bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the decline in the magnitude of the expenditure multiplier
Authors: Rodríguez-López Jesús , Solis-Garcia Mario
Published: November 2023

We investigate the causes underlying the decline in the government expenditure multiplier after the Korean War, through the lens of a structural dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. We estimate the model using Bayesian methods and annual frequency data from 1939 to 2017. The model replicates the observed fall in the expenditure multiplier. We find that the decline is accounted for by changes in two of the model’s structural parameters, namely a decline in consumption habit persistence and a higher autocorrelation of the public expenditure processes. These changes imply a stronger negative wealth effect, a lower discretion of US fiscal policy and, consequently, a multiplier of smaller magnitude. The model identifies the news shocks to military spending, yet fiscal news plays little role in the decline of the multiplier. Rather, the news shocks account for an important fraction of medium-term variances of debt and military expenditures, which justifies their inclusion in the model.
Seismic Structure of the Izu Arc‐Backarc System
Authors: Li Yuhan , Grevemeyer Ingo , Kodaira Shuichi , Fujie Gou
Published: November 2023

Arc‐backarc systems are inherently shaped by subduction, representing an essential window into processes acting in the Earth's interior such as the recycling of subducted slabs. Furthermore, they are setting where new crust is formed and are believed to be sites where juvenile continental crust emerges. We present a seismic refraction and wide‐angle velocity model across the Izu arc‐backarc system, and use its characteristic features to constrain geochemically and petrologically different compartments, revealing processes governing crustal formation overlying subduction zones. Our result delineates the Izu arc with a maximum thickness of ∼20 km and the Shikoku Basin with thicknesses of ∼7 to 11 km. In the volcanic arc, the middle crust of the felsic to intermediate tonalitic layer (6.0–6.5 km/s) is remarkably thicker beneath the basalt‐dominated area than in the rhyolite‐dominated area, indicating that basaltic volcanism is indispensable in the transformation process from arc to continental crust. However, rhyolitic volcanism may relate to the juvenile stage of arc evolution or the remelting of middle crust due to the insufficient supply of basaltic magma from the mantle. The mafic restite and cumulates, which used to be part of the arc crustal material, are delaminated and foundered into the mantle, forming extremely low mantle velocities (<7.5 km/s). In the Shikoku Basin, our result supports a fertile mantle source with passive upwelling and normal temperature during the opening process, but the lack of high velocity in the lower crust rules out hydrous melts entrained from the subducting slab or anomalous mantle trapped during subduction zone reconfiguration.
Future Projections of Low‐Level Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Over South Tropical South America: Impacts on Precipitation and Amazon Dry Season Length
Authors: Agudelo Jhoana , Espinoza Jhan Carlo , Junquas Clementine , Arias Paola A. , Sierra Juan Pablo , Olmo Matias E.
Published: November 2023

The last few decades have shown evidence of a lengthening dry season in southern Amazonia, which is associated with a delay in the onset of the South American Monsoon System (SAMS). Using a pattern recognition framework of atmospheric circulation patterns (CPs), previous studies have identified specific atmospheric situations related to the onset of the SAMS. Here, we analyze the future changes in the CPs that largely define the main hydro‐climatological states of Tropical South America. We evaluated the CP changes that occurred between two periods: historical (1970–2000) and future (2040–2070), using six General Circulation Models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. Future GCM projections show significant spatio‐temporal changes in the CPs associated with the dry season in southern Amazonia during the mid‐21st century. These changes are related to both a late onset of the SAMS and an early demise of the SAMS. Particularly, the CP methodology allowed for a better understanding of the behavior of the southern Amazon dry season under future conditions, showing an increase in the frequency of the CPs typically observed during the dry season. The occurrence of dry days in the Amazon basin during the austral winter of the mid‐21st century increases by 19.4% on average, with respect to the historical period. This methodology also identified a future increase in the frequency of dry CPs, both at the beginning of the dry‐to‐wet transition period (8%) and at the end of the wet‐to‐dry transition season (11%).
Unequal, Unreliable, and Unfixable?—The Need to Investigate Water Infrastructure Improvements in Intermittent Supply Systems
Authors: Klassert C.
Published: November 2023

Infrastructure deterioration threatens urban water security and the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6, “water for all”). One billion urban residents worldwide already face intermittent piped water access, making their public water supply unreliable and unequal. Thus, effective investments in water infrastructure improvements are critical. In a recent WRR paper, Jeuland et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033897) evaluate the impacts of a large infrastructure improvement project on various water security metrics and assess the challenges of such an investigation. They apply a rigorous difference‐in‐difference approach to data from a US$275 million investment in upgrades to water supply and sewage networks in the Zarqa governorate in arid Jordan, analyzing its effects on households, businesses, farms, and the water utility. The authors find a range of moderate improvements to water access and re‐use metrics, including a significant reduction in reported shortages. Key water security indicators related to access intermittency, however, such as the supply duration per day and the expenditure on water deliveries by tanker trucks, saw little to no improvement. The findings reveal that the efforts required to overcome the insecurity and inequity of intermittent public water supply systems might be considerably larger than expected. This suggests an urgent need to further enhance both the accuracy of impact evaluation methods and the effectiveness of infrastructure investments to support the pursuit of SDG 6.
A global multicohort study to map subcortical brain development and cognition in infancy and early childhood
Authors: Alex Ann M. , Aguate Fernando , Botteron Kelly , Buss Claudia , Chong Yap-Seng , Dager Stephen R. , Donald Kirsten A. , Entringer Sonja , Fair Damien A. , Fortier Marielle V. , Gaab Nadine , Gilmore John H. , Girault Jessica B. , Graham Alice M. , Groenewold Nynke A. , Hazlett Heather , Lin Weili , Meaney Michael J. , Piven Joseph , Qiu Anqi , Rasmussen Jerod M. , Roos Annerine , Schultz Robert T. , Skeide Michael A. , Stein Dan J. , Styner Martin , Thompson Paul M. , Turesky Ted K. , Wadhwa Pathik D. , Zar Heather J. , Zöllei Lilla , de los Campos Gustavo , Knickmeyer Rebecca C. ,   the ENIGMA ORIGINs group
Published: November 2023

