bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticle pre-treatment for enhancing the survival and activation of pulmonary macrophage transplant
Authors: Jarai Bader M. , Bomb Kartik , Fromen Catherine A.
Published: March 2023

Despite recent clinical successes of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies in treating liquid cancers, many lingering challenges stand in the way of therapeutic translation to broader types of malignancies. Macrophages have been proposed as alternatives to T cells given macrophages’ advantages in promoting tumor infiltration, acquiring diverse antigens, and possessing the ability to continuously stimulate adaptive responses. However, the poor survival of macrophages upon transplantation in addition to transient anti-tumor phenotypical states have been major obstacles standing in the way of macrophage-based cell therapies. Given recent discoveries of nanoparticle strategies in improving macrophage survival and promoting phenotype retention, we herein report the ability to extend the survival and phenotype of macrophage transplants in murine lungs via pre-treatment with nanoparticles of varying degradation rates. Macrophages pre-treated with 100 µg/ml dose of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate nanoparticle formulations improve pulmonary macrophage transplant survival over untreated cells beyond 7 days, where degradable nanoparticle formulations result in over a 50% increase in retention of transplanted cell counts relative to untreated cells. Furthermore, pre-treated macrophages more efficiently retain an imposed pro-inflammatory-like polarization state following transplantation out to 7 days compared to macrophages pre-treated with a classical pro-inflammatory stimulus, interferon-gamma, where CD86 costimulatory molecule expression is greater than 150% higher in pre-treated macrophage transplants compared to untreated counterparts. These findings provide an avenue for a major improvement in the lifespan and efficacy of macrophage-based cell therapies and have broader implications to other phagocyte-based cellular therapeutics and administration routes.

Graphical Abstract
Developing Artificial Intelligence-Based Content Creation: Are EU Copyright and Antitrust Law Fit for Purpose?
Authors: Vesala Juha
Published: March 2023

Artificial intelligence offers promising applications for content production. However, their development faces significant copyright issues because it involves reproduction of protected subject matter and requires datasets so large that obtaining licences from all rightholders is unfeasible. These issues potentially hinder technological development and content production. On the other hand, some AI applications can threaten the interests and incentives of those who create works and subject matter that are protected by related rights. This article examines whether EU copyright and antitrust law are capable of addressing these challenges. It identifies possibilities and obstacles in applying exceptions for text and data mining (TDM) and temporary copying to the development of artificial creativity (AC) applications. The article also examines mechanisms by which EU antitrust law facilitates access to copyright-protected training materials and licences – an important complement to the copyright exceptions. While copyright and antitrust law enable the development of AC in certain situations, their tools are limited to particular types of AI applications, certain categories of subject matter and specific market conditions, and are subject to requirements concerning the development process as well as considerable legal uncertainty. Copyright and antitrust law also remain largely toothless against contractual and technological restraints, while recent EU initiatives dealing with data access also provide little relief in this regard.
Contrasting Outcomes in Two Cases of Uterine PEComa
Authors: Tiwari Mansi , Nikolopoulos Manolis , Miah Aisha , Wise Olga , Sayasneh Ahmad , Nath Rahul , Rajkumar Savithri , Kolomainen Desiree , Mehra Gautam
Published: March 2023

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours of the uterus are rare neoplasms with only few cases described in the literature. Ongoing contribution to the literature is important in order to understand the natural history for the diagnosis and management challenges for PEComa. We present two contrasting cases of PEComa who presented with postmenopausal bleeding, were diagnosed on endometrial biopsy and had surgical treatment. The first patient following treatment has been disease free for four years while on regular follow-ups. The second patient had aggressive disease developed early recurrence requiring chemotherapy and died in 17 months from diagnosis.

PEComa is a rare tumour with usually good outcomes, where surgery itself is adequate treatment. There is not much evidence available currently on the use of chemotherapy in rare cases, such as our second case, where PEComa presents aggressively. In this article, we elaborate two cases of contrasting outcomes with one presentation being aggressive requiring chemotherapy. We evaluated the current evidence on use of chemotherapy in rare cases.
Numerical study on fracture control blasting using air–water coupling
Authors: Li Xudong , Liu Kewei , Qiu Tao , Sha Yanyan , Yang Jiacai , Song Ruitao
Published: March 2023

Fracture control blasting produces rock fractures in the desired direction, which is significant for the stability of excavation structures in rock engineering. The present study proposes a new method of fracture control blasting using air–water coupling. This method utilizes the difference of explosion stress transfer between air and water, which guides the explosion energy consumption in fracturing rock on water-coupling side, i.e. rock in the excavation zone, and thus the rock in the excavation zone is properly fragmented, and the reserved rock is well protected from damage. Based on the plane strain assumption, the transmission and propagation of explosion stress in the excavation and reserved rock with this method are first theoretically analyzed. Then, fracture control blasting using air–water coupling is numerically studied utilizing the LS-DYNA program. The numerical model is first developed and calibrated in the simulation with the laboratory-scale air-coupling and water-coupling blasting tests. Then, the successive processes of pressure attenuation, fracture evolution and energy consumption under air–water coupling blasting are numerically investigated. Thereafter, the effects of the air–water ratio and decoupling ratio on the performance of fracture control are numerically investigated. The theoretical and numerical results show that good performance of fracture control can be obtained using air–water coupling blasting.
A case weighted similarity deep measurement method based on a self-attention Siamese neural network
Authors: Cheng Zijun , Yan Aijun
Published: March 2023

