bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graph Convolutional Network with Syntactic Dependency for Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zheng Wenbin , Yang Yujie
Published: February 2024

Aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) aims to mine the sentiment tendencies expressed by specific aspect terms. The studies of ABSA mainly focus on the attention-based approaches and the graph neural network approaches based on dependency trees. However, the attention-based methods usually face difficulties in capturing long-distance syntactic dependencies. Additionally, existing approaches using graph neural networks have not made sufficient exploit the syntactic dependencies among aspects and opinions. In this paper, we propose a novel Syntactic Dependency Graph Convolutional Network (SD-GCN) model for ABSA. We employ the Biaffine Attention to model the sentence syntactic dependencies and build syntactic dependency graphs from aspects and emotional words. This allows our SD-GCN to learn both the semantic relationships of aspects and the overall semantic meaning. According to these graphs, the long-distance syntactic dependency relationships are captured by GCNs, which facilitates SD-GCN to capture the syntactic dependencies between aspects and viewpoints more comprehensively, and consequently yields enhanced aspect features. We conduct extensive experiments on four aspect-level sentiment datasets. The experimental results show that our SD-GCN outperforms other methodologies. Moreover, ablation experiments and visualization of attention further substantiate the effectiveness of SD-GCN.
Enhanced indoor positioning through human-robot collaboration
Authors: Tang Mengyuan , Zhou Baoding , Zhong Xuanke , Liu Xu , Li Qingquan
Published: February 2024

Indoor positioning is a critical component for numerous applications and services. However, GNSS systems face challenges in delivering accurate positioning information in indoor environments. Current indoor positioning research primarily concentrates on enhancing the positioning performance of individual terminals through various techniques. As we transition into the Internet of Things (IoT) era, former indoor positioning methods need refinement. In this paper, we propose a novel indoor positioning method that leverages robots as mobile base stations to mitigate the problem of inadequate fixed base stations and aims to enhance positioning accuracy by incorporating pedestrian inertial navigation data. The process involves several steps. First, the mobile robots accurately determine their positions and performing coordinate transformations to ensure consistency with pedestrian coordinate systems. Then, pedestrians use the ranging information from these robots along with their smartphones’ sensors for multi-source fusion positioning. Finally, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is applied to fuse the multiple sources of data, considering various sources of errors, to provide enhanced positioning performance. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in addressing indoor positioning challenges. This method could benefit numerous scenarios involving robots, enhancing pedestrian positioning accuracy and overall system robustness. The paper provides a comprehensive exploration of this proposed method, its implications, and potential directions for future advancements.
Height best predicts the optimal insertion length of orotracheal tubes in children
Authors: Ross Patrick A. , Abou-Zamzam Ashraf , Newth Christopher J. L.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Accurate formulae to predict the optimal insertion length of endotracheal tubes (ETT) are necessary for safe care and have been based on height, weight, age, and ETT size. We believe height best reflects the somatic growth of the trachea. Our goal is to compare a formula generated using height for optimal initial insertion length of ETT to previously published formulae based on height, weight, age, and ETT size.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed chest radiographs over a two-year period where the head was assured in midline and midposition. We excluded children with conditions altering tracheal dimensions or stature, and scoliosis. We chose 2 cm above the carina to be the optimal insertion length of the ETT which was then correlated to height. We created linear regression equations and Bland-Altman plots.

Results

Two hundred three orotracheally intubated children were included. The optimal ETT insertion length using the formula Height (cm)/8 + 3.4 had a high association with linear regression and Bland-Altman plots had the narrowest 95% limits of agreement as compared to previously published formulae.

Conclusions

We found optimal insertion length = Height (cm)/8 + 3.4 is more accurate as compared to commonly used formulae that are based on weight, age, or ETT size. This formula places the ETT 2 cm above the carina which should be safe until a chest radiograph is obtained. We find that the use of formulae that divide the height by 10 overestimates the depth of insertion in younger, smaller children and underestimates the depth of insertion in older children.
Public Health, Internal Borders, and the Ends of Federalism
Authors: Da Silva Michael
Published: February 2024

Questions concerning border closures during pandemics often focus on international borders or rights-based considerations. Closures of internal borders in federal countries, such as Canada, raise independent concerns regarding who can close internal borders when. Those questions are not exhausted by rights-based considerations and cannot be resolved using brute empirical measures. They instead implicate the nature and ends of federalism. This text uses the case of internal border restrictions in Canada during COVID-19 to explore whether the kinds of closures that took place there can be justified on federalism grounds. It argues that the case for provinces being able to unilaterally enact interprovincial border closures in federal countries, as observed in Canada during COVID-19, do not withstand scrutiny. It attends to possible justifications for federalism to demonstrate that the best arguments for federalism do not support provincial control over borders that justify provinces possessing, let alone exercising, unilateral authority to close interprovincial borders to persons residing in other provinces.
Gouvernance et démocratie fédérale en temps de crise : quelques leçons tirées de la pandémie de COVID-19 au Canada
Authors: Guénette Dave , Mathieu Félix
Published: February 2024