The human brain grows quickly during infancy and early childhood, but factors influencing brain maturation in this period remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we harmonized data from eight diverse cohorts, creating one of the largest pediatric neuroimaging datasets to date focused on birth to 6 years of age. We mapped the developmental trajectory of intracranial and subcortical volumes in ∼2,000 children and studied how sociodemographic factors and adverse birth outcomes influence brain structure and cognition. The amygdala was the first subcortical volume to mature, whereas the thalamus exhibited protracted development. Males had larger brain volumes than females, and children born preterm or with low birthweight showed catch-up growth with age. Socioeconomic factors exerted region- and time-specific effects. Regarding cognition, males scored lower than females; preterm birth affected all developmental areas tested, and socioeconomic factors affected visual reception and receptive language. Brain–cognition correlations revealed region-specific associations.
Comparing attentional disengagement between Prolific and MTurk samples
Authors: Albert Derek A. , Smilek Daniel
Published: November 2023

Attention often disengages from primary tasks in favor of secondary tasks (i.e., multitasking) and task-unrelated thoughts (i.e., mind wandering). We assessed whether attentional disengagement, in the context of a cognitive task, can substantially differ between samples from commonly used online participant recruitment platforms, Prolific and Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Initially, eighty participants were recruited through Prolific to perform an attention task in which the risk of losing points for errors was varied (high risk = 80% chance of loss, low risk = 20% chance of loss). Attentional disengagement was measured via task performance along with self-reported mind wandering and multitasking. On Prolific, we observed surprisingly low levels of disengagement. We then conducted the same experiment on MTurk. Strikingly, MTurk participants exhibited more disengagement than Prolific participants. There was also an interaction between risk and platform, with the high-risk group exhibiting less disengagement, in terms of better task performance, than the low-risk group, but only on MTurk. Platform differences in individual traits related to disengagement and relations among study variables were also observed. Platform differences persisted, but were smaller, after increasing MTurk reputation criteria and remuneration in a second experiment. Therefore, recruitment platform and recruitment criteria could impact results related to attentional disengagement.
The dresden platform is a research hub for ultra-high dose rate radiobiology
Authors: Metzkes-Ng Josefine , Brack Florian-Emanuel , Kroll Florian , Bernert Constantin , Bock Stefan , Bodenstein Elisabeth , Brand Michael , Cowan Thomas E. , Gebhardt René , Hans Stefan , Helbig Uwe , Horst Felix , Jansen Jeannette , Kraft Stephan D. , Krause Mechthild , Leßmann Elisabeth , Löck Steffen , Pawelke Jörg , Püschel Thomas , Reimold Marvin , Rehwald Martin , Richter Christian , Schlenvoigt Hans-Peter , Schramm Ulrich , Schürer Michael , Seco Joao , Szabó Emília Rita , Umlandt Marvin E. P. , Zeil Karl , Ziegler Tim , Beyreuther Elke
Published: November 2023

The recently observed FLASH effect describes the observation of normal tissue protection by ultra-high dose rates (UHDR), or dose delivery in a fraction of a second, at similar tumor-killing efficacy of conventional dose delivery and promises great benefits for radiotherapy patients. Dedicated studies are now necessary to define a robust set of dose application parameters for FLASH radiotherapy and to identify underlying mechanisms. These studies require particle accelerators with variable temporal dose application characteristics for numerous radiation qualities, equipped for preclinical radiobiological research. Here we present the dresden platform, a research hub for ultra-high dose rate radiobiology. By uniting clinical and research accelerators with radiobiology infrastructure and know-how, the dresden platform offers a unique environment for studying the FLASH effect. We introduce its experimental capabilities and demonstrate the platform’s suitability for systematic investigation of FLASH by presenting results from a concerted in vivo radiobiology study with zebrafish embryos. The comparative pre-clinical study was conducted across one electron and two proton accelerator facilities, including an advanced laser-driven proton source applied for FLASH-relevant in vivo irradiations for the first time. The data show a protective effect of UHDR irradiation up to $$10^{5}\text{Gy}/\text{s}$$

10
5

Gy
/
s

and suggests consistency of the protective effect even at escalated dose rates of $$10^9\text{Gy}/\text{s}$$