To improve the accuracy of similarity measures in case-based reasoning, in this paper, we propose a deep metric learning method based on a self-attention mechanism and a Siamese neural network to realize the weighted similarity measure between cases. In this method, weight assignment and similarity measurement processes are integrated into a deep network. The method can map cases to a new feature space through nonlinear processing of the network layer to obtain better feature representation. The inner relationship between the features is captured by the self-attention mechanism, which is connected to the previous network layer, and the weight of the features is determined by the scoring function. Finally, a metric function is added to the contrastive loss to measure the case similarity. Experiments show that the accuracy of this method is better than that of other algorithms in the similarity measure and can improve the accuracy of case retrieval.
Computer studies of hybrid slotted working sections with minimum steady interference at subsonic speeds
Authors: Mabey D. G. , Steinle F. W.
Published: March 2023

Currently there is renewed interest in the evaluation and reduction of steady wind tunnel wall interference, especially for large models.

Evaluation of previous predictions for perforated and slotted tunnels suggests that a hybrid slotted tunnel, ie a slotted tunnel with closed slats and perforated slots) should offer minimum corrections for upwash, flow curvature and solid blockage. This suggestion is confirmed by the present computer studies of a range of rectangular hybrid slotted tunnels.

The computer studies are for tunnel working section height to breadth ratios of 0·835 and 0·600 over the Mach number range from 0 to 0·85. Wings swept at 28° and 50°, with ratios of model span to tunnel breadth varying from 0 to 0·7, are considered. An idealised fuselage shape is used to predict solid and wake blockage corrections for the wall configurations selected on the basis of minimum upwash and curvature interference.
The three dimensional turbulent corner wall jet
Authors: Hogg S. I. , Launder B. E.
Published: March 2023

Experiments are reported of the self-preserving turbulent corner wall jet formed by directing a jet of air parallel to the line of intersection of two walls abutting at right angles. Self preserving profiles of the mean and turbulent flow are established by approximately 50 jet diameters downstream. Like the three-dimensional wall jet on a plane-wall surface there is evidence of a significant secondary flow induced by vortex line bending, though its magnitude is smaller than in the plane-wall case.
A calculation method for two-dimensional wall-bounded turbulent flows
Authors: Johnston L. J.
Published: March 2023

A method to calculate two-dimensional or axisymmetric, compressible, wall-bounded viscous flows is described. The solution procedure involves a finite-difference discretisation of the governing flow equations. A number of novel normal co-ordinate transformations are used to enable efficient use to be made of the computational grid points. The implementation of zero-, one- and two-equation turbulence models is described. Results are presented for a range of compressible boundary-layer flows, and for an incompressible wake/ boundary layer mixing flow.
Spiral vortex flow over a swept-back wing
Authors: Poll D. I. A.
Published: March 2023

An experimental investigation has been performed to study the formation and development of spiral vortex flow over a swept-back wing. An aerofoil section with three alternative leading edge shapes was tested at sweep angles ranging from 0° to 56° for unit Reynolds numbers of 1 × 106/m and 2 × 106/m. The principal diagnostic tool was the surface oil-flow visualisation technique supplemented by pressure distribution measurements in certain cases. No spiral vortex flow was observed for sweep angles of 0° and 15° but at higher sweep angles the oil-flows indicated that there were three different mechanisms for the formation of spiral vortices. The angle of incidence at the onset of vortex flow, and the mechanism responsible for its formation, were found to depend upon the sweep angle, the leading edge shape and the Reynolds number. It was also noted that the larger the leading edge radius the greater the dependence upon Reynolds number. However, comparison with other work suggests that Reynolds number, incidence and sweep angle alone are insufficient to determine the type of spiral vortex flow occurring on a given wing.
Finite element free vibration analysis of
stiffened plates
Authors: Mukherjee Abhijit , Mukhopadhyay Madhujit
Published: March 2023

Free vibration characteristics of stiffened plates possessing symmetrical stiffeners have been investigated by the finite element method. The main elegance of the element used lies in that the formulation takes into account the arbitrary orientation of a stiffener inside the plate element. The element being isoparametric in nature caters effectively for the irregular edges of the boundary as well as the transverse shear deformation of the plate and the stiffeners. Rectangular and skew stiffened plates having various boundary conditions and with stiffeners varying in number and in spacing, have been analysed. The correlation of the natural frequencies obtained by the present approach with the published results have been found to be very good.
The Conservative Wave and Corporate Practices in Brazil: The Controversy over LGBTQ in Marketing
Authors: Gomes Simone da Silva Ribeiro , Cantu Rodrigo
Published: March 2023