Cet article porte sur les effets et les contraintes posés par la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les mécanismes de la gouvernance dans le système fédéral canadien. Pour ce faire, nous empruntons un cadre analytique bien spécifique, que nous faisons découler expressément des réflexions de la Cour suprême du Canada dans sonRenvoi relatif à la sécession du Québec.Nous nous intéressons ainsi aux quatre principes sous-jacents à la Constitution canadienne identifiés par la Cour – soit le fédéralisme, la démocratie, le constitutionnalisme et la primauté du droit, de même que la protection des minorités – et à leur respect (ou non-respect) en temps de crise. Nous posons la question suivante : dans quelle mesure l’esprit de ces quatre principes constitutionnels fondamentaux a-t-il été respecté par les acteurs clés du système de gouvernance au Canada alors qu’ils étaient confrontés à la pandémie de COVID-19?
Feminist foreign policy in Israel and Germany? The Women, Peace, and Security agenda, development policy, and female representation
Authors: Aran Amnon , Brummer Klaus
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the relationship between feminist foreign policy (FFP) and a country’s national role conception (NRC). Specifically, it asks whether countries with ‘masculine’ NRCs are opposed to the pursuit of FFP while countries with a more ‘feminine’ national role conception are advocates of FFP. To this end, the paper conducts a comparative analysis of ‘masculine’ Israel and ‘feminine’ Germany along three domains: normative (with a focus on the Women, Peace, and Security [WPS] agenda), material (in relation to development policy), and institutional (with reference to female representation). Generally speaking, Germany has indeed undertaken broader and more substantive activities in pursuit of FFP goals than Israel. At the same time, Israel has clearly been more active than its ‘masculine’ role would suggest, and Germany less active and vocal than its ‘civilian power’ role would imply. Overall, the discussion suggests that whether countries pursue FFP goals is strongly influenced by the latter’s compatibility with the countries’ overarching NRCs, with party ideology, institutional autonomy, and intersection between gender policy and state interests playing a greater role regarding the specific levels of commitment and intensity shown in the pursuit of those goals.
Reynolds-number scaling of wall-pressure–velocity correlations in wall-bounded turbulence
Authors: Baars Woutijn J. , Dacome Giulio , Lee Myoungkyu
Published: February 2024

Wall-pressure fluctuations are a practically robust input for real-time control systems aimed at modifying wall-bounded turbulence. The scaling behaviour of the wall-pressure–velocity coupling requires investigation to properly design a controller with such input data so that it can actuate upon the desired turbulent structures. A comprehensive database from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent channel flow is used for this purpose, spanning a Reynolds-number range$Re_\tau \approx 550\unicode{x2013}5200$. Spectral analysis reveals that the streamwise velocity is most strongly coupled to the linear term of the wall pressure, at a Reynolds-number invariant distance-from-the-wall scaling of$\lambda _x/y \approx 14$(and$\lambda _x/y \approx 8$for the wall-normal velocity). When extending the analysis to both homogeneous directions in$x$and$y$, the peak coherence is centred at$\lambda _x/\lambda _z \approx 2$and$\lambda _x/\lambda _z \approx 1$for$p_w$and$u$, and$p_w$and$v$, respectively. A stronger coherence is retrieved when the quadratic term of the wall pressure is concerned, but there is only little evidence for a wall-attached-eddy type of scaling. An experimental dataset comprising simultaneous measurements of wall pressure and velocity complements the DNS-based findings at one value of$Re_\tau \approx 2$k, with ample evidence that the DNS-inferred correlations can be replicated with experimental pressure data subject to significant levels of (acoustic) facility noise. It is furthermore shown that velocity-state estimations can be achieved with good accuracy by including both the linear and quadratic terms of the wall pressure. An accuracy of up to 72 % in the binary state of the streamwise velocity fluctuations in the logarithmic region is achieved; this corresponds to a correlation coefficient of$\approx$0.6. This thus demonstrates that wall-pressure sensing for velocity-state estimation – e.g. for use in real-time control of wall-bounded turbulence – has merit in terms of its realization at a range of Reynolds numbers.
Sovereign Collateral
Authors: Flandreau Marc , Pietrosanti Stefano , Schuster Carlotta E.
Published: February 2024

Due to a dearth of data, nineteenth century lending to sovereign borrowers was a blind date. We argue this is the reason for collateral pledges found in contemporary lending covenants, which enabled not execution, but the production of reliable fiscal data. Lawyers injected collateral clauses in sovereign debt covenants to permit credible disclosure of hard-to-access tax data. The study foregrounds the importance of big law firms as financial intermediaries and information producers. It also contributes a new view on the role played by contracts in sovereign debt.

“No [underwriting] firm can take precautions against the repudiation of a [sovereign] hypothecation.”