10
9

Gy
/
s

. With the first clinical FLASH studies underway, research facilities like the dresden platform, addressing the open questions surrounding FLASH, are essential to accelerate FLASH’s translation into clinical practice.
Annular one-dimensional photonic crystals for salinity sensing
Authors: Sayed Hassan , Swillam Mohamed A. , Aly Arafa H.
Published: November 2023

The use of annular one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) for salinity sensing is studied in this research. Annular 1D-PCs provide small and integrated structures that facilitate the creation of portable and miniaturized sensor equipment appropriate for field use. In order to generate annular 1D-PCs, the research explores the finite element method (FEM) simulation technique utilizing the COMSOL Multiphysics approach, highlighting the significance of exact control over layer thickness and uniformity. Furthermore, we construct a 1D annular PCs structure in the form $${(AB)}^{N}$$

(
A
B
)

N

, where A is silicon ($$Si$$

Si

) and B is silicon dioxide ($${SiO}_{2}$$

SiO

2

) of 40 nm and 70 nm, respectively, with a number of periods equal to 9. By incorporating a central defect layer of saline water (220 nm thickness), the sensor achieves optimum performance at normal incidence with a sensitivity (S) of $$782 (nm/RIU)$$

782
(
n
m
/
R
I
U
)

, a quality factor (Q) of 10.22, and a figure of merit (FOM) of $$12.6 {RIU}^{-1}$$

12.6

RIU

-
1

. The design that is suggested has several advantages over past work on planners and annular 1D-PCs, including ease of implementation, performance at normal incidence, and high sensitivity.
Tripogon loliiformis tolerates rapid desiccation after metabolic and transcriptional priming during initial drying
Authors: Okemo Pauline A. , Njaci Isaac , Kim Young-Mo , McClure Ryan S. , Peterson Matthew J. , Beliaev Alexander S. , Hixson Kim K. , Mundree Sagadevan , Williams Brett
Published: November 2023

Crop plants and undomesticated resilient species employ different strategies to regulate their energy resources and growth. Most crop species are sensitive to stress and prioritise rapid growth to maximise yield or biomass production. In contrast, resilient plants grow slowly, are small, and allocate their resources for survival in challenging environments. One small group of plants, termed resurrection plants, survive desiccation of their vegetative tissue and regain full metabolic activity upon watering. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this extreme tolerance remain unknown. In this study, we employed a transcriptomics and metabolomics approach, to investigate the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in Tripogon loliiformis, a modified desiccation-tolerant plant, that survives gradual but not rapid drying. We show that T. loliiformis can survive rapid desiccation if it is gradually dried to 60% relative water content (RWC). Furthermore, the gene expression data showed that T. loliiformis is genetically predisposed for desiccation in the hydrated state, as evidenced by the accumulation of MYB, NAC, bZIP, WRKY transcription factors along with the phytohormones, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, amino acids (e.g., proline) and TCA cycle sugars during initial drying. Through network analysis of co-expressed genes, we observed differential responses to desiccation between T. loliiformis shoots and roots. Dehydrating shoots displayed global transcriptional changes across broad functional categories, although no enrichment was observed during drying. In contrast, dehydrating roots showed distinct network changes with the most significant differences occurring at 40% RWC. The cumulative effects of the early stress responses may indicate the minimum requirements of desiccation tolerance and enable T. loliiformis to survive rapid drying. These findings potentially hold promise for identifying biotechnological solutions aimed at developing drought-tolerant crops without growth and yield penalties.
Mechanochemical active ratchet
Authors: Ryabov Artem , Tasinkevych Mykola
Published: November 2023

Self-propelled nanoparticles moving through liquids offer the possibility of creating advanced applications where such nanoswimmers can operate as artificial molecular-sized motors. Achieving control over the motion of nanoswimmers is a crucial aspect for their reliable functioning. While the directionality of micron-sized swimmers can be controlled with great precision, steering nano-sized active particles poses a real challenge. One of the reasons is the existence of large fluctuations of active velocity at the nanoscale. Here, we describe a mechanism that, in the presence of a ratchet potential, transforms these fluctuations into a net current of active nanoparticles. We demonstrate the effect using a generic model of self-propulsion powered by chemical reactions. The net motion along the easy direction of the ratchet potential arises from the coupling of chemical and mechanical processes and is triggered by a constant, transverse to the ratchet, force. The current magnitude sensitively depends on the amplitude and the periodicity of the ratchet potential and the strength of the transverse force. Our results highlight the importance of thermodynamically consistent modeling of chemical reactions in active matter at the nanoscale and suggest new ways of controlling dynamics in such systems.
Visualization of hydrocarbon chain length and degree of saturation of fatty acids in mouse livers by combining near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and machine learning
Authors: Mori Akino , Umezawa Masakazu , Okubo Kyohei , Kamiya Tomonori , Kamimura Masao , Ohtani Naoko , Soga Kohei
Published: November 2023