This article explores the impact conservative criticism has had on companies’ behaviour in Brazil. We investigate whether Natura and Boticário − the two largest Brazilian cosmetics companies − have maintained or reversed LGBTQ-oriented marketing and advertising when confronted with criticism from conservative groups. We draw on interviews with stakeholders, company investors and LGBTQ activists, in addition to complaints filed with the Conselho Nacional de Autorregulamentação Publicitária (National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation, CONAR), and companies’ documents on finance and social responsibility. Overall, even when faced with a negative backlash from conservative opinion, companies have persisted in their commitment to diversity issues and LGBTQ inclusion in marketing. However, firms have also employed evasive strategies, such as targeted communication and less controversial forms of retail design, signalling compromises with conservative stakeholders and customers.
Chromosomal genome sequence assembly and mating-type (MAT) locus characterization of the leprose asexual lichenized fungus Lepraria neglecta (Nyl.) Erichsen
Authors: Pfeffer Bubba , Lymbery Chandler , Booth Brendan , Allen Jessica L.
Published: March 2023

Complete chromosomal-level assemblies of fungal genomes are rare. The intimate ecological symbioses and complex reproduction strategies utilized by fungi make highly contiguous, gapless genome assemblies particularly difficult. Here, we use long-read sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore Technology MinION platform to sequence and assemble the genome of Lepraria neglecta (Ascomycota, Lecanorales). In addition to eight contigs ascribable to chromosomes, six of which are assembled telomere-to-telomere, we discovered the presence of a complete MAT locus with two conserved MAT1-2 genes and a putative MAT1-1 pseudogene. The full genome assembly of a widespread, common species presents an opportunity for new insights into lichen reproduction while the presence of the mating-type locus in the genome of an asexual lichen raises fundamental questions about reproductive biology in fungi generally.
Minakata Kumagusu and the emergence of queer nature: Civilization theory, Buddhist science, and microbes, 1887–1892
Authors: Honda Eiko
Published: March 2023

In the intellectual history of modern Japan, the late 1880s epitomized the Meiji government’s effort to ‘civilize’ through Westernization, driven by the social Darwinian vision of the survival of the fittest. During this period in the United States, the ideas of civilization theory, informed by the very antithesis of the Meiji state’s understanding, surfaced in the life and work of the aspiring young naturalist-botanist Minakata Kumagusu. He imagined a ‘different kind of civilization’ as he re-examined the nature of social evolution in microbes by turning to Indian-and-Chinese-derived knowledge of his home region of Kii, Japan. Buddhism, persecuted by the Meiji regime, most notably enabled his scientific enquiry, while the encyclopedic work of Wakan Sansai Zue (The Illustrated Three Knowledge of Sino-Japan) became another key inspiration. Chinese historiography and Confucian thoughts additionally facilitated his reasoning.

What interconnected all of these strands was what the author refers to as ‘queer nature’: the basis for truths whose ontological and experiential qualities resembled the microbe slime mould. Similar to this microbe that captured Kumagusu’s imagination, with queer nature the process of knowing defied the epistemological dichotomies and hierarchies that were fundamental to the social Darwinian theory of evolution. Experientially, it attracted the knower’s attention, induced their desire for intimacy with strange and curious others, and propelled greater intellectual enquiries. The article thus demonstrates a queer theory of intellectual history rooted in modern Japan, whose intellectual lineage derived from India and China instead of the West.
The Effects of Activating Gender-Related Social Roles on Financial Risk-Taking
Authors: Sekścińska Katarzyna , Jaworska Diana , Rudzinska-Wojciechowska Joanna , Kusev Petko
Published: March 2023

Abstract: Previous studies observed differences between men and women in terms of their financial risk-taking. However, these differences may stem not only from the gender of the decision-maker but also from other factors, such as stereotypical gender social roles. Media content exposes both men and women to stereotypical portrayals of their gender, and this might temporarily activate thoughts related to their social roles. A question arises whether such activation might impact the way people make risky financial decisions. The present experimental study investigated whether temporarily activated gender-related social roles influence the risk-taking propensities of men and women ( N = 319) in the context of gambling and investment choices. The results show that activating a stereotypically male social role (professional employee) made both men and women more prone to take financial risks relative to a control condition. Furthermore, activating a stereotypically female social role (homemaker) lowered the propensity to take financial risks in both genders for the investment domain and in women only for the gambling domain. This study contributes to the literature on gender differences in economic behavior by showing that researchers should not overlook sociocultural factors.
Finite‐Size Scaling for the Permeability of Discrete Fracture Networks
Authors: Yin Tingchang , Man Teng , Li Ling , Galindo‐Torres Sergio Andres
Published: March 2023

