible arrayed devices. Optrode arrays feature components non-existent in conventional multi-electrode arrays, such as waveguides, optical circuitry, light-emitting diodes, and optoelectronic and light-sensitive functional materials, packaged in planar, penetrating, or endoscopic forms. Often these are combined with dielectric and conductive structures and, less frequently, with multi-functional sensors. While creating flexible optrode arrays is feasible and necessary to minimize tissue–device mechanical mismatch, key factors must be considered for regulatory approval and clinical use. These include the biocompatibility of optical and photonic components. Additionally, material selection should match the operating wavelength of the specific electrophysiology application, minimizing light scattering and optical losses under physiologically induced stresses and strains. Flexible and soft variants of traditionally rigid photonic circuitry for passive optical multiplexing should be developed to advance the field. We evaluate fabrication techniques against these requirements. We foresee a future whereby established telecommunications techniques are engineered into flexible optrode arrays to enable unprecedented large-scale high-resolution electrophysiology systems.
Self-mode transition, oscillation and inverse hysteresis in ECR discharges
Authors: Ding Z. F. , Yang Y. R. , Fu S. H.
Published: September 2023

Positive and negative feedback of microwave (MW) ECR (electron cyclotron resonance) discharges in cross magnetic field were manipulated by a three-stub coaxial tuner. Unstable ECR discharges in the positive feedback region, such as the self-mode transition between the ordinary (O)-wave mode and extraordinary (X) one, inverse hysteresis, and oscillation, were investigated using a time-resolved MW power meter, high speed camera, and thermocouple. In the positive feedback region, the self-O → X wave mode discharge transition can be driven under the “hot” wall condition, while the counterpart, namely the self-X → O wave mode transition, is observable for the “cold” wall; the inverse hysteresis and oscillation take place at low and moderate gas flow rates, respectively. The mechanism underlying the self-mode transitions and instabilities is the discharge shift due to the gas heating effect. For MW ECR discharges to become stable, as indicated in previous experiments, they should be mismatched in the negative feedback region.
Study on the crystal structure using the powder method for XRD refinement and the hydration state of halloysite
Authors: Tian Dahui , Hao Jiarui
Published: September 2023

Halloysite is an intelligent nano-mineral material available in abundance and at a low price. However, due to the poor crystallization performance, the current data on the crystal structure of halloysite are insufficient. This paper will compare and analyze the crystal structure of halloysite and kaolinite in the kaolin subgroup. Using the x-ray powder diffraction data, the crystal structure of halloysite is refined by Rietveld’s least square full spectrum fitting method. Compared with the crystal structure of kaolinite, the crystal structure of halloysite contains a small amount of interlayer water molecules. Through structural refinement verification, each unit cell contains 0.121 interlayer water molecules, and the water molecules are at the center of the interlayer area corresponding to the hexagonal ring of the tetrahedron layer.
Enhancing implant performance: 20% reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial initial formation with Cu0.75Ti0.25O2 coating
Authors: Yadav A. , Pradhan S. , Khokhlova M. , El Khaloufi O. , Khong N. Z. J. , Lai S. K. , Fouchet A. , David A. , Lüders U. , Li H.-Y. , Rao M. S. R. , Prellier W.
Published: September 2023

Bacteria are commonly found in various environmental sources, such as soil and water. Among the different bacterial species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is particularly known for causing infections in humans and can easily colonize surfaces. To address this issue, one approach is to modify the surface with antibacterial coatings. Thus, here, we investigate the effectiveness of Cu–Ti oxide coatings by fabricating Cu1−xTixO2 (0.25 < x < 0.75) thin films on glass substrates using the pulsed laser deposition technique. Microstructural analysis revealed that the films were amorphous and exhibited a smooth surface. In addition, the contact angle measurements demonstrated high hydrophilicity, as indicated by values below 90°. Subsequently, we examined the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria on both Cu1−xTixO2 coated and uncoated glass surfaces. The results revealed a 20% reduction in bacterial growth on Cu0.75Ti0.25O2-coated samples, as determined by calculating the biomass of the biofilm. These findings were further discussed in relation to the copper content present on the surface of the coating. Ultimately, the results contribute to our understanding of bacterial development on various surfaces. Consequently, this research may have practical implications for enhancing the antibacterial properties, preventing bacterial infections associated with different materials and surfaces, and improving implant performance.
‘I think’ in Swedish L1 and L2 group interactions
Authors: Tolvanen Eveliina
Published: September 2023