Fatty acids play various physiological roles owing to their diverse structural characteristics, such as hydrocarbon chain length (HCL) and degree of saturation (DS). Although the distribution of fatty acids in biological tissues is associated with lipid metabolism, in situ imaging tools are still lacking for HCL and DS. Here, we introduce a framework of near-infrared (1000–1400 nm) hyperspectral label-free imaging with machine learning analysis of the fatty acid HCL and DS distribution in the liver at each pixel, in addition to the previously reported total lipid content. The training data of 16 typical fatty acids were obtained by gas chromatography from liver samples of mice fed with various diets. A two-dimensional mapping of these two parameters was successfully performed. Furthermore, the HCL/DS plot exhibited characteristic clustering among the different diet groups. Visualization of fatty acid distribution would provide insights for revealing the pathophysiological conditions of liver diseases and metabolism.
A machine learning method to process voice samples for identification of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Iyer Anu , Kemp Aaron , Rahmatallah Yasir , Pillai Lakshmi , Glover Aliyah , Prior Fred , Larson-Prior Linda , Virmani Tuhin
Published: November 2023

Machine learning approaches have been used for the automatic detection of Parkinson’s disease with voice recordings being the most used data type due to the simple and non-invasive nature of acquiring such data. Although voice recordings captured via telephone or mobile devices allow much easier and wider access for data collection, current conflicting performance results limit their clinical applicability. This study has two novel contributions. First, we show the reliability of personal telephone-collected voice recordings of the sustained vowel /a/ in natural settings by collecting samples from 50 people with specialist-diagnosed Parkinson’s disease and 50 healthy controls and applying machine learning classification with voice features related to phonation. Second, we utilize a novel application of a pre-trained convolutional neural network (Inception V3) with transfer learning to analyze the spectrograms of the sustained vowel from these samples. This approach considers speech intensity estimates across time and frequency scales rather than collapsing measurements across time. We show the superiority of our deep learning model for the task of classifying people with Parkinson’s disease as distinct from healthy controls.
Electricity consumption in Finland influenced by climate effects of energetic particle precipitation
Authors: Juntunen Veera , Asikainen Timo
Published: November 2023

It is known that electricity consumption in many cold Northern countries depends greatly on prevailing outdoor temperatures especially during the winter season. On the other hand, recent research has demonstrated that solar wind driven energetic particle precipitation from space into the polar atmosphere can influence the stratospheric polar vortex and tropospheric weather patterns during winter. These changes are significant, e.g., in Northern Europe, especially in Finland. In this study we demonstrate that geomagnetic activity, as a proxy of energetic particle precipitation, significantly influences Finland’s average temperature and total wintertime electricity consumption in Finland. This influence is only seen when the prevailing equatorial stratospheric winds, so called QBO winds, are easterly. The results demonstrate a previously unrecognized societal influence of space weather, and imply that long-term energy consumption forecasts could potentially be improved by considering long-term space weather predictions.
Quaternary ammonium-based coating of textiles is effective against bacteria and viruses with a low risk to human health
Authors: Meier Philipp , Clement Pietro , Altenried Stefanie , Reina Giacomo , Ren Qun , Züst Roland , Enger Olivier , Choi Francis , Nestle Nikolaus , Deisenroth Ted , Neubauer Peter , Wick Peter
Published: November 2023

While the global healthcare system is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, new multi-drug-resistant pathogens are emerging as the next threat. To tackle these challenges there is a need for safe and sustainable antiviral and antibacterial functionalized materials. Here we develop an 'easy-to-apply' procedure for the surface functionalization of textiles, rendering them antiviral and antibacterial and assessing the performance of these textiles. A metal-free quaternary ammonium-based coating was applied homogeneously and non-covalently to hospital curtains. Abrasion, durability testing, and aging resulted in little change in the performance of the treated textile. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative antibacterial assays on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumanii revealed excellent antibacterial activity with a CFU reduction of 98–100% within only 4 h of exposure. The treated curtain was aged 6 months before testing. Similarly, the antiviral activity tested according to ISO-18184 with murine hepatitis virus (MHV) showed > 99% viral reduction with the functionalized curtain. Also, the released active compounds of the coating 24 ± 5 µg mL−1 revealed no acute in vitro skin toxicity (IC50: 95 µg mL−1) and skin sensitization. This study emphasizes the potential of safe and sustainable metal-free textile coatings for the rapid antiviral and antibacterial functionalization of textiles.
Biodegradable ether amines for reverse cationic flotation separation of ultrafine quartz from magnetite
Authors: Gouvêa Junior José Tadeu , Chipakwe Vitalis , de Salles Leal Filho Laurindo , Chehreh Chelgani Saeed
Published: November 2023

A considerable amount of ultrafine magnetite as the iron source will end up in the tailing dams since the magnetic separation process markedly drops as the particle size. Cationic reverse flotation could be one of the main alternatives for recovering ultrafine magnetite. As a systematic approach, this study explored the flotation efficiency and interaction mechanisms of two biodegradable ether amines (diamine and monoamine) to separate ultrafine quartz from magnetite (− 20 µm). Several assessments (single and mixed mineral flotation, zeta potential, contact angle, surface tension measurement, turbidity, and Fourier transform infrared) were conducted to explore the efficiency of the process and the interaction mechanisms. Results indicated that ether diamine and monoamine could highly float ultrafine quartz particles (95.9 and 97.7%, respectively) and efficiently separate them from ultrafine magnetite particles. Turbidity assessments highlighted that these cationic collectors could aggregate magnetite particles (potentially hydrophobic coagulation) and enhance their depression. Surface analyses revealed that the collector mainly adsorbed on the quartz particles, while it was essentially a weak interaction on magnetite.
Methodological pipeline for monitoring post-harvest quality of leafy vegetables
Authors: Tonto T. C. , Cimini S. , Grasso S. , Zompanti A. , Santonico M. , De Gara L. , Locato V.
Published: November 2023