We formulate a finite‐size scaling hypothesis to predict the global permeability of fracture networks. To validate the hypothesis, numerous discrete fracture networks are generated, and the permeability is numerically calculated. Results suggest that the dimensionless permeability, scaled by moments of local conductivity and fracture sizes and corrected by two stereological ratios, can capture variations in fracture attributes (orientations, sizes, and apertures). The universal form obtained in this study can also explain the contradictory observations where the permeability decreases or increases with the domain size of fracture networks. We show that how a clear transition point, where the permeability does not change with the domain size, is obtained from this universal form. This study provides a solid theoretical foundation to understand the connection between fracture attributes and field‐scale hydraulic properties.
Quantifying Continental Crust Thickness Using the Machine Learning Method
Authors: Guo Peng , Yang Ting
Published: March 2023

Crustal thickness plays a key role in many geological processes. However, it remains challenging to quantify crustal thickness in the geological past. Here we propose an Extremely Randomized Trees algorithm‐based machine learning model to recover crustal thickness of old geological regions. The model is trained using major oxide and trace element compositions of 1,480 young intermediate to felsic rocks from global arcs and collisional orogens and geophysical measurements of crustal thickness. The model provides better estimations of crustal thickness than the commonly used methods based on Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N when applied to the testing data. The validity of this model is further demonstrated by its applications to the Kohistan–Ladakh, Gangdese and Talkeetna arcs, where paleocrustal thicknesses have been well constrained. We then use this model to construct the Mesozoic crustal thickness evolution of the Erguna Block in the southeast of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt. The closure time of the suture zone is still debated. Our results suggest that the crustal thickness of the Erguna Block increased from 43 ± 9 km at 210 Ma to 62 ± 7 km at 180 Ma, remained constant between 180 and 150 Ma, and then thinned to 36 ± 4 km at 120 Ma. These results suggest that the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean closed in the Early–Middle Jurassic and the thickened crust was stretched during the Cretaceous. We show that the thick crust and compression‐extension transition seem to be favorable for the formation of porphyry copper deposits in the Erguna Block during the Late Jurassic.
Evolution of Stresses Over Conjugate Faults in Hjalli‐Ölfus, South Iceland
Authors: Parameswaran Revathy M. , Bjarnason Ingi Th. , Thorbjarnardóttir Bergthóra S.
Published: March 2023

Hjalli‐Ölfus is the westernmost segment of the east‐west transform South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ), which is the eastward extension of the ∼ENE‐trending transtensional Reykjanes Peninsula (RP). Historically, the area has shown an interactive behavior with the Hengill volcanic system to the north and the central SISZ to the east. We analyzed the state of stress and faulting mechanisms in Hjalli‐Ölfus between July 1991 and December 1999, in connection with the Hengill inflation episode (Feigl et al., 2000, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JB900209) and the 13th November 1998 Mw 5.1 Hjalli‐Ölfus earthquake. We find that this region predominantly hosted oblique‐normal and left‐lateral strike‐slip events (4–10 km‐depth), with most nodal planes oriented along ∼ENE or ∼WSW directions (75° ± 15° or 255° ± 15°). We identify 5 stages of stress evolution from January 1991 to December 1999 over which Hjalli‐Ölfus experiences both spatial and temporal shifts in stress‐states. The Hengill inflation likely loaded both the fissure zone and western Ölfus, culminating in the Mw 5.4 (Hengill) and Mw 5.1 (Hjalli‐Ölfus) earthquakes. Following these events, the maximum compressive stress (SHmax) orientation near the location of the Mw 5.1 earthquake showed a ∼5°–7° counterclockwise swing, compared to SHmax before June 1998. The average SHmax (∼40° ± 1°) and minimum principal stress ( ∼ 130° ± 1°) are comparable to geological trends in the RP. We conclude that Hjalli‐Ölfus shows clockwise SHmax rotation upon loading, while a stress‐drop reverses the rotation. We also posit that the region, especially the western end, behaves like the RP during interseismic periods.
How Kicked-Up Dust Forms Cirrus Clouds
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: March 2023

Dust lifted into the air by cyclones provides anchor points for cloud-forming ice.
Preface: Special Issue on Ophiolites and Oceanic Lithosphere
Authors: Kelemen Peter B. , Matter Jürg M. , Teagle Damon A. H. , Coggon Jude A. , Godard Marguerite , Michibayashi Katsuyoshi , Takazawa Eiichi , Templeton Alexis S. , Williams Ken , Al Sulaimani Zaher
Published: March 2023