—Thomas Baring, 1865
Impacts of the Relocation Program on Native American Migration and Fertility
Authors: Kopriva Mary
Published: February 2024

This paper estimates the migratory and fertility effects of the federal Relocation Program, which attempted to move Native American individuals to urban areas under the promises of financial assistance and job training. I find the Relocation Program increased the Native American population in the target cities by more than 100,000 people. I also find that second- and third-generation Native American women living in cities have a 50 percent lower fertility rate than those living in areas with historically large Native American populations. These findings indicate that this program meaningfully shifted the spatial distribution of the Native American population.
Economic Uncertainty and Divisive Politics: Evidence from the dos Españas
Authors: García-Uribe Sandra , Mueller Hannes , Sanz Carlos
Published: February 2024

This article exploits two newspaper archives to track economic policy uncertainty in Spain from 1905–1945. We find that the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 was anticipated by a striking upward level shift of uncertainty in both newspapers. We study the reasons for this shift through a natural language processing method, which allows us to leverage expert opinion to track specific issues in our newspaper archives. We find a strong empirical link between increasing uncertainty and the rise of divisive political issues like socio-economic conflict. This holds even when exploiting content differences between the two newspapers in our corpus.
Does Health Vulnerability Predict Voting for Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe?
Authors: Lönnqvist Jan-Erik , Ilmarinen Ville
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Introduction: A recent article by Kavanagh et al. (2021) in American Political Science Review suggested that health vulnerability predicts voting patterns for the populist far-right. Aim: We sought to distinguish socioculturally conservative from antielite voting, expecting health vulnerability to predict only the former. Methods: We combined data from the European Social Survey (round 7) with the Chapel Hill Expert Survey (2014). We preregistered several other hypotheses regarding associations between health and voting and predetermined the smallest effect size of interest (SESOI: r = .05). Results: Health vulnerability did not predict socioculturally conservative voting, and the results for antielite voting were mixed. To investigate why our result differed from Kavanagh et al.’s, we reran their analysis employing covariate specification curve analyses. The statistical significance and the direction of the association between health vulnerability and voting depended on which covariates were included. Across 1,000 models with randomly drawn covariate specifications, 59.6% showed a positive, 29.8% a zero, and 10.6% a negative association between health vulnerability and voting for far-right populist parties. However, all effect sizes were more consistently smaller than our predetermined SESOI. Conclusions: Our study illustrates the necessity of causally justifying and preregistering all covariates and predetermining an SESOI.
How Affective Polarization Deepens the Partisan Divide in US Cable News Use
Authors: Kim Youngju , Kim Yonghwan
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Currently, not only are partisans’ feelings toward Democrats and Republicans sharply divided along party lines, but so too are their choices regarding news media. Regarding this polarization, most studies have considered partisans’ selective use of news outlets as a crucial factor in widening affective polarization. However, insufficient attention has been directed to the potential role of affective polarization in selective exposure. Accordingly, this study seeks to fill this gap by verifying the effect of affective polarization on selective exposure and examining a potential mechanism using two-wave panel data. Our findings demonstrate that the degree of affective polarization is positively related to partisan bias in the credibility judgment of pro-party and counter-party cable news channels. In turn, favorable in-group bias in the credibility judgment of cable news channels has a significant effect on selective exposure to cable news outlets, mediating the effect of individual-level affective polarization on selective exposure. Lastly, we discuss the theoretical implications of our findings.
Basin‐Wide Shift in Bowhead Whale Migration in the Pacific Arctic
Authors: Szesciorka Angela R. , Stafford Kathleen M. , Berchok Catherine L.
Published: February 2024

In a rapidly changing Arctic, multiple lines of evidence suggest that bowhead whale migration is changing. To explore these changes further, we used passive acoustic data to examine bowhead whale presence in the western Beaufort Sea (12 years) and Chukchi Plateau (11 years) spanning 2008 to 2022. Departure from the western Beaufort Sea shifted 45 days later over the 12‐year period. Summer presence increased at both sites, suggesting feeding areas within the Chukchi Sea are becoming more favorable. Likewise, findings from the Bering Strait suggest that some whales are remaining north of the Bering Strait for the winter instead of in the Bering Sea. These Pacific Arctic‐wide changes to migration have occurred over only one decade. Questions remain about prey availability in the Chukchi Sea, implications of migratory changes, such as a northward shift in the core overwintering area, and impact to communities south of the Bering Strait.
The Current Tension Electric Field in the Generalized Ohm's Law
Authors: Luo Lei , Xu Xiaojun , Song Liangjin , Zhou Meng , Zhou Zilu , Man Hengyan , Wang Xing , Zhang Yu , He Peishan , Yi Siqi , Li Hui
Published: February 2024

In the prevailing form of the generalized Ohm's law (GOL), is often neglected. Because of the resemblance to the magnetic tension, we refer to this term as the current tension electric field (ECT). Our theoretical analysis reveals that ECT with a characteristic length of dominates the electron inertia terms in the electron diffusion region (EDR) and is comparable to the electron pressure term in low‐βe conditions. Using particle‐in‐cell simulations, we demonstrate that ECT can contribute significantly to the reconnection electric field and energy dissipation at the boundaries of the inner EDR and in the outer EDR. Positive and negative J ⋅ ECT can be used to identify inner and outer electron diffusion regions, respectively.
Interannual Variability of Winds in the Antarctic Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Over Rothera (67°S, 68°W) During 2005–2021 in Meteor Radar Observations and WACCM‐X
Authors: Noble Phoebe E. , Hindley Neil P. , Wright Corwin J. , Cullens Chihoko , England Scott , Pedatella Nicholas , Mitchell Nicholas J. , Moffat‐Griffin Tracy
Published: February 2024