This cross-sectional study explores the phrase jag tänker ‘I think/cogitate’ in Swedish
talk-in-interaction and compares it with two similar phrases, jag tycker ‘I think/find’ and jag
tror ‘I think/believe/guess’. It consists of a quantitative overview of the three phrases and a qualitative,
interactionally informed analysis of jag tänker in task-based group conversations with L1 and L2 speakers of
Swedish. The results show that jag tänker has a stance-taking function in L1 interactions and projects more talk,
which typically accounts for the reasoning behind the point the speaker is making. However, the L2 speakers do not use jag
tänker as a stance-taking phrase; instead, they may deploy jag tror or jag tycker
to project turns that accomplish similar actions to those that the L1 speakers accomplish with jag tänker.
The 2022 mega heatwave in South Asia in the observed and projected future climate
Authors: Aadhar Saran , Mishra Vimal
Published: September 2023

The heatwave in 2022 in South Asia disrupted the lives of millions of people and posed challenges to human health, energy, water, and food security. However, mega heatwaves’ causes, impacts, and occurrence (like in 2022) remain largely unrecognized. Here, we analyzed the 2022 heatwave, its mechanisms, and future likelihood using observational datasets and climate model simulations. In the last few years, the frequency and duration of heatwaves have significantly increased in South Asia. South Asia faced five continuous heatwave spells that lasted about 35 d during late February and April 2022, affecting a large part of the region. The year 2022 heatwave was unprecedented that caused a deficit in soil moisture and crop yield. Moreover, our results show that the excessive radiative heating of arid and semi-arid regions resulted in a high geopotential height and low pressure in South Asia during the 2022 mega heatwave. The climate model simulations show that such mega heatwaves are projected to become more frequent under the warmer world, and their time of emergence could be as early as the 2030s under the highest emission scenario. Earlier occurrences of mega heatwaves in the future will pose considerable adaptation challenges for food and water security in the region.
Effect of heat input on the microstructure and impact toughness of submerged arc weld metal for high-performance weathering steel
Authors: Li Fangmin , Li Jinjian , Hu Bing , Yi Yuzhu , Wang Qiuming , Wang Qingfeng
Published: September 2023

This study aims to elucidate the appropriate heat input (E

j
) range for submerged arc welding (SAW) of high-performance weathering steel. Generally, by increasing E

j
, the welding efficiency can be improved, but the toughness of the weld metal may be deteriorated. Therefore, SAW was employed to produce the weld microstructure under varying E

j
from 20 to 50 kJ cm−1. The Charpy V-notch impact tests were conducted at −40 °C, and the weld microstructures were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate that the weld microstructures consist of polygonal ferrite (PF), acicular ferrite (AF), granular bainitic ferrite (GBF), and martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents under each E

j
. With the increase in E

j
, the proportion of PF increases, while AF and GBF are coarsened, and the area fraction (f
M/A) and mean size (dM/A) of M/A constituents increase monotonically. Further, the fraction (f
MTA>15°) of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) with the misorientation tolerance angles (MTAs) greater than 15° is reduced, while the mean equivalent diameter (MEDMTA≥15°) of ferrite grains with HAGBs increases. Accordingly, with the increase in E

j
, the impact toughness of weld degrades from 128.4 to 47.6 J. The higher degree of micro-strain concentration caused by the increase in M/A size and area leads to the formation of larger microcracks under small plastic deformation, while the reduced HAGBs have a lower inhibition effect on crack propagation. Finally, the impact toughness decreases with the increase of E

j
. Overall, the findings suggest that the E

j
of SAW should not exceed 40 kJ cm−1 in the construction of high-performance weathering steel.
Population genetics of recent natural colonization by the bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus; Aves) suggests the importance of recurrent immigration on remote islands
Authors: Aoki Daisuke , Matsui Shin , Esashi Mari , Nishiumi Isao , Nagata Junco , Takagi Masaoki
Published: September 2023