With this Preface, we provide background information, a scientific overview of topics, and an annotated bibliography of the 63 papers published in the Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR) Special Issue on “Ophiolites and Oceanic Lithosphere, with a Focus on the Samail Ophiolite,” collected online at https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)2169-9356.SAMAIL1. Topics covered in the Special Issue include formation and alteration of igneous ocean crust at submarine spreading centers, subduction zone mass transfer at the leading edge of the mantle wedge, the tectonic emplacement and evolution of ophiolites, processes of alteration and weathering of tectonically exhumed mantle peridotite, and the subsurface biosphere in the peridotite weathering environment. The bibliography, in the form of a supplementary Excel spreadsheet with links to each paper, is organized by topic, but can be sorted by first author, order of publication, specific Oman Drilling Project boreholes, and other factors.
Cellular rejuvenation: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions for diseases
Authors: Ji Shuaifei , Xiong Mingchen , Chen Huating , Liu Yiqiong , Zhou Laixian , Hong Yiyue , Wang Mengyang , Wang Chunming , Fu Xiaobing , Sun Xiaoyan
Published: March 2023

The ageing process is a systemic decline from cellular dysfunction to organ degeneration, with more predisposition to deteriorated disorders. Rejuvenation refers to giving aged cells or organisms more youthful characteristics through various techniques, such as cellular reprogramming and epigenetic regulation. The great leaps in cellular rejuvenation prove that ageing is not a one-way street, and many rejuvenative interventions have emerged to delay and even reverse the ageing process. Defining the mechanism by which roadblocks and signaling inputs influence complex ageing programs is essential for understanding and developing rejuvenative strategies. Here, we discuss the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that counteract cell rejuvenation, and the targeted cells and core mechanisms involved in this process. Then, we critically summarize the latest advances in state-of-art strategies of cellular rejuvenation. Various rejuvenation methods also provide insights for treating specific ageing-related diseases, including cellular reprogramming, the removal of senescence cells (SCs) and suppression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), metabolic manipulation, stem cells-associated therapy, dietary restriction, immune rejuvenation and heterochronic transplantation, etc. The potential applications of rejuvenation therapy also extend to cancer treatment. Finally, we analyze in detail the therapeutic opportunities and challenges of rejuvenation technology. Deciphering rejuvenation interventions will provide further insights into anti-ageing and ageing-related disease treatment in clinical settings.
Cholinergic deficits selectively boost cortical intratelencephalic control of striatum in male Huntington’s disease model mice
Authors: Pancani Tristano , Day Michelle , Tkatch Tatiana , Wokosin David L. , González-Rodríguez Patricia , Kondapalli Jyothisri , Xie Zhong , Chen Yu , Beaumont Vahri , Surmeier D. James
Published: March 2023

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG triplet expansion in huntingtin. Although corticostriatal dysfunction has long been implicated in HD, the determinants and pathway specificity of this pathophysiology are not fully understood. Here, using a male zQ175+/− knock-in mouse model of HD we carry out optogenetic interrogation of intratelencephalic and pyramidal tract synapses with principal striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs). These studies reveal that the connectivity of intratelencephalic, but not pyramidal tract, neurons with direct and indirect pathway SPNs increased in early symptomatic zQ175+/− HD mice. This enhancement was attributable to reduced pre-synaptic inhibitory control of intratelencephalic terminals by striatal cholinergic interneurons. Lowering mutant huntingtin selectively in striatal cholinergic interneurons with a virally-delivered zinc finger repressor protein normalized striatal acetylcholine release and intratelencephalic functional connectivity, revealing a node in the network underlying corticostriatal pathophysiology in a HD mouse model.
Two-photon fluorescence imaging and specifically biosensing of norepinephrine on a 100-ms timescale
Authors: Mao Leiwen , Han Yujie , Zhang Qi-Wei , Tian Yang
Published: March 2023

Norepinephrine (NE) is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of organisms; however, specifically tracking the transient NE dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution in living systems remains a great challenge. Herein, we develop a small molecular fluorescent probe that can precisely anchor on neuronal cytomembranes and specifically respond to NE on a 100-ms timescale. A unique dual acceleration mechanism of molecular-folding and water-bridging is disclosed, which boosts the reaction kinetics by ˃105 and ˃103 times, respectively. Benefiting from its excellent spatiotemporal resolution, the probe is applied to monitor NE dynamics at the single-neuron level, thereby, successfully snapshotting the fast fluctuation of NE levels at neuronal cytomembranes within 2 s. Moreover, two-photon fluorescence imaging of acute brain tissue slices reveals a close correlation between downregulated NE levels and Alzheimer’s disease pathology as well as antioxidant therapy.
Unraveling oxygen vacancy site mechanism of Rh-doped RuO2 catalyst for long-lasting acidic water oxidation
Authors: Wang Yi , Yang Rong , Ding Yajun , Zhang Bo , Li Hao , Bai Bing , Li Mingrun , Cui Yi , Xiao Jianping , Wu Zhong-Shuai
Published: March 2023