The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) plays a critical role in linking the middle and upper atmosphere. However, many General Circulation Models do not model the MLT and those that do remain poorly constrained. We use long‐term meteor radar observations (2005–2021) from Rothera (67°S, 68°W) on the Antarctic Peninsula to evaluate the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere‐ionosphere eXtension (WACCM‐X) and investigate interannual variability. We find some significant differences between WACCM‐X and observations. In particular, at upper heights, observations reveal eastwards wintertime (April–September) winds, whereas the model predicts westwards winds. In summer (October–March), the observed winds are northwards but predictions are southwards. Both the model and observations reveal significant interannual variability. We characterize the trend and the correlation between the winds and key phenomena: (a) the 11‐year solar cycle, (b) El Niño Southern Oscillation, (c) Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation and (d) Southern Annular Mode using a linear regression method. Observations of the zonal wind show significant changes with time. The summertime westwards wind near 80 km is weakening by up to 4–5 ms−1 per decade, whilst the eastward wintertime winds around 85–95 km are strengthening at by around 7 ms−1 per decade. We find that at some times of year there are significant correlations between the phenomena and the observed/modeled winds. The significance of this work lies in quantifying the biases in a leading General Circulation Model and demonstrating notable interannual variability in both modeled and observed winds.
Retaining Short‐Term Variability Reduces Mean State Biases in Wind Stress Overriding Simulations
Authors: Luongo Matthew T. , Brizuela Noel G. , Eisenman Ian , Xie Shang‐Ping
Published: February 2024

Positive feedbacks in climate processes can make it difficult to identify the primary drivers of climate phenomena. Some recent global climate model (GCM) studies address this issue by controlling the wind stress felt by the surface ocean such that the atmosphere and ocean become mechanically decoupled. Most mechanical decoupling studies have chosen to override wind stress with an annual climatology. In this study we introduce an alternative method of interannually varying overriding which maintains higher frequency momentum forcing of the surface ocean. Using a GCM (NCAR CESM1), we then assess the size of the biases associated with these two methods of overriding by comparing with a freely evolving control integration. We find that overriding with a climatology creates sea surface temperature (SST) biases throughout the global oceans on the order of ±1°C. This is substantially larger than the biases introduced by interannually varying overriding, especially in the tropical Pacific. We attribute the climatological overriding SST biases to a lack of synoptic and subseasonal variability, which causes the mixed layer to be too shallow throughout the global surface ocean. This shoaling of the mixed layer reduces the effective heat capacity of the surface ocean such that SST biases excite atmospheric feedbacks. These results have implications for the reinterpretation of past climatological wind stress overriding studies: past climate signals attributed to momentum coupling may in fact be spurious responses to SST biases.
Submesoscale‐Permitting Physical/Biogeochemical Future Projections for the Main Hawaiian Islands
Authors: Friedrich T. , Powell B. S. , Gunnarson J. L. , Liu G. , Giardina S. F. , Stuecker M. F. , Hošeková L. , Feloy K. , Stock C. A.
Published: February 2024

Global climate models provide useful tools to forecast large‐scale anthropogenic trends and the impacts on ocean physics and marine biology and chemistry. Due to coarse spatial resolution, they typically lack the ability to represent important regional processes while underestimating mesoscale variability and vertical mixing. This means they provide limited value when it comes to regional climate projections. We developed a regional submesoscale‐permitting physical/biogeochemical model to dynamically downscale the output of a CMIP6 Earth System Model for three different Socioeconomic Pathways for the main Hawaiian Islands. We describe the methodology for downscaling the CMIP6 ocean physics and biogeochemistry along with atmospheric conditions in order to offline nest a regional model. We expect the large‐scale spatial and temporal features of the global model to be retained by the regional model, while adding representation of the regional processes that are crucial to understanding climate change on a local scale. We compare the regional model representation against both observed data and a regional reanalysis over the first two decades of the century. We show that the regional model maintains the large‐scale trends and interannual variability provided by the CMIP6 model while well‐representing the regional dynamics that drive the short‐term variability. To better illustrate the benefit of the downscaling, we present preliminary analysis of the downscaled results to examine climate impacts on the island corals that are not resolved by the global models. This analysis reveals that coastal corals are likely to experience unprecedented ocean acidification and substantial warming over the course of the century.
Tunable VO2 cavity enables multispectral manipulation from visible to microwave frequencies
Authors: Wei Hang , Gu Jinxin , Zhao Tao , Yan Zhiyuan , Xu He-Xiu , Dou Shuliang , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Li Yao
Published: February 2024