Plants are primary source of nutrients for humans. However, the nutritional value of vegetables tends to decrease once organ and tissue sinks are detached from the plant. Minimal processing of leafy vegetables involves cutting and washing before packaging and storage. These processing procedures result in stressful conditions and post-harvest disorders senescence-related can also occur. The aim of this work is to define a methodological pipeline to evaluate the “quality” changes of fresh cut leafy vegetables over their shelf-life. At this purpose, intra-species variability has been investigated considering two varieties of Lactuca sativa (var. longifolia and capitata), showing different susceptibility to browning. Since browning mainly depends on phenol oxidation, redox parameters as well as the activity of the enzymes involved in phenol biosynthesis and oxidation have been monitored over storage time. At the same time, the metabolic changes of the lettuce leaves have been estimated as response patterns to chemical sensors. The obtained sensor outputs were predictive of browning-related biological features in a cultivar-dependent manner. The integration of the results obtained by this multivariate methodological approach allowed the identification of the most appropriate quality markers in lettuce leaves from different varieties. This methodological pipeline is proposed for the identification and subsequent monitoring of post-harvest quality of leafy vegetables.
A three-dimensional model with two-body interactions for endothelial cells in angiogenesis
Authors: Sakai Kazuma , Hayashi Tatsuya , Sakai Yusuke , Mada Jun , Tonami Kazuo , Uchijima Yasunobu , Kurihara Hiroki , Tokihiro Tetsuji
Published: November 2023

We introduce a three-dimensional mathematical model for the dynamics of vascular endothelial cells during sprouting angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the biological process by which new blood vessels form from existing ones. It has been the subject of numerous theoretical models. These models have successfully replicated various aspects of angiogenesis. Recent studies using particle-based models have highlighted the significant influence of cell shape on network formation, with elongated cells contributing to the formation of branching structures. While most mathematical models are two-dimensional, we aim to investigate whether ellipsoids also form branch-like structures and how their shape affects the pattern. In our model, the shape of a vascular endothelial cell is represented as a spheroid, and a discrete dynamical system is constructed based on the simple assumption of two-body interactions. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our model reproduces the patterns of elongation and branching observed in the early stages of angiogenesis. We show that the pattern formation of the cell population is strongly dependent on the cell shape. Finally, we demonstrate that our current mathematical model reproduces the cell behaviours, specifically cell-mixing, observed in sprouts.
Psychological disturbances encountered by selected undergraduates studying at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka during the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kaushani T. H. M. , Weeratunga E. B.
Published: November 2023

University undergraduates are increasingly recognized as a vulnerable population with a higher level of psychological disturbances. During the Covid-19 pandemic, universities closed all over the world, resulting in the psychological well-being of this population being severely affected across the globe. This study examined the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms encountered by undergraduates of the selected five faculties at the University of Ruhuna in Southern Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19 pandemic, its associated factors, and the correlations between stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. An online, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among undergraduates using pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires from the randomly selected five faculties: Allied Health Sciences, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Finance, and Medicine. Undergraduates were invited to complete the Google Form. Socio-demographic details and a 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (21-DASS) were used for data collection. Stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were evaluated using a Sinhala version of the 21-DASS scale. Ethical permission was granted by the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna. Among the 359 undergraduates, the majority were represented by females (62.1%). The mean age of the sample was 23.67 years (SD ± 1.6). Stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were found to be prevalent in 53.7%, 41.8%, and 63.8% of undergraduates respectively. Younger and female undergraduates had more impact on psychological issues than their counterparts. It revealed a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depressive symptoms (r = 0.646, p < .001), anxiety and stress (r = 0.868, p < .001), and stress and anxiety (r = 0.786, p < .001). Most undergraduates experienced considerable levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 as increasing stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms, tend to increase all types of psychological disturbances. The development of mental health among undergraduates is essential and needs innovative strategies to improve the psychological well-being of undergraduates. The initiation of a stress management programme and expanded available counseling services are also important. Further studies are needed to be conducted on the extended topic of how the Covid-19 era is affecting the psychological well-being of undergraduates from different universities (state/non-state), locations, and different study departments.
Effects of temperature and humidity on cerebrovascular disease hospitalization in a super-aging society
Authors: Doi Shunichi , Yoneyama Kihei , Yoshida Toshiya , Kawagoe Yasuhito , Nakai Michikazu , Sumita Yoko , Ishibashi Yuki , Izumo Masaki , Tanabe Yasuhiro , Harada Tomoo , Akashi Yoshihiro J.
Published: November 2023