Exploring durable electrocatalysts with high activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media is of paramount importance for H2 production via polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers, yet it remains urgently challenging. Herein, we report a synergistic strategy of Rh doping and surface oxygen vacancies to precisely regulate unconventional OER reaction path via the Ru–O–Rh active sites of Rh-RuO2, simultaneously boosting intrinsic activity and stability. The stabilized low-valent catalyst exhibits a remarkable performance, with an overpotential of 161 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and activity retention of 99.2% exceeding 700 h at 50 mA cm−2. Quasi in situ/operando characterizations demonstrate the recurrence of reversible oxygen species under working potentials for enhanced activity and durability. It is theoretically revealed that Rh-RuO2 passes through a more optimal reaction path of lattice oxygen mediated mechanism-oxygen vacancy site mechanism induced by the synergistic interaction of defects and Ru–O–Rh active sites with the rate-determining step of *O formation, breaking the barrier limitation (*OOH) of the traditional adsorption evolution mechanism.
Information about historical emissions drives the division of climate change mitigation costs
Authors: Del Ponte Alessandro , Masiliūnas Aidas , Lim Noah
Published: March 2023

Despite worsening climate change, the international community still disagrees on how to divide the costs of mitigation between developing countries and developed countries, which emitted the bulk of historical carbon emissions. We study this issue using an economic experiment. Specifically, we test how information about historical emissions influences how much participants pay for climate change mitigation. In a four-player game, participants are assigned to lead two fictional countries as members of either the first or the second generation. The first generation produces wealth at the expense of greater carbon emissions. The second generation inherits their predecessor’s wealth and negotiates how to split the climate change mitigation costs. Here we show that when the second generation knows that the previous generation created the current wealth and mitigation costs, participants whose predecessor generated more carbon emissions offered to pay more, whereas the successors of low-carbon emitters offered to pay less.
Bile salt hydrolases shape the bile acid landscape and restrict Clostridioides difficile growth in the murine gut
Authors: Foley Matthew H. , Walker Morgan E. , Stewart Allison K. , O’Flaherty Sarah , Gentry Emily C. , Patel Shakshi , Beaty Violet V. , Allen Garrison , Pan Meichen , Simpson Joshua B. , Perkins Caroline , Vanhoy Molly E. , Dougherty Michael K. , McGill Sarah K. , Gulati Ajay S. , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Baker Erin S. , Redinbo Matthew R. , Barrangou Rodolphe , Theriot Casey M.
Published: March 2023

Bile acids (BAs) mediate the crosstalk between human and microbial cells and influence diseases including Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). While bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) shape the BA pool by deconjugating conjugated BAs, the basis for their substrate selectivity and impact on C. difficile remain elusive. Here we survey the diversity of BSHs in the gut commensals Lactobacillaceae, which are commonly used as probiotics, and other members of the human gut microbiome. We structurally pinpoint a loop that predicts BSH preferences for either glycine or taurine substrates. BSHs with varying specificities were shown to restrict C. difficile spore germination and growth in vitro and colonization in pre-clinical in vivo models of CDI. Furthermore, BSHs reshape the pool of microbial conjugated bile acids (MCBAs) in the murine gut, and these MCBAs can further restrict C. difficile virulence in vitro. The recognition of conjugated BAs by BSHs defines the resulting BA pool, including the expansive MCBAs. This work provides insights into the structural basis of BSH mechanisms that shape the BA landscape and promote colonization resistance against C. difficile.
A global daily soil moisture dataset derived from Chinese FengYun Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI)(2010–2019)
Authors: Yao Panpan , Lu Hui , Zhao Tianjie , Wu Shengli , Peng Zhiqing , Cosh Michael H. , Jia Li , Yang Kun , Zhang Peng , Shi Jiancheng
Published: March 2023

Surface soil moisture (SSM) is an important variable in drought monitoring, floods predicting, weather forecasting, etc. and plays a critical role in water and heat exchanges between land and atmosphere. SSM products from L-band observations, such as the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission, have proven to be optimal global estimations. Although X-band has a lower sensitivity to soil moisture than that of L-band, Chinese FengYun-3 series satellites (FY-3A/B/C/D) have provided sustainable and daily multiple SSM products from X-band since 2008. This research developed a new global SSM product (NNsm-FY) from FY-3B MWRI from 2010 to 2019, transferred high accuracy of SMAP L-band to FY-3B X-band. The NNsm-FY shows good agreement with in-situ observations and SMAP product and has a higher accuracy than that of official FY-3B product. With this new dataset, Chinese FY-3 satellites may play a larger role and provide opportunities of sustainable and longer-term soil moisture data record for hydrological study.
SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain deep mutational AlphaFold2 structures
Authors: Kilim Oz , Mentes Anikó , Pál Balázs , Csabai István , Gellért Ákos
Published: March 2023

Leveraging recent advances in computational modeling of proteins with AlphaFold2 (AF2) we provide a complete curated data set of all single mutations from each of the 7 main SARS-CoV-2 lineages spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) resulting in 3819X7 = 26733 PDB structures. We visualize the generated structures and show that AF2 pLDDT values are correlated with state-of-the-art disorder approximations, implying some internal protein dynamics are also captured by the model. Joint increasing mutational coverage of both structural and phenotype data coupled with advances in machine learning can be leveraged to accelerate virology research, specifically future variant prediction. We hope this data release can offer assistance into further understanding of the local and global mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 as well as provide insight into the biological understanding that 3D structure acts as a bridge between protein genotype and phenotype.
LocalView, a database of public meetings for the study of local politics and policy-making in the United States
Authors: Barari Soubhik , Simko Tyler
Published: March 2023