Optical materials capable of dynamically manipulating electromagnetic waves are an emerging field in memories, optical modulators, and thermal management. Recently, their multispectral design preliminarily attracts much attention, aiming to enhance their efficiency and integration of functionalities. However, the multispectral manipulation based on these materials is challenging due to their ubiquitous wavelength dependence restricting their capacity to narrow wavelengths. In this article, we cascade multiple tunable optical cavities with selective-transparent layers, enabling a universal approach to overcoming wavelength dependence and establishing a multispectral platform with highly integrated functions. Based on it, we demonstrate the multispectral (ranging from 400 nm to 3 cm), fast response speed (0.9 s), and reversible manipulation based on a typical phase change material, vanadium dioxide. Our platform involves tandem VO2-based Fabry–Pérot (F-P) cavities enabling the customization of optical responses at target bands independently. It can achieve broadband color-changing capacity in the visible region (a shift of ~60 nm in resonant wavelength) and is capable of freely switching between three typical optical models (transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance) in the infrared to microwave regions with drastic amplitude tunability exceeding 0.7. This work represents a state-of-art advance in multispectral optics and material science, providing a critical approach for expanding the multispectral manipulation ability of optical systems.
Highly-sensitive wafer-scale transfer-free graphene MEMS condenser microphones
Authors: Pezone Roberto , Anzinger Sebastian , Baglioni Gabriele , Wasisto Hutomo Suryo , Sarro Pasqualina M. , Steeneken Peter G. , Vollebregt Sten
Published: February 2024

Since the performance of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based microphones is approaching fundamental physical, design, and material limits, it has become challenging to improve them. Several works have demonstrated graphene’s suitability as a microphone diaphragm. The potential for achieving smaller, more sensitive, and scalable on-chip MEMS microphones is yet to be determined. To address large graphene sizes, graphene-polymer heterostructures have been proposed, but they compromise performance due to added polymer mass and stiffness. This work demonstrates the first wafer-scale integrated MEMS condenser microphones with diameters of 2R = 220–320 μm, thickness of 7 nm multi-layer graphene, that is suspended over a back-plate with a residual gap of 5 μm. The microphones are manufactured with MEMS compatible wafer-scale technologies without any transfer steps or polymer layers that are more prone to contaminate and wrinkle the graphene. Different designs, all electrically integrated are fabricated and characterized allowing us to study the effects of the introduction of a back-plate for capacitive read-out. The devices show high mechanical compliances Cm = 0.081–1.07 μmPa−1 (10–100 × higher than the silicon reported in the state-of-the-art diaphragms) and pull-in voltages in the range of 2–9.5 V. In addition, to validate the proof of concept, we have electrically characterized the graphene microphone when subjected to sound actuation. An estimated sensitivity of S1kHz = 24.3–321 mV Pa−1 for a Vbias = 1.5 V was determined, which is 1.9–25.5 × higher than of state-of-the-art microphone devices while having a ~9 × smaller area.
SIRT7: a novel molecular target for personalized cancer treatment?
Authors: Ianni Alessandro , Kumari Poonam , Tarighi Shahriar , Braun Thomas , Vaquero Alejandro
Published: February 2024

The Sirtuin family of NAD+-dependent enzymes assumes a pivotal role in orchestrating adaptive responses to environmental fluctuations and stress stimuli, operating at both genomic and metabolic levels. Within this family, SIRT7 emerges as a versatile player in tumorigenesis, displaying both pro-tumorigenic and tumor-suppressive functions in a context-dependent manner. While other sirtuins, such as SIRT1 and SIRT6, exhibit a similar dual role in cancer, SIRT7 stands out due to distinctive attributes that sharply distinguish it from other family members. Among these are a unique key role in regulation of nucleolar functions, a close functional relationship with RNA metabolism and processing -exceptional among sirtuins- and a complex multienzymatic nature, which provides a diverse range of molecular targets. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the role of SIRT7 in various malignancies, placing particular emphasis on the intricate molecular mechanisms employed by SIRT7 to either stimulate or counteract tumorigenesis. Additionally, it delves into the unique features of SIRT7, discussing their potential and specific implications in tumor initiation and progression, underscoring the promising avenue of targeting SIRT7 for the development of innovative anti-cancer therapies.
Deep phenotyping of post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Walitt Brian , Singh Komudi , LaMunion Samuel R. , Hallett Mark , Jacobson Steve , Chen Kong , Enose-Akahata Yoshimi , Apps Richard , Barb Jennifer J. , Bedard Patrick , Brychta Robert J. , Buckley Ashura Williams , Burbelo Peter D. , Calco Brice , Cathay Brianna , Chen Li , Chigurupati Snigdha , Chen Jinguo , Cheung Foo , Chin Lisa M. K. , Coleman Benjamin W. , Courville Amber B. , Deming Madeleine S. , Drinkard Bart , Feng Li Rebekah , Ferrucci Luigi , Gabel Scott A. , Gavin Angelique , Goldstein David S. , Hassanzadeh Shahin , Horan Sean C. , Horovitz Silvina G. , Johnson Kory R. , Govan Anita Jones , Knutson Kristine M. , Kreskow Joy D. , Levin Mark , Lyons Jonathan J. , Madian Nicholas , Malik Nasir , Mammen Andrew L. , McCulloch John A. , McGurrin Patrick M. , Milner Joshua D. , Moaddel Ruin , Mueller Geoffrey A. , Mukherjee Amrita , Muñoz-Braceras Sandra , Norato Gina , Pak Katherine , Pinal-Fernandez Iago , Popa Traian , Reoma Lauren B. , Sack Michael N. , Safavi Farinaz , Saligan Leorey N. , Sellers Brian A. , Sinclair Stephen , Smith Bryan , Snow Joseph , Solin Stacey , Stussman Barbara J. , Trinchieri Giorgio , Turner Sara A. , Vetter C. Stephenie , Vial Felipe , Vizioli Carlotta , Williams Ashley , Yang Shanna B. ,   Center for Human Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation (CHI) Consortium, Nath Avindra
Published: February 2024