Weather conditions influence the incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have investigated the association between weather temperature and humidity and cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations in a super-aging society. We included 606,807 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular disease admitted to Japanese acute-care hospitals between 2015 and 2019. The primary outcome was the number of cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations per day. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate the association of mean temperature and humidity, 1 day before hospital admission, with cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations, after adjusting for air pollution, hospital, and patient demographics. Lower mean temperatures and humidity < 70% or humidity ≧ 70% are associated with an increased incidence of cerebrovascular disease hospitalization (coefficient, − 1.442 [− 1.473 to − 1.411] per °C, p < 0.001, coefficient, − 0.084 [− 0.112 to − 0.056] per%, p < 0.001, and coefficient, 0.136 [0.103 to 0.168] per %, p < 0.001, respectively). Lower mean temperatures and extremely lower or higher humidity are associated with an increased incidence of cerebrovascular disease hospitalization in a super-aging society.
The PREMISE database of 20 Macaca fascicularis PET/MRI brain images available for research
Authors: Chalet Lucie , Debatisse Justine , Wateau Oceane , Boutelier Timothe , Wiart Marlène , Costes Nicolas , Mérida Inés , Redouté Jérôme , Langlois Jean-Baptiste , Lancelot Sophie , Léon Christelle , Cho Tae-Hee , Mechtouff Laura , Eker Omer Faruk , Nighoghossian Norbert , Canet-Soulas Emmanuelle , Becker Guillaume
Published: November 2023

Non-human primate studies are unique in translational research, especially in neurosciences where neuroimaging approaches are the preferred methods used for cross-species comparative neurosciences. In this regard, neuroimaging database development and sharing are encouraged to increase the number of subjects available to the community, while limiting the number of animals used in research. Here we present a simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) dataset of 20 Macaca fascicularis images structured according to the Brain Imaging Data Structure standards. This database contains multiple MR imaging sequences (anatomical, diffusion and perfusion imaging notably), as well as PET perfusion and inflammation imaging using respectively [15O]H2O and [11C]PK11195 radiotracers. We describe the pipeline method to assemble baseline data from various cohorts and qualitatively assess all the data using signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios as well as the median of intensity and the pseudo-noise-equivalent-count rate (dynamic and at maximum) for PET data. Our study provides a detailed example for quality control integration in preclinical and translational PET/MR studies with the aim of increasing reproducibility. The PREMISE database is stored and available through the PRIME-DE consortium repository.
First-principles study on the design of nickel based bimetallic catalysts for xylose to xylitol conversion
Authors: Akpe Shedrack G. , Choi Sun Hee , Ham Hyung Chul
Published: November 2023

A significant challenge for effective biomass utilization and upgrading is catalysis.
Effect of the charge rate on the mechanical response of composite graphite electrodes: in situ experiment and mathematical analysis
Authors: Jiang Hainan , He Yaolong , Li Xiaolin , Jin Zhiyao , Yu Huijie , Li Dawei
Published: November 2023

The cycling lifespan and coulombic efficiency of lithium-ion batteries are crucial to high C-rate applications.
Revision of the oxygen reduction reaction on N-doped graphenes by grand-canonical DFT
Authors: Kislenko Vitaliy A. , Pavlov Sergey V. , Nikitina Victoria A. , Kislenko Sergey A.
Published: November 2023

The oxygen reduction reaction mechanism differs from the generally accepted one and depends on the surface potential and doping type.
Enhancement of the catalytic performance of UIO-66 for the CO2 synthesis of cyclic carbonate using natural nanomaterials as a carrier
Authors: Bi Yunshuai , Yao Zibei , Zhu Zhen , Liu Weisheng
Published: November 2023

One of the environmentally friendly methods is the intelligent utilization of natural one-dimensional nanomaterials as carriers to improve the CO2 catalytic performance of MOF materials.
Promoting CO2 electroreduction to CO by a graphdiyne-stabilized Au nanoparticle catalyst
Authors: Shi Guodong , Guo De , Wang Jun-Tao , Luo Yanwei , Hou Zhiwei , Fan Zixiong , Wang Mei , Yuan Mingjian
Published: November 2023

Stabilization of Au nanoparticles with graphdiyne enables efficient CO2 electroreduction.
Correction: Considerable slowdown of short DNA fragment translocation across a protein nanopore using pH-induced generation of enthalpic traps inside the permeation pathway
Authors: Mereuta Loredana , Asandei Alina , Andricioaei Ioan , Park Jonggwan , Park Yoonkyung , Luchian Tudor
Published: November 2023

Correction for ‘Considerable slowdown of short DNA fragment translocation across a protein nanopore using pH-induced generation of enthalpic traps inside the permeation pathway’ by Loredana Mereuta et al., Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 14754–14763, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR03344A.
Revision of the full stereochemistry of telomycin
Authors: Resa Sandra , González Marta , Reyes Fernando , Pérez-Victoria Ignacio
Published: November 2023

The full stereochemistry of telomycin, an exciting nonribosomal cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic, has been corrected by phylogeny-based bioinformatic analysis of its nonribosomal peptide synthetases sequence and rigorous chiral amino acid analysis.
Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed enantioselective inverse-electron-demand oxa-Diels–Alder reactions to synthesize chiral tricyclic tetrahydropyran derivatives
Authors: Tang Cong-Yun , Wu Jie , Ji Feng-Ting , Tian Fang , Peng Lin , Wang Liang-Liang
Published: November 2023