Despite the fundamental importance of American local governments for service provision in areas like education and public health, local policy-making remains difficult and expensive to study at scale due to a lack of centralized data. This article introduces LocalView, the largest existing dataset of real-time local government public meetings–the central policy-making process in local government. In sum, the dataset currently covers 139,616 videos and their corresponding textual and audio transcripts of local government meetings publicly uploaded to YouTube–the world’s largest public video-sharing website–from 1,012 places and 2,861 distinct governments across the United States between 2006–2022. The data are processed, downloaded, cleaned, and publicly disseminated (at localview.net) for analysis across places and over time. We validate this dataset using a variety of methods and demonstrate how it can be used to map local governments’ attention to policy areas of interest. Finally, we discuss how LocalView may be used by journalists, academics, and other users for understanding how local communities deliberate crucial policy questions on topics including climate change, public health, and immigration.
Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in imported meat products from Saudi Arabian ports in 2017
Authors: Alhadlaq Meshari Ahmed , Mujallad Mohammed I. , Alajel Sulaiman M. I.
Published: March 2023

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen, which causes various health conditions in humans, including fatigue, nausea, bloody diarrhoea and in some cases, even death. In 2017, 15.71% of the total imported food products in Saudi Arabia (SA) were meat-based. India and Brazil are two of the top five countries from where SA imports meat. According to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, in 2017, at least 562, 280, and 50 samples of imported beef, chicken and sheep meat, respectively, were tested for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Amongst these, E. coli O157:H7 was detected in respectively 6.80% and 2.20% of the tested beef meat samples imported from India and Brazil as well as in respectively 6.96% and 3.57% of the tested chicken samples imported from Brazil and Ukraine. Moreover, the pathogen was detected in 2.13% of the tested sheep meat samples imported from India. The present report provides evidence that imported meat can serve as the carrier of E. coli O157:H7, which may lead to epidemics within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Biomolecular and quantum algorithms for the dominating set problem in arbitrary networks
Authors: Wong Renata , Chang Weng-Long , Chung Wen-Yu , Vasilakos Athanasios V.
Published: March 2023

A dominating set of a graph $$G = (V, E)$$

G
=
(
V
,
E
)

is a subset U of its vertices V, such that any vertex of G is either in U, or has a neighbor in U. The dominating-set problem is to find a minimum dominating set in G. Dominating sets are of critical importance for various types of networks/graphs, and find therefore potential applications in many fields. Particularly, in the area of communication, dominating sets are prominently used in the efficient organization of large-scale wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. However, the dominating set problem is also a hard optimization problem and thus currently is not efficiently solvable on classical computers. Here, we propose a biomolecular and a quantum algorithm for this problem, where the quantum algorithm provides a quadratic speedup over any classical algorithm. We show that the dominating set problem can be solved in $$O(2^{n/2})$$

O
(

2

n
/
2

)

queries by our proposed quantum algorithm, where n is the number of vertices in G. We also demonstrate that our quantum algorithm is the best known procedure to date for this problem. We confirm the correctness of our algorithm by executing it on IBM Quantum’s qasm simulator and the Brooklyn superconducting quantum device. And lastly, we show that molecular solutions obtained from solving the dominating set problem are represented in terms of a unit vector in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space.
Presence of non-symbiotic yeasts in a symbiont-transferring organ of a stag beetle that lacks yeast symbionts found in other stag beetles
Authors: Yamamoto Daichi , Toki Wataru
Published: March 2023

Dispersal from wood to wood is essential for wood-inhabiting fungi and wood-inhabiting insects play an important role in the dispersal success of such fungi. However, it is poorly understood whether wood-inhabiting insects which change the habitats from wood to non-wood environments can contribute to the fungal dispersal. Larvae of most stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) are wood feeders, while adults are sap feeders. Female adults of lulcanids possess specialized organs (mycetangia) for transportation of fungal symbionts and harbor specific yeasts (e.g.,Scheffersomycesspp.) within. Here, we report that the lucanidAegus subnitidusharbors non-specific yeasts facultatively in mycetangia. We conducted yeast isolation from mycetangia and hindguts of female adults, in a larval gallery in wood-associated materials, and in female-visiting fermented tree sap using culture-dependent methods. Less than half of the females carried a total of 20 yeast species with small amounts using mycetangia and a female harbored up to five species, suggesting the absence of an intimate association with specific yeasts that are found in other lucanids. Yeast species compositions markedly differed between the larval gallery and sap. Most yeasts from the larval galley exhibited xylose-assimilation abilities, while few yeasts from sap did. Mycetangial yeasts comprised a combination from both sources. In hindguts, most yeasts were found in sap (> 70%) with no yeasts in the larval gallery. Sap-associated yeasts in each female mycetangium were also obtained from the female-visiting sap patch, while mycetangial, larval gallery-associated yeasts were absent from the patch, suggesting the survival success of larval gallery-associated yeasts in mycetangia through sap patches. Therefore, wood-inhabiting insects that possess mycetangia can potentially act as vectors of non-symbiotic wood-inhabiting yeasts dispersing from wood to wood via other environments.
Significance of Dufour and Soret aspects on dynamics of water based ternary hybrid nanofluid flow in a 3D computational domain
Authors: Bilal Sardar , Asjad Muhammad Imran , Haq Shams ul , Almusawa Musawa Yahya , Tag-ElDin ElSayed M. , Ali Farhat
Published: March 2023