Post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (PI-ME/CFS) is a disabling disorder, yet the clinical phenotype is poorly defined, the pathophysiology is unknown, and no disease-modifying treatments are available. We used rigorous criteria to recruit PI-ME/CFS participants with matched controls to conduct deep phenotyping. Among the many physical and cognitive complaints, one defining feature of PI-ME/CFS was an alteration of effort preference, rather than physical or central fatigue, due to dysfunction of integrative brain regions potentially associated with central catechol pathway dysregulation, with consequences on autonomic functioning and physical conditioning. Immune profiling suggested chronic antigenic stimulation with increase in naïve and decrease in switched memory B-cells. Alterations in gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and metabolic pathways were consistent with cellular phenotypic studies and demonstrated differences according to sex. Together these clinical abnormalities and biomarker differences provide unique insight into the underlying pathophysiology of PI-ME/CFS, which may guide future intervention.
Decryption of sequence, structure, and functional features of SINE repeat elements in SINEUP non-coding RNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation
Authors: Sharma Harshita , Valentine Matthew N. Z. , Toki Naoko , Sueki Hiromi Nishiyori , Gustincich Stefano , Takahashi Hazuki , Carninci Piero
Published: February 2024

RNA structure folding largely influences RNA regulation by providing flexibility and functional diversity. In silico and in vitro analyses are limited in their ability to capture the intricate relationships between dynamic RNA structure and RNA functional diversity present in the cell. Here, we investigate sequence, structure and functional features of mouse and human SINE-transcribed retrotransposons embedded in SINEUPs long non-coding RNAs, which positively regulate target gene expression post-transcriptionally. In-cell secondary structure probing reveals that functional SINEs-derived RNAs contain conserved short structure motifs essential for SINEUP-induced translation enhancement. We show that SINE RNA structure dynamically changes between the nucleus and cytoplasm and is associated with compartment-specific binding to RBP and related functions. Moreover, RNA–RNA interaction analysis shows that the SINE-derived RNAs interact directly with ribosomal RNAs, suggesting a mechanism of translation regulation. We further predict the architecture of 18 SINE RNAs in three dimensions guided by experimental secondary structure data. Overall, we demonstrate that the conservation of short key features involved in interactions with RBPs and ribosomal RNA drives the convergent function of evolutionarily distant SINE-transcribed RNAs.
Increased CO2 fixation enables high carbon-yield production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid in yeast
Authors: Qin Ning , Li Lingyun , Wan Xiaozhen , Ji Xu , Chen Yu , Li Chaokun , Liu Ping , Zhang Yijie , Yang Weijie , Jiang Junfeng , Xia Jianye , Shi Shuobo , Tan Tianwei , Nielsen Jens , Chen Yun , Liu Zihe
Published: February 2024

CO2 fixation plays a key role to make biobased production cost competitive. Here, we use 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) to showcase how CO2 fixation enables approaching theoretical-yield production. Using genome-scale metabolic models to calculate the production envelope, we demonstrate that the provision of bicarbonate, formed from CO2, restricts previous attempts for high yield production of 3-HP. We thus develop multiple strategies for bicarbonate uptake, including the identification of Sul1 as a potential bicarbonate transporter, domain swapping of malonyl-CoA reductase, identification of Esbp6 as a potential 3-HP exporter, and deletion of Uga1 to prevent 3-HP degradation. The combined rational engineering increases 3-HP production from 0.14 g/L to 11.25 g/L in shake flask using 20 g/L glucose, approaching the maximum theoretical yield with concurrent biomass formation. The engineered yeast forms the basis for commercialization of bio-acrylic acid, while our CO2 fixation strategies pave the way for CO2 being used as the sole carbon source.
Swept coded aperture real-time femtophotography
Authors: Liu Jingdan , Marquez Miguel , Lai Yingming , Ibrahim Heide , Légaré Katherine , Lassonde Philippe , Liu Xianglei , Hehn Michel , Mangin Stéphane , Malinowski Grégory , Li Zhengyan , Légaré François , Liang Jinyang
Published: February 2024

Single-shot real-time femtophotography is indispensable for imaging ultrafast dynamics during their times of occurrence. Despite their advantages over conventional multi-shot approaches, existing techniques confront restricted imaging speed or degraded data quality by the deployed optoelectronic devices and face challenges in the application scope and acquisition accuracy. They are also hindered by the limitations in the acquirable information imposed by the sensing models. Here, we overcome these challenges by developing swept coded aperture real-time femtophotography (SCARF). This computational imaging modality enables all-optical ultrafast sweeping of a static coded aperture during the recording of an ultrafast event, bringing full-sequence encoding of up to 156.3 THz to every pixel on a CCD camera. We demonstrate SCARF’s single-shot ultrafast imaging ability at tunable frame rates and spatial scales in both reflection and transmission modes. Using SCARF, we image ultrafast absorption in a semiconductor and ultrafast demagnetization of a metal alloy.
Structure of the recombinant RNA polymerase from African Swine Fever Virus
Authors: Pilotto Simona , Sýkora Michal , Cackett Gwenny , Dulson Christopher , Werner Finn
Published: February 2024