A series of enantioenriched trans-fused octahydropyranofuran or octahydropyranopyran-containing tricyclic derivatives were accessed through chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed IEDODA reactions.
A box-in-box supramolecular assembly for the highly selective recognition of natural, epigenetically and chemically modified cytosines in water
Authors: Qin Shu-Qin , Xu Wei , Wang Qi-Qi , Chen Run-Yi , Yang De-Zhi , Lu Yang , Ye Wen-Cai , Jiang Ren-Wang
Published: November 2023

A novel tetracationic macrocycle (1) was synthesized as a size-complementary cation for recognizing sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC4H) anions.
Sequential annulation of bidentate diamines for modular access to N-fused/helical/spiro-carbazole scaffolds
Authors: Xiao Yi , Zhang Xiya , Wang Yuqin , Li Kaida , Wang Guixia , Kong Xiangfei , Wang Jinhua , Li Shiqing
Published: November 2023

A facile access to N-fused/helical/spiro-carbazole scaffolds through sequential annulation of bidentate diamines with cyclic diaryliodonium salts has been disclosed.
Electrochemical difunctionalization of alkenes and alkynes for the synthesis of organochalcogens involving C–S/Se bond formation
Authors: Liu Jianchao , Wan Jie-Ping , Liu Yunyun
Published: November 2023

This review highlights the recent progress in the electrochemical difunctionalization of alkenes and alkynes involving C–S/Se bond formation to access organochalcogen frameworks.
Bioactivity of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): an in silico approach
Authors: Haq Kautsar Ul , Sa'adah Nur Lailatus , Siswanto Imam , Suwito Hery
Published: November 2023

Hundreds of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives were virtually screened to find novel COX-2-selective inhibitor candidates.
Quantitative nanoscale temperature mapping across the multi-quantum well of a light-emitting diode in operation using vacuum null-point scanning thermal microscopy to evaluate local energy conversion efficiency
Authors: Shin Hwijong , Liu Seosi , Kwon Ohmyoung
Published: November 2023

Temperature was quantitatively measured despite intense local light from MQW using VNP SThM. Temperature peak across the MQW shifts with change in injection current. VNP SThM can analyze local energy conversion efficiency of nanophotonic devices.
Regulating thermal diffusion of gold thin films at solid-state interfaces for site-selective decoration of gold nanoparticles on titania nanotubes as an efficient SERS sensing platform
Authors: Hu Zhiyan , Chen Shan , Shi Yue , Yuan Fengyu , Yu Fengjiao , Fang Jun , Yang Yang
Published: November 2023

Regulating thermal diffusion and dewetting of Au thin films at the confined ZnO/TiO2 interface favors an optimal distribution of the produced Au nanoparticles for forming localized electromagnetic field hot spots.
BUFFALO/Flashlights: Constraints on the abundance of lensed supergiant stars in the Spock galaxy at redshift 1
Authors: Diego Jose M. , Li Sung Kei , Meena Ashish K. , Niemiec Anna , Acebron Ana , Jauzac Mathilde , Struble Mitchell F. , Amruth Alfred , Broadhurst Tom J. , Cerny Catherine , Ebeling Harald , Filippenko Alexei V. , Jullo Eric , Kelly Patrick , Koekemoer Anton M. , Lagattuta David , Lim Jeremy , Limousin Marceau , Mahler Guillaume , Patel Nency , Remolina Juan , Richard Johan , Sharon Keren , Steinhardt Charles , Umetsu Keiichi , Williams Liliya , Zitrin Adi , Palencia Jose María , Dai Liang , Ji Lingyuan , Pascale Massimo
Published: November 2023

In this work, we present a constraint on the abundance of supergiant (SG) stars at redshift z ≈ 1, based on recent observations of a strongly lensed arc at this redshift. First we derived a free-form model of MACS J0416.1-2403 using data from the Beyond Ultra-deep Frontier Fields and Legacy Observations (BUFFALO) program. The new lens model is based on 72 multiply lensed galaxies that produce 214 multiple images, making it the largest sample of spectroscopically confirmed lensed galaxies on this cluster. The larger coverage in BUFFALO allowed us to measure the shear up to the outskirts of the cluster, and extend the range of lensing constraints up to ∼1 Mpc from the central region, providing a mass estimate up to this radius. As an application, we make predictions for the number of high-redshift multiply lensed galaxies detected in future observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Then we focus on a previously known lensed galaxy at z = 1.0054, nicknamed Spock, which contains four previously reported transients. We interpret these transients as microcaustic crossings of SG stars and explain how we computed the probability of such events. Based on simplifications regarding the stellar evolution, we find that microlensing (by stars in the intracluster medium) of SG stars at z = 1.0054 can fully explain these events. The inferred abundance of SG stars is consistent with either (1) a number density of stars with bolometric luminosities beyond the Humphreys-Davidson (HD) limit (Lmax ≈ 6 × 105 L⊙ for red stars), which is below ∼400 stars kpc−2, or (2) the absence of stars beyond the HD limit but with a SG number density of ∼9000 kpc−2 for stars with luminosities between 105 L⊙ and 6 × 105 L⊙. This is equivalent to one SG star per 10 × 10 pc2. Finally, we make predictions for future observations with JWST’s NIRcam. We find that in observations made with the F200W filter that reach 29 mag AB, if cool red SG stars exist at z ≈ 1 beyond the HD limit, they should be easily detected in this arc.
Surveys of clumps, cores, and condensations in Cygnus-X
Authors: Yang Kai , Qiu Keping , Pan Xing
Published: November 2023

Context. The SiO emissions are usually used to trace high-velocity outflow shocks in star-forming regions. However, several studies have found low-velocity and widespread SiO emissions not associated with outflows in molecular clouds.