The prime motive to conduct this communication is to explicate hydrothermal attributes of water by inducing new composition of nanoparticles termed as ternary particles. For this purpose, two differently natured groups one with lesser densities (Carbon nanotubes, Graphene and Aluminium oxide) and with higher densities (Copper oxide, Copper and Silver) are accounted. A 3D permeable surface is considered as a physical configuration of problem by providing dual stretching. Initially, mathematical structuring in dimensional representation expressing the constitutive relations for mass, momentum and energy conservation is manifested. Later on, a set of similar variables are executed to express attained coupled system into ordinary form. Numerical simulations are performed to find solution by employing shooting and RK-4 methods in conjunction. Description about change is displayed through graphical visualization. Subsequently, temperature distribution and heat flux coefficient against sundry variables are also measured and comprehensively discussed in pictorial and tabular format. Wall drag coefficients along (x, y) directions are also computed. It is inferred from the outcomes that velocity, temperature and concentration of base fluid is higher for ternary group 1 containing particles of low densities than for group 2 with more denser particles. It is also deduced that elevation in temperature of fluid is revealed against Soret number whereas contrary aspects is observed in view of concentration distribution. Dufour number has declining impact on temperature profile whereas it upsurges the mass distribution. It is depicted that skin friction in case of group containing particles with less densities are more than other group.
Coupled position and attitude control of a servicer spacecraft in rendezvous with an orbiting target
Authors: Kasiri Ali , Fani Saberi Farhad
Published: March 2023

Rendezvous is one of the fundamental phases of on-orbit servicing (OOS) missions. Since it requires high accuracy and safety, modeling is an indispensable part. Therefore, this article puts forward an approach for boosting the exactitude of the final proximity phase of a servicer spacecraft using precise modeling. Unlike other similar works that solely use linear models to design controllers, this paper employs a fully nonlinear model and considers most possible uncertainties and disturbances. In this regard, first a complete nonlinear relative pose (i.e., concurrent position attitude) motion dynamic is developed, which includes (1) the role of the reaction wheels and (2) the major environmental force and torque model. Second, taking the thruster's adverse torque into account, two sliding mode-based control techniques with different nonlinear sliding surfaces are designed. Moreover, the Lyapunov stability criterion is used to handle high nonlinearity effects, control input saturation, actuator misalignment, external disturbance torque/force, measurement error, uncertainties of both inertia parameters, and control inputs. Even the PWPF modulator of the thrusters has been considered to make the outcomes more realistic. Finally, three different scenarios are comprehensively simulated to illustrate the feasibility and efficiency of the designed scheme. The results prove that the proposed closed-form controller is more executable to implement than other existing approaches.
Cadmium and lead ions adsorption on magnetite, silica, alumina, and cellulosic materials
Authors: Wonorahardjo Surjani , Fajaroh Fauziatul , Joharmawan Ridwan , Nazriati Nazriati , Budiasih Endang
Published: March 2023

The adsorption of small particles on the surface of an adsorbent depends on interfacial dynamics and associated parameters, including the adsorbate reactivity, adsorbent surface activity, and matrix porosity and tortuosity. Herein, the effect of the surfaces of magnetite, silica/alumina, and silica-cellulose matrix on cadmium adsorption is termed using spectroscopic methods. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the adsorption of metal ions in the solid–liquid interfaces by the batch method with different pH, metal concentrations, and contact times. Cadmium (II) were well adsorbed on the magnetite-inorganic surface (around 90% adsorption) rather than other types of semi-organic surfaces, silica, silica-alumina and other cellulosic materials (less than 60% adsorption for Cadmium (II) and 80% of Lead (II) ions). The presence of lead (II) changed the cadmium adsorption behaviour, indicating that adsorption–desorption was a physical interaction on different surfaces. Most absorptions are pH-dependent, stable for Cadmium ions and vary for Lead ions. Moreover, the adsorption analysis using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms showed no significant characteristics of chemical interaction of the ions with the surfaces as indicated by low R2 values (both around 0.5) for magnetite materials higher for cellulose materials of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. This study is beneficial for various fields, such as material science and environmental chemistry, which will play an essential role in the future.