African Swine Fever Virus is a Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Large DNA Virus that causes an incurable haemorrhagic fever in pigs with a high impact on global food security. ASFV replicates in the cytoplasm of the infected cell and encodes its own transcription machinery that is independent of cellular factors, however, not much is known about how this system works at a molecular level. Here, we present methods to produce recombinant ASFV RNA polymerase, functional assays to screen for inhibitors, and high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of the ASFV RNAP in different conformational states. The ASFV RNAP bears a striking resemblance to RNAPII with bona fide homologues of nine of its twelve subunits. Key differences include the fusion of the ASFV assembly platform subunits RPB3 and RPB11, and an unusual C-terminal domain of the stalk subunit vRPB7 that is related to the eukaryotic mRNA cap 2´-O-methyltransferase 1. Despite the high degree of structural conservation with cellular RNA polymerases, the ASFV RNAP is resistant to the inhibitors rifampicin and alpha-amanitin. The cryo-EM structures and fully recombinant RNAP system together provide an important tool for the design, development, and screening of antiviral drugs in a low biosafety containment environment.
Large language models streamline automated machine learning for clinical studies
Authors: Tayebi Arasteh Soroosh , Han Tianyu , Lotfinia Mahshad , Kuhl Christiane , Kather Jakob Nikolas , Truhn Daniel , Nebelung Sven
Published: February 2024

A knowledge gap persists between machine learning (ML) developers (e.g., data scientists) and practitioners (e.g., clinicians), hampering the full utilization of ML for clinical data analysis. We investigated the potential of the ChatGPT Advanced Data Analysis (ADA), an extension of GPT-4, to bridge this gap and perform ML analyses efficiently. Real-world clinical datasets and study details from large trials across various medical specialties were presented to ChatGPT ADA without specific guidance. ChatGPT ADA autonomously developed state-of-the-art ML models based on the original study’s training data to predict clinical outcomes such as cancer development, cancer progression, disease complications, or biomarkers such as pathogenic gene sequences. Following the re-implementation and optimization of the published models, the head-to-head comparison of the ChatGPT ADA-crafted ML models and their respective manually crafted counterparts revealed no significant differences in traditional performance metrics (p ≥ 0.072). Strikingly, the ChatGPT ADA-crafted ML models often outperformed their counterparts. In conclusion, ChatGPT ADA offers a promising avenue to democratize ML in medicine by simplifying complex data analyses, yet should enhance, not replace, specialized training and resources, to promote broader applications in medical research and practice.
Unraveling the role of vaporization momentum in self-jumping dynamics of freezing supercooled droplets at reduced pressures
Authors: Yan Xiao , Au Samuel C. Y. , Chan Sui Cheong , Chan Ying Lung , Leung Ngai Chun , Wu Wa Yat , Sin Dixon T. , Zhao Guanlei , Chung Casper H. Y. , Mei Mei , Yang Yinchuang , Qiu Huihe , Yao Shuhuai
Published: February 2024

Supercooling of water complicates phase change dynamics, the understanding of which remains limited yet vital to energy-related and aerospace processes. Here, we investigate the freezing and jumping dynamics of supercooled water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces, induced by a remarkable vaporization momentum, in a low-pressure environment. The vaporization momentum arises from the vaporization at droplet’s free surface, progressed and intensified by recalescence, subsequently inducing droplet compression and finally self-jumping. By incorporating liquid-gas-solid phase changes involving vaporization, freezing recalescence, and liquid-solid interactions, we resolve the vaporization momentum and droplet dynamics, revealing a size-scaled jumping velocity and a nucleation-governed jumping direction. A droplet-size-defined regime map is established, distinguishing the vaporization-momentum-dominated self-jumping from evaporative drying and overpressure-initiated levitation, all induced by depressurization and vaporization. Our findings illuminate the role of supercooling and low-pressure mediated phase change in shaping fluid transport dynamics, with implications for passive anti-icing, advanced cooling, and climate physics.
Plant trait and vegetation data along a 1314 m elevation gradient with fire history in Puna grasslands, Perú
Authors: Halbritter Aud H. , Vandvik Vigdis , Cotner Sehoya H. , Farfan-Rios William , Maitner Brian S. , Michaletz Sean T. , Oliveras Menor Imma , Telford Richard J. , Ccahuana Adam , Cruz Rudi , Sallo-Bravo Jhonatan , Santos-Andrade Paul Efren , Vilca-Bustamante Lucely L. , Castorena Matiss , Chacón-Labella Julia , Christiansen Casper Tai , Duran Sandra M. , Egelkraut Dagmar D. , Gya Ragnhild , Haugum Siri Vatsø , Seltzer Lorah , Silman Miles R. , Strydom Tanya , Spiegel Marcus P. , Barros Agustina , Birkeli Kristine , Boakye Mickey , Chiappero Fernanda , Chmurzynski Adam , Garen Josef C. , Gaudard Joseph , Gauthier Tasha-Leigh J. , Geange Sonya R. , Gonzales Fiorella N. , Henn Jonathan J. , Hošková Kristýna , Isaksen Anders , Jessup Laura H. , Johnson Will , Kusch Erik , Lepley Kai , Lift Mackenzie , Martyn Trace E. , Muñoz Mazon Miguel , Middleton Sara L. , Quinteros Casaverde Natalia L. , Navarro Jocelyn , Zepeda Verónica , Ocampo-Zuleta Korina , Palomino-Cardenas Andrea Carmeli , Pastor Ploskonka Samuel , Pierfederici Maria Elisa , Pinelli Verónica , Rickenback Jess , Roos Ruben E. , Rui Hilde Stokland , Sanchez Diaz Eugenia , Sánchez-Tapia Andrea , Smith Alyssa , Urquiaga-Flores Erickson , von Oppen Jonathan , Enquist Brian J.
Published: February 2024