Aims. We aim to detect and characterize the SiO emissions in massive dense cores (MDCs), and explore the properties of the central sources of SiO emission.

Methods. We present high-angular-resolution (~1.5″) observations of the SiO (5−4) line made with the Submillimeter Array towards a sample of 48 MDCs in the Cygnus-X star-forming complex. We studied the SiO emission structures, including their morphologies, kinematics, and energetics, and investigated their relationship with the evolution of the central sources.

Results. The SiO (5−4) emission is detected in 16 out of 48 MDCs. We identify 14 bipolar and 18 unipolar SiO (5−4) outflows associated with 29 dust condensations. Most outflows (24 out of 32) are associated with excessSpitzer4.5 μm emissions. We also find diffuse low-velocity (Δv≤ 1.2 km s−1) SiO (5−4) emission closely surrounding the dust condensations in two MDCs, and suggest that it may originate from decelerated outflow shocks or large-scale shocks from global cloud collapse.

Conclusions. We find that the SMA SiO (5−4) emission in MDCs is mostly associated with outflows. Probably due to the relatively high excitation of SiO (5−4) compared to SiO (2−1) and due to the spatial filtering effect, we do not detect large-scale low-velocity SiO (5−4) emission, but detect more compact low-velocity emission in close proximity to the dust condensations. We group the sources into different evolutionary stages based on the infrared emission, radio continuum emission, and gas temperature properties of the outflow central sources, and find that the 24 μm luminosity tends to increase with evolution.
Repeating flaring activity of the blazar AO 0235+164
Authors: Escudero Pedrosa J. , Agudo I. , Tramacere A. , Marscher A. P. , Jorstad S. , Weaver Z. R. , Casadio C. , Thum C. , Myserlis I. , Fuentes A. , Traianou E. , Kim J.-Y. , Kramer J. , López-Coto R. , D’Ammando F. , Bernardos M. , Bonnoli G. , Blinov D. A. , Borman G. A. , Grishina T. S. , Hagen-Thorn V. A. , Kopatskaya E. N. , Larionova E. G. , Larionov V. M. , Larionova L. V. , Morozova D. A. , Savchenko S. S. , Troitskiy I. S. , Troitskaya Y. V. , Vasilyev A. A.
Published: November 2023

Context. Blazar AO 0235+164, located at a redshift of z = 0.94, has undergone several sharp multi-spectral-range flaring episodes over recent decades. In particular, the episodes that peaked in 2008 and 2015, which were subject to extensive multi-wavelength coverage, exhibited an interesting behavior.

Aims. We study the actual origin of these two observed flares by constraining the properties of the observed photo-polarimetric variability as well as of the broadband spectral energy distribution and the observed time-evolution behavior of the source. We use ultra-high-resolution total-flux and polarimetric very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging.

Methods. The analysis of VLBI images allowed us to constrain kinematic and geometrical parameters of the 7 mm jet. We used the discrete correlation function to compute the statistical correlation and the delays between emission at different spectral ranges. The multi-epoch modeling of the spectral energy distributions allowed us to propose specific models of the emission; in particular, with the aim to model the unusual spectral features observed in this source in the X-ray region of the spectrum during strong multi spectral-range flares.

Results. We find that these X-ray spectral features can be explained by an emission component originating in a separate particle distribution than the one responsible for the two standard blazar bumps. This is in agreement with the results of our correlation analysis, where we did not find a strong correlation between the X-ray and the remaining spectral ranges. We find that both external Compton-dominated and synchrotron self-Compton-dominated models are able to explain the observed spectral energy distributions. However, the synchrotron self-Compton models are strongly favored by the delays and geometrical parameters inferred from the observations.
The most stringent upper limit set on the mass of a central black hole in 47 Tucanae using dynamical models
Authors: Della Croce A. , Pascale R. , Giunchi E. , Nipoti C. , Cignoni M. , Dalessandro E.
Published: November 2023

Globular clusters (GCs) have been proposed as promising sites for discovering intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs), offering the possibility to gain crucial insights into the formation and evolution of these elusive objects. The Galactic GC 47 Tucanae (also known as NGC 104) has been suggested as a potential IMBH host, yet previous studies have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, we present a set of self-consistent dynamical models based on distribution functions (DFs) that depend on action integrals to assess the presence (or absence) of an IMBH in 47 Tucanae. Leveraging the state-of-the-art Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data, we analyzed the three-dimensional (3D) kinematics of the cluster’s central regions, fitting individual star velocities down to the sub-arcsec scale (approximately 10−2 pc). According to our analysis, the inner kinematics of 47 Tucanae is incompatible with a central BH more massive than 578 M⊙ (at 3σ). This is the most stringent upper limit placed thus far on the mass of a putative IMBH in 47 Tucanae via a dynamical study.