Founder effects and recurrent immigration are two major factors that might potentially contribute to genetic differentiation and population persistence in the early stage of remote island colonization. However, their relative importance remains controversial. By conducting population genetic analyses of four remote island populations of the bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus) established naturally within several decades in Japan, we examined the contributions of founder effects and recurrent immigration to these island populations. Based on the standard genetic indices and population structure analyses using 15 microsatellite loci, we suggested island-specific scenarios of colonization. Notably, the founder effect strongly influenced genetic differentiation in the population on the most remote oceanic island, Chichi-jima Island, which, however, became extinct 20 years after colonization, possibly owing to a lack of recurrent immigration. In contrast, another oceanic island, Minami-Daito Island, was probably subjected to multiple recurrent immigration events from the mainland, which obscured any genetic differentiation previously established by the founder effect. Temporal samples collected over 8 years on this island confidently supported this scenario. Underlying the island-specific scenarios of colonization, we provide evidence that recurrent immigration strongly affected the population persistence, overwhelming the initial founder effects. We argue for the importance of recurrent immigration even in colonization of highly remote islands.
A Novel RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Vilanterol Trifenatate, Umeclidinium Bromide and Fluticasone Furoate in Inhalation Dry Powder Formulation
Authors: Yadav Shweta , Jain Vandana , Magar Hemant , Kumar M Vijay , Warde Sayali , Singh Raman Mohan
Published: September 2023

The dry powder inhalation formulation containing vilanterol trifenatate, umeclidinium bromide and fluticasone furoate intended for the therapy of bronchospasm related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma was selected for the development and validation of a novel, selective, accurate, precise, quick and cost-efficient reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography method. Neither an official monograph nor a single method has yet been published for the simultaneous estimation of these three compounds, which makes this method novel. The stationary phase of an ACE-C18-PFP column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μ) was used with a mobile phase of 25-mM sodium perchlorate buffer (pH 2.5 adjusted with ortho-phosphoric acid) and acetonitrile (40:60% v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min to optimize chromatographic variables. The column temperature was kept at 40°C, and detection was at 224 nm, which was the isosbestic point of these three drugs. Well-resolved good peak symmetry was obtained for all three molecules by isocratic elution in less than 10 min, and the retention times of vilanterol trifenatate, umeclidinium bromide and fluticasone furoate were found to be 3.7, 5.4 and 8.3 min, respectively. The proposed method was validated as per ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines, and the calibration curves were linear in concentration ranges of 5–35 μg/mL for vilanterol trifenatate, 5–80 μg/mL for umeclidinium bromide and 5–150 μg/mL for fluticasone furoate, with mean % recoveries of 99–100%. The limits of detection and quantitation are 0.15 and 0.45 μg/mL for vilanterol trifenatate, 0.58 and 1.77 μg/mL for umeclidinium bromide and 0.32 and 0.96 μg/mL for fluticasone furoate, respectively. Hence, the proposed RP-HPLC technique was successfully used to quantify the inhalation formulation containing all three compounds.
Inscribed Trefoil Knots
Authors: Hugelmeyer Cole
Published: September 2023

Let $K$ be a knot type for which the quadratic term of the Conway polynomial is nontrivial, and let $\gamma : {\mathbb {R}}\to {\mathbb {R}}^{3}$ be an analytic ${\mathbb {Z}}$-periodic function with non-vanishing derivative that parameterizes a knot of type $K$ in space. We prove that there exists a sequence of numbers $0\leq t_{1} < t_{2} <... < t_{6} < 1$ so that the polygonal path obtained by cyclically connecting the points $\gamma (t_{1}), \gamma (t_{2}),..., \gamma (t_{6})$ by line segments is a trefoil knot.
Multivariate spatial modelling for predicting missing HIV prevalence rates among key populations
Authors: Lan Zhou , Bao Le
Published: September 2023

Ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic is among the sustainable development goals for the next decade. To overcome the problem caused by the imbalances between the need for care and the limited resources, we shall improve our understanding of the local HIV epidemics, especially for key populations at high risk of HIV infection. However, HIV prevalence rates for key populations have been difficult to estimate because their HIV surveillance data are very scarce. This paper develops a multivariate spatial model for predicting unknown HIV prevalence rates among key populations. The proposed multivariate conditional auto-regressive model efficiently pools information from neighbouring locations and correlated populations. As the real data analysis illustrates, it provides more accurate predictions than independently fitting the sub-epidemic for each key population. Furthermore, we investigate how different pieces of surveillance data contribute to the prediction and offer practical suggestions for epidemic data collection.
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm) Appendicitis: The Real Vermiform Appendix
Authors: Getzlaff Jared M , Fulghum George H
Published: September 2023