Alpine grassland vegetation supports globally important biodiversity and ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate warming and other environmental changes. Trait-based approaches can support understanding of vegetation responses to global change drivers and consequences for ecosystem functioning. In six sites along a 1314 m elevational gradient in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, we collected datasets on vascular plant composition, plant functional traits, biomass, ecosystem fluxes, and climate data over three years. The data were collected in the wet and dry season and from plots with different fire histories. We selected traits associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf dry/wet mass, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N, P content, C and N isotopes). The trait dataset contains 3,665 plant records from 145 taxa, 54,036 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 420%) covering 14 traits and 121 plant taxa (ca. 40% of which have no previous publicly available trait data) across 33 families.
Association between serum uric acid and bone mineral density in males from NHANES 2011–2020
Authors: Wang Renwei , Gao Yao , Wang Peng , He Chunru , Lu Hao
Published: February 2024

Currently, the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and bone mineral density (BMD) in men remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the relationship between SUA and lumbar spine BMD in American men using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 6254 male subjects aged 12–80 years (mean age 35.52 ± 14.84 years) in the NHANES from 2011 to 2020 were analyzed. SUA was measured by DxC using the timed endpoint method, and lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multivariate linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between SUA and BMD by adjusting for age, race/Hispanic origin, drinking behavior, smoking behavior, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), total protein, serum calcium, cholesterol, serum phosphorus, and blood urea nitrogen. After correcting for the above confounders, it was found that SUA was positively associated with lumbar spine BMD in the range of SUA < 5 mg/dL (β = 0.006 95% CI 0.003–0.009, P < 0.001), and BMD of individuals in the highest quartile of SUA was 0.020 g/cm2 higher than those in the lowest quartile of SUA (β = 0.020 95% CI 0.008–0.032, P = 0.003). This study showed that SUA was positively correlated with lumbar spine BMD in American men within a certain range. This gives clinicians some insight into how to monitor SUA levels to predict BMD levels during adolescence when bone is urgently needed for growth and development and during old age when bone loss is rapid.
Sequence-specific delayed gains in motor fluency evolve after movement observation training in the absence of early sleep
Authors: Maaravi-Hesseg Rinatia , Cohen Sigal , Karni Avi
Published: February 2024

Following physical practice, delayed, consolidation-phase, gains in the performance of the trained finger-to-thumb opposition sequence (FOS) can be expressed, in young adults, only after a sleep interval is afforded. These delayed gains are order-of-movements specific. However, in several perceptual learning tasks, time post-learning, rather than an interval of sleep, may suffice for the expression of delayed performance gains. Here we tested whether the affordance of a sleep interval is necessary for the expression of delayed performance gains after FOS training by repeated observation. Participants were trained by observing videos displaying a left hand repeatedly performing a 5-element FOS. To assess post-session observation-related learning and delayed gains participants were tested in performing the observed (trained) and an unobserved (new, the 5-elements mirror-reversed) FOS sequences. Repeated observation of a FOS conferred no advantage to its performance, compared to the unobserved FOS, immediately after practice. However, a clear advantage for the observed FOS emerged by 12 h post-training, irrespective of whether this interval included sleep or not; the largest gains appeared by 24 h post-training. These results indicate that time-dependent, offline consolidation processes take place after observation training even in the absence of sleep; akin to perceptual learning rather than physical FOS practice.
Electrochemical generation of phenothiazin-5-ium. A sustainable strategy for the synthesis of new bis(phenylsulfonyl)-10H-phenothiazine derivatives
Authors: Mohamadighader Niloofar , Zivari-Moshfegh Faezeh , Nematollahi Davood
Published: February 2024

In this work, the electrochemical generation of phenothiazin-5-ium (PTZox) from the direct oxidation of phenothiazine (PTZ) in a water/acetonitrile mixture using a commercial carbon anode and conventional stainless steel cathode is reported. PTZox is a reactive intermediate with high potential synthetic applications, which is used in this paper for the synthesis of new phenothiazine derivatives. In this work a novel and simple electrochemical methodology for the synthesis of some bis(phenylsulfonyl)-10H-phenothiazine derivatives was established. In this paper, a mechanism for PTZ oxidation in the presence of arylsulfinic acids has been proposed based on the results obtained from voltammetric and coulometric experiments as well as spectroscopic data of the products. These syntheses are performed in a simple cell by applying constant current under mild conditions and at room temperature with high atom economy.