Enterobius vermicularis is the most common helminthic infection in the United States, infecting an estimated 40 million persons. A rare complication of E. vermicularis infestation is appendicitis. The diagnosis must be considered during pathologic examination to ensure appropriate treatment with anti-helminthic therapy.
Market Power in Coal Shipping and Implications for U.S. Climate Policy
Authors: Preonas Louis
Published: September 2023

Economists have widely endorsed pricing CO2 emissions to internalize climate change-related externalities. Doing so would significantly affect coal, the most carbon-intensive energy source. However, U.S. coal markets exhibit an additional distortion: the railroads that transport coal to power plants can exert market power. This article estimates how coal-by-rail markups respond to changes in coal demand. I identify markups in a major intermediate goods market using both reduced-form and structural methods. I find that rail carriers reduce coal markups when downstream power plant demand changes due to a drop in the price of natural gas (a competing fuel). My results imply that decreases in coal markups have increased recent U.S. climate damages by $11.9 billion, compared to a counterfactual where markups did not change. Incomplete pass-through would likely erode the environmental benefits of an incremental carbon tax, shifting the tax burden towards upstream railroads. Still, a non-trivial tax would likely increase welfare.
Comparative oxidative damages induced by silver nanoparticles with different sizes and coatings in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Niu Shuyan , Wang Junjun , Chang Xiaoru , Shang Mengting , Guo Menghao , Sun Zuoyi , Li Yunjing , Xue Yuying
Published: September 2023

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in many commercial and medical products. Serious concerns are paid on their adverse potentials to the environment and human health. In this study, toxic effects and oxidative stress induced by AgNPs with different sizes and coatings (20 nm AgNPs, 20 nm polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) -AgNPs and 50 nm AgNPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were investigated. The toxic effects including the shortened lifespan and decreased frequency of head thrashes and body bends of C. elegans were induced in a dose-dependent manner by AgNPs. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the oxidative stress-related indicators including malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in nematodes were changed after exposure to three kinds of AgNPs. These effects were the most obvious in a 20 nm PVP-AgNPs exposure group. AgNPs could also induce the expression of genes related to oxidative stress in nematodes. In addition, the up-regulation of mtl-1 and mtl-2 in nematodes might reduce the oxidative damage caused by AgNPs, by using transgenic strains CF2222 and CL2120 nematodes. Metallothionein (MT), an antioxidant, could relieve the oxidative damage caused by AgNPs. These results suggested that 20 nm PVP-AgNPs with a smaller particle size and better dispersion have stronger toxic effects and the oxidative damage to nematodes. Mtl-1 and mtl-2 might be involved in alleviating the oxidative damage caused by AgNPs. Our findings provide clues for the safety evaluation and mechanism information of metal nanoparticles.
Shell formation in two species of bivalves: the role of mantle cells and haemocytes
Authors: Alesci Alessio , Albano Marco , Fumia Angelo , Messina Emmanuele , Miller Anthea , Di Fresco Dario , de Oliveira Fernandes Jorge M , Spanò Nunziacarla , Savoca Serena , Capillo Gioele
Published: September 2023

The shell of bivalves acts as structural support, defence against predators, stressors, and maintenance of homeostasis. Haemocytes and mantle epithelial cells participate in shell formation. Mantle epithelial cells produce the organic matrix of the shell and are associated with biomineralization because of their proximity to the shell surface and ability to maintain shell deposition ex vivo. Haemocytes play an immunological role and are involved in Ca2+ and CO32- intracellular transport implicated in shell mineralization. This study aims to evaluate the expression of molecules that play key roles in internal defence and the nervous system, in epithelial cells and haemocytes of the outer mantle margin of two species of bivalves, Polititapes aureus Gmelin, 1791 and Cerastoderma glaucum Bruguière, 1789, to highlight their collaborative role in shell formation. Our data show for the first time the presence of serotonin/S100 protein, and TLR2/iNOS colocalization in the haemocytes and mantle epithelial cells of P. aureus and C. glaucum, suggesting that the mantle cells perform their canonical role of sensory and biomineralizing activity, while the haemocytes perform their typical immune function, and their collaboration in shell formation, providing new information on cellular interactions in shell formation and giving more details for taxonomical studies.